Man I made this chapter hell of alot longer than I thought I would O.O and thank you all for those awesome reviews! Enjoy your chapter! (^.^)
DISCLAIMER: I did not win the lottery, so I don't own InuYasha or the characters (I would If I could). It belongs to Rumiko Takahasi and their rightful owners. I only own the characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
Chapter nine: The Arrival of Jorōgumo
"I'm sorry about my friends. My name is Kaname" Kaname said to console the girl. The girl stare at Kaname timidly and said "You guys won't hurt me, will you?" Kaname smiled at her. "No we won't, what's your name?"
"My n-name is Miyako"
"That's a pretty name, Miyako" Kaname smiled down at her.
It was now sundown. Soon the stars will scatter the sky as they luminescent the darken earth below. Crickets chirping could be heard through the still air. The whole village was asleep except for a certain group. Inside of Kaede's hut a fire was burning, the flames licking away at the firewood; dancing within the hut. Everyone was around this fire. The sound of someone masticating on fish could be heard.
"It seems you haven't eaten in awhile" Kagome inquired.
Miyako kept on munching, but you can see that she nodded her head. She placed down the fish and starting scuffing down on a bowl of rice.
"Would'ya quit stuffing your face and tell us what happen to ya" InuYasha barked, indignantly.
Miyako narrowed her eyes at the dog, but decide not to retort anything back. She place the bowl down and place her hands on her lap and spoke. "I never formally introduce myself. My name is Miyako. Thank you all for you well-appreciated hospitality and the treating of my injuries" she bowed her head.
"You're very welcomed, Miyako" Kaname smiled.
"Tell us what happen to you" Miroku said as she raise her head.
Miyako's eyes glisten with sadness. She couldn't believe she let this happen. She was suppose to protect in her time of weakness, and she fail miserably.
"I was traveling with my sister, Chouko, she is five months pregnant. We were traveling to a nearby demon village to get supplies for her upcoming delivery."
"Upcoming delivery? It takes nine months for a full pregnancy" Kaname said.
"For human,yes, but women who carry demon children are only pregnant for six months" Miyako replied.
'Huh I never knew that..' Kaname pondered. 'I guess that's how long I'm be carrying Sesshomaru's ch- WHOA where the hell do that come from!' A deep blush rapidly appeared on her face. 'I can't believe I just thought that! I haven't even kiss the guy, yet I'm thinkin' about having his kid?'
"Umm, Kaname, why are you suddenly blushing?" Shippo asked while tilting his head to the side. Kaname shook her head. "It's just hot in here, its nothing" she waved off. But it didn't convinced a few others. Miroku and InuYasha glances to each other, having a silent conversation.
"What's a pregnant woman doing traveling? "Wouldn't she be more vulnerable even if she is a demon?" Kagome said interrupting their thoughts.
"As you probably already know, I am a neko demon as well as my sister. I told my elder sister the same thing, but she insisted on going herself instead of just me."
"Why would she do that?" Kaname questioned.
"Female neko demons are more independent then other female demons" Sango said. Everyone look towards the knowledgeable taijiya.
"Your friend is right" Miyako said. "Female neko demon would take it as insult if anyone suggest the idea that they're incapable in any way."
"Would you just get to the part why you have a jewel shard and why that spider was after you?" InuYasha said.
Miyako eyes met InuYasha's, a flash of lighting came in the air as they stared down at each other across the hut.
"Um, guys what's with the tension?" Kaname said while sweat-dropping. They just met and and even a blind person could tell that they didn't like each other one bit.
"Well cats and dogs don't really get along" Shippo said knowingly.
"You think" InuYasha and Miyako said snidely in unison. They both started to growled and hiss at each other. Kaname put her hand lightly on Miyako's shoulder. She stop hissing and averted her emerald eyes to Kaname.
"You were saying?"
"Yes, as I was saying" -directing her eyes to InuYasha- "In our travels we came across a lesser demon who had the shard I defeated it and took the jewel to enhance my abilities to protect my sister."
"So where is your sister?" Kaname asked. Miyako was all alone was she got there.
Miyako's expression suddenly turn ire, her fists clenched tightly till they were white, and she was visibly shaking; her voice turning grim.
"They.. kidnap her...the spider demon's master, Jorōgumo, has a vendetta against my tribe. She believes we have something of value to her that one of my people took from her long ago, and she wants it back. We have a barrier around us so she can't attack us. All of Jorōgumo's minions surrounds my village and none of us could do anything about it."
"So how actually were you able to leave this barrier?" InuYasha said suspiciously, not fully believing her story one bit.
Miyako simply smirked, "because I was the one who created the barrier, I simply open it and left."
"Really?" InuYasha snorted, "You were havin' a hard time with that spider demon, who's gonna actually believe a weakling like you have the strength to actually created such a barrier." He snorted again at the idea.
Miyako's eyes narrowed, a fire burning in them. "You wanna bet on that half-demon?" she said with a smirk. Instantaneously the wood of the hut form into snake-like tentacles that gripped InuYasha's arms and legs and pull him upside down.
"H-Hey you wench! What the hell?"
"Who's the weakling now eh?" Miyako folded her arms across her chest.
"Miyako let him down." Kaname said sharply. She and everyone else knew Miyako wasn't actually going to hurt InuYasha. Just put him in his place especially when he kept insulting the girl for no apparent reason except the fact that she was a cat demon.
"Why should I?" fumed Miyako.
"Because he did saved your life, you know." Kaname sad matter-of-factually. Miyako pouted her lips like a child, but slowly, and reluctantly release InuYasha of her wooden vines.
InuYasha huffed and put his arms into his haori. 'Ungrateful wench' InuYasha knew better to say that aloud, knowing it will add fuel to the fire.
Kaname rested her hands on Miyako's. "While your here, lets try to get along 'kay. "I need both of you -darting her eyes to InuYasha and back to Miyako- " to promise me to stop fighting like cats and dogs, literally."
Miyako sighed. 'It would be best to be on the good side of these humans, I can already hear Chouko "Don't bite the hands that feed you." "Alright Kaname, I promise."
"And I want you to promise me too, InuYasha" Kaname said.
InuYasha looked away, his hands in his haori. "Feh, whatever."
"Well now that's taken care over, let's call it a night, it's been a long day" Miroku sigh.
"Now that you mention it, I'm pretty tired" Shippo yawn, instantly falling asleep in Kagome's lap.
Kaname turned to Kagome, who put Shippo to bed. "Hey Kagome, is there a spring nearby? I haven't change my clothes in, like, two day."
"Yeah there's one nearby, I'll let you borrow some of my clothes till I go back home" Kagome replied.
"That's great, thanks" Kaname waked over to Kagome's ginormous yellow backpack and took out what she would need for a nice, relaxing bath.
"You're gonna bath at this hour?" InuYasha said.
"Why not this hour?" Kaname asked back. Sango got up as well. "I'll come with you."
"You women and your bathing."
"Well us women don't want to smell anything like you InuYasha" Kagome goaded, playfully.
"What was that? I don't smell, woman!"
Kagome just playfully smiled at him.
"Whatever, Kaname go get that stench of Sessh-"
"Sit boy!" InuYasha gulped before his face hit the ground. Kaname started blushing yet again and put her face in her palm, 'Why would he say that in front of everyone like that?'
As the girls were about to leave, Kaname called out to Miyako, "Do you want to come with this?" hoping she would accept the invitation to a little girl time.
"Us cat demons aren't that fond of water" Miyako replied dryly. Kagome looped her arms through Sango's and Kaname's. "Well you and InuYasha can relate to each other about your dislikes about bathing" And with that the trio left with InuYasha in the background saying "Hey!"
"AAHHH! This is heaven" Kaname sighed loudly as she dip her body in the steaming water. A ethereal fog hanged over the hot spring. Yep, this is exactly what a girl needs; the smell of jasmine and sakura petals to relaxes oneself.
"We haven't relaxes like this in ages" Kagome said. Kaname sink in lower to get rid of the forest smell that's been on her when she first arrived. 'That would mean I'm getting rid of Sesshomaru's scent from me.' Kaname sink even lower where only her nose was above the water. 'It seems like all my thought are about him lately.' Kaname thought coming to that realization.
"Um, Kaname?"
Kaname snapped out of thoughts to see Sango, with her hair pin up entering the spring. "Oh, what is it Sango?" Kaname asked.
"It's about what InuYasha said back at the hut, it sounded like you guys had a run in with Sesshomaru? What happen?"
Kaname and Kagome eyed each other. Sango noticing the awkward expression and defensive posture of her close friends and knew that they were hiding something, and it was big.
"Well.." Kagome started.
"It starts out like this.." Kaname finally said. 'I just hope Sango approves.'
"So that's what happen?" Miroku said. While Shippo, Kirara, and Miyako slept, and the girls out bathing, Miroku took the chance to question InuYasha. InuYasha was reluctant to tell Miroku the "Sesshomaru incident", but caved in knowing he'll have a pissed off Kaname to deal with later.
"Yeah, can you actually believe she likes that asshole?"
He knew something was off when he first saw Kaname. A familiar demonic aura lingered around her being as well as InuYasha. Also the fact that Kaname was blushing when InuYasha almost the said the name "Sesshomaru" raises his suspicions even further. He wasn't shock per say, but felt not entirely surprise by it at all.
"I wouldn't be sure about that" Miroku said, staring intensely at the still burning fire.
"Whatcha'ya trying to say monk?" InuYasha nearly shouting, not liking where Miroku was going with this. At all.
"Calm yourself InuYasha, before you wake them" Miroku pointed to the sleeping trio who shifted in their sleep.
"I'm simply saying it doesn't surprise me about the nature of Kaname's and Sesshomaru's relationship based on their interactions when she was last here."
"Feh, what 'interactions'? They've hardly spent any time together."
"It is not about the quantity of time, but the quality of time together" Miroku eloquently said pointing his finger as though to teach a child a valuable lesson. The monk in him was coming out. At least not the perverted one.
"For example, they spent time together in Naraku's castle finding their way to the castle tower. Looking back on it now, I think something might have happen there. Remember Sesshomaru asked you if Kaname was our friend? Why would he ask? or even care?"
"Well.. you got a point" InuYasha admitted.
"Also when Kaname was leaving for her time, Sesshomaru showed up. Why would he? Naraku was gone there was no reason for him to stay any longer. And remember what she said about him, she spoke as though she knew the real Sesshomaru." Miroku elaborated even further.
"Yeah, but..."
"Based on what you said InuYasha, Sesshomaru's feeling for Kaname seem genuine as well as Kaname's."
"So you think she'll say yes to his courting?" InuYasha asked the monk.
Miroku chuckled a bit, "I'd be surprise if she didn't." InuYasha took his normal sleeping position with his Tessaiga, and close he's eyes to rest for tonight.
'You may have a point Miroku, it doesn't mean I gotta to like it.'
Not to far away the subject around InuYasha's and Miroku's conversation was finishing her tale. Kaname sighed, "And that's what happen."
"Oh wow, that's quite a story" Sango said. She didn't know what to make of it. She never really notice anything going on between Kaname and Sesshomaru. Well there was that time where they were together at Naraku's castle the second time, and that time when Kaname was saying her goodbyes to Sesshomaru...
"Yeah" Kaname shifted uncomfortably. She knew it was coming; those dreaded words Sango would say. "Kaname I can't accept that! He's dangerous!"
"Well congratulations, Kaname. I'm happy for you" Sango smiled.
Kaname's shoulder slump down from their tense position she didn't even realize they were even in, and she stared dumbly at Sango. "Well.. I wasn't expecting that.."
"Me neither" Kagome sighed with relief. Sango tilted her head in confusion.
"What? You both thought I wasn't going to approve?"
"Well.." Kaname and Kagome trailed off in unison.
"I may not know much about him, but I trust your judgment, Kaname." Sango said to assure her. Kaname smile at her, "Thanks Sango, that's means a lot."
"Oh yeah that reminds me! Sango we forget to tell Kaname!" Kagome said, her eyes widen.
"Tell me what?"
"Geez, Kagome let me tell her." Sango averted her eyes to Kaname, her face was blushing, "I'm finally engaged to Miroku." Kaname eyes widen in astonishment.
"Really!" Kaname exclaimed. "That's great news! When did he ask you?"
"Some time after you left, we plan to marry the defeat of Naraku, but since the jewel shattered again we pushed back the ceremony day."
"Oh I see."
"But you will be there right? For the ceremony?" Sango asked.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss for the world!"
"Great now that's settled, lets out of here before we wrinkle to death" Kagome jumped in. The girl's got dress in their sleeping attire and return to the hut. They entered in slowly to see if anyone was awake, InuYasha opened one eye, and incoherently grumbled a "Good night" The girl said good night and lay down on their respected futons. As Kaname laid her head now she thought of what tomorrow will bring.
Somewhere far behind Miyako's village, west of Kaede's Village, a barrier concealing a mansion on an island, in the middle of a huge lake. The thick mist was slightly obscuring the building. A beautiful woman sat on her throne in her elaborate throne room. Her body was clad in a white kimono with a red obi. Her hair bind in accessories to flatter her petite, porcelain face. She waved her intricate fan while she wait for her general to return. Her red lips curled into a devilishly smile as her spider minions came through the golden doors with the unconscious girl. She was fairly tall, brown hair that had a touches of lighter brown in them that reached below her shoulders. She wore a light blue kimono with a dark green flower design. Her midsection sticking out.
"We've caught her Milady" the gruff voice of the spider demon spoke.
"Hm, where is she?" the woman melodious voice ranged through the throne room. The kind of voice that would make any man stray and follow.
"What ever do you mean Lady Jorōgumo?" the second demon spoke. Lady Jorōgumo sighed to restrain uncontrollable anger as she rose from her throne. Her eyes glowed red as she seethed, "Where is the girl with the jewel shard?"
"G-general Yuu w-went after other the g-girl with the s-shard; a girl w-with a strange p-power and a h-half demon in a red kimono c-came from no w-where and k-killed him, we r-retreated with this girl b-before they notice us" the first demon stuttered. He heard how merciless his Lady can be. He did not want to feel her wrath.
'A girl with a strange power and a half-breed in red?' 'It must be InuYasha. That interfering half-breed! But the girl.. has a strange power.. she could be useful to me.. I might be able to use this to my advantage'
"Well at least you aren't completely useless. So, this girl is affiliated with the other girl?"
"Yes Milady" both of demons said together.
"Take her to the dungeons." she waved off as she return to her throne.
"Yes Milady" they bowed their head and left before.. "Oh and one more thing" Jorogumo's eyes flashed an iridescent red and the second spider turn into ashes. The first demon watched helplessly as his fellow demon died before him. "If you ever make a foolish mistake I won't hesitate to kill you."
"Y-yes Milady" He bowed again and left with the girl carrying her gently like a pail of water. Jorogumo sighed once again as she did, a evil smile etch its way on her face.
'Finally, I will get what is rightfully mine.'
TBC...
There you go my lovely readers! See you at the end of the month; the next update might be a day or two late because I'm using my mom's computer since my got a damn virus :( Remember to review they motivate to write and when I get motivated to write updates come faster, so really you're doing yourself a favor by reviewing :)
I forgot to mention last last chapter Miyako means beautiful night child and Chouko means butterfly child.