Chapter 7: Recognition
Inuyasha didn't know what to do. He didn't even know where Kikyo was, for all he knew she was on the other side of Japan. All he could hear in his head were the ragged breaths of Kagome lungs trying to sustain the struggle of keeping herself alive. He had seen her in rough shape before, the moment she had stopped breathing in the blazing hut along with the rest of his friends. That was the bastard Renkotsu and Mukotsu who almost killed them. This time he can't save her...this was something that was out of everyone's hands. He reached the Goshinboku tree and stopped before it, thinking of the time he was pinned to it for 50 years and the girl who released him from his curse.
"Inuyasha. I figured you would be here at the tree I pinned you to for 50 years." Kikyo's melancholy voice broke his train of thought. He quickly turned around to look at her. She had her bow and arrows slung over her back. She was not going to attack him anytime soon. "I can feel Kagome's soul. She is in great despair it would seem."
"You can feel her in pain?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "She's dying because she doesn't have the rest of her soul."
"It would seem so. It's unfortunate." Kikyo replied nonchalantly. Her care for the girl was very little if any. Inuyasha didn't like how she was talking about Kagome.
"You won't even help her?" Inuyasha looked up with serious eyes. "You're that heartless inside that you wouldn't help the girl who saved your life after Naraku threw you over the cliff?"
"If I save her, I die." Kikyo's words were tinted with hatred. "She wouldn't be in this mess, if she weren't so weak. How does it feel to lose someone you care about again? Feeling utterly hopeless right now don't you? You couldn't save me, just like you can't save her now."
"That's not true! Dammit, Kikyo!" Inuyasha balled his fist. He wouldn't listen to any of this. He had to reason with Kikyo to help Kagome.
"If you can feel her pain, what is she thinking? Is she trying to get back?" Inuyasha asked impatiently. Trying for any sort of information that would possibly help Kagome.
"As time goes by her soul beckons more to be reunited with its other half. She is far away now, out of reach. I did feel a very strange aura connect with her little bit of a soul about an hour ago. It was strong enough to possibly make her conscious, but it's too bad Kagome doesn't know how to use her powers properly. She should have stayed in her own time like she was supposed to. She doesn't belong here. She has only brought ruin and chaos to this era."
"Shut up." Inuyasha's head was cast down. "Kagome hasn't brought any ruin here. Kagome has helped more people here than I can count."
"If that's true why are there shards scattered across the land? Why are there more demons at large and attacking villagers? Why has Naraku been able to grow so powerful?" Kikyo argued, she was not happy that Inuyasha was taking the young Miko's side in all of this.
"Kagome released me from that curse you put me under. You betrayed me. How was it that you lost your faith in me so quickly? It's as if you didn't even know me at all, or like you believed that I would do something so hateful towards you." Inuyasha countered, "Besides, you can thank yourself for making Naraku more powerful. It was you who handed over our half of the jewel to the bastard."
Kikyo had had enough of this. She whipped her hands over her back to reach her bow and arrows. She quickly strung an arrow in the bow, as Inuyasha readied his stance.
"What you're going to curse me again to this tree, Kikyo? If Kagome is going to die, then kill me too while you're at it. Don't you dare curse me, end it now."
Kikyo grimaced at the desperation her former lover demonstrated. She was going to end his misery when a pang in her chest forced her to stop what she was doing. It was the rest of Kagome's soul reacting to the malice Kikyo was feeling. She felt a burning sensation grow in her chest. She dropped to her knees in anguish, holding the part of her chest that was healed by Kagome in that stream long ago.
She peeked down, pulling back her kimono to see the former gash start to open. "How? What is this?" Inuyasha watched in concern, gone was his anger as he watched Kikyo groan from the pain. Her soul collectors were at bay, not knowing what to do. Some of them started circling her anxiously.
"Why? How is this happening. Her soul is forcing its way out." Kikyo tried to put her hand over the opening but an electrical shock forced her hand back.
"Kikyo, give her back her soul." Inuyasha said calmly. "Let her live."
Kikyo looked up at Inuyasha as he said this to her, calculating what she should do. She was becoming paralyzed with pain from the soul trying to depart from her body.
Kikyo closed her eyes in frustration, she would have to part with...but not all of it. Kikyo focused on the orb that was trying to spill out of her wound. She hovered her hand over the wound and tried to close the gap. She only had seconds to do this correctly before the whole soul spilled forth. Inuyasha was going to approach, but she had erected a barrier to stop him from getting to her. Within seconds of her barrier she had almost lost control of the orb. She regained the momentum and quickly closed the gap in the wound. In her hands was a small portion of Kagome's soul.
"You split her soul?" Inuyasha remarked hatefully.
"It will be enough for her to live." Kikyo shot back, she dropped her barrier not being able to keep it up any longer. "Here take it. You wanted it. Take it before I change my mind."
Inuyasha jumped to where Kikyo sat, and grabbed the part of Kagome's soul that Kikyo parted with. "Before you go, Inuyasha. Tell Kagome, that we are even. If she uses up all her power again, I won't bail her out next time. One more thing, if she doesn't get a handle on her powers she will most certainly die."
Inuyasha didn't give Kikyo another glance as he parted ways with her to bring the portion of the soul back to Kagome. "Goodbye, Kikyo."
Kikyo watched him run off away from her. Her soul collectors started bundling around her to fly her to a safer area to rest. She would need about twenty souls now to make up for the loss.
Kagome was sitting across from Lady Giya as she tried to search for the feel of her soul. Lady Giya was not the most patient woman to work with, as she poked and prodded Kagome to try harder. "We have half an hour before you die, you can't tell me this is all you've got."
Kagome was sweating and exasperated from all the searching and groping around to find her soul. When she had arrived it was so easy for the Miko's to find and sense it. Why is it taking her so long? Wasn't this supposed to be an easy thing to find since she knew her body the best out of anyone?
Lady Giya was about to give up on the girl, when she felt a shift in Kagome's aura. It wasn't Midoriko, but it was Kagome's soul crying out. It was crying out to the other portion to react to something. Kagome felt a pang in her chest as a burning sensation took over. Her hands immediately grasped at her chest.
"What is going on? What did I do?" Kagome choked out in-between sobs of pain. Lady Giya rushed over and put a hand on Kagome and looked at the place where the pain was emanating from her chest. A red scar was blazing.
"Child, when did you acquire this injury?" Lady Giya questioned forcefully.
Kagome sputtered a response. "I never got injured here before."
"Move your hand. Let me see if I can heal you." Lady Giya motioned towards the injury, but as soon as her hands tried to come in contact with Kagome's skin her hands were repelled. Lady Giya's brows furrowed curiously.
"Kagome who has the rest of your soul?" Lady Giya waited for Kagome to force out the words through her excruciating pain.
"Ki-kyo." Lady Giya fell backwards in astonishment. Was it possible that Lady Kikyo was still alive after all this time? This was not good. At any moment Kagome would be dead. She wasn't supposed to be exerting any spiritual power and this pain that was radiating from Kikyo it seemed was taking minutes off of Kagome's life. She had to do something and quick.
"Here lie down carefully. Rossi!" Giya called out to her ward. "Grab me that pot of herbs. Move it." Rossi sprinted to the other side of the room to grab the herbs. "Good. Put it down here, and start grounding the herbs into a thick paste."
As soon as Rossi finished mashing the herbs, Giya swiped the pot away and swooped her index and middle finger into the paste. She then forced Kagome's mouth open and stuck her fingers down the girl's mouth. "Swallow."
Kagome nearly choked from the act and the taste of the putrid she just swallowed. In a minute, Kagome felt like the pain was subsiding by a fraction, and then she felt the exhaustion overcome her. Rossi and Giya steadied the girl as the dizziness was setting in.
Rossi spoke softly to Giya. "She's not going to be able to get back if she falls unconscious now."
"She's been overthinking, I think it will work if she is relaxed." Giya kept her hand firmly underneath her chin contemplating whether this girl that she had just met will be able to find her way back.
It was then that Kagome's body and aura started fading away, and Rossi jumped to Kagome's side scared that the girl was dying and being erased from existence.
"Rossi." Lady Giya put a hand on her ward to calm her down. "She's located it, it worked." Rossi sputtered as she felt Kagome's spirit slip away from them.
...
Kagome felt like she was floating. She was stuck in time back in Kaede's village. A strong pull urged her to go towards the forest, so she followed the magnitude of the force driving her out from the path and into the forest. As she proceeded, she could feel something swirl inside her in reaction to getting closer. Her hands were getting warmer by the second, and so was the swirl. She looked down and noticed a white glow spread over her hands and up her wrists. A second later, a figure broke through the trees in a red outfit. It was Inuyasha. She looked on, and yelled out to him, but he didn't see or hear her. Was she still stuck in her mind?
He breezed past her and as if the centre of gravity was him, she was now being dragged towards him as he ran with demonic speed back towards the village. Her legs couldn't keep up with his pace, and she ended up being lifted into the air. She was flying and getting closer to Inuyasha. She crept closer now, at his side floating by his side as he ran. She looked at his face, the seriousness and and fear all mixed in one. There were times where she's seen the exact look on his face. Most of the time it was when Kikyo was in danger.
She glanced down but paused in doing so as she noticed what was clutched in his clawed hand. Illuminated in his hand was a soul. Something told her that it was hers. How else was she being drawn like a magnet to him?
Kagome's eyes softened, 'He went to Kikyo and asked for my soul.' She could have cried. After what they went through, he put aside his fear of losing Kikyo for her. She came first for once.
They were so close to Kaede's hut that when the entered Kagome felt herself blacking out of this reality. She was falling unconscious now as she was ready to go back to her body. Inuyasha confronted Kaede looking from her to Kagome's body resting on the mat he laid her on before he left. He was hesitant on what he would have to do to give Kagome back her soul. He looked to Kaede to guide him in what he needed to do.
Kaede immediately felt the presence of the orb that was emanating from Inuyasha's hand. Kaede knelt to the ground beside Kagome, and pointed to Kagome's chest. "Here. Place the orb over her heart."
Inuyasha walked forward, and mimicked Kaede on the opposite side of Kagome. He looked down at the soul and placed the orb over Kagome's heart. The soul, quickly recognized its owner, and was forcing itself into Kagome's chest back where it belonged. Kagome's body started to shimmer an ethereal, blue glow as her soul was returned to her.
As soon as the glow started to subside, Kagome's breathing became even, and her forehead was no longer glistening in sweat from her fever.
"She will need some time to rest. Her body has gone through quite the ordeal," Kaede remarked as she waited for Inuyasha to follow her out the hut. Inuyasha paid Kaede no mind as he watched over Kagome. Kaede smiled at the sight and took her leave to give him privacy.
His shoulders had slumped in pleasant relief that she was going to be alright. Inuyasha gingerly touched the side of her cheek with his finger as she lay resting on the mat. With all his emotions at the surface, his amber eyes changed to more of a honey tone as he sat there watching her. He brushed away slick strands of hair that stuck to her forehead and picked up the cloth next to the bowl of water. He wrung out the cloth after drenching it in the bowl, and gently patted her forehead to clean any remaining sweat from her face. Having finished this, he threw the cloth to the side and decided to carefully pick her up bridal-style. Inuyasha moved her to the wall of the hut to sit down with her cradled against him. His one hand supported her head against his chest while his other hand wrapped to the small of her back. He was content with having her like this in his arms as she slept. He would watch over her and protect her no matter what happened.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes to find herself in the arms of her saviour. She rubbed her tired eyes as she got a clear look at Inuyasha as he held her close to him. Her hand was placed on his chest, but she found herself drawing her hand up to the side of his tanned neck. Her thumb ran along his jawline to his chin where she noticed his lips were slightly parted. Kagome then felt two honey orbs gazing down upon her face. Kagome not realizing what she was doing moved her hand to behind Inuyasha's neck and sat up in his lap. She was nose to nose with him as they looked at each other lost in the moment, and a bit delirious from their slumber.
Kagome moved her face closer ever so slightly, her lips feeling his warm tingling breath. Inuyasha's hands moved to her hips as he steadied her in his lap. He closed his eyes and closed the gap as he felt her warm lips against his. Kagome reciprocated as she moved her lips against his. Her hands working their way on either side to cup his face. She could feel his silver hair cascade over her finger tips. Inuyasha deepened the kiss as he pulled her closer to him, loving the taste of her lips and wishing he could taste the cavern of her mouth to see if it was just as sweet as her lips, and if not more.
Kagome felt her body heating up as she felt his hands move against her back. She wanted to stay like this, kissing him for as long as they could. This was the most intimate they had ever been. The most passionate.
"Inuyasha...I. You chose to save me. I saw everything. I saw you and Kikyo...and what you did to save me..." Kagome said breathlessly as she pulled away. Tears brimmed in her eyes. "I'm..I don't know what to say, other than thank you. Thank you for saving me."
Inuyasha's eyes softened as she said all this, but he was a bit startled that she saw what happened between him and Kikyo. "Kagome..I'm glad you're alive. How did you see me talking with Kikyo?"
"I'm not quite sure actually. I remember being dragged towards you and I noticed a soul in your hand. I figured you had asked Kikyo for my soul, but when my soul was returned to me I relived the encounter between you two." Inuyasha nodded his head in understanding.
"I didn't want to lose you. Kikyo, has always been a part of my past, but when she wouldn't give up your soul...it felt like I had been slapped with who she really is in this world. She's not the Kikyo from my past. The Kikyo I knew would have sacrificed her life to save others."
"I'm sorry Inuyasha-" Kagome began to say, but Inuyasha covered his mouth over her lips once more. The kiss was more demanding than the first. He didn't want to think about Kikyo. All he wanted, no, needed, was to kiss the beautiful, lively girl in front of him. Before he could take the passionate kiss to the next level, he heard footsteps approach the hut. He broke the kiss abruptly not sure of how to react to the intruder. Kagome felt confused at the sudden loss of warmth when Inuyasha gently placed her beside him and heard him growl lowly in the back of his throat.
"What ar-" Kagome was about to question his actions when Shippo came bursting through the door. "KAGOME!" It took no time at all for Kagome to feel the little kit bounce over to her and plaster her with hugs. "Oh Kagome! I'm so glad you're ok!" Kagome smiled widely, "Me too Shippo! I'm so happy to see you!" Kagome could feel Shippo bury his head into her stomach. He wasn't going to be moving from the spot in her lap anytime soon, and she could tell Inuyasha was a bit upset at the interruption in their alone time.
"Why does Inuyasha look so sour?" Shippo peeped his eyes over at Inuyasha who was looking down at him in annoyance.
"Oh I think you might have woke him up.." Kagome quickly fibbed, while looking over at the hanyou shrugging her shoulders at the situation.
Inuyasha keh'd as he got up and walked towards the door of the hut. He pulled the mat aside and walked out to get some fresh air. On his way out he saw Sango, Miroku, and Kaede sitting down underneath a tree.
Miroku was the first to spot Inuyasha making his way over. "Ah, Inuyasha how is Kagome? I bet she's feeling a lot better from all that cuddling." Inuyasha blushed and turned his head away from the monk and his chiding.
"You don't know what you're talking about monk. I was just making sure she didn't run a fever lying on the cold floor." Miroku could see through the hanyou's poor defence.
"Oh, I'm sure that's all it was, Inuyasha," Miroku chuckled knowingly. "By the way, you might want to straighten your haori...it's a bit out of place." At the mention of his garments, Inuyasha looked down and found his haori loose and wrinkled in some places, but the knot had become untied in his passionate moment with the young priestess.
Inuyasha grabbed the ties of his haori and straightened the fabric as he walked away, grumbling underneath his breath about nosey good-for-nothing monks.
Miroku only laughed harder when Inuyasha had no comeback to his taunts. "What's wrong with Inuyasha?" Sango questioned as she took this opportunity to jump into the conversation.
"Our friend Inuyasha got quite cozy with Lady Kagome recently. You should have seen his face when I teased him about it," Miroku laughed, but was caught off guard by a stray stone plunking into the side of his head from afar.
"Ow!" Miroku grabbed at the side of his head where the offending stone had connected with his skull. "Hey! Any harder and that would have knocked me out!" Miroku shouted across in the direction where Inuyasha had thrown the rock.
"Keh. Too bad, that's what I was hoping for so you would shut up," Inuyasha yelled back from his perch in the tree. His friends were too nosey for their own good.
Sango inspected the place where the monk was hit as he cradled the side of his head in slight pain. It wasn't long until Sango felt an all too familiar sensation on her rump where the monk's other hand was groping a feel. "Hey, what do ya say, Sango...let's get cozy ourselves."
Sango slapped Miroku on the cheek of the unharmed side of his head, "I'd say you didn't get hit hard enough"
Miroku grasped for his cheek as the sting of Sango's slap tingled his face. He thought he might as well try while they were on the topic.
...
The day had gone by fast as the group stuck to their own routines. After the travel back from the wolf pack they needed some time to regain their energy, especially Kagome.
Kagome had spoken with Kaede for what seemed like hours in discussing the management of her powers and to not over-do her attacks. With a more fully completed soul, Kagome had more ki to spare. She felt livelier and stronger herself, but she knew not to over do it in trying them out until she was one hundred percent back to her usual self. Kagome made sure to mentioned the whole pact with Kouga and that if she noticed more wolf demons in the area she should not to be alarmed.
They had all filed in for dinner as Kaede made her famous rabbit and cabbage stew. It was a nice meal during the beginning of the winter season. As they had their fill, the group made their way to their respective huts to take shelter for the night. It had been some time now since they claimed a place in the village they could call their own. Each person had their own place, and it was by coincidence that they were all beside one another. Inuyasha resided in the furthest hut to the left that was closer to the edge of the village property line and beside a nice tree. Kagome had chosen the hut between his and Sango's, and of course, wherever she went Shippo would follow. Sango and Kirara tagged together in the next hut and the last one that was situated on a diagonal, was Miroku's.
Kagome had changed into a spare flannel set of pajamas that she had kept stored in the hut. Her hut was nothing special. She never really had time to decorate it as the group was always on the move to find more jewel shards.
Shippo had his own little bed next to her sleeping mat. She had made it out of spare pieces of wood from skids and cushions from her home. Shippo the bounciness of his bed as he took a running leap onto the cushions. This hut was their little slice of home. Shippo often dreamed of his own little corner with his toys and art supplies. Maybe when they had more time he would ask Kagome to help him make his kiddy corner.
Kagome tucked Shippo into his bed and kissed him softly on his forehead. Shippo smiled and nuzzled his nose into Kagome's hair as it tickled his skin. He was happy he was by her side. Gripping the corner of the blanket in his hand and curled into a ball and propped his head on the bunched up part of the blanket he held. In no time at all the scent of home lulled him to sleep and Kagome watched him happily fall to sleep.
The wind was picking up speed outside as the mat to the hut was dancing along its breeze. Kagome fastened the ends of the mat to little hooks she had nailed in on either side of the bottom to hold it in place. Soon she would have to get a door to keep the snow and cold out, but that would have to wait until a later date. She would have to return home soon again or else she would get behind in her schooling. Not to mention that modelling position was still on the back burner, but would give her a steady income.
So many events had occurred in such little time. Meeting Midoriko on top of everything...it was too surreal, but not as surreal as her intimate moment with Inuyasha earlier.
She pondered on the taste of the kiss, the feeling of his arms embracing her and his hands resting on her hips. She could only imagine what he was thinking about right now in the hut next to her. Was he still thinking about her and their kiss? She settled for lying down and looking up at the ceiling of the hut. Her tired eyes slowly succumbing to the weight of slumber and the wind hitting against the side of the hut.
...
Inuyasha had his back to the wall that was adjacent to Kagome's hut. He could hear her breaths evening out as she fell asleep. His thoughts raced back to their kiss. He could feel his chest swell with emotion as his heart yearned to touch her again, to feel her small frame against his, and to caress her jaw as he kissed her senselessly. He always had feelings for her, always felt a connection to her spirit. Kikyo was always in his mind, a nagging image of a broken promise and guilt imbued his thoughts and any commitment to Kagome faded. Now that Kikyo had dissolved the mirage he had thought she was...he couldn't sustain reason to follow through in his promise to go to hell, not after all she had put him and Kagome through. It was time to let the past be the past...and allow the present to become his future.
His Kagome. Now sleeping so close yet so far from him, was everything he wanted. It didn't matter all they had disagreed upon in the past week...none of that mattered..although he wanted to know why all the secrecy and half-truths. He would get the answers out of her one way or another, but first he would let her sleep and explore the dreams of the night.
His Kagome...he would get another moment with her again and hopefully soon rather than later. He didn't know how long he would be able to wait to have a chance alone with her. Especially with their peeping friends always around.
November 30 - 8 AM
There was a bitter cold seeping through the wooden floors of their huts. A brightness illuminated the rooms as their eyes fluttered open. A dusty white blew in underneath the mats. Winter had arrived, and over the night snow had fallen and covered an inch of the ground outside. It was a brisk smell of winter's arrival in the feudal era. One that herald in the beginning of rebirth, as the decay had been covered and the spiny outlines of trees were bare for all to see. Kagome pulled on her dark wash jeans, and a light pink knit sweater. Before heading outside she grabbed her winter army green, grey fur-lined hooded winter jacket and her dark grey boots. She wrapped a dark grey knit scarf around her neck and grabbed her waterproof gloves before trekking out into the soft snow. The temperature had surely dropped overnight and into the morning, as Kagome felt a shiver run up and down her body from the chill.
She knocked on the side of the door to Sango's hut to see if the demon slayer was up and ready for the day. Sango had heard Kagome's call and pulled back the hanging mat to see Kagome all bundled up. Kagome held out a bundle of winter clothing for Sango to wear over her clothes.
"I packed extras for you so you won't be cold." Kagome handed the garments to Sango and Sango accepted, grateful for Kagome's thoughtful gesture.
"Thanks, Kagome-chan! This will definitely make walking outside bearable." Sango pulled each garment apart to see what she was working with. Noticing how Kagome had styled the garments, Sango began to do the same for herself. Once she was ready Kirara, Sango and Kagome left the hut to go see if the others were awake. They weren't sure about what they would do today. Knowing Inuyasha he would most likely want to leave on a moment's notice to search for more shards. They were prepared nonetheless and all Kagome had to do was figure out how long she would be able to stay...by her calculations she only had a few more days left before she needed to be back in her own era...but then there was the obligation she had to Lady Giya.
Kagome noticed Kirara playfully jumping through the soft inch of snow. Shippo followed after the demon neko, laughing as he threw snow up into the air around them. Kagome remembered the time she showed the kit how to build a snowman, and now year after year it was a tradition of theirs to build snowmen that resembled each member of the group. Even Miroku and Sango would join in on the fun. Although, they would have to wait for more heavy snow to come along in order to build snowmen, but until then they enjoyed the crisp smell of winter's arrival.
Kagome moved away from the small group to see Miroku and Inuyasha walking towards them. Kagome noticed she had caught Inuyasha staring at her and he turned his head away with a blush ever so quickly. Her lips formed a small smile, and a blush crept to her cheeks.
"Ah, I see everyone is awake." Miroku nodded to Inuyasha before walking towards everyone else. "Is this a surprise or what?"
"It's nice, but it'll make the journeys a bit shorter again," Sango added.
"We should get moving towards the East. Who knows if this will stick around. It's too early still for it to be a cold winter. We might as well find more shards over the next week while we still have the speed to travel." Inuyasha said in response to Sango.
He wasn't going to let the snow slow them down. It was lucky that Kirara could fly so they didn't have to rely on walking, and he would carry Kagome with him while he runs. It was only the trouble of finding accommodations at night that was the worst. Villages hiked up prices during the winter to travellers for food and shelter. It was the cruelty of the village headmasters that put a price on survival for travel-worn nomads and outsiders. The limit on food supply and empty rooms was a key problem for them when encountering small villages.
"Alright let's pack up our things and head out soon. We don't have time to waste." Miroku looked to Sango and Kagome to see if they were in agreement as well. Sango and Kagome nodded. It was time for them to continue on their search. No more side trips to see old friends and agreements. They had to keep searching and trust that Kouga would uphold his side of the bargain to construct a safe holding.
"Just let me grab my things." Kagome hurriedly spun around to go back into her hut to pick up her bag and weapon. She had to walk to the far side of the hut to grab her stuff where she had placed it the night before. She didn't hear soft footsteps behind her when Inuyasha had followed her inside.
She grabbed the left shoulder strap of the bag, hoisting it over her shoulder while grasping her bow and arrow with her other hand. It was then she noticed a shadow on the wall that she figured out someone was behind her. She turned around alarmingly, only to be pleasantly surprised that it was just Inuyasha. "Inuyasha!" Kagome laughed nervously. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, I didn't know you were behind me there."
"Keh. We got to work on your ability to sense demonic energy." Inuyasha remarked softly, he didn't say it in a patronizing way. It was more of a statement than a criticism. He had a softness to his voice now when he spoke with her. There was no more hiding his feelings. They were there, and she could feel the glow in his eyes darken when he looked at her.
"Inuyasha.." Kagome put her things down. Her hands grabbed the front of his haori as she brought him in to hug her. Kagome wrapped her arms up and over his shoulders. She felt the stretch of the coat material in her arms as she embraced him, and the coat lift up to expose a bit of her sweater. Inuyasha responded with equal enthusiasm, having missed her presence and warmth in his arms.
It wasn't long until he pulled her slightly away from him to look at her. She was looking at him softly with kindness in her eyes. Those eyes that he could get lost in and forget whatever he was thinking about before. Inuyasha bent his head down while lifting her chin to meet her soft, pink lips. Kagome's breath hitched in her throat. She closed her eyes excitedly anticipating the kiss. Inuyasha's forehead pressed against hers, as their breath mingled teasingly in the space between them.
Kagome brought her hand to caress the side of his face along his jawline. He had such a strong, square jaw. She noticed the muscle in his cheek twitch at her touch. Their half-lidded eyes met in greeting and before Kagome knew it she was pressed up against the wall feeling his mouth on hers. His hands gripping her hips steadily. She was surprised by the quick action, but it thrilled her and spiked her adrenaline as he kissed her passionately. Kagome felt adventurous. She pulled him closer to her and lightly grazed his lips with her teeth. This only drove him crazy at the feeling over her nibble. He didn't know what drove him to push her against the wall, trapping her against him and kissing her with the lust and passion he had been wanting since last night. His senses were zoned in on her touches, and her heart beating rapidly. He had to slow down before he found himself doing something else to her. He could feel the heat and tension building. He broke away from the kiss trying to regain control over himself. She was so intoxicating. Irresistible. It was lucky he wore baggy pants so no one would see his arousal, not even Kagome.
Kagome tried grasping for him in a dazed stupor. She didn't want it to end, it was like time stopped. The others had been waiting for some time now, they would be wondering what they were doing.
Inuyasha cleared his throat, "We should..uh, get going." He watched her come back to Earth as their moment had ended and time beckoned them to leave the village.
"...Of course." Kagome picked up her things from where they flopped on the ground when Inuyasha pushed her to the wall. She slung the bag again over her shoulder with bow and arrows in hand. Inuyasha stepped to the side allowing her to walk in front of him. Kagome looked up at him with a slightly reddened lip and stained cheeks, and brushed her hand against his as she walked past him. That simple act brought shivers up his spine, making his head spin. He was in trouble, caught in the throws of temptation and desire. He never felt this way about anyone, nor this attracted to the feeling of herself up against his body. It was too much to bear thinking of carrying her with her scent wafting in his nostrils for the entire trip. It was going to be hell to concentrate on the road ahead without going into the back of his mind and escaping into fantasies of them making out.
They had stepped back outside quickly, not without earning some questioning looks from their friends. "Let's walk it for now." Inuyasha hastily said, not seeing the look of mirth on Miroku's knowing face. Sango was a bit surprised by the hanyou's abrupt decision. Usually he was a running type of guy. Maybe Kagome and him fought quietly for once. While thinking of this Kagome turned to the girl in question noticing a halo of pink stain her cheeks. 'Is she cold?'
Kagome averted her gaze from her friends as she tried to recover quickly from her moment of passion with the hanyou. She couldn't believe he snuck in there and stole a long kiss from her before their departure. She could still feel the dizzying spell his kiss left on her mind. Now she would have to stare at his back the whole way, and it was almost cruel that she had to spend a long time of the day just walking and wondering when she will be with him like that again. That was the first time she's ever been kissed like that...not even when she woke up from unconsciousness did she experience something like that. Maybe it was the weather affecting them.
"Kagome?" Shippo peered up at his surrogate mother before jumping into her arms without warning. Kagome snapped out of her thoughts and caught the little kit with both her hands. "Can I crawl into your hood for the trip?"
Kagome smiled warmly, "Of course. Just let me unzip it a bit before you sit in the hood." The hood itself, although fur trimmed, was deep and had a reflective coating inside that would seal in warmth. Shippo waited as Kagome unzipped a portion of her coat to allow for a bit of extra weight to be redistributed to the hood. "Ok, all set." The kitsune bounded over her shoulder and hopped into the comfort of the hooded jacket. Curling his feet underneath him he set his head down on Kagome's shoulder as she walked in pace with the rest of their friends. Wherever they were headed, Kagome knew she would be behind at school and everything would have to be put on hold for the time being. This is how it usually was for her.
There was a cold chill racing across the surface of the mountains, as a large figure cloaked in ambiguity stepped out through the white-out of a blizzard that surrounded them. They were far in the North shrouded by white glacial walls of hard ice. The figure approached a 15 foot crystallized wall that protruded from the mountain. While walking around the object scrutinizingly, the figure reached into the scabbard that sheathed the sword, held it out with the end pointing to the sky. A black energy fizzled out of the sword slowly, growing thicker and wider consuming the sword from sight. The figure smirked in confidence as the hand that held the sword brought it down and pierced the crystallized object with immense force. A crack shattered the silence as tiny fragments chipped away from the hole the sword made in the facade. Black seeped out of the sword and through the tiny fragments that continued to trail along until the last crack fissured and reached the top. There was a deadly silence. The snow started freezing in place, and an ear-shattering screech rumbled the ground and peaks of the mountains.
Black smoke rose from the object, and it was in that moment that an explosion occurred. A sickening smog of black lapsed in the air like thick ash. A larger silhouette stalked into the thick abyss of ash. Icy blue-purple eyes that resembled the crystal cocoon peered out into the smog. A roar of sinister delight rippled the air as this summoned monster was released into the world again. It's breath ragged and tired, but a laugh tore through it's ugly snout. Five rows of sharp teeth lined the inside of the demon's mouth. Its head becoming more clear now, resembled a dragon, but with an onyx, waxy coating that fit the category of a snake. Very similar to its teeth, five rows of horns spiralled around its head in a clock-wise formation. Each horn had a tip of red, as if poisonous to the touch, and it most likely would be a macabre end to anything that had the unfortunate encounter with this venomous weapon.
"The legendary Youkai of Miomataku." The blizzard had ended now, and no longer concealed the face of the masculine voice that addressed the monster. "What a pleasure it is to release you from your solitary confinement in the Kotoushima Mountains."
"You released the Great Misotaksu, demon. What have you brought as sustenance? I shall devour you if you failed to provide the demon that put me in this damned prison." The demon's eyes narrowed in on the figure before him. He was dressed in all black, top to bottom with purple spiral designs adorning his haori. His black hair was wiry and long and pulled into a half ponytail as his long tresses fell down his back. His red eyes starred on in amusement at this newly summoned demon he released. "I should have known. You're merely a disgusting, half breed. I crave the flesh and innards of the demon that bound me to this prison! I will have my vengeance, and I won't be stalled by the likes of you half blood."
"It will take you some time to find the demon you are looking for...perhaps I can be of assistance instead. What do you say? I supply you with a lead and you spare me with my life?"
"You know of that bastard Inu General? If you tell me where he is, I may decide to spare your life just this once..."
"He was slaughtered long after he imprisoned you, but I know you wouldn't mind killing his two sons. They are the heirs of Inu no Taisho's legacy after all." The half demon's voice was thick and calculating. The traces of a smirk outlined his face. A dimple creased his cheek, and his eyes looked on menacingly. Misotaku grinned mischievously. "The blood of the Inu shall be exterminated by me alone. I will rip through those pups' chests and pull out their guts."
"There's only one problem. You won't succeed in killing them both at the same time. You see...both the brothers carry the swords of their predecessor. One swing from both those swords simultaneously will end your life in seconds. "
"You dare doubt my power. You will pay for uttering those words out of your wretched mouth." Misotaku roared as anger flooded his vision. As he opened his jagged razor-lined mouth, a ball of white light was growing in size and intensity. The red-eyed half demon smiled as if this was exactly how he planned things would go. He looked up to see his minion Kagura and Kanna floating overhead on a white feather. The wind sorceress, Kagura floated the feather down closer to the ground as the smaller, albino child sitting next to her slipped off and landed soundlessly on the snowy ground below. She held her mirror out towards Misotaku emotionlessly as if the appearance of the demon didn't even faze her.
Misotaku haughtily laughed as he was just about to release his weapon of mass destruction. It was a peculiar thing to hear a demon speak without moving a muscle in the mouth. "You shield yourself behind a little demon child. I knew you were worthless, but now this is just pathetic."
"Master Naraku," Kanna's voice was just above a whisper. Her lips were barely moving as she murmured, "Shall we begin?"
"Yes. Let's see if Misotaku remembers how to fight after being trapped in an icicle for a century and a half." Misotaku growled in response to the taunt. He didn't delay his attack now. He had grown the orb to ten times the size and when his eyes rolled back the orb was released towards his target. Wanna anticipated the attack and activated the mirror's absorption power. The beam of light was larger than the width of a giant boulder, but as it flew towards the two, the orb's energy seemed to seep away and fly off in different directions that scorched the surface of the ground and walls of the mountains. The area was lit brightly by the oncoming attack, but when it reached Kanna there was a loud explosion and the blinding light shot upwards into the sky.
Kanna deflected the attack, but something started changing in the attack that had been deflected. The light froze in place, but as Kanna forced the mirror upward, the attack started to gravitate back to the mirror with the speed of light. It was absorbed into the mirror, and as the mirror shook in its hunger for power, it gulped every last bit of energy and ceased its shaking.
"I see you have a Katsukane Mirror. A very rare object that was created by demons like me. It's a shame though,"
"Why do you say that?" Naraku wasn't liking the shift in tone as Misotaku grinned confidently.
"That legendary demon who forged it into weapons was me. I am the Katsukane. An attack that's repelled back to me won't affect me in the slightest"
"Ku ku ku. Oh you are mistaken about what I plan to do with your power in Kanna's mirror." Naraku walked towards the demon child pulling back the sleeve of his haori to reveal tentacles spilling out hungrily. As they grew longer they shot towards Kanna's mirror. Kanna expected her Master's actions, and jolted the mirror to life. The tentacles dipped into the mirror as if it were no more than a porous bowl of water. The veins along the the appendages throbbed as they started absorbing the ki from the previous attack.
"I never intended to kill you. I see us more as potential allies against a common enemy. Now that I have your power I can create it at will, just as you are able to." Naraku pulled the tentacles back as the mirror dulled in brightness. He had absorbed every ounce of ki from the attack. His eyes sharpened with renewed strength. "This is my payment for releasing you. Before I take my leave, I will say this to you. Go to the West and you will find Sesshomaru. He is the eldest son of Inu no Taisho."
"What of the second son?" Misotaku rumbled out impatiently, already more than annoyed that Naraku was using him this entire time for his attacks.
"Kill Sesshomaru and I will tell you where to find the other" Naraku turned to take his leave and before Misotaku could wrap his claws around the spider half demon, Naraku had vanished in a tornado of purple miasma along with Kanna and Kagura.
"That insolent half breed, I will make sure to kill him the next time we meet again." Misotaku growled out. He looked around and decided to concern himself with getting to the Western lands. As far North as he was, it would take only a day's travel to reach the border of the Western lands. He would relish in the feel of Taisho's son's innards dripping in blood from his claws, but first he needed nourishment. He after all, hasn't devoured anything in over 150 years. Climbing up the steep side of the glacier, he used his enhanced vision to source out a village or two nearby. To his satisfaction, he noticed the small plumes of smoke rising out of small huts far down into the distance where the valleys ceased and the tree line separated to make room for the oblong size of a village. He would be feasting handsomely tonight. A roar bellowed out from his mouth, and he laughed in sinister delight to his new found target before he took off to kill his enemy's precious legacy.
"You're not going to tell him where Inuyasha is are you?" Kagura questioned knowingly. She knew by now that the half dog demon was Naraku's kill and no one else's.
"No," Naraku cast a sideways glare at her. "I have other plans in mind for him." He threw open his sleeve and tossed out a hive of Saimyousho.
"Go find where Inuyasha and his cohort of pathetic humans are," Naraku chuckled deeply. "It's been some time since our last visit." The poisonous wasp flew away in haste as their master commanded. The three retreated into their dark, and toxic hideaway located inside an abandoned, but ransacked castle smeared in the blood of those who presided there once before.
