Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Life's Prison: A Thief's Goal ❯ Shadow in the Light ( Chapter 5 )

Translations:

 

Wakizashi- traditional Japanese sword with a shoto blade between 12 and 24 inches

Ya- arrow

Fletcher- a person who makes arrows by hand

Yugake- glove that protects the right hand in Kyudo

Hami-Yumi- sacred longbow

Hamaya- purity arrows

Okinawa- fruit bat

 

 

 

Shadow in the Light

 

 

 

“Talking”

 

`Thinking'

 

Memories

 

Stressed

 

 

 

This body wasn't just one of dead victims to fall prey to the Tama. The tears fell from her eyes as she ran her hands along the cold face. She finally closed the eyelids of the body, forever closing the dead amber eyes of her love. She then stood and through blurry eyes she took one last look at her silver haired hanyou.

 

Passed out on the forest floored she eyed the bat youkai. His wound had long since stopped bleeding. Rei had sent her some towels to her. She ran her hand along the face of the bat youkai and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Kagome couldn't help the memory that invaded the sanctity of her mind. Pulling her hand back quickly as if it burned she shook it to remove the memory of the cold flesh. He appeared as if he was nothing more but a shell. The rhythm of his chest evenly rising and falling assured her that he was alive.

 

The sun was beginning to rise and she felt her body becoming tired. With a soft sighed she felt his forehead to make sure he had no fever. Kagome found it strange that the youkai had not woken once. He Hamaya must have affected him badly for him to still be out. Happily she picked up her bowl and set off to find the river again. She needed fresh water to clean the wounds again. Since lacking bandages she needed to constantly tend to it.

 

Once out of sight the youkai's eyelids squeezed tighter as he grunted. Slowly opening his indigo eyes he wanted for everything to become steady. Pushing him self up to a sitting position he noticed that his leg had been propped up and surround by towels. Looking around the area he saw the ashes of a fire and he began to wonder where he was. His indigo eyes widened when he noticed the Hami-Yumi leaning against a tree with a quiver of ya on the side. Letting out a curse he began to panic. The Hami-Yumi meant that there was a Miko around.

 

“You can settle down,” a soft voice whispered from behind him.

 

He quickly jumped up only to crash to the ground due to his injured leg. The woman clicked her tongue in a scolding manner before she offered him a smile. Setting the bowl on the ground she walked over to the bat youkai. He instantly stiffened when she reached out to touch his leg. Kagome looked over at him and hesitated for a while.

 

“I'm not going to harm you,” Kagome assured. She took the towel off his leg and saw that his wound had reopened. His muscle tensed under her touch. He soon relaxed when he realized that she kept to her word.

 

“Why are you helping me?” He cautiously asked, not wanting to offend her and get purified.

 

“Because I didn't want your death on my hands,” Kagome honestly answered.

 

“Comforting,” he muttered. She glared at him before she went back to wiping the blood away.

 

“Okinawa, what's your name…unless you prefer Okinawa?” Kagome asked with a grin.

 

“I'm not a fruit bat, and I'm known as Kuronue and you?” He asked with a skeptical look. It wasn't like a Miko would sink down to the level of conversing with a youkai.

 

“Kagome,” she answered. So maybe his assumption was wrong.

 

“Your aim is pretty good,” Kuronue commented since the silence was killing him. She gently put his leg down once satisfied with her work. Turning her blue gaze to his indigo one she smiled sheepishly.

 

“I missed,” Kagome said. Kuronue's sweat dropped as his face paled.

 

“I'm afraid to ask this…but what were you aiming for?” Kuronue nervously asked.

 

“I was aiming for your other friend,” Kagome honestly answered.

 

“Why?” He asked.

 

“I figured if I'd injure him then he wouldn't break my barrier and then both of you would be trapped,” Kagome honestly answered.

 

“That's a good idea,” Kuronue commented.

 

“Most Miko's are bent on just killing the youkai, but I use that option as a last resort,” Kagome said in hopes of not worrying him.

 

“How do you know once I'm healed that I won't kill you?” Kuronue challenged.

 

“You owe me since I spared you. Plus your honor wouldn't allow it. I could feel your ki push your friend to safety,” Kagome reasoned as she stood and stretched.

 

“True, but Miko and youkai are enemies,” Kuronue said, happy to know he wouldn't be purified to death. Purification hurt, it was like being on fire. The energy of the powers would slowly peel each layer of skin and muscle until ashes weren't even left.

 

“I'm a different Miko,” Kagome suggested with a smile.

 

“I guess it's okay to relax then,” Kuronue mumbled.

 

“Go ahead, I'll be here till you heal,” Kagome assured.

 

Kuronue relaxed and laid back down while his mind began to process this information. It wasn't every day or hell, every century that you found a Miko not willing to purify a Youkai on sight. He could forgive her for shooting him since she wasn't or had no intention of purifying him. He looked over at her and saw that she was inspecting her ya with the utmost care and concentration. Sighing he closed his eyes and focused most of his youki on healing his would.

 

Kagome heard the sigh and glanced over at his relaxed form. She smiled when she saw his eyes close that moment. She couldn't help but look over his figure. He was attractive for a male bat youkai. He held his ebony hair in a ponytail with a tattered hat to adorn it. His shirt was pretty skimpy, but she decided that it was reasonable since he had wings. His shirt was but a black vest that was v-cut and revealed a piece of toned stomach. He wore the traditional Hakama; they of course were black and fastened to the ankles.

 

She then couldn't help but stare at the thing wrapped around him. It looked like a white sheet. Sighing herself she snapped her fingers and began to fletch. It was the only thing to do; else she would still be admiring the male youkai. He had a well-defined face. It wasn't delicate like Sesshoumaru's, yet it wasn't gruff like Kouga's. He also didn't hold the immaturity that Inuyasha held. His face had more of masculine beauty that reminded her of Miroku. Kagome raised her eyebrows at that thought.

 

`Wonder if he's a pervert?' Kagome pondered.

 

Kagome set her current work in progress on the ground. She then decided to go back towards the river. When she arrived there she looked at her reflection and couldn't help but think of Kikyo. Kagome sometimes wondered how the Miko was able to control her very emotions.

 

`I wonder if this will become a burden and make me bitter?' Kagome asked herself as she stared at the Tama.

 

Kagome shook her head no as she watched some fish swim by. Kagome had a choice that Kikyo never had. Kikyo was appointed the guardian of the jewel; she never chose it. She then constantly hid her emotions from the world never letting anything out. Personal gain was not allowed in her life style, and she couldn't allow her emotions to rule over her, but she could allow herself to feel. That's what made her stronger, the ability to experience. She could be calm and patient and still be happy about her life.

 

Drawing a ya she noched an arrow and followed the pattern of a fish. Left, right, circle, left, right. Releasing the arrow it hit the fish in the dead center. Kagome repeated this process until she had six fish. She remembered that youkai had a bigger appetite then a human. Four fish should be plenty for him, if not he could have her other fish. Gathering her catch she prayed for the spirit of the fish before she left to camp. When she arrived she found Kuronue prodding at his wound.

 

Clearing her throat he looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back and set the fish down next to the fire. Walking over to the wound she carefully felt it for anything out of place. It was now a very dark bruise in making. Kagome smiled before she reached into her bag and pulled out an ointment. Kuronue lightly sniffed the air before he made a face. Kagome laughed at his action before she gently rubbed it on. The muscles began to turn to mush in her hand as she massaged them. Wrapping his calf in a piece of cloth she tore from a thin sheet she secured the bruise. She pulled down his pant leg and smiled.

 

“Nothing but a bruise,” Kagome assured with a smile. She moved away back towards the fish.

 

He fully sat up and watched as she gathered wood from the forest. She then started a fire, which surprised him. She just snapped her fingers and the fire started. He raised a shaped eyebrow at this action and put it in his book of concerns. Taking a tanto from her bag she began to gut the fish. Kuronue sat there watching her as she made a small groan and mumbled gross. He laughed causing her to look up and blush when she remembered a youkai's hearing. He was a bat youkai to, so he had even better hearing. He slowly stood up and carefully walked over to her where he sat at her side.

 

“Mind if I help?” He asked as he took a fish.

 

“Hope you like fish,” was her answer. He grinned and used his claws to gut the fish.

 

“How did you catch them?” He asked as he noticed holes in them.

 

“I used my Hami-Yumi,” she answered.

 

`She must have great aim to catch a fish with an arrow,' he thought.

 

“Interesting,” he mumbled.

 

“It was that or fruit Okinawa,” Kagome replied with a smirk.

 

“I am not a fruit bat,” he sternly enforced.

 

“You'd be right now if I didn't catch the fish,” Kagome countered.

 

“You are a strange Miko,” Kuronue mumbled.

 

“I know,” Kagome proudly said as they finished the fish in silence.

 

She reached into her pack and pulled out a grill rack that she had crafted in the village. Setting it down she placed the fish on them. Kuronue studied the grill rack in curiosity knowing he hadn't seen one.

 

“They're used where I come from,” Kagome answered knowing he had questions.

 

“Where do you come from?” He asked.

 

“Far, far away,” Kagome whispered a she turned a fish.

 

“Northern Japan?” He asked in confusion.

 

“No, I currently reside in To…Edo,” Kagome covered.

 

“Isn't that where the Shikon no Tama also resides?” He innocently asked.

 

“Yes,” Kagome calmly answered.

 

`She must be confident in her abilities to be able to answer that,' Kuronue thought.

 

“The Tama brings nothing but death and destruction,” Kagome sadly said.

 

“Really?” Kuronue asked, fully knowing the details of the jewel.

 

“You being a thief should know the details,” Kagome stoically said.

 

“I've heard…rumors. Do you know anything about it?” Kuronue asked as he studied her. Her features softened as she lost that spark of happiness in her eyes. She sadly flipped a fish with a sigh.

 

“Inuyasha died for the jewel, Sango lost her village and brother to the Tama, and Naraku destroyed everything in his way just for a shard of power,” Kagome vaguely answered.

 

“Inuyasha…I heard he traveled with a Miko in search of the Tama,” Kuronue rambled in hopes of getting her to talk.

 

“Inuyasha is dead and so is that Miko,” Kagome sternly said as she stared him in the eyes.

 

“Then why do you carry the Shikon no Tama?” Kuronue asked.

 

“Because it is my duty to guard it against anyone or thing,” Kagome calmly answered.

 

“Must be a burden,” Kuronue observed.

 

“The only burden there is, is the evil that comes for it,” Kagome answered.

 

“Aren't you worried I'll attack you for the jewel?” Kuronue asked.

 

“No, you would have attacked by now…plus you've known that I carried it since yesterday,” Kagome said as she handed him a fish.

 

“You're to clever for your own good,” Kuronue said.

 

“You have to be in order to survive Naraku, a soul-stealing Miko, and a perverted Houshi,” Kagome laughed.

 

“Perverted Houshi,” Kuronue repeated.

 

“Miroku, he was cursed by Naraku,” Kagome explained.

 

They ate their meal in silence after that talk. Kagome would notice the bat grin at her when she would look up at him. When the fish were finished she checked his wound and reported that the bruise was now gone. He tested the calf out by stretching it and walking around the camp. He then sat back down and watched Kagome continue her fletching.

 

“Are you a Fletcher?” He asked.

 

“No, I'm bored. Usually the Taijiyas make my ya for me,” Kagome asked.

 

“Taijiyas?” He skeptically asked and wondered how dangerous this Miko was.

 

“Yes, Taijiya. The Houshi's wife,” Kagome informed.

 

“You lead an interesting life,” Kuronue commented.

 

“It gets boring. I mean it's usually a routine of get attacked for the jewel, defend village, train, and spend time with my kit,” Kagome sighed as she happily rambled.

 

“Do you mean `kid'?” Kuronue asked.

 

“No, I mean kit as in Kitsune cub,” Kagome answered.

 

`Youko would find this amusing,' Kuronue thought.

 

“You mean to tell me that you guard the Tama, come from a village of Taijiya, don't kill Youkai on sight, and raise a kit?” Kuronue asked in disbelief as he held a finger up for each item.

 

“Yes, that is what I mean,” Kagome answered with a smile.

 

“Would you mind if I came to see your village?” Kuronue asked.

 

“It would be fine as long as you follow a few rules,” Kagome agreed.

 

“What are the rules?” Kuronue asked.

 

“No killing, no stealing, and no bothering the Taijiya,” Kagome warned.

 

“Seems easy enough,” Kuronue agreed.

 

Kagome nodded before she lay down and yawned. Kuronue nodded to her good night before he watched her fall asleep. He then noted that she had a barrier up around her. He smiled at that, the girl was trusting, but not naïve.