Chapter 8
Disclaimer: (ahem) I don't own Inuyasha….Sesshoumaru...but I do own this fic.
A/N: Thank you all for you continued reviews, you have all inspired me to continue the fic, all I can hope for now is that the following chapters are to your liking. Oh and Please Review.
At the Inu camp
Inuyasha fidgeted uncomfortable silences than had befallen the group. It was almost sun down and still he couldn't see, smell or hear the wolf youkai nearby. Heck! He couldn't even pick up Kagome's scent.
He watched the rest of the group as they settled in for the night; Sango was sitting beside Miroku near the fire. Kirara was curled up warmly on the Taijiya's leg, Shippou sat near the water thinking to himself, they all seemed somewhat comfortable, silently awaiting the return of their long time friend/sister. He, on the other hand, dreaded her homecoming.
He had betrayed her, he had chosen Kikyou over Kagome, even though he had done it without a second thought, but he still harbored deep feelings for the young miko. But he had met Kikyou first, she was his first in almost everything, his first to trust, his first to "be" (A/N: catch my drift?) with, his first to love.
But there was always sweet, innocent Kagome, someone he had hurt so many times, he knew that she loved him, but he would never be able to return her affections, she had been with him through everything, during his transformations she was the only one that would dare to approach him.
'She had stopped me when no one else could,' he thought, 'And how do I repay her, I repay her by breaking her heart," his breath hitched as he realized just how many times he had betrayed her, and yet, she stayed with him. He didn't deserve her she was too loving and trusting and yet he loved her.
That was why he had vowed to protect her, for her knew that even though they loved each other, he had a prior promise to Kikyou that he had to keep. Inuyasha thought of the first time she had seen Kikyou and him together, he would never in all his life forget that heart wrenching expression that clouded her normally bright face.
He, Inuyasha, had had shattered his heart into a thousand pieces by Kikyou, and he had done the exact same thing to his Kagome.
"Kagome," he whispered as his heart broke, he scented the air and immediately found the object of his desires.
Not once had the thought of Kikyou's absence intervened, all he thought about now, was his Kagome.
Inuyasha leaped from his perch upon the tall tree branch, a grim expression on his face, he didn't know whether or not to tell the others that Kagome was coming, he had smelled her, but he had also picked up on Kouga AND Sesshoumaru's scent, both very close to Kagome's.
"Oi Sango, Miroku… Kagome's coming, so is wimpy wolf Kouga and that bastard Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha said, his raspy voice filled with concern, which he didn't try to hide, for his fellow friend and companion, Kagome.
"Nani? Can you tell if they're traveling together or not?" Sango asked as she immediately reached for her Hiraikotsu.
Kirara leaped off to get Shippou, they all needed to be ready incase Sesshoumaru decided to strike them…or possibly Kagome. Miroku, on the other hand, had remained sitting quietly near the fire.
"Inuyasha, did you forget that Kouga was the one to bring Kagome back to us?" the houshi finally said, his voice was more serious than usual, 'Why would Sesshoumaru-sama be with Kagome-sama?' he thought.
Inuyasha stood still; he had forgotten that the wolf would get Kagome…because he would have possibly been with Kikyou. He didn't let the inquisitive houshi know this though.
"Hai, I didn't forget that that flea bag was gonna get Kagome, why? What's so important about that?"
Everyone shook their heads knowing exactly where Miroku was going with this. Sango sat back down leaning her large boomerang against a fallen tree, while Kirara returned with a very excited Shippou.
"Kagome's close, I can smell her," he declared proudly.
His youkai senses were getting better everyday, Kagome would be proud of him. Soon she would be arriving to compliment him and pamper him just like she always did.
"What the fuck is wrong with you people? Kagome's probably being hunted by Sesshoumaru right about now, and what you're all sitting her like everything's all fucking fine and dandy?" Inuyasha huffed; he still didn't figure it out yet. (A/N: kinda slow ain't he Lol).
Even Shippou had figured out why they weren't going to search for their beloved Kagome. He shook his head walking over to the left side of Miroku sitting down next to him; he picked up a stick and poked at the fire with it. He was bored and excited at the same time, he didn't have anything to currently occupy himself with, and he couldn't wait until Kagome made her grand entry.
"Inuyasha, where exactly was Kouga going to pick up Kagome-sama?" Miroku said, 'Really now Inuyasha you're truly "special". So therefore I'm was going to treat you like a "special" person' the houshi thought.
He snickered out loud at his wandering thoughts, earning him confused looks from Sango, Shippou and Kirara, Inuyasha was STILL piecing the puzzle together.
Realization dawned on him, Inuyasha realized that Sesshoumaru just MIGHT be escorting Kagome and Kouga back to their camp. He growled menacingly at Miroku for treating him like a child.
"Miroku you fucking bastard you could a just told me!" he ranted.
The entire group let out that laugh that they had been holding; this only caused Inuyasha's temper to be fueled.
With Kagome
It was almost night; the sun was gone, leaving faint golden streaked with red rays. They had been traveling for some time now. Kagome stole another glance at the Taiyoukai in front of her, the gentle wind tugging at his long silver tresses. He looked utterly breathtaking. The last of the sun's rays only served to make him seem even more graceful that usual.
Kagome's breath hitched as she recalled the intimate moments she had spent with the stoic Taiyoukai before her. Although, every one of them HE had initiated. She subconsciously touched her lips, they were soft and moist, 'So were his,' she thought shyly, blushing at her wandering thoughts. This earned her an intense glance from Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru glanced at the young miko behind him, her semi-long raven locks seemed to be highlighted with the faint remnants of the sun. Tonight seemed oddly familiar to him, it always had, but still he thought nothing of it. He had looked over at her because something hinted in her scent was driving him crazy.
It was something he had smelled on her while they had shared their intimate moments. He smirked; she was unfamiliar to the habits of youkai mating, while they were kissing, he had made sure to allow his scent to permeate into her skin, dominating her own scent of sakura blossoms.
He had watched her as she placed Rin's slumbering form against her chest. They looked so good together. He hadn't seen Rin this content and happy in a long time, she had lost her usual perkiness when they had arrived at the western castle and he dared not admit it, but he was rather worried for his young ward.
He listened intently to the two heart beats of his charge and his soon to be mate. Of course his beast within enjoyed the fact that they would be getting a strong, attractive, motherly female, but his logic side just wanted her for the immense power that resided deep with in her very soul. As a bonus, Rin would have a new playmate in which to keep her occupied.
'What if she doesn't want to become your mate, eh Fluffy?' his inner voice chimed.
'Do you think, that this Sesshou…'
'Hey, hey, don't take that tone with me, This Sesshoumaru my foot. Did you forget that I'm a part of this oh so powerful Sesshoumaru?'
'Like you would spare me such a thought,' sigh.
'Yeah, yeah whatever, anyway I've come to warn you Fluffy. If you take the girl by force you won't live to regret it.'
'Hmm…and what makes you think I'd actually die at the likes of this pathetic female ningen?'
'Meh! Just take my advice, 'kay. Sheesh you're so blah sometimes.'
'Did YOU forget that I am you?' smirk.
'That's a luxury I don't have. Well I'm off Fluffy, we'll talk soon, I'll send you a greeting from the other side of your brain ne?'
With that the voice within his head vanished leaving a confused/I'm not gonna listen you to you looking Sesshoumaru. They were nearing the camp; he could distinctly see the Taijiya's large boomerang and the unmistakable red smudge of his brother's red haori.
Kagome gasped as she saw Sango's Hiraikotsu, it was a sign that she would soon be home free, or so she thought. She noticed the red spot known as Inuyasha sitting atop a tree branch; she instantly noticed that the hanyou was lacking an all too familiar white and red figure that was usually plastered to his side.
She wanted to see Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kirara….but she didn't want to face the silver haired hanyou that had broken her heart so many times. Instead, she wished to stay with the graceful Taiyoukai that had deemed himself her new protector. Why he had done it, she still wasn't sure.
Kagome sighed knowing that she would have to face Inuyasha sometime soon. She brushed away a few rebellious strands of Rin's hair from the little girl's small face.
'How odd that someone so innocent and pure would stay with someone as lethal as Sesshoumaru,' it was more of a statement than a thought.
Kouga raced ahead, he didn't like the fact that Sesshoumaru was traveling with them or the fact that he had declared himself Kagome's new protector.
'Dog boy's gonna have a fit when he finds this out,' he smirked.
He would never understand why Inuyasha, who had Kikyou, didn't want Kagome to have a 'companion'. He himself was willing to fill that position, but it seemed like another got there before him.
He saw the way Kagome now looked at the Taiyoukai of the West, she was falling in love with him, and it only took one day. ONE FREAKING DAY, while he, Kouga had tried for almost four years, and yet they had never made it pass friendship. He sighed softly, if he couldn't have Kagome's heart, then he would also have to settle for being JUST her protector, but now even that was taken from him.
He had never thought that the stoic demon lord could actually charm ningen females, demonesses, but not humans. They were too afraid of his power to even approach him, but Kagome even though she felt fear she would never back down. He had come up with the excuse that he was going to scout ahead, but he simply did not want to see the affectionate looks that passed between his Kagome and his fellow Taiyoukai, Sesshoumaru.
As the odd group neared the Inu-Tachi, Sesshoumaru could practically see the waves of anxiety and nervousness radiating off his soon to be toy. It was making him slightly uncomfortable though he didn't show it, he knew she still loved the half breed and yet she seemed nervous upon her pending encounter with him.
"Kagome-chan!" Sango exclaimed running toward her sister.
"Kagome!" Shippou squealed as he bounded over to Kagome.
Sesshoumaru turned extending his only arm to the miko before him, he would never admit it but the sight of his ward in her lap and the little kitsune on her shoulder, made him yearn for pups of his own.
That thought was IMMEDIATELY stomped out of his mind. Kagome gently slid her small delicate hand into Sesshoumaru's large masculine one. It felt so right; she wanted the moment to last forever, wishful thinking of course. He helped her down from the two-headed dragon, Ah Un.
Jaken had eased Rin's slumbering form off Kagome, leaving the girl still oblivious to her surroundings. Sango, Miroku and Shippou stopped dead in their tracks, awestruck. Was the Taiyoukai of the West, the most deadly, most feared demon in all Japan helping their dear friend/sister get off a dragon? Hell was MOST DEFINITELY freezing over.
Kouga watched the whole ordeal play out before him. His entire being seethed with pain and anguish. It was just too much for him, he had never wanted Sesshoumaru dead so much until that moment, but he contained his anger, and he knew the half breed would do enough yelling for the both of them. He made his way to a nearby tree where he sat silently under its shade.
It took no more than that tender moment between the Taiyoukai and the miko to provoke the insubordinate hanyou. Inuyasha leaped out from his tree branch aiming the Tetsusaiga on his loathed half brother Sesshoumaru. He felt betrayed and hurt by Kagome, the only one that he trusted thoroughly, the only one he could ever show his true colors to, and here she was, seemingly with his half brother, someone she knew he hated with every fiber of his being.
Sesshoumaru anticipated such rash actions on the behalf on his idiotic brother. Without a second thought, he snaked his arm around Kagome pulling her against him, leaping out of the way of his brother's inaccurate attack. A moment later and he might have hit Kagome. Sesshoumaru landed gracefully a few feet from Miroku...who was unusually silent.
Kagome clutched tightly onto Sesshoumaru's outer hakama, she was sure Inuyasha was going to hit her with Tetsusaiga. Her heart was racing; it refused to slow down her near death experience had scared the living daylights out of her. She had had many experiences with death, but she never thought that she would die at the hands of her first love, her protector...her friend, Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru watched as the various expressions filled his Kagome's angelic face, love, pain, betrayal... They all swept over her face slightly unnerving him. All he ever wanted to see was happiness and joy on his tenshi's face, for once he didn't stomp the thought out of his mind, for the remnants of his conscience still nagged at him.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered, her voice held the heart breaking sorrow that dwelled deep within her heart.
Sesshoumaru still hadn't let her out of his grasp, he wasn't sure whether or not she would be able to stand on her own, and after all he could distinctly hear the pounding of her heart within her chest.
Inuyasha looked at the young miko before him, his heart clenched with the one word that was uttered through her lips. He was the one that caused the heart ache that his best friend was now experiencing; he was the one that had tainted her innocent nature. He had brought Kikyou to the camp without a thought as so what Kagome's reaction would be...he wasn't worthy of her friendship, but he would never show weakness in front of his brother. It would please him to no end.
Miroku, who had eased himself away from Sesshoumaru and Kagome and made his way over to Sango, Shippou and Kirara who all stood frozen as they watched the battle between Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru and Kagome unravel before them. They knew better than to meddle in matters in which their opinion would be of no assistance.
"Sango, why do you think Kouga did not lash out at Sesshoumaru-sama?" Miroku whispered, he had been silently observing the events of the night.
He had been rather intrigued when Sesshoumaru had helped Kagome down from Ah Un, and now, his interest was peaked when the Great Taiyoukai of the West had SAVED Kagome from her protector Inuyasha.
"He probably realized that Inuyasha would do enough yelling for both of them," she responded nonchalantly.
Sango hadn't expected something like this to happen, why would Sesshoumaru help her best friend? It was all confusing to her, but one thing was certain for sure, nothing good could come from a confrontation between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.
Miroku edged up closer to Sango a very still Shippou plastered to his right shoulder.
"Sango, do you think we should leave those three alone?" he asked.
The Houshi was concerned for his friend's safety, but he knew all too well that this was a matter that only the young miko could solve.
"Houshi-sama, we can't leave these two with Kagome, they'll tear her to pieces. Besides what if we need to stop Sesshoumaru from killing Inuyasha… again?" Sango's voice was filled with concern but her expression remained slightly indifferent, how had her friend gotten herself into this, not that the situation was all that bad… it could've been worse and they all knew it.
"Inuyasha no baka! Are you trying to kill me?" Kagome yelled, she had finally recovered from her stupor only to begin the long tedious process of yelling at the insubordinate hanyou.
He would never understand the love she once held for him, how at one point in time she would have given her very life for his happiness.
Sesshoumaru withheld a smirk, Inuyasha was definitely in for it, and his miko would make minced meat out of the stubborn half breed. 'Hmph, that sounds good, MY miko.'
He still hadn't made any move to remove his arm from around the angry miko that had captured his eye.
"Keh! Yeah well it's not like you're so safe with him, wench," Inuyasha retaliated.
His blood was boiling; he needed to show Kagome that no one will ever have her but him. He certainly wasn't going to loose her to his arrogant half brother. He readied Tetsusaiga; his next attack would be to kill his loathed brother Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru you fucking bastard, what the hell did you do to Kagome!" Inuyasha solicited, this time he would get rid of Sesshoumaru and claim Kagome for his own.
His golden eyes were locked onto the brilliant amber ones of his brother.
Kagome watched from one brother to another, there seemed to be an ominous blanket of silence that covered the group. It was all her fault, why couldn't she just come visit the group then asked Sesshoumaru if she could stay with him for a while, like that would ever happen, not in her lifetime at least.
"This Sesshoumaru does not answer to a half breed such as you, Inuyasha!" Sesshoumaru countered.
His deep masculine voice was calm and deadly, but it had managed to cut the thick tension that hovered above the group.
"Sango…" Miroku started.
He really didn't want to stand there and watch the events he and everyone else knew were going to unravel before them. The two brothers would start fighting soon enough and they needed to get to a safe place. Everyone knew that it was best to not interfere when the two brothers went all out to kill each other… well when Inuyasha went all out to kill Sesshoumaru.
Sango shook her head as Shippou jumped down from his perch on Miroku's shoulder.
"I think we should go, that baka Inuyasha'll probably kill us instead of Sesshoumaru," he stated matter-of-a-factly, Kirara mewled in affirmation of Shippou.
Sango held up her hands in defeat.
"Fine you guys win, but we have to stay in the bushes and watch those three incase Kagome-chan needs our help!"
With that said the two ningen and the two youkai set off for a nice bush in which they would get a good view of everything without being noticed.
Kouga watched as the rest of the Inu-Tachi set off to some unknown region. He himself wanted to stay, but he could. He had to return to his lair, there, Ayame would be waiting for him, after all their mating ritual was not to far away. He sighed softy and stood up, he knew he was forgotten by the group and therefore his departure would have no meaning.
With a backward glance at the woman he would never have, he set off in the direction of his ookami tribe. At least there he held rank over everyone else, which pleased him. Even though he would never hold Kagome's affections as a mate, at least he could be her protector…well one of her protectors.
There they stood, all three of them.
"C'mon Sesshoumaru too scared to face your little brother," Inuyasha taunted his sword held upright in an offensive position.
He watched his brother's stoic face, it held no emotion as usual but slowly Inuyasha's eyes drifted lower and lower to where Sesshoumaru's one arm was wrapped securely around Kagome's petite waist. Inuyasha growled slightly.
"You wish death upon yourself that much, Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru asked.
He would get his little brother all worked up then the ignorant pup will attack first giving Sesshoumaru the right to kill the insufferable hanyou. Everything will fall into place; he would kill Inuyasha and Naraku and claim the powerful miko for his own.
"Get you fucking hands off Kagome you bastard!" Inuyasha yelled charging toward Sesshoumaru, his father's fang held high.
This was the day the lord of the western lands would fall by his hand. Sesshoumaru had always had it better than him, heck he even got to spend time with dad, but all he had was his ooka-san.
A/N: omg I'm soo sorry about the really late update -crawls under a rock and dies from shame- I'm really really sowwie...this ending is kinda stupid but it continues onto the next chapter anyway please review:) Ja ne!
