InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ How Do We Learn to Love the Ones We Hate? ❯ Problems with the Ones You Love ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I own absolutely no characters created by Rumiko Takahashi; as much as I wish I was brilliant enough to come up with these characters, I did not; however, any characters that I create, I do own. Yay! I'm smart enough to make up characters.

 

***One more note: ***

***I decided to use Bankotsu because he's really good looking, powerful, was part of Naraku's service at one point, kills for fun, and is dead, that makes him the perfect son of a dark priestess and an evil half demon***

 

 

 

 

 

 

Problems with the Ones You Love

 

Lady Takashi sighed, she didn't want to keep anyone waiting, but this was such a huge decision that she had to take this long. Lady Higurashi sat on her left, scowling while Lord Naraku and Lady Tsubaki sat opposite her, awaiting her answer. Lord Naraku had just proposed that Kikyo become engaged to Inuyasha instead of Kagome, saying that Inuyasha should be with someone who would love him.

 

“I don't know.” Lady Takashi rubbed her temples. “I guess I should let Inuyasha decide who he would love, as you say.” She nodded to Lady Tsubaki.

 

Lady Higurashi stood and left, she would not push Kagome, she wouldn't even mention this conversation; if things were going to happen between the two, it had to happen on it's own or it wouldn't happen at all.

 

Three Days Later

 

Kagome stepped out onto the balcony and stretched, it was such a beautiful day!

 

“Oh.” Inuyasha's voice came from her right and she whipped towards it.

 

“How did you…?” she asked, slightly shaken by his sudden appearance.

 

“The balcony is connected to both of these rooms, I… just… didn't know you were going to be in that room.” He blushed slightly and looked away.

 

“Well… morning.” She half smiled nervously; he nodded.

 

“Should we go for a walk?” Kagome took a step closer; she would try to see him, and she and just found out that Inuyasha was a little out of it when he was half asleep.

 

Inuyasha shrugged, the picked her up bridal style, almost making her scream, and jumped off the balcony into the gardens.

 

"S-should we go to the path?” he set her down; she stood there shaking for a second before nodding.

 

The forest path was saturated in every kind of flower and plant that had ever existed; it was gorgeous to say the least.

 

“Can you tell me something?” Inuyasha asked as Kagome picked an orange hibiscus.

 

“Sure.” She said, fumbling to get the flower in her hair without being able to see it; Inuyasha gulped, then gently took it from her fingers and put it in her hair; she blushed at his touch, actually, she blushed at how wonderful his touch felt.

 

“What do you do in your free time?”

 

“Um… I practice archery; I'm a priestess, so I exorcise demons that are terrorizing villages… Can you tell me something now?”

 

“Sure.”

 

“How… were you… raised to think of me?” Kagome looked at the ground.

 

“Huh?” Inuyasha turned to her, not expecting that question. “Well… I… don't take this personally.” He commanded suddenly.

 

He doesn't want to hurt my feelings! Kagome thought happily. “I wont.” She promised.

 

“…I was told that your family was cowardly, and that you couldn't be trusted with anything, especially promises. I was told that you should be completely shunned if we met.” He spit the words out quickly, embarrassed at telling her this.

 

“That's basically what I was taught. That your family was irritable and didn't think things through… well, I was actually told that you didn't think at all.” Kagome giggled slightly.

 

Inuyasha snorted. “Good, my parents aren't the only idiots around here; my mother signs me up with someone she taught me to hate, I'm not saying that I don't like you for it.” He put in quickly, and Kagome smiled, glad that he couldn't see her face while she was turned away. “And my father went off and became general of a major war in China.”

 

“I can top that, my mother is letting my seven year old brother get emotionally involved with a princess from another palace; they're both the same age, but still.”

 

“I still think my parents are worse.” Inuyasha snorted again, then grimaced. Kikyo and Bankotsu were coming around the corner on the path.

 

“Oh.” Kikyo smiled, making Kagome mentally gag. “We didn't know anyone else would be out this early.” I can't believe I have to try and seduce this moron.

 

“You wouldn't mind if we walked with you?” Bankotsu held out his hand for Kagome, Inuyasha immediately put out his hand for her too; Kagome looked between the two, unsure of what to do until Inuyasha grabbed her hand and linked it with his.

 

Bankotsu hesitated, and then took Kikyo's arm again. So, they're starting to fall for each other, we'll have to work fast.

 

Inuyasha finally processed what he had just done; he had gotten jealous over the person he had vowed to hate and grabbed her from someone else. He glanced at Kagome expecting to see her hosting murderous glances, but instead, she looked rather… flattered, not to mention she was showing a little happiness through her face that usually barred everything inside her. Inuyasha looked away quickly and blushed.

 

“So, are you two both going to the ball tomorrow?” Kikyo asked, interrupting their thoughts.

 

“Ball?” Kagome repeated.

 

“Yes, since you two didn't show up to the ball a few nights ago, your mothers arranged another one for tonight.”

 

“Oh, I don't…” Kagome stuttered.

 

“It would be an honor if you did come, not to mention you'd make your mother so happy.” Bankotsu smirked, trying to real her in little by little.

 

“I guess.” Kagome said uncertainly.

 

“And you Lord Inuyasha?” Kikyo asked.

 

“Uh… sure.”

 

“As my brother said, it will be quite an honor to see you there.” She slipped her arm into his and pulled so gently, it was barely noticeable; meanwhile, Bankotsu slid his arm under Kagome's so as to pull her away from Inuyasha gently.

 

Bankotsu and Kikyo took separate paths up ahead, and Kagome and Inuyasha went with them so as not to seem rude, Kagome gave Inuyasha a last glance before disappearing behind the magnolia trees.

 

“I would be even more honored if you would save me a dance.” Bankotsu said.

 

“Of course.” Kagome said politely, but didn't look at him so he wouldn't be able to see the worry he was causing in her face.

 

“Then if I shall see you tomorrow, I shall bid adieu.” He kissed her hand and left her by the crystal doors, Kagome waited until she had left, then dashed up the huge ballroom stairs and into her room. She would wait for Inuyasha here, to see if he would come, then she would give Bankotsu a chance tonight at the ball.

 

Inuyasha was barely registering what Kikyo was saying; he was putting too much energy into listening for Kagome even begin to cry out for help.

 

Why do I even care?! He shouted at himself. If she wants to get involved with Bankotsu, then nothing's stopping her, it'll get her out of my hair sooner.

 

He couldn't help but smile at the thought of Kagome's expression after he had fixed the flower in her hair. Well fine, I'll listen for her if she needs help, but no way I'm going if she doesn't need me.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kikyo shook his arm gently.

 

“What?” he looked back at her.

 

“I was wondering if you would save me a dance tomorrow at the ball.” She repeated for the third time.

 

“Oh, uh, sure?” he pried her arm from his and left her at the garden gate. “I have to go do… something…” he jumped up to the second story and through his window, Kikyo growled as she looked after him.

 

I will not fail! Kikyo, the daughter of the great Naraku and the powerful Tsubaki does not fail! Prepare yourself Inuyasha, for I will fight until I die, even if it involves killing some along the way that stand in between us! She stormed inside and to her mother's chambers; a curse might be needed if she was going to succeed.

 

“Mother.” Kikyo called.

 

“Yes?” Tsubaki was starting a fire below a small cauldron in the corner of her bedroom, the fumes made Kikyo so dizzy she had to sit down.

 

“Inuyasha fights me every step of the way, and that is hard enough without that useless Kagome interfering.” Kikyo spit Kagome's name out in disgust. “I need something that will remove Kagome as a potential obstacle.”

 

“You aren't up for a little competition?” Tsubaki smirked and threw some herbs into the bubbling green liquid, making it turn black.

 

“Kagome is very difficult competition.” Kikyo reasoned. “I will not fight for something in which I have less that a 50% chance of losing.”

 

“I understand.” Tsubaki nodded and took out a goblet, she poured some of the black ooze into it and added another powder, making it turn wine red and thin as water. “This is for Lady Takashi, it will make her more reasonable, so she'll see our views a little easier; but it's strong, so we wont need to use it unless she decides to chose Kagome instead of letting Inuyasha make the decision.”

 

“Will you make something that will make Kagome less reasonable?” Kikyo sniffed the wine her mother had just set down, it even smelled like wine, like the best wine that had been just freshly made.

 

“I can, but it needs to be injected into her blood stream, it isn't as easy as numbing someone's ability to think clearly.” Tsubaki pulled out a small chest filled with bottles; all had different liquids, powders, herbs or mixtures in them.

 

Tsubaki raised her hand and her shikigami snake slithered out from under the bed; Tsubaki squeezed where its jaw bone met its skull and pried the snake's mouth open, a few drops of venom dripped from it's fangs into the blue water, making it steam with the poison. She added herb after herb and endless amounts of powders and elixirs to the cauldron; the mixture was soon a thin bubbling gold liquid.

 

She raised two fingers to her lips and began to chant; almost immediately, the fire roared up, the boiling liquid turned scorching hot and the sutra on the small chest behind the cauldron went up in flames; the doors on the chest fell open to reveal a fang inside a small glass bottle.

 

“Is that a dragon's fang?” Kikyo asked in disbelief, knowing how rare dragons were, and then how rarely the person survived an encounter with a dragon, let alone harvesting poisonous fangs from its mouth which burned flesh away in seconds the acid was so strong.

 

Tsubaki nodded, then uncorked the vile and let the fag fall into the mixture, it turned a sickening bloody red.

 

“Beautiful.” Tsubaki smiled. “Blood, the color of pain; Kagome will be herself in mind, but you will control her body.” She smiled at Kikyo.

 

“Come.” Tsubaki commanded and the snake wound itself up her arm and barred its fangs. Tsubaki dipped both fangs into the elixir and Kikyo began to notice the amount of mixture in the cauldron going down after a while.

 

The elixir is being placed in its fangs. Kikyo realized.

 

“Have the shikigami bite Kagome, this needs to mix with both her flesh and blood, then she will be not as kind and caring to males as she was, in fact, even Bankotsu might have trouble putting up with her.”

 

Kikyo smirked and held her hand out to the shikigami, it wound around her arm and draped itself across her shoulders before turning invisible; Kikyo bowed in thanks before leaving, planning her attack on Kagome the entire time.

 

Next Day, Kagome's Room

 

Kagome stripped off her dress and pulled on one of her relaxing gowns, the kind she laid around her room in; and flopped onto the bed with her arms and legs spread, staring up at the ceiling.

 

I'll wait for Inuyasha until dinner, and then he can be with Kikyo if he damn well pleases, because I sure don't care.

 

“You always ditch people that fast?”

 

Kagome shot up and looked to the window, Inuyasha was sitting on the sill, smirking at her.

 

“I did not ditch you.” She said hotly. “If you remember, I was pulled away by Bankotsu.” She shivered. “What's with him anyways? He gives off an aura of… plain evil.”

 

`You mean just like the rest of the family?” Inuyasha hopped off the window, Kagome giggled at his comment. “That Tsubaki makes me shiver every time I'm near her, and Naraku gives me creeper looks every time he sees me.”

 

“I mean that Bankotsu's covered in a evil aura from some kind of really bad magic, but he himself doesn't have magic, just insane strength and power”

 

Inuyasha sat down on the edge of the bed; Kagome pushed herself into a sitting position and pulled herself next to him.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked. “Do we really have to hate each other just because we were raised to? I mean… cant we make our own assessments about each other?”

 

“I was trying to.” He said after a while. “…You don't like to take orders, you don't like daisies, and you like to practice archery; I could tell by your expression it wasn't something you did just because you have purifying powers.”

 

Kagome smiled. “I learned that you are protective, you don't like to let your feelings out in the open, are cute when you've just woken up… and even get jealous over me.”

 

“What?! I do not!” he yelled.

 

“Do too.” She said smugly. “You pulled me away from Bankotsu yesterday and got really jealous when he wanted to be with me.”

 

Inuyasha opened and closed his mouth a few times before shutting it and looking away angrily.

 

“I was going to say thank you for it, but if you're too embarrassed by it then…” she leaned against him infinitesimally. Kagome smiled mentally, she had taken another step towards him and he hadn't pushed her away, things could possibly go really well for them, screw what their parents had told them.

 

“So…” Inuyasha hesitated. “About the ball tonight, maybe you'd save me a dance?”

 

“Of course.” Kagome smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder.

 

Inuyasha jumped all the way across the room and out the window as someone knocked, Kagome threw herself back against the pillows and flipped a book open to a random page and started to read. “Yes?” she called.

 

Rin open the door and bounded over to her side. “You hear about the ball tonight? Your mom wanted me to tell you so you wouldn't get freaked out.”

 

Kagome snorted. “Yeah, that sounds just like her.”

 

Ayame walked in next with a letter. “This is from Bankotsu.” She flicked her wrist when she threw it so it landed right by Kagome's side.

 

Kagome threw it onto the table, and went back to reading; Ayame shrugged and sat down near her.

 

“Hey.” Kagome looked up. “Ayame, can you run a message to Sango? I think I'd feel better if she was by me when I had to face him.”

 

“Bankotsu?” Ayame stood up and hopped onto the windowsill.

 

“Yes.” Kagome muttered grimly. “He caught me in the garden earlier and made me promise him a dance.”

 

Ayame took a flying leap out into the branches and disappeared.

 

“Shippo ask you for a dance tonight?” Kagome teased.

 

“No.” Rin said glumly. “I guess I'll just hope that he'll ask at the ball.”

 

“You know…” Kagome said quietly. “Just forget about the fact that he serves the Takashi clan, I wont hate you if you start serving them too because you want to be with Shippo.”

 

“…ok.” Rin said quietly.

 

Kagome got up and picked out her favorite dress, a red gown with tight long sleeves, diamonds stitched into the blue fabric a low neck line; and she held it up to her frame in the full length mirror before stripping off her other dress and pulling this one on.

 

“Rin, why don't you pick out one of mine?” Kagome said, fixing her hair.

 

“Oh! But I… I really shouldn't…”

 

“It's fine! Here.” Kagome selected an orange floor length gown with loose sleeves and handed it to Rin. “Make a good impression on Shippo.” She smiled.

 

“Thanks Kagome.” Rin pulled off her other and slipped on Kagome's; she ran over to the mirror and spun around a few times to see herself before running back and throwing her hands around Kagome's neck.

 

“Thank you thank you thank you!” she cried. “I want him to see… I don't know how to put it…”

 

“How pretty you are?” Kagome finished playfully, Rin laughed and to the door.

 

“I'm going to go put a different hair tie in.” she called and ran out the door, Kagome laughed and lay down on the bed as the door closed behind Rin.

 

“Are they always that loud?”

 

Kagome jumped a mile just to see Inuyasha sitting on the windowsill again.

 

“Don't scare me like that!” she yelled.

 

“Jeez, are girls always so squeamish?” he moved to her side on the bed.

 

“Just when you sneak up on them.” Kagome muttered.

 

“Your friend like Shippo?” he asked.

 

“Yep, a lot from the looks of it; she never acts like that.” Kagome giggled.

 

“Hmm.” Inuyasha said.

 

“Hmm what?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

Kagome leaned against his shoulder again and sighed. “Your shoulder is really comfortable.” She commented.

 

“…thanks?” he gave her a confused look.

 

She looked up and froze at how close he was to her; they both had on scared faces, neither had ever been this far before.

 

Kagome placed her hand over his and looked down in embarrassment.

 

Inuyasha looked at her and half raised his hand, but let it drop. I shouldn't, what if she… hell! Screw her if she doesn't like it; just do it now before you change your mind! He yelled at himself.

 

He tipped his face down before she had time to react and crushed his lips against hers, Kagome blinked a few times and then threw herself against him with as much force as she could muster, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck and pushing him back until he was flat on the bed. Inuyasha held her rib cage so she couldn't move her body even an inch from him and kissed her with the same force she was kissing him.

 

Kagome wrapped her legs around his waist out of instinct and held herself to his torso; Inuyasha groaned at how close she was, but continued to hold her tighter, he moved his lips to her neck.

 

“Hey.” She breathed. “What happened to us hating each other?”

 

“So? What about it?” he kissed her roughly.

 

“Yeah, what about it?” she laughed and then moaned and rolled her eyes back inside her head slightly as he pushed her shoulder strap down to kiss the lower part of her collar bone. She arched her back when he pulled her dress down even more and licked right above the top of her breasts. Kagome pulled his shirt open, not wanting herself to be the only on getting attention; and stroked his chest, he groaned and unconsciously thrust against her pelvis, making her cry out softly.

 

Kagome stripped off her dress, not being able to take it anymore and began to work on the rest of his clothes.

 

Inuyasha grabbed the back of her neck and brought her lips against his again, he used his claws and slit the strings on the back of the corset so not fell away.

 

My god… she's… beautiful! He eyed her chest and curiously took one breast in his mouth, sucking harder when she arched her back so far the top of her head almost touched his stomach.

 

*Knock knock knock*

 

Kagome began to shriek as the person outside startled her, but Inuyasha clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into the closet. He wrapped a corset around her and tied it while almost cutting off her circulation as she yanked the dress back on.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“Come in Sango!” Kagome called as she gave her hair one last look in the mirror; Inuyasha fixed his shirt buttons and jumped out the window and behind a bush in the balcony.

 

“Kagome!” Sango ran in and hugged her best friend, the two girls had met each other when a five year old Sango had been out riding and had bumped into a five year old Kagome just barely beginning to practice her archery.

 

“Thank you for coming! There's this creeper and he likes me! I need your help!” Kagome grabbed Sango's shoulders.

 

“Who? You mean Inuyasha?” Sango snickered.

 

“No, it's this creep who feels like… he has some sort of… I don't know… weird feeling coming from him, almost like he was dead. It's scary.” Kagome felt Inuyasha shift behind the bush.

 

“Ok, so I'm going to meet this guy later right? I need to know what kind of person I'm dealing with.” Sango flopped down on the bed on her back and pulled her evening party dress from her trunk.

 

Kagome nodded and fixed her hair once more before joining Sango on the bed.

 

“So how goes it with Inuyasha?” Sango asked.

 

“Well, he's a lot better than I originally thought.” She went down to a whisper. “We kissed today.”

 

“Really?!” Sango bolted back up and looked at her with huge amounts of enthusiasm.

 

Kagome smirked. “Actually, we almost did it… but then you walked in.”

 

“I interrupted?” Sango teased. “I can go away and come back in what… an hour or so?”

 

“Oh shut up.” Kagome threw one of her pillows at her.

 

“So you love him? And you want me to get rid of this dead creep for you?” Sango asked, sitting back down.

 

“No, just… don't you dare leave me alone with him.” Kagome grabbed Sango's shoulders and shook her lightly.

 

“Alright alright!” Sango pushed her back slightly.

 

Miroku fixed his robe for the last time before knocking.

 

“Come in.” Kagome called.

 

Miroku walked in and stopped short before walking forward again.

 

“Lady Kagome, your mother wishes to see you.” He said while stealing glances at Sango.

 

“Thank you sir…?”

 

“Miroku ma'am, and I am only a village monk, not a sir by any standards.” He bowed deeply.

 

“But you're still Inuyasha's friend? So in that case you are of good standards; Sango, Miroku, Miroku Sango.” She nodded to each in turn.

 

Miroku bowed again and then knelt on one knee and took Sango's hand. “Lady Sango, will you please bear my child?” he asked sweetly, Kagome shrank away from him.

 

“You never learn, do you?” Shippo suddenly appeared by his side and jerked him up by his ear and then bowed to Sango. “I apologize for my friend Lady Sango.”

 

“No, i-it's alright.” She said with a shaky voice, sliding closer to her Hiraikotsu millimeter by millimeter.

 

“Yes, well, Lady Kagome, your mother wants to see you, you should go, she's sitting with Lady Takashi now and wants to ask you something.”

 

“Alright, Shippo, if you'll keep an eye on Miroku to make sure Sango doesn't kill him, I'll go now.”

 

Shippo nodded and dragged Miroku backwards out of the room by his ear.

 

Kagome straightened her dress to look her best for Lady Takashi before walking down the huge hallway.

 

“Kagome!” Lady Higurashi came running down the hallway and grabbed her hands.

 

“Please tell Lady Takashi that you're happy with the engagement!” she pleaded, forcing Kagome back. “I think that Tsubaki witch put something in her wine, and she's going to engage Kikyo to Inuyasha if you aren't happy with him!” Lady Higurashi shot the doors to the great hall a dark look.

 

“If that happens it'll be all out war between our families, because Lord Takashi will take it as your fault that his family backed out; Lord Naraku's family is only interested in land and their own fortunes, they'll drug Inuyasha next so he's under Kikyo's control! Just please tell Lady Takashi that you're happy.” She pleaded once last time before pushing Kagome towards the doors and walking swiftly away so as not to be seen asking that of Kagome.

 

Kagome took a deep breath and pushed open the doors, she walked down the stairs and took her seat by Lady Takashi without so much as a peek towards Lord Naraku and Lady Tsubaki.

 

“Kagome?” Lady Takashi asked.

 

“Yes ma'am?” Kagome looked up at her, but caught the looks of the people sitting across from her, they were eager, and looked deadly.

 

“I want t' know if you like Inuyasha and you being together? Because Tsubaki and Nar'ku would really like their Kikyo to be with him if you don't.”

 

Oh my god! They drugged her so much; I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't remember her own name!

 

“Of course!” Kagome answered with a smile. “I am really getting along with Inuyasha now, and in time, we should be very fond of each other.”

 

“Ten it's settled,” Lady Takashi got up and walked to her thrown. “The marriage will be held soon unless Kagome comes to me and tells me it's off, dismissed.” She slouched even lower in the throne.

 

Kagome nodded and ran back up the stairs, Tsubaki growled then disappeared through the doors to her room after whispering something in Naraku's ear.

 

“Mother?” Kikyo whispered, waiting just inside the door. “How did everything go?”

 

“Horrible.” Tsubaki growled. “But I've put up with enough, that stupid wench holds to her agreements even when drugged! Now I know why a demon would choose her for a mate.”

 

She held out her arm and her shikigami slithered out from beneath her robes and retrieved the cauldron and a few herbs and liquids.

 

“Mother?” Kikyo backed up as the stench of the new potion almost made her pass out.

 

“Lady Takashi is more trouble than she's worth, but that wont be a problem from now on, because she wont be able to make her own decisions after this, then it's up to you Kikyo.”

 

“Me?” Kikyo took another step back as the urge to throw up grew almost unbearable.

 

“After I'm through with Lady Takashi, it'll be your job to work on Inuyasha while Bankotsu works on Kagome; Inuyasha will most likely be over run if we push him enough, and he'll succumb like every other you two have seduced.” Tsubaki smirked and added another herb that forced Kikyo out of the room, but she nodded in agreement as she left.