InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Done to Death ❯ The Welcome Home ( Chapter 8 )

Done to Death

Chapter 8: The Welcome Home

"You're General Naraku?!" Kagome yelled, yanking from the man's strong grip. Smirking at her, he said, "Now, is that any way to treat your savior?"

"What? You're no more a savior then you are a duck!" Kagome yelled at him, raising her voice in the hopes that someone would hear her and come to her aide. `Though,' she thought, `the chances of that happening are slim…'

"Now, Kagome, don't yell. I saved you from that phony Protector and those two deadly bandits. You could show more gratitude." Naraku said, stepping closer to the girl. Moving back several feet, Kagome glared at him and tensed her muscles, ready to run at a moments notice. As he took another step towards her, she bolted and started to blindly run from him. As she pushed through the branches and limbs of trees and bushes, she heard her name being called by someone in the distance. Running towards the voice, she chanced a look behind her and saw that Naraku was steadily gaining on her. Using her last reserve of energy, she cleared the underbrush and saw Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha all staring at her. As Inuyasha reached her side, Naraku burst forth from the brushwood and caught his breath. Glaring daggers at the man, Inuyasha demanded, "Who are you? That general person?!" Standing tall and looking down his nose at the three interlopers, Naraku said, "I am returning the princess to the Royal Palace. Hand her over without trouble and your sentencing will be less harsh."

"What are you blabbing about?!" Inuyasha demanded the general. Leaning against the outlaw, Kagome said to the group, "He thinks that he rescued me from, what was it? Oh yeah. A `phony Protector and two deadly bandits'. He says that he's my savior." Pushing the exhausted princess to Sango, Inuyasha faced the general and said, "You bastard. You were wanting to frame us for kidnapping Kagome, weren't you?"

"Don't forget your place, scum! Refer to her as `Lady' or `Princess Kagome'." Naraku ordered the dark-haired boy. Growling, Inuyasha drew his sword and rushed at the man, slashing at the general's arm. Stepping back from the attacking outlaw, Naraku drew his own sword and sneered at the youth, saying, "How proper. I will kill all the kidnappers, and then be rewarded for my services."

Slashing once again at the general's torso, Inuyasha demanded, "And what did you ask for? A brain?"

"No." Naraku said, cutting Inuyasha's back as the other raced by him. "The princess."

"WHAT?!" came the indignant cry from Kagome, but neither of the fighters paid any attention. Cutting Naraku's right wrist by several inches, Inuyasha stepped back and inspected several of his own wounds. Many were located on his back, there was one placed on his neck and one on his left shoulder. Taking in his surroundings, he saw that his back was to the canyon.

`Aw shit… This isn't good…' he thought as Naraku came barreling towards him.

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`Inuyasha!' Kagome thought as she watched the fight between the outlaw and general in horror. Both sported several wounds, but Inuyasha held the most. Sucking in her breath as Naraku dealt the bandit a nasty blow, she saw Inuyasha stager, then fall on one knee, blood pooling around him. As each red droplet fell, terror began to fill her being. She would be stuck with Naraku? What had she done to deserve this? Praying to all Higher Beings, she held her breath as Naraku said, "You have fought well, for scum. Now, let me put you out of your misery." Holding his sword, Naraku readied his arm for the killing blow as Inuyasha tapped into his lightning-fast speed to get behind the general and leave a large, diagonal mark across his back. Stumbling around for a proper footing, Naraku felt the edge of the chasm at the back of his heel and the two stood in that position for a moment. Just as Kagome thought that Inuyasha might let the general live, the outlaw raised his sword and stated, "Now, die." as he swung the flat of the blade under the general's feet. Tumbling back and away from the solid ground, Naraku didn't let a sound escape his lips as he fell onto the large collection of rocks many miles below. After the dust had settled, Inuyasha cleaned his bloodied blade on his tunic and sheathed it. Facing the three again, he saw that Sango and Miroku were arguing, while Kagome watched them and their bickering, slightly befuddled. Walking to them, Inuyasha asked, "What's going on here now?"

Turning to her childhood friend, Sango said, "I told him to go and help you fight, but he just cowered behind Kagome-chan! How can you have such a wuss in your band?"

"Easy. He's living proof." Inuyasha stated as he sat to decide how to get to the palace. Feeling gentle hands on his back, he whipped around to find a somewhat startled Kagome looking back at him. Holding up the roll of bandages she held in her hand, she told him, "Just sit still while I patch you up, okay?" Grumbling, Inuyasha obliged and sat completely still as the princess' hands gently bound his cuts and gashes.

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After a few hours of resting, Inuyasha was ready to start on his way to the palace. Following him closely, Kagome hovered by his side, worry written over her regal features. Following the two, Sango and Miroku chatted about anything and everything, except for their feelings about the other. Passing through the last small town, Kagome sighed and started combing her hair using her fingers. Watching her, Inuyasha asked, "What are you doing?"

"Preparing."

"For what?"

"Court."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a princess."

"Eh?"

Sighing, Kagome explained, "The Court always expects me to look my best, even if I have just returned from nearly a week in the wilderness." Shrugging his shoulders, Inuyasha told her, "Who cares what they think? I don't."

"What do you mean?" Kagome started to ask, yet was interrupted as Sango triple-kicked Miroku to the ground with her battle cry of, "HENTAI!!!" Shaking their heads, Kagome and Inuyasha watched the fight ensue between the Protector and priest.

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"Sango: 27. Miroku: Zip, zilch, nada, null, nothin'." Kagome told the older girl as they neared the palace gates. The crowds were atrocious at this time of day, and it was all the two boys could do to help the girls push their way through. Accidentally stepping on one man's foot, Kagome turned to him and said, "Forgive me, sir."

"Ya stupid girl! Watch where you're goin' next time! Ya almost cut me whole damn foot off!" the man yelled to her. Pulling the girl away, Inuyasha muttered, "If it was damned, then she would have done you a service, chopping it off." Thanking the outlaw, Kagome rushed back to where Sango was and continued their rant on the two boys while they approached the gates.

Smiling, Sango dropped back a step and Kagome turned to the two stern looking guards. Waving to them, she said, "Yamaguchi! Kawano! How are you guys? Care to let me through?"

"P-PRINCESS?!" Yamaguchi exclaimed, looking at her carefully. Nodding, Kagome said, "Oh, and let my three friends in also." Stepping back, the two guards let the four travelers through, while the man with the damned foot said to himself and to anyone who would listen, "The princess stepped on my foot…!"

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As they entered the main hall of the palace, Inuyasha excused himself to go talk to a man in House-colors that Kagome had never seen worn before in her Palace. Maybe he was from Sesshomaru's mansion? Why else would Inuyasha know this man? Raising an eyebrow in silent question, she nodded to the man. Looking from the garrison to the princess, Inuyasha said to her, "He's a friend. Just want to catch up on some things." Nodding to him, Kagome, Sango and Miroku left him with the sentinel to go find the rest of the royal family. Walking into the Grand Hall, their footfalls echoed around the immense room.

"Kagome!" Sota yelled, running up to his big sister and hugging her fiercely. Smiling warmly at him, the princess looked up as her parents entered the room much more regally. Bowing to them, she said, "Mother, Father, these are my three traveling companions that helped on my return." Motioning to each as she introduced them, she said, "This is the Protector, Sango, who gave me shelter when I needed it. This is the Priest, Miroku, who found me along with his comrade Inuyasha, who is not here at the moment."

Shaking her head at her daughter's introduction, the Queen told the princess, "Dear, being away for a week has chipped away at your manners. We will need to refine them before your wedding. Oh, and here's the groom now! Prince Hojo, it is a pleasure to see you after your long travel!" Turning to see her fiancée, Kagome mouthed a `What?' when she came face to face with Inuyasha. Seeing her daughter's confusion, the Queen said, "Kagome, meet Prince Hojo Inuyasha, of the Northern Kingdoms."

()()()

So… How many people did I confuse with that last line? Well, just to tease you, this is the second to last chapter! Yep, only nine chapters in this fic! Short fic, I know, but I want to get back to my real story, `The Cousin'! For any of you that have read it, I'm working on typing chapter 10 at the moment. For any of you that haven't read it, give it a shot (even though I haven't re-posted it yet…). Not quite so AU as this fic, but it has some funny stuff thrown in there! And as always, there's FLUFF!!! (Well, according to Sarah there is… I don't know, I just think that the stuff's fun to write…)

Okay. I'll stop my rambling, and get on to the part that you're all waiting for: The SHOUTOUTS!!! (These are so much fun!)

Alyssa: Oh my, I can't believe that you actually didn't blink for a whole week! (gives you eye-drops) Man, that had to be painful…

AngelofLight: I am offended! I do not write `EVIL' cliffies! Maybe `evil', but not `EVIL'! (glares right back at you) Grrr… (Muse: Stop growling or you might scare off another reviewer…) (Kimiki: (stops growling and smiles at you) Uh, thank you so very much for your review, and I hope that you will be kind enough to give me another wonderful review for this chapter.) (Muse: (gags at all the sugar heaped into that last sentence))

Shalaren: Well, yeah, chapter 7 wasn't one of my best, but it had to be there, don't you agree? Anyway, you found out who kidnapped Kagome, but I also threw in a strange, demented, `What the hell is Kimiki thinking?' cliffie at the end of this chapter. Tell me what to think while I barricade my windows and doors against the few `What the hell are you doing?!' reviews that I might get…

Randomunit02: Grrr! How am I supposed to give a shoutout to that?! Agg! Uh, (tries to think of something to say…) (can't think of anything…) What do I have to give you to make you give me a somewhat long review? Please tell me! However, please remember that my budget is the $6.95 that I have, so it can't be too expensive… Something from the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree would be best… (smiles) (Muse: Like Randomunit02 will fall for that bait…) (Kimiki: Shh! You never know!) (Muse: (shakes head sadly) What a deranged teenager you are…) (Kimiki: (smiles) Hey thanks! (pauses)) (Muse: …) (Kimiki: That was a compliment, right?) (Muse: Only if you want it to be…)

beta: Wow! Almost forgot your shoutout! Anyway, your betas just keep on getting better as the fic progresses! The comments that you make are hilarious, and I can't wait to read chapter 9's beta! (I only beta it the day or the day before I post it… it's easier that way… and, I'm lazy…) (sighs) Yes, I know, sad that there's only one last chapter, but I needed to end this fic… OKAY! Time to go type on `The Cousin'!!!!