Well...that took a long time. But finally -- an update!! ::Gasp:: Anyway...lol...
::Readers glare at Saki::
...-.-;; Umm...ok, an explanation? First of all, I was really busy with making my crappy little weblog...whatever...And after that, I caught a fever. In fact, I still have a really bad cough, even now.
So, anyway...I won't waste your time by ranting...
Questions/Comments:
Will Kagome and Kouga hook up? - Yes!! They will!! :D
What does 'miko' mean? - A miko is a priestess, yup. =)
Can you explain the dream? - Ok...well, I did before in a previous A/N...(read the author notes at the beginning and end of each chapter!!) ...But basically, the light in the dream is her goal of moving on from Inu-Yasha. If you noticed, each time she dreamed, she got a little closer to the light. Can you guess what or who the light represents?? ;)
Sesshy's coming in soon, right? - Yes...I'm going to try to fit him in next chapter!!
Then what about Inu-Yasha 'walking back into the picture'?! - In due time...in due time...;D
Doesn't Kagome cry a little too much in this story? - Ehh...yeah maybe...-.-;; Well, more tears shall be shed, even so. Just keep in mind that while she is learning to love Kouga, a part of her still loves Inu-Yasha, dearly.
To Kaoru Mitsumi... - ...either my story is very predictable, or you are physic. O.O
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Thanks to everyone who reviewed!! Some of you really know how to flatter...::blushes:: My writing isn't that great... If you wanna see some really great fics, check out the authors on my fave's list. ::Starry eyes:: I idolize those authors...
I'll probably be updating The High Rankers or Caught in the Rain next...
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Disclaimer: ...maybe I can strike a deal with Rumiko Takahashi...
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Trust and Betrayal
Chapter Nine: Rumours
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Sango sighed yet again.
Miroku sighed yet again, as well.
Shippo's stomach growled yet again.
Kirara mewed, yet again.
Sango looked at Miroku. "What are we going to do? The next village is miles away, we've got no food, we can't find any stream..."
Miroku nodded. "The situation does look helpless. But I'm sure if we look around, we'll be able to find something."
Sango gave in. "Fine. We'll go look again. We should split up. I'll go with Kirara, you can go with Shippo."
"Alright. We'll meet back here then."
With that, the two small groups headed off in search of food.
--
"Hey, Miroku!! I found some berries!!"
Miroku dragged himself over. "Well, they seem edible."
Shippo gave him a dry look. "I think I'd know if they're edible or not."
Miroku nodded, remembering that Shippo was a kitsune, after all. So he probably knew these things... but he was too tired and bored to think logically.
"Well, lets gather them, then...as soon as we find something to gather them in," the monk said as he glanced at Shippo.
"I'm not going to transform into a basket." Shippo stated flatly.
Sighing, Miroku untied his purple outer cloth, leaving the black robe on. "We'll use this then."
The young fox shrugged. "Fine with me...as long as you don't squish all the berries by the time we get back."
--
"That looks like a stream. Let's go down, Kirara."
Obeying her mistress' orders, the giant fire cat descended. Sure enough, a lively little brook ran through the forest.
"There'll definitely be fish in this stream..."
Meanwhile, Kirara was eyeing the large trout coming down with the current. Swiftly, she swiped it out of the water, and onto the ground a few feet away where it landed, twitching.
"Good job Kirara!"
For the next while, they waited patiently for fish to come down the stream. If Kirara missed, then Sango would have pierced it with a stake (made simply from a sharpened stick).
After catching quite an amount, they decided to take a break. Suddenly, Kirara's ears perked up. After a moment, Sango heard the rustle of leaves. Eyeing the brush carefully, Hiraikotsu at hand, the huntress waited for whatever was there to show.
Three normal women appeared. One of them shrieked at the sight of Kirara, while the two other gasped and stepped back.
Sango let go of her boomerang. "Do not fear. This is my companion, Kirara. She won't harm you."
"Who are you?" One of the women demanded.
"I am Sango, a demon exterminator."
Feeling more reassured, the women proceeded to unload the packs they had been carrying. From what Sango could see, they were merely regular village woman who had come to a nearby stream to wash some clothes.
Even so, Sango was trained to never let her guard down. Carefully and intently, she listened to them talk and gossip among themselves.
"...too bad we had to come all the way out here to wash clothes..."
"Well, the men are working around the river, since some things were destroyed in the battle."
"Speaking of the battle, it still amazes me."
"I think a young girl with two demons is quite...unusual."
"But they were just so kind, and so trustworthy."
"Well, yes, but I find the girl's quite strange..."
"And her clothes were so indecent...so short..."
"Oh, seriously, you two...she and her demon friends saved us..."
"True..."
A light flashed in Sango's head. 'Could they be talking about Kagome? Is it actually Kagome?'
Finally, she couldn't stand it.
"Excuse me," Sango said to the village women who immediately ceased their chatter.
"This girl you are talking about," She continued. "Do you know of her name? Or what she looks like?"
The three women exchanged glances. One of them spoke. "I don't remember her name, but she has raven-coloured hair to about...the middle of her back, and bright, blue-grey eyes. She wore a white and green kimono with a strange red cloth at the front."
Sango thanked the lady after getting directions to the village, and got back on Kirara. "Let's go, Kirara. We have to tell the others."
As they soared through the sky, Sango smiled. 'Finally, we'll be united again. I'll see you soon, sister.'
--
Miroku sighed again. "When is Sango getting back?" He said to himself.
As if on cue, a figure appeared in the sky.
"Houshi-sama!!"
The monk's head snapped up to see Sango waving.
"She seems to be in a delightfully happy mood..."
Kirara descended softly and Sango hopped off. "Houshi-sama! I have good news!!"
Shippo hopped onto her shoulder. "Did you find something to eat?"
Sango beamed, the first time in days. "I found Kagome's whereabouts!!"
Shippo cried out in joy. "Really?!"
Miroku, too, smiled. "Wonderful!! Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get going!!"
Sango grinned widely and grabbed her things, getting on Kirara again. "Hop on!"
With that, they took off, in search of Kagome. Little did they know, Kagome too, was traveling.
--
For the fifth time, Kagome nearly collapsed.
"Kagome-chan! Please, let Kouga carry you! You can't walk yet...your wounds haven't healed fully!"
Kagome winced. "No...I'm ok...just a little dizzy...just..."
And she passed out, vaguely hearing Tanoshii calling her name.
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Kagome slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was foggy. Blinking a couple of times, the scene before her became clear. Tanoshii knelt beside her, and Kouga was no where to be seen.
Getting up (with some difficulty), Kagome looked around. "Where's Kouga- kun?"
Tanoshii smiled. "He went to hunt. I'm supposed to look after you... By the looks of it, however, it seems you'd rather have Kouga look after you."
Kagome blushed.
Tanoshii gasped. "Oh my god!! You really do like him!!"
Kagome held a finger to her mouth. "Shh!!!"
The young wolf demon mouthed an 'oh'. "Sorry..." Tanoshii mumbled, grinning however.
Rolling her eyes but smiling, Kagome whapped her friend's arm lightly, before the two burst out in a fit of giggles.
"So you like him?" Tanoshii asked.
Kagome blushed again. "I guess..."
They started to giggle once more.
--
"Stay here, Inu-Yasha...I'll ask that man how to get to the nearest village."
Inu-Yasha just nodded and jumped into a nearby tree so that no one would see him.
Yet again, Kikyo had him stay invisible and unheard while she went to do whatever she had to.
'Kagome never made me do that... She got mad whenever someone insulted me... In all honesty, I really, really miss her... I miss the monk and the exterminator...and the little runt...'
Strange how he missed them so much, yet he traded them all away for his dead, first love.
From the tree, he watched as Kikyo giggled with the good-looking villager. It seemed more like flirting to him...
'But I can hold it in for Kikyo, right? I owe her... I have to stop to thinking about Kagome...'
However, as hard he tried, he couldn't push away the image of her looking at him with tears running down her cheeks, a look of pure betrayal on her face.
Flopping back against the tree, Inu-Yasha closed his eyes.
.: Flashback :.
"Kikyo, Kikyo, Kikyo! I am not Kikyo! My name is Kagome! Ka-go-me!"
"...::sniff::...You're not Kikyo...hmph. I was a fool to think you were her. After all, Kikyo was much prettier."
Kagome's face flushed red from anger.
'She looks cute like that...'
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"Don't go!!"
"... 'don't go'...?"
"...eh?"
Kagome blushed. Inu-Yasha, too, blushed crimson before letting her hand go as if it burned.
"It seems that Inu-Yasha is embarrassed about his emotional outburst..." Myouga stated.
"...keh!"
'I wouldn't know what I'd do if you actually died...'
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"Naraku!!" Kagome shouted as she let her arrow fly. It pierced through the thick miasma, hitting his left arm.
"You are despicable, toying with people's hearts! Die, Naraku!!" She yelled in rage. Releasing another arrow, it hit it's target, successfully lodging itself into his shoulder.
Inu-Yasha stared in shock. 'Kagome...'
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"...so, I don't know who I may kill next time...it could be you..."
Kagome hugged his shoulders. "...I understand..."
'If I killed you in my demon form, I would never be able to live with myself...'
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"Can I stay with you?"
"...will you stay me?"
Kagome smiled and took his hand. As they walked, Inu-Yasha wrapped his hand around hers.
'I don't want you to ever leave my side... stay with me, Kagome...'
.: End Flashback :.
Slowly, he opened his eyes again, and sighed. 'If she loved me as much as Sango said before...has she moved on from me yet?'
A large part wished she didn't...for a part him loved her too...
Inu-Yasha, you fool...
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Saki: Wooh!! Finally...
Kouga: ::Rolls eyes:: Yeah, finally...
Sesshoumaru: I cannot believe you are going to add me in such a worthless story.
Saki: ::Lip quivers...starts sobbing::
Kagome: ...awww, that was so mean!!
Sesshoumaru: You think I care?
Kagura: ::Glares at Sesshoumaru:: Both me and Rin disapprove of you being a heartless bastard.
Sesshoumaru: ...
Inu-Yasha: ...this story is messed up. One moment I'm a jerk and the next I'm all soft over missing Kagome.
Saki: In the anime and manga you're like that, but the series isn't messed up, is it?
Inu-Yasha: ...wench.
Saki: Yup, that's me. Anyway, don't forget to review! If you don't review, I won't update!!
Kouga: Even if people do review, it takes you ages to update.
Saki: ...but if they do review, I'll know people still like my story...and it'll make me update faster than if I don't get any reviews at all.
Kouga: ::Shrug:: Fair enough. ...So update, so I can hook up with Kagome faster!!
Inu-Yasha: ::Shoots Kouga an evil glare:: Bastard.
