Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inner Demons ❯ Dominance ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six

Dominance

 

Puu circled the well house for the tenth time then went off to check the shrine grounds once more. His link with Yusuke was dim, he could barely feel it. So, naturally, he was worried. Here his energy traces and scent were strongest; he had to be there somewhere. Puu half expected Yusuke to jump out from behind a tree and yell `Gotcha!' He perched on top of the well house roof and ruffled his feathers. He moved his gaze to the shrine steps; he recognized Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara immediately. Flying over to them, he landed on Kurama's shoulder and keened softly. Kurama stroked Puu's feathers in an attempt to calm him down.

“At least we know Urameshi's okay,” Kuwabara sighed in relief. They made their way into the well house; the energy they had sensed outside was stronger in there. One of the wells edges was indeed crumbled, proof that Yusuke really had fallen in. Not that they doubted Hiei in the first place. Kuwabara peered into the depth of the well, his brows furrowed. “Seems like a normal well to me…” he murmured. But he knew very well that looks could be deceiving.

“Puuu!” It seems that Puu agreed with Kuwabara, he didn't see anything special about the well besides the energy it was emitting. Something flickered in the depth of Hiei's eyes and a ghost of a grin passed his face. Kurama knew instantly that the hybrid was up to something. Sure enough, Kuwabara was `mysteriously' pushed into the well by `unknown forces'. Instead of him hitting the bottom, a blue light filled the well. When it disappeared Kuwabara was nowhere in sight, just like Yusuke. Puu flew into the well, the same thing happened as he was quickly followed by Kurama and Hiei. Soon the well house was empty looking as if nothing had happened.

 

Aside from Inuyasha's rotten mood, everything was calm and peaceful. Well, as peaceful as it was going to get.

“Hentai!” Sango yelled before Miroku found himself with a very large bump on his head. “Keep your hands to yourself,” she ground out dangerously.

“But Lady Sango, it is hard to control myself around a beauty like you,” he grinned. Sango's eyes narrowed as she glanced sideways at the Monk.

“I'm beginning to think your hand isn't the only thing that's cursed…” she murmured causing the others to snicker.

“Lady Sango, you wound me,” he feigned hurt and placed a hand over his heart. Kagome looked up at the tree tops spotting Inuyasha, who was jumping from tree top to tree top.

“Why don't you come down and walk with us?” Kagome suggested.

“Feh, no thanks,” he grunted and kept on going. Shippo shook his head from his spot on Kagome's shoulder knowing that Inuyasha will keep his little mood going for as long as possible. Yes, it was certainly a normal day indeed. Kirara trotted by Sango's side, red eyes inspecting the male in front of her. Kirara didn't trust Yusuke yet, but so far he had shown no signs of becoming a possible enemy. Inuyasha suddenly halted, his nose lifted into the air sniffing it cautiously.

“What is it Inuyasha?” Miroku questioned when he noticed the inu-hanyou stop. Kagome came to an abrupt halt causing Sango to crash into her.

“Sorry,” Sango apologized.

“It's okay,” Kagome replied.

“A youkai,” Inuyasha growled. Whatever it was had a high energy level and was coming towards them at an alarming rate. With it were two other youkai and a ningen, all containing high energy levels. He unsheathed the Tetsiuga; it immediately took the shape of a large fang. A large blue thing in the sky soon became visible, Inuyasha clutched the Tetsiuga tighter. Wind picked up around the fang in preparation for the Wind Scar. Yusuke's eyes widened and tried to call out to the hanyou, but the Wind Scar had already been unleashed and was hurtling straight towards the large bird in the sky. Inuyasha grinned triumphantly, his mouth dropped open when it seemed to hit an invisible barrier and disappeared having no effect on the large bird. Sango raised her Hirikotsu in the air preparing to strike if necessary and Miroku fiddled with the beads on his right arm. Kagome's hand immediately flew to her bow and Shippo was reaching into his sleeve where his tricks were kept. A loud keening from the bird caused Inuyasha and Shippo to cover their ears as the others simply winced. Yusuke's face showed surprise and shock, but he didn't seem worried. The large blue bird turned out to be a large blue phoenix; it landed right in front of them and dropped the barrier. Inuyasha charged at the bird, but Yusuke held out his arm causing Inuyasha to run smack into it sending him into the ground.

“What did you do that for bastard?” Inuyasha yelled.

“Just be glad I didn't knock you out!” Yusuke yelled back.

“Like you could,” he snorted. Yusuke's fist clenched and prepared to strike the arrogant youkai when Kagome grasped his wrist gently. A shake of her head was all he needed. Yusuke turned his attention to his spirit beast.

“Hey buddy.” Yusuke stroked Puu's neck. Puu leaned into his touch seemingly smiling. Kagome noticed that there were three males upon Puu's back. Hiei was the first down quickly followed by Kurama and Kuwabara. Inuyasha had a look of pure annoyance on his face, he suck refuge in a tree hoping that they'd go away soon. Shippo jumped down from his perch on Kagome's shoulder and cautiously went over to the new comers sensing that one of them was a kitsune youkai. Kagome eyed them suspiciously, their clothing was that of her own era so they must have gotten there the same way Yusuke did. Yusuke seemed to know Puu by the way he was acting and these males came with the large phoenix so she assumed them to be his friends. She recognized the orange haired teen immediately having met him at the school dance. But the other two, she'd never seen before in her life. Her gaze turned to the crimson haired male first. His calculating emerald orbs shone brightly with a golden sheen to them. He had the youki of a Kitsune youkai, although there were traces of human among the youki. A silver kitsune if she had to guess. The second was the shortest of them all, but looked the most deadly. Crimson orbs swept over the group inspecting each individual before finally resting on Yusuke. His raven hair wanted nothing to do with gravity and had a white starburst in the middle. His youki was quite unique and the air around him was warmer.

`A fire and ice apparition, I didn't think it was possible,' she thought. A strong energy emitted from his forehead and right arm. Something glowed from underneath his white headband and she felt something prod her mind. Kagome wasn't one to like her personal space being invaded. She sent a glare in the youkai's direction and her eyes glowed pink for a brief moment before his eyes widened. She had sent a small spark through the link that he had created between them. She couldn't do much more than that, but he didn't need to know that now did he? It was a warning with no real threat behind it. He did what she wanted by retreating from her mind. Her gaze finally shifted to the large blue phoenix. Its youki was similar, if not the same, to Yusuke's own. That alone left the young Miko puzzled as ever; she noticed that Inuyasha was staring down at the group as if daring them to even try to stay. Repeating Yusuke's own question earlier, she spoke;

“What's going on here?”

“I was about to ask the same thing,” Yusuke said as both turned their attention to his friends.

“Oh no, we are NOT going to stop!” Inuyasha bellowed as he jumped down from the tree to face the group. “WE have shards to find. THEY can go back and take that PUNK with them!” He crossed his arms as if expecting her to do what he said. “We have done just fine on our own! We don't need help so send them on their way NOW!” He felt quite satisfied at the shocked look on Kagome's face. Maybe she was finally accepting the fact that HE was the alpha male and what he says goes.

“Inuyasha…” Kagome said in a slow menacing voice. He blanched knowing what was coming. She grabbed the collar of his red kimono and dragged him out of sight before saying, “Oswari!” She wouldn't wound his pride in front of the newcomers….yet. Kagome walked back into the clearing well aware of the curious stares she was receiving and the curses that were coming from where Inuyasha lay. Puu looked over at Kagome, a familiar energy emitting from the inner folds of her kimono peaked his interest. Kagome looked up at the spirit beast, she examined his large blue feathers and something flickered in her eyes. Puu cocked his head and Kagome had an apprehensive look on her face. The group watched the two with interest wondering what was transpiring between the two. Suddenly Puu's head moved up and down in a nodding motion of sorts and a smile flickered across Kagome's face replacing the apprehensive look.

“Puuu!” Puu nudged Yusuke snapping the Toushin out of his daze.

“How did you guys get here?” Yusuke questioned his friends at last.

“The same way you did,” Hiei replied bluntly.

“Okay, stupid question…” Yusuke murmured.

“Who are you?” Kagome's question was directed at Kurama and Hiei. Hiei simply rose an eyebrow answering her question silently, `why should I tell you?'. Both stared down, neither giving into the other. Kurama stepped closer to Kagome drawing her attention to him.

“My name is Shuichi, but you may call me Kurama.” He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. His eyes took on a brighter golden hue clearly stating who was in control at the moment. He released the, now blushing, Miko's hand and stepped back. Inuyasha's growl announced he had returned from his crater.

“My name is Hiei,” he finally gave in…although reluctantly.

“It's nice to meet you both,” she smiled. “and it is nice to see you again Kazuma.” Kuwabara smiled and gave a slight nod. Puu nuzzled Kagome causing her to chuckle and stroke his neck.

“That's Puu,” Yusuke told Kagome.

“Does he belong to you?”

“Yeah,” he replied. Puu seemed to shrink until he was about the size of Shippo if not an inch or two taller. He perched on Yusuke's shoulder.

“What were you three doing at my shrine and how did you know Yusuke came here by falling through the Bone Eaters Well?” Kagome questioned, her hands placed on her hips. Kurama was the one who spoke up first.

“Hiei had accompanied Yusuke to your shrine, when he saw Yusuke fall in yet not hit the bottom he had been…” Kurama chose his words carefully. “…curious about what had happened to him.” He glanced over at the fire apparition, Hiei had made no sign that he disliked nor was offended by Kurama's excuse. Kuwabara picked up where Kurama left off.

“I had leaned over the edge too far, the side had already crumbled as it was, and fell in. Kurama, Hiei, and Puu jumped in shortly after I fell.” Kagome looked at each male in turn trying to find a flaw or something in their story. There was something about this that didn't seem to fit, something that didn't quite belong, but she couldn't find any proof. She decided to believe their story for now, she'd wait and see if it was the truth or not. Silence lapsed over the group as Kagome reviewed their story in her head over and over again. Wait…Yusuke hadn't mentioned someone accompanying him. He had simply said he was bored when he came upon her shrine. Not once did he mention that Hiei had been with him. Well, it could have been the fact that he was still in shock that caused him to leave out details…but there was always that little dent in their story. That's where it didn't match. Maybe believing their story, either one, was out of the question now. There was a little lie there, small, but it was there. This couldn't have been planned otherwise their cover-up story wouldn't have any flaws. Kurama didn't seem to be the type to let something like that pass by unnoticed. She went from contemplation to serious in a matter of moments.

“You know, this would have all been believable had one thing not been missing,” she said in a low voice. “You say that Hiei had been with Yusuke when he fell in, but when he told me his story no one had been with him. Or, at least, not by what he mentioned.”

`Shit,' Yusuke mentally cursed. `Should have remembered that, but what do they expect? A saint?'

`This girl is very observant, I think she had been looking for something like that the whole time,' Hiei said to Kurama through a mind link.

`Yes, but who can blame her? She knows we are youkai and she has no reason to trust us,' Kurama replied.

`Yes, but what are you going to tell her now?' Youko questioned. He didn't get a response from either side. All was quiet once more, until Inuyasha sliced through it.

“Feh, bunch of lying bastards,” he ground out.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome barked out, a silent threat behind her words known only to Inuyasha. He instantly quieted and watched the scene unfold before him. They had expected Kagome to demand the truth out of them or maybe even threaten them, but that's not what they got.

“Look, obviously you have your reasons for being at my shrine. I don't know what they are, might not want to know, but I am not going to press the matter for now. In time I hope that you can tell me the real reason why you were there in the first place,” she spoke gently.

“Okay, it's all straightened out. Can they go now?” Inuyasha asked impatiently. Kagome sighed in frustration and pinched the bridge of her nose. Yusuke was currently talking with his friends; Kagome had the slightest suspicion that they were going to have four more additions to the group. When Yusuke came over and questioned her about it, her suspicions were confirmed.

“NO!” Inuyasha shouted immediately. “HE is enough!” he pointed an accusing finger at Yusuke.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome let out a long suffering sigh. He wasn't going to let up about this. He was going to have one hell of a mood for a long, long time.

“Don't you dare say `yes'!” he warned.

“We could really use the help if they are willing.”

“No!”

“Inuyasha, Lady Sango and I believe that Lady Kagome is making a wise decision,” Miroku spoke up. Frankly, he thought Inuyasha was acting like a child.

“Yeah! I agree as well!” Shippo hopped up and down eagerly. The thought of having another kitsune in the group was very appealing to him. It had been a while since he had last been around his own kind. Kirara mewed as if stating that she too agreed. Inuyasha had a look of shock and disbelief on his face. They all agreed with this? They didn't even know them! His pride as an inu-youkai was taking a harsh beating. HE was the alpha male! HE was the one who had the last say! Did Kagome not grasp that concept? His ears flattened against his skull and a growl spilled from his throat voicing his displeasure at being overruled.

“Hm, Inuyasha seems to have claimed his place as the alpha male in their pack. Had he been a full blooded youkai this would have ended a long time ago and it would not have ended well for Kagome at all,” Youko pointed out. “Things could still get nasty if this keeps up. He may be a hanyou, but he still has youkai instincts that will take over if brought to the surface. Especially now since the rest of his `pack' have turned against him trying to overrule him against letting new members into the pack. He would not go after the kit since he is only a child, but he would have no problem going after Kagome, the slayer, or the monk. Since Kagome is the alpha female, by what I guess, he would probably try to reclaim his dominance over her first. The other two would most likely fall into line after that without further persuasion.' Kirara was the next to notice Inuyasha's advances. Fire surrounded her being as she morphed into her larger form; she was about as large as a horse if not an inch or two taller. Her fangs grew larger, two of them protruding out of her mouth, the fur on her back and tails stood on end. She stood in front of Kagome, her head lowered to the level of her haunches as she hissed warningly. Sango was shocked at Kirara's behavior, why was she acting out like that? Inuyasha's molten golden orbs narrowed, he bared his fangs. This only caused Kirara to hunch lower ready to pounce should he make a notion to do anything to Kagome.

“Kirara!” Sango called out in surprise, the neko only glanced in Sango's direction before returning her red gaze to Inuyasha.

`Hopefully the neko can dissuade his previous thoughts. If not I fear that she will go down, even if she does put up a fight. She's not nearly as strong as the hanyou, if not just as stubborn.' Youko sighed and shook his head. All they could do was sit back and hope that it turns out for the better. Shippo's forest green eyes were wide as he watched all of this going on, he wasn't quite certain what was going on, but he had a good guess. He lowered to the ground placing his hands on the earth beneath him, Kurama noticed his motions. Before he could stop him though, Shippo took off in Inuyasha's direction running on all fours. He stood a few feet in front of the inu-hanyou and tried to put on his best brave face. Had it been any other occasion when they were simply arguing he would have morphed into something that resembled a pink bubble and start knowing on his ear. Not that it would hurt; it would just annoy Inuyasha and make him forget the argument. But this time was different, much different.

“Inuyasha, please don't!” he pleaded.

“Move Shippo,” Inuyasha ordered.

“N-no! Leave Lady Kagome alone, she wasn't aware! Besides, she is right. She's doing what's best for the pack!” Shippo insisted. Kagome bit her bottom lip unsure of what to do or what was even going on! Shippo had never called her `Lady Kagome' before, why was he suddenly doing so?

“Shippo…”

“Listen, I beg you! You want what's best for the pack right? Then trust Lady Kagome, she hasn't led us wrong yet. She would never make a decision to get us killed on purpose, she's simply thinking about the final battle. We all need to see this to the end, if they are willing to help then I think we should let them join the pack. At least on a trial basis, give it a couple of weeks that's when Lady Kagome will return to her era. You can make your decision then.” Shippo finished and awaited Inuyasha's reaction. He closed his eyes, if he were to be punished for his boldness than so be it! Inuyasha took a deep breath before speaking,

“Fine,” he said. Shippo looked up, a smile lit up on his face. He bowed and then ran over to Kagome glad that she wasn't going to be punished. Kirara was once more engulfed in flames morphing into the size of a kitten looking absolutely harmless compared to what she looked like only moments before.

`I don't know whether to consider that kit really stupid or really brave. He's damn lucky that the hanyou agreed,' Youko wouldn't have liked it should he have to see Shippo get punished just for trying to protect Kagome. After all, they were both Kitsune's and Kitsune's looked out for each other.

`Let's just be glad that he managed to dissuade him,' Kurama sighed. Kagome picked up Shippo and smiled at Inuyasha. He crossed his arms and turned around with a `feh'.

“It's only for two weeks!” he reminded her.

`Hopefully he'll say yes,' she thought. Kagome then turned to the new additions to the group. Oh yeah, this day had been an interesting one indeed.

 

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

You find a piece of paper laying on an oak desk, you pick it up and read:

I, Tijiya,hereby state no claim to the following anime:

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Yu Yu Hakusho © Yoshihiro Togashi

I only borrow them to amuse myself and my readers.

-.-.-.-.-

A pink sheet of paper is underneath the first, in bold red lettering is written:

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!