Chapter 8
Sesshoumaru had a small awkward smile on his face now. Inuyasha looked at him with wonder, he was nice to him lately. Too nice. Something was up. InuYasha looked to Kagome, who was laying in a cushy sack like thing what did she call it? Sleeping bag. Thats the word. She had the small fox snuggled up under her chin, right between her neck and shoulder. He had more fur than it looked like, and so he was much more comfortable than it looked. InuYasha, himself, was up in a tree watching for danger, though he knew Sesshoumaru, the bastard, would sense the danger long before him.
Kagome had discovered something wonderful about her new boyfriend, behind that mask of his there lay a small awkward smile that was showing up more often now. Often while she played with Shippou, the fox child she recently adopted, or when she tackled InuYasha for something, or...mostly...when she played with his tail. He said he didn't like it, and he scowled at her when she was looking at him directly, but when he thought she wasn't looking or something she caught it. That crooked smile of his, along with a tender look in his eyes. Like he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and never let go.
Shippou yawned and swayed his tail looking towards his two father figures. Sesshoumaru was kind of cruel at first glance, but Shippou took in the details of him very carefully. His actions and the things he said. Sesshoumaru was a kind person underneith. He purposely lost to InuYasha constantly, so that InuYasha would live and learn to be stronger. InuYasha was very...outspoken and loud but he was, too, a good person. Kagome was always kind and happy, pure and good. Just recently Sesshoumaru had been teaching her this and that about her powers, mainly just creating barriers or focusing energy. She did accidently hurt both Sesshoumaru and herself at one point, knocking him out. She cried.
Sesshoumaru let his tail drop from his shoulder and curl it around Kagome, use to having her near at night now. He felt he just had to keep her safe, for more than just the legend. She would not only purge the world of a great evil, but purge him of his own evils. He looked down at her letting the small smile stay as Shippou looked at him with those big green eyes. Kagome opened her eyes halfway and smiled at him reaching out to him. He lay at her side, an arm draped around her waist. Then she did something she had a habbit of doing now. She smiled up to InuYasha and reached for him as well.
InuYasha smiled at the little untrained miko and lay on her opposite side, grasping one of her hands in his. Together they looked as if they really were a family, and InuYasha was happy about that fact. Sesshoumaru even allowed them all to use his tail as a pillow, though it mostly curled about Kagome. InuYasha closed his eyes and let himself fall into a blissful slumber.
Sesshoumaru and Kagome smiled at each other and he kissed her forehead lightly. He nuzzled her hair and waited for her to sleep before sitting up to keep watch.
REALLY short chapter, so I'm adding on chapter 9 as well. As some of you may know this was originally on AFF, and on there these two chapters are NOT put together.
Chapter 9
Chapter Title: KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF
After the group woke they traveled to a near by village, only to still see no trace of Sesshoumaru's servants. Sesshoumaru was beginning to grow worried over this. His servants followed his word immediately, something must be wrong. He shook his head as he bought lunch for the other three. He did not like the town a bit, it reeked of death, poisons, and human. Oh, there was a demon scent here and there, lesser demons and higher ranking, but mostly the death and poisons. There was also a bitter smell that made InuYasha refuse to eat, too sickened by the strong smell. Burning hair, rotting corpses, and more poison. thats what it was. Sesshoumaru stood at Kagome's side at all times, he would not have her hurt.
"Kagome! Look! A monk!" The kitsune child said, pointing to the monk making his way toward them. The monk had violet eyes, very uncommon among humans, and jet black hair. His robes were also black and indigo. Odd, for a monk at least, but he was still a monk none the less.
The monk made his way to Kagome. "How much do you want for the demons? They are well trained and I would like one for protection." He said, a strange spark in his eyes. Kagome scowled.
"They are not PETS. They are my FRIENDS, thank you." Kagome snapped, not liking the monk at the moment. Shippou puffed out his chest at her feet.
"YEAH! Stupid! Like we'd let some human control us!" Shippou said, sticking out his tounge at the idiot of a monk.
"Feh! Got that right! Much less YOU. Kagome I could at least stand to be around!" InuYasha snapped and laughed at the surprised look on the monk's face.
Sesshoumaru merely narrowed his eyes and growled, already aggitated by the male's presence so close to HIS Kagome. Who did he think he was? Some kind of king! Sesshoumaru grasped the monk's wrist as his hand made its way to Kagome's rear.
"Mine." He growled out to the monk, his eyes glowing red. The monk scowled and kicked Sesshoumaru in the stomache and backing out of his reach.
"I doubt a fine young pure woman such as she would be with a demon." The young monk said, with a surprisingly confident smirk. When Sesshoumaru pulled out his sword, the monk merely took position with his staff.
Kagome felt InuYasha's arms around her, holding her tight against his chest so that she wouldn't see any of the fight, so she would be sheltered. Shippou silently climbed to her shoulder and talked to her about nice things about how great the morning had been.
InuYasha simply stared at the two with a scowl on his face, unmoving. He couldn't let her see Sesshoumaru kill someone. Did Sesshoumaru truly claim this human girl, Kagome? Did he truly love her as he, InuYasha, did? Feh, that didn't matter at the moment.
Sesshoumaru struck first, bringing his sword down, and the monk blocked with a little difficulty. Sesshoumaru then sent in a kick that was also blocked, but that was no surprise. Sesshoumaru was toying with him after all. InuYasha could see that plainly.
InuYasha had had enough after about ten minutes of attacks, and he let go of Kagome and landed a punch in the monk's face, causing the poor man to tumble into the dirt.
"Ya keep your filthy hands off her, ya hear me?" InuYasha snapped and Sesshoumaru kicked InuYasha to the side.
"This is my fight, you have no right to inturrupt." Sesshoumaru snarled and lifted the monk up by the neck. InuYasha, Shippou, and Kagome followed as Sesshoumaru carried the man outside the village then toss him onto the ground. "Get up, monk, and prepare yourself."
Kagome shook her head and opened her mouth. "Down." Sesshoumaru fell face first onto the grouned and he growled lightly as he got back up from his undignified position on the ground. InuYasha was laughing and so Kagome opened her mouth once more. "Sit!" InuYasha hit the ground hard and growled. Sesshoumaru was still able to look gracefull and elegant after the fall...Inuyasha however...he was hopeless.
"What the hell was that for!" InuYasha yelled, grasping Kagome's collar only to be struck down by Sesshoumaru.
"Do NOT touch her." Sesshoumaru growled and turned to her. "This Sesshoumaru also would like to know why this Sesshoumaru was punished." He said and kept an eye on the monk.
"You were punished for forcing the guy into a fight, what did he do, really? It is rather strange for me to be with you, being a priestess or something and you a demon. Thats like God and the Devil being lovers or something! Anyway, and InuYasha was punished for laughing at you. It really wasn't nice, and you two are brothers after all." Kagome said and smiled sweetly up at him.
Sesshoumaru sighed and stroked her hair. "You are right, this time."
"No she AINT! I shouldn't be punished for LAUGHIN!" InuYasha growled and Sesshoumaru sighed.
The monk, by now, was laughing slightly beneith his hand. Strange, this group. He liked them! "Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. I am Miroku, and you four are?"
Kagome smiled. "I'm Kagome, Sesshoumaru is big tall and fluffy over here, the loud one is InuYasha, and this cute little guy is Shippou!" She said and hugged Shippou, giggling when his tail twitched.
Sesshoumaru scowled. "Big, tall, and fluffy? Really, Kagome, we should work on your choice of words as well as your powers."
InuYasha snorted. "Yeah! I aint loud!"
Sesshoumaru nearly choked. "I think more of my braincells just died. Did you just say you were not loud? Really, InuYasha, that is ridiculous to even think about saying. You and loud go hand in hand. She was right with that one."
InuYasha growled. "Yeah, Lord Fluffems! Well lets look at you, big isn't right unless she was refering to your height, which is tall which makes them both right. And fluffy? Do I even have to mention your tail?"
Sesshoumaru shrugged. "I did not say she was wrong, I ment her choice in words is all. She could have said 'the taller one', or 'the one with the tail', or even 'the smarter looking one.' You, however are very loud, she went very easy on her choice of words for you."
"Thats it prissy boy! Its on!" InuYasha growled and attacked, only to be stopped by a staff.
"Now, now, InuYasha, I'd say that would be just asking for more punishment from dear Kagome over here. Ah, and speaking of which!" Miroku said and was immediatly at Kagome's side. He grasped her hands in his and looked at her seriously. "Would you do me a great favor, Lady Kagome?"
"Ano...depends on the favor..." Kagome said, blushing a bit. Sesshoumaru didn't like the feeling he was getting from this male...
"Would you bare my children?" Miroku asked and Kagome froze.
Kagome couldn't believe what she was hearing! Did she just get asked to have babies? For this guy!
Sesshoumaru was instantly there tearing Miroku away and pinning him to a tree. "She will NOT have your children, she will NOT mate with you, she will NOT let you see her without clothes, and will not see you without clothes! DO I make myself CLEAR?"
InuYasha kicked Sesshoumaru away, punching Miroku in the gut. "I TOLD you to keep your filthy hands OFF her! She is NOT yours, will NEVER be yours, and you will either keep your distance or die! Which is it?"
Miroku sweatdropped. "I am sorry I did not know she already had two lovers in her life."
Kagome went beet red. "LOVERS! I have NO lovers! Mou! MEN!"
InuYasha was also red, although Sesshoumaru had a smirk on his face. "Oi! Bouzou! I ain't sleepin with her, thats my brother's job!"
Kagome nearly fainted.
"InuYasha, you will refrain from speaking of myself and Kagome." Sesshoumaru snapped scowling.
"YO! SO there IS something going on between ya two! I KNEW IT! She's nothing but a little--" InuYasha was grasped by the throat and Sesshoumaru's eyes were bright red. Miroku watched with intrest.
"Kagome deserves respect, and you will give it to her or I will rip out your vocal cords, understand?" Sesshoumaru snapped, fur sprouting from his body. Kagome was amazed as his body shifted into his true self, that of a giant dog. He gently nudged her and Shippou aside with his hind paw before litterally stomping InuYasha into the ground.
After about five minutes of this Sesshoumaru shifted back and returned to Kagome, who was curled around Shippou shaking in fear. Sesshoumaru's eyes softened and he wrapped his arms about her.
"He is not dead, I would not kill my brother, Kagome. Do not fear me..." Sesshoumaru whimpered into her ear, and Kagome sniffled and nodded.
Miroku blinked at the gentleness Sesshoumaru was showing towards the girl, and infront of Shippou and himself too! He had heard a great deal about Sesshoumaru. Some called him Tsusaeng, bloody prince. Some called him Lord of Ice. He was said to be the most uncaring, cruel of all for taiyoukai. Odd. He didn't seem that way at the moment.
Kagome's arms wrapped around Sesshoumaru, and Shippou climbed to Sesshoumaru's shoulder.
Miroku's eyes softened at the sight. They were truly a family. A somewhat disfunctional family, but a family none the less. And he was sure he wanted to join their group now.
"Alright, alright you have convinced me! I'll join you!" Miroku said, innocently.
Everyone just gave him the 'what the fuck' look.
