Hey guys! Well, as I said last week, I'm going to post the next two chapters today. For those of you who didn't read it last time, it's because I'm going on vacation and won't be home for the next two post days, so instead of making you wait, I'll give'em to ya this week.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: ChibiBean does not own nor claim rights to InuYasha or any of its characters. Thank you.

Practice Makes Perfect…Most Times

Azurine was practicing while Yukito watched from a safe spot in a nearby tree. "Azurine, if you focus the anger, you might have better aim!" he shouted down to her. "Think of one thing! Focus on Cain!"

The girl's eyes blazed with hatred. The fire formed a spear of light and heat. It was aimed expertly at the target. Every move she made pulsed with the pain she felt.

The spear could have hit the eye of a needle dead on.

"You're doing great!" Yukito yelled. "Now concentrate on being happy."

Azurine struggled to think of the few things that brought her joy. Sarah, her best friend; Shippo, the sweet little kitsune; Miroku…uh…she didn't really know what to call him; Yukito, the one who'd protect her with his life. She narrowed her thought on the last one: Yukito.

"Now, try to bring the water up this time. Not down," he laughed.

His laugh made her smile and slowly, a puddle rose about her feet.

"That's it, now contain it!"

Pulling the water from the ground, Azurine compressed it into a ball the size of her fist. It dropped into her hands, crystallized.

It had taken Shippo nearly a quarter of an hour to find them. "Azurine! We need you! Sesshomaru and that Rika woman are nearby."

Azurine looked up in time to catch him as he flew at her. She pocketed her crystal and turned to Yukito. "Let's go!"

The boy climbed down from his perch and, together, they ran. They didn't get very far before running into Sesshomaru.

"Look what we have here, Rika," he said, monotonous as always. "Three pups."

"The little witch who got me last time," Rika muttered.

The three spun away and began to run in a new direction. Azurine stopped short as a net of fire sprang up in front of her, separating her from Yukito. Shippo jumped over the quickly growing edge.

They scanned the net carefully, looking for any weak spot. When none could be found, she turned to Yukito. "Fly, you fool!"

Shippo watched as the net encircled Azurine and seamed shut at the top. He got a good bounce off of Yukito's shoulder and flipped over Sesshomaru. He took off at high speed, looking for the others.

Azurine knew it was useless to bring out The Guardian bow. Instead she wrapped her hand around the water crystal in her pocket. "I'm serious, Kito! Run!" she whispered. "You'll ruin it."

Sesshomaru and Rika were conversing in low voices.

Azurine begged Yukito with her eyes, but still he remained. She sighed. It'll have to do.

She sent the crystal flying through the net and towards her opponents.

With a crack, it hit Rika squarely on the head. The woman rubbed the sore spot gingerly. She looked down at the crystal. "What do you think you're doing, foolish child?"

Azurine panicked. "Yukito! Why isn't it working?"

"You're not happy! That may set it off," he suggested, calmly.

Happy, happy, happy, happy… She focused as hard as she could on Yukito and Sarah at her last birthday. The two were laughing. Happy, happy!

The crystal exploded and several things happened at once.

First, a flood of water overtook Sesshomaru and Rika, drenching them through.

Second, the fire dome was extinguished in a smoky cloud. Azurine coughed violently and couldn't seem to stop.

Third, Rika flared with rage and Sesshomaru glared coldly at the girl.

Fourth, the InuYasha gang came crashing into the clearing.

Finally, the smoke cleared away, but Azurine was still coughing. Her face was red and her eyes were streaming.

"Azurine, come here," Yukito muttered.

She stumbled to him, choking on ashes. He clung to her and whispered, "I know you've already chosen, but I can't help the way I feel. I want to keep you safe. Forgive me."

Sarah looked at them with pity, and something that reminded Azurine slightly of envy. The girl was staring right at Yukito with forlorn eyes. Yuto noticed as well, but said nothing. Sarah spoke up. "It seems you've given us another pickle to deal with, Kito. Why, always, when there's a fight with Sesshomaru?"

The boy blushed and nervously chuckled a few times. "My fault entirely."

Azurine finally got her breathing under control. Pulling herself up to full height, she turned to Rika. "You're going down."

"Bring it," she mocked.

Sarah saw it before Azurine did. Rika was preparing a rebound shield that would force back any of Azurine's attacks.

"Azure! Don't! Rika's going to rebound!"

Azurine stared, not comprehending, but she dropped her hands all the same. She watched as Sesshomaru swapped insults with InuYasha.

"You turn your eyes during battle? A bad choice," Rika warned.

Azurine saw the flames come at her but never felt them. Even as she felt them cut through her, it didn't hurt. Then, all went black.

When she woke, she was alone. She lay in the same place she'd fallen when she was burned. Was she burned, though? She lifted an arm. It was slightly bruised but there was no burn to be found.

Hm, puzzling, I could have sworn I was fried. She looked up at the sky. Why is it so dark out? Was I really out that long? She stared at the moon for a while. Only a week until it was the new moon.

There was a rustling, and Shippo came toward her. He poked her to see if she was okay. Fire sprang up where he touched and the kitsune yelped in pain.

"Shippo!" Azurine cried hoarsely. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

He sucked on his fingers as Azurine struggled to sit up. Miroku came walking out of the woods. "Shippo, we told you not to touch her," he scolded. "Now you've gone and burned yourself, didn't you?"

Shippo nodded, still sucking on his finger. "I'm all right, Azurine. It doesn't hurt that bad. It's like using fox-fire."

"So, why am I setting people on fire? My sparks are silver, nothing should happen."

"Rika put some form of a spell on you," Miroku explained. Azurine sighed.

"It's okay, Azure! Sarah, Kagome, and Kaede are working on an antidote. They almost have it." Shippo smiled happily at her.

A few moments later, Sarah rushed in with a cup full of foul smelling liquid. "Here, Azzy, drink this. It doesn't smell very good, it probably doesn't taste very good, either, but it'll cure you of this curse. Drink."

Azurine wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Okay, Tanpopo. If you say so." She choked it down and gagged a little, but she finished it off and passed out.

Two days later, she woke up and looked around. Yuto was on guard duty, currently. "Hey, you're not dead. What a shocker," he muttered.

"Don't you think you could be a little nicer to my aching head? You made it mad at me."

"You have been out for days, you know. Too much sleep can give you a headache. Don't blame me. I'm concerned with other things besides your head, right now."

"You mean Sarah? Don't worry. She'll get over it soon. I know she loves you the most." She rolled over and rubbed her forehead. "I'm going back to bed."

There ya go! I'll go post the next one now.