'Tis the Season

Chapter 8 ::: Kagome's Other Self

Whip: -grumbling-

Odie: What's got her upset now?

Juan: She can't go to the party today. She's stuck going bowling with her church's youth group.

Odie: There's a party tonight?

Juan: My cousin, who happens to be Whip's friend at school, is having a New Years party but Whip's parents won't let her go.

Odie: That sucks. So Whip is friends with your cousin?

Juan: If she hadn't been friends with my cousin, she wouldn't even know that I exist.

Odie: I see...

Whip: You two talk too much! Shuttup!

Odie: Wow. She's really upset.

Whip: -glare-

Odie: -shuts up-

Naraku had disguised himself well. He made his air appear short and he was in a tux. He looked like any other guy at the party. That was why Kagome hadn't noticed him before. But now he had revealed himself. And his grip on her chin tightened, hurting her. She screamed out for Inuyasha.

"How dare you!" Hojo was the first to react. He ran in, attempting to punch Naraku in the stomach. Naraku easily countered and Hojo went flying to land unconscious on top of dancers. Naraku now lifted Kagome up, grip still tightening.

"INUYASHA!" she screamed. What's taking him so long? she thought. She heard Naraku's cold laugh.

"Looks like Inuyasha isn't going to rescue you this time, wench," he sneered.

"Guess again, Naraku!"

Kagome was dropped to the ground as Inuyasha struck Naraku. Naraku turned to look at Inuyasha and sneered.

"Well, well. Inuyasha in a tux. Too bad it will be stained with your blood." Naraku's hand stretched out and pierced Inuyasha's chest, erupting on the other side. Screams were heard all around now as the other people ran for cover.

Naraku's hand came out and Inuyasha dropped to the ground. He leaned up on his hands, blood dripping to the ground.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome felt her heart squeeze.

"Heh. Is that all you got?" Inuyasha looked up, a sneer on his face. He got to his feet. Kagome heard more people screaming.

"How can he do that!?"

"He got punctured strait through!"

"He's still alive!?"

Inuyasha stuck his hand into his wound and pulled it out, covered in blood.

"Blades of blood!" he yelled while sweeping his blood-covered hand at Naraku. Red blades shot away from him and toward Naraku. Kagome ducked as some blades flew past her and smashed the walls. Most hit Naraku, but he seemed to be completely unaffected except for his tux being ripped to shreds. Naraku laughed and Kagome felt her blood chill.

"Is that all you can do!? You filthy half-breed!" Naraku ran in and struck Inuyasha, who skidded on his side to slam against the far wall. Kagome looked around to see how many people remained. Many had fled but some still hid behind upturned tables. Kagome could hear sirens in the distance.

Something forced her attention back to Inuyasha. A strange feeling that she couldn't place. Fear? Inuyasha was pulsing. Kagome backed up against a wall. Inuyasha pulsed again. Although they were inside Kagome felt a breeze. Inuyasha's silver hair was whipped about him. When he looked up, Kagome swore her heart had stopped. Inuyasha had red eyes. And stripes on his cheeks as well.

"Inuyasha?" she whispered. She felt fear when Inuyasha growled. The people that had remained ran out through the closest doors, sensing that it had suddenly become much more dangerous.

With a snarl, Inuyasha attacked Naraku. His clawed hand did the same thing to Naraku that Naraku had done to him. Naraku looked none effected. When Inuyasha pulled his hand out, Naraku struck him. Hard. Inuyasha gasped in pain but refused to give in.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome was frightened for him. Frightened that he would die. "INUYASHA!" Suddenly the lights went out. Naraku, Inuyasha, and Kagome were in darkness. Kagome could hear the voices of the police as they surrounded the area. The police lights flashed through the windows, lighting up certain spots at certain times.

"Come out with your hands up!" one policeman called. Kagome could hear her friends talking.

"Please, sir! Our friend is in there! Don't have them shoot or you'll kill her!" Their voices faded as a bright light shone. Kagome saw that the light came from her heart.

"What's going on?" she whispered. Naraku watched her, confused, surprised curiosity on his face. The light grew brighter. Kagome felt her breath still momentarily. And then she pulsed. Kagome gasped. The light grew bigger, brighter, until it enveloped her completely.

Her clothing ripped. She wondered why. Feathers seemed to drift around her. They were beautiful shades of blue. Kagome felt changes taking place on her body, though she knew not what nor exactly where. The light faded and Kagome gently touched the ground with now bare feet. She hadn't even realized she's been floating in the air. They were in darkness once more and she could hear the police again.

Lights were pointed through the windows and Kagome could see Naraku and Inuyasha. Naraku's face was filled with fear. Inuyasha had become normal again, perhaps because of the light, and his face was filled with wonder and love. For now I will describe the scene through Inuyasha's eyes.

Kagome was beautiful, far more than she used to be. Her eyes were a deep, beautiful blue, like the ocean. She had the longest black hair you could imagine, the locks falling to her knees. Her legs were slim and slender. Her clothing had changed completely. She wore a tight blue skirt that was only as long as her fingers reached when her arms were strait. She had a dark green sash tied around her waist with the knot on her side and the extra seemingly floating down to the length of her hair. Her shirt was the same color as the skirt. It was tight across the chest and below it, it revealed her stomach. It had full, flowing sleeves, like the sleeves of Inuyasha's kimono.

The back of the shirt...well, let's just say that there was really no back, except for it to join around her neck, and at the bottom. There was a large hole in the back, to allow for the dazzling wings of beautiful blue shades. The wings were big, resembling angel wings.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered.

"Fool. That isn't your Kagome any more." Naraku's voice seemed to be made of fear.

"What...?" Why is Naraku frightened of Kagome?

"She's become something else. She's not human."

"She's a demon?"

"No, not a demon either."

Then what. . . Inuyasha wondered. Kagome smiled at him.

"Inuyasha, you're back to normal." Her voice was like a song, floating on an ocean breeze. Her gaze found Naraku and her smile turned to a deep frown.

"Naraku." Her voice held contempt. "Naraku, you shall pay for the murder you committed this day."

"You mean that boy over there?" he indicated Hojo. "He's not dead."

"He's not. But she is." Kagome pointed and a table flipped over to reveal the bloodied body of a teenage girl. Inuyasha's eyes locked on the girl and a growl erupted in his throat.

"Naraku," he snarled.

"Naraku!" Kagome pointed at Naraku, a feather in the pointing hand. The feather glowed green. Naraku opened his mouth and coughed blood. He fell to his knees, coughing. Kagome felt sick at the sight.

"Naraku, you don't deserve a quick death. You deserve to suffer. But unlike you, I'll show compassion." Kagome made a swiping movement and Naraku fell to the ground. A large portion of the jewel appeared and rolled across the floor to Kagome. She scooped it up and then looked at Inuyasha. She smiled.

"We're done."

Inuyasha walked over to her, a small smile of his own on his face.

"Good." He placed a hand on Kagome's. "Let's go."

Whip: -stares at just-written chapter- Wow. That all came out of no where. . .

Odie: -staring-

Kagome: Am I an angel?

Whip: You'll have to wait to find out.

Juan: In other words, she's not sure what you are yet.

Whip: -annoyed- Juan?

Juan: Yeah?

Whip: -sweetly- Come here, will you?

Juan: -reluctantly- Uh, Okay. . . -walks over-

Sessoumaru: He has no idea what he's in for . . .

Gus: -bark-

BTW: Originally I have written 'blades of blood' as 'claws of blood'. I did that because that's what it said in the manga I consulted. But I guess most are used to 'blades' so please excuse my mistake.