Inuyasha could hardly believe that the strongly composed girl before him had so weakly allowed her emotions to overrun her only a few hours ago.
"What's wrong Inuyasha? Intimidated by my stance?" Kiki teased. Sango had provided her with a pair of gloves that would keep her spiritual powers out of the way, just so she wouldn't end up frying Inuyasha during the match. He, in turn, clipped his nails, reassuring her that they'd grown back in an hour, tops. It had been an uncomfortable process anyways, because he had never clipped them before.
"Feh. Hardly." He snapped back at her, cracking his knuckles. "That stance couldn't scare a small child."
"It's scaring me…" the boy from the headman's room murmured from outside the sparring ring. Both Kiki and Inuyasha had learned at dinner that the boy's name was Kohaku, and that he was Sango's younger brother. He had a short, light blue kimono with checkered patterns of darker blue and his weapon of choice was a version of a kusarigama, also known as a "Chain-Blade"; completely different from Sango's hiraikotsu, or boomerang bone. It would have been hard to believe they were siblings if they didn't look so alike.
Kiki lunged at Inuyasha with a spin-around-back-kick, swinging forward in an uppercut as soon as he caught her leg. He blocked her oncoming punch with his other hand, only to be kicked under the chin with Kiki's remaining foot. He let go of her leg in his surprise, and Kiki took the moment to do a twisted back flip, landing in a running position. Inuyasha ran at her and she swung her leg around to trip him. He nimbly jumped over it and tried to swing his leg around and kick her in the stomach.
Kiki leaned backwards, his foot skimming over her chest. She grabbed it
as passed over her face, swinging her leg around again and knocking
Inuyasha onto his back. She pounced at him and he rolled quickly to the
side, evading her and jumping up. He reached down and yanked her into
the air by her hair, her feet barely skimming the ground. Growling in
pain, Kiki shoved her feet behind her and locked them around one of his
ankles, pulling his feet out from under him.
Both of them fell backwards and landed, outstretched, on top of each
other. Inuyasha let out a large huff of air. "Draw!" Sango called from
outside the makeshift ring, raising a hand. "Well done!"
Kiki rolled off the huffing half-demon boy and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Good… moves…" she panted, causing him to grimace.
"Good moves? You're a human, and I only got a draw! If I'd had my claws, you'd be in shreds!" he barked in reply, rolling onto his hands and then pushing himself off the ground. "Pathetic!"
"Sit!" Kiki growled in irritation. He fell to the ground with a disgruntled cry of shock.
"Are you good with swords? You look liked you'd be." Sango inquired, entering the ring and offering Kiki a hand. The young priestess accepted the offer and yanked herself up with Sango's support.
"I'm fairly good with one, and deadly with two. I also have power over wind, fire, and water. I'm not very good with a normal bow and arrow but I can conjure up a temporary spiritual one…" Kiki sighed, stretching a leg out in front of her. "And I'm also pretty well trained in martial arts. I've always had a knack for fighting. A man used to live in our village who taught a lot of things. If you really think about all I can do… it's amazing. I'm deadly."
"It shows!" Kohaku exclaimed, running past Inuyasha, who was prying himself from the ground. "You're awe inspiring!"
"Feh! A strong demon like me could bring her down easily." Inuyasha snapped with a pout. Kiki glared daggers at him.
"You're only a half-breed." She stated in a deathly silky voice. "You're no better than I am." Inuyasha winced, swinging his feet out in front of him and then sitting Indian-style.
"Wench." He sneered, flexing his hands and examining them as his claws came back out. "You'll never possess the power that I do."
"Ummm… Kiki-chan, do you want to go to the practice course and try out some of the swords?" Sango asked brightly, trying to lift the conversation. Kiki spun, smiling widely.
"Yes! Of course! I can't wait to see the demon-slayer-quality swords!" Kiki dreamily exclaimed. Sango turned and began to leave, with Kiki skipping happily behind her.
"She's so pretty…" Kohaku sighed, slumping down next to Inuyasha and staring after the two. "And so talented…"
Something inside of Inuyasha panged protectively. How dare this human child long for his woman? "Don't go anywhere near her," He warned, cracking his fingers dangerously. "Or your life span will be shorter than you expected."
Kohaku gulped as Inuyasha stood up and went to follow the two women, leaving the boy staring dumbstruck at his tense back.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Purple eyes glinting with the heat of battle, Kiki's spiritually gloved hands tightened around the sword hilts. The daito swords fit her perfectly; long, and slightly curved with katana-style hilts. Sango had laughed at her selection process, telling her that if she passed the final demon-slayer test with the swords then she could keep them.
A sort of electric heat ran through her arms at the sight of the blades in front of her. Using every sap of will in her body, she managed to draw her gaze from the blade and examine the course in front of her.
Kiki was to cut down all 25 straw dummies in the span of 20 seconds. Plus, she had to truly destroy them; as in, cut them in half. Sango leaned on a fence nearby, watching her intently.
"She has a good stance, but I'm not sure she can handle the weight of both of those swords. Her arms are probably tired from all that practice swinging she did when selecting them, too. Plus, they're daito swords. Too long to use as doubles." Sango explained to Inuyasha, pointing out all of Kiki's selection mistakes. He wasn't facing the course but leaning next to Sango and sneakily peering over his shoulder as Kiki went through a strange, complicated exercise.
"Is that why you promised her such fine blades? Because you don't believe she can do it?" He asked bitterly, crossing his arms.
"Exactly." Sango cheerfully replied. She waved a hand at Kiki, who stopped her exercises and stared at her. "Ready to go?" she called.
Kiki nodded and swung her blades in front of her, using the tips of her fingers to spin them. Sango let her hand drop quickly. "GO!"
They didn't even see her sword slice at the dummies, watching in a confused fashion as she sliced the air in front of every one and then moved on the next. Not one dummy looked like it had even taken one scratch by the time she reached the end of the course, with two seconds to spare.
"Sorry, Kiki! Looks like you didn't-" Sango began but stopped. As soon as Kiki turned around the wind blew gently, knocking the top half of every straw dummy on the course to the ground. The wind picked up straw and dust so Inuyasha and Sango could see it twisting around her like a serpent, blowing her hair in all different directions. Her face was stone hard, sweat dripping down her forehead.
"Impressive." Inuyasha yawned, stretching and then heading towards the village. "And your face was priceless, Sango. Well worth the wait."
Surprisingly, there was no reply from the usually cocky young woman. She was to busy grinning.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"You should be asleep." Inuyasha growled softly. Kiki didn't turn to look at him. She had the swords she had won in front of her and was running her right hand slowly down one of them. "Kiki, go to sleep."
"Don't bother me." Kiki hissed. She opened her eyes and violet light spilled around her. "I'm working on something."
Inuyasha almost pounced on when he saw the light; last time light had
poured from Kiki's eyes she had tried to kill everyone around her.
However, this time she seemed in control. He leaned curiously against
the wall next to the screen that connected their rooms, watching her.
The sword she was passing her hand over started to glow, and an
inscription of some kind began to burn into it. Before long, Inuyasha
realized that Kiki was blessing her swords so that she could use her
spiritual powers through them and not destroy them in the process. The
blade of the sword she was working on began to take an unnatural light
purple color.
Suddenly, Kiki collapsed. She fell backwards onto the floor, eyes widening and illuminating the room. Inuyasha rushed forward and caught her just before she hit the floor.
"Kiki! Kiki! Are you alright? What happened?" Inuyasha frantically inquired at the girl. Her eyelids began to droop, and no reply whispered intelligently from her mouth. Inuyasha rested a hand on her neck, his thumb outlining her pulse. It was weak. Quickly, he skimmed up to her forehead. It was like fire.
"Idiot! You're sick! Why the hell would you perform a spiritual ceremony like that when you're sick?" Inuyasha cursed. He picked her up bridal style, much like the time he had carried her away from the large fire in the woods; the one she had put out with rain.
As if on cue, Kiki's head tilted in towards Inuyasha's chest and she snuggled against him. Trying to keep a blush from crawling up his face, Inuyasha ran out the door and towards Sango's room.
Hers was the only room he could remember.
>>>>>>>>>>
A woman closed the door behind her as she came out, wiping her hands on her apron. Looking up, she noticed Inuyasha and smiled. "She'll be fine. With a husband like you, she was able to pass through the worst of the sickness unharmed."
"Husband?" Inuyasha echoed, his eyes wide and surprised. The woman smiled and started down the hallway. He didn't have the heart to correct her.
"Inuyasha? You can come in now." Sango voiced to him from behind the door. She sounded tired; she should be, after the night Kiki had put all of them through. The half-demon boy gently opened the door. Kiki was lying on a sleeping mat, sheets draw up to her chest, arms on top of the covers. Her eyes were open and slightly glazed over, and she apparently wasn't taking in the fact that a wet cloth was sitting on her forehead. She didn't turn when Inuyasha entered. She didn't really seem to realize he or Sango was in the room with her.
"Is she…?" Inuyasha inquired softly, sitting down with a muffled thump next to her. Sango was providing Kiki's pillow; as in, Kiki's head was in Sango's lap.
"She's asleep, yes. But she hasn't closed her eyes yet, for some strange reason," Sango sighed. "I guess it's just the sickness that's doing it. I tried closing them a couple times."
"But are you sure she's asleep? Do you know why she got sick?" Inuyasha insisted, eyeing the open-eyed form warily. "She's done this before, if only for a minute or two. That was when she was trapped in her mind."
"I assure you, she isn't trapped in her own head. If anything, she's just dreaming an odd dream… or searching her mind subconsciously for something. She should wake up around daybreak."
"Sango, I'll take your position. You can go," Inuyasha sighed
irritably. He somehow felt responsible for having put her through all
of this. She deserved some sleep. "You need to rest, and I don't really
require that much sleep."
Reluctantly, Sango lifted Kiki's head and slid out from under her.
Inuyasha sat in a kneeling position instead, allowing Sango to place
Kiki's head in his lap.
"Well, goodnight, Inuyasha. You know… You act all cocky and stuff, but you're actually pretty kind." Sango stated with a stretch, leaving the room before Inuyasha could reply. Instead, he stared down into the eyes of the woman below him.
"Feh."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Are you calling to me?"
"Yes."
"Girl, why have you awakened me?"
"I need advice on Inuyasha."
Kikyo sighed, reclining in midair and contemplating her answer. "On Inuyasha?" She repeated questioningly.
Kiki sighed in a frustrated tone. "Yes! Inuyasha! I need help."
"You have caused your body a sickness by calling me so suddenly. Your friends are worried. They're taking care of you."
Kiki paled, feeling woozy at her words. "I… what? I didn't call you. I was trying to bless my sword. I'm just trying to make the best of it."
"By using so much of my spiritual energy in one moment, you awakened me. Plus, the large hunk of energy that did it was taken away quite abruptly. I told you that if you ever needed my help you should call on me… but I suppose I should have clarified HOW to do that…"
"Kikyo, we can talk about that later. What I need advice on is Inuyasha."
"Fine… What is the problem?"
"He acts like... Well, he's still a jerk most of the time, but he has these periods when he almost sounds… I don't know… sweet. It's confusing."
"Like right now? I'm using your eyes. He is gazing lovingly at you, cradling your head in his lap. He has stayed with you all night. He has also changed the wet cloth on your head that helps keep your fever down."
"He what? Fever? Huh?" Kiki exclaimed, paling even more. She reached out to Kikyo's relaxed and floating form, touching her ghost-like kimono sleeve. Suddenly, she had the ability to see. She could feel Kikyo leaving her mind and sinking happily back into her body. Kikyo hadn't really wanted to give the girl advice on Inuyasha.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Inuyasha's eyes widened as Kiki blinked and then raised a hand to her head.
"Holy shit, my head hurts." She groaned, lifting her head from Inuyasha's lap and placing it in her hand as the cloth fell off.
"You kept saying my name." Inuyasha growled in an accusing tone from behind her. Kiki's eyes drooped unhappily with the realization that Kikyo had been telling the truth. Inuyasha had been cradling her head in his lap.
"I'm sorry to worry you and keep you up this late." Kiki apologized with a cracking voice. "I'm so sorry."
Before Kiki or Inuyasha knew what was happening, Kiki had twisted herself around and burrowed her sobbing form against his right shoulder. "I'm so sorry!"
Inuyasha uneasily placed his hands on her back to comfort her. When she didn't flinch or object he pulled her to him, clutching her shaking body to him tightly. "It's ok." He told her, unsure of what he was forgiving her for. "You're safe now."
They sat there for quite a while, Kiki's sobs slowly losing their force. Inuyasha never loosened his grasp on her, not wanting to let go.
"I'm ok now, Inuyasha…" Kiki sniffed. "I'm sorry." Kiki pulled slightly back from him, easing into his now loosened grip. Then something else happened; Inuyasha made some sharp, quick movements and pulled her into his lap, cradling her head and slipping his arms underneath her legs. He had managed to get himself into and Indian-style sitting position.
"You expect me to just let you go back to your room after that?" he asked demandingly. Kiki could feel herself blush, and tried to keep her eyes from widening in surprise. Her eyes needed a break – she had been flexing them all night. "Do you really expect me to just let you walk out of here?"
Inuyasha eased her head back so that she could see his face. His look was soft, yet his eyes gave way to the lust that he was feeling. Kiki scrunched up her face in confusion. "You look so cute when you're trying to figure out what's going on." Inuyasha snickered more to himself than to Kiki. He leaned his head forward, tilting his head slightly. "I just can't resist." He whispered, right before he brushed his lips against hers. An electrifying jolt passed through her body, worse than surprise yet better than anything she had ever imagined. She closed her eyes happily and eased in to the kisses. Although she could tell he was holding back, each and every one was hungry for more. Kiki and Inuyasha flew away from each other when the screen door slowly began to slide open.
"Inuyasha, is Kiki awake yet?" Sango called in. Inuyasha's eyes darted towards the screen next to them that blocked the deck from the room they were in. It was a good hour past daybreak, although neither of them had noticed. When Sango opened the door fully and stepped into the room, her eyes toke in the scene before her. Kiki was looking quite distressed, tangled in her sheets and facing Sango's direction with wide, shocked eyes. Inuyasha was looking towards the screen to the deck, his face beet red.
"I won't ask you why you both look like that for respect of your privacy," Sango began with a teasing tone in her voice. "Yet if you ever do want to tell me, I'm all ears."