Chapter 2
A/N: I had some decisions to make about how long I really wanted this story to be which would decide how far this chapter went. I'm not writing a novel here so I just wrote what I felt should naturally take place.
—
Kagome was at the first line of trees entering the forest. She had left with the clothes on her back and her small bag of necessities for when she collected wood. Dried meat, water, and a coat.
She could not believe she had run away from her home and family.
Her mother had let her.
Something about him had pushed her that last step she needed to run.
She still remembered his long white hair, golden eyes, and demon dog ears.
She was drawn to him in some odd way.
She had never paid much attention to men in her village.
This didn't feel like that anyways.
He had not even truly spoken but those few syllables he uttered had entranced her.
When he ran from her home she felt like it was an invitation.
She knew she should feel safe and relieved that he was gone but she couldn't fake those feelings.
She had to follow him and know why she had these feelings in the first place.
She was now within the forest. She could still glimpse her village between trees but did not want to look back.
Her dreams and instincts had brought her out here.
She could still see his tracks and started walking faster.
It was still a couple hours before dawn and she needed something or someone to help her stay safe.
A small flash of red caught her eye from somewhere above and in front of her. She didn't feel alone.
She slowed her pace and still felt that presence with her.
She stopped at a large tree as she dared a glance up at that presence.
She could see his golden eyes from here. He was staring at her. It wasn't entirely pleasant but he wasn't the beast he had been before.
She kept his eye contact. He started coming down toward her and she held her ground.
He was only a few feet above her now.
"Why are you following me?!" He suddenly growled.
"YOU attacked me and have the nerve to ask why I followed you!"
She took a deep breath. Why was she antagonizing him? Kagome knew she should be more careful.
He was still just staring at her.
"That's exactly why you shouldn't be following me!"
Kagome tried to keep calm. "You changed back there. What happened?"
"I don't know. I can't remember anything of how I got there or why."
Kagome let out a sigh. Maybe he wasn't one that could give her answers.
He jumped down beside her and came very close but avoided touching her.
"Are you a priestess?"
"A what?" Kagome had heard the word before but her village didn't believe in those things. She wasn't even sure what a priestess did.
"What powers do you possess?" He eyed her suspiciously.
"I don't have any powers. I just followed you to get out of my village and didn't want to go into the forest alone."
Kagome tried to convince herself that this was planned. He was someone who could protect her from other demons in the forest.
"Hmph. In case you didn't realize it I'm a demon." He crosses his arms and looked away from her. She needed to get away from him. He didn't know how long he would be himself.
"Yes but you didn't hurt me when you could have. What's your name?" She whispered.
He let out a long sigh as he contemplated the harm of knowing his name. She would run off soon enough.
"Inuyasha."
"I'm Kagome. Where are we headed?"
He looked back at her then. What is wrong with this girl?
"I'm headed back to my home just like you should be doing."
"I can't. There's something I need to do out here that I can't do at home."
He began walking away from her and she grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
She gasped. Her hand glowed gold against him again. He felt it this time.
It wasn't burning it was warm and comforting. He turned to look at her but didn't move her hand from him.
She pulled her hand away and took a step back. "I'm sorry." She mumbled.
Inuyasha shook his head. "It seems you do have something to do out here."
Inuyasha knew then that he was supposed to find her. He only remembered one thing before tonight and that was the face of Kikyo before this curse began. She laughed and he knew the price would be too great. His loss of memories and waking to find himself a full demon attacking this girl was proof of that.
He couldn't stop Kikyo but this girl's magic could. He just needed to find his brother now.
"You can follow me back to my home now. We need to find my brother."
Kagome couldn't understand what was going on. She did that. She had glowed when she touched him and it affected him somehow.
"Your brother was in my village. He was attacking it like you but I don't know where he went."
If he's still in his demonic state and doesn't know what's happening who knows if he will return home.
Inuyasha would have to follow his scent in the forest. He had returned to the forest but who knows where he was headed. He didn't know where they went all this time.
Inuyasha started walking deeper into the forest following that scent.
Kagome hesitated behind him.
I have to follow him. But his brother may not be so kind. I can't turn back now. I do have a power.
"Why…the glowing. Do you know what that is?" She needed something.
"It's pure power. You can purify demonic energy or evil. That's what happens when you touch me."
"Does it hurt?"
"Not me. But it will hurt others possibly. We will find out when you meet my brother."
Inuyasha needed her to be ready. He had to free his brother. Or did he?
He sought out Kikyo. He was the one who craved more power and traded them for it. Did his brother gain all the power while Inuyasha was cursed? He had to find him to know for sure.
"Inuyasha. Can you protect me out here?"
He turned back around to look her in the face. She looked so innocent. She wanted to trust him.
I can't remember anyone looking at me this way. Inuyashatook a good look at her.
She was a little thin but still had the curves of a woman. They were hidden under her thick tan pants and long sleeved white shirt. Her hair was dark but not quite black. She had such sweet and innocent brown eyes.
Kagome was startled that he looked at her so intently. He wore a thick red robe but was barefoot. She found herself staring at those ears. They made her want to smile but she hid it. Now was not the time.
"I'll keep you safe as much as I can. I'll have to rest soon. I don't think I have in a long time."
He didn't want to admit that he needed sleep but who knows how much rest he got as a crazed demon.
"Okay. I guess we could setup a camp somewhere."
Kagome started looking ahead for a good spot. Inuyasha followed close to her.
They walked for another hour before they found a spot covered by trees but with a small clearing under a large one.
Kagome got out her coat to lay on, wishing she had thought ahead and brought her bedroll.
Inuyasha sat against the large tree and leaned back. He was about to close his eyes until he spotted her curled up on her coat a few feet away. He got up and sat beside her.
To guard her or warm her he wasn't sure. He couldn't explain his desire to be closer to her.
His sat facing away from her with his arms crossed and then felt her back against him.
She had moved against him silently. He felt that warmth pulsing through him again. It comforted him in a way he had not felt before. He closed his eyes and dozed off to the sound of her even breathing.
—
He heard it before he opened his eyes. A faint rustling and heavy steps.
He stood up "Kagome, something is coming."
She jerked awake then and stood slightly behind him.
A slim demon with several tentacle like arms approached them and then jumped up into the trees above them.
One of its tentacles struck out aiming for Kagome. Inuyasha grabbed her and jumped out the way.
He placed her down and jumped up into the trees after the demon. She couldn't see in the dark but could hear tearing sounds and a scream.
Inuyasha jumped back down in front of her. "The demon is dead."
Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Inuyasha! You saved me!"
She glowed a little where she held him but willed it back to herself. She could sense it now inside of her and could push it out or pull it back inside. She would practice. She could control this part of herself.
Inuyasha would not put his arms around her. The last time they had been so close he had woken on top of her about to hurt her. How could she come so close to him now?
He pulled away from her and sat on the ground to return to sleep. She blushed a little at her forwardness.
She went to lay back on her coat but he stopped her while she was kneeling. He held her arm.
"Why aren't you afraid of me?" He whispered.
"I see you. You haven't tried to hurt me since before…" she trailed off.
Inuyasha nodded slightly. She smiled at him then and leaned down to place a kiss on his cheek.
He didn't move out of shock or fear of being so close to her, he wasn't sure which.
She pulled away and sat kneeling beside him, looking into his eyes.
She started to blush again. She could feel her cheeks warm. She should lay down and never talk about this. Instead, Inuyasha put a hand to her neck and pulled her close as he kissed her on the lips.
In the village she had never imagined anyone this way. She couldn't picture herself kissing any of them. He was so different. He was unpredictable but safe at the same time.
His kiss was gentle. He moved his mouth against hers and she felt such heat throughout her body.
He pulled away and looked into her face for any sign of distress or anger. She only blushed more deeply.
"Goodnight, Kagome. I'll protect you while you sleep."
She nodded and couldn't stop smiling as she laid back down.
Inuyasha laid beside her then. He didn't touch her but she could feel his body heat and his warm breath on her neck. She wanted more but didn't dare voice her desires.
I have left my home, went into the forest, and kissed a man in the same day.
She couldn't bring herself to regret any of those things though.
She fell asleep thinking of him as she did.
—
He awoke when he felt the sun come up. He had moved very close to her last night and was now laying completely against her.
He wanted her last night but he wouldn't push his luck.
He sat back up looking around them. There hadn't been any more trouble. She was still asleep as he looked back.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently roused her.
"Kagome? It's time we should get moving."
Kagome woke up and his eyes were the first thing she saw.
Last night was real.
She started getting up to get her bag and pick up her coat.
"Inuyasha. Maybe I shouldn't ask but what happened before you came to my village?"
"You need to know. I was cursed. My brother and I. We were cursed by a priestess after we made a bargain with her. These are our woods but they aren't the same as I remember. They weren't dark and ominous before. I am supposed to protect them but I made a mistake."
Kagome was standing and walked over to that large tree. She placed a hand on it looking up. Her hand began to glow again. What was once a dark near dead tree changed into a tree of spring with bright green leaves and full branches.
Kagome staggered away from the tree. Had she done that again?
"Your power of purification. You revived the tree." Inuyasha shook his head. She could do this. He would have to protect her until then.
"I have never done anything like this before. Why do I have this power?"
"Who knows. But you have to stay out here until everything is fixed. Let's get going so we can find my brother."
Kagome followed Inuyasha further into the woods.
They walked for several hours before Inuyasha could sense something.
Sesshomaru burst from ahead of them. Snarling and as animalistic as ever. He charged for Kagome. Inuyasha made to stop him but he came close enough to snap at Kagome's face.
That same impulse to run, scream, fight clawed its way up to the surface. She grabbed Sesshomaru by the arm then. Her hand glowed with that purifying light.
She did not remove it. His snarling grew quieter but his eyes did not appear clear. Inuyasha held him as he continued to writhe under his grip. He finally became still and she held his gaze.
He tried to stand and he looked at Inuyasha.
"That evil witch!" Sesshomaru screamed.
He looked to Kagome and narrowed his eyes.
"Why is she here Inuyasha?"
"She has the power of purification, Sesshomaru. Maybe she can help us!"
"How long have we been like this?"
Inuyasha wasn't sure how to find that out.
Sesshomaru looked again to Kagome. "Who rules this forest?"
"A Queen. I do not know her name. We are only told she rules and don't question anything beyond that."
"How long has she ruled?" Sesshomaru growled.
"My mother is 41 years old. The Queen has ruled as long as that at least. My grandfather has told tales of this forest being good and powerful but no one believes him."
"His stories are true. Now to know that witch has stolen our lands for so many years. There is a way. Our father told stories of a cursed land being cleansed when a great sacrifice is made. We only need to find that sacrifice." Sesshomaru stood straight and serious. No emotion crossed his face.
Kagome shivered. What kind of sacrifice could save this whole forest? She had no idea how far this queen ruled.
"Kikyo must rule from our home. It is the center of the forest and since she has taken everything else from us, I would assume she has taken that as well." Sesshomaru looked away as if he could see that house and that priestess he was after.
"Then let's head that way and deal with her now."Inuyasha said.
They all walked soundlessly together.
That girl will be our sacrifice. Her power of purification will be sacrificed and return the forest to our control. Sesshomarulooked back at her again. He would do anything to get their power back.
I have to protect her. She is the key to saving our forest and maybe my soul. I'll do whatever it takes to make up for all the mistakes we have made. Inuyasha felt his fate tied to hers now.
Inuyasha reached out and took her hand as they walked. He couldn't let her out of his sight now.
Kagome looked down at her hand glowing so faintly.
She would follow him. That voice that told her to run, scream, or fight was more precise now.
Run into this forest, fight this curse, and scream her instincts.
This was why she had these dreams at home and why she went into the forest.
Her mother had let her go and not gone after her. That was fine because she had found her place here. She didn't belong in that village.