InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inexcusable Nature ❯ Battle Tactics ( Chapter 14 )

Inexcusable Nature

Just A Starving Writer

Disclaimer: nope, not mine.

Warning: Do not be fooled by this chapter's title. It has many layers of other meanings, except, of course, for the most obvious.

Part 14: Battle tactics

Kagome decided at least this was a slight improvement. Instead of the usual rude awakening, she was allowed to return to the conscious world on her own. Unfortunately, the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes wasn't welcome. The demon lord was in the same position as the night before, still staring ruthlessly down at her.

It was, of course, at that moment that she remembered the events of the night before when she became an unsuspecting teddy bear. Suddenly embarrassed, she turned away, trying to hide the blush invading her cheeks. However, she knew it was useless. His smirk indicated his awareness.

"Hey! Wait a minute! That wasn't my fault!" she cried indignantly, remembering her valiant escape efforts.

"I know not of what you speak."

He was lying and they both knew it but she was content to let it stand at that. There was simply no use getting into that argument, not this early.

"So what now?" she asked suspiciously.

"We find Naraku."

"But what about my friends?"

"They require rest. There is no time to wait."

"But they are my friends! And they have every right to be there! He's done more to them than you!"

"Regardless, they are presently useless. They will remain behind."

"No!"

"Wench."

"No! You can't keep making decisions for me! There is much more involved here than just your sorry ass!"

He smirked again upon hearing about his `sorry ass' and she burned with embarrassment, hating that he had that much power over her, especially considering she was not the one at fault. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she grew, knowing that somehow he would blame her and she would be unable to argue.

"Wench, we go to Naraku."

"No. We. Don't. We wait here for the others and for my ankle to heal. It's not like I can walk."

"Then you will be carried."

"I am not baggage!"

"Hn."

She made a noise half resembling a grunt and half a sigh.

"No, mister. This is not going to keep happening! We are both reasonable adults…" She ignored his arrogant replacement for a snort. "…and we can work together."

"I, Sesshoumaru will not stoop so low as to work with a human."

Her anger grew and the sword trembled a little at the youkai's side until she noticed it. It was enough to calm her mind suitably to remember an old discussion. She mirrored his smirk as a plan formed.

"If you refuse to work with me, then we'll simply have to make a deal."

His eyebrow arched at her suggestion and he looked both amused and suspicious. He was well aware she was plotting something, but he had no clue what he was in for.

"Very well, what deal would you have?"

"Simple. Call it a contest of sorts. Whoever can get out of the cave first, without transporting the other, gets to decide what we do next."

He eyed her with cold humor for a long while. She could feel her anger rising to his challenge. However, she would let nothing discourage her from her chosen path.

"Do you accept?" she asked after taking a calming breath.

His gaze hardened slightly in suspicion but in the end he decided to allow her little game. Whatever the outcome, it was bound to be interesting and someone had to entertain him while his retainer was elsewhere.

"Your challenge is accepted, wench." It wasn't in his nature to simply allow her this victory. "However, be sure that whatever nonsense you are plotting will fail and success will be mine."

"Are you so sure?" she asked with an angry face but oddly shining eyes. A shiver of excitement worked beneath the surface of his skin at that highly suggestive look.

"No human wench can best this Sesshoumaru."

"Fine. Try and make it out."

Taking her invitation, he walked as far as their tether would allow toward the front of the cave and sat on a boulder, waiting for her to make the next move. She smiled hesitantly as she walked up to him. However, her resolve was beginning to fail. He could see it in her shifting eyes and smirked feeling victory was near. Unfortunately, it was that exultant look that fueled her toward completion of the sneaky and completely feminine plan.

His shock was evident by his widening eyes when she suddenly slapped both hands on his cheeks, effectively holding him in place. His shock was obvious when her lips, the very same lips he had been planning on tasting, descended upon his, kissing him hard and cold. The only hint of emotion radiating from the girl was that of satisfaction over besting him. Releasing him without warning, she limped to the cave entrance even as he tried to free himself from the revolving world her bold move had put him into.

"Ha!" she yelled triumphantly. "You should know better, Sesshoumaru, than to ever underestimate a clever female."

*

"SHIT!" yelled the hanyou, effectively stopping everyone in their tracks.

"Inuyasha?" questioned the monk before he was suddenly pulled forward by his robes. The hanyou's flushed and manic face filled his vision.

"What is she feeling?" Inuyasha ordered.

"Happy," the monk stated calmly even as the hanyou grew more distressed.

"HAPPY?!"

"Victorious. Happy. Successful."

"And feminine," breathed the demon slayer in awe. It was so odd for her to feel girly as it was, but this was just insane, as if the miko had accomplished something on behalf of her entire sex.

"THE WHORE!" The shout interrupted any further interrogation from the hanyou as the green retainer burst into the clearing, followed shortly by a giggling child on a two-headed dragon.

"What is that STINKING HUMAN WENCH doing to my lord!?" demanded the toad as he threatened the crew with his staff.

"Nothing like what you're thinking," retorted the slayer, once more jumping to her friend's defense.

However, even she had to admit it was odd. The feelings they were picking up were clashing with each other so violently. Something strange was occurring between the tethered companions, and it scared her. Inuyasha was quickly becoming uncontrollable and frightening as he picked up his brother's emotions and that in itself was enough to make her worried. Unfortunately, it was becoming obvious from the incompatibility of feelings being received that her friend had no idea what she was doing to the demon lord. Therefore, if she didn't stop whatever it was she was doing, she was bound to get herself into trouble. And no one wanted for her to land into that kind of trouble with that particular demon.

"Look," she said, stopping the argument that was starting between the monk, hanyou, and youkai. "Nothing will change if we stay here arguing. We need to find them now, before something bad happens. You," she said, pointing at the short youkai. "You obviously don't like where your lord's eye has wandered. Well, neither do we. So instead of fighting, let's work together and get them disconnected. Okay?"

All those involved grudgingly nodded.

Meanwhile, completely immune to the arguing adults, two children found each other.

"Hello!" said a happy human girl as she picked a flower.

"Hi!" answered a fox as he relaxed on the ground.

At that particular moment, the poor retainer yelled as he was unceremoniously beaten with his own staff by an angry and disturbed hanyou.

The children giggled relentlessly.

*

"Ow!" she exclaimed as the bone shard she had been using as a needle once more bit into her tender finger.

Sucking slightly on the tiny wound, she cast an angry glare toward the demon lord who was reclining against a boulder a scant few feet from her, seemingly completely ignoring her plight.

However, her angry glare did not fail to remind her once more that he was currently topless and her anger quickly faded to embarrassment as she immediately shifted her eyes back to the sewing project in her hand.

After winning her little challenge regarding their direction, he had taken it upon himself to insist that while they awaited her friends, less pressing business be taken care. Of course, she had rightly agreed, regretting that easy acceptance when she discovered his `less pressing business' was the repair of his clothing. She had reluctantly agreed, seeing as she was the one who had injured the poor unsuspecting cloth to begin with.

Unfortunately, she had underestimated the effect it would have. When the sword had attacked on behalf of her curiosity, it had torn through both layers of his haori, requiring him to relinquish his upper body completely of clothing.

Of course, her modesty had kicked in full force, just as he had expected and much to his enjoyment. His smirk upon throwing the sleeveless garment into her waiting arms was full of knowledge, even as she tried to avoid staring at his exposed chest.

"Stupid demons and their stupid good looks," she mumbled with a blush and she could feel him smirk again. She poured all of her concentration into sewing the sleeve back on, trying to forget about the handsome topless demon lord reclining gracefully in possibly the most seductive position he could muster, as well as the soft white fiber she was using as thread.

It had been quite the interesting discussion really, as she had gone about locating materials to sew with. He had fashioned a needle out of a nearby demon bone and that had been easy. Thread had been more difficult. After an hour of searching for some plant that would work, he had once again provided her with a suitable replacement.

"It's perfect!" she had exclaimed upon being given the long white strands. "Where did you get it?"

Of course, he had neglected to answer, choosing instead to turn and take his position on the rock. As he arranged his hair behind him, she had once again been drawn to it, enraptured with its singular beauty. Then she had gasped as the truth came to her. The would-be thread was actually his hair.

His smirk had reappeared as she stared at him with dumbfounded amazement, her fingers testing the softness of the hair in her hands.

"Will it suffice?" he had questioned with knowing amusement. She could only nod mutely.

Of course, he had chosen that moment to undress. Her shock would not be something easily forgotten.

Now she sat, also propped up against a boulder, facing him but keeping her eyes glued to the work she was doing, blushing furiously.

"Ow!" she cried again as the bone once more pricked her poor finger. She glared at him again and this time he turned and met her eyes, his face a study in blankness even as his eyes laughed relentlessly at her.

"Oh shut up!" she exclaimed as she slammed down the cloth, pricking another finger. Ignoring the annoying pain, she allowed her anger to boil, hoping it would hold off the other conflicting emotions, even as she prayed to every deity in existence that her friends could not feel her.

*

The monk looked particularly smug even as the slayer was trying to avoid his gaze.

"What?" he asked innocently as the hanyou shot him a warning glance. "Can I help it if I was correct regarding everyone and the lure of the flesh?"

Before he could further elaborate on his beliefs, he was promptly made unconscious by a large boomerang.

"No," the hanyou stated firmly as he shook his head violently. "She can't be."

"She's just flustered, Inuyasha," the slayer answered even as the blush invaded her cheeks.

The hanyou could not be fooled. Throwing the sleeping monk onto the fire cat, he quickened his pace.

*

Once she was finally finished mending both layers of the garment, she threw it at him, pleased when it landed square in his lap.

"There!" she exclaimed triumphantly even as she nursed her pitiful fingertips.

He regarded the stitches discriminately, testing for weakness and visibility. Much to his surprise, despite her penchant for stabbing herself, the work was passable as that of a professional. Apparently she had much practice in the art of mending. He could only wonder at what other hidden talents she possessed.

"Well?" she said with blushing exasperation. "Get dressed!"

He smirked as he pulled the garment back over his shoulders, shutting off her wonderful view.

She tried to ignore him, instead pulling out her own tortured clothing from the future and preparing to mend the small tears that littered them.

"You are a suitable seamstress," he noted as he handed her another strand of hair.

"Well, it's just something I've picked up," she muttered as she accepted his donation to her cause.

"You've many talents, wench. Sewing, injuring yourself, destroying inanimate objects…" He paused for effect, knowing she was already seething with resentment. "...harassing males in their sleep."

He knew he'd hit a nerve when her face turned bright red. Of course, she had hoped he would not bring up their sleeping arrangement of the previous night, but the punishment he was subjecting her to as a result of her stunt that morning was not quite complete without the added humiliation.

"Should you require my body again, all you need do is ask, wench."

It just wasn't fair how he could deliver such a line in that unfailing calm voice.

"No! I…NO!" she sputtered as her face grew impossibly redder. "That was all you! I was minding my own business when YOU pulled me into your lap! I had nothing to do with it!"

His eyes narrowed in mock anger though they still sparkled with humor.

"You lie. I would do no such thing."

"But you did!"

"You disappoint me, wench. I have done nothing to deserve your accusation, while you have assaulted me at every turn. Your transgressions against my person are numerous. If anyone's motives are questionable, it is your own."

"HEY!"

"You require a review of your offenses? Very well. First, you have interrupted my dealings by inserting yourself forcefully into my affairs. It is doubtful that you are truly that prone to injury."

"You act as if I planned on getting stuck with you! I can't help it if I'm accident prone!"

"Certainly you can. Second, you demonstrate your abilities every night under the guise of practice."

"I AM PRACTICING!"

"Certainly, you are not. Your `swordplay' is less battle technique and more erotic dance."

"WHY YOU!"

"Yes, why me? One can only suppose you find me attractive." He paused again, relishing her burning eyes and fiery expression.

"Third, you've attempted to undress me by force."

"WHAT!? That was the SWORD!"

"There is question over the extent you can control it. As well, it feeds off of your emotions, so regardless of control the action was done by your hand."

Her hands were clenched the tightly, he could smell the blood being released by the strained pricks on her fingertips.

"Fourth, your actions of this morning only further prove your attraction."

"No! That was merely so I could win!"

"There were other methods you could have employed. Instead, you chose to use your femininity."

"It was to prove a point!"

"And what point would that be?"

"That you know nothing about women OR me!"

"Foolishness. I am well versed on both subjects."

"Hmph."

She crossed her arms, angry that she had fallen into this argument, and furious that she had been trapped so thoroughly. No wonder the bastard was a successful ruler: if his intimidation factor wasn't enough, there was always his ability to talk his way around a person.

Suddenly, she simply had to cut something. It was a bit early for practice but the need was pressing. Standing carefully but quickly, she did her best to stomp over to him.

"My sword," she demanded, staring down her nose at the arrogant demon.

"You wish to practice?" he asked mockingly even as his voice remained perfectly level.

"No," she answered, matching his tone. "I wish to seduce you with my erotic dance. Now give me the sword."

He smirked and gracefully rose to his feet. It just wasn't fair that he was so gifted.

"Very well, on one condition."

"What?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"You have a true opponent."

She gulped nervously even as she accepted his challenge.

*

The shard hunters stopped suddenly and exchanged serious glances before once again increasing their pace drastically. At that rate, they might reach Totosai by nightfall. They could only hope it wouldn't be too late then.

*