Chapter 9
Kagome couldn't breathe. Her body shook with fear, her eyes wide. Her nerves were a jumbled mess as the driver pulled into the wrap around drop off in front of a very large old style Japanese mansion.
"Kagome dear, calm down." Her grandfather puffed out. He was still obviously annoyed with her color choice of hair dye.
Suddenly her door opened revealing a familiar face. A handsome man with bright green eyes and flaming red hair slicked back into a high ponytail on the back of his head. He had a smile on his face and a canine popping out the bottom of his top lip. Why did this man, this DEMON look so damn familiar?
"Welcome Miss Kagome. It's good to see you again. You look quite lovely this evening if I do say so myself. If you would let me, I'd love to accompany you inside." Holding his hand out to her, his smile never left his features. Something else was hidden somewhere deep in those jade colored eyes. Sadness maybe? Kagome wasn't sure.
"Why should I? Still trying to steal my store from me?"
"Kagome! How rude! Apologize at once!" She could barely hear her grandfather's complaints. Kagome felt a small twinge of anger rise in her, but she couldn't get over the familiarity of the man still holding his hand out in front of her. A deep chuckle sounded from his chest. "No, not tonight Miss."
Kagome, still somewhat hesitant, placed her small hand in his large calloused palm. Stepping out of the limo, she tried to remain calm as she shook slightly.
The red haired being was tall looming over her small frame. Taking her nervous hand he placed it in the crook of his elbow.
"Just breathe, you'll be alright." Looking down at her, he smiled, once again bringing the familiar feeling up to surface once more.
"Do I...Do I know you?" She asked.
His smile faded slightly, "All in good time." With that being said, they began a slow walk to the entrance of the large building. As the doormen opened grand doors lined with marble and gold, Kagome nearly fainted with a feeling she knew all too well.
Stopping in her tracks she began shaking with fear and adrenaline. Her head spinning, causing her to grip onto the strange man's arm tighter. "This place is full of demons..." She whispered, unintentionally holding on to the man's arm tighter.
"It's been awhile since you've felt aura's this strong hasn't it?"
Kagome looked up to him, eyes wide. "You do know me... I'd love to know what the hell is going on here."
The only response she was given was yet another chuckle.
He led her through the entrance and Kagome couldn't help but stare in amazement of the beauty of the residence. The marble floors under her feet shone like glass. In front of her was a large extravagant staircase, each step sculpted from the same beautiful marble. White, grays, and blacks swirled their way against the stone. The edges each lined with gold. Reaching the top of the staircase, Kagome was led to the ballroom. Dozens of people stood before her, most of them consisting of demons, chatting quietly among their selves in groups. Each one of them seemed to stare at her all at once. Her heartbeat quickened, threatening to jump straight out of her chest. There were a few men in the large group smirking at the thundering sound.
Glancing behind her shoulder, she noticed the rest of her family were not far behind her. Kagome's head was spinning in circles, if not for her iron grip on this mysterious man's arm, she would have fainted long ago.
Seeming to sense her discomfort, the red haired being placed his opposite hand on top of hers, giving her a small pat. Looking up at him with scared eyes, he gave her a small smile. Somehow it calmed her somewhat. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and continued on.
Kagome looked around the room with unease. There were undoubtedly demons surrounding her in every direction, but they all were in human form.
'Just breathe, and walk. Everything will be fine. You helped kill hundreds of demons. Even the great Naraku… Purified the Sacred Jewel… You got this.' Kagome tried to reassure herself. She could feel her spiritual energy bubbling inside her. 'Oh who am I kidding? I haven't used my powers in years….'
They kept walking until they came up to a group of men chatting quietly. Her escort tapped the shoulder of the biggest man of them all, receiving his attention easily.
He was tall, much taller than the man at her side, his skin permanently kissed by the sun. His shoulders were broad, even through the onyx colored tux, you could tell he was extremely muscular. Dark hair graced his shoulders, the color matching his dark, cold, brown eyes perfectly. The most outstanding feature was the scar on his face. Starting on his forehead, just underneath of his bangs, it ran down the center of his right eye and onto his cheek.
'I didn't think demons scarred…' Kagome thought, remembering all the wounds a certain hanyou received without a lasting mark on his body.
He was immensely intimidating, power radiating off of him in waves. Goosebumps rose on her skin as he gazed down at her with his piercing eyes. He looked down right mean.
"Lord Kimiko, I would like to introduce my grand-daughter, Kagome." Kagome didn't even realise her grandfather had walked up to the man towering above her. He looked so small standing there beside him.
"So this is the miko I've heard so much about. Well my names Takeshi Kimiko, Lord of the eastern wolf tribe." He eyed her up and down with a disgusting grin plastered to his face. Kagome's skin crawled and her stomach lurched. She could tell, this man was not someone she wanted to be close to.
'Wait a minute…' Kagome thought. ' Isn't Koga the leader of the wolf tribe? That was 500 years ago, but he was a young demon…'
A strong grip to her jaw snapped her out of her thoughts. Lord Kimiko staring at her intently, his grip becoming just a bit tighter. Her teeth clenching, heart racing, she stared back at the demon, trying hard to hide her fear.
A deep rumble came from the man's chest. The bastard was laughing at her!
"She's quite the beauty… for a human. She will do just fine."
His hand left her jaw sore from his grip. Turning his back to Kagome, Lord Kimiko resumed whatever conversation he was having with the men at his sides.
Glancing at her mother, Kagome saw tears in her mother's eyes as they were casted down. Her grandfather looked almost pained. ' Like he gives a shit.' she thought to herself.
It was all too much, her head was spinning in circles.
"Kagome, breathe…." There it was again. That stupid no name demon, who won't come clean about who he was to her.
Kagome couldn't breathe. 'I need to get out of here's she thought to herself. The overpowering signal of demons was dizzying. Not to mention everything going on in her life.
Letting go of her escorts arm, she headed for the nearest exit. Each step became harder as she headed out the doors to what seemed to be a balcony, with steps leading down to a brilliant garden filled with vibrant colors. The chilled air was a soothing welcome as she half ran down the steps to the garden walkway.
Taking a deep breath, Kagome inhaled the sweet aroma and tried to calm herself. She still felt as if she could vomit at any given time.
'In through the nose, out through the mouth. Real slow. Everything's fine. In going to be fine.'
Unfortunately nothing was taking away the nauseous feeling roaring inside her stomach. The stress of the evening was to much. Her life, was just to damn much.
'Oh God, here it comes.'
Running to her left, she hit her knees with a force that felt as if her knee caps would shatter. Her stomach heaved and the contents flooded onto the pink flowers below her. She stayed like that, retching until her stomach was empty.
"Kagome, are you alright?"
The sudden words frightened Kagome. She knew that voice. The deep whisper brought forth an image of bright blue eyes to her mind, causing her heart to skip a beat in happiness and despair.
Footsteps brought that voice closer behind her small frame. They were slow and careful, as if the person was afraid to spook her like a woodland animal.
"Kagome…?" There it was again. Kagome's mind was utterly blank. Was this real?
Very slowly, Kagome turned to face the man behind her.
He hadn't changed one bit. His long midnight colored hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, the length flowing between his shoulder blades. His shoulders were just as broad as she remembered, although now it was covered in a striking black suit in place of the furs and armor that filled her memory. He looked the same as he did five hundred years ago.
Except in the eyes. His cerulean eyes once held a fierceness to them. They were the eyes of a leader, a warrior, and a loyal friend. Now they looked beaten and sad. The vibrant spark was gone. Much like her own.
Kagome sat staring at the man before her. Never did she believe she would meet him again in this life. But here he was right before her. Finding her voice, Kagome only barely managed to speak the demon's name out of her quivering lips.
"..Koga…?"
Hello everyone! It literally has taken me forever to get this damned chapter out. As I stated before I have my husband, little girl and job, and they take up a lot of my time! I will try my hardest to bring you another chapter soon. But anyyyywayyysss. I hope you all enjoyed this. Things may just start getting exciting soon!