When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
-Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkle
(:)(A)(:)
Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Chapter #7
(:)(A)(:)
Youko sighed irritably, trying his best to ignore the continuous droning that had yet to cease. Had he known that she would make this much of a fuss he would have spared himself the lecture and not have done it.
"It was rude, inconsiderate, completely indecent-" Really now! She was worse than his mother! At least his mother had a right to scold him! Not to mention that then he had actually done something wrong! It wasn't like he violated her or anything!
"And it was a total violation of my privacy, and-" Well there goes that idea. Youko thought as his shoulders slumped, yet another sigh escaping his lips. He couldn't help but wonder what Kuronue would say if he saw him now, being scolded like some kind of dog.
Speaking of dogs . . . he thought venomously as he glared at the snickering inu, who was currently leaning against a tree facing the scene. Right next to the two humans who had yet to lose their shocked features. How dare he laugh at his misfortune! He would have to teach that mutt a lesson. "Are you even listening!?" As soon as he dealt with the angry woman in front of him.
"My dear Kagome!" He stressed, taking one of her small hands in his. Despite her rueful glare.
"Don't you 'Dear Kagome' me!" She huffed, snatching her hand away from his, only to set it on her hip. Sending him her best glare. "You weren't listening to a word I said were you!" She accused.
Youko groaned, "I was listening! Really I was!" He quickly defended, already dreading the possibility of her continuing her rant. "You were just telling me how indecent what I did was!" He exclaimed, trying to prove himself right.
Kagome glared at him harder. "That was ten minutes ago." She bit out coldly, her eyebrow twitching in her irritation.
Youko gulped, quickly realizing his mistake. "Well that was because that part stuck with me the most! You are completely, utterly right! It was completely indecent of me! I give you my most sincere apologies." He stated smoothly, giving her a small bow as he smirked to himself. Smooth . . . very very smooth.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, going to Kagome's side as he looked at her expression. Shocked to find, not a fuming girl, but a contemplating one. Was she actually going to buy that! He let a soft growl creep from his throat. Pointing an accusing finger at the fox. "Kagome! He's screwing with you! You don't actually believe all that bull shit! He's a fucking kitsune for gods sake!" He exclaimed despite Shippo's immediate protest, not even bothering to give either kitsune a glance.
Youko growled, his left eye twitching sporadically as he fought with his desire to share the hanyou to shreds. Having to strictly remind himself that he would most likely get an even LONGER lecture if he didn't. The thought of which making him shudder. How any one could go through that and keep their sanity was a mystery to him. He was on the verge of it and he had blocked most of it out . . .
"Inuyasha! What did I tell you about language! Shippo is a growing boy! He shouldn't be exposed to that! Especially since he's exposed to so much violence already! PLUS! I already explained to you that he is a part of this team! Kitsune or not! Now, I will decide on what I believe, thank you very much!" Youko sighed blissfully. This woman was a saint! Despite the torturous talks. He sent the inu a victorious smirk, enjoying the snarl he returned. Though his look quickly changed when Kagome turned back to him, his face softening into what one would believe to be pure innocents. Though the real test would be if she fell for it . . .
She rolled her eyes, her hands yet again crossing themselves across her chest as she held his eyes defiantly. "Don't give me that look! I know very well that your not the least bit sorry!"
Damn . . .
"Further more," She started, holding an accusing finger pointed to his direction. Youko felt the inevitable dread clutch at his stomach, and couldn't help a soft groan. Wasn't she done yet?!
Kagome sighed defeatedly, her hand dropping to her side as the other came up to rub her temples. Her voice was weary, the groups first glimpse of how tired she truly was. The small bags under her eyes suddenly becoming more prominent as they looked. "Further more . . . . I have no idea what to do about it."
There was silence for a moment, everyone tense in the stiff silence. The soft sound of footsteps breaking the silence as Youko broke his gaze off the miko and to that of the demon slayer. Watching in a sort of fascination as the older woman reached out the Kagome. Sango . . . yes. That was her name. He reminded himself lazily, transfixed by the scene before him.
Sango laid a comforting hand on Kagome's shoulder, her concerned gaze looking into Kagome's tired ones. Youko couldn't help but feel that he was missing out on something . . . that the look they shared spoke volumes. But how could that be? They didn't have any mind link of sorts . . . he had checked earlier. Was . . . was it possible to really know someone that well? To tell them something with only a glance? He had never thought so . . . Kuronue and him had always been so close, and they had never been able to do that . . . unless with the use of some talisman. But looking at the two before him . . . he suddenly doubted his earlier conclusion.
They looked so . . . soft . . . feminine to the extreme. But for some reason . . . he didn't like it. They were not the contented females that he had seen before . . . but the darker versions. One broken . . . and one pitying the broken. He didn't like it. He wanted those bright blue eyes to sparkle again . . . to loose the dull gleam that they had taken on. He . . . he wanted to see her smile. He wanted the whole Kagome . . . not the broken one.
He didn't know how long he stood there transfixed by them, how long his thoughts wandered. But he was jolted out of his musings with the sound of the light voice. "Let's go to the hot springs, we have plenty of time." Sango urged softly, satisfied when Kagome nodded and took her wrist gently and lead her to the springs, Shippo perched on her shoulder as she headed out. But not before turning to give a harsh glare over her shoulder . . . directed straight at him. Yes, Sango the Demon Slayer. He wouldn't have any need for the blunt title he had offered earlier. No. This woman was not just a demon slayer, she was a dear and loyal friend. From then on she would be Sango. Not the slayer, but the strong woman he now saw before him. She managed to earn that much respect from him. Even if she didn't purposely do it.
"Ok fox boy." Inuyasha ground out harshly, leaning against one of the trees with his hands stuffed into the folds of his hoari, his eyes hard, though the tone was surprisingly . . . calm . . . the cold calm that he himself had used only last night. . . That cheating bastard. Stealing his tone now too . . . "Now that Kagome is gone I think it's about time we lay down some rules." He stated, not really caring to beat around the bush.
Youko scowled, not sure if he liked where this conversation was going. Though his words of protest had yet to leave his throut when the monk spoke.
"Do understand. Kagome means a lot to us . . . All of us. We don't want to see her hurt." Miroku stated softly, though a rough threat underlayed them. He walked up next to Inuyasha, who was now blocking the way to the hot springs. Whether they did that purposely or not however, was beyond Youko's reckoning.
Inuyasha let out a protective growl. "What Miroku is trying to say is that if you hurt a single hair on her head we will all rip you to unrecognizable shreds." He bit out, glaring at him heatedly.
Youko supressed the urge to growl back, though he was unable to control the way his fur bristled with anger. "If you really think that I would hurt her then you are severely wrong dog." He snarled, his lips pulled back to show his sharp canines. Demonstrating the anger that came with being accused of even thinking to do something of the sort. Well it wasn't a growl . . .
Inuyasha snarled back without any hesitation, his hand already reaching for the worn hilt of Tetsaiga. "Well sorry if I don't trust thieves!" He spat, as if the very word itself was bitter on his tongue. A sudden thought came to him, and he snided mockingly. "And I bet Kagome doesn't either!"
Youko's snarl raised, his hackles rising to new hights. Oh . . . that was the last straw! It was war now! "Haven't you heard? A thief's word is one of the most honest you can get! Though I suppose you may not have . . . those hanyou ears of yours probably don't pick up much more than a humans . . . funny . . . Kagome knew it . . ."
Inuyasha was about to replay in an equally offending remark, though he never got he chance.
"Stop it both of you! Your both being unreasonable!" Miroku scolded loudly, effecting both of the demons hearing. Though they did stop their verbal battle in return for heated glares. Miroku sighed, rubbing his hand with his free hand. Suddenly wishing that Kagome had not gone so soon.
"Now let's get back on track. Were wasting precious time, we only have until the girls get back." Miroku stated, sitting on one of the many rocks in the clearing, his staff jingling as he rested it in his lap. Just in case he had to knock some sense into one of them . . .
Inuyasha snorted, breaking his eye contact with the kitsune in front of him. Following Miroku's example as he too seated himself on one of the rocks.
Youko remained standing, deciding that to follow them would be giving into them. And hell would freeze before he did something as inexcusable as that. No, he would find out his information first. "So what is it?"
Miroku sighed, already seeing that the kitsune was going to be stubborn about the whole thing. "We simply wish to ask not to pull that . . . stunt you did this morning again. Or something of the like. Kagome is very unbalanced at the moment." He said lightly, putting a tea kettle over the small fire they had going.
Youko closed his eyes, taking in the request. "You mean that she is uncertain of herself because of the mutt." He stated bluntly. A statement that had Inuyasha to his feet with in less than a second.
"Who the hell do you think you are! Coming in here and lecturing me!? I'm not the one who has killed undoubtedly, numerous people! Not to mention the shit that you stole!" Inuyasha growled out, his anger rising once again. Though unfortunately, Youko's bitterness was much higher at the moment.
"Killed, yes. But never have I broken a young girls heart to the point of how you broke hers! Every time I'm near her I can practically taste the sorrow in her aura. I have every right to state the facts!" Youko snapped, his eyes blazing with his pent up frustration. He didn't mean to provoke a fight. He was stating the facts. And hell be had, if that dog said otherwise!
Inuyasha's anger tripled, his hackles raising. After all, what did the stupid fox know about anything?! He hadn't even been with them for a day! Though part of him knew all too well that he had made more of a point then he would like to admit. That's what angered him more than anything. So he did the only thing he could think of at that moment. "Aura my ass!"
He lunged.
(:)(A)(:)
Kagome sighed, feeling a rush of relief as the weight steadily lifted from her shoulders. Sango always knew what to do in her time of need. And her need at that moment had indeed been the hot spring.
"Feeling better Kagome?" Sango asked softly, as she walked alongside her friend. Her hair, like Kagome's, still damp from their earlier venture to the springs. All of their supplies held securely in her right hand.
Kagome smiled at the older woman in gratitude. "I sure do! Though I wish Shippo hadn't lost our bar of soap . . . I only brought one . . ." She said with a slight frown. Though in truth she didn't mind so much, though the rest of the trip would be a nuicense without it.
Shippo hung his head, with a little difficulty since it kept insisting on bouncing up with Kagome's steps. Though he managed a good sulky impression. "I'm sorry Kagome! I didn't mean too!" He apologized, for the third time mind you.
Kagome instantly regretted bringing it up again. "Oh Shippo! Don't be sorry!" She cooed to the kit on her shoulder. "It wasn't your fault! I should have told you it was slippery."
Shippo nodded softly, still feeling bad for loosing one of Kagome's possessions. "If you say so Kagome . . ." He said softly.
Kagome smiled up at him. "I do. Now how about I give you some chocolate when we get back to camp? I'm sure your hungry." She coaxed, hoping to brighten his spirits. She never could stand to see him sad. Thankfully, as long as she had some candy on her, she probably never would. It worked like a charm.
Shippo instantly perked at the mention of sugary treat. "Really!" He piped hopefully, before remembering a certain something she had said last week. "I thought you said no chocolate before supper . . ." He said suspiciously, his hope suddenly fading.
Sango smiled at the two. "I'm sure Kagome will make an exception today. We've had it pretty rough lately . . ." She said. Though her words had more than one meaning. And seeing Kagome's sudden blush, she had guessed that she had picked up on the ultimatum.
"Yes . . . yes we have . . ." She said uneasily, fighting to keep the red tinge from creeping on her face, though at the same time knowing that she was failing miserably.
Shippo looked between them curiously. A small frown formed on his lips as he contemplated what it was that he was missing. Until light suddenly dawned on him. "Oh! You mean Youko!" He chirped happily, watching in interest as Kagome's blush become more prominent.
For once in her life she felt like being Inuyasha like with the boy and giving him a good one to the head. Though with clenched teeth, Kagome quickly disbanded the urge. "Yes Shippo . . . Youko . . . And speaking of which!" She suddenly started, a threat being whispered behind her words. "You will not say anything about this to him! You hear? Not one word!" She demanded, slanting a look at the kitsune, though she didn't bother to slow down her pace.
Shippo audibly gulped, inwardly wincing at the fact that she had caught him before he even had the time to do anything. He would have done it any way too . . . if it had not been Kagome who had been the one threatening. He didn't care what Inuyasha said . . . Kagome was just plain scary when she was mad. And doing something that she deliberately said not to do was suicidal. "Y-yes Kagome! Not a word!" He made a zipping motion with his hand, the way he had seen Kagome do it a couple times before. "My lips are sealed!" He promised.
Kagome nodded approvingly. "Good! Now let's get back, I'm starting to feel hungry. How about you Sango?" She asked brightly, her earlier mood vanishing.
Sango laughed nervously. She should have gotten use to Kagome's mood swings by now, though she doubted she ever would. Her stomach gave a soft growl, reminding her of the topic at hand. She laid a hand over it gently, inwardly trying to quiet it. "Yes . . . I believe I am." She looked back up at Kagome. "What do you suggest we make this morning Kagome?" Sango asked.
Shippo nodded, repositioning himself on Kagome's shoulder in an effort to avoid the tingling his left foot got in his earlier position. "Yeah! What are we going to eat?" He asked, genuinely curious.
Kagome put a finger to her lip as she thought about it. Her legs starting to ache dully as she climbed up the final hill that would lead them to camp. "Well . . . I suppose we'll have to make some Ramen for Inuyasha." She said with a roll of her eyes. "God knows he won't have it otherwise. And I suppose we could-" She stopped, her feet slowing to a halt as she stared ahead of her with her mouth parted delicately. Wide eyes taking in the scene. Unaware that the kitsune on her shoulder had the same look.
Sango eyed them curiously, she herself having been a couple feet behind them. "What's wron- oh . . ." She stopped herself as she too witnessed the sight before her.
There before them sat Youko and Miroku, both of which were sipping tea calmly as they spoke. It would have been a rather peaceful, and uneventful scene if Inuyasha wasn't binded and hanging from one of the trees.
"What's going on here . . ." Kagome asked quietly, a hand suspended by her mouth as she looked at the struggling Inuyasha with wide eyes.
A normal humans ears wouldn't have been able to pick up her soft inquiry. But Youko wasn't a human.
He jumped up, startled at her sudden appearance, dropping his cup of tea in the process. His eyes darting back and forth between Kagome and the rather irritated Inuyasha. Who was promptly dropped by the vines that held him, causing a loud snarl to come from the immobile hanyou. Not that Youko noticed, he was too busy worrying about his life. "He started it! I swear!" He defended, pointing a clawed finger to the bundle to his right. A sort of panic etched into his features. "You can even ask Miroku!"
Kagome continued to stare blankly at him for a moment longer before her shoulders started shaking, her expression hidden from him by the curtain of black hair that obstructed his view. A noise bubbled from her throat, and he was able to see the flash of a tear drop before she threw her head back.
She was laughing . . .
(:)(A)(:)
Another chapter done! It's going a lot slower than I though it would. _ But relationships take time people! There WILL be fluff in the next chapter. I PROMISE!! Also! This probably seemed like an uneventful chapter . . . but I encourage you to look a little harder. If you must have a clue, it would be to look at the last line and go from there in order to see the REAL significance to it. So tell me in a review if you actually found it! (And I'll tell you all if your right!) Speaking of reviews! On to . . . them . . . . yes . . . But before that . . . Let's give a big ol' thank you to my new proof reader . . . *drum roll* . . . Bekkablair!! Woot! Give her a thank you folks!!
Inudemoness247: KOUGA will have a very . . . amusing and surprising entrance in the next few chapters. Well . . . at least that's what I'm PLANNING. Things don't seem to go my way in this fics. XD not that that's a bad thing, I just keep getting bombarded with these ideas! It's going to be tough fitting them all in. I know for a fact that Kouga will indeed make an entrance . . . the question is more like . . . when . . . but I'm sure you'll love it! ^_^
GriffinWingGoddess: Hehe! I gave him the WORST kind of torture!! Lectures! *shudder* They are not fun AT all! _
Why?What?Shutup: Yes indeed! Not that he feels that it's a big thing. I mean! He didn't do anything right?! XD Silly kitsune! He's going to learn a lot about human behavior in the next few weeks!
gurlhushere13: I'm glad you think so! XD and YES! She will meet him in the future! But it will be in the sequel! And actually . . . it's going to be really dramatic by then . . . I'm afraid there won't be as much humor . . . but I'm sure I'll be able to incorporate some! :)
: Yes it was! XD. Though this one kind of left you hanging too . . . but I think the last one was worse. XD
Night of the Raven: But of coarse!
Sunstar Kitsune: Ah! But it all depends on if the hentai's don't get too greedy . . . MWAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!! So many possibilities!
Bekkablair: You were feeling very random that day hm? XD would it happen to have something to do with the cookies? And yes! I would welcome him as well! Hell! I'd throw him a big ol' welcome party! . . . except not . . . because I think it would be much better if it was a private . . . welcoming . . . party . . . . yes. ;)
Angelbratt: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Dragon_Inu_Bitch: I'm sorry . . . but you have to remember too . . . they are just PLANS! ;) no need for worries!
HGI: Uh . . . . . (is very confuzled) . . . . DX
Samurai Demon-God Sekikage: Very rhetorical. And once again, you WIll meet other YYH members! I promise! This story is just the introduction for the next! ;) I just can't wait to see Hiei!
JF8201: Ah! There was a huge time difference between those two scenes. Since he had promised that he wouldn't go to camp that NIGHT, he decided to simply go in the morning. XD I just love my conniving little genius!
Baka KitsuneBri: Yes indeed! :) I don't know about the whole sleep thing. But I'm sure that he didn't NEED to sleep. Probably just a luxury for some of the older demons. Though keep in mind too, Youko isn't too extremely old in this story. Actually I think his age is very debatable. DX Since every site I go to has a different age . . . but yeah. In this one he sleeps, even if he doesn't necessarily need to. Very good observation!
anim-lavuh: But of coarse I did! Though I did leave out a few details I was going to use. T_T But I think it came out pretty decent!
Haruko 4491: Hmm . . . a very good guess. Though I'm afraid that wasn't what I myself was going for. I think it's more along the lines that he's sexy, single, and infuriating. XD
Jin/Touya Lover: On the contrary! The truth is much better than a lie! XD I made this chapter a little longer, I felt bad for keeping you guys hanging so long DX. And I've seen a bit of Ranma, not a lot though unfortunately. As for Kouga . . . I don't know . . . he just grates on my nerves sometimes with the whole 'I love you act' probably just because it would piss me off if someone actually did that to me though XD. And sorry about the proof reading! Maybe I'll send you some chapters too though! I just went with the first person to ask. DX sumimasen! (sorry!)
Tsuki Yume BlueDove: Ok, then thank you very much! XD I thought it was a compliment but I didn't want to seem cocky if it wasn't!
Fallen-666-Angel: Thanks for the compliment! XD though I'm afraid I found my proof reader! Sorry!
kagie-chan: Thanks! Glad to know that you liked it! XD
ptbear: Thanks! I'm going to try and work at a quicker pace, seeing as how slow it's going. But hopefully I'll finish it my next March at the latest. I think it's going to end up being more than twelve chapters though XD
storyspinner1600: I know! My grammar is extremely crappy! DX I get so worked up with what's happening in the story that I completely blank out to what I'm actually typing. Same thing when I'm proofreading it! I get so worked up with sensory details and such! (Of which I still need to work harder on . . .) Thanks for another review!
silver starlight kitsune: _ wow! You really did want more! XD
Pickle Hair: I know what you mean! It's hard to find some good ones. Though I must recommend 'By Any Other Name' if you like this, I'm sure you'll love her work! It's one of my favorite fics. XD
Twin dragons of hope: I know! Making the chapters longer is one of my current goals. I hope to get at least one page longer each chapter, but we'll see how it goes. XD And I didn't even consider Sesshoumaru's reaction . . . hmm . . . this will definitely give me something to contemplate . . .
Kurai-demon: Yeah! I'm on a favorites list! XD 8/ NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's mine!! I bought him at the man auction!! T_T I spent all my money too! (btw. The man auction was a auction that me and my friends had where we auctioned off anime hotties) Thanks for the review! Oh! And by the way . . . I called both Youko AND Shuichi at the man auction! HAH!
Delphine Pryde: Thanks! XD I'm rather proud of my 'kinky kitsune' as Kagome so politely put it!
Celestrial youkai: Thanks! I don't plan on EVER leaving this unfinished! I personally hate when authors do that. If they don't have a lot of reviews then I understand, but if it's over a hundred your stuck with the story whether you want to or not. Not that I don't want to finish this mind you XD I personally, I'm having the time of my life with it!
Well! That's all the reviews! The 30 (I believe) out of 115!! That's pretty damn good if I do say so myself! (which I do.) So before I get sued I would like to state once again that I do not in any way or form (except for the man auction XD) that I do not own YYH or IY. Come to think of it . . . I'm going to put a list of all the hunkies I own on my profile page XD. Yes . . . that way you all will know your boundaries!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
. . . over it! XD