Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Anything For You ❯ Bath ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or Inuyasha!

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Bath

Warm.

Soft.

Kagome silently snuggled deeper into the fur pelt beneath her before quickly snapping her baby blue eyes wide open. "Keiji," Kagome's frazzled mind screeched out. A tendril of fear gripped her pounding heart when all she could see was dark, ominous trees looming above her. Darkness enveloped the whole forest and would have enveloped her if it wasn't for the fire that burned brightly beside her. The fire provided some sense of comfort to the disheveled girl, who was trying desperately to calm her pounding heart. "Fire has always calmed and comforted me. It has always been there for me when no one else has - fire - my only friend." Kagome thought idly to herself, "As pitiful as it may sound, it's all that I have." A small smile graced her bruised lips as she watched the fire dance before her, succeeding in temporarily suppressing her fears.

"I see that you are finally awake." a calm voice penetrated Kagome's silent obsession with the fire before her, bringing her back into her panic-stricken state. "Your fear is weighing heavily in the air," the voice continued, "fear will spur on the feeble-minded demons to attack you." Kagome swallowed a thick lump in her throat and turned to face the source of the masculine voice. The speaker was completely hidden in the shadows, but his molten gold eyes were clearly visible, even to the naked human eye.

Memories of what had just recently taken place dawned on Kagome, causing her to blush when she realized that she was gapping at her savior, probably resembling something akin to a dead fish. "I bet I look horrible." Kagome thought dejectedly to herself. "But does it really matter? I've always looked horrible. Everyone has told me that, except Sango, but I know it's true."

"Are you aware of what had taken place?" her savior asked in a deadpan voice. Kagome vigorously nodded her head while keeping her eyes trained on the ground before her.

"T-thank you for saving me from the village boys," Kagome finally managed to utter before biting her already bruised lips. "Um, are you a demon?" Kagome suddenly blurted, unable to contain her curiosity at bay. Kagome was answered with a curt nod from her savior after he stepped out from behind the curtain of shadows. Kagome's blue eyes skimmed over her savior's perfectly chiseled face and loosely clad body. "He must be a kitsune demon." Kagome deducted when her eyes locked on her savior's inhuman fox ears and tail.

Kagome backed up slightly when her angelic savior bent down to her eye level. "You smell putrid, even worse than the average human." he casually informed Kagome while turning up his nose in disgust. "The least you humans can do is bathe once in while, even if you will still stink afterwards. I guess the smell is hereditary?"

Kagome turned a bright shade of red in embarrassment, "I don't stink that much, don't I?" Kagome asked herself self-consciously. "Maybe I do, since I can easily smell my own odor of sweat and grime - that's saying a lot. I must smell ten times worse to him, since he's a demon. Sango told me demons have much sharper senses than humans. At least he's not an inu, or I don't think he would even be able to stand being next to me."

"There's a small stream not far from here. I want you bathe there and clean yourself. I assume you know how to do that?" he asked, earning a small nod from Kagome. "Then follow me." he commanded and Kagome immediately stood up, wincing in pain when her sudden movement irritated her injuries. "I'll take a look at your wounds once you get cleaned up." the kitsune informed Kagome emotionlessly before walking towards the stream.

Kagome had to jog to keep up with her savior's long, quick strides. After a ten minute walk (jogging on Kagome's part), the kitsune stopped before a small stream that glistened with life under what little sunlight that was able to shed through the thick foliage. "Um," Kagome started, halting the kitsune in his tracks when he prepared to leave, "may I please know your name?" Kagome finished timidly, averting her gaze slightly. "Uh, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. I know I'm being nosy and…"

"Youko." the kitsune replied coldly before walking back towards their campsite. Kagome stood in silence for a few moments, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Kagome released a soft sigh and allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of her dry lips as a mental image of her savior reappeared in her mind's eye.

"Youko," Kagome murmured silently to herself as she began to undress, "he saved me." Kagome shivered in response to the freezing cold water and decided to wait for a few minutes to allow her body to adjust to the sudden change of temperature. Kagome ignored the pain that shot through her spine when she scrubbed the grime and dirt from her body. "It's not like I don't like to bathe. I was just never given the chance. I can't remember the last time I did bathe. There was never time for it. If I'm disgusted with myself and my scent, then he must be repulsed…"

"Here, wear this instead of that old rag." Youko stated, tossing Kagome a plain, dark blue kimono. Kagome quickly crossed her arms over her chest while her face flushed bright red at being caught nude. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when Youko turned and left, leaving her alone once again. Kagome slowly made her way to the edge of the stream and gently lifted the new kimono into her hands for closer inspection.

"Wow," Kagome thought in silent awe as she looked over the kimono. "I've never worn anything as beautiful as this before. Even if it is plain, I doubt even Maya has worn anything better than this. The quality of this kimono must make it expensive." A startled yip escaped her lips when Youko returned again, but this time, he carried some herbs in his clawed hands.

"Huh? What are those for?" Kagome asked while stretching out her palm to receive what Youko was handing her. "I feel like an idiot. I don't know anything except housework, more work, forced labor, more work, serving, and did I mention more work?"

"Use these herbs to clean yourself." Youko answered; his golden eyes void of all emotion. "It should rid your body of that putrid scent." Kagome nodded her head and resumed bathing herself when Youko disappeared into the forest. After quickly rubbing the soapy herb over her body and into her hair, Kagome dunked herself under the water to rinse off the foam.

Kagome stepped out of the stream, shivering uncontrollably before donning her new kimono over her slick, wet body. Grabbing a fistful of her raven black hair, Kagome attempted to squeeze as much of the water as she could from her silky tresses. "A human in this part of the forest?" asked an amused voice. "I'm surprised to find a human here at all. You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. But, seeing as you're a human, I believe it's the latter."

Kagome averted her attention from her dripping wet hair to the hideously green demon to the left of her. As soon as the demon took a step towards her, Kagome took a step back, it took another step closer, and Kagome took another step back. This went on for a few moments before Kagome turned around to flee for her life at a break-neck speed. Ignoring the painful rocks that jutted into her bare feet, Kagome concentrated on escaping the hideous demon, which she knew was toying with her before making its final blow.

Accidentally running over a loose tree root, Kagome felt herself falling over head first towards a sharp rock. Kagome closed her eyes and braced herself for the painful impact, but she was greeted instead by a pair of arms wrapping around her small frame. "Does that bitch belong to you?" the demon snickered as Kagome slowly opened her eyes. "Is she your lunch or your mate?" the low level demon continued. "If it is the latter, then I must say, you make very stupid choices."

"Youko," Kagome sighed in relief as her savior helped her to her feet. Understanding Youko's gesture for her to step back, Kagome soundlessly stepped behind Youko, somehow knowing he'll be able to keep her safe. Youko smirked cruelly at the low level demon before him, a sadistic gleam entering his usually emotionless eyes.

"Consider yourself lucky, you low-life scum, that you get to die by my hands." Youko announced coldly, causing the demon to take small steps backwards. "No one gets away with mocking Youko Kurama and lives to tell the tale." Kagome watched with unveiled amazement as the demon's eyes widened in terror at the announcement of her savior's name.

"Youko must be really powerful if his name alone strikes fear in these demons." Kagome thought to herself while watching with unhidden awe as trees and plants bloomed into life in mere seconds. The trees wrapped their thick branches around the weak demon, squeezing what little life he had in his body. "This must really deflate his pride, but what does pride matter in the face of death?" The plants opened their mouths (complete with razor sharp teeth) before the tree dropped the limp body into their watering mouths.

"Wow," Kagome gasped, "I didn't know that, that was possible!" Youko turned his attention to Kagome, smirking slightly at Kagome's amazement. "Thank you for saving me…again." Kagome murmured as she followed Youko back towards their temporary camp.

"I was sure the human would have fainted at the gruesome sight that she had just witnessed." Youko thought idly to himself as their camp came into view. "Sit," Youko coldly commanded and Kagome readily obeyed. Youko moved behind Kagome and gracefully sat behind her, pulling her hair over her right shoulder blade to reveal her bruised and damaged skin. Pulling a seed out from within his clothes, Youko sent a wave of his power into the seed, coaxing it to grow in a matter of seconds. Pulling a few leaves from the plant, he gently placed them on top of Kagome's wounds.

Kagome's face burned a bright red when she felt Youko's finger brush against her bare skin and shivered slightly when the cool leaves were applied to her wounds. "It hurts, but it doesn't seem to matter. His touch is so soft and light." Kagome thought to herself before burning an even darker shade of red when she realized what she was thinking about. Kagome squeaked in surprise when she felt Youko pull down her kimono to reveal her bare flesh to him. Kagome's face resembled something akin to an overripe tomato when she felt Youko's hot breath on her bare flesh. "My face probably resembles a baboon's butt. Can I possibly get any redder than this?" Kagome silently asked herself. "Youko…"

"Where did these wounds come from? They're a little old to be from that demon." Youko asked indifferently, successfully cutting off Kagome's sentence. Youko felt Kagome tense considerably as soon as his question left his lips.

&Flashback&

"Kagome, you stupid, good-for-nothing girl!" her mother screeched, connecting her palm with Kagome's pale face. Kagome covered her bruising cheek with her left hand while picking up the shattered pieces of the glass with her right. Kagome's mother smirked cruelly before stepping on Kagome's right hand and grinding it into the shattered pieces of glasses. "That should teach you to quit breaking the family possessions, you ugly thing!"

Kagome screeched in pain, silent tears rolling down her puffy, red cheeks. Kagome quickly retracted her right hand when her mother finally released it from under her shoe. Kagome examined her hand through tear-streaked eyes, crying even harder when the pain hit her full force. Feeling the punishment was too light, Kagome's mother grabbed some spare shards of glass and jabbed it through her daughter's left palm, tearing through both her skin and muscle until it slightly scraped her bones.

Maya promptly walked up to their mother and whispered something excitedly in her ear before handing their mother a spiked whip made from the bones of wolves. Kagome's eyes widened in fright and scrambled backwards, clutching her bleeding hands. "Kikyou, Maya, hold Kagome down." their mother commanded, a sadistic smirk permanently etched to her lips whenever her eyes fell on Kagome.

Kikyou grabbed Kagome's right arm while Maya harshly took Kagome's left, successfully stopping Kagome from attempting on an escape. Maya wasted no time in pulling down Kagome's old, dirty clothes to reveal her already torn flesh from previous punishments. Blood curling screams echoed throughout the night as Kagome's mother mercilessly brought the whip down and across Kagome's flesh, revealing blood and tissues with each impact. Blood flowed freely from her torn veins and arteries, while Kagome pleaded between screams for her mother to stop.

&End Flashback&

Kagome was shook out of her painful memories when she felt Youko's cool hands applying herbs to her wounds. "If my screaming hadn't awoken Souta and the others that night, I wouldn't be here today. I would have died, and no one would have cared. I was lucky that only chunks of my flesh have been torn from me that night." Kagome thought angrily to herself. "Why are you helping me?" Kagome asked after her anger diminished, not realizing she had voice her thoughts.

"That is something you do not need to know." Youko answered while applying more herbs to her, not missing the silent scream of pain every time his hands came into contact with her flesh (at least, what's left of it). Kagome nodded her head as large beads of sweat rolled down from her brow. "Turn around." Youko commanded after he had pulled Kagome's kimono back up. "Let me see your hands." Kagome reluctantly extended both her arms and opened her hands, revealing her raw and bruised flesh with pieces of glass embedded in them.

"Hold still." Youko informed Kagome before lengthening his claws. Biting back the urge to run at the sight of those deadly claws, Kagome chanted to herself that if Youko had wanted her dead, she would have already been dead. Kagome slammed her eyes tightly shut, trying to keep her tears of pain to a minimum, when Youko began to pull the shards of glasses from her raw flesh. Kagome retracted her hand on impulse when Youko prepared to remove a particularly deep shard of glass. Kagome opened her mouth to apologize, but quickly slammed her mouth shut when Youko pulled her into his lap (mindful of the injuries on her back). Kagome tensed slightly before stiffly placing her head against Youko chest, but soon relaxed when Youko didn't seem to mind the contact.

Kagome felt her cheeks flame a deep red when Youko loosely wrapped his left arm around her shoulder and grabbed her left hand to keep it in place while picking out the remaining shards with his right hand. Kagome took raspy breaths as the shards were ripped from her flesh (there wasn't any other way since they were embedded so deeply). Hoping to divert her attention from the pain, Kagome buried her face into the crook of Youko's neck. "I don't know why he's doing this for me," Kagome thought to herself as Youko picked out the last shard, "but it feels nice being with him and in his arms. It makes me feel…safe and protected. I never thought I would ever experience this feeling, but I did. I know what it feels like, and I don't want to loose that feeling."

"What is your name?" Youko asked calmly as he bandaged Kagome's throbbing hands. Kagome blinked in confusion, earning an irritated look from Youko. "That is, unless you prefer me to keep on calling you human."

"Kagome," Kagome quickly replied when she finally comprehended Youko's question. "Sorry," Kagome apologized, knowing she must have acted like an idiot just a second ago. Youko seemed to ignore her apology as he lifted her out of his lap. Kagome instantly missed the warmth of his body as Youko continued to bandage her feet, which she had just recently injured.

The two sat in relative silence, with Youko bandaging and looking for more wounds and bruises. When Youko was finally completed, Kagome could hear her stomach grumbling in protest. A blush crept over Kagome's pale features once again as she attempted to quiet her stomach. Kagome found herself alone in the forest once again when Youko suddenly disappeared from her sight. Thinking back to what had just taken place; Kagome felt her cheeks take on a pink tinge. Her blush only deepened when Youko reappeared with a rabbit in his clawed hand. "What's happening to me? Why am I blushing just because he's here?"

Kagome watched as Youko gracefully skinned the rabbit and roasted it over the fire. Youko bluntly ignored Kagome's lingering gaze on him as he continued to roast the rabbit he had easily caught. Youko sliced the rabbit into small pieces and placed them before Kagome. "She'd probably harm herself further otherwise - even if it is just eating - humans are pathetic."

"Are you going to eat?" Kagome asked softly, refusing to meet Youko's golden eyes.

"I am, but I don't eat cooked food." Youko informed in a frigid tone.

"Oh." Kagome replied as Youko disappeared from her line of vision once again. Kagome slowly devoured her dinner as she smiled happily. "I think this is the best day of my life. I've never been held like that before. Neither has anyone made dinner for me - I usually don't even get dinner."

Youko reappeared back in camp soon after Kagome finished her dinner. Youko noticed that Kagome could barely keep her eyelids open and snorted slightly in amusement. "Go to sleep." Kagome heeded Youko's words and quietly slipped back onto the fur pelt that he had provided for her.

"Good night," Kagome whispered softly while watching Youko jump into a high tree limb. Kagome was about to drift asleep when Youko spoke again, alerting Kagome to wakefulness. Kagome struggled to stay awake as she listened intently to the kitsune's words.

"I'm going to send you back to your village tomorrow." Youko informed the girl beneath him; noting how Kagome visibly tensed at his words. Kagome absently bit her bruised lower lip, dreading the day when she would be sent back to her 'family' and 'village' (which would be tomorrow). "Stay out of trouble and harm." Youko continued, startling Kagome from her dreadful thoughts. "I'll pick you up at night after I finish some business."

"Really?" Kagome asked, unable to find a better word to express her happiness. "He's not leaving me at my village? Is he going to allow me to follow him?" Kagome asked herself hopefully.

"Hn." snorted Youko. "I would leave you at your village, but that's where you probably received those wounds." Kagome slowly nodded her head in confirmation, before silence befell them again. Taking this as her cue to rest, Kagome quickly fell into a peaceful slumber - one that she has never experienced before. "If I leave you at your village to be continuously mistreated, then I would be breaking my promise." Youko thought to himself, "But, are you really worth the trouble - even if it is a promise?"

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