InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Favors ❯ Chapter 1

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“How could this have happened!” Sango yelled, her now shrill voice bouncing back against the frictionless stone walls of their prison.

“Calm down, Sango. You're loud enough to wake the dead and right now, all of us are uncomfortable enough as is.” Shippo whined, trying to pull his tail tighter around him.

At some point through the night, their camp had been ambushed. None of them were prepared for the onslaught of broad shouldered brutes that came and plucked them from their beds like daisies, even Inuyasha. They were shackled and brought back to a towering palace deep in the mountains where there was a constant layer of snow coating everything in a blanket of white. The inside of the echoing, windowless pit was freezing cold, the limestone walls acting as a crude refrigeration system.

Shippo lay huddled to Kagome and Sango for warmth while all of them stayed near Kirara's full sized prone form, her fur blanketing them. Inuyasha, as always, was the only one standing to himself, contemplating ways to escape. There was a spell over the dungeon making the inside nearly impenetrable and the walls much to slick to climb. Tetsaiga was virtually useless.

From the corner of his eye, he watched his friend's rest. Among the first to doze was Kagome, sheltering off the cold using Shippo as a blanket and shivering all the while. Once they had all fallen asleep, he crept over to her and wrapped his Haori top around her. Unfortunately for his reputation, there had been a lecherous witness to his rare act of selflessness.

“Couldn't stand staying mad at her, could you?” The monk asked.

Earlier that day, they had run into Kouga. He acted his usual pompous self but he also had important news for them regarding jewel shards and wanted to take Kagome to clarify things. She thought it was nice of him to give them a chance at the shards but Inuyasha thought differently. He was sure it was some kind of trick to get Kagome alone with him and forbid her to go. She was so angry with him that she pushed him out into a water deposit that came to his knees and sat him a good five times. The crazy wench nearly drowned him!

“Shut up, monk. Not even I'm heartless enough to let the wench freeze.” He grumbled, turning away from him.

“Why don't you two just say you care for one another and be done with it? Watching you go in circles is making the rest of us dizzy.” Miroku complained, closing his eyes tiredly.

“Why the hell would I do something like that when I don't have any feelings for her! She's only here to help us find the shards and as soon as it's done, she's gone.”

“You say that now, Inuyasha. Look, considering it is only me awake, why don't you just take a little time to admire her beauty. The way her hair falls or the way she walks. All of the things you ignore that make her so very Kagome. I won't tell if you won't.” He stated, giving a cursory glance over the party in question.

“Humph! Who cares about the way she walks or talks or smells or any of the other stuff you're talking about? I'm not interested in her, especially after the way she acted today!” Inuyasha growled.

“Just because you're a little angry with her, doesn't mean you can't admire her attributes.” Miroku said with a grin.

“You're sick, monk. And will you stop gawking at her like that?! Don't you ogle Sango enough as it is?” Inuyasha growled, watching the monks eyes make a sweep over Kagome's sleeping form.

“Not nearly enough, if you ask me. Besides, you of all people should know I would be much more… attentive to them if not for certain other parties keeping me at bay. Honestly, you act as if I were some common thief.” He sighed the last, looking a bit disheartened.

“Stop trying to see them naked and maybe we wouldn't have this problem!” Inuyasha snapped. The resounding sound of his voice caused the others to stir restlessly so in favor of letting them rest, he settled down. In her shift for a more comfortable position, a lock of Kagome's hair drifted over her lips and settled in the parted crevice. When did she start wearing lip color?

Inuyasha turned his back on his friend with a resigned `feh' but after a moment, one open eye drifted from Kagome to the lecherous monk with undisguised curiosity and skepticism. Finally, he turned back to him, inching closer in confidence but remaining neutrally stubborn.

“Alright, lets just say I did think she was…pretty. She'd get mad at me if she woke up and saw me looking at her rear like that and Sango would beat the daylights out of you for even suggesting it. What would I do then, huh monk?” He gave him a look screaming `prove me wrong'.

Miroku only smirked. He had been in a situation much similar to this one and managed to get away safely. He looked at Inuyasha confidently then glanced over at Sango.

“First of all, I never said where you would be looking and second, it's quite simple really. You play innocent. You have a habit of staring into space from time to time and when one is deep in thought, it is not really their fault where their eyes land.” He said matter-of-factly.

“You also aren't one to openly gawk at a woman's body either and you are always the first to suggest Kagome where a longer dress. As long as you keep a strait face, they'll believe you.” He leaned back against Kirara and closed his eyes though he was far from sleep.

“How can you do that? How do you manage to be so perverted with no remorse what so ever? Doesn't it bother you even a little that Sango doesn't trust you as far as she can throw you?” Inuyasha looked at him in mild disbelief.

“Well, I've actually had the misfortune to be tossed by her and believe me, it's pretty far. Regarding your first question though, yes, it does bother me. I hate seeing that look in her eyes when I proposition other women or that mix of sadness and disgust when I grope her.” He sighed.

“Then why do you do it?”

“Because as long as I know if she hates me, I can stay away from her. My only problem would be if she stopped hating me.” The pain in his voice caught Inuyasha off guard.

“I thought you wanted her to like you. You want an heir, right?” He asked, not understanding the monk's motifs.

“Let's just say we don't defeat Naraku. If Sango agreed to marry me and bear my children, I would have an heir but I would die leaving behind some one I love dearly. I couldn't hurt her like that. So I decided quite some time ago that I wouldn't let her love me because I knew it was already too late for me.” He took on a far away look then, when his eyes cleared, he smiled.

“Well, I think maybe I should get some rest. If you decide to do the same, wake me and I'll keep watch. Night Inuyasha.” He rolled over and drifted off to sleep.

Inuyasha watched the monk fall into a fitful sleep and pondered his answers. So Miroku really was in love with Sango. It was easy to see that he liked her and even that she liked him but those few glimmers of caring from her died everytime she saw him looking at another woman. It was hurting her but all things considered it was for the best.

Looking at it from a different angle, what happened when Naraku was dead? They would gather the rest of the jewel shards, Kagome would return home for good and they would all go their separate ways. He had never really thought about what it would be like without Kagome around. Miroku might finally let Sango get close to him and they would have each other and Shippo might even stay with him for a while or at least until he found another fox to take care of him. But Shippo would only need him for so long and then, he'd be alone again. It really wouldn't be fair to hold him back.

Every one had some one or something for after the last battle except him. The closest thing he had to a real future outside of wandering around aimlessly or wishing the jewel to turn him into a full demon was going to hell with Kikyo.

Truth be told, he didn't love her anymore. He would honor his promise to her no matter what but he no longer had any feelings for her. Her soul was in Kagome now but the two were so different you could hardly tell.

Even in life, Kikyo was always quiet and reserved. Solemn would be a better word actually. He loved to be with her but always walked on eggshells trying to please her. Kagome was different. He could mess with her and the only thing he worried about was getting sat or a bump on the head. She was happy and kind and so full of life, that sometimes just watching her smile could make up for anything they had to deal with in a day. When she would go home, he would miss her so much that the things the others did to annoy him made him twice as angry and without her there to defuse his temper, they would have to deal with his pissy mood until she returned.

At this last thought, something clicked inside of him. If being around her could make him happier than he ever was with Kikyo, maybe he liked her more than he thought. The word love came to mind but only for a moment before rational thought returned.

` I can't be in love with Kagome. When Naraku is dead, she'll go and I'll be left alone or worse, she could get hurt or die. I can't let that happen! My best bet is just to let it go. Let her go.' He thought.

A quiet moan from the sleeping group snapped him back into reality. Sometime during their rest, Sango had shifted in her sleep and was now lying against Miroku. The Monk had somehow managed to snake his arm around her, even in sleep, and grab her bottom. The only difference between this and when they were awake was that instead of squeezing her bottom, he lifted her towards him so that her head was pillowed on his chest. They looked so happy together, Inuyasha realized. It seemed a shame that they could never truly be that way.

Unfortunately, the systematic unlocking and opening of the door above them broke the solitude of the moment. Everyone awoke with a start, Inuyasha, of course, being the first on guard. Miroku and Sango separated quickly; hoping that no one noticed their sleeping arrangement.

Descending the stairs was a man dressed in rich purple robes and covered in jewels. He was obviously very wealthy and certainly not one to be seen in a filthy dungeon. His expression was one of welcoming and hospitality rather than malice but it wasn't enough to convince Inuyasha who still stood with Tetsaiga poised for action.

“My friends, let me be the first to extend to you a heartfelt apology and welcome to my home. You see, my guardsmen were sent to find a group of thieves whom accosted me on my way home the other day. I suppose they thought you were they and brought you in. When I heard of this mishap, I rushed to apologize and invite you to stay the night in my palace as honored guests.” He said bowing sincerely to them.

Kagome put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder to calm him down then stepped forward warily.

“We understand the mistake and would only ask a meal and maybe a room for the night.” She bowed in return, shooting a quick warning glance to Inuyasha whom was growling at one of the guards accompanying their host.

“We will have a feast and you will be set up in my finest rooms. It is the least I can do for this terrible injustice.” He kissed Kagome's hand gently, taking short stock of her features. This glance did not go unseen by Inuyasha and it took a sharp jab in the back from Sango to control his annoyance.

“That is very gracious of you but much too much, sir.” Kagome protested.

He took her hand and folded it over his arm, acting as an escort up the steep stairs of the dungeon.

“Oh no, I insist and please, call me Kotoro.”

 

That's the end of the first chapter but I'll be back with more later. Until then, Arigatou for reading. Ja ne.