Hi, Everyone! (Dodges rotten tomatoes) I know, I know, I've been a very
bad girl and have not updated in a long time. I'm sorry, my faithful
readers. Please forgive me! Puppy eyes. Anyhoo, here is the next
chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Five
Sending another youkai flying, Kagome yelled over her shoulder to her companions, "Get out of here! Get away from me! I'm the one they want, you're in danger as long as you're with me!" Inuyasha clawed another demon apart as he yelled back, "Sango, Miroku, take Shippo and run! Now!" Sango scooped up the kitsune and fled, followed closely by the monk.
"Put me down! Let me go! Mama!!" Shippo wailed.
"Kagome will be fine, I promise. Inuyasha will take care of her." Sango whispered soothingly to the bawling cub.
"Waaah! I don't want to lose another Mama!" he sobbed, "I want Kagome! Mama!" They had stopped in a clearing far from the battle, and Sango was cuddling Shippo, while he cried great, wracking sobs that shook his tiny frame. She gently stroked his fur and hummed under her breath. The kitsune soon calmed, and the silence of the forest was broken only by his soft hiccups. Miroku stared at the two in wonder.
"How did you do that?" he asked the demon huntress.
"Do what?" she asked, perplexed.
"You calmed him. Inuyasha and I could never have done that." Sango thought for a moment.
"I guess you could call it a maternal instinct. Most women just know how to take care of and soothe children. It comes naturally to us." The monk nodded.
"I told you to leave with the others, Inuyasha! If you had done as I said, I wouldn't be in this predicament!" Kagome's voice rang through the forest. Inuyasha came into the clearing, carrying Kagome in his arms.
"Ma-(hic) Mama!" Shippo hiccupped, as he leapt into her arms, "Mama I w-(hic) was so scared! I-(hic) I thought that I'd lo-(hic) lost you!" Kagome gently hugged the trembling ball of fur.
"Don't worry, Sweetheart, I won't leave you. Calm down. It's all right, I'm here now, you're safe." Shippo saw the blood all over Kagome's legs.
"What happened to you?" he gasped as Inuyasha gently set the two down next to a stream, and began to remove Kagome's boots..
"I got a little distracted trying to help Inuyasha" (here Kagome tweaked one of Inuyasha's dog ears affectionately) "out of a bad situation, and I got nailed by a cowardly snake-youkai from behind." Kagome's legs were deeply scored from the fangs of the snake. Inuyasha began to gently wash the wounds.
"Thank you, Inuyasha, for bringing me back. It was very sweet and considerate of you to do that."
"You're welcome." The hanyou tried not to blush at Kagome's words. 'Sango was right!' he thought, 'Being a gentleman does impress Kagome.'
Later that evening they all sat around a fire and talked, Shippo fast asleep in Kagome's lap. Her legs had been stitched and bound by Sango, whose medical skills were improving every day. Kagome's pet dragon, which had disappeared several days before, suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"There you are! I was beginning to worry." Kagome took a scroll out of Shukishi's mouth, and read it quickly, stuffing it into her bodice when she was done. Inuyasha asked her what it said.
"It's just a letter from a friend." was the evasive response.
The group of friends journeyed through several villages, and in each one the people came rushing out to see and touch Kagome. They all seemed delighted to see her, and often bombarded her with requests and pleas. The children especially seemed to love her, and would crowd around her knees while she caressed their shining faces and spoke with their elders. Kagome did her best to resolve as many of their problems as she could before she had to leave and continue with her friends. Before she left each village, however, she would sprinkle sweets down on the children like rain, and laugh as they scrambled to gather the candy. The elders saw to it that the children always got equal shares, and the villagers would stand and wave until they were out of sight.
"The people really seem to love you." Miroku commented. Kagome smiled and nodded. 'Considering who their last Ruler was,' thought Kagome, 'they would have loved anybody.' They reached the Palace that evening. Kagome strode in purposefully, calling for a few servants by name.
"Akira! Juro! Benjiro! Nori! Eijiro! Come here, please." Within moments the five servants appeared in the hall.
"Welcome back, Lady Kagome! We have prepared chambers for your guests. What time will you be dining, tonight?" Turning to her companions, Kagome asked,
"Would you like to eat in your rooms, tonight, or will you join me in the Dining Hall?"
"I'll eat in the Hall." Inuyasha replied. Miroku and Sango exchanged mischievous glances.
"yawn I think I'll eat in my rooms tonight. What do you think, Sango?" asked Miroku innocently.
"Oh, I will too. It has been a very long day."
"Very well." Kagome replied, "Juro, please take Lord Miroku to his chambers, you will take care of him while he is here." Inuyasha started. 'Lord Miroku? Where did that come from?' He felt a twinge of jealousy as Kagome continued. "Nori, escort Lady Sango, please. The same for you, my dear. Eijiro, please take Prince Shippo. Don't wake him up, just put him to bed. And leave a light going for him, so he doesn't panic when he wakes up." The servants bowed and led their charges away.
"Akira, go see to the meals, please. Benjiro, escort Lord Inuyasha to his rooms so that he may change and wash before dinner."
"Yes, my Lady." Benjiro bowed and led Inuyasha away. Kagome went to her rooms to dress, and gasped at the change. Her chambers had been turned into an indoor garden Paradise. There were all sorts of rainforest plants and half-grown trees, as well as tropical birds and frogs. Kagome could barely tell that the plants were potted and not growing straight out of the ground. The walls were painted so as to give the illusion that the room extended for miles. Her bed was enveloped with sweet tropical flowers, and the roof had been replaced with glass tiles, so that she could see the sky.
"Do you like it?" Tae asked. Kagome had been so enraptured by the magnificent new room, that she hadn't heard or sensed Tae arrive.
"It's wonderful!" she replied, starry-eyed. Tae smiled.
"So, you and Inuyasha are dining in the Hall alone, tonight. Could there be something going on between you two? Hmmm?" Kagome blushed at Tae's teasing remarks.
"Now, Tae, it's nothing like that. My other friends wanted to eat in their rooms tonight, that's all. Will you be joining us this evening?"
"No, it's time for me to go home. Thank you for letting me decorate your home. It was a lot of fun!"
"You're welcome. Thank you for doing it for me." Tae hugged Kagome and then left for her own home. Kagome began to dress for dinner in a pale lavender kimono with a blue obi.
Inuyasha was awed by the splendour of his chambers. Benjiro began to pull out several outfits for Inuyasha to choose from.
"I think my Lady would be pleased if you would wear this, tonight." He held out a blue outfit similar to his normal clothes, but this was embroidered with a complex and beautiful pattern in silver thread. Inuyasha nodded, and Benjiro set out water for him to wash with.
"I will return in 10 minutes to show you to the Dining Hall." As he was dressing, Inuyasha wondered how Miroku and Sango were doing.
"What would my Lady care for dinner?", asked Sango's maid, Nori, bowing politely.
"Um, what do you have prepared?"
"Lady Sango, you may have anything you wish." Sango ordered her meal, and then set about exploring her chambers. The sitting room, which led to the corridors, was full of overstuffed chairs and loveseats. There was a large fireplace on one wall, and a huge bookshelf dominating another. The next room was her bedroom, and both chambers led to a bath, complete with hot springs. The bath was decorated in the traditional Japanese style. Sango smiled and wondered how her friends were doing.
Miroku sighed contentedly as he soaked in the hot springs. He watched as some pretty servant girls laid out his food and tidied his room. Ah, yes, if Kagome didn't mind, he'd stay here for quite a while. Absently, he wondered about his companions.
Shippo snored away in his little nursery, his thumb in his mouth, blissfully unaware of the world around him.
Kagome was just finishing dressing when Akira knocked timidly on her door, causing the birds to sing sharply, and the frogs to croak piercingly. The newt demon peeked in shyly.
"Oh, Akira, could you help me with this comb? I can't get it to stay in place." said Kagome kindly. Akira game forward gingerly and helped his lady fix the jade comb in her hair.
"You are very beautiful, Lady Kagome." he breathed reverently. Kagome blushed.
"You're just saying that." Akira shook his head.
"You look like and angel." he whispered. And so she did, with her silver hair done up elegantly, and her silk kimono clinging softly to the womanly curves of her body. She smiled demurely as the youkai handed her a fan.
"It contains razor sharp blades, My Lady. A gift from the servants for your protection."
"Protection against what?" asked Kagome.
"To protect you in court and during negotiations, you can never be to careful." he replied. Kagome leaned over and gently brushed her lips against Akira's forehead.
"Thank you, Akira. It is a very thoughtful gift. Thank the servants for me." Akira blushed furiously and stammered something about dinner being ready. Benjiro was just going to fetch Inuyasha when Kagome arrived.
"I shall show Lord Inuyasha to the Dining Hall, Benjiro. You are excused until the Lord requires you." Benjiro bowed and melted into the corridors. Kagome took a deep breath and knocked on the hanyou's door.
"Inuyasha? May I come in?" The door opened and Inuyasha stood there, clothed in an outfit that Kagome had ordered made especially for him. She smiled sweetly at him.
'By the gods,' thought Inuyasha, 'Kagome is an Angel! How could I have been so blind?'
"Shall we go?" Kagome's voice stole into his thoughts and broke the spell. Inuyasha nodded and offered her his arm. Kagome graciously accepted and led him to the Dining Hall.
Yay! Another chapter up! Didja like it? If you liked it then review. If you didn't like it, then review. If you couldn't care less, then review! Answer the siren call of the review button in the lower left corner of your screen. Review! The tenth reviewer will get a sneak peek of my next chapter. (You are allowed to review more than once.) Thanx, peoples! Ja ne!
Chapter Five
Sending another youkai flying, Kagome yelled over her shoulder to her companions, "Get out of here! Get away from me! I'm the one they want, you're in danger as long as you're with me!" Inuyasha clawed another demon apart as he yelled back, "Sango, Miroku, take Shippo and run! Now!" Sango scooped up the kitsune and fled, followed closely by the monk.
"Put me down! Let me go! Mama!!" Shippo wailed.
"Kagome will be fine, I promise. Inuyasha will take care of her." Sango whispered soothingly to the bawling cub.
"Waaah! I don't want to lose another Mama!" he sobbed, "I want Kagome! Mama!" They had stopped in a clearing far from the battle, and Sango was cuddling Shippo, while he cried great, wracking sobs that shook his tiny frame. She gently stroked his fur and hummed under her breath. The kitsune soon calmed, and the silence of the forest was broken only by his soft hiccups. Miroku stared at the two in wonder.
"How did you do that?" he asked the demon huntress.
"Do what?" she asked, perplexed.
"You calmed him. Inuyasha and I could never have done that." Sango thought for a moment.
"I guess you could call it a maternal instinct. Most women just know how to take care of and soothe children. It comes naturally to us." The monk nodded.
"I told you to leave with the others, Inuyasha! If you had done as I said, I wouldn't be in this predicament!" Kagome's voice rang through the forest. Inuyasha came into the clearing, carrying Kagome in his arms.
"Ma-(hic) Mama!" Shippo hiccupped, as he leapt into her arms, "Mama I w-(hic) was so scared! I-(hic) I thought that I'd lo-(hic) lost you!" Kagome gently hugged the trembling ball of fur.
"Don't worry, Sweetheart, I won't leave you. Calm down. It's all right, I'm here now, you're safe." Shippo saw the blood all over Kagome's legs.
"What happened to you?" he gasped as Inuyasha gently set the two down next to a stream, and began to remove Kagome's boots..
"I got a little distracted trying to help Inuyasha" (here Kagome tweaked one of Inuyasha's dog ears affectionately) "out of a bad situation, and I got nailed by a cowardly snake-youkai from behind." Kagome's legs were deeply scored from the fangs of the snake. Inuyasha began to gently wash the wounds.
"Thank you, Inuyasha, for bringing me back. It was very sweet and considerate of you to do that."
"You're welcome." The hanyou tried not to blush at Kagome's words. 'Sango was right!' he thought, 'Being a gentleman does impress Kagome.'
Later that evening they all sat around a fire and talked, Shippo fast asleep in Kagome's lap. Her legs had been stitched and bound by Sango, whose medical skills were improving every day. Kagome's pet dragon, which had disappeared several days before, suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"There you are! I was beginning to worry." Kagome took a scroll out of Shukishi's mouth, and read it quickly, stuffing it into her bodice when she was done. Inuyasha asked her what it said.
"It's just a letter from a friend." was the evasive response.
The group of friends journeyed through several villages, and in each one the people came rushing out to see and touch Kagome. They all seemed delighted to see her, and often bombarded her with requests and pleas. The children especially seemed to love her, and would crowd around her knees while she caressed their shining faces and spoke with their elders. Kagome did her best to resolve as many of their problems as she could before she had to leave and continue with her friends. Before she left each village, however, she would sprinkle sweets down on the children like rain, and laugh as they scrambled to gather the candy. The elders saw to it that the children always got equal shares, and the villagers would stand and wave until they were out of sight.
"The people really seem to love you." Miroku commented. Kagome smiled and nodded. 'Considering who their last Ruler was,' thought Kagome, 'they would have loved anybody.' They reached the Palace that evening. Kagome strode in purposefully, calling for a few servants by name.
"Akira! Juro! Benjiro! Nori! Eijiro! Come here, please." Within moments the five servants appeared in the hall.
"Welcome back, Lady Kagome! We have prepared chambers for your guests. What time will you be dining, tonight?" Turning to her companions, Kagome asked,
"Would you like to eat in your rooms, tonight, or will you join me in the Dining Hall?"
"I'll eat in the Hall." Inuyasha replied. Miroku and Sango exchanged mischievous glances.
"yawn I think I'll eat in my rooms tonight. What do you think, Sango?" asked Miroku innocently.
"Oh, I will too. It has been a very long day."
"Very well." Kagome replied, "Juro, please take Lord Miroku to his chambers, you will take care of him while he is here." Inuyasha started. 'Lord Miroku? Where did that come from?' He felt a twinge of jealousy as Kagome continued. "Nori, escort Lady Sango, please. The same for you, my dear. Eijiro, please take Prince Shippo. Don't wake him up, just put him to bed. And leave a light going for him, so he doesn't panic when he wakes up." The servants bowed and led their charges away.
"Akira, go see to the meals, please. Benjiro, escort Lord Inuyasha to his rooms so that he may change and wash before dinner."
"Yes, my Lady." Benjiro bowed and led Inuyasha away. Kagome went to her rooms to dress, and gasped at the change. Her chambers had been turned into an indoor garden Paradise. There were all sorts of rainforest plants and half-grown trees, as well as tropical birds and frogs. Kagome could barely tell that the plants were potted and not growing straight out of the ground. The walls were painted so as to give the illusion that the room extended for miles. Her bed was enveloped with sweet tropical flowers, and the roof had been replaced with glass tiles, so that she could see the sky.
"Do you like it?" Tae asked. Kagome had been so enraptured by the magnificent new room, that she hadn't heard or sensed Tae arrive.
"It's wonderful!" she replied, starry-eyed. Tae smiled.
"So, you and Inuyasha are dining in the Hall alone, tonight. Could there be something going on between you two? Hmmm?" Kagome blushed at Tae's teasing remarks.
"Now, Tae, it's nothing like that. My other friends wanted to eat in their rooms tonight, that's all. Will you be joining us this evening?"
"No, it's time for me to go home. Thank you for letting me decorate your home. It was a lot of fun!"
"You're welcome. Thank you for doing it for me." Tae hugged Kagome and then left for her own home. Kagome began to dress for dinner in a pale lavender kimono with a blue obi.
Inuyasha was awed by the splendour of his chambers. Benjiro began to pull out several outfits for Inuyasha to choose from.
"I think my Lady would be pleased if you would wear this, tonight." He held out a blue outfit similar to his normal clothes, but this was embroidered with a complex and beautiful pattern in silver thread. Inuyasha nodded, and Benjiro set out water for him to wash with.
"I will return in 10 minutes to show you to the Dining Hall." As he was dressing, Inuyasha wondered how Miroku and Sango were doing.
"What would my Lady care for dinner?", asked Sango's maid, Nori, bowing politely.
"Um, what do you have prepared?"
"Lady Sango, you may have anything you wish." Sango ordered her meal, and then set about exploring her chambers. The sitting room, which led to the corridors, was full of overstuffed chairs and loveseats. There was a large fireplace on one wall, and a huge bookshelf dominating another. The next room was her bedroom, and both chambers led to a bath, complete with hot springs. The bath was decorated in the traditional Japanese style. Sango smiled and wondered how her friends were doing.
Miroku sighed contentedly as he soaked in the hot springs. He watched as some pretty servant girls laid out his food and tidied his room. Ah, yes, if Kagome didn't mind, he'd stay here for quite a while. Absently, he wondered about his companions.
Shippo snored away in his little nursery, his thumb in his mouth, blissfully unaware of the world around him.
Kagome was just finishing dressing when Akira knocked timidly on her door, causing the birds to sing sharply, and the frogs to croak piercingly. The newt demon peeked in shyly.
"Oh, Akira, could you help me with this comb? I can't get it to stay in place." said Kagome kindly. Akira game forward gingerly and helped his lady fix the jade comb in her hair.
"You are very beautiful, Lady Kagome." he breathed reverently. Kagome blushed.
"You're just saying that." Akira shook his head.
"You look like and angel." he whispered. And so she did, with her silver hair done up elegantly, and her silk kimono clinging softly to the womanly curves of her body. She smiled demurely as the youkai handed her a fan.
"It contains razor sharp blades, My Lady. A gift from the servants for your protection."
"Protection against what?" asked Kagome.
"To protect you in court and during negotiations, you can never be to careful." he replied. Kagome leaned over and gently brushed her lips against Akira's forehead.
"Thank you, Akira. It is a very thoughtful gift. Thank the servants for me." Akira blushed furiously and stammered something about dinner being ready. Benjiro was just going to fetch Inuyasha when Kagome arrived.
"I shall show Lord Inuyasha to the Dining Hall, Benjiro. You are excused until the Lord requires you." Benjiro bowed and melted into the corridors. Kagome took a deep breath and knocked on the hanyou's door.
"Inuyasha? May I come in?" The door opened and Inuyasha stood there, clothed in an outfit that Kagome had ordered made especially for him. She smiled sweetly at him.
'By the gods,' thought Inuyasha, 'Kagome is an Angel! How could I have been so blind?'
"Shall we go?" Kagome's voice stole into his thoughts and broke the spell. Inuyasha nodded and offered her his arm. Kagome graciously accepted and led him to the Dining Hall.
Yay! Another chapter up! Didja like it? If you liked it then review. If you didn't like it, then review. If you couldn't care less, then review! Answer the siren call of the review button in the lower left corner of your screen. Review! The tenth reviewer will get a sneak peek of my next chapter. (You are allowed to review more than once.) Thanx, peoples! Ja ne!