A/N: Chapter 6!!! This is an R rated fic due to Inu Yasha's language and Miroku's thoughts. You have been warned. Enjoy and please review! It encourages me to write the next chapter!
And to all of you who requested more Sango/Miroku waff, don't worry, I have some serious stuff planned for my favorite houshi and taijiya in a couple more chapters!!!
Waff Warning: This chapter has fluffiness!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inu Yasha characters, I do however own several fantasies about a certain hanyou…err…Did I say that? Ehehe…
Recap:
Everyone watched as a flat speck floated into the open palm of Inu Yasha's hand. "Myouga-jiji!" The hanyou exclaimed, glaring at the tiny flea.
"Inu Yasha-sama! I have been searching everywhere for you! Thank Kami I found Hachi and he brought me here!"
The flea huffed, as he popped himself back into his full bodied shape.
"What is it you want, flea?" Inu Yasha snapped, eyes darting to the doorway where Miroku's on again off again youkai servant now stood.
"I have come to warn you of the Kamaitachi, Inu Yasha-sama."
Chapter 6: The Kamaitachi
"Kamaitachi?" Inu Yasha glared at the small flee, annoyance flashing in his golden orbs. "What the hell is that?"
Myouga folded his tiny arms over his now puffed up chest as he glanced around at the now awaiting faces of the others. A serious look crossed his parasitic features and he "hmphed" loudly, clearing his throat with a great air of authority and importance. Seeing the impatient glare of his master, he inhaled before telling his story.
"The kamaitachi are weasel like youkai. Usually they are harmless, only playing practical jokes on humans. But something has changed them. For some unknown reason the three siblings are now killing humans. They have annihilated several villages in the southern lands, and are now moving north. I fear the power of the Shikon no Toma is involved, or perhaps even Naraku."
"Hmm…" Miroku absorbed this information briefly before speaking. "I have heard of the kamaitachi. They are indeed jokesters, enjoying tormenting humans without causing serious harm. But I have also heard that they move so swiftly no one has ever seen their true form."
Myouga nodded before continuing his tale. "Indeed, they are quite fast. Few humans have actually seen anything more than a gust of wind. What family of youkai they belong to, I do not know, only that they resemble a weasel yet are not weasels."
Kagome leaned closer to the flea demon in the hanyou's palm. "Then that means the youkai that Inu Yasha and Kouga-kun fought last night, it was this kamaitachi?"
"From the destruction of this village, I would say yes, Kagome-sama. It appears they have traveled farther north than I thought." The flea bowed his head, hiding the fear that suddenly welled up in him. He hated being near danger. Being so small in size was great camouflage but it did not protect him from physical harm should he be unable to run away. Something his master had forced upon him on more than one occasion.
"But you said there are three of them, there was only one youkai last night." The kitsune jumped onto Inu Yasha's shoulder to better hear Myouga'.
"How do they attack, Myouga-jiji?" Kouga asked, his mind flashing back to the battle. He had sensed something wrong with the youkai. 'The scent was off,' Kouga thought to himself. "Oi, Inu kuro, there were two of them last night. The scent from the first attack wasn't like the second."
"Aa." Inu Yasha too had realized this fact. "So the third one hasn't shown up yet." His arm snaked subconsciously around Kagome's waist, pulling her tighter against him. A dreaded feeling washed over the hanyou. How could he defeat three of these damned things if he couldn't even handle one. Kagome's safety, as well as that of his other friends, worried him.
Kagome released a silent gasp as the hanyou wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against him. Again she became confused by his actions. She side glanced at him, noting the worry in his amber eyes. 'Is Inu Yasha afraid?' She wondered. 'The youkai last night were strong, stronger than any we've encountered so far. But, why is he acting like this? Even before…Inu Yasha has been acting weird.' The miko didn't know what to think of Inu Yasha's sudden change toward her. Since Kagome had returned from her own time to the Sengoku Jidai, the hanyou had been acting differently. A sadness fell over her as she considered the possible reasons behind Inu Yasha's action. 'I'm his shard detector, Gods forbid should I get hurt. Or is it because I remind him of Kikyou?' Once again Kagome forced the thoughts aside, focusing on the voices around her.
"You said they were tricksters, Myouga-jii-chan, what do you mean?" Though she had been trained with the knowledge of many different youkai, the taijiya had never heard of the three sibling weasels.
Once again Myouga puffed up his chest, feeling proud of his great knowledge of this new and dangerous foe. "The siblings, no one knows if they are female, male, or both, are somewhat like weasels. But they have sickles for hands. The first will attack its victim, knocking them down, then a second would attack biting the person. The attacks have never caused severe injuries. Finally, the third kamaitachi would come and heal the wounds. They have done this for many years, perhaps centuries. Now, they are killing their victims. It is very disturbing."
"What would cause them to change, I wonder?" Marko pondered. He had been eyeing the couple sitting beside him. Watching with guarded glances as Inu Yasha held Kagome possessively to him. A quick look in the wolf youkai's direction told Miroku that Kouga too had noticed Kagome pressed against the hanyou's side, his arm holding her to him. A sudden and familiar tingle began to itch in the palm of his hand. It spread rapidly to his fingers, the heat of it sending signals to his hentai brain. Noticing Sango kneeling beside him by the fire, he slowly inched his hand behind her. With a look of devoted interest in the flea's words, he found the firm round bottom of the taijiya, rubbing it once before he squeezed it gently. Before the sigh of content could leave him…
"HENTAI!" Sango swung her hand with great force, a loud "smack!" filling the air as she made contact with Miroku's face. His head snapped back at the impact causing him to nearly fall to the ground.
"Why, Sango-sama, what did I do?" His face was one of complete innocence as he rubbed the now bruised flesh of his right cheek.
"Miroku, you asshole! Can't you keep your hands to yourself just once?" Inu Yasha ground out, annoyed that the baka monk couldn't control his lecherous ways.
Sango jumped to her feet, anger flashing in her dark brown eyes. "I need some fresh air!" she snapped, giving Kagome a pleading look as she spoke. It irritated her to no end that even in the most important of moments, like discussing this new enemy, the houshi could not keep his groping hands to himself.
Understanding her friend's silent request, "I'll join you Sango-chan. I need to get some air too." Kagome started to rise, but the weight of Inu Yasha's arm around her prevented her from moving. Heat rose to her cheeks as she noticed the intent look of the others. "Um, Inu Yasha?" Embarrassment kept her from looking at the hanyou.
"What?" Inu Yasha barked, never taking his eyes from the flea or the wolf youkai.
"Can you…uh…let go of me?" The miko's voice was barely a whisper.
"You're not going anywhere and neither is Sango. I can't have you two running around outside when those demons are still out there somewhere."
"I have to agree with Inu Yasha, Sango-sama." Miroku spoke in a more serious tone than before.
"I can take care of myself! I am a trained demon exterminator!" Sango retorted.
"If I couldn't take one of them down with Tetsusaiga, what makes you think you can with your boomerang?" His amber gaze rested on Sango's now defeated face. She sat down grudgingly, making sure to put extra distance between her and the wayward monk.
Finally looking up at Inu Yasha, Kagome's blush deepened. "Ehehe…Inu Yasha, I really do need some fresh air."
"Why?" Inu Yasha looked down into Kagome's face, ignoring his reddening features as he held her to him.
"I…um…need to…you know…to relieve myself." She ducked her head to hide the bright crimson hue she felt heating her face.
"Damn it, woman!" he growled. "Fine, I'm going with you."
"Nani?!" Kagome didn't think her face could get any redder.
"I'm not going to watch, baka! Who do you think I am, Miroku?"
His face a mask of shocked innocence, Miroku exclaimed, "Inu Yasha! I am shocked that you think so lowly of me to peak at lady when she is…" His words were cut short by a sudden whack to the head.
"Since when have you cared what a woman's doing to peak at her, Miroku?" Shippou laughed as Sango lay Hairikotsu back down beside her, a satisfied smirk on her face at the new lump now forming on the hentai houshi's head.
Kouga stared in amazement at the group before him. These were the heroes who planned on defeating Naraku? He stifled the urge to laugh. Kouga had seen this strange pack of the inu hanyou fight, he knew they were a powerful force to reckon with, but outside of battle, they were the biggest bunch of morons he had ever witnessed. The wolf prince's reserves were being sorely stretched. It had taken all his willpower not to kill the hanyou for touching his woman in such a possessive way, but Kagome's anger the previous day had made him scared to say anything more while Inu Yasha was still injured. The sudden movement of the object of his desire caught his attention.
Kagome rose to her feet, glaring down with a still red face at the dog demon. As Inu Yasha tried to rise, pain ripped through him and he whimpered against his will. "Inu Yasha! You can't move, you're still hurt. Lay back down, Sango-chan and Shippou can go with me. I'll be fine, I promise."
Biting back the pain, Inu Yasha glared at her, his face contorted in a mix of pain and thought. "Kirara," The fire cat mewed as she looked up at the hanyou. "Go with them. Any sign of danger get them in the air, fast." The neko nodded her head as she followed the two women and kitsune outside.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Finding a large rock nestled amongst a small cluster of bushes and trees behind the hut they had just vacated, Kagome and Sango sat down. Kirara, now transformed into her demon form, stood guard, her nose to the wind and her ears twitching. She let out a soft growl to Shippou as he sat on her back, giving the young women some privacy.
"So, what's up Sango-chan?" Kagome asked, concern for the girl who was like a big sister to her.
"That baka houshi!" Sango exclaimed. "Always groping me! The pervert!"
"Um…Sango-chan," Kagome looked at her friend, trying to think of the right way to phrase her question. Deciding it best to just get to the point, she blurted out, "Do you have feelings for Miroku?"
Sango nearly fell off the rock. "Nani!" She exclaimed, her face turning a brilliant scarlet. "W-why do you think t-that?" She ducked her head, hiding her face in the shadows of her bangs.
"Because he likes you!" Shippou chirped. His face was scrunched up in disgust, but his green eyes shimmered with mischievous glee.
"Why would I have feelings for that lecherous, perverted, delinquent monk?!" Her voice held just a bit too much conviction for the future girl to be convinced. Seeing the doubt in her friend's expressive eyes, "Hmph! Think what you want. And the only thing Houshi-sama likes about me is my ass!" Sango glared off toward the hut said monk was presently occupying. 'Oh, gods! Does he really like me? He is very handsome. And sometimes he can be very nice…WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING?' She shook her head to clear her mind of her wayward thoughts.
Kagome giggled at her friend's action. She somehow sensed what Sango was doing, clearing her mind of unwanted thoughts. She had done it herself many times in the past whenever she thought about a certain hanyou. "Come on Sango-chan, let's get back before the guys come looking for us." With that the two girls and two youkai walked back toward the hut.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Finally, what the hell took you so long?" Inu Yasha barked at the girls as the entered the hut, gold eyes glaring at the miko.
Kagome snorted. 'Why does he always have to be so darn grumpy?' She asked herself, anger beginning to rise in her. "We're back now, Inu Yasha, so stop being such a jerk!"
Shippou, feeling a fight ensuing between his adoptive mother and the irritable half demon scampered off to Kagome's backpack. Digging his way to the bottom, he found a bag of suckers, unwrapped one and popped it in his mouth. There was no way he was going to watch the two battle it out without something to snack on.
Inu Yasha was fuming. Concern for Kagome and Sango's safety frustrated him. When several minutes had passed and still the women had not returned, his fear for them grew. Miroku and Kouga both had tried to abate the inu youkai's increasing anger to no avail. He had only taken his emotions out on them.
"I'm not being a fucking jerk! There are two, maybe even three, demons out there and you're out there getting some 'fresh air!'" His voice raised a bit higher as he mocked Sango's earlier words.
"You idiot! I told you why I had to go outside! How can you be so insensitive?!" Kagome stood feet apart, hands fisted on her hips. Miroku flinched as he recognized her flaring aura. He almost felt sorry for the hanyou, almost.
"And I told you that it's dangerous out there!" Inu Yasha nearly rose to his feet, but the sharp pain burning across his chest stayed him.
"Ugh! Why do you have to be so damned pig headed?!" She glared at him.
"Pig headed?" Inu
Yasha looked at her through confused eyes.
"I'm trying to protect you, bitch!"
Kagome's cheeks flamed red, "Osu…"
Sango suddenly clamped her hand over the miko's mouth, preventing her
from completing the subduing spell.
"Remember what happened last night, Kagome-chan." Sango whispered.
Kagome removed Sango's hand from her mouth and stomped passed the hanyou, taking a seat in a far corner of the hut away from everyone else. 'Ohhh! That jerk! Sometimes I wonder why I even bother!'
The others watched her with wary eyes. They all knew how bad Kagome's temper could get, and none of them wanted to be on the receiving end of it.
"I believe you need your bandages changed, Inu Yasha." Miroku broke the sudden silence in the room.
Inu Yasha looked down at his bindings, "Shit!" he exclaimed seeing fresh blood staining the white cloth.
Kagome looked over at him, worry for Inu Yasha reflecting in her eyes, but she did not move from her spot. 'Let Sango take care of him!' She thought, still mad at him. She dug through her pack, finding her first aid kit, Kagome tossed it toward Sango, whose quick reflexes barely caught it.
Inu Yasha ducked his head, letting his shaggy bangs hide his face in shadows. He was deeply hurt by her actions. He knew Kagome was worried about him, he had seen it in her eyes, yet she refused to be near him. This was not like her. 'I really screwed it up this time! Why does she have to be so damned moody! Women, I'll never understand them!' He jumped when he felt someone reaching to loosen his bandages. Looking up he found Sango tending to his wounds. Inu Yasha just closed his eyes, forcing his mind to not think of his fight with his Kagome.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The day passed quite uneventful, with the exception of the bickering inu hanyou and the miko from the future. It had been agreed that Kouga and Miroku with Kirara would take turns on watch outside while the others remained inside the hut. Occasionally one of the others would go with the two designated guards to keep them company.
Kouga leaned against the door frame of the small hut. His pale blue eyes swept across the village and surrounding forest occasionally as he continuously sniffed at the air. The noonday sun shone brightly, shedding its light on the silent village. An involuntary shiver ran up his spine, an uneasy feeling settling over him. Though his leg was now fully healed the hanyou had still not recovered from his injury. Kouga hated to admit it, but he needed the dog turd to help him fight against the Kamaitachi. He once again scanned the edge of the forest, "They'll be back tonight. I can feel it."
"I fear you are right, Kouga." The wolf youkai started at the small voice speaking into his ear.
"What do you want, flea?" Kouga snapped, side glancing at the annoying parasite. Myouga only sat down, folding his multiple arms across his chest as he too looked out at the peaceful forest. As the angry voices of the Kagome and Inu Yasha once again reached his ears, the wolf prince snorted. "Hmph! What does Kagome see in that flea bitten mongrel!"
"Forgive me for speaking so forward, but Inu Yasha does protect her. If not for him she would have perished long ago."
Again Kouga snorted. "And is put in more danger because of him!" His blue eyes flashed with anger and a hint of sadness. Kouga truly cared for Kagome. Because of her, his pack no longer attacked human villages and ate people. She was kind hearted, brave, and strong willed. 'She would make a good mother to my cubs, and help protect and strengthen my pack.' He thought. The image of his woman nestled against the ill tempered dog demon unwillingly entered his mind. Once she realized what a better protector he was and would treat her with the kindness she deserved, she would leave behind the mutt and finally go to him. A corner of his lip twitched upward in a half grin at the image of the hanyou's face watching Kouga carry a willing Kagome back to his den to be his mate.
"Kouga?" Miroku's voice interjected the wolf leader's daydreams.
"Huh?" Kouga grunted in annoyance.
"Lunch is ready." With that Miroku slipped back inside the house, the rings of his staff tinkling behind him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once again the others sat around the fire. Shippou sat on the hanyou's shoulder, both stuffing ramen into their mouths. Sango sat beside Kagome, adding more of the noodles to a bowl before passing it to Hachi. "Oh, thank you Sango-sama! These are quite good!"
Sango smiled at the tanuke, "You're welcome, Hachi.." Passing a bowl to Kouga, she asked, "Any sign of the kamaitachi?"
"They're out there hiding downwind, but I can feel them." He replied through a mouth full of noodles.
Inu Yasha stood up stretching. He winced at the slight pain from the now sealed wound. The muscles still ached, but he could feel them mending inside him. His broken rib had already healed.
"Inu Yasha! You're feeling better?" Kagome asked. Her face beamed with the first smile she had shown him all day.
"I'm fine." He replied, looking down at the girl. His gold eyes glowed dark amber in the fire light. "I can't lay around all damned day, you know!" He snapped, quickly regretting his harshness toward her.
Kagome's anger once again flared. "Well excuse me for caring!" She snapped back.
"Feh! Stupid girl! Stop worrying about me!" He shot back.
Kagome stood staring at him. Fighting every instinct in her to "sit" the idiot, she suddenly stood and ran out the door. "Huh? Kagome! Get back here! Damn it!" Immediately Inu Yasha bolted after her, grabbing Tetsusaiga as he went.
"Here we go again!" Shippou murmured, shaking his head. The group only nodded their heads in agreement.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Kagome!" Inu Yasha rushed after her. Once outside he stopped. "Damn! She's gone, where the hell is she?" He sniffed the air picking up her scent mingled with the fresh aroma of tears. "Kuso! She's crying." He hated it when she cried. Following the salty smell, Inu Yasha found her sitting on the rock she and Sango had been at earlier that morning.
Kagome sat with her back turned to him, her head bowed as she fought to hold back the tears that had already begun to fall. "Kagome?" She stiffened at the sound of his voice, squaring her shoulders in quiet defiance of his presence. "Kagome, I'm sorry. I…I…I don't know why I got mad. I'm just…"
"Worried." Kagome said, stifling a sniff.
Inu Yasha sat behind her, his back facing hers. "Yeah, I am I guess. These youkai are powerful, Kagome. I don't want you to get hurt, and I can't protect you when I'm injured."
Kagome turned her head, looking at him over her shoulder, her eyes wide with surprise. 'Is he saying…He really does care?' She jerked her body around and lunged at him, her arms wrapping around him tightly. "Thank you, Inu Yasha."
"For what?" He asked, flinching inwardly as she jarred his wound. He turned a soft pink from her embrace.
"For caring. And I'm sorry." She let go of him and moved to sit beside the hanyou.
"What are you sorry for?" He asked, looking over at her. Her eyes shined with tears.
"For this morning. For getting mad at you." She looked down in shame. She really had been unreasonable in her anger, she thought.
"Feh, don't worry about it." He reached up a clawed hand, swiping gently at the trail of dried tears on her cheeks. Kagome tensed slightly at his touch, then relaxed, enjoying the attention he was giving her.
"Please don't cry any more, Kagome. I hate it when you cry." His words were whisper soft. She did not reply, only reached a hand up and placed it over his. His blush deepened at her touch, but he didn't pull away.
"I know." She said simply as she scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. She inhaled deeply, smelling the forest and clean sweat that was his own unique scent. She loved that smell. Kagome always felt protected when she rode on his back or sat close enough to him where she could inhale it and let it fill her senses.
Again she stiffened when she felt Inu Yasha's arms wrap around her. Folding his legs under him, he pulled her into his lap, nestling her back against his chest. She molded to him so perfectly, like she was meant to fit against him. Inu Yasha rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her scent. She was calmer now, and he felt his own body relax as she leaned into him, her body squirming to settle more comfortably against him.
His hold on her tightened as he attempted to keep her still. 'What the hell is she doing?' He wondered alarmed as his face and groin areas both rushed with heated blood. "Stop!" he gently commanded to her, forcing her to sit still. Inu Yasha didn't want to let go of her, but he didn't want her to know what she was doing to his body either.
"Gomen." Kagome placed her hands over his, her eyes closing as she once again leaned into him. They sat like that for several minutes, each reveling in the feel of the other's touch. "Inu Yasha?" Kagome spoke, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.
"Hmm?"
"Why do you think the Kamaitachi have started killing humans?" She turned her head to look at him.
"I don't know, Kagome. But I think I know why they attacked us." His grip on her waist tightened at his words.
"Why?" her hazel eyes tried to look into his amber ones, but he refused to look at her.
"They're after the jewel shards." He turned into her, nuzzling his nose against her neck. Kagome blushed deeply, turning away from him so he wouldn't see her pink face. She felt more than heard him inhaling her scent. She smiled as old memories flashed in her mind. Her smile turned into a giggle.
"What's so funny?" He pulled away to look at her.
"N-nothing…that just tickles."
"Tickles, huh? Don't lie to me, Kagome." He growl in a low playful warning, returning his face to the crook of her neck.
"Well," she sighed in resignation, "I was just thinking how you used to tell me I smelled bad."
A deep chuckle resounded in his chest, vibrating against her back. She shuddered at the sensation, enjoying the feel of it.
"Daijobu?" Inu Yasha looked down into her eyes with concern.
"That tickles too," She giggled.
"What?" He asked, cocking his head to the side, his ears drooping slightly in his confusion.
Kagome's cheeks shaded more as she struggled to find the words, "When you laughed. I-I could feel it. It tickled." She looked down at her small hand pressed to his.
"Feh!" He snorted softly, nuzzling her neck once again. "Weak human." Inu Yasha muttered, her hair muffling the sound.
"Be nice, Inu Yasha!" Kagome softly reprimanded. 'What are we doing?' she asked herself. 'Why is being so …caring, and touching me like this?' She wondered, amazed that he was holding her in such an intimate way.
The sudden scream of "Hentai!" followed by a loud "WHAM!" and a softer "Thud" drifted from the hut. After only a second of silence Shippou's voice carried to them. "I think you killed him, Sango!"
The young couple exchanged wide eyed looks before jumping up. With fluid motion, Inu Yasha swooped Kagome up into his arms bridal style as they rushed back toward the hut, both wondering if the taijiya had finally snapped from Miroku's perverted attention.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Okay, I finally got this chapter done! Only after several revisions and no clear direction to go in! But I have found my bearings at last! It also took me a while to post because I am now in Bergamo, Italy for the next 4 (have already been here a week) weeks visiting my sister! I will try to keep my updates on time! Promise!
Some FIY:
Kamaitachi is a Japanese monster that looks like a weasel, although it moves so fast no one has ever gotten a good look. They usually assault a victim as a team, where the first knocks down the victim, the second slashes him with its teeth, and the third heals the wound. The word kama means "sickle" and itachi means "weasel". They were considered pranksters who did not do more than minor assaults on individuals.
I made this chapter longer to make up for having all of you wait so long! Gomen Nasia! Please review and tell me what you think! I love hearing from all of you!!!!