*Author is sitting in front of her laptop, mouth open in shock* Whaaaat? 14 reviews already? Ooooh…
And I know there are more of you out there – can't wait to hear from you, too! Without further ado, some reviewer responses. (As it's the first chapter, I'll do all 14 – in future chappies, if you want a mention, write something substantial that I can respond to! Otherwise, it'll just be a general 'thank you'.)
Sailorpsychosis: My first reviewer! *throws a party* er, yeah. And I'm actually writing this without the aid of the blessed spellchecker – for some insane reason, this computer doesn't want to help me…Hope you keep reading!
Jessica T: Woohoo! My alpha reviewer! So glad you could make it…enjoy!
Mvdiva: Yep, a scaaary Shippo. Should I write a 'sugar high' scene, just for laughs???? Maybe.
Hieisbabygirl08: Thanks, I will!
Murasaki Kitsune: Thanks, will do – I look forward to my chapters as well! (How sad is that?!)
Vampire-Elf: Yes, not enough S/M by far! This is to help even the score.
Mattielover: Hello! I'm glad you like this one….
Neoen: I hate OOC – so I don't write it…if I can help it! : )
LilyKitsune: Yes, I've often wished that I could read Miroku's thoughts – and now I get to write them! Yay! Ooh, I'm evil….
The Plutonian Cow: Thanks, and yes, I did want to know *grins*.
Aurora chan: Slow-building tension = one heck of a finale! Keep reading!
Kyosnekogirl: Er, Sango's thoughts are a bit rough on our dear houshi right now…I promise, I'll explain why…although, would you not be ticked off at a cheating boyfriend??? Hn???
PasoLover: Ooh, thank you! I don't wait long between updates, usually. A week is the maximum wait.
Akikaze no Uta: *holds the award* I just wanna thank my mum, my 5th grade teacher, my English lecturer, Rumiko Takahashi….er, right. I read your bio – and I'm truly honoured. Really. Yes, it IS hard – I've been trying to find fics to 'compare notes' with (that is, to check that I'm not accidentally copying someone's plot! O.O) and it's well nigh impossible! Grrrr. Have you read my other fics? I'd be interested to know what you think of them….please?
A/N: If you happen to review now before I've finished typing this chapter, your shout out will be at the end…sorry. Got to keep the story flowing…inspiration lasts only so long! So, here we go!
Disclaimer: I can see why people get sick of writing these – I don't own Inuyasha…still.
Under Control
Chapter 2: Misplaced Warrior
"Shippo…sit down!" Wham.
"Oops – sorry about that…Eeek! It – it was an accident, I swear! Hey, don't you give me that look…" Inuyasha had propped his head on one hand, glaring balefully at the young miko. He was drumming the clawed fingers of his other hand on the wooden floor, beating a steady, staccato rhythm. Click, click. Click, click.
Kagome was nervous, her original purpose in saying the 'word' temporarily forgotten.
Shippo was completely out of it.
"Whee!" he squealed, bouncing around between the members of their little group. At one point Miroku got a mouthful of fur when Shippo crashed into him before merrily racing off again. Coughing softly, he raised an eyebrow at Kagome. "Okay, okay, I get it. I gave him a little too much – "
"CANDY!" The kitsune's delighted shriek had everyone grabbing for their unprotected ears. Inuyasha snarled in momentary pain, then made a frantic grab for the hyper youkai cub. Shippo made a dash for Kagome's pack, where he just knew she had more treats hidden away for him.
"Candy, candy, candy, candy…" His shrill voice died down to a constant murmur when he had located a decent-sized sweet to devour. He still kept muttering "Candy," to himself at times, but a baby youkai always but always had a horrendously strong sweet-tooth. His friends had been finding that out the hard way. The sweet now gone, he zoomed off again.
Inuyasha had had quite enough of this. Freed from the subduing spell, he leapt up off of the floor and started chasing Shippo in earnest. For a little while the two of them simply circled the room, the kitsune's speed and energy being significantly enhanced by his sugar boost. But all good things have to come to an end.
"C'mere, you little – GOTCHA!" the hanyou yelled triumphantly, clutching his prize tightly in his hands. The struggling bundle found himself dumped unceremoniously in Kagome's lap, his fun now severely hampered by her hands holding him down. "Awww, Kagome, lemme goooo…"
"No. It's time for bed, little one. You are going to settle down now, do you hear me? Stay still!" She carried him over to her sleeping bag, holding his ear to make sure he wouldn't escape again. She knelt down and placed him in the bedding, making sure he was warm enough. "Please, Shippo?"
Shippo, despite himself, had to admit that the sugar was wearing off. Bed sounded good… "Okay. G'night." Sighing contentedly, he snuggled deeper into the covers, purring softly as he dropped off to sleep.
"Finally, he's quiet!" Inuyasha growled, rubbing his ears gingerly. "That brat has a voice that could crack stone…" He became silent as the owner of their accommodations entered the room without warning. Were they going to get in trouble for all the noise? More than likely – especially as the humans were traveling with a hanyou, he thought. He waited for the complaints to begin.
"Is there a problem?" the owner asked hesitantly. His eyes darted conspicuously around the room, taking in the details – bowls of food spilled on the floor, bedding crumpled up against the wall where someone had landed on it, scratches in the woodwork (rather like claw-marks)…ordinarily by now these rowdy guests would be looking for another place to stay. His gaze landed on the houshi. A faint smile danced across Miroku's handsome features – a reminder to his gracious host that holy ofuda were, after all, easily removed…
Swallowing in sudden apprehension, their host decided to overlook the wreckage. Well, it was only one night, and it just wasn't worth losing a holy man's favour over…
"No problem here!" Kagome said hurriedly, "None at all! It's just…er…" She gulped, finally assessing the extent of the mess they had made.
"I was wondering if you would be kind enough to show me your village shrine," Miroku broke in smoothly. He started at a nervous giggle; the owner's daughter had come to see what was going on. His smile automatically widened. "Perhaps, if you are too busy, your fair daughter might…?" The owner caught on immediately.
"Of course, of course, honourable houshi-sama, my daughter will show you to the shrine! Certainly." He backed out of the room, still bowing. Miroku scoffed silently at the ridiculous behaviour of his host, then sighed. The things he went through to protect his friends…the girl wasn't even pretty! He slowly climbed to his feet, not daring to look in Sango's direction. He walked over to the simpering female, still keeping his eyes carefully averted. The others were just staring at him accusingly – couldn't they tell the difference between flirting and pretending? He took a closer look…yes, this was definitely a case of pretending. He extended a courteous arm towards the door. "Ladies first…"
As the footsteps faded, Inuyasha and Kagome turned to face each other in mutual exasperation. "I don't believe it! Right in front of Sango, too…" Kagome's voice trailed off uncertainly as she looked around. There was no sign of the demon exterminator anywhere.
"Where's Sango?"
At that moment, Sango was creeping stealthily along the now deserted streets of the tiny village, keeping to the darkest shadows. However, her mind was not really on the job. She kept thinking back over that evening's events. 'If only Shippo hadn't found that extra candy…' Why did every host they stayed with have a conveniently unmarried daughter? He just couldn't stay away from them. She had stayed in the room just long enough to hear him ask to see the shrine (how transparent was that little maneuver?!) and had slipped away through the window without anyone noticing. Enough was enough…it was high time she put that perverted houshi out of her head.
He had been the only thing really preventing her from leaving for quite some time now – the desire to find and save her brother was growing too strong to push away. But she had stayed, given him numerous chances, overlooked his delinquent behaviour, and hoped that he would settle down, given time. After all, she'd virtually promised herself to him!
Tears pricked her eyes painfully. 'And tonight he's up to his old tricks.' After the day she'd had, it was one time too many…
Murmurs of conversation caught her attention. Moving closer to the sound, she could make out two shadowy figures walking in the bright moonlight. One shape was unmistakable – she would know it anywhere. One arm was casually draped over the girl's shoulders, giving her no choice but to lean into him. He was busy being charming, laughing quietly at something his companion had said. His head was bent ever so slightly towards hers, and she was beaming up at him, clearly entranced.
Sango clenched her fists, gritting her teeth. 'The nerve of that…that houshi!' Then she forced herself to relax. 'Just when I thought I couldn't be hurt any more than I am already…he goes and does this. Again.' Her eyes hardened, her decision made. 'I have more important things to do.' She wasn't worried about Kagome and Inuyasha – they were smart enough, they'd figure it out…well, Kagome would anyway. Without giving the oblivious 'couple' any more thought, she swiftly made her way down the road. She had just one thing on her mind now.
Find Kohaku.
Shippo was getting annoyed – all that shouting had woken him up! How very rude. He turned over to try and regain his lost dream when he recognized his mother's voice in the uproar. "Kagome?" He poked his head out of the covers, cautiously taking a look around. He blinked. Inuyasha and Kagome were standing nose to nose, yelling as loudly as they could in each other's faces! He glanced around to try and find a voice of reason (namely, Sango) to fix this loud mess, but couldn't find her. 'Oh well, maybe she'll 'sit' him,' Shippo mused. 'That's always fun to watch.' He settled in for the show.
"What do you mean, it's my fault she left?!" Kagome demanded. "What were you doing all that time, huh?"
"I –" er, what had he been doing? 'Gaping at the stupid bouzu…'
"You're the one with the all-knowing nose! Didn't you smell when she left?"
"I can't be expected to see everything! She's your friend, you should have kept an eye on her!" His thoughts were a little different to what he was saying. 'You're the leader here, moron – you let your guard down! You should never, ever get complacent around these humans…idiot.' One of the reasons he was yelling so much was…he was horribly embarrassed. How had she gotten out without him hearing her?
"My friend, Inuyasha?" Kagome looked sad all of a sudden. 'Doesn't he count Sango as his friend too?'
He noticed her filling eyes. 'Oh, please no…' "You're not going to cry, are you?" She didn't seem to hear the concerned tone in his voice. It didn't help that she was distraught over her best friend's disappearance. "Ooh, you – SIT!!" He slammed face-first into the floor, muttering words that would have set her ears on fire if she could have heard them. "I'll cry when I want to, you inconsiderate, selfish, annoying dog-boy –" Her tirade cut off suddenly. A noise in the corner had startled her.
Shippo tried to hide. Had he actually cheered aloud when she 'sat' him? Oops, bad tactical error. Dog –breath would turn him into a pincushion…unless Kagome could stop him in time. He struggled a little longer to find a safe space – and then the topic of the yelling match sank in. He stuck his head back out of the sleeping bag, heedless of the danger. "Why is Sango gone? Why are you so mad about it?" Before he knew it, he had been plucked from his spot by a clawed hand. Hanging around in mid-air was not his favourite position in the world. 'Maybe I shouldn't have had all those sweets,' he thought queasily.
Inuyasha ignored the green tinge on the little kitsune's face, holding him up to his own face in a rather intimidating pose. "Did you see her leave?" he growled ominously. "Did you see her and not say anything, you little –"
"Inuyasha! Control yourself!" Kagome snapped. Shippo cheered - mentally this time. Hooray for protectors….
"What? I'm not doing anything bad…but if he saw her go, he should have said something!" the hanyou yelled defensively.
"He was asleep, idiot. Like he would have seen anything!" Kagome scoffed. Shippo decided it was time to speak up for himself.
"I promise, guys, I didn't see a thing! Honest!" He reiterated his statement in the face of the vicious glare Inuyasha sent his way. "Like she said, I was asleep!" Puzzled, he looked around once more. "Where's Miroku?" Hmm, it looked like that was a touchy subject.
"He's…entertaining a friend in the village," Kagome began. Inuyasha finished for her.
"The hentai thought he could have some fun with one of his new admirers." Shippo couldn't really say he was surprised. After all, it was Miroku they were talking about here. But still… "Eww." 'Hang on a second…' "Oh, so that's why Sango left. He's off flirting again."
Kagome grimaced in assent. "Yeah, probably."
"Stupid houshi."
Inuyasha was growing impatient with the conversation. Besides, he could just tell that soon they would be talking about how he hadn't heard Sango leave…one embarrassment today was enough. "Well," he said roughly, "sitting here blabbing isn't going to find her any quicker! We'll have to go out into the village and look around." Without waiting for a reply he strode out of the door. Embarrassment averted.
Sharing knowing looks, the other two followed. Maybe Miroku had seen something?
The houshi was not having fun. Hopefully soon he could politely foist the girl off onto someone else and head back to where the group was staying…he was getting a crick in his neck from turning his head downwards all the time. And the girl would not be quiet. He was only half-listening to her pointless, inane chattering when a very familiar shout reached his ears.
"Oi, bouzu! Get your hide over here – NOW!" A summons from Inuyasha…perfect. But what on earth did he sound so aggravated for? And why were they all outside anyway? He gently tried to slip his arm off of the girl, but she seemed a bit dense and grabbed his hand when she felt it moving. She simply refused to let go. Sighing in defeat, he dragged her over to where a visibly irritated hanyou stood waiting with his arms crossed. Kagome was in a similar pose, one foot tapping on the ground. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why they were glaring at him that way. Well, he was out with a girl who regrettably wasn't Sango, but it had been necessary, dammit! Did they want to be thrown out of the first comfortable place they had found in days? "Has something happened, Inuyasha?"
Kagome asked him quickly, "Have you seen anyone out here, Miroku?" Inuyasha seemed a bit put out that Kagome had stolen his thunder. He was the one in charge, right?
"Ditch the female, bouzu. Sango's gone missing." Miroku felt the blood drain from his face. Sango, missing? Why?…He glanced down at the wide-eyed woman under his arm. There was his answer. He quickly disentangled the woman from his hold and unceremoniously bid her farewell, propelling her away with a none too gentle push. She stumbled slightly, turning her head to glare at the young man – but he paid her no further attention. Tossing her head angrily, she stalked off.
"What do you mean, she's gone missing?" Kagome winced at his tone. He was practically begging them to say that it was a simple misunderstanding, or a joke, that it wasn't true. "When did this happen?" To his confusion, Inuyasha looked slightly abashed. "Some time after you left with that wench, we think."
Miroku couldn't believe his ears. "You THINK?! You mean you don't know?" They shook their heads at him. "How could you let this happen?" He waved an arm around in his distress, stopping when the rosary around his right hand rattled noisily. Bringing it down to eye level, he eyed the wrapping on his hand miserably. The reason he had continually pushed Sango away, even when it half killed him to do it. The reason he acted like a fool around all women, to try and forget what he was doing to the one he loved. The reason he was such a jerk. His heart sank even further. Had he gone too far?
"It was me, wasn't it?" His voice was low and sad. "I made her leave. Don't deny it." He wished he could curl up into a little ball right there on the ground. Shippo looked over at him curiously – he had never heard such a depressed tone from the usually calm and confident houshi. He was about to say something when a slight movement off to the side caught his eye. He twisted himself up around Kagome's shoulder to get a better look, and gasped. "Sango! Hey, Kagome, she's on the ground! She looks asleep…uh oh."
"What?" Miroku rushed over to them, searching the night for what had grabbed Shippo's attention. "Kohaku! And…Naraku." The man in the baboon skin reached a hand out towards the unconscious woman. The houshi snapped.
"Sango! NO!!" Naraku did something they couldn't see, and the trio disappeared in a swirl of miasma. Coughing from the noxious fumes, the travelers recovered and raced over to where their friend had lain. Nothing.
Miroku fell to his knees, his eyes horribly haunted. "How did this happen?"
Kohaku had watched as his target had drawn nearer to his hiding place. His orders had been quite clear.
Lure the human woman into an alley and make sure she can't retaliate. She will follow you – all you have to do is show yourself to her for an instant. After that, wait for me. Make sure she doesn't get away.
At least his orders hadn't been to kill the woman. Make no mistake; he would have done it…orders are orders. But that didn't mean he liked it. And besides, up close she seemed familiar. Like this afternoon when he had first spotted her – his head had started to ache. As though something were trying to push its way out of the back of his head. What was that all about?
The ache had begun again as soon as she came into view. Something about her face… He put it out of his mind. Stepping into the light, he had let her see him and then retreated into the cover of darkness. His master really did know everything, he mused – she had followed him immediately. She had said something to him…ah, he'd forgotten what she said now. Memories were like that; very elusive and weak. It didn't matter what she said, anyway. The end result had been the same. One quick blow to the head and she was out cold. The stupid woman hadn't even had her guard up – you could almost say she had deserved what she got.
For some reason that didn't sound right to him. But it was all he had to go on.
His master had appeared shortly after the woman had fallen to his attack. There had been one point in the proceedings when Kohaku had thought that they might have some opposition. The ones who had accompanied the target into the village had gathered near the end of the alley, looking very much as though they might come towards them to retrieve their partner. One in particular, a young man in houshi robes, had darted forwards as though he had been shoved, naked fear on his face. His face was also familiar…although he had no idea why that would be.
His master had simply laughed and whisked them away, leaving the target's companions completely in the dark. Kohaku had been able to sense his powerful amusement when the houshi had come running at them. What had he said? 'Think, boy. What did he say? Oh, yes.' "What perfect timing." He didn't understand what that was for. Oh well. His job was to do what he was told, not to question his master.
Soon they would be home, and he could go to sleep. No memories to keep him awake. His memories never seemed to last long…. Absently he wondered whether he would remember the target the next day. Somehow he doubted it. After all, he didn't remember anything of his other missions once they were done.
Life was much simpler that way. But there was something about the target's face…
Poor Miroku….life is not kind to the poor fellow. Keep reading, don't miss a minute of the torture! And don't forget to REVIEW…chapters come quicker that way. Until next time….
Next Chapter: High Stakes