"Kagome's Puppy Troubles"
By Xio the Dog Demoness
Xio: I'm so glad you all like my new story!
Minnie: *whispers* (Thanks for humoring her.)
Xio: I heard that!
Minnie: Impossible!
Xio: I'm a DOG DEMONESS! …Moron…
Minnie: I'm not a moron!
Shippo: Well, while these two are fighting I'll do the disclaimer.
*Xio and Minnie hurl insults in the background*
Disclaimer: Xio doesn't own InuYasha or me, but she does own Kuri and any other character she puts in!
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
Dog Speech
**Scene Change**
~Different POV~
Chapter Two: Suspicions
Kuri's amber eyes widened in shock as Kagome and herself were engulfed in blue light. 'What's going on?' thought the shocked puppy. Kagome, sensing Kuri's fear, ran her nimble fingers through the fuzzy puppy's mid-length white fur. Kuri calmed down, but her pointed ears twitched, straining to catch the slightest sound that could alert them to danger.
'Just like InuYasha,' thought Kagome with a grin, 'and her ears look just like his. I'm glad she likes me touching them,' she added in her mind, as she scratched behind the puppy's right ear. Kuri leaned in, but jumped back as she noticed the light was fading, revealing an open sky.
"Don't worry Kuri, this is the feudal era. Oh, how am I gonna get you out of here? I never thought about it!" Kagome was worried, until Kuri dug her teeth into a vine and slowly climbed up, sticking her claws into little cracks to hold her place when she reached higher. "I didn't know you could climb! But, you are a really smart puppy, so I guess it makes sense," Kagome decided not to worry on it and climbed on out after Kuri.
Kuri's ears perked up as she heard something large back in the trees. 'I sense a jewel shard!' thought Kagome in alarm. She grabbed Kuri and fled towards the village, but the demon was too fast and started to catch up easily. The spider demon was as big as a tree! Without a second the puppy jumped out of Kuri's arms and lunged towards the spider. The demon stalked towards Kagome, heedless of the advancing puppy. 'There's a glowing light in the middle of the spider's forehead, and it feels like a energy source. Maybe if I get that, it might lose it's power!' thought Kuri with determination.
The spider demon didn't notice the puppy until it was racing across it's back, heading for the spider's head. Sensing the demon's sudden attention shift, Kuri grabbed into the spider demon's spiky hairs and held on for dear life while the demon bucked and jumped. Kagome tried to aim her arrows, but the spider moved jerkily and Kagome was afraid they would hit Kuri instead. The spider wore itself out with it's rocking, jumping, and swaying, so it rested for a second, and Kuri stealthily sneaked onto it's head. When she was in position, she clamped her jaws onto the area that shined so brightly and hung on until the spider's shakes and snaps threw her off, tearing the piece of flesh, and the light source, with it.
'Kuri got the jewel!' thought Kagome in shock. She snapped out of her thoughts just in time to catch the flying puppy. Kuri spat the flesh into Kagome's hand with a weary wag of her tail, and Kagome put the shard into the bottle with the rest. In a rage at the loss of it's only shard, the slightly smaller demon flung itself towards Kagome. Kuri tried to stand in Kagome's arms, but in her exhaustion could hardly move. Kagome knew she didn't have time to get her arrows or sword, and had no experience with her new sword hanging uselessly at her side anyways. 'It's over…' Kagome closed her eyes, assured of her fate.
______________________________________________________________
Xio: This would be a great place for a cliffy, but since I'm not completely heartless…
Minnie: …and she hates short chapters herself so…
Xio: On with the story!
______________________________________________________________
Suddenly, with a flashing streak of red and white, the spider was cleaved in two. "That was easy," snorted InuYasha. He sheathed the Tetsusaiga.
"I doubt it would have been so easy if it still held the jewel shard it possessed!" said an irritated Kagome, "And where were you? If it weren't for Kuri, I'd be spider chow by now!"
"Who's Kuri?" asked a suspicious InuYasha. "Is he some guy you met?"
'Gee, this guy's an idiot!' thought Kuri. 'And he's making Kagome mad! I'll hurt him if he doesn't stop… hey, why's she feeling so mischievous all of a sudden?'
"Kuri's just the smartest, bravest, sweetest dog I ever met in my life!" said Kagome with a smirk. 'If that doesn't make him jealous I don't know what will!'
Kuri picked up on it right away and smirked herself. 'I can't believe he still hasn't noticed me. I'm right in Kagome's arms!'
"Oh really? Then if he's so great, why don't you go off with him!"
"Maybe I will! Goodbye InuYasha!" and with that Kagome headed to the village, leaving and irritated, and confused, InuYasha behind her. 'Wait, towards the village? Ha, I knew she wouldn't leave me… Unless she's saying goodbye, or asking the group to go with her…' He flailed about for a minute. 'What should I do?'
'Go to her! Tell her how you feel so she won't ever think of leaving.'
'Oh yeah? And who are you?'
'I'm you!'
'That's impossible because I'm me!'
'I'm your conscience and if you don't tell her that you love her you could lose her.'
'I don't love her!'
'Do too!'
'Do not!'
'Do not!'
'Do too!'
'Ha! You admitted it! Now tell her!'
'Get outta my head!'
'Okay, but I'll be back…'
InuYasha walked slowly towards the village.
*************************Kaede's Hut*************************
"Kagome, you're back!" yelled a grinning Shippo.
"It's good too see you Lady Kagome." said Miroku.
"Hello Kagome, and happy birthday," said Sango.
"Yeah, happy birthday!" agreed Shippo happily.
Kagome, introductions please? barked Kuri with a puppy smile.
"Wow a puppy! It's so cute! What's its name? When did you get it? Can I play with it?" asked Shippo in a breath.
"Hey, one question at a time okay? Her name is Kuri, I got her today as a birthday present, and…"
Of course you can play with me, just watch the tail and ears, they're sensitive! interrupted Kuri.
"You just need to be careful with her ears and her tail, they're sensitive," said Kagome as she sat Kuri on the floor. Kuri trotted straight up to Shippo and bumped him with her nose. You're it! Kuri jumped back. "Looks like you're it Shippo. You gotta tag her back." Kagome commented helpfully. Shippo and Kuri played tag for a while before Kuri jumped into Kagome's lap with both ears perked up. 'InuYasha's close,' thought Kuri unhappily. 'He's mean…'
Just as InuYasha walked in, Kagome wrapped her arms around Kuri so nothing but her eyes could be seen. "Thought you were going with that Kuri guy?" he said with a grin, "Knew you were to scared to leave me."
"Why should I be scared of you when all I have to do is say sit (*THUD*) to shut you up? Oh, and for your information, I did leave with Kuri. Kuri, say hello to the biggest jerk on the planet, InuYasha."
Hello jerk! barked Kuri mockingly.
"My name is InuYasha, not jerk," growled InuYasha angrily.
Whatever you say jerk…
"Kagome, tell her I'm InuYasha!"
"Kuri, his name is InuYasha, but he's still a jerk…"
Kagome, I'm thirsty! Please give me a drink… Kuri interrupted.
"Shut up puppy! I'm busy arguing with Kagome right now!"
"You shut up InuYasha, she needs water!" Kagome got out Kuri's blue water bowl, complete with decorative paws and her name in pink, and filled it with water. Kuri gratefully walked over and took several laps. Thanks! she yipped gratefully.
"You shouldn't have brought her! She'll get in the way of the shard hunt!"
Kagome was getting really mad. "That's all you care about, hmm InuYasha? For your information she's the one that found that last shard, and even risked her life pulling it out! I definitely don't call that getting in the way!"
Stop making her mad jerk! Kuri barked angrily.
"Or what puppy? Are you gonna growl me to death?"
No, but I will do this! With a growl Kuri bit right into InuYasha's hand. He quickly threw her, but Kagome made a jump and easily caught her, bracing herself against the wall to avoid falling.
"Didn't hurt!" said InuYasha stubbornly, before cradling his throbbing red hand. He let out a nearly inaudible whimper and held back tears.
Then why are you whimpering? smirked Kuri. Kagome giggled.
"You understand her don't you?" said InuYasha suspiciously.
"A lot better than I understand you," Kagome responded.
"I don't like her."
"Of course you don't, she just bit you!"
"I think she's a demon."
"Miroku, do you think we should stop them?" asked Sango.
"Of course Lady Sango." *rub rub*
"HENTAI!" *THWACK* *Thud*
Both InuYasha were looking at them, and Kagome was close to giggles again.
"Pervert!" snorted Sango angrily, "Kagome, would you like a bath?"
"Sure!" responded Kagome eagerly, "but Kuri has to go too. I don't trust InuYasha around her…"
"I'll go!" said Miroku eagerly.
"HENTAI!!!" screamed the girls. *SLAP* *THWACK* *CHOMP* *THUD*
Don't even think it, pervert! growled Kuri angrily.
"Kirara, stay here and make sure no hentai bakas follow."
And leaving Miroku as a crumpled heap on the floor, the Sango, Kagome, and Kuri headed for the hot springs.
************************At the Hot Springs************************
"So spill, why are you so mad at InuYasha?" asked Sango, once they got to the spring.
"You heard us arguing about the shard hunt and the last jewel shard collected, right?"
"Yes."
"That's because he wasn't there when the spider came, until a couple of seconds before it lunged at us. If it weren't for my brave Kuri, I'd be dead right now. She jumped onto the spider demon, raced across its back, held on while it was bucking, and tore the shard out of its forehead. I didn't even have to tell her it was there!" Kuri puffed out her chest with pride.
"Wow. But, if she could do all that, don't you think she might be a demon…?"
"I don't know, but either way, I know she'll never hurt me. She saved my life! Kuri's my friend." said Kagome happily.
"Sounds like me and Kirara." responded Sango with a grin.
"Exactly. I would gladly trust Kuri with my life. We may not have been together long, but we're partners now."
We're a pack, barked Kuri. We belong together and we will always be together.
Sango, of course, didn't understand a word of it, but she got the idea, and Kagome was beaming at Kuri's words. Kagome and Sango relaxed in the spring until they decided they had better check up on the boys. They climbed out and dressed quickly.
*************************Kaede's Hut*************************
When the girls got back to the hut, InuYasha had Shippo by the tail and was shaking him. Shippo was clutching his ears and whimpering. Kagome was furious. She put her hands over Kuri's ears and angrily yelled, "INUYASHA, PUT SHIPPO DOWN THIS INSTANT!" InuYasha dropped Shippo in favor of cradling his ears. Shippo, now out of InuYasha's grasp, jumped over onto Kagome's shoulder.
"Thanks Kagome! I thought I was a goner for sure! And all I did was say I had a great present for your birthday… Hey, maybe he forgot it's your birthday," said Shippo. "Well anyways, here's your gift from me!" and Shippo pulled out a shiny blue rock. "Here, take it."
"Wow, Shippo, it's really pretty. Thanks so much," said Kagome, holding the rock. Kuri jumped down and licked Shippo in the face. "Ha ha ha… stop it tickles… hee hee!"
"That reminds me, here's my gift," said Sango, holding out a bundle wrapped in cloth.
Kagome unwrapped it to reveal an nice outfit. The pants were pink, puffed out, though not to the degree of InuYasha's, and had jagged black stripes at her hips and ankles, neither set going fully across. The undershirt was sleeveless, and resembled nothing so much as the top of a bathing suit. It was solid black. The over shirt was a lot like InuYasha's, but it was pink with jagged black stripes curved around her waist, not going fully across her stomach. "Oh Sango, it's wonderful, thank you!"
Miroku walked up next with a set of daggers in his hands. "I thought they may come in handy someday," said Miroku. Kagome admired the daggers. They had golden hilts with a dog design carved in. "Thanks Miroku, they're great. I've never seen anything like them!"
Kaede called Kagome over to her. "Here child, I haven't forgotten ye either," she said, holding out a bag. In it was several herbs, medicines, and even a book of cures and herbs. "Thank you, Kaede, these will definitely be useful."
"Ye are quite welcome child."
After that, Kaede served her delicious stew. Everyone talked about this and that and ate until they were full. "I'm stuffed!" declared Shippo happily.
After dinner Kagome walked over to Sango. "Sango, my grandfather gave me a sword for my birthday, and I was wondering if you would teach me to use it properly? It would be nice to have another weapon to rely on, should I run out of arrows, or should an enemy come to close for arrows to be effective." Kagome suppressed a shudder at the memory of Kohaku that day in the forest. He had nearly gotten her, and she had run out of arrows. Had Sango not made it in time…
"Sure Kagome. We'll start tomorrow," responded Sango.
"Feh, like you'll ever be good at a sword. You should stick to arrows and leave close combat to me," declared InuYasha.
"You aren't always there, InuYasha. I must learn to protect myself when you're too 'busy' to defend me! Good night!" and with that Kagome stormed off to bed, carrying Shippo with Kuri trotting at her heels, and InuYasha stomped outside, most likely to the Goshimboku to sulk.
'InuYasha, when will you ever learn? I can't blame her for not telling you how she feels about you, what with the way you treat her and the whole Kikyo thing,' thought Sango. 'Makes me wonder just where you were when Kagome was in danger.' She scooted closer to Miroku. "Oh, so finally want to take me up on my offer of bearing my child, Sango?"
Sango slapped Miroku, but not hard enough to knock him out. "Now's not the time for foolishness lecher! I wanted to talk to you about InuYasha and Kagome."
"Oh? What is it then?"
"Kagome told me that when she climbed out of the well, she was attacked by a giant spider demon. Kuri tried to save Kagome, and managed to tear out the Shikon shard embedded in it's forehead. However, it wasn't enough, and the spider was headed straight for Kagome in a rage. It had nearly reached her before InuYasha showed up and finished it off."
Miroku thought hard about this new information. 'When InuYasha left earlier today I saw disconnected souls. He must have went to see Kikyo.'
"Miroku, weren't there some of Kikyo's disconnected souls about when InuYasha left earlier today?"
"Yes, and I imagine that's where InuYasha was when Kagome needed him the most."
'That bastard!' thought Sango angrily. 'Kagome could have been killed and he was off having a chat with Kikyo.'
Sango and Miroku went to sleep, Sango making sure she was far away from the monk's wandering hands. Unknown to any of them, Kagome heard their whole conversation laying awake on her sleeping bag. 'Well, I know what he was doing while I was being attacked…' she thought with a tear running down her cheek. Images of InuYasha and Kikyo kissing beneath the Goshimboku filled her head, and tears flooded down her cheeks.
Kuri was dreaming. She was burying InuYasha in the sand with a grin on her face. She smelled the salty ocean when a drop fell on her head. She awoke to see Kagome crying. There, there, growled Kuri comfortingly, It's ok. I'm here for you always. Kuri lapped away Kagome's tears, trying to soothe her.
"Thanks Kuri… It's just that, when I needed his help, InuYasha was with Kikyo… Don't I matter at all?"
Of course you do, Kagome! You mean the world to me, and to Shippo as well. And what about Sango, Kirara, Miroku, and even Kaede? We're all here for you, my friend.
"Kuri, I'm so glad I got you. Thank you for comforting me." Suddenly tired, Kagome fell asleep. Kuri snuggled beside her. 'What are friends for?'
Xio: Ok, I'm finally done with this chapter. I know, I know, it took me long enough… but I'm really sorry for that. I hope the length of this chapter makes up for it…
Minnie: I brought a guest… InuYasha… *drags InuYasha out in chains*
Xio: Inu hasn't been very nice… *evil grin*
InuYasha: So what?
*Kagome and Kuri walks in*
Kagome: So we get to torture you!
Kuri:I have an idea *whispers idea to Kagome* *Kagome whispers idea to Xio*
*Xio starts to type and InuYasha is suddenly a blonde with a supermodel figure*
InuYasha: What the hell?
Xio: You've been a bad dog, now you need to be punished.
Xio, Kagome, Minnie, and Kuri: Oh Miroku! Come here for a minute…
*Miroku walks in and sees 'supermodel' InuYasha.* - to protect all the impressionable readers we'll skip over the details -
Xio: Heh heh. Well I'd just like to thank my reviewers, Sammy -.-zzz, (sorry, I haven't seen any much like mine, though I haven't looked all that hard.) Shero, (just wait, I've got big plans for Kuri, you'll see more of her secrets later on,) inuyasha101, shootingstarhaven, (thanks so much) red-tigergirl2, Annice Hastings, Tenshi Koneko, (puppies are adorable! J) Matsuro, bloodbunny, Aoshi Mimiru Pyro, and animefreak (thanks! I love to be different!) Ja Ne!
By Xio the Dog Demoness
Xio: I'm so glad you all like my new story!
Minnie: *whispers* (Thanks for humoring her.)
Xio: I heard that!
Minnie: Impossible!
Xio: I'm a DOG DEMONESS! …Moron…
Minnie: I'm not a moron!
Shippo: Well, while these two are fighting I'll do the disclaimer.
*Xio and Minnie hurl insults in the background*
Disclaimer: Xio doesn't own InuYasha or me, but she does own Kuri and any other character she puts in!
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
Dog Speech
**Scene Change**
~Different POV~
Chapter Two: Suspicions
Kuri's amber eyes widened in shock as Kagome and herself were engulfed in blue light. 'What's going on?' thought the shocked puppy. Kagome, sensing Kuri's fear, ran her nimble fingers through the fuzzy puppy's mid-length white fur. Kuri calmed down, but her pointed ears twitched, straining to catch the slightest sound that could alert them to danger.
'Just like InuYasha,' thought Kagome with a grin, 'and her ears look just like his. I'm glad she likes me touching them,' she added in her mind, as she scratched behind the puppy's right ear. Kuri leaned in, but jumped back as she noticed the light was fading, revealing an open sky.
"Don't worry Kuri, this is the feudal era. Oh, how am I gonna get you out of here? I never thought about it!" Kagome was worried, until Kuri dug her teeth into a vine and slowly climbed up, sticking her claws into little cracks to hold her place when she reached higher. "I didn't know you could climb! But, you are a really smart puppy, so I guess it makes sense," Kagome decided not to worry on it and climbed on out after Kuri.
Kuri's ears perked up as she heard something large back in the trees. 'I sense a jewel shard!' thought Kagome in alarm. She grabbed Kuri and fled towards the village, but the demon was too fast and started to catch up easily. The spider demon was as big as a tree! Without a second the puppy jumped out of Kuri's arms and lunged towards the spider. The demon stalked towards Kagome, heedless of the advancing puppy. 'There's a glowing light in the middle of the spider's forehead, and it feels like a energy source. Maybe if I get that, it might lose it's power!' thought Kuri with determination.
The spider demon didn't notice the puppy until it was racing across it's back, heading for the spider's head. Sensing the demon's sudden attention shift, Kuri grabbed into the spider demon's spiky hairs and held on for dear life while the demon bucked and jumped. Kagome tried to aim her arrows, but the spider moved jerkily and Kagome was afraid they would hit Kuri instead. The spider wore itself out with it's rocking, jumping, and swaying, so it rested for a second, and Kuri stealthily sneaked onto it's head. When she was in position, she clamped her jaws onto the area that shined so brightly and hung on until the spider's shakes and snaps threw her off, tearing the piece of flesh, and the light source, with it.
'Kuri got the jewel!' thought Kagome in shock. She snapped out of her thoughts just in time to catch the flying puppy. Kuri spat the flesh into Kagome's hand with a weary wag of her tail, and Kagome put the shard into the bottle with the rest. In a rage at the loss of it's only shard, the slightly smaller demon flung itself towards Kagome. Kuri tried to stand in Kagome's arms, but in her exhaustion could hardly move. Kagome knew she didn't have time to get her arrows or sword, and had no experience with her new sword hanging uselessly at her side anyways. 'It's over…' Kagome closed her eyes, assured of her fate.
______________________________________________________________
Xio: This would be a great place for a cliffy, but since I'm not completely heartless…
Minnie: …and she hates short chapters herself so…
Xio: On with the story!
______________________________________________________________
Suddenly, with a flashing streak of red and white, the spider was cleaved in two. "That was easy," snorted InuYasha. He sheathed the Tetsusaiga.
"I doubt it would have been so easy if it still held the jewel shard it possessed!" said an irritated Kagome, "And where were you? If it weren't for Kuri, I'd be spider chow by now!"
"Who's Kuri?" asked a suspicious InuYasha. "Is he some guy you met?"
'Gee, this guy's an idiot!' thought Kuri. 'And he's making Kagome mad! I'll hurt him if he doesn't stop… hey, why's she feeling so mischievous all of a sudden?'
"Kuri's just the smartest, bravest, sweetest dog I ever met in my life!" said Kagome with a smirk. 'If that doesn't make him jealous I don't know what will!'
Kuri picked up on it right away and smirked herself. 'I can't believe he still hasn't noticed me. I'm right in Kagome's arms!'
"Oh really? Then if he's so great, why don't you go off with him!"
"Maybe I will! Goodbye InuYasha!" and with that Kagome headed to the village, leaving and irritated, and confused, InuYasha behind her. 'Wait, towards the village? Ha, I knew she wouldn't leave me… Unless she's saying goodbye, or asking the group to go with her…' He flailed about for a minute. 'What should I do?'
'Go to her! Tell her how you feel so she won't ever think of leaving.'
'Oh yeah? And who are you?'
'I'm you!'
'That's impossible because I'm me!'
'I'm your conscience and if you don't tell her that you love her you could lose her.'
'I don't love her!'
'Do too!'
'Do not!'
'Do not!'
'Do too!'
'Ha! You admitted it! Now tell her!'
'Get outta my head!'
'Okay, but I'll be back…'
InuYasha walked slowly towards the village.
*************************Kaede's Hut*************************
"Kagome, you're back!" yelled a grinning Shippo.
"It's good too see you Lady Kagome." said Miroku.
"Hello Kagome, and happy birthday," said Sango.
"Yeah, happy birthday!" agreed Shippo happily.
Kagome, introductions please? barked Kuri with a puppy smile.
"Wow a puppy! It's so cute! What's its name? When did you get it? Can I play with it?" asked Shippo in a breath.
"Hey, one question at a time okay? Her name is Kuri, I got her today as a birthday present, and…"
Of course you can play with me, just watch the tail and ears, they're sensitive! interrupted Kuri.
"You just need to be careful with her ears and her tail, they're sensitive," said Kagome as she sat Kuri on the floor. Kuri trotted straight up to Shippo and bumped him with her nose. You're it! Kuri jumped back. "Looks like you're it Shippo. You gotta tag her back." Kagome commented helpfully. Shippo and Kuri played tag for a while before Kuri jumped into Kagome's lap with both ears perked up. 'InuYasha's close,' thought Kuri unhappily. 'He's mean…'
Just as InuYasha walked in, Kagome wrapped her arms around Kuri so nothing but her eyes could be seen. "Thought you were going with that Kuri guy?" he said with a grin, "Knew you were to scared to leave me."
"Why should I be scared of you when all I have to do is say sit (*THUD*) to shut you up? Oh, and for your information, I did leave with Kuri. Kuri, say hello to the biggest jerk on the planet, InuYasha."
Hello jerk! barked Kuri mockingly.
"My name is InuYasha, not jerk," growled InuYasha angrily.
Whatever you say jerk…
"Kagome, tell her I'm InuYasha!"
"Kuri, his name is InuYasha, but he's still a jerk…"
Kagome, I'm thirsty! Please give me a drink… Kuri interrupted.
"Shut up puppy! I'm busy arguing with Kagome right now!"
"You shut up InuYasha, she needs water!" Kagome got out Kuri's blue water bowl, complete with decorative paws and her name in pink, and filled it with water. Kuri gratefully walked over and took several laps. Thanks! she yipped gratefully.
"You shouldn't have brought her! She'll get in the way of the shard hunt!"
Kagome was getting really mad. "That's all you care about, hmm InuYasha? For your information she's the one that found that last shard, and even risked her life pulling it out! I definitely don't call that getting in the way!"
Stop making her mad jerk! Kuri barked angrily.
"Or what puppy? Are you gonna growl me to death?"
No, but I will do this! With a growl Kuri bit right into InuYasha's hand. He quickly threw her, but Kagome made a jump and easily caught her, bracing herself against the wall to avoid falling.
"Didn't hurt!" said InuYasha stubbornly, before cradling his throbbing red hand. He let out a nearly inaudible whimper and held back tears.
Then why are you whimpering? smirked Kuri. Kagome giggled.
"You understand her don't you?" said InuYasha suspiciously.
"A lot better than I understand you," Kagome responded.
"I don't like her."
"Of course you don't, she just bit you!"
"I think she's a demon."
"Miroku, do you think we should stop them?" asked Sango.
"Of course Lady Sango." *rub rub*
"HENTAI!" *THWACK* *Thud*
Both InuYasha were looking at them, and Kagome was close to giggles again.
"Pervert!" snorted Sango angrily, "Kagome, would you like a bath?"
"Sure!" responded Kagome eagerly, "but Kuri has to go too. I don't trust InuYasha around her…"
"I'll go!" said Miroku eagerly.
"HENTAI!!!" screamed the girls. *SLAP* *THWACK* *CHOMP* *THUD*
Don't even think it, pervert! growled Kuri angrily.
"Kirara, stay here and make sure no hentai bakas follow."
And leaving Miroku as a crumpled heap on the floor, the Sango, Kagome, and Kuri headed for the hot springs.
************************At the Hot Springs************************
"So spill, why are you so mad at InuYasha?" asked Sango, once they got to the spring.
"You heard us arguing about the shard hunt and the last jewel shard collected, right?"
"Yes."
"That's because he wasn't there when the spider came, until a couple of seconds before it lunged at us. If it weren't for my brave Kuri, I'd be dead right now. She jumped onto the spider demon, raced across its back, held on while it was bucking, and tore the shard out of its forehead. I didn't even have to tell her it was there!" Kuri puffed out her chest with pride.
"Wow. But, if she could do all that, don't you think she might be a demon…?"
"I don't know, but either way, I know she'll never hurt me. She saved my life! Kuri's my friend." said Kagome happily.
"Sounds like me and Kirara." responded Sango with a grin.
"Exactly. I would gladly trust Kuri with my life. We may not have been together long, but we're partners now."
We're a pack, barked Kuri. We belong together and we will always be together.
Sango, of course, didn't understand a word of it, but she got the idea, and Kagome was beaming at Kuri's words. Kagome and Sango relaxed in the spring until they decided they had better check up on the boys. They climbed out and dressed quickly.
*************************Kaede's Hut*************************
When the girls got back to the hut, InuYasha had Shippo by the tail and was shaking him. Shippo was clutching his ears and whimpering. Kagome was furious. She put her hands over Kuri's ears and angrily yelled, "INUYASHA, PUT SHIPPO DOWN THIS INSTANT!" InuYasha dropped Shippo in favor of cradling his ears. Shippo, now out of InuYasha's grasp, jumped over onto Kagome's shoulder.
"Thanks Kagome! I thought I was a goner for sure! And all I did was say I had a great present for your birthday… Hey, maybe he forgot it's your birthday," said Shippo. "Well anyways, here's your gift from me!" and Shippo pulled out a shiny blue rock. "Here, take it."
"Wow, Shippo, it's really pretty. Thanks so much," said Kagome, holding the rock. Kuri jumped down and licked Shippo in the face. "Ha ha ha… stop it tickles… hee hee!"
"That reminds me, here's my gift," said Sango, holding out a bundle wrapped in cloth.
Kagome unwrapped it to reveal an nice outfit. The pants were pink, puffed out, though not to the degree of InuYasha's, and had jagged black stripes at her hips and ankles, neither set going fully across. The undershirt was sleeveless, and resembled nothing so much as the top of a bathing suit. It was solid black. The over shirt was a lot like InuYasha's, but it was pink with jagged black stripes curved around her waist, not going fully across her stomach. "Oh Sango, it's wonderful, thank you!"
Miroku walked up next with a set of daggers in his hands. "I thought they may come in handy someday," said Miroku. Kagome admired the daggers. They had golden hilts with a dog design carved in. "Thanks Miroku, they're great. I've never seen anything like them!"
Kaede called Kagome over to her. "Here child, I haven't forgotten ye either," she said, holding out a bag. In it was several herbs, medicines, and even a book of cures and herbs. "Thank you, Kaede, these will definitely be useful."
"Ye are quite welcome child."
After that, Kaede served her delicious stew. Everyone talked about this and that and ate until they were full. "I'm stuffed!" declared Shippo happily.
After dinner Kagome walked over to Sango. "Sango, my grandfather gave me a sword for my birthday, and I was wondering if you would teach me to use it properly? It would be nice to have another weapon to rely on, should I run out of arrows, or should an enemy come to close for arrows to be effective." Kagome suppressed a shudder at the memory of Kohaku that day in the forest. He had nearly gotten her, and she had run out of arrows. Had Sango not made it in time…
"Sure Kagome. We'll start tomorrow," responded Sango.
"Feh, like you'll ever be good at a sword. You should stick to arrows and leave close combat to me," declared InuYasha.
"You aren't always there, InuYasha. I must learn to protect myself when you're too 'busy' to defend me! Good night!" and with that Kagome stormed off to bed, carrying Shippo with Kuri trotting at her heels, and InuYasha stomped outside, most likely to the Goshimboku to sulk.
'InuYasha, when will you ever learn? I can't blame her for not telling you how she feels about you, what with the way you treat her and the whole Kikyo thing,' thought Sango. 'Makes me wonder just where you were when Kagome was in danger.' She scooted closer to Miroku. "Oh, so finally want to take me up on my offer of bearing my child, Sango?"
Sango slapped Miroku, but not hard enough to knock him out. "Now's not the time for foolishness lecher! I wanted to talk to you about InuYasha and Kagome."
"Oh? What is it then?"
"Kagome told me that when she climbed out of the well, she was attacked by a giant spider demon. Kuri tried to save Kagome, and managed to tear out the Shikon shard embedded in it's forehead. However, it wasn't enough, and the spider was headed straight for Kagome in a rage. It had nearly reached her before InuYasha showed up and finished it off."
Miroku thought hard about this new information. 'When InuYasha left earlier today I saw disconnected souls. He must have went to see Kikyo.'
"Miroku, weren't there some of Kikyo's disconnected souls about when InuYasha left earlier today?"
"Yes, and I imagine that's where InuYasha was when Kagome needed him the most."
'That bastard!' thought Sango angrily. 'Kagome could have been killed and he was off having a chat with Kikyo.'
Sango and Miroku went to sleep, Sango making sure she was far away from the monk's wandering hands. Unknown to any of them, Kagome heard their whole conversation laying awake on her sleeping bag. 'Well, I know what he was doing while I was being attacked…' she thought with a tear running down her cheek. Images of InuYasha and Kikyo kissing beneath the Goshimboku filled her head, and tears flooded down her cheeks.
Kuri was dreaming. She was burying InuYasha in the sand with a grin on her face. She smelled the salty ocean when a drop fell on her head. She awoke to see Kagome crying. There, there, growled Kuri comfortingly, It's ok. I'm here for you always. Kuri lapped away Kagome's tears, trying to soothe her.
"Thanks Kuri… It's just that, when I needed his help, InuYasha was with Kikyo… Don't I matter at all?"
Of course you do, Kagome! You mean the world to me, and to Shippo as well. And what about Sango, Kirara, Miroku, and even Kaede? We're all here for you, my friend.
"Kuri, I'm so glad I got you. Thank you for comforting me." Suddenly tired, Kagome fell asleep. Kuri snuggled beside her. 'What are friends for?'
Xio: Ok, I'm finally done with this chapter. I know, I know, it took me long enough… but I'm really sorry for that. I hope the length of this chapter makes up for it…
Minnie: I brought a guest… InuYasha… *drags InuYasha out in chains*
Xio: Inu hasn't been very nice… *evil grin*
InuYasha: So what?
*Kagome and Kuri walks in*
Kagome: So we get to torture you!
Kuri:I have an idea *whispers idea to Kagome* *Kagome whispers idea to Xio*
*Xio starts to type and InuYasha is suddenly a blonde with a supermodel figure*
InuYasha: What the hell?
Xio: You've been a bad dog, now you need to be punished.
Xio, Kagome, Minnie, and Kuri: Oh Miroku! Come here for a minute…
*Miroku walks in and sees 'supermodel' InuYasha.* - to protect all the impressionable readers we'll skip over the details -
Xio: Heh heh. Well I'd just like to thank my reviewers, Sammy -.-zzz, (sorry, I haven't seen any much like mine, though I haven't looked all that hard.) Shero, (just wait, I've got big plans for Kuri, you'll see more of her secrets later on,) inuyasha101, shootingstarhaven, (thanks so much) red-tigergirl2, Annice Hastings, Tenshi Koneko, (puppies are adorable! J) Matsuro, bloodbunny, Aoshi Mimiru Pyro, and animefreak (thanks! I love to be different!) Ja Ne!