Kagome: Storyteller, Miko, Wife or Mate?
One-Shot #4--Part I
Disclaimer: I do not own nothing...let alone Inuyasha.
Warning:
In regards to the poll—the winning selection with 78 was the one with the lemon—so be forewarned. There will be a lemon in this One-Shot! Be gentle...it'll be the first lemon I've ever written...
Cold, calculating aureate eyes opened as the sudden breeze brushed silver locks. Delicately sniffing the air, his honey eyes narrowed; lips curving up. It was time. His beast would wait no more.
OoO
"Kagome, have you noticed Inuyasha acting, well, a bit strange?" a worried demon slayer asked, covering her lips so only the girl next to her would hear.
Said girl looked up; startled. So it wasn't just her thinking this. She'd thought she'd been imagining things. But if Sango was seeing them too—then they couldn't just be ghost of her over creative mind.
Nibbling on her lower lip, Kagome stared ahead, at Inuyasha. He had been acting weird—too weird. He'd actually gone to her world—without taking her along. For some reason, he'd wanted to go alone.
Kagome told herself he probably needed some time alone—the events from the past week had everyone stressed. Including her.
She too had spent countless nights thinking.
Inuyasha didn't love her—not the way she wanted him too. His actions sometimes did all the talking for him. Every time he'd run away to find Kikyo—every time he never responded to her advancements—it proved to her a bit more he truly didn't love her.
That was the reason why she'd finally come to a decision. She would try and forget about that love she held for him. Even thinking the words brought a fresh wave of pain flooding through her. Her heart felt heavy at the thought. But it would be the only way. Unshed tears stung her eyes—making her vision blurry.
Suddenly the suspicion she'd beaten down not so long ago was back. Doubled.
Kagome wanted to demand he tell her what was wrong. She wanted him to tell her what was bothering him. But most of all—she wanted him to trust her with his burden. Kagome wanted to ease it away.
One thing was for her to feel something wrong—another that everyone else felt it too.
Was it something she did? Or simply the season?
After all, this spring was different from the rest.
Kagome didn't know what to make out of his recent behavior—but she was going to find out. She needed to know. If she couldn't help him then maybe she could advice him so he could help himself.
With every step she took towards him, her decision dwindled. Why couldn't she breathe when ever she was around him. Could it be the anticipation at letting him know of her decision. He really shouldn't get upset—he didn't seem to want to make a decision.
So she was going to do it for him. Painful as it may be.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked hesitantly. She didn't want to intrude either. But he was her friend, and she cared deeply for him.
Inuyasha looked down at her from his position atop a tree. He sighed. He'd known this would come. He'd been avoiding them too long—specially her. How could he tell her though. Every occurrence in the past with Kouga, Naraku and Sesshomaru had pushed him closer to this decision. They helped him see what he really had been wanting all along.
Now he saw, that all the time he'd ran off with Kikyo had been solely to forget this girl. All the time he'd pushed her away, was to forget her. But he couldn't do that anymore—not anymore than he could turn full demon. He knew he'd received a rude awakening call. And it both angered him and hurt his pride to know that it'd taken Kagome almost taken by his enemies and saved by his worst enemy to finally realize what he now knew. He was in love with her. Simply and irrevocably in love.
When had it happened. He hadn't felt it before. It had slowly sneaked up on him and tackled him to the ground, holding him firm in a tight grip. And now, it would never let him go.
He'd resigned to his feeling. No matter how often he tried to deny it or how much he tried to push her away—he'd only end hurting himself and her.
Like Kagome—he too traveled back in time. An age where he loved one—and that one loved him; but not enough. Not enough to trust him. It was time he stopped fooling himself and stay in his present—instead of continuing to travel fifty years in the past. To Kikyo's past. Kagome was his present. And he would have it no other way.
Inuyasha jumped off the tree and landed softly on the ball of his feet. Straightening, he looked up to the sky. It would be now or never.
"Can we talk, Kagome?" he asked her, peering down at her.
He could see the fleeting emotions in her eyes. The indecision, the confusion, and the worry. Or was it fear? He didn't want her to be afraid. After all—he should be the one fearing right now.
Finally he saw her make up her mind. She nodded—still gazing into his honeyed eyes.
Inuyasha led her to a small clearing near a stream. The sight tightened his chest—deja vu. He'd almost lost her once in a near by stream like this. They'd been ambushed—and now all that was left was the regret eating away at him.
He'd let that happen some how. He knew it. Was positive of it. How he wished he could have been the one to destroy them all. How dare they try and take what was his. He wished it had been him the one to make Naraku scream—even if it had been one of his puppets. He wished it'd been him the one to tear through flesh with sharp claws—pealing the skin from muscle—ripping the muscle from bone—and breaking the bones apart. Instead—it'd been another.
His enemy. His brother.
The rage he'd felt then had been nothing compared to the rage he felt when Sesshomaru had threatened him. As if he couldn't protect Kagome on his own. And even worse—Sesshomaru had spoken as if Kagome had been his...
"Inuyasha? Are you okay?" that sweet voice broke through the haze in his mind and cleared the fog away.
Taking in a deep breath—and trying to ignore the allure of her scent—he faced her. And immediately her wide clear eyes bore into his, and held him prisoner.
"Kagome," even to his ears her name sounded more of a plea. He tried again, "Kagome, I know you know I've been traveling back to your time, but I have reasons."
Kagome stared at him a moment. Part of her wanted to ask what those reasons were, but another part—strangely—didn't care. What she did care though was that he was confiding in her.
She would let him talk without interruptions—even if all she wanted was to question him. She nodded for him to continue.
Kagome could see that what ever it was he wanted to tell her—was making him nervous. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine—suddenly aware of their surroundings.
"We've been through all this, together, for a long time now. Three years," he inhaled, "The reason why I traveled to your time without you—was because I needed to speak with your brother," he let the words hang in between them a while.
The air around them picked up, while the docile birds flew from the trees in a frenzy. As if sensing a predator. Predator. Could they feel Inuyasha's agitation? Was he now the predator? Or were they sensing something—or someone else in the area?
Kagome scooted closer to Inuyasha's side, warmth radiating from his body. Unconsciously bringing up her knees up under her chin—wrapping her arms around them.
She closed her eyes—concentrating on Inuyasha. Silently willing him to ease. That he'd needed to speak with Souta caught her attention immediately.
Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to look at Kagome—not now. He had to ask her, but the words seemed stuck in his throat. He felt like he'd swallowed too large a load and couldn't force it down. Gathering up his courage, he pushed the words out.
"I wanted to know how a female from your time was asked to marry another," when he finished his sentence he faced her. His hands were hidden inside his kimono sleeves—concealing his tocken.
Slowly, his ears slamming flat atop his silver locks, he pulled out a small black box. The tiny square resting in his open palm.
Kagome froze in her spot. She was still in his first sentence—the whole thing hadn't registered yet. Then she noticed the small box on Inuyasha's palm. Her brain stuttered—trying to process everything he said and did. He was asking her to marry him!
To be his wife.
How many nights had she dreamed of being his wife—of marrying him and being with him for the rest of her life? How many nights had she dreamt of having him lay in her arms, whispering sweet nothings in her ear? How many nights had she imagined themselves as a happy family—with children of their own?
Then why did it make her so sad now? Why did tears overflow her eyes—not tears of joy, but tears of sadness?
She knew why. Because she no longer wanted to be his wife. She no longer dreamt of having him in her arms, or having his child suckle on her breast.
She dreamt of another—golden eyes man.
And it was not Inuyasha. Not any more.
Inuyasha turned his body so he could face her, and opened the small box. In the center of the white satin interior of the box, laid a beautiful diamond ring. A diamond eternity band nestled between two blue sapphire eternity bands for a triple effect. The vines of small clear diamonds intertwined in the antique platinum wedding ring made it stand out all the more.
Kagome stared at the brilliant ring—unable to move. Her throat suddenly dry and parched. She looked up at Inuyasha with wide eyes, searching his. Was this some type of joke? Now that she'd finally decided to extinguish her love for him?
It had to be.
An overwhelming anxiety locked Inuyasha's jaw in place and made his insides churn painfully. Was she going to accept? Or reject him? Perhaps she hadn't understood his meaning, after all, he didn't ask her clearly to marry him.
"K-Kagome, will you be my wife?" he cursed the tremor that broke his words.
He cursed his weakness—he didn't want weakness right now. He wanted strength to be able to accept her rejection in case that was her decision. He had to be strong enough to accept her decision. Come what may.
He wasn't prepared for her silence though—or the agony dwelling in her eyes. He was too late. In that sinking moment, he knew he'd been too late.
She was no longer his—never would be again.
Taking a shaky breath, Kagome confirmed his assumption when she shut her eyes—tears bursting from them.
"I'm so sorry Inuyasha," she croaked through a sob, "But I can't accept your proposal. I'm sorry."
She opened her eyes, sorrow deep within their depth.
Standing up, Kagome walked past him,and into the forest. Inuyasha could only stare at her, his eyes dulled by the pain of knowing it'd been his fault. He'd waited too long—hurt her too much—and eventually pushed her away.
He closed his hand around the small box, closing it.
OoO
Kagome walked through the forest—numbly. She didn't care where she went as long as it would dull the pain she felt inside.
Her heart felt as if it were being shredded to pieces—then blow to the air. Pieces she would never be able to place back together. How she envied the small birds—singing their love away. She envied the fresh spring breeze—able to blow away anything, flaws and pains away. Except for hers. Spring could never heal her. Not like it did nature.
Kagome didn't feel the sudden change in the air around her, so deep in her painful wallow she was. She was tackled to the ground by a squirming young girl, her checkered kimono ruffling around her.
"Miss Kagome! How nice to see you again!" the young child exclaimed, bestowing Kagome with one of her wide smiles.
Kagome quickly rained in her battered emotions. She wouldn't contaminate this lively child with her sullied pain. She smiled fondly at the child, remembering her clearly. She was usually with Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru.
If Rin was here, then where was he? Could he of left them alone again? At that moment, she made it her goal to keep the child company. She would entertain her.
"Rin, what are you doing alone here in the forest?"
Rin looked up at her with doe eyes, "Rin ran away from mean Jaken! I picked pretty flowers too!" the young girl squealed, showing off her flowers.
Kagome smiled at her young innocence. How she wished she was that innocent again. Too young to know pain or too naïve to know there was greater evil. She wanted to protect this child from the monsters of the world—keep her innocent.
"Miss Kagome, can you tell Rin a story? Like the one from the other day!" Rin chirped, joy overflowing her eyes.
"Of course Rin," Kagome nodded. They walked to a patch of green grass, flowers of radiant red and luminescent yellow growing to the side.
Kagome couldn't help telling the story that came to mind. She felt such sadness and grief—she couldn't bare to tell a story of love and happiness. So, she told a story rivaling her shattered mood.
"A long time ago, in ancient Greece, there was a beautiful young goddess called
Persephone. Persephone loved pretty things, like flowers and butterflies and sunshine. She
was sweet and kind, and her mother, Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, loved her very
much," Kagome said this pocking the laughing child in the belly.
Sesshomaru halted dead in his tracks at the haunting sound of the miko's voice. She was near—with Rin. His lips turned up at the sides, causing Jaken to stiffen.
The little toad had rushed to him when Rin had wandered off—and he could not find her.
He'd been ready to beat the toad demon—now, Sesshomaru was pleased. He signaled for Jaken to continue without him.
"As signs of womanly beauty began to shine along side her childlike innocence, the adolescent goddess Persephone unknowingly attracted the attention of the god Hades, ruler of the underworld. One can hardly blame Hades because the underworld, was the realm of the sleeping and the dead. It probably needed some "brightening up", and the young goddess Persephone's radiance would assuredly liven up the place," Kagome said, stroking the Rin's hair lightly, as she laid next to her, looking up at the sky.
Her voice, too, carried out towards the Lord of the West. His ears picking up every word that passed her lips.
Lips that stirred his beast and caused his muscles to clench. Lips he'd have giving him pleasure than telling stories.
"The god Hades, however, did not bother to woo the young Persephone, traditional goddess protocol notwithstanding. After asking for and receiving her father's approval for Persephone's hand in marriage, Hades simply abducted her one bright sunny day when she stopped to pluck a bright flower from a field of wildflowers near her home. The meadow was suddenly rent open, and Hades simply reached out and snatched Persephone away, taking her to his underworld kingdom," Kagome paused, not sure if she should tell Rin the story exactly as it went. Her heart heavy as it was, she did.
Sesshomaru caught her hesitation and paid closer attention to the story. With every breath she took, he wished that breath was puffing against his heated—aching body.
He sensed her aura, and knew she was sad. His inner beast had him wishing he could go to her—ease her sadness and pain. The sudden revelation that he wanted to ease her made him uneasy.
"Hades made her his bride by force, raping her—and claiming her as his own. The
underworld was a terrible place, full of the mournful souls of many dead people. It was dark
and damp and gloomy, and Persephone was miserable. She cried and begged to go home,
but heartless, greedy Hades would not let her,"
"Although the young goddess Persephone grew to love Hades, she remained lonely for her mother and the life she'd known on earth," Kagome numbly laid down next to a quiet Rin, staring up at the sky as well,"
Sesshomaru idly wondered if she knew exactly how radiant and full of life she really was. He suddenly understood exactly why this Hades would take this young vibrant goddess down to his cold—stoic kingdom. When one stayed cold and unchanging for too long—one lost themselves—the world would have no more meaning. So, yes, he understood this god perfectly.
One was always greedy when one finally had a taste of what one was missing. Her next words shocked him though.
"Her mother, the goddess Demeter, had heard Persephone's screams when Hades grabbed her. She began a search for Persephone. After learning how Zeus had betrayed their daughter, and consumed by grief and sorrow, Demeter demonstrated her outrage by withholding her blessing from the earth until Persephone was returned to her. Droughts ensued, and the earth lay barren. Mankind was facing a major famine. Zeus finally relented and sent the god Hermes to bring the young goddess Persephone back to her mother," Rin's loud happy chirp made Kagome pause.
Golden eyes enclosed within the forest narrowed. So the girl escaped her captor—her mate. The little miko will not be so lucky.
Sesshomaru caught himself. He had not thought about taking the girl in such a way. But the miko was unknowingly writing her own future—well, saying it. Her story gave him an idea—one he hadn't considered.
"Part of Persephone missed her mother horribly, but another part had grown rather fond of the god Hades. And Persephone was rather enjoying her role as Queen, even if it was in the underworld. While preparing to return to the earth with Hermes, Persephone accepted a pomegranate offered to her by Hades. She knew full well that anyone who had eaten while in the underworld would not be allowed to return, even a goddess. Persephone went ahead and ate seven of the seeds. Her choice prevented her from ever being fully restored to Demeter, but did open up the possibility of a compromise," she smiled at Persephone's own foolishness. Why would she purposely eat the fruit knowing she'd be stuck there with a cold, stoic man? How could she grow to love such an arrogant, unfeeling male.
Rin looked up at her, eyes filled with anticipation. Sesshomaru waited patiently—a triumphant smile gracing his lips. Kagome continued, unknowingly foretelling her own path.
"Hermes was able to negotiate an agreement on her behalf between Hades, a god who was usually rather cold-natured and self-centered, and Demeter. Persephone would be allowed to stay with Hades in the underworld for four months each year and would return to the earth and her mother the remaining months. The goddess Persephone was soon reunited joyfully with her mother. Each year as Persephone left to join her husband in the underworld, the goddess Demeter would begin to grieve, bringing on the cold, barren winters. But a few months later Persephone, the goddess associated with awakening, would return to bring spring and its verdant growth in her wake . . ." Kagome let the last word linger in the air. She closed her eyes and brought her hands behind her head. Rin stared up at the sky, hearing the story over in her head.
Sesshomaru knew the girl was tired; he'd wait until she was asleep, then, he'd strike.
A/N: Hey you guys, this One-Shot is going to be divided into two because it is simply too long. I'm sorry but I really wanted to have both parts posted at once--but I couldn't resist myself! I couldn't wait to know if you guys would like this One-Shot so far! So, I'll have the second part up tomorrow...
In regards to the poll—the winning selection was the one with the lemon—so be forewarned. There will be a lemon in this One-Shot!
Enjoy!