Okay, people, suffering writer's block, again, so forgive me if updates are slow. I have a headache and I worked overtime again today too, so bear with me, if you will be so kind.
Deds:
Terra34 - Here it is. Enjoy. I feel like crap. One of us should at least be happy.
Water Kunoichi - I dunno what will happen when they meet. If they meet at all. I'm having a blockage, I'm sorry, and the girl who's scanning my pic is forgetful, so it's gonna be a while longer, but I'll ride her ass about it if I have to. Is that thunder, or my mother?
Kouga's Archi - Correct, I am female, though your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated so your forgiven. For what, you ask? I dunno, I think I'm getting a cold, finally. I been waiting on this for two weeks. Here I go.
Disclaimer: Feeling sick, screw off, not in the mood, I kill you!
Every Time We Touch
Sesshoumaru arrived back first, and looked with disdain on the wiggling pile of bodies. He strode to Ah-Un, to saddle him up, for they were leaving right away.
The beast greeted him with a grunt, and, bending over to sling the massive saddle over its back, Sesshoumaru stopped mid-way. What was that smell?
He dropped the saddle, and stared Ah-Un in the eye. Grabbing one of its two heads, he pried open its mouth and took a long draw of its breath into his nose.
Orange? he thought, spying the empty box of Tic Tacs on the ground. It was soaked; apparently Ah-Un had been licking it clean. Holding it between a clawed thumb and index finger, he read the box.
Breath Mints, eh? Well, you certainly needed them, he thought, looking askance at the beast whose heads followed his hand as he moved it, anxious to get back to licking.
Tossing the box away, he snarled, "Jaken!" and the imp came running, having been laughing at the human dog-pile. Ah-Un's heads followed the flying box forlornly.
A bright light flashed and both looked up; Inuyasha held a tiny box to his face, and with his thumb, turned a little wheel; it made a creaking noise, and he held the box to his face again.
"Inuyasha, no!" Kagome cried, trying to claw her way out from under Kitana, "I only have five pictures left on that camera!"
"Don't you think this is picture-worthy?" he asked, laughing as another flash brought spots to Kouga's eyes. Kouga was trying to see the box more closely through the swimming green spots as Inuyasha waved it around, making his point, which was:
"Seriously, all you idiots are going to remember this one. I come back and you're all in a heap! Ha! I'd be crazy not to take a picture!"
When he flung it back again, his arms opening wide to illustrate this point, Kouga had leaned a little too close and Inuyasha's hand smacked him in the nose.
Yowling, he brought both hands to his face, and when he took them away, they were covered in blood.
"Dammit, mutt, are you trying to kill me?" he yelled, but Inuyasha laughed.
Kagome, having straightened herself out and helped the others up, sent Rin over to Sesshoumaru before turning to her mate, and smacking him upside the head.
"Ow!" he yelped, "what was that for?"
"Now you're both in pain! Doesn't it feel nice not to be lonely?" her sarcasm burned him, and he stopped making fun of Kouga. He was happy though when Kagome simply showed Kouga how to tip his head back and pinch the bridge of his nose, to staunch the bleeding, before she came right back to him and began to rub the sore spot on his head, and soon he was leaning into her, his foot thumping the ground rapidly; she was turning him on! His ears were in heaven!
While everyone dusted themselves off, Miroku asked, "Did you find anything? Is it safe to pass?"
Inuyasha mumbled, "Oh yeah, sure. There's nothing in there. We did pick up Naraku's scent on the other side, though."
Everyone who hadn't been with them stopped in their tracks. Naraku was close by? Were they finally back on his trail again after losing it so many times?
Sesshoumaru finished saddling the dragon and replied, "That bastard's leaking his scent, and he knows where we are. The quicker we find him, the better."
Rin looked up at Sesshoumaru and smiled; he had to send her away, but he regretted the action before he'd even put it in motion. She would be disappointed if she couldn't come, but she knew better than to object to his wishes. Still, he knew Jaken and the dragon would look after her should he not make it…but he wouldn't think about that.
Smacking the two-headed beast's ass, he sent Rin and the imp off; the dragon would take them someplace safe.
"Let's go, people!" he shouted, and everyone picked up their stuff, and falling into single file behind him, as he led the way down the steep slope into the dark, damp ravine.
Kagome held onto Inuyasha's sleeve for reassurance as they travelled cautiously through the ravine, the path winding around in circles and doubling back on itself several times. She was afraid; there was something about this place, something she couldn't put her finger on, but it gave her the creeps. She clutched the fire-rat robe tighter, and he turned to smile at her. She offered a very brief smile in return before it dropped away and she concentrated on where she was stepping, a frown growing on her pale face. There were roots sticking up everywhere, and boulders often stuck out far enough into the path that they almost completely blocked it; they could only slip by sideways, one at a time.
Kitana wanted to be behind Sesshoumaru, but unfortunately she'd wound up behind Kouga, who kept turning to look at her. His nose had stopped bleeding, but the bottom half of his face was covered in dried blood, and some of it smeared now as he swiped a hand across it; she imagined it was incredibly itchy. However, she began to grow tired of his suggestive looks as they picked their way through the darkness, the only light filtering in dappled patches through the thick canopy above.
Miroku and Sango were silent, but he held her hand firmly, and she blushed, happy.
Bringing up the rear were Kirara and Shippo; Storm had flown overhead, to await them on the other side, but that had been an hour ago; it was taking longer than anticipated for the group to find its way through.
Sesshoumaru turned his head and held up a hand: stop.
They all froze, and no one made a sound. Kagome felt herself begin to panic, and she bunched up the sleeve in her hands, and Inuyasha backed up so she could be closer to him. She clutched at him for dear life in her fear, and he felt her shaking.
A tiny crack! was heard, but still they remained, unmoving, waiting for the assailant to reveal himself.
After five minutes of complete silence, in which they couldn't even hear any birds singing or any bugs flying past, everyone was wound up tight enough to snap.
Sesshoumaru was desperately reaching out with his senses, trying to discern another demonic presence, but was getting nowhere fast; Inuyasha kept one hand firmly around Tetsusaiga's handle, and the other around Kagome; Kagome held her bow, an arrow notched, but she began to tremble from the strain of keeping it drawn back as she looked around frantically, searching the dark around her for impurity as the moments ticked by.
Miroku and Sango held their weapons at the ready, Sango resting her left hand on the handle of her katana.
Kitana, herself, was busy absorbing the moisture in the air; if they were attacked, she would shoot ice shards sharp enough to decapitate any common demon at its face, whatever it was. She held her whistle to her lips, ready to blow into it if anything happened.
Shippo cowered behind Kirara's huge head, but the firecat herself only growled, and sniffed.
Nothing yet…
The ground shook, then stilled. They all exchanged a look. It came again, and disappeared just as quickly. Instinctively, they gathered into a tight little knot on the path, everyone facing out, their backs to each other. Shippo hid in the middle, protected.
The ground shook again, and Kagome said, "Something's coming."
Indeed, the shaking they felt were footsteps; but what crushed the forest around them and tore up the trees frantically was not at all what they suspected.
When they saw the trees surrounding them disappear into the air, all pointed their weapons upward, but they all stopped when Kitana shouted, "No! Don't!"
Inuyasha turned to look at her as if she were crazy.
"It's Storm," she explained, and blew three times on that cursed whistle, and Inuyasha, Kouga, Shippo, Sesshoumaru and Kirara all winced in pain.
At last the sky above them was open to their view, and sure enough, hovering over them on massive wings and creating a mighty wind was Storm, who rapidly shrunk to their size.
Kitana ran to him, and he wrapped a silver wing about her.
"Were you worried when we took so long?" He nodded.
"I'm sorry, Storm. You scared us."
The dragon hung its head, and looked up sheepishly at her. She smiled.
"Did you smell Naraku out there?" The question fired at the dragon came from Sango, who gripped Miroku's hand in relief, still.
It nodded, urgently; it seemed to say that he was closer than before.
"Okay, we don't have time to dink around anymore. Storm, transform. Everyone, climb on."
The silver dragon began to grow, and soon was the size of the Hindenburg, or so Kagome guessed. She just hoped they didn't go down in flames like the ill-fated blimp did.
Using his wing, they all climbed up, Inuyasha and Kagome jumping on, Sesshoumaru flying.
When they were seated, the dragon took off, hovering higher and higher until it was clear of the forest, then taking to the sky so high that they were flying through clouds.
Kagome shuddered, and Inuyasha draped his haori over her, and pulled her into his lap. Kitana watched them from her position on Storm's head, where she sat alone. Sesshoumaru, though not far away, sat with his back to her, also watching everyone behind her. She sighed. She couldn't think of anything important anymore, like defeating Naraku; all she could see in her mind's-eye, be she asleep or awake, was long white hair, a sculpted body, and a face so handsome it would put the Greek Gods to shame.
She sighed again. She remembered the feel of his hands on her body, and his lips upon hers, kissing her with a skill she had been delighted to discover. She herself was no slouch when it came to bedsport; in fact, in her hometown, she had been quite the lover, and had had many admirers. She'd left them all behind that day though, when the war came to them and she and Koji had had to go.
Her parents were only a few months into their graves at that time, having lost a battle against a neighbouring clan of demons, a clan which they had been at odds with ever since their arrival from the continent.
That clan, having driven them out, took over their town and put up a barrier so they could never return. Turning to the war for employment, they battled and used their skills, winning battle after battle and, finally, when Kitana lost track Koji in the last war, she turned to mercenary work to see her through. She'd killed enough people and demons to be qualified for the job. She'd failed to kill Sesshoumaru, but she'd not given in without a fight, either.
Even so, when she'd first seen Sesshoumaru striding confidently through the forest two days ago, she'd thought him to be very handsome, but a tad arrogant. She could tell from the way he carried himself that he was utterly relaxed, where anyone else would have been cautious and attuned to their surroundings, ever watchful for enemies.
Not him, though. She sighed forlornly for a third time, for even though he'd kissed her, he had made no more moves toward her since, and she thought maybe he was angry with her, but about what, she couldn't guess.
She thought about asking Kagome for some insight into his behaviour; she seemed to know him pretty well. If she were to ask anyone who knew a lot about him, she supposed it would be Rin or the toad, but Rin was gone with the toad, and said toad had glared at her repeatedly since her arrival, for what reason, she had no idea.
Yes, Kagome seems like the safest bet, she thought, and got up to go sit next to the shivering girl and her dog-eared mate, Inuyasha.
Inuyasha glanced up as Kitana made herself comfortable in front of he and Kagome. She looked at the blue-haired girl from the warmth of Inuyasha's arms and smiled, her teeth chattering.
"What's on your mind, Kitana?"
"I'm just curious, but…is Sesshoumaru mad at me?"
Both Inuyasha and Kagome opened their eyes wide with surprise. Then Inuyasha frowned.
"Why should you care? It's not like he does."
Kitana gave him an icy glare.
Kagome elbowed him, and said, "Quiet you, and leave this to someone who knows what she's talking about!"
Inuyasha mumbled something derogatory, but stopped when he felt a hand between his legs. He settled himself in and remained stone silent, enjoying her attentions and offering no more pearls of wisdom as the girls spoke quietly.
"What makes you think he's angry at you?"
Kagome was unsuspecting of what came after that; Kitana confessed to what had happened yesterday at the pond, and Inuyasha heard none of it as Kagome's fingers began to move more fervently, keeping his mind too occupied to pay any attention to her words. The last thing she needed was him bleating, "I told you so!" loud enough for the whole group to hear.
"Well, Kitana, Inuyasha and I were discussing this very topic yesterday, and he thinks Sesshoumaru does, in fact, like you very much, and what you've just told me confirms it. But don't be disappointed if he tends to neglect you; he's been on his own for a long time, and I think he has forgotten how to love a woman."
Kitana nodded, eagerly listening to every word Kagome had to offer.
"I think his actions now are proof of his affection for you."
She looked at Kagome funny. "You do?"
Kagome gave a wintry smile. "Yeah. I do."
Kitana was silent, thinking about this new bit of information.
Kagome sighed; I guess I'm going to have to spell it out for her.
"He's hiding his feelings for you, Kitana. He doesn't want anyone to suspect he loves you because he's afraid Naraku will sense it and hurt you to get to him, and I think if anything were to happen to you, he'd never be able to forgive himself if he couldn't save you; therefore, he sees his affection for you as a weakness, and will keep up his cool attitude toward you until Naraku is dead. Now, I can't speak for him when it comes to private moments, like yesterday," she took a breath, "but I think that he feels you are a Godsend, Kitana. It's been a long time for him, you know."
Kitana listened intently; Kagome's words were beginning to make sense.
"Look, I know what I know because Inuyasha will act the same way in battle. You guys all know we're mates, but Naraku doesn't; when we battle him, Inuyasha will act towards me as he always has: no kissing, touching, none of that will happen, for if it did, I would become an even bigger liability to Inuyasha than I already am. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
Kitana smiled. "Yes, I see. They ignore us because they love us, and don't want us to get hurt. I understand perfectly now, thank you."
Kagome patted her shoulder affectionately. "Give him time," she said, leaning close. "He'll come around. When we've finished our business with that asshole Naraku, everything will be wonderful, trust me. I've seen the way he looks at you; he's lovesick, that's for damn sure." She winked.
Kitana laughed, and smiled. Getting up, she went back to her spot on Storm's head, and kept a careful watch on the ground below, her fears finally assuaged.
Kagome stopped fondling Inuyasha and he came back to his senses, pouting. She giggled.
"You're so hot when you pout," she whispered huskily, and smiled when he retrieved her hand and replaced it at his groin.
"Just shut up and rub," was all he could grit out without howling his pleasure, and silenced his own cries by sucking her neck, which she bared for his perusal alone, her other hand playing daintily with his ear.
Oooh, a little hand-jobby goin' on there lol! He don't know how good he's got it, that boy! Anyway, like I said, updates may be slow, and I'm truly sorry for that. Do not give up hope; I won't abandon this story. A few reviews would be nice though...they're kinda scarce...but anyway, I promise to try to work this kink out of my writer's mind, okay's? Later dudes, and dudettes!