punkish furball – Hello, all! XD
Words to Ponder:
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So this pairing was a bit of challenge to write, but I think I nailed it as close as one could nail it. I'm also working on updates for other stories such as my other TMNT/InuYasha crossover, Just a Little Kiss, and others that are long overdue for a new chapter. Until then, please enjoy!
Installment 5: Allure
Chris Bradford quietly growled as he waited for the newest arrival to the Foot Clan's current lair to enter Master Shredder's chambers. His heightened senses due to his recently mutated state were instantly alerted of her presence as she approached, her gait a slow, deliberate saunter.
She was petite but svelte and slender with porcelain skin, pleasing curves, and long raven hair. However, despite her comely figure, the female was equipped and clothed as a formidable ninja in a skintight body suit with detached sleeves, muted red in color with small, white floral patterns on the right shoulder and near the swell of her left thigh. Her hair was bound tightly in a high ponytail, and her face was hidden by an ornate animal inspired mask. Bradford wasn't sure what creature it depicted, but it seemed distinctly canine.
Bradford had no idea who the female was or why Master Shredder ordered him before his throne before he departed for his mission but didn't have long to wonder. His sensei soon spoke, his voice as deep and commanding as always.
"Bradford," he stated, "As you know, Xever remains incapacitated by his unfortunate mutation, and we cannot afford such a hindrance to prevent us from completing our ultimate goal. To remedy this predicament, I have propositioned an ally of mine from Japan for assistance."
"And this is your ally?" Bradford inferred, incredulously glancing at the female.
Before Shredder could answer, the woman chuckled, her voice pleasant and light.
"Not exactly," she began to explain, "I am under his associate's employ and have been assigned to work with the Foot Clan."
Bradford snorted, his large nostrils flaring. The woman clearly did not know her place. He didn't need Xever's help and he certainly didn't need hers. The way he saw it, the two of them were of the same kind, common thieves and fighters for hire concerned only with personal gain with no true sense of loyalty or honor.
"I am a ninja. I refuse to work with a common mercenary whose loyalty is bought," he announced.
"Silence! You will accept this, Bradford," the Shredder demanded, "I will not tolerate such insolence." He paused to narrow his eyes.
"Or do you dare question me?"
Bradford was quick to make amends. "Of course not, sensei."
"Good," the Shredder replied, "You both know your mission. Now go!"
Bradford bowed respectfully and immediately left the chamber with the female following behind him. As soon as they arrived out of earshot of his sensei, Bradford stopped and turned just before the woman collided with his back.
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
"Let's get one thing clear. I don't trust you," Bradford stated, sneering, "Cross me, and you won't live long enough to regret it."
She snorted and planted her hands on her hips. "There's no need for you to be so hostile. We're on the same team."
"Is that so? Then how about you show me what you're hiding?" he suggested, "I can't trust someone who won't reveal their face."
The female relaxed her posture, and Bradford was certain she was smirking behind her mask. "Now's not the time for that. Let's rally the troops and head out."
"I don't take orders from you," he gruffly replied and began walking to assembly of Foot Clan ninjas awaiting their orders.
As Bradford and the unnamed kunoichi continued, he reluctantly put his suspicions aside and decided to focus on the matter at hand. After all, any ally of his master surely wouldn't employ anyone incompetent. On top of that, Master Shredder wouldn't trust his affairs with Hamato Yoshi or ally himself with anyone less than the strongest and the elite. The woman didn't look like much, but he would accept her presence for now.
"So you got a name or what?" Bradford asked just before two of them left the lair with their squadron of soldiers.
He swore he could hear the smile in her voice when she uttered, soft and sweet, "Kagome."
Without further delay, the duo led their brigade throughout the city, not stopping until they arrived in front of their predetermined destination, an office complex the Turtles continually frequented during their recent patrols. The group came to a halt at the eastern side of the building.
"It won't be long before the Turtles arrive," Bradford told his female companion, "You take a squad around back while I remain here."
Kagome huffed, "You can't have forgotten my name already, right?"
"Just do it," he ordered. She lingered for a moment before she finally obeyed, taking half of the Foot soldiers with her.
When Kagome left, Bradford considered his female partner again. She surprised him with her ability to match his pace with no visible show of expending effort or exhibiting fatigue. Ever since his mutation, Bradford's strength and speed dramatically increased though his new form was bulky and difficult to maneuver. Even so, he could easily outlast the other Foot Clan soldiers, yet this woman kept up with him, and, where his movements were awkward, hers possessed a certain poise and grace honed from extensive use. He absently wondered how she obtained such skills.
His thoughts didn't occupy him for long; the Turtles arrived just as he expected, approaching the flank of the building where he and his Foot soldiers lay in wait. They didn't pass the area he told Kagome to oversee, but he was sure she saw them arrive as well. With no further delay, Bradford sent the shinobi into battle before him. Presumably after seeing his squad do so, Kagome did the same with her own team. While the teenaged mutants were sufficiently distracted, Bradford stepped in and approached the building. He wanted to find out what about it interested Hamato's students. His efforts were halted by the one called Raphael. Bradford snarled as he advanced. He didn't like this Turtle masked in red in particular; he reminded him to much of Xever.
Raphael arrogantly twirled his sai around his fingers before tightly gripping them in his fists. "Where do you think you're going, Dog Pound? Fighting the rest of the Foot Clan hardly breaks a sweat."
"Well then, I'll gladly accommodate you," Bradford announced before he engaged in battle.
He clearly had the advantage in power alone, but the Turtle was faster, darting about with skill and precision than Bradford possessed in his current form. Before Raphael gained the advance, a chain whip abruptly encircled his wrist, upsetting his grip and causing him to drop the weapon in his hand. Kagome held the other end, the mischievous expression on her mask clearly displaying the mirth in her tone.
"Thought you could use a hand," she remarked, tightening her hold.
"Get back!" Bradford shouted, "This one's mine."
"I don't take orders from you," she insisted, infuriating him further. During their brief exchange, Raphael freed himself from her hold just as the other Turtles made quick work of the remaining ninja.
"Nice partner, Dog Pound," Raphael quipped as he quickly retrieved his fallen weapon, "Definitely better looking than Xever even with the mask." He smirked and glanced at the whip now tightly coiled around Kagome's hands.
"A kunoichi with a metal whip. Kinky."
Kagome chuckled. "Wanna verify that? I did learn from the best after all."
"Sounds like fun."
Bradford growled before she could reply, "Back off! I told you this one is mine!"
"I'm on your side, remember?" she retorted, her tone still playful.
"You two want a room or something?" Raphael suggested with a crooked grin.
His brother, Leonardo, rolled his eyes and scolded, "Do you want to stop flirting with the enemy?"
"I know you aren't talking," Raphael vehemently spat. The other two joined their brothers, the tallest, Donatello, appearing exasperated while Michelangelo was thoroughly entertained and curious as he observed the new fighter.
"Hello?" Donatello shouted, "We're in the middle of a fight. Shouldn't we get back to it?"
"Sounds like a good idea," Kagome announced and quickly assumed her battle stance. She directed her next statement to Bradford. "You take red and blue, and I'll take the other two."
"Just stay out of my way!"
The fight continued but the combined efforts of the Turtles and their seamless teamwork were beginning to overpower Kagome's and Bradford's individual offense. Realizing their troubles, Kagome removed her mask and tossed in between her and Bradford and the Turtles, activating a concealed smoke bomb so she and her partner could retreat. She and Bradford would not have stood a chance had the fight lasted much longer. The two of them just weren't in sync like their opponents were.
Bradford reluctantly followed her lead, stopping only when they were several blocks away. The other Foot soldiers would return on their own.
"Why did you interfere? I almost had them!" he raged at the petite woman.
Kagome huffed and stood in front of him, her fists firmly at her sides. Even though her mask was removed, the collar of her suit extend to cover the bottom half of her face, clinging to it as tightly as it fit the rest of her. The only feature Bradford could clearly were her eyes, a notable shade of blue, until she pulled the collar down around her neck. Her fully exposed face was heart shaped and framed with several wayward strands of hair with soft, delicate features from the slender ridge of her nose to her full, pink lips, all of it just as beautiful as the rest of her.
"The way I saw it, it was the other way around. They would have taken us out if we stayed any longer," she insisted. Boldly, she reached up and placed a hand on his clenched fist forcing him to look up at her.
She continued, her expression conveying absolute sincerity, "Like it or not, you're my partner, and I look out for my own."
The canine mutant growled at the petite raven then closed his eyes, trying to calm down. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. Slowly, he stilled his erratic breathing and withdrew his hand from underneath hers. Her touch was starting to unnerve him. Dealing with women was much easier when he was human.
"Very well, but don't think it will be so easy to gain my trust," he told her, his eyes now open and his head clear.
Kagome shrugged, undeterred from the cool response. "If it was that easy to get, it's not worth having."
Again exhibiting the boldness of her nature, she reached up as high as her short stature would allow and managed to tweak one of his ears. Unbidden, Bradford's body relaxed yet tensed at the same time, his muscle going lax while his tail and toes curled toward him.
When she pulled back, Kagome smiled and said, "Let's get back and give our report. I doubt the Shredder will appreciate the delay even if all we have is bad news."
Bradford growled and took the lead, purposely jostling her small form with his shoulder as he passed. Kagome paid him no mind and followed behind him. Her smile deepened when she heard him utter, "I don't take orders from you."
-O0o0O-
"What is your report?"
Kagome rolled her eyes and adjusted the cell phone on her ear being mindful of the towel wrapped around her damp hair.
"Can't you manage a hello or something before you ask me that?" she replied, plopping down on the twin sized bed of her modest accommodations. Honestly, she expected better from the Shredder but wasn't going to complain.
"I know you're a busy guy, but you could stand to be more polite," she continued, "After all, I'm only doing this as a favor to you, Sesshomaru."
"Hello," the elder dog demon quipped, his tone tight and reserved, "What is your report?"
Kagome fell back on her pillows and folded her free arm behind her head. "The Shredder is completely fixated on his target, Hamato Yoshi, so my internal investigation on the recent activities in the city should maintain undetected by the Foot Clan. Before I continue, I have to ask how you ever got caught up with a guy like that. He's a total weirdo even by your standards."
"When you are in my type of business as long as I am, you make a few strange bedfellows," Sesshomaru simply answered.
"I guess I'll take your word for it," Kagome said then continued with her report.
"Anyway, I've made contact with a few of the strange creatures that have been detected by our personnel in the city. And, to my knowledge, Shredder has two similar beings within his clan known as Chris Bradford and Xever who were both originally human. I was told their current forms were caused by accidental contact with a substance created by an alien race called the Kraang. The Foot Clan hasn't had any more direct contact with them, and the Shredder doesn't consider investigating their presence as a priority."
"I assume you do," Sesshomaru inferred.
"Of course I do!" Kagome stated in a huff, "Whether it's their objective or not, the Kraang are obviously responsible for the creation of those creatures running all over our radar. They can't be ignored"
"I do not disagree with that. Amend your mission directives as you see fit," Sesshomaru told her, "Putting that aside for a moment, can you tell more about these…constructs?"
Kagome understood Sesshomaru's slight hesitation. There was no known precedence for the discovery of these beings. Even though she was certain they were created using technological advancements for an undocumented race, they were no closer to understanding them.
"So far, I've encountered five," she began, "The four I met outside of the Foot, Hamato Yoshi's students, are turtles. My partner, Chris Bradford, is an Akita Inu and human hybrid who owns that large chain of martial arts dojos."
Kagome paused and bit her lip, thinking of what she should say next.
"All I can say is their energy is very unique, muddled and in disarray like nothing I've ever felt before. Admittedly, the Turtles are more structured than Bradford, but I need more exposure to them before I can make a detailed analysis."
"I see. Submit your first formal report as soon as possible once you discover more information."
Sesshomaru paused, thoughtful. "It was my understanding that you would be paired with Shredder's teenaged daughter upon your arrival. Explain."
"Oh! I forgot to mention. Bradford's original partner was Xever and his mutation debilitated him. I'm taking his place if and when his situation changes. I haven't officially met him or Karai," Kagome answered with a slight shrug. Prior to meeting Bradford, it didn't really matter to her who she worked with, but she had the distinct impression that she and Karai would not get along based on what she was told about her.
"And how is he taking to the new arrangement?" he asked.
"As well as to be suspected," she retorted, humming as she considered her new partner, "He's already made it clear he doesn't trust me on more than one occasion."
"Do you think there is a possibility he will uncover your investigation?"
Kagome giggled before she answered. "Barking dogs don't bite. I can handle it if he starts snooping around. Besides, I've found his weakness and mine has always been dogs."
Sesshomaru snorted. "Yes, and you have certainly been the right one to bring an impudent pup in line."
"I'll take that as compliment, and I'll be sure to deliver my formal report as soon as possible," Kagome stated as she pulled herself into a sitting position, reclining against her headboard.
"See that you do," Sesshomaru instructed, "And one more thing. I have noticed that you have a tendency to become attached to a certain sort."
"Your point being?" she questioned although she had an idea of where he was going.
"Do not let your emotions prevent you from completing your true mission."
"Have you ever known me to let that happen while I'm on the job?" she asked, her tone joking.
"Indeed," he uttered, "I would have sent the kitsune in your place, but, by reputation, his dalliances are more physically oriented. I believe he would have enjoyed the original partner assignment more than you would."
"It's good to know having sex on the job is more reprehensible than making friends," Kagome dryly remarked. She really should not have trusted the development of Shippo's moral compass to Miroku.
"I'm serious, miko."
"I have a feeling the only reason you're pressing the issue is because I mentioned Bradford's canine mutation." Kagome smirked and continued, giving in to her urge to tease the disgruntle dog.
"He does have the most tweak-able ears, and his tail looks soft too. I bet the rest of his fur feels exactly the same. I can't wait to find out!"
There was a long sigh on the other end of the line.
"Need I remind you how your unabashed attitude got you in a very bothersome situation that could only be remedied by my intervention?"
"That's not the same! I accidently proposed to some demon warlord. Bradford was originally human, so he won't have those same instincts to follow. That means I can play with his fluffy appendages as much as I please," Kagome protested, "And that wouldn't have gone so far if you interfered sooner."
"You had to learn a lesson from that experience, although I see it was not well received."
"I think you're right about that one," she quipped, "But I do know the mission comes first."
"I am aware you understand that," he reinforced, "However, here is one more precaution. Should you find yourself in an instance where the mission is compromised—"
"I'll do as appropriate."
Kagome scoffed when she heard a click on the line and pulled her phone away from her ear. She placed her mobile on the end table beside her bed before falling back on the mattress with her eyes closed, sighing. Centuries have passed, but Sesshomaru remained the same detached, goal oriented individual he always was. It made for an exceptional boss but a lousy conversationalist.
"Well, I suppose if I do as appropriate, it'll have to be the way I view 'appropriate', right?" she surmised, smiling to herself, "There's no harm in having a little fun." She slowly opened her left eye when her door was roughly opened.
"Bradford? What are you doing in here?" she asked as she sat up and opened her eyes. The canine hybrid swaggered into her room, his posture tensed but confident.
"I heard voices," he announced, his triangular shaped ears twitching.
"Voices?" Kagome repeated, grinning, "That sounds more like an excuse for you to barge in uninvited. Looking to catch me in a compromising position? Maybe just out of the tub?"
Bradford stiffened but maintained his composure. "You were speaking to someone. Tell me who."
"Jealous?" she innocently quipped, "I promise to give you a tummy rub later to make up for it if you're a good boy, okay?"
Bradford growled when his tail twitched in anticipation, his newly acquired instincts making him quake with delight for reasons he did not quite understand. He met women—kunoichi or otherwise—far more skilled and far more beautiful than the female lounging in front of him. Many were enamored by his money, power, and good looks, so he was never without an attractive lady on his arm. Yet there was a certain pull to this particular female he couldn't comprehend. The only thing he knew for sure was that he didn't like it.
"Don't address me like I'm some whelp!" he shouted, hackles rising.
"Noted," Kagome replied though her grin still remained, "But you still didn't reject my offer."
"Just keep it down in here. You never know what someone might overhear," Bradford warned her, taking a menacing step toward her bed. Instead of being intimidated, Kagome sat up until she was kneeling in front of him. Just as quickly as she changed her posture, she latched her right hand onto Bradford's twitching ear, eliciting the same reaction from his as she did before. He cursed his body for responding so at the slightest touch.
"Thanks for the tip," Kagome told him as she withdrew and rested her bottom on her calves, "Now if you're done checking in on more, it's time for lights out."
Bradford snorted and took a step back. "Do whatever you want. Just make sure you are present for our next briefing tomorrow morning."
"Will do, partner," Kagome answered, giving him a playful salute. He already turned away from her and started walking to her door.
She called out before he left. "For the record, I usually finish my bath about fifteen minutes before now."
She giggled when he slammed the door on the way out and fell back on her pillows. This assignment was going to be very interesting.
-O0o0O-
punkish furball – I hope you've enjoyed this latest installment. It think it could actually be extended to a full length story. (And since I'm craving more InuYasha/TMNT, it just might!) I also couldn't resist adding a little Kagome/Raphael; it's definitely my favorite pair!
Until next time, TCB! X3
(edited 03.31.2014)