Chapter Two: A Cut Above the Rest
Kagome awakened to the familiar surroundings of Kaede's hut. Sango and Kaede were in the hut with her, both gazing at her with worry in their eyes.
"Kagome, are you ok?" Sango asked, setting down the damp cloth she was going to apply to Kagome's forehead. Kagome nodded and sat up slowly.
"Yeah, I think so. What happened?"
"You've been out since this morning. You took one look at your hand and fainted. Inuyasha cut you, remember?" Kagome nodded, the memory of her panic at the sight of the blood returning.
She groaned and touched her neck.
"How much blood did I loose?"
Sango shook her head, smiling. "The cut isn't on your neck. It's along your collarbone, circling around your neck. Most of the blood wasn't even yours." Kagome's eyebrows knitted together.
"Huh?"
Kaede moved forward, placing a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Kagome, Inuyasha didn't cut you deep enough for the amount of blood we found on you. The blood was his."
"How do you know?"
"Shippou told us," Sango stated. She patted Kagome's knee and stood up.
"Where is Miroku and Shippou?" she asked. Sango stuck her head out the door, signaling for them to come inside. Shippou streaked into the room and attached himself to Kagome's shirt.
"Oh Kagome! I was afraid Inuyasha had hurt you! Are you ok?"
Kagome nodded and settled him into her lap, stroking Shippou's ponytail. Miroku stepped forward and touched her collarbone, mentally reminding himself not to touch anything else.
"Shippou said that Inuyasha used his blood as a kind of ward. Its to protect you in his absence. "
Kagome blinked at Miroku's unexpected words. 'Was he really that concerned to think ahead like that?' she wondered. She turned to Sango.
"Did Kirara find him?"
Sango sighed. "I don't know. She hasn't come back yet."
Suddenly a streak of flame burst into the room and Kirara transformed back into the little kitten. She scrambled to Sango's shoulder and relayed her findings. Sango nodded. Kirara jumped down, settled into a corner and went to sleep.
"What did she say, Sango?" Miroku asked. Sango slapped his hand away from her butt and looked out the window.
"Kirara followed him as he headed west. Then he shot north and disappeared sometime this afternoon, near a village along the northwestern border of Sesshoumaru's lands."
Everyone stared at her in shock.
"How did she loose him?" Miroku asked.
"It started to rain."
Shippou laughed and Miroku shook his head. Kagome stared at them.
"What? Cats hate water!" she yelled at them. Sango joined in.
"Kirara lost his scent when it started. She said it was almost like he steered her in that direction."
Shippou stopped laughing and stared at Kirara in sympathy. "Poor Kirara. I bet she's not happy."
Miroku's attention went to Kagome. "What did Inuyasha say to you before he disappeared?"
"With the jewel shard," Shippou added. Miroku nodded his thanks to him, then looked at Kagome expectantly.
"Well," she started, "He said he was sorry, he'd be back and not to sit him."
Kagome stood up and started to walk to the door. Sango stood in front of her, her arms blocking her from leaving.
"Kagome wait."
Kagome stopped, thinking she heard the last part of what he said. The part about her not following him. "Yes, Sango?"
"You want to follow him, right?"
"Yes?"
"Don't you think you should change?"
Sango pointed to her shirt. Kagome looked down and gasped, her face turning beet red. She forgot about the gaping hole in it, exposing her bra. She turned to her pack and pulled out a different shirt.
"Make sure you can see the scratch," Shippou said. "So that other demons can see it and know you're protected."
Kagome nodded and kept searching. She finally found a sky blue tube top and a white, button up, short-sleeve blouse. She noticed the blood on her skirt and decided to change that as well. She pulled out a pair of denim shorts, added it to the collection and excused herself to the spare room in the house. A few moments later she reappeared, dressed and ready to go. Kagome yanked her hair back into a low ponytail.
"Let's go find Inuyasha."
******
Inuyasha growled as he looked back. Kirara was a few yards behind him. Inuyasha knew the others weren't going to be able to follow him, but he had forgotten about the fire cat. She was gaining speed, and it took everything his sleep-deprived body could do to keep ahead. Inuyasha searched his mind desperately for a way to get rid of her. A peel of thunder sounded in the distance, just a little ahead of him and to his left. 'That's northwest of here,' Inuyasha realized. He smirked. It was exactly in the direction he was going. Remembering how Buyo reacted the time he was caught in the rain, Inuyasha smiled at his good fortune. 'Sometimes its good to be a dog demon.' He raced toward the sound, with Kirara close behind. Inuyasha spied a village in the distance. He entered one of the huts as the rain started to pour down. He watched from the window as Kirara stopped and sniffed the air for him. Not finding what she wanted, and getting thoroughly soaked in the process, she shook her wet fur and leaped away. Inuyasha chuckled.
'That was almost too easy.' He noticed then that he wasn't alone. Glancing around, he spied an old man in the corner, gaping at him. Inuyasha approached him slowly. The old man shook for a moment in fear, then relaxed. The old man stood up and spoke.
"Well, what a relief. I thought you were Lord Sesshoumaru."
Inuyasha turned and sat, cross-legged, before the fire pit. "How do you know Sesshoumaru?"
The old man chuckled. "This is his servants' village."
Inuyasha stared at him, dumb-founded. "You mean to tell me that everyone here works in Sesshoumaru's castle?"
The old man nodded, stirring the fire. "Yes, we do. Someone will be along to get you shortly, Lord Inuyasha." He chuckled at Inuyasha's surprised expression.
"Lord Sesshoumaru is expecting you. Go to sleep. You look tired."
Inuyasha opened his mouth to say something, then realized he was right. He stretched out on the floor, his head resting on his propped up hand. He dozed off quickly and the old man chuckled, talking to himself.
"I wonder if the rumors are true, if this is the nicer one. I hope they are, because it would be really bad for us in the future if he were as ruthless as Lord Sesshoumaru." He chuckled again and watched his unexpected visitor sleep.
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SF: I goofed-
Inuyasha: Big surprise.
SF: ::glare:: Shut up! Anyway, I goofed with the first chapter. I was supposed to do something dealing with reviews, but I forgot. My loss. Well, since I have nothing to say, and it's 5:43 in the morning and 'Training Day' is on t. v., I must leave you with the next week's preview and how to get the next chapter. {kicks t. v. it sputters to life}
Chapter Three: The Marks of My Brother
"The blue liquid in your bathwater has enabled you to be able to do things you normally can't. We have one week for you to perfect them. Let's start with number one: the Beast."
Oh yeah, how to get the next chapter. I'm not sure if I'm wasting my time, so please feed my ego. I'll make it simple: 5 reviews or one picture pertaining to the story will get you the fix you need. Love you lots, but I gotta fly!
