Merry Christmas all!
I feel totally energized about this, since we're nearing the end and I'm getting anxious and fidgety as always. I'll make sure that I update longer, better chapters since we're nearing the end. My guess is roughly three, maybe four more chapters after this…maybe two, I don't know. It just depends where I go with this.
I really enjoyed writing this story, and I thank you all for giving me such awesome support from chapter one until now (and hopefully continuing until I finish).
Disclaimer: Inuyasha nor Beauty and the Beast are owned by me. And yes, my friend had to drag me away crying after writing this.
Chapter the Fifteenth
Hojo's Choice
Kagome had woken up in a daze. The events of the day before had left her confused, bewildered, and shocked to say the least. For a few moments it had all been a blur, but then the terrible and emotional things came back to her memory.
For at least an hour, Kagome sat and cried in Taiyo-san's bed. After he was entirely sure that she was all out of tears, Taiyo had walked in quietly, two cups of tea in his hands. He'd sat down on the side of the bed, handed her a cup, and just quietly sipped his tea, waiting for her to begin her tale.
And begin she did. Kagome told her story, leaving no detail spared. It was well past noon once she was entirely finished.
"…and so here I am." She finished, her eyes tearing up again. She was a little surprised when the tears did not fall. She just didn't have the capacity to cry over Inuyasha anymore. He'd done what he'd done to save her. It was the least she could do to…to respect him for doing it.
"Kagome," Taiyo began slowly, his eyes widened slightly, staring at his now empty cup in astonishment, "I think your story would make an amazing book."
Kagome sighed at him, shaking her head, "I am in no mood for jokes." She murmured sourly.
"It's understandable." He replied, shrugging, "But I think I know what this…key is. I think…that the purest of exchanges is for you to exchange your love. Did you ever say 'I love you' to him?"
Kagome paled.
She never had.
Even though he had spoken the words only once, she felt overwhelmed that she had never told him on the many occasions she could have.
"Kagome, you should go back." Taiyo said, "I think I'm right, and if I am," He smiled, "You'll finally be happy."
Kagome nodded and stood, but a sound from outside the door stopped her from moving, "Who's there?" She asked in a voice that was fiercer than she'd expected.
There was no sound, then there was a noise like someone choking and the door opened to reveal a pale, shocked, and all around overwhelmed Hojo.
If Kagome had been pale about her revelation of never telling Inuyasha she loved him, this made her go white as a ghost. She felt her knees buckle slightly and she shook, "W-What did you hear?"
Hojo stared at her in terror, "Everything." He murmured guiltily.
Kagome fell to her knees, scrunching her face up in pain when they hit the wooden floor so hard. Hojo stepped to help, but something prevented him.
Kagome's eyes were fearful also, possibly more so than Hojo's. His arms fell to his sides and he smiled almost weirdly, "This demon…he made you cry right?"
"No…I…"
"But you cry over him forcing you away?" Hojo pressed, his eyes demanding.
Kagome nodded weakly, "But you heard the story, I l-"
"He hurt you." Hojo stated simply.
Taiyo stood up, taking on a slightly protective stance as he helped Kagome up, "This is none of your concern Hojo-sama." He muttered, setting Kagome onto the bed.
Kagome thanked Taiyo under her breath and looked back to Hojo, her large brown eyes pleading.
He seemed to melt under her gaze for a moment, "She is my fiancée." Hojo told Taiyo.
"She never agreed." Taiyo argued.
"Her grandfather has word before she does. Her grandfather is head of her house, so it is his choice, not hers. He was the one who suggested the marriage. I accepted, therefore she is my bride-to-be."
"It makes no difference if she hates you." Taiyo hissed. This was the fatherly side of him that Kagome appreciated so much. He would stand up for her when she, as a woman, could not. It didn't matter how much she hated it. In her time, women were never considered equal.
That's what she enjoyed so much about Inuyasha's castle. She was considered a guest, not a woman. She was treated fairly, even put up on a pedestal in a way. She was not considered inept at certain things because she was a woman there. That could've been one of the things that endeared her to the place so quickly.
"I am her fiancée." Hojo repeated, "That makes it my responsibility to destroy those who hurt her. I love Kagome."
Kagome stood up fiercely, suddenly finding her legs again. She was face-to-face with Hojo in an instant, "But I do not love you. I will never love you if you do anything to Inuyasha."
"You will learn," Hojo told her quietly, as if he were telling a small child who did not understand, "I will give you time to learn to love me."
"I will not stay with you." Kagome growled.
"You will." Hojo said in a hard voice, a voice that the normally docile and stupid boy had never acquired. It seemed wrong coming out of his mouth when it was upturned in a smile.
Taiyo cleared his throat, "Hojo, leave. This is my shop, so I can command you out."
"I mean no disrespect sir," Hojo amended, backing up slightly, "But Kagome, dearest," He trailed off.
Kagome gagged slightly.
"I will destroy this Inuyasha. I know men who can comb the forest in an instant from here to the village nearby. I have hunters who are strong and able and know where the so-called-abandoned castle that once commanded this entire area. I will take him down and then claim you for good as my wife." Hojo explained, a sick, twisted, but unnaturally innocent smile on his face, like he meant for his bitter words to make Kagome happy. He turned to leave.
Kagome's face twisted into a bitter snarl. She glared at Hojo and stamped her foot once to get his attention. He froze, and turned to meet her hard, angry glare.
She lifted her chin so that she looked more at-level with him before speaking, "Hojo, if you lay one finger on Inuyasha, not only will I pray that he destroys you, if you come back, I will ensure that you die painfully. You will never have me. Inuyasha stole my heart. Deal with it." She spat.
He smiled grimly, "Then I will steal your heart away from him and keep it for myself if it comes to that. I will carve out his heart so that I can bring it back for you."
"You sick, lowly, disgusting…bastard." Kagome hissed, watching as her words seemed to sting him for a moment before he turned on his heel and swept away.
Once she knew he was out of her proximity, Kagome broke down. This time, she knew the tears could and would come.
-
"Men…!" Hojo began, staring at the cluster of able-bodied, strong village men around him, "I have commanded you here to ask of your help with a certain…task."
The men began to murmur amongst themselves. Hojo cleared his throat loudly and they were silent.
"There is a demon in the old castle in the forest that attempted to claim the life of my fair Kagome, my bride-to-be. I know you men are loyal to me, so I pray that you aid my family, the village head family, in destroying the menace that could very well come for your wives and children too." Hojo called out to the crowd, using his hands to enhance the speech.
He felt the need to lie just a little. He needed to vanquish this Inuyasha who stole his Kagome's heart. That Inuyasha who was the disgusting demon that took Kagome away from him. His eyes darkened in fury. He would not let the woman he'd watched since he was a child be stolen so easily. He would put up a fight. He would win. He would prove his worth and loyalty and love to Kagome. She would be his.
She had to be. She was meant to love him, Hojo, son of the village leader, not some…some demon.
He loved Kagome with all of his heart. He worshipped her. He deserved her.
She had spoken horrible words to him when he'd promised her Inuyasha's head. She hadn't known was he was talking about. She was under a spell.
That vicious demon had enchanted her and spited him. Inuyasha would pay, and he would pay dearly.
He would pay with his life.
"Hojo-sama, I will pledge myself and my hunting brothers to aid in exterminating these vermin. You have my sword at your side!" One man declared.
There was a unanimous agreement murmured across the crowd.
Hojo smiled. He was pleased. This would happen.
They would leave as soon as possible.
"Gather your weapons; we leave before the hour has struck!" Hojo cried, and the men all yelled in excitement and scattered to scrounge up all weaponry they could find.
It would work. He would destroy this Inuyasha.
Hojo went to Taiyo's shop door. He had to barricade Kagome. He had to stop her from following.
When he began to work with the wood on the door, he saw the horrified pale face framed by beautiful ebony hair through the window. He saw her cuss at him in the most unladylike way.
He couldn't blame her. She was furious with him.
He was doing this because he loved her. Sometimes to help the ones you love you must hurt them first.
At least, that was his screwed up, twisted logical way of explaining his jealousy.
-
Kagome could hear them. She could hear the men as they pounded into the forest to destroy her beloved Inuyasha.
She threw a hopeless glance to Taiyo, who sighed sadly, "Kagome, I do not want to risk the only 'child' I have ever known to care for. So I must let you go because otherwise I would have condemned the life you lead. I cannot do that to you my…my daughter. Take my horse, Kyo, and ride him to the castle. If you hurry, you can reach the castle before Hojo does anything stupid that will hurt you."
Kagome hugged him, thanking him over and over again before she rushed to the blocked door.
"How do I get out?" She asked.
Taiyo grunted and went to behind his counter. He pulled out a large hammer, smirking at it in a twisted, sick way that Kagome figured was one of those testosterone-fueled loves for destroying things.
She'd never understand men. They could be human, demon, old, or young. They were all messed up.
He pulled it behind his head, and with a yell of fury, smashed the small front window of his beloved shop.
Kagome couldn't help but gasp when he did that. He loved his shop.
"Sometimes Kagome," Taiyo explained, knowing why she was so shocked, "There are things more important than material possessions."
He then proceeded to chip away the glass so that she had a clean space to crawl through.
Kagome grunted and struggled for a few minutes to get out of the relatively small window. When she had successfully removed herself from the small space and was outside, she turned to Taiyo, "Thank you. I will visit,"
"Give yourself a reason to before you make promises." He grunted, "Now go!"
Kagome nodded and rushed to the side of his shop, where she knew his stable was.
She remembered when he'd put her on Kyo and let her ride on his back as Taiyo led the beautiful horse through the streets. Kagome loved riding, but her grandfather never permitted her riding without a male escort because she was a woman.
She flung open the stable door and walked calmly towards the horse. She patted his nose quickly and mounted him, in too much of a hurry to put on a saddle. She was better bareback anyways.
She turned the majestic brown horse and lightly kicked his sides, "Giddy up!" She cried, "And hurry!" She added in a slight whisper as the horse galloped out of the town and into the forest.
Kagome was losing time. She had to hurry.
Otherwise, she may never see that beautiful face of Inuyasha alive again.
End of Chapter
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
It was short. I know. I just wanted to get this out because I was all backed up thanks to Christmas. I'll attempt to get the next chapter up quickly. Tell me if you think this chapter was a little too rushed. I love feedback…
But of course, you probably already knew that.
Review!
