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Chapter 10 - Tenth
Dawn arrived and Kagome had lain awake all night afraid of going back to sleep and dreaming again. She got up and dressed in her wrapper, it was going to be a very long day. She wanted to go out for a ride and clear her head. She had come to a decision that she still wasn't sure about. She was attracted to her best friend's future husband and it had to stop. She was linked to another man in an engagement she didn't want. If she denied it she would be ruined socially. If she agreed, she would be tied to a complete stranger for the rest of her life.
She couldn't wait until Sango woke up, so she raided her wardrobe and borrowed a riding habit. Sango was an indifferent rider so she only had one austere riding habit, all black with a very formal matching hat. They were about the same size, except Sango was a little taller, but it would do. She couldn't wait until midmorning when she woke up.
She rang for her maid and asked for her horse to be brought around and to have a groom along. After 20 minutes she was dressed and ready. Her mare Lucy was brought around and a very sleepy looking Shippo was riding a sad looking palfrey. Kagome hoped he could keep up. This wouldn't be like her usual morning rides. She was helped onto her horse by another footman. Everyone looked tired she felt a little guilty for waking them up at this early hour. But her guilt vanished the minute she urged her horse into a canter.
After a while she reached the outskirts of town. She never rode this far but she wanted to do more than just sedately canter around the park like usual. The minute she was on open land her canter turned into a full fledged run. The wind whipped all around her, some tendrils of hair came free from beneath the hat. This was when she felt the most free. She usually rode sidesaddle but since it was so early in the morning and she couldn't possibly encounter anyone else who might care how she rode, she was ridding astride, not very lady like but much more comfortable.
She kept picking up speed and after a while she turned to look and see where Shippo was. The fog made it hard for her to find him; he was a speck in the distance. She debated for a moment if she should stop and wait for him but the wind and the speed just felt too glorious. She was very far away now and stopped and waited for him. She heard the sound of hoof beats and turned her mare in the direction of the sound. Kagome expected to see Shippo appear from the fog. She noticed that the sound was getting closer at a great speed. To her, Shippo's horse didn't seem like it could stand let alone travel at great speed. Out of the mist came a figure riding a horse the color of night. A man dressed all in black. She wasn't sure if she was seeing things or what. The man's black greatcoat flapped in the wind like a great wing. He was getting closer and a sudden feeling of dread crawled up her spine. She felt an incredible urge to bolt but when he was close enough to see his features she noticed the great mass of white hair beneath the rider's beaver hat. She would have recognized that hair anywhere and then she did want to run.
Inuyasha came to a halt a few feet from her. His stallion made her mare skittish. She tried to settle her down and at the same time settle her own heartbeat. It seemed like eons before he spoke, he had an amused look on his face.
"Well, Miss Higurashi" He said finally. "It seems you are in need of rescuing again." He said mockingly.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked confused.
"Well, here you are in the middle of nowhere, alone at this ungodly hour. I would say you are in a very dangerous situation. Wouldn't you?" He said sarcastically.
He was scolding her again, and he was going to prove him wrong. "As a matter of fact I have a groom with me. He is just a few feet away. So you see I don't need any rescuing."
She was being rude and defensive but she couldn't help herself. The combination of her dream and his mocking tone were making her mad. It wasn't his fault she had dreamt about him, but she didn't care.
"I came upon your groom. His horse was lame and since you had ridden away I offered to escort you back home. He should be on his way back. So you see I'm afraid I will be rescuing you, again." He couldn't help himself, he knew he was being too gruff, but she courted disaster. If he hadn't decided to take a ride today she would have been out here alone.
"There is no need for that. I am very capable of riding back to the house alone. You should go on about your business." She had to get rid of him. The idea of being alone with him made her very uneasy. "I'm afraid I can't do that my lady. Sesshomaru would be very angry with me if I let anything happen to his fiancée."
"I am not his fiancée." She said between gritted teeth. This was the limit. He was telling people they were engaged.
"You will be. One thing I know about Sesshomaru is that he always gets what he wants, and he definitely wants you."
She didn't know what to say to that. She turned her horse and began the ride back to town. The faster she got there the sooner she'd be rid of him. He followed and she thought the best remedy would be to ignore him. After a few minutes she realized that would be practically impossible.
"There is no need to return to the house. I could accompany you for the rest of your ride. I wouldn't mind." He said in a tone of voice that sent shivers up her spine. She shouldn't read anything into it.
"I am afraid that wouldn't be proper. Shippo would have arrived by now and alerted everyone about what happened and I would be expected to return soon."
He smiled, she saw him out of the corner of her eye, 'boy what a smile' she thought.
"Why would he inform anyone if I asked him not to?"
"What! Why would you do that?" She asked shock coloring her voice.
"There is a debt you need to repay." He said. Her heart felt like it was about to burst through her chest.
She brought her horse to a halt. Big mistake. This brought him to a halt by her side. She turned and looked at him. She couldn't figure the man out. He scolded her for her lack of escort. And yet he offered to take a ride with her, which is even more improper than anything.
"You want me…to repay you for rescuing me the other night?"
"No, but I did spare the Count's life for you. All I ask in return is for you to take a ride with me."
She was torn. Half of her wanted to get away from him. The other half felt honor bound to repay him even though it wasn't much of a payment he was asking for. Deep down she wanted to be in his company. The opportunity of being alone with him was overwhelmingly tempting.
"Very well, I will accompany you on a ride, but I will need to return soon." She hoped she could get through this.
They headed away from town again. They rode at a moderate pace. Neither one spoke. They came upon a stretch of road that was straight as an arrow, as if they read each other's mind they looked at one another and then they broke into a run. Kagome forgot her anger and her misgivings and just gave in to the thrill of the chase. Even though she wasn't sure who was chasing who. They were neck and neck sometimes, but most of the time she was in the lead. She had a strong suspicion that he was letting her win. His horse looked like it could ride all the way to hell. Kagome reached the end of the lane and she headed to a tree to wait for the straggling earl. She didn't wait long.
"Well, I see I have much to learn from you. I've never seen a lady ride like that before." Inuyasha said as he dismounted.
"I'm sorry I didn't think I would run into anyone this early in the morning. I don't much care for a sidesaddle." Kagome said embarrassed. It wasn't proper for women to ride astride.
"It doesn't really matter." Inuyasha went over to the base of the tree and took his greatcoat off and laid it on the grass. Kagome was confused. He then proceeded to lean against the tree trunk. "What are you doing?" She asked nervously.
"I find myself quite tired all of the sudden." He said.
She didn't believe him. "I really must be getting back."
He patted the spot next to him, "Come sit, it will only be for a few minutes."
She hesitated, things weren't going well. It was one thing to be feet away from him on a horse it was something else all together to sit next to him.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked when she just stood there.
"Of course not." She then walked determined not to be bothered by his closeness and sat next to him. They sat in silence for what seemed an eternity. She had kept her eyes looking towards the lane, praying no one came by. She stole a glance at him he had his eyes closed. "Do you always ride this early in the morning?" He asked without opening his eyes. She was startled by the question, "Only when I find myself awake at this time."
He went silent again. After a few minutes he said, "You should go."
"I beg your pardon?" She found herself saying that a lot around him.
"You should go, you are not safe here." He commanded.
"Why?" 'Did I miss something?' Kagome thought.
"I can only restrain myself for so long. It was a mistake to ask you to come here." He sounded angry.
"Have I offended you? I don't understand." She was getting nervous.
He was talking nonsense. His eyes were still closed. She reached to touch his shoulder. As if he knew was she was going to do, he grabbed her wrist. She gasped. He opened his eyes and came within inches of her face. "I've already warned you." He whispered. The lady had followed him willingly, Inuyasha mused. She had no sense of decorum. She deserved what she got. Inuyasha pulled her abruptly into his arms and kissed her.
Kagome wanted Inuyasha to kiss her. She couldn't deny it. She'd wanted it from the moment he came into her room the other night. This is something she should not want at all. But now as his lips caressed hers, she let out a guilty little sigh. At last, that sigh said.
At last.
Kagome! You are being very naughty.
