Ok... I know I promised fluff in this chapter... but it turns out... it's not
time for fluff yet. I have to tie a few things together, and that is what
this chapter does. And also, like half of this chapter is a flashback... so
I'm sorry... you all will just all have to wait a bit longer... but don't
worry. More will come. And I'm so so so so so sorry that this chapter took
so long... but I've been working on new material... so, maybe that's a good
thing?
!!!A quick note to all reviewies!!!
You Rock!!
.....................
Chapter 8
.....................
Inuyasha held Kagome in his arms for the longest time. As the waves broke over them both, he could smell her blood in the water surrounding him.
Blood. Blood was all he could smell. It was everywhere. His demon senses where at their peak. He fought within himself to control them.
Her whole left side was completely full of blood, the size of the wound was impossible to tell. Yet, the heat of the blast had caused the damage to seal itself around burnt skin. She was left with massive burns and hot drying blood.
Inuyasha whispered apologies into Kagome's ears as they lay their. Everything was his fault. If he hadn't have been so damn self contained and talked with her this morning, than none of this would have ever happened.
Inuyasha cursed at himself for letting Kagome's attacker get away. He had started to give chase but the blood in the water tore him to Kagome's side.
........Flashback...........
Inuyasha sat in a tree, picking leaves off of a branch. He had resorted down to drastic measures.
"...I talk to her..."
"...I don't talk to her..."
"...I talk to her..."
"...I don't..."
One by one the leaves fell beneath him. Spinning in tiny circles, until they settled to the ground.
'This is stupid,' he thought to himself, but he didn't know any other way to decide.
Finally, Inuyasha came down to one last leaf. "...I talk..." he said, as he plucked it from the branch.
So it had come to that.
'But wait, doesn't the branch count as a vote?' he wondered to himself.
He growled at his thoughts, and flung the branch to the side.
Inuyasha clasped his face in his hands. 'I'm an idiot.'
The wind changed directions, and brought with it, the scent of the nearby ocean. Inuyasha looked up from beneath his fingers.
Dropping his hands to his lap, he rested his head back on the trunk of the tree.
Then, he heard it. It was small at first, but then it grew louder. There was no mistaking it for what it was. The same attack was just used on him the night before. The ear splitting sound of a high sung note. He winced at the memory.
But, then it stopped suddenly. Perhaps he was hearing things?
Impossible, no other creature makes that sound.
Inuyasha sprang alive and dashed for the ocean, leaping from branch to branch. He had traveled far into the woods get away from Kagome, now he was mentally kicking himself.
The trees finally broke, and the ocean air hit his face.
Inuyasha paused his assault and stared out at the blue water. Nothing seemed to be wrong. Was it nothing?
But an eruption from the surface of the ocean caught his eye. He began to run again, he ran across the beach, and into the water.
Once the water was too deep to stand, be begun to swim. Hand over hand, turning his head to the side every now to breath...just the way Kagome had showed his years ago.
He could hear the eruptions under the water; they were about a hundred yards from him. He stopped swimming and surfaced, trying to get a bearing.
Treading water, he looked wildly from side to side. The noise of the explosions in the water sounded like bells in his ears.
He watched as another blast erupted from under the water.
Then, a figure jumped from beneath the waves. It jumped like a dolphin through the air, sailing across the sky. The figure was Kagome, Inuyasha could tell by her beautiful form.
He swam towards her again. But another figure splashed through the water, it hovered in the air.
Inuyasha could see the back of a flapping furry pelt, with human arms reaching out from under it, as well as long black hair.
This monster was after Kagome! Inuyasha watched in horror as the monster emitted another blast of energy, directly at Kagome.
Inuyasha dove underwater and pushed off from the bottom. He rocketed upwards towards the surface, and erupted from it. He soared through the air, with his claws out, ready to attack the monster.
Inuyasha roared at the beast, as he flung towards him. The monster turned around in time to put an arm up and block Inuyasha's attack.
With flying sparks the two forces met and then repelled each other.
Inuyasha flew back, but caught himself by landing on a nearby rock, half submerged in the waves. He looked up to see the monster retreating away towards the shore line.
Inuyasha gave a great leap, and charged through the air after Kagome's attacker.
With incredible speed, the monster made it to shore and into the dark trees.
Inuyasha landed in the shallow waters and was about to leap out and give chase. But a scent caught his nose.
He turned towards the scent, and noticed a river of blood in the shallows, close to where he was standing.
Through the clear waters, he could see a figure lying on the bottom.
"No..." he mouthed, and waded towards the bleeding individual. He reached down under the water and wrapped his arms around the body.
Pulling it up through the water and towards himself, Inuyasha felt a searing pain in his heart.
A feeble Kagome lay in his arms. Her whole left side, almost completely burned away.
Inuyasha carried the mermaid to the beach. He laid her on the sand, her eyes were shut.
The waves hit them both, as Inuyasha lay next to her. He ran his wet fingers over her cheek bone.
"You're going to be all right, Kagome...please; you're going to be alright!"
Inuyasha felt her body move slightly and her eyes opened only half way. Tiny drops of water lay on her eyelashes. His worried eyes met her half dead ones.
He couldn't believe it, but her lips began to quiver and move. Shaky, soft words came out, "Inu...Inu...yasha....you...you...came...back..."
She spoke as if she was on her last limb. Inuyasha silenced her, "Shh, don't try and speak Kagome. Just don't give in, you will be alright!"
But she shut her eyes again. Her body was a cold as ice.
He placed one hand under her head to bring her face closer to his. He draped his body around hers, trying to warm her.
He felt her smooth fingers grip his robe, longing for warmth. He only held her tighter.
.........End flashback........
"Inuyasha...?" a distant voice called. Inuyasha didn't look up.
"Inuyasha!?!" it sounded again, this time he recognized it as Miroku.
He could hear the sounds of foot beats. He could smell the familiar scents of Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo.
The group traveled closer to him. Their eyes fell onto the hanyou, clutching the almost dead mermaid in his arms.
"Kagome!!" Shippo screamed as he ran for her.
A deep growl emitted from Inuyasha. He couldn't help himself; he wanted nothing to ever bother her again.
Shippo jumped back at Inuyasha's growl. The others approached with caution.
Inuyasha picked his head up and snarled at them.
"Inuyasha..." Sango spoke in a worried voice, "it's just us...calm down..." She slowly moved down to his level on the ground.
Inuyasha gazed at his friends. They all held concern in their eyes.
He watched as Sango approached him. He pulled Kagome closer to his body. And growled again.
Sango stopped moving, "Inuyasha let me help." She spoke to him.
Inuyasha continued to growl, his gaze was deadly.
Sango extended a nervous hand.
"...we won't hurt her,... we just want to help..." she spoke to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha watched her hand, as it neared Kagome.
Her fingers touched Kagome shoulder, and gently rested on it. "Let go Inuyasha...please, its ok...let go..." she spoke softly to him.
Inuyasha's mouth dropped open, showing his fangs. He was acting like a trapped wild animal. Or a predator defending his kill. Or a male protecting his mate.
Yet, he reluctantly began to lessen his grip on Kagome's body.
Sango gently turned Kagome so that she could look at her wound. It still sizzled with crackling, burnt skin.
Sango shook her head, "This looks bad..."
Inuyasha shook his demon thoughts away, "Will she live?"
Sango glanced up at him, and relaxed a bit, "I don't know, but she is alive."
Inuyasha hung his head; he gently pushed Kagome away from his chest. He placed her head on the sand, and sat back.
He removed his robe jacket and wrapped it around Kagome's tender figure.
Sango was thinking aloud, "She has to stay in the water; she can't live out of it. But the wound needs special care...I don't know much about burns...or how to treat a mermaid..."
"I don't think anyone does." Miroku added above her.
No one spoke for a long time.
"I guess we will just have to wait until she wakes up, until then we'll have to do what we can for her." Sango said, breaking the silence.
"Wait!" Shippo squealed, "what about that nice old woman back at the village?" He turned to Inuyasha, "Remember? The one with all those paintings."
Inuyasha's eyes lit up as he remembered.
"Can we trust her? I mean we are kind of dealing with something out of the ordinary." Miroku added.
"I don't think we have any other choice." Sango replied.
"Inuyasha...why don't you and Shippo take Kirara and go..." Sango began.
"I'm not leaving Kagome." Inuyasha interrupted.
Sango nodded, "Alright, I'll go with Shippo, who can show me where the woman lives,..." Sango turned to Miroku, "Will you stay with Inuyasha and Kagome?"
"I will." Miroku said, as he kneeled down on the sand.
"Alright," Sango said, standing up, "We will be back as soon as we can." And she turned to Kirara, who had already transformed, and mounted her. Shippo scampered up onto Kirara's head, and they left the others on the beach.
.........................
After they left, Miroku and Inuyasha sat in silence for a long time.
Inuyasha still sat next to Kagome, and the waves hit him over and over. Yet, he showed no sign of being bothered by them.
"Inuyasha..." Miroku spoke; Inuyasha looked up and faced him, "The water is home to Lady Mermaid, not to you. She will be alright, why don't you come out of the waves?"
Miroku didn't think Inuyasha would listen. But, surprisingly, he moved out of the water's path and came up onto the dry sand.
He sat with his back facing Miroku and crossed his legs under him.
"So...how did the two of you meet?" Miroku asked, to try and lighten the mood.
Inuyasha didn't answer.
Miroku tried again, "I mean, how did a prince sneak away and talk to a mermaid without some one noticing?"
Unseen by Miroku, Inuyasha was rolling his eyes.
"Now that's an odd pair... a half demon and a mermaid. But, fate has strange ways of revealing the destinies of..."
"Oh don't you ever stop?" Inuyasha interrupted.
Miroku had to laugh at that. "Only a bit of small talk." He informed Inuyasha.
"Well I don't need it." Inuyasha replied.
"True, but why you sit trying to ponder how all this fits in together. You could be telling others so we can sit and ponder with you." Miroku said.
Inuyasha smiled. (Although Miroku couldn't see it.)
"I don't need your help, I don't need anybodies help." Inuyasha said again.
Miroku dropped the subject; it was obviously not in his best interest to keep antagonizing Inuyasha, so Miroku leaned back and rested.
His eyes drew to the bleeding mermaid in the waves. He bowed his head slowly and mumbled, "She is beautiful, Inuyasha. I can see why you wish her to remain alive."
Inuyasha turned around and eyed Miroku with a flashing eye. He spoke as if he was under much pain, "Kagome...she...she was always there for me. She understood me better than even my parents did. We met under stupid circumstances...just as simple as throwing rocks into the water...but all she ever really wanted was someone to talk to, someone to play with....as did I.
Even though we were so different, it made no difference, we worked it out. Everything was so simple. We both knew nothing of our horrid pasts, or that our worlds were deep a feud. We only knew that we enjoyed each others company.
I spent the better half of my life with her... until I was banished."
Inuyasha tightened his fingers into fists. Miroku leaned in closer to hear his mumblings. "I remember...I remember that day...the day I was defied." Inuyasha almost whispered.
Then he said nothing, as if fighting a mental battle within himself. Miroku slid closer still; he eyed his friend, and felt great compassion towards him. "You cannot change the past..." he added.
"I can damn well try!" Inuyasha remarked coldly.
Miroku fell silent.
...............................
After a few long and quiet minutes, the air was filled with sounds of running cat feet. Inuyasha and Miroku both looked up to see Sango, Shippo, and the old woman all on Kirara's back.
As the fire cat lowered its body, and transformed back into its smaller, cuter, self. The old woman's eyes fell onto Kagome.
"I...I...I dare not believe it!" she breathed, her eyes wide in amazement.
Inuyasha placed himself between Kagome and the practically drooling old woman. She glanced around his body.
"It is! It be real!" she continued, "Never have I seen such a fine specimen of merfolk!"
"Listen, hag," Inuyasha growled, "She isn't a science project for you to play around with. She needs help..."
"Aye," the woman replied, bowing slightly, "As ye requests, Lord Inuyasha."
Inuyasha drew back at her last words, so long had it been since he had heard someone properly address him. If felt awkward and strange to him.
The old woman pushed passed Inuyasha and walked into the breaking waves. She sat by Kagome's side and gently rolled her over to look at the wound.
"A burn, how most unfortunate, yet very resourceful..." the old woman spoke.
Inuyasha growled again, then he felt an arm on his shoulder, he turned to see Sango's eyes, "She says she can help, and right now she is Kagome's only source of survival."
Inuyasha stopped growling and sighed. He watched as the old woman rubbed some kind of light blue goop on Kagome's side. When she finished she broke open a stem to a small plant and let its juices flow onto the wound as well.
She gently blew on it, as if it would sting, then she removed a small white cloth from within her clothes and lay it over the wound. Everyone stood around her and watched with hopeful eyes. Shippo let out a worried whine.
The old woman stared at Kagome's body and face; she ran her fingers over Kagome's deep purple and green scales.
Then she tilted Kagome's face slightly and looked at her facial features and hair. As well as eyeing the pink Jewel she wore around her neck.
The old woman shut her eyes and meditated for a few seconds. Then she opened them and gazed to Inuyasha. "Do ye know of this mermaid's status?"
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha snapped back.
"Do ye know of who this mermaid is?" The old woman spoke again.
"Listen lady, I don't know what you are trying to get out of me, but I'm telling you I don't fucking know anything about Kagome's status!" Inuyasha roared.
"Calm down Inuyasha!" Sango spoke to him.
Inuyasha turned to her, "Well tell the old hag to stop speaking in riddles!" he cried.
"Lord Inuyasha," the old woman said, "I only asked ye because I thought ye knew that this mermaid is of royal blood..."
Inuyasha drew back; he remembered that Kagome had told him that years ago. He had long since forgotten.
"Royal blood?" Miroku asked, "The merpeople rule in a hierarchy?"
"A what?" Shippo asked.
Miroku looked at the still young kitsune, "That means they rule by a king and queen, Shippo."
"Ohh..." Shippo answered.
"Yes, the merpeople were ruled by a King. Almost always by Kings, females were not regarded so high." The old woman answered them both.
Inuyasha bowed his head, "I knew that Kagome was a princess. She and I used to...uhh... joke about it..."
"This mermaid trusted you with that information?" the old woman asked.
"Why wouldn't she?" Inuyasha said back. He seemed confused. They both had hid their true selves from each other...but they just did it because that's what they were supposed to do, what their parents told them to do.
"As you know, or might know, Mermaids and mermen were not always thought of in high regard. In the old days, they were known as sirens and they sung deadly songs that lured unsuspecting men to their demise.
And, merpeople used to be able to walk on land, allowing trade between the water and land.
But then, of course, came the whole situation with the blood rivals of the demons and merfolk and the murder of the lovers."
"But what does all this have to do with Kagome?!?" Inuyasha asked loudly.
"Be patient, Lord Inuyasha, I will tell ye. Since the feud between demons and merfolk, both groups armed themselves in their own environment. The demons to the land, the merpeople to the water.
Demons declared that if they ever saw a merperson on land, they would kill them instantly; and the same went for the merfolk, they would kill any demon that entered the water, half breed or full breed.
To this date, the only merfolk that still practice the ancient art of the destructible songs are a group of merpeople known as the Shadow Merfolk, or Merfolk of the Dark Waters.
You see, the merfolk had problems within themselves. Many different groups split off from the main core of society, but they all obeyed the royal MerKing.
The only surviving merfolk societies to this date are the Shadow Merfolk, the Arctic Merfolk, and your friend here... the last of the Clear Water Merfolk, or the Merfolk of the Coral Palace.
I suspect that this mermaid came in contact with the Shadow Merfolk, and therefore didn't die along with the rest of her kind."
"And how did you come by that riveting idea?" Inuyasha growled.
The old woman pointed to the markings on Kagome's eyes, "These markings are the work of the Shadow Merfolk. This ancient form of tattooing was used by the past sirens as a way of showing status among their society.
The more elaborate the pattern, the higher the individual was in society."
"But who ruled over the separate clans of merfolk, like the Shadow Merfolk for example?" Miroku asked.
"I can take a guess that they ruled by an aristocratic government, the wealthiest having the greatest amount of power." The old woman said.
Miroku nodded in return. Sango seemed dazed by the whole idea. And Shippo was lost.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome's body lying on the sand; he couldn't imagine all of this happening to her.
"I suggest that we wait until this mermaid awakens. Then we can find out the truth." The old woman answered. "There is only one thing that puzzles me...." she turned to Inuyasha. "Who attacked her?"
Inuyasha shut his eyes, "I didn't see his face. But he smelled like a demon."
"Aye, I wonder if it be the same demon that attacked the merfolk five years ago?" the old woman said, placing an old wrinkly hand on her chin. "I guess we will not know until we ask the one who has been through it all."
The old woman stood up, "I have done what I can for her. With time, she will awaken. The sea water has done wonders to the wound, a remedy that even I cannot acquire. The Great Ocean has a strange way of working its magic on those who live beneath its waves....Now if you don't mind, and take me back to my home. I wish to record what I have seen here..."
Inuyasha turned to her, and got up in her face, "You better not speak one word of this to anyone!" he roared.
"Aye, I understand what ye mean. I do not intend to, and besides...who would believe an old woman?" she replied and Inuyasha relaxed. "But a word of caution to you, Inuyasha, others may wonder this beach..."
"No one is coming near this spot...I'll make sure of that!" he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Very well, Lord Inuyasha, Then I requests a way back to my home..." she said.
"We shall take her home again." Sango replied. "Come Kirara..."
"Sango," Miroku said, "Let me go this time."
Sango eyed him suspiciously. "Why Miroku?" she asked.
"I have my reasons." Miroku said. Sango nodded to him, and he slipped away on Kirara with Shippo and the old woman, leaving Inuyasha and Sango on the beach.
As soon as the cat was out of sight, Sango turned to Inuyasha who was once again by Kagome's side.
"Umm, Inuyasha?" she asked.
"What?" he replied.
"That legend that the old woman spoke about...is...is it true?" Sango asked.
Inuyasha stared at Kagome's sleeping face, "I don't really know. And I don't think I want to know."
"But, what if it is? I mean, doesn't it bother you that something like that between demons and merfolk happened? Especially since you and Kagome are..."
"Since me and Kagome are WHAT?" Inuyasha interrupted.
"...of royal blood." Sango finished.
"Oh," Inuyasha said, "why would THAT have any effect?"
"Don't you see? The demoness and the merman... they both were of royal blood, and that's what caused the feud." Sango reminded him.
"Correction, that merman and demoness had a child, and that child caused the civil war to break out..." Inuyasha said.
"But the child died..." Sango informed him.
"So?" Inuyasha replied.
Sango didn't know where she was going with this. She stopped talking and gazed at the mermaid on the sand. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I don't know. Forget it I guess."
Inuyasha was shocked by her reply. Sango never dropped anything that was usually his response to getting out of something.
"Will you watch over her tonight?" Sango asked Inuyasha after a few seconds.
"Until she wakes up." Inuyasha told her. Sango only nodded.
..................
After a little while, the others returned. They all camped by the beach that night, their hearts were heavy and tired.
Inuyasha sat just away from the breaking waves. The sleeping Kagome was barely a foot away from him, still wrapped in his robe and the old woman's medicine on her side.
The waves rolled in and out and splashed onto her body. The gathering moonlight struck her face and made it glow with a half dead appearance.
While the rest of the group slept around the campfire, Inuyasha remained awake. Every now and then, he moved into the water and lay next to Kagome, trying to warm her.
'Please wake up' he thought to himself.
............................................................
Thanks for reading Chapter 8... I hope you all enjoyed it... I know nothing exciting happened... so sorry... I'll try and update soon, but I want to post some new stories first so it might be a wile. But I'll update eventually so don't worry. It's summer vacation and I have nothing to do... ; )
!!!A quick note to all reviewies!!!
You Rock!!
.....................
Chapter 8
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Inuyasha held Kagome in his arms for the longest time. As the waves broke over them both, he could smell her blood in the water surrounding him.
Blood. Blood was all he could smell. It was everywhere. His demon senses where at their peak. He fought within himself to control them.
Her whole left side was completely full of blood, the size of the wound was impossible to tell. Yet, the heat of the blast had caused the damage to seal itself around burnt skin. She was left with massive burns and hot drying blood.
Inuyasha whispered apologies into Kagome's ears as they lay their. Everything was his fault. If he hadn't have been so damn self contained and talked with her this morning, than none of this would have ever happened.
Inuyasha cursed at himself for letting Kagome's attacker get away. He had started to give chase but the blood in the water tore him to Kagome's side.
........Flashback...........
Inuyasha sat in a tree, picking leaves off of a branch. He had resorted down to drastic measures.
"...I talk to her..."
"...I don't talk to her..."
"...I talk to her..."
"...I don't..."
One by one the leaves fell beneath him. Spinning in tiny circles, until they settled to the ground.
'This is stupid,' he thought to himself, but he didn't know any other way to decide.
Finally, Inuyasha came down to one last leaf. "...I talk..." he said, as he plucked it from the branch.
So it had come to that.
'But wait, doesn't the branch count as a vote?' he wondered to himself.
He growled at his thoughts, and flung the branch to the side.
Inuyasha clasped his face in his hands. 'I'm an idiot.'
The wind changed directions, and brought with it, the scent of the nearby ocean. Inuyasha looked up from beneath his fingers.
Dropping his hands to his lap, he rested his head back on the trunk of the tree.
Then, he heard it. It was small at first, but then it grew louder. There was no mistaking it for what it was. The same attack was just used on him the night before. The ear splitting sound of a high sung note. He winced at the memory.
But, then it stopped suddenly. Perhaps he was hearing things?
Impossible, no other creature makes that sound.
Inuyasha sprang alive and dashed for the ocean, leaping from branch to branch. He had traveled far into the woods get away from Kagome, now he was mentally kicking himself.
The trees finally broke, and the ocean air hit his face.
Inuyasha paused his assault and stared out at the blue water. Nothing seemed to be wrong. Was it nothing?
But an eruption from the surface of the ocean caught his eye. He began to run again, he ran across the beach, and into the water.
Once the water was too deep to stand, be begun to swim. Hand over hand, turning his head to the side every now to breath...just the way Kagome had showed his years ago.
He could hear the eruptions under the water; they were about a hundred yards from him. He stopped swimming and surfaced, trying to get a bearing.
Treading water, he looked wildly from side to side. The noise of the explosions in the water sounded like bells in his ears.
He watched as another blast erupted from under the water.
Then, a figure jumped from beneath the waves. It jumped like a dolphin through the air, sailing across the sky. The figure was Kagome, Inuyasha could tell by her beautiful form.
He swam towards her again. But another figure splashed through the water, it hovered in the air.
Inuyasha could see the back of a flapping furry pelt, with human arms reaching out from under it, as well as long black hair.
This monster was after Kagome! Inuyasha watched in horror as the monster emitted another blast of energy, directly at Kagome.
Inuyasha dove underwater and pushed off from the bottom. He rocketed upwards towards the surface, and erupted from it. He soared through the air, with his claws out, ready to attack the monster.
Inuyasha roared at the beast, as he flung towards him. The monster turned around in time to put an arm up and block Inuyasha's attack.
With flying sparks the two forces met and then repelled each other.
Inuyasha flew back, but caught himself by landing on a nearby rock, half submerged in the waves. He looked up to see the monster retreating away towards the shore line.
Inuyasha gave a great leap, and charged through the air after Kagome's attacker.
With incredible speed, the monster made it to shore and into the dark trees.
Inuyasha landed in the shallow waters and was about to leap out and give chase. But a scent caught his nose.
He turned towards the scent, and noticed a river of blood in the shallows, close to where he was standing.
Through the clear waters, he could see a figure lying on the bottom.
"No..." he mouthed, and waded towards the bleeding individual. He reached down under the water and wrapped his arms around the body.
Pulling it up through the water and towards himself, Inuyasha felt a searing pain in his heart.
A feeble Kagome lay in his arms. Her whole left side, almost completely burned away.
Inuyasha carried the mermaid to the beach. He laid her on the sand, her eyes were shut.
The waves hit them both, as Inuyasha lay next to her. He ran his wet fingers over her cheek bone.
"You're going to be all right, Kagome...please; you're going to be alright!"
Inuyasha felt her body move slightly and her eyes opened only half way. Tiny drops of water lay on her eyelashes. His worried eyes met her half dead ones.
He couldn't believe it, but her lips began to quiver and move. Shaky, soft words came out, "Inu...Inu...yasha....you...you...came...back..."
She spoke as if she was on her last limb. Inuyasha silenced her, "Shh, don't try and speak Kagome. Just don't give in, you will be alright!"
But she shut her eyes again. Her body was a cold as ice.
He placed one hand under her head to bring her face closer to his. He draped his body around hers, trying to warm her.
He felt her smooth fingers grip his robe, longing for warmth. He only held her tighter.
.........End flashback........
"Inuyasha...?" a distant voice called. Inuyasha didn't look up.
"Inuyasha!?!" it sounded again, this time he recognized it as Miroku.
He could hear the sounds of foot beats. He could smell the familiar scents of Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo.
The group traveled closer to him. Their eyes fell onto the hanyou, clutching the almost dead mermaid in his arms.
"Kagome!!" Shippo screamed as he ran for her.
A deep growl emitted from Inuyasha. He couldn't help himself; he wanted nothing to ever bother her again.
Shippo jumped back at Inuyasha's growl. The others approached with caution.
Inuyasha picked his head up and snarled at them.
"Inuyasha..." Sango spoke in a worried voice, "it's just us...calm down..." She slowly moved down to his level on the ground.
Inuyasha gazed at his friends. They all held concern in their eyes.
He watched as Sango approached him. He pulled Kagome closer to his body. And growled again.
Sango stopped moving, "Inuyasha let me help." She spoke to him.
Inuyasha continued to growl, his gaze was deadly.
Sango extended a nervous hand.
"...we won't hurt her,... we just want to help..." she spoke to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha watched her hand, as it neared Kagome.
Her fingers touched Kagome shoulder, and gently rested on it. "Let go Inuyasha...please, its ok...let go..." she spoke softly to him.
Inuyasha's mouth dropped open, showing his fangs. He was acting like a trapped wild animal. Or a predator defending his kill. Or a male protecting his mate.
Yet, he reluctantly began to lessen his grip on Kagome's body.
Sango gently turned Kagome so that she could look at her wound. It still sizzled with crackling, burnt skin.
Sango shook her head, "This looks bad..."
Inuyasha shook his demon thoughts away, "Will she live?"
Sango glanced up at him, and relaxed a bit, "I don't know, but she is alive."
Inuyasha hung his head; he gently pushed Kagome away from his chest. He placed her head on the sand, and sat back.
He removed his robe jacket and wrapped it around Kagome's tender figure.
Sango was thinking aloud, "She has to stay in the water; she can't live out of it. But the wound needs special care...I don't know much about burns...or how to treat a mermaid..."
"I don't think anyone does." Miroku added above her.
No one spoke for a long time.
"I guess we will just have to wait until she wakes up, until then we'll have to do what we can for her." Sango said, breaking the silence.
"Wait!" Shippo squealed, "what about that nice old woman back at the village?" He turned to Inuyasha, "Remember? The one with all those paintings."
Inuyasha's eyes lit up as he remembered.
"Can we trust her? I mean we are kind of dealing with something out of the ordinary." Miroku added.
"I don't think we have any other choice." Sango replied.
"Inuyasha...why don't you and Shippo take Kirara and go..." Sango began.
"I'm not leaving Kagome." Inuyasha interrupted.
Sango nodded, "Alright, I'll go with Shippo, who can show me where the woman lives,..." Sango turned to Miroku, "Will you stay with Inuyasha and Kagome?"
"I will." Miroku said, as he kneeled down on the sand.
"Alright," Sango said, standing up, "We will be back as soon as we can." And she turned to Kirara, who had already transformed, and mounted her. Shippo scampered up onto Kirara's head, and they left the others on the beach.
.........................
After they left, Miroku and Inuyasha sat in silence for a long time.
Inuyasha still sat next to Kagome, and the waves hit him over and over. Yet, he showed no sign of being bothered by them.
"Inuyasha..." Miroku spoke; Inuyasha looked up and faced him, "The water is home to Lady Mermaid, not to you. She will be alright, why don't you come out of the waves?"
Miroku didn't think Inuyasha would listen. But, surprisingly, he moved out of the water's path and came up onto the dry sand.
He sat with his back facing Miroku and crossed his legs under him.
"So...how did the two of you meet?" Miroku asked, to try and lighten the mood.
Inuyasha didn't answer.
Miroku tried again, "I mean, how did a prince sneak away and talk to a mermaid without some one noticing?"
Unseen by Miroku, Inuyasha was rolling his eyes.
"Now that's an odd pair... a half demon and a mermaid. But, fate has strange ways of revealing the destinies of..."
"Oh don't you ever stop?" Inuyasha interrupted.
Miroku had to laugh at that. "Only a bit of small talk." He informed Inuyasha.
"Well I don't need it." Inuyasha replied.
"True, but why you sit trying to ponder how all this fits in together. You could be telling others so we can sit and ponder with you." Miroku said.
Inuyasha smiled. (Although Miroku couldn't see it.)
"I don't need your help, I don't need anybodies help." Inuyasha said again.
Miroku dropped the subject; it was obviously not in his best interest to keep antagonizing Inuyasha, so Miroku leaned back and rested.
His eyes drew to the bleeding mermaid in the waves. He bowed his head slowly and mumbled, "She is beautiful, Inuyasha. I can see why you wish her to remain alive."
Inuyasha turned around and eyed Miroku with a flashing eye. He spoke as if he was under much pain, "Kagome...she...she was always there for me. She understood me better than even my parents did. We met under stupid circumstances...just as simple as throwing rocks into the water...but all she ever really wanted was someone to talk to, someone to play with....as did I.
Even though we were so different, it made no difference, we worked it out. Everything was so simple. We both knew nothing of our horrid pasts, or that our worlds were deep a feud. We only knew that we enjoyed each others company.
I spent the better half of my life with her... until I was banished."
Inuyasha tightened his fingers into fists. Miroku leaned in closer to hear his mumblings. "I remember...I remember that day...the day I was defied." Inuyasha almost whispered.
Then he said nothing, as if fighting a mental battle within himself. Miroku slid closer still; he eyed his friend, and felt great compassion towards him. "You cannot change the past..." he added.
"I can damn well try!" Inuyasha remarked coldly.
Miroku fell silent.
...............................
After a few long and quiet minutes, the air was filled with sounds of running cat feet. Inuyasha and Miroku both looked up to see Sango, Shippo, and the old woman all on Kirara's back.
As the fire cat lowered its body, and transformed back into its smaller, cuter, self. The old woman's eyes fell onto Kagome.
"I...I...I dare not believe it!" she breathed, her eyes wide in amazement.
Inuyasha placed himself between Kagome and the practically drooling old woman. She glanced around his body.
"It is! It be real!" she continued, "Never have I seen such a fine specimen of merfolk!"
"Listen, hag," Inuyasha growled, "She isn't a science project for you to play around with. She needs help..."
"Aye," the woman replied, bowing slightly, "As ye requests, Lord Inuyasha."
Inuyasha drew back at her last words, so long had it been since he had heard someone properly address him. If felt awkward and strange to him.
The old woman pushed passed Inuyasha and walked into the breaking waves. She sat by Kagome's side and gently rolled her over to look at the wound.
"A burn, how most unfortunate, yet very resourceful..." the old woman spoke.
Inuyasha growled again, then he felt an arm on his shoulder, he turned to see Sango's eyes, "She says she can help, and right now she is Kagome's only source of survival."
Inuyasha stopped growling and sighed. He watched as the old woman rubbed some kind of light blue goop on Kagome's side. When she finished she broke open a stem to a small plant and let its juices flow onto the wound as well.
She gently blew on it, as if it would sting, then she removed a small white cloth from within her clothes and lay it over the wound. Everyone stood around her and watched with hopeful eyes. Shippo let out a worried whine.
The old woman stared at Kagome's body and face; she ran her fingers over Kagome's deep purple and green scales.
Then she tilted Kagome's face slightly and looked at her facial features and hair. As well as eyeing the pink Jewel she wore around her neck.
The old woman shut her eyes and meditated for a few seconds. Then she opened them and gazed to Inuyasha. "Do ye know of this mermaid's status?"
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha snapped back.
"Do ye know of who this mermaid is?" The old woman spoke again.
"Listen lady, I don't know what you are trying to get out of me, but I'm telling you I don't fucking know anything about Kagome's status!" Inuyasha roared.
"Calm down Inuyasha!" Sango spoke to him.
Inuyasha turned to her, "Well tell the old hag to stop speaking in riddles!" he cried.
"Lord Inuyasha," the old woman said, "I only asked ye because I thought ye knew that this mermaid is of royal blood..."
Inuyasha drew back; he remembered that Kagome had told him that years ago. He had long since forgotten.
"Royal blood?" Miroku asked, "The merpeople rule in a hierarchy?"
"A what?" Shippo asked.
Miroku looked at the still young kitsune, "That means they rule by a king and queen, Shippo."
"Ohh..." Shippo answered.
"Yes, the merpeople were ruled by a King. Almost always by Kings, females were not regarded so high." The old woman answered them both.
Inuyasha bowed his head, "I knew that Kagome was a princess. She and I used to...uhh... joke about it..."
"This mermaid trusted you with that information?" the old woman asked.
"Why wouldn't she?" Inuyasha said back. He seemed confused. They both had hid their true selves from each other...but they just did it because that's what they were supposed to do, what their parents told them to do.
"As you know, or might know, Mermaids and mermen were not always thought of in high regard. In the old days, they were known as sirens and they sung deadly songs that lured unsuspecting men to their demise.
And, merpeople used to be able to walk on land, allowing trade between the water and land.
But then, of course, came the whole situation with the blood rivals of the demons and merfolk and the murder of the lovers."
"But what does all this have to do with Kagome?!?" Inuyasha asked loudly.
"Be patient, Lord Inuyasha, I will tell ye. Since the feud between demons and merfolk, both groups armed themselves in their own environment. The demons to the land, the merpeople to the water.
Demons declared that if they ever saw a merperson on land, they would kill them instantly; and the same went for the merfolk, they would kill any demon that entered the water, half breed or full breed.
To this date, the only merfolk that still practice the ancient art of the destructible songs are a group of merpeople known as the Shadow Merfolk, or Merfolk of the Dark Waters.
You see, the merfolk had problems within themselves. Many different groups split off from the main core of society, but they all obeyed the royal MerKing.
The only surviving merfolk societies to this date are the Shadow Merfolk, the Arctic Merfolk, and your friend here... the last of the Clear Water Merfolk, or the Merfolk of the Coral Palace.
I suspect that this mermaid came in contact with the Shadow Merfolk, and therefore didn't die along with the rest of her kind."
"And how did you come by that riveting idea?" Inuyasha growled.
The old woman pointed to the markings on Kagome's eyes, "These markings are the work of the Shadow Merfolk. This ancient form of tattooing was used by the past sirens as a way of showing status among their society.
The more elaborate the pattern, the higher the individual was in society."
"But who ruled over the separate clans of merfolk, like the Shadow Merfolk for example?" Miroku asked.
"I can take a guess that they ruled by an aristocratic government, the wealthiest having the greatest amount of power." The old woman said.
Miroku nodded in return. Sango seemed dazed by the whole idea. And Shippo was lost.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome's body lying on the sand; he couldn't imagine all of this happening to her.
"I suggest that we wait until this mermaid awakens. Then we can find out the truth." The old woman answered. "There is only one thing that puzzles me...." she turned to Inuyasha. "Who attacked her?"
Inuyasha shut his eyes, "I didn't see his face. But he smelled like a demon."
"Aye, I wonder if it be the same demon that attacked the merfolk five years ago?" the old woman said, placing an old wrinkly hand on her chin. "I guess we will not know until we ask the one who has been through it all."
The old woman stood up, "I have done what I can for her. With time, she will awaken. The sea water has done wonders to the wound, a remedy that even I cannot acquire. The Great Ocean has a strange way of working its magic on those who live beneath its waves....Now if you don't mind, and take me back to my home. I wish to record what I have seen here..."
Inuyasha turned to her, and got up in her face, "You better not speak one word of this to anyone!" he roared.
"Aye, I understand what ye mean. I do not intend to, and besides...who would believe an old woman?" she replied and Inuyasha relaxed. "But a word of caution to you, Inuyasha, others may wonder this beach..."
"No one is coming near this spot...I'll make sure of that!" he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Very well, Lord Inuyasha, Then I requests a way back to my home..." she said.
"We shall take her home again." Sango replied. "Come Kirara..."
"Sango," Miroku said, "Let me go this time."
Sango eyed him suspiciously. "Why Miroku?" she asked.
"I have my reasons." Miroku said. Sango nodded to him, and he slipped away on Kirara with Shippo and the old woman, leaving Inuyasha and Sango on the beach.
As soon as the cat was out of sight, Sango turned to Inuyasha who was once again by Kagome's side.
"Umm, Inuyasha?" she asked.
"What?" he replied.
"That legend that the old woman spoke about...is...is it true?" Sango asked.
Inuyasha stared at Kagome's sleeping face, "I don't really know. And I don't think I want to know."
"But, what if it is? I mean, doesn't it bother you that something like that between demons and merfolk happened? Especially since you and Kagome are..."
"Since me and Kagome are WHAT?" Inuyasha interrupted.
"...of royal blood." Sango finished.
"Oh," Inuyasha said, "why would THAT have any effect?"
"Don't you see? The demoness and the merman... they both were of royal blood, and that's what caused the feud." Sango reminded him.
"Correction, that merman and demoness had a child, and that child caused the civil war to break out..." Inuyasha said.
"But the child died..." Sango informed him.
"So?" Inuyasha replied.
Sango didn't know where she was going with this. She stopped talking and gazed at the mermaid on the sand. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I don't know. Forget it I guess."
Inuyasha was shocked by her reply. Sango never dropped anything that was usually his response to getting out of something.
"Will you watch over her tonight?" Sango asked Inuyasha after a few seconds.
"Until she wakes up." Inuyasha told her. Sango only nodded.
..................
After a little while, the others returned. They all camped by the beach that night, their hearts were heavy and tired.
Inuyasha sat just away from the breaking waves. The sleeping Kagome was barely a foot away from him, still wrapped in his robe and the old woman's medicine on her side.
The waves rolled in and out and splashed onto her body. The gathering moonlight struck her face and made it glow with a half dead appearance.
While the rest of the group slept around the campfire, Inuyasha remained awake. Every now and then, he moved into the water and lay next to Kagome, trying to warm her.
'Please wake up' he thought to himself.
............................................................
Thanks for reading Chapter 8... I hope you all enjoyed it... I know nothing exciting happened... so sorry... I'll try and update soon, but I want to post some new stories first so it might be a wile. But I'll update eventually so don't worry. It's summer vacation and I have nothing to do... ; )
