**********
Prisoners
Love Me or Leash Me
**********
Inu Yasha sank down into the soft canvas couch in the house in Osaka. It was nowhere near as grand or as well decorated as the mansion in Tokyo, but here they would at least be safe. He gazed absently out the window, somehow sure that at this very moment Kouga was planning his own "rescue" of Kagome. Tonight, probably, the wolf demon would storm into that empty house.
Five hundred and fifty years ago, Inu Yasha would never have believed he would go to such trouble for a human girl. He looked down at her sleeping face, still laying contentedly against his shoulder. Luckily, no one had yet questioned the fact that he hadn't put her into a bed. *So what? She's comfortable here, and it would probably wake her up if I moved her.* He held his breath as Kagome shifted, only to snuggle even closer to him. Inu Yasha glanced to his left and right before being satisfied that they were alone. He grinned so widely his face looked as if it would split in two and pulled Kagome tight against him.
"I love you, bitch, you know that?" this was said with affection, but he was sure that if Kagome were awake, she would attempt to 'sit' him right about now. He placed his chin over her head and closed his eyes, finally letting sleep take him.
*****
Tamiko fingered the prayer beads in her bag, wondering whether or not to use them on Chiyo, instead of giving them to Kagome, as she'd originally intended. Though most of her memories of her past life were fuzzy, at best, she could remember throwing prayer beads on Inu Yasha, and the word 'sit' . . . The memory held some important significance, something to do with help Kagome. Still . . .
"I just don't know how we're going to keep her from running away," Master Kenjishi leaned heavily on his staff, sighing unhappily.
From her perch on the kitchen counter, Kanta rolled her eyes, "She never would have been able to make that attempt if you hadn't untied her."
"She used a very clever ploy . . . "
"She said she wanted to kiss you, and you were dumb enough to believe her!" Kanta exploded.
Master Kenjishi shrugged, "I just happen to be a very trusting soul, that's all."
Kanta closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose to ward off the stress-induced headache that was threatening her. "Fine . . . Shippo is in there now, and from now on we all agree that Master Kenjishi cannot watch Chiyo alone."
Tamiko took a deep breath, "Kanta, I believe I have a way to prevent Chiyo from escaping.... I was going to give it to Kagome, but...." she pulled out the string of purple beads, alternating with pointed teeth.
Kanta gasped in awe, "Shippo told me... are those the same beads?"
Tamiko blushed, "Ah, no, I purchased these, but with Kagome's powers they should work as well."
Kanta laughed, "...And Kagome sure could use them. Man, I wish I had something like that for Shippo...."
Master Kenjishi cleared his throat, "Excuse me, but what sense does it make to have such control over Inu Yasha now that he seems to have overcome his homicidal tendencies? Would it not make more sense to use them to restrain Chiyo?" He straightened up proudly, "I'm even willing to bear the burden of keeping the word that will subdue her."
Kanta raised an eyebrow, "Let me guess: 'lay'." Master Kenjishi looked insulted, while Tamiko struggled not to laugh, "Believe me, we have nothing to worry about as long as we don't let Chiyo manipulate us. She may not look it, but I have reason to believe that she's currently quite weak."
Master Kenjishi looked worried, "What reason?"
Kanta sighed, "It was far too easy to bring her with us. Her lackluster fighting skills confirm something I have long suspected."
Tamiko's eyes were wide, "What might that be?"
Kanta cracked a knuckle, a nervous habit, and stood, "For some time now human societies have been polluting the environment with chemical waste, putrid fogs, and other such filth...."
"Sorry about that," Tamiko offered quietly.
Kanta closed her eyes, "Such threats to nature are also threats to those who live in such direct contact with it, like the wolf pack." Kanta swallowed thickly, "Many of my tribe have been claimed by a condition affecting the respiratory system. It is a disease to which we will not give a name, such is it's evil, but it has depleted our numbers greatly. I believe that now Chiyo, too, has fallen to it's influence."
Master Kenjishi looked as though he were trying to swallow a cactus, "But- is there nothing we can do?"
Kanta shook her head sadly, "We must not tell her that we know. It would damage her pride. You can see now why I am not afraid of her escaping."
Tamiko nodded, "It almost seems.... cruel, now, to keep her here."
Kanta ran her fingers through her hair, "I had no choice, she would have been able to inform to Kouga, I-" she sighed deeply, "Soon, when I have made a plan to keep you all safe, I will take her back to the pack myself."
*****
Kagome awoke feeling happier than she had in over a year. Her first sight when she opened her eyes was of Inu Yasha's clawed hand. *Clawed? When I saw him last he was in his human form, it must be morning.* Kagome decided against getting up and leaving Inu Yasha's embrace. Instead she kept her breathing even and her body relaxed as she snuggled her head against his neck-
"I know you're awake."
*Damn!* Kagome pulled back and yawned, stretching lightly. "Inu Yasha?" she asked sleepily, "How long have I been here? Where am I?"
The hanyou eyed her suspiciously, "We've been here since last night, and you are in Osaka, in my old home."
Kagome fought the urge to smile, "...and why am I in your lap?"
He narrowed his eyes, "Because you haven't gotten up yet."
Kagome shrugged lightly, "Fair enough." She slid off the couch and got to her feet. She tried to step away, but was pulled back abruptly by the strong hand that caught her wrist. She was in the hanyou's lap again, their noses almost touching.
"We need to talk," he stated simply.
*****
Minutes later, their fight was loud enough to be heard in the kitchen.
"Sounds like Kagome's awake," Kanta observed.
Tamiko nodded, but didn't look up from her bowl of Ramen (the only food in the house). Master Kenjishi had left to assist Shippo with keeping an eye on Chiyo. Except for Chiyo's occasional yell of "pervert!" the house had been mercifully quiet.
"Bitch!"
"Dog breath!"
...Until now. The kitchen door swung open to admit a very angry looking Kagome, quickly followed by a confused but pissed Inu Yasha. Kanta looked up, nonplused, "So, what happened this time?"
"He said- and I- he thought-" Kagome seethed, "Hell, I don't really know what happened, but I don't think I've ever been this mad before!"
Inu Yasha looked around the kitchen, "Where is Chiyo?"
"Shippo and Master Kenjishi have her tied up in your bedroom," Tamiko answered.
Inu Yasha turned on his heel and marched to his room, muttering, "I don't care if the fox is in there, I don't trust Miroku with any woman that's tied up...."
Kagome stared after him, before looking to Kanta and Tamiko. Her stomach growled. "Is there any more of that Ramen?"
"Tons," Tamiko gestured to the cupboard. Kagome nodded and put the kettle on.
"So," she began akwardly, "If Kenjishi is Miroku, and Chiyo is Sango, who are you, Tamiko? A student of Kenjishi's?"
Tamiko set down her spoon, "I believe you knew me as Kaede." Kagome gasped. Tamiko chuckled lightly, "It's difficult, isn't it? I can remember being close to you Kagome, both as my sister and later as you are now, yet in this life time I feel as though I've just met you."
Kagome nodded, "It's a strange feeling."
On the stove the kettle whistled, Kanta rose smoothly to get it. She waved Kagome away and began to pour the water in with the Ramen. "It seems to me that you two need a bonding experience." She set the bowl down in front of Kagome, "Tamiko, didn't you say that you had a gift for Kagome?"
Tamiko smiled.
*****
"You do NOT untie a captive!" Shippo was yelling when Inu Yasha opened the bedroom door.
"But she said she was uncomfortable."
"She was lying!" Shippo was looking very harassed, while the old master looked utterly unperturbed. Chiyo meanwhile was trying to maintain her fierce pride, even while being tied to a chair watched over by a kitsune and a nearly senile human. She was doing a good job of it, Inu Yasha decided, it almost looked as though she were staying with them by choice. The hanyou cleared his throat.
"What's going on here?"
Shippo glanced over, "Inu Yasha, you're alive. Can we then assume that you killed Kagome?"
Inu Yasha rolled his eyes, *Damn sensitive demon ears....* "We've always fought, Shippo."
Chiyo smiled tauntingly, "Has her tone always held so much hatred? From what I heard she must truly detest you, Inu Yasha."
Inu Yasha's eyes flashed red, "You shut the hell up, bitch."
Kagome entered the room just in time to hear the last. She mock- pouted, "Inu Yasha, I thought I was 'bitch'... are you giving other people my pet names, now?"
Tamiko was right behind her, "I think he might be, Kagome, he called me a wench."
Kagome sniffled, "Now that really hurts...."
Inu Yasha growled lightly, "This isn't funny."
"I beg to differ," Chiyo piped up.
"I told you to shut up!" Inu Yasha nearly yelled.
"Inu Yasha, please try to be a bit more sympathetic, she has had a very hard time." Master Kenjishi knelt down next to the wolf demon, "After being separated from her family, held here unjustly...."
"You wanted to bring her...." Shippo muttered.
"I never wanted her held against her will, I only wanted to give her a chance to realize her true feelings for me." He clasped a hand on her shoulder, "She is a rare and lovely spirit, and I find it unfair to confine her like this.
Inu Yasha folded his arms over his chest, "Some people deserve to be restrained...."
Kagome smiled sweetly at him, "I'm glad you agree, Inu Yasha." Kanta had entered the room behind him and was in position. In less than a second, she slipped the beaded necklace over his head.
"Kagome! Say it!" Tamiko urged.
"SIT!"
**********
Wow, that came much more easily than the last chapter! Hope you liked.
Prisoners
Love Me or Leash Me
**********
Inu Yasha sank down into the soft canvas couch in the house in Osaka. It was nowhere near as grand or as well decorated as the mansion in Tokyo, but here they would at least be safe. He gazed absently out the window, somehow sure that at this very moment Kouga was planning his own "rescue" of Kagome. Tonight, probably, the wolf demon would storm into that empty house.
Five hundred and fifty years ago, Inu Yasha would never have believed he would go to such trouble for a human girl. He looked down at her sleeping face, still laying contentedly against his shoulder. Luckily, no one had yet questioned the fact that he hadn't put her into a bed. *So what? She's comfortable here, and it would probably wake her up if I moved her.* He held his breath as Kagome shifted, only to snuggle even closer to him. Inu Yasha glanced to his left and right before being satisfied that they were alone. He grinned so widely his face looked as if it would split in two and pulled Kagome tight against him.
"I love you, bitch, you know that?" this was said with affection, but he was sure that if Kagome were awake, she would attempt to 'sit' him right about now. He placed his chin over her head and closed his eyes, finally letting sleep take him.
*****
Tamiko fingered the prayer beads in her bag, wondering whether or not to use them on Chiyo, instead of giving them to Kagome, as she'd originally intended. Though most of her memories of her past life were fuzzy, at best, she could remember throwing prayer beads on Inu Yasha, and the word 'sit' . . . The memory held some important significance, something to do with help Kagome. Still . . .
"I just don't know how we're going to keep her from running away," Master Kenjishi leaned heavily on his staff, sighing unhappily.
From her perch on the kitchen counter, Kanta rolled her eyes, "She never would have been able to make that attempt if you hadn't untied her."
"She used a very clever ploy . . . "
"She said she wanted to kiss you, and you were dumb enough to believe her!" Kanta exploded.
Master Kenjishi shrugged, "I just happen to be a very trusting soul, that's all."
Kanta closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose to ward off the stress-induced headache that was threatening her. "Fine . . . Shippo is in there now, and from now on we all agree that Master Kenjishi cannot watch Chiyo alone."
Tamiko took a deep breath, "Kanta, I believe I have a way to prevent Chiyo from escaping.... I was going to give it to Kagome, but...." she pulled out the string of purple beads, alternating with pointed teeth.
Kanta gasped in awe, "Shippo told me... are those the same beads?"
Tamiko blushed, "Ah, no, I purchased these, but with Kagome's powers they should work as well."
Kanta laughed, "...And Kagome sure could use them. Man, I wish I had something like that for Shippo...."
Master Kenjishi cleared his throat, "Excuse me, but what sense does it make to have such control over Inu Yasha now that he seems to have overcome his homicidal tendencies? Would it not make more sense to use them to restrain Chiyo?" He straightened up proudly, "I'm even willing to bear the burden of keeping the word that will subdue her."
Kanta raised an eyebrow, "Let me guess: 'lay'." Master Kenjishi looked insulted, while Tamiko struggled not to laugh, "Believe me, we have nothing to worry about as long as we don't let Chiyo manipulate us. She may not look it, but I have reason to believe that she's currently quite weak."
Master Kenjishi looked worried, "What reason?"
Kanta sighed, "It was far too easy to bring her with us. Her lackluster fighting skills confirm something I have long suspected."
Tamiko's eyes were wide, "What might that be?"
Kanta cracked a knuckle, a nervous habit, and stood, "For some time now human societies have been polluting the environment with chemical waste, putrid fogs, and other such filth...."
"Sorry about that," Tamiko offered quietly.
Kanta closed her eyes, "Such threats to nature are also threats to those who live in such direct contact with it, like the wolf pack." Kanta swallowed thickly, "Many of my tribe have been claimed by a condition affecting the respiratory system. It is a disease to which we will not give a name, such is it's evil, but it has depleted our numbers greatly. I believe that now Chiyo, too, has fallen to it's influence."
Master Kenjishi looked as though he were trying to swallow a cactus, "But- is there nothing we can do?"
Kanta shook her head sadly, "We must not tell her that we know. It would damage her pride. You can see now why I am not afraid of her escaping."
Tamiko nodded, "It almost seems.... cruel, now, to keep her here."
Kanta ran her fingers through her hair, "I had no choice, she would have been able to inform to Kouga, I-" she sighed deeply, "Soon, when I have made a plan to keep you all safe, I will take her back to the pack myself."
*****
Kagome awoke feeling happier than she had in over a year. Her first sight when she opened her eyes was of Inu Yasha's clawed hand. *Clawed? When I saw him last he was in his human form, it must be morning.* Kagome decided against getting up and leaving Inu Yasha's embrace. Instead she kept her breathing even and her body relaxed as she snuggled her head against his neck-
"I know you're awake."
*Damn!* Kagome pulled back and yawned, stretching lightly. "Inu Yasha?" she asked sleepily, "How long have I been here? Where am I?"
The hanyou eyed her suspiciously, "We've been here since last night, and you are in Osaka, in my old home."
Kagome fought the urge to smile, "...and why am I in your lap?"
He narrowed his eyes, "Because you haven't gotten up yet."
Kagome shrugged lightly, "Fair enough." She slid off the couch and got to her feet. She tried to step away, but was pulled back abruptly by the strong hand that caught her wrist. She was in the hanyou's lap again, their noses almost touching.
"We need to talk," he stated simply.
*****
Minutes later, their fight was loud enough to be heard in the kitchen.
"Sounds like Kagome's awake," Kanta observed.
Tamiko nodded, but didn't look up from her bowl of Ramen (the only food in the house). Master Kenjishi had left to assist Shippo with keeping an eye on Chiyo. Except for Chiyo's occasional yell of "pervert!" the house had been mercifully quiet.
"Bitch!"
"Dog breath!"
...Until now. The kitchen door swung open to admit a very angry looking Kagome, quickly followed by a confused but pissed Inu Yasha. Kanta looked up, nonplused, "So, what happened this time?"
"He said- and I- he thought-" Kagome seethed, "Hell, I don't really know what happened, but I don't think I've ever been this mad before!"
Inu Yasha looked around the kitchen, "Where is Chiyo?"
"Shippo and Master Kenjishi have her tied up in your bedroom," Tamiko answered.
Inu Yasha turned on his heel and marched to his room, muttering, "I don't care if the fox is in there, I don't trust Miroku with any woman that's tied up...."
Kagome stared after him, before looking to Kanta and Tamiko. Her stomach growled. "Is there any more of that Ramen?"
"Tons," Tamiko gestured to the cupboard. Kagome nodded and put the kettle on.
"So," she began akwardly, "If Kenjishi is Miroku, and Chiyo is Sango, who are you, Tamiko? A student of Kenjishi's?"
Tamiko set down her spoon, "I believe you knew me as Kaede." Kagome gasped. Tamiko chuckled lightly, "It's difficult, isn't it? I can remember being close to you Kagome, both as my sister and later as you are now, yet in this life time I feel as though I've just met you."
Kagome nodded, "It's a strange feeling."
On the stove the kettle whistled, Kanta rose smoothly to get it. She waved Kagome away and began to pour the water in with the Ramen. "It seems to me that you two need a bonding experience." She set the bowl down in front of Kagome, "Tamiko, didn't you say that you had a gift for Kagome?"
Tamiko smiled.
*****
"You do NOT untie a captive!" Shippo was yelling when Inu Yasha opened the bedroom door.
"But she said she was uncomfortable."
"She was lying!" Shippo was looking very harassed, while the old master looked utterly unperturbed. Chiyo meanwhile was trying to maintain her fierce pride, even while being tied to a chair watched over by a kitsune and a nearly senile human. She was doing a good job of it, Inu Yasha decided, it almost looked as though she were staying with them by choice. The hanyou cleared his throat.
"What's going on here?"
Shippo glanced over, "Inu Yasha, you're alive. Can we then assume that you killed Kagome?"
Inu Yasha rolled his eyes, *Damn sensitive demon ears....* "We've always fought, Shippo."
Chiyo smiled tauntingly, "Has her tone always held so much hatred? From what I heard she must truly detest you, Inu Yasha."
Inu Yasha's eyes flashed red, "You shut the hell up, bitch."
Kagome entered the room just in time to hear the last. She mock- pouted, "Inu Yasha, I thought I was 'bitch'... are you giving other people my pet names, now?"
Tamiko was right behind her, "I think he might be, Kagome, he called me a wench."
Kagome sniffled, "Now that really hurts...."
Inu Yasha growled lightly, "This isn't funny."
"I beg to differ," Chiyo piped up.
"I told you to shut up!" Inu Yasha nearly yelled.
"Inu Yasha, please try to be a bit more sympathetic, she has had a very hard time." Master Kenjishi knelt down next to the wolf demon, "After being separated from her family, held here unjustly...."
"You wanted to bring her...." Shippo muttered.
"I never wanted her held against her will, I only wanted to give her a chance to realize her true feelings for me." He clasped a hand on her shoulder, "She is a rare and lovely spirit, and I find it unfair to confine her like this.
Inu Yasha folded his arms over his chest, "Some people deserve to be restrained...."
Kagome smiled sweetly at him, "I'm glad you agree, Inu Yasha." Kanta had entered the room behind him and was in position. In less than a second, she slipped the beaded necklace over his head.
"Kagome! Say it!" Tamiko urged.
"SIT!"
**********
Wow, that came much more easily than the last chapter! Hope you liked.