AN: I'm soooooooo sorry that this chapter has taken me so long to post. Unfortunately, the disk that I had this chapter on originally unformatted itself and destroyed the chapter. I was so frustrated that I almost gave up the story. Today, I just so happened upon the evil disk, and decided to teach it a lesson. So, after obliterating the disk I was suddenly inspired to write another chapter. The wonders of violence ... ENJOY AND HAPPY READING!
I had an anonymous review about an evil cliffhanger of mine, I apologize, but they are rather fun to write.
Coyotesabre: Sorry that you had to work so hard to catch up on things. Hopefully by the time you read this you will be all caught up.
Littleolme: I reread your review today, and found it quite uplifting, especially given my frustration with trying to get out this chapter. Thanks.
VioletRose4: Chocolate? Why didn't you bring me some? I feel so unloved. Yeah, Kikyo is pissy in that chapter, but um.. I guess being dead kinda does that to you.
Resq188: I'm not stopg; I just needed to kill a few floppy disks before I could get back to work.
Love Isn't Just a Memory
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Violence is Productive
By: Nimerin
Kikyo narrowed her eyes at Inuyasha before turning to face Kagome, "This is all your fault. Once I have my soul back I will fix this problem."
Everyone gaped in disbelief before Miroku muttered lowly to Sango, "She has quite the one track mind, doesn't she?" Sango only nodded.
"Didn't you just hear anything I said to you?" Inuyasha yelled exasperatedly. While he was yelling, he withdrew his sword from Shinku's neck. Shinku seized the opportunity and jumped away from the group. She stood at the edge of the group of people, eyeing the shard hunters and Kikyo warily. She would have ran away from the confrontation, but was afraid that the evil miko might need her services and punish her for vanishing.
Kikyo sensed her lackey's inner struggle, "Shinku, if you leave you forfeit your life." Shinku visibly stiffened before straightening herself and moving to stand behind Kikyo. "Now," Kikyo continued, "I am not going to repeat myself anymore." She began to glow a blue light and withdrew an arrow from the quiver on her back.
Inuyasha immediately moved to stand in front of Kagome protectively, "I won't repeat myself either Kikyo. You can't threaten Kagome anymore."
Kikyo smirked coolly as she notched the arrow and aimed, "Shinku, you take care of the houshi and the tajiya, these two are mine."
Shinku nodded once before leag over her and taking a swipe at Sango who rolled away. Shinku quickly rounded and was about to attack her again, but Miroku stepped in front and knocked Shinku to the side at the last moment.
"Sango!" The tajiya turned to see Shippo calling for her from Kirara's back; hirakotsu was sitting behind him. Sango ran up to them and grabbed hirakotsu off her back, "Arigato." She quickly turned and launched the weapon at Shinku who was still attacking Miroku. The youkai never noticed and was thrown into a nearby tree. Sango rushed to Miroku sideand caught her weapon on its return trip.
Shinku stood up as her eyes began to bleed dark red and her claws elongated. "You are going to pay for that you pathetic little humans. You don't have your little hanyou to protect your hides now."
Indeed they did not, for Inuyasha was currently too busy trying to protect Kagome. Kikyo had already fired three arrows at the young miko. Normally, it wouldn't have been too much of a problem for him to block, but each arrow was charged with spiritual energy and deadly accurate. He could not deflect them with Tetsusaiga or let them get too close to him.
Kikyo paused in her firing and slightly lowered her bow, "You are not going to get out of the way are you Inuyasha?"
"Iie." Inuyasha had one arm around Kagome's waist, ready to move her at a moments notice while the other arm held Tetsusaiga , "Give up."
"I think not." Kikyo once again lifted her bow, "I had intended to take you to hell with me, but I will settle for sending you there now." She fired another arrow, only this time she was aiming directly for Inuyasha's heart. She continued firing arrows, each one getting closer to its target.
"Inuyasha," Kagome looked up at him from his arms, "maybe you should put me down. I'm only weighing you down and making it hard for you dodge."
Inuyasha growled, "She probably wants me to do that so she can kill you."
"But, she might hit you."
Inuyasha contemplated giving her his usual tough guy response of 'No one can touch me,' but he was getting worried about the close shaves. He glanced over at his friends who were currently fending off Shinku. She was giving them a bit of trouble but Kirara and Shippo were still standing on the sidelines.
Inuyasha dodged another arrow before flipg off of a tree branch and landing next to them. "Kirara, Shippo, guard Kagome." He set Kagome down next to them and leapt off narrowly dodging the glowing arrow. Kagome climbed onto Kirara's back as Shippo hopped onto her shoulder.
Kikyo watched the whole exchange and smiled as soon as she had placed herself between Kagome and Inuyasha. She fired an arrow at him before whirling around to fire another at Kagome.
Inuyasha had noticed the shift in mood a moment before, "Kagome watch out!" Kirara heard the warning and moved just in time, but Kikyo was already preparing another arrow. Knowing that he would not make it to Kagome in time, Inuyasha instead made a swipe at Kikyo forcing her to throw off her aim.
Kikyo frowned, "Fine, you first." She removed two arrows from her quiver, notched them, and released. Both sped towards Inuyasha; he was able to dodge the first arrow, but the second landed with an explosion at his feet causing him to lose balance. While he was distracted she prepared another arrow straight for his heart.
"Kitsune bi!" A ball of fox fire appeared in Kikyo's face making her lose her concentration.
She backed away quickly and turned to face the kitsune who perched on her reincarnation's shoulder. "You are such an annoyance." Consistent to her style, she once again fired two arrows at her target, Kirara. She did not make any direct hits but the blast knocked Kirara into the well house and unconscious. Kagome and Shippo were thrown to the ground but were stood and turned to face her.
Sango and Miroku had originally had problems with Shinku once she had gone into a rage, but by the time Kikyo's attacks were focused on Inuyasha she had calmed a bit. "Look," Shinku spoke lowly as she dodged a swipe of Miroku's shakiju, " I don't care about fighting you, I just don't want her to kill me."
"So what do you suggest?" Sango questioned as Shinku ducked a deliberately slow blow of the hirakotsu.
"I must continue fighting but I'll tone it down so you can save your strength for her."
"Why would you do that?" Miroku asked.
"I failed the task of killing the reincarnation; she doesn't accept failure." Shinku lazily attacked.
"We shall keep things at this pace then?" Miroku ducked her claws.
Shinku nodded and the three continued the farce while keeping an eye on the battle between Kikyo and their companions. When Kikyo attacked Inuyasha and Kirara and effectively knocked them out of the battle, they rushed to Kagome and Shippo's side. Shinku merely stopped fighting and stood to the side.
"Shinku," Kikyo called, "I thought I told you to take care of them."
Shinku shifted on her feet, "I was taking care of them."
"Then why are they once again standing in my way?"
"There are two of them and they are both highly skilled; I was just starting to wear them down."
"It would seem as though you quite inept when it comes to the tasks I set for you. After I am finished here we will have to have a discussion."
"Hai." Shinku swallowed thickly and nodded shortly before casting an almost pleading look to the shard hunters.
Kikyo sighed delicately, "I do not have time for this." She glowed a faint blue for a moment before a blue barrier formed around the houshi and the tajiya. "That is better."
"Sango, Miroku?" Kagome tried to walk through the barrier but was stopped, "I bet I could break this stupid thing if I had my arrows."
"Kagome-chan look out!" Sango called out. Kagome stepped back just as an arrow sped to the spot she was just standing. Kagome ran to Shippo and scooped him up while dodging another arrow. She quickly glanced around for a place to hide before spotting the well house. She ducked into the well house and slammed the door shut.
"Shippo," Kagome placed the kitsune on the ground, "Find somewhere to hide and stay there no matter what."
"Iie, I have to protect you!"
"Hide!" Kagome shoved him forward a little bit before he scampered off to a dark corner of the well house. Kagome frantically searched for a hiding spot for herself but the only place she spotted was the inoperable well.
AN: Dun dun dun.... Are Inuyasha and Kirara dead? Honestly, I don't know! Well, that's it for this chapter. The next one should be out with only a short delay. Um... one maybe two chapters left and then you won't have to worry about my evil cliffhangers and long waits for chapters. Please review, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! THANK YOU!