A/N: Wow, I haven't written one of these in almost a year! So, gomen if I am a little rusty. Please read onward. Thanks! Oh, and InuYasha is gonna be human, but he's still gonna have his killer hair and eyes and maybe even his ears two, you'll have to read to find out.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
InuYasha is a major jockey. 'Horse racing is a mans world, women shouldn't be racing horses. That's what InuYasha Takahashi thought. But Kagome Higurashi thought differently. 'I can do anything a man can.' that's what she thought. But then an accident happens and Kagome might never be able to ride, or race a horse for that matter, again. These two jockeys are both exalent in the saddle but can they handle the way they feel when they are out of it? As these two jockey's race for the finish line, they are also racing from their own feelings.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
-Chapter One: The Race-
"Hold still, will you, Kat?" A young woman asked a large Thoroughbred mare as she ran a curry comb over her grey coat.
The horse tossed her head and pawed at the ground nervously with her front fore leg, nearly stomping on the young womans foot.
"Watch it!" She cried and jumped back just in time.
A chuckle came from out side the stall. "Is Kat making more trouble for you, Kagome?" A deep males voice asked.
Kagome sighed. "You don't know the half of it." She said and sighed again.
Her full name was Kagome Higurashi and she was a jockey. A woman working in a male dominated world.
Kagome had come into the world of horse racing when she was sixteen, starting out grooming the horses, mucking out the stalls, cleaning tack, feeding the horses, ext. That was four years ago, now Kagome was a young woman of twenty-one and had come a long way from mucking out stalls. Now, she was an accomplished jockey with an exalent career.
She had bright brown eyes, almost hazel in color, clear pale skin, long, thick black hair that was pulled into a low pony-tail, and her voice was the most gentlest and kindest you'd ever hear.
The man chuckled again. "She's always nervous before a race." He commented.
The man was Miroku Kazanna, a Thoroughbred race horse owner. He had short black hair with a small rats tail in the back, his eyes were a dark brown, so dark that at times they seemed black, and he had a friendly smile.
Unfortunately, he was also a lech and groped women constantly.
Kagome nodded her head and wiped the sweat from her brow. "How long before they call for the starting gate?" She asked and stepped out of the stall, hoping that the nervous horse would settle down at least a little.
Miroku looked at the watch on his left wrist. "In about an hour." He replied and began to follow Kagome out of the racing barn.
Kagome blinked her eyes as they stepped out of the cool barn and into the bright April sunshine. "I should go change into my silks then." She said as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun.
Miroku smiled at her and placed his hand on the small of Kagome's back. "I will gladly assist you, Kagome-sama." He said and slid his hand lower than it should have gone.
Kagome's left eyebrow twitched and she whirled to her side and slapped him hard across the face, leaving a red hand print on his face. "Don't go acting like an hentai right before a race!" She yelled.
Miroku smiled and held his hands up in defense. Kagome can be the nicest person in the world. But right before a race she's nervous and temper mentle. Just like a flighty colt. He thought to himself with a chuckle.
Kagome scowled at him and whirled around on her heel and stomped away towards the womens changing rooms.
Kagome opened the doors to the womens changing rooms to find it completely empty. "Guess that means I'm the only woman in this race." She said, her voice echoing slightly in the empty room.
She shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the lockers and opened the one that had been assigned to her and pulled out her racing silks.
She pulled of her blue jeans and slipped the white silk pants on. Then she pulled off her white stained tee-shirt and put on the purple and black checkered racing shirt. She re-tied her hair into a low pony-tail and picked up her racing helmet and then made her way to the jockey's lounge.
Unlike the womens changing rooms, the jockeys lounge was crowded and loud. there were men and women all over the place! Some were playing pool or playing card game, some were sitting in couches and chairs gathered around a large screen TV and watching races from earlier that day, and still others were gathered in small groups talking horses and racing.
"Hey, Kagome!" A voice called out to her from across the room.
Kagome looked and saw her close friend, Sango Hirakoutsu.
Sango was a pretty twenty-three year old with dark brown hair, almost black, brown eyes, and an attitude that told people right off that she wasn't one who tolerated being pushed around.
Kagome waved at her and then began to walk over, weaving around a group of people discussing a race that had gone on earlier that day. "Hey, Sango." She said as she plopped down next to her on the couch she was sitting on.
Sango smiled at her friend. "Hi, Kagome. You gotta race this afternoon?" She asked and took a sip out of the Coke that was in her hand.
Kagome nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm riding Kat Wink in the fifth race. What about you? You got any rides?" she questioned.
Sango shook her head and sat her drink down. "No. I had two this morning, but none this afternoon." she said. "So, I'm guessing you still ride for Miroku if your riding Kat Wink." She commented.
Kagome chuckled. "Yeah, I still ride for him sometimes. You know, you should go talk to him. He could offer you some pretty good horses to ride." She suggested.
Sango frowned and crossed her arms. "Like I would really want to ride for the lecherous horse trainer." She said with a stubborn set to her jaw, but a glint in her eyes talk Kagome that she probably would talk to Miroku.
She laughed quietly to herself. She knew that her friend had feelings for the horse owner, she was just to stubborn to admit to herself.
"So, you're in the fifth race as well, huh?" A deep masculine voice asked from behind them.
Kagome's spine stiffened when she heard the voice. Oh great. This is just what I need. She thought and turned her head towards the voice.
The man that had spoken was extremely handsome. He had thick white hair that went to his mid back he had a nice muscular build, but not overly, and he had the most amazing amber eyes that had just about every girl swooning over him. But what caught people's attention the most, aside from his amber colored eyes, were his triangular dog ears atop his head. It might have been a birth defect, but the fuzzy ears just added to his hotness as far as others were concerned.
If only he had the right attitude to go with his looks, then he would be the perfect man. She thought. "What are you doing here, Takahashi?" She growled out at the man.
The white haired man smirked at her and took the empty seat next to her. "Nothin', I just still can't believe you still insist on racing when you know you're gonna lose." He commented, smirk still firmly in place.
Kagome scowled at him nd clenched her fists angrily, trying to hold her temper. If I'm angry it will ruin my concentration for the race. She thought as she took a deep breath. Luckily, Sango took care of InuYasha for her.
"Lay off, InuYasha. Just because Kagome beat you in the last race you guys were in doesn't mean you have to go around acting like a spoiled puppy." She said as she smiled innocently.
InuYasha's smirk turned into a frown and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Feh, whatever, wench." He muttered and stood and walked across the room.
Kagome smiled at her friend in thanks. "Thanks Sango. I don't think I could have handled him and then go race." She said gratefully.
Sango waved her thanks off with a shrug of her shoulders. "It's no problem." She replied and smiled at her friend.
"All riders for the fifth race, please go to the saddling paddock. All riders for the fifth race, please go to the saddling paddock." A voice blared over the loud speakers.
Kagome' stomach lurched excitedly and she stood. "Well, guess I'd better go." She said.
Sango stood also and gave her friend a hug. "Go make those pompous jerks eat your dust." She said, making the younger woman laugh.
Kagome smiled at her friend once more and then turned and followed the other riders, including InuYasha, out of the jockeys lounge.
She reached the saddling paddock to find it full of sleek Thoroughbreds and jockeys in colorful racing silks.
She looked around and spotted Miroku leading a saddled, excited, and prancing Kat Wink.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the horses that surrounded her, and strode over to Miroku and Kat Wink, offering Miroku a nervous smile and giving Kat a soothing pat on her muscled neck.
Miroku returned the smile and bent over, offering her a leg up into the saddle.
Kagome took the offer and lightly bounced on her foot and then sprang into the small racing saddle. She bent over to adjust her stirrups and then straightened, taking the reins into her sweat hands.
"Any last minute advice?" She asked Miroku as she circled the nervous Thoroughbred.
Miroku shook his head. "Just the usual stuff. Try to get to the rail as soon as you can and be careful. Oh, and be sure to watch out for the number seven horse, Midnights Trouble. He's the favorite in this race." He advised.
Kagome nodded her head in acknowledgment."Who's riding him?" She asked.
Miroku looked down at a racing schedule that was in his hand. "InuYasha Takahashi." He replied, knowing very well that Kagome and the other jockey didn't get along at all.
Kagome's hands clenched around Kat's reins at the mention of the other jockey's name. Great, that means I'm gonna be in the slot next to that arrogant jerk. Just great. She thought with a scowl on her face.
Kat snorted and tossed her head at the tension she felt in the reins, jerking Kagome from her thoughts.
I can't let him get to me now. She thought and immediately loosened her grip on the reins and the Thoroughbred calmed slightly.
"All riders to the starting gate, all riders to the starting gate." A voice blared over the speakers once again.
Kagome felt a rush of excitement and nervousment rush through her as her stomach did a flip flop.
Miroku patted her knee reassuringly and smiled. "Good luck, Kagome." He said and stepped back, handing his Thoroughbred over to the lead pony.
Kagome took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, knowing that if she didn't her horse would sense her nervousment and get even more nervous itself.
The lead pony led the race horse out to the turf racing course, and as soon as the horses hooves touched the dirt turf, the grand stands filled with people erupted into loud cheers.
The sudden screaming startled Kat and she skittered nervously on her hind quarters, trying to rear up but the young man on the lead pony kept a firm hold on the lead rope that was attached to Kat Winks bridle.
Kagome leaned over and patted Kat's neck. "Easy girl, save it for the race," She said soothingly and Kat's ears flicked back to show that she was listening and she calmed slightly and she stopped skittering around, as well as trying to rear up.
They finally reached the starting gate and the lead ponys rider unsnapped the lead rope and Kagome waited for her turn to load into the starting gate.
It was a fairly large field of twelve horses and Kagome was in the number six slot.
She continued to circle Kat, to keep her muscles loose and ready for the race ahead of them.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity to Kagome, it was her and Kat's turn to be loaded into the number six slot.
Kat walked calmly into the gate, her ears turned back to catch Kagome's voice if she spoke.
Kagome leaned slightly over and took a handful of Kat's dark grey mane in her gloved sweaty hands, preparing herself for the fast rush that would come as soon as the gate in front of them opened.
She heard the horse in the slot next to her snort and paw at the ground. She glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw that it was InuYasha on Midnights Trouble. She quickly turned her eyes to the track ahead of her, ignoring the smirk that InuYasha gave her.
InuYasha also hunched over his horses neck. "Are you ready to lose, woman?" He asked tauntingly.
Kagome didn't respond and that just made InuYasha smirk again.
"The last horse is loaded, ladies and gentlemen," The announcer blared and the twelve riders readied themselves for when the gate doors would burst open and release the Thoroughbreds.
It was a tense moment, but then the bell sounded, the gates flew open and the announcer yelled, "And their off!" And there was a blur of color as the Thoroughbreds and jockeys rushed from the starting gate.
If Kagome hadn't been holding onto Kat's mane she would have been thrown off backwards.
For the first few seconds of the race she was stuck in the middle of the pack of horses, but then, slowly, the horses began to spread out across the track.
Kagome was in the middle, right behind the fourth horse.
Kat was pulling against the bit, asking for her head so she could run to the front, but Kagome kept a firm grip on the reins. "Not, yet, girl." She said to the eager race horse.
She couldn't hear anything except for the pounding of hooves hitting the turf race course, the snorts of the horses surrounding her and her own rapid heart beat. She could just barely make out the voice of the announcer over all the noise.
"And coming around the first turn its Storm Trooper in the lead with Fancy Lady and Dog Bite fighting for second." And the rest was drowned out as a streak of black blew past her.
She glanced over to see that it was the black Thoroughbred that InuYasha Takahashi was riding, Midnights Trouble.
InuYasha also glanced over in her direction and caught her eye. He smirked at her before his horse past hers to take the lead.
"And it's Midnights Trouble in the lead!" The announcer yelled excitedly, jumping to his feet as well as the people in the stands.
Kagome ground her teeth and gave Kat her head. "Go for it, Kat!" She encouraged her horse and kneaded her hands in Kat's neck, urging her to go faster.
Kat didn't need to be told twice and she surged forward, lengthening her strides, going past the fourth place horse.
"And here comes Kat Wink!" The announcer yelled and the crowd jumped to their feet once more, cheering for their favorite horses.
Midnights Trouble is still holding the lead and Dog Bite is in second and Fancy Lady is now holding a firm place in third, but here comes the filly, Kat Wink! This horse is zooming on up to fight with Midnights Trouble for the lead!" The announcer continued to yell, his voice rising in volume and excitement as the race continued.
Kagome ignored the rest of what the announcer said, concentrating solely on her task at hand: getting Kat Wink to pass Midnights Trouble and get her into the lead.
"C'mon, Kat!" She urged the dapple grey Thoroughbred mare.
Kagome felt Kat kick into another gear and her stride lengthened until they were racing neck and neck with InuYasha and Midnights Trouble.
"You can do it!" Kagome said excitedly when she saw the finish line just ahead of them.
She knew her horse was tiring by how sweaty her neck was, but Kat continued to stay neck and neck with the black Thoroughbred, Midnights Trouble.
Kagome could also hear InuYasha urging his horse to go faster, and when they both flew by the wire they were still neck and neck.
"And it's a photo finish!" The announcer yelled as the stands erupted into loud cheers.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
A/N: Well, there you have it, the first chapter of C.O.T.T. how'd ya like it? Please review and let me know! Thanks! And I'll have the next chapter out as soon as I do get some reviews. Ja ne, mina-san!