InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Huge Book of Fairy Tales...Sort of ❯ Donkey Skin...Sort of: Part 6 ( Chapter 10 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

AN: Heya, here’s the final part of Donkey Skin. Finally, this was only supposed to be three parts long and it ended up being 6 chapters. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the final installment (ohhh big word) of Donkey Skin...Sort of. But before we get into that, here’s the replies to the wonderful people who bother to leave a review.
Unpredictable- Sorry if I didn’t update fast enough for you.
SilverxTears10- Ahhhhhh thanks Kassie.
EyesxForxStriking- Gee I wonder why it sounded so good? (Thanks again for that) Thanks, I through I should have had Sango beat the guy up a little more through, but whatever. And when you weren’t expecting the thing with Kikyo did you mean you didn’t expect how she found out or that she’s a really, really, really, really old hag in this fic? (Which was a very good idea if I say so myself)
Kari- Thanks, and since this is the last part he should be finding out soon. (But not before I torture him a bit first. Mwhahahaha)
Chickeninuyasha- Thanks, and I know I was gone for a long time. I forgot how good it felt to write. Hope you like this last part as much as the rest of the story.
Angel Shippo- Thanks, and I hope you buy all the Inuyasha stuff your heart desires.
Inu Youkai Gurl- Don’t worry I didn’t skip the last part of Donkey Skin. And I looked for your stories and I didn’t see any. (And I haven’t been on FF.net for awhile so I might have missed them.) Oh and please try not to kill your computer. Computers get mad when you do that and freeze up on you a lot. (I should know, damn my computer.)
Anime-maniac-1001- Don’t worry I know what you mean. I wasn’t planning on leaving it off like that but I was feeling really evil that day. (My demon from hell brother’s friend poured soda all over my head, stupid moronic idiot)
Kurimuson Chisho- Don’t worry it might take me awhile but I’ll finish all the stories I start. And thanks for the story you sent me, I’m thinking about using that one next. What?- Sorry about not putting the lemon alerts up. I’ll make sure to do it this time if I put any lemons in.
ILOVEInuyasha07- Don’t we all wish that? And there’s probably going to be a lot of fluff, so much fluff and sweetness some people might choke on it. (Don’t sue me if that happens through, I’m dirt poor) And so far I’m planning on killing Hojo, but I’m not sure yet (I might change my mind again about that. I’ll just have to see how I feel at the end of this chapter) And Kikyo’s not going to die, I have...better plans for her in mind (MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!)
Psycobookcollector- Thanks, and I actually have a break so that’s why I’m here and not drowning underneath a pile of papers.
Photographing Poetry- Not to long hopefully. And if I’m lucky this chapter might be as long. (Sorry if that’s bad for you)
KawaiiInuEars45- Sorry I took so long, I’ll try not to take so long next time.
Aelita-Kresta- Oh sorry, what freaked you out?
Mediaminer- (Yes, a few people actually reviewed, and no, the world isn’t ending.)
Leanne5582- I know I haven’t updated Snow White, I’m a evil horrible geek I know. I had this really great idea but stupid me didn’t write it down and I forgot it with all this work I had to do. If you have any ideas feel free to tell me (and pray my teachers cool it for a few days, at least so I can write) Whenever you get around to reading this I hope you enjoy the stories. Thanks for liking Snow White.
Ej- Thanks, I was thinking of using Kouga but I like him to much to be this much of a jerk.
Evangeline_Lily- Thanks, glad to know the story line is a little original at least. And I’m done talking! ...well almost.
Just in case anyone cares, the next fairy tale I write is either a modern version of Cinder Maid (This is different then Cinderella and I’m doing a long one of that.) Or one a reviewer suggested. Just though I should let you guys know in case you had something you wanted to add or say or suggest.
Ok now I’m done.
Disclaimer- I don’t own Inuyasha but do you think their wonderful creator would give me one of them at least? And I don’t own Donkey Skin, and would rather own Naraku then any of the original characters.

Sango and Miroku~
Miroku looked over Sango from a distance as she talked to a monk worriedly. It had been three days since Sango had heard about her friend Kagome being hunted down by Hojo. She hadn’t been eating or resting well and he had to force her to get some sleep last night when she wanted to keep looking for her. She was starting to look pale and the shadows under her eyes became darker everyday. She was going to kill herself if she kept working like this.
He saw Sango bow to the monk and walk over to him. “We’re on the right track, the monk said he saw a young woman in a donkey skin go by here two or three weeks ago.”
“Good, then we have time to stop and eat something.”
“Miroku-”
“No. You’ve been pushing yourself to hard Sango. You need to work up some strength. What if Kagome needs you to fight for her but you have no energy?” Miroku asked ruthlessly. Sango glared at him. “Fine I saw a clearing in the woods when we were on Kirara. Might as well eat there.”
They climbed on Kirara and flew there, Sango clutching onto Miroku’s staff a little tighter then usual. Kirara flew down into a flat, plain green grass clearing and Sango took some bread and cheese out of a bag she carried around and leaned against Kirara to eat it. A twig snapped and Sango and Miroku tensed up, grabbing whatever weapon was closest to them. Someone laughed and they stood up, Sango gripping her sword and her free hand going to the boomerang that lay on her back and Miroku holding up his staff. Figures started to appear from the shadows of the forest and Sango let out a sigh to see they were only bandits.
“Well, well look what we have here boys.” a man said who Sango assumed to be the leader. Miroku sighed and Sango rolled her eyes.
“Isn’t that line a little overused? All we ever hear when a few low class thieves show up is something that sounds like that. Are your brains so fried you can’t come up with something more original?” Sango asked tiredly.
“Yes, something like ‘if you want to wake up again in the morning you’ll give us all the loot and the girl.” Miroku suggested helpfully.
“I don’t know Miroku, I’ve heard a few people use that one. And bandits wanting girls to turn into sex slaves is getting old to. Why don’t they ever want boys?”
“Because most bandits are men, my dear. And besides, do you want to see me with anyone besides you?” Miroku asked, sending a wounded puppy dog look her way. “And if I wasn’t around who else could make you scream so loud when I-“
”Ok enough!” The boss roared. “Just give us the damn weapons, supplies, the girl and because you’re annoying me I’ll take the big furball to.” Kirara hissed at the bandit and Sango drew her sword.
“Hey Miroku, let me beat this one up? I promise you can have the next ugly robber we come across.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely...”
“That’s it, you’re dead!” the bandit roared and started to run towards her swinging a club studded with spikes over his head. Sango neatly blocked his club with her sword, broke the hand swinging it with one slam of her Hiraikotsu and swept him onto his back after kicking his kneecaps from behind. She pointed the swords tip at his throat.
“Anything else you want to try before I leave? No hidden daggers up your sleeve? No bandit waiting nearby to shot me with a poisoned dart? No orders for any of your group to attack me?”
“Get the bitch!” He yelled and she sighed again when three bandits rushed her at once. She took up her boomerang and swiftly hit their legs with it, sending them flying to the ground. “Anyone else want to try? My Hiraikotsu has plenty of room left for some more blood stains.” she offered cheerfully. The bandits looked away from her gaze quickly, staring at the ground.
“The boss hasn’t had to much luck with female lately as he?” a young bandit asked the man next to him. “First that weirdo with the donkey skin and now this Amazon bitch.”
Sango froze before leaping over the bandit at her feet and kicking the younger one to the ground, jumping on him, one foot on his chest and the other lightly on his throat.
“Get off.” the man rasped. “Please.”
“I’ll be glad to has soon as you tell me everything you know about the ‘weirdo in the donkey skin’” She pressed down lightly on his throat when he looked over at his boss who Miroku was now standing over in her absence.
“Just a little more pressure on your throat and I’ll crush your windpipe. Tell me what I want to know while you still have the air to do it.” Sango commanded pressing down a little harder.
He gasped. “The boss saw this strange wench wearing a donkey skin cape a few weeks ago. He wanted her but then a demon showed up and threw him off her.”
“What did this demon look like?”
“Long white hair, gold eyes, dog ears. He was a half demon I think.” The man forced out desperately.
“Do you know what he did with her?”
“No, we ran away after he beat up the boss.” She nodded and stepped off him. He gratefully gasped for air as she walked back to Kirara, ignoring the rest of the bandits and fingering her sword lovingly in case they wanted to try something.
“Let’s go.” she said and climbed on Kirara. Miroku stabbed his staff into the head bandit’s stomach and walked away when he was sure he was to busy gasping for breath to try and attack them.
“Have Kirara bring us to a inn in the next village.” Miroku ordered.
“Are you insane? It’s still day and we have to find this demon!”
“No we don’t, I know who he is.”




Kagome~

I tried to walk as quietly as I could into the kitchen to try and avoid Kikyo. For the last week she’s been in a really bad mood, she’s been banging pots and pans so much a few have started to get dents in them, she snapped at her favorite suck ups, she finally went a bit far with the stuff in the guests food causing a few to get sick and I haven’t even been able to yawn without getting a smack across the head for not being awake enough. And she hasn’t let me go anywhere outside the house, she makes Wakana and Satsuki do all my outside chores like feeding and watching livestock, cleaning and other mindless tasks she saves for me. And I swear she’s been sleeping in the hall across from my room at night.
And her snores are loud enough to wake the dead, Kami help me.
Because of Kikyo watching me like a hawk I hadn’t been able to see Inuyasha once. I wasn’t mad at him any more for lying to me (I hadn’t told him the truth either) but I knew I had to give him his ring back. If what Sayo said was true I wasn’t safe here anymore. It was only a matter of time before Hojo found me and I don’t want Inuyasha to get hurt because I was to much of a fool to say no to Hojo the first time. And it wasn’t fair for me to leave him with some hope that we would meet again because I knew once I stepped of the shores of my land I wasn’t coming back.
I felt tears in my eyes and ruthlessly wiped them away. I couldn’t believe I had once dreamed of leaving Japan to go see some far off place that would never bring me the joy my land gave me. If I could go back and do it all again....
No, I don’t wish that. If anything had been different I never would have met Inuyasha. And I never would have fallen in love with him.
I sighed quietly just in case Kikyo could hear me and stoked the ring at my neck through the donkey skin. I owed it to him to tell him we could never be, I had to leave to protect myself, him, and my Japan. If Hojo through for one moment I was with Inuyasha, prince of the West, he would start a war with him to get me back. And I refuse to become some Helen of Troy, willing to let my people and other innocents fight for my selfish desires. No, I had to leave.
“Jackass!” A heavy hand slapped the back of my head. “What the hell are you doing standing around? Get to work!” Kikyo yelled, pointing to a mountain of dishes to be washed.
I rubbed the back of my head and without even looking at her walked over to the sink, knowing just a quarter of all these dishes would take me half the night. Lately Kikyo had been making all this food that took a lot of pots and pans to cook with, and a lot of plates to eat with. I don’t understand her anymore, I could see why she made me wash every single dish if she wanted to torture me but she’s always nearby, watching me with those small black eyes surrounded by fat. It’s just really...weird. She’s planning something, I just don’t know what. If I wasn’t thinking about Inuyasha all the time I would be worried about her.
But the only person I’m worried about is Inuyasha.
I touched Inuyasha’s ring once more before starting to wash the first plate.



Sango and Miroku~

Sango watched in interest as Miroku kneeled in front of a mirror propped up against the wall of the room they had rented for the night. He finished the end of his chant and the blue light around him faded as he opened his eyes and unclasped his hands. He looked over and grinned at her.
“See? Nothing to it. Now all I have to do is say the demons name and we’ll see him in whatever mirror he’s closest to.”
He waited for her to throw her arms around him and coo about what a wonderful, smart, powerful monk he was but she scowled,
“What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Say the damn demon’s name!” she yelled.
Miroku shook his head sadly. “ Not even a little gratitude.” he muttered under his breath. He turned his attention to the mirror. “Prince Inuyasha of the West.” he said.
The mirror’s surface glowed blue until it slowly showed a picture of a bedroom that looked like it hadn’t been clean in a week and had sake bottles littered all over it.
“Inuyasha?” Miroku called out cautiously. “Are you in there?”
He winched when he heard a crash, a heavy thump and muttered cursing. Inuyasha appeared in view on the mirror, swaying and carrying a bottle of sake in both hands. His silver hair looked like a rat’s nest, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had sake and food stains all over his clothing. He took another swing from the sake bottle and looked around before his gaze landed on Miroku in the mirror.
“Roku!” he said happily and swayed heavily over. He frowned and tapped the smooth glass of the mirror. “What’ca doing in there?” He took on a murderous expression. “I swear to Kami buddy, that if you’ve been trapped by the evil Lady Sesshomaru into that little itty bitty space I’ll break you out!” He dropped a sake bottle and raised a fist, swinging a punch at the mirror but missed and broke a hole into the wall just below it.
“...ahh oops, don’t worry Miroku! I won’t leave you in there where the Lady Sesshomaru can force you to bear her children.” he slurred and raised his fist again.
“No! Truly Inuyasha, that evil witch has not imprisoned me. I’m perfectly fine. I just wanted to talk to you.”
Inuyasha brightened and took another swing from the other sake bottle. “Really? That’s good, no one wants to talk to me. Shippo’s mad at me. Sess is mad at me, Jaken’s mad at me because Sess is mad at me and he can’t shut his fucking mouth about the man lady. Donkey’s mad at me and...and...and..Kagome left me!” Inuyasha wailed. “Why did she leave me, huh Miroku? Wasn’t I good enough for her? Didn’t she like me just a little? Do you think it was my ears? Because I thought she loved my ears!” he cried and finished off the sake bottle and groping around for another one. “Wait...maybe Donkey loved my ears. But it doesn’t matter about her because she doesn’t like me either! Why did they leave me? Didn’t they know I loved them? I love Donkey!...no Kagome, no wait Donkey, I don’t know anymore!” Inuyasha cried again before bringing the sake bottle in his lips.
Sango had dug her fingers hard enough in Miroku’s arm to draw blood by this point. He winched and slowly pried her fingers off while Inuyasha drank a bottle and took another one.
“Who’s this Donkey Inuyasha? You didn’t know her last time I talked to you.” he said carefully.
Inuyasha smiled before taking a huge gulp of sake, “Met her on the road, she totally kicked this demon’s ass, it was so freaking hot. Would have been hotter if she wasn’t wearing that damn cape. She helped Shippo to, and he’s almost in love with her. But she’s mad at me because I didn’t tell her I was royalty. And I haven’t seen her at all since she yelled at me to go away.” he whimpered and dropped his sake bottle on the ground and grabbed another one. “Do you think she meant it? Maybe she really doesn’t want to see me again.” he said sadly, his eyes filling up with tears.
“And I don’t know where Kaggy is since she ran away from me.” he whined and took another swing from the sake bottle.
Miroku glanced over at Sango and saw her gripping her hands painfully, not letting her eyes leave Inuyasha’s face.
“You know I asked her to marry me. Well it wasn’t really like that but close enough.” Inuyasha continued. “I gave her a ring, maybe she ran because she didn’t like the ring?” he asked himself. “Maybe I was better off with Donkey, maybe Kaggy’s to pretty for me.” He looked up at Miroku suddenly, the sake in his hand forgotten. “I want her back Miroku, I want them both back.” he said fiercely.
He laughed hollowly. “It’s almost funny, I can have any woman I want, and I usually do but the woman I want doesn’t want me.” he took another swallow from his sake.
“Inuyasha, where’s Donkey now?”
Inuyasha shrugged “Still working in the kitchens if Kikyo hasn’t killed her yet.”
Sango gasped and Inuyasha looked over at her. “Oh who’s your friend Miroku?” He shook a finger at him. “I hope you having been acting like a pervert Roku.”
“I’ve been on my best behavior. Where are you Inuyasha? I want to help you mend bridges with this Donkey and help you track down Kagome.”
Inuyasha’s golden red eyes got watery again. “You would come and help me? Gee thanks Miroku, you’re a real pal. I’m at that farm. You know, the royal one.” he said and started swaying again as he sniffed.
“Ok then, Inuyasha we’ll be there in two or three days, but I want you to promise me you’ll stop drinking. I want you sober by the time I get there.” he ordered.
Inuyasha pouted like a child and looked longingly at the sake. “But when I drink I can see Kagome’s face or Donkey’s eyes.” he said sadly.
“Don’t worry Inuyasha, I’ll help you get them back, but I’ll need your help to. And you don’t want to be in the middle of a hangover when you see Kagome again do you?” he asked gently.
Inuyasha shook his head and threw the bottle against the wall. “You’re right Miroku. I’m gonna go now because I think I’m going to pass out. See you in a coupla days.”
Miroku and Sango watched as he crashed head first to the floor and the mirror went blank.
“Well we know where Kagome is now. Now let’s see what the innkeeper made for dinner.” Miroku said and rubbed his hands greedily at the thought of food.
He grunted when Sango flung herself into his arms and nearly cut off his air supply when she hugged him tight.
“Thank you so much Miroku, I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.” she said against his neck. As quickly as she had jumped into his arms she got up and reached for her weapons.
“I have to go and find Kag now, I should be able to get at least a quarter of the way by-“ The chain flared to life and Sango stopped short.
“Miroku. You have to let me go one day.” she said quietly.
He got up and put his arms around her, holding on stubbornly. “No. Not until you promise you’ll give me a chance.”
“Miroku. I can’t. Getting Kagome to safety has to be my first concern. And...I don’t know if I’m ever coming back to Japan. You know Kag can’t be here unless Hojo is dead and I’ll be in a lot of trouble if I kill him myself. Besides, I can’t deprive his people of a leader even if he makes a bad father.”
“Fine. Then I’ll come with you.”
“What?” she whirled around to face him. “Miroku you can’t leave, this is your homeland!”
“So? It’s yours to.”
“It’s different.”
“Look Sango, you’ve affected me like no woman has before. I’m not willing to let you go.”
“I’ve affected you? You make me sound like some kind of drug!” she accused.
He laughed softly and drew her against his chest again to whisper in her ear. “You are, the worst kind of drug possible. I can’t go a day without needing to see you, feel you, taste you.” He nibbled her earlobe lightly. “I would sell my soul to never be cured of you.” he said and slowly kissed her as all thoughts of dinner flew out of his head.
She moaned as he slowly took the weapons from her grasp and tossed them to the side somewhere before lowering her to the ground.
“What about dinner?” she moaned as he pressed kisses all over her neck and collarbone.
“We’ll get the innkeeper to bring some up later.” he said roughly before taking her mouth again.



Hojo, the Next Morning~

“Your Highness?” one of Hojo’s men asked him as he stepped inside his tent and bowed before the king eating his breakfast. “One of the men says the weather up ahead will clear up by mid afternoon and if we leave in a hour or so we’ll get to the village in two and a half days.”
Hojo carefully dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Good, the sooner we get that runaway bitch back, the sooner I can force my heir on her and dispose of her.”
The solider smirked. “We get a piece of her after you’re finished with her right?” he asked.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Hojo said impatiently. “Get the men and the horses ready, you may pack my tent up in a hour.”
The solder bowed and walked out the door to let the others know of the change of plans and the promise of Kagome when the king was done with her. Hojo stood up and walked over to the corner of his tent where a picture of a woman with long black hair and blue eyes who smiled happily, dressed in the finest kimono money could buy, was propped up on a stand. Hojo trailed his finger lovingly down the woman’s cheek.
“Oh Mayu, I wonder sometimes if you would still love me if you were still here with me. I know I’ve become a hard man, but all I want is to fulfill the last thing you ever asked of me and looking out for our kingdom together.” He smiled sadly and moved his hand to her lips. “I had that dream again last night, the one about you and the child we never had together. Oh Kami, I miss you so much still. I miss your laugh, the way your eyes would sparkle with the slightest bit of happiness, the way your hair smelled after you had just come back from walking in the rain, how my lips would warm up under yours, how your love seemed to brighten up every little piece of the world. All I can do is carry out your last wish, but why do I still feel so empty when all I’m trying to do is make you happy?” he stared longingly at the painting, hoping for some sign from his long dead wife.
But none had come, and he hadn’t expected any to either.
He swallowed the lump down in his throat and spun away from the picture and strode angrily out of his tent. The small group of men with him stopped what they had been doing and bowed to him.
“Pack up my tent, saddle my horse, we leave in fifteen minutes.”
His men cheered as he snapped his fingers and his pages came running up to hand him his sword and amour.
Enjoy these last two days Kagome, he through silently, because when I come for you, you’ll wish you had never been born.




Shippo, Two Days Later, Early Morning~

Shippo stared sadly through the kitchen window where Kagome covered in her donkey skin was being yelled at by Kikyo for being a lazy ass. His little fists clenched when Kikyo slapped the back of her head and forced her to wash the kitchen floors after she made breakfast. He hated the way Kikyo treated Kagome, but he was afraid to tell Inuyasha in case he was still drunk. Or hung over.
Which was worse then just being drunk because a demon with a hangover would kill you if he thought you looked at him funny.
Kikyo turned and Kagome stroked her ring though the donkey skin behind her back. Shippo glanced at the ring and then at the baking food behind her, a plan slowly forming in his head.

Kagome~

I eyed Kikyo warily as she went around the kitchen making breakfast for the guests. Her movements were jerky, she hadn’t added anything weird to the guests food and her eyes reminded me of a rabid dog a few guards had to put down when I had been a child. She kept glancing at the door and then glared at me, fingering a butcher knife she had her left hand curled tightly around. I just tried to sink deeper into my hood and avoid her gaze whenever it landed on me.
“Jackass! Wash faster you slow moron!” she screamed at me, her finger slowly going up and down the blade.
I hunched my shoulders and rubbed the rag around the dish faster. She drew in a breath to yell again but was distracted by Wakana bouncing in.
“Good morning Kikyo! Did you hear about-“
”I DON’T CARE!” Kikyo screamed at the top of her lungs, and wrapped her hands so hard around the knifes blade, she cut her palm.
“DAMN IT YOU MORON, DID YOU SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO?” she yelled at Wakana who was cowering against the door. She cursed under her breath as she took a closer look at it. “You little fool, I need to have this looked at now!” she yelled as she wrapped a rag around her bleeding palm.
A throat cleared behind us and we all turned to see a short green little demon standing in the doorway. Kikyo quickly started to bow respectfully towards him.
“Master Jaken, how can I help you?” she asked with her eyes cast down.
Only someone who had spent a lot of time around her would know she was mentally asking ‘what the fuck do you want, you damn toad?’.
The toad demon cleared his throat again and tapped the staff he carried once against the ground. “The Great, Wise, Powerful, Wonderful, Strong, Handsome Lord Sesshomaru of the Vast, Rich and Mighty West commands some of your servants to go out and look for his younger brother Lord Shippo who has become lost. He also orders that you make his younger bother Lord Inuyasha his favorite kind of angel food cake with three kinds of chocolate butter cream icing with strawberries, raspberries and whipped cream. He also requires you to make him a hang over cure. That will be all.” Jaken finished in his high pitched voice and knocked his staff against the floor on more time before leaving. I hid a grin when I saw something under his robes move and hoped Kikyo didn’t notice.
Kikyo cursed as soon as she was sure he was gone, the rag around her hand growing darker with her blood. “Damn it! I don’t have time for this! You, get the other idiot who tags along with you and search the woods for that little brat.” she shouted at Wakana who was still shaking. She turned to face me and I had to remind myself not to run. “And you. I don’t have time to cook for that spoiled drunk , you bake the cake and the hangover cure but I swear to fucking Kami, if you step outside for even less then a second I’ll whip you for so long and so hard all those other slaps will seem like love pats. Got it?” she snarled.
I nodded and she glared at Wakana, making her scamper out of the kitchen as fast as her legs could carry her and slapped the back of my head one last time before stalking out of the kitchen. I put the dishes I was washing down and walked over to the cabinet, hoping a recipe book would be in there. I grinned when I heard a tapping at the window and opened it to let Shippo in.
“Did you bring me those recipes Shippo?” I asked and smirked when he guiltily handed over two slips of paper.
“How did you know it was me? I thought I did Jaken’s hero worship of Sess really, really good.” he whined.
“Inuyasha’s a dog, he can’t have much chocolate, oh and try to hide your tail better. Nice Jaken impression though.” He beamed as I started looking for a bowl.
He glanced at the sky. “Don’t worry about my cake yet, just make that cure for Inuyasha because he’s scary when he’s drunk.”
“Scary bad?” I asked out of concern.
He shook his head, “Scary weird. He keeps going on and on about how Sesshomaru is a cruel man lady who wants to get men pregnant with his evil love child who will then go on to take over the world and get rid of ramen. He get’s really scared when he thinks of that.” Shippo explained seriously.
I waited a beat. “Yeah, let me get that cure over to him.” I looked at the recipe. “This is for tea.” I said slowly.
Shippo took a tea cup out for me. “Yeah but you add ginseng to it, and it helps a lot. Inuyasha should almost be better, so this should cure him.”
I shrugged and started to boil water for his tea and hunted around for ginseng.
“So besides lying to the servants, and probably annoying your brother what have you been doing?” I asked as I poured the water into the cup.
“Oh a little of this, a little of that. Hey Donkey can you take your hood down? No one’s coming and I hate it when you have the donkey head over your face.”
I looked at him, about to refuse but something in his face stopped me. I sighed and silently calling myself a fool I pulled the hood down. He beamed at me and jumped onto my shoulder.
“Thanks Donkey.” he said happily and started to play with my chain.
“Be careful with that Shippo.” I warned.
“Trust me, it’ll be fine.” he said soothingly and waited as I mixed the ginseng to the tea.
“Hey Kagome, isn’t that Wakana?” Shippo asked. I groaned and pulled my hood over my head before her or Satsuki could see me.
“I’ll take this to Inuyasha. I’ll be back for my cake, so you better not go anywhere before it’s done.” Shippo said, carefully picking up the tea cup.
“Watch the tone Shippo.”
He pouted. “I’m sorry, will you please make me a cake?”
I smiled. “Yes, now go give that to Inuyasha. I’m afraid to imagine what he’s doing to his poor servants while they try to take care of him.”
He grinned again and cheerfully skipped out the door and I looked at the recipe Shippo gave me.
But for some strange reason I could have sworn I heard someone snickering evilly out in the hallway.

Shippo~

Shippo waited till he was out in the hall when he slipped the ring he had stolen from around Kagome’s neck into the drink. Now all he had to do was pass the drink off to Inuyasha, he would choke on the ring and go on a rampage to find out who made the tea.
Shippo chuckled, Kami he was so brilliant.
Now to drop off the tea so he could go distract that healer.

Mayu (Heaven)~

Silent tears poured down Queen Mayu’s face as she watched her husband lead his small army into the West where her adopted daughter Kagome was. She couldn’t believe he would go this far to keep a promise when all she wanted was for it to insure his happiness.
And judging by his hollowed cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and the black marks under his eyes it was only bringing him misery.
And her poor Kagome, how could Hojo put her through this?
Oh Kami, she would give anything to have never asked Hojo that promise.
A mirror showed Hojo traveling down a road and another showed Kagome clothed in a donkey skin baking a cake. He was less then three hours away and Inuyasha still didn’t know who she was.
If there was any chance left of saving her husband’s soul she had to do something now.
She gathered up all the power available to her and sent it shooting down to earth, hoping it would reach its mark.

Hojo~

Hojo slowed his horse when it started to whine and get skittish. The rest of his men slowed as well and placed their hands on the hilts of their weapons as they spread out in a loose circle around their king. He heard low laughter coming from the trees and drew his sword when men started to step out of the shadows of the forest. He jerked when a drop of water splattered on his hand and glanced up at the sky to see if it was about to rain. No other drops followed and he cautiously brought his hand up to his mouth to taste the drop.
He tasted salt.
He jerked again and looked around. He drew air deep into his lungs and would have sworn on his life Mayu’s jasmine scent lingered in the air.
He forced himself back to the present and stared at the men who had surrounded them. A few of them looked like they had gotten into a fight recently and were badly bruised. The man he guessed was their leader had a sling cradling his hand and few bruises on his face. Another one further back had what looked like a boot imprint on their throat.
He scowled and held a sword up pointing at them. “I don’t care who the hell you are, why the hell you’re here, or if you’re fucking Kami himself. I’m in a shitty mood and I’m beating someone up if it kills me.” He growled and his men mumbled in agreement.
Hojo smiled and it must have scared the bandit leader because he paled and backed up a few steps.
“I’m certain your deaths can be arranged. Gentlemen, would you care to help me wipe this trash from the earth’s surface?” Hojo asked mildly and his men laughed and drew their swords.
The robbers screamed and ran to attack him.

Inuyasha and Shippo~

Shippo paused outside Inuyasha’s door, wondering if it would be safer to make a servant bring him the tea. He scowled at himself and jumped up to turn the doorknob. The worst that could happen was that Inuyasha was still throwing sake bottles at people, or making plans to stop the evil Lady Sesshomaru. Or crying about Kagome and Donkey again.
Come to think of it, Shippo would rather have Inuyasha throwing things rather than crying.
He took a deep breath and stepped into the room, the tea cup shaking slightly in his hand. He rounded a corner and saw Inuyasha spread out on his stomach in the middle of his bed.
He took a few steps closer. “Inuyasha?”
“STOP TALKING SO DAMN LOUD YOU RUNT! AND TELL THE EVIL MAN LADY TO GET OUT OF MY HEAD AND STOP POUNDING GLASS SHARDS INTO MY BRAIN!” he cried, not bothering to lift his head up.
Shippo bit his lip. “I have a hang over cure from the kitchen.”
“WHY THE HELL DIDN’T YOU SAY THAT? GIVE IT ME OR DIE!” Inuyasha screamed and jumped up. Shippo yelped and set the tea cup down before running away very fast.
Inuyasha growled in annoyance and moved as fast as his aching head would let him towards the hang over cure. He sat down against the wall and downed the drink, purring in pleasure when his headache started to feel better.
And then chocked when he tried to swallow the object that had been left inside the cup.
He spat out the hard object and stared in amazement at the ruby that glittered when it met the light.
He raised his head and roared “SHIPPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Kikyo~

Kikyo stared at the healer in shock. “What the hell did you say?” she demanded.
The healer slid a strand of hair behind her ear. “Evil spirts have entered your body through your wound Miss. Kikyo. If we don’t do something soon-“
”WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN I HAVE EVIL SPIRTS IN ME? DO I LOOK LIKE I WAS BORN YESTERDAY?” Kikyo screamed at the healer.
The healer looked annoyed, “It’s very possible Miss Kikyo. The evil spirt was attracted by something to you and saw his or her chance to take over your body when you cut yourself.” she gestured to the neatly bandaged hand. “There’s really only one thing we can do to drive the spirt out. Exorcism won’t work until the spirt reaches your heart and it may be to late by then. You have to bath under the waterfall at Mt. Nazuna for three hours to drive the evil spirt out.”
Kikyo stared at her again. “DO YOU REALIZE HOW FREAKING COLD THAT WATERFALL IS?”
“I’m well aware of that. The cold water will drive the spirt out. It’s the only we can do Miss Kikyo. Otherwise the spirt might take over your body and cause harm to the staff or the guests here.”
Kikyo stood up and scowled at her. “You must be insane to think I’ll stand under a fucking freezing waterfall just to ‘drive’ a spirt out that only you say is there.”
The healer sighed. “I was afraid you would say that. Guards!” she clapped her hands once and two burly guards stepped through the doorway. “Please escort Miss. Kikyo to the waterfalls and make sure she stays there for at least three hours.”
One of the guards bowed. “Right away Healer.” and they stepped up to take Kikyo’s arms.
“You can’t force me to do this!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs.
“I’m sorry Miss Kikyo but I can. I have orders from Lord Sesshomaru that I am to take any steps needed to make sure his guests and staff are protected from illness. Staff possessed by evil spirts are included as well. Enjoy your bath.” she said as Kikyo was dragged screaming out of the door.
Shippo shifted back into his form and clapped his hands as he jumped up and down, in utter shock of how brilliant he was.
“Inuyasha’s got three hours with Kagome, he better not screw this up.” he muttered to himself and went out to the forest to torment Wakana and Satsuki.
And to hide from Inuyasha’s wrath of course.

Inuyasha~

Inuyasha was seeing through a red haze as he quickly pulled on clean clothes and pulled a comb viciously through his long white hair. He knew he had to look somewhat sane when he found Kagome. He didn’t want her to run away from the madman chasing after her. He snatched the ring up and took a deep breath, hoping to catch a scent.
Water lilies, vanilla...dead donkey?
Inuyasha’s eyes went wide. Kagome was...Donkey?
...And that bitch had yelled at him about lying to her!
He gritted his teeth together. As soon as he got his hands on her he was going to shake her till her teeth rattled.
And then he would kiss her senseless.
With that plan in mind he kept the ring in the palm of his hand and stalked to the kitchen, promising himself as soon as possible it would be on Kagome’s finger were it belonged.

Kagome~

I pushed a stand of hair back under my hood after I finished the cake’s icing. Shippo’s cake was in the oven cooking and I had just finished the butter cream icing that had been such a bitch to make. Now I just had to whip the cream, pull out the strawberries and raspberries and I wouldn’t have to do anything until the cake was out since Kikyo hadn’t come back from the healers yet and Shippo was still ‘lost’ in the woods. Maybe if I got lucky Kikyo somehow cut a major artery in her hand and wouldn’t be down here for awhile to annoy me. I pulled the strawberries out but turned when I heard panting coming from the doorway, afraid it was Kikyo.
Inuyasha stood there with his fist clenched around something and staring at me with a look I’ve never seen before.
“Inuyasha, did you finally get over that hang over? Took you long enough, hasn’t your mother ever told you it’s bad to drink that much?” I asked, bracing my hand against the counter.
He just kept staring at me, unblinkingly.
“You are over that hang over right?” I asked, getting a little nervous by the look in his eyes.
It looked like he was about to turn into his demon self at any second.
His eyes started to flicker back and forth from gold to a light red and I wondered if I should call my miko power up.
“Inuyasha-“ I didn’t have time to get the rest of the sentence out before he was leaping over counters and tables to slam his mouth over mine.
I gasped when he tore away from my mouth and buried his head into my neck. I forced myself to stay still when I felt his fangs against my pulse as he breathed my scent in deeply.
He lifted his head up and with one arm still around my back, pulled my hood back.
I smiled nervously at him. “Uhh hey Yash.”
He growled, “Donkey...Kagome... damn it I don’t know what the fuck to call you!”
“Either I guess, Kagome is my real name, but Donkey’s a great nickname, makes a nice story you know.” I blabbed, not sure of what else to do.
He dragged me even closer and leaned his forehead against mine. “Damn it Kags, why the hell did you leave me? Why did you lie to me?”
I sighed. “Well technically I didn’t lie to you, you never asked really asked-“ I stopped when he growled. “Ok, I’m sorry, it’s not like I wanted to, I wanted to tell you so many times but I couldn’t.”
“Why not? Is it that hard to say ‘Hey Yash do you want to know who I am?’ or ‘Inuyasha my real name is Kagome.’ Are any of those that difficult?”
“It’s not like that.” I tried to explain.
He snarled, “Then what?”
I tried to back away from his arms. “Yash, you’re starting to hold to tightly.”
He loosened his arms slightly and I sighed. “Can we sit down for this part? It’s going to take awhile.”
He grasped my hips and lifted me onto the counter behind me, placing his hands on either side of me. His gaze didn’t travel off my face. “Well?”
I reached up and untied the donkey skin from around me. “I’m really Princess Kagome from the East. Well I’m not really a princess but King Hojo and Queen Mayu took me as their own when my parents died. A few years after my adoption Mayu died, but she first made Hojo promise to find a wife more beautiful then she was. He took that promise to seriously because a month or to ago he decided I was more beautiful then Mayu was and wanted to marry me.”
“He wanted to marry his own pup? That’s sick!”
“I’m sure he would have come to his senses soon. But I had to think of something to keep from being his wife until he did. But everything I tried failed until my fairy godsister-“
”...Godsister?”
“Sango&# 8217;s only a few years older then me. It made her feel old when I called her my fairy godmother. So we decided I would ask for the skin of this donkey and then pretend I died somehow and run away. That part worked but Sango was called away. So we decided I would continue on to the West, get a job and wait for her. But then, I met you and Shippo. And I knew it was so stupid to even think about traveling with you, I can’t let anything tie me here. But I stayed and...and I fell in love with you. Don’t say anything yet.” I placed my fingers on his mouth when he opened them about to speak. “I can’t stay in Japan Inuyasha. Hojo knows I’m alive and he’s been hunting me down. For all I know he could be coming here any day. I won’t let myself put you or the West in any danger, I have to leave.” I said as gently as I could.
Inuyasha shook his head stubbornly, his hands moving up to my side. “You’re not going fucking anywhere wench. I’m a hell a lot stronger then a puny human, you’re safe with me.”
“Inuyasha that’s not my point. Hojo would willingly start a war, and unless you want me to marry him, give him a heir and get killed by him I have to leave.”
“No.”
“Inuyasha don’t be stupid! I don’t want a battle fought over me of all people, I refuse it.”
“You don’t have a choice, you’re going to stay here and I’m going to kill Hojo so you’re safe.”
“Inuyasha! You can’t deprive his people of a leader, he has no heirs! You know how much the country will get destroyed during a fight for power? And what the hell do you mean I have no choice?” I shouted, glaring at him.
“You said you would marry me, and I protect what’s mine.” he said simply, sliding his ring on my finger.
“It’s a promise ring, not an engagement ring you moron!”
“So, you still promised me something didn’t you?”
“Inuyasha!” I growled.
He laughed and reached up to nibble the line of my jaw. “You do a pretty good growl for a human.”
I moaned lightly and tried to push him away. “Stop distracting me, I’m not done telling you why I have to leave.”
“You don’t have to finish because you’re not going anywhere.” He reached up a clawed hand to gently trace my face.
“Haven’t you been listening? I have to go if I want to make sure you stay safe!”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Well sorry if I don’t want to take any chances with it!”
The joking light faded from his eyes and he drew me closer to him. “You’re staying here Kagome.” he whispered along my skin.
“I’m going.” I answered back.
He frowned and one arm snaked around my back, the other taking my chin. “Tell me you’re staying.” he mumbled.
“No.”
His lips slid onto mine and his tongue gently traced the seam of my mouth. The hand on my chin creep into my hair while I gasped. He took advantage of that and his tongue shot into mine, and started exploring.
Kami what the hell am I writing, a romance novel? Push him away! My mind screamed at the direction my thoughts were heading.
He broke away and played with my hair. “Promise me you won’t leave me.”
“You know I can’t.”
He growled and took my mouth again, his one hand reaching blindly for something behind me. I felt his lips smile against mine when he grabbed it and dragged it forward.
He drew back again. “You’re not leaving.”
“Yes I am.”
His clawed finger came up, covered in the chocolate icing I had made for Shippo’s cake and traced my jaw with it. He leaned forward and slowly started to lick it away while drawing lines in my neck with the chocolate.
“Promise me (lick) you won’t (nibble) go (lick, lick).”
I drew in a shaky breath and almost let out a moan when he started licking away the chocolate on my neck, taking extra time over my pulse.
“No.”
“Kagome, just give up there’s no one in hell who can take you from me, not even yourself.” He said before lowering my kimono down enough to cover a portion of my collarbone in chocolate.
“Inuyasha-“ I moaned and took a deep breath.
And took another.
“...Inuyasha is something burning?” he paused in cleaning my collarbone.
“Um, I think so.”
“My cake!” I screeched and pushed him away before jumping off the counter and running towards my burning cake.
I grabbed a rag and opened the door, but me being me, when I was sliding the plate onto the counter I knocked my wrist against the hot pan. (I must be the only person who can do something like that.)
Inuyasha walked over to me scowling. “Damn it wench, can’t you stay out of trouble?” he asked.
I scowled back at him. “Shut up dog boy. It’s nothing anyway.”
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and took my arm gently. “Yeah, that huge burn is really hard to see.”
“Shut up, it’s not that big.” I said, annoyed because the pain was starting to really hit me.
He sighed and brought my wrist up to his mouth and gently ran his tongue over it. I froze and stared at him, while he just lifted a eyebrow at me.
“What do you look so shocked about? I through you were smart.”
“I am.” I snarled back.
He finished cleaning my wound and the pain disappeared but he didn’t let go off my arm.
“Alright thanks, you can let go now.” I said, tugging at him.
So what does he do? He draws me closer.
“I wasn’t finished yet.” he whispered and leaned back down to my collarbone.
I weakly tried to push him away but didn’t really want to when his tongue started to swirl over my skin. “Stop it, I can’t think when you do that.”
“Good, you think to much.” He looked at me and slowly licked away a little bit of chocolate that stuck to his lip. “Kagome, listen to me. You are staying with me and you are not going to worry about Hojo. I’ll deal with him later. But right now I’m taking you and the chocolate back up to my room, and I’m going to lay you out on my bed, and you’re going to let me spread the chocolate all over your-“
”Kagome!”
I jerked my eyes from Inuyasha’s gaze. “Sango!” I cried out and rushed over to my fairy godsister standing in the doorway.
“Thank Kami you’re ok!” she said and hugged me so hard I almost couldn’t breathe. She sniffed and took a step back, “Why do you smell like chocolate?”
I started to blush and could almost feel Inuyasha smirking at the back of my head. “I was making frosting.” I mumbled.
Sango raised a eyebrow, knowing I was lying.
“Ah this must be Kagome. Why didn’t you tell me she was so lovely Sango?”
Sango and Inuyasha snarled at the monk standing slightly behind her, but he ignored them and grinned at me.
“Watch it monk.” Inuyasha growled.
“If you even think about acting like a pervert towards her, I’ll shove your staff down your mouth, Miroku.” Sango warned.
He pouted. “Sango, how could you even think I would do anything untoward to your sister when I have you?”
I snickered under my breath when she started to blush. “So he’s the wet dream guy?” I whispered.
Before she could step on my foot I led her over to Inuyasha.
“Sango, this is Inuyasha. I traveled with him and his younger brother on the way here and he gave me this job.”
Inuyasha nodded while Sango studied him, “You hurt her in anyway I’ll hunt you down and shove your ears down your throat until you chock.”
“Sango!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Inuyasha said.
Miroku appeared at Sango’s shoulder. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to Kagome, sweet?”
Sango rolled her eyes. “Kagome this is Miroku, we’ve worked together before, Miroku this is the person who I will kill you over if you even look at her funny, my sister Kagome.”
He ignored the warning and raised my hand, brushing his lips against my knuckle. “I’m happy to finally meet you. All Sango’s talked about is you.”
I smiled back, “Same here, except the only talking Sango’s done about you is in her sleep and it’s single words at the tops of her lungs.”
“KAGOME!”
Miroku smirked and wrapped a hand around her shoulders. “Care to explain darling?”
“Act like a pervert later Miroku, there’s more serious things we have to talk about.” Inuyasha snapped, and reached out to drag my back against his chest. “Kagome’s in danger.”
Miroku nodded. “We know, Hojo has it out for her. Sango beat a drunk man bloody a few nights ago who told us that Hojo found out where Kagome is. We saw signs of him when we were coming here. Last time I checked, we saw him and his men fighting with a large group of bandits. We didn’t have time to turn back and help the robbers who, from experience know that, they aren’t very good fighters but hopefully they hurt or killed enough to slow them down a few hours.”
“How do you know if you were ahead of them?”
“Miroku knows this handy trick with mirrors.” Inuyasha said absentmindedly, “But what are we going to do? We can’t let Hojo take Kagome.”
“We do what we planned the whole time. Run away to Europe.” Sango said.
“With me.” Miroku added.
Sango turned to face him, “Miroku you can’t come, don’t you understand? We may never come back to Japan.” she cried out, frustrated.
He pressed her hands to his heart and looked at her. “Wherever you are is where my home is.”
Sango’s eyes got teary, something I thought was impossible to do. “Miroku, I can’t ask you to come with me.”
“I love you, I’m coming with you if I have to latch myself unto your legs and make you drag me there.”
She threw her arms around him, “Miroku, I think I love you to.” she whispered.
He grinned “You didn’t threaten to remove my manhood when I used the l-word this time. It’s a start.”
“Then you both understand why I won’t let Kagome go.” Inuyasha growled, holding me tighter.
I turned around in his arms, “Inuyasha you know you have to let me go. It won’t be that bad, you’ll forget me someday-”
He snarled “Hell will freeze over before I ever forget you wench. Don’t believe that time heals all wounds and all that other crap. You aren’t leaving me.”
“Then what is she suppose to do? Hojo isn’t going to forget about her either any time soon.”
“Then I’ll go with her to.”
I gasped. “Inuyasha, you’re a prince! You can’t just leave your country!”
“Why not? Sess is the heir and I can always come back once a year.”
“But you love Japan, how can you leave it?”
He looked into my eyes and didn’t even blink, “I love you more.”
This time tears sprang to my eyes and I hugged him as hard as I could.
“This is great, I won’t be the only guy now. And just think of all the guy stuff we could do, Like go out on the town, check out some-“ Sango smacked him over the head, “-art museums, monuments, famous works. That hurt Sango what did you think I was going to say?” Miroku complained.
Inuyasha cursed. “Damn it, dumb and dumber are coming.”
I looked out the window and saw Wakana and Satsuki walking towards the back door, arguing.
I groaned and rushed over to where my donkey skin still lay over the counter. “You guys have to get out of here, if one of them sees you guys they’re going to go crying to Kikyo.”
Inuyasha sighed but helped me put the donkey skin over me. He leaned forward and brushed his lips over mine. “Just be careful with those two, I don’t like them.”
I smiled “I’ll be fine, they don’t pay that much attention to me anyway.”
“We should leave here today to if those bandits didn’t stop Hojo.” Miroku added.
Inuyasha nodded, “Right, but you guys have to go ahead. I have to tell Sess where I’m going and grab some money. I promise I’ll meet you in port before you leave.”
I bit my lip, not liking it but I nodded anyway. “Oh and take something for that chocolate you ate. I don’t want you getting sick.” I suddenly remembered.
He smirked, “Thanks for reminding me, especially since I’ll need it again soon.” he whispered against my ear.
I blushed and he pulled the hood over my head. “I’ll see you again before you leave, ok?”
I nodded, “Hurry up, I can hear them now.”
With one last final hug Sango and Miroku followed Inuyasha out the door, already talking about ship’s to take and countries to go to.
“Damn it you moron, you had him but you let him slip away!” Wakana yelled at Satsuki.
“Hey, do you know how hard it was to get a hand on him? Spoiled little brat. Like we don’t have better things to do then to go chase after him.” Satsuki yelled back.
I smirked as I started to spread the icing over Shippo’s cake. If they weren’t so annoying I might have felt sorry for them. If Shippo doesn’t like you he really lets you know in ways that you’re totally clueless about.
Then again Shippo could send them an engraved letter with a sonnet on how he planned to torture them and they would think it was a love letter.
“What I don’t understand is why Kikyo didn’t send Donkey to find the little brat, since when does she get to stay inside all the time?” Wakana sneered in my direction.
I ignored her and started to spread the chocolate frosting over the sides of the cake.
“Well, what have you been doing that deserves treatment like that Jackass?”
“Maybe Kikyo’s been doing more then just sleeping across her room at night.” Wakana taunted.
Satsuki snickered, “Is that it Jackass, have you been doing special...favors for Kikyo?”
I froze and bit my lip so hard it nearly bled.
“You shouldn’t accuse others because of your own guilt.” I said calmly and started to put the raspberries and strawberries around the cake.
“What the hell does that mean?” Wakana asked angrily.
I shrugged, “What do you think it means? If anyone around here is giving...favors wouldn’t it be you two?”
“How dare you, you slut? I don’t sleep with that old hag!” Satsuki screamed.
I put the dirty bowl and silverware in the sink, “Did I ever say it was Kikyo?”
Her face slowly turned red with embarrassment as I washed out the bowl.
“You’ve gotten to prideful for your own good you whore! Maybe I should rearrange that face you keep hidden under that hood! Unless it’s misshaped and ugly already.” Wakana threatened.
“Is everything alright here?” Inuyasha asked coldly from the doorway.
Wakana and Satsuki gasped and quickly bowed. “My lord!”
He ignored them and looked at me. “Is that cake done?”
I nodded and carefully picked the plate up. “Yes my lord.”
He took it from me, but kept his hand touching mine under the plate longer then needed.
He turned to face Wakana and Satsuki who were still bowing, “Has my brother been found yet?”
They both started to flush red “No my lord.” Satsuki admitted.
“Then why are you still here?” he snapped and they quickly ran out the door.
He sighed, “Remind me to fire them later.”
I shook my head. “Forget about it, I’ll survive a few more hours. How did you know Shippo was lost?”
“I ran into him in the hall. Kami let me kiss you again Kags, I miss your lips already.”
I felt myself start blushing, “Not now, later. Kikyo might be coming back soon, I’m surprised she hasn’t already. Go back to Sango and Miroku, they’ll love the cake. I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”
His fangs flashed in the light, “You better. I’ll see you later.”
I couldn’t stop grinning after he left, even knowing Kikyo was coming back soon. Inuyasha really loved me, and wanted to leave with me. I started to hum as I washed the dishes in the sink and would have spend the rest of the afternoon that way waiting for Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku to come get me if it hadn’t been for the knife that was suddenly at my neck.

Kikyo (While Inuyasha and Kagome are...eating in the kitchen)~

Kikyo happily knocked the thick piece of wood she found against the back of the guards heads as soon as they turned their backs on her. She stole one of their shirts to try and use as a towel to wipe some of the cold water off her. Evil spirts entering her body through a wound, her ass. As soon as she got the chance she was going to slip a herb in the good doctors food that would make her wish demons would come and posses her.
Kikyo stumbled her way over rocks and roots, the shirt wrapped tightly around her and muttering curses under her breath. She blinked when she saw two people go through the back door into her kitchen a few yards in front of her. Something big...was that a cat?...shrunk down to a tiny size and walked away while the two others were inside. Kikyo quieted her steps and walked slowly to crouch down under the open window where she could hear their voices.
“-what are we going to do? We can’t let Hojo take Kagome!” said a voice that sounded like Lord Inuyasha’s.
“We’ll do what we always planned. Run away to Europe.” said a woman Kikyo didn’t know.
She turned red with fury. That jackass was going to run away before Hojo could find her! If Kikyo couldn’t get that bitch to Hojo then she wouldn’t get the rest of the award money for finding her! She looked down at her palms, almost surprised to see blood slowly trickling down the little half moons she’s put there with her nails.
“-I won’t let Kagome go.” Kikyo forced herself to push her anger away and listen to the people inside her kitchen.
“Inuyasha you have to! It won’t be so bad, one day you’ll forget about me-“
”Hell will freeze over before I forget about you Kagome-“
Kikyo rolled her eyes and mentally yelled at Kagome not to be a fool. He’s a man, he’ll forget about you the first time someone richer walks by, she thought bitterly, remembering her own lover who left her after promising to love her forever.
“Inuyasha, you can’t leave, you’re a prince! You can’t leave your own country.”
“Why? Sess is the heir and I can always come back once a year.”
“But you love Japan.”
“I love you more.”
Kikyo had to remind herself not to gag. Her lover had said something similar like that once. He said he loved her more then he did his country and then gave her the clearest, purest black diamonds she’d ever seen. To match your hair, he’d said.
A month later she was back in her old village, without even a worthless seed pearl necklace to remember her lover by.
Expect for her village shunning her, it was like she had never left.
“-you guys have to go ahead. I have to tell Sess where I’m going and grab some money. I promise I’ll meet you in port before the ship comes.”
The second real smile she’d had in over three decades crossed her face as she crawled over to the side of the house and carefully stood up.
She had to go find Sayo to send a message to Hojo.

Kagome~

“If you move or scream this knife is going through your neck.” Kikyo hissed.
“Kikyo! What are you doing?” I gasped trying not to get her to cut me accidently by breathing to hard.
“What does it look like you baka? Asking you to a tea party?” she sneered and put the knife a little closer to my throat.
“But why?”
“Try not to have your conversations next to a open window. You’re not leaving unless it’s with Hojo.”
My teeth clenched together. “You were the bitch who sold me out to Hojo!”
The knife left my throat long enough to poke at my chest. “Watch the language if you want to live for the next few minutes.”
“I know you don’t like me, but why would you tell Hojo where I was?”
She laughed. “Why else? For the money. Hold still, I need to tie your wrists up. Don’t you dare scream or try to get away or I’ll kill you.”
“That won’t work KIkyo. I’d rather die then go back to become Hojo’s wife! Just kill me now.”
Kikyo laughed again. “Very daring. But you wouldn’t want Inuyasha to die now would you?”
As over dramatic as I’d ever thought the phase was, I felt cold fear grip my heart. “You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I? It would be very easy. I just have to slip a little poison in his food, hire someone to slide a dagger between his ribs. There’s a million ways I can send him to join you in hell.”
“If I go back to Hojo-“ I nearly chocked at saying his name, “would you promise not to harm Inuyasha or get someone else to do?”
“Of course, I am a woman of my word after all. Now give me your hands and we’ll pay a little visit to your father.”
I felt my mouth go dry and I had to struggle not to run when she yanked my hands behind my back and tied them.
She patted my head. “There’s a good girl. Remember not to make a sound now.” she said it the way a sweet old lady would ask kids not to run in fear of them falling.
She placed her hand in the middle of my back and led me out through the door and into the woods.
“Will you be careful Jackass?” she scolded when I tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. “I’m sure your father is already waiting for us.”
I felt like I was going to be sick.
Shippo~

Shippo tried to keep as quiet as he could when he saw Kikyo hold that knife to Kagome’s throat. He had been coming down to thank Kagome for the cake when he saw Kikyo slip in through the back door and threaten Kagome. He watched now as she tied her wrists together behind her back and walked her out the door.
Shippo ran as fast as he could to find Inuyasha.

Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku~

“Just let me send a message ahead, the captain knows my family and won’t put our names on any records. I think Kagome would like to go to Italy first, she would love the food.” Inuyasha said while writing a quick letter.
“What about where we’re staying?” Sango asked.
“Mom and dad got a place close to Italy when they were visiting royalty in Europe a few years ago. You guys can wait there while I find something we can rent for awhile.”
“I’m surprised Inuyasha, you’ve thought of everything haven’t you?” Miroku asked.
He just grinned. “I just keep thinking about the topless beaches they have there.”
Sango scowled at both of them. “You know, if you see us topless on one of those beaches so can everyone else.”
Miroku and Inuyasha looked at each other. “Anybody looks at our girls, we rip their eyes out.” Inuyasha said.
Miroku nodded. “That’s just what I was thinking.” he agreed.
The door slammed open and Shippo ran in, red in the face and breathing hard. “Shippo what is it?” Miroku asked.
“It’s Kagome, Kikyo took her to Hojo!”
Inuyasha snarled. “She wouldn’t dare.” he said , slowly standing up.
Shippo nodded rapidly. “It’s true, she heard you guys talking to Kagome about running away.”
Inuyasha growled, and it took all of his power not to shift into full demon mood.
“Let me get my sword. Hojo’s head would look good hanging on the wall, don’t you think guys?” he snarled, almost running out the door.

Kagome~

“You really are a fool Jackass, do you think that lover of yours is going to stick by you? There’s no such thing as love. Only a form of mutated lust.” Kikyo said bitterly as she dragged me along.
“Inuyasha’s not like that.” I defended automatically.
She laughed bitterly, “That’s what I thought to. All my love ever talked about was how he loved me, how he would never let me go. And what happens? Some rich spoiled brat crooks her finger and he goes running after her. Damn bastard.”
“That’s Hojo’s father, not everyone is like that.”
“Everyone ‘s like that you idiot! The world isn’t sunshine and rainbows as you seem to think. Even my own mother couldn’t bare to look at me when I came home. The sooner you learn love is something only in fairy tales, there’ll be one less fool on earth.”
“Is that why you’re doing this?”
She snorted. “Don’t think everything’s about you jackass, like I said before I want the money. Ah here we are. It looks like daddy dearest is here waiting for you already.”
I felt myself start trembling as Kikyo yanked me into the clearing. There were about seven or eight men waiting in the clearing, all gathered around in a group. They were cheering and calling out bets and the faint noise of sword meeting sword was heard under their voices. A young boy was rushing around, giving the men water or food.
“King Hojo!” Kikyo called out. All sounds stopped as the men turned to face us and parted to revel two sweaty men in the center with swords in their grasp.
“I’ve brought the girl.” she announced, pulling my hood down and pushing me ahead of her.
I shuddered when I finally recognized Hojo as one of the men in the circle. He stepped forward, pushing back soaked brown hair and sliding his sword in its sheath.
He smiled, but the loving light that was usually in his brown eyes when he looked at me wasn’t there.
“Ah Kagome, how good to see you again. You’ve been a very bad girl, running away from me like that. You even made me think you were dead. I was so disappointed to think I would never be able to spread those sweet white thighs.”
His men laughed in the back round while I lifted my head, “I am dead to you. If you marry me, you might as well kill me. I’ll never love you, I’ll never want you. I’ll always wish for your death.” I hissed, mad that he thought he could scare me.
The men’s laughter died and Hojo glared at me. “What makes you think I want any of that? All I care is that you act like a good wife and give me a heir. I don’t care how you feel.” he sneered.
I shook my head. “Why do you want me? You’re the Lord of the Eastern Lands, you’re rich, powerful and young you can have any woman you want. So why take an unwilling bride?”
He scowled, “You know why. I promised Mayu I would marry someone more beautiful then herself. And you’re the only person who is.”
“And would Mayu want you to marry the daughter you adopted together? She only wanted your happiness, can’t you see that?” I yelled out.
“All I can see is that she wanted me to have a prettier wife and you’re her. Deal with it.”
“I won’t be so pretty if I get hurt or killed.” I said softly.
He narrowed his eyes. “You wouldn’t.”
“You were my father since you adopted me, you should know what I would and wouldn’t do by now.”
He smiled humorlessly “I do, I also know you won’t let yourself hurt anyone else. If you do anything to yourself, your friends die. Starting with Sango, that annoying fox demon, and Inuyasha.”
“Keep them out of this! They have nothing to do with us.” I yelled, suddenly scared about what could happen to them.
“Don’t they? They were helping you escape weren’t they? Just be a good girl and come with me and they’ll stay safe.”
He turned away from me to say something to the page and I was surprised to feel tears start falling down my cheeks.
“How could you do this to Mayu’s memory? She never wanted her last wish to go this far. She just wanted to make sure you would get over her, not turn into a madman who marries his daughter!” I cried out.
I knew it was the wrong thing to say the second Hojo turned back to me, his hands closed into fists at his side. “And how well do you remember Mayu, Kagome? You were only five when she died.”
I looked him straight in the eye. “I knew her better then you did obviously.”
Hojo brought his hand back to punch me right across the face, sending me flying back and knocking my head against a rock.
Just before I blacked out I would have sworn I heard a feral roar, swords being unsheathed and a woman crying.



I lightly groaned as I woke up and carefully looked around me to see what was happening without getting up. Kirara was knocking aside two of Hojo’s men, and leaving deep claw marks on two more, Sango and Miroku were fighting back to back and injuring as many soldiers as they could while Inuyasha was fighting Hojo with some huge sword I’d never seen before.
“You’ll take Kagome over my dead body!” Hojo yelled, just barely blocking a swing from Inuyasha’s sword.
“That can be arranged.” Inuyasha shot back.
“Give it up, she’s mine!”
“Think again bastard.” Inuyasha easily blocked Hojo’s sword and kicked him, sending him straight to the ground. He knocked his sword away and pointed his own at Hojo’s chest.
“Promise to leave Kagome alone and never start a war because of her and I’ll let you live, though I should kill you for what you’ve done to her.”
Hojo glared at him, but without any real hate. Instead he almost looked like he was...glad?
I knew instinctively that something was wrong, and I gasped when I saw one of Hojo’s soldiers walk up behind Inuyasha, a sword clenched tight in his hands.
“No!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, and before the sword could hit its target and I jumped up and threw my body in front of it.
The sword struck itself into my chest.
“Kagome!” Inuyasha roared as he dropped his sword and threw his body behind me before I could fall to the ground.
“Damn it you stupid wench, why the hell did you do that? I knew he was there, I was about to kill him.” Inuyasha cried, frantically pushing aside my donkey cape and kimono to reach my wound.
“Oh my Kami, what have I done?” I heard Hojo whisper. “Cease fighting damn it, put your swords away!”
He whimpered when he saw my chest and I guess it must have been bad because he immediately bent down and started to lick it.
I cried out at the pain and he whimpered again in apology and stroked my hair.
“You better fucking hang on Kagome, I told you I wouldn’t let Hojo take you away from me, I’m not letting Death do it either!”
“Kagome! Oh Kami, my sister!” Sango cried out, kneeling next to me as Inuyasha tried to clean my wound and buried her face in Miroku’s neck.
“Oh Kami you were right Kagome, my dear beloved daughter, how could I take Mayu’s last wish this far? This wasn’t what she meant at all!” Hojo cried dropping down next to me and holding my cold hand in his.
“Please forgive me, I’m begging you take everything I have just forgive me!” Hojo bowed over my hand, tears streaming down his face.
I shakily raised my hand as much I could and brushed it across his cheek. “I forgive you...Papa.”
He cried harder, “Kagome, my daughter, how could I do this?” he lifted his head up to look at me, “I swear to you I never wanted this to go this far, I just wanted to fulfill Mayu’s last wish any way I could.”
“I...understand. You just wanted to-”I winced at the pain growing worse “-make Mayu happy. I loved doing that to when she was alive.’ I said, feeling myself grow weaker.
“Kagome! Stay with me, please don’t leave me!” Inuyasha begged, “I love you more then anything, I can’t lose you.”
“How could I have been so blind?” Hojo asked himself sadly. “You two are so like what Mayu and I was before she died, how could I try to take Inuyasha away from you Kagome?”
“Damn it, what are you doing?” Kikyo ran out from where she was hiding and asked Hojo, “You could easily take them apart, that’s what your damn father did to me!”
Hojo blinked at her for a moment before realization came over him. “You are Kikyo! Oh miss, all my father talked about was you before he died. He told me that his parents didn’t approve of you and sent you away. He was forced to marry my mother because if he didn’t my grandparents would have had you killed. It was my favorite story growing up, how he sacrificed his chance at happiness to make sure you were safe. You’re the reason I married my Mayu and not the other princess my mother wanted me to. I’ve always wanted to meet you, I just wish it was in better times.”
Kikyo blinked and looked like someone had just punched her in the gut “...He...Your father...loved me?”
“Of course, he never stopped.” Hojo said simply.
Kikyo turned and walked away.
Hojo looked back at me and brushed a hand down my cheek. “You might have been able to forgive me for what I did but I’ll never be able to so I’m making you my heir. All of my riches, land and throne are yours now. I just wish I had been a better father.” he leaned down and brushed a kiss against my forehead. “Goodbye my daughter.”
I blinked, feeling more confused every passing second, “Papa? What do you mean...? No.”
He got up and unsheathed a dagger.
“No! Sango, Miroku, someone stop him!” I yelled, feeling the last bit of strength fade from me.
But it was to late. As Miroku leaped up to stop him he buried the dagger in his chest.
I slowly blacked out again as I cried, feeling Inuyasha press gentle kisses to my temple and cheek while ordering someone to make a liter.

Heaven~

Hojo looked around in amazement as the white fog parted to revel pure blue sky, the greenest land and trees he’d ever see, lakes, rivers and people walking or talking with other people happily. Families sat together under trees and ate lunch together, young lovers walked together next to the rivers and younger children were playing with animals.
“But...how did I end up in heaven? After what I did my soul should be burning in hell.” Hojo whispered in amazement.
“You were a good man most of your life, and when you did wrong you admitted it and did all you could to make your wrongs right.” a quiet voice said behind him.
He turned around in shock to see his beloved Mayu behind him, smiling faintly. Her long black hair was hanging down as she wore it so often in life and her eyes still rivaled the greatest sapphires ever found.
“Mayu!” he cried out and rushed to fall down at her feet and wrap his arms around her waist.
“Oh Mayu, beloved Mayu.” he wept, holding her as tight as he could. “Please, please forgive me to doing that to our daughter, I wasn’t in my right mind, all I wanted to do was please you.”
Her graceful fingers stroked his hair. “Of course I’ll forgive you, but only if you forgive me for making you swear to that silly promise in the first place.”
He looked up at her, “You don’t have to be forgiven for anything Mayu, you only made me promise with the best intentions of me and our land.”
She suddenly smiled and pulled him up, “Come my love, it’s been so long and I want to become...reignited with you.”
Hojo smiled back and linked his fingers with hers. “I love you so much Mayu.” he said, stroking her cheek.
She smiled back and held his hand to her.

Kagome (one week later)~

I slowly opened my eyes and waited until everything stopped looking so blurry before looking over at the red blob by my side.
“Inuyasha?” I croaked and his head snapped up from where he had laid it on the bed I was laying on. “What happened?”
“Kagome! Thank Kami you’re alright. Here, drink some water.” he carefully sat on the bed next to me and hold me against his shoulder while I greedily drank from the cup he held out to me.
“I was so worried, you haven’t opened your eyes in a week, you hardly moved.” he buried his face in my shoulder, “Don’t you dare do anything so stupid again! I can take care of myself, I don’t need you throwing yourself in front of maniacs with swords for me, got it?”
“I didn’t think, I forgot you were a demon. I’m sorry.”
He sighed and lifted a hand to stroke my hair and forehead. “Yeah well don’t do it again, got it? You try anything like that again I’ll lock you in a tower with no windows, no doors and never let you out.”
I smiled weakly, “Then how are you going to get in to see me?”
He paused. “I’m still working on that part.” he admitted.
I laughed softly and slowly moved my hand until I could lay it in Inuyasha’s. His hand closed around mine and started to rock me back and forth.
“I love you.”
I felt him smile against my hair, “Yeah, same here wench.”
“Did my father...?” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Yeah he did, there was nothing we could do Kags. Sess has been watching over your lands for you until you get better, and promises to peacefully hand them over, though it was hard for him to swear that considering the wealth of your country.”
“Thank him for me.”
“Thank him yourself. You’re going to meet him soon enough when we have our engagement party. Don’t ask me why we’re having one, mom’s gone crazy.” he said disgustingly.
“And when did we decide we were getting married?” I asked slowly.
“Ah chill wench, it’s just a long engagement for now, I’m in no rush to get married. Married life kills the sex life.” he laughed when I lightly thumped him on the arm.
“How’s Shippo?”
“Frantic about you. But whenever we give him chocolate he stops crying enough to eat it. That’s gotta be a good sign.”
“And Sango and Miroku?”
“When they’re not worried sick about you, Miroku’s pulling Sango into dark corners and doing things that if I even say will burn my eyes out. Kami, we have over 50 rooms here, can’t one of those perverts use one?”
“Are they getting engaged yet?”
“Hell no, Miroku’s barely gotten Sango to admit she might like him, much less marry and have kids with the pervert.”
“Kagome!” the door slammed against the wall and Sango and Miroku rushed in. “Thank Kami you’re fine! We’ve been so worried.” Sango said, looking her over.
“I’ve heard you’ve been doing other things besides worrying about me.” I said and Miroku proudly wrapped his hand around her waist when my meaning reached him.
“You see this? You’ve corrupted her!” Sango yelled at him, throwing a arm in my direction.
Miroku blinked innocently. “Are you sure you didn’t have a hand in it when you started shouting out my name in-“
”Watch it if you like your tongue as a part of your body, monk.”
“Did you two need something or are you just going to yell at each other? Inuyasha cut in.
“The soldiers just found Kikyo. They threw her in jail but want to know when her execution date is.”
“You can’t kill her!” I yelled.
“Why not? She only abused you the whole time you were working for you and nearly led you to your death. Why would I be annoyed at a little thing like that?” Inuyasha asked.
“But hasn’t she suffered enough? For most of her life she thought the man she loved betrayed her and then she finds out he gave up his life so she could be happy and safe, only she’s wasted it by becoming bitter and alone.”
“So then what should happen to her? I can’t just let her get away with what she’s done.”
I smiled evilly. “Oh I have just the thing.”

Kikyo~

“You worthless human, can’t you do anything right?” Jaken’s shrill voice rang out, “There’s still dust here! You’re my servant and yet I have to tell you how to do everything!”
Kikyo gritted her teeth, “Shut the hell up you worthless- Ow!” she screamed when Jaken hit her over the head.
“Dust it again! Then clean my floors, wash my clothes and make my bed! Now listen and tell me what you think of my latest speech on why Lord Sesshomaru is perfect.” he cleared his throat as Kikyo got on her knees and spread the rag over his table.
“Lord Sesshomaru is a prime example of how a man should be. He is loyal, strong and wise. He is neat, well organized and polite to people who deserve it. He is rich, handsome, well groomed, generous when need be and cold when need be. If he wanted to do, he could control the entire world and-“ as Jaken droned on Kikyo wished Inuyasha had just killed her instead. Yeah she almost killed Kagome, but wasn’t this punishment taking it to far?
And everyone, expect Kikyo, lived happily ever after.

The End



AN: And Donkey Skin is finished! Thank you all so much for reading it, and if you want to find out what happens to Sesshomaru, Miroku and Sango, don’t worry I’m planning a sequel. Just not as the next one, because I still have to find a fairy tale I can use as a Sess/Rin that would tie in with this story somewhat. Sorry if I disappointed anyone by not having a lemon but it felt like it didn’t really fit in if that makes any sense. Thanks again for reading, and I’m sorry for taking so long. Thanks again, I love you guys. Don’t forget to review and give me suggestions on what story you want me to rewrite next!