I am soooooo sorry for the lack of update! But right now I'm doing two different sports on top of the homework my evil teachers give me, and managing my chores at home, plus a confusing unofficial boyfriend.......
Ok, I can't give any review responses right now, I don't have time. Just be assured that I love all my faithful reviewers and will do my best to update and not dissapoint. The only person I'm gonna yell at is AngelTears because she's just rubbing it in about how many more reviews she has than me....Oh the evil, evil, big butted female that she is. Darn her.
Ok, on with the story! I don't own Inuyasha! ttfn!
Chapter 11: A Stealthy Plan is Made, and Love Loses it's Boundaries.
Kagome sat up, stretching her body, welcoming the cool morning air on her face. Sango blinked groggily from her place next to her, causing Kagome to giggle lightly at her friend.
"Wake up Sleepyhead!" She said playfully. "It promises to be a beautiful day!" Sango mumbled something, burrowing beneath her covers. Kagome giggled. "Come on Sango! We've gotta get breakfast ready!" She began to shake her friend until, grumbling, Sango sat up.
"I'm up, I'm up." She said with a yawn. Kagura was sitting nearby.
"Took you two long enough. I've been up for an hour and I've already got all the cooking stuff out."
Sango shot her a death glare. "Well, some of us aren't morning people!" With a quick yawn she stood up, stretching all the kinks out of her back, while a horny monk watched from nearby.
Shaking her head, she merely glared at him. She was feeling pretty good; no reason to start off the day negative, even if most of her was delighted he found her so attractive. "So, what're we cookin today?" She asked, glancing at her friends.
"Well, we really don't have much; mainly just some oatmeal gruel and sausage." Kagome said, looking through the supplies.
"What about the deer Sesshoumaru brought in last night? Aren't there some leftovers?" The wind sorceress asked, remembering with respect and admiration the size of the deer he had brought in.
"Oh that's right!" Sango interjected. "It may not make an ideal breakfast, but it will work very well! I'm pretty sure there's enough left to go around."
Kagome smiled. "Then it's settled. Steaks for breakfast!" She reached into her giant yellow bag. "I brought some seasoning in case we had to go hunting." She said, pulling out a bottle. "This'll give the meat a really good flavor!"
Later, while the meat was being greedily devoured by three certain males, the women slipped off to the hot springs. They'd lost their appetites as they watched them scarf down the tender meat. With contented sighs the girls slipped into the steaming water, allowing the water to soothe their tense muscles. All three had their hair up in messy buns; a sign that they were unsuspecting and vulnerable.
When they had grown accustomed to the water, they began to talk about their favorite subject: Boys. Three certain men in particular...
"Inuyasha's such a jerk!" From a nearby bush, a pair of white ears twitched at Kagome's voice. She continued on, unaware of his presence. "I mean, we all do so much, and I give him ramen, but do you think I even get a thank you?! No! He's so concieted and selfish!"
"I don't know about conceited, Kagome." Kagura said. A figure that was lounging in a branch turned his handsome face towards the sound. "But definately selfish. We all contribute, but he acts like he's the only one that ever does anything."
"All men must be the same! None of them say thank you or show appreciation! Honestly!" Sango huffed. A black haired boy peered around the tree he was behind to see if he could sneak a peek. "That stupid Miroku can't keep his hands to himself for more than five minutes! honestly!" Miroku looked mildly offended; he thought he'd been doing pretty good these past few days! No respect..
Kagome piped up again. "Yeah, but that's why you love him!" Sango blushed, and Miroku looked surprised.
"I do not!" She protested.
The wind soceress spoke again. "You do too. It's all over your face." Sango's face was on fire.
"Even if I do, why does it matter? He'd never return the sentiment."
Kagome shook her head. "At least give him a chance; you'd be surprised at how deep he really is."
"How do you know?" Sango asked.
Kagome smiled gently. "I've talked to him quite a bit on our travels; he's a better conversationalist than Inuyasha!" She laughed. Said Hanyou just growled.
"But that's why you love him, Ne?" Kagura said. Again, Kagome smiled.
"I guess that's why. He always knows what I want before I know it myself. We don't have to talk; we just understand." Her face had taken on a distant, wistful. soft quality. Oh yeah, Kagome was in deep.
Sango and Kagura smiled at their friend warmly. Oh, to be loved like that! Kagome snapped out of it abruptly. "But Kagura, what about you and Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, an impish gleam in her hazel eyes.
Kagura flushed and looked away. "I have no idea what your talking about." The figure in the tree was leaning in for a better hearing point.
"Oh come on! I see the way you two look at each other!" Kagome prodded. "And your practically a mother to Rin!"
"So he's very pleasing to look at !" She snapped. "That doesn't mean a darn thing! And I love children!" She humphed. By now the figure in the tree had lost all sense of subtlty and was creeping forward to hear better. (Of course, the view had nothing to do with it either of course...)
Now Sango smiled. "You like him! Just admit it! It makes life so much easier!"
"Your one to talk!" Kagome snickered "It took you long enough to admit you like Miroku!"
"Oh? Well, what about you and Inuyasha? Hmm?" Sango snapped. "You two certainly took your sweet time!"
Kagome blushed crimson. "Low blow!" She cried. "Truce! Let's plant a tree on this subject, Kay?" She said, but turned to Kagura. "So, do you like him or not?"
Kagura blushed, diverting her gaze. "Maybe..."
"Hah! I knew it!" Squealed Kagome, High fiving Sango. "I was SO right!"
"Oh shutup!" She said with a laugh, splashing her friend.
"Hey! I'll get you for that!" Kagome laughed, splashing her back. It wasn't long before a full out water fight was ensued. Miroku was beside himself, nearly to drooling point, (actually, he was drooling) while two dog demons, loyal beasts that they were, only watched their own women as they frolicked in the water, bare skin glistening, laughter echoing...
But, one of these poor, hormonal males made the mistake of snapping a twig. Miroku, you are such an idiot. A vien popped in Sango's head. "Miroku...." She growled.
"Uh, oh...." He groaned, taking off at a sprint. Sango was dressed in a split second, darting after him. "GET BACK HERE YOU DAMN PERV! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU IF I EVER GET MY HANDS ON YOU!!!!" Kagura and Kagome looked at each other.
Kagome muttered one word: "Sit." Darn womens intuition.
Thud Hello, Inuyasha. My name is dirt. Inuyasha, meet dirt. Kagome looked fit to be tied. Sesshoumaru darted off, but not before Kagura caught him speeding away. 'Why that little...' She thought, donning her clothes and going after the stoic demon lord, leaving behind the sound of cursing and some definate "Sits!", Courtesy of Kagome.
Being master of the wind had some definate advantages; one was speed. Incredible speed. So she rushed after him, beet red with anger and embarrassment. 'I am going to kill that pervert! And here I thought he was actually different from other males!' She lunged at him, and Sesshoumaru, dignified beast that he is, found himself facedown in Inuyasha's old friend, the dirt, with a one VERY angry wind sorceress on top of him, sitting on his back. Here it comes...
"HOW DARE YOU SPY ON US??? WE WENT TO THE HOT SPRINGS TO GET AWAY FROM YOU!!!! AND HERE YOU ARE, STUPID PERVERTS, SPYING ON US??? HOW SICK ARE YOU??? HUH?" She poked his head. "WELL? WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?" She continued to poke his head.
"Mmph, pht, mmmpt, mmmst." Translation, "I can't breathe."
Kagura glared, but let him sit up, guessing correctly at what he was saying.
Brushing dirt from his face as dignified as possible, he began to try to explain. "I wasn't spying."
"THEN WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING???"
He grimaced, her tone grating painfully on his sensitive hearing. "I was merely trying to gain information. And I heard my name mentioned. I wanted nothing more than to listen in."
"Oh and the fact that the veiw was pleasant had absolutely nothing to do with it?" She asked sarcastically.
"....." Was her answer. A vein popped out in her head.
"Why you little..." She growled, raising a fist into the air, preparing for the most powerful punch she had ever givin in her life, but when she blinked, he was gone. "That damn bastard." She muttered before she made her way back to camp. She didn't make it back that night; she was tied up. Almost literally.
As she was walking back, she felt herself being followed. She didn't feel like stopping for a fight. She was too irritated by a certain Demon Lord. She simply hurried her pace slightly. Kagura became more annoyed as the presence continued to follow her persistantly. She wove in and out of trees to try and to escape her pursurer, but the person was persistant. Finally, growing bored of the game, she stopped in her tracks. "Come out and face me, coward." She growled into the deepening evening.
"I thought you'd never ask." A voice purred in her ear as strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Sesshoumaru." Made dizzy by the scent, sound, and feel of him, all she could do was slump back into his grip. His sheer masculinity was overwhelming, tormenting her senses. Damn him. Damn her for her attraction to him.
"I'll admit, I came for the news, stayed for the veiw." He whispered huskily into her ear, sending shivers dancing up her spine. Her senses were jumping crazily from his nearness, and she was terrified that her heart was going to beat it's way out of her breast. Double damn!
He smelled her swift arousal, breathing in the sharp, womanly fragrance she could claim as her own. There was no way he could fight this attraction to her; not even if he tried.
"Where's Kagura and Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked as she looked at the setting sun. A disheveled, grumpy Hanyou scowled at her, still nursing his wounded pride. Those Sits had really, really hurt!
Miroku, pervert that he was, just had to open his big trap. "Well, Kagura is a woman, and Sesshoumaru is a man..."
"Come off it Miroku. Sesshoumaru is an honorable demon, unlike SOME of the males I know...." Sango said with a glare at him. A large red lump on his head throbbed comically. Sango glanced at the lump with satisfaction, looking with pride at her boomerang.
Kagome just smiled knowingly. A woman's intuition was a beautiful thing; she knew just what was going on between the two demons and Sango and Miroku.
Suddenly Inuyasha blushed fiercly. Kagome noticed immediately. "Inuyasha?"
All she got in response was a flustered "Feh" before he lept into a tree. His voice was muffled as he stated, "They won't be back tonight." Everyone got the message and could only assume that with Inuyasaha's hearing, he could hear everything that was going on out there in the depths of the forest tonight. Sango and Kagome had the decency to blush, but Miroku got that perverted look on his face, while Shippo looked confused, and Totousai just scratched his head.
"Well that didn't take long did it?" Totousai stated matter of factly.
"Apparently not." Miroku nodded in agreement with him.
"What didn't take long?" Shippo asked innocently.
"We'll tell you when your old enough to talk man to man." The monk responded. "I knew Sesshoumaru was a dog, but.." Miroku was cut off when his skull met with a really big boomerang being held by his beloved Sango. He was swirly eyed and unconsious now.
Kagome, still blushing lightly, said in a flustered voice: "Well, we better get to bed then, no point in waiting for them." Sango nodded vigorously, and Totousai was already dozing. Shippo walked over to Kagome.
"Kagome?" He said softly. She stopped unrolling her sleeping bag.
"Yes Shippo?"
"Are you and Inuyasha gonna get married some day?"
The pretty miko's face flamed. "Why ask that Shippo?"
"Cuz if you do, will you want me anymore? I don't think Inuyasha wants me around very much." His big green eyes filled with tears at the thought. Kagome's own eyes began to water.
She reached for him. "Shippo.." before he could bound into her waiting arms, Inuyasha jumped down from his tree and picked him up by the tail, glaring at the kitsune at eye level.
"Who said I didn't want you, runt?" he asked gruffly.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU JERK!"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed irritably.
"Well?" he demanded of the child.
Shippo pouted, but relented. "No one had to. It's the way you act that says so."
Inuyasha snorted. Kagome looked at the little fox lovingly, knowing he was just decieved by Inuyasha's manner since he wasn't old enough to see through it. "Shippo," She said gently. "He doesn't mean half the things he does. It's all just an act to make us think that he's tougher than he really is." Inuyasha scowled, but dropped the kit.
"Really?" Shippo asked, glancing from Kagome to Inuyasha.
"Really." Kagome responded with a smile. Shippo walked up to Inuyasha, who was looking away with his arms crossed. Shippo scared the crap out of him when he jumped up and squeezed around the hanyou's neck in a warm hug.
Kagome genty smiled as she walked over to them. Shippo released his hold on Inuyasha to cuddle on Kagome, who in turn leaned into Inuyasha. Inuyasha stiffened and blushed, but relaxed and wrapped his arms around them in an easy embrace. This was his family; this was where he belonged. Holding them in his protective embrace, he realized he never rather die than let harm come to either of these precious members of his life. Simply put, he loved them. That hit him like a blow to the stomach. Him. The unlovable half breed, had a family to care for. A family. A family who would never let him down and love him for who he was and.....the list was endless. He breathed in their scents, ingraining them into his memory for eternity. If nothing else kept him alive, this one memory would always comfort him.
Sango and Miroku smiled at the tender portrait the three offered. Three people who could be considered outcasts, found love and comfort in one another's embrace. Sango tensed when she felt a pair of strong arms lock around her waist, and a chin rest on her shoulder. She was about to slap him, when he spoke.
"I envy them." How could she slap him when she felt the same way? She relaxed into his hold. Miroku nuzzled her neck, sending Sango's heart fluttering like mad inside her breast.
"I do too." She said softly.
"Sango..." He whispered. Could he tell her how he felt?
"Miroku..." She said back, unsure of herself for the first time.
Miroku spun her to face him. He held her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him.
"I.." He started, but thought, 'Forget it.' as he captured her lips with his. Oh she melted. Her knees went wobbly, her brain gave up all rational thought, and her heart sent the blood in her veins racing a mile a minute. He broke the kiss, staring straight to her soul through her eyes. "I love you."
Sango looked for any hint of a lie, but found none. "I love you too, you lech." She said with a smile, hugging him to her to hide her joyous smile.
From his spot under a tree, the old Totousai smiled to himself before drifting off to sleep.
Naraku's fortress
"Yuriko."
"Yes, Mi'lord?"
"Tomorrow, I wish for you to seek out that Kikyou woman."
"What for, Mi'lord?"
"I have a new trap to set for Inuyasha and his crew...."
Please review! Puppy eyes I'll try to update more often! Pleeeeeeeeese!!!!!!!!!!!