Broken

Broken


Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha - more's the pity. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi.


Chapter Three


The warm afternoon breeze rustled the leaves in the trees. A gust of wind flitted forward, catching her hair in a wave, causing the tendrils to dance up into the air. Inuyasha was transfixed by the sight. Her hair so dark that it was almost blue contrasted with the milky complexion of her skin. Her hand reached up to grab the wayward hair, as she wrapped the locks around her fingers, twirling them down around her to the front of her neck. She was as beautiful as any heavenly creature.

Kagome sat on the bank of a small stream, enjoying the unusually pleasant weather. Taking a deep breath, she caught a hint of the scent of honeydew blossoms carried by the breeze. It relaxed her, and the gentle sound of the flowing water was like a lullaby. She soon found herself lying back against the soft green grass, closing her eyes. The sun warmed her face and its brightness still shone through her closed eyes.

*...If only it could always be like this*, Kagome sighed. This was a rare moment of peace in her otherwise often chaotic life. She had spent the greater part of her teenage years away from a normal life, away from her family and friends. Ah kami, away from her own time, thrust 500 years into the past, with another woman's soul inside her. With no other option but to fight or die, she was forced on a quest to collect the shards of the sacred jewel, the Shikon no Tama. Once it had been ripped from its hiding place in her very body by the demon who pulled her into this world, and shattered into thousands of tiny shards. Now whole again, it was tucked safely back inside her until she could decide what to do next.

Ah, but no, it had not all been bad. Kagome had come to love this world, this time. She had come to love the people in it. Shippo, the young kitsune, who was like a son to her; Sango, so full of pain as well as strength, was her dearst friend; Miroku, the wayward monk with the wandering hand, had always been a true and loyal companion. And then there was Inuyasha. Ai, where to start? It was he that Kagome felt most close to, and yet at the same time wondered if she really knew him. They had been through so much together, and she found herself thinking at times that she loved him -- and wondering if he loved her. How many times had he saved her life? How many times had he stepped in, putting his own life in danger, to protect her? Obviously he must care for her.

But there are always obstacles. The differences in themselves, the girl from the future and the hanyou from the past, notwithstanding, they each had their own issues. She was still young, and unsure of herself, no matter what image she liked to project. And he felt himself pulled back at times towards a dying promise made to another woman - the very woman whose soul Kagome now shared inside her body.

It was these things that Kagome mused on as she lay on the bank, at peace in the perfect moment. And it was she that kept Inuyasha close at hand. He peered out from behind the leaves of a distant tree, his amber eyes reflecting the sun's light, a hint of a warm smile playing on his lips. He had not taken his eyes off of her for a single moment since she had left the camp they set up earlier that afternoon. He wondered what she saw behind her closed eyes. She was so beautiful, and so vunerable at the same time. He would never admit it to her, but he often followed her when she went off on her own - something she did far too often to suit him. Since the Shikon no Tama had been fused together and returned to Kagome, she had become the target of countless demons who lusted after the power of the jewel within her. The fact that she seemed not to notice, or to care, the risk she put herself in when she left on her own infuriated him.

*She should not be so careless*, he thought rather smugly. But even as he thought this, he laid back on a branch, locking his hands together behind his head, and reclining back.

He watched as Kagome stretched from her position on the ground, reaching up with her arms towards the sky. Along with her arms, her shirt rose up, revealing the soft white skin of her stomach. A flush tore across Inuyasha's face, but still he did not take his eyes off of her.

"Feh," he said quietly, more trying to make himself believe that he didn't care than anything else.

Perhaps it was the stretch that led him to distraction, but he soon found himself thinking of Kagome, and the past they shared together. She was a mystery he didn't understand. She was a strong, beautiful woman, who cared about others. She cared about him. At least he thought so. Sometimes he wasn't sure. If that damn Kouga wasn't always in the way ... but she seemed to like having that piece of shit around.

"Feh," he said again, not as quietly this time. She was no fool, but sometimes she acted foolishly, and it drove him crazy. The thoughts completely consumed him, and as the wind shifted, he failed to notice the slight change. Added to the scent of honeydew was something new. Something powerful, and lustful. Almost too late, he caught the flash of black dart across the forest floor toward Kagome.

"KAGOME!", he cried, vaulting himself from his hiding place and drawing the Tetsusaiga with his free hand. Kagome looked up, startled, but only for a moment before a great demon in the form of a massive cat had her pinned to the ground. Almost instantly Inuyasha was at her side, sword drawn and ready to defend her.

"Get off of her bastard!"

"Mhmmm....but she has something I want," he purred. "Shikonnn no Taaammma". It rolled off his tongue, as he slowly licked his lips.

"I don't give a fuck what you want!," he cursed as he drew back Tetsusaiga and swung at the demon. Quick on his feet, the demon dodged the first blow, which passed over Kagome's head, bearly missing her.

"Shit!"

The demon darted past yet another swing, staying far enough away so as not to get hit, but close enough to the woman that the hanyou could not unleash the full power of his weapon. Leaping back towards Kagome, the demon teased at her with his claws, swiping at her body, tearing her uniform, and cutting a long lock of her hair. As the tendril floated to the ground, Kagome stood, ready at her feet, grabbed her bow. The demon was forced to turn and face Inuyasha as he again tried to strike the cat. With the demon destracted, Kagome stepped to the side and reached back, drawing an arrow.

"Kaze no Kizu.....!" As Inuyasha let forth the powerful blast of energy, Kagome fired an arrow at the demon, striking it in the back of the head. The power of the Tetsusaiga and the holy arrow consumed the demon in a flash of bright, purifying light. When the light faded, there was nothing left of the creature.

"Damn it, Kagome. Why are you always getting yourself into these situations?", he spat.

"Me? What are you talking about? I would have been just fine without you. And what exactly were you doing out here? Were you following me?"

"Feh, like you could take care of yourself. Pitiful human."

"Hentai! Jerk," Kagome cried. "You're worse than Miroku!"

"Is this the thanks that I get for saving your worthless life, time and time again?"

Angry tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. Before she would let him see how much his words hurt her sometimes, Kagome turned at took off running back to the camp. He could smell the tears. He hated when she cried, and he immediately regreted his words.

"Why can't she understand?" he sighed aloud. She had become so vulnerable since the jewel had been reformed. It was a powerful thing, that drew much unwanted attention. His only desire was to protect her from that. But she didn't see it. Reaching down, he picked up the lock of her hair before the wind caught it, and pressed it to his face, inhaling her scent. Then he turned and followed Kagome back through the forest, still determined not to let her out of his sight.

"You are foolish, hanyou, not to have sensed the demon's presence earlier. Foolish, and careless." From deep within the forest, Sesshomaru let out a disdainful laugh. Seeing that the situation was back in his brother's control, he retreated out of the light.


A/N: Thanks again for the feedback. I'm working hard!! -hatsumi