InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Another Opens... ❯ The Reuniting ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 2- The Reuniting Recap: Ginta’s hurt, Kouga’s hurrying to get help...and a messenger’s on the way. What happens with the group now? Together again, can they adapt to the new changes in their relationships? Read on!
No, Inuyasha isn’t mine.
Kagome was waiting outside for them, hands clasped together.
She darted forward-Inuyasha sighed, ready to embrace her...to be praised and comforted and-he wasn't. Miroku and Sango, following her out, hid grins at the expression on his face.
"Thank you," she murmured, hugging-damn it! Sesshomaru? She hugs his brother, not him. Wench.
"Hm. See to your mate. We have much to consider," he detached her, and nodded to Inuyasha. Kagome smiled at him, reached out a hand, and he rebuffed her, arms folded as he looked away.

"Why bother?" Inuyasha grumbled, and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine then," she said dismissively, and turned to go back inside. Fangs ground together.

"Wench! What sort of greeting is that?!" he yelled, all his stress bursting out in the harsh bark, and her spine stiffened. Sesshomaru shook his head slightly. This should be-amusing. Their public quarreling was unseemly in any case.

"Kagome," she turned at once when her pack leader spoke, making the hanyou scowl. Kagome looked at Inuyasha and Sesshomaru...and realized...oh no. Darn it. Sesshomaru adored her, but had limits on what he would tolerate when it came to decorum. She bowed to her packsecond, palms pressed together.
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha, I didn't mean to upset you," she apologized, and he was stunned. Kagome usually threw something at him or yelled osuwari when they argued. She never just deferred to him! But...
Inuyasha realized slowly-he was her packsecond...he ranked her. No more insults, if he told her to remain somewhere safe, she'd have to now! Hah!! Maybe there were some benefits to this pack business. Kagome would have to defer to him, as a mate ought to anyways! She was his, as mate and packsister now, she ought to be obedient and respectful to him. He was the man, after all! He decided he could get used to this.


Of course, he was rather innocent of the subtleties of Inu society...

"Well. Next time, you'll greet me properly then-wife," he informed her with a smug nod. He'd be magnanimous, and refer to her as she wished. Even if they were mates, not married in some ceremony.
Sesshomaru's eyebrow rose slightly and he glanced at her. His half-brother was on dangerous ground. So long as it was handled privately...and did not embarrass him, he cared little. The baka undoubtedly would deserve whatever punishment she rightly meted out. Baka. Myouga had apparently left some odd gaps in his half-brother's grasp of such things. Kagome's education, on the other hand...

A nod to them all, and he quietly went to see to his child.

"Of course, husband." Kagome replied, her expression mild as milk. Sesshomaru almost pitied him as he left, knowing her.
Almost.

***

Inuyasha looked around the main room of his lair, and shook his head. This was weird. Sango and Miroku, Kirara curled up in her smaller form, that was one thing. He could have expected that, possibly-it was the other three people in their home that were odd. The little girl, the Imp and Sesshomaru, leaning against the stone wall opposite the fire, looking around without seeming to. Hell, Sesshomaru in his territory-here even, without swords out was too strange to consider. A meal was rapidly vanishing as they settled for a talk.
The youkai Lord decided he would observe. Sango and Kagome, he understood their relationship from observation and his bond with his packsister. The monk and his half-brother added to it was interesting, they had defeated Naraku, uncounted youkai together. Including himself. He was most curious to see how they worked together without conflict involved. Kagome teased him that he ought to be part cat, and it was true that he had a quickly repressed urge to poke around. The fact that his brother's deeply impressed scent in the cave was actually causing him to relax as he would in any truly safe territory-was as strange to him as it had once been to Kagome that she wasn't scared of him anymore. They hardly knew each other, really...their discussion brought him from his musings.
Miroku, in his way, was doing the same thing with the hanyou pair and Sesshomaru, noting how they were positioned. The monk was willing to bet that at dawn this morning...this would never be the case. But it was. Remarkable, these packbonds. Inuyasha was seated, with his back partially to his brother...wide open to attack without concern, just holding Kagome's hand as she sat with him.
Who had just related the situation to the humans.
"Hm. Is this Lord Yotogi reliable?" Miroku asked.

"He is. He never leaves his territory unless something very bad or very important happens, but he's one of the first with news, it's kinda-his hobby. His pack have a very important holding, he keeps an eye on the Lynx and Wolves for us. A little odd, but he's a good person too, I've met him. If he left his lands to come report this, he believes it," Kagome said firmly.

"I can't see Kouga doing this though. He hated Naraku as much as we did. Though...looking back, those attacks did sometimes seem more coordinated, especially later in the winter. But Kouga?" Sango commented, looking up from her meal with a thoughtful frown.

"I know...but I smelled it too, Sango. Wolf on that Dokueki that came here, and Inuyasha hadn't seen one before. That means either they're expanding outwards...or there was another reason it came here."

"Meaning-you suspect it was sent," Miroku noted.

"I'm not sure. But if Yotogi is right, it's possible. Besides, it had other prey it had to have passed to get here, and they usually go for the nearest humans or youkai," Kagome replied. Inuyasha was a bit startled at the way she spoke, she'd always hung back and mostly listened, at least before when it was combat talk.

"True, but if it sensed you and Inuyasha, it would come right here. I've never seen any youkai so attuned to another type as prey before. They aren't very adaptable, you know," Sango pointed out.

"He only was aiming at one youkai, maybe two if he wanted to spring them on Sesshomaru though. He wouldn't have cared what happened with them after that, I bet," Kagome sighed, and Inuyasha frowned. The list of attacks from first Sesshomaru, then Kagome...damn. He didn't like the Clan much, even now-but nobody deserved to be attacked like they'd been by a leftover weapon, one designed to kill him. By extension...for killing his Kagome. At least he'd be able to keep her out of this.

"Well...if it is Kouga, I'll take him out, no problem. He doesn't even have jewel shards anymore," Inuyasha said easily. Kagome's eyes lowered, something crossed her face a moment...Miroku and Sesshomaru both saw it. While Miroku assumed she was simply upset, Sesshomaru knew better. She was upset, yes, but had other plans for Kouga, and wasn't ready to say so. Yet.

"At least with the three of you, and ourselves, we'll be well able to handle it if they are being controlled somehow," Miroku noted. There was no question of their helping or not. According to what he'd heard, these Dokueki were indiscriminate when thwarted of Inu prey, more than happy to feast on humans if they had to. Besides, they stuck together. Sango owed the Inu Clan for her behavior when they'd raided...and Miroku wouldn't abandon his friends when they were in trouble anymore than she would.

"True," his wife nodded.

"No. Kagome won't be going, she's staying here, or back at that keep. You ought to stay with her, Sango. Things are different now," Inuyasha stated grimly, making Kagome glare at him as Sango's eyes widened at the comment.
Where did he get such an idea? She glanced at Miroku...who honestly looked like-he agreed? Or wanted to. Ah. Of course. They were both married now...the tajiya shook her head at her husband in warning. They weren't normal women. If these two had wanted that-well, they chose the wrong brides!
Miroku's mouth worked, but he was smart enough to keep quiet. If it had looked possible, he may have tried it himself, but well, it wasn't. Hiraikotsu to the head hurt and he had no wish to be beaten senseless by his lovely bride for a noble, but futile effort to protect her. He'd tried to convince her to be safe once, two days ago...it hadn't worked then anymore than it would now. Sango was a tajiya.
"Ah...Sango will accompany us-if it pleases her," Miroku smiled, and really hoped for his friend's sake he'd have sense. Just once. Inuyasha though-was Inuyasha.

"Well, that's alright, I guess...but you aren't," he frowned fiercely at Kagome, saying it like-oh...like an order.

"Yes I am." Sesshomaru would expect her to be respectful, so she'd try-

"No!" he scowled, voice sharp as the humans discretely got ready to duck.

"Excuse me? First off, I'm not property you can order around, you baka! In fact-" Kagome started, temper shot, as Inuyasha rounded on her.

"No! I said no!" he jerked a thumb at his chest.

"You tried to claw one the first time you saw a Dokueki, you're useless without me around to keep track of you! No running off without me!" she told him.

"Kagome-"

"She goes," Sesshomaru said gravely, and the hanyou whipped his head around.

"I can handle myself. Honestly!" Kagome said grimly, her ears twitched in annoyance even as she took his hand in hers again. Inuyasha looked around-damn it! Everyone was on her side. Not his, like usual.

"Enough. It is agreed that it is possible that Yotogi has incorrect information. We shall rest here until the humans are ready, and we will go investigate. I require Kagome there, she is experienced in such matters and is the best choice to judge the wolves' intentions-packsecond," Sesshomaru said calmly, a hesitation in his voice at the last word. Inuyasha didn't know how to take the fact that his brother had just...given him an order. One he expected to be obeyed. Worse, that a part of him...accepted it.
Fucking. Packbond.
Sesshomaru glanced at Rin, kneeling on a cushion and watching quietly. His original plan was thwarted, to have Kagome guard Rin and Jaken here or at home. So, she would come. He suspected his packsister would have defied any order to remain away, really...she would have found a way around it.
"Sounds like a good plan," Miroku commented with a sigh, watching Inuyasha fume.The war council broke up soon after.
***

That night, when everyone else was camped, or in Miroku and Sango's case, were curled up in the main room, Inuyasha rested his head in Kagome's lap as she sat on their sleeping mat. Not a one of them had discussed what happened earlier between himself and his brother, and Sesshomaru was encamped outside, frowning. Thinking things over as well.

Kagome rubbed his ears thoughtfully and Inuyasha sighed, one arm around her. He felt so odd, it had been a hell of a day, he was tired. Although...he wasn't that tired, he decided, as he grinned up at her. She looked-entertained. His beloved had hunted through their things, and had her chat with Miroku, who'd been very obliging. They had something to discuss...

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, leaning over to smile at him, one hand sliding under her pillow. It was there.

"Hm?"

"Is anyone else in here with us?"

"Huh? No, of course not."

"We're in private then?"

"Yeah,” he nodded.

"Good. Close your eyes," she asked, smiling still. He did so, wondering what she planned...after a worried glance at her neck. Last time she asked him to do this-but the beads were safely around her throat. Then something got dropped around his neck and slipped under his head!

"There! Much better."

"Hey! No!" He tugged, he yanked, he pulled. Quickly rolling away, he tried to take it off, but sure enough-the beads of subjugation were back.

“Damn it, Kagome! You tricked me!” he growled, and looked alarmed at Kagome, who was smiling. Evilly.

"There's more than one set of prayer beads around, you know. Turns out any Priestess strong enough can take them off...or Monk. Remember?" Kagome commented, and as she spoke, she removed hers, twirling them-just like he had! No...oh, no. “Let’s see...” she started counting on her fingers. “Forty-three on the way here...ten for the raids, five for Sango and Miroku getting dragged in, no, make it seven-that’s sixty, you know! Hm...” his eyes widened, “and say...five for being a pig and thinking you could order me around! Sixty-five. Make it seventy total for trying to run off on me-again!”

“You kept count, you vengeful little-Kagome! You-you wouldn’t!”

“Why not? You had lots of practice with the word!” Kagome shot back, another quote...oh no. She would do it, damn it!

“Don’t-”

“Osuwari.”


*thud*

"Gah!"

"If you think you can pull that piggish garbage on me again, you'll regret it. You can sleep alone in a-you shaped hole for a hundred years for all I care till you figure it out! Get it?" Kagome asked, with a look so full of meaning he winced-not to mention she said it again to punctuate it. It was stone under their mat, and he hit the floor with a small cloud of stuffing from burst seams.

"Stop it!"

"Not till you apologize! I can't believe how stubborn you are, I know this hurts. Osuwari!"


*thud*

"Sneaky wench! You-you lured me in!" he sputtered as the spell released him. She opened her mouth again, and he paused.

"Fine-sorry," he mumbled, and she nodded as he got up fast, glaring.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Kagome asked.

"Never do that again! You can't just treat me like that, you know!" he snarled, and she sat there, and folded her arms. Ohhh...this was going to be fun!

"Yes, I can," Kagome told him, looking smug.

"No, you can't! I'm your mate, and your packsecond, and damn it-you're going to be a lot more reasonable now! You belong to me, and what I say goes!" Brown eyes widened. He was serious! Oh, dear...

"You...really don't know?" Kagome asked finally, looking at him with surprise. To his confusion, she started to giggle, hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking.

"Know what?" he frowned, outraged.

"Inuyasha, you went through all the ritual of force claim-" chortling started, "all this trouble-an-and you didn't know!" she burst out laughing, trying to keep it down to keep from waking their friends. After the Osuwari’s...a futile attempt. They were both trying not to laugh on the other side of the curtains.

"What's so damned funny?" She waved at him helplessly.

"Myouga never told you! Oh no!" she managed, pointing, and whooped at his expression.

"Told me what!? Quit laughing at me!" he growled, and she managed to get calmed down enough to answer, eyes sparkling.

"Look at the marks," Kagome asked him, pulling the top she was wearing to sleep in off her shoulder. Her clawed fingertip tapped her mark lightly.

"What about it?" he peered at it. A moon, with an arrowhead on top crossing it. Rather nice, he thought.

"Mine is on top of yours, Inuyasha. You were adopted into my pack. Understand?" she asked, a grin lurking.

"No. Spill it, Kagome!"

"Bottom mark is the lower ranking mate, top mark is the mate who is dominant in the relationship. Among Inu, that's always the one who's pack adopts the other. I'm not your property, Inuyasha. You're mine."

He choked. At least, that was the sound he made.

"But-women-I...uh...but, I defeated you," he managed.

"Yes. You did," Kagome nodded, leaning back on her hands. "That's why you're packsecond, and it's not me anymore. You're welcome to it, believe me! But-you belong to me, and I'm not letting you run off without me. I love you too much for that,” she told him honestly, making his heart warm-even as he was pissed at her for it.

"Keh. Belong to you, ridiculous," he threw himself down next to her, and scowled. Myouga. He'd kill Myouga, he decided. Squishing him-maybe using Tetsusiaga, very carefully, it'd be very satisfying to chop him up for not telling him. Then Miroku. Bastard! One of his fucking jokes, helping her switch the beads again! No wonder the little shit faced bastard bonzu was grinning all through dinner!

"Oh, don't be grumpy. There are benefits to being mine, you know," she told him.

A moment later-

"Don't touch me! Wench."

"Inuyasha...don't be like that."

Silence.

"Darn it. The honeymoon's over," Kagome groused. Author’s notes- Ah, fun. Thanks for reading!-Namiyo