InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 12

Chapter 12

They met up with Conn and the others after an uneventful trip, for the most part. After resting for a day, the larger group continued on to Kieran's Pass.

It was a weary group that approached the fort gate at dusk after more than a week's hard travel. The villagers, though by no means strangers to hard work, were unused to long travel. The children were too exhausted to even cry by the time they reached safety. Sesshomaru knew he was pushing them too hard, but there was no help for it. He had to get them to safety while the area was still clear of Naraku's men.

He looked over the entire group. Everyone showed the strain of the hard travel, although he and his brother were the least affected. The last few miles, he somehow wound up carrying an exhausted child of about seven years old in his arms. She had held her tongue in spite of her fatigue, but Leilani had a mother's hawk eye, and noticed the child on the verge of collapse.

Some of the smaller children were already on horses being led by others. Kirara had shifted, revealing a form large enough to carry three small children. Sango walked alongside to keep them all from falling off.

Miroku had a child on his back, while Nzinga had fashioned a carrying strap for one of the infants. She kept him content by singing every song she could think of, age-appropriate or not (the latter only when Sango's mother was not in earshot). She even called Inu Yasha over and had him flick his ears at the child to keep him amused. Needless to say, her brother was not happy with her by the end of the trip.

Those guarding the gates waved the fighters in with shouts of welcome. Tiy, after greeting Sango and Kagome, quickly bustled the children into the set of rooms that had been converted into sleeping quarters for them. The wounded were brought to the healers, and reunions between the newly arrived villagers and those who had left earlier were tearful and heartfelt.

After a quick meal, Kagome and Nzinga decided to turn in for the evening. Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha were reporting to the Commander, and Sango's family was reveling in being together again. They both started to make their way to their rooms, when Zi frowned.

"I need a bath. I've been scratching since I got here."

Kagome sighed. "I know what you mean…I thought I could ignore it until tomorrow."

"Me too." The other woman sighed. "I don't have any more clean clothes in my pack, so I'll have to get something from what I left in my room here…but I think if I do go to my room, I won't want to come back." All of a sudden, a mischievous smile crossed her face. "Ah, forget it. Let's just go to the baths."

"What are you planning on doing?" Kagome asked suspiciously.

"Come on, let's go! I thought you were tired." With that, she led her still leery friend to the mostly empty women's baths.

Kagome knew she shouldn't have let her fatigue dull her suspicions. She found herself walking out of the baths to face stares and horrified gasps. Nzinga strode beside her in panther form. Seemingly oblivious to the attention, she made her way through the keep towards her assigned room. She had left her clothes with the laundress before shifting, so she had nothing to carry back with her.

Kagome had simply borrowed a robe, and had planned to stick to the shadows as much as possible. Instead, she was the center of attention with a panther slinking at her side.

"I can't believe you did this to me." Kagome muttered as they climbed the last flight of stairs. Nzinga simply yowled softly in response, and pushed her door open when she reached it. As they were the only ones in the dark hall, she shifted back once inside the room.

"Good night," she called after Kagome. Closing her door, she paused just inside her room. "So you've given your report, then?"

"The preliminaries, yes." Sesshomaru's deep voice came out of the darkness. "You are fortunate no one tried to attack you in that form. Humans are easily frightened."

She shrugged. "I was safe enough with Kagome." Not bothering to light a candle, she dug in her bag for the short tunic she normally wore to sleep. Now covered, she walked towards her bed and sat next to Sesshomaru.

His golden eyes glowed in the faint light from her window. She touched his face lightly. "You came up here just to scold me?"

He was silent for a moment. "We pressed hard to get back here."

She understood what he meant. "I'm just tired. As long as you don't wake me up too damn early tomorrow, I should be fine." She smiled to take any sting out of her statement, and then yawned.

"Go to sleep." He said softly.

"What about you?" She yawned again, stretching out on the bed.

He lay beside her, pulling her body into his. His large hands ran soothingly up and down her back. "Sleep."

She arched into his touch, brushing her lips against his. But her fatigue from the trip was too great, and she dropped almost immediately into sleep.

He continued running one hand through her braids as she slept. He intended to go back to his own room, but he was in no hurry. He moved one hand to stroke her arm, his fingertips sliding lightly along her soft skin. He smiled to himself; his patience was paying off, and he was sure they would be mated before too long.

Kagome continued down the corridor to her own room. Passing through the shared middle room, she was about to enter her chamber when she felt Inu Yasha outside the window. As she watched, he landed lightly on the balcony, walking into her room.

They looked at each other for a moment, each afraid to speak. The fragile truce that had sprung up between them was either about to end completely, or become bolstered.

Kagome sighed to herself. "Since he came here, I guess I need to speak first."

"Inu Yasha, I don't want to fight anymore. I miss you." She said softly, not meeting his eyes.

He walked over, and placed a hand under her chin, wanting to meet her gaze. "Why did you yell at me? I thought you wanted to talk about what was wrong." He grumbled.

"I wasn't ready to talk about it with you yet…but I wanted you to be there when I was. The way you asked, I felt like it didn't really matter, like you were just doing it to rid yourself of my annoying feelings in your head." Her eyes flashed. "You made me feel insignificant…like I didn't matter."

He shifted uncomfortably. "You know you matter to me. Can't you tell?"

"Sometimes." She responded. "But I feel like you're holding back from me…like there's more to you that I should know about. Even when you first opened your mind to explain the bond to me, you exposed only what you absolutely needed to. I don't know if I can live like that."

He looked at her, stunned and more than a little dismayed. As he struggled to answer, she took his hand and led him into her chamber. She sat down on her bed, pulling him down with her. Still holding his hand, she rubbed her thumb across the back in an effort to comfort him. There was just enough moonlight coming through her window for her to see the anguish twisting his face.

"Before…when I was younger, I was in love." He began haltingly. "She was human, from the village nearest to the Dog Clan lands. By that time, I had assumed that I would never Bond, being only half shifter. The fact that it happened to my parents was almost unheard of.

"Kikyou was one of the few people, human or shifter, that accepted me. We saw each other in secret whenever we could." He paused. "Eventually, that began to wear on me…I didn't want to meet her in secret anymore. It felt like she was ashamed of me. Finally, I confronted her about it. She accused me of not trusting her---and I didn't think she really wanted to be with me. We stopped seeing each other.

"About a month later, her village was attacked by Naraku's men. If we had still been meeting, she would have been with me, and safe. I never found her…she couldn't have survived."

Kagome clutched his hand tightly in both of hers as he spoke. "I did trust her, and I gave her everything I thought I had in me…and she died. It was almost worse than when Nzinga left.

"I know now that neither of them left by choice…but at the time all I remembered was feeling abandoned. Again. By a human woman who said she loved me. At the same time I felt guilty for not being there when she was in danger."

Kagome's eyes welled up, and she fought back the tears. "I won't leave you. You have to know that." She said softly.

"I trust you." He responded simply. "But it's just hard...when I know you might be taken from me too."

Kagome sat in silence for a moment. "I thought it was because you didn't really want to be with me…you were just putting up with me because the Bond made you."

He turned to her, aghast. "That's…unnatural. That would be a perversion of everything the Bond is. We Bonded because we are supposed to be together."

"But you loved her without the Bond." She whispered.

He turned to her, and forced her startled eyes to meet his. "You are my mate." He growled. "And nobody will fucking say that we don't belong together…not even you."

She blinked at his sudden show of possessiveness. "S-sorry." She said, before smiling at him. As he looked at her, puzzled, she took the opportunity to climb into his lap.

"What are you doing, bitch?" He asked.

"I'm getting comfortable." She answered, one hand toying with his ear.

He grunted, and wound his arms around her. "So you're not mad at me anymore?"

"No…I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me about her." Kagome snuggled into her mate, stifling a yawn. He grunted in response and rested his chin on top of her head.

"You should be asleep instead of talking to me about old shit." He said.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked, rubbing her nose against his throat.

He nodded, tightening his arms around her. She hummed in contentment, then dropped off to sleep.

Inu Yasha stayed awake a little longer. He came to the realization that his past had lost much of its hold on him. Kikyou would always have a place in his heart, but his future was more important to him. He would forever be grateful to Kagome for the gift of her trust under such extreme circumstances.

Smiling down at his oblivious mate, he decided to go to sleep himself.

The next morning, Miroku found himself awake earlier than he would have liked. He couldn't understand, really. He was tired from the recent travel, but his internal clock would not allow him to sleep much past his normal waking time. Sighing, he left his bed, resolving to start his day.

He decided to train first, then bathe and make his way to breakfast. Looking at his robes, a shudder passed through him. They were filthy, and he had no desire to put them on before they had been washed. Shrugging to himself, he decided to dress in tunic and breeches for training and drop the robes off on his way.

Winking at the blushing laundresses, he made his way to the training courtyard, staff in hand. Most people had trouble recognizing him without his voluminous robes, but his familiar staff helped them place him a second later.

Once in the courtyard, he found a clear space to begin his workout. Attempting to clear his mind, he began a series of basic moves with his staff. However, his concentration was not fully on his practice.

Sango.

She was almost constantly on his mind these days…not that it bothered him. What did concern him was her inability to fully trust him.

Although, he acknowledged with an inner sigh, he had no one to blame but himself. She was somewhat reserved, with strong morals. There was no way she would react favorably to a suitor who groped her at every opportunity. But what she didn't know was that he didn't do it out of disrespect…

Those curves of hers were just too tempting to ignore. He sighed again as he whipped his staff through an imaginary throng of attackers. She must have some feelings for him, though-she was not the type of woman to purposely give encouragement if she did not mean it. That one light caress on the cheek she had given him weeks ago still gave him hope.

He paused to rest for a moment, sweating lightly as he leaned on his weapon. Sango was so beautiful, even if she seemed not to know it. She certainly did nothing to enhance her natural beauty, and Miroku found that appealing, as it suited her personality. She was a warrior and a woman through and through, even if she thought she was better at the former than the latter.

He was realistic enough to know that there was next to no chance of him not groping her-it was just too ingrained in his nature. What he needed to do was show her his serious regard for her, and that the groping was simply an expression of appreciation for her beauty…like stroking a beautiful flower.

Of course, the flower never responded with a blow to the head the way his Sango did. He grinned at the memory. There was plenty of fire and warmth beneath her reserved exterior.

Spinning around to begin his exercises again, he caught sight of Sango in the shadow of the training yard's main entrance. He made no sign that he saw her, not wanting to make her self-conscious. If she wanted to watch him train, he would be the last to object.

Meanwhile, Sango blinked in surprise at the suddenness with which the monk resumed his practice. She watched the play of muscles beneath his clothing. His normal robes did not allow for such a sight. Safely hidden (or so she thought) in the shadows, she felt free to stare with unabashed appreciation at the well-toned man in front of her.

She did not know what to think of him. She had never met a man who made her feel this way. His actions constantly kept her off balance. When he was not groping her, she could almost believe he had a genuine regard for her. But she was always taught that groping was done out of disrespect, only to women who were thought to be free with their favors. It was difficult for her to reconcile the idea with the honeyed words he poured into her ears.

She sighed to herself. Suddenly, Inu Yasha appeared out of nowhere, attacking his cousin. The two obviously sparred on a regular basis, as each man seemed to be familiar with the other's fighting style. Inu Yasha, though graceful, was wild, seeming to have no real technique beyond attempting to land a strike. Miroku was more restrained, fighting with an economy of motion. No move was wasted.

Sango gasped as Inu Yasha got through the monk's defense, slicing his tunic. Miroku countered by landing a blow on the side of his cousin's head.

"Ow! I didn't fucking cut you, bastard!" Inu Yasha snarled.

"I like this tunic," his cousin replied.

Inu Yasha increased the speed of his attack, and proceeded to slice his cousin's tunic to ribbons. Sango could only watch as more of the monk's impressive physique was revealed with every cut.

"Oh my," she murmured to herself.

"What a waste," a voice said over her shoulder. Sango looked up to see Nzinga walking up beside her. "Why on earth does he hide all that under those robes?"

Sango could only nod in agreement as the men continued to spar, Miroku's shirt now in tatters.

"If you two were not obviously meant for each other…" Nzinga mused as she eyed the monk appreciatively, then sighed.

"Poor thing," Sango teased. "Having to make do with Sesshomaru."

Her friend only winked in response.

The two men finally called a halt to their activities, and stood glaring at each other. Inu Yasha was hardly winded, while Miroku was covered in sweat, due to his longer workout. Sango could not take her eyes off him.

"There's just something about seeing a man in action, isn't there?" Nzinga asked softly. "Sesshomaru looks so good while fighting, I can hardly stand it."

"Mm-hmm." Sango agreed.

"Come on," Zi tugged on Sango's arm. "I want to play, too."

"But…" Sango protested as she was dragged into the yard.

"Boys!" Nzinga called. "We want to practice too." She eyed Inu Yasha. "I'll take you, Pup. It's not fair to pick on someone who's already tired from practice."

"Keh!" He snorted. "You mean that silly prancing he was doing earlier? I can't help it if he's that weak."

His sister rolled her eyes. "Then let's go. Scathach wants to play." She leaped at him, sword drawn.

He met her halfway, and their blades flashed in the morning sun. Sango and Miroku were left looking at each other.

"Good morning, Sango," the monk greeted her, his chest heaving from his earlier exertion.

"Good morning," she replied, holding Hiraikotsu like a shield.

"If you would like to spar, I would be happy to accommodate you, if you don't mind giving me a few moments." He told her.

"N-not at all." She answered, trying not to be obvious in her admiration of his form.

"Did you sleep well?'

"Yes, thank you."

"And how fares your family? Your father arrived safely, I take it?" Miroku asked.

"Yes, thank you. He was happy to see us all safe." "What am I doing here?" she asked herself.

Miroku noticed her slightly red face, and mistook the reason. "I apologize for my attire. As you saw, my cousin thought it would be enjoyable to undress me in public."

"I wouldn't mind undressing you anywhere." The woman thought, then immediately blushed even more fiercely. "Please don't apologize, I understand."

He nodded. "Well, I am ready if you are."

She decided her use her sword instead of her main weapon. Laying Hiraikotsu against a nearby wall, she drew her sword and approached Miroku.

He gestured to her to begin, and she attacked. Losing herself in the familiar rhythms of bladework, she was able to forget her earlier discomfort at seeing the monk partially naked. Mostly.

They were well matched. He had the advantage of strength and reach, but she was quicker. Finally, he caught her blade on his staff, and the two were locked, faces inches from each other. His violet eyes intent on hers brought her out of fighting mode.

Suddenly she became aware of the fact that his lips were inches from her own. She drew in a breath at the realization. He moved in closer, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Is he…? Is he…" She thought wildly.

She could feel his breath on her mouth. Her own breath was becoming ragged. He broke the standoff suddenly and lowered his staff. As she stood there in shock, he moved in, lowering his face to the side of her own. Drawing in a breath of his own, he ran his nose along the side of her neck. Pausing at her ear, he said in a low voice, "Thank you for the match, my lady."

Withdrawing, he saluted her and walked off. Sango remained where she was, her forgotten blade trailing its tip in the dust of the training yard.

A shout to her right snapped her head around. She looked just in time to see Nzinga lower her head and drive her shoulder into Inu Yasha's stomach, knocking him to the ground. As he lay in the dust cursing, she stood over him and laughed.

"That wasn't fucking fair! I thought you were hurt!" He yelled.

"Not everyone you fight against is going to fight fair." She countered. "I don't want you dying because of principles."

He turned his head and muttered something uncomplimentary.

"I refuse to accept that kind of speech from someone whose diapers I used to change," Nzinga declared with a toss of her head. "Come on, Sango, let's go to the baths." She then strode over and dragged a still dazed Sango with her, leaving an irate man cursing on the ground behind them.