A Story of Hope
Author's Note: Here's the continuation of the last chapter. Hope you guys like it! While I was writing this chapter I had this strange thought. Many Inuyasha fanfiction writers have Sesshoumaru refer to himself as 'This Sesshoumaru'. Almost all Inuyasha fan fiction writers have Rin refer to herself as 'Rin'. Here's the funny thing. Sesshoumaru's never refered to himself to 'This Sesshoumaru' in the manga or anime. In the seventh volume of the manga Inuyasha refers to Sesshoumaru as 'This Sesshoumaru' though. As for Rin, who knows where that one came from. It makes her sound cute though!
Shippo just couldn't take it anymore. He burst out crying. "What is it Shippo!" Sango asked, picking the little kitsune up.
"I miss Kagome!" he sobbed, "I want her back!"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Come on Shippo." He growled, "Kagome's been away from you for longer than this before. Think about all those damn times she's gone through the well to study for one of her test things."
"But we knew that Kagome was safe then!" Shippo sobbed, "And now we don't know where she is, or if she's hurt, or dead, or dying, or mu-"
"SHUT UP!"
The kid looked at Inuyasha in shock and started crying harder, but what he had said had already done its damage. The hanyou was freaked. Everything Shippo had just said was one hundred percent true. He had failed her. He had promised, not only Kagome, but Kagome's mother that he'd keep her safe. And here they were, Kagome KIDNAPPED! Inuyasha clenched his fist, drawing blood.
"Shh." Sango cooed, hugging Shippo, "We're going to find Kagome. That's why we're out here, right?"
"Yes." Miroku agreed, "And don't forget that we're all very worried for Lady Kagome's well being. Especially Inuyasha over there. He seems to be mentally beating himself up as we speak. Of course that's because he lov-"
"ENOUGH!" Inuyasha screamed, "We're wasting time talking about this. Kagome's out there and we don't know what's happening to her! Here we're just talking! Why the hell aren't we trying to find her!"
"Very true." Miroku said nodding, "Let us continue with our search.
A few minutes later, Kagome found herself on what felt like a very large, scaly horse with two necks. She was aware that Rin was sitting behind her. "What are we on?" the older girl asked.
"This is Ah-Un, Sesshoumaru-sama's dragon!" Rin told her excitedly, "This is how Rin always travel with milord. Ah-Un is very nice. Rin could help you off of him so that you could pet him if you wish."
Kagome laughed a bit nervously. "That's alright Rin, I don't want to keep Sesshoumaru waiting."
"Sesshoumaru-sama's not here yet."
"But I thought he said we were going." Kagome said, confused.
"We are." Rin agreed.
"So we're going without him?"
"No. We're going to wait for him. Sesshoumaru-sama will only be a second. He never makes Rin wait long."
The two girls sat in silence for a few more seconds. Finally Kagome heard the sound of a door opening. "Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin cried happily.
"Rin." Came Sesshoumaru's response.
Something was placed in Kagome's hand. It felt like a piece of paper, rolled up into a tube. The sealing wax on the paper was still warm on her skin. "That is a letter to Inuyasha." The taiyoukai told her, "Give it to him when you are reunited."
Kagome nodded. "Yes Sesshoumaru."
"We will be going now."
"Alright Sesshoumaru!" Rin said, "Come on Ah-Un! Let's go on an adventure!"
Kagome felt movement under her. The dragon had begun to walk. Dragon. "We're not going to fly, are we?" she asked nervously.
"No." Rin replied, "Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't let Rin fly much on Ah-Un. Only when she has to. But Jaken-sama lets her whenever she wants when Sesshoumaru-sama isn't around!"
There was a loud clunk from behind them and the sound Jaken's scream. "Oh Jaken-sama!" the little girl exclaimed, "That rock bouncing off your skull must of hurt!"
"Rin!" the imp yelled, "Why'd you tell Milord that! I'll get you for telling- OUCH!" There was muffled thud from behind.
Rin giggled. "Sesshoumaru-sama says that kicking Jaken-sama relieves his stress." She explained to Kagome.
Kagome paled. The girl said this so casually! It sounded as if this sort of thing happened every day!… Maybe it did! She had known that Sesshoumaru was cruel, he taking care of Rin had put Sesshoumaru in a new light for Kagome. Even then, how could he protect a child and beat his servants at the same time? This was confusing.
"Any chance you smell Kagome's scent?" Sango asked hopefully.
"What do you think?" Inuyasha grumbled.
"No?" Miroku guessed.
"Bingo."
This sent Shippo back into tears. "We-we're never going to see Kagome again!" he wailed.
"Would you be quiet!" Inuyasha demanded, "In fact, do me a favor and don't make a sound until we find Kagome. If you speak I'll beat you to a pulp and they'll be no Kagome to stop me." Grudgingly Shippo nodded. Good. At least if they didn't find Kagome there would be one bright side to it.
"You just dug yourself a hole Inuyasha." Miroku warned.
"What do you mean monk?"
"I mean as soon as we find Kagome, Shippo's going to tell her exactly what you just told him and she's going to sit you for it." He told the hanyou.
"Not to mention the long lecture she'll give you on not hurting innocent children." Sango added.
"Well at least Shippo'll shut up until we find her. And he ain't innocent."
"He'll tell her you said that too."
"And she'll sit you again.
Both Shippo and Miroku found themselves with large bumps on the top of their heads. "Get offa my back!" Inuyasha screetched, "I'll get it when I get it! So everyone, SHUT THE HELL UP!"
"Touchy." Shippo commented, "I think he's stressed."
Inuyasha screamed.
Sesshoumaru stopped and looked up. A group of birds had just taken off into the sky in alarm. And there was no surprise in that. Somewhere a little less than a mile away, someone had just made a terrible noise that sounded much liked the scream of his brother. The humans hadn't heard it though. It was still too far away. This was close enough.
"Kagome." Sesshoumaru said, "You may get off. I will leave you here."
"Here?" she repeated, "Is Inuyasha here?"
"Do you here him?" the demon asked.
"No." Kagome admitted. Inuyasha definitely wasn't here.
"Here Kagome-san, I'll help you off Ah-Un." Rin said. There was a light thump as the girl jumped off Ah-Un. Kagome felt a hand encircle hers and she let herself slip off the dragon as well. Rin lead her somewhere. The sound of her feet crunching against rocks and dirt turned to the small swish of walking on grass. Rin must have lead her off the road.
"Come Rin." Sesshoumaru prompted.
The small hand holding Kagome's let go. "Bye Kagome-san!" Rin said cheerfully, "Maybe Rin'll see you when Sesshoumaru-sama and Inuyasha-sama meet up!"
"Yes." Kagome agreed, "See you around!" She heard the sounds of foot, and hoof, steps on the road. A few minutes later she could no longer hear them. That's when it hit her. Sesshoumaru had just left her alone in the woods. Great.
Kagome shuffled around the grassy area, careful to stay off the road. When she found no rocks to sit on, she settled herself against a tree. She might as well be comfortable until the end of her life. It wouldn't be long until a demon attack. She still had the jewel shards.
The jewel shards! Sesshoumaru hadn't taken them! What did that mean? Weren't all demons after them? Apparently not. Once again, Kagome's opinion of the demon lord was raised. But only a bit. He had still left her in the middle of a forest. Why did things like this always happen to her?
Inuyasha was starting to calm down. It had now been five minutes since anyone had spoken. How wondrous silence was! Maybe it would last until they found Kagome.
"Are you calm yet Inuyasha?"
Maybe it wouldn't.
The hanyou growled, his anger immediately returning. As if symbolizing Inuyasha's heightened anger, there was a strong gust of wind. It brought a few leaves that hit him in the face and… could it be? A strong whiff of Kagome's scent! He took off.
Kagome shivered as a large gust of wind started blowing. She felt completely miserable now. It had only been a few minutes, but it felt like hours to her. All of Kagome's hope of being found had disappeared almost immediately after being left by Sesshoumaru.
Kagome pulled herself into a little ball, still leaning against the tree. No matter what she did, she just couldn't find a comfortable spot. Abandoning the tree, Kagome laid down on the ground, still in her little ball. There. That was a little bit more comfortable. Maybe she was less visible too. She could feel that the grass around her was tall. Kagome closed her eyes. Maybe she'd fall asleep and be attacked then. She had been told it didn't hurt to die in her sleep. Maybe it didn't hurt to be attacked in her sleep.
There was a rustling in the bushes. Kagome groaned. "Go away." She said sadly. The first demon was already here. It was ahead of her schedule. And what really didn't help was that she sensed a jewel shard on it. "Wait till I'm asleep. Then you can kill me. I just don't want to feel the pain."
"Kagome?" a voice asked.
Kagome sat up in complete surprise. "Inuyasha!" she exclaimed.
"Kagome!"
She found herself embraced in strong arms, a jewel glowing right in front of her eyes. Kagome closed her eyes in relief, feeling the tears coming. "Oh Inuyasha!" she cried, "I thought I was never going to see you again! I was so scared!"
Inuyasha rubbed her back in a soothing movement. "It's alright Kagome." He replied, "I've got you now. You don't have to be scared. But what happened? You were at the hot springs and then you were gone! Were you kidnapped-" The hanyou stopped and growled, "Why do you smell like Sesshoumaru?"
"I was with him." Came Kagome's muffled reply. She was still crying against his shirt.
"He kidnapped you!" The idea made his blood boil.
"No." She wasn't sure she was ready to tell her whole tale yet. Maybe after she calmed down.
Inuyasha was confused. If Sesshoumaru hadn't kidnapped her, how had she ended up with him, yet alone when he found her? Had his brother saved her? It wasn't completely impossible. Ever since adopting that young human, Inuyasha had noticed Sesshoumaru had changed. And it wouldn't be the first time he had saved her. He had saved all of the group when Mukotsu had attacked.
That's when Inuyasha noticed the small roll of paper Kagome was carrying. She hadn't let go of it during the whole ride on Ah-Un. Carefully, he slipped it out of her hand. She didn't protest. Inuyasha noticed his brother's seal on the letter, breaking the seal, he unrolled that paper and read:
Brother-
Your mistakes have cost me quite a bit of money. Do not lose
your wench again. I will not always be there to make sure she
is returned.
-Sesshoumaru
Inuyasha blinked. This was getting confusing.
Yay! Another irritating cliff hanger! But I'd just like to point out something in here that I found very humorous. Humourous enough to repeat.
"Touchy." Shippo commented, "I think he's stressed."
Inuyasha screamed.
There we go! Read and Review!