Disclaimer: (slc) I hate this. I never get to update! I'm really sorry to
everyone out there, my life's been hell lately. -_-;; Anyway, in March,
I'll be updating a lot. And hopefully, I'll update a few chapters this
weekend (since it's long) ^_^
Um . . . alright then!
Chapter: 6
Surprises
~*~
"Bastard . . ."
"Pest."
"Pest?! What kind of a come-back is 'pest'?!"
"A very good one, if it's describing someone of the sort!"
"YOU MAKE *NO* SENSE!!"
"YOU *HAVE* NO SENSE!!"
"Why I outta-!!"
"CUT IT OUT, BOTH OF YOU!!!!"
Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru turned to an eye-twitching Ria.
"Both of you are the *worst* arguers I've ever met!!! You never GIVE UP!!!"
Inu-Yasha's face sunk into his neck with a tired look upon it. "Your point?" he muttered half-heartedly.
Ria started to shake with anger as she took one step forward toward Inu- Yasha. She stopped herself before reaching five feet's length. She turned around back to leading them down the path furiously.
A soft count of one to ten could be heard mumbling from her lips.
* * *
"Your never going to be able to fight if you act like children and despise each other." Juliana muttered, her head resting on her knee.
"I'd gladly tear him to pieces," Sango loudly said, teeth clenched, rising up to face Koga with her boomerang hanging along her back.
Koga laughed, still sitting on the ground. "Like you'd be able to even throw that thing."
"At least I have something deadly enough. What do you have?"
"A Tanto on my ba-"
"HA! Like a Tanto could stand up to my Boomerang!"
"The thing is, a large boomerang isn't very attractive. And cutting someone off of speaking is also very un-ladylike." Koga said shrugging his arms.
"Why you little-"
"AH! Stop it! Right there! That anger! That hatred toward one another! Use it to control your weapons and defeat your opponent! GO!" Juliana shouted with a glow of accomplishment.
If this were anime, they'd both have sweat-dropped.
"Uh . . ." They said in unison.
Sango chuckled. "I'd gladly use all my anger toward him. If it means he's killed, than no restrictions there!"
"If your fighting styles are as bad as your threats, I see no reason to fight you." Koga humored. He was waiting for Sango to explode-
. . .
It worked.
. . .
"TAJIYATORI-!!" Sango screamed as the boomerang left her hand and flew across the clearing at a very amused Koga.
He dodged and un-sheathed his tanto, lunging at Sango.
The large weapon came spinning back as Sango caught it and held it like a 'v' in front of Koga to block the tanto's blow.
Koga was striking over and over again at Sango's weakening body. The miniature blade wasn't blasting her, but her boomerang was sure getting a beating as she was being pushed backward.
'No more nice!' Sango thought quickly as she ducked to the ground and swiped her leg toward Koga's ankles.
The blast caused Koga to fall forward toward Sango. She placed her boomerang on the ground and used it to balance herself as she backwards kicked Koga in the face sending him back to the ground the other way.
Lucky for him, his hand grabbed onto a thin stone and did a back flip onto the ground, planting his feet firmly.
They both stood watching each other, panting.
'I *really* do loathe him-' Sango thought before getting cut off by a soft clap from the sidelines.
Juliana was clapping slowly with a single tear running down her face.
"That was . . . possibly . . . the best extermination fight I've seen in years! You both did wonderfully. Oh . . . please excuse me . . ." She said turning around and wiping her eyes with her sleeve, still smiling.
The two teenagers held their mouths open slightly.
Sango and Koga exchanged glances.
At least there was one odd 'thing' they could agree on . . .
* * *
'Isn't she the silent one?' Monigue thought as she walked through the woods, leading Kagome and Kikyo to the archery range. Kikyo held a blank face and an emotionless posture.
Monigue chuckled.
'We'll change that soon enough . . .'
Kagome was lost in her own thoughts as she walked in between Kikyo and Monigue.
She was fidgeting with her thumb nail using one hand.
She did that when she was curious about something.
'Kikyo . . . and Inu-Yasha . . . what happened, I wonder . . .' She thought. Her eyes widened and then shut violently. 'Why would I care about the mute and the mut?!' she thought.
She had thought briefly if what she had just told herself was rude-
But ignored it.
"We're here." Monigue said almost in a malevolent whisper.
Kikyo flicked her head in irritation at Monigue and then examined the range.
Kagome did the same.
. . .
!
It was-
Huge!
"This is-" Kagome started before being cut off.
"-Pathetic." Kikyo finished softly.
Kagome blinked back. "How is this pathetic?! It's huge!"
"Judging by the grounds soft earth, it's been pierced many times by arrows. And yet it's only three-hundred yards long."
'Only?!' Kagome thought. She was afraid to start a fight with the girl.
Her eyes-
Her eyes were so cold-
How could Inu-
!!!
'Stop thinking about him!!' Kagome tried to brand in her head.
"You done arguing?" Monigue said rubbing her neck in frustration.
Kagome nodded. Kikyo huffed sardonically.
"Good. Take your positions at the posts. We'll get started."
They did as obeyed.
. . .
Kagome was waiting for something to happen . . .
Monigue broke the silence. "Get into ready stance!"
Kikyo did so, giving off perfect form as she held her bow.
Kagome did the same, she was trembling a bit which threw off her concentration, but she was just as good.
But something caught Kagome's eye-
. . .
!
"Um, Monigue?" Kagome stuttered softly, lowering her bow. "Where are the targets?"
Monigue let out a cackle.
Kagome raised a mental eyebrow.
Monigue breathed in deep before talking. "See those trees across the field?"
Kagome turned to observe- they were there alright.
Kikyo never moved from her aiming position.
"Yes . . ." Kagome said impatiently.
"Those *are* your targets!"
Kagome's eyes widened as Kikyo's narrowed.
"T-t-that far away?!" Kagome blurted.
Monigue stopped laughing. "Hell yes!"
Kagome sighed and resumed her aiming position.
Monigue held her hand up high as to signal a 'wait for my command' gesture. Then she spoke with an unusually large grin on her face.
"Kikyo . . . who do you loathe most in your life?"
Kikyo averted her gaze toward the grinning archer. "Why is it of your concern?"
"I want you to place an image of that person in one of the trees. Imagine yourself killing them. Piercing them. Making them bleed-"
Kagome blinked. 'I didn't know Monigue was *that* violent-' she thought.
Kikyo gave a soft 'keh' sound.
Monigue cocked her head. "Well? Who is it? Who do you most loathe?"
Her eyes shot open. "Inu-Yasha . . ." she whispered without hesitation.
Kagome sucked in a breath.
"And why do you hate Inu-Yasha, Kikyo?"
She let down her bow and faced Monigue with a fiery glare. "Never use both our names in the same sentence!! It's a crime against all laws!!"
Monigue and Kagome blinked at the same time. "Why do you hate him Kikyo?" Monigue persisted.
"BECAUSE HE DESTROYED MY HEART!!! That's why!!" She boomed.
Kagome stepped back, cracking a twig. 'I need to know more-' "K-k-Kikyo-"
"What?!" She screamed raising her bow once more toward the trees. The look on her face was indicating that she was trying to plant his face on one of tall branches.
"What did he do to you?" Kagome whispered taking another step forward. She didn't care about archery at the moment.
"Forget it, girl." Kikyo said sharply. "It wouldn't matter to the likes of you."
The string was released and the arrow flew across the grassy field, piercing one of the larger trees with such an amazing blow, it shook the ground.
* * *
"So . . ." Inu-Yasha said trying ridiculously hard not to laugh. "How was- pfft- medi- pfft-tation-pfft."
"Shut up, Inu-Yasha." Miroku argued back flopping onto his bed, face first.
"Tiring, I presume?" Inu-Yasha said, still chuckling.
"You can shut up. Natasha is possibly the hardest woman I've ever met! She doesn't let anything pass her." He turned to face the ceiling. "Plus, I think she can read minds . . ."
"Yeah, well," Inu-Yasha growled, ceasing from his laughter. "Ria's no picnic either. She took all her amusement out of Sesshomaru and I fighting. I think I have a scar on my back due to him, and she didn't even care!" He said falling backward on the couch.
"Is she supposed to?"
"Feh . . ."
Miroku closed his eyes and rolled over, only to open them and stare at the clock.
6:13.
"When did Ria say to be back at the forum?"
"Six thirty." He said half-paying attention.
. . .
"You're thinking about her again."
"About who?"
"You know who."
He scoffed. "Am not."
"Are too. Whenever you do, you always stare off into space and try to get a 'bad-boy' look going on but it doesn't work."
. . .
". . ."
". . ."
"Your point?"
Miroku sighed. "You know Inu-Yasha, if you don't get over her, she'll never get over you."
"She never liked me." He whispered in a growl. "Besides, I wasn't thinking about *her*-"
"Then wh- Oh! You were thinking about Kagome! No?"
The next thing Miroku knew, a pillow was flying across the room and toward his face sending him backward.
* * *
"Kaaaaaagoooooomeeeee!! C'mon! We have to go!" Sango pestered as she shook Kagome's seemingly life-less body on the bed.
Kagome mumbled something under the bed sheets.
Sango sighed. "I know you had a bad day, so did I! Koga's officially the biggest jerk in the world!"
Kagome threw over the covers. "That's not it!"
"Then was IS it?!"
"It's just-" she cut herself off. 'What Kikyo said . . .'
"Argh! Kagome, we don't have time for this! Get out of bed and let's *go*!"
Kagome gave up. "Fine."
* * *
The five counselors sat in the main cabin together, all chatting about the day.
"-you know," Natasha said. "I don't think they're all that ready for the later obstacles."
"Neither do I!" Juliana screamed, waving her sprite cup around in the air. "Half of them don't even get along, how the hell are we going to get them to-"
"Calm down, Juliana." Shib butted in. "Shippo *is* very weak, he's barely mastered the basics."
"And Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru are far from getting along and figuring out strategies." Ria chuckled.
"And I don't know *what's* wrong with Kikyo, but apparently her past relationship with Inu-Yasha wasn't the best, it's helping her, but not Kagome." Monigue said, leaning back in her chair.
"Yes . . . what are we going to do about this, Ria?"
Ria opened her eyes. "I say we give them the hitoitanai."
Juliana spit out her sprite and Monigue coughed. "Do you know what you're saying?!" Natasha said, standing up.
"I do. And I think they need it."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"Very well, then." Monigue said. "Unless anyone has any objections, I suggest we tell them at the forum meeting soon. Anyone?"
No one answered.
Juliana took another large gulp from her sprite and Shib shook her head.
"Very well then." Ria said. "The hitoitanai it is . . ."
~*~ ~Ria
AN: Ooooooh!! What will happen to them?! What is the hitoitanai?! For those Japanese scholars out there, you know what to expect. ^_~ Again- really sorry about not updating!
Um . . . alright then!
Chapter: 6
Surprises
~*~
"Bastard . . ."
"Pest."
"Pest?! What kind of a come-back is 'pest'?!"
"A very good one, if it's describing someone of the sort!"
"YOU MAKE *NO* SENSE!!"
"YOU *HAVE* NO SENSE!!"
"Why I outta-!!"
"CUT IT OUT, BOTH OF YOU!!!!"
Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru turned to an eye-twitching Ria.
"Both of you are the *worst* arguers I've ever met!!! You never GIVE UP!!!"
Inu-Yasha's face sunk into his neck with a tired look upon it. "Your point?" he muttered half-heartedly.
Ria started to shake with anger as she took one step forward toward Inu- Yasha. She stopped herself before reaching five feet's length. She turned around back to leading them down the path furiously.
A soft count of one to ten could be heard mumbling from her lips.
* * *
"Your never going to be able to fight if you act like children and despise each other." Juliana muttered, her head resting on her knee.
"I'd gladly tear him to pieces," Sango loudly said, teeth clenched, rising up to face Koga with her boomerang hanging along her back.
Koga laughed, still sitting on the ground. "Like you'd be able to even throw that thing."
"At least I have something deadly enough. What do you have?"
"A Tanto on my ba-"
"HA! Like a Tanto could stand up to my Boomerang!"
"The thing is, a large boomerang isn't very attractive. And cutting someone off of speaking is also very un-ladylike." Koga said shrugging his arms.
"Why you little-"
"AH! Stop it! Right there! That anger! That hatred toward one another! Use it to control your weapons and defeat your opponent! GO!" Juliana shouted with a glow of accomplishment.
If this were anime, they'd both have sweat-dropped.
"Uh . . ." They said in unison.
Sango chuckled. "I'd gladly use all my anger toward him. If it means he's killed, than no restrictions there!"
"If your fighting styles are as bad as your threats, I see no reason to fight you." Koga humored. He was waiting for Sango to explode-
. . .
It worked.
. . .
"TAJIYATORI-!!" Sango screamed as the boomerang left her hand and flew across the clearing at a very amused Koga.
He dodged and un-sheathed his tanto, lunging at Sango.
The large weapon came spinning back as Sango caught it and held it like a 'v' in front of Koga to block the tanto's blow.
Koga was striking over and over again at Sango's weakening body. The miniature blade wasn't blasting her, but her boomerang was sure getting a beating as she was being pushed backward.
'No more nice!' Sango thought quickly as she ducked to the ground and swiped her leg toward Koga's ankles.
The blast caused Koga to fall forward toward Sango. She placed her boomerang on the ground and used it to balance herself as she backwards kicked Koga in the face sending him back to the ground the other way.
Lucky for him, his hand grabbed onto a thin stone and did a back flip onto the ground, planting his feet firmly.
They both stood watching each other, panting.
'I *really* do loathe him-' Sango thought before getting cut off by a soft clap from the sidelines.
Juliana was clapping slowly with a single tear running down her face.
"That was . . . possibly . . . the best extermination fight I've seen in years! You both did wonderfully. Oh . . . please excuse me . . ." She said turning around and wiping her eyes with her sleeve, still smiling.
The two teenagers held their mouths open slightly.
Sango and Koga exchanged glances.
At least there was one odd 'thing' they could agree on . . .
* * *
'Isn't she the silent one?' Monigue thought as she walked through the woods, leading Kagome and Kikyo to the archery range. Kikyo held a blank face and an emotionless posture.
Monigue chuckled.
'We'll change that soon enough . . .'
Kagome was lost in her own thoughts as she walked in between Kikyo and Monigue.
She was fidgeting with her thumb nail using one hand.
She did that when she was curious about something.
'Kikyo . . . and Inu-Yasha . . . what happened, I wonder . . .' She thought. Her eyes widened and then shut violently. 'Why would I care about the mute and the mut?!' she thought.
She had thought briefly if what she had just told herself was rude-
But ignored it.
"We're here." Monigue said almost in a malevolent whisper.
Kikyo flicked her head in irritation at Monigue and then examined the range.
Kagome did the same.
. . .
!
It was-
Huge!
"This is-" Kagome started before being cut off.
"-Pathetic." Kikyo finished softly.
Kagome blinked back. "How is this pathetic?! It's huge!"
"Judging by the grounds soft earth, it's been pierced many times by arrows. And yet it's only three-hundred yards long."
'Only?!' Kagome thought. She was afraid to start a fight with the girl.
Her eyes-
Her eyes were so cold-
How could Inu-
!!!
'Stop thinking about him!!' Kagome tried to brand in her head.
"You done arguing?" Monigue said rubbing her neck in frustration.
Kagome nodded. Kikyo huffed sardonically.
"Good. Take your positions at the posts. We'll get started."
They did as obeyed.
. . .
Kagome was waiting for something to happen . . .
Monigue broke the silence. "Get into ready stance!"
Kikyo did so, giving off perfect form as she held her bow.
Kagome did the same, she was trembling a bit which threw off her concentration, but she was just as good.
But something caught Kagome's eye-
. . .
!
"Um, Monigue?" Kagome stuttered softly, lowering her bow. "Where are the targets?"
Monigue let out a cackle.
Kagome raised a mental eyebrow.
Monigue breathed in deep before talking. "See those trees across the field?"
Kagome turned to observe- they were there alright.
Kikyo never moved from her aiming position.
"Yes . . ." Kagome said impatiently.
"Those *are* your targets!"
Kagome's eyes widened as Kikyo's narrowed.
"T-t-that far away?!" Kagome blurted.
Monigue stopped laughing. "Hell yes!"
Kagome sighed and resumed her aiming position.
Monigue held her hand up high as to signal a 'wait for my command' gesture. Then she spoke with an unusually large grin on her face.
"Kikyo . . . who do you loathe most in your life?"
Kikyo averted her gaze toward the grinning archer. "Why is it of your concern?"
"I want you to place an image of that person in one of the trees. Imagine yourself killing them. Piercing them. Making them bleed-"
Kagome blinked. 'I didn't know Monigue was *that* violent-' she thought.
Kikyo gave a soft 'keh' sound.
Monigue cocked her head. "Well? Who is it? Who do you most loathe?"
Her eyes shot open. "Inu-Yasha . . ." she whispered without hesitation.
Kagome sucked in a breath.
"And why do you hate Inu-Yasha, Kikyo?"
She let down her bow and faced Monigue with a fiery glare. "Never use both our names in the same sentence!! It's a crime against all laws!!"
Monigue and Kagome blinked at the same time. "Why do you hate him Kikyo?" Monigue persisted.
"BECAUSE HE DESTROYED MY HEART!!! That's why!!" She boomed.
Kagome stepped back, cracking a twig. 'I need to know more-' "K-k-Kikyo-"
"What?!" She screamed raising her bow once more toward the trees. The look on her face was indicating that she was trying to plant his face on one of tall branches.
"What did he do to you?" Kagome whispered taking another step forward. She didn't care about archery at the moment.
"Forget it, girl." Kikyo said sharply. "It wouldn't matter to the likes of you."
The string was released and the arrow flew across the grassy field, piercing one of the larger trees with such an amazing blow, it shook the ground.
* * *
"So . . ." Inu-Yasha said trying ridiculously hard not to laugh. "How was- pfft- medi- pfft-tation-pfft."
"Shut up, Inu-Yasha." Miroku argued back flopping onto his bed, face first.
"Tiring, I presume?" Inu-Yasha said, still chuckling.
"You can shut up. Natasha is possibly the hardest woman I've ever met! She doesn't let anything pass her." He turned to face the ceiling. "Plus, I think she can read minds . . ."
"Yeah, well," Inu-Yasha growled, ceasing from his laughter. "Ria's no picnic either. She took all her amusement out of Sesshomaru and I fighting. I think I have a scar on my back due to him, and she didn't even care!" He said falling backward on the couch.
"Is she supposed to?"
"Feh . . ."
Miroku closed his eyes and rolled over, only to open them and stare at the clock.
6:13.
"When did Ria say to be back at the forum?"
"Six thirty." He said half-paying attention.
. . .
"You're thinking about her again."
"About who?"
"You know who."
He scoffed. "Am not."
"Are too. Whenever you do, you always stare off into space and try to get a 'bad-boy' look going on but it doesn't work."
. . .
". . ."
". . ."
"Your point?"
Miroku sighed. "You know Inu-Yasha, if you don't get over her, she'll never get over you."
"She never liked me." He whispered in a growl. "Besides, I wasn't thinking about *her*-"
"Then wh- Oh! You were thinking about Kagome! No?"
The next thing Miroku knew, a pillow was flying across the room and toward his face sending him backward.
* * *
"Kaaaaaagoooooomeeeee!! C'mon! We have to go!" Sango pestered as she shook Kagome's seemingly life-less body on the bed.
Kagome mumbled something under the bed sheets.
Sango sighed. "I know you had a bad day, so did I! Koga's officially the biggest jerk in the world!"
Kagome threw over the covers. "That's not it!"
"Then was IS it?!"
"It's just-" she cut herself off. 'What Kikyo said . . .'
"Argh! Kagome, we don't have time for this! Get out of bed and let's *go*!"
Kagome gave up. "Fine."
* * *
The five counselors sat in the main cabin together, all chatting about the day.
"-you know," Natasha said. "I don't think they're all that ready for the later obstacles."
"Neither do I!" Juliana screamed, waving her sprite cup around in the air. "Half of them don't even get along, how the hell are we going to get them to-"
"Calm down, Juliana." Shib butted in. "Shippo *is* very weak, he's barely mastered the basics."
"And Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru are far from getting along and figuring out strategies." Ria chuckled.
"And I don't know *what's* wrong with Kikyo, but apparently her past relationship with Inu-Yasha wasn't the best, it's helping her, but not Kagome." Monigue said, leaning back in her chair.
"Yes . . . what are we going to do about this, Ria?"
Ria opened her eyes. "I say we give them the hitoitanai."
Juliana spit out her sprite and Monigue coughed. "Do you know what you're saying?!" Natasha said, standing up.
"I do. And I think they need it."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"Very well, then." Monigue said. "Unless anyone has any objections, I suggest we tell them at the forum meeting soon. Anyone?"
No one answered.
Juliana took another large gulp from her sprite and Shib shook her head.
"Very well then." Ria said. "The hitoitanai it is . . ."
~*~ ~Ria
AN: Ooooooh!! What will happen to them?! What is the hitoitanai?! For those Japanese scholars out there, you know what to expect. ^_~ Again- really sorry about not updating!