InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Dreams ❯ Two Sides of the Story ( Chapter 10 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Broken Dreams
Chapter 10
Two Sides of the Story
“There has to be a quicker way down there!” Kouga roared. The village headmaster shook his head.
“I am afraid not. The only faster way into the valley is the route you said your mate took. Otherwise, it's a several day hike to the northwest where there is a waterfall that feeds the valley river. You can climb down there, but otherwise, there is no safe way into the valley.” Kouga growled and slammed his fist into a nearby tree, cracking it in two.
The wolf and his companions were hot on the trail of Kagome. Kouga had spent the previous day dashing around either side of the chasm, trying to find a safe way down. But the rain had dampened the cliff walls, so running down them was not an option. Also, Kilala had gotten soaked and in the process lost her ability to transform for a few days. With no way down, Sango and Miroku went onto the next village and asked the headmaster for a search party to find the miko. That was when they received the sad news that in order to get to where Kagome had landed, it was a long trip.
“Also youkai, there may not be a mate for you to rescue anymore. There is an old hermit in the valley who is said to hunt young humans for his food. If he found her, he may…”
“No stinking hermit is touching my Kagome!” Kouga snarled. “If he even tries anything like that, I'll rip his throat out!”
“This hermit is reputed to be a youkai himself, or so the valley villagers say,” the headmaster said nervously. “You may not find killing him an easy task.”
“I don't care,” Kouga spat. “I just want to find Kagome.” The headmaster looked up and frowned at the darkening sky.
“Looks like more rain,” he murmured. “Ah well, its good news. The crops have been a little dry lately.”
“I can't fucking find Kagome in the rain!” Kouga snarled.
“Calm down youkai,” the headmaster soothed. “I ask that you attempt to remain passive if you are to stay the village. Now, I have a cousin in the lower village. I can send word to him of your mate, and ask him to look for her while you wait out the bad weather.” Kouga growled and clenched his fist.
“Fine. Get us a damn place to stay for the night,” he ordered, stomping into the village. Behind him, Miroku stepped forward.
“Please forgive him,” he asked the headmaster. “Lately, he has been irritable without his mate.” The headmaster bowed.
“Of course houshi. I know all too well how serious youkai take the mating marks. Come, our innkeeper has had little business lately, and will be more then happy to accommodate you.” The headmaster turned and led them into the village. Kouga was found lounging around the inn where the innkeeper kept casting him nervous glances. Miroku informed him of their situation, and his attitude changed, and suddenly he couldn't do enough for them. An hour later, night had fallen, and the rain had come with it rather quickly.
Kouga slid open the shoji and watched as the headmaster knelt down near a bird and tied a small piece of paper to it's back. With a few words of instruction, the bird flapped off into the rain, headed for the valley. He sighed and bit his lip.
“Be safe, Kagome. I'll find you if it's the last thing I do.”
- - - - - - - - - -
Kagome shivered slightly and pulled her blanket tighter around her. The awning of furs kept the sights and sounds of the rain dim, but the air inside the cave was growing steadily colder. Youkai frowned and stood up from making the stew. He pulled back the awning and shook his head in disapproval
“If this constant rain doesn't stop, I'm going to run out of good firewood,” he murmured. Kagome rolled her eyes. The pile of firewood he had could have been used to build a small hut if he wanted to. She doubted that the rain would go long enough to outlast that much wood.
Youkai came back and resumed mixing the stew. He reached into a pot near his side and pulled out a clump of bear meat. He held it in one claw and sliced it into bite-sized chucks before dropping them into the pot and kept and kept stirring.
“Give it a few minutes. The meat will flavor the stew a little more, but I'm not sure if you want to try and eat it yet.” Kagome shook her head, and Youkai nodded. He looked out the awning for a few minutes as the stew cooked over the fire. Kagome stared at him and bit her lip.
Youkai had said that she was going to be there for around two weeks while she healed. She really didn't have much choice to trust him. A cold breeze blew through past Youkai and made Kagome sneeze. She sniffed and silently cursed. In her state, the last thing she needed was a cold.
“Here.” Kagome looked up as Youkai draped another layer of fur over her. Kagome looked around the cave and noticed it was the only other blanket there. This was the one Youkai had made only a day or so earlier from the bear carcasses.
“What about you?” she asked. Youkai snorted.
“I'm a youkai, and you're injured. You need all the strength you can get without getting sick,” he said. He picked up the ceramic cup from before and dipped it in the stew to fill it with the broth. He withdrew the steaming meal and gently placed it in Kagome's hand- the one she could use.
“You'll be cold now though,” Kagome said quietly.
“I can handle myself,” Youkai replied, sitting back by his stew and waiting for the meat to cook. Kagome sipped her meal and stared as Youkai patiently awaited his meal. Then, Kagome did something she hadn't done around anyone except Shippo in three years; she smiled.
“Youkai?” she called softly. Youkai turned his head to look at her over his shoulder.
“Yes?” he called back.
“I do trust you,” Kagome said, smiling at him. Youkai turned around completely and bowed his head.
“Thank you, Kagome,” he replied. He lifted his head and stared at her for a moment. “You should smile more, Kagome. You're pretty when you smile.” Youkai turned back to his stew, and Kagome stared at his back for the ump-teenth time since he had found her. Smiling again, Kagome drank her meal and pulled the two blankets tighter around her.
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