InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Chosen ❯ A Trip Home ( Chapter 14 )

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any of its characters. Shadow, Death Strike, Mikel, Faele, Falcon, the Evenstar family, Sindel, etc…are mine. Ask before you borrow them.

 

Italics = thinking

“….” = talking, or singing

*….* = telepathic speech

 

 

Chapter 14: A Trip Home

 

Kagome was shocked; her cousin had yielded…had submitted to Sesshomaru! InuYasha's muttered “wow” went unnoticed as Kagome digested what had just happened.

 

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Mine! He screamed in his head as she surrendered. Elated, he lifted his muzzle and howled his triumph; she was his! Slowly the haze of her heat scent left his mind as he shifted back to his humanoid form. Red still graced his eyes as he turned back to her, now in her own hanyou form, sitting on the ground with her claws buried in the dirt. Inhaling deeply, he noted that her heat was all but gone now, and his eyes faded back to their brilliant gold as he crossed the distance between them and yanked her to her feet. He pushed that last of the heat craze from his mind and pulled her flush again him as his lips descended on her throat.

 

“Mine,” he growled against her skin.

 

His tongue ran over her silky flesh and she growled at him; not in arousal, but in anger. Without a thought he sank his teeth into her throat and she screamed in fury. Pulling from his embrace she lashed out at him, her claws connecting with his striped cheek and leaving three deep, ragged gashes. For a moment he was stunned; she stood before him hissing like a cat, blood from his mark streaming down her chest onto the tattered remains of her white halter top as his blood dripped from her claws. He had no time to react as a gateway snapped open suddenly beside her, and just as swiftly as she'd attacked him, she was gone; her three wolves dashing through the portal just before it sealed itself behind her.

 

Slowly, the fact that she had escaped dawned on him just as the stickiness of the drying blood on his cheek and throat began to irritate him. The superficial wounds her claws had caused where nothing compared to the fact that she was once again outside his grasp. Red laced his eyes as he glanced around his surroundings and figured out where he was. His gaze landed on Kagome, still in the tree on InuYasha's lap.

 

“Where did she go?” he snarled as he advanced on her, unaware of anyone else except his intended mate's cousin.

 

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Kagome's eyes went wide in fear. Between Sesshomaru's primal snarl and the red seeping into his eyes, she knew that Shadow's sudden disappearance didn't bode well for her. Normally Kagome would have growled back at the taiyoukai as she was never one to be snapped or snarled at without retaliating in some fashion, but the spark that made her defiant; made her fearless, died at the emotion flashing in Sesshomaru's eyes. Although his scent exuded unimaginable anger, his eyes flashed pain and longing as well as anger.

 

He leapt into the tree, landing on a branch near her and she felt InuYasha's arms tighten around her as he growled warningly at his brother. She sighed softly and patted his hand as she met the taiyoukai's eyes.

 

“Where is she? Where did she go?” he hissed at her, eyes narrowing as he growled back at his brother.

 

“I don't…” Kagome began softly, still holding his gaze as Death Strike's voice cut her off.

 

“She went home, Sesshomaru,” the neko stated frankly from the base of the tree.

 

The rest of the group, including Koga, stood a short distance away. Now that the heat scents had lessened they would be able to resume their search for the shards, or so Kagome hoped. The three jumped down from the tree, Kagome held tightly by InuYasha who was still wary of his brother even though the red was beginning to recede from the older inu's eyes.

 

“Perhaps it's a good time for a rest,” Kagome offered, rethinking her idea about continuing the quest. After the past three days, their nerves were shot. They had retrieved the shard they had originally set out to find and after the recent events they could all probably use a break.

 

The other's agreed after a few moments of thought and they began picking up camp. It didn't take long and as they were double checking that nothing would be left behind, Miroku spoke up.

 

“It's a shame we have to walk all the way back to Kaeda's. Such a long way…” he stated as he glanced at Death Strike from the corners of his eyes.

 

Kagome caught his less than subtle hint and chuckled softly while her cousin just rolled her eyes.

 

“Spoiled much?” the neko shot back him, but couldn't hide the grin that was tugging at her lips. “Cousin, you want to field this one?”

 

Although Kagome understood what her cousin was asking, everyone looked confused…including the `Fluffmiester.' Laughing again, she hurriedly explained to their companions what Death Strike's comment meant and then looked to her cousin for instruction. When none came, Kagome cleared her throat softly.

 

“Uhmmm, cousin?” Kagome asked slightly embarrassed by not knowing how to make a gateway, “I don't know how….”

 

“Oh,” Death Strike said simply as she froze, “Uh, I guess I can do it then.”

 

“Could you show me how?” Kagome asked, watching her cousin blush.

 

“I...uh…don't think I can, Kags,” Death Strike muttered as her cheeks flared crimson, “Its more like second nature to me; I don't exactly know how I do it. That's one of the reasons Shadow was chosen to train you…she can explain how to do these things.” Death Strike scratched behind her ear and smiled apologetically at her cousin.

 

“Oh, ok,” Kagome replied with a nod. “I'll just ask Shadow when she comes back then.” Returning her cousin's smile, she crossed the distance between them and gave the older girl a warm hug.

 

Sesshomaru's impatient growl broke the family moment apart and Death Strike stepped a short distance away before snapping open a gateway. After she motioned for them to pass through, the group gratefully hurried through to find themselves in the clearing around Goshinboku again. Coming through last, Death Strike closed the portal behind her and turned to see a confused Miroku staring at her.

 

“Why did you not take us all the way back to the village?” he asked and Death Strike chuckled.

 

“Think about it monk. If you saw one of these suddenly appear in the middle of your village, wouldn't you be more than a little afraid?” Death Strike replied and Miroku nodded thoughtfully. “Also, gateways are rather dangerous. Watch.”

 

Turning, Death Strike summoned another gateway, this one only a few inches from a nearby tree. The group watched in fascination as the edge of the portal sliced through the tree, not enough to fell it, but enough to do considerable damage.

 

 

“Now imagine if that had been a person,” Death Strike told them as she closed the gateway. “Even I couldn't heal the damage inflicted by a gateway if the unlucky person wasn't killed instantly.”

 

This information sobered the group greatly. Sango swallowed audibly as Kagome covered her mouth in shock; neither had thought that the gateways could be dangerous. After a few uneasy moments of lingering silence, Miroku cleared his throat.

“Well, we thank you for bringing us this far, Lady Death Strike,” he stated calmly as he offered her a slight bow. “Perhaps it would be best if we journeyed the rest of way to Kaeda's on foot.”

 

Sango nodded in agreement and glanced at Kagome who seemed to be lost in thought. After a moment, Kagome snapped back to reality to find everyone staring at her.

 

“Sorry, what?” she asked.

 

“Miroku suggested we walk the rest of the way to Kaeda's,” Sango replied, as InuYasha opened his mouth to tell his mate to pay attention.

 

“Oh, yeah…I need to go home for a few days,” Kagome said as she suddenly looked in the direction of the well. She needed to see her mother again and possibly get some schoolwork done. “You're all welcome to come with me,” she continued on with a small smile.

 

“I'd be more than happy to get back to our time, Kags,” Death Strike stated with a bright smile before looking to her mate, “And I'm sure Koga will come too.”

 

Koga felt like he had somehow managed to the get the short end of the stick on this, but wisely kept his mouth shut. Everyone knew that an unhappy female meant misery for her mate.

 

Sango and Miroku opted to stay in the feudal era to update Kaeda on their progress. Kagome asked them to watch Shippo, to which they happily agreed. Rin begged Sesshomaru to let her stay to play with Shippo and the stoic taiyoukai finally relented just as he realized how tattered his garments were.

 

After instructing Jaken to take AhUn back to the castle and fetch him more suitable attire the group went their separate ways. Well, Sango and Miroku gathered Rin and Shippo as they slid onto Kirara's back and took off towards the village as Jaken, aboard the two-headed dragon, headed to the west.

 

Death Strike again opened a gateway, this one to Kagome's home five hundred years in the future, and the five remaining companions amble through. They came out behind the well house and Kagome lifted an eyebrow at her cousin quizzically.

 

“What? I figured there wouldn't be anyone back here,” the neko demon fae stated with a shrug.

 

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That evening, shortly after dinner had been finished, Kagome sat on the couch with her cousin as the two females watched Sota kicked the males' butts at Mortal Kombat: Deception. Sesshomaru had quickly gotten frustrated with the game and had left to who knew where and now InuYasha watched, muffling laughter, as Sota whooped Koga's sorry ass. Yawning, Kagome leaned her head on Death Strike's shoulder; her eyes beginning to droop when she suddenly sat up. Her cousin looked at her funny, but Kagome just chuckled and explained that she was going to shower; ah the luxuries of indoor plumbing. Bounding out of the room and up the stairs, Kagome could barely wait to get under the steaming water. Hurrying into her room, she gathered her sleepwear and then headed off to the bathroom.

 

“The door's closed…that's odd,” Kagome muttered as she stood outside the bathroom. She knew her mother was in the kitchen still doing dishes and ji-chan was off somewhere praying, which left Sesshomaru unaccounted for. “But he wouldn't be in here,” she whispered as she pushed the door open and slid into the room, closing the door behind her.

 

Turning around, Kagome muffled a scream as she was confronted with a very naked taiyoukai. His cool golden eyes met pink ones as her cheeks flamed red. He lifted one elegant eyebrow before turning his attention back to the knobs on the shower wall.

 

“How does this hot spring work?” Sesshomaru asked, looking over his shoulder at her again and Kagome had to fight to keep her eyes from drifting downwards.

 

You're mated, Kagome, quit looking at him like that! She chastised herself as she stepped forward and attempted to explain.

 

“Uh…this knob here is for…c…cold water and th…this one is for hot. This way you can adjust the water to a comfortable temperature. You pull this little lever here if you want a bath….or turn this knob for a shower,” she explained as she pointed to the various parts, her face growing redder by the moment as her tongue tripped over itself.

 

“What is this `shou-er?'” Sesshomaru asked puzzled.

 

“It would kind of be like standing under a small waterfall,” Kagome offered as her eyes finally overpowered her will and strayed downwards. Her cheeks felt like miniature fireballs as she tore her gaze away from the slightly curling hair of his nether regions and focused on turning the shower on for him. “See?” she said a tad breathlessly. She turned to make a quick exit, but he caught her arm.

 

“There is more than enough room for two,” he offered with a slight smirk, “I assume that bathing was your reason for coming in here as well.” He motioned to her clothes that lay forgotten by the door.

 

“Uh…no, that's ok, really” she managed as she tried to pry her arm from his grip.

 

“Do not be shy. You are my sister…pack. It is more than likely we will bathe together many times. Come now, undress…” Kagome was shocked as he started peeling her clothes off her. Instead of removing them intact, he simply sliced them off with his claws until she stood in her undergarments which also swiftly fell prey to his claws.

 

Kagome squeaked softly as he wrapped an arm around her waist and ushered her in under the cascading water before stepping in himself and closing the glass door behind them. She shivered, finding the water slightly chilly and without thinking reached around him to turn the hot up. Kagome found herself pressed up against his chiseled, muscular chest and her eyes widened in horror. Swiftly adjusting the water, she took a step away and turned her back to him only to be surprised yet again as his hands suddenly found their way into her hair. Again she yelped in embarrassment and was mortified to hear him chuckle in response.

 

“Relax, I am only helping you wash your hair,” he stated softly as he watched the tense muscles in her back ease some. “As I said before, you are pack now and it is very likely we will bathe together many times. Part of bathing together is helping each other wash…among other things.” A small knowing smile played at the corners of his mouth as he finished lathering her hair and pulled her back under the water to let her rinse.

 

After the water ran clean from her tresses, he grabbed the bar of soap and moved on to washing her back. Opting not to use the cloth hanging on the wall, he soaped her back with his hands, slowly kneading the tension from her muscles as he did so. However, when his hands caressed her firm, rounded rear she let out a small shriek and leapt away while turning to face him, her astonishment written clearly on her face. For a moment he savored the view she offered him before her arms swiftly attempted to cover herself.

 

Steeling her resolved, Kagome pushed herself away from the wall and stepped under the water, rinsing the soap off her body knowing full well that Sesshomaru was still watching her. Turning, she pulled the soap from his hand and finished washing herself, but before she could slide past him and out of the shower, he pinned her back against the wall.

 

The soap dropped from her hand as he leaned in close to inhale her wet scent. Growling softly to himself, Sesshomaru realized that he found his brother's mate rather arousing and took advantage of the moment. He ran his tongue over shoulder and up her neck on the opposite of his brother's mating mark. He was nuzzling along her jaw bone when the bathroom door flew open and an irate InuYasha stormed into the room followed closely by Death Strike. Both had felt Kagome's sudden distress and had rushed to discover what the cause was.

 

Pulling away from the girl, Sesshomaru glared at his brother through the glass doors of the shower. InuYasha's hand went to tetsusaiga, but Death Strike intervened. Stepping forward, she flung the opposite door of the shower open and pulled Kagome out and wrapped her in a towel as she glared at the taiyoukai.

 

“Take Kagome and her clothes back to her room, InuYasha,” Death Strike growled and InuYasha gladly obliged. He gathered his mate and her things and left hurriedly.

 

Sesshomaru and Death Strike glared at each other through the glass and the steam before Sesshomaru finally turned away and quickly washed himself. After a few frustrating moments of trying to figure out how to shut the water off, Death Strike came to his rescue and did it for him. Stepping from the shower, he gave himself a good shake, sending water everywhere, and turned his attention back to the neko.

 

“Are you just going to stand there and stare at me all night?” he growled in annoyance.

 

“No,” Death Strike stated bluntly as she handed the taiyoukai a towel. “You know Kagome is new to youkai ways, why did you do that?”

 

“Do what?” Sesshomaru asked innocently.

 

“You son of a human whore! Kagome doesn't know that youkai brothers sometimes share mates. You have no right to touch her unless you are willing to share Shadow with InuYasha!” she hissed at him as his eyes slowly bled red. “She doesn't know that Demon Fae share mates among family and close friends. We haven't explained that yet!”

 

Sesshomaru growled as he lunged and pinned Death Strike to the wall beside the sink. Neither noticed the small gateway that opened long enough for a pale, elegant hand to come through and make off with the remains of the taiyoukai's clothing; loin cloth and all.

 

“You will hold your tongue, woman,” Sesshomaru growled through his teeth, “You will have respect for this Sesshomaru and you will apologize by showing me my mate. NOW!” His roar reverberated off the wall, but Death Strike never flinched.

 

“No,” she snapped and disappeared from his grasp only to reappear seconds later in the doorway. Enraged, Sesshomaru lunged for her again, but this time impacted with her shield hard enough to render him unconscious. “Idiot,” Death Strike smirked as she left.

 

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Mrs. H wandered through her home, double checking that all were comfortable and asleep. Pausing in the doorway to the living room, she smiled at the kawaii picture that Death Strike and Koga made as they curled around each other in fae form on the floor. Her eyes drifted to Sesshomaru who lay quietly on the couch in an old pair of her husband's pajama pants, a pillow clutched firmly against his chest. She could tell that he wasn't asleep, but at least he was content.

 

Moving on, she made her way upstairs. She tucked Sota in, and turned off the light in Ji-chan's room before peeking in on Kagome and InuYasha, both sound asleep in the girl's bed. She closed the door softly and went to her own room, more than ready to retire for the night.

 

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~*~*~Dream Sequence~*~*~

 

She was running. Flames again danced in her peripheral vision as she ran across the darkened landscape. Her breaths came in strangled sobs as she fought to keep her body moving. Eerie laughter rang out behind her as voiced hissed and whispered around her.

 

“Kill the tiger….”

 

“The prophecy must not be fulfilled…”

 

“She must not reach the dragon…”

 

“Stop her!”

 

She didn't understand. She only knew that she had to keep moving. A glimpse of bright orange hair off to her left gave her new strength as fear flooded her system anew. Suddenly a hand fell on her shoulder, and she felt the woman's breath on her ear as she whispered to her:

 

“You will not win. The darkness will consume you. Give in now…”

 

The snake curled around her feet and she screamed in terror. White light surrounded her body again and she the orange hair woman screamed in anger as she broke free and the dreamscape disappeared.

 

~*~*~End Dream Sequence~*~*~

 

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Death Strike stood silently beside her cousin's bed; her eyes glowing an almost electric blue as she slowly removed her hand from Kagome's forehead. Panting softly she smoothed the younger girl's hair back from her face as she finished weaving the protective shield around Kagome's mind. She was relieved to see Kagome calm almost immediately and drift back into deep slumber.

 

“They will not trouble your mind again tonight, dear one. They will not harm you on my watch…I would die first!” Death Strike whispered softly under her breath, offering the sleeping girl comforts that go unacknowledged. Turning, she quietly made her way out of the room. She never noticed the twin sets of golden eyes that watched her leave.

 

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The next morning everyone was roused by Kagome's frantic search for a way to blend in at school.

 

“The ears I can hide, but what I am going to do about this tail?” she practically shrieked as she rushed around her home.

 

“Kagome!” her mother finally called, catching the panting girl's attention. “I withdrew you from school shortly after your last trip home. You cannot possibly go to school looking the way you are.”

 

“Nani?” Kagome gasped, “How will I graduate then?” It wasn't that she wasn't happy about not having to attend classes, but she did want to at least graduate.

 

“After you finish hunting the jewel shards, I have arranged for you to go to America and stay with your cousins. They have youkai schools there where you will fit right in. You can finish high school through home schooling, your uncle has already arranged the tutors, and then you can go to a youkai college in America.” Her mother made it sound so simple, but who knew when the hunt for the jewel would be over.

 

“Ok…” Kagome relented as the doorbell rang.

 

Again without thinking, Kagome hollered that she would get it and rushed to open to the door. Just outside where the last four people Kagome really wanted to see at the moment: Hojo, Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi.

 

“Oh shit…” Kagome muttered as her friends' jaws dropped open in shock.

 

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Author's Note: And the next installment has been finished! Bad news ladies and gents, but I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow (July 1st). I know, I know, you want another chapter. Hopefully while I'm gone I'll get a chance to work on chapter 15, no promises though. I'll be back on the 12th. Tootles until then my sweets!

 

Review Responses:

 

Inu-Shinta: Ah ok, I get what you meant now. That would require me to make them Demon Fae...and I personally don't see that happening. They'd drive me crazy….besides, I can't make everyone a demon fae (although it might get fun *wink wink*). I don't blame you for the reaction to the Naraku lemon…but hey, got to please all the fans, or try to anyway, lol.

 

neko youki: Actually now that I think about, and have gone back to watch the first couple seasons of Digimon, yes `Crimson Lightning' and `Celestial Arrow' are both attacks on Digimon. Knew I got them from somewhere, lol. However, the Demon Fae attacks don't look anything like the Digimon attacks. Angewoman doesn't actually use a bow; she's got those wingy things on her glove and Miotismon's crimson lightning kind of looks like red lightning bolts or thick red whips. My crimson lightning is a darker red, and looks more like the lightning symbology attack used on the PS2 game `Star Ocean'

 

Megan Consoer: Thank you for the review; hope you enjoyed the new chapter.

 

red_tigergirl2: Sorry about the wait…have been having writer's block issues. Hopefully I'll have 15 ready to be sent to my beta when I get back from vacation. Wish me luck!

 

Ehu: Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm glad you are enjoying my story! Here's the next chapter…and I'll be starting chapter 15 shortly. If you'd like, you can email me and I can add you to my fan fiction mailing list so I can notify you when I have new chapter up.