Inuyahsa and the kagome
Chapter 1 - alone
"Sota, it's time to get up." I hollered from the front door. "Breakfast is on the table hurry to work or your going to be late I'm leaving now." I could hear him groan but sighed in relief when I heard the old boards creak in agony as he shuffled about his room. I quickly shut the door and grabbed my basket I had set down and raced into the waking village that began to bustle to life.
"Good morning kagome." Beaconed the seamstress. I waved. "And to you mrs. Still." I replied.
I smoothed the loose hairs that had fallen out during my run and made sure that my ponytail was secure in holding my ebony locks. Again today people stared at me and whispered making me to once again look myself over.
I smoothed over my green dress and inspected my white puffed sleeves. I looked over my white apron that seemed more baje than white due to the heavy amount of work that never seemed to be able to wash out. I quickly ran over to a window of a shop that was yet to be open to inspect my hair for loose straw from the chicken coop but only angry strands of hair were the only thing wrong. No smudge or anything was on my face and I could only assume it was just more town gossip that were behind those whispers.
I was given many more hellos and good mornings and I hurriedly made small talk as I made my way over to the higurashi bookstore. My one sanctuary in all the world was here in this shop. Worlds were waiting for me to discover them within the confines of their bindings as well as the secret princes and the secret lovers. This store was the last thing remaining of my grandfather who had passed in his sleep just last year.
He was the only guardian left for me and my younger brother after our parents had died after the epidemic. He allowed us to stay in our house and I would help him run the shop and care for him before doing other odd jobs with Sota. It was like that for 6 blissful years before he passed leaving me the shop and the farm to us. Luckily I had just turned of age to able to inherit it all and we were able to go on with heavy hearts.
Today though I happily entered with the tinkling of a bell. "Good morning grandpa." I said to his picture. "I hope no thieves came and took any of our books." I laughed at my silliness but somehow when I started talking to the pictures of my loved ones I found that they were only listening and then I never felt alone again. Thinking about it, it seemed this act was the cause of so much gossip.
"Just going to open those packages from last night and organize for a bit before I shove off for work grandpa." I said happily. It took a bit but with most of it done I decided to leave some for the next day to have something to keep me busy inside the store. Even if there were any people interested in books it still wasn't enough to have much business even with the weird items grandpa gathered over the years.
I gathered the books that were ordered by some of the elder folk and left the shop after the hours were up and started my deliveries. On my last delivery I totally spaced out else I would have had Sota made this delivery. By the time I had realized it I was already in front of his bar in town and before I could turn away the door opened to reveal the so called sexiest man in town. "Why hello Kagome I guess you have my book I ordered." He glanced at me but in all the wrong ways that would have had other women blushing but had me wanting to run.
"Koga." I said politely. "Now that you have your book I really need to be getting to work. If you'll excuse me." I quickly turned on my heel and began to match off but he quickly crossed my path and smiled again.
"I must say Kagome you look absolutely beautiful today." He took both of my hands and kissed them keeping eye contact. He then extended his arms still holding my hands then saying. "Notice anything different today about me?" He asked expecting me to return the comment. None the less to humor his ego I inspected him to find him wearing his usual tan leather hunting boots and black tights. His usual green shirt was gone leaving only a long dark brown leather vest and a belt that left his chest open as well as his arms. Again as I said he is a lover only to himself. Especially when it came to his demon pride and his long dark black hair he always kept in a high ponytail. Yes Koga is a wolf demon pointy ears and tail and is loved by the town and the women since his family rid the town of many monsters that had harmed the town.
"A new look perhaps Koga, did you loose your shirt." I sarcastically asked while wrenching my fingers from his grasp.
"Ah you noticed did ya well what do ya think? I thought I might change it due to the coming summer." He said as he took a wide stance placing his fists on his hips.
"I'd rather not. Now if you'll excuse me I have to run to work. You've made me late enough as it is." I said angrily.
"Aw come inside the bar and have a drink with me Kagome I can take care of you and you won't have to work for that crabby ass again." He said as he tried to steer me towards the door.
Finally I snapped having had enough of his coming onto me and insulting my employers. "Koga I have had enough now shut the hell up and leave me alone. I'll have you know miss Kagura is a wonderful woman. Now bug the hell off you egotistical ass." I then marched off fuming and even more so when I heard him sigh and then go onto say 'she loves me'. Someone please purify his ass.
I finally made it to Kagura's dress shop trying very hard not to slam the door shut. Succeeding only a little if any. Kagura came from behind the back curtain and came up to me as I took a seat by the front desk. "Koga again?"
I nodded. "Can my next pay be you blowing him to the next continent?" I huffed out. She mearly laughed and patted my shoulder. She was a wind demon able to ride and manipulate the wind and lets just say you don't want to be around her on a bad day with her fan around.
"I'll thin about it but until then how about loosing yourself in a couple of dresses? Take your mind off it." I sighed happily and nodded before strutting into the back of the shop where Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi were fast at work.
Yuka as always was first to notice my arrival. "Oh Kagome your here, did you see him today? You did didn't you oh isn't he just perfect?" She said dreamily. If she wasn't careful I thought she would begin to drool a puddle.
"Oh you mean ego boy Koga yes I saw him not much difference though." I said as I began to stitch on a new dress.
"But he's a dream." Countered Ayumi.
"Not to mention down right sexy." Eri replied never leaving eye contact as she spoke.
"Well I wish he would run after you guys instead of me I'm so sick of his high and mighty attitude thinking I am blessed by the fates to even have him noticing me let alone hitting on me. Well I wish he would just pretend I'm air." I said hotly.
"Well anyway besides king ego how's it been since we saw each other last?" Kagura asked while cleaning up around the station and in the shelves.
"Not much since it's been three days but Sota is so busy trying to complete his invention along with work hoping to impress the other inventors at the fair. But other than that pretty smooth and easy going. I even shot a deer while out hunting with my bow I'm planning on making Sota a new vest or boots with the hide I don't know what yet but were happy with the meet as is."
"That's amazing Kagome. I don't know how you do it all raising your brother, working, and even learning to hunt and shoot a bow. I wouldn't be able to kill another living thing." Ayumi gushed to me.
"It's really nothing but if you are hungry enough." They all laughed and we all continued to stitch. When I looked at the group I just shook my head at their silliness. "I have a question for you three." They all looked up from their sewing. "Do you girls ever where anything besides the same color of dresses. I mean there is more that one type of color in the world if you haven't noticed."
They all giggled. "Well this green is my favorite color I just can't help how much I love it and how good it looks on me." Yuka replied.
"I just think it's more of a simpler choice for me. Besides pink is a very feminine color." Ayumi added.
"I think it's just easier on our parents since they've been able to tell us apart since birth due to our colors. Even if yellow seems to accent me more than them." At that they all giggled.
"Why would your parents need to tell you apart now? I mean you all have diffrent hair styles as well as faces and personalities I mean it seems a little old.
"Well as they say old habits die hard." Yuka giggled out making the whole room laugh along.
The rest of the time I sewed, sorted and cut until I had to leave for to check on the shop for the book drop and head over to my next job which was to babysit for another villager who needed to go shopping that day in the next town. On the way out I saw Sota working away at the blacksmiths with the owner Tatosai and his young charge Kohaku who was left in his care by his sister who had long since went missing when looking for work. She was once my best friend and it tore me apart when she left but I haven't given up hope that she will return and I threaten anyone who says otherwise.
Walking by I called out to them. "Hey Sota, good evening Tatosai, Kohaku!" They looked up from their work and I jogged over. "Finishing up the day?"
They all nodded. "It was a busy day sis so many orders. People can't seem to stop breaking things or needing something new." Sota complained wiping the heavy amount of sweat off his brow.
"Well I'm not complaining it's giving me some good business. Haven't been this busy for a while must be because I have some hand young lads to help me out." Tatosai said patting the boys on the back making me chuckle.
"Oh I'm sure that's the case Tatosai." I teased.
"I have to disagree I think it's because he's finally getting his talent noticed after all these years. That and maybe Sota and I aren't doing that good a job and that's the reason horses keep throwing their shoes or things keep breaking."
"Hey don't belittle my work!"
I laughed at that soon followed by Tatosai and the boys. "Well when all of you are through come on down to the house and I'll have some stew cooking that's sure to fill some hungry bellies." As if to answer my request all their bellies including mine grumbled at the thought of food making us laugh even harder.
"Well I think the stomaches have it sis we will be there once were finished here for the day, oh Tatosai your fire is going out on your metal." Sota pointed out.
"Oh confound it." He grumbled before spitting out a stream of fire out of his mouth and into the fire pit housing metal cooking to be shaped. Tatosai was yet another demon living in the village. He is a master forge man and some say he had at one point made the most deadly of skilled weapons for the highest rank of demons.
"Well see you at the house." I said as I trotted off home.
Reaching the house I sat on the chair by the hearth allowing my aching feet a rest. I quickly discarded my black heels and allowed my feet to soak in the coolness of the wooded floors. "Better get started on that stew." I said to myself. I walked into the kitchen passed the stairs that was across from the door and began prepping the pot and gathering the ingredients.
It would take some time for the water to boil for the stew so I set the table that was aching for more guests to be seated. Happily placing four plates on the old table. I looked back to see the pot still taking it's time and decided to gather a few flowers to decorate the table.
I went to the garden that was behind the house and stable that was to the left if the house holding our meat stock and our horse Buyo (I had to add him lol). The garden held both flowers and edible greenery. I found a few flowers that could be parted with and found a few veggies and other fruits aching to be plucked off.
Coming back inside the large boiling pot was well ready to be magically turned into a stew. Using other veggies I made mashed potatoes, corn along with some bread and a mixed salad. The food was heated and ready with time to spare after placing it all on the table to allow it all to cool.
"Well time for the animals dinner." I said to myself bored of the silence during my labor. I went outside and began feeding the livestock.
"Mmmm something smells delicious." Said a an all to familiar sickening voice. Making me whirl around in fright.
"Koga what are you doing here."
"Why gracing you with your beloveds presence of course. I would think you couldn't be without me for very long." He said smugly as he made his way closer to the stables. "And I must say you'll make a fine bride with that talent of yours it's just making my nostrils dance with joy not to mention the drooling effect as well."
"Funny when I think of you beloved is the farthest thing I would use to call you. More like and egotistical ass or perhaps a clueless dog. Oh wait that's offensive to dogs I hope they forgive me." I said as I dramatically placed my hand on my heart. As if it really hurt me. If only it hurt Koga. "But thank you on the weird compliment but to stop any further thought you are not getting a morsel of my cooking you flea hound."
"Aw now Kagome you wound me."
"That's the point, now beat it before I get my bow!" I said as I gripped the chicken grains in my basket in fury making the chickens nervous and Buyo stomp from the agitation in the air.
"Oh don't worry Kagome I just might someday you'll never know." He said as he walked off.
"Yeah a cold day in hell." I countered to myself.
I dumped out the rest of the basket and went inside to write a note before coming back to the stables to Buyo to saddle him. "I know I should feed you know Buyo and I promise carrots oats and apples with hay when we get back but right now just get me out of here boy."
Buyo mearly opened his mouth and accepted the bit and didn't bother to bloat his stomach as I tightened the girth under his belly. I swung myself onto his back and we then raced out.
I never used to like riding before but after so much it seemed to be the only let out for me. I had always wished to run way, run so quickly as if I could escape all the hurt and the rage that never seemed to cease in my life. But one day I just couldn't run fast enough and as if to help my wish Buyo coaxed me onto his back and I held onto him for dear life. I haven't stopped running since.
We raced under the bowed trees passed the old mill and further till we reached the lake where I have him a break after riding him so hard then just walked along the edge of the blue water.
"Can you believe him Buyo he practically treats me like he owns me." He shook his head at the statement making me giggle as he placed his head over my shoulder. "If it gets him away from me I'll marry just so he can leave me the hell alone...Alone that seems to be all I'm feeling these days Buyo sometimes our ride together can't even fix that." He neighed at my words. I turned to face him patting his cheek and rubbing his soft muzzle. "I know that hurts you and I'm sorry boy but it hurts me too." I sighed and gazed to the setting horizon. "You know...one of these days...we'll ride past that horizon. Just me and you. Passed the next town to the city all the way to the ocean." Closing my eyes I pictured it just us galloping through the crashing waves along the beach.
I had heard my mother speak of the ocean she had gone their with father on their honeymoon and she said it was a sight that could only be described by eyes and eyes alone. The smells and colors and the secret treasures hidden within the sand. Opening my eyes I looked over the small lake that had once been my ocean. Where I had many a time come with my mother pretending the waves were coming at me as if they would if I were really there.
Buyo nudged my arm eager for some attention which I readily complied. "What do you think? Do you want to travel the world with me?" He mearly nuzzled into my chest so as to scratch his brown ears.
I love Buyo. Not only because of his almost human personality but also because of his coloring it was one of the reasons my father had picked him out during the festival where we bought him. A black mane with brown and white splotches all over. But my favorite was the faint pink muzzle that I could rub forever. So soft and cute it was criminal. Although so is he because he stole all our hearts and the veggies out of our garden sometimes.
He moved his head and I followed his gaze towards the sun. Sota would be home by now. I sighed heavily and placed my hands on my hips giving him the eye. "Aren't I suppose the responsible person here. Your suppose to make me forget not remember silly." He again neighed at me then turned toward where we came. I shook my head. "Let's take the scenic route." Quickly I swung up onto his back and took my time before sending him speeding down the forest trails home.