Chapter Thirteen: Hero

"You are such a baby, Inuyasha! I can't believe that you would get worked up over a stupid sword fight. Who cares whether he beat you or not; you're not perfect." Kagome shook her hands at Inuyasha while yelling.

He screamed back, "I am not a baby, and it wasn't just a stupid fight. He's just a human; I should've been able to beat him!"

"Excuse me, just a human? I'm a human, and I could beat your butt into next year if I wanted to. You are so pathetic sometimes."

"Women!" With that, Inuyasha walked away like a kid who just lost a playground fight. Jack kept quiet while he looked at Kagome. He had heard every word they said and came to the conclusion that she reminded him of Elizabeth Turner. That scared him. Kagome folded her arms and looked to the side.

She saw Jack and asked, "What are you staring at?"

"You usually fight like that, lass?"

"He was going on about a stupid fight he lost to a human."

"Yeah, I know. I beat him."

Kagome's eyes widened. She thought Inuyasha was lying. Now she thought, He was telling the truth; what a pathetic man. She was stunned also; no human had ever been able to beat Inuyasha. Yet she recalled that he said that they used real swords. "Good for you. He needs to grow up. One of these days, he will be at his wit's end because of his 'I'm perfect' attitude."

Jack looked at her and tried to find her in his database of names. When he could not, he asked, "What's your name, love?"

"Kagome, and yours?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow. Nice to meet you." He reached out his hand to shake hers. She took it. He looked at her face then let go of her hand.

She stared at him as he walked away. Jack was almost at the door of the tent where Miroku and Sango lingered, but he felt that something was not right. He turned his body slightly and saw something charging at Kagome. It looked like a lion, but it had wings. A fierce growl showed on its face as it ran to attack. Knowing the danger that Kagome was in, Jack ran at her and pinned her to the ground. Kagome felt the weight on top of her and was out of the trance she had been under. She turned her head to the side and saw a demon turn around and start running at them. Jack got up and yelled at Kagome, "Go inside and get Sango!"

Without hesitation, she was running to the tent. The beast changed course and ran toward Kagome. Jack's hand rushed to his belt and he grabbed his pistol. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger and a shot rang out. The bullet hit the demon, and it stopped for a second or two, as did Kagome.

"Run, you fool," Jack yelled.

The creature stared up at Jack, and its eyes blazed with a color that was like blood. It growled, "Who dares get in my way?" Kagome still stood there, eyes shifting from Jack to the monster.

"I do, mate." Jack dropped his pistol and unsheathed his sword. The demon's eyes flashed as it rushed towards Jack. Sparrow rolled under its hind legs and grabbed its tail. The creature fell to the ground but was not dead. He lifted his sword up to skewer the animal.

Kagome stood in terror as she saw the demon bit the arm that held Jack's sword. Jack's mouth opened to scream, but before a sound came out, the monster reached a claw behind his back and scratched. The spot that had once been but a mere scar from Inuyasha reopened as the claws tore his skin. His back arched as he fell to the ground in pain. With the hand that was not hurt, he tried to get up, but his strength failed.

Kagome was in shock, and although she tried to scream, she couldn't. The demon looked at her and seemed to smile as it crawled to her. Jack tried to prop himself up but only managed to turn himself over. Sand got in his cuts, and the prolonged shriek finally came out. As it did, the demon rushed toward Kagome but was stopped. It fell to the ground as a boomerang swirled in the air and back towards Sango, who stood at the doorway of the tent.