**********
Prisoners
My Lost Love
**********
Kanta was the first to recover from Master Kenjishi's shocking statement. "Sango . . . ?" she looked to Shippo, who was standing with his mouth hanging open, "She was the demon exterminator, right?"
Chiyo snarled, outraged. "This old man has mistaken me for a killer of demons- a human?!" She sent a glare to the old master that made a visible drop of sweat run down his wrinkled face.
Tamiko emerged from her hiding place in the bushes. "He has recognized ye," her voice was slow, comprehending, "He knows of you, what he knew of himself, and me too . . . that you were, in a previous existence, were our dear companion, Sango."
Kagome gasped audibly and jerked her arm away from Inu Yasha, who had been trying to lead her gently to safety. "Miroku?" she asked tentatively, addressing the man inching away from Chiyo as she scowled dangerously.
Master Kenjishi turned partially to her, still keeping an eye on the wolf demon, "Yes, Kagome?"
Kagome blinked, surprised to be remembered over such vast oceans of time. *But even if he is Miroku . . . * "H-how could you know that Chiyo-" she couldn't finish the question, the matter at hand was too huge, so she let the silence settle.
The old Buddhist never took his eyes from the love of a life past, "How did I know she was Sango, is that what you want to know?" Kagome was silent, observing as the old eyes softened, despite the low warning rumble Chiyo was making deep within her throat. "I can tell you this; if I were blind, deaf, and had never communicated with another living creature, I am sure that somehow, Chiyo... Sango... I would still know you." His eyes were filling with tears, and Kagome could feel a lump in her throat.
Suddenly Chiyo attacked. In less than two seconds she had Master Kenjishi on his back in the dust, her bare foot pressing firmly in his neck. "Take it back . . . " she hissed.
"But -gak- my love . . . "
"I WAS NEVER A FILTHY HUMAN!" Chiyo yelled, "DAMN YOU, TAKE IT BACK!!!"
She was stopped by Inu Yasha, who grabbed her from behind, looping his arms through hers and pulling her back. Chiyo struggled against his hold, eventually giving up and slamming her head back into his. As the smell of blood hitting air filled her nostrils, Chiyo smiled. Inu Yasha fell beck, holding his bleeding nose, but managing to stay on his feet. Chiyo's triumph was cut short by two full-blooded youkai tackling her and wrestling her to the ground.
Master Kenjishi rubbed his neck and wheezed. Inu Yasha gingerly touched his nose, not liking at all the way it moved with so little resistance, *Probably broken . . . * Kagome was running over to him, concern etched on her face. "She never would have been able to do that if I'd been in my usual form," he muttered, only loud enough for Kagome to hear.
"Inu Yasha . . . " her voice held only sympathy as she reached out to lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He jerked away.
*What is going on in her head? In one day we've gone from passion, to icy rejection, to flirtation, to comfort. *
Before Inu Yasha had time to ponder further the workings of Kagome's mind, Shippo was sniffing the air. Chiyo took the opportunity struggle against him, in a vain attempt to free herself.
"Kanta!"
Kanta leapt to help the kitsune instantly, wrestling Chiyo to the ground again with a surprising minimum of effort. Chiyo was panting heavily. Shippo was still sniffing thoughtfully. Finally he spoke, "Kouga and the other wolves are coming back... fast."
Kagome grabbed Inu Yasha's arm, "If they find you-"
Inu Yasha's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Kagome, what time is it, approximately?"
"What does that have to do with anything? Inu Yasha, you have to get away from here before-"
"It is precisely five thirty-two," Tamiko provided.
Shippo grinned widely, "Perfect!" he turned to call into the forest, "Kirara!"
Kagome turned in amazement to see the familiar flames galloping across the sky, and riding them, "Kirara...." Kagome whispered. Inu Yasha grabbed her hand, hoisting her up and onto Kirara's back.
Tamiko wrinkled her nose, and turned to the fox demon. "You're... sure it's safe to ride her?"
Shippo nodded absently, regarding Kanta. "What do you think we should do with Chiyo?"
Kanta sighed, "I really don't know. I guess I've always known that you and I would have to face hardships because of our love, but I just don't feel ready to have it known quite yet. There will be no keeping her quiet...." she turned her face up towards his, tears glistening in her eyes, "I don't want to lose my pack, Shippo, my home..."
"She needs to come with us." All eyes turned to Master Kenjishi, "She is my Sango, and I believe that deep within her, she knows it." From the ground, Chiyo glared at him.
Inu Yasha sighed heavily, "Fine, she comes along too. Who knows, she might prove to be a useful bargaining chip if Kouga decides to steal Kagome again."
"I will not be traded for your human, half blood!" Chiyo spat, "Take me where you will, I will break free at the earliest opportunity." Kanta cleared her throat purposefully, and Chiyo glowered.
"Um, guys, we really don't have time for this," Shippo reminded them. Master Kenjishi nodded, and with some help from Tamiko was situated on Kirara's back. Tamiko sat beside him, behind Kagome and Inu Yasha. Kanta and Shippo were at the rear, with Chiyo held firmly between them.
They rode in silence at first. Kagome shivered in the cold night air and snuggled closer to Inu Yasha. He leaned away slightly, and Kagome backed off, feeling dejected.
Shippo sighed, "Does anyone else think it's a bad idea to go back to the house? Remember, Kouga does know where we live."
Kanta shook her head thoughtfully, "No, it would be a bad idea to attack an opponent in his own home-"
"We did," Shippo reminded her.
Kanta smirked, "Still, I doubt even Kouga would be that stupid."
Inu Yasha looked back in the direction of the wolf's cave. *Would Kouga be so ready to jump into an enemy's territory? I was, but that was different.* He looked to Kagome, who had her eyes closed and was leaning heavily against Kirara's neck. Even in her sleep, she was shivering. Inu Yasha pulled her close against him, keeping her warm while she slept. *Kouga could not feel for Kagome as I do.... it just isn't possible.*
He turned back to look at the others, then down at Kagome. "Kirara! Change course to Osaka!" He looked back at Shippo, "We're going back to the old house."
*****
Back at the cave, Kouga was sniffing the ground. Only an echo remained of his woman's scent, now accompanied by that fox demon, and three other humans, two of whom he didn't recognize and the last:
"Inu Yasha...." Kouga growled.
"My Lord Kouga!" Hakua inclined his head briefly. "It seems that two of our own pack have been taken as well as your woman."
Kouga looked at him sharply, "Which ones?"
The old demon looked down, "Chiyo and... my daughter, Kanta."
Kouga snarled, and turned purposefully into the cave. "Never fear! Assemble our best fighters and bring them to me," he clenched his hands into fists, already feeling the heat of the slowly rising sun on his neck and shoulders, "We attack tonight."
**********
Oooh! What's going to happen?
....
No, really, I'm wondering. I'll try to get the next chapter out quickly, but as you can probably tell, I'm not exactly working on a fixed outline. ^_^* Please forgive me for taking so lokg with this installment. Darth Real Life just wasn't feeling charitable when it came to my writing time.
Prisoners
My Lost Love
**********
Kanta was the first to recover from Master Kenjishi's shocking statement. "Sango . . . ?" she looked to Shippo, who was standing with his mouth hanging open, "She was the demon exterminator, right?"
Chiyo snarled, outraged. "This old man has mistaken me for a killer of demons- a human?!" She sent a glare to the old master that made a visible drop of sweat run down his wrinkled face.
Tamiko emerged from her hiding place in the bushes. "He has recognized ye," her voice was slow, comprehending, "He knows of you, what he knew of himself, and me too . . . that you were, in a previous existence, were our dear companion, Sango."
Kagome gasped audibly and jerked her arm away from Inu Yasha, who had been trying to lead her gently to safety. "Miroku?" she asked tentatively, addressing the man inching away from Chiyo as she scowled dangerously.
Master Kenjishi turned partially to her, still keeping an eye on the wolf demon, "Yes, Kagome?"
Kagome blinked, surprised to be remembered over such vast oceans of time. *But even if he is Miroku . . . * "H-how could you know that Chiyo-" she couldn't finish the question, the matter at hand was too huge, so she let the silence settle.
The old Buddhist never took his eyes from the love of a life past, "How did I know she was Sango, is that what you want to know?" Kagome was silent, observing as the old eyes softened, despite the low warning rumble Chiyo was making deep within her throat. "I can tell you this; if I were blind, deaf, and had never communicated with another living creature, I am sure that somehow, Chiyo... Sango... I would still know you." His eyes were filling with tears, and Kagome could feel a lump in her throat.
Suddenly Chiyo attacked. In less than two seconds she had Master Kenjishi on his back in the dust, her bare foot pressing firmly in his neck. "Take it back . . . " she hissed.
"But -gak- my love . . . "
"I WAS NEVER A FILTHY HUMAN!" Chiyo yelled, "DAMN YOU, TAKE IT BACK!!!"
She was stopped by Inu Yasha, who grabbed her from behind, looping his arms through hers and pulling her back. Chiyo struggled against his hold, eventually giving up and slamming her head back into his. As the smell of blood hitting air filled her nostrils, Chiyo smiled. Inu Yasha fell beck, holding his bleeding nose, but managing to stay on his feet. Chiyo's triumph was cut short by two full-blooded youkai tackling her and wrestling her to the ground.
Master Kenjishi rubbed his neck and wheezed. Inu Yasha gingerly touched his nose, not liking at all the way it moved with so little resistance, *Probably broken . . . * Kagome was running over to him, concern etched on her face. "She never would have been able to do that if I'd been in my usual form," he muttered, only loud enough for Kagome to hear.
"Inu Yasha . . . " her voice held only sympathy as she reached out to lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He jerked away.
*What is going on in her head? In one day we've gone from passion, to icy rejection, to flirtation, to comfort. *
Before Inu Yasha had time to ponder further the workings of Kagome's mind, Shippo was sniffing the air. Chiyo took the opportunity struggle against him, in a vain attempt to free herself.
"Kanta!"
Kanta leapt to help the kitsune instantly, wrestling Chiyo to the ground again with a surprising minimum of effort. Chiyo was panting heavily. Shippo was still sniffing thoughtfully. Finally he spoke, "Kouga and the other wolves are coming back... fast."
Kagome grabbed Inu Yasha's arm, "If they find you-"
Inu Yasha's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Kagome, what time is it, approximately?"
"What does that have to do with anything? Inu Yasha, you have to get away from here before-"
"It is precisely five thirty-two," Tamiko provided.
Shippo grinned widely, "Perfect!" he turned to call into the forest, "Kirara!"
Kagome turned in amazement to see the familiar flames galloping across the sky, and riding them, "Kirara...." Kagome whispered. Inu Yasha grabbed her hand, hoisting her up and onto Kirara's back.
Tamiko wrinkled her nose, and turned to the fox demon. "You're... sure it's safe to ride her?"
Shippo nodded absently, regarding Kanta. "What do you think we should do with Chiyo?"
Kanta sighed, "I really don't know. I guess I've always known that you and I would have to face hardships because of our love, but I just don't feel ready to have it known quite yet. There will be no keeping her quiet...." she turned her face up towards his, tears glistening in her eyes, "I don't want to lose my pack, Shippo, my home..."
"She needs to come with us." All eyes turned to Master Kenjishi, "She is my Sango, and I believe that deep within her, she knows it." From the ground, Chiyo glared at him.
Inu Yasha sighed heavily, "Fine, she comes along too. Who knows, she might prove to be a useful bargaining chip if Kouga decides to steal Kagome again."
"I will not be traded for your human, half blood!" Chiyo spat, "Take me where you will, I will break free at the earliest opportunity." Kanta cleared her throat purposefully, and Chiyo glowered.
"Um, guys, we really don't have time for this," Shippo reminded them. Master Kenjishi nodded, and with some help from Tamiko was situated on Kirara's back. Tamiko sat beside him, behind Kagome and Inu Yasha. Kanta and Shippo were at the rear, with Chiyo held firmly between them.
They rode in silence at first. Kagome shivered in the cold night air and snuggled closer to Inu Yasha. He leaned away slightly, and Kagome backed off, feeling dejected.
Shippo sighed, "Does anyone else think it's a bad idea to go back to the house? Remember, Kouga does know where we live."
Kanta shook her head thoughtfully, "No, it would be a bad idea to attack an opponent in his own home-"
"We did," Shippo reminded her.
Kanta smirked, "Still, I doubt even Kouga would be that stupid."
Inu Yasha looked back in the direction of the wolf's cave. *Would Kouga be so ready to jump into an enemy's territory? I was, but that was different.* He looked to Kagome, who had her eyes closed and was leaning heavily against Kirara's neck. Even in her sleep, she was shivering. Inu Yasha pulled her close against him, keeping her warm while she slept. *Kouga could not feel for Kagome as I do.... it just isn't possible.*
He turned back to look at the others, then down at Kagome. "Kirara! Change course to Osaka!" He looked back at Shippo, "We're going back to the old house."
*****
Back at the cave, Kouga was sniffing the ground. Only an echo remained of his woman's scent, now accompanied by that fox demon, and three other humans, two of whom he didn't recognize and the last:
"Inu Yasha...." Kouga growled.
"My Lord Kouga!" Hakua inclined his head briefly. "It seems that two of our own pack have been taken as well as your woman."
Kouga looked at him sharply, "Which ones?"
The old demon looked down, "Chiyo and... my daughter, Kanta."
Kouga snarled, and turned purposefully into the cave. "Never fear! Assemble our best fighters and bring them to me," he clenched his hands into fists, already feeling the heat of the slowly rising sun on his neck and shoulders, "We attack tonight."
**********
Oooh! What's going to happen?
....
No, really, I'm wondering. I'll try to get the next chapter out quickly, but as you can probably tell, I'm not exactly working on a fixed outline. ^_^* Please forgive me for taking so lokg with this installment. Darth Real Life just wasn't feeling charitable when it came to my writing time.