Comments: BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I finally managed to finish the next chapter. I know I know..nobody cares but u know what? I don't care either! I love writing this stupid story and even if nobody reviews im still gonna write it..eventually..sometime during life..sigh..but I still need reveiws otherwise..i dunno.. I only have 17, 17 reviews..pitiful..sigh

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and blah blah blah..



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2 Chapter Eight: Memories



"Let Kagome go, Sesshoumaru." A female voice injected into the petty squabble.



Inuyasha turned slightly toward the voice, wondering who had the audacity to tell his brother what to do. An even greater surprise was watching Sesshoumaru actually comply. As Kagome crumpled to the floor Sesshoumaru frowned.

"And don't frown like that. It will become Permanent and scar your pretty face." The last part was said with so much sarcasm that it made everybody cringe, excluding Sesshoumaru. All he said was, "And we can't have that." With an equal amount of sarcasm.

Inuyasha was confused. Who was this person who had the power to make fun of the great Sesshoumaru with no consequences? Not even Jaken had that power.

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Sesshoumaru was both pleased and annoyed, although none of it showed in his demeanor. He was pleased that Keino had come here but was annoyed that she had embarrassed him in front of his brother. He didn't know why he obeyed but when Keino commanded him to let Kagome go he had the distinct feeling of inferiority. This is what the other youkai/humans must feel when faced with him. He had to admit, it wasn't pleasant.

He looked down and watched as Kagome scrambled onto her hands and knees and crawled to Inuyasha. He still looked on as she knelt by his side to be comforted by him and to comfort him. And almost wistful expression came past his face but disappeared totally unnoticed by the others.

He looked away and turned to face Keino who was in the shadows…again.

"You can come out now, Keino." As the words left his mouth he saw for the first time a sample of the power she had when she killed all those youkai in the clearing they first met in.

"Where did she go?" Sesshoumaru heard Kagome ask Inuyasha form behind him.

"Shhh..I don't know." Inuyash quickly quieted his mate and watched Sesshoumaru closely for a sign of what was going on in his head.

Sesshoumaru silently searched for her. **How can she disappear so fast? Is it sorcery?**

After waiting for five minutes Sesshoumaru concluded that she was gone. He turned back to see Inuyasha standing with one arm around Kagome. As soon as Inuyasha saw his brother turn he pushed Kagome in back of him to protect her.

Sesshoumaru was amused by this gesture. He had already decided to leave Inuyasha alone this time but this gesture…this gesture deserved a reply. He lifted his arm and cracked his knuckles as if he was about to use the Poison Flower attack. But before he could add more reality to it a shadow whizzed past him. He had thought she was gone. Then how..?

Inuyasha had started to tense when he watched Sesshoumaru clench his fist but when a green aura began to permeate form his hand a shadow flew past him. A feminine figure alighted onto the ground with barely a sound.

"H-how?"

"Didn't I tell you to stop?"

Sesshoumaru felt his anger begin to rise. How dare this slip of a human girl scold him as if he were a child?

"Keagome is under my protection. So lay one finger on her and I"ll rip you to pieces."

Upon hearing this Sesshoumaru felt his anger spill over. H-how dare she threaten him, Lord Sesshoumaru? He had never felt such and overwhelming feeling of anger and resentment. But..now..he was too angry to control himself. "I was playing with them, baka! And who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do?!" He yelled this, unmindful of his falling dignity and control.

"Why? Just to show Inuyasha he is weaker than you?" They didn't notice Inuyasha blush. "For your information, now that he has Kagome to protect, he is a whole lot stronger than you are!"

"STONGER?!" Sesshoumaru roared. "He's just a pup. One human girl in not going to change that!"

Keino stilled. "You're right."

"What?" Sesshoumaru was unnerved by her sudden stillness.

"You're right. One girl cannot raise a hanyou's power. Or a full youkai for that matter. But love can. Inuyasha loves Kagome. He is willing to die for her. YOU. You have nothing to fight for."

Sesshoumaru was disturbed by the sad expression that passed her face when she mentioned love.

"What about you?"

Her brows drew together in her confusion. "What about me?"

"Aren't you someone to fight for? And Rin. What about her?"

"Rin…"she whispered. Keino looked up. "Do you really fight for her?"

Sesshoumaru was about to say yes but when he looked at her face, he couldn't lie to her. "No."

Keino lost whatever expression was on her face and straightened up her spine.

"But I will…"

Keino smirked at that and turned to look at the couple behind her. "Don't make empty promises you never intend to keep." Her eyes focused on Inuyasha. "It would only end up hurting the people that cared for you." She turned back to Sesshoumaru but instead of at him she looked at the forest beyond his shoulder. "Then you'll be all alone. Nobody to whisper words of caring. No one to hug you when you sad. No one to fight for except…" She finally looked into Sesshoumaru's eyes. "Except you life. The very same life you will wish had perished," she closed her eyes and smiled with apparent self contempt, "and gone to hell."

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In the beginning, Keino was facing away from Inuyasha so he couldn't make out what she looked like. From the back it was already apparent she was a female. Her delicate kimono hindered movement but her movements were still graceful, and full of hidden strength. Her voice was musical with steel melded in. She had even managed to make Sesshoumaru lose his composure and yell out loud, something he has never seen his brother do before. All in all she was a very unique person but as she turned to face him he couldn't help but stare. Such was her expression. And for some reason her kimono seemed a bit familiar. Wait. What was she saying? She seemed so angry and emotionally hurt. When she met his gaze it was like staring at nothing. Her eyes were…nothing. There was no feeling, no expression, nothing. But when she turned back Sesshoumaru seemed able to read her moods. This was very confusing. Why was she so protective of Kagome? How did she know so much about his reason to live, to fight?

Suddenly his ears twitched. He had heard some rustling nearby. He quickly got up and looked around. Soon a lone person clapped slowly.

"That was so touching." A feminine voice was heard saying. "But let's cut the crap alright? I want the miko. She killed my hubby and vengeance is mine by right."

Behind Inuyasha, Kagome gasped in recognition. "That's the cat youkai's husband! The one that I found killing little children a year ago!"

Inuyasha growled at the reminder of a time when he wasn't around to protect her. Of course, he growled at the cat youkai, too.

"So. You're gay eh? Feh. Couldn't find any women to fornicate with you?"

The cat youkai hissed. "Who are you? Protecting the miko, you'll die with her!"

The youkai's features were very feminine due to the cat's genes but it was undoubtedly a male. Being very young and inexperienced it failed to notice any threat in Sesshoumaru and Keino. It smirked in derision. "My name is Jade."

Its agility and speed gave it the upper hand but Inuyasha was prepared. Jade leapt up into the air and dove straight at the hanyou with its claws bared. Inuyasha transformed the Tetsusaiga (spelling?) in a flash. "Cutting Wind!!" he yelled (I'm not sure if that's the right attack name). But the attack failed to connect due to the agility of the youkai. It dodged continuously the blade's many attacks on him and dove between Inuyasha's legs. "Wha?!" As it cleared the obstacle it grabbed Kagome and ran.

"Come back!!! Kagome!!!!!!!!!"

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Jade ran until he thought it was safe. Looking around constantly he lowered Kagome to the ground none too gently. "Now, miko. You pay."

With two claws bared he swiped for her throat.







So…how'd you like it? I know I know…I haven't updated in like…three months but I can explain..ok, I can't but yeah. Ok..already wrote half of the next chap so I need to type up then I'll post kay..but only if I get AT LEAST 10 reviews!! Buh-bye!-Cat