InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ Confrontations ( Chapter 20 )

A/N: Forgive any OOCness (with the exception of the intended such as Kanna), I'm a bit rusty after not writing any of the InuYasha characters for awhile.

 

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Chapter Eighteen:

Confrontations

 

 

“What do ya mean your goin' home?! You just got back here!” Kagome ignored InuYasha's ranting and continued to gather her things from Kaede's hut, before taking a weary breath and turning to him calmly.

 

“I just need to go home for a couple of days, InuYasha.” She really didn't want to sit him right now. She had known he wouldn't be happy about her sudden decision to leave and had been prepared for this argument.

 

“What about the jewel? If Sesshoumaru was worried enough to come here, then it must be serious!” The half demon wasn't going to give up easily. If something had caused enough concern in his brother to bring him here, it had to mean trouble. Not to mention that any demon that could get the Shikon jewel away from Naraku was definitely not someone that should be allowed to keep it long. InuYasha's tirade came to a halt as he watched her. She was nervous; he could easily see it, let alone smell it on her.

 

“What did he say to you? Did Sesshoumaru threaten you, Kagome? Cuz if he did-”

 

“No, it's nothing like that, InuYasha!” Kagome gave a frustrated sigh. What could she possibly say to him?

 

`Your brother just knows that I spent the entire weekend at Naraku's castle. Not only did I stay there but I went there willingly and saved his life. Oh, and then he kissed me. Yeah…that would go over well,' she almost rolled her eyes as the sarcastic words fluttered around in her mind in a taunting way.

 

“I just need to go home and check on things, InuYasha. Then I'll come right back, I promise,” she gave him an almost pleading look. Unfortunately, thanks to her unexpected detour with Kagura, she hadn't been home in awhile now and she really did need to go back. But more than anything, she just needed a day or two to think about things. Eventually, everything would catch up with her and she needed to figure out how she intended to handle it.

 

The half demon stood rooted to his spot, blocking the only exit to the hut. He needed a better explanation than that, if she wanted to get out of there without using her subjugation spell. His unmovable demeanor began to quickly collapse when he smelled tears.

 

`No, don't cry! Yell, scream, sit me! But don't cry,' he could handle just about anything she could offer but tears. He hated seeing females cry more than just about anything else in the world. He felt his shoulders slacken before he looked away from her.

 

“Fine but you better be back tomorrow or I'm coming to get you,” he said gruffly, still keeping his eyes averted from hers that now glistened with unshed tears.

 

“Give me a couple of days, please InuYasha. And when I come back we can go back out hunting shards again,” he opened his mouth to protest then turned to the door.

 

“Whatever,” the half demon just walked out of the hut. Not like arguing would do any good. She'd eventually sit him and the others would tell him how unreasonable he was being, like they always did when Kagome went home in a bad mood.

 

Kagome buried her face in her hands after watching him walk out of the hut. She hated lying to him, he deserved far better than that. Finally, she gazed around at the hut that held so many memories of her and her friends, then picked up her bag and took off in a run towards the well. Maybe being home for a few days would help her clear her mind and give her the strength to tell her friends the truth.

 

 

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Kagura's eyes opened hesitantly, then widened when the realization of her whereabouts fully hit her.

 

“The lady's awake,” came a whispered voice from the corner of the den.

 

“Should we go for Kouga?” A second voice queried.

 

Kagura recognized the voices of the two demons she had been watching before, Ginta and Hakaku if she remembered correctly. Before either could decide upon a course of action she got up and glanced around the small den before moving towards the entrance.

 

“Where are you going?” Ginta asked nervously. “Kouga gave orders for you to stay until he returns.”

 

“I will not wait around for that mongrel. He should have killed me when he had the chance,” she replied haughtily and nearly made it out of the cave when a voice made her freeze in her tracks.

 

“Mongrel?” Kouga asked bitterly and stepped inside. Kagura instinctively took a couple of steps backwards, not letting her eyes wander from Kouga for a second. “How dare you insult me or my pack?” He growled lowly, wanting nothing more than to rip her apart right here and now.

 

Without another thought Kagura reached for her fan, it didn't hold much power but enough to threaten him with. Her eyes widened in shock at the same time a wicked smirk crossed Kouga's face. Her fan was gone.

 

“Lookin' for his?” He asked and held up her weapon.

“Return that to me at once!” she demanded, not allowing her self to show just how intimidated she felt, trapped in the den with him.

 

“You think I'm stupid?” He nearly snarled at her. “I wanna know why you're here. What's Naraku planning?” As much as he would love to avenge the death of his comrades, he needed to know why she had come.

 

“I have already told you, I came for your shards and I will take them,” she answered indignantly. Kouga smirked a little and stepped further into the den.

 

“These shards don't help humans and near as I can tell...they won't do you any good,” he said dangerously. He couldn't help but notice the fear in her. He knew she was vulnerable and she knew that he knew. He had no idea how in the hell she had taken on a human scent and body, but he was sure it had to be some kind of trick.

 

“I won't let you slaughter more of my brethren,” he growled. “Tell me why Naraku sent you here.” Hearing that quickly sent Kagura's emotions from uncertain fear to pure indignation.

 

“Naraku doesn't control me! I came here on my own,” she stated firmly. If she was going to die it would be of her own doing and not because of Naraku or Hebiakui.

 

Kouga watched her for a minute, knowing that he wouldn't be able to control his instincts much longer. If he stayed, he would kill her.

 

“Don't even think of leaving the den, you wouldn't get very far anyway. A human...” he said emphasizing the word almost cruelly, “could never outrun me.” He then turned and headed back towards the entrance of the cave.

 

“Don't let her out of your sight,” he barked at Ginta and Hakaku before leaving. Kagura stood there for a moment not sure what to do. She could go, but he was probably expecting that. He wouldn't kill her; if he was going to he would have already. No, whatever he would do would be painful and she would suffer.

 

Not for the first time since Hebiakui had taken the Shikon shards from Naraku, she felt vulnerable and defeated. She wanted nothing more than freedom or death and she was being denied both. Apparently the look on her face drew concern from the other wolves because both moved tentatively towards her.

 

“Is there anything you need?” Hakaku asked meekly. Ginta stood silently waiting for her to lash out at them as she did with Kouga, but she merely turned her back to them.

 

“What I need, you cannot give me,” she stated, not making an effort to say anything more to them. Both looked at each other then shrugged and moved back near the entrance, to stand guard until Kouga returned.

 

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Sesshoumaru landed near Naraku's castle, knowing immediately that something wasn't right there. Naraku normally kept himself well hidden, even Sesshoumaru himself couldn't always be sure he could find him. It was the miasma that gave him away...usually. It was still here, a scent like that would be impossible for someone such as Sesshoumaru to miss, but it was not normal. The haze that normally engulfed Naraku's domain, keeping him relatively safe from intruders, was nothing more than a thin mist now.

 

Suspiciously Sesshoumaru proceeded, never willing to let his guard down with the dark lord. It was possible that he had abandoned this place and moved on, though the scent of humans also lingered in the air. As if she had been awaiting him, a small child stood outside the sliding doors holding a mirror. Her scent was that of a human, though, Sesshoumaru could tell instantly that this wasn't a human girl like Rin. She stared at him almost blankly, not showing fear or any other emotion. As he drew closer the very faint scent of demon could be detected from her, leaving Sesshoumaru to believe this was another of Naraku's minion.

 

“You have come to see Naraku?” She asked in a nearly hypnotic voice. Sesshoumaru watched her closely then gave a slight nod. The girl's eyes filled with a dark mischief as the very slightest of smirks painted it self across her lips.

 

“Very well,” she said and lifted the mirror up for him to see. Sesshoumaru eyed it suspiciously but his attention was quickly drawn away from it when he heard a second voice.

 

“Kanna,” Naraku said calmly, “you are no longer needed here.”

 

Naraku appeared in the doorway clad in his baboon pelt. He knew of Sesshoumaru's senses and hoped the lingering scent of demons and miasma on the pelt would draw the attention away from his human condition. The girl still had a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she turned to him.

 

“Yes, my lord,” she replied stoically and walked towards the sliding doors, stopping rather than letting herself back inside. Sesshoumaru stood silently taking in the scene before him and Naraku also noted Kanna's disobedience but decided it was best to leave her than to draw attention to it. He was just thankful she hadn't been given the chance to show Sesshoumaru any images. After the last encounter with her mirror, he couldn't even begin to fathom what Sesshoumaru's reaction to seeing someone in such a way.

 

“To what do I owe this visit?” Naraku asked cautiously, knowing if Sesshoumaru chose to kill him there was little he could do to stop it.

 

“The human that travels with InuYasha reeked of your scent,” the demon lord stated simply. Naraku gazed at him from behind the pelt.

 

`So he's suspicious,' he thought to himself, wondering how he could use this to his advantage before having a smirk form on his mouth.

 

“Did she?” He asked coyly. “The priestess, Kagome, has placed her trust in me.”

 

Sesshoumaru stood thinking about the young human's reaction when he had questioned her about Naraku. None of what this was making sense to him. As much as he despised the priestess, the idea of her placing her trust in Naraku under her own accord, seemed far fetched.

 

“Another demon has the Shikon Jewel and you reek of human. Why is that Naraku?” He asked. Naraku had no intention of telling him of his weakness and how Hebiakui had come to get the jewel, instead he merely continued with the plan that was forming.

 

“Troubling to say the least,” Naraku began. “I'm sure even you realize the power such a demon could possess with the Shikon jewel. Perhaps, if you possessed the Tetsusaiga...” he left sentence unfinished.

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly. He had stopped trying to gain the sword but deep in him, the desire to have their father's prized fang still lived.

 

“You believe I will bargain with you?” He queried. He had done so before and found himself with less than no desire to work with the dark lord again.

 

“Such a demon will not be easy to defeat,” Naraku continued in a near purr. “There is something we both want but are...unable...to get. You are unable to take the sword and I am cannot regain the Shikon jewel. If this demon is allowed to complete the jewel, even you will be unable to stop him, Lord Sesshoumaru, regardless if you have your brother's sword.”

 

Sesshoumaru stood motionlessly, thinking about what had been said. He despised Naraku and had no desire for the jewel himself, yet what he said was true. The demon had already begun to cause havoc and was clearly powerful. It was quite possible that without the help of the Tetsusaiga even he would be unable to stop it. Rather that offering an answer to Naraku he returned to his earlier question.

 

“What does this have to do with the priestess?”

 

Naraku smirked and prepared to answer when Kanna's voice filled the air.

 

“She makes him weak,” she replied almost smugly. Naraku's eyes darkened at the words while Sesshoumaru's showed a slight hint of curiosity. Before Naraku could object Kanna again held up her mirror, this time the image of Kagome and Naraku talking under the Sakura Blossoms materialized and within seconds Sesshoumaru was watching as Naraku pulled the human to him and kissed her. Such a sight was something he had never expected to see.

 

Naraku turned towards Kanna and his mere demeanor was enough to end the image. She offered a slightly impish smirk and turned towards the door, letting her words linger behind her.

 

“He desires her,” she said and returned into the castle. She was well aware that she was his only real protection and there would be no repercussions for her actions, leaving her with a satisfied feeling she had never before felt.

 

“Pathetic,” was the only word Sesshoumaru could offer. It did seem as though Naraku's weakness was connected to the priestess and it made him all the more foolish.

 

“Consider what I have offered,” Naraku replied. Even if there was no way for him to gain the Tetsusaiga, it would be in his own best interest if Sesshoumaru got the jewel away from Hebiakui. The demon lord gave him one last look and then turned and walked away, unsure how to deal with the situation at hand. This serpent would need to be stopped, but how and by whom was still the question.

 

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Author's Note: I am so sorry to everyone for the very long wait and the pretty dull chapter that came with it. In the next chapter things pick up pretty quickly and we will be getting back to Kagome/Naraku together again (either in chapter Nineteen or Twenty)

 

I just needed a break from writing InuYasha for awhile, or I was going to end up throwing the end of this story together and it would have been disappointing to everyone. If anyone is at all interested, I began writing a “Pirates of the Caribbean” fanfic in my spare time. It's mostly light hearted and humor for now. I needed a break from the demons and darkness of this story and writing Jack Sparrow is just something I HAD to do. For any fans of the movie, I'd love to get your opinion on that as well. It's on fanfiction.net under my pen name: Kilala81

 

Lost in Translation (Pirates of the Caribbean)

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2478854/1/