DISCLAIMER: *takes deep calming breath then bursts into more laughter* You think I own! *bursts into more laughter* I don't own Inuyasha! Heck I can barely write Inuyasha let alone own it! AHAHAHAA!
AN: Lily Among the Thorns: Any relation to A Knights Tale….? *blinks then grins* Anyway, thanks for reading. And watch out, from now on it's going to go a lot faster. So watch out.
Shade: I can't post multi-chapters for one reason. My steps to writing. See I first write without regard to the English language, I'm sorry to say, it's very short and it's mostly just a ideal outline, then I rewrite fixing everything and making nice and user friendly. Then after all that's done I start to edit going through and rewriting some sentences and fixing mistakes. Right now the rewriting steps done, but the editing isn't. And it doesn't really need that much editing but I like to do it just incase. So your just going to have to deal with one at a time, sorry.
A Silver Heart
Dreaming (Part 6/12)
By Wyltk
I watched the boy, Inuyasha, get dragged by his hair across the clearing. Once a ways a way Sango turned and glared at him. And, as I watched, and listened, started to argue with him on where I should go. It was easy to hear them, though I had the feeling my hearing was slightly super human from all my years of running from demons.
"SHE SHOULD COME WITH ME! WE have higher security and she's a friend of the DEMONS not HUMANS!"
I shook my head and ignored the two of them. I learned a long time ago not to fully trust anyone, while looking like you did. With that lesson came one of not trusting the demons who seemed the nicest, they were usually the most dangerous in the end. They were still bickering when Shippo woke up from is nap and I brought out the last bit of milk I had and nudged it towards his lips.
I was lucky to have met that strange bug eyed man with the even stranger fire breathing cow. He had given me the milk as soon as he saw the Kitsune I held in my arms. Of course, after he gave me the milk he asked who I was and what I was doing near him.
I blinked as the bickering couple came back over and quickly stuffed the bottle back in my pocket. It took me a second to realize Shippo was gurgling at Inuyasha happily. Sango looked slightly put out but she smiled at me before turning to Inuyasha.
"I don't think you'll be able to carry her on your back like me, Inuyasha, not with the baby."
Inuyasha shrugged and picked me up without any warning, one arm supporting my back and the other just under my knees. I repressed the urge to scream and wrapped one arm carefully around Shippo and my other around his neck to make sure I wouldn't fall. Inuyasha nodded lightly at Sango.
"Will you be alright going back on your own? I have to let Sesshoumaru know."
At her nod he took a running leap, it took only a few minutes before we broke straight into the Inu demon lands. I had never seen so many demons in one place before. They were everywhere! Short, tall, with tails, with ears, with weird dog noses on human faces, and all of them seemed to be staring at me as if I were strange, which on closer reflection, I probably was.
Inuyasha moved past rows and rows of huts and caves, heading higher with each jump until he was at the top most cave. I took a deep breath, willing my stomach to settle as Inuyasha settled me on the ground his arms around my shoulders until I gained my bearings. Once I was finally stead I looked up and gave him a weak smile. With my smile he motioned me before him and into the cave.
It took me a few seconds to actually urge my body forward and I glanced curiously in the cave. It was large with two blankets hanging above two different sections of the cave. For some reason I got the feeling that they hid two other caves. Like separate rooms. But what drew my immediate attention were the two people sitting in front of the fire. The younger one, a female who looked human, glared at Inuyasha.
"You're late. We've already started dinner."
"Oh come on Rin I have a good reason this time!"
"You always have a good reason Inuyasha. Like the time you had to save the forest from burning, though there was no fire. Or the time-"
"Rin, I think he does have a reason this time." The other man spoke up this one obviously a youkai.
"Fine, what is it?" she asked staring at Sesshoumaru who in turn nodded his chin at me. Rin turned to look at me and blinked in surprise before squealing.
"Another human! And she's just about my age. Oh and she's so pretty! I'm Rin, and this is my mate Sesshoumaru!"
"I'm Kagome…" my voice was small compared to Rin's but I had rarely used it after I had started running. Only talking to Fire Rats and the occasional human, who stumbled onto my path.
I saw Inuyasha blink at me as if he had never seen a living creature before and then he let out a feh. It took me a few minutes to realize I hadn't told him my name. He was probably in shock that he hadn't thought of it. I hugged Shippo to me and Rin let out another little squeal as her attention was drawn to the bundle in my arms.
"Oh he's beautiful! Can I hold him?"
She quickly headed towards me smiling down into the baby's face and I cautiously nudged him towards her arms. She looked at me in shock before a large grin split her face and she gathered Shippo in her arms bouncing him lightly. She bent down with him a few feet from her mate and showed him to Sesshoumaru.
"Look! Isn't he the cutest?" she turned to me at Sesshoumarus obliging nod, "What's his name?"
"Shippo, he's a Kitsune." She noticed his tail for the first time and let out a coo as I watched her, a smile growing on my face. It almost felt unnatural, smiling was a rare occasion for me and it was normally around Shippo that I felt like smiling.
"How did you ever find such a treasure, Kagome?" the smile left my face quickly and I straightened up pushing down the images that came with the simple question.
"I stayed with his parents for some time. A little while after he was born five demons attacked. I had been out in the woods with Shippo. I came back and saw them and ran. I made it to the river and I've been running since then."
"Killed by demons? Do you remember anything about the killers?" Sesshoumaru suddenly jumped into the conversation his eyes boring into mine.
"I'm afraid at first glance they looked like Dog demons, but I've seen many demons, or drawings of demons since. It could be some king of cat youkai, or wolf. I was not close enough to see them clearly."
"I'm so sorry, Kagome." Rin gave me a sympathetic look, which quickly turned to surprise, "you're forehead's bleeding! Come with me, will do down to the river tonight just to clean up then we'll go to the hot springs tomorrow!"
Rin quickly gathered a small towel, before handing Shippo carefully to Inuyasha. She stirred the food on the fire and then turned an evil eye at the two men, as I watched in amusement.
"Keep the food warm for when we get back and take care of Shippo! If he even has a paper cut by the time I get back both of you are spending the night outside!"
Rin grabbed my hand and tugged me away from the cave and down towards the river. She smiled at my unease of leaving Shippo and talked happily about how sweet the two men could be sometimes. When we finally made it to the river I felt better about leaving Shippo there. Any human, for which I know recognized her to be, who was so at ease with demons meant that both parties we're okay. And shortly I started joining in her conversation with relish.
"Sorry to rush you but Sesshoumaru worries about me if I'm gone to long. Inu-mates are so protective!" She said urging me to hurry in her sweet way.
I quickly washed my arms and legs before dipping my hair in the water and cleaning the cut on my hairline. I brought my hair back up and she handed me the towel.
"You said mates before, does that mean you're married?"
"Well yes, sort of. In the youkai sense we are, I didn't make him go through the human ceremony. Besides the youkai ceremony is mostly the same."
I quickly dried off and we again started talking about our lives as we traveled back to the cave she called home. We made it to the caves still talking and once in the caves watched as the boys broke off conversation mid sentence. I watched as Sesshoumaru's eyes traveled to the expanse of neck that clearly showed my necklace. He gave a small, almost imperceptible, nod to Inuyasha who grinned smugly in reply. In his arms was baby Shippo, playing with his long white hair and giggling every time Inuyasha moved his head. I smiled at the cute picture and almost wished for a camera like the one I had so long ago.
It was after we had eaten and everyone was about to head off to bed when the problem of where I was to sleep was presented. Inuyasha suggested the outer chamber to be rewarded with Rin smacking the back of his head and reminding him of the uninvited guests that would sometimes show up and wait in the outer chamber until they awoke. I timidly suggested sleeping in the woods only to have three no's echo at me. And it was then that Rin had her 'great' ideal.
"You can stay in Inuyasha's room! He can sleep on the floor on the other side of the room."
"WHAT!" Inuyasha screeched at Rin's suggestion. Shippo awoke from his minute long nap with a loud scream. Calming him by carefully petting his tail, which for some reason always seems to work, I gave Inuyasha a reproachful look.
"Inuyasha the only other way is for Sesshoumaru to share your room and Kagome stay in mine with Shippo. But you know now that I think about it that's a good ideal. Sesshoumaru why don't you go get your stuff-"
"She's staying in Inuyasha's room." Sesshoumaru spoke firmly a death glare situated on Inuyasha that promised actuate pain if he didn't agree.
"Right, big brother. No problem." Inuyasha gulped nervously and I watched Rin cast a sly glance my way.
It was less then ten minutes after they decided were I was to stay when we we're all in bed. Rin and Sesshoumaru quickly escaped to their bedroom and Inuyasha led me down a long tunnel and into his own. He motioned me, with a roll of his eyes, to the pile of straws and furs that made up his bed. Once I was curled safely under the cover placed carefully on the furs I looked up to see him lean against a wall.
"Do you need this blanket?"
"Feh, I'm a hanyou. I don't get cold."
"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly and he nodded, "Alright good night."
"Good night, Wench." I smiled at him and curled Shippo safely against my side.
~*~
My eyes traveled up to look at the lord of the castle I had been forced to take shelter with. I bowed low to the ground feeling insecure without Shippo in my arms. He had hardly left them since we had first run from his, our, home. But they had insisted they take the baby and allow me a rest. Promising to bathe him and give him a meal. Then they had brought me to the young man I bowed before, on his orders.
"Thank you for allowing us to spend the night. Is there any way I can repay you?" I asked softly and shuddered when he smiled. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and I took a deep breath trying to calm my nerves.
"There is one thing, but I must ask for your complete silence on the secret I'm about to tell you." He must have sensed my hesitance for he continued with, "It would repay me greatly."
I nodded slowly and he motioned me closer. I walked a few steps forward becoming brave and going within two feet of him. But I refused to walk any closer even when he motioned me to. I stood my ground but before I realized what had happened he had his hand around my neck cutting off my air supply with a smirk. He pulled me closer one arm closing in around my waist, long claws extending to push into my side. His lips crashed down onto mine. It only took me a second before I started to struggle kicking and throw my arms out towards him.
Just before I started to black out from lack of oxygen, and the pain in my side, he threw me across the room. I slammed into the wall and tried to let out a scream to find that I couldn't. I couldn't move at all. Tears started to escape my eyes when I saw Shippo brought in by the scruff of his neck.
"You wanted this demon spawn, lord Naraku?"
Naraku motioned his servant to throw Shippo down and the servant nodded throwing the baby onto a pile of blankets. I grasped trying wildly to stand up and run to him, without even moving a inch. I glared at Naraku evilly through my tears promising him more pain then he had ever known. But even as I glared at him he motioned me to stand up and I was forced to as if pulled by strings. Again he motioned, this time forward and I raced towards him his arms wrapping again around my waist pulling my body flush against his.
"Poor, Miko. Don't worry, it will all be over soon. I will get the Shikon Jewel out of you and have it for myself. Making me the most powerful being in the world and then," he trailed two fingers down the side of my face which began to swell with a thin line of blood, "we can have some fun before I kill you. However, first we need to take care of this youkai brat you were with. I think that will stop you from giving up any real fight to my… ministrations."
He kissed me again his hand traveling to my shoulder and digging roughly into the skin. My tears came faster and in desperation I opened my mouth and screamed.
~*~
I grabbed Shippo away from the two Kitsune's who gave me a greedy look. I glared at them holding Shippo close to my chest. I had thought giving him to his own kind would be good. Someone like Yasaon'a and Ikatsui. But these people we're nothing like them. I would never give Shippo over to someone like them.
"You're a human! You can't take care of a Kitsune like we could! You would kill him with your stupid human ways. Give him to us."
I clutched onto Shippo more then ever determined not to let them near my baby. I could never give him up to these people.
"I would rather die first."
"Then for his own good, we'll have to kill you."
~*~
Someone was chasing me, I couldn't stop I clutched Shippo closer to my body and screamed as the figure loomed in front of me. A weird sound came from behind me, like a sharp, loud train whistle, and the person who had been chasing me disappeared along with Shippo.
But the sound now seemed to be following me. I let out a scream as debris and fire rained down over my head. I whimpered trying to run, trying to get away from the awful smoke that burned a path to my lungs. Another train whistle and something else exploded in my face throwing me into something hard and solid and then everything went black.
~*~
I jerked and opened my eyes unsure if I was dreaming or reliving something. Inuyasha was sitting beside me on the hay his hand smoothing through my hair. I gave a sigh as my heart beat slowly dropped back to normal his calm and commanding presence comforting me.
"Go back to sleep, Kagome. You have nothing to fear."
I smiled catching that he meant he would protect me. I wondered sleepily how he could be so nice to me after just meeting me. However, the longer I thought the sleepier I became until I snuggled my head against his side, tucking Shippo closer to me, and falling into a dreamless sleep.
May the speed of the wolf go with you,
Megaera Wyltk
