A/N: Since I'm updating quickly and on top of homework and having a life, I am probably making a ton of mistakes, so I'm sorry. Just pretend that they aren't there…

I think my writing is pretty predictable, from the reviews I've received at least. I don't think it is a totally bad thing, but it's like you can already guess the outcome before it's written. Very good readers you all are.

Special thanks to: StrawberryNekoGirl, FrillingFreak, darkmousey-15, D-E-V-L-41, Kagome, and HungarianPrincessRINA.

Kevin: Too demanding… "MAKE MORE NOW," I quote. Jk. I'm writing for you.

Sit down, relax, and enjoy (the show…) the story!

Chapter Seven

Riding

Kagome stood there, watching the two men disappear beyond the horizon. She sighed inwardly before sitting down on the ground. Her legs were pulled close to her face as her chin rested on her knees.

On the other side of the street, the people that once watched had now

retreated back to their usual afternoon tasks.

Breaking the silence, someone stepped up behind her and sat now. Kagome spun her head around to see who it was. It was a man; the same man from the temple.

"Young lady, I want you to know that this is just the first part of your destiny. You still have a long way to walk. Don't look so miserable." He tried to cheer her up. The man sat down beside her.

"Do you know something more? Why won't you tell me."

"That is all I know. And that information was given to me, by you."

Kagome thought back to the time she was at the temple. How right he was and how he had also said that Inuyasha would get married this week. She knew who now: her.

&

"What is going on!" Inuyasha yelled again.

Two men that had been situated on the trees had grabbed him by the arms in midair. They then jumped on the ground, taking Inuyasha with them.

Finally, he got to look into their faces. He had seen them from somewhere, but he couldn't place where. They were both young, maybe just a bit older than Inuyasha himself.

"Get him!" yelled the taller one.

They both made a charge from him at once.

Inuyasha was taken aback for a moment. He hadn't been practicing his fighting ever since he had left the palace. The first man caught him right in the jaw. This brought Inuyasha right back into the game.

He punched the second guy and threw him to the side. The first man came charging at Inuyasha again, but this time wouldn't be so lucky. Inuyasha jumped up and swung around, kicking him hard on the back and making him fall on his face.

With that, Inuyasha placed his foot on the man's head, not allowing him to stand up. "Who sent you?" He spoke as he pressed his foot harder on the man's head that was trying to get up.

"I'm… not… telling…" the man mumbled.

"Tell and I'll spare your life." While saying this, he pulled out a dagger from his boot and placed it close to his attacker's face. Inuyasha was thankful that he had kept this dagger with him. He had only carried it for protection; he actually didn't want to kill some civilian. Now the person that sent him was dead meat.

"O…kay…" Inuyasha lifted his foot a bit to give the man air.

"It was… Kouga."

"I knew it." Inuyasha spat. Yesterday Kouga had cheated, and Inuyasha had been nice enough to let him off, but today he would get it.

Then Inuyasha remembered that he was still in a race. These two men had been placed her just to kill Inuyasha's time.

"You got lucky today." Inuyasha said and ran off towards his horse just up ahead in the forest. He hopped on with grace and kicked his horse in the side. "You have to go fast."

&

Fifteen minutes had past since Kouga and Inuyasha had ridden off. Kagome was still sitting on the ground with the old man from the temple by her side. "If fate has already chosen Inuyasha, then why do I even bother with this whole competition?" Kagome said more to herself then to the man.

"Are that of a strong believer into those superstitions?" It was unusual to hear this from a man that spent his days reading those sticks…

"You don't believe in those?" Even now, Kagome fully believed in those things.

The man shrugged. "I hate my life." She put her head down to her knees.

&

Inuyasha knew he was very far behind now, and there was probably no way of winning, but it was all worth a try. As he started to approach a clearing, Kouga was on his way back with the scarf.

He leaped off his horse, and with the momentum, he kicked Kouga off his horse. Kouga fell and rolled on the ground.

"You sent those two men!"

"I don't know what you are talking about." He got up to his feet and started staggering back to his horse.

"Not so fast." Inuyasha stood between Kouga and the horse. Kouga took his hand, about to push Inuyasha to the side.

He shoved the raised arm to the side. "Get of my way. I'm going to win this."

"You are such a…"

"Save it. No one can be rich with honesty. And no one can get the girl without a little rough play."

At the words 'rough play', Inuyasha pounced on Kouga. Kouga defended and pulled out his dagger and held it to Inuyasha's throat.

"I'm never going to play fair. You ought to know that. I could kill you right now… and then all of China will be mine." Kouga laughed at this.

"You wouldn't last as the ruler of China." Inuyasha interjected.

"We'll have to see." Kouga pressed the dagger closer to his throat.

As he was contemplating to kill Inuyasha right now or not, Inuyasha took this chance to take a quick step back and ran for his horse.

"You coward!"

Kouga yelled at Inuyasha, who was taking off at full speed toward the mountain. He cursed Kouga the whole way there. "Who does he think he is?"

Fuming, Inuyasha snatched the red scarf and raced back towards Kagome.

After passing through the woods, Inuyasha caught sight of Kouga just little bit ahead of him. If he kept up his pace, he might even over take him.

Inuyasha rode with totally concentration and a little before the finish, he was just behind Kouga.

Kouga turned around, hearing the horse hooves nearing. Wide eyed, he exclaimed, "How did you ride so fast!"

Inuyasha smirked. Now the two were nearing on Kagome. She sat huddled up into a ball. The man beside her nudged her gently, indicating the arrival of Inuyasha and Kouga.

Kagome stood up with a start and peered across the horizon. Kouga was just a little ahead of Inuyasha. The two of them were each going extremely fast.

Inuyasha's horse started to slow. It didn't have enough strength left to overcome Kouga.

The finish was only seconds away…

Kouga kicked his horse hard in the side and made it go even faster. Inuyasha was still slightly behind.

Kagome watched desperately at the side lines. Kouga swept past her and Inuyasha followed right behind, losing.

He jumped off of his horse and strutted over to Kagome. "I knew I wouldn't let you down, honey. I'm going to win the next one and then we can get married." He winked at her as she rolled her eyes.

"Stop with the mush." Inuyasha was still situated on his horse. "He wouldn't have beaten me, since…" He didn't get a chance to finish before Kagome burst out.

"You just can't get over yourself that Kouga won. Not everything revolves around you, Inuyasha. So try to get over yourself. Kouga won." She couldn't believe that Inuyasha was so self-centered and with that she turned her back to leave.

"She hates your guts now." Kouga jeered.

"Like I care." And Inuyasha didn't care.

&

As Inuyasha turned his back and followed Kagome back, Kouga yelled out. "What's the third task?"

"Darn," thought Kagome. She hadn't even thought about it. "What do you guys want it to be?" she asked drearily. "If fate has it out for me, it shouldn't matter. It's all because of that man- got her wound up about fate," she continued to ponder.

"A fight." Inuyasha replied simply. He wanted to pulverize Kouga, and now he would have a reason to do so.

"Time?" Kagome didn't feel like deciding anymore

"This evening at the town center," responded Kouga this time. He had a wide grin on his face. "What is he up to?" thought Inuyasha.

"I'm going to set up a stage," Kouga went on, "I'll gather a crowd. It's going to be magnificent."

"At town center? Why?" Kagome looked confused, as did Inuyasha.

"Everyone needs to know what these competition events are for. We'll announce that it is for your marriage, my darling. Won't you like that?"

"Not really…" She shot Inuyasha a worried look.

"We can always do it here," he suggested, looking around at the deserted area. He knew that Kagome didn't want people to know about her marriage and neither did he. If he was to win, then it would better just to leave Kagome with the money and not to get married… but Kouga was now pressuring them.

"You don't want to fight me in public. Are you… scared?"

"OF COURSE NOT! I'll fight you in public today!" Inuyasha had lost his temper… He knew it right after he said it. Kouga had gotten to him.

"Fantastic!" Kagome huffed and fumed all the way back home.

&

"Look, I'm sorry." Kagome was sitting down at a table as Inuyasha walked in after he had tied up his horse.

"You are far from being sorry."

"I have to marry you, girl, if I win!"

"I was hoping that no one would know, so then if you did win, I wouldn't have to marry you and you wouldn't be stuck with me either."

"Good plan, but that isn't going to work anymore."

"Really? I didn't know that," she replied sarcastically.

There was a pause of silence before Inuyasha spoke. "I can't believe I'm doing this for you…" He didn't understand either.

"Now don't I feel loved."

"I, at least, had enough sense to care… well more so because it was Kouga."

Kagome rolled her eyes and simply left, leaving Inuyasha alone.

&

"Everyone, I need a stage ready by this evening. I want this whole town to be here. We are going to have the best duel ever!" Kouga commanded his workers.

Kouga knew that Inuyasha wouldn't be able to marry Kagome, a common girl. Doing this, would force him into defeat.

&

Just as the sun was setting, Kouga and Inuyasha stood on opposite sides of the stage prepared for a fight.

Kagome sat attentively in the front row.

The stage was beautifully decorated with ribbons and banners. Practically, everyone that lived in the town had come out to watch the two fight. An announcer stood on a podium and called for silence.

"We have all gathered here this evening to watch Kouga," there was applause as Kouga smiled and waved, "and Inuyasha." Again, there was clapping as Inuyasha merely nodded to the crowd. He also took this moment to nod at Kagome.

"This duel will determine Miss Kagome's husband." There were whispers among the crowd. "The rules are simple: each competitor will get to use one sword. The one to have his opponent surrender in defeat will win the fair lady." The announcer stepped down from the podium.

"On the sound of the cannon."

BANG!

A cannon was shot and Inuyasha pulled out his beautifully crafted sword and charged right at Kouga. At the same time, he had pulled out his sword and was running right for Inuyasha.

"This battle between these two men for Kagome is going to look interesting," yelled the announcer to the crowd, which was going wild.

Kagome was now at the edge of her seat. She watched as Kouga striked Inuyasha…

A/N: Am I too predicable? Tell me who you think is going to win and I'll find out.

Review! My chapters are coming out very steadily: updated every Saturday so far, so if you want to read, that would be the day to check.