There is no possible way I can do this chapter the justice it deserves, but I am putting forth my fullest effort. I wish that I was better at writing fights. Again, I'd say me wish me luck, but that'd imply that you were reading this before I wrote it...
I just realized, I have alot of fluff in this fic between Yusuke and Kagome, oh well, I think it makes sense for them. Please Review.
Time on my Hands: I got impatient waiting for this chapter too. I've really been looking forward to it. Your review is greatly appreciated as always.
Trinity of Kitsune Kunoichi: Your reviews are also greatly appreciated.
Raine: "Oh !" Indeed. Thank you.
Hissy Cow: Thank you.
The Present
"I'm sure you all know why we're here," Genkai said. All of Yusuke's group (including Keiko and Shizuru) was at Genkai's temple. "Yusuke's disappeared." It was dark out. They had wanted to hold this meeting when everyone could be there.
"Does anyone have any leads?" She continued.
"We're doing our best, but he's in the wind. If he's in Human World he's keeping a much lower profile then usual." Koenma (in his teenage form) said.
"When was the last time anyone saw him?"
"I saw him at school on Friday a couple weeks ago." Kuwabara said.
"I saw him a few days before that when he came by our place to ask baby bro for some money. Wanted to take his new girlfriend out." Shizuru said, providing slightly more information then Kuwabara.
"I haven't seen him since three days before I left." Keiko said, she seemed shaken.
"I saw him last on the same day as Kuwabara, he intended to say goodbye to his girlfriend. He said that she was leaving for a while. I got the impression he intended to stay there for the night." Kurama provided, calm as ever.
"I saw him when he came to Spirit World last. I believe that's when Botan saw him last as well." Koenma said. Botan agreed.
"Hiei, you haven't said anything." Kurama pointed out.
"Hn. What should I care? If he's been captured or killed it's his own fault for being too weak." Keiko started to cry. It had killed her to leave Yusuke, even though she had started to realize they were better friends than lovers, he was still her best friend. She felt responsible on some level, even though there was no way it was.
Yukina let out a gasp, a shocked expression on her face. Hiei suddenly looked sorry.
"I last saw him when he asked me to open a portal to Spirit World." Everyone took that to mean "sorry."
"We know he's not dead; Puu is alive." Genkai said. "Judging by how Puu's been acting I'd say Yusuke is happy overall. Right now I'm sure he's about to start fighting, though." Puu had a furious look on his face (which was surprising, considering he was in his smaller, cuter form at the moment), and he looked ready to bite anyone that came close, he seemed to be growling.
"Back on topic, what do we know?"
"Well, it seems that his disappearance seems to be linked to that night with his girlfriend." Kurama said.
"She could be involved, but it could just as likely be a coincidence." Koenma said. "He didn't say much to me about her, what do we know about her?"
"Yusuke seems quite taken with her. She definitely has alot of power to sway his emotions." Kurama responded.
"He stopped going up to the roof at school so he could see her." Kuwabara said.
"She's powerful." Hiei said. Everyone looked at him.
"She has a very high level of spirit power for a human. Still a weakling." He explained.
"Strange..." Koenma said.
"Do you think they eloped?" Botan said out of nowhere. Everyone seemed to consider her, until Keiko spoke.
"No, Yusuke's not the type, he wouldn't care, he'd tell the world, and if they had a problem, then he'd fight them."
"Yeah, Urameshi wouldn't get married without telling us about it."
"He's not anywhere in Human World." Hiei said.
"How do you know?"
"I know," his Jagan glowed under his bandana.
"...Have you been looking for him?" Kurama asked.
"So what if I have? I still have my revenge to consider." Hiei said, he should have figured Kurama would figure it out.
"Hiei, you are the only one of us to actually have been near this new girl, she is a human, right?" Keiko asked.
"Of course she is."
"So we don't know where he is, if this new girl is involved, or if he's in danger." Genkai said.
"We're pretty much flying blind," Koenma said.
"Let's just hope he can win this fight." Genkai said as Puu gave a particularly loud growl. There was no doubt about it, he was fighting
Keiko got up and left the room. She had been fighting tears since Hiei's remark earlier. Shizuru gave her a minute before following.
"Hey kid," she said.
"Hi Shizuru," Keiko said, trying to hide her face.
"How you holdin' up?" Shizuru said.
"What do you mean?"
"Cut the bullshit, honey."
"I'm worried about him. The last time I saw him I could almost feel his heart breaking. What if he's in danger and that was the last time I ever saw him?"
"You worry too much," Shizuru said as she lit up a cigarette. "He's tough, you know that better then anyone, and you heard Genkai, where ever he is, he seems to be happy, isn't that what matters?" She stalled a moment. "That's not exactly what I was getting at though..."
"Hunh?"
"Are you ok, him being with some one new?"
Keiko considered this for a moment before answering. "I think so, we really never were cut out to be a couple. He was always fighting, and I couldn't stop him. I think I'm ok with just being friends."
"That's good to know, because I have a feeling this fight he's in is over her." Shizuru said, her spiritual perception unveiling it's fullest extent.
The Feudal Era
"You should run along now," Yusuke directed at Kikyo, his voice dripping with venom, his face showing his displeasure. He turned to Inuyasha and cracked his knuckles, "Me and Inuyasha need to have a nice friendly talk."
Kikyo didn't waste time getting out of there, she wasn't afraid, but she could feel the fighting energy in the air, and this newcomer was an even match for Inuyasha, she didn't want to affect the outcome.
"I was wondering why you were such dick to me, I bet you could smell Kagome all over me." Yusuke said, he was standing directly opposite Inuyasha, he was trying to provoke him, he wanted him to attack. Inuyasha was letting out a noise like a growl.
"But why do you care if me and Kagome are together? Looks to me like you have some one else. Can't make up your mind? Here I thought dogs were loyal."
Inuyasha was reaching his breaking point.
"This does help explain a few things though, like why she didn't want to tell you, even though everyone else knows. I never would have thought anyone would have it in them to do that to some one as perfect as Kagome. Only a complete moron would let her go."
He was going to crack soon.
"And here I was starting to like you, especially after you protected Kagome, but I get it now, you weren't protecting her, you were protecting her soul. Like you said, she's nothing to you, you're-" Yusuke was cut off by Inuyasha's claws, which grazed his chest as he jumped back.
Yusuke responded with a punch to Inuyasha's jaw, landing the first real hit of the fight. He paid for this, Inuyasha made a much more substantial cut in Yusuke's stomach, blood falling slowly from the spot.
The battle got more heated. Yusuke had started throwing spirit punches. After taking two to the abdomen, Inuyasha managed to get behind Yusuke. "IRON REAVER!" he yelled as his claws scraped down Yusuke's back. Yusuke spun around, but Inuyasha had already jumped back. It was time to even the score. "SHOTGUN!" he yelled, sending his energy in a scattered shot. Most of it missed.
Both were injured now. Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga, Yusuke drew his sword subconsciously. Yusuke's sword survived contact with Inuyasha's three times before breaking in half. This was dangerous. He had to end it. He jumped back and pointed the index finger on his right hand at Inuyasha and started charging his Spirit Gun. Inuyasha noticed, he too jumped back and got ready to use his attack as well.
"SPIRIT GUN!"
"WIND SCAR!"
They roared at the same time. The attacks collided, exactly equal in power (both had been subconsciously holding back), and exploded. Both fighters were knocked back and fell to the ground, unconscious.
Kagome let out a gasp. The force of those attacks could be felt for a couple miles around (not to mention heard). She knew they had fought. The question was: was it over? Who would win? Was the other one going to be killed? Kagome shuddered, she got up to rush to the scene, to try and stop them if it wasn't already to late, but found Miroku and Sango holding her back.
"Kagome, there's nothing you can do, we all knew this was going to happen eventually. If you go youll just be in danger."
Kagome kept struggling for a few more minutes, there were no more sounds, no signs of battle. She slowly sat back down, she wanted to cry (and part of her wanted to throttle Inuyasha and Yusuke).
Yusuke came to first. He was still bleeding, he was bruised, there would be no hiding this fight. He picked up the remains of his sword. He saw Inuyasha on the ground nearby. He waited for him to wake up.
"I think we might have gone a little overboard..." Yusuke said. He had just blown off a huge amount of steam.
"Feh, just be glad you're alive." Inuyasha was about to sheath Tetsusaiga when he noticed something.
"You cracked my sword!" He yelled.
"I think that was the explosion, so its your fualt too." They began the walk back to camp, it took a while. Yusuke was limping. They were both bruised and bloody. There would be no hiding this.
"Before we get back, I'll give you fair warning: insult Kagome like that again, and I won't hold back." Yusuke said. Inuyasha said nothing, but Yusuke could tell he understood.
They got back to camp. Kagome was waiting for them.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU TWO??" Kagome yelled at them for some time. She hadn't seen the wound on Yusuke's back, and his shirt was absorbing all the blood, if it wasn't black then Kagome might have stopped yelling before he collapsed. He of course hadn't said anything about it.
When Yusuke woke up next he was laying ontop of a sleeping bag, his shirt was off, and he was wrapped in bandages.
"What happened?" he asked, not even knowing if anyone was around him.
"You passed out from blood loss. Why didn't you tell me you were injured?" Kagome said, all the others were gone.
"I didn't think about it."
There was a long silence.
"So what exactly is the deal with Kikyo, or whatever her name was?"
Kagome was stunned, Inuyasha had given no details on their fight.
"Sh-she was there?"
"I told her to get lost, I'd heard enough to guess some of what's been going on." His voice was icy.
"Yusuke, I never meant for you to find out this way," She was hurt, she could tell Yusuke was upset too, he was just displaying it as anger.
"Oh really? How did you want me to find out?"
"I tried to tell you, but there was never a chance. The one time I had the opportunity, Inuyasha ended up being too close, and he would have heard us."
"You could have told me the first night I was here."
Kagome looked ready to cry again. Yusuke saw a single tear drop.
"Shit! I made her cry! I'm such an ass!"Yusuke thought, his shame suddenly showing on his face.
"I'm sor-" Yusuke began.
"Don't worry about it, I'd be mad too..."
"Let me apologize!" Yusuke said. Kagome had to supress a smile, Yusuke really was an idiot, but he was her idiot, and she knew he had just been venting his frustration.
"I'm sorry, you tried to tell me, I'm an ass."
Kagome sighed. "At least he won't go all depressive again."Kagome thought.
"Where are the others?" Yusuke asked.
"I asked them to give us a little privacy right after they helped me patch you and Inuyasha up."
"Inuyasha knows," Yusuke said.
"I figured,"
"You know what that means right?"
"That you two are going to be at eachother's throats even more now?"
"I think he knew all along. I think he could smell you on my clothes. I didn't have the luxury of changing before I came here."
Kagome's eye's widened, how had she not thought of that?
"You never answered my question, what's the deal with Kikyo."
Kagome told him the story. Yusuke hadn't forgiven Inuyasha for his statement against Kagome, but he did start to see why Inuyasha could be a jerk sometimes.
"Naraku's a bastard." He said. Kagome could tell Yusuke was still a little hurt, even though he didn't express it.
"You have no idea." Kagome said. "The others will be back soon," she added.
They were back less then a minute later. Nobody said anything, they all just got ready to sleep. Kagome couldn't use her sleeping bag, Yusuke had bled on it. She wasn't as tough as the others, and it was a cold night. She shivered. "Come here," Yusuke said as he wrapped his arms around her, exactly as he had done that night two weeks ago in her bed. He may still be upset, but he was hiding something at the moment too, so he really had no right to be mad.
"I'm glad Inuyasha knows..." Yusuke whispered in her ear, just before he fell off to sleep.
"Does he really think that Inuyasha won't get jealous still?"She thought, she wasn't nearly as tired as Yusuke. She layed in her boyfriend's arms for a long while before finally drifting off herself.
"Grr...WAKE UP!" Was Yusuke and Kagome's alarm. It was still very early.
"Why so early?" Yusuke asked.
"Cuz some jackass cracked my sword."
"Bite me, you broke mine in half." Yusuke said.
"We gotta go get it fixed."
"So wait, we actually have something to do besides going around, looking for leads?"
"Yeah,"
"About freakin' time!" Yusuke exclaimed, not noticing the glares he recieved from most of the rest of the group.
They set out, Yusuke with new heart. He didn't care how mundane the directive, at least it was something. "So, why can't we take it to any random blacksmith?" He asked.
"In case ya haven't noticed, my sword ain't exactly normal. Not just anyone can fix it."
"Hunh, never really thought about that..." Yusuke said.
"Are they being nicer to eachother?" Kagome asked herself. Was it possible that they had worked out all the animosity?
"That's because you're a moron." Inuyasha said.
"Guess not."
Yusuke made a noise that signified he really didn't care what Inuyasha had just said. Yusuke dropped back to talk to Kagome.
"So, you're not still mad that me and Inuyasha fought ?"
"Of course I am. The only reason I didn't knock some sense into you is because you're already too injured."
"Haha," Yusuke laughed in a semi-mocking way.
"You're not off the hook, I'll think of something." Kagome stated. That was a promise.
"I'll stay on my toes then, but what about Inuyasha, he gets to walk away from this?"
"No, all I have to do is tell him to 'sit' when he least expects it."
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR??" Inuyasha roared. He hadn't been listening to the conversation.
"Sorry about that," Kagome said, a nervous smile on her face.
"You know, I never noticed this before, but you're kinda evil when you wanna be." Yusuke said.
Kagome smiled innocently. She had already planned her revenge on him, now she just had to wait.
A few hours passed. They seemed to be walking towards a mountain way off in the distance. Smoke was rising from it. Yusuke may not have been the brightest person in the world, but he could put two and two together.
"Question: Why are we heading towards a Volcano?"
"That's where Totosai lives."(spelling?)
"In a volcano?"
"Yes."
"So we're going to see a charred corpse?"
"Well, ON the volcano would be more accurate." Miroku said.
"I'm just gonna guess this Totosai is the guy that's gonna fix Fido's sword."
"Obviously." Inuyasha said irritated. He didn't know what "Fido" meant, but he was sure it was some kind of insult.
It was nearing sunset when they finally arrived at the base of the volcano. There was a path, surrounded by lava, leading up to what looked like a hut made of a hollowed out rock. They walked through the shhet that served as a door. No one was there.
"You have got to be freakin' kidding me." Yusuke said.
"He's not here..." Sango said.
At that moment Inuyasha smacked his own face.
"What'd you do that for?" Yusuke asked. A different voice answered.
"Ah, Lord Inuyasha, your blood is as delicious as always."
"Myoga..." Inuyasha said angrily.
Yusuke came up to see who was talking and found himself looking in Inuyasha's palm.
"Is that a talking tick?" Yusuke said, pointing.
"It seems you've gained a new companion as well.." he jumped onto Yusuke's outstretched finger and began drinking his blood. Yusuke flicked him away with his other finger.
"You know, I always enjoy part-demon blood the most." Myoga said. Everyone assumed he was referring to just Inuyasha.
"Ok, so where's Totosai?" Inuyasha asked.
"He said he had some things to gather, he should be back shortly."
"Good. I don't want to be around longer then I have to." Inuyasha said.
Totosai arrived in a matter of minutes.
"Inuyasha, to what do I owe this visit?" Totosai said in his croaky voice.
"My sword is cracked, I need it fixed. Quickly." He said, handing the sword over. Totosai inspected it.
"Tetsusaiga fought a battle it did not want to fight. Who is the person that did this?"
"That'd be me," Yusuke said, speaking for the first time since Totosai had arrived.
"AHHH! When did you get here?" Totosai said, supposedly surprised.
"He's been standing there the whole time!" Inuyasha said, hitting Totosai in the back of his head.
Totosai inspected him. Yusuke didn't know if he was imagining it, but there was something knowing in his large eyes, as if he knew...
"Hmm...you are powerful, to have done this to the great Tetsusaiga. Was it that sword that did it?" He said, looking ath the sheathed blade (Yusuke had crammed both pieces into the sheath).
"This thing? Hell no, it broke in like two hits." He said, taking out the pieces.
"Listen, Old Man. I know I just met you, but I've started to like this thing, Could you fix it up real fast?" Yusuke asked. He had began to grow attached to the sword, he was even willing to be polite for it (for a short amount of time, at least).
Totosai considered this for a moment. "Very well, I will have them both back to you in two days."
"TWO DAYS? WHEN IT BROKE IN HALF YOU HAD IT BACK TO ME THAT FAST!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I am working on two swords, and when it was broken in half that did not require as much fine detail as this crack will."
"Feh, fine. We'll be back in two days." Inuyasha said before he stormed out.
"Thanks, I owe ya' one, Old Man." Yusuke said as he and the others followed Inuyasha out.
When they weer all gone, Myoga addressed Totosai; "Do you believe they know that he is part demon as well?"
"No," Totosai answered, "he hides it well."
HELL YEAH! I think I did a good job on that chapter, and I had alot of fun writing it. Next one should be easy enough to figure out one thing that happens from the title.
NEXT CHAPTER: Hungry Like a Wolf.
(Not a song-fic chapter, don't worry, I don't like those) Please review.
