Disclaimer: Like all of you, I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters and like all of you, I wish I did.
Chapter Three: New Found Power
Kagome smiled as she packed up her sword. Sesshoumaru and herself were finally setting out to gather the Shikon shards. She knew that Inuyasha and Kikyo would also be looking for them. Sesshoumaru was already waiting for her outside. Rin and Jaken were tagging along to help look for the Shikon shards. Kagome slowly walked out towards the dragon (you know, the dragon that Rin always rides on). Rin was already on it waiting for her "mother" to show up. Sesshoumaru tapped his foot impatiently. Kagome finally appeared.
"What took you so long, wench?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"I'm sorry but Atari wouldn't let me go," Kagome said.
Sesshoumaru smiled inwardly at this. He knew that Atari cared very much for this human girl.
"Keh," he answered. "Are you now ready to depart?"
Kagome nodded and made a move to join Rin on the dragon. Jaken stepped in her way.
"Lord Sesshoumaru has already arranged a ride for you, filthy human," Jaken croaked.
"Jaken-sama, you must not speak to Rin's Kagome-chan like that!" Rin scolded.
"'Already arranged a ride for me?" Kagome asked. She looked over at Sesshoumaru.
He only called on his cloud (A/N: The red cloud thing he rides on) and stepped on it. Instead of leaving, he seemed to be waiting for something.
"You mustn't keep Lord Sesshoumaru waiting," Jaken said.
Kagome was very confused.
"Get on," Sesshoumaru finally said.
"I-I don't know how to ride that thing," Kagome blurted out.
Sesshoumaru gave her a very amused look. "I never said get onto my cloud. I meant into my arms."
Kagome stared at him. Sesshoumaru is offering to carry a human? This is weird. Knowing better than to ask questions, Kagome made her way to Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru picked her up bridal style and started to lift off. Rin and Jaken followed on the pet dragon. Trees and hills rushed past them as they flew in an easterly direction. Kagome was nestled against Sesshoumaru's tail and almost fell asleep, except she felt the presence of a Shikon shard. Sesshoumaru landed with her in his arms and set her down gently on the ground. He held her for a moment before she stirred and he let go.
"Where is it?" he asked.
Kagome closed her eyes and let her senses tell her. She walked towards a temple in the distance. The presence of a Shikon shard was most powerful in that direction. Sesshoumaru followed behind her as Jaken and Rin stayed behind.
"Come back soon, Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-chan," Rin called.
"Be careful, Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken said.
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Inuyasha and his gang were resting on a hill overlooking a gorgeous river. The sparkling blue water twinkled its eyes at the weary travelers. For four days straight, Kikyo had all of them fighting youkai and gathering Shikon shards. Even Inuyasha looked a little sleep-deprived and worn. Finally, they were able to get some rest from Kikyo. Inuyasha dozed in a tree and Sango and Miroku gathered food. Kikyo had gone off somewhere and said she would be back in a couple of hours. This gave time for Sango and Miroku to talk.
"Houshi-sama, I have a strange feeling," Sango said.
"Oh Sango, I never knew you felt that way. I'm touched," Miroku said.
"No you pervert. Not that way! I'm talking about a different feeling," Sango said.
"Let's hear it," Miroku said, slightly disappointed.
"I feel like Kagome-chan is still alive," Sango said.
"How can that be? We both saw Kagome-sama jump," Miroku said.
"I know, but don't you think it's odd that we never found her body?" Sango asked.
Inuyasha's ears pricked up and listened closely.
"Are you saying that Kagome could still be alive?" he asked.
Sango glared at him. "What do you care?" she snapped.
Kikyo's eyes narrowed. "So my reincarnation has not died. No wonder my soul did not return to me," she said.
Inuyasha left the group to clear his mind. He walked through the forest in silence and thought over what Sango had said. ... don't you think it's odd that we never found her body? ... No wonder my soul did not return to me. A familiar scent tickled his sensitive nose and his head snapped up. He recognized this scent. It was Kagome's! Inuyasha's heart leapt for a moment but when he tried to follow it, the scent faded. Behind him, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara and Kikyo appeared.
"Kikyo-sama has found the scent of a Shikon shard," Miroku said.
Inuyasha nodded and went towards the direction Kikyo said the shard was.
At the temple, Kagome and Sesshoumaru walked towards the shrine. Kagome felt the scent get stronger and stronger. (I suck at fight scenes so bear with me okay?)
Suddenly, a huge youkai sprang out of the shrine. Kagome readied for battle. Sword still in her sheath, she stepped forward to battle it. Sesshoumaru readied to fight in case Kagome got into any trouble.
"A human for breakfast," the youkai laughed.
"I am not your breakfast," Kagome. She drew her silver sword. It sang through the air as it unsheathed and rang its tone of warning.
The youkai laughed and sent purple beams towards Kagome. Kagome put her intense six-week training course to the test. She moved to the left and ran towards the youkai. The youkai was having a blast (literally) and Kagome couldn't get close enough. Feeling her anger rising, Kagome was suddenly bathed in blue light.
"What's going on?" she asked.
She looked at her sword and saw that the blue gems were glowing with a healthy light. Feeling the strange power course through her, Kagome pointed the sword at the youkai. The two Shikon shards in its stomach glowed in response. Kagome rushed at the youkai, preparing to stab the youkai in the stomach but found that her sword just glanced off.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" the youkai laughed. "My stomach is stronger than your puny sword. I will eat you whole!"
Kagome narrowed her eyes in concentration and will a burst of pink and blue entwined light, the sword pierced the youkai's stomach.
"How? How could a puny human defeat me?" the youkai cried.
"You were never strong to begin with," Sesshoumaru answered as the youkai disintegrated and only left behind two Shikon shards.
Kagome went and picked them up. She carefully placed them into a glass bottle. The bottle was similar to the one she had used with Inu--. No, I can't think of him now! Kagome mentally slapped herself and she snapped back into reality. Sesshoumaru was walking towards her. She looked into his intense golden eyes.
"You sword technique has improved. I did not expect you to tap into your power so soon," he said.
Kagome blushed slightly. "You have my gratitude, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome said.
"Rin and Jaken are waiting for us," Sesshoumaru said.
Kagome happily walked by Sesshoumaru's side and all she left was a huge scorch mark on the ground.
Inuyasha and the gang reached the temple stairs. Kikyo narrowed her eyes. Inuyasha sensed the change in her mood.
"What is it Kikyo?" he asked.
"The scent of the Shikon shard...it has disappeared," Kikyo said.
"How can that be? You sensed the Shikon shard to be here," Inuyasha said.
"Well, it's gone now," Kikyo retorted, anger clearly lined on her delicate face.
Inuyasha turned away and stared towards the steps. The familiar feeling was coming back. He couldn't quite place his finger on it.
"Lets' go up anyways," he said.
"Why? Kikyo-sama said that there was no Shikon shard up there," Miroku said.
"Don't ask questions," Inuyasha said.
Kikyo narrowed her eyes but followed the hanyou up the stairs. What a sight they beheld when they reached the steps. All they saw was a blackened patch of earth in the middle of the temple. Everything else was left intacted and unmarred.
"What could have caused this?" Sango asked.
"It must have been someone very powerful to leave a mark like this (A/N: . ). I wonder..." Miroku said, as he thought this situation through.
"Sesshoumaru?" Sango said.
"No," Kikyo said.
"Who could it be?" Sango asked.
Kikyo remained silent. Sheknew who it was been but she kept this to herself. She couldn't let the others know, especially Inuyasha. She resolved to rid herself of this "all powerful being". And she would not let the others know until she had done so.
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Kagome walked briskly along with Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai was moving at a jogging pace and Kagome struggled to keep up. Finally, when her muscles were screaming for rest, they reached the spot where Rin and Jaken were waiting for them.
"Kagome-chan, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rins shouted. She ran to hug the both of them.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, have you secured the Shikon shard?"" Jaken croaked.
Kagome held up the glowing pink shard. "We must keep moving," she said.
"Sesshoumaru-sama will determine that, filthy human," Jaken said.
"Jaken-sama, you must not be rude to Kagome-chan," Rin said.
"Jaken, you will not insult her," Sesshoumaru said.
"Y-yes S-Sesshoumaru-sama," Jaken stammered, prostrating himself at the taiyoukai's feet.
Sesshoumaru took no notice of him and immediately summoned his cloud.
"Where is the next shard?" he asked.
"North," Kagome said.
Without another word, Kagome and Sesshoumaru flew towards the north, to the next shikon shard.
A/N: Yeah, yeah we all know Kikyo. I won't spoil the ending but I can assure you that Kikyo will not come out of this battle unscathed.Anyways, read and review! Arigatou.