A Fangirl's Dream
By Angel of Anime
> Chapter 9: What... fice times? Yes, five times!

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Disclaimer: yawwwn, too tired, Inu not mine, mumble Rumiko Taka, Taka, THUD snorrrrrrrrr...
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Inu Yasha slowly opened his eyes. He reached out beside him, but what he was looking for was not there. He sat upright and looked around the campsite. Miroku the perverted monk slept a few feet away, snoring loudly with Myoga the flea nestled next to him. The young fox demon Shippo was sleeping on a blanket across the clearing from him. He finally spotted who he was looking for. The human girl, if she was even that anymore. She was gently grooming her long mane, sitting just at the edge of the clearing. He stood and walked over to her cautiously and sat next to her. She smiled at him and greeted him with a cheery 'Ohayo' to which he just mumbled in response. They sat there a while, Kyoko just brushing her hair and Inu Yasha looking off into the distance. Eventually he looked over at her,
"Why are you doing that?"
"Doing what? Brushing my hair?"
"un,"
"So it isn't tangely of course! Hehe" She waved it off as a silly question and continued.
"I never groom my hair."
"That's why it's so unruly."
"Huh?"
"Here come sit in front of me," Inu Yasha, still too sleepy to protest just moved in front of the girl. Then he felt something gently tugging at his hair, *It feels.. good,* He leaned back onto her knees so she could brush the full length of his hair. It took her a long time to get all the tangles out, maybe an hour or so, but he had enjoyed every minute of it and was a little disappointed when she finally stopped.
"See, now your hair is nice and shiny!" She reached up and felt it a little.
"Ouu I am so jealous, you have nicer hair than I do! Hehe and so thick, you're lucky Inu Yasha." She smiled sweetly and began to clean her brush of white hairs. He reached back and felt his hair, *Wow! It is soft! Almost like her's before-*
"See isn't soft, detangled hair nice? That's why I do this every morning,"
"You do this EVERY morning?"
"Uh huh, but my hair is finer than yours, so it tangles much more easily."
"feh, stupid humans,"
After she had finished cleaning the brush she went back to grooming her own hair. He watched her for a little bit. Eventually she stopped and felt her hair, it was pretty tangle free so she stood up and walked over to the campsite to start breakfast. He paddled after her and began to attempt to start the fire up again. Kyoko set out the plates and chopsticks then she pulled out few eggs and some vegetables that the villagers gave her as a going away present. She pulled out a small dagger from the bag and began to finely chop the vegetables.
It took him a while, but Inu Yasha eventually had the fire going again and he sat back and smiled in triumph. Kyoko walked over and just smiled as she set the clay plate over the fire. After a few minutes she gently touched the plate and pulled her fingers back in surprise.
"What is it?" Inu Yasha said uninterested as he made himself comfortable next to the fire.
"Oh nothing, I just don't cook with fire in my time, so I didn't know the plate would be so hot."
"Hrm?"
"I forgot how quickly the fire heats the plate and I burnt my fingers a little."
"Oh, is that all?"
Inu Yasha closed his eyes as he sat by the fire. Kyoko started humming a soft but cheery tune. He opened one eye to watch her. She cracked a few eggs and let them simmer on the plate. He noticed she was avoiding using a few fingers on her right hand as she stirred the eggs with a spoon.
"Ah hell,"
"What is it?"
"I can't relax when you're like that," Inu Yasha grumbled and walked over to the giant bag and began to fish around for something.
"When I'm like what?"
He pulled out a small clay jar of ointment and took her hand. He gently applied a little to the tips of her fingers that were slightly red. He slowly massaged her fingertips until he was sure that the ointment was entirely absorbed. He replaced the ointment in the bag and took his place next to the fire again and closed his eyes.
"Ar- Arigato..."
"un,"
Kyoko went on humming and cooking, she stirred the eggs a little more and then added a few of the vegetables and stirred them in. Soon a mouth watering smell drifted over to Inu Yasha who opened his eyes again to see Kyoko scooping some odd shaped mass of egg and vegetable onto a plate. She handed it to him.
"It's called scrambled eggs..."
He took a bite, but burnt his tongue and stuck it out to cool. Kyoko laughed to herself and cracked a few more eggs over the plate and began to stir them with the spoon.
Eventually the smell woke up the others and they all came, mouths watering. Kyoko smiled sweetly as she served them all, then sat down next to Inu Yasha with her plate. She noticed that Shippo was only poking at his eggs, his head was drooped and he was sighing a lot.
"Shippo- kun, is something the matter?"
Shippo looked up to meet her gaze, but quickly looked away not sure of what to say.
"I'm fine, I just, didn't sleep well."
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that, well eat up then, eggs are good for your energy level." She smiled at him and he couldn't help but blush. Inu Yasha saw this and scowled at the young fox.
"Too close to the fire for you fox brat??"
"I'm fine half breed," Inu Yasha stood up to go clobber the fox, but Kyoko tugged on his sleeve and forced him to sit again.
"Please don't Inu Yasha, don't want to start off the day with fighting." She smiled again and he sat down to finish his eggs. He sat back and looked around at the group, everyone was quiet, just eating their eggs silently. *They'll all perk up when we get moving,*

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Inu Yasha watched as Kyoko laughed at another one of Miroku's stupid jokes. *She's only laughing to be nice...* Shippo was walking beside him and he looked the way he did at breakfast.
"Stop it,"
"Huh?"
"Stop acting like that, she may not say it, but Kyoko knows something's up with you, stop moping."
"How come you know so much about her, huh?" Shippo said with a sneer.
"Don't talk back to your elders fox brat."
>"How the heck are you my elder??! How old are you anywise?"
"I don't know..."
"What?"
"Idiot, I lost count a long time ago."
"Oh, I didn't know HALF BREEDS were immortal-" WACK THUD Inu Yasha walked on calmly as Shippo ate dirt with a new baseball sized lump growing on his forehead.
"Stupid half breed," Shippo muttered and looked up to see Kyoko talking sternly to Inu Yasha.
"You have to stop doing that! We don't have an endless supply of bandages and what not, plus we all have to be in top condition should a demon attack!"
"feh, whatever." Shippo just smiled and straightened him self up and hurried to catch up to the group.
The companions walked on chatting and joking merrily, and Shippo eventually lightened up and began to laugh with the rest of them, of course Inu Yasha didn't laugh *Miroku's jokes are still stupid!* They walked on; unaware of two sets of great yellow eyes watching them from the bush.
"The time to strike draws near, now they have The Sword, we'll gain two boons in one day. You have done your job well, now ready your followers, we will attack when they camp for the night!"
"Hai, Lord Kyoga." Thus the small wolf demon slipped off further into the bushes.
"This... shall be interesting,"

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The moon rose in the sky and shined its light down upon the sleeping companions. Kyoko turned over in her sleep uneasily, as an evil presence entered the clearing.
"Should we just take the woman?"
"No, that smelly dog is guarding her... take the fox."
"Huh, why shouldn't we just take to woman??"
"Because it has been said that when partnered with that dog they become very powerful. That fox won't be able to fight back, we'll trade for the girl... heh heh heh."
"Hai, Lord Kyoga,"
A group of about five wolves walked over to the sleeping fox. They were about to gag him when Kyoko sat up suddenly. The wolves rushed into the woods except for their leader who stood frozen. Kyoko looked directly at him, her eyes half closed in sleep.
*Does she know what we're doing??*
"How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon?"
"Uh... three and a half?" With that Kyoko lied back down and fell directly to sleep.
*Wheu... that was close,* (Watch a Goofy Movie and you'll get that, GOOFY ROCKS!)
The wolves continued their jobs, they gagged the fox and lifted him up, but apparently he was heavier than they thought and they fell, the fox landing on top of them.
"Siiiiigh, it's so hard to find good help these days... did you fools wake him up!"
"Uh no... he's still snoring,"
Sweatdrop
"Heavy sleeper,"
"Yeah..." Eventually the foxes managed to drag Shippo into the woods and they made off into the night.

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"Shippo- kun? Shippo- kun wake up, breakfast's ready!"
"What the hell is that stupid fox brat doing??"
"I don't know he won't wake up, that's not like him," Slowly Kyoko lifted the covers off the sleeping fox demon. She stood for a moment, not blinking, then suddenly,
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
"What, what?!?!?!?!?"
"Heh heh heh, Ohayo girlie! Muhahahahahaha, OOF! Ouch that hurt! Why'd ya do that?!?!?!"
"What did you do with Shippo!!!!"
Inu Yasha peaked over Kyoko's shoulder to see a wolf demon curled up in Shippo's bed.
"What in the seven hells..."
"MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU FELL FOR IT!" The group turned to see a wolf demon wearing the appearance of a human, unlike the few wolves that scampered at his feet.
"Were you looking for... this!" The demon held up a still snoring Shippo, his claws digging into his wrist where he held him up.
"SHIPPO!"
"Hey! He's still asleep!"
"Yes, that was very fortunate for us, he never woke up, and we must have dropped him what... five times?" The large demon looked to the wolves behind him for confirmation, the wolves only shock their heads in agreement.
"Yes, five times! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Why do you keep laughing like that?"
"It adds dramatic tension,"
"O..." Kyoko only nodded
"Ok, now to get down to business. I have the fox here, I want the Sword of Judgment, and that girl, hand them over and I will release the fox." Kyoko perked up at hearing this and starred at the demon.
"What is up with this? How many times has this happened already??" She looked at Inu Yasha who stood there just holding his nose.
"It certainly does seem that the author likes to use the 'choices' bit to build the tension, Kyoko- sama."
"Yeah, must be a first time fanfic author," Miroku nods, then their expressions change and they stare menacingly at the demon.
Inu Yasha drew the tetsusaiga and stepped in front of Kyoko, who likewise had drawn her sword and was preparing for battle.
"Wait what are you two doing??? I proposed a trade, I didn't challenge anybody!" The wolf began to look nervous and he started to sweat profusely.
Kyoko straightened up and looked at the demon confused.
"What did you think I would just come with you, no questions asked?"
"Well, that's what happened last time wasn't it?"
"That was different..."
*He's right, she went with Sessho- Maru when it was me... why not Shippo, was Miroku right?*
"Well anywise, drop Shippo now, or we will take him from you forcefully!"
"Why is the woman making the demands! You are not in charge, I want to speak to the leader of this little expedition."
"SEXEST!"
"What the heck does that mean?"
"Nevermind, siiigh."
"Well. As I was saying..." The demon looked at Inu Yasha, who was slowly pulling Kyoko closer to him in case this newcomer should suddenly attack.
"Ahh, I see, so you are the one who has the current claim on her, ne? Then I challenge you for the woman!" Both Inu Yasha and Kyoko's faces began to slowly turn crimson.
"SHE'S NOT MY-"
"Inu Yasha, do not deny the fact, simply defeat him and get it over with." Miroku blurted in
"MONK WHAT THE HELL!" Inu Yasha felt Kyoko lightly tugging on his sleeve. He looked down and she stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
"I think Miroku means that it would be easier if you just dueled with this wolf then if you tried to explain..."
"... ... ..."
"Inu Yasha just do it, you don't have to do anything, just fight him!"
"...fine ...I accept your challenge wimpy wolf!"
"I wouldn't be talking flea bitten half breed!"
The wolf let go of Shippo and leaped into the air to come down upon Inu Yasha. Shippo crashed to the ground, finally waking up.
"Get outta the way!" Inu Yasha shoved Kyoko to the side and swung his blade, which the wolf neatly dodged.
*This fight might not be as easy as I thought...* Kyoko crawled over to Shippo, who was still sitting on the ground where he had been dropped, nursing his bruised wrist.
"Shippo- kun, dijobu?"
"I'm fine... that stupid wolf wasn't to gentle though..."
"Oh! Let me get some ointment, it'll help a little I think," Kyoko got up and sifted through the bag until she found the small jar of ointment. She paddled back over to Shippo and took a good look at him for once. He had orangesh hair and it was tied back in a high ponytail with a bow. He had big eyes and a small upturned nose, he looked very much like he did in the manga, but his face was a bit thinner. He didn't have his shirt on since he usually slept without it and Kyoko could see he was muscular, but nowhere near that of Inu Yasha. (Ok I know Inu Yasha isn't drawn with big DBZ muscles or anything, but I am imagining him a bit more so than in the manga) She smiled as he sat cross-legged grumbling about his wrist. She kneeled down and dipped her fingers in the ointment and dabbed it on the claw marks and began to massage it in gently. Shippo shivered slightly. *Her fingers are so soft, they tickle* Kyoko gently prodded the claw marks, which seemed to heal right before her eyes. She stared at it a moment and Shippo looked up at her in surprise.
"What??"
"Oh nothing, its just you demons, hehe your healing power is amazing, it would take DAYS for marks like that on me to heal, and I just watched yours do it in like thirty seconds." She giggled to herself and put a hand out to help him up. When he stood he was about five inches taller than her and she had to look up to see his eyes. They stood watching the battle for a moment.

The wolf seemed to have the upper hand, he would rush Inu Yasha who would swing the tetsusaiga, but the wolf was too quick and would bound out of the way. Eventually he sneered at Inu Yasha and glanced over at Kyoko.
"You certainly don't seem strong enough to have beaten Sessho- Maru, did you steal her? Heh heh heh"
"feh, I'm strong enough to rip your head off!" Inu Yasha lunged at the wolf and swung the fang, barely missing his enemy's neck.
"hehe this is fun, the woman shall be mine in no time, I had head of you Inu Yasha, I was expecting better, I suppose it was all the woman fighting those battles, ne?"
"TAKE... THAT... BACK!!" With a sudden burst of energy Inu Yasha lunged and punched the wolf clean in the nose, causing him to fall to the ground. Inu Yasha leaped on top of the demon and pulled back his blade to deliver the final blow. As he began to bring the blade down he head a soft gasp from the corner of the clearing. He saw Kyoko bury her eyes in Shippo's chest, not wanting to watch. Inu Yasha brought the sword down... and felt it sink into the soft earth. He looked down at a very confused wolf demon, who had a new stripe of blood on his cheek.
"What? Couldn't do it dog boy!!!"
"I didn't stop for you wimpy wolf!" Inu Yasha gestured over in the direction of Kyoko who had her eyes squeezed tight and was hugging Shippo tightly. Inu Yasha's face grew red as he looked at Shippo who was looking to the sky and silently thanking kami for life.
Inu Yasha pulled his sword from the ground and stomped over to stand directly behind Kyoko. His aura flared and Kyoko could feel it on her back.
"What... do you think... you are doing?!?"
"I don't wanna see!! He wasn't that mean, he challenged you fair and square after all, he wasn't that bad looking either, a bit haughty, but he wasn't a bad demon..." She hugged Shippo tighter and squeezed her eyes shut harder.
"Just.. look..."
"No! Ewwwwie I don't wanna see!" Inu Yasha yanked her away from Shippo and turned her in the way of the wolf.
"LOOK!" Kyoko slowly opened her eyes, she looked at the wolf demon who was standing upright, legs spread and his hands on his hips, he winked and gave her a peace sign and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well it seems, dog boy, that your woman prefers me!"
"SHUT IT WIMPY WOLF! SHE'S NOT MY WOMAN!"
"Disowning her for that? Well I guess that makes her mine now! MUHAHAHAHAHA!"
"SHE WASN'T MINE TO BEGIN WITH STUPID!"
"No? then why did you duel me?!?! Huh??"
"YOU MADE ME GO ALONG WITH IT! EXPLAIN!" Inu Yasha yelled in Kyoko's face.
"Don't get so touchy Inu Yasha, listen, we thought it would just be easier to defeat you than to explain that I wasn't 'his woman'."
"Oh... well that makes you mine I guess! COME TO ME WOMAN!" The wolf leaped in her direction, but she pulled back behind Inu Yasha.
"Just because I am not Inu Yasha's doesn't make me yours!"
"Then surely you do not belong to that whelp of a fox demon there!"
"I BELONG TO NO ONE! I am not just some PRIZE to be won, because you win a duel I won't just fly into your arms, I CHOSE MY OWN MATE!"
"That is certainly a new custom... but I guess since you have so many retainers it is plausible. Then these two must be vying for your attentions."
"Siiiigh, they are just my companions,"
"Well, I will join your little troop then and you will see what a good mate I would be! MUHAHAHAHAHA!"
"You didn't hear a thing I said did you? Siiigh."
"Don't try to explain M'Lady, he is set in his ways..." Said Myoga hopping onto Kyoko's shoulder.
"Well I guess if you are coming with us we will need to know your name,"
"YOU'RE GONNA LET HIM COME WITH US!!!!" Yelled an exasperated Inu Yasha, only to be completely ignored.
"Hrm, oh yes, I am Lord Kyoga, leader of the most powerful youkai wolf pack in all of Japan!" Kyoga dashed in front of Kyoko and planted a suave kiss on her hand.Inu Yasha growled loudly as Kyoko shook her hand free of wolf germs.
"Uh, I'm Wanatabe Kyoko, this fox demon is Shippo, the monk is Miroku, the flea is Myoga and you already know Inu Yasha..."
"Kyoko... what a lovely name..." The wolf planted another kiss on her hand and Inu Yasha pushed himself between the two.
"hrumph,"

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