Chapter 9

Love at First Fight

"So what do you think happened to them?" Sango asked Miroku. They had been sitting around for a half an hour waiting for Elli, Kagome, and Inuyasha to return, and Elli's sabers were getting edgy.

"I don't know. Maybe Inuyasha went back for Kagome," Miroku replied.

"But that doesn't explain where Elli went. Koga's still here, so she's not with him. And I can't see her just running off without telling anyone, especially since she followed Kagome."

"True. I'm sure she's close by."

"What do you think that mutt-face did to Kagome?" Koga asked, butting into their conversation.

"I really don't know, but Kagome seemed pretty upset about it all, so it can't have been good," Sango replied. "I can only imagine what happened. It could be one of many little stupid arguments that they always have."

"But it was different," Shippo said.

"What do you mean?" asked Koga.

"She looked different. She wasn't mad like normal. She was sad and upset, she was crying. She's never crying when she leaves."

"You're right, Shippo," Miroku said. "Kagome was crying, which means he either said something to upset her, or he did something. What do you think it was?"

"Maybe she found out about his dead friend," Koga said.

"You mean Kikyo?"

"Yeah, whatever her name is. I've seen him with her a lot recently, all when Kagome was back home."

"Well that explains why he's always gone," Sango said. "Do you think she found out about it?"

"Maybe, but I can't see her getting so upset about that. Yes, she'd get mad, but that was a different kind of anger," Miroku said.

"What do you think happened that made her so mad?"

"You think that half-breed got lucky?" Miroku said, looking mischievously towards Sango.

"Miroku, you're sick."

"It could've happened."

"Maybe, but I doubt it." Just as Sango said that, Elli, Inuyasha, and Kagome walked into the clearing, Kagome smiling, Inuyasha looking normal, and Elli wearing a big grin and the Shikon Jewel. "You're back!"

"Way to state the obvious, Sango," Inuyasha said.

She ignored him. "So what happened?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Kagome said.

"Why are you wearing the Shikon Jewel, Elli?" Miroku asked.

"Oh, before, Kagome gave it to me to give to Inuyasha because she said she wasn't ever coming back."

"You were that mad?" Inuyasha asked Kagome.

"Well, yeah. After what you said about you and Kikyo, I was really upset."

"What about you and Kikyo?" Miroku asked.

"You never learn," Sango said blankly as she hit Miroku over the head with his staff.

"It was an honest question, Sango."

"Oh well."

"But really, what happened? Did you get lucky, Inuyasha?" Miroku jabbed Inuyasha in the side with his elbow, moving his eyebrows up and down.

Inuyasha thwaped him on the head. "That's none of your business."

"So you did, then?"

"I don't wanna hear this!" Kagome yelled.

"You lucky devil!" Miroku whispered in Inuyasha's ear.

"Where did you go, Elli?" Koga asked.

"I followed Kagome and got this all straightened out."

"You can pass through the Bone Eater's Well?" Sango asked in surprise.

"I guess so!"

"I was worried about you, master," Kora said.

"Thank you, Kora. It's good to know you care so much."

"After everything you've done for me! How could I not care!"

"I was worried about you too," Koga said. "Really worried."

"How worried?"

"REALLY worried."

"Oh, I see."

"I mean it!" Koga grabbed Elli and ran to the top of a nearby hill. "I'm glad you're back."

"Thank you."

"I think... we're meant to be together."

"That's nice."

"I'm serious!"

"I know."

Koga leaned over and kissed her. Did she have feelings for Koga? She wondered. But she knew she did. She kissed him back. While the others sat at the bottom of the hill and talked, they sat there, together, on the hilltop, watching the sunset. "I sense them," Elli said suddenly.

"What?" Koga replied, surprised.

"Naraku's jewel shards."

At the bottom of the hill, Kagome could sense them too. "I sense a demonic aura," Miroku said.

Koga and Elli sped back to the village. "It's Naraku," Elli said to Inuyasha.

"Well I'm ready for him!" He pulled out Tetsusaiga.

"Me too." Elli retracted her claws and transformed to her demon form. Her sabers formed a line around everyone, as they watched the huge black cloud approach.