InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Hunter and the Prey ❯ Chapter the Third ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three: Mutiny, Betrayels, and Alliances.

It was a very subdued and upset group that made camp that night, except for Kikiyo and Inuyasha. The former was, well, dead of any expression, and the later was just the walking dead. Or the other way around. The hanyou acted as if on autopilot; his face devoid of thought or emotion. In fact, he looked as though he were dazed.

It was Miroku's turn for first watch that night. He watched as the waning crescent rose slowly into the sky, thinking about what had happened, and his suspicions. The entire time he had known Inuyasha; he had never been so callous as this. Sure, he attacked tough, but it was all a mask, right? ~He couldn't have changed that quickly, or have acted so cruel. He isn't like that. In fact…~ He scowled, deep in thought. ~He didn't start behaving like that until Kikiyo showed up…right before Kagome left... Oh no…~ A cold feeling moving down his spine made the hair on the nap of his neck stand as he realized the reasons for all the things that had been off lately with Inuyasha. Kikiyo.

Gathering his staff, he arose, his right hand unconsciously gripping into a tight fist, prayer beads clicking softly. He made his way over to where Sango lay, and observed her as she slept. One fist curled up near her mouth, her brows drawn in a frown even in sleep. She was beautiful. Sighing, hating to wake her, but needed to speak, he gently woke her up. Unfortunately, by caressing her breasts. That did wake her up, but had the undesirable effect of leaving him with a headache from Hiraikotsu. He'd forgotten that she slept with it near.

Sango was not amused. "Houshi-sama" she growled, "I hope you have a good reason for waking me in such an… undignified manner." Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she glared at the monk, still upset over the recent events.

He nodded slightly, glancing around to see where the dead miko and Inuyasha had gone. "I do. Follow me, we have to talk. It's about Inuyasha, I've an idea what's wrong." He spoke quietly, so as not to be over heard, and left as soon as he had finished. He left back to his post, and was soon joined by Sango.

She settled nearby him, though not so close as to risk another groping, and regarded him carefully. "So? You think something is wrong with Inuyasha? Besides the fact that he left Kagome for dead, I mean?" She gave a sardonic look to the monk, not really in the mood for talk. Target practice seemed more appealing at the moment.

Miroku stayed silent for a moment, collecting his thoughts, then spoke. "Yes, I do. You did not see it for you were facing the other direction, but when Kagome was kidnapped, Inuyasha was truly worried and upset. That is, until Kikiyo arrived. I almost missed it, but as she touched him, he changed. I do not really know how to explain it, but it was as if he became another person. All emotion just left his face." Miroku's face was troubled as he recounted what he had seen.

He had Sango's full attention now. She nodded as he made his points, stating the differences they had all seen in Inuyasha, and correlating them with the times Kikiyo had been near. It seemed he was only normal when she wasn't there. Her expression darkened even more as Miroku made sense of what had felt wrong to her the past few weeks. It was that damn bitch the entire time. ~I knew she was up to no good…~ "So what now? As long as Kikiyo is here, we won't be able to snap Inuyasha out of it, can we?"

"No, we can't. I'm not strong enough to stop her. The only one who could is Kagome, and she is in peril herself."

Sango thought a moment, biting on her lip as she thought of something. "Well… we could try to ransom her ourselves…all we need in Inuyasha's sword, right? As long as his brother gets that, he won't harm Kagome."

Miroku closed his eyes, thinking it through, and then smiled. "Ah, but we need to get his sword first, and as we all know, he is rather possessive of it."

"Alright, you know something Houshi, out with it!" Sango growled, fingering Hiraikotsu.

Miroku only smiled mysteriously, holding his hands up in supplication. "Now now, dear Sango, I may have something for that." He pulled out a small bundle from his robes and unwrapped the cloth casing to reveal several small white mushrooms. "Remember a few days back when I sent Shippou into the forest to find something to go in the stew we were making? These mushrooms were included in what he returned with. While not deadly, they do induce a very deep sleep in those who consume them. I thought to save them, and now I am glad I did. We can put these in Kikiyo and Inuyasha's food, thus sending them to sleep. While they sleep, we take the sword and head to the Western Lands. They will sleep for approximately 3 days, giving us enough time to make a decent head start, if we ride Kirara." He sat back against the tree, a smug grin intact on his features for his brilliant plan.

Sango nodded, eyes half lidded as she thought it out. "That sounds like it could work." She looked to where Inuyasha and Kikiyo had disappeared a while back. "We'll do this tomorrow evening. I'm heading back to bed, wouldn't do to be seen up talking like conspirators. Don't tell Shippou- he may let on something is up and alert Kikiyo." She slowly stood up, stretching out the kinks from sitting against the tree. "Your watch is almost over. See you in the morning." Looking around once more, she walked back to her sleeping place and settled in, falling asleep almost instantly. Miroku watched her as she walked back, or more specifically, watched her hips. Sighing, he leaned back against the tree, waiting for Inuyasha to come back to relieve him. ~Perhaps Sango won't mind a bit of company tonight…~ He entertained thoughts of Sango until a slightly rumpled Inuyasha finally appeared.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A bright, chill dawn had just occurred by the time Sesshoumaru arrived at his castle, Kagome still held firmly in claws. Setting down gently, he let go of the girl, letting her find her feet. Kagome looked up at him, and down at her for a few seconds, both still holding to the other. His amber eyes were inscrutable as he silently watched her, thinking. Who knows how long this would have gone on, but it was interrupted by a chattering blur which attached itself to the Youkai Lords leg.

"Rin is so glad you're back, Sesshoumaru-Sama!" The small girl smiled up at her protector, still keeping up her death grip on his leg. Sesshoumaru winced slightly at her high-pitched tones, but nodded at her gently.

"Yes Rin, I have returned, and have brought someone as well. Please remember your manners and greet her properly. This is Lady Kagome." With surprising gentleness, he laid one clawed hand on the small girls shoulder and turned her to face Kagome.

With a graceful curtsey, Rin turned to Kagome and smiled, piping up, "Ohayo, Lady Kagome-san, my name is Rin." Once the proper greeting was over, she let loose with a barrage of questions, while Sesshoumaru groaned softly to himself. "Oh, you are so pretty! Did you come to be my friend? Will you play dress-up with me? Jaken doesn't play very nicely. Do you like Sesshoumaru-sama? I'll bet he likes you, you are so pretty! Besides, he's never brought someone home before…"

Sesshoumaru interrupted her questions before she could get much further, noting the bemused look on Kagome's face. "Rin…" That was as far as he could get before yet another interruption happened.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! You're back! Thank the Gods!" This came from Jaken, Sesshoumaru's imp servant. Who, at the moment was dressed in a girl's kimono and had a daisy wreath on his head. Oh dear. "That…that human is a disgrace to your lordship, and…" Jaken continued in this manner, to upset to notice the slight twitch beginning in Sesshoumaru's eye.

"Jaken?"

"…er, yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"Shut up."

"O-of c-course, Lord Sesshoumaru-sama…"

Kagome was torn between laughter and bemusement as she watched the little homecoming between Sesshoumaru and his servants. Laughter at seeing him so put out by his servant and the small girl, and bemusement because he was being so, well, nice to the small child. She had never thought him capable of anything but malice before, but from what she had seen of him in the past few days, she would have to reevaluate her opinion. Perhaps if he could show such kindness to a small human girl, there was something worthwhile in him after all. Bending down, she addressed Rin at her own eye level.

"Hello Rin, it is very nice meeting you. I don't know how long I will be staying here, but I'm sure we'll be quite good friends while I am. I'm a…" Here she faltered for a moment on how to describe her relationship with Sesshoumaru, but then recovered. "Business partner of Sesshoumaru's, and I'm here to conclude some matters with him." ~Really I am…~she thought, ~Just need to work on getting Inuyasha's sword, and my jewel shards. That's business, right?~

Rin grinned, jumping about a little. "Yeah! Let me take you to a guest room, Rin thinks you look tired." Grabbing up and tugging on one of Kagome's hands, she led her into the castle proper for a hot bath and good meal. Shrugging mentally, Kagome followed her in, looking over her shoulder once to Sesshoumaru. He nodded, indicating her to go on. Watching Kagome until she disappeared into the castle, he turned back to Jaken.

"Jaken."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?" He gulped. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Remember, Rin is my ward. You are to protect her with your worthless life. As well as that, when I am gone or busy, you are to amuse her in any way that she wishes. Without complaint. Do I make myself clear?" Amber eyes gazed down at the imp, almost imperceptible narrowed.

Yup. He was right. That was bad. He was doomed to a lifetime of catering to the whims of small, loud, and annoying human children. "Er, yes, perfectly clear, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Good." That taken care of, Sesshoumaru turned to the castle, but turned back one more time. "And the Lady Kagome is here as my guest. You are to treat her with the utmost respect." He walked the rest of the way into the castle, following the path Rin had taken to make sure that she had done things properly.

One dejected looking imp was left outside, muttering under his breath about the sad state of times when humans were rated better then he, himself was.

A/N: Thanks for all the positive feedback!