Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA! GOD, GET OVER IT!
Last Time:
Sesshoumaru flinched at that. He'd forgotten the ancient demonic code that made you responsible for any life you saved. "Hojo continued to stalk Kagome, but Sesshoumaru continued to protect her. But one day, Sesshoumaru and Kagome had a fight, and Kagome returned home. Hojo found her, and two hours later, they found her body in a nearby cemetery. She'd been raped, strangled, and horribly mangled by Hojo. He even admitted to it. Sesshoumaru was forced to roam the earth forever until Kagome could be reincarnated, so that he could protect her until the end of time. The end."
The demoness smiled. "Isn't it a great story?" She looked around, but Sesshoumaru was already gone. She smirked as she slowly disappeared. "Way too easy."
CHAPTER 12: HOJO'S EVIL PLAN
Hojo slowly crept up behind Kagome, grinning wickedly. Oh, she'd tried to avoid him, but she had not succeeded. He grabbed her from behind and spun her around. "Did you miss me, Kagome?"
Kagome nearly growled, but she held it in. "No, Hojo, I didn't. I find it hard to miss people who assault me."
Hojo looked down sadly. "I'm sorry, Kagome. Won't you forgive me?"
Kagome bit back her initial forgiving nature. Idiot, he nearly killed us. I can not forgive him this easily. "I'm sorry, Hojo. But I can't forgive you." She pulled herself out of his reach, intending to leave. Instead, she found a body in her way. A cloth was pressed to her mouth and nose, and the room swam.
"You'll forgive me eventually, Kagome." Hojo said with a sneer. "It's really for the best."
!# Sesshoumaru #!
Sesshoumaru growled at the tightness of this "modern day" clothing. Really, how was someone supposed to move without breaking the fabric? And his tail had no where to go, and its not like that was a common sight to these humans. He growled as yet another woman's arousal hit him. Didn't these humans realize he could kill them in a single blow?
Why was he even doing this? It wasn't his problem if Kago- the miko got herself killed. It shouldn't matter to him if one stupid human was killed by another stupid human.
But it did matter. Sesshoumaru tried not to dwell on it as he entered the classroom he remembered as Kagome's first class. No one was in attendance at the moment, and so he went straight to the teacher. "Human, you will tell this Sesshoumaru where to find the woman Higurashi Kagome."
The teacher looked at him with a smirk. "You're really lost in this time, aren't you, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru was taken a back for a moment. He looked closely at the man, and was surprised to find a suppressed aura carefully concealed. He growled at the deception, as well as his own stupidity. "Who are you?"
"No one of consequence, for now at least." The demon answered, looking closely at the papers in front of him. "But I would suggest you hurry. Higurashi is always early, and it's rare when she's late or misses. She's done so twice because of you. I wouldn't want to see her kicked out because you made her miss too many classes."
Sesshoumaru growled and turned away, sniffing the air carefully for any traces of Kagome. The demon chuckled as Sesshoumaru left, enjoying himself immensely. "This is going to be more fun than I thought."
!# Kagome #!
Kagome groaned as she woke up, the headache pounding in her head. "Sesshoumaru, can you pass me the aspirin. I promise, I won't even thank you."
"Sorry, love. I am not Sesshoumaru, nor do I have any aspirin." Kagome shot up, then clutched her head at the resulting pain. She'd forgotten what had happened. "I see that you are fully awake now. Welcome home, Kagome."
Kagome opened her eyes slowly, relieved to see that everything was dark. "Hojo, where are we?" She asked, trying very hard not to kill him.
"Somewhere safe, I assure you." Hojo answered. "That Sesshoumaru cannot harm you now."
Kagome glared at him. "Hojo, this isn't funny. Let me go home."
"But, you are home now." Hojo said soothingly. "The priest will be here momentarily. We'll be married, and then you'll never have to leave again."
Kagome stared at him in shock. "Are. . . are you kidding me?" She whispered.
"Not at all. We can finally have the life we've always wanted." Hojo said dreamily, leaning down to try to kiss her.
Kagome bit his lips, snarling as he jumped back. "Are you completely delusional! I don't want to marry you! I barely even like you! I wouldn't marry you if you were the last guy on earth!"
Hojo growled. "You will marry me! Even if I have to force you every step of the way!" He turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Kagome sank to the floor, tears slowly dripping down her face. I'm screwed! Damn it, why didn't I just stay in the Feudal Era. . . oh yeah. Because I was mad at Sesshoumaru. He was just lashing out because I was right, and I blew it out of proportion. Shaking her head, she whispered softly to herself. "Sesshoumaru. Please, if you can hear me, help me. I need your help."
!# Amaterasu #!
Unmeikeirai appeared next to Amaterasu, who remained fixed at the mirror. "If this doesn't work out, Unmeikeirai, you are fired. Actually no. You're worse than fired. I'll send you to hell myself!"
Unmeikeirai shivered, knowing how serious her mistress was. "This will work, Amaterasu-sama. I promise."
Inugami, who sat beside Amaterasu, sputtered. "This is cheating!" He protested.
"No. This is ensuring an investment. There's a difference." Amaterasu said absentmindedly, focusing her attention on Sesshoumaru. "Damn, that pup's an idiot. Remind me why I put up with him?"
"Because he's the ruler of the Western Lands?" Unmeikeirai suggested. Amaterasu's answer was a death glare. "Okay. I'm just gonna go help them out."
"Good idea." Amaterasu snapped, before turning back to the image in front of her. "Don't let me down, Unmeikeirai. I'd hate to replace you."
"How about a wager?" Inugami asked.
Amaterasu whirled on him. "You're going to bet at a time like this? Her life is in danger! And Sesshoumaru might die, or worse, watch Kagome get married!"
Inugami waited as she turned back to the mirror. Then after a moment, she spoke. "I bet my favorite necklace that Sesshoumaru doesn't kill Hojo."
Inugami smiled. "I bet my tail that he does."
!# Kagome #!
"Okay. On the count of three. One, two, three!" She didn't move. "Oh, come one! Souta's showed me how to purposely get sick a million times! Why can't I do this?"
She focused, but knew that she'd never be able to stick her own finger down her throat to make herself sick. "Darn it!" She thought of being married to Hojo, and her stomache felt queasy. She thought of having to have sex with him, having mini Hojos running around everywhere, of being Mrs. Hojo.
"Oh kami." She whispered, before emptying her stomache of everything she'd eaten that morning. That was easy.
The guards rushed in, and Kagome fell to the floor. "Oh kami!" She exclaimed. "I think there's blood in there!"
The guards stepped back nervously. "Go get a doctor." One of them said.
"Hojo-sama will kill us if anything happens to her." The other one muttered, running out of the room. Kagome pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her mouth.
Ugh, that was so gross! Why would anyone do that for any length of time? She sucked back her pride as she allowed tears to fall from her face. Time to use the little acting skills I have. "It's horrible!" She shrieked, lugning at the guard. "It's so gross!" She allowed herself to sob into the guards chest, being as loud as possible. "What if I do that again! I think I'm just going to die! I hate being sick."
The guard looked around worriedly, trying to figure out what to do. "Um. . . there, there?" He patted her awkwardly on the back, and Kagome took her chance. With a quick punch, she slammed her fist into the guards groin, smiling as he doubled over in pain.
"Sorry. But I am not waiting around to be married to that jerk." She stood and started running.
Unfortunately, the other guard hadn't gone far. She ran straight into him, and fell back. "Ow! Kami, you're like a cement block."
The guard smirked. "Thanks. I work out." He leaned down and picked Kagome off the ground. "I see you're feeling better."
Kagome gulped. "Yeah. That happens after you get sick."
The second guard stumbled out of her room. "Marco! The girl got away! I think she's affected my ability to have kids!"
"I got her, Nando. No need to worry about her getting away." Marco smirked. "Like you would have kids anyway."
The two of them wrestled to get Kagome back into the cell and shut the door. "Don't try it again, lady." Marco sneered. "Even Nando ain't that dumb."
Kagome glared at the door. "Are you at least going to clean this stuff up?"
"You made it. You clean it." Kagome gasped at the thought.
"I'll tell Hojo you were mean to me." She tried. The guards stiffened for a second, then relaxed.
"He ain't our boss, so we won't worry."
Kagome looked around and felt like crying. Sesshoumaru! Help, please!
!# Hojo #!
Hojo dressed slowly, savoring each moment as a precious memory. Tonight, his Kagome would finally be his, and he would be able to protect her properly. She would be his princess, and she would love him as he loved her. Everything would be perfect.
Of course, first he had to take care of that Sesshoumaru dude. Who the hell was he anyway. He was sure Sesshoumaru was an alias, because he'd done a background check. He couldn't find him anywhere. With a small sigh, he shook his head. No thoughts of others tonight. Only of his Kagome.
He checked himself in the mirror one last time, and nodded. Handsome and wantable, as always. Then he headed out, knowing that his beloved would be anxious to see him at the end of the aisle.
!# Kagome #!
Kagome growled at the two women who forced her into a wedding dress. "I'm telling you, it's too small!" Kagome insisted. "Can't you get me a bigger size?"
"This is the dress that Aniki picked out. So this is the dress that you'll wear." One of the women said firmly, pulling the dress down. "You couldn't have lost a pound or two?"
Kagome gaped at the girl as she finally tugged the dress over Kagome's thighs. "There. You're lucky its stretchable."
Kagome felt a bit cizzy from having to suck in so much. "I can't. . . breathe."
"Welcome to being a woman." One of the women called. "We go for style, not comfort. You'll get used to it eventually."
Kagome collapsed into one of the chairs the women had brought with them. She wiped the sweat from her face and turned to the mirror the women had placed on the wall. Kami, I look like crap. This gown makes me look like such a slut. And I'm all sweaty and gross. What in the hell was Hojo thinking?
A knock on the door had the women pulling on Kagome. "Let's go, lady." Hojo's sister commanded. "We've got some serious make-up work to do."
Kagome nearly growled as they pulled her into the room opposite her cell and dragged her into a chair. They got to work immediately. One of the women layered on make-up on Kagome's face, while another nearly ripped out her hair as she pulled it into a tight mass of curls. After a half hour, they stepped back to admire their work. Kagome nearly shrieked. "I look like a street hooker."
Hojo's sister scoffed. "You're much too sensitive, dear. Don't worry about your appearance so much."
Kagome tried to wipe some of the make up off, but was instantly stopped by the other women. "Now, on to the most important part: the ceremony."
Kagome struggled, nearly escaping twice before someone finally got the idea to drug her. Her last thoughts as everything went dark were Why did I ever tell Sesshoumaru to go? It'd serve me right if I ended up married to Hojo.
!# Sesshoumaru #!
Sesshoumaru jumped from building to building, growing more and more frustrated. Where is that damn miko?
"Should we help him out?"
"I don't think we're supposed to."
"But didn't he say we could point the way?"
"True . . ."
Sesshoumaru looked around himself, trying to locate the source of the voices. He growled when he found that he couldn't even tell a general direction.
"What if we just. . ."
"I know what you're thinking, and that won't work. He'd recognize our auras at the least."
"So how are we going to get him there?"
"We could just show him her trail."
The last idea was greeted with a short silence. "I hate it when you're right. Jerk."
"But I'm your favorite jerk."
"You're still a jerk."
Sesshoumaru kept tense, even as a form swirled into being in front of him. "Hiya!" Sesshoumaru cocked his eyesbrow as the figure in front of him came into focus. It was a female inuyoukai, black judging from her hair. "I know you've been eavesdropping on us. So you know that we're here to help."
"Why would you help this Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru hedged. "For that matter, what would you think this Sesshoumaru needs help with?"
"Finding the trail of the miko, Kagome." The inuyoukai answered. "And you need help because you're not used to the pollution in the air yet." The female smiled. "Must be strange, shifting from one time to another."
Sesshoumaru growled. This was the second demon in a matter of hours that knew of his origins. He was pretty sick of people acting like know it alls. In less than a second, he had the female pinned by the neck against a wall. "Female, you will explain how you know of this Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru felt the second presence a second before he felt the attack that hit him, sending him flying to the edge of the building. He barely managed to twist enough to land on his feet. He stood to see a second inuyoukai, a male and a grey inuyoukai, standing in front of the female. "I suggest you keep your hands off my sister old man."
The female rubbed her throat. "Kami, what a jerk." She muttered. She placed ahand on her brother's shoulder. "Calm down, Aniki. You know we can't do anything that would change what will happen."
"I don't care who the hell he is." The male inuyoukai growled. "He ain't touching you."
The female stepped forward and carefully rubbed her face against her brother's throat, a gesture Sesshoumaru recognized as one used to show submission. Most likely, the female was trying to calm her brother down. It worked quite well, as the male's growling lessened. After a moment, the female turned back to Sesshoumaru.
"We are not here to challenge you, Lord Sesshoumaru." The female said calmly. "We are merely here to ensure that what has to happen happens. We can help you find the human miko. Or we can leave, in which case she will most likely end up married to that Hojo dude."
Sesshoumaru merely growled. "This Sesshoumaru needs no help from mere pups." He started to turn away, bur was stopped as the female spoke again.
"Every great man is always being helped by everybody; for his gift is to get good out of all things and all persons." Sesshoumaru froze. This was a quote he knew better than his own name. How often had he heard his father drilling this into recruits' heads? How many times had his father, exasperated with his proud son, quoted his grandfather's famous line to him? But how could these pups know it?
Sesshoumaru turned back, and the female smiled gently. "What will it be, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru arrogantly straightened himself. "You may show this Sesshoumaru the location of the human miko."
The male growled. "How about a please, you arrogant-"
"I would be happy to, Lord Sesshoumaru." The female said quickly, elbowing her brother in the ribs. "I'm afraid my brother has an urgent appointment that he has to go to."
The male growled. "I am not leaving you with-"
The female whispered into his ear, so softly that even with his demonic hearing, Sesshoumaru couldn't hear. He saw the male's shoulders hunch. "But he doesn't know that yet!"
"But his inner youkai probably does." The female said, her voice visibly calming the male. "So don't worry. Besides, I'm not exactly a wall flower. i am perfectly capable of defending myself." A hint of a challenge shown in her eyes. "Need I remind you?"
The male smirked. "Fine. Have things your way." With that, he jumped out of sight, disappearing the same way he arrived.
The female rolled her eys. "He's such a dramam queen, I swear. He's lucky I don't bash his skull in." She turned her attention back to Sesshoumaru. "If you would please follow me, Lord Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru nodded, and the two of them set off across the rooftops.
!# Kagome #!
Kagome woke up slowly, blinking away the last of the darkness. As soon as she could see, she shut her eyes. "Go. Away. Hojo." She snapped.
"Now, is that anyway to talk to your husband?" Hojo asked with a snicker.
Kagome jerked upright. "MY WHAT!" She screeched. "I never said I do at a wedding."
"Sure you did." Hojo said seriously. "The priest asked, and you moaned. We took it as a yes."
Kagome twitched subconciously. "Get the hell aay from me, you crazy bastard!" She tried to slap him but he caught her hand.
:Let the honey moon begin." Hojo said, leaning in-
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kagome screamed, jolting up from the bed. She looked around, and saw that she was back in her cell. "Oh, thank kami." She whispered, dropping back. "It was just a dream."
The door opened, and Hojo's sister entered. "Good. You're awake. It's time for the cremony."
"Kiss my ass." Kagome snapped. Normally, she hated to curse, but she was beyond caring now. "There's no way in hell I'm going to agree to marry Hojo."
"You don't want to make Aniki angry." Hojo's sister said quietly. "What with the debt your family has."
Kagome froze. "Who the hell are you to talk about my family?" She demanded. Before, she'd just been annoyed. Now she was pissed. "You're nothing more than the branch family of a a clan of thieves and whores! My family's reputation is spotless. So don't you dare talk like you know anything!"
Hojo's sister snapped her hand forward to slap Kagome in the face. "Get used to it, Bitch." She shissed. "Cause its gonna be your family too soon."
!# Sesshoumaru #!
The female inuyoukai slowed in front of a large estate. "This is as far as I go, Lord Sesshoumaru." The female said. "You'll find the human miko quite easily once you're inside."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "What is your family name?"
The female smiled. "I can't answer that. You see, it might change history. And then my father would kill me. Literally."
Sesshoumaru nodded, then took off running. The female inuyoukai watched him go, not even flinching as her brother reappeared.
The male smirked as Sesshoumaru disappeared from sight. "Think they'll manage it on their own, Inuhime*?" He asked.
Inuhime smiled. "They did it the first time, Inufugesu*. I'm pretty sure they'll manage a second."
!# Kagome #!
Kagome fidgeted, trying to get out of the ropes that tied her in place. Because Kagome threw a fit every time they released her, Hojo would be walking up the aisle instead of Kagome. She was stuck tied down in a chair. She slowly rotated her wrists, trying to remember the trick she'd been taught to get out a a rope. It wasn't working very well.
Hojo began walking up the aisle, and Kagome's efforts increased. Maybe if I try dislocating my wrist. . . but I don't know how to do that. ARG! I cannot marry Hojo!
Hojo was beside her now. "Are you ready my love?"
"Hojo, I've told you time and time again. I DON'T WANT TO MARRY YOU!" Kagome hissed. "Get it through your think skull!"
Hojo patted her arm. "Don't worry my love, in a matter of minutes, you won't have to be afraid to express your true feelings."
Kagome squirmed away from him. "I'm telling you my true feelings now! I don't love you! At best, you were just a friend, and now you're not even that! Let me go!"
Hojo nodded to the priest. "Begin the ceremony."
The priest nodded. "Dearly beloved, we gather here today-"
"The short version, if you will." Hojo interjected.
"No! The super duper extra long version!" Kagome shouted.
"The short version it is." The priest said. "Hojo, do you take Higurashi to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." Hojo said.
"Higurashi, do you take Hojo to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"Not in a million years!" Kagome shouted. "No! Nien! Non! Neicht!"
The priest froze. "I thought you said she wanted to marry you?"
"She does!" Hojo insisted. "Kagome, tell the truth."
"I am telling the truth. I do not want to marry you!" She shouted.
Hojo pulled his hand back in a gesture Kagome recognized from when he'd hit her before. She preempted him with a strike ofher own: a kick straight to the balls. "Don't you dare try to hit me, you psychotic asshole!"
"You little bitch!" Hojo shouted, lunging forward and placing a chokehold around her neck. "I'll kill you!"
Kagome felt the darkness starting to close in on her as her air was cut short. With her last breaths, she managed to get out one last statement. "Fuck. . . you. . . asshole." She whispered. In her head, she began to cry. Sorry Sesshoumaru. I let you down. Now you're going to die too. And it's my fault.
Suddenly the pressure on her throat disappeared. Blinking rapidly, but losing the fight to the darkness, Kagome tried to find her savior. She smiled softly when she found him. "a knight in shining armor." She whispered softly. "Thank Kami." Then she fainted.
Sesshoumaru looked down in confusion at the human miko. A knight in shining armor? What nonsense is she spewing?
Who cares? Let's just get her home. And let's take the human boy with us.
Sesshoumaru grinned. For once we agree.
"Who the hell are you?" A female approached Sesshoumaru. "You are interferring with a marriage ceremony." Sesshoumaru lifted an eyebrow at the female who dared oppose him. "Security! Get this pile of shit out of here!"
"If by security you mean those guards who stood around, there is no point in calling for them. This Sesshoumaru has disposed of them." Sesshoumaru leaned down and cut the ropes that bound Kagome to the chair. Using his one good arm, he picked up the miko. He turned to Hojo, and growled before turning back to the female. "I will be taking the miko."
The female's confusion was evident. "What miko? You mean Higurashi? Her family merely owns a shrine. They're not holy people themselves."
Sesshoumaru didn't even bother to answer for such foolishness. "And tell the human I will return for him." He smiled, and the female shivered in fear. "I believe the girl made a promise about if he ever bothered her again."
The female was about to speak, but Sesshoumaru was tired of the conversation. In an instant, he was running, faster than the normal human eye could see. He was soon jumping from rooftop to rooftop, speeding to the well that would return him to the Feudal Era.
Two sets of eyes watched them go. "Looks like he made it in time." Inuhime said with a smile.
Inufugesu smirked. "Really, I don't know how they managed to work this out. I mean, he's so dense."
Inuhime smiled. "Why don't we ask them sometime?"
Inufugesu flinched. "I really don't want to know."
Inuhime laughed. "You're so immature, Inufugesu. Really, you're being mated soon, so sooner or later you're going to-"
"Say another word, and you'll die with such a slow and painful death that it would make Dad queasy." Inufugesu growled.
Inuhime just laughed. "You know you love me." With that, she jetted away, with Inufugesu following quickly after.
*
Inuhime: Dog Princess
Inufugesu: Dog Who Defends
-----------------------------------Author's Rant-----------------------------------
Obsessive_Goddess: Aw! Sesshoumaru in Shining Armor!
Sesshoumaru: [twitches] Never say that again.
Obsessive_Goddess: Sesshoumaru in Shining Armor!
Sesshoumaru: I said stop it!
Kagome: It's so cute though.
Sesshoumaru: Who's side are you on?
Kagome: I'm on my own side!
Sesshoumaru: [growls] If you are not with me, you're against me.
Kagome: Any chance of getting in that protective barrier, OG?
Obsessive_Goddess: Nope. You tried to kill me last time.
-----------------------------------Author's Rant-----------------------------------
