Maneater

This story came to me after watching the movie 'Teeth'. It was a bizarre movie, almost stupid, but I could not resist the urge to write a story that played off that. If you haven't seen the movie, I can't say I recommend it. Nevertheless, it is one of those movies you watch just so you can say you have seen it.

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Kagome stood stretching her back. She’d been helping Kaede in her herb garden all morning and it was time for a break. She turned her face up to the sky and smiled, the air was sweet and relaxing. A flock of squawking birds caught her attention and she turned toward the sound just in time to see Miroku and Inuyasha coming over the horizon. Now that they boys were back, she could return to her time to prepare for an upcoming test. At least that was her plan, but first she needed to tell Inuyasha. And seeming as how they just returned from dispatching low class demons that were terrorizing a small village to the south, she knew that would be easier said than done.

She smiled brightly at their nearing forms before ducking into Kaede’s hut informing Shippo and Sango of their return. Of course, Sango smiled before blushing and Shippo crossed his arms in a mock pout and jumped onto her shoulders. Anyone on the outside would think Shippo hated Inuyasha but she and others close to the group knew just how much the little kitsune looked up to the surly hanyou.

Again, she exited the hut followed closely by Sango. Inuyasha and Miroku had made great gains in their trek across the rolling land and it did not take long for the girls to close the gap. Finally, when they were close enough Shippo leapt from Kagome's shoulder and landed expertly on Miroku's shoulder his fluffy, orange tail bouncing with the movement.

“How did everything go?” she asked, turning her attention to the dog demon. His beautiful silver hair was caked in dried green, what she fathomed to be entrails, and his usual cool amber eyes were hard with anger. If she dared hazard a guess, she would say that Inuyasha had to do all the work.

Inuyasha shot her a hard glare before dropping to the ground and shoving his hands in his sleeves. “Not so good I take it.”

“No, no my dear Kagome everything went without a hitch,” Miroku said, with a hint of mirth lacing his voice. This could not be good. The last time Miroku and Inuyasha took off together and the outcome – at least for the monk – was not what he had expected.
“Feh! Speak for yourself lech!”

“Inuyasha…” her tone was a warning to stop before she said the damned word. Being smart enough to avoid a crash collision with the ground, he closed his mouth and turned his back to the chatting group. Kagome sighed at his immaturity. Always such a sour pus.

Kagome would have to talk with him later about his attitude later but for now, she focused her attention on Miroku and his heroic story. She smiled as her monk friend animatedly reencountered his own rendition of the battle he and Inuyasha shared. She turned when she heard a low growl from her left. Inuyasha was not happy with the story, at least not from Miroku's twisted perception. It wasn’t until Inuyasha stood and turned to face the lech did she realize that Miroku was not telling the truth. Before she could stop Inuyasha, the said dog demon punched Miroku on top of the head and stopped him before he could say anything further.

Kagome gasped, “Inuyasha!”

“What! He started it.” Inuyasha turned and stormed off to a nearby hot spring, undoubtedly to wash off the remaining demon entrails off. Kagome heard Shippo and Sango trying to rouse Miroku from his forced slumber.

“I am going after him.” she took off after Inuyasha before the others could stop her.
A flash of red disappeared behind a line of trees just as she reached the tree line. He was moving too fast for her to be able to catch him before he could make it to the hot spring, but she had to talk to him and sadly, this would be the only way to talk privately.

She walked quickly yet quietly as she made her way through the thick grove of trees and only stopped occasionally to free her green uniform skirt from an ensnared branch. Then she would continue on her journey through the forest of Inuyasha. A short while later she came to the small clearing that housed the small hot spring. She had expected to find Inuyasha sulking through the curtain of steam but what she saw sent her body aflame and her whole body turned crimson. Just thought of impure things sent chills down her body. This was not the best time to have a conversation about Miroku, not to mention returning to her time for tests, but this was the only chance she had to be alone with the man that held her heart, even if he did not know it.

Inuyasha was stepping over the outcropping of rock into the hot water when a familiar scent hit his nose. Kagome? He couldn’t understand why she was here and being in the situation he was currently in he didn’t even want to think about. Quickly he submerged himself up to his shoulders in the water before calling out to Kagome.

“What do you want Kagome?” he heard the bushes rustle and his silver ears twitched at the sound. Had she really thought that he would not smell her? This was preposterous because her smell was what kept him going during the last few battles. Hell that same scent kept him going since the first day he met the strange woman from the future. To this day, he still shuddered at the thought of how he treated her; how he said, she smelled bad, if only he could change the past, things would be so much different.

Kagome started at the booming sound of Inuyasha's voice and she cringed before stepping from around the large bush that did not conceal her as well as she had hoped. She mindlessly wiped at imaginary wrinkles on her white school top. This was not going to be easy, she thought averting her eyes so she was looking anywhere but at him.
“Inuyasha, I think we need to talk.”

He ducked his head under the water and when he emerged, he glared at her through curious amber eyes. “Yeah? And what about?”

Her heart was pounding in her chest, her palms were sweaty, and her knees could give out at any given moment that however did not deter her. Actually, it only made her more determined. “Well… um…”

Her stammering was beginning to get on his already frayed nerves and he fought hard not to snap at her obvious uneasiness. “Look Kagome. I have to get out of this water eventually and either you will be standing there when that happens or you will have said what you needed to and be on your way back to the village. It’s your choice.”

Though his words were soft and almost caring, Kagome fumed from his audacity. She did not want to be here when that happened at least, that is what she told herself. She hazard a glance toward the nude hanyou and thanked the kamis that his lower half was submerged in water. She blushed when she noticed he eyed her with his well-known curiosity then he smirked. He was thoroughly enjoying her discomfort.

“Fine.” She managed when she finally tore her eyes away from his hard body that so happened to be glistening with droplets of water. She swallowed thickly before she continued, “We need to talk about the way you treated Miroku earlier, among other things.” She mumbled the last part. Just talking about Miroku would probably send him into a tizzy so the whole school thing would really light his fire.

“Feh. Damn lech had it coming to him. Do you know the pervert left me to fight the small hoard of demons while he tried to womanize half the village?”

Kagome did not miss the scowl that marred his handsome face. Quickly, though, she averted her eyes again and sighed. “I figured as much. But still that does not constitute your behavior.”

“Why not?” Inuyasha harrumphed.

“Just because... aah!” Kagome covered her face with her soft hands when Inuyasha stood. “Inuyasha! Couldn’t you have waited until I was finished! Sheesh and you call Miroku the pervert.”

“What? I told you I would not be in this damn water forever.”

I’m no better, she thought, peering through a deliberate crack between her fingers. What could be said? She was curious. Her curious eyes roamed every inch of his exposed body and she blushed. He was definitely an Adonis, Kikyou would have been lucky to have him. Kagome was brought out of her thoughts when a hand gripped her shoulder from behind. She jumped and spun quickly from her unseen assailant. It wasn’t until her chocolate orbs met with amber did her sudden shivers subside.

“Inuyasha! Don’t do that you nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“A what? Ah, never mind, I have given up on your ridiculous sayings. Besides I have been calling you for a few minutes now.”

Kagome blushed. Had she really been so lost in her thoughts that she tuned him out? No matter, because she noticed he was fully dressed in his fire rat and ready to head back to the village. “Sorry, I guess I was just thinking.” She stared after Inuyasha's retreating form for a few seconds before she re-gathered her thoughts and called after him. “Inuyasha, there is one more thing.”

He stopped walking and glared at her over his shoulder. His annoyance was clear on his freshly clean face. “Yeah what is it?”

“I need to go back to my time for a few days.” She closed her eyes tightly and waited for the familiar outburst to reach her ears. She didn’t have to wait very long.

“WHY?”

“Well, because I have a test I have to prepare for and I would like to see my family… that is why.” She finally opened her eyes and found that Inuyasha was directly in front of her, glaring at her with an indescribable heat.

“You and those stupid damn tests.”

“They are not stupid! I, as a matter of fact, need them to graduate school so I can get a good job and take care of me.”

“I think they are a waste of time. Besides you do not need to gra-du- whatever, I will take care of you.” Inuyasha realized what he said too late and his cheeks turned a bright crimson color. Me and my big mouth, he thought, turning from her wide obviously confused eyes.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing! Go home and take your stupid tests. After all, the jewel is complete. You are no longer needed, here.”

Inuyasha flattened his sensitive ears to his head when a shrill shriek permeated the small clearing. He glanced at Kagome and saw her small hands fisted at her sides, her eyes burned with white-hot anger, he screwed up royally.

“That is all I ever was to you, a damn shard detector. Kamis you are so infuriating.” Kagome stomped her foot with every word. She was tired of being nothing of meaning to the man before her and she was going to prove to him once and for all just how much he really does need her. “You know what; I am done fighting with you over this matter, Inuyasha. I am going home and don’t you dare bother coming after me!” She turned on her heel and stormed off into the direction of the ‘Bone Eaters Well’.

“Kagome, wait I did not mean it that way! Kagome…” The dirt muffled Inuyasha’s words when he slammed face first into the moist brown dirt. She finally used the dreaded word.
With a final growl of anger, Kagome stormed off once again and this time she was not stopped.


On the third day of Kagome's absence Inuyasha paced around the well, debating whether he should go after her or not. He missed her, like the flowers missed the rain but his stubbornness would not allow him to go after her. Even at the request of the other group members. He gripped the side of the well and growled in complete frustration. Kamis did he want to go after her. Digging his nails into the old wood, he stormed back to the village. He had to get his mind off the woman of his heart.

Inuyasha pushed the brown door flap aside and entered the small hut they were currently sharing with Kaede. The old priestess always welcomed them into her humble hut and even tolerated the hanyou much to the village’s chagrin. However, after many months of the said half-demon’s presence they began to think of him as one of their own. Hell, he even shared the workload from time to time.

He glanced around the room and saw everyone either did not notice his arrival or chose to pretend they didn’t; no matter he was thankful for the quiet time. He took a seat on the cool dirt floor nearest the door and watched the remaining group with mild boredom.
Shippo was concentrating on his drawing with the crayons Kagome had given him. Miroku and Sango chatted quietly in the opposite corner and Kaede separated herbs near the burning fire pit. They have pretty much been giving him the silent treatment since Kagome went back home to her time and he couldn’t blame them, he was a certified asshole.

“Inuyasha,” Kaede said, never turning to face the troubled hanyou. “Why hasn’t lady Kagome returned?”

“Feh, how would I know?”

“It was just a question Inuyasha; perhaps you shouldn’t be so standoffish.” Miroku replied, turning from his conversation with the demon slayer. “Matter of fact, we were all wondering the same thing.”

“Yeah, what did you do this time?” Shippo chimed from the other side of the fire.
Inuyasha growled low and turned his face from the inquisitive group. Why is it any of their damn business, he thought, shoving his hands into his sleeves. He knew they all missed the woman from the future, hell he missed her too but he was not about to go after her.

Shippo sat down the red crayon he had been drawing with and bounded across the small hut toward Inuyasha. “Why don’t you go get her?”

“Why don’t you mind your own business runt?”

“Well maybe because you are the only one that can go to her time, and I want her back.” Shippo crossed his arms over his small chest and sighed. “I miss her Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha turned to find the eyes of a sad kitsune staring back at him. No matter the annoyance of the pipsqueak, he empathized with the runt. “I know you do runt, but she made it loud and clear she did not want me to follow her.”

“Yeah well since when did that stop you?”

Inuyasha glared at Miroku and Sango when they chuckled at Shippo’s comment. For once, the kit was right. When Inuyasha wants something, he goes and gets it, no matter the consequences.

“Don’t give us that look Inuyasha you know he is right.”

“Feh, whatever.” Inuyasha turned away from the group again and shoved his nose in the air.

“Don’t worry Shippo,” Miroku whispered. “You know he will go to her.” he flashed a wink at the kitsune then glanced at the pouting half-demon.

“Hmpf, don’t get your hopes up monk. I am not going there; she can come here and apologize to me.” With that, Inuyasha got to his feet and stormed back out of the hut and headed to the only place he could be alone: The Goshinboku.


Kagome sat on the lip of the well and stared down into the inky blackness. She had been back in her time for three days and in those three days, she couldn’t will her brain to focus on the schoolwork she needed to. No, instead it wandered to the handsome hanyou who showed her all there was to him. Sure, the nudity stunned her at first, then it turned into a deep seeded heat in the deep recess of her loins and it was a feeling that has haunted her since. Why did he do this to her? Was it a game to him? No use in harping on it now. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips and she planted her feet on the dusty floor and headed to toward the door. Nope no use. He will come when he is ready he always does.

When she entered the back door she smelt the wonderful aroma of oden (her favorite), her stomach growled in anticipation. She realized she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch and she was famished. She gripped the strap of her worn yellow backpack and ran up the stairs. The sooner she got her stuff put away the sooner she could join her family for dinner. She rounded the corner and came to a screeching halt outside her bedroom door. Something was wrong; she could feel it in her gut. Kagome never had the chance to grab the knob when her door flung open and in a flash, she was drug inside. After the door was shut, she was pushed up against it and a set of warm soft lips accosted hers in a heated, passionate kiss.