~*~More Than What She Seems~*~

A/N: Geez. Okay, okay. Here's your update. ^_^

Chapter 14: Operation Failure

"That bitch is a good swimmer too?" Kikyo growled. She tugged at her one- piece black bathing suit...the same type of bathing suit that every other girl in the class was required to wear.

It was spring and their beloved teacher, Mr. Kuno had "insisted" that the class have a swim in the school's pool...for "fun".

Kikyo scowled as she watched Kagome Higurashi swim gracefully through the water to the other side of the pool.

"Just watch, Higurashi," she cackled insanely. "You won't be having fun a little later..."

*****Meanwhile*****

Kagome panted heavily as she stood in front of her friends, her body drenched in water from head to toe.

Miroku (wearing identical black trunks as the other boys in the class) blinked, "Wow. You really ARE a good swimmer..."

"What'd I tell you?" Sango winked at him. "I KNEW it. I knew that she was a good swimmer even before we actually found out."

She cleared her throat, "Now, ahem, I believe you owe me 500 yen."

"Do I really have to give it to you?" he whined.

Kagome just gazed at them while they bickered.

"You continue to amaze me," a voice said beside her. "And that's why I like you so much."

She jumped.

Inu Yasha laughed, "Preoccupied?"

"Y-yeah," she breathed. "And a little hot right now..."

He gave Kagome a mischievous grin, "Really...?"

Before she even knew what was happening, he scooped her up in his arms and threw her back into the deep water.

"EEEEEEEE!" Kagome screamed.

SPLASH

Inu Yasha dodged out of the way as the huge wave of water crashed down onto Miroku and Sango...who were still apparently arguing.

Now, the two stood speechless, dripping with water.

"I can't believe you two didn't see or hear that coming!" Inu Yasha laughed. He looked back at the pool and scanned its surface for a long moment.

A wave of panic washed over him.

He breathed in sharply and whispered, "Kagome's not coming back up."

*****

'Inu Yasha is SO going to get it from me,' Kagome thought as she began to swim up to the top of the pool. "Oh, is he going to get it when I get to-"

Something suddenly yanked her back downward.

Air came out as little bubbles in the water as Kagome opened her mouth and let out a mute little shriek.

'What the heck?!' she pushed upward with her arms.

Kagome looked down at her foot and her eyes widened.

Kikyo smiled evilly back at her. The miko was the thing...the person that was drawing her back down into the depths of the water.

Kagome struggled against the other miko's hold and failed.

'Damn water,' she gritted her teeth when she sent a kick at Kikyo, but failed because the water had slowed the kick down. Kikyo dodged her foot and narrowed her eyes. Her hands began to glow with miko energy.

Kagome panicked at the sight.

Kikyo gripped harder onto her leg and a piercing pain shot up Kagome's leg.

She let out a bubbly scream and began to thrash around.

'Need...air...' Kagome clamped her eyes shut. 'Can't...take this...any longer...must...fight back.'

She tried to draw together as much miko energy as she could muster into her own hands, shot her eyes open and grabbed hold of Kikyo's arms.

The other miko screamed as Kagome burned her, but still kept a firm hold.

'I will NOT let her escape!' Kikyo's mouth tightened.

Kagome looked at Kikyo, confused.

'Why won't she let go?!' her mind screamed.

When Kikyo's hands started glowing again, Kagome yanked at her foot.

'This is the end, Higurashi!' Kikyo stared at her rival. 'This is the end!'

The miko energy burned Kagome's legs even more than before and Kikyo smiled with joy as she watched Kagome let out another mute scream...and the rest of her breath.

Kagome closed her eyes, slowly slipping into a world of darkness.

*****

"KAGOME!" Inu Yasha shouted.

No answer. Not even little bubbles on the surface.

"Damn," he cursed. "Kagome!"

Inu Yasha yelled toward the lifeguard, "Lifeguard! Someone's drowning down there!"

The lifeguard's head flopped over to the side, asleep.

Inu Yasha stared at him with frustration, "HELLO?! LIFEGUARD?! SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS YOUR HELP!"

The lifeguard didn't even stir.

"Some guard he is!" Inu Yasha scowled.

"What's happening?!" Sango asked. A crowd was starting to form.

"Where's Kagome?" Miroku's eyes darted around the pool.

"She's down there and I'm going to get her," Inu Yasha snapped and dived into the water.

'Hang on, Kagome, hang on until I get there,' he thought.

*****

Inu Yasha frantically looked around under the water.

There.

He squinted for a better view.

She wasn't alone. Who was that?

'Oh, Kami,' his eyes widened. 'Is that Kikyo?!'

He swiftly swam toward the two mikos.

Kagome looked unconscious and Kikyo...well, she looked giddy.

'That slut has gone too far,' a growl rose in his chest. 'TOO far.'

As he reached them, Kikyo's face brightened up even more.

He shoved her away and grabbed hold of Kagome, already making his way back to the surface.

Kikyo's mouth fell open.

'He's saving her?!' she thought. 'I can't believe he's doing this to me...ack, I need air!'

With that, she headed toward the surface herself.

*****

Inu Yasha let out his breath as sunlight blinded his vision for a moment.

He blinked and then swam towards the shore.

His gaze wandered off to the lifeguard on his high chair.

"Why the heck is that stupid guy still asleep?!" he said in disbelief, climbing out of the water and pulling Kagome out with him. His eyes moved back to his girlfriend, filling with concern. He shook her gently. "Kagome. Kagome, wake up."

There was no response.

Sango kneeled down, holding her breath as she stared down at her best friend, "No...she can't be dead..."

"Yeah, she's strong," Miroku nodded kneeling at the other side of Inu Yasha. "She HAS to survive this."

All their other classmates stood silently behind them.

Mr. Kuno suddenly walked into the scene and barked, "What's going on?"

"We think Kagome drowned, sir," Sango whispered, on the verge of tears.

He rushed over to the four friends and peered down at Kagome's motionless body.

He bent down and put two fingers up to her neck, checking her pulse. He let out a sigh of relief. "She's still breathing...lie her down on the bed that's in the office over there."

Inu Yasha picked up Kagome, stood up, and made his way to the office.

Miroku and Sango followed.

Mr. Kuno's eyes flew over to the still-asleep lifeguard, "Why the hell is the lifeguard asleep?"

*****30 minutes later*****

Kagome stirred in her slumber, her hands clenching into fists.

Inu Yasha, who had put on a t-shirt, sat up in his chair and breathed, "Kagome?"

She stirred again and then her eyes slowly flickered open.

"Inu Yasha..." she said hoarsely and then began to cough a moment later.

He helped her into a sitting position and patted her back. Her coughing ceased.

The couple sat face to face and said nothing.

"Thank you," Kagome finally broke the silence. "Thank you for saving me...like always."

"Hey," he replied with a small smile. "Anything for the one I love."

She blushed furiously, "Eh..."

He chuckled and his ears began twitching, "Hm..."

"What's wr-" Kagome started, but Inu Yasha motioned her to be quiet.

They heard footsteps walking by.

"Man, I almost did it!" Kikyo's voice growled. "I was so close to killing her! That stupid bitch burned my arms too!"

They heard her sigh.

"Oh well," she giggled. "At least I succeeded at making the lifeguard fall asleep by sneaking up that ladder and up to the chair of his and then slipping a sleeping pill into his drink beside him. He was so blind and deaf at what was happening!"

She finally passed the office, her footsteps fading.

"So she was reason why the lifeguard was asleep," Inu Yasha snarled. "That wench, I'm going to kill her if she pulls off something like this again."

"Inu Yasha, it's okay," Kagome shook her head. "I'll take care of her when I need to. You don't have to do anything."

"But she almost killed you," he protested.

She took one of his hands and squeezed it. Inu Yasha's face softened.

"Kagome..." he said quietly. "I don't want you to get hurt...ever."

"I understand that," she answered. "But everything between me and Kikyo...I have to take care of myself...otherwise, she'll never stop her attempts at killing me."

Kagome smiled warmly, "Although, I DO appreciate you helping me at times...like today, otherwise, I probably WOULD be dead right now...so, thank you."

Inu Yasha brought his face close to hers, his breath tickling her lips, "You're welcome."

She smiled again and pressed her mouth against his.

*****

"They're so adorable together," Sango whispered quietly to Miroku as she peered through keyhole on the office door.

"What are they doing? What are they doing?" Miroku asked. His eyes widened. "They aren't doing what I THINK they're doing, are they? I mean, they're still in high school, for Kami's sake-"

BONK

"You perverted monk!" Sango hissed. "Get your head out of the gutter! They're only having a small kiss together."

She sighed, "Wonder when I'll get to know how it feels like to be kissed..."

Miroku's face suddenly appeared right before hers.

"I'd be more than happy to let you know right now," he said innocently.

Sango slapped him, her face as red as a tomato, "EEEEK! Get away from me you HENTAI!"

Miroku collapsed onto the floor on his back, unconscious.

She bit her lip, "Oops...sorry."

*****At Night That Day*****

"Why should I pay you money if you failed to help me?!" Mrs. Higurashi barked. "I wanted her DEAD!"

"I tried!" Kikyo insisted with frustration, tightening her hold on her phone. "But her boyfriend butted in and saved her! Hey, a deal's a deal! Send me my yen!"

"Not in a million years!" Mrs. Higurashi sneered. "You were no help to me. I'll just have to do everything myself. I don't know why I even bothered to call you to help me with my scheme! But here's ONE thing that I DO know...all I did was waste my time and breath on you!"

"Why you-" Kikyo began angrily, her hands trembling.

A moment later, she brought her phone away from her ear and stared at it.

Mrs. Higurashi had already hung up.

A/N: *SIGH*

I'll have to stop here. I know, a little more exciting now, huh? With Mrs. Higurashi and all...well, next chapter is going to be good too, just watch! ^_^

To Dark Miko05: Hm...how many chapters are left? I would say about...well, I'd say 10 chapters...or less...or 11.

Please review!