To the person Sam, who said I could use their character, YOU RULE! ! ! ! But unfortunately I've decided to go at a different angle with the story, what is it you ask? You're just gonna have to wait. But thanks to that person, that was totally awesome…but just in case…Sam if you're reading this, please email me with like a biography of your character…I'm not totally sure I wont go in the angle I had originally planned. So with the overdone cornyness: this chapter is dedicated to 'Sam' who ever you are. All 'righty' folks I did a little more studying…yes, yes, I know; hell must've froze over. But I found out that November ends on the 30th and not the 31st as I thought. I had planned for Kagome and everyone to stay in Texas for a grand total of four days November the 29th, 30th, 31st, and December 1st. So I hope that you will understand my little (mistake) because I intend to continue as I planned; adding on an extra day, it's an AU I can do it. I know I know I'm an idiot, I'm sorry. I blame staying up till six in the morning watching the anime DVDs I got for Christmas. Hey has anyone ever seen Nightwalker, or Full Metal Panic…they kick ass (my little gift to ME/ cost a pretty penny though.) I love FMP it's totally cool; Kurz Weber *drool* I have no idea why I like him…I guess it's because I've always loved the funny, flirty, air-headed anime characters. He's cool, and Kaname is really awesome too. I love her personality. I think I might just have to have them enter at the competition. OH! Sorry I'm rambling…I do that when I'm sleepy, on to the chapter.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Work Hard for the money.

Kagome groaned as she heaved her bag up the stairs of the chartered bus, in her black pajamas and fuzzy slippers I might add.

"It's too early in the damn morning for all of this." It was six o'clock in the morning…and on a Sunday. Dear God has anyone ever heard of sleep.

Kagome let out a shrill screech when she dropped her bag on her foot. But, since Kagome and Kikyo were the first ones to arrive no one heard her, thank God. The bag wouldn't have been so heavy if Kikyo hadn't put so much of her stuff in there. And it was Kagome's suitcase.

Finally, the day had come for the martial art's trip. Kagome had trained incredibly hard for the last four months and ever since Halloween, two months ago; Kagome had…how you say received an even bigger boost in the strength department.

Over the last couple of months, Kagome had done a lot of research on demonology and on the history of mikos. It had been incredibly hard considering most of the information on them had been destroyed in the early seventeen hundreds. It turns out that during that time any book or artifact referring to demons were considered part of witchcraft and outlawed. But to Kagome's relief there had been a few on the Internet and many of her friends had had a few…sort of like family heirlooms.

Kagome had also learned a lot from her grandmother Kaede.

The old woman sat in her rocking chair in front of her cozy little fireplace; her cane close by her side. "The last miko say ye?" Granny Kaede sighed as she stroked the soft fur of the sleeping kitten in her lap.

Kagome nodded.

"I know much of the feudal era…and I know of your kind, child." The old woman picked up the small ball of fur and handed the kitten to Kagome before Granny Kaede slowly and cautiously stood to her feet, immediately reaching for her trusty cane. Kagome watched as her grandmother wobbled over to her large bookcase against the wall. She pulled out a small old looking book and wobbled back over to her rocker. Kaede sat back down with a heavy sigh from her old age. "I also know of your destiny…much is meant for ye my child. There are so many things that ye must go against. A battle unlike any other." The elder Hirugashi handed Kagome the book.

Kagome timidly flipped through the torn and tattered yellow pages, not really looking for anything in particular.

"I can only pray for ye…" a silent tear trickled down her wrinkled cheek. "That book ye hold in your hands is a book that has passed through our family for centuries…that book was written by one of our ancestors…another miko as it were. In it is a journal of her life, and of yours."

That got Kagome's attention. "Mine?"

"The last miko to ever live until now; Midoriko. Ye are her descendent. Many know of her story and many know of her foretelling of a miko to come…but none know that she had even chosen her follower."

Kagome's jaw dropped, "I'm mentioned in here?" she held up the leather bound book.

"Not thy name…but that ye would have her blood flowing through ye veins and that ye would come when the demons would yet again arise another blood war...she knew who ye were to be."

"Demons…blood war?"

"Not many have realized it yet…but demons…many black hearted demons are beginning to rebel against the treaty they have achieved with mankind. They want to kill us, child."

"But how is that possible?" Kagome screamed.

"It's not." Kaede sighed. "Not as long as you have the power within ye…the power inside thy soul."

"But…but I don't understand."

"You won't child…you won't." Granny closed her eyes painfully. "But it is true. The demons will be attacking, they will, and ye must stop them…it is my…grandchild's destiny." She glanced back down at Kagome, forcing the tears to vanish. "Do not worry my child…" she smiled reassuringly. "I have read Midoriko's journal many times in my years, and in it, it tells of thy battles, of thy heroic victories," a large smile seeped across her cheeks, "and of thy survival. In that journal, it is promised that ye will live on. And have a happy life."

Kagome smiled. "Thank you…grandmother."

"Thou are welcome…but ye must promise. Very few know of demon existence or of mikos for that matter…you must tell no one…of who ye are. Not even thy mother."

"Um-yes ma'am."

Kagome staggered to the back where she planned to sit with Sango. True enough Kagome had learned a lot from that book, and Kagome was sure that she would have learned a lot more from her grandmother had the kind old woman not passed away only shortly after. Kagome had been told that her grandmother's last words were a prayer said for 'the coming miko'. Kagome had cried for weeks and she would still start crying now if someone mentioned it. But what had really upset Kagome was that Kikyo had acted like she didn't even care, her own flesh and blood was gone, and 'gloomy girl' wasn't concerned.

Kagome had just gotten her bag up on the rack above her seat when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She turned around to face the only other person on the bus, Inuyasha. He put his hand over her mouth when he noticed Sano and Taki run through the fold up door laughing at the prank they had just played on Daisuki.

Inuyasha grabbed Kagome by the wrist and pulled her off the bus, he cautiously checked around to make sure no one else was watching before he dragged her to the back of the long vehicle, turning the corner. There the two of them stood all alone.

Kagome glared at him. "What in the hell could you possibly want?"

"I have a proposition for you."

Kagome snorted, "proposition?"

"It's Kikyo…I'm sick and tired of her, she's getting on my damn nerves…ever since I got here she's been following me around and telling me of how she saved that damn Naraku of hers. I want you to help me get her back with her own medicine."

Kagome's attitude perked up a little, anything to get back at her sister would make her feel better; it was mood lifting. "And just how do you suppose we do that?"

"By making her jealous…" Inuyasha reached into his pocket and pulled out two one-hundred dollar bills, "I heard you can't afford to go to that anime convention of yours...It's what a hundred and fifty dollars for a ticket. I'll pay you."

Kagome eyed the money longingly until: "Wait a second I know where this is going."

"I want you to act like my girlfriend."

Kagome glared at him, "no way in hell!"

"Come on Kagome…you're the only person who can do this."

"Oh please…it's not like I've heard that one before…why can't you just go ask someone else…."

"Well number one you're her sister so you know what gets under Kikyo's skin best, and two you're the only girl here who's not with their boyfriend."

Kagome thought for a moment. It was true; Asuka was with Kenji. Sango oddly enough had started dating Miroku a week ago. Katsumi was with Duo. Ryoko was coming down to Texas with her boyfriend, Hiro; he had even closed down 4-C for the week just to come watch his girlfriend fight. Asami was dating Sano now. And then there was Rei…she wasn't dating anybody but it was obvious that Spike had a huge crush on her. And it would break his heart to see Inuyasha hanging all over her. Not to mention the fact that…well Rei wouldn't do it. That just left Kagome and Kikyo…Kagome really wanted to go to that convention. She was only able to save up thirty dollars. I'm poor. So, sue me…No! Wait don't.

Inuyasha waved the money in Kagome's face bringing her back to the harsh reality. "Well?" He asked impatiently, "do we have a deal."

"You mean you're actually serious about this?" Kagome sighed as she crossed her arms and glared angrily at him.

"Yeah…I'm serious…so are you going to help me or not?"

Kagome glanced at the money uneasily. "Well…I don't know. Just how long would we be keeping this charade up?"

"Just for the trip…on Thursday when we get back I planned on dumping you."

Glare.

Inuyasha sighed. "Fine, you can dump me…."

Kagome stared at him skeptically. "I'm still not sure…"

Inuyasha moaned. "And I won't tell Kouga."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Kagome sighed before she snatched the money away from him. "Only on one condition…you are not to touch me…in any way!"

Inuyasha smirked. "What ever you say, but…since you made a rule I'm going to make one of my own…you have to at least let me hold your hand."

"Hold my hand?"

"What? We'd have to make this look believable, but just to make sure I don't get cheated…" he took one of the hundreds out of her fist, "half now-half later. And, just for a little added bonus; every time we make Kikyo turn green in the face I'll put in an extra ten for you." Inuyasha held out his hand. "Deal?"

Kagome growled under her breath, "fine…but if you're not satisfied with your merchandize, don't come crying to me, cause you're not getting any refunds, dog-boy."

Inuyasha nodded, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Deal?"

Kagome moaned as she shook his hand, "deal… but remember I'm your 'girlfriend' not your whore. Don't get any funny ideas…and if you dare I'll rip your dick off…got it?"

Inuyasha gulped before he held out his hand again for Kagome, "coming Honey?" He smirked when Kagome took his hand in hers. I love the power. Just seeing the torture in her eyes was heavenly enough. I'm definitely going to have a good week.

Kagome moaned as she followed Inuyasha around the bus, hand in hand. Oh God! I've sold my soul to the devil. Fortunately, for her no one paid any attention to Kagome and Inuyasha as the 'couple' entered the bus and climbed all the way to the back where Kagome had left her things. And to Kagome's relief, Sango was sitting with Miroku. Great…now I can save the humiliation for later. As long as Kagome's friends didn't see her holding hands with Lucifer, she was happy. It's not that they would think low of her it's just…they would fall over dead from laughing so hard.

Kagome growled at Inuyasha, as he was just about to crawl over and sit down. "I don't think so. I get window seat." She pushed him out of the way angrily and took her 'space'.

Inuyasha just rolled his eyes as he took his own seat next to his girlfriend for hire.

The coach stood up at the front of the twenty-seat passenger bus, quickly taking role. "Alright I will go over our agenda before we leave. We will be arriving probably around midnight tonight. When we do, you will split up into your reserved rooms." He quickly flipped through the papers on his clipboard before he continued. "Alright four to a room…Sango, Asami, Kagome, and…Kikyo room B-79."

"Damn it." Kagome growled under her breath. "Why did I get stuck with Kikyo?"

"Ryoko, Katsumi, Rei, and Asuka; B-78. Spike, Yusuke, Inuyasha, and Sanosuke; room B-80. Miroku, Daisuke, Duo, Taki; room B-81. Kenji you're with me."

Kagome glanced at poor Kenji sympathetically.

Inuyasha glanced over at Spike with a smirk, both having one thing in mind: torment the hell out of Yusuke.

"Now to explain to the new comers what the tournament schedule is like." He quickly handed a stack of papers to his daughter; who was sitting with Spike I might add. L; is for the way you look at me. O; is for the only one I see. V; is very, very extraordinary…

Rei quickly passed the papers around before she stood up at the front of the bus, letting her father sit down. Kagome stared down at the printout she held in her hands.

"Please look at the top of the sheet where it says Day one/ Monday November 29th: Competitors conversion in peace-center lobby." Rei announced proudly. "What this means is that basically every one of us," she motioned around at all her fellow students. "Have to meet in a special room rented out by the tournament's sponsors. In there, we basically just have a tournament wide party with all the other teams' members. I'm not sure why they do this exactly…but it's always been fun. But before we party we have to get registered first. You'll get to meet some really fun and interesting people from all over the country. And the party lasts all day."

Kagome smiled wow that seems really cool.

"Alright now if you'll skim down to Day two/ Tuesday November 30th: Sparring competition/ entire tournament. What it means by entire tournament; which I'm sure you already know; is that every student has to enter in this event. It's mandatory."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He'd already heard all this crap before…it was annoying, let's just get on with it already.

"Next." Rei continued. "Day three/ Wednesday November 31st. You'll notice that there is a small list under that. Number one is Sparring continued/Top 100. This of course means that because day two's event was so large they had to continue it with the final remaining one hundred fighters. You know blah, blah, blah."

Kagome giggled until she saw Hiei give his daughter an angrier glare than usual. Rei was certainly nothing like her dad.

"Okay number two is Grappling." Rei grinned down at Spike, knowing that he was entered in that event. "This is of course only for those who decided to enter in this category. So that means that everyone else can just sit around and watch or you can be a sourpuss and go get something to eat at the concession stand or whatever. But, you are not allowed to leave the building without permission. Got it?"

Everyone nodded.

"Next, number three Katas. This of course is a mandatory event for all black belts. That means that anyone without this color belt," she pointed to her shirt.

Kagome sweat dropped. Rei was acting like she was talking to a bunch of three-year olds.

"Well you can just sit around and watch again. Fourthly is the Weapons division…and again this is only for those who signed up for this event, so again everyone else is just supposed to sit around. And finally down at the bottom. Day four/Thursday December 1st. It says the first event is the Style Off. I wish I could explain this event, but I am afraid they did not have this last year when I competed…but it does sound incredibly hard from what I've read. It says that those who were chosen for this event…well basically have to be able to do anything and everything when told…at like the drop of a hat. So I would like to wish Kagome and Kenji the best of luck."

Kagome smiled.

"And then last but certainly not least…" Rei pumped her fist into the air with excitement.

She was definitely one of those annoying chipper morning people. I hate happy people. But you know what's weird, Rei's not a happy person. She's actually a lot like Kagome. Rei only acts like that around her dad…to aggravate him. He hates happy people too.

"Those greedy jerks finally give us what we deserve, our just rewards for our hard work and dedication…trophies!" And with that Rei sat back down. The coach at last stood up.

"All right. As I have said before. I do not care what you do after five when the tournament ends everyday. But I want each and every one of you back in your rooms by ten. No exceptions. I know that this is being lenient considering you're just a bunch of teenagers but in all honesty…I really don't care. Just as long as you don't do something stupid…I hand picked all of you, and I've trained with all of you. I know you're smart and responsible kids. I know you'll make the right decisions. And finally, there will be no changing rooms; you will stay with who I assigned you with. Needless to say I don't want a guy to mysteriously wander into their girlfriend's room. And again I repeat. In your rooms by ten lights out at ten thirty. You need to be ready and on the bus by nine o'clock every morning. Do I make myself clear?"

The entire bus nodded before the coach took his seat up at the wheel.

Kagome felt the vehicle jerk as Coach revved up the engine and took off, leaving the school behind.

Kagome sighed as she leaned her forehead against the window and stared out at the fluorescent sunrise. This is going to be a long trip. Kagome glanced over at Inuyasha who was currently sleeping…awe how…evil.

Asuka peered up over the top of her seat and smiled down at Kagome, "you need rescuing?" she asked as she glanced down at the black haired boy.

Kagome shook her head no before she quickly filled Asuka in on 'project: green faced Kikyo.'

The second Kagome finished her story Asuka practically exploded. She literally fell on top of Kenji in her giggling fit. And to Kagome's embarrassment, even Kenji was chuckling.

"I've got to go tell Sango and Katsumi." Asuka giggled.

"Fine." Kagome whimpered, "just make sure you don't let Kikyo hear you." Asuka nodded and took off up the aisle. Kenji turned around shyly and smiled.

"Are you okay Kagome?"

Kagome nodded, "I'm fine." The second she said that Kagome heard Miroku and Sango burst into laughter. "Just peachy." Kagome grumbled before she leaned back against the window when an idea caught her. Kagome remembered one time when everyone had had a sleep over at Sango's including the guys. Kagome recalled the morning after, she wasn't going to get into details but she could still see Inuyasha's face, it had been so red from embarrassment.

Kagome cautiously pulled the armrest up before she picked up Inuyasha's legs and laid them in her lap. She remembered her no touching rule but this was worth it. Kagome then crawled up next to Inuyasha and lied down beside him; she gently slipped off his black baseball cap and placed it on her own head before she wrapped her arms around his middle; laying her head on his black Rolling Stones T-shirt.

Inuyasha's eyes snapped open he glanced down at Kagome, "I loath you." He growled.

Kagome controlled her urge to giggle as she kept her eyes closed.

"Oh God" Inuyasha gulped. "She's asleep." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes when he suddenly noticed Kikyo staring back at them from two seats up on the opposite row. Inuyasha smirked when a light bulb flashed on upstairs; "you brought this on yourself, Hirugashi." He whispered before he reached up and gently began rubbing Kagome's bare arm with his fingers, softly tracing invisible shapes on her skin with his fingertips as he stared out the window, watching Kikyo out of the corner of his eye.

Sure enough, Kikyo's face turned red then purple then green. SCORE!

Kagome's blood began boiling. He's touching me, that asshole's touching me. But for some odd reason she couldn't move, she was literally frozen in her position.

You know you're the one laying on top of him, right?

Shut up!

Sorry, I'm just stating the facts. And besides…you know you like it.

Oh! I do not…you…you…Grrrr!

Kagome's got a boyfriend. Inu and Kag sitting in a tree: K…I…S…S…I…N…G.

Why you little…

Nah-nah-boo-boo!

Kagome closed her eyes. Even though her conscience was telling her other wise, she was tired, and…and, well she was comfortable. And with that, Kagome drifted off to Never Land.

Inuyasha glanced down at the calm and peaceful girl in his arms; he had to admit that even though he hated her to no end, she was pretty.

He slowly began to run his fingers through her soft silky raven ponytail. A small smile edging across his features. Demonic little angel. He couldn't help but smirk. Maybe Spike was right…damn.

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Okay I learned yesterday that my link to the drawing I did kind of messed up. So if you really want to see it, type in three W's then the dot and side7 dot com (sorry I had to write it this way but it wouldn't show up if I didn't. Then go to 'search' at the top and when that comes up type in: blackcat7 in the username section of the artist search then when that comes up it will show the link to my gallery. Go over to the side all where it says 'total images' click that and it will come up to all the drawings I have posted on this website of my drawings, go down to the bottom until you find one labeled: Rei Hamby (named in memory of an old friend.) And there you go, just click that picture and it'll give you a bigger view.

Pictures of Spike and Co. are to come.