"Beneath the Howling Stars"
Chapter 2
Knowing the Man Inside
On the seas
February 2, 1759
Kagome inhaled the salty air of the sea, a feeling of tranquility passing over her as she watched the red ball of flame that was the sun set beneath the horizon. It was getting dark and she had just finished unpacking her belongings inside the cabin she was given. She felt like she had been sailing all of her life, for she truly was in love with the sea and its many fathomless mysteries now. She had let her hair down now, and it blew in tangles as the wind combed its fingers through the long midnight strands. She was not aware of a pair of golden eyes that watched her from afar.
Inuyasha leaned one shoulder against a wooden beam, his hawk-like eyes gazing intently at the beautiful dark haired girl standing on the main deck, who was watching the setting sun with an expression of wondrous awe. There was something about her, he thought, something unique, but I can't put my finger on it. He shook his head of the ponderings and went to greet her.
"How are your sea legs?"
Kagome turned at the sound of his voice, a smile curving on her lips. "They're perfectly fine, I was afraid that I might get a bit sea sick."
Inuyasha laughed, "Well, I'm glad you didn't. It would have been hell trying to live with you if you kept throwing up everyday."
"I bet it would."
"So what do you think of the sea?"
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, "Oh, I absolutely love it! It makes me feel like I'm free, that there is no hindrance whatsoever."
"You turned out all right, Kagome. I thought you would be some stuck up snob, but you aren't. Sesshoumaru was right to choose you."
"Oh, well," she reddened.
Inuyasha sniffed the air suddenly, licking his lips. "Hmm, it smells like Cook has gotten supper up. Let's go eat." He gestured for her to follow him to a table that was set up for two a few feet away. She sat down opposite him and placed a napkin delicately on her lap. The only items on the table were two large plates, forks and knives and a single candle.
A dumpy gray haired woman wearing an apron came tumbling out of the kitchen cabin carrying two trays. It was a wonder she didn't drop it all. She had a round, cheerful face and her bright green eyes were very warm and open. She put the food on their plates; there were fresh buttered toast, croissants, fried fish, and a large juicy steak topped with exotic sauces. There was red wine and cold water. It all smelled delicious. She gave Kagome a warm smile and scowled at Inuyasha. Before he could open his mouth, she said, "Now, Inuyasha, I'll be doing all the introductions here."
She looked at Kagome and winked at her. "Hello, dear. My name's Elizabette Beucet, but everyone around here calls me Cook. I'll be cooking all your meals for you so don't you worry yourself over the food. There'll be breakfast, lunch and supper everyday, and if you miss it, it's not my fault. All though I do make exceptions sometimes. I think you've met my husband, Quincy; he's one of the sailors on board. He was talking about a particularly pretty lady who asked him for the captain this morning."
Kagome blushed at this, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame. I hope I shall get to know you and your husband better." Her husband must have been the man with all the gold teeth, she thought.
"Oh, just call me Cook, there aren't any Madams and Monsieurs here, girl. You have plenty of time to get acquainted. We'll be stuck on Eternity for awhile, I bet, with all these matters Inuyasha has to tend to."
Inuyasha cleared his throat loudly.
Cook laughed, "I think it is time I left you two alone. Inuyasha seems to want to talk to you only." She sashayed herself from their table, humming a tune to herself.
Kagome smiled, "So that's Cook. I like her, she seems very nice."
Inuyasha grinned. "Yeah, who doesn't? I'm fond of her; she's like a second mother to me. She's been with me since I was a little toddler learning to walk."
"You two must be very close."
"Yep, she cooks the best steak in all of Europe," Inuyasha said proudly, digging into the huge juicy steak in front of him. He tore at the meat with his hands and bit off a large chunk, chewing hurriedly.
Kagome watched him devour the entire thing under 15 seconds with her mouth hanging slightly open. Her plate of food lay forgotten, and her fork held midway to her mouth, as she was too busy looking at him wolf down the bowl of soup, croissants, and stripped the fish to its skeleton. When he finished, he looked at her and gave her such a cheesy smile that she had to laugh.
"Hey, I wasn't renown for my manners," he said, licking his fingers. He took out a huge napkin and wiped his messy mouth clean.
"What are you known for?" Kagome asked, beginning to eat at last. Hmm, it was delicious; Cook sure could whip up a fine meal.
Inuyasha leaned back in his chair, and started picking his teeth. "Didn't Sesshoumaru tell you? I'm the black sheep of the family, the wild one, you might say. I love adventure, sword fighting, and things like that. I never was the one for fancy clothes and stiff manners of the rich. You know, I could have stayed and lived off of Sesshoumaru for the rest of my life, lord knows that bastard's filthy rich, but I didn't. I wanted to go and make my own fortune, and I must say, I'm quite enjoying it, all the adventures and treasures I've amassed."
"Really, where have you been? What business besides ship building are you in?"
"I've been around the world, almost everywhere. Egypt, Singapore, Cambodia, South America, you just name it. I'm somewhat of an explorer, to fund for my trips, I use the money from a small fortune my father left for me, and sometimes, I tend to try my hands at cards."
"Oh, I'd love to hear about your adventures! To think how many wondrous places you've been, yet you look so young, how old are you?"
"Alas, Kagome, I'm only a measly 17 years. I'm not even rightfully a man."
"You have a lot of time ahead of you," Kagome. "I wouldn't say you aren't. I don't believe age matters at all. To be a man to me is to have that level of intelligence, maturity, experience and honesty. I think you already are, Inuyasha."
"Why, thank you Kagome." He grinned at her. He reached out and kissed her hand.
Kagome laughed. "You must have women all over you back home, Inuyasha. So tell me, who is your special lady?"
His cheerful mood faded away right there before her eyes. He became solemn, his eyes withdrawn. He seemed to change into a whole other person. She was surprised to see such hurt and pain in his beautiful eyes. "Yeah, there was someone. We were going to get married. Of course, Sesshoumaru objected to it, said she wasn't the right one for me, said I was too young to know any better." He put his hand on the back of his head, and ran his fingers through the thick white strands. "I guess he was right. She was killed two days before we planned eloped." His shoulders shook with his painful loss.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. She must have been very special to you." Kagome reached out and took his hand in hers, trying to give him some comfort.
"Yeah," he looked off in the distance, his voice very far away. "Beautiful as the full moon, with eyes like black pearls," Inuyasha shook his head, and cleared his throat, gaining back his composure. "Well, enough about me. Let's talk about you."
She resisted the urge to ask him more about his past. She told him about her grandfather, mother and brother and their house in Paris, the city of love. She talked about how tired she was of the old life, with its many endless balls, proposals, and shallow worries. Inuyasha listened with an interested ear, he understood her perfectly. That was how he'd felt back at home. Stifled and out of place.
"Hey, guys! Come on and join the fun!" Quincy waved at them, his gold teeth flashing in the candlelight. The sailors were singing and dancing to a folk song, played on the violin by a thin man, Jacques. They laughed and got up from their seats to join in.
"Shall we dance?" Inuyasha bowed to her and she curtsied like a true lady. They danced to a fast song, singing along with the tune. The sailors cheered them on as they twirled around the deck, increasing the tempo. Soon Jacques ended the song with a loud finale and started a slow one.
Inuyasha drew Kagome to him, waiting for her to protest at being too close to him, but she didn't. She leaned into him more until their bodies were touching. He stared down at her beautiful flushed face and cursed Sesshoumaru for finding her first. Her scent of roses and the feel of her pressed against his naked chest were too arousing. His hand around her waist tightened, for all he felt was softness there, not the feel of a hard corset. She wasn't wearing one; this girl was full of surprises. He pressed the side of his face to her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin, a forbidden softness he wanted to touch with his hands but didn't dare.
"What are you thinking about?" Kagome asked.
"You."
She blushed an enchanting red. He noticed she had a small dimple in the left corner of her mouth. The song ended and they went to catch their breaths.
She was breathing fast from the exertion of all that dancing, her warm brown eyes shimmering like the bright stars in the night sky. Her dark hair clung to her sweaty face in soft curls, those soft lips parted in a smile just for him. She leaned against the rail, looking at him with an expression he couldn't read.
He fought the urge to kiss her right then and there, with no thought that she was his brother's betrothed, to hell with that. But he knew that Sesshoumaru would kill him if he found out that Inuyasha had kissed his woman.
"Inuyasha, look," she pointed at the sky where a shooting star flew by. "Make a wish," she whispered.
I wish we could be like this, he thought, without the worries, and the pain of the past. I wish to be happy again.
As he lay in bed that night, looking up at the twinkling stars through the window above his head, he thought it was a magical moment when they saw that shooting star. It meant something to him, though he wouldn't know why yet. His eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off into sleep's welcoming arms.
Kagome woke up at the sound of an enraged animal cry. It sounded like it was in great pain. It was coming from next door, Inuyasha? She bolted out of bed, forgetting to put on a robe over her thin shift and ran out into the dark hallway with her candle burning softly. It was coming from Inuyasha's cabin, and the cries were getting louder and louder. She slid the door open cautiously, not sure of what was going on. The room was pitch black, besides the light of the silver moon that was cast over his bed from the ceiling window.
Inuyasha was thrashing wildly about, and he had flung the covers off his bed. He still had on his breeches. His sword lay nearby on the dressing table. She went over to him and touched his shoulder, starting to shake him awake. He lashed out at her and almost hit her in the stomach before his eyes opened. They didn't seem to focus on anything as they stared blankly at her face. "Inuyasha?" Kagome reached down and touched his sweat drenched face. He was breathing in short gasps, like there wasn't enough air in the room.
"He killed her, he killed her, the bastard!" Inuyasha's golden eyes glowed with an illuminant brightness that frightened her a bit. Kagome came on his bed and pulled him into her lap. She put his face near her heart, and his breathing becoming steadier and calmer as she quieted him with her soft words.
"Shh," Kagome said soothingly. "It'll be all right, Inuyasha, you just had a nightmare," she said, weaving her fingers through his hair and rubbing his back like a mother would her baby. Her heart ached for him, and she couldn't bear seeing him so lost and out of place like this. What had caused him to have such a nightmare? It certainly wasn't anything that happened today.
"K-Kagome?" Inuyasha spoke then, his voice shaky. His body tensed, as if he just realized that she really was there.
"Yes, I'm here."
He pulled away from her and put his face in his hands, trembling. "I- I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For waking you up like this. You should have just ignored it like everyone else." He wiped the cold sweat of his brow, feeling angry with himself for letting her see him like this, this vulnerable. He was supposed to strong.
Her brown eyes widened at that, "They let you go on like this? But why?"
"It happens all the time, so don't bother yourself next time, all right? Sesshoumaru wouldn't like it if his fiancée was up all night tending to me."
"I can't do that, Inuyasha. I don't like to see anybody in pain, I just couldn't bear it." She felt something sticky and wet on her fingers and raised her hand up to take a look. It was blood. She looked down at the white sheets and saw blood drops and streaks of red everywhere. "Inuyasha, you're bleeding!"
He didn't seem to be surprised at this. "Yeah, I know. Damn cuts won't heal, and I had to have the sheets changed everyday. It gets annoying." He winced when she reached out to touch one.
"Doesn't anyone know how to tend to injuries around here?" Kagome looked in shock as she surveyed the bloody damage his back had sustained.
"Eh, I wouldn't think so. Cook just knows how to make dinner and wash the laundry. Everybody else does their own thing on the ship."
"Oh my god, no wonder."
"No wonder what?"
"No wonder your back hasn't healed yet." She frowned at him, "Now, you go lay down and I'll be right back." She got off the bed and went out the door to her room.
"Hey, what are you planning to do?" Inuyasha called out to her.
"To fix you up, of course," Kagome came back a few minutes later with a large black box. She sat it next to the bed and took out a container labeled "Herbal Healing Ointment."
"Now, roll onto your stomach so I can see your back."
He did as he was told, grumbling, "I really don't see the point to this."
She got a washcloth and dipped in the bowl of water and cleaned all the blood from his back. She then scooped a handful of that jelly like substance from the container into her hands and rubbed it in small, circular motions all over his stinging back. It smelled like mint and wasn't stinky at all. He sighed, liking the feel of her delicate hands soothing the aching cuts on his raw skin and her calming voice. "Where did you get this stuff?" Inuyasha asked curiously.
"It's kind of strange really, I saw an Oriental man in the streets when I was coming to your ship, selling these large black boxes. It piqued my interest so I went to see what was in them. To my surprise it was a medical kit. I had to get one, you know, just in case something happen on my way to Italy. Now, I want you to be very still, because I'm going to sew the big cuts up, so they can heal and not break open again."
"You? Do you really know how it?"
"Of course, I learned it all from this healer I visited when my family was vacationing in the country. She was very skilled, and I learned a great deal from her." She started rummaging in the kit, taking out a pair of scissors, and thread. "All righty then, let's get to it."
"I'm sorry, I know it's going to hurt a bit," Kagome said, "So I'm going to sing you a song to ease the pain." As she sewed him up, the words of the old French folk song and her lovely lilting voice swept through his senses. He wasn't aware of anything but her tranquil voice, caressing his ears, making a void where he could forget about his troubles and bask in the glow of her wonderful smile.
Kagome finished in no time, beginning to pack up.
He rolled onto his back, watching her get up and packed all the medical stuff up in the box.
"Kagome, stay with me tonight, just one night. I-I'm afraid of the nightmares coming again."
"Al-all right," Kagome said hesitantly.
"Thank you. I won't ask anymore of you."
"It is nothing, I'm glad I could help." Kagome lay down next to him, the bed was narrow and soon they were tightly spooned together. She didn't want to get too near him, but it was inevitable. She rested her head on his chest; it felt so nice and comforting, breathing in his masculine scent and listening to his strong heartbeat. She wrapped her hands lightly around his waist, and closed her weary eyes. "Inuyasha," she whispered, "I'm always here if you need me." Somehow, it seemed so right, with the two of them lying beneath the stars and the moon and not a care in the world. She forgot that she was Sesshoumaru's fiancée, and that she was sleeping with a man she had only met.
Inuyasha lay there, listening to her rhythmus breathing, feeling the dainty touch of her fingers on his ribs, her lovely scent of roses drifting through his senses. Her eyelashes were the longest he'd even seen, like two dark fans covering those warm brown orbs. Her skin was so pale, but not as pale a death, for her cheeks were always flushed with a delicate pink rose that was very becoming. He trailed his finger along the contours of her face, tracing every line. He'd never felt this way before, like he belonged somewhere, right in the arms of this slip of a girl, who'd just burst through his life like a ray of merry sunshine. Sesshoumaru sure was a lucky son of a bitch, he thought. He was thinking what a magical night it was, and he thought he could even hear the stars howling above.
It was magical indeed, for he'd met a fallen star.
Author's Note: Okay, I'd like to clear up a thing or two. This is NOT a Sess/Kag story, it's Inu/Kag. Please do not get confused. That's all I have to say. As always, give me a review and tell me what you think. Thanks. =) Next chapter, Spain, here we come! With some old characters and new ones, who knows? Lots of surprises in store for you.
Chapter 2
Knowing the Man Inside
On the seas
February 2, 1759
Kagome inhaled the salty air of the sea, a feeling of tranquility passing over her as she watched the red ball of flame that was the sun set beneath the horizon. It was getting dark and she had just finished unpacking her belongings inside the cabin she was given. She felt like she had been sailing all of her life, for she truly was in love with the sea and its many fathomless mysteries now. She had let her hair down now, and it blew in tangles as the wind combed its fingers through the long midnight strands. She was not aware of a pair of golden eyes that watched her from afar.
Inuyasha leaned one shoulder against a wooden beam, his hawk-like eyes gazing intently at the beautiful dark haired girl standing on the main deck, who was watching the setting sun with an expression of wondrous awe. There was something about her, he thought, something unique, but I can't put my finger on it. He shook his head of the ponderings and went to greet her.
"How are your sea legs?"
Kagome turned at the sound of his voice, a smile curving on her lips. "They're perfectly fine, I was afraid that I might get a bit sea sick."
Inuyasha laughed, "Well, I'm glad you didn't. It would have been hell trying to live with you if you kept throwing up everyday."
"I bet it would."
"So what do you think of the sea?"
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, "Oh, I absolutely love it! It makes me feel like I'm free, that there is no hindrance whatsoever."
"You turned out all right, Kagome. I thought you would be some stuck up snob, but you aren't. Sesshoumaru was right to choose you."
"Oh, well," she reddened.
Inuyasha sniffed the air suddenly, licking his lips. "Hmm, it smells like Cook has gotten supper up. Let's go eat." He gestured for her to follow him to a table that was set up for two a few feet away. She sat down opposite him and placed a napkin delicately on her lap. The only items on the table were two large plates, forks and knives and a single candle.
A dumpy gray haired woman wearing an apron came tumbling out of the kitchen cabin carrying two trays. It was a wonder she didn't drop it all. She had a round, cheerful face and her bright green eyes were very warm and open. She put the food on their plates; there were fresh buttered toast, croissants, fried fish, and a large juicy steak topped with exotic sauces. There was red wine and cold water. It all smelled delicious. She gave Kagome a warm smile and scowled at Inuyasha. Before he could open his mouth, she said, "Now, Inuyasha, I'll be doing all the introductions here."
She looked at Kagome and winked at her. "Hello, dear. My name's Elizabette Beucet, but everyone around here calls me Cook. I'll be cooking all your meals for you so don't you worry yourself over the food. There'll be breakfast, lunch and supper everyday, and if you miss it, it's not my fault. All though I do make exceptions sometimes. I think you've met my husband, Quincy; he's one of the sailors on board. He was talking about a particularly pretty lady who asked him for the captain this morning."
Kagome blushed at this, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame. I hope I shall get to know you and your husband better." Her husband must have been the man with all the gold teeth, she thought.
"Oh, just call me Cook, there aren't any Madams and Monsieurs here, girl. You have plenty of time to get acquainted. We'll be stuck on Eternity for awhile, I bet, with all these matters Inuyasha has to tend to."
Inuyasha cleared his throat loudly.
Cook laughed, "I think it is time I left you two alone. Inuyasha seems to want to talk to you only." She sashayed herself from their table, humming a tune to herself.
Kagome smiled, "So that's Cook. I like her, she seems very nice."
Inuyasha grinned. "Yeah, who doesn't? I'm fond of her; she's like a second mother to me. She's been with me since I was a little toddler learning to walk."
"You two must be very close."
"Yep, she cooks the best steak in all of Europe," Inuyasha said proudly, digging into the huge juicy steak in front of him. He tore at the meat with his hands and bit off a large chunk, chewing hurriedly.
Kagome watched him devour the entire thing under 15 seconds with her mouth hanging slightly open. Her plate of food lay forgotten, and her fork held midway to her mouth, as she was too busy looking at him wolf down the bowl of soup, croissants, and stripped the fish to its skeleton. When he finished, he looked at her and gave her such a cheesy smile that she had to laugh.
"Hey, I wasn't renown for my manners," he said, licking his fingers. He took out a huge napkin and wiped his messy mouth clean.
"What are you known for?" Kagome asked, beginning to eat at last. Hmm, it was delicious; Cook sure could whip up a fine meal.
Inuyasha leaned back in his chair, and started picking his teeth. "Didn't Sesshoumaru tell you? I'm the black sheep of the family, the wild one, you might say. I love adventure, sword fighting, and things like that. I never was the one for fancy clothes and stiff manners of the rich. You know, I could have stayed and lived off of Sesshoumaru for the rest of my life, lord knows that bastard's filthy rich, but I didn't. I wanted to go and make my own fortune, and I must say, I'm quite enjoying it, all the adventures and treasures I've amassed."
"Really, where have you been? What business besides ship building are you in?"
"I've been around the world, almost everywhere. Egypt, Singapore, Cambodia, South America, you just name it. I'm somewhat of an explorer, to fund for my trips, I use the money from a small fortune my father left for me, and sometimes, I tend to try my hands at cards."
"Oh, I'd love to hear about your adventures! To think how many wondrous places you've been, yet you look so young, how old are you?"
"Alas, Kagome, I'm only a measly 17 years. I'm not even rightfully a man."
"You have a lot of time ahead of you," Kagome. "I wouldn't say you aren't. I don't believe age matters at all. To be a man to me is to have that level of intelligence, maturity, experience and honesty. I think you already are, Inuyasha."
"Why, thank you Kagome." He grinned at her. He reached out and kissed her hand.
Kagome laughed. "You must have women all over you back home, Inuyasha. So tell me, who is your special lady?"
His cheerful mood faded away right there before her eyes. He became solemn, his eyes withdrawn. He seemed to change into a whole other person. She was surprised to see such hurt and pain in his beautiful eyes. "Yeah, there was someone. We were going to get married. Of course, Sesshoumaru objected to it, said she wasn't the right one for me, said I was too young to know any better." He put his hand on the back of his head, and ran his fingers through the thick white strands. "I guess he was right. She was killed two days before we planned eloped." His shoulders shook with his painful loss.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. She must have been very special to you." Kagome reached out and took his hand in hers, trying to give him some comfort.
"Yeah," he looked off in the distance, his voice very far away. "Beautiful as the full moon, with eyes like black pearls," Inuyasha shook his head, and cleared his throat, gaining back his composure. "Well, enough about me. Let's talk about you."
She resisted the urge to ask him more about his past. She told him about her grandfather, mother and brother and their house in Paris, the city of love. She talked about how tired she was of the old life, with its many endless balls, proposals, and shallow worries. Inuyasha listened with an interested ear, he understood her perfectly. That was how he'd felt back at home. Stifled and out of place.
"Hey, guys! Come on and join the fun!" Quincy waved at them, his gold teeth flashing in the candlelight. The sailors were singing and dancing to a folk song, played on the violin by a thin man, Jacques. They laughed and got up from their seats to join in.
"Shall we dance?" Inuyasha bowed to her and she curtsied like a true lady. They danced to a fast song, singing along with the tune. The sailors cheered them on as they twirled around the deck, increasing the tempo. Soon Jacques ended the song with a loud finale and started a slow one.
Inuyasha drew Kagome to him, waiting for her to protest at being too close to him, but she didn't. She leaned into him more until their bodies were touching. He stared down at her beautiful flushed face and cursed Sesshoumaru for finding her first. Her scent of roses and the feel of her pressed against his naked chest were too arousing. His hand around her waist tightened, for all he felt was softness there, not the feel of a hard corset. She wasn't wearing one; this girl was full of surprises. He pressed the side of his face to her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin, a forbidden softness he wanted to touch with his hands but didn't dare.
"What are you thinking about?" Kagome asked.
"You."
She blushed an enchanting red. He noticed she had a small dimple in the left corner of her mouth. The song ended and they went to catch their breaths.
She was breathing fast from the exertion of all that dancing, her warm brown eyes shimmering like the bright stars in the night sky. Her dark hair clung to her sweaty face in soft curls, those soft lips parted in a smile just for him. She leaned against the rail, looking at him with an expression he couldn't read.
He fought the urge to kiss her right then and there, with no thought that she was his brother's betrothed, to hell with that. But he knew that Sesshoumaru would kill him if he found out that Inuyasha had kissed his woman.
"Inuyasha, look," she pointed at the sky where a shooting star flew by. "Make a wish," she whispered.
I wish we could be like this, he thought, without the worries, and the pain of the past. I wish to be happy again.
As he lay in bed that night, looking up at the twinkling stars through the window above his head, he thought it was a magical moment when they saw that shooting star. It meant something to him, though he wouldn't know why yet. His eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off into sleep's welcoming arms.
Kagome woke up at the sound of an enraged animal cry. It sounded like it was in great pain. It was coming from next door, Inuyasha? She bolted out of bed, forgetting to put on a robe over her thin shift and ran out into the dark hallway with her candle burning softly. It was coming from Inuyasha's cabin, and the cries were getting louder and louder. She slid the door open cautiously, not sure of what was going on. The room was pitch black, besides the light of the silver moon that was cast over his bed from the ceiling window.
Inuyasha was thrashing wildly about, and he had flung the covers off his bed. He still had on his breeches. His sword lay nearby on the dressing table. She went over to him and touched his shoulder, starting to shake him awake. He lashed out at her and almost hit her in the stomach before his eyes opened. They didn't seem to focus on anything as they stared blankly at her face. "Inuyasha?" Kagome reached down and touched his sweat drenched face. He was breathing in short gasps, like there wasn't enough air in the room.
"He killed her, he killed her, the bastard!" Inuyasha's golden eyes glowed with an illuminant brightness that frightened her a bit. Kagome came on his bed and pulled him into her lap. She put his face near her heart, and his breathing becoming steadier and calmer as she quieted him with her soft words.
"Shh," Kagome said soothingly. "It'll be all right, Inuyasha, you just had a nightmare," she said, weaving her fingers through his hair and rubbing his back like a mother would her baby. Her heart ached for him, and she couldn't bear seeing him so lost and out of place like this. What had caused him to have such a nightmare? It certainly wasn't anything that happened today.
"K-Kagome?" Inuyasha spoke then, his voice shaky. His body tensed, as if he just realized that she really was there.
"Yes, I'm here."
He pulled away from her and put his face in his hands, trembling. "I- I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For waking you up like this. You should have just ignored it like everyone else." He wiped the cold sweat of his brow, feeling angry with himself for letting her see him like this, this vulnerable. He was supposed to strong.
Her brown eyes widened at that, "They let you go on like this? But why?"
"It happens all the time, so don't bother yourself next time, all right? Sesshoumaru wouldn't like it if his fiancée was up all night tending to me."
"I can't do that, Inuyasha. I don't like to see anybody in pain, I just couldn't bear it." She felt something sticky and wet on her fingers and raised her hand up to take a look. It was blood. She looked down at the white sheets and saw blood drops and streaks of red everywhere. "Inuyasha, you're bleeding!"
He didn't seem to be surprised at this. "Yeah, I know. Damn cuts won't heal, and I had to have the sheets changed everyday. It gets annoying." He winced when she reached out to touch one.
"Doesn't anyone know how to tend to injuries around here?" Kagome looked in shock as she surveyed the bloody damage his back had sustained.
"Eh, I wouldn't think so. Cook just knows how to make dinner and wash the laundry. Everybody else does their own thing on the ship."
"Oh my god, no wonder."
"No wonder what?"
"No wonder your back hasn't healed yet." She frowned at him, "Now, you go lay down and I'll be right back." She got off the bed and went out the door to her room.
"Hey, what are you planning to do?" Inuyasha called out to her.
"To fix you up, of course," Kagome came back a few minutes later with a large black box. She sat it next to the bed and took out a container labeled "Herbal Healing Ointment."
"Now, roll onto your stomach so I can see your back."
He did as he was told, grumbling, "I really don't see the point to this."
She got a washcloth and dipped in the bowl of water and cleaned all the blood from his back. She then scooped a handful of that jelly like substance from the container into her hands and rubbed it in small, circular motions all over his stinging back. It smelled like mint and wasn't stinky at all. He sighed, liking the feel of her delicate hands soothing the aching cuts on his raw skin and her calming voice. "Where did you get this stuff?" Inuyasha asked curiously.
"It's kind of strange really, I saw an Oriental man in the streets when I was coming to your ship, selling these large black boxes. It piqued my interest so I went to see what was in them. To my surprise it was a medical kit. I had to get one, you know, just in case something happen on my way to Italy. Now, I want you to be very still, because I'm going to sew the big cuts up, so they can heal and not break open again."
"You? Do you really know how it?"
"Of course, I learned it all from this healer I visited when my family was vacationing in the country. She was very skilled, and I learned a great deal from her." She started rummaging in the kit, taking out a pair of scissors, and thread. "All righty then, let's get to it."
"I'm sorry, I know it's going to hurt a bit," Kagome said, "So I'm going to sing you a song to ease the pain." As she sewed him up, the words of the old French folk song and her lovely lilting voice swept through his senses. He wasn't aware of anything but her tranquil voice, caressing his ears, making a void where he could forget about his troubles and bask in the glow of her wonderful smile.
Kagome finished in no time, beginning to pack up.
He rolled onto his back, watching her get up and packed all the medical stuff up in the box.
"Kagome, stay with me tonight, just one night. I-I'm afraid of the nightmares coming again."
"Al-all right," Kagome said hesitantly.
"Thank you. I won't ask anymore of you."
"It is nothing, I'm glad I could help." Kagome lay down next to him, the bed was narrow and soon they were tightly spooned together. She didn't want to get too near him, but it was inevitable. She rested her head on his chest; it felt so nice and comforting, breathing in his masculine scent and listening to his strong heartbeat. She wrapped her hands lightly around his waist, and closed her weary eyes. "Inuyasha," she whispered, "I'm always here if you need me." Somehow, it seemed so right, with the two of them lying beneath the stars and the moon and not a care in the world. She forgot that she was Sesshoumaru's fiancée, and that she was sleeping with a man she had only met.
Inuyasha lay there, listening to her rhythmus breathing, feeling the dainty touch of her fingers on his ribs, her lovely scent of roses drifting through his senses. Her eyelashes were the longest he'd even seen, like two dark fans covering those warm brown orbs. Her skin was so pale, but not as pale a death, for her cheeks were always flushed with a delicate pink rose that was very becoming. He trailed his finger along the contours of her face, tracing every line. He'd never felt this way before, like he belonged somewhere, right in the arms of this slip of a girl, who'd just burst through his life like a ray of merry sunshine. Sesshoumaru sure was a lucky son of a bitch, he thought. He was thinking what a magical night it was, and he thought he could even hear the stars howling above.
It was magical indeed, for he'd met a fallen star.
Author's Note: Okay, I'd like to clear up a thing or two. This is NOT a Sess/Kag story, it's Inu/Kag. Please do not get confused. That's all I have to say. As always, give me a review and tell me what you think. Thanks. =) Next chapter, Spain, here we come! With some old characters and new ones, who knows? Lots of surprises in store for you.
