{Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or the Inu-Tachi. But I DO own Tenshi and the villain! HANDS OFF unless I give you permission.}
NL: So, what did you guys think of that last chapter, eh?
Inuyasha: It was okay... -looks away as he sips his cappuccino-
Sango: I thought it was pretty good. Inuyasha actually acted mature instead of macho.
Inuyasha: -glares at Sango-
NL: Thanks, Sango. Anyway, this is, of course, the next chapter of Finally. I hope you all enjoyed the last one, since you found out what really happened. And sorry for the delay in posting. Now, let's get on wi-
Naraku's Ghost: I have come back from the dead. -looks at NL and points to her- I will have my reven-
NL: Yeah, yeah, whatever, get a life instead of ruining everyone else's. Anyway, here's Finally!
--Last time--
He turned to find Kagome sitting in the tall grass and admiring the scenery. 'She's an angel... Sent from the heavens themselves... What a wonderful gift the gods have bestowed upon me...' His normally placid face turned thoughtful, and he did not attempt to hide it when Kagome looked his way before turning her head back, blushing.
Chapter Eight
Caught Off Guard
Inuyasha and Tenshi were walking back to camp, where the rest of the group was waiting patiently. Sango was the first to look up as the hanyou came into the clearing. "I see you've found your haori, Inuyasha," she stated, looking at the drenched red cloth that was clutched in his clawed hand. Kirara lifted her head and sniffed. "What is it, Kirara?" The taijiya looked around at the foliage before asking, "Do you smell anything, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha nodded and turned around. "Come on out."
'Who is he talking to?' Sango thought. Her question was soon answered as a demon with dark hair and green eyes walked into the clearing. "Who are you?!" the young woman demanded as she stood with her hirakotsu in hand.
"My name is Tenshi Hikari," the royal youkai replied. "I am the daughter of Yuuga, the Taiyoukai of the North."
Shippou's eyes widened. "The infamous kind-hearted Great Demon Lord?"
"Hai, the very same."
Miroku continued to sit silently, his eyes wandering Tenshi's person. 'She seems kind enough. And by the look of it, she has an attitude similar to Sesshoumaru's. Why has she all-of-a-sudden shown up?' His eyes narrowed suspiciously before he got clocked by Sango.
"What are you glaring at her for, monk?" the demon exterminator asked.
The anahoushi stood up, shaking his head. "To what purpose do we owe this honor, Tenshi-sama?"
"If you must know, I've come to find my betrothed, which I have, though we're not ready, yet..." Tenshi glanced at Inuyasha. 'But in time, my friend, it will become complete. I must admit, you are not what I expected. You've changed...'
====Flashback====
A soft giggle came from a bush, the leaves rustling back and forth. "Inu-chan will never find me..." a little girl with short black hair whispered to herself. Her green eyes were filled with laughter as she spotted a young boy with long silver hair and a red outfit. She held her breath, watching the boy intently.
"Tenshi, come out! Where are you?" the child called out, his amber eyes searching the forest. He wandered to one tree, sniffing, before he turned and grinned.
'Oh, no, has he found me?' the girl thought. 'I told him that he couldn't use his nose this time!' She contemplated moving, but if she moved, he'd hear her, giving away her hiding spot.
"Tenshi-chan, I've found you..." the boy said quietly. He walked over to her bush and reached through the branches, causing the girl to shriek.
"Eek! Inuyasha, you cheated!" Tenshi cried out as she stood.
"How, Tenshi-chan?"
"You sniffed me out!" Tenshi pouted and crossed her arms. "I thought I said no sniffing!"
"Did you?" Inuyasha teased. He looked up in mock thought. "Oh, I guess you did. Oh well, another game of hide-and-go-seek finished, and it's your turn!" The dog hanyou turned and ran into the woods, giggling all the while.
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'You used to be so carefree when you came to my castle. And yet I knew what you were going through in your village. That's why I tried to be so kind.' She sighed softly and turned away as the group considered what route to take to get to Kagome. Glancing at them once more, she wandered quietly into the nearest bunch of trees. 'They won't notice...' she thought knowingly.
"Tenshi! Tenshi, where'd you go?!" Inuyasha called out. 'Damn that girl. She's just as bad as Kagome...' The hanyou wandered around, following her pensive scent. He found her sitting down by a large oak, her eyes glazed over as she stared into space. 'What's she thinkin' about...?' He sat down beside her and watched her. She blinked once before screeching.
"Sheesh, Inuyasha!! What did you do that for?!"
"What? All I did was sit down. Is that a crime?"
Tenshi rolled her eyes. 'There's the Inu-chan I remember.' She turned and looked into his bright eyes. "So, how old are you now?"
"I'm..." Inuyasha looked up as he counted in his head, unaware to Tenshi's rising eyebrows. 'Let's see... fifty... plus sixteen...' Looking back into her face, he announced, "I'm sixty-six!"
"Crud," Tenshi said as she looked away. "I'm younger than you..."
"What, did you expect that you would age faster than me?" Inuyasha asked playfully as he flicked her nose with one of his claws. As she giggled, he queried, "So, how old are you, now, sixty-four or something?"
"For your information, I am officially sixty-five as of two days ago." She glared at him. "You mean to tell me that, after all these years, you forgot my birthday?"
With an uncharacteristic smile, Inuyasha shrugged. 'Wow... I haven't smiled like that since we were kids.' He looked away in a huff at his own thoughts. 'That's not me. That was the childish me, the weak me. I've grown up, now. I'm not that stupid little pampered brat that my mother rais-... No, it wasn't her fault...'
==========Flashback==========
"Hey, give it back, you baka!" a tiny version of Inuyasha shouted as a grown man picked up his ball and taunted the hanyou by dangling it over his head and out of reach. The man laughed and kicked him away.
"Hey, men, let's play!" He dropped the ball and kicked it to one of his cronies (AN: I got that from one of my substitutes, Mr. Gensick (sp?) He's sucha nerd). "Have at it!" he said as he laughed at Inuyasha's pathetic attempts to get it back. "'Tis quite persistent today, is he not?"
Inuyasha growled, which caused them to laugh harder, before pouncing the main man. "GIVE ME MY BALL BACK!" he screamed as his claws dug through flesh, producing paper-cut like lacerations on his face. Before he sliced the man's nose off, he was interrupted.
"INUYASHA!"
The boy turned his head as his eyes widened. "Muh-... Mother..." He looked back at the grown-up, blood flowing from the tiny gashes in his face. "Bastard."
"...Inuyasha..." Inuyasha's mother walked up to her son, picking him up from the dazed bully. "Shame on you, my son, but I am more ashamed of my kin." She looked from man to man as she glared. "What did he that provoked you to tease him so?"
The leader stood up, wiping his visage. "We have reason enough. If you care so for your child, keep him from the village. He harries the children."
"Hai, he is right! My son claims that hanyou threatened to cleave his throat for disobeying the half-breed's rules of a game."
The hanyou's mother's eyes burned with a fiery intensity. "My son, the child of the Great Youkai of the West, would never... threaten another. He is too dignified for that type of shame." She looked at her boy before saying. "Go home, my son. I shall take care of this."
Inuyasha nodded, tears in his eyes at the men's words. "Hai, Mother. I go." Inuyasha jumped down from her embrace and sprinted toward the castle.
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Inuyasha cursed mentally. 'Of course, my mind would bring that up. That was the day she died... while fighting the villagers...' He gave a soft snort. 'I never did get that ball back... She did it all in vain.'
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha jumped slightly. When he realized that Tenshi was staring at him concernedly. "Hai?"
"Tell me."
Inuyasha looked away, rolling his eyes in an irritated fashion. "Iie, it is no business of yours."
"Don't even take that tone with me. You're starting to sound like Sesshoumaru."
Growling at the sound of his half-brother's name, Inuyasha stood up. "I told you, wench, it's not your fucking business!" His eyes widened as he turned, realize what he'd just called her. "I'm so-"
--SMACK!!--
Tenshi glowered as brightly as the hand-print on Inuyasha's cheek. Her eyes watered and her lip trembled as she said softly, "Never ever call me that... You know how my older brother used to call me that and what he did to me afterwards."
Inuyasha was about to respond when Miroku called out, "Inuyasha, Tenshi-sama-"
"IT'S JUST TENSHI, MIROKU!" the princess called back.
"It's time to head out, you two!" the monk answered.
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Kagome sighed as she sat in the grass. It was uncomfortable enough when he held her eye-to-eye, whispering harsh words to her, but knowing that he was staring at her like that was just creepy! Standing and brushing herself off, she raised her arms and stretched, catching a rather unpleasant odor. 'Holy crap, I didn't put deodorant on this morning?!' She looked over at Sesshoumaru, who was still staring at her, and blushed. 'Well, that had to stink for him...' She gathered up her courage and walked over to the taiyoukai, who looked at her with curiosity. "Um, Sesshoumaru?"
"Hai?"
"May I take a bath?" Kagome asked, blushing.
Sesshoumaru gave a regal snort. "I was wondering when you'd ask. I have heard that you are known for your cleanliness, though I think you skipped out this morning..."
Kagome pouted slightly, a little of anger and embarrassment in her eyes. "Just show me the spring..."
Sesshoumaru nodded and led her into the palace. Before too long, he asked, "Would you like to bathe in an enclosed domain or under the stars?"
Kagome thought a minute. 'Well, I feel more comfortable when I'm home in the bath with the door closed, but I've grown accustomed to washing in the open...' She looked at the back of his head and said, "Under the stars, if it's convenient."
"It is." Sesshoumaru escorted her to another hallway that ended in a garden by a spring. "This is the outside spring. You are fortunate that it is the warm season, for it would not be available were it any other." Stepping to the side, he motioned for Kagome to pass. "Enjoy your bath, miko." As soon as she advanced beyond him, he turned his back and stood still.
"Ano... Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked as she hastily slipped her skirt back up, kicking her socks to the side.
"Hai?"
"What are you doing?"
"Guarding." He turned his head sideways and smiled. "You wouldn't want to have other peeping toms, would you?"
"No..." Kagome waited until he faced forward before beginning to undress again, and a bit hastily at that. 'Wait... He said "other peeping toms"... What did he mean by that?' She shrugged and stepped up to the spring. 'Looks heavenly... I haven't had a hot spring bath in ages.' Dipping her toe in, she giggled silently and slid into the steamy water. She moaned as her muscles instantly relaxed. "This is so nice..."
"I'm glad you like it..." Sesshoumaru inwardly chuckled. 'Little does she know that I can see everything she has done and is doing.' He brought back the memory of Kagome's slender body, a masterpiece of flesh, no scars or present cuts except for the one on her left side. 'I wonder where that came from...' he thought as he watched her cleaning herself. He sniffed, inhaling that wonderfully stimulating scent. Closing his eyes, he drowned himself in it. He felt himself turning around and opening his eyes to see Kagome's bare back. When he realized what direction he was facing he turned, but not before seeing Kagome turn around to reach for some herbal soap. 'Dammit, Sesshoumaru! Get your act together!'
Kagome stopped before facing the water again. 'Wait, did Sesshoumaru just look at me?' She gazed at him curiously before shrugging and commencing with her bath.
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The group had been traveling for about an hour when Tenshi and Kouga's noses went on high alert. "Kouga," Tenshi said.
"Yeah, I smell it, too..."
Shippou, who was residing on Tenshi's shoulder, piped in. "Is that a... a falcon youkai?"
"What are you talking about, Shipp-" Inuyasha was cut off by the scent of bird wafting into his nose. Looking around and sniffing, he shouted, "Who are you? Show yourself!"
An evil laugh ran throughout the trees. "A hanyou have the gaul to challenge me?" They laughed again before dropping from the branches above them. He stepped forward so that his "visitors" could clearly view him. "My name is Nanashimaru."
'Nameless Perfection?' Tenshi thought. 'Where have I heard that before?'
"I am a scavenger who has traveled throughout Nippon, and I know that thou art the group that possesses jewel shards. Give them to me!!" Nanashimaru began to glow bright blood red as wings sprouted from his back. His face, at first harsh with aging lines and a scowling smirk, began to become sharp and chiseled with youth as he transformed. His old, tattered kimono he had previously been sporting was shred into pieces by an invisible force before they were replaced with a brilliantly colored forest-green haori and honey-brown hakama outfit.
'He looks a lot like Jaken,' Shippou thought humorously.
"From what lands are your origins, Nanashimaru?" Miroku said daringly.
"I come from the plains of Musashi. Hark! Enough of thy worthless banter. Hand over yon shards, or forfeit thy lives!"
"OVER OUR DEAD BODIES," Inuyasha shouted.
"That could be arranged."
Inuyasha was pulling Tetsusaiga from it's sheath when he felt a breeze. He looked over and saw no Tenshi. "Tenshi-chan?!" he screamed unknowingly. It was the only thing he remembered to call her when he sensed that she was in danger.
"You bastard!" the inuyoukai's voice was heard as Nanashimaru glanced around, looking for the source of her utterance. "DIE!" She suddenly appeared behind the falcon, taking her right hand and stabbing him between the wings directly through his back into his heart. Without missing a beat, Nanashimaru twisted around, pulling her wrist out of its place. Crying out, she pulled her hand back and cradled it against her bosom. "You will pay dearly for that and for the death of my mother and sister!"
"Ah, so thou art the widely known Tenshi Hikari of the North. I never thought I'd have the pleasure of coming face to face with thy lovely countenance." He reached out to touch her cheek, and pulled back a stub. "You BITCH!" he screamed.
Tenshi spit out the chunk of forefinger she'd bitten off of Nanashimaru's hand. "Yep, that's my name. Don't wear it out." With that, she landed a kick to his nose, breaking it and shoving it into his brain. "No wonder they called you a bird-brained buzzard." The falcon fell to the floor of the forest. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..." As she finished this small sentence, his body disintergrated, leaving behind three jewel shards. Without noticing them, Tenshi knelt beside the remaining ashes and began to chant.
Inuyasha, walking up next to her, put Tetsusaiga back in its sheath and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Hush, Inuyasha! Have you no respect for the deceased?" Miroku whispered.
"What?"
"I'm praying for his soul," Tenshi answered softly.
"Why? He broke your wrist, and killed your family!! Why would you pray for a bastard like him?!"
"Because it was not he who killed my mother and sister." She opened her eyes, finally spying the gem shards. As she picked them up, they glowed brightly. "What's going on?!" she cried as her hand began to tingle.
"That's what I'd like to know! Only Kagome and Kikyou can purify the shards!"
Miroku stroked his chin while he "Hmmm"ed and sighed. "Maybe... Maybe...." He looked up into Tenshi's eyes. "Do you have any magic skills in your family?"
"Hai, purifying, but not the Shikon no Tama!"
"Well, maybe you are one of the select few who have untainted souls and purifying powers."
"But, Tenshi," Sango started in, "I'm curious. Who was it that killed your family?"
Tenshi glanced at the ground before staring into Sango's eyes, her own filled to the brim with tears. "The evil soul who killed Saisai and Koi'shii was called Naraku."
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NL: Oooh, I may be wrong, but is that a cliffy?
Kagome: Uh, I don't think-
NL: Of course it is!! squeals!! Staind's Try to Breathe or something is on. starts singing I just needed someone to talk to, you were just too busy with yourself. You would never ever-
Inuyasha: SHUT UP!! Oh, my gods, you're not Staind, so don't sing it!
NL: Fine. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I realize it was shorter than the rest, but there wasn't much I could put in here. Well, here is the preview, recommendation, and review responses.
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PREVIEW: Chapter Nine, Powerless
This chapter is kinda intense because Tenshi has another flashback, and Kagome gets a surprise from Sesshoumaru, if that's possible. Anyway, Tenshi's flashback causes her to go into a horrible trembling and sobbing fit that she can't come out of because she's so stunned from it. The only way she's brought out of it is from some advice that Inuyasha took from Myoga.
Kagome, however, has forgotten what time of the month it is, but Sesshoumaru knows, and he's beginning to lose control. He's getting grumpier towards everyone else except Kagome. What will he do to keep from becoming powerless to stop himself?
RECOMMENDATION: The Breaking Point, by Striking Falcon
I've already recommended this, but it's gotten better, so I gotsta recommend it again. "She's fire to his ice, a passionate heat to his flame. Together they set the stage ablaze, but a secret in her present and his past could extinguish them both forever." That's SF's summary. This is an excellent fic, and it's one of the few good band fics I've ever read. It's ACCURATE, too! Ya know? I mean, if you skip over Sesshou and Miroku being best buds, everyone's personality is the same! Well, except for Rin, who's about fifteen years older in the fic than in the anime, but hey, it makes it better. It's what you'd expect outta Rin. Anyway, Inuyasha, Kouga, and Sesshou are always getting into fights, and Miroku is still groping ass. But he gets quite a surprise later on. Enough of my rambling. Just read it!
REVIEW RESPONSES:
ptbear:Thanks for the review, and sorry about the wait. You know how it gets with end-of-term finals coming up, study study study!! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!!
HiraikotsuSlinger: Ah, Rikki... As always, my faithful friend and reader. Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you liked the phrase. Oh, and I hope you get that little spontaneous turrets syndrome supressed... giggles And no, I didn't get it.
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NL: Can you believe that's all the reviews I got?! Maybe I should update sooner....
Inuyasha: Naw, ya think?!
NL: Shut. Up. Anyway, thanks for reading, and PLEASE review!! I need to hear people's opinions!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks once again, and have a g'd-evenin', ladies and gents! Laterz!
