Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own 'em. Bummer.
A/N: Ok, here's the second part of the chapter. I hope it was worth waiting for. Just a few replies: First of all, thanks once again for everyone who took the time to review. You can't imagine what a review junkie I have become. I love to hear from you all. Now... maiden of the flaming sandwich (love your name!) Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could not think of the name of that thing that holds arrows to save my life, and it nearly drove me nuts. I've gone back and fixed it. And silverDust, thanks for the link. It's just what I've been looking for. But no, Sesshomaru won't be making an appearance in this fic. I don't know him well enough to write him yet. Our only meeting was an unpleasant one, when he tried to kill my Inuyasha! BJ, thanks for the tip about Souta! I like it. I think I'll go back and revise. And Moonbay, you're going to have to give me a little more information than that if you need something cleared up! E-mail if you have questions, or just ask in a review, ok?
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A Matter of Trust, part 2
Kagome started with shock at his words. "Wha...what?"
He spat at her, "What's the matter, bitch? You deaf? I said I'll take the jewel now."
She didn't move. Her mind was reeling with sensory overload. She just stood there, transfixed.
His amber eyes glowed with evil, and his voice became a low growl, "What's wrong with you? Hand it over now, and you might live to tell about it." He snickered nastily, "Of course, it would be more fun for me to take it of your dead body!"
He was advancing on her, growing ever closer, and still, she did not move. Her insides were churning, her mind reeling, the images of Inuyasha pinned to the tree getting more and more intense. She finally covered her face with her hands, trying with all her strength to concentrate, to comprehend what was happening.
Just as "Inuyasha" lunged for her, she instinctively threw out a hand, hitting him midair squarely in the chest with a beam of pure white light, and knocking him backwards into a tree.
He lay, stunned on the ground and she stood staring, both stunned by the power she had just displayed. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head where it had hit the tree, 'Shit, that hurt! I thought that Kikyou bitch said she couldn't use her powers!'
Kagome recovered herself, and turned the full force of her anger on him, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM?" she screamed.
He stared at her, uncomprehending. Had the blow on his head done something to his hearing? "What have I done with who?" he sneered.
"INUYASHA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH INUYASHA?" the images were almost blinding her now. She had to get ahold of herself.
"Stupid bitch! Are you blind as well as deaf? Who do I look like? Shippou? Now give me the Jewel!" He was on his feet now, charging straight at her.
"I don't know who you are, but I know you've done something to Inuyasha. You and Kikyou! Now, WHERE IS HE?" she shrieked. Unfortunately for Inuyasha's double, Kagome was standing in front of a very large rock, and when he got to her, she sidestepped and he ran straight into it.
She snickered, "For one thing, Inuyasha is a lot smarter than you are!"
He was livid! Who the hell did this human think she was anyway? Obviously Kikyou had underestimated her, or else hadn't told him about her anyway. Kikyou had said she would be no trouble. That she had only survived this long because of Inuyasha's protection. Hah! She didn't even seem to be scared of him at all!
He got up staggering slightly, but by then, Kagome had her bow drawn with an arrow in place, and was aiming it at him. He stared at her, unsure of what to do next. He knew about those arrows. They could kill him instantly, or seal him forever. His job was to kill her, not be killed. After he made her believe that Inuyasha was betraying her. None of it seemed to be going well.
"Look, you stupid bitch! I am Inuyasha! See, the fangs, the hair, the claws that can and will slice you to ribbons if you don't give me the fucking jewel right now! I will use it to restore Kikyou and she will help me complete it. Why should I keep an inferior copy around when I can have her?" Fast as lightening, he swiped at her with his claws, knocking the bow to the side and causing her to drop the arrow. Seeing that he had effectively disarmed her, he made a lunge.
But his pounce found empty ground. Kagome might not be the strongest fighter, but years of dodging and evading Inuyasha in attempt to get through the well had taught her how to get out of the way of a flying body. She rolled to the side, and decided to use the time he stared disbelievingly at the ground to get some distance between them.
He had beads on like her Inuyasha, but would they work? And if she said the word, would it hurt her Inuyasha wherever he was? Oh, gods, where was he? Had Kikyou let that arrow fly? She headed for the river, knowing that if she had to dive in, the water would help to disguise her scent. What's a little cold when you're running for your life, and trying to save another?
She heard him coming and readied her bow again. He stopped when he saw her aiming at him. He was farther away this time, out of swiping distance. "Don't come any closer or I'll let it fly! Now, tell me what you've done with Inuyasha, or I'll turn you into a shish-kabob." She demanded with more bravado than she felt. In truth, she was scared, very scared. She had never faced down a demon alone without Inuyasha coming to her rescue, but if she believed those visions, it was her turn to be the hero.
He let out a string of obscenities, and finally spat at her, "You see me in front of you, you hear my voice. Why don't you believe that I'm Inu- ...me?"
"Oh, please! You're not even a good copy!" she snorted derisively.
He drew his sword out of it's sheath and pointed it at her, "Why, you little...I'll teach you to..."
She laughed. She couldn't help herself. "See, you don't even know that that sword, if it were Inuyasha's, wouldn't do a thing to harm me. BAKA! It can't cut paper! It only works to protect a human in danger!" she laughed a little more, then stopped abruptly. "Now tell me where Inuyasha is, or I let this thing fly!"
He was really pissed now. There is no way a weak human was going to beat him. A full blooded demon! Not a half-breed like the one he was impersonating! He held the sword in front of him, and said, "Of course I knew that. It might not cut you, but I can use it to keep you from hitting me with one of your arrows. And I could use it to beat you to death. Although that wouldn't be as much fun as slicing you and watching you bleed." He grinned menacingly at her.
"Oh, sure! Good recovery."
He was losing it now! Arrows be damned! He was going to kill this bitch, and it was going to feel good! He leapt into the air, over her head and landed on her, causing her to sprawl out on the ground, his hands pinning her arms and shoulders to the ground, his legs straddling her body, and his feet immobilizing her legs.
She struggled and yelled, "GET OFF ME, YOU PERVERT!" 'Now, what did they teach me to do in self-defense class when a guy is pinning you to the ground?' Unfortunately, her legs being pinned meant her knee wasn't free to hit him in his sensitive area. There was this one technique, though, if she could just distract him enough to throw him off balance...
"Now what are you going to do, you smart ass bitch? Looks like you've come to the end of the line. I'm going to slit your throat slowly, so you feel every inch of it. Although... you do have a pretty hot body. Maybe I'll have some fun with you first. You do want me, don't you?" He ground his pelvis into her.
His hot breath was on her neck, making her stomach churn with nausea. She opened her mouth and her lips formed a soundless word.
He put his head down closer to her mouth, "What's that? I didn't hear you."
With is ear down right next to her mouth, Kagome readied herself and let out a shriek, "NOOOOO!" If his ears were as sensitive as the real Inuyasha's, he would be in pain. Sure enough, he let go of her shoulders and covered his ears, howling with pain. She used the opportunity to roll him off her and scramble away. But he recovered too quickly, and grabbed onto her retreating legs, digging his claws in and pulling himself back on top of her. She screamed as the claws dug into her flesh, feeling the blood run down her thighs and onto the ground.
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When he heard Kagome yell, "INUYASHA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH INUYASHA?" Inuyasha smiled smugly at Kikyou. "Doesn't sound like your little ruse worked, does it. She doesn't believe it's me."
Kikyou turned away, lest he see the uncertainty on her face. She couldn't think what had gone wrong. He was the perfect likeness, and he had Inuyasha's voice and personality down to a tee. One thing was for sure ~ she had fully underestimated her reincarnate. In a bitter, derisive voice she said, "It would have been nice to send her to her death thinking you had betrayed her, but I assure you she won't be able to outrun him for long. You lose her either way."
"I thought you said this was only a test. You were wrong."
"I lied. And the fact that she doesn't believe it's you doesn't prove anything. He's just not as convincing a double as I thought he would be."
"Hah! You're reaching now! You were wrong." Inuyasha was almost enjoying himself now. Kagome seemed to have everything under control, and she was really pissing that pathetic demon off. If he weren't so scared for her, he would laugh. Especially when he heard a thud and she told the demon that he (the real Inuyasha) was much smarter than he was.
His bravado turned to terror, though, as he heard the demon knock Kagome to the ground and her scream. He began to struggle wildly again, desperately trying to reach one of the confining vines with his claws. "THAT'S ENOUGH, KIKYOU! LET ME GO! I SWEAR, YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
"Oh, and who's going to make me pay, Inuyasha? The great Inuyasha is once again helplessly held fast to a tree, and you might want to get comfortable. You're going to be here for a very long time."
They heard the voice of the demon, ""Now what are you going to do, you smart ass bitch? Looks like you've come to the end of the line. I'm going to slit your throat slowly, so you feel every inch of it. Although... you do have a pretty hot body. Maybe I'll have some fun with you first. You do want me, don't you?"
"YOU BASTARD! YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Inuyasha was going berserk. His blood was boiling, every nerve in his body was on fire. The only thing that kept him from completely losing sense and turning full youkai was the sword that still sat in it's sheath on his hip...
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"Look, you brainless, weak, useless mortal! What do I have to do to convince you that I have done nothing to Inuyasha because I am Inuyasha? I am taking the jewel because I don't need you anymore. If Kikyou had been with me the whole time, it would be complete by now!" The demon did not want to risk Kikyou's anger at his inability to convince this girl. Or... Naraku's. He knew if he failed, his life was as good as over.
"STOP!" she screamed. She hoped his ears were throbbing by now. Lifting her head as much as she could to get as close to them as possible, she again shrieked "YOU'RE NOT INUYASHA! YOU'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE! YOU'RE A WEAK, PATHETIC IMPOSTER!"
"STOP SHREIKING AT ME, BITCH!" he grabbed his ears, covering them with his hands.
Her hand darted out and reached for one of her arrows, which were pinned under he right shoulder. She found a shaft and pulled, wincing at the head scraping her shoulder blade. She readied the arrow to stab the demon perched on top of her, but was only able to tear his clothing before he leapt out of her reach. Still, he was off of her, and she scrambled to her feet, never taking her eyes off him. She was not about to be tackled again.
She faced off with him, breathing heavily, bow once again ready and aimed at her nemesis. She had had enough of him, and she had to find Inuyasha. Fully intending to shoot him this time, she first had something to get off her chest. She shouted hotly, "You really want to know why you're such a lousy imposter? I'll tell you! You may have his hair and his clothes, but you don't have his eyes. They might be the right color, but color doesn't mirror the soul. And the Tetsusiaga thing. You might have done your homework better. But do you know what really gave you away? Inuyasha, MY Inuyasha would never, ever, EVER hurt me. I know that with my heart and my very soul. And he knows that if he needed the jewel, he wouldn't have to demand it like some crazed barbarian! All he would have to do is ask." With that, she let her arrow fly.
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Kikyou and the immobilized, half crazed hanyou stared into the distance at the words they had just heard. Positive confirmation that Kagome trusted her half dog demon with her whole being. But the words affected the two very differently.
Kikyou swore in a manner very unlike her living self. Inuyasha was right, and she hated him and Kagome for it. But, she thought bitterly, it will still end up the same for them. If that worthless demon couldn't finish off her reincarnate, she would do it herself. After she sealed Inuyasha once again. She turned to ready her weapon at the hanyou, but didn't expect the sight she was greeted with.
To Inuyasha though, hearing those words from Kagome sent a surge of strength through his body. "MY Inuyasha!" she had said. "I know that with my very heart and soul!" she declared. He felt renewed, energized. He could take on the world! He was once again the great Inuyasha, powerful and invincible. If he could only escape this damn tree!
Suddenly, he felt a small prick below his collar bone, and looked down to see Myouga refreshing himself with the hanyou's blood. "Nice of you to show up, just when I'm about to be put to sleep again! Get out of here and go help Kagome!"
"Master, if you would only clear your head, you would realize that you can call on Tetsusiaga, even without use of your hands!"
He blinked. Of course!
So, when Kikyou turned around, he was yelling, "Tetsusiaga!" The sword leapt from its scabbard into the air, made a graceful arc, and in a lightning flash, severed vines littered the ground and Inuyasha was free.
He took one leap and landed behind the miko, grabbing her bow and and flinging it into the distance. "I don't have time to deal with you right now, but I warn you, stay away from Kagome and from me. You lost your little bet. Now leave us alone."
Before she could respond, he had bounded off into the forest.
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Unfortunately for Kagome, with Inuyasha's form, the demon also had his speed and agility. So even if he had been slow to learn how to use them, he seemed to have finally adapted. Because of this, her arrow failed completely to pierce or even graze him.
Fortunately for her, before he could do anything to retaliate, the real Inuyasha came bounding out of the forest. He grabbed her around the waste, and in a flash, had set her up onto the cliff from which he had once watched her bathe on her first trip to Feudal Japan. "Stay here! Do you understand me? Stay here where it's safe! I have a huge score to settle with this guy!"
And before she could react, he was gone again. She watched as Inuyasha went after the demon, and saw the first blow he delivered. But after that, it became a little confusing. Actually, a lot confusing. Apparently, even if this guy hadn't done his homework, whoever had made his weapon had, because is too transformed when he pulled it from it's sheath. And the demon mirrored every move Inuyasha made, so he was becoming just as injured as his opponent. It soon became painfully apparent that Inuyasha was becoming frustrated
She had to do something to help! But what could she do? Telling the two apart wouldn't have been at all hard if they hadn't been moving so fast. Inuyasha was yelling threats and obscenities at the demon about how he would make him suffer for what he had done to Kagome. The demon was mainly laughing, which just made Inuyasha angrier. Kagome knew that a certain amount of anger was good, but too much would make him careless and would put him in danger. She raised her weapon, thinking that if she could just injure or distract the demon, Inuyasha might be able to get a clear shot at him.
But they were moving so fast, they appeared to be red streaks in the sky. She couldn't chance hitting Inuyasha instead his double. She just had to wish for moving targets earlier that day, didn't she? 'Be careful of what you wish for ~ you might get it!' she thought wryly.
But there had to be something to slow them down! She had to separate them enough to get a clear shot at the demon. But how could she do it?
The sun was beginning to drop to the horizon and the air was getting colder. It was worse at the top of the cliff where there was nothing to shelter her from the cold wind that had risen in the last few minutes. Seeking warmth, she pushed her hands into her pockets and tried to shrug further into her jacket. Suddenly, she frowned. She took one of her hands out of it's shelter and reached up to finger the jewel thoughtfully....Yes, this just might work!
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Inuyasha had been up against tougher demons than this one. This one didn't even have a shard. But it's very hard to fight and defeat someone who knows and uses every one of your own attacks, and knows how to duck everything you throw at him. He knew he had to stay focused and clear, and not to lose his head, but his tolerance was wearing very thin. The demon's maniacal laughter was really getting on his nerves. And he was getting tired. He'd used a lot of his energy trying to escape from that damn tree, after all.
Then he heard Kagome's voice ring out loud and clear, "Hey, you stupid demon!"
Both he and the demon stopped and looked over to see the girl standing precariously up on the cliff, holding something out over her head. The something dangled from a necklace with jagged, tooth-like beads and it shone and glimmered in the twilight sun.
Kagome continued, "Is this what you want? If I give it to you, will you go away and leave us alone? Then come and take it from me?"
The demon laughed. Ok, maybe he hadn't been able to do his job, but he could bring Kikyou the jewel and kill the girl in one sweep. That would please her. Or maybe he would just keep the jewel for himself. Yes, that would be better! Let Kikyou, or even Naraku mess with him when he has the jewel!
Inuyasha gaped at her. "KAGOME, YOU STUPID GIRL! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU..."
After that, everything happened very quickly. Both the demon and the hanyou shot off toward the girl on the cliff, but owing to the fact that Inuyasha paused to criticize Kagome, the demon had a slight head start and got there faster. He grabbed the jewel from the girl's hand and at the same time pushed her already unsteady body just enough to make her lose her balance and topple off the cliff, down toward the rocky bank below.
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Ok, not much of a cliffhanger, really. I mean, if you think about it, you'll be able to figure out what happens next. Well, part of it anyway.
Sorry, no Kikyou-cide, no wiggling hanyou tush, not much fun. But hey, Inuyasha did escape, right? So not all bad. Now, click on that little box at the bottom of the screen and tell me what a schmuck I am. Go ahead!
A/N: Ok, here's the second part of the chapter. I hope it was worth waiting for. Just a few replies: First of all, thanks once again for everyone who took the time to review. You can't imagine what a review junkie I have become. I love to hear from you all. Now... maiden of the flaming sandwich (love your name!) Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could not think of the name of that thing that holds arrows to save my life, and it nearly drove me nuts. I've gone back and fixed it. And silverDust, thanks for the link. It's just what I've been looking for. But no, Sesshomaru won't be making an appearance in this fic. I don't know him well enough to write him yet. Our only meeting was an unpleasant one, when he tried to kill my Inuyasha! BJ, thanks for the tip about Souta! I like it. I think I'll go back and revise. And Moonbay, you're going to have to give me a little more information than that if you need something cleared up! E-mail if you have questions, or just ask in a review, ok?
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A Matter of Trust, part 2
Kagome started with shock at his words. "Wha...what?"
He spat at her, "What's the matter, bitch? You deaf? I said I'll take the jewel now."
She didn't move. Her mind was reeling with sensory overload. She just stood there, transfixed.
His amber eyes glowed with evil, and his voice became a low growl, "What's wrong with you? Hand it over now, and you might live to tell about it." He snickered nastily, "Of course, it would be more fun for me to take it of your dead body!"
He was advancing on her, growing ever closer, and still, she did not move. Her insides were churning, her mind reeling, the images of Inuyasha pinned to the tree getting more and more intense. She finally covered her face with her hands, trying with all her strength to concentrate, to comprehend what was happening.
Just as "Inuyasha" lunged for her, she instinctively threw out a hand, hitting him midair squarely in the chest with a beam of pure white light, and knocking him backwards into a tree.
He lay, stunned on the ground and she stood staring, both stunned by the power she had just displayed. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head where it had hit the tree, 'Shit, that hurt! I thought that Kikyou bitch said she couldn't use her powers!'
Kagome recovered herself, and turned the full force of her anger on him, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM?" she screamed.
He stared at her, uncomprehending. Had the blow on his head done something to his hearing? "What have I done with who?" he sneered.
"INUYASHA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH INUYASHA?" the images were almost blinding her now. She had to get ahold of herself.
"Stupid bitch! Are you blind as well as deaf? Who do I look like? Shippou? Now give me the Jewel!" He was on his feet now, charging straight at her.
"I don't know who you are, but I know you've done something to Inuyasha. You and Kikyou! Now, WHERE IS HE?" she shrieked. Unfortunately for Inuyasha's double, Kagome was standing in front of a very large rock, and when he got to her, she sidestepped and he ran straight into it.
She snickered, "For one thing, Inuyasha is a lot smarter than you are!"
He was livid! Who the hell did this human think she was anyway? Obviously Kikyou had underestimated her, or else hadn't told him about her anyway. Kikyou had said she would be no trouble. That she had only survived this long because of Inuyasha's protection. Hah! She didn't even seem to be scared of him at all!
He got up staggering slightly, but by then, Kagome had her bow drawn with an arrow in place, and was aiming it at him. He stared at her, unsure of what to do next. He knew about those arrows. They could kill him instantly, or seal him forever. His job was to kill her, not be killed. After he made her believe that Inuyasha was betraying her. None of it seemed to be going well.
"Look, you stupid bitch! I am Inuyasha! See, the fangs, the hair, the claws that can and will slice you to ribbons if you don't give me the fucking jewel right now! I will use it to restore Kikyou and she will help me complete it. Why should I keep an inferior copy around when I can have her?" Fast as lightening, he swiped at her with his claws, knocking the bow to the side and causing her to drop the arrow. Seeing that he had effectively disarmed her, he made a lunge.
But his pounce found empty ground. Kagome might not be the strongest fighter, but years of dodging and evading Inuyasha in attempt to get through the well had taught her how to get out of the way of a flying body. She rolled to the side, and decided to use the time he stared disbelievingly at the ground to get some distance between them.
He had beads on like her Inuyasha, but would they work? And if she said the word, would it hurt her Inuyasha wherever he was? Oh, gods, where was he? Had Kikyou let that arrow fly? She headed for the river, knowing that if she had to dive in, the water would help to disguise her scent. What's a little cold when you're running for your life, and trying to save another?
She heard him coming and readied her bow again. He stopped when he saw her aiming at him. He was farther away this time, out of swiping distance. "Don't come any closer or I'll let it fly! Now, tell me what you've done with Inuyasha, or I'll turn you into a shish-kabob." She demanded with more bravado than she felt. In truth, she was scared, very scared. She had never faced down a demon alone without Inuyasha coming to her rescue, but if she believed those visions, it was her turn to be the hero.
He let out a string of obscenities, and finally spat at her, "You see me in front of you, you hear my voice. Why don't you believe that I'm Inu- ...me?"
"Oh, please! You're not even a good copy!" she snorted derisively.
He drew his sword out of it's sheath and pointed it at her, "Why, you little...I'll teach you to..."
She laughed. She couldn't help herself. "See, you don't even know that that sword, if it were Inuyasha's, wouldn't do a thing to harm me. BAKA! It can't cut paper! It only works to protect a human in danger!" she laughed a little more, then stopped abruptly. "Now tell me where Inuyasha is, or I let this thing fly!"
He was really pissed now. There is no way a weak human was going to beat him. A full blooded demon! Not a half-breed like the one he was impersonating! He held the sword in front of him, and said, "Of course I knew that. It might not cut you, but I can use it to keep you from hitting me with one of your arrows. And I could use it to beat you to death. Although that wouldn't be as much fun as slicing you and watching you bleed." He grinned menacingly at her.
"Oh, sure! Good recovery."
He was losing it now! Arrows be damned! He was going to kill this bitch, and it was going to feel good! He leapt into the air, over her head and landed on her, causing her to sprawl out on the ground, his hands pinning her arms and shoulders to the ground, his legs straddling her body, and his feet immobilizing her legs.
She struggled and yelled, "GET OFF ME, YOU PERVERT!" 'Now, what did they teach me to do in self-defense class when a guy is pinning you to the ground?' Unfortunately, her legs being pinned meant her knee wasn't free to hit him in his sensitive area. There was this one technique, though, if she could just distract him enough to throw him off balance...
"Now what are you going to do, you smart ass bitch? Looks like you've come to the end of the line. I'm going to slit your throat slowly, so you feel every inch of it. Although... you do have a pretty hot body. Maybe I'll have some fun with you first. You do want me, don't you?" He ground his pelvis into her.
His hot breath was on her neck, making her stomach churn with nausea. She opened her mouth and her lips formed a soundless word.
He put his head down closer to her mouth, "What's that? I didn't hear you."
With is ear down right next to her mouth, Kagome readied herself and let out a shriek, "NOOOOO!" If his ears were as sensitive as the real Inuyasha's, he would be in pain. Sure enough, he let go of her shoulders and covered his ears, howling with pain. She used the opportunity to roll him off her and scramble away. But he recovered too quickly, and grabbed onto her retreating legs, digging his claws in and pulling himself back on top of her. She screamed as the claws dug into her flesh, feeling the blood run down her thighs and onto the ground.
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When he heard Kagome yell, "INUYASHA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH INUYASHA?" Inuyasha smiled smugly at Kikyou. "Doesn't sound like your little ruse worked, does it. She doesn't believe it's me."
Kikyou turned away, lest he see the uncertainty on her face. She couldn't think what had gone wrong. He was the perfect likeness, and he had Inuyasha's voice and personality down to a tee. One thing was for sure ~ she had fully underestimated her reincarnate. In a bitter, derisive voice she said, "It would have been nice to send her to her death thinking you had betrayed her, but I assure you she won't be able to outrun him for long. You lose her either way."
"I thought you said this was only a test. You were wrong."
"I lied. And the fact that she doesn't believe it's you doesn't prove anything. He's just not as convincing a double as I thought he would be."
"Hah! You're reaching now! You were wrong." Inuyasha was almost enjoying himself now. Kagome seemed to have everything under control, and she was really pissing that pathetic demon off. If he weren't so scared for her, he would laugh. Especially when he heard a thud and she told the demon that he (the real Inuyasha) was much smarter than he was.
His bravado turned to terror, though, as he heard the demon knock Kagome to the ground and her scream. He began to struggle wildly again, desperately trying to reach one of the confining vines with his claws. "THAT'S ENOUGH, KIKYOU! LET ME GO! I SWEAR, YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
"Oh, and who's going to make me pay, Inuyasha? The great Inuyasha is once again helplessly held fast to a tree, and you might want to get comfortable. You're going to be here for a very long time."
They heard the voice of the demon, ""Now what are you going to do, you smart ass bitch? Looks like you've come to the end of the line. I'm going to slit your throat slowly, so you feel every inch of it. Although... you do have a pretty hot body. Maybe I'll have some fun with you first. You do want me, don't you?"
"YOU BASTARD! YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Inuyasha was going berserk. His blood was boiling, every nerve in his body was on fire. The only thing that kept him from completely losing sense and turning full youkai was the sword that still sat in it's sheath on his hip...
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"Look, you brainless, weak, useless mortal! What do I have to do to convince you that I have done nothing to Inuyasha because I am Inuyasha? I am taking the jewel because I don't need you anymore. If Kikyou had been with me the whole time, it would be complete by now!" The demon did not want to risk Kikyou's anger at his inability to convince this girl. Or... Naraku's. He knew if he failed, his life was as good as over.
"STOP!" she screamed. She hoped his ears were throbbing by now. Lifting her head as much as she could to get as close to them as possible, she again shrieked "YOU'RE NOT INUYASHA! YOU'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE! YOU'RE A WEAK, PATHETIC IMPOSTER!"
"STOP SHREIKING AT ME, BITCH!" he grabbed his ears, covering them with his hands.
Her hand darted out and reached for one of her arrows, which were pinned under he right shoulder. She found a shaft and pulled, wincing at the head scraping her shoulder blade. She readied the arrow to stab the demon perched on top of her, but was only able to tear his clothing before he leapt out of her reach. Still, he was off of her, and she scrambled to her feet, never taking her eyes off him. She was not about to be tackled again.
She faced off with him, breathing heavily, bow once again ready and aimed at her nemesis. She had had enough of him, and she had to find Inuyasha. Fully intending to shoot him this time, she first had something to get off her chest. She shouted hotly, "You really want to know why you're such a lousy imposter? I'll tell you! You may have his hair and his clothes, but you don't have his eyes. They might be the right color, but color doesn't mirror the soul. And the Tetsusiaga thing. You might have done your homework better. But do you know what really gave you away? Inuyasha, MY Inuyasha would never, ever, EVER hurt me. I know that with my heart and my very soul. And he knows that if he needed the jewel, he wouldn't have to demand it like some crazed barbarian! All he would have to do is ask." With that, she let her arrow fly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kikyou and the immobilized, half crazed hanyou stared into the distance at the words they had just heard. Positive confirmation that Kagome trusted her half dog demon with her whole being. But the words affected the two very differently.
Kikyou swore in a manner very unlike her living self. Inuyasha was right, and she hated him and Kagome for it. But, she thought bitterly, it will still end up the same for them. If that worthless demon couldn't finish off her reincarnate, she would do it herself. After she sealed Inuyasha once again. She turned to ready her weapon at the hanyou, but didn't expect the sight she was greeted with.
To Inuyasha though, hearing those words from Kagome sent a surge of strength through his body. "MY Inuyasha!" she had said. "I know that with my very heart and soul!" she declared. He felt renewed, energized. He could take on the world! He was once again the great Inuyasha, powerful and invincible. If he could only escape this damn tree!
Suddenly, he felt a small prick below his collar bone, and looked down to see Myouga refreshing himself with the hanyou's blood. "Nice of you to show up, just when I'm about to be put to sleep again! Get out of here and go help Kagome!"
"Master, if you would only clear your head, you would realize that you can call on Tetsusiaga, even without use of your hands!"
He blinked. Of course!
So, when Kikyou turned around, he was yelling, "Tetsusiaga!" The sword leapt from its scabbard into the air, made a graceful arc, and in a lightning flash, severed vines littered the ground and Inuyasha was free.
He took one leap and landed behind the miko, grabbing her bow and and flinging it into the distance. "I don't have time to deal with you right now, but I warn you, stay away from Kagome and from me. You lost your little bet. Now leave us alone."
Before she could respond, he had bounded off into the forest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Unfortunately for Kagome, with Inuyasha's form, the demon also had his speed and agility. So even if he had been slow to learn how to use them, he seemed to have finally adapted. Because of this, her arrow failed completely to pierce or even graze him.
Fortunately for her, before he could do anything to retaliate, the real Inuyasha came bounding out of the forest. He grabbed her around the waste, and in a flash, had set her up onto the cliff from which he had once watched her bathe on her first trip to Feudal Japan. "Stay here! Do you understand me? Stay here where it's safe! I have a huge score to settle with this guy!"
And before she could react, he was gone again. She watched as Inuyasha went after the demon, and saw the first blow he delivered. But after that, it became a little confusing. Actually, a lot confusing. Apparently, even if this guy hadn't done his homework, whoever had made his weapon had, because is too transformed when he pulled it from it's sheath. And the demon mirrored every move Inuyasha made, so he was becoming just as injured as his opponent. It soon became painfully apparent that Inuyasha was becoming frustrated
She had to do something to help! But what could she do? Telling the two apart wouldn't have been at all hard if they hadn't been moving so fast. Inuyasha was yelling threats and obscenities at the demon about how he would make him suffer for what he had done to Kagome. The demon was mainly laughing, which just made Inuyasha angrier. Kagome knew that a certain amount of anger was good, but too much would make him careless and would put him in danger. She raised her weapon, thinking that if she could just injure or distract the demon, Inuyasha might be able to get a clear shot at him.
But they were moving so fast, they appeared to be red streaks in the sky. She couldn't chance hitting Inuyasha instead his double. She just had to wish for moving targets earlier that day, didn't she? 'Be careful of what you wish for ~ you might get it!' she thought wryly.
But there had to be something to slow them down! She had to separate them enough to get a clear shot at the demon. But how could she do it?
The sun was beginning to drop to the horizon and the air was getting colder. It was worse at the top of the cliff where there was nothing to shelter her from the cold wind that had risen in the last few minutes. Seeking warmth, she pushed her hands into her pockets and tried to shrug further into her jacket. Suddenly, she frowned. She took one of her hands out of it's shelter and reached up to finger the jewel thoughtfully....Yes, this just might work!
~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha had been up against tougher demons than this one. This one didn't even have a shard. But it's very hard to fight and defeat someone who knows and uses every one of your own attacks, and knows how to duck everything you throw at him. He knew he had to stay focused and clear, and not to lose his head, but his tolerance was wearing very thin. The demon's maniacal laughter was really getting on his nerves. And he was getting tired. He'd used a lot of his energy trying to escape from that damn tree, after all.
Then he heard Kagome's voice ring out loud and clear, "Hey, you stupid demon!"
Both he and the demon stopped and looked over to see the girl standing precariously up on the cliff, holding something out over her head. The something dangled from a necklace with jagged, tooth-like beads and it shone and glimmered in the twilight sun.
Kagome continued, "Is this what you want? If I give it to you, will you go away and leave us alone? Then come and take it from me?"
The demon laughed. Ok, maybe he hadn't been able to do his job, but he could bring Kikyou the jewel and kill the girl in one sweep. That would please her. Or maybe he would just keep the jewel for himself. Yes, that would be better! Let Kikyou, or even Naraku mess with him when he has the jewel!
Inuyasha gaped at her. "KAGOME, YOU STUPID GIRL! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU..."
After that, everything happened very quickly. Both the demon and the hanyou shot off toward the girl on the cliff, but owing to the fact that Inuyasha paused to criticize Kagome, the demon had a slight head start and got there faster. He grabbed the jewel from the girl's hand and at the same time pushed her already unsteady body just enough to make her lose her balance and topple off the cliff, down toward the rocky bank below.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok, not much of a cliffhanger, really. I mean, if you think about it, you'll be able to figure out what happens next. Well, part of it anyway.
Sorry, no Kikyou-cide, no wiggling hanyou tush, not much fun. But hey, Inuyasha did escape, right? So not all bad. Now, click on that little box at the bottom of the screen and tell me what a schmuck I am. Go ahead!