{The Road Between Souls}

{chapter 8 - thoughts and calculations}

Standard disclaimers...you know the deal.

~~~

Kouga knelt on the ground next to carriage tracks that were obviously very fresh.

"So, that's where they're headed...well, let's go! Hurry!"

One of the wolves sweatdropped. "Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...."

"No slacking off!" Yuki, the girl who had almost been captured by Konton-ko scolded angrily. "We have to find Kagome-ne-chan!" She dashed off after Kouga, determination set in her heart.

Kouga rolled his eyes. "Drama queen."

The cry echoed back at him, "I'M NOT A DRAMA QUEEN~!"

"Defeats the purpose of the statement if you say it like that!" Yuki's mother roared.

"Idiots. I am surrounded by complete, total, and utter idiots. Why have the gods cursed me so?" Kouga whined, thinking of his poor mate, kidnapped and, unless he was very much mistaken, a slave in one of the Great Demons' castles. It was nearly impossible to tell which one, but Kouga dearly hoped that it was Shuuraishi-sama's. The old youkai owed him for his continued service in keeping the Western Lands from falling to chaos.

Basic youkai pride would, if Kagome was indeed at the Western Palace, force its ruler to relinquish what was rightfully Kouga's. Unless, of course, one of Shuuraishi-sama's sons had claimed her as his mate, (which was very unlikely) and in which case Kouga would have to be fight. It would be interesting to see who would win in a one-on-one fight to the finish. Sesshoumaru was rumored to be a very formidable warrior, especially using his poison claws, but that was an improbable situation, as he was also rumored to hate humans.

Inuyasha, however, was a hanyou, and therefore was slightly more inclined to take a human - though a strong one, like Kagome - as his mate. From what Kouga had heard, Inuyasha had a skill on the battlefield that rivaled that of his brother. It was said that if the two were ever thrown into battle together, both would die. Therefore, it would be preferable to fight him during his weak period; when he was a human.

However, it was impossible to find out when his "time of the month" was, as Kouga's sources told him that the hanyou took three-day trips three times every month, and had an enchantment placed upon him so he was impossible to trace in any way. The trip times stayed exactly the same, and Kouga was positive that Inuyasha had a hiding place of some sort, one that only humans could penetrate. He should be more than a match for any human, even when he was a human himself, and was therefore perfectly safe from both discovery and attack.

But those lines of reckoning relied solely on the presumption that either Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha had mated with Kagome. Which was absolutely impossible.

Wasn't it?

~~~

Kagome snuggled closer to Inuyasha, listening to his soft, even breaths as he slept. I should feel guilty, she thought sleepily. But... this feels right, somehow, in a way it never did with Kouga-kun. Kagome studied his face, for the first time, really.

Inuyasha's silvery hair was different, thicker, than either his father's or his brother's. Though his eyes were closed, if he were awake, they would possess a strange oxymoronic gentle - and yet harsh - expression.

He was a gentle wild man, a living opposite. Sharp angles on his face and perfect tanned skin brought out the lean tough muscle that seemed to cover his entire body, which came from a lifetime of hard training and fighting. It also set off his bright white fangs, which were painfully visible when he smiled. He never let himself be the sweet person she knew him to be around most people. He swaggered, boasted, and swore around people he wanted to impress.

Around her and his mother, though, a little bit of gentleness shone through, his speech cleaning itself up quite a bit, as well as his actions. Actions were more important than words, but it did feel good to have him whisper in the dead of the night how pretty she was and how much he loved her. Inuyasha had never really insulted her, and when he did, he didn't mean it, not at all.

Inuyasha stirred in his sleep, then his eyes began to slowly slide open, focusing on her as he rejoined the world of the living.

"Gomen...did I wake you?" she asked quietly.

"Nah." Inuyasha reached out and cupped her face in his callused hand. "I wouldn't care anyhow." Kagome smiled.

"I should probably get to the kitchens," she said, reluctant to leave the warmth of her love.

Inuyasha grunted, also unwilling to let Kagome go so easily. Lightly, she punched his shoulder - though she doubted she could have hurt him if she tried. "Cheer up. I'll be back to bring you breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So wipe that pout off your face."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, about that. Oyaji wants us to all eat together, so you'll start serving us in the main hall today, but only for dinner. I skip lunch, anyway."

Kagome giggled. "Poor Inuyasha! Now I can't just stay here after dinner with you. How will you survive?"

He growled. "Come straight here after dinner's over. Solves that problem." Inuyasha tightened his grip around her waist, with a satisfied smirk. Gently, Kagome disentangled herself.

"Like I said, I need to go make breakfast, or that bastard brother of yours will have another reason to beat up on you today."

Inuyasha scowled. "Like he could. I could kill him if I tried."

"Yes, and I'd rather not have you in a million pieces as you go at it. See you later." She pecked his cheek gently, then slid out of the futon to get dressed. Inuyasha watched her as she slid the door open, then walked out and shut it quietly. H smirked. Strong woman. Perfect to be my mate.

And that simple thought got him thinking along the lines of the mating ritual, which reminded him of several things he needed to get started on in the way of bonding with Kagome...

~~~

Naraku chuckled as he watched Kouga angrily traipsing through the woods, searching for his mate. Or former mate, really, after Inuyasha was done with the ritual. Though he'd have to wait a few days; this very night was the start of his last trip of seclusion this month.

Kanna silently waited for her master to finish gazing at her mirror, studying his face as he mentally calculated how best to attack the hanyou.

"That will be all, Kanna," he said calmly. She bowed, then headed out. Naraku settled back, content that the events he had set in motion would ruin Inuyasha, once and for all.

Between Kouga accidentally discovering where Kagome is and that taji-ya bitch getting the news of her village, plus it happening around the ebb of his youkai blood, that should be enough for a traumatic year or two.

The inhabitants of the castle shuddered as they heard the evil cackles echoing throughout the halls.

~~~

"Splash, splash, little puddle, splash!" Sesshoumaru observed Rin jumping from puddle to puddle, ruining her expensive yukata in the process. Jaken squawked about mud in the background, and Sesshoumaru absentmindedly smacked him and told him to shut up. The toady youkai hopped about, tripping, and generally making a fool of himself. Sesshoumaru ignored him, per usual.

Rin dragged the youkai Lord into a particularly large puddle, giggling as he allowed her to splash muddy water all over him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama's all wet and muddy, just like Rin!" she cried out, trying to tease a smile out of the cold man. Very slowly, his lips curved upward in what was an unmistakable smile - though a rather small one.

"Wai! Wai!" Rin crowed, causing Jaken to recover and begin cursing her - which earned him a much rougher smack; one that sent him flying.

"Jaken-sama went flying!" Rin pointed out. "Rin wants to fly, too, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Sesshoumaru favored the little girl with a calm expression, then reached out and pulled her into his arms. Very gently, treating her like a very breakable ornament, he spun her around, feeling the mud go flying around them, listening to her happy squeals.

I've gone soft, he scolded himself inwardly, but let it go. You never know. Really.

Carefully, he put her down, watching her walk around dizzily. "Kyaa...Rin's dizzy..." Sesshoumaru chuckled.

"We're going to go get washed up. Go to Tsuraiuta."

"'Kay!" Rin took off at a fast run, knowing that Sesshoumaru was watching her with that fond half-smile, the one he saved just for her.

He's like a big fluffy puppy dog, she mused silently. Iie, more like a 'touchan. Hai, hai, Sesshoumaru-sama's a 'touchan.

~~~

Dokukon glared down at Kagome. "All right, jou-chan, where were you?"

"Uh...eto...Inuyasha-sama kept me late..." she mumbled.

"Ah." he said knowingly. "That's why he's been so much less pouty lately. I suppose having a cute girl like you to warm a bed like that would cheer up any man, even a surly kid like him."

Kagome's face turned bright red, as the unskilled cook continued to tease her mercifully. "So, I suppose you've been enjoying yourself every night, ne?"

"Urusai, Dokukon," Tsuraiuta ordered, entering the kitchen. "And you need to cook for Rin today as well, so get working."

"Yes sir!" Dokukon said, snickering at the look on Tsuraiuta's face.

"I'm a woman, you twit!" she hissed. "Or do you not have enough brains to figure that out!?" She stormed off, leaving Dokukon and Kagome to giggle.

"I was wondering about that, though," Dokukon said thoughtfully. "Should thank her for clearing it up for me." Kagome rolled her eyes, then got working.

"Oh, yeah, Dokukon, we need more shrimp," she reminded him.

"Aa, jou-chan, I'll get on that. You all know I sure as hell can't cook."

Kagome shrugged. "We all start somewhere."

~~~

Well, here we have Dokukon, the youkai that can't cook! ^^

His relationship with Kagome is roughly Sano-Kaoru, as if you couldn't tell from the 'jou-chan', which means 'little missy'. Urusai is the less punk way to say 'shut up'. Thanks to my buddy Akane for telling me this. She runs three great MLs for Inuyasha (Osuwari), Rurouni Kenshin (Sakabatou), and weekly anime reviews (%100 Otaku). Email her to sign up at Farasina@aol.com.

Oh, yeah, my editor is Maron-chan, who also happens to edit and ink my comic Starlight, Starbright! and all my art. She edits all that I write, and without her I would be flunking physics right now. Wai for Maron-chan~!

Speaking of physics, I should go organize my portfolio (which is due tomorrow, by the way).

One last thing (oh but I love long author rants): I'll write a sequel to TRBS if I get enough reviews, so please do! Other than that, TRBS will very soon have its own website! http://www.angelfire.com/anime3/trbsfiction. It's not up yet, but it will be within the next week, so check it out! Chapters will be posted there first, so keep it in mind once it's up.

Remember to R/R! Oh yes....the 'drama queen' scene was inspired by a conversation between my friend Albert and I. He calls me a Drama Queen, I prove the point. ^.~ A vicious cycle, but he's a higher belt than I. XP Evil potato-worshipping moron.

-Katra Winner