Chapter Nine-Forbidden Family
Many night passed before Saraku was well enough to walk again. In that time, Inuyasha made sure they got as far from where Sesshoumaru had kept her.
He knew the girl longed for his brother, but he didn't understand why. Had Sesshoumaru softened so much that he actually did love her? He wasn't sure, but the hanyou knew Sesshoumaru only wanted her to spite him. Well, he wasn't going to let it happen. Tonight, they were only five miles from his home camp. Once they got there, there would be no way for her to find him.
"Can I have some water please,Inuyasha? " Sara spoke up softly. She still believed Inuyasha had kidnapped her from Lord Sesshoumaru. Her heart refused to believe that Sesshoumaru would just give her to him.
"Yeah. Over there." Inuyasha pointed out the spring. "Shippou, why don't you go with her?" What he meant was , go make sure she doesn't run away. He didn't trust her not to.
"Okay. Come on, Sara." The kitsune led the girl to the spring.
"I don't like him." She told Shippou once they were clearly out of earshot. "He won't let me seek out my jewel shard."
"It's not that. He's afraid Sesshoumaru won't let you leave. Believe it or not, Sesshoumaru's not really too nice."
"He was to me. Lord Sesshoumaru promised to protect me always." Sara defended the demon lord. "He wants to take me and Rin to his place over the mountains to live."
Shippou didn't know what to say to that. If what Sara said was true, Inuyasha was making a big mistake. "Maybe Inuyasha wants to raise you." He decided not to argue about Inuyasha's brother. He didn't want her to wind up disliking him too.
"Raise me? Inuyasha? No way. You see the way he looks at me. He knows I won't give him my shard. It's the thing I have of my parents left." Sara cupped her hands, and drank from the spring. "The only reason he puts up with me is Kagome." She was very perceptive for her age.
Again, the fox-demon child found himself at a loss for words. She was every bit as stubborn as Inuyasha. "If you say so. But he was worried when you fell unconscious a couple of nights ago."
"He was?" That statement surprised the child.
"Yes he was. You should've heard him tear into Miroku." Shippou cupped some water in his hands too, watching her from the corner of his eye. He loved her, wanted to be a big brother to her. He was glad Inuyasha had forbidden her to seek out Sesshoumaru again. However, it hurt him to see her so unhappy. He wondered what it was that made her like Sesshoumaru so much. Could it be the demon lord was soft? But if that was so, why wouldn't he stop trying to kill Inuyasha?
"Shippou! Sara! Dinner's on!" Kagome called suddenly.
"Okay. Come on, Sara." Before the girl could resist, Shippou pulled her after him, towards the camp.
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"It's been almost a month, My Lord. I don't think that little girl will be coming back." Jakken remarked, as Sesshoumaru stared up at the night sky.
"If my brother has anything to do with it, she won't." Sesshoumaru agreed reluctantly.
"Maybe it's best if we just move on." Jakken said slowly.
"I will give her another week. Something tells me she will run from their little group." The demon lord looked down at the thin jewel he held. He had replaced the broken chain with a thin cord of leather. Yes, Saraku…you will return to me, if you want to have this returned. I shall keep it safe for you until then. He tucked it into his side pouch, and looked over at the spring. Rin had been silent since her playmate's departure. "Come, Rin. We sleep now."
"Yes Lord Sesshoumaru." Rin sighed deeply, as she climbed up the bank to him.
"She will be with us once more, I promise." The demon lord patted her head gently, before walking to their camp.
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Sara was silent for the entire night until Inuyasha demanded to know what her problem was. "I miss Rin." She missed Sesshoumaru too, but that was better left unsaid. "I want to seek out my shard, Inuyasha."
"Absolutely not!" Inuyasha told her. "He's only using it to lure you to him!"
"But you need it too,don't you?! That's the only reason you're keeping me around!"
"What?! That's not true!" Inuyasha jumped to his feet.
"Calm down, Inuyasha." Kagome soothed. "Saraku, you don't really believe that,do you?"
"Yes, Kagome." That's what Sesshoumaru told me. He wouldn't lie to me. Not ever.
"Did Sesshoumaru tell you that?" Kagome asked gently. She felt really bad for this girl, being pulled in so many directions.
Sara merely nodded, looking at the ground. "He said Inuyasha was using me for my shard."
"He doesn't know anything!" Inuyasha fumed. "Sara, if I truly wanted just your shard, I would've taken it already!"
"You did try to steal it, the night you kidnapped me from him!" Saraku was on her feet now. "You don't know how to be anything more than a jewel hungry halfling! I hate you, and I refuse to stay!" She turned, and ran from the camp.
"Saraku! No! It's too dangerous to be alone here!" Kagome began to follow her,but Inuyasha grabbed her wrist.
"Let the little brat go. She'll be sorry." Inuyasha was positively raging with anger at Saraku's hurtful words.
Kagome sighed. "Inuyasha, I'm really sorry…."
"I'm fine! She's the one who's in for a rude awakening when she realizes my brother is playing head games!" Inuyasha's voice held a note of hatred. "And believe me, he will pay for hurting her in the long run!"