Disclaimer - I don't own them, more's the pity . . . or else you would be seeing this stuff like this in the anime.
Author's Notes - Well . . . where to begin? Hmm . . . I feel like being a b**** today, since I'm awake way earlier than normal (thank my kids, oy), and I think I'll start with my second little flamer. I won't mention any names . . . but a twelve year old who read my lemon section and then told me it was totally wrong and InuYasha had no romance in it (he/she is under the belief that it is all about action and adventure) really got under my skin. And then wonders why I treated he/she like a child in my answering email. *sniff* You show me you're mature, I'll treat like an equal . . . you show me you're a brat, and I'll treat you like one. Besides . . . 540+ good reviews can't all be wrong, now can they?
Well . . . now that's out of the way . . . here's the next chappie folks : ) A little bit more plot developement and loose end tying, plus some of the lingering shadows between Kag and Inu. Hope you all enjoy.
Oh . . . let me just say this before I let you get on with the chapter (ducks the rotten tomatoes flying her way) . . . I don't judge people by age. I judge them by attitude . . . just in case someone misread the above rant. You could be eight years old for all I care . . . as long as your criticism is mature and well placed, I will take it nicely. It's when it's written with stupidity, bigotry, and downright moronic close-minded attitudes that I get annoyed. Now then, on with the chapter.
Chapter 20 - Hunting
Kagome heaved a sigh of relief as they sat down for a mid afternoon meal and a rest. They had covered a good amount of ground since leaving the village that morning, and her feet were killing her. She had left her bike behind . . . it was still severely busted up after the last time she had rode it, and with everything that had been going on, she had forgotten to take it back to her time to get repaired. Not that anyone would blame her . . . suddenly getting everything you ever wanted tended to make people forget a lot.
Her eyes fell on InuYasha, who was standing a short distance away, scanning the horizon with eyes, ears, and nose for some hint of Naraku. She knew he would probably be upset with her if he found out she was in pain, mostly for not telling him and allowing him to carry her, but she still suffered from a slight uncertainty that he would consider her weak.
She jumped in surprise when a delicate, clawed hand tapped her gently on the shoulder. She grinned sheepishly as she looked up into Sesshoumaru's amused eyes. He gestured towards her feet, one eyebrow quirking slightly in question. She shook her head slightly, and smiled at him. He gave her a stern look, but didn't argue with her, instead leaving her side to go scan the horizon with his brother. She watched the two of them for a moment before moving to take off her socks and shoes, settling at the nearby stream to dangle her feet in the water.
"You should have said something, Kagome . . ." InuYasha murmured a few moments later as he crouched down next to her, his golden eyes concerned.
"I didn't want to be a burden," she replied. "You have enough going on trying to track any traces of Naraku without carrying me as well."
"Feh," he snorted. Reaching out a hand, he took her chin gently in his grip, turning her to face him. "I can track and carry you at the same time . . . I've done it before. Besides . . . I like carrying you." Kagome blushed slightly at that statement, but didn't argue any further with him. It would have been a losing battle, and she knew it - he wasn't known as 'the stubborn hanyou' among their group for nothing, after all. She decided that a change in subject was in order.
"Has there been any sign of him?" she asked quietly. InuYasha snorted, settling back in the grass on his heels, dipping a hand into the water absently.
"Nothing. I get faint traces here and there, but nothing recent. And it's going to rain soon, so I'll lose even those brief traces. Sesshoumaru's not having luck with even the faint traces, so he's no help . . . and wolf boy hasn't come in from his position, so no idea if he's even found anything." From InuYasha's tone of voice, he sounded highly doubtful of Kouga's having found anything useful. Kagome sighed and shook her head in amusement. No matter how often she stressed to him that Kouga was no longer interested, InuYasha apparantly would always see him as a rival for her affections. Of course, Kouga wasn't helping matters any.
As if her thoughts has summoned him, the wolf youkai arrived in camp in a cloud of dust, making his way over to Kagome and dropping to a knee before her. She spied the grin on his face, and knew that he was doing it just to make a point to her hanyou . . . and from the steam that was almost coming out of InuYasha's cute little dog ears, he was succeeding. Sighing internally, she decided perhaps she had better have a talk with Kouga later on.
"Welcome back, Kouga," she murmured.
"Find anything, wolf?" InuYasha managed to grind out, his teeth clenched in what had to be an abnormal manner. Kagome lay a restraining hand on his arm, reaching out through their bond with a wave of calm. At the same time, she shot the wolf lord a reproving glance, which he sheepishly accepted by standing and moving a bit farther away from her. She felt InuYasha muscles relax as he sent her a wave of apology, which she answered with amusement.
"Nothing. Nothing but the same faint traces we've been getting since we left this morning. It's like he's leading us on, but not willing to give us too much."
"Feh . . . I wouldn't put it past him," InuYasha snorted. He stood, and glanced down at Kagome. "We'll rest for five more minutes . . . and then you are riding." Kagome sighed, but didn't argue. It would have been useless anyway.
*-------*-------*-------*-------*
InuYasha slipped Kagome carefully from his back into Sesshoumaru's waiting arms, then turned to take her from him gently without disturbing her sleep. Nodding a thanks to his older brother, he knelt to slip her gently into her sleeping bag, which Sango had laid out on the forest floor already. After carefully tucking her in, he settled nearby with his back against a tree, the tetsusiaga resting against his shoulder, his arms crossed over his chest. He watched the others settle in . . . Kouga on the far side of the camp, Sesshoumaru a short distance away, Sango and Miroku snuggled together near the fire. With the three demonic beings, there was no need to set a watch . . . all of them would be woken up if a strange presence appeared in the camp.
It wasn't long before everyone was asleep and dreaming. The moon shone over head, half full in the cloudless sky, the stars sparkling gently against the backdrop of night. It was disturbed by the graceful, snake-like shadows of soul stealers . . . Kikyo's pet demons.
InuYasha awoke with a start, a familiar scent wafting on the night air. With a soft growl of annoyance, he levered himself from the ground, pausing to check on Kagome before walking softly from the camp in the direction of the scent.
He came upon her in a clearing not far from the camp, the still form of the undead miko showing clearly where she knelt in the dim moonlight.
"InuYasha . . . I knew that you would come to me," Kikyo murmured, standing to face him as he entered the clearing. He stopped near the edge, his knuckles tightening on the hilt of his sword as he fought down the urge to draw it and kill her where she stood.
"I only came to make sure you came no closer, Kikyo. You will not harm Kagome again."
"I am not after that silly little copy of me . . . I came for you, my love."
"I'm not yours, Kikyo, and never will be. I'm not going to hell with you." He shifted uneasily as she stepped towards him, but she stopped just out of reach.
"You will have no choice, and you know that. Why fool yourself? But that is not why I am here . . . I know what you seek. And I know where he is." InuYasha froze as those words passed her lips. She knew . . . where Naraku was? But . . . what was the price for her information?
"And what do you want in return, Kikyo?" he ground out finally, forcing his muscles to relax as he stood before her. It was hard for him to believe he had once thought he loved her. Now, as he stood so near her, he could see all that was lacking in her . . . all the warmth, the fire, the passion that was Kagome was not in the pale figure before him . . . and never had been. At least he knew now that was what he needed . . . he needed Kagome like he needed the air to breathe.
"Nothing at all, InuYasha. I want nothing for the information I have . . . for I need nothing. In the end, all will be as it should."
*-------*-------*-------*-------*
InuYasha returned to camp slowly, his expression solemn. What Kikyo had told him was not pleasant . . . nor would it be easy information to pass on. The place Naraku had apparently chosen for the final confrontation . . . he shook his head. There was no use dwelling on what would be. They would not know until they got there how things would go.
He stopped short as he walked into camp . . . and found Kagome sitting up and waiting for him. Her eyes were solemn, watching him as he blanched, but bravely walked over and settled down near her.
"I didn't go to her for that . . ." he murmured. To his surprise, Kagome didn't yell, or cry, or say anything for a moment. When she finally did speak, it was even more surprising to him.
"She knows where he is," she said softly, turning to look into his eyes. "What was the price on her information?"
"She . . . she said that there was no price . . . because things would turn out in the end whether we wished them to or not. But . . . how did you know?"
"We're mated, InuYasha. I knew you wouldn't go to her for that . . . which meant that you went to make sure she didn't try anything. As for knowing she had information for us . . . I dreamed of her." She shifted slighly, leaning over to snuggle against him absently. Laying Tetsusiaga down on the ground, he pulled her into his lap, wrapping his fire-rat clad arms around her as she lay against him. "I trust you, InuYasha. We're mated now . . . besides, I'm not a little girl anymore. If that was who you had chosen . . . then there was nothing I could do about it. But I know that you've chosen me . . . so I have no need to worry, now do I?" She yawned sleepily, snuggling into his arms deeper as she drifted back in to slumber. "I love you, you silly hanyou. Forever and always."
"I love you too Kagome. I'll never stop loving you," he murmured in reply. In silence, he listened to her breathing slow and deepen, signalling her return to her dreams. Leaning his head down, he buried his face in her hair, drawing her scent into himself. Never again would he be alone . . . if not in body, he knew Kagome's spirit and heart would always be with him . . . as his would be with her.
Continuing Author's Notes - The email thing . . . if you write me an email, or specifically request one, I will email you. I try to keep up with all my reviewers when I can . . . even the flamers get answers back (although I will admit, they're nasty ones when the flame is stupid). So don't hesitate to give me your email addy if you want to hear from me directly . . . I promise I will answer.