- CHAPTER TWELVE – CAPTURED -
Inu-Yasha worked to breathe as the close confines of his mountain became a sudden prison. He stared down a hall he had walked a thousand times, seeing a girl he knew, bound in the arms of a boy he didn't. Not any girl. Kagome. She fought not to flinch at the arrow at her neck, poison-tipped and almost touching skin. The ground fell away, and he took a staggered step forward.
"L-Let her go," he called hoarsely. Fists clenched around him as his brothers growled and snarled beside him.
"She hasn't done anything!" Eiichi echoed. "It's us you want!"
Voices chorused his, demanding Kagome's release, but Inu-Yasha barely heard, gazing at the fragile creature he'd sworn to protect, feeling the range was about to topple down and bury him alive.
Instead of terror as paralyzing as his own, only anger darkened the girl's features. "So you're the monsters who attack children and invade without provocation?" She looked at Kohaku from the corner of her eye. "Must feel good. Poisoning people who've done nothing but live their lives."
"Done nothing?!" Sango stepped closer. "The deeds of these demons would still your heart!"
Kagome felt Kohaku speak by her ear. "Their founder killed everyone in our village, leaving their bodies to rot in the sun," he matched her anger. "You're the monster for defending them."
"Founder?" Miroku called, moving through the group and stepping up to Inu-Yasha. "Inu-no-Taisho did no such thing!"
"Silence!" Sango pointed her boomerang at him. "We've come for your leader. Give him to us, or we'll kill the girl."
Kagome glowered. "No! I won't let you!" She tore her elbow from Kohaku's grasp and spun around, kneeing him in the stomach.
The boy grunted and doubled over.
"You won't use me for your vendetta," she swiped the crossbow bolt from his fingers with the forceful grace of one who knows how to survive, and reached for a handful of black hair. Grabbing hold, she lifted his head, aiming the arrow at his ear. "Drop your weapon," she spoke to Sango. "Or I'll push this into his skull."
Hiraikotsu wavered in the air as horror filled the hunter's face.
Kagome edged the bolt closer. "I'm not bluffing," she said. "Don't test me."
Shock traveled through the men at her recklessness, their leader worst of all.
"You fool," Inu-Yasha shouted. "Be careful!"
Kagome whipped her head towards him. "It's not like I'm getting time to think about this!" She spat. "What else should I do?"
"I don't know," his voice shook more than his arms. "Maybe stay in the storage room like I TOLD YOU!"
Kohaku gulped as the bolt quivered by his ear.
"I wanted to help!"
"This is helping?!"
The young taijiya heard the girl growl behind him.
"I'm trying!"
Inu-Yasha started to advance, and Sango aimed Hiraikotsu at his nose.
"Stop!" She shouted. "Don't come any further!"
He looked from her to Kagome, and snarled, "Enough." Springing forward, he slashed claws through her armor, cutting down into muscle. Eiichi was right behind him, wrestling the boomerang from her hands, and Miroku and Ren joined him, grabbing her arms and pinning her in place. Sango fought their restraint, kicking and buckling her frame, but Inu-Yasha didn't stop, rushing for Kohaku with a furious roar. Who are you usurper?! The woman you grab is already claimed!
Seizing Kagome, he shoved her behind him. The arrow left the boy's head, and he raised an arm, claws dripping with Sango's blood.
"No one threatens us," he swung down.
Kagome dropped the bolt and leapt up, reaching for his wrist. "Don't!" She cried.
Sango ceased her struggles, watching the girl grab Inu-Yasha's arm mid-strike.
"If you kill him, you really will be a monster," her voice was low. "Don't do it."
Sango gaped as the man stared down at her in frustration.
"You were about to do the same!
"I was bluffing."
"He was going to stab you!"
Her fingers gripped harder. "He didn't."
Inu-Yasha glared. "I have to keep you safe."
Men moved around them, circling both taijiya, and Ren and Miroku pulled Sango tight to their sides.
Kagome didn't notice; her eyes never left Inu-Yasha's. "Then don't be someone I have to fear."
Sango's mouth fell lower as the Ouja leader's claws curled down into a fist. He cursed and dropped his arm, letting hanyou surge for her brother and tackle him to the ground. "Careful!" She cried, unable to help herself.
Inu-Yasha turned around slowly. "Shut up," a simmering fury, barely restrained, clipped his words. "You live only because Kagome wishes it," he reached for the girl and drew her to his hip. "Don't make me change my mind."
Sango snapped her jaw closed. She was the prize Naraku sought.
Knowing this wasn't the time or place to refute Inu-Yasha's possessive hold, Kagome stayed against him, scrutinizing the other woman.
"You've heard of me," she saw the recognition in her eyes and paled. "Who sent you?"
From the floor, Kohaku spoke above the arms restraining him. "No one. We came to avenge our village!" An elbow connected with his cheek, cutting off further reply.
Inu-Yasha felt the girl begin to shake. "Kagome?"
Her shudder grew. "Youta said they came from Kanaka," she whispered. "Who do we know there?"
His fingers dug into her side. "Would he really send hunters after you?"
The strength left her neck, and she bowed her head. "I think so," her voice was barely audible. "He's insane."
Surprise lifted Sango's brows as the man engulfed her in a hug, bending his face into her hair.
"You're safe," fangs moved against her forehead. "I promise," he managed a small smirk. "If you listened to me at least."
Kagome closed her eyes and hugged him back. "I know, I'm sorry," she said what she'd fought against uttering earlier. "I trust you."
Sango watched the hanyou who had almost ended her little brother, now tenderly offer comfort to the girl who had stayed his hand.
Much had changed among this range.
Miroku glared at the bound and gagged pair sitting on the floor. He stood in a cellar full of cold meat, one of many near the main hall, while the two taijiya shivered in the chill, surrounded by piles of frozen carcasses.
He saw the temperature's effect and smiled. "I've been charged with watching over you during your 'stay'," he crossed his arms as Sango struggled against her restraints, mumbling curses into the strip of cloth tied around her mouth. Immune to the cold, the hanyou smirked. "Something to say?" He craned down. "No?" Taunt edged his tone. "Next time someone offers you a chance to live," his voice grew hard. "Take it and move on."
Sango took in his purple robes with widening eyes. He nodded at her recognition, and she thrashed harder.
Steps came from the other side of the fur-lined hide acting as a door, and Kagome peeked through.
"Why did you pick this as their cell?" She stepped into the room, wearing a thick coat and rubbing her arms. "There's no way to lock them in."
"It's cold," Miroku snapped, straightening. "They'll be uncomfortable."
She rolled her eyes and set down the basket she carried.
"How's Jinenji?" He asked.
Kagome rummaged through bundles of tied herbs. "He and the girls are fine," she extracted a roll of bandages. "They gave him white cedar to counteract the arrows' toxins," her relief faltered as she looked to Kohaku and Sango. "It was close though. He almost didn't make it."
Miroku watched her. "You sure you want to do this?" He glanced to the tied-up duo. "I'm fine letting her bleed out."
Sango sent him a glare as Kagome crouched down before her.
"No," she reached for the broken armor Inu-Yasha had cleaved through. "I heal even those who are afflictions, remember?"
The corner of Miroku's mouth twitched. "I do."
She pulled Sango's breastplate back, ignoring the hunter as she shifted her glare to her. It was hard for Kagome to hide her own anger – this assassin had almost killed Jinenji, and had menaced the first girls to show her kindness in over a year. It took effort to magnanimously peel back the soaked layers of pink fabric to expose her abdomen, and she worked on automatic, pressing, dabbing, and binding the wound quickly.
The woman stared the entire time, her indignation giving way to examination as she flicked from Kagome's moving hands to her concentrated brow.
When she was almost done, Sango spoke into her gag, muffling unintelligibly.
"Don't," Miroku urged, before Kagome could consider. "Whatever this viper has to say is probably more poisonous than her arrows."
Kagome regarded her charge, pulling the strip out from her teeth and tugging it down to her chin anyway.
Sango ran a tongue over her freed lips, immediately regretting it as they dried and stung in the frigid air. "You saved my brother," the words came out in white, hovering clouds. "Why?"
Kagome didn't react, finishing the bandage around her waist with a tight knot. When she finally answered, there was condemnation in her voice. "For all the terrible things we do to each other in this world, killing is final, its effects ever-lasting," the death of the nezumi guard rose like another cloud of exhale. "And I have a little brother," her eyes met Sango's. "I know what losing him would do to me."
Kohaku wrestled in his ropes. His gag was looser, and it slipped down as he twisted his head. "So you know these fiends are murderers then?"
Both Sango and Kagome gave him a sharp look.
The taijiya was about to quiet him, but Kagome answered first.
"You breathe for another day," her tone was as icy as the room. "The only killer here is you."
Kohaku frowned. "What about our village?"
Miroku opened his mouth to protest, but Kagome held up a hand.
"What proof do you have?" She asked.
"The monster told us himself!" Kohaku's volume spiked as emotion overtook him. "He gloated as he hovered over the body of my father!"
"That's untrue!" Miroku interjected. "Inu-no-Taisho loved humans! He would NEVER have slaughtered a village, even one full of demon-hating scum like yourselves!"
Sango tucked her bound feet under her and pushed off with her toes, rising to her knees. ""Oh?" She came to Kohaku's defense. "Then how do you explain the man's white hair and amber eyes?! Doesn't that match Inu-no-Taisho's description?"
Miroku shook his head. "If you witnessed the destruction of your own village, your timeline is gravely off," he looked to Kagome. "Inu-Yasha's father perished fifty years ago in a fire rescuing Inu-Yasha, while the boy attempted to save his mother," he crouched down on one knee. "These humans can't be more than you in years Kagome. There's no way they were alive while Inu-no-Taisho lived. Someone else destroyed their village."
Kagome wiped her hands together, stinging with the remnants of antiseptic. She considered the man beside her as the siblings reeled from his words.
Sango couldn't comprehend; the cold had made her mind sluggish. "W-We saw him," she tried to keep her voice strong. "He wore white fur and an old sword at his hip."
Miroku ignored her. "These two have been blinded in their need for vengeance," he spoke only to the girl in gray. "They're pinning a heinous deed on someone, based on bits of evidence that slip through their fingers with the first hint of insight."
Through her disbelief, Sango realized that the wind hanyou actually cared what Kagome thought. She watched him lean close, face urgent as he tried convincing her of Inu-no-Taisho's innocence. Why would it matter to one outlaw if a nobody, human girl believed him?
Kohaku renewed his struggles. "Then it was Inu-Yasha all along. He may not wear the pelt over his shoulder that he used to, but he still—."
"What?" Miroku whipped towards the boy. "The killer's white fur was a pelt?" He seemed to suddenly feel the cellar's temperature as a shudder ran through him. "Did he have a mark on his forehead? A family crest of a crescent moon?!" He shot to his feet and lurched forward, grabbing Kohaku by the shoulders. "Did he?!"
The boy's eyes widened.
"Were you so determined to name Inu-Yasha guilty that you didn't notice he bears none?!" Miroku's voice rose almost to a yell. "You killed an Ouja for nothing!" His fingers sank into the teal of Kohaku's tunic.
"Who was it then?!" Sango turned on her knees. "You know his identity! Tell us!"
His eyes narrowed. "You come to my mountain and menace my clansmen in an unprovoked attack. I won't help you," he gripped Kohaku's shoulders until the boy winced. "I hope your father's death continues to linger and blight the rest of your days," he spat.
Kagome retrieved her basket. "Miroku," his name was soft and calm, filling the space between them in gentle reproach. "You're hurting him," she stood. "Let go."
Crossing the room, she palmed his back. "Please."
Miroku turned at the touch and saw kind eyes staring back, compassion lighting their depths. Kagome's braid was starting to fray, loose wisps framing her face in a distracting manner, and his breath hitched. His fingers unclenched of their accord, and he pulled them away, barely registering Kohaku's sigh of relief.
Kagome offered him a small smile. "Thank you."
Her braid dangled between them, and he fought the urge to pull out the tie and free the dark waves. "You know," he retreated back a step. "You're almost pretty when you're not angry."
Kagome kept her smile. "Another thread in my master plan."
They both missed the fury that rose in Sango's face. She rocked to the far wall and jumped to her feet. "Tell us the killer's name, hanyou!" She shouted.
Miroku moved in a flash, rising and shoving her back to the floor. She landed hard, and he glowered down. "I won't," he muttered, the warm camaraderie leaving his features. "You and your brother will stay here until Inu-Yasha commands otherwise."
Sango bit her lip as pain bloomed in her hip.
Kohaku looked from his sister to the wind demon, scowling with a confidence only youth could give. "We'll find out and make you pay for keeping the truth from us."
Miroku's lip curled. "Don't threaten me whelp," he lifted his arm, aiming to give the boy an overdue cuff.
Kagome shook her head. "No," she slid her basket to her elbow. "He's faced enough pain. It's bored down inside him – making him speak in threats and twisted untruths," she ducked her eyes to the herbs and bandages she held. "Believe me. I know its taste well."
Miroku faltered as a swallow stuck in the back of his throat. He had new respect for Inu-Yasha – his leader had resisted the magnetic pull of this girl well. Though her influence was a new effect, a fleeting look or pained tone brought him reeling back, ensnared.
He let the limb fall lamely to his side. "I really wanted to hate you Kagome," he sighed. Palming his face, he nodded. "I won't touch them. You have my word."
The blaze in Sango's hip eased to an ache as she watched the standing pair. Kagome was the key to finding out who had slaughtered their village. Somehow, she held sway with these demons.
She'd get her to help them. One way or another.
Kagome lifted the hide and exited the cellar, leaving Miroku and Sango to contest wills with outmatched glares and derisive scoffs. She took the steps up to the main hall two at a time, eager to abandon the cold; despite the coat she wore, chill had seeped down into her chest and taken hold. She reached a second hide door and burst through.
Ren was waiting on the other side and greeted her with a slight bow, holding out a spindly arm for her basket. "How are they?"
Kagome relinquished it to the koumori, shrugging out of her coat and hanging it on a rack of others, for Ouja sensitive to temperature. "Cold, angry, and impatient for freedom, but fine," she regarded him. "Long time no see. Where have you been?"
He quirked an eyebrow. "Two days is long?"
"When you've been my shadow my entire stay it has."
Large, yellow-green eyes focused on the floor. "I was sent to patrol the mountain's perimeter."
"Why?"
Ren started walking, and Kagome followed, traveling with him along the outskirts of tables. Hanyou leaned over the three brothers still recovering, and all sent her deep nods as they passed. A man with a long snout and rat ears crouched in front of the huge hearth that would soon warm the cavern, placing tinder and kindling in its unlit mouth in preparation for evening. Glancing up, he stared at Kagome as she walked by, bowing shyly.
She offered him an encouraging smile, letting it grow as he did the same. The Ouja were not what she'd thought them to be, and she hoped the human siblings would come to see the same.
"Ren?" She tried again. "You told Tika you were watching me. Why the change of assignment?"
The short man stayed engrossed with his feet. "I said some things…," he neared the wood pile. "Things I shouldn't have."
Kagome halted. "Are you okay?"
He stopped too, keeping his back to her and trying not to read into the concern in her voice.
"You can tell me," she offered. "I'd like to be your friend."
His shoulder sunk, and his usually guarded tone wavered slightly. "I don't deserve it. Save it for someone not living in the past."
"What?"
Ren couldn't meet her eye and made his ears quiver to show her a group approached.
"He wanted fresh air," Inu-Yasha answered for him, coming up with Eiichi and Shiori in tow. The trio stopped, and their leader adopted his usual stance, folding arms into the sleeves of his haori. "I think your scent was driving him crazy," he stared until Ren looked up, and the two shared a wordless moment – the koumori wearing deep apology, and Inu-Yasha nodding – accepting his regret.
Kagome frowned. "I smell fine," she crossed her arms, imitating Inu-Yasha. "And I don't believe you. Ren's never been bothered by me before."
Color entered the bat hanyou's cheeks. "I just wanted to help keep vigil against the wolves."
"But you disappeared before the attack party even left."
His blush darkened.
Inu-Yasha jutted his head towards the tunnels. "Come with me Kagome. I have something I want to show you."
She realized something unsaid had gone on between them. Looking to Ren, she saw shame weight his shoulders – he'd made an accusation, or revealed an unkind thought, and Inu-Yasha had banished him for it. "Hey," she craned down to catch his eye. "I don't blame you," she said. "You've only known humans who live for persecution," she looked back at the cellar hide, set innocuously against the wall. "We're not all like those two in there."
Ren looked up, misery crinkling his features. "I'm sorry Kagome."
She reached out and cupped his arm. "Don't worry," her thumb stroked the sparse fur of his thin bicep. "I'll show you how different some of us are."
At Inu-Yasha's side, Eiichi cleared his throat. "He's not the only one who's misjudged you," he said gruffly. "I got Moegi and Asagi back to their rooms, and they both gave me a hard time," golden eyes with long-slitted irises rose to meet hers. "Stupid kids. Worrying about you when they barely cheated death themselves," he scoffed. "They told me you were special, and that I'd been an ass," discomfort creased his mouth. "I'm sorry I swore at you," he dropped his gaze. "And called you a homely little pretender behind your back… and wanted to fling you off the side of the mountain… and laid awake at night envisioning ways I'd do it."
Kagome's brows rose as Inu-Yasha glowered.
"Hey!" He said. "What?!"
Eiichi nodded and held up his hands, the one still regrowing smaller than the other. "I know. That's how the girls reacted," he returned to Kagome's face. "Sorry."
She palmed her hip, regarding the hebi. "It's alright. I thought the same things about you, but my plans involved more maiming and breaking of teeth before the cliff push."
Eiichi smirked.
"If it helps," Shiori chimed in. "I know nothing about you and haven't gotten to make any judgments," purple eyes flashed with mirth. "Yet."
Kagome smiled and thrust out her hand.
The girl took it, shaking firmly and studying her as they made contact. "You don't flinch when you touch us," she said. "Interesting."
Inu-Yasha rolled his eyes. "Alright, enough bonding," he motioned for them to hurry up. "Kagome and I have business elsewhere."
Shiori dropped her arm and gave her leader a dry look. "Right. The ledge I showed you that looks beautiful at sunset," she said flatly, making him flush bright red. "Rush me again sir, and you'll get more of the same."
Kagome leaned into the man whose face now matched his haori. "I like her."
Inu-Yasha grumbled and spun for the tunnels. "Are you coming or what?" He snapped.
Kagome couldn't fight the beam that stretched her face and waved goodbye, rushing to follow.
They left the three Ouja behind, making for one of the main tunnels Kagome had yet to explore.
"Where does this lead?" She asked.
Inu-Yasha marched ahead of her in silence, stiff with embarrassment.
She slowed as whispers rose from the group at their backs. "If you're not going to talk to me, I'll just stay here and see how Ibuki's doing."
His shoulders drew together, and he stopped. Turning on his heel, she saw that blush still colored his features. "It leads up to the surface."
Kagome backed up. "This isn't the one towards Kanaka. Why are we going there?"
Inu-Yasha stretched out his arm, holding a hand to her. "Shiori was right," he made his voice low, knowing it was futile with koumori ears so close. "I want to show you that ledge."
She looked to his palm, clawed fingers hanging between them, spread and exposed.
"I almost lost you today," he forced himself to keep his hand out, using all of his resolve to do so. Their audience had ceased speaking. "It's time I let you choose whether you want to stay."
Kagome gasped, whipping from his arm to his face. "What?"
"Take my hand. Please," Inu-Yasha winced.
She searched amber eyes, looking for derision or deceit, but found only lingering awkwardness and an intensity she recognized but didn't want to believe.
Inu-Yasha smelled conflict pour into her scent and pushed his arm farther forward. "Come with me," he tried for a charming smile, but failed miserably, offering only a pained grimace. "We're going to miss it."
"What?"
His fingers flexed. It seemed an eternity they'd been waiting. "The sunset."
Kagome's mouth dropped.
"Please," he repeated.
Her mind raced. WHAT?! She'd just come from treating two enemies who'd sworn to destroy his clan. Now he wanted to show her the sun? Let her go?!
"You said you trusted me," Inu-Yasha tried to keep his voice from breaking. "Show me."
Thoughts swirled as Kagome stepped up and took his hand. "You just had to say it like a challenge," the corners of her mouth threatened to rise. "It's like you know me or something."
He cracked a grin without realizing. "No way," he gently drew her to his side. "That'd be crazy," relief smoothed his face.
They started walking again, and Inu-Yasha kept her hand, taking the stairs that led to the four branching passages.
Kagome felt tingling anticipation flood her limbs. What was happening? Was the man she'd vowed to hate doing this to her? Did he know? She saw him sniff her and spoke without thinking. "What's your nose telling you?"
They reached the mouth of the tunnel, and Inu-Yasha stopped, sniffing again. "You're excited… and… nervous," he inhaled deeply. "Also slightly aroused."
Kagome's eyes bugged. "W-What?!" Pink spread all the way up to her ears. "That's not true!"
He smiled. "I'm kidding," her fingers twisted in his, and he let them go. "We have to hurry if we're going to make the ledge in time," he gestured to his back. "Hop on."
She shook her head vehemently, fighting the heat in her cheeks. "No."
"Afraid you won't be able to control yourself?" He asked playfully.
Kagome frowned. "I've changed my mind. I don't want to see the sunset."
The lightness left him. "Why not?" Inu-Yasha turned around, examining her face. Noting the discomfort and unease, he reached out and pressed against her waist, pushing her back to the wall.
Voices came from within the tunnel, and two spider hanyou appeared. Sets of eight eyes glanced their way before widening and whipping purposefully to the other end of the hall. Something personal was going on with the boss and Kagome, and they weren't going to be the ones caught in the crossfire when they invariably started arguing. The men hurried down the steps, not daring to look back.
Inu-Yasha kept his hand splayed across her stomach, still searching her features, waiting for an answer.
She watched the spider hanyou over his shoulder. "Why do you want to show it to me?" She countered.
The man over her growled. "Because that's how you're supposed to do this!" He swept his free arm to the passage. "Be thoughtful and considerate and woo the girl!" He fought back a frown. "Why can't you be normal for once? Just accept that I'm trying to be nice!"
Kagome jerked against the wall. Woo?
His ears fell at her surprise. "Forget it," he started to pull away, letting his claws fall from the fabric of her dress.
"Wait," Kagome met his eye, rejection darkening his gaze almost brown. Something she wasn't sure she wanted to trust made her step out from the wall and move behind him. Lifting her hands to his shoulders, she waited for him to bend down. "I'll go."
Inu-Yasha obliged without meaning to. Sweeping her legs off the ground, he hooked his fingers under her thighs. "We're almost too late," he grumbled. "I don't think we'll make it."
"With that plodding gait of yours, you're probably right."
He heard her smile. "You had to make it a challenge," he said
"Like I know you or something," she returned.
He ducked into the tunnel's dark opening and hurried up its steep steps, missing the gaping stares of Ren, Shiori, and Eiichi, still standing by the fireplace.
The hebi demon shook his head, remembering to furrow his brow. "She's going to make everything different you know," he said gruffly. "We'll have to be 'civilized' after this."
The two koumori stood quietly, listening as their leader climbed the stairs eagerly.
Shiori smiled. "No," she cast a look around the main hall. "Kagome's seen that we already are. Now she'll just make us start believing it."
Ren's ears continued to move, trembling on the sides of his head as he heard Inu-Yasha take a fork, then another. The man started scaling rougher-hewn steps, spaced far apart, towards the surface, nearly sprinting as he leapt with purpose and concentration.
"I think Kagome will bring us a light no human's ever offered before," he whispered.
"What if it blinds Inu-Yasha?" Eiichi asked, the usual venom in his voice gone.
Ren shook his head ruefully. "We should all be so lucky."
At his hip, Shiori lowered her head. "Some of us already are, but don't stop long enough to notice."
Ren didn't hear, too consumed with Inu-Yasha's trek; his leader was making good time.
From the tunnel, Kagome held locks of flying white hair and tried not to be scared as they raced past walls swiftly growing closer. This ride was different than the one to the mountains; now she was conscious of every inch of Inu-Yasha's frame against hers. Muscles moved under her as he used his hands as well as legs to climb. Though her nose paled in comparison to his, his smell filled her face, a strong and comforting mix of earth, wood smoke, and well-worn haori. Sweat mingled through it, and Kagome felt herself smiling.
"Not having to exert yourself, are you hanyou?"
Inu-Yasha huffed. "No, but with your set it's a small miracle."
"Bet I'm not heavy for full youkai."
He let the banter fall as he grabbed for a far stair. "You're not heavy for anyone," he said. "If you end up staying, we're going to have to put some meat on your bones. You look like someone people need to beat up."
"Breakfasts of hard rice hardly sound appealing."
"You'll have to stomach them," the darkness above grew lighter as Inu-Yasha lowered to a crawl. "With your lack of curves, I bet most of my men think you're actually a boy."
"I have curves!" Kagome laughed in indignation. "You can't go from one extreme to the other! Either it's my weight that's making you so slow, or I look as much like a boy as Kohaku."
Inu-Yasha reached for another stair. "I don't like this pretend arguing," he grumbled. "You keep your sense and poke holes through my excellent quips."
"Excellent?"
"They're clever!"
"As much as you're fast!"
The darkness grew lighter.
"Aha!" Inu-Yasha pushed himself harder. "We're almost there!" He scrambled forward, and the tunnel began to level out. "What were you saying about my speed?"
Kagome saw the ledge loom before them and thought it'd been graciously named. An unassuming niche crowded by low-hanging rocks and steep mountain sides emptied out into the evening air. The sun was sinking as they exited the tunnel and made their way onto its small face.
Inu-Yasha tried to hide his disappointment as the last rays faded below the horizon; they had missed the sunset. He released Kagome's thighs and touched her wrist at his neck, letting her know she could jump down.
She did so, careful to stay close to the stone wall behind her. "Sorry," she palmed cold rock. "I'm a stubborn moron."
Inu-Yasha turned to face her, bracing himself against the winds tearing into the mountain, shielding her from the worst of their onslaught. "It was a stupid idea," he waved her away. "I can't seem to manage these kinds of gestures."
Kagome took a hesitant step from the wall. "I obviously can't handle them being offered. I guess that makes us quite a pair."
They looked at each other, the breezes of early night lifting their hair, throwing black and white about their shoulders.
Inu-Yasha stared at her in the dimming light, finding his voice stolen away. "I…," he trailed off, and Kagome waited, uncharacteristically quiet. "I brought you here to tell you…," he worked up his courage. "That you're free to go if you want," a strong gust bore down, and he moved closer. "I thought I was keeping you safe, but danger follows me as much as it does you," earnest amber pulled her gaze to his. "Today showed me that I can't hold you here against your will. Only the monster those taijiya think I am would do that."
Kagome leaned in as a clawed hand tentatively took her face, stretching up to her ear and down to her jaw. "You're not a monster," she said softly. "You pretend to be an outlaw, but it's as much a mask as that root they wear," the mountain winds robbed the words from her mouth, but Inu-Yasha heard them anyway. "And you showed me I'm pretending too," she closed her eyes as he ran a thumb over her skin, thinking of Ren, Shippo, and even Miroku. "I want to stay with the Ouja," blue-gray irises flicked open. "With you."
Inu-Yasha looked over his shoulder, catching the last sliver of sun disappear below the line of earth. "Are you sure? You didn't even get to see the sunset."
Kagome gave a small shake of her head, swallowing down her shock. When had she realized this place was more a home than Hana had ever been? How had this rough band won her over in such few days? The fingers cradling her cheek were warm, and an unexpected contentedness settled in her chest. "It's okay."
The hanyou turned back. "It was supposed to be my apology for taking you from the city, making you stay in my room, watching you bathe, and trying to kiss you without permission."
Kagome's expression grew wry. "That's some powerful sun."
"It was really pretty."
"We can see it another day."
Inu-Yasha slid his hand to the back of her head and drew her close, nearly touching their noses together. "That sounds suspiciously like future plans," he whispered. "With me," pleasure lit his eyes. "Can I get you to sign something before you change your mind? Nothing too binding, just—."
Kagome surged forward, pressing her lips to his.
Inu-Yasha's eyes flew wide as she parted her mouth and kissed him – a man who made her furious and offered challenge at every turn – one who'd saved her from Kanaka and integrated her into his misfit family. She couldn't help it and wouldn't try. The winds fell away as Inu-Yasha responded, kissing back with controlled pressure.
Their lips were gentle at first, testing and unsure as they explored their combined taste. Desire Kagome long thought extinguished lit in her, and she kissed harder, trailing her hands up his arms and into his hair. A sound of surprise issued from him, and Inu-Yasha let his claws fall to her hips, pulling her to his chest. He tugged her lower lip with fangs that grew less careful, deepening their contact eagerly. Kagome bunched a handful of white as his hold turned possessive. They could have been in a sheltered glen for all they felt the increasing weather's chill, and Inu-Yasha's fingers slid lower, cupping her backside. He was slowly losing his ability to hold back and struggled to temper the force of his lips.
Kagome felt his hand slide below her back and broke away with effort. "Are you channeling Miroku?" She asked breathlessly, chest heaving against his.
He squeezed his handful. "This is something I've wanted to touch for awhile," he fought for air. "You ruined my attempt at romance. Let me have this."
"Really?" She smiled amid flushed cheeks. "I owe you a free feel?"
"Well, no," he grinned, half-confident, half-terrified he'd erred. "But you'll give it to me anyway… out of pity?"
Kagome laughed and nodded. "Fair enough," she moved closer. "What were we doing?"
Inu-Yasha's fangs glinted in the growing darkness as his smile strengthened. "I think you were about to let my tongue slide between your teeth."
"Was I?"
He nodded, giving a rumble he hoped sounded impressive. "Absolutely."
Kagome laughed again, batting his face with exhales and delight. "Is the new moon coming soon? You're edging dangerously close to charm."
"My human self helps sometimes," he shrugged. "But it's hard to concentrate on his advice when your mouth keeps moving near mine."
She flushed. "You can't be like this all the time," her nose bumped his cheek. "I'll never be able to get angry or argue again."
Inu-Yasha's smile grew. "Yeah right," he leaned down and took her lips once more. They kissed in the twilight, a pair standing small among the range's length.
Stars began to appear and twinkle above them, dotting the sky and filling it with a splendor that made one forget to miss the sun. For now, spectators could enjoy its beauty, knowing morning's light would come soon enough. For the couple entwined among old stones, the sun could stay away as long as it liked. They didn't need its harshness sharpening all the line around them.
