High Voltage: Reviving the Thunder- Chapter 13: "Into the Lion's Den"
By Matoko Shizaki
Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise Inc. All of the characters have been made up by me except Kaede, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kiara, Myoga, Hiten, and Manten.
Notes: I finally finished the last chapter!!! YAY!!! THIS IS MY LONGEST RUNNING FIC EVER!!! WOOHOO!!! Thanks to people who have been reviewing one some of my fics such as:
Mayuka/May
DarkAngelRn
Cacat-angel
Chibi Washu
Animegirl3
Tikimoof
YamiBishounen and her sister
It's really appreciated! THANKS SO MUCH TO CACAT-ANGEL FOR THE SUGGESTION IN MY LAY OUT!!!!!! I HOPE THIS IS WHAT YOU MEANT!!! Peace out!
@~@~@~@~@
With a grunt, Hiten hoisted his pack onto his back. Manten stood behind him to help steady it.
"There. You got your balance?" Azaka asked from around the bulging pack. Hiten nodded and adjusted the Blade of Lightening which was pinned between him and his supplies.
"Yes. I could have done it without your help though." he replied gruffly.
"Sure…" Azaka replied sarcastically.
"Alright, now you need to slip into the fortress undetected and come back here once you have enough information." Inu-Yasha explained.
"You needn't tell me halfling. I know what to do." The half demon grunted.
"Fine." Everyone followed Hiten out of the inn room and into the road.
"The fortress is that way. If you keep a steady pace you should be there in a days." Kouga said.
"Very well. Good bye." Hiten started to ready his flying wheels but Aoi grabbed his wrist.
"Wait! Here…"
Aoi removed the cloth that tied back her hair, allowing it to flap freely in the breeze. She tied it around his wrist loosely and smiled.
"For good luck." Aoi explained. Hiten smiled.
"Thank you." Aoi stepped back as the flaming wheels lifted the thunder demon into the air.
"Good luck brother!" Manten cried. Hiten waved as he disappeared off into the trees.
A small chuckle rose in Aoi's throat as she watched Kagome scurry around picking up her belongings.
"What are you doing Kagome?" she asked at last.
"Packing up. I plan to go home today." the raven haired girl clarified.
Aoi nodded slowly as Inu-Yasha looked up from lounging about on the floor.
"Wait a second! You can't go back alone!" he cried.
"Then I'll go with her." Aoi exclaimed. Inu-Yasha sat on the floor glaring up at Aoi, angry that he now had no excuse not to let Kagome go.
"Thank you Aoi." Kagome mused. Inu-Yasha was quicker then the two girls though. Soon he had spread the entire length of his body across the doorway.
"There is no way I'm letting you go today girl!" Inu-Yasha yelled.
Kagome sighed before issuing her famous command.
"SIT BOY!" As they left, the girls stepped over the unlucky half demon muttered their good byes.
White fur rippled in the wind, brushing up against Aoi's bare flesh. It was soothing yet nerve racking at the same time. Gathering up her courage, Aoi looked over Kiara's side onto the fields below. The workers were only dots to her. The girl yelped and looked back up at Kagome.
"Kagome, are you sure this is safe?" she asked. Kagome looked over her shoulder.
"Yeah! Kiara is much faster then we are on foot!" the girl replied.
Aoi nodded, still not sure whether or not to trust Kagome's word. There was silence for a little while, only the sound of wind whipping past their faces.
"Aoi, how old are you?" Kagome asked, trying to make small talk.
"Well… I was 13 when I met you and that was 5 years ago so I'm 18. That would make you 20." Aoi replied. Kagome nodded, digesting the information. Suddenly she began to laugh.
"I feel so old now!" Kagome said between laughs. Aoi couldn't help but laugh too.
Clinging desperately to Kiara's fur, Aoi prayed that she would not fall off when the demon cat landed. She shuddered as the cat's paw touched down kicking up all sorts of dust. Coughing, Aoi clambered off the once air born cat and smiled. 'I'm not dead!' she thought gleefully. Kagome jumped off landing along side of her and patted Kiara on the head.
"Thanks Kiara!" she mused. Meanwhile, Aoi couldn't divert her gaze from the bottom of the well.
"So this is how you get back to your time." she muttered. Kagome nodded.
"It's an interesting trip to say the least." the black haired girl said with a laugh. Suddenly, Kagome looked up.
"What is it Kagome?" Aoi asked walking in front of the girl.
"I sense a shard of the jewel." Kagome whispered. Aoi turned around and tensed up, throwing her hands out in front of her just in time to grab the arrow that was aimed at her head.
"We're under attack. Toriyama's men no doubt." Aoi growled.
"They must've followed us from the village!" Kagome gasped. Without warning, there was a glint of light and Aoi wheeled back into Kagome. Kagome suddenly found herself squished between to companion and the well, the scent of the jewel still very prevalent.
"Damn! It broke through the armor on my knee!" Aoi hissed grasping her trick knees. "Get down!" Kagome cried as another arrow emerged from the forest. Grabbing Aoi, Kagome dragged her into the well and the two girls disappeared into the depth of the River of Time.
Inaudible against the background of the swiftly moving window, a few rocks tumbled down the side of the hill. Laying on his stomach at the top was Hiten, surveying the area. 'Only two guards. They'll be easy.' Hiten thought with a grin reflecting the blood lust he had not experienced for so long. Amongst the towering pillars of rock, Hiten had a clear view of Toriyama's fortress. Blood red banners fluttered from the walls near where the sentries stood their posts.
"A little lightening… yes, that should be more then enough to do them in…" Hiten snickered clenching his fist as the sky rumbled with thunder and was broken by lightening.
Darkness was flooded by light as Aoi opened her eyes. "W-Where are we?" she mumbled. 'That's right! We fell into the Bone Eater's Well!' Aoi gasped.
"Kagome, where are you?" she cried. There was a muffled wheeze.
"Under… you…" Kagome grumbled. Aoi jumped up like she had sat on a tack and bowed.
"I'm so sorry Kagome!" Aoi mused. Kagome stood up and rubbed her sore bottom.
"It's okay Aoi." Both girls looked up the well's shaft into the light.
"S-Sis?!" Souta stammered as he leaned farther over the edge of the well.
"Hi Souta!" Kagome replied. "Can you get the ladder?"
Souta sat down his old, fat cat, Buyo and nodded. "Where is it?"
Kagome pointed up. "In the corner by the door!"
Souta's face disappeared and seconds later there was the exclaimation of, "I found it!"
Aoi blinked, adjusting to the bright surroundings. "Is that your little brother Kagome?" she asked.
"Yes," Kagome said grabbing the ladder that was lowered down to her. "That's Souta." She ascended a few steps and motioned to Aoi to follow.
Aoi muttered a small, "Hai!" and followed obediently.
Everything was new to the warrior. Before her sat a smile, traditional shrine, a small garden next to it. Off in the distance, she could see the huge tree that Kagome had found Inu-Yasha pinned to. Standing on the front steps of the shrine was a little old man leaning heavily on his cane. His bright eyes noted Kagome's presences and a smile pushed back his wrinkles.
"Kagome my girl! Finally you're home." he exclaimed shuffling over to the three.
"I was running out of excuses for your friends and the college…" he added in a muttered. Kagome sighed and accepted her grandfather's hug.
"Grandpa, you really have to stop it with those outlandish excuses of yours." Kagome groaned. Her grandfather laughed.
"I've kept it a secret all these five years! I'd say that's pretty good for an old man like me." He chuckled again. "Now, who's your friend?" the old man asked laying both hands on the top of his cane.
"This is Aoi." Kagome said finally gesturing to Aoi. Aoi gulped and bowed, remembering her manners.
"It's an honor to meet you sir!" Aoi cried. Grandpa Higurashi smiled knowingly and tapped his cane on the tile courtyard.
"So, lass, you're from the Sengoku- Jidai?"
Aoi nodded. "Yes sir."
The old man patted Aoi on the shoulder. "Then if you're a friend of Kagome's you're quiet welcome here."
In the kitchen stood an older looking woman, younger then Kagome's grandfather but gray haired nonetheless. She had just donned an apron around her waist and was busying herself with the pots on the stove. Wonderful aromas of cookies, herbs, and spices wafted into Aoi's nose making her sigh and forget the slight tinge of pain in her left knee.
Souta brushed up against her side, between her and Aoi. He looked up at her and smiled before setting the cat down again. Kagome dropped her bag on the floor as she and the others removed their shoes.
"Hi Mom! I'm back!"
The woman looked up from glancing in her cook book that was propped up against the wall and beamed. "Oh Kagome! Thank goodness! We were getting worried."
Kagome accepted her mother's warm hug. "Mom, this is Aoi. She's one of my friends."
Mrs. Higurashi blinked and removed her glasses as she looked over Aoi with stinging curiosity. "Is this the one you were talking about that revived those two demons?" she asked. Kagome nodded as Aoi bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."
Her greeting was received warmly. "It's wonderful to meet you too!" Aoi tried to smile back up ended up slumping down to grab her sore knee.
"Oh, you're hurt dear! Kagome, why don't you take her upstairs and get cleaned up." Kagome nodded and ushered Aoi up stairs to the bathroom.
Stepping over the charred bodies of the sentries, Hiten slunk into the dark foreboding hallway of the citadel. Moss and moisture stuck to the wooden structure that clearly used to be the fortress of a human warlord. The hallway was suddenly flooded with light causing Hiten's pupils to contract. Voices started up.
"What are the lord's plans?"
"How should I know halfwit?"
"Shut up! I's no idiot!"
"So, you ain't huh?"
Hiten rolled his eyes the guards turned a corner. He held his breath and flattened against the wall as the came, still arguing. That's when Hiten smirked, formulating a plan in his mind. Sneaking up behind the unsuspecting guards, he seized them both by the neck. With a twist of his wrists, he broke their frail human necks and dropped them. Grinning with glee of his plan, Hiten undress one of the guards and adorned himself in the thick armor.
"So, do I look stupid enough to be a guard?" he mused to himself. Another group of guards came marching down the hallway and Hiten followed behind them, blending in. 'If I follow them, they should lead me to Toriyama! Then I'll kill the bastard!' Hiten said, beginning to forget his true objectives, his revenge the only thing on his mind. 'I'm coming for you, Toriyama you rat bastard.'
"Ouch! That stings!" Aoi hissed as Kagome dabbed her knee with alcohol. Kagome applied more of the substance and ignored Aoi's whimpers.
"Hm… it doesn't look like it was even a deep cut. Only a surface gash." Kagome mumbled to herself.
"I'm telling you, something buried itself in my skin!" Aoi cried. Kagome shook her head and bandaged the wound.
"There's nothing there Aoi." Kagome reassured the girl. Aoi snorted and got up off the toilet where she was sitting. Suddenly, her stomach began growling. She smiled sheepishly and turned to Kagome.
"Uh, is there anything to eat?" she asked. Kagome smirked and led Aoi from the bathroom to her bed room. Once there, she rummaged through her dresser.
Aoi blinked in the dim light, examining the overly tidy room. The bed was made and looked like it hadn't be used in a while. On the desk was a row of books, mostly study guides and dictionaries with a few magazines and shojo mangas thrown in. Next to the laptop that was in the center of the desk was a picture of Kagome and Inu-Yasha taken outside the shrine. Aoi fiddled idly with the switch on the lamp, marveling as it turned on and off.
"Ah ha!"
Kagome stood up and tossed Aoi a bundle of clothes. The girl examined them curiously.
"What are these for?" Aoi asked eying the bell bottom jeans strangely. Kagome giggled.
"They're clothes. You need to change into them if we're going out for lunch."
A few minutes later Aoi emerged from the bathroom holding her old clothes and armor. She was wearing low cut bell bottoms that exposed her stomach and a red belly shirt. She still had on the necklace Hiten had given her. Now, her hair was still in a brown pony tail but it was forced out the back of the backwards, red baseball cap that Aoi had donned.
"This is… odd…" she muttered.
"Don't worry," Kagome said chuckling. "We can buy you some more clothes later." She paused. "You may be here a little while because I don't know when we'll be going back."
Aoi's eyes widened. "What do you mean Kagome?"
"We can't get back without the Shikon no Tama and I left my piece of the shard with Inu-Yasha." 'But then how did we get here…?' Kagome asked herself. Suddenly, she noticed something she hadn't before. "Why didn't I see it before?!" Kagome cried, ecstatic. She circled Aoi, looking her over.
"See what?" Aoi asked watching as Kagome paced around her.
"You have a shard of the jewel buried in your neck. That's why only your incantation could resurrect Hiten and Manten. And you know the thing that buried itself into your knee?" Aoi nodded cautiously. "That is another shard! It must had cured your bad knee."
Aoi bent her knee several times and smiled. "That would explain a lot." she exclaimed. It was strange. She did feeling stronger and faster then before. "So," Aoi said, diverting her attention back to Kagome. "Where are we going for lunch?"
No longer was the skyline flooded by clouds and birds, but now in modern Tokyo, they shared their place with skyscrapers and planes as well. Aoi just kept walking forward, never looking down at where she was going. Kagome suddenly grabbed the back of her shirt and yanked her back from the busy, traffic laden street.
"You've got to be more careful Aoi!" Kagome exclaimed. Aoi nodded slowly but didn't look over her shoulder at the girl.
"This is so amazing! So what do we do now that we've had lunch?" she suddenly exclaimed. Her eyes darted from one place to another. Shops, carts, cars, parks, schools. It was all so new to her.
"How about shopping?!" Kagome cried whipping out her credit card. Aoi marveled at the shiny piece of plastic and nodded.
The line came to a halt and Hiten bumped into the person in front of him.
"Attention men! There is one among us that is an imposter." the head guard exclaimed. Whispers spread down the line. Hiten stiffened up a little. 'Damn, they've found me out…' Hiten thought. He could feel the Blade of Lightening that had been shoved between his normal clothes and the armor he stole from the guard. With one swift jerk, he pulled it out, slicing apart several of the guards in front of him.
"Sound the alarm!" The head guard screamed. His order was cut short as a blade ran him through. As the remaining guards (if there were any at all) scattered, Hiten allowed the limp corpse to slide off of his weapon.
"Weaklings…" he muttered kicking one that he had beheaded. Suddenly, he could hear foot steps coming down the right hall. Desperately, Hiten turned down the left hall… only to run right into someone.
He felt as if all energy he once had had drained from his body as the person whipped behind him and placed a katana to his throat.
"So nice to see you again Hiten…" the person half hissed, half laughed.
"You bastard Toriyama! I'm going to kick your ass as soon as you stop getting cheap strength from those damn jewel shards of yours!" Hiten roared.
Toriyama clicked his tongue sorrowfully. "You should have quick while you were ahead my friend…" he laughed.
@~@~@~@~@
Hehehe. Suspense! Sorry it took me so long to write this! I've bee wicked lazy. (Once more, wicked is a proof of my residence in MA. LOL!) Now… ::drum roll:: I have some things to advertise!
1. Writer: animegirl3
This is my friend (onee-chan!) named Mei who does a lot of really good fics. She never gets noticed though. If you have a chance, read some of her stuff. I promise you won't be disappointed! Do it and I'll give you a cookie!
2. Fan fic: Distant Thunder
Another Hiten ficcy! This was super and I'm sorry it's over. If you like this story, you'll read this and think you've died and gone to heaven!
By Matoko Shizaki
Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise Inc. All of the characters have been made up by me except Kaede, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kiara, Myoga, Hiten, and Manten.
Notes: I finally finished the last chapter!!! YAY!!! THIS IS MY LONGEST RUNNING FIC EVER!!! WOOHOO!!! Thanks to people who have been reviewing one some of my fics such as:
Mayuka/May
DarkAngelRn
Cacat-angel
Chibi Washu
Animegirl3
Tikimoof
YamiBishounen and her sister
It's really appreciated! THANKS SO MUCH TO CACAT-ANGEL FOR THE SUGGESTION IN MY LAY OUT!!!!!! I HOPE THIS IS WHAT YOU MEANT!!! Peace out!
@~@~@~@~@
With a grunt, Hiten hoisted his pack onto his back. Manten stood behind him to help steady it.
"There. You got your balance?" Azaka asked from around the bulging pack. Hiten nodded and adjusted the Blade of Lightening which was pinned between him and his supplies.
"Yes. I could have done it without your help though." he replied gruffly.
"Sure…" Azaka replied sarcastically.
"Alright, now you need to slip into the fortress undetected and come back here once you have enough information." Inu-Yasha explained.
"You needn't tell me halfling. I know what to do." The half demon grunted.
"Fine." Everyone followed Hiten out of the inn room and into the road.
"The fortress is that way. If you keep a steady pace you should be there in a days." Kouga said.
"Very well. Good bye." Hiten started to ready his flying wheels but Aoi grabbed his wrist.
"Wait! Here…"
Aoi removed the cloth that tied back her hair, allowing it to flap freely in the breeze. She tied it around his wrist loosely and smiled.
"For good luck." Aoi explained. Hiten smiled.
"Thank you." Aoi stepped back as the flaming wheels lifted the thunder demon into the air.
"Good luck brother!" Manten cried. Hiten waved as he disappeared off into the trees.
A small chuckle rose in Aoi's throat as she watched Kagome scurry around picking up her belongings.
"What are you doing Kagome?" she asked at last.
"Packing up. I plan to go home today." the raven haired girl clarified.
Aoi nodded slowly as Inu-Yasha looked up from lounging about on the floor.
"Wait a second! You can't go back alone!" he cried.
"Then I'll go with her." Aoi exclaimed. Inu-Yasha sat on the floor glaring up at Aoi, angry that he now had no excuse not to let Kagome go.
"Thank you Aoi." Kagome mused. Inu-Yasha was quicker then the two girls though. Soon he had spread the entire length of his body across the doorway.
"There is no way I'm letting you go today girl!" Inu-Yasha yelled.
Kagome sighed before issuing her famous command.
"SIT BOY!" As they left, the girls stepped over the unlucky half demon muttered their good byes.
White fur rippled in the wind, brushing up against Aoi's bare flesh. It was soothing yet nerve racking at the same time. Gathering up her courage, Aoi looked over Kiara's side onto the fields below. The workers were only dots to her. The girl yelped and looked back up at Kagome.
"Kagome, are you sure this is safe?" she asked. Kagome looked over her shoulder.
"Yeah! Kiara is much faster then we are on foot!" the girl replied.
Aoi nodded, still not sure whether or not to trust Kagome's word. There was silence for a little while, only the sound of wind whipping past their faces.
"Aoi, how old are you?" Kagome asked, trying to make small talk.
"Well… I was 13 when I met you and that was 5 years ago so I'm 18. That would make you 20." Aoi replied. Kagome nodded, digesting the information. Suddenly she began to laugh.
"I feel so old now!" Kagome said between laughs. Aoi couldn't help but laugh too.
Clinging desperately to Kiara's fur, Aoi prayed that she would not fall off when the demon cat landed. She shuddered as the cat's paw touched down kicking up all sorts of dust. Coughing, Aoi clambered off the once air born cat and smiled. 'I'm not dead!' she thought gleefully. Kagome jumped off landing along side of her and patted Kiara on the head.
"Thanks Kiara!" she mused. Meanwhile, Aoi couldn't divert her gaze from the bottom of the well.
"So this is how you get back to your time." she muttered. Kagome nodded.
"It's an interesting trip to say the least." the black haired girl said with a laugh. Suddenly, Kagome looked up.
"What is it Kagome?" Aoi asked walking in front of the girl.
"I sense a shard of the jewel." Kagome whispered. Aoi turned around and tensed up, throwing her hands out in front of her just in time to grab the arrow that was aimed at her head.
"We're under attack. Toriyama's men no doubt." Aoi growled.
"They must've followed us from the village!" Kagome gasped. Without warning, there was a glint of light and Aoi wheeled back into Kagome. Kagome suddenly found herself squished between to companion and the well, the scent of the jewel still very prevalent.
"Damn! It broke through the armor on my knee!" Aoi hissed grasping her trick knees. "Get down!" Kagome cried as another arrow emerged from the forest. Grabbing Aoi, Kagome dragged her into the well and the two girls disappeared into the depth of the River of Time.
Inaudible against the background of the swiftly moving window, a few rocks tumbled down the side of the hill. Laying on his stomach at the top was Hiten, surveying the area. 'Only two guards. They'll be easy.' Hiten thought with a grin reflecting the blood lust he had not experienced for so long. Amongst the towering pillars of rock, Hiten had a clear view of Toriyama's fortress. Blood red banners fluttered from the walls near where the sentries stood their posts.
"A little lightening… yes, that should be more then enough to do them in…" Hiten snickered clenching his fist as the sky rumbled with thunder and was broken by lightening.
Darkness was flooded by light as Aoi opened her eyes. "W-Where are we?" she mumbled. 'That's right! We fell into the Bone Eater's Well!' Aoi gasped.
"Kagome, where are you?" she cried. There was a muffled wheeze.
"Under… you…" Kagome grumbled. Aoi jumped up like she had sat on a tack and bowed.
"I'm so sorry Kagome!" Aoi mused. Kagome stood up and rubbed her sore bottom.
"It's okay Aoi." Both girls looked up the well's shaft into the light.
"S-Sis?!" Souta stammered as he leaned farther over the edge of the well.
"Hi Souta!" Kagome replied. "Can you get the ladder?"
Souta sat down his old, fat cat, Buyo and nodded. "Where is it?"
Kagome pointed up. "In the corner by the door!"
Souta's face disappeared and seconds later there was the exclaimation of, "I found it!"
Aoi blinked, adjusting to the bright surroundings. "Is that your little brother Kagome?" she asked.
"Yes," Kagome said grabbing the ladder that was lowered down to her. "That's Souta." She ascended a few steps and motioned to Aoi to follow.
Aoi muttered a small, "Hai!" and followed obediently.
Everything was new to the warrior. Before her sat a smile, traditional shrine, a small garden next to it. Off in the distance, she could see the huge tree that Kagome had found Inu-Yasha pinned to. Standing on the front steps of the shrine was a little old man leaning heavily on his cane. His bright eyes noted Kagome's presences and a smile pushed back his wrinkles.
"Kagome my girl! Finally you're home." he exclaimed shuffling over to the three.
"I was running out of excuses for your friends and the college…" he added in a muttered. Kagome sighed and accepted her grandfather's hug.
"Grandpa, you really have to stop it with those outlandish excuses of yours." Kagome groaned. Her grandfather laughed.
"I've kept it a secret all these five years! I'd say that's pretty good for an old man like me." He chuckled again. "Now, who's your friend?" the old man asked laying both hands on the top of his cane.
"This is Aoi." Kagome said finally gesturing to Aoi. Aoi gulped and bowed, remembering her manners.
"It's an honor to meet you sir!" Aoi cried. Grandpa Higurashi smiled knowingly and tapped his cane on the tile courtyard.
"So, lass, you're from the Sengoku- Jidai?"
Aoi nodded. "Yes sir."
The old man patted Aoi on the shoulder. "Then if you're a friend of Kagome's you're quiet welcome here."
In the kitchen stood an older looking woman, younger then Kagome's grandfather but gray haired nonetheless. She had just donned an apron around her waist and was busying herself with the pots on the stove. Wonderful aromas of cookies, herbs, and spices wafted into Aoi's nose making her sigh and forget the slight tinge of pain in her left knee.
Souta brushed up against her side, between her and Aoi. He looked up at her and smiled before setting the cat down again. Kagome dropped her bag on the floor as she and the others removed their shoes.
"Hi Mom! I'm back!"
The woman looked up from glancing in her cook book that was propped up against the wall and beamed. "Oh Kagome! Thank goodness! We were getting worried."
Kagome accepted her mother's warm hug. "Mom, this is Aoi. She's one of my friends."
Mrs. Higurashi blinked and removed her glasses as she looked over Aoi with stinging curiosity. "Is this the one you were talking about that revived those two demons?" she asked. Kagome nodded as Aoi bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."
Her greeting was received warmly. "It's wonderful to meet you too!" Aoi tried to smile back up ended up slumping down to grab her sore knee.
"Oh, you're hurt dear! Kagome, why don't you take her upstairs and get cleaned up." Kagome nodded and ushered Aoi up stairs to the bathroom.
Stepping over the charred bodies of the sentries, Hiten slunk into the dark foreboding hallway of the citadel. Moss and moisture stuck to the wooden structure that clearly used to be the fortress of a human warlord. The hallway was suddenly flooded with light causing Hiten's pupils to contract. Voices started up.
"What are the lord's plans?"
"How should I know halfwit?"
"Shut up! I's no idiot!"
"So, you ain't huh?"
Hiten rolled his eyes the guards turned a corner. He held his breath and flattened against the wall as the came, still arguing. That's when Hiten smirked, formulating a plan in his mind. Sneaking up behind the unsuspecting guards, he seized them both by the neck. With a twist of his wrists, he broke their frail human necks and dropped them. Grinning with glee of his plan, Hiten undress one of the guards and adorned himself in the thick armor.
"So, do I look stupid enough to be a guard?" he mused to himself. Another group of guards came marching down the hallway and Hiten followed behind them, blending in. 'If I follow them, they should lead me to Toriyama! Then I'll kill the bastard!' Hiten said, beginning to forget his true objectives, his revenge the only thing on his mind. 'I'm coming for you, Toriyama you rat bastard.'
"Ouch! That stings!" Aoi hissed as Kagome dabbed her knee with alcohol. Kagome applied more of the substance and ignored Aoi's whimpers.
"Hm… it doesn't look like it was even a deep cut. Only a surface gash." Kagome mumbled to herself.
"I'm telling you, something buried itself in my skin!" Aoi cried. Kagome shook her head and bandaged the wound.
"There's nothing there Aoi." Kagome reassured the girl. Aoi snorted and got up off the toilet where she was sitting. Suddenly, her stomach began growling. She smiled sheepishly and turned to Kagome.
"Uh, is there anything to eat?" she asked. Kagome smirked and led Aoi from the bathroom to her bed room. Once there, she rummaged through her dresser.
Aoi blinked in the dim light, examining the overly tidy room. The bed was made and looked like it hadn't be used in a while. On the desk was a row of books, mostly study guides and dictionaries with a few magazines and shojo mangas thrown in. Next to the laptop that was in the center of the desk was a picture of Kagome and Inu-Yasha taken outside the shrine. Aoi fiddled idly with the switch on the lamp, marveling as it turned on and off.
"Ah ha!"
Kagome stood up and tossed Aoi a bundle of clothes. The girl examined them curiously.
"What are these for?" Aoi asked eying the bell bottom jeans strangely. Kagome giggled.
"They're clothes. You need to change into them if we're going out for lunch."
A few minutes later Aoi emerged from the bathroom holding her old clothes and armor. She was wearing low cut bell bottoms that exposed her stomach and a red belly shirt. She still had on the necklace Hiten had given her. Now, her hair was still in a brown pony tail but it was forced out the back of the backwards, red baseball cap that Aoi had donned.
"This is… odd…" she muttered.
"Don't worry," Kagome said chuckling. "We can buy you some more clothes later." She paused. "You may be here a little while because I don't know when we'll be going back."
Aoi's eyes widened. "What do you mean Kagome?"
"We can't get back without the Shikon no Tama and I left my piece of the shard with Inu-Yasha." 'But then how did we get here…?' Kagome asked herself. Suddenly, she noticed something she hadn't before. "Why didn't I see it before?!" Kagome cried, ecstatic. She circled Aoi, looking her over.
"See what?" Aoi asked watching as Kagome paced around her.
"You have a shard of the jewel buried in your neck. That's why only your incantation could resurrect Hiten and Manten. And you know the thing that buried itself into your knee?" Aoi nodded cautiously. "That is another shard! It must had cured your bad knee."
Aoi bent her knee several times and smiled. "That would explain a lot." she exclaimed. It was strange. She did feeling stronger and faster then before. "So," Aoi said, diverting her attention back to Kagome. "Where are we going for lunch?"
No longer was the skyline flooded by clouds and birds, but now in modern Tokyo, they shared their place with skyscrapers and planes as well. Aoi just kept walking forward, never looking down at where she was going. Kagome suddenly grabbed the back of her shirt and yanked her back from the busy, traffic laden street.
"You've got to be more careful Aoi!" Kagome exclaimed. Aoi nodded slowly but didn't look over her shoulder at the girl.
"This is so amazing! So what do we do now that we've had lunch?" she suddenly exclaimed. Her eyes darted from one place to another. Shops, carts, cars, parks, schools. It was all so new to her.
"How about shopping?!" Kagome cried whipping out her credit card. Aoi marveled at the shiny piece of plastic and nodded.
The line came to a halt and Hiten bumped into the person in front of him.
"Attention men! There is one among us that is an imposter." the head guard exclaimed. Whispers spread down the line. Hiten stiffened up a little. 'Damn, they've found me out…' Hiten thought. He could feel the Blade of Lightening that had been shoved between his normal clothes and the armor he stole from the guard. With one swift jerk, he pulled it out, slicing apart several of the guards in front of him.
"Sound the alarm!" The head guard screamed. His order was cut short as a blade ran him through. As the remaining guards (if there were any at all) scattered, Hiten allowed the limp corpse to slide off of his weapon.
"Weaklings…" he muttered kicking one that he had beheaded. Suddenly, he could hear foot steps coming down the right hall. Desperately, Hiten turned down the left hall… only to run right into someone.
He felt as if all energy he once had had drained from his body as the person whipped behind him and placed a katana to his throat.
"So nice to see you again Hiten…" the person half hissed, half laughed.
"You bastard Toriyama! I'm going to kick your ass as soon as you stop getting cheap strength from those damn jewel shards of yours!" Hiten roared.
Toriyama clicked his tongue sorrowfully. "You should have quick while you were ahead my friend…" he laughed.
@~@~@~@~@
Hehehe. Suspense! Sorry it took me so long to write this! I've bee wicked lazy. (Once more, wicked is a proof of my residence in MA. LOL!) Now… ::drum roll:: I have some things to advertise!
1. Writer: animegirl3
This is my friend (onee-chan!) named Mei who does a lot of really good fics. She never gets noticed though. If you have a chance, read some of her stuff. I promise you won't be disappointed! Do it and I'll give you a cookie!
2. Fan fic: Distant Thunder
Another Hiten ficcy! This was super and I'm sorry it's over. If you like this story, you'll read this and think you've died and gone to heaven!
