"Give that back!"
"Yeah 'ight!"
"Kagome!"
"Sit boy!" Kagome sighed as Inuyasha let out a yelping howl, giving the ground such a generous hug, and Shippo replaced his whines with a snicker. The sun shimmered off her raven hair as she kneeled on a flourished gray blanket. The cloth was laid over lush grass that surrounded them. Kagome watched enviously as Miroku and Sango sat away from them, Sango resting her head in the crook of Miroku's neck as they looked off into the distance. Yes, she didn't really need nor want her backside to be harassed by a lingering hand, but she wouldn't mind being CLOSE to her husband. Or at least not have to babysit him.
"Whaddyou do *that* for!?" Inuyasha barked as he sat up, dusting off his kamodo.
"Stop picking on the poor kid!" She snapped, shooting the defenseless hanyou with a glare.
"He's not a little kid anymore, Kagome." He huffed, throwing his hands into the red sleeves as he turned away, nose pointing to the sky in a smug dissatisfaction. "He needs to learn to protect himself when you aren't around." Kagome's eye twitched in irritation. Everything with him had to be a fight!
"You know what, you're right." Shippo chocked. Inuyasha's breath caught. The wind seemed to stop. Did she... just agree with him? Kagome dueled a smirk as she stood up. "As long as I'm around, Shippo can't get stronger, so I guess I'll take my leave." Turning Shippo gave a cry in protest. "I'm sorry, Shippo." Her tone was one of benevolent apology, but she had to shrug off the kid's hardships. She walked over to Miroku and Sango. Miroku was the first to acknowledge her, a bright red hand print decorating his left cheek.
"Ah, Kagome, wh-"
"Plan." Miroku took a moment to respond after being rudely cut off.
"Now?" She nodded and gave an apologetic smile to Sango, who looked very much confused.
"Plan?" Sango repeated Kagome's earlier words, as if saying them would bring her into the light of understanding.
"Sango, I'm terribly sorry, but I need to take Miroku on a- business trip. Yeah." She turned her attention away from the brunette. "We're going *now*."
"We are?" Miroku leaned into Sango, showing that he was obviously not wanting to leave her side.
"Now."
Chapter 4: Wolves
Her brunette hair tossed over her shoulder as the teen ran. Her kamodo, a tinted blue with circles decorating its fabric that clung to her almost adult body caught on several branches as she ran after the anaerobic child. "Asami!" Her tone dripped with irritation as she blew a stray piece of hair away. The child giggled. Asami caught up with her sister, Amaya, that had been ahead of her. They were having too much fun. Rin stopped, a pout settling on her lips. Looking up to the sky her hazel eyes came into contact with weightless puffy white clouds that floated carelessly in the obscene sky. As she continued to watch the endless heavens, a figure that shuffled through the branches itself caught her full attention.
"Ah-Un!"
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Inuyasha grinned. Without Kagome around to tell him to sit, he was free to do whatever he wanted! An evil chuckle arose in his throat. The question was, what was he to do first?
"Eh! Shippo! Get over here!" He ordered, pointing a tanned finger to the ground in front of himself where he expected the fox demon to appear. Shippo blew a stray hair, that fell in his eye, out of his face.
Without Kagome, Inuyasha's become even worse! Jeez, now it's just Sango to tell him to stop picking on me. Why did Kagome have to go on a business trip? She didn't even tell me where to! "I'll be back later" The young boy thought in a mocking tone. By then, that dog will have killed me! Shippo sighed and shook his head. Why me?
"Oi!" Another call from Inuyasha. "Didchu hear me? Get your fury ass over here!" Shippo could feel his temper rising. One thing he learned from Inuyasha over the course of time they'd been together, no doubt.
"If you want to talk to me," Shippo yelled over his shoulder, not interested in turning to face the silver haired hanyou, "*you* will come over *here*." Inuyasha's hand closed into a tight fist as he stomped over to where the boy sat.
"Whaddyou say to me?" The half breed spat.
Shippo scuffed at his words. "So now your deaf? Aw, and here I thought all you suffered from was stupidity."
Let the war began.
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"Kagome- I have no clue how you plan to work this all out *now*. All I mean is, we have no clue where to find him and even if we did fall upon him in some unlikely event, how do you know he'll corporate?" Miroku stroke his chin in thought. He had tried to put up a fight to stay with his wife, but Kagome could be scary...
"I'll figure that out when we get there, Miroku! Anyway, I needed a break from Inuyasha and this seemed to the best way! We've been searching for this Tsuku amulet for a couple of weeks now and I'm getting tried of his immaturity!" She tossed her hands in the air with in exsasberation. Miroku nodded, but still didn't understand why *he* had to come.
"Yes, Lady Kagome, b-"
"DEMON!" A plead met the complaining monk's ears. It brought a feeling of deja vu to the two who where now greeted by a new face. A man ran up the dirt path towards them, panting and screaming "Demon!" repeatedly.
"Wow." Miroku's voice was cool in an attempt to calm their new encounter down. "Take a breath, my good man, and tell me what happened." He put a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. His hand, though lacking the beads, still dressed in purple a fabric that covered most of his palm.
"I-I- my village- demon- help!" He sputtered, not capable of stringing a complete sentence together. Kagome and Miroku glanced at one another before sharing a nod.
It was what they did of course.
Flames licked at the wood that was once a village, a scream of a small child echoed into the endless abyss that she had once called home. A bloody claw caught itself in the crook of her neck, an errie laugh abusing her ears. "Now, now, what do we have here?" A mused cackle caused the small girl to close her eyes. His breath smelt of rotting flesh and his eyes glowed a stained yellow that was too focused on the girl's rosy hair to notice the intruders. Miroku was the first to appear, his staff in hand and a various amount of charms in the other as he roared around the corner, ashes and hot coals cracking and splinting under his feet. Kagome was next to round the corner, bow and arrow ready to shoot whatever had caused such habic. Skidding to a stop next to Miroku, Kagome called out to the beast that looked almost half and half of beast and human.
"Let the girl go!" This caught the demon's attention. He turned around. Kagome stood, hands slightly shaking as a dull clank of wood against wood made it centimeters into the air before becoming silent as the women put the bow into place, ready to fight. It was a sight right out of a horror movie! The beast's mug was one of a large dogs, teeth drooling with saliva, ready to devour his meal. His eyes a piercing yellow glowed past a dark and intense fur coat. His paw like hands were large, claws tainted with the color of blood.
Miroku did not seemed phased by the sight. "Let her go!" He echoed Kagome, taking a step closer. A dry cackle joined in with the crackling of the fire that surrounded them.
"Or what?" His voice jumped in amusement, taking the girl by her arm and pulling her to his chest. He kneeled down and bit into the girls neck almost teasingly. The child screamed and fought against his grasp as it got tighter, bruising her skin. "If you shoot at me, you risk shooting the girl. And if you take another step closer, I'll have no problem snapping her neck and feasting." He explained. His voice made every hair on Kagome's body stand on end.
"Let the girl go!" Miroku's voice, though not stuttering, sounded drained.
"Now why would I do that?" He chuckled. The girl screamed, tears streaming down her blushed cheeks as she gasped for breath. Miroku's heart dropped. He couldn't help but see one of his own little girls.
"Let her go!" He screamed. Fear and anger danced in his tone, waltzing in sync as Miroku's hand clenched tighter around his staff. That bastard!
The yokai became slightly irritated. Maybe he'd have to eat them too. It wouldn't be a punishment of course! After a moment of thought and yet another agonizing second for the girl he had decided. Though this meal would be lost, he would be entertained and gain a new one.
Without warning, the human like wolf tore into the girls flesh. Miroku and Kagome watched in terror as the girl's eyes became wide and a scream surpassed her trembling lips. Another bite paled the girl and she fell limp in the wolf's hold. Kagome couldn't watch this any longer! Tears had burst into her own eyes as she pulled back the arrow and sent it flying towards the demon.
He was light on feet, and before Kagome could flinch, was closing into the girl. "Now what do we have here?" He mused. Miroku chose a charm that had been pinned to his palm by his trembling fingers and held it up.
"You let her g-" before Miroku could even finish, though, the yokai picked up the vulnerable girl who's fingers wrapped around her unloaded weapon for dear life. She gave a small cry but Miroku was too late. The ugly mug of the wolf demon was gone, along with Kagome.
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"Inuyasha!" Sango screamed for the millionth time, stomping her foot on the ground in a slight tantrum. "Give it a *rest*!" Inuyasha laughed darkly, continuing to hang the small demon upside down by his legs.
"Now why would I do that?" He grinned, a teasing smile spinning around on his lips joyously. Kagome should leave more often!
"You- let me go!" Shippo struggled to grab something of Inuyasha's. Legs, arm, clothing, hair, whatever, but every time he got close the hanyou would stick his arm out further and laugh. A faint but familiar sent caught his attention. He dropped the fox demon on the boy's head, receiving a cry in response, before turning his nose upwards.
Blood.
"C'mon you guys." He ordered under his breath as he prepared to leave.
"Inuyasha!" Shippo yelled, anger invading his tone. "Get back here, you coward!" Inuyasha gave a slight 'tch' in response before continuing on.
Kagome went that way. If she got caught up in a fight and Miroku wasn't able to protect her... He shook the thought from his head aggressively. Miroku was surely able to handle a demon by himself, right? Still, Inuyasha sped up, heart pounding with every step, alas, leaving Shippo and Sango in the dust.
~•~•~
Inuyasha came upon a village that reeked of blood and smoke. Fire still reached out to feed on whatever would fuel it, bloodied corpses that looked half eaten littered the floor. Inuyasha gulped. Though there were many that were supplying to the flame, one body caught Inuyasha's attention. It was that of a small girl. Her red hair seeped in blood that the dog realized was from the wound in her neck. He kneeled down next to her. A small glimmering light found itself in the corner of the hanyou's golden orbs. He twisted his head so he could see the source and imprudently reached for it.
"Kagome's arrow..."
"Inuyasha!" Inuyasha, in one swift moment, stood and ran over to meet with the owner of the voice.
"Miroku." He looked over the Monk's shoulder, waiting for the sight of Kagome to bless him and put his exceeding heart rate at ease. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
"Inuyasha!" The monk gasped, out of breath as if he had just run a marathon. "Kagome- Kagome was kidnapped! I tried to get her back but the yokai was too fast and lost me!" Inuyasha couldn't say he was surprised. His women did have the tendency to get kidnapped a lot... Still, that didn't matter to him.
"Which way?" He growled, ready to claw any demon's eyes out who touched her. Miroku raised a finger in the direction that he had last see Kagome and the demon. Once the mutt was out of the ring of fire, his nose was able to catch the sent of Kagome. The demon that had her smelt of blood, and the most recent, that girl's.
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"You're so good with the children, Lord Sesshormaru!" Rin chirped. The pure white haired yokai just looked over at the children who ran around, no emotion meeting his face as usual. Jaken snorted at the girl's comment.
"Lord, good with children? You stupid girl. He just has a slight tolerance since he had to deal with *you* for so long!" Rin felt her eyebrow twitch. When she had traveled together with Lord Sesshormaru, Rin was always able to put up with the imp's insults. In the six years that they had been apart, reunions being rare, she didn't know why, or what caused it, but her temper had shortened and she got confused more. She shrugged it off, though, guessing it was for the best.
"Jaken." She said no more, for the lesser demon's blood ran cold as his eyes met hers. What did these humans *do* to her!? Jaken swallowed, looking down at the ground.
"Rin." Sesshormaru's voice broke through Rin's glare.
"Yes, my Lord?" She switched her attention to the male dressed in fur with a wide grim plastered on her face. Sesshormaru didn't turn to face the teenager as he stood up, grabbing the leather leash that was strung around the two headed lizard's neck. "We must be taking our leave." Rin would hav once simply nod and say 'Yes, come visit soon!'
Rin now sat there, a deep frown retiring between her rosy cheeks.
"My lord, can't you stay?" She asked, also standing up. Jaken stared wide eyed. This girl. Questioning the Lord's wishes. What a stupid human!
Sesshormaru didn't answer, he just continued to walk away. "At least stay for dinner, my lord! It's been so long since I have been blessed with your presence! Please my l-"
"Lord Sesshormaru has made up his mind! Do not be so idiotic as to *beg* him to stay for the likes of you!" Jaken butt in, not wishing to hear another pathetic whine from the girl.
"Just for dinner, my lord..." Sesshormaru listened as Rin became deflated. A slight sigh could be heard by no one as the demon stopped.
"Fine."
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Sango sighed. She wished that Kirara had not left to join Kohaku, but soon took it back as she thought of her younger brother without a friend on his dangerous journeys as a demon slayer. Still, being so far behind Inuyasha got annoying. At least he was able to get to where he needed to be...
"Sango!" The women snapped her head up and looked through the trees.
"Miroku?" As she said his name, the man dressed in a violet color came into view. "I thought you were with Kagome." Shippo shared Sango's confused frown. Miroku explained to his companions as they walked in the path Inuyasha had taken minutes before. "So, Kagome was taken?" Miroku nodded.
"At least that idiot Inuyasha will make himself useful. All he's been today is a bully!" Shippo rubbed his head in remembrance of all the poundings he had received. The three continued on foot, only Miroku worried.
They hadn't seen how blood thirsty the wolf yokai was...
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"Shut. Up. Now." The wolf barked as he pushed Kagome into the rough wall of the moist, hollow hole in the side of a large mountain. His den. Bones were scattered messily around their feet and cracked under the women's weight as she stumbled back. The smell of the mutt's breath made Kagome's nose to scrunch up in disgust.
"Y-You better let me go! Inuyasha will-" before she could finish her threat, a clawed fist jammed into her gut. She gasped out for the wind that he knocked out of her, grasping her stomach and falling to her knee.
Kagome's capture grabbed her chin and pulled her face close, a snug grimace on his face. "I don't know who this *Inuyasha* character is, but he isn't going to save you." He spat, his yellow eyes peering into his prey's. Kagome cowered, gulping. How was she going to get out of this one? "And since you disturbed my last meal, you will be filling in for her." Suddenly, ten clawed fingers dug into Kagome's shoulders as the overgrown snap opened and made it's way dangerously to Kagome's neck.
"I knew I smelt something funny around here." A voice shouted before the yellowed teeth could tear through the flawless skin that was now ruined with goose bumps as the hot breath of the animal hit her skin. The snout pulled away and Kagome stared.
It was not Inuyasha that appeared before him. It was a face she had not seen in almost six years.
"Kouga." The demon growled lowly, hatred dripping from his lip. Sliding down his chin beside the clinging saliva.
"Now." Kouga began, cracking his knuckles. "Why would you, Hisoriu, be *anywhere* near here?" He asked stepping closer. Kagome could see the two knew one another well. Well enough to make the demon, Hisoriu, release her and turn his full attention to the leader of the wolf demon tribe. From what Kagome could tell in the dim lighting of the cave, he looked no different then before. Well, other than a silver ring that dressed his left ring finger.
"What do you care?" Hisoriu mused, eye lids crawling together until all that was left was a menacing glare. "All I'm having is a *meal*." Kouga growled. Kagome was surprised! When he had always fought with Inuyasha, it'd be innocent sqwavel, but now Kagome saw a noticeable difference.
And it scared her.
"Why?" He laughed. "Because that meal of yours is *mine*." Kagome couldn't help but turn a light shade of pink.
"Yours?" The ugly demon turned towards Kagome. "Sorry, but finders keepers-" Kouga made his way closer to Hisoriu, outstretching his arm and wrapping a firm hand around the yokai's neck.
"Kagome." Kagome blinked as she realized she was being spoken to. She watched for a moment. Hisoriu used his nails to dig into the flesh of Kouga's hands, scratching and yelping, but that did not stop the familiar wolf to send the women a sweet smile. "Please turn away." Kagome's breath caught in her throat. What is he going to...?
The women in her early twenties looked through her eye lashes at the wall she had been pinned to moments before. A yelp of agony and the sound of cracking bones made Kagome shiver involuntarily. The smell of fresh blood dripped into their noses, Kagome wanted to scream! Kouga, stop! A voice shouted in Kagome's head. Please sto-
Everything became quiet. The pained yells and pleading howls stopped Kagome heard something hard hit the ground. Slowly opening her eyes and standing out of her cringing state, she looked at Kouga. Shadows danced around him but he did not look pleased nor entertained as most demons did when killing. He looked as if he did what was necessary and that was all.
"K-Kouga.." Kagome stammered. Kouga looked up at her, his brown eyes filling with relief.
"I'm sorry about that, my dear Kagome." His voice was filled with a sincere apology. Kagome gave a shaken up nod.
"Y-Yeah... Thank you, Kouga." Her knees felt like jelly as she tried to walk. Her back, shoulders, neck, and stomach ached, making her moan in pain. Kouga was quick to assist her. "Kouga, that demon, he was a wolf demon, right? He looked... different then the wolf demons I've seen?" She stated it as a comment, but finished it off as a question.
"He was an outsider. A wolf yokai that takes on more of his animal nature." He explained. Kagome nodded slightly with a slight groan of pain. "There are a whole pack of outsiders in the eastern mountains." He continued.
"He knew you." Kouga showed her a toothy grin.
"All wolf demons know me!" He jabbed a thumb to his chest. "Even without those jewel shards, I'm still the strongest wolf demon 'round!" Kagome couldn't help but smile.
"Where's that mangy mutt?" He asked, his tone changing to a voice filled with doubt. "If I had not come when I did, you would have been killed!" Kagome nodded.
"Yes." She took a deep breath as they made it out of the dark cave. It had gotten darker outside, the sun not directly overhead. Kagome remembered some of the way to the wolf's den, but not all of it. It was a long way, at least three hours of walking. She sighed. "I am grateful to you once more, Kouga." Tan fingers grasped her own as Kouga leaned close to her. He always did this before he left, saying his fairwells and promises for the future.
"Kagome I-"
"You!" Kagome shot her head up, in the trees that swayed here and there in wind whose leaves were painted a golden green a new figure appeared.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called, her heart swelling in her chest as she realized that he *did* come for her. In a flash of silver locks, Inuyasha slapped Kouga's hand away.
"What the hell are *you* doing here?" He barked, groping the handle of his sword, ready to battle once more with his fellow canine.
"You have *no* right to ask me that, Mutt! You once again FAILED to keep Kagome safe! If I would not have turned up all you would've found was a bloody corpse. So put those good for nothing fangs away you imbecile."
That was a new one.
"Whaddyou just call me!?"
"Inuyasha! Kouga! Please don't f-" as Kagome stepped forward to try and get between the dogs her leg that had barely been able to keep her up gave in and she was sent tumbling to the ground. Inuyasha was the first to act, stepping in and pulling her to his chest.
"Kagome..." he breathed. Kouga scuffed and Inuyasha sent him one last glare. "We'll be going now, don't mind you." Kouga gave a slight roll of his eyes before leaning in and whispering a soft
"Until next time, my sweet Kagome." and making his way into the trees.
He still has feelings for her... Even though he married me, his love for that human girl never wavered... The women who watched thought with disappointment, her sad brilliant blue eyes watching as Kouga made his way through the twigs and leaves. She stood on a steady branch high above them all, leaning against the rough bark the trunk of the tree offered to her as a resting position. Her two pony tails waved in the wind, as if also saying goodbye to a loved one. Kouga will always love this girl... But why? She exhailed with a longing look at Kagome. What does she have that I don't?
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"Kagome!" Shippo cried, happy that she was back. Miroku felt relieved. Inuyasha swiftly jumped in front of them and set Kagome, who was currently on his back, nails dug into the Fire rat's fur, down. She smiled at them. Inuyasha had tried his best to wrap the wounds on her shoulders that bled to his displeasure, but he did not have much to work with. Sango, quickly noticing the red that seeped through her white kamodo took it from where Inuyasha left off, pulling the rest of the few resources they had out and applying them to Kagome's injuries.
"We'll have to go back to Kaede's for more supplies." Sango instructed as she finished wrapping the gauze around the women's chest so it would cover each of her upper arms.
"Whaddyou mean 'go back'?" Inuyasha exclaimed, throwing his hands up in petty frustration. Sango helped Kagome stand. The two women, Miroku, and Shippo began walking in the direction they had come when they were stopped by a familiar sound.
"Kirara!" Sango exclaimed as the two tailed gave another small "Mirow." Inuyasha scratched the back of his neck impatiently.
"Damn" he cursed lowly to himself. The humans and Shippo were quick to load onto the cat's back. Inuyasha, not in the mood to run, also climbed on. He sat cross legged with a stubborn forehead crease in between his eyebrows.
After a while of flying, Miroku's mind wandered away. It came upon the thought of the burning village and the innocent girl they had failed to save. He remembered her frightened eyes that screamed for help. Miroku felt his heart stop. He had failed to help her. He did not know her name nor how she lived her life, but he did know that in this era, that could be anyone's little girl...
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"Who the hell gave Sesshormaru permission to stay!?" Inuyasha screamed, not at all thrilled by the fact his brother was in the same *village* ( if it were up to him, his half brother wouldn't even be on the same *planet* ) as him. Sesshormaru gave a quick and nonexilerated glance over at the half demon.
"Who gave you permission to be born?" The older brother asked, tone cool as solid ice.
"What'd you just say to me!? That's it!" Kagome sighed.
"Sit boy."
"Gahh!" Rin and Shippo, who both were sitting opposite of the half breed in Keade's cabin, laughed as Inuyasha was helplessly pulled off of his feet and pinned to the floor.
"What an idiot." Shippo giggled, finally getting remorse for the hanyou's cruel behaviour from earlier.
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AN~•~ Lovely people, I know you are dying to learn what Kagome is brewing. Tell me in the reviews what YOU thought about the chapter.