A/N: I am SO sorry that I broke the deadline! My index finger on my
right hand got injured from my dance practice and I cant use it to
type. It hurts a lot and it distracts me from writing. I hope it heals
soon, but for the most part, this chapter might be a little rusty
because my mind always concentrates on my index finger instead of my
writing. -_- Anyhow! Enough of my rambling. Long chapter to say sorry
and here's some answers to questions only.
Sunflowerobi- Sorry…its definitely Rin/Sesshoumaru. I thought about Kagura/Sesshoumaru, but Kagura/Sesshoumaru just wouldn't work.
sakura2649- Inuyasha is kind of dense---do you believe he'd pick up a hint that Kagome hated Kikyou? And only two days have past since she's gone to his kingdom.
DiaBLo- THANK YOU for agreeing with me as to using "Tetsusaiga."
snoopy- Tessaiga is an incorrect way to spell Tetsusaiga. Tensaiga is Sesshoumaru's sword. bonessasan- What Kagome was about to say at the end of chapter 8 would…be a mystery forever!
Dark Dragon of the Seven Hells- Kanna is older than Kagura, but not in appearance right? I put 9 and 18 for appearances [when it refers to youkai] since who KNOWS how old Naraku, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, etc. really are! The ages for the human characters are their real age, but youkai characters refer to appearance.
tOkU-cHaN- sorry about the eye color thing. Its changed back to blue permanently.
Akira- I found the stalking comment quite funny. XD I find humor in such trivial matters…and yes, like I promised, Fate of Two Hearts chapter 3 was updated a few days ago.
roxy-chick- Kagome doesn't exactly trust Inuyasha to pour her whole life to him yet. And Inuyasha is an "obnoxious asshole" because he doesn't trust people, and the only reason he told the "masquerade girl" was because he thought he wouldn't see her ever again. But "Kagome" is from the "enemy" side that's making him marry, so he'd be a bit self-conscious to be nice to her.
kitsunekit- I forgot about Kirara! I don't think she'd be in this story…sorry!
fallen pheniox- I always look forward to your review for some reason! It's like I know certain people will always review my chapters and it makes me so happy. And was she going to ask him if she could touch his ears? =P Rin's status will be revealed in this chapter and Miro/San will be in this chapter too! Have fun!
Behind the Masquerade
Iridescent Reviving
King Komiya led the army on, knowing that they had crossed the pass where the forest and mountains met a good hour or so before. They had been traveling for a total of three hours, through many twists and turns, their minds set upon finding out the fate of the soldiers at the Battle of the High Plains. The hot afternoon sun shone down upon their already sweaty bodies and the king could start to hear some of his men moaning and groaning, as they climbed the steep hill they were on. Grass was becoming more scarce as they got higher, trees were beginning to disappear to be replaced by hard rock and soil, and the higher they ascended, the hotter it grew.
It was like a relentless summer's day.
"Just over that edging up there, men," the King stated in fatigue as they suddenly felt a draft blow from behind them, bringing their scent to whatever might be up there. The king stopped as he realized this and so did the rest of the army, while common sense kicked into the tired mind of the youkai ruler.
Snapping one of his fingers, he called one of the nearby human soldiers over and pointed over the hill. "Soldier, go scale that and be careful. Come back and tell me what's going on or what happened," King Komiya ordered and the valiant soldier began to clamber up the slope without another bidding, leaving his horse with the others.
Watching intently, the king observed the man peek over the slope to eye something, before pulling himself up over the edge and disappearing from the eye's view. Deciding to use his nose, King Komiya sniffed acutely and tried to smell whatever it was that was up there. The wind's direction wasn't helping, but he could smell a very faint metallic scent, mixed with a lot of nasty smelling substances. It wasn't his first time smelling an odor like this, and he began to fear the worst as he recognized the smell.
The man that had been sent up, jumped back down with a stunned look on his face as he tried to find the right words to explain what he had saw at the top. "I…I…" the captain began, but couldn't seem to find his voice as he looked at the king with a somewhat scared expression.
"What is it?" King Komiya pressed on, half of himself wanting to know what happened, while the other didn't want to believe it.
"They are…all of them…massacred…enemies and allies alike…" the soldier managed to gurgle out before wiping the tense sweat away from his face. "My highness, I think you should see it for yourself," the man suggested and with a dismissing wave from the king's hand, he walked back feebly to his horse.
The king glared in anxiety as he took one leap to accomplish the feat of landing on the top ledge of the hill. His breath hitched in his throat as he saw the outlook, while his hands clenched at his side.
Blood. Flesh. Bones.
That was all the words he needed to describe the gory scene in front of him.
"Oh bloody hell…"
*~*~*
Plan A was always the forceful tactic.
That's what every girl hoped the boy would submit to.
But have you noticed, Plan A's always fail?
Anyway, if he did not bend to her will, then she would resort to plan B.
But have you also noticed that Plan B is none other than the gutless tactic?
Begging.
"Please! Please! Please!" she pleaded pitifully, as she put on the puppy-dog eyes and the big, pouty frown, hoping that would distract the big bad hanyou for a while. But as she was inching towards the gates, big bad hanyou intercepted her escape.
"No! The kingdom is in the middle of a crisis and you're thinking about going to the beach?" Inuyasha growled, as he used his body to block her getaway.
"This isn't exactly my kingdom, you know?! I'm only here for you," Kagome retorted as she gave up trying to run away, and crossed her arms angrily across her chest.
"Who cares if you were here for me or the frikkin muffin man! Your body is in this kingdom, and so your life is in this kingdom's hands too. Stay put inside the castle's grounds and after my father comes back, then you go to the beach." Inuyasha did the exact pose Kagome was doing and glared right back. "Has mommy never taught you to be nice and courteous to your host?!"
"Poor Kagome…" Sango muttered unhappily as she and the pervert watched from a few feet behind.
Miroku looked surprised. "Actually, she's quite rich. Not poor at all."
Sango rolled her eyes. "Fine. Unfortunate Kagome…"
"Nice?!" Kagome shrieked as she stalked towards the half demon, poking him harshly in the chest. "You tell me to be nice after you practically left me stranded up in the sakura tree a few hours ago?!"
"You provoked me to leave you up in the sakura tree because you practically shoved me off my branch and made me crash into several branches on my way down!" Inuyasha responded angrily and he caught the wrist of the hand that was poking him in the chest. It didn't hurt him. The poking annoyed him.
"Well excuse me, it was an accident," Kagome snapped as she tried to pry her wrist from his strong grip. Feeling the futility as his hand refused to let go of her wrist, she grabbed his other free hand and made both their hands curve down next to both their sides.
Now that his face and body was wide open without his hands to protect himself, she tip toed up and stuck her eyes mere inches away from his. She wasn't thinking about what she was doing, but she knew that she wanted it her way, and Inuyasha wasn't going to stop her. That was what blinded her from seeing the reality of the situation. "Listen to me," she began in an authoritative voice. "I want to go to the beach."
If possible, Inuyasha jammed his own eyes and nose closer to Kagome without knowing, and all in all, the scene didn't look too innocent. Save for the blazing angry eyes, of course.
"And you listen to me. You can't go to the beach."
"Who says!?"
"The great and mighty Inuyasha says!"
"Oh puh-leassse, don't flatter yourself, you narcissist!"
Sango looked surprised, blinking as she watched the two in front of her. They argued about the most petty little things and Kagome was too stubborn to give in, while Inuyasha was just like a wall to get through. But before long, her eyes lowered to a sluggish look as the scene became rather boring. "If there was just a painter walking by right now, I would love to have him paint this scene," she drawled lazily, half amused and half bored.
"Interesting though…" Miroku mumbled to himself, scratching his chin in thought. If Inuyasha just bent down, he would claim Kagome's lips…interesting...
He must ask Inuyasha how to get a girl into that position…
Peeking over at Sango, he was instantly met with a deadpan look from the girl.
"I know what's going on in that lecherous mind of yours, houshi-sama," Sango taunted, the flat look still visible on her face.
"We can't even go into last names basis? Must you call me houshi-sama? Makes me feel so low," Miroku complained, as he frowned externally at the title of houshi.
"Would you rather me call you bouzo, then?" Sango asked, sarcastic sweetness dripping all over her voice.
Miroku thought about it for a while. "No. Houshi is fine," he finally answered, giving her a boyish grin that would have made some girls faint. "I'll still call you Sango, though. How about Sango-chan? Sango-chan…that has a nice ring to it."
"No -chan, houshi. Just Sango."
"But I think Sango-chan sounds so fine!"
"Sango," the mentioned growled in finality and warning.
Miroku ignored the forewarning. "Then how about Sango Komiya?" he asked flirtatiously, wiggling his eyebrows in suggestion.
"I'll rather die," was Sango's instant dry response.
Kagome suddenly realized that as she and Inuyasha had stopped screaming in each others' faces to take breaths, they were close. Too close. So close she felt nauseous. Instantly letting go of the arm she had a hold on, she felt him lose his grip on her other arm, and they both separated. A bright red shrouded her face as she took in calming breaths, half of her glaring murderously at him, while the other was too embarrassed to really do anything.
"Don't ever touch me again!" she screamed, storming up another debate with those few words.
"You were the one who started poking my chest first!"
"Well who was it who likes walking in on girls while they're bathing!?"
Inuyasha frowned darkly. "It was an accident!"
Kagome narrowed her eyes as skepticism graced her features.
"Anyway," Inuyasha continued airily, glaring over at Kagome in scrutiny. "There wasn't much to see."
Kagome felt the familiar tick on her eye start again.
"I've seen some maids with better buns than yours," Inuyasha drawled lazily.
If the red on Kagome's face before was from humiliation, it was now from mortification and detestation. "You are so impossible!" she yelled wrathfully as she turned around and stomped back up into the castle, a bright red aura flaring around her.
Inuyasha smirked at the victory. Out of the three fights and argument they had had today [one from last chapter, another about the controversy of whether Kagome pushed him off the tree, and this one] , he had won two. Didn't he feel proud of himself or what!
Hearing that girl's bodyguard stomp over to him, he felt self-conscious when he saw her raise up a fist. He was expecting a hard beating, but the physical contact never came. "First thing you should know about talking to a girl; if nothing good is going to come out of your mouth, then just don't open your hole!" she shouted, before running in after Kagome.
Miroku walked up to Inuyasha next and gave him a 'tsk'ing finger. "I'm ashamed of you. After so many years of living with me, have you learnt no respect for the female population?"
"You call grabbing a girl's butt and feeling her up, respect? Last time I checked that up, it meant corruption of hormones," Inuyasha answered smoothly, giving his cousin a threatening glare.
Miroku rolled his eyes. "Still. I don't call them ugly."
"I didn't call her ugly!"
"You were implying it. You should have at least shown you were sorry, instead of putting on that pompous grin of yours."
With nothing more said, Miroku walked in briskly after Sango and Kagome, leaving behind a thoroughly annoyed hanyou. The wind played with Inuyasha's hair as he stared holes into the back of Miroku's head, willing the lecherous man to drop dead on the grass. It never came as Miroku just walked in the castle without much as a glance backwards.
Inuyasha scowled more. "It's not like she's ugly, anyway…" he whispered quietly to himself, not exactly sure where that comment had came from, but not correcting himself. It seemed the right comment anyhow.
*~*~*
Sesshoumaru watched as his dead soldiers rose up suddenly, as if back from the dead. Actually, they had come back from the dead. Literally. Quite surprising to him even.
Watching with a passive look on his face, he observed the soldiers all pick up their detached limbs and heads, and stick it back onto their body. Shock and relief washed through the appearances of everyone, as they all hugged each other in joy.
King Komiya was looking at the army in delight, while looking down at the sword in his hands in amazement. Toutousai hadn't done a bad job…not a bad job at all. In a few swings, the whole army of a few hundreds had been resurrected with no injuries whatsoever, and that was a miracle in itself.
Gazing over at his older son, who looked perfectly disinterested in the whole ordeal, he mentally smiled. He had found Sesshoumaru just sitting at the battlefield, perfectly alive and injuries all healed. Why the prince had stayed at the death site, he didn't know, but he was sure his son had his reasons. He had asked his son what had happened and using only the words necessary, Sesshoumaru had explained to him what he had remembered before he had blacked out, and King Komiya felt annoyance creep into his conscience.
The wolf demons had died just as badly and as innocently as the dog army. It wasn't fair that they had died so…hideously.
Exhaling a breath of irritation, he cursed his mind and leapt over to the lifeless wolf army in long strides, getting there in no time. Hesitating for just a moment, he raised Tenseiga over his head and brought it down in a few wide swings. Twinkles of power and light consumed the dead army, and before long, they were all revived like the dog army had been.
He heard his soldiers behind him gasp in horror as they watched their opponent rise slowly from death and pick up their severed body parts, looking around in surprise.
King Komiya put on a dark frown as he held up a hand for silence. Everyone saw this, as he was in between the two armies, exactly where the mysterious person had been [Naraku], although he didn't really know that. The wolf army looked over him in revelation, yet horror, as they realized that this was the king of their enemy. Had he been the one who had wiped them out?
"Listen here, and listen all. The Battles of the High Plains has been put on hiatus as of now. Go back in peace you wolves, and we'll leave in the same manner. If you decide to fight now, we'll wipe you all out and I won't revive any of you at all, as that would be a fair fight," King Komiya announced in an imposing voice---a voice that demanded attention and obedience.
The wolves quickly began to communicate in their language, and little yips and barks were heard here and there as they had different opinions about the offer. But soon, a roaring "SILENCE!" rang through their ranks, as the king of the wolf kingdom turned to meet eye contact with King Komiya.
"I, King of the Ookami Kingdom, hereby receive your announcement, and this battle shall resume at a later day when we are all ready with no interruptions." The wolf king stopped there, as he looked tentative to say anything else. With a rapid nod, he turned his horse back towards their castle, and the wolf army quickly yet cautiously ran after their king, since many of the horses they rode here were missing [with a few exceptions; those loyal horses]. They threw backward glances at their enemy nervously as they tried to catch up to their unhappy emperor, who was riding away like he was ashamed that he was the first to turn heels and run.
But as the last men were turning around, a male dressed in fine war armor galloped from the troops and pulled on the reins of his horse as he looked down at the dog king. "Just because you revived us, doesn't mean we'll be merciful on you in the battle later. We're already showing our gratitude now by leaving," the wolf hissed down, his bright blue eyes narrowed.
King Komiya merely grinned at the threat, as the wolf man went off galloping after his army.
Sesshoumaru suddenly appeared beside the king, as he glanced silently at the army slowly disappearing towards the horizon. The aspect on his face didn't display any looks that might have suggested whether he had heard the wolf's threat or not, but some faraway glaze was definitely spread across his eyes.
King Komiya raised an interested eyebrow as he observed the glaze over his son's eyes. Something was definitely wrong; his son would never have that look in his eyes, especially ever since his first wife had died, and he would never have sat around in a bloody battle site after he had been healed hours before. Something must have happened.
"I'm going back first," was all the youkai prince muttered, before turning tail and beginning to make his way back. King Komiya quickly reacted and called out after his son, making Sesshoumaru stop his in trail.
"Yes father?" Sesshoumaru asked in a cool voice as he turned around to gaze at his dad.
Looking down at the sword in his hand, king Komiya carefully held it out towards Sesshoumaru, and urged the man to take it. Sesshoumaruo glimpsed at the sword emotionlessly and gazed back up at his father. "I have no need for such a sword. Give it to Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru answered, as he kept the stoic look on his face.
"I demand you keep it," King Komiya ordered as he frowned at his son, putting the sword in its sheath. This sword was only for Sesshoumaru, and it wouldn't belong to none other than him.
Sesshoumaru glanced back down at the covered sword for a while, and gently took it from his father's grasps. "Whatever you say, father," he answered without emotion, as he tucked it into his belt and turned around to continue his way. Nothing else was uttered from him as he walked back slowly towards the forest far away.
'Ah…something did happened…' King Komiya thought to himself, as he smiled after his son. 'I wonder…he better like that sword. I wasted a fang on that…'
"Okay. Get your gears into work, soldiers! As soon as you're all ready, we'll march back to Komiya Kingdom!"
There were collective groans from the men who had just arrived with King Komiya about fifteen minutes ago, as they realized that they had trekked all the way out here for nothing, but to revive their dead-but-back-alive comrades.
*~*~*
Sesshoumaru carried along his way as he unknowingly (even to himself), searched for the closest village. That girl…she plagued his mind like a curse. Why had she saved him? He was a youkai after all, and he had been in his youkai form when she had bandaged him. No other girl would have done something like that, other than run away screaming at the mere sight of him. She made him curious, and until he found her again to ask her why exactly she had saved him and who she really was, his curiosity would continue to pester him to no end.
Walking slowly across the country-side, he suddenly smelt the scent of blood and the familiar girl scent he had just smelt a few hours ago. Frowning slightly, he followed the odor into a mass of trees that were bunched together on the side of the road. He could smell the presence of civilization a few miles into the woods, signaling that the 'closest town' was in fact just a few miles away. But what really alarmed him was the whiff of blood close to him.
Walking out into a opening in the trees, he stopped as he stared at the scene before him. There was the smell of some lower demons around before, but the whole clearing was drenched in the smell of blood. Looking at the tree trunk set in the middle of the clearance, he saw one motionless body lying on top of it.
Moving towards the body, he realized that by the look of what the person was wearing, that this was the girl that had 'saved' him before. Her hair was messy and unruly, as some parts of her kimono were ripped and bloodied. Scratches were all over her body and the tree trunk was drenched in her blood while emotionless and wide dull eyes stared up at the youkai prince.
A shiny emblem on the ground caught the sharp eye of Sesshoumaru, and he bent down to pick it up. It was the emblem of a royal family. Recognizing the insignia as of a kingdom that was much smaller than the Komiya's, but still rather influential, he gazed over at the dead girl.
If this girl was in possession of such a royal emblem, then that must mean she was of royalty. A princess, no doubt.
He gazed at the lifeless eyes of the girl a moment longer, before standing up slowly. His stoic eyes still set upon the girl, he unsheathed Tenseiga and held it out on the side. Squinting his eyes to catch sight of the death demons that he had seen rampage on the battle site before when his father had revived the two armies, he saw one of those single critters on the girl. Swinging the sword gracefully, he cut through the death demon and it squeaked before disappearing into dust.
Putting the sword back into it's sheath, Sesshoumaru bent down and proceeded to lift the girl into his arms gently. She felt like nothing in his arms as he backtracked his ways out of the trees, continuing along his way back to his castle.
She began to stir in his arms, and before long, she grunted as she opened her eyes blurrily to see her savior. Shock was all over her face as she looked up at the cold, yet entrancing eyes of the youkai she had saved before. Hadn't she died? Hadn't those demons ambushed her on her way to finding help for this particular man who was holding her right now?
"Why?" was all she could mutter from her dry throat, as she continued gazing up at him.
Sesshoumaru never answered.
*~*~*
Kagome was in her room seated at her table with the beautiful bouquet of flowers, as she looked down at her scribble of Inuyasha on paper. She scowled deeply and quickly drew herself in there as she made Drawing Kagome hold a huge stick with bloodthirsty eyes and fangs, as Drawing Inuyasha ran away like a pansy in a dress. Feeling remotely better as she drew yet another drawing of Inuyasha's horrible death by being smothered in Kikyou's kisses, she giggled a bit as she made Kikyou sprout horns and a tail.
Inuyasha and Kikyou would make the perfect couple in her opinion; both were arrogant, conceited and egotistic and not in the least altruistic or philanthropic. They would both have nauseating Little Inuyashas and Little Kikyous who would call her "Kagome-oba" [Aunt Kagome] and 'sweetly' stomp on her foot if she refused to give them candy. She could just imagine the pain she would have to go through right now…
Getting up, she shuffled over to her bed and fell heavily onto it from fatigue. Stuffing her face into the pillow, she started screaming curses at the bombastic Inuyasha. "Mfh grrh mff irr lurrf!" she screamed, but she really meant 'you dim-witted jerk!' Thrashing her hands around, she continued yelling lines similar to the one she had just said, and letting her anger out on her bed.
Feeling spent of all energy a few minutes later, she sat up on her bed and looked around. This place wasn't different to her place back home, and she had the unpleasant Kikyou in the badgering form of Inuyasha. But for some reason, although she felt angry and irate a lot here, she felt well…how could she put this into words?…She felt more comfy and welcome here than back home. Strange, wasn't it? She had barely been here a few days and she had already referred to this place as a second home. It was bad getting attached to the castle here, since in a matter of a month, she would be going back home.
But the best thing out of it all, was that Kikyou was going to have to live here soon, and Kagome would be alone and left deserted back there. In some way, it felt like Kikyou was going to replace her here…
Shaking her head at such an absurd train of thought, she hopped back out of bed and shuffled back over to the table to resume her counseling---drawing pictures of Inuyasha dying.
But rather than seeing her loads of pictures and drawings on the table, it was replaced by a flower. A single beautiful blue blossom that was shaped like bell. 'A bluebell…' she thought as she blinked her eyes in confusion while she saw a note along with the flower. Curiosity seeping into her, she picked the flower up to read the note.
Girl,
I saw this flower growing outside in the garden, and it reminded me of your eyes.
---Inuyasha
(P.S. This means nothing special to me…it shouldn't to you either.)
Kagome gazed at the messier scribble at the bottom of the note.
(P.S.S. Stop battering around on the bed; it'd give you a hernia. Plus I do not look like that! You suck at drawing pictures of me! I'm taking them back with me to burn since they ruin my authentic handsome looks.)
Kagome laughed lightly as she put down the note. Despite the fact that Inuyasha had acknowledged her as 'girl' and had told her she sucked at drawing, she still felt a warmth bubble in her chest. It was sweet in its own special way, and she guessed this was the best she could get out of the hanyou that would ever closely resemble a 'sorry'.
Staring at the lovely little flower, she gently walked over to a drawer and opened it up. 'Too special to be put in the bouquet and thrown away tomorrow…' she thought, as she put the bluebell lightly inside the drawer.
Turning around to glance at the door that was connected to Inuyasha's room, she realized that it was left open a bit. He had been here while she was thrashing around on the bed. Smiling to herself, she could imagine Inuyasha inside the other room moping about how he had done something strongly similar to something 'sweet'.
Walking over to her table as a result of nothing better to do, she found one last remaining paper and grinned as an idea came into mind.
Scribbling something hastily on the note, she tip toed over to the connecting door and slid the paper under the crack, as she gently closed the door behind her. She saw the note disappear and she grinned as she predicted Inuyasha's response to what she had written.
'He would probably snort…' She stared at the door. 'And maybe…just maybe…Kikyou doesn't deserve him…'
*~*~*
Inuyasha read the note carefully when he had picked it up from the floor.
Inuyasha,
Thanks for the flower. It was really sweet of you.
---Kagome
(P.S. I'm not mad at you anymore, if that's what you're wondering.)
He read it once again to make sure he had read right. She was actually thanking him for giving her that flower and she thought that it was 'sweet' of him!? Girls…
He snorted.
A/N: Fluff! Pure fluff! Since some did say there was not much fluff going on, I ended this (insanely and painfully) long chapter without a cliffhanger and in some innocent, cute fluff. Sorry for kinda rushing but you should all thank me for being so nice. *laughs evilly* Plus you know---*chokes as she realizes her sprained finger is practically blown up*---…you should really be grateful. Now I must go to the doctor to have this finger examined. I'll let you ponder the questions in your head as I scream in pain and agony. Bye bye!
Next chapter- dunno the chapter name
Sunflowerobi- Sorry…its definitely Rin/Sesshoumaru. I thought about Kagura/Sesshoumaru, but Kagura/Sesshoumaru just wouldn't work.
sakura2649- Inuyasha is kind of dense---do you believe he'd pick up a hint that Kagome hated Kikyou? And only two days have past since she's gone to his kingdom.
DiaBLo- THANK YOU for agreeing with me as to using "Tetsusaiga."
snoopy- Tessaiga is an incorrect way to spell Tetsusaiga. Tensaiga is Sesshoumaru's sword. bonessasan- What Kagome was about to say at the end of chapter 8 would…be a mystery forever!
Dark Dragon of the Seven Hells- Kanna is older than Kagura, but not in appearance right? I put 9 and 18 for appearances [when it refers to youkai] since who KNOWS how old Naraku, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, etc. really are! The ages for the human characters are their real age, but youkai characters refer to appearance.
tOkU-cHaN- sorry about the eye color thing. Its changed back to blue permanently.
Akira- I found the stalking comment quite funny. XD I find humor in such trivial matters…and yes, like I promised, Fate of Two Hearts chapter 3 was updated a few days ago.
roxy-chick- Kagome doesn't exactly trust Inuyasha to pour her whole life to him yet. And Inuyasha is an "obnoxious asshole" because he doesn't trust people, and the only reason he told the "masquerade girl" was because he thought he wouldn't see her ever again. But "Kagome" is from the "enemy" side that's making him marry, so he'd be a bit self-conscious to be nice to her.
kitsunekit- I forgot about Kirara! I don't think she'd be in this story…sorry!
fallen pheniox- I always look forward to your review for some reason! It's like I know certain people will always review my chapters and it makes me so happy. And was she going to ask him if she could touch his ears? =P Rin's status will be revealed in this chapter and Miro/San will be in this chapter too! Have fun!
Behind the Masquerade
Iridescent Reviving
King Komiya led the army on, knowing that they had crossed the pass where the forest and mountains met a good hour or so before. They had been traveling for a total of three hours, through many twists and turns, their minds set upon finding out the fate of the soldiers at the Battle of the High Plains. The hot afternoon sun shone down upon their already sweaty bodies and the king could start to hear some of his men moaning and groaning, as they climbed the steep hill they were on. Grass was becoming more scarce as they got higher, trees were beginning to disappear to be replaced by hard rock and soil, and the higher they ascended, the hotter it grew.
It was like a relentless summer's day.
"Just over that edging up there, men," the King stated in fatigue as they suddenly felt a draft blow from behind them, bringing their scent to whatever might be up there. The king stopped as he realized this and so did the rest of the army, while common sense kicked into the tired mind of the youkai ruler.
Snapping one of his fingers, he called one of the nearby human soldiers over and pointed over the hill. "Soldier, go scale that and be careful. Come back and tell me what's going on or what happened," King Komiya ordered and the valiant soldier began to clamber up the slope without another bidding, leaving his horse with the others.
Watching intently, the king observed the man peek over the slope to eye something, before pulling himself up over the edge and disappearing from the eye's view. Deciding to use his nose, King Komiya sniffed acutely and tried to smell whatever it was that was up there. The wind's direction wasn't helping, but he could smell a very faint metallic scent, mixed with a lot of nasty smelling substances. It wasn't his first time smelling an odor like this, and he began to fear the worst as he recognized the smell.
The man that had been sent up, jumped back down with a stunned look on his face as he tried to find the right words to explain what he had saw at the top. "I…I…" the captain began, but couldn't seem to find his voice as he looked at the king with a somewhat scared expression.
"What is it?" King Komiya pressed on, half of himself wanting to know what happened, while the other didn't want to believe it.
"They are…all of them…massacred…enemies and allies alike…" the soldier managed to gurgle out before wiping the tense sweat away from his face. "My highness, I think you should see it for yourself," the man suggested and with a dismissing wave from the king's hand, he walked back feebly to his horse.
The king glared in anxiety as he took one leap to accomplish the feat of landing on the top ledge of the hill. His breath hitched in his throat as he saw the outlook, while his hands clenched at his side.
Blood. Flesh. Bones.
That was all the words he needed to describe the gory scene in front of him.
"Oh bloody hell…"
*~*~*
Plan A was always the forceful tactic.
That's what every girl hoped the boy would submit to.
But have you noticed, Plan A's always fail?
Anyway, if he did not bend to her will, then she would resort to plan B.
But have you also noticed that Plan B is none other than the gutless tactic?
Begging.
"Please! Please! Please!" she pleaded pitifully, as she put on the puppy-dog eyes and the big, pouty frown, hoping that would distract the big bad hanyou for a while. But as she was inching towards the gates, big bad hanyou intercepted her escape.
"No! The kingdom is in the middle of a crisis and you're thinking about going to the beach?" Inuyasha growled, as he used his body to block her getaway.
"This isn't exactly my kingdom, you know?! I'm only here for you," Kagome retorted as she gave up trying to run away, and crossed her arms angrily across her chest.
"Who cares if you were here for me or the frikkin muffin man! Your body is in this kingdom, and so your life is in this kingdom's hands too. Stay put inside the castle's grounds and after my father comes back, then you go to the beach." Inuyasha did the exact pose Kagome was doing and glared right back. "Has mommy never taught you to be nice and courteous to your host?!"
"Poor Kagome…" Sango muttered unhappily as she and the pervert watched from a few feet behind.
Miroku looked surprised. "Actually, she's quite rich. Not poor at all."
Sango rolled her eyes. "Fine. Unfortunate Kagome…"
"Nice?!" Kagome shrieked as she stalked towards the half demon, poking him harshly in the chest. "You tell me to be nice after you practically left me stranded up in the sakura tree a few hours ago?!"
"You provoked me to leave you up in the sakura tree because you practically shoved me off my branch and made me crash into several branches on my way down!" Inuyasha responded angrily and he caught the wrist of the hand that was poking him in the chest. It didn't hurt him. The poking annoyed him.
"Well excuse me, it was an accident," Kagome snapped as she tried to pry her wrist from his strong grip. Feeling the futility as his hand refused to let go of her wrist, she grabbed his other free hand and made both their hands curve down next to both their sides.
Now that his face and body was wide open without his hands to protect himself, she tip toed up and stuck her eyes mere inches away from his. She wasn't thinking about what she was doing, but she knew that she wanted it her way, and Inuyasha wasn't going to stop her. That was what blinded her from seeing the reality of the situation. "Listen to me," she began in an authoritative voice. "I want to go to the beach."
If possible, Inuyasha jammed his own eyes and nose closer to Kagome without knowing, and all in all, the scene didn't look too innocent. Save for the blazing angry eyes, of course.
"And you listen to me. You can't go to the beach."
"Who says!?"
"The great and mighty Inuyasha says!"
"Oh puh-leassse, don't flatter yourself, you narcissist!"
Sango looked surprised, blinking as she watched the two in front of her. They argued about the most petty little things and Kagome was too stubborn to give in, while Inuyasha was just like a wall to get through. But before long, her eyes lowered to a sluggish look as the scene became rather boring. "If there was just a painter walking by right now, I would love to have him paint this scene," she drawled lazily, half amused and half bored.
"Interesting though…" Miroku mumbled to himself, scratching his chin in thought. If Inuyasha just bent down, he would claim Kagome's lips…interesting...
He must ask Inuyasha how to get a girl into that position…
Peeking over at Sango, he was instantly met with a deadpan look from the girl.
"I know what's going on in that lecherous mind of yours, houshi-sama," Sango taunted, the flat look still visible on her face.
"We can't even go into last names basis? Must you call me houshi-sama? Makes me feel so low," Miroku complained, as he frowned externally at the title of houshi.
"Would you rather me call you bouzo, then?" Sango asked, sarcastic sweetness dripping all over her voice.
Miroku thought about it for a while. "No. Houshi is fine," he finally answered, giving her a boyish grin that would have made some girls faint. "I'll still call you Sango, though. How about Sango-chan? Sango-chan…that has a nice ring to it."
"No -chan, houshi. Just Sango."
"But I think Sango-chan sounds so fine!"
"Sango," the mentioned growled in finality and warning.
Miroku ignored the forewarning. "Then how about Sango Komiya?" he asked flirtatiously, wiggling his eyebrows in suggestion.
"I'll rather die," was Sango's instant dry response.
Kagome suddenly realized that as she and Inuyasha had stopped screaming in each others' faces to take breaths, they were close. Too close. So close she felt nauseous. Instantly letting go of the arm she had a hold on, she felt him lose his grip on her other arm, and they both separated. A bright red shrouded her face as she took in calming breaths, half of her glaring murderously at him, while the other was too embarrassed to really do anything.
"Don't ever touch me again!" she screamed, storming up another debate with those few words.
"You were the one who started poking my chest first!"
"Well who was it who likes walking in on girls while they're bathing!?"
Inuyasha frowned darkly. "It was an accident!"
Kagome narrowed her eyes as skepticism graced her features.
"Anyway," Inuyasha continued airily, glaring over at Kagome in scrutiny. "There wasn't much to see."
Kagome felt the familiar tick on her eye start again.
"I've seen some maids with better buns than yours," Inuyasha drawled lazily.
If the red on Kagome's face before was from humiliation, it was now from mortification and detestation. "You are so impossible!" she yelled wrathfully as she turned around and stomped back up into the castle, a bright red aura flaring around her.
Inuyasha smirked at the victory. Out of the three fights and argument they had had today [one from last chapter, another about the controversy of whether Kagome pushed him off the tree, and this one] , he had won two. Didn't he feel proud of himself or what!
Hearing that girl's bodyguard stomp over to him, he felt self-conscious when he saw her raise up a fist. He was expecting a hard beating, but the physical contact never came. "First thing you should know about talking to a girl; if nothing good is going to come out of your mouth, then just don't open your hole!" she shouted, before running in after Kagome.
Miroku walked up to Inuyasha next and gave him a 'tsk'ing finger. "I'm ashamed of you. After so many years of living with me, have you learnt no respect for the female population?"
"You call grabbing a girl's butt and feeling her up, respect? Last time I checked that up, it meant corruption of hormones," Inuyasha answered smoothly, giving his cousin a threatening glare.
Miroku rolled his eyes. "Still. I don't call them ugly."
"I didn't call her ugly!"
"You were implying it. You should have at least shown you were sorry, instead of putting on that pompous grin of yours."
With nothing more said, Miroku walked in briskly after Sango and Kagome, leaving behind a thoroughly annoyed hanyou. The wind played with Inuyasha's hair as he stared holes into the back of Miroku's head, willing the lecherous man to drop dead on the grass. It never came as Miroku just walked in the castle without much as a glance backwards.
Inuyasha scowled more. "It's not like she's ugly, anyway…" he whispered quietly to himself, not exactly sure where that comment had came from, but not correcting himself. It seemed the right comment anyhow.
*~*~*
Sesshoumaru watched as his dead soldiers rose up suddenly, as if back from the dead. Actually, they had come back from the dead. Literally. Quite surprising to him even.
Watching with a passive look on his face, he observed the soldiers all pick up their detached limbs and heads, and stick it back onto their body. Shock and relief washed through the appearances of everyone, as they all hugged each other in joy.
King Komiya was looking at the army in delight, while looking down at the sword in his hands in amazement. Toutousai hadn't done a bad job…not a bad job at all. In a few swings, the whole army of a few hundreds had been resurrected with no injuries whatsoever, and that was a miracle in itself.
Gazing over at his older son, who looked perfectly disinterested in the whole ordeal, he mentally smiled. He had found Sesshoumaru just sitting at the battlefield, perfectly alive and injuries all healed. Why the prince had stayed at the death site, he didn't know, but he was sure his son had his reasons. He had asked his son what had happened and using only the words necessary, Sesshoumaru had explained to him what he had remembered before he had blacked out, and King Komiya felt annoyance creep into his conscience.
The wolf demons had died just as badly and as innocently as the dog army. It wasn't fair that they had died so…hideously.
Exhaling a breath of irritation, he cursed his mind and leapt over to the lifeless wolf army in long strides, getting there in no time. Hesitating for just a moment, he raised Tenseiga over his head and brought it down in a few wide swings. Twinkles of power and light consumed the dead army, and before long, they were all revived like the dog army had been.
He heard his soldiers behind him gasp in horror as they watched their opponent rise slowly from death and pick up their severed body parts, looking around in surprise.
King Komiya put on a dark frown as he held up a hand for silence. Everyone saw this, as he was in between the two armies, exactly where the mysterious person had been [Naraku], although he didn't really know that. The wolf army looked over him in revelation, yet horror, as they realized that this was the king of their enemy. Had he been the one who had wiped them out?
"Listen here, and listen all. The Battles of the High Plains has been put on hiatus as of now. Go back in peace you wolves, and we'll leave in the same manner. If you decide to fight now, we'll wipe you all out and I won't revive any of you at all, as that would be a fair fight," King Komiya announced in an imposing voice---a voice that demanded attention and obedience.
The wolves quickly began to communicate in their language, and little yips and barks were heard here and there as they had different opinions about the offer. But soon, a roaring "SILENCE!" rang through their ranks, as the king of the wolf kingdom turned to meet eye contact with King Komiya.
"I, King of the Ookami Kingdom, hereby receive your announcement, and this battle shall resume at a later day when we are all ready with no interruptions." The wolf king stopped there, as he looked tentative to say anything else. With a rapid nod, he turned his horse back towards their castle, and the wolf army quickly yet cautiously ran after their king, since many of the horses they rode here were missing [with a few exceptions; those loyal horses]. They threw backward glances at their enemy nervously as they tried to catch up to their unhappy emperor, who was riding away like he was ashamed that he was the first to turn heels and run.
But as the last men were turning around, a male dressed in fine war armor galloped from the troops and pulled on the reins of his horse as he looked down at the dog king. "Just because you revived us, doesn't mean we'll be merciful on you in the battle later. We're already showing our gratitude now by leaving," the wolf hissed down, his bright blue eyes narrowed.
King Komiya merely grinned at the threat, as the wolf man went off galloping after his army.
Sesshoumaru suddenly appeared beside the king, as he glanced silently at the army slowly disappearing towards the horizon. The aspect on his face didn't display any looks that might have suggested whether he had heard the wolf's threat or not, but some faraway glaze was definitely spread across his eyes.
King Komiya raised an interested eyebrow as he observed the glaze over his son's eyes. Something was definitely wrong; his son would never have that look in his eyes, especially ever since his first wife had died, and he would never have sat around in a bloody battle site after he had been healed hours before. Something must have happened.
"I'm going back first," was all the youkai prince muttered, before turning tail and beginning to make his way back. King Komiya quickly reacted and called out after his son, making Sesshoumaru stop his in trail.
"Yes father?" Sesshoumaru asked in a cool voice as he turned around to gaze at his dad.
Looking down at the sword in his hand, king Komiya carefully held it out towards Sesshoumaru, and urged the man to take it. Sesshoumaruo glimpsed at the sword emotionlessly and gazed back up at his father. "I have no need for such a sword. Give it to Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru answered, as he kept the stoic look on his face.
"I demand you keep it," King Komiya ordered as he frowned at his son, putting the sword in its sheath. This sword was only for Sesshoumaru, and it wouldn't belong to none other than him.
Sesshoumaru glanced back down at the covered sword for a while, and gently took it from his father's grasps. "Whatever you say, father," he answered without emotion, as he tucked it into his belt and turned around to continue his way. Nothing else was uttered from him as he walked back slowly towards the forest far away.
'Ah…something did happened…' King Komiya thought to himself, as he smiled after his son. 'I wonder…he better like that sword. I wasted a fang on that…'
"Okay. Get your gears into work, soldiers! As soon as you're all ready, we'll march back to Komiya Kingdom!"
There were collective groans from the men who had just arrived with King Komiya about fifteen minutes ago, as they realized that they had trekked all the way out here for nothing, but to revive their dead-but-back-alive comrades.
*~*~*
Sesshoumaru carried along his way as he unknowingly (even to himself), searched for the closest village. That girl…she plagued his mind like a curse. Why had she saved him? He was a youkai after all, and he had been in his youkai form when she had bandaged him. No other girl would have done something like that, other than run away screaming at the mere sight of him. She made him curious, and until he found her again to ask her why exactly she had saved him and who she really was, his curiosity would continue to pester him to no end.
Walking slowly across the country-side, he suddenly smelt the scent of blood and the familiar girl scent he had just smelt a few hours ago. Frowning slightly, he followed the odor into a mass of trees that were bunched together on the side of the road. He could smell the presence of civilization a few miles into the woods, signaling that the 'closest town' was in fact just a few miles away. But what really alarmed him was the whiff of blood close to him.
Walking out into a opening in the trees, he stopped as he stared at the scene before him. There was the smell of some lower demons around before, but the whole clearing was drenched in the smell of blood. Looking at the tree trunk set in the middle of the clearance, he saw one motionless body lying on top of it.
Moving towards the body, he realized that by the look of what the person was wearing, that this was the girl that had 'saved' him before. Her hair was messy and unruly, as some parts of her kimono were ripped and bloodied. Scratches were all over her body and the tree trunk was drenched in her blood while emotionless and wide dull eyes stared up at the youkai prince.
A shiny emblem on the ground caught the sharp eye of Sesshoumaru, and he bent down to pick it up. It was the emblem of a royal family. Recognizing the insignia as of a kingdom that was much smaller than the Komiya's, but still rather influential, he gazed over at the dead girl.
If this girl was in possession of such a royal emblem, then that must mean she was of royalty. A princess, no doubt.
He gazed at the lifeless eyes of the girl a moment longer, before standing up slowly. His stoic eyes still set upon the girl, he unsheathed Tenseiga and held it out on the side. Squinting his eyes to catch sight of the death demons that he had seen rampage on the battle site before when his father had revived the two armies, he saw one of those single critters on the girl. Swinging the sword gracefully, he cut through the death demon and it squeaked before disappearing into dust.
Putting the sword back into it's sheath, Sesshoumaru bent down and proceeded to lift the girl into his arms gently. She felt like nothing in his arms as he backtracked his ways out of the trees, continuing along his way back to his castle.
She began to stir in his arms, and before long, she grunted as she opened her eyes blurrily to see her savior. Shock was all over her face as she looked up at the cold, yet entrancing eyes of the youkai she had saved before. Hadn't she died? Hadn't those demons ambushed her on her way to finding help for this particular man who was holding her right now?
"Why?" was all she could mutter from her dry throat, as she continued gazing up at him.
Sesshoumaru never answered.
*~*~*
Kagome was in her room seated at her table with the beautiful bouquet of flowers, as she looked down at her scribble of Inuyasha on paper. She scowled deeply and quickly drew herself in there as she made Drawing Kagome hold a huge stick with bloodthirsty eyes and fangs, as Drawing Inuyasha ran away like a pansy in a dress. Feeling remotely better as she drew yet another drawing of Inuyasha's horrible death by being smothered in Kikyou's kisses, she giggled a bit as she made Kikyou sprout horns and a tail.
Inuyasha and Kikyou would make the perfect couple in her opinion; both were arrogant, conceited and egotistic and not in the least altruistic or philanthropic. They would both have nauseating Little Inuyashas and Little Kikyous who would call her "Kagome-oba" [Aunt Kagome] and 'sweetly' stomp on her foot if she refused to give them candy. She could just imagine the pain she would have to go through right now…
Getting up, she shuffled over to her bed and fell heavily onto it from fatigue. Stuffing her face into the pillow, she started screaming curses at the bombastic Inuyasha. "Mfh grrh mff irr lurrf!" she screamed, but she really meant 'you dim-witted jerk!' Thrashing her hands around, she continued yelling lines similar to the one she had just said, and letting her anger out on her bed.
Feeling spent of all energy a few minutes later, she sat up on her bed and looked around. This place wasn't different to her place back home, and she had the unpleasant Kikyou in the badgering form of Inuyasha. But for some reason, although she felt angry and irate a lot here, she felt well…how could she put this into words?…She felt more comfy and welcome here than back home. Strange, wasn't it? She had barely been here a few days and she had already referred to this place as a second home. It was bad getting attached to the castle here, since in a matter of a month, she would be going back home.
But the best thing out of it all, was that Kikyou was going to have to live here soon, and Kagome would be alone and left deserted back there. In some way, it felt like Kikyou was going to replace her here…
Shaking her head at such an absurd train of thought, she hopped back out of bed and shuffled back over to the table to resume her counseling---drawing pictures of Inuyasha dying.
But rather than seeing her loads of pictures and drawings on the table, it was replaced by a flower. A single beautiful blue blossom that was shaped like bell. 'A bluebell…' she thought as she blinked her eyes in confusion while she saw a note along with the flower. Curiosity seeping into her, she picked the flower up to read the note.
Girl,
I saw this flower growing outside in the garden, and it reminded me of your eyes.
---Inuyasha
(P.S. This means nothing special to me…it shouldn't to you either.)
Kagome gazed at the messier scribble at the bottom of the note.
(P.S.S. Stop battering around on the bed; it'd give you a hernia. Plus I do not look like that! You suck at drawing pictures of me! I'm taking them back with me to burn since they ruin my authentic handsome looks.)
Kagome laughed lightly as she put down the note. Despite the fact that Inuyasha had acknowledged her as 'girl' and had told her she sucked at drawing, she still felt a warmth bubble in her chest. It was sweet in its own special way, and she guessed this was the best she could get out of the hanyou that would ever closely resemble a 'sorry'.
Staring at the lovely little flower, she gently walked over to a drawer and opened it up. 'Too special to be put in the bouquet and thrown away tomorrow…' she thought, as she put the bluebell lightly inside the drawer.
Turning around to glance at the door that was connected to Inuyasha's room, she realized that it was left open a bit. He had been here while she was thrashing around on the bed. Smiling to herself, she could imagine Inuyasha inside the other room moping about how he had done something strongly similar to something 'sweet'.
Walking over to her table as a result of nothing better to do, she found one last remaining paper and grinned as an idea came into mind.
Scribbling something hastily on the note, she tip toed over to the connecting door and slid the paper under the crack, as she gently closed the door behind her. She saw the note disappear and she grinned as she predicted Inuyasha's response to what she had written.
'He would probably snort…' She stared at the door. 'And maybe…just maybe…Kikyou doesn't deserve him…'
*~*~*
Inuyasha read the note carefully when he had picked it up from the floor.
Inuyasha,
Thanks for the flower. It was really sweet of you.
---Kagome
(P.S. I'm not mad at you anymore, if that's what you're wondering.)
He read it once again to make sure he had read right. She was actually thanking him for giving her that flower and she thought that it was 'sweet' of him!? Girls…
He snorted.
A/N: Fluff! Pure fluff! Since some did say there was not much fluff going on, I ended this (insanely and painfully) long chapter without a cliffhanger and in some innocent, cute fluff. Sorry for kinda rushing but you should all thank me for being so nice. *laughs evilly* Plus you know---*chokes as she realizes her sprained finger is practically blown up*---…you should really be grateful. Now I must go to the doctor to have this finger examined. I'll let you ponder the questions in your head as I scream in pain and agony. Bye bye!
Next chapter- dunno the chapter name