Hello Everyone and Anyone reading INUYASHA TAKAHASHI!
I want to thank the reviewers of my last chapter:) Thanks for the awesome input!
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Please enjoy this new chapter:)
Disclaimer: I own nutting at all, which why I do this for fun:)
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Chapter 9: Much Needed Research
"You know, Sesshomaru, you'd heal alot faster if you didn't go looking for trouble and making your injury worse" Rin chided him, tying up his bandage. She wondered about the scratch on his wound, but he just said it was from the shelf landing awkardly on him. Sesshomaru remained unusually quiet, staring at the floor.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, kneeling in front of him, a shy and gentle hand resting comfortingly on his knee.
"No" Silence engulfed the room and it became familiarly awkward.
Rin slowly rose to her feet eyes never leaving his serious and angular face.
"Oh well, then... maybe I should go and check on Kagome then" she said trying to hide the mixture of embarrassment and sorrow she felt by his answer. She hurriedly gathered her supplies, hoping to leave before the tears fell. She would never be anything to him, but a healer. He didn't even want her as a friend.
"Rin..." Sesshomaru spoke up, still looking at the floor.
"Y-yes?" she asked shakily trying to control the quiver in her voice, turning back to look at him. His honey brown eyes met her chocolate ones and there were emotions the healer could not understand, swimming and shifting in his piercing gaze.
"I like to talk with you, Rin, but not about what happened last night, at least not right now" Sesshomaru admitted, hoping Rin would understand. After the events of the night before, there was much for the young man to think about.
"I'll be here to listen when you want to talk, ok?" Rin smiled, feeling a little happier.
"Now, please get some rest this time" she said leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
Sesshomaru stared at the door, deep in thought. He touched the wound of his shoulder tentatively, remembering his old friend's face before he transformed into a monstrous creature. He had not been killed. The werecreature that ambushed them that night had turned Bankotsu, meaning that the man had been bitten. Not many survived a werecreature attack because the beasts would always get too carried away. However, there had been stories of humans being bitten and changed into a werecreature as well.
Could a scratch do the same thing as a bite?
He had never heard of it and he feared the answer.
Should he tell anyone?
No, he couldn't. He didn't want to worry anyone if it was nothing and he didn't want the people he cared about to fear him.
But if his suspicions were true he would have to.
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Kagome climbed up the ladder attached to the tall bookshelf to reach the top, determined to find the scroll she needed.
Technically she was suppose to be resting in her room. Rin had insisted that Kagome should relax, but Kagome wasn't about to just sit around and do nothing.
After having taken a hot bath provided by the servants, Kagome neatly pushed back her hair in a low ponytail and dressed in a simple yellow kimono, which had been placed out by the maids. Not wanting to waste her time on her appearance, she rushed to the library.
The library was vast and had an enormous collection of scrolls and books, but the young woman was searching for something in particular. After an hour of looking through countless shelves, her blue eyes spotted a thick yellowed scroll at the peak of the bookshelf and that was where she was now.
The scroll was out of reaching distance and Kagome scowled in frustration. The roll of parchment was taunting her. She would get it, she would show that stupid scroll!
Hesitantly she placed a slippered foot on the shelf beside it and applied some pressure. It held up with only the slightest squeak. She moved off the ladder to fully cling to the book shelf, and glanced down at the floor beneath her.
Ok, so far so good.
Slowly she shuffled over a few inches until she was able to grab the scroll. Her slender fingers closed over the ragged, dried parchment and she pulled it down.
AHA! Success!
Now she only had to get down.
That presented somewhat of a problem.
She could only cling to the bookshelf with her free hand, how would she be able to reach the ladder?
Well, she could give it a shot or she could stay here, until someone came in. Kagome personally didn't like either option, but the first one was much more appealing. Shuffling back to the ladder was much harder with only one available hand and it took every ounce of Kagome's concentration to do so. The sound of the library door creaking open escaped her notice as she inched her foot onto the ladder rung.
Growing confident and a little cocky, she lunged for the ladder, but her hand fell short. Gasping she tried to grip the shelf, but her hand missed a second time. Time slowed as Kagome fell backwards, eyes widened in panic and mouth opened to scream. Pain would soon follow when she landed on the floor.
She didn't land on the hard ground through, but in strong, red clothed arms.
"Do you have a thing for near death experiences? Or do you need new legs?" Kagome looked up to see an arrogant smirk plastered on Inuyasha's face as he held her like a groom carried his bride through the threshold of their new home. She blushed at the mental image of marrying the attractive man and looked elsewhere, so he wouldn't see her flushed skin.
"N-no, I just misjudged a step. Now, can you please put me down?" she asked still embarrassed.
Inuyasha blushed when he noticed he was still holding her and didn't really want to put her down. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He shouldn't get close to her or like her in that kind of way.
1) It was dangerous to be distracted
2) He couldn't get attached, knowing she might not feel the same way and he would have to return to China when Naraku was killed anyway.
No, caring for Kagome romantically would only complicate things.
Setting her down, Inuyasha seized up the woman's attire, finding it odd to see the fiery tempered woman dressed prettily in a brightly coloured kimono. She looked beautiful, but personally he liked the Hunter's suit better (Although he wouldn't admit it).
Kagome stood and dusted off imaginary dirt to buy time to compose herself. She wasn't going to let him see how strangely he affected her.
"Thank you for the assistance Sir Takahashi. It is greatly appreciated" she bowed, both hands clutching the scroll so they wouldn't shake.
"Keh. Don't worry about it" he scoffed, crossing his arms under the billowing sleeves of his red overcoat (Hearing still wearing the regular clothes from the show and manga, but he's also wearing a black cape), trying to cover his own weird nervousness. A long silence filled the larger room, making it seem smaller than before which caused both the occupants fidget.
"So... do you mind telling me what you're doing?" asked Inuyasha, playing it as if the awkward silence wasn't bothering him.
"Trying to get this scroll" she replied offhandly. She couldn't see anything wrong with telling him the truth, besides he would probably find out anyway if he was so determined to help her defeat Naraku. As much as she hated to admit it Inuyasha Takahashi did save her twice yesterday, as well as just now.
"You almost broke your neck to get some stupid scroll?" frowned Inuyasha.
Kagome's head snapped up and she glanced angrily at the violet eyed man.
"It's not a stupid scroll!" she snarled.
'Although I said the same thing when I tried to get it' she thought.
"This scroll contains information on werecreatures. I'm as knowledge on them as other people and I know only the basics. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do" she said, turning around to stalk off.
"I'm sorry about your brother" he said, "but he's probably beyond our help"
The proud and defiant Kagome paused, her hands clenching into fists and the scroll crinkled in her hands.
"I don't care, I'm not giving up on him! You don't understand what's it like to continously lose everything and everyone the minute you turn your back! I have to bring him back! How would you feel if someone you cared for was in pain and you could do something about it? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to save them?" she practically screamed at him.
Crystalline tears slipped down her cheeks as she ran from the room, scroll clutched to her chest. Takahashi was wrong. Bankotsu could be helped and he will.
Inuyasha's stony expression hid his conflicting emotions that arose from Kagome's heartfelt outburst. He had experienced the pain of loss when his parents died, leaving him with Totosai. As strange as it was, it hurt to see Kagome in such pain and despair. To him it didn't matter that he had only met her the day before, he felt a strong connection with Kagome Higurashi. He would help so her the sorrowful gleam in Kagome's sapphire orbs would turn to hope and happiness. However, it would be for the best to let Kagome cool down before he offered his assistance.
################### An Hour Later #######################
Sango knocked on the door to Kagome's bedroom and waited for a response. She had been told by Rin to make sure Kagome was resting or at least in her room. She had readily agreed, wanting to console her friend and escape the perverted monk, who unabashedly groped her at unsuspecting times.
Miroku frustrated her to no end. One minute he was a thoughtful scholar, giving and receiving information and then the next minute he was a conniving letcher. She kinda really liked him, but hated him at the same time (AN: I always say that. You feel like you should hate Miroku cause he's a con artist and letcher, but YOU, JUST, CAN'T because he's Miroku. I luv him despite his flaws:))
Maybe she could talk about her feelings with Kagome, just to distract the girl for a little while.
"Come in" replied a muffled voice from inside.
"Hey, Kagome. How are you holding up?" Sango asked, closing the door behind her.
"Oh hello Sango. I'm fine, I was just reading" Kagome greeted from her still made up bed, an unrolled scroll placed in front of her. Sango sat on the large futon to look at Kagome's chosen reading material.
"Werecreatures? Oh Kagome... I don't think you're going to find a cure in there. If there was a cure, everyone would know about it" Sango said softly.
"But there is a cure, Sango. Bankotsu told me Naraku had it-"
"And how do you know he was telling the truth? What if Naraku ordered him to try and lure you away to his castle?"
"He was telling the truth. I could see it in his eyes. Look, I'm not stupid and that's why I decided to do a little research on what happens to humans when they're turned" she pointed to a section on the slightly faded characters on the parchment.
"Naraku has control over werecreatures, I already knew that, but werecreatures are not completely under his control during the first month. Bankotsu was attacked and changed only a week ago, so he still has the mental capacity to disobey Naraku, which he did"
As Sango digested the new information, Kagome stood up to pace. She waved her hands about absentmindly as she usually did when she was giddy or excited.
"Naraku must keep the cure at his castle and Bankotsu would have to return there sooner or later because of Naraku's dark powers, which he can't help, but obey. The scroll mentioned an enslavement and manipulation ritual he uses on werecreature fledglings. If we go to the castle and find Bankotsu, we can find the cure and bring him back" she finished in a rush, not even noticing how much she was rambling.
"Kagome you can't be serious! Would you listen to yourself? Just because you read something that sounds right, doesn't mean it is?" Sango suddenly exclaimed, "No one has gone near that bastard's castle in nearly a century . We don't what could happen or what might be guarding it"
"I have to do something, Sango! Please say you'll help me! I don't want to go alone, but I will if I have too" Kagome threatened.
"We have a village to protect. We can't just leave them" Sango reasoned, refusing to look Kagome in the eye.
"You're right San" Kagome sighed, "Fine. I won't go after Naraku right now"
"Promise?" Sango asked, brown eyes narrowed.
"Yes, I promise"
"Alright," said Sango relieved, "I have to go check on Sesshomaru, since Rin went to buy some more bandages and medicine . Bye, Kagome"
"Bye, Sango" Kagome replied when her bodyguard left the room. The blue eyed woman's gaze travelled from the open parchment on the bed to the mountains on the horizon outside her window.
'I promised not to go after him right now, but I never said anything about tonight' Kagome thought.
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Inuyasha hid behind a huge tapestry a few feet from Kagome's bedroom door when he heard Sango open said raven haired woman's room and bid her good bye. Yes, Inuyasha had been eavesdropping on the last part of the girl's conversation and had listened to the promise exchange. He had a sneaking suspicion of what Kagome might try.
He held his breath when Sango walked past him, muttering about foolish plans and stupid risks. Luckily she didn't notice him and continued on her way.
Inuyasha waited patiently for her footsteps to fade away before stepping out from his somewhat oblivious hiding place. Kagome would have to leave her room some sooner or later and he would have to wait until she did to catch her in the act of sneaking away.
Inuyasha sat down cross legged on the floor, his somewhat battered sword held in his grasp, arms folded in his sleeves as he leaned on the wall against her door.
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Sesshomaru stared at the mirror in horror, failing to believe what his reflection showed him.
It couldn't be.
It just couldn't.
He had spent the whole day pondering how the scratch Bankotsu had given him the night before would affect him.
Well now he had his answer.
And it was not the one he wanted.
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Please R&R
My Answer to last Week's question:
Well for the first question about what I would do if I was bitten, I would flip out beacause of the pain. Although, I think it would be cool to be an owl hybrid with feathery wings on my back, taloned hands and feet, downfeather surrounding my face, etc. Owls are of course one of my favorite animals:)
RECAP: (intro to the Discussion Question)
You know I have been reading fanfiction for a quite awhile (before I made my own account) especially Inuyasha fanfiction, ok, so mostly Inuyasha and Kagome focused fanfics. Anyway, I have come across countless explainations for specific questions that only nerds, geeks and weirdos (HELL YES! GO RANDOM PEOPLE!) as well as my obessed self may want to know or consider.
I have my own opinions and thoughts about certain areas of Anime shows, like Inuyasha, Fruits Basket, Yu Yu Hakusho, and other awesome animes. However, I want to know what your opinions/ answers are to some of my questions. Also if you have a discussion question of your own please ask me in a review or private message me. Thanks:)
*****Important****I don't own the show and I doubt anyone esle on this website does. This is just for fun!
Question:
If you were to visit the Feudal Era unexpectantly (like Kagome for the first time) and had no idea of how to get back what would you miss the most about the modern times?