AN: Hey there everyone! I know, this took like an eternity to post. I promise the next chapter will be quicker, it's just, school's been a bugga and a lot of other stuff has been going on. The funny thing is, I had this chapter half written for about a month, but was torn between a few different options. Finally, get this, my mom gave me the best idea...so here goes! I have the coolest mom! BTW, not that you care, but I turned 16 on March 10th. Cool, huh? Well, I hope you enjoy more of that high quality filler crap that I love toturing you guys with! Peace and tapioca pudding! ^^;;;
A TWIST OF FATE*~CHAPTER 8
"Don't you ever sleep?"
"It is not necessary for me to sleep as you inferior humans do so much."
"But, don't you-"
"Silence. Something is approaching."
"Something?" Kagome whispered in the lowest voice possible.
"A youkai."
"What do-"
"Stay low, try to remain hidden. Be silent."
Though outwardly calm, Sesshoumaru's senses were on high alert, assessing their position. Should he and the miko wait the arrival of the youkai, which was a matter of minutes, or should he take her and go to his castle as fast as possible? She would almost certainly get in the way, some way or another. There was a risk of injuring her, if he had to fight the approaching demon, but there was also the risk that it would follow them if they fled to his castle. No demons knew the whereabouts of his home except a very select few, and to have another find out would not be a smart move for the future. They could be attacked when they got to his home. Sesshoumaru may have been powerful, but power comes with enemies, and Sesshoumaru was very powerful, which meant a very large number of enemies. Plus, he wasn't fond of the idea of running away. They would have to wait it out. Perhaps he would not even need to fight this demon.
This took all of two seconds for him to decide (his body isn't the only thing that's fast), so, he shifted his attention to the girl.
Kagome had stolen a glance at him. He was as still as a statue, his brow slightly furrowed. That's weird. But, if he was nervous in the least bit, there was no way he was going to show it. Kagome decided to follow his example and adopted a stiff, silent pose.
She was standing very straight and had become very quiet, a welcome break from her constant blabbering. Yet... it slightly disturbed him, her silence. It was very discomforting. And the thought that it disturbed him disturbed him even more. The demon was getting very close. Probably less than a minute now.
"You will stay behind me at all times."
Kagome normally would have argued, but there was something in his monotone voice that suggested that they were in a dangerous position. If that was possible to hear in a monotone voice. So, Kagome nodded.
"Do not fight unless you are attacked. Do not draw attention to yourself."
Kagome nodded again.
"Do not speak. You will only make it worse."
Now that was too much. Who does he think he- Kagome was ready to yell at him when:
"It comes."
Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru and looked up at him. He was staring at the forest ahead of them. She followed his eyes and studied that direction of the forest also. There was a rustling of leaves. Kagome, though calmer than usual, could feel her heart skip a beat. Sesshoumaru took a slight step forward, partially shielding her. There was an errie, tenseness to everything about them. Not a sound could be heard. Everything became preternaturally still and silent. A forboding feeling was creeping into her consciousness. Her intuition told her that whatever was happening was not good. Kagome scanned the trees in the direction in which Sesshoumaru was looking. The ominous stillness continued for what seemed like an eternity, then suddenly the bushes rustled ever so slightly.
"Keep still."
The bushes moved again, this time a little more violently and, to Kagome's horror, she discovered that a red-orange blur was hurtling itself at her. Sesshoumaru made a move to snatch the youkai as Kagome screamed, falling backwards.
When she looked up, it was to see two youkai....battling it out.
"AAH! Let go of my tail!"
Shippo?! Kagome's intuition was often wrong.
The small kitsune was wildly thrashing blindly at his captor while being held by his furry tail, in mid air.
"Put me down!"
"As you wish." Sesshoumaru dropped the kitsune that he had apprehended.
"Oww!" Shippo rubbed his head.
"You didn't have to do that, you know!" Kagome was glaring at Sesshoumaru, her arms crossed.
"Don't worry. Rodents are very resilient."
"Oh, ha ha." Kagome stated sarcastically.
"KAGOME!!!" Shippo sobbed into her chest. "I was so worried about you! You didn't come back!"
"Shippo..I was barely gone a day.."
"You didn't say goodbye! And the way Inu Yasha was acting...I thought you might have left for-"
Sesshoumaru strode deftly over and plucked the babbling kitsune from the girl.
"What of my half-brother? Where is he?"
"Kagome!! It's him!" Shippo stared wide-eyed in horror at Sesshoumaru, apparently only now taking the time to realize who had caught him in the first place.
"Ship-"
"Come on Kagome!!" Shippo shot his kitsune fire at Sesshoumaru who then dropped him yet again, waving away the magic with one hand. Shippo rushed over to Kagome.
"Don't worry Kagome!"
"Shippo-"
"I'll protect you!"
"That, I am sure, you are magnificent at doing, but, tell me what the whereabouts of my idiot bother are. Now."
"Kagome!!" Shippo shrieked. "Kagome, help! Don't let him eat me!"
"Quit your squealing, rat." Sesshoumaru held Shippo at an arms length, by his tail, as if he smelled horrible.
"I'm not a rat! I'm a kitsune! Eep!" Kagome couldn't help herself. The sight of Sesshoumaru holding a young kitsune, dangling by the tail, the whole while, telling him off, was too much. She couldn't help sniggering. It was something Inu Yasha would do. Inu Yasha..
"All right, you two."
"I don't care if you are Inu Yasha's big brother. If you touch Kagome-"
"All right you two."
"You stunted rodent, believe me, I hold no desire whatsoever to touch-"
"ALL RIGHT YOU TWO!" They stopped immediately.
"Sesshoumaru, if he knows anything, he'll tell us..put him down."
*wump* "Owie.."
"Shippo, don't worry, Sesshoumaru won't hut me, will you Sesshoumaru?" The demon lord stared a blank, cold stare at the kitsune.
I never agreed to that, but let her think it.
"Right Sesshoumaru?" Kagome pressed.
"It is so. I gave her my word."
"Huh? That's great 'an all, Kagome, but let's get outta here! Sango and Miroku will be happy to see you too!"
"Shippo, I can't."
"Wh-"
"I'll explain later..I.."
"She has a promise to uphold also. And you, what information do you have on my brother."
"Inu Yasha?" Shippo asked dumbly. Kagome nodded.
"Go on." Sesshoumaru demanded.
"Well, I don't know where he is right now..don't care either..we don't know where he goes anymore..doesn't tell us..but he usually goes off for a while and it's usually with that creepy dead lady."
Kikyo.
"Sorry Kagome, I don't know much. Let's go!"
"We now know what you know. You are not useful to us anymore." Sesshoumaru raised a clawed hand, a green light slowly emanating from it.
"Kagome!!! Pleasedon'tlethimkillmeIpromiseIwon'ttellanyoneanything! Kagome!"
"Sesshoumaru! Please don't! He's told you all he know, let him go."
"He is a liability we cannot afford to have. He may go off and tell others."
"Then we'll just have to keep him with us."
"No. We cannot be burdened with this whelp. He will slow our progress."
"What progress! We're going to your fortress! Come off it, Fluffy! We have all the time..in the..world..heh heh..anywho! Think about it! All day, while you are gone, Rin is left with a twisted little devil toad as her only companion. And don't say it! I know you leave her with him. Shippo would be perfect! They can be playmates!"
This is not acceptable! She thinks she can just bring whatever friends along she wishes! Who does she think she is speaking to?! The little fox brat will surely be a nuisance...still..she has a point...yet...
"Let my idiot brother care for the whelp."
"Yeah right! You think I'd let some immature dog demon take care of a kid! Are you crazy or just dense! Or maybe both!"
"You weren't concerned about leaving the child in the care of the hanyou when I first ran into you. You weren't concerned for his safety then in the least bit."
"Like hell I wasn't! I was mixed up, but that doesn't mean I was worried about my friends! Why do you think I-" Kagome stopped dead. It would be better for him to not know why she made the deal with him. She knew that it was highly possible that, somehow, he might use it against her.
"You what?."
"It's none of your business! You don't care about others anyways. Ok, sorry, sorry, that was uncalled for..but still..Inu Yasha wouldn't have the slightest clue of where to start when it comes to taking care of children, and you know it. Shippo would be a great playmate for Rin! He won't bother us, I promise. Plus, with two kids, I wouldn't be as worried about them..They can help eachother."
Sesshoumaru turned his attention to the small fox youkai. He was snuggled into the girl's shirt as if his life depended on it. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, a image of Rin flickered in and then out again as quickly as it had come.
I am becoming much too soft. How aggravating..
"Fine, you may bring the rodent. But do not expect to bring anymore of your happy little group into this. I will not allow it."
"No way! Thanks Sesshoumaru!" Kagome went to give him a hug, but stopped dead, deciding against it. That was something she would do to a grumbling Inu Yasha, not his full-blooded, very strong, youkai brother.
"Um..yeah..thanks.." Kagome turned around to Shippo. "That is, of course, if you do want to come with me, Shippo." Kagome hadn't even asked the object of her and Sesshoumaru's whole conversation what he thought about it.
Shippo looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru then back to Kagome.
"Are you crazy! I'd rather be with you, Kagome, than that annoying dog boy any day!" Shippo jumped back into Kagome's arms and cupped a hand around her ear. "But are you sure he's safe?"
"Absolutely."
"I don't know, Kagome, but, all right! He's a lot cooler than Inu Yasha, anyways!"
Kagome smiled to herself. Kids are so fickle!
Sesshoumaru turned away from the little scene. He was definitely getting too soft. This would be a bad thing if any of his enemies were to find out. First, he was disgustingly fascinated with the girl. He..no, didn't enjoy, he..whatever it was... watching her...her reactions to things..she was so different from the rest of the human women. Then there were already rumors about him being accompanied by a young human girl, and now, he also was accompanied by a young human woman, and, in addition to that, a young fox youkai also. This was bad and he wasn't about to let is get worse. He'd finish this as soon as possible and be done with the girl and the kitsune.
"We're leaving."
"Kagome, where are we going?" Shippo looked at her, wondering for the first time where it was that he was going to with her.
"We're going to Sesshoumaru's home."
"You mean his..uh...no comment..." It was hard, but Shippo held back on the bad jokes and insults..after all, that was saved for the hanyou dog turd.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: Wow, this story has completely shifted gears from kinda sad/depressing to happy-go lucky/everything-seems-like-it's-just-peachy. But, a little warning from me to you, don't get used to it. I will, eventually, do some stuff that some of you guys will definitely not like..I hope you forgive me. But don't worry, it'll be a while. Well, peace and pumpkins! 'Till next chapter! BTW, please review and send any ideas or suggestions. I already have an idea of how to start another story, and I'm just itching to do it, but I know that I'll never get this one done it I do. Is that a bad thing?
P.S. Thanks to all of my wonderful reviewers that still, even though I neglect them, remain loyal readers! I love you all! You keep me goin..oh yeah, and chocolate covered raisins... t_t;;