InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Loss of Self, Discovery of Truth ❯ Unexpected Aid ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8: Unexpected Aid

Sesshoumaru pulled away from the kiss, disgusted with himself for allowing his human hormones to take control over his rational mind. The rain, the fall, the eager young woman, and the danger it all equated to his testosterone kicking into overdrive.

“We do not have time for this,” he stated, ignoring the hurt and shocked look upon Kagome's face. He was not about to feel guilty. He did not have time for such useless emotions. He looked back at the top of the hill almost expecting to see Inuyasha peering over with murderous intent in his crimson eyes.

Kagome bit down on her lower lip, not willing to let the selfish oaf see her turmoil. “Right, we have to wander around and hope to run into Kagura,” she agreed sarcastically. Kagome turned her back to Sesshoumaru and started walking.

Sesshoumaru stood still for a moment, watching her leave him. He'd never actually had someone turn their back on him before. He didn't care for it now either. He also didn't care for her sarcasm. Obviously, they would run into Kagura if they kept searching because Kagura would find him. Of this he was certain. He followed after Kagome, his longer strides catching up with her in no time.

“You do not believe we will find Kagura?” He asked, walking alongside the teen.

Kagome gave a one-shouldered shrug and avoided looking at him. “It just seems a little convenient,” she answered.

Sesshoumaru felt a growl well up in his throat at her attitude. “How dare you doubt this Sesshoumaru,” he spoke in a low, deadly tone.

Kagome began to laugh hysterically. She turned towards Sesshoumaru, tears began to spill from laughing so hard that it was hard to differentiate whether they were present before her laughs or if they resulted from the laughter. “You are back to speaking in the third person? The great Sesshoumaru,” she taunted, poking him in the chest.

Sesshoumaru caught her wrist and Kagome stopped laughing. A final tear trekked its way down her cheek. He watched its progress as it reached her jaw and remained, suspended ready to fall, but not yet. “Do not insult me,” he warned releasing her. “Come,” he invited, as he continued along the forest trails.

Kagome glared at his back assured that he and Inuyasha were most definitely brothers. “Dogs,” she muttered following after him. He kissed her! It wasn't as if she affronted his person, but the reverse was true! Just because he was some kind of nobility did not give him the right to discard her so easily. However, it was also the sixteenth century Japan and she was female and he was male. Maybe he did think he had that kind of right.

“But he doesn't!” She told herself. Sesshoumaru stopped and turned to look at her with an arched brow. “We don't have time for you to keep watching me,” she told him putting her hand at the small of his back and giving him a gentle push. She was relieved that he didn't make a comment about her daring to touch him.

oooooOOOOOooooo

Kouga had stopped in his search for Kagome and her group. He needed some water; it would be no good to see his woman while having chapped lips. The forests seemed quieter than usual. However, ever since Naraku came into the picture everywhere seemed quieter. He had a feeling that in a few generations the youkai might become extinct all together. It was a sobering thought.

His sensitive nose detected the scent of the woman whom caused Kagome grief so often. Kouga frowned as the undead miko appeared near the stream he was lounging at. At least now she had those strange little children at her side instead of those nasty soul collecting worms. Why would she be coming to speak to him?

“Yo,” Kouga saluted.

Kikyo's dark eyes narrowed at his informal greeting. “Kouga,” she greeted her voice too calm and dispassionate for the wolf prince's tastes. “You seek my incarnation,” she observed.

Kouga scoffed, “Hardly. I seek my woman, Kagome. I don't see what she has to do with you.”

“She is my re-incarnation,” Kikyo explained. “She was entrusted with the Shikon no tama because it was burned within my body upon my death.”

“That doesn't make her your re-incarnation all that means is you're supposed to be dead,” he argued stubbornly. “What do you want?”

“I must get to Inuyasha quickly or he will die,” Kikyo told him, her face void of emotions.

“Heh, I heard that's what you were trying to do.”

Kikyo frowned, another indication that she was more than a shell of dirt and graveyard ash. “No…not exactly.”

“Why do you say dog-turd's going to die?” He couldn't help but be somewhat curious. After all, Naraku's minion had almost destroyed Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha was certainly weaker. However, he trusted that Kagome would be safe with Inuyasha. He couldn't jeopardize her safety. Maybe that huge sword the idiot always lugged around got too heavy for him to lift. He always thought he was rather weak.

Kikyo ignored his question. “I know where he is, but I need to get to him quickly.” She paused when Kouga simply glared at her, his normally friendly bright blue eyes looking unerringly cold. “If I am too late he will kill his friends.”

Kouga ran towards her and scooped her into his arms. “Which way?” He demanded, not wasting a second. He followed her directions, sending a great cloud of dust flying behind him. “How did you find me?” He asked, the silence bothering him.

“I sensed your jewel shards.” Kikyo answered simply. Kouga snorted, not liking that this woman could also sense the shards like Kagome. He wondered how many times dog-turd made insulting comments to Kagome by comparing her to the female in his arms. It was not fair to compare them. And he knew all too well of the result on his woman's sensitivity.

“He's close,” Kouga stated as soon as he was able to detect Inuyasha's scent. His legs slowed down slightly when he realized that Inuyasha had abruptly changed directions and was now heading towards him. It would seem Inuyasha had sensed him as well.

The demon that appeared before them hardly resembled his tentative friend, but there was no mistaking Inuyasha's identity. His crimson eyes became an even darker red upon seeing Kouga with Kikyo in his arms

“Why's he all red-eyed and crazy?” Kouga asked, letting Kikyo on her feet.

“His demon blood has taken control over his human blood,” she explained, readying her bow.

However, Kouga wasn't listening to her. There was a slight trace of Kagome in the air that he had detected. He gave the enraged demon another look before announcing, “Later,” and darting back into the thick of the forest.

Inuyasha was about to take off after the wolf. “Inuyasha!” Kikyo yelled authoritatively, gaining his attention.

There was a brief golden coloring to his crimson eyes upon hearing his name, but it was gone when he glanced back at the woman with the bow. She distracted him from his prey, which is all he knew. His fangs were bared as he made his way towards her, his claws desiring to rip through her flesh.

“This is what would have become of you if you had made your original wish on the jewel. You'd have become a mindless killing machine,” Kikyo told him solemnly.

She pulled out an arrow and took aim. Inuyasha leapt into the air, claws drawn to rip through her shoulder in the same way that resulted in her original death at the hands of Naraku. Her arrow slammed into Inuyasha's shoulder, pinning him against the nearest tree. Leaves fluttered to the ground from the impact.

Kikyo lowered her bow and walked toward him. He remained awake and furious, but sealed to the tree. “I can not allow you to harm your friends.” She sat at the base of the tree beside him, leaning back her head against the trunk. “Do not worry, I will protect you,” she vowed.

She refused to look into the eyes of the demon that hated her. Naraku could never hate her as much as the demon side of Inuyasha did. Kikyo's desire to destroy Inuyasha's demon was not forgotten.

In the sky, fire could be seen descending directly towards the ill-fated couple. Kirara landed and Miroku and Sango immediately sprang off her, weapons posed, unsure whether to attack or not. Shippo remained sitting upon Kirara, fingers clutched in her thick, white mane apprehensive of Kikyo.

“Kikyo-sama,” Miroku acknowledged, his voice friendly, but his eyes remained wary. There was obvious relief on his face at seeing Inuyasha safely bound, yet unharmed. Kikyo seemed to be on their side at the moment, but he knew from experience that she was only on her own side.

Kikyo nodded in welcome. Sango looked past them deep into the forest. “Where are Kagome and Sesshoumaru?” Inuyasha growled at the second name.

“Kouga is with them,” Kikyo answered. That named caused Inuyasha to growl louder and strain against the holy arrow. He howled in frustration at the purifying power.

“Kouga?” Miroku asked in disbelief. “Kouga is here?” He and Sango exchanged looks, unsure of whether that was a good or bad turn of events.

“Really? Kouga's here too?” Shippo asked excitedly.

oooooOOOOOooooo

Kouga could smell Kagome's scent becoming stronger. “Kouga!” He heard her exclaim happily with his sensitive hearing upon feeling his jewel shards approaching. He could also detect Sesshoumaru, or at least, a diluted down version of the great demon lord.

Kouga came to an abrupt halt right before Kagome, taking her hands into his and grinning broadly. “Good, you're safe.” He could breathe again.

“I'm so glad to see you!” Kagome cried happily putting her arms around Kouga's neck and hugging him close. To say the wolf prince was surprised at her forwardness would have been an understatement. He wasted no time in returning the hug by wrapping his arms around her, pressing her against his chest, and twirling in a circle.

He set Kagome on her feet and placed his arm protectively around her waist as he turned towards Sesshoumaru. “Now exactly how did you become human?”

Sesshoumaru did not like the wolf. He did not like him before. He did not like him now. He was tolerable but that was debatable after seeing his latest display with Kagome. “Naraku,” he answered simply.

Kouga nodded, that was all the answer he needed. “I detected your scent or at least, the stolen parts of it when I saw the wind witch a few days ago.” Kouga gave Kagome another affectionate squeeze, enjoying the hint of hostility he could see in Sesshoumaru's eyes. “That is actually why I came looking for you,” he told her.

“Did you see Inuyasha?” Kagome asked her voice laced with concern. “The same demon that attacked Sesshoumaru also attacked Inuyasha. However, the results seemed to be the opposite.”

“Ah, that would explain the crazy-red eyes then,” Kouga muttered to himself.

“You saw him?” Sesshoumaru demanded.

Kouga nodded, taking his arm from around Kagome's waist and putting it over her shoulders in a more friendly gesture. “Yeah, I dropped off Kikyo and she stuck him to a tree.”

“Kikyo is here?” Kagome asked, stepping away and letting Kouga's arm drop.

“Stuck him to a tree?” Sesshoumaru repeated. He turned to Kagome, “Does he mean sealed?” He began to walk back in the opposite direction of the trail, back to whence they came.

“What are you doing?” Kagome asked bewildered while Kouga scratched the back of his head.

Sesshoumaru looked at her over his shoulder, “Making sure that untrustworthy dead miko doesn't try and purify my brother.”

“Half-brother,” Kagome muttered under her breath, surprised that Sesshoumaru did not correct himself. She reached out and grasped his wrist, stopping his progress. “Wait, we don't have time, remember?”

Sesshoumaru looked torn, but decided to heed his own advice. “You saw Kagura a few days ago?” He asked Kouga. The wolf demon nodded. “We saw her last evening.”

“So? She gets around,” Kouga shrugged.

“We were looking for her,” Kagome told him, causing his eyes to grow wide with unease as his mouth dropped open in shock. “Sesshoumaru said that she's often offered an alliance with him. He's decided to take her up on that offer now.”

Kouga arched his brow, looking between Sesshoumaru as a human and Kagome. “You think the offer still stands?” His voice clearly indicated his disbelief.

“If she wants her freedom she will help,” Sesshoumaru answered confidently.

“Very well,” Kouga sighed. “I guess this means I should help you find her.” He'd just have to kill her after she helped them. “I would like to point out that we won't be able to find her until she decides that she wants to be found.”

“Then we will simply make it easier for her to find us,” Sesshoumaru declared.