InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Bear Witness ❯ Crash!!! Part II ( Chapter 14 )

{Disclaimer: Guess…}

SF: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm glad you guys are getting a kick out of this story! Oh and give Katrina a chance! Keni'Chi too!

Chapter Fourteen: Crash! Part II

'I knew I shouldn't have played yesterday,' Kagome thought through the fog in her mind as her world darkened around her.

Sesshoumaru and the others immediately plummeted toward the ground, the shield only a pleasant memory.

They fell a few feet before Sutaasafaia reacted first. She suddenly stopped falling as rose petals of various yellows and reds floated to her on the breeze. They collected at her feet in a pretty cloud, then burst into flames, the flames holding her in midair. She glanced down at the others as they continued to fall.

Kouga looked at Sesshoumaru, then shrugged as he attempted to stop his fall. He only succeeded in slowing down as he disappeared in the trees below. Sesshoumaru sighed, then reached for Kagome as she fell past him. He grabbed her just before she disappeared in the trees behind Kouga, then used his cloud to break his fall. Sutaasafaia landed on the ground softly beside him, shaking her hair as two strands on either side of her face darkened to a sky blue.

Kouga landed in a nearby tree, his stomach connecting to a rather large branch. He groaned again as he leaped down to them.

"You didn't tell me you were youkai!" Kouga accused. Sutaasafaia shrugged. "You didn't ask."

"As this is all well and good, we should really get to more important matters," Sesshoumaru interrupted as his tail snaked around Kagome's shivering form. She snuggled closer to him in her stupor, an action Sesshoumaru still wondered about as Kouga stared at her in amazement.

"She's a miko, isn't she?" Sutaasafaia guessed as Kouga nodded.

"She is," Sesshoumaru answered.

"Who would have thought that the miko-exterminator would willingly hire a miko to be his assistant?" Kouga jeered. Sesshoumaru ignored him as he glanced around.

"Where are we?"

Kouga sniffed around a little as Sutaasafaia and Sesshoumaru glanced at the dense forest around them. The afternoon sun barely shone through the branches above them and the forest floor was thick with grass and vegetation.

"We're in the Rocky Mountains," Kouga finally said as he turned back to Sesshoumaru.

"Are any of your tribe around here?"

"Of course! What did you-" Kouga glanced at Kagome suddenly. "What happened to her clothes?"

The others stopped and looked at Kagome curiously. Her clothes were ripped and torn in various places, mere scraps of their former selves. Sutaasafaia shrugged. "It must have happened during the crash. I smell smoke on them."

"I do too. Do you have anywhere we could go so we can change her clothes?" Sesshoumaru asked. Kouga nodded. "Let's go. This way!"

Sutaasafaia and Sesshoumaru followed Kouga as he headed north.

*

Kouga and the others arrived at a large cave in the side of a cliff in the mountain minutes later, or hours depending on if your youkai or not. Kouga lead the way inside first, followed by Sutaasafaia then Sesshoumaru as he attempted to wake Kagome. She sighed every so often, but otherwise was not responsive. Sutaasafaia sighed as Kouga lit a torch near the back of the cave.

"Welcome to my home. Well, one of them at least," Kouga said as Sesshoumaru gently placed Kagome on one of the fur rugs near the back. Sutaasafaia watched as Kouga pulled an outfit out of one of the many chests and approached Kagome.

"Oh no you don't, pervert," Sutaasafaia said, her hand extended. "Give it to me. I'll change her clothes."

"Aww…you're no fun," Kouga grumbled as he and Sesshoumaru left the cave. Sutaasafaia sighed as she started to remove Kagome's ruined turtleneck, shaking her head as Sesshoumaru and Kouga started to fight again.

'When will men ever learn,' she sighed as she tossed the turtleneck to a far side of the cave.

*5:57 AM, Wednesday morning*

Kagome yawned, then sat up and glanced around her. She was surrounded by stone walls barely lit by a soft candlelight. Sutaasafaia snoozed lightly a few feet away from her on a fur rug identical to her own. Kagome stood up and rubbed her hands over her pants legs. Finding her legs rather furry feeling, Kagome looked down and gasped.

'What happened to my clothes?' she wondered as she stared down at the furry vest and pants. 'And where are Takamada and Kouga?' She looked ahead and found sunlight coming from somewhere ahead of her. Kagome followed it until she came to the mouth of the cave.

Sesshoumaru sat crossed-legged before it, talking to someone with their back turned to her. Sesshoumaru's arms were folded inside the tan trench coat, with bits of his dark blue suit peaking through. A mental picture flashed behind Kgaome's eyes as the wind swept through his hair and fluttered it through the breeze, but Kagome brushed it aside for what she saw before her.

****

SF: Come on folks. We all know what mental pic she's thinking about. That really cool one of Sesshoumaru sitting on that oni's shoulder the day Naraku lent him the human arm and displayed the Tesusaiga's true power. What was the name of that episode…

****

Whoever Takamada was talking to had a tail.

Kagome unsnapped her sheath and slowly walked toward the front of the cave.

*

"Well, Takamada," Kouga said with a sigh. "Are you sure about her?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "She has proven her worth more than a few times."

"Whatever," Kouga said irritably. "After all, it'll be you who'll get-urk!"

Kouga yelped as someone behind him grabbed his ponytail and jerked him backward. Moments later, the kiss of cold steel pressed against his throat as he came face-to-stomach with Kagome.

"Are you alright Takamada?" Kagome asked as she held Kouga down. Sesshoumaru bit back the chuckle at the back of his throat. 'Well, Kouga had his doubts. I wonder if he has them now.'

"I'm fine Kagome, but I don't think Kouga appreciates the position you've put him in."

"Huh?" Kagome muttered as she looked down. "Kouga?"

"Mumpfhmnephm," was his reply. Kagome helped him back up and apologized.

"I'm so sorry Kouga," Kagome said as she brushed him off. "I didn't know who you were. After all, you didn't have a tail on the plane. I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No, not physically," Kouga said with a smile. "You just wounded my pride."

Sutaasafaia came out moments later, rubbing her eyes. "What'd I miss?"

"Just Kagome trying to turn Kouga into a pretzel," Sesshoumaru said with an evil glint in his eye. Kagome rolled her eyes at him.

"I didn't know Kouga was a youkai and I kinda-"

"Don't worry about it Kagome," Kouga assured her. "It's a simple misunderstanding. I'm just glad you didn't try to purify me. That would've sucked."

"Not like this is the perfect day already," Sutaasafaia said with a groan as she sat down beside the campfire. Kagome glanced down at her clothes, then at Kouga. "I take it these are from you?"

"Yeah," Kouga said as he scratched the back of his head. "You're clothes were ruined in the crash."

"Thanks," Kagome said as she sat down beside Sutaasafaia. "For the clothes, and for letting us stay here. This is one of your dens, right?"

"Right again," Kouga told her as he sat down beside her. Sesshoumaru glared from the other side, but kept to himself as Kagome glanced around.

"Where's my attaché?" she asked.

Sesshoumaru picked it up and handed it to her. "What are you doing?" he asked as Kagome pulled out her shades and her laptop.

"I'm trying to reach Miroku," Kagome told him as she reached on the side of the laptop for a plug. "Our TS sent us new shades, with new features. One of them is the ability to magnify the linking signal over a greater distance. That's what this plug is for." She plugged the cord into the side of the shades, then put them on and started to type. Moments later, Miroku's face appeared on the screen.

"Hey Boss, how's Seattle?"

"Don't know, we're not there."

"Huh?" Miroku said, his brow creased in confusion. "Then where are you?"

"Um," she thought a minute, then turned to Kouga. "Hey Kouga, where are we?"

Kouga sniffed a moment, then smiled. "In the Rocky Mountains, near Washington state."

"Thanks," Kagome turned back to the laptop. "In the mountains, near Washington state."

"WHAT?!" came Sango as she shoved Miroku to the side. A thump was heard moments later. "What do you mean you're in the mountains?"

"Don't panic Sango, we're all perfectly fine. We just need a way out of here."

"Why didn't you call Shippou?" came Miroku's voice from off camera. "He's the mad scientist after all. If anyone can get you out of there, he can."

"Hey, you're right!" Kagome exclaimed. "That's what I'm going to do right now! I'll report back at about 6:00 tomorrow morning."

"Alright Kagome-girl. Be careful."

"I will. Kagome out."

Kagome started typing again as Sutaasafaia peered over her shoulder. "Ok," she said as Kagome looked up at her. "You're a miko, correct?"

"Yes?"

"Then what else are you?"

Kagome stopped and shook Sutaasafaia's hand. "Marshal Kagome Higurashi, at your service."

"For real?" Sutaasafaia squeaked. "That's great! I can't believe we're so lucky!" She glomped Kagome as she started to type again. "We're as good as out of here!"

"Hey Kagome-mama!" Shippou said as he came on-screen. "How are you and who's the fox hanging on to you?"

Sutaasafaia blushed as Kagome rolled her eyes. "For another day, Pup. For right now, I have a problem."

"What is it?"

Kagome relayed to him the details of the crash, and where they were.

"Man, your day sucked," Shippo said when she finished. Kagome nodded in agreement as Shippou reached for another computer. "Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is: I have something that can help you out."

"The bad news?"

"I can't get it to you today."

"When can you get it to us?" Kagome asked as Sutaasafaia and Kouga groaned in frustration.

"In about a day and a half, but you have to keep at least your cell phone on for me to track you. You still have it?" Kagome reached inside her attaché and pulled it out. "Great. Stay put and I'll see you soon."

"Thanks Pup. I owe you one."

"Yeah yeah," Shippou said with a smile. "I'm sure you do. How about some crab cakes when you get back?"

"You got it! Kagome out."

Kagome sighed and closed the laptop, returning it, the shades and the cell phone back to their safe havens. "Well, looks like we're going to be here a while. You don't mind, do you Kouga?"

"Of course not," Kouga said as he leaned closer to her. "My home is your home, especially where you're concerned."

"That's great and all," Sutaasafaia said, derailing a very naughty comment from Sesshoumaru. "But when do we eat?"

****

Kagome: What comment?

SF: Girl please. This is Sesshou. When doesn't he have some sort of messed up comment?

****

Kagome tapped the sheath on her arm thoughtfully. "I don't know. I guess we'll have to hunt. We could take turns."

"That's a great idea!" Kouga said as he stood up. "I'll go and you three stay here! I wouldn't want anything to happen to you-" he winked at Sesshoumaru "'weak' humans!"

"This weak human nearly killed you earlier," Kagome said with a growl. "So don't start that!"

"I was merely playing!" Kouga said, raising his hands in defeat. "I didn't mean to-"

"I will accompany you," Sesshoumaru said as he stood up. Kagome glanced at him, then shook her head.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," she told him as Sesshoumaru took off his trench coat. He handed it to her, then motioned for her to take it.

"I don't need it," Kagome told him as she eyed it warily. Sesshoumaru sighed and tossed it onto her head. "Yes you do. I can see the goose bumps on your arm from here."

"It's not that cold out here you know!" Kagome yelled as she yanked the coat off her head. Sesshoumaru turned and followed Kouga into the forest around them. "Get back here Takamada!"

"I'll look after him Kagome!" Kouga called as they disappeared, missing a disapproving look from Sesshoumaru.

"Thanks a lot Kouga!" Kagome called before turning to Sutaasafaia. "It's not really that cold, is it?"

"I'm cold, and I have on a sweater. Just put the coat on," Sutaasafaia told her. Kagome shrugged and put it on. The coat was more like a blanket on her, with the sleeves more than a few inches from the tip of her fingers.

"I guess we should go find some plants to eat," Kagome said. "After all, there's no telling what they'll bring back."

*6:45 PM*

Kouga crouched before a nearby bush, eyeing something suspiciously. He swayed to the right, then the left before springing into the bush. He emerged moments later with a fat brown rabbit in his hand. He whirled around as someone stepped out of the trees.

"You really should be more aware," Sesshoumaru told him as he stepped into the clearing, carrying the remains of a fresh kill. His markings stood out on his face in the early moonlight, and his claws seemed to glow red.

****

SF: Is it just me, or is the image of Sesshoumaru dressed in a business suit with a deer in his arms rather…disconcerting?

Kagome and SF's muse nod in agreement.

****

Kouga snorted and turned back to the rabbit. The rabbit was instantly in a better place with a flick of his wrist. He and Sesshoumaru moved to a nearby stream and began to clean their spoils.

"I don't think the females will appreciate an animal so small," Sesshoumaru said with a smirk. Kouga growled in response, then smirked back.

"Kagome will think I helped you kill that, you know. After all, I'm the only youkai here."

Sesshoumaru nearly growled at this, then decided to ignore Kouga for the rest of the trip. Once they finished, they washed their hands in the stream and walked back to camp, where Sutaasafaia was watching Kagome do something to the fire.

"Ok, Sutaasafaia. Watch this." Kagome glanced at the fire, then at the area beside Sutaasafaia. A small flaming stick danced out toward her. Sutaasafaia jumped back, then crept forward as the little stick did something that looked, oddly enough, like the cha-cha. Sutaasafaia and Kagome giggled as Sesshoumaru and Kouga stepped into the campsite.

"You guys have to see what Kagome's doing!" Sutaasafaia exclaimed as another burning twig joined in the dance. It soon changed to the waltz, with the first stick in the lead. The flames formed a small suit, with the flames on the twig becoming a sort of skirt. Kouga came in for a closer look as Sesshoumaru sat the deer down on a nearby rock, his human features back in place.

"Does that mean your powers are nearly regenerated?" Sesshoumaru asked as he sat down beside Kagome. Kagome shook her head. "For me, this is just a simple spell. It's going to take another day for me to get back to full strength."

"So you've known about her powers the entire time?" Kouga asked as the sticks decided to do the fox-trot. Sesshoumaru nodded, brushing his hair over his shoulder when it spilled in front of him.

"I need to pull that back before you set yourself on fire," Kagome said as she pulled a fuzzy black ponytail holder out of her attaché. She mentally sent the timber back to the fire, terminating the spell as she approached Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru grimaced at the girly-looking thing, but complied as she gently pulled his hair back. "So, what did you two find?"

"I found a rabbit!" Kouga exclaimed as he held up his conquest. Sutaasafaia and Kagome grimaced. "Ewwwwww! Did you have to do that?" Sutaasafaia asked as Sesshoumaru passed Kagome some deer meat on a stick.

"What's this?" Kagome asked as Sutaasafaia accepted her stick.

"What does it look like?"

"A bloody mess," Sutaasafaia grumbled. She stared at it a little longer, then shrugged and stuck it over the fire. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, the action missed in the dark. Kagome groaned, but copied Sutaasafaia.

Kouga shrugged and bit into the rabbit. Kagome and Sutaasafaia stared in round-eyed horror as he ripped the skin with his teeth, blood dribbling down his chin.

"What?" Kouga asked, his mouth full of rabbit.

"Oh God!" Sutaasafaia gasped. She tossed her stick to the side and scrambled to the nearby woods, with Kagome close behind her. Sesshoumaru shook his head and looked at Kouga over his stick.

"You have deplorable manners."

Kouga blinked, then blushed as Kagome and Sutaasafaia came back to the campsite. "Oh man, that was the worst thing ever!" Sutaasafaia said as she sat back down.

"We can't say that," Kagome replied as she eyed Kouga cautiously. "After all, that's kinda the way some youkai eat."

"Not all youkai," Sutaasafaia and Sesshoumaru mumbled at the same time.

"What was that?" Kagome asked.

"Nothing," Sutaasafaia replied as Kouga wiped his face. "Sorry about that Kagome," he said sheepishly.

Kagome brushed it off with a smile. "Not a problem." She and Sutaasafaia stood back up and walked toward the cave. "We're turning in."

"We'll be there momentarily," Sesshoumaru told her. "Kouga and I have business to discuss."

"Alright. Look after him for me, ok?"

"Sure Kagome," Kouga called after her, snickering. Sesshoumaru nearly huffed in indignation, but held it to himself as Kouga continued to laugh. "Jeez, she really doesn't know who you are, does she?"

Sesshoumaru ignored him, reached inside his briefcase and started the work he didn't finish on the plane.

------

SF: There, all is safe and sound, sort of.

Kagome: Why am I always the last to know some things?

SF: {::blinking::} Like what?

Kagome: Like Sutaasafaia being an inuyoukai? When do I find out, when I find out about Sesshoumaru too?

SF: {::shaking her head::} You find out about Sutaasafaia in the next chapter. Be patient. Man! And I thought Inu-cha was bad!

Kagome: Speaking of which, what in the world did you promise him? That's all he's been talking about since the last chapter.

SF {::blush::} Anyway, the summary for the next chapter are below. {::walks offstage::}

Kagome: SF! {::follows SF offstage::} You never answered me!

Chapter Fifteen: Cause and Effect

Kagome and Sutaasafaia find trouble, Inuyasha shows his true self, Kagome explains something in her childhood, and Katrina's torture continues.