Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Pursuit of Power ❯ What he's been searching for ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi still owns both Ranma and Inuyasha…think she'll sell?

 

Quick AN: Italics are a flashback.

 

 

The Pursuit of Power

Chapter Eight - What he's been searching for

 

 

 

 

Inuyasha bound out of the well in one jump, followed closely by Ranma. When the half demon turned to find the human next to him, he simply let out his trademark snort, not wanting to give away how much he was perturbed by the young man's abilities. Miroku lingered to help Akane out of the well, who accepted his help with a smile. Akane did not know Miroku very well or she would never have started to climb out of the well ahead of him, giving him a clear view up her skirt. It was a very good thing that the monk had enough sense not to comment on the beauty of the view; else he would have been introduced to one of Ranma's least favourite acquaintances - Akane's mallet.

 

When Akane emerged from the well, it was to see Ranma and Inuyasha glaring at each other, “Little help?”

 

Ranma sighed and moved to help her out of the well, muttering under his breath about tomboys. Akane thankfully didn't hear him, but Inuyasha did and he smirked. Before the hanyou could ask Ranma what a tomboy was and what did being “flat-chested” have to do with anything, Miroku climbed out of the well.

 

The monk looked around him uneasily; he felt demons pressing closer, their pulsing auras suffocating him. “Inuyasha, do you feel that?”

 

Inuyasha tilted his head to the side as he concentrated. Many smaller demons often lingered around his forest; most were harmless and aimed to live their simple lives with as little bother as possible. It therefore took him a little longer to sort through the different scents that he smelt to detect the fouler stench of malevolent youkai.

 

“Let's move on.” Inuyasha spoke quietly not wanting to alarm the teenagers from the future. He knew that most of the more dangerous youkai were still many leagues away, but he could feel them beginning to encroach.

 

Akane, unnerved by the tense set in Inuyasha's shoulders, unconsciously drew nearer to Ranma, who was assessing his surroundings, his brow furrowed in thought.

 

The group pressed though the forest, Inuyasha in the lead and Miroku taking the rear. Soon they came into the village. Akane and Ranma drew curious looks, but since they came with the familiar hanyou and monk, the villagers did not pay them much heed.

 

Inuyasha stepped into the hut, smelling Kagome's tears he went to her side with a burst of demonic speed.

 

Startled, Kagome looked up into concerned amber eyes, peering into her own. “Inuyasha!”

 

The girl threw her arm around Inuyasha's neck, eliciting a fierce blush from the hanyou. Gently, he drew her away from him. “How's Souta?”

 

“Doing better.” Kagome, who had a light tinge pink to her cheeks, dropped her arms form Inuyasha's neck and peered around him at Ranma and Akane who were being introduced to Kaede. “Everything went okay?”

 

“Yeah, my old man groused a bit, but that's what he does best.” Ranma shrugged.

 

Akane was bent over Kirara, concealing the neko-youkai from sight as she cooed over her, eliciting soft, pleased purrs from Kirara. The purrs drew Ranma's attention and his face paled rapidly.

 

“C…c…ca…ca….” Ranma stuttered, backing into a corner of the small hut. His chest felt tight and he clawed at his collar in an attempt to loosen it so he could breathe.

 

Akane turned, thrusting Kirara back into Sango's arms. “Ranma…”

 

Ranma continued to stutter. Inuyasha burst out laughing as Akane firmly took Ranma by the shoulders, turning him away from the neko-youkai who peered at Ranma from the safety of her mistress' arms.

 

Inuyasha couldn't stop laughing and Kagome glared at him, “Inuyasha…sit!”

 

The hanyou crashed down to the ground as Ranma's breathing got better. Akane sighed and turned to face the group. Slowly she explained about the trauma Ranma had experience at the hands of his father and Genma's insane training methods.

 

“All that for a fighting technique?” Sango was bewildered. She had gone through rigorous training, but her father never abused her, the way Ranma's obviously did.

 

Akane sighed, “Yes. Now when Ranma sees a cat, he freaks out and when his fear gets out of hand…well, let's just say that the technique is very effective, but Ranma's mindless when he uses the Neko-ken. He's just like a big, destructive cat.”

 

Kagome's gaze slid over to the sulking Inuyasha and was reminded about the hanyou's own transformation when he lost hold of his sword. She sneaked a glance at Sango and made a mental note to ask the demon slayer if she noticed any resemblance between Ranma and Inuyasha. Kagome needed confirmation that she wasn't seeing things.

 

A pained moan beside her drew Kagome's attention back to her ailing brother. Sango moved to touch Souta's forehead. “Kagome, I think we should get your brother to the healers in your time. I'll take him on Kirara.”

 

Kagome squeezed Sango's hand in gratitude, “Oh would you? Mama must be worried and I'm sure he'd rather have his own bed.”

 

Sango smiled at her friend as Inuyasha moved to lift Souta up and they followed Kirara out of the hut.

 

Ranma had been frightened of the neko-youkai in her kittenish form and he was not prepared for the small, relatively harmless cat to transform before his very eyes. Kirara was a hundred times more frightening then Maomohrin, the ghost cat eternally searching for a bride. Kirara was not just a big cat; she was a big cat with sabre-toothed fangs and flaming paws. She glared down balefully at Ranma who seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move from sheer terror.

 

Inuyasha felt the laughter beginning to bubble from his throat as he helped Souta onto Kirara's back and waited for Sango to take a firm hold of the boy. He had seen the look on the arrogant human's face. Even if he got “sat” a million times for it, Inuyasha would not let Ranma forget about his terror. Imagine…being afraid of a cat! He felt, rather then heard the snorting laughter escape from his lips and felt Kagome's own baleful stare.

 

Akane sighed and was about to go to Ranma's side when Kagome beat her to it. Watching her fiancé being soothed by another woman made Akane not only uneasy but mildly angry. In the back of her mind she could hear a voice telling her that Kagome meant nothing by it and was just a naturally kind person. The voice continued on its path of calm rationality as it told her that Ranma was at the moment incapable of seeing anything but the large demonic cat that looked at him like he was some sort of exotic and delicious mouse. But when did Akane ever listen to the voices in her head?

 

Kagome gently turned Ranma away from Kirara, making sure to speak in a low tone. “It's okay Ranma, Kirara would never hurt you. She knows that you're an ally.”

 

As Kagome spoke soothingly to Ranma, Inuyasha could feel the laughter begin to die in his throat. The half demon was suddenly hit by a wave of emotion that he often felt around Kagome when she was with the mangy wolf she called a friend. His stomach churned and he was finding it incredibly difficult to breathe, like Kirara had decided to sit on him in her full neko-youkai form.

 

Sango looked from Kagome and Ranma to Inuyasha and a small smile began to tug at her lips. “I'm off now; you guys should get a head start. The journey into the western lands will be a long one. Kirara and I will catch up with you.”

 

Miroku was oblivious to the subtle interaction that Sango's keen eyes had not missed; his attention was focused solely on Sango. “I'll go with you; there has been an increase of demonic activity around the well.”

 

Sango looked surprised at Miroku's offer but chose not to comment as the monk climbed on behind her. She urged Kirara off the ground and towards the Bone-Eaters Well.

 

Ranma's breathing slowed as soon as the large cat took to the sky. He chose not to think that the power of flight made the fire cat an even more formidable creature. Gratefully, he squeezed Kagome's hand, who smiled at him.

 

The two have been just as oblivious to the reactions their little byplay had caused as Miroku had been. Kagome blinked when she glanced towards Inuyasha and caught a glimpse of a deep hurt in his eyes that was gone as quickly as the blink to be replaced with the hanyou's usual scowl. Kagome shook her head slightly; surely she was mistaken?

 

Ranma looked towards Akane in time to see her expressive dark eyes blazing with fury. He could almost see the smoke rising from her head. Inwardly he sighed, preparing himself for a drag out fight with his tomboy-like fiancée.

 

“What are you staring at?” Ranma kept his voice light with just the slightest hint of an edge, just the right amount to antagonize Akane. It never failed to work, especially when Akane was getting riled up on her own.

 

“At a baka that cowers at the sight of fluffy wittle kittens.” Akane sneered, refusing to let him see the hurt that she felt.

 

“I'm not afraid of ki…kit…those things!”

 

Inuyasha snorted, muttering under his breath. Kagome shot a glare at him, before stepping in between Ranma and Akane. “Look you guys, Sango was right, we really have to get going. It's going to be a long trip.”

 

Inuyasha took a step closer to Kagome, “She's right, let's go and stock up. We'll set out in the morning.”

 

Shippou had been watching all with large eyes. He had seen the reactions from Akane and Inuyasha. His nose had also helped tell the story that was unfolding before him. Shippou stored the information away, to be taken out at a later time to be closely examined and perhaps used as a source of inspiration for the drawings that the villagers found so fascinating.

 

 

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Kagura bowed low, hating herself for doing so, but she had little choice but to show deference to the creature that held her heart in his tight and cruel grasp. Slowly she told him what she had learned on her journey, of the new arrival and of the power of the well in Inuyasha's forest.

 

“The future? How far into the future?” Naraku's cold voice sent shivers of distaste down Kagura's back.

 

“The girl said it was the year two thousand and six. Five hundred years into the future.” She snuck a glance at her master's face and beheld a frightening sight. Naraku was happy. Almost deliriously so….

 

 

The dark haired man stared at carnage around him. The sight of the blood excited him and he inhaled the aroma of death deep into his lungs, savouring it. Naraku beheld his handiwork and could not help but smile. His gaze locked onto the young woman who was getting slowly to her feet.

 

The woman's hair flowed around her, freed from the tight bun that she had bound it in that morning. Her own chocolate brown eyes took in the scene before her, but unlike the demon that faced her, she took no pleasure in what she saw. She visibly fought the urge to vomit, refusing to appear weak before the enemy.

 

Naraku took a step towards the woman, “You see? It didn't have to be like this. If you had just given me what I wanted, none of this would've happened.”

 

She tore her gaze away from the sight of her disembowelled husband, staring up at him with hatred shining in her eyes, “Do yo think that I'm a fool? I could've given you what you asked for and you would've slaughtered us anyway.”

 

Naraku laughed, he loved this woman's nerve! Here she was, staring her death in the face, and yet she stood there, back straight and head held high. There were moments when he could see the value of the human race. Rare moments, but he had them nonetheless.

 

“It has come to this.” Naraku spread his arms out, encompassing the scene of destruction that they stood in. “Now be a good girl and give me the shard.”

 

“Never!” She spat at his feet. “I will die first.”

 

Naraku stared at the small puddle of saliva that had landed on his boot. “You may get your wish.”

 

With surprising agility, the woman leaped backwards, “You will never succeed in your mission! I will see to it myself!”

 

She raised her hands in the air, Naraku saw the shard of the Shikon no Tama rise from her cupped hands and dove towards her, only to be sent flying backwards as the force of the barrier that she erected repelled him.

 

Fingering his singed clothing, Naraku could only stare passively as the woman started to chant. The shard flickered for a moment before disappearing completely. The demon bolted to his feet, searching with more then his eyes for the shard. He knew before she spoke.

 

“It's gone…you'll never find it.” The woman's voice was weak as she sank to her knees and the barrier she had erected disappeared.

 

Naraku lunged at her, hauling her up by her arms. “What have you done?”

 

The woman flinched from the roar of his voice, but managed a small smile. “Made sure that no one can ever complete the Shikon no Tama.”

 

Naraku roared his anger once more, shaking the woman until she hung limply from his grasp. He hauled her close to his face once again. “What have you done you witch? Answer me!”

 

She laughed weakly, “Sent the shard away, far away where you can never reach it. No matter how many shards you collect, you will never succeed. I sent it into the vortex of time, into the future.”

 

“You lie! Tell me the truth right now!”

 

She gasped for breath, fighting to stay conscious and savour her victory over the creature that killed her family before her very eyes. “You know I'm not lying. I sent it into the future and into the able hands of my last descendants. Five hundred years to be exact.”

 

She began to laugh as Naraku stared at her. Carefully placing his hands on her neck, he stared deep into her eyes before he twisted it, satisfied by the sharp crack of bone and the abrupt end to the laughter.

 

Naraku let her lifeless body drop. Coldly, he stared down at her and the insane laughter that was forever frozen on her features. Damn her. She was laughing at him even in death.

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

Naraku smiled down at Kagura; taking her by the hand he drew her upright. “This is excellent news Kagura. Now, I have a task for you. You must find me a girl, from this future beyond the well.”

 

“What? You want me to go back there?” Kagura's nose wrinkled in distaste as she remembered the acrid smells that burned her nose on her first visit.

 

“Yes, and you will find a girl for me and bring her back here.”

 

“A girl? But that place reeked of humans! How am I to find one amongst all of those disgusting creatures?”

 

Naraku simply smiled at her.

 

 

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Birds chirped as women rustled in their kitchens, gathering the morning's breakfast. The gentle sounds of a waking village were disrupted by a child's voice laughing before yelping in pain. A young woman's voice could be heard yelling a single word before a tremendous crash. The villagers had long gotten used to such sounds but they were not prepared for another voice of another young woman raised in anger and a young man yelling back at her.

 

The villagers exchanged glances at this new disruption to their simple life. They did not comment upon it…that is not to the owners of the voices or any of their companions. There would be plenty of time to talk about this new development once the group had gone away on their inevitable trip. Then they would be free to talk about it without fear of superhuman hearing invading their conversations.

 

Kagome reached out for the backpack that Kaede was handing to her. The old woman nodded towards Akane and Ranma who were fiercely arguing.

 

“Look out for them child, I do not think they are aware of exactly what they are getting into.”

 

Kagome looked towards the two who were now glaring daggers at each other. She and Akane had stayed up late last night talking about their strange lives. Kagome was glad to finally meet someone who could understand what she was going through. She was envious of Akane whose family and friends were not only aware of the strangeness in her life but also shared in it.

 

“I think they can handle it.” Kagome smiled at the old woman who was looking at her with concern, “Besides, Inuyasha will be with us, I'm sure between him and Ranma they can handle anything.”

 

The hanyou was crouched down low on the ground with one foot on Shippou's head as he continued to eat his breakfast which the child had attempted to steal from him. His ears swivelled towards Kagome and grinned.

 

“I don't think I'm gonna need that baka for anything,” He crossed his arms smugly.

 

Kagome rolled her eyes, “Come on, let's go.”

 

The group set out from the village, Inuyasha leading the way. Kagome walked with Akane, Shippou riding on her shoulder and Ranma following.

 

Akane smiled at Shippou as she continued to coo over him, “He's so cute! I've never seen anyone like him!”

 

Kagome grinned as the young fox demon preened under Akane's praises. The kitsune had taken an instant liking to the blue-haired girl, who he found to be as sweet and wonderful as Kagome. Shippou wasn't too keen on Ranma, however though that was mostly because he had witnessed the two arguing that morning. He was inclined to take sweet Akane's side on the argument over the brash and rude Ranma who reminded him too much of a certain hanyou with a fondness of hitting Shippou on the head.

 

Shippou, with his mind on Ranma, turned bright green eyes to the girl lavishing praise on him, “Akane, why are you stuck with that jerk? I mean, I know why Kagome hangs around Inuyasha, cuz he protects us while we look for the jewel shards. But what about you and Ranma?”

 

Kagome choked at the direct question that the child asked, utterly amazed at what questions innocent minds thought to ask. She was equally interested in the questions so decided not to chastise Shippou.

 

Akane turned a bright shade of red, “Well, I guess you can say he's a friend Shippou and friends stick together.”

 

Shippou didn't look he believed her, but chose to let it go when he saw a particularly beautiful butterfly flutter past. He leapt off Akane's shoulder, leaving the two girls alone.

 

“You know, you're probably gonna think this is really rude, seeing as how we don't really know each other all that well and all…”

 

Akane glanced at Kagome who was fidgeting. “You want to ask about me and Ranma too huh? It's okay, I get it a lot.”

 

“Well, I wanted to ask about the arranged marriage thing. Are you…happy about it?” Kagome peered into Akane's face.

 

Akane blew out her breath, “Well like it or not, we're kinda stuck with it. Our parents are kinda set on the idea. Though there are an awful lot of…problems in the way.”

 

“Oh? Like what?”

 

Akane groaned, “How long you got?”

 

Kagome laughed, “We've got an awfully long way to go.”

 

The two girls laughed companionably and Kagome was reminded of how much she missed hanging out with her girl friends. Sango was great, Kagome thought of the demon slayer as a sister, but the time difference meant that there were just some things that Sango would never understand.

 

Inuyasha suddenly growled as he took a defensive stance, his hand on Tetsusaiga. Kagome held out an arm to stop Akane as Ranma came up behind them.

 

“Inuyasha, what is it?”

 

“Why that mangy wolf…” Inuyasha growled, his eyes fixed to the distance.

 

Kagome and the others didn't have to wait long before the object of Inuyasha's irritation swept past the hanyou and grabbed Kagome's hands.

 

“Kouga!” Kagome blinked as the handsome wolf youkai leaned close to her, his lips hovering above her own.

 

“My beautiful Kagome, I thought I smelled you.” He inhaled her scent in deeply before he was wrenched around to face a snarling inu hanyou.

 

“Keep your damned hands off her.” Each word was precise as Inuyasha glared at the offending hands.

 

Instead of letting go of Kagome, Kouga tightened his grip on the miko's hands. “Why the hell should I? She's my woman after all.”

 

Ranma and Akane had stayed back, watching the interaction with wide eyes. Shippou perched himself on Akane's shoulder and he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, but kept his voice loud enough for Ranma and Kagome to hear.

 

“That's Kouga, he's the leader of the wolf youkai tribe, he's on the hunt for Naraku as well cuz Naraku killed his comrades. Oh and he's crazy in love with Kagome. Inuyasha can't stand to see another guy sniffing around Kagome and absolutely hates Kouga. They bicker like this all the time till Kagome sits Inuyasha and Kouga runs away.”

 

Akane smiled at Shippou, whispering her thanks for the explanation but Ranma snorted loudly. Kagome was blushing furiously, while Inuyasha and Kouga both glared at the kitsune.

 

“He's not in love with me! What are you talking about Shippou?”

 

“He can sniff at whatever he wants! I don't care!”

 

“What do you mean run away? As if I'd run way from this dog-turd.”

 

The three voices blended which only caused Akane to grin and Ranma to snort again.

 

Kouga tossed his head, flicking his hair off his shoulder, “Would you stop yapping hanyou? I just wanted to say hello to my beloved Kagome. So do us both a favour and butt out.” He tugged firmly on Kagome's hand, tucking her firmly into his side.

 

Inuyasha began to see red, “For the last fucking time, she is NOT yours!”

 

In a flash, Inuyasha had unsheathed his sword and Kouga roughly shoved Kagome to the side, sending her into an undignified heap on the ground.

 

Kagome gasped as she fell, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the two snarling men in front of her. “Kouga! How could you…”

 

Dark eyes flicked to her, seeing that she was physically unhurt, the wolf youkai turned his attention back to Inuyasha.

 

The two began to circle each other, Tetsusaiga gleaming in the lazy morning sun. Inuyasha adjusted his grip on his sword, amber eyes molten with fury as the arrogant wolf youkai smirked at him. He would be damned if he was going to allow some good for nothing youkai lay a finger on his Kagome.

 

The miko in question was still staring at the two of them. She had seen Inuyasha and Kouga squabble before, but even she knew that what was going on before her was more then just squabbling. They really were going to kill each other.

 

Before Kagome could open her mouth she heard a loud yawn, turning, she looked up at Ranma who had folded his arms behind his head, a look of utter boredom on his handsome face.

 

“Are we gonna stand around here all day? Or should we all wait till you two finished your little pissing contest?”

 

Inuyasha and Kouga stopped their circling and turned to look at the human who looked like he was about to fall asleep on his feet.

 

“Who the hell are you?” Kouga glared, clearly noticing Kagome's new companions for the first time.

 

Ranma opened one eye, looking Kouga up and down “Say, is that a tail? Does that mean that dog-boy has one to match those ridiculous ears?”

 

“Hey!” Inuyasha crossed his arms, glaring at Ranma, “They are not ridiculous! They're a sight better then your puny ones!”

 

Said tail was flicking angrily as Kouga continued to glare at Ranma, “What the hell is going on around here? Where's the monk and the slayer? And who the hell are these two?” He glared at Inuyasha, “You know, I only let Kagome hang around vermin like you cuz I know that if you screw up, which I'm sure you do, the monk and the demon slayer can take care of my woman! What the hell are these two humans going to do?”

 

Ranma dropped his arms from his head, dropping the pretence of boredom “Oh I know you didn't just call me useless!”

 

“Don't you ever listen? She is not your woman!”

 

Akane edged around Ranma to go to Kagome's side and offered the girl her hand.

 

Kagome gratefully took the assistance and began to dust off her skirt.

 

“Is it always this interesting around here?” Akane eyed the three boys who were now arguing.

 

“Yep. Makes you wonder why history classes are so boring.” Kagome continued to dust the dirt that clung persistently to the back of her skirt. She turned and began to walk away, Akane quickly falling into step next to her.

 

“You know, I'm beginning to wonder the same thing.”

 

Shippou jumped from Akane's shoulder to Kagome's, “Umm are we going to just leave them?”

 

Kagome yawned, “They'll catch up.”

 

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AN: Hey…where are you guys going? Look, I found the plot! -waves the jar above her head- What? You want to look at it? Uh….-runs-