Disclaimer - Sadly, Inu Yasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz entermainment.
We do not own Inu Yasha, though we are working on it. However, we do
own a Wufei plushie, so that provides us with some comfort.
Inu Yasha, a Feudal Fairytale presents...
Don't You Dare
a Chang Po/Nataku production!
Chapter 3
After gathering the necessary ingredients for a poultice, Kagome and Inu
Yasha made their way back to the village. Both lost in their own thoughts,
neither made any attempt at friendly conversation, resigning themselves to
silence.
Kagome risked a glance over at him, totally aware to the fact that he was
completely oblivious to everything around him. Several times she had been
roused out of her own reverie as she stumbled over a root or accidentally
kicked a rock out of their path. Normally, such things would put the hanyou
by her side on the alert, wary for any signs of danger.
'He's completely out of it…' she thought to herself, worry tugging harshly at
her heartstrings. 'What's the matter with you, Inu Yasha…? Why won't you
tell me what's wrong?'
"Kagome-chan! Inu Yasha!"
Kagome looked up to see Kirara flying by overhead, Sango and Miroku
perched neatly on her back. She smiled brightly, her worried thoughts put
aside for the moment. "Sango-chan, Miroku-sama!"
The young houshi waved to them as the female taijiya brought Kirara around
to land beside them. Only when the two had dismounted and Kirara returned
to her smaller form did Inu Yasha notice their presence.
"Oh, you're back already." he replied, earning a quick glance from Kagome.
"How did your 'tests' go, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, adjusting the obi on
her yukata after she had changed out of her uniform.
"I don't know," Kagome admitted, rubbing the back of her head. "I left before I
could get the results." Inu Yasha gave her a quick look before turning his
attention some place else.
"Don't worry, Kagome-sama," Miroku replied, patting her back. "I'm sure you'll
do just fine."
"Thank you, Miroku-sama," Kagome replied, stopping his hand before it could
wander any further. "You're reassurance means a lot to me."
"It's my pleasure." He grinned innocently at the glare Sango was giving him.
"So, ahem… Inu Yasha, I take it your trip was successful?"
Inu Yasha gave him a shrug and a level gaze. "What of it? We got the shards
if that's what you mean."
"Of course. Kami forbid I be insinuating anything else."
"Houshi-sama…" Before Sango could lift her Hiraikotsu to wave threateningly
at him, the air was pierced with numerous shrieks and cries.
"What's happening?" Kagome asked.
"There are youkai afoot!" Miroku exclaimed. "Coming from the village!"
"Damnit!" All eyes turned to Inu Yasha as he took off towards the village. Quick
to act, Sango and Kirara followed.
"Strange… didn't Inu Yasha sense them?" Miroku wondered aloud.
"I don't think so," Kagome answered. "Something's wrong with him, and he's not telling!"
"Curious," Miroku frowned. "But we'll have to worry about that later." He took
Kagome's bike out of her grasp. "Let's go!"
"Right!" Kagome exclaimed, hopping on behind him as he pedaled on towards the village.
~~~
Inu Yasha and his company arrived at the village to find it in pandemonium.
People and livestock were in a frenzy, running hither and thither shrieking and screaming. All over the area roots had sprung up from the ground. It seemed as
though they had taken on lives of their own as they lifted carts and barrels and
the like into the air, hurling them at whoever dared to get near.
"What the hell's goin' on here?" Inu Yasha demanded, an angry scowl on his face.
He certainly was not in the mood for a fight right now.
"Inu Yasha, Kagome!" Kaede and Shippo came rushing towards them.
"What's going on, miko-sama?" Miroku asked, his staff poised ready for battle.
"We are under attack!" Kaede exclaimed. "The plant life hath taken on a life of
its own!"
"But who is causing all this?" Kagome wondered aloud. As she spoke, a glittering object flitted past her, tittering to itself. She blinked, wondering what it was when
it took on a different form. As she looked closer, she saw it to be a little person, no bigger than Shippo, with bird-like wings. It had bright eyes, long blue hair, and a cherubic little face. "Oh, is it an angel?" Kagome asked in wonder, enchanted by
its beauty.
Taking notice of her, the little creature whipped its head towards her, shooting her
a nasty glare. Kagome could only blink in surprise as it opened its mouth wide with
an angry shriek, revealing rows and rows of fierce, sharp teeth.
"A tree sprite!" Sango exclaimed, hefting her boomerang over her shoulders. "Hiraikotsu!" Her weapon sailed through the air, knocking the little creature to the ground as well as severing the tree root poised for Kagome's heart before sailing
back to Sango's hands.
At this Kagome quickly drew an arrow, unsure whether to aim for the sprites or
the tree roots they controlled. "There's so many of them!" she marveled, watching
them swarm all over the village.
"Ay, child," Kaede replied, shooting arrows at the rampant roots, pinning them to
the ground. Kagome followed suit to the best of her ability. "Hundreds of them
can be found living in a single tree."
"That's right," Sango added, hurling her boomerang once again. "There are
millions of them in existence, I believe, but they can only be found in the forests
in the North."
"In the North?" Kagome wondered. "But you and Miroku just came from the North. Why would they…?" She trailed off, noticing the deadpan look on Sango's face -
which was directed at the young monk beside her.
Several of the tree sprites stopped their assault on the villagers and charged
towards Miroku. "There he is! That's the one!" they shrieked in unison. "There's
the one who dared to insult our king!"
"Their king?" Inu Yasha gawked, though he was quite sure he didn't want to know.
Sango rubbed her temple in frustration. "Yes," she deadpanned. "Houshi-sama
asked the king of the tree sprites to bare his child."
"MIROKU!?" Kagome exclaimed, looking scandalized.
"Well," Miroku replied, looking calm as always. "I have to admit it was an error
on my part. But it was hard not to make such a mistake when their king looked
like a six foot tall, mortal woman."
Kagome nearly face-faulted.
The tree sprites however, were still furious about the injustice dealt their effeminate monarch. They flitted around Inu Yasha and the others like an angry swarm of bees whose hive had been raided, spitting and hissing angry curses.
"Vile human!"
"Mortal infidel!"
"Lecherous male!"
"Pervert!"
"Hm," Miroku quirked an eyebrow slightly. "That last one was a bit harsh."
"Are you kidding me!" Inu Yasha snarled at him, swatting at a sprite that had
flown too close to his face. "All right, I've had enough of this game!" With that,
he drew the Tetsusaiga. Once it transformed, he raised it into the air, though
Kagome noted he did so with some difficulty.
Sensing the danger, the sprites drew back, forming a big cloud above their heads.
The roots that had been reeking havoc throughout the village gathered before them, shooting down together towards a single point…
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome cried out in worry.
"I won't be beaten by a bunch of insects!" Inu Yasha exclaimed, leaping up
towards them, sword raised. "KAZE NO KIZU!!"
Once again, Tetsusaiga found its mark, obliterating many of the little winged
creatures, sending the survivors into a terrific frenzy. However, knowing when
they had met their match, they gathered their wounded and flew off towards the
north.
"They're going home!" Shippo exclaimed with relief.
"It seems another crisis has been averted then."
Thump! Hiraikotsu found its mark once again. "No thanks to you!"
Kagome put away her arrows, sighing with relief. She turned towards Inu Yasha,
a smile on her face. "Way to go, Inu Yasha," she replied, patting him on the
shoulder. "Looks like another job well do- Inu Yasha?"
Tetsusaiga dropped to the ground with a clang, reverting back to its normal form.
Before Kagome or the others could ask what was the matter, Inu Yasha crumpled
to the ground with a soft grunt.
The others gasped in surprise.
"Inu Yasha… Inu Yasha!" Kagome was immediately by his side, pulling him into her arms. "Say something, Inu Yasha! INU YASHA!"
Inu Yasha saw and heard only darkness.
~~~
At first there was silence.
"Inu Yasha!"
"Inu Yasha, are you all right?"
~ Can't move… can't see…~
"Kaede-sama, what happened?"
"I know not, child. Inu Yasha… say something!"
~ Shut up, old hag… can't you see I'm tired? ~
"Hey, Inu Yasha, what's the matter?" There was a gasp. "Oh, he's bleeding
again!"
"One of the sprites must've reopened his wounds."
~ Keh… Stupid gaki… stupid scratches… stupid sprites…~
"Inu Yasha, you baka… please be okay…" There was a quiet sob. "Please be
okay!"
Pause. "Ka… Kagome…"
Then there was silence once again.
~~~
When Inu Yasha awoke it was nightfall. Expecting to find himself perched in
the tree where he usually slept, he sat up (with much difficulty) to find several
worried faces staring back at him.
"Inu Yasha, are you all right?" Kaede asked.
"What kind of question is that?" he replied gruffly. Usually that would have put her
off, but he knew she was not going to be thwarted easily. Besides, to be honest,
he felt like crap.
"There's no need to be rude," Miroku chided gently. "We're just concerned about
your well being."
"Well, then don't be." Inu Yasha growled, rising unsteadily to his feet. "I'll be just
fine without you worryin' about me."
"But, Inu Yasha," The hanyou scowled as he felt Shippo's familiar weight atop
his head. "Your wound reopened and you were bleeding all over the place; it
was kinda gross."
"Keh… stupid scratches." He tossed Shippo to the floor, though not as harshly
as he usually would, and headed towards the entrance of the hut only to be cut
off by Kagome.
Startled, Kagome nearly dropped the pail of water she was carrying. Inu Yasha
grasped it, taking it out of her unsteady grasp - despite the fact that his wasn't so steady either.
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome quickly stamped down the surprised expression etched
across her face. "You're up!"
Inu Yasha smirked, taking a cup from a nearby table and dipping it into the pail.
"Ya didn't think I'd stay down forever, did you?" Kagome shook her head, adjus-
ting the strap of the pack on her shoulder. Inu Yasha noticed this and his face fell slightly. "You're leaving?"
"Oh, no," Kagome answered. "I just got back… I went home and grabbed a
couple extra things from my time… I figured we'd be needing them."
"Oh." At that, the room fell silent. Uncomfortable with the silence, Inu Yasha shot everyone in the room a leveled glare, though for some reason no one would meet
his gaze. "Hoi, I'm not dead, okay?"
"We know that, Inu Yasha…"
"Well then stop actin' like it!" he exclaimed, though he was starting to feel light
headed. Raising the cup of water to his lips, he stopped, staring in shock. "What
the hell happened to my hand?!" He stared at his hand, horrified to find that his
claws were gone. Regular, human nails were in their place. "What's going on?"
"Take a look for yourself." Shippo replied sheepishly, pointing to the pail in his
arms.
Rather than make a snide remark, Inu Yasha obliged, looking down at his reflection
in the water. The gold eyes, white hair, ears, and fangs that made up the hanyou
were gone; two ears and a head of long black hair framed a face with two brown
eyes staring back up at him.
He looked up at Kagome, who was watching him with an uncertain look on her
face. "I'm… I'm…" he couldn't force himself to get the words out. "…Human…"
Kagome bit her lip nervously. By the look of confusion on his face, it was obvious
that he needed some reassurance from her; reassurance was not something she
was sure she could give. After all, human or no, Kagome knew that the wrong
thing could definitely set him off, no matter what her intentions were. A 'pacifying' Osuwari was not something he needed in such a fragile condition.
The pail of water dropped to the ground with a clatter, followed soon after by the
cup. Inu Yasha hunched forward, clutching at his side in pain. It wasn't so much
the injury that caused the pain, but it felt as though his blood was on fire. He
dropped to his knees, fighting back a scream.
"Inu Yasha!" Much to his relief, Kagome by his side in an instant, rubbing
his back gently as she eased him into her lap. The others gathered around them worriedly, but their presence offered no comfort. Still the pain seized him, despite Kagome's soft words of reassurance that lulled him into a fitful sleep.
~End of Chapter 3
Authors' Notes
Poor Inu Yasha! What's the matter with him? What will become of him? Read on
to find out!
We do not own Inu Yasha, though we are working on it. However, we do
own a Wufei plushie, so that provides us with some comfort.
Inu Yasha, a Feudal Fairytale presents...
Don't You Dare
a Chang Po/Nataku production!
Chapter 3
After gathering the necessary ingredients for a poultice, Kagome and Inu
Yasha made their way back to the village. Both lost in their own thoughts,
neither made any attempt at friendly conversation, resigning themselves to
silence.
Kagome risked a glance over at him, totally aware to the fact that he was
completely oblivious to everything around him. Several times she had been
roused out of her own reverie as she stumbled over a root or accidentally
kicked a rock out of their path. Normally, such things would put the hanyou
by her side on the alert, wary for any signs of danger.
'He's completely out of it…' she thought to herself, worry tugging harshly at
her heartstrings. 'What's the matter with you, Inu Yasha…? Why won't you
tell me what's wrong?'
"Kagome-chan! Inu Yasha!"
Kagome looked up to see Kirara flying by overhead, Sango and Miroku
perched neatly on her back. She smiled brightly, her worried thoughts put
aside for the moment. "Sango-chan, Miroku-sama!"
The young houshi waved to them as the female taijiya brought Kirara around
to land beside them. Only when the two had dismounted and Kirara returned
to her smaller form did Inu Yasha notice their presence.
"Oh, you're back already." he replied, earning a quick glance from Kagome.
"How did your 'tests' go, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, adjusting the obi on
her yukata after she had changed out of her uniform.
"I don't know," Kagome admitted, rubbing the back of her head. "I left before I
could get the results." Inu Yasha gave her a quick look before turning his
attention some place else.
"Don't worry, Kagome-sama," Miroku replied, patting her back. "I'm sure you'll
do just fine."
"Thank you, Miroku-sama," Kagome replied, stopping his hand before it could
wander any further. "You're reassurance means a lot to me."
"It's my pleasure." He grinned innocently at the glare Sango was giving him.
"So, ahem… Inu Yasha, I take it your trip was successful?"
Inu Yasha gave him a shrug and a level gaze. "What of it? We got the shards
if that's what you mean."
"Of course. Kami forbid I be insinuating anything else."
"Houshi-sama…" Before Sango could lift her Hiraikotsu to wave threateningly
at him, the air was pierced with numerous shrieks and cries.
"What's happening?" Kagome asked.
"There are youkai afoot!" Miroku exclaimed. "Coming from the village!"
"Damnit!" All eyes turned to Inu Yasha as he took off towards the village. Quick
to act, Sango and Kirara followed.
"Strange… didn't Inu Yasha sense them?" Miroku wondered aloud.
"I don't think so," Kagome answered. "Something's wrong with him, and he's not telling!"
"Curious," Miroku frowned. "But we'll have to worry about that later." He took
Kagome's bike out of her grasp. "Let's go!"
"Right!" Kagome exclaimed, hopping on behind him as he pedaled on towards the village.
~~~
Inu Yasha and his company arrived at the village to find it in pandemonium.
People and livestock were in a frenzy, running hither and thither shrieking and screaming. All over the area roots had sprung up from the ground. It seemed as
though they had taken on lives of their own as they lifted carts and barrels and
the like into the air, hurling them at whoever dared to get near.
"What the hell's goin' on here?" Inu Yasha demanded, an angry scowl on his face.
He certainly was not in the mood for a fight right now.
"Inu Yasha, Kagome!" Kaede and Shippo came rushing towards them.
"What's going on, miko-sama?" Miroku asked, his staff poised ready for battle.
"We are under attack!" Kaede exclaimed. "The plant life hath taken on a life of
its own!"
"But who is causing all this?" Kagome wondered aloud. As she spoke, a glittering object flitted past her, tittering to itself. She blinked, wondering what it was when
it took on a different form. As she looked closer, she saw it to be a little person, no bigger than Shippo, with bird-like wings. It had bright eyes, long blue hair, and a cherubic little face. "Oh, is it an angel?" Kagome asked in wonder, enchanted by
its beauty.
Taking notice of her, the little creature whipped its head towards her, shooting her
a nasty glare. Kagome could only blink in surprise as it opened its mouth wide with
an angry shriek, revealing rows and rows of fierce, sharp teeth.
"A tree sprite!" Sango exclaimed, hefting her boomerang over her shoulders. "Hiraikotsu!" Her weapon sailed through the air, knocking the little creature to the ground as well as severing the tree root poised for Kagome's heart before sailing
back to Sango's hands.
At this Kagome quickly drew an arrow, unsure whether to aim for the sprites or
the tree roots they controlled. "There's so many of them!" she marveled, watching
them swarm all over the village.
"Ay, child," Kaede replied, shooting arrows at the rampant roots, pinning them to
the ground. Kagome followed suit to the best of her ability. "Hundreds of them
can be found living in a single tree."
"That's right," Sango added, hurling her boomerang once again. "There are
millions of them in existence, I believe, but they can only be found in the forests
in the North."
"In the North?" Kagome wondered. "But you and Miroku just came from the North. Why would they…?" She trailed off, noticing the deadpan look on Sango's face -
which was directed at the young monk beside her.
Several of the tree sprites stopped their assault on the villagers and charged
towards Miroku. "There he is! That's the one!" they shrieked in unison. "There's
the one who dared to insult our king!"
"Their king?" Inu Yasha gawked, though he was quite sure he didn't want to know.
Sango rubbed her temple in frustration. "Yes," she deadpanned. "Houshi-sama
asked the king of the tree sprites to bare his child."
"MIROKU!?" Kagome exclaimed, looking scandalized.
"Well," Miroku replied, looking calm as always. "I have to admit it was an error
on my part. But it was hard not to make such a mistake when their king looked
like a six foot tall, mortal woman."
Kagome nearly face-faulted.
The tree sprites however, were still furious about the injustice dealt their effeminate monarch. They flitted around Inu Yasha and the others like an angry swarm of bees whose hive had been raided, spitting and hissing angry curses.
"Vile human!"
"Mortal infidel!"
"Lecherous male!"
"Pervert!"
"Hm," Miroku quirked an eyebrow slightly. "That last one was a bit harsh."
"Are you kidding me!" Inu Yasha snarled at him, swatting at a sprite that had
flown too close to his face. "All right, I've had enough of this game!" With that,
he drew the Tetsusaiga. Once it transformed, he raised it into the air, though
Kagome noted he did so with some difficulty.
Sensing the danger, the sprites drew back, forming a big cloud above their heads.
The roots that had been reeking havoc throughout the village gathered before them, shooting down together towards a single point…
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome cried out in worry.
"I won't be beaten by a bunch of insects!" Inu Yasha exclaimed, leaping up
towards them, sword raised. "KAZE NO KIZU!!"
Once again, Tetsusaiga found its mark, obliterating many of the little winged
creatures, sending the survivors into a terrific frenzy. However, knowing when
they had met their match, they gathered their wounded and flew off towards the
north.
"They're going home!" Shippo exclaimed with relief.
"It seems another crisis has been averted then."
Thump! Hiraikotsu found its mark once again. "No thanks to you!"
Kagome put away her arrows, sighing with relief. She turned towards Inu Yasha,
a smile on her face. "Way to go, Inu Yasha," she replied, patting him on the
shoulder. "Looks like another job well do- Inu Yasha?"
Tetsusaiga dropped to the ground with a clang, reverting back to its normal form.
Before Kagome or the others could ask what was the matter, Inu Yasha crumpled
to the ground with a soft grunt.
The others gasped in surprise.
"Inu Yasha… Inu Yasha!" Kagome was immediately by his side, pulling him into her arms. "Say something, Inu Yasha! INU YASHA!"
Inu Yasha saw and heard only darkness.
~~~
At first there was silence.
"Inu Yasha!"
"Inu Yasha, are you all right?"
~ Can't move… can't see…~
"Kaede-sama, what happened?"
"I know not, child. Inu Yasha… say something!"
~ Shut up, old hag… can't you see I'm tired? ~
"Hey, Inu Yasha, what's the matter?" There was a gasp. "Oh, he's bleeding
again!"
"One of the sprites must've reopened his wounds."
~ Keh… Stupid gaki… stupid scratches… stupid sprites…~
"Inu Yasha, you baka… please be okay…" There was a quiet sob. "Please be
okay!"
Pause. "Ka… Kagome…"
Then there was silence once again.
~~~
When Inu Yasha awoke it was nightfall. Expecting to find himself perched in
the tree where he usually slept, he sat up (with much difficulty) to find several
worried faces staring back at him.
"Inu Yasha, are you all right?" Kaede asked.
"What kind of question is that?" he replied gruffly. Usually that would have put her
off, but he knew she was not going to be thwarted easily. Besides, to be honest,
he felt like crap.
"There's no need to be rude," Miroku chided gently. "We're just concerned about
your well being."
"Well, then don't be." Inu Yasha growled, rising unsteadily to his feet. "I'll be just
fine without you worryin' about me."
"But, Inu Yasha," The hanyou scowled as he felt Shippo's familiar weight atop
his head. "Your wound reopened and you were bleeding all over the place; it
was kinda gross."
"Keh… stupid scratches." He tossed Shippo to the floor, though not as harshly
as he usually would, and headed towards the entrance of the hut only to be cut
off by Kagome.
Startled, Kagome nearly dropped the pail of water she was carrying. Inu Yasha
grasped it, taking it out of her unsteady grasp - despite the fact that his wasn't so steady either.
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome quickly stamped down the surprised expression etched
across her face. "You're up!"
Inu Yasha smirked, taking a cup from a nearby table and dipping it into the pail.
"Ya didn't think I'd stay down forever, did you?" Kagome shook her head, adjus-
ting the strap of the pack on her shoulder. Inu Yasha noticed this and his face fell slightly. "You're leaving?"
"Oh, no," Kagome answered. "I just got back… I went home and grabbed a
couple extra things from my time… I figured we'd be needing them."
"Oh." At that, the room fell silent. Uncomfortable with the silence, Inu Yasha shot everyone in the room a leveled glare, though for some reason no one would meet
his gaze. "Hoi, I'm not dead, okay?"
"We know that, Inu Yasha…"
"Well then stop actin' like it!" he exclaimed, though he was starting to feel light
headed. Raising the cup of water to his lips, he stopped, staring in shock. "What
the hell happened to my hand?!" He stared at his hand, horrified to find that his
claws were gone. Regular, human nails were in their place. "What's going on?"
"Take a look for yourself." Shippo replied sheepishly, pointing to the pail in his
arms.
Rather than make a snide remark, Inu Yasha obliged, looking down at his reflection
in the water. The gold eyes, white hair, ears, and fangs that made up the hanyou
were gone; two ears and a head of long black hair framed a face with two brown
eyes staring back up at him.
He looked up at Kagome, who was watching him with an uncertain look on her
face. "I'm… I'm…" he couldn't force himself to get the words out. "…Human…"
Kagome bit her lip nervously. By the look of confusion on his face, it was obvious
that he needed some reassurance from her; reassurance was not something she
was sure she could give. After all, human or no, Kagome knew that the wrong
thing could definitely set him off, no matter what her intentions were. A 'pacifying' Osuwari was not something he needed in such a fragile condition.
The pail of water dropped to the ground with a clatter, followed soon after by the
cup. Inu Yasha hunched forward, clutching at his side in pain. It wasn't so much
the injury that caused the pain, but it felt as though his blood was on fire. He
dropped to his knees, fighting back a scream.
"Inu Yasha!" Much to his relief, Kagome by his side in an instant, rubbing
his back gently as she eased him into her lap. The others gathered around them worriedly, but their presence offered no comfort. Still the pain seized him, despite Kagome's soft words of reassurance that lulled him into a fitful sleep.
~End of Chapter 3
Authors' Notes
Poor Inu Yasha! What's the matter with him? What will become of him? Read on
to find out!