Ayame crawled from beneath a recently slay demon. Gore covered her and she groaned as the fight was long and hectic. Though Ayame received the least amount of blows, a piercing pain continued to flash down her back with each of her inhales.
"Kouga?" She called out. "Kouga?"
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her ankle and with a raised brow, Ayame looked down. The clawed hand looked familiar and with a curious mind, she yanked the hand off of her but heard a moan in reply. The person was not going to budge. She began to pull debris off the body at a quick, steady pace. "Kouga!" She called out. "Kouga, I need help so you better not be dead somewhere."
From the corner of her eyes, she saw movement. "It's not that easy to get rid of me." Kagura, or Ayame, rolled her eyes before answering the conceited wolf demon. "Get over here and help me!" Frustrated, Kagura began to grasps at the junk pile recklessly. "Agh!" She cursed as her claws began to chip painfully close to her skin. A shout of anger escaped her mouth and with adrenaline rushing through her, she waved her arms at the large pile trapping her companion. The debris began to pick up with the wind. "How are you doing this!" She heard Kouga shout above the winds but ignored the question.
Finally the body was uncovered. "Kobiyashi! Kobiyashi," she shouted. Rushing to the body, she collapsed by his side. "Are you okay?"
The black fox chuckled, "You can't even smell death though you call yourself a wolf demon. You can see it happening and you're still too clueless to realize it."
"You're dying, would you like me to quicken the process?" The black fox chuckled. "Still cynical, but at least your scent isn't changing anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm dying, let's not focus on unimportant things and let's focus on me."
"How long do you think you have?" She asked with a frowned marring her face.
"Hopefully long enough to heal." He coughed and blood splashed onto Ayame's face. "Or not. Anyways, here's the thing. I don't know that the hell you're planning, but do whatever you want with the girl, just don't hurt Kouga."
"I would never hurt him intentionally." Ayame told the man and Kouga came closer, "Someone say my name?" He asked with a crooked smiled.
"My brother," Ayame made a gagging sound at Kobiyashi's voice and Kouga kneeled by her side. "No matter where you go, you are part of my pack." Kouga responded and the two men smiled at each other.
It was high noon when they lost their friend.
They listened to his breathing until it grew wet, filled with blood. His heart stopped thumping and Ayame gasped at the lack of beats. Tears fell from her eyes and an arm quickly came around her shoulders. Feeling the comforting arm, a sob racked her body as his death affected her more than she ever though it would.
His embrace allowed the fatigue to overcome her senses and so she placed a chin on Kouga's shoulder and closed her eyes. "He's right, you know."
"About what?"
"Your scent." Her eyelids shot apart. "What about it?"
"When we first met and you were bipolar," he chuckled, "your scent changed every moment you said or did something. But now, for the past few days, it's been constant. I can finally take in your scent and know it's you." And after he said this, he took in a breath, tightening his hold. "And, you do have a heart."
Ayame tried to pull away, "Earlier, you said it wasn't as if you had a heart. But you do. It's a caring, big one causing those tears to fall" more tears fell, he was figuratively speaking. She didn't really have a heart, Naraku kept it from her. Kouga then lowered his head to her chest. His ear placed where a heart should be and told her, "If you listen, you'll hear it beating, in sync with mine."
And Ayame stuttered out, "What?"
Kouga pulled away with his familiar crooked smile and said, "Our heartbeats match."
I have a heart?
-8-
They had sex throughout the day. Both continued with energy and vigor as neither had fatigue until the sun fell behind the lands. Feeling accomplished, Inuyasha pulled out of Kikyou and laid beside her and she pulled a blanket around the both of them before sitting up.
With the amount of times she came, he believed she would be lost is a deep slumber. But then again, she always claimed not to need rest although Inuyasha was sure humans required sleep. She seemed to be waiting for something. Every half second, she would look down at her hands and rub a tongue across her teeth with her tongue. Inuyasha slowly began to ache for her once more.
"That was enjoyable," she said and Inuyasha blinked before a cocky grin took hold of his expression. "The previous experience I had of such acts is not up to par with you."
"And who the hell was that?"
"Naraku," Inuyasha stared at her with shouts and curses stuck in his mind but stayed quiet as she continued to explain. "He raped me. I do not know why he did, but he did. And now he is in search of my sister. He brutally raped my mind, leaving me incapable of fighting back. Then he took my body." Unable to take Inuyasha's stare, she pulled the blanket from his form. "Once my soul returned, I endured a battle inside of myself. For a brief moment, agonizing moments, I was a demon. Now I am not. However, I am not sure what I may be. I do not hunger but I eat. I do not know if I am capable of starvation. I rest but I do not tire so I do not know if I grow fatigue. I hurt, but I do not feel pain."
She paused and brought herself to Inuyasha's laying member, "as you touch me, I feel the heat of the sensual pulse beneath your palms. When you kiss me, I feel the passion deep in my core and my chest explodes. And when you are in me, I nearly jump in excitement. I do not wish to let the source of my senses leave me."
She kissed Inuyasha's chest and he watched her take control. She took his hand and laid it on her breast. He, in turned, squeezed it but she shook her head. She then pushed down his hand and his claws pierced her skin. His eyes shot to her face in fear, but hers was serene and her eyes, closed. She pushed farther and his claws were lost in flesh.
"I do not feel this." She pulled his hand out and licked the blood lingering on his pointed nails. Her chest continued to bleed but the two ignored it.
Inuyasha's member throbbed in anticipation rising with each finger sucked by her seductive mouth. She lowered his hand and lowered herself. Positioning her head between his thighs, he sat up in excitement.
Kikyou kissed his left inner thigh, "I feel this; a heat in my core."
She continued to kiss up before transferring to his right thigh, "this as well." She told him and the heat of her breath had his penis standing erect.
She kissed the tip.
"And this," she said and he shuddered.
-8-
That night was perhaps four day prior to now. Since then, the accident prone Kagome had not a great accident. They were not attacked as well. Sango and Miroku explained their theory to Kagome and she took in the information as if she expected it.
The journey, it seemed, had made Kagome grow. She left her father's home brash, hating demons and ignorant of the dreams of others. She whimpered, whined and complained often. But now, having faced evil demons and humans alike, having been paralyzed, pelted with stones, attacked, judged, and hated and having seen death first hand, Kagome was newly reformed.
Her goal of running away to be free was changed. What was freedom if she was not happy? Kagome's goal was now to find the orphanage and ask to adopt little Shippo. They will have a proper ceremony for Christine and then she would head back home to have a mature talk with both Lords of the Eastern and Western Lands. She would bring up Sango's and Miroku's position and ask for a more practical way to find her mother. Soon they'd go to war against the half demon Naraku.
Those were her plans.
Dyeing was not in it, so as the group approached the villages of the northern land, Kagome decided it was time to inquire about the presence she had felt following them for the past few days.
She opened her mouth but she forgot what she was planning on mentioning. She shrugged and continued down a worn path with the others. "Ah! I see it, I see it!" Shippo exclaimed.
"Shippo, please don't jump on my shoulder."
"Oh," he took the time to scramble off of Kagome before beginning his jump. "I saw it! I saw it!" And he frowned, "I can't see it any more, just a second."
With a pop, Shippo transformed into a pink balloon. Kagome instinctively squealed at the cute balloon and took hold of the kit. "I didn't know you could do this! You sure are powerful." Another pop, and Shippo was himself in Kagome's arm. "Not really." He replied sadly, "I can't do lots of stuff kitsune are supposed to."
"It's okay, Shippo, you're still young and you have plenty of time to learn and grow stronger." Kagome comforted the little fox and a smile emerged from his frowns.
"Um, Kagome, when we get to the orphanage, will you leave me there?"
"Do you want me to Shippo?" Kagome asked and Shippo vigorously shook his head. Snuggling closer to the miko, he said, "I don't ever want to leave you." He felt her nod and grinned at her next words. "I'll make sure not to."
"Come, there seems to be a village not too far from here."
Arriving to the edge of the village, Sango and Kagome noticed something magical. Both demon and human resided in this village. Before running back to Miroku, the girls ventured in to ask questions and investigated.
"Excuse me, but I have some questions; it may make you uncomfortable." Kagome told the first man she came across. He was bent over the road, fixing the path with flat stone paving. "I guess I've got nothing to lose." He chuckled at his joke and Kagome smiled at his personality. "Are you a demon?" The man stood while raising an eyebrow, "yes, I am. Miko."
He had finally realized her spiritual power. Not letting that deter her from her mission, Kagome continued her questioning. "Are there also humans in this village?" The man was growing more suspicious but Kagome could not stop now.
"Yes, there is. We have a peaceful town here, miko. Don't try no funny business."
"No, no" Kagome said in protest, "I was wondering if you accept traveling humans and demons, as well." The man nodded, finally smiling again and said, "always as the northern lord rules." Kagome grinned and turned to see a similarly happy Sango.
She ran to the ex-demon exterminator and hugged her. "This is great!"
"There's an inn between those two huts." Sango replied, equally ecstatic while pointing to a three tiered building. "Great! I'll go get Miroku and you get two rooms with a nod, the two separated."
The rooms Kagome acquired were simple as the small group had little to no money. The girl's room consisted of an armoire filled with blankets to lay down a makeshift futon. When entering, the setting sun was seen through the window of the right wall. To the right of the door, against the wall sat the armoire and to the left of the door, on the adjacent wall, was a low table. Kagome shuffled in and quickly lowered herself to the ground. "It feels good to have proper walls as shelter." Kagome heard Sango exclaim from the door. "I agree Lady Sango, this journey has been long."
"And we are nowhere close to ending it. Naraku is still at large and we don't know where he may be." Sango sighed before joining Kagome on the ground. "So what's next mother."
"Sango…" Kagome sighed out before noticing the smile on her companion's face. "After having a proper burial for Christine, we'll head to my home. Maybe we can reason with the Western Lord."
"Lady Kagome, do you think it is wise to be ignoring this hunt that you are a part of?" Miroku attempted to reason.
"It's not that I'm ignoring it, I just don't understand it. And what's the best way to get information about something other than from the source?" The group nodded in agreement with Kirara letting out a tired mew. "I don't know what I was thinking when I ran away from home. And while I love that I got the chance to meet you all, I still worry about my sister and father."
Sango stood and headed towards the blankets. She pulled some out, with Miroku helping her carry a light pink sheet. "Well, it's getting late, so let's head to sleep so that we can head out bright and early tomorrow." She offered and Kagome agreed. "If any of you lovely ladies deem it to dark and terrifying, please do not hesitate to find comfort in my room. I'm only a thin wall way."
"Leave monk" Sango replied deadpan and Kagome let out a giggle. Shippo shook his had with a sigh and hopped onto Miroku's shoulders. "Let's go,"
"Really Shippo? You don't want to stay with me?"
"Kagome," Shippo replied sounding rather exasperated, "I'm a male, and men and women are not supposed to stay in the same room together. It's not poop-prep-"
"Proper?" Miroku supplied.
"Yeah, it's not proper." Sango giggled at the young boy and Kagome could only smile. "Okay, make sure to keep Miroku safe!" She told the little fox and he nodded. "Of course!" The two bid the girls goodbye and left the room. This left Kagome and Sango to the deed of preparing their bed. Kirara mewed before hopping onto the window sill. The girls worked in a comfortable silence before laying down. "Good night Kagome,"
"Goodnight Sango."
"Goodnight Kirara,'
"Oh right! Good night Kirara!" The girls were responded with a mew and they drifted to sleep.
Before the beds could begin to chirp, Kagome's eyes slid open. The heat had made the room escalated to a stuffy almost unbearable atmosphere. She looked to the window to see if there was any air entering the small room.
The sun was still not up and the window was in fact open. Kagome looked around the room and took note both Sango and Kirara was missing. Kagome smiled. Maybe Sango took up Miroku's invitation. She rolled to her side and slowly turned her smile into a frown.
There wasn't a door there before.
She sat up and took in her surroundings once more. There was an extra dresser and the window was larger. The entire room was larger. She pulled from the blanket and shivered as a breeze hit her naked skin.
She was clothed when she crawled into bed. She pulled the blanket around her and searched the room for her clothes. Before she could find them, the door, that seemed to be a door that would send her to Miroku's room, slid open.
Shocked, she clenched her sheets with a gasp and glared at the man entering. "How did you find me?" She asked and he chuckled.
"I know how to use my nose; and you are a beacon of smells." The man took off his armor and began with the rest of his clothing. "Where are the others?" She stuttered and slid to a corner.
"What are you doing?" She finally let out and the man raised his shaded eyes towards Kagome. He slide off his haori and Kagome smiled at the sight. "Now you are reacting normally." Kagome blinked away the involuntary expression. Opening her eyes, she gasped as the man was right before her.
He took advantage of the invitation. He pulled her close and her blanket fell away. Modesty was lost and she lifted her legs. He wrapped them around his waist.
Soon, she was pushed against the wall and her neck was attacked. "Sesshomaru," she gasped out and he looked into her eyes, "apparently you are affected." He continued to kiss her and she forgot her confusion. When he began to lay her down, she pulled away from her daze.
This couldn't be happening; Sesshomaru was nowhere to be found! How could he be right before her? She looked up at him and his face was like marble. No emotions, not a sneer, smirk or unusual chuckle, so something had to be wrong. She closed her eyes and opened them not a moment after. Sesshomaru was gone and Sango was, once again, by her side. What?
Was this an effect of the Hunt?