InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ For One Reason or Another ❯ Vicious Puppies and the Scent of Betrayal ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter Eleven: Vicious Puppies and the Scent of Betrayal

“Hey, wake up.” somebody roughly shook Kagome. Kagome pushed back the sleeping bag and stretched. She opened her eyes and looked into Sango’s liquid brown ones; she glanced at the sky colored the gray of dawn. “Let’s go to the river and wash up before he wakes up,” she pointed in the direction of Miroku’s sleeping form. Kagome yawned and nodded.

“Sure, let me get my stuff and tell Shippo so he won’t worry.” she pushed the covers farther down and revealed Shippo and Yasha curled against her side. Kagome poked him and he stretched like a cat and opened his green eyes.

“What?” he yawned while sitting up. Sango ran to the pack that was sitting next to the remains of the fire. She dug through it and pulled out the shampoo, conditioner and two towels along with clean clothes for Kagome.

“Shippo we’re going to bath, okay?” Kagome said as she stood. Shippo looked at his mom when she stood. He stretched and curled against her pillow pulling the covers over him. A soft snoring let Kagome and Sango know he was asleep. Kagome looked around the camp at the shadowed trees and rocks and sighed. She looked at the bare trees scattered on the edge and knew InuYasha would have slept in one of them. Sango looked at her and shook her head, knowing who it was Kagome was looking for and missed. InuYasha, the one she loved. Sango and Kirara sitting on her shoulder, walked to the part of the clearing by the river and slid down the incline, Kagome followed her. They walked and waded to a well-hidden part of the river. Sheltered by weeping willows and partly submerged rooks, it was the ideal place to bathe away from prying eyes.

“This is so beautiful, Sango.” Kagome said in awe.

“Well I’m happy you like it. Look those rocks over there are natural seats. And we can place our clothes on those branches overhanging the river after we wash them of course.” Sango said as she smiled and pointed each thing out. “And the water is warm too.” Kirara jumped off Sango’s shoulder and onto a rock basking in the early sun’s light. She curled into a ball and went to sleep.

Kagome stripped down and waded to a deeper part of the water, she ducked under the water and got her body fully wet. When she reappeared Sango was splashing herself with water to rinse the soap she had washed on her body with off. “This water feels so good Sango. How did you find it?” Kagome asked her while lathering her hair with shampoo.

“Early this morning I woke up and took a walk. I stumbled across this place when Kirara ran off under the willow’s vines. I followed her and she was sitting on that rock over there.” Sango said as she too began washing her hair.

Kagome nodded and went under to rinse her hair of the soap. As she came up Sango splashed her and the water fight begun. Neither noticed the purple robed figure sitting in a tree branch overhanging the water.

‘Wow, look at Sango’s figure.’ Miroku said as he struggled to get a glimpse through the willows boughs. A low growling was heard behind him. Miroku turned and was attacked by a silver ball of fur. Miroku began shouting to get help while a vicious puppy was mauling him.

“Sango did you hear that?” Kagome asked, frozen her hear just above the water.

“Yes, it sounds like a certain someone being attacked by a vicious man-eating pup.” Sango said laughing. Kagome mouthed ‘Miroku?’ Sango nodded and both laughed as they swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out to get dressed.

***InuYasha***

The gray dawn of the morning showed InuYasha sleeping in a tree holding Tetsusaiga across his lap. Every now and then his ears would twitch catching sounds from within the surrounding forest. Before he awoke his nose began wrinkling at a smell and his ears went forward to the sound of light feet. He opened his eyes and looked around. He stopped on a young Tigress Yokai. She had stopped to smell the ground. Her hair was black with electric blue highlights and was pulled back into a ponytail that reached her back. Her arms and what was seen of her back had the same blue color as her hair in her tiger stripes. She paused and looked around. InuYasha stiffened she turned her head around and he caught a glimpse of blue eyes.

“Whose there?” she hissed in a soft voice. InuYasha could tell she was young, around 19 or so. “I know you’re up in that tree so you better come down before I make you,” she growled at him.

“Feh! You want me come and get me,” he said as he unsheathed Tetsusaiga. He sensed her fur bristling as she leapt on to the lower branch, turning into a lithe tiger. He grinned; this was going to be fun. The tigress leaped and slashed as InuYasha twisted and brought the flat part of his blade down on her head. The tigress wobbled on the branch and fell to the ground. She got up and shook herself, InuYasha jumped down besides her. He kicked her forelegs out from underneath her and pinned the cat to the ground by holding Tetsusaiga to her glossy black neck. InuYasha was bummed out; taking her down was too easy.

“Change now to your humanoid form.” InuYasha ordered the cat. The tigers blue eyes narrowed and then closed. A blue light pulsed as she turned into the black haired female.

“Happy you mutt?” the tigress hissed at him. InuYasha lowered the sword’s blade closer to her neck, drawing blood.

“Why are you on Lord Sesshomaru’s lands, cat?” InuYasha barked, struggling to prevent calling the ‘lord’ a bastard. The cat winced as the cut became deeper.

“My brother, Taiga sent me to scout a female hanyou and warn him of her doings. I hate him and he knows this so he sends me off on stupid assignments such as these.” she spat. InuYasha’s eyes narrowed as he pulled the sword up slightly.

“Why does he want to scout an Inu Yokai’s territory? What is your name?” he InuYasha asked her while glaring. She shifted he body and returned the glare.

“Taiga wants human flesh, particularly young children. This lord of yours has a young girl Taiga had attacked her under a wolf’s guise. He tasted her flesh and wants more. As of the female hanyou he wants her because she killed four of his best men. My name is Mizu.” she told him shutting her eyes.

“I’ll have to take you to my brother so he can deal justice to a demon threatening his follower. By law I have to, unless you have more information.” InuYasha said while rubbing his chin.

“I have plotted my brothers downfall and since I am the next eldest the position of pride leader will fall on me. My brother knows this and I search for allies that are strong enough to overthrow him. I have only found this female hanyou and you another hanyou. Both together might help me, as I can lead you to my brothers lands and I can tell of his plot.” she said, InuYasha pulled the sword off her and sheathed it. He let her stand.

She dusted the dirt and bits of leaves off her black cloak. She said to him “I pledge my loyalty to the brother of Lord Sesshomaru.” she bowed deeply

“My name is InuYasha, and you better remember it.” InuYasha growled, longing for Kagome’s sweet scent not the musky odor of this feline.

“The female hanyou, she smells a little of you. Why?” Mizu asked him.

“I travel with her. Protect her, but at the moment I’m here to reclaim my lands. InuYasha said, feeling guilty for leaving his soon to be mate.

“If you like I can tell your brother what I know then run and protect this female you care deeply about.” Mizu said as she looked into the depths of InuYasha’s eyes.

“Yes” was all that he said. Mizu’s eyes widened as she looked past InuYasha.

“What is a Tiger Yokai and my half breed brother doing on my lands?” a cool and collected voice asked. InuYasha turned and looked directly into his moronic brother’s eyes.