Chapter 21: Contest nearly cancelled and awful words exchanged
"Alright! I got it!" Kagome yelled. "Four contests; politeness, strength, poetry, and then I will ask random questions about myself and whoever answers best gets the point." Sango started to laugh—so hard that she fell to the ground and pointed incredulously at the two pale boys directly in front of her. "Polite? ahahaha, poetry? muahahaha!!!! That's hilarious, that's the best, oh my kami! You'll sooo fail! AHAHAHAHA!!!" "Er? Sango, are you dying? I don't think people naturally turn blue..." Sango gasped for air and out of the blue Miroku sprang out from where ever the hell he was and cried, "I'll save you, my love!" He jumped on her and latched his mouth onto hers. "Argh!" Sango screamed once she pulled away. "You pervert!" Everyone was stunned into a more severe silence and finally Kagome gave up and began to laugh.
She heaved in a desperate breath and finally calmed herself down. "Anyways...you must be polite for a good ten minutes—starting...now!" The guys turned from white to green and Kouga asked uncertainly, "A whole ten minutes?" Inuyasha didn't trust himself to speak. So he tilted his head to the side in a very canine manner. Kagome nodded, "Unless of course you don't wanna go thru with the contest, eh?" Kouga seemed almost uncertain and sniffed the air. "What the hell—?" Hojo walked down from the entrance with a bright red head giggling and clinging to his back. He shifted his grip on her thighs and lightly ran a hand up to tickle her. She nibbled his ear and was surprised when Hojo was flung away from her and she was clutched in the possessive grip of Kouga.
"Erm...Kouga? Do you mind, I was trying to hang out with Hojo!" Kouga snarled and whispered venomously, "Replaced me so soon, bitch?" Ayame sniffed and arrogantly lifted her nose to the air. "Of course, there's hundreds of youkai in the world and I found myself a nice friend and as a side note—he's bigger than you, bud." Kouga stiffened and crushed her arm tightly. "You are nothing more than a common whore! You can't possibly believe that any Lord would actually want you! Don't make me laugh!"
Ayame lowered her head and mumbled something incoherent. "What was that slut? Speak up, didn't hear you!" "He said he wanted to get to know me. As a friend and lover," she whispered. Kouga barked out a short and cruel laugh, "Baka, you actually believed him? He's weak, he'd never protect you and by the smell of you—he's gotten his loving. You're so easy, ya know that? Fuck, I can't even believe you." Ayame's eyes filled with tears, "He's a wonderful person, and I've only known him for so long. From the day I met you, you were an ass...stay out of my business and leave me the hell alone!"
Kouga smirked, "Who's gonna stop me?" Kagome was held back by Sango and Inuyasha was pinned down by Miroku and yet nobody had hold of Hojo. The fierce energy that radiated from him; the amazing power and the maniacal look in his eyes made Kouga take a step back. In a terrible voice Hojo stated, "I will." He leapt forward and wrenched Kouga's arm out of its socket. "Let go of Ayame!" Ayame's arm was bruised and with complete depression she sank down and curled up into a little ball. Hojo turned ferociously on the wincing Kouga and slammed his fist into Kouga's mouth. He leapt into the air and smashed Kouga's face with a mighty kick.
Kouga fell and didn't twitch. Everyone stared in utter shock and watched as Hojo gently picked up Ayame and whispered something in her ear; she looked up with a single tear coursing down her face and walked away sadly. "No Lord Hojo, he's right." Suddenly the fiery youkai who had knocked out Kouga appeared before her and said tightly, "He is not right; you are mine Ayame! If I have to claim you here and now as my mate than I will! Can't you smell it? Our scents have already blended together and I will not allow any other man to touch you. You are not a slut Ayame; you followed what was meant to be." Ayame gazed at him steadily and then wrapped her arms around him. Hojo smiled and his arms circled around her waist as he planted a sweet kiss on the top of her head. "No more foolish thoughts?" he asked. Ayame buried her head in his chest and shook her head. "Good, I think we've got some business to attend to..."
This comment enticed a strangled giggle from Ayame who immediately let him go and jumped onto his back. "Mush, panther, mush!" she cried. Hojo laughed and tickled her thigh. When they left Inuyasha turned to see if anyone was watching him. Satisfied that they still had their attention on the exiting couple he crept over to Kouga and kicked some dirt onto his face with a boyish grin of glee. Kagome looked over and caught him red-handed and bobbed him on the head, "So much for the contest eh?" (A/N: Forgive me, but I tried to write it out and I just couldn't. It kept mangling and I finally just had to drop it. I tried at least to give it a start but, Sango's laughter kinda scared me."
"I guess you win Inuyasha, but...about that poetry..." Inuyasha looked at her with saucer wide eyes. "P—poetry?" "Yeah, sprout me some poetry, dog-boy." Inuyasha lowered his head so Kagome couldn't see his blush. "Promise not to laugh?" Kagome nodded and smiled happily. He took a deep breath and murmured softly,
"Eyes filled with deep blazing emotion,
Lips pouted to make a point or smile ever so gently,
She stands there proud and tall,
Her beauty awing all,
Is there hope for me,
In this cruel and painful world?"
His voice trailed off uncertainly and he shut his eyes in embarrassment. Kagome sighed contentedly and she wanted to just throw her arms around him and kiss repeatedly, but she wouldn't dare. Inuyasha shuffled his feet uneasily and wouldn't look up at her. Kagome smiled again and said blissfully, "It was so lovely..." Sango stepped in and asked sickeningly sweetly, "What about the questionnaire?" Kagome nodded dazedly and asked, "Ready?" Inuyasha shrugged and Kagome started, "Do I prefer roses, tulips or daisies?" Inuyasha looked repelled. "Just answer the question," Kagome nudged tightly. "Erm..." he racked his brain. She looked like a tulips kinda girl, but... "Roses."
Kagome squealed gleefully and said, "Yes. Now, what do I enjoy doing more, s-i-t-t-i-n-g ing you, bathing or eating?" Inuyasha looked perplexed and paused. Well, she does like sitting me, and cats don't usually like bathing, I know she loves food, so... "All three, you can't choose between them." Kagome looked stunned and said, "I didn't realize it but, yeah, I really can't. Umm...look, I didn't really have an questions to begin with, so can we just drop it. You answered two, that's good enough."
Sango stepped forward and said, "One more. I'll ask it." She turned to Inuyasha, "What is Kagome's type of guy?" Kagome looked startled and Inuyasha stepped back. "I—I don't really know... Every girl probably wants someone like Hojo, but then they get bored and want something dangerous and more exciting or else they really do love a guy like him. I guess Kagome's type of guy is like—like, um... Kouga?" Kagome spat and answered, "No freakin' way! I'd have to answer that with, my type of guy, dearest Sango, is like Inuyasha."
Inuyasha brightened and grinned toothily. "Really, eh?" Kagome said thru clenched teeth, "Don't get a fat head thinking about it, you conceited jerk." She turned and stormed away. Miroku had been watching the entire thing silently and when both girls left he burst into laughter and was immediately cuffed upside the head. "Shut up, bouzu. At least I tried my best."
The girls talked animatedly until out of the blue Kagome said, "We should go camping, I hate being pampered, and until father leaves I can't leave either, or else my 'husband' might miss me." Sango grinned, "Ah yes, I've been waiting for you to get bored."