Chapter 6 revised. (2.6.04) ^-^
Disclaimer: ::sighs::
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Three :: Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou (part one)
Chapter Six :: Expressing His Feelings
Kagome wrung her hands nervously. She was sitting on a large rock near the shoreline of the river, staring vacantly in the direction that Tama and Inuyasha had disappeared in.
Sango was standing underneath the shade of a large tree nearby, with Miroku rubbing his head. He'd spied on Sango while she changed into her taijiya gear and gotten a knock around with Hiraikotsu for it. Nonetheless, they both looked pensive and worried.
Shippou, ever the child with the attention span of a goldfish, was trying to catch a butterfly that was eluding his kitsune scampering, not letting the worries of the world affect him in any way.
Kagome looked out over the river, and its gently rolling flow, trying to let that soothing noise calm her, but her brain had other plans. She jumped up, looking worriedly into the forest. "They said they would be right back. Tama-chan said she would come get me when they were done checking it out."
"Maybe they're still checking it out," Shippou tried to calm Kagome and she shook her head. "There's something wrong, I know it. Inuyasha wouldn't take so long. Even if he was by himself, it doesn't take this long for him to check things out. He has Tama-chan with him. They should have come back already."
"Kagome-sama, please just wait a little bit longer." Miroku asked, but in response to his plea they heard Tama's shrill voice.
"GYA~AH!"
"Tama-chan's voice!!" Kagome yelped, and without any hesitation took off into the forest, running as fast as she could. *Inuyasha!! Tama-chan!! Please be safe!!*
She felt fingers hook the back of her shirt and she landed haplessly in Miroku's lap on Kirara's back. "This way's faster, Kagome-sama," he told her.
~*~
"Oof!"
Tama hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop. She was sitting up quickly, and wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand. "Dammit! He's not only strong, he's fucking fast too."
"Bwa ha ha ha!! Too much for ya, girlie!?" Hakabuta crowed and she narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint shining in them. *Man, if you didn't have that Shikon shard you'd be fucking small fry compared to me. Damn it all though, that Inuyasha let his guard down.*
She turned to check on her brother and gasped. He was standing. She blinked incredulously. "I-Inuyasha!!"
Inuyasha grimaced, touching a scrape on his left temple where the Shininikubuta leader had hit him. "Owowowow~~ You son of a bitch, that really hurt!"
Hakabuta looked surprised. "You should be dead!!" Tama, taking her chance, leaped up. "Dokka Tessou~!!"
Hakabuta's left arm flopped to the ground.
Tama cracked her knuckles, grinning. "Gotcha." The pig snarled. "Do you think I'll be so simple?" He picked up his arm and reattached it.
Tama gasped, "Holy shit! Is that the power of the Shikon no Tama?" Inuyasha growled, drawing Tessaiga. "Yeah, it is, but there's something else... I just can't put my finger on it!"
Tama snorted, "This idiot's gotta have a weak spot somewh--"
"Inuyasha!! Tama-chan!!"
The twins looked up a bit, and saw everyone on Kirara, riding in. Kagome, impulsive as always, leapt off Kirara when the big cat was barely on the ground, and headed for Inuyasha. "Inuyasha!!" She noticed the blood on his face as she approached him and gasped, "Oh God, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. It's just a scratch! What the hell are you doing here, I told you to wait for me!!"
Kagome shook her head. "I couldn't stay behind!!! I have to help too!!" She turned to face Hakabuta and yelped when she saw him. "Wow!! He's ugly."
"Mortal bitch! I'll tear your head off!!" Kagome yelped, but didn't have to worry; Inuyasha grabbed her and dove to the side.
Hakabuta was turned towards the miko and the hanyou twins and Sango took her chance. "Hiraikotsu!"
The bone boomerang swung true, and sliced Hakabuta in half. Kagome yelped, ducking from the spray of purple blood that rushed out as the top half fell backwards and the bottom half fell to its knees.
"...you... bastards..."
"UWAA!!" Kagome leapt behind Inuyasha. "He's still alive!" The hanyou glared at her. "Of course he is, he has a Shikon Jewel!! You know this already, Kagome! Stupid girl!"
"B-but, he DOESN'T have a shard..."
At that, everyone, including Hakabuta, gasped, looking at Kagome in shock. Hakabuta narrowed his eyes as his torso reattached to his legs. *This little wench can see the Shikon shards?!*
He eyed her carefully and then narrowed his eyes when he recognized from where'd seen her before. *She resembles... Kikyou, the witch's foster daughter...! Then this is.. Kagome, Kikyou's reincarnation?!*
Meanwhile the rest of the group were discussing what Kagome had just said. "Don't play around, of course he has one!! Else, what is that on his chest?!" Tama yelled, pointing to the purplish shard in Hakabuta's chest.
Kagome shook her head. "That's not a shard. I don't know WHAT it is, but it's not a shard of the Shikon no Tama!"
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. *HE doesn't have it? But his strength is obviously from a shard! So where...?*
"I sensed it as we flew overhead on Kirara. Its nearby, in the forest!" Kagome looked at the forest, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the shard. *Where? Where?!!*
"You'll never have the chance to find it!! I'll kill you now, Kagome~!!!!!!" Hakabuta snarled, swinging his arm. Kagome squealed, for only a moment wondering how the pig youkai knew her name, and Inuyasha pulled her arm, falling backward to duck out of the strike range. Kagome collapsed on top of him.
Hakabuta stomped over, lifting one huge foot to smash in their heads and Inuyasha rolled. Now he was on top of her. Tama gawked. "If you two don't MIND~ would you concentrate on fighting and not flirting?!!"
Both Inuyasha and Kagome blushed and Inuyasha pushed away, going to his feet, and pulling Kagome up with him.
"Kagome-chan, go and find the shard!!! Inuyasha!! Protect Kagome-chan while Miroku-sama and Sango-chan and I hold him off!!" Tama ordered, leaping up and over Hakabuta to land behind him and slash his back.
"Like I need you to tell me what to do!!" Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga and grabbed Kagome's hand, taking off. *Tama's right though. That bastard's just gonna keep regenerating and reattaching pieces until we get his shard...*
"Kagome, are we close!?" Inuyasha demanded as they darted through the forest, and Kagome nodded. "Close." Inuyasha felt the shard appear on the edge of his senses. *We ARE close,* he thought, *if even I can feel it now...*
"There!" Kagome tugged her hand from Inuyasha's and sped to the left and Inuyasha skidded to a stop, quickly rerouting to follow Kagome. "Wait a minute, stupid, don't take off without me!!"
Kagome rushed just past a pair of birch trees and suddenly a hand reached out from nowhere and caught her around the throat. Inuyasha stopped short, baring his fangs. "Dammit! Kagome!!"
She was struggling to breathe, her airway not completely blocked but it was obviously difficult to breathe. A man stepped out from behind the trees, still holding Kagome just off the ground. He was a little taller than Inuyasha, with short spiky black hair and blood red eyes.
"Well well, she found me. I'm not surprised, Kagome..."
Kagome gasped for air. "Who...?"
"My name is Torou. I am the grandson of the youkai miko Uramiko." Torou --who was obviously a youkai-- leaned forward and sniffed deeply in Kagome's neck region. Inuyasha let out a warning growl but the man paid no attention to the furious hanyou. "Ohhhh~~ You're most definitely the miko's reincarnation. Your scent is so... sweet. Not like your predecessor, Kikyou, who smells of death and gravesoil."
Kagome gasped, mostly from lack of air, but she had picked up on the name. *Kikyou...? He... knows her?*
Inuyasha also did not miss the dead miko's name. *Gravesoil? Does that mean he's met Kikyou recently?!* His heart skipped a beat. *Then, she's alive?!* Inuyasha shook his head. *Fuck, what am I doing, thinking of Kikyou now?! Kagome's in danger!!!*
He looked at her. Her hands were scrabbling at Torou's fingers, and then they slowly fell as Kagome's body went limp. Inuyasha cursed again. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Inuyasha ran forward and threw himself into the man. The three of them toppled and Torou released Kagome.
Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and pulled them into the brush nearby, hiding them for a little while from the youkai. Inuyasha leaned worriedly over the junior high schooler. She wasn't breathing too well. "Kagome?! Talk to me, are you alive?!"
No response except for Kagome's ragged breaths. Inuyasha clenched a fist, his chest tightening. "Kagome~!" She suddenly gasped, coughing and shaking. Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief. *She's...* He sat her up against the tree, brushing her hair from her face. Gently he cupped her cheek. *Kagome... you can't leave me again. I'm sorry... I promise I'll do better to protect you...*
"Inu... yasha...?" He yanked his hand back in embarrassment lest she open her eyes and see him. "I'm right here." She coughed a little. "The... the shard is in his chest... I think... Hakabuta is being.. controlled..."
Inuyasha nodded. "Okay. Stay here and don't call attention to yourself. I'll handle this."
Inuyasha leapt from the brush, drawing Tessaiga, and slashed downward. Torou dodged. "Ah, the demon sword, Tessaiga!" Inuyasha snarled, spinning and swinging again. *How the hell does he know so much about me and Kagome~?!*
"Bastard~~" Inuyasha swung again, and Torou continued to dodge.
From her hiding place in the brush Kagome drew an arrow. Her throat hurt; it was raw and tasted bitter, but she was able to stand. She leaned heavily on the trunk, trying to stay hidden, and took careful aim.
*Take him in one shot.* Kagome let fly with her hama no ya.
The arrow hit the guy in the chest and he snarled as the purification power began to eat away at him, and the shard dropped to the ground. "Damn.. an exorcising arrow?"
He snarled, glaring in Inuyasha and Kagome's general direction. "I'll return~!" And with that he leapt into the air and disappeared.
In the village ruins, Hakabuta suddenly stopped, and his body sagged. "Wh...what? Where am I...?" Tama grinned and cracked her knuckles. "Hey they got the shard!! Then, without further ado-- DOKKA TESSOU~!!"
Inuyasha knelt and picked up the shard that Torou had left behind. Kagome walked over, rubbing her neck. "I suppose he ran because he lost the shard, huh?" she wondered aloud.
Without speaking, Inuyasha handed it to her, and she placed it in the large crack of the nearly-complete jewel she had. Using her power, she fused the two together and the ball reformed. The crack was only a little smaller, but nonetheless, progress was made. "There we go~! Pretty good, ne?"
He didn't respond.
"Inuyasha?"
She caught a glance at his face, and instantly felt like she'd been stung. He looked pensive and hurt somehow. *It's because Torou said Kikyou's name... He's thinking about her.*
Inuyasha looked at her and Kagome looked away, finding something on the ground to look at. *Great; now comes the 'Let's all look at Kagome and be reminded of Kikyou cause she looks just like her' staring contest...*
"Are you okay?"
Kagome jerked suddenly. Inuyasha was incredibly close to her; she hadn't realized it because she had been lost in thought. One hand gently rubbed the bruises on her neck. "Don't run out like that again, okay? I was worried."
Kagome worked her mouth, but no sound came out. He was being awfully sweet; usually he was a bit rougher with his reprimands. Inuyasha touched her cheek with the back of his fingers, his expression filled with much emotion. "Be more careful, okay? I don't wanna lose you again."
Kagome blushed. "Wha...?"
His face scrunched up as if annoyed with her, and cursed under his breath. "Ohh~ ......Nothing," Inuyasha huffed, turning away from her and glaring into the trees, "Stupid girl, watch what you're doing next time."
Kagome glared at him. In an instant, he had gone from being sweet and concerned to his usual blockheaded self. And as much as it made Kagome let go of the worry that Inuyasha might have hit his head or something --why else would he act so sweet of his own will-- it did piss her off. She had liked that emotion in his eyes, whatever it was. It made her heart do doki-doki's and gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
"Wha~~!?! Oh, you... OSUWARI!"
SLAM! "Gah!"
Kagome stomped off. Instead of struggling like always, Inuyasha simply crossed his arms, resting his head on them. *Shit. She's so stupid... Kagome... I wish you could just figure it out for yourself so I wouldn't have to go through this stupid fidgeting bullshit everytime I want to tell you how much you mean to me.*
"I knew it. I heard the rosary's magic go off and just KNEW you had fucked up somehow."
Inuyasha glanced up. Tama was squatting next to him, her arms folded over her knees. She smiled. "She's got you on a really short leash. I think she likes you." Inuyasha sat up with a jump, glaring at his twin. "Shut up, Tama. You have no clue--"
Tama cupped her hand over his mouth. "Don't say anything, I know how hard it is for you to express your real feelings." Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise and then Tama said with a smile,
"I always just give you shit about it, but I guess if you haven't changed after all this time you never will. So I know that you have to wait until you're feeling it the most when you say it. When you were little you only said 'I love you' to me when you most felt that emotion. But I've seen dozens of time when you were completely overwhelmed with your feelings for Kagome-chan and you didn't say anything. So what's the matter?" She pulled her hand away from his mouth, satisfied with what she'd said, and having decided to now let him speak.
Inuyasha sighed. "When I decide to try and say it, the words won't come. I don't know how to tell her." He gripped the fabric over his heart as if it hurt there. "Sometimes I wait so long that it hurts. And then I can't fucking say it. I hate not being able to tell her."
"You tried again. I heard you." Inuyasha looked at Tama bitterly. His sister tilted her head, her face looking so much like his own yet so different. He wondered if Kagome felt that way when she was around Kikyou. The same, yet oh-so-different.
Tama stood, tousling the hair between Inuyasha's ears, which was personally one of his favorite spots. It made him feel better about anything and she knew it. "You only have to say three words, Inuyasha. If you say it at the right time, she'll understand."
"Yeah I know."
~*~
SMACK!
Torou hit the ground, holding his cheek. "Forgive me, Grandmother..."
Standing at the head of the table was an ancient-looking woman. Her white hair was pulled back elegantly, and she wore the robes of a high priestess. Her ears were pointed and there were three stripes of gold at either temple. Her eyes were blood red.
"You young fool!" the youkai miko spat, "I send you to investigate and you allow yourself not only to be seen, but you lose the jewel shard I so vigorously searched for! Were you not my daughter's only son I would have killed you long ago!" She snorted. "You will be punished accordingly nonetheless. In your place however, I shall send Kikyou."
"Hmph." Torou pouted. "Grandmother, the priestess... how will SHE be able to do what I could not?"
"Kikyou may not realize it, but she has powers stronger than any miko in all of Japan. Excluding her young reincarnate Kagome, Kikyou could easily destroy all of the humans and those hanyou twins, without even a thought. You merely managed to appear foolish. Now get out of my sight."
Torou left, kicking angrily at the dirt. *Kikyou, Kikyou, Kikyou. Ever since Grandmother discovered that damned woman at the bottom of the ravine, it's been Kikyou Kikyou Kikyou. What the hell is some important about some human girl?*
As if on cue, Kikyou appeared round the corner. She was wearing her miko's garb, and her long black hair was pulled back as usual. She smiled at Torou. "Good afternoon, Torou-dono. The Grandmother said you had been injured. Would you like for me to--"
"Get away from me, you bitch."
Kikyou gasped, lifting a hand to her mouth in surprise. "I... I'm sorry.. I did not mean to offend--"
He leaned close to her, eyes blazing. "Well you have, you stupid woman. Get away from me."
Torou stomped away, leaving servants and ladies of the household alike in shock, and Uramiko, the youkai miko, appeared behind Kikyou. With gnarled old hands she carefully pulled back a wisp of hair from Kikyou's neck. "Kikyou-chan."
Kikyou turned, bowing reverently at the old woman. "Uramiko-sama..." The old woman smiled. "What worries you? Torou has said something to you, has he?"
Kikyou nodded, seeming disturbed. "I seem to have offended Torou-dono... I know it has only been a short time since I came to live here...I believe he has grown jealous of me."
"My dear child, forget Torou. He is a young and foolish boy. You however, have much potential."
"You require my powers, Uramiko-sama?" Kikyou inquired innocently and Uramiko nodded. "I believe you know the name Inuyasha?"
Kikyou narrowed her eyes in thought. "I know the name, though I do not recall ever having met him." Uramiko grinned evilly. *As I expected. My spell is working wonderfully.* "Well, my dear, Inuyasha is a half-wit hanyou searching for the jewel shards of the magnificent Shikon no Tama. He travels with a young woman and this girl carries a rather large fragment of the jewel. Most of it, actually."
"You wish for the jewel, Uramiko-sama?" Kikyou asked sweetly, and Uramiko nodded. "I want you to investigate the area for me. The wench Kagome will be of little use, as will the others they travel with, so you can kill them if you like. But bring back the jewel. And, the hanyou twins. They will be a useful pair once they're... taught some respect."
Kikyou stood and bowed. "As you wish, Uramiko-sama."
As Kikyou walked down the halls of the youkai temple she sighed in deep contemplation. *The name Inuyasha is rather familiar. I don't recall ever having met this... hanyou, but then if not, why does his face come to mind?*
Kikyou sighed. *He has long silver hair and amber eyes... Amber eyes that are always sad. Why do I remember him as being sad and lonely? I...*
"I cannot remember."
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: ^-^
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
Tessen
Disclaimer: ::sighs::
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Three :: Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou (part one)
Chapter Six :: Expressing His Feelings
Kagome wrung her hands nervously. She was sitting on a large rock near the shoreline of the river, staring vacantly in the direction that Tama and Inuyasha had disappeared in.
Sango was standing underneath the shade of a large tree nearby, with Miroku rubbing his head. He'd spied on Sango while she changed into her taijiya gear and gotten a knock around with Hiraikotsu for it. Nonetheless, they both looked pensive and worried.
Shippou, ever the child with the attention span of a goldfish, was trying to catch a butterfly that was eluding his kitsune scampering, not letting the worries of the world affect him in any way.
Kagome looked out over the river, and its gently rolling flow, trying to let that soothing noise calm her, but her brain had other plans. She jumped up, looking worriedly into the forest. "They said they would be right back. Tama-chan said she would come get me when they were done checking it out."
"Maybe they're still checking it out," Shippou tried to calm Kagome and she shook her head. "There's something wrong, I know it. Inuyasha wouldn't take so long. Even if he was by himself, it doesn't take this long for him to check things out. He has Tama-chan with him. They should have come back already."
"Kagome-sama, please just wait a little bit longer." Miroku asked, but in response to his plea they heard Tama's shrill voice.
"GYA~AH!"
"Tama-chan's voice!!" Kagome yelped, and without any hesitation took off into the forest, running as fast as she could. *Inuyasha!! Tama-chan!! Please be safe!!*
She felt fingers hook the back of her shirt and she landed haplessly in Miroku's lap on Kirara's back. "This way's faster, Kagome-sama," he told her.
~*~
"Oof!"
Tama hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop. She was sitting up quickly, and wiped the blood from her lip with the back of her hand. "Dammit! He's not only strong, he's fucking fast too."
"Bwa ha ha ha!! Too much for ya, girlie!?" Hakabuta crowed and she narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint shining in them. *Man, if you didn't have that Shikon shard you'd be fucking small fry compared to me. Damn it all though, that Inuyasha let his guard down.*
She turned to check on her brother and gasped. He was standing. She blinked incredulously. "I-Inuyasha!!"
Inuyasha grimaced, touching a scrape on his left temple where the Shininikubuta leader had hit him. "Owowowow~~ You son of a bitch, that really hurt!"
Hakabuta looked surprised. "You should be dead!!" Tama, taking her chance, leaped up. "Dokka Tessou~!!"
Hakabuta's left arm flopped to the ground.
Tama cracked her knuckles, grinning. "Gotcha." The pig snarled. "Do you think I'll be so simple?" He picked up his arm and reattached it.
Tama gasped, "Holy shit! Is that the power of the Shikon no Tama?" Inuyasha growled, drawing Tessaiga. "Yeah, it is, but there's something else... I just can't put my finger on it!"
Tama snorted, "This idiot's gotta have a weak spot somewh--"
"Inuyasha!! Tama-chan!!"
The twins looked up a bit, and saw everyone on Kirara, riding in. Kagome, impulsive as always, leapt off Kirara when the big cat was barely on the ground, and headed for Inuyasha. "Inuyasha!!" She noticed the blood on his face as she approached him and gasped, "Oh God, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. It's just a scratch! What the hell are you doing here, I told you to wait for me!!"
Kagome shook her head. "I couldn't stay behind!!! I have to help too!!" She turned to face Hakabuta and yelped when she saw him. "Wow!! He's ugly."
"Mortal bitch! I'll tear your head off!!" Kagome yelped, but didn't have to worry; Inuyasha grabbed her and dove to the side.
Hakabuta was turned towards the miko and the hanyou twins and Sango took her chance. "Hiraikotsu!"
The bone boomerang swung true, and sliced Hakabuta in half. Kagome yelped, ducking from the spray of purple blood that rushed out as the top half fell backwards and the bottom half fell to its knees.
"...you... bastards..."
"UWAA!!" Kagome leapt behind Inuyasha. "He's still alive!" The hanyou glared at her. "Of course he is, he has a Shikon Jewel!! You know this already, Kagome! Stupid girl!"
"B-but, he DOESN'T have a shard..."
At that, everyone, including Hakabuta, gasped, looking at Kagome in shock. Hakabuta narrowed his eyes as his torso reattached to his legs. *This little wench can see the Shikon shards?!*
He eyed her carefully and then narrowed his eyes when he recognized from where'd seen her before. *She resembles... Kikyou, the witch's foster daughter...! Then this is.. Kagome, Kikyou's reincarnation?!*
Meanwhile the rest of the group were discussing what Kagome had just said. "Don't play around, of course he has one!! Else, what is that on his chest?!" Tama yelled, pointing to the purplish shard in Hakabuta's chest.
Kagome shook her head. "That's not a shard. I don't know WHAT it is, but it's not a shard of the Shikon no Tama!"
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. *HE doesn't have it? But his strength is obviously from a shard! So where...?*
"I sensed it as we flew overhead on Kirara. Its nearby, in the forest!" Kagome looked at the forest, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the shard. *Where? Where?!!*
"You'll never have the chance to find it!! I'll kill you now, Kagome~!!!!!!" Hakabuta snarled, swinging his arm. Kagome squealed, for only a moment wondering how the pig youkai knew her name, and Inuyasha pulled her arm, falling backward to duck out of the strike range. Kagome collapsed on top of him.
Hakabuta stomped over, lifting one huge foot to smash in their heads and Inuyasha rolled. Now he was on top of her. Tama gawked. "If you two don't MIND~ would you concentrate on fighting and not flirting?!!"
Both Inuyasha and Kagome blushed and Inuyasha pushed away, going to his feet, and pulling Kagome up with him.
"Kagome-chan, go and find the shard!!! Inuyasha!! Protect Kagome-chan while Miroku-sama and Sango-chan and I hold him off!!" Tama ordered, leaping up and over Hakabuta to land behind him and slash his back.
"Like I need you to tell me what to do!!" Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga and grabbed Kagome's hand, taking off. *Tama's right though. That bastard's just gonna keep regenerating and reattaching pieces until we get his shard...*
"Kagome, are we close!?" Inuyasha demanded as they darted through the forest, and Kagome nodded. "Close." Inuyasha felt the shard appear on the edge of his senses. *We ARE close,* he thought, *if even I can feel it now...*
"There!" Kagome tugged her hand from Inuyasha's and sped to the left and Inuyasha skidded to a stop, quickly rerouting to follow Kagome. "Wait a minute, stupid, don't take off without me!!"
Kagome rushed just past a pair of birch trees and suddenly a hand reached out from nowhere and caught her around the throat. Inuyasha stopped short, baring his fangs. "Dammit! Kagome!!"
She was struggling to breathe, her airway not completely blocked but it was obviously difficult to breathe. A man stepped out from behind the trees, still holding Kagome just off the ground. He was a little taller than Inuyasha, with short spiky black hair and blood red eyes.
"Well well, she found me. I'm not surprised, Kagome..."
Kagome gasped for air. "Who...?"
"My name is Torou. I am the grandson of the youkai miko Uramiko." Torou --who was obviously a youkai-- leaned forward and sniffed deeply in Kagome's neck region. Inuyasha let out a warning growl but the man paid no attention to the furious hanyou. "Ohhhh~~ You're most definitely the miko's reincarnation. Your scent is so... sweet. Not like your predecessor, Kikyou, who smells of death and gravesoil."
Kagome gasped, mostly from lack of air, but she had picked up on the name. *Kikyou...? He... knows her?*
Inuyasha also did not miss the dead miko's name. *Gravesoil? Does that mean he's met Kikyou recently?!* His heart skipped a beat. *Then, she's alive?!* Inuyasha shook his head. *Fuck, what am I doing, thinking of Kikyou now?! Kagome's in danger!!!*
He looked at her. Her hands were scrabbling at Torou's fingers, and then they slowly fell as Kagome's body went limp. Inuyasha cursed again. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Inuyasha ran forward and threw himself into the man. The three of them toppled and Torou released Kagome.
Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and pulled them into the brush nearby, hiding them for a little while from the youkai. Inuyasha leaned worriedly over the junior high schooler. She wasn't breathing too well. "Kagome?! Talk to me, are you alive?!"
No response except for Kagome's ragged breaths. Inuyasha clenched a fist, his chest tightening. "Kagome~!" She suddenly gasped, coughing and shaking. Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief. *She's...* He sat her up against the tree, brushing her hair from her face. Gently he cupped her cheek. *Kagome... you can't leave me again. I'm sorry... I promise I'll do better to protect you...*
"Inu... yasha...?" He yanked his hand back in embarrassment lest she open her eyes and see him. "I'm right here." She coughed a little. "The... the shard is in his chest... I think... Hakabuta is being.. controlled..."
Inuyasha nodded. "Okay. Stay here and don't call attention to yourself. I'll handle this."
Inuyasha leapt from the brush, drawing Tessaiga, and slashed downward. Torou dodged. "Ah, the demon sword, Tessaiga!" Inuyasha snarled, spinning and swinging again. *How the hell does he know so much about me and Kagome~?!*
"Bastard~~" Inuyasha swung again, and Torou continued to dodge.
From her hiding place in the brush Kagome drew an arrow. Her throat hurt; it was raw and tasted bitter, but she was able to stand. She leaned heavily on the trunk, trying to stay hidden, and took careful aim.
*Take him in one shot.* Kagome let fly with her hama no ya.
The arrow hit the guy in the chest and he snarled as the purification power began to eat away at him, and the shard dropped to the ground. "Damn.. an exorcising arrow?"
He snarled, glaring in Inuyasha and Kagome's general direction. "I'll return~!" And with that he leapt into the air and disappeared.
In the village ruins, Hakabuta suddenly stopped, and his body sagged. "Wh...what? Where am I...?" Tama grinned and cracked her knuckles. "Hey they got the shard!! Then, without further ado-- DOKKA TESSOU~!!"
Inuyasha knelt and picked up the shard that Torou had left behind. Kagome walked over, rubbing her neck. "I suppose he ran because he lost the shard, huh?" she wondered aloud.
Without speaking, Inuyasha handed it to her, and she placed it in the large crack of the nearly-complete jewel she had. Using her power, she fused the two together and the ball reformed. The crack was only a little smaller, but nonetheless, progress was made. "There we go~! Pretty good, ne?"
He didn't respond.
"Inuyasha?"
She caught a glance at his face, and instantly felt like she'd been stung. He looked pensive and hurt somehow. *It's because Torou said Kikyou's name... He's thinking about her.*
Inuyasha looked at her and Kagome looked away, finding something on the ground to look at. *Great; now comes the 'Let's all look at Kagome and be reminded of Kikyou cause she looks just like her' staring contest...*
"Are you okay?"
Kagome jerked suddenly. Inuyasha was incredibly close to her; she hadn't realized it because she had been lost in thought. One hand gently rubbed the bruises on her neck. "Don't run out like that again, okay? I was worried."
Kagome worked her mouth, but no sound came out. He was being awfully sweet; usually he was a bit rougher with his reprimands. Inuyasha touched her cheek with the back of his fingers, his expression filled with much emotion. "Be more careful, okay? I don't wanna lose you again."
Kagome blushed. "Wha...?"
His face scrunched up as if annoyed with her, and cursed under his breath. "Ohh~ ......Nothing," Inuyasha huffed, turning away from her and glaring into the trees, "Stupid girl, watch what you're doing next time."
Kagome glared at him. In an instant, he had gone from being sweet and concerned to his usual blockheaded self. And as much as it made Kagome let go of the worry that Inuyasha might have hit his head or something --why else would he act so sweet of his own will-- it did piss her off. She had liked that emotion in his eyes, whatever it was. It made her heart do doki-doki's and gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
"Wha~~!?! Oh, you... OSUWARI!"
SLAM! "Gah!"
Kagome stomped off. Instead of struggling like always, Inuyasha simply crossed his arms, resting his head on them. *Shit. She's so stupid... Kagome... I wish you could just figure it out for yourself so I wouldn't have to go through this stupid fidgeting bullshit everytime I want to tell you how much you mean to me.*
"I knew it. I heard the rosary's magic go off and just KNEW you had fucked up somehow."
Inuyasha glanced up. Tama was squatting next to him, her arms folded over her knees. She smiled. "She's got you on a really short leash. I think she likes you." Inuyasha sat up with a jump, glaring at his twin. "Shut up, Tama. You have no clue--"
Tama cupped her hand over his mouth. "Don't say anything, I know how hard it is for you to express your real feelings." Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise and then Tama said with a smile,
"I always just give you shit about it, but I guess if you haven't changed after all this time you never will. So I know that you have to wait until you're feeling it the most when you say it. When you were little you only said 'I love you' to me when you most felt that emotion. But I've seen dozens of time when you were completely overwhelmed with your feelings for Kagome-chan and you didn't say anything. So what's the matter?" She pulled her hand away from his mouth, satisfied with what she'd said, and having decided to now let him speak.
Inuyasha sighed. "When I decide to try and say it, the words won't come. I don't know how to tell her." He gripped the fabric over his heart as if it hurt there. "Sometimes I wait so long that it hurts. And then I can't fucking say it. I hate not being able to tell her."
"You tried again. I heard you." Inuyasha looked at Tama bitterly. His sister tilted her head, her face looking so much like his own yet so different. He wondered if Kagome felt that way when she was around Kikyou. The same, yet oh-so-different.
Tama stood, tousling the hair between Inuyasha's ears, which was personally one of his favorite spots. It made him feel better about anything and she knew it. "You only have to say three words, Inuyasha. If you say it at the right time, she'll understand."
"Yeah I know."
~*~
SMACK!
Torou hit the ground, holding his cheek. "Forgive me, Grandmother..."
Standing at the head of the table was an ancient-looking woman. Her white hair was pulled back elegantly, and she wore the robes of a high priestess. Her ears were pointed and there were three stripes of gold at either temple. Her eyes were blood red.
"You young fool!" the youkai miko spat, "I send you to investigate and you allow yourself not only to be seen, but you lose the jewel shard I so vigorously searched for! Were you not my daughter's only son I would have killed you long ago!" She snorted. "You will be punished accordingly nonetheless. In your place however, I shall send Kikyou."
"Hmph." Torou pouted. "Grandmother, the priestess... how will SHE be able to do what I could not?"
"Kikyou may not realize it, but she has powers stronger than any miko in all of Japan. Excluding her young reincarnate Kagome, Kikyou could easily destroy all of the humans and those hanyou twins, without even a thought. You merely managed to appear foolish. Now get out of my sight."
Torou left, kicking angrily at the dirt. *Kikyou, Kikyou, Kikyou. Ever since Grandmother discovered that damned woman at the bottom of the ravine, it's been Kikyou Kikyou Kikyou. What the hell is some important about some human girl?*
As if on cue, Kikyou appeared round the corner. She was wearing her miko's garb, and her long black hair was pulled back as usual. She smiled at Torou. "Good afternoon, Torou-dono. The Grandmother said you had been injured. Would you like for me to--"
"Get away from me, you bitch."
Kikyou gasped, lifting a hand to her mouth in surprise. "I... I'm sorry.. I did not mean to offend--"
He leaned close to her, eyes blazing. "Well you have, you stupid woman. Get away from me."
Torou stomped away, leaving servants and ladies of the household alike in shock, and Uramiko, the youkai miko, appeared behind Kikyou. With gnarled old hands she carefully pulled back a wisp of hair from Kikyou's neck. "Kikyou-chan."
Kikyou turned, bowing reverently at the old woman. "Uramiko-sama..." The old woman smiled. "What worries you? Torou has said something to you, has he?"
Kikyou nodded, seeming disturbed. "I seem to have offended Torou-dono... I know it has only been a short time since I came to live here...I believe he has grown jealous of me."
"My dear child, forget Torou. He is a young and foolish boy. You however, have much potential."
"You require my powers, Uramiko-sama?" Kikyou inquired innocently and Uramiko nodded. "I believe you know the name Inuyasha?"
Kikyou narrowed her eyes in thought. "I know the name, though I do not recall ever having met him." Uramiko grinned evilly. *As I expected. My spell is working wonderfully.* "Well, my dear, Inuyasha is a half-wit hanyou searching for the jewel shards of the magnificent Shikon no Tama. He travels with a young woman and this girl carries a rather large fragment of the jewel. Most of it, actually."
"You wish for the jewel, Uramiko-sama?" Kikyou asked sweetly, and Uramiko nodded. "I want you to investigate the area for me. The wench Kagome will be of little use, as will the others they travel with, so you can kill them if you like. But bring back the jewel. And, the hanyou twins. They will be a useful pair once they're... taught some respect."
Kikyou stood and bowed. "As you wish, Uramiko-sama."
As Kikyou walked down the halls of the youkai temple she sighed in deep contemplation. *The name Inuyasha is rather familiar. I don't recall ever having met this... hanyou, but then if not, why does his face come to mind?*
Kikyou sighed. *He has long silver hair and amber eyes... Amber eyes that are always sad. Why do I remember him as being sad and lonely? I...*
"I cannot remember."
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: ^-^
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
Tessen