A/N: Enjoy the next installment and leave a review. What do you all think?^^
Enjoy
o.O.o
Chapter Twenty-One, Bursting through the door
The sky was coloured like a tiger, bands of gold alternated with patches of the deepest brown-black, the pattern changing by the minute. The sun was sinking behind the mountains and after several days filled with rain, the change in weather was greatly appreciated. The little group of shard hunters had made camp for the night, after a long day of travelling to the West. Inuyasha had been in a constant bad mood, still unable to use the heavier Tetsusaiga and their quest for Shikon-No-Tama shards wasn't going well either. The ever elusive Naraku had once again hidden his locations somewhere else.
The sun settled lower in the sky behind the trees, a long shade of evening creep along the shore of the hot spring and up the lower flanks of the hills ahead of them. Chiharu Higurashi gazed at her hands as the water of the river swallowed them up till her wrists. A stubborn stain on the wooden bowl mocked her silently and she ground her jaws together. Her eyebrows furrowed and the water sloshed wetly against her arms. Her Miko garbs hung on a line tightly bound between two trees, water dripping softly onto the forest floor. The t-shirt and her boy-shorts, already drenched from her several attempts to clean all their dirty dishes, clung to her body and she sighed. At least the water was warm she thought dryly as she dropped the bowl next to her and sunk her feet into the hot water of the hot spring.
Shippō glanced at her from across the water, his cheeks puffed up and his nose only inches above the warm liquid. Their constant need to be clean and their appreciation of warm water seemed to be rubbing off on him.
"You shouldn't stay too long in the water, Shippō-chan." She told him lightly. "If you'll do you'll turn into a prune."
"Kagome-chan was in there much longer and she doesn't look like a prune!" Shippō declared childishly, wiggling his finger above the water and paddled through the water happily.
"Well, there goes my back up." Chiharu muttered, packing their bowls into Kagome's huge backpack and glanced at the other two girls. "Don't you think we should head back?"
"Not yet, Chiharu-chan." Sango said, also submerged in the hot water. She had a towel wrapped around her form even in the water and she slowly crossed the hot spring. "Why are you wearing that?"
"I don't have a spare yukata," she answered, "so until my clothes dry, I wear this."
Sango frowned, fingers pulling at the hem of Chiharu's t-shirt, which was at least one size too big and shook her head. "Not that I don't think you look pretty in these clothes, but they are far too big on you."
"There's nothing wrong with my pyjama. Except that they're drenched that is." The older Higurashi sister huffed, yanking her brush through her thick dark tresses.
"I think Sango-chan thinks they're indecent." Chiharu goaded splashing some water to her older sister with her foot.
"No, no!" Sango yelped quickly, a bit too quickly. "I didn't say that—"
"Of course she has a point," Chiharu continued and Kagome pursed her lips before dropping her brush to the floor and sitting back on her haunches. "They protect my modesty well enough at our home, but here— Here that's different, isn't it?"
"What are you saying, Imouto-san?" Kagome asked slowly. "I wear them every night, and Sango never comments on them."
Sango was opening and closing her mouth like a fish, her face beet-red and spluttering to find something to say. Chiharu didn't let her, continuing effortlessly. "Well, I suppose we are used to you running around dressed indecently."
"That's it you little pest!" the older hissed, getting to her feet and Chiharu laughed when she dodged a bar of soap and Kagome grabbed her shampoo bottle to throw next. When she was out of flying missiles, she growled and threw herself bodily at her younger sister. They both squeaked when they toppled back into the water and burst up into air.
She playfully swatted at her sister and Sango frowned.
"And now the both of you are drenched, how lovely is that." She said, her lips strained as if she tried to look stern but couldn't help laughing. It took her long enough to realise they were teasing her. "It serves the both of you right for doing that to me."
"You should have seen your face, Sango-chan." Kagome hiccuped lightly. "I forgot how much fun it is to push people."
"Oh, you think it is fun, huh?" Sango demanded swatting them both with the end of her towel.
"I'm sorry, Sango-chan." Chiharu choked out, failing in keeping from laughing. "It was something we did sometimes to our friends at school. We won't do it again."
"Not tonight at least," Kagome whispered and Chiharu grinned. Sango flicked her dark brown hair over her shoulder and turned back towards her pink yukata. They bathed in silence after that.
Her dark hair still damp when they started to pack their stuff. The blueish sky was slowly being tainted crimson and a soft breeze brushed over the lands. The days were becoming longer and the nights shorter. Spring was approaching, yet the nights were still cool.
A twig snapped from behind the bushes and Chiharu frowned.
"That bloody monk," Sango muttered annoyed before stooping low and chucking a stone at the bushes. "Miroku, if you don't bugger up right now, it won't be just a stone I throw at you!"
Chiharu pulled her haori from the washing line and slipped it over her shoulders, wrapping it around her like a morning gown and took one of Sango's knives, her own weapons at the other side of the Hot spring. Whoever was coming their way it was not Miroku and she blew a lock of hair out of her face. This person, obviously yōkai, did not have an aura and Chiharu frowned. She knew of only one person who didn't have an aura and that was—
The hairs on the back of her neck lifted, hunting gooseflesh over her arms and legs, causing Chiharu to shiver. As if blinking into existence, Sesshōmaru's form materialised before them, the foliage rustling behind him, as he stepped out the bushes. He was imposing, a subtle grace in his movements and his mere presence quietened the forest. Cold golden eyes clashed with Chiharu's chocolate brown and cobalt blue and she felt a tingle dun down her spine.
"Sesshōmaru?"
His eyes narrowed at her and for a fearful second, Chiharu thought he must have found out about the sword. With a tingle of fear, she took a step back, inching towards her bow and arrows. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Sango take a tight hold on her boomerang-bone and slowly, carefully shook her head. 'Don't,' she mouthed at the older girl and although reluctantly, the slayer lowered the weapon a bit.
"Miko,"
"What does he want?" Shippō whispered as he inched towards Kagome and hid behind her.
"I don't know, Shippō-chan." Kagome answered, her face crinkled with distaste.
He didn't seem extremely angry, nor did she think he was upset. Her eyes flitted towards the katana next to her bow and arrows and she fidgeted in her place. "Erm, do you need something?"
"Hn,"
She shuddered as she felt a flux of demonic energy flooded her senses and Chiharu peered up at the infamous Daiyōkai with worried eyes. He took a step towards her and the young Miko licked her dry lips and firmly gripped at the material of her haori.
"Come," he beckoned calmly.
Chiharu breathed out loudly. "I don't understand—"
Sango's hand was an inch from the tasselled handhold of her boomerang-bone, about to throw it and suddenly Sesshōmaru was standing on the large weapon, pushing the Taijiya back by the pure force of youki. "You will not interfere, Taijiya." He told her silkily.
"The hell I will!" She snapped, but Chiharu easily recognised the terror in her voice. Sango rolled towards her slayer's outfit and pulled a palm length dagger out. "Don't you dare come any closer."
"You don't really think this Sesshōmaru is afraid of you?" The Daiyōkai asked dryly, before peering at Chiharu again. "You are coming with me, Miko."
She didn't have time to respond as suddenly the branches of trees creaked when Inuyasha appeared. He growled angrily perching on a nearby low hanging branch. "Sesshōmaru, what the fuck are you doing here, you arsehole?"
"Little brother," Sesshōmaru greeted him lightly, but Chiharu easily recognised the disdain in his voice.
Inuyasha bared his fangs in a silent snarl as he glared fiercely at his older brother. His finger crooked around the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "I said, what the fuck are you doing here, you arsehole?"
Chiharu sucked her lips and gnawed at her lower lip in speculation, pondering silently what Sesshōmaru wanted. Surely, Inuyasha insulting him wouldn't go over well and she regarded the Daiyōkai as he suddenly neared. Inuyasha was on the forest-floor, charging at his older brother suddenly.
Sesshōmaru dodged the younger man and twirled around on his toes before thrusting the hilt of Tōkijin in Inuyasha's face. Inuyasha cried out as he slammed into the dirt. He moved faster than her eyes could follow and appeared behind her. She wasn't surprised and the fingers of her right hand curled tightly around the dull knife. Chiharu didn't move, peering at the moonlight glinting off the leaves on the trees and the scrubby grass in the small clearing.
"What do you want from her?" Inuyasha asked swiftly getting to his feet.
Sesshōmaru snorted, one hand wrapped tightly around her shoulder. "That's unusually quick of you, little brother. Miko, drop the knife."
Chiharu carefully peered over her shoulder. "Why don't you tell me what you want from me? You don't really have the best track-record when you're actions are considered."
"You will see, but it would be better if you came out of your own volition."
"Like it matters if I come out of my own volition or not."
His mouth stretched into an evil smile her fingers tightened even more around the pocketknife. Inuyasha charged at his brother again. Chiharu gasped, twirled into the Daiyōkai's grasp, embedded the knife into his wrist and used her holy power to push him back. She barely dodged the Hanyō as he threw himself at his older brother. Sesshōmaru seemed more annoyed than was strictly necessary, a thin trail of blood running down his hand as he pulled the knife out.
She could tell it was already healing as he held Inuyasha off. Tetsusaiga was too heavy and his moved obvious when he could hardly lift his father's fang. Chiharu winced when Sesshōmaru's embedded the blade of his sword in the Hanyō's shoulder and used his other hand to hold of Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha's grip on the sword slacked and Tetsusaiga's transformation faded.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed loudly.
The Hanyō was on his knees panting now. Blood was soaking his sleeve and the side of his haori. "You're an arsehole." He choked and Sesshōmaru narrowing his golden eyes in mild vexation. He slowly raised his sword and Chiharu felt cold terror run through her. He was going to kill his younger brother.
"Stop!" she demanded, her voice clear and cold, despite the terror she felt. Slowly the tall Daiyōkai turned his face to hers and Chiharu crossed her arms over her chest. "If I go with you, without a fight whatsoever, will you leave my friends alone? You can't really expect them to stand back when you come here unannounced."
He held her gaze, his hand tightening even more around Tōkijin's hilt and finally he nodded at her. The tall Daiyōkai slowly stepped back, sheathing his sword once again.
"Don't!" Kagome cried loudly and Chiharu squeezed her eyes shut.
Chiharu released the breath she was holding and turned to her sister. 'I will be fine,' she mouthed to the older girl. She saw her terrified eyes as he wrapped an arm around her waist and bounced off of the ground. She gulped, fingers gripping his kimono tightly and stared over his shoulder. Inuyasha was cursing loudly, but as they ascended her friends started to resemble ants more than actual humans and yōkai.
She noticed blood spots on his sleeve and she swallowed. He didn't seem horribly annoyed by it and as they flew he didn't say a word. Till now she'd only ever travelled by herself or once or twice on Inuyasha's back — mostly when they fought, therefore she wasn't really used to heights. Or at least not the kind of heights that brought you 200 hundredth feet off the ground.
She shifted nervously in his hold. He hadn't dropped her the last time and, although that hardly guaranteed her safety, she slowly relaxed the firm grip she had on him. Her hair flailed around her face and she carefully peered around. The light of the moon reflected softly off of the surface of a river below and she was slightly surprised how impressive the sight was from here. She could only imagine this was how travelling with an airplane felt (although that probably felt a bit safer than this) and looped her arm a bit more comfortable around his neck, craning hers to get a better look. She heard Sesshōmaru sigh when he had to adjust his hold on her, but she paid him no heed. She had never been this high up and she was definitely awed.
I-I. ⌡. Γ┐
When they landed almost an hour later, the moon had risen to sky's zenith. The girl had her arms wrapped tightly around her upper body, face pale limbs shaking lightly. She seemed to be cold and glowered at him from the corners of her eyes. He hadn't thought she'd been annoyed when they had been flying but now she looked much like a sulking child.
The girl had been blissfully silent during their brief journey. She merely kept peering around as he skimmed over the treetops. He'd heard her more than once gasp at the landscape as it passed and he'd been reminded that even though she looked like a young woman she very much was still a child.
A sulking child.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked softly, peering around the forest. He assumed she was searching for recognisable parts. He could spare her the trouble. They were far into his lands and he was absolutely sure she'd never been here. If she had she would have accompanied his over zealous brother and Sesshōmaru would have known if the Half-breed had trespassed.
"I need your—" he thought carefully about his next words. She was rather patiently waiting for him to continue and he wondered how foolishly naive she was to still believe in the good in others. Why else coming so willingly with someone who'd hurt her before. "I need your expertise." He decided on and he watched the gears in her brain work.
She was rather clever for a human. His golden eyes flitted over her small form and he frowned. The girl was barely dressed, her under clothes hardly adequate to ward of the chill of the night and the Miko haori barely reaching past her calves. Perhaps he should have allowed her to get dressed.
He peered at her again, wondering lightly if she would catch a cold now too. The Miko peered up at him through her thick lashes. The silent question why he'd requested her aid hung unspoken in the air.
He ignored her for a moment, following the narrow path in the tall grass and paused when he reached the hollowed out cave in the tall mountain. The girl stopped next to him, her eyes taking longer to adjust to the darkness than his did.
His companions were huddled around a dim fire, the embers were already dimming. His young ward Rin was not fairing well, her face flushed and her body quivering. It looked eve worse than it had a few hours ago, when he'd left to find the Miko girl.
The Miko gasped softly, he watched her eyes widen. "A girl?"
He'd half expected her to turn to him with suspicious eyes, but she didn't wait for him to answer and crossed the cave, crouching down beside his young ward. Jaken glowered at her from the other side of the cave, the skilfully carved staff, crowned with heads of a young woman and an old man shuddered into his hands as he shifted.
The girl payed him no mind and carefully brushed Rin's dark fringe away from her forehead and placed her head gently against her cheeks and then against her forehead. The little human girl slowly peered up through half-lidded eyes. Eyebrows furrowed together when she didn't recognise the girl looking down at her.
"Hello, sweetie," the Miko whispered, "my name is Chiharu, what's yours?"
"Rin,"
"Hello Rin, you have a bit of a fever, kiddo, tell me what are you feeling?" She asked, pulling the bowl filled with cold water to her and sponged the girl's forehead. Rin moaned softly, eyelashes fluttering against her flushed cheeks and the Miko ran her fingers slowly through the tangled mass of the small child's locks.
"My muscles hurt," Rin whispered softly, craning her neck slightly to curiously peer into the Miko's face. The girl on her part seemed enough of a healer to understand getting up wasn't an option and carefully pushed Rin back on her tatami. The Miko slanted her arms across her chest, digging her fingers into the sleeves of her haori and turned to look at Sesshōmaru.
"How long has she been like this?"
"Since yesterday,"
She looked thoughtful for a moment, a slight knit in her brow. Her hair tumbled freely down her back and shoulders and with her clothing leaving little to the imagination he would admit she looked rather fetching. Then again, he'd never been ignorant to the beauty mortals could have, even if he thought himself immune for them. His father's human had been beautiful too.
"All right," she whispered, and he blinked, mildly irritated that he left his mind wandering. She rubbed her hands together, turning fully towards Sesshōmaru. "She has the flu. Or at least I think it is the flu. She needs to stay hydrated and well I think some painkillers and tea against the aches would help."
"No bloodletting?" Jaken suddenly asked and the girl gave him a long look.
"You're not serious are you?"
"I've seen you humans do it." The greenish yōkai muttered defensively and the girl rolled her eyes.
"Right," she muttered, "well, it's frowned upon by several Medici so no, we're not going to bleed the girl out. God in this time, medical practicers are insane."
The girl shivered again and slowly leaned back on her haunches. "Listen she needs a lot of rest, keep her cool. Replace the cloth on her forehead ever thirty minutes and I could go and find some herbs—" she shivered again and he sighed, cutting her off with an annoyed look.
"Where are your clothes, Miko?"
"Drying back at the campsite." She told him curtly, wrapping her haori close around her body, but it did little to vent of the cold of the night. "I'm going to get the herbs before it starts raining again." She continued, wrapping her arms around her abdomen she got up to her feet and started walk out of the cave.
Sesshōmaru didn't move and she glared again. "Man this time are pigs." She whispered angrily and although he supposed he should take offence on that, he found it slightly amusing when she stomped outside.
Rin coughed again. Sesshōmaru studied his young ward carefully. The shimmering haze of the campfire brought out her pale face, and accentuated her flushed cheeks. He listened a few seconds to her erratic heartbeat before following the Miko out. It would be just his luck if his only means of understanding humans would die outside.
I-I. ⌡. Γ┐
The fact that he had sought her out specifically somewhat surprised her. He'd known she travelled with his brother and she knew how much Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha hated each other. So why seek out her? Then again, she did have a bond with him. With a scowl she glared at her bare feet and puffed her cheeks up. Why couldn't she have dressed herself when she had the chance? Chiharu peered at the treetops through her lashes. Although she couldn't hear his footsteps, she could sense he was there. For once he didn't seem to feel the need to conceal the immense weight of his aura, cooly brushing against her skin.
She pulled out clods of mint with more force than was strictly necessary and felt a muscle in her temple twitch as dirt rained down onto her knees and on the hem of her shorts. Dropping them with the rest of the medicinal herbs, she sighed.
'Why couldn't he just seek her out the way he normally did?'
If he had no one would have been the wiser and he wouldn't have had to hurt Inuyasha the way he did. Her shoulders sagged and she slowly got up to her feet. She'd found most of the important herbs and slowly made her way back to the cave.
It had started to rain and she quickened her pace. When she stepped into the cave Sesshōmaru was already there, dry without even a hair out of place. Shooting a sullen glare at the Daiyōkai's pale, majestic figure, she quietly added the leaves to a bowl of water and carefully inched towards the quivering girl.
"Honey, I need you to open your eyes for me." Chiharu softly explained and Rin slowly peered up at her. "Can you drink this for me?"
Lightening shot through the sky and Chiharu winced slightly. Rin's eyes flitted towards the cave's entrance, but being as sick as she was she didn't seem to recognise the thunder and carefully accepted the bowl. The girl drank the contents silently, her nose scrunched up as she encountered the bitter taste. Though horrible the taste might be, at least the girl would sleep on it. Chiharu watched Rin's eyes droop and gently ran her fingers through the child's unruly hair. She gave a huge yawn and Chiharu sat next to her until her breathing turned even. With far more energy that it should cost she heaved herself up and slowly tracked to one side of the cave.
She tiredly collapsed to the floor and hugged her legs to her chest. Her hair messily framed her face and her damp haori clung to her figure. She was cold and tired and wanted to curl up in her sleeping bag, but that wasn't really an option.
Sesshōmaru was looking at her. She felt his eyes constantly on her. She heard him get up to his feet, heard the swish of silk as he moved and peered curiously up at him as he crouched down before her.
He crouched down before her. She peered up at him slowly and he realised it was the first time she didn't look frightened and he was almost surprised. The brown and blue of her irises curiously met his gaze and he was once again reminded why he'd thought her to be interesting. He caught her chin between his fingers and the pad of his thumb stroked carefully across her lower lip and her eyelids fluttered.
"I like the girl," she told him softly, and as he pulled his hand back she caught it in hers. Large eyes stared back at him and he was strangely reminded of an older version of Rin. "I don't know how you and she came to travel together, but she's nice!"
He was slightly surprised with her when her fingers absentmindedly traced over his markings. His nostrils twitched at the slight tickle it produced, yet the girl seemed totally unaware of doing it. "What are you going on about?"
She pursed her lips. "I just don't really understand it—"
He didn't ask her what she didn't understand. He didn't really care, he didn't really mind. He knew what she meant even when she didn't say it out loud. Why taking care of a human, but hating the Hanyō disgrace. The girl would never really understand. His youki brushed over her reiki. He could easily detect the youki running dormant through her system. Her hand fell away, dropping on her knee and he got up to his feet. She released a heavy breath and curled up on her side, pillowing her head on her arms. He heard it when she fell asleep, her heartbeat steady and her breathing deep and even.
The rain came down in gentle waves, the gravity of the raindrops creating a rhythmic sound. Rin's quivering lessened after a few hours and her breathing turned more even, while her heartbeat less erratic. Instead the Miko had started quivering. He gave her a tired look from his spot against the wall and after observing the girl for a few minutes he slowly rose and crossed the short distance between them. Settling down next to the quivering Miko against the wall, and pulled against his side. She stirred in his hold and he felt himself stiffen. He hoped she would remain sleeping, as her eyelashes fluttered. Her breath puffed against his neckline, but after a few seconds she sighed and snuggled against him. With a soft exhale, she fell back in her deep slumber, still and peaceful. He peered at her face and frowned, a human and a Miko, what strange combination they were. Her lashes fluttered again as his breath fell onto her cheeks and his eyes fell upon her slightly parted lips. The same lips his brother had tasted first.
I-I. ⌡. Γ┐
Chiharu woke up later, warm and comfortable. The world was a watery blur and her surroundings were hidden in the twilight. The rain had stopped and the moon, hanging high in the sky, peeked out behind a cloud. Pale streams of soft pure light fell in through the cave opening and scattered across the cold stones. Chiharu blinked against the pale light, disorientated and tired. Silver hair gleaming in the light of the moon, fell on her cheek and over her shoulder. The side of her face was pressed against his unarmoured chest and her hair messily framing her head. After a few bewildered moments, she realised how she'd come here. It was still dark outside, but it had stopped raining. They were sitting together on the floor of the cave, his companions all asleep, although he was not.
Chiharu felt her face redden and she slowly extracted herself from his side. Her heart was thumping hard and fast and she aggressively rubbed at her eyes.
"You kissed my brother."
Chiharu sighed. Of course she had sensed him at one point that evening, but she hadn't realised he had stayed long enough to witness that. She slowly moved a bit further away from him, but kept close enough to feel his body heat radiating off of him.
"He was drunk."
Sesshōmaru snorted. "So where you."
"Yes," she admitted. "So that means it doesn't count. Though, even if it did, why do you care?"
The light in his eyes grew murderous. Abruptly, he lowered his head, so that their faces were mere inches apart. Slender brows were furrowed and she felt his warm breath on her lips. Chiharu's breath got stuck in her throat as she peered back into his heated gaze.
To be continued…
A/N:And that was chapter twenty-two. I hope everyone enjoyed it and stay tuned for the next one. Huhuhuh, it's almost like a cliffhanger...