The Bond of Silver and Gold
Chapter 3: A Glimmer of Tranquility
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the original characters, plot, or storyline. I only own my fan-made character and her story.
Miraculously, Chelsea was conscious the following day. She had taken a great deal of physical stress and fatigue, and the fact that she could even pull herself to her feet was surprising. This girl continued to amaze the group. One thing was for sure: beneath that mystery was a spiritual presence that seemed to leak from her, giving her that lustrous glow. She was lovely even battered and bruised.
"How're you feeling?" asked Kagome sincerely.
"I'm just fine Kagome. Don't worry about me," half-smiled Chelsea, taking a sip of water Kagome poured in a cup for her. Taking to her feet, she paused, "I'm going to go rest. I don't know how long Inuyasha's patience will last, so I figure I should take advantage of the opportunity while I have the chance."
Kagome nodded, returning her smile, "I see you've caught on to his restlessness, but to be honest, he seems sort of worried about your condition… in his own way. You take as much time as you need."
Chelsea walked off from their camp to find some place quieter where she could be alone with her thoughts. Taking a seat under a tree near a river she watched as the shadows of the leaves danced all around her, "Inuyasha, why is it that when I see him, my stomach feels queasy?" This feeling had been a reoccurring experience for her, "Those eyes… they look right down into me." She recalled the time when they first met. Their eyes locked onto one another's and for that single second, all the inner pain she harbored went away. He seemed to give her relief… but why?
Taking a deep breath her eyes wandered to the trees on the other side of the stream, that's when something perked her interest. There seemed to be a glimmer, coming from deep within the maze of green, "Perhaps a jewel shard?" Could she see them too perhaps? Staggering back to her feet, she decided to go it alone. Maybe then at least the only one she'd be putting in danger would be herself.
Little did she know, liquid golden eyes peered down at her from the tree adjacent to the one she took refuge under just moments ago. Chelsea wasn't the only one who wanted to be alone. Inuyasha was also the type who liked to sort through his latest experiences, but when Chelsea walked up, he couldn't pull himself away from the tree. Whether it be because he didn't want to disturb her, or for some other reason was unsure. All he knew was that he enjoyed just being there with her. Something about her was so calming inside the storm. So when he saw her heading to the other side of the river and into the trees, he started to feel a wave of panic wash over him. Where could she be going all alone and in her condition? Quietly, he decided to pursue her in the tree tops.
Chelsea made it to a clearing and spotted the glimmering inside a cave. She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she approached the cave and looked inside. Was it really a good idea to go into this dark abyss all alone? She couldn't turn back now. Taking a few steps inside, she advanced deeper and deeper into the dark cave. Once she was far enough, the entrance started to close up. Seeing this made Inuyasha leap into action and not a moment later, or he would have been crushed by the cave entrance.
The darkness seemed to swallow Chelsea whole. Fear deep inside her started crawling and gnawing at her brain. This was her first real moment of vulnerability and Inuyasha was about to see it firsthand. As soon as he bumped into her by mistake, she reared her fist back glowing a fiery color for a torch as well as a weapon to whoever snuck up on her. When she looked into his eyes, she sudden felt a rush of relief, "I-Inuyasha?" she asked.
"What do you think you're doing going off on your own? Especially when you're hurt!" he started to lecture her when out of the blue, he felt her arms lock around his body in an embrace. He didn't know what to be more surprised by: the hug, or her fierce trembling, "What's wrong?" he asked gently.
"Don't laugh," She mumbled into his chest, as her face was currently hiding there, "I'm deathly afraid of the dark."
"Seriously?" he answered with a bit of humor in his voice, "someone like you afraid of the dark?"
"I have been ever since I was little…" she pulled away and lit her hand on fire again so they could see one another. Her face was a bright pigment of red, "I'm sorry, I was just so happy to see you…"
"She was happy to see… me?" he thought, "Doofus, didn't you think maybe a cave would be dark? And why'd come in here anyway?"
"I thought I saw something sparkling… I thought it might be a jewel shard… and I didn't want to pass up a chance to get another for you all…" she murmured.
He watched her speak, and couldn't believe that was on her mind, even when she looked so beat up, "Look, you've collected enough jewel shards for now. Let me take care of it for a while so you can rest."
Kagome nodded, returning her smile, "I see you've caught on to his restlessness, but to be honest, he seems sort of worried about your condition… in his own way. You take as much time as you need." Was he really that worried? Over someone he barely even knew? Didn't seem likely from Inuyasha… and yet.
"The exit closed off… so I think our best bet is to go through the cave to find another way out," taking the lead, Inuyasha started to walk. Chelsea's light was so bright he could see fairly well ahead of him, but when he felt her hand take his, he felt his cheeks turn scarlette with embarrassment, "Uh..?"
"Sorry, guess I should have asked first, but can I take your hand?" she said, almost afraid of his answer.
"Wow, she's really scared. I've never seen her like this before… she can face down a demon like it's no big deal, but stick her in a dark room and she turns as vulnerable as a child…" Giving her hand a comforting squeeze, he let a small smile appear on his face, "Sure."
Chelsea mirrored his smile, and for that instant, he couldn't help but think to himself that there was never a time when she didn't look more beautiful. Her smile, it made her that much more luminous. Why didn't she do that more often?
As they walked, both were trying to think of something to say to break the awkward silence, but neither could find the words. Let's face it; neither of them was made for small talk, so Chelsea just said the first thing that came to mind, "You must think I'm pretty silly, being terrified of something as trivial as the dark."
"Yeah, that's a pretty irrational fear," admitted Inuyasha, as blunt as ever.
"I'm sorry," she said lowering her head, "I guess it's not the darkness itself, but the uncertainty. I don't like not knowing what's ahead of me… plus someone could sneak up on you in the dark."
"If you always knew what was coming, it'd be boring. And don't worry, if you ever get scared… I'll be right there," Inuyasha's words were so genuine. It made Chelsea melt a little.
Speaking of surprises, the two were certainly in for one when the floor gave out from under their feet. Together they fell deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Back at camp, the sun started to set, which started to stir something inside of Kagome. No one had seen Chelsea or Inuyasha in quite a few hours. The party decided they needed to go looking for the duo, but when they were near the entrance to the cave, it was completely overlooked. They didn't see anything other than a rock wall.
When Chelsea's eyes opened, she ignited her hand once more to get a look around. Below her laid an unconscious Inuyasha, who must have held tightly onto her and took the brunt of the fall in order to keep her intact, "Inuyasha?" she asked. She stared down at his emotionless face and started to worry. Shooting a ball of energy at the ceiling of the cave, it fluttered above them like a beaming butterfly. It would only last for a short time, but she needed both of her hands at the moment.
Taking Inuyasha's face in her hands worry was growing more and more inside the pit of her stomach, "Inuyasha," she whined, "please, wake up."
He started to stir into an awakened state once more and when his vision focused, he was staring into the eyes that he started to really enjoy looking into. That smile spread across her face again, as a small tear started to peak out under her eye, she hugged him once more and whispered, "thank goodness…"
Without thinking, he put his arm around her waist, as if to return the gesture, "We fell deeper I think…"
Suddenly getting embarrassed, realizing the fact that she was on top of him, she removed herself immediately and helped him to his feet, "It would appear so," she mumbled, returning her fire back to the palm of her hand.
That's when Inuyasha smelled it, "The smell of flowers… I think we're near an exit."
"Really?" she asked, as they pressed forward down the trial. Gradually, it became unnecessary for Chelsea to keep her hand lit. They had reached a clearing, and a beautiful, calming one at that. A meadow full of flowers with a stream running through it, "Wow…" said the breathless girl, completely amazed by the sight.
"So this is what was on the other side of that cave huh?" said Inuyasha flatly, almost unimpressed.
Chelsea laid down in a large patch of flowers and stared up at the star infected sky. Taking a seat beside her, Inuyasha looked down at her, "Don't you think we should find the others?"
"They're almost here… I don't want them to miss this," smiled Chelsea.
"How do you know-?" he started to ask, when he heard the familiar voice of Kagome call out to him. When he looked back down at Chelsea, she was fast asleep, "Guess the little hike wore her out." Stretching, he popped his left shoulder and turned toward his group of friends. They all had the same expression Chelsea did when she saw the place. Must be a human thing, "Come on. We'll rest here for the night."
"Okay," replied Kagome, relieved that Chelsea and Inuyasha were alright. She wondered where they had gone, and so Inuyasha started to explain. For once, nothing majorly wrong went wrong… he could rest easy. It was all because of the golden haired girl that his heart was starting to grow attached to. He seemed to be very thankful for her lately. She always brought the group together somehow. Maybe the chaos wouldn't be kept at bay for long, but for now, in this sanctuary, these heroes could take a well-deserved rest.
Writer's notes: Chapter 3 completed! I said I'd try to write on Sunday, and so I did. I know there wasn't a lot of action, but I wanted to have Chelsea and Inuyasha spend some time together. They hadn't spoken much up until this point, but they already seem quite attached. It was kind of a metaphorical chapter I guess… Anyway, thanks for reading and see you at chapter 4! =]