Lauren: I would like to congratulate Kawaii Bunny for being my 600th reviewer!!! WOOHOO!! Thank you SO much everybody! I'm just like...still in amazement and shock. I love you all so much! Thank you again for all the wonderful reviews and comments! I'm going to be leaving on Sunday, I'm traveling out of town for Christmas break. I'm not sure if I'll be able to update from my grandmother's house so I'll try my hardest to write as much as I can before I leave! I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday! I must say...I was in an odd mood when I wrote this chapter. It didn't turn out too angsty for once, ha! The review replies might be short because I'm dead tired again...I should be asleep right now for school tomorrow! Wish me luck, I've got two tests. -.-;;
Aylee the Dragon- All questions shall be answered in due time! I must agree with you though, Inuyasha IS super-sexy. Hey...can I borrow your flame-thrower? Hehe...I've always wanted one of those. I must add it to my Christmas list! XD
Warrior of Forest- Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the same song. The English translated title is "Deep Forest".
MaboroshiTsuki- I am glad I have opened you up into the wonderful world of Inuyasha! It's such an awesome place! Hey, do you have a screen name or something that I could talk to you on? Cause I'd love to chat sometime!
Lemon-Queen-69- It was actually very easy to leave it off right there. I like doing stuff like that!
Wufeisgirl- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! –glomp- Happy birthday a million times! How old are you now? –sends in the Inuyasha strippers- XD Joking! I hope you had a great birthday though!
B-chan- That was my favorite part also! Yeah, they hugged mentally. I want a mental hug from Inuyasha too! He's so great! The animation was kind of weird cause they did a lot of it with computer animation stuff. And don't feel bad about not reviewing, it's okay!!
Raiye- I love ya too! Are you having fun in TN? My friend moved there last year!
Zel no miko- Every update I must beg you not to hurt the Inuyasha cast. Please don't!
Tori- Sleep? What is this 'sleep' you speak of? Believe me, I know what you mean. I've stayed up so late cause I was stuck reading some great story! I always get 'where' and 'were' confused along with two other words, which I forget what they are at the moment. This fic has come a long way though. I wrote a Saint Tail fic that was like this one too. It was supposed to be short and simple in the beginning but it turned into some huge, way plotted differently story, but I don't mind. I love writing them either way.
Ryu- I know what you mean too! I hate to end fics sometimes cause I get so attached to the characters. I tend to always mold them a bit differently from their original anime ways ^_~. Don't worry though, I'll end it eventually.
T'laren- You're welcome! Be a happy little dragon! ^_^
Invincible2- You're welcome also! And thank you! I'm glad I've inspired you to work hard at your own fics, I'm sure they're awesome!
Kawaii Bunny- I'd love to read you story, tell me when you post it. I could try to fit you in the story somewhere but at the moment, I don't have an available spot. Sorry!! T_T Ah...and I wish that...hmm...I won't say it out loud so that it'll come true, but I wish it silently in my heart!
Chavi West-Wind- Congratulations on getting a pretty fiery shirt! That's cool!
WarriorGL- I can't wait until you finish the picture! I'll host it on my site and put a link to it on here! It'll rock! Happy Holidays!
SilverDust- Please don't hate me! =P! Sess might make an appearance later on, it's possibly but I'm not sure yet. And no, Kagome's not going to leave her time period and go back to the feudal era. Sadly, the well is forever sealed off...or it is...for now. WAHAHA! Okay, I'm just trying to confuse you. I'll stop! And yeah, everything I write is from my own brain although I got the concept slightly from some books I read, like the difference of reality and dreams, etc.
Chibi Kouga- Yes, yes...the responses are getting to be very long! I need to shorten them! It's taken me like fifteen minutes to type them all out! =_=;; !
Sio-Sami- I need to check out this Edgar guy now! It sounds cool and of course, Inuyasha can always kick demon tooshie!
Asilin- Already in Moscow, ready to catch the next plane to the North Pole! See you there!
Himeko- I totally agree with the dub/sub thing, the hanyou thing, and stuff. Thank you so much for understanding! Is your kitty okay? I hope so! Evil snake must be punished!
Stephanie-chan- Yeah, I wrote a lot of it from some of my own soul searching I suppose. I even kind of confused myself writing that part, ha! It was weird, it made sense to me but when I spoke it out loud, some of the sentences didn't! But oh well, I'm proud of it! No, you're not putting any pressure on me. Don't worry, I love the reviews and update pleas, they keep me in line!! Gah, I SO have to see episode 82 now!
~*~ Where Did You Go? ~*~
~By: Lauren~
-Chapter 21-
"A Blob of Black Ink is Not a Whale"
Kikyo stared at the doctor in front of her levelly. She blinked slowly, forcing back a yawn as she answered a few new questions. A couple psychiatrists had been spending the last two hours questioning her and asking her what different things looked like to her on cards.
I mean, honestly, what was she supposed to say? That blob of black ink is a whale?
Amazingly, she had managed to stay awake and actually answer with sane responses, for her behalf and Kagome's. Kikyo wasn't quite sure which was worse, being in her cell or with these doctors. She swore that half of them had mush for brains. After a while, they allowed her to leave the room to get a drink of water and a quick bite to eat. A bite to eat was taken literally, according to the doctors, for it was a measly, limp, barely green salad leaf, which was probably the same size as their paycheck- very little. Kikyo smirked evilly as she contemplated what excuses she could tell Naraku to explain her absence. She wanted to come up with something juicy and good- something that would bug him for she loved to see him squirm.
She had won a free trip to Hawaii?
With a plane full of hot males?
"Too bad that isn't the truth," Kikyo thought to herself. "What I wouldn't give for a room full of testosterone at the moment..." Her thoughts trailed off as a cheerful nurse led her back into the room which she had been tested in. Settling down in a large, leather brown chair, she looked at the group of four doctors who were staring at her with serious expressions. For a moment, she figured the worst possible thing she could do was jump up on the leather chair and start dancing while singing "This Is The Song That Never Ends." Shaking her head, Kikyo hid a horrified expression. Maybe this place had really gotten to her...
Scowling, one of the doctors stood up while another coughed. The one who had stood up leaned forward over an oak desk that was in front of him and held out his hand. Kikyo jumped up to her feet and ran forward to shake it. While they were shaking hands, the doctor smiled warmly. "Congratulations, you've been declared a sane woman. Once the paper work is sent through, in a few days, you'll be free to go."
A huge grin spread across Kikyo's face- something that did not happen often. "Thank you sir! Thank you very much! I couldn't have done it without you all..." She felt as if she were on the Grammy's. Sitting back down, Kikyo folded her hands on her lap.
"Of course, we'll have your mother pick you up. You'll have to stay in the house with her for a bit until she feels you're ready to go out on your own." The three other doctors were smiling also.
But Kikyo's smile dropped as soon as she heard the word 'mother'. She was in deep crap now.
~*~
Dropping to the floor, Kagome scrambled to gather her wits as she fought with a tangled blanket. If she had heard right, Sango had just screamed.
Loud.
Panic clearly written on her face, Kagome jumped to her feet, ripping the blanket in frustration and partly on accident. Inuyasha was already ahead of her, yanking the door open. He dashed down the hallway towards Miroku's living room, which was where the scream had came. Kagome trailed after him wondering if Sango had screamed because Miroku had groped her. She prayed that was the case. She prayed to anyone that was up in the sky- whether it was divine forces or not.
Inuyasha froze when he reached the doorway of the living room. He stopped so abruptly Kagome nearly crashed into him but she managed to stop merely centimeters away from him, not that she didn't mind the closeness, but her brain was elsewhere at the moment.
Sango was standing against the wall across the room with an angry look on her face. Miroku was sulking only a foot away from her with a red handprint on his face.
Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief. "God Sango...you scared the shit out of us." He cursed. "Miroku, can't you keep your damn hands to yourself for once?!"
Miroku shrugged innocently, turning towards Inuyasha, now smirking slightly. "Hey, I get more than you."
Inuyasha grinned smugly. "I wouldn't be too sure of that..." He chuckled, trailing off to leave the end to Miroku's imagination.
Kagome's jaw dropped at this. D-Did he just say what she thought he had said...? She growled, her eyebrow twitching with annoyance. She finally snapped, "I bet you couldn't find your butt with a roadmap and both hands placed on top of it!!" She blinked at her own words: One of the stupidest things she had ever said.
Inuyasha made a face at her that had the words 'What-the-heck?' clearly written all over the place.
Kagome shrugged, red-faced- her defense, "Things just blurt out of my mouth before I can think of what exactly I'm saying. Not my fault, honest! It has to be a genetic defect or something..."
Any past tension drained from the room as everybody chuckled or laughed. Kagome's face lessened from red to pink from embarrassment as she glanced over at Sango's smiling face.
Kagome swore her heart stopped.
On both sides of Sango, five long, razor sharp claws were slowly emerging from the wall. It appeared as if crimson blood were dripping off the tips as a black shadow formed behind her.
Why hadn't anyone seen it yet? Kagome fought to allow words to form in her throat but nothing came out except for a choked-like noise.
At the sound, Inuyasha turned and looked down at Kagome with concern. "Are you okay...?" He gave her an odd look before Kagome lifted up her hand, pointing one trembling finger at Sango who only blinked in confusion.
Inuyasha followed Kagome's finger until his eyesight, along with Miroku's, fell on Sango. Both of the men's jaws dropped.
Sango lifted an eyebrow. "What? Is there something in my teeth?" She rubbed her front teeth with her finger before Miroku spoke.
"Sango...when I say go...I w-want you...to run towards me..." Miroku stuttered. "...as fast as you can...okay?"
Sango's expression grew serious as her skin paled visibly. She nodded that she understood.
The claws were sticking out fully now at almost an entire foot. Sango could see them and she had to force herself to keep still instead of screaming and panicking.
"Go!" Miroku snapped, holding his arms out as Sango dashed forward as fast as she could. The claws raked both of her upper arms, leaving five red gashes but luckily the wounds weren't very bad. Sango collapsed into Miroku's arms, her knees now weak with fear as she ignored the pain in her arms. The black haired boy smiled with relief as he gently ran his fingers through her hair and stroked her back soothingly.
"I know this is all touching but...I think we should run!" Kagome stammered as all four of them turned and began to run for the house door.
She knew she shouldn't look back. Kagome knew in every story or movie, whenever the characters looked back, they'd see their worst nightmare directly behind them, but she couldn't help herself. Glancing over her shoulder, she only ended up causing her heart to race faster. Not only was the creature Daemon running towards her, she could now see him in the bright living room light. Plus, he had not come alone.
Seeing him fully now, Kagome gulped and picked up her speed. Daemon indeed had slit-like eyes with red pupils. A silvery-blue color outlined his eyes, drawing them back, as they seemed to also tilt downward, like the eyes of a dragon. He had blood red and black claws, which graced a green, scaly hand. Somewhere around his elbow, the scales stopped and his skin was an eerie black color. It didn't look like skin to Kagome though- it almost seemed like his entire body was a shadow- as if the darkness and light of the room was trying to play tricks on her sight. Midnight black hair hung in front of his eyes and reached to his lower back, all of it tangled and messy in a fray, going this way and that. It gave him an even more devilish look as he grinned, a neat row of pearly white, razor teeth sparkling as saliva dripped from their tips. Scales ran down his cheeks, fading around his neck as his body seemed to once again become a shadow- a shadow cloaked in a strange baggy, gray material that had silver tapestry on the sleeves. The sleeves ended at the crook of his arm but they hung down a few feet while the robe covered Daemon's feet also. Behind him, two other creatures trailed to both of his sides. They were very similar to him except they seemed only to have bodies of shadows, red glowing eyes and white claws and teeth. Each of them had a twisted grin, anticipating blood shed.
Screaming, Kagome crashed through the door, the last one to leave the house. Running and partly sliding, the group of four nearly collapsed into the street. For a second, Kagome was thankful for the darkness. No one would see the nightmarish creatures and yet, it was also a bad thing. They were all alone- not a soul in sight to help them.
"We'll split up!" Miroku yelled to Inuyasha, pulling out a knife he had tucked in his pants pocket. "You run that way." He pointed down the street. "And we'll run this way." He pointed up the street, grabbing a hold of Sango's hand. He half dragged her up the street as one of the shadow-creatures chased after them.
Kagome grabbed onto Inuyasha's hand, running alongside him as Daemon and the other shadow creature ran behind them. She swore she could hear them laughing- mocking her. She knew they were close on their heels and any moment they could stop them, but the creatures wanted a chase. They wanted to play before they devoured their prey.
Inuyasha made a sharp turn and Kagome slammed into him once again, beads of sweat trickling down her brow. They both sucked in rapid breaths as they flattened themselves against an alley wall while the two hellish creatures searched around for them slowly.
"A-Any ideas?" Inuyasha growled between clenched teeth. Kagome understood now why they had stopped. He was trying to buy them some time.
"T-The voice..." Kagome muttered, debating on whether she should tell Inuyasha or not. Yes, she'd love his hanyou powers to kick some major butt at the very moment but at the same time...she didn't want him to be stuck in a form he disliked. If he changed...that would mean hiding his ears day after day, hiding his claws, hiding the truth from everyone. And what if somebody found out? She didn't want him to be tested by scientists in some laboratory.
If there was a time for godly intervention, it was now.
"DAMN YOU!" Kagome stomped her foot down firmly, cursing loudly as she snarled, chewing on her lip madly. "YOU WANT US TO FIGHT THESE STUPID CREATURES WITH WHAT?! OUR FISTS? YOU GOT US INTO THIS MESS, YOU HELP US GET OUT OF IT!" She screamed to no one in particular, her eyes looking upward. Inuyasha only gave her a skeptic look, not sure if she had lost it.
Kagome immediately regretted her words as something sparked near her, shocking her arms so that her entire body seemed to jolt with electricity. For a moment- for a single second- Kagome slipped into unconsciousness- but before her body could even hit the ground, she was back to being wide-awake. She smiled. "They said they can try! They can turn you into a hanyou but they can try to keep it temporary! They said they'll use your ring- your half of the Shikon no Tama- to seal away your demon blood so that you'll be human and when you need to turn hanyou, just hand me your ring and the seal will be taken off! When it's taken off, the seal is broken temporarily and you can become a hanyou!" She laughed joyfully as Inuyasha only stood there, a bit confused. "Do you want to become half demon? You'll have your old powers back! And it'll be temporary, only when you want to become half demon!" She explained.
Inuyasha grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Sure." He said aloud, taking off his necklace with his ring and putting it around Kagome's neck before he turned his face to the sky. "What the hell- OF COURSE I WANT EM'!" He exclaimed before a bright, powder blue light suddenly engulfed him.
Kagome watched in shock, as she was blinded by the brightness. It almost formed an egg-like shell around him that blocked him from her vision. She was about to swallow when she felt a clawed hand tighten around her neck.
"Found youuu..." A voice singed as Daemon smirked, the other shadow holding his claws against Kagome's neck. The shadow held her in place as Daemon ignored the light, edging away from it. Daemon walked in front of Kagome, tracing a line along her nap, which drew beads of warm blood. Daemon smirked, "You can run, you can hide...but I'll always find you...until I either get what I want or you can't move...because you're dead. Or maybe I'll just settle for both." His eyes widened with pleasure as the shadow's grip on Kagome's neck tightened. If she swallowed, her neck would be sliced open.
"I can arrange that for you." A voice stated smugly.
Daemon glanced behind him casually before he dropped his grip on Kagome and spun around in surprise. "W-what?! How c-can you?!" He sputtered, for once the confused one. The shadow creature was unsure also, his grip loosing until Kagome managed to slip away unnoticed.
Inuyasha smirked, his silvery-white hair glowing in the dark. He wore a satisfied, fanged grin while his white dog-ears twitched with every sound he heard. He was trying to hide his astonishment at the fact that he could literally smell fear on both Kagome AND the shadow creature. He had sensed a bit from Daemon but it had somehow been covered up by a disgusting, dark smell. It was as if everything had doubled- his sight, hearing and smelling abilities had increase by far. He stood up proudly in his navy blue pajama bottoms and white tank top. Inuyasha even felt stronger as he cracked his knuckles a second time, flexing his fingers to test out his claws. He looked down at his hand for a second before he glanced up at Daemon, his eyes taking on a possessive look.
"I'm back..." Inuyasha laughed as he dove at Daemon. Daemon jumped out of the way but Inuyasha didn't care, for his claws slowly sunk into the stomach of the other shadow creature that had been holding Kagome only seconds ago. A purple blood-like substance oozed out of the wound Inuyasha had created as he pulled his hand out and dodged to the side, narrowly missing Daemon who had charged at him. Because of his momentum, Daemon couldn't stop and his claws sank into the shadow creature, coming out of its back. With a hiss, it dissolved into thin air, as if it had never been there.
Daemon snarled as he felt claws scrap down his back. Spinning around to stab at Inuyasha, he felt a strong hand connect with his jaw. A crack broke the silent air as Kagome began to back out of the alley, grinning madly as she watched Inuyasha in action.
A hand grabbed her shoulder weakly.
Kagome's heart stopped for what had to have been the second time that night. Spinning around, ready to punch whoever had touched her, Kagome dropped her defenses when she saw who it was.
A battered, weary and beaten Miroku stood behind her being supported by Sango, who didn't look to be in much of a better condition than the man she was holding up. They both smiled for all they were worth, most likely glad to be alive.
"What were those things?" Miroku finally spoke, his voice coming out wheezy and broken. "It was like something out of a horror movie."
Kagome snorted, "I believe you've just survived your first run in with the creatures of hell." She turned back towards Inuyasha, just in time to see...
Daemon was charging at her, one of his hands held forward as if he was reaching for her neck or heart. Inuyasha was sprinting directly behind him, reaching out to somehow grab and stop the creature. Purple blood dripped down everywhere on Daemon as he flew towards Kagome, a mere foot away.
Inuyasha lunged forward, tackling Daemon who had just made it to Kagome.
Daemon seemed to disappear into the cement ground, leaving behind not a single trace. Inuyasha face planted into the street where Daemon had disappeared. He grumbled as he tried to pry himself up. Finally, he stood up. "That's right." He snorted, spitting on the ground. "Run away like a little wuss, just when I started to beat you into shit!"
Kagome gaped at Inuyasha. "He didn't run away." She mumbled, her eyes wide with worry. "He stole your necklace." Her hands flew to her throat, feeling around for Inuyasha's necklace that should have been there- the necklace that held his ring- that held half of the Shikon no Tama- that kept him in his human form.
But, alas, her hands found that her neck was bare of jewelry.
~*~
Lauren: Ek! They're in a real jam now...but look! I've got more misspellings for you! I have no idea how my fingers type those words...they must have a mind of their own!
Misspelling #1- She was in deep crap down.
Down? What the heck is that supposed to mean?
Misspelling #2- He wore a satisfied, fanged girl.
I didn't know you could wear a satisfied, fanged girl.
And here comes my shameless self-promotion. I've started writing a new Inuyasha story! Woohoo! This means I'll be juggling not only two stories...but three! Although technically the other one is on hold for now from major writer's block but that's okay! Back to the point! It's an AU fic called "The Difference Between Running & Walking" I'd appreciate ANY kind of comments, thoughts, reviews, etc and I'd be forever grateful if you checked it out sometime.
The background and idea of the story:
Kagome was at a friend's house one day when she received a phone call that is every teenager's nightmare. Her house has caught fire- she's lost everything inside the house, including her grandfather, mother and brother. Without a home to stay in, Kagome hides in an apartment for a month before Social Services find her. They inform her that she's now to live with her father. Except there's one problem- Kagome's always been told her father was dead. Unable to deal with this fact and coop with her losses, she's finally pushed off the edge- literally. She finds her way to a bridge over a raging river and there, she dangles her legs over the railing.
Switching now. Inuyasha's an experiment to a scientist who has always been known as his father to him. Never leaving his warm home or seeing the outside world was something Inuyasha was used to, for he always hid inside, unable to emerge because of one major difference that divided him from the world- he's not fully human. One day, his father receives a strange letter that strips Inuyasha off all of his attention. His father goes out to meet somebody from the letter, giving Inuyasha the perfect chance to escape for at least a little while. Trying to hunt down the mysterious source of the letter that stole his father away, he finds himself captivated by a girl, dangling on the edge of a bridge railing, ready to fall into oblivion.
What will happen when these two lives collide?
Go here and you can read it! http://fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1125934