InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dumb Luck ❯ Wild Night – Part 2 ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer- I do not own InuYasha or any of the original characters; they are the property of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. This story is an individual creation for personal and shared enjoyment of true InuYasha fans that I hope is up to the quality of the real series. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

Chapter Eight: Wild Night - Part 2

Kagome drops the useless bow, swoops up the oblivious kitsune and rolls out of the way just as the youkai lunges. It misses her and rams its abused head into the tree above her with a groan. Kagome rolls to a stop, glances back while she gets up with her burden and begins running, looking desperately for another hiding place.

The snake-youkai shakes itself and looks for its two-legged target, hissing and lurching forward when it spots her running form.

She hears the sputtering hiss over the intermittent wind and automatically looks back causing her to trip. She curls protectively around Shippo, twisting to land on her side and turns her head to stare up at the youkai suddenly looming over her. Paralyzed by fear, her eyes widen at the almost comical look of surprise on its reptilian face as Sango's Hiraikotsu severs its neck, the pieces falling to either side and the spurting blood showering over her.

Kagome sits up and looks in the direction the boomerang had come from and waves an arm in thanks to the quick Taijiya. Sango nods briefly before catching the spinning weapon upon its return in her free hand, still holding the tiny cat in the other.

Kagome sighs in short-lived relief as the combat moves dangerously close to where she is. But before she can move, InuYasha goes flying back from a sweeping backhanded blow from one enormous paw. She watches him flip over in mid-air and land on his feet, skidding back a few feet before grinning and taking a running leap onto the creature's back. She gasps in realization, `The mask…!'

`…is gone!' Sango turns, "Houshi-sama!" She hands him the cat and points at the hanyou still perched on the youkai's back, punching repeatedly at the frenzied creature's head, well out of reach of that lethal-looking beak. The Monk immediately sees and nods at her, backing away.

Sango grips her weapon with both hands and spins, swinging it completely around in increasingly faster circles to give it extra power before releasing it. The boomerang is a pale blur as it hurtles across the distance and neatly slices through both of the youkai's hind legs. The beast topples, waiving its remaining limbs in panic and bellowing out its rage.

InuYasha jumps clear just before it slams into the dirt. He straightens and stares at the desperate thrashing of the doomed creature with blood gushing from its gaping wounds. He spares a frowning glance for the young woman as she catches the huge boomerang before bracing himself and swiftly slashing with widespread claws at the howling youkai, yelling, "Sankontessou!" Blades of force slam into and tear the beast to pieces. "Damnit!" He snarls and turns irately towards the Taijiya to yell, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He points to the scattered remains, "That was MY kill!"

Sango's mouth drops open and Miroku steps forward and exclaims angrily back at him, "What are you talking about?! You were taking too long!" He continues to walk closer with Sango close behind him. He shakes his head in exasperation, "Why didn't you use Tessaiga?"

InuYasha looks taken aback and places a hand on the sheathed sword at his side, then shakes his head and says belligerently, "On that weak thing? Keh!! I didn't need to Bouzu!"

Sango recovers from her shock and shows her irritation. "How can you be so careless?! In case you hadn't noticed," she points at the scattered bits of youkai, "while you were `playing' with this one," she then points to the other side of the battle-ravaged clearing at the young girl still holding the kitsune protectively. "-The other one almost killed Kagome and Shippo!"

InuYasha is shocked and whips his head around to see the decapitated reptile lying near the dark-haired girl, her shirt showing brightly among the shadows. He watches her reach up to push her windblown hair back, `Kagome…' and he is suddenly in motion to rush over there.

Sango is only slightly relieved at his response and turns to Miroku, "Houshi-sama, help me find the mask." She sighs and starts scanning the ground along with the Monk.

InuYasha stops in front of Kagome and places his hands on her shoulders where he can feel her trembling. Her appearance is quite disheveled; dead leaves in her tangled hair and clothing stained with dirt, grass and blood. `Not her own, thank the gods!' He touches a rip in her sleeve then brushes gently at the tiny scrape on her chin, `What was I thinking?' He plucks a leaf from her hair and crushes it in his fist.

"Are you all right?" He looks her in the eye as she nods and notices the motionless kitsune in her arms, feeling dread steal over him, "Shippo…" he whispers.

Kagome hugs Shippo closer and is quick to reassure with a shake of her head, "No - It's ok InuYasha." She looks down at the peaceful face briefly, "He's only asleep." She gives InuYasha a tiny smile, "it's because of the pollen…" she pauses and looks at him with concern, freeing one hand to touch his face, "You lost Sango's mask."

A particularly strong gust of wind flings strands of hair across her face and she pushes it impatiently behind her ear then reaches out to grab his arm, "We need to find it and get it back on you."

He resists her pulling and takes hold of her hand in both of his, "I feel fine."

She looks up at him and is caught by the odd look in his golden eyes, "Inu…Yasha?" Her whisper is full of confusion and she watches him raise her hand back to his face, turning it over to smell the inside of her wrist. Startled, she yanks her hand back and wraps her arm back around Shippo's warm body. "What are you…?"

The intense look in his eye holds her frozen as he reaches up to capture her face between his hands. She can't look away as he moves closer, his luminous gaze holding hers; he seems to be memorizing her every feature. He says her name softly under his breath with such deep feeling that she forgets to breathe and her heart trips over itself to pound almost painfully against its cage of flesh and bone.

His hands move back down to her shoulders and he leans down to bury his face against the place where her neck and shoulder meet, inhaling deeply while moving up the side of her neck and into her hair, causing her to gasp and tremble in reaction. Before she can gather her scattered thoughts, he shifts and repeats the action up the other side of her neck, his warm breath tickling her left ear as he proceeds to explore it.

Kagome gasps again, eyelids fluttering and knees going weak, `…what…?' Her legs wobble and his hands shift from her shoulders to her waist to support her. His hands tighten and the warm brush of his breath moves downward, `…why…?' but she is unprepared for the searing touch of his open mouth on the sensitive skin of her neck. Her eyes open wide, staring blindly up at the brilliant stars wheeling around the moon. `I can't…' A shuddering rush of air finally fills her lungs as the shocking heat from his mouth on her neck travels like lightning through her body and jolts her senses to full awareness with more than a little fear.

Her mind is a jumble of chaos and confusion save for one thought, `…this is not right.' Kagome wriggles one arm loose from around the oblivious kitsune and pushes against InuYasha's shoulder, "InuYasha…" she grunts and pushes harder, "Let me…go!" Suddenly free, she steps back out of his reach and takes several much needed breaths, not taking her eyes off of the dazed-looking hanyou. `Is this…the pollen…?' Her heartbeat is still pounding and her mouth is dry making speech difficult. The air is cold on her damp skin where his mouth had been and she covers it with her hand in embarrassment.

She watches him stare at her with unfocused eyes, unsure of what to do. "InuYasha?" His eyes suddenly blaze and he steps forward, reaching for her. Kagome feels her heart skip a beat and puts one hand out in protest, "No!" He hesitates and the dazed look returns. She heaves a sigh of relief, `Oh boy…'

"Kagome-chan!"

The Monk and Taijiya approach from behind InuYasha and Kagome takes a step to the side to see them better. `How much did they see…?' She gulps in embarrassment and nods at them, hoping that her red face is not discernable in the moonlight.

Sango holds up her found mask, "Are you all right?"

Kagome nods again, not trusting her voice just yet and takes another step sideways, nervously watching InuYasha. His slight swaying is barely noticeable but she is staring too hard not to see.

Sango is trying to figure out the strange look on Kagome's face as she moves closer, "Are you sure?"

Kagome nods rapidly and takes another sliding step to the side, her eyes still glued apprehensively on InuYasha.

Sango frowns and looks from the nervous looking girl to the distracted hanyou and back again. `Something isn't right…' She holds out the mask towards him, "InuYasha?" When he doesn't answer or turn, she glances over at Kagome who shrugs uncomfortably.

Miroku watches this silently, with the tiny Kirara in the crook of his arm purring and kneading his sleeve. He steps around to the other side, trying to get a better look at the hanyou's face and finding it difficult through all that white hair blowing across it. He finally catches a glimpse of dazed eyes and looks at Sango, "I think that-"

InuYasha stiffens and snarls at the sound of a male voice, turning on the startled Monk with claws spread and fangs bared, "She's Mine!!"

Miroku backs away from the angry creature advancing on him and looks quickly at the two women watching in shock, raising his staff crosswise in front of him defensively, "Wait just a minute! What are you-?" InuYasha cuts him off with a deep snarl in his throat and stepping forward in advance with one clawed hand raised.

Kagome shakes herself and does the only thing she could think of, "Osuwari!" InuYasha slams into the ground face first and she bites her lip with a frown, looking over at Sango.

The Taijiya sighs and reaches for a small container secreted away in a pocket, "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this." She lays Hiraikotsu down and moves quickly to kneel in front of InuYasha before he can fully recover as he groans and pushes himself up. "InuYasha?" She sees the unfocused look in his eyes and smashes the stink pellet against the container, holding it up to his face. He gets a lung-full and chokes, flinging an arm across his face with a grimace and throwing himself backward.

Sango stands, putting the container away and picks up her boomerang. Kagome is staring guiltily down at the gasping and groaning InuYasha. She looks up at Sango, "What do we do now?"

Miroku sighs and hands Kirara back to Sango, handing her his staff as well, "Not much choice - is there? He retrieves the discarded mask and props the incapacitated hanyou up to tie it back over his face, "Just in case…" and then heaves the limp form over his shoulder with a grunt.

He looks at Sango with a nod, "Lead on."

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Miroku slaps another ofuda on the rock sides of the cave entrance, "There; that should keep out any youkai." He re-enters their dark shelter lit by a few small candles stuck in rough niches on the walls.

Sango watches him tiredly, "I just wish it could keep out the pollen." She looks down at the tiny Kirara lying limply in her lap and strokes the soft cream-colored fur.

He stands over her for a few seconds, rotating his strained shoulder and looking over at the others pensively, "Maybe we should tie InuYasha u-"

"No!" Kagome looks up in alarm shaking her head. "No…" her voice drops and she looks down at the softly groaning hanyou lying next to her, "I won't do that." An image of him bound in chains and helpless is still too fresh in her mind and she shakes her head again, gently stroking the silvery hair of his forehead, "I couldn't."

Miroku slowly nods, "Do you want me to take Shippo?"

Kagome shakes her head in the negative, looking down at the blissfully sleeping kitsune in her lap, "He's fine."

Sango watches him twist his shoulder again and notes his slight wince, "Houshi-sama." She pats the ground next to her and he quickly sits, never one to waste an opportunity to be near the beautiful young woman. She catches the gleam in his eye and gives him a mildly disgusted look, "Oh, no you don't," pushing him around to face away from her and grabbing his arm. "I'm only going to massage your shoulder," she digs her fingers into the abused muscle, adding, "and nothing else."

The thought of what that `else' could be has him smiling and he shamelessly leans into the rare treat. "Ah…Sango…to receive your tender touch," he grunts painfully at a particularly hard probe, "…is all that I could ask for."

She flushes at his sing-song voice and pushes him away, "Go on with you!"

He twists around and grabs her hand in both of his, giving her a lazy smile, "With you?" He flattens her hand against his beating heart, "…anywhere!"

She can feel her face burning and she yanks her hand back, "Can't you be serious?!" She glances over at the wide-eyed Kagome and blushes even more. Sango raises her fist and waves in his face, "Houshi-sama…" her tone is clearly a warning.

He puts up both hands defensively though he is still smiling, "Now Sango…"

Kagome looks away with a tiny smile and tunes out the playful bickering of her friends, her smile fading at InuYasha's muffled groan. She sighs and lays her hand on his shoulder to let him know she's there. He frowns and his hand comes up to grasp hers. She sees his eyes open to squint up at her, "Kagome…?"

She can barely hear the whisper behind the mask and leans warily closer, "InuYasha?"

He blinks and tries to focus, "…I'm sorry."

Kagome relaxes with a smile and squeezes his hand, "It's all right."

"I don't…I…" His bleary eyes swing to her, "Are you…?"

She is quick to reassure him, "I'm fine; you didn't hurt anybody."

He sighs and his eyes close, "…dizzy."

"Just rest," she feels him squeeze her hand and she squeezes back, "I'm right here."

After a few minutes of listening to his quiet groans, Kagome leans back against the cave wall tiredly, staring at nothing. She thinks back over the day, putting her other hand over the spot on her neck where she can still remember the feel of his mouth and shivers.

The blowing wind outside occasionally sends gusts swirling around the cave causing the candles to flicker unsteadily, snuffing the one closest to the entrance, and cries of youkai echo in the darkness beyond the dark opening making sleep impossible.

Conversation between the Monk and Taijiya has dropped below Kagome's hearing and she rubs tiredly at her eyes. `A long day…and it looks like it's gonna be a long night.' She presses her fingertips hard against her forehead; the pressure feeling good and easing the slight tension across her brow. `Wait…' she looks up unseeing while focusing her inner senses, `…something…' and frowns, turning her head towards the back of the cave. The pulsing grows stronger and she finally recognizes it, "A Shard!"

The two quietly conversing turn as one to look at her, Miroku leaning forward and grabbing his staff, "Kagome-sama?"

She turns to look at them, "There's a Shard nearby…" She looks back at the dark recesses of the cave, "that way…and getting closer."

He stands and helps Sango up. They move closer to the girl and hanyou to stare at the unexplored darkness. Miroku frowns and looks at Sango, "What do you think?"

Sango is staring hard at the blackness as if straining would reveal all. "We should check it out." She looks down at Kirara in her arms then down at the sleeping Shippo and incapacitated InuYasha, "But…"

Kagome holds out her arm, "Give her to me," her eyes are clear with her decision, "I'll stay here with them."

Sango reluctantly hands the tiny twin-tailed cat to her friend, "I don't like it. You don't have a weapon and InuYasha is practically useless right now."

A bleary golden eye squints up at the disparaging Taijiya, "Who's…useless?" His voice is raspy and he tries to sit up. Kagome easily pushes him flat again.

Miroku thinks of the broken bow and reaches into an inner pocket to pull out a handful of paper strips with black writing, bowing his head over them for a few seconds before handing them to the schoolgirl, "You should be able to use these."

Kagome takes the ofudas and nods, adding, "I can also use Tessaiga if I have to…it's still a sword." She ignores the scoffing sound coming from her left.

Sango looks worriedly at the four they are planning on leaving behind and sighs, "We will be back as soon as we can."

Kagome nods with a cheerful smile, "We'll be fine. Besides," she jerks her head at the cave entrance, "Miroku-sama's wards will keep anything out that way."

Sango looks away and straightens her shoulders, "Let's go, Houshi-sama."

The two disappear into the darkness with the borrowed flashlight to guide them.

InuYasha grunts and forces himself to a sitting position, "Damnit…" He drops his spinning head into his hands and groans.

Kagome grabs his arm, "You need to rest-"

He yanks out of her hold distemperedly, "I'm Fine!" He rests his elbows on the knees of his crossed legs, hunched over and leaning heavily on them, "I don't need protecting by a-"

"Don't you dare say it!" Her indignation has her glaring at his bowed head. "What's wrong with letting someone else take care of you for a change?"

He turns his head and glares back at her through narrowed eyes over the mask, "Keh!" He glances at the entrance and his eyes widen in shock.

Kagome swiftly turns and feels her jaw drop in surprise, "…Kikyo!"

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Author's Note - I really planned on having more funny stuff here, but…the characters take over once I set the scene…I honestly didn't know InuYasha had it in him. He surprised me here. And as much as I would have liked to take it farther (and how funny it would have been if he had snagged Kagome and run off with her **snicker**) I realized that the Inu-tachi are quick thinkers and DO have the means to subdue their off-times unpredictably wild friend. And there you have it. Hang on, we're not done yet!! LOL!

Please Review!

Thanks, Darkless