A/N: Sorry for the lateness, but at least it's out today, right? This seems to be picking up popularity quickly. Just a few notes about the length and stuff. One is that each scene is relatively short. I did that because I couldn't think of filler in between them. Second is that I didn't want to go past a certain point because the next chapter is specifically so that I can introduce some Yuyu people. Third, I'm just being lazy.
Also, a little explaination for those who are curious. It occured to me that, in the last chapter, I had Kouga and Inuyasha speaking properly. Oops. So, let me try and explain. In order to impress Kagome, they each learned the proper way of speaking. That would make sense, right?
regretfully-yours-Cassy-chan: Well, now there's a guess that no one has made yet. I'm trying to update once a day, so methinks that's fast enough, ne?
Kitsune Kagome: Well, then that's two for Inuyasha. Without my vote. I'm glad you like my writing, seeing as I don't. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
mizushoubi: XD Why, thank you! I really appreciate your opinion. Very out there.
Inu-babe666: If you don't know from my past work(s), then I guess you'll have to wait. Sorry about that.
kimonoprincess: Well, because they both have men they like or care for that are chasing Kagome. Plus, I just thought it'd be fun to write a few scenes with them. Plot devices, if you will. I absolutely hate her father, but he's fun to write. That is, his actions. Typing words like his are just hard. I have to write everything out then go back and fix it!
xxprincess-sakuraxx: I'm working on it. I have a 'template' to use, so it's going nicely!
Poll: Kouga-0 Inuyasha-2
A small tavern shone in the darkness of the night. Sounds of all sorts poured from the small business in a wave of noise. Silhouettes paraded in front of the hazy glass windows. Thunder growled over the small building, drowned out over the cacophony that came from the small building. Inside, people crammed themselves into any amount of space that could be found. Serving girls, that served more than just drinks for the right price, weaved in and out of the disorder of the room.
In a small corner, a young man with long black hair sat at a lone table. His violet eyes scanned the room briefly before returning to his untouched drink. His pale skin danced where the firelight touched it. His air was casual and cold. Because of that, he was able to have a relatively small amount of space to himself. There was just something about him that kept the locals away from him. His head turned slightly to pick up footsteps heading his way. Tensing for a moment, he soon relaxed as his friend dropped into a chair opposite him.
Like him, his long time buddy had black hair. Most villagers sported the same color, but the difference was the length in which they wore it. Most men here wore their hair long (with the exception of people like Houjo, in which hair would be more of a bother than anything else), whereas this gentleman had his cut as short as possible and kept in a small dragon tail at the nape of his neck. His posture suggested noble blood, and he could normally fool people into the thought that he had a fortune somewhere. Until they got a good look at his eyes, that is. His violet orbs held mischief and experience, which both attracted and repelled women.
Throwing an arm casually over his shoulder, he reclined enough to rest his booted feet onto the table in front of him. Flagging a serving girl, he was quickly brought a mug of ale. He threw a heart-breaking smile to the young woman, who giggled like a young child at his playfulness. Taking a small sip from his glass, he adressed his friend. "So, In'yasha, wha' sort o' truble 'ave yeh gotten inta lately."
Inuyasha glared at the player. "Miroku, we all know you have a body. Most know it well, and others want to get to know it better. I, unfortunately, am not one of those people. You can get your damn dirty feet off the table now or I'll be forced to bash that pretty face of yours into the nearest solid object." To prove his point, he began to stand up.
Miroku hastily pulled his feet off of the table and set them onto the floor. "A'ight, a'ight, keep yur shirt on. Ur not," he added with a smirk. "'Tis yer choice, eh?" Inuyasha threw a look at Miroku that should've forced the womanizer into an early death. With an air of 'I don't care what the hell you think of me right now', Miroku downed the rest of his drink. "Wull ye tell meh wha' th' 'ell yeh've been up ta ur no?" he asked.
Inuyasha shook his head. "That bastard Kouga picked a fight with me again. Kagome walked into the middle of it and completely blew me off! I mean, she could've waited until I kissed his ungrateful mongrel ass first. I don't see why she doesn't like me; I'm a nice person, right?" Miroku nodded solomnly as his friend poured his problems out. "And then, on top of that, that wench Kikyo had to appear out of nowhere and start putting her hands on me!" Inuyasha's voice rose to a high squeak at the last statement. "The only good thing to come out of all this was that Kouga was kidnapped by that crazy bitch that's always stalking him."
Miroku shook his head. "In'yasha, me friend, ye've gotta learn teh 'njoy life! Th' gal on'y cums 'round once," Miroku held up a finger to emphasize his point. "Live an' par'y hard!" He slammed his fist down onto the table, and a drink appeared out of thin air. "Take meself, fer notice. I wuld do almos' an'thin' fer a night wiv either o' them damsels." He downed his glass again and another was placed at his elbow. "Thems has gotta beh some o' th' bes' damn lookin' bi'ches in th' town." His speech slurred as the drink began to hit his system.
Inuyasha shook his head. "This is different, Miroku. You can easily have any woman you want. Me, I've got to fight for my position or take a crazy bitch. Doesn't leave many choices. Besides, I thought that you had your eye on that seamstress, what was her name?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes as he tried to recall the face of the woman he saw once in a blue moon. "Ah, Sango, I believe. What about her?"
Miroku swayed slightly as he finished his fifth drink. "Shango, eh? She'sm a purdy un. I 'uld Love t' 'ave her'sh." Inuyasha shook his head. Trust Miroku to get drunk quickly. Miroku furrowed his brow as he tried to form the words for his next idea. "Yeh know wha' yer needsh, In'yash- yash- a?" he asked. "Yer needsh t' getsh th' gurlie a'fur Kouga'sh claimsh 'er. Liken th' murriage kin."
Inuyasha perked up at that. "Yeah! I already know her father likes me, so all I have to do is ask for her hand! I'm sure I'd get it. It's not like any other guy has come forward yet. You're right. I should claim what's mine before some other dog sticks his paws on her." Inuyasha's eyes sparkeled as he thought of finally being able to call Kagome his own.
Miroku leaned forward. Inuyasha turned his attention back onto his friend, in case he had another bright idea. Miroku opened his mouth and said, "You'sh gunna finish'sh tha'?" Inuyasha laughed and slid his untouched drink over to his friend. Feeling much better than before, Inuyasha let Miroku prattle on about the difference between women.
False dawn came across clearly and crisply. It had rained earlier that morning, giving the world the refreshing bath it had desperately needed. Dew clung to the grass and plants, catching the sunlight in a make-shift sun catcher. It was one of those mornings that just called to people to stay in bed as long as possible. A soft breeze carried a chill air on it, further backing the already high potential of a late rise. Nothing but a prone figure moved in this early hour.
Kagome had really regretted the lie-in that she could have had if only Buka hadn't been injured. She was never really a morning person, and today was no exception. Her hatred of early rising was increased by the temperature with which she had awoken to. Not that she had a choice in the matter. She was already on her father's black list, and if she didn't do this...she really didn't want to think of the consequences again. Instead, she had pulled out some of her winter clothing this morning. Throwing on an outfit similar to that of the day before, she capped it off with a heavy woolen cloak and wool-lined boots. She knew that she would most likely change outfits later in the day, but right now she blessed the fact that she wasn't one of those highborn nobles. If she were one of them and had to do something similar to her current orders, she would no doubt have to spend precious time hunting for warm clothing in mountains of party dresses.
She went over a mental list of items again in her head as she walked towards her family's small barn. She had all of her secondhand clothing packed in her small sack, along with her new book and a small parcel of fruit and bread. Her water skin hung heavily across her waist, ensuring that with her meal she would have something to wash the food down with. She didn't want to go into that forest and find out that, unlikely as it seemed, there were no streams or rivers. Or worse, that there actually were water sources that she couldn't use due to some sort of plant poisening. That would be a far more cruel form of torture at the moment.
Throwing her wieght to the side, Kagome slowly peeled the barn door open. The old wood groaned in agony as it was forced to work. As Kagome used her back to finish pushing it all the way open, Buka and their lone work horse, Kira, both greeted her lazily. Kagome smiled at their drowzy grumbeling, so much like herself in the morning. Walking to the stall on the left side, she grabbed a rope halter from the peg outside the enclosure.
"Heya, Buka," Kagome greeted softly. "Sorry to wake you, old chap, but we've got to hit the road. You feeling a little better?" Kagome gently opened the door, stepped in, and quietly closed it behind her. Buka shifted a little as Kagome made her way to the donkey's front right hoove. Lifting it gently, she assessed the damage. "Tch. This is nothing. Old man Totousai could've had you all fixed up in a giffy, couldn't he?" In reply, Buka reclaimed his foot and put it down. Kagome laughed.
"Ah, so you want the royal treatement, eh? Well, your majesty, I do believe you are about to get it." Coaxing the tired animal into the world of the waking, she slowly slipped the halter on. "You're lucky, you know? Papa treats you better than his own flesh and blood." Buka brayed. "It's true! I mean, you only work for a few hours every other day. That's more than I can say for myself." She finished her preparations with Buka and shifted, the small pack on her back sliding into a more comfortable position. "It's too bad I don't dare put more wieght on your foot than is absolutely necessary, either. This pack is going to give me a sore back by noontime." Buka snorted.
Kagome, who had just turned to open the stall door, flipped around. "Oh, so you're going to make fun of me, eh? We'll just see about that." Kagome put her hands on her hips, Buka's lead rope fisted in her left hand. "Young man, you are grounded as soon as we get back. You are to stay in your ro- stall, and you are not to come out until you've learned your lesson." Buka eyed Kagome wearily, heaving a sigh. "Now, come." With that, Kagome turned, grabbed a small pack to strap to her own from the floor outside the stall, and lead the resigned donkey out into the open.
Breathing deeply, Kagome set herself out towards the path. This time, instead of turning left and heading towards the village, she turned right. The gravel path made the only noise as Kagome and Buka picked their way towards the forest. Kagome talked about anything that came to mind, trying to keep at bay the nagging feeling that she wouldn't see her village again. Talking seemed to help the young woman keep the fear bottled up in a dark corner of her otherwise calm and collected mind. There were no animals to break the silence of the morning, and there wouldn't be until true dawn came upon them.
Too soon for Kagome's taste, the gravel road turned into a simple dirt path. The forest loomed above her, causing Buka to balk. Kagome hurried to calm the beast down, keeping her own fear in careful check. There was something about the forest that wasn't right to Kagome. It could've been the trees themselves, tall enough so that the tops couldn't be seen and wide enough that Kagome and her family could put their hands fingertip to fingertip and barely reach half way around, but Kagome didn't think so. It could've been the eerie mist that coated the forest floor, but that was as unlikely as the trees. No, this was some dark evil that slept deep in the depths of the darkness.
Buka finally calmed enough for Kagome to concentrate of pulling the last dregs of courage she had left and put it to good use. "Well, old boyo," she told Buka, "no sense in dallying any longer. I guess we'd better get this over with well before my bravery deserts me." Squaring her shoulders and raising her chin in a determined fashion, Kagome led the uneasy animal into the world of night.
A fire crackled merrily as Kagome finished tying off Buka. The donkey immediately made a bee-line towards the nearest patch of grass, ripping the plants from their roots viciously. Kagome opened the tiny pack she had tied to her own before they had set out and dumped a gracious amount of grain in a small pile neat where Buka was decemating the foliage. Kagome stood with a groan and shook her head. "We're both hungry, aren't we?" Buka ignored Kagome's statement in favor of the grain pile.
Kagome wearily sat down in front of the fire, dragging her own pack from her back. She moaned in relief as she opened her the sack and pulled out her bundle of food. "Ah, travel rations. Lovely," she muttered. Shrugging it off, she broke a quarter of the bread apart and snagged an apple before restoring it to it's proper place once again. Her mouth watered at the thought of food; she had forgone lunch in favor of going as far as she could before stopping for the night.
Ever since they had entered this land of unknown, Kagome had felt eyes at the back of her neck. She had struck up a one-sided conversation with her silent companion in order to draw attention away from the creepy feeling. It had worked, to a point. The feeling had lessened and she had grown slightly more comfortable during the walk.
Now, those eyes were back again. She had thought she would enjoy her meager meal at first, but quickly lost her appetite. Nevertheless, she forced herself to finish her food. She had only so much with her, and if she dropped from not eating, food would do no good to her then. She had to ration her supplies wisely, lest she take longer than the expected two days of travel she had calculated. If she ran into any amount of trouble, she still had two days worth of food to cushion herself. She shouldn't have been worried at all. She didn't need to keep watch; Buka would start at any small noise in the night. She had enough food to keep her and the donkey happy and healthy for some time if they stretched their food even more.
But those eyes wouldn't let up. They held some sort of malice in them that made Kagome jumpy and on edge. She couldn't shake the fact that something was about to happen. The memory of her village popped into her head, along with the feeling from that morning that told her she should've said her goodbyes to her friends. It nagged at her almost as much as the watchful feeling did. There was just no shaking it.
So she stayed awake as long as she could. She stubbornly refused to sleep until she absolutely had to. It was stupid, she knew, and she also knew that she would feel foolish if she stayed up and there was nothing wrong. However, she made a fair effort. She was able to stay up well into the night. Finally falling asleep at moonset, she laughed at herself for thinking anything was wrong. This was a forest, after all. Forests didn't have eyes.
Apparently she should've told that to the shadow that swept into her camp as soon as she fell into a deep slumber.
End Chapter
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