A/N: So sorry about the lack of chapters, really I am! I've been typing chapters to my THREE new stories! So that I can get them all typed and then post them on a reasonable time frame!
Hanyou Neko Miko stands for Half Demon Cat Priestess
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Love or Life
Chapter Six
Three Years
By: Kagome-chan5
Beta: Sango-chan8
"Kagome! Wake up, Kagome!" Kouga yelled, leaning over the lump in the fur pile.
"Hmm?" Kagome mumbled in her half asleep state.
"Today, we will start training Koroko!" Kouga reached down and started lightly shaking Kagome. The lump shifted and Kagome sat up rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"I've," she yawned, "already got plans." She looked at Kouga, slightly apologetically.
"What? With who?" Kouga asked, frowning.
"Me." A voice said from the other fur pile.
"Him?! All day?" Kouga yelled and received a feather stuffed pillow to the back of his head.
"Shut up, Wolf! She's trying to sleep!" Inuyasha hissed.
"It's okay, Inuyasha. I'm up now, anyway." Kagome smiled at the dog hanyou, and turned back to Kouga. "Yes, Kouga, I have plans with Inuyasha, all day. He's taking me to Kaede's; then shopping in the city." Kagome stood up, stretched, and dragged her feet all the way over to the screen set up for them to change behind.
"You can't go into town! You're demons!" Kouga yelled, at the screen.
"Don't worry so much. I'm proud to be Hanyou." Kagome's voice sounded muffled as she pulled her clothes on. "Well, we'd better go." She came out, fully dressed in a white and red kimono with blue tie and cherry blossoms.
"Tell Shippou," Inuyasha said as he went behind the screen.
"Shippou?" Kagome kneeled down next to the tiniest fur pile.
"Mew!" Koroko looked from his spot curled up next to Shippou.
"Koroko!" Kagome smiled and picked up the palm sized kitty and placed him on her shoulder.
"Kagome?" A half asleep little Kitsune asked. "Are you going now?" His voice was slurred with sleep.
"Yeah, I'm going to take Koroko, me and Inuyasha will be back by sunset; hopefully." Kagome said, smiling at the young fox. After a few more assurances to Kouga that Kagome WOULD in fact be gone all day, they were out the door and up the path into the city.
-In The City-
"Wow! Where's Kaede's?" Kagome asked Inuyasha in awe at the large town. She had pretty much been kept in the woods since she had been dropped off. Inuyasha shrugged slightly, and kept walking, arms crossed, eyes closed in a pouty expression. "Fine! I'll ask!" Kagome huffed and stomped over to a family that was window-shopping. Inuyasha called after her and said something along the lines of: 'Idiot! You'll scare them…or something!' then stormed after her.
"Excuse me, sir?" Kagome asked the man.
"Yes? Holy! What are you?!" The man yelled and his family quickly turned around to look, eyes going wide at the sight of the demon girl. Kagome smiled brightly and started her introduction.
"I'm Kagome. This is my pet cat, Koroko--MMFPH!" A hand covered her mouth, a clawed hand.
"Shut-up, Kagome…" Inuyasha whispered harshly, eyeing the humans with caution.
"E-excuse me…but you shouldn't be so rough with g-girls…" One of the Man's sons said shakily.
"Hojou! Don't talk to them!" His Mother yelled.
"Yeah, she could hurt you." His Father said. Kagome's eyes widened in shock and then closed slightly, a sadder expression on her face. She reached up and tugged Inuyasha's hand free of her mouth.
"I'd never…" She whispered. Inuyasha looked at her from behind, his eyes looking lost on her. 'Kagome…you just don't understand, do you?' Inuyasha thought, 'The difference between humans and us..' However, much to everyone surprise, Hojou smiled at Kagome.
"My name is Hojou!" He yipped, extending his hand to her.
"Eh?" Kagome looked at his waiting hand, and reached out for it slowly. "Kagome." She said as she shook his hand, smiling slightly.
"Um, what are you?" Hojou asked as politely as he could while pulling his hand back. His eyes traveled to her tail and lingered there.
"I'm a Hanyou. My official name is Hanyou Neko Miko Kagome Higurashi, but Kagome is just fine." Kagome said in a cheery voice."Can I…Can I touch it?" Hojou asked, not looking away from the long tail. Kagome's eyes followed his and noticed what he was looking at.
"Oh, this. Sure." Kagome flicked her tail up and brushed it over Hojou's hands.
"It's so soft…" Hojou's breathed taking a step closer to her while he ran his fingers threw the long fur.
"Yeah, I take good care of it…" Kagome muttered, her cheeks flaring up a little.
"Wow! Look at your ears!" Hojou exclaimed and reached up to gently grab them before Kagome could react.
"I've heard about Hanyou's," Hojou said, rubbing the small ears between his fingers. "There are two of them around here. Bobby in class told us all about it, his Father works with this team who helped create them. Do you know the other one?" Hojou blabbed on, but Kagome's attention was solely on this child, Bobby, and his Father.
'Create them? Must just be some child's rumor…I hope…' Kagome pulled herself from her thoughts and smiled brightly. "Yeah, actually he's rig..ht…he..re…" Kagome said turning around, Hojou still managing to latch to her ears. "Where'd he go?!" Her voice held a slight tone of panic.
"The boy who mistreated you? He went into Kaede's, I saw him go in." Hojou said, nodding.
"Oh, I've got the catch up with him." Kagome said and painfully yanked her ears away from his tight grasp.
"Oh, alright. I'll visit you someday!" Hojou yelled even though Kagome was still standing in front of him.
"Sure. In Goshinboku Forest, just follow the trail back until you find a small hut. If anyone bothers you, just say you're looking for me! They shouldn't give you any trouble then." Kagome said quickly and sprinted off down the busy street towards Kaede's. She ran past a few shops and skid to a stop in front of one. Inside the display window was a bow and several arrows…tempted to go in and buy it, Kagome shook her head and continued off after Inuyasha, the archery set still on her mind.
"How dare you leave me, Inuyasha!" Kagome stomped into the building, hissing and growling in Inuyasha's direction. Inuyasha just rolled his eyes and muttered a faint apology and pointed to Kaede, introducing her as her new Teacher. Kaede was in her early 30's and had thick black hair, which came down her back in a long, low ponytail.
"Welcome, Kagome to Kaede's School For Miko's and Demon's!" Kaede introduced her school happily. "These will be your Classmates for the time. Kikyou age 9," Kaede said and pointed to a tall girl with long, flowing black hair, and cold gray eyes. "Momiji age 7," Momiji was shorter, had blonde hair and blue eyes. "Her sister Botan, age 7, also," She looked almost exactly like Momiji, except she had soft brown eyes and was a head taller. "Tsubaki, age 9," Tsubaki had long dark hair and green eyes, bright red lips, and stood about the height of Kikyou. "Ayame, age 6," Ayame had brown hair and green eyes, she also had a purple flower in each side of her hair. "Kagura, age 8," This girl had blood read eyes and dark hair, she looked almost evil. "And last, but not least, Kagura's older sister, Kanna, age 9," Kanna and Kagura looked like complete opposite's. Kanna had pale skin, dark eyes, and white hair…Kanna gave Kagome the chills.
"Nice to meet you all." Kagome said politely after their introductions. Inuyasha just stood there, his small mind seeming confused by the amount of information thrown at him.
"You're 5, right?" Kaede asked and Kagome nodded. "Inuyasha tells me you protect You Know, correct?" She received another nod. "And this little ball of fur would be Koroko?" By now Kagome was getting annoyed by all the questioning, but she nodded again, scratching under Koroko's chin. "Very good. You'll train combat with Inuyasha and practice your miko powers with Botan. Follow me!" Kaede yelled and pushed open some big doors, all the girls following her.
"What do you mean she'll practice combat with me?" Inuyasha stormed after them.
"I figured you would be hanging around here all the time anyways, so you should just learn also, right?" Kaede asked, but didn't wait for an answer, "Pair off for combat!" She yelled and the girls began grouping up.
"C'mon, Inuyasha, let's practice!" Kagome took Inuyasha's hand and lead him over to some mats set out to practice on.
"O.k., first! Punch at your partners stomach and then try and block them." Kaede ordered.
"You first, Kagome." Inuyasha said, being the polite gentlemen he was. Kagome nodded and thrust her arm forward, Inuyasha skillfully grabbing her hand and flipping her onto the ground. "Hah! Perfect block!" He congratulated himself.
"Inuyasha! Don't hurt anyone!" Kaede called.
"I doubt that hurt her," Inuyasha shrugged.
"You threw her to the ground!" Kaede stomped over.
"He didn't hurt me…really, he didn't," Kagome assured her as she sat up.
"Dear God…what have I enrolled in school this time!" Kaede sighed loudly.
"Okay, we are going to skip ahead 3 years. It's 2 days until Christmas and Sango is due back any day now. Let's see…their ages now should be about...Inuyasha, Sango, Kirara, and Kouga all are 9. Kagome is 8, Shippou is 7, Miroku is 10, and Koroko is 3.
Kagome and Inuyasha have been training with Kaede 3 times a week for 2 hours a day, Miroku is still training at the temple to be a…"monk". Shippou has been getting minimal combat training from Kagome, and sometimes Inuyasha...when he "feels like it". Koroko is bigger now, about the size of a large house cat. H learned to transform into his larger size but he can't fly yet, nor did he ever learn to talk no matter how hard Kagome tried. Let's see…we'll pick up with Kagome, sitting in the hut, wrapping Inuyasha's gift."
"Hey, Kagome?" Miroku peeked into the hut. "Oh, is that Inuyasha's gift?" He asked while coming into the room, "Very nice." He plopped down in one of the feather stuffed chairs.
"Yeah, I've been working on it a while. So, can I help you?" Kagome asked as she tied a blue ribbon around the package. Miroku was quiet a minute, and Kagome looked up to be sure he had heard her.
"I heard you…I was just thinking, what should I get Sango for Christmas?" Miroku asked her.
"Hmm…well, I honestly don't know Sango that well…how about a new kimono? Maybe some perfume or make up?" Kagome offered. "Anyways, I'm sorry, but I have to go to town now. Tell Inuyasha not to worry," She stood, grabbed the gift, and slipped it under her fur-pile-bed and walked outside, leaving Miroku to himself. "Burr…it got cold, didn't it Koroko?" Kagome asked ice cat, who was following her. Koroko answered Kagome with a cheerful, "Mew!", obviously the cold weather didn't bother him.
"Let's hurry. I'm worried about leaving You Know away from me for so long!" Kagome started jogging up the trail, Koroko in her wake.
"Where is she going?" Kouga asked, coming out from behind a few trees.
"Town." Miroku said simply.
"Okay, I'm looking for 'Jewel Me', they should have the necklaces done by now." Kagome muttered to Koroko as they walked up the busy town street. By now, most people had gotten used to the sight of her, but still many stared at her like she'd just walked off the last ship from Pluto. "I wish they wouldn't stare at me." Kagome whispered as she stopped in front of a large door. Sighing, she pushed the door open, a bell ringing to show her entry.
"Welcome back, Miss Higurashi! We have all six of your necklaces done," The jeweler smiled at her. "What was that jewel that you asked us to make those necklaces out of? I've never seen any other jewel like it…" He asked as he took out six necklaces from the display case, "Lots of people asked to buy these, you know, but I had to turn them away." He set them on the counter and Kagome took a good look at them.
They all had a gold or silver chain, each of a different shape, but they all had a glowing pink gem in the middle. "It's called Shikon. Speaking of, is there any left of it?" Kagome asked the jeweler.
"Yeah, about half of it, I'd say. You wouldn't be interested in selling this chunk to me, would you? I'd pay you well for it…" He asked Kagome, but she shook her head no, firmly set on keeping her jewel. "Very well then…do you want these in boxes?" He asked her again, and she nodded, looking idly around the shop.
"How much?" Kagome asked as she reached into her sleeve for her change purse.
"Oh, no charge. Well, if you tell me what you are, that is." He leaned onto the counter, clearly interested.
"Fine. I'm a half demon, half human. The part of me that is a demon is the cat, thus the tail, ears, claws, and fangs. I'm also a priestess, meaning I can use "magic" - as most people refer to it - and should you upset me, I can deal with you." Kagome said quickly, grabbing the velvet bag off the counter, inside the bag were the six boxes that held the necklaces. She also grabbed the half that was left and placed it back around her neck.
"I didn't know demons existed. Are there more?" The Jeweler asked as Kagome made her way towards the door, Koroko at her feet.
"They are all around," She stated and quickly left the shop, the bell ringing as the door slammed shut. "Seems I have some extra money, Koroko…what do you say we go shopping?" Kagome asked the kitty.
"Hello?" A boy's voice echoed down the trail. "Is Kagome down there?" The voice had gotten closer.
"She's out, go away!" Inuyasha yelled.
"That's rude, Inuyasha!" Miroku corrected. "She'll be home soon, come on down." Miroku called. A minute later Hojou came down the trail.
"Hi Hojou, Kagome said she'd be home before dark. Have some hot coco, Sango made it!" Shippou said happily.
"Who's Sango?" Hojou asked, taking the cup from Shippou.
"I'm Sango. Sango Tibi." Sango said, coming out of the hut, smores makings in hand.
"Did I just hear someone say Sango?!" Kagome's voice and stomping feet said she was running.
"Kagome!" Sango called, quickly shoving the food into Hojou's arms. Kagome ran into the clearing, dropping her stuff without a thought.
"Sango!" She jumped at the older girl and hugged her tightly.
"Wow, I missed you!" Sango said.
"You too!" Kagome giggled and pulled herself away from her friend. "Hey, don't touch that!" Kagome snatched the velvet bag.
"Fine, but tell me…why did you buy a boy and 4 arrows?!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I wanted it, so tough. And to think for you and the others I had to tell." Kagome sniffed.
"Tell what? You told another human about us, didn't you?" Inuyasha was developing a large ticking mark on his forehead.
"So! I had to!" Kagome huffed. "Stay out of this bag!" She yelled. "Go in here and face my wrath!" She hissed and went into the hut.
"So…when do we look into the bag?" Kouga asked quietly.
"Never." Inuyasha said seriously.
"What, why?" Kouga asked, dumbfounded.
"Inuyasha doesn't want to get beat up again." Miroku chuckled.
"NO!" Inuyasha spazed and bopped Miroku on the head. "I trust Kagome and she can have her own little secret bag!" Inuyasha said loudly, then turned and whispered to Miroku and Kouga, "Later." They are grinned.
A/N: Wow! Sorry that took so long! This chapter is extra long to maybe make up for it. So, please forgive me bows low to all her readers and please, please review!
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New Stories to Come: Fallen Angels, On My Level, Until You…Look forward to them!
Kagome-chan5