Chapter 2:
A/N: Chapter 2 - Re-post Electric Boogaloo! (10/25/2020)
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha…etc etc yada yada.
The wave of demonic energy cackled and whipped through the air only to disappear just as fast as it arrived. The only proof of its existence was the young demon that it had deposited on the Shrine grounds. Strands of silver settled against sun-kissed skin as pools of gold scanned the scene in front of the young man. Gasps rang through the surrounding area as the festival goers absorbed the scene before them.
"Welcome, my Lord! We thank you for humbling us with your presence on this day."
The demon turned swiftly as he heard the distinct sound of jingling footsteps. 'Well, it's too early for Christmas so…'
The group of holy people took several steps away from their guest, parting to allow the newcomer access.
Standing at six feet and in the classic priest's attire was Inuyasha's best friend: Miroku. Yes, you may think it's strange that a seemingly evil-by-nature demon, such as himself, and a so-called "pure" monk could ever form a friendship but it seemed to work.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me by my name?" he glared at the monk. Inuyasha's ear flickered in annoyance.
"My, my... Aren't you irritable tonight? Why don't you take that stick out of your ass for once and have a good time?" 'Is that familiar enough for you…stupid self-centered je-'
"Miroku!" The monk's eyes widened and he gulped down his fear as he looked up at the demon lord. He couldn't have possibly read his mind…?
"It's good to see you again…" The youkai's eyes softened as he clapped his friend on the shoulder.
Miroku mimicked the gesture. It had been a few months since the two had last seen each other. One of the priestesses nudged Miroku in the side. "Okay, okay!" Miroku cleared his throat and smirked at Inuyasha who rolled his eyes in return.
"Lord Inuyasha, we have prepared a festival in your honor. Please enjoy tonight and bless us by finding your chosen mate within these grounds."
Inuyasha scratched the back of his head as he let out a loud yawn. This is the last place he would rather be today. There were too many scents clogging the air. It was like someone had closed all of the windows on a bus and doused themselves with a cheap knock-off perfume.
Sniff Sniff
Suddenly, a strange scent hit him. A mix of lavender and rain. He turned quickly, not wanting to lose the scent, needing to find its location. His nose twitched as Inuyasha scanned the crowd, shoving people from his line of sight with a flick of his wrist. 'There!'
Just as the scent completely filled his nostrils, his eyes locked with the deepest pools of blue that he had ever seen. He watched as those precious orbs were obscured from his vision by someone's hands and the crowd flocked around him. He growled in annoyance and lifted his red-haori sleeve to his nose. He needed to regain his composure. 'So the hunt begins...'
Time seemed to stop.
Nothing moved. No wind. No sound. She felt her heart pounding against her breast.
Kagome surveyed the silver-haired demon lord that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. He was clad in a rose red kimono and seemed to be scanning the area around him. She stumbled back as her senses came back to her in full force.
Kagome blinked and found that she was surrounded by her fellow festival-goers. When did they get here? She could feel herself being pulled back into the crowd and tried to catch one final glimpse of the youkai. The demonic energy that he exuded rolled over her in waves.
She felt hot.
Her breath seemed to come in small gasps now.
The male demon lifted his head skywards and twitched his nose until his body turned towards her; amber gold eyes met blue and then everything went black.
As if someone had pressed play on an old VCR, time began to tick forward again.
A gust of wind pushed the girl closer to her captor.
Kagome let out a gasp of surprise and reached towards her face. She struggled against the foreign hands that covered her eyes.
The cold air chased away the heat that had covered her and she questioned the momentary sense of loss she felt.
Was this the end? Would she be dragged off and locked away in some guys' torture basement?
"Let go of me, you sick-" Kagome sputtered out as she tried to fight off her attacker, kicking out behind her.
"Hey! Calm down! Watch your feet, Kagome-chan!" The hands left her eyes and she found herself being spun around.
She gazed into the chocolate brown pools of her long time friend, Sango.
"Sango! That was mean!" Kagome exclaimed as she panted for air.
Sango rolled her eyes at the quip of her partner in crime. She knew better than to ask about whatever overly exaggerated kidnapping scenario Kagome had imagined this time.
"I've been looking all over for you - Let's go find some food!" grasping Kagome's hand, Sango dragged her into the crowd, all but missing the look of longing that plagued her friend's face.
Sango linked arms with her best friend as she tugged her around from food stand to food stand. They had been scouring the grounds for at least an hour now. She never wanted to come here. The only reason she hadn't bailed was out of respect for her family and best friend. Sango came from a long line of demon slayers so it made no sense for her to be here. It would be some sort of sick joke to have a demon and demon slayer fated to be mates.
She ducked and weaved with her follower through the crowds. As soon as the Demon Lord had emerged, he was scanning the crowd. While he was speaking to a younger man, his focus seemed to always be on the crowd before him. She had located her best friend just as the pair had locked eyes. She ignored the chill that had ran down her back when she interrupted the moment. The surge of demonic energy had pulsed in her direction, disappearing just as fast.
"Sango-chan?..." Kagome shouted over the noise around her. Sango shook her head and came back to the matter at hand.
"What? Did you say something, Kag-chan?" Sango leaned over towards her friend so she could listen.
"What are we supposed to be doing here exactly? I know it's to celebrate the new Demon Lord but…I don't see much happening." She questioned. Sango tugged her over to a bench and sat her down. "Well, you see…having come from a long line of demon slayers, I can only tell you the basics of what I remember. This festival not only celebrates the new Demon Lord but it gives him the chance to seek out a mate among his fellow youkai and the human population of this area. That's why all of the eligible daughters are here."
"That's pretty barbaric, don't you think?" Kagome mumbled as she played with the collar of her kimono. She remembered her mother explaining it to her but had never seemed to fully grasp the meaning.… or maybe she did. Who knows? She was famous for tuning her mother out.
"Sango, do you think…Sango? Sango!" Kagome snapped at the girl who had her attention focused elsewhere. Kagome took her cheeks in her hands and tried to turn her head in her direction. "Hey! Snap out of it! What the hell are you looking at so intently?" Kagome huffed. She followed Sango's line of sight and let out a groan of annoyance. "Really? Like…really?"
Clad in a thigh high kimono, top slightly parted to reveal pale globes of flesh, was Kikyo, the wicked bitch of the West…err…witch…ummm … Kagome's older cousin.
Kikyo, followed by her gaggle of girls, strutted over to the two friends and gave them a quick once over.
"Kagome, dear, what ever are you wearing? It looks awfully messy…" she trailed off. Kagome looked at her kimono in wonder. The blue material clung to her curves perfectly, no hint of dirt or wrinkle.
"Umm…what are you talking about?" Kagome asked. Sango stepped up to Kikyo and looked her straight in the eyes. Several passersby looked on in interest as they felt the tension in the air.
"Kagome looks beautiful, Kinky-HO. So, why don't you and your pack of mongrels take a long walk off a short pier?" Sango didn't like where this was headed. The older girl always had a problem with her cousin. She didn't know if it stemmed from the ever-so-slight resemblances between the two or some sort of childhood rivalry. Sango didn't care about the reason - she wasn't going to let Kikyo touch her friend.
Kikyo smirked. Snapping her fingers, her two lackeys, Eri and Ayumi, made their move. While Sango had been focused on her Kagome's cousin, she didn't notice the other two place themselves near the other girl. With a grunt, the two females pushed Kagome. They tittered with laughter as they watched her make contact with the ground.
"Not so beautiful now, are we, dear cousin?" Kikyo put her hand over her mouth and stifled an obnoxious laugh as the minions started wiping their dirt covered sandals along Kagome's soiled kimono.
From her spot on the ground, Kagome saw Sango lunged for the two girls, while her cousin looked on with an amused expression.
Kagome could not believe it. Okay, yes should could. This tramp had just gone out of her way to ruin her kimono!
Kikyo had had it out for her ever since they were toddlers. What ever Kagome had, Kikyo wanted. For every pair of new shoes that Kagome got, Kikyo wanted two more. It was a never ending cycle. Now… now she had crossed the line but she was not one for confrontation.
Kagome looked up at the scene before her, fighting back her tears of frustration. All she wanted was to go home. Sango had both of Kikyo's minions in a choke hold.
Ayumi's hair was disheveled and dirt covered her face. Meanwhile, the area around Eri's eye seemed to be turning a nasty puke yellow and patches of her hair could be seen on the ground.
"Let them go, Sango…" Kagome sniffed.
"…but Kagome-!" Sango argued. Her grip loosened considerably but not enough for the two to escape.
Tears streamed down Kagome's face as she heaved herself up and took off in an unknown direction. Behind her, she could hear Sango calling her name as Kikyo used her ear shattering giggle for background music.
A/N: Chugging along like the Little Engine That Could