The Curse of Tormenting Loneliness
Disclaimer: Well, obviously cause this is a fanfiction, I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters! And as much as I'd love to, I never will own any of them! So if you want to sue me for whatever reason, you can always try...but all the money I do get goes towards University and gas for my car. And I don't even own that!
A/N: Hey there minna-san! Or should I say Happy All Hallows Eve? Hehehe, I'm too old to go trick-or-treating, but it's still fun to dress up! But anywho, as you can tell, I've decided to do another ficcy. Just to clear things up though, this does not mean that I have completely finished my other ficcy...just at a bit of a writer's block right now and needed a few days to think about it! I generally can get a chapter written and typed up within one week, but I do tend to have a life other than writing these things, so sorry ahead of time if I don't get to the next chappy as soon as you like! Well, hope you like this ficcy and here comes the first chappy!
~**~
Chapter 1: Eruptions of the Heart
"KA-ME!" yelled a young boy with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes as he ran through the forest. He had a large stick in one hand and a dagger in the other for defensive purposes. "KA-ME!" he yelled again while he took a short break to catch his breath. "MUMMY SAYS TIME FOR FOOD." he yelled when he saw his older sister on the other side of the meadow.
Hearing her younger brother's voice, Ka-me stood up from where she was crouched on the ground. A quiver of arrows was slung over her shoulder and a bow was in one of her hands. She started to walk towards the six-year- old. Her long raven black hair flowed in the strong wind and her blue-grey eyes laughed at the way her brother snatched the basked of blueberries from her other hand. "You can have five, but don't tell Mama because she'll scold you for ruining your lunch," she smiled to him.
"K, I wunt tell Mummy," he giggled as he tried to remember how many five was. "Ka-me, is this many?" he asked as he held out eight to his sister.
"No Souta," she teased as she put three back in the basket. They started to head back to their hut in the nearby village. "Do you know what Mama's making for lunch?" Ka-me asked once they had gotten halfway there and her brother had finished his before-lunch appetizer.
"Um, Mummy cook fish Foofoo an' me till," said Souta with a big smile.
Ka-me laughed. She loved Souta's pet name for their father. It's not that he couldn't say Papa or Daddy, he just liked to call him Foofoo. "So, Papa and you caught some fish. Do you know what kind of fish it was?" she asked with laughter evident in her eyes.
With his big stick, Souta jumped up and tried to hit a branch that was higher than him. "Umm...Foofoo says it is why," he said with a triumphant smile.
Ka-me's eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she giggled, "Souta, do you mean a Walleye?"
Souta gave her a funny look, "S'what I say," Shaking his little head, he turned and started to skip the rest of the way home.
Watching her younger brother with a careful eye, Ka-me smiled to herself. He was still so little and thought that all girls were icky. He was a tad slower at his speech development than other children in their village, but that was just fine by Ka-me. She loved him just the way he was. Sometimes, Ka-me wished that her parents hadn't waited so long to have another child. She could have been able to play with him a little better. Souta always came up with the strangest games, but all the kids seemed to enjoy them when they were able to understand.
"KA-ME, HURRY UP! MY TUM-TUM'S GONNA EAT ME SOON!" cried Souta's voice from the outskirts of the village that was coming into Ka-me's view.
"I'M COMING!" Ka-me called to him as she picked up her pace. She had to laugh at what he had said though. She could still remember the time when he heard that when he was hungry, the sound his tummy made meant that it wanted food. Of course, Souta still being very little with a very active imagination, took it the wrong way. He ended up believing that his tummy would literally eat him if he didn't get food into it soon.
As her own little hut came into view, Ka-me noticed that her mother was scolding Souta. "...sick about you! What if Kagome hadn't been nearby? You could've been eaten by a youkai! And next time, you'll remember what I just told you?" finished Mrs. Higurashi in a questioning tone of voice.
"But I had this," said Souta while holding up his dagger. His mother just gave him a look. "I 'member. N'time I stay wiff Ka-me, an' not run 'head," recited Souta with his head bent. Then with tears in his eyes, he looked up at Kagome when she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Tum- tum start to eat me! Hear?"
Kagome patted his head and gave him three blueberries, "Here you go Souta. This should keep tum-tum from eating you till Mama and I have the table ready."
Mrs. Higurashi let out a sigh, "You shouldn't do that Kagome. You're only making it worse."
Kagome held out the blueberries for her mother to see, "Lady Kaede is coming to the village today, so I thought I'd make her a pie."
Knowing her daughter's way of changing the subject when she wasn't sure what else to say, Mrs. Higurashi dropped the subject. "I think that's a nice idea. Would you like me to help you after lunch?"
"No, that's alright Mama. You have plenty to do as it is. I'll be fine by myself." she said as she put the basket down and started to help her mother ready the table for lunch.
~*Later that Day*~
"Foofoo, why does that man have doggy ears?" Souta asked when he saw a silver haired boy around Kagome's age walk into the village.
Mr. Higurashi cupped a hand over his son's mouth in hopes that the said 'man' wouldn't take offense. He kneeled down in front of Souta so they were roughly the same height, "Now, Souta, don't say things like that. It's not polite. And we must never stare at other's differences."
"But why?" Souta whispered when his father took his hand from his mouth.
"Because we never know if that person has ever eaten a nosey little boy before," Mr. Higurashi teased, knowing very well that his son would take it literally.
"Foofoo? Have you ever eaten a little boy before?" asked Souta innocently.
With that, Mr. Higurashi stood up and slapped his knee, "Hahaha, Souta you never cease to amuse me."
Not knowing what the word meant, Souta smiled at his father and decided to ask someone else what 'amused' meant later.
"Jeison Higurashi, it sure has been a long time hasn't it?" said and old female voice from behind the man.
~*A Short while Later at the Higurashi Hut*~
"LADY KAEDE!" squealed Kagome as she ran up to the old miko and clasped her hands.
As Kaede got off from her horse, she gave Kagome a soft yet tired smile, "It's nice to see you too Kagome, my dear. But just look at you, you must be at least eighteen by now?"
Kagome giggled, "Not yet. But next week is my seventeenth birthday." Kagome led the old miko and the strange boy that was with her into the family hut. "I made some blueberry pie if you're hungry," smiled Kagome as the guests sat down on the pillows around the table.
"I know I could do for some food," Kaede smiled. She looked to her companion, "And as much as this boy says he's not hungry and won't eat food touched by human hands...he'd love to have a piece too."
The boy's right eye twitched when Kaede referred to him as 'boy.' "Love is a rather strong word to use," mumbled the boy from his spot on the pillow. His amber eyes darted everywhere but the girl offering the food his stomach secretly yearned for.
Kagome smiled at the boy before looking to her parents and younger brother. They were all standing by the door rather oddly. Mr. Higurashi had his hand over Souta's mouth to keep him from uttering inappropriate words in front of their visitors.
Kagome gave her family a quizzical look. They didn't usually act like this. Normally, her mother would be bustling about trying to get some water boiling on the stove for some tea. Her father would be chatting away with Lady Kaede. And Souta...well, he would probably be sitting across the table starring at the other boy with his mouth wide open at the sight of those adorable ears on the top of his head. Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but her father beat her to the punch.
"We haven't gotten around to telling her yet," blurted Mr. Higurashi to the old preistess at the table.
The boy almost face faulted at that, then it all started to make sense. She didn't even know...
"I thought we had an agreement Jeison? You would tell her when she was sixteen, and I would bring the boy just before her seventeenth birthday. Don't tell me you've changed you mind," scolded Lady Kaede as she folded her chubby arms to glare at the man.
Mrs. Higurashi looked at her daughter as only a mother would. She went from Kagome's completely confused form to the form of the silver haired boy at the table. She could tell that he was watching Kagome a little different than when he had first arrived. It was a softer look. Most likely because he was under the impression that her daughter already knew of their predicament. He was probably wondering why she was so happy to see Lady Kaede under these circumstances. Somehow, even though Lady Kaede was scolding her husband, the moment seemed perfect.
"What are you guys talking about?" Kagome finally asked when Kaede took a moment to pause in her confusing lecture. "What am I supposed to know?"
All eyes went to Kagome. And for a moment, Mr. Higurashi forgot to hold onto his son. Souta took what he thought was his only chance for escape and ran like the wind to his sister's side. He flung himself around her waist, "Foofoo way that man eat little boys. Me little. I DUN WANNA GET EAT!"
All eyes shifted once again from Kagome to Souta's crying form. Then again to the very guilty looking Mr. Higurashi. "BAKA!" growled Mrs. Higurashi as she slapped her husband across the face. "Jeison, how dare you say that to our son."
Kagome scooped up her little brother and started to dry his forever tears. All the while, a certain silver haired boy was watching her every movement almost as if he hadn't heard what Souta had said about him...almost.
"It could take him months to get over his fear of 'that man' now. Did you ever stop to think about the possible consequences that could have? He's our future son-in-law for Kami's sake," Mrs. Higurashi said with a dangerous look in her eyes. Then she realized what she had just said and slapped her hands over her mouth, eyes going wide as she looked at her stunned daughter.
Kagome had gone completely stiff. Her hand was stopped in the process of wiping away the now practically non-existent tears of her brother. Shock was written all over her features as the silver haired boy found his amber eyes locked with Kagome's blue-grey ones for a brief moment.
Then, as if out of thin air, Kagome started to laugh. "That's funny. For a second there, I thought I heard Mama say that I was betrothed," she looked at her mother as if daring her to say it again.
After some time went by, Kagome put Souta down on the ground and continued glaring at all three of the conspirers. Souta decided that now was probably a good time to go play with his friends outside. Somewhere far away from this particular hut...maybe on the other side of the village. Ha-ri lived there so it should be alright. "I go play," he whispered as he left the hut. It was way too uncomfortable in there when old people were having their quiet fights. Souta decided that he liked it better when they would yell. At least then the old people would work things out instead of letting them fester in their hearts.
"HEY, HA-RI WANNA PLAY?" was the only thing that was heard in the Higurashi hut.
The silver haired boy continued watching Kagome. He was glad that those icy glares weren't aimed at him. But, somehow, her composure seemed very...nah, he could smell the tension build in the air it was so thick.
Mr. Higurashi started to scratch the back of his neck from his nervousness, "Well...Dear...You see...we didn't tell you sooner because we didn't want you to hate us," Kagome's icy glare left the two women and concentrated all of its power on her father. "We promised you to this boy's parents when you were...Could you stop looking at me like that?" he asked hopefully. Kagome's answer was an even more intense coldness towards him. Mr. Higurashi took a deep breath, "You see...this boy's parents needed to fin him a future wife and mate. And...well, about ten years ago...they just happened to pass by our little village here. Their son here took a fondness to you. And Mr. and Mrs. Koi told us about their predicament and how he found if VERY hard to get along with the female species. We just-"
"I'm so sorry Sweetie," Mrs. Higurashi jumped in. "You two really did look cute together. And you even told me that you were going to marry him one day. I know you were young...but we just want what's best for you," she pleaded in their defense.
Kagome's death glare seemed to soften slightly, but she was still obviously fuming. She never uttered a word. The silver haired boy was the only one in the room to notice Kagome balling her fists so tightly that her knuckles were going white. He figured that she probably needed to kill something. After all, hunting always made him feel better.
"You know we never approved of your notion of becoming a miko," replied Mrs. Higurashi with a determined look. She WAS going to make her daughter understand if it killed her. "This way you don't have to. He's a strong youkai. He can protect you. This way, you can live a fairly normal life."
That was the last straw. "You think I'll be happier this way?" asked Kagome in as calm a voice as she could manage.
"Yes," said her parents in unison. Maybe they DID get through to her.
Kagome closed her blue-grey eyes, "You want me to give up being a miko and settle down with this boy?" Her frame began to shake slightly from forcing herself not to scream.
This time her parents only nodded. Maybe they should've told her when she turned sixteen like in the plan. Kagome's future husband didn't need to see this...he must feel horrible witnessing this event.
Kagome clenched and unclenched her teeth. "DO YOU THINK I CAN JUST GIVE UP MY LIFE'S DREAM IN A DAY?" she screamed. There was no way she could hold in her anger anymore. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW 'THIS BOY'!"
"Yes you do. Remember-"
Kagome cut off her father, "NO. NO I DON'T. I DON'T KNOW 'HIM'! HE WAS HERE WITH HIS FAMILY FOR HOW MANY DAYS? ONE, TWO? I WAS SEVEN. I COULD'VE SAID I WANTED TO MARRY DAD. WOULD YOU MAKE ME MARRY MY FATHER IF I HAD SAID THAT WHEN I WAS SEVEN? NO," she screamed at her parents, "I HATE YOU!"
Kagome walked towards the bedroom that she shared with Souta. The silver haired boy was sitting right beside the door, so she paused. Kagome looked at him, tears now threatening to fall. "I'm sorry if I offended you," she quickly whispered before she slammed the door shut.
"Well, THAT was uncomfortable," smiled Kaede from her forgotten place at the table. "How about that pie?"
"Yes, I think that would be very nice. All this entertainment has made me very hungry," said the boy as he stretched his arms over his head.
O.O
~*A Couple Hours Later*~
How could they do this to her? They never even hinted at it before. Life was SO not fair. Kagome had stopped crying, but that was only because she had no more tears left. She was hungry, not to mention practically dieing from thirst. But there was no possible way that she was going to step foot outside that door. She couldn't face them. Any of them. But most of all, she couldn't face that amber-eyed boy.
"He probably hates me now. Or at least thinks I'm pathetic. Sheesh, I AM pathetic! How could I just blow up like that in front of him?" Kagome whispered to herself in agony.
"It's probably better that I found out now. At least I know what kind of woman you are before we get married," said a male voice from Souta's side of the room.
Kagome gasped. How long had he been there? She didn't even hear him come in. She bolted upright into a sitting position on her futon. Her blue-grey eyes were wide as she looked at the intruder.
"Hm, I get that reaction from a lot of people," he said as his amber eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the room. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced," he said as he got up from his spot on Souta's futon and came to sit beside Kagome. He held out a glass of water he had been holding to Kagome, "I'll give you this if you tell me your name. Although I already know it, I'd still like to hear it from you."
Kagome studied the glass of water for a moment, then looked up into the boy's amber eyes. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. And I am truly sorry for what you witnessed earlier. I couldn't keep my emotions in check and you must think very lowly of me now," she said as she felt more tears threaten to fall. Guess she still had some reserves to empty.
"Quite the contrary actually," said the boy as he handed her the water. "You should have seen how I took the news when my parents told me. I can tell you that we are still working to get those ceramic dishes replaced. Not to mention that there was severe damage done to the walls, roof and windows of our home," he said as he watched Kagome blink away her tears from shock.
"When did they tell you?" Kagome asked innocently. She wasn't thirsty anymore, so she put the half empty glass down on the floor beside her futon.
"Five years ago," the boy stated bluntly. "I think you took it rather well. But don't let your parents get off that easy. I occasionally use the excuse for putting guilt trips on my father and stepmother. I find that it works like a charm...most of the time."
Kagome gaped. Maybe this whole marriage to a complete stranger wasn't going to be so bad. But it would still mean that she'll have to give up her dream of becoming a great miko like Lady Kaede. This was so confusing. "If you got so angry when you were told, why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because I have come to the conclusion that humans are fragile. Especially the females. And they should be treated with the utmost care...unless you want to be rid of them right then and there," he said as he watched for her reaction.
Kagome could feel the vein above her right eye start to twitch. Just because he was a youkai he thought humans were weak? Especially women? As much as Kagome wanted to wrap her slender hands around his neck and let him breathe his last, she didn't. She'd find another way to make him suffer...later.
"Besides, I would rather start off as friends before we get married. After all, we WILL have to spend the rest of out lives together," he added once he could feel the anger erupt in the girl once again.
With that said, Kagome seemed to calm down considerably. Maybe she was wrong...again. Suddenly getting curious, "How old are you?"
"Twenty-three," he said. If he absolutely HAD to marry a human, he was glad his parents had chosen this one. Even though they had ALL gotten the story messed up. Maybe he should tell her? Yup, probably a good idea. "But it wasn't me you said you wanted to marry when you were seven!" he stated as he watched her curiosity peak.
"It wasn't...I mean, you weren't?" she definitely HAD to know this.
"Unfortunately, you fell for my half-wit of a half-brother. Our parents just didn't understand at the time who you were talking about when you said, and I quote, 'I'm gonna marry that boy with the silver puppy ears!' end quote. You see...both my brother and I have ears like these. Plus, we both have our father's silver hair. It's only understandable that our parents didn't see whom you were really talking about. Not that it matters now of course," stated the amber eyed boy.
Well, that made sense to Kagome. Too bad that she couldn't remember what happened ten years ago, maybe then she wouldn't be so angry at her parents! But he was right. It didn't really matter now. All that mattered was the present fact that they were being forced to get married for whatever reason...and Kagome STILL didn't know his name. "Hey, I just realized that you haven't told me your name yet."
"I was wondering when you'd ask." smiled the boy in a seemingly unnatural look for his serious personality. "The name my father has given me is, Sesshomaru Kajitani."
~**~
A/N: Well, there's chappy number one! Hope everybody liked it! I actually wasn't planning on having Sesshomaru in this ficcy at all, but he threatened me. You know, that poison whip can be very influential when he wants it to be. Where was my hero Inuyasha when I needed him? Sesshomaru wanted to be in here before Inuyasha...they still fight even when the other is nowhere to be found. But I do think that this chappy turned out rather well, ne? I was going to write more, but decided that it would be easier to just split it into two chappies. And so, if I get enough positive reviews on this fic, I'll update sooner than later! Oh, and I totally don't mind if you want to tell me who you want Kagome to be paired with...it can be anyone! I'm planning on having almost everyone appear in this fic...even if only for a short appearance. So input would be nice cause I'm still not sure how this is all going to turn out! Hope you had as much fun reading this as I had writing it! So please READ and REVIEW! And have a safe and happy Halloween!
KrysTheAngel ^_^
October 2003
Disclaimer: Well, obviously cause this is a fanfiction, I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters! And as much as I'd love to, I never will own any of them! So if you want to sue me for whatever reason, you can always try...but all the money I do get goes towards University and gas for my car. And I don't even own that!
A/N: Hey there minna-san! Or should I say Happy All Hallows Eve? Hehehe, I'm too old to go trick-or-treating, but it's still fun to dress up! But anywho, as you can tell, I've decided to do another ficcy. Just to clear things up though, this does not mean that I have completely finished my other ficcy...just at a bit of a writer's block right now and needed a few days to think about it! I generally can get a chapter written and typed up within one week, but I do tend to have a life other than writing these things, so sorry ahead of time if I don't get to the next chappy as soon as you like! Well, hope you like this ficcy and here comes the first chappy!
~**~
Chapter 1: Eruptions of the Heart
"KA-ME!" yelled a young boy with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes as he ran through the forest. He had a large stick in one hand and a dagger in the other for defensive purposes. "KA-ME!" he yelled again while he took a short break to catch his breath. "MUMMY SAYS TIME FOR FOOD." he yelled when he saw his older sister on the other side of the meadow.
Hearing her younger brother's voice, Ka-me stood up from where she was crouched on the ground. A quiver of arrows was slung over her shoulder and a bow was in one of her hands. She started to walk towards the six-year- old. Her long raven black hair flowed in the strong wind and her blue-grey eyes laughed at the way her brother snatched the basked of blueberries from her other hand. "You can have five, but don't tell Mama because she'll scold you for ruining your lunch," she smiled to him.
"K, I wunt tell Mummy," he giggled as he tried to remember how many five was. "Ka-me, is this many?" he asked as he held out eight to his sister.
"No Souta," she teased as she put three back in the basket. They started to head back to their hut in the nearby village. "Do you know what Mama's making for lunch?" Ka-me asked once they had gotten halfway there and her brother had finished his before-lunch appetizer.
"Um, Mummy cook fish Foofoo an' me till," said Souta with a big smile.
Ka-me laughed. She loved Souta's pet name for their father. It's not that he couldn't say Papa or Daddy, he just liked to call him Foofoo. "So, Papa and you caught some fish. Do you know what kind of fish it was?" she asked with laughter evident in her eyes.
With his big stick, Souta jumped up and tried to hit a branch that was higher than him. "Umm...Foofoo says it is why," he said with a triumphant smile.
Ka-me's eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she giggled, "Souta, do you mean a Walleye?"
Souta gave her a funny look, "S'what I say," Shaking his little head, he turned and started to skip the rest of the way home.
Watching her younger brother with a careful eye, Ka-me smiled to herself. He was still so little and thought that all girls were icky. He was a tad slower at his speech development than other children in their village, but that was just fine by Ka-me. She loved him just the way he was. Sometimes, Ka-me wished that her parents hadn't waited so long to have another child. She could have been able to play with him a little better. Souta always came up with the strangest games, but all the kids seemed to enjoy them when they were able to understand.
"KA-ME, HURRY UP! MY TUM-TUM'S GONNA EAT ME SOON!" cried Souta's voice from the outskirts of the village that was coming into Ka-me's view.
"I'M COMING!" Ka-me called to him as she picked up her pace. She had to laugh at what he had said though. She could still remember the time when he heard that when he was hungry, the sound his tummy made meant that it wanted food. Of course, Souta still being very little with a very active imagination, took it the wrong way. He ended up believing that his tummy would literally eat him if he didn't get food into it soon.
As her own little hut came into view, Ka-me noticed that her mother was scolding Souta. "...sick about you! What if Kagome hadn't been nearby? You could've been eaten by a youkai! And next time, you'll remember what I just told you?" finished Mrs. Higurashi in a questioning tone of voice.
"But I had this," said Souta while holding up his dagger. His mother just gave him a look. "I 'member. N'time I stay wiff Ka-me, an' not run 'head," recited Souta with his head bent. Then with tears in his eyes, he looked up at Kagome when she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Tum- tum start to eat me! Hear?"
Kagome patted his head and gave him three blueberries, "Here you go Souta. This should keep tum-tum from eating you till Mama and I have the table ready."
Mrs. Higurashi let out a sigh, "You shouldn't do that Kagome. You're only making it worse."
Kagome held out the blueberries for her mother to see, "Lady Kaede is coming to the village today, so I thought I'd make her a pie."
Knowing her daughter's way of changing the subject when she wasn't sure what else to say, Mrs. Higurashi dropped the subject. "I think that's a nice idea. Would you like me to help you after lunch?"
"No, that's alright Mama. You have plenty to do as it is. I'll be fine by myself." she said as she put the basket down and started to help her mother ready the table for lunch.
~*Later that Day*~
"Foofoo, why does that man have doggy ears?" Souta asked when he saw a silver haired boy around Kagome's age walk into the village.
Mr. Higurashi cupped a hand over his son's mouth in hopes that the said 'man' wouldn't take offense. He kneeled down in front of Souta so they were roughly the same height, "Now, Souta, don't say things like that. It's not polite. And we must never stare at other's differences."
"But why?" Souta whispered when his father took his hand from his mouth.
"Because we never know if that person has ever eaten a nosey little boy before," Mr. Higurashi teased, knowing very well that his son would take it literally.
"Foofoo? Have you ever eaten a little boy before?" asked Souta innocently.
With that, Mr. Higurashi stood up and slapped his knee, "Hahaha, Souta you never cease to amuse me."
Not knowing what the word meant, Souta smiled at his father and decided to ask someone else what 'amused' meant later.
"Jeison Higurashi, it sure has been a long time hasn't it?" said and old female voice from behind the man.
~*A Short while Later at the Higurashi Hut*~
"LADY KAEDE!" squealed Kagome as she ran up to the old miko and clasped her hands.
As Kaede got off from her horse, she gave Kagome a soft yet tired smile, "It's nice to see you too Kagome, my dear. But just look at you, you must be at least eighteen by now?"
Kagome giggled, "Not yet. But next week is my seventeenth birthday." Kagome led the old miko and the strange boy that was with her into the family hut. "I made some blueberry pie if you're hungry," smiled Kagome as the guests sat down on the pillows around the table.
"I know I could do for some food," Kaede smiled. She looked to her companion, "And as much as this boy says he's not hungry and won't eat food touched by human hands...he'd love to have a piece too."
The boy's right eye twitched when Kaede referred to him as 'boy.' "Love is a rather strong word to use," mumbled the boy from his spot on the pillow. His amber eyes darted everywhere but the girl offering the food his stomach secretly yearned for.
Kagome smiled at the boy before looking to her parents and younger brother. They were all standing by the door rather oddly. Mr. Higurashi had his hand over Souta's mouth to keep him from uttering inappropriate words in front of their visitors.
Kagome gave her family a quizzical look. They didn't usually act like this. Normally, her mother would be bustling about trying to get some water boiling on the stove for some tea. Her father would be chatting away with Lady Kaede. And Souta...well, he would probably be sitting across the table starring at the other boy with his mouth wide open at the sight of those adorable ears on the top of his head. Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but her father beat her to the punch.
"We haven't gotten around to telling her yet," blurted Mr. Higurashi to the old preistess at the table.
The boy almost face faulted at that, then it all started to make sense. She didn't even know...
"I thought we had an agreement Jeison? You would tell her when she was sixteen, and I would bring the boy just before her seventeenth birthday. Don't tell me you've changed you mind," scolded Lady Kaede as she folded her chubby arms to glare at the man.
Mrs. Higurashi looked at her daughter as only a mother would. She went from Kagome's completely confused form to the form of the silver haired boy at the table. She could tell that he was watching Kagome a little different than when he had first arrived. It was a softer look. Most likely because he was under the impression that her daughter already knew of their predicament. He was probably wondering why she was so happy to see Lady Kaede under these circumstances. Somehow, even though Lady Kaede was scolding her husband, the moment seemed perfect.
"What are you guys talking about?" Kagome finally asked when Kaede took a moment to pause in her confusing lecture. "What am I supposed to know?"
All eyes went to Kagome. And for a moment, Mr. Higurashi forgot to hold onto his son. Souta took what he thought was his only chance for escape and ran like the wind to his sister's side. He flung himself around her waist, "Foofoo way that man eat little boys. Me little. I DUN WANNA GET EAT!"
All eyes shifted once again from Kagome to Souta's crying form. Then again to the very guilty looking Mr. Higurashi. "BAKA!" growled Mrs. Higurashi as she slapped her husband across the face. "Jeison, how dare you say that to our son."
Kagome scooped up her little brother and started to dry his forever tears. All the while, a certain silver haired boy was watching her every movement almost as if he hadn't heard what Souta had said about him...almost.
"It could take him months to get over his fear of 'that man' now. Did you ever stop to think about the possible consequences that could have? He's our future son-in-law for Kami's sake," Mrs. Higurashi said with a dangerous look in her eyes. Then she realized what she had just said and slapped her hands over her mouth, eyes going wide as she looked at her stunned daughter.
Kagome had gone completely stiff. Her hand was stopped in the process of wiping away the now practically non-existent tears of her brother. Shock was written all over her features as the silver haired boy found his amber eyes locked with Kagome's blue-grey ones for a brief moment.
Then, as if out of thin air, Kagome started to laugh. "That's funny. For a second there, I thought I heard Mama say that I was betrothed," she looked at her mother as if daring her to say it again.
After some time went by, Kagome put Souta down on the ground and continued glaring at all three of the conspirers. Souta decided that now was probably a good time to go play with his friends outside. Somewhere far away from this particular hut...maybe on the other side of the village. Ha-ri lived there so it should be alright. "I go play," he whispered as he left the hut. It was way too uncomfortable in there when old people were having their quiet fights. Souta decided that he liked it better when they would yell. At least then the old people would work things out instead of letting them fester in their hearts.
"HEY, HA-RI WANNA PLAY?" was the only thing that was heard in the Higurashi hut.
The silver haired boy continued watching Kagome. He was glad that those icy glares weren't aimed at him. But, somehow, her composure seemed very...nah, he could smell the tension build in the air it was so thick.
Mr. Higurashi started to scratch the back of his neck from his nervousness, "Well...Dear...You see...we didn't tell you sooner because we didn't want you to hate us," Kagome's icy glare left the two women and concentrated all of its power on her father. "We promised you to this boy's parents when you were...Could you stop looking at me like that?" he asked hopefully. Kagome's answer was an even more intense coldness towards him. Mr. Higurashi took a deep breath, "You see...this boy's parents needed to fin him a future wife and mate. And...well, about ten years ago...they just happened to pass by our little village here. Their son here took a fondness to you. And Mr. and Mrs. Koi told us about their predicament and how he found if VERY hard to get along with the female species. We just-"
"I'm so sorry Sweetie," Mrs. Higurashi jumped in. "You two really did look cute together. And you even told me that you were going to marry him one day. I know you were young...but we just want what's best for you," she pleaded in their defense.
Kagome's death glare seemed to soften slightly, but she was still obviously fuming. She never uttered a word. The silver haired boy was the only one in the room to notice Kagome balling her fists so tightly that her knuckles were going white. He figured that she probably needed to kill something. After all, hunting always made him feel better.
"You know we never approved of your notion of becoming a miko," replied Mrs. Higurashi with a determined look. She WAS going to make her daughter understand if it killed her. "This way you don't have to. He's a strong youkai. He can protect you. This way, you can live a fairly normal life."
That was the last straw. "You think I'll be happier this way?" asked Kagome in as calm a voice as she could manage.
"Yes," said her parents in unison. Maybe they DID get through to her.
Kagome closed her blue-grey eyes, "You want me to give up being a miko and settle down with this boy?" Her frame began to shake slightly from forcing herself not to scream.
This time her parents only nodded. Maybe they should've told her when she turned sixteen like in the plan. Kagome's future husband didn't need to see this...he must feel horrible witnessing this event.
Kagome clenched and unclenched her teeth. "DO YOU THINK I CAN JUST GIVE UP MY LIFE'S DREAM IN A DAY?" she screamed. There was no way she could hold in her anger anymore. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW 'THIS BOY'!"
"Yes you do. Remember-"
Kagome cut off her father, "NO. NO I DON'T. I DON'T KNOW 'HIM'! HE WAS HERE WITH HIS FAMILY FOR HOW MANY DAYS? ONE, TWO? I WAS SEVEN. I COULD'VE SAID I WANTED TO MARRY DAD. WOULD YOU MAKE ME MARRY MY FATHER IF I HAD SAID THAT WHEN I WAS SEVEN? NO," she screamed at her parents, "I HATE YOU!"
Kagome walked towards the bedroom that she shared with Souta. The silver haired boy was sitting right beside the door, so she paused. Kagome looked at him, tears now threatening to fall. "I'm sorry if I offended you," she quickly whispered before she slammed the door shut.
"Well, THAT was uncomfortable," smiled Kaede from her forgotten place at the table. "How about that pie?"
"Yes, I think that would be very nice. All this entertainment has made me very hungry," said the boy as he stretched his arms over his head.
O.O
~*A Couple Hours Later*~
How could they do this to her? They never even hinted at it before. Life was SO not fair. Kagome had stopped crying, but that was only because she had no more tears left. She was hungry, not to mention practically dieing from thirst. But there was no possible way that she was going to step foot outside that door. She couldn't face them. Any of them. But most of all, she couldn't face that amber-eyed boy.
"He probably hates me now. Or at least thinks I'm pathetic. Sheesh, I AM pathetic! How could I just blow up like that in front of him?" Kagome whispered to herself in agony.
"It's probably better that I found out now. At least I know what kind of woman you are before we get married," said a male voice from Souta's side of the room.
Kagome gasped. How long had he been there? She didn't even hear him come in. She bolted upright into a sitting position on her futon. Her blue-grey eyes were wide as she looked at the intruder.
"Hm, I get that reaction from a lot of people," he said as his amber eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the room. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced," he said as he got up from his spot on Souta's futon and came to sit beside Kagome. He held out a glass of water he had been holding to Kagome, "I'll give you this if you tell me your name. Although I already know it, I'd still like to hear it from you."
Kagome studied the glass of water for a moment, then looked up into the boy's amber eyes. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. And I am truly sorry for what you witnessed earlier. I couldn't keep my emotions in check and you must think very lowly of me now," she said as she felt more tears threaten to fall. Guess she still had some reserves to empty.
"Quite the contrary actually," said the boy as he handed her the water. "You should have seen how I took the news when my parents told me. I can tell you that we are still working to get those ceramic dishes replaced. Not to mention that there was severe damage done to the walls, roof and windows of our home," he said as he watched Kagome blink away her tears from shock.
"When did they tell you?" Kagome asked innocently. She wasn't thirsty anymore, so she put the half empty glass down on the floor beside her futon.
"Five years ago," the boy stated bluntly. "I think you took it rather well. But don't let your parents get off that easy. I occasionally use the excuse for putting guilt trips on my father and stepmother. I find that it works like a charm...most of the time."
Kagome gaped. Maybe this whole marriage to a complete stranger wasn't going to be so bad. But it would still mean that she'll have to give up her dream of becoming a great miko like Lady Kaede. This was so confusing. "If you got so angry when you were told, why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because I have come to the conclusion that humans are fragile. Especially the females. And they should be treated with the utmost care...unless you want to be rid of them right then and there," he said as he watched for her reaction.
Kagome could feel the vein above her right eye start to twitch. Just because he was a youkai he thought humans were weak? Especially women? As much as Kagome wanted to wrap her slender hands around his neck and let him breathe his last, she didn't. She'd find another way to make him suffer...later.
"Besides, I would rather start off as friends before we get married. After all, we WILL have to spend the rest of out lives together," he added once he could feel the anger erupt in the girl once again.
With that said, Kagome seemed to calm down considerably. Maybe she was wrong...again. Suddenly getting curious, "How old are you?"
"Twenty-three," he said. If he absolutely HAD to marry a human, he was glad his parents had chosen this one. Even though they had ALL gotten the story messed up. Maybe he should tell her? Yup, probably a good idea. "But it wasn't me you said you wanted to marry when you were seven!" he stated as he watched her curiosity peak.
"It wasn't...I mean, you weren't?" she definitely HAD to know this.
"Unfortunately, you fell for my half-wit of a half-brother. Our parents just didn't understand at the time who you were talking about when you said, and I quote, 'I'm gonna marry that boy with the silver puppy ears!' end quote. You see...both my brother and I have ears like these. Plus, we both have our father's silver hair. It's only understandable that our parents didn't see whom you were really talking about. Not that it matters now of course," stated the amber eyed boy.
Well, that made sense to Kagome. Too bad that she couldn't remember what happened ten years ago, maybe then she wouldn't be so angry at her parents! But he was right. It didn't really matter now. All that mattered was the present fact that they were being forced to get married for whatever reason...and Kagome STILL didn't know his name. "Hey, I just realized that you haven't told me your name yet."
"I was wondering when you'd ask." smiled the boy in a seemingly unnatural look for his serious personality. "The name my father has given me is, Sesshomaru Kajitani."
~**~
A/N: Well, there's chappy number one! Hope everybody liked it! I actually wasn't planning on having Sesshomaru in this ficcy at all, but he threatened me. You know, that poison whip can be very influential when he wants it to be. Where was my hero Inuyasha when I needed him? Sesshomaru wanted to be in here before Inuyasha...they still fight even when the other is nowhere to be found. But I do think that this chappy turned out rather well, ne? I was going to write more, but decided that it would be easier to just split it into two chappies. And so, if I get enough positive reviews on this fic, I'll update sooner than later! Oh, and I totally don't mind if you want to tell me who you want Kagome to be paired with...it can be anyone! I'm planning on having almost everyone appear in this fic...even if only for a short appearance. So input would be nice cause I'm still not sure how this is all going to turn out! Hope you had as much fun reading this as I had writing it! So please READ and REVIEW! And have a safe and happy Halloween!
KrysTheAngel ^_^
October 2003