InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Throw Caution To The Wind ❯ Insight ( Chapter 7 )

AN: Hey there everybody! Thanks for all the great reviews and support. For those of you that don't know, I'm now posting this story and some of my fanart on Mediaminer.org now too, so thank you to those there that support me. Well, this chapter is completely different than I had first intended, but…interesting nonetheless. Please tell me what you think and give me any suggestions. On to the chapter!

THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND_CHAPTER 7_INSIGHT

Cinderella is a fairy tale. A fairy tale that not many know the real version of. Sure, we all know the happy fairy tale with singing mice, prince charming, and a lovable, fat godmother, but the real version written by the Grim brothers was not so fairy-tale like. In fact, the stepsisters, upon the arrival of the prince that was searching for the foot to fit the glass slipper, the two women cut off pieces of their own feet to accommodate the glass slipper, wrapping them to stop the bleeding. At least, that's what I heard.

It's not like I was working like a slave. I was not being bossed around by two evil stepsisters, heck, I wasn't even being bossed around by Sesshoumaru, but I was definitely doing my fair share of work. I had been assigned a room in the southern part of the castle by Sesshoumaru, hadn't talked to him sense, and was currently working with Kaji, cleaning and taking care of things in the vegetable garden.

Contrary to what I had first thought, Sesshoumaru had more servants than I was aware of, though not many. Maki and Kaji seemed to be senior to all the others. Jaken was, as I found out, not a typical servant, but more of Sesshoumaru's retainer. I would sometimes see him throughout the house, but he always seemed to be waddling off hurriedly, extreme concentration and purpose to his movements. In addition to these three, there were two or three other servants that worked in the castle and two ground's keepers, but they lived in huts in the forest and I usually would not see them.

With Maki's slight ailing, I was given her jobs, bringing in food to the kitchen, though I never saw what was cooked for Sesshoumaru. Maybe he doesn't eat human food. I also did base cleaning. But, all in all, I couldn't complain too much. Maki and Kaji were very polite and reassuring to me. The other servants were also rather accepting of me.

I had been there for a week now and had come to appreciate what I had always taken for granted that my mom would do for me-cleaning house, doing laundry, etc. I was also amazed at the efficiency and sharpness with which everything was done. The motto of the servants, I had soon learned was not 'seen but not heard', it was 'not seen and not heard'. Apparently, they were all too low in status to be in the presence of the 'mighty Lord Sesshoumaru'. Either that, or just too afraid. Though, I had the feeling that some of them just preferred not to be in his scrutinizing, silent company. I don't blame them and I was relieved that I had yet to see the ice prince since being assigned to his service, yet, it bugged me in a way. I had been working in the house of someone who had placed me in servitude, and I presumably followed his orders every day, but I never saw him, not once. For some reason, though I don't know why, I got the distinct impression that he was purposely trying to evade me, though I have no idea why he would have reason to. Technically, I should be the one trying to stay away from him.

I had also been bestowed with the blessing of Rin, who followed me constantly, asking questions that I thought Sesshoumaru must not waste his time with. I believed that Jaken saw this as a blessing, for he would take off as soon as he saw that Rin was going to find me. I have to admit, the little girl's incessant chatter could get a little nerve-wracking, but I was thankful for the company and the cheer she seemed to bring with her everywhere she went, which was, undoubtedly, wherever I was. She reminded me very much of Shippou, but I wouldn't let the memories of him depress me. After all, they were such good memories. But, I have to say, I was thankful when Sesshoumaru had sent Jaken after Rin for some reason and I had momentarily been relieved of the small girls ever-present…presence.

"Kaji, how is Maki?"

I was hanging out laundry with the old youkai. She was about my height, perhaps an inch shorter, but strong and stout. I guess she was a bit younger than Maki, considering her hair was not completely silver, but black with gray streaks. It was actually quite interesting to look on. Her features were not as rough as Maki's even though Maki had that sort of grandmotherly, homely glow about her that Kaji did not exude as much of. Kaji always wore gray, but was a bit more energetic and yet somehow managed to contain a glimmer of wisdom in her facial expressions.

"She is not worsened nor restored. She just remains how she is."

"Oh…I'm sorry.." I got the distinct impression that Maki and Kaji were very close. Perhaps they had been or still were best friends. It seemed that Kaji was somewhat down with Maki not around, but she continued on as if not even the apocalypse could stop her.

Kaji shook her head silently as if disagreeing with my thoughts, but answering my previous question softly.

"There is no reason to be sorry. It is not your fault, it is the fault of time. Maki and myself are not that young, Kagome-sama. In fact, I've already live probably eight or nine times what you ever will, not that I'm saying that's a good thing and nothing against the span of human life. I always wondered if humans might value life more, considering they live so much less of it, but I wouldn't know. But that's besides the point. Maki is reaching the higher end of her years and it is taking effect. There is nothing you can do about it. Do not worry yourself over it, Kagome-sama."

I thought about what she had said for a minute, neglecting the basket of sodden cloth that awaited its emptiness. A thought stuck me and I berated myself for not thinking of it much sooner. Perhaps I was afraid to.

"Kaji, I'm not too experienced, and I've even been labeled as a slip of a miko before, but I would like to try to heal Maki if she has an illness that is curable."

Kaji picked up her empty basket and walked towards the door to the servants hall way, the hallway that led to the kitchen, laundry room, and various other mandatory rooms for the servants to properly run the house. It still amazed me that a group of only five or six servants could run the entire house. It was… substantial in its volume and took me quite some time just to get from one side to the other, and I had been shown the very first day all of the ways through the house.

"That would be kind of you, Kagome-sama, just kind. I appreciate your concern for my sister." Kaji smiled warmly at me before sliding the door open with her foot.

"Your sister?"

Kaji nodded, her back to me and sighed, but turned and glanced at me.

"It is a short story, so I guess I can tell you. When we were young, or younger I should say, Maki was supposed to come work in servitude at this castle, a great honor for any youkai, but I didn't want my sister to leave me. Inutaisho was generous and allowed me to accompany Maki and we came to work for Inutaisho-sama. Lord Sesshoumaru has been kind enough to keep us around, despite the fact that we're nearly useless for physical work now. He hasn't separated us or sent us away. And frankly, I wouldn't want to go. Maki and I enjoy our lives here. We've worked for this family for many centuries now and it is an honorable and good, no matter how misdirected, house. It's, in a way, become our adopted family."

"Oh…I see." It made perfect sense, yet didn't. It seemed that everything surrounding Sesshoumaru didn't seem to make sense anymore.

"Um..Kaji…I have one more question.."

"Ask away, Kagome-sama."

"Um.." I hung up the last piece of cloth and picked up the basket, joining her before the door. "Why do you still call me Kagome-sama, even though I'm a servant now?"

Kaji smiled warmly at me again and sighed.

"That's quite simple, Kagome-sama. I met you as Kagome-sama, not a servant. You are a wonderful girl and I have no qualms calling you by that title. Besides…" she walked through the door, squeezing the basket through the narrow space with expert practice. "Sesshoumaru-sama told us to do so."

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Two days later I was dragging my feet along the hallways, paying no attention to walls in my way, seeing as I ran into three of them, not even being able to pay Rin the usual amount of attention she seemed to require. But I had come to find that the small girl was more insightful than I had originally thought. I guess she picked up on my lackadaisical mood and decided to go play somewhere, Jaken trailing along behind her, only to come back once, her small hands presenting me with her famous 'pretty rock' as a cheer-up present. But, as soon as she had come, I had felt the unmistakable presence of a jewel shard and was distracted from Rin's cheerful words as she held out what I made out of the corner of my eye to be a dirt-covered rock. I scanned the area, hoping for some faint sign of where the shard might be located, straining to see the bright pink glow that was so familiar. Rin had stopped talking and was smiling.

"Thank you Rin, it's beautiful. Will you put it in my pocket for me?" She had said something else and I felt a small weight tug at the bottom of my pocket, but I was busy surveying my surroundings. Rin ran off once again and I stood, looking for any signs of renegade demons with jewel shards, but I could not see any shards anywhere. I could feel the pull of the jewel, it was definite, but I could not locate it. There wasn't time for that at the minute anyway. I watched Rin run a few circles around Jaken and sighed. I was feeling so utterly drained…

The reason for my energy, or lack thereof was that I had used it all the night before. Keeping my promise to Kaji, I had examined Maki's condition and attempted to heal her. Amazingly, it seemed as if she had come down with some sort of youkai flu, which, as I learned, is very uncommon. I guess youkai not only have super senses, but super immune systems too. So, I did everything I could remember my mom ever doing for me, which was hard by the way, considering I very rarely got sick, not that my classmates would know that. Grandpa comes up with the most embarrassing illnesses… but that's besides the point. Maki, grudgingly mind you, told me her symptoms. Fever, aching, and vomiting. I must say that I am proud of the fact that I immediately recognized the sickness for what it was-the common flu. But, in the feudal age, the flu must be treated carefully. It can be a deadly sickness, unless you just so happen to have a yellow back pack filled with medical supplies from the twenty-first century. How convenient. So, I grabbed some Tylenol for the aches, a wet cloth for the fever, and told her to 'get everything out of her system' even if it meant via vomit. I had Kaji bring her water constantly and told Maki not to eat anything until she was better. She accepted my suggestions graciously and thanked me.

Twelve hours later, Maki's vomiting had stopped but her fever remained and she was aching worse than ever. She lay in a cold sweat, tossing and turning and mumbling something under her breath. It scared me, it really did. I had sincerely thought that my previous treatment would have helped her recover fairly quickly. When her breathing became labored, I turned to my lineage, hoping for help. If I could sense the shikon shards and fire a purified arrow, why would there be a reason for me to lack the most important miko power-healing? So, not knowing what else to do, I bent over Maki's bed and whispered to her, telling her what I was going to try to do. She didn't respond, only tossed around more, so I took that as consent and placed my hands on Maki's burning body, one over her forehead, one over her stomach and concentrated, sending all my power into my hands and, hopefully, into Maki.

I felt my way outside, a cloth with tied ends in my arms. Jaken had sent given me orders and I was to try to find a special herb or something that would be an ingredient in tonight's dinner and carry back some wood for a fire. I guess the Ice Prince was cooling off, I sniggered to myself. I guess I was supposed to find this special flower that was actually an herb in the woods, because Jaken had described the flower to be in shaded spots, most likely under trees. Blue flower, red thorns. Blue flower, red thorns, but I was barely managing to keep my eyes open, not to mention finding a tiny flower among thousands. I stumbled past the tree line surrounding the castle, scanning the brush for the little plant. Perhaps this would be a good time to locate the jewel shard that I was constantly aware of now.

I wondered absently why Sesshoumaru trusted that I would not run away, as I ducked, nearly hitting my head on a tree branch. I couldn't remember feeling so drained since…well, probably when I had had the soul sucked out of me by Urusue to bring Kikyo back or by Kanna's freaky mirror, following Naraku's orders. It hit me once again how norm-defying my normal life had become. What junior at any high school could say that she had had her soul sucked out…twice? Did fate like to screw me over or, what? In the last month, I had lost Shippou, saved the life of Sesshoumaru's human charge, and been kidnapped by Naraku who had then stolen all of the shards I had been carrying with me. Now I was out looking for some stupid flower for one of the servants of Inuyasha's hated half-brother. Can you say change, much?

I stumbled about, looking for the blasted flower, and scanning for any faint glimmer of a shikon shard. Suddenly, a glimmer caught my eye, and right by a bush with blue flowers too! I dropped some previously gathered firewood and ran around a clump of bushes only to stop immediately. I had almost fallen into a giant hole in the ground. I sighed, then looked at the hole. I estimated its width across, guessing about….fifteen feet. Why me? There was no way on earth I could jump that. Heck, I could barely jump rope, not to mention a giant crater in the earth. So, I skirted around the edge, being wary of the crumbling dirt sides while muttering. Why in the hell would there be a giant crater in the middle of the forest. Who on earth put these damn forests together! One has a god tree where a half demon was pinned and another has a freaking Grand Canyon right in front of where I want to be! I cursed silently as I finally made my way around the edge and brushed my way through the various fauna of the forest over to the bushes I had seen. I bent down, snatching a branch with five or six blue flowers and, yes, red thorns (not a very natural combination, mind you), shoved the branch in my cloth sack/sling and fumbled through the thorns, looking for any glint of pink aura I could find. I crawled along the edge of the giant ground pit, digging through leaves and branches. Finally, something near me caught my eye. I reached forward to part the branches obscuring my view, only to retract in horror. The fattest worm I had ever seen was wriggling out of the ground, it's fat body snaking its way into the bushes. I caught my breath, just barely retaining a scream. I shook my head and put my mind to it. I could do this. It was just a worm. I could do this.

I reached for a stick and prodded the squirmy beast, attempting to push it aside, anything. It wriggled and curled around the stick and I held back another gasp. I poked and prodded until….squish.

"EEEEWWWWEEYYYY!!!"

The stick poked through the fat belly of the creepy crawler and I flung it aside with all my might. I sat, panting in short breaths. That was the most disgusting-

I froze immediately. Either I was very cold suddenly, or the ground was shaking way too much. I clamored to my feet, swaying from side to side as the shaking grew stronger. I looked around me, searching frantically for the cause of the earthquake, only to notice that not to many other things were feeling the impact. About a hundred feet away, trees were resting, unmoving. I took the hint and turned my back to the way I had come, making a beeline for the still area. I stumbled forward suddenly as the ground only feet behind me seemed to crumble and churn. I dashed as fast as I could until I reached an area that was not quaking like the San Andreas fault line and tuned around only to gasp in horror and…disgust.

A giant worm, the size of a school bus was slithering its way out of the giant hole I had nearly fallen into only minutes ago. It's fat, slimy body seemed to ooze out of the dirt, knocking down a few trees that were in close proximity. I ducked behind a tree watching in utter terror as the giant creepy crawler slowly made itself an obstacle in my only way back to the castle.

I almost cursed like Inuyasha. Great..just….great. A giant WORM YOUKAI!

I squinted my eyes, wishing upon everything that a giant can of insecticide or insect poison, anything, would appear. But, it wasn't just that fact that the giant, writhing body of a fifty foot tall worm was blocking my way back, but also, seconds after it had completely unearthed itself, it turned straight in my direction.

Oh hell.

It seemed to pause for a moment, waving there in the air before making a sudden dive at the clump of trees where I was hiding. I screamed and jumped out of the way, barely missing being knocked in the head by a crashing tree.

I thought worms didn't have eyes!!!!

Then it hit me, the worm youkai must sense the jewel shard. It must be searching for it. But then, why was it following me?!

I jumped into a patch of thorny bushes once more, barely missing the giant insect's..?…swinging tail as it continued to mow down five more trees. I landed hard in the dirt, something biting into my hip. I looked down and rummaged through my clothes only to pull out the rock Rin had placed in my pocket earlier. The dirt-covered, ugly, glowing rock. Glowing?!

Realization hit me like a two-by-four. The shard I had been sensing all along hadn't been in the forest, it had been in my own pocket, covered in dirt and mud. I hit it on the hard ground and a chunk fell off, revealing a piece of shiny white, confirming my theory. I went to pocket the rock once more, only to have it jerked out of my grasp as the ground shook once again. I dived for the jewel shard. I wrapped my hand around it only to let out a shocked scream as something wrapped its body around me.

My lungs felt as if the would burst with the pressure pressed upon them, as a fleshy tail lifted me up into the air. I kicked and hit, only to have the slimy worm tail grip me tighter. I coughed and sucked in air as the youkai compressed itself around me more and more. My breathing was completely halted and I gasped for air, only to realize that the attempt was meaningless. Something snapped and I tried to scream in pain, only to be met by silence when I could take in no air. I clenched at the jewel shard as I felt as if I could feel myself breaking like a toy in a careless child's hands. The trees around me turned gray and the ground black. My vision was blurring and darkening. I coughed once more, choking for air. My sight had just about left me when there was a sickening ripping sound and I fell to the ground in a heap, a piece of worm tail still snaked around me.

My eyes wide open, I gasped for air like a fish, striving to live out of water. I breathed in the cool air, sucking in its heavenly refreshment. After not even a moment, I began to kick and pull, disentangling myself from the giant tail of the slithering youkai. I stood up quickly, backing away from the lower half of the worm that was still squirming. I looked up in shock to see a white form, about twenty feet away, barely visible in its speed, darting elegantly back and forth as the other half of the worm fell in pieces to the ground. I stared in awe as the tall form of Sesshoumaru landed smoothly on the ground in front of the convulsing pieces.

I stood, rooted to the spot, my fingers clutched around the shard. Thinking better of it, I placed it quickly in my pocket, not wishing to answer any questions at the moment that the taiyoukai might have. I glanced at the ground. After having just saved me from a giant worm, I didn't think Mr. Terminex would really like to hear from me any time soon. I shuffled around, picking up my sack and the bundle of wood I had collected. If he didn't want to talk to me, if he was disgusted at having to save a mere human..his servant nonetheless, then I wasn't going to argue with him. I was tired of arguing. I just wanted peace. I didn't want to deal with demons, I didn't want to deal with jewel shards, and I most definitely didn't want to deal with Sesshoumaru.

I placed the sack over my shoulder and turned around to face him anyways. There are some things that need to be done, whether we like it or not.

"Thank you…for…what you did." I didn't think he would like to acknowledge the fact that he had just saved a human. "I guess I'm even more in debt to you now." I turned and walked on, only to stop when he replied. I expected him to berate me for having been foolish and having been weak enough to nearly be killed by such a low youkai. I hadn't expected him to say what he did.

"I was not aware of the presence of that youkai. I am aware of all youkai in my territory. I make it a priority. I am updated constantly by more sources. Apparently, they are now unreliable."

I turned to him slowly. I didn't want his 'sources' getting flamed for what I had done. He'd probably kill them or something.

"It's understandable, though. I mean, after all, it was just a….worm." I smiled slowly. "Just a worm…how pathetic. Even most humans would be smart enough not to get squeezed into pulp by a giant worm. Worms are generally harmless, right? And they're usually underground." I inhaled sharply. My chest felt as if it had been stabbed multiple times and it was difficult to speak. "So it's understandable that your resources may miss something like that. It's my fault, not any body else's." I seem to be saying that a lot lately… I mused quietly. "I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

I turned to leave once more, but was halted once again by his smooth voice. The voice that promised painful death. Beautiful death. He was like beautiful death.

"Understandable…yet unacceptable. It is my duty to know the goings on of my territory. No youkai passes without my notice. To have one so close to my own home… I must rethink those who I place my trust in. You have helped me acknowledge that. As for the incident, do not let it happen again. I will not always be available at hand or willing whenever you wish to face off with youkai. You are my servant and you are indebted to me. If you die, it will be a dishonor to your debt."

I grumbled quietly. It wasn't like I went looking for giant creepy crawlers to battle against every day, but I nodded curtly and he turned to take his leave.

"Um…Sesshoumaru-sama?"

He stopped and turned to face me, his movements sharp, yet fluid and smooth.

"Why do you let me out of the castle? Aren't you afraid I'll run away to Inuyasha?"

A strange look flitted across his face then disappeared as fast as it had come.

"You have taken your position so that your companions may live. If you were to leave, it would cost them their lives. You do not seem to me to be one that would do such a thing."

"How do you know? How do you know that I wouldn't just leave and tell Inuyasha everything that I have discovered about where you live, who you care about, so that he could use it against you?"

"Because." he turned, walking past me, in the direction on the castle so that I was now only talking to the trees in front of me.. "That is something Naraku would do. And, considering your late dealing with Naraku, I do not believe that you would be inclined to do anything that he would."

"My…late dealing…Oh! You! Why did you-How?!" I whipped around, staring accusingly at his back, only to be struck by an odd thought. He has beautiful hair..I noted absently and very out of place.

"Like I said, I have resources."

"You were the one who dropped me off-"

"I have noticed that Rin has taken to you."

I stopped instantly, wondering if he would tell me off again for being close to his charge. Would he tell me to stop talking to her?

"Are you educated.." he paused for a second. "..Kagome."

"What do you mean?" it was so odd, hearing him say my name. It sounded so important, so regal, coming from him.

"Do you know how to read and write."

"Yes…" I answered warily, wondering if lords in feudal Japan had secretaries.

"Good. I have decided that you will be Rin's tutor, considering the repairing state of Maki. You will give Rin lessons every afternoon. Since she is returning to health, Maki will do the chores you will be missing. I hope you are well-informed. I will no longer have a child running around my home, that is unable to spell her own name. You will be moved to a different room. In every other aspect, your job has not changed. And," he paused one last time. "one of your right ribs is cracked. Kaji will take care of it."

With that said, he left towards the castle. I followed half way until I found what looked to be good kindling. I collected a few more pieces of wood and headed back to the castle, my energy seemingly somewhat returned to me, along with a stabbing pain in my ribs that wouldn't go away.

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AN: Well, that turned out to be a bit longer than I intended, but that's never a bad thing. I really am not sure about this chapter. I mean, the whole worm thing and all. Bet you guys weren't expecting a worm the size of a school bus, but it was needed for some Sess/Kag interaction. Well, I'd really like to know what you guys think about it. Anyways, next chapter, some bonding will be done and Kagome takes a trip that starts a lot of commotion.