Another chapter. Whoop de doo.
Rinoa has funny masks, and we get a peek into why she was called "The Bodyguard" here, as well as the first chapter, but this part we see what she thinks when others approach that 1) she doesn't know or 2) she doesn't trust.
And one of my friends pointed it out to me that the name Rinoa was used in Final Fantasy 8. I swear, I made it up on my own, but just for honor's sake, I don't own Final Fantasy (all one-hundred gazillion of them).
Sorry to those that dislike Kagome and Kouga together. Don't worry, it won't last. Actually.this chapter.
Kouga: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, it's got to happen. So, read on, find out how this break-up happens.
And to all you Rin fans, she'll come. Don't worry, she'll come.
*Yet another typical disclaimer inserted here* Nope. Don't own them, never did. Never will, 'cause I don't have a patent on them. Their creator does. I don't.
Kagome finally lay back on her bed after a full night. The date with Kouga had been wonderful. He had been a perfect gentleman, and her best dreams had never come so close to perfect.
But for some reason, her dreams had always been with Inuyasha. Or someone who looked a lot like him, with the silver hair and golden eyes and all. How strange, to have dreams of one person and the reality with another. Maybe her dreams had been of the wrong guy. Kouga had been a wonderful date, and she could imagine none better. Well, none that did not contain Inuyasha.
Even before she had moved to this school and became the 'new kid' she had had those dreams of the silver haired boy.
Strange was the only word for it. But of course, the dreams could be wrong.
Couldn't they?
____________________
Inuyasha leaned back on his own bed, feeling anger run through his blood. Of course he liked Kagome. Who couldn't like her? She was beautiful, smart, kind, loving, protective, and. and. He could not get out the last thing. It was something he could not put to words. It was impossible to articulate the feeling of the girl that had rather recently entered into his life. But now, going out with that bad-looking Kouga, the new kid!
He could hear a knock on the front door and heard Sesshoumaru's voice answering it. There was a sobbing sound and Inuyasha sat up, curiosity pulling him into a business he was not allowed into.
He dashed down the steps and came to a skidding halt to see a girl standing before him. She was rather intimidating and beautiful, but so strange he nearly choked. Her ears were pointed as an elf's might be. Her hair was silver and hung past her waist in quick, tight curls. A thin, delicate tail silver in color curled from behind her. Her eyes were a remarkable green color and Inuyasha was lost for words as he saw her leaning against Sesshoumaru for support.
Red marks covered her face, accenting her red-rimmed eyes. A grunt from Sesshoumaru turned Inuyasha's attention to him. Anger was the only emotion visible, but there were other emotions, but it was impossible to tell what they were.
"Inuyasha, get back to your room and get ready for bed. I'll be up in a few minutes," Sesshoumaru snarled. Catching the irate tone in his voice, Inuyasha quietly obeyed his brother. After all, that was all he could do. Ever since their father had died, it had been Sesshoumaru who had taken on a job to provide for the both of them and still attend school. And he knew that if his grades were good enough, Sesshoumaru would send Inuyasha to college before he sent himself.
Inuyasha lay back on his bed, fully dressed for his night when his brother's soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He watched his majestic brother walk to him and found himself envying his brother. The girls would have flocked to Sesshoumaru if Rin wasn't his girlfriend. Of course, if it were Inuyasha with that majesty, he would put it to some good use. Mainly getting the one girl that was continually on his mind.
He shook his head to clear that thought of his mind, reminding himself that he only liked Kagome as a friend. "Inuyasha, I need you to not tell a soul of what you have seen tonight," Sesshoumaru's voice said quietly.
Inuyasha had almost forgotten his brother was there. "Why? Are you some sort of counselor at night, as well as a student in the morning and worker in the afternoon?"
"She's been through a lot, and she wants her secret safe. Please, Inuyasha. For her sake, not mine. Don't tell a soul of what you saw here," Sesshoumaru whispered. Inuyasha stared into his brother's eyes with surprise. His big brother, his big, majestic, cold, and unfeeling brother was worried about someone and pleading that her secret be kept quiet.
"I guess. What's her name?" Inuyasha asked, innocently.
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "I cannot tell you."
"Why not?"
"That's a part of the secret," Sesshoumaru answered, almost regretfully. Inuyasha thought back to the silver-haired girl and tried to think of if he might recognize her. His memory was convinced he had never seen the girl before, so he decided to push her from his mind.
"Okay, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha concluded. Sesshoumaru sighed with relief and stood up to go. "But, on one condition."
Sesshoumaru turned back, a slightly worried look on his face. "What?"
"You cook me Ramen tomorrow," Inuyasha snapped. Sesshoumaru laughed.
"Of course, Baby Brother," he replied. "I'll be sure to remember that."
Inuyasha glared at his brother's nickname but grinned at the thought of Ramen for dinner the next day. Maybe that would make him forget his troubles for now.
____________________
"Okay, class, listen up," a harsh voice snapped. Kagome looked up and stared at her teacher with a sleepy look. The date with Kouga the night before had been late, but it had been spectacular and dreamy.
"We've got a new student, who just transferred here. Ayame, please, come in," the teacher murmured. A red head stepped into the room, grinning widely. "I placed you in the seat next to Kagome. Kagome, raise your hand. See? If you have questions, ask her. For missing so much school, she is a wonderful student."
Kagome flushed at the compliment and waited until the new girl sat down before introducing herself.
"I'm Ayame," the girl said quietly. "I really actually hate this class."
Kagome grinned. "I find it quite interesting. Here, I'll help you."
The girl smiled her wide grin. "Thanks!"
________________________
Rinoa was quiet, again. She rarely ever spoke around Kouga. She had no reason to speak when he was near. She did not trust his kind, and so ignored him as best as she could. But Kagome thought he was wonderful and stayed with him.
She shook her head and sighed. If Sesshoumaru's brother was anything like Sesshoumaru, Kouga was a peasant while the brothers were kings. And she did not mean in the money sense. For all of Kouga's love, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru could probably give so much more in simple friendship.
Rinoa looked up at the couple again and smiled quietly. It was puppy love, as was all love in high school. It might deepen, but most disappeared when the real world was thrust upon them.
_______________________
Shippou was worried. Ever since Kagome had left their table, Inuyasha had never been the same. He was crankier, irritable, and down right depressed. All because Kagome had left their table.
He knew that he liked Kagome. Kagome was an older sister, a good friend, but the way Inuyasha was reacting was nothing like his reaction. The way Inuyasha was reacting was the way one might react when a boy sees his ex- girlfriend going out with his best friend. Shippou thought his reaction was impossibly immature.
"Hey," a voice called out. Shippou looked up at a short, redheaded girl as she approached the table. Inuyasha looked up, his eyes falling on her with little interest. "Do you know anyone named Kouga?"
Inuyasha perked up and really looked at her. "Yes, I do. He's over at that table, Sesshoumaru's table."
The girl looked at the table and grinned. Without even offering a reply, she dashed off, her big, determined face stretched to breaking with a grin. Inuyasha sat up in his seat, his golden eyes filled with a look of revenge.
Suddenly, Shippou got a small inkling of what might be happening.
_________________
Rinoa's calm attitude was ripped apart suddenly as she saw a small, red blur racing toward her table. Instantly, she had a feeling of protection for her table, but she was not fast enough. The person threw herself on top of Kouga, pushing his face into the mashed potatoes. (A/N 1)
"KOUGA!" the girl screamed as her arms wrapped around his neck tight. Finally, when Kouga managed to get away and breathe, he cringed noticeably and turned to the girl.
"Ayame, uh, hi," he sputtered, hopeing fervently that she would not bring it up.
"Kagome, hello as well!" Ayame cried, holding her arms still around Kouga's neck.
"Kagome, you know Ayame?" Kouga asked, his voice pleading. Kagome nodded and Kouga winced again.
"So, Kouga, you gonna ask me out to celebrate us being together again or what?" Ayame asked, her arms finding their ways down to slip around his shoulders. Kouga nearly gasped in shock. She brought it up.
"Kouga." Kagome started, her voice shaking. Kouga looked at her with wide eyes. "She's your girlfriend?"
Ayame looked confused. "Kouga, what's going on?"
"Nothing anymore!" Kagome shouted angrily. With that, she got up and stormed away from him, leaving him to sit and brood over his choice. Having no other place to go, Kagome went to the one place people had welcomed her: Inuyasha's table.
Rinoa sighed deeply and shook her head and went back to doing what she always did when such tragedies occurred. She could only give Kouga a hard glare and return to her food. This was not her business, and she did not meddle.
Those at Inuyasha's table had heard the squirmish and were respectfully quiet.
Inuyasha could not understand his feelings. Half of him wanted to feel happy that they were no longer a couple. The other half wanted him to feel sorry for Kagome's broken heart.
So he settled for simply grinning sympathetically.
__________________
Kagome had never felt so abandoned. Sango had been caring and sympathetic, going out of her way to make her feel better. Unfortunately for her, it did not work.
"Kagome, hey! Kagome!"
Kagome grimaced and did not look behind her. She knew who it was and she did not want to talk to him.
"Kagome, listen to me already, will you?" the voice continued. Kagome hunched over and continued walking. "Hey, Wench, pay attention to me already, will you?" he screamed, grabbing her arm and wrenching her around. Kagome tried to pull away but found his hand was too tight on her arm and it tightened as he held her.
Kagome winced at his tight grip and tried to pull away again. "Let go!"
"No!"
There was a sudden caress of air and she was suddenly free from Kouga's grip. "You leave her alone, Kouga," Inuyasha's voice snapped, his face dangerously close to Kouga's face. "Breaking her heart was bad enough. Now you want to rub it in?"
Kouga looked shocked. "No! I just-"
"Go on, explain it to me and Kagome. Explain how you chose to play Kagome when you knew you still had a girlfriend back home. You not only cheated on your old girlfriend, but you manipulated Kagome's trust. Explain all of that to me, at least, if not Kagome. You owe it to her."
Kouga was dumbfounded. "I just.wanted."
"Someone to hang on your arm!" Kagome cried, her voice near breaking. Inuyasha, sensing her pain, decided then to end the pointless shouting and screaming and such. Gently, he took her arm and led her from the area, leaving Kouga to stand in the hallway, his old girlfriend glaring at him.
Once Inuyasha felt they were a safe distance from the trickster, he stopped and let Kagome cry. It was weird to feel a girl trusting him and crying into his shoulder. He had never felt a girl do that before. It was strange.
"Uh, Kagome.If you want, do you want to go."
Kagome looked up at him with tear-stained eyes.
"Uh, out to lunch someday just to talk about this, maybe?" Kagome's face was emotionless and Inuyasha felt his heart fall. "I can understand if you don't want to."
"No. No, Inuyasha." Inuyasha nodded quietly. "You didn't let me finish!" she scolded quietly. "I'd like to do that. I was saying no to not wanting to go."
Inuyasha smiled quietly and started to walk Kagome to her next class.
And down the hall, a small boy smiled quietly. Sesshoumaru and Rinoa would love to hear this new development.
__________________
"You're sure?" Sesshoumaru questioned. Jaken nodded, smiling widely. "About time the idiot finally managed to get something right," Sesshoumaru continued, turning to grin at Rinoa. She smiled quietly back, not showing her teeth around Jaken.
"I just hope it lasts. They both care for each other dearly, but they are hard headed. It will take a while for them to really get together in earnest," Rinoa answered. Sesshoumaru smiled at her quietly.
"Well, at least now they have a chance."
_____________________
At least now they have a chance.
Rinoa glared out the window, her dark hair billowing around her shoulders as she watched the sun set. Well, everyone else had a chance except for her. Jumbo had beaten her pretty hard the other night. The chances were, once the sun set, he would be after her for a continuation.
She had been lucky to get away the other night. She would be lucky to get away a second time.
The sun fell beneath the horizon entirely with a few glowing rays left over. It would come in about thirty seconds.
"Rinoa, dear." Rinoa spun to face her mother and glared at her as the few last bits of the daylight faded. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll be back in a few minutes," her mother said quietly, leaving the room as the pain started to pound in her head.
Rinoa turned back to stare out the window as the pain pounded harder and harder. Finally, she could not stand it all and collapsed to her knees, holding her head as her ears started to change, and her tail grew out painfully.
Minutes later, she stopped shaking and the transformation was over. Rinoa got to her feet and stared weakly in the mirror across the room. Checking her body over carefully, she was relieved that the transformation had occurred normally. Her normally straight dark hair was silver and tightly curled. Her teeth were at their normal length and her ears had grown out fine. Her tail, delicate but so wonderful for balance, was curling and uncurling normally at her side.
There was a short shout outside her door and Rinoa found her heart beating in total fear. Usually Jumbo waited for an hour after sunset before attempting to 'show the girl to not show him manners.'
The door was slammed open and Rinoa found her mother's boyfriend staring at her, a wicked grin stretched across his face. "I am here tonight to teach you to show manners," Jumbo started, his voice calm. Rinoa stepped back, trying not to show her weakened state. "Darned wench, come here and let me show you what you're supposed to do!" Rinoa refused. She always refused, but he always tried to 'give her a chance' or something like that.
Jumbo jumped at her and she weakly dodged it, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist as it pained her. Jumbo noticed and grinned wickedly again. "I see you are weak."
Rinoa shook her head and started to back up when he charged her again and pushed her through the glass pane of her window.
Luckily, her floor was the ground level floor. She only fell a few feet and collapsed, her body now bleeding from lacerations all over. She cringed and tried to stand again when there was a cracking from the rest of her window and Jumbo leapt out after her.
"No." she whispered, trying to scramble back. "No, please! STAY AWAY!"
(A/N 1) YEAH!!! FACE IN THE MASHED POTATOES!!!!!!!!!!!!
And now, the mystery of Naraku's claim is revealed! It becomes much more obvious in the next chapter.
Sorry if the end is a little depressing and a cliff-hanger, but that's the best place to end it. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!! That means, to find out the end of this story, you'll have to read it all!!!
To all of those who liked Rinoa, oops.did I say liked? I mean, like, yes, like.
It's crazy. The climax is almost here, if not here, and I've still got four more chapters. The resolution is the longest resolution I have ever written. Yeesh, it drags, but it's all right! I swear, please, read on!
To my adoring and crazy fans who stick through it from thick and thin: Thanks so much!
Jah! ~ Kay
Rinoa has funny masks, and we get a peek into why she was called "The Bodyguard" here, as well as the first chapter, but this part we see what she thinks when others approach that 1) she doesn't know or 2) she doesn't trust.
And one of my friends pointed it out to me that the name Rinoa was used in Final Fantasy 8. I swear, I made it up on my own, but just for honor's sake, I don't own Final Fantasy (all one-hundred gazillion of them).
Sorry to those that dislike Kagome and Kouga together. Don't worry, it won't last. Actually.this chapter.
Kouga: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, it's got to happen. So, read on, find out how this break-up happens.
And to all you Rin fans, she'll come. Don't worry, she'll come.
*Yet another typical disclaimer inserted here* Nope. Don't own them, never did. Never will, 'cause I don't have a patent on them. Their creator does. I don't.
Kagome finally lay back on her bed after a full night. The date with Kouga had been wonderful. He had been a perfect gentleman, and her best dreams had never come so close to perfect.
But for some reason, her dreams had always been with Inuyasha. Or someone who looked a lot like him, with the silver hair and golden eyes and all. How strange, to have dreams of one person and the reality with another. Maybe her dreams had been of the wrong guy. Kouga had been a wonderful date, and she could imagine none better. Well, none that did not contain Inuyasha.
Even before she had moved to this school and became the 'new kid' she had had those dreams of the silver haired boy.
Strange was the only word for it. But of course, the dreams could be wrong.
Couldn't they?
____________________
Inuyasha leaned back on his own bed, feeling anger run through his blood. Of course he liked Kagome. Who couldn't like her? She was beautiful, smart, kind, loving, protective, and. and. He could not get out the last thing. It was something he could not put to words. It was impossible to articulate the feeling of the girl that had rather recently entered into his life. But now, going out with that bad-looking Kouga, the new kid!
He could hear a knock on the front door and heard Sesshoumaru's voice answering it. There was a sobbing sound and Inuyasha sat up, curiosity pulling him into a business he was not allowed into.
He dashed down the steps and came to a skidding halt to see a girl standing before him. She was rather intimidating and beautiful, but so strange he nearly choked. Her ears were pointed as an elf's might be. Her hair was silver and hung past her waist in quick, tight curls. A thin, delicate tail silver in color curled from behind her. Her eyes were a remarkable green color and Inuyasha was lost for words as he saw her leaning against Sesshoumaru for support.
Red marks covered her face, accenting her red-rimmed eyes. A grunt from Sesshoumaru turned Inuyasha's attention to him. Anger was the only emotion visible, but there were other emotions, but it was impossible to tell what they were.
"Inuyasha, get back to your room and get ready for bed. I'll be up in a few minutes," Sesshoumaru snarled. Catching the irate tone in his voice, Inuyasha quietly obeyed his brother. After all, that was all he could do. Ever since their father had died, it had been Sesshoumaru who had taken on a job to provide for the both of them and still attend school. And he knew that if his grades were good enough, Sesshoumaru would send Inuyasha to college before he sent himself.
Inuyasha lay back on his bed, fully dressed for his night when his brother's soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He watched his majestic brother walk to him and found himself envying his brother. The girls would have flocked to Sesshoumaru if Rin wasn't his girlfriend. Of course, if it were Inuyasha with that majesty, he would put it to some good use. Mainly getting the one girl that was continually on his mind.
He shook his head to clear that thought of his mind, reminding himself that he only liked Kagome as a friend. "Inuyasha, I need you to not tell a soul of what you have seen tonight," Sesshoumaru's voice said quietly.
Inuyasha had almost forgotten his brother was there. "Why? Are you some sort of counselor at night, as well as a student in the morning and worker in the afternoon?"
"She's been through a lot, and she wants her secret safe. Please, Inuyasha. For her sake, not mine. Don't tell a soul of what you saw here," Sesshoumaru whispered. Inuyasha stared into his brother's eyes with surprise. His big brother, his big, majestic, cold, and unfeeling brother was worried about someone and pleading that her secret be kept quiet.
"I guess. What's her name?" Inuyasha asked, innocently.
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "I cannot tell you."
"Why not?"
"That's a part of the secret," Sesshoumaru answered, almost regretfully. Inuyasha thought back to the silver-haired girl and tried to think of if he might recognize her. His memory was convinced he had never seen the girl before, so he decided to push her from his mind.
"Okay, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha concluded. Sesshoumaru sighed with relief and stood up to go. "But, on one condition."
Sesshoumaru turned back, a slightly worried look on his face. "What?"
"You cook me Ramen tomorrow," Inuyasha snapped. Sesshoumaru laughed.
"Of course, Baby Brother," he replied. "I'll be sure to remember that."
Inuyasha glared at his brother's nickname but grinned at the thought of Ramen for dinner the next day. Maybe that would make him forget his troubles for now.
____________________
"Okay, class, listen up," a harsh voice snapped. Kagome looked up and stared at her teacher with a sleepy look. The date with Kouga the night before had been late, but it had been spectacular and dreamy.
"We've got a new student, who just transferred here. Ayame, please, come in," the teacher murmured. A red head stepped into the room, grinning widely. "I placed you in the seat next to Kagome. Kagome, raise your hand. See? If you have questions, ask her. For missing so much school, she is a wonderful student."
Kagome flushed at the compliment and waited until the new girl sat down before introducing herself.
"I'm Ayame," the girl said quietly. "I really actually hate this class."
Kagome grinned. "I find it quite interesting. Here, I'll help you."
The girl smiled her wide grin. "Thanks!"
________________________
Rinoa was quiet, again. She rarely ever spoke around Kouga. She had no reason to speak when he was near. She did not trust his kind, and so ignored him as best as she could. But Kagome thought he was wonderful and stayed with him.
She shook her head and sighed. If Sesshoumaru's brother was anything like Sesshoumaru, Kouga was a peasant while the brothers were kings. And she did not mean in the money sense. For all of Kouga's love, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru could probably give so much more in simple friendship.
Rinoa looked up at the couple again and smiled quietly. It was puppy love, as was all love in high school. It might deepen, but most disappeared when the real world was thrust upon them.
_______________________
Shippou was worried. Ever since Kagome had left their table, Inuyasha had never been the same. He was crankier, irritable, and down right depressed. All because Kagome had left their table.
He knew that he liked Kagome. Kagome was an older sister, a good friend, but the way Inuyasha was reacting was nothing like his reaction. The way Inuyasha was reacting was the way one might react when a boy sees his ex- girlfriend going out with his best friend. Shippou thought his reaction was impossibly immature.
"Hey," a voice called out. Shippou looked up at a short, redheaded girl as she approached the table. Inuyasha looked up, his eyes falling on her with little interest. "Do you know anyone named Kouga?"
Inuyasha perked up and really looked at her. "Yes, I do. He's over at that table, Sesshoumaru's table."
The girl looked at the table and grinned. Without even offering a reply, she dashed off, her big, determined face stretched to breaking with a grin. Inuyasha sat up in his seat, his golden eyes filled with a look of revenge.
Suddenly, Shippou got a small inkling of what might be happening.
_________________
Rinoa's calm attitude was ripped apart suddenly as she saw a small, red blur racing toward her table. Instantly, she had a feeling of protection for her table, but she was not fast enough. The person threw herself on top of Kouga, pushing his face into the mashed potatoes. (A/N 1)
"KOUGA!" the girl screamed as her arms wrapped around his neck tight. Finally, when Kouga managed to get away and breathe, he cringed noticeably and turned to the girl.
"Ayame, uh, hi," he sputtered, hopeing fervently that she would not bring it up.
"Kagome, hello as well!" Ayame cried, holding her arms still around Kouga's neck.
"Kagome, you know Ayame?" Kouga asked, his voice pleading. Kagome nodded and Kouga winced again.
"So, Kouga, you gonna ask me out to celebrate us being together again or what?" Ayame asked, her arms finding their ways down to slip around his shoulders. Kouga nearly gasped in shock. She brought it up.
"Kouga." Kagome started, her voice shaking. Kouga looked at her with wide eyes. "She's your girlfriend?"
Ayame looked confused. "Kouga, what's going on?"
"Nothing anymore!" Kagome shouted angrily. With that, she got up and stormed away from him, leaving him to sit and brood over his choice. Having no other place to go, Kagome went to the one place people had welcomed her: Inuyasha's table.
Rinoa sighed deeply and shook her head and went back to doing what she always did when such tragedies occurred. She could only give Kouga a hard glare and return to her food. This was not her business, and she did not meddle.
Those at Inuyasha's table had heard the squirmish and were respectfully quiet.
Inuyasha could not understand his feelings. Half of him wanted to feel happy that they were no longer a couple. The other half wanted him to feel sorry for Kagome's broken heart.
So he settled for simply grinning sympathetically.
__________________
Kagome had never felt so abandoned. Sango had been caring and sympathetic, going out of her way to make her feel better. Unfortunately for her, it did not work.
"Kagome, hey! Kagome!"
Kagome grimaced and did not look behind her. She knew who it was and she did not want to talk to him.
"Kagome, listen to me already, will you?" the voice continued. Kagome hunched over and continued walking. "Hey, Wench, pay attention to me already, will you?" he screamed, grabbing her arm and wrenching her around. Kagome tried to pull away but found his hand was too tight on her arm and it tightened as he held her.
Kagome winced at his tight grip and tried to pull away again. "Let go!"
"No!"
There was a sudden caress of air and she was suddenly free from Kouga's grip. "You leave her alone, Kouga," Inuyasha's voice snapped, his face dangerously close to Kouga's face. "Breaking her heart was bad enough. Now you want to rub it in?"
Kouga looked shocked. "No! I just-"
"Go on, explain it to me and Kagome. Explain how you chose to play Kagome when you knew you still had a girlfriend back home. You not only cheated on your old girlfriend, but you manipulated Kagome's trust. Explain all of that to me, at least, if not Kagome. You owe it to her."
Kouga was dumbfounded. "I just.wanted."
"Someone to hang on your arm!" Kagome cried, her voice near breaking. Inuyasha, sensing her pain, decided then to end the pointless shouting and screaming and such. Gently, he took her arm and led her from the area, leaving Kouga to stand in the hallway, his old girlfriend glaring at him.
Once Inuyasha felt they were a safe distance from the trickster, he stopped and let Kagome cry. It was weird to feel a girl trusting him and crying into his shoulder. He had never felt a girl do that before. It was strange.
"Uh, Kagome.If you want, do you want to go."
Kagome looked up at him with tear-stained eyes.
"Uh, out to lunch someday just to talk about this, maybe?" Kagome's face was emotionless and Inuyasha felt his heart fall. "I can understand if you don't want to."
"No. No, Inuyasha." Inuyasha nodded quietly. "You didn't let me finish!" she scolded quietly. "I'd like to do that. I was saying no to not wanting to go."
Inuyasha smiled quietly and started to walk Kagome to her next class.
And down the hall, a small boy smiled quietly. Sesshoumaru and Rinoa would love to hear this new development.
__________________
"You're sure?" Sesshoumaru questioned. Jaken nodded, smiling widely. "About time the idiot finally managed to get something right," Sesshoumaru continued, turning to grin at Rinoa. She smiled quietly back, not showing her teeth around Jaken.
"I just hope it lasts. They both care for each other dearly, but they are hard headed. It will take a while for them to really get together in earnest," Rinoa answered. Sesshoumaru smiled at her quietly.
"Well, at least now they have a chance."
_____________________
At least now they have a chance.
Rinoa glared out the window, her dark hair billowing around her shoulders as she watched the sun set. Well, everyone else had a chance except for her. Jumbo had beaten her pretty hard the other night. The chances were, once the sun set, he would be after her for a continuation.
She had been lucky to get away the other night. She would be lucky to get away a second time.
The sun fell beneath the horizon entirely with a few glowing rays left over. It would come in about thirty seconds.
"Rinoa, dear." Rinoa spun to face her mother and glared at her as the few last bits of the daylight faded. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll be back in a few minutes," her mother said quietly, leaving the room as the pain started to pound in her head.
Rinoa turned back to stare out the window as the pain pounded harder and harder. Finally, she could not stand it all and collapsed to her knees, holding her head as her ears started to change, and her tail grew out painfully.
Minutes later, she stopped shaking and the transformation was over. Rinoa got to her feet and stared weakly in the mirror across the room. Checking her body over carefully, she was relieved that the transformation had occurred normally. Her normally straight dark hair was silver and tightly curled. Her teeth were at their normal length and her ears had grown out fine. Her tail, delicate but so wonderful for balance, was curling and uncurling normally at her side.
There was a short shout outside her door and Rinoa found her heart beating in total fear. Usually Jumbo waited for an hour after sunset before attempting to 'show the girl to not show him manners.'
The door was slammed open and Rinoa found her mother's boyfriend staring at her, a wicked grin stretched across his face. "I am here tonight to teach you to show manners," Jumbo started, his voice calm. Rinoa stepped back, trying not to show her weakened state. "Darned wench, come here and let me show you what you're supposed to do!" Rinoa refused. She always refused, but he always tried to 'give her a chance' or something like that.
Jumbo jumped at her and she weakly dodged it, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist as it pained her. Jumbo noticed and grinned wickedly again. "I see you are weak."
Rinoa shook her head and started to back up when he charged her again and pushed her through the glass pane of her window.
Luckily, her floor was the ground level floor. She only fell a few feet and collapsed, her body now bleeding from lacerations all over. She cringed and tried to stand again when there was a cracking from the rest of her window and Jumbo leapt out after her.
"No." she whispered, trying to scramble back. "No, please! STAY AWAY!"
(A/N 1) YEAH!!! FACE IN THE MASHED POTATOES!!!!!!!!!!!!
And now, the mystery of Naraku's claim is revealed! It becomes much more obvious in the next chapter.
Sorry if the end is a little depressing and a cliff-hanger, but that's the best place to end it. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!! That means, to find out the end of this story, you'll have to read it all!!!
To all of those who liked Rinoa, oops.did I say liked? I mean, like, yes, like.
It's crazy. The climax is almost here, if not here, and I've still got four more chapters. The resolution is the longest resolution I have ever written. Yeesh, it drags, but it's all right! I swear, please, read on!
To my adoring and crazy fans who stick through it from thick and thin: Thanks so much!
Jah! ~ Kay
