Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Changed Miko ❯ Broken Doll ( Chapter 13 )

 

Sango walked through the hut slowly making sure to give Kagome enough time for each step. They made it out of the door without incident and as soon as they came out into the fading afternoon sun, they were faced with a collective gasp and the ecstatic and somewhat surprised faces of their companions.

 

The sudden sound made Shippou stir and sit up. He groggily rubbed at his eyes, “What is it? Why is everyone so quiet?” The kit looked up to the person he was lying next to, which happened to be Miroku, and nudged him. Miroku's eyes never faltered in their gaze as he reached down, put his hand on Shippou's head and turned him to face the direction in which they all were staring.

 

Kagome smiled softly at her adopted son. He was always so cute when he woke up. Seeing Miroku turn him around, Kagome braced herself for the inevitable as she saw his eyes widen.

 

He knew he had tears in his eyes, but at the moment he didn't care. He had spent so much time awake and worrying over her and now, his mother was awake and looking at him with a smile. It was that smile that shook him from his stupor and as soon as he recovered, he launched himself at her.

 

An audible `oomph' was heard from the miko as Shippou hurled himself into her arms. He had grown a lot in the last four years and wasn't the tiny ball of fur he used to be. She barely managed to maintain her balance and surely would have fallen over under his assault of hugs and kisses, had it not been for Sango holding her up.

 

“Mama…I was *sniff* so worried about you. *sniff, sniff* I thought you weren't going to wake up and *sniff* I don't want to be left alone again.” Shippou wailed into her chest and Kagome cuddled him for all he was worth. It was then she realized he had called her `mama'. The miko always knew the kitsune took to her like a mother since his parents had been killed, but never knew how good it would feel to have him call her that.

 

Pulling Shippou back from her chest, Kagome looked down into his watery green eyes. “Mama?” She said with a slight smile that broadened when he blushed.

 

“I-I'm sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to….it just slipped out!” Shippou all but wailed. He had always wanted to be able to call her mama but knew he should have asked her.

 

The small outburst from Shippou caused Kagome to chuckle lightly and hug him to her once again, “Don't worry about it sweetie. I would love for you to call me mama.” With that, she kissed him on the head.

 

Looking up from the kitsune in her arms, Kagome found both groups, new and old; watching the display with various smiles and tears. All these people were here…for her? `That can't be right. Inuyasha told me no one would want me.' And as that one particular memory came back to her mind, she whimpered and hugged Shippou a little closer.

 

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All those gathered outside the hut watched on as Kagome and Shippou cuddled together. It was good to see a smile on the miko's face, even if it didn't quite reach her eyes. They all had their eyes on her, waiting to see if she would show any more signs indicating she was at least healed somewhat from her ordeal. It had only been two days, but Kagome was strong and they all knew that they would be there for her.

 

 

Miroku heard Kagome whimper softly just before she buried her face in Shippou's hair. He was sure he wasn't the only one to hear it, but he wasn't going to sit around and wait for someone else to acknowledge it. His friend was awake finally and now it was time for her to heal.

 

Standing up and adjusting his robes, the monk walked over the little miko and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. He almost cried and felt his heart lurch in his chest when she raised her tear-filled eyes to his. Kagome had always been the epitome of strength and love in their little rag-tag group and here she was, looking every bit the part of a broken and forgotten doll.

 

Kagome looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder and instantly locked onto the violet gaze of Miroku. The look in his eyes was sad and questioning and it made her heart ache. She temporarily forgot about his normally lecherous ways and flung herself into his arms, sobbing against his chest.

 

The monk stiffened for a second when Kagome threw herself into his arms, but wrapped them around her tightly when he felt her tears soak through the purple and black fabric on his chest. He began to stroke her hair and spoke softly into her ear, “Lady Kagome….what is it? I know how hurt you are, but we are all here to help you. We all love you my friend and it hurts to see you so sad. Please, let us help.”

 

Sniffling lightly so as not to choke on her sobs, Kagome replied in a strained voice that came out muffled by the monk's robes; “Is that really true, Miroku? Inu-Inuyasha t-told me th-that no one would w-want me anymore. That nobody ever did to begin with.”

 

Now, Miroku had always been a pacifist and only resorted to violent tendencies as a last resort, but hearing those hateful words fall from Kagome's lips set his blood to boiling and it took all the strength of will he possessed to refrain from going to Inuyasha and killing him on the spot. The little miko from the future represented everything that was good and pure in the world; how could anyone not want some part of her?

 

Tightening his hold on Kagome, Miroku spoke with all the emotion and conviction he had in his heart, “Kagome that is the farthest thing from the truth. Everyone here cares for you very much. There hasn't been one of us that have left the village and some of us have had to be forcefully removed from your bedside.”

 

His words came out a little louder than he had wanted due to the fact that he was trying to restrain his anger and at upon hearing them, Kurama spoke up. “What do you mean, Miroku? What are you talking about?”

 

The monk turned slightly to regard the fox and noticed that he wasn't the only one who had heard the words spoken to the priestess. Sighing, Miroku made his way to a nearby log and sat down, still holding Kagome to his chest and settling her in his lap, as she had fallen asleep once again. He continued to stroke her hair and answered the questioning gazes of all gathered.

 

“Inuyasha has made Lady Kagome truly believe that she is worth little more than the ground we walk upon and that no one could ever possibly want her in any way. It seems as though she is far more broken than we thought.” Miroku paused to gulp in a much needed breathe and settle his emotions before continuing softly; “I am even wondering if she will ever recover. It takes a lot of abuse to break down a strong soul and she possesses the strongest I have ever known. We will all have to try extra hard to bring her back to us.”

 

Looking back up at the enlarged group, the monk noticed everyone had varying expressions of sorrow, anger and concern crossing their eyes. It made him smile inside to know how many people cared and were willing to help heal his broken friend.

 

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The rapidly setting sun cast beautiful rays of purple, red and gold across the statuesque figure of the Western Lord as he walked alongside Ah-Un, with Rin perched on his back and Jaken grumbling about `stupid humans'.

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru, how long will it be before we get to see Lady Kagome?” Rin asked in a sweet voice. She had made friends with the miko throughout the times they had met when the brothers would battle. It had been quite some time since Rin had seen Kagome and had just recently asked Sesshoumaru if they could go visit her.

 

Sesshoumaru didn't really hate Inuyasha anymore, but couldn't say he liked him much either. Their continual fights had turned more into sparring matches over the last couple of years and had lessened in intensity. Sesshoumaru had wondered over this turn of events many nights and had come to the conclusion that it was all due to the miko.

 

The Great Demon Lord had come to the conclusion that although the priestess was indeed human, she was far from weak or pathetic. The girl, Kagome, had immense amounts of holy powers and an aura that seemed almost too big to be housed in her small frame. She was also immensely loyal and ceaselessly compassionate. The Lord of the West had even wondered if she truly hated Naraku, or just felt sorry for the vile hanyou.

 

It was due to more to the miko's many redeeming qualities than the fact that Rin was so taken with her that Sesshoumaru had agreed to seek her out. He found that she lacked the continual scent of death that seemed ingrained into humans and her purity seemed to calm his very soul. All in all, her presence was soothing to the Great Dog, though he would sooner die than admit it to anyone.

 

And so, the small group had set out towards Inuyasha's forest to find the half-breed and the miko that traveled with him.

 

The small group had just entered into an area less overgrown by foliage when Sesshoumaru stopped in his tracks. His extremely keen and sensitive sense of smell picked up a scent that instantly made his stomach turn. Barely inclining his head to look back over his shoulder, he spoke to his entourage, “Rin, we will make camp here for the night and will reach Inuyasha's forest tomorrow.”

 

He then gestured to his retainer and the faithful toad demon closed the gap to his master. “Jaken,” Sesshoumaru said, “Make camp here and keep close watch on Rin. There is something I must attend to.”

 

Jaken bowed low to the Taiyoukai, “Yes Lord Sesshoumaru.” He followed with a gulp, seeing the gleam in his masters' eye that told him of the dire consequences he would face, should any harm befall the Lord's young ward.

 

Nodding in satisfaction, Sesshoumaru resumed his leisurely pace into the denser area of the woods. Once he was sure he was out of range of his party, he took to flight with a sense of urgency.

 

The closer he got to the area that demanded his attention, the stronger the scents became and the harder they assaulted his sensitive Inu nose, throwing his olfactory into overdrive. Finally, he broke through the heavy foliage and shuddered to a stop in a clearing where the stench was the strongest.

 

Blood. A lot of blood and the strong scent of arousal permeated the very air in the clearing, hanging over it like a dense fog. He recognized the scents and his eyes began bleed red as his mind pieced together what must have happened in the clearing. He could smell the blood and fear of the very miko he was looking for; and the smell of desire was from none other than his own half-brother. The scents were so closely intermingled that the Great Dog knew at once what had transpired.

 

His half-brother had once again brought shame to his family name. Sesshoumaru knew that it wasn't below any being- youkai or human -to force themselves on a female, but for the son of the Great and Terrible Dog General to do so was nothing short of blasphemous. Even if said son was hanyou.

 

Just as his claws began to lengthen and flex with his rage, he heard the tired and strained voice of the very one he was longing to tear apart.

 

“What brings you to this part of the forest, Sesshoumaru? Come to make things a little worse for the worthless half-breed?” Inuyasha spat from his place against the tree. He knew he really wasn't in a position to defend himself and he could see the crimson seeping into the golden gaze of the Western Lord from across the way.

 

It didn't matter to him anymore though. He was tired, hungry and his body and, more prominently, his heart hurt. Inuyasha had remembered all that had happened … all that he had to done to the one person who had accepted him without pause and his shame and deep seeded regret had intensified to the point where he honestly no longer cared if he lived or died. He had even been almost hoping that Kikyou would come calling to take him to hell so he wouldn't have to sit in the clearing that reeked of his traitorous deeds.

 

Sesshoumaru snapped his head in the direction of Inuyasha's voice. At first, he was tempted to pounce on the whelp and let his claws bath in the hanyou's blood, but the notes of sorrow and regret that tainted the half-breeds harsh words were enough to make him pause. `It sounds as though he has resigned himself to death already. It would be dishonorable for me to kill him in such a state.' With his conscious slowly regaining control of his raging Youkai, Sesshoumaru made his way to the listless form of Inuyasha.

 

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