I don't own Inuyasha. Consult Rumiko Takahashi about that matter.
Done In With a Bite
Chapter 5
I looked at the girl, whose chocolate eyes were staring straight back at me. She looked at me as though I knew everything and could help her, whatever the task.
It was a nice feeling, but the fact was, I hadn't the slightest idea what would happen to her. Would she stay for the day and then I would return her in the evening? Would she spend the night at the palace? Or possibly, would she stay here until she recovered more of her memory of that man and until the person, or thing, that bit her was safely behind bars? There were just too many options.
But, it was certain that her mother would be worried as to where her daughter was. After all, she had just gone out to pick up some spices, herbs, and edible mushrooms. She should have been done by sundown if she hadn't been bitten.
So did that mean that she would have to return to her home so soon? I didn't know what to think about that. She looked so fragile and weak, that any wrong move would break her. I didn't want to let her go. I wanted her to stay.
The frustration nearly made tears form near the corners of my eyes. I looked back at her and my gaze softened.
She was looking curiously at the hall. She inspected the white marble walls of the corridor, the glass lamps with golden bases, and the paintings that were hung on the wall every so often. Kagome turned around to see me watching her with what I knew would be mildly curious eyes. Her eyes evaded mine as a dusting of rosy color was added to her, now vibrant, cheeks.
That nearly made me smile. If she decided to leave soon, I knew I would miss her terribly. But, if she left soon, I would insist on escorting her, so I would probably be able to memorize the way to her remedy shop. Then I could visit whenever I saw fit.
Soon, I realized that if she left for home, her mother might marry her off to that lord who proposed to her. The thought of her married when I came to visit made me feel sick to my stomach. Don't ask me why, but I didn't want her to be married anytime soon.
"Miss Higurashi?" I called to her.
She turned to look back at me again. "Please, call me Kagome."
"Understood." I nodded my head. "What do yo-"
"You don't have to be so formal. I come from a small village, where almost everyone calls each other family titles, such as "sister" and "granny"." Kagome said, looking a bit exasperated by my formality.
Well, what was wrong with being formal? I was only being polite!
"Alright, Kagome," I said, stretching her name, "what would you say is going to happen next?"
"I don't know. Possibly me going home. Possibly you guys forcing me to stay. It all depends on what kind of people you are: kind, cruel, sad, lonely." she replied.
I was shocked. She had come up with a few of the same options I had. And her remark about the kind of person I am stunned me speechless. Which category would I fall under?
Wait, she said "you guys". Who was the other person?
'Sesshomaru.' my head said. 'She's already included Sesshomaru into her calculations.'
That damn brother of mine! How dare he take up a single second of her thoughts!
"Where would you rather stay? We'll have to check up on you either way. My brother and I will make sure to get to the bottom of this mystery. We'll find out who or what bit you and why. Rest assured, Miss Higurashi." Speak of the devil!
"Oh, well I don't know where would be a better place to stay, since I don't want to endanger my mother and brother if the thing that bit decides to bite me again or cause either of you any more trouble than I already have, but I'm sure my mother will worry about where I am and if everything is well with me." She answered.
"I'll have one of my messengers deliver a message to your mother telling her where you are and that you are well except for the bite you received. The message shall also tell your mother that you shall be staying here at the palace, away from possible danger, until we have the person or thing that bit you safely locked away." Sesshomaru assured Kagome. "But for now, I think it wise if my brother escort you to a room in his wing. I bid you both farewell for the time being."
And with a curt nod he left. Probably to write said message. I looked at the back of his head with new-found hatred. Was he trying to get on Kagome's good side just to annoy me? 'Cause if he was, it was working, though I'd never give him the pleasure of knowing that.
I remembered the lady standing next to me. I turned back towards her. She was looking back at me expectantly.
'Why's she looking at me? Shouldn't she be all over Sesshomaru, thanking him and all that bogus?'
"So, where's your wing? Did you already have a room in mind for me?" She asked with open curiosity.
'Oh that's right! Sesshomaru assigned me the task of giving her a room in my wing! Is he just trying to play matchmaker or is he making it harder for himself. It seems pretty obvious to me that he's trying to win her over. I'm not just imagining it, am I? Oh well, if he's trying to make it harder for himself, I suppose I should help him, huh?'
"Yes, I thought you might be staying here and I had a special room in mind for you, Kagome. Come with me. I'll take you there." I said, offering her the space between my elbow and my torso. She slid her arm through mine cautiously, curiosity still evident in her eyes.
I smiled at her pretty face. The dusting of rosy color returned and her wide, doe eyes were still locked on mine.
We walked, arm in arm, making our way into my wing towards the west of the palace. I was leading her, tugging her slightly to keep her walking. Her luscious lips were slightly open, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. My eyes never left hers, just as hers never left mine.
I knew my own wing well; I didn't even have to look to know where I was going. I guided her, for she was blind, or rather her eyes were too occupied with mine, because without my help, she would have stumbled over something, such as a table, or bumped her head on something, like a lamp.
It seemed like she was confused when I stopped abruptly in front of a door. It took her a couple of seconds to recover and remember that I had been guiding her to the room she was going to be staying in. She looked at the door with a new meaning behind her eyes.
I put my hand on the handle of the door, looking at her for permission, silently asking her if she wished for me to open it. She inclined her head in the slightest; if I had been human I might have not even noticed.
I turned the handle slowly, almost tauntingly. She looked as if she was going to grasp my hand and pull it down along with the handle and right when her muscles tensed, signaling she was about to do just that, I turned it all the way and pushed the door free.
It swung back into the room and I watched as her attention was turned to the vacant space that was now revealed to her. I took special pleasure in seeing her expression as she looked at it, her eyes wide, breath hitched in her throat, mouth wide open.
She was probably stunned by the double bed made of red cherry wood and covered by a ruby comforter with white sheets underneath and white pillows with vanilla colored silk pillowcases, the spacy dresser and armoire also made of cherry wood, the two cherry wood bed side tables, each with an oil lamp on it, the dark red wooden bookcase, and the large window with a view of the rose garden, curtained in scarlet. There was also a red velvet armchair, but it was facing the same way we were, so it was out of view at the moment. I smirked; she had probably never even dreamed of staying in a room like this one.
She finally regained the ability to speak. "This is all for me?" she asked of me in disbelief, her widened eyes making contact with mine.
"Yes." I replied. She turned around and looked at it again, most likely trying to convince herself she was in some kind of cruel fantasy.
"Do you like it?" I asked, whispering with my head over her shoulder, right by her ear, my hands finding a place circled around her arms.
Her eyes widened even more and I heard the breath that she took, merely a short gasp of air.
"Do I like it?" she asked, repeating my question.
"Mm-hmm." I purred into her ear.
"It would be impossible to like this room." she replied. That hit me like a slap to the face and I nearly recoiled and drew away from her completely. She didn't like it? Not even in the slightest? "Like cannot begin to even describe what I think of this room."
She stepped forward, breaking my hold on her, and pranced into the room. She turned to look at me.
"I absolutely love this room!" she shouted, spreading her arms out. And then she twirled, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
Now it was my turn to be speechless. The way the skirt of her dress spread out around her legs, lifting into the air and twirling around her as she spun her body, was truly enchanting. The expression on her face, closed eyes, smiling, was one of true, sincere happiness. Her hair danced in the wind she created, strands near her face making patterns on her cheeks. Her palms faced the heavens as she continued her sweet display of gratefulness and joy.
It was over too soon as she stopped mid-circle and dropped her arms to her sides, her eyes snapping over to look at me. The smile stayed plastered to her face.
She took a step forward, towards me, and staggered over, her right knee buckling, sending her down towards the carpeted floor.
But, before even I knew it, her arm was around my neck, my hands underneath her, one under the small of her back, the other under her knees. Her feet still touched the ground and she was still supporting some of her own weight, but if I stood up, I would be carrying her bridal style.
She looked around the room, a silly smile on her face. She looked back at my face before saying, "The world is spinning." in a quiet, childish voice.
I smiled, my eyes softening at her childlike words.
"Tell me when it goes back to normal." I replied.
She sat there looking at the ceiling for a minute before sitting up.
"Thank you. For everything." She said softly, so only I could hear. "I never knew a demon could be so kind."
I felt something warm bubble in my chest at her praise. I was so distracted that I didn't even register the foreign warmth that had been placed on my cheek until it was already gone. It was only when the cold hit my cheek after the warmth had been removed that I realized it; Kagome had just kissed my cheek.
My head turned and my eyes collided with the gaze of her powerful brown ones. I was sure she would be staring at very wide golden eyes.
My right hand, which had been the hand under her knees, came up involuntarily to touch my left cheek. It still tingled pleasantly where her lips had made contact.
She giggled softly. I snapped back to reality and looked back at her, for my eyes had drifted off into space.
"I think the world is stable now, so you can let me onto my own feet now." She smiled at me, reassuringly, her eyes telling me she didn't plan on falling again.
I lifted and leaned her legs so her feet touched the ground, hesitating for a moment before putting her down so that she was supporting her own weight once again.
Once I made sure she was secure on her own feet, I removed my hands from their positions on her back and behind her knees and let them drift down to my sides again. Then I stood up from my crouch and looked at the young lady, who was straightening the skirt of her dress.
She looked back at me in a few minutes, with a smile that suggested she was inwardly laughing at herself. I grinned back; her smile was beautiful in any form and I wished her to keep it there as long as possible.
"Lord InuYasha!" An elderly voice called. I could hear the sound of hopping getting nearer to the room. "Lord InuYasha, it's time for your daily training!"
Author's note: -.-" Sorry for the long wait. I was trying to finish my first one-shot, but I decided you all needed an update on one of my InuYasha stories! Well, I hope you guys like this chapter! I've already started on the next one, so hopefully you guys won't have such a long wait! Thanks for all the reviews! They really fuel my creative energy! ^^
BTW, this is my first update on my new laptop!
