27

Kagome realized that she was having a brand new experience as she crouched behind the parked car. When had she ever sat down in the middle of a parking lot before? She sat between Karasuma and Sakaki, leaning against the dinged up door of the Mitsubishi. They were a few dozen yards from the empty storefront where Kagome could still sense the jewel shards. On Karasuma's other side, Amon and Robin peered around the car's bumper and watched the dark storefront. Dojima was on Sakaki's other side whispering complaints and trying not to get her clothes dirty. Looking up and down the line of people, Kagome realized that she was the only one not carrying a weapon. This didn't exactly bother her, but it made her feel slightly left out. What did bother her, however, was that Agatha had still not struck back. The witch had to have seen them all creep up the edge of the lot and dodge behind the Mitsubishi. Yet she was staying quiet. What did it mean?

"Is she moving yet?" Amon asked without turning.

"No," Kagome responded. "She's stayed put this whole time. I don't like it."

Amon narrowed his eyes at the storefront and Kagome guessed that he agreed. He really did remind her of Sesshomaru, especially when he was tense. Was that really Sesshomaru's soul in there? Or maybe just his blood? Of course, it had to be. How else could he seem so calm all the time? In fact, that was one of the few things she appreciated about Sesshomaru. He never yelled. He didn't have to.

A flurry of movement behind another car in the lot caught Kagome's eye. Inuyasha had lost patience with waiting. If he had heard Kagome mention her concern, he gave no indication. He leapt out and stood directly in front of the dark store.

"Come out and fi-"

His words were cut off by the roar of rushing water. The glass of the storefront shattered and a great wave raged out into the parking lot. Inuyasha drew his giant sword and used it to shield himself. The people behind the Mitsubishi braced themselves against the metal and felt the water pushing them a few paces farther from the store. Kagome twisted around to see over the car's roof. Agatha stood framed in the glassless storefront, grinning malevolently. Kagome's jaw tightened as she realized that she'd been right. Agatha had been ready for them for quite a while.

"What's the matter?" Inuyasha jeered. "Afraid to fight fair?"

"All's fair in love and war," Agatha sneered back.

"Let's get down to business," Inuyasha snapped and charged Agatha, sword in hand. She raised her hand and pushed him back with her water jet. Twice more he charged her with the same result and she was laughing now. A cold, reptilian laugh.

"This isn't working," Kagome commented unnecessarily.

The others looked to Amon, trusting that he had a plan. And for a moment, it appeared that he did. He drew his gun and fired two shots over the Mitsubishi's hood. Agatha dodged to one side, snarling. She threw a jet at Amon's half hidden face and it might have hit him if Robin hadn't jumped to his defense, blocking the water attack with her fire shield. The resulting torrent of steam rolled over the lot and faded into the air.

"You shouldn't have looked away," Inuyasha growled in triumph as he swung his sword. This time, he got dangerously close to Agatha before she ducked nimbly under the swing. Inuyasha turned, seeing quickly that they had switched places and she now stood between him and the others.

"You think you're so smart, don't ya?" he snarled.

"Smart? That was just luck," Agatha retorted with a sickening giggle. She raised both hands and sent a wall of water flying towards Inuyasha. He shielded himself again with the Tetsusaiga.

Kagome couldn't stand it anymore. Something had to change. Agatha showed no signs of weakening as they hoped she would.

"I'm moving to the other car," she whispered to Sakaki.

"What? No, it's too dangerous. What if she sees you?" Sakaki protested.

"I want Inuyasha to see me," she said. "It'll make him fight harder."

"You're really going to do this?" he asked studying her face. She nodded. "Take this with you then," he said, pushing his gun into her hand. It was her turn to protest.

"I don't like guns." She tried to give it back to him but he refused.

"Take it anyway," he said.

She saw that he was serious so she nodded and gripped the gun more firmly. Agatha's back was still turned as she faced Inuyasha's sword attacks. The timing wouldn't get any better. Kagome brushed past Amon and Robin on her way out and heard the harsh whispers behind her. But she set her sights on the other car and didn't stop until she reached it. The flood of Agatha's opening attack had flipped it upside down and Kagome ducked under its hood. The only one who hadn't seen her was Agatha who still had her back turned. Just as Kagome hoped Inuyasha's attacks suddenly grew fiercer and he deflected one of Agatha's attacks back at her, pushing her backwards. But still, the witch showed no signs of fatigue. It had to be the jewel shards, Kagome was sure of it. But how was she supposed to neutralize them from that distance and without her bow and arrows. Her hand involuntarily tightened on Sakaki's gun and she looked down at it, considering. She had never fired a gun before. Was it even worth trying? Of course it was. Inuyasha was in trouble. They were all in trouble. Kagome looked at the gun more closely. It wasn't a bow and arrow, but what if…? She took the weapon in both hands and leveled it at Agatha's back. The thought occurred again that she'd never fired a gun before. Inuyasha charged, Agatha raised her hand with the two jewel shards sparkling in it, and Kagome pulled the trigger.

Kagome was just as surprised as everyone else when the neon blue streak flew from the gun barrel and struck Agatha's hand. But she also saw the glowing shards fall to the tarmac.

"The shards are out," she yelled, getting to her feet behind the overturned car.

The hunters were up and running in a moment, firing their guns. It disturbed Kagome suddenly that she was so used to violence. The spreading patch of blood on the ground around the fallen witch hardly bothered her at all, though it was a relief when Robin used her craft to dispose of the body. She was even more relieved when Inuyasha appeared at her side.

"That couldn't have been a sacred arrow," he said.

"I think it was a sacred bullet," Kagome said and looked down at the gun in her hand.

"What does that mean? Can you do that with any weapon?"

"I don't know."

28

Robin stood over the scorch mark on the ground and waited for her heart to slow down. She still wasn't questioning magic and she wouldn't question Kagome either. But the shards lay there fascinating her. She bent to pick them up but a hand grabbed her wrist. She stopped and looked up, meeting Amon's cool dark eyes. She knew his meaning in an instant and stood up straight again. She knew he was right. He was still her watchdog, after all.