Chapter Nine - Opening Up
Kagome watched the results of her spell casting proudly. It had taken her three years without help to learn how to call up her power at will. A couple weeks under Yue's tutelage and she was already casting the simplest of spells. Briefly, she wondered why she hadn't asked Kaede to teach her about this part of being a miko. She had easily taken to learning herb lore and the like from her, but she'd never asked the old miko to teach her about the magical powers. Her thoughts swept away as the spell was completed.
Yue watched as she completed the illusion. He felt a swell of pride at her skill. They were making excellent progress and he had suspected that this young woman was more than just a miko. The illusion confirmed his suspicions. A miko wasn't supposed to be able to do such spells. She, of course, didn't know that, but she would soon. He began planning all the things he would teach her when she turned to flash him a joyful and triumphant smile. The guardian's breath caught in his throat. Kami, she was beautiful! As usual he felt a pang in his heart as he thought about how much he loved her and the fact that she loved Inuyasha. Why? Why did I have to go and fall in love with the one woman I know I can't have? Her smile disappeared and her brow furrowed. He wondered fleetingly if he'd done something to upset her. What, he didn't know since he hadn't done anything?
"Yue-san, what's wrong? I did it right didn't I?"
At her words he realized that he had actually been frowning. He smoothed the frown from his face and shook his head slightly.
"Nothing is wrong. You did the spell excellently. You are a quick learner. Never have I seen anyone learn their magic so quickly."
She beamed with pride at his words before easily releasing the illusion. "I was always a quick study. The lessons aren't over for the night are they? I'm not really tired yet."
"I haven't decided what the next lesson will be yet. You will have to wait for tomorrow for that, but no one is saying that you have to go to bed. You are free to stay up as long as you like."
Kagome gave him a thoughtful look. "Are you going to stay up?"
Would it upset you if I did? Do you want me to or would you rather have Inuyasha here? "I was."
Her face fell slightly. "Does that mean you're not anymore?"
"I should rest, Kagome-sama."
She turned away from him. "Yue-san, what's wrong? Ever since we started having these lessons you've been distant and you always seem to have a sad look in your eyes now."
Yue was shocked at her words. She can tell? He had thought he successfully concealed his feelings. At least she can't see how much I love her. The last thing he wanted was for things to become awkward between them because she didn't return his affection. He started in surprise when he found her almost in his face.
"Yue-san, tell me please. I hate seeing you so sad." Her eyes gazed up at him imploringly. "I want to help."
Seeing that look almost broke him. He was just about to tell her, but he stopped himself. There was nothing she could do to help him. Not if she was in love with Inuyasha.
Kagome studied Yue's face, hoping he would tell her what was wrong. She needed to make it all better for him. It was tearing at her heart to know that he was in pain, especially since she still couldn't shake the feeling that whatever it was was her fault. She thought he was about to tell her, but he looked away.
"There is nothing wrong, Kagome-sama. I am perfectly fine."
She sighed sadly. "If you say so. I hope that some day you can bring yourself to tell me, Yue-san. It's not good to keep things bottled up."
"I have for centuries and there is nothing wrong with me."
"Yes there is, Yue-san. You've forgotten how to let someone in. You can still be all alone, even if you are surrounded by people because you don't let anyone in. Why don't you? Is it because Clow Reed died?" He was silent and she sighed. "Good night, Yue-san. I think I can sleep now."
His eyes softened as he watched her return to the campfire. She seemed sad as she slid her sleeping bag and rolled over to go to sleep. As he turned away he thought he heard someone speak in his mind. Let me in. it was so faint that he wasn't even sure he heard it. Then, Kagome bolted up.
"Youkai, a lot of them! They're surrounding us!"
She snatched up her bow and arrows. By the time everyone was up and realized what she had said she had fired three purified arrows into the forest and was notching another. She fired off three more, each one followed by a shriek of pain, before she rushed to meet a couple of the youkai head on. As more and more youkai poured out of the forest surrounding them she brought out a surprise. The miko ducked below a swipe for her throat and whipped out a pair of scais. The blades were a blur as she fought with the youkai. Despite her excellent fighting, she was caught completely unawares when a huge dragon-like youkai swooped down from above and snatched her up in its claws.
Yue heard her cry out and spun around in time to see her being carried off by the youkai.
"Kagome!" All honorifics were forgotten in his fear for her.
He dashed forward, his pure white angel wings bursting from his back. He flew after the youkai, grateful that the miko knew better then to struggle. He cursed. The youkai was steadily growing further away.
Yue, hurry! Came a thought from his Mistress. Miroku says that youkai's claws are poisonous.
His blood ran cold as he beat his wings harder. He gradually gained on them. Hold on, Kagome. I'm coming. When he was within reach he sent a ball of energy at the youkai. It shrieked in anger and turned to meet his attacks. Yue threw another energy ball at the beast. The beast swiped at him with one of its front claws. The pair battled through the air, both of them careful not to cause harm to the girl they fought over. Then, without warning the youkai released Kagome and she plummeted towards the ground. Yue threw another energy ball in its face before diving to catch the unconscious girl. He folded his wings against his back in order to pick up speed. The guardian managed to swoop under and catch her less than fifty feet from the ground and spread his wings again to slow their descent. He was relieved to see that the youkai's claws hadn't pierced her skin. Whoever wanted her wanted her alive.
* * *
Once they'd beaten back the youkai Inuyasha became aware of two things. The first was that Yue and Kagome were missing. The second was that they were not anywhere near their original camp anymore.
"All right, how the hell did we get here?" The hanyou demanded.
"Where's here?" Miroku asked.
"About five days away from where we were camped. Back the way we came from," he replied grimly.
"Damn!" Kero looked around. "I can't believe I didn't sense the spell."
"What spell?" Shippo jumped up onto the houshi's shoulder.
"The master of the Dark Cards cast a spell to transport us here."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because we were getting close," Sakure answered. "Besides, it amuses him."
"Feh! I don't give a shit why now I know how," Inuyasha growled. "Where's Kagome."
"She was carried off by a dragon-like youkai. Yue flew after them."
"Which way?" He demanded.
"You don't have to worry. Yue will."
Inuyasha cut her off. "Which way?!"
Sakura sighed. "North, northwest."
The hanyou immediately took off in the direction of the youkai. If Kagome was hurt. or worse he would tear the thing to shreds, then go after its master. He recognized the taint of Naraku when he saw it. The Dark Card Master and Naraku have joined forces, have they? Bring it on! No one touched Kagome. Not if they wanted to live.
Kagome watched the results of her spell casting proudly. It had taken her three years without help to learn how to call up her power at will. A couple weeks under Yue's tutelage and she was already casting the simplest of spells. Briefly, she wondered why she hadn't asked Kaede to teach her about this part of being a miko. She had easily taken to learning herb lore and the like from her, but she'd never asked the old miko to teach her about the magical powers. Her thoughts swept away as the spell was completed.
Yue watched as she completed the illusion. He felt a swell of pride at her skill. They were making excellent progress and he had suspected that this young woman was more than just a miko. The illusion confirmed his suspicions. A miko wasn't supposed to be able to do such spells. She, of course, didn't know that, but she would soon. He began planning all the things he would teach her when she turned to flash him a joyful and triumphant smile. The guardian's breath caught in his throat. Kami, she was beautiful! As usual he felt a pang in his heart as he thought about how much he loved her and the fact that she loved Inuyasha. Why? Why did I have to go and fall in love with the one woman I know I can't have? Her smile disappeared and her brow furrowed. He wondered fleetingly if he'd done something to upset her. What, he didn't know since he hadn't done anything?
"Yue-san, what's wrong? I did it right didn't I?"
At her words he realized that he had actually been frowning. He smoothed the frown from his face and shook his head slightly.
"Nothing is wrong. You did the spell excellently. You are a quick learner. Never have I seen anyone learn their magic so quickly."
She beamed with pride at his words before easily releasing the illusion. "I was always a quick study. The lessons aren't over for the night are they? I'm not really tired yet."
"I haven't decided what the next lesson will be yet. You will have to wait for tomorrow for that, but no one is saying that you have to go to bed. You are free to stay up as long as you like."
Kagome gave him a thoughtful look. "Are you going to stay up?"
Would it upset you if I did? Do you want me to or would you rather have Inuyasha here? "I was."
Her face fell slightly. "Does that mean you're not anymore?"
"I should rest, Kagome-sama."
She turned away from him. "Yue-san, what's wrong? Ever since we started having these lessons you've been distant and you always seem to have a sad look in your eyes now."
Yue was shocked at her words. She can tell? He had thought he successfully concealed his feelings. At least she can't see how much I love her. The last thing he wanted was for things to become awkward between them because she didn't return his affection. He started in surprise when he found her almost in his face.
"Yue-san, tell me please. I hate seeing you so sad." Her eyes gazed up at him imploringly. "I want to help."
Seeing that look almost broke him. He was just about to tell her, but he stopped himself. There was nothing she could do to help him. Not if she was in love with Inuyasha.
Kagome studied Yue's face, hoping he would tell her what was wrong. She needed to make it all better for him. It was tearing at her heart to know that he was in pain, especially since she still couldn't shake the feeling that whatever it was was her fault. She thought he was about to tell her, but he looked away.
"There is nothing wrong, Kagome-sama. I am perfectly fine."
She sighed sadly. "If you say so. I hope that some day you can bring yourself to tell me, Yue-san. It's not good to keep things bottled up."
"I have for centuries and there is nothing wrong with me."
"Yes there is, Yue-san. You've forgotten how to let someone in. You can still be all alone, even if you are surrounded by people because you don't let anyone in. Why don't you? Is it because Clow Reed died?" He was silent and she sighed. "Good night, Yue-san. I think I can sleep now."
His eyes softened as he watched her return to the campfire. She seemed sad as she slid her sleeping bag and rolled over to go to sleep. As he turned away he thought he heard someone speak in his mind. Let me in. it was so faint that he wasn't even sure he heard it. Then, Kagome bolted up.
"Youkai, a lot of them! They're surrounding us!"
She snatched up her bow and arrows. By the time everyone was up and realized what she had said she had fired three purified arrows into the forest and was notching another. She fired off three more, each one followed by a shriek of pain, before she rushed to meet a couple of the youkai head on. As more and more youkai poured out of the forest surrounding them she brought out a surprise. The miko ducked below a swipe for her throat and whipped out a pair of scais. The blades were a blur as she fought with the youkai. Despite her excellent fighting, she was caught completely unawares when a huge dragon-like youkai swooped down from above and snatched her up in its claws.
Yue heard her cry out and spun around in time to see her being carried off by the youkai.
"Kagome!" All honorifics were forgotten in his fear for her.
He dashed forward, his pure white angel wings bursting from his back. He flew after the youkai, grateful that the miko knew better then to struggle. He cursed. The youkai was steadily growing further away.
Yue, hurry! Came a thought from his Mistress. Miroku says that youkai's claws are poisonous.
His blood ran cold as he beat his wings harder. He gradually gained on them. Hold on, Kagome. I'm coming. When he was within reach he sent a ball of energy at the youkai. It shrieked in anger and turned to meet his attacks. Yue threw another energy ball at the beast. The beast swiped at him with one of its front claws. The pair battled through the air, both of them careful not to cause harm to the girl they fought over. Then, without warning the youkai released Kagome and she plummeted towards the ground. Yue threw another energy ball in its face before diving to catch the unconscious girl. He folded his wings against his back in order to pick up speed. The guardian managed to swoop under and catch her less than fifty feet from the ground and spread his wings again to slow their descent. He was relieved to see that the youkai's claws hadn't pierced her skin. Whoever wanted her wanted her alive.
* * *
Once they'd beaten back the youkai Inuyasha became aware of two things. The first was that Yue and Kagome were missing. The second was that they were not anywhere near their original camp anymore.
"All right, how the hell did we get here?" The hanyou demanded.
"Where's here?" Miroku asked.
"About five days away from where we were camped. Back the way we came from," he replied grimly.
"Damn!" Kero looked around. "I can't believe I didn't sense the spell."
"What spell?" Shippo jumped up onto the houshi's shoulder.
"The master of the Dark Cards cast a spell to transport us here."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because we were getting close," Sakure answered. "Besides, it amuses him."
"Feh! I don't give a shit why now I know how," Inuyasha growled. "Where's Kagome."
"She was carried off by a dragon-like youkai. Yue flew after them."
"Which way?" He demanded.
"You don't have to worry. Yue will."
Inuyasha cut her off. "Which way?!"
Sakura sighed. "North, northwest."
The hanyou immediately took off in the direction of the youkai. If Kagome was hurt. or worse he would tear the thing to shreds, then go after its master. He recognized the taint of Naraku when he saw it. The Dark Card Master and Naraku have joined forces, have they? Bring it on! No one touched Kagome. Not if they wanted to live.