InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In the Western Lands ❯ Gaining Her Trust ( Chapter 2 )

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

Kagome fidgeted nervously as she felt the man across from her gaze on her. She kept her head bent low and watched as he turned towards Miroku and Sango. She understood that he was disgusted with her; it was obvious by the way, he blanched every time he looked in her direction. Even though she understood, she still could not help to feel sad that he would think such a thing. She wanted to hide from his penalizing gaze as he trailed his eyes over her.

“So what do we do with her?” Sango wondered aloud. “I would have her work here in the brothel, but that would only leave her as a target for people to recognize her.”

Miroku nodded his head in agreement and crossed his arms over his chest as he sighed in exhaustion. "Maybe we should sleep on in until tomorrow so we can be in our best shape to think."

Sango nodded and stood up and stretched her back. "Well I have to attend to a few more customers before I close up tonight."

Miroku watched her go. As she left through the door, he turned and sighed. How many years had it been since he last saw Sango, three? Yet she had changed so much in her mannerism from what he had remembered from so long ago. She seemed closed off and held back a lot more than she used to when it came to the means of her strength. He remembered when she used to stand in the front lines of the guard, stronger than most men. She would compete in the tournaments against others from across the land to be dubbed the strongest. Now she seemed as if she were frail and reserved as if she were a common woman. What had become of her to give up her ideals? He shook his head, maybe he was imagining things, and surely, the Sango he knew would never give up what she loved best.

Kagome watched Miroku as he stared at the door Sango had left through. She reached over to touch his knee and waited until he turned his attention towards her. "What's wrong Miroku, are you troubled by something?" She asked as his eyes focused on her.

"Oh, did I look troubled? No, not at all I was just pondering some things. Why do you ask though?"

InuYasha stood and stretched his tense muscles. "It's because you have been staring at the door ever since Sango walked out of it. What's your problem?"

"I was just thinking about how much Sango had changed since I last saw her. Has she given up her position in the front line?"

InuYasha sighed and paused to think. It was none of his business to tell the monk. "Yeah she did a while back."

So he was right, but Sango loved to battle there had to be a reason she gave it up. "Why? She was not severely injured was she?"

"All I can tell is that's not the reason she left the battle field. If you want to know the reason ask her yourself it is not my story to tell." He finished as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall for support.

Miroku turned to look at the ground in silence then focused on Kagome once again. "You would not have any clue as to why she would, would you?"

Kagome shook her head as she gripped the sheet closer to her form. How she hated to lie to Miroku, but she knew the one they called InuYasha was right. She had an idea as to why Sango would do something like that, she was not fully sure, but it was not her place to tell. Therefore, it was not exactly a lie; it was just a theory. Women were expected to be here as wives and mothers, nothing more than that. To be a guard in the battlefield, frontline no less, was an accomplishment in the eyes of a warrior. In the eyes of the land filled with high expectations or more over low for women it was looked upon with displeasure. Strong women intimidated men and maybe Sango just wanted to be taken in socially. She felt for her having to hide who she truly was from everyone who met her. She could relate to it very well.

Miroku excused himself from the room leaving Kagome alone with InuYasha. She began to fidget again as he turned to look at her. "So your Koga's woman, huh?" He stated as she turned away from him. He could smell the nervousness rolling off her as he asked.

She bit her lip in her nervousness and kept her body fully wrapped in the blanket. She lowered her head to the floor to keep her eyes from trailing to his. "I was his, but it wasn't by choice." She stated.

"You know, don't you?"

She lifted her head up in surprise. "I know what?"

"Why Sango is the way she is?"

She looked back at the ground. "I have an idea as to why, but I'm not fully sure if it's true. As you told Miroku, it's not my story to tell, it's up to her to reveal why."

"So what do you plan to do now? You're basically a wanted fugitive and if I know that wolf, he'll stop at nothing to find you." He stated.

Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not to sure, but I'm going to have to do it on my own. Miroku's already helped me so much, and I don't want to trouble him anymore than I already have."

"What about your family, surely they would not hand you over to Koga if you hide with them."

Kagome shook her head violently as she thought of her father once again. "No! I can never go back there. My father was the reason I was there in the first place, I can never forgive him. How could he, how could anyone willingly bet their own flesh and blood in a game?" She nearly shouted as she closed her eyes tightly and shook her head to rid herself of the memories. "I just wish it would go away. All the pain and the hurt. I want forget it all." She said as the sobs racked her shoulders and she clenched her eyes shut to stop the tears from falling.

InuYasha felt a pang of shock as he heard her story. Her father lost a bet and she was the one who had to suffer from his loss. She was a young woman, barley reaching adulthood and yet she had to suffer for her fathers mistakes. She was fighting hard not to cry, he could tell. She was broken and rejected, he felt it, but she hid it well. He reached over and touched her hand, a tentative gesture meant to soothe her, but he watched as she coiled back as if his hand burned her. Her eyes widened with fear as she closed the sheet around her body, her breaths coming out in shortened pants. InuYasha reached for her again and she curled into herself bracing herself for upcoming impact. She peeked open her eye warily as InuYasha drew his hand from her small frame a look of hurt crossing his features. Did she really expect him to strike her? She did not trust him, he could understand that. He would not trust anyone so openly either if that would have happened to him. He was sure she would think that if her own father would why would not anyone else.

InuYasha looked at her lone form again. "I am sorry if I frightened you. I can’t say I know what you have been through, but you can trust me. I would never strike you."

Kagome felt bad when she saw the look that came across his face. She wanted to believe him so much. "I've heard those words many times before and it comes out in the end you apologizing for doing it every time." She cringed again waiting for him to strike her as she heard the rustle of his armor. She opened her eyes again and gasped as she saw him down on one knee, his head lowered to the ground.

InuYasha let his eyes roam down to the floor. "So you don't trust me, that's understandable. He had made you that way." InuYasha sighed he lowered his palm to the floor while he rested his elbow over his armor-plated knee. "Please allow me to make it up to you. He is an ally of ours and seeing as you were in his personal care; I shall take you into mine and treat you with up most care. It is my way of making up for the way he has treated you, I shall take responsible action."

Kagome crouched near him. She wanted to reach out and take his face in her hands, and convince him that was unnecessary. "No, if you try to help me Koga might have you arrested for treason. Please I do not want to cause anymore trouble to anyone else."

InuYasha nearly scoffed at her response. As if, Koga could do anything against him. "Please that wimpy wolf could not lay a hand on me. I am of the Royal Guard there is no way he could ever beat me in combat, he'd probably be cowering behind his throne sending others to fight in his place."

Kagome covered her mouth to stifle the laughter. In a sense, Koga was a coward and fought with unfair tactics. "I apologize, but it is amazing that you are a Royal Guard, do you like doing it, Sir InuYasha?"

"Of course I do. Each day you go out and defend the people of the village from harm." He curved his hand over the hilt of his sword and gripped it tightly between his fingers with his fangs protruding over his lips from his large, confident grin. "The thrill of the battle and holding the sword against the opponents that are worth the challenge and..." He paused in his triad and glanced sheepishly towards Kagome.

She had to cover her mouth to hide her smile. "I suppose the answer is yes."

InuYasha looked away with his hands crossed over his chest. His face tinted a bit of red. "Well of course." He 'hmphed' as he turned away from her.

From outside the door the heard a large crash and a grunt.

Sango grabbed the small container of sake and poured it steadily for the man sitting at the counter. "Alright here you go sir, will that be all for tonight?" She asked placing the container beneath the counter.

The man nodded and turned to leave after placing a few coins on the counter. Sango collected the money into her small sack and placed in down towards the floor. She grabbed a bottle and rose back up only to come face to face with Miroku. "Oh, I thought you were there with InuYasha and Kagome."

"I was, but I wanted to become acquainted with you. It has been a while and it seems that things have changed drastically since I have been gone. Like for example how InuYasha has become as soft as bread or how you resigned from the front line of the Royal Guard." He stated nonchalantly.

Sango rolled her eyes and slammed the bottle against the table. "Not you too Miroku. Don't tell me InuYasha set you up to this? You tell him I'm not coming back."

Miroku held up his hands in defense as a look of innocence crossed his features. "There was no such plan. I was just curious as to why would you give up your position Sango? You were great at what you did and fought for so long just to prove that you could hold your own against any demon or thief that posed a threat, why give that up?"

Sango ignored him and tended to a customer at the counter. "I'm sorry sir, what would you like?" She asked as she settled a saucer in front of him.

Hands came up and grasped them in hers. "Would you count yourself in that order?"

Sango pulled her hands away from the stranger, clenching her fist near her side before she poured some sake into the cup. The man ignored her protest and grabbed her hands again in his own. Sango blanched at how clammy and rough his palms were against her own. It reminded her or her hands, the hands of a warrior. How many times had she come back with rough, calloused hands from long days of training? She snatched her hands back and backed away from the counter where the man stood. She repeated over in her mind to not grasp the man around his neck. The man narrowed his eyes, reached behind the counter, and grabbed her arms. He pulled her to the counter and rested his hand on her hips as one trailed along the swell of her behind. She could smell the putrid scent of alcohol running from his breath from pervious drinks.

"Please enough is enough." She let out through gritted teeth.

The man rose his switched his hands to grip on her wrist as he raised his hand. Sango clenched her fist and posed her hand to strike until the man let out a sound that resembled a grunt. Miroku stood on the counters edge the end of his staff buried in the mans throat. "I believe the lady said enough." He stated as he gripped the man by his shirt and rose to eye level. "I am against violence, but I will use it if I have to."

The man drew in a breath and reached to grip his sword in the sheath. Before he could bring out the sword, a clawed hand gripped over his. The man raised his eyes to meet InuYasha before her let his hand fall down to his sides. InuYasha grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and threw him out the entrance of the brothel before returning inside to see Miroku tending to Sango's wrist.

"I told you I'm fine Miroku." She said pulling her hand away.

"But Sango he left a rather nasty bruise on your arm. At least place it in some cold water to reduce the swelling."

"It's fine, I'm closing up for tonight and going to bed." She raised her head to InuYasha and gave him a nod of thanks. "Well Kagome and Miroku can stay with me tonight, if that helps out any?"

"Actually I was thinking about taking her back to the castle, so no need to worry. Also she will be under care so you can leave her to me Miroku, or you can come back to the castle with her, after all she's the only person she knows."

Miroku nodded and brought the horse alongside Kagome. He picked her up to settle her on the back of the horse before grabbing a hold to the reigns. "Ok we're ready."

The walk back to the castle was quiet as Sango began to part ways with them. Kagome watched Miroku features as he cast a look to Sango every so often. Kagome looked back nervously to Sango a worried glance crossing her features. "Are we going to leave Sango to go off alone? What if that man comes along again?" Kagome glanced at Miroku. He was worried as much as she was. "Why don't you stay with her Miroku?"

"Are you sure, but I promised I would stay with you Kagome?"

Kagome shook her head. "You promised to help me, not stay with me. You have done enough, now go on and catch up with her before its too late. Sir InuYasha will protect me from any harm. He is a good fighter after all."

Miroku nodded and drifted off to the separate path to follow behind Sango. He knew something was wrong. If that man had done that she would have wrung his neck, but now she seemed so frail. He glanced up as Sango's figure came into view. He paced quickly to catch up to her. "Sango." He called to warn her of his approach.

"What are you doing here; I thought you were going to the castle with Kagome?"

"Kagome was worried about you and asked me to come see you home from any danger."

Sango rolled her eyes in exasperation. "She must not know that you're more of a danger than anything out here." She smiled lightly as she elbowed him playfully in the ribs. "You know with your wandering hand and what not."

"Oh, she knows, I just never did it to her."

Sango covered her hand over her mouth in mock shock. "Oh goodness is it a sign, Miroku's wandering hand never made it to Kagome's behind? Oh my goodness." She then bust out into laughter as his eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "I'm just joking Miroku lighten up would you? I'm sure Koga would have given you hell if you laid hands on 'his woman', the bastard."

Miroku beamed at Sango. "That was not it either, it's just I never had the urge to do that to her. She just has a light about her that strikes me with awe, and her innocence was just too much. I could never touch her that way."

Sango saw the way his face softened when he talked about the young girl Kagome. Could it be possible that he was in love with the girl? It had to be, why else would he risk his life and position to save her from Koga.

“So is that what you look for in a woman?” She whispered to herself.

“What was that Sango?”

She turned her head to him before shaking it. “Nothing! I was just thinking aloud.”

If he was truly in love with her then maybe, it was a good thing. She could not help the slightest bit of jealousy that crossed her mind. She pondered in silence until they reached the hut. As she reached the door, she saw Miroku watch from the distance.

"Why don't you come in, I'll make some tea and you can stay the night. It is far too late for you to wander back to the castle. Besides it's been too long and I want to talk about how it's been since you left."

Miroku approached the small house. "I would be delighted my dear Sango."

InuYasha felt a sense of pride swell in his chest as the girl placed her life in hands. It was a sign that she was beginning to trust him. Now she began to grow quiet and the silence became awkward. He had to think of something to talk about to get her to open up to him. "That was pretty brave of you. Miroku was the only person you knew and yet you sent him off."

"As I said before he did what he promised, and I have to learn to take care of myself from here. I can't have him holding my hand all the way."

"You two are close?"

"He was the first nice person at the palace that I met. Everyone else looked at me with hatred, shame, or fear, but not Miroku he was not bothered by my presence, in fact he seem to enjoy my company. He was always there to help me, and even if he does have an unusual habit, he never tried that to me, so I do not mind him at all. It's a sign to show that he at least sees me differently than the others."

Was she in love with him, InuYasha thought to himself. If she was, how could she not, he was the first person she met at the castle that treated her like a human woman.

"Well you won't have to worry about a thing like that back home in fact you'll love it."

"I really hope so." She pleaded. She realized that he had not called it a castle, but home, she never heard anyone sound so fond of their castle.

"Don't worry you'll be staying in my wing of the castle nobody hardly ever goes there without my permission, except a few servants her and there, but they'll just think you're new. We always bring in people in need left and right."

Kagome became quiet once again as she covered her mouth to stifle a yawn.

"You tired?"

She nodded before laying herself across the horse and dozing off. "A little." She then started to drift off to sleep.

"Don't worry you can sleep, I won't let you fall."

Kagome allowed a small smile to creep across her face before she closed her eyes. "Thank you for taking care of me Sir InuYasha."

"You're welcome Kagome."






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