@ He-he, I love ending in cliffhangers! They make me so happy! (And they make me want to write more… so if you don't like cliffhangers, sorry, without them I can't write) J @
Kagome stared at Inuyasha, frightened. Her fear was not only for herself, but for him, because she knew he felt so powerless over himself after transforming. He would blame himself infinitely for anything that happened while he was transformed, especially things he did and things that happened to her. If she were to die while he was transformed, she was sure that he would kill himself by letting Kikyou kill him. This should never happen, not ever. Inuyasha after all his torment didn't deserve it.
Kagome pondered the actions she could take. If she showed fear of any kind, he would surely strike. Similarly, haughtiness too would result in his attack, for she remembered the first time he changed. She debated, try to move, towards him or at a run away? Find a way to talk to him, try to subdue his Youkai blood without Tetsusaiga? She stared, picking out every feature of the scene that lay before her. Ravenous Inuyasha, fixed upon her like an eagle upon its prey. Frightened Shippou, inching away from Inuyasha and for all the world looking like a scared bunny. Hesitant Kouga, not wanting to spur Inuyasha into action any more than she did.
Kagome shifted her weight ever so slightly, from one foot to the other. That same instant a sharp pain in her shoulder and a sudden change from standing alone to being held in Kouga's arms told her the attack had come… And passed faster than she could see. Her left shoulder was badly sliced and hurt more than she would have thought, but she knew from Kaede's teachings that it would heal fine, but she should bind it immediately. All eyes were on her, especially when she tried to climb out of Kouga's arms on her own. When she was in a funny position, Kouga smiled briefly.
Then his golden eyes rested upon her injured shoulder, and his expression became serious and his eyes became yellow tempests of fury.
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Kouga stepped in front of Kagome, victim to the monster that stood before him. No hanyou should be allowed to live that they might become the beast that stood before him now, the thing that could not feel, nor think, except of killing. He didn't know if he could end her suffering by taking Inuyasha out of her life, but he would try. If only she didn't love him, everything would be so much easier. Kouga had to be careful, it couldn't look like he was trying to kill Inuyasha, then again, right now he couldn't even hold his ground.
"What do you need to stop him Kagome? He has to be stopped soon!" Kouga needed her to go, and soon.
"I need Tetsusaiga! There's a spell upon the steel cleaving fang that helps to inhibit Inuyasha's Youkai blood!"
"Very well, hurry and get it!"
"Shippou!" Kagome called, and the fox led her off. As if Inuyasha perceived by some seventh sense what Kouga was thinking, he grinned a devilish half grin, and began licking his claws, waiting for Kouga to strike first.
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There was little organization of thought in Inuyasha's mind, mostly influences and temptations flashing before him. The challenge had been issued by the wolf-youkai as the tempting girl-thing left, and Inuyasha had accepted, though he was sorely tempted to skip off and shred the creampuff that smelled like fox-youkai, the grass and dirt pervading a cool red-yellow-brown dormant beneath. The creature had never unleashed its true power, and probably never would. The wolf-youkai, however, was much nearer it's full potential, though weakened by the attraction to the girl thing that smelled so strongly it nearly overpowered his youkai-ness. Inuyasha began to lick his claws, anticipating a tentative first strike from the wolf.
However, the wolf proved itself to have some skill, and Inuyasha was forced to dodge what might have been a deadly blow if not for its predictability once initiated. Running his claws on some tree bark, he suddenly leapt up into the trees. When he landed, it was slightly behind Kouga as to give him opportunity to rip out one of the shards. He almost had it, when it slipped out of his grasp. He left it lying on the ground, to provide an opportunity to attack. Kouga would have to choose between fighting with such decreased speed, and providing the opening. Thus it was that the death match continued.
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Kagome ran as fast as she could, dragging Shippou behind her and following his sporadic directions. Left here, right there, around that boulder, past that ditch. So little time… When they reached the tree, she did not know what to do. Gnarled slimy roots that writhed like worms when you touched them had covered the place where Shippou said the ditch was. The air filled with an awful stench when she used Shippou as a shovel to try to dig. So this is a Youkai tree… she thought. So much for thinking of the Goshinboku "God Tree" as a kind old man, from this, Kagome was convinced that all trees were grumpy old hermits at heart.
"Shippou, ANY ideas?"
"Ummm… Hyaa!" Shippou flew in the air and tossed something at the tree… A piece of parchment that promptly turned to ashes, "Nope, sorry!"
Kagome decided to try one last thing. She quickly whittled a makeshift arrow and bow, with a rubber band from her hair as a string, and shot the tree. The roots quickly recoiled, and she climbed down to Tetsusaiga. Then as quickly as it had opened, the roots shut. Cold darkness surrounded her, and writhing worms began to fill the bottom. Dirt began to rain down in showers, and she was trapped. Her only hope was that Shippou could get to Kouga in time.
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@ Sorry about the delay in updates… Got kinda lazy… if I get enough reviews then I'll continue, but at the moment I'm feeling a bit iffy about the story… @