Author's Note - Hello readers! This is just a little something starring the wonderful Inuyasha (isn't he so endearing?). Though I have classed this story as Inuyasha x Kagome, there is a little bit of Inuyasha x Sort-of-OC. Though essentially, it is the former: I think they make a wonderful couple and would by no means split them up... for long. ;-) Ten points to anyone who gets the "Sort-of-OC" comment and, ultimately, why this story is titled as it is. I shall give you a great big enormous clue - brush up on your Greek mythology. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all affiliated characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Loves you Rumiko! 3
Chapter One.
The sun that beat down upon the mountain village was warm and encouraging. Inuyasha was sitting outside a borrowed hut, relishing the heat and waiting for the girls to finish packing food for their next journey. So far, their quest to find the nearly defeated Naraku had been unfruitful, yet the group were ever determined to discover his hiding place. After battling with the beautiful snow demon, Kagome had insisted that they stop at a nearby village for rest and supplies before continuing North East towards the mountains. They had, courtesy of a kind, wealthy old couple, enjoyed a night indoors, with a good meal and hot baths, and were sufficiently refreshed to set out anew.
"Finally," Inuyasha muttered, as Kagome and Sango emerged from the hut, Kagome's backpack full with all the food she was able to carry.
"Don't be so impatient," the young girl chided, as she mounted her bicycle. "Most of this stuff is for you: if you weren't so greedy, we could have been ready in half the time."
Inuyasha glowered at her but did not respond. Nearby, Miroku and Shippo abandoned their seats on the grass and came to join them.
"Are we all ready to go?" the monk asked pleasantly. He held out his arm for Sango to take, which she did so, her cheeks flushing delicately.
"We've got everything we need," smiled Kagome. "Now according to my compass, North East is in that direction" – she pointed to their left, where a winding dirt path led out of the village and into the surrounding forest. "Now, is that definitely the way we want to go?"
"I don't know," Shippo mumbled, skirting behind Kagome's legs. "That forest looks deep and kind of scary!"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Naraku went North East so that's the way we're going," he said, stubbornly. "I'm not scared of any dumb forest."
"It is only a forest, Shippo," Miroku assented gently. "It's nothing to be afraid of, especially after all we've faced. Besides, we could be delayed by days if we have to travel around it. I think it's best to take the path straight through."
Both Kagome and Sango agreed that the forest path was their best option, so, much to Shippo's consternation, they left the village behind them and headed into the welcome shade of the tall, leafy trees.
Inuyasha had become wary of such secluded places as forests: they were often the hiding places for demons and other undesirables, particularly as of late. Yet he could not sense any malevolence lurking in the surrounding trees. In fact, the forest seemed quite peaceful. The sun shining through the gaps in the canopy made for a pleasant temperature and the soft babbling of a nearby stream was a soothing accompaniment to their journey. Animal and plant life seemed to be flourishing all around them, which the astute half-demon took to be good news; any demons close by would surely have scared woodland creatures away.
"Isn't it lovely?" Kagome beamed. "Surely, Shippo, you can't be frightened anymore? Look how quiet and peaceful this forest is!"
Shippo was happily bounding after a cloud of yellow butterflies and did not respond, though his behaviour seemed to speak for itself. Kagome laughed and turned to Inuyasha.
"You're not sensing anything unusual, are you?" she asked him.
"No," he responded, quite truthfully. "Though I'm not yet sure if that's a good thing."
"What do you mean, Inuyasha?" asked Miroku.
"Well, ever since Naraku upped and disappeared, we've not been able to travel a few miles without encountering some measly demon or other," Inuyasha remarked. "A place like this should be crawling with them. So what's keeping them away?"
"Oh that's just silly," said Kagome, dismissively. "You're just getting too used to being attacked."
"I don't know, he's got a point," shrugged Miroku. "Demons usually relish places like this. Their absence makes me a little nervous. I think we should be on our guard, just in case."
The four agreed (though Kagome reluctantly) to keep a watchful eye for any kind of disturbance. Yet to Inuyasha's great surprise, mid-afternoon arrived without so much as wasp attack, let alone any demons. They found themselves a pleasant clearing by the bank of the stream, and settled down to have something to eat.
"We got any ninja food left?" asked Inuyasha swiftly, as Kagome began to delve into her hefty bag.
"No," Kagome replied, "you ate all the instant noodles and I haven't had chance to go home yet to get more."
"Dammit," Inuyasha scowled. "I'm hungry! What have you got?"
"If you wait a moment, Inuyasha, I'll show you!" Kagome sighed. "You can be so selfish…"
"I'm not selfish, I'm just hungry!" snapped Inuyasha, growing annoyed.
"So is everybody!" cried Kagome. "You'll just have to wait!"
"Forget it, I'll go get my own food," Inuyasha grumbled, getting to his feet and stalking away from the group. He could hear Kagome and the others fuming as he disappeared into a thicket of trees.
"He's so childish!"
"Just let him go, Kagome. He'll come back when he's hungry…"
"What a hothead."
He chose to ignore their taunts, instead seeking refuge in the shade of the trees. He did not understand women, Kagome in particular: she got so angry with him for things that didn't matter…or, at least, things he thought didn't matter. It was best to keep out of her way – that way, he wouldn't say things he'd later regret and, when he came back, she'd have forgiven him. His growling stomach, however, was a fly in the ointment. He hadn't recalled seeing anything edible nearby as they'd passed, nor could his sensitive nose smell anything other than grass and flowers. Suddenly, causing a row didn't seem like such a good idea. Yet he would not turn back; he had his pride.
Inuyasha ventured a little further into the forest, away from the clearing. The canopy was thicker here, yet the sun still shone through gaps in the leaves, creating a pattern of mottled light on the grass below. He could smell something sweet – fruit, perhaps? Or even berries? They would not be as tasty as the feast his companions were surely eating, but they would keep him going. He paused on the spot and began to look around. None of the bushes or trees nearby bore any fruit and yet the scent was so strong. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the leaves up above him. Inuyasha's head jerked upwards. A branch was shaking quite pointedly, as though it had just been nudged, though he saw nothing. His defences up, he progressed further into the wood, following the sweet fragrance.
A few minutes more passed and Inuyasha saw no evidence of any fruits. His stomach was now rumbling audibly and he was keen to silence it. Turning around and heading back to the clearing was fast becoming a good idea. The mysterious smell, no matter how potent, was amounting to nothing. And yet, he had the feeling that its source was close by.
Almost in answer to his thoughts, an equally peculiar sound met his ears. It was soft and musical, gentle, like the sound of rolling waves. It took him a moment to realise it was a song. Someone or something was singing! His eyes darted around, looking for the origin and they fell upon a young woman – or something that resembled a woman – perched on bough above his head. Had he not known better, he would have labelled her a demon. However neither he nor Kagome had sensed a demonic presence on the forest, so she could not be. What she was, he had no idea. Though woman like in her form, her skin was the lightest shade of green, which shimmered in the patches of sunlight. Her hair was a deep, dark hue of emerald, and grew in long tendrils down her back, which were crowned with a wreath of beautiful flowers. Inuyasha noticed with a hint of embarrassment that she wore very little.
The unusual girl met his gaze and stopped singing at once. A strange and brilliant smile spread across her face; Inuyasha took a step backwards.
"A half demon!" she exclaimed, in a voice that was almost a purr. She performed a neat little flip off her branch and landed, cat-like, on the forest floor.
"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha muttered, making no effort at politeness. The girl did not seem remotely unfazed. She continued to smile absently as she approached him, a long, slender hand reaching out to grasp the front of his hitoe.
"I am Kallisto, protector of this forest," she said playfully. "And who are you, half-demon trespasser?"
Inuyasha took a few more steps backwards, trying to yank his clothing out of Kallisto's grip. To his surprise, her skinny little fingers held quite fast.
"Let go of me, will ya?" he growled. "I'm not trespassing! There's no fence around this land!"
"All the same, you do not belong here," Kallisto whispered, now so close to the half-demon that he could feel her hair tickling his arms. "This is a sacred place – a pure place! Who are you, half-demon, and how did you come to pass here?"
Inuyasha decided the time for manners had passed. He gave the peculiar girl a rough shove in attempt to free himself. Yet she held strong and when she toppled, she pulled him with her. They both crashed to the ground, Inuyasha landing heavily on top of her.
"Oh shit, I've squashed her!" Inuyasha thought, pushing his weight onto his elbows and peering beneath him. He was expecting to see the girl hurt, as she was only tiny. Yet he was surprised to see her smiling. It wasn't until he felt the pressure of her hips against his that he realised why.
"Forward, aren't you?" she smiled, trailing a long finger up and down his chest. Inuyasha felt himself blushing furiously.
"What?" he spluttered. "No, it's not like that! I-"
"Why did you not tell me it was me you were seeking?" Kallisto continued, and she raised her head to nuzzle his neck. Inuyasha jumped backwards as though electrocuted. What was this girl doing? He began to shuffle away, as best he could on his hands and feet, yet Kallisto was surprisingly quick. She pounced gracefully through the grass, landing behind his head.
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha cried, his eyes widening as her face descended into his vision. Before he could even bat her away, Kallisto had planted a soft kiss on his forehead….and then another…and another! Inuyasha felt dazed. There was a dull voice in the back of his head telling him to push her away, to make her stop – yet there was something intoxicating about the sensation of her lips on his skin. Every kiss invoked some perverse shudder of excitement that drowned out his reason.
"No…wait…don't…"
His rational mind was still forcing out cries of protest, but both Kallisto and the rest of his body seemed to be ignoring them. Without even thinking, he grabbed the girl by her waist and flipped her over his head, so that she was sitting on his chest, her eyes sparkling with the same excitement he knew shone in his own. Kallisto wasted no time; she leant in and caught Inuyasha's lips in a passionate kiss. A heat, like fire, passed through Inuyasha's body and her sweet scent flooded his nostrils. He knew somehow that this was wrong – images of Kikyo and Kagome were flashing across his mind like beacons. Yet, as a soothing voice in his mind was telling him, Kikyo was dead, and Kagome was angry with him, so what did it matter?
Nearby noises of movement seemed to bring Inuyasha to his senses. He managed to pull away from Kallisto's kiss, despite the something inside of him that was screaming for more. It was all he could do to lie back in the long grass, feeling rather punch drunk, fighting back the hunger for more kisses. Moments later, a nearby bush rustled and someone burst onto the scene. Inuyasha did not look up: he was not interested. He heard a woman's voice yelling, saw Kagome's face appear above his, glowering. He felt Kallisto's pleasant weight leave his chest and have a soft moan of longing.
More rustling. Others appeared, though Inuyasha did not greet them either. The others spoke in soothing voices, though their words, like Kagome's, were lost to him, as though he were hearing them from behind glass. He could still see Kagome's face, flushed with rage, her mouth moving as it formed words of anger, yet he could hear nothing but boring and indistinguishable noise. She pulled something out of the folds of her backpack, something he vaguely recognised, clear and full of liquid. Then, without warning, she emptied the contents over his face.
The imaginary glass shattered. Suddenly, Inuyasha's delicate ears were filled with Kagome's loud and angry cries – "You'd better answer me you wretch!" – and the voices of Sango and Miroku as they tried to calm her. He was also abruptly aware of being wet – and of being on the ground. He sat up and allowed the full scene to swim into view.
Sango was holding onto the arms of an infuriated Kagome, who was towering above him and glaring at him with even more fury than before. Crouched nearby, looking frightened and confused, though with glittering eyes, was Kallisto. Miroku, standing next to Sango, seemed to have just noticed her as well, for a lecherous smirk was spreading across his face as he drifted over to help her to her feet. Shippo was at Kagome's heels, a look of urgency on his face.
"Say something!" he was mouthing, whilst gesticulating vehemently up at Kagome. Inuyasha glanced and her and saw his least favourite word was beginning to form on her lips.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he cried out, quickly. "Kagome, it wasn't what it looked like! She just came out of nowhere and accused me of trespassing and I tried to get her off and we both fell and she ended up on top of me! I swear, nothing happened!"
He glanced up sheepishly for a response, feeling a slight pang of guilt for his lies. Kagome was still glaring, though the angry flush in her cheeks had subsided.
"Who is she?" Kagome hissed through gritted teeth. "Is she a demon?"
"No, I don't think so," shrugged Inuyasha. "She doesn't smell like a demon. I know her name is Kallisto but that's about it."
Kagome rounded on Kallisto, who was getting gracefully to her feet. Inuyasha noticed just how petite she was – almost a head smaller than him and Kagome.
"I am no demon," she declared, somewhat indignantly. "I am Kallisto, a nymph, and the guardian of this forest. It is a sacred place, where no evil may dwell. What business have you here?"
Kagome seemed taken aback by the slender girl's forcefulness. Miroku, however, was quick to speak in her silence.
"We mean no harm, I can assure you," the licentious monk simpered, grasping Kallisto's hand. "We only seek a path through your forest as we travel North East."
"North East?" Kallisto repeated, softly. "I sense strange things in that direction. You would be wise to stay clear."
"We are seeking a demon named Naraku," Sango informed the nymph, pulling Miroku roughly away from her. "We've heard he has fled in that direction."
Kallisto's eyes widened and a soft smile twitched in the corners of her mouth.
"In that case," she said, graciously, "I will take it upon myself to guide you on your way. This forest is deep and enchanted – you will not navigate it alone."
Miroku made to bow gratefully but stopped after a quelling glare from Sango. They both followed Kallisto out of the clearing, Shippo and Kirara in tow, leaving Inuyasha alone with Kagome.
"So…you fell did you?" Kagome said, raising an eyebrow. Inuyasha nodded.
"I told you, I was trying to get her off me!" he lied. "She's pretty strong for a pixie!"
Kagome regarded him coldly for a moment. Then, she turned on her heel and began to walk away after the others. Inuyasha barely had time to sigh in relief when –
"SIT BOY!"