InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Eastern Lands Brawl ( Chapter 8 )

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

Chapter 8:  Eastern Lands Brawl

Kagome couldn't get Bokuseno's words out of her mind.

It was a lot to worry about – only one shard seemed to be easy enough to get to, the other would probably be difficult.  And that was only two more of the shards, but if she was right, there was at least three still missing, maybe four, not including Kohaku's shard, or Kouga's.  

On top of that, there was the whole Naraku thing.  She really, really didn't want to have to go into that forest of his; in her opinion, it would be easier to get the remaining shards and let him come to them.

But no, Sugimi was leaning towards taking out Naraku first, and then going after the shards.  She still wasn't sure why – to her it seemed the more dangerous course to take.  Perhaps he knew something that she didn't, although she didn't think so, since she'd heard as much as Bokuseno had had to tell them.

On top of that, she was really wanting to know what Sesshoumaru had meant about his mother, and why mention of her had made Sugimi angry.  Was there still some tie between the two other than the obvious one of their son?  Could they still be married?  Perhaps Inuyasha's mother had been a mistress?  It went without saying that neither woman could have been mated to the daiyoukai.

She had to admit, she was thoroughly confused.

Marriage and mating were entirely different; in a marriage, the youkai could basically get a divorce by stating before witnesses that the marriage was over – there was no dishonor to either the male or the female when that happened, and both were free to move on to another relationship if they so chose.  From what she understood, many political alliances for heirs were done that way, so that those in the marriage would not end up trapped with a partner they didn't care for for an eternity.  Once said heir was delivered, they could end the relationship and move on.

That was why youkai took mating so seriously.

A mating was only done between partners that truly loved one another, as they refused to tie themselves to one person for their life spans and into death for any other reason.  Kagome had to admit, she could see their point, too – she'd sooner die then spend eternity tied to someone she didn't love.

Especially as, once mated, the mated couple could never break that tie, nor could either take any other lovers – a mating bond was all-encompassing, and there was no way for one or the other to dishonor it.  You were truly tied together completely until time ended and the world was destroyed.  Even death didn't abrogate a mating.

With those parameters, it was no wonder that very few youkai mated, instead choosing marriage as a more viable option.  True mated couples within the youkai community were legendary, considered soul-mates, and it was a state that most were envious of – for who didn't want to be loved like that?  It was a sad statement that very few actually found that kind of love...

With a rather depressed sigh, Kagome considered that she wouldn't be one of those lucky few that did find such love.  For who would love a plain, simple little human woman with no real redeeming qualities?  She wasn't beautiful, she wasn't a genius, and she wasn't extremely powerful; she was just an average woman, with nothing to catch the eye of any male above and beyond as a possible bed partner for a while.

Even the attraction that Sugimi seemed to have towards her was nothing more than a physical desire – after all, she was close, single, and not repulsive – and he hadn't been with a female in a very long time.  She was positive that once he'd had her, and the quest was over, he'd move on to another more beautiful female – one better suited to his own god-like status, despite her mother's encouraging words.

And that meant that she would have to be on her guard – for she refused to give herself for anything more than love.  With another depressed sigh, she continued on, following the group as they trudged along heading for the shard enhanced demon tree they'd been told about.

Sugimi was very aware of the tiny female he was coming to covet more and more as they walked briskly along, and he was rather uncomfortably certain that something was wrong.  On top of that, that nagging feeling that he knew her was bothering him again.  Oh, not that he knew her well, or anything, that wasn't the feeling he was getting, instead, something within told him that he had met her before.  But no matter what he tried, he just couldn't figure it out.

Every time he looked in those incredible eyes of hers, he was more convinced that he'd looked into them before – though he could not decide when that might have happened.  And it was driving him insane, truly.  On top of that, he was finding himself drawn into his attraction much faster than he'd expected – and that certain feelings were already beginning to form for her, as well.  

He hadn't expected this so soon, though, in the end, it didn't really matter – his goal was still the same.  And that was why he had wanted to go after Naraku first – he wanted the bastard out of the way, the sooner the better.  But he could also see what the rest of the group had spoken to him of – Naraku was twisted, and nothing was sacred to him.  On top of the forest he was hiding in, the whole thing was far more dangerous than anything he was willing to take Kagome or any of the others into.

Though it was very likely that in the end, they would not have a choice – he had the feeling that Naraku wasn't going to come to them – he was going to make them come to him.  Of course, they could always play the waiting game, see who would give in first, but that could go on for years, and he wasn't willing to wait that long.

So, he would have to come up with a strategy to deal with the dangers inherent in that forest.  Perhaps he should just burn it down?  Hell, if the fire were hot enough, it might even burn down Naraku's little hideout, and send him running right into his own death.  He chuckled at the visual that ran through his mind at that... maybe he should think about that some more and see if there wasn't some way to actually do it.

That begged the thought...

“Sesshoumaru?”

The younger daiyoukai turned from his thoughts and looked enquiringly at his father.  

“This tree in the east that has a tainted shard.  Do you know of it?”

“There is a tree that I know of in the eastern lands that carries a heavy aura, and I suspect it is this tree that Bokuseno spoke of.  It is large, and very difficult to burn – others have attempted it.  Regular fire will not work.  However,”  he glanced sideways at his father,  “I believe the only one that can defeat this tree is the miko.  It will not be able to withstand her purity at close range, so if she moves close enough to it...”  he trailed off, curious to see his father's reaction to his words.

It wasn't long in coming.

“Absolutely not, Sesshoumaru.  I will not place her in danger for one shard.  We will find a way to get it without moving her too close, that is only asking for trouble.”  He looked at his son, then, anger in his gaze.  “Tell me, would you have her killed now?  What, then, of defeating Naraku?  She will play a major part there – and how will the jewel be purified if Kagome is gone?”

Brow cocked, Sesshoumaru shrugged elegantly.  “I never said that she should be allowed to be killed, father, that was your own fear sneaking into the conversation.  She would not be left defenseless – would you not be standing over her keeping her from all harm?”  he asked, almost mockingly.

Sugimi growled with displeasure.  “Do not play your games with me, Sesshoumaru.  I am not interested in them.”

Sesshoumaru simply shrugged once again.  “As you wish, father,”  he said easily.

The elder daiyoukai stared at his son weighingly for a moment.

Do not make me prove dominance over you, as well, Sesshoumaru, for I will be much harder on you than I was on your brother.  

You know better, and he did not...

It makes a difference, boy.

---sSs---

Inuyasha glared at the male that was his father, then looked away with a huff, so angry that he couldn't even speak.  The longer they were in his presence, the more interest he seemed to develop in Kagome.

Even after the last several days of thinking and plotting, he hadn't been able to come up with a way to stop the daiyoukai from taking Kagome if he so chose.  And what was making it all worse, in his opinion, was that Kagome scented of attraction every time the male came anywhere near her.

The one thing that was giving him some amusement at the moment was Kagome's discomfort – they were heading into the eastern lands.

Koga's lands.  

As much as he usually hated dealing with that mangy, tick-covered twit, the thought had come to him that the little bastard would definitely set his father's hackles off with all his 'my woman' claims over Kagome.  It was highly probable that the daiyoukai would put the wolf in his place rather firmly, and that was something that Inuyasha lived to see.

Koga getting his ass handed to him on a silver platter.

Oh, yes, definitely worth his current agitation to see, though he wasn't sure he would be able to just sit off to the side and not get involved in any fight between the two, since he had no intentions of allowing either of them to claim Kagome.

He looked around, then, and realized with a nasty smirk that they could stumble over the idiot anytime now, because they were most definitely in his pack's territory – it stunk to high heaven of mangy wolf.  He almost danced with glee at the thought.

Kagome flicked a look behind herself, eyes narrowing when she caught sight of Inuyasha's glee-filled smirk.  She really wanted to know what he was finding so funny back there, because from where she was standing, she wasn't seeing any funny.  And usually, Inuyasha didn't either when there was any chance of running into the grabby wolf-prince.  

Frowning, she stepped up her pace and caught up with Sango and Miroku.  “Uhm, hey guys... anyone know why Inuyasha is back there muttering to himself and looking like he wants to giggle?”

Both of her friends blinked at her, then cast surreptitious glances to the back of the pack, before looking back at her with disbelieving looks on their faces.  “I certainly do not, Kagome, but perhaps I should step back to walk with our hanyou companion and see if I can find out?”  Miroku asked.

She scowled.  “He probably won't tell you, Miroku, so I wouldn't bother.  He's contrary like that, you know that.”

Sango laughed as Miroku sighed and rolled his eyes.  “True, true,”  he said, rubbing a hand over his chin.  “He is most annoying that way.  But he would not be Inuyasha were he not.”

Before Kagome could say anything, she felt a tingle that had her groaning, her fears from earlier coming back to her.  “Damn it, it's Koga,”  she hissed.  She spun around to face Inuyasha.  “Inuyasha, you'd better not start any fights this time, I'm warning you!”  

“I ain't the one that's gonna start a fight, wench!”  With a huge, shit-eating grin, the hanyou walked over to the trees at the side of the road, and laid back with his arms folded behind his head.  He looked as though he was quite content to sit there forever.

Kagome groaned again, then turned and looked towards the front, only to find Sesshoumaru and Sugimi staring at Inuyasha, clearly wondering what he was doing.  Kagome walked towards them, somehow just knowing that her friends were watching and laughing.  

“I'm sorry about this, but we are about to have a visit-”

“From a wolf, yes, yes,”  Sugimi said, speaking almost impatiently.  “What does he want?”

Kagome opened her mouth to answer, but didn't get the chance as Koga whirled into the middle of the group, grabbing exuberantly onto Kagome and ignoring the sudden, deadly silence.

“Kagome!  How have you been, my beautiful woman?  I've missed you – has mutt-face been taking good.. care... of.... you?” he finished slowly as he looked around, finally taking notice of the new presences in the group – and the very dangerous silence.  He looked down at her as she squirmed away from him with red cheeks.  “Uh... Kagome?  What's goin' on around here?”

Kagome turned and sent a deadly glare at Inuyasha when the hanyou actually snickered, breaking the odd silence.  “What is so funny, Inuyasha?”  she gritted out.

“You sure are a stupid wolf,”  Inuyasha said, looking down at his claws and flicking them casually.  “About to be a dead wolf, too, if I'm not mistaken.”  He looked at Kagome, that same grin on his face.  “That's what's so funny, wench.”

A rather frigid voice spoke up, then.  “Tell me, Kagome, who is this wolfling?”

With a gulp, Kagome slowly turned around to see an angry Sugimi staring at her, demand heavy in his eyes.  Why's he so mad?  she thought vaguely.  “Umm, this is a friend,”  she squeaked out,  “his name's Koga.  Is something the matter with that, Sugimi-sama?”

“A friend?”  he asked.  “That is an interesting appellation for someone who claims you are his 'woman'.”

Koga opened his mouth, and Kagome slapped her hand over it with an uneasy laugh.  “Oh, that's just Koga for you.  He never listens when I tell him I'm not his woman.  Stubborn, wolves are,”  she said, glaring over at Inuyasha when the hanyou laughed again.  “Kinda like Inuyasha, if you ask me,”  she finished acidly.

Snickers broke from Sango and Miroku when the hanyou growled at that.

Koga didn't know what the hell was going on, but he was about to find out.  Moving Kagome's hand from in front of his mouth, he asked,  “Who the hell are you, and what business is it of yours if I talk to my woman?”

Kagome slapped a hand to her forehead in irritation.  “Koga, I'm not your woman!  How many times do I have to tell you that?  Maybe I should let someone kick your ass for once – I'm beginning to think that's the only way you'll learn!”

“And I would be most pleased to offer my services in that endeavor, Kagome,”  came Sugimi's answer.  “Although I have to say,”  he drawled with distaste, looking Koga over,  “I would feel very much as though I were abusing a child.”

While everyone save Sugimi, Koga, Sesshoumaru, and Inuyasha burst out laughing, Inuyasha jumped to his feet and stared at Kagome belligerently.  “Wait a fuckin' minute!  Why is that you always sat me for trying to fight him, but then you laugh when my father offers?!  That's no fuckin' fair!”

By this time, Koga was completely confused.  “Hold on just a damn minute here!  Why the fuck does it matter to your father if I call Kagome my woman?  And isn't your father dead, anyway?”  He looked so lost that Miroku and Sango laughed again.

“As you can plainly see, wolf, our father is not dead,”  Sesshoumaru said dryly.

“Well, yippee fuckin' skippee!  That still doesn't say why it's any of his business what I call my woman!”

Kagome growled in annoyance, ready to pull her hair out at the baka wolf's stubborn denial of reality.  Before she could get into it with him again, though, Inuyasha's voice rang out, once again causing the group to fall silent.

“Fuckin' figures you're too stupid to figure it out, Koga.  It's because he wants Kagome for himself.”  He shot a narrow-eyed glance at his father, then looked back to a shocked wolf-prince.  “Not that I'm gonna let him get any closer to havin' her than I have you.”

He stood up in the heavy silence, and sauntered over to a stunned and embarrassed  Kagome, pushing her back behind him, keeping her away from both males.  “Nope, not gonna let either of ya have her, no matter what either one of you have to say about it.”

And suddenly, the former heavy silence was just chalk-full of loud growls.

---sSs---

Damn that Inuyasha anyway!  Kagome huffed as she stomped off, looking for something to kick so she could take out all her aggression on something she couldn't hurt.

It had been one hell of a confusing fight – at least to begin with.  At first, Koga had gone after Inuyasha, but when Sugimi had gotten involved, both Koga and Inuyasha had turned on him.  And while he had proceeded to show both of them why he was alpha, Sesshoumaru had simply enjoyed the show, not lifting a hand to stop it.

He'd tried to explain to her what was going on, that no matter how foolish she thought Koga's claims, until he was defeated in battle over her he wouldn't leave her alone, and that that was why her denials of his claims had never stopped him.  But Kagome didn't want to hear it.  It pissed her off to no end – she wasn't some kind of property to be pissed on and claimed.  

Unfortunately, according to Sesshoumaru, for anyone with demon blood, that's exactly what she was.  

She was an unmated female that was desired by several youkai, and those claims would have to be settled somehow.  With youkai, and especially canine youkai, that meant fighting.  She had to admit, grudgingly, that that was how mortal dogs claimed mating rights... but damn it, she wasn't a bitch in heat!  And they weren't mortal dogs!

After the three-way pitched battle was over, Sugimi stood victorious, (of course), the other two laid out before him and in no shape to continue the fight.  They were also in no shape to continue traveling, which meant that the group had simply moved off the road and settled in for the night.

And the whole time, she'd had to listen to Koga whine about losing his woman, the love of his life, to a stupid dog – and watch Inuyasha sulk with such anger she had started to worry about him losing himself to his demon blood, even though Tessaiga was right there with him.

On top of that, she had no idea what Sugimi was thinking – or why he'd even fought that stupid battle.  Sure, he'd shown that he was somewhat attracted to her, but to fight over her?

According to Sesshoumaru, someone with only a casual interest wouldn't have gone so far with it.  

But that made exactly no sort of sense to her – they barely knew one another, so how could it be anything but a casual interest?  When she'd made that very same observation, Sesshoumaru had merely looked at her with a raised brow and said nothing, leaving her confused, and enormously irritated that she'd had to end up bandaging numerous injuries on the two fools that had lost.

With an irate sigh, she dropped her bum onto a small log and closed her eyes wearily.

She just didn't understand any of this... sometimes she thought it would have been a whole lot easier if she'd been born a youkai.

Then it would have been easy to understand all this instinctual stuff.  Because according to Sesshoumaru, even a demon of the caliber of his father was not proof against his instincts.

Yes, even to one such as the Inu no Taisho, instincts would almost always overrule reason.

Kagome growled under her breath.

Stupid youkai!


Converting /tmp/phpqvZHmO to /dev/stdout