InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inexcusable Nature ❯ Concerning Control ( Chapter 5 )

Inexcusable Nature

Just A Starving Writer

Disclaimer: nope, not mine.

Part 5: Concerning Control

"You never answered my question," Kagome said suddenly after a few good hours of solid nothingness. Even Rin had been afraid to speak and had chosen instead the safety of a local field of flowers. Of course, Kagome was infinitely jealous, but his pointed looks made it quite obvious she was not allowed to join the child in escape.

"My question," she rambled on despite his glare. "I wanted to know if you knew where I could find Inuyasha."

"What business is it of yours."

"Eh…" It was so difficult answering this without falling into the previous heated argument. "I have something to discuss with him."

"The half-breed is currently indisposed."

"You mean imprisoned."

Ah! The glare had returned with full force yet again!

"Do you know where he is imprisoned?" she continued. After all, the irritated demon lord was the only source of information she had available. Despite his reluctance to answer and her repugnance of his company, it was certainly a profitable endeavor if he actually did know anything.

"In Naraku's stronghold, I presume."

"Well, of course."

Was she ever the proud recipient of the `most evil glares received within an hour' award…

"And can you enlighten me to that location?" Hell, if she was going to die at his frustrated hands, she might as well have been doing her duty.

"What are your intentions."

"To rescue him, of course."

"Hn." The noise sounded eerily like a disbelieving snort. She narrowed her eyes in insult.

"I can do it and I will do it." Her voice was rising with her pride. Ever sick of being underestimated, she was no longer in the mood for this arrogant youkai.

"You will die." Such a bold declaration and yet he made it in such a calm, unfazed voice.

"Maybe," she allowed as the seriousness of the situation set upon her once more. "But it's a chance I'll have to take."

She could see it in her mind even as her companion stared relentlessly at her. She would squash the evil hanyou, restore the jewel, and rescue her friends, all by herself. And that would show them that she was no longer a weak child. She was, after all, an adult now and surely that had to mean something.

"Put down your sword, wench." The command broke through her reverie swiftly. Sure enough, bringing her eyes back to reality, she saw that she had indeed drawn the katana and was currently pointing it at the aggravated lord. Dropping the sword in repulsed surprise, she took a step back with wide eyes.

Picking up the discarded blade, the youkai examined it with renewed interest. After long consideration, he looked back to the miko who was currently rolled into a ball and rocking on her toes.

"You are not controlling it." Of course, that was blatantly obvious. Still, she managed to agree mutely.

"It is controlling you." Hmm, that was quite the interesting deduction.

"It responds to your stronger emotions."

Now that really was interesting, and her dumbfounded face must have said as much.

"Foolish," the demon lord scoffed while throwing the blade back at her with expert aim. She could only stare at the still wavering blade as it stuck in the ground a scant few inches before her feet. "It is foolish to grant such power through such weakness."

"But…I can't carry the sword then!" she exclaimed as she understood exactly what was going on. "If it responds for me every time I have a strong emotion…o goodness, who knows what it'll make me do!"

She was frightened but Kagome could swear there was amusement hidden in the demon lord's eyes. Now that just pissed her off.

"Hey! Since when do you have a sense of humor?! You arrogant jerk! It's not funny!" she chastised him openly, her blood boiling in indignation. When she realized she had taken hold of the katana's white hilt again, she stopped suddenly and took a deep breath.

"No, it is not humorous," he allowed, even though he still had yet to wipe the satisfied smirk from his face. "It is foolish and interesting."

Righteous anger slammed through her and straightened her backbone as soon as he had made his snide little comment. She was unable to resist the beautiful call of the sword and in an instant it was in her grasp, blade at his throat as she looked down on his slightly tensed form.

"You find this foolish?" she asked harshly, eyes following the line of the katana down into his. But still, his amusement remained, although it was slightly tainted by annoyance.

"No, wench, I find you foolish. A foolish coward."

"And what makes you say that?" she asked as the blade pressed into his throat, drawing blood.

"You hide your identity like a coward and carry a sword that controls you."

"I have told you my identity and it would be rude to refuse the sword that was given to me. And, anyways, you should have more respect for the girl who threatens your life."

His eyes flashed dangerously as he finally tired of her insolence. He grabbed the blade and forcefully removed it from her grip, tossing it aside in favor of her neck. Pinning her easily to the ground, he noticed with satisfaction the overconfidence had abandoned her eyes.

"And you, wench, should have more respect for both the dead and the demon who threatens your life."

Releasing her, he was actually impressed when she immediately hopped to her feet (or foot rather as she so heavily leaned on the uninjured one that the other was practically useless), retrieved her katana, hastily picked up her belongings and bow, slung her quiver once more over her shoulder, and began to leave the campsite.

"Thank you for your ward's hospitality. However, I have a duty to perform and I have no time nor respect for arrogant jerks who doubt both my identity and my purpose. Goodbye."

With that said, she stalked proudly away. He could only stare after her and then listen as she bid Rin farewell in the nearby field. Deciding that it would be best to keep an eye on this troublesome human, he only allowed her to get to the borders of his senses before gathering his entourage and following her.

*

"She's worried. What is she worried about?" Miroku pondered from a dark dungeon.

"Gee, I wonder, stupid. Could it be because she's alone, being sought after by our most powerful enemy while we have already been captured?" the irate hanyou cut back in retort.

"Quiet, Inuyasha!" a tired fox child yelled. "He means she is more worried than usual!"

"I knew that!"

"Doubtful," mumbled a weary demon slayer.

"What did you say, Sango?" the irritated half breed asked in accusation. He only received an angry glare in response.

No one else bothered to continue the conversation.

*

Limping onward was making her progress slow, but Kagome knew she was at least going in the right direction. Somehow, she could sense Naraku, whether it be by jewel or something else. And where that evil hanyou was, her friends were bound to be.

Since there was really not much to do and no one to talk to, she took to delving into her mind, thinking over the events that had happened thus far during her journey and pondering over the new problem of the katana.

She did not like having a weapon that not only could she not control, but controlled her instead. It was ridiculous and dangerous and it led her to ponder the sanity of the sword smith who had made it for her. Who was he and how did he know her well enough to forge a katana that was suited to her moods? She couldn't deny the lure of the weapon and the sense of it. After all, her emotions were also responsible for powering the arrows she formerly fired.

Perhaps it was because she was so immersed in thought that she did not see or sense the demon coming. However, for once her luck perked up. A running figure stopped right in front of her, swirling dust around them both as he demanded her attention.

"Kagome? Is that really you?"

It took her a minute to remember the fur clad, pony tailed wolf demon standing in front of her, and then she was so thankful she threw herself into his strong arms.

"Kouga! I'm so happy to see you!"

"Kagome, so am I," he said from the confines of her hair as he proceeded to hug the hell out of her. She could only hope he would remember she was only human before he squeezed her to death. "I thought you were dead."

"…"

"I was so worried when that wind bitch told me she had killed you…"

"I am so going to get her…" Kagome mumbled before reassuring him. "Don't worry, I'm not dead. Not just yet."

When he had finally finished verifying her existence, he pushed back just enough to put his hands firmly on her shoulders and take his eye over her.

"You're…older," he almost whispered as he once again took in her figure.

"Um, yeah, two years will do that to a girl."

Exchanging shoulders for hands, he kissed the tops and locked his eyes on hers.

"So have you returned to be with me?" he asked completely seriously. She averted her gaze, afraid to hurt the wolf's already overexposed feelings.

"Um, no, I came back to save the day." This statement, followed by a soft self depreciating laugh, only served to prove her identity, and somehow her love, to this demon. He kissed her hands again as she tried to remove them from his grasp.

"Um…Kouga, I really have to go. My friends won't save themselves, apparently."

*

"Someone is talking shit about me," a hanyou growled from inside a dark dungeon. His companions rightfully ignored him.

*

Finally extracted herself from Kouga's grip, she began onward, but the wolf followed dutifully like the canine he was. Knowing he would continue until he felt the urge to leave, she figured she might as well pump him for information while he was there.

"Do you know where Naraku's castle is?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Afraid not or I would already have attacked him to get my jewel shards back. Kagura finally stole them from me about a year ago."

"I'm sorry," she said with empathy.

"It's nothing. I'll kill them soon enough." She nodded in mock agreement. Sure he would…

"And then we can be together, Kagome." Sure they would…

"But not until after I kill Naraku and that bitch Kagura." Uh-huh.

"My pack is catching up. I'll see you later, Kagome. Next time you see me, I'll bring you Naraku's head." Sure he would…

"Good luck and good bye, Kouga!" she yelled instead as the wolf sped off into the distance, followed by his two lackeys who shouted their friendly greetings before attempting to catch up to their leader. Though he was shardless, he was still incredibly fast. Damn youkai and their speeding abilities.

She was only able to release the breath she had been holding during the oddly stressful encounter before she felt another demonic presence. Pulling an arrow into her bow, she aimed in the general direction of the feeling just as a familiar white clad demon lord walked into her clearing.

"What do you want?" she asked with annoyance as she reluctantly stashed her arrow back in the quiver.

"I, Sesshoumaru do not answer to you."

"Hmph. Then stop following me."

"You jest."

She glared at him before her anger faded into slight irritation.

"Then what are you doing here?" she asked, deciding to play his little game if only to have the chance to further piss him off. This particular demon really needed to be shaken down a few notches.

"These are my lands. You are the one who is trespassing."

"Well excuse me!" she retorted sarcastically. It was so hard to get anywhere with this jerk.

"Hn." Apparently, he wasn't much one for forgiveness.

"Fine, I'm leaving." As she turned to depart from his poor company, an irresistible pressure on the back of her neck kept her from getting too far.

"You will leave when I let you, wench."

"eep!"

"Seeing as how you continue to disobey…" This couldn't be good.

*

"Oh crap," Inuyasha groaned while his companions thought similarly.

*

"I am left with one option."

Kagome could only gulp in fear and anticipation. What horrible punishment would this demon come up with?

"I must show you out of my lands personally to ensure you cause no more trouble."

"But I have to be here! I can feel them!"

"Foolish wench, Naraku could never be in my domain."

"Oh suck it up and listen to me! He's here, I know he is! And whether you like it or not, I will find him, even if that means trespassing in your lands, because I really don't give a damn what you think."

That rant must have really angered him because now her feet were clearly a good foot off the ground. However, his glare gave her hope. After all, she was still alive.

"If you are going to kill me, just do it already. Otherwise, let me go so I can do my job." Her exasperation and irritation made his glare harden before he released her and she fell in a crumpled heap to the ground.

"Evil arrogant pompous jerk…" she mumbled as she massaged her aching ankle that had strained on impact. Said jerk only ignored her as he walked away. He didn't get far before a smiling Rin skipped up to Kagome.

"Kagome!"

"Hello again, Rin."

"Did you hurt your ankle again?"

"Eh…maybe…"

It was so odd how the child could look so much like a reproving mother. Made one wonder how many times she had tended injured things.

"You should come with us. I can take care of you again!"

"I don't think so…"

"Rin." The cold voice broke her stumbling refusal and she was almost glad to hear it if only so he could also refuse her company. His next words only made her dislike the demon lord all the more.

"Help the miko onto Ah-Un. She is coming with us."

Shit.

*