Disclaimer: Inu Yasha belongs to the great Rumiko Takahashi and a bunch of
other people, but sadly, not to me.
Inu Yasha: Who'd WANT to belong to you?
Otaku-Chan ^_~: See what I mean? ^_^;;
AN: Well, I'm neglecting my poor homework to write this next chapter, so I hope you all like it so far. I'd also like to thank those who've reviewed too. Believe it or not, I'm using the regular old word pad to type this up, and all of my other stories too, meaning I have NO spell checker, so I have my trusty dictionary at my side. I'm very picky about typos, so I reread a million times to get rid of them. So, as gratitude for all my hard work, review till yer' blue! lol, Anyway, I definitely like the Sesshy/Rin idea along with Inu Yasha/Kagome, but, they've been done...many, many times before. As this IS my story, I may change some things, perhaps even do a couple nobody has ever written seriously about (Sango/Sesshy?)...Also, Buyo is a youkai in this story, not just an average kitty ^_^. So, here goes. Enjoy!
~~~~~~ - Flashback.
Nogareru~Break Away
By Otaku-Chan ^_~
Chapter Two~Escape
"Souta, go get mama and grandpa and get to the shelter quickly! There's no time to waste!" Kagome rasped as another rack of coughs rolled violently through her chest.
Had it been daytime, the sky would probably still appear to be black from all of the hot, nauseating smoke that billowed from the huts that were set on fire by the invading taijiya. Ashes were everywhere in the thick, musty air, almost like a gray flurry of snow, which descended upon everything in its path. Many of Kinryoku's men and women were racing back and forth carrying water in whatever they could, desperately trying to extinguish the flames before the whole village was destroyed by the blaze. They weren't prepared for an attack of this scale.
The children and elderly were all scrambling to get into the underground shelter by the huge, ancient tree in the center of the village. Knowing that the taijiya and human-despising youkai couldn't be trusted in such a war tainted era, the shelter had been built in the case of such a situation. Camouflaged by a large platform-like structure made of dark green, twisted vines, grasses, and shrubbery, five of the village men pulled the strong hemp ropes attached to it, and also attached to a sturdy branch, to lift it away, revealing a pathway that went under the ground by the cavernous roots of the Goshinboku tree. Long, narrow wooden planks extended deep under the earth like a stairway, each one individually tied to the Goshinboku's roots for support. The tree's immense roots provided a stable ceiling as well, while in the heart of the dugout shelter were supplies such as food, medicinal herbs, and water. Another group of able bodied adults helped guide the young and old people down to safety through this route.
Kagome's mother, grandpa, and little brother Souta were among the mob of frightened people, and of course, her precious youkai neko, Buyo.
Amidst the shouts of dismay and chaos, Kagome found herself running to find a bow and some arrows. She would defend her village even at the risk of her own life. She felt she had to, regardless of the pain her family would suffer if she were to die. Then, as she spied the object of her search, she was suddenly knocked back onto her bottom. As she looked upward, she glanced at what appeared to be a miko on horseback, wearing the traditional red and white attire.
"From what my spies have described to me, you appear to be the one who is hiding the hanyou. If you give him to me without a fight, I will spare your life. However, should you wish to dishonor my request, I will not hesitate to shoot you with my arrows."
Kagome swallowed deeply as she stood up to the pale miko with long, jet black hair.
'Great...so the taijiya have stationed spies in our village as well...'
"My patience is thinning, girl. Where is the hanyou?" the miko asked again, a look of pure contempt on her face.
Kagome merely raised her bow and strung an arrow, pulling back until the pressure felt right. Aiming her arrow, she glared at the miko, "Even if I did know where he is, I would never tell a low life like you! I can't stand people who live by their hatred and disregard lives...be it a youkai's, or hanyou's...You have no right to decide their fates!"
A whizzing sound was heard as Kagome released the arrow, however, she soon realized that the miko before her was indeed very powerful. The arrow disintegrated before it could even mar the woman's seemingly perfect flesh.
"Hmph...child's play."
Then the miko strung her own arrow and aimed straight for the foolish girl's heart.
"Kagome, look out!"
The next thing Kagome knew, she was on the ground, covered by a warm body.
"K-Kiroku-Chan...wha..." Kagome stammered as she felt warm liquid drip onto her shoulder...blood?
The frightened young miko glanced down at her youkai friend, seeing the arrow protruding from her back, and realizing whose blood was dripping on her.
"I'm glad...you're safe...Kagome..."
Kagome stared in shock as the miko's arrow began to destroy Kiroku's youkai body. In a matter of seconds, her friend's remains were nothing more than dust.
"How...how could you?!" Kagome screamed as she felt a rage build inside of her. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she stood up and glared at the hateful woman before her.
"These new arrows are merely an example of our most recent technology to rid the earth of youkai filth."
After hearing those words, Kagome lost control of her emotions, and in a fit of rage and sorrow, she quickly picked up her bow, strung another arrow, and let the power wash over her. The arrow glowed with a deadly aura that the miko hadn't expected. As it ripped through the air, the woman tried to defend from it, but it was too late. It ran through her heart, causing her to fall from her horse, and continued going until it pierced a nearby tree. Kagome's heart was beating fast as her chest quickly raised up and down. She could feel her blood boil with an unknown power. Was this the true power of a miko?
'Kiroku-Chan...Why? Why did you sacrifice yourself to save me?'
Kagome fell to her knees and began to sob uncontrollably. Memories of her best friend flooded her mind as she was now filled with the overwhelming pain of loss.
~~~~~~
"Kagome-Chan! Come on! I have to show you this really great place!" an energetic girl called as she raced to the edge of the village. She had long, orange colored hair that she kept up in two high pig tails, pointy ears that signified she was a youkai, as well as a furry tail that was waving around excitedly. Her cheeks each had one red stripe, and, being a neko youkai, she also had very long, sharp claws.
Kagome quickly grabbed a small water bottle and ran to catch up to her exceedingly energetic friend.
"Souta, tell mom I'll be back a little later."
"Hai," replied her younger brother as he went back into their house.
As the two girls finally got caught up to each other, the neko sighed with content.
"Ne, Kiroku-Chan, where exactly is this place?"
The youkai smiled, "You'll see."
As they exited the village, Kagome began to feel a bit apprehensive. What if they were caught off guard by a taijiya, or worse yet, a youkai? Would Kiroku be able to defend her? She tried to shake the thoughts from her mind as she continued walking.
They traveled on a small path through the woods. The sun of the late afternoon was casting small speckles of wavering light on the two as the tree's leaves swayed in a gentle breeze.
Stepping over many shrubs and roots, they finally made it to a clearing. Kagome gasped in awe at the beautiful sight. A magnificent field of wild flowers is what greeted her curious gaze. Purples, yellows, reds, big and small. It certainly was a sight for sore eyes. Something so beautiful in such an ugly, war filled time. The field was surrounded by tall trees on all sides, almost as if they were protecting it.
"Wow! Kiroku-Chan, this place is so beautiful..."
"I knew you'd like it here. Sometimes it's good to escape from our hectic lives and just enjoy the beauty around us, don't you think?"
Kagome's face lit up with a warm smile. She knew she would cherish this place for as long as it existed.
"Arigatou, Kiroku-Chan."
~~~~~~
"Hey, wake up already..."
Kagome slowly opened her eyes, only to see golden eyes staring down at her. She suddenly sat up, realizing that her head was resting in Inu Yasha's warm lap. A small blush spread across her cheeks.
"Where am I?" she asked, feeling disoriented.
"My hideout," was the hanyou's gruff reply.
She looked around and noticed she was in a cave of some sort. The entrance was covered by vines on the outside, making it inconspicuous to any enemies. She could hear the pattering of rain as a gust of cool air came into the cave, causing the small fire there to flicker with brighter shades of blue, orange and yellow.
Kagome suddenly recalled everything that had happened...the raging flames, the strange miko on horseback, and most of all, Kiroku. As a fresh batch of tears began to build in her eyes, Inu Yasha reached out for her, embracing her in his strong arms to console her.
"Shhh...Don't cry, or you'll risk giving this spot away to the taijiya guards roaming about."
Kagome was surprised at how kindly the hanyou was treating her, and it only made her feel worse, because she didn't treat him very well when they first met. How could she have been nice to someone who was constantly threatening her? It was all too confusing.
"Please...let me go," she requested in a quiet, shy voice as she gently pushed away from him.
Inu Yasha looked at the girl closely. She was actually fairly attractive for a human female. Her scent was even pleasing, as he found most humans to reek of body odor, but she smelled like cherry blossoms in the spring. Her smooth, black hair traveled down to the middle of her back, and she had long bangs that came to a point in between her eyes. Yes, her eyes. Right now he could see the turmoil in those deep, grayish-blue pools. He had found her lying on the ground unconscious during the seizing of Kinryoku by the taijiya. Not wanting to leave her there to be killed, he brought her back here. After witnessing her little burst of power, he figured it'd be a good idea to keep her around.
However, he felt a pang of guilt. It was all his fault that this girl's village was destroyed and taken over by the taijiya. All because they wanted him.
Then Kagome's voice snapped him out of his reverie.
"What happened to Kinryoku...my family...are they?"
"The taijiya took over. It's all gone...," he began in a sympathetic voice, "they took all of the villagers that were left alive as slaves. I'm sure your family still lives."
"It's all your fault! And Rin shouldn't have been stupid enough to risk the safety of our village to save a jerk like you!" Kagome cried in a sudden out burst, but quickly covered her mouth with trembling hands. She suddenly felt incredibly guilty for her thoughtless words. Inu Yasha dropped his gaze to the floor, feeling hurt by her words, but knowing they were true.
"Inu Yasha...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like that, and especially after you saved my life. Forgive me. It's not like me to act this way, but after all that's happened...I guess I'm just a little stressed out."
"You're right. It is my fault. I was stupid enough to get caught by the taijiya in the first place. I suppose I'll have to fix this mess. It's the least I can do to make up for everything that you've been through," he said as he glanced up into Kagome's warm eyes again.
"I guess we should both help each other out...at least until my village and it's people can be saved. Then I'll take the rosary off of you. Do we have a deal?"
"Hai...but if you say that damn word again...," he warned before Kagome cut him off.
"I know, I know! I promise I won't say it."
She was feeling a little better about the whole situation. At least there was a good chance that her family was still alive, and Inu Yasha was actually acting nice. Then again, she didn't really know him. What kind of person was he? She had a feeling she would eventually find out.
"We'll leave here tomorrow."
Kagome looked at the hanyou, confused. Where would they go? No Place was safe anymore.
'I guess I should try to trust him...,' she thought as she curled up against the cool floor and tried to fall asleep. Then she heard a patting sound and opened her eyes to see Inu Yasha patting his lap, gesturing for her to rest her head there. Not in the mood to argue, she complied. After all, the floor wasn't very comfortable.
To Be Continued...
AN: Aww! That was a sweet scene ^.^ This chapter was kinda angsty, but tis' all part of the plot. Tell me whatcha think and review please!!!
Otaku-Chan ^_~
Inu Yasha: Who'd WANT to belong to you?
Otaku-Chan ^_~: See what I mean? ^_^;;
AN: Well, I'm neglecting my poor homework to write this next chapter, so I hope you all like it so far. I'd also like to thank those who've reviewed too. Believe it or not, I'm using the regular old word pad to type this up, and all of my other stories too, meaning I have NO spell checker, so I have my trusty dictionary at my side. I'm very picky about typos, so I reread a million times to get rid of them. So, as gratitude for all my hard work, review till yer' blue! lol, Anyway, I definitely like the Sesshy/Rin idea along with Inu Yasha/Kagome, but, they've been done...many, many times before. As this IS my story, I may change some things, perhaps even do a couple nobody has ever written seriously about (Sango/Sesshy?)...Also, Buyo is a youkai in this story, not just an average kitty ^_^. So, here goes. Enjoy!
~~~~~~ - Flashback.
Nogareru~Break Away
By Otaku-Chan ^_~
Chapter Two~Escape
"Souta, go get mama and grandpa and get to the shelter quickly! There's no time to waste!" Kagome rasped as another rack of coughs rolled violently through her chest.
Had it been daytime, the sky would probably still appear to be black from all of the hot, nauseating smoke that billowed from the huts that were set on fire by the invading taijiya. Ashes were everywhere in the thick, musty air, almost like a gray flurry of snow, which descended upon everything in its path. Many of Kinryoku's men and women were racing back and forth carrying water in whatever they could, desperately trying to extinguish the flames before the whole village was destroyed by the blaze. They weren't prepared for an attack of this scale.
The children and elderly were all scrambling to get into the underground shelter by the huge, ancient tree in the center of the village. Knowing that the taijiya and human-despising youkai couldn't be trusted in such a war tainted era, the shelter had been built in the case of such a situation. Camouflaged by a large platform-like structure made of dark green, twisted vines, grasses, and shrubbery, five of the village men pulled the strong hemp ropes attached to it, and also attached to a sturdy branch, to lift it away, revealing a pathway that went under the ground by the cavernous roots of the Goshinboku tree. Long, narrow wooden planks extended deep under the earth like a stairway, each one individually tied to the Goshinboku's roots for support. The tree's immense roots provided a stable ceiling as well, while in the heart of the dugout shelter were supplies such as food, medicinal herbs, and water. Another group of able bodied adults helped guide the young and old people down to safety through this route.
Kagome's mother, grandpa, and little brother Souta were among the mob of frightened people, and of course, her precious youkai neko, Buyo.
Amidst the shouts of dismay and chaos, Kagome found herself running to find a bow and some arrows. She would defend her village even at the risk of her own life. She felt she had to, regardless of the pain her family would suffer if she were to die. Then, as she spied the object of her search, she was suddenly knocked back onto her bottom. As she looked upward, she glanced at what appeared to be a miko on horseback, wearing the traditional red and white attire.
"From what my spies have described to me, you appear to be the one who is hiding the hanyou. If you give him to me without a fight, I will spare your life. However, should you wish to dishonor my request, I will not hesitate to shoot you with my arrows."
Kagome swallowed deeply as she stood up to the pale miko with long, jet black hair.
'Great...so the taijiya have stationed spies in our village as well...'
"My patience is thinning, girl. Where is the hanyou?" the miko asked again, a look of pure contempt on her face.
Kagome merely raised her bow and strung an arrow, pulling back until the pressure felt right. Aiming her arrow, she glared at the miko, "Even if I did know where he is, I would never tell a low life like you! I can't stand people who live by their hatred and disregard lives...be it a youkai's, or hanyou's...You have no right to decide their fates!"
A whizzing sound was heard as Kagome released the arrow, however, she soon realized that the miko before her was indeed very powerful. The arrow disintegrated before it could even mar the woman's seemingly perfect flesh.
"Hmph...child's play."
Then the miko strung her own arrow and aimed straight for the foolish girl's heart.
"Kagome, look out!"
The next thing Kagome knew, she was on the ground, covered by a warm body.
"K-Kiroku-Chan...wha..." Kagome stammered as she felt warm liquid drip onto her shoulder...blood?
The frightened young miko glanced down at her youkai friend, seeing the arrow protruding from her back, and realizing whose blood was dripping on her.
"I'm glad...you're safe...Kagome..."
Kagome stared in shock as the miko's arrow began to destroy Kiroku's youkai body. In a matter of seconds, her friend's remains were nothing more than dust.
"How...how could you?!" Kagome screamed as she felt a rage build inside of her. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she stood up and glared at the hateful woman before her.
"These new arrows are merely an example of our most recent technology to rid the earth of youkai filth."
After hearing those words, Kagome lost control of her emotions, and in a fit of rage and sorrow, she quickly picked up her bow, strung another arrow, and let the power wash over her. The arrow glowed with a deadly aura that the miko hadn't expected. As it ripped through the air, the woman tried to defend from it, but it was too late. It ran through her heart, causing her to fall from her horse, and continued going until it pierced a nearby tree. Kagome's heart was beating fast as her chest quickly raised up and down. She could feel her blood boil with an unknown power. Was this the true power of a miko?
'Kiroku-Chan...Why? Why did you sacrifice yourself to save me?'
Kagome fell to her knees and began to sob uncontrollably. Memories of her best friend flooded her mind as she was now filled with the overwhelming pain of loss.
~~~~~~
"Kagome-Chan! Come on! I have to show you this really great place!" an energetic girl called as she raced to the edge of the village. She had long, orange colored hair that she kept up in two high pig tails, pointy ears that signified she was a youkai, as well as a furry tail that was waving around excitedly. Her cheeks each had one red stripe, and, being a neko youkai, she also had very long, sharp claws.
Kagome quickly grabbed a small water bottle and ran to catch up to her exceedingly energetic friend.
"Souta, tell mom I'll be back a little later."
"Hai," replied her younger brother as he went back into their house.
As the two girls finally got caught up to each other, the neko sighed with content.
"Ne, Kiroku-Chan, where exactly is this place?"
The youkai smiled, "You'll see."
As they exited the village, Kagome began to feel a bit apprehensive. What if they were caught off guard by a taijiya, or worse yet, a youkai? Would Kiroku be able to defend her? She tried to shake the thoughts from her mind as she continued walking.
They traveled on a small path through the woods. The sun of the late afternoon was casting small speckles of wavering light on the two as the tree's leaves swayed in a gentle breeze.
Stepping over many shrubs and roots, they finally made it to a clearing. Kagome gasped in awe at the beautiful sight. A magnificent field of wild flowers is what greeted her curious gaze. Purples, yellows, reds, big and small. It certainly was a sight for sore eyes. Something so beautiful in such an ugly, war filled time. The field was surrounded by tall trees on all sides, almost as if they were protecting it.
"Wow! Kiroku-Chan, this place is so beautiful..."
"I knew you'd like it here. Sometimes it's good to escape from our hectic lives and just enjoy the beauty around us, don't you think?"
Kagome's face lit up with a warm smile. She knew she would cherish this place for as long as it existed.
"Arigatou, Kiroku-Chan."
~~~~~~
"Hey, wake up already..."
Kagome slowly opened her eyes, only to see golden eyes staring down at her. She suddenly sat up, realizing that her head was resting in Inu Yasha's warm lap. A small blush spread across her cheeks.
"Where am I?" she asked, feeling disoriented.
"My hideout," was the hanyou's gruff reply.
She looked around and noticed she was in a cave of some sort. The entrance was covered by vines on the outside, making it inconspicuous to any enemies. She could hear the pattering of rain as a gust of cool air came into the cave, causing the small fire there to flicker with brighter shades of blue, orange and yellow.
Kagome suddenly recalled everything that had happened...the raging flames, the strange miko on horseback, and most of all, Kiroku. As a fresh batch of tears began to build in her eyes, Inu Yasha reached out for her, embracing her in his strong arms to console her.
"Shhh...Don't cry, or you'll risk giving this spot away to the taijiya guards roaming about."
Kagome was surprised at how kindly the hanyou was treating her, and it only made her feel worse, because she didn't treat him very well when they first met. How could she have been nice to someone who was constantly threatening her? It was all too confusing.
"Please...let me go," she requested in a quiet, shy voice as she gently pushed away from him.
Inu Yasha looked at the girl closely. She was actually fairly attractive for a human female. Her scent was even pleasing, as he found most humans to reek of body odor, but she smelled like cherry blossoms in the spring. Her smooth, black hair traveled down to the middle of her back, and she had long bangs that came to a point in between her eyes. Yes, her eyes. Right now he could see the turmoil in those deep, grayish-blue pools. He had found her lying on the ground unconscious during the seizing of Kinryoku by the taijiya. Not wanting to leave her there to be killed, he brought her back here. After witnessing her little burst of power, he figured it'd be a good idea to keep her around.
However, he felt a pang of guilt. It was all his fault that this girl's village was destroyed and taken over by the taijiya. All because they wanted him.
Then Kagome's voice snapped him out of his reverie.
"What happened to Kinryoku...my family...are they?"
"The taijiya took over. It's all gone...," he began in a sympathetic voice, "they took all of the villagers that were left alive as slaves. I'm sure your family still lives."
"It's all your fault! And Rin shouldn't have been stupid enough to risk the safety of our village to save a jerk like you!" Kagome cried in a sudden out burst, but quickly covered her mouth with trembling hands. She suddenly felt incredibly guilty for her thoughtless words. Inu Yasha dropped his gaze to the floor, feeling hurt by her words, but knowing they were true.
"Inu Yasha...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like that, and especially after you saved my life. Forgive me. It's not like me to act this way, but after all that's happened...I guess I'm just a little stressed out."
"You're right. It is my fault. I was stupid enough to get caught by the taijiya in the first place. I suppose I'll have to fix this mess. It's the least I can do to make up for everything that you've been through," he said as he glanced up into Kagome's warm eyes again.
"I guess we should both help each other out...at least until my village and it's people can be saved. Then I'll take the rosary off of you. Do we have a deal?"
"Hai...but if you say that damn word again...," he warned before Kagome cut him off.
"I know, I know! I promise I won't say it."
She was feeling a little better about the whole situation. At least there was a good chance that her family was still alive, and Inu Yasha was actually acting nice. Then again, she didn't really know him. What kind of person was he? She had a feeling she would eventually find out.
"We'll leave here tomorrow."
Kagome looked at the hanyou, confused. Where would they go? No Place was safe anymore.
'I guess I should try to trust him...,' she thought as she curled up against the cool floor and tried to fall asleep. Then she heard a patting sound and opened her eyes to see Inu Yasha patting his lap, gesturing for her to rest her head there. Not in the mood to argue, she complied. After all, the floor wasn't very comfortable.
To Be Continued...
AN: Aww! That was a sweet scene ^.^ This chapter was kinda angsty, but tis' all part of the plot. Tell me whatcha think and review please!!!
Otaku-Chan ^_~