InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love For a Demon ❯ Part 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Thoughts: '……'
Speech: "……"
Time/Setting Shift: ~*~

~ * ~ Love For a Demon ~ * ~
by huntress © 2004
Part 8

The drive was strangely and uncomfortably silent. All four passengers remaining quiet and lost in their thoughts in fear of starting yet another argument that none of them wanted to happen. Especially when the two passengers in the back were the ones doing the arguing and the other two trying to reason things out, only to be left with mind-blowing headaches as results.

It was weird how a single word could trigger such a bad reacted out of the two. The conversation starting out so innocent yet ending up with a disastrous outcome and two every peed-off individuals.

And who could blame either one of them for being mad?

Kagome was sitting as far away from Inu Yasha as she possibly could, arms crossed over her chest as she stared out at the passing scenery as it whisked by. Her eyebrows crunched tightly together with suppressed anger as she fought for control over her emotions.

Then there was Inu Yasha, sitting beside a not too happy Kagome acting like nothing ever happened. His arms crossed and his eyes closed as he sat in a state of boredom and dullness. After all, it wasn't his fault that she was so easily insulted.

He didn't see what the big damn deal was. Sure he called her a bitch, but so what? He is a dog demon after all, and to him that's what she was; a bitch. It wasn't like he was trying to insult her or anything; it was just natural to him to call the opposite sex by that name. Hell, if anything, she should have been pleased with him calling her one as he had never called anyone a bitch before. Finding the term more endearing to call a future/present mate than anything else to show affection.

But then again, he could understand why she felt insulted by the whole thing. She was a human after all, and some terms do have separate meanings to her as they do to him. And she was probably thinking that he *meant* to insult her, and for that, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty about and for the possibility of hurting her feelings.

Inu Yasha mentally scowled himself. 'What the hell is wrong with me? It's not like I did anything wrong. It's not my fault the bitch can't take a compliment and misunderstood the true meaning.'

He thought about it a little more. Coming to think that it was better that Kagome thought that he had insulted her instead of realizing what he actually meant. There was really no way that he would be able to avoid her and the small feelings that she seemed to stir up in him if she did. Besides, it wasn't like he was attracted to her.

Was it?

No! He wasn't attracted to her in any way, shape or form. She was just different was all. She was strong, brave, intelligent, passionate and exciting to be around. Unlike that mindless drone that continued to follow him everywhere he went. Sure, he would admit, he liked her. But he was definitely NOT attracted to her.

Inu Yasha softly sighed, his eyes snapping open as he inhaled Kagome's clean, rich scent. The combinations of different sweet smelling fruits and flowering mixed with her natural fragrance causing him to tremble slightly. His heart leapt to a faster pace and his body heat rose ever so quickly, making him fight down the urge to pant.

"How much longer to these damn elders, Miroku?"

Miroku looked up from the book he had been reading in peace. He gazed around their surrounding outside the car, sighing to himself as he marked his place and put his book away. "Funny you should mention that Memui. We should be coming up to the turn off soon."

Inu Yasha relaxed a little, feeling a little bit relieved that they were almost there. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep himself on his side of the car, the impulse to jump out of his seat and ravish the girl next to him becoming a little too strong to his liking.

Five minutes later, or a life time for Inu Yasha, Sango turned left down a little road off to the side. The small blue van passing by large old oaks, the forest's density being too thick too see more than two free past the first two trees.

It wasn't long until they reached tall black gates with stone walls stretching out in both directions. They waited for a moment or two as Sango typed something on a small metal box sitting on the side of the road. A soft beeping sound came from the small box, followed by the gates opening, clarifying them to proceed.

Inu Yasha watched with wide eyes as the van pulled forward, leaving the confinement of the trees.

It was beautiful. More beautiful than anything he could ever imagine.

The long driveway led off into two long avenue branches to circle a gloriously colourful flower garden with a marble fountain at its centre. Water shooting thirty feet into the air and spraying downward in all directions, making a rainbow coloured spoke. Two flits of marble stone steps led up to a sprawling mansion of quarried mountain stone and timber, its build and design showing that it was built sometime back in the Middle Ages. The bright sun reflecting off the peaked roofs, many chimneys and unexpected porches giving it a fairy tale look.

He could see where the stone steps curved away and up over to the side of the house, small, neatly trimmed shrubs outlining the stone path as it curve out of sight passed many different kinds and colours of flowers sitting in different patterns arranged in flower beds.

"Welcome, Memui." Miroku said, smiling at the stunned and shocked face of the silver haired demon. "To the Ancient Shrine of The Mikos."

"I'll admit… I'm impressed."

Sango and Miroku couldn't help but laugh at how his voice sounded. It wasn't hard to miss what he meant by his words, knowing full well that he was shocked at the size and quality of the shrine compared to the little temple that they lived at.

They pulled into a small open area and got out of the van. Kagome immediately stretching out her sore muscles until her back popped and cracked as she got out of the car. Sighing a sign of relief that they were finally here.

She chanced a quick peek to Inu Yasha from the corner of her eye, the look of awe still evident on his face as he gazed around him. She understood his reaction; after all, she did the same thing the first time she came here. But she was only a little girl back then, lost and alone with no one to turn to.

Kagome pushed the unwanted memories to the back of her mind; it never did any good to dell on the past. It held nothing but bad and painful memories that normally left her in a state of depression and unhappiness.

Slowly she followed the others to the large stone steps that led to the front doors. Making sure to keep her distance from Memui as she didn't trust herself around him just yet, the desire to beat him still lingering in her blood.

The shrine itself had polished wooden floors and soft white walls. A round wooden staircase stretched up on either side if the main hall, a small sitting area with several people sitting and talking quietly was to the right, an equally large room with a small fireplace and sliding doors to the garden outside was to the left.

"You seem lost already Memui." Miroku observed. "There is no need to be. There's a sitting area on both sides of us, the one on the right leads off to a kitchen and parlour room. The one on the left leads to a small green room and a library. Upstairs are bedrooms and extra rooms for visitors to stay in."

"And there?" Inu Yasha asked, nodding his head towards two large wooden doors at the end of a small hallway between the staircases. Their appearance concealed ever so slightly from the floor above.

Just as Inu Yasha asked, the doors opened. A boy, no older than 15 years old, stepped out into the main hall. He was of average height of someone his age, black hair pulled up into a small ponytail at the back of his head, soft brown eyes and freckles sitting a crossed the bridge of his nose and his checks. He was wearing formal blue robes with white swirls, a black ori belt tied around his waist.

He bowed in greetings to them and straightened before speaking. "The elders have been expecting you."

Inu Yasha wasn't sure what to do so he followed the others led and removed his shoes before following after the boy. The wooden doors shutting quietly behind them.

"If you would follow me, please."

The boy led them quietly down a long hallway to another set of wooden doors. Pictures of historical wars and battles were carved in the hard wood, some text in an ancient language written along the sides. He could identify some of the battles being that of the historical timeline of the age long war between demons and angels. But what really captured Inu Yasha's attention was the large angel at the top of the doors and the matching demon at the bottom, their wings and arms spread out wide. Ribbons falling from the angel's hands to frame the edges of the doors before connecting to the demon's hands.

"If you wait here a moment, I will inform the elders that you have arrived."

"Thank you, Nobunaga." Miroku bowed. Watching as the doors closed behind the retreating boy. "Now all we have to do is wait."

"Is there something the matter Kagome?" Sango asked, noticing for the first time how quiet the younger girl had been. She could tell that something was bothering her, the distant look in her eyes showing a faint hint of sadness.

"Feh - she's probably still mad about me calling her a bitch."

Kagome frowned at Inu Yasha's blunt statement. "For your information, that's not what it bothering me. But if you really want to know, yes I am still upset about that."

"I don't see why. It's not like it isn't true."

Kagome growled the best she could and clenched her hands shut tightly to keep herself from hitting him. "I am NOT a bitch! Say that one more time and I'll show you why I'm a slayer."

Inu Yasha raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

Kagome stood up straight as Inu Yasha came to stand directly in front of her. He searched her eyes carefully looking for any signs of a bluff but all he found was the look of determination in their cold blue depths.

'For a human, she certainly is brave.' Inu Yasha thought, smirking slightly.

"Excuse me."

Still smirking, Inu Yasha looked over to see that Nobunaga had returned and was waiting silently in front of the open doors.

"The elders will see you know."

Inu Yasha nodded, and turned to give Kagome one last smirk before following Nobunaga. He stopped as the doors closed behind them, leaving the others to wait outside in the hallway.

'That's strange… why didn't they follow?'

He looked around the large room, slightly confused with the lack of furniture and lights. It was about the size of a dojo, the floors wood and polished to a slick shine, the walls covered with wood half way up then sectioned of in white wallpaper. A different Japanese symbol was painted in each section, all in different colors. Hanging from the ceiling were different colours and shapes of old fashion Japanese oil lamps, a different charm hanging from the bottom of each lamp.

It was almost like he had walked through time back to the Middle Ages of Japan. There was no chair for him to sit on, but a smooth off white rug to kneel on. A small stage with a floor table sat at the far end of the room, three older looking individuals kneeling behind it. Their eyes quietly watching him.

"Welcome, Inu Yasha Takahashi."

~ * ~