InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daughter of the Forest ❯ Chapter 18

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

a/n: i can't believe how fast i got a review! i'm going to try to post two chapters a day.

disclaimer: 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!

Chapter Eighteen- Across the Sea

Kagome was still reeling from all she had learned in the cave. She now knew why he was so familiar, he was prince Inuyasha of the dog demon clan. The same clan her father had been fighting. He was the half demon brother to Sesshomaru who was ruler of the dog demon kingdom.

He had also been looking for Sango and now expected her to tell him. Why did midoriko tell him she knew something? She was sure that sango was dead by now if she never found her way home. How could she tell this demon that? She wished she had never met him, she wished she could run and hide, though she knew now that would be impossible.

He was the enemy of her people and though she always believed the war to have been stupid she still felt as if she were betraying her family every minute she spent with him. There was even talk that she would go back home with him. She only hoped no one would recognise her or she was dead.

But still at the same time she wanted to acept his promises of protection. Did he really mean what he said? And why would he want to protect her? She didn't like the idea of what he wanted with her and thought instead of what his protection meant. She wouldn't have to be afraid of Naraku, at least she wouldn't have to worry that he would find her in the forest. She would still keep silent though for she was sure they would be all to happy to give her to Naraku if they knew who she was.

The dawn light hardly penetrated the thick canopy but Kagome was so used to living in the forest that she knew it was morning. The demon seemed to know it too for he was already standing and clearing the campsite, Miroku snored peacefully.

Kagome rubbed her tired eyes for she hadn't had a wink of sleep after meeting Midoriko in the cave. What did she mean when she said that she chose? Did she have a choice in staying here in her forest or going across the sea? She could refuse to go, fight the demon off, maybe Inuyasha would leave her here. She doubted he would, he was both arrogant and persistent and he would probably drag her across the sea if she fought him.

Inuyasha gently prodded Miroku who moaned and rolled over still asleep. Inuyasha smirked and then kicked the monk harder instantly waking him.

"Why'd you do that?" He demanded rubbing his backside.

"You were asleep" He laughed.

"I know that!" Shouted Miroku "I would have liked to stay asleep longer"

Inuyasha ignored him and turned to Kagome "You, girl, you understand me right?"

Kagome glared at him, not liking being called girl as if she were an animal.

"I think she needs a better name, you can't keep calling her 'you' or 'girl'" Suggested the monk.

Inuyasha seemed to think about it but didn't respond.

Kagome just sat in her spot and didn't make a sound as the two began to pack up. They were leaving today, returning home because they had found nothing. Nothing but a girl who could not talk, nothing but dead ends and s strange womans promise that Kagome would tell him everything.

***

They didn't have much to carry on the journey, Kagome had nothing but a few clothes and herbs which she decided to take with her just in case. Inuyasha and miroku were quiet and alert as if they feared an ambush. In a few hours Kagome was struggling to keep up, she knew the forest well but lack of good food and not having much sleep made her weak.

Inuyasha was always shouting back at her to hurry up or they would leave her behind and she wasn't sure why she didn't just run away and hide. Then they reached the edge of the forest and Kagome froze, she was close to him now, closer than she had been in three years and that was to close. She felt her sking prickling in goosebumps and her throat became dry.

if she took another step she would be out of her forest, she would have nowhere to hide or run. She would no longer have Midoriko or the forest to protect her. She would be on her own.

As if sensing her discomfort Inuyasha was beside to her, so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. "It's okay" he whispered in her ear, "if your afraid, you haven't been out of your forest for years, have you? Let me carry you then"

Before she could protest she was on his back. he walked as if he wasn't even carrying her weight but still he joked "Man your so lite! We need to fatten you up!"

She could feel the vibrations as he laughed and his silver hair brushed her face gently. She had to resist the urge to touch the two velvety ears on his head and she felt safe, safe beside a demon who was the enemy of her people, safe for the moment.

Inuyasha was enjoying the feel of her lithe body on his back. She was warm and her warmth seemed to spread through his entire body. Miroku eyed him suspiciously but after Inuyasha gave him a long hard stare he decided to say nothing. Inuyasha wasn't even sure why he had offered to carry her, it was the only thing he could think of to get her out of the forest. She was obviously not going to walk out on her own, for her fear was great.

He remembered again the promises he had made that ghostly woman. He told himself later that he did this all for Sango and not the girl. Now he was not quite so sure. She was in danger, plagued by some dark force and he wanted to protect her, whether she would let him or not and that someday he would hear her voice.

Miroku began to whistle a sad tune, he thought Inuyasha was silly to bring this girl along. What would Sesshomaru think? She was beautiful, and young but Inuyasha could have first pick of many beautiful women to warm his bed. Why did he lust after this one? He was always a sucker for a damsel in distress but what would happen once he was done with her?

***

The boat moved steadily acoss the sea and Kagome was enjoying the cool breeze and salty air. It was nothing like her forests, for one it was open and the sun was warm on her pale skin. She realised she had missed the sky and the sea. Her family used to go to the shore and she would play in the water for hours. She wasn't as drawn to it as she was her forest and with each second that went by she felt the distance widdening between her and her forest.

She could hear it, in her mind, calling to her 'where are you going?' or 'when will you return?' She couldn't really answer these questions though she was sure they were heading towards the dog demon kingdom. She had no idea about when or if she would return and instead decided not to think about that. Instead she thought of the distance between her and Naraku and that instantly made her feel better.

Inuyasha was watching her, arms folded across his chest. He could see the gleam of hope in her eyes and the ways she seemed so happy and sad at the same time. He wondered if he had made the right choice in taking her away from her home.

"I thought of a name" He said.

She did not turn to him, but kept looking over the railing at the blue, green water.

"Jenny, (a/n: the same name in the book, i know its boring but i couldn't find a better one) it's plain but it will have to do, 'cause you can't tell me your real name"

She smiled then, because she thought it was nice of him to give her a name instead of 'girl'. For a moment he smiled in return and then he frowned and said "This doesn't mean I care that much, Your going to have to work hard for your keep when we get home." Then he walked away leaving Kgaome confused.

Didn't he say he was going to protect her? Did this mean she was nothing to him but a captive with information? She began to wish she was back in forest and not here on this boat. Not with Inuyasha. Work? What would he want her to do? the possibilities made her skin crawl, would she be a slave like she almost was with Naraku?

The memory of Naraku on top of her suddenly came to her mind and for a moment it was not Naraku there but Inuyasha. She shook her head violently to clear the image and then bent over the side of the ship. The waves looked inviting and she would have loved to jump and end it all. She would never be able to escape him, she shouldn't have thought that distance would erase the memories. It would only end in death, either her or Naraku.

She pulled herself away from the edge and retreated to her cabin. She wasn't going to be defeated by that bastard, and she wouldn't let Inuyasha bug her. She would work but she would not be a slave, for even if her name was different she was still princess Kagome.

a/n: that was my attempt at making Inuyasha more arrogant. Oh don't worry, i am not that mean, i don't think i'll make Kagome a concubine. And Inuyasha would never attack Kagome like Naraku would. He's to 'Nice' to do that!

please review!!