Note to readers, this section really isn't too funny but ain't in too funny a mood right now. Later!
Human Inuyasha woke up shivering in the chill morning air. As the thin blanket that he had wrapped around himself slid off he jumped to his feet and began moving to shake off the cold. The moisture that had condensed on the ground clung to his skinand stones chipped into his heels. Picking up a tender foot, Human Inuyasha rubbed the soles of his feet slowly while looking curiously at his now sensitive appendages. The jangling of a staff stopped behind him halting his examinations.
"Here," said Monk Miroku tossing the former hanyou a pair of sandals such as he wore. "I thought you would be needing these so I went to the liberty of getting them for you yesterday."
"Keh," said Human Inuyasha shoving them onto his foot amateurishly. "If you had them yesterday why didn't you give them to me then?" Miroku smiled.
"Come now Inuyasha, you and I both know that even though this half of you is merely human you are still as prideful as ever. There's no way you would have taken them if I had offered."
"Yeah well, whatever," muttered Human Inuyasha sourly as tied them on carefully. He began to walk away.
"And another thing," came Miroku's voice sternly halting him. "Since you're human now it will make battling for you much more difficult. If we should encounter demons today don't go doing anything rash like usual."
Human Inuyasha whirled around, clenching his fist.
"What does that mean Miroku, are you saying that I'm a weakling!"
"Not at all," said Miroku ungivingly. "It just means that as a human you have to be careful of your limits."
Infuriated, Human Inuyasha grabbed hold of Miroku's collar and yanked him up with it. To his astonishment, instead of being flustered Miroku merely forced his hand down. Human Inuyasha backed away and a look of pain crossed Miroku's features.
"Please understand Inuyasha, I'm not doing this to hurt you. I'm doing this for your own sake."
The world seemed to stop for Inuyasha's human half. On the nights of the full moon he had so frequently been forgetting, forgetting what it meant to be weak but now the world laughed at him. He could not force his hand, he could not use his strength to demand what he wanted, the respect that he wanted. He trembled inside, being uncertain what to do and more importantly who he was. Why had strength deserted him? No, why had his demon half deserted him at this time?
Speaking of which, the person in question chose this exact moment to drop in, noisily, into the fireside. Landing on the ground with the grace of a cat and a large bundle of firewood in his hands, Demon Inuyasha made a ruckus by tossing the sticks on the ground and cracking them noisily into smaller pieces.
"Hey!" he fairly shouted over to Human Inuyasha and Miroku. "What are you two doing over there? Shouldn't we be getting ready to go after Naraku? There's no way we can find our prey if you two don't snap to it."
"I'm beginning to see why all the others were annoyed with me," though Human Inuyasha. His already gloomy morning began to get gloomier when the object of his affection woke up rubbing her eyes. She took one look at the demon huddled over the fire and ran over to him, launching herself into a hug.
"Oh Inuyasha!" she squeaked happily. "How thoughtful of you!"
"Keh," said Demon Inuyasha a purr in his throat rumbling happily. "A demon has to look after his mate after all. I've brought you some fresh meat too." Reaching into his kimono, Demon Inuyasha took out a bloodied pheasant and laid it out on Kagome's hands, clasping her fingers around it gently.
"Oh Inuyasha," Kagome murmured gently with a look of pure love in her eyes. "Thank you."
Human Inuyasha was rent to the bottom of his soul. Here was his Kagome looking at well… another with pure adoration in her eyes and not only that, it was something he had been going to do but had been unable to. Why? Because he was too busy arguing with Miroku? Or was it because he was now a weak human and had needed to sleep longer. Last night he had gone to sleep with the intention tohunt but he could just envision how it would haveturned out evenif he had even been able to enter the race. He would have stumbled around the woods with a bow and arrow for hours while Demon Inuyasha would have merely flicked out his claws and been done with it. The thought of his uselessness pained him, but not half as much as his realization that he was second best after all. He looked at Demon Inuyasha with different eyes.
As if sensing his discomfiture Demon Inuyasha looked over at him and grinned mirthfully. Kagome didn't seem to notice at all and Human Inuyasha left it that way.
After a hurried breakfast the group traveled westwards towards a small village that was plagued by demons. Demon Inuyasha was completely disinterested. When they came across a nearby village which had been completely decimated and was filled with countless gnawed and unburied bodies left behind by rampaging demons, Demon Inuyasha merely yawned. For human Inuyasha however, it was a different story.
It seemed a though he had never felt so much compassion at one time. So much sorrow for those who had been felled. Unused to dealing with these human emotions without his demon shield, he turned his face away to hide the tears that were forming there. He felt so torn up inside. It was then that he realized more than ever how truly weak he had become. He was ashamed.
Demon Inuyasha wasn't helping either. Instead of looking remorseful he made some crass remark that had Kagome stiffening, and rested his foot upon one the skulls that lay before him. Disgustingly, the demon seemed to be taking delight, breathing in and out the sweet sickening stench of bloodshed. Human Inuyasha hated him at the moment. He hated himself, or rather that which he used to be.
But then there was a whistling of a demon claw attack, as tiny fragments flew through the air like particles of glass. A tremendous demon appeared, dragging and rattling itself along the ground like one big hunk of leather. Its greenish form and small, rolling yellow eyes searched around to find the human once hanyou on the ground. It then raised its tail and the breath caught up in Inuyasha's throat.Human Inuyashareached down and pulled a sword out of the ground to wield it at the demon just as a stout, whip like tail wrapped around him cutting off the circulation.
"Damn," thought Human Inuyasha as things started to go black.
But then there was another whistling in the air and a sharp slamming of blades, the sound of the neat slicing of flesh. Human Inuyasha turned his head as the coils unloosed to see his demon counterpart, sailing easily through he air with a knowing, all too knowing and smug look on his face. His hair sailed out in front of him mystically and glowing like a fragment of the moonlight. His soft yet elegant features were beyond the expression of imagination, beyond realms of fascination, within fantasy. As if merely flicking a fly, the great being in front of him raised up his claws and regally swept them down as thoughthis were some judgment from a higher power that this lower creature was receiving. With a sickening feeling to his gut, Human Inuyasha found himself falling through the air along with the remains of the slaughtered demon. But what hurt him most was what he saw then on his ride down. At that moment he wished that he was slain too because he saw, in that moment, that Kagome's eyes were not focused on him. They were focused on the radiant being who still sailed bondless from the earth in boundless expanses of the sky.
"Kagome," thought Human Inuyasha as he hit the ground and all became black. "It was the demon you loved all along."
"Inuyasha!" cried out a voice running towards him long after he had ceased to hear its sweetness.
"You are not going down that well!" a voice growled out harshly.
"Sit, sit boy!" sounded out the miko known as Kagome causing the hapless demon to crash into the ground. "I told you already, this is not a romantic excursion as you put it. Human Inuyasha is hurt and I need to get him to the hospital! He can get much better help in my time and you know it!"
"Absolutely not wench!" said Demon Inuyasha. "You will obey me damn it!"
"Sit, sit, sit boy!" Kagome screeched causing a large cloud of dust to rise up surrounding her. "If I didn't know better I would think that you wanted Human Inuyasha to die!"
"Ha. Just less competition for me wench," said Demon Inuyasha earning himself another sit.
"Well! I never knew you were so heartless Inuyasha!" she said tearfully.
"Keh. I'm a demon remember? A demon. I don't need anyone but me and what belongs to me, wench and you should know that by now."
"Inuyasha!" said Kagome with her lips trembling. "I never thought I would hear such a thing from you! Right now, I wish the human side was back in you!"
"Yeah, well keep dreamin' wench," said Demon Inuyasha forcing himself up onto his elbows.
"Well I guess that means that it comes to this," said Miroku sidling up behind the unrecalcitrant demon. "Forgive me Inuyasha."
"Wha?" asked Demon Inuyasha turning his head around slightly before being hit with a half dozen spell scrolls. Sango's Hiriakotose quickly followed, slamming into his head to knock him out.
"You go on Kagome-chan," said Sango. "We'll take care of him."
"Thanks Sango," said Kagome lifting up the unconscious Human Inuyasha to her shoulder before leaping down into the well. The familiar warm blue glow of the well flowed around her bathing her in its implausible light. Time shifted around her and she felt herself being pulled steadily towards home, her companion's soft breathing on her shoulder reassuring her that they made the shift united.
Three hours after the demon attack, or was it five centuries, Human Inuyasha awoke in a patient's bed in a modern hospital of Tokyo. The first thing he noticed was Kagome seated by his side, her eyes swollen from crying.
"Inuyasha," she said tearfully as he moved towards her. She stretched a hand out to quell his movements.
"You shouldn't be up yet. The doctors said the cut on your chest is deep from where, you know," Kagome leaned over to whisper in his human ear, "the demon's tail cut you. It had barbs on it or something. You've broken a few ribs as well."
"Keh," said Inuyasha noisily looking down at her restraining hand. "Nothing that would have killed me." Kagome's eyes flashed angrily.
"It might have. And what would I have been supposed to do then? How could you put yourself at risk like that knowing that you had no demon power to fight with? I…"
"Love my demon side more than me," interrupted Human Inuyasha piteously. His eyes were hard and cold, his face frozen stiffly with the shadow of a scowl tinging the corners of his face. "When it all comes down to it, miko, is that you love what my powers can do for you more than you love me."
"That's not true at all Inuyasha!" said Kagome her voice rising. "How could you say that! When what I really love most about you… is when you're not being a jerk and you... and you…"
Human Inuyasha blinked, hope rising in his chest unbidden.
"Is when you're human!" Kagome choked out throwing herself around his neck and shoulders, carefully avoiding his wounds.
"Kagome," murmured Human Inuyasha gently, feeling the tears that showered down on his face from above.
"Kagome, stop crying," he said gently reaching up a hand to stroke her cheek. Kagome nodded and bit her lip.
"Inuyasha," said Kagome wiping the tears from her eyes. "I don't want you to be split anymore. I don't want you to be in danger anymore. It frightens me too much."
"Keh. I was never invincible to start with. I've nearly gotten myself killed more times than I can count."
"I know that!" shouted Kagome back at him, causing her voice to reverberate against the painted cement block walls around her. She froze for a moment, fearful that a nurse would come in and she dropped her voice a little. "It's just that I always believed you would recover, just as long as you had your demon powers. It's just that you seemed so strong I could always lie to myself that you would be okay. I wanted to believe in your strength."
No words were spoken for a long time. The two just sat there, with Inuyasha stroking his thumb across Kagome's face as she leant hair cascading around him. After a long time, Inuyasha finally spoke.
"So the real problem is, how to get that bastard to join up with me again?"
Kagome nodded.
"I guess we had better start plotting then," said Inuyasha with a smirk. The long shadows began to stretch around them as the afternoon slipped into its later half.
Days passed. Finally, the scheduled day of Inuyasha's release had come. An early morning dawn began to stream down upon Kagome, causing a warm glow to light up her restful features. Wakened and anxious, Inuyasha laid a non-clawed hand upon his companion's hair and stroked it gently until she awoke.
"Kagome?" he asked gently as she stirred.
"Hm?" she asked.
"Can we go home yet?" the human said anxiously.
"No silly," said Kagome teasingly tickling the end of his nose, "the doctor hasn't come yet." She leaned over and kissed it.
"I have to admit, I kind of like you under this spell," said Inuyasha happily.
"It's not just the spell Inuyasha," said Kagome reprimandingly. "I always loved you it's just that it made us admit it, against our will." She blushed at the remembrance of their first confession. Inuyasha's eyebrow quirked upwards in question.
After a quick breakfast of orange juice and soft scrambled eggs for Inuyasha, short-haired doctor looking a lot like Miroku came in.
"Good morning," said the young doctor beaming as Miroku would when scamming someone. "I trust you are doing well this morning?" Without more of a prompt the doctor flipped up Inuyasha's shirt earning himself a round stream of curses from Inuyasha and a punch when he poked his sensitive ribs.
"Now now," said the doctor wiping his bruised cheek. "There's no sense in being a difficult patient." He resumed scribbling on the clipboard.
"Now Mrs. Higurashi," said the doctor looking towards the miko. "It says here on the paperwork that Inuyasha here was injured by a demon. Is that not correct?"
Kagome opened her mouth and tried to stall but found she couldn't. "Yes, that's correct doctor," she found herself saying like some sort of robot. Damn!
The doctor's eyes raised disbelievingly. "A demon, eh?" he said. "And what about you, Inuyasha? What do you have to say on this?"
"You heard hear stupid," said Inuyasha blunt as ever. "A demon did this to me."
The doctor's eyebrows twitched again and he resumed scribbling. He cleared his throat.
"Well, I have no idea what you two are hiding but I suppose it is not important for the purposes of this visit. However, the nurses at the front desk have some questions for you regarding the paperwork. Once you are done with that you may leave."
"Damn!" said Kagome as softly as she could manage.
"Here is a prescription for a pain reliever," continued the doctor tearing of a slip of paper and handing it to Kagome. "Try not to move around too much for the next couple of weeks and everything should heal fine. You should make another appointment with the front desk to remove the stitches in a couple of weeks."
"Thank you doctor," said Kagome bowing formally.
Hurrying to be on their way, Inuyasha and Kagome practically ran out the door and down the hall as soon as the doctor had disappeared.
"It hurts," moaned Inuyasha unable to lie.
"Be quiet," hissed Kagome. "We're already in as much trouble as it is. Oh no, here comes Hojo! Hide!" Pulling the human boy and herself behind a plastic fig tree, Kagome plastered them against one of the many alcoves while her school friend strolled by. "What is he doing here?" she wondered.
"You see, "said Hojo continuing his conversation with the nurse. "A dear friend of mine is always getting sick so it inspired me to volunteer and…"
Stuffing a fist in her mouth and dragging Inuyasha along by her other hand, Kagome managed to get them to the check-in desk safely.
"Er," she said to the nurses there. "Inuyasha and I will just be going now do if you don't have anymore questions…"
"Actually we do," said the head nurse sharply pushing back her little white nurse cap. She flipped open a stack of papers attached to a notebook.
"On this page you write that Inuyasha is employed as a, 'demon exterminator/ demon'? And on this page you failed to provide a last name or proof of an employer. And on this page you write, 'No living relatives except possibly brother.' To top it all off you write age as 501 years old. We let this paperwork through because it was an emergency but this is unacceptable. You're going to have to fill it all out again," said the nurse with a very evil glare. She shoved a stack of papers ten times wider than the first one into Kagome's hands.
"How am I going to get out of this one?" Kagome thought.
"But it is true," said Inuyasha boastfully leaning over the desk. "I'm sure that my Kagome filled it out as best as she was able and I won't forgive you for making things hard on her."
The head nurse glared daggers at him. "Well the truth is," said the nurse evilly, "that you are going to have to give us some real proof of your identification before you leave here."
"Identification?" Inuyasha repeated dumbly. "What the hell is that?"
Kagome opened her mouth and shut it. It looked like a real war was going across her features when suddenly she opened her mouth and squeaked out, "I'm lying."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"I'm lying," began Kagome. "You see, Inuyasha is an orphan. That's why he doesn't know the last names of either of his parents, he's always taken care of himself. He started hanging around my family's shrine four years ago so my grandfather gave him a part-time job at the shrine. He lives with us and he isn't any trouble you have to believe me."
The head nurse looked down at the girl her eyes furrowed.
"I see," she said. "Well, finish filling out this paperwork while I talk to my superiors, all right?" Kagome gulped and nodded her head.
The twosome wandered over to several of the waiting room chairs where Inuyasha watched Kagome write.
"Hey," he hissed. "Why were you able to lie?" Kagome shrugged.
"Practice, I guess," said she. "I'm used to lying about you just like Miroku is used to lying to Sango."
Seven hours and three pencils later, Kagome finished filling out a reamful of lies and half-truths. Slamming the paperwork down, she looked around and found the nurse's station empty so she began to sidle towards the door. Beginning to walk more quickly, she and Inuyasha headed downstairs to the vast sliding doors that would mean freedom for them. The two had just about reached the welcoming doorway when a secretary at the visitor's desk raised and pointed an incriminating finger towards her and Inuyasha.
A woman dressed in a casual-style business suit followed the line that the secretary's finger made. She was leant against the visitor's desk and she smiled at them. Forcefully she walked forward and took Inuyasha's hand to shake it.
"Hello," she said her eyes boring into those of the young boy's. "I take it you are Inuyasha? If you don't mind I would like to speak with you. You see, I am a social worker from the government and I have much to discuss with you and err, the Higurashi's." The woman glanced over to see Kagome's pale face.
Wacnald's was quickly becoming Kagome's least favorite place in the world. Sipping her straw angrily, she glared at the woman across from her and waited for her mother to come to rescue them. Upon a stroke of brilliance, Kagome had insisted that the social worker, whose name was Patiel, not ask anything of them until her mother and grandfather were there. Still, it didn't stop the annoying woman from trying to pry.
"So you have no family Inuyasha?" said Mrs. Patiel conversationally at the human once hanyou.
"Err, kinda," said Inuyasha unable to lie and forced to speak by the cursed spell. "I had a brother once but I guess we're not really blood related anymore. My mother and father both died long ago."
"What happened to both of them?" asked Mrs. Patiel ignoring Kagome's glares and attempts at interruption.
"Father died in a fight I guess," said Inuyasha pushing his straw around so that it squeaked in and out of the lid. "Mother died of pneumonia."
"Pneumonia?" said the woman far too interested for Kagome's liking. "Was she at a hospital?"
"No she died at home," said Inuyasha taking a bite of his burger. "But I don't really like to talk about it."
"I see," said the woman flipping open a notepad and writing on it.
Kagome slammed her fist down on the table.
"Now see here lady," she half-yelled across the restaurant crowded with her classmates.
"Inuyasha here is sixteen. He is old enough to live on his own now and I won't have anyone upsetting my err, fiancé." There, now she had said it.
"Fiance? Well excuse me dear for upsetting you. I'm simply trying to help you obtain identification for your future husband. Surely you can see no harm in that?"
Feeling the pressure around her beginning to diminish somewhat, Kagome slid back to her Wacnold's seat and clasped her hand with Inuyasha's own. He looked down at her curiously and to prevent him from saying anything Kagome slid into his lap and looked up at him.
"Do you love me?" she inquired.
"More than life itself. Why?"
"Because I need to know," said Kagome.
"Keh. You mean it's like a secret? Even before this spell I was always sticking my neck out for you." He bit into another burger and chewed it blushing.
Mrs. Patiel took his words as a romantic gesture and smiled at the two. "Don't be so concerned Miss Higurashi. If we can not find a birth certificate for your Inuyasha here and providing he has no criminal records we will simply work to issue him a new certificate and identification. It is essential not only for future medical reasons but it will also enable him to get a job in the future. You would like that wouldn't you? Besides it will be necessary when you fill out your wedding certificate. Just don't forget to invite me to the wedding, all right?" said the middle-aged woman winking at them. "Beyond that I believe I would be correct in assuming that Inuyasha has had no formal schooling?"
"He's never been to school," said Kagome for him.
"Well if that's the case I could make arrangements for him to attend a local school and have a private tutor. Beyond that there's not much I can do. Inuyasha has already reached an age at which many young people in Japan start living on their own. Fifteen is the magic year." (Okay, I have no idea if this is culturally accurate information I'm making it up based on little tidbits such as people are working at this age and comments that teenage boys get an apartment and so on.) Besides that, I believe I have your word that Inuyasha is going to continue living with your family, is that not correct?"
"Of course he's going to stay with me," said Kagome. "He promised he would never leave me again, ever. You won't will you?" she said looking up at Inuyasha who was blushing.
"I did say that," he said looking away chagrined, "and I meant it. I will always stay with you Kagome."
The middle-aged woman before them looked like she could eat it up with a spoon. "Ah, true love," she mumbled. "I could write a book based on this it's so romantic."
"Yeah right, whatever you old hag," muttered Inuyasha disrespectfully.
Somewhere in the Sengako Jidai, a shed door vibrated with a violent quake as a barrier was hit time and time again.
"Inuyasha's banging around again," said Sango laying out four cards on the ground beside her. "Got any jacks?"
"Go fish," said Miroku shuffling his deck out and rearranging it in his hand.
"Sango, Miroku," said Shippo wailing. "Kagome's been gone so long! When's she gonna be back?"
"Hopefully before Demon Inuyasha starves to death," said Miroku picking up a card. "There's no way I'm letting him out of the shed."
"Me neither," said Shippo hiding behind Sango's shoulder as a ferocious roaring continued accompanied by the sound of splintering.
Demon Inuyasha was having a very bad day, as well as week. His so-called packmates had trapped him in here ever since his traitorous mate had left him to go gallivanting around with his other half. True, they had thrown some dried rice, smoked fish, and a water keg in with him but that hardly diminished the insult or injury that had come with their betrayal. He was their pack leader dammit! Not some sort of enemy! True, he was in a way dangerous to them. Before he had been fully capable of conscious thought, he had even wounded Miroku once under the influence of rage. But he had never killed any of his packmates even when he had gone into his most beserk of killing frenzy. He knew his packmates by sight, by smell, by sound, and even taste as he had occasionally snuck a lick in late at night while those he guarded were dreaming. They were all his family.
The treachery of it all burned against him and his complaints turned into a mournful howl which chilled of Kaede's valley and Inuyasha's forest. His howl wavered even throughout the leaves and branches of old Goshinoboku. At last, Shippo could not stand it any more and slunk to the corner of the cottage where they had trapped him.
"Inuyasha," the young kitsune whispered. "Are you in there?"
"Yeah pup," said Demon Inuyasha with resentment yet sentimentally. "What do ya want?"
"I'm sure Kagome will be back to let you out soon. It's just that none of us are able to yet. She told us to keep you here."
"You're listening to her are you?" said Demon Inuyasha with a low throaty growl. Shippo gulped as Inuyasha stopped talking abruptly.
"Say Shippo, could you get the Tetsusiaga?"
"Whhhhhhaaaaaattttt?" Shippo stuttered out.
"You heard me runt!" barked out the demon. "Go to old Kaede's and get my Tetsusiaga! Shove it under the door!"
"Why do want that?" said Shippo suspiciously. "There's no power in it."
"I just feel like it okay now do it!" shouted Inuyasha to the guillible child.
"Okay Inuyasha," said Shippo quivering. "If it makes you feel better I'll get it."
"It would," said Demon Inuyasha more peacefully. Shippo scampered away. Inside the cabin, Demon Inuyasha gave a wicked grin. "I'm going to have to show you all who's packleader here."
The bell rang and Kagome slid down behind her school desk. "Ah," she said blissfully. "At school at last. After all that has happened lately finally some normalcy."
"Hey Kagome," said Eri whispering behind her. "So you're finally over those weird tropical diseases your cousin gave you? And how about that malaria, has your grandpa sprayed for mosquitos yet?"
"Grandpa, you told them things like that?" thought Kagome. "I'm so glad that curse is over, for me at least."
"Yeah, I'm fine," said Kagome forcing a smile. "Got out of the hospital last week." That at least wasn't a lie.
"Poor Kagome-chan," said Yume. "Did your fiancé visit you while you were at the hospital?"
"Huh? Who told you about that?" said Kagome nearly dying.
"Oh come on Kagome, practically everybody knows. You announced it while you were in Wacnold's. My second cousin and an old friend work there and they both told me about it. Besides, it's on the rumor board and in the school newspaper.
"What!" said Kagome as she was handed a two-page newsletter with a picture of her sitting in a wheelchair looking rundown. The title was, "School Invalid Finds True Love!"
"You really should have said something about being so serious before, Kagome. I mean, Hojo was devastated when he heard the news."
"Yeah," said the third. "But then he took it really well I guess. He crumbled up the newletter and then with tears in his eyes he cried, 'At last poor Kagome is rewarded for all her suffering!' " Yuka flailed her arms around emphatically.
"Say, Hojo isn't here at school today is he?" said Kagome laughing nervously.
"Can't say," said her three friends simultaneously.
Kagome's thoughts were interrupted as the schoolroom door slid back and the teacher entered followed by an all too familiar form.
"Class, I would all like to meet our newest student. Mr. Inuyasha Takahashi, please say hello to all your fellow students."
"Hey," said Kagome's fiancé.
"No!" Kagome screamed out to herself. "I mean yes! I mean help me somebody!"
Oblivious to her distress, Inuyasha looked over the class and settled on her face. Kagome watched him raise his hand to wave it as if in slow motion.
"No," she muttered to absolutely no one.
"Hey Kagome!" shouted Inuyasha with ear-piercing loudness. "Why did you leave so early this morning? You still owe me three kisses you know."
"I do?" muttered Kagome in denial, her ears burning.
"Yeah, you said you would trade cereals in exchange for three kisses, don't pretend you don't know fiance."
Kagome couldn't sink any lower into her chair; it simply wasn't possible. She felt the hot gaze of her entire class upon her. Inuyasha stomped up to her.
"I would like those kisses now you know," said Human Inuyasha blushing to contrast his spell-induced speech. "But I guess I can wait till after class," he mumbled slouching down into his seat.
"Wow," Eri hissed at Kagome. "Did he get his hair dyed or something? I thought he said he was born albino. And besides, that two-timer boyfriend of yours turned out to be your fiancé? Who would have imagined?"
"Exactly what I was thinking," said Kagome dismally. She caught Inuyasha's eye and tried to ignore him.
Kagome might have, could have, and in fact did reliably predict the fact that Inuyasha wouldn't last more than five minutes in the classroom. Barely three minutes had passed before one of the dorkier boys dared to throw a wad of paper at the back of Inuyasha's head. The human once hanyou turned around and gave a warning glareat the offender. Two minutes later the culprit threw another wad of paper, this time at Kagome's head and that was the end of it. When five minutes were up, Inuyasha was standing over the bloodied nose of a schoolbody. "Stupid boy," he roared shaking the walls of the classroom. "You're lucky I let you off so easy. If you do that again I'll kill you for slighting Kagome."
"Wow," Eri shaking. "You were right Kagome, he is possessive and violent."
"And he seemed like such a nice guy too," said Yuka quivering.
Kagome merely stood up sighing and led Inuyasha by hand to the door.
"I guess we'll be going to the principal's office," she told the teacher.
The school day passed slowly. After spending morning in detention with Inuyasha, Kagome went outside and hid in a tree with Inuyasha to eat lunch. Then it was gym time. Much to Kagome's surprise, when she walked into the gymnasium to change her clothes, she saw a stack of archery bows and arrows with the plastic cover at the end instead of a real feather.
"Wow Inuyasha," said Kagome running a finger along the edge of a bow. "Something I can do."
"Yeah, whatever," said Inuyasha with his usual rudeness. Still, when he looked upon Kagome standing there, there was pride within his gaze.
"All right everybody," called the gym teacher to her pupils. "Today we have a special guest, Yura Owata, the head of this district's competitive archery club. She will be teaching us all the proper techniques for beginner's archery. Of course, a few of you may already be taking lessons but all of you, please do your best."
The entire class lined up, with Kagome pulling Inuyasha into the row beside her. The archery teacher came up behind the two of them surveyed them attentively.
"Hm," said Yura thoughtfully. "Kagome-chan, your hair is kind of long. It might be better if you tied it back. It could interfere with your archery." Yura stuck a hand down into her pocket and pulled out a hair scrunchie.
Kagome twisted it on reluctantly. She hated to put her hair up like this, especially since it made her look like Kikyo. When the hateful hairtie was finally fixed in place she looked at Inuyasha shame faced. She had no time to dwell on such matters however because Yura spoke up again, this time to Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha-chan," announced Yura. "Your hair is even longer than Kagome's. For you, I would recommend this," dipping her hand her hand into her pocket again, she withdrew a pink plastic hair clip.
"I am not wearing that," said Inuyasha loudly. The majority of Kagome's class broke out into gales of laughter much to Kagome's dismay. "Just put it on!" she hissed whirling Inuyasha around and fastening it for him. Yura frowned.
"Everyone, archery lessons will take place everyday of this week until Friday. From now on, if you have hair longer than shoulder length you should remember to bring something to tie it back with to class. I would also remind you to pay more attention to class announcements in future." The instructor strolled away with a very stern face.
After half an hour of explanations, warnings, and demonstrations, through most of which Inuyasha yawned or muttered, "blah, blah, blah," for in Kagome's ear, the class was finally ready to shoot.
"You first, Inuyasha," said Kagome grinning (they had switched hairties by then).
"Heh. Stop grinning so much," said Inuyasha releasing the arrow and nearly getting a bullseye.
"Hm, not bad," said Kagome pulling out an arrow for herself. She had to take a moment's time to aim as usual, but she clearly hit the mark dead-on.
"Ha," said Inuyasha goading her on. "Let's see you try that with two arrows." He pulled out several from the bag on the floor and let them loose in quick succession. Kagome tried to emulate and the first of her arrows struck true but the second one was very much astray.
"Keep trying Kagome," muttered Inuyasha out of the corner of his mouth and taking aim once again. "If you could learn to be more consistent and quicker on the draw it would help us defeat Naraku." He let his own arrow fly.
"You still intend to go after him?" whispered Kagome so that no one else could hear.
"Yeah," said Human Inuyasha nodding. "But to do so I would need to rejoin with my other side."
"You would do that?" whispered Kagome. "What about staying here? You have a chance to live in my world and never have to fight, to live at peace. What about that?"
Inuyasha closed his eyes for a moment as if in pain then reopened them. "I have to try," he murmured. "Even if it means my death, even if it means I have to forfeit the life I would have here with you, I have to try." He let loose another arrow and it lodged itself by Kagome's bullseye.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" said Kagome curiously.
"Surely you don't think I watched grass grow for 500 years," he said smiling.
In the depths of the night, a light tap sounded on the floor of a hut lit by the scarlet-orange glow of warm coals diminishing into embers. A slight scuffle was heard, then a dragging sound, then a slight flapping sound as the door to the hut was opened letting in the chill of the wind. A sky of blue opened up to the only observer, and he scurried away with his prey, his prize, his treasure for another. A shrill breeze echoed itself, repeating unceasingly like many overlapping waves, blowing itself gustily throughout the fur of a young fox demon. Guiltily, Shippo laid the mighty sword known as Tetsusiaga upon his back. Transforming himself into a piebald pony, he prepared to ferry it away.
It was a mystery to Shippo why he could hold the Tetsusiaga. He wondered why, though it repulsed other demons and repulsed even Inuyasha's older brother Sesshomaru, it had never done any harm to him. He wondered if it had something to do with the fact that the Tetsusiaga recognized him, since it had protected him on countless occasions. Butits unwillingness to hurt himtook placeeven before the Tetsusiaga was drained and now, it lay there as dullen and untransforming as wood even in Demon Inuyasha's hands. So why was it so useful to him now? Shippo counted it as merely a sentimentality and he was prepared to do most anything for Inuyasha since he could understand all the heartbreak that the older demonexpressed in demon language, things uttered that Miroku and Sango simply could not understand and that made Shippo restless.
Inuyasha's demonic wailing had woven itself into an eerie song, shocking all of the forest into silence both night and day. Even inthe hours of early evening, the youkai that bled itself into the ground kept the woods silent. Shippo could hear the strain as if were the beating of his heart.
"My mate has abandoned me, gone to another land in love of another,"
"My pup has abandoned me, renouncing my name,"
"My pack-brethren have turned on me and shown their teeth,"
"I bleed inside as if in death,"
"For the moon is shut out from me,"
"My prey laughs in my face,"
"My only water is bitter, taken stale from the free-flowing streams."
"I hunger for that which I desire,"
"And that which has fled me, forever"
"As my strength descends into death."
As Shippo scurried through the night, hastening towards the hut to stop the song with his small offering he sensed a presence and stumbled in the grass. When he looked up he saw white billowy fabric on a tall leg and the person they belonged to.
"The Inu-youkai death song," said Sesshomaru standing atop the hill listening to his brother's song. "Humph. How dramatic. A wonder that he should know it being still a half demon as he is. Still, the power he absorbed from father's fang has likely rekindled memories he never knew he had." Like a shadow in the night, the demonic presence known as Sesshomaru slipped away.
Confused that Sesshomaru had let him keep the broken sword, Shippo hastened to the little hut and knocked at its door tentatively.
"Who's there?" said Inuyasha gruffly and as dismally as he could manage.
"I brought your sword," said the little kitsune. There was a brief pause.
"Great. Slip the blade under the door Shippo."
"What good will that do?" the young fox asked.
"So I can see it," was the reply.
With some misgivings, Shippo unsheathed the Tetsusiaga and rammed it under the thin edge at the bottom. "Perfect," said Demon Inuyasha.
With a wicked grin, Demon Inuyasha touched the edge of the sword blade so that an electric current ran throughout the half on his side of the door, transforming it. Concentrating, he forced the power backwards so that the entire blade transformed.
"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" screamed Shippo. "There's no way you can break through Miroku's spell scrolls, you tried that already!"
"I don't have to break through," the demon shouted happily. "I just have to neutralize them!" With a board-shattering crash, Inuyasha leapt out of the hut's ceiling clearing any barrier's Miroku had made. Then he came down to the ground and bopped Shippo on the head so that he blacked out.
"Sorry about that pup," said Demon Inuyasha rearranging Shippo and tucking him into the front of his shirt. "But I don't want you giving the others advance warning." Demon Inuyasha leaned down to retrieve the sword from the door. It gave an angry crackle as he touched it.
"Damn," said Demon Inuyasha as he looked at his smoking fingers. "It allowed some of the Great Dog Demon's power in but I can't retrieve it. I had better not touch that sword again or else I will not have enough power to sustain this material form." He looked at his hand deeply engrossed in thought. After a while, demon Inuyasha began running, no flying across the land with Shippo tucked in his front.
"We'll see who orders who," he said with an amused fang exposed.
The embers of the fire spit and Miroku turned over in his sleep, his hand stretching out reflexively for Sango's butt which remained sadly out of reach. He sighed mournfully.
Also on reflex, Sango made odd waving motions in the air. "Miroku stop," she muttered before turning over and falling back into the traceless regions of her dreams.
The night fell into silence once more and all would have been well except that old Lady Kaede sat up from her bedroll.
"An enormous malevolent youkai approaches," she said slightly terrified. Miroku sat up as well fumbling upright and eyes widening in fear.
"Oh no, I recognize this aura," he said horrified.
Sango, Kilala, and Miroku ran out of the hut followed by Kaede as a red cloud gathered upon the horizon bringing brilliancy to the night.
"Is it Naraku?" said Sango holding out her weapon. Miroku shook his head.
"Unfortunately we are not so lucky," said he.