InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Chaos ❯ A Night of Peace ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, YuYu Hakusho (As much as I'd love to) or any of the anime/manga characters.

Warnings: Strong Language

A Night of Peace

 

As the figures emerged, both women rose, despite their injuries, their weapons in their hands.

“Easy there!” a voice said, surprised. Yusuke's face caught the moonlight and the women instantly relaxed, their burst of energy turning into a crash.

The sight of the two demonesses, covered in blood and wounds, was a shock to the group as a whole, but something else caught their attention.

Suddenly, the demons smelled the massive amounts of blood around them and Yukina was instantly at the girls' side.

“Jesus, what the hell happened here!?” Yusuke barked, holding his nose closed against the overwhelming scent of demon blood.

“We were… ambushed,” Kagome panted as both hers and Kagura's body became enveloped in blue light. Slowly, the wounds covering their bodies receded into small pink lines, and both of them sagged against a tree in relief.

“You've both used a lot of energy,” Yukina whispered, her eyes wide.

“We felt an explosion and came running,” Kuwabara added, eyeing the demonesses.

“I actually made that good of an impact? I'm surprised I could even lift the Tetsusaiga at all…”

“Don't use energy while you're out of reserves again, okay?” Kagura asked, relaxing as Kagome's head gently fell on to her shoulder.

“Okay,” she said breathily. “I'm tired…”

“We'll set up camp here, for the night,” Yusuke said decisively. Kagome had enough time to nod and whisper a small “Thank you” with her exhaustion conveyed in her tone before she, along with her demoness pillow, blacked out…

 

Kagome's eyes slowly slid open to reveal darkness and trees surrounding them. Before she could even think to panic, her memories returned and she sighed. Something warm and soft was under her head, and she had absolutely no intention to leave the comfort. Closing her eyes again, she moved closer to the warmth.

A slight chuckle had her eyes wide open and she looked up to find Kagura staring down at her, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Wha-?”

Kagura put her finger to her lips and gently slid Kagome's eyes closed again.

Kagome's face turned bright, tomato-red when she realized that the warm, soft pillow under her head was Kagura's lap. At least she understood why she was amused, with how she'd practically buried her face into the warmth. That thought made the shade of red even worse, and she groaned.

“How long have I been out?”

“About three hours,” Kagura whispered as Kagome sat up.

“Oh good, you're awake,” a voice nearby said, surprising the miko.

She looked up into the tree she and Kagura were leaning against to find Hiei sitting on a thick limb, his blade held by his lap. The pose reminded Kagome viciously of Inuyasha doing the same, and her eyes burned with the sudden need to shed tears.

“So, we found a lead,” Yusuke said, suddenly making her aware of the others nearby.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Two snake demons said that there was a rumor about some psycho demon that smelled like a human about thirty miles south.”

“However, the survivors of the village are looking for you, so it would be unwise to go anywhere until daylight,” Hiei said, his eyes scanning the surrounding darkness.

“So we're here for the night?”

“Yes. As long as we're in the forest, there's a very high chance we'll know if an ambush is coming.”

“Don't be so sure,” Kagome said, stretching. “Then again, you've got some psychic powers, so maybe you'll do better than we did.”

“That brings up a good point,” Kurama said, appearing at the base of a tree next to Botan, who was looking around with fear.

“What?”

“What did happen before we arrived?”

“Two of Naraku's new puppets showed up and kicked the shit out of us,” Kagura sighed, bitterness filling her voice.

“Seriously? How'd that happen? Were they some kind of psychics?”

“The bitch with the scythe was, but it didn't help her get past our defenses. We were just too damn distracted.”

“What distracted you?”

“It's not important, right now,” Kagome said, sensing Kagura's building anger. “Maybe all of the blood on me messed up our senses.”

“Yeah, right. It was these damn emotions! She snuck up on us because of them distracting me.”

“Regardless, it's quite impressive that you managed to kill them with Kagome's pre-existing wounds,” Kurama said before standing up. “I believe I will go do some reconnaissance deeper in the woods.”

“I'll go survey the sky,” Botan said before her oar appeared.

“I'm not going to watch you, so don't get yourself killed,” Hiei said dismissively.

With a pout, the reaper lifted off the ground and Kurama vanished into the woods.

“Does anyone else have a bad feeling about being here?” Kuwabara asked, looking around warily.

“It's just you, oaf,” Hiei sighed.

Kagome's hand found the Tetsusaiga and tightly wrapped around the sheath.

“Perhaps the human's paranoid,” Kagura said, smirking.

“I don't sense anything,” Yusuke said, glaring at Kuwabara. “How about you, Kagome?”

“I sense something, but I don't think it's anything more than some animals… Are there even animals in the Makai?”

“Low-level animal youkai wander the forests. They're usually too stupid or weak to be more than an annoyance. I'm sure the fox will weed out anything annoying. Not that they'd get past me, anyway.”

“I need to go kill something,” Kagura growled, standing and quickly disappearing into the woods.

“Will she be alright?” Kuwabara asked, sensing the rage coming from the witch in waves.

“Her wounds are healed, but she's as lacking in youki at the moment as Kagome,” Hiei said, staring at her. “Perhaps she should be brought back, but she moves quickly, even without using her wind magick.”

Kagome was instantly up, sword in hand.

“Be right back.”

And then, she too was gone.

“Anyone else feel like that was planned?” Yusuke asked, having noticed the eagerness with which they'd vanished.

“It was not planned, just convenient, detective.”

“You read their minds?”

“No. I can't read either of them, for some insufferable reason… It's merely a hunch. Or did you not notice their strange closeness?”

Yusuke simply glared at the trees, feeling like he'd be gone too, if he had Keiko there…

 

“So, think this is far enough?”

The reaper dropped from her low hover, looking around them.

“Probably, but is there such a thing as `far enough' with Hiei?”

“He's uninterested in what we do,” Kurama said, shrugging.

Sweeping one more wary glance around them, a small, secretive smile formed on her lips. She stepped closer to the kitsune, closer than she would ever dare when others were able to see.

“I'm worried,” she sighed as her head came to rest on his chest.

“Anything in particular that's worrying you?”

“This whole thing! King Enma wants to kill Kagome to break a jewel that he thinks she'll give to a demon when she's been turned into a demon protecting the damned thing! And whoever this Naraku demon is, he's obviously a devious puppet master, or he'd be dead by now.”

“I believe that the same could be said about me, if you'll remember,” the avatar said, smirking.

“But you were never evil, fox boy,” Botan argued, glaring at the ground. “I'm worried that, if we meet up with this demon, something horrible is going to happen. Two of his incarnations did all of that damage to those two, and there's no doubting that they're powerful.”

The redhead gently stroked her back, trying to be comforting.

“There is no doubt they are both incredibly strong, but they had quite a lot working against them.”

“What?”

“Kagome was already wounded and her senses were not functioning properly because of the sensory overload caused by all of the youkai blood. Kagura was no doubt distracted by worry over Kagome, and she has not had a heart long enough to overcome emotions and fight properly. Most of the wounds either of those girls have received since the witch showed up were inflicted protecting one another. Naturally, if they were distracted and ambushed, it would not be too difficult to gain a large advantage.”

“You talk about them like they're in love,” Botan said, giggling.

“Indeed, it does come out that way, doesn't it? But thinking about it logically, it seems the most plausible explanation. They seem to have no problem putting themselves in harm's way to defend the other. Sound familiar?”

Botan's face became bright red and she shook her hair, trying to cover her blush before he saw. The chuckling rumble of his chest told her she wasn't quick enough.

“You're adorable when you're embarrassed,” he whispered, making her face even brighter.

“Why does everything you say sound so condescending?” she pouted, but only half-heartedly.

“It comes from having a kitsune engulfed in his own ego, I'm afraid,” Kurama said, shrugging. “But he's asleep right now, and I believe we have at least an hour before Hiei becomes interested in our activities.”

The implications of what he said weren't missed, and the reaper's face became impossibly red.

“So, is that why you got me all alone out here in the Makai with you? Planning to take advantage of me?”

“Me? Never,” Kurama said with feigned shock.

Her lips turned up and she couldn't help the giggles that came.

“You're bad,” she said, laughing.

“Not yet,” he practically purred, his arms tightening around her somewhat.

“I wouldn't really mind, but I think I'm too worried right now,” she sighed.

“Well, being a comforting person isn't exactly my forte, but I'll give it a shot,” he said, lifting her and gently sitting down with her in his lap.

“We'll all make it through this. It's not the first time Enma's gotten too focused, but it will pass, and we'll all be fine.”

“How can you be so sure? The last time King Enma was this focused, Yusuke was almost killed.”

“And yet here we are,” he said, pulling her to his chest. “If it will make you feel better, I'll take you somewhere after we return.”

“Where?”

“I don't know. Somewhere you can relax for a while. And somewhere private, so I can make our bond official.”

At that, her eyes widened.

“Already? It's only been a year since you saved me. Are you sure you want to go through with it?”

“I'm tired of hiding, and Hiei's interest in my disappearances has been steadily growing for a few months now. It will come out, one way or another, and I'd prefer it to be under my terms.”

Botan simply let out a high, girlish squeal and wrapped her arms around the avatar…

 

Kagome POV

I quickly ran through the woods, following Kagura's scent. In less than two minutes, I caught up with her and immediately hid myself.

“Goddamnit!”

She swung her fist into a tree next to her and it practically exploded from the impact. Blood rolled from her hand, but she didn't seem to notice.

“Naraku, if you're listening, I want you to know that I'll make your death slow and excruciating,” she said, glaring at where the tree had been. “These damn emotions are a curse, and I hate you more than ever for making me so weak before you failed at killing me. But know that, just because you didn't pull off killing me, it doesn't mean I'll make the same mistake.”

And then, she swung her fan and a massive vortex of wind filled the clearing around her. Blood filled the air and I watched as several dozen Saimyousho fell in pieces to the ground. She then spun around, and her eyes locked instantly on me.

“Go back to camp, Kagome.”

I straightened and met her glare.

“You're pissed, I get it,” I said, walking up to her. “And I really don't want to sound like a bitch when I say this. I really don't… but suck it up, Kagura. Having emotions is what makes you mortal. Yeah, they suck at times. A lot. But if you learn to use them, they are a seriously powerful weapon. Inuyasha used his emotions and human side, and it's because of them that he could kill the demons that he did.”

“That's fine for the hanyo, but I've never been so weak as to let two half-wit puppets sneak up on me. This damn heart! The only good thing about having it is that I'm not in that bastard's control anymore.”

“You really hate it that much?” I asked, sensing something strange in her words.

“Yes. If I could, I would destroy the damn thing and be done with these emotions. They've been a pain in the ass since I started having them, and now it's gotten to the point where I'm too confused to be effective in a fight with lowly demons like those scum.”

“Naraku's the main problem right now. Having emotions will be an asset, if you learn to control them.”

“Please! You're face was like an open book back then.”

“Yeah. That was before I got held in a cage for a week without knowing whether my children were safe or not. And if I hadn't learned to control my anger, I'd be dead by now in that castle. You think I don't understand? Emotions caused me a lot of pain when everyone died, and Naraku was using them as an advantage while holding me. So I learned to control them, and I managed to get away because I didn't lose control and let my power go.”

I hadn't meant to say that much, but it just kind of poured out when I opened the dam on my pent-up emotions. And, unfortunately, it seemed to make her more angry.

“Oh, boo-ho,” she growled. “I've been around for several hundred years more than you. I've seen lots of shit that's making it hard not to kill myself now! The things I've experienced here were fine when I didn't feel anything, but now I want to just die and make myself not relive any of it anymore. And now, this `love' is making me careless and distracted. I can't afford to be like this when I kill Naraku, or I'll be the one killed!”

I met her glare evenly and took another step toward her.

“Kagura, you're not the only one that wants him dead. It's obvious that neither of us are too thrilled about things, but I'll be damned if I don't have a hand in ending his life. It's the jewel's fault he's as strong as he is now, and as the jewel's protector, it's my responsibility to fix things. And, regardless of how it happened, I'm starting to feel love again. And this time, I won't let anyone die because of it.”

“Thanks for the concern, but I can handle myself,” she growled, her youki starting to engulf us.

I stepped closer, putting me right in her face.

“He turned me into a fucking demon by making me eat the youki-filled remains of demon corpses! I don't give a fuck what you think Kagura. I'm going to have a hand in his death, with or without anyone's help. You were born a demon, but me? I had to choke down the bloody heads of a big snake demon and a raven! So don't act like you're so goddamn high and mighty about suffering,” I growled.

Evidently, I'd made a surprising point, because the youki around us died down and her eyes widened. We glared at each other for a short eternity, neither of us even moving enough to breathe. And then, much to my surprise, something pushed me from behind and I fell forward, taking her with me to the ground. When I opened my eyes, I realized with a shock that our lips were locked and she had her arms around me.

Emotions engulfed me, bringing tears to my eyes at the sheer force of them. She stared into my eyes and suddenly, she released her hold on me. And then, even more surprising, I didn't take the opportunity to move away.

Eventually, we both just fell asleep, and when I woke up, I felt the others coming toward us, and I realized I'd fallen asleep with Kagura's arms around me. As quickly and gently as I could, I shook her awake and we both jumped up, moving toward out team. It felt like something big was about to happen, and we were going to be hunting for Naraku with a new lead now…

 

A/N:

Okay, there's chapter 11! Really sorry about how long it's been, but this is my first romance scene I've written at all, and it took me a while to get it close to what I was thinking. Well, next chapter's got violence in it, so expect it out much sooner.

Til' next time, see ya!