Chapter 10 The Confrontation
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A/N: Hey! How are you all? I can't believe I already have ten chapters up already. I'm just amazed.
Lord of the Blades-I know! But be patient! Okay! I'm Sorry! Goshness! Inuyasha surely will have his victories. He, after all is a strong beast! But we haven't gotten there yet. But just for you benefit maybe…possible….I shall put something extra in that I don't have in the stuff I already have written up.
Kougas #1 fan- Lol. I'm sorry but ciffy's are fun! Lol. Well at least I think they are for the author more that the reader.
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The next day Kagome was awake bright and early. She quietly abandoned her hut so as not to wake her still sleeping friends. Just like every morning Kagome tended to her garden. She had grown every plant from a tiny seed with the help of Sango. Normally would Sango come with her to help her but today Kagome decided to let her friend sleep. Kagome had the feeling Sango had a hard time sleeping with Miroku sleeping only across the room.
Kagome took pride in their hard work. She quickly filled a basket with her home grown vegetables and scanned the area with her eyes. Searching for him.
She could sense that Inuyasha was nearby watching her every move. He obviously planned to strike again when she least expected it. Unlucky for him she was always ready for the unexpected. She had to be if she wanted to survive and ensure the safety of her people. And most importantly she had to be on her guard if she wanted to keep the Shikon no Tama from getting into the wrong hands. She patted the small sword hidden in her kimono, just in case she needed it. She also had her bow and arrows slung over her shoulder.
She continued tending to her garden, pulling weeds and picking dead leaves until the sun was high above. Only then did she return to the village and back to her hut. She had a quick breakfast and made some for her friends. When she left to make her village rounds they were just waking up.
Kagome gave medicine to the sick, and even helped deliver a baby. Kagome knew her people looked to her for their strength. Most people said she looked like her ancestor, Kikyou. Most of the older villagers had commented her on that. Kagome would always just smile and nod in agreement. Kikyou had died very young in life because of the cured jewel. If Kagome looked so much like her, who's to say she won't die young too? But Kagome knew better than that. She may look like Kikyou but she wasn't Kikyou. She was Kagome and in charge of her own fate!
Finally Kagome's daily chores were finished around noon. All in all it had been an easy going day. She returned home and left Shippo in the care of Miroku and Sango before she left the village and headed towards the spring. She felt a little dirty and right now bathing in the spring sounded extremely appealing. The water was so warm and cozy. She once again grabbed her weapons, not forgetting to hide the sword in her kimono. She had a feeling Inuyasha would use this chance as an attempt to steal the Shikon no Tama from her. Well let him come, she was ready for him!
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Inuyasha watched Kagome leave the safety of her village. He had himself hidden in the branches of the tallest tree. From that vantage point he could easily see everything that went on in the village below. It seemed she was heading towards the springs. Inuyasha grinned. 'Stupid wench!' Did she think he had given up on her that easily? Is that why she was going to bathe alone and so soon after their last meeting? She should have taken that female friend of hers with her. And here he was thinking this would be so hard to do a second time!
He jumped from the tree and quietly followed some ways behind her. This time he was going to be careful. He'd take things a little slower instead of just rushing in. He had to use his mind this time around.
Inuyasha's heart began to beat faster. His anticipation grew. This was the moment! Inuyasha was relying on pure adrenalin now. He watched as she disappeared behind some trees into the forest and out of his line of vision. Not good! He had to keep her in his sights if this was going to work! He quickened his pace knowing it was not or never.
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Kagome knew Inuyasha was not far behind her. She could practically feel his want. He wanted this jewel so bad! It was almost a physical need. It took all she had to keep her focus straight ahead. She could feel him getting closer and closer to her. The hanyou had no idea what he was walking into. Just what she wanted.
Finally she reached to forest and quickly masked her scent. She hid behind a tree and waited for Inuyasha to pass by her. He may think he had the upper hand but he didn't. She just had to wait for him to follow her and then make her move.
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Inuyasha entered the forest and stopped dead in his tracks. How was this even possible? Her scent stopped suddenly when she entered the woods! It was like she suddenly disappeared! What the hell! He knew humans couldn't just disappear. And that's when he realized it. That woman had tricked him! She wanted him to follow her! Wanted him to come into the woods! He had to give her some credit. She was smarter than he had originally thought!
Inuyasha had only taken a couple paces when he felt a presence behind him. As he started to turn and confront this presence an arrow whizzed by his head, narrowly missing him. He continued to turn and that's when he saw her.
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Kagome hid herself behind a tree. She pressed her back flat against it not wanting to be discovered yet. In one hand she clutched her bow and the other held an arrow. She was ready.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. Inuyasha. 'Just a few more feet…..come on…take one more step….there!' He stopped walking and Kagome stepped out from behind the tree. She aimed her arrow just above his head. At that moment he must have felt her presence because he started to turn towards her. Not wasting anymore time she let her arrow lose. Like she had planned it just missed. She notched another one. Her intent was not to kill him. He was now totally facing her.
"I told you once already Inuyasha. You do not want this jewel! You must understand that you are fine the way you are! I don't think becoming full youkai is worth losing your soul!" Kagome said in a warning tone.
Inuyasha glared back at her and didn't even bother a response. Who did this wench think she was? Telling him what to do….Right now he was in trouble. She had him cornered. What could he do? He had to react fast before she shot him. Just one of her arrows could kill him. 'But,' Inuyasha thought cockily, 'if she had really wanted to kill me she could have easily done so the first time.' Reacting on impulse he lunged towards her, easily knocking her bow and arrows from her hands. Her weapon clattered to the ground, broken in half.
The look of utter surprise on her face had Inuyasha grinning. Now who was the one with the upper hand! She most definitely wasn't expecting that! But in his triumph he failed to notice something crucial.
Swiftly Kagome reached under her kimono and drew her hidden blade. She held the weapon up to his throat and rested it there.
"Go ahead. You got me. Do it." Inuyasha said closing his eyes, resigned. Hey, he had lost. He always knew this day would come. He just didn't think it would come so soon.
"Do what?" Kagome asked not understanding what he wanted of her.
"You beat me. Hurry up and finish me off. Kill me." He answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why would I do that?" Kagome said hiding her sword back in her kimono. "I don't want to hurt you."
"But…" Inuyasha said speechless, not that he wasn't grateful he was getting to keep his life for a little while longer. He just didn't understand. She had many opportunities to kill him and yet every single time she hadn't. "But you won. You beat me."
"So what? I accomplished my goal. And that was to stop you from stealing the jewel. That's all I wanted. I don't want to kill you." Kagome answered truthfully. "I can't kill you, anyway."
"I'll…I'll just try to steal it again!" Inuyasha stammered surprised by the sincerity of her.
"You know what Inuyasha? I don't believe you will." Kagome said genuinely meaning it. She couldn't explain how she knew this. She just did.
Inuyasha watched her walk away from him. She wasn't even afraid he would attack her while she bathed. How could she be so sure he wouldn't try anything? Why was she so sure he wouldn't do anything? How could she be so trusting? Didn't humans fear demons? Even if they were only hanyou like him? That was something he knew he would never get an answer for. But what he did know what the she was right. He wasn't going to go after the Shikon no Tama again, at least not for a while. This woman intrigued him and he wanted to learn why she was the way she was. Why she was so nice to him. Why she was so different from every other being he had ever come in contact with.
Inuyasha jumped into the nearest available tree to await her return. She may be so certain that he wouldn't harm her but who's to say other demons wouldn't give her the same courtesy? He'd protect her while she bathed. He owed her that much for sparing his life. How many times had she done that already? Two? Three?
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When Kagome returned from her bathing she was surprised to see Inuyasha waiting for her. "What are you still doing here?" She questioned him. Her hair was still damp from the water and beginning to leave a mark on the back of her clothing. "I thought you would have left by now." She smiled warmly.
"Keh." Inuyasha shrugged. What could he say? That he was making sure she was safe as she bathed? No way! That would lead to too may other things he didn't want right now. She may even tease him.
Kagome pretended he hadn't said anything and started the walk back to her village. Inuyasha followed right beside her. They walked the short distance in silence.
Inuyasha actually found him self enjoying this few minutes walk with her. He didn't know why and he didn't care. Why ruin the moment? I mean, he may never get another one like this.
Kagome stopped just outside the village and awkwardly turned to face Inuyasha. She looked to Inuyasha and noticed he was feeling just as awkward as she was. "Inuyasha…" Kagome started breaking the silence. "I guess I'll see you later sometime?"
"Feh." Inuyasha said trying to make like he didn't really care on way or the other, when really he did care.
"Well, Bye Inuyasha." Kagome waved and entered her village.
Inuyasha allowed himself to wave back and continued to watch her leave until he could no longer see her. He then left for the comfort of his forest to contemplate what had just transpired between him and the woman, Kagome. He had been doing this a lot lately. Sitting back and thinking. Most of his thinking revolved around her.
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Inuyasha was busy staring into space when the rustling of the leaves startled him from his thoughts. He looked around and saw nothing unusual. But his past experiences told him otherwise. His senses went on high alert as he waited.
Suddenly just as Inuyasha had expected a large cat demon burst from the bushes ahead of him. "What have we got here?" The demon said in a rough unfriendly voice. "A hanyou? A hanyou out in the open where he could be so easily killed? How unfortunate for him." The demon said with disdain.
"I think you got things backwards, buddy." Inuyasha said coolly.
"And a cocky one at that!" The feline demon said narrowing his eyes at Inuyasha. "You think you have the slightest chance of defeating me, do you? I'll have you know I am the strongest of my kind! No one has ever been able to lay a scratch on me! A weak little hanyou like you should be no trouble at all!"
Inuyasha pushed up from his place on the tree and looked directly into the demons eyes. "We'll see about that."
An onslaught of not very well thought out attack were set towards Inuyasha. He easily dodged them all and couldn't help taunting the feline demon. After all he was part dog demon. Dogs and cats had never been the best of friends.
"What's the matter pussy cat? I thought you said you were strong! And here I was thinking this was going to be worth my while. At least give me some kind of challenge!"
"Why you!" The feline demon swung his massive fist towards Inuyasha.
Inuyasha dodged the attack and came back with his "Sankon Tetsusou!"
"Ngh!" The demon fell back clutching his chest. "You are going to regret this you hanyou!" The demon spat through uneven breaths. "I will not be beaten by a half-breed!" He charged forward and this time his claws skimmed Inuyasha's side. But just barely.
"If only you were faster you may have inflicted more damage." Inuyasha sighed dramatically. "I guess all the bulk and muscle slow you down. This battle has gone one long enough. I'm tired of playing around. It's time to end things."
"You can't kill me, hanyou!"
"Hijin Ketsusou!" Inuyasha swung his blood bathed claws at the demon. In the instant before the attack hit him the feline's face became scared and then he was sliced to bits.
"Baka." Inuyasha spat before turning and leaving. Most likely other demons would come once they caught the scent of blood. Like hell would he stick around then. He was smart enough to know when to stay fight and when to hide or flee.
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Kagome sat outside behind her hut, watching Shippo play with Kirara. It was just so cute! She suddenly felt a surge in power coming from Inuyasha's forest. Without realizing it she was on her feet and staring off in that direction. Her heart beat quickened slightly. 'Inu-'
"What is it, Oka-san?" Shippo said startling Kagome from her thoughts.
"Nothing Shippo. It must have been my imagination." Whatever she had felt it was gone now. Maybe she had just imagined it? "You can continue your playing." Kagome smiled and sat back down. 'That was strange. It was probably just some demons fighting each other.' She reasoned. 'I should know that by now. Ever since I was a little kid I have always been able to sense when the demons were fighting each other.'
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That's it ya'll! Not as long as I would have liked it to be but then again not really all that short either. Ttyl and please R and R! Thank you!
Lord of the Blades, there ya go. I put something in. Not really all the exciting or anything. But I don't care. I wasn't planning on having that in there but it made the chapter longer, which is good. I'm not good with the fight scenes and stuff so deal with it! You either like it or you don't. I can't please everyone.
Ps. My randomness: What is with all the Christmas stuff already? I mean yeah it's what? Halfway through November? But it's like Christmas everywhere! On the radio and in stores and peoples houses are already decorated! I can understand the stores. They need to advertise there items. But I don't know, maybe it's just me. But I think it takes away from Christmas when you put the stuff up so early. I don't know it's probably just me. But anyway, whatever. Just wanted to put that out there. I'm weird like that.
Clouds of the Sky