InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cannot Be Broken ❯ Face Value ( Chapter 6 )

`Midoriko….'

 

`…Hmn?'

 

`Midoriko….'

 

`…Who are you?'

 

`Heh heh heh…how easily you forget….'

 

`…That voice! Who are you?'

 

`I am you.'

 

`…What?'

 

`I have been waiting for you, waiting for a long time.'

 

`It's so black here. I know this place, I think…. What do you mean you've been waiting?'

 

`Where are you, Midorkio?'

 

`I'm not….'

 

`You are mine.'

 

`…No…! It's you!'

 

`Heh heh heh….'

 

`You will not have me!'

 

`You have no choice.'

 

`NO!'

 

`You can no longer fight me.'

 

`I have…I will!'

 

`You and I are one….'

 

`No! I will not be broken.'

 

`You already are.'

 

`I have to run! I have to get out of here!'

 

`Midoriko.'

 

`I AM NOT…!'

 

`Tell me then…who are you?'

 

`I am….'

 

“Kagome?”

 

“Mmmng…?” A crushing pain enveloped her. Dream voices faded and were erased the dark recesses of her mind before she awoke to this excruciating pain.

 

“Kagome? How are you feeling?” A soft voice soothed her senses.

 

She moaned and open and closed her mouth trying to moisten her tongue. Her mouth felt like it was filled with cotton and her chest hurt to inhale. Her voice cracked as she managed to respond to the unfamiliar voice. “Like I've been mauled by a half ton bear.”

 

“That can't feel good.” The voice cringed.

 

Slowly and begrudgingly, Kagome opened her eyes. As her vision cleared she saw she was in a large ornately decorated room. She scanned her eyes around, trying to take it all in, blinking rapidly a few times to fight the haze that filmed her vision. The walls were grey slate and pristinely polished. A large wardrobe stood out, namely because it took up a good majority of one wall. Its deep red wood was chiselled with elaborate scenes, detailing a story from one end to the other. Beside the large down bed that she rested on stood a desk with various rice parchments and inks. It, too, was dark red and chiselled with various scenes. Travelling her eyes around, her eyes blinked painfully at the brightness of the light of day outside. Opposite the bed she lay on was a large windowed door that opened onto a terrace revealing a wide grey sky.

 

Kagome looked out into it for a long while before movement by her side caught her attention. Drifting her eyes over to the side she had yet to see, she noticed she was covered by a white down filled blanket and beside her sat a red haired kitsune.

 

Her eyes widened in surprise as the setting finally filtered into her brain. She swallowed the dry lump in her throat as she managed to speak. “How did I get here?” Her eyes flickered around the room once more in confusion.

 

“You were unconscious when he brought you in. You've been asleep for a whole two days. But the way were looking, you must have needed it. You're pretty banged up. You were talking in your sleep too. I don't know what you were saying because your voice sounds all funny….”

 

As the kitsune prattled on, Kagome studied him without really listening. The fox child had orange-red hair that was bundled up in a large blue bow. His face was angelic and sweet, and his bright green eyes were expressive and large. A large bushy orange tail, tipped with soft yellow fur, flicked whenever he got excited, and the more he chatted the more it flicked. He was so tiny that he couldn't have been higher than her knee. At that moment he was rubbing hers while he spoke, unconsciously soothing her. He was adorable. Kagome liked him from the start.

 

“I'm sorry, but who are you?” She croaked.

 

“My name's Shippou!” He puffed his chest out proud. “I'm a great warrior. I was sent to watch over you.”

 

“Oh?” Kagome's smiled softly and she licked her lips. “You did a very good job. I'm feeling much better and much safer with you here.”

 

Shippou's chest puffed out larger that Kagome was sure he would topple over himself.

 

Kagome glanced around once more. “Where am I?”

 

Shippou looked around the room curiously. “This is your room, Kagome. Well, actually it's InuYasha's room, but it's yours now too since you are his mate.”

 

Kagome's smile faded and her eyes widened. She briefly flicked her mind to the events of a few nights before: the bear, bandaging InuYasha, getting caught in his game and kissing him, only to find out he was just trying to claim her like she feared.

 

She frowned and turned her gaze back to the balcony. But how did she end up here? All she could remember before waking was … colours? `He must have done something…. Could he have?'

 

Kagome moved to sit up but her body protested as pain shot up her chest to her head.

 

“Ooooh.” She collapsed back down and shut her eyes.

 

Shippou patted her knee again. “You're still pretty sore, huh? That bear must have been huge, you're chest is bluer than my bow,” he pointed to his hair, “but nothing is broken though.”

 

Kagome cracked an eye open and hesitantly lifted the comforter covering her. She looked down and gaped. Her front, from her breasts to her belly button, were covered in blue, black and purple abrasions. The gouges from the claws were gone. She flushed remembering why, but the weight of the animal was still marked on her body. Her muscles were raw and any movement she made felt like she was pressing on every bruise. But of all the damage done to her body, only one thing stood out.

 

“Um, Shippou?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Where are all my clothes?”

 

Shippou looked at her form and glanced back up to her face. “They were torn up from the attack and they were covered in blood, so they threw them away.” Shippou pushed gently on her shoulder to settle her back into the bed and covered her again with the downy comforter. “But those clothes have seen better days before the attack, you must have had a hard life. InuYasha was very brave to rescue you from that evil monster.”

 

Kagome looked confused. “Evil monster?”

 

“Sesshomaru.” The kitsune looked at her wide-eyed.

 

Kagome's expression turned cold. “Who told you he was an evil monster?”

 

This time the kitsune looked confused. “Everyone knows that. That's why we fought so hard against him.”

 

Kagome was about to question him further when a tall woman entered the room from a large red wood door on her right, beside the wardrobe

 

“Shippou, I have to tend to the Lady, why don't you head down to the kitchen and see if her meal is ready, okay?” The woman's voice was demanding but soft.

 

“Okay.” Shippou hopped off the futon and scampered out of the room.

 

The woman closed the door and smiled sheepishly to Kagome. “I'm sorry, he's just a kid and only knows what he hears.”

 

Kagome nodded, she understood all too well. Maybe if she had paid attention to stories of InuYasha instead of listening to them at face value, she would be waking in her own room right now, looking forward to a day of archery, healing salves and Kouga bashings. Even Kaede's lessons looked like cake right now.

 

The strange woman sat at the edge of the futon and set down a tray she was carrying. As she busied herself with rags and medicines, Kagome quickly sized her up. The woman was about her age, maybe a year or so older. She had soft, long brown hair and honest brown eyes, but her body spoke of hard training and disciplined study. She did not look like a normal healer. Underneath her pink kimono, Kagome could make out a scaled black suit. Something was not right about her. Kagome turned her face from the girl to look again at the balcony, but cast her grace on the girl, trying to study her spirit.

 

Her aura brushed softly over the woman, enough that no normal person could feel it. Kagome could sense this woman was honest and good, loyal and brave, everything she could already see on the woman's face. Kagome glanced at her again only to find the woman smiling at her.

 

“Sense anything?” She winked.

 

Kagome's mouth dropped. “How did you…?”

 

The woman laughed. “I'm a demon slayer, you don't go into my profession without knowing a few things and recognizing others, and soul searching is a very powerful trait, among demons and humans alike. You are a very strong miko indeed.” She pulled back the comforter and looked at Kagome's chest, frowning a bit at the color. She began to dab a herbal paste on her skin, cooling the burning aches. “So what did you sense?”

 

Kagome blushed at the confrontation, that or the fact the girl was rubbing her naked chest. “Um… that you are good, honest, loyal…a true friend.”

 

The woman smiled and looked up at her. “My name is Sango.”

 

“Kagome”

 

“I know.” Sango laughed, “Everyone here knows who you are. But I think the question on everyone's mind is, why are you here?”

 

“Keh, to cause me more trouble with rumours and stories.” A gruff voice stated.

 

Both women turned to look towards the door. InuYasha was leaning his back up against the frame with his arms crossed, looking very smug.

 

`He's so handsome, so brave, so wonderful…. What?! Yeah right! So boorish, pig headed and archaic!' Kagome mentally threw up her hands and looked down angrily, realizing then that her chest was exposed and smeared with green gung. Blushing brightly, she quickly covered her chest from his sight and crossed her arms over the covers. She leaned against the slate wall behind her, looking very contrite, unintentionally mimicking his pose.

 

InuYasha finally turned his head to look at her, glancing briefly at her chest that she had covered and settled his gaze on her face, which was now looking straight ahead in an attempt to ignore him.

 

“You just about done yet?” He asked Sango without lifting his eyes off Kagome angry form.

 

Sango regarded the situation quickly, and smiled inwardly. `Like two peas in a pod, this will prove to be a most interesting courtship.' “Yes, I will leave you two alone.”

 

She leaned down to collect her things and whispered quickly to Kagome who was still trying to ignore the hanyou at the door. “Don't let him get to you, his bark is worse than his bite.”

 

“Says you, wench!” The demon in question barked.

 

Sango rolled her eyes. “See? I'll see you later, Kagome.”

 

Kagome looked up at the demon slayer and smiled. She definitely liked this girl. For once, this place didn't seem so bad. She was sure they would be good friends. “Later, Sango. Thanks.”

 

Sango looked up at InuYasha before she left with a `if you hurt her, I will make sure you piss through your nose' look.

 

He paled slightly, and looked back at Kagome. Fierce pride and something else filled his face. Sango knew that look, and knew he would do no harm to Kagome.

 

“I'll see if Shippou needs help carrying up her food.” As she passed through the doorway to leave, she just caught a hushed response from the hanyou.

 

“Stall him.”

 

She nodded softly and left.

 

InuYasha shut the door behind him and walked slowly to the foot of the bed. Kagome's cold gaze followed him, studying him quickly in his progress. Her hatred confused him deeply, but he was relieved she was finally awake. He wasn't sure how to react to her anger, quickly putting up his wall to keep him guarded. His flicked his eyes up and down her form, checking to make sure she wasn't in too much pain, while trying to look indifferent.

 

“I take it you're feeling better?” He smirked.

 

Kagome's eyes narrowed. “What did you do to me?”

 

InuYasha glared at her. “What are you getting on with now?”

 

“That night, when you were trying to take me. I saw something… something strange. Then I passed out and woke up here! What did you do?!” She spat out at him.

 

InuYasha was stunned for a moment. `She thought I was trying to take her by force? How could she possibly think…? I thought she was in pain from the attack, that's why she passed out. I thought… she wanted me too. Did I really take her by force? Oh Gods…. She said she wouldn't be taken. Why would she want to be taken by a worthless hanyou? How could I possibly think she would want me?' He felt his heart fall into the cold heat of his gut.

 

His eyes narrowed in hurt fury, trying desperately to squash the pain. “I didn't do anything to you, Bitch!”

 

Kagome glanced at him before turning her head away, too furious to look at him. She didn't know why she felt compelled to blame him. He didn't have that kind of power. She could sense that. But then there was the matter of him trying to seduce her. But could she deny she didn't want him? How could she possibly have let herself feel that way? He didn't love her. But what about his aura? When he touched her last night, she didn't see the creature she believed him to be. Instead she saw a man desperately wanting her, wanting so much for her to want him. But she couldn't consider that. She would be betraying her father's trust. Though she was now his mate, InuYasha was forever her father's enemy.

 

She scowled. “Keh.”

 

InuYasha blinked at her and then growled. “You were hurt. You passed out. I carried your heavy ass and that fucking bag all the way here to save you thinking you were dying.” He nearly choked on the word. “And you have the shit to blame me for it?!”

 

Kagome looked back at him stunned, before lowering her head feeling ashamed. He took care of her after all. He brought her here, gave her his room, even had a small kitsune cub watch over her all this while. She shivered at the cool sensation of the medicine now absorbing into her flesh. He even healed her wounds, and had someone come in to tend to what he couldn't heal. Maybe he wasn't as bad as all that. Besides, if the small kit could think Sesshomaru as an evil monster, could she be wrong about InuYasha? Is it possible?

 

Watching and listening to him there in front of her (though his words and actions were different, very different), she could see her father in that look he gave her. She knew she was in the wrong about accusing him. She looked down and cringed. “I'm sorry.”

 

“Huh?” InuYasha thought for sure he entered bizarre world.

 

Kagome looked up at him again, then turned her face away to the balcony, scowling. “You heard me.”

 

“Did you say `I'm sorry'?”

 

Kagome didn't respond.

 

“Keh, you did.” InuYasha gazed down at her and smirked.

 

“Don't let it get to your big, fat head.”

 

“Hmph.” He crossed his arms smugly.

 

Kagome looked up and scowled deeper. “Are you laughing at me?”

 

InuYasha's smirk grew wider. “I just didn't think you had it in you.”

 

“Had what in me?”

 

“Class, etiquette,” InuYasha leered, “a heart.”

 

Kagome glared at him and her mouth dropped slightly. “You should talk…you had some nerve kissing me like…like….” Like what? A lecher? A lover? A mate? Whatever it was, it was….

 

Kagome sighed. It was wonderful, if it was real. If he really did like her, if he truly did think of her as a mate, then it was the best sensation she ever experienced. But that was just hopeful wished.

 

He only had her because she was Sesshomaru's daughter. She was a prize. Had he always known who she was from the beginning? Is that why he claimed her so readily? He had to if he found her and willingly `claimed' her so quickly. She was a trophy, his last conquest of a long drawn out war. She cast her eyes down sadly.

 

That night, she let go of her doubt of him, what he stood for. For just for a moment, she let go of everything she believed, only for that inward doubt to be realized as truth. She was just a possession he was trying to win. And he was the enemy.

 

But then again, you cannot always believe what you hear. They think Sesshomaru was an evil monster.

 

She inwardly groaned indecisively. How can she make any sense of anything with her mind and heart fighting? What could she do, when she grew up believing one thing, only for one instant her heart wished it a lie?

 

But it couldn't be a lie. Though he was no longer her father's enemy, he still was her master and jailor. He had said that she was his.

 

`Oh why did he have to say that? What is going on in my mind? Please, I pray, let that voice die. Let that part that wishes for him… wishes for him to be what he is not, to die.'

 

That wish was like a small stone in her soul, rubbing her raw, so that all her attention was drawn to it. The voice would not go away. She was falling for a man that wanted to break her, wanted to…. She didn't even know what he wanted of her.

 

Kagome felt dejected, her face fell as her mind and heart strained against that growing voice, trying to strangle it. She will not be broken, though she felt like she always was.

 

InuYasha was silent against her retaliation. He did kiss her, and by the look of her face, she hated it. She looked so sad, like he had tried to take the world from her. Can he blame her? He had taken her from all she knew, and had almost taken her.

 

InuYasha looked at the balcony like she had done. He wanted to relieve her bindings, wanted to save her from this misery. He wanted to save her from him. But she was now his mate. It was for life. Could she spend the rest of her life like this? Could he? Could he spend his life not having her at all? He flicked his eyes at her and studied her for a moment, coming to a resolution. He would try whatever power he possessed to have her accept him.

 

“Yeah, well, you didn't seem to mind. I do recall an active part on your side.” A risky move, he knew it, and hastily pushed a smirk to his face.

 

Kagome's face blushed brightly, being drawn out of her own thoughts. “You think too highly of your insignificant self. Do you have time to feed that high horse your on?”

 

A strained truce. Something they both could handle. Something they both grasped for readily.

 

InuYasha sniffed slightly. “Keh, get some rest, Bitch.” He turned to go.

 

“Hey, Jackass?”

 

InuYasha turned around but did not look at her.

 

“What am I supposed to wear? You threw out my only clothes.”

 

InuYasha turned his head to look at her fully, keeping his back to her still. He made it a point for her to see him sizing her up before nodding his head to the wardrobe beside him. “I got you everything you need in there.”

 

He walked out, just in time to see Shippou walk to the door carrying a large tray of assorted foods for Kagome.

 

They both smiled sadly from different rooms. Silence was golden, but avoidance was heaven.