What woke Inuyasha was the abrupt removal of Kagome's warm weight on his chest, followed by a piercing shriek and a strange groaning noise. He jolted awake, whipping out Testusaiga as his nose caught the pungent scent of fresh-cut wood. The sky was still inky-dark, but he could make out Kagome's flailing form fairly easily with his half-demon vision. The hanyou gaped for a moment, bounding away from the tree as the others woke up to Kagome's screams. She was being held aloft by a tree branch wrapped tightly around her middle, shaking her roughly up and down.
Inuyasha gave a roar of panic. "Everyone! Away from the tree!" He bounded like lightning up into the whipping branches, narrowly avoiding a few hits. Kagome was pounding on the tree's bark, gasping painfully for air as her ribs contracted. She saw a dark blur of crimson streaking towards her. Thank the gods! Inuyasha, help me! Every tooth in the hanyou's mouth was showing as he swung the Tetsusaiga down on the bough imprisoning her.
Down below, Kouga let out a whine as he saw the sword bounce off with bone-shaking force, sending Inuyasha wheeling away and leaving the branch with only a small scar, gently weeping pinkish sap. "Kagome's gonna get smashed!" He was up and away without a thought.
Sango started up as well before Miroku laid a hand on her arm. "Let Inuyasha take care of this," he said worriedly, peering up into the thrashing branches. "There's no way you could avoid getting hit, Sango." The demon-slayer was shaking from inaction, hating the sidelines, scared for her friend.
Kagome could no longer breathe. Spots whirled in front of her eyes as Inuyasha laid about madly, hacking at the dark branches. Blazes of light passed in front of her as he used his windscar with a roar, but it reflected off the armor-like bark. Her ears rang as consciousness faded in and out. Inuyasha! The hanyou paused for a moment in absolute terror as he saw her head lolling about, snapped roughly as the branch shook, leaves rustling. Nothing's working! He glimpsed a tawny flash out of the side of his vision as Kouga landed next to him, clinging to a bucking branch with all fours.
"We have to help Kagome!" he yelled.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" Inuyasha shouted back, the whites of his eyes showing. "Stand back!" He concentrated, dodging another branch, as a wind began to swirl around his sword. He aimed carefully, face contorting in effort as his adamant barrage lodged huge slivers of diamond deep into the bough holding Kagome.
A distant squealing roar echoed out from the tree as it gave a massive ripple of pain, throwing Kouga and Inuyasha away. Kagome was tossed unceremoniously into the air and went spiraling towards the ground like a rag doll. Inuyasha shook his head and blasted towards her, diving to catch her in the nick of time. They skidded for almost thirty feet until Inuyasha could pull his feet under himself to stop them. Kagome moaned, eyelids fluttering as she took in a convulsive breath. "Come on, come on," muttered Inuyasha, jabbing her in the ribs. He nearly collapsed in relief as she began to breathe evenly, chest rising and falling. Miroku, Sango and Shippou came zig-zagging up, avoiding the twigs falling from the tantrum the tree was giving. Kouga wasn't far behind, his blue eyes locked on Kagome. Inuyasha looked up at the circle around him, not noticing the clay smeared on his firerat or the bleeding scratches on his arms and face. "She's okay!" Kagome opened her deep brown eyes slowly, face pale. She squinted, trying to focus in the dark, feeling strong arms around her.
"Inuyasha? What happened? Ow..."
He laughed a little hysterically. "That tree back there-" he jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the plant, which was casting about angrily on the ground with its limbs- "got a little violent. I don't know if it's a demon or what but I was a bit worried for a while." Kagome was trying to sit up, wincing as her bruised ribs gave a twinge. "You feelin' all right? Gods, you are so damn accident prone, if I didn't know better I'd think you did it on purpose just to irritate me."
She laughed weakly and smiled at her friends' concerned faces. "I'll be fine." Then she gasped, hitting a palm to her forehead. "My bow, my packpack! Everything's still under that damn tree!"
"Language, Kagome," chided a relieved Kouga, smirking. "I'll go get 'em, the tree's quieting down anyways." He took off into the windy darkness.
"Are you sure you're all right, Kagome?" chirped Shippou, hair sticking up in every direction. She nodded. The rest of the group walked cautiously back to the tree, hoping to be able to dash in and snatch their packs before it noticed them. The wind increased, bringing a short shower of rain.
"Whew," said Kagome, curling up in Inuyasha's lap. He bit his lip as she grimaced in pain. "Um, can I just stay here a while longer, Inuyasha?" she said timidly.
"As if I'd let you leave, stupid," he said gruffly, bowing his head until his hair fell around her like a curtain. She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again, tenderly feeling her bruised body for injuries. The hanyou was struck by remorse. I can't believe I didn't scent that demon tree! We camped under the damn thing, and I should have noticed that I didn't remember such a large tree in this area! Kagome almost got killed because I was careless. He clenched his fists. I won't let it happen again. We may have promised to help Kouga but Kagome won't give her life because my stupid sword didn't work.
Kagome looked up at him, having decided that she was pretty much whole. "It's not your fault, Inuyasha," she said unexpectedly, pushing her sopping bangs from her face with the back of one hand. "If none of the rest of us noticed anything either, that tree was doing a really good job of playing normal. I'm not hurt. Don't worry about it, okay?"
"I do worry about you, dummy! You're always going off and gettin' in some tight spot I gotta get you out of," he said roughly, standing up with her in his arms. "Can you stand?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so." Is he really mad at me this time? She looked into his eyes as he set her down gently, golden meeting brown. What she saw startled her. I guess he was just worried about me. She blushed as he kept his gaze trained on her. "Thanks, Inuyasha... um, it looks like Kouga saved my stuff! We probably ought to find another tree to camp under, right? Definitely, 'cuz rain is bad! Gets everything all wet and damp and wet and..." Kagome became aware she was babbling as he slid one hot hand around to the back of her neck. She gulped as he got closer and closer... What's he doing? Is he going to- gods, he is! The hanyou's lips met hers, soft and smooth, feeling like heaven and fire against her own. She leaned against him, feeling as if sparks were playing over her body- until he pulled away, face scarlet and ears shaking.
"Sorry! Sorry," he whispered. She put a hand to her lips, stunned, eyes liquid. He winced. I shouldn't have done that! She's gonna sit me or go home and never come back! Crap, crap, crap, moron, idiot!
"Inuyasha... you kissed me," she said slowly. He looked away as the others approached, not having seen their kiss in the dark. "Don't be sorry!" He turned back to her, brows scruched together in utter confusion.
"You're not mad?"
She was looking at him funny, and he wasn't sure he liked what it did to his heart. "No! I-" she glanced sideways as the others emerged out of the night. "Let's talk later, ok?" Her face was earnest, a little perplexed, and anxious. He nodded, a mish-mash of emotions boiling inside him, trying to keep his face straight.
"That tree thing's gone back asleep," panted Kouga, for once oblivious to the little drama playing out in front of him. "I got your stuff, Kagome, but we'll have to find another tree for the rest of the night, and we'll prolly end up wet through." He pulled on the end of his tail awkwardly. "Thanks, guys."
Sango smiled. "It'll be worth it if we can clear the land of those demons and save your kin, Kouga. No worries."
Inuyasha bent down, helping Kagome onto his back, mindful of her bruises. "Let's go, then, already! Goddamn lazy humans," he snapped viciously.
Kouga showed a fang. "Count me out of that category," he growled, following in irritation as a fresh rain soaked his fur.
Sango, Shippou and the monk just rolled their eyes, used to Inuyasha's mood swings and grumpiness. Inuyasha bounded ahead in the night, taking extra care, highly aware of the soft burden on his back. Kagome was frowning, ecstatic and at the same time, dismayed. My first kiss! I can't believe he finally made a move- does he like me the way I hope, then? Why did he act like that? She sighed shakily as cold rain rolled down her cheeks.
Author: So! A kiss! I don't really like how I wrote this chapter, but I can't figure out exactly why I don't like it, so if you also don't like it, please, tell me why! Also, tell me if you DO by chance like it. :) Thanks everyone.