First of all, I think I should apologize for the long wait. I have a lot of
excuses, and all the truth, but I still don't think any of them were
horrible enough to make you all wait this long. So I say I'm sorry from the
bottom of my heart, and hope you haven't forgotten my whole story. I hope
this chapter makes up for the wait.
Good thing, while I was on this don't update for a long time thing, I read a lot of others stories and was inspired greatly.
I also want to thank my reviewers, especially those who review every chapter! You guys are what give me any motivation to write.
You should also know that I don't own Inu-Yasha.
*
Losing Grace
*
The morning sun filtered through his eyelids. He awoke to the bustling village, the people full of activity. Some small kids ran past him, giggling and yelling.
Inu-Maru let out a muted curse of annoyance. He wasn't used to sleeping in this late. It must have been his human form causing such exhaustion.
Soon he noticed another development. Kagome was gone.
~*~*~
The withered well stood strong. Against wind, rain, and even Inu-Yasha the well was still resting within the secluded area located in Inu-Yasha's forest. The wood had lasted till five hundred years later when the only floral left standing was the old god tree. This one well would not change, even as time did.
Furthermore it held a portal between the worlds, until now.
Carefully Kagome ran her fingers over the crafted and slowly rotting planks.
She had trusted the well, and for good reason. It was what held her secret life, her closet friends, and her first love.
The square entrance was inviting. All she had to do was jump down and she'd be with her family and other friends. So she did. With one great leap she landed on the dirt bottom of the well.
And it had betrayed her.
" Grandpa, Mom, Souta . . ."
She'd give almost anything to go back, but she feared that might be her life here, the one thing that caused the 'almost'. The young woman used to think she was lucky to explore Sengoku Jidai fighting battles, finding the jewel and making new friends, but now she understood how horrible it could actually be.
Suddenly angry, she started climbing out of the well all the time silently scolding the gods for giving her such a burden.
At the top she lost her footing and began to slide back down until a clawed hand caught her arm. She looked up into golden eyes and smiled weakly.
" Thanks."
" You should be more careful." was the only reply she got as she was pulled to the grassy field above her.
They were quiet for a few seconds, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
" We have to leave now to find Treotha."
Kagome nodded in agreement. There was no reason to wait. She began to walk towards the village, but Inu-Maru's next words made her stop.
" I need your red cloth."
Slowly she turned her confused eyes to him.
"Huh?"
" Give me your red cloth." He commenced to tap his chest. She looked down and blushed slightly.
" . . . Uh, why would you need this?"
" Your scent."
" I don't understand."
Distraughtly Inu-Maru gave a sigh, " Treotha controls other demons by the smell of her plants. If I have another scent overpowering her plant's I won't have trouble keeping my control."
Kagome nodded her head for a second time and handed the school tie to him.
" If it will help."
~*~*~
Never had either demon felt so utterly hopeless in his life.
Treotha had them. Her invisible aromas were taking their toll and his control over his own body, yet again.
Inu-Maru looked to the monk and exterminator. They'd both lost consciousness from the vapors the demoness had secreted. The cat demon and the little kitsune were left behind. If they were under control then they would be worthless. Although, he had been sat for his choice of words and came out with a less than healthy back.
Only that girl, who was the culprit of his aching spine, Kagome stood against the spell. Her powers were brimming even without her knowledge.
He glanced at the crooked grin plastered on the demon woman's face, and then to the red cloth in her hand.
His plan had been obvious the whole time, but it wasn't until one of her accursed vines got close enough to steal his only protection against her deceptive scents that that plan had faltered.
Suddenly he had to suppress the urge to smile as he remembered the look Kagome gave him when he'd tied the red fabric around his nose and mouth.
But it was useless now.
He could already feel himself losing control. Soon, commanded around by that bitch, he would be forced to kill his own comrades, Rin, and Kagome.
The realization hurt so unbearably, and yet he could do nothing. Hopeless indeed.
" Treotha!"
The girl didn't just say the demoness's name; she demanded attention. It was funny how at the least expected times she turned from the timid schoolgirl she was to a woman.
Both demons received only a second's time to face her, before Kagome let her arrow fly. It was bathed in pink light and soaring at speeds he feared he could not run. Silently he watched the sharp edge pierce something located by Treotha's collarbone.
This girl wasn't only being a woman; she was fulfilling her job as a powerful priestess.
A splitting sound made his spine tingle. Something akin to relief and torment flooded his soul . . . . .
Darkness.
At first that's all Inu-Maru could see.
Then he was by Kagome's feet and staring into the eyes of Inu-Yasha. For a long moment the brothers held each other's identical golden eyes.
Sesshoumaru was the first to turn his attention back to their recent foe and then to Kagome.
" Why didn't you do that sooner wench?"
Without checking he knew the young woman was glaring at him with enough coldness to freeze the mid-summer months they were enjoying at the moment.
In truth he knew the answer to the question, but he'd made a point to return to his old self, cold, ruthless, and unthankful. The human was about to retort when a surprisingly calm Inu-Yasha caught everyone's interest.
" Save it, we still have an enemy to deal with." As expected, his knuckles cracked wickedly.
" You finish your business and I'll finish mine."
Before Sesshoumaru's words were even considered he was leaving with a very stunned Kagome clasped in his left arm.
The full demon only now noticed the limb had returned since he suffered such a shock earlier of being returned to his own natural self. Perhaps it was a side effect of the affiliation.
He glanced at the girl and her face full of question. No fear or worry at being kidnapped by the Lord of the Western Lands. To his frustration, he found himself perplexed by the female's plethora of emotions yet again.
" Shit!"
Sesshoumaru faced forward at Inu-Yasha's enraged cry and sped up. There was something he had to discuss with the girl before his brother did.
*
I'm sorry you guys, I'd really like to but I'm not going to do individual replies anymore. I know how it feels when authors write back to you after you review, but I just don't have time.
Hope this chapter made up for it, and finally they're separated! I have a feeling I maybe should have prolonged that, but oh well. I always make decisions to fast.
Good thing, while I was on this don't update for a long time thing, I read a lot of others stories and was inspired greatly.
I also want to thank my reviewers, especially those who review every chapter! You guys are what give me any motivation to write.
You should also know that I don't own Inu-Yasha.
*
Losing Grace
*
The morning sun filtered through his eyelids. He awoke to the bustling village, the people full of activity. Some small kids ran past him, giggling and yelling.
Inu-Maru let out a muted curse of annoyance. He wasn't used to sleeping in this late. It must have been his human form causing such exhaustion.
Soon he noticed another development. Kagome was gone.
~*~*~
The withered well stood strong. Against wind, rain, and even Inu-Yasha the well was still resting within the secluded area located in Inu-Yasha's forest. The wood had lasted till five hundred years later when the only floral left standing was the old god tree. This one well would not change, even as time did.
Furthermore it held a portal between the worlds, until now.
Carefully Kagome ran her fingers over the crafted and slowly rotting planks.
She had trusted the well, and for good reason. It was what held her secret life, her closet friends, and her first love.
The square entrance was inviting. All she had to do was jump down and she'd be with her family and other friends. So she did. With one great leap she landed on the dirt bottom of the well.
And it had betrayed her.
" Grandpa, Mom, Souta . . ."
She'd give almost anything to go back, but she feared that might be her life here, the one thing that caused the 'almost'. The young woman used to think she was lucky to explore Sengoku Jidai fighting battles, finding the jewel and making new friends, but now she understood how horrible it could actually be.
Suddenly angry, she started climbing out of the well all the time silently scolding the gods for giving her such a burden.
At the top she lost her footing and began to slide back down until a clawed hand caught her arm. She looked up into golden eyes and smiled weakly.
" Thanks."
" You should be more careful." was the only reply she got as she was pulled to the grassy field above her.
They were quiet for a few seconds, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
" We have to leave now to find Treotha."
Kagome nodded in agreement. There was no reason to wait. She began to walk towards the village, but Inu-Maru's next words made her stop.
" I need your red cloth."
Slowly she turned her confused eyes to him.
"Huh?"
" Give me your red cloth." He commenced to tap his chest. She looked down and blushed slightly.
" . . . Uh, why would you need this?"
" Your scent."
" I don't understand."
Distraughtly Inu-Maru gave a sigh, " Treotha controls other demons by the smell of her plants. If I have another scent overpowering her plant's I won't have trouble keeping my control."
Kagome nodded her head for a second time and handed the school tie to him.
" If it will help."
~*~*~
Never had either demon felt so utterly hopeless in his life.
Treotha had them. Her invisible aromas were taking their toll and his control over his own body, yet again.
Inu-Maru looked to the monk and exterminator. They'd both lost consciousness from the vapors the demoness had secreted. The cat demon and the little kitsune were left behind. If they were under control then they would be worthless. Although, he had been sat for his choice of words and came out with a less than healthy back.
Only that girl, who was the culprit of his aching spine, Kagome stood against the spell. Her powers were brimming even without her knowledge.
He glanced at the crooked grin plastered on the demon woman's face, and then to the red cloth in her hand.
His plan had been obvious the whole time, but it wasn't until one of her accursed vines got close enough to steal his only protection against her deceptive scents that that plan had faltered.
Suddenly he had to suppress the urge to smile as he remembered the look Kagome gave him when he'd tied the red fabric around his nose and mouth.
But it was useless now.
He could already feel himself losing control. Soon, commanded around by that bitch, he would be forced to kill his own comrades, Rin, and Kagome.
The realization hurt so unbearably, and yet he could do nothing. Hopeless indeed.
" Treotha!"
The girl didn't just say the demoness's name; she demanded attention. It was funny how at the least expected times she turned from the timid schoolgirl she was to a woman.
Both demons received only a second's time to face her, before Kagome let her arrow fly. It was bathed in pink light and soaring at speeds he feared he could not run. Silently he watched the sharp edge pierce something located by Treotha's collarbone.
This girl wasn't only being a woman; she was fulfilling her job as a powerful priestess.
A splitting sound made his spine tingle. Something akin to relief and torment flooded his soul . . . . .
Darkness.
At first that's all Inu-Maru could see.
Then he was by Kagome's feet and staring into the eyes of Inu-Yasha. For a long moment the brothers held each other's identical golden eyes.
Sesshoumaru was the first to turn his attention back to their recent foe and then to Kagome.
" Why didn't you do that sooner wench?"
Without checking he knew the young woman was glaring at him with enough coldness to freeze the mid-summer months they were enjoying at the moment.
In truth he knew the answer to the question, but he'd made a point to return to his old self, cold, ruthless, and unthankful. The human was about to retort when a surprisingly calm Inu-Yasha caught everyone's interest.
" Save it, we still have an enemy to deal with." As expected, his knuckles cracked wickedly.
" You finish your business and I'll finish mine."
Before Sesshoumaru's words were even considered he was leaving with a very stunned Kagome clasped in his left arm.
The full demon only now noticed the limb had returned since he suffered such a shock earlier of being returned to his own natural self. Perhaps it was a side effect of the affiliation.
He glanced at the girl and her face full of question. No fear or worry at being kidnapped by the Lord of the Western Lands. To his frustration, he found himself perplexed by the female's plethora of emotions yet again.
" Shit!"
Sesshoumaru faced forward at Inu-Yasha's enraged cry and sped up. There was something he had to discuss with the girl before his brother did.
*
I'm sorry you guys, I'd really like to but I'm not going to do individual replies anymore. I know how it feels when authors write back to you after you review, but I just don't have time.
Hope this chapter made up for it, and finally they're separated! I have a feeling I maybe should have prolonged that, but oh well. I always make decisions to fast.
