InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Green Child ❯ Injection ( Chapter 7 )

A/N: I'll say this. I have absolutely no patience for a Kagome who is such a wimp that she can't do anything to defend herself. Honestly, living in the Feudal Era, and being with the friends she has should toughen anyone up. So probably none of my stories are going to ever have a Kagome who can't kick some serious ass when she needs to. Obviously she's not going to be like Sesshoumaru or InuYasha or anything that intense, but neither will she just sit there and scream while she's being attacked. Otherwise I can't respect her. And how am I supposed to write about a main character I don't respect?

 

This is one of my favorite songs. It's by Rise Against, an amazing band. Check it out!

 

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Last Time:

 

Sesshoumaru grimaced imperceptibly as he left the pavilion where the miko were staying. None of them were present. He snorted in dissatisfaction as he headed toward the entrance to the grounds. How was he supposed to protect the girl if she wasn't here to be protected?

 

He was very near to the gatehouse when his ears picked up a rather loud feminine scream coming from outside the walls. It sounded oddly familiar. Rather like that that of the miko, when she'd fallen into the river...

 

Sesshoumaru transformed his body into a ball of pure white energy and streaked off towards the scream. It appeared that someone had found the girl.

 

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Chapter Seven: Injection

 

This grip loosens but it never breaks
We carry nothing but a name you will forsake
Your words are always there to break my fall
In them I find the comfort to see through it all

Guide me through uncharted waters
Before we lose our way again
Will you be my compass until forever?
Until forever ends?

Knees are weak, hands are shaking, I can't breathe

So give me the drug, keep me alive
Give me what's left of my life
Don't let me go, whooaa
Pull this plug, let me breathe
On my own, I'm finally free
Don't let me go, whooaa

 

“Damn you, wench!” The breath hissed from between the man's teeth as he bent double, clutching himself. Kagome smirked a bit inwardly, but wasted no time in turning quickly away from the man, getting behind him. He wasn't totally out of commission yet. Her arm flew out and the side of her balled fist hit him directly in the kidney. She then twisted her body into a different position and sent a kick to the back of his knee, sending him to the ground. The man grunted as he fell, one hand twisting to belatedly protect his back.

 

Kagome dashed off through the trees immediately as the man fell, two pairs of feet crashing through the forest behind. They were the only two of her assailants standing currently, but the others would probably be after her again soon.

 

Shit, shit, shit! Her loafers, the only article of clothing she still had from the future, slid against the wet leaves on the ground, and she skidded. Her arms pinwheeled as she fought to regain her balance. With a gasp she slipped and fell, landing on her knees. Her head turned; the men were close behind her. She pulled out of her crouch quickly and started forward, but not quite fast enough. With a yell, one of the men jumped forward, tackling her to the ground. She impacted with a thud, the man landing on top of her. Her lower ribcage collided with a blunt rock on the ground, and the air leaving her lungs came out in a gasp. She rolled onto her side as the man slid off her, struggling to breathe. The man's foot planted itself in her stomach, rolling her onto her back.

 

He smirked down at her evilly, his companion leering from behind his shoulder. Loud panting announced the arrival of the other two men, one stepping gingerly, wincing in pain. The first man pressed his foot sharply into her gut. “Nice try, pretty little lady. Really though, you shouldn't have tried to fight. It'll only make it worse for you in the end.” He smiled sickeningly down at her.

 

Kagome gasped in a few deep breaths of air, but then hardened her expression. She refused to give in to this bastard. She took in his position over her, and her lip twitched slightly. Thank God for little brothers to have wrestling matches with. She reached one leg up, hooked it around his, and pulled it out from under him. She rocked forward onto her knees as he toppled and stood quickly, backing away from the other three men advancing on her.

 

Her back hit a tree and she gulped. The three men's expressions looked even less happy than before, and the fourth's face, as he got his feet again, looked positively murderous. Kagome took in a deep breath preparing to scream again. She gasped with pain as her ribs protested. They felt like they were on fire. It was unlikely she'd be able to work up a scream loud enough to attract any help. She grimaced, but stood her ground, prepared to go down fighting. She briefly thanked Miroku and Sango in her mind for teaching her what she knew of hand-to-hand fighting as she took a defensive stance.

 

With a scream of air something like a blinding white meteor hit the forest floor behind her assailants. All of them staggered slightly as wind rushed over them. The white light drew back in on itself, solidifying into a familiar shape.

 

A voice like the ice of a lake frozen in the dead of winter spoke then. “Step away from that girl, you filthy human scum.” He was not shouting, but his voice was not quiet either. His eyes were a burning fiery gold, glowing with an inhuman light. The features of his face were sharply pronounced, and empty of any and all compassion.

 

Three of the men immediately cowered and drew away from her, whimpering quietly. But the man who had tackled her did not. He was shaking in obvious fear, but he refused to move. “Make me, youkai filth.” He spat on the ground at the daiyoukai's feet. Kagome grimaced. Wrong answer, dumbass.

 

An arc of green sliced straight through the man. His mouth opened in involuntary surprise as his torso slid away from the rest of his body. The other three men fled immediately.

 

“Oh God!” Kagome turned away from the corpse, retching slightly as a wave of nausea rolled over her. She didn't vomit though.

 

Kagome was determinedly not looking at the corpse when Sesshoumaru approached her. “Miko, are you alright?” he asked, his eyes glinting. His face was smooth but something about his eyes bespoke an intense anger. This confused Kagome slightly. She closed her eyes, not wanting to think about it. Come to that, she didn't want to think of anything. She still felt like she was going to throw up.

 

“Yeah, no lasting damage here,” she sighed and leaned against the tree, sagging slightly. Adrenaline was coursing through her body, causing her to shake. It was probably rude not to look at him while she spoke, but at the moment, she truly couldn't care less.

 

There suddenly came the sounds of someone else approaching, multiple someones. She opened her eyes again as she heard them stop in the same little clearing. One of the youkai was Yori, flanked by two others. Yori glanced at the fresh corpse, which was leaking blood and random intestines over the dirt. He grimaced distastefully and skirted the pool of blood. “What happened here, Sesshoumaru-sama? Miko-sama?” he asked, his eyes flickering to Kagome's face before focusing on Sesshoumaru for an answer.

 

Sesshoumaru turned to Kagome instead, looking at her pointedly. She acquiesced to his unspoken demand and spoke quietly. “I was on my way to the village, as you know Yori-san. They approached me without my knowledge and attacked. I managed to evade them for a time, fighting them off, but they cornered me here. They were very nearly upon me before Sesshoumaru-sama appeared.” She nodded to daiyoukai.

 

Sesshoumaru started in then. “The other three ran towards the village. Catch them, and bring them back to Kinjyoutouchi. They shall be dealt with severely,” he ordered. Yori bowed deeply, and turned back to his men. He nodded to Kagome as he passed. They disappeared into the trees almost immediately.

 

Sesshoumaru regarded her for a moment, and she met his gaze with a tired one of her own. “Come, I shall escort you back. Your wounds must be examined.” He turned away from her, moving surely towards the gate. Kagome followed after a moment, and sprinted to draw even with him. She swallowed and tried not to breathe as she passed the cooling body.

 

He spoke to her while looking straight ahead. “It seems unsafe for you to leave the grounds unaccompanied, Miko. When you exit in future, you will be escorted by either myself or a guard appointed by myself.”

 

Kagome frowned. That sounded way too much like an order for her tastes. But then something about what he'd said struck her. “Wait a minute. You'll be escorting me? Shouldn't you have underlings of some sort to do that kinda thing?” she asked, looking up at him. Dear God, he was tall.

 

He was still not looking at her as he replied. “My father has instructed that I am to see to your protection personally.”

 

Huh? I haven't even met his father yet. That's more than a little bit odd. “Why would your father care about my personal protection?” she asked.

 

“You are potentially a powerful ally for our house. We cannot allow our allies to come to harm while they reside with us,” he said. His face was blank as he spoke, but there was something, Kagome didn't know what, that seemed to say that he was holding information back. She huffed. Well fine. He could keep his secrets.

 

She walked beside him, keeping a stony silence. But it irked her, the silence. She didn't like it. It felt awkward. Her hands clasped against the skirt of her kimono, fidgeting with the material.

 

“So...How ya doin'?” she asked as they stepped from the trees, back onto the road that led to the gates. Kagome's voice was more than a bit shaky, and a blush ran like wildfire straight up over her face as soon as she spoke. Oh God, I sound like such an idiot!

 

He turned to her, one eyebrow raised. He turned away again. One side of his lips twitched upward, just a hair.

 

“I am quite well. And yourself? Have you recovered from the shock?” His voice held a small trace of amusement.

 

Kagome glanced at him sharply. He'd actually replied. That was unexpected. “Um, I suppose so. Still a bit jittery.” She grinned.

 

He nodded and continued on in silence. Kagome sighed. Well, there goes that conversation. It surprised her when he spoke up again.

 

“I could tell that those men were not unscathed when I arrived. It seems that you defended yourself quite well.” There was a question unasked behind his words.

 

Kagome spoke up quickly to answer. “Before I joined Chinatsu, my...traveling companions were all skilled fighters. There was a houshi, a taijiya, a hanyou, and a couple of youkai. They taught me a bit about fighting. I don't know very much though. And I can't use any weapons, other than my bow.”

 

He seemed slightly surprised. “You, a miko, and a demon slayer also, traveled with youkai? And a monk and hanyou besides. That is,” he pondered for a moment, “unusual.”

 

“You shouldn't judge people based on what they are born,” Kagome replied, her voice just a little bit sharp. “I've never had any problem with youkai. Yes, they can be evil. But so can humans.” She pointed over her shoulder as she spoke. “What about those bastards who attacked me? People are more than just their race. Stereotyping is stupid. And irritating.” Her eyebrows drew together as she frowned.

 

Sesshoumaru regarded her for a moment, but kept his silence, not denying what she said. They were almost to the first gate before he spoke again. “You said that you are not well trained? Perhaps we should rectify that situation. I'll see about it.” He looked thoughtful.

 

“What do you mean,” she asked. “Are you going to have me trained, or something?”

 

He ignored her question. “It would be best if you didn't try to journey to the village again today. If you wish, you'll be escorted down tomorrow. I'll see to it.”

 

“Okay then. I guess that'll work,” Kagome said. He nodded and turned away. Kagome stared at his back as he walked away from her. After a short moment, she shook herself, and followed.

 

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“OW!” Kagome's yell rang out, loud enough for probably all youkai in Kinjyoutouchi to hear. Bloody hell! That stings! She grimaced and tried to wiggle away.

 

Chinatsu smacked her on the back of the head, none too gently. “Stop moving,” the miko ordered. “It'll just hurt more if you continue to agitate yourself.” She pressed the compress more firmly against Kagome's ribcage.

 

Luckily, none of her ribs had broken when she'd fell. But they had been bruised pretty badly. She'd be tender for at least a week. She grumbled to herself in irritation, and hissed between clenched teeth as Chinatsu wrapped her ribs.

 

She could have used her power to heal the bruising, but Chinatsu had talked her out of it. She insisted that you should never deplete your energy to do a task that a few herbs can accomplish just as well. She hadn't even let her numb the pain, muttering about younglings with no tolerance for a bit of hurt. But she did give Kagome an unknown herb to eat after she'd sat up and put her shirt back on. It was supposed to reduce pain. Kagome gagged at the bitter taste, but swallowed it anyway. Then she groaned and leaned back against the tatami. She stared at the latticework of beams that made up the ceiling, and silently cursed all bandits who saw fit to attack young women. Chinatsu left her where she lay, returning to where Cho was sorting herbs.

 

Kagome's thoughts wandered, drifting from subject to subject, until they snagged on the daiyoukai. It was odd, how easily she'd been able to talk to him. Back in the Feudal Era, she'd never actually spoken to him. She'd shouted at him across a battlefield and such as that, but never had a conversation with the guy. She'd never really wanted to either. What would be the point?

 

But here, he wasn't exactly the same youkai that she'd known. He was...different. More open, maybe? Definitely less hateful of humans, it seemed. At least, he seemed more accepting of her. But then again, here he saw her as a powerful priestess, possibly an ally to his family. Not the pitiful little human girl tagging along at his half-brother's heels. So maybe he just respected her, and not humans in general. He hadn't seemed all too accepting of humans when those men had attacked her earlier. He'd referred to them as `scum.' But then again, he'd been saving her from the bastards at the time, so he wouldn't have a high view of them at the time.

 

Then Kagome jolted out of her reverie, suddenly angry at herself. He had saved her, and she hadn't given him a single word in thanks. Nice going, Kagome. Well, she'd remember to thank him properly when she saw him next. Which would probably be tomorrow, when she tried to actually make it to the village. Ugh, this ought to be fun.

 

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A/N: I know I said end of the week, but hey, it's still the weekend. I just had to post it tonight. Didn't want to disappoint all you awesome people! Two updates within a 7-day period! That's totally a record, and I expect lots of pretty reviews in return. ^-~

 

Alright, a couple of people have pointed out my slip using Kagome's name in dialogue in a previous chapter. I sent one of them a message, clarifying that and other points about Kagome's name. I figured that I should probably clarify it for everyone else, as well. Here ya go:

 

If you remember, when Kagome and Cho first met, Cho chose to call Kagome Midori, because her skirt was green. That's all Cho has ever called her. Chinatsu also addresses Kagome as such. The times where they called her Kagome were just an error on my part that I didn't catch when I was reading through my work. I'm sorry for the confusion! I think I need to find myself a beta. XD Now, Kagome has chosen to be called Midoriko. She told Chinatsu so in chapter 5, after it was decided that they would come to Kinjyoutouchi. Kagome has somewhat accepted that she is Midoriko, and knows that she needs to be known as such. Chinatsu however, has stated her preference to continue to call Kagome 'Midori.' If they are with others, however, she will be called Midoriko. I hope this helps clear it all up a bit!

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, and will have a good week. Cheers peeps! Leave a review before you trot off elsewhere!

 

Ja ne!