InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nefarious ❯ The Meeting ( Chapter 1 )

This is simply a fic I'll write on when I'm bored. There is no thrilling underlying plot. I'm going to wing it. If something brilliant presents itself I'll be sure to let everyone know. (But knowing me, that won't happen.) For now, I hope you can enjoy the late night scribbling of a teenage girl.

 

I'm also going to completely disregard all the current canon manga goings-ons because I think its made of fail, so there. And for the record, I don't care if it's completely over-done. Sorry if any characters seem a little off. Oh, come now, don't let it discourage you.

 

Nefarious

 

He followed her down the well.

 

“I'll make it fast.”

 

Kagome bit her lower lip, and stared down at her feet. She knew, so close to their goal, she was wrong to run away to the future. But she couldn't help but worry -

 

That he would die and they would die and that maybe she would…

 

- She might never see her family again.

 

“I need to,” her voice rose and threatened to crack, “just in case, I need to let them-”

 

He cut her off, throwing an arm gently around her shoulders and catching the miko off guard. “I understand.” He said slowly, and let his arm relax and fall back to his side. “But hurry, Kagome. Naraku knows where we are.”

 

She nodded, tightened her grip on the yellow strap in her hands. “A day. Just one day. I promise.”

 

Kagome took a hesitant step backwards, flashed him a quick smile, and turned. She cut across the meadow surrounding Keade's village and hurried into the forest, the setting sun at her back. It was strange making her way to the well alone, unaccompanied by the hanyou. She decided he must be disappointed in her, again, for delaying their battle. She seemed to always be hindering their journey.

 

But without the shard-detector, where would they be?

 

Inuyasha had changed since the day she found him pinned to the Goshinboku. He was still quick to rush into a fight without thinking, and at times immature. But over the course of two years, their mismatched gang had begun to wear down his rough edges. And she'd noticed, the light in his eyes, when he looked at her saw only her, Kagome. And for once, not the dead priestess whose soul had been locked away inside her, by fate.

 

Fate.

 

It always seemed to be playing Kagome the unfair hand. Always making sure she had even footing before jerking the rug out from beneath her again.

 

Yes. That's what fate did to Kagome.

 

And that's why as she came to sudden halt at the well she was not alone. That's why her fingers ached to reach for the quiver of arrows hung across her back, as she watched, silently, alarmingly. That's why her heart raced as the youkai standing beside the well met her gaze.

 

“Sesshoumaru.” Her voice was soft, but the fear and aggravation he always brought to her surface weaved itself through her words. He caught them, almost too graciously, with the twitch of his lips into a slight frown.

 

He wasn't one to overlook the scent of fear that began to curl in his senses. The miko had always became anxious - rightfully so - when he dropped by to pay the half-breed a visit. Still, he noticed, something was different about her this time.

 

“Miko,” he addressed her coolly.

 

Kagome clenched her teeth “What do you want?”

 

His eyes darkened.

 

The sun dipped below the hills, its soft light, Kagome decided, casting an eerie glow around him.

 

“Why is it,” the demon began, “that the half-breed has allowed his invaluable miko to find herself alone?”

 

“He'll be on his way,” Kagome shot impatiently, reaching for the jar of shards around her neck, “as soon as he realizes you're here-”

 

The words died in her throat. He'd moved forward, quickly. Too quickly. She stumbled backwards, shocked to find him only inches from her person. She choked a weak cry of surprise, and became quickly ashamed.

 

How could she let him catch her so off guard?

 

“But it seems,” Sesshoumaru quipped with a smirk, “He is all ready aware. And yet…” he trailed off, lifting a hand to examine the long claws adorning each finger, “your half-breed is unconcerned…”

 

Her knees felt weak. And it wasn't right. It wasn't. She could take Sesshoumaru. She knew, somehow, even if she could not purify him, she could hold him off long enough to make some sort of escape. But where was Inuyasha? He'd have been here by now. He'd have caught Sesshoumaru's scent even before she'd left to return home. But he -

 

No. That wasn't right. He wouldn't abandon her without reason. What if something had gone wrong? What if Naraku had waited for her to leave and then -

 

“You're wrong,” Kagome said simply. She straightened, and let the yellow backpack fall to the ground. Again, she reached up to hold the shards, but her fingers found nothing around her neck. Her heart fluttered in the beginnings of a panic. “You-”

 

Sesshoumaru lifted the jar before her face, holding the small bottle between the tips of two claws. “It was too easy,” he said. Not as a stab, but matter-of-factly.

 

Her hand shot out to snatch them from the arrogant demon. He lifted his arm, the jar dangling only a few inches above her reach. “It is no wonder, miko, the jewel became shattered in the first place.”

 

“What's that supposed to mean?” The young woman demanded furiously. She jumped, grabbing for the bottle, only to have him slide his arm to the left, and away from her.

 

Where the hell are you, Inuyasha?

 

“Hn.” Sesshoumaru tucked the jar into the second fold of his kimono without further ado, and let his hand fall to his side. Kagome's eyes followed this movement from his chest to the two swords weighed heavily at his hip.

 

“Why the sudden interest?” Kagome inquired, lowering herself by the yellow backpack. She opened it nonchalantly, and began to lightly shuffle through its contents.

 

Sesshoumaru seemed unconcerned, eyeing her with, at most, disinterest. “I will return them to your possession, miko.”

 

“Wha-”

 

“After you explain to me the workings of this well.”

 

“Well, I-” She stopped. Kagome felt her fingers inside the yellow bag graze the smooth wood of her bow. It was small, carved by Keade in the small periods of peace the old woman was rarely allowed to enjoy. Just small enough to fit in Kagome's engorged bag, but large enough to fire an arrow a good enough distance. The girl took hold of it, trying not to notice the way Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion.

 

“It has magical properties,” Kagome began again, calmly. “Demons that have been slain are thrown in, and it ensures that the youkai will not reawaken.” True enough, she thought to herself.

 

“I did not enter the half-breed's forest to hear something I gathered long ago.” He responded blandly. “I have witnessed you, miko, disappearing into this well for days at a time. Your scent vanishes along with your presence. To simply evaporate is a gift few possess.”

 

In a fluid sweep, Kagome was on her feet. Bow in hand, aimed and ready, she grinned in triumph. “I guess I'm just that good.”

 

Palm against her cheek, the feathers of the arrow light against her skin, she fired.

 

A loud pop.

 

A snap.

 

Dirt was everywhere. In her eyes, in her nose, cold and bitter against her tongue. It clogged her senses as they scrambled to remember which way was up. Five sharp pricks against the back of her neck. Five beads of warm blood that stood out against her pale complexion.

 

Sesshoumaru was on her. He had dodged, she realized angrily. And now he had her face pressed in the mud and his claws ready to slice open her neck.

 

“Your movements are predictable.”

 

Kagome groaned into the earth. She felt his weight shift, and she raised her head. “What do you want from me?”

 

The daiyoukai stood. He dragged the miko to her feet, keeping both arms twisted at an odd - and painful - angle behind her back. The bow lay at their feet, the arrow somewhere out of sight.

 

Please, Inuyasha…

 

She could feel the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, and was unsurprised by the cool touch of his skin. The demon lowered his head. Silver hair fell around her, mingling oddly against her own raven locks. She shuddered when the cool baritone of his empty voice resonated beside her.

 

“You will allow me to accompany you.”

 

Kagome closed her eyes.