Tainted Innocence

---------XxXxXx-----------

At the Castle


Oboroko glided about her furnished chamber, every once in awhile stopping to ponder about her evil plans.

'I need some of the girl's hair…but, how do I do it?' She paused for a second and resumed her pacing in a state of thought.

'…Yes, I know, I shall send Horokimi after her. But…I don't want her to be suspicious. Her miko powers are rising, and she shall know if something's brewing. Unless…I send Horokimi after the hanyou's hair! Alas, things would get immensely complicated. As long as Horokimi keeps his act up, I'll be able to get some parts of her physical features. All I simply need, my plan is nothing but perfect! Haha! I'm unstoppable…and I'm doing this right under her very nose…'

Her plans were soon interrupted when a soft knock on wood echoed into her ears.

"Enter."

A small petite of a woman entered her door and bowed at the presence of her master.

"Oboroko-chan, I have come to tell you that dinner is served, may I be of any more assistance?"

"No, Arisu, you may leave now. But do send Horokimi to my chamber."

Arisu nodded and bowed, then left.

'Hmm, if Horokimi does not accomplish his duties, I have no other right than to kill him.' An evil smirk crossed her face at the thought of torturing the man. 'It has been a long time,' she frowned slightly and picked at her nail in frustration.

"Oboroko-chan, you sent after me?"

She quickly turned to see Horokimi bowing respectively and she smiled.

"Yes, Horokimi, I need the miko's hair. You know where she stays, I presume? Yes?

"Yes. I do. But why do you need the miko's hair?"

Oboroko simply looked at him with a questioning look, "Do not question my actions. Your life is in my hands, do you wish for me to question why you're alive?"

He merely shaked his head and bowed. "Excuse me, master. I shall be on my way."

"Yes, you shall." She flicked her head to the side to move her bangs out of her pale face. "You may eat dinner before your journey, and if you shall fail me… Horokimi…"

"Yes, I understand." With that note, he bowed and made his way out of her chamber.

Oboroko let out a small sigh and returned to her window, gazing at her land with a possessive smirk.

"Ooh, how I even amaze myself at times."

She bit her lip as she let out another sigh, knowing that her plan must and will work no matter to what extent she has to go too.

'Pitiful little Inuyasha, I must say, I'll feel bad for him after I'm finished with him. Poor, poor Inuyasha. I wonder what is must simply feel like to be killed by the woman you love…again.

-------------------------------------XxXx The Village xXxX------------------------------------

The trip back to Kaede's village was a silent one indeed; both the flushing miko and the flushing hanyou didn't say a word as they entered the small hut, reminiscing about what had happened earlier.

"Kagome!" A flustered, energetic, little kitsune flung himself at the still blushing girl.

"Shippo! I've missed you, how are things?" She asked while she gave the small boy a gentle hug; forcing a convincing smile across her face.

"Great! But Miroku seems really sad for some reason…"

"Ooh……really now?" Shippo nodded hurriedly and looked up at the shocked miko's face.

"Kagome…do you have any more Pocky? I'm really hungry!" He gave her the best look he possibly could as she sighed and pulled out a small tube.

"Here, now go and run off now."

The small boy beamed with delight as he ran off and darted out the hut, leaving Kagome with Inuyasha, alone, yet again.

Kagome turned to the hanyou and looked sheepishly at his expression-less face.

"……Inuyasha,"

"What?"

He turned to face here with a cocked brow.

"…I have some Ramen if you want some…" She stared down at her lap forcing herself to keep her gaze upon her wringing hands.

"Keh." Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

A faint distant laughter started to echo through the walls of the small hut. Kagome and Inuyasha snapped their heads up in pure curiosity.

'What the hell?'

Miroku and Shippo suddenly walked into the room and looked down at the curious faces staring back at them.

"Welcome back, Kagome and Inuyasha." Miroku stated with a slight grin.

"Fucking hentai," Inuyasha let out a small growl as Kagome just merely sighed and looked up at Miroku.

"Thank you, but…where's Sango?" Kagome longed to see her friend after being gone for a couple of days with Inuyasha.

Miroku looked sadly at the floor and let out a sigh. Shippo looked around, as if the question was directed to him and he was just simply trying to avoid it.

"...Sango's in the hut with Kaede. She got injured by her Hiraikotsu…a demon came when you guys were gone. She's fine…just unconscious, that's all…" Miroku stated quietly.

"What?!"

"Kagome! Calm down, she'll be fine. I promise." Miroku put his hand out in a reassuring way.

Kagome shook her head and stood up, walking outside. Inuyasha followed after her as Shippo looked at Miroku.

"What's her problem?" Shippo stated with a hint of his own curiosity.

Miroku just shook his head and sat down next to Shippo. "Good question..."

"I wonder if they got into a fight or somthin', ya know?"

Miroku grinned at nodded his head,

"Maybe so…maybe so." He had a whole different meaning in his mind.

----------------------------------XxXx Outside of the hut xXxX-------------------------------

"Kagome, what the hell crawled up your ass?"

"Sit!"

"Mffh!"

And so as always, after the fateful word was spoken, his body plummeted to the ground, creating a fit crater to cradle his surprised body...... the dirt in his face helped distract him from his obviously wounded pride.

'It's his entire fault! If he would've just sprinted through the forest with me on his back, then we would've gotten here in no time! Sango would have been saved, Ugh! I've let my friend down…"

"Kagome! What the hell was that for?" He got up weakly and stared at her.

She quickly turned to him and Inuyasha suddenly caught a faint sent of salty tears.

"A…am I that worthless? We're supposed to be here…but instead…I've let Sango down. I…it's my entire fault."

Inuyasha flattened his ears against his head and walked over to her.

"K'gome, don't cry. She's fine…I promise. Okay?"

The smile she attempted was a dismal failure and only for his benefit alone. "Sure."

Grasping at something, anything, that might make her a little happier, Inuyasha flattened his ears and asked, "…How about we go back to your time…ya know, home?"

She seemed surprised by his question. "Are you sure?" 'Did he just call my time, his home…?'

He turned his gaze away before she could see how her being upset was affecting him. "Keh. I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure, would I?"

She bit her lip and glanced at the leafy ground letting out a small sigh. He had a slight feeling that she had been hoping for some other kind of answer. "No . . . I guess not . . . ." She started to get up. "Kagome?" he called quickly, needing to say something because her sadness hurt him, too.

"Yes?"

He stood up and flattened his ears against his silver hair as he tried to figure out how to explain his feelings. "I…I really hate it when your sad, all I want is for you to be happy." He looked at the ground, a small blush crossing his face.

Kagome gawked at the complete revolution of Inuyasha's sincerity. What had happened to the macho man who would die before admitting that he had feelings? He was being so open…it was kind of scary. But, she enjoyed it, completely.

"I want you to be happy, too, Inuyasha." She spoke in a soft tone, almost a whisper as a small sign of a smile crossed her saddened face. It was a weak smile, but still, Inuyasha had put it there with just his words.

"Keh." He walked back in the hut, throwing a glare at Miroku. Miroku smiled as he edged as far away as he possibly could from Inuyasha without making it noticeable.

"We'll be back soo-"

"What?! You and Kagome just left!! Not fair!" Shippo argued as he dropped his jaw in shock.

"I can leave peacefully, runt, or do you want to make it more complicated? Hmm?" Inuyasha cracked his knuckles as he grabbed for the monstrous bag Kagome always lugged around.

'Damn, why the hell does she carry this thing around?! Well, more like me, but why doesn't she just have one of those…what were they called…'pursays'?...'

Inuyasha throw it over his shoulder and waved a small goodbye to the infuriating little kitsune.

"See ya soon," Inuyasha smiled and let out a small laugh as he and Kagome neared the Bone Eaters Well.

-----------------------------------------------XxXxXx--------------------------------------------

A/N: Referring to the 'pursays' In case you couldn't infer, Inuyasha no baka was mentioning 'purses'.


Please review!!
Gah!
Ooh, I just posted my new One Shot, do check it out. (R&R)


BIG IMMENSE thank you to my special two reviewers:

------lyn (Here ya go! .)--------foxgirl22 (SO true! Heheh, thanks for the kindness! Gave me a little boost in my little ego today! So I was able to sit on my computer and type like a mad-woman. Thanks to you!)-------

Thanks again.


DISCLAIMER:

I do not own Inuyasha and co., unfortunately. Alas, maybe, just maybe, I'm related to Rumiko Takahashi and get them as a well-profound birthday present. But, only in my dreams will that ever happen. I would love to thank Rumiko though, for giving me her vivid characters to plot evil things with.


Author Q/A

(None yet, no one has asked any questions)

(Good sign? Hmm..)