InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ As My Daughter Wishes ❯ Returning ( Chapter 4 )

Tseriku: It has just occurred to me that I haven't done this yet:

DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own Inuyasha or the characters therein. I never have, nor ever will own Inuyasha or anything other than the manga I purchase. Other than that…yeah.

Was that really necessary? I mean, this is FAN FICTION. Why would I be writing this if I owned Inuyasha? And oh yes! A matter that must be addressed here and now! The fluffy thing Sesshoumaru wears? I really thought that was a tail for the longest time! So for the sake of this story, please just go along with it? Okay? Okay!

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CHAPTER 4

Returning

Kagome pushed a lock of hair behind her ear nervously. She still wasn't sure this was such a good idea.

"You're absolutely, positively sure I'm not going to fall through?" she asked, her voice higher than normal. The taiyoukai glared at her over his shoulder.

"Yes. I believe this is the umpteenth time I have told you so. This cloud is powered by my magic… Are you saying you doubt my control?"

She shook her head vehemently. "No, it's just that I -"

"Then let go of me."

Kagome had been clinging to his legs for the past half-hour. Upon his command, she released him, albeit reluctantly.

"Positive?"

"Utterly."

Sighing, Kagome relaxed and sat back on the cloud. She was still uncertain about its solidity but she did - for some reason - trust the taiyoukai's word. Curious, she pressed a hand against the cloud's surface experimentally. It was soft and fluffy! She giggled slightly, which earned her a stern glare from the demon lord. This only made her laugh more, and more freely.

Sesshoumaru frowned. This human sounds like Rin when she is pleased…

"Tell me, hu -"

"Kagome."

"Kagome," he repeated. "Why are you so happy?"

"I'm enjoying myself!" she replied. Seeing his blank stare, she explained, "I've never ridden on a cloud before."

The demon resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Humans and their odd ways! They never ceased to annoy him.

They flew in silence for some time, before Kagome decided to break the ice.

"So…" she began, a little nervously. "How long will it take to reach Inuyasha and the others?"

Hearing his brother's name made the taiyoukai cringe inwardly, but he gave no outward sign of caring. Instead, he concentrated on her question.

"…Around three hours, if your comrades have remained near the area you last were. I do not doubt that they have."

She nodded, understanding. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she gasped slightly in realization.

"My friends! They might attack you!"

Sesshoumaru sniffed indignantly. "I assure you, your 'friends', as you put it, are of no threat to me." He was slightly amused that she would be concerned for his welfare.

"Yes, but… Inuyasha can be strangely persistent… when it concerns my safety…" she said softly, blushing a little. Sesshoumaru's lips curved downwards in a slight frown. She did have a point there. The undeserving whelp was always much more serious when it came to his miko…

"He's been known to be…er… rash, if he thinks I'm in danger," she continued when he did not answer, her blush darkening. "And the others will back him up. They care for me too."

He suddenly understood her meaning. She wasn't concerned for his safety - well, maybe a little - but for her friends'. He smiled inwardly at this. At least she knew who was superior.

Smart girl.

"I shall take that into consideration," he told her. "Should your companions attack, I will not harm them." He felt that this was the least he could do in return for healing his charge. Besides, it wasn't like he wanted to fight with them, anyway. He had far more important things to do.

The miko seemed surprised. "You promise?" she asked tentatively. While this should have angered him to no end - an insignificant human asking for his word - he found that he didn't mind so much. She certainly deserved some respect.

"I give you my word as the Western Lord," he replied with an air of finality.

Taking their conversation had ended, Kagome just sat back and enjoyed the scenery, an enormous weight off her chest.

---

Cursing, Inuyasha pulled at the spelled ropes that bound his hands together behind his back. He had been trying to break free for the last few hours, but the spells were unusually potent. He had not been able to overpower them.

"Damn it!"

"Are you still thrashing in there, Inuyasha?" came a voice from outside. Miroku stepped inside the hut, looking tired but mildly pleased his spells had worked so well.

"Curse you, Miroku! You're lucky I'm tied up, or I might just strangle you!"

"He never was really grateful, was he?" Sango commented, coming inside to stand beside Miroku. Inuyasha glared at them. "You really should relax, Inuyasha."

"Relax? Relax?! How can you expect me to relax at a time like this? My damned bastard of an older brother just kidnapped Kagome! If anything's happened to her, I'm holding both of you responsible! I can't believe you had the gall to actually bind me!"

The monk sighed, leaning on his staff. "I thought we'd already gone over this. For you to go charging off after Sesshoumaru in your wounded condition without any real knowledge of where he was going, and no means of actually defeating him, would be…stupid."

"Yeah, well, I'm all healed now, so untie me." When neither made a move to comply, Inuyasha felt his patience slip another notch. He was on the brink of desperation. "Untie me! Damn it, Miroku! I don't have time for this!" He could feel his body grow hot as his demonic blood stirred, awakened by his anger. As he struggled to regain some shred of control, he couldn't help but contemplate how satisfying it would be to just rip apart these humans who delayed him. He growled, disturbed at his thoughts.

Miroku did not miss the hanyou's strange behavior. As a monk, he recognized the symptoms of bloodlust immediately. He shook his head.

"To do that would be very foolish indeed, my friend," he said calmly.

Inuyasha's head snapped up. "Oh yeah, and why's that?" he sneered.

Miroku smiled, tapping his head with a slender finger. "It's all about self preservation, my friend. I'm not about to let you up until you cool that atrocious temper of yours." His statement was answered by a string of well-chosen words.

"I don't think it's wise to antagonize him," Sango commented dryly when Inuyasha paused for breath. Just then, Shippou came into the lodging, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Sango? Miroku? Oh. Inuyasha." He covered a yawn. "I thought that was you I heard. You woke me up."

"Cut the commentary and just help me here, will you?" Inuyasha snarled, the last of his control slipping. "Y -" He stopped suddenly, his ears twitching. His face turned serious.

"Let me up," he ordered.

"Inuyasha, I already told you; you can't just go out looking for Sesshoumaru. You-"

"I don't need to look for him," the hanyou growled. There was a steely glint to his eyes now, and his voice was dead calm. "He's come here."

Miroku jerked back in surprise, then stood up.

"Sesshoumaru? Here?" he asked, disbelieving.

Sango walked out of the hut, her hand already on her Hiraikotsu. "It can't be…" She took off at a run, heading towards the forest where she felt the demonic presence. Shippou and Miroku followed after her.

"Aren't you idiots forgetting about something?!" Inuyasha yelled angrily. They gave no sign of having heard him. "HEY, GET BACK HERE AND UNTIE ME! MIROKU!!"

---

Growling deep inside his throat, Inuyasha followed Sesshoumaru's descent with the tip of the Tetsusaiga, eyes flashing red. The spelled cloud dissipated into nothing on contact with the ground, and soon Sesshoumaru was standing before the Inu-tachi at the edge of the forest, looking at them with cold indifference. It didn't take long for the hanyou to notice he now had both arms. Under normal circumstances, this would have puzzled Inuyasha greatly, but now he just pushed it aside as a minor detail and addressed the far more important issue.

"You!" Inuyasha spat, his voice dripping with venom. "What've you done to Kagome?! If you've hurt her… If this is some plot to get the Tetsusaiga -"

The taiyoukai's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ungrateful little whelp. What use do I have for a sword I cannot touch? I no longer have any need for that blade. As for your precious miko…"

"BASTARD!I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU FOR TOUCHING HER!" Inuyasha roared, lunging at his brother with his sword raised.

"Inuyasha, SIT!"

There was a brief flash of light, and Inuyasha was hurled down face first into the ground, the sword clattering onto the ground beside him. Sesshoumaru glanced at it, but made no move to retrieve the blade.

Kagome stepped up from behind Sesshoumaru. Smiling, she ran past the fallen hanyou to greet her friends.

"Kagome!!" Shippou squealed, throwing himself into her arms. She caught him, laughing and twirling around briefly.

"Shippou, I'm so glad to see you!" she said, squeezing the kitsune affectionately to her chest. "You too, Kirara," she added, seeing the large cat running towards her, Miroku and Sango on her tail.

Sango nearly crushed Shippou when she flung her arms around her friend. The kitsune yelped and wriggled out of her hold, opting for the safer position on Kagome's shoulder.

"Thank the gods you're safe!" she said breathlessly. "You're okay, right? He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"I can check, if you'd like," Miroku volunteered, putting on a charming - if not hopeful - smile. The two girls shook their heads, laughing good-naturedly.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Miroku. I'm fine. I'm just so happy to see you all again!" She pulled them all in for a group hug, smiling brightly. They were all like her little family.

"I hate to interrupt…" came a voice from behind them. Inuyasha dusted himself off, glaring at Kagome. "…But can we focus on the danger at hand?"

Kagome was confused. "What danger?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe SESSHOUMARU?!" He rounded on his half brother, brandishing his sword before him.

"I don't know what game you're playing at, brother, but keep Kagome out of it! If you want Tetsusaiga, then fight me for it!"

Sesshoumaru - who had remained unmoving during the group's reunion - scowled slightly.

"Use your ears, half-breed. I have already told you my purpose in being here was not to take our father's fang, although I still see it as an insult that you possess it."

"You expect me to believe you came her just to give Kagome back? How stupid do you think I am?!"

The demon ignored the question and looked at Kagome, who had come up behind Inuyasha and was now resting a consoling hand on his shoulder.

"I still do not see how you can put up with him," he said dryly. "It seems I have something else to commend you for." Kagome blushed at the comment.

Inuyasha snarled when his brother came forward, and would have lunged at the taiyoukai again had Miroku, Sango, and Kirara not grabbed hold of him. It infuriated him to see Sesshoumaru so close to Kagome. And she didn't look the least bit afraid! No, rather, she was looking up at him expectantly, almost entirely at ease in the taiyoukai's presence. Though it was clear Shippou wasn't. Still, he kept his death grip on Kagome, as if she'd vanish if he let go.

"Hold out your hand, Kagome," Sesshoumaru ordered, his voice softer than usual. Inuyasha growled when he heard this. Since when was Sesshoumaru on a first-name basis with his Kagome?

The girl obeyed, and soon felt something fall into her outstretched palm. Looking down at her hand, Kagome realized it was a shard of the Shikon Jewel. She lifted her head, staring at him.

"For your deeds," he explained, answering her silent question. He lowered his voice so only Kagome could hear him. "I cannot truly repay you for what you have done, but I know you seek these shards, and I have no use for them." His voice was impenetrable as always, but for a moment Kagome thought she saw something flicker in those fiery orbs. Some emotion. Was it… recognition?

"…Arigato, Lord Sesshoumaru," she said quietly.

He nodded slightly, again only for Kagome's benefit, then fired a cold glare at his still fuming brother.

"Inuyasha, you should be more vigilant in protecting her." Having said that, he took off on his cloud, vanishing into the distance.

Miroku and Sango sighed in relief, their grip on Inuyasha loosening. He shoved them away angrily, a dark look on his face.

"Inuyasha…" Sango began. She was cut off when the hanyou shot her a red tinged glare.

"…I need…to be alone for a second…" he growled, then took off towards the forest. To rip something apart, no doubt. Sango shook her head and flexed her arms, keeping them limber, then looked over at Kagome. The girl had not moved since the time of Sesshoumaru's departure.

"Hey, Kagome, care to tell us what happened?" she called, raising her voice slightly to be heard over the short distance between them. Kagome snapped out of her trance and turned, smiling at Sango.

"Oh, it was nothing!"

"Nothing. Huhn." Miroku leaned against his staff, staring at Kagome accusingly. "He went through all that trouble to kidnap you - and bring you back - for nothing? I find that very hard to believe."

"You still have my backpack, right?" Kagome asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, it's in the hut," he replied, pointing. They followed her as Kagome went to check. Entering the hut, Miroku watched as she deftly checked the sack's contents, adding the newly acquired shard to the container.

"Kagome, you never answered my question," Sango stated. "What happened between you and Sesshoumaru?" The girl shook her head, a gentle smile curving her lips.

"He took me so I could heal someone very close to him. I guess he was showing me his gratitude…by bringing me back." Not to mention the jewel shard, she thought, looking down at the glass bottle. "It's good…to know… he has a love for something other than killing…" She smiled, her eyes softening.

Miroku looked at her, absently fingering the rings on his staff. "Why didn't he use Tenseiga?" he wondered out loud. "It is a sword of healing."

Kagome frowned slightly. She had forgotten about that.

"I don't know," she replied. "I never thought to ask him. Maybe Tenseiga wouldn't obey him?" She sighed, patting Shippou on the head before placing him back on the ground. "Kurea couldn't heal her either."

"Kurea?"

"Yeah, she said she was the princess of the Northern Lands." She explained a little of what happened.

Sango's eyes widened. "The Northern Kingdom?" she asked, slightly awed. "My people had an alliance with them, long ago."

"What do you know of them?" Kagome asked. She was curious to know more about the enigmatic demoness and where she had come from.

"Not much. The royal family there is said to be a race of neko-youkai. They are incredibly skilled at the warrior arts, and they all specialize in some sort of magic. Their ruler was a great demon named Eraikei."

"'Great Light'?" Kagome repeated, a finger rising to her lips in puzzlement.

"It is said that long ago the lord was once mortally wounded, and instead of killing him, Midoriko healed the great demon. In return for her kindness, Eraikei and his warriors protected her. When the high priestess was killed by rampaging demons, intent on destroying the threat that Midoriko presented, Eraikei used his own blood to bring her back to life again. But in the end, Midoriko gave her life willingly to end the war between humans and demons.

"To repay his blood-sister, and to make up for the fact that he couldn't save her, Eraikei sent some of his kind to care for and protect Midoriko's people in her stead."

"So that's why Kirara's with you!" Kagome exclaimed. Sango nodded. "What happened to Eraikei?"

"He died centuries after, though I don't know why. But his family has remained our ally for ages now."

"Neko-youkai are fiercely loyal to those who earn their respect."

Inuyasha had returned. He came up to Kagome, staring down at her with an odd look in his eyes. It was something between worry, sadness, guilt, and some other emotion Kagome couldn't quite identify.

He touched her cheek gently. "Kagome…" he began, "You are alright, aren't you?" His voice sounded strained, as though he was struggling to contain himself.

Kagome nodded, pleased by the rare show of tenderness. "Hai, Inuyasha. I'm fine," she said, smiling.

The hanyou looked away, eyes shadowed. He still had her face cupped in his hand. "Why… did you stop me from killing him?" he asked quietly.

"Because he didn't deserve to die," Kagome answered immediately. When Inuyasha only increased the pressure on her cheek, she elaborated. "He didn't do anything to me, Inuyasha! Okay, so maybe he did try to kill me a couple of times, attempt to steal the Tetsusaiga, and kidnap me… not to mention all the people he's killed - but other than that, he's done nothing!"

Inuyasha growled at her. "Don't tell me you have feelings for that bastard. You'd risk my life for his?"

Kagome's eyes widened as she gaped at him, aghast. Then her brows snapped together as she frowned.

SMACK

Inuyasha landed on his rear several feet away, rubbing his now red cheek and looking very surprised.

Kagome was livid. "Don't you ever say something like that again!" she said, making sure her anger showed. "I'd never treat you that way! Don't you understand? I couldn't let you hurt Sesshoumaru because he has a little girl who sees him as a father! And it just so happens that he promised not to hurt you and the others! He has honor, Inuyasha! Unlike you!"

Silence reigned for a few moments before the hanyou growled, opening his mouth to retaliate. But the wave of insults, designed to hurt and alienate her, died on his lips when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into the fabric of his haori.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice slightly muffled. "I didn't mean to say it that way." Inuyasha just stared down at her, unsure what to do.

"They have an odd way of making up, don't they?" Sango asked. Miroku nodded solemnly while Shippou sniggered.

Inuyasha felt his head swim with the heavenly sensation of holding Kagome in his arms. He wanted to be angry with her - to pay her back for the verbal lashing she had given him - but his train of thought had been successfully and utterly derailed. Which, of course, was what she had intended.

Curse her, he thought numbly, his eyes darkening. He ran a clawed hand down her back in an attempt to reassure her. The hanyou just couldn't stay mad at he when she was like this, so seemingly defenseless. He knew better than to call her that, though. Her scent ensnared his senses, soothing his nerves. It would have been perfect, except…

"Kagome…" he breathed, eyes closing.

"Yes?" she asked, pulling away, thus breaking the spell. The hanyou opened his eyes to glare at her.

"Go take a bath," he ordered. "You reek of my brother."

"SIT!!"

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TSERIKU'S CORNER I realized after writing this chapter how odd the situation is. I said in the beginning this would lead up to a Sess/Kag pairing, and I wasn't lying. Just a warning though; this story will contain hits of Inu/Kag, Kou/Kag, and - dare I say it? - a microscopic touch of Nar/Kag. Nothing serious. Our favorite couple will end up together… It might just take a while, though… Eraikei ~ just like Kagome said, Eraikei means 'Great Light'. 'Erai' means 'great' in Japanese, and 'kei' means 'light'. See? Oh well… Just my attempt of creating a significant name…

I came up with the whole history between Eraikei and Midoriko for several reasons. 1.) There has to be something that connects Kurea and her family to the plot, 2.) I think it adds content to the story, and 3.) There is a scene where we see Midoriko standing with a cat demon (Kirara?). I don't remember the episode. I wanted to create a logical explanation for this and why Kirara served the demon slayers.