Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Anything For You ❯ Mistaken Identity ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or Inuyasha!

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Mistaken Identity

Cracking one of his golden eyes open, Youko watched with mild surprise as Kagome awoke before the crack of dawn. He had been positive the human would have slept like the dead - especially with the extent of her injuries. But no, she had surprised him - him, Youko Kurama. No one, youkai and ningen alike had been able to accomplish that feat. It had always been the other way around.

"Good morning, Youko-sama," Kagome greeted cheerfully when she noticed his lingering gaze. Due to his perfect emotionless mask, Kagome failed to detect her savior's suppressed frown. After a few, silent moments, the kitsune acknowledged the female's greeting with a slight inclination of his head. "Um, I'm going to go bathe." Kagome shyly informed while fiddling with her fingers behind her back.

"Don't take to long," Youko stated before dissolving into thin air (at least, that's what it looked like from Kagome's point of view). Flashing a bright smile at the area where Youko had previously occupied, Kagome hurried towards the small stream where she had bathed just the day before. In her giddy mood, she failed to realize she had forgotten to pack any of her bath necessities (which included the basic towel and soap/herb).

After regaining her breath from the fast-paced trek through the heavily foliaged forest, she quickly stripped herself of her wrinkled clothes and promptly slid into the ice cold water. "Yeek, I forgot to bring herbs (which was used as soap)!" Kagome exclaimed to herself while mentally berating herself for forgetting to bring such basic materials.

Sighing in frustration, Kagome stiffly turned towards the bank of the stream. Her eyes widened by a fraction of an inch when the herbs she required were neatly placed on top of a new, folded kimono. Smiling inwardly, she quickly bathed herself with the newly acquired herbs, the image of her savior engraved deeply within her mind.

After scrubbing herself clean (mindful of her injuries), Kagome quickly donned the new, silk, pink kimono. The edges of the kimono were trimmed with delicate sakura blossoms. "I feel like a princess," Kagome whispered giddily to herself as she spun around in her new article of clothing, which clung perfectly to her curves.

"Apply these herbs to your hands," Youko commanded, causing Kagome to jump slightly at the sudden intrusion. "Turn around," he continued after handing Kagome the crushed herbs. A dark blush quickly swept across Kagome's pale features as her savior, once again, lowered her kimono in order to properly apply the medication.

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"Hey, Sango, I don't think this is a very good idea." a young boy murmured nervously as his sister deftly stomped up the hill where her friend's hut resided. At least, she hoped it was her friend's hut. She had only overheard Kagome mention her hut was located on the hill behind the village, but she had never taken the time to actually pay her friend a visit. "I mean, this is kind of intruding, isn't it?" he added, hoping his elder sister would reconsider her rash actions. "What right do we have to demand…?"

"Kohaku, please, I know what you're saying, but I know something is not right!" Sango hissed angrily as she glared at the brown hut that lay only a few yards before her. "Kagome ALWAYS fetches water before the crack of dawn. She didn't even come through town today!" Sango growled as she clenched her fist. "Doesn't that tell you something?"

"Maybe she's sick," Kohaku suggested.

"I've seen her carrying that bucket of water even through her worst condition." Sango replied. "Also, I KNOW Kagome's family is mistreating her - even though she never mentioned it to me. I'm not blind, no matter how wonderful Kagome's acting might be. She's in pain and she's suffering. Kagome doesn't deserve this."

"But…" Kohaku trailed, still doubtful of his sister's actions.

"Look, I promise I won't do anything rash until I have proof that Kagome is being tortured, okay?" Sango finally relented with a deep sigh, earning an approving nod from her younger brother. "Come on, let's go."

"Okay," Kohaku agreed as he jogged to stay in synch with his sister's long strides. "But, what ARE you going to do IF Kagome is being tortured?" he murmured, giving his elder sibling a curious gaze. "I mean, they're not youkais…I think. We can't kill them and I'll bet my life that they wouldn't just hand Kagome over to us."

"I'll beat the crap out of them…all of them." Sango replied in an obvious tone. "What do you think I'll do? Stand off to one side and cheer them on?" Sango huffed as she hurried up the rest of the road uphill. Stopping before the hut, Sango contemplated if she should just barge in…

Kohaku efficiently ended his sister's problem by softly rapping his knuckles across the straw door. "Hello?" Kohaku asked in a meek voice as he gave a few more knocks.

"Damn it, step aside." Sango growled, gently shoving her younger sibling to one side. Kohaku quickly covered his ears and slammed his eyes shut as Sango prepared to kick the door down. However, before she could complete her action, the door swung open to reveal a scowling Maya, who had yet to apply her make-up.

Kohaku grunted slightly as Sango clung to him for support when she had lost her footing. "What do you want," Maya demanded as she glanced at Sango and Kohaku's outfit, "demon slayers?"

"Where's Kagome?" Sango asked harshly, cutting straight to the point. Maya scrunched her nose up in disgust at the mention of her younger sister before glaring disdainfully at the pair of siblings before her.

"What's it to you?" Maya sneered as she crossed her arms across her chest. Kohaku quickly cleared his voice with a loud cough when Sango's face took on a dark shade of red (and it wasn't from embarrassment).

"We recently learned that Kagome hadn't been seen in the village. Some villagers are worried for her." Kohaku lied. "Well, not completely a lie." Kohaku assured himself. "We're worried about her…and we're villagers."

"That lazy bitch is just slacking off somewhere." Maya replied. "Probably fell asleep in the forest." she added nonchalantly before attempting to slam the door shut in the demon exterminator's face. Maya blinked her eyes in confusion when the door wouldn't close properly. "What?" Maya murmured, before she noticed the foot that was successfully deterring her from slamming the door shut.

"Why was she at the forest?" Sango hissed, a dangerous glint entering her usually warm, chocolate brown eyes. Kohaku gulped as he took a cautious step away from his sister, all to clear of his sibling's temperamental temper.

"We were short of wood," Maya snapped as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Now leave, our home does not welcome you or that little brat behind you." Maya concluded as she glared at Kohaku, whose face was marred with a dissatisfied frown.

Wham.

"Don't you ever call my brother a brat!" Sango growled, "That right is reserved only for me, you understand?" Maya's brown eye watered with tears as she clutched her bleeding nose (which was probably broken).

"Thanks; that makes me feel so much more appreciated." Kohaku muttered glumly as Maya promptly slammed the door shut with a resounding bang. Sango smiled warmly at her brother and shrugged her shoulders.

"Come on brat, if Kagome is at the forest, she is probably in loads of trouble. I just hope she is all right." Sango whispered as she ran towards their village. "Maybe if she's lucky, she'll survive until I reach her."

"Hey, where are you going?" Kohaku cried desperately as he sped after his sister. "The forest is the other way." he muttered, jabbing his finger in the opposite direction that Sango was heading towards.

"I can't go there empty handed," Sango replied as she continued to run. "I need my weapons." Kohaku made a small 'o' with his mouth and mentally berated himself for forgetting he was weaponless. "Then I want you to stay at the village. I'll go find Kagome alone. I can't protect you and help Kagome at the same time."

"No, I'm coming with you. You don't have to protect me; I can take care of myself. Don't forget, I'm a demon exterminator too!" Kohaku wheezed as he felt his legs grow numb. "Anyway, it's way too dangerous for you to go alone. Plus, your friend is my friend and Kagome's really…" he trailed off as both of them skidded to an abrupt stop. He was barely able to halt himself in time to stop from crashing into his elder sibling.

"D-Demon exterminator, help me!" Keiji cried as he and his gang quickly scrambled behind Sango and Kohaku. "The youkai that attacked us yesterday is back! H-He's dangerous!" Keiji cried pitifully.

"I don't remember seeing or hearing about a youkai in the village yesterday." Sango replied icily, hatred dripping off each word. "I don't have time for your pranks right now."

"It's true," a scrawny boy from Keiji's group piped up. "That demon attacked us when we were torturing Kagome yesterday…" Keiji quickly slammed his elbow into his brainless member's gut, successfully silencing him, but not quick enough. Sango narrowed her eyes as she rounded on Keiji, who gulped and took a few large steps backwards.

"I don't see any youkai," Kohaku piped up innocently, before turning his attention to his sister and Keiji. He grimacing slightly (even though he wasn't feeling any pain) as Sango ruthless pounded the living daylights out of Keiji and his lackeys. "Sango-nee-chan is pissed." Kohaku sighed as if it was an everyday occurrence (which might be).

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"Damn that exterminator," Keiji growled, his right hand protectively covering his bruised, right eye. "Who does she think she is? How dare she beat me up like that?" Keiji growled. "I'm the son of this Lord's village!" Keiji yelled, while his lackeys' nodded their heads in unison, hoping to please their leader. "I'm going to have Father show her a lesson or two."

"Yea, go young Lord Keiji!" one of the boys cheered, followed by many more. Keiji puffed out his chest as if he had just accomplished an extremely difficult task. "We'll show that demon exterminator not to walk all over us! But I really want to punch her!"

"Yea," everyone echoed in unison as they turned a corner into a deserted area of the village. Keiji held out a hand for them to stop as he narrowed his eyes while cocking his head slightly to the right.

"Wow, is that a goddess?" muttered one of the boys, eyes wide. They watched in silence as a hazy figure waltzed closer and closer towards them. "She's beautiful…" he trailed, a dreamy grin spreading across his lips.

"It's her!" Keiji growled; realization dawning on him after the "supposed goddess" came closer towards them. "It's that ugly wench…Kag… something." he spat as he cracked his knuckles. "I'm going to pound her," he growled as he traced his bruised eye.

"Then we can sell that kimono of hers, it looks expensive." another added. "I wonder where she got it. Maybe she stole it." he suggested. "Hey, she hasn't even noticed us…hahaha, is she blind?" After a few seconds, his laughter died out when everyone quirked an eyebrow at his odd behavior. He coughed a couple of times before turning to face his boss, like the others, to await orders.

"Get her," Keiji stated, jerking his head in Kagome's direction. Quickly following their leader's command, they soon had Kagome surrounded on all four sides. "Well, well, we meet again." Keiji smirked, sending a shiver down Kagome's spine. "And this time…we'll finish what we have stopped last time. There's no one here to interrupt us today."

"Damn, I wish I had been paying more attention…" Kagome thought to herself as she warily eyed the group of boys. "What do you want?" she demanded in what she hoped to be a courageous voice.

"Oh, not much," Keiji replied in a sweet, innocent voice. "Just make your life a living hell, take your clothes, your…virginity, and eventually your life." Keiji snarled in a pleasant voice as he easily shoved Kagome onto the ground. In a matter of seconds, Kagome found herself being pinned beneath Keiji, who began tugging at her kimono. A wave a panic wracked through her body as she struggled underneath her captor.

"Let me go…" Kagome cried. "I'm warning you!"

"Oooh, I'm scared." Keiji taunted, flicking out his tongue across Kagome's lips. A look of pure disgust crossed her face as she buckled harder in an attempt to throw Keiji off of her. "Now that's a good girl," Keiji cooed when Kagome suddenly halted all movements. He slowly leaned in towards her pursed lips when a sudden shock of pain shot through his hand. Looking at his hand, he felt his eyes roll to the back of his head before darkness consumed him.

"Y-you cut off young Lord Keiji's hand!" one of the boys shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at Kagome. Clutching the dagger (which was now red with blood) close to her heart, Kagome shook her head as her eyes remained pinned to the motionless hand that lay on the ground. Keiji's hand…she was doomed…she had done a terrible thing.

Without another word, she tore off towards the village in search of protection. "W-What did I do?" Kagome demanded of herself as she slammed her eyes shut for a brief moment. "I…the hand…I didn't mean too…" she rambled on with incoherent thoughts, slightly traumatized by the sudden turn of events. "Youko," was her one, clear thought as she neared her friend, the demon exterminator's hut.

A sigh of relief slid passed her lips as her frazzled mind spotted a pair of fuzzy appendages atop a mass of silver locks. "Youko," Kagome whispered in a breathless tone, weary from tearing across the village at an inhuman pace. Ignoring the protests of her legs, Kagome ran towards her savior and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"H-hey!" a gruff voice growled, prying Kagome's arms off his waist. "Damn it wench, you don't go around hugging strangers." he growled, shoving Kagome a good distance away from him.

"It's not him," clicked in her mind as stared at the stranger that resembled her savior. "No, he's not Youko. He isn't even close. Other than the ear, hair, and eyes…he's nothing like Youko! Youko is sooo much better than him." Kagome childishly argued in her mind, ignoring that fact that Sango was standing right behind her.

"Kagome," Sango cried in relief as she pulled an unsuspecting Kagome into her embrace, "do you know Inuyasha?" Kagome silently regarded the irritated hanyou before shaking her head. "Then why did you hug him?" Sango asked in a confused voice. Kagome quickly answered with a shrug of her shoulders, hoping Sango wouldn't just leave the topic.

"What's he doing here?" Kagome asked, locking eyes with the hanyou's golden ones. "Youko's are prettier…" she trailed off in her mind, before a dark blush crept across her cheeks.

"Are you hurt?!?" Sango gasped when she saw the blood trickling down Kagome's arm. Accompanying Sango's sudden outburst, the reality of the situation at hand slammed into Kagome in full force. Dropping the dagger that was clutched tightly in her hand with a soft clang, Kagome's body shook with uncontrolled fear. Sango bent over to pick up the weaponry, but Kagome quickly snatched it off the ground.

"I-I…" Kagome stuttered, eyes brimming with tears.

"Let's go talk inside," Sango suggested, motioning for Kagome to go in first. "Inuyasha, you come in too. Kohaku and I are the only demon exterminators in this village at the moment, so it's safe. It's not a good idea for villagers to see you; they don't take well to anyone with demon blood or heritage. Don't give me any of your smart remarks, my instincts indicates that you are not evil."

"Keh," Inuyasha snorted as he followed Sango's into the hut. "You're a human, what instincts do you possess?" he mumbled as he stood to one corner of the demon exterminator's hut. Focusing his attention on Kagome's shivering form, he mentally muttered, "Pathetic."

"Can I see that dagger?" Sango asked, making a slight indication with her head to the weapon clutched protectively in Kagome's hand. Reluctantly nodding her agreement, she handed her friend her blade. "Where did you get this?" Sango asked with wide eyes after a few minutes of silent inspection. "This is the best dagger I have ever seen in my WHOLE life! I doubt even my father has seen something as rare as this."

&Flashback&

"Don't go anywhere until I come back for you." Youko commanded forcefully, leveling his golden eyes on Kagome. "I expect you to stay out of trouble. I'll be back before the crack of dawn tomorrow." Nodding her head in understanding, Kagome gave her savior an assuring smile. Youko quirked an eyebrow when the smile suddenly flipped into a sour frown.

"B-but…" Kagome stuttered, looking slightly uneasy.

"Don't stutter, it shows weakness," Youko interrupted in a cold tone.

"Every one in the village, except Sango, hates me." whispered Kagome, trying her best to keep the panic from showering in her voice. "My family…sort of…will kill me because I didn't come back yesterday." Wordlessly, Youko tossed a diamond-covered, silver dagger towards Kagome, who clumsily caught the weapon. Blinking her eyes in confusion, she looked to her savior for an answer.

"It's yours now," Youko stated before melting back into the forest. A small smile lingered on Kagome's rosy lips as she clutched the weapon close to her chest. Giggling like a child, she quickly made her way towards the village.

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"It was given to me," Kagome replied, a pink blush spreading across her cheeks. "Can I have it back now?" Kagome asked, eyeing the weapon that was still tucked safely in Sango's hands. Nodding her head, the exterminator gently placed the dagger back within Kagome's palm.

"So, what happened that got you so scared earlier on?" Sango asked curiously. Inuyasha's ears perked up as he strained to hear the answer as well. "Did a youkai harm you?" Sango asked, fingering her Hirakotsu.

"N-no," Kagome stuttered before averting her eyes. "Sango, why do you hate youkais so much? You don't seem to mind him," she indicated towards the hanyou behind them, "He's a hanyou, isn't he."

"Yes, but he also has ningen blood running through his veins." Sango replied in an obvious tone. "I believe he still has some humanity in him. He has a conscience, unlike those cruel youkai. Inuyasha hasn't killed or hurt anyone in this village yet."

"But Sango, youkai aren't that bad." Kagome whispered, causing Sango's eyes to widen slightly at her friend's firm statement. "I believe some humans are even crueler than youkai…like Keiji. Some youkai are extremely sophisticated and wouldn't kill humans unless they got in their way." Inuyasha made a sound that sounded something akin to 'stupid wench'.

"Kagome, are you feeling all right?" Sango asked, placing her cool hand across Kagome's forehead, checking her friend's temperature. "Wow, where did you get this expensive kimono?" she asked, finally noticing Kagome's elegant attire. Kagome suddenly found the floor extremely interesting as a crimson blush colored her cheeks.

"Keh, woman," spat Inuyasha in an undignified manner. "She asked you were you got your clothes, not if you were raped…"

"I demand the occupants of the room to file out." a voice boomed, which Sango quickly identified as the village Lord's command. A shiver of fear quickly snaked up Kagome's spine as fear for her wrongdoing reentered her innocent, blue eyes. "Out, NOW, or I'll tear down the whole hut."

"Come on; let's go see what the old man wants." Sango snorted, pulling a paralyzed Kagome after her. "Inuyasha you stay in here, they don't take well to youkai or han…Inuyasha?"

"Women are so slow," Inuyasha snorted, standing at the doorway of the hut. Sango looked to be about to protest when Inuyasha promptly exited through the doorway. Sighing in annoyance, Sango exited with a reluctant Kagome in tow.

"What do you want, mi…" Sango greeted in a bored and practiced tone.

"There she is!" one of Keiji's lackeys yelled, interrupting Sango's greeting. "She's the one who chopped off young master Keiji's hand!" Feeling like a deer caught in the headlights, Kagome locked fearful eyes with her Lord's furious ones.

"Bind her," the Lord commanded angrily. Struggling against the rope, Kagome earned herself a hard smack across the face. A red hand print immediately swelled where the guard's calloused hand had made contact with her flesh.

"Milord, the family of the prisoner is here." a servant announced, before the whole Higurashi household was brought before the Lord. Whispers erupted among the spectators, which consisted of nearly the whole village - including the children and elderly.

"Your…daughter has chopped off the hand of my son and I will bring her to justice. What do you have to say about this?" the Lord boomed with barely controlled rage as he glared hatefully at Kagome.

"We have nothing to do with her, milord." Mr. Higurashi announced without hesitation. "You may do whatever you wish with her. She has no ties with this family. Her birth was a mistake."

"Good," the Lord snorted, "burn her." The guards automatically bowed and left to do as they were bid - prepare for the stake. Panic seeped into Kagome's mind as she struggled fruitlessly within her bonds. A look of pure horror crossed Sango's face as the announcement to burn her friend alive on the stake sunk into her mind.

"NO!" two voice shouted in unison, startling the spectators. No one had expected anyone to question their Lord's action.

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TBC