Chapter II

The Joker is Wild

Disclaimer: I forgot to put a disclaimer in the last chapter. Sorry. I do not own Inuyasha in any way, nor do I own DC comic's Joker. The name was a mere coincidence, and any other similarities are merely coincidental.

Kagome woke up to see Joker hovering over her face. She shortly shrieked and jumped as a result. "Dreaming about Inuyasha again, Kagome? Why don't you actually try to get him in bed with you?" In a nearby tree, Inuyasha's ears perked up. So Kagome did want that sort of thing... No way our dog-eared friend would miss a conversation like this! Then, he heard Kagome's voice. "It's only a physical attraction!" Inuyasha was confused for a minute, because after that phrase, he heard Kagome's voice say this in a mocking tone: "It's only a physical attraction! Ooh, look at me! I'm Kagome! I hide my lust for Inuyasha with anger and misunderstanding except for when I don't! Ooh!" Inuyasha then remembered that Joker could transform into people, and it made sense. He was going to have a good long talk with Kagome later. Meanwhile, Kagome was trying to respond to the monochromatic mirror who kept mocking her. "Hey! At least I don't go around turning into people, releasing any random thought out of my excuse for a mouth!" Joker returned to his regular form and said, "Yeah, 'cuz then you'd be a doppelganger and I'd have some respect for ya! Now, if you'll excuse me, Inuyasha's been listening to this conversation the whole time and I feel like telling him that he's no better than you are. Bye!" That's when he cannonballed into the darkness of Kagome's shadow, and that's when Inuyasha started running wide-eyed in terror. He knew what was next. Only his humanity urged him to delay the inevitable. He was about 50km into brush and bushes when he stopped and looked back to find no-one following him. After breathing a sigh of relief, he turned back toward the direction he was running to find Joker standing right there. Inuyasha jumped a bit. "What's the matter, Inuyasha? Did a startle you?" Inuyasha, angry as ever, half-yelled, "What's the matter with you? Would you like it if someone revealed what you were thinking?" "No, it would just serve to piss you off more! Hehehehehehe!" Inuyasha, furious now, drew the Tetsusaiga. He was expecting a mirror image of himself to fight. He was going to regret thinking that. Yes, he did regret it when Joker transformed in Kagome again and said "Sit!" From a grave-deep hole in the ground, Inuyasha muttered, "But how... Only... Only Kagome can... do that..." Joker, again in his normal form, pointed out, "In a way, I am Kagome. I am her darkest thoughts and desires incarnate, and thus I can SIT you as many times as I want!" Inuyasha winced at the word "SIT", only to find Joker as Joker, laughing manically from the edge of the hole. The bastard's gonna pay for this, Inuyasha thought. "So I'm going to pay for this, huh? Fine, I'll give you the chance to kill me. Get out of that hole, and I'll transform into you. An even match. Hell, I won't even duplicate your Tetsusaiga and still beat you!" After Inuyasha got out of the hole and dusted himself off, he said, "All right. Whenever you're ready." As promised, Joker transformed into Inuyasha, minus the freakishly huge sword. Inuyasha dashed toward him, raised his sword, and yelled, "Wind Scar!" Joker just stood there and took it full force, not even trying to defend himself. After the smoke cleared, Inuyasha saw that Joker was still standing, and said, "Wow, I must be strong..." Then, the unthinkable happened. The air around Joker started to pulsate. Joker's imitated fangs and claws started to grow in length. His imitated silver hair started flying, and his eyes went completely black except for a sliver of white in the centres. Twin scar-marks grew on either side of the face. Joker was a full-blooded demon version of Inuyasha now, and this match was getting interesting. "Let's see you try to conquer the darkness in your heart, Inuyasha!" Joker was inches away from Inuyasha in seconds, swiping with claws that could destroy mortal steel in one hit. Inuyasha was forced into a constant backstep, trying to avoid a royal shredding. Then, Tetsusaiga was sent flying as Joker landed gashes on both wrists. Inuyasha realized that he wasn't facing himself anymore. It was a monster in his image, a primal beast bent on destruction. It was a mindless flurry of claws and limbs, and yet, still a facet of himself. At the point where a single slash more would spell out Inuyasha's doom, Joker reverted to his natural form once more, and carried Inuyasha through his own shadow to Kagome. "Tend to his wounds. He's just learned a lesson, and he could barely pay the price." As Joker walked away, Inuyasha said in ragged breaths, "Ka... Kagome... I don't wanna... be a... demon... anymore. I... I'll stay... a half-demon... stay... a half-demon..." Inuyasha fainted in Kagome's arms, and Kagome started to think. What did Joker do to him? Then she realized she was almost drenched with Inuyasha's blood and ran to Kaede's. Or tried, until she realized she was carrying Inuyasha. It was a good thing Sango and Miroku awoke a few minutes into the fight and came to see what was going on. Too late for the fight, they found Kagome attempting to carry Inuyasha to Kaede's. Sango asked, "What happened?" "Inuyasha picked a fight with Joker and Joker returned him to me like this. He said for me to tend his wounds, but I can't carry him to Kaede's." Miroku replied, "I'll confront Joker about it. While I cannot deny I like my thoughts to not be told to Sango, I'm at least at peace with my evils. I'll go. Sango, you get Kirara and fly them to Kaede's." After that was said, Sango thought, Wow. I never thought he could be so... so... responsible!

When Miroku found Joker, his back was turned to the approaching monk. "I've been expecting you."

"What did you do to Inuyasha?"

"One would think that to be obvious."

"What did you do?"

"It doesn't matter. Did Kagome tell you Inuyasha said to her? I take it by your silence she didn't. You better go ask her."

"Very well."

"That is, after I've had my fun with you."

Miroku realized that Joker meant to point out his flaws, so he turned, eyes closed, and said, "It's no use. I know and accept the things that are wrong with me." Then he opened his eyes, and let out a large "D'OH!" at the sight. You see, dear reader, Joker took the form of Sango, as to throw off Miroku's expectations. After a few moments of shock, Miroku smiled, and said, "It may be Sango's body, but it's not her entirely. It's useless." That's when he found Joker pressed against his chest, saying, "But that's what you really want, right?" As Joker started going up and down his body, Miroku's thoughts were a confused blur. He was tempted, sure, but that's his body speaking. Things became clearer then, and Miroku pried off Joker and sent him flying with Dual Thunder Palms, a Nunjutsu technique commonly practiced by his kind. No longer Sango, Joker landed on his feet mere yards away from Miroku. "I take it you discovered something about yourself at this time?" Miroku bowed in respect, and said, "Indeed I did. We misjudged you, wise one."

"They all do."

"You have earned my respect. I take it you taught Inuyasha something as well?"

"Indeed, but his lesson was a more forceful one. Suffice it to say, the Shikon Jewel will be pure in his hands."

"What is your name? Really?"

"Why, I am Teacher, young one. But do not reveal this to the others. I wish them to find out of their own accord. I've already hinted at things when Inuyasha talked to Kagome about his lesson."

"Of course. But what do I tell them?"

"What would Joker do?"

It was nightfall when Miroku reached Kaede's. Kagome looked to the door and greeted Miroku with his name. Then Sango asked, "How'd it go?" "Terrible. I was expecting to face me, but he transformed into you. Believe me, you should be embarassed... I am. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that he's really a guy." Inuyasha, only faking unconsciousness now, could tell Miroku was lying. He could smell it. By now, Inuyasha surmised that Miroku was told to lie by Joker, and decided to play along. Kagome then yelled, "Whoooaa! Too much information!" Inuyasha was holding back a smile. Hehehe... Same old Kagome. Inuyasha decided to 'wake up' at that moment. "Hey! He's awake!" cried Sango. Kagome chose to ask, "What happened?" Inuyasha said, "What do ya think happened? He transformed into me and beat the hell outta me. Bastard didn't even use Tetsusaiga..." Kagome put the pieces together and realized what happened, as well as the fact that Inuyasha was lying. Sango, however, was still in the dark. "He's going to die! He's messed with us for too long!" She ran out the door, Hiraikotsu in hand. Miroku smiled. "Worked like a charm." said Inuyasha. Then Kagome said, "He told you to lie, didn't he? What's really going on?" Miroku replied. "We aren't allowed to say that. You'll have to find out for yourself. You already have some idea, anyway..." At that moment, Shippo came in. "Kaede told me what happened. I'm gonna go get that Joker!" Kagome grabbed him in mid-run, and said, "Sango's already gone to teach the jerk a lesson, why don't we wait for her to come back for you to go? You'll get a better idea of what you're gonna face." Shippo then said, "I suppose you're right."

Both Inuyasha and Miroku were thinking this, and only this:

Good. She's keeping it up. Teacher's lesson won't be ruined. I wonder what he's gonna do to them?

A/N: Stay tuned for Chapter III: School's in session! R&R!