InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beauty & the Beast ❯ Chapter 7

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Beauty and the Beast

Speaking - "..."
Thoughts - '...'
Telepathy - ~...~

By: Cassial_Darkfox

Still don't own any Inuyasha characters and still own Sitora and everyone else, minus Shinjiru. She's my sister's character, so no thieving.

Chapter 7

Inuyasha wanted to scream, they were lost. He was so frustrated. They had been going in circles for over two hours when finally Miroku pointed out the same rock formation that resembled Sango's curves, as he put it.

"Inuyasha you are the one with the excellent nose, shouldn't you have been able to tell we were going in circles?"

"Miroku shut up!" He sniffed, "Besides, there is something different about this forest. It all smells the same. I don't understand it!"

Sango sighed, "Inuyasha calm down. I'm sure we'll find the path again."

"Yeah," Shippo piped in, "and we'll find Kagome then go home."

He looked at Shippo but said nothing. "Come on. Let's keep moving and maybe we'll get back on the path."

It was some time before they found that they hadn't passed by the same familiar rock as they had been. Nothing looked like anything they had seen so far. As they walked on talk among them seemed to dwindle away as each of them noticed something in the air, something in the very forest that was threatening them.

They were stopped by Inuyasha not long after the feeling of animosity hit Shippo. He stood with his nose to the wind and his ears were twitching. Something was different now; Inuyasha could feel the difference the forest had made. Now instead of the menacing presence there was only peace.

"Inuyasha do you feel that?" Miroku now stood next to Sango looking up into the trees.

"Yeah, whatever that feeling before was now it's gone."

Sango stepped up towards Inuyasha, "Something scared it off."

"What do you mean scared it off?" Shippo looked around waiting for something to attack them.

"What do you think she means? It means that-" He froze when he felt something just on the other side of the line of trees start moving, it was walking towards them. Whatever it was it was strong. "Get ready to fight if we have to."

Miroku held his staff in a defensive position, "Yes, but if it is not required I would rather not fight something so strong.

"Feh, scaredy cat."

The bushes rustled, then out stepped a youkai who looked as if it was half humanoid and half animal. Black fur covered his body. His brown eyes landed on Inuyasha and narrowed.

"What the hell are you?" Inuyasha couldn't move, something in its eyes seemed so familiar but foreign at the same time.

"I am beyond your understanding hanyou." Behind him in the bushes emerged two more youkai, one a tiger and the other an inu with wings.

"Sitora? Koa? What are you...? He's the one holding Kagome isn't he?!" Inuyasha pulled the Tetsusaiga and pointed it at the Lord, "You had better give me back Kagome now or I will kill you!"

"Foolish hanyou what makes you think she wants to return to you?" He stood up at his full height with his eyes to the surrounding forest, "You had better leave now or you will die in this forest. Nothing passes it unless they have someone who has already passed through here show them the way. This forest is dangerous and a youkai has been growing stronger within the safety of these trees."

Sitora growled, "Please go back to your village. I'm not saying this to keep Kagome with us, but to keep her from feeling the pain of your deaths." Her ears went back and her eyes darted to the trees surrounding them, "Go now! Before it is too late."

Miroku shuddered, "Inuyasha that force is back and stronger than before."

The Lord's power surged around them and the negative force diminished. "I am the only thing keeping it at bay right now. It is sheerly by the miko's will that I came here." He growled, "Leave Inuyasha you are not welcome here."

Inuyasha's body shook in fear, 'That voice... I know that voice...' His wide golden eyes landed on those of the Lord, "You... It's impossible."

"Inuyasha! We have to go!" Sango grabbed Inuyasha and pulled him back towards the way they came.

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo rode on Kirara and Inuyasha ran beside them. He cast one look back and found they were gone.


******


Kagome looked out her window and sighed. They weren't back yet and she was worried. The Lord left with Koa and Sitora just after lunch; after he told her about her friends coming their way and the danger that lived in the forest beyond the castle walls. She wanted to see her friends again but she knew that they shouldn't be near the castle.

Though she missed Inuyasha dearly part of her wanted him to leave her here, with the Lord. Somehow in her brief time at the castle Kagome had developed feelings for the Lord, though she wasn't sure how deep or even what these feelings were. The fact that she asked him if she could kiss him was proof enough of her attraction to him.

It didn't make sense to her though. She was in love with Inuyasha, which she knew as a fact, but now she wanted nothing more than to stay with the Lord and learn everything she could about him. She had two more questions she could ask him and she needed to decide what those questions will be.

Her door opened and she looked at who stood there. It was Kagura and she motioned for Kagome to follow her.

Kagome followed Kagura out into the garden and looked around in amazement. She looked at Kagura in question, "Is it okay that I'm out here? I mean with the youkai in the forest?"

She laughed, "That youkai wouldn't dare step foot near this castle. And yes you are allowed out here, my Lord thought it would be best if you got out of the palace." Kagura turned to leave then said, "I will be close. You don't need to worry about anything."

"Wait Kagura! My sword, it wasn't in my room...where is it?"

"I will get it for you; in the meantime just enjoy the peace." Then she walked away back inside the castle.

Kagome looked at all the flowers and various ponds with koi. The garden was vast, so much so that Kagome couldn't see where it ended. Tall trees stood in the distance obscuring her view.

She walked slowly through the garden taking in all the different flowers and trees. Kagome had never seen so many flowers in all her life and never thought that so many existed.

Squirrels chased each other through the trees and all around the garden. Birds sat up in the trees watching Kagome walk beneath them with mild interest.

Peace filled her mind like she had never felt before. In all her years in the village with her family and friends she had never felt like she truly belonged there, but here she felt like she did.

"Miko."

She turned and saw Kagura standing there with her sword clamped between her jaws. Kagome smiled, "Thank you." Kagome took her sword from Kagura's jaws, careful not to cut her.

Once Kagura had left Kagome got into her fighting stance and started to go through her practice routine.

She slowly moved her arms in a complicated set of moves she had known for years. Kagome moved her sword over her head and brought it down in front of her.

It wasn't long before sweat was beading on her skin. She felt the sweat run down her arms and her sides. Kagome slowed her breathing and closed her eyes. She stopped moving and stood with her sword at her side.

"Where did you learn to do that?"

Kagome spun around and saw the Lord standing behind her. She felt herself blush, "I've been practicing since I was young. I usually train with Sango, but when I first started Sango's father said I was a natural."

"I see."

She could feel his eyes bore into her and Kagome tried avoiding his eyes. When Kagome heard a sword being removed from a sheath her head shot up. Her eyes were wide when she saw that he held his sword and was looking at her with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "What?"

"Take up your stance Kagome."

Her heart skipped a beat at hearing him say her name. She nodded and took her defensive stance. Kagome held her sword out in front of her, 'This is going to be very bad.' The only person Kagome had ever fought was Sango and that was just sparring.

Their eyes met and held glances.

Kagome saw his body tense and that was her only warning before he attacked.


******


Shippo watched Inuyasha from the ground as the hanyou appeared to be sulking in the tree. He figured Inuyasha was still mad about having to turn back and give up the search for Kagome for the time being.

"Is he still up there?"

He turned around and saw Miroku walking up to him, "Yeah, he's been up there since we got back and he hasn't said anything to anyone."

"Lady Kikyo will be here shortly with Sango. I'm positive Inuyasha will talk to her." Miroku looked up, 'Something else is wrong with him. He recognized the voice of the youkai that has Kagome and we need to know who he is.' He looked down when he heard Shippo's stomach rumbling.

Shippo held his stomach, "I haven't eaten anything since this morning."

Miroku laughed, "Some then, let's go get something to eat. Inuyasha will be fine here alone."

Inuyasha watched them leave and sighed, he knew Kikyo would be there soon. His mind was still reeling with the discovery of who the youkai was, whose voice that was. He hadn't heard that voice in years, though part of him was relieved to hear it.

"What do I do?" His voice trailed away on the wind.

"It would seem to me that the answer to that is obvious, but I guess you don't know what you want."

Inuyasha growled, "What the hell do you want?!" He spun around and unsheathed his sword, ready for an actual fight.

His black haired opponent jumped back and landed with ease on the ground. He smirked, "After all this time, still as slow as ever."

"You'll pay for bothering me today you bastard!" Inuyasha launched towards the youkai on the ground.

He sidestepped and Inuyasha landed on the ground with a growl, "I would have thought you would keep better care of my woman dog breath." He shrugged, "Guess that’s what I get for leaving her in you care."

"She is not your woman!" Inuyasha pointed his sword at the wolf.

"Well, she's obviously not yours or are you switching out every week?"

Inuyasha was starting to see red, "You fuc-"

"Inuyasha, that is enough.”

He whirled around and saw Kikyo standing with Sango, both were scowling at him. His ears went back and he lowered his sword.

"And you Kouga, know better than to bait him like that!" Sango glared at the wolf.

He returned her glare and shrugged, "He shouldn't have lost my woman."

Inuyasha sheathed his sword and walked past Kouga into the forest.

Kikyo looked after Inuyasha in worry, "I'll talk to him."

Sango nodded, "Alright." She looked back at Kouga, "Come on before you get yourself killed."

"As if he could really kill me."

Kikyo finally found Inuyasha sitting by the edge of the spring. He was staring at his reflection with blank eyes. "Inuyasha?"

"I've always been there for Kagome whenever she needed me, but now she needs me the most and I can't even help her."

"You're trying your best Inuyasha, that's all she can ask you of. She knows you're trying, Kagome has to know." Kikyo sat next to him.

"My best is good enough this time though. This is Kagome, she deserves everything I have."

"So do you mean you are willing to die to rescue her?"

He turned and faced her, "Yes!"

Kikyo wrapped her arms around him, "You dying will not help anyone. Kagome loves you and how do you think she will feel if she finds out you died trying to save her? How would you feel if she did that to you?"

"Her life isn't worth risking to save mine."

She held Inuyasha closer, "That is how Kagome feels. Nothing is worth losing the life of a friend or lover."

"How do you know?"

"Because she loves you as much as I do." Kikyo looked up at him and kissed him lightly. "You will save her, she knows this just as I do, but you have to live to make it worth while."

He closed his eyes, 'But she's with him now...'

Kikyo pulled away from Inuyasha when she felt something. "Inuyasha... have you been in contact with any youkai recently? Other than, Shippo, Kirara, and Kouga?"

"Yeah, the youkai that has Kagome, why?" Inuyasha looked at her strangely.

"There are youki remnants on you that aren't yours. I know this youki... Naraku."

Inuyasha's eyes widened, "Naraku?! Are you sure?"

"Yes I would know that youki anywhere."

"But we killed him!" Inuyasha's mind went back to the day he and Kikyo almost killed one another.


*Flashback*


Inuyasha had come upon the village with the strange miko in it almost three years ago. He hung around, something about the miko made him stay. She wasn't like all other mikos; she didn't try to kill him as soon as he appeared. Even when he tried to steal an important artifact the village had she warned him, but didn't kill him.

Kikyo was the miko of a small village outside a large forest. Inuyasha thought she was foolish to let him stay without someone watching over him. More than anything her tolerance of him intrigued him. She wasn't afraid of him and she didn't hate him.

It wasn't long before they developed a strange, if not, comfortable relationship. They would sit in silence most days, just content being together. Other days they would argue and stay mad at each other for days, only to end up in that companionable silence both had come to enjoy.

Their friendship soon developed into a love neither acknowledged, but both knew was there.

Inuyasha started to think things about Kikyo he never would have thought before. Soon he couldn't take the silence they had enjoyed and he acted.

He kissed her near the river that went around the outskirts of the village. From that time their relationship grew faster than either thought it could or would. No longer were they content to be in each other’s presence, they talked about things they never had before. Though they did talk, one thing Inuyasha never brought up was the one thing that consumed his thoughts the most.

It was one day he was alone thinking about something he thought was taboo that he was barely missed by an arrow. It struck near his head and remained imbedded in the tree he was in.

Inuyasha looked up at the stairs of the shrine and Kikyo stood there with her hand back and her bow in her other hand. "Kikyo?!"

She knocked another one and pulled the string back.

Inuyasha ran away from the tree towards the village. His mind was going a mile a minute, 'There is no way... Why would she do this?! Kikyo...' It was then that he registered the scent of Kikyo's blood.

***

Kikyo was walking through the field on the far end of the village when she heard something behind her. She turned in time to see Inuyasha attack her and she fell. Searing pain tried to fill her senses, but her miko training kept her conscious.

She looked up at the hanyou she had come to love.

He smirked down at her as he grabbed her bow from her hands. He snapped it in half and threw it back at her. "You were a fool to think that I could ever love you." His golden eyes seemed to revel in the sight of her blood, "You will die here all alone miko."

Kikyo's eyes widened. "Inuyasha..."

A sneer was on Inuyasha's face when he looked back in surprise. Blood started pouring from his chest as a clawed hand burst through his chest.

Kikyo watched on in surprise as she saw another Inuyasha behind the one that attacked her. Confusion clouded her thoughts as she tried to figure out what was happening.

"Who the hell are you?!" He looked into the false Inuyasha's eyes and watched as they turned a chocolate brown. The false Inuyasha's hair turned jet black and his skin paled.

"I am Naraku." His arms turned into something that resembled the limbs of trees and stabbed into Inuyasha's gut.

Inuyasha ignored the pain and ripped Naraku's arm off. "How dare you try to attack me and then attack Kikyo!!? You sick bastard I will kill you!" He attacked Naraku with the same attack Naraku had mimicked to attack Kikyo.

Kikyo watched from the ground as Naraku's body crumbled to the ground. "Inuyasha..." It was then that Kikyo blacked out.

Inuyasha rushed to her side and looked at her wound. She was going to die if he didn't get her back to the village. He took off with Kikyo in his arms and her life in his hands.

After Kikyo was well again they returned to the place that Inuyasha had killed Naraku to destroy his remains. What they found when they got there disturbed Kikyo. Naraku's remains were gone and no evidence of the battle was left.


*End of Flashback*


'If I hadn't smelt her blood I would have killed her when I saw her.'

"We don't know if he really died Inuyasha... So it is him that has Kagome." Kikyo looked up at Inuyasha, "I am not ignorant to the fact that Kagome and I look alike and it may be for that reason alone that he has her."

"We can't wait any longer then. We have to come up with a plan and rescue her as soon as possible." Inuyasha stood up and held his hand out to Kikyo.

She took his hand and smiled, "We have to tell the others as well."

"Yeah, come on we have no time to waste." All of his previous thoughts as to who the youkai was vanished as he and Kikyo made their way back to the village.


*******


Kagome panted as she knelt with her hands on the ground. Her sword was several feet away and the Lord was standing in front of her with his sword at her throat.

"Do you give up Kagome?"

She looked past him at her sword and tried to figure out a way to get to it. There was only one way and it would be a risky one. If she did it she would have to make sure it worked because there wouldn't be any second chance.

"Well?"

Kagome put her hand up with her palm facing him and said, "No." She shot a blast of miko power at him, not enough to hurt him but enough to stun him. When he stumbled back she jumped up and made a move for her sword. Kagome picked it up and swung around to face him except he wasn't anywhere to be seen.

She looked around frantically trying to find him. Kagome closed her eyes and felt for his youki, when she locked on it she found that is was behind her. She turned and swung her sword upwards in an arc.

Metal stuck metal as Kagome's sword stopped his mid-strike.

"That was an underhanded attack Kagome."

"No, you know that I am a miko. I attacking you with my miko power is no different than you using your youki infused in your sword to add more power to your sword." She smirked as brief surprise flashed through his eyes.

He forced her back with his sword then leapt back beyond her reach. "Miko are supposed to be incapable of feeling that. Only youkai can feel the youki within my sword." His eyes sparkled in wonder as he looked Kagome up and down.

She shrugged, "I don't know how I felt it I just know I did."

He let his sword rest at his side, "We are done for today. You are quite strong for having been taught by a youkai exterminator. It seems you have the skill to live with even youkai and not worry about being killed."

"Yeah, but I've never lived with youkai except now." She smiled at him as she sheathed her sword. Black dots started to take over her vision and she got light headed.

He saw this and rushed forward just in time to catch her. She was sleeping soundly in his arms as he carried her up to her room.

He lie in her bed and set her sword on the floor near her bed. He watched her sleep and he thought back to his irrational comment. He had allowed her to ask him questions, three of them. One of these questions had already been asked, but remained unanswered.

She asked if she could kiss him, he had gotten up and left the room, leaving the question unanswered. Kagome hadn't asked him about it since then; she seemed content to let him take his time answering.

How could she ask him that? He didn't understand why she would want a monster like him to kiss her. Though he was loath to admit it, he was starting to harbor feelings for the miko and he didn't know whether to accept them or reject them.

Still aware of the curse that was placed on him he was willing to accept the developing feelings. At first he allowed them for the strict fact that the curse could be lifted. Now though, he wanted to pursue the feelings because she made him feel things he hadn't felt in years and he wanted the feelings back. But, if the curse was lifted would she accept the real him as much as she accepted the beast form of him?

It was these answers that left him indecisive. If he decided to allow and return these feelings, would they remain when she found out whom and what he really was? Was he really willing to take the chance?

He didn't know any of the answers to these questions.

He looked back down at Kagome, "Why do you want to make me love you? Why am I started to love you?" He reached down and placed his paw on her cheek.

She smiled in her sleep and cuddled into his hand. Kagome whispered in her sleep, "What is your real name...Lord? Please kiss me..." Her voice trailed off back into dreamland.

His eyes flashed, "You wouldn't love me so if you knew that Kagome..." Withdrawing his paw, he leaned down and softly kissed her cheek. "I wish I knew if you would still hold your feelings for me." He stepped away from her bed and walked out of her room.

Kagome opened her eyes sadly and watched the door close behind him. "I would love you no matter what..."


*********


He looked at Sitora and Koa, "I want you to trail Inuyasha no matter where he goes. You are not to let him know you are there, you are there in secret."

Koa looked at him surprised, "May I ask why Lord?"

"I do not want him coming here or even into the forest surrounding the castle. He is not welcome here." His eyes held nothing but finality.

"What if Kagome finally decides she wants to go back home? Are we going to take her back there?" Sitora looked for any indication that he cared more than he was letting on and she got it. His body tensed for a brief second.

"She has never been a prisoner here and may leave when she wishes. If she decides to leave you will both escort her back to her village and I will finally be rid of her." His eyes flickered to the setting sun as a phantom pain constricted his heart. 'She is still asleep from our spar this morning.'

"My Lord we will leave now and start watching Inuyasha and his friends immediately. If anything should happen we will send you word."

"Fine, go."

He didn't watch them go but sighed when he heard the door close behind them. There was no reason for him to send them to watch Inuyasha other than the fact that he didn't want any of Kagome's attention divided from him. He wanted all of her free time spent with him, and he didn't know why he felt the need to spend such time with her.

It was around lunch when they had sparred and she hadn't been out since then. ~Kagura I need to see you.~

There was a knock on the door followed shortly by Kagura stepping into his study. "Yes Lord?"

"Set up a dinner for the miko. I will be out taking care of some other business."

"May I inquire as to what you are going to be doing?"

His eyes narrowed, "Though it is none of your business I am going to be looking for a youkai who might help me with something I have been trying to figure out. You are to make sure the miko stays here and that no one bothers her."

"Yes my lord." She bowed and left him.

He looked out the window and hoped he could find the old youkai. There was no telling where the youkai was or if he would even help. His guess was that the youkai didn't know about the spell that was placed on him or the inhabitants of his palace and that might work in his favor.

'I have to find him.' He looked at the sword that was mounted on the wall above the fire place and growled. With one last look cast back at the sword he left not knowing what was going to happen.


*********************


Miroku had his eyes closed and his hands folded in his lap. Sango was staring down at Kirara with Shippo on her shoulder. Inuyasha and Kikyo were watching them closely. They had never told anyone what had happened between them all those years ago with Naraku.

The monk opened his eyes, "This curse in my hand was placed there by a hanyou named Naraku in the time of my grandfather." He looked deep into Inuyasha's eyes, "This has to be more than a coincidence. There has to be a reason we all came to know each other."

"What do you expect me to say? I had no idea you had a connection to Naraku! Besides I only know you through Kagome and as far as I know she doesn't know who Naraku is at all!"

Sango looked up, "I also have had an encounter with Naraku. He attacked my village when I was young and killed many villagers including my mother." She sighed and looked at Miroku then Inuyasha, "I think Miroku is right. This has to be fate."

"Don't you see Inuyasha? We may have been destined to meet so that we could defeat Naraku together." Miroku had directed his comment at everyone but Inuyasha didn't seem to be willing to accept it.

"I will be the one to kill Naraku, no one else. And what about Kagome? How does she come into play?"

Sango leaned forward careful of Kirara, "It was through her that we all met. And if we are correct about the identity of Kagome's captor, then that leads me to believe this is destiny. Naraku has Kagome and we must work together to save her and destroy him."

He crossed his arms over his chest, "He has Kagome, which is his second mistake. He will die by my hands alone, no one else's."

Kikyo laid her hands on Inuyasha's arm, "Maybe it would be best if you not do this alone. Naraku had wronged all of us Inuyasha not just you and I. Miroku and Sango have just as much reason to take revenge on him as we do. Allow them theirs as we make ours."

Inuyasha sighed and finally gave in. "Fine, but for now we have to figure out how to get back into that forest and to that bastard's castle."

"What I don't understand is why Sitora and Koa would say that Kagome wanted to be there. Shouldn't she know the danger she is in? Kagome has always had a sense for these things..."

"I don't know. Maybe Kagome has been blinded."

Inuyasha glared at Miroku, "What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Did you not see the look in his eyes when we asked about Kagome? It was like we were taking something precious of his from him. If what I saw is correct then maybe, just maybe, Kagome has had an effect on him. And it's possible that she is also starting to feel things for him."

"Don't even think that!" Inuyasha bared his fangs, "Kagome has more sense than that!"

Miroku held up his hands, "I meant nothing by it Inuyasha I am just throwing out ideas here."

"That is one you should not even consider."


****************

Again sorry it took so long but I am also working on my other ones... so please bear with me. Thanks for the wait!!
~Cassial_Darkfox