InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To live for you. ❯ On the road again... ( Chapter 7 )

 

Disclaimer: Believe me, if I owed InuYasha there would be no Kikyou, no Naraku and probably no Kagome… Oh, hell there'd be just me, Yash, Sess and a king sized bed with a heluva big tray of food beside it. And nothing else… Ah! But since Rumiko Takahashi owns him, no fun for me! *cries*

 

A/N: Well, I have some great news: I have a beta!!! YAY! That means that there will be much less (if any) mistakes in my story! Double YAY! This amazing person who volunteered herself for this ungodly task is Smallflower. I express my deepest gratitude to her! Plus it flatters me that someone might have liked the story enough to offer me help. *dances happily*.

 

Aaaaanyway, here you have the next chap. I hope you enjoy it! Now that it has been beta-ed, there will be nothing distracting you. *still can't get over the fact that she's go a beta*

 

~Chapter 7~

 

~On the road again…~

 

They set off around midnight, as was planned. Thankfully, there was no rain this time though the sky was still overcast with heavy clouds, that didn't look very reassuring. It seemed as if there was a huge bucket of water clinging above them which, with a minor shake, would turn and spill the nine hells over them. Not appealing.

 

However, in spite of the wet menace, the group parted from Kaede's village in good spirits. It was nice to be back to the routine they were all accustomed to. It was nice not to be worrying about a dear friend, who might snap and go berserk or, what would be worse, just sit in the middle of the road and die of sorrow. InuYasha was still more pensive than usual. The frown was deeper and his eyes more distant, but at least they didn't hold the pure hatred, rage and despair they had been burdened with lately. It now seemed that the hanyou came to peace with everything that had happened. And even if it still wounded his heart profoundly, he wasn't about to give up hope.

 

Indeed, that was true. What his friends suspected wasn't just a false guess; InuYasha was planning on surviving the battle with Naraku no matter what. He had found a reason for him to make that decision: Kagome. He had to be there for her and, to tell the truth, he really wanted it to be this way. He wanted her to need him. It was the last threat of reason that held him from sending everything straight to hell and go alone to dig out Naraku from whatever hole he'd crawled into. Go and die if necessary, but he couldn't. He couldn't leave her to deal with the consequences of his actions. He knew how devastated she would be, should anything happen to him.

 

No, it wasn't his arrogant side speaking. It wasn't his ego either. It was a fact. Just like the fact that the sky is blue and the grass is green. It's been time since InuYasha stopped doubting Kagome's friendship and love. Yes, love. He knew she loved him. It's not like it wasn't obvious, too. Well, as far as her love could be considered some deeper kind of friendship. What they had was something very different from what he had had with Kikyo, and it was definitely different from what they had with Miroku and Sango. The dilemma being, that if it was obvious that they cared for each other more than for any other member of their group, how did his relationship with Kagome differ from that he had with the dead miko? InuYasha knew that they had nothing in common, but still it was impossible for him to draw the line that …

 

`I need help!' He whined to himself.

 

`Forget about that stuff. Look, the thing's easy. You keep her alive; you stay alive; she's happy because you live and you're happy because she's happy and just as alive! Got that?'

 

`I need real help!'

 

The hanyou looked around to see if anyone had noticed his preoccupation, but it seemed that everybody was pretty much in la-la land too. Except Kagome, who was carrying Shippo in her embrace and trying to explain him something about `too much sweets' and some other odd word. `K-a-ree-es', was it? The hanyou scoffed, Kagome's world had the stupidest words he'd ever heard of.

 

InuYasha took a deep breath, but yet again it didn't bring him any joy. No trace of Naraku. Just the smell of fading nature hugged his senses. The autumn was reaching its peak. Soon the winds would become much fiercer and colder and, if they were just that lucky, it may snow in a couple of months. That would slow their journey even more. Even if not taking into consideration that rain washes away the scents, the days would become shorter, thus forcing them to stop earlier for the night and set off later.

 

“Keh!” The hanyou let out. `We don't even know where to search for the bastard! He's hiding himself pretty damn good! Son of a…' InuYasha began a low growl deep in his throat, and clenched his fists, almost drawing blood. `How are we supposed to find him?! It'll take way too much time to criss-cross the island in all directions. He couldn't have possibly gone to the continent, could he? Or vanished at all?' The half-demon was rather abruptly cut out from his thoughts by a very energetic ball of fur that had launched itself on his shoulder and was now pulling on a sensitive ear, trying to get the hanyou's attention.

 

“Oi, brat, what's the big idea!? Get off me now!” InuYasha spat grabbing Shippou's furry tail and lifting the kit to the eye level. The hanyou frowned. “Don't. Ever. Touch. My ears. Again.” He ignored Kagome's soft giggle and continued. “Whacha' want?”

 

“Lemme go!” The kitsune twisted in InuYasha's hold “I just wanted to ask when we were going to stop for lunch, but you were staring at Kagome's skirt so intently, that I had to snap you out of…” Shippou's tirade faded away as he watched the hanyou's face color change a couple of times. First into a very-ripe-tomato red and then into a not-any-less-ripe-eggplant purple. And while the first option meant that InuYasha was pretty embarrassed - a very amusing issue, in fact - the second stated very clearly that the half-demon was also pissed beyond belief. And that wasn't a flowery perspective for the poor kit. Nuh-huh. Not at all. So Shippou started to wriggle madly from the strong hand holding him, while smoke started to come from InuYasha's ears. It seemed that with every passing second he was getting even more livid.

 

`Th-The fucking brat! He's SO dead. I'm fuckin' gonna string him on Tetsaiga.' His breath was coming in raging pants. And his face so close to Shippou's that he could see his wild reflection in the kitsune's wide green orbs. `My gaze MAY have been fixed on her skirt, but I sure as hell wasn't staring!!'

 

`Right, you keep telling yourself that…'

 

`Shut up! What kind of pervert thinks of Naraku and stares at Kagome's ass at the same time?!'

 

`Your kind.' The voice supplied.

 

`Fuck you! If I'm going down, I'm taking the brat with me!!'

 

`Oh, so you do admit that you were staring?'

 

The hanyou decided that it was smarter not to answer.

 

“Any last words, runt?” InuYasha roared.

 

“Why, InuYasha, I didn't know that you had it in you!” Miroku and Sango had apparently caught up and now were highly enjoying the free show. It seemed that the monk was happy to finally find someone who'd share his religion… and it wasn't Buddhism.

 

“Shove it, bouzu! I wasn't!!”

 

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that!”

 

The half-demon growled `Not again… Wait, what?' “Shippou…” he snarled.

 

“Shippou, as much as I admire your courage and the fact that you practically stole the tirade from my own mouth, I do believe that you are not in a condition to offer such… um… remarks.” Miroku said from, what he thought, was a safe distance.

 

“I have two hands, Miroku!” Uh-oh. The monk felt a tiny sweat drop on his temple, but thankfully was quick enough to come up with a reasonable and, what's more important, safety-providing answer.

 

“But then you won't have a…um…`punishing tool'” He softly sang.

 

“You're a coward, you know that?” Sango mumbled in his ear.

 

“Don't worry bouzu! I'll just bang your heads together.” InuYasha suggested menacingly. “It's almost better than a third arm!” He continued.

 

“Oh, in that case, I pray Buddha to leave your hand as free as it is now.” Miroku lifted an open palm in front of his face and bowed.

 

“Keh, thought so.” The hanyou turned his attention back to the kitsune. “As for you…”

 

“InuYasha let him go.” Kagome finally interfered, much to Shippou's relief. “He didn't do anything, you know.”

 

“Like hell…” InuYasha started to protest but then he noticed a faint blush that was sweetly tainting the girl's cheeks and decided to let it slip. `What is she embarrassed for?'

 

`Hellooo!'

 

`Right, the skirt comment…'

 

Kagome could comprehend the half-demon's inner debate. It was easy to understand his rage - Shippou was pushing it. The small kitsune knew exactly where InuYasha's buttons were situated and didn't ever hesitate to push them. Granted, every other bump on the kit's head was worth a `sit', even if he was at fault, but InuYasha, being older, should act more mature and… Then again, she reasoned, InuYasha's understanding of the word `mature' would've made its inventor hang himself from the tallest branch of the Goshinboku.

 

Kagome actually expected InuYasha to ignore her request and try to leave a couple of huge bumps on the kit's head, just like he always did. That is why she was genuinely surprised, when instead of arguing; the half-demon planted Shippou on Kagome's shoulder and resumed walking.

 

When he realized that no one was following him, the hanyou yelled, “Come on! We ain't got no time to lose!” Everyone hurried up to reach him.

 

Meanwhile Shippou decided no to tempt his fate any further (at least not much further) and with a “you big bad meanie” thrown in the direction of the half-demon, the kit leaped from Kagome's shoulder to a more safe one, namely Miroku's, since the monk preferred Sango's company. Unlike Kagome, who now seemed to be catching up with one very annoyed InuYasha.

 

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

 

Kagome approached the hanyou but he made no sign of acknowledgement.

 

 

“Um, InuYasha?” The girl asked tentatively.

 

“What?” Was the harsh response.

 

“Thank you?” She offered.

 

“Is that a question? And for what?” InuYasha didn't spare her a glance nor did he even turn his head.

 

`Sometimes he looks and acts just like his brother… a `cold bastard'' “Well, it's gratitude, for not making a scene.” Kagome huffed.

 

“Gee, thanks!”

 

Kagome was getting tired of this. “Well, you're welcome!” She spat.

 

“Don't you yell at me, wench, I didn't do nothing and you're making my ears hurt!”

 

“I'm not yelling, and I'm glad that they hurt!” Kagome could practically feet the anger filling her body.

 

That got him to turn to her. “Like hell, you're not yelling!” He returned “I think there's a dead guy three miles away, who hasn't risen from his grave yet. Maybe HE hasn't heard you, but I fucking did! So if you've got something important to say, say it. If not, shut the hell up and keep your ass moving, `cause I ain't in the mood to carrying loud wenches!”

 

`Stupid! You know you like carrying her, and now you're just in for a nice big fat `sit'!'

 

`Fuck off!'

 

The girl gaped at him for a couple of seconds before exploding in a fierce “FINE!!” and stomping rapidly ahead of the group. InuYasha lingered a couple of minutes behind her, taking deep breaths to calm himself, and then with a suffering sigh sped a bit to be able to fall in step with Kagome. Her pace was furious and swift; her hands were curled in fists waving frigidly in time with her stride; the brows almost connected at the base of her small nose, and her usually full lips were reduced to a thin tight line.

 

“I-I wasn't, you know?” He uttered.

 

Kagome slowed her step and looked at him confused. She was still mad, he knew.

 

“What?”

 

“I mean, I wasn't staring at your skirt…” InuYasha mumbled. He could see Kagome's brows slowly rise and her mouth twitch, undoubtedly ready to grow in a toothy smile and probably some of her melodious laughter.

 

`Amusing?! As in she finds this fuckin' FUNNY?!'

 

`Ah, women…'

 

Kagome was actually about to fall on the floor from the laughing fit that was bursting her from the inside. The whole image was just too adorable and so unlike InuYasha! The only thing that differentiated him from some embarrassed character from one of those mangas she used to read was that he wasn't drawing circles on the ground with his toe. Well, he might as well have been.

 

“Oi, wench! What's so funny?”

 

“You.” She answered simply, and returned her gaze to the road before her. InuYasha decided that they had had enough discussion for the time being. Bearing in mind that he hadn't been `sat' even once, the hanyou considered it a won battle, so he let the comment slip and continued walking beside the girl.

 

Suddenly he noticed that, that Kagome had stopped walking altogether and narrowed her eyes as if trying to make something out in the overcast sky, her smile had disappeared and instead was replaced with a very deep frown. Before he had time to ask, what was going on, she muttered.

 

“Shikon shards…” As if having only realized what she had just said, Kagome turned to InuYasha with very wide eyes and clung to his sleeve. “InuYasha, there's a huge shard approaching very fast from that direction!” She pointed at the sky.

 

“Stay back, Kagome, this could only mean…”

 

“Naraku.” Sango finished.

 

“But don't you think it's strange that none of us can feel any youki, nor any trace of miasma?” Miroku asked concerned. He was leaning on his staff, but kept a hand on InuYasha's shoulder; A silent way to tell the hanyou to calm down and define the situation before rushing into things that could bring very unpleasant and irreversible consequences. “Kagome, are you sure about the shards? Could it be something else with great spiritual powers? Like another miko or something?”

 

“No, Miroku, I'm sure. It's the Jewel. No doubts in that.” Her voice was confident but very soft none the less. `Why would Naraku choose to appear now, of all times? Then again, how is now any different from tomorrow?' “InuYasha, can you smell anything at all?”

 

“No. Nothing.” `What's the bastard scheming, anyway?'

 

“Well, we've got to be prepared.” The monk reasoned. “Kagome, how far is it? Sango, you've got to chan…” His sentence was caught off, when he saw the slayer already clothed in her battle armor and a transformed Kirara lowly growling at her side. `When did she…? Oh, another show that I've missed… No! Focus!' “Never mind.”

 

“It's really close… There!”

 

Everyone turned to where the miko was signaling. There, among heavy grey clouds there was something floating swiftly across the sky.

 

“That doesn't look like Naraku to me.” Shippo peeped in.

 

“Keh, that's `cause it's not him!” InuYasha bared his fangs a growled. He pulled Tetsaiga out of its scabbard and bent his knees in a defensive stance. “That's Byakuya.” He hissed, “And the fucker's MINE!”

 

With that InuYasha jumped ran towards the silhouette.

 

“InuYasha, wait!” Kagome cried, and was about to follow him, but Sango's hand stilled her.

 

“Don't, Kagome. You can't keep up with him!” The slayer reasoned.

 

“But, we can't let him go alone!”

 

“Of course not!” Sango replied. “Let's use Kirara. She probably won't be able to keep up with Byakuya with three passengers, but we could at least get within a shot's distance.”

 

Kagome nodded and rushed to climb up the cat after Sango.

 

“Shippou, stay here!” Miroku shouted as he followed the girls' suit.

 

“Y-you won't leave me guys, will you?” The kit asked.

 

Kagome tried her best to smile warmly and replied. “Don't worry Shippou, well come for you as soon as we kick the guy's butt.” `InuYasha, hold on! We're coming… Baka, why'd you have to leave me here?'

 

Kirara soared into the skies, with a roar.

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

A/N: Now I want to thank all those, who reviewed. Thank you guys! It really helps!

 

InusDemoness - Don't let him hear you say that he's cute, ! Lol! Thank you.

 

Nomina - Thanks a lot! I'm the only one in my group who got an A, which makes it so much joyful!

 

pilar - Thanks, I'm really trying to keep everyone in character, I'm glad I'm managing so far ^__^

 

madmiko - Lol, yes, he is a male, after all! It would also be helpful if he knew just what he was feeling. And what to do with it)))

 

moussajinx - Thank you very much, I'll try to update as often as possible, but real life happens) I really wish it didn't! lol!