InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Tangled Webs ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 16: Tangled Webs

Koga came to a halt, staring out across the lands. He'd been traveling for almost three weeks, trying to find any rumor of Naraku, and now, he'd found one, all right - one that said Naraku had been defeated - and he'd missed out. He wasn't sure whether to believe it or not, but it certainly seemed as though it was possible - something just felt different. The air felt cleaner, and less ominous.

But there were also a lot more fuckin' demons around - it was like wading through a river at times, there were so many. That was the only good thing about Naraku - he kept all the lesser demons in hiding.

If anyone would know about that bastard, dog shit and my woman would - I think it's time I tracked them down.

Closing his eyes and sticking his nose into the breeze, he inhaled deeply - and promptly scowled, growling loudly and setting himself into a fighting stance as he caught the scent of Naraku's wind incarnation.

So, even if they managed to kill the big bastard, they missed some of the small ones! Well, that's fine by me - Kagura's the one I want anyway.

"Come on out and play, wind bitch... I hear your master got himself killed - bet that hurt," he taunted, ice-blue eyes filled with contempt as he watched the woman float close on her feather.

"I'm not here to fight, wolf, instead, I'm here to warn you about a threat to your claim on the priestess," she said silkily. "It seems that Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands has taken a liking to your female."

At that, Koga burst into laughter, stepping back and straightening his stance. "Shows what you know, fool - Sesshoumaru got himself killed back about a year ago. If he wants to pant over my female while dead, let him," he chuckled, "not like he can do anything about it, and I'll be the one mating her."

"And it would appear that you are the fool, wolfling. I spoke with Sesshoumaru just last night. Apparently, he found a way back from that realm - as did the priestess," she said, obvious gloating in her voice.

Koga stopped laughing immediately and scowled at her. "What the fuck are you talking about, wench?!"

"Kagome defeated Naraku almost two weeks ago - but she died in the fight. However, according to Sesshoumaru, she's back, just like him." She raised her eyes to the sky and tapped a finger on her chin. "If I were you, I'd be wondering how he knew she had died - and that she was also back."

Dog shit let her get killed?! He's gonna fuckin' pay for that...

"What the fuck made you think he was interested in my woman, anyway," he asked suspiciously.

"His words. He basically told me he was. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I believe he was on his way to her when he left me. You might want to arrive before he does..." she trailed off suggestively.

He shook his head at her and rolled his eyes. "So, in other words, you threw yourself at him, and he turned you down. Now I get it."

Kagura hissed at him. "Whether he did or not, that still doesn't change the fact that he's now a rival for the miko, but if you want to lose out to him, that's your business. Sayonara, cub."

With that, she took off into the skies, laughing outright at the hostile, angered expression she'd left him with.

Hook, line, and sinker. He'll go to her, he won't be able to stop himself. And when he gets there, he can take the miko away... and leave that gorgeous ass of a demon Lord for me. He'll eventually give in - there aren't many decent demon females anymore, and sooner or later, he'll need an heir.

Who better to give him one than me?

---wWw---

Shippo sighed happily; he was back where he felt he belonged. With Kagome. The last few weeks had been hell for him, literally, as he grieved for the only mother-figure he'd ever really known. Not that he'd ever called her mother, but in truth, that's what she was.

And now, she was back, and all was right with his world.

For Kagome though...

"Uh, K'gome?"

She blinked, then pulled herself from her thoughts. "Yeah, Shippo?"

"We're heading in the right direction to pass Kaede's... and we're looking for Sesshoumaru, right?"

"Well... yeah, I suppose we are," she looked around, noting the familiar terrain. "And of course we're looking for Sesshoumaru. Why?"

Shippo smiled at her from his perch on her shoulder. "Don't you think he might like to see Rin again now that he's back?" he asked. "I mean, he did give up his life for her... and I know she'd like to see him."

Kagome grinned at that, knowing the kit was right, and glad to see him thinking of someone else, caring for someone else so well. "You are very right, Shippo. I think we should go get her - and Jaken, of course. That's a great idea!"

He puffed his chest out with pride, and asked, "Can I tell Inuyasha that we need to go to the village?"

She chuckled at her kit's mischievous expression, and ran slender fingers through his hair. "Go right ahead, Shippo, my dear. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your rights to tormenting the stubborn baka."

He grinned back at her, then cupped his tiny hands to his face and yelled, "Hey, bakayasha! We need to go to the village so we can pick up Rin and Jaken." At the half-demon's scowl, he finished, "Because Kagome said so, that's why! I know that's what you were gonna ask, so there's your answer!" He got a sly look on his face then.

"Unless, of course, you want to piss her off some more today. I wouldn't mind watching that."

Inuyasha scowled at the kit even harder and raised a fist, but put it back down and started muttering as he led the group in the direction of the village. He hadn't missed the glare sent his way by Kagome, and really didn't want to get into it anymore with her at this point.

Brow crinkling, he decided that maybe it would be a good thing to head back to the village - maybe he could talk Kikyou into coming with them. Kagome had always gotten jealous of the elder miko's presence in his life - maybe it would still work. He was willing to do anything at this point to get her attention off his asshole older brother.

Including flaunting a fully alive Kikyou in her face.

---wWw---

Sesshoumaru snapped his whip out and dashed to the side, making his way between the two mantis demons that had attacked him out of the blue. As the one went down, cut in two by his whip, the second was hit by the remains of the first, knocking it off balance, and he soon had it sliced in pieces as well.

Standing still between the bodies, he lifted his face up to the sky, and breathed in deeply, trying to calm his ire. It appeared that Naraku's death had sent the demon population into a frenzy - and they were overtaking the lands all around and attacking everything that moved.

While the lands he was currently passing through were not part of the West, still, the condition they were in hinted that things were probably the same in his own lands - which meant that not only did he have a miko to take from his half-breed brother, but a title as well. Now that he was back, he was Lord of these lands again - and it appeared that he was sorely needed.

Lowering his gaze back to his surroundings, he wondered just what Inuyasha had let befall their ancestral lands...

With a narrowed gaze, he decided that he would continue on his way to find his miko - after he had her in his possession once again, then he would travel his lands and begin to rid them of the scourge of lower-level demons that had appeared with Naraku's death.

And of course, his little miko would also be a definite help in that endeavor.

With an inward sigh, he looked once more at the pitiful remains of the fools that had attacked him, then turned and once more continued on his way. He was getting fairly annoyed with this whole thing; every time he had to stop and fight, meant more wasted minutes that could have brought him that much closer to his woman.

Another payment to take out of Inuyasha's hide... at this rate, the boy would have no flesh left.

Not that this was a bad thing.

His thoughts moved from dreams of all the harm he was intending to bring to his brother, to Kagome. Now that they were both back in this realm, what would happen? He knew what he wanted - but would she want the same?

Sure, they had been becoming closer while in the other realm - a lot closer, if the heavy scent of her arousal while in his presence had been any indication... and she'd said several times that she wanted to stay with him... but - would that change now that she was back?

Back with Inuyasha.

And that was the crux of his sudden feeling of worry - the fact that she was back with the half-breed that had always been able to piss her off, but had also always been able to climb back into her good graces. Would she go right back into the habit of loving him?

After thinking on it all for a while, he concluded that she would not. He was pretty confident that she had developed feelings towards himself, and that they were fairly strong. He was also sure that she would not be able to make herself into the second best that she would always be with the other priestess around.

That probably summed it up best - she would not return to Inuyasha's side... because that was now Kikyou's spot, and Kagome wouldn't be second best for anyone.

Hair whipping around him in a silver cloud as he ran, he let out a feral grin.

She would not return to the baka's side - she would keep her word and walk with him.

He was sure of it.

---wWw---

"Kagome!"

She jerked her head up at the happy yell coming from the small girl heading straight for her across the field, and held her arms open with a huge grin.

"Rin!" The tiny child threw herself into the miko's arms, and Kagome held her close, hugging her with all her might. "I'm so glad to see you - and Ah-Uhn of course, too," she laughed, as the dragon demon stumped over to her and nuzzled her affectionately with both heads. She'd become quite fond of them in the year they'd traveled together after Sesshoumaru had passed.

"Where's Jaken, sweetheart, shouldn't he be watching you?" Kagome looked around, frowning, wondering where the little toad was hiding.

"Jaken fell down when Ah-Uhn pushed him a little while ago. He was being grouchy, so they thought he needed a nap."

As she started to laugh, Ah-Uhn snorted, and turning, stumped his way back across the field towards the toad. Kagome held onto Rin, who was now chattering a mile a minute at Shippo, and followed him, wanting to talk to Jaken.

"Kagome?" Sango called.

"Hm?"

"We're going to head into the village and grab a few supplies, okay?"

Kagome stopped for a minute, then waved the taijiya over, waiting for her to dismount Kirara. Pulling her aside, she said, "You know that you don't have to go with me, right? You and Miroku have some things to be thinking about, don't you? I don't want to interfere with the lives you have planned, you know. It's not like I can't find," she glanced at the child still attached to her with a meaningful expression, and Sango nodded, "what I'm looking for on my own."

Sango shook her head at that. "No way, Kagome. We've just spent almost two weeks without you, thinking we'd never see you again. We'd like to be with you for a while yet - you know, get it through our thick skulls that you are still here and all."

She chuckled at that. "Well, if you're sure then..." she trailed off questioningly, and Sango nodded.

"We're sure. So go talk to Jaken, do what you need to do, and we'll be ready to leave in about an hour, okay?"

"Sure. Sounds good." She looked down. "Rin, would you go into the village with Sango and Miroku? I need to talk to Jaken for a few minutes, then I'll be there, okay?"

Rin nodded as she let loose of Kagome, then took Sango's hand, giggling as Shippo hopped onto the ground next to her. "I'll go with you, Rin."

Kagome nodded her gratitude to Shippo and Sango, then turned to Ah-Uhn, and said, "Okay, my friends, show me where you put the toad to sleep."

The dragon snorted in amusement, and led her just under the treeline, where she could finally make out the rather rumpled form of the little demon. She shook her head, laughter lighting her eyes as she sighed.

"Hey, Jaken." She crouched by him and shook him. "Jaken... wake up!"

She watched with high amusement as the toad woke, eyes narrowed against the light of the day - and nearly fell over in hysterics at the look on his face when he saw her and started screaming "Phantom!" - it was priceless.

"Jaken, calm down," she panted, trying to stop laughing, "it's really me - I'm not a ghost, see?" And she reached out and touched him.

At that, he stopped screaming, and instead stood and bowed, almost falling over himself as he realized she really was there. "Lady Kagome! So, Lord Inuyasha," here he choked just a bit, still finding it difficult to speak nicely about the half-breed, "actually found a way to bring you back, then. I am so glad, my Lady!"

She chuckled again, and shook her head. "You and Inuyasha will never get along, will you?" At his scowl, she sighed. "Well, then I guess it's a good thing that I'm not the only one that's back, now isn't it?"

Jaken's expression became almost worshipful as she spoke, alight with hope, as he asked, "Not... the only one, Lady Kagome? Does that mean - my Lord...?!"

She grinned. "Yup." Jaken looked ready to take flight, and she grabbed him quickly. "Hold up a moment, there. He's not with us. The spell that brought us back kinda went crazy, and flung him off into the northeast. That's why I'm here - to get you and Rin so we can go find him. But," she laid a cautionary hand on his beak, "I don't want Rin to know yet. It's a surprise, okay?"

He nodded rapidly, eyes wide and liquid, and when she moved her hand, he bowed to her. "I understand, Lady Kagome. Oh! I must go get our things and prepare to travel!" Kagome stood, and motioned for him to follow her.

"Well, then, let's go. We've got about forty-five minutes to be ready to leave, alright?"

"Oh, yes, I understand. I swear that we will be ready!"

Poor Jaken. He really does worship Sesshoumaru... of course, now I understand why. Bet he missed his Lord something dreadful this last year - hell, I miss him and it's only been a day for me.

She grabbed Ah-Uhn's reins and tugged them. "Well, come along then, boys, it's time to get ready to go meet our Lord."

Ah-Uhn huffed slightly and followed placidly along behind Kagome.

It's about time, they thought.

---wWw---

Inuyasha ignored everyone and took off, heading into the village and looking for Kikyou. It didn't occur to him that his thoughts of using her to make Kagome jealous were selfish, and he didn't take into account how, now that Kagome was back, and safe, his mind would automatically turn to her once he saw her again.

For all Inuyasha's faults, and they were many, admittedly, he wasn't trying to hurt anyone - he was just confused. After all this time, he still couldn't separate and label his feelings when it came to the two women in his life. He loved them both... what he couldn't figure out, was how he loved them - at least, not consciously.

Somewhere inside, however, some part of him knew which miko had what place in his life. The problem came in that phrase, in his life. Because that was the bottom line - he wanted them both in his life - but if he chose Kikyou, he wa sure that he'd lose Kagome, and vice versa. So what was a poor half-demon to do?

Remain confused, and end up mucking the relationships between the three of them up even more than they already were.

Because no matter what, in the end, he couldn't fathom losing one of the women in his heart to anyone else... let alone his ass of a brother.

And the truth was, that was as much Sesshoumaru's fault as it was his - after all, it had been the elder brother that had started the feud between them, and he kept feeding the fire, as well. This whole situation would undoubtedly ahve been much clearer and easier to deal with if the brother's were actually on good terms, rather than bad.

With all that said, as soon as Inuyasha caught sight of the elder miko, his mind went haywire as it always did, and all he could think about was her. So, when he asked her to travel with them, at that moment, it was really because he wanted her there, and not because he wanted to make Kagome jealous.

Because of the obvious sincerity in his voice, Kikyou agreed to go - because her truth was always that she loved him - and after having been dead for so long, any prejudice towards demons that she had carried in life was gone now - she was perfectly willing to take him as a half-demon.

It seemed that Kikyou had finally learned the lesson that Kagome had been trying to get through to everyone she came across - it wasn't what you were, but who, that mattered.

As the two approached Kaede's hut, where a reunion between the old miko and the younger was in progress, Miroku pulled them aside.

"If you two are going to go with us, then you need to be ready in half an hour."

"What, is she that damn eager to go find the ice prick that she's rushing? Fuck that, she can wait 'til we decide we're ready."

Apparently, he'd spoken a little too loud, because there came an ominous silence from inside the hut, and then an irate priestess stepped out, miko aura flaring, and flames dancing in her eyes.

"I don't think I even invited you to go, Inubaka, so who are you to tell me when I can and cannot go?" She pointed a finger at him, and poked him in his chest. "I am leaving in half an hour. If you plan to go, then you'll be ready. If you aren't, I'm still going to leave. End of story." With that she turned, and taking a deep, calming breath, she smiled brightly at Kikyou.

"Hello, Kikyou! I'm glad to see you looking so well. Please excuse the atmosphere between the jerk and I... I'm not too happy with some of the things he's done, lately."

The elder priestess looked slightly taken aback at the friendly greeting from the woman who'd been her rival for Inuyasha's attentions and affections for so long.

"I... uhm... okay...." she trailed off, not sure what to say.

Kagome looked at her for a moment, then glanced at Inuyasha. With a slight huff in his direction, she gestured up the hill and asked, "Kikyou, will you walk with me for a few minutes? I'd like to talk to you - I think there's some things we need to settle, don't you?"

Kikyou nodded, unable to even speak in her confusion, and with a last glance at Inuyasha, she moved off with Kagome.

Inuyasha just watched the two in stunned amazement, then suddenly realizing that those two particular people talking was probably not good for him, started after them, but before he could take even so much as a step, he found himself running into Miroku's staff.

"Not a good idea, Inuyasha. I would leave them well alone - I wouldn't want to watch Kagome fry you for irritating her any more than you already have." Casting a knowing glance at the half-demon, he said, "And if your intentions in asking Kikyou to join us on this little trip were to make Kagome jealous, you'd better give up on that idea." He chuckled in amusement as Inuyasha blushed.

"Keh! Don't know what you're talkin' about, Miroku," he mumbled. He looked off towards the two, and watched as they walked slowly, obviously deep in conversation.

Damn... I really don't like the sight of those two talking. Nothing good can come of it, that's for sure. Maybe I shouldn't have drug Kikyou into this mess...

Miroku watched the half-demon watching the two females, and shook his head, almost hysterical with laughter that he was desperately trying to keep inside. He had no idea what he'd just done...

Oh, what tangled webs we weave...

---wWw---

A/N: And things get even more tangled and confusing. Poor Inuyasha - he's not going to have any happy time for a while, now. Thanks again to all the reviewers - all the encouragment on this story is really food for the imagination, and keeps me writing - even when I should really be sleeping! Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter...

Amber