A/N: Wow! Thanks to all of you who reviewed! So glad you like my story! So here goes Chapter 7! Enjoy, and remember to read and review! OH! I was asked if this is going to be a lemon…NO. There will be some suggestive comments, but no sex. I just don't see Inu Yasha and Kagome or Miroku and Sango doing anything like that while Naraku is still lurking about. They are more responsible and really too shy for that right now, plus I feel both of their relationships need to be further along than developed right now. If you want to read a lemon fic, then please check out my Path of the Tiger. It is adventure with pure lemony goodness! 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!
Recap:
"Feh!" He snorted softly, nuzzling her neck again. "Weak human." Inu Yasha muttered, her hair muffling the sound.
"Be nice, Inu Yasha!" Kagome pouted. 'What are we doing?' she asked herself. 'Why is he 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 a wide-eyed look 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.
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Chapter 7: Shippou the Brave
Kouga watched as the dog demon ran after the young miko. His cold blue eyes flashed with anger. "That damn mongrel! He's going to get Kagome killed!"
"Kouga, Inu Yasha would never let anything happen to Kagome." Sango stated. "He's always protected her from harm."
Kouga snorted. He could think of plenty of times dog turd had put his Kagome in danger. "I'm not waiting for that mutt to find her. I'm going after my woman!" Kouga leapt to his feet intent on going after Inu Yasha and Kagome but was suddenly stopped by Shippou.
The kitsune child jumped on the wolf youkai's shoulder, his green eyes narrowed with determination. Kagome was like a mother to him, and he knew she liked Kouga only as a friend. It was Inu Yasha who had the young girl's heart. As he listened to the wolf prince rant Shippou's happy countenance snapped. "Inu Yasha may be a jerk, but he would never intentionally let Kagome get hurt! So leave them alone!" He jumped to the top of Kouga's head, leaning down to look the youkai in the eyes. He gulped nervously at the angry Kouga.
Miroku and Sango sat watching the fox kit bravely try to defend his friend. "Shippou is right, Kouga. Experience has shown us that it is best to let them work out their differences. If you try to interfere, you will only anger Inu Yasha and Kagome both." Miroku tried to reason.
"Get off me, whelp!" Kouga snapped at Shippou, reaching up to grab the child off his head. The fox scampered off to hide behind Sango, safely escaping Kouga. Growling deeply, Kouga once again attempted to go find Kagome.
"Baka! Don't you listen? You're just as stupid as Inu Yasha!" Shippou shook his head. Somehow he got the feeling that if Kouga went after Kagome now, a very nasty battle would ensue, yet again.
"Shut up, runt!" Kouga growled. Turning to the shaking fox kit, his blue eyes flashed angry fire. "And don't you compare me to that mutt!" He stood with arms folded across his chest before he began to advance toward Shippou, his claws flexing.
Shippou stood up bravely, an idea bouncing around in his little head. "Okay, but I wouldn't want to be the one to make her mad. And then she'll go back home. She's gone for days and days when she leaves." A sly grin curved his mouth slightly as he watched Kouga stop and absorb his words.
"What do you mean days?" It was one thing for Inu Yasha to piss her off enough to send her back home, but Kouga would never forgive himself if he did such a thing.
"Shippou's right, Kouga. When Kagome gets really mad, she always goes back to her…uh…family." Sango fidgeted as she tried to not reveal Kagome's secret to the determined wolf leader. She sighed with relief when Kouga grunted in defeat.
"I'm going to scout around." Seeing the doubtful looks on the other's faces, "The tanuke can come with me." A collective of breaths exhaled with relief. Hachi would make sure Kouga left their two companions alone wherever they were.
As they left, Sango scooped up Shippou, cuddling him close to her. "You were very brave to stand up to Kouga like that, Shippou-chan!" She exclaimed proudly. "Kagome would be very proud of you!"
Shippou beamed a bright smile at this. Sure, he had helped out with battles before, but always from a distance. He never tried to get too close to the others while they fought, mainly because he stayed back with Kagome to protect her. Not that his foxfire was strong enough to do any real damage. Standing up to Kouga was a big deal for him. Though he truly thought the wolf youkai was just as stupid and pigheaded as Inu Yasha could be at times.
Sango leaned forward to clean up the dishes from lunch. Shippou curled up around Kiarara for an afternoon nap, his confrontation with Kouga exhausting the little kitsune. Myouga had hitched a ride with Hachi, knowing that the skittish tanuke would more than welcome his company instead of being alone with the foul tempered wolf prince. Miroku, realizing he was basically alone with the beautiful taijiya, watched with dreamy eyes as she leaned forward, exposing a perfect view of her firm, round bottom emphasized by her black demon-hunting suit. Once again his left hand began to twitch. The warm, familiar tingling of desire burned across the palm and spread to his long, lean fingers. Reaching out, he rubbed Sango's butt, reveling in the feel of her flesh surrounded by the tight leather.
"Hentai!" Sango screamed. Shippou and Kiarara woke from their nap with a start just in time to see Hiraikotsu slam down on the monk's head with a loud "Wham!" With a soft thud the lecherous monk fell over, a large lump forming on the crown of his head.
"I think you killed him, Sango!" Shippou exclaimed as he watched Miroku's twitching body.
Sango sat back on her haunches, looking from the large bone boomerang she still held to the unconscious monk. With wide eyes she dropped her weapon and jumped up to lean over the houshi. With frantic desperation she placed her hand over his mouth, feeling for the air signifying his life. She sighed with relief as she felt the warm, soft puffs of Miroku's breath hit her open palm.
"What the hell happened?" Inu Yasha yelled as he came to a skidding halt in the doorway, tearing the bamboo door covering half way off from his rushed entrance. Sango turned to look at the hanyou, only to once again go wide eyed as she saw her best friend cradled against the dog demon's chest, her arm circled lovingly around his neck. Inu Yasha had one arm under Kagome's knees, his other arm wrapped around her shoulders, supporting her bridal style as he held the miko against him.
"Kagome-chan, are y-you hurt?" The demon exterminator asked with concern.
"Uh…well…no…" Kagome fumbled, her cheeks now flaming red as she realized her position. She immediately tried to escape Inu Yasha's embrace, but not before a stunned Kouga and Hachi came through the doorway, removing the torn door hanging completely.
"What the fuck are you doing with my woman, mutt?!" Kouga demanded with a growl as Kagome slid to her feet.
"Your woman?!" Inu Yasha snarled grabbing Kagome and pressing her to his side, his arm wrapped tightly around her slender waist.
"My woman!" Kouga snarled again, his hands clenched tightly into fists.
"She's not your woman, wimpy wolf!" The hanyou squeezed his arm tighter about Kagome, and she thought she would suffocate from the near crushing embrace.
With all her strength, the miko forced Inu Yasha's arm off her. Both youkai turned to her, only to take involuntary steps away from her. Kagome's aura burned brightly, her usual hazel eyes were now dark and stormy, fury glowing in their depths.
"I am not anyone's woman! I belong to no one! I am not a piece of property to be owned!" She stomped her foot for emphasis, her arms held out at her sides, hands balled into fists.
All eyes rested on the future girl, each with a mix of emotions. The two previously bickering youkai watched in fear, Kouga afraid she would try to purify him, Inu Yasha fearing a hale of "osuwari's." Sango and Shippou sat next to the now awakening Miroku worrying if Kagome would go back to her time.
"I've had it with you two arguing over me! Every damn time you get together, it's the same thing! You're driving me crazy! I'm going home!" Shippou immediately began crying.
"Leaving? You can't leave now!" Inu Yasha ground out between clenched teeth, pissed off that the wimpy wolf had pushed his Kagome to such drastic measures.
"And why the hell not?" Kagome yelled.
His mind searching for a plausible reason to keep the girl in the feudal era, "Because we still have to defeat the kamaitachi and find out if Naraku has anything to do with their killing spree!" Kagome's expression changed from one of sheer fury to annoyingly angry. Thinking about the hanyou's words, she was about to concede he was right when once again the dog demon put his foot in his mouth. "Besides, we need to find the Shikon no kakera."
"You BAKA!" She screamed. Inu Yasha's eyes grew wide as he recognized the glint her eyes. "Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!" Inu Yasha slammed down into the floor of the hut several times, the impact from the subduing spell cracking the wooden floorboards. With a string of curses muttered into broken wood and the dirt beneath the hut he lay in a hole where once the solid wood floor had been. Kagome grabbed her pack and hastily threw her belongings into it. "Hachi, would you take me back to Kaede-baachan's village." The tanuke nodded shakily, his golden brown eyes shivering with fear.
As Kagome and Hachi left the hut, Inu Yasha pulled himself out of the large hole he had made. "Kagome! Wait!" Once again he rushed out to catch her as she fled from him, but this time the whole of the group followed her.
"Please don't go, Kagome!" Shippou cried, leaping into her arms, pleading for the girl to stay.
Kagome cuddled him to her, "I'll be back, Shippou-chan." She said before placing the saddened fox child in Sango's arms. As she turned to the large yellow demon that was Hachi in his youkai form, a swift whirlwind came barreling through the woods. Kagome stood frozen as the kamaitachi came straight for her.
With quick reflexes Inu Yasha snatched the girl up and jumped high into the air, landing safely on the roof of the hut. The whirlwind changed direction, before it slammed into a stunned Sango, sending the kitsune and taijiya flying back into the wall of the hut. With a groan, Sango landed on the ground, her crumpled form shaking from the impact.
"Sango!" Miroku rushed to her side, his staff thrust out before him to create a small barrier protecting the demon hunter, fox, and himself from another assault. Kiarara transformed in a whoosh of red flames. She bared her large fangs as she stood next to Kouga, both youkai ready for battle.
"Stay here!" Inu Yasha ordered Kagome as he jumped down from the roof to land beside the wolf and neko. Tetsusaiga's blade hissed as he released it from its sheath. The once rusty katana transformed into the giant fang of his father, red fire burning down the length of the huge blade.
Toward the edge of the forest two whirlwinds blew in a swirling of dust. As if anchored by an unseen force the gusts of wind stood their ground, measuring out their opponents. With swift movement one of the kamaitachi broke free from its position to attack. Kiarara leapt into the air as Inu Yasha and Kouga ran in separate directions hoping to confuse the creature. With quick decision it chased after the wolf prince, his jewel shard increased speed no match for the demon as it closed the distance between them. In a blink of an eye Kouga was slammed into the ground.
The second kamaitachi came after, its speed causing dirt to rise like a tornado around it. Before it could sink its razor sharp teeth into the fallen wolf leader, an arrow surrounded by bright light cut through the air, slicing through the raging wind. A shrill cry rent the air as the whirlwind stopped revealing a long, slender creature of gray and black fur. It stood on its hind legs, the sickle like hands slashing wildly about as the purifying arrow pierced through its side. Growing in intensity, the light overwhelmed the kamaitachi before the youkai withered away into dust.
"K-Kagome?" Inu Yasha stretched his neck to turn and look up at the priestess. She stood at the edge of the roof, her bow held tightly in her hand, a look of amazement on her face.
"I hit it!" Kagome exclaimed. "I actually hit it!" She smiled down at the others, proud that she her arrow had flown straight and true.
Kouga pulled himself up, smiling with pride and gratefulness that his woman had defended him. The breeze blew, and he sniffed at it. Jerking around he caught site of another of the youkai crashing through the bushes and trees at the forests edge. Each kamaitachi moved to opposite sides of the village in ambush formation. "Oi, Inu-kuro, you take the left, I'll get the right." Kouga said as he stalked toward a whirlwind.
Tetsusaiga's blade thrummed as Inu Yasha held it before him, pushing the kamaitachi back away from the hut where Kagome and the others were.
Miroku sat in prayer, holding his barrier as Sango recovered and Shippou huddled beside her. With great concentration the houshi blocked out the fight around him, using all his spiritual energy to protect the taijiya and kitsune. Kiarara landed on the roof beside Kagome as she notched another arrow, ready to take down another of the crazed youkai.
The two canine youkai stared down their foe, waiting for the moment to attack. Kagome, seeing an opportunity, once again let loose a purifying arrow. She watched and prayed as it flew toward the kamaitachi facing Inu Yasha. But instead of hitting her target, the youkai surged forward just as Inu Yasha brought down the blade of his sword. The kaze no kizu shot forward, ripping apart earth and buildings. Before it could reach the kamaitachi, the weasel like monster altered its course, swerving behind the inu hanyou to crash into the hut.
Miroku struggled to hold his barrier as the house smashed to pieces. Inu Yasha and Kouga both cried out Kagome's name as her high-pitched scream pierced the air. They watched in horror as she and the fire cat disappeared into a haze of flying debris. The hut now lay flattened to the ground, the occupants of the roof no longer visible.
"You bastard!" Inu Yasha growled deeply, his eyes glowing honeyed amber in his anger. The two kamaitachi were once again united, their tornadoes of youkai wind swirling into nearly one. Once again Inu Yasha brought down the fang. "Kaze no Kizu!" The wind from the sword soared across the earth, tearing deep trenched into its already damaged surface. The sword's attack slammed into its enemy, pushing them back but doing little else in damage.
"Stand back!" Miroku yelled as he broke his barrier and rushed forward, his cursed right hand held out before him. Understanding the monk, both Kouga and Inu Yasha jumped back behind the houshi. "Kaazana!" Miroku released the blue prayer beads binding his air void.
The kamaitachi struggled as they felt the pull of the kaazana. Screaming, they clawed at the ground, digging their sickled hands into the hard dirt. Miroku braced his right hand with his left, fighting against the strong current produced by the cursed hole. In a last moment of resistance, the two remaining kamaitachi flew through the air. Miroku's eyes widened as he watched them come at him, the long, curved appendages flailing. Relief washed over the monk as the deadly sickles folded down before the monsters were finally sucked into the air void. Miroku fell to his knees as he quickly wrapped the prayer beads around his hand, sealing the kaazana once again.
"Kagome!" Inu Yasha rushed over to the remains of the hut, tossing cracked and splintered lumber aside. Beneath the rubble lay a dazed Kiarara, and beneath her was Kagome. Careful of the fire cat's possible injuries, the hanyou lifted the giant cat handing her over to Kouga who stood beside him.
Kouga braced his knees under the cat's weight before he lay her safely on the ground. Rushing back to Inu Yasha he stopped, staring down at the sight before him. Kagome lay cradled in the hanyou's arms. Her face, arms and legs were covered in cuts and abrasions. "Is she alive?" He asked, his voice catching in his throat.
Inu Yasha felt the miko's strong heat beat, his ears picking up her raspy breathing. "She's alive." He replied. "Kagome, wake up." He shook her gently, his body tense as he prayed to any god who would listen for her to be alright.
After several minutes Kagome groaned, her head ached and her body felt like she'd been hit by a truck. She slowly opened her eyes to stare into the concerned eyes of her hanyou. "I-Inu Yasha?" She was slightly dazed, but becoming more aware of the screaming pain in her side and right leg. "What happened?" She asked rising to a sitting position.
"You fell through the roof of the hut when the kamaitachi destroyed it." Miroku provided. He was still out of breath from using his kaazana.
Kagome shook her head, clearing it of the dizziness she felt. Inu Yasha grabbed hold of her upper arm as he helped her to feet. Kagome cried out as she felt an immense pain shoot shot through her leg. Feeling herself falling, she closed her eyes preparing to meet the ground. Instead of the hard impact she expected, she felt strong arms wrap tightly around her, steadying her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought against the burning pain.
"What's wrong, Kagome?" Inu Yasha cradled her to his chest, worry etched in his handsome features.
"M-my leg. I-I think I broke it." Kagome stammered out before the darkness consumed her and she fell into unconsciousness once again.
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A/N: ACK! Another cliffhanger!!! I am sooo evil! I hope you liked this chapter. Bet you thought it would be Inu Yasha who defeated the Kamaitachi? HA! Not this time!!! Hey, someone else has got to kick ass once in a while! And I named this chapter for Shippou, my favorite kitsune! He really was brave to stand up to Kouga like that, don't you think? Hey, and where was Hachi and Myouga during this intense battle? You shall see, next chapter! Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW and let my know what you think! I really love hearing from all of you!