InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silver-Haired Beauty ❯ Silver-Haired Beauty ( Chapter 1 )

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Week One:

Day One: Morning

"Why in the fuck do I have to go?"

Surly and slightly petulant, the young man looked pointedly at the object of his interrogation. Kagome gave a sigh of the long suffering before replying, "Because your father invited us Inuyasha." She placed the food for breakfast on the table, sat down and started to eat. Not more than a bite got to her lips before her bowl was snatched away by a clawed hand.

"Hey!! Give that back!" dark eyes flashing, she huffed irritably at her tormentor. A smirk, marred only by the twitch of a genuine smile at the corner of his mouth, greeted her. Boyishly handsome, the bowl snatcher regarded her with affection and more than a little amusement. Two fuzzy white triangles on top of his head twisted around to better catch the frustrated little noises she made while trying to reach for her bowl. The hand holding it hostage danced just out of reach as a pair of honey gold eyes watched her closely.

Her eyes fell on the necklace of polished blue stones hanging around his neck. 'One little 'Sit', he'd be face down and I could eat!' Unfortunately, she really couldn't. Some days, Kagome wished she hadn't made the promise to herself about not using the rosary so much. Ever since moving into the cottage, she had tried to resolve any conflicts that arose by talking to her beloved instead of sending him crashing into the ground. With another huff, she narrowed her eyes. 'Promises suck sometimes.'

"Look Kagome, I'm not too crazy about my old man and I sure as fuck hate my fruity ass half brother, so why are we really going?" That golden gaze was piercing, "Especially today." When she flushed guiltily at the reminder of the new moon that night, he smirked triumphantly, revealing small white fangs. The bowl slammed back in front of her without a drop being spilt.

Satisfied that he was going to at last get a real explanation, he proceeded to lay down beside the table and munch on a steamed bun. "Feh, I knew something stunk about this whole thing." Those exotic golden eyes closed while he ate, "The timing was way too fucked up to be a coincidence." Dark brows met as he put another bun in his mouth, mumbling sourly around the doughy mass, "What'd the old fart promise you to make you even consider asking me to go within ten feet of those two, especially knowing what'll happen tonight?"

He was referring to the new moon. A time when his half youkai heritage disappeared and left him completely human, and in his mind, completely vulnerable. He knew for a fact that his half brother Sesshomaru would jump at the chance to rip him apart. Inuyasha flexed a clawed hand thoughtfully. 'At least like this I can defend myself against that eye-shadowed idiot.' However, that didn't answer the question.

Still not looking at him as she ate, Kagome replied demurely, "Nothing."

Her sudden meekness caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise. Kagome was many things, but timid wasn't one of them. The hanyou swallowed quickly and growled low in his throat, "Kagome......I am not in the mood for dad's shit today, so spit it the fuck out!"

Promises of lingering pain shone from the blue-gray eyes peering over the rim of a bowl, "If I tell you, promise me you won't do something stupid."

Brushing back a strand of snow white hair, Inuyasha made a rude noise, "Yeah, yeah, yeah....I promise."

"On your mother's grave?"

That got his attention. Propping himself up on his elbows, he studied the girl sitting calmly at the low table. After two months of living together in the feudal era, he'd come to learn more and more about Kagome's subconscious body language and right now, she practically reeked of apprehension. 'What's got her up in a huff?' Not wanting to appear cowed, he stretched back out and barked sharply, "I said yeah, didn't I? But this shit had better be good to pull my mother into it."

Closing her eyes, she cheerfully informed him, "We're going to have a luncheon to meet your brother's new fiancée!"

Silence, thick and resplendent greeted her announcement. Honestly, Kagome had expected derisive laughter or at least a few well crafted rude comments. Opening her eyes, she shrieked and fell over backwards, "INUYASHA!!!"

In the course of her words, Inuyasha had somehow managed to get from being stretched flat on the floor to perched hawk-like on the table without a sound being made. As she got her pounding heart back under control, she noted that he was staring intently down at her with an unreadable expression. Flat and displaced as a mannequin, she couldn't figure out what it meant, but it sent a shiver down her spine just looking at it.

"Inuyasha?" The note of uncertainty, which crept into her voice, irritated her. 'After all this time fighting demons and everything else, I am not a coward who gets worked up over every little thing!' Dull gold eyes continued to watch her unseeingly, 'Especially not from him.' Determination straightened her spine as she dusted herself off to frown at him even though he just kept looking at her with that same strange look.

"Oi, Inuyasha!" Nothing. Starting to get worried, Kagome reached out to touch him. A rough whisper froze her hand mid-reach.

"Get dressed."

Stung by the harsh tone, she jumped. Still unable to fully read his expression, she was momentarily unsure of how to proceed. That hesitation made her angry. "You promised not to do something stupid Inuyasha, and scaring me is some..."

"Get dressed now Kagome!!" the roar practically rattled the house to its foundation, effectively overriding the rest of her outburst. His face didn't alter as he stood and walked out the door without so much as a backwards glance. Kagome scrambled after him, both to question him further and to hit him if need be. He had disappeared by the time she got to the threshold. 'Damn you Inuyasha.' Hot tears coursed down her face as her throat tightened. 'Just when I think I know you, you go and become a total baka.'

Hurt and angry by the abrupt departure, she was shaken out of her reverie by a piping voice."

"The big dummy made you cry again, didn't he?" Sullen and small, the question pulled her thoughts back to the present.

A little gasp of surprise escaped her as she rubbed furiously at her eyes. When most of the offending moisture was gone, she turned and gave Shippo a watery smile. "He's just a big jerk sometimes." the barb was slightly pathetic for its obvious lack of force, "Especially in the morning."

The little red haired boy simply watched her with large sad blue eyes. If he didn't know how they really felt about each other, he might have been tempted to say more. As it was, the little kitsune hugged his 'mother' with all the love he could transfer with his tiny arms, and sat down to join her for breakfast.

Feeling better, Kagome returned the embrace and went to finish her meal with the only youkai she felt she could really understand.

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Hair, immaculate. Shoes and clothes arranged perfectly. Hmm, tilt the angle of the swords just a bit more...ah, once again, perfect. Rubbing a lean finger over the deep purple crescent on his forehead, Sesshomaru inspected himself in the mirror once more. He absently traced the wine dark stripes that ran along both of his smooth cheeks and jaw. Striking, but not over bearing. Very nice. No, flawless.

The mirror, in it's simple but tasteful frame reflected his excellence back to him. Everything in the room was like it. Quiet, almost austere, but screaming of elegance. A faint smile touched his pale lips. Perhaps not screaming, but most definitely whispering in confidence.

"You look perfect Lord Sesshomaru, simply glorious!" Despite his honeyed words, or perhaps because of them, Jaken nervously fussed and picked at imaginary bits of lint or nonexistent strands of stray thread. Short, squat and bug eyed, the green little man bore a more than passing resemblance to a toad. "Anyone would feel honored to be chosen as the bride of the future Lord of the West, master Sesshomaru." Finally satisfied that all was truly seamless in his Lord's appearance, Jaken settled down to await a response.

"Yes."

While not the effusive reply he was looking for, Jaken was pleased none the less. It helped distract him from his own internal demons concerning the upcoming meal. As Lord Sesshomaru's personal and loyal servant, it was his job to keep his master up to date on any issue, no matter how trivial.

Such as the incident with the body markings when the young Lord had passed into maturity. Jaken had been there to talk him through it calmly and knowingly, even if he hadn't been able to do a thing about the other male youkai teasing his master for being a little too effeminate. Which was why, in the case of Lord Sesshomaru's impending nuptials, he felt the same kind of abysmal failure. He had failed his Lord, miserably.

Within one hour of Lord Yamatsu's announcement, Jaken would normally have known something, anything, hell everything about the future Lady of the West. However, he didn't. Sighing in frustration as he reset a particular fold for the hundredth time, he reviewed all the tidbits of information and scanty rumors that had circulated around the mansion all day. None of them seemed to provide a clue as to who the bride to be was. It was if she did not exist.

Not one solitary thing had been learned about her, and it hadn't been for a lack of trying.

The Lord Yamatsu had been more secretive today than Jaken could ever remember, especially when it came to the identity of the new bride. Yamatsu had locked his study, placing a magical barrier around it that would effectively vaporize anyone other than him. Jaken shifted and caught sight of the singed edge of his full sleeves. Yeah, the barrier was up and running quite nicely.

Then there was that slathering pack of ferocious demon dogs that had accompanied Lord Yamatsu when he'd gone to retrieve the girl that morning. Brainless and loyal only to their master, they had dispelled all thoughts of trailing the Lord in secret. A throbbing pain swathed in bandages lay hidden beneath his robes from where one of the faster dogs had nipped him. Yeah, the dogs were very effective as well. The fact was, everyone would be equally surprised together, because no one knew a single thing.

Finally leaving the fold alone, Jaken moved over to straighten the edge of the over robe. Any other day, sure, Jaken would have had enough information about her to fill a small library of scrolls. Not today, even his best sources couldn't turn up as much as a hair. It was a glaring failure and he'd tried vainly to hide it from his Lord with the usual incessant talking. So far, it seemed to have worked.

"Jaken...why have you not told me anything about my bride to be?"

The short youkai froze as the casual words made him break out in a cold sweat. His small heart hammered relentlessly as visions of varied and extracted means of demise flitted before his eyes like gruesome butterflies.

Well, maybe it hadn't worked as well as he had thought.

Giving a nervous cough, Jaken brushed absently at a speck on the hem of Lord Sesshomaru's robe. "Whatever do you mean my Lord?" he asked in practiced amazement. "I've been telling you about her all day long, have I not?" Speck destroyed, he stepped back and studiously avoided looking at his master.

"No you have not Jaken." Gracefully tucking a lock of silver hair behind one pointed ear, Sesshomaru serenely chewed out his servant while checking for any other imperfections in his appearance. "You have instead provided me with descriptions and personalities of at least ten different women, all of whom you claim are my bride to be."

The diminutive servant racked his fevered brain to remember what he had actually said in the myriad conversations over the course of the day. 'Was she tall or short? Which one will he prefer? I can't remember...!!!' All thoughts were cut off with a shriek as strong fingers wrapped themselves around his throat.

Hooded yellow eyes bored coldly into him as he was yanked up. "I am about to appear in a situation not of my making armed with false knowledge, which is infinitely more dangerous than no knowledge at all." Hissing with displeasure, Sesshomaru tightened his grip slowly, causing his retainer to squirm for air. "If I am made a fool today because of it, I will feed you to my father's dogs." The supple fingers released him as Sesshomaru turned and left the room.

Jaken shivered from the shock one feels in any near death experience. Panting to bring air to his tortured lungs, he tried to pick himself up. When his watery knees wouldn't support him, he fell back to the ground and wailed piteously.

He was going to die tonight.

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"Slow down Inuyasha!!!" Screaming in heartfelt terror as her stomach rose in her throat, Kagome clutched tighter to the bounding hanyou's robes.

Inuyasha loved listening to Kagome's voice. It was soothing, stirring and in many cases, very arousing. However, her continuous screams in his sensitive ears was going to make him deaf. When another decibel shattering scream reverberated through his head, he yelled back "Shut the fuck up woman!" Growling a warning when she tensed to shout back, he stopped the irritated rumble when she just huffed.

Dashing onwards towards his father's estate, Inuyasha smiled as Kagome made a rude noise behind him. She'd been getting seriously pissed lately and he knew why. He'd overheard her telling Sango one night that she would try not to sit him so much. She'd even sworn a promise before the older girl.

That's when he knew he had her. 'Kagome made that promise months ago and I thought by now she'd have sat me once, but she's been trying really hard.' Remembering the way her eyes had sparkled angrily that morning, he smiled. 'I thought for sure she'd do it right then, guess not.'

By trying not to give in to the temptation to instantly subdue him, she'd instead resorted to the oldest weapon a woman had: the cold silent treatment.

His smile grew. Under any other circumstances, he would have given an apology of some sort and they'd go back to the routine of mutual quips, endearments and barbs the two of them had grown accustomed to. But not today. Oh no, definitely not today! As much as he loved her, he might drop Kagome over the nearest cliff if it meant getting to his father's mansion in time to see his bastard brother meet the new bride. A grin more feral than his full wild youkai form lit his face while his mind filled with wicked delight. He absolutely had to be there.

He knew who the bride was.

As soon as Kagome had told him that they were going to meet Sesshomaru's intended, a thought had leapt into his head. Yamatsu picking a bride for his stalwart eldest son? For some reason, only one conceivable choice for the bride had popped up. Dropping to the ground once the terrain flattened, Inuyasha leaned forward a bit more to run faster. There was no guarantee he was right, but it was such a startling idea that he'd momentarily blocked out the rest of the world that morning.

No way, there was simply no way it couldn't be her! Well, a slim chance, but something felt so right when he thought of his brother and her together. Fangs glistened white as the malevolent smile grew. No, not right. Deliciously ironic. Maybe he was wrong, but why had her name even come to him when Kagome had spoken of his father's plans? It had been too strong a hunch to just fucking ignore.

Bounding back up into the treetops, he freed a hand to slash through a lower demon. Oh, she had to be the one he was thinking about. The gods had been so stingy with the happiness in his life that he felt they damn well owed him! Trailing his father had been easy. A few chunks of rabbit over the years had created a friendly bond between him and the lower inu youkai. Keeping to the trees, Inuyasha had still been able to tell from the terrain where Yamatsu was going. After all, he'd been in that area before.

The older youkai's arrival at a sprawling house nestled just past a large waterfall had only confirmed the hanyou's suspicion. It had taken everything in his power not to laugh maniacally then and there. Granted, he would have fallen out of the tree and exposed his spying, but he actually hadn't cared.

It was too good, too perfectly fucking right! Hell, he still couldn't stop the occasional insane chortle from bubbling up as he headed for his old home. Like a dark melody, the phrase ran through his thoughts, 'I know who the bride is...' Oh happy day of days! Clutching tighter to Kagome, he willed himself not to clap like a mad monkey.

'My brother's going to shit himself and I get to watch!'

Anticipation of that blessed event had been one of two things that pulled him away from finishing what he and Kagome had started that morning. Hell, he was STILL getting his ass kicked by that part of him that wanted nothing more than to stop and continue making love to Kagome right then and there.

'After all, ' the voice purred insistently, 'you know a tree is nothing new for her. Remember that time she did that little thing to you and you snapped a trunk in half from the way it felt? Maybe she'd do it again? Or what about that other time? The noise she made right when...'

Giving his libido a vicious smack with a snarl for added measure, he pressed on faster. But the damage was done. Even now, he could feel his blood heating with the memories. 'Not the time stupid, this is so not the time!' he thought. As Kagome had stood breathless and thoroughly aroused before him that morning, the only thing that'd had the power to drag him away from her sweet lips and taking the sweeter body currently pressed against his back, had been a name.

Kuroi Hana

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Kagome shielded her face from the chilly wind by burrowing further under the cover if Inuyasha's long thick hair. Being completely covered by the coarse fluffy tresses, she wasn't able to see his face. Lucky her. If she had, she might have been tempted to release the death grip she had on his haori and take her chances with gravity.

Peering through the pale strands, she marveled anew at the fleeting glimpses of the world racing past. 'It feels like flying sometimes.' she thought wonderingly. The forest around them flew by in blurs of brown and green, melting further as Inuyasha's speed increased even more. As the wind whipped a feathery soft lock of his hair along her throat, she buried her face back against his shoulder to inhale his scent. Thoughts of the morning crept to the forefront of her mind.

He'd been acting very weird that morning, even for Inuyasha. What he'd done before they left wasn't exactly normal either. Nibbling worriedly at her lip, she recounted the incident again.

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When he didn't come back immediately for breakfast, she ate with Shippo and cleaned up afterwards. Inuyasha's shouted order or not, she'd still needed to get ready for the lunch with Lord Yamatsu and Sesshomaru. Only one she secretly hoped to be a future in law. Shippo had puffed up into his balloon like form and gone to spend the day with Kaede, saying he'd rather be with the old and wise than the young and stupid. Remembering the many violent encounters between the brothers, Kagome had sighed and kind of agreed with him.

Having decided on a lovely summer kimono in light colors, she'd been wrapping her obi when Inuyasha had burst in, blinking at her in surprise. They both looked at the other for a full moment before the hanyou had scowled.

"You're not done yet?" came his incredulous demand.

"If you get out I can get done!" A light pink blush had crept over her cheeks, eliciting an amused 'feh'. Instead of leaving, he came in and helped her finish. Even deftly tying the excess fabric into a turtle shaped bow. She'd smiled in delight at it and almost asked how he'd learned to do it, when the sadness gathered in his eyes.

Shrugging, he'd turned away from her to gaze out the window, not willing to meet her eyes just yet.

When he'd spoken, her heart had gone out to the lost little boy his words had invoked, "My mother sometimes needed help. The servants were youkai and didn't always treat her like the wife of the Demon Lord of the West." his smile was small and filled with a touch of the sadness and uncertainty she knew he felt from being a hanyou.

Moved by the offering of one his too few precious memories of his mother, Kagome had slipped her around him in a loving hug. His breath played across her scalp as he buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent and returning the embrace. The feel of his whisper soft exhalations through her hair had reminded her of the one time beneath the stars where he'd told her what she smelled like to him; softness and light. Moving slightly, she's tipped back her head to study his face and found herself lost in the molten depths of his warm amber eyes instead.

"Inu..." the question was cut off with a kiss.

Sweet and hot, he had deepened it quickly. Her fingers had trailed up past his chest and dove into his hair, reveling in the touch of the soft strands even as she pulled him closer. Because she knew he liked it, and it delighted her too, she used thumbs to stroke his ears from base to tip. At that slight contact, he'd pulled her tightly against him. letting her feel exactly what it was he wanted to do with her.

Kagome had gasped into his mouth, quickly melting against him. She'd been more than willing to put their lunch plans on hold and spend the time in bed instead. From what she had felt, he'd been every bit as eager to agree with her.

When inexplicably, 'and I'm still amazed he had the control to do it.', he had broken the kiss off and pulled away from her. Panting and shaking to fight for control over her own body, there had been no energy to resist as he'd grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the house. 'There are some days I wish I was a hanyou.'

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Except that now he'd been strangely quiet the whole trip. There was an ominous chuckle every now and then, but that was more disturbing than anything else. Sighing from frustration of more than one kind, she closed her eyes and relaxed against him.