Now (to save time in updates and keep the length!) each little part here before the ~* symbols is going to be one day! I am too lazy (and running out of ideas) to do more. -_-; as a note if you are confused: Before, it was two perspectives of the same day and THEN a new day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kagome was sprawled out on the couch, alone for the first time in the
past few days. Sesshoumaru usually came constantly, but he said he had
some things to do today, so Kagome had agreed to spend a day apart. She
exhaled deeply as she tried to figure out exactly what the hell she was
doing. It was Sesshoumaru, even though the years seemed to have softened
him. It was Sesshoumaru, even though he was constantly affectionate and
gentle. She felt oddly secure in his presence, even though he was
perfectly capable of murdering her in a split second when they lay so
close together. Then there were the kisses. For some reason, each kiss
was amazing; no matter how many times they did it. Each time it ended,
they both seemed to want more, but never to act on it. It was dismissed
as the passion of the moment and forgotten until the next kiss.

Kagome sighed again, unsure if she could satisfy Sesshoumaru in what they
wanted. He seemed confident enough in his love for her, but she had only
seen this side of him for a couple of days. Even kissing seemed to be
going too fast, but after they started doing it, it seemed impossible to
stop. She wondered if it was simply physical attraction, which could be
valid because, well, he was very hot. However, she wondered if she should
have felt anything the first few times she saw him. It would be
difficult, however, to feel any loving emotion towards a cold hearted
youkai who was trying to kill you, no matter how drop dead gorgeous they
were.

She growled under her breath, a sound that Sesshoumaru commented on once,
saying it suited her. Kagome stood, stretched, and went to get a piece of
paper and a pencil. She folded it in half and scribbled "Inu Yasha" on
one side and "Sesshoumaru" on the other. She began to list the advantages
of each suitor on their corresponding side. Kagome stopped half way as a
thought struck her like a lightning bolt: The well to Feudal Japan closed
the night of her 17th birthday, closing all contact with the other world.
She could stay in Feudal Japan with the two demons, or stay with her
family in modern Japan and stay with Sesshoumaru.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Inu Yasha, not having the necessary materials to make such a list, stood
in front of Kikyo, unsure whether to kill her or talk to her or embrace
her. He cracked his bloody knuckles and asked, "You wouldn't mind dying
again would you.? Since you are already dead? What would happen?" Kikyo's
eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, "What is this sudden change of
attitude Inu Yasha? Why do you suddenly want to kill me? I'll be glad to
go of course. this is a mere earthen body, a hollow replacement for my
old self. Here, I'll make it easier for you." Kikyo stepped forward as
her hands went to the front of her shirt [I don't know what this is
called, so let's leave it at shirt. -Author] and carefully loosed it as
she cleared a patch of skin where her heart was, revealing the curve of
her breasts around it.

Inu Yasha blinked, and then blushed, hating himself for it as the redness
spread to the tips of his ears. Kikyo looked amused as she asked, "Does
my body bother you, Inu Yasha? I see no problem with it; it is a sham to
begin with. Now, I'll make it even easier; all you have to do is finish
the deed." She slipped her hands into his dripping ones and placed one of
his hands on her face and the other over her heart. She carefully pressed
his dripping claws over her skin, pricking blood. Kikyo placed a hand
over Inu Yasha's hand on her face and closed her eyes.

Inu Yasha gaped as he stared at his left hand, the one inches from
Kikyo's heart. For some reason, he no longer wanted to kill her, but
instead make her his mate. His eyes trailed from her breasts to her
elegant neckline to her beautiful face. She opened her eyes as if she
knew what he was thinking about and half smiled as she said, "It is your
choice Inu Yasha. My soul is split between two beings: myself and Kagome.
Killing one of us will cause my soul to be whole in the other. I know
that I do not prance around in short skirts and tight shirts, but I did
love you Inu Yasha. How can you guarantee she feels the same way about
you?"

Inu Yasha choked as he stepped back, removing both hands from Kikyo.
Kikyo calmly tightened her shirt again as she smiled at Inu Yasha. "You
poor thing. Actually forced to make a choice. You cannot have both of us
Inu Yasha, just both parts of us in one being. I suppose you should kill
me now before Sesshoumaru does the job." Inu Yasha stepped further back
as his mind worked quickly. Kagome was together with Sesshoumaru now. She
was needed to collect the jewels. She was a recarnation of Kikyo. Kikyo
could also help Inu Yasha collect the jewels. If he killed Kagome, her
soul would be one and they could really spend the rest of their lives
together. He had loved Kikyo and Kagome both, which made the choice
impossible before. If Kagome was interested in Sesshoumaru, she could not
be interested in him.

He grimaced at the thought of killing Kagome, hit his head with his fist
and leapt into a tree, leaving a smiling Kikyo behind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sesshoumaru lay underneath a blooming cherry tree, his back braced
against the trunk as his eyes closed in thought. His hair was unbraided
and fell in long waves over his shoulders, making him look quite
feminine. He inwardly promised to show Kagome this place right after the
duel as his thoughts returned to her once again. 2 more days until the
duel. He had to wait just 2 more days before the rivalry for Kagome would
end and a victor would be declared. She would be officially his after
those two days.

A slightly perverted grin spread across his face as his eyes flamed. He
cracked his knuckles as his demon blood supplied a list of things that he
could not do before but was now allowed to after he defeated Inu Yasha.
He had to stifle the urges for now; shove them in a corner of his mind.
Sesshoumaru had experience with hiding them; he had done so for the past
hundreds of years. They had all flowed up after he had first seen Kagome
and been smashed to pieces after he realized she had no idea of what he
was doing. He supposed he should have waited a year, but Inu Yasha might
have actually done something by then, which made it difficult to plan the
timing.

It wasn't too bad however, since he had thoroughly confused Inu Yasha at
their last encounter. He might even be swaying towards Kikyo now, now
that Kagome was branded unattainable. Well, technically, she was
attainable, but Sesshoumaru's fierce pride and power would do enough to
keep any would-be suitors away. He was possessive, but he felt that right
was his, especially after his patience. Sesshoumaru would ensure Kagome's
happiness, and he felt he was better suited to the task than anyone else.

Sesshoumaru sighed as he intertwined his fingers and let his chin drop to
his chest, trying to catch some sleep. He would take Kagome out on a date
tomorrow, as a final way to secure his claim. Besides, it would be
inspiration for this upcoming duel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The rest of Inu Yasha's companions were strewn around a fire pit inside a
small hut. Miroku poked the embers as he remarked, "So. The fight is
tomorrow?" Sango nodded, the fact having replayed itself in her mind for
most of the week. Shippo was sulking beside the flames, their reflection
glittering in his large eyes.

"I don't want Kagome to go!" Shippo exclaimed, wrapping his arms tightly
around his knees and pouting. Sango's eyes softened as she reached out
the fox demon.

"She won't go, Shippo. We just don't know who'll win. If Inu Yasha wins,
she'll rejoin us to finish finding the Shikon Shard, and then leave.
There's always Naraku to fight later, and if Inu Yasha wins, Sesshoumaru
won't bother us anymore. But if Sesshoumaru wins." Sango stopped,
suppressing a shudder at the thought of Kagome in the clutches of the
demon Sesshoumaru. She declared somewhat angrily, "I don't care how long
he's been waiting for her; some things don't change and Sesshoumaru's one
of them. You can bet that he's planning something for Kagome after the
duel, no matter who wins."

Miroku nodded glumly as he sighed wistfully at the thought of losing the
beautiful Kagome, who had not agreed to bear his child. He could possibly
turn her around if she rejoined them, if he flattered her enough. His
thoughts trailed off into their usual perverted place as he continued
poking the fire pit idly.

Sango sighed as she continued; narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Miroku,
whom she thought was a little too oblivious, "Kagome wouldn't abandon us
for Sesshoumaru. Anyways, talking about it won't change the outcome so
all we can do is sleep and hope for the best." Saying so, she settled
down to rest. Shippo sighed as he watched the fire, as if hoping he could
summon Kagome back to them if he stared long enough. Miroku seemed to be
thinking the same thing as Shippo as he unwittingly volunteered himself
for first watch.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

THAT IS IT! THE WHOLE PRE-DUEL CHAPTERS ARE DONE! YES! I finally got back
on top of this fanfic and I'm already thinking of prequels and sequels in
my tired little brain. *pats small brain to demonstrate point* I will
update again on Sunday with the duel and the outcome! *huge yawn* I gotta
upload this and go to sleep. You can thank all this Ranma music if you
want, it really kept me going. Oh, and as for more incentive for me,
anyone who finds the Ranma ½ song sung by Ryoga entitled: "Where the Heck
Am I?!/ Ittai Koko wa, Doko Na N'Da!" and sends it to me by e-mail
(whoever does so first of course, for the more contest-y feel) will get
the next chapter a full day before everyone else. Other songs accepted
are "Haikei Akane-san" and "Miwaku no Limbo Dance". So, anyone who sends
me one of these songs first gets the next chapter first and there will be
three winners. Send all entries to Dalecki@express56.com I plan to buy
whatever CD I find any of these songs as soon as I find them and I will
delete any MP3s after 24 hours to make this all perfectly legal. The rest
of you will still get the update on time; these three will just get it
sooner. Also, I am holding a vote for who you think should win this duel
between Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru: your vote may change the plot! ^_^
Again, send all entries to my e-mail (see above).