Rumiko Takahashi owns Inuyasha and all of its characters. I own this story and all of my own characters I introduce in it.
Done In With a Bite
Chapter 3
A Grateful Girl
Her eyes opened slowly, but steadily, as her breathing evened out. When her eyes opened completely, I had the urge to shield her from the sight of my brother, so only I would know the true beauty of her cinnamon gaze, but I didn't do so.
I was pleased, because when her eyes had opened, the first thing they had focused on was my face, my eyes. She looked at me, then my brother, who had similar characteristics; golden eyes, platinum hair. She looked back at me and then she asked, "Am I in heaven now?"
I was dumbfounded. She thought, seeing the both of us, that she had died and gone to heaven. I was flattered and couldn't say anything. It seemed her words had the same effect on Sesshomaru, since he didn't utter a word, either.
"Are you my guardian angels?" she asked yet another flattering question.
It was then that Sesshomaru spoke up. "No, maiden, you are not in heaven; you are still alive and on the Earth. But, I suppose you do have a guardian angel." He said, smiling. "And I believe he is right here, in this room."
'Wait, what?! Does Sesshomaru mean that I'm her guardian angel?!'
She looked a little confused. "But how am I not in heaven if you say my guardian angel is in this room?" she disputed.
"That you will most likely find out for yourself." Sesshomaru said, his eyes meeting mine for a second.
"If I am not in heaven, then what am I doing here and who are you two?"
"Forgive me, maiden. I am Sesshomaru, son of the Great Dog Demon. And this is my knuckle head of a half-brother, InuYasha." He said, giving me a noogie.
"Maybe I wouldn't be a knuckle head if you stopped rubbing your own knuckles into my head!" I retorted, annoyed.
She laughed and my thoughts and eyes immediately returned to her.
"Forgive me for asking, young maiden, but would you care to tell us who you are?" Sesshomaru asked, releasing my head.
She stopped laughing to speak, "Pardon my manners. I am Kagome Higurashi, daughter of Minaka Higurashi, heir to my mother's remedy garden*."
"Ah, so you make medicines and cures, Miss Higurashi?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yes, it is what my mother, Minaka, does for a living. I am learning from her and my great aunt, Kaede. They want me to continue the family business, since this business started with my great-grandmother Midoriko, and was passed on to my grandmother, Kikyo, who passed it on to my mother. My mom wishes to pass the remedy shop to me." She said, her eyes becoming sad as she told us how she was to inherit the remedy shop.
I sat onto the bed next to her. "But you don't want to be the keeper of the remedy shop, huh?"
She shook her head. "And I might not have to. My mother and I live on the edge of the village Kaede looks after, with my little brother, Souta. Last week, the Lord of a nearby kingdom visited our remedy shop and asked for my hand in marriage."
I stiffened. "So what did you say?"
"Well, I started to tell the Lord that I was quite too young to be married at the time being, when my mother interrupted me and told me it was not for me to decide and that she needed to think about it. So, she sent off the Lord, telling him to come back in a fortnight." She explained. "Oh, but you haven't answered my second question!" she exclaimed.
"You are here Miss Higurashi, because my brother found you in a clearing, dying of blood loss. He sealed the wound you had and brought you here, the Inu Palace, and to me, asking if I would resurrect you with my sword of healing, the Tenseiga." Sesshomaru told the Higurashi girl.
This was really strange. Sesshomaru was giving me all the credit!
"So you saved my life, InuYasha!" she exclaimed. "I am forever in your debt."
She encircled her arms around my neck and embraced me. I was shocked for a moment, then recovered and lightly placed my arms around her waist.
"Arigato*, InuYasha, Arigato!" she said.
"You're welcome." I replied.
She looked at me with true gratitude after letting me go. I felt something warm bubble up inside me. I think it was the first time I was truly happy.
Author's note: So, my readers, how was this chapter? I hoped you liked reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I am going to perform at a Piano Festival today in front of judges, so wish me luck! I thought you would appreciate a chapter today, so here you go! ^^ Tell me what you liked or disliked!
*remedy shop: This is what I picture as Kaede's place. It is a welcoming hut, with an herb garden in the backyard.
*Arigato: Japanese word, meaning "Thank you."
