InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Seeking the Hime's Heart ❯ The End of a Decade ( Chapter 1 )

Seeking the Hime's Heart

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Part One: Quest for the Beginning

Disclaimer: None of the characters from Inuyasha belong to me. They were created by Rumiko Takashi.

Author's note: I know, if you read `The Path You Follow,' I just told you I'd dedicate all my writing time to that story. But this idea has been floating through my mind for a while and it keeps evolving and getting more interesting in my head. It was begging to be written down, but `The Path You Follow,' will remain the priority.

~*Please read in order to avoid confusion*~

This is an A/U set in feudal Japan, and since my knowledge of the time is limited some things had to be made up. I've already written the second chapter for this story, and I'll post it later if I get good reviews if not then I won't continue it. Anyways, I do a bit of time jumping, months or even years can pass in a chapter because otherwise the story would become very long and very boring. It does have two parts the first part will be about Kagome the second about her daughter. Pairings for Kagome change as the story progresses, couples are as listed: Kag/Hojou, Kag/Kouga and finally, Kag/Inu. The second part will be Rin/Sess. I don't really like giving away the pairings at the beginning but it's to keep people from hating me by thinking I let Kagome end up with someone that I don't intend her to stay with. Most importantly, don't think I'm making Kagome some sleazy girl, because I wouldn't do that and if you read on you'll see that she is respectable.

Chapter 1: The End of a Decade

~*~

The breeze moved quietly through the small hut, making the little girl's hair sway as she sat next to her mother. Her deep blue eyes were transfixed on her okaasan as she listened to the words the older woman wove.

"The cursed hime traveled all over Nihon to find the treasure that would free her heart from its shell and transform her into a beautiful hime once again. But at every village she was turned away because no one could recognize her as their hime-sama. So she went on alone, moving from one village to the next, sleeping wherever she could and eating what little she found in the forests. Until one day, she came across a young man hunting in the woods. He spoke kindly to her and at once she felt her heart soften just a little. Knowing that no one could ever care for the hideous form she had been cursed with, she was determined to continue her journey alone. But concerned for the young woman traveling alone, the young hunter followed her. Throughout the days and nights he stood by her side, protecting her and providing for her. She found that his presence comforted her through her quest and everyday her heart grew a little, straining at its bonds. . ."

She had never finished the story. Her father had entered the room at that time, interrupting them. With a promise to finish the story tomorrow, the girl's mother left the room. But tomorrow never came.

That night there was a massacre, the bodies of villagers lay bleeding and unmoving on the ground. Left in her home, the hut where just hours before she had sat next to her okaasan and dreamed of love and a cursed hime, was a body. A cold lifeless body the belonged to her mother. By some miracle, or perhaps ill fortune was more suitable, the girl's father had whisked her away from that village, though he had sustained a sword wound. But she had seen it, the wide, frightened, dead eyes of her mother. The sword protruding from her beloved okaasan's chest. Life would never fully return, she lost her joy, her very love on that night. She would never again be the same.

It didn't matter that her father had physically survived that terrifying night of death because he would be emotionally dead to her forever. Without her mother, she quickly found that her otoosan had very little will to live.

During the next ten years of her life she traveled from village to village with her father. He was a silk merchant, constantly on the move; she never knew a real home after her okaasan died. Ten years had left her father nearly unchanged; he rarely spoke to her, never showed her any type of affection and was usually drunk.

While her father had remained the same over the course of a decade, many things about her had changed. She was fourteen years old, beginning to blossom into womanhood and was starving for affection. Not love, no, she would never ask for a rare treasure like that. All she wanted was someone to care for her, some kind gentle man who would give her a real home and children. She knew better then to expect an easy life full of joy and riches, she was but the daughter of a drunken merchant; it would be her lot in life to marry a farmer or an inn keep, maybe, if she was lucky she would marry another merchant. Never did she fool herself into believing that one-day a young handsome prince might come and rescue her from the mediocrity of village life. Things like that did not happen in the real world.

The fairy tales had lost there meaning to her ten years ago, the night her okaasan had been murdered. Now she was fourteen, old enough to be married and old enough to know that life never ended as happily as her mother's stories had. That naïve, hopeful part of her had long ago flown away, like a dove taking wing to the sky. Never to be seen again.

~*~

It was the anniversary of her mother's death, though her father didn't seem to notice. He was sitting down, talking jovially to the local daimyo and showing the man his best silks as she waited patiently just outside the door. Leaving the men could do their business in peace. A few people passed her by, none even taking the time to spare her a second glance.

`And why would they?' she thought vehemently.

She was nothing to them, she knew; just some strange, skinny little girl sitting outside of their lord's room. Her hair was the same dull black as the rest of them, with gangly limbs and a plain, pale face. Though she was the daughter of a silk merchant her kimono was made of simple blue cotton.

Her mouth opened in a tiny yawn that she covered with one lithe hand. Beneath her weight her legs began to cramp and ache. She stood suddenly, nearly losing her balance in the awkwardness that comes with adolescence. Before she could fall forward, two strong arms caught her weight as if she weighed nothing.

"Arigato," she whispered sheepishly, raising her eyes to look at her savior.

No wonder he had caught her so easily, he stood more then a head taller then her petite form. His hair was dark brown and cropped short, his face held a youthful handsomeness to it. At his side a katana was strapped. `He's probably a samurai,' she thought to herself, blushing madly at having embarrassed herself AND troubled one of superior rank to her.

But when their eyes made contact, as she peered at him beneath her long eyelashes, she saw something flicker in his deep brown gaze. It made her shudder a bit and she tore her eyes away from him as he set her steady on her own feet.

"Gomen, my lord. I did not mean to trouble you."

He laughed a bit nervously and she wondered if something were wrong with him. They both stood silently for a while. She bowed her head, looking down at her feet as she felt his gaze upon her. `What does he want?' she asked herself. He cleared his throat, and she was once again forced to meet his eyes.

"You didn't trouble me, not at all. I'm glad I could be of service," he smiled kindly which made her blush, " I am Junsei, Hojou. One of Takashi-sama's samurai, and who are you?"

"No one," she heard herself mumble, "just the silk merchants daughter, Junsei-sama."

His large calloused hand brushed against her shoulder as he removed the hair from her face.

"Your name?"

"Higurashi. . . Higurashi, Kagome."

At that moment, the shouji door she had been waiting by slid open and her father stepped out. Thankfully, he was sober at the moment. Junsei turned to her father.

"Ah, you must be Higurashi-san. I was just talking to your daughter, she is a very lovely girl."

Kagome's face flushed at the compliment and she felt the eyes of both men upon her.

"Arigato, uhhh. . ."

"Junsei-sama." Kagome offered, since her father hadn't yet been properly introduced.

"Hai, arigato Junsei-sama. I hope Kagome did not bother you too much."

If at all possibly, the blush increased, tinting her entire face rather then being confined to just her cheeks. `Now he will tell otoosan about my clumsiness and he will be angry with me.'

"Not at all, Higurashi-san. Will you two be accepting my lord's hospitality this evening?" questioned the young samurai.

My father nodded, giving the younger man a curious look.

"Hai, Takashi-sama was kind enough to invite us to dine here this evening."

"Then perhaps I will see you at dinner," Hojou said, looking at Kagome before turning to walk away.

~Kagome~

I could feel his eyes upon me from where I sat. Our gazes had crossed paths several times, and each time he just smiled at me, the look in his eyes so intense, so new to me that I immediately looked away. All the while, I could feel my father watching me. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

We were dining in Lord Takashi's main hall where his samurai and a few other important guests ate their meals. It was pretty crowded and noisy, my father and I sat to the far left side of the room. Junsei-sama sat at the far right side, I desperately needed to escape. I couldn't handle the pressure, between him and my father their looks were driving me insane.

The meal seemed to be excruciatingly slow and when it was finally over and I stood with my father to leave, relief flooded through me. Before we could exit through the shouji, he approached us.

"Higurashi-san, I would like to speak with you." Hojou said, looking at my father. I played nervously with the sleeves of my kimono. My father seemed taken by surprise but agreed.

"Hai, Junsei-sama, but please keep it short, Kagome and I are leaving for the next village early tomorrow morning."

He nodded and my father excused me, telling me to go back to the inn where he would join me later. I had no choice but comply, left wondering why Junsei would wish to speak with my father; he didn't look like the type who wore much silk.

~Kagome~

I yawned into my hand and stretched out upon my futon. Sleep had claimed me before my father returned to our inn room the previous night. Vaguely, I wondered what they had discussed. I noticed the sun had already risen and was surprised that my father had not yet waken me. Didn't he say he wanted to leave early this morning?

Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and noticed my father sitting across the room, watching me. Immediately I began to worry.

"Is something wrong, otoosan?"

He shook his head, a smile gracing his lips. It had been a long time since I've seen my father smile. Ten years to be exact. He looked quite pleased with himself as he began to speak.

"Nothing is wrong," he said, "you are to be married."

My mouth was hanging open, abruptly, I closed it.

"Who-" I didn't even finish the question. I knew, Junsei. I was to marry a samurai. Me, the daughter of some insignificant silk merchant, I was to join the honorable family of a samurai. I should be happy, ecstatic, cheering and smiling. I felt numb. But this is what I wanted, right? Junsei, Hojou seemed like a kind enough man, he had to be to marry someone like me. I had no money, I wasn't beautiful; I was getting the better end of the deal. Still, I couldn't help but wonder.

~*~

It was a very small ceremony, overseen by the lord of her husband. There were other samurai there, but she didn't know any of them. By that time her father had left that village for the next and so she was left alone in this new place; her home. The only thing left of her former life was a few yards of midnight-blue silk that her father had left for her.

After the ceremony, her husband took her to the room they would be sharing within the daimyo's house. For a long time he merely sat and studied her, his roaming eyes turning her cheeks crimson. When he finally approached her it was slowly as if afraid he might scare her off. He put his hands to the ties of her kimono, undoing the knot of her obi almost reverently.

When the complicated bow was undone he let her kimono hang from her petite body. His hands, shaking with uncertainty, cupped her face as he leaned down to place a chaste kiss upon her quivering lips. By now her entire face was flushed with embarrassment and excitement. She closed her eyes as he slowly deepened the kiss, his tongue asking her to part for him. Full of uncertainty, she opened her mouth to him and felt his tongue begin to caress hers. He pulled away slightly and her eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks, wondering at how he had managed to convince an angel to be his wife.

He had known the second he saw her, she was the most beautiful girl in all of Nihon. The gentle curve of her cheek, her shimmering blue eyes, her half-parted lips that begged to be kissed, they all had drawn him to her immediately. For him there could be no other. Silently, he thanked Kami as he gazed at the creamy flesh revealed by her gaping kimono. Raising his eyes to her flushed face filled him with a happiness that reached beyond the sun. She fidgeted nervously and he was struck by her innocence.

Leaning forward, he whispered into her ear.

"I don't want to hurt you. I can wait, if that is what you want." It was true, he had no desire to cause her any kind of pain; he was determined to devote the rest of his life to protecting her from everything. Bravely, she shook her head in a negative answer.

"I am your wife," she stated, "it is my duty to please you."

His eyes closed as she took his hand in hers and placed it upon her breast. She then began to undo the ties to his kimono. He could feel her hands shaking as she worked at the knot, his other hand rested on hers before she finished undoing it. His voice was husky with need, but still, he asked.

"You're sure?"

Kagome nodded silently and he released her hands. When he was fully unclothed, he put his hands beneath her open kimono and onto her bare shoulders. Sliding his hands down her arms, he let the material slide to the floor. He removed the pins from her hair to let it fall in a curtain around her shoulders and she shuddered as the ends tickled her bare flesh. Hojou's breath caught in his throat as he took in the heavenly sight.

Her flesh was like ivory, smooth and pale, soft to the touch. His hands itched to cup the small swells of her breasts that moved up and down with her labored breathing. She had a tiny waist and sleek hips, the very picture of feminine delicacy.

Lying back onto the futon she watched as he moved over her, placing kisses on her abdomen and up to her breasts. She moaned as his lips made contact with her pert nipples. When the tip of his arousal brushed against her feminine core she took a deep breath. Gently, he eased into her; placing apologetic kisses on her face as she writhed uncomfortably beneath him.

When he reached her maidenhead, he paused.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked, knowing once he fully entered her he would not be able to control himself.

Shaking her head, she brought his face down to hers so she could kiss him. With a single thrust, he broke through her barrier and she cringed a little at the pain. He remained unmoving deep within her, allowing her time to adjust to him. Her eyes were closed and she unknowingly clenched her inner walls around his shaft. He groaned, it was taking him every ounce of his willpower to keep from thrusting into her warm, tight passage.

"Are you alright?" he questioned.

"Hai," answered Kagome, "it's okay now. But is this all we're supposed to be doing?"

He almost laughed at her innocent question. Of course, she wouldn't know much about the act of sex. Traveling with her father all her life there was no one to teach her about such things. He kissed her forehead and smiled against her silky skin.

"Iie, there's more to it." He pulled out of her and thrust slowly back in to prove his point. His eyes shut as he was filled with the blissful sensation that being connected with her brought.

Hojou was afraid to do anything but move with such aching slowness that it drove him mad, but she was so small beneath his larger form that he was afraid he would hurt her if he went at the pace his body longed for. Every part of him was telling him to quicken his pace, to drive into her with quick, deep strokes. But he locked those voices away, taking his time with her, she was like crystal to him. She must be cherished, handled delicately with the greatest care.

It still hurt, as he thrust slowly in and out of her, but there was also a warmth that grew and traveled throughout her body. It made her want him to continue despite the pain and she said nothing as he continued to move within her. After a while his pace quickened and she felt her body begin to tingle as it reached for something unknown to her. She began to pant as he brought on an intense sensation in her lower abdomen, it coursed through her, making her body arch and her nails dig into his back.

"Aishiteru," he groaned out as his seed began to spurt into her womb, his eyes were closed and he nearly collapsed onto her. He never realized that she had not returned the words.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~