As Death Gives Life

Chapter 10 – Feminine Persuasion

Inuyasha and his friends sat around the early morning fire waiting to break the nights fast. Earlier Shippo had scurried around the forest searching the underbrush and happily uncovered a nesting area for wild guineas. He had managed to down two adults and gather almost a dozen eggs. Kagome was thrilled when her little friend returned with his kill. He was so proud of himself that his little chest puffed out with pride. Kagome made a big show of congratulating him on providing breakfast enough for the entire group, and even Inuyasha gave him a few words of praise, though Kagome suspected that it had a lot to do with the hanyou’s growling stomach.

Anubis watched the morning ritual from his perch beneath the tree. He had plans for them all today, but he would wait until after they had eaten to inform them of the fact. Yes, it was time to put things in motion.

Today they would seek out Naraku.

He listened to the lighthearted banter between the shard hunters. It seemed to him that their constant bickering was not meant as an offensive verbal spar, but simply playful teasing. Once he had come to this realization he began to understand the personalities behind the individuals. It soon became clear that this group held strong ties from one to the other, and it would be impossible to break them apart.

That knowledge helped to put him at ease a bit. He had been worried about the effects his departure would have upon Kagome. He knew that she was building an affection for him, and he was concerned that she would feel completely lost when he was forced to take his leave. Surely with the support of her friends she will pull through the traumatizing event without losing herself.

He would have to remember to speak to Lord Sesshomaru before he left. It would be imperative for Kagome’s mental health, that her friends be allowed to spend as much time with her as possible. It shouldn’t be a problem for the taiyoukai, as he already harbors one human within his castle walls.

Anubis allowed his senses to drift outward. Again he picked up the presence of their silent watcher. He wondered what business the female youkai had with the group. She had been trailing them since the so-called battle against Inuyasha, and had taken up a post near the travelers during the night. At first he worried that perhaps she meant them harm in some way, but as he watched throughout the night he began to see that he was perhaps wrong in his first assumption. Kat made no move to approach them during their rest. She seemed content to stay in the shadows.

He felt no immediate threat from the female therefore he made no move to reveal her close proximity to the others. Without a doubt, the hanyou would not be pleased with the knowledge. Anubis decided to keep her secret for the time being, and hopefully her intentions would be revealed soon enough.

Once the hungry group had appeased their appetites, Kagome and Sango gathered the cooking utensils and dirty cookware. The two women headed for the stream to wash up everything, as well as to groom themselves a bit before they headed off once again on their seemingly endless search for the remaining shards.

Once they had made it a good distance from camp, Sango felt comfortable that she could prod Kagome for information concerning her new ‘friend’ without nosey ears hearing the conversation. “So Kagome, did you enjoy your little visit with Lord Anubis last night?”

Kagome blushed furiously. She smiled at her best friend, and said, “As a matter of fact I did. Sango he is so sweet. He acts like he really likes me.”

“Did you find out why he is here?” Sango asked, as she stepped over a fallen tree limb in the path.

Kagome, following close behind, crossed over the same limb. Then she looked up to find Sango looking at her questioningly. She shrugged her shoulders as said, “Well, not exactly. He just keeps telling me that ‘all will be revealed’. Whatever that’s supposed to mean. He said that he’s here for me.”

Sango huffed with a slight scowl. “You know Kagome, you need to be careful. Foreign Gods don’t just drop in for any old reason. He has an agenda that apparently involves you, and I can’t imagine that it isn’t something important, or he wouldn’t have come all this way.”

“I know Sango. It’s just that he seems so caring, and protective of me. I really don’t think he’s here to harm me,” Kagome replied.

“He may not be, but something is definitely strange about the whole thing. Just keep your guard up, and don’t let his suave demeanor fool you,” Sango advised. “He seems an awful lot like Miroku to me, so I’d keep a close eye out for the lecher that may be lurking behind that godly persona.”

Kagome laughed at her friend. Anubis a lecher? Leave it to Sango to come to that conclusion.

“Oh you think I’m wrong do you? I tell you, Kagome, he took to Miroku a little too easy if you ask me. You know what they say... Birds of a feather, flock together.” Sango warned.

Kagome sighed. She understood that Sango only had her best interest at heart, but Sango just couldn’t understand what it was like. When they were alone he was so attentive and loving toward her. He didn’t push her, or make her feel like she had to be on guard. She smiled at Sango, “Thanks for your advice, Sango. I’ll be careful.” No sense arguing with her best friend. Sango wasn’t one to change her mind once it was made up without evidence to prove her wrong.

Sango returned her friends smile, and placed her free arm around her shoulder. “You know I only say this because I care about you right?”

“I know,” Kagome said softly.

“Well, you didn’t tell me how close you two have gotten. Is there anything I should know?” Sango teased.

Kagome giggled at her friends’ persistence. Sango was terribly bashful about revealing anything concerning her own private moments with a certain monk, but she loved to pry things out of Kagome. As usual, Kagome cracked under the pressure and before she knew it she spilled the beans, “Heh...heh... well... he kind of... we... sort of... kissed last night.”

“Oh my!” Sango replied in amused disbelief. “Did you... enjoy it?”

Another bright red flush covered Kagome from head to foot before she nodded and giggled out a ‘yes’. Both women fell into a fit of girlish laughter and they continued to the stream. They were unaware that someone had decided to follow them, until they arrived and deposited their dirty dishes in the waters edge. Suddenly Kagome felt the presence of the jewel shard and went rigid with awareness.

Sango immediately noticed the stiff posture of her best friend and looked around the forests edge. She knew Kagome well enough to know that there was a jewel shard nearby. “Kagome, should I call Inuyasha?”

Kagome then relaxed before her eyes, and shook her head ‘no’. Then she surprised the slayer by saying, “It’s safe to come out. We would love for you to join us.”

Sango looked at Kagome strangely, wondering what in the world her miko friend was talking about, or more importantly, ‘who’ she was talking to. She was further surprised when the ‘who’ dropped down from a tree to the far right of their position.

Kat had been watching the two women as they did their menial cleanup task. She was more interested in their conversation than what they were doing. It was clear to her that these two shared a deep friendship, something that she had only longed to experience. No one had ever trusted her enough to call her a friend.

The demoness was surprised when the miko called out to her. Had the girl known that she was watching all along? How? She had been sure to mask her presence, and stay far enough away that her natural defenses would not effect the two, thus giving her away.

Since her position was discovered Kat decided to reveal herself completely. If the women tried anything she could subdue them with ease. She dropped down from her perch in the tree and landed gracefully on the grass beneath. She hesitantly made her way closer to the women by the stream.

Kagome winked at Sango. A silent message that all was well. She didn’t want Sango to scare Kat off. She then turned to the approaching female with a warm welcoming smile. “Come on, Kat. We want hurt you.”

Kat thought the miko’s actions strange. She sensed no fear from the girl, which was highly unusual. There was no animosity either, which confused her to no end, as the girl was a miko. She couldn’t help wondering at her own sanity. What in the world was she thinking by approaching a miko and a demon exterminator? This was certainly a risk that she should not be taking.

Kagome sensed that Kat was beginning to think twice about approaching them, and she tried to put her a little more at ease. “You’re safe with us Kat. Come, join us for a little girl talk.”

How could she resist that? Never in her life had a female invited her to share in such a moment. It was much too tempting for one such as she. One that spent their whole life alone.

Kat soon stood next to the kneeling Kagome. She looked at the miko curiously and then turned her peach colored eyes on the slayer. That one seemed a little more apprehensive about her presence, but trusting enough of her friend to allow it. Kat lowered herself to the grass next to the miko.

Happy that Kat had decided to come out of hiding, Kagome cheerfully introduced herself, “My name is Kagome, and this here is Sango.”

Kat nodded to both and gave them a slight smile.

Kagome could feel the effects of her jaki from her close proximity. It was such a soothing feeling, almost as if all her cares were washed away in this females presence. She wanted to know more. Soon she, Sango and Kat were deep in conversation discovering things about each other as new acquaintances often do. As they talked Sango began to relax a little more, finally understanding that maybe this demoness was simply lonely.

After awhile, Kagome and Sango began to gather their things. After all, Inuyasha was not the most patient person in the world. If they didn’t return soon, he would come looking for them.

Something about their new friend made Kagome feel sorry for her. No one should be all alone in the world, and Kat seemed like she could use a friend or two. She decided to ask her to join them. “Kat, how would you like to travel with us for awhile?”

Sango looked at Kagome with wide eyes. There was no way Inuyasha was going to like this.

Kat smiled at Kagome. She knew that it was the miko’s innate kindness speaking, and not logic. The hanyou would never agree. “Kagome, I thank you for your offer, and as much as I would like to accept, you and I both know that Inuyasha would never agree.”

Kagome huffed and threw her dainty hand back carelessly. “You just let me worry about Inuyasha. I have ways of changing his mind about things.”

The image of a hanyou sized crater in the dirt flittered across Sango’s mind, and she covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Oh yes Kat, Kagome has a strong method of persuasion when it comes to Inuyasha.”

As daft as she felt at the moment, Kat gave in and agreed to give it a try. She joined her new friends on their way back to the campsite.

Inuyasha was in the middle of a ‘discussion’ with the monk concerning his choice in partners. It seemed the hanyou was not buying the fact that Anubis and the Miroku walked slower than the others thus the reason for bringing up the rear of the group.

Miroku was adamantly defending his ‘weak ankles’ when the girls returned from washing up. He stopped in mid-sentence when a third female appeared. Once realization set in, he turned to Inuyasha, certain that the hanyou was going to blow his furry ears right off the top of his head when he caught sight of who had joined Kagome and Sango.

He was correct in his assumption.

“What the FUCK?! What’s that bitch doing here?! And don’t try and tell me that she’s harmless, because I for one, know better!” Inuyasha shouted at the emerging females.

“Calm down, Inuyasha. Kat is not an enemy. Just give her a chance,” Kagome pleaded.

“I will just go, Kagome. I did not wish to start trouble between your brood,” Kat sadly intervened as she headed off toward the forest beyond.

“No Kat! Please don’t go. Inuyasha isn’t so bad once you get to know him,” Kagome called to her new friend.

“Yes I am! Don’t listen to her Kat! Just keep on walking,” Inuyasha shouted to the retreating demoness.

“Oooo Inuyasha! How could you?! I invited her to stay, and she’s STAYING!” Kagome shouted at her longtime companion.

“Kagome, have you finally gone and lost your mind completely?!” Inuyasha shouted back. “She’s dangerous!”

“Only if you let her rub all over you, Inu-yasha,” Kagome growled. “Are you planning on getting that close to her again?” She chided.

After a little sputtering and a violent flush of crimson embarrassment, Inuyasha just growled at Kagome, then said, “I decide who joins this group and she ain’t invited!”

Anubis had been watching silently as his miko and the hanyou fought over the demoness joining the travelers. When the hanyou said that he decided who joined the group, he was reminded of his own joining, and couldn’t resist a jab. “Hmmm. As I recall Inuyasha, you have little say about that particular decision.”

Miroku found the comment quite funny and the look on Inuyasha’s face was priceless so he added, “Touché’ my Lord.”

Anubis smirked and nodded to the monk, who was obviously trying very hard not to laugh. Inuyasha, however, did not find their friendly jesting very friendly at all, and the inuGod prepared for the inevitable argument from Inuyasha. He was not expecting the boy to actually draw his sword, however. Anubis narrowed his eyes at the brashness of the hanyou, but before he could teach the pup a lesson Kagome intervened.

“Inuyasha! SIT BOY!” Kagome shouted. After Inuyasha did a nosedive into the dirt, she ‘harrumphed’, and rolled her eyes as she planted her hands on her hips. She was angry now, and by Kami Inuyasha was going to hear about it.

“Oh... man, Ka-Go-Me... What did ya have to go and do that for?” Inuyasha groaned in muffled voice ridden with agony.

“You know exactly why I did that Inuyasha! Don’t be so rude! I can’t believe you sometimes! You better listen up buddy, cause if I hear another peep out of you I’ll say it again! KAT STAYS!” Kagome shouted down into the hole that her friend currently occupied.

Both Anubis and Kat found this to be most interesting, as well as highly entertaining. Their wide eyes were alternately trained on the angry miko and the dusty hole where Inuyasha had so unceremoniously been crushed by some magic held by the miko.

Kat couldn’t help the little giggle that escaped, as she stared in awe at Inuyasha who was just now beginning to slowly climb out of the hole in the ground. She looked over to Kagome and said, “My goodness Kagome, you were not joking when you said you had ways to persuade Inuyasha.”

Kagome just smiled brightly and shrugged her shoulders. “Oh it’s nothing. Just some subjugation beads that an elder miko gave me to put on Inuyasha. I have to admit, that they have come in pretty handy over the years.” She ignored the grumbling hanyou as he stood up and brushed himself off.

Shippo shook his head as he picked up Kirara and placed the tiny version of the firecat on his shoulder. “You would think that after all these years he would finally learn, wouldn’t you Kirara? It must be true what they say, ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’.” Kirara mewed and rubbed her head against her kitsune friend.

Anubis was amused by the shenanigans of the group, and would have enjoyed exploring Kagome’s ‘sit’ command further, but he had an agenda today, and it was time to get moving. He cleared his throat to gain their attention and began, “Today I have plans to destroy the evil hanyou Naraku. I would like for us to be on our way, as it will take most of the day to arrive at his palace.”

Inuyasha was flabbergasted. “You mean... you KNOW where his palace is?”

Anubis grunted as if the boy were daft. “Of course I do. I am a God, remember?”

“But... I mean... Well why in the hell didn’t you say something sooner! Which way?” Inuyasha growled in frustration.

Anubis tilted his chiseled features upward and sniffed the air slightly as he turned his head elegantly from the right to left. “From this location, we head Southwest.”

Inuyasha stomped off heading Southwest mumbling angrily about stupid Gods that withhold information, and arrogant bitches who think they run things.

Kagome smiled at Kat, and motioned for her to walk alongside her and Sango.

Miroku and Anubis happily fell in behind the females.