InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ Under the Sakura Blossoms ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter Fifteen:

Under the Sakura Blossoms

 

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InuYasha paced impatiently outside Sango's hut, stopping only to occasionally mutter to himself.

 

“She takes just as long as Kagome does,” the half demon grumbled and crouched down on the ground to wait. As soon as he had gotten himself comfortably situated, Sango walked out holding Kirara to her.

 

`Figures,' he grumbled inwardly and stood again. As soon as they're eyes locked the demon exterminator broke into giggles, causing the half demon to turn a slight pink color and cross his arms in a childish manner.

 

“You ready to go, yet?” The huffy sound in his voice only caused her giggling to intensify, which in turned caused him to turn a slightly darker shade of red.

 

“Hmpf, I'll be waitin' for you outside the village,” he turned to go but stopped when she called out to him.

 

“InuYasha wait,” she did her best to repress her giggling. “I'm sorry, we're ready to leave.”

 

She couldn't help laughing. The night before she had been making a few repairs to her Hiraikotsu while InuYasha sat watching her. It had felt good to be doing something so familiar and the half demon seemed interested in how her family had made their weaponry so she found herself talking much more than she had been of late.

 

She turned to him suddenly when she heard him let out a yelp. He had a startled look on his face and he was patting down the outside of his clothes.

 

“What's wrong?”

 

“Somethin' bit me,” He replied still trying to find the offending bug without stripping his clothes off. Whatever had bit him had stung…a lot.

 

Sango watched him for a minute then realized he must have been bitten by what the exterminators simply called an, Ekichuu, or useful insects. These insects had a particular fondness for demon blood and it was an easy way to ward off smaller demons that didn't really pose enough of a threat to warrant death.

 

The exterminators would merely collect an abundance of these insects and release them near the demon's den. The insects wouldn't leave as long as the demon remained and they multiplied much too quickly to be stopped. So, in the end, the demon was forced leave.

 

Sango had always bathed Kirara in a mixture of different plants and herbs that seemed to repel the reasonably harmless bugs. She had not given much thought to having InuYasha at the village, for Kirara was the only demon that had ever been there for any length of time.

 

Sango stood and moved closer but stopped when he jumped up and began turning in circles while pulling at his hoari.

 

“What the hell is biting me?!?”

 

“I think it's an Ekichuu, InuYasha,” she said while trying unsuccessfully not to laugh. She was sure it must hurt; but the idea of InuYasha reacting such a way to an insect after seeing him take on strong demons and suffer much worse injuries, was quite humorous to her.

 

“Will you quit laughin' and tell me what the hell an Ekichuu is!” He was not finding his predicament the least bit amusing. Whatever was in his hoari was making it's way dangerously close to his hakama and be damned if he was gonna wait around for it to begin biting him down there.

 

“It's…a…” the girl was trying to get the words out but just couldn't seem to. The look of near horror on his face was too much and sent her further into a fit of laughter.

 

“Never mind what it is, how do I get rid of the damn thing?!”

 

“A…bath…” He didn't wait for anything further. He sprung from the hut and in the direction of the fresh water he could smell, the sound of Sango's laughter growing louder at his abrupt departure.

 

Moments later he was almost completely submerged in the nearby lake, probably the one her village had used. The cool water was soothing the bites on his body and he wasn't sure if he would be safe putting his clothes back on any time soon, so he attempted to let himself relax and enjoy it as best he could.

 

“InuYasha?” Sango's voice called out from the nearby trees.

 

“Yeah?” Sango sighed and stepped a little closer to the lake without coming into view.

 

“I have some herbs you can bathe with so that you won't get bit again,” she did feel badly for just laughing at him and thought it was the least she could do.

 

“Feh, just throw `em there with my clothes, I'll get `em later,” he said in a voice that told Sango he intended to stay out here and brood for awhile.

 

She slowly came through the trees and focused on his clothes. For one, she wasn't used to being around males while they bathed and secondly she was afraid she might start laughing again if she did look at him. She knelt down and shook out his hoari then hakama, finally finding the little bug then picking it up.

 

“I found it InuYasha,” when he didn't answer she glanced over at the water. All that was visible was his head and the sight caused her to burst into laughter again. He was glaring at her in a childish way and his ears where nearly laying flat against his head. She covered her mouth and turned, knowing that it was in her best interest to get away before she put him into any more of a huff.

 

“So, we ready to go now or what?” Sango's memories of the previous night's antics were interrupted by a rather impatient half demon.

 

“Yes, whenever you are,” she glanced down at Kirara then to InuYasha. Her pet was doing much better but still not up to carrying her.

 

“I'll carry you both, don't worry. Not like I'm not used to it,” he said then grabbed a sling he had found in one of the abandoned huts. At some point, it must have belonged to a woman that had a small baby but it would do for carrying Kirara back.

 

He quickly slung it over his shoulder so that the small demon could rest safely against his chest. Sango watched him slightly confused then realized what he had in mind.

 

“Are you sure she'll be safe in that?” It wasn't that she didn't trust him, for she did. But at times he traveled quite fast and even recklessly.

 

“She'll be fine,” he rolled his eyes and took the small cat from her then smirked.

 

Sango nodded and pulled her weapon on before moving to get onto his back. She had watched Kagome do it enough times that it wasn't difficult.

 

“Damn, you're a lot heavier than Kagome is,” as soon as the words were uttered he regretted them.

 

`Kagome can only sit you, stupid, Sango can kill you. Well, she can try anyway,' he mused to himself before glancing over his shoulder.

 

“Guess that Hiraikotsu just makes ya seem heavier,” God he prayed that would keep him safe for the duration of the trip. It was the truth after all. Kagome only carried a bag with her on occasion, but he'd never really lifted Sango's weapon much. He decided it was probably in his best interest to keep his mouth shut now. He quickly adjusted the sling holding Kirara then took off in the direction of Kaede's village.

 

 

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Miroku gathered the few things he had brought with him and walked into the hut. He had spent the morning in the village with Mushin and when he left; his old friend was contemplating relaxing with a nice sake. The two men had, had a long discussion and the young monk now needed to find Kohana and speak with her.

 

Finding her was not difficult. She was once again in Mushin's hut doing menial chores. The sight actually left Miroku feeling quite sad for her.

 

“Kohana?” the young girl turned when she heard her name then smiled.

 

“Are you leaving?” She stood and dusted her hands off before walking over to him. Over the couple days he had been there she had become quite fond of him again. There were so many vague memories of him as a child and a couple that were more vivid. It had been nice to have someone near her own age to speak with, especially someone that was so willing to listen.

 

“Yes, I need to get back. I'm sure InuYasha will hunt me down if I chose to stay any longer,” he gave her a smile that said he was only half kidding.

 

“It was nice to see you again, Miroku, I hope you'll come back to visit.” The monk gave a slight sigh and moved further into the hut.

“I would like to speak with you before I go, if you don't mind, Kohana,” the girl gave him a questioning look then nodded.

 

“Of course, what about?” She suddenly looked concerned, which caused him to offer her a comforting smile.

 

“It's nothing bad, I assure you. I have simply spoken with Mushin. We both believe you deserve better than merely taking care of an aging monk. There is a priestess that I know by the name Kaede. She is a delightful woman and often spends time with young women in her village. When I am not out searching for shards of the Shikon Jewel, I stay at that village as well.”

 

Kohana remained silent taking in his words then looked around the small hut. She knew that both of them were looking out for her own best interests here and she was grateful, but truthfully she was almost afraid to go. So much of her life had been spent taking care of others, first her father and then Mushin. She wasn't sure she was suited for any other life. Miroku sensed her hesitation and stepped closer, taking her hand.

 

“Would you at least travel with me to the village and meet Kaede? If you do not wish to stay, Hachi will bring you back,” the words eased her mind slightly. What would it hurt to meet this Kaede? She smiled and nodded to him.

 

“Wonderful. I'll go back and inform Mushin while you gather your things. We'll leave as soon as you're ready,” he said with a soft smile then turned.

 

His thoughts again drifted to Sango. If only she were as trusting and open with him as Kohana. Though, he acknowledged, that most of the distrust was his own doing. Perhaps, once they returned he would work on gaining back some of that lost trust.

 

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Naraku slowly made his way to the gardens. He had been somewhat surprised when Sachi had informed in that the priestess had gotten out of bed on her own that morning and went outside to relax. He, himself, had not slept the night before and had checked on the girl more than once. She had slept heavily the entire time so he had done nothing more than offer her more water. He had, however, spent much time contemplating the situation he was in.

 

He had come to realize he was weaker than he had originally thought. He was, no doubt, as susceptible to injury and death as almost any human. He still held a small amount of demon blood in him, which would eventually begin to strengthen so that he could begin creating himself a new body. But as of now, he couldn't even create or control a puppet, much less other demons. He had been thankful; however, that Kanna still had control over her mirror and that he still held some of his own abilities. Without his full strength, he would need to keep a watch over his enemies and any that could pose a threat to him.

 

His thoughts silenced themselves as he stepped onto the small path that led into the gardens. He had never paid much attention to the scenery but now found him self much more alert to such things. Not more than a moment later, he found Kagome strolling silently, seemingly lost in thoughts of her own. He stood watching her for a moment then stepped closer as she turned in his direction. Already, he could see she was doing much better, though she still looked fatigued. He noticed that she was once again wearing her own clothing. Clearly, she wanted to leave as soon as possible.

 

The girl's gaze met his own, and then she looked upwards again.

 

“You're Sakura tree's are beautiful. If I had gone home, my mom would have made me and Souta go to a Hanami party at Shinjuku Gyoen,” she said with a wistful sigh.

 

It was something her family had done as long as she could remember. Actually, most Japanese families did. Cherry Blossom viewing was a long standing tradition and the trees only blossomed for a short amount of time.

 

The dark Lord remained silent as she continued, somewhat intrigued by talk of her life in another era.

 

“I tried to get home for the Setagaya Ume Matsuri,” she glanced at him then continued. “It's a festival in Hanegi Park celebrating the beginning of spring when all of the plum trees blossom. But,” again she gave a sigh, “I couldn't get back to the well in time.”

 

Walking through the gardens reminded Kagome of home. Her family, like most Japanese families, visited festivals every year around this time. She could never bring herself to complain to InuYasha or the others about missing things like that. It was her fault that they were on their quest, after all. But there were times she did miss just being at home with her family or doing things with her friends. Not that she wanted to abandon them or their hunt for the jewel. It's just that she missed doing some of the things that normal girls did.

 

She glanced at Naraku again then felt herself blush slightly.

 

`Like he cares what you do when you're at home. He doesn't even know where those places are, let alone want to know why you go there,' she looked away from him again, glad that she would be going back to the village soon. She always seemed to find herself rambling around him and he would just stand there staring at her intently. It was starting to unnerve her.

 

Naraku glanced up at the trees when she looked away. Truthfully, he had never paid much attention to them before. The aroma coming from the Sakura trees was very delicate, barely detectable. While the lingering scent of the plum trees was strong enough that, even now, he could still smell them easily.

 

“We will be leaving soon,” he watched as she turned back to him with a look of confusion.

 

“We?”

 

He contemplated her for a moment. She was not a simpleton. He was certain telling her a lie would only draw more questions from her. He also realized that no matter what he told her, she couldn't pass the information onto her comrades without first telling them of her relationship with him.

 

“I will be returning you to your well,” at first he had not thought this a good idea. As much as he detested the thought of it, he knew he could not win a battle against her companions in his current condition.

 

However, he had gone to Kanna, and knew that none of them were in the village at the moment so the threat was relatively low. Thankfully, he was still capable of traveling quickly and would not be forced to go by foot.

 

“But I thought…” she went silent again. She remembered he had told her Kagura was the reason for what had happened. It would be foolish to even finish that statement. Had Kagura stayed there, she would no doubt be dead now.

 

“I will be the one returning you,” he stated again flatly. Something about her hesitation left him irritable. The idea that she seemed to want away from him left him feeling slighted.

 

She nodded her head in agreement then took a better look at him. Something about him had changed and it took her a moment to realize what it was. Then she took a step closer to him.

 

“Your eyes are different,” she nearly whispered. Her voice had yet to return fully though Naraku had no trouble understanding her. He watched her closely as she studied him but said nothing.

 

“It's the color,” she found herself growing flustered by his silence once more. She turned her attention back to the trees and away from his eyes that were now a rich brown color, still tinted slightly with a warm shade of red.

 

`Why does he keep looking at me like that?' She thought as she pretended to focus on the foliage around her. `Why won't he just answer me when I say something to him?'

 

Her thoughts came to a startled halt when she felt him take hold of her wrist and pull her hand towards him. The gesture wasn't rough but it was far from gentle. She was about to begin a tirade about his lack of manners when she realized that he was again checking the burns that had been created when she had purified him. She looked down at her hand that was still a little tender but mostly healed.

 

“They're fine, I'm sure no one will even notice it. I have some first aid supplies in my bag so-” she began as her eyes traveled up to meet his.

 

Her words were ended when he brought his lips to her before she even got the chance to register what was happening. Kagome stood perfectly still unsure what else to do. This was how she had always pictured her first kiss. It wasn't frenzied or demanding like before, it was gentle yet sensual enough to let her know there was desire there. The completely unexpected action caused her to soften slightly. He still had a firm hold of her wrist and his other hand quickly wove its way into her hair, holding her still though not hurting her. Nothing about it seemed aggressive, however, which caused her thoughts to quickly evaporate and she began to shyly return the kiss.

 

After a moment he pulled away from her but still said nothing. Without any warning he picked her up and started off, leaving her even more confused than she had been before.

 

Naraku remained silent as he carried her back to her well. He had let his curiosity get the best of him. He was noticing so many new things around him. His changing senses and perception made him feel as though he were experiencing some of the most commonplace things for the first time. The girl's scent had caught his attention once more as she stood there speaking to him, he found himself curious about her taste and touch as well.

 

Not to mention that somewhere in him there was still a dark yearning for her. She had given herself to him and would always belong to him. He very much wanted more from her; but she had refused him and he would never stoop low enough to pleading for her attention, physical or otherwise.

 

He had expected her to pull away from him, to yell or strike out at him. She would, of course, think he was simply trying to lure her to his bed once more and he would say nothing to make her think differently. He would then return her to her well and be rid of her so that he could focus on regaining his strength. However, he found himself completely taken aback when she returned his gesture.

 

He then grew angry at himself, for he had taken pleasure in it. The softness of her lips, the way she relaxed and offered him her affection, had pleased him. It had taken restraint to keep his hands from seeking out the soft touch of her body. Such a weakness was unacceptable. Once he returned her, he would focus on regaining the jewel and his demon blood. She would again be his enemy and he would show her no more mercy than any other.

 

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Author's Note: The “bug” that attacked InuYasha was purely fiction, though I just couldn't resist having an insect take him down. lol

 

The festivals and places Kagome talked about are real. In early spring when the Japanese Plum trees blossom, many Japanese people celebrate with these festivals. Followed by Hanami, which simply means “Cherry Blossom viewing”. Sakura trees only blossom for a short time so this is also a special time in Japan.

 

Finally, Naraku may seem a little OOC, but I'm really trying to demonstrate his loss of control now that he's nearly human and that he still does hold desire for Kagome. Unfortunately, he will be slipping between his typical character and slight ooc, now that he's dealing with human emotions and desires but I have no intention of turning him into some blubbering romantic. Naraku's much more fun when he still has a dark edge to him.