InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Innocence ❯ chapter 10 ( Chapter 11 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

'The air seems so much cleaner in the park.' Kagome thought to herself. She loved these little moments when she could become one with nature. The trees didn't judge her. Animals didn't look at her with fear and suspicion. Nature minded its own business. 'I wish people were like that.' Kagome sighed to herself.

She had been trying to meditate quite unsuccessfully. She was still very uncentered from her experience earlier with Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, and Naraku. She hadn't had to exert so much energy to keep her temper since she was a kid. To top it off, now that she was alone, memories kept popping in and out of her mind. Though unlike other times, they refused to be suppressed. As soon as she attempted to quiet her mind, the images from that day would surface. Dead eyes and a silent scream did not help with becoming centered. If she didn't know any better, it was like some deity was trying to keep her in a state of unrest.

Kagome stretched and looked around herself. This was her favorite spot in the whole park. She was in a secluded area almost completely surrounded by trees and out of site from joggers and other such folk. She sighed and concentrated on her breathing.

Sitting cross-legged, and completely relaxed; Kagome once again tried to meditate. This time, though, when she closed her eyes, a distant siren disrupted her thoughts. 'Damn,' she thought, 'I finally get to begin and people start making a raucous!' Kagome waited for the siren to silence before attempting again.

'That's it, I'm going someplace where nothing can bother me damnit!' She pictured herself sitting in an empty room surrounded by stone walls. In here it was quiet, and her past could not enter. In here she was safe, so she remained. Her mental self mirrored her physical body in posture. It had taken a while, but she had finally found a place in her mind where she could not be bothered. Kagome's meditation ensued.

When Kagome returned to her senses, she was completely relaxed and calm. She looked up to see that the sun had risen while she was mentally away. She smiled to herself as the waking birds began their morning song. The breeze was still cool from the night as it caressed her face. It was now time to run through some swordplay. She was never taught how to properly use one, but instinct told her all she needed to know. For her it was better that way. She wasn't locked into any specific style, and able to do what felt right.

A rejuvenated Kagome stood and stretched the kinks out of her spine. She slid into her beginning stance, and prepared her sword for a swift draw. Like lightning her sword swung through the air ringing a joyous note of freedom. The graceful metal danced as it made its way through the air. Kagome twisted and turned with each movement the sword wished to partake of. Little did she know that she had a spectator who had hidden himself inside the bushes close to her person.

"Beautiful." The silent figure praised. His partner glared at his enamored friend.

"Idiot, I brought you along to watch my back while I talk to the wench, not flirt!" The first mysterious spectator whispered harshly, though it was useless. His companion hadn't paid him a bit of attention. His gaze solely on the clueless librarian.

Sweat covered Kagome's forehead as she completed her sword workout with a final twist and jab. Her arms felt like they had fifty-pound weights strapped to them. 'I'm never going this long without training again!' She chastised herself. Sheathing her sword with it crying in protest, Kagome once again sat down to catch her breath. A quick glance at her surroundings told her that she was still alone. 'Time to practice control of my powers.' Kagome thought. She began gathering heat to her person...

"Oi! Where's your bodyguard! I didn't know he let you run around town by yourself!" Inuyasha yelled from his position behind his bush.

"Inuyasha, how long have you been behind that bush?" Kagome questioned, though, thankful he had come out of hiding before she could start the real training.

"I've been here since you started playing with your oversized butter-knife" Inuyasha joked.

"I never pegged you for the stalker type. So are you gonna yell at me from behind a bush, or are you going to come out and have a decent conversation?" Kagome joked back.

"Aww, you ruin all the fun." Inuyasha pouted as he stood from his hiding place. He approached Kagome cautiously. She remained in place with her sword in full view.

"Don't worry wolf-boy, I'm not going to hurt you unless you try to attack me first." Kagome comforted.

"You never answered me. Where's Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha asked after he had seated himself in front of Kagome, though, out of her sword's reach. Kagome noticed this, though, decided not to comment on it.

"The sun's up. He said that he'd come look for me later on though, so no funny business." Kagome warned.

Inuyasha realized his goof. Of course Sesshoumaru wouldn't be out-n-about.

"I see you're in a better mood than you were earlier." Inuyasha commented.

"Sorry about that. It was just a weird night and I was on the defensive for most of it. You wanted to ask me some stuff right?" Kaogme prompted.

"Yeah, I do. Starting with how the hell you know Naraku." Inuyasha's tone was accusing.

"Hehehe, honestly last night was the first time I had met him, and quite frankly, I have no inclination to do so again. He's an arrogant pompous son of a bitch whom I'll gut and skewer next time I see him." Kagome gave a big grin as the mental image of Naraku suffering at her hands entered her mind. While her mind was elsewhere Inuyasha gulped audibly.

"And Sesshoumaru?" He continued after he had once again gained her attention.

"I met him at work." She hastily answered as her mind once again turned to applying physical pain.

"Work?" Inuyasha prompted.

"Perhaps I should elaborate," Kagome realized at Inuyasha's blank face. "I work the night shift at the library a few blocks from my apartment. I was closing up when he showed up out of nowhere. He's been hanging around ever since." Kagome explained. 'I think I'll leave him almost raping me out of the picture for now. I AM trying to get them on speaking terms again.'

"If you're so goody goody with Sesshoumaru then what the hell are you doing talking to me?"

"Good question." Kagome drawled sarcastically. She laid back straightening out her legs and stared at the waking sky. "I was actually curious. What's it like? Living for an eternity in a constant state of hate and fear?"

The question caught Inuyasha by surprise. He sputtered for a moment before taking a closer look at the woman that was casually resting in front of him. Her sword hadn't left her side, he noticed. Other than that, she looked completely defenseless and ordinary. Her hands were crossed behind her head while she lay prostrate in the soft grass that was still damp from the night's dew. What caught his attention though was the subtle rise and fall of her chest. He didn't realized how long the mounds had caught his attention.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." She remarked, not taking her eyes from the soft hues the clouds reflected.

Inuyasha tore his gaze away from her form realizing he had been caught staring. He frantically searched for something to relieve the embarrassment, not realizing that his cheeks were tinted pink.

"You never answered my question, why are you talking to me when you are friends with the bloody drag queen?"

It took a lot of effort on Kagome's part to keep from laughing hysterically at his reference for Sesshoumaru. Her ribs burned with the suppressed laughter. Unable to withstand such a force, Kagome busted up. She rolled around the grass laughing as if what Inuyasha had said was the most hilarious thing she had heard in her short lifetime.

Inuyasha's friend was entranced by the picture of glee and abandon before him. She screamed of such innocence as she rolled getting leaves and small twigs tangled in her long hair. He longingly tried to picture other methods of making her writhe with such delight. A small pang of jealousy wrapped its clammy fingers over his heart as he recalled that it wasn't him that had put such joy in her. He smirked, 'Soon enough'.

Kagome sat back up when she gained control of herself again. She sat up gasping for breath as she wiped away a tear.

"Sorry about that Inuyasha, but that caught me completely off guard." She said between girlish giggles.

Inuyasha squelched the blush that threatened to stain his cheeks before giving a soft smile. It didn't matter if she had evaded answering him again. Just these few minutes in her company had told him well enough why Sesshoumaru valued her presence.

"So what about you? What's your story?" She asked once she had caught her breath. She remained sitting indian style; her sword once again back in her lap.

"Well..." He never got to finish however when Kagome suddenly stood, drawing her weapon.

"What the hell!" He bellowed, "You said you wouldn't attack unless I attacked first!"

"I'm not attacking you butt-head! Turn around. He a friend of yours?" She never tore her eyes away from the person that had walked into their clearing.

Inuyasha was confused at first, until realization dawned on him. He had left Kouga behind in the bushes. Gods, he hoped that wasn't who was behind him, because if it was, things weren't going to be pretty.

'It better not be Kouga...It better not be Kouga...' He chanted repeatedly in his head as it turned. His expression dulled as he locked eyes with cerulean blue...It was Kouga.

Kouga locked eyes briefly with Inuyasha before returning his gaze to Kagome's. He took two steps forward, but before he could register what was happening, Kagome had her sword at his neck.

"Wait Kagome! Don't kill him! I wanna do it!" Inuyasha crowed as his anger hit him full force. Kouga was just supposed to remain hidden until he needed assistance should things take a turn for the worse. He had disobeyed a direct order.

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Blah, short but to the point. ^.^; I thank everyone who reviewed, and ask that you keep it up.Ja.