InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beast ❯ And It Begins ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I still own none of these characters save for Yoshio; this includes all of Kagome's siblings, who are indeed from Rumiko Takahashi series, and whom I've briefly swiped for my own tainted purposes here. Mwa ha ha ha ha. But they do belong to her.

A/N: Hey, everyone. Thanks for the reviews, especially the constructive criticism; as a reward of sorts, now that we've gotten most of the setup out of our systems, we can move on to a bit more setup for the real story. :D Enjoy.

Beast

Chapter 2

"Just what in the hells do you think you are doing?"

Uh oh.

That was the only thought Yoshio's brain could muster as he swallowed hard, willed his body to unfreeze and slowly shuffled around, still on his knees and with dirt crumbling gently from the roots clutched in one trembling hand.

Bare feet - in this cold? - and red-clad legs met his eyes, and despite the sickening terror gripping his midsection, Yoshio reflexively straightened, looked into the newcomer's face...and nearly wet himself.

Dear gods and heavens and hells...That wasn't any kind of face: it was a nightmare. The creature was shaped like a human, dressed in what looked like feudal-style red shrine clothes of loose, long-sleeved haori and pants that were like hakama but gathered close at the ankles. But the emerging sun glistened eerily on the creature's long silver-white hair, framing hellish blood-red eyes with blue pupils. Two triangular canine ears jutted from atop the thing's head, and as he gaped, the jagged purple stripes on its cheeks wrinkled back with its snarl, further exposing huge fangs that overlapped its lips in wicked points. It tapped its folded arms with claws long and sharp enough to tear a man's head off, glaring at him as if it were about to do just that.

Tales of oni, youkai and all sorts of specters flitted rapidly through Yoshio's mind, and if not for the sudden cold wind on his face, he might've chalked the horrific vision up to a bad sake dream and prayed to wake up. As it was, the only thing that could and did make the nightmare complete and real was when the thing spoke again, a raspy snarl of barely controlled fury: "I never said you could rise!"

Yoshio barely heard, as he'd already dropped the flowers, flung himself to the ground and pressed his forehead between his flattened hands in an instinctive grovel. "I b-b-beg your pardon, my l-l-lo-"

"Nor did I give you leave to speak!"

Yoshio shook like a leaf and tried to make himself smaller against the ground, then nearly lost it as the beast swooped down on him with unnatural speed and was holding the torn-out flowers a bare second later. "I send my servants to shelter you from the cold and lead you here. I prepare you food and hospitality fit for a lord, and permit you to stay two nights on my land. I send you on your way safely and ask nothing in return, and you repay me by killing my mother's flowers!"

"I d-didn't think, my l-l-lord!" Yoshio sputtered, not daring to raise his head or move any unnecessary muscles. As if he could with the way he was shaking; he swore he could feel the thing's bloodied eyes on him. "It was not f-f-f-for m-m-me, Lord. For my d-daughter."

"I don't care if you wanted to give them to the Emperor, human," the beast hissed, flexing razor-sharp claws in a manner that Yoshio mercifully couldn't see. The crack of its knuckles was very clear, though. "You've repaid my generosity with the worst possible insult, and I'd like to know any reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."

"Please, Lord! My family!" Desperation overcoming paralysis, Yoshio struggled to his knees and dug at his pockets for his wallet as he babbled. "I went to Tokyo to get our money and each of my children asked for something nice, but Kagome only wanted a flower! I couldn't leave without getting one for her! See, look!" The beast watched in utter contempt, then surprise, as Yoshio clawed at his wallet and thrust a folded stack of plastic-sleeved photographs upwards. "They're too young to live without me, Lord, please don't-"

The beast moved so fast that Yoshio only heard a slight ffft of air pressure as the unfurled stack was sliced neatly in half and the severed portion fell to the ground.

"Oh, no," Yoshio mumbled brokenly, scooping up the baby pictures. In his present state (or lack) of mind, his family had instantly been reduced to children again, barely old enough to dress themselves or cross the street alone, and the prospect of leaving them all alone brought tears to his eyes. He sniffled, then swiped at his eyes, then began bawling unashamedly, ignoring the creature's incredulous look.

"Stop that," Yoshio heard distantly, but it took a stronger, more irate "Be silent!" to stop the flow and bring his head up. The beast still looked angry, but its grimace was set in less harsh lines. Yoshio's heart began thumping anew, this time in wild hope, as the creature tilted its luminous head slightly in thought, ears flicking gently. "You say," it growled after a minute and eternity, "that you have daughters?"

"Yes! Three daughters, including Kagome," Yoshio said feverishly, dropping back down to the ground but eyeing the beast cautiously.

A pointed growl brought his face back down between his hands, but he fancied the air grew a little less tense as the beast contemplated this information.

"I offer you a choice, human, far less than you deserve." The voice finally came from above his head, slightly to the right as the beast approached the bushes, touched the uprooted spot gently and faced its victim once more. "You may choose to stay here and die to repay your honor and mine. But if you're truly so desperate to cling to life, you may have it. Provided," it said sharply as Yoshio's head jerked up, "provided that you tell your family exactly what has transpired here. One of your daughters will choose to come here and take your place, completely of her own will, by sunset tonight. My messenger will come to your shrine, and one of you will return. If none of your daughters choose to leave, you will come back here and-" The beast waited for Yoshio to raise his head in askance and look it in the face, then tossed the flowers down and grinned humorlessly, exposing long fangs to their roots. "Your life will be mine."

Another chill swept down Yoshio's body, and his shaking renewed tenfold. "Y- y-yes, my lord, th-th-thank you for y-y-y-y-"

Another growl, and the beast cut him off with a gesture. Yoshio's vision blacked out; one second he was groveling in the dirt and grabbing for the flowers, and the next he was gone.

The beast stared at the spot where the human had been seconds before, flexing his claws again and smirking, all traces of regality gone. "Dumbass." The human's reek of fear and other fouler odors had grated on his nerves almost as badly as the ruined flowers.

Thunk went something on the beast's head. "Ow! Dammit..." The beast clutched between his strange ears and whirled on a young man in purple robes standing just behind him. "What in the hells was that for?!"

"I must say, old Myouga would've paid your guest to stay longer if dealing with him is what it takes to get you to speak correctly for once," the newcomer said calmly, ignoring the claws digging into the front of his robes. He pushed the beast's arm away with his long staff, the rings of which clinked gently as he approached the bushes. "Oh, my, this certainly is bad."

"Why d'you think I bothered pulling rank on the moron?" The beast crossed his arms again and tapped one bare foot, then kicked angrily at the snow. "Dammit, Miroku, why'd he have to do that of all things? This is what I get for trying to be nice for once!"

"Calm down, Inuyasha," the monk replied, bending to examine the roots with one bead-wrapped and gloved hand. "The damage to the roots wasn't so bad. Even as slowly as these grow, this part will be back to normal in about three months."

"Keh. And meanwhile, he's letting some spoiled brat play with Mother's flowers." Inuyasha's glower deepened, if that was possible. "I hope it's that one that comes, 'cause when I get my hands on her..."

Miroku's serenity vanished instantly. His expressive blue-grey eyes flicked to Inuyasha and narrowed. "You wouldn't harm a child, Inuyasha, not for something like this!"

"Of course not, bouzu," Inuyasha snapped. "I just wanted to teach the damn idiot a lesson. I'll keep the wench till the flowers are done growing in and then let him buy her back."

"Buy her?" Miroku ran his free hand over his black hair, tugged at his short ponytail and frowned. "But her father's not a lord. That would be..."

"A huge insult to them and ruin the rest of her life? Good thinking, bouzu," Inuyasha said nonchalantly. "Just the thing that rich moron needs."

"Are you certain the man can even afford it?" Miroku pointed out.

Inuyasha snorted. "I've never seen anything like those weird pictures of his. He had to've paid more money than I see in a year for 'em. If he can carry those and still have enough to get presents for six brats, he can afford to buy one of 'em back from me."

Miroku was quiet for some time, examining the flowers absently and sliding his sandaled feet under the bushes every so often to warm them, while Inuyasha gingerly patted soil over the exposed roots. "Do you really think it's the best option to just let her go?"

"What's that?" Inuyasha paused and glanced up. Miroku's handsome, solemn features had a thoughtful look he'd learned to be wary of over the years.

"Well, this is the last time we're allowed to exist in this world for...how many more years?" He paused for effect, then spoke with more urgency as Inuyasha grunted and began scooping and patting faster. "Precisely. That man's coming was likely what woke us early in the first place; this must have happened for a reason. Unless you're enjoying yourself more than I thought, you must be willing to consider keeping the girl in case-"

"Piss off." Inuyasha brushed his clawed hands off on his thighs and pinned the monk with a glare that would've given a lesser man coronary failure. "The daughters are all too young, remember? Besides, no one would ever agree to stick around just in case once she got a good look at me. This little wench'll be lucky to remember her own name, with a wormy father like that."

"You may be surprised at what children are capable of," Miroku said mildly, backing up to permit Inuyasha to start walking to the castle ahead of him. "I strongly suggest you reconsider, or at least wait till you've met your new guest before deciding what to do with her."

Inuyasha growled and waved irritably at the castle. "Go wake the rest of the servants up and start getting everything ready for tonight. If you screw this up, I'll make up a third curse just for you."

Miroku sighed in defeat, bobbed a half-bow and set off for a side entrance at a leisurely pace. "Oh, and Inuyasha," he called over his shoulder.

"What?" Inuyasha snapped back.

"Do take a bath early and get out in time to dry off. Nothing says 'dog' like the way you smell when you forget to allot enough time for preparation." Miroku smoothly picked up to a jog and narrowly dodged a head- sized snowball, waving his staff merrily at the irate lord before ducking into the relative safety of the castle.

Yoshio came to slowly, head reeling and hands grasping the rough ground unsteadily as he fought to keep from toppling over. I'm...alive...I think...When the world slowed and then finally stopped spinning, he opened his eyes unsteadily and blinked. Is this...?

Another few moments to recover, and he sat back on his heels, surveying the shrine yard with complete bewilderment. There was the shrine, and all the trees and Kagome's fat cat prowling around, just as he remembered it, right down to the flowers clutched in his hand.

Wait a minute...

For the second time in as many days, events came back to him in a rush, and he groaned aloud again. If only he'd just been drunk this time...! But, no, here were the beast's flowers in his hand, the car was nowhere to be seen, and it was barely noon, judging from the sun directly overhead.

Don't panic, he told himself sternly. I can do this...there's a logical explanation for it all, really. I just have to figure out what it is.

With a deep breath, Yoshio mentally ticked off the things he would have to explain: Why we're still poor, why I lost the car...why they have no presents... He glanced at the flowers in his fist and smiled bitterly. The blossoms hadn't suffered from their trip; only the roots had been crushed in his hand. Oh, and why one of the girls has to go back to the castle and get...eaten...by...

His mind raced to start framing a brilliant story not involving credit cards, drunkenness, or gross stupidity on his part (not to mention a certain monster that wanted to eat one of them that night)...but one that wasn't too ridicul-

"Daddy?" Nabiki's voice interrupted his rumination. "Daddy, you're home!"

Her shout brought all five of her siblings tumbling out into the yard. Kagome dropped to her knees and hugged her father tightly. "We were worried about you last night, Dad. Did you forget to charge your cell again?"

Yoshio's throat froze up, and he held out the flowers numbly. Kagome looked at him curiously, then caught her breath. "Ohhhh...Dad, these are...where did you find these?" She took them carefully and buried her nose in an open bud. "Mmmmm. They're beautiful! Thank you so much!"

"Where's the car?" Ataru asked curiously.

"And why do you smell like..." Yusaku let the question trail off, and it was only then that Yoshio noticed his control had probably given out without his even realizing it.

The added humiliation unfroze his mouth just enough for him to get several words out. "Land...steal...credit...steal...thieves...gone...beer...go..."

"W hat the hell are you talking about, Daddy?" Akemi demanded, scratching her newly dyed red hair and scowling.

"Er..." Yoshio cleared his throat and coughed. "I was...that is, in Tokyo...I, um..."

"Did you get our stuff?" Souta demanded.

"Well, yes...but...a member of the yakuza took it all," Yoshio said in a rush.

All six gaped at him. "What?!"

"Yes, as I finished buying everything and headed to the meeting, a gang member stopped me and hijacked the car and everything in it," he improvised.

"Did you fill out a police report? Why didn't you call?" Kagome was obviously worried, and a few little daggers began poking at his heart for lying to them like this.

"Oh, yes, yes, of course, took me all day. But then...uh...a...nice young man stopped to help me and gave me a ride home, and even let me take one of his flowers for you, Kagome." Yoshio smiled brightly at his youngest daughter, mind working like mad to tie that in with the beast's demand. Not easy with the way the daggers were going... "Except...well...he wants to meet one of you girls in exchange."

"Really now?" Nabiki asked in complete disgruntlement, though Akemi perked up and Kagome looked excited.

Poke poke poke. He had to buy time or he was going to crack. Poke poke... "Uh...yes, that's right, though he was especially interested in you, Kagome."

"Me?" Yoshio could have cheerfully gouged his own eyes out as Kagome's mouth fell open slightly. "Why?"

"Because I...I..." One look at her flushed, slightly expectant face and his resolve crumbled like the bare roots' dirt. "Because if you don't, I'm dead, and if you do, he'll eat you!" Yoshio curled up and buried his head in his arms, completely oblivious to his family's confusion.

It took several minutes and a lot of patient coaxing to get him into the house and talking again, but the first thing out of Yoshio's mouth once he had regained his power of speech was "I lied."

"So you really didn't lose the souvenirs?" Nabiki pounced.

"No." He siiiighed and set his head down to wait out the celebration. "But my partners lied again. They just got me into town for appearances' sake and withdrew again. We're still broke."

Much consternation met this news, and only Yusaku and Kagome wondered how he'd gotten their presents if they hadn't gotten the land sold. For his part, Yoshio was only just beginning to wonder what his partner would do to him if and when he had the police track him, the credit card and the souvenirs down.

"So where's the stuff?" Ataru asked.

"It's in the car, about ten miles from here where I left it two nights ago," Yoshio mumbled. "I was drunk and stayed in the old castle."

"The haunted one?" Souta was impressed. "Did you find anything cool?"

"You could...say that..." Yoshio shut his eyes and buried his head in his arms. "As I was leaving this morn-"

"We can't hear you, Daddy," Nabiki observed.

Yoshio raised his head and began relating the story of his phantom hosts, then how he'd spotted the flowers and remembered Kagome. When he got to the part about the monster, he faltered about halfway through a comparison of its face to a Kabuki mask and surveyed all six mournful faces. "What? You haven't even heard what it-"

"We're in so much trouble," Nabiki groaned, and Akemi heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Honestly, Daddy, why didn't you just stick to the truth?"

"The truth?" Yoshio blinked.

"C'mon, Daddy, out with it," Nabiki said resentfully. "You traded that yakuza all our stuff for some kinda drugs, didn't you?"

Yoshio blinked again, then again. "I most certainly did nothing of the-"

"And they took the car and your wallet and one of 'em has the hots for us now?" Akemi demanded. "Honestly, Daddy, how stupid can you be?"

"I'm not all that surprised you screwed up the deal," Nabiki snapped. "But I never thought you'd ever be this dumb!"

"You're jumping to conclusions!" Yoshio protested. "There was no yakuza! I made it up!"

"And you didn't make up a monster with dog's ears?" Akemi's voice dripped with sarcasm. "What, was that flower a bonus or something?"

"Yeah, how come she got what she wanted and we didn't?" Nabiki demanded, glaring at Kagome as if this were all her fault.

Mind still processing all the news, re-news and now the accusations, Kagome had no clue how to deal with any of this. She listened to the arguments back and forth before Akemi finally declared herself sick of him and went outside for a cigarette. Nabiki departed soon after to their room to watch TV, and the boys just looked at Kagome. She sighed and massaged her scalp slowly as her father turned to her. "Honey, I know it's crazy, but..."

"I just don't know, Dad," Kagome mumbled. "It's...I don't know."

"It's going to happen tonight, Kagome! Tonight!" His voice rose to a cracked octave, and she shushed him quickly.

"If it is real, we'll deal with it when the messenger comes," she said soothingly, grabbing his 'hidden' vodka from a compartment in the kitchen floor and pouring a generous amount into the remaining orange juice from the fridge's last carton. "Here."

His favorite drink helped, but his nerves were frayed all that afternoon and grew worse by the evening. As usual, neither of his older daughters was inclined towards tact. Renewed flurries of commentary on his new habit and their probable fate of starvation thanks to it drifted all around him throughout dinner, and finally Kagome had to slam a dish down on the rickety table and tell them enough was enough.

"What, Kag, do you believe him?" Akemi snapped, helping herself to the last bits on Kagome's plate. "After all, it was your flower that got the magic elf mad at him in the first place, right? So if you wanna trust Acid-sama here, you have to admit this is all your fault."

Nabiki nodded gravely. "S'right, you know. If you'd just asked for something normal like the rest of us, you'd be in the same boat and we'd all be equally miserable."

That was so unfair that Kagome couldn't think of any suitable reply that wouldn't get her grounded for years. The stress of her father's story, the dissolution of her hopes for a school career, and her sisters' sniping had all worn her patience down to the point of physical violence, and she excused herself and hurried out to the bathroom. She was so busy fuming and looking forward to the only area of the shrine where she was guaranteed privacy that the gradual sunset completely escaped her notice.

What she did notice, however, was a soft whoosh of air nearby and a large shape looming out of the shadows on her way back inside. "Hello?" she called, backing up to the shrine wall and squinting into the darkness. The shape silently moved closer to the main house, and Kagome gulped-it was huge. She slipped inside, then fumbled on the wall for the outside light, clicked it on, and peeked out.

"KYAAAAAA!"

"What the...?" Ataru was the first to make it to where Kagome had slumped against the wall, gasping for air.

"A c-c-c-c-thing!" She waved outside. "This cat thing is out there!"

Ataru slid the door open an inch, snickered and opened it wide. Kagome flinched...and suppressed another shriek as her cat leapt inside and arched against her legs, purring loudly.

"It wasn't Buyo!" she protested. "It was yellow and black and...and bigger than a horse! More like a car!"

"Bees are yellow and black, Kag, not cats," Akemi said lazily, stepping outside to light another cigarette.

"Besides, there's nothing out there," Yusaku said, indicating the empty side yard.

Nabiki glanced outside, then snorted. "Looks like Kag's been sharing with Dad. Maybe that's why she believes him."

"Will you shut up about the stupid drugs?" Kagome scowled and got to her feet.

"The drugs! So she admits it!" Akemi raised an eyebrow.

"Someone's at the door," Souta called from the front room before Kagome could attempt to punch her oldest sister.

"Noooo," Yoshio could be heard groaning from the kitchen.

"Well, answer it," Kagome said irritably, ignoring Akemi and Nabiki's stage whispers and giggling behind her back.

There was the sound of the door opening...and silence. "Who is it?" Kagome called, marching past her bemused older brothers and stopping in front of the open door.

"Awwwwwwwww!" Nabiki crooned, coming up behind Souta to peer out onto the front step. "It's so cuuuute! What the hell is it?"

"There's your monster, eyes and all," Akemi said dryly.

The rest of the family just stared out at what appeared to be some kind of tiny cat...except that no breed or species of cat Kagome knew of had crimson eyes, a black diamond on the forehead, or two tails with black wound near the tips. Its body was a solid yellowish cream color with a furry ruff, black ears and teensy black paws. And Nabiki was right: red eyes or no, it was absolutely adorable. Only its very strangeness kept Kagome from scooping it up and cuddling it to death.

As they all packed into the doorway to watch, the little cat-thing trotted off to one side of the doorway, picked up a large scroll in its teeth, and deposited it just inside with a soft, purring mew.

"Awwwwww," Kagome murmured in sync with her sisters as their father bent to pick up the scroll. The cat glanced her way casually, and to her dismay, its back suddenly stiffened and it began to growl. Then it stopped, as abruptly as it had begun, and the cat deliberately turned its back and began grooming itself, just the way Buyo did to recover from doing something foolish in front of his humans. "What the..." she muttered.

No one else moved or spoke as Yoshio unrolled the scroll carefully and scanned it, then dropped it dramatically. "You see, girls? You see?!" He watched shakily as Akemi picked it up and slowly read it aloud:

To the females of the Higurashi household: Your father has damaged my property and violated every principle of hospitality. As repayment for his life, I ask that one of you return with my messenger.

All eyes turned to the cat, whose twin tails swished, and it mewed again, almost impatiently. Akemi obediently turned back to the scroll:

If no one of you chooses to acquit your father, so be it. But if so, let it be known his life will not last past dawn. Do not think you may cheat me or escape my servant.

Again everyone looked in disbelief at the little cat, then back at the scroll, which was signed with an indistinguishable chop.

"You see?" Yoshio walked outside in a daze, not noticing the little cat daintily walking ahead of him and sitting placidly in the yard. He sank onto the top step. "I die, or one of you girls gets eaten by that...that thing!"

The cat mewed again. Nabiki cast a look at it and shrugged. "Some wacko could've just trained the kitten to deliver that freaky message. Doesn't prove a damn thing."

"Yeah. Besides, it's not like that cute little guy can do anything." Akemi indicated the strange cat with a flick of her cigarette ash.

Kagome looked helplessly at the cat, then back at her father. "I hate to say it, Dad, but this is really just more confusing than anything."

Yoshio cast his eyes upward, then addressed the cat. "Do you see why I've had trouble with this?"

To his bemusement, the cat also looked straight up, seemed to sigh, and mewed for their attention. It backed up, stiffened, and suddenly flame whirled all around it, engulfing it for a heartbeat - they all yelped in perfect unison - and then flickered into nothing to reveal a massive, saber- toothed feline that resembled the little cat to a tee except for the large flames laced around each paw. Each tail alone was now as big as Yoshio's torso, though Kagome's original car comparison was a slight exaggeration. The cat glanced at each of them in turn, studiously ignoring Kagome, then turned her back again and curled up, as if to reassure them that no one was going to get eaten just yet.

Once their shock and initial impulses to flee wore off, the transformation in the family was even swifter: if this cute little thing could change into a monster just like that, who was to say there wasn't another monster living in the castle?

"Okay, maybe the land was all Daddy's fault and he screwed up with the flowers, too, but that's also Kagome's fault," Akemi declared, lighting yet another cig with trembling hands. "I am not gonna go get eaten by some weird thing that I have nothing to do with!"

"Same here," Nabiki said quickly, shaking her head rapidly. "You wanted the flowers, Kag, you got 'em, so you go pay for it!"

"She can't leave!" Souta protested, grabbing Kagome's hand protectively. "She's the only one around here who actually does anything! We'd starve and have to eat dirty clothes without her!"

"We can make do," Nabiki argued, but Yusaku and Ataru shook their heads.

"Hey..." Ataru dropped his voice and glanced at the cat's prone form. "Why don't we just kill the monster or something? Problem solved."

"With what, chopsticks?" Yusaku snorted.

"Not a good idea, son." Yoshio shuddered. "You didn't see that thing. Teeth like swords, claws like knives..."

Akemi began to sniffle, and even Nabiki looked ready to be sick. "Daaaad..."

White-faced, Kagome spoke up. "Do we have to decide right now, right this second?"

The cat slowly got up, streeetched, and sat on her haunches facing them, eyes narrowed very slightly. "I think that's a yes." Kagome swallowed hard.

"Don't go," Souta begged again.

"If someone doesn't, Dad dies," she shot back, more harshly than she'd meant.

"I'll go, Kagome," Yoshio reassured her, patting her shoulder awkwardly. "Neither of your sisters seem inclined, and rightfully so-"

"Hell no, I'm not inclined," Akemi retorted.

"But this wasn't your fault, either, honey, and I've done about all I can for you kids by now, so..." Yoshio couldn't continue. Kagome silently flung her arms around his neck, holding on for so long that the cat began to rumble, gently but in clear warning.

Kagome released him, eyes swimming with tears. "Goodbye, Dad." And she leapt down the steps and held her hand out to the cat. "I'm ready to go." The cat obligingly crouched for Kagome to get on its back, dancing out of Yoshio and Yusaku's grasps and launching into the air with dizzying speed. Kagome shut her ears to her brothers and father yelling her name below, clutching the fire-cat's ruff tightly and willing herself not to cry.

It was barely five minutes since they'd started, and Kagome was almost enjoying the cool, sweet night air on her face and the views of the treetops a few hundred feet below. She had no clue how or why this cat thing could fly, but it was exhilarating and peaceful at the same time and just what she needed to keep from thinking of her family and bawling. The fact that the end of this trip signaled her messy and painful death wasn't the only reason she was sorry when a light, nearly conversational noise from her mount warned her of a sudden descent.

Kagome gaped openly as they approached the castle. The courtyard was criss- crossed with hundreds of strings of lit paper lanterns, braziers, torches and generally as much light as she'd been used to while living in Tokyo. "It's beautiful," she said aloud, leaning over for a better look as the cat swooped down to land gently. She slid off, thanked the cat shyly and looked around again, rubbing her legs and letting her stomach settle. "Your master's got to be pretty hungry if he's this happy I'm here. Or do all the girls you bring here get the City Lights treatment?"

Of course the cat made no answer, but stalked off ahead, bounding up the long staircase in two leaps and disappearing into the massive, open double doors. Kagome stared after it, then shrugged and scanned the area once more. She was the only person in the whole courtyard, and pretty as it was, it was also very quiet-too quiet.

No one seemed to be coming out to greet her...maybe the beast wanted to hunt her? No, then he just would've come to the shrine for all of them. She shuddered at the thought: what if he decided to eat them all anyway after he was done with her?

Well, in any case, there was no chance of her standing out here all night. She shook her head to clear it, straightened her shoulders and headed for the steps.

Not far off, just inside the castle's great entrance hall, Miroku was engaged in a verbal battle and growing desperate.

"I'm tired of repeating myself, houshi-sama," his opponent said coldly. "I am not a nursemaid."

"No one ever said or implied you were, Sango-sama," Miroku replied placatingly. Though his wandering eye had long been settled firmly on Sango's lithe figure, even his natural charm and perversion were failing to lend him the strength needed to wear the young woman down. "But Inuyasha wanted you to be the one to introduce the girl to-"

"To babysit her! I fail to see why that can't be left to the maids or actual servants!" Sango's eyes glittered; usually their color reminded Miroku of brown velvet, much lighter than her mahogany hair, but now they were more like steel...except steel wasn't nearly as scary, or as hard to wear down. Not that it made her face any less attractive...no, quite the contrary...

A familiar thump and growl at the entrance brought both their heads around in temporary relief from their 'discussion.' "Kirara," Sango greeted the fire-cat, smiling and rubbing under her chin as Kirara purred. "Did you bring her?" The cat rumbled an assent. "Thanks, Kirara. Head down to the kitchen for some fish-and make sure you're small first!" she called after the cat as she streaked away.

Miroku sighed and suddenly dropped to his knees, bowing in complete supplication. "Please please please take care of her, Sango-sama, just for tonight, or Inuyasha will tear my head off! I'm begging you as one human being to another, please don't upset the girl!"

"I don't know anything about washing clothes or serving meals or any of that nonsense," Sango argued, but Miroku sensed her uneasiness and smiled inwardly.

"Think about it, Sango-sama," he said softly, changing strategy. "The child has been ripped from her family by her own nobility in saving her father's life and is now Inuyasha's to do with as he pleases. Who else will she have to turn to for comfort till she's reunited with her loved ones?"

Sango swallowed and shifted her simple green-and-mauve kimono higher on her shoulders. "Yes, but...but I don't know how to..."

"Just be yourself, Sango-sama, and the girl will have no choice but to be at ease! Help her get dressed, put her to bed, and that's all!" Miroku pleaded, looking up with traces of genuine panic in his face. He suddenly grasped her hands. "It's a simple matter, and you can take it out on Inuyasha all you like tomorrow or even after the girl is asleep tonight, but just for now, pleeee-"

"All right!" Sango hissed as a head appeared in the entranceway. "She's coming up the stairs! Get off the floor and let go of me before she thinks we're both idiots!"

Miroku released her, sprang to his feet and gave a quick, deep bow with a speedy "Your kindness is exceeded only by your beauty and good taste" before straightening and coming to stand beside her in proper solemnity. It was time to greet the master's new...guest?

As the figure at the top of the stairs grew clearer, it also became clear that the lord's new guest was not a child. Sango shot Miroku a sideways death glare for his mistake, which he accepted with a bemused, slightly apologetic eyebrow wriggle.

But that was the least of their surprises. Kagome came up into the light, bowed awkwardly, and looked them each full in the face.

Miroku felt his mouth hanging slightly open. It couldn't- But no, he wasn't imagining it, and Sango looked as shocked as he felt. It took all his courage not to lean away or step back, and he felt a flush of pride when Sango spoke quietly and steadily. "You are Lord Inuyasha's guest?"

"Yes, I'm here in my dad's place," Kagome answered, bowing again in a rush of nervousness. The looks they were giving her weren't helping...were they that surprised by her clothes? Pants weren't that big a deal, were they? "I'm Higurashi Kagome. Pleased to eat...I mean, meet you." Damn. Good one, Kag. They'll love that.

But neither the young man nor the woman - who looked about her age, but who was eyeing her like some species of strange bug - seemed to notice the slip. "Good evening, Kagome-sama," the man said smoothly, bowing and eyeing her with more interest now. "Before Sango-sama shows you to the bath, may I ask you a question?" Kagome nodded warily. "Would you do me the honor of-"

Sango coughed loudly and 'accidentally' ground her heel into the monk's instep, and his face went through all sorts of interesting contortions before he smiled politely, mouthed a "Never mind" and swiftly limped off, leaning heavily on his staff. "While the houshi-sama informs Lord Inuyasha of your arrival," Sango said, also rather loudly and with a slight edge of panic, as Miroku hobbled into a side hall, "allow me to show you the baths. This way, please."

To Kagome's surprise, it seemed that she was actually expected to bathe before the fun began, whatever that might consist of. Moreover, Sango insisted stiffly upon helping her remove her clothes. The sweater, shirt and especially the pants greatly interested her, but she remained politely silent as she stacked them neatly and awkwardly to one side.

Kagome was more than a little weirded out by the fact that these people were even here in the first place (or were they...? Sango definitely felt real, not like a ghost, at least), and being told to bathe in front of one of them, even another woman, was pushing it. Luckily for both of them, Kagome was too tired from the day's emotional shocks to protest as Sango handed her a pin to put her hair up with, began scrubbing her back, then rinsed her off with several nearby buckets and bade her get into the tub.

As Kagome soaked and forced herself to relax for what she figured was her last bath ever, Sango left and came back in with a set of underkimonos and towels. Kagome watched her arranging things, almost fidgeting, and wondered if the other woman knew what was going to happen, or why she was being allowed to bathe in the first place. It seemed like a waste of time...

The answer came to her a moment later, and she grinned, then laughed right out loud. Sango's eyes went very wide, and she regarded Kagome with veiled amazement. "Is something wrong, my lady?"

Kagome waved one hand and shook her head. "Nah, I was just wondering if Inuyasha always makes his dinner clean up first before he eats it. Kinda funny in a stupid way, making your dinner clean up before you eat, isn't it?"

Sango's lips twitched into a smile. This little mistaken impression was going to make things interesting. "I suppose it is, Kagome-sama."

Emboldened by her reaction, Kagome waved another hand and settled it idly on the surface of the water, pushing and raising her palm to feel the heat change. "Just call me Kagome, or keep the formality down. I'm probably younger than you are. I'm only..."

She stopped dead. 18. She was 18 starting tomorrow. Her birthday.

Sango waited patiently for Kagome to finish. "You're...how old? Kagome-san?"

Suddenly Kagome laughed and slapped the water. "I knew something was wrong! This always happens...I know something bad's gonna happen, and it happens! My 18th birthday tomorrow, and my present is..." She shook her head. "Ahhh, I'm sorry, but you understand, don't you?"

If only you knew..."I think so, Kagome-san. Would you like to come out now?"

"Sure." Kagome let Sango help her out of the huge tub and began to dry herself off. "Uh...Sango-san? Can I ask you a question?"

Sango's whole demeanor stiffened back into wary formality. "I'm afraid I may not be able to answer, but yes, you may."

Weird. "Uh...you don't...well, you and the other guy..."

"The houshi-sama? Miroku?" Sango ignored a little twinge in her stomach.

"Yeah, him. Well, I showed up and you two looked at me like I was some kind of zombie." Sango flinched, but covered it well before Kagome turned back to her. "Why was that, if I can ask?"

"Well, your father showed Lord Inuyasha several pictures of your family that indicated his children were all still young," Sango answered truthfully. "They looked recent."

Kagome giggled, then started laughing outright. "Those are photographs," she said between gulps of air. Unwittingly echoing Sango, all she could think was that this was going to make things interesting. "We use special devices to capture an image in front of them exactly as it appears, and then create that image on a special kind of paper that lasts for years. Those pictures - photos - were way over a decade old."

"I see," Sango said slowly, then smiled, a bit maliciously, at the thought of Inuyasha's face upon discovering the truth behind the pictures. Then she thought of Inuyasha's face upon seeing Kagome now, and her smile disappeared. "Also," she said briskly, motioning for Kagome to hold her arms out so she could slide the bottom kimono on, "the houshi-sama is the resident monk and spiritual adviser, while I am taijiya, a demon slayer and warrior..."

"And not a maid?" Kagome picked up on Sango's hesitation. "So having to dress me up is a comedown?"

"Well, that's a harsh way to put it...but yes," Sango said truthfully, thankful for Kagome's quick honesty.

"Wow. I'm sorry. Well, at least you won't have to put up with me for long, right?"

Sango paused to look at Kagome in astonishment. This girl was making her do that quite a bit, it seemed. "The idea of dying doesn't frighten you?"

"Eh. If my time's come, well, I just hope this Inuyasha doesn't want to cook me too much before he starts. I hate sunburns." Kagome was doing her best to conceal her growing fear, and as usual when she started getting afraid, she also found herself getting angry. Neither emotion was much fun, and the whole situation was rapidly wearing on her raw nerves. Better to just get this over with. "So when do we eat?"

"What is it, Miroku?" Inuyasha snapped, straightening his red haori, and the shoji to his right slid open.

"Well...your guest has arrived, Lord," Miroku said uneasily, shifting his weight. "Sango has agreed to tend to her."

"Good. Very good. Send her in as soon as she's done." Inuyasha waved a hand in dismissal, too busy with his thoughts to notice the monk almost scurrying away.

So it begins. Last chance, Inuyasha, better not screw this one up. A wisp of fear scent caught his attention, and he frowned at the shoji Miroku had forgotten to close. Everyone's probably just waiting for me to eat her or something. Idiots. As if I didn't know this is their last chance, too...

Well, judging from the usually unflappable monk's reaction, the girl was probably terrified and putting up a fuss already. Not good.

Inuyasha ignored his own growing nervousness and looked over his clothes, deciding lamely that maybe being dressed perfectly might help to make a good first impression. A final tug here and there...and he was done. As always, he wore all red, save for flashes of his white kimono under the slits in his haori's sleeves. He never bothered with his mane of white hair, which hung well past his waist. Piss on Miroku. I'm never cutting it.

As if he had somehow heard, Miroku reappeared. "She's ready," he said weakly, gesturing behind him with his staff.

Inuyasha scowled. Miroku was good at hiding his emotions - for a human, anyway - but he couldn't conceal his scent, or the fact that he was almost faint with apprehension. "Relax, bouzu, I told you I'll go easy on her."

Miroku looked ready to ask if he was sure, but checked himself at his lord's growl. "As you wish." And he beckoned for Inuyasha to follow him.

Sango had escorted Kagome to a little room covered with several beautiful rice-paper hangings and indicated a cushion for her to kneel on while she waited. But as soon as her knees touched the sturdy fabric, Kagome was back on her feet and pacing restlessly, heedless of the lanterns' soft glow on the wonderful paintings of birds, sunsets and richly dressed courtiers all around her.

"Uh...Kagome-san? Would you like something to drink?" Sango offered kindly, watching her stalk around the room in silent circles as fast as her kimono would permit.

"No," Kagome snapped. "Thanks. If you want to bring some soy sauce in, though, that'd be fine. Brown's my color, and your master would probably appreciate it!"

Sango scooted back against the wall and resolved not to say anything the rest of the night if she could help it.

Kagome irritably pulled her hair free of its pins and paused to stroke one of her sleeves, trying to calm herself. Sango had dressed her in five layers; the outermost kimono was a breathtaking scarlet, silk embroidered with cranes and bound with a golden-striped obi, but the feel of the smooth fabric did nothing to quell her fury.

How dare this...this beast force her to come here, leave her family without saying goodbye, and then make her wait to be eaten?! Her father and brothers needed her, and even if it was monumentally stupid of Yoshio to yank those flowers up, he'd just done it in a moment of ignorance! Who or what in their right mind would kill and eat someone for that? No one!

Wait...She gulped. He is going to kill me first, right? The thought made her knees go shaky and chilled her whole body; anger deftly swept the cold away and steadied her resolve. Well, hell with him! See if I go quietly!

"Kagome-sama?" Kagome whirled around, ready to do battle and cursing her obi: it was beautiful, but also restricted her breathing quite a bit, and she needed all her breath right now.

But it was only Miroku. He bowed steadily, cast Sango a look Kagome couldn't interpret, and cleared his throat. "Lord Inuyasha is ready to see you now." He pushed the shoji open wider.

Something prickled on the back of Kagome's neck. She tore her eyes away from Miroku and slowly turned to look behind her.

Red. Red eyes. Red clothes, some kind of feudal style but rich, almost blood-red. Kagome's hands shook a little as she gripped the insides of her wide sleeves and forced herself to take in detail, not just color.

She immediately saw why her father had been so terrified; after all, the castle's lord did have fangs, claws, dog ears, face stripes, and white hair...and red eyes-but those eyes were not terrifying.

Scary, maybe...a little, as she first looked into them and swallowed hard as blue pupils fixed on her. But they weren't glaring, not narrowed in anger or hatred or greed. No, they were wide, unblinking, and almost as stunned as hers.

As the seconds wore on, the shock gave way; Inuyasha's mouth fell open very slightly, and Kagome's anger faded into unnerved bewilderment. He didn't look ready to eat her, she thought: more like he was afraid she was going to disappear or something. And she blinked, trying to catch her breath, and he hesitated, started to come forward, then drew back.

Kagome had never been more confused in her life. Her knees had started trembling imperceptibly under the weight of his gaze, but not from fear.

Blood-red or not, those eyes were completely unguarded. First deep, aching hurt, then momentary anger, and finally shy hope all flitted through as he slowly, carefully took a step towards her, then another, another. Kagome couldn't move, even to breathe; could only watch, mesmerized, as he raised a hand to touch her face.

The loud rattling of Miroku's staff as he and Sango leaned in closer jerked Kagome out of the spell, literally, and she jumped. Inuyasha recoiled, then broke eye contact for the first time to give Miroku an even look that promised worse than death very, very soon.

But as soon as the...whatever it was...had passed, Kagome remembered that this was the beast who'd taken her away from her family in order to....Her back stiffened. She took a long, deep breath, then let it out and glared at Inuyasha. "Well, what d'you think? Good enough to eat?"

Inuyasha stopped dead. With almost painful slowness his head turned from the frozen monk to look at Kagome, who had the impression of him really looking at her for the first time. He sniffed audibly; suddenly his face hardened, and Kagome swallowed hard but stood her ground. All traces of vulnerability were long gone now, replaced by intense disdain, dislike and disgust.

"I seem to have made a mistake," Inuyasha ground out, sparing a dirty look for Miroku. "This is not acceptable, bouzu. Take her back to her idiot father, and do it now."

Sango gulped, and Miroku nearly dropped his staff. "B-but Lord Inuya-"

"Shut up," Inuyasha snapped, turning on his heel to stalk away.

"My Lord Inuyasha?" Kagome's sweet, pleasant inquiry stopped him again, and despite himself, he looked over his shoulder. She was smiling prettily, head cocked to one side. His heart clenched. "May I ask something of milord?"

Concealing his inner turmoil, Inuyasha turned back and came a few steps closer. "What?"

Kagome smiled even more sweetly, took a deep breath, and let him have it.

"WHAT IN THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM, YOU ARROGANT BASTARD?!"

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head, and he clapped his hands over them in a vain, belated attempt to protect his sensitive hearing. "Wh-wh-wh- wha-"

"You scare my father half to death, scare my family half to death, take me away from them so you can eat me, and then decide I'm not acceptable?!"

Inuyasha freed one hand and waved it at her to try to shut her up as she paused for breath. "What are you talking about, you stupid-"

"I am TALKING about you forcing families apart and killing people over your bloody FLOWERS when my father just made an honest mistake and apologized! But no, off with his head or eat one of his daughters, that's the only way to make it better!"

Kagome had to breathe again and cursed her obi more than ever. But all the pent-up sorrow and rage that'd been building in her...well, for years now, even if everything she was screaming about was recent-the need to release some of it was stronger than mere oxygen deprivation, and here was the perfect opportunity.

"And then making me take a bath, dress up like a medieval Barbie and sit around so you can stare at me like a slab of beef and tell them I am NOT ACCEPTABLE?! I don't know who the hell you think you are, but I do NOT appreciate this, you stuck-up-brainless-fuzzy- asshole! Why don't you just eat sh-"

"Now hold on just a damn second!" Inuyasha roared, taking advantage of her need to stop and gasp for air. Being emotionally jerked around and then screamed at for something he wasn't going to do (not to mention being caught acting like a pansy in front of his servants) did not sit well with him. "I dunno where you got that stupid idea, but I am not going to eat you! You are not food! I don't eat people, especially not foul-mouthed bitches who don't know what they're talking about and can't shut up!"

Kagome glared daggers at him, but was breathing too hard to retaliate just yet. "Then...pant...what..."

"You're a hostage, look at it that way," Inuyasha snapped, glaring right back with his patented Scary Eyes. She flinched at the way his face furrowed into a demonic snarl, but scowled and refused to look away. "All I want is to make your father suffer a little. Then he can have you back-for the right price."

The girl just kept glaring at him. "As I said," Inuyasha gritted through his clenched teeth, feeling his fangs prick his jaw and letting the slight pain anger him further. "I don't eat humans. But if you don't stop pissing me off and learn your place, I can always make an exception!"

Her eyes widened, and she waited till her breathing slowed to speak, very quietly. "You mean I'm not food...and that I'm just here so you can sell me to my father like some kind of slave?" Inuyasha smirked. "I see." She bowed her head and sighed.

"Good," Inuyasha said with immense satisfaction. "I'm glad to see you..." Her lips moved. "What?" They moved again, but no sound came out, and he smirked again. She was speechless, eh? "Speak up, wench."

He realized his mistake about two milliseconds before she obeyed at maximum volume. "I SAID, SCREW YOU! He can't afford to pay for groceries, much less whatever you'd gouge him for me! I'm so very sorry to tell you this, but there's no way it's gonna happen! You'll have to find some other way to humiliate us!"

Damn. She picked up on that quick. But... "What about those idiotic pictures he had?" Inuyasha yelled back. "Those were higher quality than any painting I've ever seen in my life! I could see your ugly little faces clear as day! And why aren't you a whelp? Are you some kind of witch or kami that can age as you please?!"

"Those are photographs!" Kagome's throat was really starting to hurt, but damned if she was going to stop yelling now. "If you knew anything, you'd know that cameras capture images of things, make perfect copies of them on paper, and those photographs last for years! They're so cheap, anyone can get one made on the street! Dad's photos of us are God knows how many years old!"

Damn! "You mean I'm stuck with you because your dad's as poor as he is stupid?" Inuyasha yelped. "That-he-dammit! Well, thanks for letting me think you were worth anything!"

"And thank you for going ballistic over your stupid plants and giving me so much time to say goodbye to my family, who don't love me or need me and whom I'm not going to miss at all! Not to mention all the advance notice for me to pack and-"

"Sango." Everyone in the room jumped as Inuyasha barked the other woman's name. "Go to the shack her family's squatting in and retrieve her things, then her father's. I'll figure out something to do with her in the meantime."

My father's? But as Sango bowed and turned to leave, Kagome suddenly realized that the slayer had listened to all her talk about dying without breathing a word of Inuyasha's actual plans; she glared at Sango, who looked sheepish. So she did know!

"Don't give her that look," Inuyasha said sharply, and Kagome regarded him with surprise. "The castle's servants are bound not to say certain things about me, even if you ask them directly. There was no way she could've told you about this, so drop the righteous indignation. It makes you look even dumber."

Almost choked with rage, Kagome tried to think of a suitable retort and failed: her adrenaline had given out, and she could tell her throat was almost raw. Bastard...I can deal with Nabiki and Akemi giving me a hard time, but not this...freak!

Inuyasha smirked at her and slid open another shoji. "Oi, Miroku," he said carelessly, and the monk twitched violently. "Take the wench to someplace she can sleep. Maybe it'll help her brain start working again...assuming it ever did."

Miroku gulped. Kagome seethed for another moment, then coughed to clear her throat. She took a deep, calming breath, let it out, and addressed Inuyasha quietly and pleasantly: "Va te faire voir."

"What was that?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her, and she smiled sweetly. "Whatever, wench. I'm goin' to sleep now." And he slammed the shoji closed behind him.

As Miroku showed Kagome a room with a water basin for her to drink and recover her throat a bit, he personally pulled out a futon, then let her unfold it herself to avoid giving an improper impression. It was a nice thought, but completely useless, as she caught him eyeballing her rear with much enjoyment as she bent over to smooth it out.

"My apologies." Miroku held his hands up in quick surrender as she grabbed the basin and aimed it at his head. "Forgive me, Kagome-sama."

Kagome hmphed and took another long drink, watching him narrowly. He waited till she was finished to bow. "Good night, dearest Lady, and thank you for the most entertaining conversation Inuyasha has ever had."

"Huh?" Kagome put the water down. "I thought you'd be upset that I yelled at him. He is your master, right?"

Miroku grinned and rubbed the back of his head, full of boyish charm, and she couldn't help smiling in return. "Yes, Kagome-sama, but you may have noticed that Inuyasha is something of a...special case. And no, Kagome-sama, I believe the servants have already spread the story throughout the castle. I would be surprised if any haven't decided you're either very brave or completely suicidal before the hour is out." He bowed, still grinning. "I am completely convinced of the former, and Sango will tell you the same when she returns tomorrow morning. Ah, the day when he accuses someone else of being foul-mouthed..."

Miroku bowed again and left the room quietly, staff clinking all the way...and then came back and stuck his head in as she was removing her obi. "Oh, and before I bid you good night..."

Kagome clutched her kimono around herself and glared at him. "What is it?"

"What precisely did you say to Inuyasha in that foreign tongue, if I may ask?" Miroku was clearly dying of curiosity.

Kagome chuckled and rubbed her hands together. "It was French. And I told him to go to hell." She smiled and waved at Miroku. "Now, good night." He swiftly pulled the shoji back, and she listened to his soft step heading away from the room, laughing quietly all the way.

Dear Diary...today I got abducted by a cat, bathed and hit on by ghosts, and fought with some kind of dog...thing. Tomorrow can't get any worse. Good night. Her eyes closed, and despite the strangeness of the castle noises, the smell of the old wood and slightly musty futon, and the torchlight flickering in the next room, Kagome was almost instantly asleep.

A/N: And there you have it. Next chapter, we truly get into it.

And I should probably clarify some Japanese words and terms at this point. It bugs me to write gratuitous "hai" and "baka" and "hentai!"s (not picking on those who do write lots of those words...whatever floats your boat), but I did keep a few words in where it seemed necessary, like haori (it's like a kimono, but much shorter), hakama (think of this: Kikyou and Kaede wear red hakama), bouzu (a rude term for a Buddhist monk, which I kept because it's ruder and conveys Inuyasha's personality better than just "monk"), shoji (rice paper sliding walls), and the honorifics. I waffled a bit on -sama vs. "Lady" or "Lord," but I just like honorifics. :D

A note about the hostage business: as I understand it, it was a common practice for Japanese daimyos (lords) to "host" members of other lords' families as insurance that the other lords wouldn't do certain things. However, in Kagome's family's case (or what Inuyasha thinks is her case), her father is rich but not a lord, and so her being sold back like a slave after living with him pretty much destroys her honor; since she wouldn't be a political hostage, Inuyasha could do with her as he pleased, and when she returned to her family, her chances of marrying into a good family would've been shot to hell, and if a woman had no chance of getting married into a good family... well... tsk tsk.

(If I've screwed up on any cultural points, please let me know...but only if you know for a fact I did. I.e., I will ignore corrections on how she got her back scrubbed and then got into the tub. ;D Till next chapter...)