InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Chou Shoki I: Learning from Yesterday ❯ Chapter 28 ( Chapter 27 )

No ear can hear no tongue can tell the tortures of the inward Hell!

-Lord Byron

 

 

CHAPTER 28

 

He saw her form retreating in the darkness, completely ignoring his angry calls. The wench just had to order him around! Of course, he wasn't going to listen to her ranting. As he stood, he was stopped mid stride when she fell on her knees and the pain that was transmitted through their link almost made him fall. Every sharp pain and sound of her gritting teeth echoed in his head, nearly awakening his youkai.

 

He rushed to her side. She was trembling and the throbbing seemed to intensify with every passing second. At the moment, she seemed so fragile - so human. The untouchable, stoic warrior he'd come to know was replaced by the small woman that was hurting. Sesshoumaru extended his hand to pick her up, when he heard a menacing growl come from the woman on the ground.

 

She stilled and so did his hand. Confused by the sound emitted by the very human female, he shook his uncertainty and reached out. A hair's width from making contact with her, she turned her head sharply. He was paralyzed yet again by the puzzle that this female was.

 

Right before his eyes was the contorted face of an angered miko. Except, her eyes had for a third time morphed into a silver-blue color and her pupils had narrowed into slits. He looked at her flaring nostrils and guarded stance. A pained gaze veiled her eyes as the sound of bones cracked inside her body. Kagome resembled a injured cat, crouched and ready to pounce. Doubtful but completely aware that she was still in pain, he made another attempt to touch her but she hissed at him.

 

The moment their auras touched his youkai sprung without warning. ::Mate:: it cried.

 

She cocked her head and looked deep within the crimson eyes that stared at her in worry. She tried to talk but no sound came from her lips. The pain was too strong. She held her sides in agony. All the inu youkai could do was to try to communicate with her again.

 

::Mate:: it called out to her once more.

 

She lifted her face from the ground once more. All her mind told her at the moment was to find something to make the pain go away. Just a taste to make the pain go away...

 

He squinted to make sure he was seeing correctly. When he tried to get a better look, he later would realize that he'd made the worst mistake. The quick reflex of her hand sent him flinging over the wall far behind them. However, he never made it passed the wall for the barrier surrounding the castle zapped him and threw him unconscious on the ground with a loud thud.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The pain stopped but was rapidly replaced by another pain. It was channeled through the courting mark on my neck. It served to wake me from the trance I had entered. I heard the distinct sound of running footsteps in the direction I had left Sesshoumaru. Cursing my ignorance, I swiftly stood, but was instantly brought back down as my world spun back into place. I held my head with trembling, weak hands. There was a sound of a low hiss and I saw the ripple of the barrier move all around. Recognizing the effect, I wobbled forward only to find Sesshoumaru on the grass with mild burns to his arms and part of his neck.

 

Hearing the footsteps get closer, I made quick work of lifting him and carrying him to a darken corner underneath one of the large shrubs. He started to wake up as soon as I laid him on the ground, moaning in pain. I felt his discomfort, another one of the great advantages of his mark. Doing the first think that popped into my mind to silence him, I used a bit of my spiritual energy to zap him into unconsciousness once again. I muttered a quick `too bad' and walked into the light just as the samurai came into view.

 

“Hime, daijoubou desu ka? We heard some disturbances,” said one of the squad captains.

 

“Hai. Go back to your posts. I was merely practicing.” If they had any suspicions, they didn't say anything. The bowed, said goodnight and returned to their duties. I watched them ago until there were no more sounds.

 

Kirara was right. I am going soft. I returned to pick up Sesshoumaru and carry him into my “cabin”.

 

`Oh dear Kami, you've finally lost all common sense! You're not seriously going to leave him in here, are you? And what's with the kid?' cried an angry neko.

 

I set him down on the animal hides that I used as a bed. `I can't very well leave him out there. I need him to wake up so I can make sure he'll either go back to his home or stay here in mine when we leave tomorrow.'

 

“Eriko, that is Kirara.” I pointed to the neko by the window.

 

Eriko squealed and raced to pick up Kirara. “Konnichi wa, Kirara. I'm....umm.... Eriko.”

 

`Well, hello to you, too.'

 

I tossed the small blue and white chihaya at her feet. Pointing to a door that connected to the small bathroom, I said, “There's a bath and some water, though it might be cold. Change into those once you've cleaned up. You smell.”

 

She jumped up, kissed Kirara and ran into the room without a sound. Kirara shook her head.

 

`Strays are not good.'

 

`I'll find a way of ridding myself of her.'

 

She hurried to my side at the sound of my wavering voice. `It happened, didn't it?' she asked worriedly sniffing me.

 

`Hai,' I barely managed. `I don't understand why now. It usually comes during `the trip'. You know that is one of the reasons I leave.'

 

She rubbed her tiny head on my hand. `It's probably due to the courting mark this filth placed upon you. It must have sped up the timing. I'm just glad no one saw. Or did they?'

 

`Iiee. Or at least I don't think so. Eriko could have, but if she did, it doesn't appear to have frightened her. He was the only one around. And don't call him that. The idiot must have tried to help me. I'm pretty sure I was the one that threw him into the barrier.'

 

`Serves him right. Though, I do feel sorry for anyone who tries to come near you during those times. You must have hit him pretty hard for him to be unconscious. It's a shame I wasn't there to see it!'

 

I simply frowned down on her. `I should try to get rest. Tomorrow will be a long, non-stop journey and this will already slow me down. Besides, I need to make sure that the demon will lay low while I'm gone. I might have to take the kid with me. Who knows what could happen if anyone finds her.'

 

`And you think he's just going to listen to you?'

 

`I never said he would. Besides, he already said no. That's why he's unconscious and burned right now.' I couldn't help the arrogant smirk that formed.

 

`He's not going to listen to you, Kagome. Might as well tie him, encircle him with ofuda and lock him up in your room. That's the only way he's going to stay put until we come back. Unless, you've reconsidered my offer and let me―'

 

`NO. And stop asking if you know I'm going to say no.'

 

`Fine. But if he's staying here, I'm leaving. If I stay any longer, I might decide to ignore you and kill him. I'll wait for you tomorrow at the south gate entrance. Even the bubbly kid is better company right now. Oyasumi nasai.'

 

`Oyasumi nasai. Stay close,' I bumped her head and she licked my temple.

 

After she left, I grabbed the small medicine box from a shelf and extracted some herbs to help with his burns. Though I realized that by the time I had selected and prepared the ointment, his youkai blood had already beaten me to the task. The burns were no more than small pink superficial spots. This led me to believe that the only thing keeping him unconscious was the purification energy I released inside his body.

 

Heading in the direction of the bathroom, I grabbed a thick sleeping yukata and changed. Eriko was happily scrubbing herself inside the “tub”. I picked up a cloth and a small basin and filled it with cool water. Kneeling next to him once more, I dampened the cloth and put it on his forehead. He smiled and most of my anger melted away. I pushed aside his bangs and placed a kiss on his crescent moon. The sensation it sent through my body made me shiver.

 

You're making me soft!

 

Placing my forehead against his, I let his demonic aura embrace my own spiritual one. I felt him caress mine with tenderness. “Just stay behind. This is something I must do. If you still wish to follow me afterwards, then I will no longer try to kill you. Just let me do this on my own. I'll return in less than six days. I promise.” I whispered.

 

Grabbing the blanket at the foot of my futon, I placed it on him. I moved to the door and sat by it. Most of the night I watched Sesshoumaru sleep. And when I wasn't staring at him, I gazed out at the new moon. If anything, tonight's new moon was the only solace in my life. The new moon that always made me safe.

 

As fast as that smile came, it left. I reflected on my `attack'. I was accustomed to the painful attacks that came each month. I even knew the precise moment they would come. Yet, this one had been different. Not only had it been at least thrice as painful, but it had come earlier. Kirara could have been right and Sesshoumaru's mark could have accelerated the process. However, it still did not explain the increase in pain. Plus, ever since the pain began at the age of five, I had never lost consciousness. I had no idea of what happened for those few instants that my mind went into darkness.

 

I gave a quick glance at the dog demon that was asleep. Whatever happened, I needed to know. I made a mental note to ask him when he awakened. Especially now that the kid sleeping at the other end of the room was adamant in following me around. I ran hand over my face.

 

Just my luck to be followed around by the worst possible beings!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Morning came and before Sesshoumaru woke up, I tried to recall all of the anger he had caused yesterday but failed. That is, until I remembered that his presence distracted me from saving the children that even now littered the streets of Kamakura. I went into my bathroom and dumped the cold water inside the tub. I wasn't about to bring Lana in here and find the demon sleeping in my futon.

 

Peeling the clothes off in anger, I jumped in and scrubbed myself clean.

 

When I slipped out of the water, I heard moving around. I looked at the closed shoji wondering if I should go out. I didn't know if I could face him after what I had said last night when I had brought him in. Determined to get an answer, I dressed myself quickly in my chihaya. I didn't have much time. The houshi would be waiting for me and my trip had already been delayed.

 

I slid the door and he was sitting, back to the wall. He probably was too tall for the room. I passed by him without acknowledging him. Crossing the room to where my bow was, I grabbed it and put it next to the door. I crossed the room again and stopped at a small armoire. Opening one of the drawers I pulled out another change of clothes. I also pulled out a large square cloth and wrapped the extra chihaya in it.

 

I was about to leave when he moved in front of me. Sesshoumaru made a funny picture with his back so forward I thought he would fall over me any instant. He impeded further movement so I just stared at his chest. I moved right, he moved right. I moved left, he moved left. I moved back, he moved to the front. I rolled my eyes and let out a stifling sigh.

 

“Get out of my way.”

 

“I need to explain to you why I marked you,” he replied.

 

“There's nothing to explain.” I moved again but he still wouldn't let me leave.

 

He grabbed one of my shoulders and his other hand lifted my chin so that I was now looking at him. “It was you.”

 

“WHAT! All I did - “

 

“Will you let me finish?” He hissed. I turned around and went to sit at the edge of bed.

 

I saw him pace back and forth ― sort of. He was obviously trying to find the words to explain. “My youkai awoke to you...or rather... to your scent.”

 

I looked at him and furrowed my brows. “My scent? My scent made you almost attack your bro―”

 

“Yes.” He wouldn't look at me and was instead gazing intently past me, at the closed door.

 

“So, my scent told you to impose a claim on me! I'm sorry,” I put my hand to my heart dramatically. “Next time I'll try not to wear a scent that screams `please mark me'!” I nearly screamed at him if I wasn't aware that there were people already up and about.

 

“How the hell am I supposed to react when the most beautiful and only woman in existence I have ever shown any interest in is being visited by my brothers?! At the moment I felt Juro as a threat to my courting and so did my youkai. And when you came, it thought you were afraid of Juro. That's why I needed to establish a link that my youkai thought necessary to protect you.”

 

I could feel the color leave my face. I turned. There were sounds of guards arguing with a salesman. There was also Eriko's aura and she was playing with something in the garden. I lowered my head and whispered to him. “I... I... don't understand.”

 

He was in back of me and my back stiffened. I could feel my body react to him. My aura tried to attach itself to his and I gulped. I moved back but was obstructed by him. He leaned in and nuzzled my neck. It was very much like he had done in my dream. However, the feeling was different. In my dream, it had felt so natural, so perfect. Here, now, it was...new. His arms encircled me and I felt myself relax somehow.

 

“See how your aura reacts?” He said through labored breathes. I just nodded. “And now you see how I react to you?” Again I nodded. “I know it's not something that you do on purpose, but please try to relax around me. For both our sakes.”

 

It was then that his earlier words sank in. “You think I'm beautiful?” I asked nervously.

 

He laughed softly and turned me to face him. He stared at me straight in the eyes and said, “No. I know you are the most beautiful, stubborn and frightening woman ― when angered ― in the world.”

 

I eyed him suspiciously. “Riiiight.” He hugged me once again and placed a kiss on my head. I pulled from his embrace and hardened my face. “I have to go. I should leave if I want to return in six days.”

 

Grabbing the small bundle in the futon I walked to the door and reached for my yumi. I didn't want to look back in fear of not being able to leave. I pushed the wooden door open and stepped out. I was closing it when his voice stopped me.

 

“Hurry back. I'll miss you.”

 

I gazed at him. “Stay out of viewing range and keep your senses open for any who comes nearby. No one comes inside but the servants and the samurai are usually close.” Closing the door, I left without another word.

 

~~~~~~~~~