Chapter 33: Stuck in the Woods II
Inu-Yasha's ears perked with surprise at the sound of his name, so he tried to tilt his head upwards to look at the face of the creature speaking to him.
"Inu-Yasha, that IS you, isn't it?" the voice inquired, and this time Inu-Yasha managed to clear his mind enough to be able to discern that it was female.
He suddenly felt a large, sandpapery tongue run across his bloodstained forehead.
The hanyou frowned, but then suddenly realized the only plausible suspect this creature could be.
"Ki… Kirara?" he inquired.
He weakly reached out a hand, only to have it meet the top of a broad, feline snout.
The giant cat lowered her face to be level with his, and he stretched out his other hand to her, feeling over her features carefully.
This puzzled him though. The Kirara he remembered was a small, friendly cat, not this monstrous tiger!
"Inu-Yasha, what happened? You're bleeding!" the cat said worriedly.
Ignoring her question, Inu-Yasha ran his fingers through her fur in confusion.
"How did you get so big…?" he asked quietly.
"Don't mind that," she said gently.
Carefully, she lifted him by the collar of his jacket.
He was suddenly whisked down from his safe perch, but his mind reeled and went blank for what seemed like only an instant.
Suddenly, he was placed comfortably on a bed of fur that he recognized to be one of the cat's massive tails, though the scents around him were somehow different.
"Kirara… I'm… gonna bleed all over you," he panted quietly.
The youkai chuckled softly and licked the blood clean from his face.
He felt her curl her massive, furry body around him and lift his hand in one of her paws. He blinked puzzledly as she carefully cleansed his palms of blood.
"Poor boy," she muttered pityingly.
The hanyou stared at her quietly before he drew in a long, shaking breath that made uncomfortable heat rush through his chest.
"Kirara…" he mumbled, though his speech was slurred due to his weakness, "It's not… safe on the ground…"
"It is here, puppy, don't worry," she assured him gently, "I'm over six thousand years your senior. I think I know what I'm doing."
Inu-Yasha stared, puzzled, at the youkai.
"You're over six thousand…?" the hanyou mused quietly.
He leaned back into her fur and couldn't help a small whine of pain from passing his lips.
He felt the youkai nuzzle against his face gently, and he could vaguely make out her large, red eyes narrowing with worry.
"Just relax… You can get some rest now, okay?" she said.
Inu-Yasha nodded weakly, and lifted his numbing, bullet-punctured arm onto his chest.
"It's… hard to breathe…" he mumbled, "I got… shot… right through me…"
"I know," Kirara replied softly, "Don't speak. Just concentrate on getting some of your strength back."
Inu-Yasha nodded weakly and sighed, blinking sleepily.
His eyelids were becoming heavy: it was hard to even attempt to keep them open.
"I think… Imma… sleep now…" he said softly.
He heard Kirara sigh, and then she licked his head again.
"Puppy, I can't understand you," she told him, "You might not realize it, but you're very garbled."
The hanyou blinked tiredly at the giant cat and sighed, resting his head deeper in her fur.
Since, she had pointed out, that he could barely speak, he weakly lifted his arm and patted her back gratefully.
He let his eyes close and quietened, listening to Kirara's breathing to calm himself. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep as his youkai blood boiled and rushed at super-speed through his veins, trying to mend his wounds as quickly as it could.
oOoOoOoO
Kirara stared down at the hanyou boy in her care sadly.
His blood was beginning to pool around him and dye her fur a muddy colour of crimson.
Silently, she prayed for him: pleading softly that he would be able to overcome his injuries.
She blew out a deep sigh, and then leaned back into the soft moss around her, eyeing the rocky ceiling above absent-mindedly.
Unknown to the now unconscious hanyou, Kirara had carried him through the forest for over ten minutes to reach this safe spot: a cave deep in the side of a hill that the cat had been using as a den for weeks.
She knew he had fainted as soon as she had picked him up, though she had feared that he had fallen into a coma; she was unbelievably relieved when he had woken up again to innocently comment that he was going to bleed on her.
Kirara closed her eyes and covered Inu-Yasha's limp form with her second tail as he began to shudder with pain.
His fingers twitched and ground deep into her fur and she could feel his chest heaving as he struggled to keep breathing.
The cat frowned and then sat up again, turning her body so that she was facing the boy.
She moved her tail from over top of him and then, after considering her options for a moment, she gently nudged his arms to the side and, using her teeth, pulled his jacket away from him. She then repeated the process with his t-shirt.
Her eyes hardened at the sight of his blood and she let out an angered growl before dipping her head to lick his wounds clean.
She lifted a paw and gently felt his body over, looking for more wounds. To her alarm, Inu-Yasha's body jerked uncomfortably as her paw met his leg.
Realizing he had been shot there as well, Kirara didn't hesitate to clamp her fangs into one of his pant legs and yank his jeans away from him.
After cleaning his leg as well, she recalled, to her embarrassment, that most human-form creatures didn't particularly appreciate being almost naked.
Her face burned under her fur as she realized she would have to leave the boy in his boxer shorts: without hands, she was unable to dress him again.
Her ears dropped downwards and she muttered her apologies to the sleeping hanyou before she covered him with her other tail again.
The two were silent for a few minutes until Inu-Yasha whined in his sleep, his fingers knitting into her fur. He stiffened, and Kirara could only watch pityingly, trying to fathom how much pain he must be in.
She, despite her age, had never been wounded as brutally as Inu-Yasha had, and, for some reason, it made her ache with guilt.
For someone so young… He's been through far too much, the youkai thought.
She knew that these were not his first encounters with bullets as well. Kirara knew, just as her friend Sango had, that Inu-Yasha had been tortured.
Why him? She wondered, Why this puppy, of all of them in the world? He hasn't done anything wrong… And yet…
The very notion of what those humans in blue had done to her friend made her ill inside, though she knew that it could have happened to her as well.
If it hadn't been for the human girl with the metal pipe, she might have tasted lead weeks ago.
-
Kirara watched as Inu-Yasha slowly calmed down.
His breathing, to her relief, was becoming much more regular.
She lay down again, curling up around him in a warm, tight ball, letting her head rest on his chest in case she needed to clean his blood again.
To her surprise, however, she noticed a scent that she hadn't acknowledged before. It was all over him: on his chest, arms, and even on his face and head.
Though it was almost completely swamped by blood, Kirara could make out the smell of a girl, and a familiar one at that.
Curious, Kirara sniffed Inu-Yasha's hair, trying to remember the scent, until she recalled it as the smell of the girl who had rescued her a few weeks ago from the undercover agent.
Amusement sparked in Kirara's deep red eyes and she couldn't help a chuckle from rumbling up her throat.
So, little Yasha has a girlfriend now, does he? She mused, That's odd. The same girl who helped me must've helped him as well…
"You kissed her, you sly dog," she chided jokingly at the unconscious boy.
Though he obviously gave no answer, she felt him cuddle into her fur and begin to shiver.
The cat looked down on him, her eyes softening with affection. She wrapped her front limbs around him in an embrace and held him close in an attempt to comfort him.
Don't worry, pup: I'm going to protect you, she thought confidently.
oOoOoOoO
As Kagome ran, the low branches of saplings grazing her skin, she tried not to think of the people who might be pursuing her.
Though she was all ready exhausted, she forced herself to keep going, even though she had no idea where she was going.
Her thoughts kept tracing back to Inu-Yasha, however.
He's probably fighting for his life right now, she thought sadly.
Cringing, tears beginning to blur her vision, she had to keep the image of his determined face out of her mind, but it was merely replaced with how he smiled right after he kissed her.
Kagome had to stop herself from choking as her mouth ran dry and heat coursed through her face. She stumbled, her tired legs beginning to fail her.
Forced to slow, she rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand. She continued to walk, unsure of where to go, or what to do. She assumed that it was still unsafe to trace back to see if Inu-Yasha was all right. She was worried beyond anything she had ever felt before: she wished she knew if he was all right or not.
She mumbled as close to a prayer as she could think of, but, after an instant, she began to hear voices through the bracken before her.
She jerked in horror, but thankfully, both seemed stationary. They also seemed very familiar.
Those two agents! She thought automatically, Jeez, I don't wanna run into them again!
She stood, desperately trying to think of what to do, but her interest was perked once she heard them begin to speak of Inu-Yasha.
Curious now, Kagome decided it would be worth the risk to eavesdrop: after all, she had become a master of the art of the years. Unless there was an idiotic act on her part, she was positive she would not be discovered.
Ducking, Kagome darted forward until she could see the woman, Michi, dabbing at claw wounds on her face with a cloth, and the man, Ronin, sitting on a stump, scrubbing delicately at his hair where Kagome could clearly tell a bird had made a mess.
Suppressing a chuckle, the girl crouched quietly behind a bush and peered through its branches, watching intently as Michi, began to pace uneasily around Ronin. It seemed to Kagome as if she had entered the conversation during an awkward pause.
"Why," she said, rubbing at her brow, "Do you hate that kid so much?"
Ronin merely grunted and punched the rugged stump under him.
"Don't you hate him?" he asked quietly.
"I don't hate him, specifically. This is just my job," she explained, "But you… Don't you think you're going a little far? That girl has almost nothing to do with this."
Ronin snorted and looked up at the leafy canopy.
"Weren't you just trying to shoot her a little while ago?" he inquired cynically.
The girl stared at him, her thin eyebrows bending into a frown.
"Hai, but that was in self-defence!" she protested, "I wouldn't have tried to kill her if I thought she wouldn't fight back."
Ronin cut his eyes at her as if to say, "Yeah, right."
"You just hate to lose, don't you?" she accused, "He beat you twice and you just can't take that, can you?"
The man looked up at her angrily, and then looked down to the ground and mumbled something that Kagome couldn't hear.
Apparently, Michi couldn't hear him either, because she inquired,
"What?"
"I said: he beat me more than twice!" he repeated loudly.
Michi sighed in exasperation and slapped her thigh.
"So what? She demanded, "Look, it really doesn't matter! If you want to get rid of him, fine, that's what we're supposed to do, but that girl has nothing to do with it."
"He loves her…" Ronin muttered, "I… I…"
"What? You want him to suffer?" Michi demanded, "You're so selfish! Just because he's stronger than you…"
"He ruined my life," Ronin spat, "He-"
"Forget it!" the woman spat, "You're jealous now? That he was the kid who got that prestigious scholarship even though he was about four grades too young, instead of you? God damn it Ronin, grow up!"
-
Kagome drew back from the bush slightly as anger slowly began to seep through her.
He wants to kill Inu-Yasha… over a fucking scholarship? What the hell is wrong with him? She demanded.
She balled her fist and watched as Ronin slowly stood and flexed his hands.
"Whatever," he grumbled.
He felt over his two finger stubs absently and then looked to the sky once more.
"I heard gunshots from this direction," he commented, pointing to his left and, to Kagome's alarm, the exact direction she had come from, "Maybe we can regroup and chase that bastard down."
Michi stared at the man for a moment as if trying to find another way to scold him, but then gave up and nodded.
"Right," she agreed.
Kagome watched as they were about to head off, her heart racing.
She couldn't let more people go after Inu-Yasha.
Frowning, she desperately padded across her jeans and coat pockets, looking for something she could toss as a distraction.
All she had was her wallet, but she decided it would be a bad idea to throw that: if they were to find it, they would be able to find her health card, and therefore find her, her house, and her family.
Sighing in utter frustration, she tugged at the collar of her shirt, only to feel something warm and metal meet her hand.
Her eyes growing wide, she swiftly looked at the metal in her hand.
It was her necklace: the cheap, silver chain she almost always wore as good luck.
She drew in a quiet gasp. She had completely forgotten that she was wearing it.
Quickly, she yanked on it, breaking the clasp and then, praying that her plan would work, she tossed it violently into the bushes across the small clearing.
She heard it thud into the bracken and, to her relief, Michi turned.
"Did you hear that?" she inquired.
Ronin nodded and he headed into the bushed and shuffled through it for an instant before he emerged with Kagome's chain draped across his finger.
"That girl was wearing this," he commented, "It was on a branch…"
Michi nodded and put a hand to her chin.
"Yes," Kagome muttered triumphantly, though she clapped her hand to her mouth suddenly as she realized that it had come out much too loudly.
She saw Michi's eyes dart in her direction, and then widen slightly.
Kagome froze, horrified, and drew backwards slightly as she realized she had been discovered.
She saw the woman smirk, and she was almost positive she was about to be shot at, but then, Michi did something she would never had expected.
"Hey Ronin," she called, "I bet she was just there, listening to us."
Her smile widened a little.
"I bet it got caught as she was trying to make a break for it. We should head that way… You know, to check it out? Maybe we can follow her back to the kid."
Ronin nodded and headed deeper into the thickening woods.
"I'll lead," he asserted, "She can't be far."
Michi didn't respond, but she took a few steps forward before turning and shooting Kagome a wink.
Kagome's insides jerked, but then she nodded and whispered "Arigato".
The older woman smirked and then, tugging at her holster slightly, prowled into the woods after Ronin.
-
Kagome stared after her adversaries, completely shocked.
She had assumed that Michi would have exposed her immediately, but she hadn't even seemed to consider it.
She lied straight out to her own partner, Kagome thought, puzzled, But… Why?
Despite her confusion, Kagome was extremely grateful for the woman's sudden sense of compassion, though she still boiled with fury at the thought of them attempting to hunt down Inu-Yasha.
It's just a job…Michi's words rebounded inside her mind, and they nearly made her wretch.
How, she thought, can anyone think killing someone else is just a job?
Biting her lip, she slowly stood, cautiously taking a few steps backwards before she turned to continue on her way. Unsure of what to do, she merely began to walk again. After a moment, however, she stalled again as she thought she had heard a noise above her.
Slowly, she gazed upwards, though she could see next to nothing through the early autumn leaves. Hesitantly now, she continued, straining her ears for any sounds that seemed out of place or otherwise.
A tingling passed up her spine, and, as she heard a sharp crack above her, she was nearly positive that she was being followed. Unsure of what to do, she came to a halt, and eyed her surroundings. The area she had run from was to her right, and there was now a large, steep hill before her. She assumed that she would be safest on the uneven terrain of the hill, though before she could head towards it, a sharp thud behind her made her whirl uncertainly.
All she expected to see was empty expanses of woods, so the dark human figure standing less than two feet away caused her whole body to freeze in horror.
She took a nervous step backwards as she saw the man across from her slowly begin to smirk. She saw him reach for something, and she took another step backwards, though she had to time to see what it was. Her heel skidded over top of a thick tree root and she stumbled, and then fell backwards down the hill.
-
Kagome's vision became a blur as she rolled awkwardly through the dead leaves. Luckily for her, there were no trees growing on the hill itself, though after a few seconds when she could finally think rationally, she desperately hoped she wouldn't slam into one at the bottom.
Somehow, she felt something catch her pant leg. She heard it tear, but she also felt her leg tear.
Too dazed to cry out, she continued to roll until she, indeed, thudded back against a tree trunk. She groaned in pain and looked back up the hill with blurred vision. She could see that it had been a long way down, and she could also, after a moment, make out the form of the man on the top slowly beginning to edge downwards.
It took the girl a moment to realize what this meant. Her eyes widening with horror, she forced herself onto shaking legs. Her mind reeled and she felt as if she were about to vomit, and a sudden, searing pain burned through her left leg. She looked down puzzledly to see her pant leg in ruins, and dark, red blood soaking through the cloth, dribbling down her boot, and onto the leaves below.
Panicked, she attempted to break into a run, though she staggered dizzily, and her bleeding leg sent a sharp ache up to her thigh.
She paused and limped gracelessly towards the tree she had crashed into, locking her nails into the bark in an attempt to hold herself upright.
In this brief lapse in movement, however, the man in blue had caught up to her, and with a sneer grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her to the ground.
Kagome yelped and toppled onto her rear, sprawling helplessly in the leaves.
"You bastard," she managed to squeak.
Her opponent said nothing, though slowly, from the holster attached to his belt, pulled a shining, black gun.
Kagome pushed herself backwards frantically with her uninjured leg, but the man looming above her, the barrel of his weapon glinting ominously in the fading sunlight, merely pointed it squarely at her forehead.
Her eyes widening with dismay, she vainly attempted to shy away from the barrel.
She could see the man begin to grin and with a slow, deliberate movement, he released the safety on the gun.
Kagome winced, though a sudden, massive crash to her left made her jump in shock, her head jerking to the side in an attempt to see what it was.
The man above her hesitantly cut his eyes in that direction as well, but he was not left with enough time to contemplate the sound.
-
Like a juggernaut, the massive head of a deep purple beast ripped from the trees and it clamped its jaws around the man.
Its bright fangs glistened in a maniacal, alligator-like grin and it tossed back it's head, crunching the human down and swallowing forcefully.
Kagome stared, aghast, and watched in terror as blood gushed down the chin of the dragon-faced monster and sprayed wildly as it tossed its head.
The creature towered above her: it had to be at least four meters tall. It had thick, muscular limbs and stood on its hind legs, almost like a human. Two massive, straight horns crowned its head and between them, running down its neck, was a long, horse-like mane of crimson hair. Its long tail waved back and forth, and it stretched and let out a gurgling growl as if it were pleased with its meal.
Kagome edged backwards, panic jolting inside her.
Was it going to eat her as well?
As swiftly as she could, she pushed herself to her feet and attempted to limp out of sight of the creature, but at her movement, his small, goat-like ears twitched and his head jerked in her direction, glowing red eyes locking on hers.
-
Squeaking with panic, Kagome ducked behind the nearest tree and out of sight, but the creature's lips pulled back in a grin.
The girl could hear the thunderous steps of the monster as it calmly approached her hiding spot.
She closed her eyes and drew in a shaky breath as the steps stopped suddenly.
I… I don't wanna die… she thought in fright, Oh my God, he's gonna eat me!!
She gripped nervously to the tree and opened her eyes, only to find the bright red eyes of the beast less that a foot from her own as it craned its neck around the tree trunk.
She couldn't help a scream from bursting from her throat and she ducked and bolted for the next tree, but her weakened leg gave out and she collapsed onto the ground, tears welling up in her eyes.
She covered her head with her arms and winced, waiting for the jaws to close in around her.
The ground shook with the creature's weight as it approached her once more and, after a second, she could feel its hot breath puffing on her hair.
She dug her fingers into her hair, her entire body quaking violently.
Without warning, she was flipped onto her back and was pinned to the dirt by the creature's massive hand, its black claws digging into the ground beside her neck.
Kagome gulped, though was left utterly helpless as the creature lowered its head and sniffed through her hair, and then pressed the end of its snout to her cheek, drawing in her scent even more thoroughly.
Unable to move away from it, Kagome winced against its rank breath, though through her squinted lids, she could see a small amount of recognition flash in the back of its eyes.
To her surprise, it stuck out its tongue and licked the right side of her face.
Kagome shuddered, trying not to think of how disgusting the gesture was, seeing as the creature had just devoured a man.
She could hear it grunt out what sounded suspiciously like a laugh, and then, as if only to confuse Kagome more, it raised its massive body away from her and began to slowly lumber away, its huge tail swishing absently.
-
Swiftly, Kagome pushed herself upright, her eyes widening as she stared after the creature.
He's just… leaving…? She thought, frowning, baffled, Why didn't he eat me too?
Shaking, she grasped onto the closest tree and forced herself to her feet.
Why did he let me live? She wondered.
Her frown of confusion deepened, but then, suddenly, a jolt of panic sparked through her.
She could easily tell that this creature, whatever it was, was extremely strong, but if it were to run into more of the government's agents, they wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
If they're after Inu-Yasha for his aura thing, they'll… definitely shoot this guy down… I mean, what the hell is he?
She suddenly felt a sense of debt towards this creature that had decided not to eat her.
"Hey!" she called, and before she could properly think through what she was doing, she hobbled forward a few steps, "Hey! Purple dude! Wait!"
As if suddenly frozen, the creature stalled in its tracks.
It craned its neck to peer over its shoulder and blinked its crimson eyes in her direction with confusion.
Kagome gulped, unsure if she should have drawn its attention or not, but since she had no choice now, she continued.
"You really shouldn't… uh…" she muttered, and then sighed, rubbed her forehead, and began again, "Look, I don't know if you meant to or not, but you just saved my life, and I… I can't let you go that way without telling you what's over there."
In what seemed to be one giant step, the creature was in front of her again, its eyes level with hers, though now it seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say.
"You know that man you just… umm… ate?" she inquired, "There are more of them over there."
The dragon-like monster bared its fangs in a sinister grin and Kagome couldn't help but notice the gore dripping down its chin.
It was about to turn away, but Kagome yelped and grabbed onto its horns, forcing its concentration back on her.
"I know that sounds good, but it's really not," she explained hurriedly, "Listen, they… they kill things that are different than normal and if they see you, they'll shoot you on sight. I know you're strong, and really big, but… you won't survive if they shoot you a lot. Do you understand?"
The creature tilted its head, unwittingly rending its horns from the girl's hands, but then, it nodded and its smile turned to one of what Kagome could swear was gratitude. It reared back and, after tilting its head upwards to sniff at the sky, it reached forward and grasped Kagome tightly in one hand.
She yelped as she was hefted into the air, but was then placed carefully on the beast's shoulder, in the safe crook of his neck.
Frightened that she would fall, she clutched to its mane nervously as it began to walk.
She could feel it growl out a guttural chuckle and it shouldered past a large tree, nearly uprooting the thing.
"Shit!" she gasped, and the creature's laughing grew louder.
It used one giant finger to ruffle her hair and then continued to plod ahead.
Kagome was in shock. She stared at the creature with wide eyes and knitted her fingers into its mane.
After taking a few, deep breaths, she decided to attempt to strike up a conversation.
"Hey, um…" she said a bit awkwardly, "Um… What's your name?"
The creature grunted, but didn't answer.
Kagome looked slightly puzzled; if she could understand animals, why couldn't she understand this creature?
"Well, I'm Kagome," she said, "…Uhh… Can you talk?"
The creature shook its head and then stopped in its tracks.
It turned to look at Kagome and lifted up its neck and pointed to a series of long, deep scars that laced his skin.
The girl stared, unsure of what she was supposed to think, and then she suddenly realized that its throat must've been damaged somehow.
"Oh," she said quietly, "I'm sorry… Did someone…? Did that happen in a fight or something?"
The creature nodded, but it grinned and began to walk again.
"Oh, but you won, right?" Kagome inquired, and the creature chuckled and nodded again.
She couldn't help a small smile and she shifted closer to the beast's neck, hauling her injured leg up onto the shoulder and tenderly feeling through the blood.
She cringed and sighed, and then looked to the creature again.
"Are you male or female?" she inquired, "I'd guess male, but I… I don't wanna offend you or anything."
Once again, the creature growled out a laugh and nodded.
"Male?" Kagome asked again, and he nodded once more.
Kagome smiled slightly, but then winced, her leg burning. She cursed under her breath and the creature's ear twitched towards her.
He paused and tilted his head to peer at her curiously with narrowed, red eyes.
"Oh," Kagome said, a little embarrassed, "It's just my leg. It's… bleeding a lot is all."
The purple beast's eye ridges bent in a deep frown, and he reached up to her with a massive hand.
He grabbed Kagome around the middle with surprising gentleness and then, bending his opposite arm, placed her on top of it as if she were merely a baby.
She blinked up at him in shock, and he carefully used one of his long, black claws to pull back her torn pant leg.
He stared at the gash for a moment, his eyes flashing annoyance, and then he lowered his jaws, sticking out his long tongue to carefully bathe her wound.
Kagome cringed, but suddenly, she could feel an odd tingling pass through her leg and up to the rest of her body.
Her eyes grew wide and she stared up at the giant with awe as he drew his snout away, a grin of triumph dancing on his fangs.
"Whoa… It… barely hurts now," she commented in disbelief, "Th… Thank you."
The creature chuckled and placed the girl back onto his shoulder, where she clung to his neck to keep her balance.
-
He plodded forward in relative silence for a few minutes and Kagome watched him with curiosity, wondering what and who he was. She supposed there would be no point in asking because he couldn't speak. She also wondered what she should call him. "Purple dude" hardly seemed appropriate.
After another few minutes, Kagome hesitantly tugged on the creature's mane.
"Hey," she said as he glanced back at her, "Um… Would you mind if I make up a name or something for you, just for now?"
He looked back over his shoulder, pausing in thought, but then he nodded, and Kagome smiled.
"Can I just call you Ryu?" she asked, "I mean… You kinda look like a dragon, so…"
The temporarily dubbed Ryu snorted out a laugh and nodded, though his body suddenly tensed and he dropped onto all fours, his dark claws digging into the dirt. And he tilted his head back, sniffing the air and baring his fangs. The girl gripped to him nervously, her heart beginning to race.
"What is it?" she squeaked, "Is it those guys I told you about?"
Ryu nodded and snarled before he reared again, the red of his eyes beginning to glow, fogging his pupil over.
"Do you know how many?" Kagome inquired.
He held up one hand and quickly folded his fingers down, one by one, and then repeated the process several times.
"That's over twenty-five," the girl muttered grimly, "What do you plan to do? Fight?"
Ryu nodded and the girl on his shoulder could literally feel his skin beginning to heat up.
"W-Wait!" she stammered, "Don't! That's not a good idea!"
Ryu turned his head to look at her in puzzlement, the glow of his eyes fading as his brow furrowed.
"If there's twenty-five of them… That means as soon as they see you, you're gonna get shot twenty-five times," she explained, "And no offence, but if any of those hit you in the right spot, you will probably die."
She frowned and bit her lip sadly as his ears pressed backwards in frustration.
"I'm sorry if this sounds selfish, but I don't think I could take that…" she muttered.
Ryu's eyes grew wide, and though Kagome didn't see it, he looked deeply touched by her concern. Deciding to take the girl's advice again, the beast dropped to all fours and, letting out a defining warning-roar, charged in the opposite direction. Kagome jolted and let out a surprised cry before wrapping her arms around his thick neck.
-
Kagome soon became numb, her mind running a blank a she listened to Ryu's feet pounding against the ground and the wind blowing past her ears. The creature was incredibly fast, and he ran deeper and deeper into the woods until the sun had nearly past the horizon.
Finally, he skidded, panting, to a halt among a close circle of trees and he plopped to the ground a little sleepily. Kagome grunted and toppled forward unexpectedly, though Ryu absently caught her in his palm and lowered her to the ground gently.
Blowing out a sigh of relief, Kagome slumped back against him arm, cringing as her wounded leg began to throb slightly.
"That was… impressive," she commented, "I don't suppose you have any way of telling me what you are?"
A little forlornly, Ryu shook his head, and Kagome looked at him puzzledly.
"Do you know what I am?" she asked.
He nodded.
"And… you're from here, right? I mean, this planet and everything? Earth?"
Ryu nodded again.
"Well, you'd have to be, we sorta speak the same language," the girl mused aloud, "Um… Oh man, is this weird…"
She stood on her weak leg and attempted to pace, though her leg gave out and she slumped to the ground dejectedly before she looked up to Ryu again.
"I don't get it," she told him, "Are you a dinosaur?"
The purple creature looked puzzled before he shook his head.
"A dragon?" Kagome inquired.
He shook his head again. The girl sighed and tried to stand again, though this time Ryu carefully grasped her around the waist in one hand and then placed her on top of his opposite arm as he gave her a look that clearly instructed her to not attempt to walk on her injury. Kagome laughed weakly.
"Thanks," she said, but then her brow furrowed again as she looked at him.
She sat up on her knees and inclined her head with puzzlement.
"I can only think of one more thing, but…" she muttered, "I've seen drawings… Really old ones on scrolls… Of 'youkai', and I know I've seen a few that kinda look like you."
Her eyes grew wide and suddenly, her heart jumped up in shock.
"Oh God… Are you… Are you a youkai, Ryu?" she demanded.
Ryu smirked and bobbed his head in a nod, though Kagome looked startled, almost as if something had hit her in the face.
"N-No way…" she breathed, "Is that… Is that even possible…? I mean, it must be, because you're right here, but… but… Oh my God…"
The youkai began to chuckle and used his claw to ruffle the girl's hair playfully. She jerked slightly, but then, after taking a deep breath, relaxed slightly.
"Heh…" she scoffed quietly, "And I heard youkai were evil."
Ryu's red eyes flashed and his ears perked up in amusement. He wished to tell her that he wouldn't exactly deem himself a good-guy either.
"How did you get here?" Kagome asked, "I mean… Really, if there had been creatures like you walking around recently, I'm sure someone would have noticed. Have you been hiding in these woods?"
Ryu shook his head, and the girl looked confused again.
"How did you get here then?" she repeated.
He shrugged, and for a moment, he looked just as puzzled as she did.
"You don't know…" she mumbled, and then sighed, "Well, I wish I knew."
She rubbed her brow and hugged her knees to her chest.
"I'm so confused," she whispered, "And to be honest, I'm sort of scared."
Ryu nodded understandingly, and then patted her head, though he didn't know the true reason behind Kagome's fears.
She feared for Inu-Yasha. Biting her lip, she tried to mentally push back the pain in her leg, looking away as the blood began to dribble down onto Ryu's arm. It unpleasantly jogged her memory of the blood seeping from Inu-Yasha's arm after he had been shot.
She wondered if he was all right. Her imagination unwittingly began to contemplate the amount of pain he must have been in, and she could feel her chest tighten as tears came to her eyes.
Ryu looked down at her, sniffed, and cocked his head in puzzlement. He gently nudged her with the tip of his snout, and then lapped up the blood that had smeared onto his arm.
She looked up at him slowly, unsure of what to say as his slightly concerned eyes probed her as if to ask her what she was upset about. Kagome could barely read his expression through her blurring eyes, so she wasn't able to even offer him any information. He let out a raspy sigh, and then pushed her down with one hand, pinning her to his arm.
She blinked up at him, slightly startled. He ignored her, carefully testing her heartbeat through his palm. Next, he poked her wound lightly, and she jolted, her heart beat almost tripling. The youkai could see that the pain barely registered on her face, thanks to his saliva, though her body was clearly still feeling it, even if she didn't realize it.
Sighing again, his massive purple hand tightened its grip on her, and her heart jolted in panic.
"Wh… What are you doing?" she squeaked.
Though Ryu looked as if he didn't want her to worry, he drew his head backwards and opened his mouth, his canines slowly growing longer and letting off a pale blue glow that seeped from his gums.
Kagome's eyes grew round, though before she could do anything, the youkai lowered his massive head and carefully clipped the side of her neck with one of his fangs. In an instant, she was asleep, blue energy gently coursing through her veins, and clotting the blood seeping from her wound.
oOoOoOoO
The sun was minutes away from setting when Inu-Yasha finally began to stir.
Inside the cave, on his bed of soft moss, the hanyou drew in a deep breath, wondering why his body was so cold. He ground his claws into the moss, trying to ignore the numb pain through his chest and leg, though he was also relieved that the bullet wound to his arm barely hurt.
Slowly, he forced his eyes open, though there was little difference between his vision and the back of his lids. He sighed and forced himself upright, folding his arms against his chest, only to realize that it was bare.
His eyebrow cocking with puzzlement, he patted himself down, realizing that his jeans were missing as well.
"Wh… What…?" he breathed.
He groped around in his own, personal dark, looking for his clothes, until suddenly, his hand met fur.
"Huh?" he inquired blankly.
The fur shifted and he was engulfed in a warm layer of fluff. His eyes grew wide, but he relaxed as he felt a large paw gently pat his back, as if embracing him.
"Yasha, I'm so glad you're awake," he heard Kirara's voice purr, "Are you feeling any better?"
Inu-Yasha nodded slightly and then closed his eyes again.
"Hai… It still hurts though…" he muttered.
"I know… It must, ne? Three bullets…"
Kirara sighed and licked Inu-Yasha's head.
"Gomen, I had to take off most of you clothes to get to them," she admitted shyly, "I cleaned the wounds for you."
Inu-Yasha nodded again.
"Where are they?" he asked curiously, "I'm kinda cold."
"Well, they were right beside you," Kirara stated, sounding a little puzzled, "How did you miss them?"
Inu-Yasha tilted his head to stare up at where he knew her face was and he raised his hands, slowly tracing her concerned features.
"If you don't stop frowning like that, you're going to get all wrinkly," he joked.
-
Kirara stared down at the boy's grin, confused, as he lowered his hands and trembled with cold. She was about to ask him why he didn't merely get dressed again, when something disturbing dawned on her.
She watched Inu-Yasha for a brief moment, and then, cautiously raised her paw before him and waved it up and down. He sniffed against the slight breeze, but the youkai was stunned to see that his eyes barely even registered the movement.
"Oh gods," she gasped, "You're… You're blind…?"
"Huh?" he replied blankly, looking up at her, "Oh… um… yeah…"
Kirara's red eyes grew wide and horrified, and with a sympathetic sigh, she held Inu-Yasha to her furry chest.
He grunted with surprise, heat streaking across his face, and he tentatively patted Kirara's massive shoulder.
"Hey, it's okay," he assured her, "I'm fine."
"How long have you been like this?" She demanded, completely ignoring him, "Who did this to you?!"
"Who do you think?" the hanyou muttered grimly, but then sighed, letting most of his frustration go, "I think I've been blind for… Umm… I dunno, a few weeks? I kinda lost track."
Kirara gawked, appalled, and instantly began licking the boy's face.
Inu-Yasha was just surprised that she was so upset.
"Hey," he said, gently pushing her away, "I'm serious, I'm okay."
He flopped backwards and out of her embrace, and then reached out his arm, trying to feel for his clothes again. Kirara sighed and stood, picking up his garments and passing them into his awaiting hand.
"Thanks," he said.
Sitting up, he slowly squirmed back into his jeans, his finger tracing over the bullet hole in annoyance.
"I really have to stop getting shot," he sighed.
He pulled his t-shirt on over his head, scratching at the back of his neck as he pulled his hair from the collar, and then tenderly rubbed his hand over the wound in his arm. His mind wandered off towards Kagome, and he cringed with worry.
Please let her be okay, he thought.
Anxiousness began to steadily build up in his chest, as if each pump of his heart pushed it further and deeper into his body.
Kagome could be anywhere. She could be running for her life. She could be hurt. She could be dead.
Inu-Yasha bit his lip, terrified at the thought.
-
Kirara could see the hanyou boy beginning to tremble. Thinking it was the cold, she wrapped her long body around his, stretching out her large paws across the moss.
Inu-Yasha merely shuddered again, though now he contemplated the possibilities for himself.
Though he hated to admit it, in this situation, he was more likely to be killed than not. He felt his throat run dry.
Closing his blind eyes, he leaned back against Kirara's shaggy form and smiled at her forlornly.
"Kirara, as soon as I can walk properly again, I need to go," he said quietly.
"I guessed you would," she sighed, "But… what's wrong? You're shaking. Are you still cold?"
Inu-Yasha shook his head.
"I don't know… if I'll ever be able to go home after this," he whispered.
"Nonsense," Kirara chided, "You can always go home Inu-Yasha. Nothing's stopping you, pup."
For all her wisdom, Kirara failed to see the hidden meaning behind the boy's words. He sighed quietly, his ears drooping.
"Hey… cat…?" he inquired, "Would you do me a favour?"
"Of course," she assured him.
"If I… If I'm captured or anything," he said softly, "I mean… You know… If anything happens to me… do you think you could find my friend and tell her some things for me?"
"Nothing's going to happen to you," the youkai stated confidently, "But of course I'd do that. Is it that girl whose scent is all over you?"
Inu-Yasha looked taken aback for a moment before he smiled slightly and nodded.
"Hai… Her name's Kagome," he said, "If anything happens, can you… can you tell her I…"
His voice trailed off into silence, almost as if it had refused to work. The hanyou gulped, trying to wet his throat.
"Can you tell her that I… That I love her…?" he whispered, "And that… I'm sorry I never got to see her face…?"
Kirara's eyes grew wide and she bared her fangs slightly.
"Inu-Yasha, don't be stupid, you'll see her again," she said, "Why do you talk as if you're all ready a ghost?"
Inu-Yasha felt heat rush to his face, as if for the first time in years, and he cringed as he felt his chest tighten uncomfortably.
"Because I'm afraid," he muttered, "I… I don't think I've ever been so damn scared in my life…"
He paused, and then let out a feeble laugh.
"Listen to me," he said softly, "I can't believe I just said that…"
He chuckled weakly again and reached out for his jacket. He found it and pulled it against his chest before he buried his face in it, taking in what was left of Kagome's scent. Instead of calming him, as he had hoped it would, it merely made him miss her more.
"Damn it…" he cursed softly.
Above him, Kirara frowned and licked the top of his head.
"I suppose you won't be able to sleep any more," she sighed.
Inu-Yasha nodded a little weakly, and then stood and stretched, though pain shot through his entire body. He held in a groan and paced around the floor until he found his sandals. He slipped them on, and then, with Kirara's watchful gaze on him, prowled from their cave to smell the fresh air.
-
It was much colder outside; Inu-Yasha felt a chill run up and down his spine.
He was relieved though. There was no blood scent other than from himself, and he couldn't smell any humans close by either. He did, however, pick up a scent that was warm and familiar to him, and his ears perked straight up in surprise.
"Ah-Un?" he muttered aloud, "No way…"
He could clearly smell the two-headed dragon's distinct scent, though it was slightly faded, as if she had been there a few days before. Despite this, it was strong, like a beacon, as if she had left it there on purpose.
Inu-Yasha's heart leapt with excitement, and then he carefully followed his nose away from the den until the toe of his sandal was caught on a large stone. The boy stumbled, a pang of pain shooting up his leg, before he knelt down to exam the stone that smelled of his friend. He found that it was gouged with deep claw marks.
Puzzled, he lifted it, only to feel something else hard beneath it. Curious now, the hanyou placed the rock beside him and felt over the second object. It lay buried in the leaves, though through the damp, Inu-Yasha could tell that it was made of wood. Softly, he heard the object give off a pulse as he grasped it, almost like it was calling out to him.
His heart jumped with relief and he quickly yanked the object from its leafy bed and clutched it close. It was his sword, the Tetsusaiga, encased in its wooden sheath. Silently thanking Ah-Un for leaving it where she had, he swiftly brushed the muddied leaves from its surface before he stood, ignoring another pang in his leg and chest. His ears twitched back and forth, as he assessed the sounds around him.
He felt Tetsusaiga pulse quietly against his chest for a moment before it stopped, seeming satisfied with where it was. Inu-Yasha's ears perked up a little; at times like this, he couldn't help feeling a tinge of pride, knowing Tetsusaiga had chosen him to wield it over his older (and much more qualified at the time) brother.
Smirking to himself, he carefully hooked the sheath onto a belt-loop on his jeans, though as his fingers hit the hilt of the blade, he noticed a piece of paper messily held to it with an elastic band that was on the verge of shredding. Frowning curiously, Inu-Yasha, removed both the paper and the band. He could feel the ridges of crude scratch-marks on the paper, signs that Ah-Uh had written something in the dragon-youkai language, most likely using her nails. If he had traced the lettering for a while longer, he probably would have been able to read it… That is, if he knew the dragon-youkai language.
Sighing in annoyance, he folded the paper and placed it in his pocket.
Maybe Kirara can read it, he thought hopefully.
-
Swiftly, he limped back to the entrance of the cave where Kirara sat, waiting patiently.
"And where have you been, young man?" she chided jokingly.
"I scented a friend of mine called Ah-Un," he said, looking a little embarrassed, "She must've been here a few days ago or something."
He patted the sword at his waist.
"She left this for me," he said, "I guess since I used to come here when I was little, she thought I might come back… Oh, and I also found this."
He fished the note from his pocket, unfolded it, and then showed it to Kirara.
"Can you read it for me?" he inquired.
Kirara nodded and skimmed the note quickly.
"It's telling anyone who can read it to give that sword to you," she said, "And it also says, to you, that she misses you and hopes you're doing well. It also says for you to come home soon."
Inu-Yasha smiled, touched, and he subconsciously clenched onto Tetsusaiga.
"That crazy dragon… she's always worried," he muttered, "That's it… as soon as I find Kagome and get out of here, I'm calling home myself."
"Why haven't you all ready?" Kirara demanded, her eyes widening, "Your brother must be worried sick!"
"I was spotted, and the lines from my area to my brother's house were tapped," he sighed, "I suppose I can use a payphone…"
"Good plan," Kirara agreed, giving his cheek a lick, "Now, come back inside. It's chilly out here."
"I guess," he replied, nodding.
Kirara gave him a nudge, and then grinned her fangs.
"You heal quickly: you're barely limping," she commented, "But you still can't leave until morning."
"If you insist," he sighed, "But… I really need to meet up with my friend, Kagome…"
"You mean your girlfriend? The one you kissed, ne?" she asked innocently.
Inu-Yasha's eyes grew wide and a blush streaked across his face. He shyly rubbed at the back of his head, before he absently eyed the dirt.
"Y… Yeah… I guess I did kiss her, didn't I…?" he mumbled to himself, and his blush deepened, "Um… Geh…"
He continued to stammer as he limped into the den and plopped down onto the moss, and Kirara began to laugh and nuzzled up against him.
"Why are so embarrassed? You all ready told me you loved her," she chuckled.
"Oh yeah…" he said a little shyly, almost as if he had forgotten, "Umm… Well, you know…"
"Ah, yes, the male ego," Kirara said, nodding as if she suddenly understood, "You hate to be seen as 'soft', or whatever it was."
"Th-That's not it!" he said indignantly, and the looked to his hands in embarrassment, "Okay… maybe it is a little…"
His ears drooped and he let out a forlorn sigh.
"Do you think I'll ever get to be with her again…?" he asked uncertainly.
"There's no doubt in my mind," Kirara assured him.
"I'm just worried about tonight," he continued quietly, "I mean… She's gonna be all alone in the woods, and it so dangerous… Where's she gonna sleep that's safe?"
Kirara stared at the troubled boy, beginning to look a little troubled herself.
"Maybe… Maybe you could go find her," Inu-Yasha wondered aloud, "Maybe you could bring her here…? No, wait, that's risky… And dangerous for you as well… Umm…"
He thought for a while, tapping his chin with his finger.
"Maybe, could you find her and spend the night with her?" Inu-Yasha inquired, looking to Kirara, "I mean, I know it's a lot to ask…"
"I could," Kirara said with a nod, "But, Yasha, just a question… Does Kagome have a Kouken-Konjou?
"A what?" Inu-Yasha replied dumbly.
"A… um… how to word this…?" the cat mused aloud, "Well, for lack of a better word, a spirit that protects her."
"Umm… Yeah, I think so," he said, "How did you know about that?"
"I wasn't sure," Kirara admitted, "But I met your friend a little while back, and I was almost sure she had one. I could all but feel his aura around her."
"Well, that's cool and all, but what does that have to do with anything?" the hanyou asked.
Kirara looked at him, amusement at how naïve he could be dancing in her eyes, and she let out a soft chuckle.
"It means Kagome will be fine," she assured him, licking his head reassuringly, "Her Kouken-Konjou will protect her."
"You're positive?" Inu-Yasha inquired worriedly, his ears pressing back against his head.
"Of course," the youkai stated confidently, "But… I understand that you can't help but worry for her."
"Hai…" the boy muttered before he let out a quiet chuckle, "I always worry."
He let himself flop backwards into the moss and he stared blankly at the ceiling as Kirara gave him a reassuring pat on the head with her paw before she moved away to sit at the mouth of the cave.
The hanyou smiled appreciatively, though he sighed, moving his hand to rest on the bullet hole in his chest. He was relieved that his lung had healed so quickly.
In less than a day, thank God. It must be a record or something, he thought, If I hadn't… I guess I'd be dead, wouldn't I?
He tried to ignore the ache of his wounds and he closed his eyes, though refused to pass into slumber.
He would lie there for the rest of the night, praying silently for Kagome's safety and for her "Kouken-Konjou" to appear to her.
Stay safe, okay? He thought.
oOoOoOoO
Under the relative cover of the trees, the giant, purple beast, temporarily dubbed "Ryu", lay on his stomach, his thick tail thumping against the ground, his red eyes glinting in the dark.
The creature sighed and eyed the sleeping girl in his arms, though he couldn't help a smile from passing over his face. The fact that she had "named" him was amusing, though he regretted the fact that he couldn't tell her who he really was: he had never learned to write, as he had never seen a need for it.
Ryu's true name was Tsuyomaru, and he was, indeed, a youkai. He had been alive for close to two thousand years, and had been mute for the greater part of the last hundred.
At the moment, though, he was probably in one of the most puzzling predicaments of his life. One minute, he had been wandering across the barren remains of a battleground, and the next he was in the forest, and there he had made one of the most spontaneous decisions he could remember.
He still wasn't entirely sure why he had decided to save the human girl, but there was something familiar about her that drew him to her.
I've never… saved a human before in my life, he mused, Why this one…?
He looked at her a little puzzledly, and he wondered why he had decided not to eat her, as he had done with the man who had been, apparently, about to kill her.
Blowing out a sigh, he cringed at even the thought of eating her. It, surprisingly, made his stomach jolt uncomfortably. He gently ruffled her hair with his claw, and she sighed in her sleep and shifted closer to his body for warmth.
She looked extremely troubled, and he almost wished he could ask her why. She had a male's scent all over her, as well as his blood. Tsuyomaru assumed that she had been travelling with someone, possibly her mate, and they had become separated.
She's probably worried about her male… he thought, She probably thinks he's been wounded or something like that.
He gently tucked her shivering form closer to his chest, and then arched his head back into the air, sniffing cautiously. He could scent the humans she had warned him of, though they were quite far away. He wondered why she had felt they were so dangerous: his run had, for the most part, merely been to humour her.
They must have scared her quite a bit, he thought, I suppose they might be dangerous by human standards.
He pondered over the short, black weapon he had seen the male threatening her with, and he wondered what it did. Perhaps it was a concealed blade? Tsuyomaru couldn't be sure, but he was almost positive he had scented gunpowder, though that object seemed much too small to be one of the guns he had seen humans carry where he was from.
Puzzled, he shook his head back and forth before he rested it on his hand beside the girl's.
He hoped she wouldn't have any hard feelings about him putting her to sleep for the time being.
Tsuyomaru shifted slightly to peer at Kagome's leg. He was relieved to see that the blood had, because of his powers, clotted nicely over the wound.
She'll probably be all right now, he assured himself.
-
As the night continued and dark clouds floated through the sky, looking like heaps of steel wool, Tsuyomaru began to feel as if he were being watched. The youkai lifted his head slowly, his ears twitching back and forth. His eyes shifted and narrowed cautiously as the wind suddenly stirred up and caused the foliage around him to shake.
It was not a natural wind.
Tsuyomaru bared his fangs and, carefully, moved Kagome into the palm of his hand so he would be able to conceal her more easily. He could feel the wind beginning to swirl, congregating before him. He winced as it blew a portion of his mane into his face, though he didn't dare look away from the wind. It let off an aura's pulse, and to Tsuyomaru's surprise, began to glow a brilliant white: it was so bright that it stung his eyes.
He drew back slightly, letting out a deep warning-growl. There was another, stronger pulse this time, though now Tsuyomaru could see the vague form of a man standing in the aura-pool's center. He seemed to be a youkai, though this barely eased Tsuyomaru's nerves. In fact, it caused his fur to bristle with unease. He could scent that this youkai was dead.
Who are you? He demanded.
To his surprise, he saw the youkai raise a hand as if to show that he meant no harm, almost as if in response to the thought.
"Relax," he heard, "I'm not here to fight anyone."
Well, you're going to get a fight if you come any closer…
"Relax," the youkai repeated, chuckling.
Tsuyomaru's eyes grew wide and he jolted backwards with shock.
He can… hear my thoughts…?
"Indeed I can," the youkai stated, "Now, please…"
There was a final pulse and, as the white cleared, Tsuyomaru could clearly see the man, obviously an inu youkai, standing before him. The man's amber eyes darted towards Kagome and he winced before he locked eyes with the massive youkai before him.
"I'm that girl's guardian," he explained, "I just want to see her, all right?"
Tsuyomaru's crimson eyes flashed in the dark.
How do I know that? How do I know you won't hurt her? He demanded.
The inu youkai bit his lip, unsure of what to say.
"I don't know what to tell you," he sighed, "But… Please, just let me see Kagome. I've always come to her to protect her before, and if I don't now, then I'll be failing my duty as her guardian."
Tsuyomaru growled and stretched his neck out towards the man, snorting disdainfully.
You're dead, he commented, Who are you?
"Perhaps I should be asking you that," the youkai retorted, "What are you doing with Kagome?"
The creature pulled back and arced his neck, looking down at the girl on his arm with a fondness that surprised the inu youkai. There was a long, uneasy silence, when, finally, the purple demon let out a grunt and tilted his head slightly.
My name is Tsuyomaru, he said, I'm not sure where I am, or how I got here. All I know is… I must protect this girl…
The inu youkai stared at Tsuyomaru, puzzled.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
I'm not sure, the beast admitted, …There's something else, something… in the back of my mind that I can't quite grasp.
He sighed.
Whatever it is, I can't stop it. I will defend her as long as I can.
The inu nodded slowly. He took a hesitant step towards Tsuyomaru and Kagome, and then puffed out his chest confidently.
"I am Taishio, Lord of the West," he stated, and then tilted his head and looked to the treetops embarrassedly, "At least… I was until I died."
Tsuyomaru nodded.
Hai, I've heard of you, he replied, You fought to the death to defend a mortal woman, ne?
"And my son," the inu youkai added quietly, and then raised his voice proudly as he said, "It was a good death."
He let out another sigh.
"I've always come to Kagome in the form of a dog before now, but trust me, she knows me," he stated, and the with an embarrassed smile said, "Travelling between world's isn't easy, you know."
Not even for the great Dog Lord? Tsuyomaru smirked.
"Indeed," Taishio sighed.
Tsuyomaru's lips pulled back to expose large, gleaming fangs as he grinned.
All right, take her, he decided.
He took the sleeping girl into his giant hand and then passed her limp form into Taishio's awaiting arms.
The man swiftly pulled Kagome to his chest. He sat down in the dirt, leaning his back against a tree trunk, and peering down into her sleeping face.
She looked surprisingly peaceful, considering her circumstances.
"Do you know how her leg is?" he asked.
She was complaining about it earlier, but I licked it clean. She said it felt better, Tsuyomaru said, Though I was almost positive her body was still registering the pain, but her mind wasn't… So for now, I put her to sleep using a healing charm.
Taishio nodded gratefully, though he inclined his head to get a better view of the leg.
He winced as he spied the blood that coated her leg, almost up to her thigh, and he sighed remorsefully and bowed his head.
"Gomen," he whispered to her sleeping form, "I… I should have come sooner…"
Or I should have… Tsuyomaru added grimly.
"You didn't have a choice, my friend," Taishio chuckled weakly, "I did… Damn it all…"
Do you know what happened to me, then…? The youkai inquired hesitantly.
"Hai, you were sent forward in time," Taishio said, "It's really quite complicated, so I'm not even going to bother trying to explain it. I don't entirely understand how it works myself."
I see… Tsuyomaru replied.
He let out a sigh and locked his eyes on the sleeping girl.
She seems so worried… he mumbled.
"I know," Taishio replied with a sigh, "I've been watching her since this morning… It took me a while to build up the power to shift worlds, though…"
So you had to come from the afterlife? The great purple creature inquired.
"Hai," the youkai said, looking a little dejected.
-
They sat in silence for a few minutes, both watching Kagome intently. Tsuyomaru yawned quietly and laid his head down, and after a while, he closed his eyes. The giant youkai was soon asleep, knowing that his charge was safe with her guardian. Taishio, on the other hand, stared nearly unblinkingly at the girl in his arms. He wondered if she was still in pain. Unsure of what to do with her at the moment, the youkai hesitated before he decided to wake her: he wanted her to know what his true form was. He knew, however, that he could not give her his true name. He knew that the boy who was quickly becoming Kagome's serious boyfriend had all ready told her that his father's name was 'Taishio': to tell her his name now would expose his son, which he knew would be a bad idea. He wished, also, that he could go visit his sons, though the fact that he was dead limited him greatly. He could only truly materialize before the one he was designated to protect.
Taishio sighed again, unsure of what he would tell her, though he decided he'd make up his mind when it came up.
Gently, he shook the girl, and whispered her name. She shifted slightly, and so the inu youkai shook her a tiny bit more.
\
"Kagome? Little one, wake up," he muttered.
Kagome shifted again, though this time, her eyelids slowly lifted and fluttered slightly until they came into focus, locking onto Taishio's golden coloured eyes.
"…Wh…What…?" she inquired softly.
Her eyes shifted across his face, and she merely looked more puzzled than she had initially.
"Thought I was Inu-Yasha, ne?" the man chuckled
Kagome blinked, trying to clear her sleep-blurred vision before she slowly sat up and looked over the man who was holding her.
It was true: she had thought he was Inu-Yasha for a moment. His eyes were surprisingly similar to her friend's.
-
"What…?" Kagome repeated in puzzlement, "Who… What…?"
The man chuckled again and grinned at her.
"I'm not surprised that you don't recognize me," he admitted.
Kagome blinked in confusion, though his voice struck a familiar chord in her mind.
"…Doggie?" she asked hesitantly.
The youkai laughed again and nodded, ruffling her hair.
"Quick thinker, aren't you kid?" he said.
She stared into his eyes, startled, and drew back to get a better look at him.
He had long, silver hair that was loosely tied back and he wore what appeared to be a white-and-blue kimono. He also had dark blue stripes running along each cheekbone and, to Kagome's surprise, seemed to have a long, white-furred tail that was split to have two ends, though he carried it draped over his shoulder to look similar to a cloak.
"Oh my god…" she breathed, before she let out a laugh of relief and hugged the man around the shoulders.
Taishio grinned and held the girl close again, patting her back reassuringly.
"Oh my god, oh my god!" Kagome repeated, sounding excited, "You would not believe how good it is to see you… Heh, wow, I didn't even know you had a human…. Well, human-ish body."
"You wouldn't think a big old dog like me would, would you?" he said, smiling.
The girl began to laugh and held on to him tighter, though she suddenly remembered Ryu, and pulled back, looking around for him. When she spied him behind her, she sighed, relieved, and then grinned at her guardian.
"I'm really glad you came, dude," she said.
"I know," he replied, ruffling her hair, "Though your demon friend was doing quite a good job protecting you."
"Hai… I'm glad he found me," Kagome said, "I was a bit scared at first, but…"
She tilted her head over her shoulder and smiled at the sight of him.
"I dunno, I guess he's grown on me…" she said, "But…"
She rubbed at an itchy spot on her neck and frowned slightly.
"I think he bit me," she said, puzzled.
"He healed you," Taishio explained, "Your leg seems to have been bleeding quite a lot."
He peered into her eyes, concern clear in his.
"How does it feel?" he inquired.
"Umm…" Kagome muttered.
She stretched out her leg, and was relived to find that it barely gave her any pain. She could also feel that it had stopped bleeding.
"Infinitely better," she said with a smile, "I really owe Ryu a lot…"
"Ryu?" the man repeated, "Oh, he let you give him a name?"
"Yeah, since he's mute… Poor guy…" the girl mumbled, her gaze dropping to the ground.
"His true name is Tsuyomaru," Taishio stated, "I… can communicate through thoughts with him."
"Really?" Kagome inquired, her gaze shooting up to meet his, "Do you…? Do you think you could somehow let me do that? I mean, just with him?"
The man smiled at her and gave a shrug.
"I don't see why not," he replied.
He patted her on the shoulder, and a faint white glow rushed through his palm and to her skin. Kagome stared at it in confusion, while the man leaned back against the tree behind him.
"Was that it?" she asked.
He nodded and smirked.
"Expecting something else?" he inquired.
"I dunno, maybe," Kagome said a little blankly, "So… I can talk to him now, right?"
"You can hear his thoughts, yes," he said.
"Great," the girl said, her eyes brightening, "Do you think he'd mind if I woke him up?"
Taishio shrugged and shook his head, so, quietly, she scooted over to the giant creature's side and poked him on his nose three times.
"Tsuyomaru?" she asked, "Hey… Hey, Tsuyomaru, purple dude, wake up."
He grunted and his eyes opened, glowing crimson in the dark.
Kagome…? He wondered groggily.
Kagome jolted slightly as she suddenly heard his deep, growling voice inside her head, though she shook off her shock quickly as she watched him blink at her with sleepy eyes.
"Yep," she replied cheerfully, and as the creature stretched his head upwards, Kagome laughed quietly and hugged his long neck.
"I didn't get to thank you properly," she stated, "You really saved my life."
Tsuyomaru stared down at her, puzzled, and he wondered what had changed. He looked to Taishio, who was staring up at the leaves and was fairly unresponsive.
Forget about it… he thought absently.
"Why?" Kagome asked puzzledly.
Tsuyomaru blinked blankly for a moment before his eyes grew wide. He sat up backwards, his ears pressing forward.
You can… You can hear me…? He asked.
"Hai," Kagome replied, "The… um… That guy sorta… did something that lets me hear you."
She pointed at Taishio, who then looked up and gave the giant youkai a look that told him not to tell her his name. As if she had sensed this thought, though, the girl spun around and looked at Taishio in puzzlement.
"Hey, what the heck is your name, anyway?" she asked curiously.
Taishio chuckled.
"I can't tell you that," he said, "You'll find out why in a few days."
"Oh…" Kagome said blankly, "Well… umm… What do I call you, then?"
Make something up, Dog Lord. Tsuyomaru joked, baring his gleaming fangs in a smirk.
"Good plan," he agreed, "Ah…You can call me…"
The youkai tapped his chin with his claw several times, trying to think of an alternate name for himself.
Kagome sat back on her knees and folded her arms impatiently as the man sat for several minutes, wondering what to say.
"Okay, if you don't think of something, I'm callin' you Fluffy," Kagome stated in annoyance.
Tsuyomaru growled out a long, loud laugh, though Taishio seemed intrigued.
"That's what my wife calls me sometimes," he admitted, "Because of my tail… I suppose that would work."
Kagome scratched her head with puzzlement, but then looked embarrassed.
"I was kidding," she said.
"No, no, Fluffy is fine," the youkai assured her.
I've never heard of something so absurd, Tsuyomaru chuckled, A youkai Lord, calling himself Fluffy?
"A youkai Lord?" Kagome repeated, and then looked to "Fluffy", surprised, "You're a youkai as well?"
"Indeed I am," he replied with a nod.
"Whoa…" Kagome gasped, "Two in one day… How crazy…"
Tsuyomaru laughed again and lifted Kagome into his giant palm, holding her up to his face.
You have to be the strangest human I have ever met, he stated, You aren't terrified at the mention of youkai. Gods, even as I picked you up, you were barely scared, were you?
"Well, I was a little," she admitted, "Like I said, I've never seen anything like you at all in my life."
Now that I understand… I'm not surprised, he said before he turned his head in an attempt to avoid yawning in the girl's face. She cringed against its pungent smell, though she laughed quietly as he placed her back on the dead leaves of the ground.
The youkai's yawn was contagious: Kagome yawned as well, closing her eyes and stretching. She felt the other youkai's arms around her, and she leaned into him, relieved and sleepy.
"Heh… Fuzzy," she commented quietly.
"I thought I was Fluffy," he replied.
"I meant your tail, you dork," she chuckled.
She opened her eyes to look into the man's eyes, though now, their similarity to Inu-Yasha's troubled her, and her gaze shifted away. Taishio looked down at her, though he knew what was wrong, so he didn't bother to ask. He merely patted her head as if to console her, and she leaned further into his fur and looked to Tsuyomaru, who slumped onto his side and rested his head on his arm.
You were right, Dog Lord, he muttered, A world shift does drain a lot of energy… even if you aren't the one who created it.
Kagome looked puzzled, though before she could ask, the inu youkai said,
"Tsuyomaru will explain what he means tomorrow, but right now you should get some sleep."
"But I was… just asleep for the longest time," she complained.
It was only a bit over an hour, Tsuyomaru said quietly.
"Whatever," Kagome laughed, though she really was beginning to feel tired again.
-
Without consciously realizing it, Kagome fell into a deep slumber once again. Taishio took this as a good sign: she would definitely feel well rested when she woke up next, which would hopefully be the morning.
The inu youkai's eyes passed over to Tsuyomaru, who was asleep again as well.
He wasn't sure why, but Taishio could feel a connection between the two obviously different creatures. Perhaps one knew another from a past life? Taishio, to be honest, had no idea. He felt clearly that Kagome was more than safe with the monstrous, purple-scaled creature.
After another hour, Taishio judged that it would be an appropriate time to leave, before his strength began to wane.
Without a sound, he stood and padded to Tsuyomaru's side. He laid the sleeping Kagome across one of the youkai's arms. The giant automatically covered her with his opposite hand and pulled her close; it brought a smile to Taishio's face as his physical form faded from the mortal realm.
oOoOoOoO
When Sessho-Maru woke up to the sound of the toad youkai, Jaken, shrieking into a phone a floor below him, he was by no means pleased. Slowly, the youkai stood from his bed and stretched, his tail twitching with annoyance.
He had had a rough day all ready.
He had been at the orphanage all day. Odd as it seemed for him to be doing such a thing to everyone who knew him, he spent almost all day spending time with a young girl by the name of Rin. He had been visiting her for almost two years.
She was the type of girl who was still young enough to live at the orphanage, but just old enough to be hard to find a home for.
Sessho-Maru, though, had been trying to adopt her for quite some time. He had finally received the forms, though he was soon informed that they could take up to another four months to process.
This was not good news. The only good thing that had come about recently was that his flu had finally gone away.
Now, Jaken was waking him up by screaming on the phone. It was not a good idea, on his part.
-
In an instant, the inu youkai was down the stairs and into the grey-painted kitchen, and had hefted the short, green man into the air by the collar of his shirt.
"L… Lord Sessho-Maru!" the nasally-voiced toad spluttered, "Wh-What are you doing?"
"You're too loud," he stated bluntly, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed the little man over his shoulder, where he flew through the air and hit the wall with a satisfying squeak.
Sessho-Maru smirked triumphantly, until he noticed that there was someone on the other end of the phone, which now lay upside down on the kitchen counter.
He recognized the male voice, but couldn't place it, so he picked up the phone and put it to his ear.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Sessho-Maru-san?" the voice demanded, "Is that you?"
"Yes," he replied, "Is this… Ah, this is that Miroku boy, isn't it? What do you want?"
"Thank God I got you," the boy, Miroku, muttered, "I've been calling all day, but that squeaky-voiced guy-"
"Ignore him, he's an idiot," Sessho-Maru interjected, "I said, what do you want?"
"Inu-Yasha phoned me," he stated.
Sessho-Maru felt his heart stall for a moment, though his face and voice showed nothing.
"Really? And he's all right?" he inquired.
"He seemed to be," Miroku replied, "He said he couldn't call because of… tapped lines or something weird."
"I understand," Sessho-Maru said, "Anything else?"
"Yeah," the boy said, "He… uh… What did he say…? Well, he has a girlfriend."
"Oh, gods," Sessho-Maru blurted, truly surprised, before he regained his composure, "Well, I suppose that's my brother for you… Can't leave him by himself for more than a week before he falls in love, I guess."
"Is that a joke?" Miroku inquired.
"Perhaps," the youkai said, "Is that it?"
"No, one more thing," he said, and then paused, seeming reluctant to tell, before he sighed and mumbled, "Your brother's blind."
Once again, Sessho-Maru's heart nearly stopped in his chest. He disliked the feeling greatly.
"He… He what…?" he said slowly, "He's… blind…"
"Yeah," Miroku said, "Look, I'm really sorry about the bad news-"
"Bad news?" Sessho-Maru repeated, and then couldn't help a small smile, "My little brother is alive. Thank you."
"It's no problem," Miroku said, "Good bye."
Sessho-Maru sighed and hung up the phone, not bothering to return the "good bye". He always thought that he sounded like a fool when he did. His cold, amber eyes, however, now darted to Jaken, who had finally heaved himself from the floor.
"You truly are the most ridiculous, moronic little creature I have ever met," Sessho-Maru stated coolly, "I don't understand you. You go through so much trouble to sabotage the one who saved your life."
"But… me Lord, he… You saw him!" he bleated pathetically, "The last year! He wouldn't even talk to you, the ungrateful little-!"
"You're the ungrateful one," Sessho-Maru spat, a rare tone of fury edging into his normally calm voice, "Now, get out of my sight and go clean Ah-Un's stable for when she returns… Before I decide to feed you to her."
Jaken yelped and dashed from the room, and Sessho-Maru leaned back against the kitchen counter, curling his tail over his armless shoulder.
He eyed it almost fondly, as if his lack of his left arm was all he had left of his brother.
-
The severing of the appendage had been an accident, however. Sessho-Maru had claimed that it was mostly his own fault anyway.
He had been trying to teach the eleven-year-old Inu-Yasha how to master Tetsusaiga, but the young hanyou had accidentally unleashed a technique called the Kaze no Kizu, or the "Scar of the Wind", directly at his brother. Sessho-Maru, thinking himself to be fast enough, had not moved until the last instant possible, causing his arm to be torn off in the blast.
To be honest, however, he was impressed that Inu-Yasha had caught him.
-
The young hanyou had surprised Sessho-Maru many times.
In fact, Inu-Yasha had first awakened Tetsusaiga when he was only two, only a few days after being sent forward in time.
After Sessho-Maru had discovered that he could sell any old "artefacts" to "museums" for a large sum of money, he had asked Inu-Yasha the location of their father's tomb. All Inu-Yasha could remember their father saying to him was "black pearl on the left".
It took Sessho-Maru days to realize that this, in fact, meant that their father had somehow sealed his tomb into Inu-Yasha's left eye.
Trying to contemplate how this was even possible, they entered the new dimension with their helper, the human girl Syd.
They had found many, many old swords, tea sets, and bones, among other things. There were also the two swords that their father had left for them, the Tensaiga and the Tetsusaiga. Sessho-Maru had taken his, though the other was embedded deep into a table and was under a charm.
When neither of the siblings could pull it free, Sessho-Maru deducted that a human would be needed to remove the sword, because their father's first true love was human. There were clues to this all over his tomb.
They tried to use Syd to free the sword, but to their surprise, there was no effect, leading Sessho-Maru to believe that she wasn't actually human.
-
They eventually took a modern day human priestess by the name of Higurashi Yui to the tomb. She was able to remove the sword that then became Inu-Yasha's. He even was able to awake it when he jokingly stated that he would protect Yui's unborn daughter.
-
Sessho-Maru sighed and shook his head, trying to stop reminiscing. Though he sorely hated to admit it, he missed his little brother, almost as much as he had missed his first love, Akai, after she died. He knew Inu-Yasha was probably still alive, but the loneliness still bothered him.
He sighed again, though his ears soon trained on Jaken's distant mutters and curses, and how he shrieked like a young girl when he obviously stepped in dragon manure.
Suddenly, the youkai felt a little better.