A/N: Well, this is my second attempt in five years - I think - to post something on . The first time, I got so frustrated I just gave up :P Hopefully this time I'll be able to actually post something without freaking out on me.

The reason I've finally decided to try and post something on here is because I have recently become extremely infatuated with the InuTaisho/Kagome pairing, and I've noticed there aren't nearly enough decent fanfics about them. So, I'm hoping to inspire others with this fic to take a stab at writing with this pairing.

Anywho, I hope you enjoy this story of mine. It's definitely a first for me, since up until now I have been solely a Sess/Kags author. It's time to change things up!

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Kaka Kara No Bourei

Part One:

Insidious

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"What do you think, Kagura? Is it not ingenious?"

The wind witch glared at her master with glowing ruby eyes. "Very."

Her lord and captor laughed as he fingered the darkly illuminated bauble in his grasp. "You despise me, Kagura," he stated conversationally, "and you so yearn for freedom that you would seek to conspire against me. But know this― even if you were to search those half-ling brothers out and warn them of what is to come, no difference would be made. Their fates are sealed, and if you truly wish to be free, you will behave yourself. Understood?"

Bowing low at the waist so he wouldn't see her disgusted sneer, Kagura pledged her obedience. "Yes, Master Naraku."

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Kagome shuddered and, with a dejected sigh, burrowed further into her sleeping bag.

Inuyasha was gone. Again.

And the young priestess was trying very hard not to let it bother her. In fact, when she'd returned earlier that evening from collecting water and found him gone, she hadn't even bothered to ask Sango and Miroku where he'd disappeared to. At this point, she was past caring.

Or, at least, she was nearly past caring.

With another sigh, Kagome rolled so her back was facing the campfire. After four years of dealing with his crap, she thought savagely, I'm surprised I even still care about him at all.

Granted, her romantic love of the hanyou had all but vanished. Being exposed to his immaturity and hotheadedness on a daily basis for so long had certainly changed her perspective on things. Now, every time she tried to imagine a future with him, a vision of Inuyasha stuffing his face and yelling at her while she tried to wrangle ten toddlers was all she got.

And that was not what she wanted.

She knew if they were ever to actually have a real relationship, neither one of them would be happy. Sure, it'd been hard to let go of him, but she was positive she'd done the right thing. She had to move on.

The loud rustling of branches jerked Kagome from her thoughts. There was a thud as Inuyasha landed on the ground beside her and Kagome quickly squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to steady her breathing, though it was hard. Even with her human nose, she could smell the heavy scent of graveyard soil― and sex ―clinging to her friend.

From the other side of camp, Kagome heard Sango snort softly. "You couldn't bother to take a bath before you came back?" she asked, her tone harsh.

"Why the hell do you care?" Inuyasha retorted quietly.

Kagome could practically see Sango roll her eyes. "Because you smell like shit," she replied. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed."

Miroku coughed politely and Kagome smiled. "You are smelling a little . . . unclean, my friend."

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed. "Whatever. I took a bath last week, and I ain't taking another one, so you're just gonna have to deal with it."

"Sit."

WHAM!

Turning on her right side, Kagome looked dispassionately at the half-demon where he lay sprawled on the ground. "There's no reason for you to act like an asshole, Inuyasha." She ignored Miroku and Sango's twin inhalations of shock. "But if you want to smell like you've been rolling around with a corpse, since that's exactly what you were doing, go ahead. Just find somewhere else to sleep tonight."

Inuyasha pushed himself up with his hands to glare at her. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he barked. "Something crawl up your ass and die?"

Kagome felt her fingernails dig into her palms. He was always like this after he saw Kikyou. "I'm fine," she answered, "but I'm not going to put up with your attitude right now. And I'm not going to deal with your God-awful stench right now, either. Go take a bath, or go away. Your choice."

"The fu―" But Inuyasha never got to finish.

Yelping like a kicked puppy, Inuyasha abruptly fell backwards, one hand clenched over his right eye. His body began to tremble convulsively as he cried out and arched up into the air.

Sango and Miroku watched, shocked still.

Kagome was out of her sleeping bag in a flash. Scrambling to his side, she immediately yanked one of her socks off and stuffed it into his mouth. If he was having a seizure, she didn't want him to accidentally swallow his tongue. Her blue eyes looked him over worriedly as he continued to spasm and she tried to remember what little she knew about seizures. Oh, what do I do?

She attempted to hold Inuyasha still, but his violent flailing was making it difficult and the fact that he was a great deal stronger than her certainly didn't help matters. "Guys!" she shrieked. "I could really use some assistance, here!"

Sango seemed to snap out of her surprise first. She hurried forward and moved to grasp Inuyasha by the shoulders. "What in the world is going on, Kagome?" she exclaimed while she pinned the hanyou to the cold grass.

"I have no idea," the miko said. "I thought he was having a seizure, but I noticed he keeps holding his eye." Reaching up, she gently pulled the sock from his mouth. "I don't know how to help him."

"His eye?" Miroku intoned as he knelt beside her. "Perhaps it has been infected."

"Maybe." Kagome gripped Inuyasha's wrist firmly in both hands and started to pull. "I should look at it and check."

Then, to Kagome's horror, Inuyasha went slack suddenly as his hand dropped to the side . . .

And she saw the shining black pearl that rested in his palm.

Silence settled over the group. Automatically, Kagome extended her hand, instinct telling her to hurry and grab it before something else did.

But, she was too late.

An insistent buzzing met her ears and, as she looked on, a hell bug swept in, gathered up the small jewel, and flew off into the trees, undoubtedly returning to Naraku.

And Miroku, though he had no idea the significance of what had just transpired, voiced what they were all thinking.

"Oh, shit."

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Across Japan, a daiyoukai came to a sudden standstill, foreboding tingling in every one of his senses. Tilting his beautiful silver head, his golden gaze flicked to the horizon, contemplating, considering . . .

Dark humor lit in his eyes, and a dangerous smile curved his lips.

Fool.

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A/N: Woo first chapter is DONE! * squeals * I am so proud of myself!

I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please review!