Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Mud and scum clumped to her form. She had never thought that she might land on a weak branch, or that there would be so many weak branches in a swampy area. Her once promising chance of evading the demons once more had been shot back at her. The demons still pursued her at the same rate she traveled as they all struggled with the change of environment.
Kagome bit her lip in worry as she concentrated on finding a way to get away from this madness. She had wondered a few times what would have happened to her if she didn't flee from Youko and his thieves in a moment of panic. It couldn't have been helped. The two demons that had been in the room didn't think about her instincts of being cornered and didn't bother telling her if they are friend or foe. Instead they thought to mess with her first and then most likely be more of a friend than a foe.
At this point there is no point in looking at the past when she had greater problems in the present and future. Oh how she wished her red clad hanyou friend would come save the day, or the wolf demon with his constant confessions of love for her, would drop in. In this world she had no one. She once had Shippo but he was taken from her and is in better care, receiving as much of the life he could get that had been taken from him by the Thunder Brothers.
She couldn't even find a demon that might be willing to truthfully tell her where she is in comparison to her home land, no matter if it would be the present or past. She figured she is still in the past but elsewhere in this time. The demons also spoke the native Japanese tongue but in the past dialect. She almost wondered if she could be in some barrier that kept demons in and humans out but she had yet to run into any barrier. As it is, she has traveled several miles in a foreign place with familiar and unfamiliar plants and animals.
Her foot didn't touch the ground as she struggled to grasp a thin branch or vine to get her out of the sinkhole. The sludge reached nearly to her shoulders as she attempted to pull herself out slowly. She could see a thicker tree ahead and then several more appeared in her line of vision. The demons following her still yelled, and screamed profanities in her direction. She pulled herself up into the tree and then launched herself to the thicker one ahead and finally gained ground as she traveled through the trees.
She reached the higher branches with ease, and found more swamp lying ahead but a dry strip of land running left and right. She let her feet launch her to the right with renewed speed and hope. She still hoped to one day cross paths with Shippo again but for now, she is nowhere near experienced enough to take on Youko. She needed to control the conflicting powers and then increase them both. She could not let these demons capture her.
Her determination drove her on as she continued on through the night, not getting a moments peace as she has still failed to lose her pursuers. The crack of dawn showed upon her face as she tried to keep a steady pace. She kept her mind focused solely on escaping but having run hours without rest or pause, her energy is depleting steadily. She figured if she paced herself and continued to think of other things that it alone would keep her determination up, then she might be able to lose the demons and find safety.
None are close but one small pause and she would again be sprinting with them at her heels. As a human, she never could have gone on for such a long period. She would have dropped in exhaustion, been caught at the ambush, or even swallowed up in the swamp.
She could see a glimpse of a glow coming from her chest. She continued her pace as she pulled the jewel out from her robes. She could feel its energy around her body, soothing the aches and giving her a boost in endurance. She softly smiled, it may have just been the jewel, but she felt like she had some sort of friend or ally with the comforting presence it has brought her. It isn't the only time it has helped her out, and knew that it can only do so much to aid its guardian, but the times it did, it brought her hopes up. She tucked it back into her robes and continued navigating through the wilds of the demon infested place.
Youko set out that new day with a goal in mind. Shippo had reached a small growth spurt and needed new clothes. Though he could have just grabbed some from another child's extras, he instead wanted to take Shippo out of the territory and to the village and let him choose new clothes and anything that might catch his eye.
Youko bonded with the kit and seeing Shippo depressed lately, at never hearing news of his mother figure, had made him feel responsible for his distress. He had taken both in and let his mother figure escape and then held the kit as hostage, constantly toying with the miko turned demon as she tried with all her might several times to get her kit back and in the safety of her loving arms. It still shocked him that it looked like she has given up for such a long period, even confessing that he has won and the kit would be in danger constantly with her.
He and the kit are currently walking down a path that leads to the village he sought. He never heard rumors of any demons being self -purified but he also has not heard any rumors pertaining to her characteristics either. He felt wrong for keeping the kit. Who is he to take a kit from a woman who obviously loves the kit as if she conceived the child herself? He hoped by visiting the village it might bring some inspiring news on her whereabouts.
He looked down at the kit, watching him as the kit continued to hum a tune he had mentioned; Kagome had taught him long ago. It was often used to calm the kit of his worries, and bring new hope, a song that she would hold him and ease his doubts, taking away the pain he had already received. Youko couldn't believe he actually felt true guilt for his actions, and not once thinking he would have not liked the consequences to his actions. He always thought of himself but the kit and his mother figure had changed that unknowingly.
It surprised him that he had now on several occasions often wondered about having his own kits. Maybe even a mate instead of a mistress or harem. He had also on a few occasions pictured Kagome being his kits mother or care taker. He had gotten rid of that thought a long time ago, as it is, Kagome is most likely never to return, whether death, capture or something else has prevented it, he doubted that they would ever find out what happened to her.
Thoughts of the next place to target for possible valuables had then entered his mind. He let himself forget all about the missing vixen and also his regrets for past actions. Looking at village ahead of themselves, he scanned the buildings in his vision and checked for familiar energy signatures. Finding a few, that is all he cared about, not who it is, just if anyone there might be worth his while.
Walking past several building, he kept pace with the kit, leading him to the center of town where they will find the shopping district. He glanced at the kit from time to time, finding himself amused at the kits hugely curious eyes looking everywhere trying to absorb every feeling and detail about the place.
"Tell me when you find something of true interest." Shippo nodded his head, signaling he heard. Seeing a stage ahead of them with a person on stage, talking rapidly, his interest got caught and he found himself curious in what the other demons are doing there.
Youko followed the kit's line of sight and looked at the grouping of demons and the stage. He had paused in his step when he realized the kit wouldn't be able to handle such an event at this time. He looked to see Shippo disappearing into the masses of demons.
"Kuso." He swore under his breath. He began pushing his way through the throngs of people, searching for Shippo. He finally found him staring blankly at a bunch of furs hung up on the wall. He could tell it affected him somehow. He placed his hand on the kits head in a comforting gesture; the most he really knew how to give his condolences.
Shippo turned his head to look up at him, tears lining his big green eyes but not letting them fall. "My Father was killed by the Thunder Brothers a long time ago because he had a jewel shard. I wanted to get my revenge and had crossed paths with Kagome and InuYasha shortly after. Kagome had a chunk of the jewel and I wanted it so I could become strong enough to kill the Thunder Brothers, mainly Manten, he donned my Father's pelt around his waist as a trophy to his accomplishment.
I had tricked Kagome and InuYasha and stole the jewel piece she had and it resulted in her being captured by Manten. In the end I and Kagome were almost killed by the older brother Hiten, when Manten was killed. InuYasha was able to kill Hiten and after thinking we had died, it was then discovered that my Father's Spirit had protected us from death. I'm scared that Kagome might have fallen to a similar fate to my Father. Before we had been separated from our group, I wanted to grow up to be stronger than InuYasha and the rest so I could protect Kagome after she had continuously been selfless to her wants and needs to ensure myself and the rest of us would always be taken care of.
She always thought of others before herself and made friends out of supposed to be enemies. I just don't know if she could have survived alone all this time. She has always been the main target for enemies, the one who kept everyone and brought everyone together by her kindness so she was always protected and in long distance battle, using a bow and arrow. Never close combat; it's against her nature to be so close to such gruesomeness. What would I say to the others if we ever cross paths again?!"
The guilt of his actions increased as he listened carefully to the upset kit. It never showed on his face but he pledged once again that he will accept all responsibility to the kit in place of Kagome and his fallen parents. He isn't certain how well he would do, but he will give the kit anything he needed and as much comfort as he knew how to give.
He steered the kit away, as they past cages with demons trapped inside. Soon they had bought the kit new clothes and even some bigger ones in case of further growth spurts. He decided to let the kit have the day to spend time exploring in the demon village. He found that the crowd around the stage had grown considerably and some higher ranks were also there. Trying to ignore the unwelcoming feelings that grated on his nerves, he bought Shippo some sweets, finding that it usually brought his spirits up.
The sun reached its peak as they lay on a hill watching the clouds go by. Quickly growing accustomed to the kits ways to pass time, knowing he had most likely learned the majority of it from the vixen. He learned the concept of staring at the clouds and could too name shapes and such to the clouds. Some of the things the kit said sounded foreign. Finally wanting to get his questions answered he began asking what these objects are that he speaks of.
Shippo thought on what Youko had questioned. His eyes widened considerably and then he studied Youko for a bit, as he seemed to be gauging Youko on if he is to be trusted with some huge secret. "We both know that you know if I lie or not, and don't think I am insane either. You see, where myself and Kagome come from, the human and demon world, she actually doesn't live there or here. She actually has yet to be born. She travels through a Well from her present time, 500 years in the future, to the past by myself, InuYasha, Sango, Miroke, Kirrara, Kaede and countless others. She brings these tough scrolls with her called books that she studies from since education is required where she is from. In the books there are pictures of several futuristic things from her time and even a book on past events in Japan. She can read and write and knows about many other lands that we have yet to discover. Humans have accomplished a lot over the span of 500 years and their lifetime has been expanded a little bit longer due to medication and cures for several illnesses."
Youko openly showed how stunned he is, knowing the kit did not lie and truly is not delusional, so it only meant that it is in fact the truth. He lay back on the grass, letting his mind roll around thoughts of the future and once again thinking of the vixen. Glancing once more at the kit, and seeing his sweets have been finished, he gracefully got up, waited for Shippo to do so also, and then proceeded back into the village.
Youko spent some time talking to a few of the demons, not hearing much of interest. He felt Kuronue's presence closing in on him from the sky. He looked at him, about to discuss a matter with him, when tons of commotion came from the opposite end of the village. He looked over there and could smell familiar scents on the breeze. His eyes narrowed; clearly disturbed by his findings but that one scent alone had him taking long strides toward the injured demons.
"Damn bitch will learn her place, that or die. She cost us heavily." One demon growled in between gasps of pain.
"Shut up idiot. I warned you that she is the missing one. What did you expect, for her to be easy in capturing, it's been months since the incident. Her capture is going to more than make up for the chaos she had brought." The other grumbled.
Youko walked straight up to the demons approaching the healers hut. He grabbed them by the neck and lifted them off the ground, his face showing his displeasure. "Where is she? I can smell her on you, and I can smell if you lie." His gaze alone had them shaking for a moment but dare not yell back at him nor give any details. His grip changed slightly and soon a plant began growing and wrapping around his arm as viscous jaws came from the buds of several flowers. "Allow me to introduce you to my death plant. It doesn't like it when I am unhappy; its appetite is quite enormous."
"S-She is b-ba-back there!" The one demon pointed behind them in the direction they had come from. Youko dropped them and left his plant there to devour the demons and their annoying existence. He left Shippo and Kuronue to catch up with him, knowing the bat demon wouldn't let any harm come to the kit.
Yelling in the distance up ahead, signaled the whereabouts of the rest of the group. He appeared behind them as it appeared they had surrounded a hole in the ground, more like a planned trap, that by the smell of it, had worked in the demons favor. "I suggest you leave before I have the forest eat you." The demons all turned to him in anger, clearly not enjoying his unwelcomed presence.
Instead, the leader yelled at them to attack. Youko dodged their failed attempts to conflict injuries to his person. The trees grew jaws and became alive while the undergrowth helped aid the trees in feeding them the hunters. Youko stood victoriously while the trees finished feeding. He cautiously approached the hole and found he couldn't see the bottom of it.
Without another thought, he jumped in; feeling cramped as he neared his landing and instead, stopped himself before hitting a battered form at the bottom. The frail exhausted figure looked up at him, still conscious but clearly uncertain about its new predicament. The grin that grew across his face seemed to further upset the other as it began growling in warning.
He examined her condition from where he had steadied himself. He could see her ribs nearly poking out, the weariness and exhaustion in her eyes. The damage done and the 6 tails she now sported instead of the 3 he could remember. It showed just how much had been accomplished during the passing of time. He carefully jumped the rest of the way down, hearing the growling increase.
"You're a fool if you think for one second, that your growling could scare me or even make me flinch. This will be the second time I save you in this form, the second time overall. You should think better of your threats when you no longer have a choice. This time you will not be escaping from my watchful eyes." The jewel never once rejected his approach and that alone irked Kagome to no ends. He swiftly scooped her up for the second time in his long life. A vine grew down the hole and he grabbed hold as he commanded it to pull them up.
Once getting out of the hole he took notice to Shippo and Kuronue's presence. The kit couldn't seem to form any words upon resting his eyes on the frail black, scuffed up form of a fox in Youko's arms. Kuronue picked the kit up and followed Youko back into town. Once out of town, Kuronue, took to the skies, giving Youko space to speak to the vixen in private, and Shippo time to recover.
Youko picked up pace slightly. He could feel her blue eyes glaring at him on occasion. His eyes narrowed at her when their eyes connected. Hers equally displeased as he refused to keep pace with Kuronue. "Your glares have no affect on me except to further irk me after I just literally saved your hide for the second time. I presented a goal for you to work for and you look at me as if I am cause of all your current issues. You can thank me later for taking such good care of the kit in your absence." He knew he had struck a chord and meant to do so.
Having her back changed things. She obviously hadn't been wasting time while away. More likely she had traveled quite a distance and been chased by those demons for a long period of time, if her appearance and lack of nourishment is anything to go by. He changed course and headed to water instead. He left her by the river after telling her to stay put and not gain the attention of other demons. He then left in search of food. Wanting to have her in a better condition once she is fully reunited with Shippo.
He returned and found her still licking at her wounds. He tossed the dead rabbit at her paws and found a grimace on her face. Figuring she liked her meat cooked still, he quickly had a fire made and the rabbit cooking. Knowing it may be some time until it's done he set about cleaning Kagome's fur of the grime it had built up.
Happy with that part, he checked the meat, finding it still quite raw. He looked back down at Kagome, still in her fox form and then changed to his. Kagome was a bit startled upon seeing a silvery fox with red eyes next to her in place of Youko. Not wasting time and wanting to keep her on edge, he allowed his bigger frame to shadow over hers as he then began prodding through her fur with his nose, cleaning the wounds she could not reach. She flinched at the sudden contact and remained stiff all throughout his attentions upon her body.
Successfully receiving the results he wanted, he turned away and transformed once more. The meat had finally cooked through so he took it off the fire and let it cool before letting her have it. The sun now is now approaching dusk as it finished its rounds for the day. He continued to stare off while she nibbled at the food and slowly gained her appetite back, having not eaten for several days and being used to the hunger pains.
His mind continued to drift as the sun began to set and the stars started to appear in the gradually getting dark, night sky. The breeze played with his hair and teased his clothes as the tranquil silence surrounded them. Seeing a change in his peripheral vision he looked at Kagome and found her changing in appearance.
Her clothing under the cape had been shredded nearly, and barely covered a thing. Her cape looked more like a ragged blanket and all of it having dried blood and grime covering it. When he noticed she has been glaring at him, he let his eyes connect with hers as he sent her a smirk, further fueling a blush and her anger. He gracefully stood back up and took his top off; handing it to a still mute Kagome that had her eyes shut tightly. Feeling a new cloth against her skin she peek an eye open and found an article of white clothing and looked at Youko, finding him without his tunic, just his hakamas and slippers on.
She blushed further and turned around after confirming that he had indeed turned around. She quickly took off all her clothing and put on the tunic. The tunic ended up being too big for her small curvacious form. She kept trying to keep it from showing her breasts and other parts but kept failing.
Youko looked behind him to see what the issue is and instead got a rock thrown at him. He swiftly dodged it and appeared behind her. Quickly growing a vine and shocking Kagome as he adjusted the tunic and tied the vine under her breasts, and then another at her waistline. He then attached some sort of plant under her tail that kept the material from parting too much and then one on either side of her waist.
"Done; this should do for now until we find you proper clothing." Even though she didn't, he could still see an ample supply of her cleavage, being taller than her and all. He kept that to himself. He turned in time to see a few higher ranking demons step out from the forest. He kept himself in front of Kagome, for some reason not liking the thought of another demon getting a chance at seeing any amount of her curvacious body. His eyes narrowed in displeasure once he had an inkling of a possible reason they approached him.
"Is there any reason why the "great" Youko Kurama would need any other female in his harem?" Not receiving a response he continued. "I thought not. If you hand the vixen over to us then we will have no further qualms beyond the norm. She had been promised to us once she is captured after her change and you are thwarting out attempts at retrieving her." The demons are lesser nobles in the mass area. All power hungry like most are but not just with themselves but also in territory and family.
"How pathetic; you went out of your way to have a miko turned into a demon so you could bed her and have strong heirs to the throne. Your impudence has cost you a large sum. The vixen stays with me and any attempts to take her will be accounted for and paid back in a larger amount. Do not forget who I am and what my primary skills are. You're treading my territory and natural habitat; anything can eat you, by my will alone." He insulted them further by turning his back and putting out the fire and then scooping up Kagome and vanishing from their sight.
Kagome had never once thought that she was actually targeted because her miko capabilities. It stunned her to silence, but she did know that it wasn't due to her identity as the guardian of the Shikon No Tama. It almost escaped her that she is being held by a bare chested Youko Kurama, resting her head on his strong chiseled chest. She 'eeped' as her blush returned in full force.
Youko glanced down at her red face, seeing it spread into her cleavage area. He looked once more at his surroundings and stopped short, which caused Kagome to hold on to him by instinct. His sexy smirk in place as he looked down at Kagome who seemed to get lost for a second before scowling at him. He walked just a bit further until you could see the hot springs and feel the humidity and moisture. He let her down by a tree and placed an arm in front of her, resting it on the tree.
Seeing her confused glance, he slowly placed his mouth near her neck before whispering huskily. "None of my supposed, harem had been recruited by me or persuaded in any way by me. They are more or less around hoping I would bed and pup them due to my riches, power and fame. They are of no competition to you, lovely vixen." He then licked her neck sensually, hearing her heartbeat thumping fast in her chest and her quick intake of breath. He quickly pressed his body against hers and captured her lips, giving her bottom lip a small nip and suckles before giving her one last kiss, then vanishing.
Her loss of support gone, her knees felt weak as she fell onto the ground, touching her lips, unable to wrap her mind around any other thought beyond Youko's words, the feel of his breath and tongue on her neck, his body pressed against hers and lastly, the feel of his lips on hers. She had never been kissed before, just that one time when InuYasha was fighting his demon blood for control.
She stayed slumped on the ground longer until she finally pulled herself to the hot spring. Still uncertain as to how she should feel about any of this. She finally relaxed against a boulder, just barely registering a disturbance in the water until she could feel hands massaging her scalp and lathering her hair. The hush tone of Youko's voice drifted to her ears. She couldn't find it in her to do anything more than just relax even though her and most likely him too, are both naked in a hot spring with little space between them.
She could feel his hand touch hers, dropping some sort of powder into her hands before she could hear him dip his head under the water. He then resurfaced and sat in front of her with his back turned. She figured he wanted her to clean his hair in return, so she set to work lathering it up, massaging his scalp and giving into her hand's desires to touch his ears. Hearing a rumble in his chest she giggled a bit. Finally after enjoying playing with his hair and ears she let him get it rinsed out while she did the same.
She finally resurfaced once again, wiping the water from her eyes and trying to blink into focus but not seeing what she expected. A finely tone abdomen, feeling surprised she stood up further and was instead, face to chest with Youko. He gave her a smirk before placing a hand on her upper back and another under her chin, slowly kissing her while he made it more heated and steered her so her back is once again against a boulder. He lightly caressed her, not wanting her to think they would be moving towards sex, although he wouldn't turn down the offer. He sat down and pulled her into his lap, letting her arms circle around his neck. He broke the kiss as he began stroking one of her ears while he traced gentle kisses along her jaw and then lightly sucking at her pulse on her neck.
He could feel his demon lengthening his fangs, trying to stake a physical claim on her. For some reason he backed off and went back to kissing her all over. He had quickly reigned in his beast and just kept things from going too far. Part of him continued to beg him to claim her entirely but he ignored it in favor of keeping it this way.