InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inexcusable Nature ❯ Something new to consider ( Chapter 12 )

Inexcusable Nature

Just A Starving Writer

Disclaimer: nope, not mine.

Part 12: Something new to consider

The evil laugh that filled the dark castle sent all within range to scamper for safety.

"They are alone…and she is using her sword to undress him," stated a maliciously humorous Naraku. "Their relationship is progressing much quicker than I ever could have guessed."

The laugh renewed as he watched the reactions between the girl and youkai. Apparently, the action had not been intended as the miko was currently a fetching shade of red. The lord was still looking at his injured sleeve curiously.

"Do not worry, my girl," the evil hanyou began even as he continued to polish a ridiculously shiny jewel half. "Before long, you will be quite accustomed to such exposure."

Those who had not cowered did so now at the newest laughter.

*

"I'm sorry!" a troubled miko squeaked from behind her hands.

He was silent as his eyes concentrated on examining the injury she had made to the poor unsuspecting fabric. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he turned to look at her.

What she saw only made her gasp even as her embarrassment reached an all time high. The bastard had the oddest expression on his usually cool features. The combination of humor, superiority, smugness, and strange curiosity was simply not something she ever wanted to see on him.

Without a word, he tore the remaining sleeve off the stump and threw it with expert aim onto her beet red face.

Sputtering with embarrassed annoyance, she removed the offending fabric and glared at him. However, it was unsuccessful as he had already resumed walking away. She could only stand and stare at his retreating figure as he reached the end of their tether.

"Wench," he commanded, though the tone was slightly different than what she was accustomed to hearing from him.

She was so intrigued by the change that she barely even noticed that she was limping up to him. As his close proximity suddenly registered to her addled mind, her irritation woke. After all, all she'd done was rip his sleeve a little. He was acting as if she'd performed some sort of sensual crime. How utterly ridiculous!

Now that she was fully back into plain irritation with a new and healthy dose of distrust for the sword, she pulled her earlier stunt of sheathing the blade rather harshly. Even as the katana slid in and his sash was jerked by the force, she glared at him.

Perhaps it was because of her distraction with his expression that she failed to notice his hand moving towards hers. In an instant, she was twisted around, him at her back even as her arm was uncomfortably pushed into her spine by an unbeatable force. She was pushed forward and the shock, as well as her presently poor balance, caused the poor young woman to fall on flat on her face.

"Ow," she groaned as she struggled to sit up. Glaring at him, she noticed the same smug look directed at her. It only made her want to be less cooperative.

"Get up," he ordered in the same questionable tone.

She crossed her arms and remained glued to her spot, totally ignoring the convenient white silk she was crushing in her fist.

"You wish me to assist?"

The quiet threat in that question brought her enough out of her obstinate mood to stumble to her feet. He began to walk away but she remained standing on her one good foot. Stopping once more at the border or their connection, he turned to gaze at her with that damned look still in full effect.

"Come," he ordered.

She took one grudging step before remembering to favor the injured ankle. In no time at all, she was reacquainted with the ground.

This time, however, the demon lord would have no time wasted by allowing her to take her sweet time. It was astonishing how easy it was for him to lift and plant her firmly back on his shoulder with only one arm.

She crossed her arms in annoyance but otherwise made no move to argue with the position. It was pointless anyways. Not to mention, she couldn't exactly walk right now, so even this odd method of transportation was welcome. Muttering the required "arrogant jerk", she settled for staring at his waving hair, quickly becoming transfixed.

The demon lord ignored her preoccupation and focused on his own thoughts instead. It was peculiar how the sword acted on more than just her anger and annoyance. The miko's curiosity must be quite powerful indeed. Though it was slightly annoying that she had chosen to taken interest in his damaged arm, it was still something to witness the appalled shock on the girl's face when she realized what had happened. It gave him even more ideas on how to torture her into doing exactly what he wanted. Both curiosity and modesty were great emotions to exploit.

*

Just as they were leaving the relative safety of the village, the former shard hunters stopped and exchanged glances.

"I must say, she switches emotions with astounding rapidity," stated the presently wise monk.

"How can anything be that interesting?" asked a stumped fox.

A quiet demon slayer fell into a fit of giggles as a particular discussion with a particular miko concerning a particular youkai's hair echoed in her mind.

"What's so funny, Sango?" asked an irritated hanyou.

"Nothing," she said while stifling a laugh. As a few particularly interesting phrases of said conversation repeated in her mind, she broke through her resolve and laughed hysterically.

"What's her problem?" grumbled the hanyou.

"One can only wonder…" began the monk while his eyes danced on her shaking figure. "Wonder and watch."

*

The bath had been tremendously enjoyed. The old swordsmith was simply not as lithe as he used to be and hot baths were so much more pleasant to his aching joints.

However, all other thoughts concerning his love of warm water were expelled as soon as he caught sight of the demon waiting for him in his cave.

"Totosai," the lord acknowledged and the swordsmith shrank away. He'd never gotten over his dislike of the arrogant youkai.

However, one fact stopped his escape. The white hilted sword was almost lost in the folds of the demon's pants, but the swordsmith could feel its presence.

"That sword was meant for the girl! I done told you, I'm not making you one."

Further inquiry was cut short by a distinctly feminine yawn from a pile of furs in a dark corner of the cave.

"The girl cannot control it." The statement brought the smith's attention back onto the problem at hand.

"Oh, she'll learn," he muttered in clear opposition that something was wrong with a sword of his creation.

"No. It is too powerful for a mere human. If she attacks me again, her life is forfeit, as is yours."

The poor smith gulped at that thought. Maybe he could do something with the weapon after all…

Said weapon was thrown to the ground in front of him.

"You have one day." After issuing the command, the demon lord strode out of the stuffy cave and into the blissful air, glowing slightly in the poor light of dusk.

It wasn't until then that the absent minded smith noticed the one missing sleeve.

Perplexed, he scratched his head as he slowly crept over to the sleeping girl. Sure enough, the miko known as Kagome was situated in the pile of furs, as peaceful as a child. Tucked into one of her fists was a curious piece of white silk. It was the slight bit of red that gave away its origin. He supposed he should be worried about it, but he was only curious as the girl was smiling in her sleep, clutching the cloth to her chest.

"Kagome?" he questioned while scratching his chin.

The young woman stirred before finally opening sleepy eyes onto the world

"Oh, hello Totosai."

"I hear you're having problems with my sword?"

"Yeah," she mumbled while rising to a sitting position. "You could say that. It takes over a lot. Poor Sesshoumaru keeps getting attacked. The jerk probably deserves it, but it's irritating not being to do it for myself. He's carrying it until I gain some control over it."

"Uh-huh…" This time the itch was on his ribs.

"Oh, and my friends say they've been picking up on my emotions from far away. We thought it might be the sword."

"Yeah, that sounds like it's not in resonance with you." He took a moment to scratch his balding head. "It's difficult making a sword like that perfect without the intended wielder around, you know."

"Sorry…"

"But I guess I can work on it. If it's using you, at least it has accepted you."

She could only stare as he continued to scratch his latest itch.

"I wanna see how you use it before I do anything. Gotta make sure it really likes you."

She grinned and wobbled to her feet.

"Okay, but I'm warning you. I sprained my ankle a few times and I'm not very good…as he so wonderfully reminds me every night."

She limped out of the cave, took the sword he offered and began her assault on a small bush. Once again, as all the foliage that opposed her before, it faced a horrific end. The girl was not finished though. She continued to fight the air, possibly envisioning a certain demon lord taking the blows, quite enthusiastically. The big eyed swordsmith could only watch critically.

"I see the sword has received her," said a tiny voice from smith's shoulder. "And she looks just as tasty as ever."

"Oh, hello Myoga. Yes, yes, she will do just fine. Anything is better than that useless Inuyasha and his brother. Those two are just idiots."

"So my idea on the sword's function is working?"

"Yes, yes, it's responding to her emotions, bringing out her hidden talents. Most of what you see now is her own self. But I must have made it a bit too strong."

"How's that?"

"She says it's sending her emotions to her friends."

"Well, that's strange."

"Don't know how I'm gonna stop that. Guess I could weaken it a bit, that should do it…"

"If you pardon my intrusion, Totosai, I believe I might have an idea."

"Oh, Myoga?"

"Yes, yes, perhaps the sword should send out the emotions of the carrier?"

"But, that fluffy jerk carries it."

"So I've been told."

The two old demons cackled but the girl was far too involved in attacking her imaginary enemy to bother. A demon lord watching her in the tree line was slightly more disturbed.

*

"Did you feel that?" asked an exhausted demon slayer as they prepared to camp for the night.

"Yes," the monk answered. "Something has changed."

"But what could it be? I barely feel anything from Kagome anymore," pondered the fox child.

"I still feel some but not near as before," commented the monk. The slayer nodded.

"How about you, Inuyasha?" asked the fox.

The hanyou looked quite distraught. With his ears down and his eyes wide, he looked every bit the beaten puppy.

"I don't think I'm feeling Kagome anymore," he finally answered with a slight worried whimper.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean `What do I mean?'? I mean exactly what I said, stupid. I don't think this is Kagome."

"Well, we're feeling irritation and..." began the monk.

"Success," finished the slayer.

"That's not what I'm feeling," whimpered the hanyou as another flash of distant emotion hit him.

"What is it?"

"It's…oh, shit, it's nothing. Shit, I sure hope it's nothing…"

He cut off all further conversation by running into the woods. However, the rest were left to speculation.

"What could he be feeling?" questioned the slayer.

"I dunno," stated the fox.

"Perhaps…" began the monk wisely. "Perhaps the sword has been slightly altered. Perhaps someone else who is close to the sword is being affected."

"But there's no one else near the sword except Kagome and…"

"Sesshoumaru," said the fox in a whisper.

Everyone present exchanged worried glances.

*

In a field not far from the remaining shard hunters, a small green youkai cowered in fright as strange and unwanted emotions filled his mind.

As usual, he was completely ignored by both the girl and the dragon.

*