A/N: So…yeah, I know. It's been a while since I've updated. And I won't bore anyone with how flippin busy I've been. (grumbles about work projects) Here's the next chapter. Thanks for staying with me on this one!
Disclaimer: I don't own either Inuyasha or Bleach.
CHAPTER 9
"Where is Rukia?" asked the cold calculating voice.
"Yeah, isn't she supposed to be assisting you?"
Renji just shook his head, "She had to report back to her squad captain. I thought you would know about that Captain Kuchike?" he said with a slight grin.
"Silence you fool. Tell me then, where is the substitute?" asked the stoic captain.
"Hm. I dunno." shrugged the red haired man with crazy eyebrows.
"What do you mean you don't know! Aren't you AND Rukia supposed to be keeping an eye on him?" asked the shorter captain.
"Actually no Captain Hitsugaya. Our orders are to simply watch for hollows in this district. By the way why are the both of us needed?" Renji asked in a huff.
"Perhaps it has something to do with both of your abilities." said Byakuya Kuchike.
"Or lack of." muttered Toshiro Hitsugaya.
"Hey!"
"Just shut up already!" yelled Toshiro.
Renji looked at the silver haired genius. His bright blue/green eyes, shining with intelligence. Then to the tall onyx haired man, known as his own captain. He sighed and then let out a smirk.
"I think he's studying for some project or other."
"Hm?" Toshiro lifted an arched silver brow.
"Oh, just something for his school. I think he had to meet with someone to work on it."
"He didn't answer the call." said Byakuya coldly.
Renji only shrugged.
"Which is odd, usually Ichigo is looking for a battle." Hitsugaya said.
Renji shrugged again.
"Hn. Do you know who he had to meet? Or where? No one can even sense where he is." asked the Kuchike captain.
Again, Renji shrugs.
"Did he talk to you about the project Renji?" drawled out Hitsugaya.
"Something about the Shikon Jewel, that old legend."
"Interesting. Find us when you meet up with Rukia again." ordered Byakuya.
Renji nodded his understanding. Something big must be going on. And where was that red-haired moron anyway? Ichigo didn't even answer the call? What happened for him not to even bother to answer? An uneasy feeling overcame Renji the more he thought about it.
(((00)))
"Hey Kagome, you know you can't say no to me." grinned the wolf prince.
"I'll see you in a few minutes Kouga. Jaken, follow me please."
The little imp followed the miko from the clearing, leaving Inuyasha fuming along with Kouga. Kagome knew to hurry up or she'd come across her pack in full battle against the wolf prince. Or at least Inuyasha. She allowed a sigh to escape and turned her full attention to Sesshomaru's most obedient follower.
"Well Jaken? What did you find?"
The little toad cleared his throat, "Milady, she said that she never met with anyone. I'm not sure where you got your information from, but according to…her…this never happened."
"Are you sure it was her? Not some puppet or trick? You did take care, right?" She had to make sure, this would be absolutely devastating if it turned out false.
"Hai Lady Kagome, I made sure." he squawked, "She answered a question only the true form would know." he bowed just a little to her.
Kagome sighed heavily, but didn't respond to the imp. She let the silence overtake her, as these new actions plagued her mind. Jaken waited for her dismissal, remaining in her presence.
Damn! Damn! Double fucking damn! Betrayel, the word didn't sit easy with her. Thank Kami she took this precaution. Oh how easily she would have fallen for yet another trap! Damn! She had to get back home, get Ichigo back. He shouldn't be here, especially now. Why the hell did she even agree to bring him with her in the first place?
Attraction will make you do the silliest of things. And she was surely attracted to him, his personality, but again…she barely knew him. And she took the chance of exposing him to this? Her biggest secret in life? She could mess up so many things, screw with history. Everything. Damn!
Tightness enveloped her chest, as so many questions filtered in her mind. Who is the seventh? And why is it just seven? If Kouga, Sesshomaru, Touga, maybe even Kikyo were to join as well? Even more then just them, but there individual groups as well. So that would mean Rin and Jaken, and Kouga's remaining pack members. So why just the individual seven? Did only seven survive the actual battle?
Kouga. Right, she had to get back to him. Give him her packs answer. Okay. She took in another deep breath.
She heard Jaken subtly clear his throat yet again, "Hm…Milady, your…aura…" he seemed frightened.
She immediately noticed her aura was indeed spreading from her. "My apologies Jaken. Please return with me, Sesshomaru and Lord Touga will be back soon. You may stay with me until then. And I thank you for your services, I'll pay you back somehow. You have no idea what you've done me just now."
With a nod, they set back out into the forest. Not knowing a pair of eyes followed their every step, listened to their every word. With a smirk these eyes watched the odd pair dissapear from the clearing.
(((00)))
Ichigo stared at the white/silver haired hanyou in near disbelief. What the hell is that guy's problem? Not that he, himself, really cared for that skirt wearing wolf either, but still. Didn't the half-breed already have a mate? So what was the big deal then?
"Idiot." muttered the little fox kit demon.
"You got that right." agreed Ichigo.
"Hopefully Kagome will be back soon, she'll get them to stop." sighed Sango.
"Hm…you're right Lady Sango, of course, but it's entertaining to watch all the same." smiled the monk.
All four of them took in a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh.
Meanwhile…
"Give it up you mangy wolf! Kagome'll never join your den! Wind Scar!"
"RRggh! What do you care anyway you flea ridden mutt?" yelled out Kouga as he quickly dodged Inuyasha's attack.
They came to a stand still.
"Don't you already have a mate kitten?"
"I ain't no damn kitten!" yelled out Inuyasha, readying to attack once again.
"SIT BOY!"
Inuyasha was forced face first into the ground, inhaling dirt. "Why Kagome?" he asked in misery.
Kagome was fuming. She looked around to everyone, seeing Ichigo ready to butt into the moronic fight between her pack member Inuyasha, and Kouga. Shippo was happily watching the 'argument' ensue on Sango's shoulder. And Miroku was…
"Sango, ten o'clock."
The girls shoulders shrank back, and she instinctly turned and swung a well trained hand into the monk's face. He gasped.
"Thank's Kagome." Sango yelled out.
Her 'sister' nodded, "Alright guys, I'm not even going to ask. Seriously, I hope you won't be fighting every time we turn around!"
"So, you agree?" asked a hopeful Kouga. He was really happy with the thought of being with Kagome all the time.
"We did. I think that we'll also have some other recruits as well. When will Ginta and Hakaku arrive Kouga?"
"Huh? They're not here already?" said Kouga looking around.
"See! He can't even keep track of his own pack! Why do you want this fur filth to travel with us!?"
"Inuyasha." Kagome drew out his name in exasperation. She had so much on her mind.
"So, this is my youngest pup?" came a deep smooth voice over the clearing.
Kagome looked over her shoulder, and stared straight into deep golden pools. She smirked at the former demon lord, and his eldest son just behind him. With Rin. At that realization Kagome launched herself past Touga, past Sesshomaru, and straight at the little girl. She'd really grown attached to the little one. And right now, Rin seemed to almost be the only one there with innocence. Besides her little Shippo of course.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, had his jaw dropped at the sight before him. And his hand unconsciously went to the hilt of his sword. His other hand wiping the dirt from his face, courtesy of Kagome's command.
"Hello…little brother." taunted Sesshomaru.
Inuyasha growled, but remained still.
Giggling interrupted the suddenly silent scene, to see a toothy-grin little girl currently tickling the alpha of the oddly formed pack. Soon Shippo and Sango both started laughing as well. When the they finally quieted down, Rin went off to play with her best friend Shippo.
Kagome looked at Lord Touga and Lord Sesshomaru, both eyeing up the youngest dog demon, half or not.
She quietly cleared her throat. "Inuyasha, this is your and Sesshomaru's father, Touga. Also known as the Inu-no-Taisho."
He gave a slight nod in his father's direction. He knew he was alive, but…
"Uh…okay then. It's been decided that Lord Sesshomaru and his group will also join ours, not too ment…"
"What!?" yelled out Kouga and Inuyasha both.
"I'm not traveling with another damn dog!"
"And I ain't going no where with him!"
"Silence." Lord Touga's was quiet compared to the others, but all the more commanding. A voice you simply do not defy. "Allow the Lady Miko to finish. You should do well to remember pup, that you do not interrupt your alpha."
"Thank you Lord Touga." Kagome smirked, as Inuyasha's jaw again became unhinged, "Both Lord Touga and Sesshomaru have agreed to join our group to find and defeat that vile evil known as Naraku."
All around growls from both humans and demons alike.
"Look, I have to go back to my home, most of you know what that means. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon some time. And I'll only leave again for supplies. We're close. But I need to return to prepare. Um…I usually leave Inuyasha in my charge while away."
"Then so be it." said Lord Touga, "I will discuss things further with my son, along with other members of your group."
Kagome nodded her approval, thankful (and hopeful) that Inuyasha could keep it together until at least tomorrow afternoon. But things were escalating, and she needed to get Ichigo out of this mess. He was far too involved as it was.
So she said her goodbyes, cuddled with both Shippo and Rin for a time. Kagome insisted that she and Ichigo would be fine on their own, back to the well. She gave him a shard of the jewel and went on their way.
They stopped and talked briefly once they got back into their own 'time'.
"Well, that sure was interesting. You have to drop your studies for a while, don't you?"
"Look Ichigo, I'm really sorry about all that. I should have never agreed to let you go with me." she said as he frowned.
"I'm not sorry. Hey look, I can handle it, like I said, I've been through some adventures of my own. Still am."
"I know, but…"
"Just stop it alright. I'm glad I was there. And I'm glad that I got to even meet you, and share this with you."
"I never should have..." her voice was starting to break. And he was being too sweet. Too stubborn as well.
"Hey, there's something here, isn't there? Between us? Some connection, I know you feel it too. There was a reason you shared this with me. Maybe I'm the seventh?"
She laughed slightly, "It's crossed my mind. But what bothers me, is that so many people are apart of the group now."
He cupped her chin in his hand, and smiled warmly at her, "I need to get back, some more homework to finish up."
She shook her head, not ready for him to leave yet. It seemed like they'd known each other since childhood, it was strange. But it was like he'd always been there for her. How is that? Why is that?
"I don't know if I'll ever see you again." she admitted.
There was too much at stake. There was a fierce battle coming up, that may very well claim her life.
He frowned at her, "Don't talk like that. Listen, will you wait for me tomorrow, before you leave? I'll come here to the well house."
She nodded, not allowing the threatening tears to fall. Not trusting her voice, she placed her hand over his.
"Kagome, I'm not sure what's happening between us, and I won't question it. Not in a world of violence. I'll see you tomorrow."
"How can you be like this?" her shaky voice asked.
He laughed, and moved his hand to her cheek, fingers going into her hair, "What do you mean?"
"I just can't seem to think around you." she admitted.
His hand lowered to the nape of her neck, gently pulling her closer to him. Kami, it felt so right. The deep look in his eyes. The soft truth in hers. He kept his gaze on hers, as his mouth drew nearer to hers. "Then don't think." he whispered, and captured those lips with his own.
His kiss on her lips was a sweet torment, soft, subtle, yet demanding and perfect. She escaped a soft moan as her lips moved against his. And his hands moved her body even closer to his. She relished as the feeling of his hard body against her, feeling the raw power of his being flowing around her.
He groaned when she granted him access to the velvety folds of her mouth. The touch of her tongue dancing with his, shooting arcs of light and energy throughout his body. He felt her hands fist into his robe, wanting more of him. He smirked against her, then pulled away gently.
She felt him press his forehead against her own. Both breathing heavily. Her eyes remained closed, still coming down from the high he gave her. She felt warm and relaxed. Completely at ease in his presence.
They both opened their eyes and caught the fire in each other's gaze. He moved his mouth down again, and tenderly took her mouth again. With slow, sweet caresses.
"Bye Ichigo. I'll wait for you tomorrow."
He smirked and turned around. She watched him as he walked away. He turned once and shared a meaningful look with her. She could only wonder what in the world has come over her. She never ever would have imagined meeting someone and allowing them to affect her like this. But then again, she'd never met anyone quite like Ichigo.
He was finally out of sight. Then a thought struck her. She promised to help him with the school project. And he now knew that she would be forced to drop out. Well damn.
A/N: That's it folks, chapter 9. Hope it was worth the wait. Til next time!
