Hi people, this story isn't dead. Grade twelve is just a royal pain in my rear. Graduating is annoying, my advice is… don't do it. And don't tell your parents I said that.

Oni Guts: For the record, yes the idea of Rin being like eleven and desirable is really weird. However, to explain this very simply, women could only look forward to living to about twenty-five. Thirty was really old, and thirty-five was ancient. Women had to live through childbirth (no pain killers owwy) and diseases. All most as soon as biologically possible, women were married off to husbands and bearing children. The youngest known account of this was the marriage of a twelve-year-old girl, and I refuse to tell you the age of her husband. We have to realize that this was a totally different time period, and the average life expectancy was much different.

50-60 males average life expectancy (war, disease, assasination)

25-35 females average life expectancy (Child birth, war raids, disease)

Vampire – Lady: I really hope that's the correct spelling. The bracelet is actually the sign of a slave. You were close though, marriage can sometimes feel like slavery.

Chapter 10: So take me away

'Look straight. Ignore them…oh goddess do they realize they're staring? Mindless idiots.'

Kagome tightened her legs around the stallion beneath her. He was instantly on guard, prancing like a warhorse, hoping that someone would be stupid enough to get close. Plate sized hooves struck the ground in a steady trot that had all the other horses skirting away in fear. Black ears were pinned to his coal head and mahogany eyes dared the soldiers around him.

Kagome loosened her grip and relaxed onto his back. If she was fidgety then so would be her mount. In the last three days only one horse had dared approach the imperious pair. That was the white mare, Samara, and her rider whom she wouldn't name. At the moment she was still furious at him, his name wouldn't even cross her mind. The soft wind blew through her hair and the drums seemed to call to her as her home got further and further away.

Her anger had cooled from raw rage to a tamed resentment since the incident with her grandfather. The goddess's gift was not as horrifying as it was irksome. Which was saying something since it bound her to that idiot who was now talking cheerfully to his friend. 'Miroku I believe was his name.'

Her violet eyes turned to glare at the white head that bounced up and down with the gait of his horse. Etain snorted and tossed his head to get her attention. Kagome knew he was thoroughly enjoying her anger since it gave him a way to prove his dominance over every other horse in the herd. She was letting him get away with things that would normally never be allowed; things like kicking and biting, and the ohh so fun act of whipping ones tail at another horse.

'He' turned his attention to her horse as the animal bit out at a nearing chestnut. She could see anger smouldering in his golden eyes and it made her feel giddy to know that she was causing his annoyance. An innocent smirk crossed her lips and made his eyes narrow. He knew that she was allowing her horse to be a pain in the ass of the regiment. Like she cared!

"Lady Kagome! Would you please watch your horse?"

Kagome rounded her violet glare to the poor general on the little bay. The man shrunk away like he had been burned. Her voice dripped venom like the fangs of a snake as she sneered. "I fully intend to make this trip as unpleasant for you as it's surely going to be for me."

The mans lip quivered in fear while his features tried to remain hard. After all, what Roman would admit to being scared of a woman? It took only moments however for his horse to seem to drift away leaving the Celt by herself to sigh pathetically. Etain snorted and proceeded in doing a half rear to gain her attention. This time he succeeded and his rewards was her fingers scratching at the spot between his should and his mane.

The hills were slowly changing and the winds were becoming warmer. They were going south. It was the only explanation that Kagome could see since it would soon snow at home. 'Home' the word almost brought a tear to her eyes. She had never known how much she would miss it until now, when she was leaving it. Leaving it possibly forever. The silver bracelet and ring shone brightly under the overcast skies while the chain that connected the two created little tinkling sounds. They seemed to hold an unearthly light to her gaze. Even in the rain, the bracelet shone like it were the sunniest of days. She knew this because it had rained yesterday and her cloak had become completely soaked. Still the damn ornament had shone on.

Etain stopped abruptly. Kagome raised her chin and stared to the south. An odd breeze tickled her nose and shifted her clothing. The man on the Bay rode up beside her along with Inu-Yasha. Her mind was too distracted to see that she had indeed thought his name.

"Kagome? Are you okay?"

"Lady Kagome your master has asked you a question!"

She looked at them, fully resting her gaze between the two. Their audible gasps flew over her head with the wind. Kagome leaned into the moving air as it caressed her cheek.

"Kagome!"

Dismissing him with a sniffle, she pushed her horse on. Memories of a vast space of water seeped into her mind like worms. They pushed through everything else, not letting her have a moment's peace. She let this go on for about six strides, before she went crazy.

Etain plunged through the columns of riders and broke free of the ranks. Kagome crouched low as they flew over the hills. Could Etain feel it too? Could he feel that deceitful joy in the winds? She was pulled forward into a vortex of sand and salts that seemed invisible in the air. The land beneath them couldn't stop going, they could ride forever and get away from these barriers of humanity.

But all things come to an end; this ride for example, came to an end with Kagome pitched forward into the ocean.

(Inu-Yasha)

He had been expecting Kagome to bolt off into some random direction, however he had thought that direction would be towards home not away from it. As soon as the horse moved, so did the soldier. Using years of patience, Inu-Yasha kept far enough away that the black horse wouldn't run faster. As if the horse could go much faster. Already it was tearing up the grass with an extended gallop. May Jupiter strike the horse down because that was the only way he'd catch the beast. Even now he could feel Samara weakening. She was meant for slow endurance, not sprinting across fields!

His men grew smaller in the distance while the stallion seemed to grow bigger. Was it slowing down? Why on earth would it be stopping? Apparently Kagome didn't notice that the white pair was gaining immense amounts of ground with each stride.

Beneath them, grass was slowly turning into sand. Calls from the sea birds were passing through his ears and being ignored. Then it all seemed so slow; Etain stopped when his fore-hooves hit the waves, Kagome was pitched forward, and her body disappeared under water.

(Kagome)

She came up sputtering with every curse known to the Celts. Violet eyes narrowed accusingly at the black nose that was now two inches from her face. The nose blew softly into her hair while two black lips nuzzled into her crown. Kagome continued to glare menacingly at the horse that was twice the size of her height wise. "You did that on purpose!"

The horse whickered in resentment. He was obviously trying to prove his innocence, although it was a biased judge. Kagome couldn't help but shake her head.

"Are you finished taking your swim yet? I'm only asking because my troops are waiting for us."

Kagome switched her glare from the horse to the man who was now standing on shore. The waves lapped at her ankles and lower calves. The pull and push of the tides reminded her that she was wet and, better yet, that it was cold. She wouldn't let her weakness show in front of her new master however. "Actually Inu-Yasha, they are waiting for you. I am not inconveniencing anyone since we'd all be just as happy if you left me here."

She could feel his rage, especially when she added a smug smirk. She was right, he didn't have to chase her, he cold have simply left her behind. But did she want that? As the waves caressed her feet through the cloth of her dress, Kagome pondered the idea. She was leaving Britain, possibly forever, as was the goddess's wish. What awaited her on the other side of this water?

So consumed were her thoughts that she didn't feel strong arms wrap around her waist tightly. The hot breath on her ear was the factor that brought her out of her mind; instantly she began to struggle from his grasp.

"Stop Kagome."

"Get your filthy hands off me Roman!"

"I said Stop!" His fierce tone had her paused in less than a second.

Kagome stared out into the channel while still feeling his every touch upon her body. It was only then that she was reminded that when she had fallen in her blouse and bodice had become wet. Now the cloth stuck to her skin and melded around her figure. Inu-Yasha had obviously noticed this as well since he was now moving a giant paw up her side. The closeness made her warm enough indeed, however his hand was now on her breast. Her own elegant palm flew back and whipped forward across his face.

Instantly he had let go. Now he stood facing her while his left hand was pressed against the red skin on his face. "Why is it bitch, that you have this very irritating habit of hitting me?"

Kagome didn't back down, instead keeping her chin high and shoulders back. Slowly she brought forward the arm with the bracelet and ring attachment. "Just because I am now you slave, doesn't mean that I will put up with being treated as anything less then what I am."

"And what exactly is that Kagome? I promised Kaede to treat you properly, but the old woman obviously doesn't know what the proper treatment of a slave is." His grin was enough to make her puke.

"She meant that you should remember that I am a human. That I am your equal, if not your superior in power! She meant that I should be treated as a woman not as a bar whore!"

"So you want me to treat you like a woman?"

The Celt grinned cutely. "Exactly! I'm so glad we could- ohh holy goddess! Inu-Yasha put me down!!!" In the midst of her answer, Kagome had been slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain.

"I don't think so. You want to be treated like a woman, and so you will be."

He ignored her protests while the screaming Kagome hurled insults at him in three different languages. How she knew Greek curses, he would never know. It wasn't until she was plopped down on the back of the white mare that her tantrum subsided. He tweaked her nose as she pouted at him. "You want to be a woman, then act like one. Would you really want my men to see you as an annoying child?"

Kagome eyed him. "Let me get on my own horse."

"I don't think so."

Her gaze was instantly boring into his own. The soldier simply mounted up behind her and signalled the horse forward. "What about Etain?"

Her question was soon answered when the dark horse trotted up beside them. His muzzle was securely beside Kagome's shoulder. They travelled like this down the beach, neither human talking, with only the continual snort of the horses and the lulling of the waves. Kagome kept straight as a plank the entire time. If Inu-Yasha had thought she was tense riding with him, she was twice as bad as soon as the ship came into view. Samara huffed under them and tried to help the girl on her back relax by nudging at her knees.

Kagome didn't notice her efforts.

"Kagome, it's not the end of life. Your goddess must have made you mine for a reason."

"Yes, to spite me because I didn't pay proper respects at last years Beltane when I became old enough." Her face was hard as she named off this one particular tidbit that the Roman had never even thought of.

"What is the Beltane?"

"It is-" She was interrupted by a yell from onboard the ship. There on the deck of the Roman barge in the harbour was Miroku; he was leaning over the rail and waving madly. Kagome hoped he would fall over board. It would make her laugh, and serve the pervert right. A sinister little grin twitched at the side of her lips.

"Kagome, you can get down now. I have to load Samara."

Kagome's eyes blinked back into focus. She glanced down at the Roman, then at the ship, and then back at Inu-Yasha. The only words she made before dismounting was a soft "Ooh."

Etain let his head lightly rest on her shoulder and blew against her cheek. His breath smelled like grass and horse, with a small tinge of oak. Kagome let her cheek relax against his muzzle. 'Would he willingly go with her on this journey, he was the only true friend she had ever had the honour of meeting. If he didn't come, she wouldn't go. The horse belonged with her more then the Roman, no matter what the goddess said.

"Kagome hurry up and get on the ship!"

The Celt looked from the Roman on the deck to her horse, what would she do if he refused to come with her? Calmly she took a step forward, Etain didn't follow. A tear streaked down her face as she turned to look at her horse. "Please come with me."

At her soft Celtic words, the horse perked his ears. He seemed to be eyeing the ship, and distaste was evident in his eyes. He turned his head to his mistress the back to the field behind him. His muzzle came forward and tugged back on her sleeve. The stallion whickered a6t her, as if telling her that it was time to go home.

"Oh my Shining, please don't leave me."

The horse just stood there and lowered his head. Kagome felt the tears cascading down her tanned face. "As you wish."

Her hand came up to wipe the tears away. The Celt turned at her stallion's confused glare and kept her head high. Every step brought her closer to the plank where she would board the ship; He stood there and leaned against the railing. Did he know how much this was hurting her? Did he realise that she would never be able to survive without Etain by her?

Her stallion screamed into the sky as she walked up the plank and onto the ship. He wanted to know why she had chosen something other then himself.

This was just the beginning of my story. As I stood on the deck of the ship and looked into the eyes of my stallion a feeling of emptiness overcame me. How could I leave him behind? As he reared like so many times before, I wished I were there on his back; and then he screamed into the sky before turning back towards our home.

"He's gone"

The Roman looked at the woman beside him sympathetically. His arm reached out to hold one of her shoulders in comfort. "Kagome…"

Her hands came up to clutch at her face as the tears stopped. To everyone on board, Kagome looked as if she had just been murdered. The Celts face contorted into the picture of horror as she fell to the wooden deck and shrieked into fabrics of her skirt.

Inu-Yasha could only step back and watch helplessly. He knew, deep down in the buried recesses of his hardened heart that he had caused this. He had already failed his promise to Kaede. Squaring his shoulders, the Roman vowed that he would make it up to her somehow. She would be happy with him, in his home. Kagome would never regret leaving a part of her heart behind on the coast of Britannia Superior.

Question of the chapter…

What does the name Etain mean?