Chapter 21: Third Round

(A/N: Wow better than sick days are absolutely bored out of your mind recovery days, the ones were you're kind of hallucinating so you can even start working on stories that you lost inspiration on. Hahaha! You can put away your flesh eating fan Fluffy you got your new chapter so there!)

Last time

It was silent for a while, many wondering what had just happened until a slow, echoing clap resounded seeming to mock everything that heard it. Looking up Kagome's first thought was that it was her mother that is until she saw the tall man clad in a white baboon pelt standing next to Leiko.

"So the second round is over." He said in a low smooth voice that made her shiver in disgust rather than the intended pleasure. Though she couldn't see his face and had no idea who he was she knew that she knew him, from somewhere.

Chapter 21

The next pairings would be chosen by Leiko which made Kagome all the more nervous as the covered man leant over her mother's shoulder to whisper in her ear. Biting her finger thoughtfully the lady of the east looked over the five remaining fighters. Straitening as he finished speaking Leiko removed her finger and smirked viciously. "We shall have another battle en mass the last standing shall face me." And with that she stood and walked away. Now Kagome knew what the man had been whispering about. He was bored and wanted to go and with each of them except the twin naga tired from fighting it was likely that they would be killed and then the twins would go about trying to kill each other in a never ending battle, so Leiko wouldn't even need to fight. Jerk!

Her anger was fuelling an adrenaline high as the fire chicken, naga and neko entered the ring. Absolutely trembling with furry she lashed out at the first to come too close, obviously the fire chicken, they truly were legendary for their stupidity. Regardless of its element the lightning ripped through its system and although her attack wasn't lethal the neko quickly took advantage of its weakness killing it quietly. And then there were four, each sat silently watching their opponents before one of the naga sprung into action.

Night had fallen a few hours ago and torches lit and they were all still at it. Really it was incredible, the naga moved as one adjusting to allow the other's attack and regardless or perhaps because of being tired the neko had fallen to only moving as much as was strictly necessary down to an exact art he avoided attacks by a hairs breadth, though right now they were in the middle of exchanging heavy blows.

'Really I don't want to kill any of you.'

'Neither do I kitten.' Kagome switched her attention from thinking, partially watching the naga who were once again at each other, and partially paying attention to blocking the cat to the cat fully.

'You can hear me?'

'Only with physical contact,' They broke apart for a moment only to collide again then freeze.

'your mental defences are strong unlike those two noisy ones.' Kagome knew he meant the naga who still hadn't noticed what was going on around them.

'Then why are you here if you don't want to kill?'

'I could ask the same of you kitten but no, the east needs a strong ruler again with the eastern people's best interests at heart.'

'You think you fill the qualifications?'

'I do, though if another who fits them as well were to take it from me I wouldn't mind.'

'And what about them? Are they here for the throne?'

'You ask questions like a woman. No they don't even wish for the other's death merely to be separated.' His statement about her question threw her a bit but then it occurred to her that his voice in her head was rather sexless itself, perhaps hers was the same to him.

'So if I were to oblige them they would stop?' He was silent even in her head and it bothered her how officially he was in charge of their non-verbal conversation as his eyes blurred and attention went elsewhere. In the background Kinka and Ginka broke apart hissing and shaking their heads as though they had flies flying around their heads.

'They would but you must act quickly they are displeased now that they are aware of my intrusion.' Again they broke apart though this time the neko backed out of the way of fire being launched at him. Kagome had had an idea cooking in the back of her head for some time now on how to get rid of one of them but the waste of killing either of the deadly pair had made her hesitate the idea went one step further to allow both to live and now the only question was whether or not she had the capability to recover the damage she would cause.

It was now or never as the neko was staying back regardless of the main focus being on him. He was watching her from the corner of his eye of her seeming to test her. Gathering a mass of electricity in her hands she rushed Ginka. Kinka was so used to electrical attacks he was practically immune and being an electricity user as well Ginka's system overloaded and his heart stopped the instant her electrified hands struck his back. Falling to the ground with a thunderous crash Kinka stopped his attack and turned to look at his dead twin in disbelief. Kagome wasted no time in severing the corpse and didn't miss the look of fury on the neko's face. The usual counterbalance gone Kinka lost his balance and toppled as well. Shock still overwhelming until she approached the humanoid half of Ginka's body, he finally showed a reaction when her hands started to once again glow but it was too late. He jerked to attention as her hands crackling with a now purple current made contact with the same seared flesh as a moment ago.

It was harder then she expected. Breathing life into the dead was much harder than killing them and doing it after hours of what she now knew to be pointless fighting just made the exhaustion weigh heavy on her chest. She had overpowered his life spark and now she was trying to rekindle it, it was like trying to light the fire after you just dumped water on it to put it out. Getting impatient Kagome gave him a shove and then it started. Swelling up healthy and strong he was alive.

And a good thing too as Kinka's angry, and therefore badly directed attack came hurtling toward Kagome and her still comatose patient. Only one thought ran through her head as she moved directly into the path of the fire ball, allowing herself to be tagged for the first time since entering this battle. 'Oh no you don't I just got him back!' As it struck her back she hissed loudly but it was when her cloak caught fire that it occurred to her that it may have been a bad idea. Sweeping the blazing garment off her shoulders and into the dirt to smother the flame Kagome was met with a silent stadium full of piercing gazes. Removing the cloth from her face she took on the softly threatening look her mother was so good at giving and leapt to the balcony. Resting herself in her mother's chair she ignored the growing ominous aura of the remaining crowd. The guards of the balcony suddenly on guard kept a wary distance until their captain arrived from farther back.

"Female! How dare you-"

"Summon Lady Leiko." Kagome's voice rang clearly through the night air and even though she was stupidly tired she had fun watching faces colour at her supposed impertinence. Smiling tolerantly she lolled her head to actually look at the hawk.

"If she insists on giving you cheek tell her she's a hundred years too early to defeat the daughter of Ryuukotsusei."

Glossary:

Fluffy- my highly abusive friend and fan who you can thank for the update

Neko- cat

Naga- mythical creatures that are half human half snake