A/N: Hey every one! Sorry for the SUPER long wait, I got distracted by school. So I tried to make this chapter longish as compensation. Now as I STILL am not getting many reviews I would appreciate it if you would give me feedback on what you think. I'm not asking for some super long descriptive paragraph, just a short something. SO PLEASE R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own the inuyasha show, manga, characters and ya- you get the point. If I did I wouldn't own this annoying cat who won't leave me alone for 5 minutes... well, I probably still would, but she'd have someone else to annoy instead.
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Kouga fell to the ground with a grunt. Dust rose into the air. Jumping upright, he wiped the dust off of his clothes and armor, his eyes surveying the scene before him continuously. They started circling each other again; countering the other's every step with one of their own. 'Damn she's serious, and she's pretty strong too. If I can distract her enough maybe I can grab Kagome and run. I hate running from a fight, but...' His thoughts were interrupted by the cat demon changing her direction mid-circle, `Hoping to get me off guard, no doubt- silly cat,' Kouga snorted at the thought, a hiss ensuing from his component. He glanced worriedly at the cat demon and her unsheathed claws. 'Time to get her riled up and to make her lose focus.' Kouga thought smugly, underestimating the cat demons' determination and battle skills.
"Not bad- for a stupid feline. I'd call you a bitch, but that would be an insult to the canines." He hissed baring his teeth.
The cat demon screeched in fury, never losing her footing. "HOW DARE YOU! An insult? To the canines? More like an honour to their unworthy race and an insult to me!"
The cat demon darted towards Kouga, the flash of light in his eyes as the sun reflected off her claws was all the warning Kouga had as she raised them to swipe at him. He made as if to lunge at her, feinted, and in a flash of dust he was behind her with a broad smirk on his dirty face. An echoing growl erupted across the clearing from the cat demon as she whipped around in fury, her eyes moving widely. She pounced. Kouga growled back as he lunged for her to meet in mid air. It was only when he came crashing to the ground with nothing in his arms but dust that Kouga realized his grave mistake. The feline was making a dash towards Kagome's limp form in the distance where the fight had originally started. He gasped knowing he was too far away to reach her before she captured Kagome.
'Kagome.. Kagome.. Please let me reach you in time' Kouga thought desperately tears gathering in his eyes as he pushed for more speed, knowing in his heart that his wish couldn't be fulfilled.
XXX
Inuyasha and Shippo could hear the sounds of battle up ahead as they ran onwards. A menacing growl erupted through the air, causing them both to jump.
'Shit' inuyasha cursed mentally. 'I betcha that's Kagome and Kouga! Grrr, if he doesn't protect her until I get there...' He trailed off not finding some form of punishment severe enough. The two sped up simultaneously, the rough terrain of the forest floor bruising his feet while the branches whipped by, stinging as they landed blows across his face.
"Inuyasha…" Shippo murmured, fighting against tears of worry as they ran. Receiving only a grunt in reply, he decided to continue. "What's gonna happen to Kagome?" He whispered; so softly that even Inuyasha's sensitive hearing struggled to hear it.
Inuyasha's features softened a bit as he chanced a glance towards the kitsune."I don't know runt. I just don't know." Inuyasha felt a sadness well up deep inside him, a sadness so strong that it hurt him physically. Taking a long, steadying breath, he picked up the pace.
XXX
Struggling to concentrating, Kagome called all the swirls to become one.
She had hand to hand combat, techniques and far distance battles down pact. Now it was just her power. Slowly, but steadily, she was getting stronger. Already she was more agile and flexible, almost to a demon's level. She was fast enough now to keep up with Inutashio and could somewhat transform her miko power into demonic attributes.
'Come on kagome, you can do this! You've been here for almost 24 days already. You're being taught the way of a miko and a demon. You're strong enough to be able to do both things, floating on your power can't be that hard... can it? Come on! Sesshomaru does it on his cloud thingy effortlesly.'
Lost deep in her thoughts Kagome failed to notice as she started to rise of the ground, a mist of color surrounding her. She slowly formed a whip, much like Sesshomarus.
"Good job Kagome." Inutashios deep voice boomed out, startling her. Kagome let out a squeal when she realized she had succeeded. The beautiful clearing was several feet below her.
"Now, while floating you have to be able to use the whip or create a barrier around yourself." Inutashio instructed, rising upwards on his own cloud.
She smiled before closing her eyes again.
'Whip… Barrier… Whip… Barrier… Whip… Barrier…' she chanted.
Inutashio gaped in disbelief as Kagome's rainbow whip curled about her as if a cocoon, creating a barrier. The loose end extended and lashed out towards her target while the rest still protected her. From inside the colourful cocoon came Kaogme's trilling laughter.
XXX
The cat demon's piercing cry of triumph was cut short as a brilliant flash of light cut across Kouga's vision. The feline was blown away from Kagome's body as it started to glow, a whip of light catching it on the way down. Kouga found himself standing still in shock, not daring to take a step towards Kagome's still glowing or the now still form of the cat demon. The cloud of dust from the battle settled as he tried to plan his next course of action, bewildered. 'Wha-what? Is she protecting herself? Can I even get near her now?'
A ball of red fuzz darted past him as he stood still in disbelieve
"KAGOME!!"
"Shippo!" Inuyasha called out trying to catch up with the kitsune. He stopped panting near Kouga, who stood covered in blood and dirt. "What the hell happened here?" Inuyasha demanded gasping for breath.
"We were attacked and-"
"I can tell THAT." Inuaysha cut in impatiently. "I mean what's with Kagome? She's GLOWING."
Kouga glanced at Inuaysha, still in shock.
"The demon went for Kagome, but…Kagome…she started to…and then... I…I don't know. It looked like a…whip…from her and…the demon…I don't know if I can even go near her." Kouga ended lamely.
Inuaysha grimaced. There was no understanding Kouga. "It looks like the runt can. Maybe only those trying to harm her can't go near. Come on. Let's get her to the castle."
Kouga didn't move as Inuyasha started towards Kagome. "I think…"
Inuyasha turned back around and watched Kouga's facial expressions carefully.
Kouga swallowed hard, "She can't be dead." He finished in a barely audible whisper.
The two stared at each other in heavy silence until Inuyasha grimaced and nodded at Kouga slowly. Turning again, he stalked forward determinedly towards Kagome. Inuyasha bent down and gracefully swept her body up along with Shippo, who was crying silently holding onto a strand of Kagome's black and now knotted hair.
Kouga followed silently behind Inuyasha as they started towards the castle again.
'I hope she'll be alright,' Inuaysha and Kouga thought in union. 'It's been nearly a whole day already.'
XXX
Miroku glanced at the fitfully sleeping Sango in his arms and pulled her closer. Glancing up at Sesshomaru he wondered what he was thinking.
"Monk…" Sesshomarus deep baritone voiced interrupted Miroku's thoughts. "Why are you staring at this Sesshomaru?"
Miroku stiffened. "I.. I was just wondering- why are you helping us?"
"My intentions are mine alone. I feel no need to share them." Sesshomaru coldly answered before turning his back on the two.
Flinching Miroku frowned. The cold wind screamed in his ear as he remained silent, not wishing to anger Sesshomaru further. He huddled over Sango, wishing he could fall asleep like her. He knew Kagome trusted Sesshomaru somewhat and that caused Sango to believe in him too, but he still felt uncertain about the tall, silent Inuyoukai. 'Sesshomaru seems to act differently towards Kagome than others.' Miroku thought hiding a smile as he returned to his thoughts 'He tries to be colder and more distanced, but at the same time he lets her get closer than any other... He also seems to struggle to deny her things.' Mirkou laughed mentally at this thought and an incident it recalled.
:Flash Back:
Sesshomaru was staying with the group overnight on Rin's wish to spend time with Kagome and Shippo.
Shippo and Rin had worn themselves out playing with Kagome, who somehow had plenty of energy left, and had fallen asleep after pigging out on Ramen and Pocky. The adults now gathered around the dying embers as Kagome made some Ginseng tea and Ramen. The aroma spread enticingly throughout the small clearing. Dishing up Ramen and pouring a mug of tea for all, Kagome handed them out. Uncertainly, she approached Sesshomaru with a bowl and mug.
"L-Lord Se-Sesshomaru.." She began. "I know you say you don't eat human food, but... I thought that… well, maybe you would eat something. I know you might not like it but I'd worry if you didn't eat something. I even softened the flavor so that it wouldn't be too strong for you." She gushed. Bowing low she held out the food.
Everyone, including Sesshomaru, had looked up by now. Letting out a sigh so soft that it was swallowed by the wind that blew through the swaying trees, Sesshomaru reached out and took the food nodding slightly in his way of thanks.
Kagome smiled brightly in pure and untainted happiness, looking like a fallen angel as her dark ebony hair swirled about her, gently glowing in the faint light of the embers. Everyone stared at her and Sesshomaru, mouths agape in surprise, unable to grasp that Sesshomaru had just accepted food from Kagome and that Kagome was now glowing in joy smiling at HIM.
:End Flashback:
'Well, maybe Sesshomaru isn't all that bad.' Miroku thought as he finally drifted off to sleep feeling comforted by this new revelation.
Sesshomaru glanced down at the two sleeping humans.
'Hmm, seems like they actually feel safe enough around me to sleep… Kagome must be rubbing off on them.' He smiled sadly at the thought of Kagome for a second before his face became a cold mask again.