AN:// I know, a horribly long wait, but I was getting vonage the process was horrendous.
"Sango…I'm sensing a few inconsistencies in their behaviors…" Miroku stated.
"Yeah…it's rather strange to see them like this. I'm finding it hard to put a word to it" She replied. Sango silently ruminated of all the subtle changes she'd noticed in InuYasha and Kagome's behavior as she chewed on her lower lip. The way they acted now was a definate contrast from the past.
"For one thing, InuYasha's been less abrasive. And Kagome…well I've never been good at analyzing women" Sango smirked knowingly and continued to think.
"There's something going on, and I doubt they can sense it because they're to close. But from the out side looking in…I fear disaster might strike any minute, worse than what's already happened. We might have to take matters into our own hands…" he continued.
"What do you presume is going on Miroku?" Sango asked solicitously, wary of his serious expression.
"I don't have the slightest clue…the ties are too loose for any solid evidence. I think we should figure this out on our own. InuYasha and Kagome seem too wrapped up in themselves."
"You mean do our own searching? They'll never allow us to venture out alone, they'll assume all responsibility as usual and InuYasha will keep close tabs on everyone…" said Sango.
"Yes, I thought of that. Which is why we'll do all our perusing at night. They'll never suspect we're doing what we're actually doing, and because of that, they won't bother us…"Miroku smiled. Sango blushed and turned away.
Miroku scoffed.
"Besides, I'm pretty sure, with us gone they can utilize the alone time." He laughed then. "They were never good at keeping secrets"
"You think it'll work?" Sango changed the subject to a more comfortable topic. Suddenly, Miroku's demeanor was that of strict earnestness, reserved for very serious situations.
"It has to, we have to try. My entire being points to Naraku…but I know it has to be more than that. InuYasha said there was a third party. I will find out." Sango was quiet for a minute.
"What about what InuYasha and you had to do…and if you're investigating with InuYasha why do we have to go to same place?" she asked.
"Well if you can't stand to spend time with me…If I'm that horrible…"Miroku began. Sango became flustered.
"No, I just meant…it seems redundant…" she commented.
"It may, but we're not going to the same place Sango. And for the reasons InuYasha stated it only makes sense that he and I should go back to the inn. I wouldn't have you go there my self…and as for what he and I have to do…well…I suppose you'll find out when it happens." He said. Sango prepared to argue but thought better of it in spite of the situation. She would do what was necessary to make things easier. "Wait" he said suddenly, testing the air.
"What is it?" Sango said, concentrating to sense what he was sensing, not sure of what she should be searching for. Miroku shook his head.
"Probably nothing more than a stray animal. Let's get back inside, who knows what's going on in there." Miroku said, breaking the silence.
"Precisely why we shouldn't." Sango fought.
"Oh I beg to differ." Miroku said, becoming curious. He grabbed Sango's arm and threw the door aside just in time to witness them both in the middle of something suspiciously romantic.
"Are we interrupting?" Miroku chided and InuYasha pulled away from Kagome quickly.
"I knew we should have-" Sango began but was interrupted by an angry growl, deep from within InuYasha's own chest. He then storms off out of the hut.
"It was nothing, really!" I urged, but I knew my face would give me away. I admit, I was as horrendously embarrassed as I was happy to have almost had a moment with InuYasha. Maybe he's right; someone, albeit fate or another providential force, is trying to tell us something.
"Somehow you seem unconvinced." said Miroku. Sango nudged his ribcage.
"Kagome…" she began, searching for the words. "I can't explain it but…I feel I have reason to be very fearful for you." Miroku sighed.
"I agree. If searching for the jewel shards subjects you and InuYasha to this kind of danger, at some point we have to draw the line." I could feel my eyebrows crease in clear misunderstanding. I motioned to object, all too quickly, my head swooned painfully.
"Searching for the jewel shards puts me in as much danger as possessing them, we knew this from the very beginning. I'm not scared, and you shouldn't be either." I defended, but Miroku continued to stare at me with hard unseeing eyes, dipping in to the recesses of the past.
"Kagome…if you were there…if you had to witness what InuYasha looked like when we finally found you both, had his blood stain your hands…I'm sure you'd make the neccessary adjustments. What happened to him was meant for you, he shielded you because he knew you wouldn't survive the injuries. As unexpected as it was, it's likely to happen again. This is where the line's been drawn. It's preventable, and by the life of me I won't allow this to recur." He explained. Miroku was right, but I was far too afraid to question his grounds and what the basis of this actually is. I can still vividly remember the moment it happened, the look on InuYasha's face…but even if Miroku suggests we take it easy, InuYasha will only become restless, itching for the chance to avenge us, I know him well enough.
"So…what are you saying?"
"He's saying it's best you return home." Said Sango. I was constrained with mixed feelings of guilt and betrayal. They thought I was a liability, excessive baggage they had to get rid of, unfit for battle. I liked to convince myself that that isn't true, but what more evidence do I need. The people who always wanted me back, asked for me every time I would leave were sending me away.
"No! I won't! I can't just leave while everyone's in danger! That's not fair!" I objected. They averted my gaze. From that I knew they had already accepted that I wouldn't go along with this stupid idea without argument.
"We're not asking Kagome. It's for the best. With you gone, temporarily I might add, things might die down enough to figure out what's going on." Miroku said.
"So I'm an instigator?" I cried. Things always happened because of me.
"No, not at all! You just, attract attention, InuYasha's the instigator."
"What about InuYasha? Did he tell you to-"
"No. He didn't." I drew a sharp breath. I'd never expect Sango and Miroku to order me home, but I was okay with the possibility that InuYasha would still come back for me.
"He won't like that."
"He really hasn't a choice in the matter. I'm sure once he's reasoned with he'll agree. This isn't because of anything you've done Kag-" Sango tried.
"Then why do I feel so guilty?!"
My breath was caught in my throat. They confirmed they very thing I've been telling myself. I'm the crutch, I hold them back, I should expect them to get rid of me. I felt tears build in my eyes and hid them behind my bangs. Ignoring the lingering pain and the presence of them, I tore outside to settle down.
It was far too bright to think about being angry. My retinas were burning under the sun's effulgence.
"Kagome! Move!" It was InuYasha voice, alarmed and panicky. But my eyes hadn't adjusted yet, and I sat there trying to get my bearings, too distracted with the blaring sun in my eyes.
"Dammit!" he yelled.
"I'll kill her anyway, InuYasha, retreat!" said another voice, one I sure as hell didn't recognize. I scrambled to my feet, disregarding InuYasha's command And then I felt a deadened blow to my head.
"Not again…"I muttered as the world I could barely see began to blacken. And I let unconsciousness take hold.
Along the way Baki had lost the drive she once had. At some point, possibly after she'd been given the false lead all the way south into the Iisho mountains, or infiltrated an entire inn of people to find that the subjects were long gone, she'd completely lost her nerve. And what was worse, her steed had run off hours ago in search of something to eat. Her plan to kill the half demon and the human had become more troublesome than she imagined. And the thought of finally killing Naraku was even more unrealistic. After long, not even the Samyosho would be convinced, and she wouldn't be able to keep Naraku at bay.
To him she was merely an indulgence, even if she did betray him in a way shy of death, managed to leak dire information, he'd have a back up plan, and a back up plan for the back up plan. Only Naraku knew everything, no matter how many vassals he had.
Now Baki was following a lead to a village near the sacred tree where a human in the inn said another would know of them. She was wary of trusting this too, but she had nothing else to go on. Worst case scenario: she wouldn't find them. These people, who were unsuspecting of her, were inadvertently making life hell for her. If ever she found them, whether in this life or the next she'd make sure to express her thanks for making her go through all the trouble.
In fact, they had quite the nosey reputation.
Maybe I should relieve them of their noses…Baki thought childishly. She did a hell of a lot of traveling, had gone without sleep for two days in fear of wasting time and wasn't feeling very rational.
So she trekked through the thick forest, a fowl mood darkening her expression, when an overcast view of a hut caught her attention. Finally, a place to rest.
Despite how tired she was, she half ran to get there when she heard voices resonating from the place. A man and a woman.
Baki scoffed.
I won't let them stop me…she prepared to pounce when innuendos in their conversation interested her.
'We have to try, my entire being points to Naraku, but InuYasha said there was a third part, I will find out"
Baki froze, calculating the magnitude of his words, treading on the very force that drives an unpredictable situation like this one. The name was startlingly familiar. This InuYasha had to be the same one she was looking for.
Baki felt her lips curl upward, her resolve retuning in waves. Judging from their conversation these humans had close ties to InuYasha, and she was sure, if she could catch InuYasha the girl wouldn't be far behind. Maybe everything happens for a reason.
The two humans began to go inside when Baki prepared to make her entrance and execute her interrogation when seconds later, she realized she didn't have to. InuYasha himself came charging out.
Maybe, by this stroke of luck, she could kill Naraku too.
InuYasha looked angry, and began muttering a string of profanities to verbalize his elation at almost getting caught kissing Kagome. He crouched and then took off at a speed much slower then what Baki had seen.
Oh no you don't she said to herself. And took off after him. After a straight five minutes of running InuYasha stopped and whirled around. Baki smothered herself behind a tree and what she hoped would be his blind spot.
"Who's there!?" he yelled threateningly, perusing the area with his eyes in order to pinpoint the scent. If he kept up that way, it wouldn't be long before Baki was discovered, hence she began circling the area, preparing to attack.
Once she was behind him, a spear from the satchel on her back at the ready, she threw herself from the cover of the trees, slinging her weapon expertly in InuYasha's direction.
He whirled around and dodged to his left in the last minute.
"You're fairly quick InuYasha." She said, stressing his name like the most vile thing she'd ever tasted.
"Who the hell are you? Your scent is familiar." He responded. Clovers…she smelled precisely of clovers.
"Irrelevant. I have to kill you, need to kill you, oh so very much. Nothing would make me happier." She spoke menacingly.
Who the hell…? InuYasha thought. And then a connection made a beeline thought his head. He remembered that day distinctly. The scent was stark in its similarity. And only someone who really wanted to kill him would plant such a deviously consequential trap.
His blood boiled violently beneath his skin. It was her…
"What's the matter, InuYasha? Do you feel threatened?" she patronized until she could feel the scorn emanating from him.
"It was YOU!" he said, flexing his fingers to make his knuckles crack and his claws glint in a sinister way.
"Yes, get angry, InuYasha. Get as violent as you need to, unleash your other half. I want your death to be worth it. "
InuYasha's mind became intently one-tracked. Instinct beckoned beneath the rationale, threatening to spill over and quake throughout his entire being. He wanted to kill her just as much as she wanted to kill him. A mutual buy.
His blood pulsated then.
"No." he uttered, pulling back violently. Concentrating so hard it seemed as if he was in a trance. Baki urged him further.
"Don't recoil InuYasha! Nothing could be more beneficial for you, you alone without the help of your demon within will never be enough."
And his blood pulsated once more. InuYasha closed his eyes containing the inner beast, trying his hardest to reign it in. Grabbing the hilt of the Tetsusaiga he managed to quell the ferocity of the beast, cooling his blood evenly.
"You fool, you sword won't help you. I know the secrets of your sword. Kagura told me, you would be amazed to find how much I know of you."
InuYasha exhaled deeply, diminishing the hold of his inner demon.
"Bastard. You sound just like that damn shogun. I swear you two are perfect for each other." Baki scoffed and had another sling at the ready in seconds.
"As much as you know of me, I'm afraid some things you only learn with experience." He said and unsheathed Tetsusaiga, charging forward.
He started slow, testing her limits and his own ability after being condemned inside Kaede's hut for days. Baki easily glanced the contact of Tetsusaiga's monstrous blade. InuYasha growled, disgruntled.
"That's it InuYasha? Where's your demon?" She egged.
"Shut up!" he said, wheeling back, slicing the air in aim for Baki's torso, slashing the bottom of her haori as she jumped out of range.
"I know! The girl! You were so quick to die for her, maybe she can beckon the beast from you." Said Baki, taking off in the direction of the hut at a blinding speed.
"Don't you dare!" he yelled after her, close behind her heels.
They both came in time to find Kagome coming out of the hut.
"Amazing!" Baki proded. "This is all too easy InuYasha." InuYasha dove to her left and proceeded to sweep up with his sword, missing Baki merely by an inch. Baki kept a spear drawn.
"Kagome! Move!" he said urgently. As it was Baki would reach her before he did, and she seemd too disoriented beyond reason.
"Dammit!"
"I'll kill her anyway, InuYasha, retreat!" and Baki fired, hitting Kagome's crown dead on.
As InuYasha watched Kagome slump to the floor, achieving unconsciousness, the beast reared it's ugly head.
AN: I promise to update sooner. Thanks for reading.