Kat: Thanks for the reviews! Thank ye especially Geminia, my bestest reviewer! ^-^ I really need to cut down on the caffeine…of course, it's very effective. IT GETS PEOPLE TO REVIEW! Now, hop to it, or you'll be backing away like everyone else who I scared into reviewing. Oh, yes, and I will not hurt Geminia. I've decided I really, really like her cuz she gave me such a great idea! I should warn now that Chapter Seven will be very angsty and Inuyasha's an even bigger jerk than before, and in this chapter, too, a little, but here we're getting ahead of ourselves! I'd better shut up before I give the whole story away! THANK YOU, MY LOYAL FANS/MINIONS!!! ^-^
Sorry it took so long to update…I was out of state with family. My cousin's wedding was great, if anyone's interested. No? Didn't think so.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is mine. My parents gave it to me as a pre-graduation present. *is carried off by the guys in the white suits and taken to the Happy Place* (This is a joke between me and someone else…LOL. Hi, Trinny! ^^;;;)
Chapter Six
Treacherous Discovery
Kagome lifted up one of her slender hands, testing out her powers again. She barely even thought about it this time, and the beam sliced through more than one tree. Perfect. And her archery wasn't shabby, either.
Also, she was starting to remember some of the martial arts she'd learned as a child. Her father had been a karate instructor before he died, but Kagome had stopped after that. She was eleven last time she'd used them, so she was now practicing kata (technique) with the light-beams she'd figured out how to use.
Also, she'd discovered that this was the same thing Kikyo had used when she'd first been resurrected and she'd grabbed Inuyasha's shoulders, burning him.
Kagome felt calm, at ease, as she went through the steps of the kata. She'd surprise them all with it one of these days…she frowned, kicking up past her head. Would she use her powers to help or hurt Inuyasha? It would be easy—very, very easy—to kill him with them. Or would she use them to defend him against a demon in battle? She could have just hurt him and left him wishing he'd never offended her.
She was almost ready…she could feel it. She had to be one of the most powerful humans alive. Maybe—she almost trembled to think of it—more powerful than Kikyo already. Almost certainly she was already more powerful than Miroku or Sango.
Through her head floated all the insults Inuyasha had ever thrown her way. He'd informed her that she was ugly, she smelled disgusting, and she was useless, among other things. Her anger fueled her desire to fight. Perhaps this wasn't healthy. She'd read that anger increased your blood pressure and reduced your life. But it felt so GOOD.
She was aware of just how graceful her movements were. She'd taken ballet, too. An enemy wouldn't be sure whether she was attacking or simply dancing, but once she'd begun her dance of death…
…they'd never know what hit them.
She leapt up into the air elegantly, twisting in the air and landing perfectly. She imagined whatever imaginary enemy she'd been fighting was now dead.
She probably smelled worse than Inuyasha usually claimed she did. Sweat drenched her whole body, matting her dark hair to her head and causing her shirt to cling to her body. It was time for a short bath.
She walked the short distance to the river and removed her clothes, taking them in with her to wash them off. Once her clothes were clean again, she leaned back and let the water soak into her skin.
She looked up at the sky. It was almost moonless. Perfect. It was almost Inuyasha's human night and she'd watch him suffer.
Closing her gray eyes, she could see Inuyasha's face, cruelly triumphant. He'd won the battle over her. He owned her until the jewel was found. But he didn't realize the value of what he owned.
Probably, she thought bitterly, he'd find out about her new powers. He'd crush the well, take the jewel for his own use, and keep her in his time forever as his minion, his assassin, his slave.
She was certain of where Kikyo would be. At Inuyasha's side in his big castle, his loving wife. Kagome wanted to gag at the thought. At least, she thought with dry humor, Kikyo would live up to the title Kagome had secretly given her, but would never say out loud. (AN: Think: female dog.)
Kagome allowed herself to laugh out loud. No, she didn't care if Inuyasha loved Kikyo. She really didn't anymore. She just wanted out. She could take Hojo and be happy forever!
***
"Damn it, Kagome, where are you?" Inuyasha grumbled. Due to the fact that her scent was all over the place, he couldn't trace her. He ran his fingers through his hair and walked towards where he was pretty sure there was a hot spring.
Luckily, he wasn't hurt anymore. He'd rested the whole day and felt fine. When he woke up, no one else was awake. Kikyo and Kagome were both gone.
Kikyo was probably fine on her own. But Kagome…he couldn't bear the thought of losing her.
He saw a woman standing in a clearing finally. "Kagome?"
The woman turned. The eyes were too serious, the face too pale.
"Kikyo," he ammended quickly, nodding. "You were both gone and I came out to find you."
"No," Kikyo said softly, balling her hands into fists. "You did not come looking for me. You came here to look for Kagome."
Inuyasha felt a slight lump in his throat. "I knew you could take care of yourself."
Kikyo glared. The same look was present in her eyes that had been there the day she'd pinned him to the tree. "No! You didn't care! You LOVE that little girl more than you did me!"
"NO, I DO NOT!" he snapped, grabbing her by the shoulders.
Kikyo looked taken aback at his outburst.
Inuyasha himself was surprsied. Slowly, he released her, and said more gently, "That's just not true."
This makes more sense, he told himself. Kikyo was from his own time. She was the first woman he'd ever loved. And he shouldn't have ever loved any woman but her.
He stuttered a bit over his next few words. "Kikyo, LOOK at me. This is what you wanted…. Can't you…just this once…?"
Kikyo's face softened slightly. "Maybe so." She closed her eyes.
Inuyasha allowed his eyes to close as well. He'd never experienced this, and he was curious to see how he reacted to such things. He reached out, pulling her closer, then kissed her.
It was good, though not quite what it had been when he'd still loved her. But still, he tried to enjoy it. Running his fingers through her silky black hair, he ran his tongue across her lower lip…
…and heard a rustling in the bushes.
Both pulled back at the sound. He turned slowly, expecting to find Miroku ready to make perverted jokes.
The one who'd caught them looked awfully mad. "That's it. I'm outta here."
It was Kagome.