Amber Eyes 7/7

[Little Green Miko]

Amber Eyes

A.N. Last chapter folks! Still don?t own anyone in it. In fact, Takahashi-sensei is the playground, and I?m just playing on her swing set.

Chapter 7: Escape to Realization-

(or: The Return to Innocence)

The lights had gone dead.

Kagome looked around feeling suddenly frantic. Her brother was in a glass box with no way out and she had a completely drugged and thus virtually useless hanyou wrapped in her arms. Anyone would feel frantic in this situation. The building was creaking beneath her-obviously all to ready to collapse all around them. The explosions kept up all through the place. She gulped, knowing she had to act fast. ?Inuyasha-is it alright if I leave you right here for a moment??I have to try and get Souta out of there!?

Inuyasha made some incomprehensible noise and clutched at her arm in a vice-like grip and whimpered. He half opened his eyes and gazed up at her unseeingly and dazedly he lifted his clawed hand to run across her cheek. He wasn?t all there at the moment. Blame it on the Angel?s Breath that was still in his system, but he was conscious and really at the moment that?s all that counted. ?N-no?don?t?? He murmured incoherently.


Needless to say the touch caused a gasp and a strange shiver to run down the course of her being. She gulped the gasp back and placed her own hand on his on the pretext of moving it-but found she couldn?t bring herself to. Instead she was drawn to looking into his hazy amber eyes. His amber eyes?.Eyes that she could so easily get lost in and drown. The world and time seemed to stop right there and then-all around her the building went completely silent, things stopped moving and breaking, time just seemed to slow down a still for the few seconds the hanyou?s orbs captivated her every instinct. She could barely think or move even as his orbs blinked at her slowly, and suddenly a fleeting feeling began at the base of her spine-and something in the back of her mind told her she?d do anything to protect this boy-her brother aside for the moment. The moment she thought that a surge of unmistakable power surged through her and when she next looked up she found the glass with her bother shattered and Souta out of it and the three of them in a hollow pink bubble of barrier. ?Wh-what?? She hushed confused and surprised.


?Ne-chan!? Souta cried out realizing he was out of the glass, and sitting up weakly to look over at her. ?That-was awesome! How?d you do it?!? Despite everything that they?d been through, through the years Souta still had a bubbly personality-a saving grace that made Kagome feel more calm about the explosion she?d just created.

?I-I don?t know Souta -kun?? She murmured, finally letting her hand fall from the hanyou?s at last and peering around at the destruction collaborating all around the barrier she?d accidentally created. ?But-I think we?re safe for now?Though I don?t know how long I can hold it up.?

Inuyasha whimpered again-and on some deeply seated instinct he still had locked away he nuzzled Kagome?s stomach. Souta?s blood was working-albeit slowly. His nerves were slowly returning to some feeling though his mind still remained fuzzy. Blearily he murmured one word, or name rather, as his claws trailed off of her skin in the dark, falling to about her midsection. ?Kikyou??

This caused the girl to snap her eyes to the boy resting in her lap and made her stomach twist. She?d forgotten she looked like that Kikyou-woman now-which now that she thought about it, was probably Inuyasha?s lost lover that Naraku had killed. She gulped a little-and placed a warming hand on his cheek? ?No, no?Inuyasha-I?m-I?m not?Kikyou?? The name seemed to be hard to speak. It got caught in her throat on the way up, and saying it made her feel depressed for some reason?Could it be that in these short few days-she?d fallen in love with him?

Souta had managed to crawl over to the pair by then, and even in the dark one could see his eyes were baggy and his skin sallow colored. He was still sick. He stopped just before the two of them and put on a false smile. ?I?m glad you came Ne-chan?they were awful.? He said in his little heart felt voice, and then opted to look down at the boy in the black mesh shirt. ?Who is he??

The hanyou sat still after hearing this admission from Kagome. Slowly he lifted his face to her, his eyes gazing at her foggily again-but this time with more recognition. ?Not Kikyou???Ka-Kagome..??

Kagome bit her lip and nodded at him, it felt awful to see anyone like this and be completely unable to do a blasted thing about it. ?Yes?I?m Kagome?? She responded-her eyes being caught again in his. This time she didn?t know if she?d be able to look away, they were spellbinding. And he just gazed right back at her.

Suddenly the machines beside them exploded and fell down, blocking off any chance of escape. Her eyes were ripped from his as she looked up and screamed, instinctively throwing an arm around her little brother dragging him down to the floor with her and hugging Inuyasha tight in a protective manner.

?Ne-chan!? Souta cried out in fear as he was smothered by her protective arms. ?A-are we gonna die?!? He asked muffled as the room began to cave in.

There was a shove at something above on the stairs, though none of the trio below heard it. A voice called out to someone or a few people behind it-again barely heard over the ruckus of the collapsing building. ?Down here! I think they?re down here!?

Another voice followed up on that one. ?Good! We?re coming just hold on!? That one was shouted loudly down into the hole. The stairway was collapsing-so they had to move fast.

The hanyou?s ears caught it all however, despite the crashing noise and cracking supports. One ear twitched a bit-catching the faded voices of the people at the top of the stairs. His mind was still a little foggy, but it was slowly coming back. And he wasn?t sure he cared if he was saved from this or not. He had done his revenge at last-Naraku was dead. He could end it all and rest in peace?Couldn?t he?

An arm and a hand clutching at his side reminded him suddenly that he was not there alone. That Kagome was here too?Something inside him warmed up at that thought. Something he hadn?t felt in a long time?She wasn?t Kikyou?he knew that-but then she was Kikyou, wasn?t she? Although she was a different Kikyou, oh so different. She was Kagome. Nevertheless the subtle differences between her and her original-suddenly seemed to make her more enticing than Kikyou ever had been. He growled deep in his gut at this.

Kagome heard his growl, and misinterpreted it. ?Don?t try to move Inuyasha?? she warned, her voice kind of straining. ?I don?t know what will happen if we move?and I-I don?t want to loose you. Or Souta?? she all but whimpered.

Inuyasha heard the tone of hopelessness setting into her voice. That made his heart clench tight. He forced her to sit up by sitting up slowly himself, pushing Souta off to one side.

Souta gasped a little and looked at him. He had no idea who he was-but right now he figured wasn?t a good time to ask-the dust was compiling around them in swathes anyway, and he was ready to pass out.

?Inu-? Kagome was about to ask what he thought he was doing, a little fear etched into her features, but failed to even finish saying his name when he opened his eyes right up and stared at her.

The whole place was still coming down around their ears, however he knew that Miroku and that friend of Kagome?s, Sango, were on their way. He knew well that he was still drugged and couldn?t do much in this state-but the fear and hopelessness he heard in Kagome set him off. He placed his hands on her cheeks and made her look at him and gave her a stern look. ?We are not going to die, girl.? He said plainly. ?Miroku and that other chick you know are trying to get down here. We?ll be out before you know it, and be able to get Souta to a doctor. I promise you that.?

The girl?s face welled up with impending tears. It was the first time in years that she?d cried, and she didn?t quite understand why. She was relieved by his words, not sad, angry or depressed. So why was she on the verge of crying? ?H-how do you know?? She sniffed at him, instinctively placing a hand on one of his as it still rested on her cheek.

Inuyasha grinned then, and twitched his ears. ?Inu ears. They hear a lot of things ningen ears miss.? He said in a low voice.

She couldn?t help but smile at him, her free hand quickly coming up to brush away the salty drops of water.


And for some reason, that also made his heart jump into his throat. He shouldn?t be in love with a girl he?d met on the street no more than two days ago! It didn?t matter if she was Kikyou?s reincarnation! She was not Kikyou! But-when she looked at him like that?

The roof above them finally gave way. It came crashing down on them like a falling tree in the forest, smashing through Kagome?s barrier and causing a cry to go up from under it. It happened just as Miroku reached the bottom floor, so he witnessed the floor caving in before him with the weight of the roof smashing it down. ?Shit! Sango! Hurry!? He called back and raced as fast as he could through the debris quickly dissipating into the cloak that had swallowed Kagome up during the Shichinintai battle.

Sango heard and spoke into a walkie-talkie she?d stolen off of one of the guards they?d busted down below. ?Alright! Bring the chopper in! We have three people stuck in the building and in need of assistance right away! Over.?

Kohaku answered back over a fuzzy line. ?Read ya loud and clear aneue! We also have Kagura and Kanna in custody for interrogation-just to let you know. Over.?

Sango nodded, though her brother couldn?t see it. ?Good work. Over.? She put the walkie-talkie on her belt and watched the collapsed room anxiously for any sign that Miroku had successfully gotten the fallen trio.

As if on cue, Miroku billowed up from the hole in the floor-which had ranged all the way to the first floor and now he could tell the building was on it?s last legs. It would collapse completely within the next ten minutes if he was any judge of such things.

The huge purple ghost-like blob came towards Sango and landed beside her. The cloak was pulled back to reveal him kneeling on the floor with a knocked out Kagome in ancient miko clothing, a knocked out Inuyasha whose head was bloodied and had his arm wrapped about Kagome, and a knocked out little boy, who Miroku could only guess was Kagome?s little brother Souta. ?Mission accomplished Sango?? He muttered to the woman as he put his hand down to find pulses.

?Good work Miroku?I never thought I?d see Kagome-chan again after what happened out in front of the U.G.R.? She said, and knelt down to pry the three people apart and make it easier to get them out as the chopper?s loud sound came to her ears, and she looked up to see it drop stretcher lines and men come down to help the injured onto them.

Both she and Miroku helped the men load Kagome, Inuyasha and Souta onto the stretchers-and got themselves out of there just as the building finally completely gave way and crashed into rubble and dust. Sango looked out over the edge of the chopper door and sighed, running a hand through her hair. ?Sometimes it sucks being an undercover cop and part of the city?s Taijiya cooperation?This time it paid off a little.? She mumbled mostly to herself, but partly to Miroku too. ?We didn?t get whoever runs the drug syndicate-but we saved a few lives?I guess it?s all in a good days work.?

Miroku smiled at her, and came to kneel next to her as she shut the helicopters large sliding door. ?I?m glad I found you right after the Shichinintai knocked me to hell. We wouldn?t have been here to save them if I hadn?t.?

?Mm, it?s also a good thing you called me as soon as you realized Inuyasha and Kagome had left your apartment. Otherwise we wouldn?t have known and then wouldn?t have been able to save them?But we lost the leader of the syndicate. Which is a shame?? She answered back, sitting back.

Miroku grinned again, and placed his hand on her butt, rubbing it affectionately. ?We make a good team, you and I.? He said confidently.

Sango?s eye twitched then, and she looked at him with flames around her face, the impending smack coming right from her left hand. ?STOP DOING THAT YOU PERVERTED HOUSHI!? She yelled.

Miroku was slapped off and now laid back down on the floor of the helicopter looking at the tin roof. He sighed, the red mark on his face standing out like a beacon. ?I try, and I try?But-she?ll come around eventually?I think she?s the one for me!? He mumbled to himself, a small stupid smile spreading over his face.

Kohaku turned around in his seat up front, leaning over the headrest and staring down at Miroku on the floor. ?Oh yea, by the way, Houshi-dude?We also picked up this other kid that seemed to be running around the debris without a cause. Said his name was Hitorii?Know him??

Miroku blinked and sat up instantly, staring at Kohaku for a minute. ?Are you quite sure?? He asked intent. When Kohaku nodded, Miroku?s face became serious and contemplative. ?So?that?s where he disappeared. Naraku had him. All this time??

?Yeah, well, we?ve got him now. With Kagura-san and Kanna-san, all locked up in the back of the truck. You can come with to see him if you like.? Kohaku offered with a smile.

Miroku nodded. ?Yes, I would. Thank you. I?ve been searching for him for so long. He?s the heir to a legacy and he has to accept it.?

Kohaku shrugged and grinned. ?All in a days work, bud. Just lay your hands off aneue.?

The houshi blinked, looking stunned- ??To find Hitorii-sama again, at such a price?? He sighed and fell back against the tin floor.

?Hmph!? Was all Sango said to that. But she smirked.

~*~

He woke to bright bedazzling lights and a whopper headache. Instantly he shut his eyes tightly against the brightness and put a hand on his head in a reflexive attempt to abate the pain in it, and slowly sat up. He looked around a little. Small room. White. One other bed that appeared occupied. Plastic like curtains. A familiar but annoying stench of sickness. ?Oh fuck it! A hospital?!? He suddenly growled out rubbing his forehead. ?Why the hell do I need a hospital?!?

His outburst caused the occupied bed beside him to moan a little. He recognized the sound-and his nose instantly caught on to an even more recently familiar scent that could only belong to ?Kagome!? He gasped a bit, and leapt from the mattress landing right next to the other cot and leaning onto it to check the girl over.

She moaned once more, and her lashes fluttered, and lifted up. She blinked a few seconds at the blurry face before her as it slowly came into focus-and she gasped too-but sharper-quickly sitting up and dragging herself up back against the head-board she stared at the boy sitting almost right over her. ?I-Inuyasha?? she stuttered slightly looking confused at him.

He just stared back at her for a few minutes. Funny how she looked so pretty with her hair streaming all over her face like that?Almost gave her an air of mystery. Almost. ?Are-you ok?? he came back to himself and asked, watching her quietly yet intensely for some unknown reason.

She blinked and settled down a little, relaxing a bit against the headboard. ?Yes, I?m fine I think?just a nasty bump is all?? she looked at him then, and leaned up on her hands and knees then-closing the small distance between them to look him right into those captivating amber eyes. ?Are-you ok, Inuyasha?? she asked.

Inuyasha gulped a bit-there those feelings again, the ones he?d felt back in?in?damn, he couldn?t remember right now?but they were there-and now that she was looking at him face to face-they were stronger?Kikyou forgotten for now, he instinctively leaned in to her so they were the barest centimeters apart. ?Yes?I?m?ok?? he breathed.

?I-I?m-glad?? she said in the barest whisper-having no idea what was going on, just that whatever it was she was so positive it would feel right and oh so good. Much better then what she did with her cliental. ?I-I was afraid you weren?t going to make it.?

?Keh?stupid girl?I?m a hanyou-of course I would?? he murmured softly-his lips brushed hers in the barest of touches-his mind other than that a sudden haze of white and blue.

Kagome would have reciprocated-would have let him do it again and delve deeper into a more promising kiss-if the door to the hospital room hadn?t flung itself open just then-causing her to come to her senses and jump back from the euphoric feeling that had been arising in her.

?Kagome-chan! You?re awake! I?m so glad!? It was Sango who burst in through the door and went straight for the bed that the girl was sitting in.

Sango was followed shortly by Miroku and he exclaimed as well. ?Inuyasha! You?re ok! We weren?t sure you were going to make it!? and he went to accost the hanyou.

The so said hanyou meanwhile, had lurched away from Kagome, and whirled his face around to the door, redder then a cooked lobster. ?Wh-what are you talking about Bouzu?!? He snarled at Miroku as the man came to pat him on the back.

Sango turned from hugging Kagome to death to offer an explanation. ?Well when we finally got to you, both you and Kagome were gravely injured and you had a ton of a new narcotic no one?s seen before in your blood. So much so that even though your half youkai we weren?t sure you?d make it.?

Inuyasha gaped at them all. ?Hunh?! How-how the hell does she know I?m-that I?m-?

Miroku pointed at the ears growing from the top of his head, which twitched in response and shook his head with a shrug. ?She?s an undercover cop that?s head of the secret faction of Tajiya in Tokyo. I had to tell her, and she would have found out anyway.?

Kagome stared at Sango her mouth slightly agape. ?W-wait just a minute here?Sango-chan-you?re an undercover cop?! And you never told me?! Any of us?! We could?ve been thrown in jail at any given moment!?

Inuyasha couldn?t suppress a small growl at Kagome?s comment. Her in jail? Not while he was around?He cut himself short though. Whoa-what was he thinking?

Sango nodded at her friend. ?Yes, Kohaku too. But we weren?t there to arrest you or any of the other strumpets. We really were there to give you guys refuge. I mean, who?d storm a cop-shop searching for their hookers? On top of that, we have been out to get Narcotic for the longest time and we figured that one of you might have something to do with him. Unfortunately we didn?t bag him on this run.?

?Damn right.? Inuyasha grumbled. ?I killed him.?

?You-what?! You finally got him Inuyasha? That?s fabulous! Your revenge is complete now!? Miroku exclaimed again, patting the hanyou on the back.

?Yeah?By the way Miroku, Naraku had Hotorii also?that?s where the little shit disappeared off too for so long. Naraku warped his mind into thinking I killed Sesshoumaru.? Inuyasha muttered, wishing they?d all just leave.

?Yes, yes I know he did. Kohaku caught him running amuck without a cause and he?s here in the hospital now, in-in the psych ward.? Miroku rubbed his head, looking defeated, and sighed.

Sango blinked, and licked her lips-and suddenly remembered something. ?Oh yes! Kagome-chan, your brother is here too.?

?My-Oh my gods! I forgot about him in all the excitement! Where is he? Is he OK? Is he alive?! Is there anything seriously wrong with him?? She exclaimed all in a rush.

?Maa, maa Kagome-chan!? Sango laughed a little patting her friend?s head. ?He?s fine?for now. The doctors are sure he?ll make a complete recovery. They had to give him a blood transfusion though?seems his blood was tainted with the same narcotic we found in Inuyasha?s.?

Kagome stared a little, and gulped, leaning back and looking at the hanyou. ?Angel?s Breath?? She murmured.

Inuyasha looked back at her, and nodded vaguely.

?Well-whatever it was, it?s out of him now. However no one is sure if there?s more of it still around?Sango and Kohaku are going to lead an assault on all the major buildings owned and maintained by Naraku and scope them out for the same stuff. Hopefully it didn?t get out to the public. It?s got some really nasty potency and after effects. We were lucky to get it out of Inuyasha as fast as we did. It was strong enough to kill him.? Miroku said tapping his chin lightly in thought.

?Mm. I agree. Speaking of which, I have to get to headquarters to give my report with Kohaku-so I?ll leave you guys to rest up.? She smiled and hugged Kagome again and stood up. ?Ja.?

?Yes, and I had better go check up on Hitorii, world knows what he?s doing to the poor doctors?We have to set him straight however if he?s to accept his otou?s legacy.? Miroku nodded at the two of them and also stood up to leave with Sango.

The pair watched them go out the door, and Kagome blinked a little, relaxing as she turned her head to the hanyou, and tilted it a little.

But before she could say anything Sango?s voice rang out from the hall. ?HANDS OFF YOU PERVERT!!? And a sound *whack* followed suit.

Inuyasha groaned a little and rolled his eyes slapping his forehead, and turning to face the girl. ?Damn idiot never learns?? He caught her inquisitive look and cocked his own head. ?What now??

She sighed and sat back a little, pressing her lips together. ?What was that just now, before they came in?? She asked quietly.

Inuyasha blinked, nonplussed. ?What was what just now before they came in?? he inquired right back, a frown inset on his face.

?This?Just now-!? she said again spreading out her arms in an attempt to describe it better. ?What were you doing almost-kissing me?? she finally got out, a little exasperated.

The hanyou?s face burned a little again, and he looked away, a huge scowl on his face. ??Nothing?it wasn?t anything. Just spur of the moment-that?s all.? he lied through his teeth.

Unfortunately for him, she could tell he was lying. She huffed and crossed her arms, staring him down. ??Spur of the moment? you say. Would you have done that with any girl, say, Sango-chan? Or how about Kagura-san? Would you have with her??

He spluttered. ?Gods-! No way! Ick!? and caught his err to late. ?I-mean-yea??Course I woulda.?

?Hmph! You?re an awful liar!? she snapped. ?What about Kikyou huh? What about your devotion to her? You survived all these centuries to kill the person who killed her-just for your love for her-don?t you think you should remain faithful to her?? It pained her to say that, because she had fallen for him in the scant few days they?d been forced together, but she remained brave and put on a brave face.

He rubbed the back of his head and sighed, looking at her sideways. ?Yea, I know that too. But I did my duty to her. He?s dead. I can put the past behind me now?? He looked at her full now, biting his tongue finally coming to grips with that. ?And-you -are her?in a mixed up sort of way. I didn?t sense it before, but when Kagura said so-and when I witnessed your power, I knew it was no lie.?

Kagome couldn?t say anything to that?She just looked at him with a emotionless gaze. ?So-does-that mean-that your in love with me?? she asked, tentatively.

?I-dunno?maybe.? he was noncommittal, and scratched the back of his head looking off at the other side of the room.

?Oh?well, I wasn?t expecting you to say you were?I?m not her after all. She was a miko-me-I?m-I?m just a lowly street cat.? She smiled, a little though bitterly. ?Of course, my brother and I are now free from Narcotic?s clutches thanks to you. But even though that?s the case, I don?t much want to go and work as a dancer?and I don?t want to keep this lifestyle either.?

He recoiled a little from her crestfallen sound-and looked at her again. ?You-don?t have to go back to the streets you know. You-and Souta-can live with me?? he offered in a quiet growl leaning up close to her again.

She blinked and shied back against the wall, gazing at him with an arched brow. A small smile crept onto her face. ?Really? You mean that??

?That?and maybe a bit more?? he almost purred at her, moving up mechanically to nuzzle her face.

She kept herself from gasping, but barely. He was acting oddly-but then-did she really care? She and Souta were getting off the street-and she had fallen for him, no matter how she hated to admit it. But he was intent on whatever he was doing-and she seemed to know where the movements were taking him. ?Whoa-slow down a bit there?it?ll cost ya. You know the rules.? She grinned at him openly.

He glared up at her with a suddenly way to intense stare. ?What?? he growled at her, almost maliciously, warningly.

?I was kidding, kidding!? she laughed a little, a sweat drop rolling down her cheek. ?But-I do have one question to ask before we go about doing any of this. Your not seeing me as Kikyou, right? I?m-not just her replacement??

The hanyou sat back and stared at her more a disturbed frown crossing his face. ?Hell no!? he spat suddenly. ?You?re nothing like Kikyou! You?re loud, obnoxious, annoying, bratty, garish, blunt, not half as pretty, nor as graceful?oh the list goes on.?

With each comparison Kagome?s face scowled deeper and her eyes screwed up more and more with a hateful, murderous expression. ?Wh-why you??

But-just as she was ready to take a swing and hit him hard over the head with the lamp on the cot-side table he cut her off. ?But?that all gives you a personality, and an inner beauty that Kikyou-never possessed?? he looked up at her. ?And that-I think is what made me fall for you.?

Kagome couldn?t find the words to express what she was thinking, let alone feeling now, after that confession. All she could get out was a tiny ?Oh??

He just grinned a toothy grin at her and swept her up in his arms. ?Now, if there are no more stupid questions??

~*~

Somewhere outside a glint of red eyes glimmered in the dark-gazing in at the new green miko and her new hanyou, a small chuckle escaping the owner. ?Kukukuku??

The End