The storm came suddenly. And as the rain poured heavily down upon them, they raced along the mountain path in search of shelter. It was a frightening experience for everyone.
To the right was a tall mountain. In front of them was a path. To the left was nothing but a long ways down. So either they found a cabin and hope it wasn't in use or a cave.
As the lightning flashed above Kenji seriously began to panic. He focused on glancing at his companions. The three smallest of the group were on Ah-Un. With Sesshomaru in front Kenji moved to be behind the two headed dragon so he can keep an eye on all of them.
They had tried flying at first. But the rain had forced them to land and run on foot. It was difficult to see properly as the rain stung their eyes. It was good Sesshomaru made the call to land just before the lightning began to strike randomly.
Apparently they weren't the only ones caught up in the storm. Sesshomaru caught sight of a small overhang of rock and realized that it was an opening to a cave.
However as they raced towards the cave, they ran into none other than Inuyasha and his group. They were racing from the opposite direction. Upon seeing each other both groups stopped.
"Well this is convenient!" Inuyasha glared.
"Does it look like I'm just as overjoyed with this situation?" Sesshomaru bit back.
"Everyone just get inside!" Kagome yelled over the storm.
Sesshomaru waited to allow the biggest group inside. Then he brought up the rear of his own pack to keep an eye on Inuyasha being so close to Kenji. Just as they made it inside there was a rumbling of a landslide.
Sesshomaru noticed Kenji turning around and stopped. Kenji had a flashback. He saw Chiyo running away.
"No! Chiyo!" Kenji called out as he ran back towards the entrance.
"Kenji!" Sesshomaru grabbed him and pulled back just in time as rock and mud filled the entrance.
"Chiyo! Chiyo!" Still in panic induced state Kenji ripped himself away from Sesshomaru as he ran to the pile and tried to dig.
Suddenly afraid that more of the cave would collapse, Sesshomaru released his demonic aura. Some flinched at the power being felt in such a confined space. The pressure snapped Kenji out of his flashback enough to turn and realize where he was.
"...I'm sorry." Kenji lowered his gaze in shame.
"Stay focused." Sesshomaru advised as he reined in his aura.
"Hey, this cave goes further in. Think there might be another way out?" Miroku pointed out.
"Guess we have to see for ourselves." Inuyasha took the lead.
Kagome handed Inuyasha a flashlight to light their way. Most of the group clustered in the middle. Kenji, despite his discomfort, stayed close to Rin. Sesshomaru stayed in the back a few paces behind.
"So, Kenji. Who is Chiyo, if I may ask?" Miroku was the first to break the silence.
"...My little sister. She died in a landslide that swallowed our castle." He gave the bare minimum of information, as the flashback he just experienced still had him reeling.
"Oh. My apologies for asking." The monk felt terrible for asking.
"No, it's...you didn't you know. I would be curious too." He understood.
"She used to play with his hair. And even tied Kenji and Asahi's hair together just for fun." Rin saw no reason not to share this information.
"Sounds like she had you two wrapped around her little finger." Sango commented with mirth.
"Yeah. We raised her after mother died giving birth. Father couldn't bear to see her because she looked like mother. So he distanced himself from all of us. She kept us busy all right." Kenji was beginning to calm down the more he talked.
"Why did she run back into the castle? Oh, I'm sorry that was insensitive." Kagome realized her question after it left her mouth.
"To help father. When the storm passed we began digging to recover all the bodies. We found them hugging tightly." Kenji didn't seem to mind.
"I'm sorry. That must have devastated you and your brother." Sango glanced at Kohaku, recalling when she thought he had perished as well.
"He's a bitter asshole who deserves to be knocked around a bit." Kenji chuckled at his own words. "Sorry, I don't mean to be so rash."
"No, you're fine. We're familiar with the struggles between brothers." Kagome sent a look at Inuyasha.
"I know who you're implying, Kagome." Inuyasha of course was listening to every word.
"Well maybe it's time you two had another talk!" She retorted.
"Hmph. Unlikely." Sesshomaru commented coldly.
"Yeah, what he said." Inuyasha agreed.
"Oh my - you two are impossible! Quit being so stubborn and just talk! This is ridiculous to everyone caught in the middle!" Kagome snapped.
"Tone it down. Some of us have sensitive ears." Sesshomaru hated how her shriek echoed.
"Oi! Don't you start berating anyone from my pack!" Inuyasha turned to glare.
"Then shut your mouth." The daiyokai glared back.
"Why you - " Inuyasha fully turned around, hand on the handle of the Tessaiga.
"Sit boy!" Kagome commanded and he collapsed face tirst.
"That's handy." Kenji blinked.
"What the hell Kagome!" Inuyasha weakly lifted his head.
"Look where we're at before you decide to fight!" She argued.
"He started it!" The hanyou yelled.
"And I'm finishing it!" Kagome stomped before turning around to glare at Sesshomaru. "And you! Just because Inuyasha makes it easy to argue with, doesn't mean make it worse!"
Kenji tensed, ready to intervene. But as he turned he saw that Sesshomaru was simply staring blankly.
"Enough talk. Either someone take the lead or I will." Sesshomaru didn't care.
"Give me a minute!" Inuyasha struggled to even push himself up.
"Then hurry up." The daiyokai grew impatient.
"Kagome take these damn beads off so I can put them on Sesshomaru! See how he likes it!" Inuyasha glared at both of them.
"Nope!" She crossed her arms.
"I won't be bound like a pet dog." Sesshomaru snarled.
"You calling me a pet dog!?" Inuyasha pushed to his feet in his fury.
"It is implied." He didn't even bother to deny it.
"Fuck you!"
"SIT BOY!"
Inuyasha crashed with a cry. Kenji frowned at Sesshomaru.
"That was a bit harsh." He glared.
"I don't plan to apologize." Sesshomaru didn't care.
"Three of us are dogs, including yourself. That's a little too far." Kenji pointed out. "Even the kitsune might be considered part of the canine family."
"Throw in the cat while you're feeling so sensitive." Sesshomaru spoke flatly.
"Enough!" Miroku snapped. "We're all stuck inside a mountain! The least we can do is get along until we all escape! Otherwise this could very well become our tomb."
His words earned silence. Miroku had a valid point. Inuyasha pushed himself up, shaking off the dirt and parts of the mud since he was still damp from the downpour. Wordlessly he turned and continued walking as the leader.
The silence was deafening as they continued. Beginning to feel crowded in the middle Kenji slowed down to join Sesshomaru in the back. They shared a glance but didn't speak their thoughts.
Eventually the large group came to an open cave system. It was huge, big enough for them all to spread out. And to their amazement the crystals glowed a soft blue. They grew from the ground and the ceiling. Even along the walls.
"What causes them to glow?" Shippo asked them.
"No idea. But it's better than our flashlight." Inuyasha pressed a button to turn it off.
"Is it just me or is it a bit warm in here?" Kenji wondered.
"Now that you mention it, I don't feel so cold." Sango agreed.
"Let's set up camp. There's plenty of room." Inuyasha stated as he took in the state they were all in. They were all exhausted and haven't fully dried off yet.
Silently everyone agreed. Unfortunately the bedrolls and blankets were all soaked. So they were all laid out to help dry. Because there were no resources for any fires the two groups were closer together than previous times.
Rin was the first to sneeze. Sesshomaru wordlessly placed Mokomoko around her protectively. Rin hugged it tightly, grateful for the warmth. Soon enough she was sound asleep.
Kagome and Sango sneezed respectively.
"Well this is daunting." Kenji commented when the girls sneezed at the same time. "If we start getting sick we can't exactly move."
"We have spare food. But only for a few days." Miroku began checking over their food rations.
Wordlessly Sesshomaru walked away to explore their immediate surroundings. If they ended up stranded in here for a while then they needed a source of food and water.
"Go with him!" Kagome urged Inuyasha.
"Why me?" He frowned.
"You two need a talk, so go talk."
"I get the feeling he's still pissed off." Kenji overheard.
"When is he not mad at something?" The hanyou huffed.
"Point. But he might claw out your eyes if you try to talk to him now."
"What exactly are you to him?" Inuyasha glared.
"Just a bodyguard for them." Kenji motioned to Rin, Kohaku and Jaken.
"The way you talk there's more than that." The hanyou noticed how his friends tensed up at the observation.
Kenji outright laughed. His response surprised everyone. The mirth echoed in the large cave around them.
"What the hell is so funny?" Inuyasha wanted him to stop already.
"I just find it hilarious the way you act like an overprotective mate!" Kenji laughed a little more before calming down. In a flash he met Inuyasha's glare with one of his own.
The sudden mood change made the others uneasy.
"If you're so damn interested then what's stopping you from claiming him? You're one of the reasons he hasn't jumped on me."
Inuyasha snarled as he stood up. Immediately Sango and Miroku grabbed either arm while Kagome stood in front of him. He ignored all of them to simply glare at Kenji.
"You got a serious death wish." Inuyasha growled low in his throat.
"You were the on who asked." Kenji smirked slyly. "But I'm not one to give chase. I've been allowing Sesshomaru to make the first move if he so wishes. If you mark and claim him? I won't get in the middle of it and let go of my interest."
"If he so wishes? So then nothing has happened between you two?" Shippo innocently asked.
"Nope. If you don't believe me, go ask him." Kenji saw the discomfort with that challenge. Sesshomaru would definitely claw or swing his sword at anyone who would dare.
"Not that it's any of your business anyway." The dark haired demon shrugged.
"You're beginning to seriously piss me off." Inuyasha glared.
"Stop being a child and actually claim what's practically yours already." Kenji snapped, voice dark.
Those white ears perked up. It was almost comical, if the situation wasn't so serious. Feeling Inuyasha relax the three friends reluctantly let go. But they didn't immediately sit back down in case they had to intervene again.
They were so busy that they hadn't noticed Sesshomaru's return until a large pile of sticks were tossed in the middle. The noise startled most and they all turned to the daiyokai.
"I found a spring. Growing around it is a garden." Sesshomaru eyed both Kenji and Inuyasha. "Consider this my warning. I won't be a subject to be fought over like a prize. Should this outlandish behavior continue, I will make sure neither of you can mate."
Inuyasha and Kenji shivered at the threat and promptly looked away. Satisfied that they would behave for now, Sesshomaru turned and walked away once more.
"One of you come with me so I can show the way to the spring."
Inuyasha wasn't interested. But his friends practically pushed him. He glared at them before giving in and silently followed Sesshomaru.