Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bane of Existence/Love of A Lifetime ❯ Chapter Thirteen ( Chapter 13 )

Kagome stood staring up into the lush foliage of the Goshinboku thinking over the latest development in her life. Pulling her lower lip between her teeth, she nibbled at the sensitive flesh while absentmindedly running her hands across the ages old tree. How would her friends react to Kurama and Yusuke now that they were in it for the long haul as well? Would they believe that she was the most powerful priestess to have ever lived?

 

She knew there would be more than enough questions on everything and had already decided to give them the entire story. It didn't need to be spoken that Inuyasha would be the most suspicious. The miko was sure he would say something about it being a lie simply because although she did have power, it was untamed and only barely more than that of Kikyou. He would never believe her to hold more power than his beloved mate without proof.

 

That proof wouldn't come for another three weeks when she reached her twenty-first year.

 

Although she was undeniably happy with the prospect of having both Yusuke and Kurama around for an indefinite amount of time, she still feared for them as she did her other friends. However, the worry she held over the two young youkai was even more pronounced. They had even been warned by Koenma about the power Naraku held and she couldn't quell the fear that coiled around her heart for them.

 

Their deaths would be senseless as were all others; unlike all the others though, theirs would way heavily on her heart.

 

It was quite a silly thing, Kagome mused, to find herself so completely tied up in knots when around the raven-haired toushin and the crimson-locked kitsune. Their youki was contained somewhat by their human forms, Kurama's more than Yusuke's, but there was still more than enough free for it to skitter across her senses and ignite her nerves. The sensation was never one of danger but instead caused little sparks of delightful warmth to explode in her skin whenever either aura brushed against her.

 

Never mind what happened when her flesh would touch theirs, be it from a hug or the casual brush of a hand across an arm.

 

Time was of the essence, Kagome knew, and with a heavy hearted sigh, she moved her body towards the well house where her companions and belongings currently waited. Just the thought of going back and facing Inuyasha was enough to set her nerves on edge and she found that she only felt comforted and soothed once she was back in the presence of her adopted son and newest protectors.

 

After slipping her quiver across her back and her bow over her shoulder, Kagome made to grab up her bags and found they weren't where she had left them. She turned questioning blue orbs to the two males and found Kurama had her yellow backpack and Yusuke had her black one. “You guys, I can carry my own stuff. I am used to it really. You aren't my pack horses.” She smiled at their openly chivalric gesture.

 

Kurama shook his head in the negative sending silky red locks fluttering around his face. “Not at all Kagome. An extra bag is nothing to either of us. Besides, I am sure that Shippou would much rather have you available to hug than holding your bags.”

 

As if trying to reaffirm the elder kitsune's words, Shippou leaped easily into the young miko's arms and buried his nose against her neck. “Please `kaa-san? I am growing up and you won't be able to carry me much longer…you said so yourself.” He pulled back slightly then to gaze up at the person he loved most in the world with impossibly wide and sparkling green eyes.

 

Well how the hell do I say `no' to that? Damn that Kurama, he has me pegged already.

 

“Okay sweetie, I'll carry you.” She said, even as her thoughts turned sad.

 

Sometimes, on rare occasions when she was feeling far more melancholic than normal, Kagome found herself thinking that things would have been better for so many concerned had she never been pulled into the past. The Shikon wouldn't have been returned to a world where beings were conscious of its presence and she never would have shattered the accursed thing. So many lives could have been spared.

 

While she would entertain the idea of having never been introduced to the Warring States era, her heart would constantly remind her of the people she never would have met otherwise. That list now included Kurama and Yusuke. As she continued to stare into the bright emerald gaze of her dear kit, a veil of tears washed across her eyes.

 

“Momma?” Shippou said as he watched fat drops of water slide down her cheeks.

 

“Kagome?” Kurama and Yusuke questioned upon scenting her tears in the air.

 

Startled, she looked from Shippou to the two demons and silently cursed herself for letting her emotions overtake her again. “I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying when we have somewhere to be.”

 

Yusuke stepped up to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze. “Come on Kagome, you can tell us.”

 

Small, pale hands furiously wiped away the offending crystalline droplets and laughed a small, disjointed laugh. “I was just…thinking…wishing, I guess. It seems like it is so far away, the end of this entire nightmare. Even though my dreams of having a family are so petty and irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, I still can't help but want for it. I know it won't happen for oh-so many reasons but I can't change how empty it makes me feel.” She sighed heavily and turned her gaze once more to the growing kit in her arms, adoration and pure love shining in her azure eyes. “At least I will always have you Shippou.”

 

Not one of the demons present really knew what to say in light of such a heart breaking revelation. While Shippou was unbearably sad inside to see how little his mother thought she was worth, Kurama and Yusuke were in states of turmoil. One side of their hearts ached right along with the sweet miko while the other side was nearly exploding with joy to know she wanted a family as much as they did. Before anyone really had a chance to respond, Kagome raised her head and let her eyes fall on them all.

 

With a smile that was sorrow tinged in a bit of mischief, Kagome spoke. “Are you guys ready to experience the full brunt of an inu-hanyou temper tantrum?” With a light laugh at their wide-eyed expressions, Kagome gestured them both toward her. Once close enough, she situated Shippou on her shoulder and looked the two in the eyes.

 

“Alight you guys, this is your last chance to bail out. If you decide you want to come back after we get there, I can bring you back too. Now, in order for this to work, you guys will have to have a hold of me somehow. Shippou usually rides in my backpack or on my shoulder, but neither of you are small enough for that.” She gave them a small grin, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

 

Twin looks of playfulness and something that burned a little hotter flashed across emerald and chocolate and before Kagome could even question them, she found herself sandwiched between two exceptionally handsome demons. Kurama had stepped in front of her and wound his lean arms around her waist and Yusuke slid up against her back, his strong limbs wrapping around her tummy just below his teammates grip. A furious blush stole across her cheeks as their embraces tightened and a small `eep!' escaped her soft lips when they pushed off from the ground in a powerful leap only to come down into the well, a brilliant blue light swimming around their bodies.

 

The span of a few breaths passed and soon the four found themselves staring up at a beautiful, star filled sky. Another powerful leap found the small group on the soft grass of the Sengoku Jidai. Deep inhalations could be heard from four bodies as fresh, clean air was drawn far into their lungs. Kagome looked towards her friends and smiled at how peaceful they looked. The night air was cool and the forest was filled with gentle sounds of nocturnal animals and a soft breeze.

 

All semblance of tranquility was broken in a single moment.

 

“It's about time you got back here wench! We have shards to find!” Inuyasha yelled as he neared the clearing where he could smell Kagome and Shippou. Two other scents accompanied hers and he felt a low growl build in his chest. Another powerful leap sent him sailing over the next set of trees in his way and soon he was looking down upon the miko, the kit and two other unknown males. Both smelled somewhat like demons and when he saw the two move closer to his Kagome, the growl he had squelched broke free.

 

Before anyone had a chance to utter a syllable or whisper a protest, a red blur flew into the clearing and snatched Kagome away. Kurama and Yusuke looked up sharply as they heard a `thump' indicating a set of footsteps. What met their eyes made their blood rage in their veins and low growls were emitted from their throats.

 

Inuyasha had stolen Kagome away and now stood at least seven feet from the two males. He growled low and dangerously, baring his fangs as he held Kagome to his side with a hard grip on her upper arm. When the males returned his growl, his grip tightened and Kagome whimpered as his razor sharp claws punctured the delicate skin of her arm. Gritting her teeth, Kagome wrenched her arm free from the hanyou's grasp, barely having time to yelp in pain as his claws tore clean through her flesh, before subduing him.

 

“Osuwari!” She screamed, her throat straining and tearing under her forceful outburst. She fell to the ground in a heap as Inuyasha was pulled harshly to the ground. Her left hand clamped tightly around the wound on her arm in an attempt to staunch the rapid flow of her blood. Loud snarls and torrents of curses echoed in the crater that housed the hanyou and when Kagome saw him start moving, she whimpered and crawled back and away from him. Before she had even gotten a foot away, she felt strong arms wrap around her body and she soon was cradled against a warm chest.

 

Turning pain-glazed blue eyes upward, she caught the faint silhouette of Kurama against a moonlit backdrop. Her last thought before losing consciousness was of how beautiful he looked.

 

~*~

 

Rin was sick.

 

Unfortunately for Lord Sesshoumaru, she was also a ningen; which meant that no healer he knew would be able to treat her, as they were all youkai. No, there was only one person whom he could consult for help with his young ward and really, she was the only one he would trust with her.

 

As the Demon Lord approached the Forest of Inuyasha, he could hear vicious growls and he could smell the blood of the miko he sought. The scent of the hanyou was mixed with it which he didn't really find surprising; after all, they had been traveling together for years. When the smell of two unknown demons and that of the miko's kit reached his nose, he became concerned. Was the miko in serious trouble? Normally, finding himself concerned about a human would irk him, but Kagome was no ordinary ningen.

 

Sesshoumaru knew the young miko was the key to defeating Naraku; she was also the only human, save for his ward, which he would trust. The young priestess had defied him and stood up to him despite the danger he presented and he had developed a grudging respect for her from the beginning. Lately, the two had spent a few occasions talking together and he found she was extremely good company. She made him feel at ease and safe which was unusual, but he accepted it all the same.

 

Now the closer he got to her location, the scent of her blood grew and new scents mingled with it; his brother's anger and jealousy, the fear of the young fox and concern and anger from the other two. A great burst of speed put him hovering right at the edge of the clearing and he found the half-demon snarling and snapping at two young youkai; one of which, a redhead, held the unconscious Kagome to his chest while the other, a dark-haired demon, stood in front of the two. The kit, Shippou, was perched on the redhead's shoulder peering down at his mother figure with worry shining in his eyes.

 

When his feet alighted on the soft grass, Inuyasha turned towards him and growled while his hand went to the hilt of Tetsusaiga. In one swift movement, the sword was drawn from its sheath and transformed into the gleaming fang of their father. Blood dripped slowly from the half-demon's claws and ran down the miko's arm even as the redhead tightened a torn strip of fabric around the obvious wound. It suddenly became a little clearer what had happened and Sesshoumaru was disgusted.

 

Turning a hard golden glare on the snarling hanyou, Sesshoumaru sneered, “Insolent whelp. You have brought even more disgrace to the Taisho name by harming your mate. We are above hurting females, regardless of race.”

 

Inuyasha's attention snapped to his elder half-brother and he growled low before replying. “Fuck off Sesshoumaru. I would never hurt Kikyou. What business do you have here anyway?”

 

The Dog Demon Lord's hand traveled discreetly to the hilt of Tokijin as he sniffed at the air delicately. He found the young miko's scent to still be innocent and pure of a mark; Inuyasha's own filthy aroma was heavily intertwined with the revolting scent of earth and death. A frown marred the beautiful perfection of his face as he turned a disgusted look towards the hanyou.

 

“You have mated the undead. How utterly repulsive. Why you would willingly go to the arms of a corpse when Kagome has waited for you all this time only proves how foolish you truly are. My business is with your miko; or should I say your former miko?” A small, dangerous smirk curled upon Sesshoumaru's perfect lips as Inuyasha snarled and red bled into the corners of his eyes.

 

The hanyou bared his fangs and charged at the elder dog, Tetsusaiga raised above his head. Sesshoumaru stood perfectly still and waited. If anything, Inuyasha was predictable and the Demon Lord knew he would only have to sidestep to avoid the hanyou's path. As the half-dog closed in and swung wildly, Sesshoumaru easily stepped to the left and watched with veiled amusement as the whelp slid across the ground.

 

Before the hanyou had a chance to regroup and prepare for another attack, Sesshoumaru disappeared and reappeared directly in front of him, wrapping long, claw-tipped fingers tightly around his throat and lifting him from the ground. Brining the insolent mutt mere inches from his face, Sesshoumaru bared his fangs and growled.

 

“You have dared to attack this Sesshoumaru and it is only due to the fact that the miko Kagome would mourn your death that you are spared. She should have been born with youkai blood instead of you.” That said, he easily hefted the hanyou into the air and threw him to the side. Inuyasha crashed through two trees before stopping when he slammed into the third and slid unceremoniously down to the ground unconscious.

 

Turning his gaze from the hanyou to the others, he regarded them closely. Both young males held the scent of demon, however both looked entirely human. The kit had a hold of the miko's hand and was gently whispering to her. As his golden orbs lit on the female, they softened. She was such an exceptional creature and the mere notion that anyone would want to harm her, especially the hanyou she defended with her very being, bothered him greatly.

 

As he approached, warning growls sounded from the two males and he stopped. They were protecting her viciously and he knew that since he was an unknown youkai, his advances wouldn't be welcomed. Talking to the kit was his only option. “Shippou.”

 

Said kitsune lifted his teary eyes from his mother at the sound of the smooth baritone and soon focused, for the first time, on the Taiyoukai. Without a word, he bolted from his mother's side and barreled into the dog demon's chest. “Th-thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru. Y-you saved m-momma. Inuyasha hurt her and n-now she won't wake up.”

 

While the young kit sobbed into his silk and armor-clad chest, Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm around him and patted him on the back. “Tell your friends that I am a friend of Kagome's. Her injuries must be cleaned and treated. You all may join me at my castle.”