A/N: Sorry that there's been a short lull in chapters. I've been so unbelievably busy lately that I just haven't had the time to write. Looking for an apartment and a job has taken a lot out of me :P Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this new chapter and thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I'd thank you all individually but there's so many it would take FOREVER XD
Hope you guys like this new update!
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Kaka Kara No Bourei
Part Five:
Impression
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When Kagome came to, the first thing she was aware of was the splitting pain at the base of her skull.
The second was the massive white dog that seemed to fill up the entire horizon.
Wincing, Kagome pushed herself into a sitting position and gingerly pressed her fingertips to the shallow cut on the back of her head. Her hair was sticky with blood, and when she pulled her hand away scarlet stained her fingers. Fantastic, she thought bitterly. A concussion is exactly what I needed. I'll never hear the end of it from Inuyasha.
Glancing up, she saw that the giant dog was still there, and wondered vaguely if she was hallucinating. Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought. He looked like Sesshoumaru, only much, muchbigger, and with slightly different markings across his muzzle. Immense strength radiated from him, and she felt the hairs along her arms and neck stand to attention as his power washed over her skin. With an involuntary shudder, Kagome again fought down the urge to flee. Her tearing eyes widened when her frazzled mind finally made sense of who exactly this demonic dog was, and every instinct she possessed was screaming at her to get the hell away. Her reiki was fluctuating wildly, seemingly torn between trying to eradicate a subconsciously perceived threat, or follow the advice of her haywire instincts and lay low so as not to draw the demon's notice.
Kagome trembled as the youkai was suddenly swathed in a livid white aura, and she realized he was once again trapping himself in mortal-like flesh. Using the tree she rested against for leverage, the young miko pulled herself to her feet, but nearly sank right back down to her knees. Her stomach tilted nauseously as her vision swam, and Kagome actually felt the blood drain from her face while she tried her very best not to lose her breakfast.
On the edge of her senses, Kagome could feel Sesshoumaru's aura not a hundred feet from where she stood. She began to shuffle forward despite her dizziness and upset stomach, her only thought being finding her friends- and her bag -to get some aspirin. Sesshoumaru wasn't really a friend, but at least he was someone she knew, and he was close. She could wait with him until the others showed up.
And so Kagome tripped through the dying foliage toward the decimated clearing where she'd last seen Naraku and the Inu no Taisho. Thankfully, she hadn't been blown too far away and it was a short walk. She didn't think her legs could've handled going farther.
As she neared Sesshoumaru and his father, however, the weight of both their auras together threatened to knock her completely unconscious, so it was with even less grace than her usual that Kagome blundered into the once-meadow and caught sight of the Taisho . . .
Still buck-ass naked.
And for Kagome's brain, it was too much.
Her knees buckled, lightheadedness and shock getting the better of her, and the miko was well on her way to reacquainting herself with solid ground when arms like steel coils swept her into the air and held her tight to a warm chest.
A warm, bare chest.
Feeling heat rush to her cheeks, Kagome slowly raised her hazy blue eyes to meet amused, red-streaked amber, and squeaked, "Oh . . . god."
It was easy to see where Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru got their looks from. Inuyasha was ruggedly handsome, while Sesshoumaru was unearthly beautiful, and the former lord currently holding her was like a perfect combination of both. His high cheekbones and lips were all Sesshoumaru, but the shape of his eyes reminded her more of Inuyasha. What really got her, though, was how younghe looked. He and Sesshoumaru could easily be mistaken for brothers, even twins.
Rumbling laughter shook her then, and a voice that made her tingle in odd places replied, "Not quite, priestess."
And her muddled mind instantly shut down.
Sesshoumaru chose this moment to approach, and when Kagome gazed at him over his father's shoulder, her face scrunched in confusion. Her focus flitted spastically to and fro between them. "Sesshoumaru," she began to whisper brokenly, "why are there two of you?"
A slim eyebrow arched in response to her query. "Two?"
Kagome nodded. "Yes," she hissed, "and one of you is naked. What happened to your clothes?"
Fortunately for Sesshoumaru, he was spared answering as his hanyou brother- his timing impeccable as always -skidded haphazardly onto the scene. Wide golden eyes narrowed when they landed on Kagome, then snapped back open once they noted the nude daiyoukai clutching her.
Like usual, Inuyasha spoke without thinking.
"The fuck?"
To Kagome's- and she was sure Inuyasha's –immense surprise, Sesshoumaru appeared beside the half-demon and struck him roughly upside the head. "Mind your language," he demanded coldly. "Such disrespectful behavior is unacceptable in Father's presence."
A low rumbling started in the Inu no Taisho's chest and, pressed against said chest as she was, Kagome couldn't help flushing. "Never mind this old dog," he said, "but to speak so in front of a lady, and a priestess at that, is entirely improper."
Inuyasha looked at his father as if he had suddenly sprouted an extra arm. "Kagome doesn't care how I talk, and don't you start trying to 'parent' me just because you're alive now!" he yelled. "And put Kagome down!"
Raising a brow at his abrasive son, the former lord looked down at the miko in his embrace. "Are you able to stand on your own?" he asked politely.
Feeling her cheeks burn, Kagome kept her gaze on her hands and nodded. "Y-Yes," she replied softly. "Thank you."
Katashi smiled. "Not at all," he said while placing her gently on her feet. "I am always happy to help a beautiful woman."
Kagome started so violently she nearly fell again. What did he just say? She turned to stare at him incredulously, but then remembered his current state of . . . undress, and thought better of it.
Inuyasha watched the brief exchange with narrowed eyes. Striding forward, he grasped the miko tightly by the wrist and began jerking her along behind him as he walked away. "C'mon Kagome, we're leaving."
"Leaving?" she repeated as she tried to keep up with him without tripping. "But . . . Inuyasha . . . your father-"
"Keh, let Sesshoumaru deal with the old man," he said hotly. "I've got better things to do than stand around while he stares at you like a piece of meat."
"What?" Kagome exclaimed. "Inuyasha, have you lost your mind?" She yanked herself away from him and glowered when he stopped and looked back at her. "Your father just returned from the dead, for goodness' sake, and you're acting like a jealous puppy instead of taking advantage of this incredible opportunity! And he was only being nice to me! Don't over think it, okay?" She spun on her heel and began pacing back to the two daiyoukai watching them with combined expressions of amusement and distaste. "Hurry up, Inuyasha! Your dad needs something to wear and your haori is perfect."
Mouth agape, Inuyasha raced after the priestess. "Oi! There's no way I'm letting him have that! No way!"
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Inuyasha fumed silently and glared at his father, who was walking ahead of him . . .
And wearing the robe of the fire rat tied around his waist.
Old bastard can have it, the inuhanyou thought angrily. It's not like I'll ever wear it again after this.
Kagome glanced surreptitiously at the hanyou stomping alongside her, his irritation more than evident. "He couldn't very well walk around naked, you know," she said gently. "And . . . your haori was his first . . ."
"I know that Kagome," Inuyasha snapped viciously. "Look, I don't wanna talk about it, okay? Leave me alone." He bounded ahead of the group then, and Kagome sighed. He certainly was touchy lately, and the unexpected resurrection of the Inu no Taisho hadn't helped his mood at all.
With another exasperated sigh, Kagome trailed after the others as they left the cave entrance leading to the underworld. Sango and Miroku were ahead of her, huddled close together as they no doubt discussed the return of the Dog General and what it would mean for them and their fight against Naraku. To have him as an ally was more than a blessing, and Kagome herself couldn't help but wonder what would happen now that he was alive again.
She also couldn't help but wonder why he kept shooting looks at her.
He wasn't exactly being smooth about it, and she had a sneaking suspicion he was doing it on purpose. Maybe I remind him of Izayoi, she contemplated. I know we don't look alike, but maybe the whole female human aspect is bringing back memories, and if they were together on the other side, he might feel guilty for being forced to leave her.
Of course, if she had thought it through a little more, then Kagome would have realized that, if this were the case, the Taisho would have been looking at Sango as well.
And he wasn't.
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A/N: Wooooo new chapter! I'm SO sorry this took so long guys! I've got six other stories I'm working on and I kinda forgot this one :P but I promise I'll try and do better!
Please review!