Here is the eighth chapter of In the Sands of Time…I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I know that there are about a hundred thousand mistakes but in my haste to upload it to fanfiction I'm not reading through it. It's been too long already so I won't make you wait any longer by reading this uneventful author's note….Here we go.
In the Sands Of Time
Chapter eight, This is where we stand
By, Souls Hatred
Disclaimer on the second chapter.
The brick walls of the castle seemed even colder in the torchlight. Kagome shivered slightly and quickened her pace. She moved swiftly through the numberless halls and reached a door at the end of one. All the time his words raced in her head, "Meet me tonight outside the front doors." Tentatively, reaching out a delicate hand, she pushed open the wooden door. Placing a foot on the ground beyond it, the raven-haired girl gazed at the beauty displayed before her.
Even though the sky was black and filled with millions of shinning dots, the moon showed so clearly in the cloudless sky. Illuminating everything its light touched, it made the ordinary looking desert come alive into a dream like scene.
Tearing her eyes away from the captivating sky, Kagome turned her eyes on the glint of glowing silver hair, only enhanced with the crystal light pouring over it. A warm breezed passed the stationary girl as her breath was taken away at the sight before her.
Breathing became an agonizing labored effort as the figure, standing feet away, turn its piercing gaze on her. His skin was god like in the magical light the moon gave off. Everything in its path seemed to take on an unearthly glow.
His eyes gleaming at the sight of Kagome standing strides away, Inuyasha held out a clawed hand in wordless beckoning.
Gingerly, Kagome extended her hand to meet his. With that small gesture, their eyes locked onto each other, both searching and neither finding.
Inuyasha's normally arrogant look softened as he looked at Kagome, looking even more beautiful with her skin shinning. He tightened his grip on her hand to a gentle hold and a genuine smile broke his straight face. Pulling her closer, he leaned down towards her ear, whispering words she could not understand but wishing would never stop.
She leaned her face against his chest, closing her eyes as his voice washed over her. Intoxicated by his words and sent, the world no longer existed. Never would she be separated from her guardian again. Forever those strong, protective arms would hold her. Tomorrow would never come when she would have to say good-bye to him forever…seeing him only when she brought him his food…for the evening meal.
Her eyes stung with the tears that threatened to fall. Quickly Kagome pulled away from the boy that held her. She turned sharply, her back to him, refusing to look into those eyes that screamed love to her.
Inuyasha stared at her, utterly confused by this sudden action. He watched as her small frame was racked with silent sobs. Cautiously he spoke to her, "K-Kagome?"
There was no reply. The hanyou stood there not knowing what to do. Standing there for what seemed an eternity, his arms slowly moved from his side to wrap themselves around the girl's shoulders, burying his face in her neck. Quietly he started talking about the first things that came to his mind.
Even though she heard his voice, Kagome's mind didn't absorb any of it. She'd never be able to speak with him again except: "Your highness," or "Yes, sir, my pleasure sir." Sounded a bit familiar…
"Kagome, look at me…please." Inuyasha's pleading voice broke through her mind's barrier. Shaking slightly, she turned towards him, her eyes downcast.
Gently Inuyasha pulled her chin upwards so she had no other choice but to look into the confused mixture of gold. "Trust me." His words were soft and held so much passion, but seemed so fragile. Kagome nodded, her tear stained face gleamed even brighter.
Inuyasha wiped away the stray tears falling down the girls face. As if possessed, he bent down his head, brushing her lips tantalizingly with his own before taking them and claiming them as his.
Kagome stood there, clutching the folds of his shirt as she was lifted from her feet. Slowly her mind began to work and she returned the kiss from the deepest depth of her heart. Never did she want to lose this, but like every great thing, it must end.
"Don't leave me," she whispered when they parted.
"Trust me." He repeated. That was enough for her, she turned around, and rested against Inuyasha, his arms enveloped her. "What happened to that promise of hating me?" his small whisper floated into her ear.
A smile broke her face as she answered back with, "I lied." With that, Kagome fell asleep in his arms.
Any feeling he had about her before, suddenly never existed. Instead, all he felt was the need to be with her, and that meant changing the plans his mother had for tomorrow.
Kagome, having fallen asleep, was gathered in Inuyasha's arms and being carried back to the castle. He was in no hurry though and just as he was reaching the door to her room a noise from behind caught his attention. Turning around to see what it was he saw Miroku, the lecherous monk, walked towards him with a sly grin on his face.
"You can wipe that grin off your face, it's not what you're thinking." Inuyasha growled.
"What is it then?" the smile broadening if anything. "It looks quite suspicious to me. Perhaps I should go tell your mother about this little mishap in the middle of the night with non-other then…" he looked at the girl in the Prince's arms and his eyes widened in surprise, "Her!" he chocked. "What in the seven hells are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking I should put her in her bed as she seemed fully exhausted." Inuyasha pushed open the door, walked inside, and placed the sleeping Kagome on her bed. For a moment, he just stood there looking at her sleeping form.
"Perhaps you'd like to explain what you are doing with that girl." Miroku hissed in his friend's ear.
Inuyasha turned towards the monk. "What does it matter what I do with her?" he snapped back then suddenly seemed to realize what he had just said. "I-I didn't mean that." Suddenly feeling very uncomfortable, he changed the subject.
"I need your help."
"Am I hearing correctly? Did the Inuyasha just ask for help?" He was pushing his luck and he knew it.
"Shut up and listen…" So, Inuyasha explained everything he had in mind for the next day. It took the good part of an hour of explanation for Miroku to agree.
"Do you really think this will work?" the monk asked a bit unsure.
"No, I don't." Inuyasha replied pushing Miroku out of Kagome's room and closing her door behind him.
Going to bed that night was simple enough, going to sleep though, that was the challenge. No matter what position he took, Inuyasha couldn't get comfortable to drift into the world of slumber.
Mind plagued with images of the day to come kept intruding upon his thoughts and images continually flashed across his vision. Mild torture could explain how he felt. No matter how hard Inuyasha attempted to rid his mind of all the thoughts and fears that gnawed at him, he had no luck.
Thrashing around, tangled in his sheets, Inuyasha attempted to take out his stress on his unsuspecting pillow. Slamming down his fist repeatedly didn't seem to rob him of all the energy building inside him.
After pacing his room for hours, he gave up and lied in his bed breathing deeply and clearing his mind. Soon a light sleep swept over him.
The morning came sooner then hoped for two people.
Kagome was woken and asked to help prepare for the evening dinner and ceremony. She worked with a smile on her face even though she hated every minute of it, with the memory of the night before still playing freshly in her mind. Although the end of the memory was a bit fuzzy and she couldn't remember walking to her bed, but that didn't seem to matter much.
Even though she hated every floor, she had to scrub and every dish washed her mind was never on those things, instead it lingered on the silver hair in the crystal moon.
Truth be told, she had no idea why Inuyasha had acted the way he had last night. It was a complete mystery to her, but she didn't dwell on the question for long for she was called to do yet another task. "Girl, go to the garden and trim the trees and shrubs." Kagome nodded even though what she wanted to do was to take the shears and cut apart the person giving her orders.
Walking with a sulk in her step and hatred written clearer then day on her face she made her way slowly to the gardens in which she had been many times before. As she exited the building, she noticed the sun was sinking towards the horizon quickly. Soon it would be sunset and all she loved would be taken away from her. Kagome hacked savagely at the bushes that happened to be in front of her. All her anger and frustration went into each cut she took.
"Stupid, stupid. Idiot! How could I do that! When I knew! I knew…" The greenery stood no chance. Before she realized what she was doing, the poor thing had disappeared altogether only leaving a single little leaf.
Kagome looked horrorstruck at the damage she had inflicted the shrub. Quickly she looked around her to make sure no one was looking and attempted, in vain, to put the bush back together, or at least make it blend in with the other, luckier ones, around it. However, as fate would have it, nothing she did worked in the least.
Looking around franticly, Kagome spotted a hanging basked of flowers. As fluidly as she could, she grabbed it and placed it where the innocent shrub had once grown so healthy and beautifully. Arranging the flowers in such a way that it wouldn't attract unwanted attention, Kagome stood back to admire her work.
"It looks a bit choppy if you ask me." Spinning around on her heal, Kagome found herself looking into the eyes of Inuyasha.
"I never asked you opinion." Suddenly becoming defensive about her work even though she had to admit it did look a bit sad… "Though, I am sorry you feel that way." However, she wasn't sorry in the least. "Do you think you could do better?"
"Yeah, I do. But I can't. They'll kill me if I ruin these nails." He held up his hand to show his point, a smile on his face. "Although, they can screw themselves for all I care." He took the shears that hung loosely in Kagome's hand and began to cut the shrubs.
Kagome looked on, skepticism on her face as she watch the shrubs changed from overgrown blobs to neat little squares. When he finished and looked at her she put on a scowl. "Oddly, I'm beginning to not like you."
"Maybe that will be for the best…" he trailed off as he diverted his eyes away from Kagome. It hit her a little harder when he said that. Sure, it had been in her mind, but it never sunk in that they'd never have times like this again.
A speck of black and white caught her attention around Inuyasha's neck. Slowly she lifted her hand and pulled from beneath his collar a beaded necklace, a rosary, with fangs every fifth bead. Her fingers lingered on it as she looked up to the man wearing it. "So you never did take it off." Eyes gleaming in the sunlight as tears welled up.
She always had liked him when she was younger, even though she was forbidden, you can't ignore the person destined for you.
"Don't cry." A panicked expression flashed across Inuyasha's face as he noticed Kagome's gleaming eyes and a single tear streaming rapidly down her cheek. "Please…"
A/N: And there I end it for now. Don't worry, in another 5 months I'll have an update. Have no fear! Lol, no, I'll attempt to get one up sooner then that. Although I have to finish 5 other chapters for 5 other stories including A Broken Soul, an Unheard Scream…yeah, I'll get around to that one also. I apologize for my lack of updating all throughout the summer months when I had the most time on my hands and neglected to write a single word for this chapter…or even think about it for that matter. But you guys don't need to know that, now do you? Hope you liked this chapter though! I'm trying. I might actually be redoing this story and making a few changes…but not until I'm finished with it. Then I'll completely rewrite it. Don't worry about that now though, what you should worry about is what you're going to write in that review I know all of you will write, because if you don't…there will be consequences.