Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, so don't sue me. College has a strict hold on my wallet anyway.}

Vengeance

By Striking Falcon

Chapter Thirteen: Girl Meat

"The final battles of the Demon Tournament are about to begin!" Ryuukossei shouted to the crowd. Nothing seemed to please Kagome more. She missed three weeks of school over this mess, but she felt if she went home, something bad would have happened to Inuyasha and the others before she could get back.

"The Western Lands have shown great promise," Ryuukossei continued, watching Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha with interest. Both wore the same blank faces, the wind blowing in their hair and through their clothes, looking every part the regal Great Demons they were descendants of.

"But the tournament gets harder. We only have one more fight before we begin anew tomorrow, so everyone enjoy yourselves. The Tournament is coming to end!"

The audience clapped and the fight began, Ryuukossei stealing a glance on the group before leaving. His eyes fell on Kagome's and he stopped. Fear washed over Kagome with a quickness, but she refused to let it show. She stared back at him defiantly, making sure he could feel in her eyes that she knew him, even if she didn't have a clue about him, and wasn't afraid to be here. Ryuukossei blew her a kiss before walking away. The others stood in silence before two sets of growls filled the night air.

"Who does that bastard think he is?" Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru said in unison. Kagome fought the urge to laugh at their surprised faces as Sango stood between them.

"I don't like the looks of that at all, Kagome."

Inuyasha snorted. "I don't like the way he looked at you, damn how he looks."

Sango sighed and raised her hand to slap him upside the head for being so stupid. A clawed hand reached him before she did and she giggled in thanks.

"Ow. What was that for Fluffy?"

Sesshoumaru frowned and gave him an ugly look. "That was to keep Sango from breaking her hand on your thick skull. She was in the middle of saying something that made a lot of sense when you interrupted with that stupid comment." Kagome and Miroku burst into giggles, with Shippou moving to Sesshoumaru's shoulders before joining in.

Sango bowed to Sesshoumaru. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru felt something tug in his chest at the sound of his name coming from her lips, but he ignored it.

"Anytime. Now finish," he glared at Inuyasha, who was still rubbing his head. "You will have no further interruptions."

"Thank you. As I was saying, I'm not too particular myself on Ryuukossei singling you out of the group to look at, or kidnap. There has to be a reason why." Kagome nodded her head in agreement, remembering how it felt when he blew her that kiss. She shuddered gently. 'Why do I always end up in trouble?'

Inuyasha coughed lightly and the others stared at him. "Well, the only thing we can do is wait for him to make his move and stop him. Or kick the living shit out of him at the tournament."

Sesshoumaru smacked him upside the head again. "Inuyasha!"

"What?!"

"Watch your mouth in front of the ladies," he growled, glancing at Sango and Kagome. They stood for a moment and looked around before realizing he was talking about them. They burst into hoots of laughter, looking at the two demons like they weren't real.

"Inuyasha, not cursing," Kagome gasped, "is like Naraku deciding to just give us the rest of the jewel shards and calling it a day."

Sango didn't understand the 'calling it a day' part too well, but got enough clues from the rest of the statement to keep laughing. Even Shippou and Myouga, sitting on his shoulder, had to laugh at that one. Inuyasha groaned.

"To hell with this," he muttered, earning himself another slap that sent the rest of them to their knees with glee. He muttered something about killing them in their sleep before walking away. Sesshoumaru regarded them with amusement, then noticed a small rip in Sango's kimono. He nudged Jakken, pointed to the rip and whispered his instructions. Jakken nodded and scampered away, leaving his master with the hysterical humans, plus one kit. They finally calmed down, and Sesshoumaru helped them to their feet, feeling a small shiver when he grasped Sango's hand. They thanked him and followed Inuyasha's grumbling back to camp, deciding not to watch the fight going on behind them.

********

The next day brought a swift victory for our favorite dog demons. Inuyasha was still grumbling as Kagome and Sango fixed lunch.

"How in the-" glance at Sesshoumaru to see if he's listening. He's not. "fuck that guy ended up in the finals is beyond me."

*SMACK*

I guess I was wrong. Inuyasha glared at him with obvious annoyance.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"If you keep that up I will do it again."

Sango snickered, but Kagome decided to take pity on Inuyasha's ears.

"It's ok, Sesshoumaru. Let him. We don't mind."

Inuyasha growled in thanks and Sesshoumaru nodded.

"Alright. If you can stand his mouth, then I can too."

Kagome bowed in thanks and continued preparing the meal.

"What is that?"

Kagome faltered a moment before Sango answered. "Its something Kaede gave us before we left."

Sesshoumaru nodded as his stomach growled. Inuyasha started to laugh, then stopped when his echoed Sesshoumaru's perfectly. Kagome and Sango giggled.

"I'm glad this doesn't take long to make," Sango whispered to Kagome, leaning over the small portable kettle. "They might try to eat us!" Kagome stifled a giggle before running with the joke.

"I know. Can you imagine it, us running from them screaming 'Help us,' and them trying to grab us going 'Yum fresh girl meat'?"

They caved in, their laughter reaching the two in question easier than their whispered words. Sesshoumaru gave Inuyasha a wicked grin and wasn't the least surprised when he gave it back. With a roar, they launched at the girls, laughing when they jumped up and scampered away. They ran around the camp after them, screaming something along the lines of "Girl Meat!" and "I like mine raw!" with an "I like mine LIVE" for good measure. Sango and Kagome ran as quickly as they could, knowing if the two demons were serious, they would have been caught and eaten long before they could stand. The group enjoyed the merry chase, with Shippou cheering them on from a high branch in a tree. Inuyasha caught Kagome first, and lifted her over his shoulder. Sesshoumaru caught Sango and did the same, the demon huntress squealing like Rin when he played with her. Sesshoumaru smiled, watching Inuyasha for their next move.

"Let's take them to our cave and cut them in cubes," Inuyasha said as he sat down beside the fire, reaching to turn off the pot. Sesshoumaru sat beside him and they both pulled their 'captives' to their laps. Inuyasha tipped Kagome's head to the side and playfully nibbled on her neck.

"I don't know about these two, brother. This one tastes funny. How's yours?"

Kagome squealed and lightly smacked his arm. "Tastes funny, huh? What do you know?"

Inuyasha answered by tipping her head again and continuing to 'nibble'. Sesshoumaru lifted Sango's arm to his lips and followed suit. "Mine tastes funny too." Sango squealed and wiggled under his grip.

"Looks like we'll have to cook them."

"Looks like it."*

"Did I interrupt something?"

The couples froze before both girls jumped up. Miroku stepped into the clearing, eying the group. Shippou landed on his shoulder and bonked him on the head.

"Miroku! That was just starting to get good!"

Miroku thumped him off his shoulder and walked back into the forest. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha glanced at each other.

"Kill the monk?"

"My sentiments exactly."

They rushed off, leaving the girls and Shippou by themselves. Shippou settled on Kagome's shoulder. Sango gazed at her arm, the little indent marks from Sesshoumaru's fangs still on her skin.

"Did we imagine that?" Kagome blinked, unsure as to what to say. Shippou smiled at them.

"They like you," he said as if it made perfect sense. He missed the astounded looks they gave him before going back to the abandoned lunch.

******

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha sat in the same tree, watching their human companions sleep. They had come back hours ago, holding Miroku between them. His head looked like he'd been in quite a fight. The demons rested him against a tree and waited for the girls to finish lunch. Shippou looked at them both before finding something Kirara and Myouga were doing more interesting. Sango and Kagome said very little the rest of the day, but blushed furiously when they caught the brothers looking at them. When they decided to go to bed, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru stayed up to talk about the upcoming fight.

"Tomorrow we fight Ryuukossei," Sesshoumaru whispered.

Inuyasha nodded. "I know."

Sesshoumaru turned to him, something like worry in his eyes. "Do you remember your training?"

"Yes."

"The Beast as well?"

"Yes." He looked back at him. "What is the deal with you and Sango?"

"What's the deal with you and Kagome?" Sesshoumaru answered, his face void of emotion. Inuyasha knew this face by now and knew Sesshoumaru was hiding something.

"I'll tell if you tell."

Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrow at him, considering the notion before looking back at the moon. "Fine."

Inuyasha turned fully to him, his hands on the branch between them. "Good. Go."

"We have to be alert so we can be there when Kagome wakes up."

"I know that. You mean to tell me the Great Demon of the Western Lands can't do two things at once?"

This earned him an annoyed growl from said demon and Sesshoumaru turned to face him.

"What do you want to know?"

"I've seen the way you look at Sango."

"Its only mild amusement."

"Yeah right. Don't give me that shit." He ducked instinctively, then scowled when the blow didn't happen. "Why didn't you hit me?"

"Would you like me to?"

"No! I'm just wondering."

Sesshoumaru sighed. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe Kagome would rather hear you say something else besides your usual filthy language?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Like I care what she thinks?"

"Now who's talking shit?" Inuyasha's mouth fell open.

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "Don't tell me I've shocked you?"

"Forget it. Momentary lapse. Anyway, I know how Sango feels about you."

"And I know how Kagome feels about you."

"So were even then."

Both of them returned their attentions to Kagome's breathing before looking at each other again.

"How does she feel?" they asked each other, in sync for the second time today. They groaned.

"We've got it bad," Inuyasha said.

Sesshoumaru looked at him, blinking in confusion. "Got what?"

Groan. "For the love of…when will it end?"

Kagome's breathing started to speed up, the usual before waking up in a blind panic. They decided to leave their questions unanswered for the moment before jumping down to their charge.

--------

Sango: SF is at the club with Sesshoumaru, leaving Kagome and I to do the previews and the review responses. This sucks.

Kagome: Yeah. I wanted to go too. Oh well. Shippou and SF's muse are asleep, how about we go when we're finished?

Sango: Yeah!

Shippou: {::offstage::} I'll tell SF if you do!

Kagome and Sango: Crap! Well, here's the preview.

Chapter Fourteen: Prelude to Disaster

Sango moved beside Kagome and the others, holding her shoulders. "Why do I feel like a wife watching her husband go to war?"

Kagome shrugged her shoulders, her head resting on her arms crossed on the rail. "I don't know, but I feel the same way."

Responses:

Raven: A work of art? That's the first time something of mine has been called that…THANK YOU! {::glomps Raven::}

Trunks Soatome: Thanks for the review! I know, its sad! I miss 'What to Do..' but if we love something, we must set it free.

Glory230: Every review you send me is appreciated and loved. They are very happy in their new home. And thanks for staying with 'What to Do…' for so long.

Jen: Thanks so much!

Kagome look-alike: Thanks for staying with me and for the review! I try to post this one often, since its so popular.

Tessa: Thanks for the praise! So many people like that fic, and I'm sorry it ended so soon. I miss it! Must be empty nest syndrome.

Yasha & gome and Shandrial: By the end of the series, Miroku will find love. As for Sesshou, many bridges are built with him.

Animegirlll: I think I freaked out a lot of people over that one. Even Inu was pissed, but he doesn't chase me into the rafters, like some jerk I know. {::glares at a sleeping Sesshou::} Lazy creep. And thanks for the love for 'What to Do…'

Redwolf: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but 'Vengeance' is a Inu/Kag story with a little Sess/San on the side. (Does that sound like a sandwich or what?) Anywho, thanks for the love and keep reading.

badger wolf: I am, but the best one to date is Thunk's. I can't remember what the name of it is…oh wait a minute. {::Sesshou hands SF a sheet of paper::} Thanks. Here it is. It's called 'Soladad'. Enjoy!

Sugarhighs:p: You have no idea how hard it is, that's why I started the update schedule. My batteries need recharging and my mom is complaining about how I spend little time with my muse. Oh well. Thanks for the review!

Yusuke: Thanks for the love and the answer to your question is above somewhere. I can't remember. My muse decided to hit me in the head with a plastic bat today. Those things hurt.

Dark Mellenia: Thanks for understanding! I was starting to feel like the Dollar General version of the Duracell batteries. You know what I'm talking about. The ones that keep going and going until you need them, then they drop dead.

Kitty Riku: I know, its twisted! I so love the twisted!

Tenshi no Yami: Let Inu tell it, I'm corruption incarnate, but who cares what he says! I'm glad you're having a great time, now that my archives have been-{::crash backstage, followed by Miroku's laughter::} Oh crap! Spoke too soon! Miroku's loose in my archives again! Thanks for the review, and beware Miroku's hands!

Amarome: They're like drugs! Somebody should report me!

Oh yeah, I was supposed to update this one yesterday and Unexpected Allies today. Oops. Oh well, for those reading the update schedule, switch these two around.

Cherry Wasser: I totally agree with you! Let's make copies and make them our slaves! It would be great! {::evil glare from Sesshou::} Um, on second thought, let's stick to the originals. As for the 'kettle of fish' phrase, my grandfather said that about me when I was born, so blame the old man! I'm glad you liked it!

Mouse: Mouse is back people! Where have you been? I've missed you! Anywho, I think you're right about what you said, but my muse swears no one pays attention to those kinds of things. Three year olds, what can you do? Thanks for coming back and we miss you when you're not here!