Okies, everyone. Thank you for sticking with me for so far!!! I greatly appreciate it, and I'll have an author's note at the end of the chappie…if I remember. . >. "" And I'm also VERY sorry that I didn't update sooner, to the ones who read but don't review…there are always those. Ah well!! -.- N E ways, enjoy!!!
::::…..:::::
Hakisuma opened one eye and winced. The afternoon light was too strong. She blocked the sunlight with one arm while pushing herself up with the other. With a start, she remembered what had happened the other day. She jumped off the futon, landing clumsily. Her ankle gave a jolt of pain but she took no notice; her friends were badly injured.
She ran out of the room and entered Kaede's cooking quarters, where there was the most room. Everybody lay around the fire, and their positions would have looked funny if they hadn't been hurt so bad. Hakisuma walked around the sleeping people cautiously and sighed with relief. They were already freshly bandaged again. Kaede brushed aside the straw flap for the door and glanced at everyone. She carried a pail of water and herbs.
"You have changed their bandages again" Hakisuma whispered. Kaede nodded. "How long was I out?" she asked after a silence.
"Ye, child, was out for a good two days," Kaede replied matter-of-factly. Hakisuma gasped a little. She hadn't even dreamed of staying in bed for more that ten hours.
Inu Yasha groaned and Hakisuma gave a start. She took the pail from Kaede, grabbed a cloth, wet the material, and placed it over Inu Yasha's forehead. He settled down.
Hakisuma sighed and sat down in the corner of Kaede's hut. She kept watch over them while Kaede cooked their next meal.
When Kaede came back, Hakisuma was busy washing a strip of bandage for Hikari. She looked depressed and moody. All of them did. Kaede and Hakisuma worked well into the night, tending to the injured's needs.
::::….:::::
The next morning was a lot better. Everybody healed considerably, for they have had these experiences. Inu Yasha and Hikari healed the fastest. Soon, they were all up and moving, even if it was slow. Kagome did not want to go back home, because she thought her mother would make a fuss and keep her from going back to the Sengoku Jidai. So she stayed until she had completely healed, thanks to the help of modern medicine Hakisuma had found in Kagome's bulging bag.
Inu Yasha was forced by everybody to stay in the village, and he grudgingly agreed. For the time being, they practiced on combat skills and in Inu Yasha's case……fidgeting. They all noticed that he always fidgeted whenever Kagome left for her time. She said she would be gone for three days, and this was already the third. Kagome could come back any minute now.
Hakisuma and Hikari were currently sparring without their weapons. They both found the moves useful and convenient. Often during the day, they would go into the forest, find a demon, capture it, and practice hand-to-hand combat on it. They both thought it was a highly amusing idea, and besides, they could blow off a little steam right about now.
"Ryusa!" Hikari hollered the same time Hakisuma cried out "Z. Hajingeri!"
Their attacks clashed and they went off balance. Both grinned and lunged at each other. Even though Inu Yasha wouldn't admit it, deep inside he was proud of the two orphans they had picked up in their journeys. He watched with pride from the raised platform just outside Kaede's hut entrance.
'They are more and more like one now,' Inu Yasha thought. Hikari and Hakisuma had teamed up on a snake demon they caught just now. Poor thing. Hakisuma and Hikari showed no mercy. Baring their teeth and showing off their long canines, they did the powerful attack, M. Tensho. The combo involved flips and cart-wheels and smashing of the opponent's head. 'Sucks to be him' Inu Yasha scoffed at the pitiful, squashed snake demon. Kaede brought out ramen and Inu Yasha accepted the bowl without looking up. His eyes were on something in the distance. Something like…..an undead miko.
"Kikyo," both Inu Yasha and Kaede muttered. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo all sensed a sudden mood change in the hanyou. Even Hikari and Hakisuma, who were concentrating extremely hard on their beating each other, stopped. All eyes were on Inu Yasha, who turned red.
"Stop staring at me!" the hot-headed hanyou muttered fiercely. Kikyo looked like she was being supported by her soul collectors. Inu Yasha stood up abruptly, spilling his untouched ramen.
"Kikyo!" he shouted. Kikyo swayed and fell, as if in slow-motion. Inu Yasha raced forward and caught her. Her eerie soul collectors let go of her but kept a wary watch over their mistress. "Kikyo!" he repeated, slapping her face gently. Kikyo opened her eyes half-way and then passed out.
Hikari and Hakisuma exchanged glances at each other. So this is the Kikyo Kagome was jealous of. So this is the Kikyo Inu Yasha had once been in love with. This is not going to be good. Kagome would be here soon. If she saw Inu Yasha holding Kikyo like that, she would definitely blow up. Sango and Miroku raced off towards the well, with the idea of stalling Kagome in their heads. Hakisuma and Hikari watched as Inu Yasha grimly carried Kikyo into the hut. Kaede wore a mixed expression neither teen could read. Hikari and Hakisuma's minds were taken out of the thought of Kikyo and Inu Yasha when the grasses rattled beside them in a ditch. It couldn't be Shippo because he followed Inu Yasha into the hut, hoping to help.
Hikari grabbed the demon in the ditches. Grinning at Hakisuma, she threw it on the dusty path and they both stood on opposite sides of the unfortunate demon. It shook and cowered, but looked ready to defend itself.
"Stupid demon. How could you think that you would get by me, Hikari, the werewolf, so easily?" Hikari inquired dangerously. The demon spat a Hikari's feet. Hakisuma watched amusedly. She shook with mock rage and transformed. Kii bounded towards Hakisuma from her napping spot with Kirara in the shade of the over-hang of the hut, thinking of a trouble. Hakisuma hadn't transformed all day.
Hakisuma winked at Kii before stating, "How could you spit at the feet of my friend?!" she grabbed her Akai Sakura and hit the feeble demon over the head with the flat of her sword. Hikari smirked at the twitching demon and kicked it away. Now they were bored again.
Suddenly she brightened up. "Hey, Hakisuma!" Hakisuma looked up inquiringly. "Today is thehalf moon," she stated.
"And?" Hakisuma asked. She knew nothing of the power of werewolves.
"I turn into a full wolf tonight!" Hikari yowled happily. She felt especially high and childish today, even though when she was a wolf, she couldn't really talk.She hadn't had a day of fun with a friend since she was exiled, and she looked forward to the day when it was a full moon which was odd, because she usually feltdepressed when half moon came around.Maybe it was because she was all by herself. Hakisuma also brightened up.
"Oh yeah!" she exclaimed. For every full moon in Hakisuma's life, she turned into a hanyou for a strange reason. The weird part was, she wasn't related to dogs or wolves. Only they changed on the full moon night, and even if they didn't, their powers boosted.
Hikari tilted her head to one side and pawed at the chain dangling off the hilt of the Akai Sakura. "Do you change tonight?"
"Yeah, I turn hanyou." Hakisuma stated. "But I could never figure out why. Even my parents were confused. I have no dog or wolf's blood in me. I think." Hikari frowned for a second, pondering the situation.
"Oh well. We get to have fun tonight! FUN I SAY!!!" she danced around and Hakisuma sweat-dropped. Kii's fur stood on edge. She also liked it when it was full moon. It made herself and Hakisuma feel closer. It felt like their bond strengthened every full moon. However, the way Hikari was acting, that was out of the question. She stalked off to take more naps.
"I can't wait!" Hikari exclaimed. Hakisuma was appalled at Hikari's behavior. She was acting very strange. (Ha. Appalled. Peh.)
"Eh…neither can I…" Hakisuma stammered. (She had turned chibi-sized and a jillion sweat-drops decorated her forehead)
"WHERE IS HE?!?!?!??!?!?!?!" Kagome exploded from behind the two friends. They flew into the air in the Ranma position. (If you don't read Ranma ½, you don't know what you're missing!!!) She stomped out of the forest with Sango and Miroku hurrying worriedly after her.
She ripped open Kaede's hut's door and dragged Inu Yasha out.
"Inu Yasha, you better explain THIS!!!" she shoved her ripped text book in his face. Everyone but Inu Yasha sighed with relief.
Inu Yasha cowered under her fiery glare. "I was reading it, and somebody surprised me and my claws accidentally ripped it up…" he stammered, voice getting quieter with every word. Kagome's face turned cherry red and the top of her head steamed.
"I can't believe you!!! This cost me at least 500 yen!!!" she shrieked.
"Will you quiet down, Kagome?" a cold, hard voice stung through the air.
Everybody turned their heads towards the doorway. Miroku's head cricked. (ow…) The cool air filled with tension.
"K-kikyo!" Inu Yasha managed to gasp. Kagome looked at the two of them. "You shouldn't be out!!!" Inu Yasha exclaimed.
Kagome's warm brown eyes stung with hidden tears. She could not loose it in front of everybody. Hikari and Hakisuma watched helplessly as Kagome backed up slowly. Her usual kind eyes turned icy all of a sudden.
"Kagome…" Inu Yasha murmured. Kagome's lip was trembling. Her pack dropped to the ground. She shook her head, turned around, and ran into the forest.
"Kagome! Dammit!" Inu Yasha ran to Kikyo, who was looking a little bit smug. Only her cold eyes showed her feelings. Inu Yasha whipped her off her feet and shoved her into bed hurriedly. Then, he lunged towards the forest after Kagome.
Sango looked worried. She grabbed Miroku's hand without thinking. Miroku looked down, turned pink, and smiled. Hikari and Hakisuma also looked worried. Shippo was beating his head.
"Stupid Inu Yasha! Choose! It's so easy to see who is better! Why can't you just get it through your dense head?!" he shouted to himself. Hikari looked amused at Shippo's sight. (hahaha…)
A mischievous look crept into Miroku's eyes. He tugged at Sango's hand. They grinned childishly and followed the two troubled people into the forest quietly. Hakisuma and Hikari looked at each other and shrugged. They grabbed Shippo, and followed the eavesdroppers into the forest too.
Hikari and Hakisuma used their senses to guide themselves to Inu Yasha and Kagome. They were inside a clump of bushes, and Kagome was sobbing on a rock. (O.o) Inu Yasha was trying to talk to her. (A/N: Why doesn't Kagome ever wait for an explanation? Sigh)
Their words were hard to hear. Hikari poked Hakisuma's shoulder. "Let's go downwind," she whispered into Hakisuma's fox ears. Hakisuma nodded and they crept to the more to the south. They settled down and watched silently.
"Kagome…" Inu Yasha began. "Kikyo…" he trailed off.
"Kiyo, Kikyo, Kikyo. Inu Yasha, do you even want for me to be here?!" Kagome demanded, sniffing. She stopped crying. "Am I just your 'shard detector'?"
Inu Yasha looked at the ground. "Kikyo was hurt and she came over here. Nothing happened." Inu Yasha tried to assure her. "And besides-" Inu Yasha froze as a sudden thought popped into his head. 'Is she crying over me?! She IS crying because Kikyo is here….that means that she is jealous of Kikyo, and Kikyo wants to go to hell with me because she loves me…and that means..!!!'
Kagome wiped her tears away. "Well?" she asked more softly this time.
"K-kagome…you know I want you to stay, I've told you before!" Inu Yasha said, panic-stricken.
Hikari and Hakisuma looked confused. Shippo was fuming. They quieted him down. The three turned their attention back to the couple.
'Why did Inu Yasha pause?' Hikari and Hakisuma pondered.
"I know, but every time Kikyo comes..." Kagome trailed off, looking at the ground which was sprinkled with her tears.
"Kagome..." Inu Yasha said softly. Kagome looked up and her eyes widened as Inu Yasha grabbed her wrist from off the rock. He leaned forward andshe felt his warm lips against hers. Kissinggently onher lips, heslowly wrapped his arms around her protectively. Kagome was tense for a moment, then she relaxed. She pushed deeper into the kiss,andher breath was cut off.
Hakisuma's eyes widened and she blushed, and Hikari gagged and looked away. Shippo almost gave their positions away before Hakisuma hurriedly covered his mouth. The three trouble-makers scrambled away before they were noticed.
As they neared Kaede's hut, Hakisuma burst out laughing and Hikari gagged away. She hurled in some bushes.
"YEAH!" Hakisuma punched her fist in the air. "Finally! I've been waiting for that!" she cried out triumphantly.
"Waiting for what?" Hikari asked, wiping her mouth off.
"I though something would go that way! Inu Yasha and Kagome fancy each other but one is too stubborn, and one is too afraid! HA!" Hakisuma grinned maniacally. Hikari made a face. Shippo was too shocked to say anything.
"How could you like that stuff? Ugh!" Hikari shuddered. They brushed their way into Kaede's hut and quieted down. Kikyo and Kaede were conversing softly and Miroku and Sango were already there.
"Did you see?" Sango asked earnestly.
Hakisuma nodded happily. "Didn't you?" she replied.
Miroku and Sango shook their heads. "We got lost…" Miroku grinned sheepishly.
Hikari's ears twitched as Hakisuma transformed back. "They're coming back!" Hikari hissed. Sango hurriedly shoved a brush into Hakisuma's hand, indicating all the leaves and twigs in their hair.
As the two younger demons brushed and cleaned off, Kagome entered the hut looking dazed. She passed everybody's guilty glances absent-mindedly and strode to Kaede's small dark room to the side.
Hikari glared after Kagome for a while, and Hakisuma and Sango were shaking with laughter. Miroku was lost in thought. Kii sauntered over and hopped into Hakisuma's lap, purring contently.
Inu Yasha entered and everybody shut up immediately. He too, was lost in thought. Kikyo eyed his face before wrapping more bandages in her arm. He sat in Indian style across the fire from Kaede.
The four young people in the corner watched his every move.
"Well?" Miroku inquired. The others eyed him in mock curiousness. Inu Yasha glanced at Kikyo briefly before replying. He swallowed hard.
"I, uh…" he started. "I-I uh, wentintotheforestchasingKagomeand uh…" he paused, loosening his collar. Everyone was eyeing him eagerly. Everyone except for Kikyo. She sat with her head down, pretending to be busy crushing herbs. That fooled no one. Everyone in the hut knew she was listening closely.
"Yes?" Sango asked. Of course, she already knew the answer. It was really fun playing with Inu Yasha's head.
Inu Yasha looked at Kikyo and straightened up.
"I went into the forest chasing Kagome and—"
::..::End of chappie 26!! That's it for today. OK, the long author's note I promised. Mm hmm. Well, at first I wasn't going to do a romance in this fan fiction, but then I thought that the episodes had almost no romance between Kagome and Inu Yasha. Of course they give hints and such, but I know everyone wants to see or read some. And much to Hikari Ookami's dismay, I kinda dedicated this chapter to Inu Yasha and Kagome. (Sorry Hikari! You can beat me up at school.) So, do you peeps think that Inu Yasha should announce his love to Kagome? Or should this be a no romance fic? It's kinda dull without a TEENY bit of romance. If you guys don't like the icky mushy stuff, then I won't write more romance. Also, I am a strong believer of respecting the anime author's choice of pairings. I dislike the people who mix the love around, and I also dislike the people who claim that a particular bishy is for themselves. The character's personalities are set, peoples. They are written down in the books!!! So I won't be doing any pairings in my other ficcies that are not respectful to the author's wishes. No offense to anyone, 'kay? Oh and PS: For the people who aren't paired up in games or anime, I think that they are free for grabs!!! (Ryou!!! hugs to death) JA!