InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daughter of the Forest ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

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

a/n:see i am writing again! thanks you so much for writing reviews! i'm amazed people are still reading even though i took ages...

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

please review! please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter 17- Prince Inuyasha

Kagome ate little of what the demon and monk had given her. She was cold and tired and her body shook with fear. The demon had asked her all sorts of questions and she kept quiet though he got madder and madder.

He wanted to know about the mask, he wanted to know about the kingdom but Kagome said nothing. Sshe wouldn't have told them even if she could talk, what could she say? The mask belonged to a woman who was probably dead now and the kingdom was swallowed by the forest?

At least they hadn't hurt her, yet. She was sure at any moment they would try something and she would be ready for it. The memory of Naraku came to her mind, how close he had come to... To...

She curled in on herself and the demon looked up from eating.

"Are you cold?" he whispered.

In truth she was freezing even though they had given her a warm cloak to wrap around herself. She was missing human comfort, hearing another voice was like music to her. He was staring at her with his beautiful golden eyes. Kagome was lost in them though she knew they were the eyes of a demon.

She shook her head and wrapped her arms tighter around her knees. His name was Inuyasha and somehow that name was familiar but she could remember where she heard it. The other was Miroku, a lercherous monk. She had already had to slap him once for his advances she had bolted from the cave but had been caught once again by the demon.

Everytime he touched her both fear and longing filled her entire body. Images of Naraku popped into her mind nearly sending her into hysterics and she fought with all her strength to wriggle free of his embrace. After a while he realised she didn't like to be touched and mostly let her be. Still she longed for the safety of his arms even as she was afraid.

The demon had smacked the monk on the head and warned if he did it again he would be feeling the sharp end of his sword. All this had happened in one afternoon.

Kagome lay down her head and closed her eyes. Inuyasha still watched her but she decided she would be no fun if she was asleep, or at least she hoped.

"We will have to leave in the morning" Whispered Miroku glancing at the young girl fast asleep by the dim fire they had created just outside the cave. "What do we do with her?"

"She's been alone for a long time," Said Inuyasha staring into the flames, "she's afraid and half wild. She can't stay here all by herself any longer"

"Then what will we do?" Asked the monk.

Inuyasha smiled showing his two white fangs, "Take her with us of course!"

Miroku was instantly against that idea, "We can't take her back with us! What will your brother say?"

"He wont care. Besides I'm sure she might have information," He turned to her "If only she would talk to us"

"She can't talk!" growled the monk "She's mute"

"Is she?" Inuyasha asked slyly and both looked at the sleeping girl.

***

Soon all was quiet in the forest. There were only the natural sounds of animals hunting in the night. The fire was put out just in case and the monk and the girl were fast asleep. Inuyasha was on watch because he had keen senses to alert him of danger, he also didn't trust Miroku to stay awake. He didn't like this place, there was magic everywhere, in all the trees and even the wind.

Something strange was going on and she was involved somehow, he was sure of it. He was also certain she could talk, he didn't have any proof except a feeling. He would take her back to his home and persuade her to talk. The thought of torture crossed his mind and he growled. He wouldn't tell Sesshomaru about where he found her for he would surely use torture to get the information from her. Inuyasha wouldn't let that happen.

Suddenly there was a strong gush of wind that whipped his silver hair. He looked so animal like in the moonlight. Kagome stirred and her head shot up, she looked around frantically, searching as if it were the most important thing in the world.

"What is it?"

Kagome spun around and faced the great demon. He was right beside her clawed hands at the shealth of his sword. Her eyes were filled with awe and even relief, she shook her head and stood up.

'It's nothing,' she thought, 'please go back to sleep'

He didn't understand and she tried to reasure him with a smile. He raised an eyebrow and eyed her as if she was crazy.

"It's okay", said a voice from deep within the darkness of the cave, "bring him"

Inuyasha looked questingly at the cave and then the girl. She was already heading towards the cave. Inuyasha's grip on the Tetsaiga tightened and he sniffed the air for any scent of ambush. Then sure there was no one around he followed the girl into the cave.

At first the two were walking in darkness but the girl seemed to know the way. The cave was larger than it had been before, it seemed to take ages to walk down the dark tunnel it was like they were travelling to the center of the earth.

Then there was a light, it looked like fire but the was no smoke. The girl walked without fear towards the light and inuyasha followed, glancing back a few times though he could see only darkness.

There was no fire for there to be light, and there was no exit except the way they had come. The air was stale and the cave was bare. Then he noticced the woman and the small cat youkai.

'Midoriko?' Kagome asked 'Why did you leave me for so long?'

"I'm sorry, I know it has been to long." She replied aloud then turning to the demon with a sly smile on her face she asked "What do you want with her?"

Inuyasha growled not liking this woman very much. He couldn't smell her and there was some strange magic that covered her and the cat demon was very familiar. "Why do you care?"

"So arrogant aren't you?" She laughed and the noise rang through the cave. Kagome shivered not liking the mocking tone Midoriko had taken, it was unlike the sad Midoriko she knew. "Arrogant for a hanyou, prince Inuyasha"

Inuyasha snarled at the woman his amber eyes ablaze with rage. The insult burned deep into her heart and he had to refrain himself from reaching for the Tetsaiga and cutting her in half "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"

She laughed again "Why should i tell you that?"

Kagome looked at the ghostly woman with pleading eyes, she hoped she would listen and turn back to the Midoriko she knew. This woman who acted so cruely frightened Kagome 'Leave him alone, he doesn't know'

She looked from Kagome to the demon and smiled again. For a moment she saw hope in her forlorn eyes "Do you know what she said? She told me to leave you alone."

"She does not speak" he hissed through gritted teeth. He was standing right behind Kagome and she could feel each angry word on the back of her neck.

"She does speak, if you listen properly and not with those ears of yours. I must ask again, why are you taking her away from her home? Why are you taking her from the forest?"

"She can't stay here with no one to protect her" A clawed hand reached out and grabbed her arm possesively.

Kagome froze as more memories of Naraku filled her mind and she fought hard not to scream. In the short time she had been with the demon he had brought back all the memories she had tried so hard to bury the day she ran away.

"Can you protect her? Do you even realise the dangers she's up against?" Midoriko question but her voice was nothing but a whisper and so Kagome had to strain to hear. "I know why you came prince, you hoped to find sango."

Kagome eyes widened and she felt his grip tighten "What do you know about Sango?"

'Sango? He was looking for sango?' Kagome's mind screamed

"I know nothing" Midoriko said it with mock innocence, Kilala mewed and circled around her legs "But she does. She was there to heal the scars inflicted on the girls mind and body and she spoke with her"

"She does not speak" He repeated again, his patience wearing thin, why was this woman playing with him? "She is mute". He didn't really believe that himself.

"She does," said Midoriko, "and one day you may hear her, but only if you can wait"

Inuyasha didn't even seem to consider it "I will wait, for as long as it takes and she will be safe"

Then Midoriko turned to kagome, it had been as if she wasn't there and now midoriko finally noticed her. Her eyes were back to normal, even as she smiled. She said telepathically 'I'm sorry i had to put you through this. But i had to be sure he was the right one. I think you chose well'

'Chose?' Kagome questioned furiously, hating the way she had treated Inuyasha, all for a test 'I didn't choose to be attacked and captured by this demon, i didn't choose anything!'

'There is always a choice,' This was not Midoriko but the cute little youki beside her, whom had been quiet through the whole ordeal, 'in the ones we rely on'

Then in a flash she and Kilala were gone and Kagome and the demon were alone in the darkness, the light vanished with them. He said nothing but still gripped her arm. She realised he was still holding her and jerked her hand to free herself. He let her go with a fustrated sigh.

"You will talk to me one day" Kagome couldn't tell whether it was a question or a statement and she neither agreed or disagreed. The only way she would ever speak again was if Naraku was dead and that may never happen.


a/n: i'm so happy that i finally made it to the lovey-dovey bits! this was my favourite part in the book daughter of the forest and my attempt wasn't near to how cute it was!

please review you nice peoples!