I do not own Inuyasha and if you think I do then you need to have the crap kicked out of you . . . I do however claim the characters I've created. R&R please.
Kagome leaned back into Sesshoumaru's embrace, relishing in the warmth his body provided despite the chill of the night air that tried to cling to them. Another day had come and gone, another day of memories, of time spent happily with her demon lord. And now, with the sun already set and its brilliant rays quenched by the dark night sky, she looked forward to another night of memories shared with her lover.
The arm wrapped around her small waist tightened, bringing her closer to him as he too took comfort in the feel of her body against his. The moment was short lived, however, as the stench of sweat and bile, mingled with the scent of burnt incense, reached his nostrils. Something, or rather someone, was there watching them. His eyes surveyed their surroundings, searching for any signs of the voyeur as his hand twitched to the images of gruesome slaughters that danced in his head, wanting so eagerly to kill the fool the dared to interrupt them.
Sesshoumaru was nudged back to reality as Kagome twisted in his grasp, burying her face in his silken clad chest as her once blissful mood was now replaced by the sudden melancholy aura. He was tempted to ask why she was so often plagued by these bouts of depression, but part of him was unsure if the cause of her ailment...was him.
He whispered into her ear, hoping to sooth her only to be pushed away. She stumbled backward, putting distance between her and Sesshoumaru, the one constant throughout her surviving memories. She turned her back to him as her eyes glazed over portraying the sudden emptiness that now seemed to consume her, just as it had done that day when she first met her demon lover.
Sesshoumaru reached out his hand to her, but stopped when out of the corner of his eyes he finally caught glimpse of the voyeur, and stood still, waiting for the intruder to make his intentions known.
Keitaro looked on through the leaves of the shrubs he was hiding behind. "Damn it," he cursed to himself as he began rummaging through his pockets and leather bag, looking for a certain charm his master had given him. As he pulled out a sting of jade prayer beads, he recited the short incantation and wrapped the beads around his hand and wrist.
His master had told him that as Matchmaker, one should maintain secrecy and stay hidden from their created matches. By keeping a distance, the Matchmaker would stay impartial as well as avoid any unnecessary confrontations. But unfortunately, by staying hidden in the shadows, it would be virtually impossible to do what he needed to for the sake of salvaging the destined couple.
Which, of course, is why his master had given him this little trinket. This charm had been handed down through the line of Matchmakers and used to side step that little rule of secrecy. With this, he could walk among these mortals, invisible and unseen by all those in his jurisdiction.
He gathered his belongings he had accidentally strewn about in his attempts to find his little treasure, and placed the bag on his shoulder. His eyes fell upon that damnable bracelet and cautiously took and placed it back on his arm, careful to leave it loose so he can rid himself of it if any future mishaps occur. He stood slowly and tried desperately to steady his nerves before moving cautiously out into the clearing.
He watched as the young woman twisted in her lover's arm and then pull away, turning her back on him. The young man's attempts to sooth her were in vain, going unnoticed by the girl and even by Keitaro as he inched closer to the couple bound by fate to be separated.
Keitaro stood now, only a hair's whisper away from her. He closed his eyes and raised two fingers to his brow and then placed them on her own, concentrating hard to form a temporary bond between them. Keitaro began to use this bond to dig into her mind, searching her memories of her distant past, only to find a blank void. He heard her whimper as he dug deeper, but kept going, trying to find what he needed to know about the girl and her future husband.
Unknown forces kept her still, even though Kagome wanted to shake her head free from the dizziness that enveloped her as her memories were forced to the front. 'What's happening,' she thought through the grey haze her memories created as they whirled about her. She could hear Sesshoumaru growl protectively, but could not understand why. 'What's wrong? Why are you growling,' she thought.
Keitaro finally stopped and dropped his hand from her forehead. No matter how much he tried, he could not find any memories older than four months. 'Did I do it wrong or something?' Before he could contemplate on the matter any further, he was yet again interrupted as a deep guttural growl filled the air. At first he thought his empty stomach was once again protesting, but after trying to silence the noise with a quick poke or two with his hand, he quickly realized that the growl wasn't from his stomach, but from the silver haired boy who had been so affectionately caressing this young girl before him.
'I wonder how long he's been growling like that,' Keitaro thought as he brought his attention to her companion. The distinctive fuchsia markings on the boy's cheeks as well as the dark blue crescent on his brow sunk in slowly, and it wasn't until he noticed the elf-like ears that it finally dawned on him.
The color drained from Keitaro's face as he stumbled back. This was not some boy or man, nor was he even human. "DEMON," he hissed and turned on his heel, wanting more than anything to flee this place.
Sesshoumaru had been watching the little obtuse human. Watching as he touched his Kagome, hearing the little whimpers of pain from his love, and knowing exactly what the human was doing. He growled threateningly to the human and would have happily slaughtered the mortal had he not been so sure that this newly formed bond between Kagome and this unknown trespasser, would have ended up killing her if broken prematurely.
He continued watching as the human lowed his hand, finally ending the bond. Watching as the now puzzled human looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru. He mentally smirked as the worthless human turned pale, hissing his recognition and quickly fled the clearing. Sesshoumaru turned his attention to Kagome, wanting to make certain she was unharmed before dealing with the fleeing coward. "Kagome," he whispered, reaching his hand out to her once more.
She stirred to the sound of his voice, and followed it through the grey haze that so persistently shrouded her mind. She shook her head, ridding herself of the dazing fog, and opened her eyes, hoping to find Sesshoumaru. Fear swept over her when she didn't see him standing there in front of her.
Kagome whirled around desperately, as the unfounded feelings of rejection and abandonment etched themselves in her thoughts. But these feeling passed as her eyes fell on the demon lord. She rushed into his embrace, letting him soothe away the unwelcome feelings that lingered inside her.
He was pleased to see that the veil of depression was slipping from her and tried to release her. But she clung to him, not yet willing to let him go and Sesshoumaru nuzzled her neck reassuringly. He was almost certain that had he been anything less than the powerful tiayoukia that he was, she could have easily broken him in half with the strong death grip she had around him now. He tightened his arm around her bringing her closer to him. "There is a matter I must tend to," he breathed into her neck.
"Don't go, not yet," she whimpered.
He sighed in sweet defeat and let his hand wander over her luscious body and promised her he would not take long. "Go to the hot springs, I will return shortly." Kagome breathed into his ear, growing eager for his touch, but he let her go and left quickly as he pushed down his own need, wanting to deal the stupid human as soon as possible so he could return to his lovely Kagome.
Keitaro wiped away the sweat that trickled down his brow into his eyes, blurring his vision. For the second time that night, he ran through the forest like some mad man who had escaped the bowls of hell, fleeing for his freedom as swarms of bats beckoned to him, wanting to drag him back under, or in this case a severely angered demon.
He dared a glance over his shoulder, grateful to see no sign of that demon who had so easily seen through his little trick. But why would a demon succumb to his ruse anyway? A Matchmaker tends to the humans, not the demons. So, it would of course make sense that a demon would be well outside his domain.
The young man stole one more look over his shoulder. Nothing, not a single trace of that demon, which surprised him. As furious as that demon had looked, he could have sworn that he would follow, ready and certainly willing to deal out death. But there was nothing, no sign of the demon, no sounds in the trees save for the birdsongs. Nothing.
Keitaro slowed his pace to an almost dead stop, looking around himself cautiously. 'Could I have out run him?' He lowered his head and concentrated, opening himself up to his surroundings, listening carefully for any signs of danger. Not one thing cried out to him. He raise his head victoriously as a smirk smeared itself across his face. 'Oh yeah,' he thought smugly, 'who's the man?'
Unfortunately, through mid victory dance, a very strong clawed hand wrapped itself tightly around his neck, putting an end to the premature celebration as well as the obnoxious smirk Keitaro had worn so proudly.