A/N: Special thanks to all those who read my Christmas Story, I will be doing a sequel to it eventually. Also, I want to announce that Curse of the Gypsy will be updated sometime this week. Here is Chapter 9, signed, sealed, and delivered! Shout-outs first!
Kireihanyou Ko: I'm so happy that you like my story this much. I really am happy that this story is getting such a great response. Oh, about the one bed thing, I had to set the stage for later sexual tension, come now! Yeah, that virus really set me back. But I was able to finish my Christmas Story in time, and now I can refocus on this story and CotG. Thanks for reading and for the review!
Setsuna-3000: I'm glad you're loving it, I love writing it. There, we're even, lol. Thanks for reading, and for the review!
Wyldwolfrose: I'm glad you decided to review, heh. I'm also glad you like this story, please keep reading! Thanks for the review, I'll try to keep you interested as we go along.
Leomae: Yes, there will be Kouga action. Not much in this chapter, but he'll be in the next few chapters BIG TIME! Yes, I adore Kouga. I think he's just the cutest thing ever. I'd love a guy to fight ugly monsters while proclaiming his love for me. *dreams whimsically* Hehe, liked that Yash comment, eh? Lord knows it's true! Yes, my computer is getting better. I've duct taped my brother to it for three days straight and he's making good progress. Since then, I've shanghaied his computer, hehe! Thanks for the review!
Sierra: Yeah, had to have a little Kagome emotional crisis there. Thanks for the review!
Miko Sakura-sama: Merry Christmas! *eats cookie* This update is dedicated to you, cuz you bribe me with food! Thanks for the review!
silent slayer: Hehe, I wanted to write some funny one-liner from her to her father. Thanks for the review!
Kawaii Youkai: Yay, I'm on another person's favorite's list. Thanks for reading, and for the review!
Josie: Aw, don't feat Toutousai, he's just a crazy old man! Here's the next chapter for you, and I'll get on the next one quickly. Thanks for the review!
Tsunami-chan: Yes, Kouga is mature. There is no 'Kagome is my woman' going on in my story. I love Kouga, but he does need a little maturity and I've given it to him. I don't yet know if him and Inuyasha with fight outside the ring, but they won't fight in it because the battles are already planned out. Thanks for the review!!
.: Next chapter is right here. Thanks for the review.
IridescentEverdream: Heh, thank you for reading this chapter. Yeah, jealous creeps into the heart of us all once in a while. Here is your feverish update. Enjoy! Thanks for the review.
Calendar: Lol, I'm glad you like this story. It means a lot that I have such wonderful readers. I'm sure you could write something better than this if you tried. I don't think it's that great, but I like it anyway. Thanks for the review!
Shadowcat15: Here is the update, do not be mad! I'm so happy I'm getting so many new readers! Thank you!!!
Rome34: I'm so happy that you like it! Here is some of what happens next, I hope you like it. Thank you for the review and for reading.
Ayrith: I love long reviews! They make the entire writing experience worth while. Of course, any review means a lot, but the long ones really let you know that the reader liked the story enough to take the time and let you know. Thanks so much for reading both my stories, I'm glad you liked them! You are officially my favorite reviewer! *gives you a gold star* Enjoy this chapter.
Lilo: I'm glad you like the story. Thanks for reading and reviewing, please continue to do so. And I hope you get help for the hyper-ness, lol.
Shorty40: Yes, yes they will. But *shhhh* Don't tell anyone, lol. It won't happen for another few chapters and I don't want to spoil anyone else's reading experience with knowing too much. Thanks for the review and for reading, I'm really happy that you like my work.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but he does do my taxes.
A Fighter's Story
Chapter 9
9 am came far too soon for the Jet lagged pair of Americans. Kagome was a tad more refreshed than Inuyasha, she had gone to sleep earlier and he had to endure the rather lumpy couch. Kagome made coffee and a quick breakfast for them as he got ready. It was a peace offering so he wouldn't be tempted to gain retribution for yesterday's antics.
Together, they left their cabin for the arena at the very center of the grounds. Kagome locked up their belongs and pulled the key ring over her head so she wouldn't forget it. After the opening ceremony, they had the day pretty much free to themselves. There was the combatant's dinner that night, an official beginning to the festivities that was open to competitors and guests before the first round fights that began the next day.
Although Kagome remembered much of the grounds, she was still delighted with everything that had changed and grown since her last arrival. The temple had been redesigned. It's location was next to the arena, but it was now twice as large as it had been, and much more lavished. It was designed in the same style as the cabins, old world Japan, with carved statues on the roof and around the perimeter. Large cherry trees stood around the building, and most of them were just ending their bloom. The temple was the housing to the Dovon, the overseer of the Kiyomatsu Tournament. He lived and worked within the walls most of his life. Once a Dovon ascended to his station, he could never leave the arena grounds again. It was for that reason that a Dovon did not ascend until his elder years.
"It's so pretty," Kagome marveled for the fourth time.
"So you've said," Inuyasha responded, for the third time. Then again, he was enjoying just watching her point and squeak like a ten-year-old. Kagome was completely engrossed with all the little things. Inuyasha was, once again, happy that he had brought her with him. With her hopping around pointing out some ancient statue or another, he wasn't too worried about his fighting skills.
Many of the fighters were already present at the arena for the ceremony. The first one that Kagome noticed was Kouga and his father. They were mingling with a few of the other competitors, but paused long enough to wave and motion for Kagome and Inuyasha to join them. Kagome dragged her unhappy companion with her.
"Good morning Kouga, Mr. Ataris. I trust you slept well?"
"Very well, thank you Miss. Higurashi," Mr. Ataris said politely before going back to his conversations with a few other coaches about training schedules. Kagome shrugged and entered into a conversation with Kouga instead.
"What are you going to do this afternoon before the dinner?" she asked.
Kouga shrugged a little. "I thought I'd just take a walk around the grounds. There is a surprising amount to see just within the tournament space."
Kagome grinned. "Oh yes," she was quick to say. "The temple is always a wonderful place to see, and there was ruins and restored buildings and even training feilds the last time I was here."
"You were here before?" Kouga said with surprise. "You don't look old enough!"
Kagome blushed and laughed. "I was only a little girl. My father was entered in the Tournament and I came with him. I have to say that I'm eager to look around again."
"Perhaps you'd accompany me then?" Kouga asked with a smile. Kagome was about to agree, but first she'd asked Inuyasha. You never know when your 'trainee' might need coaching. But it seemed that he was MIA.
"I'd love to come with you," Kagome said at last, giving up her scan for Inuyasha. Wherever he was, so be it, she didn't need his permission.
"Fabulous," Kouga said. "I'll pick you up at your cabin this afternoon."
"Alright than," she agreed. "If you'll excuse me, I have to find my fighter." Kouga nodded and smiled understandingly. "If it's any help, I think I saw him head to the other side of the arena a second ago."
"Thank you. I'll see you later Kouga." With a polite nod, Kagome vanished into the crowd, off on the trail of her elusive friend.
***
Inuyasha was tempted to stab himself in the forehead with whatever sharp object was handy when Kagome began laughing it up with Kouga. Than he thought maybe he'd stab Kouga in the head. That made him happy as he visualized, but that was when something in the corner of his eyes brought him back to reality.
He turned, but only saw a flash as the person disappeared into the crowd again. He looked back at Kagome, but she was still deep in conversation with Kouga, so he gave chase. Inuyasha weaved his way through fighters and trainers and guests, always trying to keep an eye on his quarry. The more he saw of his prey, the faster he went. He had to be sure, had to know or it would drive him crazy.
Suddenly he lost sight. Where did she go?
"Kikyo?" he breathed, looking around frantically, but whatever or whoever he had mistaken for his ex-love was gone. He sighed and shook his head. It couldn't have been her. She'd be back in the states with no reason of coming to the Kiyomatsu Tournament.
"Inuyasha?" someone called from behind him. "Earth to 'Yash, are you ok?" He turned and saw Kagome watching him intently, the teasing smile she wore faded in concern.
"Yeah," he said quickly, looking back once more. He met her gaze and smiled once more. "I'm fine, just thought I saw someone I knew."
"And it wasn't them?" she asked in innocence.
"No, it wasn't them," he agreed with a sigh, halfway between relieved and disappointed. Inuyasha shook his head, this was not the way he should be thinking, not with Kagome here and not with a tournament to fight. He looked up to speak again when the sound of a gong rang through the arena.
"Come on," Kagome said eagerly, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the dais above the center of the arena. The Dovon and his party had just entered. "The ceremony is starting!"
Inuyasha let her pull him through the crowd. He scanned through the faces, keeping a look out for any familiar faces and taking in the sights of potential foes. There were men of all races, sizes and body types in the arena that day, and each of them were master fighters. It made Inuyasha question, once again, just what he was doing there.
"Welcome," Yusan's voice rang out in the arena. Everyone fell quiet, looking to the dais for instruction. Yusan stood at the edge, holding up the gong stick. Beside him stood a small old man robed in expensive and lavish orange garments. Jewels glittered in the hem and embroidery, giving the view of great wealth. Even though he was small, and much of his face was weathered and hidden beneath folds of cloth and shear veil, Yusan's companion was undoubtedly the Dovon.
The small man held up his arms, his wrinkled hands the only part of him exposed from the garments her wore. "Welcome to Kiyomatsu," he said in a deep, thickly accented voice. "Welcome all who will fight and all who have come with our competitors. I hope that our lands are to your liking." All of the people on the ground floor of the arena, men and women, fighters and non-fighters, went to their knees in respect to the Dovon.
"We ask that all the competitors remain in the center arena, and that all guests take a seat in the stands at this time," Yusan announced. Kagome turned to Inuyasha. She tugged gently on his pony tail, winked, and left for the stadium seats. Inuyasha watched her go with a smile and a shake of his head.
Kagome scampered through the others heading to the seats, trying to get a spot in the front row. Mr. Ataris had seemed to form a great alliance with a few other older coaches, and they congregated further to the back. It seemed that most of the fighters had brought family members, or coaches, with them to the tournament. But there were only three women present in all of them, counting Kagome herself. One of those women was elderly, a seasoned coach that had trained an award winning fighter from Ireland. She was openly, and loudly, debating with two other European coaches. The other woman was neither coach nor family member, she was obviously a competitors girlfriend or wife.
Although it was not outlawed for a fighter to bring their significant other with them, it was preferred that men focus solely on their fighting. That was why Inuyasha had brought Kagome under the pretense that she was his coach. Not that there would be anything remotely sexual going on between them, she thought with a little annoyance. It seemed to her that a platonic stay between that woman and her fighter was definitely not in the cards. She knew this for the fact that before the woman had entered the seating, she had openly kissed the fighter who brought her--with her tongue.
Now she sat in the front row of the seating, running her fingers through her hair in a bored manner. Since all of the other seats were taken, Kagome opted for the seat next to her. "Is this seat taken?" she asked.
The woman looked up at her, a little smile on her face. "No, please," she responded, moving over a little so Kagome would have more room.
"Thank you," Kagome said politely, sitting down and watching for the ceremony to begin.
"What country does your fighter hail from?" the woman asked. Kagome looked up and appraised her for the first time. The woman at her left was very beautiful, now that Kagome had a better look at her. One could almost go as far as saying she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, but that would be a stretch. Her hair was long, but held up in an intricate style, and blacker that even Kagome's own. Her eyes were also dark, so brown they almost seemed black, set against a very pale complexion. Her face was oval, and her features were sharp. A very classic beauty if Kagome had ever seen one.
"United States," she said proudly. "Yours?"
"Japan," she said with a smile. "But I'm American. Tell me, what fighter did they get to represent us?"
"Dai," Kagome said, looking back to the arena. "Inuyasha Dai." If Kagome had been watching the woman next to her more closely, she would have seen the shock register on her face. It was quickly masked and carefully covered with a smile. "What fighter did you accompany?" Kagome asked, now looking back at her.
"Naraku Tama," she said with a slight widening of her smile. "He's the best fighter in all of Japan."
"I've heard of him," Kagome said in awe, thinking of the stories. "He's been a fighter in the underground for years until his début...was it four years ago?"
"Yes, but I only met him three years ago. It was during his first tour in the states, to be exact."
"Wow, I remember that. He was doing a promotion for the new Nationals ring they began in Japan that year." The other woman nodded.
"You are well informed," she complimented.
"I was on the tour in the states for the last three years," Kagome explained. "But I've been around fighting all my life."
"Is that how you became Inuyasha's coach?" The familiar use of Inuyasha's name surprised Kagome, but she pushed it out of her mind.
"No, I met him outside of the tour."
"Ah. And how long have you known him?"
"Several months," Kagome explained, looking back to the ring as the gong sounded once more. "The ceremony is starting."
"So it is," the woman replied, but she was watching Kagome now. "So it is."
***
"If all the fighters would please step forward when their name is called," Yusan announced once the crowd had fallen silent again. "The staff below will give you everything you will need for the opening bouts tomorrow." Six orange-clad men moved about in the center of the arena, moving toward three places on the floor. They each carried a large box between them with the things they would distribute.
"Once you are given all that you need, please move out of the way," Yusan continued. "You must wait until all competitors are situated, then the final word will be given by the Dovon and you will be released." All the fighters bowed.
Yusan handed a scroll to the Dovon, and the small man unrolled it. From the scroll, he began to read the names of men and the country they represented. "Joseph McLaughlin of Ireland," the Dovon read. The well-toned Pikey stepped forward to the Kiyomatsu staff and received his fighting gear, his assigned seating, and his fight schedule.
"Kouga Ataris," the Dovon continued. Kouga went forward to the staff and received his own gear. And so did the fighters called after them. The Dovon read name after name, men from countries all over the world, and each of them strode forward to receive their dues. There were times when a fighter was not present. At such a time, Yusan made a note of it.
"Inuyasha Dai," the Dovon announced. Inuyasha strode forward to the nearest staff member. In his arms was placed a folded pile of clothes and a manila envelope containing the other information he'd need for the fights tomorrow. When he returned to his place in the ranks, he noticed a man among them that he hadn't noticed before.
"Naraku Tama," the Dovon announced, and afterwards he rolled up his scroll. The man called was the same Inuyasha was watching, and he strode forward to receive what he needed. The man named Naraku Tama was nothing out of the ordinary, at least, he was nothing extravagant for the fighting world. He was tall and broad, built like a true fighter. His hair was long and black, neatly kept, unlike Inuyasha's own which he mostly left alone. What caught Inuyasha's attention about him, was the way that he moved. Naraku did not move like a man learned in any of the martial arts Inuyasha had ever seen, he moved with the rolling gate of one more used to beatings than battles. And Inuyasha had the distinct impression that this Naraku Tama was a killer.
"If everyone would please take out their schedules," Yusan announced, bringing Inuyasha back to himself. The silver-haired fighter blinked and pulled out his own map of the events. "There are a few fighters not in attendance that should be dually noted." And so, adjustments were made and everything was taken down or hemmed up. Once all competitors were pleased with the arrangements, the ceremony was declared officially over. "Please remember to attend the banquet tonight, at 7 pm. Until then, you are free to do as you please. Just remember, no fighting until tomorrow."
The competitors bowed as the Dovon exited the arena, and then they dispersed. Inuyasha looked around for Naraku, but the man had vanished.
Kagome looked to the woman beside her, to wish her a good day, but the woman had disappeared when the ceremony dispersed. She looked around, but the woman must have met up again with her boyfriend. Kagome shrugged and went in search of Inuyasha. She found him waiting near the exit for her. "So, what'd ya get?" she teased, looking at the armload of clothing and papers he had messily stuffed back into the envelope. Kagome took those off his hands.
"Ha ha, what does it look like?" Inuyasha retorted. "They gave me some kind of gi, I think."
"They give each country a color or pattern to wear, so they know who they represent," Kagome explained as she organized the papers.
"Why not just sew a little flag on them like they do back home?" Inuyasha complained.
"Because flags change so often," Kagome scolded. "You have to remember Inuyasha, this tournament has been around for hundreds of years, longer then our country has even existed. I think we should do it their way."
"And you're always right?" he grumbled.
"See, your life would be a whole lot easier if you only realized that." He snorted and Kagome smiled. "What are you going to do until the banquet?" she asked him once they neared their cabin again.
"I dunno, what are you doing?"
"Kouga invited me to come with him while exploring the grounds," Kagome said, watching him out of the corner of her eyes. Just as expected, her bristled at the mention of Kouga's name, but he didn't say anything. "Why don't you come with us?" she offered.
"And ruin your date?" he spat.
"It's not a date," Kagome said with a reproachful glare. "Am I not allowed to have friends now?"
"I didn't say you couldn't," Inuyasha retorted. "But....Kouga?"
"Yes, Kouga," Kagome said with her hands on her hips. With a sigh she fumbled with her key and opened the door of the cabin for them. "I swear, you can be such a baby sometimes Inuyasha."
"I am not a baby," he retorted as he stormed through the door. "I resent that."
"Then stop being jealous," she responded, slamming the door behind her as she followed him inside.
"I am not jealous of Kouga!" Inuyasha insisted, dumping the new clothes on the couch.
"Then come with us," Kagome said again, not backing down an inch. Inuyasha used on her a glare that had sent grown men cowering from a room. She only thinned her lips and crossed her arms over her chest, like he was an impertinent child.
"I will not be bullied into going out with you and your little admirer."
"Then admit you are jealous," Kagome insisted.
"I'm not jealous," he rebutted. "You're just looking for a reason to justify why I won't approve of your running around with that idiot!"
"I'm not running around with anyone!" Kagome scoffed. "I'm going for a walk with the only decent person I've met in Japan. And so far, I'm liking him a lot better than I am the man I came here with!"
That stung, and Inuyasha retaliated. "Good, than I hope you have a great time with your new friend Kouga!"
"I will!"
"But after he fucks with you, don't come to me because all you'll get is a big fat 'I told you so'!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kagome asked angrily.
"That means what it sounds like," Inuyasha threw back at her. "The only lasting relationship you've ever had in your life has been with a fucking cancer patient! So you go ahead and screw around with Kouga, but know one thing, Miss Kagome Sonya Higurashi, you fucking suck in your choice of men."
Kagome stood there for a long moment, not knowing whether to hit him or burst into tears. The choice was taken from her when her eyes overflowed against her will. He wasn't worth seeing her cry. Kagome just shook her head. "Yeah," she said at last, her voice cracking. "Fucking right I suck at picking men, I picked you didn't I?"
Inuyasha knew he overstepped and felt remorse immediately. He took a step forward, an apology on the tip of his tongue. "Kagome I-"
"Save it," she said roughly, holding up one hand while she swiped the tears out from underneath her eyes. "I shouldn't have come here." And with that she walked out the door. Inuyasha was tempted to go after her, but there was nothing he could say the make it up to her right now. She'd hate him, he'd let her. She'd have to come back sometime. He'd wait. Maybe in a few hours she wouldn't hate him as much, at least enough to listen to him grovel like a fool.
"Why am I an idiot?" Inuyasha yelled at himself, falling back on to the lumpy couch and pulling the pillow over his face. "The only good thing I have in my life, and I always fuck it up." Oh, it would be a cold day in hell before Inuyasha Dai ever did something right, a cold day indeed. Oh no, he wasn't jealous, he was just self-destructive.
A/N: Okay, here's chapter 9. 10 is on the way, gimme a few days and it's yours. Oh, getting juicy on you, isn't it? One more thing, for all those who don't know what a Pikey is (you would know if you ever see the movie 'Snatch'--excellent flick by the way, if you like Brad Pitt or movies with guys that gamble, hehe). A Pikey is an Irish-English gypsy, they live like nomads in the UK and they speak a refined version of English/Gaelic. It sounds really awesome. Anyway, thanks for reading and please review!