A/N: Yes, I know what you're thinking. "ANOTHER story in the same week?!" I'm not liking the vibe of Vengeful Snow, and honestly, I have writer's block for it. People don't seem to like it, so I may just discontinue it. Sorry! Anyways, hope you like this one.
As you can see, it's titled like an anime episode. Hehe!
DISCLAIMER: I, Puppy-sama do NOT own Inuyasha, which belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Sunday, and Viz Media.
Beat ya this time, Shippo!
Shippo: You ARE like Inuyasha sometimes...
Me: WHAT WAS THAT?! *whacks Shippo* Oh my gosh, you're right!
Rin-ne: Okay, now I'M in here? How many Rumiko Takahashi characters are you gonna bring into your Author's Notes?
Me: As many as I want. Now go eat your food like a good Shinigami.
Rin-ne: B-but... I can't afford food...
Me: I SAID TO GO EAT YOUR FOOD!
Lum: Er... While they fight, enjoy the story!
Me: HEY! THAT'S MY LINE!
Koga: And THAT'S usually MY line...
Inuyasha: Shaddup, mangy wolf!
Koga: Dog turd!
Inuyasha: Baaaaaka!
Koga: Baaaaaaaka!
Kagome: SIT! *drags Inuyasha away by the ear*
Okay, NOW you can read. I promise.
A woman traipsed along the old flower field as the sun was dipping into the horizon, turning orange, its light flying higher and higher as if to give a reluctant goodbye. The woman, her head down, lumbered slowly through the field, crimson blood pouring from her once-white kimono adorned with flowers. A little sparrow lay in her path, its beady eyes staring wide as it stood, paralyzed with what seemed to be fear. The woman kneeled down to the sparrow, clutched the poor feathery thing in her hand, and raised it to her mouth. A long, black tongue uncoiled from her jaws, taking the poor bird down her gullet.
Kagome sat at a table with her friends; She had bought them some fast food again, in exchange for them helping her with studies. It was well in the afternoon, just after school. She sipped at her drink absentmindedly as her pale blue eyes focused on the buildings outside the window. Something had been lost in the recesses of her mind, but she couldn't exactly recall what it was. She just knew it was important.
"Kagome? Kagome-chan?" Eri waved a hand in front of the girl's face, making her jump a little bit. "Hm?"
"Thinking about that delinquent boyfriend of yours?" Ayumi smiled a little bit, nibbling on a salty fry. She was always one for romance.
"Wha-?!" So much for remembering. 'Why must they bring up this subject all the time?' "Uh, no, I'm just... I can't remember something. I know it's important, but I have no idea what it is..."
She ignored her friends' babbling as she looked up at the sky. It was nice and clear out. 'Definitely great for stargazing at night... Wait... The sky... Night... Inuyasha...' Kagome bolted up from her chair, grabbing her bag quickly. "I can't believe I forgot about that!" She tore for the door, but stopped, looking at her friends' confused faces. "I have something important to go to... I'll, uh, catch up on studying later. Bye!" And off the girl went, running faster than she ever did during gym.
"Geez, that must've been something important..." Yuki commented, taking a bite from her burger.
"Yeah, I wonder what it was..." Eri looked out the window. Ayumi shrugged.*
"What took ya so long?!" yelled the angry voice of the always-agitated hanyou that Kagome had gotten so used to. "Have you forgotten about the jewel shards?!"
"I was only there three days! I do have a family that wants to see me, you know!" Kagome stomped her foot down.
"She didn't even get out of the well this time, and they're arguing," sighed Sango, Kirara squeaking in agreement.
"Yes, this is a much too common occurrence," Miroku nodded.
"He's such an idiot!" Shippo fumed. "He keeps yelling at Kagome!" Before they could converse any more, a loud, clear shout grabbed their attention.
"SIT, BOY!" Kagome stomped off in the direction of Kaede's village.
"It's surprising she didn't say that earlier," the little Kitsune remarked, his fluffy tawny tail flicking back and forth. "New record?"
They were already on their path, ready to travel to the next village. Kagome looked at Inuyasha, who walked on with them, calm and seemingly irritated. 'Does he not know there's a new moon tonight?' Kagome mused in her mind, her blue eyes still gazing at the hanyou. 'Even if he did, it's not like he'd tell the others about it. Nothing ever stops him from fighting, even if he is weakened... But yet, he gets so hurt! But, I guess I owe something to him. Every time he's fought as a human since I met him, he was protecting me and others.'
She then gazed to the sun. It was close to setting.
"Please, Inari," yelled a female voice, "come back in! You don't want to be out when the sun sets!" What seemed to be the girl's son looked up, wide eyed and confused. "Mama will be home soon, don't worry. Nee-chan will protect you." In almost three seconds flat, Miroku was at the girl's side. "What is worrying you so, miss?" One agitated Sango and Hiraikotsu to the head later, Kagome noticed something... All of the villagers were going inside.
"It's dangerous to be outside at nightfall. I'll let you stay here for tonight, and explain what happened," the girl beckoned them inside.
"Ohaguro Bettari*?" Kagome asked. The girl nodded gravely. "She only comes out at night. At first, she just walks there, traipsing along, unless someone is spotted by her. They say her face can paralyze someone with fear, and then..." she looked solemn, yet scared as she talked, "She eats them whole."
"Keh," was the voice coming from the corner. There sat Inuyasha, leaning against the wall. "Just a weak youkai," he commented, standing up and cracking his knuckles. "I can finish her off in no time."
"You don't mean to go after her, do you?" asked the girl worriedly, her brown eyes full of concern. "S-she should be out at sunset... Near the fields." The hanyou gave a short nod of understanding, walking to the straw-curtain of a door. Kagome's eyes widened. 'He doesn't know...'' She stood up as he was about to push the straw curtain back. "I'm going too!" she declared, grabbing her bow and arrows.
"Kagome, I can handle this on my own. Stay back here," the hanyou replied with a dry, irritated voice.
"I'm coming with you, and that's final! What if this youkai has a shard?!" She huffed, determination showing clearly in her blue eyes.
"... Fine."
'I'll tell him when we're out there...' mused Kagome as she followed the red-robed hanyou. 'I can't let the others worry!'
The blood-bathed woman walked through the field, as the rays of sun began to diminish. What sounded like piercing hissing emanated from her sharp-toothed mouth. "Sun... gone... Shards... close..." her voice sounded more like nails scratching on a chalkboard than an actual voice. She raised the dead bird in her hand up to the air. Her long, dirt-caked nails dug into the wound of the bird, drawing more blood out of its body. The hissing cackle pierced the air. "POWER... CLOSE!"
A/N: I'll just leave you with that lovely vision in your mind. Creepy, huh? Don't worry, I won't discontinue this story. I have WAY too much inspiration.
ANNOTATION TIME!
1. I don't know who's who out of Kagome's friends. I just used what name sounded best for each. Is this correct? Headband girl: Eri Short-haired girl: Yuka Curly-haired girl: Ayume?
2. Yes, this is an actual demon from Japanese mythology. I'm not gonna give away exactly what she looks like, because that's the whole shocker of the story. Hehehe.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Revisions?
Puppy-sama out.
