A/N: And here we go; chapter 45! Enjoy^^
o.O.o
Chapter Forty-Five, A Perfectible Death
Chiharu slept uneasily that night, tossing and turning, rolling over on her stomach and her back so often her hair was closely resembling a bird's nest when she sat up and breathed out irritatedly. Apart from her uneasy breathing, the only sound audible was of her campmates' snores and the occasional grunt. Even Inuyasha, who had always been determined to stay awake and keep watch, lay slumped down against a tree, fast asleep. The embers of the campfire were smouldering and crackling, the orange light fading in the deep twilight of the night. The half-moon stood high in the sky, filtering a soft silvery glow out over the landscape. The group of shard hunters had set up camp in a dense part of the forest, only a few miles away from the Eastern mountains. Sesshōmaru thought it was in the Eastern territory the human-turned-yōkai had hidden. Inuyasha seemed to agree, although Chiharu wasn't sure if that had more to do with not knowing where else to look than any belief in Sesshōmaru's tracking.
Exhaling, she rolled on her side and settled her arm below her head.
In the distance, Chiharu heard the sound of what must have been soldiers crossing the land, fighting for whatever Daimyō was ruling these parts of Japan and she amused herself with listening to their silly war cries. It probably was a horrible thing to do, listening in to people who might die for their country and their believe, but after seeing so much war sites, pain and death she had started to become slightly immune to them.
She would have done almost anything to distract herself from Sesshōmaru but ever so often her eyes would flit back to the Daiyōkai's still from. Light of the moon had painted the world in a silvery glow, casting a reflective sheen over his hair and glimmering off his breastplate. She'd always thought the dark, harsh metal of his spiked, plated-armour along with his horrible One sword hardened his otherwise almost ethereal image. Looking at his relaxed face (even though she knew he wasn't sleeping) she felt a stab of fury make its way through her.
"You are just a human," he'd stated at her and she snorted. 'Human'; she hadn't been human since the moment he marked her almost two years ago. Cautiously, she peered at his face. Sesshōmaru's eyes were closed even though at every sound his ears would twitch. She dragged her gaze over his form and pursed her lips. She hadn't even been aware that she'd entertained the idea of her and him together and something squeezed her heart tightly.
She hadn't even considered naming what she felt for him as love, but now—
Perhaps she did. But more importantly, she would have to stop. Of course, it wasn't so easy. Her face flushed when she suddenly remembered what Inuyasha had said. 'I sometimes wish that I met you first.'
Inuyasha was her friend. Possibly, her best friend and she loved him dearly.
Perhaps, she would have felt differently if she'd met him first as well and groaning softly, she ran her hands through her hair. Rubbing her fingers against her temples, she slowly extracted herself from her sleeping bag, kicking it away (although she did take extra care to not disturb her friends) and tiptoed to the edge of the clearing. Picking up her bow, quiver and katana she moved away from the campsite, feet light on the frozen forest floor. She went through the motions of concealing her aura, Reiki and tried (and hopefully managed) to cloak her scent.
The work-out felt heavenly. Every time she lodged an arrow in a branch she aimed for, she felt a stab of satisfaction and fantasised it was Sesshōmaru's head instead of a piece of wood. Not once did she enchant an arrow, not willing to start making new ones so soon when she grew bored with her archery, she started to go through the motions of sword art, twirling around and slashing the air as if fighting an invisible enemy. The wonders about an invisible enemy were that in her imagination, she would fight the strongest allies and always won. It was enjoyable for a good few hours, until a streak of light started in the east, stretching shadows appearing and twilight moving away.
Breathing out loudly, she returned to their campsite, the grip on the strap of her quiver tightened fractionally. There was a slight sheen of perspiration on the back of her neck, dampening her hair and sticking it tightly to the skin. It made Sesshōmaru's cold, searching gaze even harder to ignore, but she met his shadowed gaze unflinchingly.
"You're staring, Miko."
"Is there a law saying I can't do that?" She whispered back, knowing in full he'd heard her perfectly. "I—"
He regarded her coolly and she swallowed.
"I don't understand." She finally decided on. "Why did you lie to me?"
"I did never lie to you," Sesshōmaru returned chillingly, drawing himself up to a standing position and she snorted.
"You can lie with actions just as well as you can lie with words, Sesshōmaru." She retorted irritatedly. "Your actions bely your words."
"Sometimes I fail to remember that you are too young to understand the difference between emotional attachment or pleasure." He returned coolly and traced her cheek with the rough pad of his thumb. Cheeks that must have blazed with embarrassment and she took a step back.
"Whatever, Sesshōmaru." She muttered, ignoring the liquid fury that ran through her veins and turned her back to him. She couldn't take out her anger on him. She wouldn't be able to win nor would it damage the shaky truce they'd established.
She felt his amber eyes following her as she moved across the clearing and Chiharu's hand self-consciously went to the necklace with the jewel shards around her neck. They glimmered dimly, partly muted by Naraku's influence and sat down with her back to him, running her fingers slowly through Shippō's sandy hair. He'd snuggled into her sleeping bag, his cheeks dusted a soft pink and his mouth slightly agape. Both him and Rin looked so innocent and small when asleep. She remained with her back turned towards the Daiyōkai the rest of the early morning until the others were roused by the twittering of the birds. Bright daylight, rays of dawn, crept over the horizon and Inuyasha jumped from his perch at the foot of the high tree.
"We have to go!" He snapped, ignoring Sesshōmaru's cold glare even though his ears fluttered against his skull. "We need to be ready when Naraku tries something again."
"If that is what you're waiting for then we only have to wait." Chiharu dryly commented. "After all, he wants the Shikon shards we carry. He's bound to come looking for us eventually."
"Unwise," Sesshōmaru stoically replied and Chiharu glared at him irritably, "if he comes to us on his terms, he'll be prepared. Playing on your weaknesses."
"Fine," Chiharu retorted sweetly, "then we'll keep on going into circles."
"What is up with them?" She heard Shippo whisper nervously to Run who shook her head with wide eyes. Inuyasha was looking between them as if he was following a difficult tennis match and Chiharu averted her eyes.
They continued along the narrow path in silence, her fingers of her left hand tightly wrapped around her upper-arm and the other hand wrapped around her bow. The forest had become denser and the air was still chilly and the days were still cold, but around them, the forest was slowly divesting its winter adornments. Here and there, daffodils and snowdrops bravely poked their flowery heads up through the hard solid air. It was a windy morning and the branches shivered in the breeze, tousled their hair and ruffled along with their clothes.
Chiharu studied the silent Daiyōkai striding ahead of her, hoping to find something— some explanation of why he always treated her like this. Like she was his property one moment and like a discarded toy the next. Sesshōmaru was tall and struck an imposing figure. He looked almost ethereal, although the two swords jutting out from his obi and the wicked points of his shoulder guards belied that etherealness slightly. The cold winter sunlight was reflected harshly of his breastplate, flitted through his hair and made the silver colour stand out strangely. He was so very handsome…
Pity he's such a jerk…
Inhaling deeply, she tried to find the trace Sesshōmaru's more superior nose must have found, but could not even detect the faintest trace of Naraku. They were rising up deeper into the mountains and the higher they ventured, the colder it became. Ahead a snowy landscape neared and she slowed her step until she drew level with Sango.
"Hi, Chiharu-chan," Sango grinned happy, rubbing her finger along Kirara's chin. The neko-yōkai purred contently. "Are you all right?"
Chiharu smiled: "Yes,"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she echoed again, "Or I will be. It's nothing major."
"You and Kagome-chan both can act so weird," Sango stated thoughtfully and Chiharu smiled sheepishly.
"That's time travel for you."
"Will you return?" Sango asked. "When Naraku is defeated and the Shikon-no-tama is completed, will you return to your home?"
Chiharu felt her smile harden: "Once, I considered staying here." She admitted, eyes flitting to Sesshōmaru's form unconsciously before she cocked her head to Sango. "Now, I think It would be better to return home. Watch my brother grow old, argue with my grandfather— Take care of my mum…"
"I understand," Sango reassured. "Family is the most important thing there is."
"It is, isn't it?"
Chiharu suddenly felt her muscles stiffen, jerking from her wandering thoughts when an all too familiar feeling settled into her stomach. Two Sacred Jewel shards were nearing, quickly.
"Chiharu-chan?" Sango asked noticing when I froze mid-step and shifted her Boomerangbone awkwardly. "Something wrong?"
"Shikon shard, and it's coming fast."
Sangō's eyes widened comically and she quickly straightened, one hand resting on the hilt of her katana. Kirara jumped from her shoulder and transformed in a rush of flame, eyes feral and fangs glinting in the sun light. Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru followed through and when Kagome gasped harshly Mirōku took on a defensive stance as well. The leaves of nearby trees and bushes rustled and after inhaling deeply, Chiharu recognised the scent. A dust-cloud swirled up above the boulders surrounding them and with a strong inhale of breath Kōga appeared, coming to an abrupt stop before Chiharu, snatching her hands.
"Kagome-chan, my mate to be—" he started smiling toothily at Chiharu and she raised an eyebrow. It took another second before he realised who he was talking to and he dropped her hands as if burned, flushing scarlet. "Chiharu-chan— of course, you look wonderful too. Although your eyes are— I mean, very beautiful indeed and—"
"Kōga-kun, Kagome is over there," she interrupted his rant stiffly, pointing at an amused looking Kagome. She was wearing the ugliest yoga suit she owned and Chiharu considered it karmic justice when the wolf-prince gaped at her, starting to sputter that she too looked a-ma-zing in whatever it was she was wearing. What probably would have been a long tirade was cut short when suddenly Sesshōmaru appeared before him. His hand was already inching above Tokijin and a growl started from low in his throat.
"Wolf,"
"Oh fuck, you!" Kōga gasped, staggering away and Inuyasha smirked. As much as he might hate his older sibling, making Kōga uncomfortable was a sure way to get into Inuyasha's good books. Truly, male pride was a delicate thing, however, Chiharu decided it was time to intervene. Right now, Sesshōmaru was not in her good books.
"Cut it out you two." She stated irritably. "Kōga-kun, was there actually something important you wished to share, or is this another elaborate plot to gain my older sister's affection?"
"Oh," Kōga muttered, "Yes, about a moon circle ago Kagura's wind attacked us. She and some ugly-ass kid were after my shards," he explained, paddling over to Kagome and smiling wolfishly at her, "they killed many of my brothers and sisters."
"Oh," Kagome gasped, "I'm so sorry Kōga-kun!"
"That's terrible," Chiharu agreed. The wind was icy, and whipped her dark hair around her face and tore her clothes around her body. Orange, wet leaves swirled among them and she shivered. "Did many—"
"Yes." He admitted. "I found my cousin ripped apart so badly I could only recognise him by his eccentric sandals."
Chiharu didn't know what she could possibly say to that, however, the small, muffled sound of shock that left her throat seemed to appease him. Even Inuyasha, who made it quite obvious how he felt about the wolf yōkai averted his eyes, ears fluttering flat to his skull. Kagome was the one wrapped an arm around him. "I'm so sorry, Kōga-kun, that must have been horrible."
He nodded, even when his family had been slaughtered, he still smiled and preened under Chiharu's sister's attention. He'd always been an odd one and Chiharu felt her nostrils flare. There was a strong bloody scent clinging him.
"Kōga-kun, have you been hurt?"
He gave her a nothing-the-matter look and started to boast off to Kagome. Inuyasha gave the wolf prince a look as if he was dirt and he'd
"As touching," Sesshōmaru started, sounding as if he couldn't care a less, "We have Naraku to pursue."
"Why is he here?" Kōga snipped and stared at Chiharu. "I thought he didn't care all that much for humans?"
Chiharu shot him an irritated glare: "We have a common enemy."
It must have been something in the way she looked but Kōga nodded and shut up right then, stepping back to Kagome's side. They muttered and whispered softly to each other before Kōga's face turned as white as a sheet and he crumbled the next moment. Kagome squeaked, half catching him before falling with him. Inuyasha was next to her a moment later, grabbing his nemesis by his upper-arm and glared.
"The Fuck, Bastard?"
"He's hurt Inuyasha!" Kagome whispered and she dropped her heavy, yellow pack to the ground and yanked out a bottle of wiping alcohol. "Where does it hurt Koga-kun?"
"His leg," Chiharu suddenly stated. "His left leg. You lost a Shikon shard, didn't you Kōga-kun?"
"He was too fast for me," Kōga admitted and when Kagome managed to push his fluffy leg warmer down his ankle, she gasped. The skin was looking gruesome, welts had spread over his shin and running from the side to his ankle was a greenish cut, so obviously infected Chiharu winched.
"Shit!"
"Chiharu-chan," Kagome admonished but she had gone a bit green in the face too.
"Don't Chiharu-chan me, it's bad, Onee-chan!" She retorted and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"It's getting late too," Kagome softly suggested, she was shivering and her lips were tinting blue. "Perhaps we could make camp. Kōga-kun could use the rest too."
The last questions were not directed to me and as I helped to bandage Kōga's leg, I dared a glance at my sister. She was looking at Sesshōmaru.
"This Sesshōmaru doesn't care about the Wolf." Sesshōmaru gruffly responded and Chiharu pursed her lips when she noticed colour overtaking her older sister in what she recognised as anger and outrage.
"We can't just turn our back on him." She snapped. "He needs help!"
He flashed in front of her, eyes narrowed and Inuyasha's hand landed heavily on the sheath of his father's Fang. "Listen very carefully to me, girl, this Sesshōmaru doesn't care for your whining, our your sentiment. We will only stop when I allow us to!"
Chiharu doubted that was the only reason. They were at the top of a ravine, in the open with a lone tree here and there and Chiharu understood why Sesshōmaru didn't want to stop here (besides not having found Naraku yet). It wasn't safe. Vegetation was sparse and the sides were steep, dipping down in a fall that would be deathly. The forest was almost a kilometre behind them and angrily Kagome helped Sangō pulling the Wolfprince up on Kirara's transformed back.
"Sesshōmaru," Chiharu tried, taking a protective stance between her sister and the Daiyōkai, "Perhaps we should find a spot to make camp tonight."
"Miko—" he started, his eyes flashing red but then his nostrils flared. A thrill went through the air and although Kagome was still glaring at the Daiyōkai's face, Chiharu noticed the way his pointed ears twitched. She recognised the scent of blood and death and even Inuyasha, who could be dense and sometimes a bit late on the uptake stiffened.
"Naraku!"
A sudden, strong gust of cold wind swirled down from the mountain tops and buffeted around the small group of shard hunters wildly. She smelled it then, the harsh and horrible fragrance that was Naraku and she only just dodged a large tentacle smashing through the ground. It vented off, going for her again and with a grimace, she forced it back with a surge of Reiki. Riotously-dancing tendrils of yōkai flesh wrenched from the soul and made the ground trembled. Several screams reverberated harshly through the mountainy landscape, and Inuyasha howled in fury.
He unsheathed his father's fang and with a powerful swipe, demonic energy ripped forward. The destruction was incredible, sending large plumes of dust skywards. When it settled, Hakudoshi emerged from the rubble. He was sitting atop of a white horse and grinned manically.
"Ah Inuyasha," Hakudoshi grinned, "we were already waiting for you.
Inuyasha snarled: "You! Where is Naraku!?"
The white-child's grin was feral, swinging his legs in a mockery of childish glee: "Why don't you come and find out?"
Inuyasha had never been very good at ignoring someone's needling and charged forward with a roar.
To be continued…
A/N: Young love… Right now we see the similarities between the Higurashi siblings (^^), although, I'm somewhat on Chiharu's side in this (sorry Sesshōmaru). To be honest, I sometimes forget that Chiharu is still only a teenager and I guess feudal Japan made her grow up quite a bit, she is entitled to feel more like her age once in a while right?
As for the chapter, initially, I planned to put the entire fight with Naraku's puppets in here, but the chapter became a bit too long that way. However, this means I'll be able to update sooner as the next chapters are all but done. On another note, I started a side story to 'A tale of Two Sisters' hoping to shed another light on the different characters. If you have any requests or if you are curious about someone at some point in this story let me know. Also, after the many reviews mentioning they thought there was and still is, I guess, some real chemistry between Chiharu and Inuyasha, I am thinking of writing an alternative ending for them. Let me know what everyone thinks about that. I'm quite curious about how that would be received!
Or perhaps I'll try an OC/Inuyasha story (alternative story with Inuyasha and Chiharu ending up together). Again, let me know what you'll think!
So… Leave a review and let me know what you think^^.
Inuyasha doesn't belong to me, but to Rumiko Takahashi