Disclaimer: Even in all this time, I still don't own the anime or the manga Inuyasha. A few characters are mine, and you can tell which, but I still don't got my Sesshomaru-sama!!!!!!! WAH!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 3: Unfamiliar Territories"Don't kill him!"
Mika's outburst was followed by silence. Inutaisho's claw was a mere inch away from the man's face, but his gaze remained locked on Mika. Sensing the youkai's surprise at her reaction, Mika began to explain her statement.
"I'm sorry, I know it sounds stupid of me to say that, but…"
"You wish for me to spare his life when he would have taken yours without a second thought." Inutaisho interrupted, "Sounds very reasonable."
"No!" Mika exclaimed in frustration, "If you took his life, then you'd be no better than him, and he's not worth it."
She had surprised him again, twice in a minute. Most people failed to surprise him even once during their lifetime. She was more worried for him than for the raider whose life he would have ended. Inutaisho felt strangely humbled for the concern this girl was showing him.
Still gripping the raider, Inutaisho set him down on the ground, and glared into his eyes.
"At the request of the Lady, I will spare your worthless life. I suggest you think of something better to do with it."
He let go, and the raider ran away in the direction the other three had gone. After he was out of sight, Inutaisho turned and knelt down next to Mika.
"Are you injured, my Lady?" He asked her calmly.
It took Mika a few seconds to stop staring and realize that he was talking to her.
"Um…I think I twisted my ankle on that last turn." She said with a sheepish smile.
The corners of Inutaisho's mouth started to form into a smile as he examined her ankle. It was already beginning to swell and color, but from what he could tell, it was only sprained and not broken.
"Your ankle will be fine, but I suggest that you do not walk on it for a few days. If you will permit me, I will carry you back to your family. They are worried for your safety."
"Oh! Of course." Mika complied.
Inutaisho gently gathered her in his arms and stood up. He began walking back to the group when Mika looked up at him.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"Oh! Sorry…I just wanted to thank you, Lord Inutaisho."
The carriage that Masayoshi and his family used to travel in had been destroyed by the raiders in the attack, the horses stolen as well. Inutaisho had insisted on carrying Mika the rest of the way to the castle, since she was the only person injured in the attack. This of course left everyone else walking…a course of action in which certain people were not too happy about.
"Why couldn't we have just sent ahead for another carriage!" Kiyoko complained a few hours later. "My feet are aching!"
"I can't feel my legs." Ayaka whined, "And I'm sure I'll come down with a cold as a result of this!"
Masayoshi and the others had given up trying to placate the two. Waiting for another carriage would have been too dangerous, and Masayoshi seriously doubted that Kiyoko and Ayaka would permit Inutaisho to carry them in his full youkai state. As of right now, the pair remained in the back with the guards while Inutaisho walked in front still carrying Mika.
And at that moment, Mika was glaring at her two sisters for their complaints. All they had done since even before they began to walk was complain, and also add in a few remarks about their traveling companion.
"Ladies should not be made to travel in such extreme conditions." Ayaka stated.
"I agree," Kiyoko continued, making herself a little louder, "But of course, a youkai would not be aware of the proper treatment that must be given to a lady."
"I swear to God, next cliff we pass I'm kicking those two off of it!" Mika muttered under her breath.
Inutaisho looked down at her surprised again, which made Mika remember that most youkai have superior hearing capabilities.
"Opps, I said that out loud, didn't I?" Mika said, adopting a pretend guilty look.
"Of course not my Lady, I just have a habit of reading people's thoughts." Inutaisho smiled at her, "I can arrange it so that we walk by a cliff if you wish it?"
"No, that's alright, I don't want to trouble you…of course if you do see a river anywhere nearby, by all means head in that direction. I can just as easily push them in a river as I can off a cliff."
This time Inutaisho had to laugh out loud. He had been a little shocked at Mika's initial statement, but not only did she meet his sarcastic remark with more sarcastic humor, she had surprised him yet again.
"Forgive me, my Lady, I do not mean to offend you." He apologized, still laughing, "You just seem to surprise me to no end."
"I'm glad that my murder musings humor some people. I'm sorry if my behavior shocks you. I know I'm not behaving as a proper lady should in these circumstances."
"A proper lady? Are you referring to…" Inutaisho trailed off, looking at Kiyoko and Ayaka.
"I was talking about proper ladies, not hens."
Inutaisho laughed again.
"On the contrary, my Lady, I find your outlook on life rather refreshing and quite humorous," he smiled at her.
"Really?" Mika asked, looking up at him gratefully, "Thank you, my Lord, you don't know how much that means to me."
"You are most welcome, my Lady. And I look forward to these conversations again," He added with a smile. "Ah, we are here."
The group stopped at the start of a clearing, and on the other side up atop a cliff was the largest castle Mika had ever seen.
"My Lord, your home is breathtaking!" Mika exclaimed sincerely.
"Thank you, I rather like it myself. And if you notice on the other side, there are a few cliffs with quite a nice drop to them," Inutaisho added with a smirk.
This time, Mika laughed, "I'll keep that in mind, my Lord."
"My Lady, I have a request of you." Inutaisho said as they began to walk across the field.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"It would please me greatly if you would call me Inutaisho." He asked.
Mika considered for a moment as the group continued walking. Then, smiling, she looked up at him.
"Alright, but only if you call me Mika."
Inutaisho looked down and matched her smile.
"It's a deal then, Mika."
A/N: Hi, me again. Hope you enjoyed it, short as it was. The plot should start to develop soon, and the characters as well (I hope). I also wanted to thank all those people who reviewed even when I didn't update. You guys are the best! =^_^=