InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Complications ❯ Honor Bound ( Chapter 2 )

“No way!”

 

Bored expression never faltered.

 

“No way in hell! Forget it!”

 

An eyebrow rose condescendingly over a sharp, golden eye.

 

InuYasha growled loudly. “Dammit, don't give me that look, Sesshomaru! I told you, I ain't doing it! Get off my back!”

 

Sesshomaru sighed the sigh of a parent tolerating a child's temper tantrum. “InuYasha, the least you could do is speak with Hirata Koga about the position.”

 

Said hanyou simply snorted before turning his back on the Demon Lord and stomping off down the long hallway in a huff. Sesshomaru followed, continuing as if his half brother were giving him his full attention. “I cannot say I blame you for disliking the idea of spending long periods of time with a human, but you must also consider the benefits.”

 

“Keh!”

 

“You would receive ample compensation, strengthen yourself - “

 

“Oi!” InuYasha threw a smoldering glare over his shoulder. “I don't need `strengthening', bastard.”

 

“ - immensely, and make a name for yourself, flattering or otherwise, among the villagers. It would make settling less messy. Humans do have a habit of gossiping.”

 

Throwing open a shoji screen that led to the outer courtyard of Sesshomaru's estate, InuYasha stopped, lifting his chin stubbornly and stuffing his arms into his haori sleeves. “Keh. What makes you think I care about any of that shit? I didn't even want to come here in the first place.”

 

Sesshomaru tossed a tendril of silver hair over his shoulder, expression remaining unattached. “Yet here you are.”

 

InuYasha muttered a few choice words to himself before going off in search of a tree to sulk in. His shadow either didn't catch the hint or didn't care. “Really, InuYasha, I should think even you would be capable of such a simple task.”

 

The red-clad youth's shoulders stiffened, but he kept moving. His ears flattened themselves on his head as a low, angry rumble formed in his chest. “You know damn well that's not the issue, Sesshomaru! If you hadn't sent your ugly little toad man to pester me, I never would've come here! I should've just sliced him with Tetsusaiga. That would've made things a lot simpler.”

 

Finally finding a tree of suitable height whose branches overlooked the road leading to Sesshomaru's estate, InuYasha leapt into the leafy sanctuary and settled onto a particularly thick branch, leaning his back against the tree's trunk comfortably.

 

Sesshomaru seemed unfazed by his brother's obvious attempt to dodge the topic. “If you had eliminated my vassal, I simply would have come for you in person. Don't misunderstand me, little brother,” he said with something akin to a sneer on his face, “this situation is even less pleasant for me, I assure you. However it's a matter of family honor. You simply cannot keep wandering as you have been. It's disgraceful behavior for a son of the Inu no Taisho to exhibit.”

 

“Don't pull that crap on me,” InuYasha's voice snarled from among the leaves, “This has nothing to do with disgracing our father's name. This is about disgracing yours. That's all you care about, isn't it? What, are you afraid those stupid humans will find out about me and suddenly lose any respect they had for you? Are you afraid of losing your `good name'? Of being sneered at?” He snorted instead of waiting for Sesshomaru's reply. “I really don't give a damn what those humans think of you. I'm out of here first thing tomorrow morning.”

 

Sesshomaru ignored his brother's attempt at a barb and pressed on. “I understand the concept of honor and dignity is a hard one for you to grasp - ”

 

Another snarl sounded through the billowy branches.

 

“ - but you can at least attempt to understand the point I'm trying to convey.”

 

His comment was met with silence. Sesshomaru sighed. “InuYasha, if you do not cooperate, I will be forced to take drastic measures.”

 

“Keh! Like what?”

 

“Must you ask? I am sure our last encounter cannot have escaped your memory already.”

 

It was quiet for a moment before InuYasha dropped down from his perch, landing on all fours at the base of the trunk before rising slowly, eyeing his brother with obvious distrust. “You wouldn't.” He stated, without much confidence.

 

The Demon Lord raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn't I?”

 

Clenching his jaw, InuYasha tried not to growl. “I don't believe this…”

 

Turning his back on his half brother, Sesshomaru started walking back towards the large estate he called home. “I'm glad you have come to your senses. You will go and work out the details with Koga first thing tomorrow.”

 

“Keh!”

 

 

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“Kagome!!!”

 

Said girl flinched as just about every bird within a five mile radius took flight at the loud screech that filled the air. Her grandfather really had a set of lungs on him, despite his continuous complaints of aches and pains.

 

Kagome sighed as she leaned back against the tree she had taken refuge under. She loved the forest. The green mass which surrounded her village in a semicircle not only offered some protection on their eastern border, but was also full of medicinal herbs that Kaede, the local priestess, used for the ailments of the villagers. It was an added bonus that the forest was at its most beautiful this time of year. Though Kagome never ventured too far in, due to the occasional demon that lurked in the deepest sections of the forest, she often took refuge among the outlying trees and flowers. The serenity of nature soothed her and gave her the quiet she needed to think and contemplate.

 

“Kagome!!!”

 

The raven-haired girl's eye twitched slightly. Now, more than ever, she needed quiet.

 

Lolling her head back against the rough bark at her back, she stared up through the leafy haze of branches at the clear blue sky, patched with clouds drifting lazily on the breeze.

 

Her entire village was in a flurry of activity today. Neighbors kept bringing bundles of cloth, beads, herbs, and what little extra food they could spare to her family's hut, gifts of goodwill for Kagome for her “most honored journey”. One of the older women of the village had even gone so far as to bring a good luck charm, strung on a length of ribbon. When she had explained exactly what the charm was for, Kagome's blush had come so hot and bright that she feared she might catch flame. It had gotten even worse when the woman laughed uproariously at her reaction.

 

But of the many women so actively helping in the preparations, her mother had to be the busiest and most enthusiastic of the bunch. Between packing the few feeble possessions Kagome owned, cooking up more food than she had ever seen at once for the armed escort coming that day, and making arrangements for the purification rituals (which Kagome still refused to take), Yutsuko Higurashi was an entire task force on her own. Kagome wondered if her mother even remembered that she wasn't the bride preparing to move into her husband's house just yet. The marriage wouldn't take place for months.

 

Groaning, Kagome dropped her head into her palms, which rested on her drawn up knees. Yes, that was the problem, wasn't it? Koga's proposal. The reason her life, and her village, was in complete chaos.

 

It had taken her completely by surprise. Sure, she had known that Koga's interest in her was more than simply that of an avuncular landlord. Ever since Kagome had come of age for marriage, Koga would make a point of visiting her and her family when he made the required monthly rounds of his lands, overseeing farming labor. At first his advances had confused her. He was, after all, a demon. Why would a demon of such high prestige have any interest in a human? A peasant human, at that? Yet he was persistent, seeking her out more and more as time passed, often when she was alone. It made her nervous and slightly giddy. Over time, when he made no serious move to further along his courtship of her, she started to think that perhaps he just enjoyed the flirtation. Comforted by that thought, she had allowed herself to relax, and even flirt back occasionally.

 

As it turned out, that had been a very unwise decision on her part.

 

One night, about six months after Koga's courtship had started, she came home from herb gathering for Kaede to find Koga and her grandfather in consultation together. It was that night that she had been informed of her engagement to the wolf demon. If his roguish grin and overly bright gaze had been any indication, he either hadn't noticed or completely miss-interpreted the horrified expression she knew had appeared on her face. Kagome had always been an honest person and very open with her feelings. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and thus couldn't mask the shock and anger she felt at being completely left out of such an important decision; a decision that by rights was hers to make.

 

After Koga left, she had pleaded with her grandfather to call the wolf demon back and explain that she wasn't ready. But it didn't seem to matter to the old man how much shouting, yelling, and wailing she could dish out, didn't seem to matter how many tears she shed while trying to reason with him; he was determined that she go through with the engagement. He had given his word to the wolf demon. It was now a matter of family honor. If she refused to marry Koga she would forever disgrace her family.

 

At the time Kagome hadn't cared. She'd do anything to get out of the hole her grandfather had pushed her in. She didn't love Koga. She didn't want to marry him! It had taken days, and the calm reasoning of her mother, for the reality of her situation to sink in. It didn't seem to matter that she didn't love Koga or that she wasn't ready for marriage. She was honor bound to him now.

 

And it was that comforting thought which Kagome now sat contemplating. Despite the fact that such things were never done and that it could potentially ruin her reputation, Koga had convinced her grandfather to allow Kagome to come live with him at his estate until the wedding. Kagome had been strongly opposed to the idea, but if her grandfather had no qualms about promising her to someone without her permission, he certainly didn't have any reservations about a move like this.

 

“Kagome!”

 

Speaking of her grandfather…

 

Kagome's head shot up just as her grandfather stomped into the forest clearing, an impressive scowl on his face. The old man was bent, and walked with a slight limp, due to a hunting accident from his youth. Despite his rather frail looking appearance, he held an air of dignity about him when he put his mind to it. He was highly respected among the villagers, mostly due to the anti-demon wards and protection charms he made and sold. He had come to be known as the local demon expert.

 

Personally, Kagome thought he was a quack.

 

“Kagome!” he shrieked for the umpteenth time that day as he neared her. “Where have you been? Hirata-sama's escort will be here in a matter of moments! You must prepare yourself!” Looking her over with a displeased eye, he added, “Is that what you plan on wearing? You are going to meet your future husband, young lady, not a farmer boy with a fancy. Go change!”

 

Kagome sighed and looked down at herself. The plain blue-and-white kimono she wore was the best she had. She only owned one other, which she wore while she worked in the fields and did her chores. It was in much worse condition than the one she wore now. Sighing again, she stood up slowly and brushed herself off. “Yes, grandpa, this is what I'm wearing. Koga has seen me looking much dirtier and shabbier than this, I doubt it will phase him.”

 

Her grandfather huffed. “You are an impertinent child, Kagome.”

 

She smiled sardonically, “I suppose it's one of my charms.”

 

Ignoring her grandfather's squawk of indignity, she started on her way back towards the village. She knew that once she got there her mother would insist on giving her a last minute fix up before the escort took her to Koga's castle, all the while smiling that bright, ecstatic smile she'd had on her face since Kagome's engagement. Every time Kagome reminded her of the fact that she was marrying completely against her will, her mother would simply say what she'd been saying with that smile ever since that night; “Think of all the wonderful opportunities you'll have now, Kagome. Koga can take care of you, provide for you in a way that we never could. Your future is set. It's for the best, dear, you'll see.”

 

Everyone was against her.

 

Why doesn't anyone see it? She thought bitterly while clenching her jaw. Why doesn't anyone realize that I don't want to marry for money or opportunity? It shouldn't be about that!

 

But it was her family's honor at stake if she didn't.

 

Just as she passed the last tree of the forest and crested the hill that overlooked her village, she saw a large grouping of… something moving rapidly down the road directly below and opposite her. It was the main road that led to the village from the west, and if the large clouds of dust clinging to that large moving lump were any indication, Koga's mounted escort would be there for her very shortly.

 

Kagome picked up her pace a little, going down the hill at a trot. Her mother would want her help, passing out the food she had prepared for the escort. And after that? She would tie the sack which held her few possessions onto her back, hop onto a horse, be escorted to Koga's castle half a day's ride from the village, and then her life as she knew it would be over.

 

 

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[A/N] Ehehe… umm, hi? *sweat drop* What can I say? Just when you think you're out, you get sucked back in.

 

Review please!