"The Heart's Immaculence"
Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own Inuyasha or any characters related to it, as much as I wish I did.
Author's Note: Unfortunately, I had a headache when I wrote this chapter, but I could not let writing it go by because I don't like to delay in sharing my story with others. I always worry about how the story is turning out and I want my readers to be happy with the results. I hope I'm not too boring. At least Sesshomaru finally comes out (can't wait to see what he'll do next as the story progresses. Not even I know and I'm the writer).
Chapter Four
Now that darkness disappeared and the sun stood over the forest, Kagome had a clear view of everything around her, and the demon, whose ferocious form was larger that she imagined, was charging towards her at tremendous speed. She did not have enough time to think of what to do since she had used up all her arrows, and the only reasonable thing she could do was try and run away from the demon.
Had Inuyasha been here, I wouldn't be running away at all, Kagome thought. He'd have rescued me already. Still I can't give up on myself right now. There's a little girl who needs to be saved. Wait a minute! Where did she go?
As she was running, Kagome looked around to see where the girl was, but she did not find her anywhere. Thinking she might have run away from the scene or hidden herself, Kagome at least felt relieved that the child was safe.
"I'm going to eat you alive, human!"
Kagome widened her eyes. "It can talk."
She tried to run as fast as she could, but the demon was gaining speed and soon his body was right above her. Kagome was running out of breath, and she looked above her to see the demon lowering his large hand, ready to scoop her up and devour her whole.
Kagome screamed and shut her eyes, not wanting to look at what might happen to her. But the demon did not get the chance to grab Kagome, for the little girl had appeared and was throwing small stones at the heinous creature.
The demon growled as he stared at the child. "You want to be eaten as well, do you? Well, here I come!"
Kagome opened her eyes and saw the demon running towards the girl in the orange and white kimono. She recognized the child, remembering she had seen her before in the company of Lord Sesshomaru. But what was she doing away from him? She knew she had to rescue her. Looking around for the arrows she had shot before, she saw a few of them scattered about, either lodged in the ground or on the trees. She grabbed a few that were near her, took her bow and prepared to shoot the demon once again. Aiming for the demon's chest, since that is where the jewel shard was, Kagome released the arrow and prayed it would make a direct hit.
"Oh, no!" Kagome cried. "I missed again! Why am I such a lousy shot? I can't believe myself!"
The demon was unaware of Kagome's attempts to kill him, and he was licking his lips as he looked at the girl. The girl was frozen to the spot, her fear paralyzing her completely.
"Leave her alone, you beast!" Kagome yelled. She shot another arrow, and this time it did hit the demon, not in the chest but in the arm. The demon growled in pain and touched its bloody arm.
"Run away from there! Hurry!" Kagome said to the girl.
The child did as she was told and ran as fast as her small feet could take her. She came over to where Kagome stood and cowered behind her, knowing her safety relied on the older girl's protection of her. Kagome and the girl could see that the demon was furious now, its eyes wild and bloodshot. Grabbing another arrow, Kagome aimed and shot the demon again. Once again, she shot him successfully but it did not do anything to stop him from coming after her and the girl. Kagome continued shooting, but she missed on the rest. The child screamed as the demon stood over them, saliva dripping down his mouth and landing right on top of their heads. Kagome grabbed the girl and shielded her from the demon's grasp. The demon swooped his claws at them and managed to cut Kagome's back. Both Kagome and the girl screamed. Although she was hurt, Kagome was more concerned for the girl than herself and she saw that the child was also wounded but in the arm.
Before the demon got closer, Kagome released the little girl from her embrace. Then the demon took a firm grip on Kagome's slender body and lifted her up over his hungry mouth.
"I will eat you nice and slow, human, so you'll suffer with every bite I take!" said the demon menacingly.
I'm a gonner! Kagome thought. I wish Inuyasha was here. Why did I run away? Now I am going to die because of how stupid I was!
By this time Kagome was too exhausted and petrified to scream, and as she stared down into the demon's mouth, she sensed the jewel shard calling her. She could see it shining brightly inside the demon's chest, looking as though it were reaching for her. She had to try at least one more time to kill the demon and, gathering all the strength and bravery she could, Kagome was able to grab another arrow from the holder behind her back and place it near the bow she still held in her hand. With a tight pull, she aimed as quickly as she was able and shot the arrow at the demon's chest.
A bright light emanated from the demon's chest and made it roar terribly, causing him to let go of Kagome. She fell hard on the ground, yet she was not unconscious despite the height she was dropped from. Holding her arms tightly around the small girl, Kagome shielded her from the blinding light and watched as the demon was purified and destroyed. After a moment of commotion, all was quiet and the jewel shard floated in the air briefly until it fell to the ground.
Kagome could not believe what she had just done. She actually saved herself and another human being all on her own without anyone's help. Putting aside her triumph, she turned her attention to the girl, and Kagome asked, "Are you all right?"
The small girl, her hair a bit disheveled and her face and clothes stained with dirt, replied: "Yes. Thank you for saving me."
"I have seen you before. You travel with Lord Sesshomaru, right? Sorry if I don't remember your name."
"Rin."
"Yes, now I remember. My name is Kagome."
"You held me that time when Kohaku tried to hurt me. I have not forgotten how kind you were. I like your face."
"Like my face? What do you mean?" Kagome said surprisingly.
"You have the face of an angel. That is why I don't forget it." Rin gave Kagome a sweet, endearing smile, and she could not help but be touched by the child's words.
Looking at Rin's cut arm, Kagome noticed it was bleeding and was worried about the wound getting infected. Fortunately, the wound was not too deep or serious. "You are hurt. Is the pain bad? Let me clean your cut and bandage it for you."
"What about your cuts?" Rin asked, seeing Kagome's wounds on her back, the shredded cloth of her shirt stained with blood. "They look bad to me. You need help more than me. I'll take care of you instead."
Kagome did not know what to say. She was impressed by Rin's concern for her and how unselfish she was, not worrying about her own well-being but of another's.
"Hey, tell you what," Kagome said. "I'll take care of your wound first and then I'll let you take care of mine. Is that a deal?"
"Okay!" Rin said happily.
Kagome found her yellow backpack and both she and Rin cleaned and dressed each other's wounds, the older girl directing the younger one on how to properly use and apply the medicine. After a while, both girls were patched up, Rin not minding the slight pain she felt when she moved her arm, but Kagome occasionally pressed her lips together when she would move around, her wounds being more deep.
"So, Rin. Where's Lord Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked curiously. "Aren't you always by his side?"
Rin nodded and replied, "Lord Sesshomaru always leaves me behind with Master Jaken when there is danger or if he needs to go off alone for some reason. What about you? Are you alone? Why are you by yourself? Don't you travel with your friends? Where are they? Did they leave you behind? Are you lost?"
Kagome was amazed by all the questions Rin asked her. She spoke at a rather fast pace, and Kagome was unsure whether she heard everything Rin said correctly, but she did hear the last part.
"I am lost I'm afraid," Kagome admitted. "I left my friends so I could have some time for myself and think, but I am bad at finding my way back."
"I am lost too but it's not my fault. Jaken lost me."
"Jaken? Oh, the ugly, green toad?"
Rin laughed. "MmmHmm."
"I see. Do you think he'll come and get you?"
"He has to or Lord Sesshomaru will be very angry at him."
"I can understand why. I will wait here with you until he finds you, if you don't mind."
"Hooray!" Rin hugged Kagome. She gave a soft gasp because of the pain in her back, and Rin backed away nervously. "I'm sorry. I forgot about your wounds."
"That's all right. You were excited that's all."
Rin noticed some purple flowers a few feet away and asked Kagome if she could pick a handful to give to Lord Sesshomaru. Kagome gave her approval and walked over to pick up the single jewel shard that rested in the grass. She held it in her hand, looked at it admiringly and placed it in one of her backpack's pockets. She did not know how she was going to carry the bag on her back with all the pain she was feeling. Then she heard someone calling Rin's name.
"Rin! Where are you? Rin! Answer me!"
"It's Master Jaken!" Rin said elatedly, tucking the plucked flowers inside her kimono.
Kagome saw Jaken run to where Rin was standing. She could not stand anything about the demon. He looked ridiculous in her eyes with his tiny green body, triangular beak-like mouth and bulging yellow eyes. But to her his worst feature was the way his voice.
"You stupid girl!" Jaken hollered as he swung his staff, looking as though he wanted to hit Rin with it. "You could have been killed. Why did you not stay by my side like I told you?"
"I did, Master Jaken!" Rin said angrily. "I did what you said, but then the demon came out of nowhere and attacked us, remember? I cried for help and you never came for me. You ran away and left me alone."
"I had to leave you. I went to go find Lord Sesshomaru."
"If you did, why is he not with you?" Kagome asked with her hands on both hips, staring at Jaken with narrowed eyes.
Jaken looked at Kagome shockingly. He did not realize she was there. "I refuse to talk to a pathetic human like you. This has nothing to do with you."
"I think it does, you ugly toad. I saved Rin and took care of her while you were supposedly looking for your precious lord."
"I was looking for him, wench!"
Kagome kicked Jaken in the head. "Why don't you admit that you ran away because you were scared? And you did not go to find Sesshomaru because you know what he'd do to you if you told him you abandoned Rin."
"How dare you hit me, worthless human!" Jaken positioned his staff of two heads and was about to use it on Kagome.
"Don't do it, Master Jaken," Rin said, putting herself in between him and Kagome. "I won't let you hurt her."
"Don't be foolish, girl! She is no friend of yours but an enemy. She hangs around with that half-breed dog Inuyasha. Step aside and let me punish her."
"Jaken!"
Jaken, Rin and Kagome turned and saw the tall, elegant figure of Lord Sesshomaru emerge from the trees. His silver hair blew in the breeze and swayed as if in dance, his fluffy boa following in the same rhythm at his shoulder. The statuette face resonated a calm coolness and complimented the rest of him in refined loveliness and beauty. His amber eyes were keenly hypnotic, reflecting the mystery of him within their glassy mirrors.
Sesshomaru surveyed the area, observing the two humans and demon as they gawked at him, sniffing the air and gathering the scent of a dead demon and blood. He stared at Kagome coldly, and it was obvious to her that Sesshomaru was not pleased by her presence.
"You!" Sesshomaru said dryly to her.
Kagome did not know what to do but stay where she was, hoping he would take Rin and Jaken and leave her alone.
"Lord Sesshomaru! You came for us!" Rin said gleefully.
"What is the meaning of this, Jaken?" Sesshomaru asked him, tilting his head to one side, his eyes two tiny slits on his porcelain face.
"Forgive me, Lord Sesshomaru," said Jaken, trembling in fear and bowing to the youkai. "Rin got away from me. She ran into this wench while I was looking for her."
"That's a lie!" Kagome yelled.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at Kagome, making her aware that he did not want to hear what she had to say about the matter.
"What happened, Rin?" Sesshomaru trusted the girl and knew she would tell him the truth.
"Jaken and I were attacked by a demon, my lord. But Jaken ran away and I was left alone with the demon. I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Luckily, Kagome was there to rescue me. She saved my life."
"She saved you?" Sesshomaru said doubtfully. "And Jaken left you?" He stared at Jaken, and a stream of rage animated his face.
"Please, m'lord. Don't look at me like that. Your eyes are killing me." Jaken bowed even lower as if doing so would convince Sesshomaru of his guilt.
"Get up, Jaken! I have had enough of your nonsense."
"Lord Sesshomaru," Rin said. "Don't be hard on Master Jaken. He was worried about me. That is why he later came and found me."
"Yet she found you first," Sesshomaru said, referring to Kagome.
"She was good to me. Look! She even took care of my wound." Rin raised her arm and showed Sesshomaru her bandaged wound.
"So she destroyed that demon who attacked you by herself." Sesshomaru was amused but not impressed by what Kagome had done just using her bow and arrow. "She was lucky to have survived considering how weak she is."
"Weak!" Kagome spat out her words. "You're calling me weak after I saved Rin? I should have known you'd say something like that. Your dislike of humans is sickening, Sesshomaru!"
"Do not address me so informally, wretched girl!" Sesshomaru pushed back his shoulders in annoyance. "I will not tolerate your impudence. Your words are worthless to me."
"Of course they are!" Kagome countered. "Just because I am not a demon like you makes me weak. You are so arrogant! Just like Inuyasha!"
Sesshomaru, irritated by Kagome's comment, lunged at her and grabbed her by the throat. Kagome reached up to her neck and tried to spread the youkai's fingers out to release her. Strangely, Kagome did not feel that much pressure around her throat. It was as if Sesshomaru was simply holding her neck to lift her up from the ground, not literally to choke her but to scare her.
"Never compare me to that half-breed!" Sesshomaru said sternly. "I have tried to kill you several times before. Are you not afraid I will try to kill you again?"
"Please, Lord Sesshomaru. Don't hurt her." Rin cried innocently.
Sesshomaru saw how distraught Rin was by his actions, and he let Kagome go and began walking away from her.
"Let us be on our way, Rin," he said gently. He knew he had hurt Rin by threatening Kagome with her life, something he had no intention of doing until she compared him to his brother.
"As for you, Jaken," said Sesshomaru coldy, stepping over him with his foot. "I will deal with you momentarily."
"Y-y-yes, m'lord," the terrified demon said in a shiver.
"What about Kagome, my lord?" Rin asked. "She is lost and can't find her way back to her friends. Are you going to help her?"
Sesshomaru ignored Rin's words and walked away from the scene as nonchalantly as he always did when things did not concern him.
"Don't worry about me, Rin," Kagome said. "I'll be all right. Inuyasha and my friends will come and find me somehow."
Unconvinced by Kagome's words, Rin just smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Bye! Thank you for saving me!"
Kagome watched Rin and Jaken as they followed Lord Sesshomaru to whatever destination was set for them.
What a jerk! Kagome thought. He thinks he's better than everyone!
Despite her encounter with Sesshomaru, Kagome could not help but wonder why he had not grasped her throat more tightly. He usually hurt people purposefully and did so without reprieve. What did it mean? Why was he not as hard on her this time around? Was it because Inuyasha was not there? Had he hurt her seriously before because he liked irritating his younger brother? She did not understand.
Being alone once again, Kagome decided to try and find her way back to Inuyasha and the rest of the group. Hopefully, she would not run into more trouble. Unexpectedly, she got a tingle down her spine, and it did not come from the pain of her wounds. She looked up and saw several gray, snake-like creatures fly across the sky. Kagome recognized them. They were Kikyo's soul collectors.
Goodness! I wrote much more this time despite my headache. Don't worry. The relationship between Kagome and Sesshomaru right now is not close, but that will change soon—believe me! I bet you are also thinking what Kikyo has to do with the story. Well, that will be answered in the next chapter. I am anxious myself about Kagome and Sesshomaru getting together, so I better stop here and think of when they'll get intimate. Please review! Pretty please!