Yay, here we are at chapter 8. Woot! This chapter features the song 'Beautiful Disaster' by none other than American Hi-Fi. Be on the look-out because different music will be incorporated into the next few chapters. Stay tuned for shout-outs at the end of the chapter. I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! I beg forgiveness...I know I know. I'm writing slow because of school and everything. I hope to pick up the pace in December--let's see if my beta can keept up. Oh! For all you Wanderers Fans, I will get Chapter 6 posted by Thanksgiving, guaranteed!!!! Thanks a promise from Jesse the Wolf Demon! The only thing that could cause me to break it would be natrual disaster or technical difficulties... Anywho, chapter 7, Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Fairy Tales can come true, it could happen to you, if you have a blow torch…well, until then, Inuyasha and the gang are not yet mine. Curses!
Chapter 8: Tournament Drama
"I'll make you a five star enemy,
I'm taking a fall would you like to see?"
Inuyasha laid on the horn for the third time. "Hurry up Miroku!" he yelled out of the window, followed up by another round of honking. It was almost eleven, they had to get going if they wanted to get to the arena with enough time to meet up with the others.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Miroku called, appearing on the front steps of his large Victorian style house. "Bye Dad, I'll see you later!" He slammed the door and took off down the stairs three at a time, pausing at the trunk of Sesshomaru's white Trailblazer long enough to toss his duffel bag in the trunk before jumping into the back seat. "Hi 'Yash, hello Sesshomaru. I didn't know you were coming."
Sesshomaru looked over from his seat in the passenger side and simply looked Miroku in the eye. "Whether or not that was a wise choice has yet to be seen, but right now I'm regretting it."
Inuyasha grinned. "You'll regret it even more when you see the girls." Sesshomaru merely yawned and leaned back in his seat. Inuyasha turned on the radio where he had a cleverly hidden American Hi-Fi CD already inserted, pumping up the music as they sped off toward the arena where the Nationals tournament was being held.
Although no amount of rushing could make the ride a short one, they did arrive at the arena in record time. nuyasha found a good parking spot and all three got out of the car, Inuyasha and Miroku pausing to grab their gear from the trunk before entering the arena with the other competitors. Sesshomaru went with them, saying he wanted to wish the female members of the team luck before retiring to his seat. There were no objections.
It didn't take long for the three young men to find Kaede, already arguing with an official about the team's warm-up space. Sango and Kagome were no where to be found, but Rin was making placating gestures at her sensei to back off with whatever she was doing. Inuyasha and Miroku quickly came to their side.
"Rin, what's going on?"
Rin exasperatedly gave up her attempt to calm the infuriated Kaede and turned to her friends with a smile. "The Okami Dojo pushed into our spot because they have a larger team then we do. We were bumped into one of the second ranges and Kaede is fuming." Inuyasha and Miroku looked to where Kaede had begun chasing after the official, yelling at him at the top of her voice. They both chuckled. Rin sighed, then noticed Sesshomaru had come up behind both boys. Rin went slightly pink but smiled. "Hello Sesshomaru, Inuyasha didn't say you were coming to see us."
Sesshomaru nodded his head a little, the shadow of a smile playing across his face. Rin was the only girl he had ever known that could pull of being sweet and endearing while being so utterly taken with him. It was transparent, but it didn't bother him when it came to Rin, unlike when it was concerning another female. For some reason, her huge brown eyes and innocent pretty face framed by those twin braids made him feel strangely...human. "I wanted to wish you luck Rin," he told her with that ghost of a smile.
Rin went very red and tugged on the end of one of her braids in a cute fashion. Sesshomaru was a second away from really smiling when they were interrupted. "Okay you two, quit flirting already," Inuyasha grumbled. Rin whacked him in the back of the head.
"Baka! We were 'not' flirting. Flirting is what you do with Kagome."
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me!" The two were head to head, Miroku snickering off to the side. Sesshomaru looked amused as well, but only to those who knew what his amusement looked like.
"Rin what are you doing?" a small voice asked from next to her.
"You shouldn't be talking to strangers you know," another voice said, a younger voice. Both looked up to see Kagome walking toward them, a small boy in her arms and another now at Rin's side. Rin brightened, Inuyasha forgotten.
"Hey, you show them to their seats?" Rin asked. Kagome sighed, but was smiling happily.
"Yeah, but they're so wired from being at a tournament that they'll never sit still without someone else watching them besides Kohaku." It was just then that she noticed the other guys there. "Oh! I'm sorry guys. Shippou," she addressed the little fluffy boy in her arms. "This is Miroku and Inuyasha, and that must be Inuyasha's older brother, right?" she asked, eyeing Sesshomaru levelly.
"I am, and you must be Kagome," he responded. Kagome offered him a cool smile and a respectful nod. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to smirk. This girl had spunk. And if he remembered correctly, she was Rin's cousin.
"I'm Kagome, this is my brother Shippou and Souta is..." she trailed off, looking behind her. Souta had scurried off to greet Kohaku and Sango who had just appeared from the stands. "Souta and Kohaku have hit it off pretty good." Sango, Kohaku, and Souta greeted the circle. "Souta, mind your manners," Kagome said warningly. Souta bowed respectfully and looked at the others. "Miroku, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru, this is my brother Souta."
"Hi Souta and Shippou," Miroku said with a cheerful smile. Souta beamed him a smile, then turned back to Kohaku. The two were currently deep in conversation about a video game or something. Sango rolled her eyes.
"Hey guys, Sesshomaru," she greeted. They said their piece. "Hey Kag, could you watch the brat while I go change into my gear? The opening ceremony starts in like twenty minutes and you and I still haven't gotten ready."
"No problem," Kagome said cheerfully. Inuyasha noticed a glow around her when she was with these children that she didn't have when she was normally around people. "Looks like Grams was victorious with the ref, if her grin means anything."
And at that moment, Kaede strode up to them with a charming smile. "Well I'm glad the slackers arrived! We're set up in rest area 4, we can take our stuff, and our guests, over there until the opening ceremony begins." Every proceeded to the indicated area.
Rin and Sango went into the back room to change into their gear, Miroku and Inuyasha took the other room. Kaede went about her business as the Dojo Master, which left Sesshomaru lounging on the side, and Kagome with the three young boys.
"Well, what did I tell you?" Kagome told Souta and Shippou. "Isn't it like I described?"
"Were Papa's tournaments like this too?" Souta asked.
"Yes, they were always exciting and tense. It's a dream come true for me to be here," Kagome told them, sitting Indian style with Shippou in her lap. "You boys will cheer me on right?"
"Of course!" both her brothers chorused.
"What about you Kohaku?" she asked the other boy with a kind smile. "Will you be cheering Sango and the rest of us?" Kohaku smiled shyly and nodded, his cheeks slightly pink. Kagome couldn't resist the urge to tweak his nose with a good-natured grin. "Such a quiet one, you are, not like these monsters."
"I resent that remark," Shippou said defiantly. In return, Kagome tickled him until he begged for mercy. All four were laughing when the rest of the team emerged. Sango and Rin were both dressed in traditional fighting kimonos with the Isharugi Dojo logo sewn into the back as well as their names. Miroku wore similar, but where the girls wore red and white, he wore black and violet, a color combination that did wonders to bring out his eyes. It also didn't escape Kagome that he had spiked his hair again. Rin's hair had stayed traditional, as always, in the twin braids. Sango's was swept into a high ponytail. They walked over to the small table in their room to retrieve their personal weapon-of-choice.
Inuyasha was the last to emerge from the back room. He was dressed in a kimono, the same exact cut as the white one he wore in training, only solid red. The dojo's logo was imprinted on his back, along with his name and Team Captain in bold letters. And, like during all practices, his hair was bound at the nape of his neck.
"Come on Kohaku," Sango said, holding out a free hand. "I'll take you to your seat. Souta, Shippou, are you coming?" Souta looked to Kagome for permission, which she promptly gave. Both boys were once more immersed in their talk of video games, making Sango groan as she led them to the stands.
"You going to hang with me a little longer?" Kagome asked Shippou. He nodded.
"So this is the fox, right?" Inuyasha asked, coming to stand closer. Kagome scowled at him for the comment.
"His name is Shippou, dog-boy. Don't insult him because you're jealous." That earned a scoff from Inuyasha and a smug smile from Sesshomaru. The girl had a way with his brother. It was little wonder that he was so taken with her. Sesshomaru pushed off from the wall he was leaning on to walk toward the doorway.
"I'll be going to my seat now. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Isharugi." Kagome kept her response warm and friendly. The stoic demon turned to the rest of the group. "Good luck to you all," he said, but his eyes were on Rin. She went pink again and smiled. This exchange did not go unnoticed by Kagome, who felt that all-too familiar hole in the pit of her stomach. But Shippou was in her arms and she would not let it faze her--at least, Shippou 'was' in her arms. Now he was on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"You're a hanyou huh? The ears are a dead give-away. Kagome and Souta's Papa was a hanyou too," he chattered, patting Inuyasha's ear and looking between him and his sister. Kagome covered her grin with a hand. Inuyasha growled and pulled the small demon from his shoulder.
"You got a problem, runt?"
"No, you just look really strong. Kagome said you were strong, and that you were a good fighter. I think you'd be a good fighter." Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow at this, and turned slightly to look at Kagome. Despite the blush creeping across her face, she simply shrugged and retrieved her brother from Inuyasha's grasp.
"Okay Shippou, I gotta get my gear on. I'll see you in between the bouts, alright?" He nodded, giving her another hug. "Cheer for me," she said with a smile, ruffling his already puffy hair. "Rin, you mind?"
"Not at all," her cousin said good naturedly, taking the small demon from her hands. "I'll be right back." Rin winked and left the warm-up area.
"I think I'll see what Sango is up to," Miroku said with a sly smile. He snuck off, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome alone.
"I'm gonna get ready," Kagome said with a smile, turning to the back room, then she turned back. "Oh, don't go anywhere, okay? I still have that thing I want to give you."
"Sure thing, I won't disappear." Kagome nodded, satisfied, then vanished.
"Choke it down, what a sound,
Run away from me,
Keep on laughing, girl do you see me?"
"You left them alone on purpose, didn't you?" Sango asked Miroku accusingly. She had backed him into a corner on the staircase that led to the upper-level stands.
"Well, you and Rin are the conspirators!" he said defensively. "You keep telling me to give them time alone!"
"But not ten minutes before the Nationals opening ceremony!" she yelled at him.
"It's not like they're having sex in the warm-up room! It's more like they'll be trying to kill each other. You know they can't stand each other!"
"Can't stand each other?! Are you blind, or just stupid?" Sango asked in disbelief. "I mean, can you even see them? They are so totally hooked on each other it's not even funny!"
"We 'are' talking about Inuyasha and Kagome right? 'Our' Inuyasha and Kagome?"
"Of course, who else?"
Miroku just gave her one of his most disarming smiles. "I really wouldn't have a clue, but as long as you keep backing me into a wall, I'm more then happy to listen." It was only then that Sango fully realized her position. She had Miroku pinned to the cement wall with nothing in the way but her own body. She hastily took a step back, blushing furiously.
"Ahem," came a soft voice from behind them. Both whirled around to see Rin, smiling slightly, but not commenting. "I don't mean to interrupt, but we should be getting back."
"Yeah," Sango agreed.
"Absolutely," Miroku agreed cheerfully, taking the opportunity to make a grab at Sango's ass. She ground her teeth together before whirling around and backhanding him across the face.
"You'd get worse if I didn't have to conserve my energy!" she yelled, but all three knew she was lying.
"Anyway, I couldn't help but overhear," Rin continued. "But I have to say that I don't think it's a good idea to push Inuyasha and Kagome together like that. I mean, they should do it on their own, if at all." She paused longer enough to think something up in her mind that left a wicked grin on her face. "But then again, it is fun to watch them fight. It's so obvious that they like each other."
"At least on a sexual level," Miroku pointed out. Both girls looked at him. "What? You can not tell me that you don't notice that whenever those two are in a room together you can cut the tension with a knife! It's fact that if a guy and girl fight like cats and dogs, it's a sexual attraction. But since they fight like mikos and demons, I guess it's gotta be love."
"What ever you say Miroku," Rin said with a smile. "But then again, love is in the air." With that comment said, she walked a few paces ahead of the other two. Sango glowered at the back of her head while Miroku beamed.
"Exactly, love for a little smart-ass I know and a demon she's crushing on!" Sango snapped at her, then looked away pouting. Rin blushed, but was satisfied with herself for ruffling Sango's feathers, just a little bit.
"Come now Sango dear," Miroku said casually. "Surely there must be some human love going around." He looked at her hopefully. Sango just looked away.
"Nope, not at all," she said, arms crossed.
"Damn, demons get all the love..."
"Break it down now (what you want anyway?)
Right about now (what you want anyway?)
I'll fuck it up again (what you want anyway?)"
Inuyasha leaned against the doorframe, watching the other competitors pass by the door. There were dojos from all over competing today, and they would have to go through them all to get to the top. Each member of the martial arts team was entered in one event. Inuyasha, as acting Team Captain, was required to battle in the most sought-after prize event--the kendo battle. It was held in the center ring; one member from each dojo competing. That was the event most of the fans had come to see, and Inuyasha had to admit that he was more then happy to give them a good showing.
Kagome was entered in the other mandatory competing event, the weapons freestyle routine. She had been working in secret on this 'special routine' she had planned, and let no one see it until today. Inuyasha only hoped that it was good enough to blow away the competition. He needn't have worried, because Kagome had been perfecting her routine every night for two weeks, and it was flawless. Her weapon of choice was a set of two short-bladed katanas.
Rin was entered in the Dagger event. It was a two-part series where the competitors had to prove their skills with throwing knives and then at battling. The first part was an event where all enter participants would have three chances to throw knives at 3 targets. Those with the best scoring moved on to the battle round. Having an innate ability to throw a perfect shot, Rin's only worry was the fighting portion of her event. But the tireless hours she had spent training with Kagome, Kaede, and Sango were bound to pay off when called upon.
Sango had entered herself in the female weapons competitions. It was set up in the same system as the kendo battle royal. One member from each dojo--if that dojo had female members--would choose a single weapon and battle any number of opponents with the same or different weapons. Sango had originally wanted to enter using her family heirloom weapon, but it had been rejected by the tournament committee for being 'too brutal'. Therefore, Sango entered with a trusty sword.
Miroku was also entered in an elimination event. The male weapons competition. It was the male version of Sango's event, only sword-fighting was prohibited. Kendo was for the battle royal only. But it was just their luck that Miroku hated swords, and chose to do his fighting with an expertly-crafted golden staff. It was an heirloom in his family, of monks with mystical abilities. Miroku even having the staff proved his worth in the mystical department of things. It would give him an edge in battle, especially against demon opponents.
And thus the Isharugi martial arts team was spilt into five separate events. It was just their luck that only one event was held at a time. It was held in rounds, and would last well into the night due to the sheer number of competitors, but that didn't bother any of the fans--or fighters.
All these thoughts ran in Inuyasha's mind so that he didn't notice Kagome exit the changing room. She whistled to herself, and that caught his attention. When he turned, Inuyasha had to blink at her. "What are you drooling at dog-boy?" she asked with a sassy smile. "Am I just that stunning?"
Inuyasha scowled and she laughed, giving him that customary wink. There wasn't a pair of sunglasses in sight. He had taken a double take because Kagome was dressed in a Chinese style fighting outfit. The dark green material buttoned up to her neck, the same dark green as her left eye. The material clung to her form and showed her curves flatteringly. The Isharugi Dojo's logo was stamped broadly across the back of her shirt in bold white lettering, but he noticed that there was also a small symbol underneath it, the shape of a large cat with the letter 'Y' before it. He recognized the symbol as the logo that Rei Yue wore on his back in every competition.
"Nice logo," he muttered, nodding toward her shirt. Kagome attempted to swivel her head, but smiled when she couldn't see it.
"Yeah, well, I told you I was a fan." Inuyasha shrugged. Kagome sat on the small table that had all the weapons on it at one point--now there were only two swords--and tied up her hair. Unlike a normal ponytail, she had plaited it in two braids, similar to Rin. But unlike Rin, she had twisted the braids to form a small bun on either side of her head, just above her ears, and tied a green ribbon on them to keep it up. But despite her care, a few wispy strands of hair had fallen to frame her face. When she was done, she looked like a completely different girl. Smaller, somehow, then her five feet and ten inches, and that much prettier.
"You had something to give me, right?" Inuyasha said, averting his eyes and looking at the large clock in the center arena. "Better do it now. The ceremony starts in five minutes."
Kagome hopped from her seat and walked over to him. "Give me that sword," she said, pointing at the sword on his hip.
"What the hell are you talking about bitch?"
"Just give it to me," she said again, holding out her hands.
"But I need it!"
"Trust me," she said in exasperation. Inuyasha hesitated, but found that he didn't have a problem trusting her--at least to hand over his weapon. With a satisfied smile, Kagome trotted back to the table. Inuyasha followed her. "Alright, like I said, this is only a loan. I want it back after you win the kendo battle, got it?" she remarked calmly.
"You think I can win?" he asked her in all seriousness. Kagome laughed and gave him a genuine smile.
"I know you'll win, dog-boy." She grasped the sheath of a sword and held it out to him. "Here, take care of it." Inuyasha took the offered weapon, and looked down to see the Tetsusaiga in his claws.
"I couldn't take this," he began, holding it back out.
"I said it's only a loan," she repeated, pushing it back toward him. "You can wield Tetsusaiga's true power, I'm not transformed so I can't. As long as you have this sword, you can win. But you better take care of it. Even a nick in the blade and I'll kick your ass, got it?"
Inuyasha grinned, pulling the sword from the scabbard. It didn't transform, but he wasn't in battle. Even in it's untransformed state, Inuyasha could feel the pulse of power in the hilt. Kagome watched his face with almost breathless anticipation. She had thought it over long and hard, but thought that it would be a smart move to let Inuyasha wield her father's sword, just for the tournament. The sword had already bonded to him, and the skill with which he used a blade would make the pair invincible in battle.
Kagome clasped her hands together, looking all together giddy as she watched Inuyasha study the sword with a trained eye. "Thanks Kagome," he said, meeting her eyes and flashing a grin. "Now I think I can win."
"But of course," she smirked.
A thought struck Inuyasha out of the blue and he blinked under the sudden thought. "Hey...Kagome?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Rei Yue...didn't he have a sword named Tetsusaiga?" he asked. Kagome raised an eyebrow at him, but he could smell the sudden realization coming from her.
"Yeah, so?"
"A demonic sword, one made from the fang of a demon. Just like this sword."
"Yes," was her answer. It was all true, but she was careful not to give too much away.
"I thought you said that this was your father's sword. Or is it just coincidence that his sword is the same kind and has the same name as the other?"
"It was my father's sword," Kagome replied evenly. "He named it. He wielded it." She thought about it a second, fearing that he would put two-and-two together and realize that Rei Yue was her father. But then again, if he hadn't known that her father was married to a Higurashi...then maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad to let him know that she was the daughter of his hero. Kagome opened her mouth to tell him this one truth, but she was silence before she could go further then his name.
"Will all competitors please report to the arena foreground," an announcer said over the intercom. "I repeat, all competitors to the arena foreground. The Nationals Tournament is about to commence."
'Saved by the bell,' she thought wryly. 'Better luck next time Kag.' "Well, we better get going!" she said with a smile, grabbing Inuyasha's hand and pulling him out the door and toward the gathering fighters. Along the way they met up with Rin, Sango, and Miroku. Kaede was already there, holding a place for her pupils.
Each dojo being represented was required to stand a role call where they listed off each member and the event--or events--they were participating in. There were sixteen dojos in attendance that day, and the Isharugi dojo was the smallest. But that didn't bother anyone. There were rather leery about letting them compete when the officials noticed that Inuyasha was a hanyou. There were six all-demon dojos fighting, and eight mixed between humans and demons. One was all humans, and the last was the Isharugi dojo.
Inuyasha, of course, heard the officials whispering about him being allowed to compete, especially as the Team Captain. What he didn't count on was Kagome hearing them as well. And he most certainly didn't count on her marching over to them and speaking in a low, but sweet voice, quoting passages from the tournament rulebook specifically stating that any being, be it demon or human, was allowed to compete in any event, under any pretense. Hanyous were human 'and' demon so therefore, it was not a breech of ethics. The officials nervously advanced to the next dojo, allowing all to continue. When Kagome came back over, everyone was staring at her. Rin and Kaede only beamed.
"What? We need him to fight kendo," she said with a shrug, falling back into the ranks. Inuyasha watched her for a while, but she said nothing more.
"We'll keep falling in love,
What a Beautiful Disaster,
What a Beautiful Disaster"
The officials announced minutes after the role call was made that the first event was to be the Dagger competition--Rin's event. Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Rin pale slightly. Shifting, she positioned herself next to Rin and took her cousin's hand. Rin squeezed her hand in response. Once the web chart of competitors flashed on the board, the dojos were released back to their resting sections.
"Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick," Rin whispered fiercely to Kagome. Her cousin only grinned at her. They were back in the rest area now and Rin was pacing back and forth across the room. Inuyasha sat cross-legged on the floor in a corner, the Tetsusaiga on his lap, with his head down and his eyes closed. Meditation is a big part of tournament fighting; everyone knew not to bother him. Miroku stood in the opposite corner, talking under his breath with Kaede about his event, which had been announced to take place next. Sango had gone into the stands again to check on the boys.
Kagome grabbed Rin as she walked by and turned her cousin to face her. Looking her in the face, Kagome smiled reassuringly. Rin felt better instantly because this smile lit up her cousin's eyes. "Rin, you have practiced so hard and you are awesome!" Kagome gave Rin a quick, hard hug. "You are a 'master of knives' and you are going to blow them away."
"Really?" Rin asked shyly, really just needing the encouragement.
"Am I one to mince words?" Kagome asked with a raised eyebrow. Both girls laughed. "You are gonna do great Rin, just do what you do best."
"Thanks Kag," Rin said happily.
"Will all participants of the Dagger Event please report to the arena, we are about to begin," the announcer called and repeated.
"Come with me?" Rin begged. Kagome smiled and led Rin toward the arena sidelines. Rin's hands were shaking on her knives as she gripped them with white knuckles. Kagome was at a lost of comforting her nerves, all she could do was be there.
The first portion of the event was the judging of the participant's talent with the blades. Each participant was given three daggers and one target. There were to throw one knife at 100 meters at a still target, 50 meters at a moving target, and 100 meters at a moving target. There were judged by the accuracy of each throw. The third name called Rin from the Isharugi Dojo.
"It's just you and me Rin," Kagome whispered to her as she went to take her place. Rin looked back and Kagome winked with a thumbs up. "Just you and me throwing knives at the dojo." Rin smiled and turned to go. "Rin!" Kagome called. Her cousin turned with a raised eyebrow. "You're fabulous." Rin mouthed a 'thank you' as she took her position. (It may sound kind of weird, but it's a habit of mine to call someone 'fabulous' before something stressful. That word always gets a smile--for some reason...that and the word 'pie'. Go figure!)
Rin took several deep breaths, trying to calm her renegade nerves. 'Just me and Kag,' she thought, gripping the hilt of the dagger in her hand as the first target was cleared. In the space of three breathes, Rin mastered herself completely. Rising above the sounds of the crowd, the arena faded away. All there was, all she saw or felt or heard, was the knife in her hand and the target 100 meters ahead. Her body moved fluidly, and her aim was perfect. The knife was embedded in the target dead on, and all the crowd cheered.
Rin shifted the second knife into her hand and waited a few seconds for the first moving target to be readied. She took another position; knife poised, body tense. In the space of one breath, she loosed her second knife for another flawless shot. There was a contented smile on Rin's face as she took hold of the final knife for her third shot. She was becoming more confident in her abilities, more outgoing.
Sango and Kaede joined Kagome at the arena sideline. The three of them took up the job as cheerleaders for Rin. The two boys were still in the rest area. Miroku said that they had enough faith in Rin's abilities, and that they would wait to congratulate her victory when she came back. There would be a pause between the accuracy and the battle portions of the Dagger Competition. In the space of that pause, Miroku's event would be held.
The crowd went wild as Rin's last knife hit the center of the target as true as the preceding blades. She was the first so far to land all three a bull's eye, something all those after her would try to top. And she was a girl too! There would be no question about Rin's participation in the combat round of her event. When her target was taken away, Rin bowed to the officials, her double braids swinging around her face. Kagome and Sango were jumping up and down, babbling incoherently until Rin came over, then she joined them in their cheer.
"I told you, you wouldn't get sick!" Kagome said to Rin with a laugh. "You really were fabulous!"
"Totally!" Sango agreed. "Now we just have to wait for the losers to finish up, and then who your first victim will be once the next round starts."
"You make it sound so easy!" Rin complained, but she was smiling.
"We have faith in you, Rin dear," Kaede assured her.
"My cousin, lose? Bah, that'll be the day!" Kagome exclaimed confidently before feigning a heart attack. "She's a winner, inside or out of the ring." Kaede nodded and Sango smiled. Kagome had to make a joke before it got too mushy between them, so she pinched Rin's cheek affectionately. "She's our wittle Winny-kins."
Rin laughed, giving her a playful shove. "I take it this little show of happiness means that Rin passes to the second round?" Miroku asked from the doorway of the rest area. Still the king of stating the obvious, Kagome genuflected with a bow. But he didn't need to be told, their faces said it all. "Rin that's great!" He hugged Rin around the shoulders. "We're a shoe-in to win this entire bloody competition."
"It was Kag's help that got me to do it. I was gonna choke, but she told me to remember that it was just her and me practicing at the dojo, and it calmed me down."
"Don't give me any credit. That was all you Rin," Kagome said happily. The team lounged in their rest area, waiting for the next round to commence.
"Connect my skull to the socket,
Burn baby, burning like a rocket,
Can't sell? Do tell, won't you buy it?
Thick skin, now don't you wanna try it?"
After the last of the competitors for the Dagger event had been gone and their scores had been tallied, they narrowed down the list. There had been 47 competitors to begin with, but only 20 were competing in the battle portion. The first round of the male weapons even would take place before they posted the list of the combat portion of Rin's event. Miroku was up.
"Time to earn your keep," Kagome had joked with him as they walked to the arena. Sango and Rin were with them. Kaede had gotten into another shouting match with the Dojo Master of another team and Inuyasha said he'd catch up with them in a little while.
"Isn't comic relief good enough?" Miroku asked, looking from the staff in his hands to the other competitors waiting to fight. He gulped, the picture of drama. Kagome wasn't fooled. She felt the anticipation of his nerves and the eagerness for battle that radiated from him. He was only putting on the show.
"I had to go first. It's your turn now," Rin teased, poking him in the side. Miroku twinged, then collapsed to the ground.
"I'm wounded!" he cried, clutching his side. "Rin, you broke my rib! That's it, I can't fight."
"Get up," Sango said, kicking him lightly in the side. "Or I'll break your rib for real. You're the fifth bout, and we have to be up there to scope your competition."
"Will I get a kiss for luck?" he asked hopefully, looking at Sango with hopeful violet eyes. She drained of all color and opened her mouth for a few choice words, but Rin clapped a hand over her mouth. Kagome did the talking.
"Yes Miroku, before your fight you'll get a kiss from all three of us. Now will you get up?" He was up before she asked the question.
"What are we waiting for? Let's be off." Then he jogged toward the ring. Sango pushed off Rin's hand.
"What the fuck?!?" she cried with indignation. "I am 'not' kissing that freak!"
"Oh, you know you want to," Kagome taunted.
"Just a peck on the cheek then. We had to get him up Sango...what else is there to do but bribe him with the prospect of female affection?" Rin explained calmly, stepping away from her steaming friend.
"How about threatening bodily harm!"
"Be rational Sango," Kagome said with a shrug. "With Miroku, pain is not an issue." That was all agreed on. He was a glutton for punishment. Why else did he keep grabbing at Sango's backside? Even when he knew it earned him a good ass-kicking, he did it anyway. And always say it was worth the effort.
"At least he's good for something," Sango muttered as they waited at the ring sidelines for the event to begin. "His entire event can be played out now, so Rin can grab a breather."
"See?" Rin said. "Isn't it handy to have him around?"
"I'll say," Kagome added. "Otherwise, all we'd have is Inuyasha. And that would be a travesty!"
"Okay girls," Miroku said, striding up to them. "I just have to wait for my first match, and then advance. And then beat my next opponent and advance, and continue on until I win!"
"Jumping the gun a little, aren't we?" Sango said dryly.
"Confidence is not a sin!" he countered.
"But pride is," Rin said with an affectionate smile. "Just don't get a head as big as Inuyasha. One conceited male is enough."
"Preach on Sister," Kagome agreed. They laughed, but fell silent as the first match began.
The first victory was quick. The victorious competitor overtook his opponent in a matter of seconds. There was barely a chance for him. The advancer was a demon who wielded a spear as a weapon. He was good looking, as demons go, but seemed a little too cocky for his own good.
The winners of the second and third matches--both demons as well--took a little longer to defeat their human opposition. Both used nothing but their bare claws and raw strength. The fourth fight was long and drawn out. The victor was injured, but able to continue. If a victorious competitor was wounded in battle and unable to continue, he'd automatically forfeit. The fourth-match victor was human, the wielder of a large spear. Then it was time for the fifth match--Miroku's first battle.
"Ah girls?" he said hesitantly, before he was called into the ring.
"We know," Rin said with a smile. "Good luck Miroku." She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Come here," Kag said with a wicked smile, giving him a light, chaste kiss on the lips. "Kick ass." Miroku grinned sheepishly as he turned to Sango.
She did not look happy, but what else could she do? Sango grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down, giving him a fast, hard kiss on the mouth. "Now go, before I regret this any more," she said with a scowl, but an undeniable blush crept up her neck. Miroku grinned in a dazed way as he stepped into the ring, staff in hand.
His opponent was a demon whose weapons of choice happened to be a pair of sais. He flashed them menacingly, and waved to the rest of his dojo where they huddled nearby. He took an offensive stance, making it clear that he would be the first to attack. Clearly, he thought Miroku was no competition at all. That was his first mistake. Miroku took a defensive stance to counter the impending attack, staff ready in his hands.
"Connect my skull to the socket,
Burn baby, burning like a rocket,
Choke it down, what a sound, run away from me,
Keep on laughing, girl do you see me?
Break it down now, break it down now."
I'll leave it off right here. I've been thinking...I dunno if I can finish the tournament in 2 chapters like I planned, so I might either have one uber-long chapter, or two medium sized ones...I don't know yet. Shout-out time: Everyone's favorite time of the year!
Dragons Maiden: Thanks for the love of the preview, I thought it was spiffy! Thanks for reading, cha!
False Reality: Unrequinted Love: Thanks for reading! It's always nice to hook a newbie! Yes, Kagome is sad *sniffles* She may be down, but believe me when I say that she is far from out! It's okay to be brain-dead. It gets to the best of us sometimes! Keep the happy, cha! Thanks for reading and the review!
RedWolfDragon: Thanks for reading and the review. I sent you an e-mail a little while ago, how's that working out for you? Still in trouble? I'm always here to give a listen so holla' back dawg! *coughs* I'm too white for my own good.... Anyway, keep reading! I'm glad you like my stuff.
Pruning shears: Ah, shears my dear, you's returned to review yet another chapter. Have I told you that you are my favorite? You really are! I'm happy you get such a kick out of my stuff! I try to keep them as much in character while fitting to my storyline as I can. It just so happens that in Tainted Blood, they can remain in character more then they did in Surviving a City. Yes, Rin is my pocket philosopher character. She says all the stuff that wouldn't sound right coming from an emotional damaged girl and a tomboy. Yes, Rei Yue plays a MAJOR role in this fic, even though he is no longer in this world. Kagome's birthday, I've made to be December 17, it's a two part span over chapters 12 and 13. Thanks for reviewing!
Jaded Hanyou Girl: Yes, I had to do the Timberlake thing. It was a must. I hate him sooo much that i thought it would be classic to bust in on Inuyasha doing a sing-a-long bit. Sorry, I don't mean to make him out to be a poser, I just thought it was funny. You saw Revolutions?!?! I LOVED THAT MOVIE! It was so sad yet wonderful....I'm such a matrix geek. *cough* Anywho, about Kagome's heritage. Yes, she's one quarter demon--didn't you read chapter 5? And no, Souta and Shippou don't know anything about Rei's death. Sayaka and Kagome kept most of the details from them because Souta was so young and it was before they adopted Shippou. Yes well, I'll get more into the past as the story goes on. As for the music, I'm going to give the titles of the songs in the next chapter because I'm rushing to get this one out. Good luck with your fight against Kazaa, I hope Ramen and pie help you to victory!
miroku's grl: Sorry it took so long. My beta was really bad with this chapter. I'm so happy to hear that you love my story though, I love you for it! Via la Resistance! *cough* Thanks for the review!
kagome-chan1234567890: Thankies! You are sweet to say so. Thanks for reading and the review.
Okay everyone, tune in next time for chapter 9! Same TB time, same TB channel! ~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~
Disclaimer: Fairy Tales can come true, it could happen to you, if you have a blow torch…well, until then, Inuyasha and the gang are not yet mine. Curses!
Chapter 8: Tournament Drama
"I'll make you a five star enemy,
I'm taking a fall would you like to see?"
Inuyasha laid on the horn for the third time. "Hurry up Miroku!" he yelled out of the window, followed up by another round of honking. It was almost eleven, they had to get going if they wanted to get to the arena with enough time to meet up with the others.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Miroku called, appearing on the front steps of his large Victorian style house. "Bye Dad, I'll see you later!" He slammed the door and took off down the stairs three at a time, pausing at the trunk of Sesshomaru's white Trailblazer long enough to toss his duffel bag in the trunk before jumping into the back seat. "Hi 'Yash, hello Sesshomaru. I didn't know you were coming."
Sesshomaru looked over from his seat in the passenger side and simply looked Miroku in the eye. "Whether or not that was a wise choice has yet to be seen, but right now I'm regretting it."
Inuyasha grinned. "You'll regret it even more when you see the girls." Sesshomaru merely yawned and leaned back in his seat. Inuyasha turned on the radio where he had a cleverly hidden American Hi-Fi CD already inserted, pumping up the music as they sped off toward the arena where the Nationals tournament was being held.
Although no amount of rushing could make the ride a short one, they did arrive at the arena in record time. nuyasha found a good parking spot and all three got out of the car, Inuyasha and Miroku pausing to grab their gear from the trunk before entering the arena with the other competitors. Sesshomaru went with them, saying he wanted to wish the female members of the team luck before retiring to his seat. There were no objections.
It didn't take long for the three young men to find Kaede, already arguing with an official about the team's warm-up space. Sango and Kagome were no where to be found, but Rin was making placating gestures at her sensei to back off with whatever she was doing. Inuyasha and Miroku quickly came to their side.
"Rin, what's going on?"
Rin exasperatedly gave up her attempt to calm the infuriated Kaede and turned to her friends with a smile. "The Okami Dojo pushed into our spot because they have a larger team then we do. We were bumped into one of the second ranges and Kaede is fuming." Inuyasha and Miroku looked to where Kaede had begun chasing after the official, yelling at him at the top of her voice. They both chuckled. Rin sighed, then noticed Sesshomaru had come up behind both boys. Rin went slightly pink but smiled. "Hello Sesshomaru, Inuyasha didn't say you were coming to see us."
Sesshomaru nodded his head a little, the shadow of a smile playing across his face. Rin was the only girl he had ever known that could pull of being sweet and endearing while being so utterly taken with him. It was transparent, but it didn't bother him when it came to Rin, unlike when it was concerning another female. For some reason, her huge brown eyes and innocent pretty face framed by those twin braids made him feel strangely...human. "I wanted to wish you luck Rin," he told her with that ghost of a smile.
Rin went very red and tugged on the end of one of her braids in a cute fashion. Sesshomaru was a second away from really smiling when they were interrupted. "Okay you two, quit flirting already," Inuyasha grumbled. Rin whacked him in the back of the head.
"Baka! We were 'not' flirting. Flirting is what you do with Kagome."
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me!" The two were head to head, Miroku snickering off to the side. Sesshomaru looked amused as well, but only to those who knew what his amusement looked like.
"Rin what are you doing?" a small voice asked from next to her.
"You shouldn't be talking to strangers you know," another voice said, a younger voice. Both looked up to see Kagome walking toward them, a small boy in her arms and another now at Rin's side. Rin brightened, Inuyasha forgotten.
"Hey, you show them to their seats?" Rin asked. Kagome sighed, but was smiling happily.
"Yeah, but they're so wired from being at a tournament that they'll never sit still without someone else watching them besides Kohaku." It was just then that she noticed the other guys there. "Oh! I'm sorry guys. Shippou," she addressed the little fluffy boy in her arms. "This is Miroku and Inuyasha, and that must be Inuyasha's older brother, right?" she asked, eyeing Sesshomaru levelly.
"I am, and you must be Kagome," he responded. Kagome offered him a cool smile and a respectful nod. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to smirk. This girl had spunk. And if he remembered correctly, she was Rin's cousin.
"I'm Kagome, this is my brother Shippou and Souta is..." she trailed off, looking behind her. Souta had scurried off to greet Kohaku and Sango who had just appeared from the stands. "Souta and Kohaku have hit it off pretty good." Sango, Kohaku, and Souta greeted the circle. "Souta, mind your manners," Kagome said warningly. Souta bowed respectfully and looked at the others. "Miroku, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru, this is my brother Souta."
"Hi Souta and Shippou," Miroku said with a cheerful smile. Souta beamed him a smile, then turned back to Kohaku. The two were currently deep in conversation about a video game or something. Sango rolled her eyes.
"Hey guys, Sesshomaru," she greeted. They said their piece. "Hey Kag, could you watch the brat while I go change into my gear? The opening ceremony starts in like twenty minutes and you and I still haven't gotten ready."
"No problem," Kagome said cheerfully. Inuyasha noticed a glow around her when she was with these children that she didn't have when she was normally around people. "Looks like Grams was victorious with the ref, if her grin means anything."
And at that moment, Kaede strode up to them with a charming smile. "Well I'm glad the slackers arrived! We're set up in rest area 4, we can take our stuff, and our guests, over there until the opening ceremony begins." Every proceeded to the indicated area.
Rin and Sango went into the back room to change into their gear, Miroku and Inuyasha took the other room. Kaede went about her business as the Dojo Master, which left Sesshomaru lounging on the side, and Kagome with the three young boys.
"Well, what did I tell you?" Kagome told Souta and Shippou. "Isn't it like I described?"
"Were Papa's tournaments like this too?" Souta asked.
"Yes, they were always exciting and tense. It's a dream come true for me to be here," Kagome told them, sitting Indian style with Shippou in her lap. "You boys will cheer me on right?"
"Of course!" both her brothers chorused.
"What about you Kohaku?" she asked the other boy with a kind smile. "Will you be cheering Sango and the rest of us?" Kohaku smiled shyly and nodded, his cheeks slightly pink. Kagome couldn't resist the urge to tweak his nose with a good-natured grin. "Such a quiet one, you are, not like these monsters."
"I resent that remark," Shippou said defiantly. In return, Kagome tickled him until he begged for mercy. All four were laughing when the rest of the team emerged. Sango and Rin were both dressed in traditional fighting kimonos with the Isharugi Dojo logo sewn into the back as well as their names. Miroku wore similar, but where the girls wore red and white, he wore black and violet, a color combination that did wonders to bring out his eyes. It also didn't escape Kagome that he had spiked his hair again. Rin's hair had stayed traditional, as always, in the twin braids. Sango's was swept into a high ponytail. They walked over to the small table in their room to retrieve their personal weapon-of-choice.
Inuyasha was the last to emerge from the back room. He was dressed in a kimono, the same exact cut as the white one he wore in training, only solid red. The dojo's logo was imprinted on his back, along with his name and Team Captain in bold letters. And, like during all practices, his hair was bound at the nape of his neck.
"Come on Kohaku," Sango said, holding out a free hand. "I'll take you to your seat. Souta, Shippou, are you coming?" Souta looked to Kagome for permission, which she promptly gave. Both boys were once more immersed in their talk of video games, making Sango groan as she led them to the stands.
"You going to hang with me a little longer?" Kagome asked Shippou. He nodded.
"So this is the fox, right?" Inuyasha asked, coming to stand closer. Kagome scowled at him for the comment.
"His name is Shippou, dog-boy. Don't insult him because you're jealous." That earned a scoff from Inuyasha and a smug smile from Sesshomaru. The girl had a way with his brother. It was little wonder that he was so taken with her. Sesshomaru pushed off from the wall he was leaning on to walk toward the doorway.
"I'll be going to my seat now. It was a pleasure to meet you Miss Isharugi." Kagome kept her response warm and friendly. The stoic demon turned to the rest of the group. "Good luck to you all," he said, but his eyes were on Rin. She went pink again and smiled. This exchange did not go unnoticed by Kagome, who felt that all-too familiar hole in the pit of her stomach. But Shippou was in her arms and she would not let it faze her--at least, Shippou 'was' in her arms. Now he was on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"You're a hanyou huh? The ears are a dead give-away. Kagome and Souta's Papa was a hanyou too," he chattered, patting Inuyasha's ear and looking between him and his sister. Kagome covered her grin with a hand. Inuyasha growled and pulled the small demon from his shoulder.
"You got a problem, runt?"
"No, you just look really strong. Kagome said you were strong, and that you were a good fighter. I think you'd be a good fighter." Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow at this, and turned slightly to look at Kagome. Despite the blush creeping across her face, she simply shrugged and retrieved her brother from Inuyasha's grasp.
"Okay Shippou, I gotta get my gear on. I'll see you in between the bouts, alright?" He nodded, giving her another hug. "Cheer for me," she said with a smile, ruffling his already puffy hair. "Rin, you mind?"
"Not at all," her cousin said good naturedly, taking the small demon from her hands. "I'll be right back." Rin winked and left the warm-up area.
"I think I'll see what Sango is up to," Miroku said with a sly smile. He snuck off, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome alone.
"I'm gonna get ready," Kagome said with a smile, turning to the back room, then she turned back. "Oh, don't go anywhere, okay? I still have that thing I want to give you."
"Sure thing, I won't disappear." Kagome nodded, satisfied, then vanished.
"Choke it down, what a sound,
Run away from me,
Keep on laughing, girl do you see me?"
"You left them alone on purpose, didn't you?" Sango asked Miroku accusingly. She had backed him into a corner on the staircase that led to the upper-level stands.
"Well, you and Rin are the conspirators!" he said defensively. "You keep telling me to give them time alone!"
"But not ten minutes before the Nationals opening ceremony!" she yelled at him.
"It's not like they're having sex in the warm-up room! It's more like they'll be trying to kill each other. You know they can't stand each other!"
"Can't stand each other?! Are you blind, or just stupid?" Sango asked in disbelief. "I mean, can you even see them? They are so totally hooked on each other it's not even funny!"
"We 'are' talking about Inuyasha and Kagome right? 'Our' Inuyasha and Kagome?"
"Of course, who else?"
Miroku just gave her one of his most disarming smiles. "I really wouldn't have a clue, but as long as you keep backing me into a wall, I'm more then happy to listen." It was only then that Sango fully realized her position. She had Miroku pinned to the cement wall with nothing in the way but her own body. She hastily took a step back, blushing furiously.
"Ahem," came a soft voice from behind them. Both whirled around to see Rin, smiling slightly, but not commenting. "I don't mean to interrupt, but we should be getting back."
"Yeah," Sango agreed.
"Absolutely," Miroku agreed cheerfully, taking the opportunity to make a grab at Sango's ass. She ground her teeth together before whirling around and backhanding him across the face.
"You'd get worse if I didn't have to conserve my energy!" she yelled, but all three knew she was lying.
"Anyway, I couldn't help but overhear," Rin continued. "But I have to say that I don't think it's a good idea to push Inuyasha and Kagome together like that. I mean, they should do it on their own, if at all." She paused longer enough to think something up in her mind that left a wicked grin on her face. "But then again, it is fun to watch them fight. It's so obvious that they like each other."
"At least on a sexual level," Miroku pointed out. Both girls looked at him. "What? You can not tell me that you don't notice that whenever those two are in a room together you can cut the tension with a knife! It's fact that if a guy and girl fight like cats and dogs, it's a sexual attraction. But since they fight like mikos and demons, I guess it's gotta be love."
"What ever you say Miroku," Rin said with a smile. "But then again, love is in the air." With that comment said, she walked a few paces ahead of the other two. Sango glowered at the back of her head while Miroku beamed.
"Exactly, love for a little smart-ass I know and a demon she's crushing on!" Sango snapped at her, then looked away pouting. Rin blushed, but was satisfied with herself for ruffling Sango's feathers, just a little bit.
"Come now Sango dear," Miroku said casually. "Surely there must be some human love going around." He looked at her hopefully. Sango just looked away.
"Nope, not at all," she said, arms crossed.
"Damn, demons get all the love..."
"Break it down now (what you want anyway?)
Right about now (what you want anyway?)
I'll fuck it up again (what you want anyway?)"
Inuyasha leaned against the doorframe, watching the other competitors pass by the door. There were dojos from all over competing today, and they would have to go through them all to get to the top. Each member of the martial arts team was entered in one event. Inuyasha, as acting Team Captain, was required to battle in the most sought-after prize event--the kendo battle. It was held in the center ring; one member from each dojo competing. That was the event most of the fans had come to see, and Inuyasha had to admit that he was more then happy to give them a good showing.
Kagome was entered in the other mandatory competing event, the weapons freestyle routine. She had been working in secret on this 'special routine' she had planned, and let no one see it until today. Inuyasha only hoped that it was good enough to blow away the competition. He needn't have worried, because Kagome had been perfecting her routine every night for two weeks, and it was flawless. Her weapon of choice was a set of two short-bladed katanas.
Rin was entered in the Dagger event. It was a two-part series where the competitors had to prove their skills with throwing knives and then at battling. The first part was an event where all enter participants would have three chances to throw knives at 3 targets. Those with the best scoring moved on to the battle round. Having an innate ability to throw a perfect shot, Rin's only worry was the fighting portion of her event. But the tireless hours she had spent training with Kagome, Kaede, and Sango were bound to pay off when called upon.
Sango had entered herself in the female weapons competitions. It was set up in the same system as the kendo battle royal. One member from each dojo--if that dojo had female members--would choose a single weapon and battle any number of opponents with the same or different weapons. Sango had originally wanted to enter using her family heirloom weapon, but it had been rejected by the tournament committee for being 'too brutal'. Therefore, Sango entered with a trusty sword.
Miroku was also entered in an elimination event. The male weapons competition. It was the male version of Sango's event, only sword-fighting was prohibited. Kendo was for the battle royal only. But it was just their luck that Miroku hated swords, and chose to do his fighting with an expertly-crafted golden staff. It was an heirloom in his family, of monks with mystical abilities. Miroku even having the staff proved his worth in the mystical department of things. It would give him an edge in battle, especially against demon opponents.
And thus the Isharugi martial arts team was spilt into five separate events. It was just their luck that only one event was held at a time. It was held in rounds, and would last well into the night due to the sheer number of competitors, but that didn't bother any of the fans--or fighters.
All these thoughts ran in Inuyasha's mind so that he didn't notice Kagome exit the changing room. She whistled to herself, and that caught his attention. When he turned, Inuyasha had to blink at her. "What are you drooling at dog-boy?" she asked with a sassy smile. "Am I just that stunning?"
Inuyasha scowled and she laughed, giving him that customary wink. There wasn't a pair of sunglasses in sight. He had taken a double take because Kagome was dressed in a Chinese style fighting outfit. The dark green material buttoned up to her neck, the same dark green as her left eye. The material clung to her form and showed her curves flatteringly. The Isharugi Dojo's logo was stamped broadly across the back of her shirt in bold white lettering, but he noticed that there was also a small symbol underneath it, the shape of a large cat with the letter 'Y' before it. He recognized the symbol as the logo that Rei Yue wore on his back in every competition.
"Nice logo," he muttered, nodding toward her shirt. Kagome attempted to swivel her head, but smiled when she couldn't see it.
"Yeah, well, I told you I was a fan." Inuyasha shrugged. Kagome sat on the small table that had all the weapons on it at one point--now there were only two swords--and tied up her hair. Unlike a normal ponytail, she had plaited it in two braids, similar to Rin. But unlike Rin, she had twisted the braids to form a small bun on either side of her head, just above her ears, and tied a green ribbon on them to keep it up. But despite her care, a few wispy strands of hair had fallen to frame her face. When she was done, she looked like a completely different girl. Smaller, somehow, then her five feet and ten inches, and that much prettier.
"You had something to give me, right?" Inuyasha said, averting his eyes and looking at the large clock in the center arena. "Better do it now. The ceremony starts in five minutes."
Kagome hopped from her seat and walked over to him. "Give me that sword," she said, pointing at the sword on his hip.
"What the hell are you talking about bitch?"
"Just give it to me," she said again, holding out her hands.
"But I need it!"
"Trust me," she said in exasperation. Inuyasha hesitated, but found that he didn't have a problem trusting her--at least to hand over his weapon. With a satisfied smile, Kagome trotted back to the table. Inuyasha followed her. "Alright, like I said, this is only a loan. I want it back after you win the kendo battle, got it?" she remarked calmly.
"You think I can win?" he asked her in all seriousness. Kagome laughed and gave him a genuine smile.
"I know you'll win, dog-boy." She grasped the sheath of a sword and held it out to him. "Here, take care of it." Inuyasha took the offered weapon, and looked down to see the Tetsusaiga in his claws.
"I couldn't take this," he began, holding it back out.
"I said it's only a loan," she repeated, pushing it back toward him. "You can wield Tetsusaiga's true power, I'm not transformed so I can't. As long as you have this sword, you can win. But you better take care of it. Even a nick in the blade and I'll kick your ass, got it?"
Inuyasha grinned, pulling the sword from the scabbard. It didn't transform, but he wasn't in battle. Even in it's untransformed state, Inuyasha could feel the pulse of power in the hilt. Kagome watched his face with almost breathless anticipation. She had thought it over long and hard, but thought that it would be a smart move to let Inuyasha wield her father's sword, just for the tournament. The sword had already bonded to him, and the skill with which he used a blade would make the pair invincible in battle.
Kagome clasped her hands together, looking all together giddy as she watched Inuyasha study the sword with a trained eye. "Thanks Kagome," he said, meeting her eyes and flashing a grin. "Now I think I can win."
"But of course," she smirked.
A thought struck Inuyasha out of the blue and he blinked under the sudden thought. "Hey...Kagome?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Rei Yue...didn't he have a sword named Tetsusaiga?" he asked. Kagome raised an eyebrow at him, but he could smell the sudden realization coming from her.
"Yeah, so?"
"A demonic sword, one made from the fang of a demon. Just like this sword."
"Yes," was her answer. It was all true, but she was careful not to give too much away.
"I thought you said that this was your father's sword. Or is it just coincidence that his sword is the same kind and has the same name as the other?"
"It was my father's sword," Kagome replied evenly. "He named it. He wielded it." She thought about it a second, fearing that he would put two-and-two together and realize that Rei Yue was her father. But then again, if he hadn't known that her father was married to a Higurashi...then maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad to let him know that she was the daughter of his hero. Kagome opened her mouth to tell him this one truth, but she was silence before she could go further then his name.
"Will all competitors please report to the arena foreground," an announcer said over the intercom. "I repeat, all competitors to the arena foreground. The Nationals Tournament is about to commence."
'Saved by the bell,' she thought wryly. 'Better luck next time Kag.' "Well, we better get going!" she said with a smile, grabbing Inuyasha's hand and pulling him out the door and toward the gathering fighters. Along the way they met up with Rin, Sango, and Miroku. Kaede was already there, holding a place for her pupils.
Each dojo being represented was required to stand a role call where they listed off each member and the event--or events--they were participating in. There were sixteen dojos in attendance that day, and the Isharugi dojo was the smallest. But that didn't bother anyone. There were rather leery about letting them compete when the officials noticed that Inuyasha was a hanyou. There were six all-demon dojos fighting, and eight mixed between humans and demons. One was all humans, and the last was the Isharugi dojo.
Inuyasha, of course, heard the officials whispering about him being allowed to compete, especially as the Team Captain. What he didn't count on was Kagome hearing them as well. And he most certainly didn't count on her marching over to them and speaking in a low, but sweet voice, quoting passages from the tournament rulebook specifically stating that any being, be it demon or human, was allowed to compete in any event, under any pretense. Hanyous were human 'and' demon so therefore, it was not a breech of ethics. The officials nervously advanced to the next dojo, allowing all to continue. When Kagome came back over, everyone was staring at her. Rin and Kaede only beamed.
"What? We need him to fight kendo," she said with a shrug, falling back into the ranks. Inuyasha watched her for a while, but she said nothing more.
"We'll keep falling in love,
What a Beautiful Disaster,
What a Beautiful Disaster"
The officials announced minutes after the role call was made that the first event was to be the Dagger competition--Rin's event. Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Rin pale slightly. Shifting, she positioned herself next to Rin and took her cousin's hand. Rin squeezed her hand in response. Once the web chart of competitors flashed on the board, the dojos were released back to their resting sections.
"Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick," Rin whispered fiercely to Kagome. Her cousin only grinned at her. They were back in the rest area now and Rin was pacing back and forth across the room. Inuyasha sat cross-legged on the floor in a corner, the Tetsusaiga on his lap, with his head down and his eyes closed. Meditation is a big part of tournament fighting; everyone knew not to bother him. Miroku stood in the opposite corner, talking under his breath with Kaede about his event, which had been announced to take place next. Sango had gone into the stands again to check on the boys.
Kagome grabbed Rin as she walked by and turned her cousin to face her. Looking her in the face, Kagome smiled reassuringly. Rin felt better instantly because this smile lit up her cousin's eyes. "Rin, you have practiced so hard and you are awesome!" Kagome gave Rin a quick, hard hug. "You are a 'master of knives' and you are going to blow them away."
"Really?" Rin asked shyly, really just needing the encouragement.
"Am I one to mince words?" Kagome asked with a raised eyebrow. Both girls laughed. "You are gonna do great Rin, just do what you do best."
"Thanks Kag," Rin said happily.
"Will all participants of the Dagger Event please report to the arena, we are about to begin," the announcer called and repeated.
"Come with me?" Rin begged. Kagome smiled and led Rin toward the arena sidelines. Rin's hands were shaking on her knives as she gripped them with white knuckles. Kagome was at a lost of comforting her nerves, all she could do was be there.
The first portion of the event was the judging of the participant's talent with the blades. Each participant was given three daggers and one target. There were to throw one knife at 100 meters at a still target, 50 meters at a moving target, and 100 meters at a moving target. There were judged by the accuracy of each throw. The third name called Rin from the Isharugi Dojo.
"It's just you and me Rin," Kagome whispered to her as she went to take her place. Rin looked back and Kagome winked with a thumbs up. "Just you and me throwing knives at the dojo." Rin smiled and turned to go. "Rin!" Kagome called. Her cousin turned with a raised eyebrow. "You're fabulous." Rin mouthed a 'thank you' as she took her position. (It may sound kind of weird, but it's a habit of mine to call someone 'fabulous' before something stressful. That word always gets a smile--for some reason...that and the word 'pie'. Go figure!)
Rin took several deep breaths, trying to calm her renegade nerves. 'Just me and Kag,' she thought, gripping the hilt of the dagger in her hand as the first target was cleared. In the space of three breathes, Rin mastered herself completely. Rising above the sounds of the crowd, the arena faded away. All there was, all she saw or felt or heard, was the knife in her hand and the target 100 meters ahead. Her body moved fluidly, and her aim was perfect. The knife was embedded in the target dead on, and all the crowd cheered.
Rin shifted the second knife into her hand and waited a few seconds for the first moving target to be readied. She took another position; knife poised, body tense. In the space of one breath, she loosed her second knife for another flawless shot. There was a contented smile on Rin's face as she took hold of the final knife for her third shot. She was becoming more confident in her abilities, more outgoing.
Sango and Kaede joined Kagome at the arena sideline. The three of them took up the job as cheerleaders for Rin. The two boys were still in the rest area. Miroku said that they had enough faith in Rin's abilities, and that they would wait to congratulate her victory when she came back. There would be a pause between the accuracy and the battle portions of the Dagger Competition. In the space of that pause, Miroku's event would be held.
The crowd went wild as Rin's last knife hit the center of the target as true as the preceding blades. She was the first so far to land all three a bull's eye, something all those after her would try to top. And she was a girl too! There would be no question about Rin's participation in the combat round of her event. When her target was taken away, Rin bowed to the officials, her double braids swinging around her face. Kagome and Sango were jumping up and down, babbling incoherently until Rin came over, then she joined them in their cheer.
"I told you, you wouldn't get sick!" Kagome said to Rin with a laugh. "You really were fabulous!"
"Totally!" Sango agreed. "Now we just have to wait for the losers to finish up, and then who your first victim will be once the next round starts."
"You make it sound so easy!" Rin complained, but she was smiling.
"We have faith in you, Rin dear," Kaede assured her.
"My cousin, lose? Bah, that'll be the day!" Kagome exclaimed confidently before feigning a heart attack. "She's a winner, inside or out of the ring." Kaede nodded and Sango smiled. Kagome had to make a joke before it got too mushy between them, so she pinched Rin's cheek affectionately. "She's our wittle Winny-kins."
Rin laughed, giving her a playful shove. "I take it this little show of happiness means that Rin passes to the second round?" Miroku asked from the doorway of the rest area. Still the king of stating the obvious, Kagome genuflected with a bow. But he didn't need to be told, their faces said it all. "Rin that's great!" He hugged Rin around the shoulders. "We're a shoe-in to win this entire bloody competition."
"It was Kag's help that got me to do it. I was gonna choke, but she told me to remember that it was just her and me practicing at the dojo, and it calmed me down."
"Don't give me any credit. That was all you Rin," Kagome said happily. The team lounged in their rest area, waiting for the next round to commence.
"Connect my skull to the socket,
Burn baby, burning like a rocket,
Can't sell? Do tell, won't you buy it?
Thick skin, now don't you wanna try it?"
After the last of the competitors for the Dagger event had been gone and their scores had been tallied, they narrowed down the list. There had been 47 competitors to begin with, but only 20 were competing in the battle portion. The first round of the male weapons even would take place before they posted the list of the combat portion of Rin's event. Miroku was up.
"Time to earn your keep," Kagome had joked with him as they walked to the arena. Sango and Rin were with them. Kaede had gotten into another shouting match with the Dojo Master of another team and Inuyasha said he'd catch up with them in a little while.
"Isn't comic relief good enough?" Miroku asked, looking from the staff in his hands to the other competitors waiting to fight. He gulped, the picture of drama. Kagome wasn't fooled. She felt the anticipation of his nerves and the eagerness for battle that radiated from him. He was only putting on the show.
"I had to go first. It's your turn now," Rin teased, poking him in the side. Miroku twinged, then collapsed to the ground.
"I'm wounded!" he cried, clutching his side. "Rin, you broke my rib! That's it, I can't fight."
"Get up," Sango said, kicking him lightly in the side. "Or I'll break your rib for real. You're the fifth bout, and we have to be up there to scope your competition."
"Will I get a kiss for luck?" he asked hopefully, looking at Sango with hopeful violet eyes. She drained of all color and opened her mouth for a few choice words, but Rin clapped a hand over her mouth. Kagome did the talking.
"Yes Miroku, before your fight you'll get a kiss from all three of us. Now will you get up?" He was up before she asked the question.
"What are we waiting for? Let's be off." Then he jogged toward the ring. Sango pushed off Rin's hand.
"What the fuck?!?" she cried with indignation. "I am 'not' kissing that freak!"
"Oh, you know you want to," Kagome taunted.
"Just a peck on the cheek then. We had to get him up Sango...what else is there to do but bribe him with the prospect of female affection?" Rin explained calmly, stepping away from her steaming friend.
"How about threatening bodily harm!"
"Be rational Sango," Kagome said with a shrug. "With Miroku, pain is not an issue." That was all agreed on. He was a glutton for punishment. Why else did he keep grabbing at Sango's backside? Even when he knew it earned him a good ass-kicking, he did it anyway. And always say it was worth the effort.
"At least he's good for something," Sango muttered as they waited at the ring sidelines for the event to begin. "His entire event can be played out now, so Rin can grab a breather."
"See?" Rin said. "Isn't it handy to have him around?"
"I'll say," Kagome added. "Otherwise, all we'd have is Inuyasha. And that would be a travesty!"
"Okay girls," Miroku said, striding up to them. "I just have to wait for my first match, and then advance. And then beat my next opponent and advance, and continue on until I win!"
"Jumping the gun a little, aren't we?" Sango said dryly.
"Confidence is not a sin!" he countered.
"But pride is," Rin said with an affectionate smile. "Just don't get a head as big as Inuyasha. One conceited male is enough."
"Preach on Sister," Kagome agreed. They laughed, but fell silent as the first match began.
The first victory was quick. The victorious competitor overtook his opponent in a matter of seconds. There was barely a chance for him. The advancer was a demon who wielded a spear as a weapon. He was good looking, as demons go, but seemed a little too cocky for his own good.
The winners of the second and third matches--both demons as well--took a little longer to defeat their human opposition. Both used nothing but their bare claws and raw strength. The fourth fight was long and drawn out. The victor was injured, but able to continue. If a victorious competitor was wounded in battle and unable to continue, he'd automatically forfeit. The fourth-match victor was human, the wielder of a large spear. Then it was time for the fifth match--Miroku's first battle.
"Ah girls?" he said hesitantly, before he was called into the ring.
"We know," Rin said with a smile. "Good luck Miroku." She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Come here," Kag said with a wicked smile, giving him a light, chaste kiss on the lips. "Kick ass." Miroku grinned sheepishly as he turned to Sango.
She did not look happy, but what else could she do? Sango grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down, giving him a fast, hard kiss on the mouth. "Now go, before I regret this any more," she said with a scowl, but an undeniable blush crept up her neck. Miroku grinned in a dazed way as he stepped into the ring, staff in hand.
His opponent was a demon whose weapons of choice happened to be a pair of sais. He flashed them menacingly, and waved to the rest of his dojo where they huddled nearby. He took an offensive stance, making it clear that he would be the first to attack. Clearly, he thought Miroku was no competition at all. That was his first mistake. Miroku took a defensive stance to counter the impending attack, staff ready in his hands.
"Connect my skull to the socket,
Burn baby, burning like a rocket,
Choke it down, what a sound, run away from me,
Keep on laughing, girl do you see me?
Break it down now, break it down now."
I'll leave it off right here. I've been thinking...I dunno if I can finish the tournament in 2 chapters like I planned, so I might either have one uber-long chapter, or two medium sized ones...I don't know yet. Shout-out time: Everyone's favorite time of the year!
Dragons Maiden: Thanks for the love of the preview, I thought it was spiffy! Thanks for reading, cha!
False Reality: Unrequinted Love: Thanks for reading! It's always nice to hook a newbie! Yes, Kagome is sad *sniffles* She may be down, but believe me when I say that she is far from out! It's okay to be brain-dead. It gets to the best of us sometimes! Keep the happy, cha! Thanks for reading and the review!
RedWolfDragon: Thanks for reading and the review. I sent you an e-mail a little while ago, how's that working out for you? Still in trouble? I'm always here to give a listen so holla' back dawg! *coughs* I'm too white for my own good.... Anyway, keep reading! I'm glad you like my stuff.
Pruning shears: Ah, shears my dear, you's returned to review yet another chapter. Have I told you that you are my favorite? You really are! I'm happy you get such a kick out of my stuff! I try to keep them as much in character while fitting to my storyline as I can. It just so happens that in Tainted Blood, they can remain in character more then they did in Surviving a City. Yes, Rin is my pocket philosopher character. She says all the stuff that wouldn't sound right coming from an emotional damaged girl and a tomboy. Yes, Rei Yue plays a MAJOR role in this fic, even though he is no longer in this world. Kagome's birthday, I've made to be December 17, it's a two part span over chapters 12 and 13. Thanks for reviewing!
Jaded Hanyou Girl: Yes, I had to do the Timberlake thing. It was a must. I hate him sooo much that i thought it would be classic to bust in on Inuyasha doing a sing-a-long bit. Sorry, I don't mean to make him out to be a poser, I just thought it was funny. You saw Revolutions?!?! I LOVED THAT MOVIE! It was so sad yet wonderful....I'm such a matrix geek. *cough* Anywho, about Kagome's heritage. Yes, she's one quarter demon--didn't you read chapter 5? And no, Souta and Shippou don't know anything about Rei's death. Sayaka and Kagome kept most of the details from them because Souta was so young and it was before they adopted Shippou. Yes well, I'll get more into the past as the story goes on. As for the music, I'm going to give the titles of the songs in the next chapter because I'm rushing to get this one out. Good luck with your fight against Kazaa, I hope Ramen and pie help you to victory!
miroku's grl: Sorry it took so long. My beta was really bad with this chapter. I'm so happy to hear that you love my story though, I love you for it! Via la Resistance! *cough* Thanks for the review!
kagome-chan1234567890: Thankies! You are sweet to say so. Thanks for reading and the review.
Okay everyone, tune in next time for chapter 9! Same TB time, same TB channel! ~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~