InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Desert Rose ❯ Western Domain ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: ji-an

Inuyasha's kingdom and it's secrets.

�Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, it's the sole property of Romiko Takahashi, and I cannot take credit for her genius.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Mystery / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.09.2006 | Updated On: 03.19.2007 | Pages: 6 | Words: 7.3K | Visits: 2.8K | Status: Work In Progress

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, it belongs to it's creator Romiko Takahashi and I can't take credit for her wonderful work.

Chapter 5: Western Domain.

The water glistened in the dim sunlight through the forest tops. The air, purified of sand and dust, was clear with the smell of water and pollen from the new bloomers. Birds and bees sang their symphonious song and a gentle breeze caressed the leaves of trees.

Ten days. Ten days she had been in this world and yet she still didn't believe that such a wondrous, pine forest existed where she had seen only desert. `This place is just full of surprises' Kagome thought to herself.

Once they had left Base-point in the strange bubble-like caravan, they had arrived at Western Domain. While traveling in the bubble, the four passengers had stood looking out into the desert through the transparent, inner walls of the caravan. All Kagome could see and hear was desert and the quiet chanting of Miroku and Inuyasha as they muttered their spell to move the magical caravan forward. Soon the desert showed some signs of life: small fragments of grass were seen in the sand and, as the caravan continued forward, the grass increased in number. Soon the desert wasteland had become a Garden of Eden, trees, grass and shade everywhere. She remembered seeing a large town before the caravan stopped. Upon stepping outside, she was in awe of the castle that stretched before her. Five towers, each a different color. Four towers in the colors of blue, red, green and yellow encircled the silver tower in the middle of the shimmering, brick castle.

Upon entering the palace with her companions, Kagome was surprised to see the, mostly female, servants bow to Inuyasha in a respectful fashion. It was the hanyou that led Kagome, Miroku and Sango into an audience chamber. The walls were decorated with red and white tapestries. Upon arriving at the throne, Inuyasha had bowed motioning for Sango, Kagome, and Miroku to do the same. Feeling a little nervous, Kagome had bowed to the man in the seat.

He looked like Inuyasha, the same silver hair and gold eyes. In contrast to the hanyou though, this man held no warmth in his eyes, he looked older, more serious and didn't have any dog-ears on his head. Kagome immediately had jumped to the conclusion that this was Inuyasha's older brother. Her conclusion was unsupported by fact until Inuyasha had spoken.

“Brother. You summoned me.” He stated.

The man's golden gaze shifted to rest on his younger brother but he otherwise remained silent. The human woman standing to the right of the elder brother had spoken in his place.

“Welcome back lord Inuyasha-sama. We had anticipated your arrival. You may stand.”

Kagome stood with the rest of the party, her eyes fixed on the elegantly dressed woman. She wore a long white and blue linen robe, a blue sash and shawl around her waist and entangled in her arms, her silky, black tresses tied into a high ponytail.

“Nazuna,” Inuyasha had nodded to the woman.

“Welcome home, brother.” The cold, smooth voice of the elder brother echoed through the room, his statement proving Kagome's hypothesis to be true.

“Sesshoumaru.” Inuyasha said, acknowledging his brother.

Rising from his seat, the elegant white kimono-like robe fluttering as he moved, Sesshoumaru came to stand before his brother.

“I would like to speak with you on your report in private,” he briefly stated before adding, “ Is there any request you have of me before I dismiss your warriors and the girl?”

“Yes,” Inuyasha said, “I would like the girl, Kagome, to stay here in the castle.”

“So long as you are responsible for her, I will let it be.”

()()()()()()()()()()()

Kagome leaned deeper into the hot spring. Remembrance of the day she had arrived in Western Domain flitted through her mind. Besides the short conversation with the two brothers, she hadn't seen either of them since that day, nor had she heard of any news from or of them.

She had spent her days with Sango, exploring the castle laughing and talking like long-term friends. Kagome highly valued her new friendship and it was through Sango that Kagome had learned more about her hanyou friend. Inuyasha was the younger prince of Western Domain and second in line for the throne should anything happen to the Tai-youkai, Sesshoumaru. Kagome had learned more of the four kingdoms: Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Domain. She knew that Western and Eastern Domain where at war and that Northern and Southern Domain were the only kingdoms full of humans and the only kingdoms ruled by humans.

Sango had provided Kagome with tons of friendly companionship, which had kept Kagome happy, busy and occupied, though her mind had drifted to question the sudden disappearance of Inuyasha and his brother. She wondered what important information they had spoken of and wondered many times how she would get home.

Her stay at the castle had been a pleasant one. Servants treated her like royalty, though she was unused to the attention. So many smiling faces and cheerful woman, it was hard to believe that this country was in the mist of a war.

Breaking away from her thoughts and shifting to the present, she sunk into the water. Sango enjoying the bath peacefully across the small pool in the forest, stared up at her friend. “Kagome, what's wrong?” She asked.

“What happened to Miroku, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru-sama?”

“Don't worry about them. They often disappear from the castle for some periods of time. It's not really anything to worry over.”

Kagome wasn't worried. She just missed him more than she would admit it. She just wanted to find him.

Rising from the bath and grabbing a towel to dry herself, she turned to Sango who also stood and moved to exit the bath. Drying themselves off, Kagome and Sango placed their new robes on their backs.

“Hey, where did Miroku go anyway?”

“Sesshoumaru-sama gave him an order to go back and check if base-point was in good condition.”

The remainder of the day was as uniform as the earlier days in Western Domain. She spent her time wandering the castle, reading books in the library, searching for a book that could help her find clues on how to get back home. Unfortunately, she had yet to find a book in her own language. Thinking it was foolish to keep searching where there was not a book that she could read, Kagome had gone to the garden to clear her thoughts.

She heard the sound of laughter and following that sound she was led to a little clearing in the forest near the garden where she saw three children playing. Kagome watched in the buses, amusement in her eyes as she watched the kids frolicking in the shade. To her knowledge, they seemed to be playing hide and seek.

“It's your turn to count Shippo.” A young boy in a grey robe addressed to a smaller boy with a fuzzy, orange tail.

“Okay.” He said before he began counting at a tree.

“Let's go hide!” demanded a little girl with part of her hair in a ponytail on one side.

She grabbed the boy's hand and led him to hide behind a large boulder. The boy with the foxtail eventually came to the last numeral in his count. He turned and sniffed the air immediately heading toward the bolder that concealed the two children. He jumped on the boulder and looked over to the other side giggling triumphantly. “Found you.” He said.

The two children revealed themselves, the pouted look on their faces. “No fair, Shippo,” The girl said, “ using your nose to find us.”

A tap on Kagome's shoulder had her turning her head to find Sango behind her, watching the children play.

“That's my brother.” She pointed to the tallest boy in the group wearing the grey robe. “His name is Kohaku.” Her voice seemed to carry unlimited affection and Kagome concluded that she must really love her brother.

“Who's the girl?” she asked.

“Rin. Sesshoumaru-sama's adopted daughter. She's cute, no? And the little kitsune is Shippo. Inuyasha-sama's ward.”

“Ward?” Somehow she couldn't imagine Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha taking care of these children, but, then again, this world was full of surprises.

“Yes. His father was among the first killed when the border was attacked. Inuyasha found him alone in the desert. He brought Shippo here and has been supporting him in his care for about a year now.”

The children seemed to have noticed they were being watched and stopped playing. Kagome and Sango revealed themselves and walked toward them. Shippo looked up to Kagome, his tail wagging from side to side. “Hi.” He said. Kagome gave him a weak smile, suddenly remembering her little brother Sota.

“Hi. I am Kagome.” Shippo blushed and Kagome giggled.

“Hi.” Kohaku and Rin had said in unison.

“Hi Rin. This is Kagome. Inuyasha-sama's friend.” Sango introduced.

Rin's eyes sparkled. “Uncle Inuyasha's here?” she seemed rather exited and looked up at Kagome with demanding eyes.

Kagome gave her a weak smile. “I'm sorry Rin. I don't know if he's here. I haven't seen him for a while. Do you know where he is hiding?”

Rin shook her head. “Nope, I don't know his secret places, but I like to go to the towers and hide. Maybe Uncle Inuyasha went hiding.”

Kagome turned her heel to leave. “Thank you Rin. Shippo, Kohaku, I'll see you later.” She said cheerfully before leaving the clearing, forgetting the confused Sango and children standing there.

()()()()()()()()()()

Of all the placed she had checked in the castle, she hadn't been into any of the towers. She was too afraid that the rainbow towers, as they were called, were off limits and didn't want to impose on that rule. Gathering up her courage, Kagome climbed the blue tower. She was unhappy to find that the blue tower was just and empty guestroom for royal guests. Sighing, she had climbed down the way she came and went to the entrance of the red tower's stairway. Climbing up the winding, circling stairway, she stopped when she reached a dead end at the top, and looked out a window over the view of the town, forest and castle below. From there she saw how vast the forest was, stretching for miles of fragrant, pine trees. She wished that the desert would look more like this natural phenomenon. Something glittered in the corner of her eyes as she poked her head out of the window to get a better view.

Looking toward her left, Kagome stared at what looked like a golden brick hidden among the other red bricks that constructed the tower. On impulse, she leaned out further, never minding the height of the tower, as she reached for the gold brick. Her finders grazed the edge of it and she pressed her fingers more firmly against the cold mineral. She was surprised when the brick was pushed back slightly into the tower. She let go of the edge of the window, bringing herself back into the castle. Something felt off.

She looked to up to see that the dead end she had reached earlier while climbing, was now an empty, glowing hallway. Taking another step onto the stairway, she entered this new part of the tower. It was different than the humid, murky tower she had climbed before pressing the brick in. There were many windows that let the light and air in. As she climbed, she noticed small pieces of gold on the steps and, as she continued climbing, the gold increased itself in number while the smaller pieces got bigger. Her feet where sore now. Though she had doubted she would find anything up here, or in any of the towers for that matter, she was drawn to explore the one place in the castle she hadn't been to.

Finally, she reached a closed door. Tons of gold jewelry, coins and statuettes were stacked up on either sides of the door. Reaching out for the handle, she timidly opened the door, the immediate glow and reflection from the other room seeping out into the narrow passageway of stairs. She opened the door wider and gasped upon entering the room.

Never in her life had Kagome seen so much gold in one place. The walls were coated with golden tapestries that shimmered in reaction with the sunlight that entered through the many large windows connected to the room. Gold coins, jewelry, statues, and pots were stacked up in the four corners of the room, thrown all over the floor in the a sloppy manner and coated the bookshelves and desks that were covered in scrolls. There was a balcony, the entrance covered by white, transparent drapes. However, the one thing that really caught her attention was the large, canopy bed centered in the room. The base of the bed was made of mahogany wood with golden designs imprinted into it. The canopy of the bed was made of the same material and white see-through drapes covered the bed.

Kagome etched closer to the bed, seeing that a figure was lying there. Intriguingly, she pulled back the curtains to expose the body resting there. He was there, resting peacefully in the dim light of the room, his white robes and red sash drawing attention to one of the non-gold things in there. His features relaxed in sleep, his ears pulled back against his head, and his chest rising and falling in undisturbed slumber.

Happy that she finally knew where he was, she moved to let him doze peacefully. While turning she stepped on some coins and the twinkling sound had his ears twitch in to the noise. Slowly opening his eyes, the expression on his face still one dazed slightly from the effects of sleep. He rose from his latent position to prop himself up on his forearms. He turned his golden eyes to scowl at her before speaking.

“What are you doing up here?”

“I…was exploring and…” her voice trailed off. Why was he glaring at her? “What did I do?” She asked.

“Nothing.” He turned his head to the side. “I'm just surprised that you found the golden room. No one knows of this place but me and my brother.”

“Is this your room?”

“No, I just stumbled upon this place one day. Possibly the same way that you found it.”

“Where were you the last few days?” She asked before she could stop herself.

“I was at Serpents' Pass. It's the border, where I found you. After my talk with Sesshoumaru, it seems that the war is getting worse without us knowing, Things are calm right now, but a spy with the enemy tells us that they are preparing a large army. What's ticks me off is that they are not attacking. What are they waiting for?” He asked more to himself that to her.

He rose from his resting position into a sitting one, staring at her in the eye. “I…missed you.” She blushed after realizing what she had said. His eyes widened at her statement.

“I missed you too.” He replied nonchalantly. Placing his bare feet on the floor, he crossed the room toward the balcony, pushing the drapes aside, and stepping out.

“Inuyasha?”

Why was he ignoring her? She followed to stand next to him out in the balcony, enjoying the fantastic view before turning her head to look at him. His eyes were downcast; they seemed to be concentrated on the image of a memory instead of the view. He seemed so sullen and his mind was somewhere else. Why was he so serious all of a sudden?

Confused with his sudden shift in behavior, she was about to ask him what happened when she noticed a stain appear on his white clothing that wasn't there before.

“What is-“

She wasn't able to finish her question because he swiftly turned to head back into the room.

“Kuso.” She heard him curse and drew back the curtains to re-enter the golden room. He was removing his top robe. “Eek, what are you doing!?”

He didn't answer her question, only flopped down on the bed and completely removed his top half, divulging his athletic and slightly muscled chest. His arm came to rest upon bandages around his waist. Blood. His blood. That was the cause of the stain. She ran to sit next to him, noticing that the wound was a cut or stab on his back, the bandages served to hide the real cause of the wound.

“You're wounded? How? Who did this?”

“It's nothing that I can't handle. I've taken worse and still survived. My wound just re-opened.”

“Who hurt you?” She asked.

“Never mind that. It's not important.”

Her mind jumped from conclusion to conclusion. He had gone to a battle? He was ambushed? She had spent eight days worrying about him, thinking that he could be fighting in the war or worse. Not understanding why she was so worried about him in her most pleasant days in this world.

“Why don't you tell me? You don't trust me?”

He paused to stare at her. “I don't know you very well. I've only known you for three days, not including the days I wasn't here, so how can you think I can trust you so easily?”

“Because that's what friends do!”

`Friends huh?' Shifting, he rested on his back. “Bandages.” He muttered. “What?” she had barely heard him.

“There are spare bandages under the pillows. Give them to me,” he strained before adding, “please.” She did as he ordered, lifting a pillow and removing the bandages underneath. Handing it to him, he sat up again and began unfolding the bandages around his waist. Voluntarily, Kagome's hands had started unwrapping it for him and re-bandaging him before she knew what she was doing. He had been stabbed, the deep hole in his well-muscled back that showed the red blood and muscle under his ripped skin had revealed that he had been stabbed in the back and apparently the cut had not stopped there: a cut continued the stabbed area, creating the idea that whatever had stabbed him also had slashed through the skin on him. She could seethe light bone under the red, juicy muscle. It was indeed a deep cut and when she accidentally touched the bone, he winced in pain. “Don't do that!” He snapped. Surprised that she had not fainted by the bloody cut, Kagome finished bandaging him.

He muttered a quick “thanks” before sliding his arms into his robe and lying back down into the bed, his robe unbuttoned and lying open showing his chest. “Will you tell me what happened now?” she obviously wasn't going to drop the subject. He sighed, knowing how persistent women could be, and he knew that he would either tell her or face non-stop nagging.

“After I spoke with Sesshoumaru, he sent me back to Base-point. There was a battle near and I went to lend a hand. We won. I knew it was too easy. I went to Serpents' Pass with Miroku. The border was secure but on our way back we were ambushed by demons, a lot of `em. Luckily, they were nothing Miroku and I couldn't handle, but , while I had my back turned, a thunder demon stabbed me with a thunder staff. IT hurt like hell! `Hiten' that's what he called himself. If I see that bloody bustard again, I swear I will cut his throat!”

Kagome listened in shock. “Did he leave after that?”

“Yeah, he seemed to be in a hurry. I wish he had stuck around more so I could punch a hole in his gut to pay him back for his sneak attack!” He growled angrily before his expression became serious again. “He was looking for something or someone. `I don't have time to play with you dog. I have orders to find it. It should be here somewhere.' For a moment, I thought he was talking about the Tetsusaiga. He didn't pay attention to the sword, just kept on going with his demons.”

“I wonder what they were looking for.” Kagome said. “Inuyasha, why did you keep the Tetsusaiga? I thought you said it was a piece of junk.”

“I kept it because it's mine.”

He must have seen her confused look because he answered her question before she could even open her mouth. “My father left Sesshoumaru and me two swords when he died. I was to get the Tetsusaiga and Sesshoumaru, the Tensiaga.”

“Then, how-” he cut her off.

“How did the Tetsussaiga end up in the middle of the desert? To be honest, I don't know. After the old man died, both swords had disappeared. I don't know where the time sword, Tensaiga, is.”

He winced for a moment in his resting position, causing Kagome to jump from her seat and head to his side. “Are you okay?” He leaned his head back into the pillow. “Keh, this is nothing. I'll be up in a day or two,” A hand on his shoulder surprised him at her strength, pushing him down into the mattress when he tried to get up. “Don't strain yourself. You need your rest.”

Inuyasha chuckled, remembering he had told her the same thing when he found her in the desert. He didn't like the fact that she was ordering him, he had always liked being the dominant one. Though, he could see worry she had for him, he didn't like being told what to do, he'd always live his life by his own rules.

Kagome was too busy caring for him in a motherly approach, tucking him into bed and keeping him from fidgeting. She wasn't fast enough to take her hand away when he seized her wrist, pulled her to him so that she was resting on his chest.

She lay there for a moment, stunned by the sudden action, listening to his fast heartbeat and her face rising and falling in synch with his chest. When she tried to move from him, his grip on her wrist tensed, chaining her in her place.

“Inuyasha! Let go!” Taking satisfaction that he had regained dominance, he chuckled.

“It's funny,” he told her, “I have never let anyone get this close to me in such a short time.”

Confused by his statement and even more confused that he let go of her immediately after, Kagome rose to look at him, still lying half way on him.

“You know,” he smirked, “ if you stay in that position, I'll find it way harder of heal when my blood is more concentrated in another place, if you know what I mean.”

She jumped off of him, eyes glowing with anger. “When will you stop teasing me!” Her hand collided with his face before she realized it. He grunted at the unanticipated attack. “Oh my god! I am so sorry!”

“Bitch! What did you do that for!”

“Well, excuse me! Here I am , worrying about you and you insult me!” She stormed out the golden room before he could stop her.

()()()()()()()()()()()

“Oh, Kagome.” Miroku had waved when he saw her exit the stairway to the red tower.

She walked right passed him. “Sorry, Miroku. I don't really think I can talk right now.” She said, ignoring the fact that she hadn't seen Miroku for a while. Even though she knew she was being rude, at that moment, Kagome felt that she didn't care, still fuming over Inuyasha's harsh words to pay attention to anything at the moment.

Miroku ignored her protests and stepped in her way. “Please Kagome, this is very important for you.” He said.

Kagome sighed, giving him a chance. “Okay, I am listening.”

“Inuyasha said that he found you near the border with the Tetsusaiga, correct.”

Kagome's face heat up at the mention of the hanyou prince. “Yes.” She huffed, still angry with Inuyasha.

“You are aware the Tetsusaiga had vanished till you found it, right? How strange that a complete stranger should find it.”

She was absorbed into his speech now. What was he getting at?

“Kagome,” he voice was serious and intense, “are you from another world?”