Author:The Chibi Hime
Author's notes:I know this is probably shorter than you expected, seeing as how long it has taken me to update..well..suck it up and take it like a man, your lucky procrastination has let me take it this far, don't get picky! Luck is on your side this once, grasshopper. enjoy it, damnit.... please and thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kagome, InuYasha, Kaede or Kikyou..although the abstract picture of the tree is mine, so don't get any funny ideas...sigh
Chapter five: Sticks and stones
The sun had been unbearable. It seeped between her eyelids defiantly and no matter how tightly she clamped her eyelids shut, the gleeful rays slipped through, blinding her even through her thin shield of skin. It was more than annoying.
Her cot on the ground had done wonders on her back, as sleeping in the feudal era had always done. Still, Her neck ached as she made an attempt to sit up, her eye lids still closed sleepily.
She didn't want to wake, and her mind begged her not to as it wandered freely and dreamily. As she relaxed her muscles, her eyelids slid open slowly, adapting to the brightness of her surroundings.
InuYasha was sitting contentedly a crossed the room with a small, familiar clay bowl in hand, slurping its steamy contents noisily, with the same lack of manners he always had. Kikyou sat a crossed from him, one hand resting on her lap, and the other inching towards InuYasha's knee, absentmindedly.
"That's disgusting" Kagome struggled to say, her throat was dry and instead rebelled , almost destroying the sentence she had meant to say, turning it into something more along the lines of "ats usting In..yasha".
The thoughtful look on Kikyou's face disappeared as she climbed to her feet, as if suddenly sworn to duty. Although her glance at Kagome was rather cold, she managed a light carefree smile as she held out a bowl to Kagome, Identical to InuYasha's from the inside out.
"Um..No thanks" Kagome had by now gotten a hang of speaking, and this time, her words were audible as she returned the smile and lightly pushed the bowl back towards the priestess.
"I didn't poison it " She mumbled, rather taken aback, glancing at the hanyou who was currently making a pig of himself, as if for insurance that this was indeed, true.
" I'm sorry...all that's happened...I Just don't think I could." Kagome stumbled foolishly for words to explain her weird behavior, as she fiddled nervously with her red ascot. She knew very well, that especially in this day and age, refusing a gift was very rude..and even if she didn't mean it, she had offended the poor girl.
"That's fine" She replied, setting the bowl down at her side. Although her expression was straight, kagome knew she had just broken that friendly bond between them both.
There seemed to be an awkward silence flooding the room, the only sound left was the disgusting sounds of InuYasha slurping his breakfast. Kagome's stomach turned as she imagined mouse guts hitting the floor. The hanyou's eyes wandered away from his food as his slurping gradually slowed until it had ceased completely and his eyes had fully met with Kagome's. He took in a breath-Kagome's heart raced, as the previous night's events came back to her with a flash. She felt ashamed..he's with Kikyou..she wanted to tell Kikyou, to spill her guts-which brought her back to the sound of InuYasha eating in the back of her mind...Her face became unusually pale, as she tried to block the image, but at the same time she worried InuYasha would say something about what had happened...
Seconds later, she found herself leaping forwards, hand outstretched to block the hanyou's mouth at all cost. She could just plead insanity, if Kikyou asked...she now felt sick and as if she were on trial..on oath..that surly hadn't helped.
Before her hand had come in contact with InuYasha's mouth, she let her head fall forwards as warm liquid sprang from her throat and out her mouth, drenching the floor with last night's meal. It had taken a tremendous amount of energy away from her, or so it felt, and within seconds she felt her body come crashing to the ground.
"Kagome!" InuYasha gasped, astonished.
He took her right hand in his, and with the other he slowly patted her on the back, soothing her until she was able to sit up without fearing she'd lose any more contents in her stomach.
"Why'd you do that?" He asked, now taking his turn at being disgusted.
"No reason..heh..I told you I wouldn't be able to stomach anymore food.." She lied, glad that an excuse had come quickly to mind, saving her from anymore embarrassment that morning.
The guilt had lasted all day. It seemed to be attacking her mind constantly and even though she quickly tried to brush it off each time, it always seemed to return shortly, worse than ever. Why did she feel so guilty? It wasn't like she did anything...that hadn't really been the issue..she was there, finally confessing her love to the person she'd cared about more than anyone else in the world (past or present), and he was with someone else. It was sickening.
Peeking down at the world below her, she now knew why this was such a pleasurable pouting spot. One of the highest branches in a tall bulky tree contained the confused teen, and it had for quite some time. She felt it was better there for her, at least then..she wouldn't be freaking out and making people's opinions resemble that of the people's opinions in her own era.
The thin branches at the very tip of the tree swayed ever so slightly with the gentle breeze, watching them intently, the slow motions of the leaves fluttering about seemed to calm her slightly, and beautiful mixes of dark greens and light greens silhouetted against the pale blue sky was marvelous.
A small brown bird tended to her nest carefully, as if oblivious to the fact that she was even there, watching.Tiny objects, mixed with thin twigs and brown leaves lined the nest, snuggling the eggs tightly that were lying within. As Kagome stared rudly at the small creature, another bird landed lightly next to the first, as if inspecting the nest carefully. It lifted its small, light brown head as it seemed to beam proudly at the other (which Kagome had guessed was the female).The female returned the appreciation with a light nuzzle. Kagome heaved a sad heavy sigh..
"I bet she doesn't have to worry about competing with a prettier bird for her lover" Kagome mumbled, now glaring, somehow making even the smallest bit of nature seem horrible by relating it to her own problem. It was then when the tiny heads of the birds snapped in her direction as their beady little eyes fixed upon her. They both spread their wings and began to advance upon her slowly, still reluctant to take flight..as if just daring her to edge even an inch closer.
"I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to hurt your eggs! Honest!' Kagome gasped, as if hoping they would just understand this once..although they didn't.
Before she had time to react, both birds had taken flight and circled around her head, their little beaks feeling like needles piercing her skin each time they came in contact with her head. Trying desperately to ward off the offended birds, she completely forgot about keeping her balance and gravity in general.
The hand that had been clutching the branch next to her tightly had instinctively let go and sprang forth, swatting at her attackers. The birds weren't actually getting her as much now, but at the same time, she had nothing to hold on to, and as she found herself tumbling out of the tree, she now remembered that what she had done was a big mistake.
"iyaa!" she squealed as her hip slammed hard against the last branch she would be able to grasp before hitting the ground. In pain, she reached helplessly towards the branch, barely clutching on in time. However, her sweaty palms made it extremely hard to keep hold, and before she had a chance to hoist herself upwards, her grasp had slipped and she dropped out of the tree completely, backwards.
A worried voice behind her screamed "Kagome!!" and before she had known it, she was safe in InuYasha's arms, never having to come in contact with the ground.
"What were you doing up there?" He demanded trying to sound macho, although it was obvious he had been worried.
"Nothing! I wasn't doing anything!" She snapped, wriggling out of his arms defensively.
"Are you mad at me for something?" He questioned, letting go of her as soon as he was sure she would be able to stand.
"No!" She glanced up at the tree where the birds should be, although the thick branches concealed them perfectly and she could not see them any longer. This made her slightly angrier for some reason, and when she met InuYasha's eyes again, she glared at him.
"What!? Your obviously angry at me for something..what did I do now!?" He growled, slowly becoming agitated.
Moments of silence made InuYasha's temper rise considerably.
"I should have let you fall then" He snapped coldly and turned his back to her, walking stiffly back towards his hut.
She hadn't meant to retaliate to this, but before she had known it, she had bent forwards, snatched up a large stone and sent it hurdling towards the back of the hanyou's head, hitting him right on target.
When InuYasha had turned around completely, his face was red with fury. "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR, YOU IDIOT!?" His loudness echoed throughout the peaceful village drawing a lot of attention to them.
"YOU DESERVED IT YOU MORON!" She fumed with clenched fists.
"FOR WHAT!? IF IT WEREN'T FOR ME, YOU'D BE CRYING HOME TO YOUR MOM!" He gloated, while at the same time, roared with fury ()
"IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, IT'D BE A LITTLE QUIETER AROUND HERE!" With that, Kagome grabbed several stones that were closest to her, and sent them hurdling towards InuYasha's face once more. She didn't even stick around long enough to see if she had met her target, but instead whirled around and fled the scene. Sweat began to collect in her bangs and her face felt like it had been simmering on the stove for a while..as painful as that would seem, it just seemed to be the best description at the time..and larissa is lame(aka author).
She finally let herself drop with an exasperated sigh next to rather dusty looking rock next to a shimmering stream a little ways into InuYasha's forest. Absentmindedly, her hand traveled to her forehead and was soon sticky with moist sweat. Surprised and sickened, Kagome quickly dipped her hand into the water.
Her body was overcome with an odd sensation. A warmth like she'd never felt before crept into her veins and soaked into every bone. An eerie happiness fled through her and her heart leapt with joy for no reason at all.
Taken by complete surprise, she quickly withdrew her hand, finding more sweat than ever had collected on her forehead and she'd been breathing rapidly without knowing it. Her eyes widened in fear as she had suddenly noticed that the area around her was nearly pitch black and the moon had long since risen.
'This is it' Kagome's mind raced 'I've gone insane..i've finally done it... '
She leapt to her feet in terror running towards the place she thought she remembered entering this clearing. Finding a small opening in the brush she quickly climbed through running as fast as her legs would take her through the path, her heart thumping hard enough that she thought wildlife might hear it.
The night around her encased her a thick darkness that she wanted to escape badly. she wanted to tear out of the night and find the warmth and light that she had felt only moments ago..she wanted to be happy...
Kagome stopped suddenly, throwing herself off balance. She tumbled to the ground and nearly fell upon an unsuspecting raccoon that hissed at her in warning and scurried off into the darkness ahead.
'Was that was the stream wanted me to realize?'Kagome thought anxiously 'No no..that's silly...streams can't tell people things...can they?'
Kagome's attention snapped back towards were she had come, curiosity flooding through her...she wanted to go back, but she didn't..it was all too confusing and it wasn't worth it.
Finally deciding she'd check it out the next day, Kagome climbed to her feet, finding she had landed herself in a rather 'smooshy' spot in the grass and her knees and hands were completely covered in slimy mud that smelled worse than it looked.
'why me' she whined silently, brushing off what she could. It would be a while before she could get a bath at this rate and thinking about it was rather depressing.
She looked ahead of her determinedly and clenched her now soggy fists. Within moments, she had willed her terror stricken body to move and she was moving swiftly through the dark forest, bumping into unknown objects and fumbling for her way now and then.
Hours later however, she found she had only gotten herself more lost and it seemed hopeless going on any further, so she dropped to her knees in hopelessness and familiar hot tears rolled down her pale cold cheeks.
"Help me" She whispered aloud, although only loud enough for herself to hear.
I'm sorry everyone. Fate, as we know it seriously loathes me and at all cost, seemed to want to stop at nothing to avoid letting me update..so here I am, now..akward and most likely hated.
Yeah..I'm gonna need a hug...
Just not from you...you weirdo...