By: Star-Gazer20
Note: When I came back to edit this chapter, I had some problems with the editor aloowing me to use Itallics. Some parts of Sesshoumaru's thoughts will be in these: ' ...' due to this error. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, it remains in the hands of its creator, Rumiko Takahashi. I do, however, own my plot and the twisted situations I put her characters in :)
Hey, I understand that I had some problems getting this story up…In fact I had many .; However, the first chapter is now ready, so hopefully this time will run smoother than the last (I hope it posts right!).
This story is fairly unorganized, but I have the main theme in mind, so fear not, I'm not going to allow it to lose its plot. (that rhymed…)
And thanks to my reviewer, JSR! I noticed that you had a question about the fact that Sesshoumaru never pushed Kagome for an answer, and that was something I must have not seen. I apologize if that made you confused. I have an idea of how I can get him to remind her of it though…hmm…just might work…
I promise I'll clear it up though, even if it shows up in the next chapter (cause it probably will)! Don't worry!
By the way: Italics are usually emphasized words/ phrases and thoughts.
Honoring You
By: Star-Gazer20
Chapter OneThe group had been traveling around since earlier that morning. Kagome's feet were getting tired and she felt nauseatingly uncomfortable. Her skin ached to be free of residue collected from traveling so much and her hair was matted to the back of her neck. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou seemed they needed a break as much as she did. Even Kirara looked worn out. Inuyasha, however, was perfectly at ease; barely breaking a sweat despite the sticky, humid weather the party journeyed in.
When Kagome could take no more of the insufferable silence, she stopped dead in her tracks and called to Inuyasha, who was walking a little ahead of everybody else.
"Inuyasha, stop! I doubt you need to rest, but us humans need to take a break every once in a while." Crossing her arms, Kagome sent a glare at his back, "I say we stop here before one of us dies from a heatstroke."
"Kagome-sama may be correct, Inuyasha; we have been traveling for nearly the entire morning. Perhaps it would be best to rest for a while." Miroku stated, unsure of what a 'heatstroke' was, but got the overall message of Kagome's terminology.
"Houshi-sama is right, Inuyasha, my feet could use some rest as well." Backing up the monk standing beside her, Sango looked at the neko-demon resting in her arms, "…Kirara looks as though she will faint from this heat…"
Kagome grew frustrated when Inuyasha just kept on walking, ignoring his companions. Just as she was about to take action, Shippou beat her to it.
"Stop ignoring us, you stupid dog!"
"What'd you call me!?" Inuyasha growled, turning around to face the fox youkai, "I'm going to-"
"You'll do nothing, Inuyasha. Osuwari." Kagome said aggregately, pinching the bridge of her nose with two fingers; she could feel a migraine coming on.
Her hair was gathered at the top of her head, immersed in conditioner, and as she allowed it to sit for a few moments, Kagome breathed in the lavender scented hair product and smiled.
How long had it been since she last had a bath? Two days? Or was it three? Attempting to recall her most recent opportunity at personal hygiene, Kagome sunk further into the hot tub, enjoying the feeling of being clean.
Miroku had managed to find them a room for the night at the most expense inn the small village had to offer. It was only hours earlier when they had finally stopped traveling for the day. By dusk, the small traveling band had stumbled on the quaint little village, where Miroku rushed in to rid the inn of 'the black, ominous cloud' that hung over it.
And of course, the innkeeper was more than grateful to have a priest ward off the 'misfortune' from the building.
"I wonder if he'll ever get caught…" Kagome heaved a sigh; Miroku really was a hero, though, at least to her. After all, she was able to take a real bath now. She was so sick and tired of bathing in freezing river water.
Kagome's mind wandered back to the night when she had been in the company of Inuyasha's older brother, Sesshoumaru. An unfamiliar feeling lurched inside of her chest slightly at the recollection of the event.
I almost want to think that he was protecting me…but somehow…Sesshoumaru doesn't seem to be the type to perform random acts of kindness… Kagome thought to herself, sinking her face halfway underneath the water. Why was she even concerned, anyway? He was her enemy after all.
Yes, he is my enemy. He is after Inuyasha's life, which is something I shouldn't overlook so easily…besides, that was nearly three weeks ago…
Kagome turned her attention to rinsing out the conditioner that she had allowed to be situated in her hair for a couple minutes too long. Kagome finished washing and stood up to grab the red bathing robe that lie folded on the wooden floor next to the giant washbasin.
"So cold…" Kagome mumbled, hurrying to throw the robe over her shoulders. She exited the bathing room, careful not to forget the toiletries she had brought with her.
Her hair was still wet, hanging in wispy, black curls all around her shoulders causing the robe she was wearing to dampen to some extent. Kagome slid the shoji door closed behind her, stepping out into the poorly lit hallway.
She frowned slightly at the way her hair soaked through her bathrobe, so much as to where she attempted to peal the silky cloth away from her skin. Frustrated, Kagome loosened the white obi around her waist slightly in order to lift the collar of the robe up easier. The silk-like robe did not only loosen in response, but the entire top half slid down the young woman's shoulders, bunching up at her waist.
Kagome blushed, quickly pulling the thin scarlet robe back around her shoulders to cover her exposed chest.
Kami, I hope no one saw that! That would be horrible! Especially if Miroku was around, he'd probably grope me!
Taking a couple deep breaths, and scanning her surroundings carefully, Kagome made her way back to the bedroom she shared with Sango and Kirara.
Not before she stopped suddenly.
Did I just hear a growl?
Heartbeat quickening, Kagome nearly ran down the hall. She sighed once she got to the door leading into the bedroom, all but ready to jump under the covers of the warm futon that awaited her. She shook off the noise she thought she heard and entered the room with a single thought;
It's so nice to be clean again.
He froze; panic attacked his heart rate and a flush rose to burn his cheeks within seconds. He tried to turn his face away; close his eyes, anything to stop him from staring so intently. Inuyasha's mouth fell open slightly, mesmerized at the scene he saw in front of him.
It hadn't been his intentions on returning to the inn so late, nor had it been his fault he just happened to cross paths with her at the wrong time. Inuyasha had been resting in one of the trees just outside the inn, keeping an eye out for anything that seemed peculiar.
Now, all Inuyasha could do was stare. If she had just managed to adjust her robe right, than the stupid thing wouldn't have fallen down to reveal the creamy white flesh hiding beneath it. Inuyasha wouldn't have also had to witness the upper part of her chest either.
He thought himself to be in heaven for a moment, seeing the way her body rounded in places he had never expected to see such tantalizing curves. It was a good thing that she covered them up so quickly, and thank Kami that he was hidden by the shadows of the hallway…
He didn't even want to begin to imagine how many times she would 'sit' him for this if she found out.
Ever since Kagome came back that one morning, several weeks ago, smelling like his half-assed brother, Inuyasha had kept a closer eye on her.
He could hardly call it stalking though, after all, he was only concerned about her welfare; though he'd be damned if he ever told her that.
Something in him snapped, a low growl emitting from deep in his throat. Just the thought of Sesshoumaru near Kagome made Inuyasha's blood boil.
Then, Kagome stopped suddenly, her face turning in his direction.
Blessing the darkness that concealed him from Kagome's human senses, Inuyasha ceased the rumble in his throat immediately.
That was way too close. Inuyasha thought, drawing in a breath
Kagome seemed to pause, looking confused before a look of apprehension covered her puzzlement. She ran passed him down the hallway to where he figured her and Sango's room was.
Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha predicted that sleep wouldn't come so easy for him on this particular night.
He was ageless, completely timeless. Gold eyes shone brightly against the darkness around him. The fire before him cast shadows along the fine features of his face, and a soft, yellow-orange light glistened off the pale white sheen of his long hair. His full lips drew themselves into a fine line, rendering his facial expression indifferent.
The campground where he sat was small; the fire burning at the center was unnecessary for a youkai lord such as himself. He had been traveling his province for several weeks already, and nothing had happened. There had recently been a period of silence that lingered in the Western Lands and he couldn't help but wonder just what was keeping Naraku so quiet. Sesshoumaru turned his head to the stars as a scowl crossed his serene face.
Naraku, where are you hiding, you bastard?
This 'time of peace' did not go only noticed by him, it worried many great youkai as well. The leaders of all of the four respective lands feared an uprising of minor youkai and hanyou alike.
Ever since Naraku reared his ugly head, terror spread across the lands like wildfire.
The humans, who had been terrorized the most, took this time of silence as 'peace,' although it was very far from that explanation. Sesshoumaru turned his senses to the wind, and sensing nothing, his frown grew deeper.
It was not an actual fear that Sesshoumaru felt at the rumors of the youkai uprising, but the threat it placed upon his title as the Western Taiyoukai. The title he had was one that was passed to him at an early age, when his father was killed.
He took pride in his heritage.
And, Yes, his father…
Sesshoumaru almost smiled; almost. Although the relationship he had with his father was never very deep, Sesshoumaru felt some kind of bond with his old man.
A kind of, admiration, for his parent.
Sesshoumaru took a moment to reflect back; something he didn't do often, to remember the vigor and impatience he held when he was a mere child under his father's care. Sesshoumaru had been so lively; eager to gain the same power and honor his father had worked an entire lifetime to earn.
Although Sesshoumaru had yet to accomplish that.
He was not completely a cold and ruthless tyrant, but a tyrant none the less, governing the people and youkai of the Western Lands with an air of supremacy. Not once had he been praised as the youkai lord who saved lives, because Sesshoumaru did what he had always done –killed human, youkai, and hanyou alike.
But not without suitable reason. He convinced himself, it was my duty as the Overlord to purge my territory with the tainted acts of war and disease.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes in irritation; all of this silence was driving him mad. There just was never a time when he had been able to relax, with the weight of a kingdom heavily on his shoulders, plus the rise of every small threat he saw to himself, he was not used to such…
Peace. His mind finished for him, making his eyes snap back open and narrow in disgust, Impractical humans and their brainless expressions.
After all, in the world Sesshoumaru saw, there was no room for humanistic ideals and dreams.
Coming back down to reality, Sesshoumaru moved his eyes from the skies to the fire that sat burning brightly before him in its makeshift hearth. Sesshoumaru peered around at the two companions he traveled most with. Jaken, who remained one of few loyal servants to his family, was lying fast asleep in his small, green futon. Across from Jaken, on the other side of the fire, was the only human Sesshoumaru had ever really had so much interaction with.
Rin was the only other person Sesshoumaru had saved using his Tenseiga, the healing sword he had inherited from his late father. She had been there, when he had lost his arm in a fight against his brother, Inuyasha. Then, after he had healed her, she had just followed him, never once leaving his side. He hadn't thought twice of it.
Remembering the arm he lost, Sesshoumaru thought back bitterly, to the fact that he no longer had the opportunity to try and wield the fang sword his father left for Inuyasha, the Tetsusaiga. He recalled that day as perhaps one of his worst, not only was he brash, he had also underestimated his younger sibling.
There was something peculiar about his brother now; somehow Inuyasha seemed to be…different…
Perhaps it is those he travels with that have influenced him greater?
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, recalling the many encounters he had with his brother's traveling band. Then, he focused on one detail.
'That miko, she must be why he is less brash and irrational. When he fights his strongest…she has always been there…'Not to compliment Inuyasha on his combat improvements; Sesshoumaru would never think to do that. However, this miko…she wasn't the same one that he had heard his brother chose as a mate, 50 years earlier.
Sesshoumaru stopped, as he acknowledged something.
'The powerful human miko that Inuyasha had been with 50 years ago is said to be alive still. If this is so, than what was the other miko doing alone so late that one night if she is not the mate of Inuyasha?'Sesshoumaru remembered how he had been traveling over Inuyasha's forest, when his night-sensitive eyes picked up the image of the woman leaning back against a well in a clearing below him.
He had wondered why he could not see, smell, or even detect his brother anywhere near her. Hadn't his brother more common sense than to leave his human miko alone in the middle of a forest at night?
How he had descended, he had not been aware of, but somehow he found himself moving nearer to her. Sesshoumaru remembered watching her as she looked up at the stars. Hadn't she any sense not to be out there?
Then he remembered the sudden urge to just stay there and protect her. Even as he thought back on it now, Sesshoumaru still couldn't figure out actually what had caused him to make his presence known to her, let alone stay to watch over her.
But he had, and he had also asked her why she was out there; conceivably that may have been his reason for even approaching her.
He could have just protected her from the shadows of the forest. Or, he could have just left.
But he never did, and he had even sat down with her, staying with her until the sun rose that next morning. Sesshoumaru had never gotten an answer from her yet.
This miko, this woman…he did not even know what her name was…
His senses picked up something then, alert with the verve to fight, Sesshoumaru looked back at the small camping ground before he took off into the skies.
Something wasn't right.
"Hey, Sango, are you alright?" Kagome asked, concerned at her friend's silence, "Is anything wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, well…" Sango sighed placing her polishing cloth aside, and gently running her fingers across the smooth, wooden surface of her weapon, Hiraikotsu. Kirara brushed against the side of her lap and purred encouraging. The cat youkai was in her smaller form, allowing Kagome to reach over and take the demon into her lap.
"Kirara and I are only worried, Sango. You've been so quiet the last several minutes…it's…unlike you not to even acknowledge your surroundings…"
"I'm sorry, Kagome-chan, I just…am I worried…"
"About what? Did Miroku do anything to-
"No! Houshi-sama hasn't done anything…recently. No, it's…about Naraku…He's been so quiet lately. We haven't had any problems-minus minor ones that have nothing to do with Naraku-for at least tree weeks now!" Sango finished, now looking up at Kagome desperately while clenching a fist on top of her giant boomerang.
Kagome offered her own silence, unsure of how to respond. Yes, Sango was right, there had been an eerie quiet that settled everywhere. She could remember all of the people she, Inuyasha, and the others had met in the different villages that they had passed through. All of the people seemed to be happy about something; it must've been the lack of danger people from this era were so used to experiencing.
"I don't think we should worry, yet, Sango," Kagome started, smiling reassuringly at her friend while stroking Kirara gently, "If Naraku has gone into hiding, then we need to use this time to our advantage; I know that there are still a few Shikon shards left out there. We need to find them before he does."
Sango nodded at Kagome, her fist relaxing, "Yeah, you're right, Kagome…I shouldn't fret so much…"
"Just rest up while you can." Sliding into her futon, Kagome yawned loudly before rolling over, "Don't sweat it, Sango, if anything does happen, I'm sure Miroku will be there to protect you…" Kagome smiled to herself with her back towards the demon exterminator, almost sensing the blush that crossed over Sango's features. With a sighed of content, Kagome slowly fell asleep.
Sango's face went red, though she said nothing of Kagome's comment.
"Inuyasha, I really don't think you have to keep watch. There hasn't been an attack for ages." Yawning Miroku got underneath the covers of his futon.
Shippou had passed out earlier, tired from the day's traveling. The only sounds he made were the soft snoring he emitted from time to time.
Now, only Miroku and Inuyasha stayed awake. Miroku yawned again, sending Inuyasha a half smile.
"Come on, Inuyasha…There's nothing for you to watch over…unless…" Inuyasha eyed the monk wearily as Miroku's eyes twinkled, "…The ladies need some additional protection. After all, it is our duty as men to guard women in need of defense."
"I hardly think that Kagome and Sango can't defend themselves."
"Yes, but Inuyasha, despite how strong they may be, they are still women that need-"
"Shut up, Miroku. Go to sleep."
"You must believe me, Inuyasha. I am deeply troubled that you cannot see how I only look out for the welfare of our female companions."
"That's exactly why I don't trust you. Goodnight."
The monk finally fell silent, as Inuyasha also felt his eyelids slightly dropping. It had been a long day, but that didn't mean that he would sleep just yet. Snapping his eyes back open, Inuyasha attempted to stay alert. His attempts, however, were in vain because he, too, fell asleep.
A few hours into the night, and the pleasant aura of the house had changed slightly, into a murky, sinister one. A foul smell drifted throughout the household, creating fog that hung thickly in the air. The dark sense grew stronger, awakening a certain hanyou and monk.
"Inu…yasha…do you…smell that…it's so…heavy…like old perfume…" Miroku awoke groggily, attempted to say between breaths.
"Yeah…it smells like shit…" Inuyasha stood, pulling out the Tetsusaiga as he went, "I'm going to find what's making this smelly shit, go check on Kagome and Sango." Without another word, Inuyasha ran out of the room.
Miroku grab his staff and leaned over to scoop up Shippou, who was still unconscious.
Sesshoumaru nearly fell back as the rancid, perfume smell entered into his nose. Covering his nose with his sleeve, Sesshoumaru burst through the rice-paper doors.
He had come in the first place because he thought that he sensed Naraku. Tearing through the building, Sesshoumaru came to a sight that he was most surprised by.
Inuyasha crept around the room carefully, searching for whatever it was that was causing the smell, He couldn't make out anything, due to the heavy haze that hung lazily in the air around him.
Something moved passed his feet
Inuyasha jumped and readied his sword, just as the air grew quiet once more. It wasn't until it was too late, did Inuyasha notice something green crossed over his line of sight.
And the rest faded to blackness…
Sango had been knocked out cold, an arrow through her wooden boomerang. Kirara lay next to her out cold.
But that's not what caught his attention.
If Sesshoumaru hadn't believed the nasty odor that already perfumed the air didn't smell terrible, the scent coming from the person in front of him was far worse.
Like something had died, and then was left out to decay.
"Who are you?" Sesshoumaru ordered, watching as the figure of the woman dressed in the garb of a miko dug at another sleeping woman's form, looking for something in the her clothes.
The other woman did not acknowledge him at first, with made him angry. The woman continued frantically searching the sleeping form of the woman.
"Answer me, wench." Sesshoumaru growled dangerously low, daring the woman to test him. Sesshoumaru didn't have this kind of patience.
"Who I am is none of your concern." With that, the woman jumped backwards disappearing as she went, shooting an arrow his way that he caught easily.
Sesshoumaru stared at where the strange woman had left from, and then turned his head to glance at the woman who had been hassled as she slept.
It was the human wench who belonged to his brother.
Staring down at her, Sesshoumaru glanced back at her fallen comrades. Infatuated by something, Sesshoumaru did the last thing he would have imagined doing;
He left the building, carrying Kagome.
The end….kidding!
Okay, terrible joke, but again, it's late… But I was so determined to get this posted! What can I say, I'm crazy…
Sorry the end what kind of rushed…but I'm tired!
Have you figured out who the woman that was harassing the sleeping Kagome was? I'm sure you can, it's really not that hard…So come on! Use your thinking powers!
I'm going to head to bed, so if there's anything you need my to clear up, my email is , so drop me a line if you feel you need too. Or, you could just leave it in a review. Either way!
Ciao!Star-Gazer20
Now let's see if this editor will cooperate with me this time…hmm….