The Bone Eater's Well
Chapter Four
This was her worst adversary.
She had traveled thousands of miles across Feudal Japan gathering the Shikon no Tama shards. She had faced thousands of demons with ferocious blades and sharp claws. She had struck down Naraku with a piercing arrow infused with pure reiki.
Yet her worst enemy came with a vengeance.
Groaning as her lower back pitched with a sharp wave of pain and her lower abdomen clenched in a cramp, Kagome curled in on herself.
Periods were Kami's revenge porn.
It was a sight to be seen.
Kagome had practically cried herself to sleep a few nights before between the discomfort of her menstruation and the irritable mood swings. Since then, she had barely managed to hide away in the small covering of the Goshinboku roots, only slipping away to relieve herself or to wash away the traces of blood.
Inutaisho's words had flushed her hot in embarrassment especially considering how blunt and accurate he was in determining the start of her cycle. What was even more embarrassing was the fact that he had come prepared with a dead demon corpse to string up like a scarecrow!
The implication of his intention was truly thoughtful, especially for a full fledged demon of his caliber and status. Kagome couldn't fault him for his strange display of consideration, but it didn't settle the fact that he had the ability to sniff out her body's hormones long before she even knew it was coming.
Are all youkai able to do that? Kagome blanched.
She prayed not.
Oh, dear Lord, does that mean Inuyasha and them could smell it?!
Kagome gagged, knocking her head back against the tree root. This was just her sheer luck.
A stuttering breath left her as her ovaries seemed to twist themselves.
She snorted before slouching into the warm covers of her sleeping bag. A chipmunk darted past her in a fury. Scratching the side of her face, she contemplated how much longer she wished to stay hiding in her thoughts.
"I can't stay here all day." She groaned, working the tired muscle of her limbs to drag herself up.
Puckered lips pinched together uncomfortably as she felt a whoosh of energy drain in the effort to stand. Grabbing her pack and the blade the demon dog had gifted her, Kagome crossed the forest in a lazy retreat to forage.
"Might as well be somewhat productive."
In her downtime when she was little energy, she had set the habit of locating and plucking different herbs and berries. Some for food and others to collect in case she needed them- medicinal and otherwise. She made practice of using the empty plastic containers to grind up the plants and storing them.
Kagome didn't consider herself a doomsday prepper, but she figured she wouldn't be caught off guard in case of an emergency and what a better way to start than to collect food and plants readily.
Stooping to inspect a beautiful patch of flowers hidden beneath a rather large canopy, Kagome brushed her fingers over the yellow petals. She made a small noise of surprise when a green wet droplet splattered against the flower she was touching.
She jolted when it sizzled and the stench had her nose crinkling.
When more odd colored droplets fell into the patch of flowers, Kagome froze.
Swallowing a knot of fear in her throat, she tilted her head up to peer into the dark canopy. She could hear a rattle begin to shake and her heart pounded erratically as she could make a large ominous form moving above her in the thick of the branches.
"Ssssee what prey we've found." It hissed, voice slurring as another voice joined it. "We've hasss found it, brother."
Kagome moved slowly onto the balls of her feet as the form drew closer. She could now make out the sound of skin dragging over the bark of the tree overhead and she could see two entities moving together as one.
When the creature came into view, she understood why.
The snake demon was massive- it's massive curling body separated at its torso into two heads. The blotchy purple and black beast inched closer, both mouths opening their jaws into rows of gleaming fangs. The green acid dripped from the pointed mass and more of the acid dropped onto the bed of flowers sizzling them instantly.
Her hand enclosed tightly around the blade. Grateful she had brought it, Kagome kept it hidden in the pleat of her skirt as she slowly stood.
"What do you want, demon?"
One head swiveled agitatedly side to side in a rapid fashion while the other swayed in a slower rhythm.
The one head answered, flaring its fangs into a wide manic makeshift smile. "We'sss wisssh to feast on the one who hasss killed our ssson."
"We've been waiting for you, human." The other head responded, yellow pupil less eyes fixated on her.
Kagome clutched the strap of her bag against her side. "I didn't kill your son."
The beast hissed, flaring and jerking faster. Both heads moved in succession in a threatening manner. "You'sss the reasson why!"
"We shall feast, brother!"
Kagome jumped and fled as the snake threw itself to the forest floor, body shimmying side to side to launch itself. Adrenaline pumping, she weaved in and out of the underbrush hoping to dislodge the assailant. Cursing under her breath as she heard it slither faster, she flared her aura in warning while swiping at low branches and bushes.
The snake demon hissed louder, acid spitting to the left and then the right. She dodged, darting behind a row of bushes to zip to the opposite direction. She glanced back to determine how far the demon had gone, but couldn't see well enough to distinguish what was the demon versus moving shadows of the tree line.
A large tail crashed beside her. The ground shook and cracked as she rolled away. Screaming as the tail rose to strike again, the rattle flickered quickly before dropping down to crush her. She rolled away, tossing her bag to the side to free up her movement.
Skittering to stand, she narrowly missed one of the heads shooting forward to snap at her. Acid spit again and her shirt singed at the side.
"We'sss hasss you, human!"
Kagome released the blade from the sheath knocking one of the heads back with the sheath itself. The beast hissed in pain before the other head attempted to strike out viper quick. Slashing with the blade, it snapped back to avoid the knife. The blade glowed in the sunlight a bright purple and it sizzled as she swiped at one of the demon's head to create space between her and her attacker.
"What hasss it, brother?"
"It matters not." The snake snarled to its sibling, head swaying in agitation.
The blotchy body coiled together to strike, the scales gleaming into the patches of light. She stared at the blade as an imminent demonic aura poured from the blade. It pulsed in her hand, but she couldn't process the development as the snake demon's heads attacked in unison.
Kagome screeched as she stumbled back, her heel catching on a rather large stone. The blade in her hand was flung from her grasp beyond a far bush behind her as her body propelled backwards. Kagome cried out as her back slammed into the harsh dirt and her lungs hiccuped with the loss of air.
The heads laughed, yellow dangerous eyes widening and salivating at her prone state. She scampered back.
"Stay away or else I'll purify you!"
"With what, human?" One head laughed, swaying slowly.
Kagome whimpered, feet kicking to push her bottom back as it coiled again.
"I will be happy to eat you." It moaned in anticipation of its meal, forked tongue flicking out to taste the air.
The other head turned to its brother, eyes narrowing. "I ssshall eat her first."
The opposite conjoined head whirled to the other. The twin heads raised to face each other, tail whipping and rattling loudly behind it. They began snapping and hissing at the other, and using the moment of their lapsed attention Kagome flipped over and scrambled to get her blade.
"Come back here!"
"You ssshall not escape!"
The thundering of the tail had her leaping over the bush into the well clearing. She crawled on her stomach, hand reaching out to grab the hilt of the blade as the snake demon's tail encircled her ankle. She twisted onto her back and swung blindly, pouring her reiki into the blade as she screamed.
"I told you to go away!"
The blade punctured one of the heads of the demon and it convulsed with its jaws sealed shut by the blade. The head flung back, ripping the blade from her hand and rolled backwards, its half of the body slumping. The other head roared, tail releasing her as it whisked to watch the other head fall entirely limp. It hissed in pain and its body sagged pathetically.
"You'ssss ssshall pay for killing my brother!"
Kagome scampered away, back pressed into the grass with her elbows grinding into the dirt. The living head jerked to peer behind her and she continued to fumble away until she felt a piece of smooth wood tuck under her hand. Quickly glancing back at the ground under her, she found a bow and single arrow with red feathers.
Purely on instinct, she grabbed the weapon and stood firmly. Without thinking, she notched the arrow back and snarled at the snake demon.
"Here's for trying to eat me!"
Releasing the arrow, her reiki flowed in waves and the arrow hit true to its mark. The snake demon hissed, skin alit in a blinding blue light as its body began to disintegrate upon purification.
Hyperventilating, Kagome sank to her knees, body worn from running. The bow clattered to the ground and she held her head violently trying to stop her shaking.
Soft footfalls had her whirling her head to look over her shoulder at the small group clustered near the well.
Inutaisho stood proud several feet in front of a few other armor clad demons. Kagome's breath hitched as she noted Sesshomaru to the right of the demon lord, his stoic golden eyes assessing her quietly. She blanched at the sight and her chest felt heavy.
Kagome's hands dropped and she opened her mouth to address her once ally, but was interrupted by Inutaisho's musings.
"My assumptions of you were right, miko."
Kagome's brows furrowed and her mouth snapped shut, attention drawn solely on the sire to her dearest friend.
Grabbing the last of her energy, she stood on wobbling knees and faced the group with her chin defiantly lifted. "And what assumption was that?"
The corners of his lips curled upwards and she crossed her arms over her chest. She'd be brave to her audience now and in mock bravado, she openly stared into his gaze.
"You use a bow well." He commented boredly, claws running along the hilt of Tessaiga. "I believe you owe me your gratitude though, miko."
Kagome raised a lip, temper flaring to life. "You didn't even help me! You just stood there!"
"Quiet, you insolent fool. You dare challenge a demon lord?" Sesshomaru goaded with narrowed eyes, aura pulsating around him.
His hand raised pointedly to elicit his acid whip. Her fists formed dropping to her side as she stomped her foot. Used to his behavior, Kagome growled at the Daiyoukai. His father chuckled though, an action stirring the pack of demons behind him to tense curiously, and Sesshomaru quieted.
The Great Dog General made a sweeping motion of his palm. "It was I who gave you that blade, no? Did it not service you well?"
Kagome flushed, sucking on her teeth to ease the tension in her jaw. "Yes."
"The bow of my captain, did it not also service you?" Inutaisho's clawed fingers waved over the forgotten weapon.
Kagome hugged her arms loosely around her waist and her head dropped a notch.
Huffing with a pout, she said, "Yes, but you still could have helped me! It was a close call."
A demon with scorching emerald eyes glared at her with snarl. "You test his patience too much, little ningen. You should be grateful to have been spared!"
"Takeshi."
The demon's outburst was rewarded with Inutaisho's harsh glare and a flare of his dangerous and overwhelming youki. The demon dropped into a kneeling position, head bowed low and his claws fingered the grass.
Kagome frowned, studying the man. His glossy black hair was pulled into a high ponytail revealing pointed elvish ears. Short bangs covered his forehead and two green markings lined his cheeks. His shorter pelt ran across his shoulders attached to his black shoulder plates. His black kimono and hakama were etched in red honeycombs similarly to Sesshomaru's and he wore a short yellow sash tying his hakama in place. Upon his back, was a quiver a quarter full of arrows, and at his waist laid a long and short sword.
Remembering the entirety of her audience, she glanced at the red headed demon to the back. His hair flared wildly behind him in long waves, his attire matching the demon known as Takeshi. Perhaps it's a uniform? His startling orange eyes were lined in gold shimmers, but no facial markings were noted and his ears were finely pointed. In his hand was a long spear trimmed in gold. He stood to the far back, certainly bored by the interaction, as he picked at his claws.
Turning back to the last of the men, Kagome became concerned at the heated pool of golden eyes of the first born son of the Dog General. Her mind compared the two images of Sesshomaru- the one she was accustomed to versus the man before her today.
Sesshomaru was a demon held in high esteem and he resembled his older self significantly. His chest was puffed proudly, his chiseled face devoid of emotion, and his regal aura suffocating. The silver haired demon was perhaps slightly thinner, but nonetheless built in lean mass of muscle.
Dragging her eyes away, she blushed at being caught openly staring by Inutaisho. Clearing her throat, Kagome pulled on her false bravado.
"The snake wouldn't have come for me had you not killed his son." Kagome chided.
"Hn."
Inutaisho was practically floating towards her and she swallowed a growing lump in her throat. Dipping down, she picked up the bow, fingers grazing the smooth wood in a loving fashion. He passed her and she followed him as he picked up the blade she had left behind.
"You neutralized the youki of the blade, miko." He muttered, inspecting the blade closely.
"Kagome." She huffed.
"Kagome." He tested her name lazily, tongue curling around the syllables of her name causing her heartbeat to pound faster and her legs to quiver as her belly ached suddenly.
He approached her as if she were ready to bolt. It was an idea she toyed with considering the almost predatory gleam in his eyes.
"How?"
She blinked. "How what?"
He paused, watching her through half lidded eyes. "How did you purify the blade?"
Inutaisho was close enough that she could feel his body heat radiating off him. His arm outstretched, the tip of the blade pointed in her direction and he ran the blade tip up along the column of her throat and under her chin to tilt her head back. She craned back, scared to breath as if it was too loud. He was intimately close then. Body stepping into her personal space, weapon still holding her face up towards him.
He was looming again and Kagome shyly searched his eyes. His fang was peaking out of his lip in a smirk that ran a shiver down her spine in a rush. The bow she clung to was pressed tightly to her chest and she fought the urge to flee.
"I don't know." She cautiously answered, unsure of how to answer him.
He hummed in his throat, sliding the blade back into his palm, pulling it away to replace it with his clawed hand.
"Father, your sick fascination with ningen is disgusting. Let us leave."
Sesshomaru's blatant disregard for her had her stomach churning. Reminding herself that this wasn't the same demon as the one she had encountered in the Feudal Era, she bit her tongue.
Inutaisho was harder to read in an instant, and his clawed hand dropped. Frowning, she didn't anticipate the disappointment flooding her and she moved to watch as the demon lord joined his small group. His back facing her, he gestured to his demon companions to depart.
"Wait!" Kagome yelled, hand outstretched.
The group froze at her outburst and she jogged to them to the still kneeling demon, Takeshi. She dropped to her knees to present him the bow with a small smile. His emerald eyes narrowed at the presentation and he reached forward to take his weapon.
"Captain."
The demon stilled, hand frozen in air, awaiting his lord to direct him.
"Leave your quiver."
From her stance, she could see the tick in Takeshi's tanned jawline, but he did not question his lord, instead reaching around to drop his quiver to the forest floor.
He stood, falling into pace behind the other men. Kagome grabbed the quiver and clutched onto it, bow still in her arms.
"Thank you." Kagome called, meekly appreciating the demons. "Thank you both."
Her reward was a molten golden gaze and a fanged smirk.
