InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Hunter and the Prey ❯ Chapter Second ( Chapter 2 )

The Hunter and the Prey

Chapter 2: Sundered Reunion

For the past few weeks, Inuyasha and Co. had been tracking Kagome's trail, with only partial success. Kagome's trail was more twisted then a fox could manage. Even Shippou had been impressed. Those few snatches of Kagome's scent, though few and far between, had been enough to keep the kit from getting completely depressed. He missed her desperately. The last time any trace of Kagome had been spotted was well over two days ago, and the group was floundering along in the woods. By now, most of the group was tired, hungry, thirsty, and in desperate need of a bath. Sango sighed, pushing a sweaty piece of hair behind her ears and about to tell Inuyasha it was time to stop for the night when Shippou jumped from her arms.

"Hey! I think there's a village up ahead!" He lifted his nose, eyes half closed as he sniffed. "Yup, definitely a village." Innocent blue/green eyes looked up at Sango slyly. "Now you can go get a bath! That's if Miroku can swindle us a place to stay…"

Miroku simply sighed, affecting an innocent expression. "Swindle? I'm hurt, Shippou, that you think so lowly of me. I am a monk, and my intentions are always true." (a/n: uh huh, riiiiight…) During this little speech, Miroku had come up behind Sango.

Thwack!!

"Innocent, riiiight, Miroku. Come on Shippou, let's get Inuyasha and see about a place for the night." Sango gathered him up and walked away and left the stunned monk behind, muttering under her breath about perverted monks with wandering hands.

Up ahead on the trail, Inuyasha walked along, paying no heed to the activities behind him. Or around him. By his side was Kikiyo, whom had joined the group upon Kagome's departure. Nobody was sure why she was there, and suspected she had something to do with Kagome's leaving. Steeling her nerves, Sango approached the two, and cleared her throat, gaining their attention.

"Ahem…Inuyasha? Shippou scented a village up ahead. All of us are tired, so we could stop there for the night. Who knows they may even have heard if Kagome had been by there?" Sango was surprised by Inuyasha's expression. For a second, she could have sworn she had seen genuine worry, and then it had vanished again behind the mask of cold indifference. She felt a cold chill travel through her spine.

"Fine, if it will stop the rest of you from whining about another night in the forest." His cold voice answered her sharply. Answer delivered, he turned back to Kikiyo, ignoring Sango completely, who was a bit shocked, and upset about her friend's cold dismissal. Why has he changed so much? She mused as she walked back to the others to head off to the nearby village. He never used to be that cold. He hasn't even argued with Shippou! Why though? Her troubled thoughts kept her company as they headed to the village with weary footsteps.

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"NANI??"

"It's true, sir. She arrived here about, oh, six days ago whilst we were abein 'ttacked by some youkai. We asked her for her help, bein that was dressed as one o' dem demon exterminators, like the young miss o'er there. She agreed, and slaughtered that demon as if it where on'y a chicken for the table! She left the next day, off that direction." At this, the village head motioned with one arm off to the west. "We'd be happy to give ye all rooms fer the night, seein' as how yer all friends o' hers."

Inuyasha, Miroku, Shippou, and Kikiyo could only stare at the villager. Kagome, who previously was about as much help in a battle as a wet haddock, had killed a dangerous youkai on her own? Sango, though, merely smiled to herself. When Inuyasha had grudgingly given Kagome her sword and some lessons, she had taken it upon herself to do better. In secret, at night, she had trained Kagome in real practice. If she was going to fight, Sango reasoned, better to do it properly then just swinging a sword around like Inuyasha did. She might hurt herself. Sango almost grinned; happy that her pupil had took her lessons to heart so well.

With the question of lodging settled for the night, the group settled in. Each lost to their own thoughts as to the changes to the gently Kagome thy all once knew.

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>A clearing 10 miles distance from the village<

"Are you sure this will work? I mean, he obviously doesn't care about me enough."

"It will. He will come with the Tetsusaiga, and if not him, then your friends will. Even if my worthless brother has lost all sense, you're friends will bring it to us."

Kagome snorted, staring into the flames of the campfire pensively. "If you say so then. I suppose it will have to do. Tomorrow then."

Sesshoumaru nodded, also gazing into the hypnotic flames elegant features set into his normal mask of indifference. Tomorrow…One way or another Inuyasha, I will posses what is yours…whether it is the Tetsusaiga, or Kagome.

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>Next Morning<

With the directions given by the village headman and a clearer scent trail the mixed group of humans and demons set off, all in better spirits. Perhaps the general mood seemed lighter for the good food and nights rests they had, or the use of the baths. Or perhaps it was because Inuyasha seemed to be more like his old self. Grumbling, grouchy, and fighting with Shippou. Either way, it served to bring back a much-needed sense of normalcy to the friends. Around midday Inuyasha struck a trail that was fresher then the one they had been following.

"Hey Houshi, there's a new trail here, pretty fresh too. No more then a day at most, I think." On all fours Inuyasha crouched, nose to the ground to get a better idea of the scent. "We should find her in no time now." He straightened up, one hand casting a shadow over his eyes as he looked into the distance, as if to see her approach.

Miroku smiled; glad to see his friend acting more normal. Perhaps he had been wrong about him after all. "That is good news, indeed, Inuyasha."

This happened to be overheard by a certain hyperactive kitsune. Popping into his giant pink bubble form (a/n: does that thing even have a name?!?!?!?) he glomped onto Inuyasha's head, and gnawed. "Hey Dog Boy, I bet when we find her, Kagome's gonna sit ya so many times you'll look like a pug! Serves ya right for makin her leave in the first place." He made sure to get Inuyaha's long hair extra slobbery.

Inuyasha, though, wasn't amused. The dog demon growled and bopped the bubble shaped kitsune between the eyes, knocking him off his head and into the bushes with a startled wail. He landed non-too gracefully and startled to wail, rubbing his sore head. "Sango, Inuyasha hit meeeeeeee!"

Before Inuyasha could advance on the helpless Kitsune, Miroku's staff decided to acquaint itself with his head. And thus, his bottom decided to meet with the ground. Sango smiled slightly as she picked up the now cheerful Shippou as Miroku admonished Inuyasha.

"Patience, Inuyasha. Shippou is only a child, and knows no better." Shippou's smirk belied that idea. "Besides, you are wasting time we could be finding Kagome. For all we know, she could appear over the crest of that hill as we speak." With his staff jingling, he gestured over to a nearby hill.

Speak of the devil. Irony decided to makes its presence known. This was the time that Kagome chose to appear. Over the crest of the afore mentioned hill even. "To think that all this time, all I had to do was ask for Kagome and she would appear!" Miroku quipped, running with the rest to greet Kagome. Shippou was in the lead and arrived first, jumping into her arms with a squeal of "Kagome! I missed you! What did Dog Breath do this time?" She smiled, cuddling the ecstatic kitsune close.

"Er, nothing, Shippou. I just needed to be on my own for a bit."

By this time the others had arrived, and were babbling all at once, Kirara rubbing against Kagome's legs and squeaking. Noticeably absent from the happy reunion was Kikiyo, who held back, features as cold and unreadable as usual. Nobody noticed as his or her thoughts were centered on Kagome. Sango was next in her greeting, giving Kagome a big hug. She grinned, praising Kagome's newfound prowess in demon extermination. Miroku also hugged Kagome, though ended up with lumps for his effort when he tried to turn the hug more…intimate. The others stepped aside, and Kagome placed Shippou down, turning to face Inuyasha. The weeks she had spent apart from him had served to cool her fury, letting her greet him with a calm, impassive face.

"Inuyasha."

"Oi, Kagome, why'd you run off like that? You had everyone worried about you!"

She mentally snarled, though kept it away. Only my true friends, Inuyasha. I'm sure you didn't miss me at all… "As I told Shippou, Inuyasha, I needed to get away for awhile. I was feeling…stifled…in the group. I am as good a fighter as any of you now, though you never let me have part in the battles. I needed to prove myself, to myself, if anything."

Inuyasha wondered at her slightly formal tone, though shoved it aside, desperately trying to give her a reason why he hadn't wanted her fighting. So of course he put his foot in his mouth. "Why did you need to prove yourself by fighting? You're the shard detector, if you got hurt, then where'd we be collecting my shards?" Even as the words left his mouth, he mentally slapped himself. Ahhhh...shit. That was stupid, baka. You should've had told her you cared for her or something…now yer gone be sat till yer in a crator 10 feet deep! He mentally braced himself for the barrage of sits, and…nothing. He cautiously looked at her. Her expression was the same as before, only a slight tightening around her eyes. Uh… that's not a good sign…

She was distracted from whatever she was about to say, though, by the others. Everyone wanted to know what she had been doing, who she had met, etc. Gratefully, she turned her mind from Inuyasha and concentrated on her friends. It was nice to see them again. To bad she would be leaving them so soon again. While filling in Sango and Miroku, and cuddling Shippou, she mentally calculated the time till Sesshoumaru would arrive. Should be pretty soon. She decided while tickling Shippou. Watching Inuyasha from the corner of her eyes, she saw him stiffen and lift his keen nose to the air. At the same time, she felt Sesshoumaru's aura.

"Uh…not good. Inuyasha, do you smell anything? I think there is a demon nearby." She placed a worried expression on her face, putting Shippou down again, backing slightly away from the group."

Inuyasha growled, golden eyes narrowed in hate. "Sesshoumaru."

Kagome nodded, eyes scanning for him. Sango unlimbered her giant boomerang (a/n: just what is that thing called anyways? Lot's o little notes here, lol) from her back, also looking in all directions. "What does he want now?" She muttered.

From behind then a cold voice answered. "What I have always wanted."

The group gave a collective gasp, whirling around to face him. He smirked slightly, noting that the dead miko had finally joined the group. "And I will have it, Inuyasha. Had the Tetsusaiga to me now.

Inuyasha crouched, drawing the sword, transforming the fang as he did. "Now why on earth would I do something like that, brother?" The sarcasm was heavy.

Sesshoumaru now openly smiled, chilling everyone, except perhaps Kagome. "Because of this, dear brother…" Faster then Inuyasha could react, he had torn through the group and grabbed Kagome up by the waist and securing her with his tail. "If you aren't so eager to give me the sword, perhaps a little barter is in order. This girl's life for the fang. You have 5 days…" So saying, he jumped in the air, swiftly traveling to his lands.

The shocked silence was broken by a cry of "Kagoooommeeeee!" Shippou ran after the fast retreating figure of Sesshoumaru. But, blinded by tears, he tripped, collapsing to sob on the ground. Sango, too, was in tears, and went to comfort the kit. Miroku watched the departure, left hand grasping his right forearm, features twisted into a mask of helpless rage. He alone, though witnessed Inuyasha's reaction.

Inuyasha stared after his brother, bearing away Kagome. He started to run after them, golden eyes narrowed to slits, fangs bared in silent snarl. Only to be stopped by…Kikiyo. One hand grasped his shoulder. Startled, he turned about to snarl something at her, only to have mind and logic become fuzzy. Eyes closed briefly then opened, expressionless. Miroku watched this, former suspicions now much clearer. "Inuyasha? What are we going to do?" Everyone looked to him.

He snorted, turning away with Kikiyo. "Do? Nothing. We don't need the wench. I'm not giving up my fathers fang for someone who is expendable. After all, we still have Kikiyo, She can sense the shards better, and fight better." As if this explained everything, he turned and walked away, Kikiyo by his side. Sango snarled, about to use her weapon on Inuyasha when stopped by Miroku's hand on her arm. He looked at her, his expression clearly telling her no, he would speak with her later. Something was wrong. She nodded, complying with his wishes, though very reluctantly. She picked up the still wailing kitsune, and followed the others, glancing back over her shoulder to look up into the now empty sky.

A/N: Well, there's chapter 2 of my current love child ^^. If anyone knows of a beta, or is one, could you please email me, or respond in a review? I would dearly like the insights of one, lol. I've all the chapters of this written, and will be posting them every few days, but I would still like someone to go over this, and help me make some corrections to improve the flow a bit. This was my first effort in fan fiction ^_^ and this is its début on media miner. If you'd like to read it in it's completed form, you can go to fanfiction.net to read it. Same title, and same author name. I hope you all enjoy, and please review! Eventually I'll get around to writing a sequel, once I get Harry Potter fiction out of my system, lol.