Love of Friends
Chapter 3: Lunacy of the Lambs
Monkey: (Is running around, throwing wads of paper everywhere)
BC: (Eyes closed, chanting) Must… embrace… monkey! Must… be… monkey! Calm… cool… collected… (Twitches slightly, screams while running towards monkey and grabs the monkey in a hug)
Monkey: (Screams, hollers, and shows other signs of unhappiness. And then he disappears.)
BC: Oh my god… Baka-chan was right?
Baka-chan: You say that like I'm always wrong!
(Crickets chirp, cows moo, and then a tumbleweed rolls by.)
Baka-chan: Will you knock that off?
BC: Oh umm… yeah sure. Uh, I don't own Inuyasha and the gang, ok? So… yay! No suing for me!
Baka-chan: (Trips inexplicably) Ah my ankle!
BC: Crap, lawsuit… and so you know, this is a redone chapter as of 9/30/2006. R&R please.
The next mourning, Inuyasha had gotten up some time before everyone else. He decided to take a walk, since sleep seemed useless. He hadn't really slept much the night before. Inuyasha had been too busy thinking about what Shippo could have seen, could have even thought about that night. If Shippo had seen him watching over Kagome from the treetops, the fox-demon could even be thinking that Inuyasha had some feeling in his heart for Kagome. It was true… but Inuyasha wasn't even about to tell himself that, let alone acknowledge it to the smaller full demon. Walking about would give him a chance to cool down, and think of a cover story if he was tattled on. But he didn't seem able to calm himself.
"Dxxx that Shippo! Just when I get the chance to be so close to Kagome without her notice..." He stops, realizing his words with his very own ears, 'What the hxxx am I saying? She's a shard detector, a wench! But...' His thoughts halt with a shake of the head, "Stupid fox. I can't even think straight, the perfect time to do some training."
He goes a little farther and reaches his destination, a small river that wasn't too wide, and not too deep. "I'll stay here. No doubt someone will be by in a while to tell me breakfast is done. Then we can head out to the latest shard rumor. They're always so slow though, it'll probably be another hour or so after that."
Quickly he takes off his haori and the shirt underneath, and sets his sword by a large tree nearby. Inuyasha then unceremoniously tosses the jacket and shirt, to hang on the tree's branches, and rushes forward to the water.
When towards the middle, he stops to let the water settle, and watches it, waiting for his "prey". It doesn't take too long for the darting fish to return, and not too soon after that, he spots it. A large fish... a huge fish! Not really, but if he told the others his tale, that's what it would be. It might not have been big... but it looked strong, and quick! Or at least good enough to give him a small challenge.
Silently he waits for the fish to swim nearer... and nearer... then he attacks! Quickly he lunges forward. Now the fish was grasped in his hands, wriggling for freedom. He lifts it above his head in triumph, letting a number of drops land on his muscled form. He could feel it's struggle, could feel it's death thrash, could feel it trying to breath in this "air" so foreign compared to it's usual water. He could feel it's slowing movements as it gave up hope and was slowly being suffocated. And it enthralled him. It excited him. It... He drops the fish, soaking himself with the splash it had left in its wake.
He was disgusted with himself, the world, but nothing compared to how he thought of his demon blood at that moment. "My stupid half brother always says my human blood soiled our demon lineage but..." His arms drop, useless at his sides, "Ever since the Tetsusaiga broke… Sometimes I can't stop what I do. I don't even have to change full-demon anymore for differences! And what if...?" His thoughts carried too the others, what if he tried to kill Miroku, Sango, even Shippo, what if...? "I ever tried to hurt Kagome?"
A stifled gasp, and instantly Inuyasha turns to look at bushes behind him. Then there's an "Eep!" and he can hear crashing and the sound of someone running away. He takes a few careful steps foreword, he knew those feet, and he knew them all too well. And he wasn't happy about whose they were, either. With a few none too pleasant words under his breath he starts to go retrieve the jacket and shirt he had left behind, "I'm sure that was Kagome, I'd stake Tetsusaiga on it but why...?"
"Was she so scared?"
He stops in mid step. It was a voice he had been dreading since the night before. It was a young voice, a small voice. With a swift turn of his head to the right his fears were revealed, Shippo...
"What was that?"
Shippo stands there slowly rocking back and forth with his hands behind his back; "I was finishing your sentence. You know, "I'm sure that was Kagome, I'd stake Tetsusaiga on it but why was... she so scared". That's what she seemed to be to me..."
"And just how long have you been there?"
He smiles cheerfully, "Long enough." With that said he walks to the water, lifting the cuffs of his pants along the way. And though his attention is on the shallow water and his fox feet, he still continues, "Poor Kagome... I bet I know just what scared her too."
"What ever it was..." His hand reaches for Tetsusaiga, "I'll..."
"I wouldn't if I were you."
"Oh yeah? Why not, just what do you think scared her? "
The small fox demon looks to Inuyasha giggling slightly while holding up his pant cuffs, "Well, I think it might be you."
"Wha-what?" Inuyasha was a bit taken aback, could Kagome have been frightened at the incident with the fish? Had Shippo seen it, maybe even heard him? He didn't know but he couldn't believe Kagome to be scared of him, of all things out there.
Shippo carefully watches the silent battle of Inuyasha. He could tell Inuyasha had taken it wrong. What ever had happened before he arrived must have been bad for the hanyou. "Inuyasha, I don't know what you think I meant, but I'm talking about how you look right now. A half naked half demon would scare lots of people!"
Inuyasha blinks slowly. Before Shippo could react the dog eared half demon was holding him up by the tail, "A half naked half demon would scare lots of people... what's that supposed to mean?"
"Well think about it Inuyasha, how would you react if Kagome walked by wearing one of those "bathing suit" things she told us about?"
Inuyasha thinks a moment, imagining such an encounter, his eyes widen, and a very small blush starts creeping across his face.
"See? You'd be as scared as Kagome!"
"Oh yeah? And what would you know?"
He looks away from Inuyasha, "A lot more then you, it seems."
"Hrr!" He turns and starts walking out into deeper water, "You're gonna know a lot less once you're under this water!"
"No, wait Inuyasha! You can't do that, I don't swim good!"
"Feh, should have thought of that sooner." He then plunges Shippo into the water up to the base of his tail and when he thinks Shippo's breath is running out, lifts him up for another dunk. He may torture him at times but Inuyasha was not going to let that kitsune die. Kagome would probably sit him to death and take away his ramen and many more horrible things he didn't want to even think about happening. Besides, Shippo wasn't so bad all the time, just really annoying.
With his new breath Shippo shouts as loud as he can, "KAGOME HELP..." Inuyasha dunks him under again, "... INUYASHA'S DROWNING ME!", and gets dunked again. The hanyou lifts up the sputtering kitsune to stare at his face, a smirk creeping across his own, "There's no way Kagome could save you n..."
"Inuyasha!"
"Kagome? SAVE ME!"
"What the...?" Inuyasha turns hearing the sounds of branches being pushed out of the way. How could she run so fast? She was only human... he turns to look at the fox kid in his hands. That was right, mothers turned crazy when their children were in danger. Not that Kagome was Shippo's mother; she just acted like it at times. She probably would make a good mother one-day... What was wrong with him? Kagome was coming and she was a little scary when mad. He might not voice it out loud, but he whole-heartedly agreed with the others. But now was really not the time to do that, was it?
Kagome bursts from the trees, out of breath from all her running. It didn't help that she lost it even more at the sight of Inuyasha. 'Oh my God... just look at him!' She quickly shakes her head and thanked her lucky stars the half-demon couldn't hear her thoughts. Besides, her task was at hand; she had to stop that dog demon from torturing Shippo. With an opening of her mouth she was ready to scream Inuyasha's subduing word, but for one problem. She could not seem to find her voice. Besides, anything she could say would come out fast and nervous… but she had to stop Inuyasha before he accidentally hurt Shippo. So, swallowing her pride she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and hopes she didn't say anything stupid. "Inuyasha... pleaseputShippodownonthegroundsafelyNOW uh… thank you." While exhaling her breath and taking another, she thanks her lucky stars again and makes a hasty retreat. So as not to look too suspicious, she shouts behind her about her and Sango searching for herbs. Not even Inuyasha could catch much of it though.
"Huh?" This was definitely not part of Shippo's plan. Inuyasha was supposed to be sat, and repeatedly, too. Why was Kagome running? "KAG-O-ME!" Inuyasha was definitely gonna kill him now. What was a fox demon to do?
With his gaze still on her retreating figure, Inuyasha was shocked. He had gotten through this whole thing without a sit. Something had to be wrong with her, very wrong. And he was surely going to find out what it was. Tossing the kitsune in the general direction of camp, Inuyasha starts to follow Kagome. That is, until the humorous tone of another familiar voice reaches his ears.
"Now, now, my half-demon friend. If you rush about like that, you will very likely achieve the wrath of who you plan to seek."
Inuyasha turns to face the owner of the voice, who just happened to be leaning against the tree he had previously tossed his jacket and shirt on, "Just great. Now the monk has come to say his thoughts as well!"
Miroku slowly straightened from his position. He was in no real hurry, and a chance to taunt Inuyasha could never be taken lightly. Neither could one for Sango, but that was because she could cause as much damage as an angry hanyou. "Inuyasha, Kagome is fine."
"Err… WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER?"
The monk smiles in knowing, "You had gotten that heroic look that you do when Kagome needs to be saved. Or, of course, when Kikyo does. But I didn't happen to see her soul collectors about..."
Inuyasha just stares, mouth slightly agape.
Miroku lets out a small laugh, "And I also happened to catch that little conversation between you and Shippo."
Inuyasha walks over to the bank Miroku was on. With his back to him the hanyou sits in his usual pout position. "Stupid monk."
"Come now Inuyasha. I was instructed to come and find you by a young lady you happen to know. You know, the one that 'scares' you?"
In a fluid motion, Inuyasha manages to turn as well as propel himself just inches from Miroku. His clawed hand rests against the tree, just above Miroku's shoulder. "What was that again?"
He just grabs the hanyou's jacket and shirt, and tosses them at their owner. "All in good fun Inuyasha, all in good fun."
Inuyasha just stares at them for a bit before putting the undershirt on. "All in good fun my..."
Miroku starts to walk away. "Come on Inuyasha. Breakfast will be cold if we don't hurry. Besides, you'll receive enough sits for throwing Shippo who knows where."
Inuyasha starts to follow. "Naw, that brat will find his way back."
"Whatever you say. Though we don't want Kagome to be mad, as well as scary at you, now do we?"
"Just keep it up, monk! You may just live to regret it."
"Maybe. Though Kagome would probably be the one to give out punishments." A very distracted look appears on his face, "I just hope it involves Sango, me, and a hot spring."
"Ugh. Stop drooling you lech. You really disgust me at times..."
"I am not drooling! I am a Monk, I do not drool!"
"Could have fooled me."
Miroku opens his mouth, ready to say something, but then seems to think against it. He instead sighs and leans toward Inuyasha. "Listen…" He sticks out his hand, "what do you say to putting a halt on all this good-natured bantering. We have made no progress with it. And if we are to go look for shards of the Shikon jewel, we may want to leave before sunset, all right?"
Inuyasha stares at the hand before reaching for it. "Fine, and I won't tell Sango about that last disturbing thought of yours."
Miroku stops and bows, "I would very much appreciate that. I'm afraid Lady Sango would most likely kill me if you did."
"Feh, it would probably be no less then you deserve."
Miroku walks as fast as possible to catch up with Inuyasha, and slows a little when he finally does. "All the same, she would."
Inuyasha smirks, "Now look who's scared."
"Ah yes, and yet... there is something so appealing about her.
"You are hopeless."
BC: (Is helping to bandage Baka-chan's ankle) What was with the inexplicable tripping, anyway?
Baka-chan: It was inexplicable… how am I supposed to know?
BC: Oh… right.
QJP/PLP: (Enters)
PLP: BC, I thought you hated that monkey! Why'd you give it a hug?
QJP: When Baka-chan said "embrace the monkey", I don't think that's what he meant…
BC: Yeah I know… but I thought it might work, so I gave it a try.
PLP: In other words, you got bored with the monkey plot device.
BC: Oh yeah… sooo bored with it. Oi Baka-chan, you're not going to sue me for the inexplicable tripping, are you?
Baka-chan: No… my leg doesn't even really hurt.
BC: Then why in the heck am I bandaging it?
Baka-chan: I don't really know…
BC: (Stands up, and kicks Baka-chan's outstretched leg)
Baka-chan: (Grabs leg) Ouch! What was that for?
BC: Now I bet your leg really does hurt!
QJP: I think that would be why he said, "Ouch!"
BC: Uh… I knew that? (Shakes head in dismissal) Just… someone review…
BC, over and out!