Chapter 14: Problems x2
A great group. Two hated foes/ brothers, a priestess in training and a powerful princess in heat. Along with an acid demon trying to kill them all. Sesshomaru's night vision kicked in and saw Kaori shaking in his arms. He wasted no moments to look for the demon in the dark. It stank and was ugly, but Sesshomaru didn't care. With one slash, the demon died.
Kagome was helping Inuyasha up when she finally noticed a woman standing in the middle of the cave. She looked regal in the clothes, but some was bloodstained. Inuyasha sat with his back against the wall, looking at Kaori. She looked frightened to an extent, but she didn't seem to want to attack them. Inuyasha saw Sesshomaru returning to them and Kaori looked back at him as well. Sesshomaru came next to her and looked at her wound. As he guessed, it was acid. Well, he couldn't get to the river nearby to wash it off, so she most likely have to be in pain until they got out. Both brothers glared at each other in the dark, both night vision working just fine.
"Sesshomaru, what happened?" Kaori asked in a light whisper.
"Rocks seemed to have covered the cave entrance, blocking out our oxygen. Nice job, Inuyasha. Now we all get to die," Sesshomaru said.
"It's not my fault. If that stupid demon didn't knock me aside, this wouldn't have happened," Inuyasha said.
"If you didn't come in here, it wouldn't have happened," Sesshomaru snapped.
"Shut up, both of you," Kaori said. Both shut up. "We'll have to deal with it anyways, no matter who's fault it is."
Kaori was still frightened, but the males were acting like jerks, so someone had to take control.
"Let's try to dig ourselves out," Kagome offered.
"Not a good idea. I can sense a lot more rocks on top of those, so if you started moving some, more will fall," Kaori told her.
Sesshomaru sat down across from Inuyasha, still glaring at each other. Kaori sat down next to him.
"Oxygen isn't our only problem. Food and water as well," Kagome said.
"I have water here," Kaori told Kagome.
"The demon is dead," Sesshomaru told Kaori.
"I'm not eating that. Are you crazy?" Kaori asked.
"I have my opinion," Inuyasha said.
"No one asked you," Sesshomaru said, glaring.
Kaori rolled her eyes. She looked down at the wound the demon gave her. It did seem to be healing, so maybe that was one problem dealt with.
"Does it hurt?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Just a little," Kaori said.
"Don't touch it. It might get infected," Sesshomaru told her.
"I'm not touching it," Kaori told him.
"Good," he said.
Kagome and Inuyasha nearly laughed. It reminded them so much of their earlier years together.
Kaori held her stomach and Sesshomaru looked over at her, a hint of concern in his eyes. Inuyasha's eyes went wide and then he hung his head.
"Great timing for this, isn't it?" Inuyasha asked. "She had to be, didn't she?"
Kaori laughed while Sesshomaru glared. Kagome was confused. She didn't know what was going on.
"Well, at least it's not Kouga in here," Kaori laughed. Sesshomaru lighted up. She did have a point.
"But it's my brother," Sesshomaru told her with hatred in his voice.
"Well, Kouga would be all over me, unlike him," Kaori said, pointing to Inuyasha.
"But you burn him," Sesshomaru reminded her.
"Are you guys talking about Kouga? Wolf demon tribe leader?" Kagome asked.
Kaori smiled and looked at Kagome, from what she could see. Her eyes were getting used to darkness.
"Yep," Kaori said.
"How is he doing? Last time I saw him, he was heartbroken from what I said to him," Kagome said.
"What happened?" Kaori asked.
"This isn't-" Sesshomaru started. Kaori held a hand up to him and edged towards Kagome to hear her.
"Well, he used to be all over me and say I was his woman and stuff like that. I told him I was in love with Inuyasha and he felt heartbroken from my words," Kagome told him.
"Are you Kagome?" Kaori asked.
"Yes, how did you know?" Kagome asked.
"He mentioned you just before..." Kaori trailed off, looking over at Sesshomaru. "Um, nothing. He just mentioned you."
"You'll tell me later," Sesshomaru told her.
"Uh, no I won't," Kaori said.
"Kaori, you will," Sesshomaru told her.
Inuyasha and Kagome looked at each other, but remained silent. This was Kaori. Inuyasha looked back at Kaori. She was so young. Almost as old as Kagome, maybe the same age.
"Kagome, how old are you?" Inuyasha asked in a whisper.
"Eighteen, why?" Kagome asked.
"I'm nineteen," Kaori blurted out.
"It was just a question," Inuyasha said. They were almost the same age. It was very young, though.
"Kaori, what are you hiding?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Nothing, Sesshomaru," Kaori said, standing up. Sesshomaru followed.
"Tell me," Sesshomaru told her.
"No," Kaori said stubbornly.
"Kaori," Sesshomaru said.
"I'm not going to tell you," Kaori said, running farther into the cave.
Sesshomaru ran after her, worried if she would get herself injured. He found her and pinned her against the cave wall, her laughing her head off. Sesshomaru just looked at her, admiring her beauty. Maybe this would be the last time her saw laugh. They were trapped in a cave, losing oxygen already. He gave her a kiss on the lips, making Kaori stop her laughing and look at Sesshomaru with worried eyes.
"Something the matter?" Kaori asked.
Sesshomaru just looked at her, seeing her worry. He gave her another kiss, this time she returned it.
"I don't want to lose you," Sesshomaru whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too," Kaori said, giving him a kiss and holding his cheek. "But we'll get through this."
He gave her another kiss and looked at her eyes.
"I believe you," he told her.
"We will get through this," she told him. "For sure."
She saw something change in his eyes and smiled.
"With your brother and Kagome," she said. The look changed and she laughed.
"If I killed them, we would have more oxygen," he told her.
"We're getting through this with them. Just get over whatever you guys are fighting about and work together," she told him. "Or we'll all die."
Sesshomaru released his hold her and returned back to Inuyasha and Kagome. Kaori did have a point. They would all die if they didn't work together. And he, out of all people, didn't want that.
A few hours went by and Kaori and Kagome started panting. Oxygen was getting less.
"Can't we just take the chance and dig ourselves out?" Kagome asked.
"We have to wait until someone comes and helps," Kaori said.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and cursed at himself. He told no one where they were going. Not Jaken or Rin.
"Do you expect your little girl and Jaken to dig us out?" Inuyasha asked.
Kaori was about to open her mouth, but closed it almost immediately. They didn't know where they were.
'We're really going to die this time?' Kaori thought.
"Well?" Inuyasha asked.
"They don't know we're here," Sesshomaru told them.
Kagome looked worried and came closer to Inuyasha.
"Is your demon slayer and monk going to help us out?" Sesshomaru asked.
"We were all taking a week break. Whoops, I mean seven days-" Kagome started.
"I know what a week is," Sesshomaru said.
Kagome was puzzled along with Inuyasha. Inuyasha needed an explanation when Kagome said a week. Sesshomaru looked over at Kaori and saw her eyes slowly closing.
"Kaori, you need to stay awake," Sesshomaru told her.
"I'll be just fine," Kaori said, blinking her eyes open.
"Stay awake," he told her. Sesshomaru could hear Inuyasha telling Kagome the same thing.
Sesshomaru looked at Kaori and then at Kagome. He then went to his brother and for once didn't look at Inuyasha with hate in mind.
"Maybe we should start digging out. We'll only lose air," Sesshomaru said. Suddenly, the rocks nearby fell, causing dust to pick up. Kagome and Kaori coughed, but they were all right.
"Does that answer you?" Kaori asked.
Sesshomaru felt something pulse and looked down at his swords. Tenseiga was pulsing, but for once, Sesshomaru didn't understand why. He saw Inuyasha pass Tetsusaiga to Kagome and told her to get to the back of the cave. Sesshomaru did the same. Kaori looked down at the sword, but did not move.
"What are you going to do?" Kaori asked.
"Just go," he told her.
"You aren't going to dig yourselves out, are you?" Kaori asked.
"Go," he told her, placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Now."
"Sesshomaru," Kaori whined, but Kagome got Kaori to the back of the cave.
Inuyasha started digging and pulling rocks away and Sesshomaru did the same. Both had the same determination to save the ones they loved. Dust picked up and both could hear the girls coughing. Both continued, not stopping.
"Kaori!" Kagome cried out.
Sesshomaru looked back and saw Kaori had collapsed and it looked like Kagome was going to follow soon. Sesshomaru sped up and so did Inuyasha. If the girls died, they would soon follow.
Some light was shown through two rocks. Sesshomaru pulled at one of them and the rocks fell forward. Inuyasha pushed through and Sesshomaru hurried to get Kaori. Kagome seemed to be better and ran to Inuyasha. Kaori wasn't responding.
Sesshomaru took a chance and breathed into Kaori's mouth. Kaori coughed and looked up to two amber eyes.
"Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked.
"We got through," he told her.
"You're an idiot, you know that," Kaori said, standing up and following Sesshomaru through. Sunlight hurt both of their eyes at first and they both found Inuyasha and Kagome at the bottom of the rocks, dirty and tired, but alive. Same with Sesshomaru and Kaori. Sesshomaru helped Kaori down, seeing that she still had sore bruises and the acid on her arm.
"Go clean the wound off and we'll wait here," Kagome said. Sesshomaru nodded and helped Kaori to the spring. He cleaned off the arm and was "rewarded" with a passionate kiss.
Kaori and Sesshomaru cleaned off a bit and returned to Inuyasha and Kagome embracing each other. Inuyasha was holding Kagome as she cried in his arms. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's eyes met and thanked each other silently.
"Kagome, let's go to the nearest village and rest there," Inuyasha said. Kagome nodded and looked back at Sesshomaru.
"There's one eastward. They should greet you," Sesshomaru said, remembering last time he was there. "Or not."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow and Kaori pulled Sesshomaru face down to her level.
"We won't be joining you," she said, eyes locking with amber ones.
Sesshomaru was puzzled by her words, but from the look she had, it wasn't a good time to ask. Inuyasha nodded and he and Kagome headed to the village.
"Why didn't you want to join them?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It's our break. We should still have it continued," Kaori said.
"All right," Sesshomaru said.
"Now, first, we need to bathe," she said.
"We?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yeah, let's go," she said, headed back to the spring.
"Let's?" Sesshomaru asked, following her. She had gotten to the edge of the spring and was trying to untie the sash behind her. Sesshomaru shook his head and helped. She took off the kimono and dived into the spring. Sesshomaru just stood at the edge, Kaori's kimono in hand.
"Aren't you going to join me?" Kaori asked.
"These clothes would get wet," he told her.
Kaori rolled her eyes and leaned on a nearby boulder.
"You strip, dumb ass," Kaori said.
Sesshomaru took both of his shirts off and dived in, exactly like Kaori. She didn't see him resurface and got worried. Before she knew it, Sesshomaru showed up in front of her.
"Are you sure your human? Humans don't know how to swim," he told her.
"This one does," Kaori told him, diving under. Sesshomaru followed and saw she was playing with him. She kicked her feet and he caught one. He pulled her closer to him and kissed underwater. Kaori broke it and lifted her head above water.
"A problem?" Sesshomaru asked.
"We still need oxygen," she told him breathlessly.
Sesshomaru smirked and they played in the water. Kaori splashed at him and he brought her under a few times.
Kaori was breathless by the end of it, resting on a boulder that was completely out of the water. Sesshomaru still swam in the water around the boulder.
"Didn't you want to bathe?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I don't have any soap," Kaori told him. From his expression, he didn't know what it was. "It cleans."
"I have herbs that clean," he told her, swimming over to his shirt. He went through it and brought out a few plants.
Kaori leaped off of the boulder and back into the water. "How do they work?"
"Will you allow me to wash your hair?" He asked. She nodded.
He took one plant and left the rest on the grass. He dipped the stem into water and rolled it into a ball. Kaori turned around to allow him to wash.
"I don't want you to go under while I wash," he told her.
He brought her near a boulder that was underwater. He sat on it and she sat on the floor of the spring. It was shallow in that area and allowed her to still have her head above water while she sat. He rubbed the plant in her hair and then started washing.
Kaori leaned into his touch, complimenting he was good. The smell also was very exotic. He rinsed it and Kaori ran her fingers through her hair. It felt really smooth. She smiled at him and saw him putting the herbs away. Kaori hoisted herself out of the water and disappeared near the cave. Sesshomaru almost went to follow her, but saw she returned with her backpack. She brought out a bottle and brought it near the spring and Sesshomaru.
"My turn," she said. Sesshomaru swam forward and allowed Kaori to sit on the boulder. She brought the bottle open and flipped the top open. The smell hit Sesshomaru's nose.
"That smells like berries," he told her.
"Raspberries," Kaori told him. She put some on her palm and started putting in his hair.
Sesshomaru had to compliment Kaori that she was very well. Kaori smiled while rubbing the shampoo into his scalp. He seemed content when she washed his hair. She started rinsing it out with some water. Before she knew what had happened, Sesshomaru dived underwater and rinsed it out on his own. Kaori was all right with that. It would take a long while to rinse it out. She picked up her bottle and put the lid back on. It felt a lot lighter than before.
"You used most of my shampoo!" She exclaimed as he resurfaced.
He shrugged. He didn't exactly know why she was upset. He could get his herbs almost anywhere.
"I have to buy this at the mall. Do you have the money for this?" Kaori asked.
"If you are going to react like this, why did you do it then?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori smiled and rinsed her hands off. "I wanted to," she told him.
She swam closer to Sesshomaru and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I really would like to wash my body," she told him.
"You want me to leave?" Sesshomaru asked.
"No, I don't want you to leave," she told him.
Sesshomaru was confused but allowed her to finish.
"But I don't want you to see all of my body," she told him.
She turned and had him wrap his arms around her waist. Her hair floated in the water. They just swam there in silence.
"Didn't you want to bathe?" He asked.
"I can do that tomorrow," she told him.
They swam there and finally the sun set. The water started feeling colder and Kaori eventually lost feeling in her toes. She left his arms and left the water. A breeze blew by and she hurried to get her towel. Sesshomaru stayed in the water. He watched her grabbed her backpack and leave. He could sense her nearby, so she didn't go too far. She returned wearing pants and a T-shirt. She was rubbing a towel in her hair and watched Sesshomaru get out of the water. He nearly shook off like a dog. His hair remained wet along with his clothes.
"I have some clothes of yours in my backpack," she told him. He went to her backpack and got some clothes out. He left to get changed in a secluded area. Kaori seemed preoccupied with her hair.
Sesshomaru returned and dropped his wet clothes on the grass on top of Kaori's wet ones. She was brushing her hair and just finishing when she stopped. Her hand lowered slowly and continued to stare at the water.
"Kaori?" Sesshomaru asked. He then saw it. The water was rippling, but no one was in it. Suddenly, a funnel of water burst up and Kaori calmed it with her hand.
Inside was a female. Sesshomaru could sense she was a demon. She was almost completely blue. Blue hair, light blue skin, blue clothing.
"How dare you use my waters for your bath," the demon said. She seemed angry.
"Who are you?" Kaori asked.
"The Water Goddess of this region," the demon replied.
"I sorry. We didn't know these were your waters," Kaori told the goddess.
"I caught you using my waters two days ago. You said the exact same thing!" The goddess yelled.
"I haven't been in any waters around here in the last eight days," Kaori told the goddess.
"I swear it's you. Same scent, maybe slightly different. You look different, though," the goddess said.
"I have been with her the last eight days and she hasn't been in any of your waters," Sesshomaru said.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" The Water Goddess exclaimed. "My lord, I didn't notice you were there."
"She was not in your waters," Sesshomaru told the goddess.
"I swear, she was. Just down the river. She was bathing alone," the goddess said.
"We will check this out. But I tell you she was not in your waters," Sesshomaru said.
"Yes my lord. I'm sorry to interrupt you. Please continue with my allowance," the goddess said, disappearing into the river.
Kaori went over to Sesshomaru. "You really are known, aren't you?" Kaori asked.
"This doesn't seem right. You were in your time during that," Sesshomaru told her.
"I know. Maybe an impostor taking my form? Naraku?" Kaori asked.
"He wouldn't be able to copy your scent. No one can do that," he told her. "We'll check it out tomorrow."
"So much for our break," Kaori said.
"After this, we'll have our break," he told her. "Or would you rather have this impostor running around giving you a bad name?"
Kaori laughed and picked her bag up. "You have a point," she said. "But we have a problem. Where are we going to sleep?"
"Have you ever slept under the stars?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Once in camp. But I never got to see the actual stars. They aren't easy to see in my time," she told him.
"Well, let's. Tonight. It's really nice. I used to do it all the time," he told her.
"I trust you, but if we're attacked, it's your fault," she said.
They headed east for a nice spot to camp. They passed the village and continued until the found a nice spot near a waterfall. Some berries were nearby for some food, but Kaori insisted on cooking.
"Can you get some water in this?" Kaori asked passing Sesshomaru a kettle.
He looked at it and nodded, heading to the river. He filled it up and returned to Kaori. She had already started a fire and was waiting for Sesshomaru. He passed her the kettle and she placed it over the fire to allow it to boil.
Once the water was boiled, she poured it into the ramen bucket. It cooked almost instantly and she placed the kettle to the side. She looked in her backpack and nearly screamed. There was only one pair of chopsticks. Kaori pulled them out and sighed.
"A problem?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Well, there's only one-" Kaori started but it seemed she had just spilled the boiling hot water in the kettle on her ankle as she moved to face Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru looked at her ankle. It did seem to be burned, but the skin was still in tact. It was starting to bruise though.
"This really isn't my month," Kaori complained. Sesshomaru rubbed it and helped her to his lap.
"We all have bad days," he told her, taking the chopsticks from her hand and taking some ramen.
"That's still hot," she warned him.
He didn't care. He put it in his mouth. It tasted all right and looked at her. She had her arms crossed.
"What?" Sesshomaru asked, his mouth full.
"I have only one pair of chopsticks," she said. "And don't talk with your mouth full."
Sesshomaru swallowed and passed her the chopsticks. "You need food. I like food. Eat," he said.
Kaori took some and passed it back to him. It went like that until all of it was gone. Kaori was nearly stuffed. He had forced some in her mouth after she had said she was full. She rested her head on his chest, trying to let her supper digest. He never allowed her to. He threw the empty container away and stood up, sending Kaori falling to floor.
"What are you doing?" Kaori asked, rubbing her butt for the second time.
"You want to see the stars. We're seeing the stars," he told her.
'You're going to see stars if I don't have my supper digest,' Kaori thought.
"Are you coming?" Sesshomaru asked. Kaori looked around and found Sesshomaru standing, nearly completely covered by the shadows. Kaori hurried to her feet and followed him.
Even in the dark, Kaori could tell he knew exactly where he was going. It seemed someone had cut the path for them and Kaori only tripped once.
Sesshomaru stopped at the edge of the forest. He looked back at Kaori to find her trying to get through some tree branches. He took her hand and pulled her forward. She thanked him and he moved so she could see where they were.
A cliff that was near the ocean was the only thing. Kaori nearly ran to the edge, but Sesshomaru caught her just before she stepped over the edge.
"Careful," he told her. She nodded and looked over the scenery. She looked up and gasped. She could see the stars perfectly. She felt arms wrap around her and hot breath on her ear.
"This is wonderful," Kaori told him.
"I'm glad you like it," he told her.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru," she said, awing at the stars. They were beautiful.
"Watch out," he said and felt herself being pushed forward.
An arrow covered in fire had just been shot at her.
"Another visit cut short," Kaori complained.
Kaori stood and looked to screaming and yelling.
"How dare you show your face here?" A male yelled, coming up the cliff.
"Kaori, use the Tenseiga," Sesshomaru told her.
"The what?" Kaori asked.
"The sword," he told her.
Kaori looked at her belt and found the Tenseiga there. She must have forgotten to give it back to him. She pulled it out and held it in front of her, protecting herself. She didn't want to hurt these people.
Sesshomaru turned around, hearing branches cracking and footsteps. More men had shown up, swords drawn and spears ready.
"Lord Sesshomaru," some said, bowing.
"Leave us alone," Kaori whined.
"Queen Kaori, you really think we will let you go again. After what you did to us?" The first male said, coming into view.
'Queen?' Sesshomaru and Kaori thought.
"You have me mistaken for someone else," Kaori said.
"No, that voice I can never forget," the male said, drawing a sword.
"Just leave me alone," Kaori yelled.
"Be gone," a female said, coming from the trees.
"You! How is this possible?" The male asked, backing away.
"Go. She is not the one you want," the female said. She was hidden from view by being in the shadows.
The villagers scrambled away, tripping over their own feet.
Kaori looked into the forest where the female was. She was wearing a cloak and hood.
"How can we thank you?" Kaori asked.
"Come to my palace," the female said.
Before Sesshomaru or Kaori knew what had happened, two multi-coloured beams shot out at both of them, knocking them out.
"And you will," the female said.