InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heartless ❯ Into the Forest ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the other characters from the anime/manga. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I suppose life would be easier if I made money by writing these stories, but unfortunately, I do not.

 

 

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Special thanks to my wonderful betas Ai Kisugi and Hedanicree for picking this story to pieces and making it a much more bearable read!

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Warning: Hmm… Lime?

 

 

`Thinking'

“Talking”

Dream or memories

 

 

 

Chapter 6: Into the Forest

 

 

 

Looking out the window, Kagome could see people running around like a colony of busy ants. Monks, priestesses, soldiers, some were shouting orders while others were carrying water buckets to the smoking shrine building. The buildings around the shrine were close to each other, and unless they put the flames out soon, the fire was bound to spread to the others.

 

While she watched, the wind picked up, sending the flames in the direction of the main structure. Before she could fear for her safety, loud footfalls were heard outside the room. People were rushing outside, deserting the building that was being threatened by the flames. `What about me? Did they forget about me?' Not wanting to risk her own life just because she feared what would happen if she disobeyed orders and got out without an escort, Kagome shot up to her feet and made a dash for the door.

 

She slid the barrier open with haste and took a hurried step forward, only to bump into an armor clad chest. She looked up and saw the helmet covered face of a soldier. Before she could step back to put some much needed distance between herself and the man, large hands grasped her arms.

 

“Wha—” She wanted to ask why he was dragging her out of the room like a bag of potatoes, but Kagome never finished her sentence. The soldier chose that moment to explain his intentions with hurried words.

 

“Lady Keiko sent me to collect you, my lady. There is an intruder in the castle. The shrine has been attacked, and this building is no safer than the others. I have to get you out of here.”

 

Kagome did not voice her approval, because he did not seem to care. He rushed her through the corridors, every once in a while stopping as he tried to decide which direction to take. The interior of the building was no better off than the outside. People were running around everywhere, civilians trying to escape the coming danger. Armed soldiers were checking the corridors and each room.

 

`They must be searching for the intruder.' Nobody paid attention to her. She supposed she was lucky that at least Keiko thought of her safety enough to send someone for her. Otherwise, she did not think she would manage to get out of this crazy crowd unscathed, let alone find her way through the labyrinth. The soldier that escorted her had to block her body with his larger one a few times to protect her from getting crushed by panicked groups.

 

Although Kagome tried not trip over her feet, she failed miserably, and right after they turned a corner, she found herself on her hands and knees. While the soldier urged her to get up by pulling on her arm, her eyes landed on a figure she had last seen yesterday on the grounds. A pair of green eyes looked from her to the soldier and then back at her. The young demon was standing in the middle of the corridor, unmoving despite the cries of the soldiers that ran in and out of the doors at the end of the hallway to escape.

 

Noting her resistance to his attempts to direct her in the opposite way, the soldier stopped to look at what had caught her attention. She pointed to the young demon, who had turned his eyes to return the soldiers gaze, and asked her escort to take the youngling with them. He seemed to hesitate for a second, but that did not last long. Swearing, he told her that his priority was to rescue her, and against her cries, he dragged her in the opposite direction.

 

When they finally got out, he directed her to a large, but plain looking structure on the side of the main building that wasn't near the burning shrine. Upon entering the wooden frame, Kagome realized that it was the stables that accommodated at least fifty horses. Letting go of his hold on her wrist, the soldier made his way deeper into its depths. While she assessed her surroundings, she cradled her abused wrist and wondered if this place was any safer than the one they just left. Spinning around, she saw the soldier coming toward her, holding the reins of a black mare.

 

“What is that for?” she asked, indicating the horse.

 

“The castle security is breached,” he explained. “It's not safe here anymore. Lady Keiko specifically asked me to get you out of here.”

 

“To where?”

 

“To another castle, of course.” With that, he mounted the horse with ease and extended his hand to her.

 

Taking the offered hand, she mounted the animal and sat behind him, her legs dangling on one side. When he urged the horse forward, she had to hold on to his waist for dear life. After they got out of the stables, he prodded the mare with the heels of his boots, causing the animal to run faster. As they sped down the paved road, his long black hair whipped in the wind, making it difficult for her to see their whereabouts. A few minutes later, they were out of the castle, following a path that dived into the forest.

 

 

~*~

 

 

After two hours of riding, the soldier stopped the horse in the middle of nowhere. Dismounting from the tired animal, he grabbed Kagome at her waist with his large hands. She squeaked when she was taken off the horse's back without any warning. After placing her on her feet, he smacked the horse's backside, sending it running down the dirt road.

 

While grumbling under her breath about rude men that did not know how to treat a lady, Kagome ran her hands through her wind tossed hair. Turning back to the soldier, she crossed her arms before demanding an explanation, “Why did we stop?”

 

He looked at her for a second, then started walking into the forest. “We will continue on foot.”

 

“On foot? Is it safe to travel without a horse?” Kagome did not move to follow him. Instead, uncrossing her arms, she put her hands on her hips; her pose reflected her increasing anger at her escort's lack of manners. “And by the way, how safe are we out here in the open? I mean, you will need to protect both of us in case we are attacked or something. Can you do that? And how far is this castle we're going to anyway?”

 

Once she was finished, she heard him chuckle. “The lady talks too much, doesn't she?”

 

That was all he said before turning to face her. In two long strides, he was in front of her. Without any warning, he took a hold of her wrist and pulled her in the direction he was headed before. His unyielding hold on her wrist forced her to follow him with hurried steps. Her eyes widened when she realized he was dragging her into the forest.

 

“Will you at least tell me why we sent the horse?” she asked. “Why are we going through the forest?”

 

Dread filled her heart when she received no answer from the man. `Why doesn't he say anything? Is he really here to ensure my safety?'

 

They walked for almost ten minutes before stopping. All the while, she asked him questions without getting an answer. When they stopped, he released his hold on her wrist. She immediately took a few steps back and screamed at him.

 

“What do you think you're doing?! You will tell me this instant, or I am not going anywhere with you, you bastard!”

 

To her surprise, he turned to face her and shouted back. “Will you just quit screaming in my ear, wench?! It hurts, dammit!”

 

“W-wench? Did you just call me a wench?!” `Just who does he think he is?! Calling me a ... a ...'

 

He snorted in answer, and under her surprised gaze, took off the helmet that had been hiding his face from her. Her mouth fell open at the sight before her eyes. It was him. He looked just like he did the first time she had seen him under the Goshinboku. Long black hair fell down to his hips with unruly bangs covering most of his forehead. Dark gray eyes shone with something akin to amusement under thick black eyebrows. The only thing she hadn't seen before was the smirk on his kissable lips, igniting an urge in her to bite it off his face.

 

Kagome opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to say something, anything at all, but came up with nothing. Taking a deep breath to calm her shaking body and wishing her heart beat to slow down, she finally managed to whisper, “Y-you?” She hesitantly took a step toward him, not knowing what to do, but wanting to be close to him in any case. When she saw his smirk widen at her reaction, anger rose up in her again, rescuing her from her `deer caught in headlights' state. She rushed toward him and clenched her fists onto his collar. “You jerk! You scared me to death! I'm going to kill you, you bastard!”

 

Inuyasha laughed at her pitiful attempts to beat him, causing her anger to increase tenfold. Chuckling, he dove his head back when she tried to punch him in the face, causing her to lose her balance and make a full turn where she stood. Taking his chance, he stopped her from hurting him, or more likely herself, by holding her arms from behind.

 

“Let me go, you jerk!” she cried out.

 

As if she said nothing, he turned her to face him and held her in his arms, her own arms plastered to her sides. He looked into her eyes, which were burning with anger, with his laughing ones. “I risked my life to get to you and this is how you thank me?”

 

Hearing those words from his softened voice, Kagome's mouth dropped open in surprise. She tried to speak, but no words came out. Closing her mouth, she opted to enjoy the beauty of this man and the feel of his warm breath on her face.

 

While she watched, the amusement in his eyes turned to something else ... something heated ... something that caused those amber orbs to darken. Suddenly, it was difficult for her to breathe. Her heart thundered in her ears when he slowly bent his head down. Her eyes slipped from his burning ones to his lips, which were hovering over hers. They stayed like that for a few moments, his hot breath on her dried skin doing nothing to alleviate her excitement. Barely able to stand the torment anymore, she licked her lips in anticipation. Then, he whispered softly, “You broke my heart.”

 

Her heart skipped a beat as shivers ran up and down her spine.

 

He smirked at her reaction, and to her disappointment, let her go. He turned his back to her and made his way toward a thick bush nearby, leaving her looking after him with her mouth half-open and her right hand on her chest. She wished her heartbeat would return to normal. When he was in front of the bush, he bent down, reached both of his hands under the leaves and then stood up. In his hands were a sword and a thick red cloth. In her muddled mind, she could vaguely decipher that they were his own clothes.

 

Putting the sword and the clothes down, he started taking off the soldier's uniform. When he took off his shirt, Kagome felt fire ignite in her belly. Her eyes slowly traveled from his abs to his perfectly sculptured chest. After lingering a little more on his strong shoulders and neck, which was adorned with a strange looking necklace, they finally focused on his face. Seeing the arrogant smirk on his face, she turned beet red and whirled around. Her back facing him, she cleared her throat and asked where he had found the uniform. He told her to look at her right, and there she could see the naked legs of a man behind a tree.

 

Indicating the unconscious human, she asked, “Is he dead?”

 

“Keh!” he snorted. “No, not yet.”

 

Ignoring his irritable attitude, she continued her interrogation, “How did you get inside the castle?”

 

“Among the last arrivals,” he muttered.

 

The image of the soldier she had seen looking at her from Lady Keiko's window flashed before her eyes. “It was you, the one I saw from the window.” When he did not answer, another thought struck her. “Wait a minute, the intruder was you, which means you set the shrine on fire!”

 

“Keh!” he snorted again. “I had to distract them somehow and keep them from erecting that damn barrier before we got out.”

 

Feeling her ire rise at his ignorance, she shouted, “So you decided a little fire would do no harm, huh? I can't believe you!”

 

Inuyasha was silent for a few seconds, not even the rustle of clothes could be heard. Then, he spoke in a cold voice, “Nobody died today. That should be enough for you.” After a little more rustling of clothes, he told her that they were leaving.

 

Kagome turned around and caught her breath when she saw him back in his half-demon form, with the ears and all. “H-how do you do that?” she asked. “I mean, change your appearance like that?”

 

He smirked haughtily before answering. “It's a secret.”

 

She sighed exasperatedly before taking a deep breath to calm down. Then, she questioned, “Why didn't you tell me it was you?”

 

“Tell you? And risk you doing something stupid that would give me away?” he asked sarcastically before adding, “No, thanks.”

 

“What about later? After we left the castle?” she pressed.

 

“Well,” he said as he fought back a grin threatening to surface on his face. “I was having too much fun.”

 

`Fun?!' He was having fun while she was scared out of her wits? “You jerk!” she cried out as she made a move to hit his shoulder. However, he caught her hand in the air and threw her onto his back. Without understanding how it happened, she found herself riding his back. She held onto his neck for dear life, while her legs clenched onto his hips, supported by his hands on her thighs. Feeling his hands on her naked skin, she saw that her long skirt was hiked up to reveal her legs. She blushed deeply, more from the emotions his touch evoked in her, than the inappropriateness of the position. It did not last long, however. As he started running with incredible speed, the wind on her face helped her cool down. `How can he run so fast? With me on his back nonetheless.' When he suddenly jumped high in the air, she squeaked in fear and buried her face to his neck, unconsciously tightening her hold on him. Hearing him chuckle, she raised her head a little to see his smiling profile. Looking down, she saw they were still in the air. `Just like flying.' In a matter of seconds, he landed on his feet with ease and jumped again. Sensing the power and confidence behind his actions, Kagome relaxed on his back, and the next time he jumped, she found herself laughing with glee and crying out, `higher!'

 

 

~*~

 

 

Kagome rode on his back most of the day, but he grudgingly let her walk when she complained about her muscles aching. When the sun was about to set, they stopped in a clearing to camp for the night. He left her alone for a few minutes and came back with a rabbit dangling in his hand. He lit a fire and cooked the rabbit, while she watched in amazement over the ease with which he performed all these duties. It was as if he had followed this routine so many times before. `Perhaps, he did. Who knows?'

 

He was confusing her to no end. After being so close to him all day, now he was acting as if she did not exist at all. Sitting by the fire, his back leaning against the bark of a tree, he refused to look at her. However, Kagome caught him stealing glances in her direction a few times.

 

While they ate in silence, she couldn't help but think about what she had been told about him. Now looking at his calm and beautiful face, the young woman didn't want to believe that he had done the things they had told her. But after spending so much time with him, she couldn't help but wonder why he was so interested in her, only to be distant now. `He might have finally realized that I'm not her.' That unwelcome thought shook her to the core. The idea of being led on like that just because she looked like someone else angered her. She had to confront him about it.

 

“Inuyasha?” He turned his head to look at her. “Can I ask you something?” At his barely recognizable nod, she hesitantly continued, “I've been told some things about you.” Hearing that, his eyes hardened in an instant, but she forced herself not to stop. “They told me that you loved a woman before, that you lost her and that I looked like her.”

 

His eyes flashed angrily, and he continued to look at her for a long time. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it back, his jaw tightening with barely suppressed … `What? Anger?' He shook his head before jumping up to the branches of the tree they were camping under.

 

Despite the darkness, Kagome could see his shadowy figure perched on a thick branch with his back to the tree trunk and his hair dancing in the soft wind. Sighing, she leaned her back against the tree and fixed her eyes on the flames performing a timeless dance. `He's angry with me, isn't he? Because I asked him about her. Does he still hurt?' Not wanting to think about him and his love for another woman anymore, Kagome closed her eyes and started humming a song she hadn't sung in a long time.

 

When she finished the tune, she opened her eyes and almost jumped in surprise when she was met with his burning golden orbs just in front of her face. `How did he do that?' She hadn't heard him jump down at all.

 

“Will you sing again?” His voice was such a silent whisper that she wasn't sure if she had heard him right.

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“Will you sing … for me?”

 

“O-okay.”

 

Without warning, Inuyasha scooped her up in his arms and jumped to the branch he had been perched on before, earning a squeak from the young woman. After both of them got comfortable — him leaning against the tree as he had before, his legs dangling on both sides, and her sitting in front of him, between his legs, her back against his chest — she started singing softly.

 

 

Don't go

Stay by my side

I can't stand the emptiness

You left behind

 

 

His arms, which had been holding hers to balance her weight, slowly slid down to circle her waist, holding her close to him — so close that she could feel his heartbeat in her own chest.

 

There's no moon

There's no sun

Bright enough

To save my soul

From the darkness

You left behind

So I say

Don't go

Stay by my side

 

When she was finished, she turned her head to see that he was already asleep. His head leaned against the tree; his face was illuminated by the soft moonlight. She thought he looked even more beautiful when he was sleeping. Smiling, she let her head fall onto his shoulder. Burying her face to his exposed neck, she inhaled his woodsy scent and sighed in bliss. Despite being out in the open on a tree branch, she found herself drifting to sleep, feeling warmer and more secure than ever.

 

 

~*~

 

 

The next morning they set out at sunrise. When the sun was at its peak in the sky, Kagome started complaining about her arms aching from holding onto his neck. Grumbling about ungrateful wenches, he let her down to walk by his side.

 

After ten minutes of walking, or more likely her trying to keep up with his pace but failing miserably, he slowed down enough for her to continue walking without having to run.

 

“Wench?” he asked suddenly.

 

“Wha — will you stop calling me that?! I have a name, you jerk!” She stopped in mid-tirade when a thought struck her. “Wait, you don't know my name, do you? Well, it's Kagome and now that we're properly introduced, I hope you will refer to me by my name.”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” he said dismissively. “So, tell me, wench …” His voice trailed off, and he glanced at her with something akin to amusement in his eyes.

 

Kagome returned his gaze with a dagger-filled look. She opened her mouth to give a piece of her mind to the infuriating man in front of her, but then thought better of it. `Calm down, Kagome … Easy girl … You're a mature adult. It's obvious that he's making fun of you. Don't give him that pleasure.'

 

Straightening her shoulders, she replied with a carefully controlled voice. “I hate to repeat myself, but it's Kagome, Ka-Go-Me, not wench. I would like to think that you have enough ability to pronounce such a simple name.”

 

The light in his eyes died the instant she started talking in such a calm manner. With a snort, he turned his head to look ahead. “Whatever, since you set our pace, and since I'm not willing to watch turtles beat us to our destination, why don't you tell me about yourself?”

 

“Myself? You really want to listen?”

 

“Keh! This journey can't get anymore boring, so why not? You're not from around here. Tell me where you came from. Where is your family? What have you been doing all your life? So … talk.”

 

“Okay, if that is what you want,” she mumbled before she started telling her story. “You see, there is a well in my family's shrine, which I fell down the night I …”

 

 

~*~

 

 

Three hours later …

 

“… and stupid Souta thought it was Buyo! Can you believe that! Ha! He should have known I wouldn't let him off the hook that easily. The little monster …” Seeing that he wasn't interested in either her brother's or her cat's adventures, Kagome decided to change the topic. “Okay, it's your turn now.” At the blank look he sent her, she rolled her eyes. “It's your turn. I believe I told you more than enough about myself. I even told you about our obese cat! Now, you get to tell me about yourself.”

 

Rolling his eyes in return, Inuyasha caught her hand and urged her forward.

 

She resisted by dragging her feet to no avail. “Hey! That's not fair!” she cried out. He did not even glance at her. “Inuyasha! At least tell me where we're going!”

 

He stopped abruptly and looked around, causing her to wonder what was wrong. Then, he turned to her with a strange look in his eyes — a look she had seen before. “To our new home,” he whispered.

 

“O-our new h-home?” she stuttered.

 

He nodded and took a step toward her. She retreated a step and found her back plastered to the bark of a tree. He took another step forward and raised his hand to her face, caressing her cheek with his knuckles, before whispering, “Yes, our home.” Never breaking his eyes from hers, he slowly bent his head down and captured her lips in a soft kiss.

 

Finally feeling his lips on hers again after so much sexual tension, Kagome moaned aloud, giving him the chance to slip his tongue into her mouth. Her head began to spin when she felt him explore her mouth with his tongue and invite hers to a sinful dance. It was unbearable. She wanted more and she did not have the patience to wait for it. Clenching onto his collar, she forced his chest against hers while she pressed her hips up to his.

 

Growling, he held the back of her head in order to deepen the kiss. His other hand slid her skirt up and took a hold of her bottom. Never breaking the kiss, he slid his hand along her thigh, down to the back of her knee, and raised her leg to rest on his hip. She gasped when she felt him thrust his hips toward hers, letting her feel the bulge beneath his hakama. Still holding onto his collar, she thrust back, earning a moan mixed with a growl for her attempts.

 

The things he made her feel … She felt dizzy from the intensity of her emotions. Everywhere he touched burned for more. Why did she feel like that? How did he do that? `Who cares? Just, please don't stop. I need … more.'

 

As if hearing her thoughts, the hand that had been holding her leg at his hip slowly came up her thigh, letting her feel his long claws on her shivering skin. He slid one finger in her panties and caressed her overly heated core, causing her to whimper in need and increase her already strong hold on his collar.

 

Just as she was about to lose the ability to form coherent thoughts, he severed his lips from hers abruptly and let her leg down. A savage growl broke out from his chest, causing her to feel its tremors through her body. Fear gripped at her heart when she saw his eyes flash red. Without knowing what she was doing, she put her hands to his cheeks and forced his head to face her. Looking at his red-rimmed eyes, which would frighten anyone who happened to see such a sight, she wondered why she did not feel fear. Still growling, he leaned his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. She felt him take deep breaths to calm himself down.

 

`Why did he get angry all of a sudden?' Her question was answered when a white clad figure appeared from the shadows of the forest. His long white hair whipping in the breeze behind him, the newcomer looked like an angel that had fallen down to earth. The moment his cold, calculating eyes fell on her, she felt a chill run up her spine. `More like the angel of death …' Then, he turned those cold eyes to the half-demon, who was now back to normal and watching the intruder with annoyance written all over his face.

 

“Now, now, is that how you greet your brother, Inuyasha?”

 

 

End of Chapter 6