InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Twist of Fate ❯ Crossed Paths ( Chapter 7 )

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

Chapter Seven: Crossed Paths

Story: Twist Of Fate

By: Sky

Karamina crouched in the shadows outside of the cavern. Her young charge had foolishly walked right in, with no thoughts of an ambush, and she was going to make sure that no ambush happened to the young pup. From the way she was sniffing, she was as curious as a devil about the smells of the cavern, and Karamina was willing to let the girl have a chance to explore it. She was never going to learn anything unless she tried some things on her own.

Not to mention, this was the first time since Karamina started training her that the girl had run off on her own exploratory mission. She was known to have been prone to the habit before Karamina, but she had never once really strayed from the foxes side when they had been out. So, for her to do this was odd, and Karamina was frankly curious about what would make the girl leave. As she watched the pup start sniffing the area where the boy had been though, Karamina suddenly understood quite clearly. Little Kagome was starting to discover the wonders of males.

Karamina ducked her head and placed her muzzle to the ground, choking back on the laughter that welled in her throat. Well, the girl was reaching the age to start being curious, and it was only natural really. But just the other day, Karamina had made a bet with Sesshomaru (goaded him into it actually) and InuTaisho, about when they were actually going to have to start fighting off males who came to court the pup. It appeared that Karamina was going to win that one. But the fact that Kagome was currently interested in a human male, and a possible Exterminator-in-training to boot, just made her want to roll over and die in helpless fits of laughter. If Sesshomaru found out, he'd have a litter of kittens big enough to fill the Palace of the Western Lands.

Karamina was tempted for a moment to tell the jealous and protective brother, but decided that she didn't want to boy disemboweled or in tiny scraps yet. She had to see his temperament first. If the boy proved to be an 'unfriendly', she would happily tell Sesshomaru, and watch the performance. If he was 'friendly', well, she didn't quite know what to do about it. Most likely she wouldn't have to. Kagome would get tired of exploring his scent at some point, and move off to some of the other male prey near or in the palace. She would most certainly have to keep a close eye on the pup from now on.

There was a movement in the forest, and Karamina went back to being fully alert. What ever it was, it wasn't trying to be stealthy. In fact, she didn't know how she hadn't heard it until now. Probably because she was having too much fun musing. Then, the boys scent reached her nose, and her ears went up in surprise. He and the Exterminator had left this morning, she was sure. Why was he coming back? Why was there a strong smell of gore and human blood? And why wasn't the Exterminators scent with him? Karamina was suddenly not very happy with this situation, and kept her eyes focused where the boy was coming through. She flicked a glance back at her charge, and discovered the girl had finally realized that she was trapped, and was preparing to defend herself. 'Good Girl,' thought Karamina. Then she silently made a promise to the pup. 'I guess this is as good a time as any to see the true temperament of that boy. If he lays one hand wrong on you though pup, I'LL skin him alive and your brother Sesshomaru would be lucky to get scraps.'

That's when the male in question stepped out of the forest, and walked into the cavern, not even checking it before he entered. His clothing had some tears in it that were obviously made by claws, and there were red stains here and there. He held a blade out in front of him that was covered in demon gore, and Karamina felt a chill through her spine. Had they been out hunting? Or were they attacked? Was he high-strung enough that he might attack Kagome now, and think about it later? She turned full attention back to the scene when the boy suddenly froze. His body tensed as if to fight, and Karamina shifted the weight on her feet, ready to pounce the boy should he make a wrong move. Then, his frame registered surprise, and the grip on the blade became slightly loose, as if he recognized the pup in the cave. Well, that was interesting indeed. Maybe she would sit and watch the proceedings with great caution and care, and in stealth.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

InuYasha was ready to attack anything that had gotten into his way and showed any bit of aggression towards him. So when he first heard the growling coming from the cave, he was ready to attack whatever youkai had decided to mess with him. And since his eyes weren't fully adjusted to the cavern's dim interior, all he saw at first was a dark form moving agitatedly, the light glinting off teeth, and eyes the slightly glowed from the light coming in. After a moment though, when the growling subsided, and his eyes started to adjust, he saw it was the ebony-haired girl he had seen earlier. His posture relaxed just slightly, for she hadn't attacked him the first time they had met, but he was still wary of her. She looked just about the same way, and she had stopped growling. They stood that way for at least five minutes, each not moving a muscle, and InuYasha decided it was a stalemate.

"Feh," he remarked, causing the girl to jump. He then wiped the blade on his jeans, and placed it back into the sheath in his hands. After he had finished that, he walked towards the back of the cavern, completely ignoring the girl.

Kagome didn't quite know what to do. They were at a draw. When he put away his blade though, she was confused. Didn't he know she had claws and teeth to defend herself? She could move faster then he could draw the blade and be done with him. But he continued on past her, treating her like she was just another piece of the cave wall. She didn't know whether to be insulted or relieved. She settled for being relieved, and very slowly and carefully, though not stealthily, made her way towards the entrance. As she reached it though, a thought struck her. Where was his companion? Looking at the freedom outside of the cavern, then to the blood-covered boy, she sighed at her stupidity in this situation, and headed for the boy.

In half an instant, the blade was drawn and pointed in her direction, and she froze this time. Once more, they were standing in a stale mate. However, Kagome was the first one to break the tension and move this time. She tilted her head sideways, ears perking forward a bit in curiosity, and her tail slightly wagging. InuYasha examined all the signs the girl gave him, a possible sign of friendship, and tilted his head a bit sideways as well. She reminded him so much of a dog, with her ears and her tail. He firmly suppressed the smile he felt welling up inside at the thought of imagining her as a little puppy, and growled in frustration. Damn, what was wrong with him. He was acting strange. First, he turned his back to her, and now he was imagining her as a little black puppy. He slid the blade back in its sheath with a bit more aggression then he really should have, but he didn't care.

"What do you want?" he growled, turning back to the back of the cavern. He knew the herbs Sango had used were growing back here somewhere.

"I was just wondering where you companion was," Kagome replied, watching him search among the plants in the cavern.

"That all?" he asked in a gruff voice, not breaking off his search.

"Yes," she replied, ignoring his tone of voice. She'd heard it from her brother many times.

"None of your damn business, that's what it is."

"How rude," commented Kagome, placing her hands on her hips.

"Yeah. That pretty much sums me up right there." Kagome watched as the boy continue his search, and she grew impatient with him.

"What are you looking for?"

"None of your business."

"You're impossible. Besides, you used that excuse on me when I asked about your companion, so you have to use a different one now."

"Don't you ever shut up?" he asked, turning from his search to look at her.

"Don't you ever give straight answers?" 'Feh' was the only answer he gave her, and then he turned back to his search.

"So what are you looking for?"

"If I tell you, will you shut up?"

"Maybe." He turned and glared at her, then growled.

"I'm looking for the Tashin herb. We used it the other day when we were here, but I didn't get a good look at it, so I don't exactly have a good idea of what I'm looking for."

"The Tashin herb? Oh that's easy." InuYasha turned and watched as the girls nose twitched, and she started heading beside him. He tensed a bit as she got closer, but she didn't make any move past sniffing, and he continued to watch as she passed by him. Finally, about ten paces form where he was kneeling, the girl gave off a happy yip, and brought him several leaves off a plant. "Here you go. The Tashin."

"That was quick."

"It helps to have a good nose."

"Now, you can leave."

"You're not even going to thank me?"

"Thank you? For disturbing me? Keh."

"You're rude!"

"You already said that."

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

"Baka."

"Stupid."

"You know, you're a real…"

"Kagome."

Both combatants froze in their positions of facing each other, and turned towards the entrance of the cavern.

A silver kitsune stood there, with fur slightly bristled, but otherwise looking a bit calm.

"If you two are quite done now, Kagome needs to be heading back." Kagome blushed and turned away from the InuYasha, and InuYasha had a slight coloring to his cheeks as well as he got an uneasy look. Karamina hid her smirk, and lightly settled on her back paws. Oh yes. This was going to be most interesting. She still wasn't sure about the boy, but he didn't seem very interested in hurting Kagome. And it was quite amusing watching the two youngsters at it. "Kagome. Come on. Let's go."

"Feh. Good riddance."

"Why you ungrateful…"

"Kagome." Kagome turned back to the kitsune, and nodded.

"Yes Karamina."

"And since you ran here, I expect that you'll be able to run back." Kagome groaned.

"Yes Karamina." Before she ran out of the room though, she turned and stuck her tongue out at InuYasha, then disappeared.

"And you…" She turned her attention fully to the boy, who suddenly lost the slight ease he had had with Kagome, and every muscle was tense in his body. "Relax. I'm not going to eat you." She let her fur lay flat, and settled a little more firmly on her back paws. "I want to know what happened to your companion."

"As I told your friend there, it's none of your…"

"Damn business. Yes, I heard. But you see, this is my land, so it really is my business. Now, shall we try that again?" InuYasha narrowed his eyes at her, and sized her up a bit. "You know, I wouldn't do that. I'm trying to be polite enough."

"Keh. We were attacked."

"Attacked? By what type of youkai?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know? It looked like a bird who screwed a cat and a deer together."

"A velkir then. And what happened to your companion, the Exterminator?"

"One of those fuckin' creatures knocked her out, and another funkin' grabbed her and flew off."

"That can't be possible. Velkir are only the size of my forearm, and don't grow any bigger."

"You think I'm fuckin' lying? I know what I saw, and that's what I saw!"

"Calm down boy. I'm not trying to ruffle your fur. I just want some answers." She curled her tail around her feet, and concentrated her energy on some of the seeds she had placed along the blind sides of the cavern earlier when the two pups were distracting each other. Plants grew quickly, feeding off her youkai energy, and very soon beautiful blue flowers bloomed outside of the cavern and out of his site; their fragrance permeating the air. Almost immediately, the boy's muscles, and his general stance, started to relax. 'There now, that's better.' Karamina thought, watching him. 'Sornin flowers always seem to work faster with humans then youkai. I'll have to watch this boy. He's got fighters blood in him.'

"Now, let's try this again. What size were the creatures that attacked both you and your companion."

InuYasha shook his head. His thoughts were getting muzzy, and he didn't know why.

"They were 'bout double your size," InuYasha replied in sort of a mumble.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure as I'm standing here." Karamina couldn't hide her smirk. 'I'm not sure how much longer you will be standing boy.'

"Thank you very much…. I think I've been rude. What is your name?"

"InuYasha Takahito."

"Well, then thank you very much InuYasha. I'll come back when I have more questions." She closely watched the boy, and put a little more of her youkai energy into the flowers, so they would produce a bit more pollen. This boy wasn't going down easy. She could appreciate that.

InuYasha shook his head a few times, but the fogginess and lethargy that had settled over him didn't clear away. He then caught the sweet scent of flowers in the air. He couldn't tell what kind. His mind was going numb. He then felt his legs give way beneath him, and he crashed to his knees as the sides of his vision started to dim and blacken. He knew he was falling forward, but he was unconscious before he hit the ground.

'That will keep him out of trouble for a while,' Karamina thought with smug satisfaction as she watched the boy finally succumb completely to the flowers perfume. 'Still, if what he said was true, we might have a bit of a problem on our hands. Velkir become 50 if not 100 or even 1000 times bigger then they are supposed to be, and willingly attack an Exterminator. I fear something is behind this.' She turned her attention back to the boy unconscious on the cavern floor. 'My flowers I can maintain from a distance, so I can leave him here as long as I want, but I don't think I can leave him alone. He might get eaten, and then I might have an Exterminator after my pelt, me being Silver Clan or no.'

Looking out into the forest, Karamina spotted a creature she knew roaming around the edges of the clearing.

"Guthrow, I want you to watch after this boy. Don't do anything else, just make sure he doesn't get eaten before I'm done with him." An agreeing growl came from the side, and Karamina turned to leave, but then stopped as a thought crossed her mind. "And don't get too near the clearing. I'm sure this dosage could even take you out." Then, she disappeared into the forest.