I know, a bit late but hey, at least it didn't take me half a year to update. Then again, I do have up to chapter 4 completed. I really need to finish up chapter 5 and so on.
Like I said in the last chapter, if you have any suggestions on what a season youkai could teach a newbie, please let me know. I'll dedicate that chapter to you and it'll keep things going for a while because what I do have planned out makes it feel like the story will end too short.
Ch. 2 What Am I
A long and soft moan came from the young raven haired woman as she stirred from her deep slumber, the many songs of birds filled her ears as if they were right next to her and the scent of the forest put a small smile of her face. She loved nature and appreciated it so much more all because of her time traveling abilities. Although she loved the luxury of her modern home, sometimes it made her feel restricted and unhealthy. She hadn't slept so soundly in what felt like weeks, probably because Inuyasha seemed like he was in a good mood. He actually allowed everyone a chance to rest in a beautiful clearing while they were on their way to another village to help the farmers get rid of demon insects that were infesting their crops. In fact, he was the one who suggested it. Then again, it was a new moon night but even so, knowing that he would lose his youkai senses for a period of time usually put him more on edge than usual. She didn't know what came over him but she hoped it was there to stay.
Speaking of sleep, she had such a wonderful, mystical dream. It was in her point of view but all she knew was that she was running through the forest, faster than she ever had, maybe inhumanly so. She came to a cliff, still running at full speed, and jumped off allowing herself to fall towards the seashore below before flying towards the moonless, star lit sky.
She stretched and felt as well as heard her bones pop. Man, she knew sleeping on the ground could have caused that but her sleeping bag does provide some comfort. Now that she was thinking about it, she didn't feel it. That was strange. Opening her eyes, she quickly closed them, the sun seemed brighter than usual. Just how late did she sleep in? It was definitely not in her hanyou's friend nature to allow her the privilege to sleep the morning away, no matter how good of a mood he was in. How come he wasn't yelling at her now?
Using her hand to help block the sun, she looked around the clearing. Still no Inuyasha but even stranger, she saw no Miroku, no Sango nor Kirara or her little Shippo. She saw no signs of a camp whatsoever. Feeling a breeze from the wind she realized another thing.
"Where the hell are my clothes?!" She screeched as she tried to cover herself up.
Something went wrong, horribly so. What the hell happened to her? Did someone kidnap her and violate her before leaving her alone in the middle of an open field? Tears started leaking from her eyes at that prospect. What if the one(s) who snatched her was still around? What if...
"Calm down Kagome." She told herself. Even if she was kidnapped and the culprit(s) was still there, panicking would only make things worse. She had been in many situations like that and they usually snatched her while she was awake and alone. She had been in camp, she was sure of it and her friends would have protected her with their lives. Besides, all of her kidnappers, basically took her for the jewel shards or her soul and would have killed her before leaving her body somewhere. Although not ruling out the prospect of being taken by some random person, she tried to think of any other reason for her to be in her birthday suit in the middle of nowhere.
Thinking hard, visions started appearing in her mind. She remembered helping setting up camp, cooking dinner and conversing with her friends. She also remembered going to take a bath in a hot spring that was near the camp. Everything started to blur after, but she could have sworn that she might have taken a walk in the woods since the night was nice. She stopped trying to remember once her head started to spin and hurt.
"Something did happen to me but what?"
"That is what I would like to know as well."
She caught a whiff of ancient forest with a hint of fire as a wave of strong youkai settle over her. She didn't know where the scent came from but that deep baritone voice and aura signature was very familiar. She turned to face the one and only Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru stood there as he registered her changing emotions. First, fear overcame her before mortification took its place. She squeaked as she drew her legs to her body and wrapped her arms around herself. As if that wasn't enough, anger weaved its way until it was the only emotion he felt from her.
"Are you the one who kidnapped me and stripped me?! What the hell!" She growled and even to her ears, it was a very convincing demon growl.
Sesshomaru just continued to stand there and stare down at her from his nose. His perfect brow rose as if to ask if she was done ranting. Well, no, she wasn't done.
"What is with you demons? And you to end up with you out of all of them!? Well, did you take me for Tessaiga? This is really low, even for you."
At that Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, his words came out growled. "I no longer wish to obtain my father's fang."
"Then what is it? Are you a closet pervert? Snatching women while they're alone in the woods to do with as you please."
Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles and his aura rose. Inuyasha's wench was always too brave for her own good. "I am honorable."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Some honorable demon you are, still looking at me while I'm naked."
The moment she finished her sentence, something hit her face. She thought for a moment that Sesshomaru had lost his patience knowing that she did get mouthy with the taiyoukai. Could anyone blame her though? She was in the middle of nowhere, away from the safety of her friends, in her birthday suit. She only hoped that he melted her body, she didn't want anyone to stumble upon her unclothed.
Relaxing when she found that she was still among the living, she opened her eyes only to see white. She removed the soft material and saw the familiar red honey comb pattern. She looked up at the demon in front of her to see that he turned his back. She got the message and put on the too large for her body, outer kimono.
"Um, Thanks I guess." She muttered as she made sure her body was fully covered from the world.
He said nothing for a moment as he turned to face her once more. Just watched her squirm under his stare. Finally with an "Hn..." He started walking from where he appeared.
"Wait, don't leave me. I don't know how to get back to my friends."
The inu lord paused and looked over his shoulder. "I thought I gave the impression that I was taking you back to the half-breed."
Kagome blushed but sputtered out. "Geez, why didn't you say so? I can't read your mind, you know."
His reply was to keep walking.
They walked for what could have been an hour before he said breaking the silence, "I am correct to assume you have no idea as to how you ended up here in your... state?"
"Well if I did, I wouldn't have accused you." She said looking around the forest. It seemed so much greener today. And the scent of the fresh outdoors, oh how she wished she could bottle this scent and sell it to the air freshener company.
"Hn." Sesshomaru said.
"All I can remember is that I helped set up camp, ate, and then took a bath, the rest was a blur last night. I guess that could explain my missing clothes." She muttered. She was lost to the many sounds of the forest, the birds were very loud in this time of day but it was the snapping of a twig that really caught her attention. She saw a large buck drinking water at a stream and suddenly she was feeling quite famished.
"Indeed." He was eyeing her as she eyed the deer.
"And I woke up in that clearing you found me in." Her voice trailed off at that point.
She watched the animal's every move and the moment its head turned away, it was over in a blink of an eye. She didn't know how it happened. One second she was watching the deer feeling very hungry and the next, she was standing over its mutilated body, something wet dripping down her face. She lifted a shaking hand to her mouth and wiped, her fingertips were bloody. It was then she noticed that they were tipped with sharp pointy claws. Turning her hands around to get a better look, she noticed thin, twin pale blue stripes on her wrist.
Feeling panicked, she turned to Sesshomaru, her voice nervous at what could be his answer to the question she was about to ask him.
"Um Sesshomaru, what am I?"
"A bitch."
Kagome felt her anger rise once again. Here she was worried that she was somehow transformed into a demon or something and he wants to be an ass. The nerve!
Not in the mood to deal with an irate woman, the big inu lifted a hand to silence her just as she opened her mouth.
"Not in a derogatory way. You are literally a bitch."
Kagome's mouth still hung open with the words she had for him ready to spill out but she thought on it. Although she still thought he still called her that to be mean, she understood what he meant.
Still she had to be sure. "A-are you saying that I somehow became a dog? As in a dog demon... like you?
Sesshomaru growled. "Apparently you are also dense. I will not repeat myself again."
She paused before clapping her hands once and put on a cheesy grin. "Well, let's get back heading to my friends." She walked five steps before it all sank in and she fainted.
Sesshomaru breathed a soft sigh, running thoughts in his mind on why would it be best to leave the female where she lay. Kneeling down, he lifted her limp body. His curiosity won out in the end. She was a human miko that was somehow transformed into an inu demoness. He saw her in her true form during the night and instantly went after her. There were not many inus left in this world, females were even less and the ones he did know were either part of his court or servants of his lands. Seeing one he didn't know had him on edge. As he looked down at the woman, he would learn of how she managed the impossible and took to the skies knowing that he would make it to her pack faster that way. One way or another he will get the answers he seek.