Here we go, another chapter! I'm sorry it took so long, but holidays bring visits, and visits bring much to do…all right, no excuses. I'll just let you read on. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews!
Oh, and the Saimyousho (still not sure on spelling) are Naraku's poisonous insects.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha. It was on my Christmas list, too!
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Her stomach was sinking lower with every step. Kagome kept glancing ahead at Inuyasha's back, wondering if maybe she should talk to him. By his reaction, she was almost sure he had deduced what had happened with Kouga.
Everyone was so quiet! She decided she'd better say something, before this tension drove her crazy.
Just as she'd picked up her pace, he turned to look at her. Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but his amber eyes narrowed in a glare. He turned around without a sound, and the miko's mouth snapped shut.
Kouga watched as she halted in midstep and her face fell. *The nerve of that mutt!* he thought indignantly. He was about to comfort the crestfallen girl, when her hands clenched and she stomped her foot on the soft ground, leaving an imprint.
*The nerve of that jerk!* she thought angrily. *He goes off to Kikyo every chance he gets, to do who knows what, and he expects me to just sit still until he comes back!?* Almost automatically, she said it.
"SIT!"
The hanyou slammed face-first into the ground, voicing several curses that were thankfully muffled by dirt. Miroku started to turn back, but Sango pulled his arm. "We should keep moving," she whispered. "I sense another one of their fights coming on."
"Precisely why we should stay," the houshi insisted. "This might be rather interesting."
"I said let's go!" Sango hissed as she bonked him on the head with her Hiraikotsu. Kouga watched as the annoyed taijiya stalked ahead, dragging an unconscious Miroku after her.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha had raised his head and was glaring at the girl.
"What's your problem, wench?" he bit out, shaking dirt from his ears. Kagome would have giggled at the sight, if she hadn't been so angry.
"I didn't mean to, you jerk!" she snapped, crossing her arms and turning her back on him.
"Is that supposed to make it better!?" Inuyasha was prying himself off the ground, fighting the last remnant of the spell. "Feh! That apology don't even sound sincere, if you ask me."
Kagome turned on him so suddenly that his ears flattened. "Why should I always be the one apologizing?" she yelled angrily. "What did I do to you, that I should be so sorry?"
Inuyasha's back straightened, and he pointed a clawed finger at Kouga. "Well, you let that pathetic, mangy excuse for a youkai kiss you, for one!!"
"Of course she let me, Inukkuro!" Kouga exclaimed. "She's my woman!" His eyes narrowed. "Hey, who're you calling pathetic, mutt?"
"You, you lousy wolf! Now stay outta this! This is between me and Kagome!"
"You've got no right yelling at my woman, you stupid mutt!"
"She's not your woman, you idiot!"
"Well, she's not yours, Inukkuro!" Kouga crossed his arms. "You've got nerve, you stupid mutt, to be keeping my woman from me when you've already got your own."
Inuyasha looked at him, dumbfounded. "My own what?"
"Woman, baka!" Kouga growled impatiently. "You've got that dead woman that you went off to see a little while ago, don't you? So what do you want with my Kagome?"
Inuyasha was at a loss for words. *How does he know about Kikyo?*
"Well, Inukkuro?" The wolf prince looked at him expectantly. "What've you got to say for yourself now?" Out of the corner of his eye, the youkai saw Kagome's face turn pale.
"Uh…," was all the flustered hanyou could mutter.
"What do you care if Kouga kisses me or not?" Kagome was still angry, but her voice had lost most of its harshness. "You always go off to be with Kikyo, so what's your problem?" Her voice broke, but she didn't cry. "I saw you."
Inuyasha glanced at her then, his eyes clouded. "You…saw what?"
"You, you idiot!" she cried, suddenly frustrated. "I saw you holding Kikyo, like nothing else mattered! I saw what I always see when I follow you!" This time, tears did fill her eyes.
"Then you shouldn't follow, baka," the hanyou mumbled stupidly. Half a second after the last word, his mind switched back on and he choked.
"Kagome…," he started, but it was too late.
The miko gave him a look full of pain, before turning and bolting through the trees.
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The glade was deceptively calm. There was no sound of birds chirping, or any other animal sounds that normally filled every nook and cranny of a forest. The only sound was a faint buzzing that seemed to be coming from everywhere.
That and the occasional ruffling of baboon fur.
Suddenly, a girl broke into the dimly lit patch and stumbled against a tree trunk, her shoulders heaving with quiet sobs. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and heavy bangs curtained her eyes.
Even without the odd clothing she always wore, Naraku knew who she was. The air around her crackled with an unbridled power, a testament to the threat that this little miko presented to him.
He had been waiting for the opportune moment to strike the group, but now it seemed luck was on his side. His lips curled into an evil smile.
Kagome suddenly stood very still, forcing her sobs into sniffles. The hair along the nape of her neck stood on end, just as she felt a very strong, tingling tug that signified the presence of multiple jewel shards.
*Baka!* she thought furiously. *How could I have missed it!* She tried to count them, but it was impossible. Her heart went to her throat when she realized that there was only one person with countless shards.
*Naraku!* She looked around her for a weapon, scolding herself when she realized that she'd left her bow and arrows behind.
Kagome glanced quickly at the space she'd made in the bushes. She hadn't run that far from Inuyasha yet. She tensed for a second before sprinting toward the edge of the glade.
And getting grabbed from behind. "Inu-ugh!" Her cry was cut short as something cold and slimy covered her mouth and wrapped itself around her head. She panicked when she felt more slimy things slide around her legs and arms.
Instinctively, she kicked at one of them. Her foot connected with something solid, and she gasped when she saw a Soul Gatherer crash against a tree.
*Kikyo!?* The other Soul Gatherers tightened their grip, forcing the air from her lungs. A loud buzzing filled her ears as several Saimyousho flew in front of her.
"It's no use struggling," a smooth, smug voice said next to her. "I don't think Kikyo would appreciate you damaging her pets."
Black spots were dancing in front of her eyes, blending in with the hovering insects. Kagome barely made out the baboon pelt as Naraku entered her field of vision.
"I think you'll like what's in store for you, little miko," the hanyou said coldly, reaching out to lift her face with his finger.
Her brown eyes met his for a second, and she gave him a determined glare before passing out.
He chuckled, taking her in his arms and taking off into the sky, surrounded by Soul Gatherers and his own poisonous insects.
The glade returned to its original state of life, as if nothing had ever happened.
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Okay, there you go! I'll try to update more often now. Oh, and any feedback is really appreciated, unless it is a flame with no constructive purpose. Arigato!