InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Gone With the Wind. ❯ Cat demons lie! ( Chapter 3 )

Gone with the Wind

Chapter 3

 

Keiko's eyes shot open as she attempted to shake the odd sensation of being watched while she bathed. She, like any other person, had these feelings from time to time, and usually opened her eyes feeling somewhat silly. She recalled distinctively the number of times she had actually gone through the trouble of peeking around the shower curtain back home to confirm there was, in fact, no one on the other side.

 

Each time she gave in to her suspicious nature she would let loose a soft chain of laughter as she mentally scolded herself for being so paranoid.

 

Honestly, what did she expect to find?

 

A tall handsome figure with long white hair and deadly cruel eyes that bored down into her very soul, standing motionless as he openly gawked at her?

 

Actually, now that you mention it…

 

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Keiko screamed at the top of her lungs as her sluggish mind noted that she did, in fact, have company. Why she hadn't immediately screamed upon seeing the large imposing figure she wasn't sure, but if she had to place a wager on it, she would assume it had something to do with recent head injuries.

 

The angular man did not move a muscle as Keiko's scream eventually died down; leaving her gasping for air as she slowly refilled her lungs. His eyes, however, did consistently widen as he seemed to drink in the female with a gaze that held familiarity; making the fidgeting young female incredibly uncomfortable.

 

“AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Keiko screamed again, annoyance hindering her volume ever so slightly as she wondered where a certain puppy-eared boy was. The figure before her took the teeniest step in her direction while allowing his eyes to rest upon her forehead as he continued to stare, this time with a thoughtful expression.

 

“Oh for fuck's sake.” The young woman cursed as she noted a certain hanyou should have been here by now before sinking even further into the water in an attempt to maintain her modesty.

 

The tall gentleman, she noted, seemed to be caught off guard by her less then poetic words as he paused in his advancement and canted his head to the side ever so slightly in a contemplative gesture.

 

Keiko eyed him momentarily as she once again filled her lungs with air in preparation for another bout of screaming.

 

Who was this guy?

 

Why was he looking at her like that?

 

And, what the hell was he wearing?

 

“Inu Yasha you fucking ASSHOLE …where the fuck are you?” The trembling woman finally exclaimed as she called for help once more and pondered the dangers of big fluffy rapists who wandered about the woods to sneak up on unsuspecting, unclothed females.

 

As if on cue, Inu Yasha jumped into the clearing as he brandished an all ready transformed Tetsaiga in front of him.

 

Keiko's eyebrow twitched as she noted the hanyou's frazzled hair and flushed face. She had seen certain scandalous coworkers emerge from supply cabinets back home in a similar condition, and had a pretty good idea what could have possibly delayed her… `Savior'.

 

`Kami forbid a little thing like saving mylife keep puppy boy from getting some.' The raven haired woman snorted internally.

 

“What the fuck took you so long?” Keiko demanded.

 

Inu Yasha's mouth opened and then quickly snapped shut as he sought an answer to the young woman's question. There was simply no easy way to explain that you were delayed because you were too busy going through your would-be-girlfriend's bag …looking for……well that wasn't important. The point was he couldn't simply drop everything (literally… since he had been up in a tree) and have a certain miko sit him unconscious before he even got a chance to head in the direction of the hot spring.

 

He couldn't exactly save ANYONE if he was grounded for going through Kagome's unmentionables again.

 

So really, when he thought about it, (which he didn't) his delay was in the woman's best interest.

 

`Honestly,' Inu Yasha snorted, `You'd think she'd be more grateful.'

 

“Quit your bitchin'” The hanyou growled. “I'm here…. Ain't I?”

 

“What's all the screaming about?” Inu Yasha finally questioned, ignoring the glare the now slightly pink woman seemed to shoot him, as his eyes fell on his brother who was still staring at Keiko from his spot on the edge of the hot spring.

 

“Oiy,” The hanyou grumbled out as he caught his half-brother's attention. “Did you take care of it all ready?”

 

“He is it!” Keiko emphasized with astonishment as she backed up a little in the water and thrust a pruny digit in the taiyoukai's general direction; relaxing slightly as the strange gentleman seemed to focus his attention on the hanyou for the time being.

 

“Keh.” Inu Yasha snorted as he lowered his sword and eyed his brother with annoyance.

 

“He ain't no threat.” The dog eared boy offered in a consoling tone while he closed his eyes and casually leaned against the hilt of his sword. “I had Myoga ----“

 

*SMACK*

 

The rough sound of skin hitting skin echoed through the small clearing, causing Keiko to grimace, as she watched the tall man deliver what could only be described as a `bitch slap' across the obviously startled hanyou's face.

 

Despite the fact that Inu Yasha was supposed to be the hero in this little scenario, for some reason watching the hanyou receive a blow to the face, Keiko noted, caused her heart to pulse in all together pleasing sort of way.

 

Keiko found herself having to bite her lip as she fought back the urge to cheer.

 

“Hey!” Inu Yasha barked indignantly as he cradled the newly abused flesh with a clawed palm.

 

“Inu Yasha, you fool.” The taller figure stated plainly as he brought the same hand up to backhand the quickly retreating hanyou.

 

“I should have known a bastard like you wouldn't give a damn.” Inu Yasha growled as he lowered himself to the ground to avoid the blow.

 

“Only an ignorant fool such as yourself would dare corrupt the natural order of things and give life to that which has all ready past.” Sesshoumaru drawled out bitterly as he took one giant step back from his much hated offspring and deftly pulled his sword from his hip.

 

Inu Yasha snorted at the accusation as he raised his sword just in time to block his elder brother's violent thrust.

 

“We didn't bring her back Sesshoumaru…you bastard.” He ended with emphasis as he took the opportunity to insult his brother once again. “She's her reincarnation.”

 

Keiko's throat quickly dried out as her mind refused to acknowledge what was being said.

 

Who was a reincarnation?

 

Surely they didn't mean….she….

 

Stopping herself from dwelling on the thought any further, Keiko rose from the water as she dashed to her clothing; wrapping them around her body to cover the essential areas before she quickly sprinted into the forest.

 

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes as he released an aggravated sigh and quickly shook away the embarrassment of seeing the young woman naked briefly. “Not again.” He huffed as his brother finally disengaged from battle and stared off in the direction the woman had disappeared; seemingly unfazed by her nudity or rapid departure.

 

“I'll get her.” The hanyou grumbled as he took a step forward only to be cut off by his brother's outstretched arm.

 

“I will retrieve her.” Sesshoumaru corrected.

 

“When we return,” The great taiyoukai added as he slowly sauntered off in the fleeing girl's direction. “You will explain further.”

 

`Great.' Inu Yasha's inner mind moaned.

 

“Looking forward to it.” The hanyou mumbled as he turned and stomped off in the direction of camp. If the others weren't awake all ready he would have to wake them, he noted. Chances were he was going to need Kagome's help with this particular explanation. They had been debating whether or not it would be wise to share information regarding the well and its true purpose with Sesshoumaru ever since their new visitor arrived.

 

Somehow Inu Yasha knew his elder brother wouldn't just take things at face value.

 

Sometimes he missed the days they used to try and kill each other.

 

If it hadn't been for Kagome, they would more then likely still be trying to kill each other.

 

“Stupid girl.” Inu Yasha huffed, mentally noting that the miko had a propensity for ruining his fun, before scanning the area briefly to make sure he hadn't been overheard.

 

He dared not say such things within ear shot.

 

Demons he could handle,

 

Hell he could handle, but ….

 

An enraged Kagome?

 

“Fuck that.” Inu Yasha snorted softly as he hastened his pace to camp and quietly confirmed he had placed everything in Kagome's back pack EXACTLY where he found it.

 

 

“Oh hell.” Keiko muttered while dropping her panties in a frantic flurry of motion as she attempted to dress and run at the same time. As difficult as this task was, and it was difficult, the fact that her skin was still wet, and therefore sticking to the clothes, made it even more impossible.

 

“Fuck.” She cursed again as she finally stopped for a moment to latch her bra in the front, quickly spinning it around her body as she pulled it up and on, before zipping up her jeans.

 

Keiko groaned loudly as she once again began to run, this time with shoes on her feet, while pulling her jacket on and slipping her hands into the pockets.

 

“Damn it.” She cursed again as she realized, all though she had a full pack of cigarettes, she was short one, very important, lighter.

 

Was it still back at the well?

 

Was she even headed toward the well?

 

Keiko paused again as she scanned the area, looking for some sort of landmark. She groaned softly as she realized that everything looked foreign in the light of the breaking dawn, and for good reason; it had been dark the last time she fled.

 

“FUCK.” She growled as she realized just how utterly lost she had gotten herself.

 

Perhaps running hadn't been smartest course of action.

 

After all, she wasn't in Tokyo anymore.

 

“Is your vocabulary truly that limited or do you strive to seem ignorant?” A smooth masculine voice questioned from directly behind Keiko, causing goose bumps to sprout against her neck.

 

“Why don't you shove it up your…” Keiko began as she spun on the familiar voice to give it a piece of her mind; shutting her mouth sharply as she stood face to face with the tall stranger from before. She didn't know why, but for some reason she didn't expect to see him there.

 

Why was he following her?

 

Where was Inu Yasha?

 

And, why did the item hanging off his extended index finger look suspiciously like her panties?

 

Keiko narrowed her eyes as she flushed a light shade of pink and quickly yanked the black lacy undergarment out of his grasp.

 

“Is there a reason you're following me?” The young woman asked in aggravation as she attempted to put on a brave front now that her `savior' was more then likely out of ear shot and not coming to her rescue.

 

“I have come to…” Sesshoumaru began as he noted how strange it was to see a face so similar to Kagura's blush so easily. “Take you back.”

 

“Back where?” Keiko questioned as she eyed the demon before her in confusion. “I don't belong here.”

 

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow as he weighed the woman's admission carefully before attempting to coerce more information out of her.

 

“Where do you belong?” He questioned thoughtfully.

 

Keiko scoffed as she placed her hands upon her hips. `That's a good question.' Her mind silently mused before she attempted to put a more definitive answer together.

 

“Apparently…” Keiko began with trepidation. She barely believed it herself, why would THIS guy believe her? “Five hundred years in the future.” She admitted, feeling more then a little silly for even saying such a thing out loud.

 

Sesshoumaru arched a delicate eyebrow as her admission seemed to catch him off guard. Was such a thing possible? It would explain why the girl seemed to be at least a two decades old when Kagura had only died a few months before, but how could such a thing happen?

 

“How was this accomplished?” Sesshoumaru more demanded then asked as he stared down at the woman with his signature cold expression in place.

 

Keiko sighed as her shoulders slumped ever so slightly. She found simultaneous comfort and disturbance in the fact that the tall strange man seemed to believe her.

 

Was she really 500 years in the past?

 

Really?

 

REALLY?!

 

“I jumped through a well after a school girl.” Keiko admitted; her embarrassment growing as she realized that perhaps her actions were just as unbelievable as their outcome, “and I ended up here.”

 

“The Bone Eater's well?” Sesshoumaru questioned as unsolved puzzles seemed to make a little more sense to his ancient mind.

 

“How the fuck should I know?” Keiko admitted offhandedly as she seemed to drift off into her little world as she surveyed the woods looking for something she could start a fire with.

 

“You wouldn't happen to have a lighter…would y- ?” She queried; falling quiet as all the air in her lungs was suddenly forced out by an opposing dog demon's shoulder being thrust against her torso.

 

“Hey!” Keiko squawked indignantly as she was hefted about like a sack of potatoes. “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” She demanded hotly.

 

“If you expect an answer...” The great taiyoukai scolded as if talking to a small child. “You will rephrase your request.”

 

Keiko growled loudly as she struggled against her captor's tight grasp.

 

How dare he!

 

Who the hell did he think he was?

 

She didn't even know him!

 

Keiko squirmed again as the arm against the back of her knees refused to budge an inch.

 

`Damn him.' She internally cursed as a strange but familiar flutter in her stomach testified to her body's betrayal.

 

She didn't even know him, he was kidnapping her, and she was …enjoying it?

 

Keiko sighed as she finally gave in and simply slumped against the great taiyoukai's back as he lazily strolled through the forest.

 

“Bastard.” She huffed quietly; falling silent as she attempted to fill the awkward moments by counting trees.

 

~0~0~0~0~0~0~

 

A few moments later, after being dropped to the ground quite rudely, Keiko found herself back at camp, happily puffing away on a cigarette as she leaned against a nearby tree; only half listening to what she supposed was a dreadfully exciting lecture on time travel. Her head tilted to the side ever so slightly as she surreptitiously checked out a certain demon lord's backside.

 

Moments before she had learned his name was Sesshoumaru; something she felt was a grave injustice considering his manly physique. `Sesshoumaru' was such a pretty name' She noted wistfully, `the kind you often found in poetry and sonnets.' She mentally sighed as she realized such a being probably inspired quite a bit of poetry in his lifetime.

 

It wasn't just his name, Keiko mused quietly as she continued to puff away on a cigarette and stare at the demon lord's rear end, the markings on his face also seemed a bit….fanciful for such a powerful....whatever he was.

 

The sound of Kagome quietly clearing her throat suddenly caught Keiko's attention as she realized that everyone seemed to be looking in her direction expectantly.

 

“What?” The young woman questioned as she casually smothered her cigarette butt with her foot.

 

“She asked you about your family.” Inu Yasha bit out gruffly, shoving his hands into his sleeves and looking away as he avoided rolling his eyes. Honestly, the way this woman openly ogled Sesshoumaru was making his stomach turn.

 

`How could anyone find that attractive?' The hanyou wondered as he unsuccessfully fought the urge to make a disgusted face.

 

A very unladylike snort escaped Keiko's throat as she acknowledge the question.

 

“What about them?” The young woman questioned as she continued to lean against the trunk of the large tree but refrained from ass ogling while she was the center of attention.

 

“Won't they be worried by now?” Kagome questioned.

 

“I doubt it.” Keiko answered back matter-of-factly. “They're dead.”

 

“I'm so sorry!” The young miko exclaimed as she folded her hands over her heart; looking like she was about to burst into tears.

 

“Don't cry over it.” The young woman warned as she arched an elegant eyebrow at the miko's odd sensibilities. “I don't” Keiko added as she pulled another cigarette out of her pack and walked over to the campfire to light it.

 

“They died when I was very little” The young woman admitted unabashedly as brought the now lit stick of tobacco to her lips.

 

“Oh.” Kagome stated softly as she seemed to see the woman before her in a whole new light.

 

A strange silence seemed to befall the group as all eyes remained on Keiko.

 

The young woman in question growled as she realized she had become the guest of honor in their silent little pity party and decided enough was enough.

 

“I need more cigarettes.” Keiko stated boldly, hoping to change the subject as she rose to her feet and addressed the group. “And a new lighter.” She added as she stuffed her hands eagerly into her jacket. “So if you'll point me in the direction of the well…”

 

“Is this what you are referring to?” Miroku chimed in as he reached into his robes and pulled out a tiny green and red lighter.

 

“Sweet!” Keiko beamed as she swiftly pulled the small device from the monk's hands and flicked the flint once to make sure it worked.

 

“Thanks monk man!” The young woman exclaimed gleefully as she stuffed the much missed trinket of technology into her jacket pocket and stared at Kagome expectantly.

 

“So which way is the well?” The young woman questioned again as she turned her back on the monk.

 

“Well…” Kagome began, only to have her words trampled on a by an authoritative and imposing voice.

 

“This Sesshoumaru will escort you.” The great dog demon announced flatly as he ignored the odd looks he was receiving from the rest of the group.

 

“All right.” Keiko agreed casually with a shrug. “Just let me….” The young woman began before raising a finger and allowing her left eyelid to close in agitation.

 

“Miroku…” The raven haired woman question calmly as she stood stalk still; her jaw clenching the only indication that there was in fact anything amiss. “Is that your hand on my ass?”

 

“Pervert!” Sango exclaimed before knocking the monk soundly against the head.

 

Keiko flinched as she eyed the unconscious man and the fuming woman standing over him.

 

She really needed to get back to her time.

 

These people were insane.

 

Silently, Keiko allowed Sesshoumaru to lead her out of camp as she waved her last goodbyes to the strange group of travelers she had barely gotten to know; ogling the tall demon lord's backside for an extended moment before hastening her steps to catch up with him.

 

“Are they always so….” Keiko questioned her companion as she attempted to think of a word that best describe the group.

 

“Annoying?” The demon lord offered as he earned a light chuckle from the woman walking beside him.

 

A long silence once again fell between them before Keiko once again felt the urge to break it.

 

“So ….what kind of demon are you?” She felt compelled to ask as she realized that a crescent moon and red stripes didn't really tie in with any youkai she recalled reading about.

 

“Dog.” The great taiyoukai offered ostensibly, continuing to trek forward as he stared at the woman beside him through the corners of his eyes.

 

A brief look of confusion followed by a clarifying laughter seemed to communicate the young woman's thought process on the matter; leaving the great dog demon to wonder what it was she found so funny.

 

`Dog?' Keiko questioned internally before adding, `then where are his ears?'

 

The young woman from the future smiled softly as she allowed a brief moment of laughter to roll off her lips.

 

“I knew he was a cat demon.” She scoffed quietly before allowing herself another brief moment of laughter; gaining an odd look from the dog demon beside her as he casually wondered who she was talking about.