InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Keeper ❯ Everyone Is After Something ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co.

The Keeper



Chapter Three: Everyone Is After Something



He had travelled for a few hours after Kagome had dozed off, but even a half demon gets tired after a while and when he came upon a clearing he quickly scanned the area with his nose and his ears to ensure their safety. Wrapping Kagome in the fire rat robe he set out to find some fire wood, though it didn't take long before he had an arm full of great burning sticks. He used two rocks to make sparks and start the fire, blowing lightly on it to encourage it's growth.

Moving Kagome's sleeping form closer to the fire to make sure she stayed warm, because for a mere human night's out here got pretty cold. Once he was sure she was at a fair distance from the flames, and still in her deep slumber, he rested his back against the base of a tree and fell into a light slumber of his own, keeping one of his ears at attention, in case any stupid oni's tried to acquire the jewel.

Though he only dozed in a light sleep, he never noticed the young girl as she opened her eyes to watch him as he slept. He's handsome. To her he was a picture of perfection, an angel, at least while he slept. While he was awake, he was...confusing. One moment almost a gentleman, the next rude as could be.

His ear swivelled, flicking as if a fly had landed on it and she couldn't help but giggle, only to hold her breathe when more movement from his ear appeared. Once the appendage was still she let out her breathe, moving to a sitting position still clutching his fire rat around her body. Sitting still she eyed the sleeping hanyou for any indication that he might be awake, when she was sure that he still slept she stood to her feet and tip toed her way to his side.

Quit being such a chicken shit and do it before he wakes!

Sucking in air and holding it there she reached her hand out, it was shaking at it made way to it's target, Inuyasha's ear. Her finger tips brushed the appendage lightly, his fur was so soft, and in turn she pressed her index finger and thumb together with the tip between them and began to lightly stroke it.

Before she even set in a pattern though, Inuyasha's hand flew up, grasping her wrist and jerking it away from his ear.

"Just what do you think you are doing, wench?" He had yanked her down to her knees so that she sat at eye level with him. Suddenly she felt really guilty, she certainly wouldn't like it if he just grabbed her breast and for all she knew his ears maybe just as personal to him.

"I'm sorry, they're just so cute." Her chest had begun to heave as she panicked, hoping that it hadn't pissed him off bad enough to leave her in the middle of the woods to die. "Normally, where I come from when you see puppy ears, it is okay to touch them, they usually beg you to do so." Suddenly her hands seemed more interesting than he.

"I am far from being a puppy, and they're my ears, just remember I'm half human too. You don't stroke human ears do you?" Kagome shook her head like she was being reprimanded for painting on the wall. His eyes softened, as he cocked his head to the side, trying to get a glance at those icy blue eyes. "Keh, chin up, you were only curious."

They sat in silence for the next half hour, both gazing into the fading embers of the camp fire Inuyasha had built hours ago. Kagome's hands had become restless, and she occupied them with the heavy pink jewel that hung around her neck and into her breasts. Inuyasha eyed her silently, glancing at the jewel and her ministrations towards it. So young...

"Kagome..." He stared into the fire as he spoke.

"Hmm?" Her head only cocked slightly, her eyes never leaving the fire, as if her mind was worlds away. If only he knew.

"How old are you?" His eyes never left her face, waiting for her reply.

She turned her head, meeting his eyes. "Seventeen." Hearing that small number, he turned his head away and almost felt guilty.

"So young..." He muttered, yet she still heard. The air stayed silent, until Kagome had a question of her own.

"How well did you know her?" She didn't specify, but he was sure he knew who she was talking about. "Kikyou, in my dreams, I see her and in all of them so far you have been with her."

"My family, and the other Inuyoukai that have served us for hundreds and hundreds of years have been protecting the Keepers since the Shikon No Tama's existence began. Kikyou, as you have seen, was one of those Keepers." He could tell there was something else that seemed to be on her mind, and turning his eyes to watch her, he saw confusion in hers.

"Though the relationship in my dreams, it leads me to believe that you were more than just a protector to her, did you love her?" Everytime she looked at him, she felt a pull, a pull that she had never felt towards anyone in her life before. Maybe this Kikyou loved him, and through the jewel she could feel her emotions for her lost lover?

He sat in silence for a moment before speaking, "I didn't know her long enough, personally, to have truley loved her. But, I did feel an attraction to her, she seemed interesting. I just wanted to listen to her talk, a companion of sorts. She died shortly after we began getting to know each other on a personal level."

His face, with the evil smile after killing the Lady Kikyou, raced through her mind. She shrugged it away though, deciding not to bring that one up yet.

"You should really get some more rest, when the first sun begin's to rise we will head out." Kagome nodded her head and soon found herself wondering as she layed down, entwined in his robe, where were they going?

"Inuyasha?" She peaked her head out from under an edge of the red fire rat, he could only see one of her eyes.

"What now wench?" She was definitley one of the more talkative women he had met in his lifetime.

"Where are we going?"

He paused, "We're going to my brother, the Dog General, he must know that the Shikon has returned. We protect the Keeper, together. He's at least two or three days away, if he stays in place." Kagome nodded her head and blinked the one eye that he could see, and then she closed it, drifting off into the abyss within seconds.

Hours later, when the dew was fresh on the grass, and the temperature began to rise along with the first sun, though it still had a least another half an hour before it even creeped above the horizon. Inuyasha had drifted off sitting only inches away from Kagome, who seemed to have curled in towards his legs and bare feet. The fire had gone out hours before hand, leaving behind ashes upon burnt wood.

A few birds chirped here and there, as a small form lurked behind a nearby tree, watching the pair that slept peacefully in the clearing. He stroked his small paw across his bushy bangs trying to push them out of his face, it was useless though and he gave up returning to his task at hand. Tip toeing himself into the clearing he neared the bundle beneath the red robe, that is where his desire was hidden.

His tail bristled as a small breeze made it's way through his fur, kneeling he extended his paw to move the fire rat fabric, revealing the woman who wore his prize. As he reached out for it, barely grazing it, he was ripped from the ground by his chestnut top knot. Letting out a screech he watched as blue eyes snapped open, staring at him in confusion.

"And just who do you think you are, marching up in here intending to take what doesn't belong to you." Inuyasha spat out at the little tike, he was quite obviously just a child, a kitsune, but still only a child. The little fox had been struggling, trying to escape the older half demon's grasp.

Stilling, he spoke, "I need that jewel, it's the only way!"

Kagome had sat up by now, watching the exchange between Inuyasha and the kitsune child that had appeared out of nowhere. She responded before Inuyasha could go off again, "What need do you, just a kit, need for the Shikon No Tama?"

"That is none of your business!" He had crossed his arms across his chest closing his eyes, as if it was the end of discussion. Though Inuyasha had other plans, he bopped him on the head hard enough that his little body slammed into the ground as he let go of his hair at the same time.

"Show the lady some respect! Answer her question you little rodent." He placed his bare foot firmly on the kitsune's back, holding him down, but not crushing him either. Kagome was scowling at Inuyasha's way of interrogating the child, she moved closer to the kitsune on the ground.

Reaching her hand out, caressing his face with the back of her hand, her eyes softening at the sad look on his face. "What's your name little fella? What has you so down, you're a child, you should be happy." Her smile made him feel welcomed, giving him good enough reason to trust the human.

"Shippo. And I need the Shikon as to avenge my parent's death." Shippo's plight tugged at her heart strings, and she felt that she could relate to his situation.

"Inuyasha, let him go." As soon as he removed his foot from the child's back, even though he wasn't quite happy about it, she scooped the kitsune into her arms holding him close. "You poor thing, I know what you're going through, I recently lost my father too." Inuyasha then recalled what she said about the jewel being a farewell gift, but decided to leave it alone for now. "How did they die, Shippo?"

The fox raised his head from her chest, wiping away tears from his cheek. "The Thunder Brother's, they attacked in the night!" Kagome held him close once again, allowing him to cry into her shoulder, while she lucked up at Inuyasha with sympathetic eyes.

"Keh! What do you expect me to do?" He had crossed his arms over his chest while tilting his head up and to the side with his eyes closed. She scowled at him, but immediatley returned her gaze to the child with softened eyes.

"What direction would we have to go to find these 'Thunder Brothers', Shippo?" She had begun to stroke his head, playing with the ends of his hair.

"The northwest, we lived on the border of the Western Lands, in a cave not to far from a small village. There are no more inhabitants there though, the 'Thunder Brothers' took care of that." He lifted his head to speak to Kagome, comforted by her ministrations to his back and hair.

"Well, that is the direction we've been headed right, Inuyasha. It's on the way, we could help out a poor soul couldn't we?" Inuyasha's jaw dropped, he stared at the girl completley flabbergast.

"But, Kagome, he tried to steal the jewel from off of your neck! And now here you are comforting him and wanting to help him?" This girl was definitley nothing like anyone he had ever met before.

"He's only a child, and it's on the way, it couldn't hurt could it?"

"Keh!" Kagome took that as a yes and smiled squeezing the little kitsune in delight.

"It's going to be okay Shippo, Inuyasha is going to help you avenge your parents!" The little fox demon lifted his head and smiled, quickly pulling away from Kagome and launching himself at Inuyasha. Though he was instantly shot down with a whack on the head, sending him into a pile of fur on the ground.

Standing up, Shippo rubbed his head with his paw, wincing. "What was that for?!"

"I'm gonna help ya, that doesn't mean I have to like you!" He had again crossed his arms over his chest while looking the other way, but was soon rubbing the back of his head to once Kagome had stood and smacked it. "What the hell was that for, wench?"

"Be nice to Shippo, he's only a kit and trying to show his gratitude." The conversation then ended and Inuyasha took his fire rat robe away from Kagome, placing it back on his own body. Crouching the waited for her to mount his back so that they could head out, as the first sun had risen and the second was making it's way over the horizon also.

Once Kagome was secure, Shippo jumped up on Kagome's back then over onto Inuyasha's head, using clumps of his hair as his reigns. Inuyasha's hackles rose up, ready to growl and start dismembering the little kitsune, but Kagome's tightened grip on his neck warned him not too, and instead mumbled, "Is everyone situated?" They all responded that they were and Inuyasha launched them high into the tree tops.

Inuyasha could tell that they were getting close because the little runt had started to pull harder on his hair, and he could smell the fear beginning to emit from his being. "I take it we're close." It was more of a statement than a question, for they landed and the two passengers vacated his back, causing him to stretch from the strain.

All around them were vacant huts, not a being in sight, sniffing the air Inuyasha could smell the blanket of death that clung to the village. "The spirit demons, Hiten and Manten, they came and slaughtered all the men and took the women to eat." Shippo whispered as he took in the sight of the village he and his family had watched over from their cave on the hill top.

The three of them proceeded further into the village, looking for any sign of where the brother's could be hiding. Inuyasha had walked further ahead of Kagome and Shippo, the two investigating the area's between the huts. As they came out from behind one of the huts, they couldn't see Inuyasha anywhere in sight, but were soon distracted when a large burly...thing...launched himself out of one of the empty huts. His body stood at least a good foot or so above Kagome, and an even larger disfigured head sat on his shoulders with almost no neck to support it.

It smirked while running it fat stubby fingers through his none existent hair, only a few strands here and there. "Well, well, well...what do we have here. If it isn't the little kitsune who's family failed in their duties, and who did you bring along with you." His eyes raked over Kagome's form, taking in her full breasts that were well defined in her tight white top, soon they dropped to take in her long legs that were on show.

Shippo lost his cool when he noticed that atop his shoulders rested a fox fur, that he quickly recognized as his father. "Manten, you monster!" He yelled and launched himself at the balding spirt demon, slashing out at his face and head. Shippo was whacked to the side, but was succesful in removing three out of the four strands of hair that had been attached to his large head.

Manten looked as if he was going to cry when he realized that the only hair that he had had been removed, leaving only one hair. Kagome, the whole time stood in horror, wondering where Inuyasha could be when they needed him. Her thoughts were cut short, when Manten reached into his mouth and pulled out two bolts throwing them in the direction of her and Shippo. She screamed and tried to run away, but she was too late.

As it made impact on the two, Shippo was unharmed, but Kagome was far from okay since Inuyasha had taken his fire rat back. "Kagome, are you okay?" Shippo brushed her bangs away from her face, pulling her head into his lap, when she didn't respond he began to sob.

"She's very pretty, I appreciate you bringing me a morning snack, and for the consideration you showed I'll spare your life...for now." He approached, and Shippo tried to fight back with his fox fire but Manten only laughed in his face, and kicked him to the side. Leaning down he scooped Kagome into his arms and heaved the upper half of her body over his shoulder and took off in the form of a dark cloud.

Standing Shippo panicked and called out after her, "I'll save you Kagome, don't you worry, nobody will be eating you!" He looked around the area, and thought to himself Now to find Inuyasha, he'll know what to do.

Somewhere further in the village, Inuyasha was on is hands and knees trying to figure out where these damn things were hiding, so he could kill them and get this over with. He and Kagome really needed to get back on the rode again so they could reunite with his elder brother. When he heard a loud screech in the distance he stood and cocked his head, allowing his ear to capture the next yell.

Was that Kagome? He really knew something was up when he heard Shippo screaming out Kagome's name, should have kept them closer to me, damn it. He took off in a run, with his arms trailing behind him, smelling the air for Kagome and Shippo. When he found where their scents were, he only found Shippo. Inuyasha closed the space between them, lifting Shippo by the front of his shirt to make him eye level.

"Where is she?" The kitsune's eyes were blood shot and puffy from the tears he had been shedding.

Choking on sobs he tried to respond, "Manten, he took her, called her his morning snack. I'm sorry Inuyasha, I didn't mean to put her in danger. Please don't hurt me for losing your woman." The hanyou arched his brow at his insinuation and promptly put the fox on the ground without pummeling him. Turning away from him, he sniffed the air, trying to discern what direction they went, not thinking about forming a plan. His plan was to storm in there, slice the demon in two and leave with Kagome.

About a mile away from where they were stood a small cabin basking in the rays of all three sun's as it was well into the late morning, and inside lie Kagome struggling into consciousness. As her blue eyes slid open a crack, she only saw the back of that ugly fat head that belonged to Manten. Wincing she lifted her arm to touch her link to her father, when she found that it was not there, and her eyes fluttered as they scanned the room, her heart beating rapidly making it hard for her to catch her breath.

She could hear the monster in front of her chuckling as he turned at the noise of her choking from the lack of air. A panic attack...now!? "You my dear, have brought me two things with your presence, a meal and hopefully a head of hair, after I clear it with my brother of course!"

Kagome was able to take a deep breath and calm herself, knowing that he hadn't used it yet, maybe there was still time for Inuyasha to show up and save the day again. Slowly she tried to lift herself from the floor and paused when her body disagreed, still in pain from the shock of the lightning bolt that Manten had thrown at her.

"You're going to wish that you had used the Shikon No Tama for better uses than hair once Inuyasha shows up!" She screamed it as she plopped back down on the wooden floor, closing her eyes from the pain.

A disbelieving snort erupted from his form as he tried not to laugh at the young girls proclamation, "That little kitsue? Show me who's boss?"

She smiled knowing that Manten hadn't the pleasure of meeting her new hanyou friend, as he had been in a much bigger hurry to leave. "No, that was Shippo, a kit who's parents you took. Inuyasha, he's older and more experienced, could probably woop your ass with his hands tied behind his back." Hope when he does show up he lives up to the standards I'm setting for him.

They were interrupted before anything else could be exchanged between the two, when someone, who mind you was the complete opposite of Manten, his head was not disfigured and full of hair. He stood a few inches shorter and way thinner than the other.

"Brother!" Manten called out, pulling himself to his feet pretty quick for a man of his size. His brother turned to him and gave him a light hearted smile before his eyes turned to the woman that now occupied their little cabin.

"Hey, Manten, who's that? Did you find yourself a toy or is that lunch?" Manten giggled, feeling very proud of himself for what he was about to reveal to his older brother.

"No Hiten, you remember those fox demon's that we slaughtered?" He watched as his brother nodded his head, urging him to go on. "Well the little kitsune, he went and retrieved this lady, luring her back to that village. And it just so happens that she," He pointed at Kagome while grabbing the jewel by the chain bringing it into view for his brother to see, "is the Keeper of the Shikon No Tama."

Hiten looked like he could have keeled over dead right there, he put his hands to the sides of his head while he came forward eyeing the Shikon. "Holy shit, Manten, you hit the jackpot." He reached to take the orb from his younger brother, but it was pulled away out of his reach. All the while Kagome watched in horror, wondering how she managed, her second day as the Keeper, to lose it already. "What are you doing?" Hiten stepped back as he looked at his brother in bewilderment.

"I was thinking brother, we could wish for me to have a full head of hair, then we could lure the ladies in together!" Manten smiled, as if he had come up with the single most brilliant idea ever.

Hiten laughed at his brother's request, cackling loudly so that two occupants that stood not far outside of the cabin could hear it. Inuyasha then turned his head to look Shippo in the eye, who had been sitting on his shoulder. "Ready runt?" Shippo nodded his head, and the two stormed forward. Reaching the door they listened to the argument inside, Inuyasha nodded his head at Shippo, who jumped down to the ground. Kicking the door in, Inuyasha stared at the two brothers, who were arguing over...The Shikon...

At the unexpected intrusion Manten dropped the jewel to the ground with a loud thud, as Shippo launched forward taking a bite out of his neck, while Inuyasha swung a blow to the side of Hiten's head. Kagome eyed the jewel as she rolled over on to her stomach and began to crawl slowly and painfully to it. Once she finally reached it her hand darted out and closed around the pink orb, as she heard Shippo yelp and be thrown into the wall, a large booted foot came down crushing her hand.

She yelled out in pain but never let go of the Shikon.

"Hold on Kagome, I'll save you." The little kitsune called out from the pile in the corner of the cabin, and when he stood he pulled out a small top and tossed it so it would land on Manten's head. Spinning it grew larger and larger pinning Manten to the floor under it's weight. "Kagome run!"

Her eyes flittered to Inuyasha and Hiten's forms to make sure that he was distracted, and she made haste pulling her pained body from the floor, and without much thought to the tingling sensation running through her legs she made a break for it. Darting past Hiten, missing collision with his body by a mere inch or so, she was out the busted in door. She didn't know where she was going, she only knew it was as far away from there as she could get.

Which wasn't very far, maybe it was from all the shock or from the newly inflicted injury, she collapsed when her mind slid into unconsciousness again. Her body fell into a heap, her broken hand still clumsily held the jewel cradled to her chest.

Inuyasha saw her escape, but so did Hiten who sent a small lightning attack at him giving him time to run after the escaped hostage. Once he recovered he ran after him, sparing a small glance back at Shippo and Manten, the top on his head getting smaller for it was only fox magic. Shippo saw Inuyasha taking his battle out of the cabin and ran after him hoping to get some distance between him and Manten before the top completely wore off.

"Hey, shit head!" Inuyasha called out, hoping to distract Hiten while Shippo shot past him to Kagome's unmoving form. When Hiten stopped and turned towards the hanyou he launched at him with his arm extended and claws bared, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" Though when he made contact the body slumped to the ground lifeless with half his body torn open from the attack, it was not his intended target.

"Manten!" Hiten called out, crying for his brother who sacrificed himself for him, even though he wouldn't allow his wish. Now that was true brotherly love.

"Pathetic." Inuyasha spat out in disgust as he wiped the blood from his claws onto his outer fire rat robes. With the distraction on his side, he swept the field for Shippo and Kagome. When he found them he perked his ear, listening for any conversation coming from them.

"Kagome?" Shippo whispered into her hair as he smelled her, looking for signs of life, her heart beat was still strong so he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He sat as he watched the dark haired woman fight for consciousness once again. Her eyes opened and he stared into those mesmerizing blue eyes once again. Smiling he hugged her head. "Oh I'm so glad you're okay!" He helped her move to a sitting position, and when she had, she held her shattered hand close as she let the jewel fall into her lap.

"He broke the bones in my hand when he stomped on my hand," She looked at Shippo as she released her broken hand and grabbed the jewel, bringing it into view, "and he cracked it when he dropped it." Looking closer he noticed a hairline crack that extended across a good portion of the Shikon No Tama.

A bright light and a holler pulled them away from their conversation, returning their eyes to the battlefield as Kagome returned the jewel to it's place around her neck. Though they were fightning after each block and evasion Hiten made him come closer to where they sat. Lightning struck, leaving craters in the ground, and Inuyasha slashed at Hiten, tearing at his clothing and knicking his skin here and there. Though it seemed no one was progressing and making their way to the top.

Before anyone knew what was happening Hiten had managed to get close to the girl and the kitsune, grabbing the young woman by her hair pulling her back to his chest. Licking the side of her face, his eyes wandered down to where the jewel rested against her breast. "You are a beautiful woman, you'd make a great prize along with the Shikon No Tama."

Kagome struggled against his grip as they rose into the sky on a storm cloud as Shippo hollered from the ground while running towards Inuyasha. She could hear him yelling, "Damn it! Hiten, your battle is with me!"

"No I think my original plan was to take the jewel and go." Her breath became more rapid and shallow as they got higher and higher. As Hiten laughed at his victory, a bright pink light began to extend from the jewel, causing it to crack even more. Hiten screamed in pain as he quickly vanished and his grip on Kagome disappeared.

Though immediately she came spiraling to the ground as she screamed, finding her death imminent. Closing her eyes and telling herself she would be with her father once again, Inuyasha jumped high into the air, catching Kagome while gracefully falling back to the ground. As they landed Kagome opened an eye scanning her surroundings, when she realized she was alive she threw her arms up and wrapped them around his neck.

"I'm alive and my hand's healed." She whispered into his hair, and his ear twitched while his heart softened. I won't let you die, not this time or any other time. "Manten broke my hand when he stomped on it, and now it's healed, the jewel must have done that."

"I'll protect you Kagome, it's my duty and what I live for." He whispered back into her ear, and though he was just telling her that his family had an oath to protect the Keepers of the Shikon No Tama, it stilled made her heart jump, and butterflys to swim around her stomach. Though she was saved from embarrasment when she remembered the jewel's new condition. Letting go of Inuyasha's neck, he put her down and she quickly examined the necklace.

"Okay, it's still intact." She whispered while looking at the Shikon, it had cracked more so than it was earlier but still in one piece. Inuyasha reached forward to see for himself what was wrong, and gasped when it broke completely in two. "Oh no." Kagome called out while taking the other piece from his hand.

"Is that supposed to happen? I mean I've never seen it break before." Inuyasha was confused and scared at the same time, he knew that Sesshomaru was not going to be happy when he found out.

"How would I know, I've only been the Keeper for two days, and I'm so confused. I've never even heard of this Shikon No Tama before yesterday!" She was panicking and Shippo could only stand there confused as to what was going on, he knew that it was broke now, but what would that matter?

"But Kagome, this thing seems to have brought you nothing but trouble, so how could this be a bad thing?" He was taken aback when she snapped at him, but soon understood why.

Crying now Kagome was holding the piece that had broke off from the necklace in his face, "This was all that I had left of my father and it's broke. I could give a shit about it's stupid power!" And suddenly he felt for, feeling sorrowful that she was going to have to go through all of this because of that gift. Well whatever would be left to do now that it was broke.

Kagome spun on her heel to face Inuyasha, shoving the other half of the jewel into his hands. "Here you keep a hold of this, now we're really in this together." He took it and placed it on the inside of his robe, close to his heart.

"Together." He smiled at her and she smiled back, it was time they put what had just happend behind them, so they could move on and reach Sesshomaru. He wouldn't be able to defend her on his own for very much longer so the faster the better. Kneeling down so she could hop on his back, Kagome hesitated and he had to roll his eyes, wondering what now?

"What about Shippo." She pressed her hand to her cheek while looking at the kitsune who was staring at Inuyasha with big puppy eyes.

Rolling his eyes he responded, "He can come too..." Inuyasha knew he was going to regret this, but he didn't have time for this, and straightened while sliding his hands around Kagome's still bare legs. Nodding at Shippo he took off running, and Shippo trailing behind him as a pink blob he transformed into, using his nose as his compass.