- CHAPTER TWO – TORTURE -
Kagome was furious. After two hours of yelling, kicking, scratching, and spitting, her kidnapper was no closer to letting her go. If anything, he seemed amused, eating up distance with an almost jaunty pace, leaving Kanaka far behind.
Exhausted, she lay silent over his shoulder.
Throughout the moonlit night, so bright it may as well have been day to his amber eyes, Inu-Yasha had enjoyed the girl's temper immensely. It almost rivaled his, full of swears and delightful—if distracting—writhing. He didn't want it to stop. "So… content now to curse me in your head?" He slid his hand higher up on her thigh.
Kagome resisted the bait, feeling the bounce in his step increase. Instead, she imagined scenarios where he met an unfortunate, nasty end.
"All tired out?" He quipped. "No more pathetic attempts at escape?"
He could be struck down by freak lightning.
"I guess the inferiority of your sex caught up with you."
Or somehow fall off a hidden cliff.
"I can't imagine what that slave trader wanted you for anyway. You hardly seem worth the trouble."
Or trip on his rusty sword with his stupid bare feet and die from infection.
"And you're so homely," Inu-Yasha channeled his inner ass, wanting a rise out of her more than he should. "He must have had to put a sheet over that face of yours when he—."
"Shut up!" Kagome couldn't help herself, anger and indignation rearing. She let them distract from the sting of his words. Had her captor never been in a harem before? His lack of tact was almost naïve. If he'd seen the broken, overly-painted women dressed in cheap, garish colors, he'd have known not to toss such a childish, cavalier barb.
At least, she hoped so. The concern he'd revealed flickered to mind; she hadn't imagined it, had she?
Oblivious, Inu-Yasha smiled in victory. "But God he must have liked you. He fed you well enough," he grunted and hoisted her higher. "Heaviest load I've ever walked away with."
"You could always put me down," Kagome resisted the urge to start pummeling his back again.
"Then you'd run away, and my men would have nothing to entertain them."
"Who are these men you keep talking about?" She snapped.
He shook his head against her side. "Don't you know who I am?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "A youkai who likes the sound of his own voice?"
He fought back another grin. "I'm Inu-Yasha, leader of the Ouja Clan."
"Inu-Yasha… that sounds familiar."
"I knew you'd heard of me," he patted her rear with a smug hand.
Over his shoulder, Kagome gave a half-smile. She could bait too. "There was a servant who worked in Naraku's kitchens…," she started. "Poor boy wasn't easy on the eyes…. I think his mother named him Inu-Yasha because he looked like a mutt," her smile grew as she felt his shoulders tense. "Yes… I can see the resemblance now. Maybe he's a relative of yours?"
He grumbled and tightened hold of her legs, his pleasure at her comebacks suddenly lessening.
"I bet stealing slaves is the only way you get women," she pressed.
"Hardly," he scoffed. "And believe me, if I did, taking you would be an act of desperation."
Kagome went pink. "Right. You're probably just carrying me because it's the only female contact you've had in a year."
"Actually, you're over my shoulder so you don't scare anyone with your face."
"Really?" She arched an eyebrow. "Then why's your hand halfway up my thigh?"
"It's so big, there's plenty to hold onto," he bit back, quickly returning his arm to her knees.
Kagome took the opportunity and began kicking again, grabbing a fistful of white hair and pulling hard.
Inu-Yasha yelped. "Goddamnit woman!"
"Put me down!"
"No!"
Kagome gave another sharp tug. "What's wrong? Having trouble controlling a girl?"
Inu-Yasha growled. "Stupid… mouthy… wench," he was starting to rethink this idea. "Not… worth the trouble…."
"What was that?" Kagome asked. "Getting worked up, Inu-koro?"
"Nope," he gritted his teeth. Why had he taken her again? Protect her? Ha. That sharp tongue was defense enough. His stride lost its spring. "It must be all the blood rushing to your ears."
"Whose fault is that? I'd be much more civil if you just let me walk."
"Somehow, I don't think I found you in that alley because you're prone to obedience," he said dryly. "You'll just try to run away."
Kagome shrugged. "Well, yeah. But at least we'd stop arguing."
He smiled in spite of himself, knowing she couldn't see. She certainly left an impression—bold as any of his clan.
"When are we going to stop?" She asked.
"Not till sunrise. Why?"
"I have to pee."
She was also a huge pain.
"Not so tight!"
Inu-Yasha pulled the ropes tighter and finished tying the knot.
"This hurts Inu-koro!" Kagome cursed, struggling as soon as he let go.
He stood with a dry look. "Trying to beguile me with your feminine charms, eh?"
"No," she continued rubbing her wrists together. "You wouldn't stand a chance."
"I doubt that," he moved to gather firewood.
"Wanna bet?"
He 'hmphed' over his shoulder. "Try me."
"Where are you going?"
"To make a fire. We might as well stop for the night, since your need for modesty has made us detour," Inu-Yasha referred to their recent shouting-match, where she had refused to relieve herself out in the open.
"Don't…," Kagome grew quiet. "Don't leave me."
Surprised by the tone, he turned to see big eyes, suddenly scared.
His brow furrowed. "What is it?"
"Stay here… please.
Her chin quivered for a moment, and Inu-Yasha thought he saw the beginning of tears. "What, you have to pee again?"
"No."
"Then shut it."
"I-I'm not used to the forest at night."
A response stayed just inside his mouth. Warm mansion rooms surrounded by servants like that kitchen boy were far removed from the dense trees and moving shadows, and while he couldn't muster sympathy, he decided he wouldn't antagonize either. "Well get used to it," he grumbled.
Kagome's gaze fell to her bound hands. "Naraku never left me alone at night," she whispered, almost under her breath.
The same feeling from Kanaka replaced his irritation, rising up and making it hard to inhale. Inu-Yasha dropped his eyes, unable to look at her. With his head down, he didn't notice the girl peek up surreptitiously, taking in the tense set of his shoulders and the clenched line of his jaw knowingly.
Kagome cleared her throat, "You saved me. Don't leave now."
He returned to her face. "I'll be right back," fear and helplessness warred across it; he couldn't believe it was the same person he'd carried this whole way.
"Maybe if you just untied me, I'd feel better?" She offered innocently. "I could defend myself."
Inu-Yasha frowned. "What?"
"I won't run away, I promise. You're the only man who's shown me any kindness," she turned shy. "I should repay you for your help."
His frown deepened. "How? You don't have money."
"Maybe…," she bent her head, avoiding his stare. "Maybe I can pay you some other way?"
"Huh?" The syllable brimmed with confusion.
Kagome fought down an eye-roll. He had definitely never visited a harem. She looked down at her torn dress and shifted her leg, baring a thigh.
Inu-Yasha's jaw swung open.
"Just come over here and free my hands," she batted her lashes and lowered her voice. "I'll make this whole ordeal worth it."
Inu-Yasha flushed bright red, floundering for words. "Y-You don't really think I'm falling for this, do you?" He stammered.
Kagome's expression morphed instantly. "Oh COME ON!" All traces of nervousness and seduction evaporated. "That was my best!"
He let the cool shadows ease his flaming cheeks. "No wonder you needed to run away," he managed, trying desperately not to gawk at the high hem of her dress. "Bet it stopped working fast."
She scowled. "You just don't like women!"
"If I saw one around here, maybe I'd show some interest!" He barked back.
"Let me go!"
Inu-Yasha shook his head. "I'm going for firewood. While I'm gone, I hope you get eaten by small, wild animals with dull teeth. Sneaky… lying… little…," he trailed off, turning to go.
Kagome's eyes narrowed. "I choose rusty sword."
"What?"
She sighed and renewed her efforts against the ropes. "Barefoot… moron…."
Kagome stared into the fire, sulking. Her captor sat across the low flames, eating traveling meat and ignoring her.
Inu-Yasha's mind raced with more than the memory of exposed thigh. The girl had been alive when he returned, intact and with no bite marks. She'd worked part of the knot out around her wrists and had gotten to her feet just as he'd entered the clearing. Before she could run, he had dropped his armload of wood and tackled her.
Now she sat with her limbs triple-bound.
Inu-Yasha could feel her eyes on him and glanced up. She was watching him eat. "I'm going to blindfold you in a minute," he grumbled. "Stop staring."
"I'm hungry."
"Not my problem," he took a big bite, feeling vindictive.
Kagome sighed. "When are we going to get to this mountain?"
He'd been so eager to engage her before, but now wasn't sure he had enough wit left, and reluctantly offered, "We should reach the outskirts of hanyou territory late tomorrow."
"Hanyou?" She echoed incredulously. "You're not even full youkai?"
"So what?"
"Oh nothing," her voice grew casual. "I just heard your kind tend to have small… well… you know," she shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I guess the half-human part has to be somewhere."
Inu-Yasha's jaw tightened. There was no way he had ever found anything about her attractive.
"Are all harem favorites as big-boned as you?" He ground out.
"Only if every hanyou is as blind as you seem to be," Kagome shot back. "Hmmm… blind and ill-equipped… no wonder you have a temper."
Inu-Yasha closed his hand into a fist, strangling the dried meat. "You're the most intolerable female I've ever met."
"Like it's an impressive list."
"It's long enough!"
"Is that what you say when you drop your pants and they snicker?"
He scowled. "Enough about my parts!"
"Why?" Kagome's gaze flicked to his waist. "You're content commenting on my body."
"That's different."
"How? Like you have more right than I?"
Inu-Yasha felt himself losing ground, but plowed ahead anyway. "I won't get into some debate on the sexes with you."
"Cause you'd lose!"
He shook his head. She had something for everything that came out of his mouth. He said as much. "Do you have to have the last word?"
"Always."
"Not with me."
Kagome paused. "Yes."
Inu-Yasha threw up his arms and bellowed across the fire. "You're RIDICULOUS!"
"Then let me go."
"NO! Are you going to end every argument with that?!"
"When I'm held captive," Kagome said dryly.
Inu-Yasha cursed his ears. "I never should have gone down that alley," it was their fault he had responded to her scream.
They pricked up on cue, swiveling to the left, and picking out the low shuffle of shaking brush. Something moved in the forest.
"You're right," Kagome continued, oblivious. "I think I'd have been—"
"Quiet," he cut in. "Listen," he rose to face the noise.
"What?" She wheeled around.
"Don't you hear that?"
"Is it the sound of your big head losing air?"
Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes. Unbelievable.
Scanning the darkness, he made out a large shape among the trees, lumbering with purpose towards them. He stepped around the fire and grabbed the girl roughly by the elbow. Pulling her to her feet, he returned to the forest.
"Ow!" She protested, teetering to find her balance. "Hey!"
"Stop talking for five minutes," Inu-Yasha hissed. Pushing her small frame behind him, he drew his sword.
Kagome gained her footing only by leaning against his back; it reeked of exertion and smoke, and she made a face, shifting to his shoulder. "What do you expect to do with that old thing?" Her gaze lingered on the weapon in worry, wondering why he favored it over the demonic claws extending from his fingers. They were certainly sharp enough, as fresh pricks blooming on her elbow proved, while the sword looked like it'd been stolen from a junk shop.
"What did I say?" He spoke through clenched teeth. "Fight the urge to share every inane thought that pops into your head."
"I don't see what the big deal is."
Inu-Yasha pointed with his sword as the noise grew louder. Crashing into the clearing, their visitor stepped out from the trees into the firelight. "Take a look," he said. "I guess humans are the blind ones."
A full youkai covered in thick scales stood before them, walking upright on tree-trunk-sized legs, its mouth full of long, sharp teeth. It blinked at them from a neck-less, massive face, and its vacant eyes came alive with interest.
Inu-Yasha heard the girl gasp, and the breaths at his hair and shoulder sped up.
The youkai took a step forward, staring hungrily at Kagome. "Wa-hant," it demanded, sounding like it was coughing up phlegm.
Inu-Yasha raised his sword. His father's weapon might not have had much theatrical effect, but he often used it to kill lesser demons in homage to the fallen Lord of the Western Lands. "That's far enough," he called.
The creature laughed, a guttural, choking sound that shuddered leaves on nearby trees. "Wa-hant fe-mayl."
"Don't we all," Inu-Yasha gave a fanged grin. "Sorry, you won't find one here. This loud-mouth behind me is as far from female as it gets."
The creature blinked again.
He sneered. "Too many words for you, big boy?"
It surged forward, surprisingly fast for its size, and Inu-Yasha roared, bringing his sword down and aiming for its bloated head. A blinding flash accompanied the swing, blasting out a shock wave in all directions and knocking everyone from their feet.
Inu-Yasha flew backwards, crashing into Kagome and landing atop her. Shoulder-blades hit her with bruising force, and she cried out at the impact and his weight.
"You called me heavy?" She shrieked.
He craned his neck back to glare. "Not the time."
The flash faded, and the moon reflected off the edge of his old, beaten Tessaiga.
"What the—?" He stared at the once familiar sword in hand, transformed now into a giant, gleaming fang.
"Kiillll," the youkai rose quickly, lunging for the one claiming his prize. Swinging a massive arm, it struck Inu-Yasha full in the chest.
Still on his back, the hanyou tightened every muscle at the blow, grunting with effort, shielding the girl under him as claws raked deep.
The youkai screeched high in glee. "Kiillll!" Its claws came down again.
"No!" Kagome screamed.
Inu-Yasha forced his hands to grip Tessaiga's heavy hilt, lifting it high and blocking the next attack. Pushing the massive arm away, he staggered to his feet.
"Stay back!" He called.
Kagome looked to the dark patch spreading wide across his haori. "You're bleeding!"
He turned to her. Glancing down, he offered a smirk that ignored the looming threat before him. "Barely."
Kagome heard her own dismissal from Kanaka on his lips. The trees and firelight momentarily dropped away, and a small smile threatened to pull the corners of her mouth up. "It'll swell," she countered.
"You some kind of expert?"
"As a matter of fact—," her eyes went wide. "Watch out!" She pointed with her bound hands as the youkai crashed forward, clubbing the back of Inu-Yasha's head and sending him sprawling.
Kagome tried to get away, but her restraints held her immobile.
The creature advanced and scooped her up in an oversized hand, gurgling its pleasure. "Miinnnne."
She stared in horror as its mouth yawned open, blood and bits of gore covering its sharp teeth. The girl forced her eyes away, not wanting it to be her last sight, and cast them over the demon's bulbous arms, catching a shadow leap into the sky, outlined by the moon.
Red sleeves flapped almost soundlessly as Inu-Yasha let a growl slip out through the air. "Actually… mine."
The youkai turned, but too late.
Inu-Yasha sliced the fang into its skull, cutting through scales and bone, running down its flesh like paper.
Kagome felt the pressure around her middle go slack and plummeted to the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere as the demon collapsed in a heap, and she lay still for a moment, hearing the sword drop heavily and footsteps rush to her side.
Haori filled her view and hands were at her shoulders in an instant. "You okay?" A deep voice asked.
She raised her head to see Inu-Yasha over her, chest heaving and white hair matted with red. Locks brushed against her face and tickled her nose as he scanned the forest for other wandering youkai. Flicking his attention downward, amber eyes checked her length, looking for injuries. Satisfied, he returned to her face.
"Yeah," she answered. "I think so."
"Well, come on then," his palm traveled down along her arm, sliding under her. Clawed fingers spread across the width of her back, careful not to press deeply this time.
Kagome felt their warmth through her dress and sat up with help. The palm stayed longer than necessary, lingering after she was upright, and she thought again of his concern. "Sorry for distracting you," she offered without realizing
Inu-Yasha lifted her chin and used his sleeve to wipe the blood from her face. "That's what we get for talking without arguing."
Kagome gave a small smile. "Some little animal with dull teeth, huh?" She looked over at the hulking carcass split in two.
He followed her gaze. "Guess it wasn't really what I wanted after all."
"Thank you," her eyes sought his. "You saved my life."
Inu-Yasha cleared his throat. "You're…uh… welcome."
"Are you sure you don't want me to check that wound?" Last night's foe had left thick, nearly-gaping gashes along Inu-Yasha's torso, and they looked painful and raw in the day's new light.
He didn't bother glancing back. "Yes," he gave the rope in his hand more slack, knowing she was falling behind.
Fresh morning air clung to them as they walked. Birds soared and dipped in the expanse of blue above them, and Kagome envied their carefree flight. Her legs ached, and each step felt like lifting lead. After the attack, Inu-Yasha had insisted they leave the forest, and the line of trees was small behind them by now.
Kagome struggled to keep up; the pace he'd set was meant for a hanyou's stamina, and she had reached her limit an hour ago. Only her wrists were bound, but the rope was cutting deep into her skin. Dried youkai blood flaked from her neck and ears, and her mood darkened as Inu-Yasha started into a jog.
"I thought you said we were going to stop at sunrise," she called. The rope grew taut as the space between them widened.
He spoke without turning. "Come on."
"How can you run when you're hurt?"
"I heal fast."
"But you're still bleeding."
Inu-Yasha stopped. "That's why I want to hurry. I have medicinal supplies at the mountain," he peered back, taking in the sag of the girl's shoulders and the tremble in her legs as she stared at the ground. He cleared his throat. "Do you need a break?"
Kagome 'hmphed' and plodded forward. The rope lost tension, coiling in the grass as she crossed the space to him. Up close, Inu-Yasha watched her knees riot, and she braced her palms against them, trying to still their shake.
"No," she managed.
"Then we'll keep going," he hefted his bag of goods higher with an impatient frown.
"Wait," she gritted her teeth, biting back pride. "Why don't you let me treat your injury?"
"Like you know how?"
"Believe it or not, Naraku gave me some experience."
Inu-Yasha marveled at her stubbornness. Her desire to look at his wound was transparent at best – every muscle in her body cried fatigue loud and clear. He thought her obstinance might even rival his own. "I don't trust you to," he began walking. If she wasn't going to ask for a reprieve, he wasn't going to give one. The rope rose up from the ground.
A touch of desperation crept into Kagome's face, and she grabbed her end, bracing her weight against him. "You don't like or trust me," she pulled the cord back to her hip. "Why do you keep me?"
He kept his back to her. "Trying to persuade me to let you go?"
"Of course," she loosened hold and returned to his side. "But I'm also curious."
Inu-Yasha stared from the corner of his eye. "I don't believe you."
"It's not some ploy to escape," Kagome held up her bound wrists. "I just don't understand why I'm still here. You save me from a youkai, yet claim I'm intolerable. Why didn't you just leave me?"
He hadn't realized the conversation would head this way and felt a grudging admiration for her varying tactics. "It attacked both of us."
"No one's attacking now."
Inu-Yasha turned to face her, unable to reveal the overwhelming urge he'd had in Kanaka, or that it seemed to be growing stronger the longer he was around her. Though she was infuriating, she was also more alive – more here – than anyone he'd ever met. "I don't know," he replied lamely.
Kagome's confusion became genuine. "You come in, turn my life upside down, steal me from the most powerful man in the city… and you don't know why?"
"Are you sorry I did?"
"Well…," the question outmatched hers, and blue-gray eyes searched his. "No," she admitted. "I'd be dead if not for you."
Inu-Yasha gave the rope a tug, drawing her close. The move was strong and confident, neither of which he was feeling – she'd just admitted she didn't regret being taken. He felt a puff of breath against his cheek. "Then there you go. Neither of us are sorry."
Kagome didn't seem to notice the new proximity. "Yet you won't accept my help?"
Each word was a new puff, filling the air with her taste. Inu-Yasha shook his head, as much to rid it of her distracting scent as to show exasperation. "Again with the last word?"
She felt herself smile. "Always."
The smile, so close, was disarming. He needed to stop being this near to her. Inu-Yasha sighed and shrugged the bag from his shoulders, deftly crossing his legs and sitting down in the grass of the meadow. Tugging the cord between them, Kagome joined him, settling herself awkwardly without the balance of hands.
He stared expectantly. "Okay. Treat."
She looked to her wrists. "How?"
"You said you could," he shrugged. "Make do."
"Can you untie one of—?"
Inu-Yasha's face darkened into a glower. "Save your breath. I don't want to hear another of your acts."
Kagome's frame sank. "You're impossible. I don't even have water," her eyes fell to the bag.
"No," he pushed it far from her reach. "There's nothing in there you can use."
"Fine," she muttered. "Take off your haori."
He obliged without protest, slipping his arms out of both layers and balling the fire-rat fabric up in his lap.
Kagome examined his bare chest and inhaled sharply. Looking at his injury may have been an excuse to stop, but it was good she had. His wound had scabbed in parts, but still oozed; leaning close, she saw its edges had yellowed. "There must have been poison in that youkai's claws," she stretched a finger to touch the infected area.
Inu-Yasha hissed as she made contact, but said nothing.
Her gaze roamed the field, hunting for anything useful. Looking to herself, she drew her knees to her chest and used her teeth to pull at a tear in her dress' hem.
"That thing is already too short."
She snapped her eyes up and muffled a reply through fabric. "I'm making do."
Inu-Yasha fell silent as she tore additional strips from her sleeves. Spitting them into her hands, Kagome quickly tied them together in a makeshift bandage. She ripped bunches of nearby grass and wiped puss from the wound, ignoring the hanyou as he bit fangs into his lower lip.
When she had cleaned the gash as best she could, she shifted closer, bandage in hand. "Lift your hair," she motioned to the tangled mess over his torso.
Staring hard, he grabbed a handful of white and held it back by his neck. Kagome took in the exposed span of his shoulders and the outline of muscle in his arms and cleared her throat. "Stop glaring."
"Your touch is clumsy," he snarled.
"Because my hands are bound."
"Well hurry up," Inu-Yasha shifted his eyes to her ear. "I don't like being ogled."
"I'm not ogling!"
He exhaled loudly.
"You give yourself too much credit," Kagome felt her cheeks grow warm.
"Whatever you say."
She scowled and rose to her knees, her thoughts growing as angry as her frown. He had a nice chest and was suddenly worth more than a once over? Arrogant jerk. His terrible personality more than made up for a well-cut frame. "Uncross your legs," she muttered.
"Why?" Inu-Yasha grumbled. "Want to look there as well?"
"Now!"
His ears flattened, and he did as told, setting the haori aside. Kagome shuffled near, dropping her knee dangerously close to where his legs met, and Inu-Yasha darted a look down, whipping his head up.
She met his startled gaze. "Ogling?"
He drained of color. "I was mistaken."
"Indeed."
He watched warily, afraid of a jerked knee destroying his ability to procreate. With her hands restricted, Kagome had trouble keeping the bandage over the wound while circling it around his back. She'd thought being closer might have helped, and first tried fastening it with her elbow, then knee. Inu-Yasha grimaced at the pressure.
Blowing bangs from her face, she dug her knee deeper into his torso, struggling to maintain her balance.
He swore and snatched the cloth from her hands. "Enough! I'll do it," he pushed her away, winding the frayed fabric around his middle himself. The shove made her wobble, and she felt herself start to fall backward. Inu-Yasha dropped the bandage and grabbed her forearm, keeping her in place.
"How did you expect to treat these," he motioned to the deep slashes. "When you can barely keep yourself upright?"
Kagome ripped her arm from his grasp. "It's not like you made it easy. You could have helped."
"You didn't ask," he returned to wrapping.
She fell silent and rubbed his blood from her knee, watching as he swiftly bound off the gash. "It needs to be tighter."
"It's tight enough."
"You need pressure to staunch the blood flow."
"Any more and I won't be able to breathe."
"Good," she reached for the bandage. "Maybe then you won't walk so fast."
Inu-Yasha swatted her hands.
Kagome persisted and wrestled the ends from his fingers. "And you need to knot it over the wound, not at your side."
He stared sullenly.
"Don't sulk."
"Don't mother me."
"Stop acting like you need one," she stretched and pulled the fabric, cringing as another hiss escaped through his teeth. "Sorry."
"This is your fault you know," Inu-Yasha continued to glare. "That youkai would never have attacked if it hadn't been for you."
"What?"
"He was after you," he bit down as she tied the ends together. "Your scent led him right to us."
"It did not!"
"Yes it did, it's overpowering. I can even smell it through the guts in your hair."
Kagome sniffed her forearms cautiously, picking out dirt, coppery blood, and the smell of outside – nothing remarkable or particularly pungent, considering she wore dried entrails. "I have a scent?" She asked.
"Of course you do. Everyone does."
"What do I smell like?"
"Maggots."
She made a face. "Thanks," leaning across his leg, she retrieved his haori. "I'm done."
"About time," Inu-Yasha snatched it from her hand.
"You're welcome."
He ignored her, pulling up his kosode, then slipping arms into the sleeves of the outer red layer. "We've still got a lot of ground to cover," he folded and tied it all closed, rising to his feet. "Come on."
Kagome stood, dusting her hands together. "Does it feel better?"
Inu-Yasha took a deep breath, testing the binding. "Yes. In fact, I think I feel well enough to run."
Her heart sank. "We're going to go… faster?"
He cracked a grin. "Of course," he moved in front of her and bent down. "Get on my back."
"What?" Panic swept her. "No."
"You travel too slowly. We'll make better time on my legs."
"I'll keep up," she said resolutely.
Inu-Yasha looked back. "You can't. It's like I lead a toddler with the way you waddle."
Kagome blushed. "I don't waddle!"
"You do."
She fumed. Her gait was fine. "What about your injury?"
"You treated it."
"Grass and dirty bits of dress are hardly long-term."
"It'll be okay," he turned and reached for her wrists. "But we can't keep taking these breaks."
Kagome blanched. "This… this wasn't a break," she yanked her hands from his. "I was helping you."
Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes. "Do you really think 'grass and dirty bits' are help? Don't make me say it," his look softened.
A line appeared in her jaw. "I don't know what you're talking about."
His tone grew indulging. "You asked me to wait."
"I didn't!"
Inu-Yasha grabbed her wrists again, thick fingers circling tightly. "I know a thing or two about pride."
"Really?" Kagome wrestled against his hold. "The first rule is not embarrassing the person."
"Oh?" Instead of being irritated, Inu-Yasha found himself amused. It was rare he chose the latter over the former, but Kagome already drew out too much frustration to feel as he always did. "You know the rules?" He touched a claw to his chin in mock thought. "An argument from last night, over the size of my just-threatened manhood, says you don't."
Kagome's face went from hot to scorching. She felt about to blister.
Her lack of composure pleased him to no end. Ducking his head, Inu-Yasha pulled her hands over and around his neck, and leaned forward until his height swept her feet off the ground. Left with no choice, the girl lifted her knees to his side. He hooked his arms around her thighs and drew her close. "Hold on."
Pressed tight to him, Kagome muttered into his hair. "We need to work on your listening skills."
"More your shutting-up-and-doing skills."
"I could choke you right now."
He nosed her bound wrists away from his throat. "Then consider this a test of trust."
She shifted her chin to his shoulder. "I hope my smell makes you pass out."
"I have a feeling it'll choke me before your hands do."
Her retort descended into unintelligible grumbles as Inu-Yasha stooped and picked up the bag. Slinging it beside her, he took off with slow steps that quickly spread out and sped up. Ground and sky flew past as he worked to a run, and the meadow became a blur of green, tan, and brown.
Birds coasting overhead fell back as the hanyou's strides overtook them, and Kagome soon forgot her anger, tensing her thighs and pushing herself higher up on his back. Wrists fell to his chest, and her neck hugged his as she stared in wonder at the scenery blinking in and out of recognition.
He jumped a fallen log without breaking stride, and she gasped, "This is amazing!"
Inu-Yasha looked from the corner of his eye and saw her face inches from his. As she watched the landscape, he could feel her delight beat hard and fast in her chest. Wind whipped her hair behind her ears, crashing the dark waves wildly together. He tried focusing on his feet and the path ahead, but found himself stealing glances at her parted mouth and wide gaze. Even worse was the thin dress she wore. It left little to the imagination up against him, and the hanyou was thankful for his thick haori as his heart sped to match hers.
Kagome felt his eyes and turned, catching them before they darted back to the meadow. "Inu-Yasha?"
A hint of color entered his cheeks. "What?"
"You're right," her nose bumped his jaw as he leapt a large boulder. "Your squat, stumbling gait makes better time."
He grunted in acknowledgment, and the color faded.
Kagome smiled.
They traveled until late afternoon, the rhythmic pounding of Inu-Yasha's steps broken only by Kagome's gasps and exclamations. They crossed fields and winding streams at a sprint, and by the time evening stretched its cool fingers of blue and gray, the countryside had grown uneven. Inu-Yasha slowed as they climbed a steep hill, entering a short grove of wind-beaten trees.
Kagome's nose and ears were red, and her hands had gone numb. A chill had crept into the air long ago. Her muscles ached, and it took every ounce of effort to keep her eyelids from sliding closed. Inu-Yasha still held her thighs, and she knew it was he who kept her in place.
He surveyed the area, taking in familiar crops of rock that marked the beginning of Ouja territory. A clan member was nearby, and he started down the hill after sniffing out their identity, toward a sheltered glen used often to camp.
At its base, the charred remnants of a fire still smoldered. His comrade had just left, no doubt vacating to see who was trespassing. Not all of his men had his canine command of smell. Inu-Yasha stopped and lifted Kagome's arms from around his neck, stooping low to let her down,
She groaned as her feet touched the earth.
"You'd think you were the one who had run this whole way," he turned to smirk, but stopped as he saw her exhaustion.
She rubbed her nose with raw fingers, trying to regain feeling. "Leave me be," her words were weary. "You were the choppiest beast of burden I've ever had to ride."
Inu-Yasha grinned. She had strength enough left for insult. "Maybe if you developed some thigh muscles, you'd be able to stand right now," he returned.
Kagome raised her head and shot him a baleful look. "If you weren't so wide around the middle, I wouldn't have had to work them so hard."
"Don't speak to me of width. You were ten times heavier than the bag of Kanaka silver."
"Which banged against me most of the way."
Inu-Yasha fought to keep his grin in check. The way she matched him quip for quip was addicting. "A fitting incentive for you to work on lengthening your strides," he dropped the sack beside her. "That would help your thighs and keep you from my back."
Kagome exhaled loudly in disgust. "Turn down the charm. All these sweet-nothings will go to my head."
"At least there will be action up there."
"So says the horse who speaks and walks upright."
Inu-Yasha paused. In the silence, he heard the soft pad of footsteps approach.
Kagome waited, but it was a different voice that answered.
"He does what he can," a man dressed in dark purple emerged from the trees. "Being of limited means," he met her surprised look with laughing eyes.
Unconcerned, Inu-Yasha gestured to their visitor. "This is Miroku, my second-in-command."
The man bowed low. He seemed quite ordinary, bearing no claws or fur-covered ears, and wore robes of a similar outdated fashion to Inu-Yasha's haori. His features were handsome, but unremarkable. With dark eyes and darker hair, he looked like a normal human. "My lady."
Kagome nodded stiffly.
Miroku rose, letting his gaze roam blatantly, and she shifted under his stare, suddenly grateful for the unattractive layer of blood and grime caking her.
Her gratitude was short-lived, for the travel layer seemed to deter him little; he smiled at the plunging neck of her dress and the shadow of her breasts jutting from the thin, well-worn fabric. His eyes settled there, and Kagome edged to Inu-Yasha's side unconsciously. In the hanyou's company only a day, and it already felt surprising to be visually undressed. How quickly she'd forgotten.
Pleasure filled Miroku's face. "It seems Kanaka still has undiscovered treasures."
Inu-Yasha scoffed. "Wait till she speaks. Her chest can only do so much."
Kagome grabbed his arm, shielding herself with his haori's wide sleeves. "When I said horse," she hissed into his elbow. "I meant pig."
"Now who doles sweet-nothings?"
"They are deserved."
Miroku's smile grew at the exchange. "She seems charming. No doubt she'll keep you busy."
Inu-Yasha's eyes narrowed. "Not busy enough to share."
The man coughed into his fist, leaving her cleavage at once. "No, of course."
Kagome allowed herself little time to analyze, too busy deciding who to glare at – the man claiming ownership, or the one coveting it. She settled for the former, boring daggers into Inu-Yasha's back. He ignored her, but as he moved to rekindle the still-warm fire, she noticed his gait had grown stiff and forced. He was angry. Angry at Miroku? Kagome looked to his comrade and saw discomfort crease his face.
Hope flared in her middle. Was she no longer expected to 'entertain' the Ouja? Maybe this newcomer had made him rethink the idea?
As Inu-Yasha bent low, blowing on faded coals, his second-in-command snuck another glance in her direction.
She gulped, hoping it were true.
