Disclaimer: I don't own anyone named Inuyasha... except my hamster who I
called Inuyasha... how sad is that? Well at least it's better than Hammy,
or Houdini or even Nibbles...
(A/N: Don't kill me for not updating! I have a lot on my plate right now and I'm struggling to cope with it all. Anyway, I've finally got another chapter done. This should ease a little angst... or maybe it won't... ^_^;;)
Two Faced:
Lie down with Dogs, get up with Fleas
Kagome had lost track of the time very badly by now. She was hungry, cold and dirty and her biological clock was screwed up. The only thing she could really tell was that it was daylight outside, but just when she'd decided she knew roughly what time it was, they came in, gave her more pills to make her fall asleep and lose track again. It was like when you counted how many pennies you had, and then someone would come and steal one so you had to start all over again.
Occasionally it would be Inuyasha who gave the pills to her, when he gave them to her she would just take it without protest. He would assume she'd swallowed them, but the moment he left she spat them back out and sat on them so no one would know. He was too gentle with her. But gentleness towards the dogs was something else he lacked. He acted like Kagura did when they growled at him.
This resulted in many scratched muzzles.
"HELLO!!" Kagome started to yell again the minute she was awake. "I AM STARVIBNG IN HERE! I HAVEN'T EATEN IN DAYS! GIMME A BREAK!!!!"
The door swung open and Kouga stomped in followed more reluctantly by Inuyasha. The first dark haired boy dropped a raw steak down before her. Kagome and the dogs all stared at it.
"You expect me to eat that?" she asked coldly.
"I expect you to take whatever we give." Kouga crouched down before her and locked glares with her. "A needy bitch like you won't have many more chances, you know."
Inuyasha clenched his fists from where he had folded his arms.
"Funnily enough, I'm not an animal like you. I don't eat RAW meat." She responded angrily.
"Whatever. The ransom money gets dropped off in an hour - as soon as we have it you'll die and that'll be the end of the matter."
Kagome's face fell slightly but Kouga's strong fingers pitched her chin up again, ignoring Inuyasha's agitated shifting in the background. "Don't look so sad, bitch. I swear I'll make it quick and painless... as long as..."
"As long as what?" Kagome asked defiantly.
She suddenly looked down as Kouga's hand started to slide from her knee and then up her outer thigh. She tried to squirm away but his other hand employed at her knees, holding her in place. "Get off me!"
"Don't you like it? I would have thought you'd be used to it by now you little slut."
Kouga didn't know what hit him until a few seconds after he hit the bunker wall, making the whole building shudder. He managed to gather his reeling senses back together and fixed a glare on Inuyasha who stood before Kagome. "What the fuck was that for?!"
"No screwing around with her!" Inuyasha yelled back. "We don't have time for this. The drop off is in less than an hour, knit-wit! We don't need you screwing around with the prisoner."
"Fuck you!"
"Hey - you're the one who's supposed to go collect it Einstein!" Inuyasha advanced on him. "You want to go or do I have to give you a kick start?"
"Why the hell should I go pick it up?!" Kouga snarled.
"Because it could be a trap by her people and you're expendable!" Inuyasha raised a fist to punch him around the head, but Kouga saw it coming and skirted around him.
"I see what's going on here..." Kouga's glare darted from Inuyasha to Kagome, and then back again. "But that doesn't matter. She'll be dead as soon as we get the money."
He swept out the bunker before Inuyasha could make an attempt on his life again and sped off through the trees to the designated drop off point. Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome whose shoulders were silently shaking from where she had her face pressed against her grubby knees.
He had no idea why he felt so bad about this. After all, he was doing the right thing wasn't he?
He just left her to cry on her own, there was no point staying and trying to comfort her since she'd only end up mad at him all over again. Though he wouldn't really blame her if she did.
The moment Inuyasha was gone Kagome lifted her head, her face completely dry and tear free. Inuyasha had fallen for it, and probably wouldn't bother her for a little while... this was perfect.
Kagome started to rub her bondage ropes against the rusty pole just like before and since she'd already been working them loose for many hours before hand, they severed quickly. She put extra effort to cut herself loose since she had a brilliant plan forming in her head.
The moment her hands snapped free she started untying the rope around her ankles and glanced up to see the two huge dogs were watching her warily, and she could hear faint growls emanating from them. Once she was completely untied she took the pills that she'd been sitting on and stuffed them one by one into little holes in the raw meat.
After that she managed to tear the steak in half and looked back up at the dog who had by now, noticed the big red meat in her hands and were starting to lick their chops.
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty..." Kagome leaned forwards and offered them the separate pieces. "Are you hungry?"
They sniffed and shifted to their feet, taking small steps forward. They probably realised they weren't supposed to take food off anyone save for their owners... but they probably hadn't been fed for as long as Kagome.
"Come on..." she jiggled the meat. "Come on Pinkie and Perky... you know you want to..."
They edged closer and closer until they were within reach, before eventually taking the meat and running off back to the door to finish eating it. Kagome just sat back and waited. She half hoped that she didn't kill them with an overdose of sleeping pills, but never mind. After a few minutes of deceptive smiling on Kagome's part, the two lumbering animals finally finished their food, yawned and put their heads down to rest on their forelegs.
Yet they were still awake, and Kagome didn't quite trust them to make her move yet. But she was running out of time. That brute Kouga would be back any minute with the ransom money and then they'd go kill her without hesitation. There was no way they'd set her free like they'd promised in the ransom note.
Images of her face printed across newspapers with headlines like 'she's dead' flashed through her mind. Or more importantly, images of her own death flashed up and she shivered. She didn't intend to die like this. Maybe it would have been better if Inuyasha had succeeded in killing her in the plane crash, she thought bitterly. At least then she'd die with dignity. But not like this... no way...
Kagome rose to her feet cautiously and started towards the door, aiming to pass straight between the two dogs. They were still awake since their eyes were open but they seemed fairly lethargic now. Miraculously they didn't even lift their heads or growl as she passed and she quietly slipped out the door without any hint of warning.
Everything was so quiet. She could hear talking and laughter echoing from the second bunker... so they seemed unaware that she was escaping. That was good!
Carefully scanning the area this time, she picked out the best direction she thought would be a good path. Of course, she had no idea where she was, and no clue which way was south and which way was north. For all she knew she would be heading deeper into the dark forest and into demon terrain... but even then she'd have more chance of survival than by staying there.
Her eyes fell on the backpack that Inuyasha had been carrying a little before she'd been ambushed. It was distinctly empty looking but the two strong poles that he'd been carrying lay alongside it. Well, maybe he hadn't had enough time to teach her how to be a world champion, but she could still use one of those staffs to defend against forest creatures if need be. She quietly tiptoed forward, lifted one and started to tiptoe towards the forest, carryin the pole the same way tightrope walkers carried them.
She half expected someone to come bursting out the second bunker and spot her... but nothing happened and she was beginning to make a clean getaway. It was so simple it had to be criminal...
When she was a good distance away from the two bunkers in the clearing she discovered that she was walking deeper and deeper into the forest and things were only getting darker and denser. So she changed course and started walking towards where the forest became more spaced out, and towards where she thought she could hear the sounds of trickling water.
Suddenly there was a flash of movement off to her right and she ducked behind a tree due to pure reflex. Peeping around she noticed it was Kouga... he was back... and he was empty-handed. She only saw him for a fraction of a moment because he was darting through the trees like a hare on speed.
As soon as she was sure he was gone (whoa... I just got really bad déjà vu...) she allowed herself to stand and carried on along her current trajectory.
^_^
"What do you mean it wasn't there?!" Kagura yelled.
"Exactly what I said!" Kouga huffed back. "There was no money and no one had seen anyone suspicious around there! They didn't even have the decency to acknowledge us or set up a trap!"
"The nerve..." Kagura shook her head.
Sesshomaru sighed and looked to Yura. "We've waited long enough, no more wasting time. Go slit the girl's throat."
Yura disappeared out the doorway and Inuyasha fixed a rather stoic gaze on the ground. After a few moments of silent waiting the door-crashed open again to reveal a rather shocked looking Yura. "She's gone!"
"Shit..." Kouga cursed loudly.
"When did she escape?" Kagura demanded.
"Her scent is still fresh," Kouga offered.
"All of you, follow it and bring her back - no wait - just kill her where she stands." Sesshomaru waved them off and they all bolted out the door, Inuyasha a little more hesitant than the rest.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru had a call to make.
^_^
"It's this way!" Kouga sped along the same path Kagome had taken, going deeper into the forest than before.
"Not a very bright girl to march straight north is she?" Kagura remarked darkly as she flew along, crouched on her oversized leaf.
Inuyasha and Yura ran along beside her, all finding it a little difficult to match Kouga's speed.
Suddenly he stopped ahead and turned this way and that. "Dammit..."
"What's the matter, wolfy?" Yura asked as she drew up beside him.
"Her scent's everywhere... I don't know which direction." He grumbled.
Inuyasha snorted and turned in a different direction and started to follow a path towards the lighter part of the forest where the trees began to space out and the sound of a river could be heard. He couldn't be sure that this was where Kagome had come since his nose wasn't quite the same standard as a wolf's. But he knew Kagome wasn't stupid and she'd head for the safest path. "Shows what you know, wolf..."
They all glanced in the direction Inuyasha was going and seemed to shrug and just follow. Kouga growled and followed at a slight distance. He obviously didn't like being showed up by dogs...
^_^
Kagome waded along the river that reached her knees. Her shoes were thoroughly soaked by now but she wasn't taking them off. Those horror stories about leeches and bugs that attacked tender human feet told her not to bed so unwise. Plus the rocks were rather jagged and she didn't want to cut her feet to ribbons either. It was going great... the trees were thinning out and she hadn't seen a single demon for at least an hour. Though she was sad as well...
She still missed her father... was still hurt by Inuyasha's betrayal... the knowledge that he'd been intending to hurt her all along, even during those times he'd been nice and sweet and comforting. He'd been like the pillar she'd finally been allowed to lean back on. She'd never been so close to anyone... and although Sango had come close, she hadn't seen Sango enough to be able to depend on the older girl. She'd had no friends, her father had always been busy and had no time for her. And while her brother, mother and grandpa had always been for her and loved her for just being Kagome... she had been taken away from their care too early on and she didn't feel so close to them anymore. She was a loner... but she didn't want to be a loner...
Then Inuyasha had come on and had been the first person to treat her with disrespect and be able to get away with it. But after you got past that gruff exterior where he simply said anything that was on his mind, you understand that when he said something nice... he really meant it. Or so Kagome, thought... Maybe that had all been a hoax, but the way he'd been careful with her ankle when he'd tied her up had told differently.
Maybe he was sorry for what he'd done... that made Kagome slightly more sympathetic... but he still wasn't helping her out of this mess. So she still hated him for whirling her around like a fool.
Suddenly she heard a shout behind her and her heartbeat suddenly pitched up into a faster pace. Someone was coming up behind her... and fast by the sound of it...
Without really thinking about her decision she splashed out of the river and threw herself behind a tree. She discovered it was hollow and quickly squeezed herself down into the open groove beneath, certainly hidden from view from behind and to the sides. Of course if anyone were in front of her they'd see her at once.
^_^
Her scent trail was faint, gliding over the slight breeze that accompanied the river on its path. But then it stopped and just disappeared and they all stood for a few moments looking around and puzzling about what to do.
Inuyasha was the first to spot her, sort of... he stood a little ahead of the others adjacent to a rather ancient looking tree. He could see Kagome's fingers grasping one of the roots so hard her knuckles were going white and by the way he chest was going up and down, she was scared.
"I see her!" he yelled out to the others and pointed up the river. "She's making a getaway!"
Kagome must have heard his voice so close and her fingers disappeared and she crouched even lower to hide herself. The other three demons suddenly shot off in the direction Inuyasha had pointed.
Kagome could hear them coming and waited for them to reach her tree and find her. But strangely enough they all shot past her tree and carried on up the river with fevered speed. She stared with surprise as they all disappeared and started to stand up. But when Inuyasha suddenly appeared before her she squeaked and fell back down. She refused to look up at him... but she had to acknowledge that he'd just saved her life. Now what...? Was he going to follow his usual pattern and betray her by turning her in again?
"You're heading in the wrong direction." I told her evenly and pointed to the right of her tree. "Head south and keep going in a straight line until you hit another river. Follow where the water leads and you should come out of the forest at the same village your father should be housed in."
Kagome glanced up at his deadly serious face. For a moment a little prick of stubbornness commanded her to head in the totally opposite direction just to spite him... but her life depended on this and since she had no other choice... she had to obey.
She slowly pushed herself to her feet, using the tree as leverage and lifted her chin to face him, with a look that clearly let him know that what he was doing was not going to make up in any way for what he had done to her.
"Run... I'll lead them away." He said and noticed she clenched her pole rather tightly.
He wasn't expecting her, however, to suddenly whip the long weapon up and crack him on the jaw. He stumbled back, the hard blow sending a few of his brain cells scattering to disorientate him. "OW! Bitch!"
"Burn in hell!" she yelled over her shoulder as she ran in the direction he'd just pointed out.
"You're welcome..." he called after her. "You ungrateful cow..."
The minute he was sure she was gone he set back off down the river in the direction the others had taken off in. he was going to make sure Kagome made it out of this forest safely.
(Next chapter - 'Forgiveness' Might be what you think it is. Might not ^_^)
(A/N: Don't kill me for not updating! I have a lot on my plate right now and I'm struggling to cope with it all. Anyway, I've finally got another chapter done. This should ease a little angst... or maybe it won't... ^_^;;)
Two Faced:
Lie down with Dogs, get up with Fleas
Kagome had lost track of the time very badly by now. She was hungry, cold and dirty and her biological clock was screwed up. The only thing she could really tell was that it was daylight outside, but just when she'd decided she knew roughly what time it was, they came in, gave her more pills to make her fall asleep and lose track again. It was like when you counted how many pennies you had, and then someone would come and steal one so you had to start all over again.
Occasionally it would be Inuyasha who gave the pills to her, when he gave them to her she would just take it without protest. He would assume she'd swallowed them, but the moment he left she spat them back out and sat on them so no one would know. He was too gentle with her. But gentleness towards the dogs was something else he lacked. He acted like Kagura did when they growled at him.
This resulted in many scratched muzzles.
"HELLO!!" Kagome started to yell again the minute she was awake. "I AM STARVIBNG IN HERE! I HAVEN'T EATEN IN DAYS! GIMME A BREAK!!!!"
The door swung open and Kouga stomped in followed more reluctantly by Inuyasha. The first dark haired boy dropped a raw steak down before her. Kagome and the dogs all stared at it.
"You expect me to eat that?" she asked coldly.
"I expect you to take whatever we give." Kouga crouched down before her and locked glares with her. "A needy bitch like you won't have many more chances, you know."
Inuyasha clenched his fists from where he had folded his arms.
"Funnily enough, I'm not an animal like you. I don't eat RAW meat." She responded angrily.
"Whatever. The ransom money gets dropped off in an hour - as soon as we have it you'll die and that'll be the end of the matter."
Kagome's face fell slightly but Kouga's strong fingers pitched her chin up again, ignoring Inuyasha's agitated shifting in the background. "Don't look so sad, bitch. I swear I'll make it quick and painless... as long as..."
"As long as what?" Kagome asked defiantly.
She suddenly looked down as Kouga's hand started to slide from her knee and then up her outer thigh. She tried to squirm away but his other hand employed at her knees, holding her in place. "Get off me!"
"Don't you like it? I would have thought you'd be used to it by now you little slut."
Kouga didn't know what hit him until a few seconds after he hit the bunker wall, making the whole building shudder. He managed to gather his reeling senses back together and fixed a glare on Inuyasha who stood before Kagome. "What the fuck was that for?!"
"No screwing around with her!" Inuyasha yelled back. "We don't have time for this. The drop off is in less than an hour, knit-wit! We don't need you screwing around with the prisoner."
"Fuck you!"
"Hey - you're the one who's supposed to go collect it Einstein!" Inuyasha advanced on him. "You want to go or do I have to give you a kick start?"
"Why the hell should I go pick it up?!" Kouga snarled.
"Because it could be a trap by her people and you're expendable!" Inuyasha raised a fist to punch him around the head, but Kouga saw it coming and skirted around him.
"I see what's going on here..." Kouga's glare darted from Inuyasha to Kagome, and then back again. "But that doesn't matter. She'll be dead as soon as we get the money."
He swept out the bunker before Inuyasha could make an attempt on his life again and sped off through the trees to the designated drop off point. Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome whose shoulders were silently shaking from where she had her face pressed against her grubby knees.
He had no idea why he felt so bad about this. After all, he was doing the right thing wasn't he?
He just left her to cry on her own, there was no point staying and trying to comfort her since she'd only end up mad at him all over again. Though he wouldn't really blame her if she did.
The moment Inuyasha was gone Kagome lifted her head, her face completely dry and tear free. Inuyasha had fallen for it, and probably wouldn't bother her for a little while... this was perfect.
Kagome started to rub her bondage ropes against the rusty pole just like before and since she'd already been working them loose for many hours before hand, they severed quickly. She put extra effort to cut herself loose since she had a brilliant plan forming in her head.
The moment her hands snapped free she started untying the rope around her ankles and glanced up to see the two huge dogs were watching her warily, and she could hear faint growls emanating from them. Once she was completely untied she took the pills that she'd been sitting on and stuffed them one by one into little holes in the raw meat.
After that she managed to tear the steak in half and looked back up at the dog who had by now, noticed the big red meat in her hands and were starting to lick their chops.
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty..." Kagome leaned forwards and offered them the separate pieces. "Are you hungry?"
They sniffed and shifted to their feet, taking small steps forward. They probably realised they weren't supposed to take food off anyone save for their owners... but they probably hadn't been fed for as long as Kagome.
"Come on..." she jiggled the meat. "Come on Pinkie and Perky... you know you want to..."
They edged closer and closer until they were within reach, before eventually taking the meat and running off back to the door to finish eating it. Kagome just sat back and waited. She half hoped that she didn't kill them with an overdose of sleeping pills, but never mind. After a few minutes of deceptive smiling on Kagome's part, the two lumbering animals finally finished their food, yawned and put their heads down to rest on their forelegs.
Yet they were still awake, and Kagome didn't quite trust them to make her move yet. But she was running out of time. That brute Kouga would be back any minute with the ransom money and then they'd go kill her without hesitation. There was no way they'd set her free like they'd promised in the ransom note.
Images of her face printed across newspapers with headlines like 'she's dead' flashed through her mind. Or more importantly, images of her own death flashed up and she shivered. She didn't intend to die like this. Maybe it would have been better if Inuyasha had succeeded in killing her in the plane crash, she thought bitterly. At least then she'd die with dignity. But not like this... no way...
Kagome rose to her feet cautiously and started towards the door, aiming to pass straight between the two dogs. They were still awake since their eyes were open but they seemed fairly lethargic now. Miraculously they didn't even lift their heads or growl as she passed and she quietly slipped out the door without any hint of warning.
Everything was so quiet. She could hear talking and laughter echoing from the second bunker... so they seemed unaware that she was escaping. That was good!
Carefully scanning the area this time, she picked out the best direction she thought would be a good path. Of course, she had no idea where she was, and no clue which way was south and which way was north. For all she knew she would be heading deeper into the dark forest and into demon terrain... but even then she'd have more chance of survival than by staying there.
Her eyes fell on the backpack that Inuyasha had been carrying a little before she'd been ambushed. It was distinctly empty looking but the two strong poles that he'd been carrying lay alongside it. Well, maybe he hadn't had enough time to teach her how to be a world champion, but she could still use one of those staffs to defend against forest creatures if need be. She quietly tiptoed forward, lifted one and started to tiptoe towards the forest, carryin the pole the same way tightrope walkers carried them.
She half expected someone to come bursting out the second bunker and spot her... but nothing happened and she was beginning to make a clean getaway. It was so simple it had to be criminal...
When she was a good distance away from the two bunkers in the clearing she discovered that she was walking deeper and deeper into the forest and things were only getting darker and denser. So she changed course and started walking towards where the forest became more spaced out, and towards where she thought she could hear the sounds of trickling water.
Suddenly there was a flash of movement off to her right and she ducked behind a tree due to pure reflex. Peeping around she noticed it was Kouga... he was back... and he was empty-handed. She only saw him for a fraction of a moment because he was darting through the trees like a hare on speed.
As soon as she was sure he was gone (whoa... I just got really bad déjà vu...) she allowed herself to stand and carried on along her current trajectory.
^_^
"What do you mean it wasn't there?!" Kagura yelled.
"Exactly what I said!" Kouga huffed back. "There was no money and no one had seen anyone suspicious around there! They didn't even have the decency to acknowledge us or set up a trap!"
"The nerve..." Kagura shook her head.
Sesshomaru sighed and looked to Yura. "We've waited long enough, no more wasting time. Go slit the girl's throat."
Yura disappeared out the doorway and Inuyasha fixed a rather stoic gaze on the ground. After a few moments of silent waiting the door-crashed open again to reveal a rather shocked looking Yura. "She's gone!"
"Shit..." Kouga cursed loudly.
"When did she escape?" Kagura demanded.
"Her scent is still fresh," Kouga offered.
"All of you, follow it and bring her back - no wait - just kill her where she stands." Sesshomaru waved them off and they all bolted out the door, Inuyasha a little more hesitant than the rest.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru had a call to make.
^_^
"It's this way!" Kouga sped along the same path Kagome had taken, going deeper into the forest than before.
"Not a very bright girl to march straight north is she?" Kagura remarked darkly as she flew along, crouched on her oversized leaf.
Inuyasha and Yura ran along beside her, all finding it a little difficult to match Kouga's speed.
Suddenly he stopped ahead and turned this way and that. "Dammit..."
"What's the matter, wolfy?" Yura asked as she drew up beside him.
"Her scent's everywhere... I don't know which direction." He grumbled.
Inuyasha snorted and turned in a different direction and started to follow a path towards the lighter part of the forest where the trees began to space out and the sound of a river could be heard. He couldn't be sure that this was where Kagome had come since his nose wasn't quite the same standard as a wolf's. But he knew Kagome wasn't stupid and she'd head for the safest path. "Shows what you know, wolf..."
They all glanced in the direction Inuyasha was going and seemed to shrug and just follow. Kouga growled and followed at a slight distance. He obviously didn't like being showed up by dogs...
^_^
Kagome waded along the river that reached her knees. Her shoes were thoroughly soaked by now but she wasn't taking them off. Those horror stories about leeches and bugs that attacked tender human feet told her not to bed so unwise. Plus the rocks were rather jagged and she didn't want to cut her feet to ribbons either. It was going great... the trees were thinning out and she hadn't seen a single demon for at least an hour. Though she was sad as well...
She still missed her father... was still hurt by Inuyasha's betrayal... the knowledge that he'd been intending to hurt her all along, even during those times he'd been nice and sweet and comforting. He'd been like the pillar she'd finally been allowed to lean back on. She'd never been so close to anyone... and although Sango had come close, she hadn't seen Sango enough to be able to depend on the older girl. She'd had no friends, her father had always been busy and had no time for her. And while her brother, mother and grandpa had always been for her and loved her for just being Kagome... she had been taken away from their care too early on and she didn't feel so close to them anymore. She was a loner... but she didn't want to be a loner...
Then Inuyasha had come on and had been the first person to treat her with disrespect and be able to get away with it. But after you got past that gruff exterior where he simply said anything that was on his mind, you understand that when he said something nice... he really meant it. Or so Kagome, thought... Maybe that had all been a hoax, but the way he'd been careful with her ankle when he'd tied her up had told differently.
Maybe he was sorry for what he'd done... that made Kagome slightly more sympathetic... but he still wasn't helping her out of this mess. So she still hated him for whirling her around like a fool.
Suddenly she heard a shout behind her and her heartbeat suddenly pitched up into a faster pace. Someone was coming up behind her... and fast by the sound of it...
Without really thinking about her decision she splashed out of the river and threw herself behind a tree. She discovered it was hollow and quickly squeezed herself down into the open groove beneath, certainly hidden from view from behind and to the sides. Of course if anyone were in front of her they'd see her at once.
^_^
Her scent trail was faint, gliding over the slight breeze that accompanied the river on its path. But then it stopped and just disappeared and they all stood for a few moments looking around and puzzling about what to do.
Inuyasha was the first to spot her, sort of... he stood a little ahead of the others adjacent to a rather ancient looking tree. He could see Kagome's fingers grasping one of the roots so hard her knuckles were going white and by the way he chest was going up and down, she was scared.
"I see her!" he yelled out to the others and pointed up the river. "She's making a getaway!"
Kagome must have heard his voice so close and her fingers disappeared and she crouched even lower to hide herself. The other three demons suddenly shot off in the direction Inuyasha had pointed.
Kagome could hear them coming and waited for them to reach her tree and find her. But strangely enough they all shot past her tree and carried on up the river with fevered speed. She stared with surprise as they all disappeared and started to stand up. But when Inuyasha suddenly appeared before her she squeaked and fell back down. She refused to look up at him... but she had to acknowledge that he'd just saved her life. Now what...? Was he going to follow his usual pattern and betray her by turning her in again?
"You're heading in the wrong direction." I told her evenly and pointed to the right of her tree. "Head south and keep going in a straight line until you hit another river. Follow where the water leads and you should come out of the forest at the same village your father should be housed in."
Kagome glanced up at his deadly serious face. For a moment a little prick of stubbornness commanded her to head in the totally opposite direction just to spite him... but her life depended on this and since she had no other choice... she had to obey.
She slowly pushed herself to her feet, using the tree as leverage and lifted her chin to face him, with a look that clearly let him know that what he was doing was not going to make up in any way for what he had done to her.
"Run... I'll lead them away." He said and noticed she clenched her pole rather tightly.
He wasn't expecting her, however, to suddenly whip the long weapon up and crack him on the jaw. He stumbled back, the hard blow sending a few of his brain cells scattering to disorientate him. "OW! Bitch!"
"Burn in hell!" she yelled over her shoulder as she ran in the direction he'd just pointed out.
"You're welcome..." he called after her. "You ungrateful cow..."
The minute he was sure she was gone he set back off down the river in the direction the others had taken off in. he was going to make sure Kagome made it out of this forest safely.
(Next chapter - 'Forgiveness' Might be what you think it is. Might not ^_^)