InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Deep Waters ❯ Ch11 ( Chapter 11 )

Ch.11

 

Kagome ran. She had been running for hours and exhaustion crept up on her but she refused to stop. Her heart was pounding and she felt as though she would throw up blood but she couldn't stop. Her legs were threatening to collapse but she couldn't stop until she made it to Osaka. She gave a worried glance backwards; she had the strangest feeling she had been followed for the last twenty minutes. `I wonder what the pirates are doing now. I bet they don't even know I'm gone yet but I guess that's for the best.

 

She made it to a large fork in the road before her knees locked in place and she fell to the ground with a large `thump'. She let out short pants of air, begging for the strength to go on. She rolled onto her back and spread out her arms and legs in a star shape. “Dear god, why are you doing this to me?” She asked to the heavens as rain pelted her small form. After a few moments of lying there she decided it was time to go, she still needed to get back to Osaka. She sat up and gave a loud moan as her stomach cramped up sending her into a tight ball. She slowly unwound herself and glanced down at her maidenhead. “Thanks a bunch lord! Thanks a bunch! Is this a sign? Are you telling me to go back to the love of my life so that he can be killed and condemned to hell like all of the other pirates? Well, too bad! I won't and I love him so don't expect me to!” She snapped. On the crotch of her pants was a bright red stain of blood.

 

She tried to stand up but her legs were jelly, without one bone in them. That was that last straw, she began to bawl. Thousands of tears rolled down her cheeks, as she was absorbed into her own self-pity. Running away was supposed to be the difficult part, which she had done with ease, not getting back. Returning to her fiancé was supposed to be easy, he was supposed to find her the minute she stepped out of her safe hold, out of her protection with Inuyasha. He was supposed to be lurking in the shadows, waiting for her to leave Inuyasha's side so that he could make his move. This was all wrong!

 

A dark creature escaped from the forest that had been surrounding the path. The hidden creature took his chance and approached the lady who was sobbing at the fork in the road after running for who knows how long like the devil was on her heals. Kagome had yet to notice the strange figure walking towards her, too wrapped up in her pity.

 

The figure walked up behind her, waiting for her to notice him. When he didn't he gave a short cough, she didn't hear it though, the rain was making them deaf to the world. He gave another, which was also covered up by the rain. He was getting fed up by her ignoring him and stomped his foot in a childish manner. Finally he stalked in front of her, rousing her from whatever little world she was in. “Hello, miss.” He said as she looked up at him.

 

“Awwwwwww!” She cried out, forgetting that seconds ago she had been bawling her eyes out. “Oh my goodness! What a little cutie!” She exclaimed. “Oh, where are my manners?” She said in a babyish tone. “My name is Higurashi Kagome. Who are you?” She asked pleasantly.

 

The small child replied curtly, “My name's Shippo.” She began to study him. He was obviously a youkai, kitsune perhaps. He looked about five but with his youkai aging he was probably closer to Kagome's age than five, maybe even older, yet somehow she felt that she should baby him. He was really short, especially for a youkai, being only around 1'5”. He had turquoise eyes that sparkled even in the damp rain and bright orange hair that shined. He had small paws instead of normal hands and fingers that humans would have. He wore a blue long sleeved shirt and darker blue pants with a hemp vest. “Higurashi, why were you crying?” He asked, his bright eyes shown with innocence.

 

“First off Shippo, please call me Kagome. And I was crying because I have to get away from Hyogo and get to Osaka, but I'm lost.” She explained soothingly. She always liked children, no matter what they were.

 

“Okay Kagome!” He beamed. “Osaka's only a few miles that way.” He paused for a moment as if deciding something. “Um, Kagome, I-uh, I could take you there. That is if you want.” He offered nervously.

 

“I would love that Shippo, I really would, but what about your family?” She asked, she didn't want to kidnap such an adorable child as Shippo. He looked sad for a minute, looking at the ground and dragging his foot across it.

 

“It's fine. They wouldn't mind. I think they would have liked you, besides I can take care of myself. My daddy and mommy taught me how to do that before they died.” He said, uncertain if she would still like him even though he didn't have any parents, a worthless orphan.

 

“I would love you to take me, but I can't pay you for your troubles, I probably can't even afford to give us a shelter.” She said, tears brimming her eyes. She wanted to take him so bad, but she couldn't take care of him the way he needed and there was no way her fiancé would let her keep him once she was found.

 

Soon Shippo was crying, also. He had mistaken her tears as rejection and her excuses as trying to keep him away from her. His shoulders slumped and he slowly spun on his heel and headed back into the brush where he could get shelter from the rain. “It's okay. I understand, why would a nice human lady like you want to be with a pathetic demon orphan like me?” He said as he, also, began to cry.

 

“No!” She exclaimed when she understood why he was crying. “Don't leave Shippo!” She cried. “Please don't. Let me explain. I have no money, I can't support you. I would if I could, honestly. And even if I could, I'm trying to find my fiancé, but he wouldn't let me keep you. But Shippo, if you could take me to Osaka I'd try my hardest to find you a good family to support you. Is that all right with you?” She begged. She had suddenly become very attached to the young kitsune.

 

He slowly looked back at her, and for a second she thought he was going to refuse. “Uh-huh.” He nodded before a large smile crept across his face. He launched himself at Kagome, knocking her to the ground. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!” He said gleefully. “I can't thank you enough!” He said.

 

“All right, Shippo. Do we have an arrangement?” She asked and he nodded exuberantly. “Okay let's go.” She said grabbing his hand. As she stood up she gave a hard sneeze that knocked her down on her rump. “Uh, but first Shippo, do you mind if we go into the forest and get warmed up? I think I'm catching a cold.” She explained.

 

“Okay! If we find a good place I can even start a fire with my youkai powers. I'm gonna be a great youkai some day!” He told her. “Just like my daddy!”

 

“I bet you will be.” She said in a kind tone, inwardly amused by his comments yet equally amazed by his strength to keep going with all that happened to him. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms, gently squeezing him. “Thank you Shippo.” She finished before giving another loud sneeze.

 

She hurried into the bush and after a few minutes of searching they found the perfect place to stay until the constant rain broke. It was a remote clearing and luckily there was a small, clear puddle that she could wash her pants in. She couldn't go into Osaka with a period stain in her pants. “Shippo, don't look.” She said, not wanting to take away the young boy's innocence.

 

“That's okay, me, mommy and daddy always took bathes together.” He said. Kagome took this as a sign and removed her pants and undergarment, washing them in the puddle until they were clean. Once that was done she walked over to Shippo.

 

“Alright, what do you need for a fire?” She asked.

 

“Sticks.” He answered shortly. “But they gotta be dry.” He said, remembering how his mother always taught him how to use his foxfire. A lone tear drizzled down his cheek. She nodded and began to search for sticks. Once she found an armful she walked back over to Shippo and dropped them on the ground.

 

“There.” She said and watched him prepare to make a fire. He put them in a pile then mumbled something. His hands began to glow with a blue light then he shoved the light into the sticks. Almost immediately the sticks began to burn and a fire lit the area.

 

They sat around the fire; Kagome made certain that the long shirt hid her more private parts. Soon her stomach began to growl and she cursed herself for not thinking of bringing food. If Shippo heard he didn't show it. Later Shippo's stomach gave a lurch and a hungry grumble escaped him. “My, I think we need some food.” She said more to herself, thinking of ways they could get food.

 

Shippo reached into her back pocket and pulled out a half-eaten piece of soggy bread. “I know it's not great, but will this do?” He asked, offering some to her.

 

“Shippo, that's wonderful!” She exclaimed then pushed the bread back at him. “You need it more than I do. You have it, I can manage without food for a while longer.” She said realizing she hadn't eaten a good meal since the banquet, which she had thrown up that night. “After you're done, we should get some sleep.” She said as he gobbled up the bread.

 

“Okay, but Kagome, I have a question for you.” He said curiously.

 

“Alright, Shippo, ask away.” She said kindly. “I'll try to answer it the best I can.” She added as an afterthought, hoping he wouldn't ask something difficult.

 

“Kagome, why did you wash your pants and underwear? Was it cause you were bleeding there?” He asked innocently.

 

“Well…uh…you see…no…um.” She stuttered, unaware of how to answer the question. “I'll tell you when you're older.” She finished lamely. She didn't think his parents wanted their five-year old son knowing about those kind of things yet.

 

“Oh…okay.” He said disappointed before continuing to munch on his soggy bread. There was an awkward silence before he thought of another question. “Hey Kagome, do you mind if I ask you another question?” He asked.

 

“Go ahead.” She urged, hoping this question would be easier than the last one.

 

“Why were you running for so long? I only followed you for about twenty minutes but from your scent and looks, you had been running for at least an hour before that.” He told her.

 

“Well,” She said, not wanting to make this too complicated for his young mind. “There were pirates who kidnapped me. I'm trying to run away.” She half lied.

 

“Oh, I see.” He answered before lying down on the moist dirt ground. Soon, Kagome followed his example and they both fell into a deep sleep. Throughout the night Kagome shivered and became sicker as the fire went out. Uncovered to the rain it fell down in big drops, chilling her to the bone.

 

 

Inuyasha stormed into his room, he had drank and thought for while and he decided he deserved to know what Kagome's secret, he had saved her, it was his right! He said he would give her time, but time was limited and now with the slight fog of alcohol blurring his vision he was dead set on finding out her secret.

 

He slammed the door as he entered their room and was surprised when he didn't even hear a whimper from her. He looked at the futon and saw a lump. He gave a slight growl before he barked, “Kagome! Get the fuck up!” When she didn't move he stormed over to her. “Get up you lazy wench!” He pulled the covers from the futon to find…nothing. He looked at it puzzled, then it dawned on him, she had run away. She was gone. He sat down on the bed as a solitary tear threatened to fall. He wouldn't let it.

 

He sat there for a good hour wondering why she would leave. `Because you're an asshole.' Replied a side of him while the other answered, `No, it's her secret, you haven't done any thing to her. It's that fiancé of hers.'

 

He finally stood and went back to the bar. There, he saw Sango and Miroku in a dark corner. Miroku currently had a local whore on his lap while Sango sat beside him silently fuming. “Sango! Miroku!” He bellowed. “My room, right now!” He turned and left.

 

Miroku immediately pushed the wench off his lap and Sango relaxed a little. Both were worried about their friend and captain, he seemed stressed about something. They hurried to his room where he sat on his futon. “Where's Kagome?” Miroku asked, earning a sharp nudge in the back from Sango. Surprisingly, Inuyasha didn't yell or threaten to kill him; he just sat there.

 

“She left.” He answered. The two crewmembers formed an `o' with their lips not wanting to push it any farther. “I wanted to tell you we're leaving the day after tomorrow. We're going to raid for supplies then we're leaving. Understood?” He said in a monotone voice.

 

“Yes sir, captain.” They answered in sink. “Is that all captain?” Asked Sango. He nodded and they left swiftly. Inuyasha was like a book; he was easy to read. He had two stages, one was shock, and the next was anger. They both knew that it was best when they weren't around when he was angry.

 

He was going to leave and forget about Kagome, he was going to leave her just the way she left him. She didn't want him and he didn't want her. She didn't need him and he didn't need her. That's how it was going to be.