XXXXXXXXXXX
Into a land of enchantment
XXXXXXXXXXX
If Yasumori was being completely honest, he could see how this girl managed to wrap a formidable demon around her pretty little finger. Even in her unkempt state, the girl was absolutely beautiful. Her skin surprisingly unblemished and her teeth impeccable. The general imagined that a smile would have made the sight of her breathtaking. If it was even near as intense as the glare that struck fear in the war veterans heart that is.
"Who are you?" the girl spat venomously as she unsteadily scrambled to her feet - the hair in tight bun trying its best to escape as it spiked out at irregular angles and her unruly bangs framed her face no better than a witch's broom, "Unless you are here to set me free I have no interest in..."
"I am to bring you to the Lord and Lady Hana," the general interrupted as he gave the girl what he hoped was a look that communicated his true intent. His hope was quickly dashed when the girl sighed dramatically and folded her arms tightly across her chest - one hand darting up to tuck one of many loose strands of hair behind her ear as she gave him a chilling glare.
"I am Lady Hana. I don't need to go so someone who is simply an imposter," the girl snapped and the general set his jaw as he tried a different angle.
"It is that very assertion which the Lord wishes to discuss with you further," the general offered, "Please come with me."
The girl nearly shook with rage as she ground her teeth.
"Do your ears work sir? I'm not going..."
"The Lord wishes to entertain your claims," the general interrupted exasperatedly before rubbing his hand over his mouth upon realizing this girl was too stupid to read between the lines.
"My claims," the girl scoffed as she folded her arms across her chest, "Unless he..."
Words were getting him nowhere and all she was doing was making a spectacle out of herself. Too many were watching this show already and if this continued, the rumors would simply spread. Or...was it a rumor if it was true? If only to a degree? Sighing heavily, the general marched over and grabbed the girls arm. At this point if Inuyasha wanted to get mad his woman was bruised, it was a small price to pay for efficiency. The true Lady Kagome would stop the man short of any lasting damage and at this point, it seemed easier to merely force this poor stupid woman to understand rather than continue arguing with her.
"Let go! You're hurting me," the girl squeaked as she fruitlessly pounded against the band literally dragging her out of the room. There was a tenseness to her muscles that made her body more like a mannequin than a woman of flesh and bone. Her body so rigid she almost vibrated against the floorboards like a heavy chair being drug by its legs.
"This isn't even your body," the general hissed with one particularly hard tug and the girl immediately stopped fighting.
"You...I never said..." the girl muttered quietly before her eyes glanced around at the onlookers - some of which seemed to be watching with a little too much interest. A sinking feeling bloomed in her stomach as realization finally dawned.
"Let go of me!" she began to squeal as she thrashed about in a ragdoll like style- obviously for show. This man knew. He knew this wasn't her body. He was trying to help. Yasumori had to give her points for style but not for performance. To say her little squeals and 'attempts' to break free were convincing would be a disservice.
"Stop that and follow," the general snapped quietly as he tugged on her arm - noting her muscles lacked the tension they had earlier. Stupid woman must've finally figured out what he was doing. Which wasn't necessarily a good sign. Anyone watching probably noticed a change in their dynamic and would report back. Stress at the idea that this stupid girl may have just made matters more complicated spread through his mind like ink on paper. At least the girl had sense enough to play along. To a degree.
"Yasumori, do you need assistance?" Ieyasu's most unwelcome almost taunting voice suddenly asked - the very sound of it making a chill spread of the general's skin. Of course he had noticed the changed and it was equally unsurprising that the bastard had been watching.
"It's one girl. I can manage Elder," Yasumori replies curtly as he yanked the girl in front of him and pushed her to move faster, "We'll get the answers we need."
"I am most happy to order my guard to help you," Ieyasu commented as he began to follow alongside the awkward procession, "Perhaps my men could even bear witness to her testimony."
"There's no need," Yasumori insisted as the girl began to tense up again much to the general's ire, "This should be quick."
"Even more reason," the elder replied as he gestured for two of his men to approach, "If only to stand guard in case they are needed."
"Inuyasha wants to meet with her alone," the general hissed as he pushed the girl faster to the point where she stumbled forward and would have fallen if the her escort didn't have such a tight grip on her, "The Lord will not tolerate anyone eavesdropping."
"Of course. Rumors are a dangerous thing," the elder hummed, "But if there is danger..."
"I'll be there," Yasumori huffed as he turned the corner towards Inuyasha's quarters, "Have your men stand down. I'll announce Inuyasha's findings shortly."
It really would be easier just to kill this stupid woman. An easier explanation than the body snatcher tale this stupid wench would undoubtedly spread. All Inuyasha cared about was that Kagome's soul remained with him. The body itself was of little consequence. Instead of thinking things through, they had inadvertently created more problems they had solved.
Why had he believed that to be a good idea? There were so many other ideas that would have been better.
"Are you alright, Yasumori?" Ieyasu taunted as his lips curled upwards, "You look rather unwell."
Or maybe the answer was a simple as lobbing the head of this pretentious conspiring bastard's neck.
"I..."
"You're late is what you are," Inuyasha's rough voice carried through the hall as he appeared - arm wrapped around his woman's shoulder for support, "And why is he here? I ordered you to make sure we weren't interrupted."
Ieyasu pursed his lips as he bowed low while the half-demon cursed the old man's protectiveness. The elder had always been a little too involved in his childhood and as an adult as well. Making things complicated for no reason. Honestly, Inuyasha hadn't been surprised when Yasumori had told him Ieyasu bucked at the idea that the half-demon marrying a woman he just met. That the elder had suspicions and wanted witnesses which was a reasonable thing to do given the circumstances. That didn't mean it wasn't annoying as hell though.
"Given the situation, I offered some guards as additional protection," the elder explained as he gave the exasperated looking general a slight smirk, "The general refused."
"Good," Inuyasha snorted, "I ordered everyone out 'cept him. The walls have eyes and ears anymore. Can't risk my findings being questioned. One source of information."
The elder's smirk faded as he straightened up and Inuyasha's eye twitched. Could this old man be any more protective? When Yasumori voiced his belief that Ieyasu was behind the poisoning and everything, Inuyasha didn't believe it for a second. Maybe he was being naive but there was no reason to suspect such a thing. That and Yasumori's tale of being concerned and trying to find him for years was hard to believe. A part of Inuyasha wondering whether the general was the really the one behind everything. His appearance that night with an antidote a little too convenient. Yasumori had been a little too eager to point fingers whereas Ieyasu had always been kind and Inuyasha had always trusted him. It didn't make sense that he was the one behind everything.
"But what of protection?" the flustered old man argued, "Should there not be witnesses or..."
But all of this protectiveness was getting old and fast. Let it go old man. Let it go.
"What for?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Why do we need witnesses?" Inuyasha asked exasperatedly, "I just want to put this issue to bed and make the determination myself without undue influences or anyone else forming their own opinion. I will get to the bottom of this. Shouldn't take too long."
"If the girl is an imposter, we will need..."
"Leave. Now," Inuyasha ordered firmly as he fought the urge to roll his eyes "I will decide what to do with the girl."
Ieyasu sighed before bowing.
"As my lord commands," the elder mumbled as he straightened up, "If you will excuse me, I..."
"You're excused," Inuyasha huffed as he firmly guided Kagome to turn around and he began walking back towards his room, "No one is disturb us. No one."
Yasumori pushed the girl who stumbled forward with a terrified expression on her face.
"He's not...he won't kill me, right?" the girl mumbled breathlessly, "Because he's with me. He...he..."
The girl turned a little green as she watched her body being so familiar with the demon.
"Have they..."
"Just move," Yasumori ordered firmly before adding for her benefit, "And no. Nothing has happened. Ignore any rumors you may hear."
"But he..."
"He will not harm you. I don't think he's capable of doing so," the general admitted, "Now keep moving."
"I don't understand," she protested as she shivered slightly, "I...that's me. Am I...is this body the one of the girl in my own?"
"We believe so," the general sighed as he glanced over his shoulder only to see the Elder lingering much to Yasumori's dismay. They needed to move quickly. The girl nodded before stopping dead in the door frame.
"Come in already," Inuyasha sighed as Kagome helped him down into the futon, "No one is going to hurt you. Only rule is don't touch yourself."
Kagome choked at the phrasing and the other two humans looked scandalized. Upon realizing what everyone was reacting to Inuyasha groaned.
"Bunch of perverts," Inuyasha muttered tiredly before raising a brow at Yasumori and nodding pointedly towards the door, "Close it."
As the general did as instructed, the girl awkwardly began moving forward before kneeling down. The look of terror on Kagome's true face when she looked at him sent a thousand daggers through Inuyasha's heart. Stomach plummeting as he tried to tell himself that it wasn't really Kagome looking at him in such a way. Tried being the operative word. Breathing heavily, Inuyasha averted his eyes as he struggled not to reach for his woman's hand just for reassurance that she loved him. It felt wrong to do so, however, when the owner of the body was right there watching. Nausea began boiling once again as he imagined all the cuddling could be labeled molestation. Something fundamentally disturbing about touching someone without their consent that had been bothering him since Kagome had returned to him. That's why he hadn't kissed her or tried to push things further like he wanted.
When Kagome moved though, Inuyasha overcame the awkwardness flowing through his veins as his hand darted out to grip her wrist tightly.
"I told you not to touch her," Inuyasha hissed, "What if the spell sends you away, huh?"
"You worry too much," Kagome chided as she began trying to peel back his fingers, "And what did I tell you? I won't leave you here. I'll come back to you even if it kills me."
"Don't even joke like that," Inuyasha sighed as he reluctantly loosened his grip just enough for her to get away, "It's not funny."
"It's true though," Kagome mumbled just loud for him to hear as she turned and faced her own body. It was true what they say - the reflection in the mirror isn't how you look in real life. Not really. You always impose certain things when looking at your own face. Always see and imagine yourself a certain way.
Like how she thought she was pale. Or always thinking her hair was this giant puffy thing. Or all manner of things that in retrospect weren't exactly kind things to think about herself. Her eyes went uneven. Her nose...
It didn't matter.
Sighing, Kagome knelt down before the frightened looking version of herself with what she hoped was a kind smile.
"I'm sorry this happened to you," she began softly, "I didn't do it on purpose."
The fear in the girl's eyes turned to indignation.
"So this is your fault then," the girl clipped back as she folded her arms across her chest, "How did you do it, hm? Are you a witch?"
"It's complicated but no, I'm not a witch," Kagome sighed as she slowly reached out.
"I said don't touch her!" Inuyasha hissed as he clumsily scrambled forward but, unfortunately, his attempts to stop the contact were thwarted by his extremely weakened state. Almost collapsing on top of Kagome, the half-demon ended up doing exactly what he set out to prevent. Kagome, or rather the body she inhabited, was pushed face first into the girl's chest and a second later...
Inuyasha felt a surge of power rip through his body followed shortly thereafter by pain. Whatever happened was more than just a slight tingle that ran underneath his skin. No, it was as though someone had attached a live wire to each of his nerves, and his body convulsed as the violent current pulsed through him. Growing in intensity as Kagome's voice screamed in the midst of deafening silence. Breathing was an impossibility as his back arched and his legs curled beneath him before mercifully the attack vanished as quickly as it came - leaving him gasping for air on his back.
"Inuyasha answer me," Kagome's true voice begged, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't...I didn't..."
Amber eyes sluggishly blinked open to look up at the heartbreakingly familiar face that shone with true recognition and eyes filled with love that he'd almost forgotten.
"Hey," Inuyasha panted as he reached up to cup her face with trembling fingers, "It's...it's you, right?"
Kagome nodded as she covered his hands with hers before the silence outside slowly turned into a low roar.
Lolling his head to look at the uneasy looking general and the Lady Hana who was simply gaping at him, Inuyasha tried to figure out what exactly had happened.
What had happened? Why was he the only one who got hurt?
"I...I touched her and then my...my power just went boom," Kagome weakly tried to explain as her hand tightened around his, "I would never hurt you on purpose. You know that right?"
Inuyasha glanced back up at her with a weak smile before looking at his clawless hand.
"Oh," he hummed as he pulled his hand back and looked at it before patting the top of his head, "Huh."
"Your eyes are the same," Kagome blurted awkwardly as she watched him tug on his human earlobe, "So I don't think I...I don't think..."
"Quiet," the general suddenly hissed as he hand covered the hilt of his sword, "You did something little girl. Listen."
The roar was indeed growing louder. It sounded like a mob - hundreds of angry voice clambering over each other in the near distance. Footsteps running through the hallway and a bang or two in the distance.
"You..." Lady Hana breathed suddenly, "The beast...that beast was one of yours."
Kagome inhaled sharply as she looked over at the young woman who seemed frozen to the spot.
"What do you mean?" the miko hissed urgently, "Beast?"
"The...the one," the girl mumbled in a horrified voice, "The one who did this. I thought...she came..."
"So it was a curse?" Kagome whispered as she whipped her head towards Inuyasha who looked just as uneasy albeit a little dazed from being partially purified.
"No I...I think she...she killed me but..."
As the girl trailed off and simply looked shellshocked, comprehension dawned on the miko's face. She had done it. She'd broken whatever spell had been on everyone except...except then why were they still here? It was broken, shouldn't that have let them leave? Was this hell? Were they dead?
"Doesn't...doesn't matter. If...if its broken, we can go through the garden, huh?" Inuyasha offered hoarsely, "Get out of here?"
"Of course, you need to leave," the general hissed condescendingly as he began glancing over the floorboards, "I imagine they'll come for you."
"Why? She just said someone else attacked you guys" Kagome asked before mentally smacking herself upside the head. Lady Hana has pretty much laid it out. They'd think the person who attacked them and Inuyasha were related somehow - whether it was true or not.
"Are you truly that daft?," the general admitted as he moved closer to the door, "They're going to assume Inuyasha did this or at a minimum was involved.
"Wasn't me," Inuyasha protested as he pushed himself into a sitting position and winced, "I don't have that power. I..."
"You say he has the pearl Ieyasu? The one she wanted?" Inuyasha heard one of the elders' desperate voices coming closer, "You think if we turn him over..."
"Of course not! Besides, How do we even know he had that stupid trinket?!" a different voice huffed in frustration, "Perhaps he is simply a victim in all of this. You're the only one who met with her Ieyasu. What exactly did she say?"
"Only that his whore of a mother stole from that bitch and brought hell down upon us," Ieyasu's voice countered evasively, "Inuyasha is clearly related to that demon. He was probably in on it. It wasn't like he became lord..."
Inuyasha's heart panged a little at the venom in the trusted elder's voice. Had Iyeasu really turned on him so easily? Although if Inuyasha had been murdered or trapped in a curse, he probably would've been quick to anger as well. Quick to cast blame. Maybe...maybe...
"To be fair, Inuyasha was in the line of succession before he went missing," the same elder who defended the half-demon earlier snapped, "He ran. He didn't want to be here after his mother died. And he's clearly miserable here! Why would he..."
"Probably out of revenge! Why are you defending him?"
Did Ieyasu really think so little of him?
"Because he was a child! And you seem to be jumping to conclusions to save your own skin. If you hadn't..."
"They're coming for me," Inuyasha muttered hoarsely - his mind reeling as he unsteadily got to his feet, "We need to go."
The general nodded once as Lady Hana continued to sit frozen on the ground.
"This isn't right," the poor girl mumbled to herself as she played with her hair, "Something...this isn't..."
"Inuyasha come on," Kagome managed shakily as she knelt down and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "We've got to get to the garden. We need to get you out of here. You can't defend yourself right now."
"There a servants entrance around the corner. It'll lead us to the courtyard," Yasumori huffed as he drew his sword and Kagome gave Inuyasha a once over.
"Where is your firerat robe?" Kagome asked urgently and Inuyasha sighed shakily as he pointed to a small chest.
"Leave it," the general hissed as he rushed forward and grabbed Kagome's arm, "There's no time. You must leave. Now!"
"...this pearl," Ieyasu continued to bicker - their voices carrying over the general chaos raging outside, "That stupid bitch doomed us all."
Inuyasha growled at the insult to his mother before shaking his head. It didn't matter. None of it mattered anymore. Let them all rot.
"Go get them," he ordered Kagome firmly, "And then we're getting out of here."