Out of the Ordinary

xxxxxxxxxx

"Kikyou? Who the hell is that?" he said coldly, staring down at the weak village men. "Listen you..." started one of them, then another more quiet man come forward, "Priestess Kikyou is there, right in front of you... she was betrayed by her best friend." he sighed, bowing his head. The louder more arrogant village man then spoke, "Such a shame, all over a filthy youkai man! To think that our priestesses would defile their souls for a Lord of Youkai." Inuyasha looked up at the sad miko, she did look sad, and lonley. He felt a sinking feeling of guilt and sympathy in his heart. But shook it off, he didn't even know this woman. But still... why did he feel this way?

"Youkai? What in hell? Where is this? What time?" Inuyasha yelled, getting impatient with these demanding villiagers. The quieter village man come forward to get a closer look at Inuyasha. He examined his face and squinted his eyes to see clearly, "A youkai is a demon, and those that roam these lands are very dangerous. You are in the Eastern Villiage in Edo Japan. You.. aren't from around here are you?" he finished. Inuyasha sighed, annoyed, "Look what year is it?" he moaned. 'This bastard's so dense he can't even answer a simple question.' he thought.

"It is the year 1582. Didn't you know that?" said the louder man. The quieter man seemed older in his years, and often looked deep in thought, "Could you be the one our daimyo has spoken of? Could you be the samurai from another world?" he said slowly, stroking his white beard. Inuyasha had no idea what this man was talking about and had an equally confused look on his face. He allowed the men from the village to tell him this story, and see just what was going on.

"Two years ago, when our priestesses met their fate, the youkai lord returned to his palace in the Western Lands. He had become the succesor to his father, Lord InuTaishou Tokugawa. This young Sesshoumaru served below his father as Daimyo of the Mikawa Territory. His father was the Shogun Tokugawa, one of the most powerful shoguns of the era. But as of late his father Lord InuTaishou had died in the war over the Western Lands. So now Sesshoumaru has become the Tokugawa Shogun." finished the older quiet man. Inuyasha was confused, Sesshouamru?, and part of him just wanted to know about this Kikyou. But what had the man meant, samurai from another world?

"Yeah, interesting old man... but what the hell do you mean samurai from another world?" Inuyasha said, leaning forward to hear more. The old man pondered this thought and then spoke, "When Lord Sesshoumaru first came to power, he had told his surrounding villages that there would appear a samurai from another world. He said that this one man was the only man who could remove the power of the sacred arrow that binds our Priestess Kikyou to the Goshinboku tree." the old man getured behind Inuyasha to the sad sleeping miko. "Sesshoumaru and Kikyou were in love, and it tore them to death."

Inuyasha stood and looked at Kikyou again, somehow he felt a strange connection that bid him to stay. "Well young samurai, we shall be in the village yonder if you wish to stay." said the old man, following behind the younger man out of sight.

Inuyasha climbed up the knarled roots of the vines that had grown around the miko. He had arrived in mid day and now it was starting to get dark. He reached up again, towrads the arrow. It started to glow a bright red color. The feathers on the end of the arrow were torn and weathered and the arrow itself had patches of dried blood where it dissapeared beneath Kikyous white haori. He stood back to admire her figure, she was thin, a tiny woman and so fragile. So gentle, Inuyasha liked the way her white kimono clashed with her deep red hakama pants. Her feet were covered in white tabi socks and her tatami sandals were dangling from her delicate feet.

"What do I do? Am I really the one who can free her? Should I...?" his hands ignored his thoughts and wandered up to the arrow sticking from Kikyous chest. It glowed red brightly, and Inuyasha grasped it firmly. The arrow dissentigrated in front of him and the miko fell from her hold. Inuyasha caught her out of instinct, holding her in his lap. "Ki... Kikyou? Are you... okay?" he stuttered, still in denial that he had broken the spell.

Kikyou's eyes opened slowly, and Inuyasha saw the sad brown glint in them. Her eyes were captivating, and he found himself bound to her gaze. She looked up at him, blinking, "Who.. who are you?" she whispered slowly. Inuyasha looked down at her, thinking, 'What the fuck am I supposed to say? Yeah, I'm a stranger from another world, I came through the well...' he didn't answer right away, and Kikyou was patient in waiting for him. "I... I'm a samurai. I set you free." he said, trying to sound like he belonged in this world.

Kikyou sat up slowly, and moved herself from his hold. She sat next to him, looking him in the eyes. His eyes, she could tell were a deep passionate blue, and she found she couldn't look away. She was speechless as to who he was, and what he was wearing. "You.. aren't from around here... are you?"

It was then that Inuyasha answered truthfully, "No, I came through that well, from the future. I know it sounds stupid but..." Kikyou put a finger to his lips, without even thinking. She quickly withdrew and started her mumbled sentance, "It isn't... It's just what I expected." she said, almost unsure of his reaction. He sat puzzled, staring at her with his eyebrow raised in question. "Kikyou... you knew I was coming?" he asked, most definatly confused. Kikyou bowed her head, and smiled a tear coming to her eyes. "I'll tell you the whole truth, for it weighs my heart." She looed up to see Inuyasha edged, hanging on her every word. He was intentitively listening, waiting for her voice to sound.

"I knew that day, what would happen to me. But I didn't want to stop my own death, because I didn't want to stay with Lord Sesshoumaru. It's true I did love him, but it was all forbidden. I couldn't abandon my people, I couldn't live with the guilt, so I let myself die. I could have easily dodged Kagome's attack, but I wanted an easy way out." She sighed heavily, and lay down on her side, obviously feeling horrible about the whole situation. She felt a pair of strong arms close around her.

"Kikyou, I know how that feels, to want to give up. But it's not the way, trust me I've attempted suicied before. Please just promise me you won't give up." he was speaking as if he knew her, and like they had been friends, or lovers. And it was funny that way, because Inuyasha did feel something towards her. It was a bond, like he knew that they would be together. But not for a long time, he barely knew her and besides, she was in love with a youkai shogun. there was no way it could ever be possible. But he still had his hopes.

"Kikyou, we should go back to your village. Your people have missed you." he sighed, picking her up, since he already knew she was too weak to walk on her own. Kikyou gasped at his udden action, but let her arms find their way around his neck. She smiled up at him, and she could swear she felt a connection there.

Not a word was spoken on the way to the village, but thoughts were made. And what was happening behind closed doors wouldn't be realized. Atleast... not yet.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


In the next chapter... the love is blossoming... and Sesshoumaru hears of his lovers return... but maybe Inuyasha will be the one to step in and confess... xx Akira Kikyou Kanawa xx