InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Reaching for the Moon ❯ If the Dog Strays, the Wolf Will Play ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

'No...' she thought as she tried to hide the pain in her demeanor.

“Lord Sesshomaru,” Kasami remained perfectly still as she tried to understand the situation, “I apologize-”

“When I decide it is time for you to return, i'll send for you,” Sesshomaru stated before turning away.

She stood silently as she watched him begin to walk away.  Kasami took a step forward to stop him, to make him realize what she felt for him, but she was not that type of woman.  Then, a sudden stirring around Kasami and Sesshomaru made the demon-lord pause.  She looked around to see what was causing such a tremendous feeling of dread around her.  

“I now have you where I want you.”

The trees came to life as the branches around Sesshomaru began to try and smack him.  He easily dodged the efforts and cut the branches in to pieces with his poisonous claws.  Kasami went into action as she summoned her own sword to fight off the branches trying to attack Sesshomaru.  Finally, the branches and trees stopped moving.  A dark shadow appeared from beneath the ground, Kasami already knew who was behind this random attack.

“Lord Sesshomaru,” the deep voice acknowledged, belonging to a hooded figure in a baboon cover, “I've been seeking your assistance.  Perhaps you can oblige.”  

Kasami looked over at Sesshomaru with anxiety going through her body.  Surely he would see that Naraku would only betray him in the end.  She was about to speak up before Sesshomaru stated, “I have been told of your search for me.  It's pointless.  There is no need for me to join in any of your plans.”

“If that is your choice, I have no other option but to kill you,” Naraku shrugged as if it meant nothing.

Sesshomaru readied his claws, but Kasami ran in front of him before he could attack.  He grimaced slightly, why was she doing this?  She had been released from his services and did not need to protect him.  Kasami angrily growled, “If you even lay a finger on him...i'll slice you to pieces!”

“How touching,” Naraku lightly chuckled at her endeavor, then he opened his arms as a smog of miasma filled the air, “A fitting end to a bad love story.”

Kasami covered her mouth as she turned to see Sesshomaru still standing behind her.  Since she was formally released, she had every ability to order him like he ordered her.  She lightly shoved him away as she ordered, “Get out of here!  I'm trying to save your life, get out of here now!”

She turned at the last second to see Naraku meet her blade with his own.  Kasami shoved Naraku back as her sword engulfed in flames as she fought to keep Sesshomaru safe.  Each swing was more powerful than her own, all she could do was try and block Naraku's attempts to slice her head off.  Naraku kept stepping towards her, causing Kasami to stumble back a few times to block a swing to her side.  As she took one last step back, Kasami gritted her teeth as rage consumed her.  Her transformation to her demonic appearance was swift as she felt more power surge through her body.  This time, her swing was equal to Naraku's.  She countered one of his swings and found fault in an open area around his hip.  Kasami easily sliced his hip until Naraku leaped into the air and fought by sprouting branches through his arm to imbed into her body.  She grinned at the opportunity and easily ran upt his branch-like arm and met his blade up close.  

“What the hell are you doing!?”

Inuyasha.  Kasami's mind was still in the battle when she heard Inuyasha's voice ring up to her ear.  She wouldn't allow him to bother her while she was fighting for her life as well as Sesshomaru's.  Naraku shoved her away from him.  Kasami had full intentions on landing on the ground, but a branch grabbed her from beneath and held her onto the ground.  She tried to slice the branches, it was no use.  Looking this way and that, she saw Inuyasha run towards her with the tetsusaiga unsheathed.  Then, the ground started to shake violently as she noticed a portal being open.  Her eyes widened as she looked back to Naraku to see he was opening a portal around him and her.  Kasami then quickly turned her gaze to Sesshomaru to see him, eyes wide and actually dumbfounded.  If he was safe, that was all that mattered.  Before she would allow Naraku to force her to leave, she tossed her sword outside the portal to Sesshomaru's feet.  Then, she and Naraku vanished into the morning air.

Inuyasha stopped running and stood still for a moment.  He couldn't believe his eyes...  Naraku had actually taken Kasami away.  That bastard actually won..  Inuyasha turned to see Kagome covering her mouth as her eyes watered slightly as his other two companions held worried expressions as well.  However, Inuyasha wasn't concerned about them.  He looked over to his half-brother to see him picking up the sword Kasami had thrown over to him.  Inuyasha began to walk towards him as he watched Sesshomaru examine the blade in his hands.  Then, Inuyasha voiced his opinion, “Why did you just stand there!?”

Sesshomaru did not say a word.  Inuyasha raised his fist, but Kagome stopped him and held his arm back.  The demon-lord eyed as Inuyasha lowered his arm and whispered to the human girl.  Something within him stirred unexpectedly as he held Kasami's blade.  Sesshomaru lowered his gaze to the sword made of stars and a piece of the moon.  A blade that could never be broken and Kasami's main source to fight with, and she had given it to him to keep safe.  

“If he's just going to stand there, then i'm going to get her back myself!” Inuyasha retorted, only to be stopped again by Kagome, “What!?”

“I'm going with you,” Kagome stated confidently.

“We will too,” Sango added as the others joined in.

Sesshomaru watched as the group left in order to get Kasami.  What he felt inside him was annoying.  He wanted to bring her back.  Sesshomaru sheathed her blade where he wanted his sword to be and unraveled the bundle of fur on his shoulder.  Taking flight in the air, Sesshomaru followed the scent she left behind.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beaten.  Bruised.  But not dead.  Inside her cell, Kasami kept the room ablazed with fire to keep her captors out.  She would not allow Naraku to force her to take any of his demands.  Each time he sent Kagura to get her to leave her cell, Kasami only burned the room even more and sent balls of fire towards the wind witch.  If she was forced to remain in Naraku's castle, then she would make the castle turn into a burning Hell before she took orders from anyone.  Kasami sat at the farthest wall and kept her eyes on the small peep-hole.  She had to figure out a way out without getting herself killed.  However, Naraku had a see of miasma outside his castle and could easily sufficate her if he so choose.  

Then, the metallic door opened that allowed Naraku to open the burning room.  Kasami glared at him and kept silent as he glanced at the intense fire burning around him.  She stood up calmly as she kept her glare on him, meeting him eye-to-eye.  In honesty, she had fought worse demons before.

“You're only making this harder for yourself,” he sneered as he matched her glare, “There's no reason to fight me when you were taken willingly.”

“I did note come willingly!” Kasami snapped angrily as the fire intensity strengthened.

“Do you believe that anyone is coming for you?” he questioned, causing Kasami to flinch slightly, “Your former master, Sesshomaru, released you from his services as did his brother, Inuyasha.  Why would they come after you if they did not even want a woman like yourself as their slave?”

“That's-”

“They have no reason to keep you when you couldn't even protect them.  You couldn't save Inuyasha before, so he released you.  You couldn't keep Sesshomaru safe from a dead priestess, and so he released you as well.  You're only option is to remain in my services until I see you as the same worthless being as you are now,” Naraku interupted her as he placed his hands behind his back.

Kasami remained silent throughout his lecture.  She lowered her shocked gaze to the ground as the fire around her slowly started to dissipate.  What he said...was true.  In all honesty, she couldn't save Inuyasha before and she couldn't even keep Sesshomaru safe from Kikyo's poisons.  She had failed as a loyal servant...  Inu no Taisho and Izayoi must be rolling in their graves at her failures.  Kasami didn't want to appear weak in front of Naraku, but her feelings were devastated.  

“So, what do you say?  Work for me, and you will be a treasured jewel in my night sky,” he loomed closer to her, caressing her cheek softly to make her look up at him.

In his evil gaze, Kasami saw the Hell she felt on the inside.  His words were sweet and dipped in a poison glaze that made him seem like her savior in such a pitiful, dark place.  If she were a weaker woman, she would've seized the moment and fell into his plot.  Kasami's eyes glowed a bright white as the white energy forming around grew.  She saw as his eyes widened as he backed away quickly before being blown back by the massive energy she released around her.  The energy she sent out was similar to a star degenerating to a white drawf star, causing her cell to explode loudly and her escaping in the evening sky.  She needed those devistating words to force her inner energy to leave such a dismal castle to find her way back home.  

However, such an energy blast caused her to weaken dramatically.  When she was as far as she could be, she landed in the dirt roughly before struggling to get up and walking/jogging/running through a thick forest for hours.  The cresent moon started to rise in the night sky as she continued to run through the many trees and through a few streams.  Her fear that Naraku was on her trail was strong enough to make her keep going at such a weak state she was in.  Kasami felt her heartbeat quicken, her limbs were utterly sore and exhausted, but her mind raced with fear for Naraku.  Finally, she tripped over an exposed root and fell to the ground.  She didn't stop then.  Kasami began to crawl though her body screamed for her to stop and rest, she would not.  Her eyes watered as she looked up at the moon through the thick leafy area in the treetops.  It gave her some more strength to keep going, but her body gave up.  Everything started to grow darker around her as she took one last breath before finally giving into sleep.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There was no sign of her.  Her scent was too faint that it was getting harder to track her.  An initial sense of energy sent him back a step before he recognized that state.  Jaken had managed to find him, but Sesshomaru was not too pleased that his little imp hadn't seen Kasami since she came after him.  

“I've never seen a creature like her appear so...blood thirsty.  At first, I had my doubts about her loyalty to you, but it seems that she is a good servant such as myself to your services,” Jaken commented as he followed Sesshomaru on foot.

This only troubled Sesshomaru more.  He had no intentions on keeping her around at first, but she was making it difficult to keep apart.  Sesshomaru glanced up at the cresent moon.  It gave him little comfort to think what made such a release of energy occur.  Though he had only seen her in battle only once, when she fought Naraku instead of him, he couldn't imagine that such a woman like her could release such an amount of energy.  He had heard from his father of her abilities in battle, but Sesshomaru hadn't seen her fight before.  When he retrieved her, he thought to himself, he would have to see her prowress in battle for himself.

“M'lord,” Jaken interupted Sesshomaru's thoughts, “Could that vile creature, Naraku, kill her?”

Sesshomaru didn't say anything at first, then answered, “He is able to.  I released her from her duties, so she is capable to die.”

This shocked and worried Jaken.  The little imp turned his worried gaze to the ground as he retorted, “If I may ask, why did m'lord release her?”

This time, Sesshomaru remained silent.  What had happened shouldn't be repeated.  He had no intentions on keeping her away for long.  Simply, he needed time to think of his actions and figure out what he would do from there.  There was no need to seek out a mate when he was quite young, a century was still such a child's age for a demon as himself.  When Kasami had been passed down to him, he only desired her for her information skills so he could conquer and gain more lands for himself.  Now, having her around was causing him to feel emotions he had not wanted to feel until he decided to take a suitable, full dog-demon mate to create a lineage for himself.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Inuyasha, wait up!” Kagome called out as she rode on Kilala's back with Sango and Miroku.

“Then you guys keep up!” Inuyasha yelled back as he quickened his pace.

They had been going at such a fast pace for hours, it was making Kilala tired to keep up.  Kagome could see that Sango was worried about Kilala's tired state.  The others were getting tired as well.  She knew why Inuyasha wanted to keep going, but the others weren't as exactly up to par with his urgency.  So, Kagome had Sango and Miroku stop Kilala as she called back to Inuyasha, “Stop!  Wait for me!”

Inuyasha stopped and turned back to see Kagome was the only one running towards him.  He looked back to see that Sango was caring for Kilala.  Before Kagome would let him ask, she quickly said as soon as she reached him, “The others are exhausted, lets just you and me go and get Kasami back while the others rest.”

“Fine by me,” Inuyasha had Kagome get on his back as he continued to run towards Kasami's scent.

She would never say anything to Inuyasha, but she was threatened by Kasami.  Kagome loved Inuyasha, she knew he loved her too.  The only worry she had was if Inuyasha loved Kasami as much as he said he loved her.  However, she didn't want Kasami to be in Naraku's hands just as much as Inuyasha did.  It was only fair that she would help save Kasami alongside Inuyasha so that he wasn't hurt if something did happen to Kasami.

Since their traveling had taken all day to find Naraku's castle, both were shocked to see the castle crumbled to pieces with no signs of life anywhere.  Naraku, his henchman, nor Kasami were anywhere to be seen.  Inuyasha inspected the rubble as Kagome tried to find anything or anyone to figure out what had happened.  Kagome went over to Inuyasha to see him punch a rubbled, cobble-stone wall angrily as he growled, “Damn it...”

“Inuyasha...” Kagome murmured, “She must've escaped.”

“With strength she had left,” Inuyasha grimly stated, “By the looks of this place and her faint scent, she's still alive, but at what price..”

“We can still-”

“Just leave me alone right now,” Inuyasha turned his head slightly to look over at Kagome, “Please.”

Kagome took a step back, he hadn't asked her to leave him be before.  She knew he needed time to his own, but she had to voice her feelings, “Inuyasha, I know you cared for her before.  Maybe its time to let her go.”

There was silence between them for quite some time.  Kagome wanted to hear his opinion, but it seemed like he wasn't going to give her own.  So, she turned to walk away and heard him say, “No, you don't know how I 'cared for her before'.  She raised me after my mother died, she was the only other person who I could say was like my mother after I was all alone.  I didn't see her like I did Kikyo, Kasami was someone I went to when I was in trouble or needed help.  She still is and..I'm not ready to let her go just yet.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The smell of wood burning and laying on a pile of soft hay gave some comfort to Kasami as she began to wake up.  She kept her eyes closed as she thought of her time in Inu no Taisho's service.  Was she back in that time?  Was she dead?  If she was, then Heaven must be nice if she was back in her first master's place.  Surely, she would hear him sharpening his swords, fixing to have a large meal, or maybe call upon Izayoi like he did before he made her into his lover.  Kasami felt herself smile as she thought of the times he would enter her bedroom to ask if she would go on a hunt with him.  'Lady of the Night' he would call for her and ask her on a bended knee to serve him like a goddess.  She was about to open her eyes to see if that was the type of Heaven she was in, but the scent of wet dog made her come back to reality.  She was not in Inu no Taisho's home, she was not dead, she was readily alive.  

Kasami opened her eyes quickly to see a pack of wolves around her.  Her heartbeat quickened again as she glanced around, she was in a cave full of wolves and wolf-demons.  What was going on?  Kasami slowly sat up as she started to realize others were starting to notice that she was awake.  She wanted to stand up and attack her way out of the den, but she was still very much weak from the blast of energy she had sent...was it last night?  How long had she been asleep for?  Kasami backed up to the very end of the cave before a voice started demanding for the wolf-demons to move aside and heading right to her.  She then came face to face to, whom she thought, was the alfa-male of the group.  This wolf-demon had long black hair tied up in the back, piercing blue eyes, and a muscular build to him.  Kasami readily stood up, “What am I doing here?  Did you bring me here?”

“As a matter of fact, I did.  I take care of my own and I couldn't let you remain out in the open,” he stated as if these were facts she knew.

She gave him a questionable look.  One of his own?  He was certainly not a Moon Demon and she was definitely not a Wolf-Demon.  The man smiled as he extended a hand out to her, “I'm Kouga, leader of this wolf pack.”

Kasami glanced down at his hand as if it were a wild animal.  Then, she extended her own and met his grasp.  Kouga then eyed her for a moment, “Let me guess, you have no idea what i'm talking about.”

“None what-so-ever,” Kasami retorted as they released each other's grasp, “I haven't been familiar with the role our races have together.”

“Lets take a walk, i'll explain on the way,” Kouga offered his arm.

In that moment, Kasami was hestitant.  Her thoughts went to Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.  The hurt she felt was still quite fresh.  Kasami took a short breath before accepting Kouga's arm and had him guide her out of the cave and from behind the waterfall that hid his den.  On the way, he explained what he meant by their unusual alliance:

Many centuries ago, the wolf-demons had a hard time timing their attacks and hunts.  They would hunt on a nights when the moon was hidden behind clouds and could stalk prey more easily hidden in the dark.  However, these naïve wolf-demons couldn't understand that sometimes the moon would change and would light up the night sky so they would be seen by their prey.  Then, a tribe of Moon Demons appeared one night and offered to teach the orignal wolf-demons to help them survive in the night and to know when the best time to hunt.  Thus, an alliance was made that since the Moon Demons helped the wolves and Wolf-Demons, the Moon Demons would be revered and forever be at peace with the wolves.  

Kasami hadn't figured that her people had good connections with the wolves and Wolf-Demons.  However, if she was to be safe in Kouga's care, then she would accept his friendhsip.  She explained to him her circumstances and what happened to her people.  He seemed dismayed that her people had to hide in a different dimension for safety.  She then told him of her time in servitude for Inuyasha's family, himself, and his brother.  Kasami decided not to tell Kouga about her feelings for Sesshomaru, what he didn't need to know was for the better.

“I never liked that mutt,” Kouga commented dryly, “He acts like a better demon, flaunting his relationship with Kagome as if he didn't know my feelings for her.”

“You also liked Kagome?” Kasami asked.

“Yes, she's a good woman who needs to be protected, but he's always getting her caught up in danger,” he sighed with a hint of anger.

“I would say she wouldn't mind the danger as long as she has Inuyasha,” Kasami shrugged as she glanced around at the open field Kouga had led her to, “I've met her a few times before.  She's a respectable woman and I trust she's keeping him on a tight leash like I had to when I raised him.”

Kouga scoffed into the air at the thought.  She looked back at Kouga as a soft breeze wafted around them.  Kasami forced herself to smile for a moment before turning back, “I have a simple request, you may deny it if you feel the need.”

“Ask away,” he shrugged as he turned his back to her as well.

“Allow me to remain in your pack for some time.  I'm quite weak from escaping,” Kasami requested as she turned around to face Kouga.

Kouga casually turned around with his hands on his hips, “I'll let you stay as long as you like, only if you tell me what happened to make you escape.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sesshomaru walked through the tight woods to follow Kasami's scent.  There were signs of her around this area: a string of her hair was on a branch, her foot prints were in the mud, obviously she was careless at leaving a clean trail.  He only summized it to be that she was in a hurry and needed to be free as fast as she could.  Jaken took care to keep track of where she crawled until the trail ended.  Sesshomaru then looked around again, but caught a fresh scent of wolves.  It seemed that she was aided since there wasn't a trace of blood anywhere.  

“Wolves...” Jaken grimmly commented, “M'lord...do you-”

“No,” Sesshomaru continued as he followed the wolves' trail, “She's in a safer place.”

“Good!  Good, now we will go get her!” Jaken smiled brightly.

“If that's her decision,” he answered as he continued to calmly follow the path.

This stirred Jaken to shock as he waddled back over to Sesshomaru's side, “W-what?  Are you not going to make her your servant again?”

Not this time.  This time, he will follow in his father's steps and ask Kasami to serve with him.  The sword she had thrown to his feet dug into his side slightly from a tree's placement.  Just the feeling of something of hers made Sesshomaru's thoughts go to Kasami.  He was intrigued at the last action she showed herself in: fighting for him, and giving him her sword.  This was after her release as well...  Sesshomaru's thoughts swam around as he tried to figure out what happened between him and Kasami.  Surely, this Moon Demon who has given herself to their family as a lowly servant could not hold such emotions.  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“And now I'm here,” Kasami finished as she watched the morning sun rise and the cresent moon disappear.

“You've dishonored your people for-”

“No, Koga, I did not dishonor anyone.  It's only natural for my kind to serve those who ask,” she sat on a small area of grass as Koga stood not too far from her, “It was their father who asked me.”

Koga didn't reply for a moment.  He glanced back to see that his pack was fine, some were even snooping to see what was going on.  Kasami then stood up and dusted herself off, “Well, is there anything you'd like me to do while i'm here?”

“Just relax and let me do the whole 'hosting' thing,” Koga commented as he offered his arm again.

Kasami accepted his arm and walked back to his den with him.  She was introduced to much of the pack and even pet a few wolves that came up close to her.  At the end of the all the introduction, she sat in the back of the den as a few of the wolves joined her.  A few of the wolf-demons even came up to her with certain questions about her race and some of them just wanted to talk for a few minutes.  For Kasami, this was a new environment, but she was enjoying this home more than she had enjoyed any life all on her own.  

Koga watched from a distance as Kasami mingled with his pack.  He leaned against the wall as his arms crossed.  Ginta approached the pack leader and asked, “How long are you planning on keeping her here, Koga?”

“I don't know,” he answered with a light shrug, “Look how she gets along so well with everyone.  Its like she were one of us and has been separated from the pack her whole life.”

He continued to watch as Kasami easily picked up one of the wolves and play with it before going to another one.  To know that she, the only one of her kind on this planet, was in his den, sent a wave of excitement through him.  He smirked slightly at the thought of even getting back at Inuyasha, at least he was taking someone close to Inuyasha away.  She may not be Kagome, but may she was a better version.  Koga placed a hand on Ginta's shoulder, “Start a bet, one week i'll make her my mate.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sesshomaru felt an odd feeling, it was as if he couldn't keep his legs still.  So, he continued to walk towards Kasami's scent before finding the hiding spot where the wolves had taken her.  He gazed at the waterfall from a distance.  Jaken covered his eyes, slightly, from the sun to see where Kasami was, “M'lord, is this the wolf's den?”

“You will go into the den and retreive her for me,” Sesshomaru answered nonchallantly as he began to walk away, “I have one thing I must do before she's back.”
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