InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Menage Au Inu ❯ Three’s a Party, Four’s a Crowd ( Chapter 9 )

I do not own Inuyasha and Company, no matter how happy it would make me. Rumiko Takahashi does. I do not profit financially from these fics.

 

Chapter 9 - Three's a Party, Four's a Crowd

 

Inuyasha skidded to a stop outside the little hut he knew housed the rest of his pack. It was dark inside and he was actually thankful that they were all asleep. Now maybe he could find a way to only have to talk to one of them. The chances of success were much greater that way.

 

He silently pushed the bamboo curtain aside and stepped inside, purposely avoiding the creaky floorboards as he made his way to where Miroku slept seated against the wall. Inuyasha nudged the monk with his foot more gently than he usually would and then realized that his level of frustration was much lower than he was used to. It had to be because any other time he would have kicked his friend with not even a second's thought to gentleness. When there was no response, he did it again and this time Miroku's eyes popped open.

 

Inuyasha held a finger to his lips before gesturing towards the entrance of the hut. The still mostly asleep monk nodded and dragged himself to his feet, following the hanyou outside into the night, the moon and stars their only source of light. The two walked a short distance away from where the others still slept before either spoke.

 

Miroku rubbed his eyes and looked around, finally realizing that Inuyasha was there alone. “Where is Lady Kagome? Is she alright?”

 

The hanyou waved his hand in the air dismissively as he lied through his teeth, the memory of her injury bringing on a fresh wave of guilt. “Yeah, yeah, the wench is fine. She sent me to get her bag and tell you guys that we've decided to take a break for a while. Kagome wanted to make sure you wouldn't worry or come looking for us. We'll be back in a couple weeks, so you guys should take the time to rest.”

 

The monk furrowed his brows and studied his friend, looking for any hint of what else was going on because he was sure that Inuyasha wasn't giving him the whole story. “Weeks? She is not returning to the village or to her time to rest? Where exactly are the two of you intending on staying then?”

 

Inuyasha fought down a growl of frustration. He knew this wouldn't go easily. Nothing ever could. “Look, the wench and I want a little time together, okay? It's none of your damn business where we're gonna be.” As soon as he said it he knew how Miroku would interpret his words, but it was too late and he couldn't think of anything better anyway.

 

“Time alone?” Miroku asked in a teasing voice while waggling his eyebrows. “Really? Well, Inuyasha, I must say I'm proud of you.”

 

“Oh just shut up. Is Kagome's shit all in her bag or has the runt been digging through making a mess of it?”

 

“I believe her things are all together.” Miroku watched as Inuyasha walked back towards the hut, entering silently and reappearing seconds later. “Gee, I guess he's in a hurry,” he murmured to his self. “Tell Lady Kagome we shall miss her terribly but understand her need for `a break',” he said, using air quotes as he'd seen Kagome do in the past. “We shall await your return.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, just keep your perverted thoughts to yourself,” Inuyasha muttered before taking off at high speed.

 

A few moments later, soft footsteps approached from behind Miroku. “What was that all about?” Sango asked quietly.

 

“That, my dear Sango, was what we've been waiting for… progress between our two friends.”

 

“Well, it's about time.”

 

-

 

Never before, not even in his childhood, had Sesshoumaru slept as well as he had that night with Kagome in his arms. Even the unwelcome demon that still paced on the other side of his barrier hadn't managed to ruin it, the knowledge that not only did it have no chance of entry but that Kagome had complete faith in his ability to protect her reduced its presence in his mind to little more than an irritating insect buzzing about.

 

The taiyoukai lay staring at the ceiling silently hoping that Inuyasha hadn't had any cause for delay and would be arriving soon. A small smirk pulled at his lips at the thought. That had to be the first time in his life that he actually wanted to feel the approaching presence of his half-brother. His father would be proud.

 

As if Inuyasha had been summoned by his thoughts, the hanyou's energy could now be felt dancing at the edge of Sesshoumaru's senses, coming closer at high speed. The taiyoukai slipped out of bed, careful not to wake the sleeping miko, and pulled on his hakama before moving into the main room.

 

He could feel the mystery demon's energy picking up as Inuyasha entered the cave and Sesshoumaru readied himself for a fight. Kagome would never forgive him if he allowed anything to happen to the hanyou, especially right on their very doorstep.

 

-

 

Inuyasha snarled as he picked up the unwelcome scent of the wolf. That was all he needed. It was bad enough that Miroku was giving him the pervo-eyebrow. He didn't need Kouga sticking his nose where it didn't belong. He could only begin to imagine what the demon would think if he found out about the new arrangements between himself, his brother, and Kagome. No, the last thing Inuyasha wanted right now was to deal with the wolf.

 

Kouga was pissed too. Inuyasha found himself wondering, as he took him time walking into the depths of the cave, what had crawled up the wolf's ass and died a horrible death. Far too soon he reached the final curve and Kouga came into sight. Just as Inuyasha readied himself for the coming attack, Sesshoumaru dropped the barrier.

 

When the hanyou saw his brother standing a few feet behind the oblivious wolf, an arrogant smirk pulled at his lips, knowing he had backup, not that he'd ever admit needing it. “Aww, what the fuck do you want, ya mangy bastard?”

 

“What do I want?” Kouga snarled furiously. “What do I want? I want to know what the hell you did to my Kagome.”

 

Sesshoumaru felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as his beast snarled in his mind. How dare the wolf claim the miko as his own?

 

“I want to know where she is so I can take her away from you so you can never hurt her again. I knew you were a disgusting, pathetic creature, but she trusted you! She trusted you to protect her and this is what you do to her?!”

 

Inuyasha furrowed his brows in confusion, tossing Kagome's large yellow bag at his brother, who caught it and set it inside, never once taking his eyes off the intruder. “What the fuck are you going on about?”

 

Kouga growled dangerously, his claws biting into his palms as his eyes flashed from blue to red and back. “You knew she was mine. I should have taken her away from you a long time ago, but she wanted to be with you. Now I know I should have done it anyway, for her own good.” The wolf stepped to the side slightly so he could now see both brothers at once. “And this…” he gestured towards the taiyoukai who'd yet to make a sound. “You betrayed her; hurt her in the worst possible way, and then you let him do it too?! You'd better hope she's still alive. If she isn't, I'll make sure to kill you especially slowly.”

 

Kouga took two steps towards the hanyou before stopping in his tracks at her voice.

 

“What in the world is going on?” Kagome asked in a weak, pained voice. Three sets of eyes turned to take her in, seeing the miko clutching her head as she stumbled towards the entrance stiff legged, the bandages that covered from just above her knees down all the way to her toes inhibiting her movement. The fabric had clung to the sticky wounds and the action of walking had managed to separate the formed scabs from the now freshly bleeding scrapes, the brilliant red making itself visible here and there.

 

The sight of her in such a state and the telling location of her wounds brought Kouga's outrage to a whole new level and he snarled as he made a move for the hanyou.

 

“Ugh… Could we not make that noise right now? My head is killing me,” she muttered, oblivious to the attempted attack that Inuyasha had expertly evaded.

 

Regaining a bit of self-control, Kouga turned his anguished expression towards the love of his life. “Kagome, I'm so sorry I didn't protect you from them,” he said, his disgust at both himself for his failure and them for their actions clear in his tone.

 

“Protect me? From what?”

 

Sesshoumaru turned towards Kagome, fighting to hold back his own anger. “The wolf has come to the conclusion that Inuyasha and I attacked you against your will.” The taiyoukai's voice was laced with even more disgust than the wolf had managed. He turned his attention back to his adversary. “It is unwise to make such accusations when you are unaware of the circumstances. You insult not only my honor but the honor of my brother with your falsities.”

 

Kouga ignored Sesshoumaru entirely. “I came for you, Kagome. Everything will be fine now. I'll take you back to my den and get you all fixed up. It's alright. I know what they did to you. I know they forced you. I won't hold that against you. I will still take you as my mate.”

 

Kagome laughed before groaning as the sound aggravated her headache. “Sorry Kouga, but I'm still not sure how I'm going to handle these two. I know I can't manage three mates.”

 

“Three… mates…?” Kouga repeated slowly, allowing her words to soak in, as well as her apparent lack of fear of either brother.

 

“The miko is the intended of this Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha as well,” the taiyoukai clarified.

 

Kouga turned shocked eyes to the hanyou, his anger shifting the arrogant amusement in an instant. “Ha! I told you you'd never be demon enough for her! What, the only way you could get her to agree to be your mate was to throw him into the deal?”

 

Inuyasha snarled softly, the wolf's words hitting a very sensitive nerve.

 

“Why the hell is she even bothering with you at all if she can have him?” he asked with raucous laughter.

 

Kagome frowned and, forgetting both her headache and the pain in her legs, she brushed past Kouga and walked straight up to Inuyasha. Before he knew what hit him she'd grabbed his forelocks and pulled him into a passionate kiss. His arms wrapped around her and the world, especially Kouga, disappeared. “I'm so glad you made it back so fast,” she murmured in a breathy tone. “I missed you. Take me back to bed, would you?”

 

Inuyasha grinned at her, his fangs flashing in the firelight. “Whatever you want, Kagome,” he said in a daze before lifting her into his arms and heading towards the bedroom of the cave dwelling.

 

Kouga simply stared in shock and confusion. Did his woman really just choose the hanyou over him…again?

 

Sesshoumaru smirked at the befuddled wolf before erecting the barrier once more, leaving Kouga alone in the darkness of the cave, and following Inuyasha with Kagome's bag in tow.