Bluerain: Also, this is the chapter where Kouga makes an appearance, and when Joey is given the Key. We didn't change much in this chapter, except the removal of the scene where Joey's Yami does make a first true appearance. We hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 7
My Girl
Two weeks. Two weeks of walking through the country side, searching everywhere, and they found nothing. Not a hint of a jewel shard, not a sign of Naraku or his minions. Nothing! And to make things worse, Inu-yasha was babysitting these stupid teenagers from Kagome's time. He was getting sick and tired of listening to their stories about how Yugi or Mai or Joey (he especially hated the ones about Joey) won an idiotic card game against some snot-nosed brat or a spoiled rich jerk. So what if they went into some made up 'virtual' world, or battled some so called 'shadow game'! It was just a game, and those were just pieces of paper with weird drawings on them. What was the big deal?
"So I used Weeval's own card against him!" said Joey, as he told another of his stories. "And I got his rare Queen."
"Wow, Joey," said Kagome in aw, "That's amazing!"
"Yes," added Miroku, who was also listening to the story, "A great victory indeed."
"Feh," said Inu-yasha from the head of the caravan. "So what? Didn't you say the other day that Yugi had beat Weeval before."
"Yeah, what's that got to do with it?" Joey replied.
"Well, from what I can understand, this Weeval kid's confidence was shot when Yugi beat him, so pretty much anyone could have wiped the floor with him after that."
"What are you sayin?" Joey said, getting mad.
"That you won only cause your friend brought him down first." Inu-yasha said, bluntly. "Besides, it's just a stupid kid's game."
"Just a game? This ain't just a game, dog breath!"
"Feh."
"And I suppose you're any better, using your daddy's sword to fight second rate monsters? I've never even seen you take that sword out of the scabbard. let's see this 'steel cleaving fang'" And in a move faster than Inu-yash awould have given anyone credit for, Joey came up behind him and took the Tetsuseiga!
"Give that back!" Inu-yasha yelled, "No one touches that sword but me!"
Joey drew the sword, and looked at the rusted and chipped blade, first confused, then laughing, " This is it? This is what all that noise was about? This thing's supposed to kill a hundred you-kai in one stroke! It couldn't cut butter!" he laughed as Inu-yasha grabbed the sword and scabbard from Joey's hands.
"Do not trespass in the realm of his soul, my friend," Yugi/Yami said. "That sword obviously has an otherworldly power, and is deeply bound to Inu-yasha. You had best to leave his belongings alone."
"It's not a joke, Joey," Kagome added, very seriously. "That sword really is powerful. And he's saved our lives with it more times than I can count. So show it some respect."
"Ok, I'm sorry, Kagome," Joey said, putting his arm around Kagome (which made Inu-yasha angrier than when he'd taken the sword). " I'll be more respectful, since it saved your life."
"I think I'm gonna be sick," grumbled Inu-yasha as he took the lead again. 'At least things can't get worse,' he thought as they entered the shadow of the craggy mountains. This place looked familiar. Then again, in their travels, Inu-yasha, Kagome, Songo, Miroku, and Shippo had gone over all most all of Japan. But he was getting a prickly sense from these rocks; his hair was beginning to stand on end. Where had he seen these rock formations before? Then, his nosed picked it up. That scent! That nauseating scent!
"D------ " Inu-yasha said, his hands flying to his sword. "Not him. Not now."
"Inu-yasha," Kagome said, "I sense shards, coming fast."
"I know. It's him."
"Wha-? Oh no." She said.
------------Scene Break-----------
"What?" said Joey "Who's comin?" Then, in a blur of brown, Kagome disappeared from Joey's side! What happened?! "Kagome!?" Joey shouted.
"Put me down, Kouga!" shouted Kagome's voice from ahead. Joey rushed up beside Inu-yasha, and was met with a strange sight.
Kagome was struggling in the arms of some guy! This weird punk was wearing what looked like animal skins, and had long black hair that was up in a pony tail. And weirder than that, he had a real tail of his own! But what made Joey mad was the hungry look in this freak's eyes, as it tried to hold on to Kagome.
"Well met, Kagome my love" said Kouga after Kagome had managed to get out of his grip. "What brings you back to my lands? Have you finally decided to dump mutt-face?"
"Watch it, wolf," growled Inu-yasha. Joey looked at this Kouga guy. 'Don't tell me that he likes Kagome too,' he thought. 'It's enough just puttin up with Inu-yasha!'
"Listen, wolfie," Joey said, stepping forward, " Kagome's not with Inu-yasha. She's with me."
"What? My regal Kagome with a pathetic human pup?" Kouga said, giving a fanged grin. "Don't make me laugh. She's my woman, and I'm the only one she needs."
"Wrong again, hair ball," Joey said, taking Kagome's hand. " Now get this straight, Kagome's my girl, so back off!"
Kouga looked at Joey, then at Kagome, and then he seemed to finally catch on.
"Kagome, is this true?" Kouga asked, genuinely surprised.
"Well, yes," Kagome said. "I guess."
Kouga got a look on his face like he'd eaten some rotten fish or something, then said, "I'm heart broken!" Then, he took Kagome's free hand, and said, "How could you stoop so low!?"
"What!?" Joey said, getting angrier by the second.
"At least mutt-face is a half breed, but to settle for a human boy? I will not let you face such shame!"
"WHAT?!" Joey and Inu-yash said together. Joey was furious. No one was taking Kagome from him. "That's enough!" Joey exclaimed, getting in between Kagome and Kouga. "I told you to step off, wolfie!"
"Joey, don't," Kagome said, putting a hand on Joey's shoulder. 'Kouga's too dangerous, and he's a wolf demon."
"Joey, I think you need to listen to Kagome," Yugi/Yami said, a few paces behind them, "Just walk away."
"Don't bite off more than you can chew, man" added Tristan.
"Yeah, little boy," said Kouga, "So why don't you step aside and let Kagome come with me."
"Never!" Joey shouted. " You want Kagome, you'll have to get through me!"
"And me!" Inu-yasha added, drawing out his sword. Joey looked in surprise at Inu-yasha's sword. It was different from before! The blade was huge, white, and looked big enough to chop down a whole forest! No wonder they'd made such a big deal about it before.
Then, Kouga looked as his rivals, and said, "I accept the challenge! I've been wanting to get rid of mutt-face for a while, anyway. The last one standing gets Kagome!" And without warning, he struck first at Joey, barring huge claws, coming at lightening speed. Joey dodged out of the way, but only in time to see that the rocks where he had standing were now pebbles!
"Hey Kouga!" shouted Inu-yasha. Kouga looked over, his attention diverted. "Why don't you fight someone who can give you a real challenge?" And he charged, fighting Kouga claw to claw. Joey looked on, thankful that Inu-yash had saved his skin, but he knew he wouldn't win. Joey couldn't fight Kouga! This wolf was too strong, too powerful.
"Joey!" Shouted Yugi/Yami. Joey looked over at his friend, and saw him take the Millennium Key from his pack. Then, Yugi/Yami said, his voice loud and commanding, "Powers of old, give me strength. Let the touch of the one who's heart is true and loyal bring out this Key's true power!" And he threw the Key to Joey. Joey caught the Key in one, and it instantly changed. It grew longer, and had become a staff! Joey looked at the staff in his hands in complete bewilderment. How could this be happening?! This was Yugi's Key! Yet, it felt right to him; the weight of it, the feel of it in his hands. It was like he was supposed to wield it: like he was born to. Suddenly, he heard Kagome and the others screaming out, "Inu-yasha!! Look out!!!"
--------------Scene Break--------------
Yugi/Yami threw the Key to Joey, and when his friend caught it, he watched as Joey transformed yet again. As Joey looked at the Key, his clothes turned into white robes, he wore sandals on his feet, gold cuffs on his wristis, and his hair grew much longer. Was Yugi/Yami the only one who was seeing this?
"Tea, Tristan," he asked, "Do see this? Tell me, what do you see?"
"I see Joey," Tea said.
"I see an idiot with a really long Key," Tristan said. "Why? What do you see, man?"
"I see," Yugi/Yami said. "I see Joey as he truly is. I see an old friend, whom I believed was gone forever."
"Yugi, are you okay?" Tea asked, looking worriedly at him. "Maybe you need to sit down."
"No time for that," Tristan said, pointing, "Dog boy's in trouble!"
"What?" Yugi/Yami exclaimed, he turned, and saw the battle, and cried out with the others, "Inu-yasha! Watch out!"
-------------Scene Break------------
Kouga swiftly kicked upward at Inu-yasha. He ducked, anticipating it to be for his head, but he had guessed wrong. Instead, the mangy wolf kicked the hand that held the Tetsuseiga, and caused Inu-yasha to lose his grip on the sword. The sword flew ten feet away, and before Inu-yasha could think of his next move, he felt Kouga kick him in the stomach. Inu-yasha tumbled over and over down the rocky hillside, and when he stopped, he looked up to see Kouga looming over him. He tried to get up, but the wolf had his foot on Inu-yasha's neck, cutting off his breath.
"And now, Inu-yasha," Kouga said, his blue eyes blazing with blood lust, and his claws extending, like tiny daggers, "You die!"
Inu-yasha stared into his enemy's face, ready to feel death's sting. He wished that he only had the chance to tell his friends, and Kagome... but the blow never came. As Kouga was coming down, his claws poised over Inu-yasha's heart, Joey came out of nowhere, and with a strength that most humans could not have had, the boy swung his staff and flung Kouga several yards away.
The han-you was in shock! Utter disbelief! First, he was doomed to die at Kouga's hands, and now, Joey, a human (and one that he couldn't stand), had saved his life! This was impossible! This was-!
"Vermin dog of the wild, be gone!" Joey called. Inu-yasha stared at the boy in front of him. What was wrong with his voice? He sounded older, and - was it possible - dignified?
"You have trespassed in the realm of my soul," Joey said in his weird new voice, "And I will not allow you to escape my wrath."
"What the heck is wrong with you?" Kouga asked Joey, looking afraid. 'I see something different about this guy. '
"Yugi," Tea said, on the sidelines, "That's the same thing you say when you become Yami. What does this mean?"
"I don't know," Yugi/Yami said.
"I think it's pretty clear," Tristan said, "Joey must have a Yami too. The Key must have brought it out of him."
"But I thought there was but one Yami," Miroku said.
"No, we've encountered other spirits of the Millennium Items before." Yugi.Yami said. "Some are good, others are pure evil; such as the spirit that dwells within the Millennium Ring."
"Whoa," Kagome said, "Creepy. Joey! Snap out of it!" she called out to him.
"Huh?" Joey said. He blinked, shook his head, and he looked confused. Then, he remembered, he'd clobbered Kouga. Then, he looked at the ground, where Inu-yasha lay in shock. "Oh, hey Fido," Joey said to the Han-you. "Need a hand?"
"No!," said Inu-yasha, trying to regain his composure, and pride, "I can get up on my own." He leaped to his feet and started brushing off his cloak.
"Here's your sword," Joey said, handing him Tetsuseiga. Inu-yasha took his sword, and it once more changed to it's true form. "I guess I should thank you," Inu-yasha grumbled.
"Yeah," said Joey, "But it's okay. Anyways, we both want to get rid of this flea ridden wolf, so let's work together. You swing that sword, I'll use my staff. Okay?" "Fine," replied Inu-yasha. Then, he smelled Kouga's scent again. So he was coming back for more huh? Well then that wolf had better be in for a real fight now.
-------------Scene Break---------------
Kouga bounded back up and over the rocks and inclines, determined to rip both Inu-yasha and Joey to shreds. He spotted Inu-yasha, and charged at his rival and enemy, howling a war cry as he prepared to strike. But Joey once again swung his staff at Kouga. This time, Kouga managed to dodge the attack, but in dodging Joey's attack, he was given a strong and powerful kick from Inu-yasha. The wolf fell to the ground, his lip bleeding, and covered in more bruises than he had ever had in his entire life. He looked up at his adversaries. The dog han-you was in a 'mountain' stance, both feet planted to the ground, and his sword in his hand, ready to swing and strike it's prey. And the young human boy, with the conifidence and bearing of a warrior, stood with his staff firmly gripped in his hands. Kouge then registered the change again. He smelled the forming of Inu-yasha's Wind Scar, and he could almost see this Joey turning back into that weird sorcerer (there could be no other word to describe a human so powerful). His heart was racing, sweat pouring down into his eyes. He couldn't take on two opponents.
Kouga slowly got up, grunting from his injuries. He looked at his opponents one more time, and then gave a gruff laugh. "I'm tired of playing with you two. I could kill you in a second, human. And as for you, Inu-yasha, I'll wait until your alone, with out anyone to help you fight your battles." Then he leaped up, up, up to the peak of the cliff, and dashed off to his territory.
"Hey!" yelled Inu-yasha, "Where're you going coward?! You running off with your tail between your legs again!?"
---------------Scene Break------------
"Inu-yasha, I wish you would learn to hold you tongue and just walk away from these foolish feuds with Kouga." Miroku said, as everyone sat around the campfire. It was near dusk, and as the sun began to go down, the air became cooler. Soon it would be freezing, and everyone would need the fire's warmth. Kagome was wrapping Joey's knee, which he had cut during the fight earlier. Inu-yasha couldn't believe the fuss she was making over such a small scratch. He didn't need Miroku scolding him right now, either.
"Well I didn't see you helping earlier, monk." he replied. "Or you two," he said to Tristan and Yugi.
"I was protecting the women," Miroku said. "And Tristan and Yugi don't have powers or strengths enough to match one such as Kouga."
"I don't need a pervert like you to protect me," Mai said from her corner.
"You wouldn't have let us help," added Kagome, as she applied a bandage to Joey's knee. "You would have made us stay back, to keep from getting hurt. Besides, Kouga's fight has always been with you, I don't see why Joey had to get dragged into the middle of it."
"You're acting like it's my fault that pretty boy jumped in." said Inu-yasha. "He's the one who challenged Kouga." But Kagome wasn't listening anymore. She was too busy paying attention to the idiot human. "And why are you so concerned with that scratch? I've got worse wounds!"
"Lay off, Fido," Joey said, getting up. "She's bandaged yours already. She's only trying to help!"
"You stay out of this pretty boy"
"Make me!"
"Enough, both of you!" Yugi/Yami commanded. "All fights are over today. There are more important matters to look to." He then turned to Joey, and said, "Joey, you have been given great power today. The Millennium Staff is yours now."
"But Yuge," Joey said, "This is your Key. I can't take it from you."
"It is no longer just the Millennium Key," Yugi/Yami replied. "It is the Millennium Staff. It still has the powers of the Key, but now it is more powerful than before. And it is my gift to you, my friend. The Staff is yours. Keep it always by your side."
As Joey sat there, fidgeting with his new staff, Shippo chirped up, "Hey, guys, I'm hungry. Let's have some dinner."
"Oh yeah," said Tristan. "We haven't eaten in hours. I'm starving!" With that, Kagome began to pass out the food. It was the last of the supplies she'd brought from the future, but enough until they reached the next village. Inu-yasha watched with anticipation. He hadn't seen her get any cups of Ramen out, but he knew she had some. He could already smell it. Sure enough, it was the last thing she pulled out. Inu-yasha held out his hands. She always gave him the Ramen, since no one else liked it.
"Here you go, Joey." she said.
The words took a minute to register in Inu-yasha's head. "WHAT?!" he cried. He ran over to where Kagome and Joey were sitting, and first rummaged through Kagome's bag, and found no more food. No more Ramen! He looked up to see Kagome and Joey looking at him like he was crazy. And noodles were hanging from Joey's mouth. "That'smy soup!" the han-you yelled.
"It's the last cup, and the last of the food," Kagome said, angry. "And you were the last two. And Joey doesn't know how to hunt for food in the woods like you do."
"But," Inu-yasha said, confused, angry, and a little hurt. "But -that's my Ramen."
"Oh Inu-yasha, I'm sure Joey won't care to share some of it with you." Kagome said.
"Yes he would," Joey said as he slurped some noodles. "I ain't givin' up my meal to Fido."
That did it. "For one thing, I don't need hand outs, and another, " He growled, steaming mad, "MY NAME IS IN-U-YA-SHA!!!!!"
"Sit, Boy!" Kagome said. And instantly, Inu-yasha's face was three inches deep in dirt.
-------------------Scene Break---------------------
While those fools were distracted, a tentacle came slithering in from the edge of the dark forest. It slid along the shadows, searching for it's targets. Yes, the packs. The packs from the new comers. It went in each one, and found what it sought. Their card decks. It took each deck and wrapped tightly in it's coils. Then, last of all it slithered into the boy Yugi's pack. As it searched inside for his cards, it brushed against one of the Items. The magical, powerful items. Oh, the power that ran through! But now was not the time. It would get those, soon enough. He would get them all for his master, but not now.
The tentacle found Yugi's cards, and like the others, wrapped itself around them. Then, with it's cargo, it slithered out of the young ones' camp, back into the darkness - back to it's master.
In the darkest, deepest part of the woods, he waited. Soon, his messenger returned. He reached out his hand, and the tentacle remerged itself with him. Then, he lifted his hand, which now held the different decks. He looked at each one, and studied the creatures and images on them.
"Yes," he said to the darkness, to himself, "Yes, these will do very nicely. Soon, I shall control these creatures. Then I will destroy those young fools. Li Zhou, come forth." he ordered. His servant reappeared from the shadows, and told his master everything.
"You saw the Items?" he asked.
"I have," Li Zhou said. "They're of foreign make. They are made in the land of Egypt, where the pharaohs rule. Far away to the west of here, beyond the great continent."
"I need those Items," the Master said. "If these are from the future, then perhaps they are still free to gather here and now. I want you to go to this Egypt. I want you to gather them for me, and bring them back. Otherwise, your spirit shall be condemned to the Shadows which birthed you, Li Zhou."
"Yes Master," the servant said. He bowed, and rose high above the clouds, and was gone from sight.
"Soon, I shall have the Millennium Items," the master said, stepping from the shadows of the trees, the fading light of day covering his Baboon skin cloak. "And I shall take their shards. Then I, Naraku, shall rule all!!"
--------------------------Authors' Note------------------------------
Bluerain: Oh! That still gives me shivers down my spine.
SirLarry: I think it's a lot better now that Li Zhou's been re-introduced to the story. Like I said before, things really wouldn't have made a lot of sense if he'd been in the original story, before anyone knew who he was and his origins were revealed later in 'Seeds of Chaos'.
Bluerain: I personally think that it makes more sense now. Now we know how Naraku got so close to them to find out about the Items, without being detected by Inu-yasha sharp nose. Anyway, please review, fair readers.