A/N: Hey! This is now my second fanfic. My first one was "One Last Trick". You should check it out! I hope you enjoy this chapter. It may be a little rusty because it's the beginning of the story. So bear with me. If you read my last story, then you know the action will come. Heh. That's a conditional statement. Dang Geometry! It makes me think and remember. Anywho...Enjoy!
Disclaimer- I don't own Inuyasha? But I am bound to kill Kikyou...yes...yes...kill Kikyou.
Chapter 1: Night Chills
It was a beautiful night. The stars were shining in the sky, and the gang had just decided to settle down and make a camp. Kagome placed her vibrant yellow backpack onto the rocky ground and pulled out a sleeping bag. Shippou almost fell over at the thought of lying down to a good night's rest. Inuyasha, however, just jumped into the closest tree and closed his eyes. Sango and Miroku made their resting spots on the other side of the campfire. Kagome positioned her body in the sleeping bag and stared up at Inuyasha.
'He must still be mad at our argument from earlier.' Kagome thought as a smile played on her lips.
...Flashback...
Kagome and Sango were starting to fill their full weight upon their feet.
"Inuyasha, I think it's getting late. Shouldn't we stop and make camp?" Kagome asked as she practically drug her sluggish body along the trail. Inuyasha looked back at her through the corner of his eye.
"Tired already? How do you ever expect us to finish collecting the jewel shards if you guys always want to stop and rest?" Inuyasha asked simple mindedly.
"Inuyasha, you may be able to go on forever. But we have to rest. My feet are killing me!" Sango griped, although it was very unlike her to even start complaining.
"Inuyasha! Stop being so stubborn!" Shippou chimed in.
"Tch. Whatever. Do what you want, but I'm gonna keep going." Inuyasha held his hand out to the side, in motion as he talked. Kagome lowered her eyebrows and grunted.
"Inuyasha! Would it hurt you to rest every once in a while? It's getting late..." Kagome tried her best to suppress the annoyance in her voice. Inuyasha ignored the miko completely, not a good move. Kagome grinned and sat down on a rock. "Fine! You keep going, but I'm staying right here." Kagome was smiling on the inside. Inuyasha stopped in his tracks.
'Huh? Kagome?' Inuyasha turned around and looked at Kagome. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou watched as Kagome worked. Each and every one of them knew that Kagome would win in the end.
"What do I care? Who needs ya?" Inuyasha spat. Kagome closed her eyes and frowned. If pouting didn't get him, she knew nothing would. Inuyasha plopped down on the ground.
"Tch. Whatever." Inuyasha mumbled to himself. Sango and Miroku let out a sigh. This was going to be a long night.
...End Flashback...
Kagome was interrupted from her thoughts, by Shippou, who was hovering over her.
"Uh Kagome...do you think you could scoot over?" Shippou was moving on all sides of Kagome trying to find a spot to lye down at. Kagome blushed and made room for the kitsune.
"Sorry Shippou." Kagome said. Shippou just smiled and before a minute passed by, he was fast asleep. Kagome turned over onto her back and watched the stars until sleep overcame her. Little did anyone know, the last thing on Inuyasha's mind was sleep. Inuyasha opened his eyes and looked to see if Sango or Miroku were awake. Neither of them showed the slightest hint of moving, so Inuyasha jumped down from his quarters in the tree and decided to take a walk.
"If we don't keep going, we'll never find the jewel shards before Naraku." Inuyasha sternly told himself as his amber eyes shone in the moonlight. Inuyasha walked until he reached a onsen. 'It's been awhile since I had a bath' Inuyasha thought to himself. Inuyasha looked around to make sure no one was watching before he got undressed and stepped into the onsen. The steam rose up from the water and relaxed Inuyasha's tense muscles.
"No wonder Kagome likes these things so much." Inuyasha said to himself before he was completely submerged, in exception to his dog ears. When Inuyasha couldn't hold his breath any longer he lifted his head out of the water, to be greeted by the chilly night wind. Inuyasha washed all of the dirt and blood off of his arms, legs, and chest before stepping out of the onsen. He stretched one final time before putting his haori on, along with the pants.
Inuyasha walked back to the camp and jumped into his tree. "Good. Everyone is still asleep." Inuyasha checked over everyone once more before also slipping away into slumber.
...Morning...
Inuyasha awoke at the crack of dawn to discover that Kagome was already up cooking breakfast. Inuyasha jumped down from his tree and walked over to the campfire.
"Whatcha cooking?" Inuyasha asked as he stood over Kagome's pot and sniffed the air. Kagome poured some more hot water into the pot and closed her eyes.
"Ramen." Kagome answered. Inuyasha's eyes filled with delight.
"Well hurry!" Inuyasha demanded. Kagome looked up at Inuyasha in anger.
"Sorry if I can't cook faster! If you don't want crunchy noodles. Then sit down!" Kagome covered her mouth as Inuyasha fell to the ground. "I'm so sorry Inuyasha! I didn't mean to." Kagome said as she ran to Inuyasha's side.
"Then take these damn beads off of me." Inuyasha said as he looked up from the ground. Kagome helped Inuyasha up, not by his choice though. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou woke up from all of the commotion.
"Good Morning Kagome." Miroku said as he sat down on a log by Kagome. Sango yawned and was soon to join them. Shippou, however, still felt a little groggy so he stayed directly where he was.
Kagome smiled at her friends before offering them some Ramen. Miroku and Sango graciously accepted. Kagome looked towards Inuyasha, whom had his arms crossed. 'Oh brother. Don't tell me he's pouting.' Kagome shook her head.
"Inuyasha, don't you want something to eat?" Kagome held a cup out towards Inuyasha.
"Don't you know it." Inuyasha snatched the cup away from Kagome and chowed down. Kagome had never seen him eat so sloppily.
"Inuyasha! Would it kill ya to have even a little consideration?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha slurped down the rest of his Ramen and held out his cup.
"More." Inuyasha barked. Kagome set her Ramen down and stormed off into the forest. But before she left, she made sure she got even.
"SIT BOY! SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT BOY!" Kagome scram without even looking back at Inuyasha. All Kagome heard was a huge 'thud'. But that was enough to satisfy her. "Serves him right! Why does he have to be so rude? He could have at least said please." Kagome sighed. She knew better than that. Inuyasha would never say please and thank you. He just wasn't that type of guy. "Even after a year, Inuyasha still doesn't care enough to be polite." Kagome plopped down on the nearest rock. It was best that she calm down, or else Inuyasha would never leave the ground.
...Meanwhile...
Inuyasha struggled to get off of the ground. "What did I do this time?" Inuyasha asked, clearly in pain. Sango and Miroku both shook their heads.
"I can't believe you just asked that." Miroku sighed. Sango stood up.
"I better go find her. Knowing Kagome, she's probably already shredded her way through the forest." Sango said before she stalked off after Kagome.
Inuyasha sat down on the ground with his arms in-between his legs, like a dog.
"I'm surprised that Kagome still puts up with you after all of this time." Miroku said as he shifted his staff to his left hand. That comment caught Inuyasha's attention.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked in a low voice.
"If you don't start respecting her feelings more Inuyasha, she might just decide that you aren't worth her time." Miroku said sternly. Inuyasha slouched.
"You really think that she would leave?" Inuyasha asked. He was getting more depressed by the second. Miroku nodded slowly.
"I'm afraid so." Miroku said wearily.
"Tch. What do you know? Kagome wouldn't leave over something so stupid." Inuyasha crossed his arms.
'He can act so much like a child sometimes. I'm starting to get the feeling that Shippou is more mature.' Miroku thought to himself.
...Sango...
Sango walked through the forest searching for her best friend. "Kagome? Are you there?" Sango yelled through cupped hands. To no avail, Sango didn't receive a response. But that surely wasn't going to stop her. As Sango progressively got deeper into the forest, she got the strange feeling that Kagome wouldn't be found there.
Sango decided to yell for her friend one last time before convincing herself that Kagome had gone home. "Kagome! If you're anywhere near me say something!" Sango yelled as loud as she could, which made the birds flee from the treetops. Disappointed, Sango decided it best to head back to the camp.
Sango sighed as she started her journey back to camp. "Inuyasha this is all your fault." Sango looked down at the ground, but only for a short while until she bumped into something.
"Ouch." Sango said as she rubbed the top of her head.
"Sango?" Came a familiar voice. Sango looked up to discover Kagome standing above her with her hand extended.
"Kagome. I've been looking all over for you." Sango said as she grasped Kagome's hand.
"Gomen. I should have been watching where I was going." Kagome said. Sango stood up and brushed off her skirt.
"It's okay. We both weren't watching where we were going." Sango said with a smile on her face. Kagome smiled back, but it soon faded away. "What's wrong Kagome?" Sango asked as she led her friend over to a clearing in the forest. Kagome sat down on the ground and sighed.
"Nothing." Kagome said as she put a fake smile back on her face.
"Just ignore him. Inuyasha can be so hard headed some times. Politeness just doesn't come with him." Sango said as though she had read Kagome's mind.
"I know. But it's just so hard putting up with him when he acts like that. Makes me happy that Kaede blessed me with the 'sit' command." Kagome and Sango laughed.
"Inuyasha may be stubborn, and even rude. But you know he cares a lot about you. As do you about him." Sango was trying her best to encourage Kagome not to go home.
"Mm. You're right. Oh well. I guess we can't always dwell on the past." Kagome stood up. Sango smiled on the inside. 'Inuyasha may have the worst manners. But when it comes to Kagome, his main desire is to protect her.' Sango thought to herself.
"Well, I guess we should be heading back now." Kagome said to her best friend.
"Hai." Sango said as she caught up with Kagome.
...Inuyasha and Miroku...
"What's taking them so long?" Inuyasha growled, his fingers fidgeting and toes tapping on the ground.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to look for them." Miroku said. Annoyed from Inuyasha's fidgeting. Miroku stood up as the girl's came into view. "Oh. There they are now."
Inuyasha jumped to his feet and looked in the direction that Miroku was staring in. Kagome and Sango approached the guys and sat down by the fire.
"It's about time." Inuyasha said to Kagome.
"Don't tell me that you were waiting for me." Kagome said as she rolled her sleeping back up and stuffed it into her yellow backpack.
"So what if I was." Inuyasha snapped. Kagome rolled her eyes. Miroku jumped in-between them, to keep a battle form beginning. Sango looked at Kagome and smiled. She knew that Kagome would suppress anything that she wanted to say.
"Don't worry Miroku. I'm not going to argue with him." Kagome smiled. Miroku let out the breath that he had been holding.
"That's a relief." Miroku chuckled.
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you getting sick of me Kagome? Is that it?" Inuyasha yelled at Kagome as she walked past him.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm only saying that there is no need to argue is all." Kagome said in her normal sweet voice, which confused Inuyasha. Normally, Kagome would have scram at Inuyasha.
"Ok..." Inuyasha unballed his fists and followed after Kagome. Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kirara close behind them. Inuyasha somehow made his way up to the front of the gang. Sango figured it was because Kagome didn't feel like starting another argument. Kagome let herself fall behind, to where she was right next to Sango. Miroku took this as a hint, so he walked up to the front with Inuyasha. Shippou not far behind.
"I wonder where we are going." Sango said.
"Who knows? Inuyasha just wonders around. I don't think he ever knows where he's headed." Kagome smiled. Sango nodded.
"I think you're right. That probably explains why we have almost been killed so many times." Sango put her finger on her lip as she looked up at the sky. Kagome giggled.
"Except for when Sesshoumaru appears. then it's not Inuyasha's fault. Sesshoumaru just wants to take Tetsusaiga." Kagome giggled.
"That's about the only time." Sango said before both girls busted out in laughter. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippou all looked back at Sango and Kagome.
"Hmm. What's so funny?" Inuyasha asked in curiosity. Sango and Kagome immediately stopped laughing.
"Uh..nothing. Just something silly is all." Sango said as Kagome waved them on.
"Weird." Miroku and Inuyasha both said in unison. Kagome and Sango continued their conversation. Miroku and Inuyasha tried their best to listen in, but was met by Shippou, who jumped onto Miroku's shoulder.
"Shippou! Now's not the time." Miroku yelled at the kitsune. Inuyasha blinked a few times.
"Now you see how annoying he is." Inuyasha smirked. Miroku shook his head as he placed Shippou back down on the ground.
"I'm not an animal you know." Shippou shook his fist at Inuyasha and Miroku.
"No? You sure do act like one..." Inuyasha mumbled.
"I heard that!" Shippou jumped onto Inuyasha's head and started pulling on his ears.
"Hey! Stop that!" Inuyasha pulled the kitsune off of his head and bonked Shippou on his.
"Inuyasha! That really hurt." Shippou cried. Inuyasha held Shippou by the tail as he tried to claw Inuyasha's eyes out.
"You two! Cut it out!" Kagome yelled. Shippou immediately stopped. Inuyasha dropped Shippou on the ground. "Inuyasha!" Kagome grunted. "He's just a child."
"Feh. Whatever." Inuyasha whispered under his breath. Kagome sighed.
'Why does he have to be so childish? Inuyasha can be sweet at times, but most of the time, he acts like Souta.' Kagome thought to herself. Shippou hopped onto Kagome's shoulder.
"Thanks Kagome. I don't know what I would do without you." Shippou hugged Kagome's neck.
"You're welcome Shippou." Kagome giggled. Miroku gradually found himself back beside Sango as Kagome walked next to Inuyasha.
"My dear Sango, do you know what it feels like for me to be away from you for so long?" Miroku grabbed a hold of Sango's hand and rubbed it against his face.
"Houshi-sama..." Sango could feel her cheeks getting hot. "HENTAI!" Sango slapped Miroku across the face. "Keep your hands to yourself."
Miroku rubbed his face. "It's been too long." Miroku said dreamily.
"Miroku's putting his hands where they don't belong again." Kagome said in a monotone voice.
Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks and put his hand on Tetsusaiga. "I don't like this." Inuyasha growled.
"Do you smell something Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah. I smell Sesshoumaru. The bastard probably thinks he is going to get my Tetsusaiga again." Inuyasha said as the sky turned black and a lightening bolt struck the ground. Kirara transformed and Sango grabbed a hold of her haraikotsu.
There in front of them, stood the youkai Lord himself, Sesshoumaru.
"What in the hell do you want!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I've come for Tetsusaiga...little brother." Sesshoumaru held his posture. Inuyasha hated when Sesshoumaru used that 'little brother' stuff on him.
"You're no brother of mine." Inuyasha said with a smirk across his face. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes for a few moments.
"I have no problem with that." Sesshoumaru drew Toukijin. Inuyasha smiled.
"If it's a battle you want, fine. I need to get out some anger." Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga and ran towards Sesshoumaru.
"Do you really think you can defeat this Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru held up Toukijin and sent a blue wave hurdling towards Inuyasha, hitting him dead on. Kagome gasped and attempted to run towards Inuyasha, but was stopped by Miroku.
"No Kagome. It's too dangerous." Miroku said, still having his hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"But Inuyasha..." Kagome sounded depressed.
"He'll be fine. It's not like he hasn't battled his brother before." Miroku said. Kagome only nodded.
Inuyasha tightened his grasp on Tetsusaiga as he managed to stand up. "Tch. Is that all you got?" Inuyasha said as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Sesshoumaru stood up straight once more. "Don't be a fool Inuyasha. I will take Tetsusaiga from you whether you're dead, or alive."
"I'd like to see you try!" Inuyasha darted towards Sesshoumaru again, with Tetsusaiga held above his head.
'He charges at me blindly, with great haste.' Sesshoumaru thought as he held off Inuyasha's attack. Even with one arm, Sesshoumaru still overpowered Inuyasha.
"You handle your sword like a Neanderthal." Sesshoumaru knew how to get under Inuyasha's skin.
"Tch. I'm sick of hearing your mouth." Inuyasha broke the clash with Sesshoumaru and jumped back. "Miroku, take Kagome and Sango and get out of here." Inuyasha said without even looking back at them. Miroku nodded and grabbed the two women by their arms.
"Trying to save your friends I see. How pathetic. No matter, you shall die." Sesshoumaru ran towards Inuyasha with great speeds and knocked the Tetsusaiga out of his hand.
As Kagome was running to get away, she noticed a small light go by her face. 'I wonder what that was. Probably just a firefly.' Kagome told herself. When Miroku thought that they were a safe distance away, he stopped and looked on at the battle.
The strange light that Kagome had seen earlier was hovering over Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. Although Sesshoumaru nor Inuyasha could smell or hear her, she spoke.
"I am Takiya, demon ness of peace and serenity. You two feuding brothers have altered family peace. Therefore, you shall be punished until your war falters." And with that said, Takiya surrounded Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha with a gold light.
Continued in Chapter 2
A/N: So...how did you like it? The next chapter should be up shortly. I know I said it would take two weeks for me to start this story, but I just couldn't help it! I got so many things to put into the story and I just had to type. Sorry for any inconvenience! Please review and tell me how you like the first chapter.