InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Second Time Around ❯ Chapter 5

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Nope, still don’t own Inuyasha. Never did, by the way. [Rumiko Takahashi does.]

Three weeks later. . .

“Renkotsu! Duck!!” Kagome released a round of purifying arrows at the approaching pack of lynx Youkai. They’d been searching for their leader; a powerful, ruthless demon who was once absorbed by Naraku. Dropping her bow and quiver, she ran forward, drawing her blade from its sheath in one fluid motion. Sidestepping a pair of claws, she thrust her sword into the Youkai’s side, quickly pulling the blade out to turn and slice the demon that was coming up behind her. She surveyed the battlefield and saw that the others were doing fine on their own. She grinned as she heard Kagura’s dance of blades.
Spotting the lynx Youkai they’d been searching for, a hulking mass of muscles and golden yellow fur, she leapt towards him, slicing down a few of his followers on the way. Smirking as the lynx demon pulled out his own sword, she skidded to a stop and took up a defensive stance. As expected, he attacked first. She leapt into the air and back flipped over him, managing to wound him with a deep gash in his right shoulder.
Swiftly regaining her footing, she pushed off on the balls of her feet to come at him again while his back was turned. He staggered, but managed to turn just in time. Kagome deftly twisted in the air to dodge his sword and thrust her own blade into his heart. He fell to the ground; dark crimson blood welling up from the wound as she pulled her sword from his chest. Staring down at the corpse of their latest target, she heard a shout.
“Kagome!!” It was Bankotsu. She was about to turn to him when she sensed a Youkai quickly advancing from behind. She turned to block the sword it had drawn, but found herself staring at the back of Bankotsu’s head, the Lynx Youkai hanging above them, still impaled on Banryuu.
Bankotsu lowered Banryuu and shook the demon’s body from his companion. Kagome stared at him stunned as he turned to face her. Catching herself, she shook her head and offered a small, confused smile.
“Um, thanks Bankotsu.” He didn’t respond for a few moments, his own eyes filled with confusion. Turning away and hefting Banryuu onto his shoulder, he muttered a quick reply.
“Yeah, it was no problem.” Silence fell uncomfortably between the two before Jakotsu, Renkotsu, and Kagura arrived. Jakotsu handed Kagome her bow and quiver while looking at the corpse at their feet.
“Ooh, so was he the one we were after? What a pity, he was kinda cute too.”
“I don’t think he would’ve been your type, Jakotsu.” Bankotsu laughed as he walked away from the clearing. “C’mon, let’s set up camp, there’s a hot spring nearby.”

Kagome released a long, content sigh. The warmth from the hot spring made all the tension in her body just seep away. She choked on a chuckle. If only life problems could be solved as easy as that; washed away in the warmth of a hot spring. Placing her bottles of shampoo and conditioner back on the rock, she made sure her sword was in reach before swimming back to the boulder in the middle of the spring. Letting the steam surround her as she pressed her back to the warm stone, she closed her eyes.

Bankotsu slipped Banryuu’s sheath back on and tossed the polishing rag onto his sleeping mat. He got up to stoke the fire before turning around and walking off into the forest.
“Bankotsu! Where are you going?!”
“For a walk. Watch my companion for me, alright?”
“Kay.” Jakotsu giggled as Bankotsu faded from sight.
“What’s so funny, Jakotsu?”
“Did you notice, Renkotsu? Big brother left in the direction of the hot spring.”
“Ah, I see.” Renkotsu nodded his reply. Kagura remained silent, quirking a brow in the direction Bankotsu had left.

Bankotsu was lost in his thoughts as he strode through the forest, his feet taking him to who-knows-where. ‘What was I thinking? Kagome’s strong enough to protect herself. So why did I leap to protect her when that demon attacked today? All I remember was her back was turned and the lynx Youkai had sprung to her. She was already turning to block it when I made my move. Kami, this is so confusing. I’ve never felt the need to protect anyone before. Not even the Band of Seven.’
His feet slowed down as he approached a break in the trees. He could see steam rising beyond the trees and bushes. His mind registered that he was probably at the hot spring now. Entering the clearing where the hot spring sat, he noticed a familiar sword and pile of clothes. ‘That’s right, Kagome went to go bathe.’ He was about to turn around, but froze as his eyes fell on the miko he’d been traveling with. She stood against a rock in the middle of the spring, leaning into it by the way her back was curved. The water was about hip-deep for her, everything above bare and bathed in moonlight. Her eyes were closed, pale lips slightly parted, her hair cascading down the boulder with the ends floating in the water around her. Her full, ample breasts led to a slender waist, which then flared out to her wide hips. Her abdomen was flat and well-toned, her arms lightly muscled but not bulky. It was a wonder he didn’t mistake his volatile traveling companion for a water nymph. She looked like a goddess standing there while the steam curled around her.
All his blood left his brain and flooded to another part of his anatomy as he stalked over to edge of the spring, eyes never leaving Kagome. He’d only been standing there near her things for a minute or so before her eyes slowly opened. Sapphire stared into midnight blue, midnight blue stared into sapphire. Dark blue abysses met sparkling blue depths. Something unbridled and unbidden sparked in their gazes for a moment. But when Kagome took a few steps forward, their eyes broke apart and the moment was broken. His blue eyes held a troubled look that tried to fight down the lust that attempted to glaze them over. Her swirling azure depths took on a look of concern as she continued to move forward.
“Bankotsu?” His startled eyes met hers once more, but his gaze slid lower and she looked down at herself, immediately ducking into the water.
“Kagome, I--” he shook his head, “I’m sorry, I I gotta go, sorry.” He took off into the forest, leaving behind a very confused miko.

Jakotsu smiled gleefully in his head when Kagome returned from her bath; looking completely lost in her thoughts. The girl hadn’t even bothered to close her sleeping yukata properly. Kagome sat on her sleeping mat, her knees folded beneath her while she toyed with her comb in one hand. Jakotsu sauntered over to her and plucked the comb from her fingers, seating herself behind the miko and combing the slightly damp tresses.
“Thanks Jakotsu,” Kagome murmured softly as the mercenary placed the comb back into her fingers. He smiled and patted her cheek gently.
“Sure thing, Kagome.”

Bankotsu groaned as he gave himself one final stroke and came. Catching his breath and willing the images of a naked Kagome to go away, he sat there for a few more minutes before getting up and washing his hands in the river. He picked up his discarded armor at the base of the tree and slipped into them, cursing Kagome. Instead of yelling at him, screaming, something; she’d stepped closer to him with that worried look in her eyes. Kami, that was worse than winking at him and giving him suggestive looks! Why’d she have to be so damned nice and kind? Her worry for him was only encouraging him. If he’d stayed any longer, he wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to control himself. How could she look so sexy and caring at the same time? He sighed and made his way back to camp.
Jakotsu looked up as Bankotsu entered camp. He noticed that he snuck Kagome a lingering glance before assessing everyone else’s location. He averted his eyes as Bankotsu’s own midnight blue orbs fell on him.
“Hey.” Bankotsu’s laid back voice reached Kagome’s ears as well as she looked up from her polishing. “What’s Renkotsu doing?”
“He’s reading one of those books from Kagome’s time, big brother.”
“Oh, is he now?” He looked towards Renkotsu, who was sitting a bit farther from them with a lantern and a book in his lap. “Well, to each his own interest.”
“Hey guys?” They looked up as Kagome stood. “I’m gonna go to bed, I’m a bit worn out. ’Night you three. Goodnight, Renkotsu!” She smiled as the fire specialist bid her a good night. “You best not stay up too late reading!” She smiled at the three nearest to her before settling in.
“See you in the morning, Kagome.”
“Goodnight Kagome-chan, sweet dreams.” Jakotsu sing-songed.
“Night.” The others eventually came to bed and fell asleep as well.

Kagome fought to keep her eyes closed. She’d just awoken from a strange dream, albeit a rather pleasant one. She’d been held to a hard, muscular chest, strong arms surrounding her. She could feel whoever’s head it was on top of hers and the steady beat of his heart under her hand. She knew it was a him, it just had to be. She’d opened her eyes a little, only to be greeted with tanned skin covered in a white kimono. She saw splotches of blue in her hazy, dreamy vision. That’s all she could remember because it was at that moment she awoke, feeling a tingle at the base of her neck. Someone was watching her. Trying to be discreet, she peeked through her eyelashes.
Across the campfire, Bankotsu was staring at her with a troubled, confused look marring his features. Feeling herself begin to blush, she rolled over onto her stomach, hoping he hadn’t caught her awake. It was some time later that he had finally looked away. Kagome knew he’d gone back to sleep when the tingling in her neck had subsided and a rustle sounded from his direction. Listening to the slow, even breathing of the other four, she herself fell back to sleep.

A/N: Good? Bad? So-so?