InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ InuYasha: Legend of the Record Keeper ❯ ...In A Long Time ( Chapter 10 )

A/N: InuYasha isn't mine, but Kusabana, Aya, and Ikoku are so please dun steal them!

 

Alex: *sighs* Hello everyone, glad to see ya'll are still reading but I'm afraid that after this chapter this fic will be on hold until I get caught up on some other things in life. Sadly only one person has reviewed this story for me and without reviews to know what I'm doing right or wrong makes it hard to write. I may work on some other fics and post them up but this one will be on hold until inspiration *cough* Sally *cough* returns from wherever it has gone, apparently the lack of having reviews to yell at has caused her to become bored therefore I'm on my own. I hope you all had a nice Halloween and I will soon be posting a picture of my little sister portraying Sally although there are some things missing and some color variations. Also I'm very sorry that this chapter is so late, it's been very busy at work and I haven't had much time to write lately.

 

Chapter 9:

…In A Long Time

 

Sesshomaru paused for a moment to look back over his shoulder at the child leading his two headed dragon with one hand the other held the large red book to her slight chest, They had been traveling for a full week back towards his palace. After the book had appeared he had demanded her to tell him about her dreams and the field she had described had sounded much like the one that was a two day journey from his palace. He had taken Kusabana there several times so that she could gather fire flowers. Rin cast a glare at Jaken when he insisted he be allowed to destroy the book yet again and turned to clamor onto Ah-Un's back using both arms to hold the book to her, since the night it had appeared it hadn't left her sight and had rarely left her hands.

 

“Jaken, leave Rin alone.” He spoke softly and turned again moving forward once again. He wanted to get to that clearing in less time that it usually took to he turned on his heel in one easy movement and moved to the still moving Ah-Un, in one fluid motion he swung himself up into the saddle within moments the two headed dragon had taken to the sky Jaken letting out a screech as he clung to its tail.

 

In an hour he had sat them down in the courtyard of the palace, “Jaken,” the imp was in front of the dragon in an instant.

 

“Mi lord?”

 

“Take Rin inside, don't follow me.” With that he dismounted the two headed dragon and let his own demon cloud form under his feet to carry him to the clearing. His mind drifted much as he did, his golden eyes stayed straight forward. Although his face was passive his mind rolled through all that Rin had ever told him of Lady Flower; long red hair, violet eyes, the soft voice, the gentleness, and lastly the flowers and scent of the woman. Every bit of it practically described the servant he had had so many years ago, He felt the trickle of hope that curled down through his chest and pushed it away again, there wasn't a way in the world that the woman could still be alive no matter what his heart said. He was a demon and he had no use for a heart or emotions.

 

Below him the field came into view and he began his decent landing in the edge of the trees, he hadn't been to the field since the time of her death, pain laced through his chest as he saw the faint shadowy image of her smiling at him from the center of the field a large basket of flowers and herbs in her hands a single fire flower tucked into her hair. That memory had been made the very last time they had been there, she had wanted to find more of the bright colored flowers to help some of the sick children in the palace so he had taken her to the field.

 

Her smiles had been few and far in-between and very rarely for anyone else but him, only the children had been able to make her smile when he hadn't been around. He allowed the pain to throb through him, it told him that he was still alive, and it also told him that he still had a weakness and that thought made him sneer inside. It was the one weakness he would always make sure no one ever knew about, it was the weakness that the attacking demons had exploited knowing that she would protect the child at the cost of her own life and in the end it had brought them all their deaths.

 

He drew his thoughts from the darker shadows and stared out across the still field, not a breath of air stirred the flowers or the leaves and the heavy scent of flowers hung in the air, he watched the shadows of clouds drift across the sunlit field, not even a bird sang almost as if knowing that his mood did not suit the sounds of the now silent forest. The soft sounds of rustling leaves rang loudly in his ears in the silence, his eyes slid towards the sound, nothing, no scent, he slid his eyes back to the field.

 

It was silent for a short while then again the sounds of movement in the leaves caught his attention again and his eyes narrowed at the sudden feeling of being watched, there was someone else in the forest with him, someone who could hide who they were very well considering that he could feel no demonic aura. The still air was broken by a soft breeze and the scent of sakura blossoms and flames came to him. A movement to his right caught the corner of his sight and he turned in time to see something red and pink disappear behind a large tree.

 

“Who's there?” the sounds stopped until his sharp ears caught the soft sounds of breathing and a pounding heartbeat, fear perhaps, that thought made a small smirk tug at the corner of his lips.

 

“I'm just a stranger my lord.” The soft voice struck a cord of recognition in him and his golden eyes widened, it couldn't possibly be…she was dead. He moved towards the sound of the beating heart as silent as a whisper he rounded the tree in time to see a swirl of dark red hair and white cloth disappear around the other side of the tree, she was fast whoever she was. He shot around the other side of the tree and again only the whirling colors met him, he let out a sound much like a low growl as he turned again in time to see the red and white form running through the field. With a simple flex of the muscles in his legs he was after it his feet flying several inches off the forest floor with each powerful jump.

 

He watched the long red hair streaming behind her dance in the wind, how she ran in the long formal kimono he would never figure out, how she stayed ahead of him confused him as well. But nothing infuriated him more than when she turned quickly in the center of the field her sleeve hidden arm sweeping around her.

 

“Veil of flowers.” Her tone never changed, soft and dull yet somehow gentle. The flower petals all around her turned a dark crimson then burst from their stems to swirl up around her hiding her from his view but not before he saw a glimpse of a pale heart shaped face. The quickly moving flower petals made it nearly impossible for him to see anything but her outline. He stopped easily just a foot from her and the swirling petals.

 

“Who are you?” his tone was icy and deadly at the same moment, he could still hear her erratically beating heart. She stood stark still in the center of those petals, he could feel her eyes on him.

 

“Your young charge calls me Lady Flower, so I suppose that is what you may call me my lord.” The way the last two words rolled off of her tongue so easily with the same slight accent that Kusabana used to use caused his eyes to narrow angrily and he struck out quickly against the cyclone of flowers only to have more replace them before he could see her clearly.

 

“Alright then Lady Flower, what makes you come here, this place is off limits to everyone. Even a lesser demon could find the warnings blinded.” He saw the outline of her head bow slightly downwards.

 

“I wanted to check on her, to make sure she was safe with my book still…” she turned her head looking away back towards the woods, she was going to run again he knew by gut instinct, “And the southern lands are the safest place for me to be right now, even the wind witch isn't brave enough to trespass here without suffering your wrath.” She shifted, she was moving slowly towards the tree line the flowers following her. He studied them glancing quickly up and down that barrier that kept him from breaking her neck for entering the meadow, he couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at his lips when he found that the top of the cyclone was open, free of the petals he knew were sharp due to the small scratches on his hand.

 

“It was foolish for you to come here thinking that you would be protected.” He followed her just as smoothly as she was moving away.

 

“I didn't come here to be protected my lord, I can do that myself. I came to make sure Rin was protected.” His pride took a hit with that and his anger grew slightly, “I didn't want to give her my book but it was the best way to keep Naraku from getting hold of it.” He sprang suddenly, instinct told him when the right moment would be and he sailed over the pillar of flowers dropping directly into the center his one hand wrapping around her neck palms feeling the bite of the necklaces around her neck. He heard and felt her soft gasp of fear and surprise as her hands lifted to wrap around his wrist as his claws dug into the back of her neck. With just a flex of them he could fill her full of his poison and she would die writing in pain, the silky strands of her hair slithered across his fingers and wrist and he lowered his eyes to meet a single wide amethyst orb. Shock settled in the pit of his stomach then moved up as her face snapped into focus, he stared down into a face he had thought never to see again, a face that had been blood smeared the last time he had saw it alive.

 

Her erratic pulse beat against his palm and fingers telling him that she was very much alive, his golden eyes were wide his shock showing for once his grasp loosened for only a moment before it tightened again rage taking the place of shock, rage that someone had stolen her face, “Who are you woman?” he growled the words, the veil of flowers froze in midair then dropped creating a circle around them. Her fear was visible in her eyes for only a moment more before her face and eyes fell into a smooth mask. The faint smell of burning flesh tickled his nose and unease settled in the back of his mind for a moment, he pushed it away.

 

“You know me, asking questions to which you already know the answers to are unlike you my lord.” An accent crept into her voice, the odd way of speech that he was so familiar with.

 

“Impossible, the dead cannot come back to life without a jewel shard or with the help of my sword and you do not smell like clay and graveyard dirt.” He flexed his hand again his claws digging deeper into her pale flesh.

 

“I am who I am my lord, I promise you that I am very much alive.” Her hands loosened on his wrist slightly. He stared down at her assessing her, she was the right height, had the same hair color, the same eye color, and the same scent. The last words she had whispered to him as she lay dying in his arms rang in his mind, her hand moved as if in slow motion releasing his wrist to move up her cool fingertips brushing his cheek in the same place where she had the time before.

 

“Kusabana.” Her name was ripped from his lips as he released her neck to catch her hand in a steely grasp. Silky soft skin was warm beneath his fingers and palm, the pulse in her wrist beat erratically beneath his middle fingertip, her hand froze her warm fingertips barely grazing his cheek bone as she stared up at him. Her hands stretched out along his cheek until her entire palm covered the markings on his face.

 

He studied her, she was the same yet different at the same time. Her red hair still hung down into her eyes hiding one of them completely, her face was pale yet unlike in her days before held dark black swirling marks down her left cheek. Her bow shaped lips were painted a dark shade of rose and held in their natural shape, no smile or emotion showed on them now. Her scent was the same to him but now that he was closer without the flower veil to hide it he couldn't mistake the light scent of demonic blood flowing through her veins now. His eyes narrowed, very few still living knew of Kusabana and her meaning to him unless they had lived at the palace all those years ago so a demon couldn't have stolen her face.

 

“Demon, why steal a face that is not yours?” his golden eyes flashed down at her and she blinked trying to take a step back from him, his hand on her wrist kept her where she was as she released her other hand from around his.

 

“It is my face my lord, I haven't stolen it.” She tugged at her hand actually tarring it from his grasp, her body rippled and in a blur she was several feet away from him. She stared at him for a long moment then turned, “If you wish to believe I have stolen it then you are truly blind my lord.” She headed back to the forest, “Please keep Rin safe, I'll take back the book as soon as Naraku is dead.” He noticed it then, her hair although it had looked to be to her waist was much longer, setting in the small of her back was a bun made up of a thick braid looped three or four times.

 

A memory came unwanted to his mind and his claws bit into his palm, the memory was from a week before her death.

 

Sesshomaru watched her as she moved around his room straightening things even placing clean clothing neatly on their hooks. She turned and began folding the large blankets that went to his large futon, how the slight female was able to fold something so much bigger than she he had yet to figure out. She hefted the heavy blanket and sat it aside piling the pillows on top of it, she paused to brush her hair out of her eyes, the longish strands ad fallen free of the ribbon that had held it back. The shoulder length strands made him angry still yet, it should be longer as it was when she had first come to the palace. He watched her fold his futon then place the blankets and pillows on top of it, she turned towards him and bowed just slightly.

 

“Everything is how you like it my lord, do you wish for me to help you with anything else before I go to my other chores?” he studied her for a long moment before picking the comb off table in front of him he tossed it to her with a careless flick of his wrist and watched as she caught it quickly. She blinked down at it then at him, “My lord?”

 

“There's a tangle I can't get, it had better not pull.” He turned his back to her, something that made him cringe inside.

 

“A…alright…” he heard her move behind him and kneel down, “Are you sure you want me to do this my lord, you never let anyone touch your hair.” He nodded once and felt her tentatively touch her fingers to his hair then the comb as she picked gently at the tangle. Moments later the comb was whispering through his hair smoothly, the fingers of her other hand followed the comb the tips of her fingernails scraping his scalp lightly before running through the thick length of his hair. A purr threatened to escape at the tingling feeling those nails created, he was enjoying having his hair brushed entirely to much and his thoughts turned to her hair. It used to be nearly as long as his, the image of her sitting with it all shorn off as a cruel joke filled his minds eye, anger bubbled inside of him and a low growl bubbled up instead of a purr.

 

“You shouldn't think so much about it my lord.” He turned his head slightly to peer up at her and her face flushed, “You always growl when your thinking about my hair, it's alright it'll grow back in time.” He faced forward again allowing her to continue her work on his hair.

 

“That isn't the point.” She continued to brush his hair removing all tangles until it fell down his back like a river of silver.

 

“Yes it is, it upset you when you saw what they had done. It was written on your face so clearly.” just as he was about to order her to stop she pulled the comb and her fingers free and he could hear her stand. She sat the comb on the table in front of him gently and used the same hand to brush her hair back over her shoulder, he felt another growl escape and a small smile tilted her lips as she peered down at him brushing her bangs aside so that both amethyst eyes locked onto his golden ones, “Lord Sesshomaru, I promise never to cut my hair again.” She bowed slightly and turned disappearing through the door to her own small room leaving him to stare after her retreating back.

 

Sesshomaru stood now watching her retreating back once again and the strange hair style that drifted over her kimono. Just as she was about to reach the shadows of the trees he moved shooting across the field to stand directly in front of her, “We can settle this demon, she made me a promise once, what was it?” He watched her closely her visible eye became slightly sad she tilted her head down slightly.

 

“I promised that I would never cut my hair again, and I have kept that promise my lord.” Shock pulsed through his body, no one but he and her knew of that promise and now before him stood a ghost of his past the same ghost that had almost caused his destruction once. His hand moved as if in slow motion to him, when he thought her a demon who had stolen his Kusabana's face his only thought had been to destroy her. Now that he knew before him stood the woman who still held his heart in her small hands his one thought was to hoard her away somewhere where nothing could ever take her from him again.

 

“Get away from her!” the order was shouted in a high pitched voice followed by a blast of demonic energy that caused him to jump back, when the dust cleared someone new stood in front of her. Female in appearance the woman was nearly as tall as he, she was covered in a thick brown fur and appeared more animal than humanoid, a long fluffy tail curled from the back of the kimono she wore. The kimono itself only came half way down her thighs and held slits up both sides, it clung to her curvy form the long sleeves torn off most likely in battle, it was made for fighting as were the claws on her hands, “Stay away from Lady Kusabana.” Her black eyes glowered into his.

 

“Aya no!”

* * *

 

Kagome stared into the pool of water at the colorful fish swimming about, her thoughts drifted as did the reflections of the clouds on the waters surface. This was the first time in a long time that they had had a peaceful moment, demons kept attacking now that the jewel shards were now in only one of two hands. Hers and Narakus. She shifted pulling her shoes and socks off before dangling her feet into the water, she let out a hiss of air as the cold liquid bit into her sore feet then sighed, it felt nice, she propped her hands behind her and leaned back to stare up at the sky and the clouds drifting across the blue orb. She closed her eyes and sighed letting the peace of the moment flow through her body, there was a rustling of cloth and she turned her head to watch InuYasha sit beside her his sword leaned against his chest.

 

“Whatcha doin'?” his question was kind of gruff but she hadn't expected anything less, especially if the others were near by. She really needed to work with him on expressing himself better instead of hiding behind his tough guy act.

 

“Enjoying the day.” She sighed the words and turned to look back up at the sky as always her heart beat faster when he was near and the strange squeezing of her stomach and heart were expected too and she smiled just faintly.

 

“Whater you smilin' about?” she turned her smile on him and he blinked at her.

 

“Nothing, I'm just happy with the day is that alright?” he gave her an odd look one of his cute little dog ears twitching, she had to fight the urge to reach up and pet it down. He watched her for a moment and leaned away, her eyes were still pinned to his ears his eyes a little wide.

 

“You're not going to grab them are you?” she let out little squeak and blushed shaking her head quickly.

 

“Of course not! I know that you hate for anyone to touch your ears.” He looked less afraid and sat up straight again. She kicked her feet slightly spooking off the fish that were trying to nibble at her toes, “Have you gotten any hints on Naraku?” he stared down at the water and shook his head.

 

“No, where ever he's hidden he's hidden himself good this time.” He adopted the soft husky tone he often did when alone with her and her heartbeat sped up, “I caught a hint of Kagura a ways back but it was old enough I couldn't follow it.” He frowned down at the water.

 

“InuYasha?” there was something else, she could tell he couldn't figure it out and it was bothering him.

 

“Sesshomaru's scent was there too.” She studied his serious face and decided to put his mind at ease.

 

“Well isn't this near the boarder to the western lands? He was probably just passing through.”

 

“Probably, but it still doesn't sound right.” She sat up straight and pulled her feet out of the water tucking her legs up to one side she turned towards him slightly. She studied his serious expression and tilted her head to one side. A slight breeze ruffled her hair and the leaves in the trees, she lifted a hand to brush it back from her face.

 

“Maybe we shouldn't worry about it, I mean if it's old Kagura was probably asking Sesshomaru to help her destroy Naraku again.” She used one hand to keep her balance as she fought to keep her hair out of her eyes, that same breeze took the scent of her shampoo to InuYasha who's eyes closed as he inhaled, his hands tightened on his sword to keep from reaching out to bring her closer to him.

 

“Maybe your right, it still bothers me though, I don't like it.” He growled the last word before he felt Kagome's free and land on his arm.

 

“Lets just wait and see, we'll find Naraku I know it. Even if you can't scent him I'll pick up on the jewel shards if we get anywhere near him.” She dropped her hand back to her lap and stared down at it for a long moment.

 

“Kagome?” she blinked up at him curiously, “I'm sorry about the other day, when I made you leave before your party.” She smiled slightly at his saddened expression, even his cute little doggy ears drooped, once again she had to squash the temptation to pet them.

 

“It's alright InuYasha, maybe when Naraku is finally defeated I'll have time o do those kinds of things.” He continued to stare down at the water his ears still drooping, her heart sank a bit before she smiled, “I'd like for you to come with me to the next party InuYasha.” He blinked up at her his ears standing straight again. A smile graced his lips before he shut it down placing a non caring look on his face and crossed his arms over his chest looking away from her his nose slightly turned up.

 

“Keh! Why would I wanna go to some stupid party or whatever it's called.” She grinned when his ears twitched; she'd learned over time that his ears twitched every time he lied to her. His ear twitched again and before she had a chance to crunch down on the temptation she had reached out and up to rub her fingers along the very base of his ear. He froze his ear twitching against her fingers, she rubbed the soft silky fur gently careful not to hurt the delicate appendage. A low rumble started in his chest and she jerked her hand away only to have it caught by the wrist gently by his hand. Her head dropped before her eyes could meet his, she knew her face was fire red.

 

“I'm sorry InuYa…” she let out a gasp of surprise her head snapping up when he pulled her fingers back to his ear.

 

“That felt nice…” she blinked at the look on his face, his eyes were shut and his lips held a slight smile. She leaned forward slightly rubbing her fingers against the base of his ears again. The rumble in his chest began again; she blinked when she realized that instead of growling he was purring. His hand loosened on her wrist and he tilted his head into her hand.

 

“I..InuYasha?” she only murmured his name but it was enough to make him turn his head towards her his eyes only half open. The golden orbs had misted into a darker shade much like the day she had thought he was going to kiss her, even as that thought crossed her mind his eyes dropped to her lips and remained there. His fingers tightened around her wrist pulling her hand away gently at the same moment he used that same wrist to pull her forward so that she had to either shift onto her knees or fall onto him. She still had to lift her other hand to brace it against his shoulder to keep from over balancing, his hand slid down her arm so guide it around his neck that same hand moved to tangle in her dark hair.

 

He shifted then, a simple ripple of his muscles that brought him closer to her, his fingers sifted through her hair until his hand cupped the back of her head. His warm breath fanned over her lips and his eyes flicked up to stare into her own wide eyes “Kagome…” her name was murmured only a moment before his lips settled against hers. She drew in a sharp breath and froze on the spot as what felt like an electric shock rocketed through her body leaving her tingling from her lips to her toes. Slowly she relaxed her eyes fluttering shut; she pressed her lips back against his tilting her head slightly so that their lips pressed more firmly together. Is lips slid slowly against hers coaxing and faintly she wondered if he was going on past experiences or on instinct. He mad a soft sound somewhere between a purr and a growl his other hand releasing its hold on his sword to cup her cheek gently as he pulled her closer for a moment before he slowly drew back pausing to rest his forehead against hers.

 

Her eyes opened slowly to stare dazedly into his eyes, their breaths came out in soft pants and she could feel his erratic pulse against her palm as she was sure he could hear hers, a dark blush graced his cheeks much like the one she knew was heating her face. His thumb caressed her cheekbone lightly, “I'm sorry Kagome.” She blinked at him as his eyes saddened slightly.

 

“What for?” it was his turn to blink at her as she smiled slightly at him which caused him to smile back, “I don't regret that InuYasha.” She tilted her head again brushing her lips lightly against his. There was a rustling in the trees behind them.

 

“Kagome? InuYasha?” Shippo's childish voice broke the contact between them and they moved apart quickly just before the little fox demon came through the trees followed by Miroku and Sango, “There you guys are, are we ready to leave?” Kagome pulled her socks and shoes back on and stood with a smile.

 

“I am if you guys are.” She smiled down at InuYasha and offered him a hand to help him up, he stared at it for a long moment before taking it. Miroku smirked as he studied the two of them, both held dull red blushes and slightly swollen lips, his smirk grew into a grin.

 

“What are you grinning about monk?” InuYasha's gruff question just made the monk grin wider and hold up his hands.

 

“Nothing, nothing.” He continued to grin, he had been wondering when InuYasha would finally give in to the temptation. He continued to smirk for several hours after that as they began their journey again.

* * *

 

A/N: Sorry that this took so long for me to get up and this fic will be on hold unless Sally kicks me in the bum or unless I get some reviews with peoples opinions and ideas to help me continue on. Once again I'm sorry for the delay and the hold on Record Keeper although I am glad I finally got the two things that everyone was waiting for in here.