InuYasha Fan Fiction / Samurai X Fan Fiction ❯ Cadence To Arms ❯ Girl's Not Grey ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"When virtue and modesty enlighten her charms, the lustre of a beautiful woman is brighter than the stars of heaven, and the influence of her power it is in vain to resist."
-Akhenaton


Six Months Later…

Kenshin, to everyone’s amazement but Kagome’s had remained with the shard hunting group. None of them really knew when and where Kenshin came from, only that he was a former assassin, and very formidable in battle. He had told them briefly that he had taken to wandering after a particularly brutal assignment, and had found Kagome. It was not a lie. The only one who knew that Kenshin had already been in Kagome’s time -and out of place, was Inuyasha. The hanyou could not fathom what went on in the inner workings of the former Hitokiri’s mind. All he and the others knew was that they should be wary of him.

In fact, the less they had to speak with the former manslayer, the more relieved they seemed. Their cold and callous nature toward Kenshin infuriated and saddened Kagome at once. Why couldn’t they accept him? He was no worse and no better than Inuyasha, Sango or even Miroku. They had all killed, murdered beings innocent and evil. Every last one of them, including Kagome herself would be considered serial murderers in her time, even in Kenshin’s era.

So the reincarnated miko took to walking as close to Kenshin as possible, talking to him more, to let him know that even though the others might shun him, that she would never do that. In return, Kenshin would shoot smiles her way that could melt her limbs into a puddle of water. He opened up to her more, and, for once, the former assassin seemed happy. Truly, genuinely happy. His remorse over the past would always exist in tandem with his newfound joy, but the latter emotion was the more powerful of the two now. Kagome also opened up to him in turn, letting catch a glimpse of the girl she truly was, the one she hid from the world, even from Inuyasha.

I don’t deserve to be this happy, do I?

Kagome looked over at him, allowing her slender arm to hook through the curve of his more muscular one. The fabric of his light grey hakama whispered as it brushed one of her bare legs, and he shivered. Still, after half a year of being by her side almost every moment, she had the power to quicken the blood in him to the boiling point. He wanted her, as he had never wanted a woman before. Kenshin had never fully made love to a woman before, only engaged in foreplay with Tomoe, and then it had simply been licking at her breasts. He had never really kissed her, or touched her in any other way.

No way I’d be able to simply stop at her breasts if she allowed me.

His thoughts were hazy. What the hell is happening to me?

“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” she asked casually.

“Hai. Very.” he gritted through his clenched teeth.

“You okay, Kenshin-san?” she asked in a worried tone.

After half a damned year she decides to bring back that wretched honorific NOW?!

“Fine.” he said curtly, and moved away from her a little.

“Something I said?” Kagome asked quietly.

“Iie. I just -I’m just dealing with a lot right now. Gomen.” he replied, not looking at her. The flashing molten gold of his eyes would have betrayed him to her, and would have frightened her away. Or at least frightened the others enough to give their lives in battle against him to defend her. They loathed him. It was plain as the sky was usually blue, and, also plain that Kagome paid extra attention to him to make up for it.

Pity. I don’t want her fucking pity. That’s all I’ve received my whole life.

Kenshin was seething. He didn’t want her pity, or her faked smiles. She was still the same as she was when he’d met her, dead inside. He’d thought he’d be able to kindle some light within the darkness of her inner self, but it was not to be. So much for opening up to another woman again.

“What in hell is your problem, assassin?” barked the infuriating hanyou from behind them. He loved the woman at his side, Kenshin was aware of that as well. And that Kagome returned his love in abundance.

“My problem is you people. You either give me your loathing or your pity, both of which are the only emotions I’ve been able to kindle in people my entire life. I want neither.” His golden eyes flashed, a much darker, more dangerous shade of gold than that of the hanyou standing parallel to him, sword drawn.

“What the fuck are you prattling on about? We leave you alone because you enjoy being with Kagome -as much as we hate to do that.” Inuyasha growled. At Kenshin’s side, Kagome gasped.

“No, not another fight.” she said, rolling her eyes to the canopy of the rustling dark green leaves overhead.

“Damare.” Kenshin growled, looking at her with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. “I know you’re in love with that baka. And he, fool that he is, is unable to do anything about it. Perhaps try asking him why, Kagome. His answer might not surprise you.”

“Do-aho.” Inuyasha snarled, baring his gleaming fangs at the assassin as his eyes darkened by several shades of their own accord. His claws elongated, and his grip on Tetsusaiga tightened considerably.

“You know what, Kenshin? I’m not going to bother. I know damned well why we can’t do anything about it, and I respect that. I only want him to be happy. Do you know the meaning of either of those words? Respect and happiness? They’re both things that I thought I’d gotten out of you. Guess I was wrong.” Kagome yelled, earning her an approving smile from the hanyou.

“He can never love you!” Kenshin bellowed.

“Neither can you!!” she roared back, the very flames of hell seemingly appearing about her, licking at her hair, clothing, and flesh.

Kenshin ceased, his eyes widened, and he simply stared at the woman in shock.

“I know when a man is hung up on someone else! This is all about me when you’re heart is with her! Don’t you dare insinuate that Inuyasha is being an ass by not moving our relationship to the next level. At least he has the grace not to whine about it like a baby!” she screamed, her blue-grey eyes now darkened to the colour of sapphire, flashing with her fury.

“Oro?!” Kenshin exclaimed, looking befuddled.

“She’s right.” Sango said quietly. “We’ve all seen it, we’re not as stupid as you might have taken us for. Kagome has a right to be happy. That includes having a relationship with a man who is able to give her his entire heart, because she gives hers and then some to the people she loves.”

“Look, Kenshin-san.” the houshi began reasonably. “The women have a point. I’ve seen how you look at Kagome-sama. I’m not blind. It’s the same way half the males look at her, with lust. But there’s something else in your eyes, too, what I see in Inuyasha’s eyes when he looks at her. Is that love? I don’t know. But if you really haven’t made peace with this other woman from your past, then really it’s not fair to Kagome-sama to put up a fuss about this unless you are ready and able to give her all of yourself.”

“I’d rather have part of a man’s heart who could be honest with me,” Kagome said quietly “Than all of the heart of a man who had lied to me, kept things from me.” Inuyasha and Kenshin stared at her in shock, not really having paid attention to what the other had said. They both knew to whom she was referring.

“So then, you’d rather be the woman of a man who keeps going after a woman who is little better than a vampire.” Kenshin whispered hoarsely, tears pooling in his amber eyes. Kagome’s eyes softened.

“I’m not saying that. I’m saying that if you care for me, then I beg you not to do this. If you couldn’t even tell me about her, then obviously you still have more unresolved issues than Inuyasha has with Kikyo. I’m only sixteen years old. I have all the time in the world to form a serious relationship, settle down and have a family.” she replied quietly.

“I don’t know.” Kenshin said at length, his eyes returning to violet, and his ragged breathing coming to a standstill. “I do care about you, believe me. It’s simply that, the more I see that hanyou go after the other miko, the more I think on how Tomoe had died for me, just as Kikyo died for him.”

“She died for a lot more than just me.” Inuyasha spat.

“I know this. But Inuyasha, Kikyo did not perish on your own sword, now did she?” everyone stared at the bedraggled assassin.

“No. She did not. You mean you killed your own mate?” Inuyasha wondered aloud, his heavy brows drawing together in consternation under his moonlit hued bangs.

“No. But no one would believe me, now would they? When I was a year younger than Kagome, I was assigned to assassinate an old man who was a prominent figure in the Shogunate. I killed him and his entourage, but among them was a young man who was to be married in a month. I did not know this, and killed him, but not before he was able to mark me with his own blade.” he fingered the longer slash on his left cheek and twisted his mouth into a bitter sneer.

“That scar has to do with a grudge, doesn’t it?” Miroku asked, comprehension dawning in his eyes.

“You’re very clever, houshi-sama. Hai, it is. That man bore intense hatred for me, and branded it across my cheek. That night in the rain swept streets of Kyoto, after I’d killed a Shinsengumi ninja who had attacked me, I met a drunk woman, named Yukishiro Tomoe. I wanted to kill her for seeing me, I should have. I was not named Hitokiri Battousai without reason.” Kenshin replied.

“Battousai? Whoa.” Kagome said, staring at him as if he’d grown three heads and multiple arms. “You’re the greatest hero of the Meiji era. We learned about you in history class.”

Kenshin laughed bitterly. “What I have been through is not fit to even be told here, let alone to children. You see, my superior Katsura-san was informed of the plan to raze Kyoto to the ground. We’d been found out, and needed to retreat. Tomoe and I were forced to Otsu, on a rural farm where we masqueraded as husband and wife for a time. I was an apothecary and a farmer then, not just an assassin. I fell in love with the wretched woman, and we married in truth. She was three years my senior.”

“I’m fond of older women myself.” Miroku smirked, scratching his chin in thought. Hiraikotsu smashed into his skull with brutal force.

“Urusai, Mikroku.” Sango seethed.

“You were an apothecary?!” Inuyasha demanded incredulously.

“Yes, the fearsome Hitokiri Battousai selling medicinal herbs in a humble country market to save lives. In actuality, it’s what I’d left Hiko-sensei on that damned mountain to do in the first place. With Tomoe, I thought I had a future, where I could be at peace. But, later I found out it was all a ruse. She’d been the fiancée of Akira Kiyosato who had marked me before I ended his life. All along she’d been seeking vengeance upon me for his demise. She spied for the traitors on me, and left me one night after we’d been -intimate to go to them at their mountain hideout. I followed.” Kenshin said, looking directly at the hanyou, whose eyes had widened.

“You see, hanyou? I too, was betrayed by the woman I loved.” he said bitterly. “They set many ninjas upon me to call a halt to my ascent of the mountain. By the time I got to their hideout, I was weak and furious. I fought their leader, and just before he was about to gut me with his blade, Tomoe came between up, plunging her dagger into his heart, while I, unable to stop my blow, watched as the woman I had loved was struck down by my own blade. Blood was everywhere. Hers. Mine. The traitor’s. She whispered that she was sorry, and gave me the second, shorter mark on my cheek, representing love.” he finished, eyes now streaming his tears.

Kagome was at his side, and took his hand. “She wanted you to live. To be happy, and fulfill your destiny, even love again, Kenshin. Even as I know in my heart that Kikyo died half a century ago so that Inuyasha could have the same second chance that Tomoe perished to grant you.”

“I promised her I’d protect her. I failed.” the Battousai said numbly, but taking the offered hand nonetheless.

“You didn’t fail, baka.” Inuyasha said harshly. “I didn’t fail with Kikyo. We were both hurt. We were both betrayed. And in both cases, it was not our fault.”

“Demo -” Kenshin began weakly.

“Iie. You are not the same person you were then.” Sango said kindly, also approaching Kenshin. Inuyasha watched the demon huntress with a gleam of pride in his eyes.

“Just as I want you and Inuyasha to live, so did Tomoe desire the same for you. She chose her fate, Kenshin. She had a choice, to watch you die and live, or to save you and ensure you lived.” Kagome added. Everyone began to surround the battered soul, causing him to blink back his tears and stare at them in surprise.

“You people never cease to amaze me.” he muttered, causing them all, even the hanyou, to laugh.

Kenshin turned to Kagome. “I really do care for you. To be truthful, it isn’t just Tomoe holding me back. He,” he nodded to Inuyasha. “Is a half-demon, so if he transforms and doesn’t remember what he does, it’s natural. But I, on the other hand have my own inner beast, and I am very much aware when I commit atrocities. I’m a black-souled monster, Kagome. I am a doomed man.” he fingered the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. “You deserve better.”

“You stupid, stupid man.” Kagome muttered. “Battousai is part of who you are. I wouldn’t ask that you change, as others surely have. You are you, and you are a wonderful person. We’ve all gotten to know you over the past six months, no one here resents the person you were. If we were like that, then I’d resent Inuyasha’s simply being a hanyou as his brother does, but he is as wonderful as you are. We could all be judged in a harsh light. We are accepting, and you know that. So cut all this ‘black-hearted’ bullshit.”

“You think I’m wonderful?!” Kenshin and Inuyasha exclaimed at once, both blushing beet red. Kagome giggled.

“Hai.”

“I should have known the only person to poke around in my blood-soaked, murder-black ki would find something she liked there despite everything.” Kenshin remarked with a cocky smirk.

“Why you cocky -” she began, balling her fingers into tight fists.

“Now be nice.” Kenshin sing-songed, eliciting a barked laugh from Inuyasha.

“Osuwari.” Kagome said calmly, closing her eyes.

Wham.

“Ugh. You little -”

“Osuwari.” her eyes took on a murderous light. “Osuwari.”

“Enough already!” Inuyasha complained, and she grinned.

“I love watching you do that.” Kenshin said, grinning broadly.

“Yeah, I need a rosary for you, too. Maybe next time we’re in Edo I’ll get Kaede to -” she began.

“I wouldn’t even think about it if I were you.” Kenshin mock-growled, allowing his eyes to flash violet fire momentarily.

“You don’t scare me.” she said resolutely, crossing her arms over her chest.

“No, be scared of me.” Inuyasha’s voice sounded behind her, as he began chasing the miko about the forest.

“Yamete!” she cried, but to no avail. The hanyou found perverse amusement in this, as the wind from her running caused her skirt to fly up at times.

“You didn’t chase Kikyo like this, did you?” she panted, sprinting as fast as she could, her thin arms pumping quickly.

“Kikyo didn’t have a skirt that flew up every time she ran away.” Inuyasha called back, grinning wolfishly.

“HENTAI! OSUWARI!” she screamed. The thump behind her confirmed that the hanyou was out of commission, but not for as long as she’d like. Still running, she paid no heed to her direction, until she bumped into a very hard, very male chest.

“Well, what have we here? The miko with the shards of the Shikon no Tama!” a man’s voice boomed with glee. She could feel the smooth, easy laughter rumbling through his chest and out through his mouth. Numbly, Kagome peeled herself off of his chest, only to feel a paid of steel-hard arms clutch her tightly.

A pair of amused dark sapphire coloured eyes regarded her lazily, and a magenta coloured cross graced his forehead. Was this a demon? Jet black hair framed his face in wavy, unruly bangs parted in the center before falling down the entire length of his back in an obsidian braid. He was dressed in a white haori and hakama tied by a red obi, with fairly ornate armour, studded with dark blue palm-leaf patterns at the shoulder guards, and black gauntlets about his wrists and forearms. The sword at his side was enormous.

“So you like Banryuu, huh?” he asked, grinning at her.

“Who are you?” Kagome asked curtly.

“Bankotsu, leader of the Shischinintai. A pretty girl like you ought to know who I am already.” he said with a wink.

“You’re certainly a cocky one. But I’ve had about all I can stand of cocky guys today, no offence.” she griped.

Bankotsu laughed. “Those bakas over there annoying you? I can take care of them for you if you want -wuite easily, might I add.”

“No, that’s allright, I can keep them in line myself somehow. What do you want with me?” she demanded airily.

“Those jewel shards.” Bankotsu said simply.

“Doushite?” Kagome asked, cocking her head at him. She could see the Shikon no Kakkera glittering purple in his neck.

“This guy I’m working for wants them.” was the blunt answer. “Goes by the name of Naraku.” he shrugged. “He promises us -all seven of us eternal life if we get your jewel shards.”

“Because you’re dead.” Kagome whispered, reaching a tentative finger to touch his face and hair. The man simply stood still and calm.

“I’m alive as you are, my heart is pumping, and air is being sucked into my lungs as we speak.”

“Then don’t do this.” Kagome implored. “Naraku is only using you to gain the jewel and become a full demon. He’s a hanyou. Don’t you see? Once he gets what he wants, my shards, he’ll have to remove the shards keeping you and -your six other ‘friends’ alive.”

By this time, Kenshin and Inuyasha had skidded to a halt in behind the chatting pair.

“Who the hell are you?” Inuyasha demanded rudely. Bankotsu glared at the hanyou, then stared at Kenshin with interest.

“You, redhead. Are you a mercenary, like me?” he asked.

“I was an assassin. Nothing more.” Kenshin replied coldly, resting his hand on the sheath of his sword. “If you value your life, put her down.”

“You can’t kill him.” Kagome remarked, looking back up into Bankotsu’s amused dark blue gaze. “He’s got a jewel shard keeping him alive, he’s already dead. But uh, from the grip he’s got on me, he’s pretty damned strong.”

“Baka, you could have said something.” the mercenary said haughtily, loosening his grip on the girl. He looked over at Inuyasha, and sneered. “I am called Bankotsu, leader of the Shischinintai, as I just finished telling this girl here. All I want are your shards of the jewel and I’ll be on my way.”

“Like hell you will.” Inuyasha growled, and unsheathed Tetsusaiga.

“I didn’t come to fight. But let me warn you. Unlike my compatriots, I do not live for the kill; I live for the battle. I am not as easy to beat as you think.” he spat, making a grab for Banryuu.

“Don’t, Inuyasha.” Kenshin’s voice sounded from beside the hanyou. “Kagome’s safety is all that matters, we can always battle these mercenaries and get them back. When they are not holding the miko hostage.”

“If the hanyou is looking for a fight, allow him, assassin.” Bankotsu sneered, his dark blue eyes narrowed and no longer dancing with mocking amusement.

“He has the eyes of a Hitokiri.” Kenshin hissed between clenched teeth. Inuyasha paled, but his eyes flashed molten gold.

“Release Kagome and the shards. Now.” he growled, his eyes momentarily flashing red.

“Bankotsu, take it elsewhere for now. He’s going to transform into a full demon and kill everything and everyone in his path.” Kagome snapped, slapping hard at the arms restraining her. In a flash, Kenshin was at her side.

“If I have to kill that hanyou merely because of your presence, I will come after you next.” he warned, his own eyes flashing deep gold for the barest of moments. For the time being, this was enough for Bankotsu. All he’d wanted was the lay of the land, and he had that now. He’d needed to see with his own eyes what level of threat this group posed. Barring the hanyou and the demon huntress, there really would not have been a threat. If that damned creepy assassin hadn’t been with them. How had a Japanese human male ended up with red hair in the first place? He’d have to meditate on this.

“I’ll leave, but I’ll be coming back for the shards and the beauteous miko who guards them.” Bankotsu warned in an icy tone, before releasing Kagome, picking up Banryuu and melting back into the foliage of the forest.

“That was a clever trick that leader was playing.” Kenshin noted.

“What do you mean?” Miroku asked, coming out of the bushes with Sango and Shippou. They’d decided that between the hanyou and the assassin, that the situation would be efficiently diffused without their help anyhow.

Violet eyes met violet eyes. “This Bankotsu wasn’t really here to fight. It’s a tact adopted and used by many mercenaries and low-level assassins. They get the lay of the land, observe the interactions of their target firsthand to expose any potential weaknesses or threats therein. He was here to see just how much power we have. Then he disappeared. I’ll bet the other six of those mercenaries are surrounding us, or aren’t that far away. That leader isn’t fully gone yet, his swordsman’s ki is still strong.”

“Then we have something to fear from Bankotsu?” Shippou asked, shivering lightly. That sword he had carried was the scariest thing the little kitsune had ever seen.

“Perhaps. If there are indeed seven of them, then they outnumber us as we are only five. I think we ought to be more cautious and, try and get more information about them.” he said at length.

“Actually..” Kagome began, and looked sheepishly at Kenshin and Inuyasha. “I learned about them, too in school. The Shischinintai were a band of mercenaries that killed ruthlessly, that is until the local lords banded together. They eventually defeated the Shischinintai, capturing and be-heading them. Afraid of vengeful spirits, they then buried their remains in a single marked grave.”

“Fucking hell.” growled the hanyou. “As if today could get any -”

“Don’t say it. Because it will if you do.” Kagome warned. “I’ll say the word if you jinx today more than you have already. You can’t fight him without knowing how strong he is. I take it, as he is their leader, he is the strongest of the seven. Maybe it’d be better to fight the others and get an idea of how strong Bankotsu is that way, ne?”

“Kagome, did your book say what the names of these men were besides Bankotsu?” Kenshin asked.

“Hai. Bankotsu, Renkotsu, Jakotsu, Suikotso, Mukotsu, Ginkotsu and Kyokotsu. That was the pecking order in a nutshell, from leader to the weakest.” she informed the assassin, and his eyes narrowed.

“Thanks. With that knowledge, we can pick out which ones to fight first. Kyokotsu will be the first to fall then.” he said venomously, his hand reflexively clenching his katana tighter.

“Yeah. I just don’t get Bankotsu at all. He seemed well -almost nice to me. Doushite? He said he’d return for me? I’m not even afraid of him, although supposedly he’s very sadistic. If he wanted to hurt me, he’d have done it while Inuyasha was still back there. I wish I could get what’s going on in his head.” Kagome mused, a frown marring her beauty.

“He won’t have you, Kagome.” Inuyasha growled.

“She’s right, though. Bankotsu could have hurt her already if that was his desire. The longer he desires her, the longer we have an advantage over him because we have something he needs -and something he covets.” Kenshin remarked dryly. “Although I won’t be leaving you alone with him, Kagome. Two murderous bastards are more than enough for you to deal with without adding him and his six little friends.”

++++

The woman garbed in red and white was strolling leisurely in a field of wildflowers, a pack of laughing children surrounding her. Her smile flashed white and brilliant as she laughed at one of their jests. Her eyes were cool, a dark hazel-brown in colour, holding little warmth, only a serene light. Black, obsidian coloured hair was pulled back from her face, and held in the back of her head by a white satin ribbon. Two glossy strands hung loose from the ribbon, one on each side of her face, and her delicate, even fringe of raven bangs shaded her cool gaze. Her complexion was ivory, translucent and perfect in every way. Her red hakama and white haori, and also her quiver of arrows and her longbow proclaimed her as a miko. About her neck hung a large rose hued bauble by a chain of demon fangs.

He sat on the topmost branch of the Goshinboku, glorying in the ripple of the breeze through his shiny, fine hair the colour of red wine. Golden eyes peered keenly through the mass of branches and leaves, gazing longingly at the woman in the field.

‘How I long to become a full demon. That jewel will grant my desire. But that woman -’ his thoughts trailed off.

Carefully, he masked his aura from her, lest she sense him. His red haori and hakama were enough to give him away anyway. Quietly, he leapt out of the tree, and over the woman and the village youngsters before she could realize he’d ever been there.

Suddenly his form stopped moving, rooted to one spot. Numbly, he felt his ki rise out of his form, knowing that this was an out of body experience before it even occurred. His senses were incredibly fine-tuned. His ghostly ki floated over the woman, and watched in fascination as she allowed the children to braid flowers into her jet black tresses.

‘Kikyo. Her name is Kikyo. No matter how beautiful I think her though, I must possess the Shikon no Tama.’

A sudden movement in the distance alerted his sensitive ears and nose, as he scented a strong yet foul demonic aura. A figure appeared swiftly behind the woman, garbed from head to foot in the same vestments he now wore, and a high red-coloured ponytail whipped out behind him as he sprinted toward the unarmed miko.

‘NO!’

The figure disguised as himself extended his claws, and struck at the woman from downwind, and he could hear the scraping of claws through flesh, muscle and scratching roughly against bone. Impossibly delicate, almost bird-like bones. Crimson liquid spurted from the massive wound to her shoulder, and he screamed for her, but no sound came from his mouth. He could but watch in terror as the miko collapsed forward onto her hands and knees, and gasped for air that wouldn’t come.

“Why did you betray me, Inuyasha!” she screamed.

The figure that outwardly looked like him, but yet was so glaringly not him laughed cruelly down at the fallen woman. Picking up the pink bauble and rolling it over his palms, he gazed with disgust down at the woman.

“Little fool. I had no desire whatsoever to become human. But I’ll take the jewel with me anyway. Thanks.” the eerie, snake-like voice that sounded like a possessed version of himself hissed before bounding off into the forest. He tried to growl menacingly at the murderer, but could not make a sound.

In the next moment, he sighted the stranger again, now morphed into the likeness of Kikyo, and was firing random arrows from their quiver at his prone body.

What in hell is happening here?!

Then in utter horror, he watched as his body on the ground, the real him began to move of its own accord, toward the beautiful Shinto shrine. The spirit followed his body, and witnessed his true self taking the jewel from its resting place upon the sacred altar and bounding away with it. Night had fallen, and his body looked -angry?

His true self tramped through the surrounding village, and set the entire settlement ablaze. His body shoved his elongated claws through the eye of a young girl on moment, gutted the innards of an elderly, toothless man the next. The screams of the frightened populace as he began to systematically massacre every single last one of them grated at the ears of the ki.

‘NO! I can’t be doing this!’ he screamed inwardly.

In the next moment, the ki found himself back in his body, his red hair caked with the crusted, dried blood of his victims. His hakama and haori were singed, and he held the jewel in one of his clawed hands. Wait, where was he? The Goshinboku, his sanctuary, the place where he always seemed to find peace. A rustling of the branches nearby alerted him, and he crouched into his defensive stance, should the need arise to do so.

It was the woman, Kikyo. Clutching at her shoulder, scarlet blood dripping in thick drops onto the soil below, causing the ground to be spattered with it. The sickly-sweet smell of it nearly caused him to black out. The woman was dying, he could scent it on her. But she simply drew her bow and an arrow from her quiver calmly, her beautiful eyes narrowed into cool, dark slits. She notched the arrow in the bow, and fired it at him.

“Die, Inuyasha!” she screamed with all the remaining strength she had, her breathing coming in shallow, rattling wheezes. Time seemed to slow, and in slow-motion effect, the arrow flew, and hit home, straight through his heart.

“NO, KIKYOOOOOOO!” he screamed, finding his voice again, only to lose it as his eyelids grew heavy and he fell wordlessly into a deep sleep, but not before seeing the jewel roll out of his paralysed hands to the ground, where the miko picked it up and pocketed it.

Kenshin awoke, sweat soaking his entire body in a sheen of stale-smelling oil. Blinking his eyes rapidly to acclimate to the dark, he inhaled and exhaled in shallow pants. The woman lying on the bed roll next to his stirred, and turned to face him, her blue-grey eyes twin luminous pools in the darkness.

“Kenshin? You all right?” she whispered.

“That-That was a mere nightmare?!” he exclaimed softly in disbelief.

“What happened, anata?” she asked, sounding worried as one of her hands reached out blindly, and fumbled out until she firmly grasped one of his own hands, still sticky with sweat.

“I-I was in a tree, watching a woman with children in a field. She wore a huge pink stone about her neck, and I wanted it. She was dressed in red and white, and had the most cool-serene expression I’ve ever seen on a woman -it was almost frightening. I became detached from my body, and watched as another demon took my likeness and slew her, then took on her likeness and fired at my still body. My body then moved on its own, entered a temple and took the bauble that had been replaced. The woman reappeared just as my ki joined my body again, and she shot at me.” he recounted the entire dream in a nutshell, and began to shake violently.

Kagome was quiet across from him. “Kenshin. Were you dressed in red?”

“Hai. My hair was the same as it is now, but I possessed claws instead of fingernails.” he stiffened his spine, and glanced over at the sleeping hanyou. “Iie, it couldn’t be.”

“I’m afraid so, Kenshin.” she said quietly, as her other arm reached out, drawing him toward the calming heat of her own body. “You dreamed of the final encounter between Inuyasha and Kikyo, except you were in Inuyasha’s place.”

“I don’t understand why.” he muttered shakily, clutching tightly at her blue tee shirt like a lifeline.

“Me neither. It wasn’t pretty, ne? That’s the woman he keeps thinking of. When we get that jewel back, I’m going to wish her back, so that they can at least have a chance to settle their differences.” Kagome replied. He continued to shiver in her arms, and she tightened her hold on his body. She turned him so he faced her, and she gasped when she saw the sheer terror on the boy’s face. Kagome smiled reassuringly, bringing one hand up to gently brush back the shade of crimson bangs from his forehead, and began to wipe the sweat off.

She doesn’t care that her hands will reek of my sweat? I love being held by someone. After having others depend on me and depending on myself, finally after eighteen years, I can depend on this girl.

“It’s all right, Kenshin. The nightmare is over.” she murmured gently, leaning her forehead against his, still slightly damp with perspiration. Their noses were touching, and he remained silent, simply content to inhale the calming scent of her. Vanilla and a fruit he couldn’t name. He found he preferred it far better than white plum.

Blue eyes stared into violet flecked with gold, and she smiled brightly at him. Feeling oddly courageous, Kagome pressed her lips to his in a quick, fleeting kiss that was over all too soon for the now thoroughly hazy-minded former assassin.

“G-Gomen.” she uttered in apology, about to move away when two solid arms clamped about her form like a steel band, a grip as tight as Bankotsu’s had been earlier, but infinitely comfortable, and -alluring?

“Don’t you dare apologize for that.” he growled, before capturing her lips with his in a demanding, passion filled kiss. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her mouth parted in surprise and pleasure when his tongue began to lick at her lips, and when his teeth grazed her lower lip gently. She allowed him entrance as he shoved his tongue into her mouth, only to be met by hers as they danced wildly together. His hands began massaging soothing spheres on the sensitive flesh covering her spine, as she moaned softly into his mouth. Her hands could not be controlled. They were in his hair, gripping his shoulders, massaging his chest. When her left index finger and thumb accidentally grazed a nipple, he growled into her mouth and rolled half atop her.

The embrace deepened further, and Kagome was shocked by the bolts of electricity travelling from his body, and thrumming through hers. The blood sang in her veins, and boiled in his. Dazedly, she realized where their ‘innocent kiss’ was headed, and did not wish for it to go down such a path in front of her companions, whether they were asleep or no. She pulled away gently, but made no effort to move him from where he lay, instead decided to run her fingers through his now thoroughly dishevelled win coloured tresses. His ponytail had been wrenched out, and half of his hair was down, half up. Her own hair hadn’t fared much better, but she didn’t mind.

“Wow,” she murmured in awe, and sighed, closing her eyes lightly as he grazed the backside of his hand down a smooth, soft porcelain coloured cheek.

“I’ll say.” he chuckled quietly, gazing down at the girl who had taken him to heaven just now. His shimmering gaze held such adoration in their depths that the reincarnated miko was almost moved to tears. Instead, she caught his hand in hers and squeezed tightly, and returned his adoring glance.

“I am happy like this, with you.” Kagome murmured.

Kenshin’s eyes widened in shock. “You mean that? But what about -”

The index finger of her free hand pressed against his soft, kiss-swollen lips.

“Shh, Kenshin. He is a wonderful person, but I never felt this electricity when he touched me as I do with you. I always feel like I have to hide myself, my true self to save face and not look a fool in front of him. I do not feel that way with you. I trust you.” she responded.

“I-I have never felt this way with a woman.” he said truthfully.

She smiled gently. He had gotten used to the few rare occurrences where she would smile around the rest of the group, but when she was with him, it was all she did. Every moment they were alone together, she was grinning from ear to ear, and he adored seeing it.

She smiles for me. Not Inuyasha, not Miroku, not for that Bankotsu character who accosted her earlier. Just me.

The very knowledge of this elated his battered soul to no end.

“I care a lot about you,” she said suddenly. “I’m drawn to you like a magnet. You set my body on fire, and my mind into a fog when we’re together. But you make me think, too. About life, about the world in general and how it’s changing -will change.”

“I feel the same.” he mumbled, and she grinned, hugging him tighter to her. When she did that, a certain very noticeably ‘changed’ body part pressed into her abdomen, and they both froze. But she looked up at him with a knowing glance, a delicate rose blush colouring her cheeks in the pale twilight.

“That’s for me.” she breathed, blushing even more when he nodded dumbly.

“There’s certainly no one else capable of doing this to me.” he replied with a blush of his own.

“I have power!” she exclaimed in a whisper, and began to giggle.

“Oro?!” he exclaimed, looking clueless. Blushing, she arched her body slightly off her sleeping bag, pressing herself closer into his body. Belatedly, Kenshin noticed how perfectly the soft curves of her body fit with the hard planes of his own. When she pressed up into him, though, he sucked in a ragged breath, and closed his eyes.

“Oh Kami-sama.” he whispered almost inaudibly.

“That’s the power I have, isn’t it?” Kagome demanded with a quiet giggle.

“It certainly is, you Enchantress.” he shot back, with a grin of his own. He squeezed the hand he was holding, looking earnestly down into her beautiful face. “We have all the time in the world, Kagome. I won’t rush you for this. We’ll go slow, and you come to me when you’re ready.”

Now tears really did spring to Kagome’s dew coloured eyes. “What did I do to deserve a guy as sweet as you?” she whispered.

“Kami-sama did a good deed when he sent me to you.” Kenshin murmured, kissing her lips lightly.

“Hai, that he did.” she agreed. Kenshin rolled off of her, and got up, joining her inside her sleeping bag. He drew her back against his chest, and he buried his face in her mass of raven tresses. Kenshin had desperately needed the physical contact with her, and gloried in the feel of her body nestled into his. He wasn’t alone anymore. Whether or not he deserved her, he now had a beautiful woman by his side. She was his own to hug and kiss, and hold. That was enough for him. More intimate activities could wait. Kenshin also no longer felt threatened by the hanyou, knowing that somehow, Inuyasha knew that Kagome and he could never be simply due to the fact that he belonged here and Kagome in her time for now. Kenshin didn’t belong anywhere. After their enemies were defeated, where they would go would be up to Kagome. Wherever she went, he would go with her.

They snuggled together, not caring if they were discovered thus in the morning. They were together, that was all they cared about.

++++

The next morning, Kenshin awoke to find the demon huntress looking down at him curiously. Her mahogany eyes still held the same sadness that seemed to be inherent in every word spoken, every action performed, every movement she made, every glance her eyes cast upon something. Sango was her name, he thought as his mind desperately grappled out of the sleep-drugged ambiguity that had overcome it. His violet eyes returned her glance, questioning. The sun touched her jet black hair, and he noticed for the first time the auburn streaks that ran through the tresses. No wonder the houshi cast covetous glances her way all the time.

A slight smile curved her lips. “You are making Kagome-chan happy.” she said simply. “I’m glad. Inuyasha doesn’t mean to, but always ends up hurting her because he made a promise to Kikyo that she was under his protection only.”

Kenshin nodded warily, stunned by Sango’s words. This was the most she had ever spoken to him. “I’m trying my best to make her happy.” he replied solemnly.

Her eyes took on a far away look, and Kenshin frowned. “Are you all right?” he asked, as he arose to stand beside the silent taijiya.

“Hai.” she replied quickly, her voice devoid of emotion or feeling.

What in hell is it with these females and acting like they’re dead inside?!

“Fine, if you do not wish to tell me so be it. But from one who has seen much bloodshed, I can tell you have seen your fair share as well. You have the haunted air of someone who has seen their loved ones die.” he said bluntly.
Sango’s laugh was bitter, but her eyes held the same sadness as always. “I have.”

“You can speak on it, you know. The dead wish nothing for the living save their happiness. That they continue on and live their lives, not spending it forever in mourning.” said Kenshin, as he untied his hair, which fell loose in a cascade of strands the colour of sunset.

Sango’s gasp was barely audible. “But, Kohaku is dead, but is not at once.” she replied. Father, the rest of my village I am reconciled with, but not my brother.”

“Tell me.” Kenshin said, boring his gaze into hers. The longer she didn’t speak on it, the more painful it would be for her, forever bottled inside her soul. It would poison her eventually.

“Why do you want to know?” she demanded, her eyes flashing with distrust. Kenshin sighed.

“We have been companions for almost a year, Sango. Believe what you will, but I do in fact regard you all as family.” he said quietly, stunning the taijiya. “Therefore, I care very much for all of you. The houshi, the kitsune, the hanyou, yourself, that cowardly flea, your two-tailed fire cat and of course, Kagome-dono.”

“Before I met Inuyasha and the others, father and the others were commissioned by a wealthy lord to eradicate youkai from his shiro. Among those who went were My father, myself and my younger brother, Kohaku. It was his first battle. To be brief, Naraku deceived us, and had a demon possess my brother, forcing him to kill father and the others, and severely wounding me.” she began, for once looking the former assassin in the eye.

They killed him with arrows and spears. The only reason why he walks this Earth now is due to the shard of the Shikon no Tama in his back. Otherwise he would be dead. In any case, while we were at the shiro, Naraku attacked our village, razing it to the ground and slaughtering all the remaining inhabitants. When I learned of it, naturally I was angered. Naraku, under the guise of the castle lord, blamed the entire affair upon Inuyasha, forcing me to attack him and engage him in battle -safe to say, I lost and the shard of the jewel numbing me from the pain was removed.” she finished, her eyes enormous in her face as her eyes filled with tears and her lower lip trembled.

Kenshin was stunned. The tale was an exceedingly dark and tragic one, much as his own life had been. A new respect formed in him for the taijiya.

“Kohaku is still under Naraku’s control. He remembers nothing, especially about me. Off and on the memories sometimes come, and with it the pain of his murdering tousan, but never does he remember me as his Aneue.” she whispered, gazing helplessly into the eyes of a boy who had seen the same sorts of things she had seen. After all, he was a slayer as she was.

Rage boiled in Kenshin’s blood. This Naraku would pay, and dearly. If he had to employ the succession technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu to ensure justice be done, so be it.

“I am very sorry.” Kenshin said softly. “We will all ensure the vile hanyou pays with his life and that he be sent to Hell where he belongs. As for the sadness, taijiya, you must let it go else it poison your soul. Now that I know how joy feels, I will not have you or anyone I care for denied it as well. The boy will be retrieved, maybe we can even save him from his fate. You must hope, Sango. I am aware such a thing is hard for people who have seen and done the types of things we have. Must hope is what keeps us all going in the end.”

Sango’s eyes widened as she gazed with interest at the former Hitokiri. “Tomoe was the one who first showed you human feeling, wasn’t she?” she whispered.

“Yes.” he replied, his tone neutral. “As the houshi has been able to do with you. Neither of you are as fragile as she was, though. You will live and be happy, as I want to with that miko sleeping over there.”

“You and Inuyasha really aren’t so different.” Sango replied, as she blushed. “If only Miroku-sama would pay less attention to all the other women and solely me, I wish -” she said wistfully.

“That you be the only one he loves.” Kenshin replied bluntly, and Sango nodded. “It’s what Kagome wants, too. I think I can give that to her. I was wrought with guilt over Tomoe’s memory because I failed her, but I realized that Kami-sama gave me a second chance in her, as he had Inuyasha. But he cannot see that, can he?”

“He still pines for Kikyo in his heart, even as he loves Kagome very much.” Sango nodded sadly. “It is very sad, but she has been very good for him.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever understand those two, but I will not interfere. If she ends up choosing him, so be it. I will not force her. She will be happy where she will be happy.” he said, though his hands balled themselves into large fists.

Sango reached out a hand, smoothing it over the shoulder of his navy haori.

“You are a good man.” she said quietly. “I am sorry for avoiding you the way I have.”

“Likewise for me.” Kenshin replied solemnly, taking her hand and holding it in his own. “I am always your friend. If you need me, I will be there. No matter what.” he said, and moved away from her, walking in the direction of the river.

Sango stared after him, mahogany eyes lit with understanding and happiness for once. She turned, and found herself staring at Inuyasha.

“He’s hurting inside, too.” the hanyou murmured at length, fingering the sleeve of his red haori.

“Hai. Slowly, though he’s coming to terms with her memory, as you ought to with Kikyo. Take his example and follow, Inuyasha.” the taijiya replied gently.

Inuyasha’s golden eyes grew distant. “He felt guilty because he hadn’t protected her, it’s why I feel guilty over Kikyo. Now I have the shell of her wandering around, hating me for what I did not do rather than what I did.”

“The real Kikyo, who she was fifty years ago would not have blamed you.” Sango said rationally.

“You know this, how?” Inuyasha asked petulantly.
Sango smiled gently. “Because her soul was reincarnated in Kagome, indicating the real her bore no regrets or pain in leaving this world. As Kenshin’s wife chose her death, so did Kikyo. Her soul is in Kagome, and Kagome loves you. No, she bares you no blame, Inuyasha. This shell is fuelled by evil powers and isn’t the real woman.”

Inuyasha sighed as he gazed over at the sleeping form of the woman he loved. “I am bound to this woman, it seems, ne? In this life and the next. I suppose going to hell with her shell would not be the wisest course. She’s sleeping right there, and she cares for me.”

“Kagome is Kagome, Inuyasha. Kikyo’s soul is in her body, but Kagome’s own soul is conjoined with it. She is herself, her own person. I think you see that, do you not?” Sango asked, a serious note in her tone.

“She is, isn’t she? I’ve been really dense to not see that.” Inuyasha muttered. “I need to go talk to that assassin, though. I’ll be back.” Inuyasha walked off toward the river after Kenshin, intent upon having a conversation with the former Battousai about what strategy they ought to employ in fighting this seven man army.

Sango looked after him worriedly, knowing that the hanyou would question the red-haired assassin about his sleeping next to Kagome last night. From his conversation with her, she knew that Kenshin wouldn’t be in the mood for that today.

+++

Inuyasha found Kenshin by the river. He wore only his grey hakama, his haori and his inner haori were neatly folded on the soft grass. His tan skin was wet, his wine coloured hair dripping from its newly done up high ponytail. Kenshin had his sword unsheathed and was practicing moves that Inuyasha had never seen any human, Samurai or noble use, let alone common soldiers. Not even demons used this fighting style. The hanyou noticed all the faded scars over the Battousai’s body and cringed.

“How lucky I am to have the demonic healing properties passed down from father.” he thought to himself. Those scars looked like they had been fearsome wounds indeed.

Kenshin’s knees were bent, the left foot stretched behind and slightly off the ground. His right foot stood in front, bearing his weight. His head was held low, but his eyes seemed to be on his target, a young tree. Kenshin’s right hand wrapped about his torso to clutch the hilt of his katana, while the left held the sheath aloft at a thirty degree angle. Inuyasha watched intently as Kenshin settled into a comfortable footing. In the next moment, the katana was drawn from the sheath, and the tree was rent in two. Inuyasha hadn’t even seen the former assassin’s body or arms move, let alone the sword being drawn. Inuyasha hadn’t even heard the katana as it had sped from its sheath.

“How did you do that?” Inuyasha asked, golden eyes wide as he leaned his back against an older tree.

Kenshin turned, and piercing violet eyes met the hanyou’s. “Simple. Battoujutsu, the move I just demonstrated, is the basic move of my style, the platform upon which Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu stands. You adopt the stance I just held, and draw your sword out of its scabbard very, very quickly.” he replied, looking at the hanyou with interest.

“Can I learn that?” Inuyasha asked, remembering the time his brother had criticized him for not knowing how to correctly wield Tetsusaiga. That he ‘swung it around like a Neanderthal’.

“If you wish, although it will be harder to teach you with your sword being the size it is. Why don’t you borrow the taijiya’s katana and practice the moves with me, and then we will work on changing the moves to better fit Tetsusaiga’s size and power?” Kenshin suggested, as he lifted his right hand to carelessly wipe away the few droplets of sweat upon his brow.

“Feh. You have yourself a deal.” Inuyasha said cockily, a lazy grin lighting his face, and Kenshin grinned back.

“A half-demon using Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. You’ll be feared and respected everywhere you go.” Kenshin warned. “Your already extraordinary abilities will make your attacks all the stronger. Be certain to use this only in your pursuit of Naraku and his minions, and in the defense of your loved ones. Do not make the mistake of using it to kill without remorse as I have.”

Inuyasha frowned and pushed off from the tree, nearing Kenshin. “I won’t. But won’t you tell me some about what happened? You seem to know some of the darkest secrets of my past already.” Kenshin’s gaze bore into his.

“Do not blame Kagome, she -” he started.

“I don’t mind, you’re more like us than anyone could have imagined. But trust us in return. There got to be more to it than you’ve let on.” Inuyasha said.

“You don’t know a quarter of it.” Kenshin muttered bitterly. “I’m sparing you the awful details. Look, I’ just not ready to speak of it. Maybe another time. I do trust all of you, but I haven’t even told Kagome any more than I’ve told you or the others.”

Inuyasha’s frown deepened. “Well we’ve all seen some pretty heinous things, especially since we started going after Naraku. Sango’s little brother and the curse he placed on the houshi are the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Well Hitokiri, I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to. You may find that being a hanyou, I understand a lot more than you might think. Now Let’s go eat before we start training, hmm? I smell ramen.”

With a nod, a silent Kenshin followed Inuyasha back to camp, where ramen was indeed cooking. Kagome greeted each of them with a hug, and yelped in surprise when Kenshin pulled her close and kissed her mouth tenderly.

“I think you taste better than any meal could.” he whispered wickedly into her left ear, before licking its outer shell lightly. He grinned in satisfaction when he felt the frisson move down the length of her graceful spine. Miroku, wide-eyed, attempted to do the same with Sango, earning him a rather hard whack on the rear by Hiraikotsu.

“Go feel up a tree and leave me the hell alone.” she growled in irritation as she moved to sit beside Shippou, and ladling herself a bowl of ramen.

“Serves you right, perverted houshi.” Inuyasha muttered with a grin.

“And here I thought monks were supposed to be chaste.” Kenshin murmured, his eyes gleaming with humour. Kagome let out a loud guffaw, followed by the others.

“I’ll have you know that I -” Miroku began.

“Buddhist monks are supposed to be the most pious and chaste, in order to reach enlightenment before we ordinary mortals.” Kenshin commented. “So your so-called duty of ‘easing the hearts of all women with your mind and body’ bullshit won’t convince me, baka.” he laughed.

“It’s a sacred duty passed on by my grandfather to my father, and down to me!” Miroku exclaimed, beads of perspiration forming on his forehead and upper lip.

“Bah. I think one woman would be too much for you to handle, let alone all the women in Japan, houshi. The women of this country are rather -spirited.” Kenshin teased, as he laughed.

“Bring it on, then!” Miroku announced confidently, but even he could hear the tremor of doubt in it.

“All right, next village we come upon let us see how many females make their intentions known to decapitate your balls and then you can say the same thing again.” Kenshin announced with an impossibly straight face, but Kagome who was still imprisoned against his body could feel the rumbling in his chest and knew his immense restraint over his laughter.

“You’re a mean one, assassin.” Miroku noted in exasperation.

“Only when I feel like it,” Kenshin retorted with a cocky smirk.

“Come on boys, enough is enough. I’m hungry!” Kagome demanded, as she fought against Kenshin’s hold as the grumbling of her stomach increased.

“Oh fine, be that way Kagome-dono.” Kenshin sniffed in mock brooding. Kagome merely smack him on the back.

“You’re just as much a pain in the ass as the other two are.” She said dryly. But her blue eyes sparkled with her amusement.

“Is that so?” Kenshin raised a brow. “You weren’t complaining of pain last ni-”

“Damare.” Kagome gritted through her teeth as everyone proceeded to glance at her with interest. “I really need to get Kaede-baachan to get a rosary for you.”

Inuyasha’s laughter filled the clearing. “Gahahahaha! For ocne she’s not thinking of subduing me! Best of luck, Hitokiri. That woman’s a -”

“Inuyasha, don’t say it.” Kagome snarled, and the hanyou laughed all the more.

“Foul tempered, bossy, ungrateful, vengeful valkyrie!” he chortled, having learned the Nordic term for a bitch from her books. Yes, Inuyasha really did read Kagome’s school books, he wagered he knew more about things, past and present than she, due to her abhorrence of reading and studying.

“INUYASHA, OSUWARIIIIIII!” Kagome screamed, the very fires of hell encircling her petite form.

Crash.

There was now a hanyou-shaped crater several feet deep in the ground.

“Chickusho!” his pained voice sounded from its depths.

“Osuwari, potty mouth!” Kagome yelled.

“Ite.” Inuyasha growled.

To put it mildly, breakfast after that was an interesting affair. Everyone making jibes at each other, only serving to annoy Kagome further. Her short temper wasn’t meant for this type of banter, and if she did not escape this bunch of ruffians, she’d explode and sit them all, damnit.

And so, she decided that maybe going to take a calm, relaxing, solo bath in the river would be exactly what the doctor ordered. Wordlessly, she grabbed her pack and her weapons, and made off for the river by herself.

“I’m going to take a bath, and no one had best bother me! Get it? Got it? GOOD!” she yelled over her back.

Gaining the river, Kagome was quick to disrobe and plunge into the surprisingly lukewarm water. Reaching for her bottle of shampoo, she poured some into her other hand, and closing the cap, replaced the bottle on the flat, brownish grey rock at her side. She lathered the raspberry smelling substance into her hair, before dunking herself under the placid light blue water rippling about her, in an effort to rinse. She repeated this with her conditioner, and then washed herself. Also, she made sure to shave her legs and underarms. No sense in being the equivalent of a hairy gorilla around three guys.

Unknown to her, a pair of sapphire eyes watched her in rapt fascination.

“That woman is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, and she can see the Shikon no Kakkera to boot. She will be mine.” her observer thought to himself.

As Kagome began to swim about and truly enjoy her time alone, Bankotsu decided to abandon his cover within the trees. He was no skulking thief, ashamed to even be caught glancing appreciatively at a beautiful woman. No, he was the leader of the powerful seven man army, and he would conduct himself as such.

“I know you’re there.” she stated calmly, her back turned to him. Bankotsu’s eyes widened in shock.

“How -” he began.

“The Shikon no Kakkera keeping you alive, remember?” Bankotsu nodded dumbly, and paled under his tan. “What is it you have taken so much trouble to seek me out for?” she asked, her tone deceptively icy. Inside she was furious.
“You will dress and come with me.” he said firmly.

“That’s all?” she demanded incredulously, turning her head to face him.

“Well no, but that’s certainly all I’m going to tell you for now.” he said with a cocky smirk.

“You’re pretty sure of yourself.” she remarked flatly.

“With good reason.” he shot back good-naturedly.

Kagome actually smiled at Bankotsu, who’s breath was momentarily stolen. “You are one cocky guy, but it’s adorable.” she said smirking wider.

“Ano?” he asked dumbly. “Oh yeah, the spell. The one that makes her fall in love with the first male she sees.”

In a moment, a sprinkling of dust rained down upon them, fine and sparkling, like sand, but not. It was not rough when it landed upon her, but it seemed to glow a faint purplish colour.

“What in hell is this?” she demanded, glaring at Bankotsu, who looked almost apologetic.

“I’m sorry.” he whispered. Kagome blacked out, and Bankotsu fought the urge to. That damned dust was powerful stuff, but Mukotsu had done a damned good job this time -although if the stuff was so potent as to make him , who had jewel shards almost faint, he knew Kagome would be long in waking.

“Poor girl. I never meant to hurt her.” he thought as he jumped into the water, retrieving her before she drowned. Gingerly he pulled her naked body close to his as he pulled them both to the shoreline, glad that she was asleep, otherwise she’d be furious at him for seeing her like this.

“Though somehow I wish she wouldn’t be.” he thought and sighed. He dressed her in her discarded garments, gathered her things, and took off. Kagome had never noticed that his distinctive halberd was missing.

++++

“Kagomeeeeeee!” Shippou called, as he bounded down towards the river.

The tiny fox’s teal eyes widened in shock. Kagome was gone. “Kagome! Where are you?” he called, his tone plaintive and scared to his own ears.

Inuyasha and Kenshin who had been training, heard his call and joining up with Sango and Miroku, raced down toward the river. They all gasped. Not even her things had been left behind. Kagome was gone.

“Kagome-sama probably just went home.” the houshi suggested.

“Dame. She wouldn’t have left without telling anyone, it’s not her way.” Inuyasha said. He growled low in his throat as the scent of grave dirt assailed his sensitive nose. “It’s the same bastard who had her before. It smells like grave dirt all over this area.”

Kenshin growled himself, and grasped his katana. “No rash actions, Inuyasha. We can indeed follow their scent trail, but to what end? We can’t fight all of them, now can we? Those damned jewel shards have augmented their strength. I sense an elevation of his swordsman’s ki. Even if Bankotsu is the strongest, there are still others -with unknown abilities at large.”

“You can sense ki?” Shippou said incredulously.

“Feh. We’ll follow, but at a slower pace. We need to elarn more about these bastards.” Inuyasha said gruffly.

“I can do it.” Kenshin said confidently.

“Nani? But You and I could train while we follow them, and -”

“No, Inuyasha. I have the skills of a trained assassin. I was trained in the art of luring my prey into the shadows, of observing my targets before I killed them from those very same shadows. So I was named Battousai. My skills are required again, as these are assassins as well. I’ll go on ahead, just point me in their general direction. Although I think I can sense Bankotsu’s immense ki from here.” Kenshin replied.

“I don’t like it.” Inuyasha said firmly. “It doesn’t just smell like grave dirt here.”

“What do you mean?” Miroku asked.

“It smells like magic. I can scent magic when it’s used, don’t ask me how or why. I smell it here. Someone used a spell around here. You’re not going alone, Battousai. Not when magic is being used.”

Kenshin sighed. “Fine. But I’m going now.”

“Funny, so are we.” Inuyasha said huffily, walking past the enraged former assassin.

++++

The temple was empty. Good. Gently, he placed the girl down on the ground, and placed a pillow beneath her head, and a blanket over her prone form. It would be a good long while before the poor thing woke up.

“Damn you, Mukotsu.” he snarled mentally. The damned stuff had not only affected her, but he as well. The poison that made one believe they were in love with the first person of the opposite sex they regarded. Unquestionably, she would have been the object of his err -affection either way, as he only hung around with his six male compatriots.

But she? He had to make sure she didn’t grace any of the others with a glance from those hauntingly beautiful eyes until she’d bestowed it upon him first. Having this fragile, pure woman in love with any of the others would spell disaster. Especially if she regarded Jakotsu. He wasn’t into girls -he much preferred the village men, as it were. Renkotsu, Ginkotsu and Kyoukotsu would not hesitate to slay her on sight, and Mukotsu, well he didn’t want her bound to a man that ugly. Suikotsu was the only other, slightly favourable contender, but his mental stability was questionable on a normal day, and these were not normal days by any means.

They had been revived from the grave by that conniving hanyou he’d met twenty years ago in that barren forest. The one who had killed that toad demon, and then almost fought him. Naraku had awoken them all, vowing to grant them eternal life in exchange for the lives of Inuyasha and his group.

“But never did Naraku mention that creepy Hitokiri,” Bankotsu thought with a shudder.

That man had given him an eerie vibe. Bankotsu was wholly human, and yet even he could scent the overwhelming stench of blood from him. Bankotsu had dispatched one thousand humans, and nearly as many youkai. Ten more, and he’d reach his goal. But he did not give off that foul odour. This man must have slain many, many more than he.

The sound of the girl stirring drew him from his thought, and his sapphire eyes grew wide.

“Already she has awakened?!”

Her mist-coloured eyes regarded him thoughtfully, then with adoration. Bankotsu felt himself returning her look, and he smiled at her.

“It’s about time you woke up, koishii.” he teased gently. She smiled.

“No worries about me, love. I’m fine. How are you, anata?” she asked softly.