InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Intertwined ❯ It's in the details... ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: All characters are products of Rumiko Takahashi, and Togashi Yoshihiro's minds, not mine.

 

 

 

A/N: Oh my! I have to thank Madmiko first off, for nominating my story for best Action/Adventure for the 3rd quarter in the Inuyasha Fanguild. And thank you to youkaiRus for seconding. Again, I am so honored to be nominated for anything…win or not, it's really such an honor. *hugs* Congratulations to all of the winners! ^_^ Now, I'm sorry that this took longer than it should have to be posted; it's been mostly finished for a while, but life has been repeatedly kicking me in the head. XP I tell ya; I'm ready for some good news…maybe a nice fat winning lottery ticket…Hee hee!

 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

The Intertwined

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 13

 

 

 

“So then…how do we do this?” Kagome tapped her finger to her jaw line. She surveyed the area with a critical eye as they approached to find the best spot to roost during their bath. Both of them gasped loudly when Sesshomaru suddenly jumped into the trees around the stuffy, steamy air of the spring without a word.

 

Inuyasha predictably scoffed, “Keh, show off,” he mumbled, following suit. The sounds of rustling trees lasted only moments as both males wordlessly settled in their chosen points, and then all heard was the soft sounds of the water. The fact that the two couldn't be seen made Sango a bit nervous about disrobing; they weren't even making a sound!

 

Somehow, Kagome sensed Sango's apprehension and looked toward her, “Come on, Sango…does Lord Sesshomaru seem the type of person to peep on a couple of humans? Surely Inuyasha won't look either with him here to tease him for it,” Kagome reasoned to her friend as she dropped her bag and unhooked her tunic.

 

“Honestly, no, he doesn't seem the type. But then I never would have expected it of a monk either before I met Miroku,” she replied while scanning the trees, Kagome nodding in concession. Still not seeing a sign of their guard dogs, Sango sighed. What the hell…they were taking a bath whether the brothers were going to watch or not.

 

Shrugging and removing her kimono, she looked back to Kagome, “To tell you the truth, he doesn't seem the type to tease, either, but that didn't stop him from picking on that moronic wolf all day,” she chuckled as she moved to her slayer's suit underneath.

 

Kagome giggled as she finished disrobing down to her underwear, “Well, can you blame him? That wolf really just sets himself up to be teased,” she said matter-of-factly.

 

Sango froze and looked at her oddly, “Kagome, that doesn't sound like you; usually you're the first one to stand up against that sort of behavior,” It sounds more like something I'd say…

 

Wading into the heavenly warm water, the miko sighed, “I know, I've been doing that a lot lately,” she looked up to Sango as she also waded in, wearing underwear that Kagome had provided for her some time ago. Looking at the bandaging on Sango's shoulder that matched her own, she continued on that train of thought, “I'm concerned that whatever Naraku did to us has tampered with our behavior and emotions…like we're…leaking into each other or something,” they both reached the deepest point of the spring where the water hit them at the ribs, and Kagome dipped down just to the bandage to keep it dry, “I keep getting the oddest urges, Sango. And they tend to strike me as the kind of things I would see you doing.”

 

Sango frowned in concern; she understood entirely because the same thing had been happening to her. She would have to be certain to mention the strange light she'd been seeing, “Like what?” she asked her friend gently, also dipping into the water down to her chest with her hair coming to float around her.

 

Kagome cleared her throat and faced Sango while softly paddling under the water, “Well, I want to go running…a lot. I feel the constant urge to get my hair out of my face, and even when Miroku's not groping anyone, I want to slap him for being such a perv. I fantasize about groping him back,” she blushed and grinned widely, “I know that's not mine, because I've never felt that way before. Do you really think of groping him back?”

 

Sango blushed; so she'd been caught, but at least it was only Kagome, “Kinda…,” she mumbled with a little smile, “But what about you? I'm always staring at Inuyasha and Youko's ears! Not to mention that admittedly beautiful tail…I think you may have a fetish; it makes my fingers strangely twitchy,” she grinned wider.

 

Kagome sputtered, “How do you know what fetishes are?!”

 

The slayer looked sheepish, “I might have borrowed a couple of the books Miroku fell asleep reading. The one that covered “fetishes” had me so embarrassed just to be reading it, but I couldn't believe how informative it was and you can't divert my attention,” she lifted her hand from the water and pointed her finger at Kagome, who now wore a wry smile.

 

“Alright, so I might have a fetish…though I think it's your fault I keep wanting to curl up in Lord Sesshomaru's Mokomoko-sama,” Kagome blamed her counterpart, standing to dodge the answering splash from Sango with a giggle.

 

“Shhh!! Don't forget who's just beyond the bushes…I don't want him to hear,” Sango whispered nervously like a little girl with a crush. She fidgeted under the water and inched closer to Kagome, “I feel bad enough for being attracted to him when I know how I feel about Miroku…especially when I bean him for doing the same thing!”

 

Kagome nodded with a sly smile, “And how do you feel about Miroku?” she pressed, knowing full well the answer.

 

Sango crossed her arms under the water, “Don't give me that, you know how I feel about that adorable pervert,” Kagome only raised a brow above that infuriating grin, “Mou, don't make me say it out loud! Besides, I think I'm not the only one who has feelings to admit to here,” she pointed at Kagome again.

 

The miko grimaced and also lowered her voice, “I know…I gave Inuyasha so much mess over Kikyo because of my feelings for him, and here I am being dazzled by and another pretty face with matching ears!” she dropped her face into her palms, “Oh, Sango…I think we are so confused,” she peeked between her fingers with a sigh, “At the very least you haven't groped Sesshomaru and asked to bear his child.”

 

“But I do keep staring at him,” the slayer blushed furiously with a nervous glance to the trees.

 

Her companion also looked up at the trees, “Well, we're women surrounded by beautiful guys,” she reasoned, hoping to justify herself as well, “We may not know men in that manner yet, but that doesn't mean we're blind, right?”

 

She was answered with a sigh, “I guess… It just makes me feel like I'm no better than Prince Idiot,” Sango groused at her mention of Kanaye's attention, “Now I understand how Kouga's declarations did nothing for you, Kagome; it's quite annoying now that I see your side of it.”

 

Kagome laughed, “Yes, but now we look back on it and laugh,” she said, headed for her bag to get their supplies, “I'm sure that someday, we'll do the same about this,” I hope.

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

Inuyasha was unhappy that his brother had felt the need to implant himself as a guard, but he still could have smirked; he must have been right when he'd figured that Sesshomaru was just as leashed as the rest of them. What confused him a bit was how his brother seemed to know of feelings he'd had trouble admitting even to himself for the longest time. It had taken him and Miroku a couple of years to suggest as much to each other about the women in their pack, yet Sesshomaru already knew…how annoyingly perceptive. He probably even knew how the girls felt in return…if only he were close enough to the spring for him to hear more than mumbling between the two right now…

 

“They're talkin' about us, I just know it,” Inuyasha grumbled.

 

He still had his eyes closed as if he were sleeping, so Sesshomaru nearly shocked Inuyasha from his branch when he spoke up in return, “They were. However they have spoken mostly of their symptoms,” he opened his eyes and pinned Inuyasha with exasperation, “Do be quiet, you make it difficult to concentrate.”

 

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Companionable silence reigned while the women lathered up their hair, but Sango ended it shortly, “Hey, Kagome…” she started unsurely with sudsy shampoo running down her face and shoulders.

 

“Hmm?” Kagome acknowledged distractedly as she switched to conditioner.

 

Wiping the soap from her brow, the older woman bit her lip lightly, “When you sense the shards…” Kagome's eyes snapped to her own, her hands freezing in place on her head as Sango continued, “What does it look like? I mean…is it in your heart, or do you actually see it?”

 

“Are you...?” Kagome asked warily, also wiping the soap away from her eyes, “I mean, I…it's hard to explain, but it's kinda both,” she watched Sango drop her eyes to the water, “Why? What are you seeing?” she pressed.

 

“Well,” Sango wiped her forehead again, “When I have my head turned away, I see this strange pink light in the corner of my eyes. It's a lot like the way your hands glow when you're angry,” Kagome instinctively looked at her hands, “…but when I try to look directly at it, I see it no longer; I only know it's still there,” she tried explaining as best she could.

 

The younger half sighed at the information as she watched Sango wipe the soap away again. She grabbed her conditioner and approached, handing her the bottle, “Rinse; it'll strip your hair if you leave it in too long,” she instructed softly, “It's the conditioner that we need to leave in longer,” Sango nodded and did as instructed, and then silently slathered on the conditioner. The miko also rinsed while she thought on what Sango had said. It worried her, but there was nothing for it.

 

Once Sango had her hair rinsed of the natural conditioner, Kagome spoke up again, “Sango, I think you may have absorbed some of my ability to see the shards. It seems to be in your peripheral vision, but your heart takes over directly,” she spilled out, “It isn't exactly the same for me, but I still think that's what's happening.”

 

Wiping excess water from her face, Sango nodded, “I thought it might be.”

 

Kagome sank further into the water, wetting the bandage she'd tried so hard to keep dry, “I've had so much trouble because of that ability; it's almost always been the base reason I've been kidnapped so much,” she lamented, nearly bursting into tears for allowing this to happen to her closest friend.

 

Sango fully stood and shivered under her wet bra in the cold air, but moved over to Kagome, sinking deeper with a comforting arm around her and wetting her bandage as well, “Kagome, it's not a bad thing, only a change. I wouldn't want to be connected this way to anyone else. If it will make you feel better, no one need know of this okay?” she smiled when Kagome looked over at her, “Now cheer up; I can feel your sadness, I think. It's time to finish here and go warm up…what d'ya say?”

 

Kagome sniffled, but nodded with a smile.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Wonderful. Now the slayer possessed an ability to sense shards. Though she didn't seem to have as deep a connection to the jewel as the miko, it was enough to be exploited if it were ever found out. He would have to be certain that this would never happen; she and the miko had won his respect early on --not an easy feat. The miko's luck with that jewel had given her nothing but trouble throughout their journeys and she seemed to draw it like vultures. If the slayer now held the same luck, they would be dealing with more trouble than their original group could rightly handle.

 

It was a major reason Sesshomaru had taken it upon himself to remain with the only beings alive, aside from Rin, that he considered worthy of his regard. At first he'd needed aid from those he trusted to cure Rin's ailment, then he reasoned that he really had not much else to do…and then of course, Naraku had shown up. Naturally, he stuck around to help retrieve those who'd earned his esteem. It need not be explored just yet why the sight of the two helpless in Naraku's range had angered him as much as it had.

 

Now that they were a part of his pack, they would need to experiment every other new ability or conjoined trait the women now shared to properly ascertain their position. Whatever had happened to them had obviously been the outcome Naraku had hoped for; he'd looked far too pleased with himself when he and Youko had found him with them in the cave. Because of this, they would need to remain on guard. At the moment, the best course of action was finding out why Naraku had targeted such a procedure…and to implant the shields against that creature.

 

Though interaction with Kagura for those shields would be unfortunate, it seemed it would be necessary. It wasn't that the woman was hated, per se, but he disliked the way she groveled. He might not have minded her attention as much if he didn't pity her so, but the woman still allowed herself to be puppet after all these years. She lacked the spirit and fire that both miko and slayer possessed even before the incident that would set her free. It helped her none that she smelled so strongly of Naraku. Still, she was the boy Kohaku's catalyst for escape…that at least was reason enough not to hate her as he should.

 

“I never thought I'd ask something like this from you,” Inuyasha cut in to his thoughts roughly. Sesshomaru opened his eyes and gave his brother a dark look for the intrusion. He sat haunched on his branch a few feet away, turning to glance again in the direction of the women. Unfortunately they were just barely too far away to get away with seeing anything…

 

Inuyasha turned back and shifted a little as he got his brother's attention; he was more or less about to admit to his brother that he couldn't hear as well as a full demon could, “What are they saying?” he asked, feeling disgustingly like a young pup asking his big brother for a cookie.

 

Sesshomaru closed his eyes and regained his posture. Though he expected him to ask that eventually, he'd expected it to be asked a bit differently. Inuyasha usually had a way with demanding everything…

 

Inuyasha shuffled again, “Come on, you're obviously listening to `em…gimme a bone.” Sesshomaru shot his eyes open and snapped them to his brother. Belatedly realizing what he'd said, Inuyasha shrugged a shoulder and smirked, “We are dogs…come on,” his ear twitched.

 

With a glance toward the feminine voices reaching his ears, Sesshomaru nearly sighed as he filtered the conversation for his brother…if only to shut him up, “The women have spoken of their new behavior. Surely you have noticed a change.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, “Yeah, I have…Kagome's arrow from this morning was much stronger than usual. And it was strong before.”

 

“Did you not also see the huntress's weapon charge with miko power, or were you too preoccupied with the miko's…stance?” the Lord teased with his eyes sliding to see his brother's suddenly guilty look, “The women have also divulged into details that should have been revealed to us already,” he went on to cryptically state, “We shall rid ourselves of the blonde and bring these necessary details to the front. The slayer and miko have begun exhibiting behavioral changes which hail from the other, and I should not have to point out their scent change.”

 

“No…that's something that can't be missed,” Inuyasha shook his head, “It's always been easy to tell that Kagome's the berries and Sango's the spice. Now, though…” he trailed off, crossing his arms again. He didn't like not being able to tell the difference he once could…much less the letting his brother know he couldn't. He'd almost forgotten who he was talking to for a moment; Sesshomaru and Miroku almost followed the same trails of conversation. It was unnerving…

 

Sesshomaru watched Inuyasha back out and close off mid-sentence, “Hn… While it may be more difficult, there are differences that remain. That much should be obvious…even to your hanyou nose,” he was never delicate with when giving his brother lessons before, why start now? It was usually entertaining to see his reaction, anyway.

 

Inuyasha glared back at the older demon's comment, “Don't act all superior. I didn't say I couldn't tell a difference,” the hanyou huffed and jumped back to his own branch.

 

“Do not get comfortable, Inuyasha; they are nearly done,” Sesshomaru supplied as he leapt off his spot and disappeared for a moment. Inuyasha also fell to the forest floor, landing on his feet in a haunch fast enough to see his brother intercept a cat of an upper-average class. It nearly looked human were it not for the whiskers and fluffy orange tail.

 

“Out of my way, dog…the seasoned females are going to come with me,” the idiot thumbed at his chest while swishing his matted tail.

 

Sesshomaru continued to stare at the cat with a bored expression, “Inuyasha, the women are preparing to return,” he stated, his fingers already glowing.

 

“Yeah, yeah, I'm goin'…,” the hanyou rolled his eyes as he stood from his place and left Sesshomaru with the doomed demon through the brush. Sprinting through the trees to get back faster, he felt the youki of his brother spike as he used his whip on the intruder.

 

Even as he heard the cat's death behind him, Kagome shrieked from ahead of him. A cry of pain by both women following her yell shook Inuyasha's nerves to the core, “Kagome! Sango!” He yelled, breaking through the clearing just in time to see Sango half-lying on her side, pinning a large creature to the ground with her sword. The animal was still wiggling, but a final arrow shot into its forehead stopped the movement. Both women were only halfway dressed and it was clear that Sango was injured.

 

Sesshomaru shot over his head into the clearing directly toward the smell of blood. The Taiyoukai landed directly in front of Sango over her dead assailant with his eyes strangely wild. Sango looked up at him from where she still hung onto her sword, and it seemed to settle him enough to call back the acid he'd been unintentionally leaking on the creature. It was already dead, after all…though by now almost unrecognizable.

 

It was a porcupine, but it was definitely not of the normal variety. From what was left of the demon, it seemed to have been trying to gather enough power to humanize itself. Sesshomaru looked up from the arrow in its head to see Kagome being checked over by Inuyasha. She had no wounds, but she was clearly in pain. Sesshomaru followed her line of sight to the quills sticking out of Sango's exposed hip, and nearly resurrected the damn animal...

 

“We're okay…mostly. I'm not injured, Inuyasha,” Kagome said at length, finally getting Inuyasha to let her walk, “It came out of nowhere and frightened us both, going after Sango when she reached for her sword,” they neared as she spoke, Kagome visibly shaking with adrenaline from the short scare.

 

Inuyasha squatted down and inspected the spikes as they reached Sango's side, “Kami, There are so many of `em…” he said, grimacing at the angry red skin surrounding the protrusions on her hip.

 

He reached out to test one when she shouted at him, “STOP!! Don't…can't…”

 

Inuyasha looked up to Sango's strained face as she held herself up with one hand on her sword and her other protectively over the quills, “Sango, we need to get you two back to camp.”

 

Sango's breathing was shallow as she shook her head and returned her other hand to her crutch, speaking to him as best she could through the pain, “Kaede. These…quills… She's done it before…I've seen it,” she replied with her eyes closed. Inuyasha frowned and looked over to Kagome, unsure of exactly what Sango was getting at.

 

“Kaede has removed porcupine quills like these before,” Kagome said to him quietly, trying to speak clearly over the pain she felt from Sango, “It needs to be done a certain way or they release a toxin during removal,” she clarified to the males for Sango, the slayer weakly nodding while still clinging to the sword sticking out of the creature. Though Kagome was also feeling the pain, she imagined that hers was not as intense as Sango's was at that point, “We should go before they have time to get infected…”

 

“My poison will stay any infection during travel,” Sesshomaru cut in as he moved behind Sango and began lifting her in his arm, eliciting a hiss and what vaguely sounded like a growl of pain from the woman. He looked at Inuyasha as he used Mokomoko to adjust Sango in his hold, “While the miko appears unharmed, she yet experiences the pain. Take her to camp for Youko's remedies and meet us in the village. Do not take long.”

 

Sesshomaru gave his brother time to nod before disappearing in the direction of Musashi with Sango, who was carefully arranged in his hold to avoid facilitating the pain.

 

Inuyasha watched them leap away when he heard Kagome finally let out the whimper she'd been valiantly trying to hold back so Sango wouldn't hear her, “Come on,” he said softly as he lifted her bridal-style and got ready to leave the spring, “Let's get that fox to make you some pain medicine.”

 

“Wait, Inuyasha,” Kagome pointed to the steaming pile with Sango's sword in it, “Don't forget her sword…my bag…” she swung her finger to the bank of the spring, “And I can walk if you'd rather,” she shyly offered with distress lining her voice.

 

Inuyasha chuckled as he instinctively squeezed her to him, “Keh…nah, you would take forever,” he said with a blush as he retrieved their things and left the site, Kagome still tucked to his chest.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

 

=^.^= OOoooo, waffiness…

 

 

Madmiko—Yeah, I hoped that Kanaye would live up to expectations…honestly, he's writing himself. I tried to keep him away from being a carbon copy of Kouga, but he kept insulting everyone. *sigh* And yes…you read that right! Hee hee! Ayame's a little wary of that tribe because they tried to eat her once. XD I was tickled with the fact that it read the way I wanted it to. *giggle* Kagome and Sango are about to see aspects of each other's lives that they never thought they would… I hope this chapter was worth being spellbound for. ^_~

Yue no Rei—Thanks! Well, when I first wrote him I could see him as a surfer-type. *shrug* It fits him. I'm so very happy that the internal monologues aren't hindering the story any; I feel they're kinda needed when characters begin to change. One needs to know why, right? Thank you so much! *hugs*

Diane—I'm so sorry I made you all wait so long on a cliff…I'm so mean… At least I didn't make you wait forever this time! :D

Kookookitty—Oh, yes! That was one of the first ones I read! I need to reread it; it's one of the ones that got me hooked on Labyrinth stories. ^^; Yay on the interactions! You know, I wondered why she was always put with one or the other too…the more fuzzy ears the better, right? I'm glad you liked the modesty bit; I tried to make it more obvious that they're more than pretty skin to him by now. Oi, and I need to put more of Kurama in this! I meant to have more in the present, but it's taking forever to get there!! *sigh*

VB—I know!! Why can't they just see that?! ^_~ Thanks for the review!

MeLaiya—WOW, what a huge compliment that is! That I was able to keep you interested through the whole thing makes me feel all fuzzy. ^_^ Good to know I'm not the only one who does that…lol I hope you continue to enjoy.