Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following characters.
Chapter 11
Bankotsu was leaning in the chair of the large guard station he was held up in. His eyes skimmed the computer screen, clicking back and forth from page to page.
His hands were tensing from the images he scrolled through. Flesh and sweat on the screen. Gaping mouths and arched backs. His dark eyes grazed over them as his moist tongue licked his lips.
Then, suddenly, a wave of anger fueled power raced towards him. His eyes flickered up above the screen and he righted himself up in his chair in a lazy motion. The black sports car that was barreling down the driveway didn't look like it was going to ease up on the gas anytime soon.
A single eyebrow raised as he stood, his strong hand reaching behind him without averting his stare from the car. "The fuck?" Bankotsu asked the empty room before peeling away from his position and walking out directly in the path of the vehicle.
"Are they blind?" He asked himself, his fingers gripping onto his Banryu. The large weapon was dull, but scarred from previous "battles." Glancing down at the thing, he admired it briefly. Before Naraku had found him in the underground demon fighting pits of the city, he had relied on the weapon in his hand countless times. Blood stained the cracks and scars of the Banryu.
The headlights of the vehicle illuminated his position. In a fluid motion, Bankotsu tilted his head back, his lips pulling in a comfortable smirk before raising the weapon just as the sports car was in range.
"Shit," Inuyasha groaned out, as violet, gold and green eyes narrowed at the man standing in their way - literally - from getting to Kagome.
Shippo slammed on the brakes, but it was too late and they all saw it was, even the one wielding the formidable weapon.
It all happened fast. Shippo rolled out of the car, and called upon his fox magic to deflect any attacks heading his way. Dark teal fire spiraled from his outstretched fingers and encircled him as a defense mechanism.
Sesshomaru grabbed a hold of his human brother and shot through the roof of the vehicle, flying high enough to remove himself and Inuyasha from danger.
The car was annihilated on impact. The crumpled metal and fabric rolled over the weapon in a large arch, landing behind the slim guard.
Bankotsu closed his eyes, an arrogant smile splayed across his mouth as he rested the Banryu on his shoulder. He was so relaxed in that moment. He missed it - the adrenaline rush. The calm before the attack.
Silence fell across the vicinity. Sesshomaru had landed besides Shippo, Inuyasha set behind them protectively.
The hanyou turned human glared up at the sky. He could feel his demon claw behind the veil that kept him dormant. Looking back at the guard, he cursed internally. I wish I could claw that fucking smile off his face.
Sesshomaru eyed the guard and calculated his strength. The fox alone won't be able to handle him. His chest vibrated in an irritated growl. Time was not on their side.
The kitsune dispersed the fire until only smoke trailed his hands and through the air around him. He glanced at the youkai beside him and looked over his shoulder to the human.
"Naraku is no joke...but this guy doesn't look like he's about to back down." Shippo's words were low enough for only the two to hear him.
"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru's tone was piercing. The younger Takagi already knew what was running through his mind.
"If you two can handle this one, I can get to the house." He was human, but he still could move fast and he could at least get to Kagome. That was more important than his protection - than his life.
Shippo and Sesshomaru nodded and then gave Inuyasha their backs, turning to face the formidable opponent before them.
"I'm so happy you three showed up," Bankotsu called out, eyes still closed and head still tilted back as if he were basking in sunlight. "Do you know how dull things get around here when no one dares to stand up to this guy?" In the middle of the question, he shifted his stance and centered his body to face them, locking his eyes in on his targets.
With a roll of their shoulders, both of the Takagi brothers stripped their business coats off and discarded them to the ground. Shippo ripped his long sleeves off, giving him more mobility. He wasn't as strong as the inuyoukai, and would need to rely on his agility and tricks to manage.
Inuyasha didn't stop with his jacket, either. He unbuttoned his dress shirt, exposing his muscled chest just enough so that it was loose and non-confining. Without moving his stare from the guard, his hands swiftly undid the buckle of his belt. Pulling the leather from his pants, he tightened and fastened it around his forearm. Just in case, the human thought. His pants were next. Looking down for just a moment, he kneeled - secure in the protection his older brother provided. He grabbed a hold of the pants, and using his weakened strength, he shredded along the seam and knotted it halfway up his calf. His leather shoes were kicked off as he stood. Fucking laboratory dress code.
But he stood silently behind his brother, waiting for his cue.
Sesshomaru didn't turn around, he made no physical indication. Just a simple, "Now," and Inuyasha darted off, into the dense foliage that lined the mansion and driveway up to it. He didn't turn back, didn't say a thing, just relied on what his demon side had taught his human side throughout his whole life. Where to step, how to be as silent as possible. Hopefully there would be no other guards to worry about. Judging from the man he left behind with Shippo and his brother, no one else was needed.
Shippo eyed the dog demon beside him, hearing the former hanyou move into the shadows and towards Kagome. "He can handle it without us?"
Sesshomaru's stoic face gave nothing away as he spoke, "We'll shortly be behind him."
Shippo raised his eyebrows at how sure the demon was. Yes, they were strong. Kagome had always surrounded herself with formidable demons and half demons. Her miko powers pulled them to her, but the guy standing in front of them? Shippo's green eyes studied him. This guy is just like Naraku. He wont stop until his job is done.
The kitsune could feel the darkness of the man's aura. No wonder he works for that slimy bastard.
A breezy chuckle reached their ears, coming from the man they faced off. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes to the human. But Bankotsu wasn't phased.
"You're wrong. I'll be the one shortly behind him. As soon as I take care of the two of you."
Sesshomaru's fangs peeked from his snarl towards the human. He's a mortal with a large weapon. Nothing more.
And with the thought ringing in his mind, Sesshomaru charged. Bankotsu smirked as he raised Banryu.
The room was dark, save for flickering candles scattered throughout the room. Pillows lined the walls and silks were thrown across the floor in an inconspicuous pattern. It smelled like warm peppermint, with a hint of rosemary underlying it.
Kagome's eyes were closed, with her legs tucked under her in the center of the room. Her hands were clenched into fists atop her thighs; her brows furrowed and small sweat droplets sprung forth on her forehead.
She was hot. Burning inside and out from the magnitude of the magic pouring from the little pearl like jewel hovering just in front of her face. It shimmered in the dim light, casting a glow on her skin.
Humming softly - more as comfort than anything else - she took a deep steadying breath and opened her eyes. They were black. Void of recognition, except for that of the Shikon no Tama. The jewel of four souls. The key to her peace.
"Kagome!" The yell was distant, not loud enough to pull her from her concentration.
Her fingers raised up, her eyes narrowed in on the jewel. Her peace. Her future. Just out of her grasp.
And the she felt it. Her miko powers recoiling inside her inner void. Pulling and tugging and scraping against her. Her nose scrunched up in the discomfort.
"Shhhh," she tried cooing to it. Calming it. Lying to it.
Her fingers paused in motion, and she exhaled. Of course it would fight me. Kagome winced, her body stiffening and then shuddering at the intense pain her magic attacked her with. Internal pain that could be shut off with a flick of her wrist. Her black eyes narrowed, sweat dripping down her brows.
Just. A. Little. More. She whimpered as her fingers pushed forward, millimeter by millimeter. It was like pushing into concrete. Both figuratively and literally. Her fingers were bleeding, shredded as she pushed through the barricade the jewel produced and the one her buried magic was expending at keeping her muscles from inching closer.
"KAGOME!" The yell was closer. So were her fingers.
"Kagome? Kagome!" Inuyasha burst through the door, blinding yellow light piercing her vision.
"No!" Her hands flew to her face, shielding her void eyes from the light.
And just like that, both magics - the one in front and the one inside - stopped the flow and all was silent in her head. All except one word: No.
"Kagome," the once hanyou whispered, sliding to his knees beside her.
He wanted to hold her. To grasp on to her and never let her leave his arms. My arms. He looked down, both hands reaching out to hold her until he saw the blood on them.
He had ran into Naraku on his way to his alpha. Inuyasha had known right away that he was a hanyou. It was a kindred feeling between them. And Naraku had noticed as well.
"Hanyou, what can I do for you?" Naraku had asked tiredly as he opened the door.
"Kagome," Inuyasha snapped through gritted teeth. "Where is she?"
Naraku raised an eyebrow, before chortling at the expense of the human. "She's...preoccupied."
The half demon's sly smirk had just settled on his mouth when Inuyasha spun on his heel and delivered a kick straight to his groin, his leather wrapped arm slamming down on Naraku's bare shoulder. Before the half demon could react, Inuyasha shoved his elbow under his enemy's chin and head butted him.
Naraku was stunned, his power uncurling rapidly to protect him. But Inuyasha felt it - his hair at the nape of his neck rose up. He grabbed a hold of the belt and used the moment of stunned surprise to wrap it around the half demon's neck, as he pressed his shoulder into the center of his chest, and then lifted to only slam his body down hard into the tiled floor.
Lack of air and the impact on his head was enough to knock the enemy out. But not for long.
Inuyasha pushed up and ran through the house, until finally finding Kagome in a trance in the middle of a dark room.
"Kagome," he asked again, careful of her as he scooped her into his arms. His human body was beginning to tire, but he didn't care. So long as he got them out of there and to Sesshomaru - that was his duty to her.
The weakened miko didn't acknowledge his question, but she did snuggle up into his arms. They were familiar to her. A place of safety.
"Kagome, I'm taking you away." He spoke as he rose and glanced at the still hovering jewel. If the thing was as dangerous as it seemed...the scientist kicked in and he snatched it, pocketing it without another word. Swiftly, he turned and began sprinting back the way he had came, holding onto his alpha with a vice grip. Kagome, what did you do?
He made his way through the house and out the front door – passing a knocked out Naraku by the entrance. Inuyasha pressed his parted lips to the sweaty forehead of Kagome and began seeking out his brother. Just be okay, Kagome. Please. We can't lose you after we just found you.
A/N: Hello guys! So, I know there wasn't a lot of relationship development here. But I promise next chapter there will definitely be some - ahem - threesome like experiences. After all, those two puppies need to take care of their Alpha, right? ;) Let me know what you think and - as always - peace and love!