These characters do not belong to me.

Stronger

Chapter Twelve.

Written by Izay Alohalani

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Well I'm sorry for the cliffy, heheh my lil' sis suggested it to me. She said "Since you can't use the computer why not be mean and get to an exciting part and then end it!!" She doesn't get it's called a cliffhanger. -_-;;;

Well I decided to change my story direction it is still a Kagome and Inu- Yasha ficcy and Gombei will get some love . . . eventually. I will not say more about Gombei and Ichigaki thing. And since I killed kikyou so early in the fic just to appease all you Kikyou haters (I LOVE YOU DUDES!!) I hope you all are happy! But I need tension between Kagome and Inu-Yasha so yeah sorry later on!

Onto the ficcy!!!

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The Day

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Mora stood twenty feet away from Gombei and Inu-Yasha while Kagome slept under the tree.

"That girl can never be able to defeat me let alone injure me." Mora said with small smile on her deep pink lips "So Gombei Higashikuni of the west winds is this the pupil you have presented to go up against me?"

Gombei balled his fist, he was smart and knew he had no chance over if he went up against Mora. "Yes Kagome Higurashi is your opponent." He said ruefully staring at Mora.

Mora looked over Kagome she calmly rose her hand and fired a blast at Kagome. The sound of ground breaking and light was the only thing that flooded Inu-Yasha's mind.

Before he knew what happened he lunged at Mora. He felt his skin prick as he came across a barrier. 'Bitch' he thought as he crashed against the barrier.

Inu-Yasha soon came into contact with the ground. Mora looked down at him narrowing her eyes "A mere half breed cannot defeat some one who has lived as long as me!" she said her voice loud as she rose her hand again and Inu- Yasha felt his limbs go numb "To teach a dog such as you a lesson I'll burn her remains to ashes!"

Mora glanced back to where Kagome was as the dust cleared she could see a figure. Kagome was still curled up fast asleep. 'She lived through that attack asleep! This girl is something else!'

Mora looked at Gombei "I will fight her in a month. The time and place will come a day after the month is finished." Mora said as she turned to leave.

"ONE MORE THING!" Gombei shouted as Mora paused in mid stride. "Where is Ichigaki."

"Oh her, she is fine I assure you, why don't you take a look for your self." Mora said flicking her fingers in the air.

A figure in tight black clothing soon appeared behind her. "Ichigaki." Gombei trailed off

The women just stood there looking at Gombei, her eyes blank and unfocused.

"That's the bitch that attacked us!" Inu-Yasha said looking at the red head that stood much like a statue.

"No it can't be." Gombei said unsure of himself. "Ichigaki, it's me, remember its Gombei." He began to walk to her his feet feeling like lead with each step he took.

Ichigaki just stared back at him with her soulless turquoise eyes. Gombei was close to her and he raised his hand to touch her face. All in a moment she withdrew a sword and slashed Gombei's arm as a warning blow. She stood in a defensive stance sword drawn her eyes centered on Gombei still blank, stone faced.

"Higashikuni you see Ichigaki is not the same. I've enhanced her mind and her abilities so that she could use her full potential, but alas by doing so she became my slave in return." Mora said still not turning around.

"You bitch you lied!" Gombei said his frame shaking with rage. "Give me her back!" He lunged at Mora and was slashed with Ichigaki's sword again.

"If the girl defeats me I will give you her back, but if she fails I get Ichigaki, the han-you along with your life and the girl's" Mora said disappearing along with Ichigaki.

Gombei slumped on the ground absently looking at where Ichigaki was. 'Ichigaki I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry.'

Inu-Yasha now regaining the feeling in his legs scooped Kagome into his arms "Why do you hafta fight her wench." he whispered under his breath as he went over to Gombei and the others.

"Who was that." Sango wondered out loud.

"Yeah, Inu-Yasha what did you say about someone attacking you?" Miroku asked walking close to Sango.

Gombei perked up at the reminder of what Inu-Yasha had said. "That's right what did you say." He asked.

Inu-Yasha looked up at the sky, it was getting dark and it would be cold soon, he then looked down at Kagome in his arms. She was snuggling up against his chest softly purring in her deep sleep. "I'll tell you when we get back to the hut." he said as they all began to walk back down the path to the village.

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Inu-Yasha calmly sat on the dirt floor; his eyes were glued at Kagome who slept against the wall. "Inu-Yasha, tell us." Gombei said as Inu-Yasha turned his eyes from Kagome.

He turned his line of vision to Gombei, Miroku and the others. "Well that day started with me bringing Kagome back from her time, the wench had stayed a week and she only asked for three days!"

"Big.test.study.." Kagome mumbles in her sleep.

"Test my ass!!! Why do you need to 'study'! Feh stupid human and your ridiculous 'test'!" Inu-Yasha grumbled looking at Kagome, WACK!! A slipper hit Inu-Yasha on the right side of his face as he turned at deadly glare to Gombei.

"CONTINUE MUT!!" Gombei barked.

"WHY YOU." Inu-Yasha grumbled standing up as Gombei stood also

"Is that a challenge? Bring it on dog-breath!" Gombei roared as Inu-Yasha began to lunge at him.

"Sit." Kagome muttered rolling over in her sleep.

"Bitch.." Inu-Yasha grumbled his mouth pressed against the dirt.

"Go on Inu-Yasha" Gombei said as Inu-Yasha pulled himself off the ground.

*** Seven months and two weeks ago ***

"Hurry up!!" Inu-Yasha grumbled sitting on Kagome's bed as she continued packing.

"Shut up I'm going as fast as I can." She grumbled stuffing some ramen in her bag.

"I wouldn't be so pissed off at you if you hadn't sealed up the well on the fourth day and went back to my time!" Inu-Yasha yelled at her.

"I HAD TO STUDY FOR A TEST!!" Kagome yelled back louder. "If I had failed that one then I would be kicked out of school!"

"Who cares about your stupid 'school' and those damn 'test'! You need to be looking for the rest of the shikon-no tama shards!" He grumbled standing up as she closed her bag.

"When I'm done with this whole thing I'll still be in eight grade!" Kagome sighed to herself as Inu-Yasha picked her up and jumped out of her window with out a warning.

"KYAHHHHHHHHHHHHH" She yelled as he put her done rubbing his ears.

"Damn girl you just have to scream into my ears!" Inu-Yasha barked as they jumped into the well.

** Back in present **

Inu-Yasha looks at Kagome "Slow human you just had to scream in my ears!" He grumbles as she rolls over.

" Inu-Yasha...baka.." she mumbles smiling and rolls over again.

"I'm beginning to think she's not sleeping." Miroku says looking at Sango.

"Yeah.. creepy!" Sango says shuddering.

"Oh let me put your mind at ease Sango!" Miroku exclaims wrapping his arms around her just to let them wander to her backside.

"HENTAI!!!" she yells hitting him repeatedly.

Gombei looks at the demon exterminator as she calmly sits down far away from a mangled and welting houshi. He looks back at Inu-Yasha "Go on."

** BACK IN THE PAST ~_~**

Kagome softly falls on the dirt bottom of the well as Inu-Yasha appears standing next to her. She swings her bag over her shoulder and the han-you helps her out of the well.

Inu-Yasha's body tenses as Kagome stands. He tensely grabs the hilt of tetsiaga (hey how do you spell it? a bud took all of my manga so I'm sure I'm misspelling words. ^^")

"What's wrong?" Kagome asks looking at him as he searches for some unknown foe. And as if on cue a red blur jumps out of a tree.

Inu-Yasha grabs Kagome and they become airborne as the person slices up the ground leaving a large imprint.

"So that's where you were hiding!" Inu-Yasha says as he lands on a tree limb.

Inu red headed person stands up going into a defensive stance. Kagome looks at the person. It's a lady in her late 20's. She has ankle length red hair, she's wearing a tight black sleeveless kimono top with tight black pants. Kagome just looks on as Inu-Yasha dives at the lady.

"What do you want!" He yells as she blocks his attack. She is silent and fakes an attack and slashes his chest with her sword.

Inu-Yasha dodges her next attack but she cuts his chest again. Kagome looks on as the fight continues.

'She's barley scratching him' Kagome thinks as she looks closely at the first wound. Her eyes go wide. 'The wound it's getting bigger!'

The wounds on Inu-Yasha's chest are opening and are covered in fire. He shuts his left eye in pain as he blocks the women's next attack 'Dammit my chest feels like it's on fire!'

Inu-Yasha dives to the left as the lady lunges for him. He rolls and stands, she turns mechanically and grips her sword which begins to glow a bright red.

Kagome's eyes go wide as she jumps off the tree limb and lands in front of Inu-Yasha. The lady slashes the air and sends a red gust of wind their way.

Kagome does all she can think of, she puts her hands out in front of her and shuts her eyes tightly. The red gust crashes against a barrier. It pushes against it and snakes around it cutting Kagome's legs and her shoulder.

She grimaces in pain as her legs go out and the fiery pain spreads. 'Gods it hurts!' She thinks clutching her legs as she suddenly feels strong arms lift her into the air.

"I-Inu-Yasha?" Kagome asks afraid.

Inu-Yasha's face is pissed off and he's staring straight at the still unknown women. "Stay." he says setting her behind a tree.

Kagome dries a tear that falls down her face. Her legs were burning like they were on fire both her checks stung as she continued to watch the battle.

The unknown lady had injured Inu-Yasha very bad, he was lacking energy and strength and could hardly keep a grip on his sword.

'Gods I can hardly see anything anymore!' Inu-Yasha thought as he took a step back weakly blocking. He took another step and his legs gave out on him sending him crashing to the ground.

"K-Kagome run!" he yelled as the women slashed at him. "ahh!" He screamed looking over at Kagome's crying face. "Stop crying and run!" He screamed coughing blood.

"N-no I won't!" She said standing up tears streaking down his face.

"You always have to be a stubborn jack ass don't you!" He said his eyes getting soft as the lady continued beating him up. "Kagome, I want you to be safe," he closed his eyes and tried to stand up. "Won't you just listen to me this once and run.even if I can't protect you I want to still live." He finally got to his feet grabbing his left arm he steadied to swing a cutting wind at the lady giving Kagome time to run.

The lady had froze suddenly sword raised in mid swing while Inu-Yasha looked at Kagome. "If you at least live, y-you could gather the rest of the shikon-no-tama shards and finally get to go home."

Inu-Yasha gave her a crooked smile "I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you, it was just to protect you." He looked away from Kagome and devoted his full attention back to the lady who was still in mid-swing.

Her frame shook a little and she dropped her sword and sunk to the floor grabbing her head and screaming in agony. "No.. no stop it, stop it!!" she yelled to herself. "Just leave them alone!!" she looked at her hands that were stained with Inu-Yasha's blood. She moved her head to look at Inu- Yasha. "I-. run!" she yelled as blood continued to drip from the han-you that stared at the strange redheaded women in front of him A puddle was forming and his vision was blurring.

Inu-Yasha buckled over and passed out. The next thing he remembered was the comforting smell of Kagome and the heart retching smell of her salty tears as she cried on his battered bloody body.

**Back to the present**

Inu-Yasha sat in the room finishing his story even though he cut out some of his crazy loving words to Kagome.

Gombei, Miroku and Sango all sat there taking in what had just been told to them. "So the next day you woke up and Kagome was gone?" Gombei asked.

"Yeah she left to look for you with out telling any of us." Sango said.

"I had always thought she was some crazy girl that had been disowned for wanting to know magic and martial arts." Gombei said as the group looked at him, "The funny thing is that I had been able to read most of her feeling and some of her memories."

"How could you do that?" Miroku asked.

"It's my art, you can read a persons heart. If you bond with them you can read all thoughts, remember all their memories and also feel how they feel." Gombei explained. "But with Kagome she unknowingly blocked off all of her thoughts, and only let me feel and remember certain memories and feelings."

Sango looked at Kagome, "Kagome-chan is that skilled to be able to unknowingly block off her master." Sango looked back to Gombei "Or maybe her master isn't that skilled." she said coldly.

Gombei looked at her. "Do you want proof."

"Try your best mister wind spirit!" Sango said as Gombei put his hand over her chest. Gombei's hand glowed green and a satisfied smile crossed his lips and he sat back down again.

"Well," Sango said waiting.

Gombei smiled at her all knowingly. "I'll say on of your thoughts. I'll be nice and tell just you. Another aspect of the Higashikuni art is that you can communicate with the person that you just finished reading. And if they are the last person you still have access to their thoughts and feelings"

Sango looked at him still not backing down. 'Should I tell the monk you think that you think about how his strong arms would feel around you. Or should I tell him that you think that he looks better with out the kimono and nothing else?' Gombei thought into Sango's mind as a light blush crept on her checks.

Miroku looked at Sango and laughed lightly. "It seems like he is the master of the Higashikuni technique."

Inu-Yasha nodded and thought a 'please don't let him demonstrate it out on me next.'

Gombei laughed and smiled at everybody. "It's late so why don't we all go to sleep I believe we've had enough excitement for today." At that Keade went into her room to get Gombei a bed.

Sango snuggled into her bed with Kiara and soon fell asleep. Miroku glanced at her sleeping, sighed and fell asleep soon after.

Gombei fell straight to sleep and Keade went back to her room. The only one left awake was Inu-Yasha he glanced at Kagome's sleeping form along with the sleeping kit curled up by her knee.

"You know the night you left, I dreamed you kissed me." He whispered by her "It felt so real. I was afraid and then I woke up wanting to see if it was real, and you weren't there anymore." Inu-Yasha dipped his head near Kagome's face "Maybe I'll just make it real." His lips brushed against Kagome's and he felt her warm petal soft lips against his. He quickly broke away from her and blushed looking out the window.

".it.. wasn't..a dream." Kagome whispered snuggling into Inu-Yasha. He stared down at her wide-eyed afraid that she had been a wake.

He smiled and kissed her on her forehead standing "You have very soft lips" Inu-Yasha said turning from her "Sleep tight."

As he got to the door he heard a sigh and a soft whisper only he heard "So do you." and with that he left the hut to go sleep in his favorite tree.

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I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!!!! KYHAAAAAAAA!!! I hope all of you guys do!! I'm really loving this story!! And as a treat I GOT CAKE!!!! :Presents chocolate cake with vanilla icing and lots of sprinkles: ENJOY and review!!!

Moonwolf: I'm happy that you love my story!! kyahh I'm happy that I'm keeping up with it even though I'm not updating that much. ^^;; You got a ff.net account that's kewl but my account won't let anonymous reviews. I was happy to have the dead bitch zombie die like that even though I wanted to torture her. kukuku maybe next time. I eat ramen and pocky the true food of an otaku! lol but give me your ficcys title so I can read it!! ^^ no worries I like everything as long as it's not a lemon! well c'ya l83z!

Small buttercup: Milk you say! Okay :holds out jug of milk: enjoy!! :dunks cookie into milk and takes bite: Thanks for the review!

Lasako: :Still can't breathe: Please don't kill me!! I hope that this chapter amends for the choking you gave me. :waiting: Okay thanks for the review though...:runs like hell:

Whitney Lin: THANKS DUDE!! I promise I won't kill this story!!

STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER CHAPPIE COMING..EVENTUALLY!!!

Chao

Izay Alohalnai