Ten days

by Kradvity

Chapter 3: Waltz

Well, I had some serious problems with the beginning of this chapter ^-^' I hope it doesn't bother you. Now you readers, if there are things you like/don't like in this story please tell me what they are. Okay?

* * *

The demon stood right in front of me. My brains were working but somehow I couldn't make sense what they tried to tell me to do. Suddenly I wished someone would say 'do that'. But I had to figure everything out myself. I had never felt like that before. It was horrible. I couldn't control my body.

Kagome was bleeding between that monster's teeth. I saw blood dripping from the demons mouth. If it only wasn't Kagome's blood... I really hoped it was the demon who was bleeding.

" Let her go you dirty demon! " I shouted and tightened my hands around Tetsusaiga. I couldn't hit the demons head. I'd hurt also Kagome. The heart. I could strike Tetsusaiga through it's heart. Yeah, I'll do that. But what if I miss? It can kill Kagome. I have to be damn quick. Why didn't Kagome just get the hell out of here? Why didn't I carry her away as I had threatened?

All these thoughts circled in my head only for two seconds.

I jumped towards the demon. This time everything didn't happen in slow motion. I had got used to that and it surprised how fast everything seemed to happen. I saw my target. The slimy and dusty scales shining in the light of the last remaining lantern. Dark green scales. I was worried if Tetsusaiga would broke that barrier but at the time that thought crossed my mind the sword had already sunk into the monster.

It screamed. My ears hurt. That really hurt. It's a miracle my ears aren't still ringing. The worst part of that was the fact I dropped my guard for a few seconds and the demon didn't hesitate to take advantage of my weakness. It swung one of it's sharp limbs and threw me away. My flight stopped into a wooden wall.

I blinked in surprise and relief as I lay in the middle of the piles. My back felt somewhat numb but otherwise I was in full condition. I think I heard a loud 'crack' from my back. The sharp limb hadn't cut my stomach open. Now that was a miracle... My hands shook a little. I didn't get startled. My hands just had a will of their own. Kagome would laugh her head off if she knew my hands shake...

Luckily I had some time to get up. Tetsusaiga was still stuck in the demons heart. But had I missed? It was still moving. Where was Kagome? It had dropped her as he screamed. It was dark but my eyes are better than humans. I couldn't see her. I needed my sword...

A silent moan came from somewhere. There was a huge hole in the wall. I had flown pretty fast and the house paid from it. The villains wouldn't like this... I backed.

" Shippo? " I asked. The little demon appeared from the board pile coughing out dust.

" Shippo! Get Miroku! "

" Where is Kagome? " Shippo muttered. The demon was confused. It tried to get Tetsusaiga off. I had time to think. Miroku could suck that thing into his vortex but before that I'd have to get Tetsusaiga.

" That's why I need Miroku! Just get him here! " I shouted like a madman. Shippo understood and sprinted to the dark forest with unbelievable speed. The little demon wasn't only a burden after all.

I turned back to the demon. I thought I'd never forgive myself if Kagome was dead... Well, I guess I wouldn't have forgiven myself no matter what happened. The demon had attacked the village and I had let it escape from us two times. It wasn't going to happen again.

And that humilitation it gave me when he passed the curse to me... Being saved by someone like Miroku...

" Now you filthy demon... "

They we're the first words that came in to my mind. I know, not a very smart choice again. Why did I always say something like 'filthy' or 'dirty' demon? It's like calling myself an idiot. A half-idiot but anyway. I wanted to be a demon.

In nine days I'd be one...

I jumped towards the demon. I could pull Tetsusaiga out easily now that the target was weaker. The dangerous limbs were flinging somewhere above me. I just had to hope I wouldn't get hit by one. I reached my sword. Easily? What was I thinking? It was stuck. No wonder the demon hadn't got the weapon out itself. There's was no chance I could pull it out. I cursed and jumped away from the demon's reach.

And just when the situation was starting to look hopeless I heard a whizzing noise. I watched as an arrow hit the demons heart right above my Tetsusaiga.

" Don't touch Inu-Yasha you creepy monster! "

I turned around but I was too angry and relieved to be surprised. Kagome, covered in sand and blood, stood in the middle of the pieces of wood that had probably been a table. She was holding Kikyo's bow and looked somewhat ridiculous in her dirty kimono. Brown eyes were gazing the demon. She looked so much like Kikyo. There was that strong glow in her eyes. And at the same time, she was nothing like Kikyo.

But my brains were working on what she had said. Again, I felt like a complete idiot. Did Kagome really mean what she had said? Did she think I couldn't survive on my own? It must be that, right?

" Inu-Yasha! "

The demon was dead. Kagome ran towards me. She looked like she was going to hug me. And I looked like I absolutely didn't want to get hugged. I guess that was what stopped her. And the anger on my face, of course.

" Were you conscious all the time!? " I shouted. Kagome looked at me in surprise. She had obviously been waiting for compliments. She should know me better already...

" Do you think I'd lie there and wait to get smashed if I was conscious?! " Kagome asked back. I felt like I could hit her with something very heavy. Instead of that I hit my fist to the ground because I didn't know what else to do. I felt so much anger inside me. I had failed again. The demon was dead and all I did was to get Tetsusaiga stuck into it without doing any serious harm.

" You broke the ground! " Shippo cried. I blinked. My fist had caused the ground to crumble. There was now a tiny hole in the middle of the village. Kagome looked worried. Miroku and Sango came running from the forest. I noticed it was already morning and the sun was slowly rising.

Eight days...

* * * * *

The village comprised about four whole cottages. The rest of it was more like dusty and sandy wooden mess. And we were supposed to make that look like a village again. Great afternoon coming... Why don't humans live in caves?

I'd been spitting and watching people's work from the roof of one of the remaining houses. I did nothing but sulked for hours. I even stopped spitting when I , by accident, spat to my white, long hair. Luckily no one seemed to notice that...

Maybe I wouldn't have sulked if Kaede had brought good news. Looks like it was too much to ask. The curse hadn't disappeared. We killed the demon but it hadn't worked. Which meant I had eight days before I 'd turn into a demon. It seemed to be far away yet I knew those days would go by very fast.

" Inu-Yasha. "

Leave me alone, Miroku.

" We need your help here. "

Hadn't they noticed anything? I was turning into a demon. The physical transformation would happen at midnight of the tenth day but my mind was already changing into demon's. I was more violent. I didn't listen what they had to say and if I did I shouted at them. When I was fighting the demon getting Tetsusaiga back felt more important than saving Kagome. Not all the time, but I really thought that way for a few seconds. Or was it more than just a few seconds? I realised that after the battle.

I was... well, dangerous? All these things together... they made me look more like a monster. Like a demon. I suddenly shuddered.

Maybe it wasn't because of the curse.

Maybe I had been like all the time.

" Inu-Yasha. We really need your help down here. "

It might have been the fact I was afraid of myself that made me, still reluctantly, jump down and follow Miroku to the ruins of Kaede's cottage.

It was a sunny day. The winter was approaching fast but the sun would be shining up high for a long time before the snow would come. It would have looked like the people were doing their normal duties or playing those stupid games if the village hadn't been wrecked. The sight was comical with all the destroyed decorations hanging from the roofs. It looked funny, but I didn't laugh. The whole village would have attacked me if I had done that.

Kagome and Sango looked at me in a strange way when I arrived. I snorted and tried to look like I didn't care. I don't know if I succeeded.

" Kaede, I'm so sorry your party was ruined ", Kagome said to the old woman who was searching her belongings. The old hag just smiled.

" Oh, don't worry. I've seen enough special occasions and celebrities for one lifetime. I'm glad nothing too serious happened. "

Kaede couldn't move her cauldron she had just found.

" Let me help ", Kagome said but Sango stopped her.

" I suggest you forget it. You don't want to get your arm into worse condition, do you? " she said and helped Kaede herself. Kagome had hurt her arm. It was my fault... Why didn't she run away? Well, in the end it was Kagome who had killed the demon. That sure was embarrassing. If I now said she's always just a burden, I thought, I'd be the one who'd eat the blame. Or was it always me who ate the blame...?

* * * * *

The day had gone so fast I hadn't even noticed I was really tired. Why did I ever help them rebuild the village? Did they thank me? Okay, Kaede did but it doesn't count. She tried to talk to me about my curse. Waste of time... I wasn't going to take any of that shit. I wanted to be a demon. That would happen in eight days. Why was it so bad? Do they want me to be a human? It's me who is carrying the curse. It's me who decides do I turn into a demon or not.

Kaede obviously wanted me to stay as a half-demon. She thinks I'll be good if I don't turn into a demon. I'll be the same Inu-Yasha, just stronger. And maybe a little more violent. But just maybe. Hunger of blood... I could hold myself. And what would they care if I killed someone they don't even know?

Miroku... I suppose he doesn't really care what happens to me. But to keep up with his "holy boy"- imago he says he wants me to be a half-demon.

Then, Sango. She's worried about Kagome. Like Kagome would die in sorrow... Sango is always picking up on me and the worst part of it is that she usually wins. We'll see if she's got nerve to mess with a demon.

Damn... she's an exterminator... I forgot about that.

And Kagome... Everyone think she's so good-hearted and nice. She thinks demons are bad and they shouldn't exist so I should automatically be a human. Not even a half-demon, but human. Why do the humans have to be the dominating race? Why are their morale and habits the only right ones?

The world is unfair. I would be the same Inu-Yasha. Like they even cared about that... If they already hated me then why should I change into a human? There are also bad humans. Who says I wouldn't be one?

The day was turning into night. I had been thinking about going back to the roof where I had been sitting most of my day but after seeing the faces they looked at me with I decided to go somewhere else. The villains blamed me from what had happened. Like I was some kind fo a guardian... They hated me and I hated them and still they sort of expected me to protect them. Typical acting for a human...

The forest was silent and dark again. Someone would have called it beautiful. Like Kagome. The tree I was sitting in was very silent and very dark. They're both good things. But what? Where did the silence go?

Through the leaves I could see Kagome approaching. This time she didn't look worried. More like... determined.

" Inu-Yasha! " she shouted. What now? If Miroku had broke his back or something I would- - -

" Inu-Yasha! I want to talk with you! I know you're here! "

She didn't really mean that. If I didn't show up she'd just turn away. But why did I jump down? Sometimes I do things without thinking first. But now wasn't a good time for it. And still...

" Did Kaede wreck her cottage again? " I asked leaning my back on the tree. Kagome huffed. She had been running.

" Yes... I mean no... Inu-Yasha, I want to thank you... from saving me... "

" Are you an idiot? It was you who killed the demon. Not me! "

" But if you hadn't hit it with Tetsusaiga I would have- - - "

" You don't have to remind me of the fight at all!"

The forest was suddenly uncomfortably silent. My stomach felt weird. I thought I was hungry. And at the same time I knew I wasn't hungry. After a minute I noticed I was staring at Kagome but I was too slow and she noticed it before I managed to turn my face away. Luckily it was dark. I was blushing again. But I had this feeling kagome knew very well that my face was entirely red.

" Inu... "

I blinked. What 'Inu'? Where did she get that from? I was just about to tell her to not to call me that way when she opened her mouth again.

" We could finish that waltz, couldn't we? "

Nothing more? I was almost diappointed. About what, I'm not sure. I don't even know what I had been waiting for.

" Uh... whatever. "

A great answer indeed. But it was enough for Kagome. I hadn't even known I could dance. Or then she just didn't say aloud that I was a lousy dancer. It was weird. That was already the second time I danced with Kagome. Is this what they do in Kagome's time, I thought as I led her among the trees. We were looking into each other eyes. We didn't stumble at all even though we were dancing in a forest.

The air was cool and it was easy to breath. I liked the feeling. I was holding Kagome's hand. I had been afraid my hands would shake but to my surprise they didn't. Everything was too perfect. Dancing wasn't so bad after all...

" Inu? "

We had stopped a long time ago. I would have took a look at my feet just to be sure they really were my feet if I hadn't been staring at the girl standing in front of me. I was almost confused when I noticed she didn't remind me of Kikyo at all. She was just a girl who used Kikyo's bow. Nothing more. Just Kagome. A normal girl. I had never been normal. I had to admit I was jealous. There must be a lots of boys in her time who wanted to dance with her. Why did she ever dance with me, an arrogant, narrow-minded half-demon?

" Inu-Yasha... I think... "

" Yes? "

Our faces were so close I could have touched her nose with mine. I was still holding her hand but neither of us was willing to let go. Kagome took a deep breath but didn't say anything. The forest around was breathing. It must have been the forest. I was almost deaf and blind. I wanted to run away. Then...

" What are you waiting for? For God's sake, Inu-Yasha. Kiss her. "

I got startled and jumped away from Kagome. We both were looking terrified.

" Sango! " I shouted. Sango was staring at us from the nearest bush. I was ready to strangle her. Miroku and Shippo appeared from the same bush.

" If I may say, Inu-Yasha, you're hopeless ", Miroku said shaking his head dramatically.

" I told you nothing would happen! " Shippo cried.

" What were you doing there?! " I roared madly.

Sango sighed.

" Don't worry, Kagome. He'll do it next time ", she said to Kagome, took a grip on her arm and they left the forest leaving me fight with Miroku and Shippo as the sun started to rise.

* * * * *

A/N: I just noticed I've done some silly mistakes when putting these chapters here... And sorry *sweat* It took pretty long to write this ^^' Personally I think this chapter is only some filling. This chap has been pretty unclear in my mind from the very beginning... But it finally finished it *phew* Hope you enjoyed :3