Tainted Silver
- Chapter 2 -
Kagome quietly fixed her hair for her morning walk. She could already hear InuYasha and Kouga's daily ranting and raving; their daily war. She sighed and smoothed out her soft kimono. Plain white with a blue obi. The kimono was her inheritance from her late grandmother. She smiled at her reflection and slipped on her sandals and walked out of her room, grabbing her yellow bag on the way.
"Jii-chan! I'm leaving!"
"Huh?" he questioned, entering the living room. "Oh, alright. Come back safely."
"Hai," she nodded with a smile.
She walked out welcoming the sounds of the busy village. Breathing in the air around her was a habit and she enjoyed doing it everyday.
"Just as I thought…"
She shivered, strangely, with the sun directly overhead. She felt like she was being watched as a predator would its prey. She shook away the notion and set off to the edge of the forest, a shadow of lust following.
"Kagome!" two voices called in unison.
She kept walking as, this being a daily occurrence, they started to fight over who was her owner.
"She's mine!"
"You wish!"
Kagome smiled as the voices of all the people started to fade the closer she got to the forest. She sat on a familiar rock, thinking familiar thoughts, and looking at the familiar scenery of beautiful green.
"Some day, some how, I'll end up married to a guy I absolutely adore," she whispered to herself.
"Kagome," said a deep voice.
Her hairs stood on end as she turned to the origin of the voice.
"Naraku," she croaked, her mouth suddenly dry.
"What are you doing here so far from town? Aren't you afraid?"
"Nothing's happened before," she whispered in fear.
"I've come," he said slowly approaching, "to ask you to become my wife."
Kagome was frozen to the spot, his black eyes holding her frightened gaze.
"You'll be mine in the very aspect of the word. My wife," he said, now closer than he had ever been.
"And if I refuse?" she asked, her body screaming at her to run.
"If I can't have you, nobody can," he sneered, grabbing hold of her by the arms.
She screamed out, silenced when Naraku smashed her to a tree. Fear coursed through her veins, the adrenaline pumping faster than ever.
"You will be mine!"
"Let go Naraku!"
She struggled in his hold, making him smile as he took twisted joy in the fact that she was afraid. He let go of one of her arms to slap her into silence, but she beat him to it. She scratched him from his eye to the corner of his mouth. He let go with a pained cry. Kagome kicked him in the groin quickly and ran farther into the forest.
'I've got to get away from Naraku!'
She ran, the thought of stopping never crossing her mind. He was right behind her, she could feel it. If she turned around he'd catch her for sure!
"Kohaku! Are you okay?! What'd you see?"
"I'm alright. I saw a woman, a pretty woman, running towards the castle."
"She'll be good enough for Sesshoumaru-sama!" squealed a young girl next to two boys.
"Well, go on. We can't leave."
"Hai!"
Her vision was blurred with exhaustion. Her body wanted to give up and resign to its awful fate. Her mind was filled with the will to fight, however, and she chose to listen to it and ignore the aches of her body.
"Help!"
She barely registered the plea and splashing of water. She redirected herself, temporarily forgetting about Naraku.
"Hello?!"
"Help!!!"
She continued towards the sound of splashing. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw a young girl struggling in the water.
"Hold on!"
"Hurry!"
Kagome splashed in, grimacing at the thought of dirtying the meaningful kimono. She gripped the young girl who immediately latched on.
'What would've happened if I hadn't been here?!'
Once on the shore, Kagome soothed the terrified girl. Naraku was nowhere to be seen and she was thankful. The last thing she needed was his presence.
"You saved Rin's life," she whispered softly.
"My name's Kagome."
"Rin's name is Rin," she said with a smile.
Kagome giggled at the little girl.
"Could Kagome-chan take Rin home?" the small girl asked, hope bright in her eyes.
"I-"
"Please?"
"Yeah. I mean yes, yes I'll take you home."
Rin smiled as she thought of Sesshoumaru.
They walked for what felt like hours, though in reality there trip was merely minutes. Kagome, following Rin's example, kicked a rock for her amusement.
"We're almost there!" the young girl squealed.
Kagome looked up and shock flowed through every fiber of her being. Rin didn't have a home, she had a mansion! Kagome followed Rin dumbly, her mind unable to process any thoughts.
'Dear Kami, what is this place?!'
She dully registered a feeling of uneasiness and dread pass through her. Then all of a sudden the forest became a sanctuary. She looked behind her, noting they had passed the gates.
"Come on Kagome-chan!"
Kagome walked faster, to Rin's pleasure. Everything around them was silent. She felt dozens of eyes on her.
She's new…
She looked up to find birds staring at her curiously.
She's a stranger…
Squirrels and other animals stood, watching her every step.
She's special…
Kagome unconsciously gripped the young girl's hand harder.
She's his savior…
She jumped as the birds and other wildlife suddenly erupted with noise. Rin didn't seem to notice and kept walking.
Short, yes, but deal with it. I do not own Beauty and the Beast and I certainly don't own Inu & Co. Though I find it a bit useless to say I do and spend my time writing stories on instead of publishing them, don't you think?