A/N: Hello, everybody! Third chapter!! I know my progression has been slowing recently, but school is a bitch. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I liked writing it...
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA!! I am just barrowing them for a while...
Warnings: There will be attempted rape in this chapter!
Special thanks to my first reviewers, angelofthenight and ladydeath31178. Your reviews were greatly appreciated!
Jaded Deceit
Chapter Three: A Chance Meeting; "You saved me..."
By: Kate the Inuyoukai
Three years passed by quickly and the war between the eastern and western villages had finally come to a close. The western tribe had been victorious in their efforts to keep the village safe, but at a severe cost. Twenty-five soldiers, as well as the headmaster of the village, had been killed. Kagome was now in pieces. After the war, her work as a seamstress all but stopped. Though she would still recieve the scrolls from the other villages-informing her of the demons spotted in the area-she barely had enough time in her day to read them. She now devoted her time to the village and the surviving soldiers' wellfare. Since the war, the village was now surrounded by demons-usually low leveled youkai drawn to the scent of human blood and disease-and Kagome also spent her time ridding the village of the demons that came too close.
The new headman of the village was a sixteen-year-old boy name Koichiro, Jin's younger brother. Though young, the boy led the villagee well--a skirt chaser, though he was--and was curteous and kind to everyone in the village. Kagome-though she had known Jin since childhood-had neither met or seen this boy. But every time she looked towards the headman's house, a silk curtain that covered the window overlooking the Moonlit Shrine would always quickly fall back in place. She found this strange, but didn't dwell on it.
Presently, she was walking out of her hut to draw some water from the shrine wellhouse. She had been making dinner and was in need of fresh water for her stew. She paused lightly when she noticed a human aura approaching, but, finding that it was harmless, continued.
"Lady Kagome!"
She turned to see a young boy, a messanger from the western village of Saiyo, bowing politely.
"What is it?" she spoke softly.
"I send word from the forest akin to Saiyo," the boy answered immediately, handing her a parchment scroll.
She opened it, noticing that it was over two weeks old, and her blue eyes scanned the paper in a nonchalant manner. She noticed what it was and she gasped, dropping the bucket of water. They've spotted a demon that matches the description! Not only that, they say a young man is traveling with him!! She looked up to thank the boy and was suprised to find that he had already gone. She stood there, contemplating what this could mean. What if Souta was never really dead in the first place, but decided to travel with a demon? She couldn't see how this was possible, seeing as how their whole village had been wiped out by a pack of demon wolves. She ran back into her hut, changing into her traditional priestess garb and filling her quiver with freshly sharpened arrows. She would travel to Saiyo and search for her brother, and if she found that he was not with this demon, she would inquire as to where her brother was last seen. The description was almost completely identical to the one the hunter had given her. I've got to find him... this could be my only chance!! With that thought she went outside, slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder, and tucked the message in her obi.
--
Inside the main house, silver eyes gleamed and sparkled as the boy stared at the priestess running into her hut. The young man licked his lips, his hakama growing tight with anticipation. He knew from the other villager's stories... about how Kagome-sama and Jin-sama were in love, but separated before they could marry. Which means the little priestess is still a maiden... and at 23; she must be begging for release. His brow rose in curiosity when he saw the miko exit her hut with a bow and a quiver full of arrows; her traditional priestess garb dull, yet still pleasing to the mystery man's silver eyes. It seemed as if she were carrying a scroll in her obi as well.
Hmm, it seems my little miko is going on a little journey. This just might be of use to me. He turned and found a nearby servant, ordering them to prepare a horse so that he could go on village patrol. He found her so beautiful. He could see why Jin had gone for her; and he planned to keep her in the family. Tonight, I return with a prize.
--
Souta entered his demon lord's campsite with a triumphant grin.
"Milord, the half-breed has been spotted with a small group in the next village over."
Sesshomaru nodded, "Very well. We leave tomorrow afternoon."
"Hai!"
He sat down with a smile. I might be able to see Kagome again! And after all this time, he thought happily. He hadn't seen his older sister and dear friend Jin in three years. He desperately awaited entering the village after all of this time. I wonder if they married...
Sesshomaru stood from the place at the foot of a large tree, bringing Souta from his thoughts.
"Off to bathe?"
"A walk," Sesshomaru muttered boredly before turning and exiting the camp. He just wanted to go for a short walk around; maybe even let out his pent-up frustration on a worthy opponent...
--
Kagome walked on through most of the day and night had fallen again on her journey. Saiyo is only a short day's walk, she thought happily. Exhaustion finally got the better of her and she collapsed near a small stream. Her stomach rumbled lightly and she sighed. No time to worry about food now... I'll just perform an exorcism when I get to Saiyo, she thought absently as she washed her hands and face in the stream, dabbing herself dry with a strip of cloth she kept in her obi. As she finished, she detected a slight rustle in the leaves littering the ground, as well as a human aura. She exercised caution, drawing an arrow from her quiver and, in the blink of an eye, was pointing an arrow at the surpised face of...
"J-Jin," Kagome muttered in surprise.
The man, equally surprised, smiled smally, "Kagome..."
She dropped her weapon and collided into him, causing him to stumble lightly before his arms wrapped around her waist.
"They told me you'd died," she cried and she clutched his haori, her tears soaking into the fabric. She felt him smile lightly against her hair, his hand soothing the thick black tresses.
"I was injured, but managed to escape," he explained, "I stayed in a small village to the south until I was fully healed. I'm sorry for having you wait..."
She looked into his eyes and smiled brightly, but it faultered slightly when she noticed something, His eyes were silver... not the amethyst orbs that she remembered. She took a step back.
"Y-you're not him..."
"What?" He took a step closer, causing her to step back. Soon, she was pinned against a tree, his hands on either side of her head.
She clenched her eyes shut, "You're not Jin!"
"What are you talking about?" he asked. "It's me... Jin... we grew up together..."
"No!" she growled. "You're not him, Koichiro!"
He smirked, "And I thought my looks would reassure you..." He muttered this in mock disappointment before catching her chin with a hooked finger, forcing her eyes to clash with his. "No matter, I will still have my way with you."
He moved to kiss her, but she stopped him by tilting her head to the side so that his lips grazed her cheek. No way was he stealing her first kiss!
This can't happen! Kagome thought, I won't let it! She struggled, "Release me!!"
He laughed as he pushed open her haori and her under kimono. "Now, that wouldn't be any fun, now, would it?" he purred as he kissed her neck, roughly caressing her breasts.
He is nothing like his older brother! she thought disgustedly, I can't believe he fooled me!
He placed open-mouthed kisses on her neck and exposed shoulder, sliding his tongue up to her jaw line. She growled and lifted her knee quickly, kicking him in his groin and causing him to gasp and double over in pain. She pushed him away and began to flee, but he grabbed her ankle, causing it to twist painfullly as she fell to the ground. He stood and lifted her dazed form up, pushing her back against the tree and knocking the air from her chest.
"Bitch!" he yelled as his hand soared through the air to strike her cheek.
She clenched her eyes shut, waiting for his quickly moving hand to injure her further, but it never did. The sharp sound of a skull cracking resonated through the trees, a warm, sticky substance spattering over her face. She opened her eyes to see Koichiro's silver eyes wide in pain and shock, his bloody forehead sliding down her exposed breasts as he fell to the ground. She looked up, dumbfounded, at her savior and her breath caught in her throat.
Silky silver hair flowed down a straight back, long bangs falling against his high cheek bones, slightly covering golden eyes lidded in maroon. Thick black lashes flashed downward in a quick blink, brushing the top of two straight purple stripes on his cheeks. His face was well-sculpted and narrow, with a staight nose. A dark purple crescent moon peeked out from his silver bangs, seeming to glow eerily in the faint moonlight.
His lithe and muscular form was draped in white silk, dipped in red designs on the sleeves and collar, while two swords were held to his hip by an elequently tied gold and blue obi. He wore no armor, but a furry tail draped over his shoulder so as not to brush the ground, the soft silver fur billowing slightly in the wind.
Her face flushed at his elegance and beauty as she closed her underkimono and haori in embarassment, invisible under the blood caked on her face. She knew this cryptically beautiful being had to be a demon, for she had never seen anyone of the human race with such a profound and puissant aura.
"Are you well?" the demon spoke to her in a monotone voice, yet she sensed the slight concern laced in his words.
She moved, attempting to stand and flee. Though he did seem like a legitimately concerned person, he was still a demon. Pain shot through her let though, and she gave a sharp cry as she plummeted toward the ground, but-before she could fall-there were strong arms holding her steady.
"Your ankle..." he muttered as he sat her down, his hand moving to touch her leg. She flinched away, clutching her haori tighter around herself when he spoke again, "I mean you no harm, miko. I am merely assessing the damage that has been delt." His voice was reassuring as he again moved to touch her leg.
Kagome didn't flinch this time, but let him gently probe her ankle for a break. She hissed lightly when he touched the slightly swelling flesh and he nodded to himself.
"You seem to have twisted your ankle," he pointed out, looking at her face and pulling out a cloth. Knowing she wouldn't be able to move, he went to the small stream and dipped the cloth in the frigid water.
She watched as he came back and knelt down next to her, gently dabbing at her face with the cloth as though he would break her if he applied pressure.
"If you choose, you may come back with me to camp," he spoke softly. "I have food and you can be escorted back to your village by noon tomorrow."
"I appreciate that..." she licked her lips nervously as she looked away. "But I can't. I am in search of someone." She said this with a blush on her face as she snatched the cloth from him.
Sesshomaru nearly smiled. She was being stubborn. It reminded him smally of his companion, Souta. He would have left her here if it weren't for her condition, but courtesy was knawing at his chest.
"It would be a great deal easier for you to find who you are looking for if you traveled with us," he chose his words with great thought, so as not to insinuate anything unwanted.
Kagome sighed as she began wiping away the blood on her face, effectively staining the white silk cloth with light red splotches.
"I hate to break this to you," she said in a bored manner, "but demons and mikos aren't the right mix... especially in a vast forest."
He raised an elegant silver brow, "How is that?"
"The other demons would most likely think I have you under my spell and attack us." She looked away from him when she said this, "I wouldn't want to hurt your pride or dignity, since you have shown me such kindness."
She heard a deep roll of an unamused chuckle, "I highly doubt it." He stood and leaned against the tree they were under, his back turned to her as he stared down at the unconscious man not two feet away. He wanted to give him a swift kick to the head for the way he had treated the seemingly kind woman. "I am the ruler of these lands to my kind," he explained, "a pureblood inu-youkai of the highest pedigree."
Kagome rolled her eyes at that. Of course... he couldn't be anything else with all the Tatsumora silk he's gpt on, she thought heatedly. But he had shown me a great klndness, and-hopefully-for no repayment. She finished wiping off her face, and decided to say some of her thoughts aloud.
"You must have great wealth," she spoke this in a slightly peeved tone, "that silk is very rare."
"Hm."
"I was a seamstress for the majority of my life as well as the high priestess and healer of my village."
"It sounds like a good amount of work."
"Hm," she spoke. "Not really... until recently my work as a healer wasn't really going that well... mostly elders and young children, but a few years ago my healing abilities took over everything else. There was a war between the eastern and western tribes. Several died, and most were wounded, but we were still triumphant." she turned to his broad back as he began to turn and smiled, "I really loved my work."
He looked over his shoulder at her and his eyes widened a fraction.
Deep cerulean eyes stared up at him through thick black lashes, her porcelain skin and ivory hair contrasting almost eerily in Sesshomaru's gaze. Her dark waves fell about her shoulders and down her straight back, complementing her femininely rounded features. She made him shudder in memory of his lost love.
His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What is your name, miko?"
She looked away at his icy stare, "My name is Kagome... Higurashi."
He turned quickly, kneeling down and picking her up, "Come."
"W-wait! I said I couldn't-"
"This Sesshomaru surmises that since I saved you then you owe me your life," he explained his code of honor mechanically as he looked down at her fighrtened face. "Attempt to flee, and I will have my ward kill you."
"Put me down!"
He narrowed his eyes, "Would you rather I leave you here so that your attempted rapist will awaken and have his way with you?"
Her eyes widened as she looked over at Koichiro. He was showing signs of conciousness. Her hands clutched Sesshomaru's haori, "Fine!!"
--
By the time they reached the campsite, Kagome had fallen asleep against Sesshomaru's chest. He gently sat her down where Souta had laid out his sleeping furs and covered her up.
Could she be a relative of Rin's?... he asked himself as he sat down next to her.
--
A/N: Hey, guys! Special thanks to my reviewers! You guys not only say the kindest of things, you also give me confidence! My next chapter will also be delayed due to school. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Keep up with the reviews and I'll update as soon as possible!
Arigato Gozaimasu...
Kate the InuYoukai01
