Disclaimer: The usual...
A/N: YEA!!! It's almost over!! Shoot, I was getting tired of this thing. Lol.
I got feedback, and I'm glad. So far I haven't gotten any flames. I wonder why? Not that that's a bad thing. ^_^
Anyway, this is a very. . .uh. . .erm. . .long chapter. Cause I need to put a lot in here.
About the German grammatical stuff, I used Google Language Translator for everything, so don't blame me! Thank you for pointing it out!!! Hee hee!!
I had to write down everything I thought up, which means I used about 150 pages for this story. More then this story will ever equal up to. I've already figured out how to end this and I haven't even gotten to the middle at this point. Here's hoping!
I don't think this chapter will be quite 4,000 words like the last but it will be long, cause I got the epilogue to write as well. Although it isn't vital to the story it is something everyone should anticipate. (Listen to me! Sounding all intelligent with these big words! ^_~)
So here we go! The final chapter before the epilogue!! V^_~
(This chapter is the result of writing while listening to Stan- by Eminem ((A very depressing song)) so please bear.)
*--*--*
Chapter 16: Underestimating a Hanyou P2
"STOP!!!!"
Everything stopped. It was quiet for a long while.
Everyone turned to a gasping Kagome as she caught her breath. "This. . .fighting. . .is r-really stupid. Please. . .please stop it. . . "she said quietly as tears streamed her face.
Inuyasha stood up straight, biting his lip as he watched the hurt on her face. "Kagome. . ." he stepped forward, about to go to her when he was pulled down by the fallen Tsuyuko. Tsuyuko dragged him along the ground.
Inuyasha unsheathed his katana, untransformed and jabbed it into the youkai's leg, making him scream in pain. Thus dropping Inuyasha's already injured leg and falling to the ground, rolling around in pain.
Inuyasha wiped his chin, panting lightly. "Aren't you persistent." He muttered between pants.
"More then you know."
Inuyasha was tackled from behind and fell into a now empty heap of clothing that had once been worn by Tsuyuko.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled as she watched in horror.
Tsuyuko had pulled out a short sword and a handgun. Holding them both to the hanyou's neck.
"Hanyou's ain't got squat. Try 'n fight and I blow your head off." He held his hand on the trigger, pulling it half way.
Kagome held her hands tightly over her mouth, not able to do anything and knowing that her youkai half was less then willing to come out, plus she had no control over it.
"Oh. . .no." Inuyasha muttered sarcastically. "Tai-youkai ain't got squat, either. Seeing that you haven't realized I've got you pinned." Inuyasha smirked as he did a move as fast as light, landing on top of Tsuyuko and pointing the gun at his throat, the short sword thrown across the gravel.
Kagome didn't relax though. Having been around the youkai, Tsuyuko, for longer then she needed she knew his tricks, his faces, and his movements. And right now, his shocked face, in her 'Dictionary-Of-Faces-To-Watch-Out- For' was the face for, 'I've got him now, ready to pull the knife and slice his leg off'.
And that's what he did, only he missed the leg and struck Inuyasha's arm, slicing through the skin, bone, and every other thing that's in a limb.
Inuyasha just winced as he rolled off top of Tsuyuko, clutching his shoulder.
Kagome ran to him and stared down at him in horror. "I. . .Inuyasha. . .please don't. . ."
He groaned. "I'm not gonna die. . .yet." he muttered as he rolled over, showing her his bruised and cut up face and body.
Kagome fell to her knees, her hands to her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
"Oh lord, don't cry now." Inuyasha said angrily as he reached up with a bloodied hand and wiped her cheeks. "It's annoying."
Kagome laughed a short laugh and held his hand against her cheek. "Tsuyuko passed out, so rest before you go at it again."
"Thanks for caring." Inuyasha said flatly, but he smiled again nonetheless.
"Doesn't it hurt?" Kagome asked. Her face filled with concern for his missing limb.
"Nope. Can't feel a think, only a little tickle when some blood comes out." He said as he touched it and winced. "And when I touch a nerve."
Kagome sniffed as she looked down at her lap. "This is all my fault, if I hadn't. . .been such a wuss and gone to you then. . .you would never have been in this state."
"Shut up, it's not your fault." He said as he sat up, the sleeve of his haori hanging by two thin pieces of thread on either side. His face hardened up as he stood, unsteadily, and glared over Kagome's head. "Get outta the way." He said, in a soft but urgent voice.
"Uh. . .right." Kagome got her feet as quickly as she could and scrambled away, falling to her knees next to Sango, Souta, and Miroku, who had just gotten up and were looking at something.
Kagome looked over her shoulder at them, then went over to their secluded circle.
She gasped. "H-Hi, Kagome."
*
Inuyasha fell to one knee as his arm dripped another full stream of blood.
"Didn't my attack *prove* how dumb Hanyou's are?" the youkai said as he wiped blood form his won lip. They had done a face off for a few minutes before actually saying a word. "And without your sword arm you won't be able to do much, will you?"
Inuyasha smirked as he wiped his chin of blood as well. "Wrong." Was all he said as he picked up Tetsusaiga from by his feet and transformed it. "I tried to easy on you, seeing that you're like family to Kagome, but right now, I think a little revenge is in order." He swung Tetsusaiga down, his hand strained and wrists tight.
"Family? To that wench? I'd rather spit up frogs. That human woman I knocked up was just a pawn to harbor my child, and seeing that she's dead I can now use the carcass of a hanyou and merge it with a tai-youkai, making him the most powerful youkai in the world." He smirked. "The tai-youkai is I."
He held up the bloody body of the unborn child and smirked.
Inuyasha didn't say a word, just glared and bit his lip as more blood gushed from his wound. "And how are you going to do that?" Inuyasha asked, his voice hoarse but a triumphant smirk on his face. 'I've already won if he's trying to pull a stunt like this,' he thought as his smirk grew wider, 'Whatever he does he'll be exhausted afterwards. I'll take my chance after that.'
*
Kagome almost cried as she scooped the tattered Shippou into her arms. "Shippou-chan! What happened to you? We were worried!" she cried into his shoulder as she held him tightly.
"He ran away." Sango said as she held her bleeding side.
"I didn't run away!" Shippou said as he turned around to glare at Sango. "I was looking for something and I fell into a ditch. Then, when I woke up, I was in the middle of this very noisy place, with people walking all over, and big metal things rolling around on black ground. Kagome! I was scared!" he wailed into her shoulder as he hugged her with his small arms.
"I'm sorry, Shippo-chan." Kagome said softly as she rubbed his back. "I'm really sorry."
Shippou pulled away a bit to look at her. "I met a nice lady and she showed me here, she told me not to cry when I saw Inuyasha, and that everything would be alright. When I looked back, she was gone." He said, wiping his eyes with his small hands. "What did she mean 'When I see Inuyasha'?"
Kagome lowered her eyes, biting her lip. "Just sit and watch, Shippou-chan, that's all we can do."
So they all turned around, Miroku leaning against Sango's shoulder, Shippou in Kagome's arms, Souta already asleep from exhaustion against Kagome's shoulder, and Kagome sitting on her knees, watching and sweating with fear for Inuyasha.
*
(I'm really dragging this out, aren't I?)
*
"How am I going about in doing this, you ask?" Tsuyuko smirked as well. "I see you anticipate the action." He indicated Inuyasha's own smirk.
Inuyasha held the hilt of Tetsusaiga tighter as he watched, his smirked pasted on his lips.
Tsuyuko's smirk slipped quickly, his hands clutching the dead child tightly. He lifted it to his face and licked his lips before biting into it and chewing.
Inuyasha looked away, shaking the bad image out of his mind. "That's just sick. Eating a dead body." He muttered.
Inuyasha dared a look to check if the youkai was done. He was, and pulsating.
Inuyasha took his chance and jumped forward. Without a sound he did the hardest thing he thought possible. Swung the Kaze no Kizu with one arm, muttering the saying in his mind with full power.
The result was satisfying as the rays of power shot out, slicing a surprised Tsuyuko and leaving everyone in the vicinity blinded temporarily.
When his vision was returned, Inuyasha landed on the ground, falling forward and holding himself up by Tetsusaiga, thrusted into the ground.
Kagome immediately ran up to him, not caring what the results of the powerful attack had left.
"Inuyasha! Are you alright?" she asked as she clung onto his neck and looked up at his face.
He panting hard with his eyes slightly closed. "Yeah. . .fine. . .did I kill him?" he asked, looking forward at the battle scene.
Kagome squinted at the remains of clothing and blood splattered everywhere. "I think you got him. Unless he's like Naraku and was using a puppet." Kagome said and smiled down at him, tears prickling the corners of her eyes as her smile widened.
"I doubt that." He said and they both shared a cheerful laugh.
*--*--*
Everything had settled down. Well, sort of. The police came knocking at the doors first thing in the morning, asking why in heavens name there were large, deep, bloody, gashes in the ground of the shrine. Jichan had come home right after the battle had occurred, dropped his bags and wept on the spot.
Kagome had treated Inuyasha meager wounds and, after much pestering and persuasion, forced him to cover his ears and come with her to the hospital, to get it looked at.
But getting him there was the least of her troubles. The doctors messing around with it was hell. He threatened, growled, bit at, and punched every person who tried to help.
"Please, Inuyasha, just *let* them help. It won't kill you to have your arm looked at." Kagome pleaded as she watched him from one of the chairs in the room.
"What arm?" he snapped. "I only have one arm. How the hell am I supposed to fight people with one arm, hmm?"
"Sesshoumaru has one arm and you don't hear him complaining. He probably got that toad to clean it out and dress it and everything so it didn't get INFECTED! She stressed on the last word as she got up and got in his face. "You're so stupid sometimes! Whenever someone trys to help you turn them away! Lighten up and open the blinds! There are people who care if you die from something we could've prevented!"
She panted a bit, let go of his hair she had grabbed during her outburst and sighed. "Nothing gets through you thick head, does it?" she muttered.
"I heard that!" he said angrily. "What're you yelling at me for? I just saved you ass from gettin' killed by that bastard and all you can do is yell at me? I don't find that very welcoming--." He was interrupted by the window of the hospital room sliding open and a ball of fur flying in, latching itself onto Inuyasha's chest.
"What the--?"
"Inuyasha!! You almost died! You only have one arm! Now you look stupider then before!" Shippou wailed into his shirt.
Inuyasha peeled him off with a dry look. "Hey, you should be glad I'm even alive."
"Don't push it, dog-breath. I only care cause Kagome would be sad if you died." Shippou said as he crossed his arms and turned his head away.
Inuyasha dropped him to the ground, getting a loud "Hey!" and a kick in the shin by Shippou.
Sango stepped into the room, holding her chest and looking very startled. "I thought I was going to fall to my death, so high up." She muttered as she sat down on the plastic chair next to Kagome. "Kagome-chan, are you sure your grandfather can help Houshi-sama? He seems kinda. . ." Sango stopped and bit her lip.
"Inexperienced? Unworthy? Stupid? Old? C'mon Sango say it!" Kagome said playfully as she nudged the other girl in the arm.
"No. . .you pretty much summed it all up there." Sango said as she rubbed her arm and looked at the ground with a faint blush.
*
Inuyasha finally let a doctor treat his arm. Although it wasn't by choice. It was because Kagome had ordered the doctor to shoot him up with some Morphine.
Anyway, he was no happy doggy after that. He growled at everyone and everything (except Kagome, of course!) and almost bit the mailman, had Kagome not pulled him by his arm and dragged him up the many stairs to the press swarmed shrine.
"You're such a baby, Inuyasha." Kagome muttered as they finally reached the top.
"Shut up! I'll act how I want." He muttered as he let Kagome drag him into the house and up to her room.
Sango, Shippou, and Miroku were in the kitchen- Kagome had called a "We're Home!" and received a "Welcome Back!" from Jichan, Shippou, and Sango. Miroku was knocked out form some "remedy" Jichan was try on him- and Souta was in the living room staring a blank screen –Kagome left him alone. She would want to be if she didn't have a cranky Inuyasha to give a talking to.
Once they entered the room and Kagome had closed the door, she moved the window sill and beckoned Inuyasha to sit next to her. She swung her legs over the edge and swung them against the siding of the house.
Inuyasha followed suit.
They were silent for an enjoyable few minutes before Inuyasha spoke up.
"Doesn't it hurt? Your mother was killed because she was going to have that guys kid. . .and you didn't even get to have a parting word with her." He said, his voice filled with the hurt of how it felt when his own mother had been killed.
"Yes. It hurts a lot. Too much to bear." Kagome said.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, looking over at her. "You hide it pretty good." He muttered.
"It's a masking technique. After winter's of torment I taught myself a poker face."
Inuyasha said nothing. "Do you play poker often?"
Kagome laughed. "No. . .not recently anyway. Bet'cha I could win." She said as she nudged him with her elbow.
He grabbed her wrist and forced her to look at him. "C'mon, show me the real face you're hiding." He said.
Kagome bit the inside on her mouth. Her face almost dripping with pain, anger, fear, and despair. "Y'know. . .it's your fault, too, I had to make this cover face." She glared at him as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"My fault?" he said as he let her snatch her hand away. "What'd I do to make you wanna hide your feelings?"
"You were mean, insensitive, cocky, egotistical, ignorant, and rude! I can't count how many time's I've had to put the complete opposite of what I feeling in front of Sango-chan and Miroku-sama and Shippo-chan." She said angrily as she kicked her foot hard, her shoe flying off.
They both watched it hit a reporter on the head and dove into the room as cameras flashed in their direction. Why the press wanted to see they was beyond them.
Kagome sighed as she stood and sat on her bed, her legs crossed underneath her, Inuyasha sitting Indian style on the floor in front of her.
"Y'know. . .winter isn't that bad, if you think of all the good prospects." She said as she spotted Buyo slumbering on the end of her bed. She dragged him to her lap, Buyo regarding her with a small, un cat like meow before snuggling up against the back of her thighs for a longer nap.
"Like what?" Inuyasha asked as he turned his body around with one hand and leaning his back against the bed and closing his eyes, listening to Buyo purr and Kagome talk.
"Winter is beautiful. With it's snow and icicles. How, when it's cold enough, you breath out and your breath is a cloud in front of you. Wearing stylish winter outfits, watching your 6 year old brother trip and fall face first into a frozen block of dog poop, listening to people sing outside your door. Christmas." Kagome sighed. "Although, for a drunken youkai like Tsuyuko it's the best time for drinking."
"What's Christmas?" Inuyasha asked.
"A holiday where you celebrate the birth of Christ. . .or was it the death of Jesus. Oh, I don't know who lived or died, I'm not Christian, but it's a wonderful holiday to be with the ones you love, renew yourself, and give someone you love something you know they'll love.
Inuyasha was silent. "What do people give to their loved ones?" he asked, sounding deep in thought.
"Usually clothes, if it's your grandparents, or toys to a younger child, maybe jewelry to a mom or wife or girlfriend, some men even propose or confess their love to their lovers." Kagome sighed. "Unfortunately I've never got that. "she muttered "But Christmas is the most romantic holiday, next to Valentines Day, that is."
Inuyasha didn't even bother asking about Valentines Day, already knowing that it would probably be more soft words from Kagome.
"But, Inuyasha, what's up with you? You're actually listening. She pulled the hat he was wearing off his ears and pulled them.
"Hey!" he yelled, swatting her hands away.
Kagome giggled. "Is your arm bothering you? I could give you some pain killers or something." She asked seriously as she pushed Buyo off her lap and sat next to him.
"It's not my arm. . ." he muttered. He was sulking.
Kagome sighed and leaned against the bed, closing her eyes. "Today can by our Christmas, if you want." She said.
Inuyasha flushed and look toward the window. "I don't think I'm quite ready for that."
Kagome laughed a short laugh, then stood. "I'm going to check on Souta and Shippou-chan." She said as she walked to the door and closed it after herself.
Inuyasha kept his face turned toward the window. "Christmas. . .huh." he sighed as he rubbed his shoulder. "maybe I'll give it a shot."
*--*--*
Winter was in full blast, the environmental clean-up crew had come and cleaned the blood from the ground and filled the "scars" with new gravel.
Kagome had gone back to school, after taking a leave of absence for having a cold, and did her usual routine. Coming home and checking Inuyasha's shoulder to see if it was healing, it was, and helping Miroku recover from three cracked ribs and a punctured lung.
Souta was the hardest to cheer up.
One night she sat down with him, putting her arm around his shoulder. "Souta, you wanna talk about it? You've been staring at the TV for days without turning it on or anything." Kagome said as he leaned against her shoulder.
"Mama's dead. . .and the father guy is dead too. And Jichan's old, and that social worker guy said he's going to start living here to help out with me." He spilled his problems monotonously out into the open.
"I didn't know social workers could stay in homes." Kagome said as she raised an eyebrow but she shrugged it off.
"He's quitting to become a full time "mom". I think he's a homosexual--."
"Souta!"
"—and I don't want him living here with us. Couldn't you just stay and be the mom?" he asked as he leaned against her shoulder.
Kagome rubbed his back, a concerned look on her face. "I'm sorry, Souta, but I can't. Not until I finish the journey. Stopping in the middle isn't a very wise thing. Plus I can't leave Shippou-chan, or Sango, or Miroku, or Inuyasha. They all mean so much to me and leaving them would break my heart."
Souta sniffed. "But living here with a gay guy and Jichan is even worst! You're only here like once a week and even then I only see you for a second."
Kagome sighed, knowing what it felt like to be neglected at such a young age. "Souta. . .Souta, Souta, Souta. . .how do you know you'll hate the guy before you even start living with him." Kagome smiled. "I heard gay men are the best people to go shopping with."
"But only girls have fun with gay guys cause they're like one of them. I'm a guy! What if he tries to feel me up?" he asked.
"You're being hysterical, Souta. You're only, like 8 years old. What kinda pervert would want an 8 year old boy?" she didn't let him answer that. "Souta, try it. I promise it won't be horrible. Just invite your friends over all the time and play a lot of video games, okay? I'll come home more often and spend time with you, I promise."
Souta sniffed. "Okay. . .You better." He growled as he wiped his face.
Kagome grabbed a tissue from the coffee table tissue box and wiped his nose. "Just remember, you don't have to worry about winter's any more." She said as she held him close once more.
"The nightmare's over, Souta, we can rest now."
*--*--*--*
A/N: That's half a wrap!! OK! I think that was a crappy ending, don't you?
Now, I didn't re-read the whole thing, and with the spell check I didn't change some of the grammatical errors because I didn't' like how any of what I changed it to sounded. So if it sounds really bad, too bad to bear, review nastily and I'll re-read the whole thing!
^_~
I cut off Inuyasha's arm!! Bwahahaha!! Well, actually Tsuyuko did but whatever.
I stayed home today because I'm sick so I was able to write this chapter lightening fast.
Reviewer's thank you's will be on the epilogue, okay?
I can't wait to write the epilogue!! Hee hee!! This is, like, the first story I ever finished!! Lol!!
TWG, I noticed, was born the day after my birthday! 10/13/04, my B-Day is 10/12. That's kool I didn't know that. . .
Anyway, the fluff will be very present in the epilogue, a kiss, a crappy ending saying and a cheesy gay guy gushing over Jichan! Hee hee!! Can't wait!!!
Love yal!!!
-Ritsuko Herb//Herb-chan
Finally the finale:
Epilogue
A/N: YEA!!! It's almost over!! Shoot, I was getting tired of this thing. Lol.
I got feedback, and I'm glad. So far I haven't gotten any flames. I wonder why? Not that that's a bad thing. ^_^
Anyway, this is a very. . .uh. . .erm. . .long chapter. Cause I need to put a lot in here.
About the German grammatical stuff, I used Google Language Translator for everything, so don't blame me! Thank you for pointing it out!!! Hee hee!!
I had to write down everything I thought up, which means I used about 150 pages for this story. More then this story will ever equal up to. I've already figured out how to end this and I haven't even gotten to the middle at this point. Here's hoping!
I don't think this chapter will be quite 4,000 words like the last but it will be long, cause I got the epilogue to write as well. Although it isn't vital to the story it is something everyone should anticipate. (Listen to me! Sounding all intelligent with these big words! ^_~)
So here we go! The final chapter before the epilogue!! V^_~
(This chapter is the result of writing while listening to Stan- by Eminem ((A very depressing song)) so please bear.)
*--*--*
Chapter 16: Underestimating a Hanyou P2
"STOP!!!!"
Everything stopped. It was quiet for a long while.
Everyone turned to a gasping Kagome as she caught her breath. "This. . .fighting. . .is r-really stupid. Please. . .please stop it. . . "she said quietly as tears streamed her face.
Inuyasha stood up straight, biting his lip as he watched the hurt on her face. "Kagome. . ." he stepped forward, about to go to her when he was pulled down by the fallen Tsuyuko. Tsuyuko dragged him along the ground.
Inuyasha unsheathed his katana, untransformed and jabbed it into the youkai's leg, making him scream in pain. Thus dropping Inuyasha's already injured leg and falling to the ground, rolling around in pain.
Inuyasha wiped his chin, panting lightly. "Aren't you persistent." He muttered between pants.
"More then you know."
Inuyasha was tackled from behind and fell into a now empty heap of clothing that had once been worn by Tsuyuko.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled as she watched in horror.
Tsuyuko had pulled out a short sword and a handgun. Holding them both to the hanyou's neck.
"Hanyou's ain't got squat. Try 'n fight and I blow your head off." He held his hand on the trigger, pulling it half way.
Kagome held her hands tightly over her mouth, not able to do anything and knowing that her youkai half was less then willing to come out, plus she had no control over it.
"Oh. . .no." Inuyasha muttered sarcastically. "Tai-youkai ain't got squat, either. Seeing that you haven't realized I've got you pinned." Inuyasha smirked as he did a move as fast as light, landing on top of Tsuyuko and pointing the gun at his throat, the short sword thrown across the gravel.
Kagome didn't relax though. Having been around the youkai, Tsuyuko, for longer then she needed she knew his tricks, his faces, and his movements. And right now, his shocked face, in her 'Dictionary-Of-Faces-To-Watch-Out- For' was the face for, 'I've got him now, ready to pull the knife and slice his leg off'.
And that's what he did, only he missed the leg and struck Inuyasha's arm, slicing through the skin, bone, and every other thing that's in a limb.
Inuyasha just winced as he rolled off top of Tsuyuko, clutching his shoulder.
Kagome ran to him and stared down at him in horror. "I. . .Inuyasha. . .please don't. . ."
He groaned. "I'm not gonna die. . .yet." he muttered as he rolled over, showing her his bruised and cut up face and body.
Kagome fell to her knees, her hands to her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
"Oh lord, don't cry now." Inuyasha said angrily as he reached up with a bloodied hand and wiped her cheeks. "It's annoying."
Kagome laughed a short laugh and held his hand against her cheek. "Tsuyuko passed out, so rest before you go at it again."
"Thanks for caring." Inuyasha said flatly, but he smiled again nonetheless.
"Doesn't it hurt?" Kagome asked. Her face filled with concern for his missing limb.
"Nope. Can't feel a think, only a little tickle when some blood comes out." He said as he touched it and winced. "And when I touch a nerve."
Kagome sniffed as she looked down at her lap. "This is all my fault, if I hadn't. . .been such a wuss and gone to you then. . .you would never have been in this state."
"Shut up, it's not your fault." He said as he sat up, the sleeve of his haori hanging by two thin pieces of thread on either side. His face hardened up as he stood, unsteadily, and glared over Kagome's head. "Get outta the way." He said, in a soft but urgent voice.
"Uh. . .right." Kagome got her feet as quickly as she could and scrambled away, falling to her knees next to Sango, Souta, and Miroku, who had just gotten up and were looking at something.
Kagome looked over her shoulder at them, then went over to their secluded circle.
She gasped. "H-Hi, Kagome."
*
Inuyasha fell to one knee as his arm dripped another full stream of blood.
"Didn't my attack *prove* how dumb Hanyou's are?" the youkai said as he wiped blood form his won lip. They had done a face off for a few minutes before actually saying a word. "And without your sword arm you won't be able to do much, will you?"
Inuyasha smirked as he wiped his chin of blood as well. "Wrong." Was all he said as he picked up Tetsusaiga from by his feet and transformed it. "I tried to easy on you, seeing that you're like family to Kagome, but right now, I think a little revenge is in order." He swung Tetsusaiga down, his hand strained and wrists tight.
"Family? To that wench? I'd rather spit up frogs. That human woman I knocked up was just a pawn to harbor my child, and seeing that she's dead I can now use the carcass of a hanyou and merge it with a tai-youkai, making him the most powerful youkai in the world." He smirked. "The tai-youkai is I."
He held up the bloody body of the unborn child and smirked.
Inuyasha didn't say a word, just glared and bit his lip as more blood gushed from his wound. "And how are you going to do that?" Inuyasha asked, his voice hoarse but a triumphant smirk on his face. 'I've already won if he's trying to pull a stunt like this,' he thought as his smirk grew wider, 'Whatever he does he'll be exhausted afterwards. I'll take my chance after that.'
*
Kagome almost cried as she scooped the tattered Shippou into her arms. "Shippou-chan! What happened to you? We were worried!" she cried into his shoulder as she held him tightly.
"He ran away." Sango said as she held her bleeding side.
"I didn't run away!" Shippou said as he turned around to glare at Sango. "I was looking for something and I fell into a ditch. Then, when I woke up, I was in the middle of this very noisy place, with people walking all over, and big metal things rolling around on black ground. Kagome! I was scared!" he wailed into her shoulder as he hugged her with his small arms.
"I'm sorry, Shippo-chan." Kagome said softly as she rubbed his back. "I'm really sorry."
Shippou pulled away a bit to look at her. "I met a nice lady and she showed me here, she told me not to cry when I saw Inuyasha, and that everything would be alright. When I looked back, she was gone." He said, wiping his eyes with his small hands. "What did she mean 'When I see Inuyasha'?"
Kagome lowered her eyes, biting her lip. "Just sit and watch, Shippou-chan, that's all we can do."
So they all turned around, Miroku leaning against Sango's shoulder, Shippou in Kagome's arms, Souta already asleep from exhaustion against Kagome's shoulder, and Kagome sitting on her knees, watching and sweating with fear for Inuyasha.
*
(I'm really dragging this out, aren't I?)
*
"How am I going about in doing this, you ask?" Tsuyuko smirked as well. "I see you anticipate the action." He indicated Inuyasha's own smirk.
Inuyasha held the hilt of Tetsusaiga tighter as he watched, his smirked pasted on his lips.
Tsuyuko's smirk slipped quickly, his hands clutching the dead child tightly. He lifted it to his face and licked his lips before biting into it and chewing.
Inuyasha looked away, shaking the bad image out of his mind. "That's just sick. Eating a dead body." He muttered.
Inuyasha dared a look to check if the youkai was done. He was, and pulsating.
Inuyasha took his chance and jumped forward. Without a sound he did the hardest thing he thought possible. Swung the Kaze no Kizu with one arm, muttering the saying in his mind with full power.
The result was satisfying as the rays of power shot out, slicing a surprised Tsuyuko and leaving everyone in the vicinity blinded temporarily.
When his vision was returned, Inuyasha landed on the ground, falling forward and holding himself up by Tetsusaiga, thrusted into the ground.
Kagome immediately ran up to him, not caring what the results of the powerful attack had left.
"Inuyasha! Are you alright?" she asked as she clung onto his neck and looked up at his face.
He panting hard with his eyes slightly closed. "Yeah. . .fine. . .did I kill him?" he asked, looking forward at the battle scene.
Kagome squinted at the remains of clothing and blood splattered everywhere. "I think you got him. Unless he's like Naraku and was using a puppet." Kagome said and smiled down at him, tears prickling the corners of her eyes as her smile widened.
"I doubt that." He said and they both shared a cheerful laugh.
*--*--*
Everything had settled down. Well, sort of. The police came knocking at the doors first thing in the morning, asking why in heavens name there were large, deep, bloody, gashes in the ground of the shrine. Jichan had come home right after the battle had occurred, dropped his bags and wept on the spot.
Kagome had treated Inuyasha meager wounds and, after much pestering and persuasion, forced him to cover his ears and come with her to the hospital, to get it looked at.
But getting him there was the least of her troubles. The doctors messing around with it was hell. He threatened, growled, bit at, and punched every person who tried to help.
"Please, Inuyasha, just *let* them help. It won't kill you to have your arm looked at." Kagome pleaded as she watched him from one of the chairs in the room.
"What arm?" he snapped. "I only have one arm. How the hell am I supposed to fight people with one arm, hmm?"
"Sesshoumaru has one arm and you don't hear him complaining. He probably got that toad to clean it out and dress it and everything so it didn't get INFECTED! She stressed on the last word as she got up and got in his face. "You're so stupid sometimes! Whenever someone trys to help you turn them away! Lighten up and open the blinds! There are people who care if you die from something we could've prevented!"
She panted a bit, let go of his hair she had grabbed during her outburst and sighed. "Nothing gets through you thick head, does it?" she muttered.
"I heard that!" he said angrily. "What're you yelling at me for? I just saved you ass from gettin' killed by that bastard and all you can do is yell at me? I don't find that very welcoming--." He was interrupted by the window of the hospital room sliding open and a ball of fur flying in, latching itself onto Inuyasha's chest.
"What the--?"
"Inuyasha!! You almost died! You only have one arm! Now you look stupider then before!" Shippou wailed into his shirt.
Inuyasha peeled him off with a dry look. "Hey, you should be glad I'm even alive."
"Don't push it, dog-breath. I only care cause Kagome would be sad if you died." Shippou said as he crossed his arms and turned his head away.
Inuyasha dropped him to the ground, getting a loud "Hey!" and a kick in the shin by Shippou.
Sango stepped into the room, holding her chest and looking very startled. "I thought I was going to fall to my death, so high up." She muttered as she sat down on the plastic chair next to Kagome. "Kagome-chan, are you sure your grandfather can help Houshi-sama? He seems kinda. . ." Sango stopped and bit her lip.
"Inexperienced? Unworthy? Stupid? Old? C'mon Sango say it!" Kagome said playfully as she nudged the other girl in the arm.
"No. . .you pretty much summed it all up there." Sango said as she rubbed her arm and looked at the ground with a faint blush.
*
Inuyasha finally let a doctor treat his arm. Although it wasn't by choice. It was because Kagome had ordered the doctor to shoot him up with some Morphine.
Anyway, he was no happy doggy after that. He growled at everyone and everything (except Kagome, of course!) and almost bit the mailman, had Kagome not pulled him by his arm and dragged him up the many stairs to the press swarmed shrine.
"You're such a baby, Inuyasha." Kagome muttered as they finally reached the top.
"Shut up! I'll act how I want." He muttered as he let Kagome drag him into the house and up to her room.
Sango, Shippou, and Miroku were in the kitchen- Kagome had called a "We're Home!" and received a "Welcome Back!" from Jichan, Shippou, and Sango. Miroku was knocked out form some "remedy" Jichan was try on him- and Souta was in the living room staring a blank screen –Kagome left him alone. She would want to be if she didn't have a cranky Inuyasha to give a talking to.
Once they entered the room and Kagome had closed the door, she moved the window sill and beckoned Inuyasha to sit next to her. She swung her legs over the edge and swung them against the siding of the house.
Inuyasha followed suit.
They were silent for an enjoyable few minutes before Inuyasha spoke up.
"Doesn't it hurt? Your mother was killed because she was going to have that guys kid. . .and you didn't even get to have a parting word with her." He said, his voice filled with the hurt of how it felt when his own mother had been killed.
"Yes. It hurts a lot. Too much to bear." Kagome said.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, looking over at her. "You hide it pretty good." He muttered.
"It's a masking technique. After winter's of torment I taught myself a poker face."
Inuyasha said nothing. "Do you play poker often?"
Kagome laughed. "No. . .not recently anyway. Bet'cha I could win." She said as she nudged him with her elbow.
He grabbed her wrist and forced her to look at him. "C'mon, show me the real face you're hiding." He said.
Kagome bit the inside on her mouth. Her face almost dripping with pain, anger, fear, and despair. "Y'know. . .it's your fault, too, I had to make this cover face." She glared at him as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"My fault?" he said as he let her snatch her hand away. "What'd I do to make you wanna hide your feelings?"
"You were mean, insensitive, cocky, egotistical, ignorant, and rude! I can't count how many time's I've had to put the complete opposite of what I feeling in front of Sango-chan and Miroku-sama and Shippo-chan." She said angrily as she kicked her foot hard, her shoe flying off.
They both watched it hit a reporter on the head and dove into the room as cameras flashed in their direction. Why the press wanted to see they was beyond them.
Kagome sighed as she stood and sat on her bed, her legs crossed underneath her, Inuyasha sitting Indian style on the floor in front of her.
"Y'know. . .winter isn't that bad, if you think of all the good prospects." She said as she spotted Buyo slumbering on the end of her bed. She dragged him to her lap, Buyo regarding her with a small, un cat like meow before snuggling up against the back of her thighs for a longer nap.
"Like what?" Inuyasha asked as he turned his body around with one hand and leaning his back against the bed and closing his eyes, listening to Buyo purr and Kagome talk.
"Winter is beautiful. With it's snow and icicles. How, when it's cold enough, you breath out and your breath is a cloud in front of you. Wearing stylish winter outfits, watching your 6 year old brother trip and fall face first into a frozen block of dog poop, listening to people sing outside your door. Christmas." Kagome sighed. "Although, for a drunken youkai like Tsuyuko it's the best time for drinking."
"What's Christmas?" Inuyasha asked.
"A holiday where you celebrate the birth of Christ. . .or was it the death of Jesus. Oh, I don't know who lived or died, I'm not Christian, but it's a wonderful holiday to be with the ones you love, renew yourself, and give someone you love something you know they'll love.
Inuyasha was silent. "What do people give to their loved ones?" he asked, sounding deep in thought.
"Usually clothes, if it's your grandparents, or toys to a younger child, maybe jewelry to a mom or wife or girlfriend, some men even propose or confess their love to their lovers." Kagome sighed. "Unfortunately I've never got that. "she muttered "But Christmas is the most romantic holiday, next to Valentines Day, that is."
Inuyasha didn't even bother asking about Valentines Day, already knowing that it would probably be more soft words from Kagome.
"But, Inuyasha, what's up with you? You're actually listening. She pulled the hat he was wearing off his ears and pulled them.
"Hey!" he yelled, swatting her hands away.
Kagome giggled. "Is your arm bothering you? I could give you some pain killers or something." She asked seriously as she pushed Buyo off her lap and sat next to him.
"It's not my arm. . ." he muttered. He was sulking.
Kagome sighed and leaned against the bed, closing her eyes. "Today can by our Christmas, if you want." She said.
Inuyasha flushed and look toward the window. "I don't think I'm quite ready for that."
Kagome laughed a short laugh, then stood. "I'm going to check on Souta and Shippou-chan." She said as she walked to the door and closed it after herself.
Inuyasha kept his face turned toward the window. "Christmas. . .huh." he sighed as he rubbed his shoulder. "maybe I'll give it a shot."
*--*--*
Winter was in full blast, the environmental clean-up crew had come and cleaned the blood from the ground and filled the "scars" with new gravel.
Kagome had gone back to school, after taking a leave of absence for having a cold, and did her usual routine. Coming home and checking Inuyasha's shoulder to see if it was healing, it was, and helping Miroku recover from three cracked ribs and a punctured lung.
Souta was the hardest to cheer up.
One night she sat down with him, putting her arm around his shoulder. "Souta, you wanna talk about it? You've been staring at the TV for days without turning it on or anything." Kagome said as he leaned against her shoulder.
"Mama's dead. . .and the father guy is dead too. And Jichan's old, and that social worker guy said he's going to start living here to help out with me." He spilled his problems monotonously out into the open.
"I didn't know social workers could stay in homes." Kagome said as she raised an eyebrow but she shrugged it off.
"He's quitting to become a full time "mom". I think he's a homosexual--."
"Souta!"
"—and I don't want him living here with us. Couldn't you just stay and be the mom?" he asked as he leaned against her shoulder.
Kagome rubbed his back, a concerned look on her face. "I'm sorry, Souta, but I can't. Not until I finish the journey. Stopping in the middle isn't a very wise thing. Plus I can't leave Shippou-chan, or Sango, or Miroku, or Inuyasha. They all mean so much to me and leaving them would break my heart."
Souta sniffed. "But living here with a gay guy and Jichan is even worst! You're only here like once a week and even then I only see you for a second."
Kagome sighed, knowing what it felt like to be neglected at such a young age. "Souta. . .Souta, Souta, Souta. . .how do you know you'll hate the guy before you even start living with him." Kagome smiled. "I heard gay men are the best people to go shopping with."
"But only girls have fun with gay guys cause they're like one of them. I'm a guy! What if he tries to feel me up?" he asked.
"You're being hysterical, Souta. You're only, like 8 years old. What kinda pervert would want an 8 year old boy?" she didn't let him answer that. "Souta, try it. I promise it won't be horrible. Just invite your friends over all the time and play a lot of video games, okay? I'll come home more often and spend time with you, I promise."
Souta sniffed. "Okay. . .You better." He growled as he wiped his face.
Kagome grabbed a tissue from the coffee table tissue box and wiped his nose. "Just remember, you don't have to worry about winter's any more." She said as she held him close once more.
"The nightmare's over, Souta, we can rest now."
*--*--*--*
A/N: That's half a wrap!! OK! I think that was a crappy ending, don't you?
Now, I didn't re-read the whole thing, and with the spell check I didn't change some of the grammatical errors because I didn't' like how any of what I changed it to sounded. So if it sounds really bad, too bad to bear, review nastily and I'll re-read the whole thing!
^_~
I cut off Inuyasha's arm!! Bwahahaha!! Well, actually Tsuyuko did but whatever.
I stayed home today because I'm sick so I was able to write this chapter lightening fast.
Reviewer's thank you's will be on the epilogue, okay?
I can't wait to write the epilogue!! Hee hee!! This is, like, the first story I ever finished!! Lol!!
TWG, I noticed, was born the day after my birthday! 10/13/04, my B-Day is 10/12. That's kool I didn't know that. . .
Anyway, the fluff will be very present in the epilogue, a kiss, a crappy ending saying and a cheesy gay guy gushing over Jichan! Hee hee!! Can't wait!!!
Love yal!!!
-Ritsuko Herb//Herb-chan
Finally the finale:
Epilogue