As Death Gives Life

Chapter 5 – Affections for Kagome

“You just came here to flirt with Kagome!” Inuyasha shouted at Kouga.

“That’s not true, mutt-face! I came here because you are on MY lands... and to flirt with Kagome,” Kouga replied with a growl. Then he turned to Kagome, and flashed her one of his winning smiles. He loved it when she blushed, and he could make her blush so easily.

Inuyasha growled and lunged at Kouga. “Why you bastard! You have a fucking mate already! Leave Kagome alone!” He swiped at the ookami, just missing him with his deadly claws, as the wolf swiftly dodged to the left.

“Will you guys PLEASE stop this!” Kagome shouted. This was so embarrassing. Every single time they crossed paths with Kouga, he and Inuyasha just had to do a few rounds of ‘try to kill the rival’, and mostly it was because of Inuyasha’s jealousy and Kouga’s love for taking advantage of the situation. Sometimes she wondered if the wolf prince really cared for her at all, or if he simply loved to rile up Inuyasha?

They had been traveling toward the East looking for shards. There really weren’t many left now, after several years of search and recovery. It was mostly just a way of life at this point. One that currently she wished she could escape from.

She had been dreading this all morning. As soon as Inuyasha announced that they would head East, she knew without a doubt that they would eventually run into Kouga. It was his territory after all. It wasn’t that she hated seeing Kouga. That wasn’t really it, and she loved seeing Ginta and Hakaku, her ‘brothers’ as they had so dubbed themselves. No, it was the inevitable fight that would ensue that always gave her the most horrid queasiness in the pit of her stomach. She hated it when they fought, even though they had been doing it for years, and suspiciously had always walked away from the scuffles mostly unscathed. Kagome just hated to see two people she cared about trading blows. Something about it was just... wrong.

Kagome flinched when Kouga rounded a kick on Inuyasha, landing a direct blow to his jaw. Blood and saliva shot out of the hanyou’s mouth, spraying the dirt in dark crimson droplets. Inuyasha didn’t seem phased by the hit though, and swiftly sent a hard punch into Kouga’s kidneys. They didn’t even bother to fight fair.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo had joined Ginta and Hakaku for a round of cards. Kagome briefly wondered how it was that they could be so detached in the face of such violence? She supposed it was simply a result of growing up in the feudal era. Violence was just an everyday part of life. She glared back to her friends who shrugged their shoulders as if they didn’t understand what she was stressing about.

Sometimes she wished she hadn’t taught them how to play poker.

Her attention was drawn back to the fight when Inuyasha pulled out the Tetsusaiga. That was always a sign that somebody had lost his temper.

“Can’t beat me on your own, huh dog breath?” Kouga taunted.

“I’m just tired of fucking around with ya, that’s all,” Inuyasha snarled.

Anubis could barely hold in his laughter. These two idiots were quite amusing. Equally humorous was watching his lovely little Kagome turn several shades of red, in several separate occasions, in the matter of only a few human minutes. It was just too delightful to pass up. Unfortunately the boys play had turned sour, and now it was time to put an end to this ridiculous display before one of them endangered his woman.

Anubis leapt from his perch in the tree, and on the way down he released his aura. That should get their attention.

Get their attention it certainly did. Not only Inuyasha and Kouga stopped dead in their tracks, but the rest of the group stiffened as awareness swept over them.

Something powerful this way comes.

Cards were abruptly thrown aside and weapons were drawn. The monk and taijiya (demon slayer) stood back to back as they searched for the approaching source of power. The fox boy leapt to the back of the now transformed demon cat, and the two wolf brother’s took up their battle stance.

Inuyasha swept all concern for Kouga’s sorry ass aside. Whatever had just made its presence known was almost overwhelming in its power. He absently noticed that Kouga was emitting a low growl, as he too scoured the area for the offender.

Only Kagome seemed relaxed as the aura of the Dog God spread over the land. She felt no fear, and she knew exactly from where it had arisen.

Anubis.

She glanced over the tree line searching for him, and was not disappointed when his tall dark form emerged. He was looking right at her. His eyes never once drifted to the many armed warriors prepared to do battle against him. It was almost as if they were inconsequential, not worthy of his notice. Apparently the same did not go for Kagome.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as those icy blue eyes held hers captive with a twinkle of amusement. She could find no words to speak. Was she forever doomed to act like a bumbling idiot in front of this majestic being? She had hoped that she had left the giddy schoolgirl persona behind her many years ago. Too bad she didn’t factor in all-powerful hunks in that equation.

A voice pulled her out of her dreamlike state. It was coming from a very irate hanyou.

“I take it you’re this Anubis that Kagome met the other day?! Well she ain’t interested, so take a hike!” Inuyasha growled loudly to the approaching God.

Anubis finally pulled his sights away from the enchanting woman, and turned his gaze on the rather perturbed hanyou. He noticed the wolf prince seemed a bit frazzled as well, and he openly snickered at the both of them. Amusing.

Inuyasha had certainly gotten his attention, which was his purpose in shouting, anything to take his fixed gaze off of Kagome. Now that he had the Dog Gods attention, he wasn’t sure what the hell to do with it? This was not going to end well.

Anubis diverted his path to stroll up to the two men who had entertained him for a good portion of the morning. He appraised them rather indifferently, and then decided that he would enlighten the hanyou on a couple of facts.

“You can not defeat me. I am a God. I do not have business with you. My business here is with the lovely Kagome.” Anubis stated, with a slightly sarcastic smirk playing on his lush lips.

Not only did his statement send chills through Inuyasha, but Kouga’s hair visibly stood on end.

Kouga’s growl deepened. Kagome was his friend, and no matter what he would defend her until he drew his very last breath. ‘This arrogant dog says he’s a God? We’ll just see about that!’ Kouga thought, just before he moved to intervene between this new enemy and Inuyasha.

“Just what IS your business with Kagome?” Kouga asked snidely.

Anubis turned to the ookami. “Lord Kouga, you were not found worthy to be her protector, so my business is no longer any concern of yours.”

Kouga raised a dark brow in question? What in the hell was this guy talking about? It really didn’t matter. What mattered was that he THOUGHT he was going to confront Kagome, and well, that just wasn’t going to happen. “Kagome IS my business,” Kouga snarled in warning.

“You are mistaken wolf. Kagome is now my business, and my business alone,” Anubis replied with another knowing smirk. His words served to ruffle the hair of both canines, and the two men leapt towards him. He thought he heard his female squeal in protest, but he brushed it aside. He had to take care of the imbeciles first.

Anubis raised his elegant clawed hand and waved it over the faces of his opponents as he spoke, “Sleep.”

Instantly the attack was halted and both hanyou and wolf fell in mid stride to the ground below in peaceful slumber. Anubis regarded them both for a brief moment, and then turned to Kagome. Unfortunately her friends had scampered around her defensively as if to protect her from harm.

A very noble act. Useless, but noble.

Anubis decided to reassure them of his intentions, as they seemed to only have the girls safety in mind. “I assure you that I will bring her no harm. I could never harm my beautiful Kagome.”

Sango narrowed her eyes at that statement. Looks like another fool had fallen for Kagome. Really this was a bit exasperating. Her friend did not deserve this crude treatment all the time by a bunch of lustful men... and Gods.

“You think we are going to trust you just like that?” Sango asked suspiciously.

“No trust necessary slayer. This will come to pass, whether I have your trust or not,” Anubis replied stoically.

Kagome had heard enough. She knew this being meant her no harm. He had proven that just now with Inuyasha and Kouga. With his power he could have easily killed them where they stood, but he didn’t. He simply put them to sleep. He was actually even humoring her friends, standing protectively around her. He could easily have put them to sleep just as he did Kouga and Inuyasha, but instead he was talking calmly to Sango. It was time to end this and find out what he wants.

Kagome pushed through Miroku and Sango and stepped forward. She smiled at Lord Anubis, then turned to her friends. She held up her hands to calm them. “Listen guys. I’m positive he isn’t going to hurt me, and I’m sure that he will promise to bring me back within an hour.” Kagome turned her head back to Anubis questioningly. He nodded, and she turned back to her friends. “See? I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t worry about me, ok? Please see to Inuyasha and Kouga until I get back.”

Shippo, who had been silent until now, decided to have a say, “If you hurt her, I’ll make you pay!”

Anubis snorted at the fox kit. Very amusing. Apparently her colleagues held his chosen female in high esteem. That was a sign of loyalty and respect. He was more positive than ever that he had chosen well.

Anubis waited for Kagome to join him and then he turned and walked back in the direction that he came from. He wanted to take her to this little grove that he had come across. There they could begin to get to know each other. He was sure that she would enjoy her time with him, limited as it was. He really did not want to agree with the one hour time frame, but he knew that as a human she would need to build her trust in him gradually. One hour would be fine for today.

Kagome followed alongside of Anubis. She felt as if she were walking on air. His aura was so strong that she literally felt light-headed from it. His power played with her senses, giving her a warm cozy feeling. Could this be what had her so tongue-tied the last time they met? Could it be that once he was removed from her presence that her body actually had to take time in order to adjust back to normal? That thought was a little frightening, if not a tad bit exciting. To think, that she could become drunk from simply being next to him. It was an amazing feeling. One that she wasn’t sure was safe to experience for any extended amounts of time. Recovery could be a bitch.

They had walked for a short while when Anubis led her through a rather thick area of undergrowth. Kagome wondered where they were going, but dared not ask, as he seemed to have a direct course selected. When she finally pushed through the thicket, she was pleased to see that he had brought her to a lovely little spot. It was encircled in trees, but the middle was clear and covered in beautiful red and purple wildflowers. Every so often there was a patch of white, and Kagome thought it one of the loveliest places that she had visited in all of Japan.

Anubis was pleased with her reaction. Her dainty gasp of surprise was exactly what he had hoped for, and when she rounded on him with that bright smile he felt the strangest warmth pass over him. As he watched her run through the flowers, while little colorful butterflies took flight around her he pondered what had come over him. Never before had he experienced a sensation like that. It was completely new and unexplored. He thought that he rather enjoyed that strange warmth, and vowed to know it again.

Kagome ran up to him breathlessly panting with laughter. She finally caught her breath and said, “This is beautiful! Doomo arigato, my lord.”

She really was a lovely creature. She absolutely glowed with life. He smiled down at her and reached out. He gently brushed the side of her soft cheek. “Not nearly as beautiful as you, little dove. I ask that you drop the formality with me. Call me Anubis. It would please me greatly.”

Kagome stood upright, after regaining her breath. She smiled at him, and nodded her acceptance of his request. She was a little caught off guard, not only by his compliment, but his tender touch. It was amazing, the sensations that poured through her when his skin touched hers. It was indescribable. The warmth felt as if it were alive. It was as if it had rapidly absorbed through her flesh and into her very soul.

She would have to be careful. That feeling could become addictive.

Anubis took a seat in the middle of the circle of wildflowers. Some of the beautiful blossoms were sacrificed under his weight, but it was a death that any bloom would happily accept in order to be graced with the presence of such a magnificently regal creature.

Kagome wondered how he could move with such grace. Even the simple act of sitting down turned into a fluid work of art. He was truly a magnificent thing to behold. His long shining hair spilled down his back and pooled in the flowers below. His eyes were enchantingly bright in the early mid day sun. The mark over his eye was perfectly proportioned, and she almost wished that she could trace it with her fingertip.

Her stray thoughts were interrupted when the object of her fascination held out a clawed hand to her, beckoning her to join him. Kagome took a seat next to him and shyly glanced up. He was staring at her with those impossibly liquid blue eyes and it made her feel positively dizzy.

“Kagome, tell me about the companions that you travel with,” Anubis requested. He could feel her nervousness pouring off, and he wished to put her at ease. Talking about her friends should help somewhat, and as he expected she began to relax as she talked.

Kagome went on about Inuyasha, who was very brave if not a little brash. His rudeness was overlooked by his kind heart and protective nature. His mission was to hunt down one who wronged him and his lost love. She spoke of her kitsune friend Shippo, and how his parents were slain long ago leaving him orphaned. Apparently she and Inuyasha took him in and cared for him. Then she explained her relationship to the Buddhist monk, Miroku. Somewhat of a lecher with women, but a wise and good hearted soul, who was apparently cursed with a wind void in his hand by an evil hanyou by the name of Naraku. Further conversation revealed her relation to the demon slayer, Sango. The two were very close, almost sisterly. It was revealed that the same evil hanyou had killed her family and enslaved her younger brother.

Naraku. Could this be the evil that sought out his chosen female? Very likely as it seemed that he had been a key player in their travels. How could a mere hanyou wreak such havoc on so many? Anubis was determined to find out. He would not allow his Kagome to be put in danger by some filthy evil beast.

Perhaps he should introduce Naraku to Ammit? No doubt that she would enjoy the meal.

“Why are you traveling with them Kagome? You don’t seem the type to seek out death and danger,” Anubis asked. This was what had him so stumped. He simply could not understand why such a pure creature would travel with seasoned warriors. He was not ignorant to the fact that she could very well take care of herself, as she constantly carried a longbow over her shoulder, and he detected a hidden blade nestled in the waistband of the strange leggings that she wore. Even her skill in battle did not seem to coincide with her personality. She seemed too lighthearted to be a warrior.

“Well, you see, I am the guardian of the Shikon no Tama. The jewel of four souls. A demon crow stole it from me, and when I shot down the crow, the arrow pierced the Shikon jewel. Unfortunately it burst into tiny fragments that were scattered all over Japan. It is my duty to recover those shards, and restore the jewel. It holds great power, and in the wrong hands can be a deadly force,” Kagome explained with a slight hint of sadness.

So this was the reason for her travels? A broken jewel. Interesting. Anubis realized then that the ‘obligation’ that he had learned of in the spirit realm was none other than the Shikon no Tama. Obviously a powerful tool for an evildoer. He then asked, “Does the evil hanyou, Naraku, covet the jewel you seek?”

“Unfortunately you are correct,” Kagome replied. “Naraku would do anything to possess it, ...and me.”

Anubis felt his temper flare. The hanyou Naraku wished to obtain the jewel as well as Kagome? That simply would not do.

Anubis stood and reached out to pull Kagome’s light body to her feet. He patted her hand reassuringly. “Come Kagome, it is time you returned to your companions.”

On the walk back to her friends, Anubis pondered this new revelation. He would have to find out more about this Naraku. If the hanyou were indeed as dangerous as Kagome said, then he would need to determine if he should intervene.

At the edge of the forest, Anubis turned to Kagome, and said, “It has been a pleasure to spend this time with you Kagome. I look forward to seeing you again.” He then sealed his words with a soft kiss to the back of her hand.

Fire. Tender fire. That would be the only description that Kagome could come up with to describe the sensation of his lips touching her flesh. Fire that did not burn, but enveloped you none-the-less.

Anubis could prove to be more dangerous than any enemy Kagome had ever faced.

She watched as he faded from her sight in a glimmer of sparkling light, and then she returned to her friends. Strangely enough, Inuyasha and Kouga were just waking up.

As soon as he cracked open one amber colored eye, Inuyasha leapt to his feet. He almost collided with Kouga, who had apparently been placed under the same spell. He looked around for any signs of the bastard that so easily rendered him helpless. What he found was a group of gawking friends, and one miko strolling back from the forest with a giddy expression on her face.

“What the fuck is going on here!?” Inuyasha and Kouga shouted at once.

Kagome spent the next half hour explaining every detail of her ‘date’ with the Egyptian God of the Dead.