I don't own any of these characters.

Stronger

Chapter Eleven

Written By Izay Alohalani

****

An untold tale, and the strange greeting.

****

"Huff!" Came the raspy breath of Kagome. "Can we rest?"

Gombei looked at her as they ran; "Well you've been jogging for an hour straight so, hmm I'll give you a 5 minute rest."

Even though Kagome had so called 'completed' her training it was still Gombei's way. They had been jogging for three days and Kagome was pooped!

"You know I can read your mind!" Gombei said sitting down next to Kagome while she sipped water.

"No you can't you bastard!" Came Kagome's weak snap.

"Think something and I'll read your thoughts." Gombei said as Kagome closed her eyes.

'I wish I was in Inu-Yasha's arms.' She thought as the scene enveloped in her head. There they were by a stream Kagome in Inu-Yasha's warm strong arms. They were both looking deeply into each other's eyes. Their faces slowly moving closer and closer. Inu-Yasha took a breath getting ready to say something.

Kagome mentally held her breath as the daydream her waited for his response. 'GET THE HELL OFF OF ME BITCH!!!' Inu-Yasha yelled as Kagome shook her self out of the daydream. 'Yeah like he'd say I love you to me! Feh I'm only his precious shard detector!' Thought Kagome mentally chocking herself for thinking that romantic scene in her head.

All through out this daydream Gombei was closing his eyes in deep thought. "YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FOOD!!" He shouted looking expectantly at Kagome.

"., Yeah I was your so right on!" Kagome lied.

Gombei nodded his head "Don't lie to your teacher." He said as dramatic tears welled to his eyes "What type of teacher am I if I cannot read my pupils mind!!!"

"Ahh there, there, Gombei, you're just tired!" Kagome lied again.

"You do know you're a horrible liar." Gombei said standing up. "But you do know you have so much potential. I really think you can beat Mora. Just keep your heart pure. That's her specialty she enters your heart and grabs onto all the imperfections."

"Yeah. You know I liked it better when you were an asshole. The kind, tricky, mood swingy Gombei is freaking me out!" She said with a snort at the end while they began to jog again.

"Oh well your lost!!"

"Jack ass"

"Oh and was going to see if you could teleport to the edge of where you put up that barrier." Gombei said waving his hand as if to dismiss the thought. "But since you don't like me being nice, we can just walk the rest of the day and a half."

"Who ever said I didn't like the true kind, benevolent you?" Kagome said as she touched his shoulder. "OFF WE GO!!"

In a flash of silver they were gone. They soon reappeared in the outskirts of town.

"Is this the place Kagome?" Gombei asked looking at the rice fields.

"Yeah let me take down the barrier." Kagome said waving her hand in front of the air. Her hand glowed silver and soon dimmed down when she dropped her hand back to her side.

"Well let's go find the gang!" Kagome happily said as Gombei trailed behind her.

They walked through the village as Gombei looked at all that had changed and Kagome kept her eyes peeled for Inu-Yasha.

Finally they arrived at Keade's hut. "Here is where Keade lives." Kagome said looking at a section of the house, which had been repaired. They rounded about to the front and went through the cloth door.

"Hello!" came the cheery voice of Kagome as she entered the hut.

Miroku and Sango were in an argument while Shippo and Kiara tasted what Keade was preparing for dinner. All of them went silent when Kagome entered the room.

Miroku's mouth dropped and Sango just kept staring. Kagome stood there her hair now at shoulder length; she was thinner and had better muscles. Her clothes clung to her body in the right places and she was wearing black exercising pants with a tight silver tank top that showed off her midriff.

"Hello anybody there?" She asked waving in their faces.

Shippo was the first to break the silence. "K-Kagome!!!" He shrieked crying as he leapt into her open arms. "I missed you Kagome!!"

Kagome felt her eyes sting with pain "So did I Shippo what has it been two months since I left you all?" She said hugging the little kitsune as everyone else got out of shock.

"It's been seven months." Sango said as Kagome's mouth dropped open.

"I spent seven months training with that lunatic!" She grumbled to herself "I thought it had only been two or three but s-seven!!"

"My dear lord why do I have such a slow student!" Gombei sighed.

"And who might you be?" Miroku said looking at the handsome male that was standing behind the extremely now sexy Kagome.

"Why I am Gombei Higashikuni, I am Kagome-dono's sensei." Gombei said giving a sparkly smile at the end of his phrase "Please to meet you all."

Kagome was now fuming "DAMN YOU CUT THE ACT!!!" She yelled as she punched at him.

Miroku stared at the man as he fought with Kagome. "You can not be who you claim to be."

Gombei stopped and turned to the houshi. "Why do you say that Houshi-sama?"

"I have wondered all of Japan and not to mention my predecessor was well known with his history and who you claim to be must surely be a lie!" Miroku said a bit mad at the end. "Who are you and why have you been toying with Kagome-san!"

Gombei looked at the monk that was trying to intimidate him. "Why houshi- sama I am who I claim to be even if I appear as a 23 year old man I am far older then Keade-sama." Gombei said chuckling. "The Gombei Higashikuni you have heard of is the same man that stands before you."

Miroku stared at the man wide-eyed.

"Am I missing something?" Sango asked breaking the silence.

"Why Sango let me tell you who this vile trickster claims to be." Miroku said grabbing her butt while he sat down.

"SLAP!!" Miroku accepted his new facial feature and sat down next to Sango.

"There is a legend of a man and a women who lived on a mountain." he began as a image of Ichigaki in Gombei's arms appeared in Kagome's head. "They loved each other to death even thought this man was far older then what he appeared. You see the man was a spirit, and spirits live forever. Seeing the down falls of men and helping them if they can."

Kagome looked at Gombei. He nodded saying it was true. And Miroku continued.

"This man was a wind spirit. But the lady was a half-breed." Gombei closed his eyes at this. He could remember the way Ichigaki had looked that day and once again it made another crack in his heart of many cracks. "She was a han-you fire spirit. Her mother was the Miko of this village, and it was passed onto the woman but after various scrapes and arguments. Her mother returned to her village in the south and the woman fled into Inu-Yasha's forest."

Kagome could picture Ichigaki running in Inu-Yasha's forest just like she did when she was late on returning.

"The lady stayed her time in the trees until a curious spirit found her. This was the man."

Gombei closes his eyes and remembers the day he saw her, the perfect women ever created. His only one, Ichigaki.

****

Ichigaki is sitting at the top of the god tree; her red hair is playing with the wind and she smiles a sad smile. She hears a sound behind her and her eyes flash awaiting an attack. When all she hears is soft laughing she spins around fast still not leaving the tree.

A boy with long black hair stands in the sky smiling at her.

"Who are you!" she says stretching her aura looking for others.

"I mean no harm young fire sprite I was just passing by and noticed you were sitting there all alone." The boy says smiling widely at her.

"Who did you know I'm a fire spirit?" Ichigaki asks looked over the boy. He looked the same age as her, he had mid back raven hair and shining kind green eyes. He wore a light blue kimono jacket that he kept open showing off his well-toned abs and white pants. He was barefooted and was standing in the air.

Ichigaki now figured it out "You're a wind spirit!" she said as he nodded.

"What is your name?" He asked looking her over. She was wearing a pink kimono with red flower designs; she had red ruby hair, which was worn up with a white and red clip, beautiful aqua eyes that reflected sadness and pain. Her body was thin yet shapely and he could sense the will to fight in her. "My name is Gombei Higashikuni."

"Ichigaki Tsukani." She said her voice soft and pleasant to Gombei's ears.

"Well Ichigaki, is it all right if I address you by that?" Gombei asked as she nodded. "I would like to help you. You and I are alone like most spirits our ages and it is not right for such a lovely fire spirit as you to stay in such a dangerous place such as this forest."

Ichigaki looked at him "And what would you prefer to do with me, Sir Gombei?" She asked mocking him.

"Give you a nice house and good food for you to eat." Gombei said smiling once again.

"Ha that sounds to me as if you want to court me." Ichigaki joked as Gombei got near her.

"What ever you desire my fair lady." Gombei whispered into her ear.

"Let me get to know you and then I will decide if I shall leave with you." She said as he nodded.

"Do you have a place to stay my dear Ichigaki?" He coaxed.

"No." Came her short reply.

"Then come I saw a wonderful cave." He said taking her arm and disappearing in thin air.

****

It changes back to Keade's hut. "They fell deeply in love but not all stories have happy endings." Gombei said his face tuning dark.

"That's right." Miroku said his voice somber "After a few decades a threat arose. The woman got call-"

Miroku stops as Kagome stands up. "I'm going to see Inu-yasha. I've lived through the rest of the story. It'll have a happy ending, if it's the last thing I do." Kagome says leaving the room.

"What was that about?" Sango asked.

"It's her will. She will kill Mora and that love story of yours Miroku will finally have its happy ending." Gombei said looking up at him smiling, his smile was bright but his green eyes were worried and hopeful.

****

Kagome walked silently down the path to Inu-Yasha's tree. 'He'll be there. And if I jinx myself enough so will Kikyou.' thought Kagome as she rounded the last path.

Sure enough Kikyou was talking to Inu-Yasha at the tree.

"I can't Kikyou." Inu-Yasha said stepping a step away from her.

"She is probably dead by now, the fall of that foolish barrier is proof of it and you know it!" Kikyou said in her dead expressionless voice.

Inu-Yasha closed his eyes "I have hope for Kagome just like the others, I know she is on her way here." Inu-Yasha said clenching his fist.

"You should open your eyes, she doesn't care about you. Come with me Inu- Yasha, I'll help you. Remember just like before." Kikyou said raising her hand to shoot an arrow at Inu-Yasha who did nothing to move.

A hand grabbed Kikyou's in mid stride. "That's funny Kikyou." An icy cool voice that made Inu-Yasha's skin shiver said behind the dead miko "I've been trying to tell him to see you for the conniving revengeful bitch you truly are."

Kikyou turned around and came face to face with Kagome. 'I didn't even sense her behind me!' "You've gotten good little whore, but not good enough!" Yelled Kikyou as she drew arrows and shot them at Kagome.

Kagome dodged to her right and then flipped on her hand and sprang up and dodged the last arrow. "My Kikyou for some one who is a strong miko I thought at least one of your arrows would at least come closer then that to me!" Kagome snorted as Kikyou fired another round of arrows.

Kagome dodged them all with second nature. It was like she wasn't even thinking about her moves. It was graceful and fluid like water. Inu-Yasha looked on and pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Kikyou fired another round and this time Kagome stood still "Finally lost all your energy!" She yelled as Kagome shook her head.

"NO, you're just to damn boring to play with!" She yelled as she raised her hand in the air and all Kikyou's five arrows fell to the ground. She waved her hand again and Kikyou froze. "You see I came for to reasons. One to see Inu-Yasha again and 'beg for his forgiveness', and Two to regain the rest of my soul back from you! You truly are predictable, always coming here trying to kill him for something he didn't do."

Kikyou's face contorted in horror. "How, Where, WHO TAUGHT YOU THESE TECHNECHIES!!" she stammered as Kagome nodded.

"If that is what will put your soul to rest then I might as well tell you before I kill you. Higashikuni Gombei. My sensei." Kagome said and began to walk closer to Kikyou.

"You lie! That foolish wind spirit was killed!" Kikyou yelled. "Inu-Yasha this isn't your wench. She's been possessed by some dead wind spirit!"

Inu-Yasha stood there still not doing anything but looking at Kagome, "No, that is Kagome." He said forcing ever word out. "She's right it's time for you to go. You have no businesses here anymore."

Kagome looked at Kikyou great sadness in her eyes. 'She isn't at all happy to be killing me, even after all that I've done to her.' Kikyou thought as Kagome stretched out her hand to lie on Kikyou's heart. 'She looks as if she will cry at any moment.'

Kagome whispered some words and her hand glowed silver and the light was sucked into Kikyou's body. One by one black clouds flew out of Kikyou's body as Kagome kept muttering the words.

The black clouds went towards Kagome and Inu-Yasha gasped. He sprang up and drew tetsiaga only to see the black cloud burn. More and more black clouds threw them selves out of Kikyou and all burnt to ashes.

Kikyou looked up at Kagome, her eyes bright and happy. Kagome was smiling back down at her. "I want to thank you, Kagome." Kikyou said smiling "Even though my evil self was always so mean and spiteful to you, you were kind and did what was right. If I were in your place I would have killed myself and not in this way."

Kagome looked down at Kikyou "I'm sorry that it has to come to this." she said her voice cracking as tears formed in her eyes.

"I don't belong in this world. Thank you." The last word was a whisper as the last soul holding her to this world flew out of her body and into it's rightful owner, Kagome.

Kagome sat there thinking, as did Inu-Yasha. 'She was happy to die?!' He thought as he remembered Kagome.

He looked at her; she was staring off in space her eyes wide and unfocused. "Kagome!" he whispered as she looked at him.

'How did I do that!' she thought looking up and the han-you who was staring intently at her.

"Kagome." He recited her name again. It sounded so sweet like honey as it rolled off his lips.

"You're back." he continue unsure of himself.

Kagome's eyes were stinging with unshed tears. How happy she was to finally see the man that she had been dreaming about every night for the past seven months. The same man that she had came painfully aware of how much she loved him.

Before she could stop her self Kagome had flung her arms around Inu-Yasha's neck and was sobbing into his chest.

The smell of salt drifted to his nose. Tears had never effected him but it all changed when he meet Kagome. She made him feel sorry and sad when she cried, because most of the time she was crying about all the stupid stuff he did.

'She's crying because I was with Kkyou. She must hate me. WHY SHOULD I CARE IT'S NOT LIKE SHE CARES ABOUT ME!' Inu-Yasha thought to himself.

You know that you care for her. An annoying voice said in Inu-Yasha's head the strange thing is that it was a female's voice.

I do not!

Do to!

Do not!

...Let's stop this already. Why don't you treat her better? She's in your arms with her arms wrapped tightly around your neck.

... Inu-Yasha began to blush as he noticed Kagome.

Try to kiss her or hug her back. She'll like it I bet.

No she won't she'll hit or sit me and then be even madder and cry.

The voice sighed; you know what, she should sit you for the nasty thoughts you have about her!

Inu-Yasha mentally growled, Why the hell am I talking to myself!!! GO AWAY!!!!

NYAHHHHH!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA finally realized your crazy cause your talking back to the voice in you head! HAH!!

GO AWAY BITCH!!!

TESTY, TESTY!!! The voice mocked and continued laughing as it disappeared.

'I should do something.' Inu-Yasha thought as his arms gently encircled Kagome's waist and pulled her into his lap.

"Inu-Yasha," Kagome began softly so that only he could hear. "I missed you.."

"So did I Kagome." He said his grip on her growing stronger.

"I won't leave you again." She said drifting off.

Inu-Yasha sat there listening to her deep breaths as she slept in his arms. He looked off towards the village his ears picking up Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Keade, Kiara, and some other male. "Here they come ruining the perfect moment I had." he whispered lifting Kagome in his arms to rest her leaning against the tree.

He paused and looked at her. She was scrunched up and softly snoring against the tree. Long beautiful lashes against creamy white skin making the perfect contrast. Deep pink lips curled in a soft smile. And dark raven hair spilled over her cheek.

'I feel like kissing her..' Inu-Yasha thought to himself. The others foot steps were getting louder as he shook his head and sat on the other side of the tree away from Kagome.

"KAGOME!!!" Shippo yelled as they walked down the end of the trail to the god tree.

"Stupid girl sleeping!" Gombei said as he vanished only to re-appear by Kagome.

"How'd he do that?!" Sango asked to herself.

Inu-Yasha became aware of the unknown male by Kagome. "HEY YOU GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!!" He said standing up.

Gombei turned to look at who said that. The man had long sliver hair that twirled in the wind; he had deep gold eyes that were staring at him ready to kill him. The man was a little shorter then him and was wearing a red kimono. But the thing that made him stand out the most were fuzzy little dog-ears that rested on his head.

"YOU MUST BE INU-YASHA!!!" Gombei said happily.

"Yeah so what do you want!" barked Inu-Yasha back eying the tall man with a deep blue kimono, black hair and green eyes.

"Nothing it's just you see my pupil, the lazy dumb ass Kagome, is sleeping right now. Do you mind if I wake her up, Inu-Yasha?" Gombei asked smugly.

'Why's he asking me?!' "I'll wake her up we have to hunt for the rest of the shards!"

"Do not wake the child!" Keade said behind them.

"Why not?" Gombei asked looking at the old and yes ugly miko.

"Look at her spirit, Sir Gombei." She instructed.

"Umm okay." He said closing his eyes and concentrating. "Every things there but she used a great deal of energy to d something."

"Yes that's true. But our friend Kagome here did not have all her soul before."

Gombei looked at Inu-Yasha. "What happened earlier between Kagome and that Kikyou women?"

Inu-Yasha looked at Gombei "She made all the black souls go out of Kikyou, then Kikyou thanked her and gave Kagome back her soul."

Gombei was silent as he took it all in "I have not taught her how to purify things, let a lone purify beings." Gombei said looking at Kagome. "She is far beyond my level of power."

There was a laugh from far away. "What a foolish man, you are Gombei." A ladies voice said. "Do you believe a girl who does not even know how to control her power can defeat me."

Gombei stood up quietly and turned to face the voice. "Mora."

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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA yes I just feel like doing a cliffhanger! So NYAH!!! : Sticks tongue out: But next chapter you find out what happened that 'faithful' day! Lol I'll probably post this one at the middle of July. I'm sorry you see my bro is coming to live with us and his room is the one w/ the computer so yeah sorry ya'll. PWEAZE don't kill me! XP I'll give all of you fake cookies!! Hahaha: throwing different flavored cookies in the air: ENJOI!!!!

Chao

Izay Alohalani