by: Del_kaidin and Tiranth.
Chapter 15 - Later that afternoon...
She was getting tired, she had messed up more times than she should have. Taka stopped and turned to Leena, as her stomach growled. "Do you think we can go back now?"
Cautiously she expanded her mind letting her awareness float. A moment later she looked at the red head. "Taka," she wondered how to explain to the pup. The girl was not a complete innocent. Leena was pretty sure that she had never experienced the drifting sensation of afterwards. She knew their companions were enjoying. Deciding a slow walk back was best she continued. "slowly, and louder than normal. Give them time to enjoy finding each other."
Taka was about to ask why, then blushed as red as her hair when she realized what Leena was saying. The two headed back to camp, talking loudly.
When their companions returned to camp, talking and walking a little louder than necessary, Sesshomaru wondered if he should be annoyed or thankful. He decided neutral was best and waited until Leena and Taka had sat down. "Naraku is threatening Akisame's dreams and has promised to continue to do so until she brings us to him," he said, trying to keep his voice calm through the rage boiling in him. He waited to see what the others would say.
She looked across the fire meeting first her and then his eyes and let him see the burning fury within. "Well then, he's made the challenge. I say we stop waisting time and .... find his stupid ass and end his sorry life." Softening her gaze she looked at the girl sitting next to him. "Akisame, I might be able to help. Teach you how to repel his invasion. I don't know, I've only once had to do it."
"Anything you can teach me will help." She looked at Sesshomaru, and playfully slapped his arm.
Looking first at his assualted appendage, then at his attacker, he gave her a wounded look. "What was that for?"
"Because I can't get to her fath... er.. sire." She pouted up at him "Should I kiss it and make it better?"
Taka giggled at the exchange between Sesshomaru and Akisame. She agreed with Leena's idea, and she knew that that was what Sesshomaru had been thinking as well. Her stomach growled once again. "I'm going to find us some dinner," without waiting for an answer she sprinted off in to the trees.
Watching the exchange Leena stood. "Be glad to teach you .... After I help Taka catch dinner." Quickly she followed Taka. Leaving the couple to enjoy the newness of their feelings.
He merely blinked at her, considering. "Yes...yes I think you should."
She lowered her head and softly kissed his arm. Then moving closer, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "How long do you think they'll be gone?"
The inu youkai snaked his arm around the woman's waist, bending so his lips brushed hers, his silver hair screening both of their faces. "Long enough," he purred.
"Oh good." With a soft growl that would have done a full inu youkai mesuinu proud, she let her curse show her his intentions and show him her own.
"Taka! Wait up!" Catching up to the girl. "Umm after dinner, and I show Akisame some basic shielding techniques, what say you and I make our selves scarse?"
She paused to allow Leena to catch up, nodding at her suggestion. "You know, Naraku hasn't sent any youkai after us in the last week. What do you think he's up to?"
"I think Akisame is better at shields than she thinks. He obviously thinks that she will betray us to discard the curse. But is unaware of the situation between our two companions. He will eventually figure it out, but I'm hoping not for a while longer." She knew from what Shippou had told her that when Naraku was quiet for a period he came at you even more dangerous. "Well what shall we hunt?" She sniffed "Rabbit, Duck, Squirrel?"
Taka let the scents of the forest fill her. "hmmm...squirrel's too stringy, we had rabbit last night....and we haven't had duck since we burnt them so...duck."
"Duck it is then. We'll need at least three." Silently she led the way the the nearby lake. She stepped into the reeds at the waters edge and waited. Sunset was approaching.
She lay content in his arms watching the sun set below the tree line. They had agreed that he would not mark her until after Naraku was defeated. She wanted some symbol that she was his. Quickly she yanked at his silver mane pulling several long strands out. She kissed him at his startled yelp. Then grasping her own hair she pulled a matching number of auburn strands. Working quickly she braided the hairs together into two lengths. Taking his right hand she wrapped one of the lengths around his ring finger and tied it snuggly so it would not fall off. She repeated the same procedure on her own hand. "There." she said pleased with herself. "I have heard in the west of a thing called wedding rings. Married couples exchange them to show they belong to the other. I only know this from a westerners mind, Naraku knows not of this custom."
"Ah ha!" she cried triumphant as her hands closed around their last duck. "Got him!"
He looked at the band of hair around his finger. "Well," he said, feeling more playful than he had in a long time, "I am the Lord of the Western Lands after all." Sesshomaru kissed her cheek, "It's a wonderful idea. Now I believe my 'daughter' and 'granddaughter' should be returning soon with our dinner." As if on cue Leena and Taka appeared, each holding two ducks.
She smiled at his comment. She also had heard of the disaster with the last ducks and rose to relieve the two weary hunters of the meal. "I think I should cook. I heard about the last two ducks you two scorched." Careful not to damage the ring on her finger she began preparing the ducks. "Be back in a minute." She said to her companions and headed into the forest to find the wild ginger she had seen growing. Coming upon the spot she knelt and began to dig. She never heard any noise only the pain of something hitting the back of her head and then blackness.
She looked at Sesshomaru he seemed happy. His eyes never left Akisame as she began preparing the ducks. Occasionally she would catch the flash of silver on her finger. When she left she asked "Sesshomaru, what is that on your finger? There was a similar one on Akisame's."
Glad to have the burden of cooking taken over by someone else, Taka sat down and closed her eyes. She wondered how much longer their quest would take. A part of her didnt want it to end. She cracked open one eye at Leena's question and looked at Sesshomaru for his answer.
Sesshomaru looked at the hair band on his finger, tenderly. "Akisame said it is a way people in another land express their desire to be mates. Naraku wont..."
Something was wrong. His mate's scent was gone. Cold fear gripped his insides. No, his mind thought wildly, not again. Quickly he sprinted into the forest in the direction she had gone, following her trail until he came to its end.
She noticed the disappearence of Akisame's scent moments after Sesshomaru. She followed close on his heels, trying desperatly to pick up her trail.
She watched his face as he spoke, one instant full of tender happiness and the next abject terror. She realized at the same instant Taka did that Akisame's scent was gone. She ran, calling Desu to her. She transformed fully into Amatsuotome. They stopped near some wild ginger that someone had obviously tried to dig up, but either been interrupted in or failed. She was willing to bet it was the digger had been interrupted. Akisame's scent went no further along the ground. She vaulted to the highest branch in a nearby tree and sniffed. No sign of Akisame's scent, but ... yes there it was Sesshomaru's very faint but heading North. Returning to the ground she noticed the red in his eyes. "Sesshomaru. SESSHOMARU! Listen to me, stop trying to find Akisame's scent." The gaze he turned to her she had faced many times. "Naraku is masking her scent but the hairs, your hairs. He doesn't know to mask your scent." She turned to Taka "Stay with him." She took of following the scent trail of not Akisame but of Sesshomaru. It might cause her to double back on herself, but Akisame must be found. She hadn't gone far when the winds shifted blowing away from her taking the slight scent with it. Stopping she turned and returned to the others, she knew now who had abducted Akisame, Kagura.