Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ First Love ❯ Chapter 6

First Love

 

Chapter Six

 

The soft tweeting of birds roused Kagome from her deep slumber. Rubbing her eyes, she yawned and then stretched. Taking a deep breath she looked around herself, blinking to get the remaining tiredness out of her system.

 

Her eyes stopped at the tree a few feet away from her. There was no body against the tree anymore and Kagome pouted. “That jerk. He should have at least woken me up. I have-” she jumped to her feet, eyes wide open and awake.

 

“Wait! What time is it?!” she looked up into the sky and noticed just how light it was. “Oh crap, I'm going to be late!” Forgetting whatever had been on her mind before, Kagome ran as fast as she could out of the forest, weaving in and out of trees and jumping over fallen logs and large rocks before she ran through her village, only stopping once she got to her house.

 

Pushing away the deer hide she spotted both her mother and brother eating breakfast, chopsticks in hand.

 

“Hello Kagome!” greeted her mother, “Breakfast is ready.”

 

Huffing, Kagome spoke hurriedly, “I've already eaten breakfast” huff “I'm going to the rice fields” huff “I'll be back later!” With that she turned and headed for the said rice fields, leaving her mother and brother to look at the doorway awkwardly.

 

The rice fields were a little ways outside of her village so once she stepped out of her villages' boundaries Kagome became very alert, even as she ran. She had not forgotten what Hojo had told her and she didn't want to take any chances.

 

There were bigger things on her mind though.

 

I hope they'll still let me work!

 

There was no telling how many people had heard that the rice field needed workers like Kagome had. She couldn't be late. If a lot of people showed up, someone could take her spot and she couldn't let that happen…her family needed the money.

 

Pushing herself even harder when she saw the last hill up ahead, which, thankfully, was not steep at all. All she could think about was her family as she reached the top. Once there, she placed her hands on her knees and caught her breath. She tried very hard to control her breathing as best as possible but since she could see the rice fields ahead, the anxiousness took over and she jogged down the hill to the little cabin in front of the rice fields.

 

Coming upon the cabin, Kagome noticed what looked to be an elderly woman waiting outside, observing the other women working. She waited a few minutes after she stopped behind the woman to see if she would notice her (taking this time to also calm her breathing) but when she didn't, Kagome tapped her shoulder.

 

Surprisingly, the old woman didn't turned around to greet Kagome.

 

“Uhh..”

 

There was still no response.

 

Kagome looked around nervously. “Excuse me?” She tapped the woman's shoulder again.

 

This time it looked like Kagome had gotten the woman's attention and Kagome thought the woman was moving to turn towards her but instead she fell face first on the ground, causing Kagome to scream out in fear and rush to the old woman's side.

 

“Oh my GOD,” Kagome quickly turned the woman over. “Are you alr-”

 

Kagome's jaw dropped.

 

This…this wasn't an old lady. It was a stupid dummy in the form of an old lady.

 

“What the?” said Kagome to herself as she held onto the dummy, just looking at it.

 

“Why hello there miss, what can I do for you?” came a voice at Kagome's side that was cheery and pleasing.

 

Kagome looked up and saw that it was an old lady. She looked between the dummy and old lady many times. They look exactly the same. “Uhhh…” she didn't know what to say.

 

The old woman laughed. “I see you found my dummy. I only use her when I go inside to get out of the heat,” she bent down to Kagome's ear. “Everyone who works here thinks its me watching but it's actually this thing. She takes over when I get tired.” She laughed when she saw Kagome's stunned expression.

 

The old woman patted Kagome's head while snickering and waited for her to stand up.

 

Dusting the dirt from her body Kagome stood up straight and almost stuttered as she spoke, still feeling a little weird about the dummy that looked exactly like the old woman. “I came to see if I could work in the rice fields today, is there still room for me to work?”

 

The old woman's face had gone to a soft concentrating look when Kagome was talking but it swiftly changed to a smiling one after Kagome finished.

 

“Of course,” she spoke, “there is always room for you young ones!”

 

Kagome observed the old woman turn and pick up a bundle.

 

Turning back to Kagome she said, “Change into these and grab a basket. Do you know how to plant rice?”

 

Kagome nodded her head.

 

The woman clapped her hands, “Good! When you're finished changing, please go to the field to your right.”

 

Nodding in conformation, Kagome disappeared into the little log cabin to change.

 

It was a little musty in the cabin but Kagome didn't mind at all. It had a floor and there was enough room for her to move around so it was perfect to her. Kagome would have thought the old lady lived her but it seemed that the only thing that was left here are the supplies for the workers.

 

Looking at the bundle she was given, she noticed it consisted of a shirt, pants, shoes and a bandana to hold back her hair as she worked. They were perfect for working and not wasting any more time, Kagome changed.

 

Dusting herself off, she grabbed a basket full of rice on the side of the cabin and peered in. She always found it interesting to look at these plants. When she had first worked in a rice field she had stupidly thought that she would be planting little white puffs but was surprised when she would actually be planting a green plant. It always plagued Kagome how they could turn this into those little white puffs Kagome loved to eat.

 

Placing the straps of the basket on her shoulders, Kagome heaved the basket onto her back and headed out of the cabin and to the field on the right side.

 

Kagome slid the basket off of her back easily and placed it on the bank. Stepping into the shallow water, she began planting them. She would make a slight hole in the ground and then place the green rice plant in it, always making sure half would be above the water.

 

She did this repeatedly in a straight line until she ran out of rice in her hand and would then go back to the shore to grab another handful and do the process again.

 

On her third time back, she stopped and stretched, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

 

“It's really hot today…” Shaking her head, she headed back to shore to get another handful or rice.

 

With rice in hand, Kagome turned to head back but was stopped by a voice.

 

“Would you like some water?”

 

Looking back to shore she saw a girl who looked a few years older than her with chocolate brown eyes in the same clothes she had on but was holding a tray with a water jug and cups in it.

 

Kagome couldn't help but admire the girls' beauty and she was taken aback.

 

“It's a rather hot day today and you've been working out here for a few hours now, so please take some,” came the girls' smooth voice.

 

Kagome bowed her head and took the cup of water she was offered. She took a small sip but soon gulped all the water down. She hadn't really noticed how thirsty she was until now, had she really been out here for hours? The day must really be flying by…

 

Maybe it was because she was more focused on working than getting a drink or remembering the time? But now she was staring sadly at the empty cup, wishing there was more water in it.

 

“May I ask your name?” inquired the girl, holding out her hand.

 

Kagome handed her the cup. “My names Kagome, what's your name?”

 

A smile reached the other girls lips as she refilled the cup and handed it back to Kagome. “I'm Kikyo.”

 

Kagome grinned back at her. “Its nice to meet you!”

 

The girl Kikyo nodded her head before she turned and left.

 

Kikyo's walk was very elegant and graceful, nothing any mere village girl would possess.

 

I wonder what she's doing here. Kagome's eyes only followed Kikyo's form until she stopped to give a drink to another girl. I've never seen her around; maybe she's from a village far away?

 

Kagome kept her questions to herself and finished her drink. She placed the now empty cup on the bank and grabbed more rice, which happened to be the last batch in her basket. Thank God. I thought my back was going to break if I had another hour's left of rice.

 

As she walked to the spot where she had placed the last rice plant, Kagome took the time to stretch again and try to get the mild pain out of her limbs. She also took this time to study her surroundings and take in just how magnificent they were.

 

There was flat open land that stretched for miles before there were any hills to the east or west. The grass was a vibrant green, which Kagome always loved to look at. The land looked so free and Kagome wished she could just lie down in the grass and fall asleep for hours.

 

The moment she reached her destination she was just about to turn but something out of the corner of her eye stopped her, causing Kagome to whip in its direction only to see nothing.

 

Her eyes narrowed almost angrily. I could have sworn there was something silver; her eyes searched the open area, could he really be here?

 

If he were, would he try and steal some…rice?

 

…

 

Why the heck would he steal rice?!

 

Yea, it was the only thing here but there was nothing special about it. Kagome shook her head and her face turned sour. “Why do I have to always think that he's near when he never is?!” She growled in frustration and rapidly set to work at planting the last few pieces of rice. “I can be such an idiot sometimes!”

 

Really? Why was she such an idiot?

 

Rushing to plant the last rice, Kagome shoved it into the ground rather harshly, turned and basically stomped back to shore, grabbed her basket and proceeded back to the hut.

 

Once she placed her empty basket on the side of the house, Kagome picked up her other set of clothes and stepped inside the hut to change. It didn't take long to change out of her working clothes and into her other set when she was frustrated but she knew she would need to clean herself at least with water to not feel as dirty as she was now until she bought cleaning supplies.

 

After she folded her working clothes she laid them down next to the other sets of clothing and walked out of the hut, shutting the door behind her.

 

Stepping out into the now cooler area, Kagome noticed that it was only herself and the old woman left. Turning her head Kagome tried to look down the road to see if Kikyo was nearby, but Kagome couldn't see anyone. “I wonder where she is?” spoke Kagome to herself.

 

“Where who is dear?” came the old woman's voice calmly although it made Kagome jump slightly. She wasn't expecting the old woman to reply.

 

Kagome shook her head, “Oh, nothing.”

 

The old woman only smiled and held her hand out. “Thank you so much for your help. Here is your pay and a bag of rice.”

 

Kagome grabbed the items swiftly but not because she was feeling a little greedy, but rather because she was afraid the old woman would hurt herself is she kept holding the semi-heavy bag of rice out.

 

Clutching the money and free bag of rice to herself, Kagome bowed with a “Thank you.”

 

Standing straight up again. Kagome noticed how late it was getting and she knew she didn't have any strength to run home as she did when she ran here. Turning back to the old woman Kagome asked, “Excuse me, but do you know if there is a shorter way to the village beyond those hills,” she nodded in her villages' direction.

 

The old woman stared in the direction of Kagomes' village, eyes seeming to become distant before returning normal. She nodded her head. “If I do remember correctly, this is a trail through the forest that will take you straight to it!” she pointed to the forest a little ways past Kagome.

 

Kagome grinned and for a moment her body tensed. “Have…have there been any sighting of demons?” Kagome knew if the woman said yes that she wouldn't dare step one toe on that trail.

 

The woman's' eyebrows rose in surprise. Kagome guess no one had bother to ask her that question for a while but she answered anyway. “Oh, don't worry dear, there hasn't been a demon around here in months. You will be perfectly safe.”

 

Kagome once again grinned at the old woman and bowed. “Thank you very much!” said Kagome quickly and jogged off in the direction where the old woman pointed in.

 

“Watch out for animals!” yelled the old woman after Kagome's retreating form.

 

Finding and reaching the trail only took a few moments before she set off into the forest at a nice flow pace. The smell and feel of the forest seemed normal to Kagome and she didn't feel threatened at all. All the bird chatter that she loved comforted her and it made walking through the unfamiliar forest all the more comforting.

 

Thoughts of the blurred silver came to Kagome's mind as she walked. Erasing any jokes and funny images of Youko running away with a bag of rice in hand, Kagome wondered what could have possibly been there that was of any value. Was the old lady hiding something?

 

Or was he there just to watch over here.

 

The thought brought a massive amount of butterflies to erupt in her stomach.

 

Maybe…he was interested in her? She found him very interesting so maybe he thought the same about her?

 

She clutched her items to herself. “I can't wait to see him,” she said happily, almost skipping down the trail. She knew after dinner she would go straight to her favorite spot to wait if he would come and even if he didn't, she would just be happy to wait for him. This would all be after she ate and gave her mother the money of course.

 

When she reached the top of a hill, everything seemed to become very quiet and Kagome immediately felt tense.

 

“What's going on?” She whispered to herself.

 

Almost immediately she searched through the wooded forest on either side of her but found nothing, only making her panic. Turning back to the trail ahead of her she saw him.

 

She jumped slightly, she knew there was nothing there a second ago but now he was standing a couple of yards in front of her with his back towards her.

 

Her heart seemed to pick up but not out of fear. She really couldn't deny the fact that she really liked to see him. He was like her knight in shining armor if you would like to put it that way, although Kagome knew it was a pretty stupid way to put it. Even if he hadn't saved her on purpose the first time they met, she was still thankful to him…he didn't seem that bad either.

 

She whispered his name under her breath and moved to go to him, a small smile playing on her lips but she abruptly stopped when a rush of squawking crows shot out of the forest trees.

 

Another demon shot out of the trees straight for him and Kagome was rooted to the spot, too scared to move as she looked on, eyes wide open.

 

The demon was two times the size of Youko and looked horrendous. It was probably the largest wild boar Kagome had ever seen. The smaller ones were just as ugly but this one seemed crazed and had foam dripping from its mouth.

 

Kagome knew Youko didn't stand a chance…right? That thing was huge and would kill Youko by its weight alone…but Youko didn't seem fazed by the size or by just how ugly it was.

 

He just held out his claws as the boar fell towards him and when the animal got close enough, Youko ran his sharp claws through the demon as if it were nothing, starting from the bottom jar and ending at the tail.

 

It split in half right behind him, blood spurting everywhere on the ground and on the trees, some even landing on Kagome's face. She didn't feel it though, she had become numb the instant she saw and heard the flesh of the boar being ripped in half.

 

The smell of the blood pouring onto the trail ground mesmerized Kagome. She followed the bloody trail until she came upon Youko's back that still faced towards her as she brought a violently shaking hand up to her face to touch a now wet spot.

 

Her heartbeat was loud in her ears as she looked at her hand that had smeared blood on it. Her breath caught in her throat and she let the two bags drop from her hands as her knees gave out on her.

 

She rested on her hands and knees, face down towards the ground as sobs racked her body. To watch what Kagome thought was a powerful creature be slaughtered by something two times smaller than it was very scary to Kagome. It was just like a bumblebee beating the crap out of a dog.

 

She couldn't wait to see this? To see this monster that could destroy practically anything it wanted to.

 

Was Hojo right? Would he kill anything to get to what he wanted?

 

Even her?

 

Her whole body shook as she raised her head just in time to see Youko bend down and pick up a large and thick red jewel from the boars' dead body.

 

When he stood up, their eyes met. He looked at her tear and blood streaked face while she stared wide-eyed at his cold and smooth face looking indifferent. It stayed like that for only a moment and he disappeared into the forest on her left.

 

Kagome's eyes didn't follow him, instead they bore into the demons dead body, still stunned that such an animal could be destroyed by something much smaller.

 

Was the difference in power between a demon like Youko and a demon like the boar that great?

 

Kagome's mind went blank until darkness surrounded her and when the only light came from the moon. Only then did she make her way to her feet, loosely grabbing both of the bags on her way up.

 

She felt completely numb as she began to walk on shaky legs into the forest oh her right. What seemed to be only minutes to Kagome was actually an hour when she turned around, not seeing the trail or anything besides trees behind her. She didn't bother trying to listen to anything, the sound of her breathing filled her ears even when she turned back around and took a few more steps until her knees buckled and she fell to the forest floor.

 

Her energy was spent and Kagome knew she couldn't get up. Letting her eyes close, Kagome let herself sleep.

 

00000

 

Opening her eyes slowly, Kagome realized she was standing rather than on the ground where she had been. The scary par was that she was in the forest she loved and not in the one where she had fallen asleep in.

 

“Was I sleep walking? How did I get here?”

 

A twig snapped off to her left and her body whipped in its direction. Her body froze as she watched Youko's frightening form walk up to her calmly until they were a few inches apart. Her breathing became heavy and the hairs on her neck stood straight up.

 

“Youko…”

 

His name was a whisper on the wind as he looked at her coldly before his clawed hand shot out and pierced her through the chest.

 

00000

 

The scream that erupted from Kagome's mouth woke the whole forest and she shot up, heart racing and coated in sweat.

 

She covered her face with her hands and let her body calm itself. “It was a dream. Just a dream.”

 

Wiping the sweat from her forehead she looked up and found Youko standing a few steps away from her.