InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Commitments Made In Blood ❯ Chapter 9

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Commitments Made In Blood

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or YYH no matter how much I wish otherwise.

Chapter 9

Hiei remembered that night ever so long ago when he had met the girl. He had thought her strange back then, he had no idea she had been from the future. The parted company soon afterwards, his curiosity had been satisfied. He had seen no need to stay and help them with their quest. Sure, Naraku had pissed him off just by being there but that was not a large enough reason for him to remain especially considering the company she kept at the time. Besides, he needed to continue his own quest. The search for his sister.

He often wondered if she had told the dog about their meeting. There was no doubt he would have seriously been displeased to know that his chosen woman was consorting with a strange demon in the middle of the night.

Wouldn't she be surprised to see him again? For he was certain that he would indeed see her again. Youko was determined to meet the girl, he wondered if he should stick to the kitsune just to hear Youko's reaction when he learned they knew each other. It could prove to provide him with some entertainment although he would have to be careful how far he pushed the Fox. He had never seen him so obsessed with one particular female before and he was not willing to destroy the partnership they had formed just because he was bored.

The kitsune in question was now starting the second stage of his self appointed mission. Kurama had easily come up with the address to the shrine and was now on his way there. He had taken special care with his appearance today wearing all black which helped to enhance his appearance, making his red hair and green eyes stand out even more so than normal. He was a stunning picture of elegance that drew attention from many that he passed on his way there.

Many whispered comments to their companions, pitched so low that most people would never be able to hear what was being said. Of course he was not most people, he heard everything that was said. Some of the comments were perverted enough that normally Youko would be adding comments in his head to go with them, the potential of the particular position suggested, or offering an alternative that would ultimately be more pleasurable for all concerned. But Kurama did not have to suffer through that today.

Youko was being silent, fully intent on achieving his goal. He would not allow himself or Shuichi to be distracted by their admirers. In all actuality Kurama was grateful for the fact that Youko was ignoring them. He had long gotten over the blushing stage but there were still occasions that the kitsune spirit could make him extremely uncomfortable.

Kurama noticed that they had a follower but this particular one did not bother him. Although he did wonder exactly why Hiei was coming with him today. After all, he had clearly voiced his opinion on this issue. He thought it was insanity, pursing a miko. Perhaps he was right, but there was no way to know for certain except for making an attempt to meet her.

`You don't think he is interested in the girl for himself do you?'

Youko's tone had turned Skeptical, as if he thought Hiei might actually be giving him competition for the girl. In all the time they had known him, Hiei had never given a female a second look. Of course he disappeared without a trace whenever his heat cycle came around, presumably to work off the extra aggression that accompanied it. Being half Fire Youkai made him even more volatile during those times.

`It's doubtful Youko, he's probably tagging along to see what happens when she rejects us.'

`Tell me you are not going to walk off to her and spout off some cheese ball line like `Will you be my girlfriend pretty lady?' I mean really, you'd greatly resemble someone else we know who shall remain nameless.'

Kurama chuckled, while it might provide Hiei some amusement he was not planning to come across looking like a total idiot.

`No Youko, give me more credit than that.'

`Good you had me worried there for a moment.'

The shrine was now within view. The amount of steps he would have to climb looked like it could easily double the amount of steps at Genkai's. If only there were not so many people around, he could easily get up there bypassing the majority of them. Unfortunately luck was not with him that day so he would just have to climb, like everyone else.

`Speak for yourself Fox.'

Hiei's mind voice was laced with amusement, Kurama was positive he was smirking wherever he was at the moment. Of course he was taking pleasure in the events as they were unfolding before him.

He began to climb the steps as he fanned his senses out to see if Kagome was home or not. He didn't pick anything up besides residual traces of her energy. She hadn't been here in a few days which could only mean she was in the past. Still, it wouldn't hurt to take a look around and perhaps meet her family under the guise of touring the shrine grounds.

As he neared the top of the stairs he caught sight of another young man on the property. Youko appraised the guy before dismissing him. He was a tall guy, not quite as tall as Kurama though. He had short cut brown hair, and was dressed well. But even so he was no competition for Kurama.

He picked up the conversation the young man was having with an older woman. She was the same one he had seen walking with Kagome that day. He assumed she was her mother, there were definite family resemblances.

“Please tell her that I hope she feels better soon, it must be awful going through lazer surgery to correct her vision. I wasn't even aware that she was going blind in addition to everything else she is going through. Who would have thought, ulcers at her age!”

“I will tell her and let her know that you stopped by Hojo, I'm sure she'll be back to normal in a week or so.”

“I'll check in later to see how she is doing. Have a good day!”

Kurama watched this guy, Hojo walk off. It was an odd conversation to say the least, there hadn't appeared to be anything wrong with the girl. It was likely just a cover up for her time travel he reasoned but couldn't they come up with something a little more reasonable?

The older woman sighed and shook her head as she watched Hojo walk off. Really, the kid was entirely too gullible. And it didn't help that her father had to always come up with the most outlandish of excuses. She noticed Kurama approaching and stood straighter. He looked vaguely familiar but she couldn't place him. Perhaps one of Kagome's friends.

“Good Morning, are you here for the tour?”

Kurama gave her one of his most charming smiles before answering.

“As a matter of fact I am. I couldn't help but overhear, is someone in your family sick?”

“Yes, my daughter Kagome is in ill health.”

“I see, I hope she feels better soon. My name is Shuichi Minamino, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“It is nice to meet you as well, I am Mrs. Higurashi. Let's go, I'll show you around myself since Kagome is unable to do so.”

Mrs. Higurashi proceeded to show Kurama around the shrine and explain a few of the different legends. It seemed the shrine tied in heavily with the legend of the Shikon no Tama. Even the tree the hanyou Inuyasha was sealed to resided on the grounds. He could feel the energy radiate from the tree. It was content, the energy that flared naturally around the miko warded off any negative energy. Even the residual energy she left had that effect.

The woman however made no mention at all of a well being on the grounds even though Kurama knew that it was there. He had felt the pulse of power flowing off of it, it was an ancient spell. One predating long before the warring states era. The had built a building around it some time ago even though it was kept in extremely good condition.

It turned out that Mrs. Higurashi was quite a good story teller and Kurama enjoyed the time spent there immensely as did Youko. They spent well over three hours in each others company, trading off what they knew of the legends surrounding the Shrine and the Shikon no Tama. Eventually though they said their goodbyes and Kurama headed towards home. He would drop by the Shrine every few days to see if the girl had returned.

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Inuyasha had been casting suspicious looks over to Kagome all day while they traveled. She had stormed off the night before in a fit of rage over his stupid comments. He had felt bad afterwards about what he had said but he was not going to apologize. When she had finally come back from the hot springs she seemed to be in a considerably better mood. He had wondered what it was exactly it was that had calmed the girl down.

Kagome however was still upset at what he had said and was giving him the cold shoulder. Her thoughts drifted back to the demon she had met. He never had given her his name, he had insisted that it was not important. He had seemed very indifferent to everything. He definitely wasn't one for much in the way of conversation.

He had however advised her to be on her guard and to trust her instincts, regardless of what Inuyasha had said to her. He informed her of the way Naraku was monitoring their movements but could not offer her any advice on how to counter it. She didn't know why he was helping her, when she had asked he refused to answer because he didn't know either. Finally deciding that if she stayed out there any longer someone would come looking for her he sent her on her way back to camp. He followed behind, melting into the shadows of the night making sure she made it there before he left them. She wondered if she would ever see him again.

Finally Inuyasha couldn't take her silence any longer and pulled her aside to talk. Sango, Miroku and Shippo looked on with interest for a few moments before resuming their walk. They decided it was just the two of them working out the problems from last night and nothing to be concerned about.

Inuyasha looked at the girl, trying to read what he was seeing in her eyes. He was certain something had happened after she left, but what was it? Kagome watched him warily, wondering if he had come to apologize to her or to continue mocking her on how she felt. She didn't have long to wait though before he spoke.

“Kagome, what happened after you went for a walk?”

Kagome was startled by his question. She flared her senses out searching for the mysterious demon and found no trace of him at all in the area. It would seem that his curiosity was sated and he moved on to more interesting things. She didn't blame him, it was days like this that she wished she could do the same. Traveling was boring.

“I went to the hot springs to think.”

He knew what she told him was true but he got the distinct feeling that she was leaving something out and she wasn't likely to tell him what it was.

“And?”

He wasn't going to let this go. She didn't think he had smelled the strangers scent on her, after all they hadn't touched so there was no reason for his scent to mingle with hers. No, he couldn't know that she had met someone last night and since the mysterious demon had left she saw no reason to inform Inuyasha about him. After all, if she said anything it would set him off screaming at her once more for leaving the group and allowing herself to come into contact with him.

“What, can't I leave to think Inuyasha?”

“Keh, not when I think you are hiding something from me.”

“Well perhaps if you weren't such an arrogant, egotistical, rude, jerk at times I wouldn't even need to leave to go and think. You baka! You think you can insult me like you did and not have me react in some way? Hell, sometimes I wonder if you even do think. Just leave me alone Inuyasha.”

“Hell no! I won't leave you alone!”

Kagome was about to retort when she felt the dark presence intensify and whatever it was she was planning on saying died on her lips. Inuyasha took in the change in demeanor and noticed how the blood drained from her face. The argument could continue later.

“What is it Kagome?”

She concentrated thinking it was perhaps him again, having returned from wherever he had disappeared to. To her disappointment it wasn't. While the strangers aura was dark and foreboding it didn't have the sickening feel of evil that this one had. She knew this presence anywhere. She had felt it weakly last night right before the strange youkai had attacked the watcher.

“Naraku.”

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he assumed a defensive stance, drawing the Tetsusaiga and looking about warily. Sango whipped around immedietly upon hearing the sound of his sword leaving it's sheath. She unstrapped the Hiraikotsu quickly, ready to launch it at whatever threat it was that the hanyou had sensed. Miroku quickly followed suit, his staff ready to slice down any opponents. Kirara transformed into her larger form, bathed in flames. Shippo took safety on her back shortly afterwards.

They all tensed, waiting to see where the threat was going to come from. The minutes drew out slowly, the only sound in the area was of the wind blowing through the trees. Inuyasha's ears swiveled in every direction trying to pick up the slightest movement. He slowly started to relax. Nothing was happening, he was questioning Kagome's sensitivity and was beginning to wonder if perhaps the girl was just being paranoid.

It was then the attack happened, one of Naraku's puppets erupted from the ground in the middle of the group. Inuyasha launched into action with the Tetsusaiga. Unfortunately the position they were all in hampered his ability to use it. For if he unleashed the Wind Scar it would carve a path right through his companions as well.

Miroku was equally hampered, his wind tunnel once more rendered ineffective. His friends would be sucked in as well as the puppet before them. He resorted to attacking with his staff and ofudas until they could reposition themselves.

Hiraikotsu could not be used at the moment so Sango laid the weapon on the ground and unsheathed her katana. She had no issues with slicing through this opponent, as long as they could get close enough. The tentacles were always a hindrance.

Kagome readied an arrow, waiting for the right moment to loose it. She had to be extremely careful though. Her aim had improved considerably but she was by no means a master archer and she knew it. And with her three friends attacking at different intervals it made it extremely difficult to find an opening to attack.

When the right moment came she fired, the arrow glowing with her holy energy. However the puppet managed to deflect the arrow with a tentacle, knocking it off of its correct path and towards Inuyasha. He managed to deflect the arrow with his Tetsusaiga but unfortunately the energies of the two weapons clashed and the Tetsusaiga reverted back to its original form.

Inuyasha cursed, it would figure that something like this would happen. There were many times he wished Kagome knew how to fight with a weapon other than the bow, there had been too many instances for his liking when something had gone wrong and it always involved her arrows.

The puppet laughed at the difficulty the group was having and taunted them while throwing multiple attacks. Eventually it would wear them down, they still had not managed to change positions so they could revert to their stronger attacks. He had effectively kept them in place, herding them with it's tentacles in whichever direction it wished them to go. And now that the Tetsusaiga was rendered temporarily useless it could accomplish what it came for. The death of the Miko.

The puppet launched itself towards Kagome, reaching out with it's tentacles. They wrapped around her with a crushing grip. Only a bit more pressure and it would snap her spine. Inuyasha watched in horror as her face contorted in pain. Heedless of his own safety he threw himself at the Naraku puppet, using his claws to slice through the tentacles that held her so tightly.

Kagome dropped to the ground screaming in pain. Not only had the crushing grip fractured some of her ribs but the miasma that the puppet contained splashed against her bare arms. It burned horribly, she felt like she had her arms bathed in fire. The combined pain of her injuries overcame her and she sank into oblivion, quickly losing consciousness.

Inuyasha heard her cries but there was nothing he could do for her at the moment. He had his hands full with the puppet. He drove it back, away from the fallen Priestess and into a better position for them to be able to fight it. Sango immedietly took advantage of this development and dealt the deathblow with Hiraikotsu just as Inuyasha attacked with his Iron Reaver Soul Stealer attack. A wooden doll wrapped in hair fell to the ground. Inuyasha quickly crushed it and turned to the fallen girl.

“We need to wash this shit off of her.”

Inuyasha picked her up carefully, not knowing the full extent of her injuries and sped off to the closest source of water that he could smell. Miroku and Sango joined Shippou on Kirara's back and followed after him. Thankfully the river wasn't far off.

When he reached the water he walked into it still carrying Kagome, not caring about how soaked their clothes were getting. Gently he bathed her, washing off all traces of the miasma. It would take a while for the skin to heal, it had been badly burnt by the toxic gas.

Sango and Miroku had already set up temporary camp, waiting for their return. When Inuyasha came through back from the river, Kagome was still unconscious and her breathing was labored. He feared there were internal injuries as well but he wouldn't know until she was examined. He laid her gently down on her sleeping bag, Sango was already getting out a change of clothes for the wet girl. She gave him a pointed look.

Inuyasha went over and dragged Miroku out of camp so Sango could examine the girl and get her into some dry clothing. They didn't need an audience and he would be damned if he would allow the monk to see his chosen mate naked.

Author's Notes: None at this time.

Reviewer Responses:

Autumn Norris: Kentaro is an OC, we probably won't be seeing too much more of him in the future although I do have one particular scene in mind for him and Youko. We'll see how it works out. Thank you for the offer on information for a triangle with Kenshin, I'll probably take you up on it when I get up the nerve to attempt that particular story :)

Ox King: Hehe the answer to your question will be coming soon. Youko isn't going to be thrilled with the knowledge I can say that much. Sadly, Hiei isn't going to be getting any action as far as a triangle goes. Shuichi/Youko is going to be extremely possessive of her I fear. Pity anyone who dares to touch what is his. I may have to work that in there somehow. Means I'll have to think of a new character for that unless I use Naraku. Hummm decissions decissions.

Myrrdinowl: Thank you, I'm glad they're coming across so well. I'm still not certain on when the other three stories will be updated. I received a ransom note for my missing muses, lets just say their captors were not thrilled that I threatened to allow my dog to slime them to death.

Xoulblade: I have too much time on my hands lol All I do is sit and think of updates for these stories. And get random plot bunny attacks. I'll have a new story coming out probably within the next three days. Let me know when you put out a YYH/IY crossover, I'd love to read it. I'm still trying on my other stories, just nothing is coming to me yet. Hopefully soon.

Shabopo: Thank you for your compliments, I hope I continue to put forth chapters that are as enjoyable as these are.

deafening silence: Hehehe When Youko is ticked he makes sure everyone knows it. The poor computers, hopefully all that negative energy didn't damage anything. As for the updates, they'll continue like they have been until this muse gets kidnapped or gets fed up with the salary she gets paid, whichever comes first. Hopefully that won't happen until the story is finished but I make no promises.

Thank you for the reviews everyone! Enjoy this chapter, with luck I'll have at least one or two more out before the night is over.