Um. I was a bit nervous about this chapter, as it's a lot more… um… hmm… than the other chapters so far.
Only short, but fairly plot-crucial. Let me know what you think! And thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far, your reviews give me incentive to keep writing!
Koga's eyes widened. Throwing himself to the side, he managed to dodge the roaring effects of the wind tunnel. He side-stepped and lunged for the impudent human again, furious.
Miroku whirled, hand raised toward the wolf demon-
"What the hell are you morons doing?" snapped Inuyasha, throwing Miroku's beads back at him. He glared at the monk, and then at Koga as well. "Knock it off."
Surprising all the observers, they did. Both appeared somewhat abashed.
What's happening? I don't know why I'm acting like this, thought the confused Miroku. It was just Koga annoying Inuyasha again. Why am I bringing my Wind Tunnel into it?
Koga lifted a hand to his mouth, horrified. He thought he knew what was going on. Shaking his head, he stalked over to a deer carcass and tore off a handful of meat.
"Keh." Inuyasha turned away. "I'm going to go soak in that hot spring. You idiots wanna kill eachother, do it before I get back."
The… hot springs? Koga hissed a breath through his teeth. The thought of the mutt, clothes stripped away, covered with water, skin flushed from the warmth… No. No, it was just that smell. That had to be the only reason he was responding this way. Turning his head aside, he ripped a mouthful of meat free.
Miroku shook his head to clear the distant look in his eyes. Mustering up a smile, he moved over to the campfire.
"What's going on?" asked Kagome suspiciously.
He shrugged roughly. "Nothing's happening. I just- Koga bugged me, that's all." He plucked a stick of venison from the fire and bit into it.
"I'm sure something's going on," piped up Shippo. "How come no-one else can tell that Inuyasha smells funny? And all of you guys are acting weird around him. I think something's happening."
The monk chewed his meat, not tasting it, or noticing when a trail of juices ran down his chin. He felt uncomfortable, full of energy with no direction, prickling under his skin.
"Something? Like what?" Kagome took a stick as well, nibbling on a small piece.
"Dammit!" Miroku dropped his food and stood, pacing a few restless steps back and forth. He didn't notice the strange looks he got for his outburst, he just had to… had to… "I'm going," he announced to no-one in particular, and strode away. Towards the hot spring.
…
When he reached the pool, the first thing Miroku saw was a floating cloud of silver-white hair. The tension drained from him- replaced by a serene acceptance.
Inuyasha was lying on his stomach at the water's edge, arms folded, hair spreading lazily behind him, ears low and relaxed. He opened his eyes when the rustle of leaves announced another's presence, and waited.
The gaze of golden eyes should have been offputting, but it wasn't. Miroku liesurely set about disrobing, folding his robes loosely and leaving them in a pile by the pool.
The water was a little above body temperature, and very pleasant to slip under. He doused his whole body before moving toward the half-demon. When he brushed the silken mass of hair aside, Inuyasha made a small, indescribable noise and arched his neck.
The skin there tasted of sweat, and apples, and sulphur from the spring water.
He turned Inuyasha over gently, wanting to kiss him more than he'd ever wanted anything else in his life.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It was fierce and wet and desperate, both of them needing so much so badly. Inuyasha's arms were around him now, claws digging into his back, blood trickling into the water.