Inuyasha glared at the woman to whom his life was now tied to. Gods, he hated her.
There she was, sitting in a sun filled meadow, making flower crowns as laughing children ran around her. She was smiling and having fun and completely unaware of the life she had ruined.
Well, technically a life her sister had ruined, but since that one was dead, the blame lied with this one. After all, if she didn't exist, Inuyasha would be free to do as he pleased.
The memory of that day had Inuyasha growling and digging his claws into the tree branch he was hiding on. That one fucking day.
He watched as she placed the crown on the head of one of the kids and then told them all to head back home. He watched as the children argued back and said that they wanted to stay with her a little longer. Watched as she promised to play with them tomorrow if they hurried home. And he watched as the kids pouted but finally, finally, did as she asked and left the meadow, leaving the woman alone. Alone and vulnerable.
Kagome was aware of the eyes on her, she had been for a few days now. She was sure the presence was demonic but there was no malice and it didn't feel like her life was in danger. Still, she send the children away in hopes that the creature would finally show itself and reveal it's intentions. This waiting game was driving her up the wall.
Kagome lay back into the soft grass and waited, her hand closing around the bow she had hidden among the flowers. Just because she didn't think the presence wanted to harm her, didn't mean she was going to be dumb about it.
Frustration started to build as time ticked by. Unlike Kikyo, patience was not one of Kagome's strengths. Kikyo would have no trouble spending hours here, just waiting and never revealing how bored she was. That, or she would have just demanded that the demon show themselves, but Kagome wanted to give them the space to come out when they were ready.
With a sigh, she let her thoughts wander back to her sister. Kikyo had been traveling for the last two months so it would be time for the priestess to return soon. Kagome wasn't sure how she felt about it.
Growing up, the two had been close but once the priestess training had started... Kikyo changed. Her only focus was on her studies. She refused to join Kagome and the other village girls when they headed off to the springs together, she didn't want to gossip about the boys who tried to catch their attention, she didn't care about anything that didn't have to do with being a priestess. And while Kagome still loved and missed her sister when she was gone... she was also a little relived whenever the older girl left.
Kikyo had a way of making Kagome feel like she wasn't enough. She didn't spend enough time practicing archery and other forms of fighting, she didn't spend all the sunny days locked inside and reading over ancient texts, she wasted too much time with the other girls, giggling and talking about unimportant things.
And it wasn't like Kagome didn't take becoming a priestess seriously -she did. She liked giving blessings and making protective charms, and learning about healing herbs and their uses was something she could spent hours doing, but she also wanted there to be more to her life than just being a priestess. Kikyo did not approve of that.
Suddenly, Kagome felt a shift in the air. She sat up and looked to the side from where a red-clad demon was approaching.
"You took your time," was all she could think to say. Kagome eyed the demon, admiring the adorable ears on top of his head. Rather un-priestess-like thought of touching those fluffy -looking triangles popped in to her head. He had stopped before reaching her, but she could still see the gold of his eyes and the snarl on his face.
"Wanted to be sure that there'd be no kids coming back to interrupt us." His voice was low and it sent shivers down her spine.
"Would there be something to interrupt?" Kagome raised an eyebrow and watched as the demon blinked at her before he scowled, light blush coloring his cheeks.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Wench. I'm here for business," he growled.
"Who said it was in the gutter? I was just wondering what you wanted with me, you're the one who jumped to conclusions about my meaning." The blush and the scowl both deepened.
"Enough! Like I said, there's business to deal with. I ain't got time for games," he snapped. "You're the priestess of this sorry village?"
"I am, but if you need help with something complicated, you're out of luck. The head priestess has not returned from her travels yet," Kagome hummed and tried to keep the curiosity from showing in her voice. Kikyo often told her that it was for the best to take an indifferent attitude when dealing with unknown things and people. 'Never show your true feelings' she'd say.
'What could this demon want with a priestess?' Kagome wondered. She was sure he wasn't here to kill, her instincts had never failed her and they were telling her this demon was not a threat to her or the village.
Was he in need of a healer? He didn't look injured, but maybe someone close to him was? Maybe he had gotten a human girl pregnant and needed someone to deliver the baby. Most healers and midwives refused to deal with demons and would rather kill than help a human woman who had meddled with one.
"You're Kagome, right? I need you to undo a curse that was put on me."
Kagome blinked at him. That was not what she expected. She knew that her reputation as a healer was well known in the area, but breaking a curse wasn't something she'd ever done. Why would he come to her with this?
"I don't think I can help you with that. You'll have to wait for Kikyo to return, she's far better at that type of thing." Of course, whether or not Kikyo would help a demon was another matter.
"Kikyo can't help me with this since she ain't coming back." Kagome stilled at his words.
Then, quickly, she tightened her grip on her bow, used her other hand to grab an arrow from the ground, stood up and took aim.
"What are you talking about? What did you do to her?" Her voice was harsher than she'd ever heard it before. Even when the worst scenarios rushed through her brain and it felt difficult to breath, her eyes and weapon staying aimed steadily at him.
"Relax. I didn't do anything but I will break your fucking arm off if you try shooting at me," the demon spat, not happy with the accusation.
"Then what did you mean by Kikyo not coming back?"
"What do you think? It means she's dead but I wasn't the one who killed her."
It felt like her world had tipped over. Then it felt like her heart -that had just moments ago tried to beat itself out of her chest- would never move again. Kagome struggled to stop her eyes from tearing up.
When she next spoke, her voice came out strangled, "You're lying. Kikyo isn't dead. I would know if she were. I would have felt something." Kagome forced her arrow just a little further back on the bow, her arms trembling. "Now, what the hell do you want?"
"Look, I don't know what you expected, but I watched her bleed out and I talked to her as she died," he still sounded annoyed but there was also a softness to his eyes. Like he was just now realizing the weight of his words.
"And why would I ever believe that you had nothing to do with her death?" Kagome hissed. Her mind refusing to believe anything he said.
"If I had killed her, the last thing I would be doing is messing with her sister, who also happens to be a priestess. I ain't suicidal." He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. He still needed Kagome's help and pissing her off would not make it easier. "I was tracking down a demon and when I found him, he was fighting Kikyo. He was the one who killed her but she also wounded him badly enough that -rather than stay and fight- he ran off when he saw me."
"And why would you bother coming here to tell me of my sister's passing? You don't seem like the sentimental type." Kagome was trying her best not to believe him, but the voice inside her kept telling her to trust him. ...But she couldn't do that -trusting him meant that Kikyo was dead...and she wasn't, Kikyo couldn't be.
"I'm here because the last thing your dear sister did was curse me. Only you can undo it," his snarl was back, the memory souring his already bad mood.
"And you want me to believe that you didn't have anything to do with her alleged demise. If Kikyo cursed you, she would have had a reason for it." Kagome was struggling to keep her composure. Her emotions and thoughts were all over the place and holding the arrow knocked was starting to take it's toll on her arms. She needed to decided soon what she would do. Demons were fast and strong, so Kagome would have to make a lethal shot on her first try. She didn't like her chances at hand to hand combat against the demons claws.
Inuyasha was cursing in his head. The conversation was not going how he had planned and from the looks of it, Kagome was getting ready to put an arrow through him. "For the last fucking time: I had nothing to do with Kikyo's death! The one who killed her was Naraku and-" Inuyasha didn't get further in his explanation when the priestess suddenly dropped her bow.
"Naraku," she whispered, voice weak. She staggered back a few steps, shaking her head. "No, no, no, no," a sob broke out of her as she fell to her knees. "I believe you. He did it. Naraku killed her."
And then she passed out, leaving Inuyasha stumped and wondering what the hell he was supposed to do with an unconscious priestess.