(AN) Next chapter! Yay! Bad news, I'm sick, but I still managed to finish this chapter. ^_^ I'm trying to get my updates set on a schedule...because nothing motivates like a deadline, ya know? Even if it is self-imposed.
Well, I think I'm going to fall over now, so I'll stop 'talking' and let you get on with the reading! :-)
Thanks!
Juxtaposition
Chapter Eight:
Treasure Hunt
Kagome stood in the market of the village, casting her criticizing gaze over the people assembled there. For such a covert operation, she had decided that blending in would be best. So, she had forgone her usual school uniform in favour of a more common-looking kimono. Her dark, wavy hair was pulled back so that it fell in one tail down her back. She looked nearly identical to the rest of the women that milled about. Except, she didn't. There was an aura of tension around her that she couldn't seem to control...deceiving people was NOT her forte.
Where to start? Where to start? You know, how ironic is this? I go in search of Kikyou, and end up searching for a different miko all-together. Oh well, I'll worry about Kikyou later.
The most likely place to look would have been the shrine that looked down on the village. But the pile of splintered wood and smoking rubbish in its place told her that Sesshoumaru had already reached the same conclusion.
Asking about proved fruitless. They all were either too busy to answer any questions, or didn't know. Kagome had taken to walking through the paths as the people repaired their houses, watching them work, completely oblivious to the slaughter she had temporarily averted. Let them carry on. I hope they never realize.
She wasn't exactly sure of how she was supposed to find this miko, or the treasure she hid. Her own instincts had helped her before in such matters, showing her things that others could not see, giving her insight into complicated situations. She had hoped they would aid her now. But so far all her searches were coming up with dead-ends.
She was running out of daylight and patience...when she finally felt her.
She was walking down the middle of the path Kagome was on, from the opposite direction. Her robes billowed in the occasional breeze, white on a deep red. She held no bow but that didn't mean she was unarmed. The wind trickled through her ebony hair as she looked up.
Kagome stopped. The miko stopped. They stared at each other. A knowing look crossed the other's blue eyes, but not one of surprise or malice. She resumed walking, her steps sure, leading her to Kagome.
"Miko-sama," the girl greeted, bowing. Kagome returned the gesture, not sure of where to go from there. Upon closer inspection she could see the girl was quite pretty, her eyes no longer just 'blue', but a pale, startling shade that required more exotic words, like 'cerulean' or 'aquamarine'. Her face was slightly rounded, but in a young, girlish, and completely attractive way. It was a friendly face.
"My name is Nukata. I am protector of this village."
It was a prompt for a statement of purpose, and Kagome took it as such. She bowed again, just a slight dip of her head. "I am Kagome. I have heard from your neighbors that powerful youkai plague your village. If this is true then I have come to offer my assistance."
Nukata raised an eyebrow, "In these times of war it is not often that a miko will leave the safety of her village and travel elsewhere."
Kagome let an edge of old pain enter her eyes, or she hoped she did. She wasn't sure how far her acting skills could take her. "I have no village. It was destroyed long ago. I travel the country-side now, offering my help wherever it is needed."
Nukata frowned sympathetically, reaching a hand out and laying it on Kagome's shoulder. "I am truly sorry then."
Her hand tightened, just a subtle touch, but enough to alert Kagome. She wrenched away from the miko and her pitying smile, but two hands immediately closed over her shoulders, holding her in place. Kagome glanced back and saw that several villagers had come in behind her while she had been talking. One, exceptionally large one, held her captive.
Nukata swept her legs out from under her and her captor pushed her to her knees, keeping her arms stationary at her side. She couldn't scream for help because there was no one to help her. Kirara was wounded and if Sesshoumaru came he would kill them all. I'm all alone this time. It wasn't enough to make her give in.
She struggled harder, wrenching one of her arms free, but instantly another villager was there. They held her kneeling between them, one on each arm.
Nukata stepped forward, traced her fingers over Kagome's cheek, over the scabbed gash she had received from Sesshoumaru's armor.
The miko winced, shaking her head and stepping back. "That might actually leave a mark, you know? What a shame. And such a pretty face, too." Her eyes focused on Kagome's suddenly, and a deep fury swirled in their blue depths. "Your soul stinks of youkai. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
Kagome shook her head, not knowing what she could say to salvage the situation. Nukata stilled the action with a pertinent wave of her hand. She turned silently on her heel and started back down the way she had come. The villagers and Kagome followed.
They took her outside of the village, to a small hut hidden in one of the deeper parts of the woods. Getting tired of her constant struggles and threats, the villagers holding her captive had hoisted her above their heads, gripping tightly to her arms and legs. Kagome stared at the branches as they swayed above her, the sky dark with the beginnings of dusk. She was quiet now, not because she believed her situation was hopeless, but because she feared that too much noise would alert Sesshoumaru to her capture. Though she was being treated less than hospitable, she did NOT want to call certain death down on them just yet. She just didn't know enough of what was going on. She would find out.
Magic thrilled down Kagome's spine, making her gasp.
Nukata looked back at her with a smile. "A barrier," she said appreciatively. "As long as it stands that dog-bastard will never find this hut."
From her first encounter Kagome didn't think the miko was strong enough for such a complex spell, but she had been fooled once. "What is here that you want to hide from him?"
The miko slid the screen open and said, "You'll find out soon enough."
That's what Kagome was afraid of.
Nukata stepped aside and waved the villagers forward. They promptly tossed Kagome through the dark door. She skidded across the floor, her skin twitching as the barrier closed around her. She looked up as Nukata moved to stand in the doorway, Kagome's bow and quiver of arrows in her hand. The dying light of dusk edged her.
"The barrier won't break, even with your level of power. But just in case I am leaving a guard. If you even try to escape, I will have him kill you."
Kagome glared at her. If there was one thing she couldn't stand, it was being held prisoner.
Nukata smiled, though the lines were hard to see in the contrasting darkness. "It's only a matter of time before he comes again."
"Why are you trying to lure him here? I don't get that. People lost their lives today."
Settling Kagome's weapon in the crook of one arm, the miko put her hand on the screen, but did not close it. "To kill him."
"Why?" Kagome asked. She knew something odd had been going on! Sesshoumaru was ruthless and definitely not averse to killing people. But she also knew it was unusual for him to just randomly attack a village. Not without provocation.
Now she knew where that provocation came from. "Why," she repeated.
"Because he is a youkai, and all youkai deserve to die." Nukata slid the screen closed, but not before she added, "As a miko, you should know that."
Kagome settled in the dark after Nukata disappeared, feeling all her bruises, all the ill-treatment her body had received in the last twenty-four hours. Leaving Inuyasha and her friends hadn't slowed her life down one bit. In fact, it seemed everything was moving even faster.
Sound rustled behind her and Kagome instantly swung around, her hand reaching back for a bow that wasn't there.
"Who's there?" she called into the shadows. Please be a 'who' and not a 'what'. Keeping her ears open to any movement, she backed against the wall, looking blinding for whatever had made the noise. Her sight began to adjust to the swimming blackness, piece by piece, showing her the nearly empty layout of the room. Two big eyes blinked up at her.
Kagome gasped, drawing back away...until she realized it was only a little girl.
"Hi," she said.
Kagome blinked, "Um...hi?"
"My name's Rin. I like peach blossoms. Do you know Sesshoumaru-sama?"
This...is the treasure?
TBC...
Imagine Kagome's shock! ^_^ Do any of you think Sesshoumaru is being too protective of Rin? I know in the series he usually plays it pretty cool, like he doesn't care (Nobody's buying it!)...But I think he would act a little differently if it were a human that acted against him. Maybe a little indignant? Okay, maybe not a little! ^_^
Please read and review! Thanks!
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I'm attaching this note to all my fics in their next update. Please read and give me your opinion.
Someone recently asked me if I had a site of my own for fics. My answer was no. But then I got to thinking...maybe I should create a site. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe I've ever really seen an IY site dedicated purely to Alternative romance pairings. That is my question. How would you feel about an Inuyasha fansite hosting ONLY alternative pairings?
I know that's not enough to go on, so allow me to clarify a little! ^_^
What do I consider an alternative pairing? Simple, any pairing that isn't a traditional one. What do I consider a traditional pairing? In a short list:
Inuyasha/Kagome
Miroku/Sango
Shounen ai, yaoi, shoujo ai, and yuri pairings would be accepted. Triangles also, even ones featuring a traditional pairing---only so long as they feature an alternative character and do not end with the traditional pairing. For example, Inuyasha/Kagome/Miroku would be okay only if the triad is kept intact, or if it ends with Mir/Kag OR Inu/Mir. But not if it ends with Inu/Kag. I would consider Inu/Kag/Kik acceptable, but it would have to follow the same rules.
Some examples (off the top of my head) of the types of pairings that would be hosted are:
Miroku/Kagome
Inuyasha/Kikyou
Kagome/Sesshoumaru
Inuyasha/Sango
Kagome/Kouga
Sango/Kagome
Sesshoumaru/Naraku
...Basically any pairing besides Inu/Kag and Mir/San.
All ratings would be acceptable, and the proper measures enforced to warn readers of adult material, should they come across it. Sorry, but I would NOT accept any traditional character/original character couples. I know there are some well-written mary sues, but only characters created by Rumiko Takahashi would be supported.
I know for a fact that the main pairing of the site would be Sesshoumaru/Kagome, because this couple seems to be the most popular 'alternative' within fanfiction. That should appeal to quite a few of you! I know it appeals to me! ^.~
If I get enough interest expressed then I will definitely start work on the site.
So, anyone interested? ^_^