Finally, I've had time to work on my fic. R&R, please.
Soshaku's eyes slowly fluttered open. The sun glared down blindingly from the treetops. He quickly glanced around. All was quiet, but the smell of blood hung in the air, a strong mix of his own, the Minotaur demon's and Kari's. He gasped. Kari!
Soshaku bolted up and his hand brushed against something. He looked down. Kari lay asleep beside him, curled into a fetal position, arms wrapped around her shivering body. "Oh, what a relief," he told himself. He lifted the shaking teenage girl in his arms. She was a mess. Her face was scratched and dirty, and her leg had a huge bruise on it. He stared about him. How long had they been here?
The half-demon shrugged. Then he took off in the direction of Kaede's village. He needed the old hag's help yet again. Human girls were definitely not his forte. The sun was high when he found the old woman in the fields. She glared up at him, mouth falling open in surprise.
"Soshaku, what are ye doing here?" She gasped. "What has happened to Kari?"
"Kari wandered into the forest and was attacked by a demon," he explained, "She is hurt and needs your help."
"Ye let her wander into the wood alone!" Kaede stepped forward and slapped Soshaku across the forehead. "Ye are a thick headed fool."
"Ow!" the boy yelled, "Damn you, wench! I'll kill you for that!" He started towards her, but stopped as he felt Kari stir.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Her eyes met his. "Soshaku?" she asked tiredly, "What happened? Where are we?" She clutched something against her chest.
"It's alright, Kari," Soshaku told her, "You're safe. We're in Kaede's village. She's going to take care of you." He clutched her against him as he added, somewhat jokingly, "Don't worry, I won't let any demons attack. You're mine, you little wench."
"Come," Kaede said, leading the way up the path to her house, "We must go treat your wounds." The trio entered the small hut. In the dim light that came through the doorway they could make out the pile of blankets that served as a bed. Kaede motioned for Soshaku to lay Kari upon it.
He did so, and briefly brushed his hand against her cheek before turning to the old woman. "Well?"
"Ye are an impatient demon," Kaede observed, bringing over a bowl of warm water and some bandages. Gently, she cleaned and bandaged Kari's wounds, as the girl lay dozing among the blankets.
Kari still had her fist clutched to her chest and the old woman saw, as she pried it away, that she held the shikon jewel. "Let's put this away for now," she said, wrapping it in a rag and tucking it into her robes, "Until ye have had some rest."
"She's going to be okay, right?" Soshaku asked, peering worriedly over her shoulder.
"Kari will be fine. But come." Kaede grabbed his arm and led him outside. "Let's let her sleep. She should be better by morning."
Soshaku looked back at the hut, ears falling sadly against his head. I shouldn't have let this happen, he thought, Kari got hurt because I couldn't protect her. His hand fisted angrily at his side. "I won't let it happen again," he said aloud.
"What are ye mumbling on about?" Kaede wondered, glancing back at him.
"Uh…nothing. Just wondering how I can repay you for your kindness, is all." He laughed, embarrassed, scratching the back of his head.
"Don't worry, Soshaku. I know just how you can thank me." With that, she tightened her grip on his arm as she dragged him out to the fields.
Inuyasha stared into the ancient well. He could see nothing through its dark depth, and yet he waited, with fleeting hope, to see the bright light that would indicate that his daughter had finally found her way home. If she was even alive to find it. Hissing, the half-demon squeezed his eyes shut, driving the ugly thoughts from his mind. Don't think like that, he commanded himself, Of course she's alive. Have faith, man, Kari is a strong girl. She will find her way.
His ears twitched as footsteps sounded outside and a soft, feminine voice called to him, "Inuyasha?" The door to the shrine slid open and Kagome entered.
Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder, fixing her with an icy glare, before returning his attention back to the well.
Kagome shuddered and clutched the shawl tighter about her shoulders. "Inuyasha? How long have you been out here?"
He shrugged, not bothering to turn around. His silence was unnerving.
Kagome approached the well and looked down. "Anything?" she asked, looking up at him.
He shook his head. "Not even a spark."
Kagome wiped her eyes, fighting back a swarm of tears. Her mouth set in a determined line, she turned to him and took his hand. Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise as he finally looked at her. "She's going to come back to us," she said, "I know she will. Kari will find her way back to us. We just have to have faith."
Her words rang in his ears, the exact words he'd told himself only a moment ago. "Kagome," he started, but she pressed her finger to his lips.
"Come. You have to eat something." Kagome led him outside towards the house. "You don't want to be sick when Kari returns, do you? She would want you to be strong for her."
Inuyasha nodded, numbly at first, then with more enthusiasm. He smiled. "Yeah. You're right." He glanced back at the old shrine. "Hurry back to us, Kari."
Kari slowly opened her eyes. Groaning, she sat up and looked around. Wherever she was, it was dark. Her bed was soft, but lumpy. She stretched, yawning, and got carefully to her feet, wincing as her back and legs pained her. She walked to the door and threw back the cover. The sun glared brightly down upon the village.
Rubbing her eyes sleepily, Kari stepped outside and began a stroll through the village, peeking into houses as she went, only to find them all empty. There wasn't a soul in sight. "Where is everybody?" she wondered and headed out towards the fields.
Corn, wheat, vegetables in orange, red, and gold colors blossomed all around her. Big, strong men, young and old, wielded their metal hoes and dainty women, with babies strapped to their backs, bent over their harvest. Children ran around in circles, laughing and playing. They waved to Kari as she walked by and she returned the gesture, smiling brightly.
Looking ahead, her smile grew wider as she spotted Soshaku, also hard at work. He swung the metal hoe over and over, cutting into the earth and turning it. Sweat poured down his face, and dirt covered his feet and hands.
Kari watched him work with growing admiration. How nice, she thought, Soshaku's helping the villagers care for their crops. She headed over to him, waving to get his attention.
Soshaku paused and leaned against the hoe, wiping his sweaty forehead. He glanced up and his mouth fell open in, first astonishment, then joy as he saw Kari coming his way. Forgetting his work, Soshaku dropped his tool and ran towards her. "Kari!"
"Soshaku—AHHH!" She let out a startled cry as he scooped her up into his arms and swung her about.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" he shouted, squishing her against him.
"Agh, I won't be for long if you don't stop crushing me," Kari gasped, then sighed in relief as he stopped and set her back on her feet. "I'm glad to see you to."
"I was so worried," Soshaku admitted, "The minotaur attacked and you were pretty banged up and I brought you to Kaede and she said you would be fine, but I was worried anyway so I watched over you day and night and…."
He said all this very quickly and Kari tried her best to keep up. "That's nice but-"
"And then your wounds opened up again and Kaede had to re-bandage you and I felt really bad because I should've protected you better so then I promised myself, I said 'Soshaku, you're going to take better care of Kari', so I swore from now on I'd protect you with my life and now here we are and I'm going to take care of you." Then he stopped, panting breathlessly and smiled at her.
Kari blinked incredulously. "Um, wow. I've never met a guy who…cared for me so much." She blushed, despite herself.
"Well, uh…." Soshaku scratched his face, also blushing. "I promised myself I was going to take care of you."
"Well, thank you. I appreciate it," Kari told him, "But you really didn't have to do that. I mean, sooner or later I've got to find a way home, and when I do…." She stopped as the smile fell from Soshaku's face.
"But don't you wanna stay here?" he asked sadly, "I thought you liked me?"
"I do. It's just…this isn't my time. And I'm sure my parents are very worried about me." Kari reached out to touch his face. "I have to get back to them. You can understand that, right Soshaku?"
The half-demon was silent for a second as he thought. He looked at her, then at the ground, then at the sky, then back at her. "I guess so," he said a little wistfully.
"Great." Stepping closer, Kari lifted her lips and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Surprised, Soshaku stepped back, touching the place where her lips touched, his face bright red. "Uh…."
Both of them jumped as Kaede suddenly spoke from behind them, "Kari, ye have finally awoken."
Kari smiled at the old woman. "Yes, and I'm feeling much better thanks to you."
"Do not mention it, child," Kaede said, "I am just glad ye are alive and well." She paused and jabbed Soshaku in the stomach with her cane. "As for ye, ye are supposed to be turning the fields."
"Ow! Hey, quit it, you old bag!" Soshaku cried. He shoved her cane away irritantly.
"Kaede," Kari interrupted politely, "By any chance is there someplace I could freshen up? Maybe have a bath? I'm sweaty and dirty and I'd like to get my cloths cleaned as well."
The old priestess nodded. "Yes, there be a stream not far from here that you may bathe in."
"That's great." Kari turned to Soshaku. "And will you, Soshaku, like to accompany me?"
He blinked uncertainly. "Huh?"
"You did say you wished to protect me. How can you do that if you are here working in the fields?" Smiling, she grabbed his hand and dragged him behind her on their way to the stream.
"Ah! Hey, wait…!" Soshaku tried to protest, but Kari did not slow as she turned and shouted over her shoulder, "We'll be back soon Kaede. Don't worry, Soshaku will take good care of me."
"That is not what worries me," Kaede murmured as she watched them go.