InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Soul ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

*Disclaimer* I do not own Inuyasha. The world of Inuyasha was created by Rumiko Takahashi. Neither do I own the plot/storyline of the novel I am basing my story off of. I want it to be a surprise, so I won't say it until some people start guessing. But the plot is not my own. They way I right it, and the liberties I take, are my own, as are any OC's that grace the pages. THANK YOU!

 

~Author's Note~

Thanks to everyone who read the first chapter. To those who commented, I love you extra! lol Anyway, here's chapter two. There will probably only be one more chapter with Kagome as a child. And if you're thinking, “Where's Inuyasha?” Don't worry, he's on his way. It'll be worth the wait. Trust me. Well, enjoy chapter 2. Comments, critiques and criticisms GREATLY appreciated. Thank you! Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

 

Kagome's eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in her surroundings. Where was she? As the familiar objects came into focus, she recognized her own room. The fire was lit and sending flickering shadows onto the wall next to her bed. She was lying on her stomach, and her head was pounding. She heard whispers coming from the door, and knew, somehow, that a stranger had come. Kagome wasn't really sure how she felt about strangers. She usually wasn't allowed to meet any visitors that came to her aunt's estate, so the fact that one was standing outside her room was quite an event in itself.

 

Trying to keep her back straight, Kagome pushed herself up until she was kneeling. She heard the door opening and turned her head to see who the stranger was. Of course, her head disagreed with the sudden movement, and she became very dizzy, and started to fall. When a hand grabbed her to steady her, she screamed more from the pain than from fear. The hand eased her back onto her stomach.

 

“Shhh…steady. It's ok,” a soothing deep voice spoke to her. Her nerves almost immediately calmed. No one had ever spoken to her in such a voice before. Her eyes became clear again, and she looked at the man who was kneeling beside her bed, holding a strange looking metal stick in his hand. He had dark purple eyes and dark hair in a ponytail…like Hiten's. Kagome turned and buried her head into her pillow.

 

“Do your business and be on your way. The child doesn't need any coddling.” Kagome recognized the voice of the upstairs maid.

 

“Leave us, please, so that I may tend to her wounds.” He placed a hand gently on her head, carefully and tenderly. She had never felt such tenderness.

 

“But the Mistress said not to leave you alone with-”

 

“I said leave us.” His voice didn't rise in volume, but Kagome sensed an energy rise within him. With no further hesitation, the maid left, closing the door behind her. “Would you like to sit up?” he asked, leaning the metal stick against the wall.

 

“Yes, please,” she answered. He carefully helped her sit up, letting her legs dangle off the edge of the bed. He had a kind face, and though his hair might have resembled her cousin's at first, Kagome was no longer afraid of him. She also got a better look at him. He was wearing a long dark robe with a sash, and a bag hanging on his shoulder.

 

“My name is Miroku, and I'm a monk that your aunt asked to come and care for you since your…accident.” Kagome had nothing to say. Obviously her aunt had told a lie to the man, and unless she wanted to openly declare her aunt a liar, she could not contradict her.

 

“I am told your name is Kagome.” She nodded slowly. “And how old are you Kagome?”

 

“I'm ten years old.” Something suddenly occurred to her and her eyes widened in astonishment. “Are you a human?” The man laughed.

 

“Why yes I am! You're a human too you know,” he said smiling.

 

“I know that. But I've never met another human before.” At this, his smile, while not disappearing, grew fainter.

 

“Well, I am to look at your wounds,” he said, changing the subject. “Will you let me look at your back?” Kagome thought about it, then nodded her consent.

 

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Miroku went to the other side of the bed, behind the young girl, and lifted up her thin, white, nightdress. He heard her soft intake of air, and knew that it must be extremely painful. Especially considering her reaction when I first touched her, he thought. He was not disappointed in the sight.

 

Five long gashes, no doubt claw marks, spanned the length of her back from her left shoulder almost to her right hip. And her aunt called this an accident. Judging from the respected demon healer being in the house, something had happened to her son as well. Yes, he had made sure to inquire about the demon family he was called to. His demon friends in the village left out no detail. They had easily sensed the presence of a human in the house, but had never seen her. Hiten, the son, was cruel and wild, and the mother, Karan, was very prejudice.

 

Was this to go unpunished? This was blatant violence against a child! And her wounds were serious. He had some special salves, made from herbs, in his pouch that he hesitated to use because he knew they would sting, but the girl's wounds could become infected if left as they were.

 

Then he noticed something. Leaning in closer, examining the edge of the top gash, he saw a small oval bruise. His brow furrowed and he swore under his breath. The girl shivered and he lowered the cloth back down, and returned to face her. There would be time enough to apply the salve.

 

“Will you tell me how this happened?” he asked, trying to control his anger. A myriad of expressions crossed the girls face at the question: confusion, fear, sadness and distrust. “It's ok to tell me the truth. It will just be between us, I promise,” he coaxed. She took a deep breath.

 

“It was my fault. I shouldn't have been in the room, but it's the only place I could see my flowers! But he told me not to be in there, and then he found me in there. Then he told me to run, and I ran, but I couldn't get away. He knocked me down and jumped on me, then said my blood tasted good.” Miroku winced at this information. “Then I felt really numb, and the air turned purple, and I felt really strange, then I don't remember anything.” At this, Miroku took notice.

 

“You felt numb? The air turned purple?” She was only a child, and the demons in this household were revered for their strength and nobility. She couldn't have…

 

“Yes,” she answered.

 

“Can you explain more of what it felt like?” he asked, hesitantly.

 

“I think so. It started in my chest, when I was really scared. Then when I screamed, it felt like something inside me, and my arms and my legs and all parts of me were tingly. Then I don't remember anything.

 

No wonder they needed a demon healer, Miroku thought in wonder. This young child was no longer safe in this home, not with a demon preying upon her in this manner. The very thought of what could have happened made him nauseous. He would postpone his journey home until she was well enough to travel, then he would bring her with him to his village. She needed to be trained if this power were to be controlled.

 

“Had he ever tasted your blood before?” Miroku asked, hoping for the best.

 

“No, this was the first time. I don't…it…it felt different this time than the other times. He seemed…strange.” Miroku sighed in relief, but then realized she said `other times.' She had been beaten before? He hadn't seen any other scars on her body, but then again he hadn't been looking.

 

“What happened the other times?” he asked with a calm belying his inner anger. The girl looked down, and he could tell she was scared. Most likely she had never spoken of these things before. “Did he hurt you before?” She sniffed and nodded, still not looking at him. “It's ok. You don't have to tell me. I'm going to put something on your back to make it better, but it may hurt a little. Is that ok?” She looked up, and nodded again.

 

Miroku removed the bag from over his shoulder, and laid it on the bed next to her. He carefully prepared the salve, and asked Kagome to lie back down on her stomach. For some reason, she did this with more ease than before. How could she be moving so much with those kinds of wounds? He lifted the dress from her back again, and was astonished.

 

The gashes were…smaller. They were still large, but had better color and seemed to not reach as far along her back. There was no need for salve. What was this child? Obviously she had spiritual powers, but the ability to heal herself was something different. But she would be ready to leave sooner than he had thought…maybe even as soon as tomorrow.

 

Miroku stayed with her and talked about his village. She seemed rather interested, and she also seemed hesitant for him to leave. If fact, she was petrified of him leaving her. This cemented in his mind that he had to get her out.

 

When he left her, she was sleeping. Miroku told the maid, who was waiting down the hall, that Kagome was to rest and have no one disturb her through the night. The maid looked at him, obviously annoyed that he had given her an order, and stalked away.

 

He made his way down the stairs, and into a grand parlor. Did things like this really exist? There was an beautifully woven rug covering the wooden boards, and there were furnishings covered in cushions and fabrics of brilliant colors. Sitting in one of these chairs, the demoness sat, elegantly sipping tea. His gentle, “Ahem,” brought her eyes to his.

 

“I take it the child will not die?” she asked coldly.

 

“No, she will not. She is, in fact, much better than I had thought. She…heals…quite nicely.” Her eyes flashed and she set her cup onto a small table.

 

“There is something on your mind, I take it?” she asked with a sneer.

 

“What is the child's parentage?” The exact question he had been warned not to ask received the reaction he was told it would get. Her aura flared and she stood, strong tall and straight.

 

“What business is it of your!? You've seen her, told me of her well being, now you may leave!” Her eyes flashed red, and Miroku's hand tightened around his staff. There was no way he was letting this slide.

 

“The child obviously has spiritual powers,” he said, his voice strong and unwavering. “But her ability to heal herself has me wondering…as does the fact that you would take in a human child you apparently do not want.” Her smile showed her fangs, but her aura subsided and she sat back down, calmly.

 

“She is the daughter of my late husband's half sister,” she said slowly.

 

“Kagome is a hanyou?” he asked in wonder. He had sensed no demon within her, and she showed no outward signs of being one.

 

“My husband's half sister was hanyou, a fact I don't like to tell just anyone. Her and her human mate produced the child, a human.” Miroku was speechless. He didn't know what to expect, but he certainly hadn't expected that Kagome was related to these demons. What he was about to hear, would astonish him even more.

 

“The child has become a burden on me and has attacked my son. I do not want such a vicious thing living in my house any longer.” That made his job all the more easy.

 

“I am willing to take Kagome with me,” he said. Her look was one of all politeness and smiles.

 

“Exactly as I hoped. You will be leaving in the morning, yes?” She sipped her tea.

 

“Yes. Please make sure she is prepared to leave by then,” he said, adding “She is too weak still to pack her own things. Have one of your servants tend to the duty for her.” The smile lessened, but the demoness nodded.

 

“I will not see the child off tomorrow, so it is goodbye. Please see yourself to the door.” Miroku bowed, backed out of the room, and left. By tomorrow, the child would be safe with him, and they would be headed home.

 

Good lord! What was Sango going to think!?

 

 

END OF CHAPTER