InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Circumstances ❯ Calm Before the Storm ( Chapter 17 )

CHAPTER 17- CALM BEFORE THE STORM

 

 

The loss of his detachment that had been known as Atoshi left Naraku a little more bitter than he had thought. Regardless of what some may have believed, creating an incarnation took time and patience and no little amount of power. Given that Atoshi had been blessed with numerous capabilities, Naraku had been left a little weak afterwards; a feeling he never enjoyed.

 

Suffice to say that he was a bit put out when the death of his detachment had finally hit home. Those insufferable fools that had been a thorn in his side for all too long were becoming more annoying than entertaining. And adding Kikyo into the fray had twisted that thorn deeper.

 

“Kikyo…” the name rolled off Naraku's tongue with venom. She had been the one to shoot the arrow into his `child'. And now she traveled with the half-breed, Inuyasha, on their way towards his stronghold. He was not quite ready to face them yet which left him with few options. He could send another demon at them, which would give him more than ample time to prepare himself. Or…he could have a bit of fun with them first. Deciding he liked his second idea more, he summoned on one of his better, yet more rebellious, incarnations.

 

“Kagura,” Naraku said simply. The wind demoness had been waiting just outside the door like she was told to do, so in no time was at his side.

 

“Yes Naraku?” she inquired. Gods how she hated this scum. This wretched being that had given her life, if one could call it that, was the bane of her very existence. The worst part was that he knew it. Naraku knew that she would just as quickly slit her own throat than serve him, but there was always one problem: her heart. Her heart which he so carelessly handled was the one thing keeping her from freedom. Kagura could not die unless it was decided by him that she may do so. She could not be freed unless her heart was released from his ownership, and it would be a cold day in hell when that happened.

 

Naraku eyed Kagura with distrust while she no doubt cursed his very name within her head. “Inuyasha and his friends are encroaching upon us. As loathe as I am to turn away from a confrontation with them, I am not yet ready,” he explained to her.

 

“What is it that you ask of me?” Kagura pushed. She did not want to be in his presence any longer than was necessary and he was taking his time in giving her, her orders.

 

“Some new, very intriguing, information has presented itself to me,” Naraku said as he absently stroked the backside of his hand. “It seems that our favorite demon lord has taken a sudden interest in our young priestess. The villager, Takahiro, has been given orders to slay her, but perhaps the brothers will kill each other instead?”

 

Kagura nodded in understanding at the task ahead of her. “What should I tell Inuyasha?”

 

Naraku waved a dismissing hand in her direction. “It matters not. Just be sure that he is no longer coming my way.”

 

Kagura bowed shallowly and took her leave of his presence. It was bad enough that she had to do his bidding, but to constantly be his messenger girl because he was too cowardly to face the small band of warriors was down right degrading. She knew that whenever she came across the group they looked at her with something akin to pity. Kagura hated pity. Pity was a feeling that a strong being such as her self was loathe to receive. It was maddening to see the sorrowful looks in their eyes and she caught herself thinking that she would just as soon scratch her eyes out than see those looks again.

 

On her big white feather, Kagura flew towards Inuyasha and his companions. This would not be a pleasant trip and she was already preparing herself for the upcoming onslaught against her. Kagura rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.”

 

 

****

 

 

Megumi eyed the grinning young priestess with suspicion as well as relief. The awful event that had occurred yesterday was still very fresh in her mind's eye and she couldn't help the shudder that came over her at just the thought of it. The poor girl had been outnumbered and left with no source of defense against the rioting villagers, and Megumi hung her head in shame for their unholy acts.

 

The young priestess would have surely been distraught over the whole ordeal. Anyone would be after the beating she suffered. Anyone would be cooped up for days, healing both physical and emotional wounds that were dealt to them; crying over the injustice of so many people coming together against one. So why in the seven layers of hell was this young girl smiling?

 

Kagome hummed to herself a giddy little tune while picking herbs in the small garden near the shrine. Her body was a bit sore because of what had happened to her, but all in all she was getting through the day quite well. Megumi narrowed her already beady eyes in confusion. Shouldn't Kagome be crying…alone…in bed?

 

Megumi cleared her throat to try and gain her attention. Nothing. The young priestess was still humming to herself while she idly plucked the leaves off of one of the herbal flowers. Time for a different approach. “Eh, Kagome?”

 

“Hm?” Kagome said absently.

 

“Do…do you want to talk about it?” Megumi asked her.

 

Without breaking her concentration on the dainty little flower Kagome asked, “Talk about what?” Her smile was still in place as her thoughts were a million miles away, making Megumi shake her head.

 

“About what happened yesterday, girl,” the older priestess breathed out harshly.

 

Kagome lifted her head up to look at Megumi with a bit of confusion before her eyes lit up with understanding. “No. No thank you Megumi; I'd rather not talk about it.” Her fingers again began to play with the petals of the small flower, her thoughts once again drifting off to a certain demon lord, a smile gracing her lips.

 

Megumi sighed and shook her head again. “Girl, we really should talk about it. The villagers-”

 

“The villagers have proven that they have lived in seclusion for way too long,” Kagome interrupted. Although she hadn't taken her eyes off the herb, she was now very much aware of her surroundings, and the fact that Megumi was twitching nervously at her side. “Megumi…they attacked me. Me! I have done nothing to them, and they ridicule me because of my association with demons and for what?! My friends did nothing to them when they were here and yet they are being discriminated against because they're different.”

 

“Girl, I know it isn't easy to understand. But these people have lost loved ones to demons; it is why they sought refuge here in the northern valley,” Megumi explained.

 

“They've also lost loved ones to bandits,” Kagome said dryly. “But they don't discriminate against each other. Tell me how that's fair.”

 

Megumi closed her eyes as she fought hard to not get exasperated with Kagome. “Girl, I am not condoning what they did, please don't get me wrong. However, not everyone sees the world as you do.”

 

“And how is that exactly?” Kagome asked sharper than she meant to.

 

“Simply that you do not see race when you look at someone. You see the person that they are inside and are completely blind to what is outside.”

 

“Isn't that a good thing?”

 

Megumi smiled at the young priestess's naïve, but very tender answer. “Aye, it is a good thing girl; never forget that. It's just that in this day and age, not everyone is as accepting as you are. Please do not hate the villagers for straying from the path of good.”

 

“Megumi, I don't hate the villagers,” Kagome said while shaking her head to emphasize her point. “I don't want people to feel afraid of things they don't understand. I'm only grateful that Sesshoumaru, my demon friend,” she said at Megumi's confused look, “chose to comply with me when I asked him not to hurt them.”

 

At Kagome's admission Megumi sat back a bit shocked. She had told the demon not to harm the villagers even after they did what they did? This girl truly was a puzzle. Many would have not bothered to spare the lives of people who have crossed them so. “That's all for today girl. Please take the rest of the day to do whatever it is you need to do.”

 

Kagome raised an eyebrow at the old priestess but bowed and excused herself from the shrine garden. Megumi chewed the inside of her cheek in thought before turning towards the back wall of the garden.

 

“You all may come out from there now,” she called. Slowly, the villagers filed into the garden with their heads bowed and their hands clasped in front of them. Megumi did not smile assuredly at them and she did not offer them any pity. She merely watched as they all gathered around her small garden waiting for her to speak. When the last of them had found a place to stand Megumi raised her self from the ground and straightened her back.

 

“I know all of you heard her, and I hope you take her words to heart. All of you, no matter how much I hate to say it, are lucky to be alive this day. And it is all thanks to that girl who you all so hatefully hurt.” The villagers' shoulders sagged and they bowed their heads so low that their chins hit their chests. “I don't know how you're going to make it up to her, but I suggest you try. I regret not teaching you better.”

 

That was the last she said to them before making her way back into the village shrine. The townspeople had much to think about, and if they desired forgiveness then they had all better start mending their ways.

 

 

****

 

 

Kagura maneuvered her way through the low clouds in search of Inuyasha. There was indeed one good thing about being Naraku's messenger, and that was being able to leave his dreaded castle on a regular basis. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the wind blowing through her hair and against her skin. This is what she wanted, what she desired most. The freedom to be the wind as she was intended to be, not cooped up in a dark room catering to Japan's most sadistic half-demon. One day come hell or high water she would be rid of him for good, but until then she would have to do her job as he ordered.

 

Kagura sighed as she noticed Inuyasha's group down below setting up camp and began her decent. It did not take long for her to reach the group and they were already waiting for her arrival with their weapons drawn.

 

“What are you doing here Kagura?” Miroku asked strongly. “Come to seek revenge for your fallen brother and sister?”

 

Kagura snorted daintily and crossed her arms, tapping her closed fan lightly on her forearm. “I'm not here to avenge Micharata and Atoshi's death; those idiots got what they deserved.”

 

“So what the hell do ya want?” Inuyasha tersely asked. “What's Naraku up to this time?”

 

Kagura shrugged uncaringly; she only came to direct them off course and she wasn't one for wasting time with miscreants. “Where's your little priestess Inuyasha?” Kagura asked slyly.

 

“That's none of your damned business,” Inuyasha stated as he sheathed his sword. It was obvious that Kagura didn't come to them to fight, only to taunt them with her stupid questions. The other members of the group lowered their weapons, but stayed alert in case Kagura decided to attack.

 

“Unfortunately it is my business as much as it is your brother's it seems,” she said, her tone alluding to what her words did not.

 

This caused Inuyasha to frown in confusion. Why the hell would it be his brother's business where Kagome was? “What are you rattlin' on about? You're not makin' sense.”

 

Kagura felt a headache start to form behind her eyes and resisted the urge to massage her temples. She would have to spell it out for them. “Sesshoumaru, it seems, has taken quite an interest in your little priestess Inuyasha. I wouldn't be surprised if they're off somewhere in the woods right now fooling around,” she stated bluntly.

 

Try as he might, Inuyasha could not contain the laugh that spewed from his mouth at the image that sentence conveyed. “Haha! You think…Sesshoumaru, ha ha ha!...and Kagome!...in the woods…fooling around?! Ah ha ha ha! That's wonderful, really…” Inuyasha trailed off as he wiped a tear from his eye. He then looked over to Sango and Miroku who had similar looks of worry on their faces. “Oh come on! You can't tell me you actually believe her? This is obviously some plot to throw us off track!”

 

Sango looked over to Miroku out of the corner of her eye just as he looked to her. “Miroku…” Sango began.

 

“Yes I know Sango dear,” Miroku stated. “Perhaps we should go and see our friend and make sure that she's okay.”

 

Inuyasha's mouth dropped open at what Miroku said. “You guys, come on! This is Sesshoumaru we're talkin' about here. Sesshoumaru doesn't fool around in the woods with anybody, let alone a human priestess. Let's keep going. We're getting close; otherwise Naraku wouldn't have sent the wind witch her to throw us off course.”

 

Kagura narrowed her eyes at the stupid half dog demon. “Any other day I would say that you're right, but Naraku has eyes everywhere. You of all people should know that. Just don't come crying to me when your brother has his way with your innocent young priestess. I gave you fair warning.” Kagura tilted her head in dismissal and tossed her feather into the air before leaving behind Inuyasha and his friends.

 

“Let's finish setting up camp. We'll continue looking for Naraku in the morning. I want to find him and get this shit over and done with,” Inuyasha said as he started digging a small fire pit.

 

“But what about Kagome?” Shippou spoke up from next to Kirara. “Are we just gonna forget about her and let Sesshoumaru have his way with her?” he asked innocently.

 

“Keh! There's no way Sesshoumaru's doing anything with Kagome. Besides, even if he was trying to start something-which he's not- Kagome wouldn't do that to me. She knows how much Sesshoumaru and I hate each other. She just wouldn't do that.” Inuyasha jumped up into a nearby tree as the rest of the group continued setting up camp. Kikyo walked towards the tree Inuyasha rested in and, without looking up, began talking.

 

“Do you feel it wise to leave the girl with your brother?” Kikyo asked him. Inuyasha looked down at her and sighed.

 

“Look, I just don't think anything's going on, okay? The main focus is Naraku! Why can't anyone understand that? Kagome is more than capable of taking care of herself, and Sesshoumaru's had the chance to kill her before and didn't,” Inuyasha explained.

 

Kikyo nodded once and turned away from him to sit at the bottom of the tree. She heard him sigh and smiled a little to herself at his next words. “Everyone be prepared to go back north tomorrow. If you're all so damned worried about her we'll just forget all of the progress we've made and make sure she's okay.”

 

Immediately the atmosphere in the camp lightened with the thought of seeing Kagome again after so long. Kikyo was glad to hear that they were going to find Kagome, but for different reasons. While she didn't hate Kagome, the feelings that the younger priestess held for Inuyasha interfered with her final plans to take Inuyasha to hell with her. If Kagome had, in her short time in the small village, developed feelings for someone else, it would just make it easier on everyone in the long run. Inuyasha wouldn't believe anything until he saw it, so now it was imperative that he be witness to the blossoming relationship.

 

 

****

 

 

Sesshoumaru watched on(watched or looked on) as Kagome and her instructor crossed swords. The man, Takahiro, was not completely incompetent like he had assumed at first; a benefit for the man's health as far as Sesshoumaru was concerned. Kagome was doing fairly well in her own right. She was picking up the different stances quite well and the grip on her sword was strong. Sesshoumaru found her to be quite agile, and as much as he hated to admit his distraction during battle training, Kagome was indeed a sight to behold.

 

Her form was lithe and she seemed to have a natural grace about her; a far cry from the first time that he had witnessed her in battle when she was clumsy and awkward. His eyes followed her every move, sometimes calculating her next action, sometimes watching the way the light sheen of sweat seemed to make her glow underneath the light of the afternoon sun. His eyes caught sight of a single bead of sweat as it made its way down her face to her neck and then underneath the collar of her shirt. She was mesmerizing.

 

Sesshoumaru shook his head as he once again found himself staring. It was odd the way he was so intrigued with her; she had never caught his attention so much before, but it seemed that he was more enthralled than he had expected. Perhaps the hot spring incident was to blame for this new development? A delightful shiver crept its way down his spine thinking of it, but he brushed it off and continued to watch the training.

 

“Soften your stance Kagome,” Sesshoumaru instructed her. Right away she did as she was told, never taking her eyes off of her opponent. Takahiro however, glanced at Sesshoumaru wearily for only a second, but it was enough for Kagome to strike him lightly on the shoulder.

 

“Ha! I got you Takahiro! What do ya think about that?!” Kagome shouted joyously.

 

“Very good Kagome, you did very well. Um, you're learning really quickly,” he praised her. Takahiro once again brought nervous eyes to the demon lord who was looking on at them impassively. He was extremely on edge having a demon so close to him, but was trying very hard not to show his anxiety.

 

“What did you think Sesshoumaru?” Kagome asked as she turned to face the demon lord. She had an expectant smile on her face and her eyes were filled with hope that he would commend her on a job well done. She had pushed herself extra hard today in order to be suitable for him and his high standards.

 

`Damn,' Sesshoumaru thought. `Even if she did awfully I am not certain I would be able to tell her so; not with her looking at me like that.' Sesshoumaru nodded his head once to convey his approval to her. Kagome's smile brightened further and she forced herself not to jump into his arms in giddiness.

 

`Calm down Kagome,' she told herself. `All he did was nod and you're getting too worked up over it. But damn if he doesn't look marvelous standing there.' Kagome blushed at her last thought and dropped her in an attempt to hide it. Takahiro may have been fooled with her attempt at evasiveness, but Sesshoumaru wasn't and he had to restrain the arrogant smirk that wanted to make its way to his face. Kagome looked up at him with her face flush and smiled shyly at him.

 

They stared at each other for a while and Takahiro shifted nervously behind them. He still had much on his mind and he did not want to be around Kagome for any longer than was necessary. The man, Naraku, had told him to do a job and he was still contemplating a way to discretely do away with Kagome so that it looked like an accident. Takahiro felt his conscience eating away at him, but at the thought of having his beautiful wife back with him he was once again determined to keep up his end of the deal with Naraku.

 

“Ehem, well…I uh…I think that's all for today Kagome. It was uh, nice meeting you Lord Sesshoumaru,” Takahiro stated quickly with a bow before jogging away. Kagome waved her hand absently at the already retreating form of Takahiro, but couldn't tear her eyes away from Sesshoumaru, who remained staring at her coolly. After a while, Sesshoumaru finally broke the silence but not his concentration on her.

 

“You are improving. Already there is a noticeable change in the way you fight since you first began your tutelage,” he said as he took a step towards her. Kagome blushed at the compliment and looked down at the ground. She was still holding onto her sword, but her grip had tightened a little more at his words.

 

“Th-thank you,” she replied timidly.

 

“Kagome.”

 

She looked up quickly at the sound of his voice so close to her. “Yes?”

 

“Do not be ashamed to receive a compliment; I do not give them out freely and you have earned it.” Sesshoumaru brushed some strands of hair away from her face to tuck them behind her ear. Kagome could feel her heartbeat quicken and her breathing become harder and closed her eyes try and calm herself down. The proximity they shared was wreaking havoc on her emotions and she had to remind herself that this was Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha's brother who was making her feel this way. This couldn't happen between them, whatever this was. But you can't help who you have feelings for, right?

 

Sesshoumaru continued to look down at her while she was having an inner battle with herself. He could hear her fast beating heart and could practically taste the air that she breathed. He leaned down and placed his lips on hers without a second thought and brushed his tongue along the crease of her lips. Kagome forgot about her inner fight at the feel of his lips against hers and deepened the kiss. His lips were warm and moist and his strong hand was brought up to her chin in order to hold her still. Kagome's grip loosened on her sword until it finally slipped from her hands and dropped carelessly to the ground.

 

Her arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed her body closer to his, feeling the warmth that radiated off of him. Sesshoumaru lowered his hand from her chin and wrapped his arm around her waist to draw her in further. Her mouth was hot on his and her tongue caressed his seductively. He bit back a growl when he heard her moan and decided that there was a better time and place for such activities.

 

Without Kagome realizing it, Sesshoumaru had brought Tensaiga out and placed the tip of it to her neck. Kagome sucked in a breath and straightened her spine, breaking away from his mouth quickly.

 

“Never let your guard down Kagome. It would take little less than a flick of my wrist to slit your throat,” Sesshoumaru whispered in her ear. He once again sheathed his sword and stepped away from a blushing and slightly embarrassed Kagome. She nodded in understanding and once again picked up her sword. She absently licked her lips and Sesshoumaru was sorely tempted to taste them again.

 

`Another time,' he assured himself. Sesshoumaru didn't kiss Kagome merely to teach her a lesson; he had desired to do so ever since the hot spring the night before and now just seemed to be the most opportunistic time. It had been everything that he remembered and more and he was certain that his extensive training in the control of both himself and his emotions would be utilized to the fullest extent while he was around her.

 

With a slight skip in her step, Kagome made her way back to her hut with Sesshoumaru in tow. She felt like giggling but stopped herself. No sense in embarrassing herself further today in front of him. She reached up with her hand and touched her lips; she was going to have to restrain herself from acting on such impulses in the future. Just how long was this training again?