Merciful Passers-by

A Love Like No Other - Merciful Passers-by

“InuYasha, I sense a jewel shard nearby!” Kagome said as she brought her bike to a stop.

“Really?  Where?”

“By the river up ahead!”

“Sango, sense any demons up ahead?” InuYasha asked yelling up at Sango riding Kirara.

“No, none at all!  Do you, InuYasha?” Sango replied.

“No!”

“InuYasha, up ahead, in the water!” Miroku yelled to InuYasha from his position sitting behind Sango.

“Huh?  What is it, Miroku?”

“A maiden!” Miroku replied back.  Not a bad looking one either.  Miroku said to himself.

“InuYASHA!!!  Aren’t you gonna save her?” Kagome yelled at the stubborn haynou.

“Why do I always gotta be the one rescuing everyone?  Every time I hear, (in a high pitch voice) ‘InuYasha, go to the rescue,’ I’m supposed to drop whatever the hell I’m doing and go to the rescue!  I’m gettin’ a little sick of it… Huh?” InuYasha stopped saying in mid-complaint.

What stopped InuYasha’s complaining was the sight of Kagome and Sango wading into the river.  Each took one of Kaze’s shoulders and pulled her out of the river and lay her down near Miroku and InuYasha’s feet, a few yards away from the river’s bank.

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo watched in amazement as Kagome put to use her knowledge of CPR to revive Kaze.  In the mean time, InuYasha looked upon the others around Kaze from the distance of a near-by tree.  Kagome got Kaze breathing again, but Kaze remained unconscious.  Kagome turned Kaze on her side and she unconsciously coughed up water.

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Hours passed and the sun was about to set.  The moon and stars, however, were awake and shinning their delicate silver glow on the Earth.  Kaze opened her eyes as she saw the beautiful pinks, purples, and blues that still lingered in the sky.  She turned her head to the right and saw the river gently flowing, then looked to her left and saw four adults, a child that resembled a kitsune (fox), and what looked like a demon kitten sitting around a fire.  Where am I?  Who are they?

Kagome was the first to notice Kaze had come back to consciousness.  She walked over to Kaze and knelt beside her, as InuYasha watched Kagome with a protective eye.

“I’m glad you’ve finally come to,” Kagome said with a caring smile, “I’m Kagome.”

“I’m Kaze.”

“That’s a nice name.”

“As is yours.  Where am I?  What happened?”

“We happened upon you after you fell into the river.  From your appearance I’d say you haven’t eaten for a few days.  So you probably fainted and fell into the river.  Luckily, we came just in time to pull you out.”

“Really?  I am very grateful to you and your comrades.  How can I ever repay you?” Kaze asked sitting up and bowed respectfully to Kagome.

“There’s really nothing you can…”

InuYasha leapt over and stood beside Kagome, scaring Kaze half to death.  “You could give us that Jewel shard in your sword’s sheath.  That would do nicely!” InuYasha sharply commented.

“InuYASHA…”

“It’s ok, Kagome.  I don’t need it.  My father put the shard in the sheath before he died and entrusted the sword to me.”

“Kaze, he doesn’t deserve it.  He didn’t help with your rescue so he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Then you can have it, Kagome.”

“Thank you,” Kagome replied happily as she took the Jewel shard from InuYasha’s hand, purified it, and then teasingly stuck out her tongue to InuYasha.  InuYasha just pouted.

“Why don’t you come and warm yourself by the fire and have something to eat with us?” Kagome asked.

“No, I can’t.  I must get back to the castle, to my lord.  Lest he’ll beat me for not bringing back the water for his dinner.”

“Come eat and we’ll help you take the water back to the castle, to your lord.  Right, InuYasha?”

“Feh!” he replied.

“Don’t mind him, Kaze, he’s a little moody today.”

“What is he?  A demon?” Kaze asked.

“No, he’s a hanyou (half-demon).”

“So he has dog ears?”

“Yup!”

“May I…touch them…?”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!” InuYasha barked, “I want to keep my dignity.”

“Pride’s more like it,” Kagome mumbled under her breath.

“I HEARD THAT!!!” InuYasha exclaimed.

“Anyway, Kaze, I wish you would come and ‘SIT’ (‘THUD’) by the fire with us for a quick dinner.”

“Very well.  Thank you.”

“Oh, and don’t seat yourself by the monk, he’s a pervert!” Sango said patting the ground beside her, asking Kaze to sit between her and Shippo.

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After finishing dinner, everyone enjoyed Kaze’s company and stories of her happy childhood before her father’s death.

“Uh, InuYasha.  I’d like to talk to you for a moment?” Kagome asked sweetly.

“Feh!” InuYasha replied stubbornly, closing his eyes and turning his head away from Kagome.

“InuYasha,” Kagome repeated firmly.

“Alright!  I’m coming,” InuYasha said standing up.

“Don’t mind us, you guys.  InuYasha and I will be back in a moment,” Kagome said leading InuYasha a little further in the forest and behind a tree.  “InuYasha, what’s the matter with you today, you’re usually friendlier than this.  What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” he replied hotly.

“C’mon, I know something’s wrong.  What is it?”

“I smell Sesshomaru near and that damn sword of his!”

“Then why are you taking all your aggression out on Kaze?”

“I just don’t trust her, ok?”

“Why not?’

“There’s just something about her I don’t like.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know…”

“Well, will you still help her carry the water back to her village?”

“Feh!  Why should I?”

“Do it for me?” Kagome asked glaring at InuYasha with puppy eyes.

“I do lots of stuff for you, and what do I get?  Nothing!”

“Most of the time we get shards.”

“Yeah, but that’s beside the point.”

“If you do this for me I’ll…” Kagome began before whispering, “I’ll scratch behind your ears later,” into InuYasha’s ear, “After everyone’s asleep.”  InuYasha’s ears started to twitch just thinking about it.

“Ok.  Fine!”

Kagome just replied with a smile.

InuYasha and Kagome returned back to camp a moment later.  Miroku had two slap marks, one on each cheek, one from Sango and one from Kaze.  Apparently, Miroku thought he could catch a quick pass of his hands across Sango and Kaze’s backsides.  Clearly, neither girl appreciated it.

“So, Kaze, was it?”  Lead me to your village. I’ll help you carry those buckets of water back to your village,” InuYasha said, arms crossed in the front of his chest.  Kagome lovingly smiled at him.

While Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara stayed at camp, InuYasha, Kagome, and Kaze walked toward the village, after filling the buckets full of water.

When they arrived at the castle’s entrance, InuYasha returned the buckets to Kaze.  She regretfully took them from the hanyou, with her cold, tired muscles complaining with jolts of pain running through her body.

“This is far enough.  I don’t know what my master or the cook would do if they knew I had help with my chores.  I’m already due for a whipping in the morning for being late,” Kaze whispered trying to balance the buckets on her shoulders.

“Why can’t you just leave this place Kaze?” Kagome asked, “And come with us…?”

“Hey, you didn’t…”

‘WHAP’ Kagome slapped her hand over InuYasha’s mouth.

“I just can’t, Kagome,” Kaze began, “I’ve thought of leaving many times, but didn’t have enough nerves or courage.”

”Stand up for yourself!  Leave with us tonight.”

“I told you, Kagome.  I cannot leave!” Kaze exclaimed in a whisper.

“Why not?”

“Because I have been betrothed to the lord’s eldest son!”

“What?” Kagome asked speechless, ”If you’re betrothed to him, then why are you a servant?”

“I don’t have time to explain.  I must get back.  Thank you both…for everything,” Kaze said before heading toward the castle.

Kagome and InuYasha watched as Kaze entered the castle’s gates.  Little be known to Kaze, a pair of cold eyes were watching her from a far.

To be continued…

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Warning: The next chapter will contain some mature themes.

Whom does the pair of cold eyes belong to?  What will be Kaze’s severe punishment for returning to the castle late at night?  Stand tuned and find out!!!