Disclaimer- If I owned Inuyasha, I wouldn't be sitting on my butt, writing about him on a scummy laptop that has a sucky mouse now, would I?

Aria of Life

Chapter Three

Kagome cleaned her flute furiously. She couldn't believe that Inuyasha was so low to play a prank on her. It was covered from top to bottom with insect guts and blood. It covered her perfectly beautiful white instrument to a scummy gray black color. Though she got most of it off, it still had the color stained in it. She let another curse fly from her lips and dipped the cloth in a cleaning solution.

"That pompous, idiotic low, cowardly…" she chanted scrubbing the mouthpiece. She nearly wanted to cry. Her beautiful instrument was almost ruined!

"And it stinks like shit!" she shouted disgusted, "Oh once I get my hands on that dog face, he's gonna be sorry that he ever messed with me."

"How's the cleaning coming along?" Kaede said. She was back from tending a villager from a flu sickness. Kagome kept silent working vigorously. Kaede grimaced and felt a headache coming at the base of her skull. After their argument the yesterday, Inuyasha was in a foul mood having no counters against Kagome's spell. So instead he stole her flute from her that night and defiled it with bug guts. It was a good thing Inuyasha wasn't there when she woke up this morning. And she thought the sun was the only thing burning. To say the least Kagome still haven't cooled down. It was now late afternoon and still no Inuyasha in sight.

"That stupid idiotic dog turd, who does he think he is staying away so late?" Kagome seemed to pick up on Kaede's train of thought, "He's gonna have to face me anyway that idiot. Making me waste a full day…"

"At least only the blood seems to be tainting it." Kaede said putting down her baskets.

"But as long as there is this youkai blood defiling it, I can't use it so what's the point in having an Aria if you can't use it?!"

Kaede had a look of surprise but before she could say anything, a distinct rambling shook the small hut and nearly toppled Kaede to the floor.

"Aw screw it." She threw the rag over her shoulder and picked up her bow running outside. She ran out into a crimson sky and a huge shadow blocking out the sun. She couldn't make out much except it had a large lizard size body with two tails and gleaming red eyes. As it turned its' head, it belched out blue fire setting the temple aflame.

"Gosh this sucks. I hope this makes it." she prayed drawing her bow. She was trying to aim for its eye though the swaggering of its walk makes it entirely impossible. Still she had to try. She shot watching it fly with a hiss. It tuned its head and it struck in its' nostril instead. He reared and belched fire to the sky in pain.

"Well at least it flew into something." she muttered and ran closer to the monster to get a better aim. Women and children were screaming and running every which way while the men seemed to be trying to restrain the youkai. Kagome mentally cursed Inuyasha again for running her flute and aimed her bow for its hind legs. It spotted her as she was about to shoot at it. It gave a furious roar and on of its clawed arms dived at her. She couldn't move, she was frozen to the spot. All she could think about were those gleaming claws looking awfully sharp and wondering what it would feel like to have it tear her apart. But before it even touched her, a familiar voice screamed from her right.

Inuyasha yelled and slashed the arm in half right before her eyes! Kagome was speechless for a couple of seconds before she scrambled to her feet. Inuyasha appeared from nowhere and hacked off the thing's arm off without breaking a sweat. The monster screamed in pain and opened his mouth shooting a fireball of blue flames at him. He dodged it easily and slashed the youkai itself in half. He landed beside her all cool and confident with a satisfied smirk on his face as youkai flesh went flying. She was about to thank him for saving her life when he glanced at her and sneered,

"You are really pathetic aren't you?"

That threw her off but she answered back with her own remarks.

"At least I'm not a stuck up jerk like some dog brain I know." she glared

"Keh, I bet you couldn't save your own hide if it wasn't for me."

"Well if somebody didn't trash my Aria, I wouldn't need nobody's rescuing!" she was raising he voice.

"If I recall, I wasn't rescuing anybody." he said this calmly in contrast to her frustration. Kagome was ready to pull her hair out, "I just felt like killing something and that youkai was perfect for practicing my moves."

"...SIT!"

"SHIT BITCH!" Inuyasha was now clearly pissed off . He said from the ground, "YOU-"

"SIT you down! I don't like people with you attitude. And since every time I say SIT, it means SIT where you stop talking and I get to. And if I have to, I'll SIT you all day!."

She walked away from a twitching Inuyasha.

It was much much later that she found out from Kaede that Inuyasha ran into another youkai from earlier. From what she could get, the demon was called Yura of the Hair and almost killed Inuyasha. But for some miraculous reason Inuyasha wouldn't say, he survived intact and with valuable info. Youkai all over can sense the Shikon no Tama and it all pointed to her. She was half stumped. If she had the jewel, then she wouldn't have been here in the first place. When she brought this up with her, Kaede just shrugged. Maybe because she had the Aria which brought another subject from the old miko.

"How did you come across that flute by the way?"

Kagome frowned slightly and took out the newly polished instrument, "It was my fathers and his father before him. I don't know the exact history but I think it was from the bone of a youkai he found somewhere in a cave. It took many days to make and it was heated repeatedly to keep it from cracking. Then he carved the holes out and poured holy water over it. He called it an Aria though I never really knew what it was."

Kaede shook her head. "I heard Arias are very rare and powerful instruments against Youkai. Though I never heard any made out of youkai bone. Maybe that's why the demons are after you. If you can find the real Shikon no Tama, maybe that will give you some answers."

"My father passed away before he could teach me all of the flutes, secrets. Do you know how...?"

Kaede shook her head, " I only know very little. What I purpose is to seek another who carries an Aria. Maybe they know the answer."

Kagome looked into the fire watching the flames crackle and burn. Would another flute carrier hold the answers she was searching for? Will it lead to the Shikon no Tama? Kagome went to bed with thoughts still flowing until she fell asleep. The next morning came all too soon and she opened her unique eyes to the harsh light of the sun. She groaned and rolled over. She planned o wake early so she could sneak out without getting caught by Inuyasha so he wouldn't be able to get revenge. It seems however, her plan just flew out the window.

She changed and ate a cold breakfast. Kaede was out already and the food was left in the bowl. She quickly gathered her things and stepped out. It was a windy day with partial clouds but all in all, a wonderful day. She could feel her spirits soar already. Until she spotted red and white atop the roof. He back was facing her and she felt a pang of guilt. Had she gone to far in the sits? She really didn't hate Inuyasha other then he almost killed her in their first meeting. The wind blew playing with his hair. They shined silver then white and silver again. It just struck her how beautiful his hair really was.

"Did you know staring was rude?" he said and turned around fixing his amber eyes on her gray and brown ones. She was startled but then composed herself. He was gonna kill him now on such a wonderful day was he?

"Ah, I just wanted to apologize for going a little overboard yesterday." she said softly.

He looked at her untrustingly, "what do you think your planning?"

She blinked, "Huh?"

Inuyasha jumped down and landed next to her. She also just realized how tall he was, and how intimidating too. She swallowed.

"You're trying to run away from me aren't you? Planning to get a head start in getting the Shikon no Tama are you? "

"Wha?" Kagome was barely able to get a word in when he glared at her face.

"I heard it all last night. I maybe Hanyou but my hearing is still superior to those of a regular pathetic human." Inuyasha glanced down at her flute, tempted to grab it but then he didn't know how to use it.

"Don't think you'll get away that easily." he then turned around and walked towards the path that lead away from the village.

"Hey! Where are you going?" she said catching up to the Hanyou.

"I'm going with you stupid." he said it bluntly. Kagome stopped walking and looked at him,

"You're coming to protect me?"

He glanced over his shoulder, "Keh, yeah right, I'm coming to make sure I get the jewel when you find it. Don't think I'll save your hide again for a second." he walked on.

Kagome groaned. She was sorely tempted to sit him but then those claws looked awfully sharp. She'll stay quite, for now.

Yes! Another chapter! Sorry it took longer, I got preoccupied and stuff's been happening. Finally they are off on their wonderful journey! Whoo hoo! I actually updated! Yah, me so proud. Alright, You know the drill, I'd like to see some reviews so I know I'm loved. Please REVIEW!!!!

thank you.