A/N: this chap is a filler mostly compliments of yours truly, the rest of it a filler compliments of the anime. not much else to put here except that reviews are well loved here so drop one sometime. anywho, on with the chap!
disclaimer: i don't own InuYasha; my OCS belong to me.
Chapter 25: Born to Live
So far the day was without incident.
He had sent the imp to tend to the dragon and both his sister-in-law and the girl were off picking flowers at the girl's insistence, both promising they would return before the day was done… leaving him alone with his mate. It had been a while since they were actually alone and not facing some sort of threat... It was actually very nice to be alone with her on a day like this.
She yelped as she fell onto the grass, jerking him from his thoughts.
He blinked once before looking at her spread-eagle form lying face-first into the green ground and he coughed to hide a chuckle at how amusing she looked. "If you're trying to fly, might I suggest bird wings?" He mused, his tone teasing.
Ever since she claimed she had used her flying power in the battle with Naraku, she had been trying to outdo her original ten-minute-span and stay airborne longer.
She lifted her head up from the grass and spat out a small mouthful of green blades, pouting up at him with dirt and scratches on her face. "Piss off or I'll kick your ass higher than a bird can fly, baka-inu." She growled.
He chuckled this time, seeming content. "I'd love to see you try, princess." He taunted lightly.
Getsu huffed, shuffling before nimbly lifting to her feet, stomping over to sit with him in the shade of an apple blossom tree. "Don't get so cocky." She grumbled, crossing her arms at her chest as she plopped down at his right side, stretching her legs out in the sun.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and smirked, lifting his hand to wipe the smudges of dirt from her cheeks and chin. "Since when did you consider me an 'idiot dog'?" He wondered calmly.
She pursed her lips and scrunched her face slightly with his cleaning, blushing. "Since the other day when you scared the hell outta me." She mumbled.
"Hn." He nodded sagely, the teasing light faltering slightly at the memory. "I had a feeling you were spooked." He mused quietly.
She nodded slightly, lowering her gaze. "Of course I was; you're the only man I've given my heart to so the thought of your death scares me… And the thought that Naraku was close to killing you…" She trailed off as an angered growl rumbled in her chest, her hands at her ribs balling into fists as her claws dug small crescents in her palms.
"I can't promise that death isn't inevitable because even demons die eventually. But I can promise that even if we're not going to marry one day, the one thing I can do is stay at your side." Sesshomaru stated in a soft tone, his gold eyes hardening in his determination that often amazed her and made her shiver when seeing it clearly written across his handsome face.
Getsu nodded again, slightly blushing when his clawed fingers gently tipped her chin up so he could see her face; she met his gold stare and her own silver eyes softened. "I'm glad to know that, though don't think you can shoulder things on your own. Just as you promise to stay at my side I'm promising the same for you, and that includes my being there to help you."
He smiled slightly and shook his head, leaning in to kiss her forehead before he exhaled and nosed the widow's peak on the top of her forehead. "Of course, and I wouldn't have it any other way." He replied.
She blushed and smiled, kissing him before snuggling into his side, feeling his arm encircle her waist and squeeze. "I still think you're an idiot dog for what happened at Naraku's castle," she mused.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes again, resting his cheek on the side of her head. "So what made you stop wanting to try and fly?" He asked.
Getsu shrugged innocently, leaning her cheek on the fluffy surface of his stole. "I kept falling." She mumbled, sounding embarrassed.
He chuckled, hearing her grumble incoherently as she buried her face into the stole, looking down at her. "I could teach you, again. If you're willing." He offered.
She blinked and looked up at him, cocking her head to one side. "Really?"
He made a face. "I did say I could teach you." He mused.
Getsu nodded, blushing and nosing his neck before kissing him sweetly. "Sounds good." She smiled.
Sesshomaru smirked gently and tousled her hair, letting her hop to her feet, looking giddy and excited as a puppy; he shook his head softly and straightened calmly, still coming to a head taller than her. "Try standing in the air for… ten minutes. If you can stay like that for said amount of time, then we'll try for fifteen. Deal?"
She nodded vigorously before she bounced her weight from one foot to the other. "You got it!" She giggled, smirking before she lifted into the air almost with ease.
He looked up at her as she climbed to well over twenty feet above the ground, lifting his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight of the lazy afternoon. "Good, now stay there for ten minutes." If she manages to stay up for fifteen or even twenty, a little aerial combat practice should be in order, he mused.
She nodded, looking past the trees at the clear blue sky around her, a gentle breeze playing with her ebony hair she had kept in a high ponytail for the day, smiling to herself. "You look shorter from this angle." She declared playfully, smiling down at him.
He sweatdropped and smirked up at her. "Don't get too cocky, wolf girl." He scolded gently.
She stuck her tongue out and blew him a raspberry. "Stow it, fluffy baka-inu!" She teased.
Sesshomaru deadpanned, exhaling patiently and refraining from dragging her down with his whip. "Okay, now try for fifteen." He instructed after having counted ten minutes in his head.
Getsu obeyed and concentrated enough of her power to place herself in a sitting position, folding her arms in the sleeves of her kimono top. "This is easy." Prolly because I've done it before, she thought proudly.
"Very good, you even managed to sit while up here." He declared as he hopped into the air to stand next to her, offering a hand of aid.
She took his hand and stood, yelping as she almost lost her footing, before his hand latched onto her hips and he pulled her to his chest reflexively, steadying her. "Thanks," she mumbled, blushing.
He nodded and let her pull away, keeping her hand. "Don't mention it. Hmm, this might put a damper on the idea of practicing in aerial combat…" He mused thoughtfully, looking pensive.
Getsu blinked and tilted her head to one side. "'Aerial combat'?" She repeated.
"It never hurt to be prepared should your enemy have an aerial advantage over you in battle." Sesshomaru replied sagely.
She pouted slightly and sighed, nodding. "Fair enough..."
He tilted his head to one side, seeing her smile in amusement at his dog-like gesture. "If you don't want to go through with it, we don't have to…" He began.
She shrugged and bounced around, letting go of his hand to hover circles around him. "Can't we do it another day?" She proposed absently.
Sesshomaru sweatdropped again and exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course… Will you stop doing that? You're starting to make me dizzy." He griped, scowling patiently at her.
Getsu folded her arms behind her head. "And if I don't stop?" She asked, her silver eyes teasing.
He growled under his breath at her antics and pouted, seeing her laugh. "I will kill you if you don't." He promised.
She looked thoughtful, tapping her chin with a clawed finger. "Hmmm… nope." She said with a light sigh, bouncing her weight from one foot to the other as she continued to spin around him.
Sesshomaru ignored the vein on his brow twitching in annoyance, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You are so impossible." He growled.
Getsu giggled and grinned cheekily. "If ya got a problem with it, attack me, oh almighty fluffy baka-inu." She taunted, silver eyes glittering.
He exhaled sharply through his nostrils and scowled at her with irritated gold eyes. "Must you call me that?" He lunged for her waist; she squeaked and dodged it, skirting to the side as he skidded to a halt short of where she was standing seconds ago, watching him straighten his posture.
"I'll call ya that so long as I want, darling." She winked and grinned again, reminding him once again of a fox demon.
He growled and leaped at her, narrowly missing her small waist; she leaped at least ten yards away, laughing.
"Given up?" Getsu teased, blinking as she felt a spike in his aura; she dodged the yellow-green whip he sent at her, narrowly dodging another swipe as she bounced around on the balls of her feet.
Sesshomaru huffed. "Not even close." He cracked the whip and sent it at her, the whip grabbing hold of her wrist and pulling her closer.
She growled and severed the whip with a quick spout of blue fire from her right hand's claws, leaping away before her foot brushed against a treetop, breaking her concentration; she yelped as she failed to re-grasp the concentration and was sent tumbling to the ground.
He exhaled as he used his stole this time, sending it at her and watching it coil around her waist like a snake, pulling her up from her dive to the ground and to his side. "Very close." He mused.
Getsu blushed and inwardly noted that the stole felt good, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't act so pious, baka-inu." She grumbled sorely.
Sesshomaru chuckled, looking smug, as he pulled her into his arm, holding onto her hips as the stole receded to coil around his right shoulder. "Have I angered my doting student?" He asked coyly.
Her cheeks flared that reddish pink color he adored most, shoving against his chest armor. "Shove off, fluffy…" She yelped as she almost lost her footing again before he snagged her waist and pulled her close again.
He tsked. "You're being more rebellious than usual today." He mused with a sigh.
She huffed again. "And you're being more perverse than usual." She rebutted.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and squeezed her waist. "Can you blame me for being possessive of the woman I love?" He teased slightly.
Getsu blushed again and looked away shyly. "Well, no…" She mumbled.
He tilted his head to one side. "What is it?"
"You basically said you love me." She mused softly, making his ears twitch.
Sesshomaru looked away and slightly blushed, huffing as he regained his usual confident composure and looked down at her. "Do you not like it?" He asked.
Getsu shook her head, looking sheepish. "No, I mean, I… I love you, too." Her cheeks burned and she looked away this time, fiddling with a few locks of fur from his stole.
His gold eyes widened slightly before they softened and looked like melted golden orbs. "I'm glad." He mused quietly.
She nodded and blushed, feeling herself smile at seeing the soft and happy look he held in his stare, her own silver eyes softening, before she lifted herself up on her tip-toes a little to kiss him slowly.
He smiled and kissed back, squeezing her waist as he deepened the kiss to remind her that he was her mate and that he was a damn good kisser.
Getsu blushed again, sliding her arms to link at the back of his neck.
Sesshomaru held onto her waist tight out of possession as he gently lowered them to the ground, his arm leaving her waist once their feet hit the grass and curling his fingers in her hair, cradling the back of her head.
She smiled happily, knowing in the back of her mind that her father would be proud that she had finally found happiness with someone, even if that someone was a powerful daiyokai like Sesshomaru.
Both sisters' ears twitched when they heard the girl's stomach growl.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I'm starting to get hungry; may I go get something to eat?" The girl asked humbly.
The younger of the two sisters deadpanned when the imp scolded her for speaking out of turn, whacking him upside the head with her long bow. "Quit berating her, she's just a pup, you undersized frog. Rin, go on, we'll stop and wait." She scolded, looking at the girl and winking.
She nodded and smiled lightly, sliding off the dragon's back to scamper off in search of food.
He smirked slightly. "Well I never thought I would see the day you act more like your sister, Kori." He mused.
She scowled at him, a vein twitching on her temple.
THWACK. A large bump swelled on his head.
"And ya'd never thought you'd see the friggin' day where a girl would brain you with a long bow." She sniffed, folding her arms across her chest. Her sister snickered at his vein-twitching expression.
"It's not funny, Getsu!" He snapped indignantly.
She smiled innocently. "I haven't the slightest idea what yer talking about, dearest."
He growled under his breath, doing his best to ignore the giggles coming from both sisters.
Perhaps he should have left them in his home in the West after all…
A fearful scream sounded from where Rin had taken off, making all three yokai perk up; he sprinted past the sisters before they flew at his heels to the scene.
Sesshomaru sliced through the large floating demon arm that had grabbed the girl with Tokijin, the aforementioned human yelping as she fell before the youngest of the trio grabbed her by the scruff and held onto her.
"That was almost too easy." Getsu mused aloud as both imp and girl praised him, earning a sweatdrop from her.
The arm's form shifted until it turned into the form of a cluster of poisonous hornets.
"Saimyosho?" Korihime wondered in surprise.
"Stay back and out of the way; Naraku left some really annoying pests." The hornets reformed into the arm again before them. "Jaken, there should be a hive nearby. Find it." He ordered.
The imp obeyed and scurried off to find the hive.
Sesshomaru blocked the swipes the arm's claws gave off, sending it back before he severed the arm down the middle of the wrist.
The Saimyosho buzzed as they shifted out of the arm's form, sailing at a tall tree overhead.
"Jaken," he began annoyedly.
Rin gasped, pointing at where the hornets had gone to. "Look, Master Jaken, the hive!" She pointed out a cluster of at least thirteen small hornet hives glued to the side of the tree.
The hornets buzzed as they regrouped and dove at the imp and girl.
"Get down, Rin!" Jaken barked as he burned the insects with the staff of two heads before they dodged and then flew at him. "Damn those persistent pests!"
A wave of blue fire and black ice sailed at the oncoming hornets, sending the majority of them down to the ground in pieces or ashes.
Both sisters nodded before the younger of the two perked her ears as the hornets from the hive cluster buzzed angrily and sailed at the imp and girl again.
"Girls, stand back; Jaken." He ordered sharply, making both females blink and then stand aside as the imp ducked; he swung Tokijin at the tree holding the hives, destroying it and making the tree give a loud creak as it fell to the ground from the blast.
"You saved me, Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken blubbered as he and the girl popped up from behind the felled tree.
"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin beamed.
He smirked slightly. "It's not like it wasn't a group effort," he mused, looking to the two sisters.
Both girls smiled sheepishly before an outcry came from the imp; three Saimyosho buzzed and rose into the air from stinging his right arm, fleeing into the darkness of the wood.
"They should lead me to him; Getsu," Sesshomaru beckoned, taking off after the hornets' retreat.
"Hang on, Sesshomaru!" Korihime barked as her sister flew after him until she was at his side, sprinting after the couple.
:::::::xXx:::::::
He tilted his head to one side after checking the dead insect to see it was truly dead with a toe.
"BAKA-INU!" A howl sounded before someone tackled him from the back, making the hanyou yelp and then bark curses at his attacker, yelping again when he fell face-first into the ground.
The trio of humans he traveled with plus kitsune sweatdropped.
Korihime smiled down at the captive half-breed, tugging on one of his ears. "Ironic meeting you here, InuYasha." She laughed.
InuYasha yelped again and growled, wincing when she tugged on his ear. "Great to see you too, Kori, NOW GET OFF!" He barked.
"Um, Korihime, what're you doing here…?" Kagome wondered, helping the female demon get off the hanyou's back, letting her dust herself off.
She jerked a thumb over her shoulder infront of them. "A certain someone was following a scent in this direction and dragged us with him." She explained with a patient sigh.
"No wonder I smelled something rotten," the hanyou grumbled, scowling at the sight of his older brother plus sister-in-law standing patiently yards infront of them, the latter wearing a patient smile most likely steered at the antics of her younger sibling.
Said male daiyokai huffed at his comment. "What happened to the Saimyosho; did you kill them?" He wondered.
He looked confused beneath the indignant scowl on his brow. "'Saimyosho; you mean those insects?" He returned.
"You're so short-sighted; we were following them to Naraku, but now we have nothing to lead us." Sesshomaru snapped.
InuYasha snorted, "let me make one thing clear: I didn't kill those damn bugs!"
"You have an excuse for everything, it's so tiresome." He growled, his hand lowering to the hilt of Tokijin.
He huffed. "I don't have to make excuses for you; I'm tellin' the truth!"
"InuYasha isn't lying, he didn't kill them!" Kagome chimed.
Said hanyou growled, drawing Tetsusaiga. "Stay outta this, Kagome; he's so damn stubborn, he never understands!"
Both female demons exhaled patiently. There they go again...
"InuYasha, I'm not feeling very chivalrous today, so I won't go easy on you as I have in the past." Sesshomaru warned coldly.
InuYasha snorted again, "Cut the crap and don't come cryin' to me afterward!"
Both of their auras spiked when their blades clashed, sparks flying.
"Good grief, those two are such idiots." Korihime grumbled as her sister trodded to stand near her, accepting the embrace from the kitsune and letting him move to sit on her shoulders.
"Sometimes even I wonder what it is I see in Sesshomaru." Getsu chimed, folding her arms in the sleeves of her kimono before turning to the gathered humans and flashing a sheepish smile, bowing slightly in apology. "I must apologize for this; we didn't know you lot were in this direction. We had a run-in with the hornets and… well, the rest is history." She laughed and rubbed the back of her neck.
The trio of humans shared a look before they returned the sheepish smile. "It's alright, we didn't know either. It's just that they're, well…" The priestess assured her, pausing for the correct word.
"Bull-headed lunkheaded baka-inu?" Korihime and Getsu guessed in unison, deadpanning.
The demon slayer chuckled. "Y'know, I think that describes them in a nutshell!" She declared.
Both sisters nodded sagely.
"So it does." The monk chimed with a sheepish chuckle.
The sibling squabble continued until Sesshomaru ripped through the Wind Scar InuYasha used with the Dragon Strike from Tokijin, punting the mighty fang out of his hands and sending it flying before it landed in the ground blade-first, the hilt sticking up as it transformed back into a rusty old katana, rendering the hanyou weaponless as he fell several hundred yards away from the discarded sword.
Tokijin's tip was aimed at his adam's apple, his brother standing tall over him. "I win this time; are you prepared to die, InuYasha?" He growled.
He scoffed and flashed his teeth, "I don't care about my life; just kill me and get it overwith!"
"Sesshomaru…" Getsu groaned and sighed, perking her ears as the priestess trotted forward.
"Wait a sec; do you really wanna know where to find Naraku? Head in the direction of the Ox Tiger! His presence was sensed in that direction!" Kagome exclaimed, making all three yokai look at her sharply.
'Ox Tiger'? So it's northeast? Korihime wondered.
"Shut up, Kagome!" InuYasha barked, glaring up at his brother's likewise gold stare.
"In the direction of the Ox Tiger? Thank you; that's all I needed to know." Sesshomaru removed the threat from his brother's neck, returning it to his side. "You're lucky you escaped death today, InuYasha. Girls, we're going." He added, glancing back at the two females of his pack.
Getsu looked at the humans and flashed a kind smile, trotting after him and waving absently until she sidled to his side and took his hand.
Korihime handed the kitsune back to the priestess, ruffling his hair and smiling lightly at the girl. "See ya. Thanks for the info; later, baka-inu." She winked at the hanyou, hurrying after the couple.
"Wait, Sesshomaru! Why're you after Naraku?" InuYasha called, briefly making him pause.
Sesshomaru scowled forward into the trees. "I have a score to settle." He answered lowly; his hand squeezed reflexively on his mate's smaller one before they continued into the wood.
"Northeast, hm?"
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye as she peeled herself away from coddling the girl, the dying twilight darkening her silver orbs; he nodded and looked ahead. "Hn." He glanced at her again. "You do realize this will get even more dangerous than it already has been. As well as the fact that he wants your demonic powers passed down from your father." He reminded quietly, peeling his gaze away.
She nodded and then snorted, slugging his right shoulder.
Sesshomaru winced slightly, scowling down at her through one open eye. "What's that for?"
"Baka-inu, you don't think I knew that? I know that's why he tried to kill us, why he tried to kill you… to get to me." A fang glinted in the brief grimace. "I don't care how dangerous it gets: I promised that I would not only kill him, but that I would stay at your side. And I meant every word, Sesshomaru." Her silver eyes softened when she looked up at him. "Besides, just because I'm the princess of the Western Wolf Clan doesn't mean I'm weak; you know that better than anyone." Getsu smiled wryly.
He fell silent for a long moment before exhaling and then smirking fondly at her determination and confidence. "I had a feeling that nothing I could say would deter you from keeping your word." He mused.
She smiled cheekily, taking his hand and squeezing. "Not in this lifetime, milord." She replied.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" The voices of Rin and Jaken declared behind them, making both daiyokai look to see the rest of their pack was ready to move; matching smiles stretched across the faces of Rin, Jaken, and Korihime.
Getsu looked at them and chuckled, smiling as well.
Sesshomaru sort of smirked, looking down at his mate. "We're going." He announced, walking off with the female daiyokai in tow.
A/N: well that was a cute filler, wasn't it? hope you lot enjoyed it. i WILL cover the Band of Seven arc, too, in case anyone is wondering. fight scenes plus Sesshomaru equal HELL YES~ xD
*edit: fixed a couple of tweaks on this chapter. also, srsly, +11k views? wow, i feel so loved~ = w= lol
anywho, see ya!