forgot to put it in last chapter, so here's that disclaimer: I don't own inuyasha, kagome, or the rest of them. Only ketsueki. and a biscut
"I'm telling you, Inuyasha, There was a guy here last night!" said Kagome, clearly frustrated. Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango had returned in the early morning. They found Kagome walking around as if her ankle had never been hurt in her life, it was stronger than before.
"If H was Here, then why can't I smell him?!" retorted Inuyasha.
"I don't know!! But he was here!!" yelled Kagome. The sky was clear and the sun beat down on her back. It annoyed her.
"Alright Kagome, How about you tell us what happened last night?" Miroku said calmly.
"Okay, okay. Shippou had gone to get water and Kirara had followed him, so I was alone. I started to look around, and all of a sudden, This guy comes right next to me- Out of nowhere!" she said. The group around her nodded.
"he asked me if I was bored. I jumped back as far as I could and asked who was he and what was he doing here. He said his name was Ketsueki, and then he noticed my ankle/ He gave me a cup he got out of nowhere, and said to drink it. He hadn't tried to hurt me yet and he wasn't a demon, so I decided to drink it"
"And then your ankle got better?" Said Miroku. Kagome nodded.
"Sounds like one of Naraku's lackey's to me. Even if he wasn't a demon, Naraku has controlled humans before" retorted Inuyasha. He opened the bag of potato chips in his hand, and started munching.
"what did he look like, this Ketsueki??" asked Sango.
"well.... His hair was really light purple, his eyes were too. He was tall, and strong, handsome..." responded Kagome. She was stopped by Inuyasha.
"HE couldn't have been that great!"
"Whatever he was, we probably won't be seeing him again. We should be grate full for the 'liquid' he gave Kagome, and continue onwards" Said Sango. They all nodded and continued down the road.
By night, they had reached Kaede's village. Everyone had gone to their rooms for the moment, and Kagome was once more alone. Her mind began to wander back to Ketsueki and his liquid.
What was it that he gave me? It was so good, and my ankle healed right away... She thought, looking out the window towards the village.
It seemed brighter to her, clearer. Many more details were visible, things she had never thought she could see. The tiny loose threads in a villager's clothing when he was yards away. Every dew drop on every leaf in every tree. The strangest thing was that she felt cold, even though it was summer.
I just need some fresh air... . she told herself, and went outside.
He was waiting for her there, just to the side of her door.
"Hello again, Miss Kagome" said Ketsueki in his usual manner. Kagome was taken by surprise once more.
"It's you again! Ketsueki, right?" she said, trying to sound as friendly as she could. He smiled.
"Yes. My friends prefer to call me Ketsu, Miss Kagome. I am glad to see you are well." He said. He began walking around to the back of the house. Kagome followed him.
"well, it's only because of you!" she said. HE sat down in the grass cross legged.
"You give me far too much credit, miss Kagome. The potion only works on certain people" Kagome sat down next to him.
"Really?" she asked. He gave a short nod.
"It has a side effect" he said, somewhat grimly.
"What is it"
"You'll see in a few nights. Don't be afraid when it happens. I'll follow you from now on"
"then you should meet Inuyasha"
"who?"
"Inuyasha. You've seen him, haven't you? Dog ears, white hair....?"
"oh. Him... Fine, then, miss Kagome. If it pleases you, I shall meet him"
"Promise you won't leave?"
"I am bound to my word"
Kagome gave Ketsueki a friendly hug. She noticed he was really cold-
"thank you so much, Ketsu! I'll go get him now!" she said, and ran to go get Inuyasha.
Ketsueki looked down grimly. She'd be done soon, only two nights or so more. She'd be confused, of course. It might take her a while to drink and hunt, but she would. /he had picked her out, of course.
"Look, Inuyasha, I told you he was there!!" said Kagome. Ketsueki turned his head and stood to see the white haired hanyou.
"feh! He ain't that great!" said Inuyasha. A small frown was on Ketsueki's face as he responded to Inuyasha.
"Pardon me, Inuyasha, but you shouldn't talk to someone you just met like that"
Inuyasha was smirking.
"and what can you do?" he said.
"let us test each other's strength then, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha stepped forward. "and how do you suggest we do that?"
"simple, really. Do you see those two scare crows?" Said Ketsueki, pointing. Inuyasha nodded.
"the one that can knock them the farthest with a punch is stronger"
"that's easy!" retorted Inuyasha, cracking his knuckles.
"one last thing. If I win, you must let me spend the next few nights talking with Miss Kagome. Alone"
Inuyasha suddenly grew more grim.
"alright. Fine. But if you lose, you have to leave us alone. For good."
"agreed" said Ketsueki.
Inuyasha stepped up to the scarecrow, and gave it a good punch. It flew reasonably far, to the other side of the village. Ketsueki stepped up to the remaining one,. Barely trying, he made it all the way to the demon woods.
"I win" he said calmly, and sat back down.
"Why you- YOU CHEATED!!" he started waving his fist in the air.
"SIT!" yelled Kagome. Inuyasha slammed face first into the ground. "I'm so sorry, Ketsu. He can be a jerk sometimes..." Inuyasha tried to sit up again, but Kagome sat him once more.
It brought a small smile to Ketsueki's lips to see her subduing Inuyasha with a single word.
"no need for that, Kagome." He said. He stood up, and walked into the woods. Kagome followed him.
"Ketsu! Wait up!" she yelled. He stopped, and turned to her.
"I don't like him much, Miss Kagome" he said.
"I know, he can be a pain sometimes...but really, he's all bark" She said.
"If you say so, Miss Kagome"
"why do you always have to say 'miss Kagome? Just plain Kagome is fine, Ketsu"
"Kagome it is."
He continued to walk through the forest, and came to a clearing.
He sat down in the grass, and looked up at Kagome.
"will you give me the honor of your presence? IT grows quite lonely here" he said. Kagome sat down next to him, and looked into the small pond in front of them.
Ketsueki had no reflection.
