InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Book One of The Angel Chronicles:Blood Of Innocents ❯ The Kindness of Strangers ( Chapter 3 )

The Kindness of Strangers

I found the toad thing lying in a bloodied heap, not far from the river. Slowly, I knelt down and began to tend his wounds. He finally came around a while later.

"Are you all right?" I asked as he looked at me with spiteful eyes.

"Why should you care, human!"

I just shrugged it off. "Why shouldn't I?"

"Because you are a useless human!"

"Maybe I am. Who hurt you?"

"No one hurt me you human brat! If you must know, I was punished by my master for hurting you."

"I. . . I'm sorry," I said as I walked off, back to where Sesshoumaru was.

"Where have you been, wench!"

"Walking."

"Damn, can't you ever answer a direct question? Yes, I know you went walking, you said that you were going to the river but you don't smell like the river water!"

"I got side tracked, I'm sorry."

"Whatever. Eat, the kill is getting cold."

"Why did you hurt him?"

I asked quietly, not expecting to like the answer, but wanting one anyway.

"Who? You mean Jaken? Simple, bitch, because he displeased me! Why, you should be grateful that I did, after all, he hurt you for no justifiable reason."

"Not badly. Please, don't hurt him again; he was only trying to protect you."

"How dare you, bitch! I will do whatever I want, when I want, and no one, especially not the likes of you, can stop me."

*slap*

I felt the sting of the blow as his hand connected with my face. Quickly, I turned away from him as I felt the tears come to my eyes. I tried to fight the tears and sleep off; I wasn't afraid of sleep, but of the dreams, and tonight echoed a time that I'd rather forget. Unfortunately, this was one battle I could not win.

Dream

*slap*

*crash*

I felt my body fall hard to the ground at the feet of my father, and I was scared. A murderous rage filled his eyes as the smell of burning leather taunted my senses. The friction from the blows he was landing was causing the leather to smoke slightly.

"How dare you call me your father?!"

"But Daddy, please. .!"

"Daddy!? I think not, bitch, biologically only!"

I started to cry and cry, until my voice was hoarse. It would only be later that I was able to even name this event. `This time of the first cut.'

End Dream

I was shaken violently awake, as my first vision of the real world was overwhelmed with silver.

"What's wrong?" His voice was gruff, as if he had been sleeping.

I felt numb. Every time that dream came, it made me feel worthless… He made me feel worthless, his own daughter.

"Nothing." My voice was filled with the hollowness that long since filled the shell of my being.

"Jena, I don't believe you. You smell strange, like something past sorrow."

"Was I yelling?"

"Yes!"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize; just tell me what the hell is wrong with you!"

I didn't mean to wake you, Sesshoumaru, and I have already told you what's wrong with me: I'm broken." With that, I went back to sleep and didn't wake till long after dawn. Only to realize that I was being carried on the back of a big two-headed dragon. But before I could ponder my precarious situation any further, I realized that he was speaking.

"Bout time you woke up!"

"Sorry."

"You know, it's a wonder anyone can stand you!"

Sighing, I bowed my head, not wanting to look at his eyes.

"Look, what happened back there? Last night you were screaming bloody murder."

"My dream was a little too real. I'm sorry I woke you, it just happens from time to time."

He was silent for the rest of the trip, but he held me tighter till we came upon a tall castle.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"Jena, you are in the land of my father, Emperor of the West, looking at the castle of my birth. Jena, when we get to the gates, I must leave you for a time, but Jaken will show you to your room. Wait there for me."

"Okay."

Once they reached the gate, Jaken led her to a luxurious guest room that consisted of a bath, study, and bedroom.

"This is all mine?" She looked at the toad named Jaken.

"What, this is not good enough?"

"Good enough?" I asked, as if the toad had said something completely absurd.

"Milady, what did you expect?"

"Humph, a tiny broom closet of a room, and if anything, this room is huge!"

His skeptic face turned into a frown. "You mean to tell me that milady has never had accommodations such as these before?"

"Hardly, these rooms are more than half the size of my entire house. What did you take me for, anyway?"

"An arrogant human Princess."

"Hardly; I'm just a little girl lost far from home."

Bowing deeply, he looked up at her sadly. "Forgive me, milady."

"Jaken, there's nothing to forgive."

"Oh, but milady, there is! Don't you remember, there in the woods you showed me kindness and in return I showed you only cruelty. Please, forgive me!"

"I do, you needn't have asked. No one has ever apologized to me before…it feels strange…but kinda nice…thank you."

Jaken smiled as turned to leave, I asked him if I could take a bath, and where was the soap.

"You needn't trouble yourself, milady, I'll send one of the servants in to bathe you."

"What!!"

My eyes flew open as the toad thing fell to the floor laughing.

"Surely milady isn't shy in that respect?"

"So what if I am!"

He continued laughing for a good five minutes until I threatened to drop kick his sorry little ass out of the room, and find the soap myself.

"Fine, milady, the soap is next to the bath, in the pots."

"Fine."

As he started to leave, he turned to me, looking at me with a serious expression on his face.

"Milady know how to bathe herself?"

"YES!!

"You are certainly full of surprises."

"Aren't we all."

I said smiling tiredly

"Milady. When you are done, I shall come for you later."

I smiled playfully at the toad.

"Oh and where are you going to lead this poor unsuspecting maiden?"

I asked, with so much false bravado as to be sickening. He smiled back slightly though his eyes held mischievousness.

"My lady need not know, she need only follow when I come."

I laughed as I chucked one of the bed pillows after him, missing him completely as I turned my back to the door. I heard it open again as Jaken poked his head cautiously in, mindful of more pillows.

"Letcher!"

"Milady is so cruel to me with that forked tongue of hers; I was simply going to tell you that I'll leave the garments that you will be wearing tonight on your bed!"

"Thank you, Jaken."

With that, he turned to leave, closing the door behind him as I was about to relax in my bath.

Sesshoumaru/Inutaisho P.O.V.

Sesshoumaru knew instantly that the minute the girl entered the castle, his father could and would smell as well as sense her presence. He decided that the best course of action would be to admit to his father the truth about the girl, rather than cover it up. Perhaps the elder could even provide some useful information as to how to get that girl out of that rut she was in!

*This annoyed him to no end…he knew that she was hiding some thin and he hated not having the upper hand…*

As he wandered the corridors of the castle, he immediately picked up his fathers' scent. Turning down one of the long corridors that lead to the study, he found his father sitting behind a long wooden desk, apparently unaware of his pup's presence.

"Father."

"My son, you have returned."

"Yes, Father."

"And you have brought someone with you, by the smell of things, I'd say a female."

"Yes, Father."

"Her scent is intriguing."

"How so, Father?" he asked, dreading how much of an explanation his father would demand.

"She smells of sorrow, roses, and. . . ancient magic?"

Groaning, inwardly, Sesshoumaru realized just how well he had been caught.

"So, I trust you are willing to explain all of this."

"Of course, Father. I had run afoul of a female sorceress and she locked me away, supposedly for all time. Until this hu . . . I mean, until Jena freed me in her time. But her house reeked of blood and tears, and the girl seemed to be depressed. Since she freed me, I decided to repay the debt by freeing her."

InuTaisho regarded his son sadly. Though he was proud that his son had acted with honor, he knew that just because his son had changed the location of her prison did not mean that he'd freed from her cell.

"Sesshoumaru, I am pleased that you upheld the family honor, however, if what you say is true then you have hardly freed her." InuTaisho shook his head sadly, knowing that his son had no idea what was going on or what has happened to his female companion.

"I don't understand, Father. She is in our time, whatever was holding her prisoner cannot follow her here."

"Sesshoumaru, my son, I truly wish that you could free her, but I'm afraid that the prison she is held in has more than just locks on a door holding her captive."

"So the job is not done then."

"No, my son, and I do not think you are capable of truly freeing her."

Sesshoumaru growled.

"We shall see, Father."

"So we shall, my son. And I am afraid that the only advice I can give you is to be gentle. That is your only chance."

Sesshoumaru merely nodded his head, glad that the matter was closed.

"Now, Sesshoumaru, on to other matters."

`Damn, I thought I was going to get away easily this time, guess I was wrong.'

"Such as?"

"The Spring Festival ball will be held within a week. You will be in attendance, am I correct?"

"Of course, Father."

"Good, and who shall you be escorting?" InuTaisho asked, smiling slightly.

*So, Father your not going to make this easy for me. Fine, two can play at that game.*

"I was thinking of taking Jena."

InuTaisho nodded his approval.

Sesshoumaru decided to take his leave while he still could. Deciding that he had a lot to do and very little time to do it in, he set off to hunt up some dinner.

Normal P.O.V.

The sound of the opening closing woke Jena from her light nap. There was a rustle of fabric as the door closed once again. Getting out of the spring, Jena lay on the rock surface for a bit as the water drained off her, and to wring out her hair. Finally, when she was just about dry, when she went into the room to see what kind of dress that awaited her. It was a blue silk dress with a light blue transparent second layer. It was thin and surprisingly comfortable as she slid it over her body. Not only did it fit, but it was absolutely gorgeous. Only moments after she had done her hair with the comb provided did she hear a knock at the door.

"Come in."

"Is milady ready?" Jaken asked as he stepped through the door, and gasped.

"Milady, you look exquisite!"

"Thank you, Jaken."

"Please follow me."

"Alright."

He led the way down the many corridors of the castle and out a stone archway into one of the gardens. There, a table was set, lit candles were everywhere, and the light from the full moon bathed everything with a silvery glow. The whole place looked like something out of an enchanted fairytale, that was, until he stepped out into the garden. He had on a solid white kimono, which matched the color of his hair, and a dark blue sash. His eyes shone with emotions that I had long ago forgotten how to identify, even though his face remained passive.

"Will you do me the honor of joining me for dinner this evening?" Sesshoumaru asked.

All I could do was nod my head mutely as he pulled out the chair for me, motioning me to sit.

*Please, Jena, don't screw this up! Please don't let me screw up!*

I chanted over and over in my head like a mantra.

"You truly look beautiful this evening, Jena."

"Th . .Thank you,"

I murmured quietly, trying to suppress the nervousness I felt, as well as the only memory I had of not having dinner with any of my parents. Just me, and my friend. `Well, the event went decent enough, and the mood of the other was light,' I was busy thanking every deity imaginable for my skill in holding in my emotions.

*Okay, one more time.*

I was saved by the arrival of the first course.

*Okay, one down, only a little more to go.*

"Jena, are you enjoying my company?"

"Huh? Yes, Sesshoumaru. Why do you ask?"

"Well, for starters, you are as tense as a frightened deer and secondly, you reek of fear. Why?"

"I . . . I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru, it's not you."

"If it is not me, then is it the food? Has the stupid hanyou. . ."

"No, honestly, it has nothing to do with anything in your world. It is just this setting is so much like the first dinner I had away from my parents and the last."

"I don't understand. Why would something like that make you nervous and what do you mean the last?"

"Sesshie." He cringed slightly, apparently not liking the pet name.

*How do I explain this to him? Hell, how do you explain it period when you don't really understand it yourself?*

"There is something you should know about me. 90% of my entire life I have lived alone within the walls of my room."

"You can't be serious… Jena! I mean, how could anyone be so cruel, to their own child nonetheless?!"

"Part of the blame lies with them, yes, and part of it lies with me."

"You? You honestly mean to tell me that, in part at least, your confinement was voluntary?"

"Don't feel too sorry for me. I had the company of my friends and my stories, so it wasn't that bad. It was like I was a princess in some magical kingdom, just waiting for my prince to come rescue me and take me in his arms. But, at least in my stories, that never happened."

Jena said as dessert rolled around, and she began to lapse back into silence, which was exactly the opposite of what Sesshoumaru wanted.

"So what happened at the end?"

"Normally, the story ended with a beautiful tragedy of love."

"I don't get it . How in the hell can a tragic love be beautiful?"

"It's beautiful in the knowledge of the fact that there is someone so precious to you that you are willing to give up everything, even life itself, just to be near them and they would do the same for you."

"That is nothing but foolishness and sanctimonious drivel."

"It is not, Sesshie! One of my favorite authors once said, "A love without sacrifice pales in comparison to a love that may last only a day, but where you give all of your heart and soul."

"That is absolutely idiotic!"

"Am I idiotic, than Sesshie?"

"If you believe that, then yes, you are more childish than I thought!" Sesshoumaru could feel the anger radiating off her in palpable waves.

*How could she possibly believe that? Furthermore, how have I managed to upset her?*

Jena was so upset she when stood it caused to practically fall on her ass. Tears began to well up in her eyes as her mind berated her shamelessly.

*I thought he would understand, at least, one such as him would understand. I was wrong again. When will I ever learn, when!?*

"Goodnight, Sesshoumaru. One day I hope someone melts that Ice Fortress you live in!"

With tears in her eyes, she ran back to her room as fast as she could falling now and again as the rough floor tore into her delicate dress as well as her soft flesh leaving a trail of blood and fabric in her wake.

Sesshoumaru just stood there and watched her go. He hadn't truly meant to hurt her, hell, he didn't know that something as trivial as that had even mattered to her. Apparently, he was wrong. Apparently, she had been wounded several times, and now she had a new one to add to the ever-growing list. He had never seen eyes so filled with bitterness before…

*Damn it I was trying! Doesn't that count for something Jena?!…Jena what the hell happened to you…*