InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Princess and the Pauper ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

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

Inuyasha hopped to the hillside. There, sitting in the late morning sun, was Kikyou, her bow and quiver laying beside her. He walked up and sat down beside her. The flounce of his hitoe alerted her to his presence,

"Inuyasha." she said, with a small smile.

Inuyasha looked at Kikyou. Her face was very pretty but her eyes and smile were sad. He couldn't help but let his mind wander back to Colleen. Her eyes shimmered with a fire and a fierceness he had never seen before. Her face always held a smile and her laughter was sheer joy to him, though he had no idea why.

Her voice, even when it sounded sad, had her accent and he felt uplifted when he heard it. He felt protective of Kikyou and he found himself feeling protective of Colleen. He couldn't understand these newfound feelings developing inside him and he didn't like it when he felt unsure of himself,

"Inuyasha." Kikyou broke his into his thoughts, "You're very quiet today. What's the matter?"

"Hmmm." he said, as his face turned to face the ground, "I met somebody. A girl."

"Oh?" asked Kikyou. She felt a small twinge of something in her heart.

"Yea. She's not from Japan. But she's promised to a Lord Momoru as his wife."

"Lord Momoru? He's the regional daimyo. He already has five wives that I know of and numerous concubines. She is to be his sixth? How did you meet her?"

Inuyasha hung his head a little more. He didn't want to admit to Kikyou he had been captured. He didn't want her to think him weak,

"She ... uh ... she was taking a walk. In the woods. A weak, pathetic demon attacked her and I killed it. She started talking to me." he told her.

Kikyou chuckled, "What a gentleman you are, coming to a lady's rescue." she said, thinking back to the night when she first "met" Inuyasha ... he could have killed her, but he didn't.

"HMPH!" he said, "No big deal."

"So why are you so quiet? Is it because of this girl?"

"Last night, I found her. She had been beaten and whipped by the lord because she had taken a walk and had returned later than she should have. I was upset that a man would hit a defenseless girl like that ... especially while she's chained up."

"He did that? How cruel." Kikyou replied.

"It's not right, Kikyou. He shouldn't do that." Inuyasha protested.

"No, it's not right. But, she belongs to him. Women in Japan belong to their husbands or soon-to-be husbands in this case. She disobeyed and he punished her."

"Kikyou, help me. Let me bring Colleen here and you and your sister can care for her. She doesn't belong there." Inuyasha asked hopefully.

"I can do no such thing, Inuyasha. She belongs to him. If you were to take her away, your life would be in danger. And if the village were to take her in, we would be in danger. You do not mess with the daimyo."

Inuyasha's face fell as he looked back at the ground again, 'I have to do something.' he thought.

"Her name is Colleen, you said? What an unusual name." Kikyou spoke.

"Well, like I said, she's not from Japan."

"Where is she from?"

"A country called Ireland. She said it's very far away."

"Hmm. Well, I cannot hide her away. But, if you see her again, why don't you bring her to the village? I'm sure the villagers would be very interested in meeting someone from a far away country. I know I would be." said Kikyou, sweetly.

"Really?" Inuyasha's face lit up. Maybe if Kikyou met her ... maybe she would decide to help her.

Kikyou nodded, "Of course."

Inuyasha brightened up after that. Their conversation turned to other things, but Inuyasha's mind stayed on one thing. Colleen.

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As the afternoon sun drifted over the horizon, Inuyasha hopped down into the woods. He yawned and stretched and decided a bath sounded nice. Sniffing out the area, he headed to the spring. Slipping out of his clothes, he ducked under a waterfall and swam around. Finally surfacing for air, he was shocked to be greeted by gleeful laughter,

"Who's there?" he yelled out, as he tried to get the water from his eyes.

Only more laughter answered him. As his eyes focused, he couldn't believe what he saw. There was Colleen, on the edge of the riverbank, dressed in his clothes! Her dress laid in a crumpled heap beside her,

"Hello, Inuyasha." she greeted him with a merry smile.

"Colleen." he said, softly, 'Damn she looked cute in his clothes.' he thought.

"Kagome." she responded.

"Huh?" he asked.

"My name is Kagome. Remember ... you gave me that name." her smile sent shivers down his spine ... or was it the air,

"DAMMIT!" he yelled, as he realized his nakedness and dropped back into the water to cover himself, a reddish tinge appearing on his handsome face. This only made the girl laugh more,

"Gimme my clothes." he told her.

"No." she said simply.

"Wha??" was all he could get out.

"I said no. If you want them, come and get them yourself." she said, with a very sexy twinkle in her eye. She had never been this bold around a man before. She had no idea what had gotten into her.

"Kagome." he said.

The girl stood up, grapped her dress, and ran into the woods, in the direction of the cave where he had rescued her. She heard the water splash and she knew Inuyasha had gotten out and was chasing her. She had trouble running with her bulky dress and the long hakama pants. She turned her head around to see where he was. When she didn't see him, she got curious as to where he had disppeared to. Then she ran right into something hard and she fell.

Turning her head around, she couldn't help but blush as she looked up at a very wet, and naked, Inuyasha. He stood there, feet apart, fists on his hips, giving her a stern look. Her eyes traveled over his slim, but well toned body. As her eyes caught a glimpse of a very private part, she turned her head and blushed even more.

Inuyasha felt strange standing there naked in front of her, but something had taken over him. He didn't know what he was feeling, but it was a rush, an intense feeling of power, that had seemed to overtake him. He scooped Kagome up in his arms and walked to the cave that she had been heading for. He had a cocky smirk on his face but a soft look in his eyes.

Arriving at the cave, Inuyasha laid the girl on the floor and he laid down next to her. He stared into her eyes and she stared back, both of the scarcely breathing. He took her dress out of her hands and tossed it aside as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Their faces were mere inches apart and she could feel his hot breath on her cheeks. Feeling emboldened, he leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. His body trembled and fire shot through his body.

Needing to feel that feeling again, he pulled her close and the kiss became more ... he covered her lips with his own as his hand found its way into her hair to pull her face closer to him. The kiss was inexperienced and a little messy but neither one seemed to mind. Her lips parted and he snaked his tongue inside to taste her.

She smelled so delicious and now he relaized she tasted just as good He moaned into her mouth as he searched and tasted her mouth with his tongue. Her small pants and moans made him braver. Obviously, she liked what he was doing.

Her hands began to rub his bare chest as his kisses became more ferocious. He realized his state of undress as his hitoe she was wearing scratched his chest. He managed to remove it from her body. His hands were greeted by a soft, white object. She even had his yukata on! Breaking the kiss for air, he saw she had an undergarment on under the yukata. Her own undergarment. He looked back at her eyes and saw need in them. He had no idea what he was doing or why he was doing it.

Something began to click in his head and suddenly he moved away from her,

"I ...I'm sorry." he mumbled, "I don't know what came over me." he said, as he turned away from her.

Kagome's breathing returned to normal and she, too, began to realize what had just happened. Sitting up quickly, she removed his garments and pushed them into his hands as she grabbed her dress and started to put it on. After they had dressed, they both sat with their backs to each other. Inuyasha spoke first,

"I ... uh ...you, that is, better get back to the castle."

"Yes. I should." she said, her tone sounding sad.

Inuyasha turned around. He could smell the saltiness of her tears as she began to weep, "I'm so sorry." she said, through her tears.

Inuyasha reached out for her. Turning her around he pulled her into a strong embrace, "Hold me." he asked her.

"Huh?" she said, not sure if she heard correctly.

"Put your arms around me. I ... I need you to hold me." he said, his voice sounding almost child-like with need.

She did as she was asked and the two sat there for a while, just holding each other, while her tears fell on his hitoe,

"Don't cry, Kagome." he said.

Her tears started to stop as he hugged her tighter, "I'll always be here for you, Kagome. But, you belong to someone else. As much as I hate the way he treats you ... I ...there is nothing I can do, I guess, but be here for you."

She nodded, "Thank you." she said, grateful that her forwardness had not turned him against her.

"If you ever need me, Kagome. Leave something of yours by the old maple tree out at the edge near your castle. I will then meet you here, at this cave. Got it?" he asked, hopefully.

She nodded again, "Yes. I'll do that."

They held each other quietly again. Kagome had moved her arm from around his waist and placed her hand on his chest,

"You're so lonely, Inuyasha." she said, softly, "You've been through so much pain in your life. Your eyes tell me you can't trust anybody."

Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise. He said softly, "You're very perceptive, Kagome."

"My mother always said I had a gift to see people that way. You're so very gentle. I hope someday for you to find happiness, Inuyasha."

'Kagome. I already have.' he thought, as he hugged her.