A/N: Okay, thanks to Sunaka, Zhare, Silver Myst, and the anonymous dude
again for reviewing me!! Thank you!! * Blows kisses to everyone and gives
everyone a rose. Then proceeds to get run over by a herd of meeses. *
Ouch.....O__o;;;;; ....anyway, comments on your comments at the bottom as
always. Oh, and I got an email from someone saying that I should have a
disclaimer every chapter, because they might close my story. Bah.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Duh.
ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter 4: A Shocking Experience
"Bravo, bravo, encore, encore!!" the crowd yelled. Arden bowed.
"I hate to inform you that that was my last performance that shall be held. After tonight I'm leaving. I hope that your life is filled with peace and prosperity. Farewell."
The crowd booed and protested viciously, but to no avail. She had already gone.
"Should we go and meet her behind the restaurant?" Miroku asked.
"Of course!" Kagome said indignantly. "We said that we would, so come on!"
"I don't remember agreeing," Inuyasha said sleepily. He had his feet propped up on the table, resting his bulging stomach. He was very comfortable and didn't really feel like moving. Kagome glared at him until he finally gave in.
They all walked in a single file line, Inuyasha first, then Kagome, Miroku, who was eyeing Kagome, and then Shippou, who was skipping merrily behind. Darkness had already fallen, so the group had to pick their way along carefully. Inuyasha stopped abruptly, causing everyone to crash into him.
"What's wrong," asked Kagome worriedly. She was afraid that a demon might be looming near. Inuyasha cautiously sniffed the air.
"I smell Arden," he said. He sniffed a few more times. "And that nasty man....."
"I hope she's not in any trouble," Shippou whispered.
Inuyasha motioned for them to be quiet, and they silently snuck around the building. They all peeped their heads around the corner and saw that Arden was defiantly facing the manager. His beady little eyes had the same fury as coals burning in the pits of Hell. He lifted his finger and pointed at Arden.
"You can't leave," he spat. Spittle flew form his lips in all directions. "The contract was for one month and you've only been here for a week!"
"Yes," Arden said calmly. She had a strong authority in her voice that made the manager step back. "The contract WAS for a month, but I am not a fool. I read the entire thing, including the small print. I had to make over 3000 yen OR work for a month. You and I both know that I have made much more than that for you. It isn't any of my concern if you squander it on whores and drugs." As she spoke, Arden slowly advanced on the man. He was backed into a corner, and she was mere inches away from him.
At her last comment, his eyes grew wide with disbelief, but they quickly took on their viciousness once again. Arden turned to walk away, tired of the matter.
"You can't do this to me, Arden! Not after I took you in!"
Arden turned on him and uttered a cry of disbelief.
"Took me in?!" she laughed bitterly. "How horribly mistaken you are. In case you have forgotten, I offered to work to pay for the damage. I could have run away, and you would never have known where I had gone! But my pride and honor kept me here in this filthy, wretched, rat's nest, so don't you dare say that you took me in!!"
"I'll keep you here," the manager threatened. "You're a gold mine, and by any means necessary, I'll keep you here. You're crazy if you thought that I was going to give you up at all, even after a month!"
The man slowly pulled a concealed dagger out of his pants. His eyes gleamed with a perverse brutality, and his thick tongue was licking his lips with every step.
Arden turned on him with immortal fury. Fireballs gleamed in each hand, and she pointed them directly at the manager.
"TRY IT!" she bellowed.
The manager stopped abruptly, fear filling his eyes. Arden's fireballs were glowing with a vengeance, daring him to step closer.
He turned to flee, but the wall was blocking his path. He instead ran along the gate towards the restaurant. As he reached the back door, he turned to speak. His chest heaved up and down, and perspiration shimmered on his forehead. He pointed a finger at her, and flashed a gruesome smile.
"You'll see," he said. "You'll get yours. I know people, and you'll regret that you ever tangled with me."
He was going to say more, but the two fireballs hurtled at him with lightning speed. He barely had time to get inside and shut the door. They hit the building with a loud whoosh, and the entire side burst into flame. Arden considered letting it burn, but decided against it. With a quick twist of her mind, the flames were gone.
She heard a loud crunch behind her and jumped, startled. She turned, expecting to see some goons of the manager, but instead blushed and quickly extinguished the flame she had conjured when she saw who it was.
Inuyasha and the others were gaping. Arden fidgeted and dug her toes in the ground sheepishly.
"I didn't know you were there," she said. "I wouldn't have done that if I knew you were there--"
"I wish you would've toasted him," Shippou said, interrupting her.
Kagome put her hands on her hips angrily. "I agree. Who does he think he is, trying to make you stay. Pssh."
"He had it comin' to him," Inuyasha said casually. "I just wish that I could have gotten to him first."
Arden was stunned. They were actually acting like it was no big deal. She had tried to fry the manager, and they wished that she had succeeded.
"Definitely not a normal group," Arden thought to herself. She smiled. She liked them. She liked them a lot.
"So," Miroku said, trying to change the subject. "You said that you had something that you wanted to speak to us about?"
Arden perked up greatly. "Yes, there is! But first, let me take off this cloak. I'm getting tired of playing Fire Mystique."
She unbuckled the silver brooch around her throat, and pulled back the hood. Inuyasha arched an eyebrow, and Miroku nearly fainted.
Arden looked to be around her late teens, early twenties. Her eyes were elegantly arched, and her body was a symbol of near perfection. She was wearing a black tank top and a dark blue pair of coarse cotton jeans. She was also wearing a belt that was donned with a long, sharp samurai sword. Beside of this were a smaller knife and a leather purse. But the thing that struck them as uncharacteristic was her hair. It was a light blonde, the color of honey. She had it pulled back in a tight braid that rested on her waist; she also had a few long bangs that fell gracefully down her cheek. It shimmered in the moonlight, giving her a golden aura.
"Oh." Miroku sighed. "Never have I seen such beauty." He walked over to her and grasped her hands. "Miss Ardenia, will you bear my child?"
Inuyasha smacked his forehead with frustration. He took out the Tetsusaiga and binged Miroku in the back of the head with it. Miroku clasped the back of his skull and wailed a yelp of pain.
"INUYASHA!!" Miroku said through gritted teeth. "I only asked her to bear my child! What's the harm in that?"
"You do that to everyone we meet, you perverted monk!"
For the next few minutes Inuyasha and Miroku had a very heated discussion on why you should or shouldn't ask a woman to bare your child on a spare the moment meeting.
"She might say yes!"
"She might say no!"
"She might be healthy!"
"She might be diseased!"
"She might be rich!"
"She might be poor!"
"She might be beautiful!"
"She might be a MAN!"
Miroku was silent for a moment, and then came back with his own witty remark. This went on for several minutes, and then Arden finally glanced over at Kagome.
"Should I be offended?" she asked.
"No," Kagome replied. "They do this kind of stuff all the time." She cleared her throat. "HEY YOU GUYS!"
Inuyasha and Miroku both looked up surprised. They had been so deep into their discussion they had forgotten that Kagome, Shippou, and even Arden were there.
"Are you gonna let Arden talk or what?!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Inuyasha murmured.
"Forgive us, Miss Ardenia," Miroku said while bowing.
"Please, just Arden," she said, slightly embarrassed. "Anyway, the thing that I wanted to talk to you about was this. As I told you before, I am a wanderer. I am planning on leaving as soon as I can, and I was wondering if I could accompany you on your journeys. But before you answer, be warned. I'm most likely to attract some unpleasant company, what with my powers and all."
Kagome held up her hand and smiled. "Don't worry, we're used to unwanted guests."
Arden was bewildered. "Really? Why?"
Kagome reached inside of her blouse and pulled out the half-whole Shikon no Tama.
"Oh my," Arden said breathless.
"What's wrong?"
"I have five pieces that look exactly like that."
"You have pieces of the Shikon Jewel?!" Inuyasha asked, suddenly excited.
"Impossible," Kagome said, slightly insulted. "I would have spotted them."
"Very unlikely," Arden stated as she groped inside of her leather purse. She brought out a small black pouch and opened it. Inside were five pieces glowing with an excellent brilliance.
"But...how..." Kagome muttered.
"Simple," Arden said calmly. "This bag is made from the hairs of a Nixion unicorn. When woven together, it can block the energy that magical objects release. The only problem is, you are unable to draw that energy while it's still in the bag."
"How did you find them?" Miroku asked.
"The first three I found were just lying around," Arden replied while putting the black bag away. "The other two I got from demons that I fought. When I discovered that they made my powers stronger, I put them away, just incase I needed them at a later date."
After everyone had digested the current information, Arden spoke up again. She turned to Inuyasha.
"So, may I join you?"
Inuyasha put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "I don't see why not," he said after a few moments deliberation. "You're powers will come in very handy."
Arden smiled with gratitude. "You should make camp before you start off again," she said seriously. "It's dark, and I take it that your village is a good walk from here. Follow me, I know the perfect place."
******
It was late, and the fire that Arden had built was crackling and popping merrily. Inuyasha was curled up in a nearby tree, snoring loudly. Miroku was lying against the tree trunk, and Kagome and Shippou were cuddled near the fire. Arden was awake though, and was gazing at the dazzling stars as she listened to the others sleep.
She had one hand resting behind her head, and the other had a grape shaped fireball balancing on top of her palm. She would occasionally twirl it between her fingers and bounce it from front to back. She tossed it back into the fire, turned over and sighed. She was so lonely. She wouldn't admit it, but the main reason why she wanted to go with Inuyasha and the group was because she had a hole in her heart, and she was trying to fill it up. Ever since her parents were killed, and she was exiled, she had been bitter at the world. That's when she decided to become a wanderer. She trusted no one, and rarely made contact with other people. But thankfully her travels had beaten the immaturity out of her. Many had told her that she was lucky to have the powers that she did, and that she took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves to her. But the truth was, she would have given everything to have a normal life. Settle down with someone that loved her for her, and have happy healthy children. But she knew that that would never happen. Slowly the thoughts in her head faded away, and she finally went to sleep.
******
One crack....then another....three times. Inuyasha's ears perked up, and he opened his eyes. Someone was walking, and they were close. He sniffed the air a few times, and almost retched. The smell was horrible, as if the person hadn't bathed in years.
There was a light fog surrounding their camp, so Inuyasha was unable to see who, or what, it was. The meek sunlight barely filtered in, causing shadows to bounce from one place to another.
He leaped out of the tree and landed stealthily. He noticed that the place where Arden lay was empty. Kagome and Shippou were still curled up, and he smiled at them gently. He suddenly felt a hand grip his shoulder. His eyes grew wide, and he jumped, startled.
"Shhh....be quiet," Arden hissed. "Or they'll hear us!"
"Who?" Inuyasha whispered.
"Us most likely," a burly voice said. Inuyasha and Arden turned to see who was speaking.
Before them were at least ten men. All of them were rough looking, and they're stench was horrible. Inuyasha's suspicions of the people not bathing had been well confirmed. The one that spoke was smiling gruesomely. He walked beside of Arden and tried to touch her shoulder, but she moved out of the way. Inuyasha pulled out the Tetsusaiga and brandished it menacingly. Arden held up her hand to Inuyasha to hold him back.
"This is my battle," she said to him. "I wish to fight it alone."
At this point Kagome, Shippou, and Miroku were awake.
"Who are these people?" Kagome asked. "And what do they want?"
"We're hired hands, and personal friends of the manager of the Green Dragon," the supposed leader said. "And we were sent to retrieve that young woman."
"I belong to no one, and I am going nowhere," Arden replied heatedly. "Go back and tell him that, unless of course you want to experience EXCRUCIATING pain, and possibly death."
The leader stepped forward and laughed. "And just what are you going to do little girl?" he asked mockingly.
Arden smirked and turned to the others. "You might want to step back," she said matter-of-factly. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Inuyasha and the others obediently stepped back, and Arden raised her hand into the air. She then extended her index finger. She concentrated all of her energy on the sky, and it suddenly began to darken. Clouds appeared as if out of nowhere, and thunder boomed in the distance.
"This is you last chance," Arden threatened. The wind was whipping her hair wildly around her face, and she had a stony tone in her voice. "Leave now or face the consequences."
Many of the men were looking at each other worriedly. Some had even fled. The leader witnessed this and turned to talk to them.
"Are you frightened by this girl's threat?! Cowards! This is just a freak storm! Who else will flee like frightened children?"
"No one!" they called together. They proceeded to draw their swords, throwing insults to Arden.
Arden had her head bowed and she sighed.
"As you wish," she said almost mournfully. "But remember, as you lay dying, YOU chose your own fate!"
She lifted her head and her eyes popped open. Her iris and pupil had disappeared, leaving her eyes a glowing white. Lightning streaked across the sky, and one stray bolt caught Arden's finger, lighting up her entire body. She brought down her hand and stretched her fingers out in front of her. Electricity danced from finger to finger, and Arden admired it, fascinated. She then pointed her fingers to the men. They began to scramble over one another, trying to run away, but it was too late. Lightning streaked from Arden's fingertips, each bolt striking a man.
They writhed and screamed with pain. Slowly, the men disintegrated, each turning into a pile of dust.
Finally, the assault stopped. The clouds disappeared, and the sun shone brightly. Arden's eyes returned to normal, and she fell to her knees shakily. She felt as if all of the energy had been drained out of her.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!!" Shippou cried.
"Very impressive," answered Miroku.
Inuyasha just grunted, slightly jealous that her attack was cooler than his, and Kagome was speechless.
Arden smiled at them gently. "Well, I've figured out which attribute lightning holds. POWER...."
"One things for sure," Miroku said cheerfully. "That was most definitely a shocking experience."
Arden and the others merely chuckled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Okay, to Sunaka, thank you for your compliment, and I got the name Ardenia and Arden from a (shhh...don't tell anyone) baby book. A writer's secret companion. ^_^ Arden means passionate and fiery. I just added 'ia' to make it more feminine. To Zhare, trust me, there are more surprises to come! Sesshoumaru will be in the next chapter, just to let you know. To Silver Myst, darn those teachers! Always sneaking up behind you trying to steal your leprechauns!! And to the anonymous dude, all I have to say is *begins to rock back and forth * One by one the penguins steal my sanity! MWAHAHA HAHAHAHA!!!! Peace out!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Duh.
ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter 4: A Shocking Experience
"Bravo, bravo, encore, encore!!" the crowd yelled. Arden bowed.
"I hate to inform you that that was my last performance that shall be held. After tonight I'm leaving. I hope that your life is filled with peace and prosperity. Farewell."
The crowd booed and protested viciously, but to no avail. She had already gone.
"Should we go and meet her behind the restaurant?" Miroku asked.
"Of course!" Kagome said indignantly. "We said that we would, so come on!"
"I don't remember agreeing," Inuyasha said sleepily. He had his feet propped up on the table, resting his bulging stomach. He was very comfortable and didn't really feel like moving. Kagome glared at him until he finally gave in.
They all walked in a single file line, Inuyasha first, then Kagome, Miroku, who was eyeing Kagome, and then Shippou, who was skipping merrily behind. Darkness had already fallen, so the group had to pick their way along carefully. Inuyasha stopped abruptly, causing everyone to crash into him.
"What's wrong," asked Kagome worriedly. She was afraid that a demon might be looming near. Inuyasha cautiously sniffed the air.
"I smell Arden," he said. He sniffed a few more times. "And that nasty man....."
"I hope she's not in any trouble," Shippou whispered.
Inuyasha motioned for them to be quiet, and they silently snuck around the building. They all peeped their heads around the corner and saw that Arden was defiantly facing the manager. His beady little eyes had the same fury as coals burning in the pits of Hell. He lifted his finger and pointed at Arden.
"You can't leave," he spat. Spittle flew form his lips in all directions. "The contract was for one month and you've only been here for a week!"
"Yes," Arden said calmly. She had a strong authority in her voice that made the manager step back. "The contract WAS for a month, but I am not a fool. I read the entire thing, including the small print. I had to make over 3000 yen OR work for a month. You and I both know that I have made much more than that for you. It isn't any of my concern if you squander it on whores and drugs." As she spoke, Arden slowly advanced on the man. He was backed into a corner, and she was mere inches away from him.
At her last comment, his eyes grew wide with disbelief, but they quickly took on their viciousness once again. Arden turned to walk away, tired of the matter.
"You can't do this to me, Arden! Not after I took you in!"
Arden turned on him and uttered a cry of disbelief.
"Took me in?!" she laughed bitterly. "How horribly mistaken you are. In case you have forgotten, I offered to work to pay for the damage. I could have run away, and you would never have known where I had gone! But my pride and honor kept me here in this filthy, wretched, rat's nest, so don't you dare say that you took me in!!"
"I'll keep you here," the manager threatened. "You're a gold mine, and by any means necessary, I'll keep you here. You're crazy if you thought that I was going to give you up at all, even after a month!"
The man slowly pulled a concealed dagger out of his pants. His eyes gleamed with a perverse brutality, and his thick tongue was licking his lips with every step.
Arden turned on him with immortal fury. Fireballs gleamed in each hand, and she pointed them directly at the manager.
"TRY IT!" she bellowed.
The manager stopped abruptly, fear filling his eyes. Arden's fireballs were glowing with a vengeance, daring him to step closer.
He turned to flee, but the wall was blocking his path. He instead ran along the gate towards the restaurant. As he reached the back door, he turned to speak. His chest heaved up and down, and perspiration shimmered on his forehead. He pointed a finger at her, and flashed a gruesome smile.
"You'll see," he said. "You'll get yours. I know people, and you'll regret that you ever tangled with me."
He was going to say more, but the two fireballs hurtled at him with lightning speed. He barely had time to get inside and shut the door. They hit the building with a loud whoosh, and the entire side burst into flame. Arden considered letting it burn, but decided against it. With a quick twist of her mind, the flames were gone.
She heard a loud crunch behind her and jumped, startled. She turned, expecting to see some goons of the manager, but instead blushed and quickly extinguished the flame she had conjured when she saw who it was.
Inuyasha and the others were gaping. Arden fidgeted and dug her toes in the ground sheepishly.
"I didn't know you were there," she said. "I wouldn't have done that if I knew you were there--"
"I wish you would've toasted him," Shippou said, interrupting her.
Kagome put her hands on her hips angrily. "I agree. Who does he think he is, trying to make you stay. Pssh."
"He had it comin' to him," Inuyasha said casually. "I just wish that I could have gotten to him first."
Arden was stunned. They were actually acting like it was no big deal. She had tried to fry the manager, and they wished that she had succeeded.
"Definitely not a normal group," Arden thought to herself. She smiled. She liked them. She liked them a lot.
"So," Miroku said, trying to change the subject. "You said that you had something that you wanted to speak to us about?"
Arden perked up greatly. "Yes, there is! But first, let me take off this cloak. I'm getting tired of playing Fire Mystique."
She unbuckled the silver brooch around her throat, and pulled back the hood. Inuyasha arched an eyebrow, and Miroku nearly fainted.
Arden looked to be around her late teens, early twenties. Her eyes were elegantly arched, and her body was a symbol of near perfection. She was wearing a black tank top and a dark blue pair of coarse cotton jeans. She was also wearing a belt that was donned with a long, sharp samurai sword. Beside of this were a smaller knife and a leather purse. But the thing that struck them as uncharacteristic was her hair. It was a light blonde, the color of honey. She had it pulled back in a tight braid that rested on her waist; she also had a few long bangs that fell gracefully down her cheek. It shimmered in the moonlight, giving her a golden aura.
"Oh." Miroku sighed. "Never have I seen such beauty." He walked over to her and grasped her hands. "Miss Ardenia, will you bear my child?"
Inuyasha smacked his forehead with frustration. He took out the Tetsusaiga and binged Miroku in the back of the head with it. Miroku clasped the back of his skull and wailed a yelp of pain.
"INUYASHA!!" Miroku said through gritted teeth. "I only asked her to bear my child! What's the harm in that?"
"You do that to everyone we meet, you perverted monk!"
For the next few minutes Inuyasha and Miroku had a very heated discussion on why you should or shouldn't ask a woman to bare your child on a spare the moment meeting.
"She might say yes!"
"She might say no!"
"She might be healthy!"
"She might be diseased!"
"She might be rich!"
"She might be poor!"
"She might be beautiful!"
"She might be a MAN!"
Miroku was silent for a moment, and then came back with his own witty remark. This went on for several minutes, and then Arden finally glanced over at Kagome.
"Should I be offended?" she asked.
"No," Kagome replied. "They do this kind of stuff all the time." She cleared her throat. "HEY YOU GUYS!"
Inuyasha and Miroku both looked up surprised. They had been so deep into their discussion they had forgotten that Kagome, Shippou, and even Arden were there.
"Are you gonna let Arden talk or what?!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Inuyasha murmured.
"Forgive us, Miss Ardenia," Miroku said while bowing.
"Please, just Arden," she said, slightly embarrassed. "Anyway, the thing that I wanted to talk to you about was this. As I told you before, I am a wanderer. I am planning on leaving as soon as I can, and I was wondering if I could accompany you on your journeys. But before you answer, be warned. I'm most likely to attract some unpleasant company, what with my powers and all."
Kagome held up her hand and smiled. "Don't worry, we're used to unwanted guests."
Arden was bewildered. "Really? Why?"
Kagome reached inside of her blouse and pulled out the half-whole Shikon no Tama.
"Oh my," Arden said breathless.
"What's wrong?"
"I have five pieces that look exactly like that."
"You have pieces of the Shikon Jewel?!" Inuyasha asked, suddenly excited.
"Impossible," Kagome said, slightly insulted. "I would have spotted them."
"Very unlikely," Arden stated as she groped inside of her leather purse. She brought out a small black pouch and opened it. Inside were five pieces glowing with an excellent brilliance.
"But...how..." Kagome muttered.
"Simple," Arden said calmly. "This bag is made from the hairs of a Nixion unicorn. When woven together, it can block the energy that magical objects release. The only problem is, you are unable to draw that energy while it's still in the bag."
"How did you find them?" Miroku asked.
"The first three I found were just lying around," Arden replied while putting the black bag away. "The other two I got from demons that I fought. When I discovered that they made my powers stronger, I put them away, just incase I needed them at a later date."
After everyone had digested the current information, Arden spoke up again. She turned to Inuyasha.
"So, may I join you?"
Inuyasha put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "I don't see why not," he said after a few moments deliberation. "You're powers will come in very handy."
Arden smiled with gratitude. "You should make camp before you start off again," she said seriously. "It's dark, and I take it that your village is a good walk from here. Follow me, I know the perfect place."
******
It was late, and the fire that Arden had built was crackling and popping merrily. Inuyasha was curled up in a nearby tree, snoring loudly. Miroku was lying against the tree trunk, and Kagome and Shippou were cuddled near the fire. Arden was awake though, and was gazing at the dazzling stars as she listened to the others sleep.
She had one hand resting behind her head, and the other had a grape shaped fireball balancing on top of her palm. She would occasionally twirl it between her fingers and bounce it from front to back. She tossed it back into the fire, turned over and sighed. She was so lonely. She wouldn't admit it, but the main reason why she wanted to go with Inuyasha and the group was because she had a hole in her heart, and she was trying to fill it up. Ever since her parents were killed, and she was exiled, she had been bitter at the world. That's when she decided to become a wanderer. She trusted no one, and rarely made contact with other people. But thankfully her travels had beaten the immaturity out of her. Many had told her that she was lucky to have the powers that she did, and that she took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves to her. But the truth was, she would have given everything to have a normal life. Settle down with someone that loved her for her, and have happy healthy children. But she knew that that would never happen. Slowly the thoughts in her head faded away, and she finally went to sleep.
******
One crack....then another....three times. Inuyasha's ears perked up, and he opened his eyes. Someone was walking, and they were close. He sniffed the air a few times, and almost retched. The smell was horrible, as if the person hadn't bathed in years.
There was a light fog surrounding their camp, so Inuyasha was unable to see who, or what, it was. The meek sunlight barely filtered in, causing shadows to bounce from one place to another.
He leaped out of the tree and landed stealthily. He noticed that the place where Arden lay was empty. Kagome and Shippou were still curled up, and he smiled at them gently. He suddenly felt a hand grip his shoulder. His eyes grew wide, and he jumped, startled.
"Shhh....be quiet," Arden hissed. "Or they'll hear us!"
"Who?" Inuyasha whispered.
"Us most likely," a burly voice said. Inuyasha and Arden turned to see who was speaking.
Before them were at least ten men. All of them were rough looking, and they're stench was horrible. Inuyasha's suspicions of the people not bathing had been well confirmed. The one that spoke was smiling gruesomely. He walked beside of Arden and tried to touch her shoulder, but she moved out of the way. Inuyasha pulled out the Tetsusaiga and brandished it menacingly. Arden held up her hand to Inuyasha to hold him back.
"This is my battle," she said to him. "I wish to fight it alone."
At this point Kagome, Shippou, and Miroku were awake.
"Who are these people?" Kagome asked. "And what do they want?"
"We're hired hands, and personal friends of the manager of the Green Dragon," the supposed leader said. "And we were sent to retrieve that young woman."
"I belong to no one, and I am going nowhere," Arden replied heatedly. "Go back and tell him that, unless of course you want to experience EXCRUCIATING pain, and possibly death."
The leader stepped forward and laughed. "And just what are you going to do little girl?" he asked mockingly.
Arden smirked and turned to the others. "You might want to step back," she said matter-of-factly. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Inuyasha and the others obediently stepped back, and Arden raised her hand into the air. She then extended her index finger. She concentrated all of her energy on the sky, and it suddenly began to darken. Clouds appeared as if out of nowhere, and thunder boomed in the distance.
"This is you last chance," Arden threatened. The wind was whipping her hair wildly around her face, and she had a stony tone in her voice. "Leave now or face the consequences."
Many of the men were looking at each other worriedly. Some had even fled. The leader witnessed this and turned to talk to them.
"Are you frightened by this girl's threat?! Cowards! This is just a freak storm! Who else will flee like frightened children?"
"No one!" they called together. They proceeded to draw their swords, throwing insults to Arden.
Arden had her head bowed and she sighed.
"As you wish," she said almost mournfully. "But remember, as you lay dying, YOU chose your own fate!"
She lifted her head and her eyes popped open. Her iris and pupil had disappeared, leaving her eyes a glowing white. Lightning streaked across the sky, and one stray bolt caught Arden's finger, lighting up her entire body. She brought down her hand and stretched her fingers out in front of her. Electricity danced from finger to finger, and Arden admired it, fascinated. She then pointed her fingers to the men. They began to scramble over one another, trying to run away, but it was too late. Lightning streaked from Arden's fingertips, each bolt striking a man.
They writhed and screamed with pain. Slowly, the men disintegrated, each turning into a pile of dust.
Finally, the assault stopped. The clouds disappeared, and the sun shone brightly. Arden's eyes returned to normal, and she fell to her knees shakily. She felt as if all of the energy had been drained out of her.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!!" Shippou cried.
"Very impressive," answered Miroku.
Inuyasha just grunted, slightly jealous that her attack was cooler than his, and Kagome was speechless.
Arden smiled at them gently. "Well, I've figured out which attribute lightning holds. POWER...."
"One things for sure," Miroku said cheerfully. "That was most definitely a shocking experience."
Arden and the others merely chuckled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Okay, to Sunaka, thank you for your compliment, and I got the name Ardenia and Arden from a (shhh...don't tell anyone) baby book. A writer's secret companion. ^_^ Arden means passionate and fiery. I just added 'ia' to make it more feminine. To Zhare, trust me, there are more surprises to come! Sesshoumaru will be in the next chapter, just to let you know. To Silver Myst, darn those teachers! Always sneaking up behind you trying to steal your leprechauns!! And to the anonymous dude, all I have to say is *begins to rock back and forth * One by one the penguins steal my sanity! MWAHAHA HAHAHAHA!!!! Peace out!!