So sorry...it takes so long for me to update . Gaahhhh!!
But, I am happy to say that this chapter is much longer than the rest...sorta...
And I'm also starting a new fic! XD You'll know what it's about when I post it! Muhahahah!! Nope, not telling...::readers whip out guns, knives, pitchforks, metal poles, bricks, etc.::
...::cough:: Maybe I'll provide a little blurb. Maybe. Anyway. Here are the eh...question/comment/whatever answers...
What was with the dream? - Hehe. Well, the the light symbolizes Kagome's goal...which would be moving on from Inu-Yasha...finding new love. Heh...put two and two together...;)
Is Sesshy gonna be in this story? - Yes, Fluffy-sama shall make his appearance soon! XD
'It is sort of distracting to have dialogue other than the story line posted'... - Ehh...sorry. Lol...yeah, I might include more dialogue than necessary =P, but I find it livens up stories, and helps the plot to some extent. I'll try to keep it at a reasonable amount though, thanks for pointing that out DB.
Could you not make your beginnings so long? - Hehe...whoops. I get carried away sometimes. Sorry .. I'll keep in mind to shorten it...but I like to throw in some of that when I feel like goofing off XP =D.
Katrina-chan's scene - LMAO!! XD
And to Raven... - XD Thanks! Ehh...you reviewed twice! =P Lol. Thanks for the support, you have no idea how much I love that. =D
Any inspiration for for CITR? - =( Not much, no.
Inu-Yasha: Gods, woman...just get the frikken chapter started!!
Saki: -.- How impatient.
Inu-Yasha: :P
Kagome: ...sit.
Saki: XD Here we go...taa-daa!!!
Disclaimer: I own Inu-Yasha. I own Inu-Yasha not. I own Inu-Yasha...I own Inu- Yasha...not...::sigh:: If only there was one more petal...
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Saki: Okies...umm...that was too early...
Oh yeah. I know there's hardly any, but there's some gore in this chapter...
Kagome: =) Okay, now...taa-daa!!
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Trust and Betrayal
Chapter Eight: Improvements
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"As much as I love the caves now, I think we should clear the bones out of them."
Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "Why? What's wrong with them?"
Kagome sighed. "Nothing that big...but it still kind of creeps me out when I see this skull staring back at me- "
"Hey, Kagome."
"KYAAAH!!" Kagome screamed, whipping around. Once she saw who is was, she calmed down...
Only to snap her head back.
"Kouga!! What are you doing in the females cave!?"
Kouga blinked. "I am the leader of the pa..." He withered under Kagome glare.
"That's not the point!! You can't just walk in on a girl! What if I was...changing!?"
Kouga smirked. The girl's face flushed red. "You pervert!! Get out!!"
Kouga ducked all the objects thrown by Kagome and rushed out.
Kyoko was laughing so hard that tears had formed in her eyes. She was rolling on the floor, clutching her sides.
Kagome's chest heaved as she glared at the exit, where Kouga had run out from.
Suika and Seika had too, witnessed the scene, as did all the others.
"Wow, Kagome." Tanoshii said. "Before, if someone spoke to him like that, they'd have been beheaded...or worse."
Kagome sighed and rubbed her temples. "Oh yeah...I remember the first few encounters...such a violent guy..."
"But he's changed, you know." Haru spoke, while nodding.
"I believe it's because of the influence of Kagome here..." Kushi teased, wiggling her slender eyebrows.
Kagome blushed. "N-no!!"
Sakura grinned. "Sure...deny it if it makes you feel better."
Tanoshii walked up to Kagome and casually laid a hand on her shoulder. "You like Kouga, don't you?" She asked playfully.
Kagome opened her mouth, and closed it. She couldn't get anything out.
Suika hooted. "Kag has the hots for Kouga!!"
Seika nodded, laughing. "She didn't deny it!!!"
Kyoko catcalled. "Kagome, you go girl!"
"When are you gonna make your move?" Tanoshii inquired with a smirk.
Kagome finally found her voice. "No!! You – argh!!"
With that, Kagome rushed out of the cave.
The females exchanged grins and high-fives; something Kagome had taught them.
--
Outside, Kagome sat beside a stream, against a tree.
She was smiling.
She felt so...carefree, and light. She was the old Kagome again...mostly.
She ran her hand through the stream, feeling the cool water flow through her fingers.
The futuristic miko closed her eyes, still smiling. It was so fun, being with her new friends. Life was carefree, happy, and everyone was healthy...
It was chaotic, but that was great! They all knew each other pretty well...except for a few of them.
But even so, she still missed her old friends. Sango was still like a sister, and she'd never forget Sango, even though she might not ever see her again...
She missed Miroku too, even his perverted habits. Have Sango and Miroku hooked up yet? Was he still a lecher?
Being away from Shippo felt like being away from her son...it was quite saddening sometimes, not being able to see his cute little face, or have him clinging her.
Yet the most...the most saddening...was knowing that she was apart from Inu- Yasha. She wanted so hard – so hard – to forget him. And maybe she'd move on...she probably would...
...but no matter what, she would always love him. He was her first love, and you can't forget that. She would find another lover...but a part of her would always love him – and would always belong to him.
"Kagome?" Kouga's voice broke her thoughts. She turned her head to see the prince walking over. He motioned if he could sit down. Kagome nodded, and scooted over a little. Kouga sat down beside her. Kagome splashed at the water a bit, before drying off her hand on her skirt.
"So...how's it going?" He asked casually.
Kagome nodded. "Awesome. The females are really nice, and we're all very close friends now. It's carefree."
It was Kouga's turn to nod. "So...how about the other...issue...?"
Kagome's smile became slightly forced. "Oh, it's great. I don't really feel the pain anymore. I mean, I've got great people to be around. It's, it's a good life. It doesn't hurt anymore. It's..." She trailed off.
Kouga looked at the girl he loved with pain in his eyes. 'After all he did to you...you still love him...'
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he hardly noticed that she was talking again.
"Well, if he can move on, so can I. Cause...if he loves Kikyo, I'm not gonna hold him back. I won't wait for him forever, and never love again because of him. Well, I know that even if I try not to...some part of me will always love him. But...the rest of me will move on. It'll just be that part of my soul that will never move on from that moment..."
Kouga stared at her. Kagome was talking very fast, and her eyes were glossy. Yet, she was still smiling.
"He can love Kikyo. She loves him back, right? They can be happy together. Sango and Miroku love each other too, so what's there to be sad about? All my friends are happy! Shippo will grow up, and become a big boy...and he'll find a mate, and live a great life, too. Naraku is gone...so he isn't around to destroy my friends' happiness."
Kouga felt his heart twist for the girl in front of him. 'You care so deeply for your friends that you can throw away yourself and your own happiness...'
"...and...I'll be very happy when you find a bride. Your bride would be a very happy girl too. She'd be very lucky. Everyone will be happy, so I would be too."
She looked at him, and smiled, even as a tear trickled down her cheek.
Kouga stared into her eyes. "Kagome...I don't want anyone else. I wouldn't take any other girl as my mate. I only love you." He reached out and embraced her. Tears rolled freely down her face.
Kagome nodded, and returned the hug.
Suddenly, the quiet, peaceful moment was interrupted by a scream in the distance. Kagome's head whipped up.
"What was that!?" She exclaimed. Kouga's brows were furrowed.
"I smell human blood...and youkai."
Kagome gasped. "Could a village have been attacked?"
Kouga nodded.
Kagome stood up. "We have to help them!!" With that, she ran off to the female's cave.
She quickly grabbed her bow and arrows.
"Kagome-chan!! Where are you going?" Tanoshii yelled out.
When she didn't reply, Tanoshii took off after her.
Kagome ran outside, where Kouga was standing. "Kouga, we have to hurry!"
Kouga was too stunned to say anything, but snapped out of it. Swiftly, he picked her up and ran off in the direction he could smell blood and demons. Tanoshii soon appeared behind him.
"What the hell are you doing!?" He yelled.
"What the hell are YOU doing!?!" She yelled back.
"Helping a village get rid of bloodthirsty demons!" Kouga replied.
Tanoshii almost tripped over her feet. "Kouga, since when were you helpful in these situations!?"
Kouga smirked. "Since Kagome."
Kagome blushed. Tanoshii grinned widely. "Well, I'm coming with you!"
--
When they came upon the village, the first thing they saw was a swarm of youkai.
"Why are they all here?" Tanoshii asked.
Kagome grimaced. "I believe they felt the presence of the Shikon no Tama..."
"Shikon no Tama!? You still have it!?"
"Yeah..." Kagome replied weakly.
Kouga sighed into his hands. "Well, we can't really do anything about that right now."
Kagome nodded. "We have to get rid of these youkai. They're terrorizing the village!!" Immediately, she loaded an arrow and aimed straight at a demon's heart. Letting the arrow fly, she watched it slice through smaller demons. It hit its target. The demon disintegrated.
Tanoshii gaped. "Wow, Kagome-chan!! You're powerful!!"
Kagome smiled slightly. "Not really. Had I really been that much of an asset, Inu-Yasha would have kept me by his side."
Kouga stared at Kagome in shock. It had been so long since she had managed to talk about the mutt freely, and casually, without breaking down or something of the sort. Obviously, Tanoshii had noticed too. She was shocked to the point of being speechless.
"Oh, come on, you guys! Help me with these stupid youkai!" Kagome cried out over her shoulder.
At once, Kouga started punching, kicking, and hurling demons so that they died one way or another – all painful deaths anyway. Tanoshii used a type of forestry magic she had learned, so that she was able to teleport short distances to confuse demons. When they were dizzy, she'd summon blades of grass that, while whizzing through the air, became thin blades. No need to say what the blades did...
...Okay, well, bluntly putting it, many demons died because of the little blades formerly known as friendly pieces of grass.
Kagome readied another arrow, but didn't notice the bat youkai charging towards her. When she looked up to aim, she was met full force by a bite and a body slam. Kagome's body flew through the air and landed with a thud against a tree many feet away, and fell to the ground. She was knocked out cold.
Tanoshii gasped and ran to her. "Kagome-chan!!" The miko's temple was trickling blood, and the wound from the bite on her arm was bleeding heavily.
Kouga was there in a flash. "Kagome!" He hugged her close. 'I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you.'
He handed Kagome over to Tanoshii. "Watch Kagome for me."
His vision bled crimson as he sought out the bat demon. "You!!" He hissed, and lunged at the bat.
The bat was surprisingly quick, which proved to be a bit of a challenge. But Kouga was drunk on rage and fury. In almost no time at all, he thrust his fist through the demon's heart, and ripped it out. Kouga kicked the bat away, its beating heart still in his hand. Kouga's hand and forearm was covered in pieces of flesh and blood.
"That's what you get for hurting my Kagome..." Kouga whispered. What was left of the horde had already fled, or was doing so, after seeing the bloody display of revenge.
Meanwhile, Tanoshii was doing her best in trying to heal Kagome's wounds. She was starting to fear that maybe her training wasn't enough. Kagome was turning paler by each passing minute. Her wound still bled profusely, and had stained her shirt sleeve red.
Kouga came rushing over. "Why isn't hasn't she stopped bleeding!?" He yelled at Tanoshii. Tanoshii looked down in shame for a moment, but then faced him bravely.
"I'm trying you know! But I'm not a healer! I've only learned bits of it! Kagome-chan has to see a proper healer right now! Yelling at me won't do any good!!"
Kouga bit his lip. "Sorry...I'll take her to the village healer right now." He was about to bend over to pick her up, but Tanoshii stopped him.
The wolf demon girl shook her head. "You're covered in blood," she said. Kouga looked at himself. It was true. "You'd freak the villagers out. I'll take her. You should go clean yourself off. Heaven knows you'd probably scare Kagome too."
Pain shimmered in his eyes. 'Why am I always so useless!?' But he nodded anyway, and went off to rid himself of the blood that stained his garments and hands.
--
Tanoshii had Kagome on her back as she walked towards the group of people huddled at the edge of the village, where they had been watching the battle. The village was a rather wealthy one. Some buildings and huts were destroyed because of the previous attack, and some villagers had either died or were injured.
"Quick!!" Tanoshii exclaimed. "She needs to see a healer, right now!!"
Someone stepped out from the crowd. "I am a healer. Bring her inside my hut." It was a middle-aged woman, with dark brown hair in a thick braid. She had dark grey eyes, was tall, and had a gentle but firm voice. Tanoshii followed the woman to her hut. It was lit brightly, with a hanging oil lamp and several candles.
Tanoshii carefully put Kagome on a futon. The woman was busy mixing some herbs together.
"Uh, ma'am? May I know your name?" Tanoshii asked politely.
"My name is Miyaki."
"Oh. Well, I'm Tanoshii."
Miyaki came over with the herb ointment. She smiled kindly at Tanoshii. "Could you please get some water? There's a stream behind the hut."
Nodding, the wolf demon got up quickly and picked up the bucket at the door. She quickly jogged to the back, and sure enough, there was a stream. Tanoshii filled the bucket, and went back into the hut.
Miyaki took the water, and dipped a cloth in it. Wrenching out the excess water, she dabbed lightly at the blood surrounding the wounds, cleaning it off. Tanoshii helped. Once the blood was cleared off, Miyaki spread ointment on some bandages, and wrapped it around Kagome arm. Then she dabbed a bit of the medicine on a smaller bandage, and wrapped that around Kagome's head.
Tanoshii watched Miyaki move around the hut, getting more herbs, and making more ointment. When she was done, she put it in a small bottle. Miyaki sat down beside Kagome, across from Tanoshii.
"Here," Miyaki handed the bottle to Tanoshii, as well as some extra bandages. "Change her bandages once a day, and spread ointment on the bandage, or on her wounds. I made the ointment so that it shouldn't sting, but feel cool instead."
"Thank you so much Miyaki. In thanks of treating my friend Kagome's wounds, I'd like to help repair the damage caused to the village."
"Oh, no, it's not necessary. We'll be fine."
"No! Kagome would never forgive me if I didn't help! I'm sure Kouga would want to help too."
As if on cue, Kouga entered the hut. Miyaki studied him carefully. He seemed a bit more intimidating than Tanoshii.
"You two are demons, are you not?" Miyaki asked suddenly. Tanoshii stiffened.
"Yes. Is there something wrong?"
Miyaki waved it off. "No, no. I'm ok with most demons, as long as they don't attack people. Since you two seem fine, I'll pass you off as civil."
Kouga nodded. "How's Kagome doing? Will she be alright?"
"Yes, Kagome will be fine. Her wounds were already starting to close on their own."
Tanoshii blinked. "How?"
Miyaki grinned. "Kagome is a miko. Because of that, her miko powers will immediately start to heal injuries, even though the process is rather slow."
Kouga scrutinized Miyaki. "How do you know Kagome is a miko?"
"You see, I'm a miko too."
--
.:: Kagome's Dream ::.
So close...
The light...
.: Kagome...I don't want anyone else :.
...I can almost reach it!
.: I only love you :.
...just a little further...and I'll be there...just a little further...
...I can feel it...so warm...
...almost...
.:: End Dream ::.
Kagome's eyes fluttered open. She tried to get up, but pain shot through her head and arm.
"Nnnggh...oww..." she mumbled.
"Kagome!" Kouga's voice called out. She blinked a few time to clear her vision. Tanoshii and Kouga were peering down at her. Kouga looked relieved.
"You're ok!" he exclaimed. "I was so worried. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you..."
"But he slayed the bat demon that hurt you anyway!" Tanoshii chirped.
Kagome smiled. "Thanks, you guys."
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Saki: The closing will be short.
Sango: ::Nods:: Very.
Kagome: Mm hmm.
Kouga: Please review.
Inu-Yasha: ::Flashes smile:: You know you wanna.
Miroku: ::Grin::
Sesshoumaru: ...I still have my dragon on stand-by...
Review!!
