Bound by Purpose
"So, you're saying that he doesn't have a scent because he was drawn from the earth?" Kagome asked, dipping the small cloth back into the stream. Crawling forward on her knees, she positioned herself in front InuYasha, the scowl on his face making it evident that he was not impressed.
"That is what I believe, yes." Sesshomaru answered, looking as impassive as ever. Rin sat at his side, sipping on her stew while giggling quietly at Shippo across the fire. The demon Lord's eyes traveled to each individual, meeting every skeptical glare.
"What about Kikyo?" Sango tilted her head curiously. "She was"
"Made up of bones and grave site soil." InuYasha finished, never taking his eyes from his brother. Kagome finished applying the small bandage to the hanyou's head and sat back to listen. "Her scent reeked of death while he smells no different than what's around you now." His head lowered momentarily before gold pierced through his bangs, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Sesshomaru. "I don't trust you."
"You have no choice."
"Bullshit."
The miko looked back and forth between the calmly quarrelling brothers and raised a gentle hand to InuYasha's shoulder. "So, what about you, Sesshomaru? You were dead, too." The demon actually appeared startled by the question, reeling back slightly before lowering his head.
"I remember nothing." He admitted. Rin lowered her bowl and scooted forward, nonchalantly shoving Jaken out of the way.
"Lord Sesshomaru reappeared about eight months ago...like" She glanced up at the demon, "like nothing had ever happened. It was like magic." The young girl grinned shyly, even as he looked away from her. Everyone began to chatter in disbelief, throwing their own assumptions and opinions. Kagome gasped and covered her mouth, startling the hanyou next to her.
"What?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow. All attention drew to her, only causing her nervousness to grow.
"My wish." She lowered her hand and gave him a gentle grin. "It's clear that some part of you wanted Sesshomaru alive."
"Keh!" InuYasha crossed his arms and looked away. "I don't give a damn if the bastard dies! One less thing I gotta deal with!" Kagome sighed and shook her head before smiling at the demon across the fire.
"Well, it seems you're our only link. Will you be staying?"
"Oh, no!" InuYasha snapped. "There is no way in Hell I'm working him!"
"Give it a rest, dog breath." Kouga interjected tiredly.
"Kouga's right." Sango stated stoking Kirara's back. "None of us like the idea, but"
"But nothing!" The hanyou hissed, staggering to his feet.
"InuYasha, take it easy!" Kagome raised to her knees and reached for his reeling form. He only ignored her pleas, pointing a clawed finger over the fire.
"You wanted nothing more than to see me dead and steal my sword! I'll be damned if I'll give you that chance, you son of a" Grabbing his head, he stumbled forward, the world spinning as the ground hurled toward him. Kagome jumped forward to catch the hanyou as he fell toward the flames, but was not quick enough. Not as quick as Sesshomaru, that is. InuYasha felt the heat from the flames licking at his face as he looked to the clawed hand on his shoulder.
"Do not push yourself, little brother." InuYasha fell back into Kagome's waiting arms, mouth gaping and eyes wide. "We will need you at your strongest." The demon Lord quickly realized his mistake when even Kouga let out a gasp of surprise. "Although, it would only be slightly useful, being the hanyou that you are." All surprise that held the hanyou quickly faded into anger.
"Why you..." InuYasha breathed, pulling against Kagome's grip. Sesshomaru snorted in disgust, standing to exit the campsite, Rin and Jaken following silently.
"Calm down, InuYasha." Kagome soothed, running a hand down the back of his head. "He's right, you know? We have no choice but to trust him. Somehow...he knows how to find your father. We could use his help, like...like a tracking device." She continued to run her fingers through his silver mane until she felt him begin to relax. Her hand traveled up to gentle touch the bandage to the left of his forehead. "You really do need to take it easy." Reaching around to grip his chin, she forced his gaze away from Sesshomaru. "For me?" InuYasha sighed loudly and pushed her hand away.
"Fine."
"Thank you."
His face softened, and he reached to stroke a thumb across her cheek, giving her the gentlest of smiles before looking over at the wolf prince. "The things I do for you. Now, I gotta work with two jackasses."
"Oh, InuYasha"
"Look at them." His silver hair flowed about his form in waves as the wind whipped around the ledge. He narrowed his eyes in frustration. "The serpent should have disposed of her with ease."
'Touga, you fool. You underestimate this group.'
Closing his eyes, a growl rumbled lowly in his chest. "They are nothing!" He snapped, opening his eyes to glare over the edge. Kagome sat cuddled in InuYasha's arms, his back against a tree, smiles on both of their faces. Touga scowled at the sight. "He...is nothing." InuYasha continued to talk as Kagome occupied herself by running her fingertips over his claws, laughing every couple of seconds at whatever he was saying. "Disgusting."
'Would you like me to tell you of his sword?'
Touga turned curiously, striding to take a seat in his throne of stone. "Tell me all you know of this fang."
"I can't believe you did that to Miroku!" Kagome giggled, laying her head back against his shoulder.
"Well, I got sick and tired of seeing him still claiming that the wind tunnel existed so that the village girls would bear his children, and while Sango was watching!" He replied, running his free hand through her hair.
"So, you hung him by his ankles from Kaede's hut...using his prayer beads...naked?"
"Yep." She threw her head back in yet another fit of laughter, halting in a breath as a smile crossed his face. Straightening, although staying in his hold, and twisting around, she returned the smile, cupping her hand on his cheek. InuYasha held his grin and turned his head slightly, his eyes staying on her. "What's with you?"
"I missed you...so much those five years." Kagome leaned forward, pressing herself against his chest, just enjoying his warmth. "I never want to feel that again."
"Kagome, don't."
"Don't? Don't what?" She raised up and stared at him, her gaze full of questions.
"Don't talk about that. You don't..." He sighed and looked down momentarily, raising his hand to rub his knuckles across her cheek. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm not going anywhere." She smiled and placed her hand over his. "I don't care how many times you sit me." He crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his nose in the air, looking at her from the corner of his eye before smiling.
"Oh, you don't, do you?"
"I was kidding." He said in all seriousness when a spark of mischief gleamed in her eyes. Kagome laughed and shook her head, standing with a stretch. She leaned to look through the trees were the glow of the campfire was slowly fading.
"Do you think it's safe for us to be away from the group?"
"Sure, it is." He answered, reaching over his shoulder toward an inch on his back. "You're with me. You'll be fine." Failing at his mission, he began to rub against the tree, hissing in irritation. "Damn it!"
"What is it?"
"My...back...itches!"
"Is that all?" She asked sarcastically, kneeling down beside him. "Well, turn around." The hanyou obeyed, scooting away from the tree to turn his back toward the miko. "Here?" She asked, scratching just below his shoulder blade.
"Up..."
"Here?" Her hand moved up, obviously relieving his ailment. He let out a sigh of relief and relaxed under her ministrations, leaning back slightly. "Feel better?"
The hanyou though about it for a moment, smiling devilishly. "No...it still itches."
"Where? Here?" She moved her hands up, already aware of his scheme. He bounced his shoulder to urge her upward, her hand leaving his back to rest on one of his ears. "Is that better?" InuYasha laid back, resting the back of his head just below her shoulder and forcing her to practically dislocate her arm to continue.
"Yeah...much."
"Having fun?"
Hanyou and human both straightened, clearing their throats as they tried to hide their red faces. Sesshomaru stood just a few yards away, clearly not amused by their antics. "What the hell do you want?" InuYasha asked gruffly, keeping his gaze on the ground.
"He is on the move. Now, if you can detach yourself from that human girl long enough, we could possibly make progress in tracking him down before he moves too far." The demon turned away and moved back toward the camp, leaving InuYasha and Kagome to compose themselves.
"Damn it."
"Yeah."
"I guess, we'd better go."
"Yeah."
"Kagome?"
"Yeah?"
"You're...um...gonna have to let go of my ear."
Sorry, if this chapter sucks, everyone. I haven't updated on this story in so long, I almost forgot the plot. I promise the next one will be better. 'A Father's Trap' is next.
