InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Bliss of Nights Forgotten ❯ A Lie that Wounds ( Chapter 9 )

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Last time: "You have a fever, again " he said, emphasizing the last word.

"I'm fine." He glared at her, ending the argument with the angry look in his eyes.

The miko snorted, giving into that particular argument and taking up a new one.

"She's coming with us." She said, nodding towards the pale shivering girl.

Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru didn't argue, he just nodded his head and walked out. Not waiting to see whether or not he was followed.

Chapter 9: A Lie that Wounds

~*~

The oppressive air surrounding the group lifted a little as Inuyasha informed them the castle was just two days away. That fact alone lifted their spirits, if only a little. But it was enough to get them to talk. All except Shippou that is, if it weren't for the fact that he talked in his sleep they would have guessed that he was incapable of speech. Something in him had withered since his separation from Kagome and nothing could seem to replace it.

As they set up camp for the night the young kitsune took his usual place, alone under a tree, and went immediately to sleep. While the others sat around the campfire, more for comfort then warmth. Sango glanced worriedly at Miroku, he hadn't groped her for several days now. He was either sick or really worried about the situation they were in. Oddly enough, Sango didn't know whether to be worried about him or relieved. Just as she was thinking this she felt a familiar hand on her backside, one slap across the houshi's cheek sent him to the ground. Leaving Sango to think she should have been relieved.

~*~

The miko shifted in Sesshoumaru's arms as he carried her back towards his castle. Her skin was unnaturally warm due to her fever and her clothing was damp. It had been by pure luck that he found the cave she had been sleeping in. Four days she had been missing, the rain still hadn't stopped and so he had been left to find her without his keen sense of smell. He was angry that she had left and irritated by the fact it had taken him, the Great Lord of the Western Lands, a full four days to find the girl. Now he was worried about her, she had once again managed to get herself sick; running off into the forest with little protection from the elements. Not to mention the fact that she had only a bow and arrow to protect her from other dangers.

`I feel like an idiot, these women are driving me insane. First Rin with her nonsense and chatter, and now Kagome with all her confusing emotions.' He shook his head, looking down at the sleeping girl in his arms.

`No one has ever angered or irritated me more then this delicate creature here in my arms. Strange that I would also care for her.' He continued to walk, ignoring the pale girl following behind him.

~*~

Although she hated to admit it, she felt comfortable and safe in Sesshoumaru's arms. His steady even breathing and the beat of his heart, she could hear them both as her cheek rested against his chest. Even though his clothes were wet from the rain, Kagome could still feel the heat radiating from his body. Half asleep, her thoughts turned to the silver haired youkai and their relationship. But the sound of coughing caught her ear, and she remembered the girl who had helped her in the cave. As Kagome was about to speak to Sesshoumaru, he stopped and his golden eyes were upon her.

"Can you hold onto me?" Kagome nodded as he put her on her feet, one arm held her waist. He looked back at the coughing girl and beckoned her to come towards them. When she was close enough Sesshoumaru grabbed her around the waist and told her to hold on.

"I. . ." the girl started to speak, a blush covering her pale face but a second later they were in the air, flying towards Sesshoumaru's castle.

~*~

"Yay, another friend for Rin" Rin pranced around the pale girl, cheering and singing all kinds of nonsense.

"Rin." Sesshoumaru said in a warning tone, the girl stopped and went over to hug his leg.

"What's wrong with Kagome Sesshoumaru-sama? Is she sick again?" she looked up worriedly at her sensei that was being carried by the youkai. She had fallen asleep on the trip back.

"Hai, Rin, but she'll be fine. She just needs to rest. Now it's time for you to go to bed." The girl nodded and Jaken came to take her to her room.

Looking a bit confused, the girl just stood before him with her head bowed.

"What's your name?" Sesshoumaru asked, finally acknowledging her existence. She had helped Kagome, and though he hated to admit it, he should be thankful.

She looked at her feet, obviously afraid and unsure of her self in a strange new place. Everything about her radiated kind-hearted innocence and a blush still stained her cheeks though he had released his hold on her ten minutes ago. As amusing as it was to watch her squirm he still had to care for Kagome and his patience was wearing thin.

"Well?" he tried to cover the irritation in his voice, but it seemed to be lost on her and the blush deepened. It was becoming wearisome.

"Oh, gomen nasai, my lord." She bowed low in the traditional style, "I am Kanagawa Yukiko. . ."

He nodded in recognition and continued his questioning.

"And where are you from?" This time she answered immediately, but a look of shame came across her face.

" Okushiri village, my lord. But, I ran away. I. . . I've brought dishonor to my family, because. . . because my father could not find a suitable husband for me. . . You see, I am sick, my lord" as if to confirm the statement a rather violent coughing fit seized her and he called for a maid to bring her a glass of water.

After sipping at the water she continued her story.

"No one in the village would even come near me for fear of catching my illness. Although the healer said it wasn't contagious, I was born with it, my lord." Her head was bowed and he heard her sniffle, feeling uncomfortable at her show of emotion he beckoned for a maid.

"See to it that she has a suitable room and dinner." The maid nodded, taking Yukiko's hand and leading her towards the stairs.

Watching as she climbed the stairs slowly, he realized she had an unusual scent. He had been too concerned for Kagome to realize it until now. She didn't smell completely like a human, there was something else in her scent; something wild and natural that reminded him of the forests and fields, yet he didn't recognize it. Shrugging it off for later consideration his thoughts turned to the bundle in his arms.

Kagome murmured in her sleep and he realized he should get her out of her damp clothing. The thought brought a smirk to his face as he headed up the stairs to his own room with the sleeping miko in his arms.

~*~

Shippou ran through the trees, calling out to her. A frown on the usually happy kitsune's face, she waited at the forests' edge for him. She called out his name when she saw his red hair poking out from some bushes. There were tears in his eyes, and she realized, wiping at her own cheeks, that she was crying as well. Having him so near made her feel like a part of her had been missing all this time. He was her child, in her heart she knew this, nothing could ever replace him.

As he ran towards her she kneeled to put them on the same level. But he seemed to be getting no closer to her, though he ran and called her name. He remained out of reach, and she stood and started to go to him, but no matter how quickly her legs moved she got no closer. All she could do was cry out and call the name of her surrogate son.

"Shippou!" Kagome woke with a start, sitting up in her bed. She was breathing hard and her skin felt clammy. As her eyes adjust to the dark she realized someone was sitting next to her in the bed. She bit her lip nervously and turned towards the figure.

"Sesshoumaru?" she could make out his distinct silver hair and flashing golden eyes.

"Good, the fever broke, I think." His calm voice soothed her, allowing her to relax a little and bringing back the memories of the last few days.

"The girl?" she asked.

"She's safe, I gave her a room down the hall."

Kagome nodded, taking in her surroundings. She was in Sesshoumaru's room, lying in his over-sized bed and wearing a thin white nightgown. She looked at him through the corner of her eyes, had he been the one to change her clothing? The thought made her blush.

"Something wrong?" he inquired, his superior youkai sight allowing him to see the flush on her cheeks even in the dark.

`Ridiculous!" the young miko thought `it's not like he hasn't seen me naked before, and all of a sudden I'm mortified by the thought of him undressing me?' she shook her head to answer his question and looked away.

"ummm I guess I should go back to my room now. . ." as she started to climb out of the bed his arms encircled her waist, pulling her towards him until her back rested on his chest.

`uh oh. . . this isn't good.' He nuzzled her neck, and felt her pulse quicken at the contact.

"Sesshou-" she was cut off by her own moan as his hands moved up to cup her breasts. With one quick motion, his claws ripped through the flimsy fabric, allowing him better access to the soft mounds of flesh.

". . .I don't think this is a good idea." But her body was at odds with her words as she arched into his touch. Clinging to the sheets she desperately fought to keep her mind focused and her will strong. It seemed hopeless; his caresses sent painfully sensuous shivers through her.

A breeze came through the room, blowing through her hair and causing some of his platinum strands to rest on her shoulder. She took some of the silver locks into her hand and stared at them.

`INUYASHA' her mind screamed, and thinking of the hanyou brought her mind crashing back to reality. Not expecting her actions, she was able to pull away from Sesshoumaru and hurried to climb out of the bed.

Her mind now clear, she was able to think, a memory she had dreamed of came to mind and she used that as her weapon.

"Do you remember one night, before I used the shikon no tama, you told me I could never be your mate." He looked puzzled, but she continued " you said I was just a human and I would just grow old and die while you would live forever. I remembered that while I was out there in the forest. You also said you needed a full blooded heir, you wouldn't have a hanyou rule over your lands." She was yelling now, as she wiped tears angrily away from her face.

"To you I am nothing but a weak pathetic human, isn't that right? Well, I don't need you and-" suddenly another memory came to mind and she used it in her little speech.

"Once you asked me if I loved Inuyasha, if I would give up our happiness to bring him back after he died. I didn't have an answer then, but I do now. Yes, I love Inuyasha he can accept me for who I am and he doesn't see me as some useless pathetic creature. I don't love you, I never really did" That lie hurt the most, it wounded her own delicate heart and this time she let the tears slide down her cheeks unchecked.

As she turned to leave, Sesshoumaru grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. He looked calm as always, but something in his eyes looked desperate as if pleading with her.

"If you leave this room now, it will be the end of it. I won't come after you this time. Leave now and you'll be nothing but Rin's teacher." His even tone was at odds with the sickening feeling in his stomach, the rapid beating of his heart. The emotions he had tried to hide for so long were now screaming and pounding at their bonds.

Her face looked anguished and the tears were still flowing as she nodded her head and walked out of the room.

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