InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daughter of the Forest ❯ Chapter 4

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/n: I love all you people. I was so happy to read all your reviews. Thank you so much. Just for you people i'll try to update as fast as i can but i have a big geo assignment which dumb old me hasn't even started.

I wanted to say to ethril dragon that i may give away a bit of the plot of the book but i have changed a lot! this story is only just following some bits of the book (stuff i liked).

disclaimer: i don't own inuyasha cause Rumiko Takahashi or the book 'daughter of the forest' cause Julliet Marillier does. So i don't claim the storyline or the characters.

please review

Chapter four- The plan.

Kagome dreamed...

She was running through the forest or at least she thought she was running. She was definatly moving but her feet were still.

Under her was a soft white/yellow fur. It belonged to some kind of beast with fire egulfing its feet. She knew it was a forest demon but wasn't afraid.

The wind felt so good and she felt warm and safe. She noticed there was someone at her back. When she turned she saw the sleeping face of the girl.

'What happened?' She thought.

But there was no answer.

She looked down and realised that they were running in mid air only a few meters off the ground.

She could see they were going really fast as the small stream they were following was only a blur.

'Stream?' she though

"Yes the way to my lair" Said a solemn voice beside of her.

Looking up she saw a white ghostly shadow. The face and body was blurry but she could just make out the face of...

"Mother?" She whispered out loud.

The woman smiled. There was something strange about her...

They seemed to be a huge boulder getting closer and closer until the beast stopped.

Kagome gapped it was a huge cave.

The spirit walked inside "This is where you need to go..." she whispered.

She stepped off the beast and turned to face it, it had two long saber teeth, two tails and big red eyes.

"Its name if Kilala (a/n: i decided thats how i'll spell it. is Kilala a boy or girl? for now i'll call her a girl). She will help you, when you need her" She put a pale hand on its fur and Kagome gasped.

"Your hand?" it was almost see through.

"Yes" she looked sad. one hand moved over her heart as if to be reasured of something.

"Is it really you mother?" Kagome asked.

The dream seemed to last an eternity as the woman smiled weakly.

Then the woman turned to face her. Kagome could just make out her sorrow filled eyes "Yes and no. I am the spirit of this forest and thus she is appart of me, as she is apart of my forest, like you"

Then kagome remembered the girl on the back of Kilala and so did the spirit.

"You must help her" She said "you know what to do but you must hurry. When you free her Kilala will wait for you and bring you here." she motioned inside the cave "here you will heal her and help her"

"Where is this place?" Kagome asked looking at the huge cave mouth.

"Follow the stream. It will lead you to the entrance of my lair"

Kagome looked at the ground there were seven streams in total all meeting at the same place at the entance to the cave.

"You will need herbs and bandages" the woman smiled again.

She moved closer to kagome and put a see through hand under her chin.

She frowned "What a close resemblance... just like your mother your face and..." she shock her head "your face will mean only danger. He is not far from us now."

She pulled her hand away "be careful"

Then the world began to disapear. The woman looked at her with forlorn, almost lost eyes that almost spoke 'save me'

"Midoriko?" she whispered

Kilala stirred from she sleep. She felt her nearby...

"Meww" She said as she looked at Kagome., for a moment she thought it was her...

But when Kagome opened her eyes they were wide and bright and full of happy memories and times.

Kilala mewwed again. 'no this is not her. My charge has eyes of saddness, her eyes are full of happiness and promise.'

"Your kilala" she whispered as she pulled the little creature into her lap. "will you... help me?"

Kilala mewwed. It was her job after all. That was all she every did.

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Kaede was weary. She had spent all night tending to the injured only to find out that Leon and a handful of his men would be leaving right now.

She knew about the prisoner and what Kagome had tried to do. Why would she help such a strange girl? It didn't suprise her though Kagome had a kind heart and would not deny helping anyone, even if it was dangerous. 'She wont be able to fight, her soul would not allow it, she will need the help of someone stronger' the words of her Kikyo ran through her head. 'fight what?'

She looked through the bars of the prison. 'Was this what Kikyo meant by stronger? No...'

She was huddled in a dark coner, her eyes wide and unfocused. She had blood running down her face, her clothers were torn and her silky hair mattered with blood. She no longer looked as brave as before. She looked horrible like a pityful little mouse trying to hide from the world.

But kaede knew for a fact that she hadn't spoke a single word other than insults and curses. Leon had been so angry when he left.

"Are ye brave or stupid?" she asked the girl only responded with a hatred filled glare. The little mouse was replaced by a conered tiger.

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Kagome got dress quickly. Wanting to start as soon as possible.

She went to the window and looked out at the sky. Clear as ususal. it was always so beautiful in the morning.

That's when she noticed the horses assembled in the garden below. they were a horrid sight among the beauty of the flowers. their amour was still covered in blood from the last battle and many men were not fully healed.

She watched as one man kissed his loved one. She seemed so sad and he looked at her with loving eyes. Kagome sighed 'Would anyone ever look at me in such a way?' she imagined a man, strong, brave and handsome. he would hold her in his strong arms and kiss her and...

Her eyes flung open. She couldn't think that. She was a princess after all and would be married to anyone her father wanted. She cringed as the image of all the old generals and kings her father my want a treaty with. It didn't matter anyway such a love was impossible.

Suddenly she remembered her father and sighed. Why did he have to do this? She feared for him every time he left. Though she longed for him to leave her in peace for when he was gone she could go anywhere she wanted.

Kagome headed towards the door and Kilala followed like her shadow. going wherever Kagome did.

She still remembeered the bizarre dream she had that night it felt almost real but it couldn't be...

But here at her feet was the evidence, the little cat youkai, she was sure was named Kilala just like the one in her dream, and that woman, it wasn't her mother that she was sure of! But she still felt connected. There had been something wrong with her eyes...

Was it really Midoriko? Kilala mewwed as if reading her thoughts it sounded like a yes to her.

She looked so sad and lost, she had been so faint and pale but why?

She wanted to help but how? She shock her head. It wasn't time for that.

Right now she needed a good plan, not some stupid half baked plan, or else she would definatly be caught.

She thought for a moment and decided to check her herb room. 'You will need herbs and bandages' Midoriko had said. she didn't like what that meant, the prisoner may be badly injured.

She moved down the hall like a fugitive wincing when people passed, who then stared at her as if she was crazy. Maybe she was. She was getting so worked up she always went to the herb room, just because she was thinking of freeing a prisoner didn't mean she should be so worried.

"Whats wrong kagome?"

Kagome halted she was only a few inches from her auntie Kaede how stared at her inquisitally.

"Ah... Nothing, nothing why would i be doing something? And if i was it would be illegal. Oh no of course not i wouldn't be freeing anyone" She covered her mouth, damn she was such a bad lier like an open book whom everyone could read.

She laughed and pushed past Kaede who hadn't the slightest idea what she was mummbling about. As Kagome ducked into the herb room Kaede noticed the little creature following.

She gasped 'It couldn't be' she thought 'the little youkai...'

She turned and left the castle walking into the now desterted garden.

She stared at the statue, the face of Midoriko, Kikyou and Kagome. The face leon never looked apon. Then she traveled lower to her feet, where the little youkai stood vigilant and ready for a fight.

"It is..." she whispered aloud.

She remembered the tale of how Midoriko had been so miserable and afraid, she was saved by a cat demon who had become her one loyal companian forever. If she was here that meant...

'Kagome it in big danger' was her last thought.

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Kagome searched and searched and searched but all she could find was an empty bottle.

She had run out completly of the one herb she needed. She growled at herself.

She had come up with an idea which she thought was really good. She would make a sleeping draught give it to the guards rescue the girl and get her to the cave.

She had no need to check if it was real or not she believed deep in her heart that it was. Everything was packed and ready to go. The only problem was she was out of nightshade.

That meant she would have to go to the forest in the deepest darkest places to find it and bring it back.

She sighed, although she loved the forest, there where some days when she was afraid to go. Those days she felt as though someone or something was watching and waiting for her...

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She went anyway knowing she had to. Well she didn't have to but knew if she didn't that poor girl would be killed and any information she gives her father would use for more violence.

It didn't take her long to find the plant and she felt relieved. She thought with the nearing of winter the nightshade would have died down (I don't know anything about any plants so i'm making stuff up. except what it says in the book).

When she had walked through the forest she felt fine until some time ago when she felt a cold gaze at her back. It made her feel sick and weak but she continued to walk 'It is only my imagination' she would think to herself.

Today, though it felt so much worse. She could actually feel a dark, very dark arua covering her, caressing her softly, and forcefully. As she cut the plant she began to feel dizzy. She was begining to think this was not her imagination and the arua began touch her, every stroke she could feel sickening desire from whoever it was coming from.

She froze as the gaze grew more intense and the touch almost pushed her to the ground.

She felt sick, frightned, weak she was trembling and wanted to run but she couldn't her legs were like jelly.

Then there was a feirce low growling and the arua withdrew.

Kagome gasped, she didn't realise she had been holding her breath.

She turned only to find Kilala in, what she assumed was her transformed mode, standing between her and the shadows of the forest. She was growling and took an intimidating stance.

It was gone frightened by her new guardian Kilala, but Kagome had a sick feeling it would be back and that no one would be able to protect her...


a/n: whooooo someone is watching kagome who do you think it is... and will Kagome be able to save the girl without losing her own head?
who or what is kilala and why does she protect kagome?
What's up with Midoriko?

all this will be reveiled....

one day so you'll have to wait. i hope you people enjoy it.