InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Between Heaven and Hell ❯ Expected, Yet Not ( Chapter 6 )

The two women sat in discomfited silence as they ate their dinner; not a sound was heard among them, save for the occasional clinking of plates and modest sips of tea.

 

Kagome had chosen not to speak of the matter, and Kikyo did not question, knowing that pressing her younger sister would only make her all the more uncomfortable. Kagome would tell her when she was ready to.

 

As the women finished their meal, Kagome stood up, stacking the plates together with one fluid motion and turning on her heel.

 

“Thank you for dinner, Kikyo,” she said over her shoulder to the quiet miko holding her tea filled cup, wispy tendrils of steam emanating from the hot liquid's surface. With a gentle nod, she took a sip of the tea, smiling with the kind eyes Kagome had become so familiar with.

 

Entering the kitchen, Kagome placed the dishes and bowls into the ready-filled wooden basin, brushing her bangs out of her eyes with a weary sigh. Pushing back the sleeves of her light, cotton blue yukata, she carried the basin outside, opening the back door deftly with her shoulder.

 

Welcomed by the melodic murmur of the awakening crickets, she set the large bucket down on the ground; Kagome fell back, sitting on the slightly elevated floor of her home. She felt the smooth planes of flooring with the tips of her fingers, tracing the thin cracks between each division of wood absently. Looking up, Kagome watched the sinking sun with longing as it hung radiant above the thick growth of the forest.

 

Sighing tiredly, Kagome moved to crouch on the earthy ground beside the washbasin. Her hands plunged into the water as she began to rinse and scrub the dishes in silence.

 

She couldn't stop worrying about it. She knew full well that Ichirou would somehow manage to get the secret out of her, no matter how hard she tried to avoid him. And Kagome couldn't help but think that Ichirou would do something drastic once he did.

 

He despised youkai to their very core, and it was only fitting for him to serve the village as a taijiya. She could only imagine what he would try to do once he discovered Sesshomaru and her. Kagome couldn't suppress the shivers that crept down her spine at the very thought of it.

 

Though as distressing as the matter was, there was another lingering issue that perturbed her conscience deeply.

 

She couldn't understand the anger and rage that was so strongly invoked in her at that time. The feeling was fleeting yet strong, allowing her to reveal her secret to him so carelessly. Kagome could recall the prickling feeling of agitation she felt as he began to speak of youkai as any other villager would to her, something deadly close to the truth, yet far from it. An answer asked for, yet not fully satisfying.

 

Kagome paused in her task as she began to feel the familiar, agitated sensation burning lightly in her chest.

 

Why did she feel this way? She had never been angry with Ichirou before, and rarely did she ever become so angry that she raised her voice to someone; perhaps it was the first time, even. Kagome had always been a calm, caring person - a good natured girl at heart. So why now? Why did this unfamiliar side of her appear now of all times?

 

“Ouch!” Kagome gasped as she jumped in surprise, completely disrupting her train of thought. Frowning, she slapped her arm, squishing the parasitic insect with the palm of her hand. Face contorting in disgust, Kagome wiped the bloody remnants of insect onto the grass beside her.

 

“Gross…” Examining the swelling bite in the dimming sunlight, the young woman reached behind her to shut the still-open backdoor. “Darn… That's going to be itchy…” Kagome muttered in dismay while she rubbed the small bump lightly.

 

The crunch of snapping twigs and crinkle of dry leaves sounded suddenly from the shadowy forest. “Salt will relieve it,” a dark figure spoke as it emerged slowly from the trees. “So this Sesshomaru has heard.”

 

Kagome jumped backwards, slapping a hand over her mouth to suppress her shriek of surprise. “S-Sesshomaru-san?” she uttered quietly in disbelief as she uncovered her mouth shakily. “W-what are you doing here?” The uneasy woman glanced back at her home, thankful that the door had been shut. She turned back to the looming daiyoukai in front of her. His amber-gold eyes held their stoic composure as always, yet they were sharpened with a certain calculative intensity.

 

Sesshomaru's eyes drifted away from her then in subtle caution as he began to stalk towards her with the uncanny grace he seemed to always possess. Choosing to ignore her question, which caused Kagome to feel just the slightest bit irritated, the daiyoukai came to a halt in front of her. “The boy knows,” Sesshomaru stated in his smooth, baritone voice.

 

Kagome frowned, glancing down at the ground in guilt, wanting to look at anyone but the youkai standing in front of her. “I know...” the young woman admitted quietly, running her fingertips along the grass.

 

“Do not be so reckless with your words. You are lucky he has not told anyone else of our encounter,” Sesshomaru reprimanded her harshly, reminding her somewhat of what her sister used to say to her when she was younger. Kagome remembered how Kikyo used to scold her like a mother, like the mother Kikyo had to be for her.

 

“I know, I wasn't thinking,” Kagome said. “I was just so angry, I-” Suddenly, she paused, narrowing her eyes in thought, her mouth continuing to hang half-open with her last words.

 

With furrowed brows, Kagome's head shot up, staring the daiyoukai towering above her straight in the eyes. “Hey! How do you even know about that anyway?” Kagome demanded, pointing a finger at the alleged stalker. “What, have you just been lurking around my home in your spare time!? You can't do that! It's… it's—” the flustered girl raged. Her arms flailed about angrily as she searched for the words, her hands moving from her face, to the sides of her body; even to the open air before her.

 

Sesshomaru watched her antics wearily. “It is of no consequence,” he stated, turning to look towards the setting sun. “No matter, you must be more cautious from this point onward. Your companions will not take too kindly to the fact that you have befriended a youkai.”

 

With emotions as steady as a straw house, the girl almost forgot to reply, so elated on hearing that the daiyoukai considered her a friend. To be held at such a status by this perplexing youkai lord - it would be an understatement to say that she felt fervently happy.

 

Shaking herself from her muses, Kagome nodded her head. “I will,” she answered, looking up at the stoic being before her. Then, her face became downcast once again. She sighed dejectedly, “But sooner or later, Ichirou will find out. I know he'll press further for details the next chance he receives…”

 

“You are not compelled to tell him,” Sesshomaru pointed out, his voice still low and intense as he watched the sun sink below the tree tops of the sea of forest. He gave out a small breath through parted lips as he turned his head back to face her. “Be cautious.”

 

And then, as though those were his final parting words, the daiyoukai turned, fading into the cover of woods, leaving a completely disgruntled and flustered female sitting upon the chilled ground.

 

“H-he-y! Wait just a second! Sesshomaru-sa—” Kagome began, before being silenced by the dull rustle of the shoji door sliding open behind her.

 

Her eyes widened in realization and, thinking quickly (and quite impulsively), Kagome began to hum; a song that was, to say, completely tuneless, if it were to be categorized as a “song”.

 

“Ha-ho-hum-hoo-ha-he-hmm!” she sang after quickly diving hands first into the water-filled basin. Kagome tossed her head from side to side, in beat with her singing. Suddenly, she stopped, feigning her surprise. “Oh, Kikyo! I didn't hear you coming! I'm almost done with—” the younger sibling said cheerily as she turned around, but as she opened her eyes, it was not her sister Kikyo standing in the doorway as she had expected.

 

Instead, there stood the tall, built figure of a man; he sported a dark brown mane, the length of it wrapped tight and low, giving him the appearance of short hair. His hand was still clinging to the door as he remained there at the edge of her house, thin lips pressed together as if in thought.

 

His auburn eyes were fixed upon her, slightly caught off guard himself, it seemed, after hearing such an unusual outburst of song. Ichirou raised a brow, laughing lightly, hoping to relieve them of this uncomfortable silence. “Uh, wow. Nice… vocals…?” he said, unsure of what to call her “singing”.

 

Kagome continued her silent behavior, her heart stilled at the sight of him. She knew she had to face Ichirou sooner or later, but never had she thought she would see him now. As the quiet persisted, time only served to strain it further. Neither one spoke a word, as if one syllable would shatter the tense silence.

 

Finally, Ichirou averted his eyes to the side, busying himself with studying the flecks of dirt and blades of grass near the home. “I came to get your sister's help; one of the villagers was still out in the fields working and cut himself with his scythe,” he explained plainly. “Kikyo left to help him; she wanted me to let you know so you wouldn't be worried.”

 

Kagome turned around, looking at the murky water of the wooden basin. “Oh, I see,” she replied, hoping her nervousness was not evident in her voice.

 

Taking the last dish out from the wooden basin, Kagome shook it dry with one quick motion. Swiftly, she stood up on her feet, taking the large bucket with her. Dumping it out at the edge of the woods, Kagome returned, placing the washed bowls and plates back inside the basin with care.

 

Holding the washbasin with both her hands, Kagome made her way to the back entrance of her home. Ichirou moved aside as she climbed the step, carrying the clean ware to the kitchen. She set the bucket down carefully, reaching in it to take the first bowls.

 

As she began placing the dishes in their proper places, Ichirou stepped beside her, leaning against the counter silently. Kagome sighed inwardly, knowing full well what was soon to come. Her lungs felt thick, and her heart sped in uneasiness. I don't have to tell him anything, she reassured herself repeatedly, hoping to calm herself.

 

Ichirou did not speak for a few moments, instead, only watched her subtly from the corner of his eye as she organized the plates. Elbows resting on the tabletop, he blew his bangs out of his face nonchalantly.

 

Kagome grit her teeth, uncomfortable with the agonizing quiet. How long did he intend to drag this out? How long did he intend to torment her with the stifling miasma that was silence?

 

Putting the final dish away, Kagome sighed lightly. Her hands dropped delicately to the surface of the counter, as soft and as quiet as the falling petals of a sakura tree.

 

“If you want to say something, say it,” she spoke, however, not turning to face the taijiya.

 

A low rumble of a laugh was heard from Ichirou, almost sarcastic. “You obviously didn't agree with me when I warned you about them,” he commented with his sardonic, matter-of-fact manner. Kagome allowed him to continue speaking with a level of slight difficulty.

 

“It's hard to believe that you can actually think something of them…” he whispered, more to himself than anyone in particular. His eyes softened, becoming the familiar, kind eyes of her companion. He continued distantly, lowering his gaze to the floor, “But it's you… You're… different.”

 

As his voice trailed into nothingness, Kagome almost stopped him, curious as to what he meant by “different”. His tone of voice piqued a sub-conscious interest in the back of her mind, though the fact that she had been dubbed as “different” irritated her somewhat. That agitated feeling habitually conquered all else.

 

Suddenly, Ichirou went on, though his voice had hardened once again. He angled his head a little, facing the young female. “But, no matter how humane one may act towards you,” the taijiya said in a grave voice, “remember you can never trust it. It is what it is, and it can never change.”

 

Kagome pursed her lips, biting back the urge to prove him wrong as the belligerent feeling returned to her with his preceding words.

 

The solemn man continued, “No matter what you say or think, I won't change my conviction of them.” Ichirou turned to look at Kagome's stricken face. “As long as I'm alive, I will continue to slay them, even the one who so compassionately `saved' you,” he stated, the final words laced with the venom of pure hatred.

 

Suddenly, his voice softened, though still firm and hard with purpose. “Stay away from them. Nothing good will come of it.” With that, Ichirou pushed himself upright, dismissing himself silently. Kagome listened to his fading footsteps reminiscently for a moment.

 

As soon as she heard him leave the house, Kagome let out a long-held breath, sinking to the floor in a heap. Looking up at the ceiling, she thought silently to herself. Her fingers traveled to the center of her kimono inattentively, pausing over the faint thump of her heartbeat involuntarily. Her hand balled slowly into a fist, nails digging lightly into the palm of her hand.

 

Youkai… Their different than us, yet I can't bring myself to feel the way Ichirou does… Kagome sighed, hanging her head down low in defeat. Ichirou… It was as if he were a completely different person when it came to this matter - an entirely separate entity.

 

Ichirou… she whispered in her mind, closing her eyes with a soft flutter. Ichirou…

 

…What makes you hate them so much?