Inuyasha immediately pushed Kagome back against the nearest tree, hand on Tessaiga. Shippo yelped and went running for Kilala's protection.
"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" Kagome pushed against his arm to see around his shoulder. What was he so worried about? "She's a mermaid! Inuyasha, this is amazing!"
"No, it's not, and shut up!" Inuyasha growled back at her. Even Miroku and Sango seemed on-edge, grasping their weapons tighter than usual.
"I don't understand. You're acting like she's a threat!" For…it was a mermaid! A real, genuine mermaid! Mama and Grandpa and Souta would never believe her! Kagome peered underneath Inuyasha's arms to see newly red-gold hair, that tail.
"It would be best to kill her now," Sango spoke in low tones to Inuyasha.
"Agreed."
"Inuyasha, sit!" Inuyasha yelped as he went crashing down. Kagome stepped over his body quickly, "What are you doing? She hasn't hurt anyone!"
"We don't know that Kagome!" Shippo took a step forward. "Get away from her."
"She healed my arm, didn't she?" Kagome dropped to her knees. Beautiful silver eyes fell on her warily. She didn't need Inuyasha's nose to know she was still afraid. "No, it's ok," Kagome tried to soothe the cringing hanyou.
"Kagome, do what you're told!" Inuyasha growled, claws raking the ground. "Get her away from that thing Miroku!" A golden tail hit the ground hard as Miroku stepped forward, sending splintered light everywhere. Kagome gasped as the mermaid moved, suddenly peering at Miroku from over her shoulder. Cool breathing fanned the back of her neck.
Wow, that was fast.
"Don't scare her." That tail was heavier than it looked. Kagome leaned forward to push the end of her tail off of her shins. The light bouncing off of her tail stunned her for a minute—it really was gorgeous. And she smelled wonderfully aromatic, not fishy at all. "Why do you think she's dangerous?"
"They're bad omens." Sango's voice was high. "Omens of death, and war."
"I heard that they eat youkai," Shippo peered around Kilala. "And humans."
"We're better off throwing that thing in a pond and moving on." Inuyasha finally pushed himself to his feet. "Don't move Kagome—I'll get it."
"Whoa, just…wait a minute!" Kagome held out her hands. They all seemed so convinced that mermaids were evil or bad or something. "She's half-human, right?"
Everyone looked to Inuyasha.
"I guess."
"Remember Jinenji? And how they all thought he was evil because of how he looked?" The others wouldn't understand, but Inuyasha definitely did. He'd remember how those villagers had wanted to hurt poor Jinenji just because he was half-human too. "Do you have any proof that she's like that?"
"It's not the same thing." Inuyasha crossed his arms.
"Really? You're ready to kill her just because everybody thinks she's dangerous too, don't you see?" She could feel cold hands fisted against her back.
"No, I—Kagome!" Inuyasha shook his head. "You—"
"If you kill her then you'd be just like them." Kagome knew Inuyasha was better than that. He seemed ready to protest before his arms dropped and he turned, cursing under his breath.
"Kagome, are you certain?" Miroku kneeled down.
"Honestly, I think you're scaring her more than she's scaring you." Kagome turned around. Silver eyes widened. "It's ok now, you see?" She gestured towards Sango to put down the Hiraikotsu; she did.
"So what do we do with her then?" Inuyasha turned back around. "Let her flop around in the forest until someone finds her?" A panicked gasp came from behind her. Kagome turned to fighting-sized Kilala, steadily prowling closer.
"Wh—Kilala, no! She's not a fish! Stop her Sango!" Kilala pounced, teeth sinking into the mermaid's long tail. She screeched an awful wail that made them all cover their ears; even Kilala yowled, forced to relax her jaw. Her tail came crashing into Kilala's side, sending her flying into Inuyasha.
"Kilala!" Sango quickly ran to check on her neko-companion. "Kilala, are you ok?"
The tail curled in around both of them protectively.
"Um, is your tail ok?" Kagome was glad to see Kilala already shaking herself upright. The mermaid's gaze softened, and she eyed the shallow teeth marks. Already the flesh was stitching itself together again. "Wow."
"Thanks for worrying about me!" Inuyasha huffed, coming over to glare. "Keh, I already know this is going to be a waste of time. She's going to attract every predator in the area!"
"No she's not Inuyasha! You can't blame her for trying to defend—"
"What are we supposed to do about her smell?" Inuyasha glared inches from her face. "Kilala's not the only one who's going to notice!"
"Her smell?" She watched as Inuyasha realized what he'd said. "Inuyasha, what about her smell?"
"She smells really pretty Kagome!" Shippo sat on Inuyasha's shoulder. Kagome's eyes widened as she noticed the small blush on Inuyasha's cheeks. Inuyasha liked her smell too?
"Shut up!" Inuyasha's fist found Shippo's head. "No one was talking to you runt!"
"Kag-ome! He hit me!"
"I think we should take her back to the ocean," Sango pushed away Miroku's hand. "Then it can be on its way and we won't have done anything wrong."
"She needs a name Kagome!" Shippo escaped Inuyasha's reach.
"Yeah, she does." Kagome was glad to see that Kilala was ok, licking her fur back into place by Sango's side. "Do you have a name?" The silver eyes were very present, if silent.
"We can't just run a rescue mission for a fish! Are you crazy?" Inuyasha seemed intent on being cross. "We've got Jewel shards to search for, or have you forgotten about Naraku?"
"We should call her Nori." Shippo and the mermaid were staring at each other. "Get it? Do you like that? No-ri." Shippo gulped as her tail shifted again, and he touched it with one finger. "Wow! She's still cold, Kagome! Feel it!"
"I thought she was going to eat you?" Kagome glanced towards "Nori's" face before copying Shippo—her tail was cold as if she had been under ice for hours. Are mermaids cold-blooded?
"Well, you say she's ok, and you're a lot smarter than Inuyasha is." Shippo gasped as the large, dark-gold membrane at the end of the golden tail flexed. "And that's really cool!"
"I've got a question." Inuyasha folded his arms. "How do you expect us to move her? She can't ride on Kilala, and I'm not carrying her."
"I will," Miroku volunteered somberly.
"You've got to be kidding," Sango rolled her eyes.
"Keh—I don't think even Miroku would grab fish-butt," Inuyasha said seriously.
"Your opinions of me are vulgar."
"I bet you can't even lift her." Inuyasha leaned against the nearest tree. "Weak humans."
"You're on." Miroku went forward, and Nori grew restless again. "Peace. I mean you no harm." He set his staff against the nearest tree; Kagome moved out of the way. "My, you are very beautiful, aren't you?" Miroku chuckled as he slipped his left arm around her waist, "It is no wonder that—"
Her hand held his right wrist in a vice grip before he could touch her.
"Is there a problem?" The mermaid's silver eyes narrowed on him. "You can sense it, can't you?" Her expression remained the same as she glowered at him—Miroku could not help feeling rather impressed by her sensitivity. "I can promise you that I am no danger to you—can you sense that as well?" Her eyes fluttered closed, and Miroku became suddenly aware of a second consciousness probing at his emotions.
Fascinating.
Miroku relaxed, marveling at the sensation. He had the impression that she was…the flux of emotions coursing through her pointed towards youth, but what was youth to youkai blood? Inuyasha himself was decades old.
Her eyes opened softly.
"I told you." Miroku couldn't help grinning. The strong grip around his hand relaxed. It took him a minute to find the appropriate place to grip her—it was a tail after all. But then it shifted, and he curled his arm underneath the appendage. With considerable effort he stood.
"You see?" His voice came out quite winded. The tail was heavier than he had thought.
"You can carry her then?" Inuyasha's eyes were glinting.
"Of…course." There was no way that he would admit defeat to Inuyasha—his ego refused. Besides, the female was gorgeous, if not all human. He certainly wouldn't such proximity to a legendarily-lovely face. And Inuyasha was correct—she had an interesting scent.
"Ok, then move." Inuyasha's fangs flashed as he grinned.
Already Miroku's muscles were begging to set the woman down—it was unlikely that he could carry this woman, realistically. He held his breath, eyes roving to rest on a very lovely face surrounded by a halo of golden red locks, much closer than she had been.
By the gods, he would carry her.
"I knew it." Inuyasha's deep snort drew his eyes away from the mermaid's beauty. "You can't carry her—fess up, Miroku. Too damn weak."
Miroku's retort was silenced by a sudden change in the mermaid's aura; her lips moved, even though he could hear no sound. Within seconds his vision went dark, heavy and spinning. He was barely aware of his feet shifting, dizzily. Choking, he prayed dearly that Inuyasha would interfere and free him from—inside his head, he heard her voice, chanting. He couldn't understand the words, but he understood the meaning.
A spell.
Panic gripped him and he pushed against the consciousness surrounding him; he could feel someone else's emotions trying to soothe him. She withstood his attacks easily, bending them away from her as she proceeded with…whatever it was that she was doing. He pushed again, and shielded himself, but his defenses were defeated effortlessly.
"Miroku? Miroku! Get off him bitch!" Inuyasha was the first one to realize that something was wrong, leaping forward. Miroku's eyes were blank, and he was waving on his feet.
"Miroku!" Sango gasped. "She—"
Miroku's arms went limp as he fell backwards. Inuyasha immediately withdrew Tessaiga, waving it at the mermaid. "You get away from him!" The fish immediately slithered towards the nearest tree, hissing at him. "I'm going to kill you! What the hell did you do to him, huh? You filthy—"
"Miroku? Miroku!" Sango was on her knees, slapping his face. "Houshi-sama, please, wake up!"
"Didn't I tell you?" Inuyasha snarled back at Kagome, who was white-faced. "They're bad, Kagome! You never listen to a thing anyone says!"
"Inuyasha!" Sango's voice made Kagome cringe. "Don't kill her yet—we don't know what she did, and we might need to her break the spell, ok?" The fear was evident on her face; Inuyasha nodded.
"Nori?" Kagome could barely say it. "Nori, what did you do to Miroku? You have to tell us." She went to stand beside Inuyasha, brandishing Tessaiga at the creature. "Please, what did you do?"
"She can't talk, Kagome." Inuyasha's arm went around the front of her abdomen, keeping her back. "Go help Sango. You might be able to figure out what she did."
"Nori," Kagome pleaded. She knew Nori was good—she wouldn't hurt Miroku. "Oh Nori, why?" Nothing about her feelings screamed 'danger'; Nori just couldn't be bad!
"Go." Inuyasha's voice was clipped.
Kagome circled around Inuyasha to drop onto Miroku's unoccupied side. Remembering what Kaede had taught her about spells, she put her hands flat against Miroku's chest, closing her eyes. She allowed her senses to search for Nori's spell, prodding.
"Anything?" Sango breathed.
"It's pretty strong, whatever it is." Kagome couldn't tell what was going on. She could only discern the smallest sense of fortitude as Nori's spell weaved itself deeper into Miroku.
"We should take him to Kaede, so she can help him." Shippo tugged on Sango's arm. "If anybody can help Miroku, she can. Kaede'll know what to do."
"Kagome, I want you to take Kilala—get Miroku to Kaede." Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga warily. "Sango? Do you have a way to bind the fish? Keep her from casting any more spells?"
"Miroku would," Sango sighed regretfully.
"Why don't you take him Sango?" Kagome could see how scared she was. Her friend glanced up to give her a grateful smile.
"No way—I don't need you here giving that thing sympathy." Inuyasha scowled. "Oh, Inuyasha! Don't be mean to her," he used a girlish falsetto. "Keh—stupid."
"You can explain what happened to Kaede better," Sango appealed to Kagome's logic. "You sensed the magic, right? It's better if you go." It didn't take long to scrape camp together. Sango helped her get Miroku onto Kilala, and Shippo bounded onto her back.
"Get going." Inuyasha hit Kilala's flank and she yowled, taking off into the air.
"What now?" Sango gave the others disappearing form a lingering look. "What are we doing with her?"
"I'm gonna carry her." Inuyasha said plainly.
"How?" Sango's patience was rapidly running short. "What if she casts a spell on you too?" She had no desire to see Inuyasha fallen like Miroku. Oh Houshi-sama. And that would leave her to deal with the mermaid alone.
"She's not going to." Inuyasha had something in his hands as he went over to 'Nori'. "Here, fishy-fishy." The woman's eyes narrowed.
"Careful," Sango cautioned. Her fingers brushed against the thick handle of Hiraikotsu, feeling the familiar impression of her fingers. She was more than prepared to use it if necessary.
"You make one move and I'll filet you, got it?" Inuyasha and the mermaid stared at each other for several tense heartbeats; he kneeled down, reaching for her wrists.
"What are you using?" None of them were going to get breakfast, and that meant Inuyasha was going to be even more brash than usual. She sighed.
"It's Kagome's." Inuyasha reached behind the woman's back to grab her other wrist. "We've gotta make good time, so don't slow me down. And no bitching either."
Yes, Inuyasha was quite pleasant without food.
"Inuyasha? Let me make something clear." Sango walked forward. Inuyasha was preoccupied with binding Nori's hands behind her back. "I am not about to put up with your unpleasantness all day."
"What?" Inuyasha turned his head. "I wasn't listen—ow! What the hell are you doing?"
"Do you understand me?" Sango's fingers tightened on Inuyasha's sensitive ear again.
"Yeah—leggo! That hurts!" She did, crossing her arms. "What is wrong with you? Are you crazy?" Inuyasha's palm reached up to cover the abused appendage. "That really hurts stupid!"
"Why did Kagome leave behind her sleeping bag?"
"Because I told her to." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "You think we're just gonna walk around with a giant half-fish?" Brushing past her Inuyasha went to collect the bag with a less-than-surreptitious sniff. He returned, and Nori made wordless protests as he began to stuff the canvas over her large tail.
"Is that safe?" From the little she'd been taught on water-youkai, they were sensitive to heat. It was important for them to be able to adjust their body temperature. And the last thing they needed was to kill her before they could save Miroku.
"Dammit, what's with this thing?" Inuyasha cursed creatively as Nori's tail moved violently. He brought the bag up around Nori's navel, shifting the excess. "There."
"She doesn't like it, Inuyasha." Nori's vocal protests were odd, quiet but pretty.
"Who cares?" He gave her a look, confused. "What's with you guys? She's already hurt Miroku." Sango's eyes were drawn to the violent rustling of Kagome's sleeping bag.
"Yeah, but—" Inuyasha stood up, easily shouldering Nori. His arm came down to prevent the sleeping bag from knocking the wind out of him. "…Inuyasha."
"We're wasting time. Come on." Inuyasha began to march in the direction of Kaede's village.
"Can you sense anything Kaede?" Kagome replaced the damp cloth on Miroku's forehead. It was mid-afternoon and Inuyasha and Sango hadn't arrived yet. Meanwhile, Miroku was still unconscious, and she was more than a little worried that something had happened. What if Inuyasha was right? What if Nori had attacked them?
"This is a very strange spell, Kagome." Kaede continued her diagnosis. "You say that this was done by a ningyo?"
"A mermaid," Kagome nodded. She watched the old woman's hands ghost over Miroku's still form—he hadn't even woken up long enough to molest anyone. It was scary. "We found her out in the forest last night, and this morning…" Shippo continued to play with the rings of Miroku's staff. "What are you doing?"
"I miss Miroku," he pouted. "Can't you fix him Kaede?"
"Perhaps I might," Kaede sat back," if I knew what had occurred."
"What do you mean?"
"It is very subtle, whatever she has done." Kaede reached to take a sip of her tea. "I have never encountered this branch of youkai magic before."
"I don't understand." Shippo came over to sit in Kagome's lap. "You know all kinds of magic, Kaede!"
"That is flattering of ye, but untrue." Kaede wore the ghost of a smile. "There is still much for me to learn in this world child. And hopefully I will be able to discover its intent."
"Oi!" Kagome jumped.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo scurried to the door just as Inuyasha stepped through, Sango after him. "Inuyasha, are you ok? Did Nori do anything?"
"That's what Shippo named her," she explained to Kaede. Relief blossomed through her chest—Inuyasha and Sango were ok.
"Nope," Inuyasha went towards the other side of the hut, the lower platform. He dropped Nori onto the packed earth. "She's been perfect."
"That's because she's been unconscious for most of the day." Sango gave the hanyou a scolding look. "I told you not to wrap her up in that bag."
"She's fine," Inuyasha growled softly. "Look," he bent down, roughly freeing the mermaid from Kagome's sleeping bag. "See? There's nothing wrong with her." Kagome brushed her hands on her skirt as she went to stand by Inuyasha. She was very aware of the heat radiating from his side, as well as the faint aromatic smell covering his usual woodsy scent. "Even with her wrapped up we still had youkai comin' out of the woods, weak bastards."
Nori's eyes were closed and her skin was pink.
"Fish don't sleep," Sango's voice drifted. "You know very well that she passed out, Inuyasha." The taijiya had gone to check on Miroku. "We still need her if we're going to help Houshi-sama."
"She ain't dead is she?" Inuyasha's eyes turned onto hers. "Are you ok Kagome? What's wrong?" Kagome kneeled down to touch Nori's forehead. "Kagome?"
"She's warm." It was summer, and Nori was a mermaid and…"I think we should do something."
""Kagome—"
"We need her alive don't we?" Kagome's mind was racing. She quickly went over to get some water from the bucket to splash onto Nori's face. "Besides, if…if we have to kill her, it should be clean. Not like this." She was really hoping that it wouldn't come to that.
"Kagome, I think—" Inuyasha's hand closed around her wrist.
A male voice groaned.
"Houshi-sama?" Sango leaned over the monk. "Miroku, can you hear me?"
"Ugh," Miroku groaned. "Sango?"
"I'm here," she breathed happily. "Are you ok? Can you sit up?"
"—tired," Miroku exhaled, eyes closed.
"What's he sayin'?" Inuyasha released her wrist to peer over at Miroku.
"They're half-price cattle," the monk half-smiled. "Maybe."
"Miroku, you're not making any sense." Sango's eyebrows lowered. "Do you think that he could have a concussion, Kagome? Could she ha—AH—!" Sango jumped, voice going high. "Oh, you stupid—!"
Miroku pushed himself up slowly, yawning. "Is there something to eat?"
"What is wrong with you?" Sango was very angry. "You—I can't believe I was…about you, you—"
"What happened?" With a very aggravated sound, Sango's hand came back and across Miroku's face before storming out the door. Miroku chuckled, rubbing his reddened face with a small smile.
"Miroku, you're…ok?" Kagome wasn't the only one confused.
"Am I not meant to be?" One dark eyebrow rose quizzically. Silence filled the room as Miroku looked amongst them. Even Inuyasha was staring at him. "What have I missed? Sango seems upset."
"We thought you were—" Kagome looked back towards Nori. "Nori put a spell on you…or we thought she did." She was so very confused.
"A spell?" Miroku followed her eyes.
"You were holding her and then you were gone." Shippo perched himself on the monk's shoulder. "You've been out all day Miroku." The monk pushed himself to his feet, going over to Nori. "What happened Kaede?"
"Is she well?" Miroku laid his hand against Nori's forehead.
"I think that we need to wake the creature if we're going to get any answers." Kaede shifted. "Did you knock her out, Inuyasha?"
"No!" Inuyasha snorted.
"I think I know how to help her." Kagome's mind was already whirring ahead. "We used to keep fish when we were younger," she shrugged at Inuyasha.
"What?"
"Nothing, just…we need to go to my era so I can get some things ok? It'll be faster if you'll help me." She fisted her hands in Inuyasha's sleeve. "Please?"
"What is this junk?" Inuyasha threw down the plastic tubing inside Kaede's hut.
"This is a kiddie pool," Kagome beamed. "When Souta and I were little, Mama would put it out in the grass and we'd fill it with water to play in—but I think we can use it to help Nori. I haven't seen this thing in ages." She giggled at the aged clear-blue plastic decorated with decals of water-fowl, beach balls, and dolphins.
"Here." Miroku returned with two water-yokes over his shoulders. Kagome couldn't help blinking. "What?"
"Not bad," Inuyasha snorted. "For a human." He went to slide Nori into the pool while she and Miroku began to fill it with water.
"Kagome? Sango is still angry with me." Miroku lowered his voice. "More so than usual. Did something happen?"
"Ah," Blood rushed to fill her face. "I think she was worried about you. We all were," she added.
"She was worried?" Miroku seemed genuinely surprised, and a little pleased.
"Will you hand me that?" She pushed on his shoulder to get his attention away from Sango. Miroku handed her the containers she'd brought back from her era.
"Salt?" Miroku read the label. Kagome shrugged, peering over again—Nori was on her side, tail curled around herself so that she would fit. The mermaid was completely in the water.
"So what now?" Inuyasha was resting beside the pool, arm resting on his raised knee.
"Patience, Inuyasha." Sango reentered, sitting on the upraised platform. She blushed when she met Miroku's eyes. "She needs water."
"Then why was she in the middle of the forest?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of—a fish on land."
Kagome eyed Inuyasha's bouncing leg.
"She can't walk, which must mean that someone assisted her." Miroku went to sit closer to Sango and Kaede. "But why would they abandon her?"
"Maybe they didn't—maybe she killed them." Inuyasha voiced. The creepy possibility made chills run over her skin.
Kagome glanced into the pool again; Nori's eyes opened.
Water sprayed everywhere—Kagome was instantly drenched, as was Inuyasha. Water continued to rain on them as Nori panicked. Inuyasha had them both halfway across the room already, the strong arms around her waist easing her chill.
She spit the water out.
"What is the matter?" Miroku's voice pitched. "Inuyasha?"
"She's just freakin' out!" Inuyasha protested. He released her to drop into a crouch, sending water droplets everywhere as he shook himself. "Dammit!"
"Nori, stop!" Another wave of water came at them as Nori's tail cut through the water.
"There's not that much water left," Inuyasha's hands stopped her. "Chill." And he was right. There was only a thin layer of water left at the bottom of Nori's pool. She stopped, sharp eyes running over them all as she judged her surroundings.
"It's us, ok?" Kagome shook of Inuyasha's hands to kneel beside the pool. "You don't have to be afraid." Nori's eyes narrowed on Inuyasha; her tail lifted, falling heavily. In the growing shadows of the room the remaining light reflected from her tail, sending pretty patterns onto the heavy dark wall.
"You'd better not be looking at me like that." Inuyasha glowered back.
"Nori?" Warily, she reached out her hand to touch Nori's white-clad arm. She immediately received the mermaid's attention.
"Kagome's so nice," Shippo sighed. "Why do you always have to be so mean, Inuyasha? No wonder she's angry at you—you stuffed her into a bag and she got sick!"
"No one asked you!"
"Nori?" The mermaid's angered expression relaxed, and she uncurled her tail. Those pretty silver orbs closed as her stomach rumbled loudly.
"She can smell dinner," Kaede chuckled. The stew cooking over the fire was meat and vegetable, and the smell was delicious. "I suppose we can consider it ready."
"Would you like some stew?" Kagome didn't know what she even ate. Nori's eyes remained closed. She studied the mermaid's golden skin, the pretty color of her red-gold hair against the now-soaked white shirt. "Nori? Are you ok?" Maybe she was still feeling ill.
Kagome's eyes were drawn to the tail again, shiny even now, as she felt the unmistakable magic beginning. Another spell? What could she be doing this time?
"Kagome!" Miroku's hands came down on her shoulders, grasping her arms. "Kagome, move!"
"Not again!" Inuyasha cursed. She allowed Miroku to pull her to her feet, stepping backwards. Nori's tail was shifting, rapidly becoming two separate lengths. Kagome's jaw dropped as she felt the magic cease; Nori's eyes opened silver.
"You made legs." Kagome could plainly see the appendages. Nori blinked, looking past her to the others still gawking. "Miroku! Inuyasha!" She twirled, covering Miroku's eyes. "Sit boy!"
"Ka-go-me," Inuyasha twitched.
"Out!" Kagome turned Miroku, pushing. As the monk disappeared outside, she was horrified to see that Nori was struggling to stand onto her own feet, bare to the world.
"Oh dear," Kaede sighed.
"Here." Sango was already attempting to circle Nori's waist with a blanket; Kagome silently thanked her friend as Inuyasha's head rose, angry. Nori was unsteady as she stepped out of the pool, clinging to Sango for balance.
"Stupid wench!" Inuyasha sat up, rotating his shoulders.
"Where are you going?" Nori, blanket knotted around her waist, was headed towards the door. She didn't pause before gently pushing aside the door.
"Come on!" Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's sleeve. A mermaid, half-naked out in the night air? They followed. Nori was standing several feet away, looking up. "Nori?"
"I thought," Miroku's voice came; their heads turned to see him leaning against Kaede's hut. "That the purpose of me being outside was to dress her?" He gestured towards Nori. "Is there about to be a show?" Kagome and Inuyasha rolled their eyes together. Impressive.
His eyes were drawn to Nori as she approached him, tilting her face.
"And hello to you." Humor colored his voice. She continued to survey him curiously, "Is something the matter? No more spells to cast today?" Already he was becoming more fascinated with the creature—perhaps Sango would be able to offer more, or Kaede could remember.
"Could we get her back inside please?" Inuyasha was pleasant as usual. "Stupid monk. I knew we should've just thrown her in a lake somewhere," he bent in to whisper conspiratorially to Kagome.
Nori's fingertips ghosted over his chest, finally resting over his heart. Curious, he didn't move as she studiously watched her fingers.
"Come on already, before you attract something." In a flash, Inuyasha was dragging the water hanyou inside. "Stupid."
They followed.
Inuyasha sat her down forcefully beside Kaede, who didn't try to mask her curiosity. Shippo and Sango were already eating, leaving Kagome to serve out the other dishes.
"Her hair didn't change back," Shippo slurped a large mouthful back. "Why?"
"Take it," Kaede pressed the blow into the woman's hands. "Ye are hungry, yes?" With a suspicious glare in Inuyasha's direction—as if he were going to become violent—she warily raised the bowl to her lips. "Miroku—ye are certain that ye are not ill?"
"I feel perfectly well," Miroku shrugged.
"We're leaving first thing in the morning." Inuyasha fixed Kagome with a stern look. "We're taking her to the ocean and that's it." Nori coughed, water running down her chin as she doubled over. Kagome moved to rub her back gently as her body rejected the stew.
"Ssh, that's ok," Kagome whispered even though Inuyasha was bristling beside her. "How about some fish from the river? How does that sound?" She'd been right—Nori wanted fish, not fowl. The water hanyou's shoulders relaxed as she straightened to meet her gaze.
"Ye dinner's going to go cold, child." Kaede handed her a small towel; she gently wiped Nori's mouth, and her hands. Her silver eyes were confused, soft.
"If you eat, I'll take you fishing, ok?" Inuyasha's offer surprised her; her mouth popped open with the sweetness of it. "What?"
"Nothing, nevermind." Kagome hid her smile as she continued eating.
"Don't be in such a hurry Inuyasha!" As she followed Inuyasha towards the river, Nori's hand in hers, the silver-haired hanyou was brisk.
"Tell her to hurry up!" As nice as his earlier gesture had been, Kagome couldn't see it now.
"Don't listen to him." Kagome winked at the bewildered woman beside him. "I'm not about to let you starve. We'll get you plenty of fish." She almost giggled as Inuyasha shot her a doubtful look. "Well, enough for dinner." Nori's hands weren't nearly as cold as they had been, but they were still freezing in comparison.
"Sit it down," Inuyasha was barely visibile to her eyes. The area was dark; once again Kagome appreciated the complete darkness only possible here in this era, where there were no streetlights, or car horns blaring at all hours of the night, lighting up the night sky. As Inuyasha rolled up his sleeves to start looking for Nori's dinner, she tilted her head back. The sky was full of stars.
"Aren't they pretty?" She barely whispered. "You know, in my time, you can't even see most of the stars because of all the lights." The nearly full moon was so right against the backdrop of the dark sky, surrounded by so many little sparks of light. "No one can even appreciate the sky anymore because of all the smog and the city."
Nori's eyes were on Kagome's face, not the sky. Kagome blinked as she saw the intelligence in Nori—the hanyou definitely understood her words, her meaning. Inuyasha cursed as another fish eluded his grasp; Kagome couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman's nearly luminescent skin.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha's voice was distant, angry. "Trying to find…"
Nori's hands came up to comb her dark hair out, flushing it around her face. Kagome allowed her to, watching. Nori paused, silver eyes shifting to meet hers.
"Oi, Kagome? What kind does she—" Inuyasha's voice froze as he turned. Nori's lips were on hers, moving gently. Kagome was too stunned to move, frozen in place as she almost felt Inuyasha's eyes grow wide.
The hands in her hair took a firmer hold as she tried to turn her face. Odd and scary as the situation was, she did feel how soft the woman's lips were as they moved, trying to coerce hers to move with them. A tug on her hair prompted a gasp, and a tongue slipped between her teeth to prod hers gently.
"K-K-Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice was rough.
Kagome pulled herself out of her haze as she found Nori's shoulders, pushing. The water hanyou made a sound of protest—Kagome suddenly felt very heavy as emotions that weren't hers bombarded into her, frightening her. Flashes of memories that weren't hers, washed in darkness and blood and hollering men screaming with their dying breaths.
She was underwater, swimming for her life. There were dangers there, following her as she fled for shore. A dark presence had taken place on the ocean floor that didn't belong there, absorbing the other wildlife, a hanyou who was hiding behind a barrier and who sent horrible, strange creations out to search for more victims. Land was much better—more humans.
Kagome panicked, watching brilliant pink light explode from her palms.
"Kagome!" The world was swimmy. "Kagome, are you ok? Can you see me?" She was vaguely capable of making out Inuyasha's white hair—the rest was fuzzy and dim. "Shit shit shit! Kagome, answer me!"
She felt her jaw move, but nothing came out.
"Kagome!" Warm, large hands were on her shoulders, and she felt her face being pressed against something warm and slightly furry. "Please, just answer me! Tell me to sit, Kagome! Anything! What's wrong with you?" Her eyes closed.
Inuyasha was terrified.
That fish she—with Kagome! And now there was fish blood all over her face and shirt and Kagome wasn't even conscious. Her eyes were open but the pupils weren't even moving.
He should've just killed that thing in the first place!
"Kagome!" he shook her shoulders again, cradling her face against his shoulder. Her eyes were closed. Inuyasha's fingers found the pulse in her neck, hovering over her mouth to make sure she was breathing. "Just—Just stay with me, ok? Hold on!" He left what remained of the ningyo behind as he ran for Kaede, Kagome's pale, blood-stained face putting more fear into him than any incarnation of Naraku's.
"Inuyasha, ye have to give me space." Kaede swatted at Inuyasha's head again as he hovered too closely again. "I will let you see her in a moment."
"Well, what the hell's wrong with her anyway?" Inuyasha grumbled as Kaede continued to wash the blood away. "I don't see anything."
"Why's Kagome asleep? What's the matter?" Shippo sat on Inuyasha's shoulder—the hanyou was too distracted to care.
"Will ye move?" Kaede finally snapped. Inuyasha sat back on the wood as the old miko got a fresh cloth. "Thank ye."
"Tell us again—what happened?" Sango's brow furrowed.
"I was fishing, and Kagome was talking to keep that thing calm, but then she went quiet. So I looked back, and she's k-kissing Kagome!" Inuyasha seemed as flustered as Sango about the words. "And when she wouldn't let go, Kagome blasted her."
"And she's dead, you're sure?" Sango pressed.
"Her skin was burnt, and she was almost laying in half. She's dead." Inuyasha was glad. When Kagome woke up she couldn't blame him for killing her. Ha. "Ain't you done yet old woman?"
"I can find nothing physically wrong with her," Kaede shot him an annoyed look. "But ye are about to meet ye end if you do not cease."
"Yeah, yeah whatever." Inuyasha scooted closer to Kagome again, ignoring the blood-stained shirt. "Kagome? Oi, you annoying wench…" He was worried. First Miroku, now Kagome—at least the fish was gone now.
"We should go collect her remains, burn them so no one gets any ideas," Miroku pushed himself to his feet. "Inuyasha? I would appreciate your help."
"You watch her, got it?" Inuyasha followed the monk, showing him down to the riverbank where Nori had died. Now he even had to build a pyre for the thing.