Hot Pursuit by My Eternal Anguish

Alterior Motives

That day had been hot and humid and tensions were high. It was almost a relief when rain crept up on the Inu tachi, first in a light drizzle and then in a heavy downpour as thunder roared in the distance. “Well my friends,” Miroku suggested, usually being the one to initiate their little breaks. “Perhaps it is best to find somewhere dry to stay until this rain clears up.”

“A little rain never killed anyone.” Inuyasha argued, “The more we stand around with our thumbs up our asses, the more distance between us and Naraku!”

“Inuyasha…” Kagome groaned not wanting to continue in the rain. Sure she had her umbrella but her shoes were definitely not made for strolls in the rain and already they were soaked through. If there was one thing she hated more than Naraku, it was wet socks!

“You heard me!” Inuyasha snapped angrily. His mood swings had been worse than a pubescent teen girl’s as of late. Kagome frowned at his outburst, not liking being yelled at in the least, especially by Inuyasha who was already on thin ice as far as she was concerned.

“Inuyasha,” she challenged, “Are you sure it’s Naraku that you want to catch up with or is it actually Kikyo?”  

Everyone in the group gasped including the hanyou. He must not have realized that Kagome was perfectly capable of sensing the other priestess who carried a part of her soul in her clay body. “That’s right,” Kagome confirmed, “I can feel my soul just farther ahead. Don’t you look at me like that, Inuyasha! I’m not stupid. We’re taking Kirara to the nearest village with or without you. Don’t expect us to trudge through all this mud and risk catching a cold so you can be reunited with your undead lover!”

“While I try not to get involved in your affairs, Inuyasha, I have to agree with Kagome!” Sango scowled at the hanyou. “I can’t believe you were pushing us along so you could meet up with someone who has betrayed us on more than just one occasion!”

“Who said I was following her!” Inuyasha snarled. “Besides, she might have information about where Naraku is hiding!”

“I wouldn’t trust a word that ingrate says!” Shippo barked more than happy to stand up for Kagome on this matter. Kagome was thankful that all of her friends at lease could see her outrage as far as Kikyo went. Even after she had attempted to kill Kagome, Inuyasha still loved and defended her. It wasn’t as if she saw Inuyasha as a potential love interest, not anymore. Still it hurt that he would betray his friends in a heartbeat out of devotion to that lifeless corpse. She shook her head sadly thinking that he might even just let Kikyo drag him to hell with her one day. Love was so blind, wasn’t it?

“I guess we’ll meet up with you later, Inuyasha.” Kagome said in her usual disappointed tone before she and the others turned and headed back to the village that they had passed maybe an hour earlier.

~

It rained well into the night and the shard hunters had stayed at a small inn. Kagome woke up first and promptly began breakfast. It was only as she was boiling a pot of water that she realized Inuyasha had never returned. He had been out all night… with Kikyo? A knot formed in the pit of her stomach but she willed herself not to worry. ‘They were probably just making up for lost time.’ She told herself bitterly as she poured the dried noodles into the boiling water and allowed the smell to awaken her friends.

“Inuyasha still isn’t back!” Shippo had announced frantically upon waking up.

“Relax, Shippo.” Kagome said having expected his concern as well as concern from the others. “Inuyasha can take care of himself. Remember, him and Kikyo used to be very close. I’m sure there are a few good reasons why he might have stayed with her all night.”

Miroku smirked and Sango frowned at Kagome’s words. “You’re surprisingly calm about this, Kagome.” Sango observed almost suspiciously before approaching her distracted friend and placing a gentle hand on Kagome’s back. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t think we should go after him?”

“I’m fine.” Kagome huffed shrugging Sango’s hand away as she poured ramen into separate bowls. She was sure to concentrate carefully on the task at hand so that her annoyance at the current situation wasn’t too apparent. “I stopped caring about Inuyasha a long time ago.. well, in that way at least.” She explained honestly. “Maybe I think he’s being stupid following Kikyo blindly like he does but who am I to judge him? Two years ago someone might have called me stupid for my devotion to Inuyasha despite everything he’s done to hurt me. I guess in a sense it makes me realize how he must feel.”

“Your compassion is immeasurable, Lady Kagome.” Miroku remarked fondly causing Sango to glare at him. “Alas, you insist you’ve overcome your blind devotion to Inuyasha so I suppose it’s still safe to call him a fool.” Everyone sneered at Miroku’s comment but Kagome decided it was best to just silently agree. While she was furious at the hanyou, she did not want to continue to bad mouth him. She still did care about him and she always tried to understand him to some extent.

It was after they finished eating and Sango was helping Kagome clean up that Kagome stiffened and turn to her friends with wide eyes. “I sense my soul getting closer.” She told them. “Kikyo is in this village…”

“Do you think she’s with Inuyasha?” Sango asked in shock.

“I’m not sure.” Kagome answered nervously. What reason did Kikyo have to come here? Had she done something to Inuyasha and was now coming to finish Kagome off as well and steal what was left of her soul and the jewel shards?

“Let’s go see.” Miroku insisted placing a firm hand on Kagome’s shoulder before grabbing hold of his staff and leaving the hut. Kagome and the others followed shortly after. It wasn’t long before they found her, walking side by side with Inuyasha shamelessly. Kagome felt her entire body relax when she laid her eyes on the hanyou but then she felt the anger and frustration sear through her whole body. How could Inuyasha be so insensitive? Why would he bring Kikyo hear with him after being out all night with her? Sure she was over whatever romantic feelings she had for him but it didn’t mean he had to go rubbing his stupid choices in her face! She seethed on the inside but did her best to remain calm.

“Inuyasha, you baka!” Shippo was the first to yell, “What is SHE doing here?!”

“Pipe down, you little runt!” Inuyasha snapped back placing a protective arm around Kikyo and pulling her closer to him. She stared upon his companions with cold, expressionless eyes as he spoke up. “She’s going to join us, you guys got that?”

“What?” Sango spat out incredulously, “You can’t just make a decision like that without consulting us first, Inuyasha! We have no reason to trust Kikyo! Besides, we have Kagome and---“

“I think it’s a great idea.” Kagome spoke up. She ignored the slight smirk that flashed on Kikyo’s face when they made eye contact. Fighting down the urge to call the smug bitch out on whatever deception she was planning this time, the enraged miko continued with feigned cheeriness. “Yeah, sure, guys! She could be a big help to you when I decide to go back home to my time. It will give me more freedom to do the things I want to do too.”

Inuyasha stared at Kagome with wide eyes. “Kagome, you… you’re not going to freak out?”

“No, of course not!” Kagome chuckled waving his suspicions off with her hand. “If Kikyo wants to join us then I won’t try to stop her.” She wasn’t sure exactly why she was acting so nonchalant about the whole situation. She just knew that there was no other way to approach it without making matters worse.

“Well just because Kagome seems okay with it, it doesn’t mean I am!” Sango bit out.

“I agree.” Miroku added. “What reason to we have to trust her?”

“Look,” Inuyasha practically growled tightening his embrace on the undead miko. “I made a promise to protect Kikyo! No one is standing in my way, got that?! Either she joins us or I leave with her! You know you weaklings won’t make it without me!”

Miroku and Sango turned to each other and then to Kagome with their frowns still in place. Kagome gave them a reassuring nod. Reluctantly Sango looked to Inuyasha and Kikyo and nodded her approval before turning and heading back to the inn. Miroku sighed and hung his head in defeat.

“I suppose if you are that hell bent on it, Inuyasha, I have no choice but to allow it.” The wise monk stated. “Do know this however, Kikyo. If you do so much as lay a hand on Kagome, I will do everything in my power to return you to your grave.”

Kagome felt gratitude rise in her chest as Miroku turned and followed after Sango. She was thankful to have such loyal friends. She turned her eyes to Inuyasha and Kikyo and gave them the biggest fake smile she could manage. “Welcome to the group.” She said to Kikyo with a sing-song voice that was almost mocking. “I have a feeling you’re going to fit right in.”

“This isn’t fair!” Shippo yelled, “Inuyasha, I hate you!” He ran off leaving Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyo to stare after him.

“That little brat.” Inuyasha muttered before turning his attention back to Kagome. “Oi, wench! Go get your things! It’s already getting late and we have to catch up with Naraku.”

“If it’s all the same to you, Inuyasha, I’d like to go home.” Kagome said. “Now that you have Kikyo to see the shards, you don’t really need me and I could honestly use a break. I have a lot of schoolwork to catch up on and I---“

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Inuyasha interrupted her. “Just hurry up and get your stuff together. The well is out of our way.”

 Author’s note

Yes, this is a chapter story. I don’t believe in making shorter chapters in order to gain more reviews. I feel that in doing so as an author you are cheating the reader. Besides, imagine if I had cut this entire chapter into a bunch of little ones? I’d be up to chapter 30 without any mention of Sesshomaru yet! That is just silly in my opinion.

Anyways this is just the set up.! I haven’t written in a while so please go easy on me in your reviews. I do hope that this story is enough to captivate a few readers. I just wanted to write a nice CU fanfiction that didn’t follow the same plot as every other Sesshomaru/Kagome story out there. I realize this chapter might be a little too lengthy and with Sesshomaru not even in the mix yet, I can see how it might be boring right now. Trust me, I want to jump right into the Sesshy stuff too but I also don’t want to get ahead of myself. There has to be a plot and a reason for Sesshomaru and Kagome to come together that is believable and likely, correct?

Anyways thank you for reading! I am excited to start a new story! I am still currently looking for a beta reader as well if anyone is interested. Please private message me.

MEA