The Kindness of Strangers
Disclaimer: (to the tune of "I know a song that gets on every body's nerves")
I don't own InuYasha and I know I never will.
I don't own InuYasha and I know I never will.
I don't own InuYasha and I know I never will,
So leave me alone lawyers!
Chapter 5- Hope
Somewhere between the brothel and the forest, Kagome had fallen asleep. He'd been too occupied with getting them out of there away from the villagers with arrows and swords to notice when, but when he stopped sometime later, deep in the forest, past where they'd come searching for them, he noticed she was asleep, rather soundly. He'd been torn between waking her and letting her sleep before finally deciding she needed the sleep more than she needed food. Besides, she was so cute when she slept, even with the old bruises on her face. He finally found a cave that was mostly hidden from the outside, seeing it was already nearly dark and they'd need a safe place to spend the night. He made a makeshift bed and placed her on it, covering her with the haori so she'd stay warm before lighting a fire near the entrance, partly to keep them warm, partly to get the dampness out of the air. When he was satisfied that nothing would bother her, he set about hunting. It had been almost two days since he had last eaten and he was using the last of his reserves of strength to get her out of there.
It took some time, but he found a buck. Not the best tasting this time of year, but little choice. He was hungry and didn't have the luxury of being picky, not with another back at the cave. When he got back, she was still asleep, slumbering peacefully with no dreams to disturb her. He cooked his meat and ate most of it. He'd need to go hunting again in the morning, but for now, if she woke before dawn, he'd have something for her to eat. By the time he settled himself at the entryway to the cave, it was nearly midnight and sleep claimed him effortlessly, mind and body exhausted and soothed by Kagome's soft scent.
Kagome woke a little before dawn, confused and disoriented. She didn't recognize where she was and couldn't remember how she had gotten there. She nearly panicked before she saw InuYasha sitting near the mouth of what appeared to be a cave. She smiled as she pulled the haori closer, hoping to fight of the morning chill. She was safe, at least, it seemed she was. She could slip out and he'd be none the wiser, she could get away from here, from everyone and everything that meant her harm.
She inched her way to the entrance, careful not to make a sound. She was nearly past him when he spoke.
"And where do you think you're going?"
She turned to him and in the pale moonlight saw his eyes open, glaring at her. He hadn't moved, but she could sense his readiness to move should he need to. She wanted to try to run, but she knew she'd never get far. Her legs couldn't carry her and he was fast.
"Kagome…"
"My name's not Kagome!" She shouted it even before she thought about it. "It's Ame, Ame the whore!"
His eyes narrowed dangerously and she felt fear run up and down her spine. "Is that what you want to be? A whore? Do you long for an uncaring hand to touch you?" She gasped when he suddenly had her pinned to one of the walls, his body inches from hers, his breath rushing against her face. "If that's what you want, I can do that, but that's not who you are. That's what you've been forced to. Kagome, you know me, you trust me," he almost pulled back, gave her an inch more space, the anger fading from him.
"You can't be InuYasha," she whispered suddenly, turning away from him as best she could.
"What?" he demanded, not happy, not liking the accusation.
"InuYasha's dead. I saw him go under the river and he didn't come back up. Besides, he had black hair and you have white. You can't be InuYasha. I was just confused last night."
He smirked slightly, almost proudly. "What night was it, Kagome? What was special about it?"
She considered his questions, not sure why he was asking her about something that seemed so unimportant, but she found herself answering anyways. "It was the new moon." Something clicked in her mind and she saw a dark haired InuYasha sitting below a tree, a white silk-like material in his hands, a small flea demon lecturing on about a hanyou's time of vulnerability, a little child with red hair standing nearby. "It was the night your demon blood receded and you were a normal human." She turned back to him in shock. "It was stupid to jump in after me."
His smirk turned content. "I've done stupider."
She nodded, suddenly seeing him shoulder checking a fat man off of a cliff going down himself, his hair dark and the dawn not close enough. "For me. I, I've caused you so much trouble."
He shook his head. "Maybe, but you've also shown me that life is worth it, if you have someone who cares about you."
She nodded, not sure really what to say to that. Luckily, her stomach chose that moment to speak. She grinned sheepishly as he pulled back.
"I have some food for you here. Eat up. I'm going hunting for more."
She nodded and he began to walk away, a certain amount of arrogance in his step. "InuYasha!" she called and he turned around to look at her. "Thank you, for everything."
He smirked in reply before dashing off and disappearing among the trees.
"So, he's somewhere up ahead?"
"Most likely."
Sango walked almost sluggishly next to Miroku, Shippo and Kirara resting on their shoulders. They had met up shortly after dawn, both too tired to move too fast, despite the danger Kagome could be in. They figured if anyone could help her, it would be InuYasha and they might just be in the way. Even if they wanted to help her, chances are InuYasha wouldn't let them.
"Do you think he found her?" Sango asked quietly, not wanting Shippo to hear.
"I'm sure he will. You know him, he wouldn't stop until he did." The monk's reply portrayed confidence, but his eyes showed he truly did doubt.
"Oh, Hiyoshimaru, do you think Kagome-sama will be alright?"
The two started and looked at the man with a white monkey on his shoulder, who as spinning a plate. He seemed rather worn down and didn't notice them until they spoke.
"Did you say Kagome?"
The man started and looked at them with a mix of apprehension and fear. "So what if I did?"
"Does this Kagome have long, raven hair," began the monk, "cool blue eyes, a perfect body with breasts-" Sango silenced him with a hit on the head.
"Well, she does have blue eyes. Are you friends of hers?"
"Yes," replied Sango, "We got separated and poor Kagome lost her memory. We've been looking for her."
"Ah, so you are InuYasha-sama's friends."
They blinked. InuYasha-sama? Who but the flea called him that? "Yeah, InuYasha's our friend."
The boy grinned, for the more they saw of him, the more they realized he wasn't as old as they had thought. "Oh glorious day! InuYasha-sama told me that if I saw hi8s friend to tell them he has found your Kagome-sama and he is watching over her once more. He will bring her to Kaede-bachan's village when he considers her ready to return."
Sango breathed a sigh of relief as Miroku pondered. "You asked before if she would be alright. May I ask why?"
The boy paled. "Well, you see, she was in a place of…questionable reputation and even more questionable women."
It was vague, but it made Sango and Miroku blanch. "You mean a place of loose women?" The boy nodded reluctantly. Sango felt anger rise in her. "How could they, to a person like Kagome? Wait until I get my hands on them!"
"InuYasha-sama took care of that already. He was not very happy."
"Where was Kagome?" asked a sleepy Shippo, rousing from his slumber.
"Somewhere not good, but InuYasha has her now. She'll be fine," assured Miroku, but Shippo could still sense the tension around them, the sympathy and dread.
"So, we're just going to wait for them at Kaede's?"
Sango nodded. "Yes. It would be better for Kagome if she were eased into her old life. Don't worry, it won't be long."
Shippo nodded, determined to find out the truth.