Enlightened by Smortz

Deeper into Trouble

A/N

Not quite sure if any of my readers have noticed, but most of my stories were updated tonight.. >_> Enjoy the SMO LOVE.

If any of you are interested in the challenge, head on over to the forum for the specs!!!

I hope you readers aren’t too mad that I am starting another story.

Read and Enjoy.

~Smo

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any characters associated with the manga/anime InuYasha. They are just puppets to further enhance my creative imagination.

Chapter 2

Sesshomaru woke up in the most uncomfortable way. It made him envy a man with a brutal hangover. His stomach was laying over the withers of a horse. His hands were bound and asleep. Still, he kept his eyes closed and feigned sleep while he listened to his captor.

He had begun to wake up when the first of the voices started. Apparently, his captor didn’t fill in the rest of the tribe of her plan. Her. The reminder that a weak slip of a woman had taken him down made Sesshomaru debate retiring from the military. Surely, he would make up a story to tell the rest of the troops.

A resounded smack caused him to peer through one eye. His captor was now on her knees, clutching her head where the old woman had smacked her. Sesshomaru felt a strange feeling of concern when she whimpered, but quickly stifled it. He had never condoned people hitting females. When a woman was hurt in general he felt bad. This one had kidnapped and outsmarted him. She deserved it.

“Child, do ye have nothing in there?” The old woman’s voice startled her. It was stern and fierce with anger. Sesshomaru was sure it wasn’t the thanks his captor had been prepared for.

The small slip of a woman leaned down for the hair tie that had been smacked off of her. The ebony tressed now gathered around her face. “It will buy us some time before they attack. They will not risk his life. He is their leader. They will gather reinforcements or something. It will give us time to abandon Miroku’s trail and gather supplies. Maybe we can even barter with them.”

“Child, ye have left us no choice. Now, they will ride through with a vengeance if only to obtain him!” the elder exclaimed. The familiar medicine-man put a calming hand on her shoulder and for the younger woman to leave.

“I happen to agree with Kagome on this one, Kaede,” Miroku said calmly, hoping not to upset the older woman further. “It will buy us the time needed while we move the village further into the mountains. We can leave him tied to a tree or something,” he added. While Kaede was thinking, he gestured to Kagome to vacate the area. Sesshomaru knew Kagome didn’t need to be told twice.

She called for her horse to follow, clucking like usual. Her horse followed her to the tent where she called for someone. A boy emerged from the tent; his eyes went wide at the sight. “I thought you were going for an adventure, not an abduction!” he exclaimed. Sesshomaru worked hard to keep from smiling in amusement.

“Do not get smart with me,” Kagome warned. “Get his feet,” she ordered. Sesshomaru tried his best to remain limp, but still couldn’t hide the wince when he was pulled. She pushed her arms under his armpits and pulled him from the horse. Shippo caught his feet with a grunt and they carried him into the tent. “Go get some herbs from Miroku’s bag. He’s got a lot of bleeding. And water!” she called out.

Kagome carefully laid him out along her bear fur. His large frame took most of it up. Carefully, she unbuttoned his coat and pulled it off, setting it on a wooden stand towards the back of her home. She unlaced and pulled off his boots, tossing them at the bottom of the furs. Next, she unlatched his belt buckle and pulled the leather through the loops. That would have to do for now, she concluded. Kagome would not go any further in the undressing.

Sesshomaru was curious about the way she treated him. He had been prepared to be bound and roasted over a fire. Maybe even be served on a silver platter for dinner. Her touches were light and gentle. She knew when to stop and what was not appropriate. When he peered up at her discretely, pure concern was in the woman’s eyes. He couldn’t tell the color in the darkness of the tent.

The black hair fanned out around her. She was slightly darker than the woman back in the town. No doubt it was because she was in the sun a lot longer. Her lips were pouty, and he felt the urge to run his thumb along them. Quickly, he ignored the thought. Surely, this was just the feelings of a male towards an attractive female.

The boy returned a few minutes after with a large bowl and pouch. She dipped a cloth into the water and washed out the wound on the side of his head. The blood had clotted during the ride and was no longer bleeding. He saw that she was grateful.  “I hope you were worth it,” Kagome whispered to herself, still unknowing to his consciousness.

She mashed a few herbs together in a mortar with a pestle. She added water until it was a thick paste. Dipping her fingers into it, she gathered some on the tips and pressed it into the wounds.

That was when all hell broke loose. Sesshomaru was not prepared for the stinging that overwhelmed him. It was as if his head was on fire and all his hair was about to be burned off. He hissed, curling into fetal position and cringing away from her touch.

Kagome dropped the stone tools in one hand and did the only thing she could think of to restrain him. Swinging a leg over him, she pressed her thighs around his torso. She leaned forward until her arm was under his chin and pressed the forearm against his throat. His hands were still bound to the front of his belt loop. She could feel the hands struggling to move against her bottom and bit her tongue to keep from making noise at the unexpected sensation.

“Stop it,” she whispered softly. “I’m dressing your wound. You are safe,” she cooed, hoping it would help. “Open your eyes,” she encouraged. “It’s okay.”

Sesshomaru tried to focus on her soothing words, swallowing gulps of air. His golden eyes shot open and he was suddenly stunned speechless. Pools of morning sky blue stared at him with such a softness he found himself no longer breathing. His body stopped moving as she whispered to him, coaxing him to relax. She nodded with a smile of reassurance. Even her smile made him feel better. “That’s better,” she whispered, “it is to stop the bleeding and take away the pain.”

Sesshomaru snorted at the latter part. “You mean it caused me to feel a new pain and take my attention off the old pain?” he clarified. A pink flush of embarrassment broke across her cheeks and he vaguely wondered if anyone had been kidnapped by a wild angel before. “Where am I?”

He wiggled his hands against the ropes again. Suddenly, he felt skin against his hand. Golden eyes shot downward, and he blinked when he realized it was the bare skin of her inner thigh. Strangely, almost teasingly, he moved his left hand. He felt a buckskin flap, but just beneath it felt the curls that led to her womanhood.

He eyed her reaction. A small tongue dipped from her mouth to lick her lower lip. “Shippo, fetch some food,” she ordered to the boy who sat just beside them on the furs. She clenched her hands around his suspenders. “If I get off, you will probably fight,” she whispered, almost sadly.

“Am I supposed to trust you after my abduction?” he asked tauntingly. When she cringed, he felt guilty, which was silly. He had been abducted - by her. “If you return me, I will not make things worse for you.”

“We would rather choose death over what you are planning!” she suddenly exclaimed. The light blue of her eyes turned to dark sapphires with her rage. “Dragging us out of our homes and into those camps where we are treated like branded cattle for a government that does not care for us... we would rather die than have our freedom taken away! This is our home! This is our family!”

Sesshomaru opened his mouth to reply, but closed it. What could he say to that? He knew it was true, but it had still been his job. He had never taken the time to actually meet one of them. After all, usually he had dealt with the troublesome tribes that had been slaughtering cattle and killing settlers. When he had received orders, he hadn’t even heard of this tribe. After looking into it, he had no idea why they would want to move such people. They traded with the town and kept to themselves.

“Please,” her voice was soft again, and she took a deep breath to relax. The tensions from her shoulders dissipated. “If I move, please do not fight me. If only so I can explain why this happened. If you know anything about this tribe, you will know your life is not in danger. I did not kidnap you to kill you or threaten your life. I merely wanted to talk to you about what your plans are.”

The way she spoke, the desperation in her eyes told Sesshomaru this had been a last resort. Still, as soon as he went back to the town, he would carry out the orders. That’s what they were - orders - and he carried those out because it was his job. Swallowing a lump of sudden nerves, he gave a jerky nod.

Kagome eyed him for a moment, obviously judging his expression. After about two seconds, she moved and sat on the fur the young boy had been on. “If you move, you will only be buying yourself time,” he said as a warning. “Have you ever been to one of the facilities?”

“Facilities?” Kagome repeated, cocking one of her black brows in shock. “That sounds... horrible. I have not been in one, but I have seen them. I have seen the lost and tortured looks on my people that are in them. They are empty vessels of what was once life.”

Boy did this woman have a way with words, Sesshomaru thought. He sighed, propping himself up on his elbows and looking around the tent. It could easily fit about four adults in here. However, he saw six furs laid out. The opening of the tent spread as the boy slipped in again. He had a tin plate in his hand, covered with food. He eyed Sesshomaru more cautiously than Kagome had.

The boy had light brown hair, tousled and wild from play. He wore a foxtail on the back of his buckskin flap. His chest was bare and moccasins fit his feet. Sesshoumaru reached with his bound hands, but found them restrained to his belt loop. “Creative,” he mused. Still, he watched the child scare at the small amount of movement.

Kagome reached for him with maternal instinct in her eyes. She pulled the plate from him and set it on a small wooden table to the side. His jacket was on the corner of it. Her hands wrapped around his hips and she pulled him into her lap, wrapping her arms around him like a security blanket. The boy’s eyes looked haunted.

“His parents were killed in a raid. His father was tortured and dragged behind a horse. His mother was raped and then killed,” Kagome’s words were harsh. Sesshomaru had heard tales of such attacks. He looked down upon such things. Those soldiers were nothing but power-hungry criminals in his opinion. Sesshomaru suddenly saw the burns on the boy’s chest as if they hadn’t been there before. “They trapped the children inside the tents and burned it.”

“You saved him?” Sesshomaru wondered. Something in the way she spoke told him she had been there. Swallowing thickly, he wondered what had happened to her. Surely, she had not escaped so unscathed. She only gave a curt nod before she reached into the satchel and took out a knife.

After the telling of such a story, after seeing the slight hatred in her eyes, he felt nervous around her wielding such a weapon. Kagome saw the flicker of emotion and stopped. She put it away and Sesshomaru damned himself for ruining his chance at freedom. He would run as soon as he got the chance. To be around them was dangerous, to get too close to his job would be an emotional conflict that he couldn’t afford.

“Shippo, go play with the others,” Kagome spoke softly to the boy, pressing a nurturing kiss to his cheek and ruffling his hair. The boy gave him another cautious look, casting a worried glance to Kagome. She gave him a reassuring nod before he left.

Kagome inched closer to him. His nose twitched when he smelled her scent. It swung him back into his childhood when he raced along the meadows. The scent of the fresh breeze and trees, of the prairie flowers and leaves, made him close his eyes and give a sigh.

“You are hungry?” Kagome asked, mistaking his wistful sigh as hunger. Sesshomaru gave a quick nod and watched as she took the plate and used a spoon. She gripped the spoon as if it were a knife though, dishing out corn and holding it up to his mouth.

Unable to contain his laughter, he let his head fall back and a few chuckles escape. “Woman, have you never used a spoon?” he wondered.

“I usually eat on the back of my horse while on patrol. It is much easier to eat with my hands,” she defended. He could see how it would be easier. He had done the same things many times, taking his soup and slurping it while riding. He opened his mouth and allowed her to place the cooked meat on his tongue. It was filled with flavor and juice, and he gave a grunt of pleasure.

While he ate, Sesshomaru studied her. He studied the strong cheekbones and angled jaw. He studied the callous hands. They were worn from work, something the women he socialized back home would know nothing about. The dress she wore was torn. A few beads looked vaguely familiar. Her boots were thick with fur and he figured they’d be warm and comfy in the winter.

So caught up in analyzing her, he didn’t hear the approaching footsteps. However, she did. Kagome eyed the flap before it opened. The older woman that had hit her entered and suddenly Sesshomaru felt a bit hostile towards him. The older woman was giving him a scrutinizing gaze from top to bottom. “You treated and fed him our medicine and food?” she asked Kagome.

“I did,” Kagome declared firmly. “If he goes back unharmed and fed, maybe they will stall while...” she let it trail off, but Sesshomaru knew the rest of the words. While we run.

“You are too naive,” Kaede bit out sharply. “There is no winning here, Kagome,” the older woman added. Sadly, Sesshomaru had to agree with her. It would be pointless to kill him. His people would only want vengeance. If they let him return, he would carry out his orders because that was his job. Sure, he could stall a few days, but it was inevitable.

“You will take him back to town tonight Kagome. You will leave him there. Koga and the others will arrive and will decide what we will do about the raid,” the woman ordered. She left as swiftly as she came, leaving Kagome and Sesshomaru speechless.

Sesshomaru watched the emotions flicker on the woman’s face. First there was shock. Rapidly replacing it was anger. Just after that, she exploded. With a growl of frustration, she shot up to her feet and followed the elder out. Sesshomaru blinked as if nothing had happened. Had she really left him all alone? Would his escape be so easy?

Carefully, he peered through the tent entrance. They had gone back to the other tents to his right. He could see the horses to his left along with the river. If he followed that, it should take him back to town. Forgetting about his jacket and hat, he made a run for it. He weaved through the last of the trees before he approached the hill. The horses were all strongly built, but he recognized the one that had caused his head injury. “Taking you will be a great vengeance,” he mused.

The stallion in front of him heard his approach and tensed. The colored halter had no reigns and Sesshomaru wondered how she had ridden him. A few feathers were tied into his mane. For a moment, Sesshomaru admired the horse. He stood at about sixteen hands. His shoulders were strong and neck long and low. His legs were thick and hooves steady. It was a sound horse. “You will be a great addition to my ranch,” he added as if making a smart purchase.

Children’s laughter made him pause. He peered over the top of the horse and eyed the river. Shippo and other children were splashing amongst the river with grins and smiles on their faces. One of the girls looked up at him and paused. “Shit,” he cursed. His plan, while it had started easy, had not been thought through. His hands were still bound to his belt loop.

“You did not get too far, did you?”

Her voice was taunting him. Sesshomaru slowly turned to see a smirk on her face. One of her hands were on her hips. Her other hand was toying another horse, much older than hers. The mare looked be on her last leg of life. Still, the teasing light in her eyes made him release a sigh of defeat. “It was worth a shot.”

Her soft laugh was more of a reward than an insult. Sesshomaru watched the smile turn into a grin until the ends of her eyes creased with her laughter. Shaking her head at him, she reached into her boot and pulled out the hunting knife. “This is your horse,” she introduced the old mare to him. “Her name is Mother, as she is the oldest. If you have been listening, I am taking you to the town. I will be your guide,” Kagome spoke carefully, and Sesshomaru realized she was scared of him. His captor was now scared.

“If you take off, I will not try to stop you, but you will harm this horse. You can do that, or just let me guide you. The option is yours,” she said before reaching forward and cutting the ties. She walked the horse in front of him, and he saw then his jacket and hat on the back of the horse.

“Where’s my gun?” he wondered as he hoisted himself onto the horse without a saddle. It took some time adjusting before he was comfortable.

“I will return it to you once we are near,” Kagome explained. Sesshoumaru watched her gracefully swing up onto her mount. They seemed to go together perfectly. While her horse had tensed upon him approaching, he was at ease around her. She gripped a piece of his mane loosely, squeezing her calf on the horse’s body and easing him through the village. They walked past Miroku and Kaede on their way out, but she did not glance or say goodbye. It would seem his capture had caused a feud within the tribe.

“How long will the ride take us?” Sesshomaru asked. It was dark around them. After traveling for a near hour, he had no idea which way was north or east. How the hell could she keep track of their location?

“We have a few more hours. We will arrive before dawn,” Kagome answered. Sesshomaru could see she was in deep concentration. The woman was alert, listening to their surroundings. He tried to listen, but all he could hear was their horses stomping on sticks and leaves.

Sesshomaru was glad it had been a full moon tonight. The moonlight was the only light they  had to guide them. While it was not nearly enough for them, Kagome had weaved through the trees in such a way that Sesshomaru knew she had a destination, and was covering her tracks so he would not be able to guide his troops back to her camp. Really, she was a smart woman. He had to give her that.

When her horse stopped abruptly, her shoulders tensed up again. Sesshomaru tried to focus on his hearing, but still could not pick up anything. “This is as far as I go,” Kagome whispered. “Your troops are out looking for you. They are too close.”

Sesshomaru stared at her for a moment, wondering what she had heard or seen. He felt blind and deaf under such circumstances. He had no idea which direction to go in or how far away he was. Kagome looked scared, and he knew then why. She had gotten to close. Suddenly, he felt the need to protect her and gave a quick nod, wanting nothing more than for her to leave and stay safe. After all, she had done all this to keep her family safe. Surely, there was no harm in that.

However, there was no time for him to give such an action. One moment, she was on her horse. The next second, she was tackled to the ground by his second in command. The captain pulled his fist back while Sesshomaru jumped from the horse. The sound of his fist meeting her jaw was sure to haunt his nightmares for days to come. Her weakened shout of pain made him want to kill the man himself.

“Captain!” he shouted angrily, reaching to grab hold of the man’s jacket. Kagome wrapped her legs around the man then, rolling him over and slamming her forehead into his nose. His captain released a squeal of agony as Kagome moved to straddle his chest and pin down his elbows with her knees.

It was like a new woman. There was no concern or worry in her blue eyes. These were pitch black and … scared. This was a defense she had learned through experience. Sesshomaru was startled as she growled and snarled at the man, slamming her closed fist against his body. His grunts and shouts made him unable to decide what to do.

How could he interfere without claiming to be on one side or the other? If he hauled her off, he would be expected to arrest her and escort her to camp. If he pulled him off, he wasn’t sure Kagome would not willingly attack him in such a state. “I hear something!”

The voice in the near distance made Sesshomaru decide what he would do. He saw her satchel lying beside her spooked horse. He reached into it and withdrew his gun. It took only a moment for him to decide what to do, although he didn’t like it. If he was able to shoot her in a place where she would heal and be able to return to the village, they could easily go their separate ways, back to playing cat and mouse with his troops and her tribe. She would be able to feign death while his captain recovered and they left.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t prepared for her to turn and look at him in betrayal. Her eyes widened on the Colt. The panicked glance turned to hurt and pain. His heart twisted, but he knew it would work. He squeezed the trigger. Click. He squeezed it again. Click. He released a curse upon realizing she had unloaded it.

So caught up in staring at the gun pointed at her, Kagome didn’t see the next blow. The searing pain of the man’s punch against her temple made her see stars and constellations. She fell back to the ground in a daze for a few moments. She felt her feet being grabbed and tied, but she was unable to do anything but moan.

As her consciousness returned, she pulled her knees up and kicked at the man. She must have landed a direct blow because he fell back on his rear. Reaching behind her, she felt around for a branch and thankfully found one. Bringing it up and over her head, she brought it down on the man. With a dull thunk, the man stopped moving. Kagome wasn’t sure if he had died or not. Clucking for her horse, she reached out just in time to fall against the familiar fur.

Unfortunately, she no longer had the strength to get on. Kagome was aware of herself falling, but it was strange how she never hit the ground. Arms lifted her up onto the horse. She felt a strong chest reach around her and grip Storm’s mane. “Goddamnit,” the man behind her chanted with a drawl that almost made her smile. He sounded frustrated. “Don’t you dare fall asleep. I don’t know the damn way back.”

Kagome shook her head against him. Something wet was on her face. She reached for it with her tongue and tasted the metallic blood. Her eyes fluttered closed. “He knows,” she whispered, referring to her horse. Putting her life in the man she had kidnapped, she allowed herself to be swallowed by darkness.

This concludes Chapter Two, which I hope you all enjoyed. 

I believe this round goes to Sesshomaru.

Kagome: 1

Sesshomaru: 1