InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ New Life ❯ Chapter 48 ( Chapter 48 )

November
1536

Kikyo huffed as she stared out the window. Pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders, she moved back over to the fire to warm herself. It was a shame really. It would have been perfect. It had looked as though the weather was going to last out until after the harvest festival, but it was not to be. The storm had swept in unexpectedly and swiftly, destroying any real hope of having the festival in the village.

Settling on a mat near the fire, Kikyo hummed softly in thought. Inuyasha was currently working on something downstairs. It had to deal with him being the new lord of the Central Lands. They didn't consist of a large territory, but his position was extremely important as the Lords of the other lands would come here for meetings. Not to mention Inuyasha would be the tie breaking vote if it ever came down to things.

Ever since they'd arrived, they had been busy with their own things. Inuyasha attempting to sort everything out between ruling and finding his generals and men for his army. She herself had been busy directing the youkai that were building their home and getting the household staff worked out as well as keeping up with her training.

Tilting her head to the side some, she lost herself in the flames of the fire. Ever since the defeat of Naraku she had felt so much different. To a point she felt stronger. There were other things as well such as feeling extremely young and she didn't bruise or get hurt very easily but she attributed that to mating with Inuyasha. She just felt overly different from how she used to be.

Her mind slipped to the others. She hoped that Sango, Kagome and Kaede were doing well. Her mind settled on Kagome. That was another frustration. Every part of her conscious screamed at her not to trust that other side of Kagome. Chi. There was just something about that side of her that didn't seem… right. She couldn't guess the word that should be used.

Her entire life she had been taught one way and it had served her well. Things in her life had gone bad but they had also been good. Just because Chi claimed what she did it didn't mean that she herself had to fall into it right away. Rubbing a hand over her arms, she fought the chill that raced down her spine.

At that moment, Inuyasha stepped into the room. He slid the door closed quietly before moving to seat himself behind her. Wrapping an arm around her stomach, he buried his nose in her neck, inhaling softly. “You seem to have something weighing heavily on your mind woman. You going to tell me?”

Kikyo suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at Inuyasha's brash ways. “I'm fine Inuyasha. I was just thinking that the harvest festival won't happen now.”

Blinking, Inuyasha glanced toward the window. There was already a small mound of snow piling up by the open screen. Rising, he brushed the snow out before sliding it closed. As he turned back, his eyes glittered with mischief. “I was actually working on that. Come on, I got something I want to show you.”

Kikyo rose and tucked the blanket closer around her shoulders, a small frown on her lips. As she followed Inuyasha down the hallways to the staircase, she prayed silently that he hadn't done something foolish. As they made it downstairs, he led her to the dining room.

Inuyasha scratched the back of his head in bashfulness. “I know you were really looking forward to tomorrow, so I thought I'd make sure you get to go.” Turning, he opened the door to the dining room to reveal his masterpiece.

Kikyo gasped in shock. She had not expected this of Inuyasha. He'd been gruff, high strung and downright rude in the short time they had been here. She knew it hadn't been because of her but it had still hurt somewhat. She had almost forgotten this side of her mate. She had stepped into the room to view what he had done during this time but now she whirled around and practically leaped into his arms. “Thank you Inuyasha…”

Inuyasha's cheeks turned pink but he managed to wrap his arms around Kikyo. His voice turned rough and partially crude. “Keh, it's just a stupid festival.” Lifting Kikyo into his arms, Inuyasha didn't bother closing the doors to the dining room. He promptly marched back upstairs to their bedroom to spend some time with his mate. Inside the dining room, the room sat innocently waiting for the morning with it decorated quite tastefully for the Harvest Festival.

In the Northern Lands things had been getting fairly… tense. Hiroki was beginning to go into his heat cycle, but Zia wasn't at that point yet. The two had bonded very closely but the fact of the matter remained that they were two different species and their heating cycles, while close, were not simultaneous with each other.

Hiroki growled low in his office, his eyes bleeding red every so often. Zia had once again flounced out of the room to go running of all things during this blizzard. That was indeed what it was too. In the short time that the storm had started, it had already built up at least knee high. Zia had started getting restless the moment she had tasted the scent of this specific storm. Hearing a snap, his gaze turned to his claws. He'd broken off a corner of his desk. That was lovely, now he was going to have to have it replaced.

Outside, Zia was in her beast form bouncing through the trees. It reminded her of home to an extent. Lifting her gaze to the sky, she inhaled deeply. She had needed this. Being cooped up in the palace had driven her mad. She wasn't used to living indoors after all. She had grown up living in the woods. She had found small caves and dens to sleep in and sometimes share with other tribes.

Catching movement in the corner of her eye, they sparkled with delight. Moving silently through the snow that she padded across easily, she watched the small mouse seeking out nourishment. It was just a simple mouse. She'd forgotten the thrill of the hunt it seemed.

As she pounced, she wound up sinking into the snow a little. Purring loudly, she tore into the mouse eagerly. She hadn't lost her touch at least. Once she finished eating and cleaning herself, a sound caught her attention. Jumping out of the hole and climbing a tree, she moved quietly through the storm.

She paused as the scent of unwashed humans flooded her senses. She almost fell out of her tree in shock from the stench. What was it about these humans and not bathing? Huffing, she moved forward, placing a paw over her nose once she got close enough to see the humans. There were soldiers. A group of twenty or so. They looked tired, cold and weary. They also looked angry.

“We never should have left!”

“Keep your mouth shut. General told us to scout out this area up here.”

Zia tilted her head in confusion. She'd been hearing about humans gathering and trying to unite the other humans and kill off the youkai. Many of the foolish ones had already been killed off by the dozens. Low level youkai with some smarts had allowed their instincts to help them stay away from human settlements, only attacking traveling peasants for food if they absolutely needed to.

There was a small dim fire with some tents scattered around in the small clearing. They were arguing about their purpose on why they were there.

“Hey guys never mind that. Why don't we bring out our treat to help keep us warm?”

Suddenly, the expressions on the men turned snide and lustful. They all whole heartedly agreed to the prospect. Tensing, Zia watched as a girl was yanked out of one of the tents. She appeared to be no more than 13 in human years. It also seemed that she was a Miko. The tattered robes were shredded and mutilated. Anger shot through Zia. These humans had harmed one of their own and to make matters worse she was a priestess.

As she struggled, the human that acted as leader began to untie his pants. Zia's claws came out, scratching the bark. This human wouldn't dare defile a priestess… She could hear the other men calling out. They all wanted turns after their leader. One of the men holding the girl tore away the bottoms of the priestess.

As the young girl screamed in pain and agony, Zia reacted with her own scream of anger and rage. The men seemed far too focused on what was going on before them to really hear it. Leaping to the ground and allowing herself to return to her larger size, she stormed into the clearing. The leader was still grunting, blood pooling around the girl. Another man had lowered his pants and had proceeded to thrust into the girl from her rear, pinning her between the two men. Two more were fondling her breasts roughly and slapping her occasionally, while they pleasured themselves with their own hands.

At this moment, the other men noticed her presence. “What the hell is that?”

She darted forward in a swirl of snow, her paws landing lightly. Her claws tore down the first three that stood in her way. The entire platoon was in the way of the men desecrating the priestess like they were. She was silent as she ripped out another human's throat. Blood coated her fur, staining her chest and the snow around her.

In a matter of moments, she had reached her targets. She tore through the man's back that was closest to her. The men that had been roughly touching the girl's breasts had grabbed swords, but she dodged them. The man that had taken the girl from behind fell in the snow in pain. The leader threw the girl from him, causing her to hit a tree hard.

The men didn't last long. Zia took her time in tearing apart the men. She then took great satisfaction in eating them. The leader she left alive long enough for him to feel his pain as she ate him. Once she was finished, her blood lust sated, she turned to the girl. Her fur was stained crimson from the blood, but she took no notice. Lifting her nose to the sky, she inhaled deeply. She could catch a faint whiff of a fire a way to the east. Crawling under the girl, she lifted her onto her back carefully and began to move silently.

After a time, the girl woke up in a daze. She gave a small whimper. Pausing, Zia looked back at the girl over her shoulder. The girl gave a small cry before pushing herself off her back. Sighing, Zia returned to her humanoid form. “Youkai!”

Zia tilted her head and kneeled where she stood. “I will not harm you little one. I am taking you to a village so you may heal.”

The girl shivered and looked around her. “What happened…?”

She appeared lost and confused. Turning away, Zia spoke softly, her eyes flashing red in her anger. “Those humans took you and then…”

“They raped me… I am no longer a Miko…”

The girl's voice was weak and sad. Zia turned and moved cautiously to the girl. She remained slumped where she was. Lifting her chin, Zia gave her a small smile. “You are still a Miko little one. Purity of body does not make a Miko. It is the purity of the soul that does so. You will find peace with what has happened, and you will be stronger for it.”

The girl blinked, the tears silently falling. “Why are you helping me? You're a youkai. I'm… human.”

Zia chuckled softly, leaning back. “We are very similar. I grew up with humans in my homeland. Humans and youkai should work together, not fight. Youkai tend to follow animal instincts more than humans do. That is the only difference.”

The girl stared at Zia as though she were strange and odd. Moving forward, Zia lifted the girl carefully into her arms, careful not to disturb her wounds. She tensed but remained silent. Zia gave the girl another smile. “Have no fear, we are almost to a village.”

As they reached the outskirts of the village, Zia paused and set the girl down gently on her feet. “You go on ahead, I will watch from here. I do not think they will be accepting if they see me.”

The girl moved a couple steps forward, nodding. Suddenly she turned back. “What is your name youkai?”

Zia tilted her head, her eyes twinkling. “I am Zia.”

The girl smiled and gave a small bow of her head. “Thank you for rescuing me Zia-Sama. I shall not forget the deed nor the words you have given me this night.”

Zia watched the girl move gingerly into the sleepy village. Her soft voice called out for help. Not a few minutes later, a couple of men stepped out and upon seeing her, rushed to her aid. Once she witnessed the girl being led into a hut with the sound of women inside, she turned away.

Deciding that she had spent plenty of time out and about this night, she decided to return home. Returning to her beast form, she loped through the trees, eager to get back to the palace.