"You're not coming?" Kagome tried to keep the anxiety and disappointment out of her voice as she looked up at the imposing figure of Sesshomaru. Still, the little miko looked as though someone had just kicked her puppy, or her demonic dog as the case may be.
"This Sesshomaru must first see to the safety of his people." The daiyoukai ran the knuckles of his right hand gently over her cheek."The kitsune will see to your safety in This One's absence." The gesture may have given her the wrong idea if she did not already know Sesshomaru. He may have mellowed over the last half of a millenia, but there was no way he would fall for his half-brother's almost-mate. His human almost-mate.
She thought, perhaps, the daiyoukai had been just as lonely as she had.
Kagome nodded and her fingers tightened on the white oak of the bow she had picked from the castle armory. The familiar feel of the weapon helped her to remind herself that she was not a helpless and weak high-school girl anymore. The daiyoukai had also had her own fire-rat garments fashioned in the style of miko garb. Inuyasha's Haori was folded in her other gift, a satchel. Tessaiga rested docilely on her hip.
She was far from helpless, and she wouldn't be alone, not really, but damn would she miss Sesshomaru's reassuring presence.
"I understand Sesshomaru-sama." Kagome said in what she hoped was a brave voice. She offered him a bow before forcing herself to turn away from him. This was her battle, this had always been her battle. The last time she hid behind others instead of facing her own fight Inuyasha had lost his life. The priestess doubted that any force on heaven or earth could harm the daiyoukai. Still, she took comfort from the fact that she was strong enough now to prevent a repeat of that incident.
Yoko's elegant silver form stood outside the gates to the city, as apparently he was unwelcome within it's walls. Kagome missed the arrogant smirk he shot over her head at Sesshomaru as well as the returning flash of ivory fang when she closed her eyes against the lump in her throat. She promised herself she would do whatever she could to keep her old and new allies safe. Kagome might not have known that Sesshomaru had lived to her time, but now that she did the thought of a world without him was a bleak one indeed.
It felt as if she was walking the gallows towards her death. If the perpetrator of these crimes was who she suspected it was unlikely that she would live through the encounter. Nevertheless, she could not let this be her last goodbye. If it was Naraku she would triumph again, and she would ensure the spider never crawled out of his grave again. The alternative was not acceptable.
The dark thoughts that chased one another through her mind did not leave room for her to contemplate how she was going to survive the journey alone with an obvious pervert. At least she had undergarments now, though.
The land of the Makai was lush and green, at least what she had seen of it so far had been such. Most of it resembled forests of strange plants and trees and plains with wonderful rolling hills, though she had no doubt that there were many more ecosystems to be had in the demon realm. She used her musings of the landscape to keep from thinking of the fact that she was now traveling alone with Yoko.
So far the fox had not caused any real trouble, in fact the pair had not exchanged any words since departing the City of the West almost an hour prior. The miko knew that she should be talking to him and trying to figure out where they should both go from here, but every time she tried to bring herself to do it she'd catch his predatory gaze and her voice would freeze in her throat.
She took the time to assess the kitsune from the corner of her eye. He was a delicous serving of man-meat, and the ears on top of his head caused her heart to sing with nostalgia. She wondered if they were as soft as Inuyasha's had been.
The kitsune made no comment on her behavior, but from the way his grin became impossibly wider every time she caught sight of him she knew he was aware of at least some of the internal struggle within the priestess. For a long time the only sound was the crunching of their feet over the makeshift path they followed.
"You're awfully quiet." Yoko stated from behind the priestess, much closer than she was comfortable with. It wasn't that she disliked the silver alter-ego of Shuichi, but he did tend to create tension between them. She really wished Sesshomaru had not left her to the fox's mercy.
"I don't want to draw unnecessary attention." Her voice was mild, 'not when we don't have Sesshomaru with us.' Practically hung in the air between them and Yoko did not appreciate her lack of faith in him.
"You don't have to be afraid." His voice purred into her ear and she suddenly had two bands of steel around her stomach and was pressed firmly against a hard chest. She found her peripherals blinded by white hair and her heart ached forlornly as she thought of another pair of strong arms around her, but Yoko was not Inuyasha, and she shouldn't insult him by comparing the two.
"Yoko! Please!" She choked as her heart hammered in her chest and she twisted her tomato-red face to glare heatedly into his dancing golden eyes. "Haven't you heard of personal space?"
"I have indeed." His sharp canines flashed in a playful smirk as he brought his nose close to the crook of her neck, "Where would you like this personal space to be made?" She made a choked noise in the back of her throat as the kitsune's breath ghosted across her neck and he leaned forward further so that his warm cheek was flush against her own heated one. "You're so shy, little priestess."
"Must you do that now?" A bored voice cut in. The priestess lost no time in extracting herself from the distracted kitsune's grasp.
"Hiei!" Kagome could have cried with relief as she gladly put the dark apparition between herself and the predator that had allowed her to escape. "I'm so glad to see you." She practically whimpered.
"Do you have to ruin my fun?" Pouted the fox who towered over them both, "I wasn't going to do anything she wouldn't have liked." He chuckled at the almost exasperated look the short demon shot his way. She certainly makes the most surprising friends. He thought to himself, "That dog did a number on you if you've been hibernating all this time."
"His poison is very potent." Hiei said in way of explanation, "I've also found us a lead." He continued before Kagome's guilty look could form into words of apology.
"Not just lazing around then?" Yoko teased good-naturedly. He did not miss the way that the miko kept the fire apparition between them at all times. Such a skittish little creature she was, but perhaps he had been a little forward. It might be time for a change of tactic.
"A half demon has been recruiting a large amount of foot-soldiers near the wastes on the outskirts of the Tourin territory." Kagome could feel her insides quiver a little as she took in one piece of information over the others.
A half demon. Could it actually be him? How would it be possible? I purified him and the jewel together... The miko swallowed hard and forced a smile on her face, "well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"Stupid girl." Hiei snapped, "You don't march headfirst into enemy territory any more than you turn your back on them."
"I never said I was going to!" Kagome crossed her arms defensively, because really she had just thought about rushing in Inuyasha style.
"It's not like you can hide. Every demon in a mile radius can sense you." Yoko added. "It's not something you can help. Your scent and aura give you away. I assume that half the reason that dog kept you covered in his own scent was to hide you somewhat."
Sesshomaru kept me covered in his scent? Well I suppose Mokomoko would smell like him and I practically lived in it while we traveled. Her heart warmed as she realized just how many ways the inu had been protecting her without her even knowing. Understanding and insight flashed through her and her attention snapped to the fox.
"Is that what you were doing?" She asked, "T-trying to put your scent on me?" Kagome felt a bit of guilt at her first assumption worm its way in.
"No trying about it." The roguish grin he sent her dashed that little guilt-worm into tiny microscopic pieces. Damn fox had known exactly what he was doing.
"What does that mean?" Kagome tried to ignore the heat that threatened her cheeks at the mischievous look she was getting from Yoko.
"It means you smell like a fox." Hiei cut in. "It's not a bad thing." He continued when she looked like she might protest, loudly.
"Now if only we could hide the fact that you're human, hm? We might get a foot in the door." The fox mused. Hiei lead them through the forest before Kagome even realized they were traveling again, and only the sounds of their footfalls could be heard for a time.
"That should be easy enough. If I already smell like a fox you just need to do an illusion to make me look like one, right?" When nobody said anything Kagome huffed, "I mean you're a kitsune, isn't that what you do?"
"Red kitsune. Not silver." Yoko supplied, looking almost affronted by her assumption. Her face flushed with irritation, he better not be implying that he thought red foxes beneath him.
"So they figure out I'm human, so what?" she snapped. "We'll get to the boss all the sooner if they know who I am, right?"
"Foolish girl." Grunted Hiei.
"Maybe." Kagome agreed waspishly, "but it'll work."
"Absolutely not. You have no idea what this creature even wants with you." Yoko barely managed to keep his growl out of his voice.
"Exactly." The miko rounded on the fox, "what better way than to ask them directly." And what better way to find out once and for all if this really was Naraku they were dealing with. I don't want this to be another Shikon quest, I don't want years of my life to be stolen away chasing rumors and shadows. This needs to come to a head sooner rather than later.
"You can help me or you can go. But you won't stop me." Kagome caught Yoko's heated eyes and pinned him with a glare that usually preludes a 'sit.' The fox did not have the good sense to back down.
"Won't I?" He sneered, "You think I'll let you serve yourself up on a silver platter?"
His statement brought Kagome up short, was he worried about her? She had enough practice seeing through the rough exterior of posturing males to their true motives, and her gaze softened as she took in the situation. Before she could give voice to her thoughts, however, she was interrupted.
"We have company." The two turned their attention to the forgotten fire apparition and when she cast out with her senses she could feel them too. Several dozen at least, and not the low-level trash that had been coming at her so far, either.
As she reached for her powers she missed the hard look Yoko shot her, their conversation was far from over.
A/N:
Thanks to all who read and review, and Special thanks to Kat for their well-thought review. Thanks also to Foxgloves, Otaku-ka-ren, ThaiilandBeauty, FoxLuna, Heaven-water-sister, StarlitBaby, Lord Typhlosion, Heliam11, KannaKyomu, and AshleyRenee for following and supporting the story from the start.
I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story! Remember if you have a request for something to happen in the fic just leave a review and I'll see what I can do to incorporate it. Not really sure what we'll do with the pairings yet.
