InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inexcusable Nature ❯ Vaguely Familiar ( Chapter 3 )

Inexcusable Nature

Just A Starving Writer

Disclaimer: nope, not mine.

Part 3: Vaguely Familiar

The girl could be called spoiled, that much was certain, the toad thought. She was dressed in quite possibly the nicest kimono in this sector of Japan and the protection she had come under was undoubtedly the best possible. How many other young girls could swear as much?

Still, she maintained an air of innocence despite her origins, despite her provisions, and despite her unlikely protector. If anything she was purer since her resurrection and, the toad acknowledged grudgingly after two and a half years overseeing the ward, her happiness was infectious. There was simply no denying the lure of the girl's bright smile and sparkling eyes as she picked flowers, still a favorite pastime after all this time.

But this, this was too much.

"She's alive!" Rin called out joyfully.

"Leave that filthy wench alone and come on or we will be late and the master will be angry," Jaken said reproachfully. Despite his affections for the child, there was simply no way he would allow her to bring another human with her. His lord would simply not allow it and he did not feel like being kicked cross country today.

"But we can't leave her here," the child continued as she pulled back the hair from the downed woman's face. "She's pretty. And she looks familiar."

"You are not bringing that dirty human with us."

"But Jaken…"

"But nothing! We are leaving!"

Thirty minutes later, the toad was stalking ahead of the small group as Rin led the dragon who was presently laden with an unconscious human female. The child really was spoiled.

"You are explaining this to Lord Sesshoumaru," the toad grumbled loudly.

"Yes! I will take care of everything!"

And Rin did just that. When they were finally intercepted by their master, she stated her reasons to the silently forceful youkai lord. When he made no action to stop her care for the woman, she gleefully jumped up and down before tending the wounds on her new patient. Finally, once the strangely dressed woman was bandaged and positioned a comfortable distance to the fire Jaken had started for her benefit, she retired to her usual place leaning against the two headed dragon.

As his retainer and ward slept peacefully through the night, the contemplative demon lord stared relentlessly at Rin's latest charge. It was not the first time the girl had brought back some injured creature to be healed, but this one was different. Between her manner of dress, her irrepressible aura, and interesting scent, he was certain the woman should be familiar to him. However, the answer was not forthcoming. He would simply have to wait for her to wake up for the mystery to be solved. Until then, he could risk resting.

*

Waking up was quite the hassle. Kagome had never been much a morning person but this was just hell. Her shoulders and neck were in tremendous pain and now more than ever she wished for her trusty medical kit and the blessed aspirin it contained.

"What happened?" she grumbled as she tried repeatedly to open her eyes and failed.

"You were attacked," answered a young childish voice from her right. Finally opening her eyes to the early morning sun, she was greeted by a vaguely familiar face. Brown eyes danced in a soft face surrounded by happily tousled hair.

"But I took care of you! You'll be perfect again in no time!" The child's smile was infectious, but still, Kagome had the eerie feeling that she had met this particular girl somewhere before.

"Thank you very much….um, who are you?" she asked with a crazy grin.

"I'm Rin! Who are you?"

"My name is Kagome. Where are we?"

"We're here waiting for my lord to return!"

"Oh…" That information was plenty for now. It was definitely nice to know someone else would be joining them shortly. After all, Kagome could barely protect herself, let alone herself and a young girl.

Examining her wounds, she was astonished that Rin had been so thorough in treating her. Everything was worked out right well, down to the proper herbs in the poultice. However, the pain had returned now that she was awake and that was something she could do something about.

Slowly and carefully climbing to her feet, she began looking for the herb Kaede had spoke of that could be boiled and drunk for headaches, and such. She had used it before when low on supplies and found it was almost as good as her aspirin tablets. If she could find it now, she would truly be thankful.

For the next hour, herself and Rin searched the surrounding area for the herb when at last it was discovered. She gnawed on a bit and rested her wounds while Rin prepared a fire. Water was acquired and before long, the oddly medicinal smell of boiling herb could be smelt.

"Ah…" Kagome sighed as she began sipping the strong brew. "Much better."

"You'll be leaving soon then?"

"Afraid so, Rin. I have a duty I must fulfill…if I can."

"What is your duty?"

"Have you heard of the Shikon jewel?"

"A little."

"I'm its protector."

"No, you aren't." The seriousness of her tone and the haunted look in the little girl's eyes were enough to send a shiver down Kagome's spine.

"Why do you say that?" she asked.

"Because," Rin continued. "She's dead."

"I'm not dead. I was just gone for awhile."

"But the fan lady said she was dead."

"Kagura?"

"Yes."

"Rin, I am the protector of the Shikon no Tama. I was stuck…somewhere else and have been gone for two years, but I'm back now and I will collect the jewel shards, I will save my friends, and I will kill Naraku." By the time she had reached the end of that statement, Kagome had stood as power flowed through her veins and she asserted her plan more to herself and the world than her child audience.

However, despite the strength of her convictions, Rin seemed hard to persuade. Doubt was clearly written on her expressive face.

"Okay, fine, don't believe me," the miko sighed as she resigned herself to the ground once more.

"Whatever you are going to do, you'll be able to get back to it in a day or so," Rin said as she returned to her usual happy carefree self. Kagome could only smile weakly as she accepted another cup of the steaming herbal brew.

It was a restful day and eventually the miko relaxed as her strength returned. She was still alone with only the little girl as company and as much as Rin seemed to enjoy talking, she did not discuss much of her life. All Kagome could get out of her was that she was the ward of a lord who would soon be returning to get her. The area they were in, for some odd reason, was considered safe enough to leave the child and injured woman alone and the mentioned lord had business to attend to elsewhere. Until he returned, they had to remain at the safety of the campsite.

It was unnerving how sure Kagome was that she had previously encountered the young girl and she was certain that the connection was important. However, answers were not forthcoming and she could only wait and hope the tie would make itself known before long.

Kagome had drifted into a soft sleep as evening approached, but was suddenly jerked away by a terrible nightmare sometime near midnight.

"No," she breathed as she shot up, adrenaline helping her to ignore the racing pain of her jerked wounds. It took a full minute for her to regain her bearings and then she was shocked once more to the point of her hand reaching for her bow.

"You are awake." The voice was unmistakable and no amount of time would ever cause her to forget this regal demon lord. Suddenly she remembered in a flash her previous encounter with a younger Rin and she felt stupid for having forgotten something so damned important.

"Yes," she answered though it was not a question.

The stared at each other for a good space of time before Kagome finally broke and pointed her gaze to her sword instead.

"That will not be necessary." Shocked eyes met his once more. Taking a minute to search for explanation in the soft planes of his face, she made a strange and great discovery. The demon lord did not remember her. For the moment, she was merely considered a curiosity and not the annoying girl who had shot at him before.

"Good," she sighed as she once again broke the gaze and released the white hilt of the katana.

"You cannot wield the weapon." Strange how despite the unwavering cool voice, the statement could be both an insult and an enquiry. The pompous bastard. How could he get away with that?

"No."

"Give it to me."

She shrank back from the command, practically hugging the sword despite its position at her hip.

"No."

If she thought the command was forceful, she was simply put to shame by the sheer power of the glare. Fumbling, she pulled the sword, sheath and all, from the sash she had tied at her waist, and handed it grudgingly to the pale youkai.

Taking his time to carefully examine the delicate planes of the blade, the demon lord experimentally slashed the air with it before returning it to her, hilt first. For such a dangerous being as him, the action was such a declaration of peace that her grin could not be hidden.

"What human carries a demonic blade." Strange how his questions never sounded like questions. Her good humor died quickly in the face of his poorly concealed dislike.

"It's demonic?" A stare was her answer. "I wasn't aware." That stare only hardened and she could feel its power even when she looked away.

"You leave in the morning." The cold tone of the order left her only the option to nod in agreement and she did thus. Finally, in a sad attempt to escape his scrutiny, she turned away and laid back down to try and sleep the rest of the night. Her rest was sporadic and throughout the night she could feel the eyes of the ever perceptive demon lord.

*

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Inuyasha began in the dark of the dungeon.

"I don't," Shippou argued. "I feel…strange but not really bad."

"Me too," Sango commented.

"I as well," added the monk. "Something has most definitely occurred but it isn't necessarily negative, Inuyasha."

"Feh."

*