Disclaimer: And yet again, theworldsgreatest01 openly admits to the public that they do not own Inuyasha.

A/N: This author has decided to let the characters take a rest from their tumultuous life to be able to further delve into their developing personalities and their "coming-of-age" if you will, so they will be staying in this village for quite some time in order to explore the one of the scarce moments they will have to be regular teenagers, complete with troubles with the opposite sex, their own conflicting feelings and the urgent need to find themselves, as all adolescents do. These next few chapters will be dedicated to observing the progression within Kikyou-chan and Kohaku-san and how fast they will develop new views about the world around themselves by taking time to part ways and explore horizons they were never offered to explore before.

Chapter Seven: Innocence--Ignorance

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You wouldn't be able to guess exactly how astonished I was when Imoutou-chan narrowed her eyes at me in the worst possible way, engendering a deep seated guilt on my part at the repugnance she showed, and walked away without explaining anything. I can't believe she actually thought the whole situation was a fault of my own! I can't trust that she even considered the possibility of my enjoying the predicament! But, there I was, lying down on a bed of golden grass on a deserted hill with a woman's chest in front of my face and her harlot's smile giving the subterfuge of innocence. The blood rushed to my face with such speed that I felt a slight dizziness from my bodily fluid being so rapidly transported from other parts of my body that needed it. Seconds appeared to space out in time as everything slowed down in my eyes after I saw Imoutou-chan's silhouette in the distance, not even taking the care to look back at least to see me one last time. Or to see if I was still alive because judging by the rapid rate of my heartbeat, I considered the eventual theory that I would be having the snake-of-the-heart attack me without mercy. And as I sat there taking occasional, curious glances back at the valley of sin, while time had slowed to my convenience, I wondered why this was all happening. All these women were calling me handsome, attractive, even going so far as to say I'm gorgeous! Me, gorgeous? It was so confusing…Why would they be taking the time to salivate over me? Yes, there were periods when we visited certain villages that one or two women would be rather odd around me, including that village headman's psychotic daughter, but then again it was two or three--not an entire village's worth! I just can't see it. How could I be attractive?

I didn't know how long I had been reviewing my thoughts until the woman showing me her chest tapped my shoulder. "Yes?" I said, snapping out of my trance.

"Oh, you're going to the festival with me?" she placed a hand over her mouth in genuine excitement.

She had misheard me, or misinterpreted what my 'yes' really meant. I almost felt sorry that I had to correct her since she was so worked up over what she thought was my agreement to take her to the village festival that apparently was a very big event here. But, I wasn't going to go through a whole disastrous event to try to please one overly-sexed woman. I've learned that you can't please everyone, so I rushed to explain before she became fixated on my attending the event with her. Well, more fixated than she already was.

"No, forgive me, but you misunder--I mean, I said that the wrong way." I didn't want her to feel foolish on my part. "I-I really d-d-don't have plans on attend-attending the festival with anyone!" With her chest dangling before me, it was increasingly difficult to concentrate.

"What?" she looked heartbroken at this, and the guilt was so great that I almost told her it was all a mistake and that I really wanted to take her to the festival. Thankfully, she stood up straight in shock and released me from my virtuous prison. "But you said--Houshi-sama…"

"I should really be going, now." I interrupted before things got even worse than they already were. "It was nice meeting you…"

I had been waiting for her to tell me her name, if only to be polite, but as I scrambled to stand and be on my way, she grabbed at my arm. "Mieko. Don't go yet, please."

I suddenly felt very nervous as her nails started to dig desperately into my shoulder. Her eyes conveyed a pure extreme anxiety that frightened me. "Mieko-san…I would be honored to but I really must--"

Her grip tightened further and I began to feel a tingling sensation running up and down my arm. "I've never met someone as flattering as you, Houshi-sama. Not once in my lifetime have I felt such a strong desire to be with another man other than you." she whispered, looking up at me.

Flattering? All I had said was where my father was located, that I had to leave, that I was grateful to have met her--which was a lie, clearly--and asked her for her name to be polite. I hadn't even been remotely flattering and she had just met me. She doesn't even have any idea what my real name is, and this I know because she's been calling me "Houshi-sama" the entire time.

I tried to turn myself loose discreetly. It was impossible to accomplish without using brute force, and my mental alarms went off. I need to talk myself out of this, and make sure not to make any sudden movements. I took an attempt to show her I was calm, but the chuckle I struggled to surface from the bottom of my stomach came out as a shaky, nervous laugh. "Really, I-I should b-be the flattered one!" The bridge of my nose heated and I knew a blush had settled there and along my cheeks. "You are a very pretty woman Mieko-san, and as much as I would like to stay I-I-I h-have to go--I-I must, so, so I'll be leaving now, if you would just be so kind as to--"

She was clueless to the rapid tugging I did to my trapped arm. "You think I'm pretty!?" she grinned, digging her fingernails deeper into my skin through my robes.

If she was distracted by this, she might be even more distracted if I showered on the compliments. Then, maybe she would loosen her grip and I would be able to sneak away without her even knowing! I proceeded into my spontaneous plan. "Of-of course! Any man would think that! In fact, I-I-if I wasn't already betrothed to another…" I've already committed more transgressions in just these few minutes than in my entire life! I must go to beg forgiveness and meditate later on, for sure. "…I would c-c-consider courting you r-right now!"

It was one of the worst mistakes I have made in my whole life. Not only did she not release me, but it felt like she was holding on for dear life now, and in such an expeditious moment that I had no idea what happened, she cried out, "Oh, Houshi-sama!" And grabbed my face in her hands to kiss me. This, thank Buddha, was not my first kiss, but I was disturbed by it all the same! This was the last straw. I couldn't possibly be able to take any more sexual harassment than this, which was already bordering on rape! Who knows if she won't take it to the next step without any interference!! So, after processing my position, her lips molded against mine, thankfully her tongue stayed in her own mouth, I broke from her so quick that I almost staggered back and fell onto my rear.

"I-I-I, er, bye!" I sputtered and fled from the situation as fast as I could. My legs never worked as much as they did then, not even in combat or in a near-death circumstance. Well, if you consider it, that was a near-death circumstance.

After that, I had developed a quick phobia for returning to the village where I had no doubts that other women identical to the one who had just assaulted me lurked, eager for my return, so I ran in the opposite direction, down the great hill and into the amber colored woods ahead. My heart straining against my chest, I found it hard to breathe as I dashed upon dried leaves, air came in and out of my lungs in pants and I was sweating profusely, even though it was getting late and a bit chilly. When I finally stopped, I was concerned with how much my hands were shaking. I was incredibly nervous about what had just occurred. And now my body was registering it as well. I hadn't done anything to warrant such attention! All I've ever done is be myself and no one ever paid so much mind then! So why the attention now? I take a careful look around to make sure no one had followed me. Sure, it has been a while since we stopped at a village, and the last village we stopped at, a handful of girls accosted me…but that was a long time ago…have I really changed all that much? I need to see my reflection. When was the last time I saw myself? Months. I needed to now.

I observed the surroundings, the position of the trees, the dampness of the air--all these factors would help me decide the approximate location of the nearest source of water, as I was taught by my Haha-ue. The bark on the tree I leaned against to catch my breath was moldy, so I knew immediately that a pond was very near and to the east, and that is where I walked at a regular pace.

I don't know if I'm delighted at the possibility of my being handsome or some other. Actually, I'm not all that much proud of all the eyes on me claiming that I am. I guess, maybe its because I don't want that. What I mean is, I don't want that burden upon my shoulders, and I call it a burden because…well, I don't like seeing women that just dispose themselves upon handsome strangers--it looks so depressing and sad, and I wouldn't want to be that stranger that sees first-hand the pitiful, salacious things that women do to be loved. I don't want to be with someone who cares about the way I look and lets that be the first thing that attracts her to me and the only thing she might care about. I want to be with someone who notices me drifting among the sea of ordinary men and says to herself, 'he's extraordinary'. I want to be discreet and subtle, but I just want a small light about me, and I want to find a woman that looks hard enough to see it, not a large, boastful beam shooting from my face that nearly blinds them all. That attracts all kinds of women, special or not. But I'm looking for the special one.

The pond was in my sights after just a minute of walking east, and it was significantly broad, save for a few intersecting trees that blocked the other side of it and most likely hid the actual breadth of its vastness. I drew in a deep breath that I was ready to exhale but kept in from the surprise of hearing another body traveling swiftly through the woods toward the pond. I instinctively hid behind a tree and looked in the direction that the sound of running feet had come from, but I was only slightly relieved to find it wasn't a demon but a girl. She was barefoot, about my age and carried an expression of anxiousness as she raced to the same pond my sights were set on moments ago, but to the other side that was hidden from me before. Although, when I glanced around the tree my back was tightly pressed against I had a full view of the once hidden area. There was another girl on the far-end of the bank of the pond, bending over and rinsing her face. A pile of clothes was next to her.

The running girl called out, "Sayuri-chan!" and the girl at the pond sat up and watched the other one slow down and come to a complete stop in front of her.

I wasn't able to see from afar, but from where I was, the Sayuri girl at the edge of the pond was quite attractive opposite the girl who had addressed her that had questionably short red hair. Sayuri-san's was brown as far as I could tell, and her eyes were blue. It peaked my interest, if I must admit. A woman with blue eyes is very peculiar. I've heard stories of women in far-off places that have different colored eyes and such, varying from blue to green and all types of colors, but here in Nihon, it is strangely surreal to see a woman with eyes colored other than brown, like Imoutou-chan. I kept my hiding place behind the tree, lest they discover me and the same scenario like before be played over again, but I protruded a little more into view to see them better.

"Sayuri-chan, you must introduce me to that monk! Its not fair if you keep him all to yourself, you know!" the red haired girl said.

Obviously, I knew who she was speaking of, although Sayuri-san's titled head and furrowed eyebrows suggested differently. "Who? A monk?" her voice was soft and light. Almost a whisper. My interest sparked all the more.

She looked up at the red haired girl standing over her as she knelt at the bank. "Oh, don't try to play dumb. You know…the young apprentice monk! He's staying at your house, Sayuri-chan so don't act like--"

"There's a monk staying at my home?" Sayuri-san asked, oblivious to the information. That was when my mind lit up in enlightenment. She was the grand-niece to the old man in who's home we were offered shelter. She was little Sayuri-san…even though she was a full grown woman. Not that I mean anything by saying she's a full grown woman…it is true.

The red haired girl eyed her for a few seconds, then folded her arms. "Yes!" she responded. "A whole group of wanderers. A hanyou, a miko, a tajiya, a strange human-looking youkai, no doubt the offspring of the hanyou and miko, a cute kitsune youkai and two monks, one of which is the one everyone is talking about! You can't be that dense Sayuri-chan, they are in your own home with your Oji-san Gendomaru entertaining them!"

Sayuri-san rose to her feet and tilted her head again. "I had no idea…" she said, her voice a little distant. She moved her head upright. "Oji is always taking in wanderers… Well, I was running errands all day so I haven't even met them yet."

The girl with her arms folded stepped back, astounded. "You mean to tell me that you have the most gorgeous man in Nihon under your roof and you haven't even seen him yet?!"

A light-hearted symphony of laughter filled the air and wrapped around my heart. I drew in a breath which further placed constriction over my chest. Her laugh was so lyrical and brilliant that it touched me in a way I'm incapable of comprehending or explaining for that matter.

"The most gorgeous man in Nihon? I think you're over exaggerating a bit, Asuza-chan." Sayuri-san picked up the bundle of clothes, frowned, then placed them back on the ground where they were, ultimately completing a pointless action that caused me to smile.

Asuza-san watched her with a sneer. "Well, we'll see who's over exaggerating when you see him. You'll be just as eager to fall over him, even kiss him if you're lucky…" Asuza-san smiled malignantly as Sayuri-san averted her eyes and blushed slightly. It appeared she was aware of the effect the subject had on Sayuri-san. "Mieko-chan actually kissed him and she said the sun came before her when she felt his lips with hers…"

I immediately regretted not leaving that woman sooner, before she was allowed her minute of fame and spread it to the whole world.

She cupped her hands together and sighed. "She said he told her he would marry her if he wasn't already betrothed."

Sayuri-san's eyes widened in alarm. "Mieko-chan kissed a man that is engaged to someone else? And you find interest in him?"

"Oh, please Sayuri-chan." Asuza-san waved a nonchalant hand. "He's only betrothed. It s not like he's married or anything."

Sayuri-san was not pleased with this, and gave Asuza-san a benign look of disappointment. She apparently ignored it. "Just hurry up and go see him and you'll know what I mean. And who knows what might happen, since he is in your house…and he's going to be sleeping there--maybe you'll be the one who will do more than kiss him, if you know what I mean…"

A silence filled the air and was broken by Asuza-san's sharp cachinnating. Nothing like Sayuri-san's delicate giggle. It nearly broke the sound barrier. "Don't forget to tell him about me when you see him!" she called, taking off in a tumult of crackling dry leaves under bare feet.

I wondered what I should do then, as I found myself watching the simple, pointless, pretty things she did, such as catch a leaf falling from the sky, place it in her yukata, then take it out and discard it, then gathering a handful of water in both her palms and looking into it, then letting it fall back into the pond with a small splash, wiping her hands dry on her hakama. I have no idea what it was, but I felt something toward her, something I've never felt before, and I haven't even met her yet. Just observing her had given me feelings I am unable to describe. Her uncommonness shone like the brightest stone in the bottom of the pool, and I was transfixed by it.

So I had no clue as to what to do next, considering how distracted I was. I couldn't just walk away because she would undoubtedly hear my footsteps on the fallen leaves coating the woodland floor. At first I had resolved to stay hidden until she left, which didn't seem to long from now since her friend had already left and she was possibly done with whatever she was doing before if she was simply looking around…but I was terribly wrong. When she was done making sure no one was around, she untied the sash holding her yukata together--I should have known if she was wearing only a yukata and not a kimono!--and opened the flaps covering her body so swiftly I was unaware of what she was doing until I saw everything…her top, her bottom, everything…and slammed my back against the tree I was peering around so hard it shook and she paused. I placed my trembling fist against my mouth to abstain from making any unwelcome sounds. I didn't dare breathe, and she was content to have heard nothing. This I knew as I heard the whisper of the water as it moved and accommodated her body. Run! I thought instantly, as the image of her nude figure burned into my memory. But then again, I couldn't! she would hear! And I was left with nothing else to do but wait for her to finish bathing, which could leave me ensconced behind the tree for hours, feeling like the most perverted person in the world.

Then, as I listened unwillingly to the splashing water, my heart jumped in joyous celebration at the emotional, poetic song pouring from her lips and echoing within the vestibules of my ears. Oh, her laugh was amazing enough, but her voice, singing in that lilting tune! It was breathtaking. She was also singing a song I recognized, a simple village lullaby that I had once heard when I was little, through the open door of another family's home. The mother was singing it to her infant, and as Haha-ue tucked me in that night I begged her to sing it to me. I had thought my Haha-ue's voice was impeccable, yet when I heard Sayuri-san's….my neck burned with the heat traveling up to my face. I closed my eyes and listened avidly to her, as if I were drifting off to sleep. That voice…oh, that voice. I felt so many confusing emotions! I wanted to run out in the open and hold her, tell her my name and hear the song reverberate into my heart…

I wasn't even aware of when she drifted off, the song ceasing, and I didn't hear the splash of water any longer. Finally, she had left! I was crestfallen that I wasn't able to hear more of her singing, yet I was also pleased I could leave as well. With a breath of calm, I walked out from behind the tree and collided into a solid, warm, slightly damp form.

"Oh!" it gasped, a thump of a fallen body in my ears, and a soft bundle of fabric fell on my feet. But when I heard that voice, that gasp, my heart leapt into my mouth. I gazed down, and directly into a pair of light blue eyes that resembled a robin's egg and conveyed the pain its wielder felt. It was her, planted on her rear on the ground before me and finally looking up to meet my shocked stare with one of ingenuousness. Her features softened and her look turned into a gape to which she sucked in a small breath of air.

I forgot-- when time stood still as we were, staring into each other's eyes-- that she was on the ground, and I broke free from the enchantment long enough to say, "I-I'm sorry." And offer her my hand. It's the same hand I offered Imoutou-chan the night we reconciled from the long argument months before. I took note of this as she placed her moist hand inside of mine and wrapped her fingers of a demure bride around it. I effortlessly helped her to her feet; she weighed almost nothing. Then, I perfunctorily picked up her clothes for her and handed them to her, staring into her eyes the entire time. She automatically took them, held them to her chest, and there we stood, without anything else to distract us. Suddenly, we both blushed at the same time and looked away from each other. I noticed the dainty pink fluster about her and the heat traveling all over my body. What do I say? I just jumped from behind a tree right after she was done bathing. The chance that she didn't think I was a pervert was extremely unlikely.

Sayuri-san broke the silence. "Um…uh--" She looked into my eyes again and her expression was lost, dazed and touching. My insides fluttered with the specialty her eyes placed upon me.

"You have a remarkable voice." Why can't I ever stay quiet? The words poured forth in a wave that was too great to control, and my mouth allowed them to escape their prison.

Her gaze widened exponentially. "What?"

My face burned and I presently turned and walked off altogether before I said anything else. She didn't pursue me to clarify things, and I was glad until halfway back to the village I realized that she had been heading to her home, which was exactly where I was going. She had unknowingly given me a head start, but it was useless. I would see her again. I didn't know how I felt after that. The walk to the old man's hut was longer than usual, and in that course of time that I had to mentally review everything, I figured out nothing. It was dark, the Hour of the Rat evident in the lack of light all around me, and I hadn't even the slightest idea until now. I stood before the door of the hut, hesitant in entering. A lot happened from the afternoon I left with Imoutou-chan, to the night I arrived alone at the stone steps leading inside. I've been kissed by a manic, obsessed woman, peeped in on a girl undressing and bathing, listened to her as she sang in the confidence of her false solitude, and bumped into her on my way out, then told her she has an amazing voice and walked away without another word. All from sunrise to sunset. I would really need to repent tomorrow.

I thought I heard her in the darkness, humming that village lullaby as she walked back home and pondered over that man who emerged suspiciously from behind a tree after she had just gotten dressed from being undressed moments before and impulsively told her she has a beautiful voice, most likely embarrassed to hear that someone had actually been eavesdropping. So I hurried to throw back the fabric that covered the entrance of the door and enter rather than allow her to catch me.

To my surprise, everyone already retired to their respective sleeping quarters and when I walked in the hut the only one in the entrance room was Haha-ue, sitting with her legs folded beneath her and a single candle lighting up the area.

"Welcome back. Where have you been?" she asked as I yawned.

"Er--I've just been enjoying the scenery…" the image of Sayuri-san's nude body burned behind my eyelids and I cringed at how perverted I sounded.

"Really?" Haha-ue arched an eyebrow and stood up in front of me. "I figured that much."

I followed her gaze and found that she was looking at my lips. Why would my Haha-ue be looking at my lips? "What's wrong?" She ignored my confusion and reached into the folds of my robes to retrieve the shuriken I kept hidden there, holding it in front of my face. I didn't comprehend and glanced at her for guidance but she stared at a hole in the floor with a concentration that portrayed her worries. Then I looked directly at the shuriken, and saw my reflection. The red smudge on my lips. A rouge smudge. The woman that kissed me! She left her mark and it fell back to haunt me! That was why Sayuri-san stared at me so awkwardly?! She was trying to tell me I had been walking around with rouge on my lips. And now I walked into the hut at the latest hour, and my Haha-ue saw her son with rouge on his lips. When I glanced back at her, anxiety was etched into her brow. She closed her eyes.

"Please don't tell me you're trying to continue your father's legacy." she sighed.

A/N: Sadly, this chapter did not delve far enough into Kohaku's experience with this girl, Sayuri-chan. Yet, this author merely wanted to do a short introduction on the subject, and the appearance of a new interest for the young monk, and the strong, quick effect she had on him, contrary to her status in society. Hopefully, this author will further explain Kohaku's plight of romance and maybe you, the reader, will see whether it goes unrequited or not.