Hullo!! I'm back!! ^_^ *does a happy dance* Thank you so much for the reviews.. they really inspire me to do better work.

Anyway.in this chapter things really start to heat up! Inu-yasha manages to get through the well and..gah.I'm going to ruin my story. Just read!

Disclaimer:

Inu-yasha: Will someone please stop this crazy bitch?! She's going to kill me before the story is done..

Sessho-maru: *sneaking from behind* If you were a full demon, you wouldn't be so vulnerable.

Inu-yasha: Oh yeah? Then why haven't you been able to get rid of her?

Sessho-maru: *growls* Speak not of what you don't understand!

Nenuiel: Inu-chan! Sessho-san! I have been looking for you everywhere! *glomps both brothers* I really missed you..did you miss me?

Inu-yasha and Sessho-maru: NO!!

Nenuiel: Aw.who cares.you are mine now..

Inu-yasha and Sessho-maru: WE BELONG TO RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!

Nenuiel: *pouts* I hate it when you're both right...

Inu-yasha: Can we just get on with the story..

Sessho-maru: Please.

Nenuiel: All right.but if you boys don't start treating me better I will make you do some really interesting things..*both gulp nervously*

~*~*~

Blood Oath: Games and a Fatal Dance

~*~*~

*So soft..so warm.* Marisa turned onto her back, sighing in bliss. The futon really was comfortable, it seemed to mold to every curve of her body. Her eyes snapped open, realizing that something wasn't right. She sat up quickly, and soaked up her surroundings. She was lying on a four poster canopy bed, which was made from dark ebony. Silk waterfalls cascaded in red elegance to the black tile floor, matching the sheets that tangled themselves around her waist. That's when she noticed she wasn't wearing any clothes at all, revealing her naked bosom to the multiple candles that floated about the scarlet room. Two of which were a very interesting shade of black. Marisa's eyes flashed annoyed as she called out, "Very amusing!" She wrapped herself with one of the sheets. "How the hell did you get in here?!" A low chuckle resonated, "How do you think?" A snarl escaped her throat, "I am not in the mood for games." She flicked her hand out toward the black blazes.

The flames of the two candles flickered, then roared to life. They expanded, and slowly began taking a shape of a person. Small details were soon added, such as the black robe that was trimmed in silver. Ghostly white hands appeared from the multiple folds, as well as a tall and regal neck crowned with silver and onyx. Black hair fell below broad shoulders, gleaming like a raven's wing. The matching black eyes stared at Marisa slightly bemused as he said, "You don't have to be so harsh.." His smirk, however, told the woman on the bed of what he truly thought. She scowled, "Well, this is MY mind, and you seemed to rather enjoy that."

"I did," he admitted simply. His pale lips pulled back into a leering grin, "Did you know you flush most enchantingly when you get mad?"

"Hentai."

"I may as well be," he said, "rather that than a desire-less celibate." Marisa rose stiffly from the bed, her orange eyes never leaving the handsome creature in front of her. "What do you want anyway. don't you have other people to bother?" The man tsked, "Shouldn't you show a little more respect to me? After all, I am a-"

"No need to remind me what you are. Please state your business, my lord," she spat out the last two words is distaste. He gave her look, showing he was no longer amused, and said seriously, "You journey is not yet done, though you reside in the land of the rising sun." Marisa narrowed her eyes, but allowed him to continue, "Happiness thoust will not meet, until thy travels are complete. Man's best friend is the key, he will lead you where thy heart will be set free."

"Are you quite done?" Marisa stated angrily, frustrated, "I do need to rest." The black-robed man stoically stood still as he stared pityingly at her. As he began to fade, he added, "This warning I give to thee, liberty comes not freely. Much blood before thou linger, until thy heart turns from sorrow and anger. After that, who knows what's in store? Maybe friendship, maybe something more?" The words faded into the air with him. Marisa stood, looking thoughtfully at the spot where her tormenter had just recently resided. The room began to dissolve without it's creator to support it. As she fell into the serene blue that took its place she contemplated, *If my journey does not end here, then where does it?*

*Higurashi Shrine*

Kagome, newly awakened, looked out her window and groaned, "How am I supposed to get to the well with this much snow in the way?" The snowstorm had delivered a good amount of snow, at the least three feet of the fluffy powder. *For once," she said, "I wish that Inu-yasha was here.* She brushed her hair a couple of times before reconsidering her thought. No, it wasn't the only time that she had wished that Inu-yasha had come to her. Even though she really tried to hide it from herself, the desire that Inu-yasha come and carry her away always haunted her. Sometimes she even wished that he would come to her at night, and shamelessly admit love for her then kiss her gently before... "Kagome? Are you awake?" A few knocks resonated on her door. "It's almost 10:00." She cracked open her door and said, "Yeah Mom, I'm awake." Mrs. Higurashi sighed in relief, "Good, I wanted you to get some sleep, but our heat broke down last night, so Grandpa and I have to go marching through the snow to get some fuel for the generator. It may take us a while." Kagome nodded her head in understanding and asked, "What time do you want me to wake up Souta?"

"He's already awake."

"Already awake?"

"Yes, he's helping Marisa shovel up some of the snow." Kagome's eyes widened with surprise, Souta was up and doing chores? She then heard her brother laughing outside. "Marisa made it into a game," Mrs. Higurashi told her bewildered daughter, "and they have been at it for quite some time. Well, I will see you later sweetheart, and if you leave before we return; say hi to your little dog-eared friend and the others." With that, she turned and disappeared over the ledge of the staircase. "Oh, and please help with shoveling the yard a little bit please, before you go." Kagome sighed as she replied, "Yes mother." She quickly got dressed in a pair of jeans and a warm turtleneck before running outside. The bright winter sun caused her to blink rapidly as she took in the grounds, which then caused her to blink in disbelief.

A ten by twelve foot rectangle had already been shoveled out, clearing out half of the way to the well. It was obvious why it took such a short time as Kagome watched Marisa and her younger brother playing a game she had never seen before. Both players held a large shovel filled with snowballs, and were trying to fling its contents to marked targets without hitting the opponent. Marisa was nearly covered with the white stuff, when she was threatened by another flurry of winter artillery. She gracefully stepped out of the way, but was still hit partially in the face and right side of her body. "That's 24 for me and 9 for you, Souta," came a voice from within a white mask. Souta scowled, "It's no fair.you're taller than me!" He was barely marked, with a few white splotches scattered across his body. Marisa laughed as she whipped the snow off her face, "Then perhaps you would like Kagome-san to join your team?" Souta blinked surprised as he noticed his elder sister for the first time, "Hey Kagome!!"

*She looks so surprised,* Marissa noted, turning to her left to face the girl, *it's not that difficult to sense her presence.* She placed her shovel in front of her and leaned on it as she asked, "Do you want to join us, Kagome-san?" Kagome nodded, "My mom asked me to help." Marisa cocked an eyebrow, looking at her with sparkling green eyes. "Help? Don't you mean more like play? This IS a game," she stated simply. She stood up straight again catching Kagome's eye, "Now, are you going to go solo, or are you going to join Souta and try to conquer me?" She smiled gently, her eyes twinkling with mischief, and an unspoken challenge. "Try?" Kagome said, obviously bristled by Marisa's offer, "We are going to beat you!" Picking up a shovel, she placed herself next to Souta and began making snowballs. Marisa tossed her full load at them, and started a fun-filled battle.

*Feudal Era*

Inu-yasha was reaching his limit, it had been almost been 24 hours since he was told to wait out the storm. Everyone in Kaede's hut sat quietly watching the Hanyou pace frustratingly across the small space. None of them wanted to provoke him, he might turn in full rage toward his aggravator, or worse, turn into a full Youkai. "When will it be over, old hag?" He spoke for the first time in hours, his voice slightly hoarse as he asked, "When should I be able to go through the well?" Kaede poked the small fire thoughtfully before replying, "The storm be almost dead, you may be able to go through now. But I would not...." Inu-yasha had already left the hut. The old woman sighed and finished, "...go now, the snow be really thick." Sango stiffly rose as she murmured, "It won't matter to him, he's determined to go no matter what."

"I agree," said Miroku, "Inu-yasha is more than willing to trudge through the snow. But for what reason I do not know." Shippou slightly wagged his tail as he yipped excitingly, "Isn't it obvious? He's going to get Kagome!"

"Something be different this time, little kitsune, Inu-yasha be more worried," Kaede told the little fox. Miroku nodded in silent agreement as Sango asked, "Do you think Kagome is in danger?" The wise miko furrowed her brow, "I know not, but something is amiss."

Inu-yasha had leapt on roofs in the village until he got to the forest, where he jumped tree to tree in record speed. "Damn it all," he growled, "something had better not happened to her." Seeing a vision of Kagome on the ground, lying in a pool of her own blood, made his heart skip a beat. The well was finally within sight, even though he couldn't tell with his eyes filled with tears. And they did not come from just the wind, either. *I'm coming Kagome, I'm coming for you!* Landing in the familiar clearing, he ran to the well and jumped into it, praying he was not too late.

*Higurashi Shrine*

"That was so good!!" Kagome stretched happily. After two hours of snow rocket, which they called the game, a hot soup felt good to both the stomach and the body. "What's it called again?" Marisa responded without turning away from washing the dishes, "Clam chowder, it's an American favorite. We're fortunate your mother left some extra clams." Kagome nodded in agreement before sneezing violently. Marisa turned around with a concerned, gentle expression emanating from her brown eyes, "You should take a warm bath, you're soaked to the bone." Kagome opened her mouth to argue but was silenced by Marisa saying, "I can clean up here, it won't take me long, and I have a feeling you don't want to get sick." Remembering that she had a mission to return to, Kagome nodded and headed upstairs. A few minutes later, she eased herself into a hot bathtub. Sighing, she relaxed and let the warm water soothe her sore muscles. *At least the way to the well is clear,* she thought. *I should probably go after my bath.* She heard light footsteps out in the hallway, then Marisa's door opening. She smiled as she recalled the ringing, bell-like laughter she had heard only an hour before, it was so different from the sobbing she heard last night. *I wonder...* then she resumed to quickly washing herself so she could leave for the Feudal Era.

Marisa felt better than she had in two whole months. She almost skipped up the stairs as she headed towards her room. *I haven't laughed this openly since...since...* She really couldn't remember the last time she had so been so satisfied, but in the deepest depths of her soul she still felt empty. At first, she hadn't meant to create snow rocket, she had actually thrown shovel loads like that to vent the anger that had consumed her after waking. It was Souta who said the snow would stay in the air longer if they were snowballs, and snow rocket was created. The frustration, however, still lingered in her. "My journey is not done indeed. He was the one who told me to come here!" She knew she had to get rid of her anger, or they would definitely notice what she didn't want them to see. Going over to her large bag, she carefully pulled out her prized katana. *As long as I go outside, it should be fine to practice.* Holding the sheathed blade in her left hand, she flew quickly down the stairs, into the cold air outside. Breathing slowly, she carefully freed her mind of any inhabitations, including last night's visitor. Closing her eyes, she precisely unsheathed her blade, listening to its waking ring. She murmured out loud, "Konnichiwa, my Blue Fate." Opening her eyes, she swiftly stepped into a practiced combo of sword movements and steps. She felt her frustration leave her as she moved with her blade, becoming one with it. Its whistling song pierced the silent air as it swung gracefully forward, then to the side. She leapt-skipped to her next position, which was a relaxed defense pose. Straightening, she fell into the more complicated forms of Kendo, letting herself fly across the ground.

Kagome checked her supplies one last time. She didn't want to leave anything behind, the fewer amounts of times she goes through the well, the better. Grinning, pleased, she lugged her heavy backpack unto her shoulders. Praying that Marisa wouldn't see her, Kagome, as silently as she could, snaked through the corridors of the house. *What will I tell her if she sees me? Maybe I could tell her a friend called...and uh...needed some supplies since her mother was sick! Yeah, that should leave her with no qualms.* To her surprise, and relief, Marisa didn't appear at all throughout the house. Thinking she was past the woman, she bounded outside before stopping in her tracks. Her jaw dropped wide open as she watched the display before her. Marisa had a sword in her hand, as was performing a bunch of complicated steps right in front of the well house. But Kagome was so entranced by what she was seeing, she really didn't care. She had never really cared for swordsmanship, for she had thought it was only masculine, and done with crude swings and cuts. Marisa shoved that theory straight down the drain. Finesse was in every swing, and each move was well calculated. *It's a dance,* Kagome realized, *It's a dance with a sword!* She continued watching Marisa dance, entranced, and ignored the fact that the swordswoman was slowly getting closer. Her back had, for the last few moves, been faced towards Kagome, and the girl saw no reason to be alarmed. Until Marisa suddenly turned around, leapt into the air, and started coming down yelling, "Winter's Wind!" It was far too late to move from the killing blow, and Kagome could only stare horrified into surprised grey eyes.

She could feel the last of her frustration leave her as Marisa finished off with one her favorite moves. "Winter's Wind!" she cried, and found herself looking into a pair a frightened hazel eyes. *Oh kami! Kagome!* She couldn't pull out, gravity pulled her towards the terrified girl. *Curse it! Somebody help her!*

Inu-yasha scurried out of the well as fast as he could, and as he flung open the well shrine's doors, he heard, "Winter's Wind!" He saw a woman with long, blackish hair falling towards Kagome, blade bared and ready to kill. *NO!* He started unsheathing Tetsusaiga as he ran to the huddled girl. "KAGOME~!!!"

*Who?* Marisa thought as she continued falling. The presence felt different to her, but she sensed the protectiveness in his voice. She knew he would save the one he called.

*Inu-yasha?* Kagome begged. "Please..." she whispered before closing her eyes, bracing herself for the pain.

A sharp ringing permeated the air, almost deafening her. Kagome, shaking, opened her eyes. And saw red. *Oh god...* she rubbed her eyes, expecting blood. To her surprise, her eyes were dry, except for the tears of fright. She looked up and saw silver hair. "Inu...yasha...." she chokingly called his name. He didn't turn toward her, keeping his eye on Marisa. "Are you ok?" he asked, concern lacing his voice. Kagome nodded, "Yeah, I'm ok."

Sword loose in her grasp, Marisa let out a visible sigh of relief. That silver haired young man, no, Hanyou, stopped her and that's all that mattered. She did not, however, like the look in his golden eyes. She tightened her grip.

Inu-yasha sighed inwardly at Kagome's response. He smelled no blood, so he knew she wasn't hurt physically. He had just wanted to make sure though. Growling he called out, "YOU BITCH!! YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR TRYING TO HURT KAGOME!!!" With that, he leapt, aiming Tetsusaiga at the demon's heart.

~*~*~

Heheheh...cliffhanger!!! ^_^ And you are all going to kill me when I say I don't think I'll be able to post tomorrow. *avoids flying sharp objects* Whoa, whoa!! Just be patient with me ok?!! I didn't think I wouldn't post this one today.........so who knows what will happen. Please R&R, they might inspire me to write faster!