InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hagakure ❯ Meeting With a Clash ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha or any of its characters. I simply abuse them for my own twisted means of amusement. However, I DO own Hagakure. She is mine. You can't have her so NYEH!

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Meeting With a Clash

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"Inu-Yasha, watch out!" Kagome shouted as another pin-like projectile flew at him.

This demon was not going down easily. It had a jewel shard embedded in its tail that was making it so powerful.

"I'm trying!" Inu-Yasha barked.

"This is no time to argue!" Miroku called over from his spot.

"Focus on the tail!" Sango shouted, remembering where Kagome said the shard was.

"I'll chop this overgrown pin cushion in half!" Inu-Yasha growled as he charged the beast.

He raised the Tetsusaiga over his head and brought it down. The demon was killed in one quick swipe.

"Why didn't you do that before?!" Shippo cried from his spot on Kagome's shoulder.

"I didn't think of it…" was Inu-Yasha's tactful response.

Kagome sighed and went over to what was left of the tail to grab the jewel shard. Just as she was bending down to pick it up, she felt a demon aura. Then a red wispy looking thing pushed passed her and disappeared.

"What was that?!" Miroku questioned.

"I don't know." Kagome stated. She looked down to the place previously occupied by the jewel shard only to find it missing. "But it took the jewel shard!"

"What?!" everybody shouted in unison.

"You heard me! Let's go get it!" Kagome shouted.

Inu-Yasha growled as he ran after the mysterious red wisp of hair or fur or whatever the hell it was, with Kagome on his back. Sango and Miroku shortly followed on the fire cat, Kirara. They had already earned that shard and no low-life demon was going to steal it from them!

The wisp led them to an open field that was surrounded by trees. It stopped and faced them. It had long, deep red hair and a tail the same color. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and his fangs were as sharp as needles.

"It's a kitsune!" Sango gasped.

The little fox growled at the group, with the shard clutched to its chest, like there was no tomorrow. For a young one, it was extremely vicious but had none of the brawn to go along with the attitude.

Shippo stared at him from his perch on Kagome's shoulder. Why was he so nasty? Kitsune were normally pretty good-natured unless threatened.

"Fox," Inu-Yasha growled, "give me back that jewel shard and we'll leave you alone!"

Inu-Yasha thrust his hand out, expecting the little fox to just run up and drop it in his palm. He didn't; he just snarled all the louder. Inu-Yasha made an advance and the kit let out a yelp that could have woken the dead.

"Enough!" demanded a female voice from the perimeter of the trees. "What is going on here?!"

A female demon stepped out of the darkness with her arms crossed over her chest. Her long black hair and tail shifted in the wind and her ears were pricked, sitting stiffly on the top of her head. Her eyes were glowing amber, protected by a gate of long, thick eyelashes. Her obi was pushed out, but not in an obese sort of way.

The kit recognized her as friend and bounded happily to her. He whispered something in her ear.

"You have been terrorizing my pup?" the demoness asked angrily after the kit was finished.

"Feh! That kit ain't your pup!" Inu-Yasha snorted. "You're not a kitsune."

The demoness growled at him. Her hand flew to her sword.

"Stop harassing my pup and be on your way, hanyou."

"Is that a challenge, bitch!?" Inu-Yasha growled.

"Perhaps it was, stupid hanyou." She looked at the kit on her shoulder. "Hakaki, wait here."

The kit Hakaki, jumped off her shoulder and waited near the tree line. The demoness walked up within fifteen feet of Inu-Yasha.

"Hanyou, let us battle without our swords. I wish to see something."

"Fine with me!" Inu-Yasha snickered.

Kagome was worried. "Something about her isn't right- "

"Kagome, I've never backed down from a battle before. I won't start now." Inu-Yasha said arrogantly.

"Men never learn…" Sango said with disgust.

"What could you mean, dearest Sango?" Miroku asked innocently as he scooted a step closer to her.

Kirara looked on amused from her mistress's side.

"Point proven," Sango said as she stepped an equal distance away.

The demoness was oblivious to this conversation. She threw down her sword and removed a carefully hidden dagger as well.

"Anything else in those robes of yours, bitch?" Inu-Yasha asked sarcastically.

"Now, half-breed, was that supposed to be an insult?" she retorted quickly.

Inu-Yasha growled at that label as he threw down his sword. He was determined to put an end to it.

"Come, come now!" the demoness taunted. "Surely you are not afraid to attack me, are you?"

Inu-Yasha lunged to prove his point. The demoness dodged easily and smacked him on the back of the head.

This crazy bitch reminded Inu-Yasha of his brother. It wasn't her looks- she looked far from identical to Sesshomaru, in fact she could be his polar opposite- but it was her snotty attitude and overwhelming need to point out what she thought about his fighting. She also had Sesshomaru's characteristically placed, tasteless expression during the battle. One thing that wasn't like Sesshomaru at all, was the way she taunted him.

"Clumsy, clumsy, hanyou!" she taunted in a joking voice. "I could've easily killed you just now! You shouldn't let emotions steer you in a fight."

Inu-Yasha swerved and struck again, now to defend his pride and to try to wipe that triumphant smirk off her face. He caught her by surprise and managed to give her a small slash mark across the face.

"Ah, so you can fight!" she exclaimed happily as she brushed the small amount of blood away. "I guess it was all lies then!"

"What was all lies?!"

The demoness ignored Inu-Yasha's question in favor of attacking him. She managed to get a claw into him and smelt his blood. It smelt strangely familiar to her.

"Have I fought you before, hanyou?" she asked as she stood off, allowing him to catch his breath.

"I never allow my opponents to leave alive." he angrily growled.

"Is that so?" she asked with brightened eyes and a sly edge in her voice.

She was upon him so fast he couldn't react. She pinned him to the ground and all that enveloped his vision was a smiling face, amber eyes, and a swirl of black hair. All the group could do was stare in horror. Inu-Yasha was at the complete mercy of the demoness.

"Pinned ya!" she shouted playfully.

This surprised everybody, even her own kit, out of their minds. Inu-Yasha looked up at the demoness that was now on top of him, effectively pinning him down.

"Who are you?!" he growled up at her.

Her face dropped a little. She then got off Inu-Yasha, freeing him, and tried to get up.

"Oh, damn. I'm stuck." she growled angrily as her knees protested to any type of movement. "Hakaki, come help me."

"Yes, mama."

The little kitsune sprung over to his mother's side and tried to help her up.

Inu-Yasha was now standing, had since picked up the Tetsusaiga, and looked at the demoness carefully. Something about her, other than her uncanny, Sesshomaru-like expression during battle, seemed familiar. He couldn't remember who she was, but he was certain they had met somewhere along the line.

"Inu-Yasha," she growled, "are you just going to let me sit here, or are you going to help me up?"

The entire group was shocked. How could this demoness know Inu-Yasha's name? No one had said it during the entire time they had been fighting.

"Who are you and how do you know me?" he growled at her.

"Lord Inu-Yasha, I'm surprised at you!" she said jokingly. "You never had such a bad memory before."

"Before?" Kagome asked. She turned to Inu-Yasha with angrily narrowed eyes. "Before what, Inu-Yasha?"

Inu-Yasha gulped. Kagome angry was a scary thing. To his surprise, the demoness came to his rescue.

"No need to get possessive, my lady. I will gladly explain everything once one of you helps me up. My knees are locked and Hakaki isn't quite strong enough yet."

She held up a hand and Kagome cautiously took it. The demoness gratefully pulled herself up with Kagome's help. She dusted off her robes.

"Well I thank you, Lady…?"

"My name is Kagome."

"Hmm… Lord Inu-Yasha and Lady Kagome…" the demoness mused.

"I beg your pardon?" Kagome asked suddenly.

The demoness looked at the group a bit confused.

"Are you two not mates?"

Kagome and Inu-Yasha looked at each other and blushed. They quickly found somewhere else to look.

"No." Inu-Yasha growled. "What ever gave you that idea?"

"Well Kagome was being very possessive over you, Lord Inu-Yasha- "

"Will you stop calling me that?! And just who the hell are you?!"

"Inu-Yasha," Miroku interrupted, "you should treat women with a bit more respect."

"I do not blame him, houshi." the demoness said brightly. "His manner of speech has always been so and I learned to live with it."

She walked over to a conveniently placed rock in the middle of the field and sat down. Hakaki followed her closely and eyed Inu-Yasha.

"Please come here so I can explain." she beckoned them.

Kagome went first with Shippo on her shoulder, followed by Sango and Miroku. Inu-Yasha stood off eyeing the woman down his nose.

"Still the stand-offish, stubborn Inu-Yasha I knew." she chuckled.

Inu-Yasha growled at her. She brushed it off like a speck of unwanted dirt.

"Anyway, my name is Hagakure."

Inu-Yasha's eyes almost bugged out of his head in surprise. This couldn't be the same twit he used to goof off with at the castle! No, it was impossible! That would have made her sixty-three years old, but she didn't look a day over sixteen.

"Hagakure…?" he asked, unsure he had heard correctly.

She nodded her head and smiled warmly.

"It can't be you!" he shouted as he ran up to her.

"Its me. To tell the truth, I thought you were dead." Hagakure explained as she playfully batted Inu-Yasha in the nose for getting too close to her face. Then she embraced him lightly.

"Can we press rewind here?" Kagome asked suddenly.

Hagakure looked up at Kagome with a very confused look on her face.

"Rewind?" Hagakure asked, looking to Kagome's companions. She stepped away from Inu-Yasha. "Is this a code of some sort?"

"No," Sango assured her. "Kagome comes from a place far away that has some odd customs and sayings."

"Indeed. May I ask what troubles you?"

"I'm just confused. How do you two know each other?"

Hagakure giggled.

"That will take a while. I should like to know your names first."

"Kagome."

"Miroku."

"Sango."

"Shippo."

"This is Hakaki, my adopted pup." Hagakure said pointing to the kit.

He nodded.

"I believe you have something of theirs, Hakaki?"

"Yes, momma." he said solemnly.

Hakaki took the jewel shard and handed it to Kagome, growling defiantly at Inu-Yasha. Hagakure giggled and ruffed up Inu-Yasha's hair.

"I always hated it when you did that." he grumbled.

"Exactly, Inu. That's why I always loved doing it."

Hagakure stretched her arms over her head.

"Ooh, ooh, ouch." she gasped as she grabbed her back. "I'll never get this being pregnant thing."

Inu-Yasha turned pale.

"Y-you're pregnant?" he stuttered.

"To my mate of seven years!" she laughed as she proudly showed off a bite mark on her neck.

"What is that?" Miroku asked, curious.

"It's a mark my mate gave me to show I'm off limits. All demons do it."

"That's one hell of a hickey…" Kagome said quietly.

Hagakure decided not to ask.

Kagome stole a glance at Inu-Yasha. He didn't look too good. His face was pale and his eyes were wide.

"Inu-Yasha, are you okay?" Kagome asked him worriedly.

The group turned their heads to look at him. When he didn't respond, Kagome started to wave her hand in front of his face. Hagakure took a step closer to them and joined in. After a few minutes of that, Kagome did the only thing she could do.

"Sit."

Inu-Yasha obediently plunged to the ground. Hagakure would have been rolling with laughter if she weren't pregnant. For the rest of the group, this was common practice.

Inu-Yasha came back up full of vigor.

"What the hell was that for?!" he shouted.

"You were acting like a freaking drone!"

"Well I was surprised!"

"Gods, I'd hate to see him when it's his mate." Hagakure giggled and nudged Kagome with a wink.

Kagome blushed. Inu-Yasha turned to Hagakure.

"What's his name?"

"My mate? Shiro, but why do you care?"

"I want to give my condolences to the poor sap that got stuck with you."

"Why, you little…!" Hagakure growled.

She reached up and grabbed one of Inu-Yasha's ears and twisted it. Hard. So hard in fact, she almost had Inu-Yasha on his knees begging for mercy.

"And that, Kagome, is what you do if that rosary of yours ever breaks." Hagakure said triumphantly as she let go of Inu-Yasha's ear.

Kagome stared in awe as Inu-Yasha rubbed his abused ear. That must have really hurt. It made sense though. Ears were a very sensitive place on humans so it was logical that the sensitivity would be magnified by Inu-Yasha's demon blood.

"Now let me tell you of how Inu-Yasha and I know each other." Hagakure said once again sitting on the rock.

"That can wait for a while." Miroku stated.

"Yes," Sango agreed. "We have to set up camp before it gets terribly dark. You can tell us then."

The rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement. Hagakure smiled. They trusted her so easily. She hadn't been trusted by anyone except her mate for the past fifty-some-odd years.

"Well I guess it would be useless to argue with that stubborn oaf if he's got all you behind him." she laughed.

"Yes it is." Inu-Yasha growled.

~*~*~

A set of eyes watched them as they gathered firewood and the other things necessary for a camp.

The two fox kits, Shippo and Hakaki, played near the demoness. She had been forced to stay sitting after revealing that she was due to deliver in less than a month's time. The hanyou and monk were searching for something to eat in the woods a little ways off. The two girls gathered firewood on the outskirts of the meadow.

The demon watched them intently from the bushes. He crept slowly forward. Inch, by agonizingly slow inch. He was determined to get his prey.

He stepped on a twig.

Hagakure's ears barely twitched.

He thought this unusual since she was obviously a full-blooded youkai, but shrugged it off.

~*~*~

Hagakure heard it; a sharp crack of a dry stick. She knew there was something out there hunting them. It was foolish in thinking they were easy prey just because she was pregnant and her current companions were either very young or female.

"Kagome, Sango, please come here." Hagakure called.

Kagome looked at Sango and they both shrugged. They came up to Hagakure.

"What is it, Hagakure?" Kagome asked.

"There is a demon in the bushes. It falsely thinks we are easy prey."

The bushes rustled. The demon figured if they already knew he was there, then it was a waste of time and energy to try and hide.

An ugly creature appeared from the bushes bearing its fangs.

"Hand over the fragment of the sacred jewel!" it demanded.

"Why do you wait until now to attack?!" Hagakure asked severely. "Is it because you believe it is better to chance a pack of females and young kits, rather than one with its males?"

"Coward." Sango spat out.

Hagakure stood up with a small amount of difficulty and unsheathed her sword.

The demon looked a bit taken back by the sheer ferocity of these women. After all, they looked weak enough.

It lunged at Hagakure. Just as the girls were about to spring into action, Inu-Yasha appeared before them in a flash of silver and red.

"No you don't!" he shouted as he unsheathed the Tetsusaiga.

Before the demon knew what hit him, he was dead, lying in a pool of his own blood. Miroku came out of the woods in time to see this exchange.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?!" Inu-Yasha shouted angrily at Hagakure. "You could've been killed!"

"Idiot! I was just fine!" Hagakure retorted angrily.

Hakaki's eyes darted from his mother to Inu-Yasha. He'd seen many confrontations like this back at home. His mother always thought she could do things she couldn't and it normally ended up in one huge screaming match between her and her mate.

"Momma, I don't think…" Hakaki started only to be silenced by Hagakure's swift hand wave.

Shippo looked a little confused at the two demons. The scene seemed oddly normal to him. Their ears were set angrily as they argued over how safe Hagakure was and every once in a while Hagakure's tail would twitch clearly showing her anger. Suddenly he got reminded of why this scene seemed a bit familiar: it was normally Kagome and Inu-Yasha arguing like this!

"Um… I do believe I shall here intervene." Miroku said smartly, momentarily interrupting the fight.

Hagakure and Inu-Yasha shot him icy glares and continued right on arguing.

After about five minutes, Kagome was starting to become amused by this exchange. In the beginning they had been arguing over Hagakure's safety. Now they had somehow switched to a wrestling match from X many years ago, that Hagakure had undoubtedly won.

"You cheated!" Inu-Yasha shouted.

"I did not!"

"You did so!"

"It's not my fault that you were a weak puppy!"

Inu-Yasha flinched. Ouch. That stung. The hurt showed plainly on his face.

Hagakure snorted, crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. She suddenly snickered.

"You haven't changed a bit." she giggled.

Inu-Yasha's face brightened.

"Neither have you." he said in a soft tone.

"Did I miss something here?" Sango asked, obviously very confused.

Hagakure smiled. "Well, I guess we can't put off all those explanations I owe you any longer."

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Like? You'll get to understand Hagakure and her story a little better in the next chapter. She's an interesting character, if I do say so myself.

--Netiri-sama no Kitsune-hi {Lady Netiri of Foxfire}

(teaser)

Next Chapter: Firelight Illuminations

Shiro looked around. Darkness. Even with his keen youkai eyes, that was really all he could make out. Silence. That was all he heard, only momentarily broken by his breathing and heart beating; his only grips on reality.

He had no clue where he was, nor how to get his bearings on that situation. All he could do was feel his way around, like he had been doing for a while now. He didn't know for how long; time had melted away for him.