No, I haven't stopped writing, I'm not dead, I wasn't run over by a truck, I wasn't abducted by aliens, I didn't disappear to a another dimension, and I wasn't eaten by the loch ness monster. I just started High School, and let me tell you, the homework has been a pain in the chasse! Between writer's block and school, I haven't really been able to write until just a couple days ago. Anyway, next semester isn't gonna be so tough, so hopefully I'll be able to update more often. Sorry about the LONG delay!
Review responses:
Dragon Man 180: Actually… you'll just have to read this chapter and find out… Mwahahahaha…
Trillian: Well, about what Shippo did with Kouga, remember Shippo is trying to destroy Naraku's carnival. Kouga is one of the main performers. Shippo had in mind that if he got BOTH Kouga and Inuyasha to leave, Naraku would be in deep doggy-doo. Thanks for your review!
ladyhawk89: Thank you! I'm glad you decided to review and I hope you continue!
badgurl136: Really? The best story? blushes I love my fans… Thank you and keep reviewing! It's people like you that make me get off my lazy butt and update!
BakaBokken: Thanks! And update your story soon!
Happy Youkai: I agree. Stupid school. boots school to kingdom come And yes, Inu did actually say "yes" at the end. Aren't you so proud of him?! Keep reviewing!
dragon's kitty: glint appears in eyes Kitty…
Lint Ball of Doom: lol. Don't hurt yourself. Update soon and enjoy this chappie!
inu-hakan: Kagome end up with Kouga? In one of MY stories!!!! NEVER!!!!!! I hate Kouga more than Naraku, and that's saying a lot! You need not have ANY worries about a Kou/Kag pairing!!! gags Keep reviewing!
Yusukefreak: Glorfelbalen!!!! cough Anyway… thanks for ALL the reviews… And I believe all of your questions will be answered if you keep reading… looks at reviews Oh, except the Kouga/Koga mixup. You CAN actually spell Koga's name as Kouga and it would be grammatically correct, and I just like his name better when I spell it that way. Keep reviewing!
Sailor Kenshin: YAY! Another enthusiastic fan! Thank you!
Oogaboogabooga: No, I haven't stopped writing. I would never DREAM of not finishing a ficcie! Sorry for the long delay! I hope you can forgive me!
Also, thanks to Defafaeth Mechqua, SammuriKitty, Kristen Sharpe, Rykokitty, Shamanic Destiny, Miko Kagome Archer, puffin, WolfKeeper989, Lady Netiri, remix-69er, chibi-inuyasha-girl, gothmiko, NefCanuck, KonekoMiyabi, dark-wolf-soulX, MirokuHoushi, u don't need to know, gilbertfan, The-Female-Inuyasha, Snowcat acarie, AnimePhysco, punkkagome, aznish, carebeargurl-23, fox-firechick120, and Hitokiri-Sesshomaru. I'm sorry I couldn't respond to you personally!
"Kouga, my friend, you must be the stupidest being ever to walk the earth," Kouga said to himself as he sat in the middle of the forest. "You have absolutely no clue how to find this girl. No scent, no name. Nothing but a face." He looked around him. "And now you're lost."
He sighed dejectedly. "You really need to stop talking to yourself, Kouga."
The five wolves he had taken with him were all lolling about in the clearing Kouga had found himself in after hours of wandering aimlessly through the forest, either sunning themselves or listening to Kouga's ramblings to himself.
Suddenly, Kouga sat up in shock. His nose twitched as he tested the air to make sure he really smelled what he thought he did.
'A girl,' he thought. 'Out in the middle of the woods?'
He stood up with sudden determination and his wolves looked at him curiously. Kouga smirked at them.
"I think we may have found something," he said to them. The wolves quickly stood up and ran after him as he took off in the direction of the scent.
The group of four walked along, enjoying the warm day. Kagome was especially happy, having spent the morning in an undiscovered, secluded hot springs they had found. Now she felt clean and refreshed, ready to take on the world if she had to. She couldn't comprehend anyone being unhappy if they were clean.
Suddenly, someone skidded into a stop in front of them, stirring up a huge plume of dirt. Kagome coughed and closed her eyes against the dust. When the dust finally settled, she opened her eyes only to discover that she was now covered in dirt. She prepared to tear out the newcomer's throat for destroying her clean state, and thus, her happiness when she realized exactly who it was.
"Kouga?!?!?!"
Kouga looked at her with a grin so wide, it looked like it hurt. "You remember me! I'm so glad!" he said as he clasped her hands in his. "I've been looking all over for you!"
Kagome looked at him in shock. "Who, me? Why?"
Kouga, with no hesitation, then began to profess his feelings out loud and in front of a three-person audience. "Because I love you! You're the best thing that has ever happened to me! You're beautiful and I'm going to make you my wom- oomph!"
Kouga hit the ground hard and looked up to see what had knocked him down. "Gah! What are you doing here?!"
Inuyasha glared at Kouga and scoffed. Kouga looked up at Kagome from his place on the ground with a look of utter confusion on his face. "What are you doing traveling around with that?" Kouga asked, gesturing at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha growled threateningly at Kouga. Kagome shot him a glare.
"Inuyasha, don't growl at people like that!" Kagome scolded. Kouga chuckled at the sulking Inuyasha, but he stopped immediately when Kagome rounded on him. "He," she said, pointing to Inuyasha, "is not a that. He has a name you know! It's Inuyasha!"
Kouga raised an eyebrow as he stood and brushed the dirt off of himself. "Inu-whata?"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome replied. "His name is Inuyasha."
Kouga glanced curiously at Inuyasha, then at Kagome. "But his name is Ikari."
In a flash, Inuyasha charged at Kouga, swiping at him with his claws. Kouga barely managed to jump away in time and Inuyasha's claws merely brushed his breastplate. Out of pure instinct, Kouga made a counterattack. The two continued fighting, each exchanging blows with the other. Kagome tried to interfere, but Sango and Miroku held her back, fearing for her safety. Inuyasha and Kouga just kept going at it, Inuyasha attacking wildly with a feral growl.
"What's wrong with you, you freak?!" Kouga asked, seeing the wild glint in Inuyasha's eyes.
Faster than Kouga could react, Inuyasha grabbed him by the neck and slammed him up against the nearest tree. "I… am not… Ikari…" Inuyasha said, though his voice was raspy and sounded somewhat like a werewolf trying to speak. "And I… am NOT… a freak."
There were a few seconds where everyone stood around in stunned silence, except for Inuyasha, who was busy strangling Kouga, and Kouga himself, who was trying to pry Inuyasha's hand off of his neck. Miroku, Sango, and Kagome, though were staring in surprise. Not only had Inuyasha spoken, but he was standing upright like a normal human being. Finally, Kagome regained her senses and said softly, "Inuyasha… Let him go."
Inuyasha blinked as if he had just come out of a trance and slowly released his hold on Kouga, who slid to the ground, grasping his bruised neck and breathing heavily. Inuyasha stared at Kouga for a minute before he turned and ran into the forest.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called after him. "Inuyasha, wait!"
But it was too late. Inuyasha was already long gone. Kagome knelt down next to Kouga, who was rubbing his throat gently.
"I'm sorry he did that, Kouga," Kagome said to him. "I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you."
"No," Kouga said, slowly standing back up. "Whether I hate to admit it or not, the mutt has a right to be angry. I'm sorry that I caused you so much trouble. I have to leave now, but I sincerely hope to meet up with you again, Lady…"
"Kagome."
"Lady Kagome," Kouga said smiling as he turned to leave. "Farewell!! I will make you my woman! That I promise you!"
And with that, he took off into the woods.
"Well…" Sango said after a few seconds, "that was definitely unexpected."
Miroku nodded his agreement.
"Guys, I have to go find Inuyasha. I'll be back soon, all right?"
"Sure thing, Kagome," Sango said.
Kagome smiled. "Thanks."
Kagome wandered through the forest for quite a while before she finally found Inuyasha sitting by the edge of a tiny stream. As she approached him, she couldn't mask her disappointment that he was once again crouched on all fours like a dog. But she also knew that she couldn't rush things. He would learn, in time.
"Inuyasha," she said softly as she approached.
Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder at her for a second and gave her a small smile before he turned his attention back to the water. Kagome sat down next to him.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Inuyasha nodded.
"I'm sorry that happened. It was wrong of Kouga to call you a freak like that."
Inuyasha shook his head. Kagome tilted her head curiously.
"No?" she asked.
"He…didn't know…better," Inuyasha rasped the words out slowly, and Kagome could tell that it was only with great difficulty that he said them. Nevertheless, her face split into a bright smile.
"You're learning," she said.
Inuyasha looked at her and smiled again.
"And what you did back there, even if you were strangling Kouga, that was incredible."
"Just anger."
"It doesn't matter if you did it out of anger, at least you did it, right?"
Inuyasha turned his head away. He was still upset. Cautiously, Kagome reached an arm up, wrapped it around Inuyasha's shoulders, and leaned her head on his shoulder. Inuyasha looked at her curiously, but made no move to brush her off, and for that Kagome was glad. He was learning to trust as well.
This time, there was no knock on Naraku's door. Just a small creak as it opened and a bit of cold air.
"Yes, Master Naraku?"
"I need to trust you with a very important task."
"You can trust me with anything."
"It involves Ikari."
The figure's expression didn't change, though one could sense the anger now radiating off of him. "You can trust me," it said.
"Good." Naraku reached into his pocket and pulled out the small pink sphere.
The figure's eyes widened ever so slightly. Naraku looked at him carefully. "Well?" Naraku asked.
The figure reached out a hand and took the jewel from Naraku's hand. "I understand."
"Good," Naraku smiled. "You may go now, Sessho-maru."
I don't care if it's shorter than all the others! I am VERY happy with this chapter! We had some nice Inuyasha and Kagome fluff, I brought Kouga back into the storyline, we had some insight into how much Inuyasha really hated being at the circus, he said his first real sentence, he stood up for the first time, and I'm building some suspense with Naraku and the jewel and such.
Ok, now I KNOW Inuyasha speaks like a two year old, but give me a break. I mean, he's not very intellectual to begin with and this is, like, the first time he's really spoken in a very long time. Also, I know it's kinda weird to have Sessho-maru be a subordinate to Naraku, but in this story, it really is fitting and in character, in some weird, wacked out sort of way. But maybe that's just me. Oh, well.
By the way, as a treat for all of you who have waited SO long for me to update, I have written an extra one-shot for you all. The title is "Into the West." As the name suggests, it is a songfic based of the song "Into the West." Hope you all enjoy!
Merry Christmas, and review please!!!