Ch17
"What?!" Kagome yelled hurting Inuyasha's ears.
"I said he's back he has part of Kohaku's soul in him but that's not the best part he and Kohaku were fighting over who Naraku belongs too." Inuyasha says to them.
Suikotsu and Kikyo looked over at Kohaku. "Is that true?" his father asks him.
"It just happened, but Naraku wants Keski just as much as Keski wants him."Kohaku tells them.
"That's a lie Keski doesn't love Naraku." Karas says. Kira sighed as he looked at his love.
"Yes, he does. You didn't see the way he looked at him. The way he was hurt," Kohaku said. Souta grasped his big brother's hand and held it tight. Kira took Karas's hand. "Kira, it can't be him. It can't be," Karas said, looking at him.
"Oh it's him alright he has his powers and everything and he does want Naraku." Sesshoumaru says to Karas.
"And you just left him with Naraku again you bastard!" Karas yelled at Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru growled and placed Rin on the ground and stood up.
" Sesshoumaru wait!" Kagome yelled at him
"No, I did NOT leave him with Naraku. I won't do that again. He stormed off after trying to kill Kohaku and my useless brother! He's not the same, though. He's not as nice as he used to be, Karas, so don't get the fantasy in your head that he'll be exactly the same as before. He's harsh and cruel now, so get used to it," Sesshoumaru said, standing in front of Karas now, who was still sitting.
"Are you saying that Keski is evil now?" Kira asked.
"He is jealous of Kohaku that much I know, I had to make a deal with him to heal Kohaku." Sesshoumaru says looking at Karas.
"No Keski is kind and gentle he would never be cruel." Karas tells him.
"Karas I told him to come see you, do you see him here, he might even harm you if you get in his way." Sesshoumaru tells him
Karas stood, glaring at Sesshoumaru. "He is my BROTHER! Family doesn't hurt one another," he said. Sesshoumaru laughed and said, "You don't think family hurts one another? Think again. You don't know shit, Karas. You've been far too sheltered."
Kagome looked at the two Shippo jumped into Souta's lap Kagome sighed."Sesshoumaru." she said.
"Keski loves me he would never hurt me, just cause you and Inuyasha fight doesn't mean Keski and I would fight!" Karas tells him and then glares at Kohaku. "This is your fault what did you say to Keski!?" Karas demanded
Kohaku looked at him and said, "I didn't say anything to Keski, just argued with him about Naraku, okay? So don't try to pin all of this shit on me!"
"Kohaku!" Kikyo scolded.
Kohaku ignored her and said, "You want to see your brother? Then go find him! He went to go find the jewel shards. See if he's how you remember then."
Kira cleared his throat and looked at them. "Look we all have to stick together Karas, I am sure we will see Keski soon so please stop picking fights you once thought of Kohaku as a brother." Kira tells him.
Karas glared at Kira. "Who asked you, this is your fault as well if Keski never helped you back then he still be alive!" Karas says to him
Kira's eyes widened, hurt plain as day in them. "Karas!" Sesshoumaru said.
"It's true, and you fucking know it!" Karas yelled, turning towards the demon. Kira looked down at his hands, folded in his lap, tears sliding down his face.
Kagome walked over to Kira and placed her hands in his. "It's okay, Karas how could you!" Kagome said to him.
Karas walked pass Sesshoumaru and down to the river.
Kohaku looked at Kira. "I am sorry." he says to him.
"It's fine in my heart I always thought he blamed me, I should go." Kira says
"No, don't go. I want you to stay. The more help we have, the better," Kohaku said, walking over and sitting down next to him, Souta and Shippo following.
"No, I'm an extra wheel you don't need. I'll just head back to the castle and figure out what to do from there," Kira said.
"Sit your ass down, you came all the way out here, don't think that Naraku won't use you to get to Kohaku if he finds you by yourself and as far as Karas goes he will come around and if he doesn't I'll break his neck." Sesshoumaru tells him and walks back over and sits down watching Rin.
Karas sighed he didn't know why he blamed Kira, Kira was just a kid like he was. "This is Naraku's fault, Keski how could you not want to see me?" he said aloud
Keski took his hair out the ponytail and let his hair blow in the wind he looked up at the blue sky he took his clothes off and got in the river to bathe.
"My, my Keski don't you care if anyone sees you?' Naraku asked him as he leaned against a tree. Keski head shot up and he saw Naraku and Kaguya knocked out laying at his feet
"No, not really. And it's you, so I don't care. You've seen it already," Keski said, continuing to bathe. Naraku smirked and said, "You're not as timid as you used to be."
"No, I'm not. I'm not at all who I used to be," Keski said
"What do you want shouldn't you be off tracking Kohaku down?" Keski said saying his name in hate.
"Not right now my boy needs to get his strength back thanks to you, why aren't you off seeing Karas, Shippo and Kira?" Naraku asked him.
Keski looked at Naraku. "Why should you care what I do, if I am correct you wanted to kill my brother." he says
"Because he kept me from you. Now I want to kill him because he's annoying," Naraku said, shrugging as if he were bored. Keski swam over to the shore and looked at Naraku. "And you just think I will let you kill Karas?" Keski asks him.
"Well seeing as you're here and not with him, I don't think you care, I know you're jealous though over a boy a few years younger than you." Naraku says to him as he walks over to Keski's robe and picks it up and looks at Keski in the water. "You're foolish to believe I won't hurt you." Naraku tells him
"You're foolish to believe you could hurt me," Keski said, getting out of the water and boldly walking up to Naraku and taking his robe from him, sliding it on and tying it at the waist.
Naraku ran his tongue over his fang he then wrapped his arms around Keski's waist. "I did hurt you, I killed you in fact thanks to that wench you're alive again." Naraku says into the shell of Keski's ear.
"And feelings don't change," Keski whispered back, pressing his hand against Naraku's crotch. Naraku's eyes widened and he chuckled. "You're much bolder, as well. And feelings DO change. Get it through your head, Keski. I. Don't. Want. You. Not anymore," he said, removing Keski's hand.
Keski wiggled out Naraku's grasp and glared at him. "Then leave take her and go!" Keski tells him as his damp hair clings to the back of his robe.
"What makes you think you can order me around you don't have arrows or your sword." Naraku reminds him and opens his hand he had found some of the shards. Keski turned around seeing the shards. "Give them to me!" Keski tells him
"I can't do that. With Sesshoumaru's group finding shards, and me finding shards, we'll cross paths sooner or later. Then I can use Kohaku to fuse the entire jewel, and take him as my own," Naraku said. "What are you going to do when I start looking for the jewel shards?" Keski asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll take it from you of course." Naraku tells him with a smile on his face "But knowing you, you'll give it to me."Naraku says to him.
"Why do you want him so bad he's just a younger version of me, why Naraku, I love you so much even though I know you killed me."Keski says to him and falls to his knees his hair falling over his shoulder as he dug his hands into the dirt."You took me from Karas!" Keski yelled at him as his tears fell.
"It was your own fault. You shouldn't have let yourself become so WEAK," Naraku said, nudging Keski with his foot, making him roll over onto his back.
Keski looked up at Naraku as his eyes were filled with tears. "I wasn't weak you bastard, I was in love with you, if I could go back in time I'd kill you that day in that hut." Keski tells him . Kaguya woke up rubbing her head. "Where am I?" she asked
"Where Kagome kicked your ass. Go back to sleep," Naraku said, kicking her in the head and knocking her out. "Keski, if you lived that all over again, you would still be in love with me," he said, turning back to the human.
"No I wouldn't I would kill you before I got the chance to care."Keski tells him as he sits up, "I guess you never felt the same for me." Keski says to him as he stands up.
"Now you understand." Naraku says to him.
"Then you won't care if I somehow find someone for myself?" Keski asks him
"Not at all. I already have my eyes set on someone, obviously," Naraku said, smirking again.
Keski wiped his face. "Right my reincarnation and you won't kill him when you're done with him assuming you can get pass Sesshoumaru. "Keski asks It hurt him so much to hear Naraku want another.
"No. When we get the jewel, I'll want him for...other purposes," Naraku said, smirking. "Assuming you don't use him for your 'other purposes' beforehand," Keski replied.
"Hmm I can wait, he's 15 now and if he hadn't shattered the jewel he be in my bed now." Naraku tells him Keski balled his fist and turned around to face Naraku and walked over to him and punched him in his face, his chest heaving.
Naraku glared at Keski and said, "I'll let that go for now. Do it again, and I'll kill you. And this time you won't be coming back."
Keski looked at him. "That's all you can do to me!" Keski tells him.
"I can do many things to you Keski, I could make you my slave as Kaguya was going to do, I can take you to my castle and lock you in my dungeons, I did that to Kohaku's daddy it was fun beating him."Naraku tells him
Keski looked at Naraku and then over at Kaguya's limp form. "Is that fear in your eyes?" Naraku asks with a grin.
"No," Keski lied, hiding the fear behind his passive expression.
Naraku shook his head and said, "Keski, Keski, Keski...don't you know not to lie to a demon? I can see and smell your fear."
"I have to go , I need to see Karas." Keski says to him.
"And how will you find him?" Naraku asks
"Don't worry about how I find him, I am no longer your concern nor do I answer to you!" Keski says to him
"Good, because I won't be looking out for you. I'll be looking out for your reincarnation," Naraku said, smirking at him.
Keski smiled and said sarcastically, "Just how I want it. Goodbye, Naraku."
Keski ran away from Naraku to find Karas he be damned if he be second best.
"Well Naraku I must say you're a good liar."Kaguya said as she stood up, "I know and you know that if Keski gets involved with any male you will be angry, and I know and you do as well that Keski is strong and will find shards and since you angered him he will never hand them over." she says with a grin
"That doesn't mean I can't just simply take them from him," Naraku said, smirking at the demoness.
Kaguya laughed and said, "Have fun with that. Now, if you excuse me, I have to go get a most likely very pissed off Tsubaki."
"Yes Tsubaki, I warn you Kaguya keep your hands off of Kohaku, Sesshoumaru let you off easy." he says and then smirks he could use Keski against Sesshoumaru, he saw how Sesshoumaru froze up when he saw Keski.
Kaguya saw Naraku smirking. "Thinking something devious are you?" she asked him
"Extremely. Now get out of here before I cut your head off," Naraku said. Kaguya chuckled and walked away, disappearing into the forest. Naraku chuckled to himself as he started off in the general direction of Sesshoumaru's campsite.
Sesshoumaru kissed Kagome on her forehead as they relaxed for now, Karas was still in his mood and had yet to return to the campsite. "Hey Sesshoumaru do you think Keski will come and visit?" Shippo asked looking up at him with his big green eyes
"Honestly Shippo, I don't know," Sesshoumaru replied, hugging his mate and daughter close. Shippo sighed, and Souta smiled at him. "Don't be sad, Shippo. You have us here," he said.
"Yeah runt what do you want him for anyway?"Inuyasha asked him.
Kohaku looked at the few shards he had that were in a bottle tied around his neck. "Keski was going to raise me , he saved me from the villagers and he held me in his arms that morning before he left with Naraku." Shippo tells him
"We'll just have to wait and see, Shippo," Kira said, smiling at the kit. Shippo gave a small smile in return and leaned against Souta.
Karas threw some rocks into the water he looked behind him Kira hadn't come to check on him neither had Sesshoumaru not that he could blame them
Naraku arrived first and saw Karas. "You have grown Karas but still not the beauty Keski is." Naraku says with a chuckle.
Karas glared at him, throwing a rock in his direction, missing him by inches. "Stay the hell away from me," he said before tossing rocks into the water again.
"I don't want you, so Keski hasn't gotten here yet huh?" Naraku asked him.
"Why would he come, Kohaku says all he sees is you."Karas tells him
"Ah yes, Keski loves me." Naraku says to him. Naraku smelt Keski coming and decided to have some fun. "I have to say that I am glad that you took Kohaku as a brother." Naraku says to Karas.
"I've known him since he was a baby. He's practically family to all of us, not like you care," Karas said, staring out over the water. Naraku smirked and said, "Well, now you have someone to take your place while you take the role of big brother Keski."
Karas nodded his head, "Yeah I have become Kohaku's big brother, but I hurt his , Kira and Sesshoumaru's feelings, I just wanted to see Keski so bad, I just wanted to see his face to tell him that I am sorry for acting like a brat that day"Karas says to Naraku
Keski was walking up and faintly heard their conversation. He stood behind a tree, leaning against it, as he listened. When he heard what his brother said, he looked down at the ground sadly, feeling deep down inside that he hated hearing his brother upset.
"Well it was Keski's fate to die by my hands." Naraku tells him.
"No it wasn't you could have left him alone you could have stole the jewel when he left it in the shrine, he wasn't done raising me, or Kira or Shippo he was the only family I had left you murderer!" Karas yelled at him and turned around to face Naraku.
"Watch your tone!" Naraku warns him.
Keski stepped out from behind the trees. "Don't touch him Naraku." Keski says to him
Naraku looked at the priest over his shoulder and smirked, saying, "Ah, Keski. Nice of you to join us." Karas's face went blank when he saw his brother, only to show awe. "Keski...?" he whispered, just staring at his brother.
Keski glared at Naraku and then turned to Karas and smiled at him. "Hello Karas last time we talked I took over a 5 year olds body." Keski says and walks pass Naraku and over to Karas and hugged him.
"I'm so sorry for talking to you that way please forgive me I never wanted you to die."Karas says as he cries on Keski's shoulder.
"Shh it's okay I forgave you that same day, I am glad that Kagome and Sesshoumaru took care of you." he says
Karas wiped his eyes and looked up at his brother. "You should come back to the campsite with me. Shippo and Kira would want to see you, too," he said.
"But I tried to kill Kohaku and Sesshoumaru's brother I am not good." Keski says to him.
"So very true Keski you're not good, come with me you and I need to discuss a few things." Naraku tells him.
Karas growled and stood in front of his brother. "He's not going anywhere with you!" Karas growled.
"I see you still haven't learned your place yet!" Naraku says to him.
"So how long are we going to let Karas act like a spoiled child Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asks him
"Since he has not yet returned, I am going to go find him," Sesshoumaru said.
"He was heading towards the river. Be careful," Kagome said. He kissed her lips before standing and walking off in the same direction Karas had gone.
Keski placed his hand on Karas's shoulder. "I told you not to harm him." Keski says to Naraku.
"The boy has a mouth on him, he was mouthy back then and he still is, I don't know what Kira sees in you." Naraku tells Karas.
Karas growled and charged at Naraku letting his temper get the best of him. Naraku brought out his tentacles and grabbed Karas and threw him into a tree, and then walked over to Keski and backed him up against a tree.
Keski looked over at his now unconscious brother before glaring at Naraku. Naraku smirked and said, "I love it when you're pissed off."
"I decided for you Keski that you're going to find the shards for me and if you don't those you hold dear will pay for it."Naraku tells him. Keski raised his hand to punch Naraku, this time Naraku grabbed his hand and bent it back "One twist and it will break." Naraku warns him.
"Let go!" Keski yelled at him.
"I don't think so." Naraku tells him
Sesshoumaru walked around and saw Karas on the ground and bent down to him seeing he was knocked out
After making sure Karas was okay, he looked up to see Naraku and Keski. When he saw Naraku bending Keski's hand back, he growled and charged at him, knocking him away from Keski with a swift kick to his ribs, sending him far into the forest. "Come on," he said, pulling Keski onto his back and then picking up Karas's unconscious body.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry," Keski said, holding on tight.
"You and your brother always causing trouble." Sesshoumaru says to him as he comes back into the campsite. Keski slid off of Sesshoumaru's back. "What is he doing here?!" Inuyasha yelled at Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru placed Karas down on the ground. Kira ran over to Karas."What happened?" he asks.
"Naraku." was all Sesshoumaru said.
Crean and Dante looked over at Keski and than at Kohaku. Shippo jumped out of Souta's lap and over to Keski. "Keski!" he says happily looking up at him
"Hi, Shippo," Keski said, smiling and picking up the kit. Shippo nuzzled into Keski's neck, hugging him tight. "Hello, Kira," he said, looking at the boy.
"Keski, I please forgive me for everything." Kira says to him as he smacks Karas on his face not to kindly. "I don't hate you Kira, you didn't know." he says to him as he looks at Kohaku. Shippo rested his head on Keski's shoulder. "Hello Kagome, your daughter is beautiful she takes after you."Keski tells her.
"Thank you Keski have a seat." she says.
"I can't stay long I just wanted to see Karas, Kira, and Shippo." he says.
"No don't leave me!" Shippo says to him.
"He's right. You have to stay," Kira said. Keski looked at the faces most familiar to him and sighed. "Alright, I'll stay," he said, causing the boys to cheer. Karas groaned, opening his eyes. "My cheek hurts," he said.
"They should hurt how dare say that to me after all we've been through!"Kira yells at Karas. Karas flinched and looked up at Kira. "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you Kira, or you Sesshoumaru." Karas says to him.
Kohaku stood up. "How do I know you won't try and kill me?" Kohaku asked him.
Keski placed Shippo in his arms. "Naraku doesn't want me Kohaku, he wants you as his mate, so killing you won't bring Naraku to me." Keski tells him.
"Wait a minute if both of them are here, whose going to collect the shards?" Dante asked
"I will," the two said at the same time before glaring at each other.
"You both can carry shards, just take turns. God, you are just like children!" Kagome said, sighing in exasperation
Sesshoumaru rubbed his forehead. "Look you two I am not going to separate you two every five minutes Kohaku you will walk with Inuyasha and Bankotsu and Keski you will walk with me and Kagome." Sesshoumaru tells him.
"I don't recall saying I would follow your orders you overgrown dog" Keski says to him. Cane and Dante couldn't help but chuckle.
"You are traveling with me, you will follow my orders. If not, then go on your own," Sesshoumaru said. Keski just rolled his eyes and walked over to sit next to Kagome.
"Keski I am glad to see you back, thank you for protecting Rin and I ." Kagome tells him and kisses him on the cheek.
"How could I not, I want to thank you Kagome for taking care of Karas and them." Keski tells her.
"It was fun it got Sesshoumaru ready for our baby."Kagome tells him.
Sesshoumaru grunted . "Keski are you and Naraku really finish?" Sesshoumaru asks raising an eyebrow at him.