I know that I did a bad thing and some of you are mad at me, while others are thinking "Yeah Inuyasha! Keep on going! Win! Win! Win!" Well, I'm not making any promises but this…it's far from over. Let the battle continue…

Chapter 15

I do not own Inuyasha

It had been a couple of days that since the fire incident and Ikuto being sick in the hospital was something that plagued Kagome's mind. 'This isn't the right time to be thinking about him. He got hurt, but at least he's safe in the present. At least he's not here in trouble like me and the others. He won't be eaten by a demon or anything.'

"Kagome, get out the way!" Inuyasha grabbed Kagome before the demon struck her. "What the heck is your problem? What are you thinking about? Snap out of it and pay attention."

"Oh, sorry Inuyasha."

"Don't apologize to me! You're the one about to die!"

"I guess I wasn't paying attention."

He rolled his eyes. "Women, your minds really aren't focused on anything is it?" Inuyasha let her go and ran back to the demon.

'I've got to get more focused. But I keep thinking that I shouldn't have left.'

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango yelled, throwing her weapon to a demon that resembled a giant beetle. It cut through some of its legs and it fell down and hit its head, but that didn't stop it from swinging its arm at Inuyasha and knocking him back, and then doing the same to Sango. Luckily, Miroku was there to catch her.

"I've got you" Miroku said.

"Thanks Miroku. I thought I was…" she slapped him once he felt his hand stroke her bottom. "Will you stop that already? You're such a pervert!"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it."

"Look out Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled. He got back on his feet and ran towards her, but wasn't going to get to her, before the demon did.

"Kagome!"

Kagome closed her eyes and awaited her fate, but then she realized that the yell was not from Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, or Shippo. "Who?" She looked behind her and saw Ikuto who had used a tall, thin, but sturdy tree branch for leverage and flung himself into the air like a track star and onto the demon's back. "Ikuto?" She yelled surprised.

"Ikuto? Miroku, Sango, and Shippo asked surprised as well.

"Ikuto!" Inuyasha growled.

Ikuto had a sheath attached to his belt and took out a sword that had a curved blade to it, almost like the Tetsusaiga, but much thinner, but still very sharp. "No one's going to hurt Kagome, especially not some stupid demon!" He stabbed the demon in the back with his sword as far as it would go down. It shrieked loudly and began shaking; trying to get Ikuto off, but Ikuto was able to hold on tight.

"What is he doing here?" Inuyasha barked.

"Who cares?" Shippo said. "He just saved Kagome's life."

He growled and yelled "Get off of that demon so I can finish it off!"

"Why?" Ikuto said with a smirk. "I'm doing just fine."

The wind scar began to circle around the Tetsusaiga. "Prepare to die!"

"Sit boy!" Kagome yelled. "Ikuto's still on it!"

Inuyasha twitched in his giant hole that was just his shape. 'Darn her! Why does she keep doing this to me?'

"Ikuto, there's a jewel shard in its head!"

"Okay!" Ikuto took his sword out of the demon's back and plunged it into the demon's head, causing it to shriek and shake more, but then it finally stopped its struggle completely and fell on the ground, lifeless. Ikuto took his sword out and was disgusted with the purple gunk on it. "Yuck!" 'I've got to get that cleaned before Suno sees it.'

Kagome ran to him and hugged him as tight as she possibly could. "I'm so glad you're okay! When were you released from the hospital?"

He pulled her away with his available hand and seemed upset and annoyed. "A day after you left to come here."

"I've been here for a few days. How did you catch up to us, or even find us?"

"I asked and…I ran…a lot." He was breathing heavily; feeling like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. "Yeah, I ran a lot."

"Well thank you" she smiled. "I really appreciate it."

"That was impressive" Miroku said to Ikuto, walking with Sango towards him. "Do you have any experience in demon slaying?"

"Well, I fence with my brother every day, if that qualifies." He still needed a moment to catch his breath, but was able to chuckle. "And believe me; my brother is truthfully cruel enough to be one."

Inuyasha stomped over to them, being extremely angry with the fact that Ikuto was there. "First of all, what are you doing here? Second of all, how did you get here without the use of the jewel shards?"

Ikuto was finally beginning to feel better and responded. "First of all, I came in through the well, just like before. Second of all, I would just like to brag for saving your pathetic life. I mean," he chuckled with arrogance "how are you supposed to protect Kagome, if you can't take care of yourself?"

Inuyasha exploded with anger. He would have never thought his words to Ikuto would come back to fight against him. "You idiot! What's your problem anyway? I thought we covered the fact that Kagome didn't like you!"

A sweat drop appeared on Kagome's head. 'Uh oh. I didn't tell Ikuto what I told Inuyasha I'd tell him.'

"Well, you covered that! I just wanted to hear that from Kagome!"

"What are you talking about? Kagome told you that already! That's why you two went out the other day!"

"We went out because I assumed she wanted to be with me! She didn't tell me that she didn't like me, you did!"

"What are you talking about? Kagome…" Inuyasha looked over to Kagome and grunted more. "You didn't tell him? Why didn't you tell him, Kagome?"

"Well" she scratched her head. "Well, it's a long story. I shouldn't even explain." She signaled them away with her hands. "Let's just forget about the whole thing. It's not that important."

"Even after I saved his sorry butt from that fire, you didn't tell him the truth? You lied to me?"

"Well…" she suddenly got angry with Inuyasha. "Hey, what were you doing there anyway? You weren't anywhere in sight! You were supposed to be at my house, Inuyasha!"

He backed away. "Well I…"

"You didn't trust me! You were spying on us!"

"Well…" he stepped forward and got into her face. "I guess it was for good reason! You still didn't tell him!"

"Because she didn't want to!" Ikuto yelled.

"Stay out of this!" Inuyasha yelled.

"I think they've forgotten that we're here" Miroku said.

"I believe so too" Sango said. "What do you suppose went on in Kagome's time?"

Shippo rolled his eyes. "I guess Kagome's a two timer too."

Inuyasha and Ikuto looked like they were going to fight, but Kagome got in the way and pushed the two of them away from each other. "Boys, stop this!" She sighed. "I'm sorry that I didn't do what you wanted me to do, Inuyasha. But I don't regret it. He's my friend, and I'm going to continue to see him for as long as I want to. Understand?"

'Just a friend?' Ikuto thought to himself sadly.

Inuyasha turned his head away and crossed his arms. "Get the jewel shard and we'll go."

Kagome looked over to the demon and shook her head. "Yeah right. That's totally disgusting Inuyasha. I am not touching it?"

"You big baby! What's wrong with you?" He walked over to the demon and took the jewel shard in its head. "Let's go."

When everyone, including Ikuto began to follow, Inuyasha turned around and pointed the Tetsusaiga towards him. "What are you doing?"

"I don't know, maybe I'm following."

"Well don't! Go away! Go back to your own time!"

"I'll make a deal with you. I'll stay in my time, if everyone else stays in their own time, including you and Kagome."

"No deal."

"Then I follow." He smirked.

"Don't you have to get home to your brother?" Kagome said. "I mean, you do have to go home sometime."

He sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I can't be gone a whole day, or he'll be suspicious about what happened and where I've gone. I won't jeopardize your life and what you do, Kagome. I just wanted to hear from your mouth what Inuyasha told me."

"Well, now you know." Inuyasha said angrily. "Just go home." Inuyasha handed the jewel shard to Kagome and it was purified.

'It's strange. Something about Ikuto isn't normal. Something's not right. I can't put my finger on it.' thought Kagome. "So how come you were able to come back to this time without the jewel shards, Ikuto? I need them to travel back and forth."

"Well" Sango said "Inuyasha can travel with or without the jewel shards. Does it really have anything to do with that? Maybe it's because he's Inuyasha reincarnation. That's the only reason I can think of."

"I agree with Sango" Miroku stated while reaching for her behind. "She is very wise and very beautiful."

She slapped him before he even got a chance to grope her. "Will you stop, you pervert!"

"So" Ikuto asked "what are these little jewels that you're collecting?"

"It's the Shikon jewel, also called the jewel of four souls. I kind of broke it, and now we're looking for the rest of the pieces."

"What for? What's so important about it?"

"Well" Shippo said "Inuyasha wants to become a full blooded demon."

"And" Miroku said "if we continue to find jewel shards, we'll eventually find Naraku."

"And who's Naraku?"

"It's none of your business!" Inuyasha crossed his arms. "I'm sick and tired of having to go through this with you. You're a stupid human who's in way over your head. Just leave and go back where there's no danger. If you're dragged into what we're in, it's only going to get worse."

"I can take care of myself, Inuyasha. I'm strong enough to do anything and everything I want. I know more than what you think. You're the one who doesn't know how to fight."

"What?" He created a fist and stepped forward, wanting to really rip him apart. "You're going to die now! What do you mean I can't fight?"

"Well that sword you carry" he said casually "all you do is swing it around. You have no style, no technique at all. You just swing it. It's rather pathetic."

"Pathetic?"

"Yeah, I mean, I know seven different forms of martial arts. You just jump around with your sword and rely on it's blade to save you, or your claws. You rely on your strength." He raised his head a little, feeling cocky. "Is that why you spent some time with Kagome when you were a human? You're too weak to fight then?"

"That's it! I'm gonna-"

"Sit!"

"Ahhh!" Inuyasha fell down on the ground, creating another crater.

"Will you give it a rest already?"

"Well, he did hit the nail on head." Miroku nodded. "He is right, Inuyasha."

"Seven?" Kagome said amazed. "Wow, that's amazing."

"Well" Ikuto blushed "my brother made me. I didn't ever go outside and play. I always learned something new, everyday."

"That is really impressive. Which…" Kagome looked toward the west and grew pale. "I sense two jewel shards coming." 'No, not two! Anything but two!'

Inuyasha immediately got up and began to sniff something. "Not him again!" He growled and cracked his knuckles. "Come on. I need to blow off some steam. I'll teach Kouga not to mess with Kagome and flirt with her!"

"Flirt?" Ikuto said defensively. "Who's Kouga?"

"Someone I don't want you to meet! Let's get you out of here!" She began pulling on Ikuto's arm. "Come on, let's go home." She was pulling on Ikuto's arm, but he was pulling away from her grasp. "Come on Ikuto."

"What's the big deal? Who's Kouga?" Ikuto looked ahead and saw a tornado coming towards them. "Wait a sec? I've heard the name before. The guy you slapped?"

Inuyasha eased his grip on the Tetsusaiga, feeling a great deal of happiness suddenly over take him. "You slapped Kouga, Kagome?"

"Yeah, it was when he kidnapped me."

"Keh, serves him right! If that wimpy wolf lays another finger on you, I'm gonna-" Inuyasha felt a foot step on his face and push him down to the ground, back into his hole.

"Hello Kagome" Kouga grabbed her hands and held them close to him. "I'm sorry that we had to be parted for so long. I smelt Naraku's scent and came straight here."

"Yeah" she said with a sweat drop on the side of her head. "Well, there was another detachment, and he had a jewel shard."

"I know you must have missed me, Kagome."

"Yeah, sure…he he." 'Great Kouga, you've got perfect timing. Oh what am I gonna do?'

Inuyasha got up and held on to Tetsusaiga tightly and Ikuto held his sword tightly as well. "Get your hands off of Kagome!" They both yelled.

Kouga felt each shoulder touched by two different hands and he was pulled away from Kagome. "Okay mutt…" he gazed at Ikuto "you're not the mutt."

"No," Inuyasha said, with the wind scar circling around the Tetsusaiga "but you're dead."

A/N: Yeah, I know it wasn't that long. I had to be mean and stop there. I just had to. There was nothing more to say. Well there was, but I had to. Hehe! Review and I'll update!