Faithful By: RecklessAbandon and OtakuSailorV
Chapter 4:: Rain, Rain, Go Away
Kyoyume lay on the roof, taking a catnap in the hot sun of the day.
Suddenly, it began to rain.
Frustrated, Kyoyume hurriedly got under the shelter of the covered walkway that surrounded the castle and glared up at the dark clouds. "That's the third time this week that the stupid rain has come out of no where." She growled, rubbing the water out of her hair and ears.
"Raining again?" Naraku asked from a doorway.
Kyoyume sighed. "Of course."
"Sorry."
Kyoyume was surprised by the apology, but said nothing of it. "I just don't like the rain is all."
"Cats don't like water."
"I'm not a full-cat demon." She reminded him.
"But you have cat-demon blood."
"Still...it's not like I TOTALLY hate water...."
"I see. I prefer to be inside anyway."
Kyoyume sighed. She didn't like staying in the drafty, dark castle all the time. She wanted to get out, to run around, and to do something besides laze around the castle all day.
Entei walked up. He didn't like the rain either.
Kyoyume held out her hand, and patted him on the nose gently.
Entei neighed and walked off. "Such a pretty horse...." Naraku mused.
"Hai." She agreed, watching his retreat around the castle.
Naraku looked at the young cat-girl out of the corner of his eye. "Isn't it so boring?"
She nodded, her usually bright eyes dull and spacey. "Yes, very boring."
"We have a visitor." A monotonous voice came from the door.
Kyoyume cracked a small smile. "I guess there's something to do now."
"Am I interrupting something?" A flat, female voice came from the doorway.
Kyoyume looked her over. She smelled dead, and looked dead, but she didn't act like she was a zombie. And she was dressed as a priestess. Who was this woman?
"Kikyou." Naraku's voice was cold.
'Kikyou?! The dead priestess?!' Kyoyume thought, completely confused. 'But how?!'
"I thought I said no more surprise visits."
The confused cat-girl looked from one to the other as the female spoke. "I don't listen very well."
"Really." He snapped sarcastically.
"Besides, why should I listen to you?" Kikyou asked. "You're going to be dead in a minute."
"I doubt that."
"We'll see what you doubt." Kikyou growled, pulling forth her bow and arrows.
"HEY!" Kyoyume interrupted. "What do you think you're doing?"
Kikyou stopped and looked her over. Then, with a smirk, she looked up at Naraku. "So, you've gone soft?"
"No."
"Then what do you call her?" Kikyou asked, pointing to the cat-gil standing behind Naraku.
"Kyoyume."
The said cat-girl wanted to laugh at Naraku's sarcasm, but stopped when she saw the death glare that Kikyou was giving him.
"What do you want, Kikyou?"
"I've come to kill you, Naraku. Prepare yourself!" She yelled, raising her bow.
Kyoyume growled, drawing more attention to herself.
Kikyou paid no attention to the growling cat-girl as she let the arrow fly.
Something struck it down; Kyoyume had her sword drawn, flowing with almost pure demonic energy.
Her usually small black ears were large and ragged, her hair bristled and teeth gritted. Her being seemed to denote the tone 'don't touch'.
Kikyou narrowed her eyes. "Who do you think you are?"
She narrowed her eyes that had a straight, slit-like black pupil. She smirked as she lowered her sword. "I'm Kyoyume, cat-hanyou and ronin- extraordinare." She said, her voice harsh and raspy.
"Why are you defending this slime?"
"Why are you walking around with the living, you sack of stolen- souls!" Kyoyume growled.
"Answer my question. My life is none of your concern but it is my concern when a half-rate creature such as you interfere with my intentions!"
"I have my reasons. None of which are your concern. You humans are so nosy."
Kikyou narrowed her eyes. She pulled another arrow and aimed it at the hanyou girl. "Die."
Kyoyume froze, her eyes wide.
Her demon side growled, telling her to move to the side. 'But it'll hit Naraku-sama then!' She inwardly yelled at her demon side.
Kikyou fired the arrow. The pink aura covering it.
'It's about to hit us! Let me move our stupid legs idiot!' Her demon side shrieked, trying to push her out of the way.
Suddenly she felt herself hit the floor, the arrow bouncing off the wall harmlessly.
'Someone was smart enough to move us!' Her youkai side growled, taking over now that her more human side was out.
She looked up to see Naraku hunched over looking at her.
Her demon side smirked. 'Hey! Is he alright?!' Her demon side growled as her human side came back into awareness. "Are you alright?" She felt herself saying.
"Perfectly fine." He growled. "You could of at least tried to move."
She felt herself smile. "Then it would have hit you."
'Who cares, kill the miko!' Her demon side growled.
"I could've moved too." He growled.
"I didn't want to take a chance."
'Who cares?! Just kill the stupid idiot that fired the arrow at you before she does it again!!'
Kikyou sighed. "Well if your having a romantic moment, I'll leave, you two."
Kyoyume jumped to her feet, picking up her sword. "Yeah right, miko. Like I'd let you leave alive!" Her demon side growled angrily, not liking that the human side of her body had taken over for so long during a fight.
Kikyou glared and disappeared.
"Hey, that bitch, she just...." Kyoyume growled, looking around for her enemy. "...left..."
"She tends to do that."
Kyoyume's raised haunches lowered, sliding her sword back into its sheath, she took several deep breaths to rid herself of her demon side.
"You should be thanking me."
She turned around, smile in place. "Thank you, Naraku-sama."
"I felt...obligated."
Kyoyume raised an eyebrow. "To what? Save me?"
"Yes."
She smiled wider. "Well, then, I felt obligated to protect you."
"Okay, we're even."
"Even-steven." Kyoyume said, shaking his hand, then, turning, she walked down the length of the walkway, and turned the corner with a bright smile.
'What are you so happy about?' A cold inner voice asked her.
'I'm not worried.' She assured herself.
'What?'
'I'M NOT WORIED!!!' She screamed in her mind.
'What do you mean 'I'm not worried' I asked why you were SMILING YOU FOOL!'
Kyoyume felt herself start to blush as she walked on. 'I'm smiling because I have a positive attitude.'
'Do you like that hanyou slime?'
'I'm hanyou.' She pointed out.
'Do you like NARAKU?'
'He's a nice guy, when he isn't killing or forcing people to do the things he wants.'
'...And that means?'
'If you're inside my head, shouldn't you know all this?' Kyoyume asked rather irritably.
'I'm not looking.'
'You want me to say it out-loud so that he possibly might hear me?'
'Whisper it.'
"I don't know..."
"What don't you know?"
Kyoyume jumped and turned toward him. "I, um, don't know where I'm going."
"Where do you wanna go?"
Kyoyume looked around. "I'm not sure, I'm kinda bored, with the rain and all....so...anywhere is good...."
"Oh."
"Heh, heh." Kyoyume said, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.
"I'm going to feed Entei." He told her, a large thing of fish slung over his shoulder.
"Oh, ok....I guess I'll just hang around here and watch..." Kyoyume said.
Hakudoshi walked to a room, a huge room, where Entei paced in agitation.
Kyoyume stood at the door, leaning against it, and letting her mind wander as she watched her little friend feed her even larger friend.
Hakudoshi finished feeding the huge horse and walked over to Kyoyume.
Kyoyume, however, was still in her own little world, thinking everything over again.
"What'cha thinkin' 'bout?"
"....Nothing...."
"No, you can tell me, or I'll have to find out the hard way."
"You mean torture, or reading my mind?"
"Reading your mind."
"Ah...." Kyoyume said, averting her eyes as she started to slip away again.
"Please, tell me."
Kyoyume looked up at Entei. "Does he talk?"
"No."
Kyoyume leaned out the doorway to see if anyone was coming, then, slid the door shut and went and sat by Entei, patting the ground for Hakudoushi to sit down as well.
Hakudoshi sat beside her, confused.
Kyoyume sighed, ruffling her blue bangs with her hand. "I think I like Naraku."
"Like as in?"
"That's just it, I'm not sure if it's just as friends or something else..."
"...I see. So you think you love my master?"
Kyoyume felt her heart leap at the thought, and bit her lower lip. "I....I don't know...."
"I see...I'll let you think about it and I won't tell."
Kyoyume gave him a small hug. "Thanks."
He smirked. 'I got it outta her...now to get it outta him.' He thought. "Well, I'm gonna go see what Naraku's up to."
Hakudoushi strolled down the corridors until he got to the one that Naraku was in.
"What is it, Hakudoshi?"
"I just wanted to ask you a few things, Naraku-sama."
"Like?"
"Oh, just idle questions." Hakudoushi said, closing the screen door behind him.
"Like?" Naraku repeated.
"I'm just curious as to why you let that cat hanyou hang around. She gets knocked out in every fight. She's not worth saving all the time, is she?"
Naraku thought for a second. "She provides a challenge."
"Several challenges." Hakudoushi scoffed, waiting for Naraku to explode and tell him he was wrong about Kyoyume.
"Like?" He growled.
"Oh, you know, sulking about, she has terrible mood swings, and her ears twitch entirely too much when she's excited."
"...Not really." He snapped. "And the ear thing, its, cute."
"Really?" Hakudoushi asked, noticing that Naraku looked vexed. "Her hair is the strangest color I've ever seen for a hanyou with black ears, she lacks the ability to cook, like any woman, and she claims she's a ronin, when girls can't be samurai."
"Demon women are always different, even if they're only half." He snapped.
"She's entirely too different if you ask me."
"No she isn't."
"How so? Have you ever met someone like her before?"
"No."
"Plus, she's got one of the shards that she stole from you. And she shivers every time she gets near a dark aura, not to mention that her own demon side comes out way too often."
"And that's bad?"
"What? That she killed one of your golems and stole from you?"
"It doesn't matter now."
"Why not?"
"Because its in the past."
"She stills holds the shard, she could run off at any time with it and hand it over to Inuyasha's band of idiots."
"She wouldn't." He snapped quickly, too quickly.
Hakudoushi was relieved that his 'father' seemed to be slipping up. He was starting to become afraid that he might have to ask blunt outright what he wanted to know. "I'll bet she would. She looks tired, and I've seen her looking at the forests longingly for some time now."
"That doesn't mean she'd go to Inuyasha." He defended.
"And why wouldn't she? Surely she'd run into them, since we're so close to Inuyasha's Forest, and fight them, and, inevitably lose the shard, or simply let them take it, with news of where we're hiding."
"...I doubt it."
"Then she would get herself killed."
Naraku stared at him. "Stop."
Hakudoushi raised an eyebrow. "Stop what?"
"Stop saying things like that." He growled.
"Like what?" He asked, hoping to vex his 'father' further.
"That she'll betray us and give the shard to Inuyasha or die."
"I'm only telling the truth. You have to have noticed it yourself. She doesn't like that evil, demon side of her at all. She's weak like Inuyasha."
"She isn't weak."
"Every time someone attacks her, she either goes berserk and passes out, or goes berserk and nearly gets herself killed. She has no control over herself."
"That doesn't make her weak."
"It makes her unstable, and a constant nuisance." Hakudoushi said.
"You like her, you know it."
"I have no intention of liking such a pitiful creature."
"You do. Now what do you want?"
Hakudoushi gritted his teeth and prepared himself. "I want her dead."
Naraku swiftly took his fist to the young boy's head. "No, you don't."
Hakudoushi forced down his anger at being hit. "Yes I do, she's useless and stupid!"
"You're bluffing! You're trying to get me to tell you I think I might like her you stupid little boy-" Naraku started. 'Opps.' He thought, realizing he slipped.
Hakudoushi smirked inwardly. "Liar! I hate her!" He yelled before running out, holding one hand to the place he'd been hit. 'It hurt, but it's worth it.'
Naraku turned a little red. "I can't believe I said that." He muttered.
At that same time, Kyoyume appeared in the doorway. "Hey, Naraku- sama, I just heard yelling, is everything alright?"
He looked at her, trying to look calm. "I'm fine. Hakudoshi just being a bother."
"Really?" Kyoyume asked, taking a seat with a smile. "Kids can be at times."
"Yeah." He said, avoiding her eyes.
"Nani? What's the matter Naraku-san?"
"What?"
"You're averting your eyes. Did I do something?" Kyoyume asked, folding her ears back in concern.
"...No."
"Then what's the matter?" She asked, only slightly relieved.
"...Nothing, just something Hakudoshi said."
Kyoyume wanted to ask, but thought it might be rude to ask about Naraku's personal life, so she let the painful silence descend without a word.
Naraku sat down in front of the cat, facing her, locking his red eyes with her blue gray ones.
She watched him, unsure of what was going on.
They sat there for several minutes, silently watching each other.
Finally, Kyoyume spoke up. "Naraku?"
"Nani?"
"I was just thinking that..." She broke off, not sure what she wanted to say.
"...Just say it."
"I think....I think I...."
Naraku said nothing, a little perplexed.
Kyoyume swallowed hard and smiled at him. "Never mind."
"No say it." He told her.
Kyoyume took a deep breath. "I think I'm in l-"
"...Go on."
"I think I'm in love."
"With?" He asked curiously.
"Y-"
"Naraku-sama! Naraku-sama!"
"What Hakudoshi?!"
"At the main gate!! It's-" Hakudoushi stopped when he saw them, but hastily recovered. "It's Inuyasha!"
"What does he want?" He asked standing up.
"They're trying to get in!" Hakudoushi said, seeing Kyoyume stand as well.
Naraku sighed.
Kyoyume fingered the blade at her side. "Should I go....?"
"Sure."
Without another word, Kyoyume ran out the door and disappeared down the hallway to get her outfit.
Naraku was at the entrance, where the Inu-taichi was standing.
Kyoyume arrived moments later, everything in place and ready to go.
Suddenly Hakudoshi appeared, riding on the back of Entei, sword drawn.
Together, they stood, and floated, before the ranks of Inuyasha's small band.
"Jewel shards." Inuyasha snapped.
"Get lost." Kyoyume growled back.
"We don't need Naraku's wench telling us what to do!" Inuyasha growled.
Kyoyume's horrible temper flared, but she managed to keep it cooled. "Then come and get them, if you can."
"Maybe...that's not such a good idea Inuyasha." Kagome said biting her lip.
Inuyasha growled, glaring at the sneering woman before him.
But Miroku had already sauntered over, taking Kyoyume's hands in his and getting down on a knee. "Fairest, will you, bear me a son?" He asked her.
Kyoyume was stunned, what was this human doing, and why was his other hand wandering...? Angrily, she swatted both hands. "Get off me. Baka, hentai houshi."
Naraku looked at the monk like he was a dead man. He would be in a second.
Kyoyume sent him a death glare, wishing she could kill him straight out for just thinking about touching her.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango cried exasperatedly as Naraku punched him completely stupid. His hand though, still planted on Kyoyume's bottom.
"Baka!" Kyoyume growled, ripping his hand off her set and pushing him away from her with her foot as hard as she could.
"Let's leave!" Kagome insisted, taking Inuyasha's hand and dragging him away, Sango following with Miroku.
Kyoyume stared after them, rather disappointed. "Well....that was.....really...unexpected...." Kyoyume said, starting to take her mask off.
Naraku just growled. Hakudoshi just laughed.
With a sigh, Kyoyume folded up the cloth. "Naraku-sama, may I go to the village?"
"Why?"
"Get some more cloth, or to just do something with myself for a few hours."
"Just for the sake, take Entei with you, he needs a run." Naraku nodded to the horse and Hakudoshi slid off him.
"Oh, ok, c'mon Entei. Arigatou, Naraku-sama." Kyoyume waved goodbye before mounting and riding off.
As the giant figure of the horse disappeared Hakudoshi looked up at his 'father'. "You really like her don't you?"
"Don't be silly." Naraku growled, turning and heading back for his fortress.
"No. I'm being serious. You were jealous when the monk touched her."
Naraku felt a slight burning sensation touch his cheeks. ".....No."
"Yes."
"Don't press me Hakudoushi, I'm in a bad mood." Naraku warned.
"Because of the monk. Exactly. You really like Kyo-san."
"Enough, Hakudoushi. I've had enough of your antics for the day."
"Stop. Just be honest with me old man." He snapped stubbornly.
"I will be honest in saying that I am NOT an old man."
"Be honest in saying you like the cat."
"I do not like Kyoyume in the way that you are suggesting."
"Yes you do admit it, I won't tell!"
Naraku kept silent, not wanting to admit anything to Hakudoushi.
"Admit it."
"You heard me in the fortress. That is all the admitting I'll do."
"Some father figure you are."
"I only wish to keep to myself, thank you."
"Fine, whatever." He pouted.
"You don't have to pout, you know the truth, but not a word of it is to be breathed to Kyoyume."
He nodded. "Not a word will be spoken."
Meanwhile, the said hanyou was traveling to the village, deep in thought.
She absently stroked Entei's back as she thought.
"What do you think, Entei? Should I try telling him again?"
Entei neighed and shook his mane.
"Yeah, you're right, something will happen again." Kyoyume said grumpily.
He neighed again, as to say 'just wait a while.'
Kyoyume patted him again lovingly.
They got to the village, which was calm and quiet on that night.
"Should we really go in?" Kyoyume wandered aloud. "I'm having second thoughts....but I told Naraku I was going to the village so..."
Entei neighed in response and began to trot into the village.
Kyoyume walked after him, looking around warily. Where was that strange feeling coming from?
Entei reared, just a little. He was uncomfortable....
"You feel it too?" Kyoyume asked him under her breath. "Something's watching us...."
"Well, well." A voice from behind a tree came, sneering.
Kyoyume jumped, feeling the aura getting closer. Entei gave a neigh so deep and powerful it sounded like a growl.
"You'll provide much entertainment...." The voice sneered, suddenly, Kyoyume was gone, and Entei sped back to the castle.
Entei took to the air, a scream-like neigh proceeding him.
Hakudoshi heard the scream and rushed out as Entei landed.
"Entei?" He asked, searching the sweaty and gasping horse for signs of a battle. "Where's Kyoyume?!"
He looked inside the horses mind. "Naraku-sama!"
Naraku stood, sensing the demon horses shaky presence before Hakudoushi's call. Throwing open his door to the walkway, he looked down on his 'son'. "What?!"
"...Kyoyume's been kidnapped!"
Naraku's heat nearly stopped at his 'son's' words. "....." Before another thought entered his mind, he was taking off, rapidly for the village.
Hakudoshi mounted Entei and followed his 'father'.
"Who was it, Hakudoushi?!" Naraku asked angrily.
"Some man standing behind a tree was all that Entei and Kyo saw!"
"Which tree? Where?!" Naraku growled, stopping as he reached the border of the village.
Hakudoshi pointed to the large oak tree beside Naraku.
Striding toward the tree, Naraku tried to pick up a scent, or any trace of a demon or human being nearby.
He picked up a sent, a large, powerful, demon male.
With a growl, he ran after the scent without a word, his usually calm mind in a frenzy.
Entei and Hakudoshi followed.
Kyoyume struggled in his arms, kicking and biting, scratching and clawing. "Get off of me you bastard!"
The demon dropped her, they were in a closed off cave. "I like 'em fiesty."
Kyoyume growled again, barring her fangs at him. "Stay away, creep!"
He twirled a lock of her hair in his hand. "Why do you keep it so short?"
Kyoyume clawed at him. "Don't touch me." She warned, narrowing her eyes.
To humor the young cat, her attacker ran his fingers down her arms. Causing her to shiver.
"I said don't touch me!" She growled more fiercely, wondering why her demon side wasn't taking over yet.
"You're so weak, for such a pretty girl." He taunted.
Kyoyume growled, knowing it was partially true. "You'll be in trouble if you make one move." She warned angrily, hoping to scare him.
"Ha! Like I, demon Lord of the South, would believe such a hollow threat!" He laughed.
'D-demon...Lord?' Kyoyume thought in shock. "It's not a hollow threat, so hands off." Kyoyume growled, folding her arms across her chest.
"I like you too much not to have a little touch." He laughed, thumb running across her cheek.
"Well, I DON'T like you." She said, brushing his thumb off her face. "And I don't appreciate your touching me at all."
"And does anyone care? No, I don't believe so."
"I care." Kyoyume said, getting a bit frightened by the demons advances.
"Does anyone care enough to save you?" He laughed. "Didn't think so."
Kyoyume thought it over. DID anyone care? What would they do when they found Entei with no Kyoyume? Would they even think twice about her disappearance? She shivered at the thought of what might happen if no one did truly care what happened to her.
"Did that just hit you, little one?" The demon lord laughed. "Well soon you'll be mine and it won't matter."
Kyoyume felt her stomach plummet as he grabbed hold of her again. "Get off..." She growled, not knowing what else to do.
"And if I don't want to?"
"I'll kill you." Naraku growled from behind him.
"What?" He whipped around to see Naraku and Hakudoshi, Entei waiting outside the cave.
"Get your filthy hands off her." Naraku growled dangerously.
"...Why?"
Kyoyume helplessly tried to move her arms so that she could claw his arms, but found that she was pinned so tightly that she couldn't move. "Because she doesn't want you." She heard Naraku say as she tried to work her claws into a fighting pose.
"In my world it only matters what I want."
Kyoyume growled at him angrily as he increased his tight hold on her. "I suggest you give up that way of life before it kills you." Naraku said with a small smirk.
"How will it kill me? Who's this rat to you anyway?"
"More than what she is to you, you pig." Naraku answered, narrowing his eyes. "Let her go now and no harm will come to you."
He threw Kyoyume down. "I respect myself too much to die for the sake of a woman." He said stalking out.
She gasped as she hit the hard floor, small marks of where he had held tightly to her arms showing up.
Hakudoshi looked at her, a little worry showing. "Are you okay, Kyo-san?"
Kyoyume gave a small nod, along with a growl of irritation. "Stupid bastard..." She cursed, rubbing her shoulders and straightening her outfit.
"Are you okay?" Naraku asked, trying to sound like he didn't remotely care, and failing at it.
Kyoyume nodded, heart aching a bit at being caught in such a situation. "Yes, I'm fine, Naraku-sama."
"Okay then, come on." He demanded.
Kyoyume walked after him, hoping that she didn't reek of the demon that had just tried to force himself on her.
Hakudoshi gestured for her to get on Entei with him, Naraku walking in front.
Kyoyume hung her head, not sure if she wanted to look any of them in the eyes anymore.
"What's wrong Kyo-san?"
Kyoyume shook off the feeling of guilt and disgust, and smiled at Hakudoushi. "Nothing, nothing at all."
"You're lying."
"No, really, it's...nothing..." Kyoyume said softly.
"Please...tell me."
Kyoyume shook her head, small tears coming to her eyes. "No..." She whispered.
"Please." Hakudoshi begged. "Just whisper it to me.
"I'm just...so happy...that you came for me..." She said, inclining her head to his ear.
"Why wouldn't we?"
"It's just...something the demon said...I...I didn't think you would..."
"You shouldn't listen to demons like that. They just wanna make it so your so degraded and self-loathing they can have their way with you no problem. We wouldn't let that happen."
Kyoyume smiled, feeling a shiver run down her spine as she thought about what had taken place. "Arigatou....Haku-kun...."
"Not a problem, look, we're home." He told her, seeing the castle in close range.
'Home?' Kyoyume thought, looking up to the castle quizzically. 'Yes...it is home...'
{end chapter}
Chapter 4:: Rain, Rain, Go Away
Kyoyume lay on the roof, taking a catnap in the hot sun of the day.
Suddenly, it began to rain.
Frustrated, Kyoyume hurriedly got under the shelter of the covered walkway that surrounded the castle and glared up at the dark clouds. "That's the third time this week that the stupid rain has come out of no where." She growled, rubbing the water out of her hair and ears.
"Raining again?" Naraku asked from a doorway.
Kyoyume sighed. "Of course."
"Sorry."
Kyoyume was surprised by the apology, but said nothing of it. "I just don't like the rain is all."
"Cats don't like water."
"I'm not a full-cat demon." She reminded him.
"But you have cat-demon blood."
"Still...it's not like I TOTALLY hate water...."
"I see. I prefer to be inside anyway."
Kyoyume sighed. She didn't like staying in the drafty, dark castle all the time. She wanted to get out, to run around, and to do something besides laze around the castle all day.
Entei walked up. He didn't like the rain either.
Kyoyume held out her hand, and patted him on the nose gently.
Entei neighed and walked off. "Such a pretty horse...." Naraku mused.
"Hai." She agreed, watching his retreat around the castle.
Naraku looked at the young cat-girl out of the corner of his eye. "Isn't it so boring?"
She nodded, her usually bright eyes dull and spacey. "Yes, very boring."
"We have a visitor." A monotonous voice came from the door.
Kyoyume cracked a small smile. "I guess there's something to do now."
"Am I interrupting something?" A flat, female voice came from the doorway.
Kyoyume looked her over. She smelled dead, and looked dead, but she didn't act like she was a zombie. And she was dressed as a priestess. Who was this woman?
"Kikyou." Naraku's voice was cold.
'Kikyou?! The dead priestess?!' Kyoyume thought, completely confused. 'But how?!'
"I thought I said no more surprise visits."
The confused cat-girl looked from one to the other as the female spoke. "I don't listen very well."
"Really." He snapped sarcastically.
"Besides, why should I listen to you?" Kikyou asked. "You're going to be dead in a minute."
"I doubt that."
"We'll see what you doubt." Kikyou growled, pulling forth her bow and arrows.
"HEY!" Kyoyume interrupted. "What do you think you're doing?"
Kikyou stopped and looked her over. Then, with a smirk, she looked up at Naraku. "So, you've gone soft?"
"No."
"Then what do you call her?" Kikyou asked, pointing to the cat-gil standing behind Naraku.
"Kyoyume."
The said cat-girl wanted to laugh at Naraku's sarcasm, but stopped when she saw the death glare that Kikyou was giving him.
"What do you want, Kikyou?"
"I've come to kill you, Naraku. Prepare yourself!" She yelled, raising her bow.
Kyoyume growled, drawing more attention to herself.
Kikyou paid no attention to the growling cat-girl as she let the arrow fly.
Something struck it down; Kyoyume had her sword drawn, flowing with almost pure demonic energy.
Her usually small black ears were large and ragged, her hair bristled and teeth gritted. Her being seemed to denote the tone 'don't touch'.
Kikyou narrowed her eyes. "Who do you think you are?"
She narrowed her eyes that had a straight, slit-like black pupil. She smirked as she lowered her sword. "I'm Kyoyume, cat-hanyou and ronin- extraordinare." She said, her voice harsh and raspy.
"Why are you defending this slime?"
"Why are you walking around with the living, you sack of stolen- souls!" Kyoyume growled.
"Answer my question. My life is none of your concern but it is my concern when a half-rate creature such as you interfere with my intentions!"
"I have my reasons. None of which are your concern. You humans are so nosy."
Kikyou narrowed her eyes. She pulled another arrow and aimed it at the hanyou girl. "Die."
Kyoyume froze, her eyes wide.
Her demon side growled, telling her to move to the side. 'But it'll hit Naraku-sama then!' She inwardly yelled at her demon side.
Kikyou fired the arrow. The pink aura covering it.
'It's about to hit us! Let me move our stupid legs idiot!' Her demon side shrieked, trying to push her out of the way.
Suddenly she felt herself hit the floor, the arrow bouncing off the wall harmlessly.
'Someone was smart enough to move us!' Her youkai side growled, taking over now that her more human side was out.
She looked up to see Naraku hunched over looking at her.
Her demon side smirked. 'Hey! Is he alright?!' Her demon side growled as her human side came back into awareness. "Are you alright?" She felt herself saying.
"Perfectly fine." He growled. "You could of at least tried to move."
She felt herself smile. "Then it would have hit you."
'Who cares, kill the miko!' Her demon side growled.
"I could've moved too." He growled.
"I didn't want to take a chance."
'Who cares?! Just kill the stupid idiot that fired the arrow at you before she does it again!!'
Kikyou sighed. "Well if your having a romantic moment, I'll leave, you two."
Kyoyume jumped to her feet, picking up her sword. "Yeah right, miko. Like I'd let you leave alive!" Her demon side growled angrily, not liking that the human side of her body had taken over for so long during a fight.
Kikyou glared and disappeared.
"Hey, that bitch, she just...." Kyoyume growled, looking around for her enemy. "...left..."
"She tends to do that."
Kyoyume's raised haunches lowered, sliding her sword back into its sheath, she took several deep breaths to rid herself of her demon side.
"You should be thanking me."
She turned around, smile in place. "Thank you, Naraku-sama."
"I felt...obligated."
Kyoyume raised an eyebrow. "To what? Save me?"
"Yes."
She smiled wider. "Well, then, I felt obligated to protect you."
"Okay, we're even."
"Even-steven." Kyoyume said, shaking his hand, then, turning, she walked down the length of the walkway, and turned the corner with a bright smile.
'What are you so happy about?' A cold inner voice asked her.
'I'm not worried.' She assured herself.
'What?'
'I'M NOT WORIED!!!' She screamed in her mind.
'What do you mean 'I'm not worried' I asked why you were SMILING YOU FOOL!'
Kyoyume felt herself start to blush as she walked on. 'I'm smiling because I have a positive attitude.'
'Do you like that hanyou slime?'
'I'm hanyou.' She pointed out.
'Do you like NARAKU?'
'He's a nice guy, when he isn't killing or forcing people to do the things he wants.'
'...And that means?'
'If you're inside my head, shouldn't you know all this?' Kyoyume asked rather irritably.
'I'm not looking.'
'You want me to say it out-loud so that he possibly might hear me?'
'Whisper it.'
"I don't know..."
"What don't you know?"
Kyoyume jumped and turned toward him. "I, um, don't know where I'm going."
"Where do you wanna go?"
Kyoyume looked around. "I'm not sure, I'm kinda bored, with the rain and all....so...anywhere is good...."
"Oh."
"Heh, heh." Kyoyume said, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.
"I'm going to feed Entei." He told her, a large thing of fish slung over his shoulder.
"Oh, ok....I guess I'll just hang around here and watch..." Kyoyume said.
Hakudoshi walked to a room, a huge room, where Entei paced in agitation.
Kyoyume stood at the door, leaning against it, and letting her mind wander as she watched her little friend feed her even larger friend.
Hakudoshi finished feeding the huge horse and walked over to Kyoyume.
Kyoyume, however, was still in her own little world, thinking everything over again.
"What'cha thinkin' 'bout?"
"....Nothing...."
"No, you can tell me, or I'll have to find out the hard way."
"You mean torture, or reading my mind?"
"Reading your mind."
"Ah...." Kyoyume said, averting her eyes as she started to slip away again.
"Please, tell me."
Kyoyume looked up at Entei. "Does he talk?"
"No."
Kyoyume leaned out the doorway to see if anyone was coming, then, slid the door shut and went and sat by Entei, patting the ground for Hakudoushi to sit down as well.
Hakudoshi sat beside her, confused.
Kyoyume sighed, ruffling her blue bangs with her hand. "I think I like Naraku."
"Like as in?"
"That's just it, I'm not sure if it's just as friends or something else..."
"...I see. So you think you love my master?"
Kyoyume felt her heart leap at the thought, and bit her lower lip. "I....I don't know...."
"I see...I'll let you think about it and I won't tell."
Kyoyume gave him a small hug. "Thanks."
He smirked. 'I got it outta her...now to get it outta him.' He thought. "Well, I'm gonna go see what Naraku's up to."
Hakudoushi strolled down the corridors until he got to the one that Naraku was in.
"What is it, Hakudoshi?"
"I just wanted to ask you a few things, Naraku-sama."
"Like?"
"Oh, just idle questions." Hakudoushi said, closing the screen door behind him.
"Like?" Naraku repeated.
"I'm just curious as to why you let that cat hanyou hang around. She gets knocked out in every fight. She's not worth saving all the time, is she?"
Naraku thought for a second. "She provides a challenge."
"Several challenges." Hakudoushi scoffed, waiting for Naraku to explode and tell him he was wrong about Kyoyume.
"Like?" He growled.
"Oh, you know, sulking about, she has terrible mood swings, and her ears twitch entirely too much when she's excited."
"...Not really." He snapped. "And the ear thing, its, cute."
"Really?" Hakudoushi asked, noticing that Naraku looked vexed. "Her hair is the strangest color I've ever seen for a hanyou with black ears, she lacks the ability to cook, like any woman, and she claims she's a ronin, when girls can't be samurai."
"Demon women are always different, even if they're only half." He snapped.
"She's entirely too different if you ask me."
"No she isn't."
"How so? Have you ever met someone like her before?"
"No."
"Plus, she's got one of the shards that she stole from you. And she shivers every time she gets near a dark aura, not to mention that her own demon side comes out way too often."
"And that's bad?"
"What? That she killed one of your golems and stole from you?"
"It doesn't matter now."
"Why not?"
"Because its in the past."
"She stills holds the shard, she could run off at any time with it and hand it over to Inuyasha's band of idiots."
"She wouldn't." He snapped quickly, too quickly.
Hakudoushi was relieved that his 'father' seemed to be slipping up. He was starting to become afraid that he might have to ask blunt outright what he wanted to know. "I'll bet she would. She looks tired, and I've seen her looking at the forests longingly for some time now."
"That doesn't mean she'd go to Inuyasha." He defended.
"And why wouldn't she? Surely she'd run into them, since we're so close to Inuyasha's Forest, and fight them, and, inevitably lose the shard, or simply let them take it, with news of where we're hiding."
"...I doubt it."
"Then she would get herself killed."
Naraku stared at him. "Stop."
Hakudoushi raised an eyebrow. "Stop what?"
"Stop saying things like that." He growled.
"Like what?" He asked, hoping to vex his 'father' further.
"That she'll betray us and give the shard to Inuyasha or die."
"I'm only telling the truth. You have to have noticed it yourself. She doesn't like that evil, demon side of her at all. She's weak like Inuyasha."
"She isn't weak."
"Every time someone attacks her, she either goes berserk and passes out, or goes berserk and nearly gets herself killed. She has no control over herself."
"That doesn't make her weak."
"It makes her unstable, and a constant nuisance." Hakudoushi said.
"You like her, you know it."
"I have no intention of liking such a pitiful creature."
"You do. Now what do you want?"
Hakudoushi gritted his teeth and prepared himself. "I want her dead."
Naraku swiftly took his fist to the young boy's head. "No, you don't."
Hakudoushi forced down his anger at being hit. "Yes I do, she's useless and stupid!"
"You're bluffing! You're trying to get me to tell you I think I might like her you stupid little boy-" Naraku started. 'Opps.' He thought, realizing he slipped.
Hakudoushi smirked inwardly. "Liar! I hate her!" He yelled before running out, holding one hand to the place he'd been hit. 'It hurt, but it's worth it.'
Naraku turned a little red. "I can't believe I said that." He muttered.
At that same time, Kyoyume appeared in the doorway. "Hey, Naraku- sama, I just heard yelling, is everything alright?"
He looked at her, trying to look calm. "I'm fine. Hakudoshi just being a bother."
"Really?" Kyoyume asked, taking a seat with a smile. "Kids can be at times."
"Yeah." He said, avoiding her eyes.
"Nani? What's the matter Naraku-san?"
"What?"
"You're averting your eyes. Did I do something?" Kyoyume asked, folding her ears back in concern.
"...No."
"Then what's the matter?" She asked, only slightly relieved.
"...Nothing, just something Hakudoshi said."
Kyoyume wanted to ask, but thought it might be rude to ask about Naraku's personal life, so she let the painful silence descend without a word.
Naraku sat down in front of the cat, facing her, locking his red eyes with her blue gray ones.
She watched him, unsure of what was going on.
They sat there for several minutes, silently watching each other.
Finally, Kyoyume spoke up. "Naraku?"
"Nani?"
"I was just thinking that..." She broke off, not sure what she wanted to say.
"...Just say it."
"I think....I think I...."
Naraku said nothing, a little perplexed.
Kyoyume swallowed hard and smiled at him. "Never mind."
"No say it." He told her.
Kyoyume took a deep breath. "I think I'm in l-"
"...Go on."
"I think I'm in love."
"With?" He asked curiously.
"Y-"
"Naraku-sama! Naraku-sama!"
"What Hakudoshi?!"
"At the main gate!! It's-" Hakudoushi stopped when he saw them, but hastily recovered. "It's Inuyasha!"
"What does he want?" He asked standing up.
"They're trying to get in!" Hakudoushi said, seeing Kyoyume stand as well.
Naraku sighed.
Kyoyume fingered the blade at her side. "Should I go....?"
"Sure."
Without another word, Kyoyume ran out the door and disappeared down the hallway to get her outfit.
Naraku was at the entrance, where the Inu-taichi was standing.
Kyoyume arrived moments later, everything in place and ready to go.
Suddenly Hakudoshi appeared, riding on the back of Entei, sword drawn.
Together, they stood, and floated, before the ranks of Inuyasha's small band.
"Jewel shards." Inuyasha snapped.
"Get lost." Kyoyume growled back.
"We don't need Naraku's wench telling us what to do!" Inuyasha growled.
Kyoyume's horrible temper flared, but she managed to keep it cooled. "Then come and get them, if you can."
"Maybe...that's not such a good idea Inuyasha." Kagome said biting her lip.
Inuyasha growled, glaring at the sneering woman before him.
But Miroku had already sauntered over, taking Kyoyume's hands in his and getting down on a knee. "Fairest, will you, bear me a son?" He asked her.
Kyoyume was stunned, what was this human doing, and why was his other hand wandering...? Angrily, she swatted both hands. "Get off me. Baka, hentai houshi."
Naraku looked at the monk like he was a dead man. He would be in a second.
Kyoyume sent him a death glare, wishing she could kill him straight out for just thinking about touching her.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango cried exasperatedly as Naraku punched him completely stupid. His hand though, still planted on Kyoyume's bottom.
"Baka!" Kyoyume growled, ripping his hand off her set and pushing him away from her with her foot as hard as she could.
"Let's leave!" Kagome insisted, taking Inuyasha's hand and dragging him away, Sango following with Miroku.
Kyoyume stared after them, rather disappointed. "Well....that was.....really...unexpected...." Kyoyume said, starting to take her mask off.
Naraku just growled. Hakudoshi just laughed.
With a sigh, Kyoyume folded up the cloth. "Naraku-sama, may I go to the village?"
"Why?"
"Get some more cloth, or to just do something with myself for a few hours."
"Just for the sake, take Entei with you, he needs a run." Naraku nodded to the horse and Hakudoshi slid off him.
"Oh, ok, c'mon Entei. Arigatou, Naraku-sama." Kyoyume waved goodbye before mounting and riding off.
As the giant figure of the horse disappeared Hakudoshi looked up at his 'father'. "You really like her don't you?"
"Don't be silly." Naraku growled, turning and heading back for his fortress.
"No. I'm being serious. You were jealous when the monk touched her."
Naraku felt a slight burning sensation touch his cheeks. ".....No."
"Yes."
"Don't press me Hakudoushi, I'm in a bad mood." Naraku warned.
"Because of the monk. Exactly. You really like Kyo-san."
"Enough, Hakudoushi. I've had enough of your antics for the day."
"Stop. Just be honest with me old man." He snapped stubbornly.
"I will be honest in saying that I am NOT an old man."
"Be honest in saying you like the cat."
"I do not like Kyoyume in the way that you are suggesting."
"Yes you do admit it, I won't tell!"
Naraku kept silent, not wanting to admit anything to Hakudoushi.
"Admit it."
"You heard me in the fortress. That is all the admitting I'll do."
"Some father figure you are."
"I only wish to keep to myself, thank you."
"Fine, whatever." He pouted.
"You don't have to pout, you know the truth, but not a word of it is to be breathed to Kyoyume."
He nodded. "Not a word will be spoken."
Meanwhile, the said hanyou was traveling to the village, deep in thought.
She absently stroked Entei's back as she thought.
"What do you think, Entei? Should I try telling him again?"
Entei neighed and shook his mane.
"Yeah, you're right, something will happen again." Kyoyume said grumpily.
He neighed again, as to say 'just wait a while.'
Kyoyume patted him again lovingly.
They got to the village, which was calm and quiet on that night.
"Should we really go in?" Kyoyume wandered aloud. "I'm having second thoughts....but I told Naraku I was going to the village so..."
Entei neighed in response and began to trot into the village.
Kyoyume walked after him, looking around warily. Where was that strange feeling coming from?
Entei reared, just a little. He was uncomfortable....
"You feel it too?" Kyoyume asked him under her breath. "Something's watching us...."
"Well, well." A voice from behind a tree came, sneering.
Kyoyume jumped, feeling the aura getting closer. Entei gave a neigh so deep and powerful it sounded like a growl.
"You'll provide much entertainment...." The voice sneered, suddenly, Kyoyume was gone, and Entei sped back to the castle.
Entei took to the air, a scream-like neigh proceeding him.
Hakudoshi heard the scream and rushed out as Entei landed.
"Entei?" He asked, searching the sweaty and gasping horse for signs of a battle. "Where's Kyoyume?!"
He looked inside the horses mind. "Naraku-sama!"
Naraku stood, sensing the demon horses shaky presence before Hakudoushi's call. Throwing open his door to the walkway, he looked down on his 'son'. "What?!"
"...Kyoyume's been kidnapped!"
Naraku's heat nearly stopped at his 'son's' words. "....." Before another thought entered his mind, he was taking off, rapidly for the village.
Hakudoshi mounted Entei and followed his 'father'.
"Who was it, Hakudoushi?!" Naraku asked angrily.
"Some man standing behind a tree was all that Entei and Kyo saw!"
"Which tree? Where?!" Naraku growled, stopping as he reached the border of the village.
Hakudoshi pointed to the large oak tree beside Naraku.
Striding toward the tree, Naraku tried to pick up a scent, or any trace of a demon or human being nearby.
He picked up a sent, a large, powerful, demon male.
With a growl, he ran after the scent without a word, his usually calm mind in a frenzy.
Entei and Hakudoshi followed.
Kyoyume struggled in his arms, kicking and biting, scratching and clawing. "Get off of me you bastard!"
The demon dropped her, they were in a closed off cave. "I like 'em fiesty."
Kyoyume growled again, barring her fangs at him. "Stay away, creep!"
He twirled a lock of her hair in his hand. "Why do you keep it so short?"
Kyoyume clawed at him. "Don't touch me." She warned, narrowing her eyes.
To humor the young cat, her attacker ran his fingers down her arms. Causing her to shiver.
"I said don't touch me!" She growled more fiercely, wondering why her demon side wasn't taking over yet.
"You're so weak, for such a pretty girl." He taunted.
Kyoyume growled, knowing it was partially true. "You'll be in trouble if you make one move." She warned angrily, hoping to scare him.
"Ha! Like I, demon Lord of the South, would believe such a hollow threat!" He laughed.
'D-demon...Lord?' Kyoyume thought in shock. "It's not a hollow threat, so hands off." Kyoyume growled, folding her arms across her chest.
"I like you too much not to have a little touch." He laughed, thumb running across her cheek.
"Well, I DON'T like you." She said, brushing his thumb off her face. "And I don't appreciate your touching me at all."
"And does anyone care? No, I don't believe so."
"I care." Kyoyume said, getting a bit frightened by the demons advances.
"Does anyone care enough to save you?" He laughed. "Didn't think so."
Kyoyume thought it over. DID anyone care? What would they do when they found Entei with no Kyoyume? Would they even think twice about her disappearance? She shivered at the thought of what might happen if no one did truly care what happened to her.
"Did that just hit you, little one?" The demon lord laughed. "Well soon you'll be mine and it won't matter."
Kyoyume felt her stomach plummet as he grabbed hold of her again. "Get off..." She growled, not knowing what else to do.
"And if I don't want to?"
"I'll kill you." Naraku growled from behind him.
"What?" He whipped around to see Naraku and Hakudoshi, Entei waiting outside the cave.
"Get your filthy hands off her." Naraku growled dangerously.
"...Why?"
Kyoyume helplessly tried to move her arms so that she could claw his arms, but found that she was pinned so tightly that she couldn't move. "Because she doesn't want you." She heard Naraku say as she tried to work her claws into a fighting pose.
"In my world it only matters what I want."
Kyoyume growled at him angrily as he increased his tight hold on her. "I suggest you give up that way of life before it kills you." Naraku said with a small smirk.
"How will it kill me? Who's this rat to you anyway?"
"More than what she is to you, you pig." Naraku answered, narrowing his eyes. "Let her go now and no harm will come to you."
He threw Kyoyume down. "I respect myself too much to die for the sake of a woman." He said stalking out.
She gasped as she hit the hard floor, small marks of where he had held tightly to her arms showing up.
Hakudoshi looked at her, a little worry showing. "Are you okay, Kyo-san?"
Kyoyume gave a small nod, along with a growl of irritation. "Stupid bastard..." She cursed, rubbing her shoulders and straightening her outfit.
"Are you okay?" Naraku asked, trying to sound like he didn't remotely care, and failing at it.
Kyoyume nodded, heart aching a bit at being caught in such a situation. "Yes, I'm fine, Naraku-sama."
"Okay then, come on." He demanded.
Kyoyume walked after him, hoping that she didn't reek of the demon that had just tried to force himself on her.
Hakudoshi gestured for her to get on Entei with him, Naraku walking in front.
Kyoyume hung her head, not sure if she wanted to look any of them in the eyes anymore.
"What's wrong Kyo-san?"
Kyoyume shook off the feeling of guilt and disgust, and smiled at Hakudoushi. "Nothing, nothing at all."
"You're lying."
"No, really, it's...nothing..." Kyoyume said softly.
"Please...tell me."
Kyoyume shook her head, small tears coming to her eyes. "No..." She whispered.
"Please." Hakudoshi begged. "Just whisper it to me.
"I'm just...so happy...that you came for me..." She said, inclining her head to his ear.
"Why wouldn't we?"
"It's just...something the demon said...I...I didn't think you would..."
"You shouldn't listen to demons like that. They just wanna make it so your so degraded and self-loathing they can have their way with you no problem. We wouldn't let that happen."
Kyoyume smiled, feeling a shiver run down her spine as she thought about what had taken place. "Arigatou....Haku-kun...."
"Not a problem, look, we're home." He told her, seeing the castle in close range.
'Home?' Kyoyume thought, looking up to the castle quizzically. 'Yes...it is home...'
{end chapter}