InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Confrontation ❯ Encounters ( Chapter 15 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not own any of them, well with the exception of Jouyoku and Miebi Kokushi. The others belong to that Japanese lady.

Chapter15: Encounters

They had been walking all day, at a pace a lot faster than normal since they left Miebi Kokushi's village. No one could figure out why Inuyasha was being so adamant about getting back to the village in such hurry. As Kagome walked beside the quiet hanyou she couldn't help but wonder if something other than Jouyoku was bothering him. “Inuyasha?” She asked quietly.

“Kagome” he replied coldly.

Not wanting anyone else to hear what was being said she whispered, “If something was bothering you...you would tell me, right?”

“Probably not, but there's nothing bothering me so drop it.”

She couldn't figure out what had changed between the night he had accompanied her and Sango to the hot springs and now. That night after they had eaten and everyone else was sleeping he must have picked her up while she was asleep because all she could remember was waking up in the branches of a tree, held securely in his arms. At first she was startled but when she looked up and was met by his beautiful golden orbs staring back at her, she immediately relaxed.

She remembered asking what she was doing up in a tree with him in the middle of the night. His response was a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders and a mumbled, `feh, I wanted to cuddle…that's what you call it, right?' At this very moment she wished that she hadn't fallen back to sleep, she wished that she had enjoyed that moment, because this thing that walked beside her now was just itching for a sitting. “Inuyasha…why are you in such a hurry to get back to the village, everyone's tired and there's really no need to keep going at this pace.”

He didn't respond. He wanted to tell her that she was going to have to go back to her time for awhile, and that the faster they got back the more time they could spend alone before it was time for her to leave. He just didn't know how. `Kagome, you can't stay here…not with this youkai on the loose. I don't even know what he smells like, or how he looks. What would I do if he got to you?' He thought as he stared at the road in front of him too afraid to look at her for fear that she would read his thoughts or see in his eyes what he had planned.

Stifling a sigh she turned her gaze forward, she couldn't take being ignored anymore. She hadn't done anything to him, and quite frankly she was growing a little tired of his crazy mood swings. One minute he was literally pawing over her and the next it seemed like he could care less. Sighing heavily, “I don't know why you're acting like this, but it's getting late so we need to stop for the night…and guess what dog-boy?”

Staring at her out the corner of his eye he could feel her aura spike. He didn't want her angry, but he had trouble out right lying to her so he felt the best way to keep her from knowing what he was planning was not to say anything at all.

He had made his decision the night he took her out of her sleeping bag. Sitting high in the branches of an old tree with the moon shining down on them, he took in her beautiful features. Her cute snubbed nose, her delicate jaw line, the way her eyelids jumped as she dreamed, and the way her lips pouted so seductively when she was sleeping. The sensual curve of her neck, the rise and fall of her breast under the thin blouse she wore. He could still feel the heat of her skin on his palms as he held her. He could remember the way she curved her body to meet his even though he was sure she was still in a deep sleep. He could still hear the soft murmurs that escaped her lips while she pressed her head closer against his chest.

Gazing down at her sleeping form he realized at that moment that he couldn't take the risk of having her here with him, sure he could protect her just fine should something happen when he was around, but what if he was hunting, or out for a run, what if he dosed off for a second…that's all it would take…one second for him to not be paying attention and just that fast, she would be gone.

Shaking his head slightly he tried to dismiss those thoughts he couldn't bare to think of someone else, anybody else touching his Kagome, his soon to be mate, the only woman breathing that could tame him…that `had' tamed him. Sure he could do what the old hag Miebi Kokushi suggested, but …

Flashback

“If you are not able to find and defeat Jouyoku there is only one way to make him choose not to come for either of these two women...” Taking a moment she sighed before continuing, “You hanyou should claim the miko as your mate, not only in words but physically. The monk should take the human woman as soon as possible, being that she is more than ready.”

The small room was silent…so silent you could hear a pin drop. Had she been able to see the group she would have seen four varying degrees of red on their faces. The reddest being the demon slayer, she was totally and utterly mortified. At this moment she wished above all else that Naraku was still alive…she would hunt him down and bow to him while begging him to take her out of her misery by whatever means necessary.

Not waiting for a reply from them since she could feel the air around her grow thick with tension, “should either of you decide to do this, you must do it soon. Jouyoku only grows stronger as the days go by. I fear soon, no one will be able to stop him.”

End Flashback

He didn't want his mating to Kagome to be tainted or rushed in any kind of way. He didn't want any loose ends hanging out there, he wanted to be free to express his feelings for her in any and everyway that he saw fit, and most of all he didn't want to rut her, which is what he would feel like he was doing if he was forced into taking her even though it `was' a pretty good reason…still it would be a forced mating. Hell that's why he had waited this long to take her, he had to set Kikyo straight, he had to tell her that he was not meant for her, he had never been meant for her…he had to tell her face to face that the girl from the future was now his future. He could only hope that she would take it well, because he now knew that if he hurt Kagome he would only be hurting himself.

Turning his head so that he was staring at the miko he waited to see what was going to come out of her mouth next. Looking at her he saw her hesitate for a moment, `here it comes, I bet she's going to sit…'

`Why is he looking at me like that? He looks like he's…' Shaking her head she dismissed that thought she was suppose to be irritated with him, upset at him that he was being a huge jerk towards her and the others. Throwing her hands to her hips she stopped abruptly. Hands clenched at her side she hissed, “We're stopping Inuyasha! Right here, right now!” Stepping closer to him so that she was practically kissing him, “and don't you even think about cuddling tonight…you…you ass!” She screamed the last part so loud that he was forced to move away from her in an effort to protect his sensitive ears.

As he watched her stomp off all he could manage was a weak, “feh” while shaking his head and waiting for the ringing in his ears to stop.

Simonkal of Inuy

He didn't know why she had always demanded to follow him when he went on patrol of his lands. When he was hunting down Naraku he could understand why she had to be there, quite frankly she was kidnapped one too many times, so back then it was better if she was with him or at least with in his scenting range.

Most of the time he would distance himself leaving Jakken to watch over her and still the loyal but annoying imp would allow her to wonder off or fall into one of the loathsome half-breed's many traps. Thankfully he never traveled too far. Since he was full Inu-youkai he could travel for miles with out loosing her scent so he always knew whether she was in danger or if she was sad.

He didn't know when it happened but he had grown accustomed to having her around. Why? He didn't really know, but if she were ever out of range where he could not scent her he would panic. He had become aware of this a few weeks ago…she'd left the castle saying that she was going to bath in the hot spring, normally he would send Jakken with her but even the imp had noticed that little Rin was no longer little. After her bath she ended up loosing her sense of direction and wondered off in the wrong direction. If he hadn't be scenting her every few minutes he was sure she would have gotten lost or even worst.

She was no longer the innocent child that traveled with him almost 4 years ago. Even her scent started to betray her. It had grown so strong especially during a particular part of the month, that it was almost over bearing and yet all too alluring, so during these times he would pretty much ban her from leaving the castle for fear of what might happen to her. Of course he would make himself as scarce as possible until her scent went back to normal.

She was 12 when he found her, now the girl just shy of 16 was nothing less than a woman and still she refused to leave his side. If he left with out her, which he did from time to time she would be near tears upon his return home, which always made him feel like he had hurt her, so he would end up spending the rest of the day and the next day doing what ever mundane thing she wanted to do.

He couldn't figure it out. What hold did this girl turned woman have over him, and what hold did he have over her, that kept her with him?

She had seen him murder and maim demons of every size and shape, she had seen him wipe out army's of her own kind with a flick of his wrist and with out so much as a blink of his eyes and still she was here by his side loyal to a fault.

Sensing her growing fatigue he said with out glancing over his shoulder, “Rin, if you are tired, you may stop.”

Jumping slightly since she wasn't expecting to hear his voice she ran to catch up with him, “Lord Sesshomaru, this Rin is not tired.” She replied happily.

Knowing that she could not see his face he smirked. He had always thought for a human and a woman Rin had an unwavering amount of strength, and a huge soul. She'd never quit no matter how rough the terrain they were traveling was, she never faltered. Whenever she was kidnapped even at a young age she would fight with her assailant, it didn't matter how big he or she was. Most of all her faith in him never faltered…not once that he could remember. “If you say so Rin.” He replied as he walked out of the forest they had been traveling in and onto a small dirt road.

Following the road he noticed an aura of another youkai. `This should be interesting.' This presence was not something that he was familiar with so he would bide his time and continue his casual stroll, until he saw fit to do differently. “Rin, walk behind me.” He stated with no emotion. Knowing with out looking that she was walking on the other side of the dirt road touching everything she came in contact with, which was something that she had done since she was a child.

As the road started to bend he could feel the other demon's aura all around him, like a weak barrier. `What kind of youkai is this?' He thought, of course Sesshomaru feared nothing, but that didn't stop the curiosity in him. He had never come in contact with any youkai that he was not familiar with, and yet this one for some reason, even though he was still not with in his sight as of yet, sickened him. Why? He wasn't sure, but something about him/her was off.

Moving to the middle of the road, the stoic white Inu-youkai watched with impassive eyes and a face that could have been set in stone, as the object of his curiosity came into view. Staring ahead as if looking through the demon in front of him, he noticed that it was in male form. He tried to scent him but when he did his youkai recoiled. `That stench…' He thought as he came to a stop in front of him.

Scowling down at the demon Sesshomaru spoke softly, his voice laced with as much ice as he could muster, “you're in my way.”

Looking as if he was bored, Jouyoku tilted his head to side as he noticed the young girl standing behind the White Lord. `Uhm, young but ripe. She's human…' he thought, he would have chuckled had the white dog not been glaring down at him. He watched her hide a little further behind the White demon's Kimono. “My apologies” he stated as he glanced up with a look that bespoke nothing less than his boredom. Sluggishly he stepped to the side, making sure that he could get a better view of the girl. He could sense the youkai's power so he knew that it would have been foolish to challenge him at this point, but still the girl just coming into her womanhood beckoned him.

Staring at the strange demon out the corner of his eye Sesshomaru began to walk forward, `filthy bastard!' He hissed in his mind as he called over his shoulder, “Rin!” He silently prayed that the pathetic youkai would give him one reason to rip him to shreds.

Hearing her Lords' voice she started to run forward, but curiosity got the best of her. Glancing back at the demon she stopped and turned completely around so that she was now facing him. Tilting her head to the side as if she was taking in every inch of him, she smiled shyly thinking to herself, `he's handsome, about as handsome as Lord Sesshomaru. He's a youkai, just like my Lord. I wonder what his name is?' Taking a step forward towards him she halted.

Watching the girl stare at him Jouyoku did not move from where he was standing. He wanted her to take in every inch of him, he wished that he could call to her, but he knew with the demon here he would be dead before he was able to even touch her.

Noticing that Rin was not following him, Sesshomaru stopped and eyed the scene going on behind him. He saw the way his charge gazed at the man and the shy smile that played across her face. It was a smile that he had never seen before. And it with out a doubt irked him to see her who was once loyal to only him, now seemingly possessed by this lesser being. Turning to stare at the youkai he noticed that he had also locked eyes with the girl, “Rin!” Sesshomaru shouted as his patience began to wear thin.

She heard him calling, stepping back she found it hard to look away from the handsome demon, “Lord Ses…Sesshoma…” she tried to say, but before she could she saw a white blur coming towards her.

Gripping Jouyoku by the throat the demon lord shoved him back against a tree, pinning him there. “Should you desire to keep your eyes with in your head, you will refrain from even thinking about looking at her” he hissed. He was angry, even jealous of the lesser youkai that had captured Rin's attention for that brief moment.

Knowing that he was no match for the White demon, Jouyoku nodded peacefully, “I did not mean to offend you.” Yet in his mind his thoughts were more on the line of, `I'll return for her, and I'll make sure that you `great mutt lord' will pay with your life for laying your pathetic hands on me!'

Everything in him told him to rip him apart, but he couldn't not for something like this. Rin didn't belong to him, he already felt like he had overreacted. Wasn't it her choice to decide whom she wished to mate…maybe he was wrong about her wanting to stay at his side. Releasing the Youkai he turned swiftly and walked away, with out calling out to her to follow him. It was her choice she could do as she wished.

Simonkal of Inuy

Kagome was making sure to avoid Inuyasha as much as she as possible. She could feel him looking at her from his perch high in the trees. She was so adamant about giving him a taste of his own medicine she hadn't even taken his ramen to him, when dinner was ready she had given it to Shippo to deliver it.

“Kagome, why aren't you talking to Inuyasha?” Sango asked quietly.

“Because he's an ass.”

Blushing a little, the taijiya stared at the once sweet and innocent girl, no woman in front of her. `When did Kagome grow up so much?' She had never known her friend to use such vulgar language, but lately they seemed to just roll off her tongue like water. “What did he do?”

“I don't want to talk about him! How are things going with you and Miroku? I noticed you two have been spending more time together lately.” Kagome replied trying desperately to change the subject, because she knew if she talked about the hanyou then she'd stop being upset and right now she wanted to hold on to her anger; she felt he deserved it for being so cold to her and the other's even if they refused to say anything about it.

Blushing even more Sango glanced over at the Monk sitting at the base of the tree that Inuyasha was perched in and smiled, “he's been very understanding. Not once since Miebi Kokushi's recommendation has he tried to force me to explain anything, or even groped me.”

“Really, I thought he would've jumped at the chance.”

“Yeah…I thought the same thing.” The slayer replied sounding a little disappointed.

“You know it's alright to want to want him.” Smiling wickedly at her friend, then glancing at the monk she continued jokingly, “that is if you like that kind of man.”

“Kagome!” Sango shouted while taking a playful swing at her friend, who dodges it easily.

“Hey I'm just saying…” She started to say but stopped when she noticed the wind around them start to gust. Sensing a familiar aura she stood up and waited for the fight that she was sure would ensue.

“Kagome?” Her friend asked as she stood joining her friend.

Jumping from his perch, Inuyasha hissed, “Fuck!”

“What is it?” The monk inquired as he stood to his feet.

Smirking he replied, “Unfinished business.”

On schedule the air died out in front of the miko leaving in its place a grinning wolf youkai. “Kagome, long time no see!” Kouga stated as he grabbed her hand and kissed it gently.

`This is not going to be good.' The miko thought with a weak smile. “Kouga, how are you? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I have some unfinished business to take care of in this area.” He replied with a brilliant smile, and then glanced at the hanyou walking in his direction with his face sat in a deathly scowl.

“Get out of the way, Kagome.” Inuyasha ordered with out taking his eyes off of the wolf prince.

Snatching her hand away from her hanyou's adversary, she looked from him to Kouga. Noting the determination in both their faces she asked, “What's going on here?” She could feel both their auras increase dramatically as they grimaced at one another.

“Keep your hands off of her!” Inuyasha yelled as he shoved Kagome to the side so that he had a clear view of his opponent.

“I can touch my mate whenever I want! You should be glad I've allowed her to remain with you this long, but that's going to change tonight!” Kouga shouted back.

Standing off to the side Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara watched the scene play out in front of them. “This is definitely not good.” The monk mumbled to himself.

“They always do this, it's nothing new.” The kitsune stated looking as if he was bored out of his mind.

“Somehow Shippo, I think this is going to be totally different.”

“Miroku, why would you say that? They always act like children when they're around one another.” Sango said not taking her eyes off the love triangle in front of her.

“Let's just say…Inuyasha recently threatened Kouga's manhood.” Just the thought of the fight the two demons had a little over a week ago was enough to make the monk grimace.

“You two stop this now!” Kagome screamed.

“This doesn't concern you!” Inuyasha and Kouga yelled in unison. This statement left the miko with a look of disbelief on her face. When had they not fought over her? What were they about to rip each other apart over now?

Sniffing the air around him, “so you were that scared that I'd actually gut you this time that you brought reinforcements?” Inuyasha stated with a smirk.

“Actually dog shit, once I've killed you and left with Kagome you and these humans are going to be dinner.” The arrogant wolf hissed as he took a step back and readied himself for battle.

“If you think it's going to be that easy you're stupider than I thought!” Placing his hand on the hilt of his Tetesusaiga. “We're surrounded!” He yelled without taking his eyes away from the youkai trying his patience.

Immediately the others prepared them selves for battle, all except Kagome, she was still staring at the two bakas as if she was seeing them for the first time.

Noticing this Kouga looked her reassuringly, “don't worry Kagome, I'll kill him fast!” He said as he reached out a hand to touch her.

Taking advantage of the wolf's distraction Inuyasha charged him, ramming into his chest with his shoulder, “I said don't touch her!” He hissed as he unsheathed Tetsusaiga and stalked over to the youkai now pulling himself off the ground.

Until Next time…

Special thanks to Darkmikokikyo!!