Well, I got bored and decided to submit chapter four. Read my pretties!
Deds: None. Nobody's been reviewing (glares).
Disclaimer: Fine, take it all.
Every Time We Touch
Kagome stuck close to Inuyasha for the next few days, was always in contact. She was either clutching his arm, holding his hand, or sitting with her knees bumping his. The smile never left her face, and she kissed him at every available opportunity.
Miroku was starting to get jealous.
Sango watched it all with indulgence, wishing nothing but happiness for her two friends. For Miroku, however, she wished restraint. The chummier their friends got, the sneakier he got, and she couldn't keep her guard up all the time. As a result, he often had a red face from all the slaps she was giving him in return for his efforts.
Shippo tended to hang close to Kirara, since he didn't want to wind up in the middle of a lip lock with a big bump to show for it. His bag of candy kept him happy, though, and his only concern was fending Rin off, who followed him closely, just waiting to get her hands on some of his candy.
Kirara was happy since everyone else was happy, and there were no enemies attacking…right now, anyway.
Jaken grumbled and mumbled about everyone and everything; he was having a harder time adjusting to the added company than Sesshoumaru was, and he was used to being alone almost all the time, yet he said nothing, only continued to lead the way.
When night fell on the third day, Sesshoumaru had picked a spot to camp that was located in a small clearing, with high rock wall on two sides and a sheer drop-off on the third, leaving only one side open to attack.
Inuyasha volunteered first watch, and he nodded, and headed for a nearby pool to bathe.
While he was gone, the rest of them sat close together around the fire, listening to Sango's attempt at a ghost story. Only Jaken did not come close, preferring to sit with his back against Ah-Un, even though the dragon had opted to sit fairly close, within the circle of firelight.
Kagome made herself comfortable in Inuyasha's lap, and began braiding his hair while she listened to Sango's soft voice. Inuyasha was keeping an ear turned toward the one open side of their campsite, but his eyes were on Kagome, as he watched her play with his hair, his mind going back to the other night when they'd first made love, when he had claimed her finally as his own, and the following day when he had died.
He frowned slightly. He'd seen his Father that day, and he had been disappointed when something had pulled him back. He remembered clearly everything his Father had said to him in those precious few minutes he'd spoken to him.
"Inuyasha," his Father had boomed; his voice was deep and melodic, much like Sesshoumaru's, but with more mirth and no coldness.
"Father?" he'd asked timidly, wondering if this was a trick. He'd suffered many visions since meeting Naraku, and he couldn't be sure if this was real or if it was just another of Naraku's traps.
"Yes, son, it is I, your Father. You grew to be a strapping young man, didn't you? Your Mother always insisted you would be when she was pregnant. You've been keeping out of trouble?"
Inuyasha blinked. His Father sure liked to change the subject when he wasn't expecting him to.
"Trouble? Ha! I don't look for trouble, I make it, Old Man!" he laughed, and his Father smacked his back, laughing with him.
"That's my boy! I always knew you'd be like me, no matter what all the other Lords said. They were wrong, that's for sure!"
Inuyasha smiled at his Father's praise. He wondered when he'd ask about Sesshoumaru.
"Well, since we have only a few more minutes, tell your Old Man what your brother's been up to. From what I know, he's being his usual stubborn self."
"He said you were pestering him in his dreams, and he was really pissed off at you. He always gets pissed off whenever anybody brings you up, Father, why is that?"
His Father sighed. "Because, the night when you were born, we had an argument. It hadn't started with that, of course. I believe his anger toward me started long before, when his Mother died and I did nothing to save her, or so he thought. He would never listen when I told him that I'd tried, but he never believed me.
"Anyway, that night, I had just battled Ryukkotsusei and was severely injured. He met up with me after the battle, and he said he wanted to fight me. I think he knew I was dying, but he gave me some shit about walking the path of conquest as his reason for wanting my swords, Tetsusaiga and Sou'unga, and he challenged me. I walked away from him, and I think he still burns about it." Here his Father shook his head, sadly.
"I think the fact that I died before he could fight me for supremacy froze him. He had always been a warm and loving child, and as a teenager was obedient and skilled in all his lessons, always did as he was asked, but after his Mother died, he was never the same."
Inuyasha nodded, understanding the insight his Father was giving him into his brother's life.
"Well, it looks like he's going to do the right thing, this time," his Father said, and gently pushed Inuyasha back the way he'd come.
"It was great to see you finally, Inuyasha. You have no idea how long I've wanted to meet you. But, now is not your time, Sesshoumaru is calling you back. Say hello to him for me."
"Father, wait!" he called, as a bright blue light engulfed him.
Inuyasha looked into Kagome's eyes, but found they were closed; she'd fallen asleep. He leaned back into a tree and looked up at the moon. His watch was almost up. He looked around, everyone was getting ready for bed. He'd missed the punch line of Sango's story. Oh well.
He spotted everyone, but Sesshoumaru was still bathing. What's taking so long? Inuyasha wondered. Was he that dirty?
He heard a massive crash then, and laying Kagome down, even though she'd woken up, he dashed toward the sound, the others following, Sango grabbing up Hiraikotsu and strapping it to her back.
They found Sesshoumaru at the pond, battling Ryokan, three jewel shards glowing in his forehead, a swarm of buzzing Saimyoshou surrounding him.
Sesshoumaru only had his hakama on, and his swords lay next to the rest of his clothes and his fur, behind Ryokan.
They all watched, momentarily confounded, as Ryokan charged, and Sesshoumaru awaited him, calm as the surface of a frozen pond. When Ryokan was only three feet away, Sesshoumaru disappeared, and the ground exploded in rock and fist, but Sesshoumaru was not there; he was in the air above Ryokan, and his fingers glowed green as his whip materialised and slashed Ryokan repeatedly across the back, then on his face as he turned, the blows raining down on him mercilessly.
Inuyasha cringed; he knew how that felt. What he couldn't understand was how Ryokan was taking it all.
He began to laugh at Sesshoumaru's attempts to whip him into submission, but was quickly brought to his knees after Kagome shouted, "Sesshoumaru! He's got three shards! Hit him in the forehead, between the eyes!"
Inuyasha handled Tetsusaiga, ready to jump in if the need arose. Sesshoumaru, hearing Kagome's warning, aimed and cracked Ryokan in the precise spot she'd indicated, sending his shards flying away in three different directions.
Naraku's Saimyoshou got one, but Sango caught another and Shippo the last one, after he'd transformed into his pink puff.
Ryokan knelt on the ground, having shrunk in size now that the shards no longer influenced him. He began to cry angrily, and everyone approached him.
Sango and Shippo gave Kagome their shards, which she added to her necklace where her shards rested. They immediately fused to the rest of the jewel and glowed a pretty pink.
Sesshoumaru was the last to come close, sweating slightly as he strapped his swords back on with his one hand, foregoing his shirt for now.
"Ryokan," he said in a tone that meant certain death.
"I'm so sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru. Naraku captured me again, and flicked those horrible things into my brain! I told him I never wanted to be used again, but he insists on torturing me, my Lord!"
Sesshoumaru listened intently. Everyone's eyes were on him. He decided that he would let Ryokan off, this time.
"Leave us, Ryokan. If I have to face off with you again, shards or no shards, I will kill you."
Ryokan bowed until his forehead touched the ground. "Thank you, my Lord."
And with that he rose up and walked away, quickly at first then at a slower pace, nursing all his slash wounds from Sesshoumaru's whip.
Sesshoumaru retrieved his shirt and put it on. "It would appear Naraku is close by," he said nonchalantly, unworried. Inuyasha gripped Tetsusaiga, growling in agreement.
"Come on you two, it's too late to do anything now," Kagome said, leading Inuyasha away by the hand, and touching Sesshoumaru's arm briefly. "We'll go after him first thing in the morning."
The sun rose slowly; Sesshoumaru paid little attention. He sat alone, on the cliff, facing the rising sun in a meditative position, trying to find Nirvana. He'd never actually achieved it, but found the effort relaxing and spiritually soothing nonetheless.
He heard the others waking up, and Jaken's snoring evened out; he always woke up slowly, because his blood was cool. He moved faster when it got warmer outside.
Rin yawned loudly and stretched, her little toes cracking. He smiled in his mind; she was a cute little thing.
Miroku came next, rubbing his face and thankfully, not releasing gas…yet. Sesshoumaru began to count down from ten.
Shippo yelled "Bingo!" as soon as Sesshoumaru reached one, and Miroku exploded, and woke everyone else up who was still sleeping.
Sango yelled from under her arm, "Damn it Miroku, every single morning you do that!"
Kagome said, "You are sooo disgusting, Miroku."
And Inuyasha rolled over and cracked his nut with his Tetsusaiga, causing Miroku to lose his grin and yell, "Ow! Damn it, what was that for?"
"That was for trying to kill me with your stench, you asshole!" Inuyasha's eyes became all swirly, and Kagome held him in her lap, stroking his ears.
"Well, excuse me, but I can't help it! And wasn't it you, Kagome, who told us that the average person farts at least fourteen times a day? That keeping it in wasn't good for you? Hmm? Was that not you?" He pointed at her, patiently awaiting an answer.
Kagome glared and Sesshoumaru spoke up.
"Is that true?"
Everyone turned to look at him, Rin's giggles becoming even louder after his question.
By now they'd all started to laugh, even Inuyasha, at Sesshoumaru's question.
Kagome held her gut. "Yes, it's true," she confirmed, then burst out laughing, leaning on Sango who was crying tears of laughter. Miroku couldn't stop grinning, and Inuyasha was pointing at him, Shippo yelling, "Bingo!" once again from his perch on the hanyou's shoulder.
Sesshoumaru thought about this. People really farted that often? He snorted. They'd obviously never heard a dog-demon fart.
"Well," he said, after the laughter had died down a bit, "I guess I'm justified in letting off a little steam, then." And he farted, blowing Rin off the dragon Ah-Un with the wind he created, making her howl with laughter.
Kagome and Sango were knocked flat on their backs from the shock wave, Miroku miraculously landing on top of Sango, while Inuyasha hit a tree and Shippo transformed to cushion him, all to the sound of a hard slap and a shouted, "HENTAI!"
Jaken had been flipped ass-over-applecart, and came to a stop on his head, his ass in the air, while Kirara had fallen down a rabbit hole and was mewling pitifully because she couldn't get out.
Kagome was the first to recover. Sesshoumaru still sat with his back to them, the sun shining around his silver head, his hair settling from his own breeze.
"Luckily for you people," he added, getting up, "my farts don't stink, unlike the monk's. You people really are disgusting."
With that he walked toward the water source, last night's pond, to get a drink. "Hurry up with breakfast," he ordered over his shoulder, and Kagome looked to Sango when both girls saw his shoulders shake with silent laughter before he disappeared.
"What do you know," Kagome whispered.
"The guy's got a sense of humour after all," Sango finished, and both girls broke out in a fresh round of giggles.
"What can I say," Miroku smiled, "I have that effect on people!"
Sango punched him in the chest. "Sure you do, houshi," she said, and Miroku clutched his man-boob, moaning, "Oh, Sango, you wound me!"
Inuyasha smacked the back of his head and laughed like a maniac.
"No, I wound you! Ha!"
Kagome shook her head, and rose to prepare breakfast, when Rin clutched her leg and smiled up at her. "Kagome?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes, Rin?" she replied.
"Thanks!" Rin grinned and yelled to Shippo, "See? She said yes! Now gimme some candy!"
Shippo stuck his tongue out and hid under Inuyasha's hair, screaming, "No way!"
Kagome laughed, and Inuyasha plucked Shippo out of his hair and smacked him away like a baseball.
"Not for breakfast, honey, I brought some Lucky Charms, you'll like them. They're practically candy."
Rin's eyes opened wide and she hopped up and down in excitement.
Sango's eyes lit up too; Lucky Charms were her favourite! Inuyasha stuck close, and Miroku draped an arm around Kagome's shoulder, and leading her toward her bag said smoothly, "Don't let us stand in your way of getting those out, Kagome, I insist!"
She flung his arm off and Sango smacked him, leaving a bump.
"Ow." he said, used to the pain already today.
Kagome produced the big red box (the small box just disappeared too fast, so she started buying big ones) and they all held out their hands.
Who needs milk? Kagome thought wryly as she watched everyone gobble the cereal up.
His mouth full, Inuyasha said, "You know, Kagome, your era has such awesome food. I wish we had this in our time!" Pieces of marshmallow flew from his mouth as he spoke; Miroku pushed him out of the way, jamming his hand inside the box for another handful.
Rin was enjoying her portion; it disappeared in three seconds. Kagome did a double take when she saw her hand reach into the box, already empty.
After five minutes the box was half-gone, and Kagome took it away.
"Hey!" everyone yelled, complaining.
"No!" she hissed. "We have to save some for later, this is all I brought!"
"Aw, man!" Shippo groaned, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Kagome looked up as Sesshoumaru reappeared, his hair wet.
"Let's get the lead out people! Naraku's still out there, and we've got hanyou ass to kick!"
Everyone scrambled to collect their things as Sesshoumaru grabbed his dragon's reins and, waiting for Rin to seat herself, started out, leading the way as usual.
Returning from whence they'd come, they followed a path down the cliff side, and almost everyone clung to the wall in fear. It was gusty, and Shippo nearly flew away more than once, the last time grabbing Inuyasha's hair as he was sucked away, making the hanyou scream in pain.
When they finally reached the bottom, Kagome still had her hand over her heart, trying to slow its pounding. Sesshoumaru stopped, and held up his hand; he smelled something.
Everyone froze; the silence was complete. Inuyasha flicked Tetsusaiga's hilt up with his thumb, the only sound in the entire canyon. The ground began to shake. Kagome grabbed her bow and an arrow, Miroku clutched the rosary around the Wind Tunnel, and Sango reached for Hiraikotsu.
Sesshoumaru did nothing.
A wind began to build up, and soon a cyclone could be seen in the distance, closing in. Everyone groaned and dropped their weapons. Apparently, they knew who was coming.
Sesshoumaru recognised the wolf scent. Kouga, he thought, what do you want?
Inuyasha was thinking the same thing. Kagome put her things down and rubbed her temples, preparing herself for the scene that was about to occur.
Kouga stopped two feet in front of Kagome, taking her hand from his kneeling position. Dust covered her, not to mention everyone in the canyon. Sesshoumaru was not pleased.
He bent to kiss it, but stopped, and sniffed it instead. He followed the smell up her arm to her neck, where he pushed back her hair, and saw a bite mark…a dog-demon bite mark. She smiled apologetically.
Inuyasha came around her then, and draping an arm over her shoulders, raised an eyebrow in the wolf's direction.
"Got a problem, fleabag?" he drawled, and Kagome wanted to hug him, so she did.
Kouga was appalled; he was outraged; he'd been jipped!
"Yeah, I sure as hell got a problem! Who told you, you could mate my woman? I claimed her as mine! You've soiled her, mutt!"
Kagome's face made an how dare you? expression as Inuyasha lashed out and punched the wolf's jaw, a satisfying crack! resounding off the canyon walls.
Sango and Miroku nodded, feeling Inuyasha was justified in his action, and Kagome clung to him, while he yelled, "Insult my woman again, wolf, and next time you won't be getting up, 'cause I'll finish the job!"
Kagome kissed Inuyasha's cheek. "Thank you, Inuyasha." she said, and looked to Kouga with a raised brow.
Kouga rubbed his sore jaw as he rose to his feet, wondering what had happened between these two to cement their relationship so solidly. The last time he'd encountered them, Kagome hadn't thought twice about sitting the dog-boy into oblivion for the slightest offence, but now she clung to him for dear life, as if she would founder if she let go.
He snorted. This wasn't a problem. He resolved to stay with them in their search from here on out, no matter who protested. He was going to win Kagome's heart away from Inuyasha, and all he needed to do it was time.
"I'm sorry, Kagome," he apologized, after his moment of thought, in which all the bystanders had taken a seat, except Sesshoumaru, who'd left to scout the entrance to the canyon they were travelling through.
"I forgive you, Kouga," she said graciously, and Inuyasha glanced at her as if to say, you sure you wanna do that?,but she didn't turn to see his look.
"Don't ever do it again," Inuyasha snarled, and led Kagome away, toward where Sesshoumaru had gone. Sango and Miroku rose to follow, and Kouga did too, silently, bringing up the rear.
Inuyasha turned back and yelled, "Why are you following us? She said no, don't you get it?"
Kouga glared, and Kagome lay a hand on her hanyou's arm, whose fingers were stroking Tetsusaiga, just itching to use it on the pesky wolf.
"Inuyasha, maybe we should ask him to join us. I mean, Sesshoumaru's already here, another set of hands can't hurt, right?"
Inuyasha considered this, but he didn't have to like it. He'd seen the way Kouga had looked at Kagome; he wanted her, and Inuyasha had a feeling he was going to try everything in his power to get her, and she'd paved the way for him to do just that by suggesting that he tag along.
He growled, low, warning the wolf, and holding her possessively. His very posture screamed, she's mine! to every male in the vicinity.
Kouga smirked. Kagome had just offered him a golden opportunity, and he wasn't about to waste it.
"She's right mutt-face, someone will have to replace you and that weirdo brother of yours when Naraku kills the pair of you."
Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched.
Kagome reached up and whispered something in his ear, and he slowly smiled, reassured.
"Do what you want, fleabag," he called, turning away, Kagome flush to his side, "but touch my woman, and she says I can kill you."
Kagome looked over her shoulder and met Kouga's eyes, which were wide with surprise. She only smiled and shrugged, then looked forward once more, wrapping an arm around Inuyasha's waist.
Well, he thought, this might be a little harder than I anticipated. No matter. He had no intention of giving up. What the mutt didn't see couldn't hurt him, and Kouga knew that words could sometimes be louder than actions in the game of love.
He chuckled to himself as he followed the small group of hunters. He may not be able to convince her to be his mate, but he sure as hell was going to give it a try.
Get ready for some lemony goodness in the next couple chapters, people! Oh yeah! I'm having so much fun writing this, and as I edit this on here, I'm typing in my word processor, trying to finish this bitch, but, oh so much fun! Review dudes, I love y'all!
