Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters. I do, however, own the song in this chapter. Be nice and don't steal it! Lol, please and thank you!
Previously:
He stared after her for a moment. The way she acted as if she was his equal both infuriated and fascinated him. Regardless, something about her was changing him. Change was something he wasn't accustomed to. Maybe it would be best if he stayed away from her from then on. What had possessed him to go talk to her in the first place?
"But you know, change can sometimes be for the better."
The demon took one last look at the girl before walking away.
Chapter Five
Luxury
Kagome stared out at the sunrise, comforted by its soft colors. Pinks, purples, reds, oranges, and blues all mingled with one another to display a perfect painting. The sun itself was a bright orange, still dim enough for her to stare into its mesmerizing shine. In her position in the branches of her willow tree, its leaves hide and amplified drops of sunlight, creating an unimaginably beautiful picture.
The scene reminded her of waking to see Inuyasha staring off in the horizon like she was doing now. Sometimes she'd go sit under the tree he was propped in, and they would sit in a comfortable silence until it was time to depart. The memory tugged on Kagome's heart strings. Her voice rose in soft song.
You let your pride have control
Didn't listen to your soul
Your words always hit me hard
I never guess it'd leave me scarred
All the things you never saw
Led to our downfall
You never bothered to see my pain
Didn't think to take the blame
Kagome's voice trailed off as a tear trailed down her cheek bone. She sighed as the memory clouded her mind. Even after over a year's time, she still thought about him. She concluded that she must have loved him for it to hurt this much. But at the same time, if she were to see his face right then, she'd push him away. The love was gone now. Whether it was from the separation or her own realization, she didn't know.
Suddenly Kagome's eyes narrowed at the forest. She jumped and easily landed the ten foot fall from her branch. In a flash, her bow and arrow were ready and aimed.
"I'm getting tired of you showing up," Kagome growled through gritting teeth. Despite her threatening tone, a blush shown on her cheeks. The bastard not only heard her singing but he also must have known she was crying. Her pride took two stinging stabs.
The demon she knew was there refused to show his face. Impatient, Kagome shot the arrow with a small dose of her miko powers. He finally appeared across the meadow. His back to the rising sun, his streaming silver hair and tall form cast a dark silhouette. With his sword drawn, the Lord Sesshomaru stood basking in his superiority.
Adrenaline flared through Kagome's body at the sight of his sword. It wasn't his Tenseiga or the other sword he used for fighting. It was slightly larger and its hilt was covered with black and red fur while the handle seemed to be blue leather. The blade curved just slightly.
Suddenly, she was given the chance to prove her worth when the demon ran at her. Grinning with excitement, Kagome easily dodged the slashing sword with a handspring. While still in the air, she armed her bow again and shot, intent on making contact. Just as the arrow was released, she realized he would dodge and come at her again. Anticipating his attack, she threw the bow on her back and flipped away again. The glint of his sword showed in the corner of her eye.
Standing up, she felt the bow looser than usual on her shoulder. With quick observation, she realized the demon had split it in two when she'd flipped. The bow she'd made herself and had been using for so long for protection and survival was destroyed in less than a second. Her eyes glared at her opponent as she tossed the broken bow and quiver aside, relieving herself of the extra weight. Her eye caught the slight smirk the bastard wore. Her blood boiling, she ran at him, swiping her dagger from her waist at the same time.
The demon swung at her predicted path, but she had jumped up and to the side. Her blade scraped his cheek as she flew past him. Using the dirt floor, Kagome skid to a stop and stood up triumphantly.
"So you do have blood," she smirked as she ran her finger along the blade, gathering the crimson liquid from its cold metal. She rubbed the drop between her fingers. "I never would have guessed," Kagome said coldly.
Sesshomaru turned to face the girl, touching his finger to his cheek. Indeed, dark red was smeared on his fingertip and the metallic scent of his own blood filled his nostrils. His anger raging, the beast inside begged to be released. But once again, his fascination kept him from relinquishing control.
The girl was the first to make him bleed since Inuyasha had severed his arm, which had grown back since then. Her speed and grace was remarkable for a human. He was holding back, but she was keeping up perfectly, if not more so. Now the girl stared at him with almost disapproval. From his cold attitude towards her since he'd first met her, he didn't blame her for her comment.
The two glared at each other in deathly silence, both standing ready for anything. Without warning, the girl threw her dagger just as the demon threw his sword. Both managed to dodge the unexpected attack, however, howls of pain caught their attention. Both turned around to see that their opponents' weapons had struck two demons straight in the forehead. They'd seen the interlopers behind each other at the same time, but failed to realize there was one creeping behind themselves.
A ring of creatures formed around the pair. Without hesitation, Kagome withdrew the sword from the dead demon. Ignoring the weapon's weight, the girl swiped at the demons that were too close for comfort. Sesshomaru had done the same with his own second sword. The two backed up until their backs touched.
"You better be able to handle yourself, miko," the demon growled. "This Sesshomaru refuses to have your death on his conscience—"
"I don't need you to save me," she hissed over her shoulder. There was no way she'd let that happen after this whole journey.
Although she felt awkward with the sword's size in comparison to her much lighter bow, Kagome slashed at any demon that charged at her. Sesshomaru's movements were much more graceful and swift compared to her slightly sloppy swordsmanship. But she was able to keep up easily with the flow of demons.
After a moment, Kagome got accustomed to its weight and suddenly the sword seemed to glide through the air as she swung. Its balance was incredible. It almost felt like an extension of her hand. Soon, she was able to use just one hand to swing. She used her free hand to keep her balance and flip when she needed to.
The demons came to a stop after Kagome vanquished the last one. Both demon and girl stood up to observe their work. Bodies littered the ground and a few limbs here and there twitched. The scent of blood was so strong, even Kagome could smell it. Her clothes were dotted with crimson. Sesshomaru somehow dodged every drop.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust looking down at her clothing. "Well, that's over." She turned to her brief partner to see him already walking away. Exasperated, she caught up to him, scowling. "You could at least get your sword back." He made no comment and continued to walk. Her eyebrow twitched in anger. Without thinking about it, she threw the sword towards him. He stopped and stood in place as the sword flew over his shoulder and landed in front of him.
It was silent. Just as Kagome was about to throw a rock at him to see if he was still alive, he spoke.
"That song," he said in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
A blush rose instantly to her cheeks in response to his unexpected statement. He remembered?! Kagome coughed before uneasily saying, "Yeah, what about it?"
"Did you write it?"
She looked down at her sandaled feet and replied, "No. Yes. Well, sorta. I just kinda made it up on the spot."
He turned to face her and she looked up at him. "Nice." And he walked away past his sword, nonchalantly dropping its black and red sheath.
"Y-Your sword—" she stuttered, stunned from the compliment.
"Keep it."
Kagome's jaw dropped. "B-But I don't even know how to use it."
"You seemed to handle it well enough."
"But…" she trailed off.
"You managed to draw this Sesshomaru's blood once. Do it again with that sword and I'll teach you how to really use it."
Kagome stared after him, mouth wide open. Was he offering to train her? The Great Lord Fluffiness was going to help her??
After gathering her jaw from the floor, the girl picked up the blade and its case. She slid it in and tied her new weapon around her waist. She also retrieved her dagger from the blood and flesh of a deceased demon.
She sighed. She would have been happier if he'd given her a bow. Now she'd have to make another one. Either way, the demon had given her a new skill to excel in.
Next time they spared, she'd definitely give more than a little scratch. It would be her new goal. She had to get him to train her. With that kind of apprenticeship, she'd definitely be able to handle herself and help her friends.
At the same time, she wondered if all this had happened on purpose…
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The insignificant demon shook like a leaf under the gaze of his master. Perspiration beaded on his forehead and he could feel his hands shaking. His head bowed, he waited for permission to speak.
"Well?" his master questioned in impatient command.
The demon hastily looked up at him, unease creeping up his spine. "The jewel shard's position is still unknown. The half-demon and his friends have not found it."
His master fingered a nearly complete Shikon Jewel. Darkness swirled in its depths. "And the girl?" he questioned without looking at the inferior demon.
"She has disappeared." The demon tensed as his master stood up. He wandered to window and gazed out. When all was silent for some time, the demon began to inch his way out.
"So you have no good news for me." The demon could have cried at these words. His master was obviously not pleased. The demon had heard that he often took his frustration out on his subordinates.
The demon cleared his throat. "We're still following the trail," he said in hopes of calming his master's nerves.
Suddenly, the demon choked up blood as his master's sword sliced into his abdomen. The life already fading, the demon's last sight was his master's cold narrowed eyes.
The demon's body fell to the floor. Naraku stared at it in disgust. He'd have to get someone to remove it later. He cleaned the edges of his blade before returning to his position by the window.
Still no luck. Whatever scheme those brats had come up with, it sure was pissing him off. After over a year, he was still without the final piece to his Jewel. That one shard was keeping him from completing his plan. He could be a full demon by now.
The girl must have had something to do with it. What was her name? Kagome. She had to know something about the shard. Why else would she have suddenly disappeared? But he had no way of finding her. Kanna's mirror proved to be useless in this matter.
However, since his search parties had either returned with no news or not returned at all, she had to still be alive and in the area. The ones who hadn't returned must have succumbed to their own greed, forcing them to engage her. If that was true, it would confirm his suspicion that she had what he and all other demons desired.
What was that girl's motive behind all this trouble? She was only delaying an undeniable fate. Even if it was the last thing he did, he'd get that last jewel shard. The Shikon Jewel would grant his wish, and he'd be the most powerful demon alive.
Naraku grinned maliciously at the thought. That girl Kagome would be the first on his list to die.
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The night of the new moon. His black hair blended in with the night. He'd been in the same tree all night with his eyes closed.
How he hated this night.
The glow of the camp fire was dimming now. He noticed the chill of the autumn night now in his human form. He wanted a blanket to cuddle in, like his friends had. But his pride wouldn't allow him to show weakness, even in his human state.
A sigh left his lips.
What was she doing now? Was she as cold as he was?
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It was about that time. The demon sped his way through the forest. Thoughts of his ward and subordinate, whom he had just left moments before, had already left his mind as he focused on a new subject.
He'd given her a full three months. She should be ready by now. He hadn't been able to check on her much. The duties of his land kept him busy, especially since he'd been somewhat neglecting them in his interest with the miko.
The demon found what he sought at about midday. She was walking along a river, her feet bare and her boyish pants lifted to her knees. Her weapons were nearby against a rock. The smile playing on her lips as she stepped in the shallow river suggested she was taking leisure time. She looked very childish as she splashed in the cool water. Considering the autumn weather, it was odd that it was more warm than cold. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
It'd figure he'd pick this time to try and find her. Normally, he wouldn't care. But he'd lose the element of surprise of he stepped in now since he'd have to wait for her to gather her weapons. He wouldn't attack an unarmed person, even if it wasn't for the purpose of killing.
It'd be wasting time to head back now. He'd just have to wait it out.
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The water felt good on her swollen feet. She'd walked a ways from her usual hunting grounds, feeling it was time to change the environment. She hadn't really settled on a place to stay yet, but it was nice to travel the region.
Along her travels, she'd been honing her swordsmanship. It was still no where near as good as Sesshomaru's, but she could tell it had improved quite a bit. Although she hated to admit it, she had grown more attached to her sword than her bow. She'd made a new one to match her sword in color. Half of it was stained red while the other was stained black, both blending with each other at the center. The tips of the longbow were blue. She still love archery, but since she'd already mastered it, swordsmanship was currently more exciting.
It had been walking and training for the past two or so months. Her body was almost exhausted. This short leisure time was one of the few rewards she allowed herself.
The girl stripped to nothing, tossing her clothes to the side with her weapons. She stepped to the end of the river where it streamed into a lake. The gleaming sun reflected off the crystal clear water brilliantly. A herd of deer stood grazing at the other end where the river started again. It seemed it could go on forever.
Kagome dove into the water, appreciating the way it glided over her tired body. The girl front flipped underwater and came up for oxygen. She dove under again, swimming like a mermaid as far as she could go before she came up for air again. She closed her eyes and allowed her body to float on the surface.
It had been a while since she'd swam. She normally only got in water when she was bathing in hot springs. Swimming was considered a luxury, and most of the time, she didn't have time for it, or she didn't allow herself to slow down. Today she'd allow herself this freedom.
The sun warmed her body. The day was uncharacteristically warm. She could feel the tension in her muscles slipping away as she slowly backstroked.
Inuyasha suddenly crossed her mind. She raked her mind as she tried to remember the words she'd sung months before.
You let your pride have control
Didn't listen to your soul
Your words always hit me hard
I never guess it'd leave me scarred
All the things you never saw
Led to our downfall
You never bothered to see my pain
Didn't think to take the blame
She actually remembered it. But the sadness in the words no longer described her mood. She began to sing again.
I can't take this anymore
It's time to open that door
I've got to open my eyes and see
All the other opportunities
I feel you taunting me
With your lingering memory
You're as clear as my tears
Even after all these years
But it's all over now
Don't you see how
I left you behind
Pushing you from my mind
My heart tells me no
But I wanna let go
I know it's time to move on
Cause the fire is gone
You'll never leave my heart
Cause now you are a part
Of who I am today
Now I've found my own way
I'm out on my own
Content with alone
The peace has come back
Since your presence I lack
After all the pain you put me through
I want you to know how I grew
See how I have my independence
My past is no longer a hindrance
The girl smiled. That was a good ending. Her present journey was yet to be completed. But her past was now over. She still missed her friends, including Inuyasha. But there would be a time when she saw them again. Now she would finish what she set out to do.
Still smiling, Kagome swam to the shallow river again. Enjoying the water's touch one last time, she finally lifted herself from its depths. Ringing out her hair, she walked to her clothing. Water droplets still clung to the curves of her body as she slipped her cloths back on.
As she armed herself with her weapons, she felt something creeping up her spine. It was like unease, but different. It took only a moment to realize it was her priestess powers telling her a demon was close by.
Without warning, Kagome flipped away from her position to see a gleaming sword in her place. She had had just enough time prepare herself after she'd sensed the demon.
Kagome landed on the soft grass, cool to her un-sandaled feet.
"You!" she exclaimed as Sesshomaru's features became distinguishable.
The girl had barely uttered the word when the demon raised his sword and charged at her again.
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Hiya all! I'm so sorry for the late update. I had writer's block for a while. And there was family crap, relationship issues, and school hell to worry about. But anyway, I finally got around to finishing the chapter.
The song I used really is mine, by the way. I was going to use a song from my library, but I couldn't really find one that fit as well as I wanted (not really, I just didn't feel like looking through all the songs). I wrote a poem to match the story so Kagome could sing it. It's alright I guess.
Anyway, tell me what you think about the chapter. I think it probably could have been better. But oh well. Until next chapter (which hopfully won't take so long this time!).
P.S. Again, don't feel like reviewing for errors. I think I caught most of them, but sorry if I didn't.