InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Desert Rose ❯ The Desert Sands ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Desert Rose: Chapter 2: The Desert Sands
`I am never riding a camel again!' Kagome thought to herself as Inuyasha steered the creature forward. It was very uncomfortable riding on a saddle designed for one passenger, even though Inuyasha let her take up most of it. Not only was the saddle unpleasant, the movement of the camel's hump as the creature walked forward was awkward. It was unnerving the way the way the saddle moved up and down as the camel took its steps in the sand. The fact that there was an adult male behind her didn't help either.
Though she didn't have much intimacy with the male sex, she wasn't too naïve and she couldn't bring herself to completely trust the man who sat behind her, a man whose face had yet to be revealed to her eyes. The only part of his face she had seen was the golden eye that twitched as it looked around. His arm was around her waist making sure that she didn't fall, while the other hand held the reins of the camel. His chest that was pressed against her back didn't bring any comfort to her position. It only made her hotter because of his body heat.
They had been traveling since he found her, not stopping even once. The sun was directly over their heads now. `The hottest part of the day.' She thought. She looked back over her shoulder at his eye. It seemed that he was concentrated on steering the camel ahead, toward what exactly he was headed she didn't know. All she saw was the hills upon hills of sand that endlessly stretched before them. Inuyasha hadn't said a word to her since he had put her on the camel.
The only time he had spoken to her was when he gave her some water before he urged the camel forward. She took the clay bottle and drank the water greedily before he dragged it away saying, “Take it easy, I don't have enough water for two and we need as mush as we can get before we reach the next check point.” She was partly angered by his words but quickly saw his point.
A movement behind her brought Kagome back into the present. Inuyasha reached for one of the bags that were conveniently tied on the saddle, pulling out a long white cloth and handing it to Kagome who took it with confusion. “Wrap it around your face.” Was his blunt answer to her questioning stare.
When she couldn't manage to put the cloth on, Inuyasha sighed and momentarily stopped the camel to wrap the cloth skillfully around her face, leaving one of her eyes uncovered so she could see. She now knew why he had refused to remove the cloth around his face. The material, now securely positioned around her face, was cool and softer then silk. It was like water was mixed into the fabric and it made it easier to breathe in the dusty wind. She realized that the cloth kept her from breathing in sand as well and was grateful to the cloth for shielding her against the sun. The material was the only thing that gave her comfort in this unyielding ride.
She looked down at the arm around her waist. `What am I doing?' It was so strange, for some reason she was compelled to trust him. Even though she knew that it was a silly thought, there was the fact that he was now the only thing that stood between her and a slow death in the desert. He could've just left her where she was. `I should thank him.'
“We'll be there by nightfall.” His words startled her out of her thoughts. “Think you can hold out a little longer?”
“Y-yeah. How can you tell where you are going? All I see is sand?”
“Keh. Following the sent.” Was his vague answer.
“Scent?” He didn't answer her statement. Instead she asked, “Wouldn't a horse be mush faster?”
“Yeah, they are faster, but camels are more realizable. They can carry heavy loads and go days without water because their humps acts as storage for all the liquid they drink. Also, they have three eyelids that protect them from the sand in the air.”
Kagome signed, “At least horses are more comfortable,” she said under her breath, “they don't make you bounce up and down.”
She heard Inuyasha chuckle. “Is it the camel that's making you uncomfortable or is it the fact that I'm right behind you?”
She was thankful for the cloth for covering her blush and to the fact that he was behind her for the first time. Angered by his chuckle, she looked down to the arm that still held her and pinched his hand. She heard him grumble at the slight sting. “Ow, what's your problem wench!?” he growled. She turned to face him.
“My name is not WENCH! If you're going to say my name, say it right! It's Kagome. KA-GO-ME.”
“Whatever.” He replied, clearly out of things to say. She returned to her originally position smiling triumphantly under her mask. Unfortunately, the smile faded as his hold on her got tighter.
Inuyasha was in a foul mood. Without realizing he had held her closer to himself. “Thank you.” He was taken aback by her words. Where did that come from?
“For what?” he said gruffly. She took a deep breath, “Thank you for helping me. You could've left me where I was, but you didn't, so thanks.” His hold loosened.
The ride was silent for a little while. “Are we there yet?” Kagome broke the silence. “No.” he could hear the boredom in her voice.
Nightfall was approaching. The sun was finally setting, taking its plague of heat with it.
“Hey.” He handed her the clay water bottle. She drank a little still trying to conserve the water and handed it back to him. “Thanks. What about you?” she asked.
“I smell water in the breeze. There's an oasis up ahead. We'll rest there.”
It was getting cooler and Kagome was getting agitated. First she was hot and now she was cold. Without realizing, she had leaned into Inuyasha's chest seeking the warmth there. Inuyasha didn't seem to mind, though. He was rather comfortable with just sniffing her scent.
Finally, lights came into view in the distance. Kagome leaned forward on her seat. They approached an oasis just like Inuyasha had predicted. The small lake was surrounded by palm trees that where swinging in the wind and the water glowing in the moonlight. A tiny town made up of stone, rectangular shaped buildings were conveniently placed next to the oasis, the windows of the buildings lit up in the night.
Inuyasha stopped the camel upon entering the town. He swung his leg before jumping off then placing his hands on Kagome's waist he helped her to her feet. She rubbed her thighs, thankful that she was finally free from straddling the dreadful animal. She watched as Inuyasha placed the camel with the other camels to rest next to the oasis. He then filled his clay waster bottle to the brim from the oasis and tossed it at her.
She yelped at the quick action but managed to catch the bottle and begin drinking after pulling on her mask slightly. Satisfying her thirst since the first time she came to the desert, she tossed the bottle to Inuyasha, who drank the rest. Taking her backpack and the Tetsiaga from the camel he said, “Follow me.”
She nodded and proceeded to follow him till he led her into one of the stone buildings closest to the oasis. Inside Kagome stared at the tapestries and carvings on the wall as Inuyasha walked up to a wooden desk where a man with short, black hair laid his head on the surface of the desk, sleeping.
Inuyasha tapped the man, waking him from his slumber. “Wake up, Hiroshi,” He said. The man shook his head and looked up toward Inuyasha. “Oh, Inuyasha.” The man deemed Hiroshi responded.
“What are you doing in checkpoint?” Hiroshi asked.
“Brother's orders. The bastard couldn't find someone brave enough to head toward the border and survey the area.” He answered.
“Where…where did you find her?” Hiroshi asked indicating Kagome who stood behind Inuyasha.
“She was near the border. I don't think she's an enemy. I've never seen her clothes in-”
He stopped when he noticed the lustful look Hiroshi was giving Kagome. He growled, when he heard Kagome's nervous whimper. “Hey, Hiroshi, do you have a room I can stay in or not!?” his tone was full of warning. Not wanting to upset Inuyasha, Hiroshi reluctantly tore his gaze from Kagome, who seemed relieved, and said, “I have one room, Inuyasha-sama,” he said, his voice now full of respect, “but, I don't have a room for the lady…unless you'd let her stay with me?”
Inuyasha growled at that last comment, warning Hiroshi. “But, I guess she'll be fine with you.” Inuyasha smirked, “Good.” He turned to Kagome. The confused look on her face proved that she remained oblivious to their conversation. “It's the usual room. Somehow I knew that you would be coming, so I kept the it vacant for ya.” Hiroshi said, trying to keep his eyes off Kagome.
“Follow me.” Inuyasha ordered her. Wanting to escape Hiroshi's unnerving stare, she followed Inuyasha as he led her through a hallway and up the stairs into a cool room with stonewalls. There was a large window that led to a balcony. Inuyasha set his water bottle and the Tetsiaga down by one of the two canopy beds that were placed on both sides of the window to let the cool in. He walked toward the balcony and began removing the cloth over his face.
Kagome was busy looking at the room. It looked like the Arabic sweat that her family had stayed in when they were on vacation in Turkey. There was no way he could expect her to share with room with him all night! She turned to give him a piece of her mind when she noticed his back was turned to her and he was removing the cloth that counseled his face. She watched him. Consumed by curiosity to see what he looked like.
The cloth that wrapped around his head was discarded and she watched in awe as tuffs of long silver hair fell to his waist. Finally, all the cloth was removed, revealing two triangles atop his head. It took her a moment to realize what they were. `Dog ears? Cute!' She made a small `aw' sound that made his ears twitch and he turned to face her staring at her as if he had forgotten she was there.
She took off the cloth that covered her own face and stared at the youth in front of her. Was he real? From the gruff and husky sound of his voice she thought he would be older but he looked to be a couple years older than herself. She saw the other golden eye and the smooth ,youthful, and slightly tan skin, possibly its color because of the sun. His silver hair and white clothes made him glow.
“Are you done staring at me?” His voice sounded irritated and she was brought back to reality. Before she could stop herself, she asked, “What are you?” He blinked at her. Was she kidding?
“You've never seen a hanyou before?”
“Hanyou? A half-demon. No. There are demons here?”
He stared at her. Where did this girl come from if she had never seen a hanyou, or a demon for that matter. Now that she was in the light and there was no sand in his eye, he could finally get a good look at her. She looked frail. She had an innocent look on her face, she looked like someone that had little or no experience with males. `No wonder she was so fidgety…'
()()()()()()()()()()
She lay in bed, thinking. Inuyasha had left shortly after he told that they would be leaving in the morning and that she should get her rest. Everything was moving so fast. One moment she had yanked the sword out of the ground, the next minute she was in a vast Sahara. What urge she felt to trust Inuyasha she didn't know but she had no other alternative from escaping the desert alive. Would he really help her? How will she get home and how…she succumbed to the exhaustion and fell into the soothing call of sleep.
()()()()()()()()()()
Inuyasha walked into the tavern noticing how empty it was. `Ah yes,' he thought, `there are no women at the checkpoint, besides Kagome.' He paused at that last thought. For some reason he didn't trust Hiroshi to keep his hands to himself. He knew that the men in war were separated from women for too long, and even though he doubted Hiroshi would force himself on a girl, but who knows how far some men would go to fulfill their twisted desires. Deciding that he should rush back as soon as he finished talking to his brother's messenger, he searched the tavern for a familiar face. “Inuyasha-sama?”
His ear twitched at the sound and looked in the direction of the voice. He turned to see a young man, wearing the black and purple robes, of a monk sitting at the stone counter next to the bar. His face remained emotionless until he reached the counter shaking the man's hands saying, “Don't call me that, Miroku.” The young man with violet eyes and black hair tied into a small ponytail at the base of his neck, smiled and Inuyasha moved to take the seat facing him.
“Very well, Inuyasha. Did you patrol the area?”
“Yeah, there was no hostility around the enemy lines, but I did find something interesting.”
“What was it?”
Inuyasha shook his head, trying to rid himself of the image of Kagome when they first met.
“It's strange. It's as if they completely gave up on trying to cross our borders. Tell Sesshoumaru not to let his guard down. Though I didn't see any solders, demons or any sign of surprise attack at the border it's possible that the bastard will send his troops into our territory.”
“I'll get the message to him.” Answered the monk. “Are you headed back to camp tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I'll run the rest of the way. It's not that far from here. How can you stand wearing that in this heat?” Inuyasha asked indicating Miroku's robes.
“Well, since I spend most of my time closer to the castle in the Western Lands I'm not as effected by the heat.” He smiled.
Remembering that Kagome was alone in the room where Hiroshi could easily find her, Inuyasha rose to go check on her. “Oh, Inuyasha.” Miroku's voice called him. “Here,” He pulled a white bundle out of his robes, “You might need this for your lady friend.” Inuyasha grumbled. “I see that news still travels quickly in the army.”
“You should be mad at Hiroshi.”
“I'll kill that bastard.”
“Calm down. You wouldn't want to kill one of your solders.”
Inuyasha's growl was Miroku's only indication that Inuyasha had heard him at all. Putting the bundle of clothing under his arm, Inuyasha said, “I'll see you at Base-point.” before he left the tavern.
()()()()()()()()()()
She was sleeping. It looked like such a deep and peaceful sleep, so he was able to conclude that nothing had bothered as she slept. It seemed Hiroshi was no where to be found, but suspicion still filled the air. A knock on the door caused him to turn to see Hiroshi. Inuyasha gave him a glare. “I swear, I didn't do anything.” He said. `I just told Miroku to expect two instead of one at Base-point.”
“Leave.” Was the hanyou's answer.
He didn't sense a difference in her scent so he knew she wasn't disturbed. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was when men, who were isolated from the fairer sex for so long because of war, took out their lust in the first female they laid eyes on. It was sickening. He hadn't been with a woman for over twenty years and if he could wait so could they.
Placing the bundle of clothing near the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha, rested in his own bed, before the sound of Kagome's breathing put him to sleep. It was going to a long day tomorrow.
Heh, how do you like that! My second chapter! God, I'm excited!