InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Saving the World: One Hanyou at a Time ❯ Into the Woods ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: hedgehogmadhatter
Spike stepped away from the tree and slowly approached her with his signature swagger. “So Goldilocks how do you like your new chums? They’re a far cry from the Scoobies wouldn’t you say?”

He glanced up at her from under his lashes and smiled. “You’ve always liked a little demon in your man. But I never would’ve had you figured for bestiality.”

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Drama / Action / Comedy | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 01.16.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 298 | Status: Completed

Chapter Four
Into the Woods
Buffy listened as Inuyasha gave a brief summary of the last fifty-one years of his existence. He was blunt and straight to the point even though there were times when he brimmed over with pain and anger; he pushed it away and continued.
`Wow, and I thought MYlife was complicated!'
“So Kagome freed you from the tree. Those sacred arrows must really pack a punch.”
He curled his lip, “Yeah, you can say that again.”
Buffy smiled because even though he was rude, crude and didn't seem to have yet embraced the concept of personal grooming, they had more in common than she first realized.`We are both warriors. Even ifithas been decades since his last hair cut.'
Inuyasha plunged into the heady waters of Buffy's least favorite topic. “Were you pissed when you were brought back?”
She looked away, “I was confused.” Then she added, “Did you want to stay pinned to that tree?”
He propped his chin on his fist and answered honestly. “I didn't know more than a moment had passed. I thought Kagome was Kikyo.”
Buffy smiled, “Yeah and I think she's still kinda pissed about that.”
He half grinned flashing the tip of his right fang. “Yeah, well what can I do?” Then he frowned and for a moment revealed the true depths of his sadness.
“Kagome thought she was helping a person but she got me instead. I'm more fiend than man.”
His statement sent a shiver through Buffy's soul. `Fiend! Boy, you don't know the meaning of the word…'
She gave a cold laugh that Inuyasha found was unsettling familiar to that of the creature who'd confronted him. “So you're less than human? Kagome freed a monster huh?”
His lips thinned and he gave her a chilling look of warning.
Buffy ignored it and mentally pulled out her soapbox. “I know what it is to love then wake up in the arms of a fiend.”
She paused for a deep breath, “I've given my heart and it almost killed my family and friends. I've run down a scheming, bloodsucking vampire only to find a man where I thought there was a monster.”
She looked away and fell into a confession she hadn't meant to make, “But when I got to the man, the battle had broken me and I wasn't…healthy. Now all of it haunts my every waking and sleeping moment.”
Without looking at him she took his warm hand in hers. Inuyasha resisted the urge to pull away and instead sat entranced.
Buffy said softly, “You are not half a man. Kagome knows that.”
She squeezed his hand and he dropped hers. But he was intrigued and she thought she saw the spark of hope in his golden eyes. `He needs some time to digest whatever is going through that dog eared head of his'.
She stood and stretched. “Well I am going back to bed. Goodnight!”
He sat in silence as she picked her way back into the lean-to.
_-_-_-_
 
The next morning while Buffy slept, the others sat around an early breakfast of the last of the rabbit.
Kagome noticed Inuyasha seemed lost in thought. “Inuyasha, didn't you sleep well? Anything we should know about?”
He glanced at her, “I saw the thing Buffy is after.”
All other conversation stopped and everyone's full attention turned to him.
“What did it look like?” asked Sango.
Inuyasha gave a small smirk. “Buffy” he replied and left it at that.
“How did you know it wasn't her?” inquired Miroku.
“It's pretty obvious when you see it. It's everything she said it'd be.”
“I wonder why it approached you,” said Sango.
“I was thinking the same thing. It had no scent but other than that it reminded of Naraku. The old Naraku who played Kikyo and me, not the baboon masked bastard.”
Miroku was skeptical. “That's interesting but what do you propose we do? Should we abandon our search for the Shikon no Tama and chase this thing? I mean I'm all for rescuing damsels but this is another war. It won't mean just a day or two lost from our quest. It'll only add to our burden.”
Kagome interjected. “We should travel together and just see what happens. Buffy is pretty focused. I think she wants to go home and end this.”
Inuyasha grunted his approval.
Kagome turned to him. “Did last night change your mind about her? Yesterday you were sulking because we invited her along and now you….”
“Feh!” Inuyasha cut in, “I still don't like her. In fact I think if that thing is attracted to her then she is a danger to us all. I say we help her so we can get rid of her. The sooner she's gone the better.”
Kagome rolled her eyes but knew this was the best she could hope for from Inuyasha.
_-_-_
Buffy walked beside Kagome as she pushed her bike, appreciating the simple act of walking. She loved hiking but never had time. Or if she did, then inevitably it turned into a demon hunt with the blood, the killing, the slaying and then disposing of some dead thing.
Kagome was fascinated with California and urged Buffy to tell her everything about living there. It quickly became apparent that while Buffy did live in California her life was far from any kind of Hollywood glamour.
Kagome seemed disappointed and Buffy wasn't able to resist “Well I have met one celebrity, if you can call him that.”
Kagome bounced up and down squealing. “Tell me, tell me.”
Buffy noticed Inuyasha's eyes following the movement of Kagome's scant hemline. She was all legs and he was all eyes.
“I fought Dracula.”
Kagome's eyes almost bulged out of her eye sockets. “He's for real?”
She grinned, “Yeah he really is.”
“What's he like?”
“He's the over dramatic playboy of the undead. Ya know dark mansions, ruffled collars, Reinfields, mind control…all of that jazz.” Buffy found the topic amusing. “He's very…sensual.”
“So did you stake him or what?”
Buffy shrugged, “Yeah but ya know how the movies go…he always comes back.”
Inuyasha snorted. Had he fought this Drag-u-la character than he would've stayed dead.
“So” asked Buffy, “how long as it been since you've seen Naraku?
“Maybe two weeks.”
Sango said, “The day before yesterday we fought a frog demon but he wasn't working for Naraku. He just had a shard.”
 
Buffy paused, “Frog demon? That rates high on my ick scale. What shard?”
Inuyasha stopped mid step. “Never mind that, we aren't moving fast enough. Kagome climb on my back. Miroku and Sango can ride Kirara.”
Buffy's hands found her hips. `So much for a new beginning with Dog-boy there.' “And I will…?”
He smirked and gestured to Kagome's battered bike.
Buffy smiled. “Cool.” `I didn't want to ride on you anyway mutt-boy.'
_-_-_-_
Inuyasha's original plan was to run Buffy half to death but Sango kept him in check by walking Kirara instead of flying. They covered more ground but not as much as he'd of liked.
Buffy enjoyed the wind in her hair and a chance to be alone with her thoughts. She'd tied the Tetsusaiga to her bare back and it was rubbing her skin raw.
She resolved to keep it hidden. Inuyasha wasn't all bad but he appreciated power. The chance to possess two of his sacred sword might prove to be too much temptation.
_-_-_-_
They stopped midday but there was no food. Buffy's stomach growled, and the thought of spit roasted rabbit seemed more appetizing that it had the previous night.
 
Buffy left the group to find a place to relieve herself. She slipped off without announcing her intentions as the last thing she wanted was the monk to follow her.
Once finished she was picking her way back when the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She heard something rustling but kept moving refusing to turn around.
The path turned and she saw a pale figure in a black leather duster leaning against a tree. A cigarette dangled from his lips and the sun gleaned off his peroxide blonde hair. He raised his lighter and cupped his hands around it to protect the flame as he lit the cigarette.
Shit. `Well no point in ignoring it. It will just follow me until it's performance here is done.'
She said in a bored tone. “You really should think of quitting. Those things will kill you.”
Spike raised his brows and smiled. “That's what I like about you luv, always thinking of others first.”
Buffy frowned. “Don't call me that.”
He stepped away from the tree and slowly approached her with his signature swagger. “So Goldilocks how do you like your new chums? They're a far cry from the Scoobies wouldn't you say?”
He glanced up at her from under his lashes and smiled. “You've always liked a little demon in your man. But I never would've had you figured for bestiality.”
Buffy's teeth clenched and a nerve in her jaw twitched. “So your point is what?”
The skin on his face was so thin his expression was skeletal. “You cannot stop me. You already know I won in this world.”
She tilted her head and her neck vertebrae popped with the movement. “You're lying.”
He laughed. “If I didn't would I be here now?”
He cocked his head, “Really Buffy, you are smarter than that. All those sleepless nights must be getting to you.”
She crossed her arms. “Yeah, yeah, you are worlds of endless badness. You will kill me and everyone else and make us cry. Boo-freaking-hoo.”
He clutched the cigarette between his teeth and punched his chest with his fists. “You know what this little vacation is costing you lovely? I am there with him the entire time you are here. He is cracking like a hollow Easter egg. His shell is breaking under my fists.”
Buffy stood and said nothing while she prayed silently that the creature was lying.
He smirked and dropped his cigarette butt on the forest floor. It disappeared before hitting the earth. “But then don't mind me. After all, what's a little self mutilation between friends… or lovers for that matter?”
She was about to saw something when she heard the rattle of …a bead necklace?
Spikes jaw dropped to his chest and his face elongated. Buffy had a glimpse of his extending mouth before she realized what was occurring. A swarm of hornets poured from his throat, flew past his lips, flying towards her.
 
Buffy held her ground knowing it was really only a creepy illusion. She heard movement behind her and was knocked off her feet to the ground. A male body in blue robes threw himself over her.
Miroku held both of them down until the wasps dissipated. He rolled off Buffy and helped her to her feet.
She rubbed her hip and demanded, “What was that for? It wasn't solid, it can't physically hurt us. This had better not be an excuse to get your perv hands on me!” She glared at the monk whose face bore a serious expression.
He dusted off his robes and pulled the prayer beads around his hand tight. “I thought those were Naraku's hornets.”
“It was you behind me earlier wasn't it?”
Miroku admitted, “Yes, I went to see where you'd gone. Inuyasha didn't want to stay here any longer than necessary.”
Buffy was disgusted, “Saw the whole show?”
“Yes. I did.” His expression was unreadable. “Old friend huh?”
Buffy bit her lip, “Something like that.”
“This thing is holding that man hostage back in your home?”
She blinked and began brushing the dirt and debris from her jeans. “Maybe.”
Miroku frowned. “Do you love him?”
Buffy sighed and turned away back toward the path. “Sometimes.”
She started back to the others and he followed her. “Miroku?”
“Hmmm?” He was looking around and clutching his staff.
“What did the hornets mean?”
He explained, “I have a black hole in my hand, it's a curse. The only thing it's vulnerable to are those damned hornets.” `And one good tear.'
Buffy asked, “How would the First know that?”
“It has to be in league with Naraku. There's no other explanation.”
She thought for a moment, “When I saw it yesterday morning it claimed to have ruled here in blood. Does that mean anything to you?”
“No but it sounds like something one of his monsters would say. They love to brag.”
Buffy paused. “Is it possible that this Naraku is the First?”
Miroku stopped and turned back to her. “Naraku was once human. He was so deprived he gave his body to demons to possesses a woman. Hardly the manifestation of all the world's evil. But still very dangerous.”
“What if he was taken by the First? He would have incredible powers and strength.”
Miroku dismissed her. “Don't you and Kagome live in the same era?”
Buffy nodded.
“We've been to your time. Naraku's powers can affect both worlds but he exists here with us. He has no existence in your modern day.”
Buffy turned her back to him and pulled up her shirt. She ordered, “Look here”
Miroku nearly trip as he hurried over for a glimpse of her naked skin. He was surprised to see the Tetsusaiga tied to her back.
“You stole Inuyasha's most prized possession!” He laughed. “I hope you have a death wish.”
She dropped her shirt and adjusted the back of her jeans band around the rusty blade. “No.” She turned to face Miroku.
“The Watcher's Council loaned it to me so that I could travel here. It's the Tetsusaiga from my time. I think it might be my only way back and I don't want Inuyasha to take it.”
Miroku was impressed. “Good thinking because he will.”
“My point is that the council felt this sword was connected to The First. It's Inuyasha's sword. His existence for the last fifty years has been tied directly to Naraku. So their fates are intertwined. The Council's spell brought me here to Inuyasha so it stands to reason whatever he is doing now is connected in someway to The First. He is fighting Naraku. Therefore it's very possible Naraku is The First wearing a human body.” Her explanation was worthy of Giles.
Miroku's stomach clenched. This means we will never win. If it's still going strong in 500 years then we're going to lose here!
Buffy continued. “As far as we can tell, The First makes an appearance from time to time and is beaten back. It takes a while to regroup then comes back. It probably changes its appearance to suit it's needs.”
He struck his Shakujo staff on the ground. “We've got to tell the others about this.”
She agreed, “But let's keep the part of the antique Tetsusaiga to ourselves. Okay?”

Miroku put his hand on her waist and his fingers wandered towards her butt. Buffy give him a threatening glare. He answered in a far away tone. “You have my word.”