“Kohaku-kun,” Kagome bit out, intensely annoyed. “What do you want?”
Hard and glinting as chips of obsidian, the taijiya’s keen eyes flicked over her, taking her in from head to foot. A fresh flush of outrage rose to Kagome’s cheeks, her fingers clamping that much tighter around the gaping waist and collar of her untied sleeping robe. In the past, Kohaku would have flushed as well. In the past, he would have stammered out some polite words of apology and left her be.
But now he stood his ground before her with a cool and even contemptuous air—staring sharply at her still.
“What’s all this about ‘rapists and murderers’?” he countered, stepping soundlessly toward her.
Kagome tensed, fighting the mad impulse to retreat back into her hut. “It’s rude to eavesdrop on people’s doorsteps, you know. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that?”
“My mother died when I was born,” Kohaku replied, “so you’ll have to excuse my lack of manners.” At Kagome’s abashed frown, the corner of his lips slanted slightly upward, though the hard expression in his eyes remained unchanged. “On the subject of scoundrels, I came here to tell you that a band of marauders has taken up residence in the foothills to the north.”
Kagome’s frown deepened. She had mentioned to him just the other day that she had been planning to go north to clear out a youkai lair. With all the anger and violence that was presently simmering in her veins, she needed to go north and vent out her frustrations. Otherwise, she might very well be tempted to rampage West…
“Thanks for the warning,” Kagome said, her expression stern. “I guess I don’t need to point out that it’s your job to see to these sorts of things. Or maybe someone else should be in charge of the militia here. Either way, I’m not all that concerned about a bunch of outlaws when there are demons loitering around.”
A shade flintier still, Kohaku’s gaze held hers. “The militia’s job is to protect the citizens of Edo—and its refugees. This is what I’ve trained them for, not for clearing out bandits from their keeps.” Crossing his arms at his chest, he tilted his head as he scrutinized her further, dawn light bloodying the dark mottled steel of his armor. “If you’re going to drink, Kagome-san, you should stick to something milder. That demon wine is clearly hampering your perception, if you think that youkai are your only threat.”
Kagome bristled, feeling rather threatened at the moment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If you say so,” Kohaku scoffed, his dark eyes raking over her disheveled form. “But I know how you look when you’ve had too much sake. How you act when you’ve had too much sake.”
Kagome balled her fists at her sides. “Mind your own business, Kohaku-kun.”
But the taijiya was already turning away. “Stay out of the north,” he told her in parting. “More than likely, those bandits and demons will see to themselves. Whatever’s left of them, I can dispose of easily enough on my own.”
With that, Kohaku left her, his lean, dark figure cutting through the dusty path to Edo village. A sliver of knife-edged shadow in the glittering haze.
Watching narrowly after him a moment more, Kagome relaxed her white-knuckled grip on the seams of her robe, and resumed her trek to the spring.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
I did NOT see that coming. Also, totally here for Kohaku’s reaction to Kagome. I feel there’s a sort of defiance happening towards Kagome but it seems like it’s just a tantrum. With Kagome being a walking pillar of power even if Kohaku “wins” in certain situations, it doesn’t matter because Kohaku still wants Kagome and Kagome knows it.
Also, from this, I can see how they got to your other one-shot with the older Kohaku.
As usual, so well done! Thank you for updating. I look forward to another one!
HOLY SHIT THOSE BAND OF PEOPLE IN THE NORTH ARE FROM HIROKIN, ARENT THEY?!?? (Reference to the Deviants side story???)
LOL! Those side stories are f’ing magnificently mind blowing… I need more.
Thank you so much!! So glad you enjoyed this chapter and the interactions between Kagome and Kohaku 🙂
Loved hearing your thoughts on the dynamic between these two! Hope you enjoy the next part in the series!!
<3
I wonder how bad that thing affecting Kagome really is. She’s been snapping a lot at everything and everyone and while I know her situation is stressful, this amount of snapping is a bit concerning. More so if you take into account what Miroku and Sango were talking about this whole business. Not to mention that even Rin sees it. I need to know mooooore
Ahh loved hearing your musings about the story so far! Thanks for sharing! So glad you’re excited to see how everything fits together 🙂
Hope you enjoy the next part!!
<3
Love this kohaku but this story is different from the time line of adult kohaku sonce in the other story she had s child with inuyasha no amd he died….i think……Inuyasha the mate and sesshoumaru is the husband??
I would love to have more relationship of them ( kagome and kohaku) i love this defiying kohaku
I would love to have more interaction so he will fuel nore his obsession of her.
He still want her.
Thanks, Mari!! So glad you’re enjoying the Kohaku x Kagome relationship in this story!
Hope you like how things develop from here! 🙂
<3
I’m kinda in love with this Kohaku as far as fictional boyfriends go lol. Something about aloof tough guys who are secretly, desperately in love (lust.) He also has her pretty well pegged after she broke his heart and shattered his illusions of her. He knows something is rotten in Denmark!
Haha I’m fond of that type of guy as well 🙂 Loved hearing your thoughts on Kohaku in this story and so happy you’re enjoying his characterization!!
Thanks for sharing!
<3
Omg I thought for sure it would be sesshomaru standing there. In retrospect I should’ve known better than to think I could predict the direction of your stories at ANY turn. Lololol!!! But wow… Kohaku is seriously tripping me out! He always seems to call Kagome out on her shit before she even knows she has shit to be called out for! He is nothing if not perceptive. Im really looking forward to seeing how this plays out between the two in the long run. ESPECIALLY when he finds out what’s going on between Sesshomaru and Kagome! Now THAT’S gonna be interesting because I feel like if anyone can figure it out, it’ll be him. Lol
Glad I can keep you on your toes 😉 Hehe
Love hearing your take on Kohaku and the others!! Hope you enjoy how things shake out between these three characters…!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! <3