A Story of Hope
Author's Note: Wow! 28 reviews for chapter 10! Thanks so much everyone! I love you guys! I just want to make a few comments on some of my reviews.
Everto Angelus- You said that the story was a bit awkward when it came to Sesshoumaru. How so? Let me know so I can make it better.
Haleh- The reason that this chapter was not written when you asked might have something to do with the fact that you reviewed the day I posted.
JenKristo- I had a laugh when it came to your review. Glad you feel better and hope you love this chapter!
Inuyasha folded the note in fourths and returned to comforting the blind miko. "Shh." he said softly, "It's alright. It's alright."
"I was so scared." Kagome repeated, looking up at him for the first time since she had first seen him.
"I believe it." Inuyasha replied.
There was a moment of silence. "Inuyasha," Kagome said, "What am I wearing?"
The hanyou blinked. What a strange question! But looking kagome's state of attire over, he did not like it. "A little white kimono." he replied, "Where'd you get it? It's shorter than that skirt thing of yours!" She chose not to answer to this.
The other three ran out of the forest and into the grassy area next to the road. "KAGOME!" Shippo exclaimed, jumping off his perch on Sango's shoulder.
The kitsune ran to the girl. He leapt towards her only to be caught face first in one of Inuyasha's hands. "How many times to I have to tell you?" the hanyou asked, slightly irritated. "Be careful! Kagome can't see you coming. You'll crash into her."
"Shippo?" Kagome asked, looking up from Inuyasha. She seemed to have finished crying.
"Kagome!" Shippo exclaimed happily, his reply slightly muffled.
Sighing, Inuyasha dropped the boy and he hurried over to Kagome, doing his best to make his presence known. It paid off. Kagome unwound her arms from Inuyasha and reached down to where she heard Shippo. She was a bit off on her aim to pick the kitsune up, but Shippo taking a step to his right easily remedied that. In no time he was being hugged tightly by Kagome and receiving death glares from Inuyasha.
"We were so worried Kagome!" Sango exclaimed, "Are you alright?"
"A little shaken, but besides that, fine." she admitted.
"We looked everywhere for you." Miroku added, "Were you truely kidnapped? Or perhaps just dragged off by an unfriendly demon?"
Kagome squeezed her eyes together, trying not to cry again. She hugged Shippo a little tighter. Inuyasha glared at the monk, who didn't press any further.
"Should we set up camp here?" Sango asked quietly.
"Yeah." Inuyasha replied, "Yeah, we should."
Nodding, Sango and Miroku started setting up for the night. Inuyasha stayed, where he was, holding Kagome close to him. He hoped she would be ready to talk soon. He was practically bursting with curiosity and rage to find out how she had ended up in his brother's clutches.
Much later that night, the group was huddled around a small campfire, compliaments of Miroku. Sango had made dinner and they were just finishing it. Inuyasha had grudgingly let go of Kagome after she explained that she'd like to spend some time with Sango. The miko was currently sitting next to the demon slayer, with Shippo on her lap.
'Sure.' Inuyasha thought 'She wants to spend some time with Sango, but Shippo's there sitting on her lap. Stupid wench isn't greatful for what I do for her.'
As if she had heard his thoughts, Kagome chose to talk to Inuyasha at that moment. "Inuyasha? I'm-I'm ready to tell what happened now."
Inuyasha immediately snapped out of his thoughts. "Really?" he asked.
"Then please go ahead and tell us, Lady Kagome." Miroku prompted, "We give you our complete attention."
Kagome nodded. "Just after Sango left to check on Miroku, ademon kidnapped me. At least I'm assuming he was a demon. The next thing I remember is being thrown to the ground. This old woman helped me. She said I had been kidnapped for- for the Youkai Slave Market."
"What!" Inuyasha exclaimed, standing up in shock, "Never! I'm gonna-"
"Let Lady Kagome continue." Miroku told him sternly.
The hanyou sat down with a scowl and Kagome continued again. "The next morning, at least I'm guessing it was the next morning, we were all put into some sort of pen or something like that. I really don't know. I was... sold."
For the second time Inuyasha interrupted. "WHAT!"
"Inuyasha!" Miroku scolded, but this time the monk was not harsh. He had also wanted to make an exclamation over this. "Please continue again."
The rest of the story was easier to tell. The worst of her adventure had already been explained. "One of Sesshoumaru's people bought me. When I saw- heard Sesshoumaru's voice, he told me that I was no use for him and that he would return me to Inuyasha, but only a distance away because he was not in the mood for a fight. He had me talk to the human girl who travels with him, her name's Rin. Then we left and you found me here."
"Oh Kagome!" Sango exclaimed, hugging her friend, "You must have been terrified!"
"I was pretty scared until I met Sesshoumaru." Kagome said.
"You weren't scared while you were stuck with my bastard brother!" Inuyasha exclaimed, enraged. Now that he had heard Kagome's entire story he was blaming himself for the whole thing. If only he had been less involved with knocking Miroku out. He would have smelled the demons approaching and attacked them before they had a chance to attack her. It definitely would have been worth the multiple sits he would have recieved for seeing her naked. Even if Kagome was blind she would still figure out where he was. Especially while he carried the jewel shard around.
"Hey!" Kagome retorted, "It was someone I knew, alright!"
"You know Naraku! Would you feel safe if he had bought you!"
"That's a totally different story and of course not!"
"How is it different! They're both evil bastards!"
"At least I know I have a chance against Sesshoumaru!"
"No you don't!"
"Then why am I standing here, alive in front of you!"
"You're not standing, and you're not really in front of me."
"SIT!"
Inuyasha sat.
"Idiot." Shippo grumbled.
"You said it." Miroku agreed.
"Never seen a bigger one." Sango added.
"Sango?" Kagome asked, "I think I'd like to take a walk. Will you come with me?"
"Of course!" The demon slayer got up and helped Kagome away from the campsite. "Just a little walk. It's late out."
"I'm only up for a little one anyways." the priestess replied.
They walked in silence for a while. Sango was even more vigilant than usual, snapping her head from side to side each time she heard a noise. Kagome on the other hand, was starting to relax a bit. She was back with her friends again and safe. At least as safe as she could be on this side of the well.
"You know, Inuyasha was really worried about you." Sango told Kagome.
The younger girl sighed. "I know." she admitted, "And I don't like arguing with him, but sometimes he just makes me so mad! So I sit him. Then I feel guilty for what I've done. I'd apologize, I think that would just make him yell at me again and then I'd sit him and then it would just be a circle! I'd never feel better!"
Sango laughed. "I've got the same problem with Miroku." she explained, "He gropes me so I hurt him and then I feel bad. I know that if I appologize he'll just grope me again."
Kagome giggled. "So we've got the same problem?"
"Sort of."
They both laughed.