Ok. Down to the nitty gritty for the second time. Inu Yasha isnt mine. ;-;
waaaaaaiiii!
The soles of his bare feet padded quietly on the thick soft, soil as he walked. Occasionally a crunching under his toes signified that he walked over a mound of dry leaves, most likely from a grove of gnarled oak trees he passed. The day was radiant and bright, filling the air with the heat of midday. The forest sang with the twitters and chirps of birds cozied in their nests or calling out in search of their mate. All this was routine to Inu Yasha, so he paid little heed to the sounds. As usual, he paced over mossy ground with his hands tucked comfortably deep inside his blood colored kimono. This time, instead of running at his abnormally swift pace, he let the wind guide his feet. He was in search of something and didn't want to miss the slightest hint in the air as to where it might be.
"Damn roots" he scowled as he nearly tripped over an exposed root curling sharply up from the ground. This knee-high obstacle appeared numerous times throughout his walk, yet he never seemed to be able to predict when to expect it. Unfurling his ivory claws, he reached up to grab a falling tree limb tangled in inumerous vines. With his hanyou strength alone, he swung himself over the root and landed on the opposite side of it; his feet never once touched the ground nor did a leaf rustle and fall from the branch he grasped. His grace was undeniable. In the distance off to his left he heard a muffled growl that ceased almost as quickly as it was heard. Wolves. Stirring from their dens to submit a warning to intruders who happened to stumble into the alpha male's territory.
By this time Inu Yasha's pure hair had become tangled and thickly matted to his forehead by sweat. Day had taken its toll and abused his delicate flesh: his cheeks were flustered red and he panted heavily as he pressed onward. His skin was also transformed by the beaming sun, for it was now a rich tan that complemented his eye color. Yes, those eyes...those golden orbs that blazed even in daylight and fiercely punctured the night with thoughtful stares. All these features made up the creature lost to the demon world and unaccepted into the human one. The hanyou, Inu Yasha.
Suddenly he paused, arriving at his destination but stopping short from withdrawing himself from the forest. With a blink he crouched against shrubbery and watched her. Kagome sat at the lake's edge, quietly seated on the damp banks. She had not noticed Inu Yasha's prescence and therefore continued with her almost inaudible humming.
"Wha..What the Hell is she doing?" Inu Yasha asked. Something was out of place. He scanned his eyes over her figure which was stripped of her usual white shirt-red bow-green skirt school uniform. Instead she wore a priestess's robes...Kikyo's robes. Calmly he sat and observed Kagome as she ran her hands along either side of her head to gather her onyx hair by the handful. She spared two lengthly pieces that hung just before her ears and tied the rest back in a thin red clasp, later pulling the very ends of the braids back into the clasp so that they formed loops that dangled just over her shoulder. Kagome then leaned over the water's edge to peer at her reflection. The realization hit him. She looked like...
"Kikyo..." Inu Yasha growled in rage, standing to push greenery out of his way. "How dare she! Doesn't she know that it only hurts me more!? Stupid wench! She's dead! Let her memory rest in peace! You can look like her but you'll never be her!" He threw his body from the concealing arms of trees and shadow into the clearing only to be stopped short and thrown to the ground by a powerful electrical charge. Clenching his fists, he sat up on his elbows and cursed the now visible barrier between Kagome and himself. It stood erect, sturdy, tall, and unrelenting in its task of separation. Every so often his eyes would catch a blue spark trailing from the ground up into the endless mazes of leaves and branches, never faltering in power. Still shaken from the unexpected assault, he stumbled to his feet, steadying himself on the ground with a tight fist and bent knee.
"Uhn. Where the Hell did that come from?" Standing back to brace himself, his right hand shot forward towards the barrier. It was taken aback when a current ripped through his fingertips and shot up his arm, igniting a silver spark offset by his hair.
"Aaaah..damn it!" Inu Yasha yelped, trying to shake away the numbing pain in his wrist. "Kagome!" he called. She didnt answer.
"Does she even know I'm here? Kagome!" He had grown impatient with the obstacle before him and thus, drew Tetsusaiga. It tore from its sheath with a metallic resounding and grew in length, its blade nearly penetrating the dome that surrounded Inu Yasha. Just as he readied himself to swing, his attention was caught again by the sight of Kagome. This time, a dark figure loomed over her; black as midnight with shining jagged crystals scattered about its form. Jewel shards in all their splendor gleaming in the night. Stunned, Inu Yasha lowered his sword and forced his eyes to focus as the formation stepped into the night.
"Darkness..already? But it was just the middle of the--" He was cut short as Naraku's body was bathed in soft moonlight, his lips stretched in a patronizing smirk and his face clear of all emotion.
"Naraku!" Inu Yasha shifted and made the gesture to beat on the barrier with his fist but was quickly reminded of the consequences. Slowly Naraku's auburn eyes drifted in his direction to stare emptily at him, his lips now curling back into a flawless, pearled smile. Inu Yasha's breathing had become unstable as his chest heaved and his heart beat at his rib cage from an adrenaline rush.
"You...I won't let you kill another woman. Kagome turn around! Look behind you!" Inu Yasha yelled with all the power his tight vocal chords would allow, yet he was not heard. Kagome had sat up and smiled as if she was in a dream, oblivious to Naraku's prescence. Just as she lifted her chin, she tilted her head backwards, revealing her soft, placid throat; she looked like a sacrifice with her hands in her lap that wore a virgin smile hidden under black hair. Inu Yasha's eyes went wide as he saw Naraku look down at her and lift his open palm into the air.
"No...Kagomeeeeeeee!!!!" Naraku's hand cut the air...
"You bastaaaaaard!!!" Inu Yasha yelled, throwing his shoulder against the unforgiving barrier.
The air was painted crimson. The lush grass pooled with red. Kagome's body went limp in cold blood.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Inu Yasha awoke to the sound of his own terrified voice searing a gash into the night. He was balanced on a narrow branch high above the ground. The leaves that swept before his face were fogged over by his labored breathing and he fought to maintain his position on the limb. Carefully, he ran his slim fingers through his bangs, swiping them from his eyes as he threw a leg over the branch and descended back to soft soil.
"Ugh. Not again. It's the same every night." His ears flicked as he tossed his head into the air, intent on locating Miroku's whereabouts by scent. Within seconds he picked up his location and bounded north, allowing his feet to travel as quickly as possible for he knew that, even for a youkai, stumbling around in those parts of the woods was dangerous at night. It took no longer than five minutes to cover the half mile he walked earlier that day whose end brought him in clear view of a lake with stones scattered on its banks. For the most part, the crystalline water was empty and still until Inu Yasha made his way closer. To the right he spotted Miroku leaning quietly against a rock jutting up from the waters.
"Inu Yasha. Im awake." Miroku's gentle voice poured from his lips as he opened his eyes, stopping Inu Yasha in his tracks.
"Mm. So you are awake. I didn't want to disturb you" he said, pulling each side of his kimono and cream colored shirt away from his shoulders. Naturally his canine instincts influenced him to despise baths but this time was different. His head pounded with anxiety and his body was tense with stress.
"Coming to join me I see." Miroku laughed, shifting his position to pull the black tie from his slick black hair that dangled just above his curving shoulders.
"Tch." Inu Yasha huffed, allowing his remaining garments to slide to the ground as he waded into thigh high water. He found himself a comfortable spot across from the monk: a rock just far enough to keep a comfortable distance. Suddenly Miroku's voice slithered into his flinching ears.
"Why don't you tell her? You know she loves you."
"Stay out of it. You don't know anything." He submerged himself momentarily and surfaced, gasping for air. His white hair hung heavily over damp, toned shoulders as droplets of clear water ran along the carves and curves of his chest. Over all, he seemed to glisten in the thick moonlight, the silver spinkles shining like diamonds thrown about his skin. He turned his back and clenched his fists, staring at Miroku over his shoulder.
"I dont wan't to talk about it so drop it. Besides, it's none of your business."
"It is my business" Miroku interjected, looking up to face him while fondling the beads woven around his fingers and wrist. "It's to easy to see. It's written all over your face. Just a shame that you can face any demon opposition, even Naraku himself, yet you can not admit what's in your heart to a woman. My master told me that even the bravest warrior can be a coward."
Inu Yasha turned, sending a violent wave of water in the monk's direction."Look. You don't know what it's like! I said leave me alone! I only love one woman in this world and that's Kikyo. Dead or not. So you can go to Hell! Kagome's just helping me look for the jewel shards so this nightmare can end!"
"Mmm." Miroku sighed. /...You may love only one woman in this world...but what about a woman in another?/ He gathered a cupped palm full of water and applied it to his face calmly. Once the water ceased streaming down over his eyes, he looked in Inu Yasha's direction to find nothing but empty air. His clothes were gone. Nothing was left but a portion of ripples where he once stood and kitsune Shippou stirring in his sleep under a bush.
Okies. Thanks to all those that reviewed the first chapter of my fic. ^_^ I hope I brought you a little something to snack on until I write up another chapter. Note the Youkai and Perverted Monk taking a bath. Waaaaai!! ^0^ !! Who wouldnt love to see that? If you guys are lucky...oo; ..Ill draw a manga scene of that and post it. More reviews!! And let me know if I get out of character or if you wanna make suggesstions or anything.
Inu Yasha:....I don't like to take baths. ~_~ ..AND it sounded like Miroku was hitting on me when I was about to take a bath in the lake...
Miroku: -is suddenly distracted from grasping Sango's rear by his comment- What? -bristles- Yea right. Get over yourself dog boy. _O;;
The soles of his bare feet padded quietly on the thick soft, soil as he walked. Occasionally a crunching under his toes signified that he walked over a mound of dry leaves, most likely from a grove of gnarled oak trees he passed. The day was radiant and bright, filling the air with the heat of midday. The forest sang with the twitters and chirps of birds cozied in their nests or calling out in search of their mate. All this was routine to Inu Yasha, so he paid little heed to the sounds. As usual, he paced over mossy ground with his hands tucked comfortably deep inside his blood colored kimono. This time, instead of running at his abnormally swift pace, he let the wind guide his feet. He was in search of something and didn't want to miss the slightest hint in the air as to where it might be.
"Damn roots" he scowled as he nearly tripped over an exposed root curling sharply up from the ground. This knee-high obstacle appeared numerous times throughout his walk, yet he never seemed to be able to predict when to expect it. Unfurling his ivory claws, he reached up to grab a falling tree limb tangled in inumerous vines. With his hanyou strength alone, he swung himself over the root and landed on the opposite side of it; his feet never once touched the ground nor did a leaf rustle and fall from the branch he grasped. His grace was undeniable. In the distance off to his left he heard a muffled growl that ceased almost as quickly as it was heard. Wolves. Stirring from their dens to submit a warning to intruders who happened to stumble into the alpha male's territory.
By this time Inu Yasha's pure hair had become tangled and thickly matted to his forehead by sweat. Day had taken its toll and abused his delicate flesh: his cheeks were flustered red and he panted heavily as he pressed onward. His skin was also transformed by the beaming sun, for it was now a rich tan that complemented his eye color. Yes, those eyes...those golden orbs that blazed even in daylight and fiercely punctured the night with thoughtful stares. All these features made up the creature lost to the demon world and unaccepted into the human one. The hanyou, Inu Yasha.
Suddenly he paused, arriving at his destination but stopping short from withdrawing himself from the forest. With a blink he crouched against shrubbery and watched her. Kagome sat at the lake's edge, quietly seated on the damp banks. She had not noticed Inu Yasha's prescence and therefore continued with her almost inaudible humming.
"Wha..What the Hell is she doing?" Inu Yasha asked. Something was out of place. He scanned his eyes over her figure which was stripped of her usual white shirt-red bow-green skirt school uniform. Instead she wore a priestess's robes...Kikyo's robes. Calmly he sat and observed Kagome as she ran her hands along either side of her head to gather her onyx hair by the handful. She spared two lengthly pieces that hung just before her ears and tied the rest back in a thin red clasp, later pulling the very ends of the braids back into the clasp so that they formed loops that dangled just over her shoulder. Kagome then leaned over the water's edge to peer at her reflection. The realization hit him. She looked like...
"Kikyo..." Inu Yasha growled in rage, standing to push greenery out of his way. "How dare she! Doesn't she know that it only hurts me more!? Stupid wench! She's dead! Let her memory rest in peace! You can look like her but you'll never be her!" He threw his body from the concealing arms of trees and shadow into the clearing only to be stopped short and thrown to the ground by a powerful electrical charge. Clenching his fists, he sat up on his elbows and cursed the now visible barrier between Kagome and himself. It stood erect, sturdy, tall, and unrelenting in its task of separation. Every so often his eyes would catch a blue spark trailing from the ground up into the endless mazes of leaves and branches, never faltering in power. Still shaken from the unexpected assault, he stumbled to his feet, steadying himself on the ground with a tight fist and bent knee.
"Uhn. Where the Hell did that come from?" Standing back to brace himself, his right hand shot forward towards the barrier. It was taken aback when a current ripped through his fingertips and shot up his arm, igniting a silver spark offset by his hair.
"Aaaah..damn it!" Inu Yasha yelped, trying to shake away the numbing pain in his wrist. "Kagome!" he called. She didnt answer.
"Does she even know I'm here? Kagome!" He had grown impatient with the obstacle before him and thus, drew Tetsusaiga. It tore from its sheath with a metallic resounding and grew in length, its blade nearly penetrating the dome that surrounded Inu Yasha. Just as he readied himself to swing, his attention was caught again by the sight of Kagome. This time, a dark figure loomed over her; black as midnight with shining jagged crystals scattered about its form. Jewel shards in all their splendor gleaming in the night. Stunned, Inu Yasha lowered his sword and forced his eyes to focus as the formation stepped into the night.
"Darkness..already? But it was just the middle of the--" He was cut short as Naraku's body was bathed in soft moonlight, his lips stretched in a patronizing smirk and his face clear of all emotion.
"Naraku!" Inu Yasha shifted and made the gesture to beat on the barrier with his fist but was quickly reminded of the consequences. Slowly Naraku's auburn eyes drifted in his direction to stare emptily at him, his lips now curling back into a flawless, pearled smile. Inu Yasha's breathing had become unstable as his chest heaved and his heart beat at his rib cage from an adrenaline rush.
"You...I won't let you kill another woman. Kagome turn around! Look behind you!" Inu Yasha yelled with all the power his tight vocal chords would allow, yet he was not heard. Kagome had sat up and smiled as if she was in a dream, oblivious to Naraku's prescence. Just as she lifted her chin, she tilted her head backwards, revealing her soft, placid throat; she looked like a sacrifice with her hands in her lap that wore a virgin smile hidden under black hair. Inu Yasha's eyes went wide as he saw Naraku look down at her and lift his open palm into the air.
"No...Kagomeeeeeeee!!!!" Naraku's hand cut the air...
"You bastaaaaaard!!!" Inu Yasha yelled, throwing his shoulder against the unforgiving barrier.
The air was painted crimson. The lush grass pooled with red. Kagome's body went limp in cold blood.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Inu Yasha awoke to the sound of his own terrified voice searing a gash into the night. He was balanced on a narrow branch high above the ground. The leaves that swept before his face were fogged over by his labored breathing and he fought to maintain his position on the limb. Carefully, he ran his slim fingers through his bangs, swiping them from his eyes as he threw a leg over the branch and descended back to soft soil.
"Ugh. Not again. It's the same every night." His ears flicked as he tossed his head into the air, intent on locating Miroku's whereabouts by scent. Within seconds he picked up his location and bounded north, allowing his feet to travel as quickly as possible for he knew that, even for a youkai, stumbling around in those parts of the woods was dangerous at night. It took no longer than five minutes to cover the half mile he walked earlier that day whose end brought him in clear view of a lake with stones scattered on its banks. For the most part, the crystalline water was empty and still until Inu Yasha made his way closer. To the right he spotted Miroku leaning quietly against a rock jutting up from the waters.
"Inu Yasha. Im awake." Miroku's gentle voice poured from his lips as he opened his eyes, stopping Inu Yasha in his tracks.
"Mm. So you are awake. I didn't want to disturb you" he said, pulling each side of his kimono and cream colored shirt away from his shoulders. Naturally his canine instincts influenced him to despise baths but this time was different. His head pounded with anxiety and his body was tense with stress.
"Coming to join me I see." Miroku laughed, shifting his position to pull the black tie from his slick black hair that dangled just above his curving shoulders.
"Tch." Inu Yasha huffed, allowing his remaining garments to slide to the ground as he waded into thigh high water. He found himself a comfortable spot across from the monk: a rock just far enough to keep a comfortable distance. Suddenly Miroku's voice slithered into his flinching ears.
"Why don't you tell her? You know she loves you."
"Stay out of it. You don't know anything." He submerged himself momentarily and surfaced, gasping for air. His white hair hung heavily over damp, toned shoulders as droplets of clear water ran along the carves and curves of his chest. Over all, he seemed to glisten in the thick moonlight, the silver spinkles shining like diamonds thrown about his skin. He turned his back and clenched his fists, staring at Miroku over his shoulder.
"I dont wan't to talk about it so drop it. Besides, it's none of your business."
"It is my business" Miroku interjected, looking up to face him while fondling the beads woven around his fingers and wrist. "It's to easy to see. It's written all over your face. Just a shame that you can face any demon opposition, even Naraku himself, yet you can not admit what's in your heart to a woman. My master told me that even the bravest warrior can be a coward."
Inu Yasha turned, sending a violent wave of water in the monk's direction."Look. You don't know what it's like! I said leave me alone! I only love one woman in this world and that's Kikyo. Dead or not. So you can go to Hell! Kagome's just helping me look for the jewel shards so this nightmare can end!"
"Mmm." Miroku sighed. /...You may love only one woman in this world...but what about a woman in another?/ He gathered a cupped palm full of water and applied it to his face calmly. Once the water ceased streaming down over his eyes, he looked in Inu Yasha's direction to find nothing but empty air. His clothes were gone. Nothing was left but a portion of ripples where he once stood and kitsune Shippou stirring in his sleep under a bush.
Okies. Thanks to all those that reviewed the first chapter of my fic. ^_^ I hope I brought you a little something to snack on until I write up another chapter. Note the Youkai and Perverted Monk taking a bath. Waaaaai!! ^0^ !! Who wouldnt love to see that? If you guys are lucky...oo; ..Ill draw a manga scene of that and post it. More reviews!! And let me know if I get out of character or if you wanna make suggesstions or anything.
Inu Yasha:....I don't like to take baths. ~_~ ..AND it sounded like Miroku was hitting on me when I was about to take a bath in the lake...
Miroku: -is suddenly distracted from grasping Sango's rear by his comment- What? -bristles- Yea right. Get over yourself dog boy. _O;;