InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Her Own World ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

Her Own World

 

Chapter Two

 

A knock on the door woke Kagome shortly before sunrise. Blearily calling out to her visitor to enter, she buried her head in her pillows. It was Ayumi's soft giggles that enticed her into looking up again. Sitting up on the futon, Kagome blinked at her friend for a few moments, before registering who she was actually seeing. A slow, sleepy smile crept across her face as she stumbled to her feet, tangled in her covers. Shaking her head as she regained her balance, Kagome allowed a most unladylike yawn to escape her.

 

“Good morning, Kagome-chan.” Ayumi twittered happily, sliding the door closed behind her. “Miroku-sama sent me to fetch you. He wishes that you come down to the dungeon and decide what to do with the youkai that Kikyou condemned. He does not want any further decisions made without your consent.” She chattered conversationally, setting a stone basin of warm water down on the table, a washcloth in her hand. “Come, Kagome-chan. You did not bathe last night. Do you not wish to wash off the grime from the sea voyage?”

 

Yawning again, Kagome stumbled over, allowing Ayumi to strip her of her clothing and, when she was nude, drag the cloth over her entire body. The warm water was soothing on her aching muscles. Kagome had spent much of her time in the last few months walking about, trying to keep her balance. The previous night had been the longest amount of time that she'd been permitted to stay off her feet since she set out from her father's home. She couldn't wait for the chance to have a real bath. She'd been craving one for several weeks by now.

 

Once her entire body had been washed down, Kagome allowed Ayumi to present her with, and help her into, undergarments. Though she would be wearing a traditional kimono that evening, she opted to wear more western clothing during the day. Unfortunately for Kagome, with the western gowns came the western undergarments. The corset that was required to wear the dress for the day was almost cutting off her breath by the time Ayumi had finished tightening it. Kagome soured and stated that she much preferred the chemise to the corset, much to Ayumi's amusement. The petticoat was simpler, simply slipping on. Thankfully, the gown itself did not require any extra tightening. It merely slipped on over her head, though Kagome had to remain still while Ayumi tightened the ribbons on the back.

 

Sitting down in a chair by her vanity mirror, Kagome allowed Ayumi's gentle hands to apply her makeup, feeling incredibly glad that such a task no longer fell to herself. Thinking back to the one time she had allowed Kagura the task, she had come out of it looking like a prostitute. Grimacing inwardly at the memory, Kagome patiently waited until Ayumi pronounced herself done, thankful that she no longer had to fear doing her own cosmetics herself and looking like a child had applied it.

 

Running a brush through her hair and slipping on a coat, Kagome was ready to go. Standing, she and Ayumi bowed to each other, Ayumi's bow being naturally deeper, and stepped out of the room. Outside the chamber, they were met with a grim-faced Sango, fully dressed in her taijiya battle uniform. With another small bow, the three women set off through the Palace, needing to stop to solicit directions several times to ensure that they did not get lost. It was a rather large compound, and it was remarkably easy to take a wrong turn.

 

The idle chatter amongst them quickly died at the sight of the Houshi standing outside a large, bolted stone door. Stopping in front of him, Kagome in front, flanked by the other two women, the three women issued identical greetings of “Good morning, Houshi-sama.”. After being greeted in turn by the uncharacteristically sombre monk, Kagome quickly asked “What kind of youkai is it, Houshi-sama? What has it done?”

 

“I believe it is a Kitsune youkai, Kagome-hime.” Miroku responded attempting to leave it at that. After a weary glance from the Princess before him, he decided that perhaps he would continue, after all. Momentarily thinking about it as he opened the dungeon doors, he said it in the plainest terms he knew how. “They are foxes, Princess, in every sense of the word.” He explained as they began to descend the dark staircase, the burning torches on the walls being the only light they were afforded. “This particular kitsune adopted the guise of a human child and allegedly bewitched a human family into adopting it. I do not know to what extent the accusations of bewitchment are true, but I have met the family in question. They were quite distraught that they had been harbouring a youkai and claim that they were, in fact, bewitched. I must say, though, that they did not appear to have been under any spell; in fact, I highly doubt that the kitsune even has these abilities, since it did not employ such skills against the taijiya that apprehended it.”

 

Nodding, Kagome allowed herself to absorb the information. Coming to the bottom of the stairs, Ayumi and Kagome drew closely together, each feeling uneasy in the dark, foreboding aura of the dungeons. Aside from the fact that it was all relatively new, being completed only two years previously, there were numerous cobwebs adorning the walls, stretching out between various shackles and other metallic instruments of which Kagome had no desire to contemplate the uses for. The flickering torchlight on the walls cast their shadows in all manner of grotesque figures, the flickering making them dance eerily around them.

 

Sango looked eerily at home in the cold recesses of the Palace. Striding purposefully, she followed the Houshi through the maze of cells and cobwebs. Kagome squeaked and grabbed Ayumi's arm several times at the lewd comments thrown their way by various prisoners; all of whom were silenced by the unsheathing of Sango's short katana and a deadly glare from the woman herself. Kagome was ever so grateful that she was not the only one receiving unwanted attention, as the other two women were finding themselves the subject of crude and inappropriate remarks just as often as she herself was.

 

Passing through a door that was adorned by a spiritual ward, Kagome and Ayumi eased up a little, noting that the most of the things in this section of the dungeon were more akin to animals than men. A few humanoid creatures were dotted amongst the animals here and there; though they simply growled at them in a strange tongue - those who could speak their language called them `human scum' and promised vengence from their various clans. One woman, in particular, caught Kagome's attention. Long red hair in matted pigtails, adorned with a long-withered flower that may have once been a lily or iris - Kagome could not tell which - glared balefully at her, her languid green eyes promising much pain and suffering, though her mouth remained closed. It then dawned on Kagome that the woman's lips were sewed shut, with, what she was assuming to be, some kind of spiritually laced cotton, preventing her from threatening them like her youkai brethren. Kagome cringed from her, deliberately facing the other way as her stomach turned. What people did to these creatures was disgusting.

 

Shivering at the mental imagery, Kagome resolved to hear each and every youkai's case. All those who currently resided in the dungeon would get a fair hearing and, if their `crimes' were not severe enough, she would release them on the condition that the not seek vengence. She supposed that it would not be too hard to persuade one of the `civilised' youkai that had travelled with them to translate for her, considering that many of the youkai in the cells could not communicate with her. Making her mind up, Kagome glanced around the cells once more, shrieking as they landed upon a familiar figure in the shadows. “Jinenji-san?!”

 

A large hanyou was afforded a cell on his own, being horridly cramped as he tried to avoid the metallic doors of his cell. Starting as Kagome called his name, his knee slipped and came into contact with the cell bars, a horrid cry of anguish and pain ripping itself out of his lungs. Kagome could only watch in horror as Jinenji's form contorted in agony, racing forward and ripping the ofuda off the cell. The hanyou slumped to the ground, twitching slightly in pain, and Kagome sunk to her knees on the other side, her skirts pillowing around her as she softly called his name. “Jinenji-san? Jinenji-san?”

 

“K-Kagome-hime…?” The large eyes of the horse hanyou blinked through tears of pain to come face-to-face with the tear-stained face of the kneeling Princess, her hands bracing her as they held onto the bars of the cell in an iron grip. “Was it you who removed the ofuda?” She nodded. Allowing his eyes to slip closed again, he rested his head on the cool stone ground. “Thank you.”

 

“Kami, Jinenji-san, what did you do to get yourself in this horrid place?” Kagome whispered, reaching through the bars to place her hand on his arm. She almost recoiled, feeling scars that had not been there when he had set out with the original ship nine years ago. Her eyes filled with tears at seeing the gentle hanyou cramped in such a tiny place, in pain, scarred, and possibly even sick if the amount of moisture that her fingers detected was any indication of a fever from the purification.

 

Jinenji drew a shaking breath, shaking his head. “I must not speak ill of miko-sama. She will purify me again. That pain is more than I can bear.”

 

His words angered Kagome. Whispering promises to have him out of the dungeon by the end of the day, Kagome stood and said to Miroku “Houshi-sama, I wish to have words with Kikyou-sama after this. For now, let us see this kitsune. If Jinenji-san is any indication of the rest of the youkai in this place, I am doubting the severity, and even the existence, of their supposed `crimes'.”

 

Miroku's nod abruptly ended as he motioned for the women to follow him again. A few cells down the dungeon, Kagome finally laid eyes on a red, fluffy tail. Her first thought was that it was actually shaped like a fox, until she noted hair. It was not fur, like that of the tail, but a bright red mop of head. Cooing gently, she tapped on the bars. Large green eyes blinked up at her, terrified. Kagome's heart broke at the sight of the cub crouched on the dirty ground, his face and hands filthy, his body hidden behind the masses of fur that adorned his tail. “What is your name?” She asked gently.

 

“Why do you care?”

 

Kagome jumped at the hostility in the small youkai's childlike voice. His grubby face set into a dark scowl. “I'm only going to die anyway. Has the sun risen yet? Well, lets get on with it; I've had enough of you humans anyway.” The last part of this declaration was whispered; Kagome could practically taste the fear that radiated through the air, emitted by so small a thing.

 

“I'm not going to hurt you…” she cooed, stretching her hand out through the bars. “My name is Kagome. What's your's?”

 

The kit eyed her warily. “As in the Princess?” She nodded. He snorted. “Why'd they send you to fetch me? You sharpening he axe?”

 

“No…” Kagome whispered softly, “…I stopped the execution. Wont you come here? I want to see you properly.”

 

The kitsune, distrusting, held his tail to himself to cover his nudity as he stepped out of the shadows. Kagome held her hand out to him, which he sniffed at before approaching the bars, not touching them. He did not meet her eyes as he cat his gaze toward the three people behind her, his eyes darkening as he recognised Sango as a taijiya. Her battle uniform and katana was all the proof he needed.

 

“Why did you impersonate a human child?” Kagome asked in the same tone.

 

The kit eyed her nervously before responding, “My parents died thirteen moons ago. My clan all but abandoned me to raise myself. Since neither of my parents had siblings, there was no one willing to look after me. I just thought that… I thought… I thought in a human village that maybe people would be… be kinder… I just wanted a home…” he sobbed, brushing his arm across his eyes.

 

“Houshi-sama, do you have the key for the cell?” Kagome looked up at the monk over her shoulder. Nodding, Miroku handed her the key, having anticipated such an event the previous night. Kagome was not one to leave a creature to suffer, even if they were not `important' in the eyes of others. She took the key, looking back down at the kitsune. “If I let you out, you must give me your word that you will not resort to any such tricks again.” At his indignant scowl, she shushed him and added, “I will look after you.”

 

After his hesitant nod, she unlocked the door and stepped into the cell. Crouching down, she motioned for him to come to her. As he tentatively stepped closer, she reached out and, ignoring his flinch, gathered him up in her arms, careful not to bend his tail in any way that would harm him, and carried him out. Sango's distrustful glare in the kitsune's direction was ignored as Kagome smiled at Ayumi's radiant expression. Miroku's resigned sigh was also ignored as Kagome said; “Come, Ayumi. Let us get him cleaned up and clothed. Houshi-sama, I want you to organise Jinenji-san's release. Give him a corner of the Palace grounds for an herbal patch and accommodate him somewhere nearby. He is a gifted herbalist and should be able to procure many cures that humans do not know about.” With that, Kagome and Ayumi swept out, followed by an uneasy Sango.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

At the Inuyoukai dens, there was a flurry of movement and cursing coming from a particular den on the top level. Inuyasha was cursing Sesshoumaru as his half-brother stood there, waiting for the hanyou's tirade to end. When he finally concluded his ranting, Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow and stated; “It is necessary that you are given charge of her, since you are able to understand and translate for the human alpha bitch.”

 

“Why don't you just get one of the other pack members to translate? And why the hell does she have to stay with me?!” Inuyasha shot a dark glare at the wooden cell that was being constructed right at the back of his den, cutting off the entire southern wall and the small cave that was hidden in the southeastern corner, like a den within a den. The wall of vertical logs that was being erected was tied together using some dried-out leaves and grasses woven together to form a kind of rope. Inuyasha growled lowly.

 

Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow to Inuyasha's mood. “There is no other that this Sesshoumaru would trust to translate accurately for both parties.” He paused. “And there is no other that this Sesshoumaru trusts to guard her without harming her. As you are part human yourself, it is more likely that she will feel more of a kinship to you than the rest of the pack. You should be pleased that this Sesshoumaru entrusts you with such… responsibility.”

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, cursing the dwindling senses that came with every new moon. “Oh yeah, having some whiny little woman in my private home is a great responsibility to have.” He said sarcastically, ignoring Sesshoumaru's amusement at his brother's predicament. “And how, exactly, am I supposed to get back to guard her tonight, hmmm?” He asked sarcastically.

 

“You will be transported with the bitch in the cage that has been constructed outside.” Sesshoumaru led him outdoors, to look down on the cage that was waiting for them to take it. Normally, an inuyoukai would be able to make the journey to the human dens in a mere few hours, but with the cage they would likely take slightly less that half a day. The inuyoukai would be setting out soon, and would have to ensure that they remained hidden for the duration of the evening, until such a time as Inuyasha's transformation took place.

 

“So I gotta ride like a caged animal. Great. She's gonna think I'm a prisoner too, you know that right?” Inuyasha complained, just picturing it now.

 

“Whether or not you chose to disclose your true identity to the human is for you to decide. Now come, little brother, we must leave now if we are to find a suitable spot to lie in wait.” Sesshoumaru motioned for Inuyasha to jump down to the bottom level with him. Doing so, Inuyasha shot a dark glare at the cage, which had ten other inuyoukai surrounding it. It would take perhaps two to carry it outside of the woods in the clear land around the dens, but simply manoeuvring it though the woods would require several extra pairs of hands. “We shall rest for the night once we are a sufficient distance from the human dens. You will be permitted to leave the cage then.”

 

Inuyasha grunted as they prepared to set out.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Sango did not know what she disliked most; the fact that Kagome had freed a hanyou and youkai from the dungeons, or the fact that she supported that decision.

 

Sango had been assigned to watch over the Princess, and watch over the Princess she did. As the three women and the child bathed in the bathhouse, Ayumi had brought supplies and clothing for the kitsune. The child, for that was all he was, had become wide-eyed at the clothing that was presented to him. It was a little large, but that would change after a few weeks of good nourishment. The child was horridly undernourished. After hearing what the kitsune had been imprisoned for, she found herself wondering what the other youkai had done to deserve such a fate.

 

Pushing these thoughts aside, she concentrated on the coronation ceremony that night. She and her younger brother were to be present as the Princess' guards. The two of them were to alternate shifts, Sango being the day shift and Kohaku being the night. As the two of them had been her most trusted guards for close to two years now, Kagome has felt it only proper that they were the ones who participated in the ceremony. There were customarily two guards that flanked the Lord or Lady of the manor as they swore their oath to act in the best interests of their people. Kagome could not take the title of `Empress' until she was properly wed, so she would reign over these lands as Lady until she was married.

 

Sango watched as Jinenji explained all manner of different herbs to the Palace healer, who looked as though he had never fathomed that a youkai, much less a hanyou, could possess such knowledge. Kagome also watched from her seat nearby, smiling; the kitsune, whom they had learned was named Shippou, curled in her lap nervously as his eyes distrustfully surveyed the human servants and taijiya that scurried through the grounds, occasionally shooting him filthy looks. These were nothing, though, to the filthy look that Kikyou had so openly given Kagome when she officially claimed Shippou as her ward, and that he was to be treated as her son. The pure hatred in Kikyou's eyes was unfathomable. Sango still bristled at the memory, making a mental note to keep her eye on the sombre miko.

 

Kagome absently stroked her new ward's head, sensing his distress. Shippou had quickly become attached to the Princess, sensing that she would make good on her word and protect him. He also rather liked the taijiya woman, whom he had spoken to briefly while his new foster mother and her servant woman had left him temporarily to gather their bathing supplies and a change of clothing. After he had assured her that he only wanted a home, and that he wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone, she had smiled at him and given him one of the small sweets that she kept hidden on her person, under her right shoulder-plate. Her left contained several deadly powders and potent stink pellets, but she kept her other shoulder stuffed with sweets to stave off the cravings she sometimes felt. Sango had always had a sweet tooth.

 

The hair on the back of Sango's neck stood on end. It was so sudden that she didn't have time to react. She sensed the approach, heard it even. He didn't even bother to hide himself as he stalked toward her. She had thought that she had caught him watching her on more than one occasion, but had never given it much of a second thought. Now, as she sensed him approach, she internally warred with herself as to what to do. Such an internal battle came to a screeching halt, though, at the feel of a palm against her backside.

 

“Hentai!”

 

The cry was followed by the crack of a palm against bare skin as Sango's slap struck true, leaving Miroku with a nice red cheek for his efforts. Glaring darkly as the supposed `Houshi', she separated them by several paces, keeping her front to him. If he came up behind her again, he may touch her like that a second time. Heat flared up in Sango's cheeks as Kagome did nothing but giggle delicately before trying to calm the kitsune, who was roaring with laughter.

 

“Forgive me, Sango-san, for my hand is cursed.” He held the offending appendage out for her inspection as he carefully prodded his cheek with the other hand. Sango did nothing but snort in disbelief and back up several more paces. “I honestly have no control when it comes to pretty women. My hand has developed a mind of its own.” Sango snorted again, her face flushing, as Kagome collapsed into giggles once more.

 

Before Sango could reply, Kagome butted in, saving him from an otherwise horrible fate at Sango's hands. “Houshi-sama, I'm glad you're here.” She beamed, replacing the kit in her arms as she stood. “I wanted to review the itinerary for this evening one more time before preparations are complete. Would you be so kind as to assist me?” Nodding happily, Miroku followed Kagome into the Palace once again, Sango following him angrily.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Inuyasha watched from a distance as the humans went about their business, oblivious to the group on inuyoukai that hid in the shadows. The sun was rapidly approaching setting, taking Inuyasha's senses with it into the darkness. All day, he'd felt weaker than normal, his senses dimming to a point where they may as well not be there. Grumbling about damn human nights, Inuyasha righted his clothing in preparation for the setting sun.

 

The barrier had been erected a few hours before, the inuyoukai bristling as it had gone up. Inuyasha had damn near missed it due to the current weakness of his youkai blood. Sesshoumaru had relocated the cage a little further into the forest, with orders that there was to be at least one guard for it until they returned with the girl. Inuyasha had been told that he did not need to be subtle about knocking out the ones creating the barrier, merely about how he approached them. Sesshoumaru knew that it would likely take his brother's human form time to accomplish such an act, but had every faith that it could be done.

 

As the sun slipped beyond the horizon, Inuyasha's appearance drastically changed. His hair and eyes darkened, his fangs and claws receded, and his fuzzy koinu ears disappearing and morphing into human ears on the side of his head. Sighing, the now completely human Inuyasha stepped forward out of the scrub. His brother growled something out to him that he did not understand in his human form - his human mind not being able to process the youkai language - that was most likely something about not screwing up. Waving a hand carelessly in dismissal of the comment, he rolled his eyes and left the group, not even bothering to waste his breath speaking. He hated not being able to communicate with his pack when he was human almost as much as he missed his senses.

 

Passing through the barrier without so much as a tingle, Inuyasha set to searching for the origin of the barrier. He only preyed that there was more than one person putting it up, and that they weren't all women. He didn't like hitting women, but he knew how to render a human unconscious without physically harming them. It was not painful, but he still preferred not to attack a woman if at all necessary. As it turned out, luck was on his side; he heard someone say something to a child's curious question about the three raised platforms on the edges of the town square, where everyone was gathered.

 

There were to be two miko and a Houshi keeping the barrier up. A Houshi meant a man. And a man meant that he could fulfil his duty without guilt. Smirking, he pushed his way through the crowd to the southern platform where the Houshi was chanting. It was only slightly raised. He would likely have to wait until… whatever was happening… started to avoid detection. As it was, he had to do it in plain sight of everyone, and it would be more likely to go unnoticed if everyone's attention was drawn elsewhere.

 

As the remainder of the humans left their homes, Inuyasha's already frenzied instincts were kicked up a notch. Only mere minutes later, a cheer ripped its way through the congregation as a woman stepped onto the platform, followed by another woman and a young man, both wearing the same form-fitting clothing. He deduced that the one garbed in the ridiculously ornate kimono was the alpha bitch. Snarling at the sight of her back, he slipped backwards slightly as the crowd surged forward, eager to get a glimpse of their alpha. Inuyasha did not understand why they were so excited about their alpha. In his pack, whenever the alpha was present, the mood was always calmer… more relaxed. Having the alpha meant that everything was safe. Why did these humans scream like they were being attacked?

 

Inuyasha secretly smirked. Little did they know…

 

When he was satisfied that the humans around him were sufficiently distracted, he made his move.

 

OoOoOoOoOoO

 

Kagome's head swam as she stepped up on the platform. Taking a deep breath before stepping forward, she silently thanked Miroku for suggesting that her new ward take a part in the ceremony by holding her train. She was sure she would have ruined it by now. She was also beaming inside to sense the immense pride that the young kit felt at being included in something so obviously important. She had to consciously avoid placing her hands over her ears at the screams of delight that pounded against her eardrums with every step she took. She felt as excited as she was nervous.

 

Then, all at once, everything went wrong. Something happened to one of the people holding the barrier up, for it crumbled rather abruptly. The next thing she knew, the taijiya were spewing in from all sides as a group of some kind of youkai rushed into the town square. Flashing a look around her in panic, she saw a strange man on the platform that Miroku was supposed to be on be snatched up by one of the youkai and carried into the middle of the village as the youkai that had him joined the fray. Her panic only increased as the youkai kept fighting, knocking some of even the more experienced warriors into unconsciousness.

 

The settlement was in mass hysteria. No one had noticed that the youkai weren't trying to really kill anyone, but their mere presence was enough to inspire a mass stampede as men, women, and children fled what was now deemed a battleground. Kagome swept Shippou up into her arms and held him tightly as the fighting kept on. Shippou caught snatches of growling from the youkai on the battlefield, and, looking up at Kagome, warned her; “They're after you, Kagome-chan.” He whispered. “They're saying, `we want the alpha bitch, remove yourselves from our path'.”

 

Kagome's face went white. These fearsome creatures were after her? But why? What had she done?

 

Most of the taijiya unconscious now, seven youkai took the ones in the town square as another two advanced onto the platform where she was. Sango and Kohaku took one each, Sango's great boomerang bone slicing through the air with a great cry of “Hiraikotsu!”. Kagome felt more than a little sick as another one of them crept up behind her.

 

Instinctively, she threw up a barrier to protect herself. Sango and Kohaku had both been drawn away from her; realisation sunk in that they had been merely a diversion. A clawed hand shot out to grab her, hissing in pain as it recoiled, slightly burned. It was times like these that Kagome really wished that she had control of her miko powers. She could have purified at least one of the youkai by now.

 

“Oi! Princess, over here!”

 

Kagome turned to see a human man with long, dark hair, and a billowing red outfit, beckoning her to a relatively safe place. Thankful that the youkai that had snuck up on her was now engaged by another taijiya, she rushed to the edge of the platform, Shippou still in her grip, and took the hand of the stranger. Running, the two of them made for the palace gates before they were caught.

 

It all happened so fast. Shippou was taken from her by the youkai as she and her would-be rescuer halted. She could not contain her scream of outrage and fear as the human man grabbed her, with an iron grip, by the arms, spinning her away from him. Her last conscious thought was that this man must have been with the youkai, before a pinch to the back of her neck sent her into darkness.