Sorry for not updating. I haven't had time…Gaia is so addictive. Anyway, yeah

Note: I owe two more chapters after this.

Cocky is my name and Losing is my game

Kagome moved into her attack. She attacked. The swords hummed as they met together. Kagome fired a shot once more as Sesshomaru dodged. Sesshomaru began attacking with a myriad of attacks. His swords hitting Kagome's pre image yet missing her body. Kagome took note of Sesshomaru's stance. It was seemingly flawless. There was basically no opening even now when she attacked him. The rule was the one who hit the floor. She had never really sparred with any one but her master, as a matter of fact…she really couldn't spar with anyone including him, but he snuck on every night. She turned back to Sesshomaru. He was obviously not a tyro at this. He probable even preferred his sword to a woman. Kagome could barely stop the laugh from exploding from her.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow and continued his onslaught while trying to grok her. She had levity of this fight. He mentally growled. She would take this Sesshomaru as an opponent and worthy adversary.

Lord Nibori looked at his daughter. He had to admit she was a wonderful daughter. She had an unmatched knowledge and now appeared to be a great fighter. He couldn't believe that there had been such great nepotism. He had been away in other parts of the East for so long, yet he still knew what was happening in his home, yet refused to cease the act. But he was curious even more now. The way his wife looked at Kagome, it was as if she was not her own daughter. They were nothing alike either.

He watched as Kagome used her wings to propel herself into the air, Sesshomaru forming a cloud at his feet and torpedoing towards her. He turned back to his juxtaposition. Kagome's wings were also so different. Only elves of royalty held the majestic appendage. They were always similar to their rare fairy friends and the common butterfly.

Now that he really thought about, Kagome was different. She was unlike any of her elfin people. For some reason her mother despised her and for some reason, she was unlike any of his people. Was she…was she even his daughter? Had his wife cheated on her, making her a whore? And the reason that she hadn't told him was because she would be disowned? Was his daughter…a bastard? He shook himself…it couldn't be. She wasn't even like her mother…so…he heard a thump and turned out of his stupor to see a fallen Kagome now being lifted in Sesshomaru's arms.

Kagome began to attack once more. This was getting no where and fast. She had half a mind to call a tie, but something stopped her. She had been too cocky to back down now. Cocky…yes…it was something she really believed herself of not possessing and yet… Her shunning for so many years produced her as a rather diffident girl. She was a novice at basically all interaction, yet, when it came to knowledge she didn't shy away, but this…cocky at fighting? She was acting wore than Inuyasha. She blocked another of Sesshomaru's shots. Was he getting tired? They were bouncing back between attacker and defender and she was starting to wear out. Why was she? She could usually last for a really long time against her master, so why not Sesshomaru? Something prickled at her instincts. What was that? It was very tenebrous. Her movements began torpid. She bite her lip as she felt Sesshomaru's sword tear through her skin. He seemed to pause for a moment, surprised at his own success before shrugging it off and going at her again.

Kagome was feeling worse by the second. She detected something, but she wasn't sure what. It was almost completely evil, was there any good in it? Her eye sight was obfuscating. She could barely see Sesshomaru. Her body felt weird as she turned limp and snaked to the ground with a thump. She couldn't see anything. She heard a susurrus of Kagome from Inuyasha, but it went through one ear, and out the other. She was hurting. Her face contorted in pain. It really hurt…really bad. She felt herself fade away further into the recess of her mind…what was happening?

Inuyasha could barely contain himself. Kagome was good, but was she good enough? She was putting up well enough and was seemingly evenly matched. However he wondered how long it would last. He watched in horror as her movements became slower. His father held him back as he prepared to launch himself at Sesshomaru when he tore through Kagome's arm. It looked pretty deep, too. She looked half dead. Didn't Sesshomaru notice this? Blood was gushing down her arm yet it appeared as if she didn't notice. What was happening? Then she collapsed. She just…collapsed.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha screamed as he scrambled towards her. Sesshomaru set his sword down and began to pick her up as her eyes were closed. Inuyasha ripped off some of his inner yukata and went to wrap her wound. He gasped in horror as black blood trickled down her arm. He quickly applied his make-do tourniquet. Why the hell was it black? Lord Nibori came over.

"What happened to Kagome?" he asked, his voice flooded with concern. Lord Inutashio came up next to him.

"Black blood?" Lord Inutashio asked the question everyone was thinking.

"We have to stop the blood from flowing…even if it is black." Lord Nibori said as he began to stand. "Sesshomaru, you take her to her room. Inuyasha you get Lady Ran, she's our healer. Lord Inutashio?" said man looked up when he was called. "You must accompany me to the library. We have some reading to do."


Inuyasha sprinted as fast as he ever had, appearing next to Lady Ran's room in less than 30 seconds. He barged into to find her sitting on a mat drinking green tea.

"Kagome is injured, let's go!" Inuyasha grabbed her wrist but she struggled free.

"What are the symptoms? I need to bring the right things." Lady Ran said calmly.

"She's bleeding black blood! What the hell do you think you need?" Inuyasha practically screamed. Lady Ran looked shocked as she hurried grabbed her bag and pushed a shelf full of bottles into her bag. Inuyasha couldn't wait any longer as he grabbed her and pulled her to Kagome. Lady Ran screamed at him to let her walk, but Inuyasha ignored her. He set her down only when the reached Kagome's room. He timidly stepped in. Sesshomaru had token the wash basin and was wiping her face tenderly, erasing the beaded sweat that was falling down her face. Lady Ran was regaining her composure as Inuyasha went over to Kagome. Lady Ran sat on her futon and pushed Sesshomaru away. She placed her hand on Kagome's forehead and retracted it quickly.

"She's…burning…not just regular burning…but she's really, really burning." Lady Ran looked up at Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. Sesshomaru nodded. He had felt it to. The water was barely cool enough to make it to her skin without evaporating, so in truth he was just wiping the sweat off. Lady Ran ushered the two boys out, much to their distress.

Inuyasha began pacing around her door. Sesshomaru leaned against the wall. Their heads when they heard Kagome scream. Sesshomaru held Inuyasha back as he prepared to knock down the door. Inuyasha glared at him. Sesshomaru shook his head 'no'.

"Feh. I'm going to see what Dad is up to." Inuyasha said before leaping away. Sesshomaru thought to his self before deciding the hanyou actually had a good idea and walking calmly, but briskly to the library.


Lord Nibori walked, if not ran to his library. He doubted even Lady Ran knew what was happening here, thus, his destination was the library. It had to be somewhere in there. Lord Inutashio struggled to keep up. They reached the library and through the screen door open, almost knocking it off of its hinges. Lord Nibori started going through old books and scrolls.

"Not to interrupt you or anything Nibori, but what are we looking for?" Lord Inutashio asked.

"How many times have you seen black blood?" With no response, Lord Nibori continued "exactly, it is so rare, that there is probably a slim chance that Lady Ran knows what to do. So we are searching for answers." Lord Inutashio nodded before the two set out to find the answer.


Sesshomaru and Inuyasha entered to find their father rapidly digesting books before tossing them over his shoulder. Inuyasha had to sidestep to get out of the way of one particularly large book.

"What are you doing?" Inuyasha yelled as he dodged, yet another book.

"We're looking for a cure. Do you really think that red blood is natural or common?" Inutashio asked sarcastically.

"Do you have an idea of what would hold it, any descriptions?" Sesshomaru asked.

"No…we don't. So just search any of the medical books." Lord Nibori said with a sigh. "Try and hurry, too."

The group began to search as servants crossing the door had to duck for incoming books.


Lady Ran sighed. This was getting worse and fast. When she had gotten there, she had put her hand to Kagome's forehead only to snatch it back as she realized Kagome's head was on fire. She ushered the boys out, with much difficulty. She then checked her pulse. It was fast, finally turning to her wound. It was caking over with black. The dark blood was still flowing and the veins in Kagome's arm seemed to be turning black as well. Lady Ran barely contained her gasp. She had never seen anything like this before. She had almost no idea what to do. She began to clean the wound. It was the least she could do. She winced as Kagome screamed out. She heard shuffling outside and was surprised that the door wasn't broken down. Lady Ran sighed before continuing to clean the wound. Once she was sure it was good as it got, she placed a smooth paste of herbs on it and wrapped it in white bandage. The white bandage began to tint with Kagome's blood. Lady Ran was about to leave Kagome to find Lord Nibori when Kagome began to moan. Lady Ran turned around and looked at Kagome. Her face was contorted in pain. Kagome then began to scream her pale face covered in a thick fog of sweat. Lady Ran saw a servant girl go by.

"You girl!" Lady Ran said.

"Yes, m'lady?" the servant girl replied.

"Get the Lord immediately; he is probably in the library, and hurry! Run!" the girl took of running. Lady Ran heard a thump she turned in horror: Kagome was hitting her head against the bed, to the floor. She was having a paroxysm of rage. Lady Ran rushed over to her side and tried to hold down the struggling girl. She hopped that girl would hurry.


Sesshomaru looked at the page in the book. It was about Yuki.

'Lord Yuki had a naturally high ability to ward off poison in his digestion system, however the poison used was entered externally, and was not swallowed. The day after the poison was injected, he became feverish, his head boiling, and sweat falling. An attempt to bleed him produced black blood-'

Sesshomaru was interrupted when a servant girl burst in.

"My lord! Lady Ran needs you, right away!"

In an instant the group was gone. Sesshomaru taking the book with him, his finger at the page where he stopped. The servant girl was fruitlessly trying to catch up.


Fin. Yes. Note: I owe you 2 chapters not including this one! Bye!

Hinomoto