Hi everybody! Wow! I haven't up-dated forEVER! Sorry about that. I'm in a mood to type now and I have… hmm….. three and a half hours all to myself, unless I go to a friend's house before youth group. Anyway, I have SO MUCH I want to type and SO LITTLE time… it feels like. WOW! It's summer! Can you believe it?!?!?!? I sure can't! Well, except for the fact that I don't have school on school-days, my parents want me to get a job, I have a Jazz Choir camp I have to go to, I'm going to build houses in Nevada at an Indian Reservation, I need to go to Arizona to visit all my friends, I would LIKE to finish an ORIGINAL story and possibly get it published… (wishful thinker, I know) And on top of all that, I need to read books for Honors English because I have homework over the SUMMER, I volunteered to help at the Snack Shack during my sister's softball games which are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and then she has tournaments on the weekends, and I need to up-date for my loving fans out there that actually believe in me when I may seriously have doubts! Anyway, thanks for listening to me blabber. Here we go!
A Demon Without Fangs
Ch 6
"Kagome?"
The said girl was laying on her stomach on some blankets in her new 'room' that belonged solely to herself. Her legs were up in the air and she was kicking them repeatedly, first one, then the other. Her head tilted from side to side as she hummed a soft tune to herself. When she heard Inuyasha's tentative voice her foot stopped mid-kick, her head freezing in its ever lasting bobbing. Slowly she turned, facing him with unspoken question in her eyes.
"Yes, Inuyasha?" She asked, her eyes resting on his.
He blushed slightly and turned away, wondering why she kept affecting him so much lately. He entered the room and sat cross-legged across from her. Kagome rolled onto her side and rose into a sitting position as well. Whatever he came here for, it had to have been serious. Or at least it captured her attention because of the way he was acting!
"Remember when that bastard wolf came and—"
"Watch it, Inuyasha," she warned, narrowing her eyes somewhat. Not only did she not care for most of the dog-demon's vocabulary, but she wouldn't allow Inuyasha to say anything mean or nasty about Kouga since it was, after all, he whom had saved her. Not only did it rub on Inuyasha's pride, guilt for not being able to save her by himself and having someone else do it, but it also grated against his nerves and rage that she might actually have feelings for the scum bag. He winced, glad she couldn't read thoughts, and started over.
"Do you remember a few days ago when those wolves came?" he asked, gritting his teeth as his eyebrow twitched from not being able to cuss out the ingrate that he would have been thoroughly happy had someone slaughtered the scoundrel and ripped out his heart and—
Kagome smiled sweetly, unaware of the thoughts swimming through the hanyou's mind. "Yes."
Inuyasha was once again pulled from his thoughts. He had to remember what it was he wanted to talk to her about, and then became very serious. Kagome leaned forward a little, concern etched on her brow.
"What?"
He fiddled the cloth of his haori, cheeks burning. "Uhh…"
Kagome leaned forward still, tilting her head in a confused way, causing her to look like an adorable puppy. Adorable puppy?!? Boy oh boy, he better get outta here fast! She was affecting him in ways he thought made him weak. He rushed on.
"Um… I just wanted to say…that…"
So much for rushing.
"Yeeeeees," She asked, waiting almost impatiently. He sure was acting strangely. She was about to give up.
He gulped. "I just wanted to know that…if you could…uh…what I mean is…" He mentally cursed himself. What was the big deal? Why couldn't he just ask it? Just say it? He blew all the air out of his lungs, inhaled deeply, and decided to just say it. "I want you to tell me when someone asks you to become their mate… or if they try to…claim you…I want you to tell me."
She blinked once. Twice. Thought about bursting out laughing, and then thought better of it. "Wha?"
"Just as a…brother sister sort of thing. You know. So I can… see if he's…uh…good enough for you." Now he was bright red. What if she saw through his little plan to kill every living soul that wanted to claim Kagome as their own to choose her for a mate? She'd wonder what was going on if her 'chosen mate for life' ended up dead before the ceremony could take place. Of course, he would end up comforting her afterward, but he could deal with that… as long as no one took away his Kagome! Wait, were on earth did that come from? He had to get away from here. He needed a… what was it called, vacation?
Kagome finally couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing and started rolling on her back, clutching her stomach as tears started to flow freely down the length of her face. Inuyasha pouted, a sullen look crossed his features as his ears lowered to his head. "Inuyasha!" she finally was able to gasp out, stopping partially to wipe the salty wetness that trekked down her cheeks, "I don't think you'll have to worry about that."
He blinked, his ears perking up as he sat up straight. "What? Why's that?"
Again she laughed, but this time it didn't last nearly half as long as the first time. "Because, I don't even know any humans, or demons, or half-demons for matter. Except for Kouga I guess."
He growled upon hearing the name, but she shushed him with a wave of her hand.
"Believe me, Kouga isn't for me. He isn't my soul mate, and I plan on waiting until I find him."
"Kouga?" Inuyasha asked, confused and slightly hurt.
"No, silly. My soul mate. I want to wait until I find him before I accept to become someone's mate for life. I'm not for just anybody you know!" She chided teasingly.
He grinned, but was a little worried deep down. Was he… 'just anybody?' He certainly hoped not!
"Is that all you wanted to say?" She asked.
He shugged, trying to act all macho. "I guess." He stood to leave when she tackled him, laughing giddily when he fell because of her weight.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, but couldn't get mad at her.
She giggled. "I finally got you Inuyasha!" She stated happily, still not letting go of his waist, where her arms were wrapped snuggly.
"Yeah, yeah," he stated, but easily flipped her over and pinned her down. Her eyes widened as she stared into his piercing golden gaze. He smirked. She wriggled. She couldn't get free. He leaned down over her, her heart starting to beat faster and faster, picking up speed all the while. What was he…
His lips loomed over her, his smirk widening as he nuzzled her cheek and whispered into her ear. "You may be able to catch me off guard… but you're still a weak human." It didn't have its force behind the words as it usually did when he said that to her. She shivered. "I could beat you any day, and you'll never 'win' Kagome."
He pulled away, leaving her cold all of a sudden. She was afraid to speak, afraid to move. She inhaled a shaky breath. What was all that about?
"Come on Kagome, it was you who wanted to play!"
Smirking, she pushed him off of her and tackled him again. Inuyasha, who hadn't thought she's go after him again, was taken by surprise just as before. He yelped when he hit the ground, but wasn't hurt.
"What's that matter Inuyasha? I thought you said I could never win!" She sat triumphantly on his belly, grinning ear to ear. He growled and flung her—gently—off of him. He playfully nipped her ear to 'teach her a lesson' and once again had her pinned in no time. He snorted. "Weak human."
Kagome glared. "Hey!"
He smirked, breaking the mood, and nuzzled her once again. She froze, not knowing what to do, what to accept. They had done this when they were little, but it was different now! They were older! It meant more! Didn't it?
Smiling, Kagome nuzzled his nose with her own, closing her eyes. He put his nose under her chin and leaned her head back so he could get access to her neck.
She stiffened.
He froze when he felt her muscles tense.
Sighing, he backed away. 'She still isn't sure if she could trust people there, not with that stupid wolf bastard hurting her there,' Inuyasha realized. He stood and Kagome averted her gaze, looking anywhere but into his eyes.
"Come on," he stated gruffly. "We still have chores to do."
With that, he left her room, leaving Kagome a lot to contemplate about. Did he only think of her as a sister? Or was it… more? She knew she could trust him…so why did she feel uncomfortable when her neck was bared to him? What were these stupid feelings doing to her?!?
* * * * *
Chores had always been a bother, but now Inuyasha hated them with a passion. Not only did he have too much silence to deal with working side by side with Kagome, but he also had too much thinking he could do during that prolonged silence. He growled and attempted to sulk. Why was this bothering him so much? It felt as if he had to get Kagome to trust him, or…he didn't know what would happen. He needed her trust as much as he needed air it seemed. But… why was it so important to him? Why? Why, why, why?!?
Kagome bit her lip as she laid out the rest of the newly cleaned clothes on the line to dry. It had taken her longer than she thought, and there wouldn't be much daylight left. As long as it didn't rain during the night though, the clothes should be dry come morning. She glanced in Inuyasha's direction and caught him staring. Immediately he turned away, causing her shoulders to slump. She felt… defeated. If only she could have redone what had happened.
Heh. If only that stupid wolf hadn't taken her from where she would have been protected. What then?
'I'll tell you what,' Kagome thought grumpily, 'Nothing! That's what!'
Still, the pain in her chest and uneasiness in her gut never faded.
'I shouldn't have been so scared,' she thought sullenly. 'Dimmit, why was I so scared???'
She had no answer for any of her questions.
"Kagome."
She stiffened, but berated herself and forced her body to relax. "Yes?"
"Something is headed in our direction."
She blinked, automatically taking a step toward him in fright. Her conscience and body knew he would protect her, even if the thought hadn't quite penetrated her skull. "What's coming?"
He snorted. "Nothing to be afraid about. Just petty, weak humans."
"Inuyasha!" She reprimanded, but he was already off in a single bound, obviously headed in their direction. "Hey, wait!" Kagome yelled after him, reaching a hand out as if to stop him. He was already too far away. "What are you doing?"
He looked over his shoulder at her, a smirk clearly evident on his face. "I'm going to take care of 'em. This isn't their territory, and they need to be taught a lesson!"
Then he was gone, the trees obscuring him from view.
Kagome's eyes widened when she realized what he meant by, 'take care of them.' She gulped, her feet speeding off in the hanyou's direction. "Inuyasha, no!" She shouted, but it was too late, she knew even his sensitive ears wouldn't pick up the plea. He was set on one thing and one thing over, and his pent up rage and anger toward the wolf demons would only fuel his want for blood. Kagome sped up. She didn't want to chance two innocent humans getting killed on Inuyasha's behalf.
"Inuyasha!" She called out, ducking under low hanging branches and plowing through foliage. "Come back!"
* * * * *
Two figures panted heavily as they raced through the brush. Sweat stained both of their faces and trickled down their backs. They had been running for days, and both were exhausted. It was the same reoccurrence over and over. They run, complain, worry, hide, drink water whenever possible, and steal a little bite to eat here or there. Now both were worn down, and neither wanted to admit defeat. They had to be close to help by now.
"We're almost there, I can feel it!" The female of the two breathed, clutching a stitch in her side.
"How much longer?" Asked the male voice, sweat threatening to drip from the strands of his ebony bangs and into his eyes.
"Not much. I can hear a river, and where there's river…" she panted, out of breath, but not bothering to continue.
"There's people," He finished, so she would know he understood.
She sent him one of her rare smiles, and he grinned back despite the situation. She made him feel as if everything just may be all right in the world.
"Hurry up, only a little further," she wheezed. Her head was aching, yet instead of it growing heavier it grew lighter. Something was wrong. They needed safety, and they needed it now. She was weary, and he must have been also. They hadn't had any food or water for nearly two days straight now, and dehydration was seconds away. She felt it wash over her, nearly take her under, but she pushed all the signs away, all the hurt and agony aside. She had to. She needed to be brave… for her brother. [AN: Ha ha! Did you think it was Miroku? I fooled you if you did! Sango is first in this story.]
It was that dreadful moment, where the intensity of the moment had risen to its peak in Sango's opinion, that Kohaku dropped to the ground, panting heavily. Sango's eyes widened as she pivoted and raced in his direction to aid him. He got his arms out from underneath his body, pushed with all his might, and then collapsed, his muscles shaking from overuse.
"Kokaku! Kohaku, come on! Get up! We're almost there, don't give up now. We can still make it! Please, Kohaku! Little brother!"
She was desperate, and beyond the point of tears. All the water within her lad left through the pours of her body. She had sweat it all out, and now… with chapped lips and all, she may not even have to strength to support and save her brother.
"I can't… make it… Sango," He gasped for breath, his lungs heaving as if all the air in the world couldn't sustain him now. Sango grabbed his arm, pulling with all her reserved strength to get him to his feet.
It only pulled him halfway off the ground.
[AN: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! I'M SO HAPPY, I'M SO HAPPY, I'M SO HAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPPYYYYYY!!!! -_-;; I know this is the absolute WORST place to put this but you have NO IDEA WHAT just happened! My grandma called, she lives in Washington state, and there's an anime convention at the glass museum there! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! She said I could come and visit her and we could GO!!!!!!!!! I've been hoping I could for SO LONG! You have NO IDEA! There's going to be TONS of neat things there, plus two blown up bunnies that reach PAST the ceiling inside!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! And guess what else? She said I could bring some friends!!!!! Isn't she the BEST grandma in the WORLD?!? (well, ONE of the best.) AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! And ALL of my friends (almost) are COMPLETE anime fans! I'm in heaven! Kill me now! Don't actually! *starts to get scared* PLEASE don't! I'm still young! I have a lot to learn! I need to publish a book and make my own Christian CD! I need to live life to the fullest and bring others closer to God! Mainly, I need to be happy! Life without love and happiness is NO life at all as far as I'm concerned. You need to have joy, laughter… okay, I need to stop being sentimental! ANYway……… I'M SO HAPPY, I'M SO HAPPY I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!! -_-;;;;; Just thought I would share that with you. *grins sheepishly*]
"Come on Kohaku," Sango said through gritted teeth. "You…" She heaved him upward with all her worth, "can't give up now…"
Suddenly the woods surrounding them filled with evil, bitter laughter. Sango froze, the strength suddenly leaving her in a great tidal wave, fear replacing its depths.
"No…" She breathed, Kohaku's limp arm slipping from her loosened grasp.
"You cannot escape me, or your fate," came an eerie masculine voice that seemingly echoed from everywhere around them. They were surrounded, had no where t go, no one to turn to.
'Is this our fate?' Sango asked the world around her with her mind, the sky, what ever god seemed to be among them… her deceased parents. She had long given up on faith ever since her parents had died, since she had been on the run, and even now. She felt abandoned by her parents, depended upon by her younger brother, and weak to herself. She couldn't help him. She couldn't save him. She knew it, and she knew he knew it, and it frightened her to death, but angered her more than anything in life ever had before.
"Leave us be!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, anger and despair washing over her entire being. "Please!" She begged. "Just leave us alone! Don't hurt him! Don't you dare touch my brother!"
She collapsed to her knees, unable to do anything to help, or hinder, their situation. Not that she want the latter, or needed it. She wanted to yell, scream, hit something, but she didn't have the voice left, or the strength. She knew he had won from the moment Kohaku fell limply to the ground. It was a lose, lose situation from the beginning. No one would help them. No one these days had the heart to do that. She had lost, and their lives were in the hands of dark vermin that spouted evil with every breath he took. His aura was so putrid that demons themselves fled out of fear. And now here he was, about to exterminate the exterminators. Ha. It should have been funny but her ironic sense of humor had left her long ago. She could take it any more. 'Just get it over with,' she pleaded silently. 'Let us move on to the next life, where we won't be so hurt, and where our family will not diminish into nothing.'
"Would you like me to bury your bodies when I am through?" He asked, emerging from the mist covered by a baboon of some sort.
Sango narrowed her eyes, glaring at him with all the hatred and anger she possessed, which was quite a lot. "Don't bother," she spat, trying to gain some use in her voice. "You've caused enough damage."
He smirked, advancing closer still. "It looks like I was right, you would tire in no time at all, and as always… I would triumph, and come out on top… as the winner. What a pity, I thought you would be more of a challenge. Oh well, I guess I can take care of you now! I'll kill your brother first. I loathe you, and therefore, I want to see you suffer."
"You wouldn't." It came out as an accusation, but it held no belief behind it.
His eyes turned red as he effortlessly lifted the younger boy by the throat. He struggled weakly in the youkai's grasp, gasping for breath since he had been in need for air already.
"Pathetic," he spat, his lip curving upwards in distaste, "What a weakling. It will take nothing at all to kill him, on my part anyway." His gaze flickered to the young woman before him, collapsed in a heap and weaker than a newborn infant; human… of course. Her brow was furrowed and sweat poured down her face, uncertainty appearing on her features. "Stop it," She whispered.
He smiled. It was filled with hate, loathing, and the evil pleasure of spilling one's blood. "You don't think I'll do it, do you?" He asked, mildly amused. "You have a lot to learn then, Sango."
* * * * *
"You don't think he'll do it, do you?" Kagome asked in a squeak, gripping tightly onto Inuyasha's haori. She had caught up with him in the forest after he had slowed when sensing an evil demonic aura and came back to warn her about it. He wanted her as far away from the danger as possible, but she would have none of it, and being as stubborn as she was, Kagome decided to come for herself and see what all of this was about. They barely arrived in time to see a young boy raised above the ground by what they assumed was a demon of some sort. He had waves of evil rolling off of him, searing everything it touched. The boy struggled weakly in its grasp.
"Do something Inuyasha!" Kagome whispered hurriedly, yet secretly didn't want him to leave her side.
"I can't," he stated, even quieter. "It's an unspoken law. Demons don't butt in on other demon's business. Those humans must have done something horrible to get that guy on their ass."
"Inuyasha!" She whispered harshly, glaring.
But then the girl a little less than ten yards away spoke, capturing both of their attention.
"Don't do it Naraku, don't you DARE hurt my brother!"
He snorted, as if that was the most unreasonable thing to do, to say, in a time like this. "You have no right," he stated. You have no right to say what will and will not happen during a situation such as this, human. I think you need to be taught a lesson." His grip on the boy's neck tightened. "He will be your lesson."
"Naraku!" She shouted in warning, then threw herself at him. She was weak, and he knew it, but she was surprised at how weak she was. Almost two days without food and water and endless running could do that to a person. He kicked her away with contempt.
"You need to be taught your place. Humans are not the ones who shall exterminate demons little girl, it is the other way around. Humans are weak compared to us. We rise above the rest in strength and power. We will never be defeated, that is my promise! Remember that, over your brother's death! Do not fret though, for you will not have much time to contemplate over it. You will soon be joining him."
"Kohaku!" She yelled as the evil soul that threatened her only living relative snapped his neck, turning the flesh an ugly mottled purple, blood seeping through nostrils and ears, and other various places none wanted to even think about.
"Kohaku!" She yelled, as if to raise the dead, of bring him back to life. She cried and screamed, her whole heart breaking in two. Even if Naraku didn't kill her now, this would surly end her life. She howled, sobbing, as saliva slowly dribbled to the earth as her fist made contact with it over and over. "Kohaku, no!!!" She cried, tears drenching the soil beneath her. Her sorrow and despair turned to hatred and revenge. She glared at Naraku with so much violence that she didn't know any other feeling. She was numb, but hurt, and she would make him hurt as well.
"Naraku, I will kill you… I will kill you!!!" She shouted, leaping in his direction in a fury of swiping him with her nails, kicking him with her feet, and punching him with her fists. The angry red welts that appeared on his jaw only fed to her want for revenge. Revenge for her mother and father he had slayed. Revenge for Kohaku, and her ruined life.
"Shut your sniveling, you worthless slime!" He shouted, enraged because she has actually caused his physical harm, even though it was little. No one hurt him and got away with it!
He grabbed her by her long ponytail and slammed her against a tree. She cried out in surprise from the brunt of the force, but bit a lip and suppressed her injuries. If he knew how much he hurt her, he would only revel in the power her held over her.
He dragged her up by the throat, no doubt wanting to kill her the very way she had witnessed her brother's death. She squeezed her eyes shut tight. It would all be over soon. She wouldn't have to suffer any longer. She would be with her family again, she hoped. As long as she could leave her horrible life behind, she could handle anything that came her way. But, boy did she want this Naraku creep to get what was coming to him!
"Any last words, Sango?" He asked, voice thick with a taunting leer.
Kagome's hand was held over her mouth as she watched what unfolded before her. Tears streaked down her cheeks, scorching her flesh in its wake. Her chest hurt, she couldn't breathe, couldn't take her eyes off of the blood that coated the forest, and couldn't stop herself from watching this terrible massacre unfold. She didn't want this girl to die. She had to be innocent! Compared that that… thing… that was radiating evil powers and auras filled with anything but joy and happiness and love, that girl was as pure as an angel! Her throat was tight, but when she yanked at Inuyasha's haori and tried to use it, it worked.
"I don't care about any stupid demon law or whatever. You aren't full demon and that girl's innocent, I know it! Now, do something Inuyasha!!!"
She didn't have to tell him again.
La de da. I think I'll stop here, whaddya say? I'm tired, but I want to read someone's story. I feel like staying up LATE tomight! Well, I hope you enjoyed. Now there is only one thing left for you to do…………..
REVIEW!!! (Please.) ^-^ Thank you!
