Chapter Three: Almost Full Moon
Feudal era sure was a strange period. It was a time of darkness, sorcery, and weird tales. Lately, there had even been rumors about something lurking undergound. People were disappearing, being pulled down under, never to be seen again. A messenger from a distant village came to ask lady Kaede for advice and help, since her powers as a miko were well known. Of course, the old priestess suspected the implication of a jewel shard and could think of no one more appropriate then Kagome and Inuyasha to look into the matter. So, one Friday afternoon, the team gathered up and set off on a journey. Inuyasha knew the region they were heading towards. He said it was renowned for the apparition of demons of the most dangerous types: elementals. In Myoga's opinion, the messenger spoke of an earth demon. To its attacks, the most vulnerable and usually chosen victims were humans that succumbed easily to their earthly nature and desires.
So, they proceeded: Sango and Miroku riding the two-tailed and Inuyasha carrying swiftly Kagome on his back: it was quicker for her than by bike. But it was a pretty long road and before they knew it, the sun was already setting. Although it wasn't much till they reached their destination, Inuyasha insisted on stopping in a glade, where they found an abandoned cottage. They would spend the night there. They ate by the fire, talked a little and turned in.
They were now all sleeping down on the floor -Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango and Miroku- on a large "bed", improvised out of blankets and rags. Sango and Miroku were fast asleep. Kitten Kirara was napping, rolled at their feet, purring softly. With Inuyasha you could never tell whether he was sleeping, or merely watching with his eyes closed, as he was always so fast to jump to his feet, at the first sign of danger.
Kagome couldn't sleep. She was quietly looking at Inuyasha: lying on his side, with a piece of wood under his head, like a samurai, arms tucked inside the sleeves of his haori. His breathing was almost imperceptible, and one thread of hair rested on his cheek. She studied his sweet, feminine features that had become so familiar and dear to her: round face with perfect white skin, long, black eyelashes, aristocratic nose and perfectly outlined mouth. The thick, black eyebrows, almost always gathered up in a menacing frown and the strong pointy chin, were the only distinctly masculine features, which but only emphasized his fine traits. And there was the problem of that small mouth: could it blabber sometimes, mostly at the wrong time! Watching him sleep, Kagome could remember the saying her mother would tell her, when Sota was a baby: . Probably because it's the only time when they are peaceful and quiet. Such was the case with Inuyasha. ~What if I kissed him right now?~ Kagome suddenly thought. Or she could remove that thread of hair and fondle his soft cheek. She chose to ignore those thoughts and turned to her other side instead.
It was one week since he had given her the comb. All that time she could think of nothing else but the moment he took her in her arms. His words still resounded in her ears. At the same time, a feeling of danger lingered: she felt it inside her chest. Something bad could still happen. She was having the nightmares more and more often. With each one, her fear of losing Inuyasha grew stronger, but so did the desire to keep him close, at all cost.
There was an incredibly big moon in the sky. It wasn't full yet, still lacked in perfect roundness, but it had a mystical halo around it and cast such an unbelievable light that the night was completely illuminated. It was that light that came through the window directly on Kagome's face. She found it irresistible, magical, mysterious.
~The moon virtually runs Inuyasha's life.~
She had noticed that, beside the obvious transformation that came with the absence of the selenial satellite, Inuyasha acted differently according to different phases of the moon. He was wilder when it was increasing, with a peak at the full moon moment and he was more human when it was decreasing. Not to mention that, despite his solar courage and vitality, Inuyasha was moody and sensitive, definitely lunar at the core.
Kagome felt something like a second moon, burning the back of her neck. She turned to find Inuyasha's glowing eyes, looking at her: big, golden, puppy dog eyes, with a unique naughty gleem.
"Can't sleep either, can you?" he whispered.
"No. It must be this strange moon."
Inuyasha approved with a smile. There was something different about him, the way he smiled, the way he looked at her. He glowed in the moonlight and Kagome now found him irresistible.
"Listen, will you come with me someplace?" he whispered again.
He seemed to have a plan.
"Where? What about the others?"
"We'll come back before they wake up. C'mon! You're not scared of the dark, are 'ya?" he teased her.
Kagome denied it with a frown.
"C'mon, then! I want to show you something."
They went outside the cottage. Inuyasha took Kagome's hand, to her surprise and lead her towards the moon. She was speechless but she could remember the talk she had with Sango, on her birthday: "He doesn't even hold my hand". Could he had eavesdropped on that talk?
They entered a cluster of trees and took a path which Inuyasha seemed to know. Because of that great moon, it all looked like in the middle of a blue day. It was also very hot for that time of the year. There was no wind and the trees seemed giant silver statues.
"It's so beautiful!" Kagome whispered.
"Just wait till you see this!" Inuyasha winked at her, accomplice.
"See what?"
No answer.
"Inuyasha, why all the mystery? You're kinda' weird, you know?"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that!"
When they came out of the trees, Kagome saw they were standing near the edge of a cliff and down, sparkling under the rays of the moon, there was a beautiful crystal lake, surrounded by thickets of cane. On the right there was a path which lead all the way down to a small, sandy beach.
"Wow! This lake is shaped like a…
"Like an eye" Inuyasha completed the sentence. The cane sticks are its eyelashes and the moon mirroring in it looks exactly like a yellow iris.
"Inuyasha! It's a dog's eye!" Kagome exclaimed. "But wait: do you know this lake? Have you been here before?"
"Damn right I have! Here, hold this." and he handed her the Tetsusaiga.
Then he turned on his heels and ran down the path, shouting "U-huuu!" at the top of his lungs. Kagome followed him.
"Inuyasha wait! Where are you going?"
Instead of an answer she heard another shout and received the red haori right in her arms, for he had taken it off and thrown it in the air.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, YOU said we never have any fun!" and he threw his shirt at her.
Kagome grabbed it and it was not long before she also found herself with another part of the kimono in her arms. With a splash, Inuyasha had already dived in the water, by the time she reached the shore. He popped out his head, shaking the hair off his face.
"C'mon in! The water's fantastic!"
Kagome emptied her arms on the sand. She looked: yeah, all his cloths were there.
"Are you crazy?" she yelled. "You drag me here in the middle of the night to go skinny dipping with you by the moon light, like two drunken college kids?"
"Ha! I knew it: you're scared Chicken!"
"I'm not scared!" ~Try ashamed.~ she thought, glad that he couldn't see her blushing.
"Look, Kagome: I went with you to your disco thing. Now you do something I consider fun."
"I won't! And it´s not fair you should try to make me feel guilty, by bringing up the disco incident."
"You come in by yourself, or I'll drag you in, cloths on and everything." he growled and swam towards her.
"NO! Stop right there!" she yelled so loud that Inuyasha stopped, in a daze. "Don't you come out! I'll come in."
She hid behind the cane thicket near by and took off her clots, mumbling. Inuyasha was swimming on his back, criticizing her:
"I don't understand why you have to make such a big deal out of it. It's not like a haven't seen a naked girl before? Or like I haven't seen you naked.
Kagome answered with a mumble.
"And you've seen me back at you're house.
Kagome growled and Inuyasha heard her entering the water with difficulty.
"I think, it's just stupid you went behind there, where it's all muddy and tangly…
"Oh, shut up, already!"
Kagome was in the water to her throat, as she came out of the cane thicket.
"There! Happy? Think you're sooo brave!"
Inuyasha grinned and sunk under the water. Kagome screamed when she felt something grabbing her leg. The boy came out laughing.
"Oh, yeah?" and she splashed him right in his face then swam away. When she looked to see what he was doing, he had disappeared. She took a deep breath and dived. The water was so clear that you could see everything. The lake seemed very deep. Something pulled her hair, but when she turned, there was no one there. She turned again and Inuyasha touched noses with her. Kagome went up for air and he followed.
"You see? It's fun!"
"You're right. Let's swim as fast as we can."
The girl distanced herself quickly from Inuyasha, but he outswam her easily. Now, Kagome grabbed him by his leg.
"Let go!" he laughed. "No fair!"
"You should let the girl win. That's fair."
And they played on. Kagome was so glad to see Inuyasha laughing like that. The usual frown had vanished from his face completely, and he was cheerful like a child doing something forbidden. Soon, Kagome forgot all about being naked and felt simply at ease. She couldn't explain what had happened to her friend, to be so playful, he, who was always too serious, but she found it simply extraordinary. In the blue night, the moon watched over the two, as it slowly crossed the sky.
They were playing tag, swimming and diving and hiding under water, laughing and splashing around. Inuyasha swam very fast, almost like a fish. Kagome was also a skilled swimmer and did her best to keep up with the boy's pranks. It was her turn to catch and tag him so she dived in, but could only see threads of silver hair as Inuyasha swam quickly behind her. He swirled around her, so that, no matter how many times she turned, he was always behind her. The girl unexpectedly span the other way around, catching him by his shoulders and surfacing with him.
"Gotcha, you doggy-eared water imp!"
"You're pretty good yourself, Kagome."
"Thanks! Coming from you…" and she laughed.
They looked at eachother's moonlit, dripping wet, smiling faces: sparkling eyes, red cheeks, strands of wet hair on their foreheads, rosy lips… Kagome's heart started strongly when Inuyasha approached and kissed her briefly, playfully biting her lip. He then looked at her with big, questioning eyes, surprised himself by his own move. It was the first time he kissed her. Kagome felt like kissing him back, when…
"Ouch!"
"What is it, Kagome?"
"A cramp." she whined. "In the left leg. It's so painful!"
"Lean on me. I'll take you to the shore. You forced yourself too much. And the water is pretty cold.
"It's OK. I really had fun."
Inuyasha swam to shore with the girl in his arms. Kagome was limping, so she sat down and massaged her shank. She felt warm: Inuyasha had put his fire-rat large haori around her shoulders. He became very concerned when he saw her leg.
"The muscle is too tense. You have to pinch it, like that."
While he took care of her leg, Kagome felt very embarrassed again. Eyes down, she tightened the kimono around her… but that didn't help much: it had his smell. She felt a little dizzy, both from the water and from what had happened. She couldn't help wondering how Inuyasha took everything so lightly. Was he toying with her feelings?
"I hope I'm not hurting you."
Kagome took a second to realize he was talking about her leg. She shook her head, eyes still down.
"Why won't you look at me? You're being silly again!"
Kagome burst:
"Stop calling me "silly" just because I feel embarrassed about us waltzing around butt-naked! We just don't do these things where I come from." ~Unless…~ but she was too ashamed to finish her thought.
Inuyasha was amused:
"Well, we don't do this here either, but I noticed you have a problem with it and thought it might help solve it."
Kagome couldn't believe her ears.
"But if it's that bad, no sweat: I'll get dressed." he got up and put on his kimono trousers.
If there had been a time, Kagome felt the urge of saying "Sit!" to him, more powerfully, it had to be that moment.
"Listen, you pompous wind bag!"
She got to her feet, although she was still limping, and faced him. ~This should be good.~ Inuyasha thought and crossed his arms.
"You've got a lot of problems and issues. Do I try to fix you?" pricking him in his chest with her finger. "No! I accept… I like you just the way you are, with your teasing, and whims, rages and… and half-demon complexes. But I know I'm not allowed to get close to you, for some reason. Not in a human way. You know that, too, and keep me at a distance, I can understand that. So now, what? You pretend to leave your guard down and expect me to do the same?"
"I didn't pretend anything, OK?" he snubbed her.
Not mad, he was rather disappointed she could think he was pretending.
"The truth is, I want to let you come closer. I´ve been wanting to do so for some time now. But I know myself too damn well to allow myself to do that. You see the world I live in. You know what I am and what I can do if I lose it. I fear that one day your love won't be enough to bring me back to my senses."
Kagome's eyes filled up with tears. She leaned her forehead on his bear shoulder.
"Never doubt my love!" she sighed.
He could feel the warm tears on her eyelashes, on his skin. He raised her face in his palm and whispered:
"Don't cry, Kagome."
"Inuyasha…"
"I know… dearest."
Their lips met in a gentle kiss that their souls, scorched by longing and waiting, so long expected. Inuyasha pulled her close to him and the red haori fell down from her shoulders. Kagome felt her heart exploding into million pieces as her skin touched his. She was overwhelmed by sensations she had never known before, by Inuyasha's strength and sensuality. Everything she was sensing drove her crazy: his hands on her back, her breasts pressed to his chest so that his strong heart beat became hers, their mouths searching for one another, tasting one another.
Inuyasha loved the smell of her, the taste of her, the way her skin felt. On a more subtle note, he could also sense her spirit, her thoughts and feelings: she was so sweet and pure… Yet, in one corner, he saw darkness spreading like a black web, ready to pour into him as well. It was the same thing that had attacked him the last time he held her, back at her house. He pulled away from her. Picking up the kimono, he covered once again her naked figure.
Kagome felt her knees weakening and collapsed. Inuyasha caught her and sat her down on the sand. She was trembling, like a bird in the hunter's net.
"Are you cold, Kagome?" and he hugged her closer.
"No," she whispered "I'm not cold."
She couldn't have been, because he felt her burning up. She put her head on his chest, eyes closed, her fingers twisting one thread of wet, silver hair.
"I think I… what I feel is… is that I want you." and she giggled softly, but very provocative.
There was a strange dark light at Kagome's neck and Inuyasha felt something dark flowing into him. His head was spinning and his body reacting in a way he knew too well. ~It's that urge again… like I could eat her up! This time is stronger; It's turning me into a demon… ~ He pushed Kagome away from him.
"Hey!"
"Don't… come… near me!" and he released a beastly roar, down on his knees and shaking, as he was fighting the transformation.
Kagome suddenly sobered up. Under her eyes, Inuyasha's demonic aura was pulsating in tints of blood-red. He was turning into a full-demon.
"Inuyasha! What happened?!"
"Ruun, stupid!" he howled and got up: a huge red-eyed animal, with fangs and sharp long claws his cheeks slashed with the scarlet signs of the youkai.
"Huh! Just like you to be turning into a demon in a moment like this!"
Kagome was so pissed. She simply walked towards him, unafraid and kicked him between his legs as hard as she could. With a yelp, the huge creature fell to the ground, melting away into Inuyasha in mere seconds.
"And who are you calling "stupid", stupid?"
"Ka… go…me?!" Inuyasha moaned, crouching on one side and hugging his private parts.
"No, "Kagome" for you, dog-boy! Man, this sure beats the "Sit!" command!"
~It sure does!~ Inuyasha thought, without being able to speak… or breath properly for that matter.
Kagome got dressed, then she threw the kimono at him and walked away, very stuck-up.
** *
Inuyasha was sitting on the cliff, looking at the almost full moon in the dog-eye lake. Not quite sure what had happened, he was trying to put together piece to piece in order to understand. He could still hear her saying: ~I want you~ and, every time he did, the sensation of that darkness flowing into him appeared as well. It was no threat now: the source of it wasn't there but it hurt to acknowledge that the source was… Kagome.
Inuyasha covered his eyes with one hand. ~I want you.~ he heard again. It wa like she wanted his very soul.
~Kagome… I want you, too. But not like that!When did I turn into a dark desire of your heart? There is something inside you that is tormenting your soul and trying to drive me into hurting you.~
He lay on his back, analyzing further. ~My dark desire is to become a full-demon. Every time I was about to, she brought me back, with the help of the jewel, because she loved me the way I am, without wanting anything from me. But it seems that changed. Could it be that she can also transform me into a demon, if her love is not pure? Could she have activated my dark desire with hers?~
There was however a peculiar detail: when enraged, Kagome became herself again and could use the positive energy of the jewel. ~When she was mad about me turning into a full-demon, she kicked me... with all her love and brought me back.~
The whole thing sounded so crazy, but plausible. He remembered the strange light at Kagome's neck.
~It was the jewel all the time! It became impure and connected to my demon part. The sacred jewel makes everything stronger. It increses both the positive and the negative.~
The mystery was now almost solved. Two details still lacked. First was how her desire to be close to him could make her suffer, thus becoming impure. As outspoken as she was, Kagome could have come out and simply said something to him. It takes two to solve a "problem" like that. Inuyasha felt a slight fever in his cheeks at the thought of that. He smiled lightly. After all that time his heart had healed enough to make him want to open up to Kagome, without the fear of getting hurt. To him, feelings, sensations, intimacy were something very natural, no big deal at all. It wasn't like he was uptight or something. He just didn't like to talk about it, because it would have been a huge energy waste.
The second thing that bothered him was what was inside of Kagome. Inuyasha had a hunch.
A strange noise scratched his sensitive ears, like a rustle inside the ground. Inuyasha jumped to his feet, his ears turned to the direction of the sound. There was also a strange smell, definitely demonic. Then a terrible scream: somebody calling his name. It felt like a spike to his heart when he realized it was Kagome. Without a moment to lose, he ran as fast as he could.
***
~Just who does he think he is?~
Kagome dried up her eyes with a sleeve, but the tears wouldn't stop pouring. She felt very ashamed and scorned.
~What kind of cruel game is he playing?~
She could take everything from him, but being played on like that.
~It's just stupid! Why would he turn into a demon right at that time?~
Somehow though she knew it had something to do with her, with her new feelings which she couldn't accept. She wanted him for herself, in a steady relationship and she feared, she knew it couldn't have been possible. They were too different, they lived in different times. Eventually, one of them would have to make a painful compromise, leaving everything behind for the sake of the other. But she could never leave her family, nor could she ask Inuyasha to become a human. It all seemed hopeless. When they kissed, something inside her blossomed, like a beautiful red rose, but at the same time all that hopelessness poured into her, at the thought that she could always lose everything. ~What's the point? Protect the whole world, while I myself suffer from not being able to lead a normal life with the one I love? Have a family... How could I have a family with a...demon?~
She stopped at a short distance from the cottage, threw herself on the grass and began crying her heart out. The moon watched coldly from the sky. Lurking under, there was something else watching.
~I can't take it anymore!~
Something burned her chest. She thought it was the jewel shards. She took them off and threw them way.
~Somebody else should have these. I'm done with everything.~
But just as she was about to leave, something rustled in the grass. She saw a small lump approaching the jewel shards. It was something dark, which, despite its size gave her a creepy feeling. She heard another rustle and another and another. From all around her, small creatures approached the shards. Kagome instinctively threw herself on the jewel pieces, taking firm hold of them. The dark things surrounded her, uniting into a moving, black circle, which rose menacing into a thick, gooey wall. It looked like tar. The wall poured over her. Before she was swallowed up completely, she could manage one last scream:
"INUYASHAAAA!"
***
"Miroku! Miroku!" Sango shook his shoulder.
"What?" he woke up.
"Where do you suppose they went?" and she pointed at the empty places of Kagome and Inuyasha.
"Heheeh! The night is indeed too beautiful to be wasted." Miroku winked at her.
"You don't suppose... No, it's not like them at all!"
"Well, why shouldn't it be? Aren't they human after all? I mean one of them is. And from what I know, demons do it, too."
"Do what?"
Miroku raised an eyebrow at her.
"Ah, you're such a pig! Is that all you ever think of? Maybe they simply went for a walk, by the moon light."
"I don't think so! Do you know how dogs are in this time of the year, on a moon like this? I'm even starting to think he insisted on spending the night here on purpose. Speaking of which... now that we're alone..."
"Shhht!" Sango put her hand over his mouth. "Did you hear that? Is someone... crying?"
Suddenly, Kirara awoke and started growling and changed from the sweet kitten, into the fierce beast.
"What is it, Kirara?"
They could here a rustling sound and then, a terrible scream sending shivers down their spines.
"It's Kagome! Let's go!"
When they came out, the sight filled them with terror: somekind of a big, moving lump of tar had swallowed up Kagome. One hand, in which she held her jewel shards, was still sticking out. Before their eyes, the monster covered the remaining hand.
"Miroku! I can't throw my Hiraikotsu at that thing while Kagome's inside."
"I'm on it!" Miroku said, uncovering his palm. "I'll only suck that substance. Wind Tunnel!"
What happened next was very unexpected. In the strong current of Miroku's wind tunnel, the monster began desintegrating, but, instead of disappearing inside, the dark fluid plugged the palm tunnel and covered Miroku up. For a moment, they could see Kagome, all coated in the black stuff, spitting and coughing. But, in a few seconds, the monster was replenished from the ground and rebuild itself, once again covering the girl. The demon was now angry and heading towards Miroku. Sango, riding Kirara, sweapt him away from its path.
"Are you all right, Miroku?"
"This stuff is very thick oil." he said, spitting and cleaning up his tunnel."We've got to get Kagome out of there. She won't make it much longer. Where is Inuyasha?"
"You must attack this demon from inside!" Myoga popped out of Kirara's mane.
"Oh, that's where you were hiding. So nice of you to join us." Sango scolded him.
"Kagomeee!"
Out of the tree cluster, a fierce Inuyasha appeared, his Tetsusaiga armed.
"Inuyasha, don't!" Sango yelled. "That thing swallowed up Kagome. She's inside. We need to get her out of there!"
"Master Inuyasha!" Myoga shouted. "The single way to destroy that demon is to get inside it and remove the jewel shard which animates it. Then strike into the ground."
"I'll let it swallow me, then!"
Inuyasha stayed still while the demon approached. Instead of swallowing him, it reached what looked like a sticky arm and hit him with a swing, so hard that it sent him flying through the air.
"Myogaaa?!" Inuyasha growled, after getting up.
"I'm sorry, my lord! He will only swallow you if you give into your dark desire."
"But, for him, that means turning full demon. I'm pretty sure youkai Inuyasha wouldn't let himself be swallowed up. And even if he did, do we want him inside there with Kagome?" Sango asked.
"How come that thing swallowed Kagome, anyway? What dark desires does she have?" Miroku wondered.
"In Kagome's case, it was probably her jewel shards that the demon wanted to get." Myoga explained.
Sango frowned, with a hunch.
"Quit the yappin'! Kagome's running out of time. I'll bloody do it!" Inuyasha decided. "I'll become full demon if it's the only way. I'll control it somehow."
"Wait! I have a better idea." Miroku said. "Sango, put me on the ground."
As soon as he was on the ground, he uncovered his palm:
"Wind Tunnel!" and the oil flew towards Miroku.
Kagome appeared again, choking, desperate for air.
"Inuyasha, quickly, get inside, before it rebuilds itself!" Sango shouted, understanding Miroku's plan.
Inuyasha practicly flew towards Kagome, wrapping his arms around her, his sword in one hand. Right before they were swallowed up, he said to her:
"Don't worry, Kagome. I'll get you out. Just take a deep breath. Now!" and they disappeared inside the demon.
***
Everything was dark around them.
~Inuyasha, I'm scared!~
The thick oil held them together, making it very hard, if not impossible, for them to move.
~Don't be. We'll get out of here."~
They could hear eachother's thoughts, which traveled between their minds at the speed of lightning.
~I've lost all hope. It's like I don't even want to get out.~
~Don't say that! You're stronger than that! Focus: this demon has a jewel shard of its own. Tell me where it is.~
The oil tightened harder and harder around them. It got into their ears, their cloths, everywhere. Kagome couldn't hold her breath much longer.
~I can't open my eyes.~
~Find it with your mind. I know you can!~
~Inuyasha... I don't want to lose you. I couldn't live without you!~
~What are you saying, silly? I'm here, ain't I? Can you feel me holding you?~
~Yes! I only wish you could hold me like this forever.~
~Nothing is forever. But I am here right now. And I'm not going anywhere without you. Now, please, tell me where the source of it is, or we'll really stay like this forever, only dead! Damn it, Kagome: I followed you inside a walking piece of goo: I've got oil up my butt! Would you have faith in me? I need you to have faith!~
She had faith in him. Into the pit black darkness, Kagome saw with her mind's eye the strong gleem of her jewel shards, which she still held tightly into her fist. They hadn't been contaminated. She did have faith! She searched and saw another gleem, darker, above their heads.
~It's exactly above our heads.~
~You'll have to reach and take it.~
~But I can't move!~
~I'll help you.~
Inuyasha struggled with all his might. He took Kagome's hand and directed it slowly, through the viscous liquid, towards the shard. As soon as her fingers touched it, the shard was purified. Inuyasha closed her fist over it. The demon wabbled from side to side.
~Inu...yasha... it's... crushing me... and I need... air...~
~Stay with me! It's the end for this sucker!~
He pointed the Testusaiga towards the ground.
~Kagome, whatever happens, don't let go! Wind Scar!~
***
It was close to a minute now since Inuyasha and Kagome had been swallowed up. All this time, the demon threw balls of oil after Sango and Miroku, who were hovering over, on Kirara. They hoped for the best. Much to their joy, they saw the familiar gleem of the sacred jewel demon stopped and released a terrible sound, bending and writhing. Then there was a great light and an air twister, which looked like Inuyasha's Wind Scar. It threw him and Kagome out of the deadly trap, making a great hole in the ground and scattering pieces of the demon everywhere. Inuyasha landed safely on the ground, with the girl in his arms. They were all covered up in oil, spitted, coughed and drew air into their lungs.
"Are you two o'right?" Sango approched them.
"Well, that takes care of one nasty bastard!" Inuyasha said triumphant, cleaning up his ears.
He grinned: two sets of pearly whites on a black face. Miroku smiled: the picture was almost the same. Kagome laughed but she wasn't exactly a fruit basket either.
"You three have to get cleaned up!" Sango concluded .
"I know just the place." Inuyasha said.
"You do now, do you?" Kagome pulled on one of his ears.
"Come on! You're not starting the shame thing again! I thought we went passed that when we swam naked."
"You what?!" Sango was surprised.
"Inuyasha, would you shut up?!"
"A-ha! I knew it!" Miroku cried out. "It is the mating season for dogs!"
"The what season?!" Inuyasha and Kagome shouted at the same time, jumping to their feet.
"It is true!" Myoga stepped in. "In autumn, as the moon increases..."
"Uhh, I don't wanna know!" Kagome interrupted him. "I don't believe it, Inuyasha! You took me to the dog eye lake to... mate?!"
"You're not gonna put stock into Miroku's and some blood-drunken flea's tales, are 'ya?"
"They're not tales, master Inu..."
Squish! went Myoga in Inuyasha's claws.
"I knew it! You're just a pervert, like Miroku!"
"Hey now..." Miroku objected.
"Yeah?! Well, you're just a prude! What do you think you are? A saint? Like butter wouldn't melt in your mouth? Well, let me tell you something: you smell like you´re in heat. I can sense it from a mile away. Maybe you do need a good "mating" to put your feet on the ground. And then some to make you see the end of your nose."
"Say whaaat?!"
Kick! Yelp! Inuyasha crouching on the ground. Kagome walked away, stuck-up, and commenting:
"You "mate" now, if you still can! Come on, Sango, let´s go wash. Good thing I brought shampoo and a change of cloths."
"If you ask me, Inuyasha," Miroku mused aloud "you're waaay better off with the subjugation beads around your neck. I mean, ouch!"
"Tell... me... about it..." Inuyasha took pain to speak, hugging his privates, once again.