Through Blood and Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. He belongs the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi!


Chapter 16: Sit Times Two
About twenty minutes later, the pack emerged from the forest. Kouga and Miroku still leading. Behind them was, Nico with Kagome on her right side, Sango on her left, and Taki right behind her. Bringing up the very rear were InuYasha and Sesshoumaru.

“So where are we going?” asked Nico.
“We are going to Kaede’s,” answered Kagome.
“Who is Kaede?”
“She is Kikyo’s younger sister and a pretty powerful miko,” answered Taki.
“She is sort of like another grandmother to us,” said Kagome.
“And she is very funny,” said Sango.
“Yeah, you mix her humor and her power together and you get things like the prayer beads,” said Kagome.
“What are “the prayer beads” ?” asked Nico.
“When Kagome first came to Feudal Japan and met up with InuYasha, he was a real jerk. He would always try to steal the jewel shards from Kagome,” said Sango.
“Why?”
“Because my brother wished to become a full blooded demon, instead of a half-demon like he is now,” replied Taki. “I think he still does, but he would never hurt Kagome or any of us for the jewel shards. His goal is the same as ours now.”
“And what is “our” goal?” asked Nico.
“To find all the shards of the Jewel of Four Souls, put it back together, purify it, destroy it and defeat Naraku,” said Sango.
“So what exactly do the prayer beads do to him?”
“Well,” Taki looked mischievously at Kagome then back at InuYasha. “Whenever Kagome says “sit” , the s pus pull him, face first, smack into the ground.” Taki laughed at the thought.
“That’s not funny,” said Nico, stunned that Taki would laugh at the thought of something like that happening to her brother.
“Actually it kinda is,” said Kagome.

They all giggled. Kouga chuckled at hearing the conversation. InuYasha and Sesshoumaru had heard it, too. InuYasha felt kind of hurt that they would laugh at him like that. But when Nico, stood up for him, his heart skipped a beat.

“So all you have to is “is “sit” and.....”

Nico never got out the rest of her sentence. Everyone heard a yelp and a thud and turned to see InuYasha, planted in the ground, cursing and mumbling under his breath. The girls looked at each then they looked at Nico, who shrank back, shook her head, and shrugged her shoulders.

“Damn it Kagome! I didn’t do anything, you stupid wench!” screamed InuYasha.
“InuYasha! Watch your tone and tongue with Kagome. I will not allow you to talk in such a manner to my mate,” came Kouga.

InuYasha growled at Kouga, who just growled back.

“InuYasha, I didn’t say it.” Kagome put her hands on her hips.
“Yeah right, wench!”
“Inua, Ia, I’m warning you. One more outburst and I will hurt you,” said Kouga.
“Will you shut up you stupid wolf. This between me and Kagome!” yelled InuYasha.
“She’s right, InuYasha. She didn’t say “sit”. Sango and I never heard it slip,” said Taki.
“Well how else would it happen?”
“Maybe you just tripped over your own feet,” giggled Shippou.
“Yes, that’s probably exactly what happened,” grinned Kouga.

Nico had a bad feeling about what had happened. She had said the tainted word. The minute it fell from her lips, InuYasha had hit the ground. But why would it work with me? Is it because Kagome and I are family? Kouga and InuYasha were arguing and getting ready to fight. Kagome was about to say it but Nico stopped her. Kagome just looked at her cousin, questioningly.
“Kagome, say it. Make them stop or they’ll kill each other,” said Sango.

She and Taki were waiting for someone to do something. They saw Nico cover Kagome’s mouth. Sesshoumaru, Miroku, and Shippou, too had seen this action. All eyes were on Nico. She pulled her hand away from Kagome’s mouth.

“Nico, what are you doing?” asked Kagome.
“I think I know what happened,” was all Nico said.
“Huh?” came Kagome

Then, out of nowhere, Nico yelled, “SIT!”
Down InuYasha went, taking Kouown own with him. Sango and Taki gasped. Miroku jumped, stunned. Sesshoumaru gave raised a brow.

“Kagome!” yelled InuYasha.
“It wasn’t Kagome,” said Taki.
“It was me, InuYasha,”stated Nico.

He and Kouga looked up, stunned from their position on the ground. Oh great! Now two females can sit me! That’s just perfect! Then it hit him. How can she “sit” me, too?! Everyone else just looked at Nico. They all had the same thought running through their heads.

“I don’t understand,” said Kagome.
“I don’t think any of us do,” said Sango.
“How can you sit InuYasha as well as Kagome?” questioned Shippou.
“Maybe it’s because they are family,” offered Miroku.
“Well whatever it is, it sucks!” screamed InuYasha, still planted in the ground, buried beneath Kouga. “Do you think you could get off me, you stupid wolf?!”
“I think it’s wonderful,” Kouga said with a big smile os fas face as he got up. He walked over to Kagome and Nico. “Feel free to sit him as much as you want, Lady Nico. He deserves every bit of it.”
“Will you just up, for crying out loud!” screamed InuYasha. He pulled himself to a kneeling position, hands still on the ground. He kept his head down and mumbled, “I swear every time you open your mouth, it grates my nerves!”

Kouga just walked over to Kagome, crossed his arms and stood there, grinning from ear to ear. Miroku sighed and looked to the sky.

“It’s getting late. We should keep moving. When we get to Kaede’s, we will ask her why Nico can sit InuYasha,” Miroku said.
“I agree. We are wasting to much time here,” stated Sesshoumaru.

He turned and began walking toward Kaede’s village, Miroku next to him. Following was Kouga, his arm draped around Kagome’s shoulder’s, Sango and Taki next tr. Nr. Nico looked over her shoulder at InuYasha who was still on the ground, head still down. Nico felt awful. She didn’t mean to hurt him. She turned and walked over to him. When she reached him, she saw a single tear hit the ground. Mahala Eyota, I made him cry! Nico’s eyes watered at this thought.
Why is she just standing there?! InuYasha saw Nico turn and walk to him. He couldn’t help the tear that fell, but he didn’t want her to see it. He didn’t want her to think he was weak. Damn it all! He balled his fists. She’s probably thinks I’m such a baby. Another tear fell from InuYasha at the thought of Nico thinking down on him. What happened next surprised him.
Nico knelt down in front of him and placed her hand on his cheek. InuYasha stiffened at the touch. Nico wasn’t sure what to make of his reaction. She lifted his head and met his sad eyes with hers. She smiled at him. Oh great! She thinks it’s funny to humiliate me! Nico brought up her other hand to his other cheek. With her thumbs, she gently wiped away his tears. What is she doing!?
“I’m sorry InuYasha. I didn’t mean to hurt you or humiliate you like that. Please forgive me?”
What!? She’s sorry. She cares!?
“I didn’t think it was really me who sat you the first time. I feel really bad about it. I really didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Nico was s hol holding InuYasha’s face in her hands, her eyes never leaving his. He had relaxed completely and his tears dried up. Without knowing he had done it, he had placed his hands on Nico’s. They were a breath from each othow. ow. Instinctively InuYasha began to move in, wanting so badly to kiss her. Her breath was sweet and smelled of cherry blossoms. Her addictive sweet scent had thrown InuYasha’s sense for a loop and he was lost in her.
Nico, too, was suffering. She remembered all too well earlier when InuYasha had tried to kiss her. What surprised and scared her, was that she wanted him to. She so wanted him to kiss her. She had never wanted someone before like she wanted InuYasha nor had she ever felt these feelings before. When he began to move closer to her, she inhaled slightly and was met with his scent. It was so woodsy and pure. It gave her comfort and eased her.
She moved in closer to him. They lips were but an inch apart. InuYasha looked deep into Nico’s eyes. She in turn looked deeply into his. They both felt as if the world around them had disappeared and they were alone in a dream. Nico’s hands slipped down from InuYasha’s face to gently lay at his collarbone. InuYasha brought his arms around Nico, resting one hand on her shoulder blade, the other on the small of her back. He pulled her closer and their bodies touched. Nico felt as though a bolt of electricity shot through her. InuYasha felt it, too. I shouldn’t be doing this! I made a deal with Sesshoumaru! InuYasha was fighting a torrent of feelings. He wanted Nico but he made a promise with his brother. And he most certainly did not want to cause trouble with his brot not not after they were actually getting along. But the feeling in his heart was so strong.
Nico wasn’t makin any any easier, offering herself like this. It’s almost as if she wants me to kiss her. Wait a minute! If she wants me, then I wouldn’t be breaking my promise! She chose me and if I’m the one she chose, Sesshoumaru will have to let it be!
At this realization, InuYasha removed his hand from Nico’s shoulder and gently cupped her cheek. Nico smiled sweetly at him and gave a slight nod. She say saying yes, she wanted to be his. InuYasha couldn’t breathe. He leaned in and their lips touched ever so slightly.