InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love and Deceit ❯ A Chance Meeting ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Kate the InuYoukai01 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Drama / Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.11.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 225 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Drama / Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.11.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 225 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter Three: A Chance Meeting
Three years passed and soon an end came to the war; a bitter-sweet victory for the Western village in which Kagome lived. By the war's end, twenty-five soldiers, as well as the head of the village, had been killed. Kagome found her heart shattered at the loss of her prospective husband, and her work all but ended in any other areas but head miko and healer. She would still receive the scrolls from the other villages informing her of the demons spotted in the area, but with her time devoted to the village and its surviving citizens, she barely had enough time in her day to read them. The village was now surrounded by demons, though usually low level youkai drawn to the scent of human blood and disease, and Kagome spent what little time she had left from her other duties to rid the village of demons that came too close.
She had also been training a young girl by the name of Yuko Otogaia, the oldest daughter of the Otogaia's holy clan, to take up the position of healer and priestess in the unlikely event of her departure, whether it meant she was going on a journey or she was killed in her efforts to protect the village. The girl had taken up lodgings in Kagome's hut, sleeping on the hard floor next to the fire pit with a yukata as a blanket until further arrangements could be made. The seventeen-year-old never complained about the meager food or the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. She was too polite for such hassles.
The new head of the village was a sixteen-year-old boy name Koichiro, Jin's younger brother. Though young and lecherous, the boy led the village well, and was courteous and kind to everyone in the village. Kagome had not seen him since he was really young, even though she had seen Jin almost every day since they were children. The boy was rumored to be too sickly to leave the grounds of the Iwamura estate without a chaperone. Kagome figured that was why he hadn't shown himself more recently, but every time she looked towards the headman's house, a silk curtain that covered the window overlooking Moonlit Shrine would always quickly fall back in place. She found this strange, but didn't dwell on it. She just figured the boy may have been curious as to what she had been doing outside in the early hours of the morning. She sometimes rose before the sun was even beginning to show on the horizon to check the forest surrounding the village for any youkai that could cause a threat.
Presently, she was walking out of her hut to draw some water from the shrine well house. She had been brewing some medicinal broths for later use so that she wouldn't be in short supply. She paused when she noticed a human aura approaching, but, finding that it was harmless after a quick examination, continued to ladle water into the bucket she was holding.
"Lady Miko Kagome Higurashi of the Moonlit Shrine?"She turned to see a young boy, a messenger from the south-western village of Saiyo judging by the colors he wore, bowing politely in the doorway of the well house.
"That would be me. What is it?" she spoke softly.
"I send word from the forest akin to Saiyo," the boy answered immediately, handing her a parchment scroll.She opened it, noticing that it was over ten days old, and her blue eyes scanned the paper in a nonchalant manner. She noticed what it was and she gasped, dropping the bucket she once held firmly in her hands. She looked up to thank the boy and was surprised to find that he had already gone. She stood there, contemplating what this could mean. She read over the scroll again:
'To Lady Miko Kagome Higurashi of the Moonlit Shrine,I have been informed of your request by the kind villagers that reside in Saiyo, and believe that I have some information that could be of some use to you. A few days ago, I was traveling through my forest to find an herb for an ill little girl. I heard the sound of swords clashing and hurried to the noise, wondering what kind of battle could be ensuing in the middle of the night. I feel that this description is all that I can give, considering I fled as soon as I possibly could as to avoid a confrontation:The demon was in human form and had long silver hair, golden eyes and white clothes. A human man travels with him, or may be held captive. I doubt the latter because it looked like they were fencing. The man, who looked about nineteen, had brown hair, dark eyes and green clothes. The demon's aura is something that I have never felt before, extremely powerful, yet refined. The man's aura was also strong. The strongest I've ever felt from a human. I advise caution in approaching the pair, as I am sure that is what you plan to do. -Lady Miko Shirai Nagashima of Saiyo Forest.'
A smile spread over Kagome's face as the held the scroll to her chest like it was her life line. What if Souta was never really dead in the first place, but decided to travel with a demon? She couldn't see how this was possible, seeing as how their whole village had been wiped out by a pack of demon wolves. She hoped that he was there with this demon, though, because at least then she knew that he would be alive. She ran back into her hut, changing into her traditional priestess garb and filling her quiver with freshly sharpened arrows. She quickly woke Yuko and told her of her departure, and that she needed her to prepare a horse for her. She would travel to Saiyo and search for this demon, and if she found that Souta was not with him, she would inquire as to where her brother was last seen. The description was almost completely identical to the one the hunter had given her besides the fact that the demon‘s clothes were white instead of red, but that was irrelevant.I've got to find him... this could be my only chance!! With that thought she went outside, slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder, and tucked the message in her obi.
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Silver eyes gleamed as the boy stared at the priestess running into her hut, the bucket she was once holding absent. He saw the Otogaia girl standing in the doorway, blocking his view, and rubbing sleep from her eyes as she headed to the stables. His brow rose in curiosity when he saw the miko exit her hut with a bow and a quiver full of arrows; her traditional priestess garb dull, yet still pleasing to the mystery man's odd-colored eyes. The Otogaia girl returned with a large white steed that he recognized as Jin's old stallion. He knew from the other villager's stories about how Kagome-sama and Jin-sama were in love, but separated before they could marry because of the war.
The horse must have been a gift. The boy thought as Kagome ran her hand along the horse's broad neck before mounting. Pity.
He turned and found a nearby servant, ordering them to prepare a horse so that he could go on village patrol. He found her so beautiful. He could see why Jin had gone for her; and he planned to keep her in the family.Tonight, I return with a prize. A bride that my dear brother could not have.
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Souta entered the demon lord's campsite that night with a gigantic smirk plastered on his face. Sesshomaru was surprised by this. The boy barely showed any emotion unless it came to food and battle.
"What is it, boy?"
"Word of the half-breed in the next village over, Sesshomaru-sama."
He nodded sharply at this, "Well done. We will start our journey tomorrow."
Souta sat down with a smile. I might be able to see Kagome again! And after all this time, he thought happily. He hadn't seen his older sister and dear friend Jin in three years. He anxiously awaited entering the village after all of this time. I wonder if they married... it would be perfect. Little Kagomes and Jins running about, ordering people around and purifying tiny lizard demons... He was brought out of his reverie when he discovered that Sesshomaru was leaving.
"Off to bathe?" he asked, causing the demon to pause in his steps.
"A walk," Sesshomaru muttered in a bored manner before turning and exiting the camp.
He just wanted to go for a short walk around; maybe even let out his pent-up frustration on a random opponent... something he could kill. That half-breed was far too underhanded and weak to even put up a good fight.
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Kagome walked on through most of the day and night had fallen again on her journey. Exhaustion finally got the better of her and she pulled her horse to a halt, tethering the reins on a tree as she collapsed near a small stream.Saiyo is only a few more days away on horseback, she thought happily. Her stomach rumbled noisily and she sighed. No time to worry about food now... I'll just perform an exorcism when I get to Saiyo, she thought absently as she washed her hands and face in the stream, dabbing herself dry with a strip of cloth she kept in her obi. As she finished, she detected a slight rustle in the leaves littering the ground, as well as a human aura. She exercised caution, drawing an arrow from her quiver and, in the blink of an eye, was pointing an arrow at the surprised face of....
"J-Jin," Kagome muttered in surprise.
The man, equally surprised, smiled, "Kagome..."
She dropped her weapon and collided into him, causing him to stumble lightly before his arms wrapped securely around her waist.
"They told me you'd died," she cried and she clutched his haori, her tears soaking into the fabric. She felt him smile lightly against her hair, his hand soothing the thick black tresses.
"I was injured, but managed to escape," he explained, "I stayed in a small village to the south until I was fully healed. I'm sorry for having you wait..."
She looked into his eyes and smiled brightly, but it faltered slightly when she noticed something. His eyes were silver... not the violet orbs that she remembered. She took a step back, taking the time to actually look him over. He wasn't wearing tattered clothing and warrior's armor, but a fine blue haori with matching hakama... If he had been in a village to the south he would not be wearing such fine clothes. His hands were not calloused, but delicate and smooth. His skin was pale, as if he'd never been outside in his entire life... Not Jin's slightly tanned skin. Last of all, the small cluster of freckles that were on the right side of his neck were gone.
"Y-you're not him...."
"What?" He took a step closer, causing her to step back. Soon, she was pinned against a tree, his hands on either side of her head.
She clenched her eyes shut, "You're not Jin!"
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "It's me... Jin... we grew up together..."
"No!" she growled. "You're not him, Koichiro!"
He smirked, "And I thought my looks would reassure you..." He muttered this in mock disappointment before catching her chin with a hooked finger, forcing her eyes to clash with his. "No matter, I will still have my way with you."
He moved to kiss her, but she stopped him by tilting her head to the side so that his lips grazed her cheek. No way was he stealing her first kiss!
This can't happen! Kagome thought, I won't let it!
At this thought she struggled, "Release me!!"
He laughed as he pushed open her haori and her under kimono. "That wouldn't be any fun, now, would it?" he purred as he kissed her neck, roughly caressing her breasts.
He is nothing like his older brother, she thought, disgusted. I can't believe he fooled me!
He placed open-mouthed kisses on her neck and exposed shoulder, sliding his tongue up to her jaw line. She shivered in disgust before she growled and lifted her knee quickly, kicking him in his groin and causing him to gasp and double over in pain. She pushed him roughly away and began to flee, but he grabbed her ankle, causing it to twist painfully as she fell to the ground. He stood and lifted her dazed form up, pushing her back against the tree and knocking the air from her chest. At the commotion, her horse pulled free from it's ties and took off into the night.
"Bitch!" he yelled as his hand soared through the air to strike her cheek.She clenched her eyes shut, waiting for his quickly moving hand to injure her further, but it never did. The sharp sound of a skull cracking resonated through the trees, a warm, sticky substance spattering over her face. She opened her eyes to see Koichiro's silver eyes wide in pain and shock, his bloody forehead sliding down her exposed breasts as he fell to the ground. She looked up, dumbfounded, at her savior and her breath caught in her throat.
Silky silver hair flowed down a straight back, long bangs falling against his high cheek bones, slightly covering golden eyes lidded in maroon. Thick black lashes flashed downward in a quick blink, brushing the top of two straight purple stripes on his cheeks. His face was well-sculpted and narrow, with a straight nose. A dark purple crescent moon peeked out from his bangs, seeming to glow eerily in the faint moonlight.
His lithe and muscular form was draped in white silk, dipped in red designs on the sleeves and collar, while two swords were held to his hip by an neatly tied gold and blue obi. He wore no armor, but a furry tail draped over his shoulder so as not to brush the ground, the soft silver fur billowing slightly in the wind.
Her face flushed at his elegance and beauty as she closed her under kimono and haori in embarrassment, invisible under the blood and dirt caked on her face. She knew this cryptically beautiful being had to be a demon, for she had never seen anyone of the human race with such a profound and puissant aura. Her eyes widened in realization.
This is the demon that I was warned about!
"Are you well?" the demon spoke to her in a monotone voice draped in velvet, yet she sensed the slight concern laced in his words.
She moved, attempting to stand and flee. Though he did seem like a legitimately concerned person, he was still a demon; possibly the one that held her brother captive. Pain shot through her leg, and she gave a sharp cry as she plummeted toward the ground, but before she could fall there were strong arms holding her steady.
He said nothing as his eyebrows furrowed together, his hand moving to touch her leg. She flinched away, clutching her haori tighter around herself when he spoke, "I mean you no harm, miko. I am merely assessing the damage that has been dealt." His voice was reassuring as he again moved to touch her leg.
Kagome didn't flinch this time, but let him gently probe her ankle for a break. She hissed when he touched the slightly swelling flesh and he nodded to himself.
"You seem to have twisted your ankle," he pointed out, looking at her face and pulling out a cloth. Knowing she wouldn't be able to move, he went to the small stream and dipped the cloth in the frigid water.
She watched as he came back and knelt down next to her, gently dabbing at her face with the cloth as though he would break her if he applied pressure.
"If you choose, you may come back with me to camp," he spoke softly. "I have food and you can be escorted back to your village by noon tomorrow."
"I appreciate that..." she licked her lips nervously as she looked away. "But I can't. I am in search of someone." She said this with a blush on her face as she snatched the cloth from him. Sesshomaru had no idea that she was talking about him.
Sesshomaru nearly smiled. She was being stubborn. It reminded him minutely of his companion, Souta. He would have left her here if it weren't for her condition, but courtesy was gnawing at his chest.
"It would be a great deal easier for you to find who you are looking for if you traveled with us," he chose his words with great thought, so as not to insinuate anything unwanted.
Kagome sighed as she began wiping away the blood and dirt on her face, effectively staining the white silk cloth with light red and brown splotches.
"I hate to break this to you," she said in a bored manner, "but demons and mikos aren't the right mix... especially in a vast forest."
He raised an elegant silver brow, "How is that?"
"The other demons would most likely think I have you under my spell and attack us." She looked away from him when she said this, "I wouldn't want to hurt your pride or dignity, since you have shown me such kindness."
She heard a deep roll of a monotonic chuckle, "I highly doubt it." He stood and leaned against the tree they were under, his back turned to her as he stared down at the unconscious man not two feet away. He wanted to give him a swift kick to the head for the way he had treated the seemingly kind woman. "I am the ruler of these lands to my kind," he explained, "a pureblood inu-youkai of the highest pedigree."Kagome rolled her eyes at that.
Of course... he couldn't be anything else with all the silk he's got on, she thought heatedly. But he has shown me a great kindness, and hopefully for no repayment. She finished wiping off her face, and decided to say some of her thoughts aloud.
"You must have great wealth," she spoke this in a slightly peeved tone, "that silk is very rare."
"Hn."
"I was a seamstress for the majority of my life as well as the high priestess and healer of my village."
"It sounds like a good amount of work."
"Hm," she spoke. "Not really... until recently my work as a healer wasn't really going that well... mostly elders and young children, but a few years ago my healing abilities took over everything else. There was a war between the eastern and western tribes. Several died, and most were wounded, but we were still triumphant." she turned to his broad back as he began to turn and smiled, "I really loved my work."
He looked over his shoulder at the prattling girl and his eyes widened a fraction at what he saw.
Deep cerulean eyes stared up at him through thick black lashes, her porcelain skin and ebony hair contrasting almost eerily in Sesshomaru's gaze. Her dark waves of obsidian hair fell about her shoulders and down her straight back, complementing her femininely rounded features. She made him shudder involuntarily in memory of his lost love.His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What is your name, miko?"
She looked away at his icy stare, "I am Lady Miko Kagome Higurashi of the Moonlit Shrine."
He turned quickly, kneeling down and picking her up, "Come."
"W-wait! I said I couldn't-"
"This Sesshomaru surmises that since I saved you then you owe me your life," he explained his code of honor mechanically as he looked down at her frightened face. He was planning on letting this slide just once, but since he recognized the name and could not place it, he couldn't allow her to leave. "Attempt to flee, and I will have my ward kill you."
"Put me down!"
He narrowed his eyes, "Would you rather I leave you here so that your attempted rapist will awaken and have his way with you?"
Her eyes widened as she looked over at Koichiro. He was showing signs of consciousness. At the thought of what almost occurred if it weren't for the demon before her, her hands shook and clutched said demon's haori."Fine!"
With this, Sesshomaru took off in the direction of his camp.
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This woman's last name sounds so familiar, yet I cannot place where I have heard it before... Sesshomaru thought as he rested the now sleeping miko on the furs that Souta had placed out for him. He rarely slept, but Souta would always set out his bedclothes just in case he decided to. He looked hard at the girl's face. There were so many similarities here. The pale, lightly tanned skin, the dark hair, the plump lips. If Sesshomaru had not seen her strange-colored eyes, he would have thought Rin had risen from the dead.
She may be a distant relative... a cousin maybe. His eyes went to Souta, sleeping close to the dying fire. I remember why I resurrected him. He also reminded me of Rin in a way I couldn't place... He looked back at Kagome, They must be related as well.He sat there for several minutes, visibly scowling at the girl and his ward. As far as he knew, Rin had no living family left. She told him of how she lost her entire immediate family to rogue wolf demons that raided their village. Her parents, two brothers and a sister. She’d told him their names, but he could not remember them. It had been so long since she‘d told him the story. He decided to think on it later and sat against the trunk of the tree he deemed his for the time being and let his thoughts take him into sleep.
Three years passed and soon an end came to the war; a bitter-sweet victory for the Western village in which Kagome lived. By the war's end, twenty-five soldiers, as well as the head of the village, had been killed. Kagome found her heart shattered at the loss of her prospective husband, and her work all but ended in any other areas but head miko and healer. She would still receive the scrolls from the other villages informing her of the demons spotted in the area, but with her time devoted to the village and its surviving citizens, she barely had enough time in her day to read them. The village was now surrounded by demons, though usually low level youkai drawn to the scent of human blood and disease, and Kagome spent what little time she had left from her other duties to rid the village of demons that came too close.
She had also been training a young girl by the name of Yuko Otogaia, the oldest daughter of the Otogaia's holy clan, to take up the position of healer and priestess in the unlikely event of her departure, whether it meant she was going on a journey or she was killed in her efforts to protect the village. The girl had taken up lodgings in Kagome's hut, sleeping on the hard floor next to the fire pit with a yukata as a blanket until further arrangements could be made. The seventeen-year-old never complained about the meager food or the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. She was too polite for such hassles.
The new head of the village was a sixteen-year-old boy name Koichiro, Jin's younger brother. Though young and lecherous, the boy led the village well, and was courteous and kind to everyone in the village. Kagome had not seen him since he was really young, even though she had seen Jin almost every day since they were children. The boy was rumored to be too sickly to leave the grounds of the Iwamura estate without a chaperone. Kagome figured that was why he hadn't shown himself more recently, but every time she looked towards the headman's house, a silk curtain that covered the window overlooking Moonlit Shrine would always quickly fall back in place. She found this strange, but didn't dwell on it. She just figured the boy may have been curious as to what she had been doing outside in the early hours of the morning. She sometimes rose before the sun was even beginning to show on the horizon to check the forest surrounding the village for any youkai that could cause a threat.
Presently, she was walking out of her hut to draw some water from the shrine well house. She had been brewing some medicinal broths for later use so that she wouldn't be in short supply. She paused when she noticed a human aura approaching, but, finding that it was harmless after a quick examination, continued to ladle water into the bucket she was holding.
"Lady Miko Kagome Higurashi of the Moonlit Shrine?"She turned to see a young boy, a messenger from the south-western village of Saiyo judging by the colors he wore, bowing politely in the doorway of the well house.
"That would be me. What is it?" she spoke softly.
"I send word from the forest akin to Saiyo," the boy answered immediately, handing her a parchment scroll.She opened it, noticing that it was over ten days old, and her blue eyes scanned the paper in a nonchalant manner. She noticed what it was and she gasped, dropping the bucket she once held firmly in her hands. She looked up to thank the boy and was surprised to find that he had already gone. She stood there, contemplating what this could mean. She read over the scroll again:
'To Lady Miko Kagome Higurashi of the Moonlit Shrine,I have been informed of your request by the kind villagers that reside in Saiyo, and believe that I have some information that could be of some use to you. A few days ago, I was traveling through my forest to find an herb for an ill little girl. I heard the sound of swords clashing and hurried to the noise, wondering what kind of battle could be ensuing in the middle of the night. I feel that this description is all that I can give, considering I fled as soon as I possibly could as to avoid a confrontation:The demon was in human form and had long silver hair, golden eyes and white clothes. A human man travels with him, or may be held captive. I doubt the latter because it looked like they were fencing. The man, who looked about nineteen, had brown hair, dark eyes and green clothes. The demon's aura is something that I have never felt before, extremely powerful, yet refined. The man's aura was also strong. The strongest I've ever felt from a human. I advise caution in approaching the pair, as I am sure that is what you plan to do. -Lady Miko Shirai Nagashima of Saiyo Forest.'
A smile spread over Kagome's face as the held the scroll to her chest like it was her life line. What if Souta was never really dead in the first place, but decided to travel with a demon? She couldn't see how this was possible, seeing as how their whole village had been wiped out by a pack of demon wolves. She hoped that he was there with this demon, though, because at least then she knew that he would be alive. She ran back into her hut, changing into her traditional priestess garb and filling her quiver with freshly sharpened arrows. She quickly woke Yuko and told her of her departure, and that she needed her to prepare a horse for her. She would travel to Saiyo and search for this demon, and if she found that Souta was not with him, she would inquire as to where her brother was last seen. The description was almost completely identical to the one the hunter had given her besides the fact that the demon‘s clothes were white instead of red, but that was irrelevant.I've got to find him... this could be my only chance!! With that thought she went outside, slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder, and tucked the message in her obi.
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Silver eyes gleamed as the boy stared at the priestess running into her hut, the bucket she was once holding absent. He saw the Otogaia girl standing in the doorway, blocking his view, and rubbing sleep from her eyes as she headed to the stables. His brow rose in curiosity when he saw the miko exit her hut with a bow and a quiver full of arrows; her traditional priestess garb dull, yet still pleasing to the mystery man's odd-colored eyes. The Otogaia girl returned with a large white steed that he recognized as Jin's old stallion. He knew from the other villager's stories about how Kagome-sama and Jin-sama were in love, but separated before they could marry because of the war.
The horse must have been a gift. The boy thought as Kagome ran her hand along the horse's broad neck before mounting. Pity.
He turned and found a nearby servant, ordering them to prepare a horse so that he could go on village patrol. He found her so beautiful. He could see why Jin had gone for her; and he planned to keep her in the family.Tonight, I return with a prize. A bride that my dear brother could not have.
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Souta entered the demon lord's campsite that night with a gigantic smirk plastered on his face. Sesshomaru was surprised by this. The boy barely showed any emotion unless it came to food and battle.
"What is it, boy?"
"Word of the half-breed in the next village over, Sesshomaru-sama."
He nodded sharply at this, "Well done. We will start our journey tomorrow."
Souta sat down with a smile. I might be able to see Kagome again! And after all this time, he thought happily. He hadn't seen his older sister and dear friend Jin in three years. He anxiously awaited entering the village after all of this time. I wonder if they married... it would be perfect. Little Kagomes and Jins running about, ordering people around and purifying tiny lizard demons... He was brought out of his reverie when he discovered that Sesshomaru was leaving.
"Off to bathe?" he asked, causing the demon to pause in his steps.
"A walk," Sesshomaru muttered in a bored manner before turning and exiting the camp.
He just wanted to go for a short walk around; maybe even let out his pent-up frustration on a random opponent... something he could kill. That half-breed was far too underhanded and weak to even put up a good fight.
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Kagome walked on through most of the day and night had fallen again on her journey. Exhaustion finally got the better of her and she pulled her horse to a halt, tethering the reins on a tree as she collapsed near a small stream.Saiyo is only a few more days away on horseback, she thought happily. Her stomach rumbled noisily and she sighed. No time to worry about food now... I'll just perform an exorcism when I get to Saiyo, she thought absently as she washed her hands and face in the stream, dabbing herself dry with a strip of cloth she kept in her obi. As she finished, she detected a slight rustle in the leaves littering the ground, as well as a human aura. She exercised caution, drawing an arrow from her quiver and, in the blink of an eye, was pointing an arrow at the surprised face of....
"J-Jin," Kagome muttered in surprise.
The man, equally surprised, smiled, "Kagome..."
She dropped her weapon and collided into him, causing him to stumble lightly before his arms wrapped securely around her waist.
"They told me you'd died," she cried and she clutched his haori, her tears soaking into the fabric. She felt him smile lightly against her hair, his hand soothing the thick black tresses.
"I was injured, but managed to escape," he explained, "I stayed in a small village to the south until I was fully healed. I'm sorry for having you wait..."
She looked into his eyes and smiled brightly, but it faltered slightly when she noticed something. His eyes were silver... not the violet orbs that she remembered. She took a step back, taking the time to actually look him over. He wasn't wearing tattered clothing and warrior's armor, but a fine blue haori with matching hakama... If he had been in a village to the south he would not be wearing such fine clothes. His hands were not calloused, but delicate and smooth. His skin was pale, as if he'd never been outside in his entire life... Not Jin's slightly tanned skin. Last of all, the small cluster of freckles that were on the right side of his neck were gone.
"Y-you're not him...."
"What?" He took a step closer, causing her to step back. Soon, she was pinned against a tree, his hands on either side of her head.
She clenched her eyes shut, "You're not Jin!"
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "It's me... Jin... we grew up together..."
"No!" she growled. "You're not him, Koichiro!"
He smirked, "And I thought my looks would reassure you..." He muttered this in mock disappointment before catching her chin with a hooked finger, forcing her eyes to clash with his. "No matter, I will still have my way with you."
He moved to kiss her, but she stopped him by tilting her head to the side so that his lips grazed her cheek. No way was he stealing her first kiss!
This can't happen! Kagome thought, I won't let it!
At this thought she struggled, "Release me!!"
He laughed as he pushed open her haori and her under kimono. "That wouldn't be any fun, now, would it?" he purred as he kissed her neck, roughly caressing her breasts.
He is nothing like his older brother, she thought, disgusted. I can't believe he fooled me!
He placed open-mouthed kisses on her neck and exposed shoulder, sliding his tongue up to her jaw line. She shivered in disgust before she growled and lifted her knee quickly, kicking him in his groin and causing him to gasp and double over in pain. She pushed him roughly away and began to flee, but he grabbed her ankle, causing it to twist painfully as she fell to the ground. He stood and lifted her dazed form up, pushing her back against the tree and knocking the air from her chest. At the commotion, her horse pulled free from it's ties and took off into the night.
"Bitch!" he yelled as his hand soared through the air to strike her cheek.She clenched her eyes shut, waiting for his quickly moving hand to injure her further, but it never did. The sharp sound of a skull cracking resonated through the trees, a warm, sticky substance spattering over her face. She opened her eyes to see Koichiro's silver eyes wide in pain and shock, his bloody forehead sliding down her exposed breasts as he fell to the ground. She looked up, dumbfounded, at her savior and her breath caught in her throat.
Silky silver hair flowed down a straight back, long bangs falling against his high cheek bones, slightly covering golden eyes lidded in maroon. Thick black lashes flashed downward in a quick blink, brushing the top of two straight purple stripes on his cheeks. His face was well-sculpted and narrow, with a straight nose. A dark purple crescent moon peeked out from his bangs, seeming to glow eerily in the faint moonlight.
His lithe and muscular form was draped in white silk, dipped in red designs on the sleeves and collar, while two swords were held to his hip by an neatly tied gold and blue obi. He wore no armor, but a furry tail draped over his shoulder so as not to brush the ground, the soft silver fur billowing slightly in the wind.
Her face flushed at his elegance and beauty as she closed her under kimono and haori in embarrassment, invisible under the blood and dirt caked on her face. She knew this cryptically beautiful being had to be a demon, for she had never seen anyone of the human race with such a profound and puissant aura. Her eyes widened in realization.
This is the demon that I was warned about!
"Are you well?" the demon spoke to her in a monotone voice draped in velvet, yet she sensed the slight concern laced in his words.
She moved, attempting to stand and flee. Though he did seem like a legitimately concerned person, he was still a demon; possibly the one that held her brother captive. Pain shot through her leg, and she gave a sharp cry as she plummeted toward the ground, but before she could fall there were strong arms holding her steady.
He said nothing as his eyebrows furrowed together, his hand moving to touch her leg. She flinched away, clutching her haori tighter around herself when he spoke, "I mean you no harm, miko. I am merely assessing the damage that has been dealt." His voice was reassuring as he again moved to touch her leg.
Kagome didn't flinch this time, but let him gently probe her ankle for a break. She hissed when he touched the slightly swelling flesh and he nodded to himself.
"You seem to have twisted your ankle," he pointed out, looking at her face and pulling out a cloth. Knowing she wouldn't be able to move, he went to the small stream and dipped the cloth in the frigid water.
She watched as he came back and knelt down next to her, gently dabbing at her face with the cloth as though he would break her if he applied pressure.
"If you choose, you may come back with me to camp," he spoke softly. "I have food and you can be escorted back to your village by noon tomorrow."
"I appreciate that..." she licked her lips nervously as she looked away. "But I can't. I am in search of someone." She said this with a blush on her face as she snatched the cloth from him. Sesshomaru had no idea that she was talking about him.
Sesshomaru nearly smiled. She was being stubborn. It reminded him minutely of his companion, Souta. He would have left her here if it weren't for her condition, but courtesy was gnawing at his chest.
"It would be a great deal easier for you to find who you are looking for if you traveled with us," he chose his words with great thought, so as not to insinuate anything unwanted.
Kagome sighed as she began wiping away the blood and dirt on her face, effectively staining the white silk cloth with light red and brown splotches.
"I hate to break this to you," she said in a bored manner, "but demons and mikos aren't the right mix... especially in a vast forest."
He raised an elegant silver brow, "How is that?"
"The other demons would most likely think I have you under my spell and attack us." She looked away from him when she said this, "I wouldn't want to hurt your pride or dignity, since you have shown me such kindness."
She heard a deep roll of a monotonic chuckle, "I highly doubt it." He stood and leaned against the tree they were under, his back turned to her as he stared down at the unconscious man not two feet away. He wanted to give him a swift kick to the head for the way he had treated the seemingly kind woman. "I am the ruler of these lands to my kind," he explained, "a pureblood inu-youkai of the highest pedigree."Kagome rolled her eyes at that.
Of course... he couldn't be anything else with all the silk he's got on, she thought heatedly. But he has shown me a great kindness, and hopefully for no repayment. She finished wiping off her face, and decided to say some of her thoughts aloud.
"You must have great wealth," she spoke this in a slightly peeved tone, "that silk is very rare."
"Hn."
"I was a seamstress for the majority of my life as well as the high priestess and healer of my village."
"It sounds like a good amount of work."
"Hm," she spoke. "Not really... until recently my work as a healer wasn't really going that well... mostly elders and young children, but a few years ago my healing abilities took over everything else. There was a war between the eastern and western tribes. Several died, and most were wounded, but we were still triumphant." she turned to his broad back as he began to turn and smiled, "I really loved my work."
He looked over his shoulder at the prattling girl and his eyes widened a fraction at what he saw.
Deep cerulean eyes stared up at him through thick black lashes, her porcelain skin and ebony hair contrasting almost eerily in Sesshomaru's gaze. Her dark waves of obsidian hair fell about her shoulders and down her straight back, complementing her femininely rounded features. She made him shudder involuntarily in memory of his lost love.His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What is your name, miko?"
She looked away at his icy stare, "I am Lady Miko Kagome Higurashi of the Moonlit Shrine."
He turned quickly, kneeling down and picking her up, "Come."
"W-wait! I said I couldn't-"
"This Sesshomaru surmises that since I saved you then you owe me your life," he explained his code of honor mechanically as he looked down at her frightened face. He was planning on letting this slide just once, but since he recognized the name and could not place it, he couldn't allow her to leave. "Attempt to flee, and I will have my ward kill you."
"Put me down!"
He narrowed his eyes, "Would you rather I leave you here so that your attempted rapist will awaken and have his way with you?"
Her eyes widened as she looked over at Koichiro. He was showing signs of consciousness. At the thought of what almost occurred if it weren't for the demon before her, her hands shook and clutched said demon's haori."Fine!"
With this, Sesshomaru took off in the direction of his camp.
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This woman's last name sounds so familiar, yet I cannot place where I have heard it before... Sesshomaru thought as he rested the now sleeping miko on the furs that Souta had placed out for him. He rarely slept, but Souta would always set out his bedclothes just in case he decided to. He looked hard at the girl's face. There were so many similarities here. The pale, lightly tanned skin, the dark hair, the plump lips. If Sesshomaru had not seen her strange-colored eyes, he would have thought Rin had risen from the dead.
She may be a distant relative... a cousin maybe. His eyes went to Souta, sleeping close to the dying fire. I remember why I resurrected him. He also reminded me of Rin in a way I couldn't place... He looked back at Kagome, They must be related as well.He sat there for several minutes, visibly scowling at the girl and his ward. As far as he knew, Rin had no living family left. She told him of how she lost her entire immediate family to rogue wolf demons that raided their village. Her parents, two brothers and a sister. She’d told him their names, but he could not remember them. It had been so long since she‘d told him the story. He decided to think on it later and sat against the trunk of the tree he deemed his for the time being and let his thoughts take him into sleep.