To Outwit a Fox By: Jineka
Disclaimers: I don't own Inuyasha, its characters or storylines.
Just so it's clear: In the anime series and manga and whatever, Suuichi is just a name. After Kurama came to the human world, he completely took over a boy's body before it was even alive. After Kurama was born, he was named Suuichi by his human mother. Still with me? Kurama had planned to go back and forget the human world, but as time went on, he started to love his human mother, and stayed in the human world, 'till Hiei found him of course.
But I'm an authoress so the story is mine. MUHAHAHA! I HAVE THE POWER!!!
Now, onto the story. ^_^
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Chapter 5 Rin
This was bad; Kikyou was stuck in the dark room. He had purposely slammed the door, and now it was stuck. Kikyou had all those weird powers and stuff, but that didn't mean she had brute strength!
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed that this wasn't the fox's room. He came here only because someone was following him. It was more a musty, old room. Comfortable furnishings, but nothing lavish like Kikyou expected to find in the "Silver Kitsune" room. There were a couple of bookshelves by the back wall. The books all looked old and interesting, so Kikyou went over to take a look.
It was fascinating really; she had never known the demons to keep themselves so organized. They had records of all demonic tribes, crimes, and even a couple humans…prostate sizes…
O-kay…going on. Kikyou went back to the door. She put her hand on the knob, and watched as the knob glowed purple for a second. She smiled, turned the knob, and pushed. The door opened. Surprising isn't it?
The hallway was still a relatively bright and Kikyou found her room quickly. The bed was far too lavish, too soft. She made herself comfortable on the carpet instead.
Problem: Train, Bare children, or Die.
Answer: Uh…
^_^
Keiko looked around. Bones and skeletons littered the nest-like structure she was in. This was bad, really bad. Luckily Keiko wasn't unarmed. What? You think a human girl can gain the respect of Sesshoumaru without arms? Well, she wasn't entirely human, but no one knew that except her.
Her mother was born human and so was her father, but her mother was special. The villagers had always thought that she was a demon, what with her strange abilities and all. She was a human girl with half a demon soul. Strange, yes, weird, yes, unheard of, maybe, impossible, HELL NO.
Keiko quickly started to mystify. Her body slowly became more and more transparent. She could still be seen, but she had lost all her body weight, talk about a great diet. She walked, or more to the point, floated out of the nest, walking straight through the rock that would have otherwise sealed her fate.
As she descended to the floor of the forest, she became worried. How long has she been out of it? Why didn't the crows eat her? After all they were infamous for capturing humans and devouring them on the spot or feeding them to their nestlings as soon as they reached the nest.
Worry about that later, where was Yusuke? Keiko suddenly felt a giant shiver up her spine, if he was captured…what if he was gone already? Keiko landed at the floor and became solid quickly. She treaded softly on the dry leaves, and made her way west. Last thing she remembered was being taken farther east by the crows so going west had to be the best bet.
The trees started to clear up; she must've been reaching a village. Good thing, too, Keiko needed a dry place to sleep and the clouds above looked extremely ominous. As she walked further, she discovered that there wasn't really a village. There was a lone hut surrounded by what seemed like dozens of tree stumps. Whoever lived here must hate trees or something.
"Hello?" Keiko called out reaching the door of the hut. "Hello?" She pushed aside the mat and looked in. The hut lacked all furnishings, and there was a young woman, a bit older than Keiko sleeping peacefully on a fur of some sort.
The woman wore dirty rags and had hair probably that hadn't been clean for months, but the smile resting lightly on her face was all Keiko needed to see. The woman was certainly beautiful and cute. She looked like a small child. The entire hut seemed to belong to someone very, very poor, but the woman did have one thing that seemed lavish and rich.
It was a scarf; a truly beautiful one with so much stitchery that only a lord or lady could've owned it. It was torn at the bottom, probably in half by its small size. But the strangest thing about this scarf was that it was so familiar. Keiko remembered seeing it before, but where?
The woman stirred. As she opened her eyes, her smile quickly faded into a line and her eyes glared icily. She pulled the furs and scooted back to the wall. She unsheathed a sword and pointed it at Keiko still sitting.
Keiko hastily put her hands up, "I won't hurt you."
The woman seemed to understand, but was extremely wary. "Who-ho a-are yo-ou?" Her voice was crackly as if she hadn't used it ever before.
Keiko thought for a second. It wasn't that she didn't know her name, 'cause that was just stupid, but could she really just give it away to a stranger? "My name is Sato, and I'm lost."
The woman looked lost for a second before responding. She pointed to herself, "Rin," pointed to Keiko, "Sato?"
Keiko smiled, "That's right." Rin nodded thoughtfully.
"You are lost? Where are you going?" Rin asked, tilting her head. Keiko's eyes widened. She knew that pose. It was too familiar to a coincidence, but how?
"Oh, I trying to find the…" Keiko said before drifting off, did this woman know of the demonic palaces, it was worth a shot, "the Western Palace of Sesshoumaru."
Rin stared before grinning. Her smile was wide and she nodded eagerly, "Sesshoumaru! Sesshoumaru!"
Keiko looked a bit surprised. Did this human woman really know Sesshoumaru? Suddenly Rin giggled, "Fluffy!" Keiko's eyes widened once again. There was only one person in the whole world that called Sesshoumaru 'Fluffy.'
Could Rin be the woman? She had to be. Keiko suddenly realized why the tilting head thing was so familiar. The statue of the woman in the courtyard. She was Rin, tilting her head cutely with an ear-splitting grin!
^_^
The sun rose and Kikyou awoke to find herself in her bed…well not her bed, but you know what I mean. How had she gotten there? Oh well, it wasn't her problem so why should she deal with it?
She got up and changed into clean clothes before exiting the room. Sesshoumaru and Youko were both right outside her room. She jumped slightly from a bit of shock. Why were they camping in front of her room?
Sesshoumaru was pushing something into Youko's hands, "Kuronue would've wanted you to have it."
Youko nodded and took the object, tucking it into his shirt before turning to Kikyou. "G'morning."
Kikyou stared for a second, "If you say so…though I don't see what's so good about it…" She shrugged.
"What do you chose?" Youko asked.
"Huh?" Kikyou said. Damn it, what was she supposed to choose? Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Oh," Stale for time, stale for time! "I pick the training thing." Great stalling Kikyou, insert sarcasm congrats!
Sesshoumaru nodded at Youko. Youko turned to face the human once again, "Follow me."
They went outside, right beside the giant palace of the West. Youko wasn't thinking about Kikyou though. Of course Kikyou did intrigue him and he did want her as his own, but there were bigger problems now. Wars between the lands…they were planned. Someone wanted the lands to war. The same someone who killed Kuronue…
"Fox? You still there?" Kikyou asked with a silky smooth voice.
Youko was abruptly pulled from his thoughts, "You would do good to hold your tongue human wench."
Kikyou eyed Youko appraisingly. Finding him no threat what so ever she spoke again, "Are you going to start or what?"
"Hold your tongue," Youko tried to make it sound as menacing as possible, but it was futile and his voice was immensely fake. Youko smirked at his own stupidity and inability to sound threatening, "So willful, I'll make you mine."
Kikyou turned away, her face a bit fulled with anxiety. Youko smirked; he hadn't really meant that, had he? No. But…it worked hadn't it?
Kikyou faced Youko once again, composure regained, "Start."
Youko sighed, "Who spit in your bean curd today? Okay, one thing first." Kikyou nodded, "Sesshoumaru only wants you for one reason. He wants your priestess abilities. You know all that purification crap got it? So don't think that he'd actually spare you if you argued."
Kikyou scoffed, "Is that supposed to frighten me? I'm so sorry. It didn't work."
"It wasn't supposed to. I reckon you strong enough to handle it; I'm just stating the facts. Sesshoumaru says your aim with the bow is dead on. Let's have a little test shall we?" Youko produced a bow and a quiver of arrows seemingly from nowhere. Oooo, conjuring.
He handed the stuff to Kikyou, "See that tree there? The big one with the purple roots? Lets see if you can hit it."
Kikyou nodded. She took an arrow out and placed it. She raised the bow and aimed. She shot. The arrow gathered purple light as it made its way to the tree. The tree was split into two by the power of the arrow.
Kikyou almost smirked. Oh, how she wanted to say 'In your face' or something along those lines, but she found herself too refined for such childish antics. Youko wasn't impressed though. "Look woman, see what your arrow has done?"
Kikyou frowned, but turned to look. The split tree was regenerating? No! It was growing into two! Like the brown sticks with Wizard Mickey! (That was random. -. - kinda sad…)
The tree was now two big ones. Kikyou was a bit shocked at first, but she regained composure, "So now what?"
Youko smirked, "Clueless as ever human wench." Kikyou scowled at the fox. "We're going to push your physical body beyond its limit thus increasing spiritual power as well."
Kikyou nodded, but was a bit confused, would physical training really be necessary? She really hated getting sweaty…
"Good, we'll start with running…"
This is going to be a long day…
^_^
A.N.: That was a bit short, but I'll make the next the next chappie a bit longer for all of you guys. ^_^
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Chapter 5 Normality
Sango was back to…normal, sort of. Miroku was really sweet to her for a day and half and Sango was starting to smile once again. Inuyasha turned up in the dry riverbed yesterday and no one even dared to mention Kohaku or Naraku…so everything was strangely normal.
Ah…normality, how boring.
Kagome gazed out the window of her bedroom. She had been working extra hard lately and almost forgot about the school dance coming up. It was one of those that had no reason other than a break and some fun. Sango was going was Miroku, which Kagome teased Sango relentlessly about.
Kouga had asked her, but she declined. Kagome really wanted Inuyasha to ask her…maybe she should ask him… It was really stupid; Inuyasha wouldn't "be caught dead at a fucking school dance." Kagome sighed.
It was a school day and Kagome began to get ready. Taking a quick shower and changing into her uniform took roughly ten minutes. Grabbing a piece of toast took five seconds and out the door she went.
She wasn't meeting Kouga and Sango today, mainly because she wanted a bit of solitude and thinking time. Everyone needed some time alone…
Kagome mainly thought about Inuyasha. She knew that Inuyasha could never like her the way she did him, but she felt oddly connected and wanted nothing more than to be in his arms. What a laugh. Maybe she needed a new guy to lust after, someone that wasn't an impossible case…Kouga? No, Kouga had always been a best friend of Kagome's, but she didn't have anything going for that wolf. Poor Kouga…
Kagome arrived at the station and boarded quickly. It wasn't quite as crowded and she took a seat at the back. Kagome glanced outward, feeling as if someone was watching her… She turned her head and found herself lost in emerald eyes. Sparkling and full of amusement…
"Kagome!" It was Suuichi. "Good morning."
He was obviously in a good mood today, wonder why… "Who said anything about it being good?" Kagome demanded. She hadn't actually meant to say that out loud. She blushed, "Sorry, my mouth is an early riser, but my brain sleeps in."
Suuichi smiled, "It's okay. I was wondering…"
Sounded interesting to Kagome, "And…?"
"Would you like to go to the dance with me?" He didn't seem nervous in the least.
That made it even worse for Kagome. "Um…" she frowned in thought. Should she? "Sure…I guess." Might as well, besides it would be amusing to see how his fan club reacted to this. Oh yeah, real amusing. She smiled at the thought.
"Great!" He certainly sounded happy, what was his deal? He was never this cheerful, polite, yes, but cheerful? He lowered in voice, "I was wondering if you have a friend that could hook up with my friend. I'm trying to make him go to the dance. It was going great and I was at the point of acutally convincing him, but…"
Kagome stared. "But…he suddenly said that he wouldn't go without a date and then looked strangely smug about something. He did it on purpose! Telling me he had no date, please Kagome?"
Kagome stared, say something stupid, "…" Kagome, you're a genius! -Not. "Oh…umm…I don't really know too many people…"
Suuichi looked disappointed for a second, but… "That's okay. Pick you up at seven at the shrine?"
Kagome looked thoughtful, oh yeah the last name thing, Higurashi Shrine… "Okay, sounds good, Suuichi."
"Please, Kurama. Call me Kurama."
^_^
We filed into the first class of the day. The teacher waited for us impatiently for a bit and then started yelling and giving whoever didn't shut up detentions. Who spit in her bean curd…
"Class," she had such a sugarcoated voice, sweet and sugary…how sickening, "We have a new student. Ayame."
A girl stepped through the doorway boldly. She had reddish brown hair and green eyes that Kagome recognized. They were like Kouga's! Her hair was pulled into two high pigtails, with bangs framing her face.
"Would you like to say something to introduce yourself?" the teacher asked sweetly.
Ayame nodded eagerly, she smiled revealing sharp, pointy fangs, "Hi! My name's Ayame and…yeah, that's all." The teacher quickly ushered into a seat. As she moved to her seat, everyone caught a glimpse of a tail. Another wolf?
Kagome looked at Ayame. She was truly beautiful and if not beautiful, maybe extremely cute? Maybe she could go with Suu…Kurama's friend. What was with the sudden name change anyway? The bell rang and Kagome made her way to Ayame.
"Hi. My name's Kagome Higurashi, would you like me to show you your classes?" Kagome asked, smiling brightly.
Ayame looked up at her, "You're human."
"Stating the obvious," Kagome replied with a smile. "C'mon, we're going to be late." She grabbed Ayame's hand and pulled her out of the room. "What's your next class?"
"Advanced martial art training and advancement? What a lame name." Ayame pointed at her schedule.
Kagome laughed, "You're right about that, but that's the same class I have, lets go."
Ayame followed the strange human girl, her uncle was supposed to have put her into an advanced class. She wasn't some beginner, why were there humans in her class. It didn't seem right.
Kagome pushed open the door to the gym, "Tada! Our gym, nothing great, but it gets the good done. The girl's lockers are on this side." Kagome lead her into a locker room with many rows of lockers. Ayame got out her schedule and turned it around. On the back she had written her gym locker and hall locker number and combination.
Ayame looked up and down the rows searching for her number. She found it quickly and twirled the lock, glancing to see that she had the right combination. She changed fast and made it back to Kagome's locker before Kagome even finished.
Kagome finished up and led Ayame to the gym. The coach got Ayame to introduce herself to the class. "I'm Ayame and I can run pretty fast." Nice answer.
Kagome showed her how the machines worked and how to get a name inside to keep tract of progress. "Excuse me, class?" The coach called for attention. "The school's tract team is open to this class. If anyone would like to join, grab a paper, no, over there!"
There were actually quite a few people that went to take a paper. It started tomorrow after school and even gave code! Code was a point system for the ACMD to keep tract of you. This class gave 25 code and the tract team gave 10 already.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful except lunch of course.
^_^
"Oi! Ayame! Over here! Come meet my friends!" Kagome had to shout as loud as possible for the message to be carried over to Ayame on the other side of the cafeteria.
"Hi Kagome!" Ayame was wary of Kagome at first, but she proved herself during that advance thingy.
As Ayame reached Kagome, Kagome caught Ayame's hand and pulled her toward a table. "You guys," Kagome smiled at them, "This is Ayame. She's new here. Ok, let's see. The one with the cute dog ears is Inuyasha." Inuyasha snorted. "The only other female, Sango, the guy sitting next to Sango, Miroku, and the wolf, Kouga!"
Ayame said to each in turn, but turned to Kouga, "Are you the Kouga I used to know?"
Kouga was really busy eating and hadn't even realized that Kagome was here, much less another girl. Ayame watched as Kouga devoured his rations. It probably was him, who else could eat that fast…
Kouga finally finished his last bite, everyone was staring at him, "What?!" Ayame laughed and Kouga faced the new girl. His eyes grew big, "Ayame?!"
Ayame squealed, "Kouga! It's really you!" She jumped to hug Kouga and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
So SORRY FOR THE WAIT. SORRY!!! I was a bit lazy…hehe. SORRY!
Hope you enjoyed the chappie. R&R. (I know that chappie was a bit short, but I wanted to get something onto the net.)
PRESS THE LITTLE BUTTON THAT SAYS "GO" AND EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY!