Author Note: Meh, I'm in a writing mood. Be happy for my generosity!
Scavenger Hunting
As much as Inuyasha hated flying, he found it necessary from time to time. Just skimming through the air wasn't enough for this energetic taiyoukai. He loved the feel of the forest floor beneath his feet as he streaked past unsuspecting demons and villagers. Jumping through the trees gave him even more joy. But he had to admit, flying was a lot faster, since nothing was in the way, and he needed to go as fast as possible. The more he thought about taking the woman to Naraku, the more he didn't like it.
I may not like humans, but I dunno if I could just watch Naraku mutilate her. She's just a young girl afterall! I mean, it's not like I like the wench or anything! Kikyou's just—
Inuyasha visibly shook himself. Since when did he start using the woman's name? Better question: why did he remember it? A low growl sounded in the taiyoukai's throat. He would not cozy up to humans, especially that ugly wench! Okay, he could admit that she wasn't really ugly; not by human standards anyway. In fact, she was actually pleasing to look at when she wasn't trying to beat him with something or kick him in an off-limits area. Just this once, he would protect the woman, and he would save his dignity by beating the crap out of Naraku. From what he could smell, the dark hanyou wasn't far. It almost seemed like he was waiting for him.
I guess he thinks I have Kiky—the woman with me. Well, he's gonna be in for the surprise of his life! You just wait you creepy bastard! I'll kill you for trying to use me!
Inuyasha landed in a hard crouch on the forest floor. He slowly rose and glared at the hanyou half-hidden in the shadows of the trees. The impudent male didn't even rise from where he was sitting.
"Inuyasha-sama, while I have been patient with your ineptitude from time to time, I find this recent failure to be most unsatisfactory," Naraku spoke slowly, but with icy undertones.
"Keh! If you're talkin about the woman, I have her. I just stashed her somewhere so I could talk to ya first."
"Truly? Then you have taken the wrong woman, for I killed Kagome myself!" he hissed menacingly. Then a strange expression crossed his face before a dark smile spread wide to his eyes. "But if you managed to capture the reincarnation, then I guess I could forgive this little slip-up."
Inuyasha bared his fangs and growled, "What do you plan to do with her?"
"If I cannot have her, then Sesshomaru cannot have her either. She will be mine or she will burn! Just as her predecessor did!"
With a ferocious roar, Inuyasha lunged at the lounging hanyou, but he was a split second too late. Naraku quickly rose into the air, tentacles and spider legs bursting from his back. Inuyasha slashed furiously at the appendages, but he could not defend himself from the onslaught of the limbs. Eventually, he was thrown back hard into a tree. His vision became blurry, but Inuyasha refused to succumb to the darkness. He could feel red bleeding into his eyes as his transformation began to set in. Unlike Sesshomaru, Inuyasha had full control of his demon form, and he reveled in its power. A fierce battle ensued. Jaws snapped, tentacles grabbed, claws slashed, and legs stabbed. Inuyasha used his bite force to its full advantage, taking out multiple members at a time, but he didn't have the upper hand for long. Two human-looking forms dropped from the trees in front of their master, bearing weapons wielded with skill. With inhuman speed, the two darted around the massive youkai's legs, winding thin sharp wires around them. Before he could prepare for an attack, Inuyasha was pulled to the ground. The boy and girl puppets stood before him, each bearing their weapons high before plunging their points into his exposed abdomen. The large Inu let out a howl of pain, as he was continually stabbed and slashed by the pair. With his remaining strength, Inuyasha transformed into a ball of light and fled into the dark of the forest.
XXX
(Meanwhile in the real world…)
The scent of miasma permeated the air around the abandoned temple that stood only a few feet from where the once-great priestess waited in the trees. The shinidamachu that served her flew in uneasy patterns around their undead master, awaiting her summons for whatever she required. Finally, a familiar dark shape made its way through the miasma until it stood before her, taking the form of her most hated enemy, and most loathed ally.
"Dearest Kikyou, how good it is to see you again," the figure said in his rich, dark voice.
The priestess narrowed her eyes. "I have no desire to exchange pleasantries, Naraku. Now tell me what you want, and I will be on my way."
The dark hanyou's face turned sour, but he answered her request, nonetheless. "I need you to take care of this particular item for me." He handed her the mirror that was wrapped in a black velvet cloth. "See that it is properly taken care of," he warned.
"Do not speak to me in riddles. What need have you for this?" she hissed in return.
"It is a prison of sorts, and it is in both our interests to keep the one in their as long as possible. That is all I will tell you for now."
Kikyou narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She tucked the small cloth into the bodice of her haori, the swiftly headed back to the safety of the trees, and away from his presence.
"And Kikyou," the priestess stopped, "do not uncover that cloth. You might see something that you do not wish to."
Without a word in response, Kikyou continued onward, pondering Naraku's strange warning and the apprehensive feeling she was getting from the new object that was now safely tucked in her haori.
XXX
When Sesshomaru and his wards finally made it to Kaede's village, the tension that had hung in the air for days reached its peak. Sesshomaru was immediately faced with a moody hanyou of a half-brother, who was half-crazed with fear and frustration. For once, though, he kept quiet and followed Sesshomaru until they reached the well that was the link between their time and Kagome's. Inuyasha quickly glanced around, then growled low, "If you know where she is, tell me now."
Sesshomaru sighed softly, then turned to face his brother. "She is safe, but you cannot reach her."
"And why the hell not?! I swear, if you've done something to her, I—"
"Calm yourself, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru warned. "I have not touched her. What I know was shown to me through a mirror."
"A mirror? Well, let me see it!"
The taiyoukai averted his eyes. "…I am no longer in possession of it."
Confusion settled over Inuyasha's face before it clouded with anger. "What do you mean you don't have it! If you're lying to me—"
"Believe what you want, but never accuse me of lying again, hanyou."
The brothers growled low at each other, each extending fangs and claws in preparation for an attack. Finally, Inuyasha sighed and backed down. "You said Kagome was safe. What did you see?"
"She is protected by…someone whose skills are more than adequate. That is all I will say on the matter."
"Then who has the mirror?"
"I believe Naraku has claimed possession of it."
"Damn it! This was all his fault to begin with! I swear when I find him, I'm going to rip him to shreds for this!"
"Well put."
"What are you going to do? You ain't staying are ya?"
"…I have my own reasons to pursue this mirror. For now, I will accompany you and your companions."
"Keh! Have it your way." Sesshomaru watched Inuyasha stalk off, then turned his attention to the well. He circled it and gave it a curious sniff, but he could not find what was so special about this rotting structure.
The entire area was covered in her scent. Ever since he first laid eyes on her and his doppelganger in the mirror, he could not get the young woman out of his mind. She had been a constant companion to his brother for the past two years, and an eyesore to him for the few times they confronted each other. Never did he see her as a woman, just a human. He breathed in the scent and stored it in his memory, wondering how he would react when he finally confronted the girl that was trapped in the mirror.
XXX
(To the alternate world!)
Sesshomaru smelled blood; lots of blood. Both Naraku's and Inuyasha's were predominant, but that wasn't necessarily reassuring. When he finally reached the clearing where the battle took place, he found no trace of either male. Sniffing carefully, he surmised that both had survived, but bore heavy wounds. Added to the wounds inflicted by Sesshomaru himself during the battle between the Kitsune clan and the Thunder tribe, Naraku would be considerably vulnerable at the moment. As much as Sesshomaru would love to track down that vile wretch and put an end to his existence, it was his duty to bring back his loathsome brother to Izayoi-san as quickly as possible, before she decided to look for the both of them herself.
Hmm, his ability to mask his aura has improved, along with his transformation abilities. This may take longer than I anticipated…
Sesshomaru was an excellent tracker, especially for a hanyou, but the Inu no Taisho's ability to completely extinguish his presence was second to none, and Inuyasha had clearly inherited that desirable trait. A thorough sniff proved that Inuyasha's life was not in immediate danger, and that his pride had taken more of a blow than his body. Sesshomaru heaved a heavy sigh, but forced his feet to carry him swiftly. Inuyasha had no desire to be found, and Sesshomaru's unwanted presence would only rile him further. Still, he would face him, unwanted or not.
When Sesshomaru finally tracked down his brother after hours of searching, he was unprepared for what he found. His brother was completely unconscious, which, for Sesshomaru, was more a blessing than anything, but it was not what caught his attention. Curled next to the sleeping taiyoukai was a little girl with perfect white hair surrounding a cherubic face. Her hands were holding a bandage over Inuyasha's chest as she stared at Sesshomaru with wide glass-like eyes. One sniff verified that she was indeed a hanyou, much like himself.
Sesshomaru slowly kneeled down so he could face her and asked, "Are you not afraid of him, child?"
"This man is hurt. What need have I to fear him?" she answered softly.
"That is not a man, but a youkai. And though wounded, he still poses a great threat. Will you still tend to him?"
"There is no one else who will." Her simple reply took Sesshomaru aback, but she paid him no mind as she continued to dress his brother's many wounds. Sesshomaru watched her in silence until she was finished.
As the young girl rose to leave, he asked, "Will you return to tend him again?"
"Yes." She did not even turn to address him as she walked off into the direction of a nearby village.
Sesshomaru returned his attention to Inuyasha, who was beginning to show signs of stirring. He walked to his brother's side and promptly dug his boot into the boy's chest.
"ARGH! WHAT THE HELL DID YA DO THAT FOR—"
"I wished to speak with you."
"Well ya coulda just said so! Jeez that hurt!" Inuyasha grumbled and sat up on his elbows. As he began to rise his face twisted in agony and he quickly lowered himself back to the ground.
"Shit…I won't be getting up for a while…Mother's gonna have my hide."
"Indeed. Izayoi-san sent me to fetch you, but it appears you will be stuck here for quite some time. I will inform her of your…predicament."
"Hey wait bastard! What about—Huh? Who did this?" Inuyasha started sniffing at the bandages, then wrinkled up his nose. "Smells like a hanyou…and it ain't you."
"How perceptive of you. The child who treated you claimed she would return. I suggest you show her your appreciation." And with that, Sesshomaru left his dumfounded brother to fend for himself.
XXX
Inuyasha was severely pissed off. Not only did he get beat by Naraku, but his smug half-brother just had to rub it in his face! And now some unknown hanyou had taken pity on him and was attending his wounds! Worse yet, he couldn't do anything about any of it! Inuyasha growled, not just because of his failure, but because of his inability to protect a single, stupid girl. No matter how hard he trained, he was still one step behind his hanyou of a brother; a dark spot in his ever-looming shadow. Not for the first time did he feel disappointment for not being able to learn under their father. Maybe if he had been under the great Inu's guidance, then he could have far surpassed his brother, but it was a maybe that would never be.
The sound of leaves rustling in the distance soon caught the taiyoukai's attention, and he soon became curious of his would-be doctor. The little wisp of a girl that walked out of the bushes was not what Inuyasha had been expecting. She blinked when she realized that he was awake but said nothing as she sat down next to him and began grinding herbs in a small mixing bowl.
Inuyasha growled softly, "What are you doing hanyou?"
"Tending the injured. What are you doing?" she looked up with a bored expression for just a moment, then returned her attention back to the herbs. "I have already told the other one that I would treat you."
"Keh! I don't care what you told that bastard! I'm warning ya kid, if you pity me I'll kill ya." Inuyasha pulled his lips back in a snarl to enforce his statement.
"I am merely offering a kindess. I do not pity anyone." The girl didn't even flinch. She then scooped her small hand into the bowl before slowly lifting it to apply a thick coating of salve to the wound on his chest.
Inuyasha kept still while keeping a wary eye on the little girl. She neither smelled fearful or nervous, which gave the taiyoukai pause. "Why do you not fear me, girl? I'm a youkai; the sworn enemy of humans and hanyou."
"Why should I be afraid of anything when my greatest fear has already come to pass?" The girl's clear-blue eyes bore into Inuyasha's gold one's with a look that spoke of great wisdom…and great loss.
"…What's your name?" Inuyasha asked slowly.
"Kanna, my lord."
"Keh! Hurry up with those bandages! I'm startin ta get itchy!" Inuyasha grumbled as he quickly turned his face away.
A small smile spread across the young girl's lips, but Inuyasha was too busy complaining to notice.