Callie here: I hope you like this one. It is a look behind the veil that Kori has created.
Kagome threw down her book furious; there was something she was suppose to remember but had forgotten. Something important that itched at the back of her mind where she couldn't scratch.
"Oh well." She sighed miserably maybe it was just boredom.
With Inu Yasha for now out of the picture, and Kori still away on business, life felt a little empty. So Kagome, not one to be easily entertained, couldn't find anything to do. Her hand slid subconsciously to her jewel shards- that weren't there- she sighed again deeper this time. When Kori did show up Kagome would give him a piece of her mind, taking the shards like that.
The tips of her fingers brushed the black opal. It really was a lovely jewel, much more attractive then the shards. Maybe she could replace her old jewels with her new one; why shouldn't she it did suit her better. Of course she wouldn't throw the jewel shards away- no she could never do that- but she could give them to Kori for safekeeping.
"Yes, safe keeping."
Kagome picked up her book with a glazed expression.
(Break)
"Inu Yasha!" Miroku yelled down at the sleeping demon-boy. "Wake up you've been sleeping half the day away!"
Inu Yasha stirred and opened one eye sleepily. "Well you try to sleep on an empty heart. If Sango were flouncing about with another guy wouldn't you be restless?"
Red splashed Miroku's face in rage, just the mere thought sent him into a tornado, "You're damn right I would."
"Well then leave me alone." A smell suddenly bathed Inu Yasha and he surged to his feet, nose in the air. "Do you smell that?" Miroku looked at his strange friend dumbly, "It is the thugs from the other day, I'd know their stench anywhere."
"I smell them too." Shippo popped out from behind a bush out of breathe, "They arrived a while ago while I was by the lake. I came back as quick as I could."
Inu Yasha ruffled the kid's hair despite his grunt of disapproval. "We have our guys, now lets go welcome them."
Miroku followed the two retreating figures muttering to himself, "He sure got over that quickly."
(Break)
The two bullies were right where their stench lead. The problem was it seemed all too easy. They were standing in the middle of the grove expectantly, and from the look of things it was a trap.
"Be careful guys, something smells fishy." Inu Yasha warned in a whisper.
"Well I could have told you that a mile back." Shippo said through a pinched nose. "Man do they stink."
Inu Yasha surveyed the scene again, and could find no sign of danger; other than the obvious anticipation everything was in order.
"You two stay here if I need you I'll- well you'll know if I need you." With that Inu Yasha sprang out from behind the bushes in plan sight of his foes.
"Look here he is." The larger one poked at the smaller. "Inu Yasha, we have a proposition for you. You see our boss, he has your jewel shards."
Inu Yasha smirked the bad guys were always after the jewel shards.
"And your girl."
"Kagome? What have you done with her?" Whipping out his Tetsusaiga Inu Yasha lunged forward, but moments before reaching them the ground below him crumbled. He fell
down,
down,
down, until landing in the midst of- bodies. One look around told him he lay in a pit of the dead, and if the smell from above was bad, at this level it was revolting. Looking up the high, steep walls he saw the two punks jeering down at him.
"Tsk, tsk. Not so fast. Even if you had reached us, and perhaps killed one of us, you would only be rewarded with a dead bitch."
"Don't you dare." Inu Yasha cursed.
The two goons disappeared, their steps receding as well as their farewell call. "Tomorrow by the well, you'll make the decision. Either fight us until you die, or give up willingly and don't ever get in the way of our boss. Remember we have the girl."
A demon's death call soared from Inu Yasha's throat as he punched the wall so hard it caused a landslide, which buried the dead bodies. They were only there to scare him. Anyone could kill a person but not many can kill a demon. He walked out of the burial ground unscathed, his eyes shone blood red. Miroku and Shippo stepped out of the shadows tentatively.
There'd be no fighting today but; Inu Yasha growled, "If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get."
(Break)
Kagome saw Kori at dinner, he sat across from her, but everything else was a blur. Her grandfather, mother, and little brother were smeared across her vision, leaving them faded and far away. Even though she watched as their lips moved she could not hear those nearest her heart, but she nodded and smiled politely all the same. All she could hear was Kori. Kori was the only one she could hold on to. Without him she'd be alone.
"You'll be okay." Kori reached across the table and held her hand.
It was true, Kagome thought; as long as he was with her she'd be fine.