Since the last chapter was so short and sad… I've made this one e-x-t-r-a long. So enjoy.

Nobody got the quote from the movie. It was "if anyone finds out who you are…there'll be the devil to pay." Spoken by the character Rolland in the movie "A Knight's Tale" in like the first three minutes. Tsk tsk tsk…I'm very disappointed. Lol.

Oh and please forgive me about the miss spellings this chapter that occurs in Shido's dialogue. I was just trying to show that he had an accent. (You'll understand what I am talking about when you get there.) And just in case you absolutely can't understand what he says, I'm going to put a translation beside it in parentheses.

Shido O' Reighley is my own original character (although I did copy the first name from Nightwalker. But the Shidos look/act/and are nothing alike.)

I can not elaborate at this time…but upon recent events, I need prayers…I need a lot of prayer. For my best friend in the whole world. So please if you believe in prayer…pray for me and my friend.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Kagome's first. Hehe.

Kagome smiled warmly at Sango as the two girls walked over to a space in the bleachers separated from everyone else. "Oh…I'm so excited." Kagome exclaimed giggly.

Sango smiled and nodded before she suddenly frowned. "Sion alert…Kagome duck."

Kagome instinctively turned completely around so Sion Barzahd couldn't see her face as he walked past her.

Sango sighed after a few seconds. "Coast is clear."

Kagome turned back around and stared after Sion's retreating figure. "Am I the only one who felt really stupid doing that?" Kagome snorted.

Sango nodded. "Yeah…I don't know how we're going to keep this up for three more days…the guy's practically everywhere…it's almost impossible not to run into him."

Kagome's brows furrowed. "I really shouldn't be here should I?" She sighed. "I just want to fight so bad. And I didn't want to be cooped up in that stupid hotel room all by myself."

Sango patted her best friend on the shoulder. "It's ok Kagome…everything's going to be alright…I'm pretty sure nothing that bad can really happen, Katsumi and everyone else is just overreacting because they're so worried about you."

"Sango." Kagome traced her toes over the waxed floor.

"Hmm?"

"There's something I sort of forgot to tell you guys."

"What is that?" Sango turned to look Kagome in the eye.

"The first time when I turned into a 'you know what'…it was because I was about to start fighting with Naraku…what happens if I turn into a 'you know what' while I'm fighting in the ring?"

Sango's face fell. She hadn't thought of that. "I…I don't know. It's not to late to fake sick and back out now, you know?"

Kagome nodded. "Yeah…I should probably do that. But I'm not going to let it get to me…I will conquer this thing." She flashed her best friend a fake smile. "I can beat it…and everything's going to be alright…I just know it."

Sango smiled back at her wearily and nodded. "A star shining bright…."

Kagome caught on, continuing with their oath of friendship that they had formed in the eighth grade. "Either day or night…."

"I'll be there 'til the end…."

"For my best friend…"

"You know…" Sango laughed. "When we were young that used to sound so cool, but now that I think about it…."

"It sounds like something Barney would say to BJ?" Kagome giggled.

"Yeah…I purpose a new pact." Sango held out her pinky for Kagome to take it. "First thing we do when we get home, is we make a new and better friend oath."

Kagome hooked her pinky with Sango's. "Why can't we just do it now?"

"Because…this is a promise…a promise that no 'you know what' is going to happen, and everything is going to be okay. We're promising that we're going to make it home safe and sound…with first place medals around our necks and trophies in our hands. Agreed?"

Kagome smiled genuinely, "agreed." Little did she know…that might be the last time Sango would ever get to see Kagome smile.

~*~*~*~

Demona stood beside Dante and Gore just behind the curtain of the stage where the judges were. "You guys ready?" She smiled, fixing Dante's tie of his black pin stripe business suit. "I always did love a man in uniform."

Dante rolled his eyes. "Go talk to a mailman." He snapped, but it didn't seem to faze her.

"I would sweetie, but I killed him last week."

Dante shot her a nasty glare. "Another one? What was your reason this time? That's the third mailman of your this year."

She shrugged her shoulders. "Got hungry…though…if it makes you and your stupid goody-goody self feel any better, the bastard gave me a stomachache."

Dante stared at her disgustedly. "How can you just kill someone for no reason, Demona? He's an innocent bystander. If you don't quit just randomly killing people…the police are going to get suspicious…they'll start linking the bodies directly back to you." He felt like he was going to be sick.

She only smiled gracefully at him. "What bodies?"

Dante practically choked. "Demona." He snarled. "What happens when the police come to arrest you?"

She flashed him a devilish look. "I'll kill them too."

"Don't you get it? The world's not like it used to be…you can't just kill for no damn reason anymore…science, technology…weapons…because of these things demons have become equal with the humans…"

Demona stopped him there. "How dare you speak such blasphemy. I was raised in this world with humans as mere meals…I was alive at a time where mortals were viewed as dogs…do you here me? Dogs." She spat poking him in the chest. "I was also alive when vampires first came into existence…because the humans were flourishing, so much so that we, demons, were leaving leftovers. We made you just to keep the population of the humans under control for us. Vampires are only around because my kind needed you to…take out our trash. You were created to serve as our faithful army of mindless bloodsuckers…so don't you talk to me as if you think you are better than me. I have seen it all…I am one of the oldest demons living on this earth as we speak…"

"You don't look a day over twenty-five." Gore broke in, receiving a glare from the red-curly haired demoness.

"Foul creatures." She snapped taking her anger out on Gore now. "I was alive when your kind came into existence as well…demons formed from the body of animals. A snake demon…" she snorted, "the lowest of the low. Do you know why you were brought into this world as well?"

Gore nodded, having heard her speech many times before but she told it again anyway.

"We created you from the bodies of animals so we could have slaves…obedient little pets to do our bidding. Demons like me, demons who crawled straight out of hell and onto this rock of earth are responsible for trash like the two of you. So how dare either of you speak to me as if I was a common demon just like the two of you…I am far more powerful than either of you can imagine. And this world is going to change. The remainder of my kind are going to start a revolution…and bring back the days that I was born into…a greater world than either of you have or ever will see."

Dante snorted. "Whatever you say, Ms. Sigfreed."

She slapped him. "This world will change by my hands. I'll prove it to you." She hissed.

"How can you prove such a thing if you said yourself that I would be dead, 'have or ever will see.' But in my opinion…such a world can never exist again…not as long as the last miko lives." Dante snorted, intentionally making Demona's temper soar. "And I personally hope she kicks your ass."

"You bastard…I knew you were a traitor to your kind and to me."

The vampire chuckled. "A traitor huh? I can promise you Ms. Sigfreed, I too do not want the miko to just come in and wipe all demons from the face of the earth…I much like life…a traitor to my kind I am not…nor to you. You have known all this time my truest and deepest feelings for you, Demona…you have known all along. And I honestly don't care if the miko takes and kicks you back into hell…right before I kill her…and save my 'kind'."

She blared at him and then, surprisingly smiled. She leaned up and traced kisses along his neck, tangling her fingers in his long silky black hair. She rapped her body seductively against his, pressing her breasts against his suit's chest. She felt him subconsciously tremble at her touch. "I thought so." She giggled pulling away from him. "A vampire in love with a devil…something that was once forbidden…that just makes it sound even more arousing don't you think?"

Dante literally turned the other cheek, refusing to look her in the eye. "Get off me." He snapped.

She just smiled as she grabbed him and pulled him through the curtain, with Gore and Sion right behind them, each one with a small microphone in their hands.

Demona walked out first onto the large stage in front of the crowd. "Hello ladies and gentlemen!" her energetic voice echoed through out the arena. "Welcome to the tenth annual Martial Arts Tournament High School Division."

The swarm filled with cheers and whistles from the men present. She may be evil but she's hot.

"Glad you could all make it…this year looks promising…we have a nice lineup. I would like to take this time to thank our sponsors: …"

~*~*~*~

That was about the time that Kagome started ignoring Demona Sigfreed to stare down at the pamphlet the teenage girl held in her hands. Kagome skimmed over the list of names for the fighters who were matched against one another and what boxing ring they were fighting in. Luckily Kagome didn't see her name on the first round list; she was in the fourth who were to fight the winners of the third, who fight the winners of the second round who fought the winners of the first round. (Understand? It's ok I'm confusing myself too, it'll become clearer later on in this chapter) But she did see Miroku, Rei, and Inuyasha's name in the first row.

She smiled over at Inuyasha who was in the middle of practicing moves with Spike. She couldn't help but watch them, especially Inuyasha, those fan girls earlier had been right. Inuyasha was so graceful…you wouldn't think it with the rude way he usually acted. But when he was kicking and punching, it was in a skillful fluid motion that entranced Kagome. It was amazing, she knew Inuyasha had been born into a family that was big into fighting, his father had been a professional boxer…Inuyasha had been learning and taking martial arts classes ever since he was just a little kid. That's what Spike had meant by 'secret weapon' most of the people who won these things, like the tournament, were people like Inuyasha, they hadn't been training for just a few years, they had been training for their whole life. She knew even as a miko there was no chance she would actually win, and it really didn't matter to her. She just wanted to at least compete. She was an example of what Spike had meant by 'dead wait' as well. These were the people who just happen to be a little good…good for nothing. They weren't that out of the ordinary, they were just like everyone else...normal.

Inuyasha suddenly swung his foot around, catching Spike off guard, hitting the green-haired boy in the stomach with a hook kick. Spike fell into the bleachers. Kagome giggled as he tried to stumble back onto his feet but finally had to have Inuyasha help him up. Kagome heard Spike groan, "great…you just couldn't wait 'til I was in the ring…you just had to beat the shit out of me now?"

Inuyasha snorted as he jumped back into a ready stance. "You know members from the same team don't fight against one another. Besides you need to be ready, Matsumoto."

"Ready? Ready for what?"

"For this." Inuyasha side kicked him, but this time Spike blocked it with his arm. "See." Inuyasha smiled. "You need to be prepared…best thing to do is train."

Spike whined, collapsing to the floor. "I've trained for the last…two years. Give me a minute to rest damn it."

Inuyasha shook his head and 'gently' kicked Spike in the side. "It's a bad sign that you're getting tired already."

"Tired of you." He grunted.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He walked over to where Kagome and Sango were sitting; placing himself in the middle of the two girls he wrapped an arm around each female's neck. "You two ready?" Inuyasha smirked.

Sango shrugged her shoulders, not really all that excited. "Whatever." But Kagome was more energetic with her answer:

"I was born ready."

Inuyasha laughed. "Really now? Care to prove that to me in a…small fighting match before I have to go to the ring?"

Kagome glanced over at Spike who was still sprawled out on the floor with people stepping over and around him. "Not really."

"Ah come on." Inuyasha persisted. "Is the big bad mik…er…girl afraid of little 'ol' me?"

Kagome glared at him for almost saying the m-word. It was forbidden as long as they were at the tournament, just incase a demon with keen hearing might pick up on what they were saying. "I don't want to."

Inuyasha sighed. "Fine then, Missy. Have it your way."

Kagome just ignored him and his arm draping around her shoulder, to stare back down at the pamphlet. "Hey Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?" He stared down to where her gaze was directed.

"If there are only…" She glanced up at the boxing rings to get a quick count, "twenty rings, how come there are a hundred people listed to fight in the first round. Since there is only twenty…wouldn't that mean that only forty could actually fight in the first round?"

Inuyasha snorted. "I can really tell this is you first time."

She stared at him, not sure if she should be offended or not.

Inuyasha just pointed past her, at two large doors that were swung wide open. People were pilling in and out continuously, more so than any other door in arena 4. "There are three arenas that they use for the tournament. We're in the smallest one…the largest one can hold up to sixty rings."

"Whoa…so that's where they're having the rest of the fights?" Kagome eyed the doors, why hadn't she noticed them earlier?

Inuyasha nodded. "Yep." He glanced down at his watch just as Demona Sigfreed finished her never-ending list of Sponsors.

~*~*~*~

"Now let the tournament begin…all fighters listed in the first division please make your way to the boxing ring that has been assigned to you now so the preliminaries may start." Demona ended there.

~*~*~*~

Inuyasha stood up, checking his name on the list, he had ring 32. That would be in the next arena.

"Hey Kagome? Would you hold my watch for me."

"Yeah sure."

He removed his watch and turned around to hand it to Kagome, who took it, stuffed it in her pocket and smiled. "Can I go and watch you?" She asked, giving him her infamous puppy-dog face.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Sure…whatever. I don't care."

The 'couple' turned to stare down at Sango.

"You want to come too, Sango?" Kagome's smile widened, hinting to her best friend that she wanted her to tag along.

"Not really…I need to do a little stretching, plus I promised I was going to watch Miroku." She stood to her feet and glanced over at Miroku who was stationed at ring 14.

Kagome groaned and nodded, "ok," before she took off after Inuyasha, who had left a minute ago after collecting all of his sparing pads and equipment.

"Aren't you excited?" Kagome giggled happily.

Inuyasha just sort of shrugged his shoulders as he pushed his way through the doors that lead to arena 5 and boxing rings 21-60. "Not really…I've done this all before. No big deal."

Kagome held onto the sleeve of his shirt so she wouldn't get lost in the crowd. She eyed him; she'd never really noticed how strong he was. She didn't know where this sudden realization just popped up at but…as her skin occasionally brushed against his bare arm, she could feel his muscles. It sort of gave her a weird feeling, like she was inferior. She didn't like it. Sure he had called her dumb names and picked on her…and even poured milk on her head in seventh grade, but he had never made her feel inferior…I think.

"Inuyasha…" She called after him when they had finally gotten through the doors and were making their way towards ring 32. "What's the name of the guy you're fighting against?"

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders once again. God he's doing that a lot today…it's getting annoying. "I didn't check. Why?"

Kagome smiled as she stared down at the pamphlet she clutched in his hands, she opened it, scanning down the names for who Inuyasha had been paired with. And there it was…Inuyasha Osuwari/Jinn Tsuda. "Hey have you ever heard of…Jinn Tsuda?"

Inuyasha froze instantly. "Repeat that name." He growled harshly.

Kagome, having not had her eyes on where she was going bumped into the back of him. She eyes him suspiciously for his sudden reaction to Jinn's name but she repeated it anyway like he'd asked. "Jinn Tsuda."

"Damn it." Inuyasha cursed under his breath almost dropping his foam shin pads.

"Why? What's wrong?" Kagome groaned as Inuyasha pulled her towards the ring labeled 32 by having a cardboard sign with the specific numbers hanging from the rope railing.

"I fought this guy last year."

"Oh…is he hard to fight or something?" Kagome called after him.

Inuyasha snorted. "Are you kidding me? The guys a peace of cake…but well…he's a little sour at me."

"Why?" Kagome scowled at him. "What did you do? You didn't cheat did you?"

"Of course not." Inuyasha snapped. "I just well…hit him a little hard…and um…."

Kagome's glare grew more dangerous. "Inuyasha, spit it out."

"I sent him out on a stretcher ok."

Kagome gasped. "You didn't? And you didn't get disqualified?"

"Of course not. It was in the tenth round…where almost anything goes…and it was his own fault…he was given a chance to forfeit when I gave him his first injury but he just persisted. Stubborn jackass." Inuyasha cursed.

Inuyasha stopped in front of the ring, walking up to the referee assigned to his match.

"Number ID." The female referee pulled out a clipboard from under her table, a male judge standing beside her.

Inuyasha glanced down at the numbers stamped on his hand. "415." He read aloud.

The referee checked the list and nodded. "Inuyasha Osuwari right?"

Inuyasha nodded as he pulled on his arm and shin pads and then threw his helmet over to Kagome, "hold that for me."

Kagome nodded as Inuyasha hopped up over the rope and onto the matted boxing ring floor. The referee and judge stared after him in bewilderment.

"Are you sure you don't want your helmet, son?" The judge sighed.

Inuyasha nodded as he began stretching out a little. "It's the reason I lost last year." Damn thing fell over and covered my eyes…I would have seen that damn kick coming if it hadn't been for that.

The judge went to protest but the referee stopped him. "It doesn't say in the rules he has to wear padding." She smiled, "besides, I remember this boy from last year." She flashed him a wink. "He knows what he's doing."

Inuyasha didn't pay any attention to her; he just kept his eyes on Kagome, who was talking to a fighter in the ring closest to his. Inuyasha smiled down at her as she giggled at what the other fighter was whispering to her. Inuyasha didn't think he would ever understand Kagome. For such a social outcast she could be so friendly.

"So what's your name?" The guy fighter laughed as he leaned over and stared down at her. Inuyasha glanced over to the guy to see if he recognized him, but he didn't, though he did realize why Kagome had went to talk to him. He must have been from their hometown because he was wearing a 4-C shirt.

"Kagome." She laughed.

"Kagome eh?" He smiled. "I'm Kyo."

Inuyasha just drowned them out, going back to stretching, that's when he saw his opponent making his way towards the ring. Inuyasha gulped, he wasn't afraid of the guy per-say…it's just the guy was so big…like a whale…or something.

Jinn grabbed onto the rope and pulled it down so he could step over it and onto the ring, forcing Inuyasha to hold onto the railing so he wouldn't go falling on top of Jinn as the boxing ring teetered over to one side. It seemed like an eternity before Jinn crawled into the ring, staring over at Inuyasha. Inuyasha sweatdropped. How'd I get myself into this?

The referee crawled underneath the lowest rope and scrambled in between the boys. Many matches had already started, because Jinn had taken so long (probably couldn't fit through the door) theirs was starting late.

"Inuyasha." Jinn exclaimed, almost cheerily. Okay…so maybe he's not mad at me about that whole stretcher thing. "It's been a while hasn't it?"

Inuyasha just nodded as he took his ready stance.

The referee stood in between the fighters, "alright boys, I want a clean fight. You know the rules, no kicking below the belt, no 'dirty' blows. Got it? The match last three rounds, five minutes per round. The man with the best score wins. You get three points for hits to the torso area and five for a knock in the head. Understand?"

Inuyasha and Jinn nodded.

The referee jumped out of the ring, bringing the whistle that hung around her neck to her lips and then she blew, signaling the fight had started.

Kagome abruptly ended her conversation with Kyo to run over and stand next to the referee of Inuyasha's match. "Did I miss anything?" Kagome asked keeping her eyes on Inuyasha as he leapt in the air to do a roundhouse kick.

The woman shook her head, her whistle still resting on her lips. "Nothing yet."

"Any idea on who's winning?" Kagome wrung her hands together as she watched Inuyasha get slung against the floor by a kick from Jinn.

"To early in the game, sweetheart." The referee gave Kagome a slight smile. "But I saw Inuyasha Osuwari fight last year…there's no need to worry about your…your brother?" She guessed.

Kagome shook her head; her eyes still locked onto Inuyasha. "Boyfriend." She corrected.

The female referee smiled. "Don't you worry your pretty little head, Missy. Inuyasha's quite the legend at this tournament…everyone knows who he is."

"Why's that?"

"Cause of what happened last year…you know he almost won didn't you? Not something anyone expected from him, he was just a first-degree black belt then, and he was going against some pretty hefty competition…. I'm 'talkin' fourth/fifth degree black belts."

Kagome's jaw dropped. "Wow."

The woman nodded. "Yep. Quite the tough spirit in such a minor… don't think I could ever forget a kid like him."

Kagome smiled. "Go Inuyasha!" She cheered.

Inuyasha leapt back from a kick from Jinn, how can such a fat person move around like him? Inuyasha ran at him and jump-side kicked Jinn in the chest, knocking the boy to the floor just in time to hear the whistle signaling round one was over. Inuyasha retreated to his side of the ring and leaned over the rope to steal a sip of Kagome's water.

"You need to watch out for Jinn's kicks, Inuyasha." Kagome instructed. "He keeps punching you and you block…but when he kicks you, you're not paying attention…that last kick was too close. He almost hit you."

Inuyasha nodded. "I don't get it though…the dude should be renamed 'the fridge' or something cause he's so 'freakin' huge…how is he able to move around like that?"

Kagome glared at him. "You shouldn't make fun of him because of his size." She scolded. "It just proves that it doesn't matter how 'different' you are…you can do same things that everyone else can do if you set your mind to it."

Inuyasha snorted. "Yes Father Hirugashi."

Kagome snorted right back at him. "I'm no priest, now remember what I said."

Inuyasha nodded as he turned back into the ring and jumped back into his ready stance. "Ready to get your ass kicked, Jinn?"

Jinn just smirked. "It's an awfully small target compared to yours…you sure you can hit it?"

Sweatdrop. "Uh…yeah. Sure." Inuyasha pulled his hands up to guard his face when the second whistle sounded.

The boys stood still for just a brief moment and then they shot off, each throwing a back-kick. Inuyasha hit his target and dodged Jinn's blow by jumping to the side as 'the fridge' came around with his leg. And instead of hitting Inuyasha, the back of Jinn's ca-ankle collided with the metal pole that held the ropes up.

Inuyasha smirked cockily as he jumped up into the air and brought his fist down into Jinn's face. He stumbled backwards from Inuyasha's blow, but quickly regained his balance.

"Now that actually hurt." Jinn snapped rubbing his new swollen jaw.

Inuyasha just ignored him as he on impulse jumped onto the railing and then up into the air, flipping over Jinn's head, he did a spinning-back-kick and hit Jinn in the back of the head as the whistle sounded, ending the second match. Inuyasha cursed himself inwardly for doing the flip. Damn it. He growled as he glanced down at the rosary beads tucked under his shirt. That was just a little too demon…you're like a walking advertisement, Inuyasha. 'Look at me…I'm a demon' keep it together. People are going to figure it out if you don't quit showing off.

Kagome on the other hand hadn't noticed Inuyasha's sudden show of agility. "Go Inuyasha!" She cheered up and down as she glanced over the judge's shoulder at his score sheet. Inuyasha was winning. Yes.

Inuyasha stomped over and demanded the water; Kagome handed it over still smiling. Inuyasha could definitely tell this was her first tournament if she was getting excited in the preliminaries. He sighed, smiling down at her. She looked so happy, and although he'd never tell her…he kind of liked having her cheer his name.

"Kick his ass." Kagome screamed.

Inuyasha leaned over the rope and smiled down at her. "You're quite the cheerleader you know that?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. She hated cheerleaders…too snobby.

As Inuyasha leaned over more he hadn't realized their faces were close to each other's, and neither did she, their faces were just centimeters apart. Kagome gave him a thumb's up. "Good luck!" And you thought they were going to kiss.

Inuyasha grinned. "Thanks." He returned once again to the center of the ring for the third and final match. The whistle blew as Inuyasha jumped into his ready stance. He stared at Jinn. Inuyasha hadn't even broken a sweat yet, but poor Jinn's forehead had turned into a water fountain.

"Come on, Inuyasha." Kagome cheered. "You can do it."

The whistle rang, Inuyasha and Jinn both stood still, frozen to the floor beneath them. Inuyasha waited for his chance, the moment Jinn let his guard down Inuyasha was going to end this here and now.

Jinn finally getting inpatient made his own attack. He swung his arm around, slamming his fist into Inuyasha's blocking arm. But that was all Inuyasha needed. He gave Jinn an upper cut, knocking him to the boxing ring floor. There was no need for another whistle to end the match, Jinn was out cold. It was over. Inuyasha loved kickboxing, it was like anything and everything went. A big smirk spread across his face as Kagome jumped up and down excitedly, cheering his name. He crawled under the rope and down onto the floor, just in time to have Kagome jump him.

She jumped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Their faces once again only inches apart, and she was clueless. "You did it." Kagome squealed.

Inuyasha sweatdropped. Yep, he could most definitely tell this was her first tournament. "Uh Kagome…don't you think you're over reacting just a little?"

Kagome just smiled and hugged him. "You were amazing." She praised.

Inuyasha's arms still hung limply by his side as Kagome wrapped around him. Something about this position just didn't seem right, though…he kind of liked it…bad Inuyasha bad. He mentally kicked himself as Kagome jumped off of him. He could tell she was having way more fun than he was, but he kind of liked seeing her happy.

The judge to Inuyasha's match came up to him and smiled, "well done son." He patted Inuyasha on the shoulder before he walked off to the next ring. That was how this tournament worked. Two students were assigned to a ring; the victor progressed to the next round with a new fighter. The winner of that fight would stay at the ring again to fight a fighter from the fourth round and so on and so fourth it went for twenty more rounds until only a hundred fighters were left. Then the next day the sparring competition would finish off with the remaining hundred, rounding down to the 'official winner' of the tournament. And then the competitions for grappling and weapons and so forth began. But it was the sparring part that was the most important; all the others were just to add variety. Most people were only entered in the sparring and katas competitions, just because they were required. And as for the judges, they rotated from ring to ring, judging a different match each time; this was so they wouldn't grow biased towards a particular student, as was the same for the referees. But Inuyasha kind of liked the idea of him fighting in the same ring the whole time…it made him feel like he knew his surroundings better when he fought.

The female referee walked past Inuyasha and Kagome, flashing them a small smile as she went.

Inuyasha collapsed to the floor; "this is going to be a long day." He moaned.

"You're not getting tired already?" Kagome giggled as she kicked him in the side, just as she had seen him do to Spike earlier.

Inuyasha winced and glared up at her. "No…of course not. I haven't even broken a sweat yet."

Kagome smirked, even though what he said was true, she couldn't help but pester him. "Please." She laughed. "You're sweating like a dog."

Inuyasha snorted as he closed his eyes and embraced rest. He had ten minutes before the second fighter, referee, and judge showed up. There was a ten-minute break between each round, which was enough time to collect a little more energy.

But unfortunately Inuyasha's next opponent hadn't read the rules. An average sized boy made his way over to Inuyasha's ring. He had long shoulder length light blond hair that spiked downwards and bright-bright sky blue eyes. He had an attractive face…and chest.

Kagome tried her best not to stare at his shirtless form, but it was hard. Give the girl a break…I would have done it…and so would you.

"You Osuwari?" His voice was unique, it had a slight Irish accent to it, and his tone was very mellow it wasn't harsh or kind, but a very strange mixture of the two.

Inuyasha, whose eyes remained closed, just nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

The boy smirked, "I'm Shido, 'remembur' me?" (I'm Shido, remember me?)

Inuyasha's eyes snapped open. Shit. Was today a bad day for running into old faces or what? Inuyasha leaned up onto his shoulders. He remembered Shido…man this is going to be a hard fight. Shido had been one of the final one hundred fighters last year just like Inuyasha.

The half demon moaned as he collapsed back flat onto the hard wood floor. "Yeah I remember you."

Shido smiled. "I never 'thaught' I'd see 'de' day that me and you would e'er fight again…but I tell 'ya' I've been 'hopin' I'd get the 'chaunce'." (I never thought I'd see the day that me and you would ever fight again…but I tell you I've been hoping I'd get the chance.)

Inuyasha crossed his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling uncomfortably. "Same here, Shido."

Shido collapsed onto the floor next to Inuyasha, it truly had been a while, a whole year. Unbeknownst to the very confused Kagome, Shido and Inuyasha had somewhat a small and very bleak past. Not a bad one to say the least…they had had a blast. The two had made quick friends since their fighting rings had been positioned beside each other. And in the end, it had been a hard fight when they inevitably had to fight one another.

"I suppose 'ye're' entered in this new event, the Style Off?" Shido laughed. "Yer're a shoe-in 'tah whin' it…if 'ye' can still fight as good as 'ya' did 'laust' year." (I suppose you're entered in this new event, the Style off? You're a shoe-in to win it…if you can still fight as good as you did last year.)

Inuyasha snorted, as he pointed to the still confused Kagome. "Nah, I'm in the weapons competition…but she's in the Style Off or whatever it's called."

Shido turned his gaze over to Kagome; he eyed her slightly, making her feel uneasy. "'Bah' she's ah, ah, ah…" (but she's a, a, a…)

"A girl." Kagome almost hissed.

Shido shook his head, waving his hands in the air as his defense. "Oh no, Miss. That 'whatn't' it at all. I was just 'commentin' on yer belt…it's an awfully low belt 'considerin' what all I heard 'abou tha' people who are in 'dis' Style Off. I was told there was 'sum purty' hefty 'compatition' like in 'da' 'furth' and 'fif' 'dagree' blauk belts." (Oh no, Miss. That wasn't it at all. I was just commenting on your belt…it's an awfully low belt considering what all I heard about the people who are in this Style Off. I was told there was some pretty hefty competition like in the fourth and fifth degree black belts.)

"Oh…" Kagome suddenly felt really bad for hissing at him.

"'Ye most' be a 'grate foighter' if yer 'Couch' put ya in 'et'." (You must be a great fighter if your Coach put you in it.)

Kagome's smile widened. "Thanks."

~*~*~*~

Demona Sigfreed flipped through the student roster. She sat next to Dante at the main judges table, but unlike her colleague she wasn't paying attention to the fights that were taking place right in front of her. She just looked up to smile and nod at people ever so often, or to watch Sion proudly as he signed autographs from a few feet in front of her. He had become like her son. Demona sighed, rubbing her hands over her high cheekbones.

Work to her was exhausting. She readjusted her reading glasses as she skimmed down the list, searching for only one name: Kagome Hirugashi. After what Sion had told her about his encounter with this Hirugashi girl, Demona had been very interested in meeting her. Ok so Sion hadn't exactly told her about Kagome…she had read his mind when he was sleeping last night, she had just wanted to see how his day had been when she had stumbled upon the memory of Kagome. So what? She had read his mind without permission. But it was his fault for not coming and telling her in the first place.

"A demon of this magnitude..." She sighed, pulling her glasses off and messaging her brow, "would be quite an alley." She stared down at Sion as he signed an autograph and blushed because a girl kissed him on the cheek. Demona wanted to meet this girl, if according to Sion's memory, all she had to do was touch him and it seemed she could see his past. Which was quite extraordinary since Sion had sold his soul to Demona just so those memories of his father could be erased, Demona had put an omission spell on him. And no average demon could break such a complex hex. As a matter-o-fact, she didn't know of any type of demon that could break one of her spells. Strange…very strange indeed. Not to mention…she'd never heard of a demon who could read peoples past either

If this girl could do such a thing…could it be…could she be just the thing Demona needed to finally find that wretched last miko?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay, I know I promised that there was going to be fluff in this chapter but I sort of made this chapter way too long, so I ended up having to cut it down to three chapters instead. So your fluff is in the third one, chapter 23. I'm very sorry…you can flame me if you want to…I can understand.

Just please…pray for my friend…I'm so scared for her.