Loving Thru the Trials of Love
Hiya! I went on vacation! And yes, that is why you didn't get this chappie sooner! But ta da! Here it is now!
This is going to be super long, super involved, and super mind-boggling...well, I don't know about the mind-boggling part...but it'll be something else!
Lol...I only got a few comments on my whole ending with Kotaro...I so was sure that it would get you all thinking and wondering about him and the role he would play in the story...and then I only got a few comments that even mentioned him...I felt so bad...I mean, it wasn't the fact that I didn't get many reviews that bothers me, but the fact that I made this huge stink about him and Oyu being the huge bad guys in this story and then threw that curve ball in there for you to think about and not get much feedback on your thoughts about it that did me in...I spent half of my vacation wondering if you all just thought it was bad or something...
Well, for future reference, when you review, tell me about one or two parts that you guys liked, made you think, or you thought STUNK! I don't want all nice reviews, but I don't want ones that bash me either. I am very open to constructive critisizim and your opinions! One review that I did get that made me happy, was one where the reviewer suggested that I made more chapters focusing around Inuyasha and Kagome.
Now, while this reviewer's opinion is very respected, I will not take the suggestion, mostly because it doesn't fit into my story, and would make it too complicated for me to write. However, I thank this person very much for their opinion, and had I not already known where this story was going, I probably would have used their idea.
Ok...no one tried out my contest at all this time, so, I am going to go back into my reviews and pick out the two people that even bothered to try, and write them one song fic each.
XxYourxDeathxWishxX and kimonoprincess; please tell me what anime and couple to use in the song fic, and I will use them, but you can only pick one couple, OR one person, if you want...(hey, I'm game for a challenge, and I haven't written a one-shot about only one person before...) These are the animes you can choose from: Inuyasha; Rurouni Kenshin; Tokyo Mew Mew; Shaman King; Wolf's Rain; One Piece; Digimon, (season one or two only please;) or Pokemon.
Here is the correct answer to my contest; which Kachie pointed out to me:
The character with the incorrect dialogue was: Lady Oyu
What she said:"Kotaro? Have you been back through the portal as I have requested?"
What I did wrong: Lady Oyu never says: I, me, or my. She refers to herself as 'this one.'
Ok, well, whatever. I posted the Tokyo Mew Mew fic. It's called: Fire and Ice. Read it if you want, but be warned, up my first three chapters; I'll have to go back and fix them sometime...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Hekele, Kachie, Oyu, Kotaro, and my ideas. So there! Oh, and this chapter is rated M for my bad mouth when Inuyasha really pisses me off later on...and then for some unknown person's bad mouth even later on...just so everyone is warned...
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Fevers, Dancing, and Upsetting Encounters
Ms. Higurashi stared at Inuyasha and Shippo as they ran in circles around her house and shook her head. Shippo had accused Inuyasha of eating all of his candy with absolute conviction, and then had found it all under the couch in a plastic bag; where he had hidden it from Kohaku, Kanna, and Rin. Now Inuyasha was bent on making Shippo suffer by bonking him on the head with Grandpa's rolled up newspaper until he got a concussion.
"I'm warning you two...if you break anything, I'll have to kick you back through the well, and sick the girls on you after they wake up..." she threatened. However, the two running boys didn't get a chance to head her warning, because a rather disgruntled yell was heard at almost the same moment Ms. H. stopped speaking.
"INUYAHSA! SHUT UP!" The house became still and Ms. Higurashi only rolled her eyes at Inuyasha and Shippo, who had frozen in mid step with complete and utter fear written all over their faces.
"I think Kachie's up!" Koga said happily, walking into the livingroom with a Pop-Tart in his mouth. Shippo recovered from his shock and looked at both Koga and Inuyasha with question.
"So, I came here to grab my candy, but what are you two here for?" he asked.
Koga's expression darkened, "Nothing in Heaven or Hell will make me tell you the answer to that question..."
Inuyasha got the same annoyed look in his eyes, "Ditto that for me..."
Ms. Higurashi just smiled at the kit, "I'm giving them dancing lessons today so they won't trip over themselves and the girls at Sango and Miroku's wedding, but don't tell anyone...it's a surprise!" Inuyasha and Koga looked at Ms. Higurashi with wide eyes and gaping mouths as though she had just betrayed them. She only smiled at them and leaned close to Shippo's ear like she was about to tell him a secret.
"If you keep our surprise a secret from the girls...even Hekele...there's a bag of Hershey's Kisses in it for you..." she said. Shippo instantly grinned and saluted the woman.
"I promise I won't tell a soul...at all! Not even Kanna, Kagura, or Kohaku!" he swore, shaking her hand as if to make the deal final. Ms. Higurashi grinned as he scampered off with his bag of candy out the door and towards the well.
"Sometimes...you need to think outside the box boys...if I didn't tell him and make him promise to keep it a secret, then he'd have been around here all day trying to spy on you and then, when he found out, he would have most definitely told everyone...whether they already knew or not..." she explained, trying to make them understand the reason for her treason against them. Koga nodded absently, glaring at the door where the kit had exited, still not pleased that he knew, and Inuyasha merely 'Feh'd' at her answer.
Ms. Higurashi sighed and rolled her eyes at the two stubborn boys as a rather annoyed Kachie staggered her way down the stairs tiredly. Her hair was sticking up everywhere, one of her pajama sleeves was rolled up, one pant leg was scrunched up as well, and to complete the picture, she had on only one sock. In short, she looked like she had just come out of the dryer.
Inuyasha snickered while Koga gave her a small amused smile, "Rough night Kachie?" Kachie only looked at him absently before walking towards the couch and crashing on it face first.
"Mrf pht mndphays..." she mumbled into the couch. Koga blinked a few times before lightly rubbing her back.
"We can't understand you when you're eating the cushions..." he cooed. Kachie lifted her head to look at him.
"I hate Mondays..."
Koga smiled at her, amused further, "It's Wednesday love."
"Same difference..."
Ms. Higurashi looked at the two fondly before speaking, "Maybe you'll feel more awake after breakfast..." Kachie looked at her for a moment before sitting up a bit.
"Whatever...still feels like a Monday to me..."
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"Hekele...wake up Hekele...Kachie's already up...and I can't take my nice hot shower until you get up and moving too! Come on!" Kagome pleaded, trying to wake her friend up. Hekele, however, wouldn't budge.
Kagome climbed onto the bed and shook her friend roughly, trying to wake her up. Hekele moaned a bit in her sleep, but still didn't wake up. Annoyed, Kagome pinched her nose shut and covered her mouth. After a few seconds, Hekele made a noise and woke up, trying to get some air. Kagome smirked triumphantly and let her friend go.
"Good morning! Sleep well?" she chirped, trying to annoy Hekele. It worked.
"Leave me alone Kags...my head hurts...five more minutes...please?" the girl pleaded. Kagome shook her head.
"Nope! Get up! We have school for two more days after today, and then we can sleep in all we want!"
Hekele scowled, rubbing her throbbing head, "Until Monday..." Kagome offered a sympathetic smile.
"True...but it's better than nothing! So get a move on! Come on...the yearly talent show has sign-ups today...you know you want to sign-up...oh forget the sweet talk, GET YER BUTT UP!" she ordered, pulling the blankets off of Hekele's curled up form. Hekele began to shiver violently when she did this, and it alarmed Kagome.
"Hekele? Are you feeling ok?" she asked, suddenly regretting her rudeness, and put a hand to Hekele's forehead. She was sweaty...and burning up...
"Wait here, I'm gonna go get Mom..." she said, rushing out the door and down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she didn't even notice that Inuyasha and Koga were there...or that Kachie seemed to be suffocating herself on the couch...
"Mom...Hekele's upstairs in bed...she's burning up..." she relayed, very concerned. Ms. Higurashi sprung into action and swept up the stairs to the bathroom, grabbing the thermometer and rushing into Hekele's and Kagome's room. Inuyasha, Koga, Kagome, and Kachie were already there.
She slipped the thermometer into Hekele's mouth and felt her head for herself, and bit her lip when she felt the warmth radiating from it.
"Oh dear..." she said as she took the thermometer out of the girl's mouth, "Your temperature is about 103 degrees...I don't think that you'll be going to school today..." Hekele gave her a weak smile.
"Darn...and I wanted to watch Kachie blow up the school in chem. today..." she said. Kachie grumbled.
"I am NOT going to blow up the school in chem today! We're using basic acids and bases, even I couldn't blow it..." she groused. Hekele chuckled tiredly, along with Kagome, Inuyasha, and Koga. Ms. Higurashi just frowned.
"I'll bring you up some breakfast in a few minutes...now everyone shoo! We don't want you to catch whatever she's got...out, out!" she chided the group, ushering them through the door. She offered Hekele a small smile of reassurance and shut the door behind her.
As she and the group walked downstairs, Kagome was the first to speak up, "...It's because of her insomnia isn't it? She hasn't slept for more than an hour for the past...I don't know how long..." Ms. Higurashi sighed to herself and nodded.
"Yes...her lack of sleep has weakened her immune system...I think she's only got the flu, but still...I'm going to have to keep an eye on her temperature...I wish whatever is keeping her up at night and worrying her so would just stop..." she confessed.
Koga looked at her curiously as they reached the bottom of the stairs, "You can get sick from lack of sleep?"
Ms. Higurashi nodded, "And it's not only that...she's been having nightmares when she does allow herself to sleep...and according to what Sesshoumaru told me almost a week ago when I asked him to talk to her, they just keep getting worse and worse as time goes by...If a person is mentally or emotionally unstable, which is Hekele's current problem, his or her body reacts negatively to it...and gets sick..."
Everyone sighed collectively as they all sat in the livingroom, pondering what to do. Suddenly, Souta ran into the room and stared at the group as he began rushing around collecting his things, "What the heck is going on? No one woke me up! School starts in ten minutes! We gotta move, move, move! Ahhhh! I'm gonna be late!" This blasted Kagome and Kachie out of their thoughts as they too began screeching and running about the house. Poor Kagome had to sacrifice her morning shower and everything...
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Miroku sighed as he rubbed his cheek for the tenth time that morning. Sango was furious with him...again...She had gone back to the demon slayer village with Kohaku, who was just as pissed with him.
Koharu, who was sitting next to him, smiled softly and put her head on his shoulder, "Houshi-sama...what's the matter? You seem upset..." Miroku sighed and shrugged.
"Sango is upset once more...but I can't understand why..." he replied. Koharu frowned and snuggled up close to him.
"Why do you care what she thinks? You love me right?" she asked. Miroku sighed and nuzzled her a bit.
"Of course I do Koharu...but something just feels...wrong when she's mad at me..." he said. Koharu sighed, but gave him a light kiss on the lips anyway.
"Oh well, I love you, and you love me...so nothing else matters..." she stated firmly. Miroku smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Of course love..."
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Rin slapped her forehead and shook her head at the sight of Miroku and Koharu. She quietly poked her head back below the window and snuck back over to Shippo.
"You're right Shippo-san...this is too weird...for as long as Rin has known Miroku-san, he has been in love with Sango-san...so what happened? They went away for a week and now she acts like she hates him...and he looks like he's in love with that other lady..." she said. Shippo bit his lip and sighed.
"That's Koharu...before he met Sango, she said she'd bear his child, but she was too young for him. Then we all met up with her after he started to like Sango...and she got really jealous...but then after we all left, we figured we'd never see her again...and then Miroku and Sango started to fall more in love and stuff...and then they got engaged...and they were happy...so what the heck happened and when did she reappear?" he half explained, half questioned. Rin shrugged.
"Maybe Rin and Shippo-san should asked Kagura-san and Kanna-san...they were there too..." she suggested. Shippo nodded.
"Let's tell Sesshoumaru and Kaede too...maybe they can help..." he said. It was Rin's turn to nod as the two set out hurriedly towards the other adults, who, unbeknownst to them, were already disgussing the same thing.
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"I'm telling you, something is up with that damn monk! We all woke up the next morning and he seemed to have completely fallen in love with that Koharu chick, and for some insane reason, didn't seem to register Sango's presence until she woke up a few minutes later...and even then, he didn't stop acting like a hormone crazed idiot!" Kagura complained to Kaede. Kaede had seen Miroku's...Miroku-like behavior, and had been rather confused. It was no secret how much Miroku loved Sango, and so for him to act so...like himself, was rather disturbing.
"I see...ye are positive that he had shown no signs of this the previous night?" she asked. Kanna, who was also in the room, nodded.
"We're positive; he actually had been rather uncomfortable around her most of the time...but Sango, who in my opinion was acting more jealous than she usually would...despite Miroku's apparent disinterest in Koharu, was the one to suggest that she stay the night. It was odd though...Miroku specifically mentioned that Sango was his fiancé...and then he turns around and...well...kisses Koharu in the morning...right in front of Sango. I swear, I've never seen Kohaku so mad...or Sango so heartbroken..." she confided.
At the mention of Miroku kissing Koharu, Kaede shot her line of vision towards Kanna and Kagura, holding them sternly in her gaze, "He kissed this girl? Right in front of Kohaku...and even more unforgivable, Sango herself? This does not seem natural...even for Miroku's lecherous past. He has always shown devotion for and interest in our dear Sango...how could one night, while resting next to the woman he had proposed to, change everything he felt?" Kagura shrugged, just as confused.
"He also didn't seem to know that whatever he was doing was wrong. He acted like it was all natural; as if he had never been engaged to Sango, but Koharu instead. Even she's acting differently after that incident...When she heard that Sango and Miroku were together, she looked a bit disappointed, but was respectful and in good spirits. Now she acts as though Sango doesn't matter...the little home-wrecker acts like a love-sick puppy..." she said, a bit spitefully. Kagura and Sango had come to be good friends, and the fact that Koharu was ruining her friend's relationship was pissing her off quite a bit.
Kanna sighed, "I don't get any of it. Miroku and Sango passed Naraku's test and everything. He only wanted her, even though he had other women who, quite literally, wanted him. He did his best to find her, and when he heard her voice, took off after her like a bat out of hell to try and save her, and his determination and words of love did just that...I hate to say that Naraku ever did anything brilliant, but those tests were ingeniously able to test love...and those two passed just like everyone else...so...I don't understand..." Kaede listened to her and nodded to herself.
" I hate to agree with ye, but I do...what happened the rest of the week ye were all there?" the old priestess asked. Kagura obliged.
"It just went downhill from there...Miroku acted all lovey-dovey with Koharu, Koharu only encouraged this with her responses, poor Sango was way beyond fed up, and I was sure that Kohaku was about to bash his head in. I swear, he and Miroku got into so many arguments, with Miroku playing innocent a dumb the entire time. Like I said before, he didn't seem to think what he was doing was wrong," she explained. Kanna nodded.
"It's frustrating...I can only imagine what Sango's going through..." she said sadly.
Kaede sighed and rubbed her temples, "None of this makes sense...but I do have a theory...keep an eye on this Koharu...whether she's with Miroku or not...ye must not be seen either...if she does anything out of the ordinary...ye must inform me right away...but never lose sight of her..."
Kanna and Kagura nodded, "Deal."
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Shippo and Rin listened in on what the adults and Kanna were saying to one another with interest. So, Miroku had been acting this way for a while now had he?
"Rin, this is bad...if this keeps up, Sango and Miroku will never get married, and that means that one of them, or both of them, will go away..." Shippo said, very concerned. Rin nodded.
"Rin knows Shippo-san; we have to help them keep an eye on Koharu-san. Maybe we can find something out that Kagura-san and Kanna-san miss..." she said. Shippo took a deep breath and put on a determined face.
"I'm gonna go in the future and tell Inuyasha and Koga; they need to know that something's up...then, we'll start spying."
Rin bit her lip, "Rin will tell Sesshoumaru-sama...Rin thinks he is taking a walk right now; Sesshoumaru-sama seems troubled lately..."
Shippo nodded, but was wearing a grim face, "...I think everyone's been troubled lately...Rin...something bad's happening..."
Rin sighed as she stood up to look for Sesshoumaru, "Rin knows Shippo-san, Rin know's this very well..."
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"Inuyasha, I know you're the male here, but since you're the one learning and I'm the one teaching, I think it'd be better if I led..." Ms. Higurashi said, after the tenth failed attempt to get Inuyasha to waltz properly. Inuyasha scowled.
"Why do I have to learn this stupid dance anyway! It's not like I'll ever use it..." he growled. Ms. Higurashi, quite in good spirits despite the ill Hekele upstairs, only smiled.
"Well, you'll need it if you want to dance with Kagome at the reception...I believe there is a tradition in which the wedding party gets the second dance...while the bride and groom get the first of course...and if you ever decide to actually marry my daughter, you'll need it on your wedding day as well..." she said, successfully catching the boy off guard, and causing him to stumble and nearly fall over. Koga started laughing.
"Way to go mutt; falter at the mention of marriage in front of the girl's mother..." he stated pointedly. Inuyasha growled, but Ms. Higurashi was one evil step ahead.
"Koga? Since you seem so confident; when can I expect you to ask Kachie? I mean, you seem more forward and persistent...so what, my darling, usually wolf demon, is stopping you from asking her?" she asked. Inuyasha snickered when Koga paled considerably.
"I...er...we're not...um..." he said, trying to form a good excuse. Ms. Higurashi gave her first evil smirk, mimicking any demon beautifully.
"That's what I thought, so don't start anything."
Inuyasha gave her an approving look, "Nice..."
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"Uuuggggghh! I asked you to please read me the ingredients in order...that way, I can mix the chemicals properly...ok?" Kachie said for the third time to her lab partner. The boy stuttered and blushed a bit.
"Uhh, yeah, sorry. We have chlorine, water, baking soda, vinegar, bleach, rubbing alcohol, and-"
Kachie looked at him oddly before speaking, "Bleach and rubbing alcohol? Are you sure Tsukasa?" The boy, now known as Tsukasa, looked at the book for a brief second and nodded. Trusting him, Kachie added the ingredients.
"Ok...umm...now you turn on the burner..." he said. Kachie obeyed and turned the burner on. She watched the experiment closely, watching for a reaction besides foam and bubbling. Tsukasa took another look at the book and his eyes got wide. He had forgotten to tell Kachie to add the sulfuric acid after the rubbing alcohol...
"Umm" he began, a bit nervously, "Now you add the sulfuric acid...and that should do it..." Kachie nodded absently and did as she was told. Tsukasa bit his lip and waited for the experiment to react. He didn't have long to wait...
A large bang was heard throughout the school as Kachie's and Tsukasa's experiment exploded into a huge mess of glass and acidic chemicals. The whole classroom ducked and screamed in fear. Once the smoke from the explosion cleared, both Tsukasa and Kachie were standing there in a shocked stupor, their faces completely covered in smoke residue.
The teacher, though quite frightened herself, calmly walked over to the two students, careful not to step on anything lethal, "Which one of you mixed the chemicals?"
Tsukasa hurriedly pointed at Kachie, who was about to say that Tsukasa had read her the directions when the teacher grabbed her ear and began dragging her out of the classroom, "You are a danger to society young lady! What did I tell you about reading the directions?"
Kachie found her voice and protested, "But Tsukasa-"
"You've got detention tonight, you won't be going home until five o'clock missy! You're lucky I don't have you pay for the damaged materials..."
"But!"
"No buts! Or I'll call your mother...I'll let you explain your irresponsible offense when you get home! Now get to the detention hall until my class is over! Then you're free until school's out!" the teacher barked. Kachie made her way into the room but turned around to say something.
"Does this mean I failed?" Her answer was a shut door in the face.
"I guess I did...damn it..."
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"So...you say that Miroku has been acting strangely? I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned with Rin...he's a very strange person..." Sesshoumaru said nonchalantly. Rin shook her head.
"No, he's acting weirder than usual...he's with a girl named Koharu-san and all but left Sango-san...he doesn't pay attention to her, and I heard Kanna-san tell Kaede-sama that he kissed her one morning while they were gone...it's like he doesn't love Sango-san anymore..." she explained. Sesshoumaru whipped his head around to stare at the girl.
"You say he left Sango? And is with another woman...and he kissed her?" he repeated, making sure he had not been hearing things. Rin shook her head slightly.
"Rin said he all but left Sango-san...he never said it was over, but...well...you know...She's really hurt, and Kohaku-san is really mad...they left to go back to the village. Miroku-sama doesn't seem to act like what he was doing was wrong...and Kagura-san and Kanna-san said that it literally happened overnight...he went to sleep next to Sango-san, and then he woke up and didn't love her anymore..." she corrected...and added.
Sesshoumaru furrowed his brows in thought, "This is most unusual...and very...wrong...in every sense of the word...even that damn pervert isn't that dishonorable and stupid...something is amiss..." Rin nodded.
"Kaede-sama said that something was wrong too...she thinks she knows what's happening, and has asked Kanna-san and Kagura-san to watch Koharu-san closely for any odd behavior..." she mentioned. Sesshoumaru gave a brief nod of approval.
"That seems most wise...I will speak to Miroku...I need to hear what he has to say for himself...this is too sporadic..."
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Hekele slowly cracked open her eyes as she awoke from her nap...which had lasted for a good majority of the morning. It was about half-past noon, and she had slept for four and a half hours. She felt great.
"Wonder why I slept for so long...I feel so much better though...so I'm not complaining..." she said to herself sleepily. She peeled the covers off and proceeded to sit up and stretch happily. She stood up, but held onto the night stand for support, as she felt a bit light headed. After making sure that she wasn't going to fall over, she steadily dressed in some comfortable, but presentable, attire and carefully made her way downstairs.
On her way down, she heard Shippo's distinct voice talking to someone. Thinking he was tattling on Inuyasha for something, she didn't pay it any mind until she reached the bottom of the stairs, and saw not only Shippo, but Inuyasha and Koga as well.
"...What're you guys doin' here?" she asked, yawning. Everyone looked up, seeing her for the first time, and Ms. Higurashi stood from the couch hastily to check on the girl.
"Hekele dear...are you feeling any better?" she asked, putting her hand to the girl's forehead. Finding it a bit cooler, the woman smiled slightly in relief. Hekele smiled as well.
"I'm feeling much better...and I actually slept too..." she said happily. Ms. Higurashi shook her head.
"About that...I hope you don't mind that I put a couple sleeping pills in you breakfast...but you needed rest dear..." she apologized. Hekele shrugged.
"It worked didn't it? And I feel better than I have all week...minus my spinning head and fever that is..." she consented. Shippo growled from the livingroom.
"Guys! I'm trying to tell you something important! Miroku-" Inuyasha cut him off.
"We heard you the first time Shippo."
Koga glared at Inuyasha, "You know, the kit has a point; this is important! Miroku's actions aren't normal...even before he told Sango he cared about her, he always acted as though he were in love with her...minus the 'will you bear my child,' and groping other women, of course..."
Hekele looked at the group oddly as Ms. Higurashi helped her into the livingroom and onto the couch next to Koga, "What's that hentai up to now? I swear...did he grope one of the villagers or something?"
Shippo shook his head sadly, "He fell in love with another woman named Koharu and doesn't like Sango anymore. He never said anything, but he acts that way...and he acts like he doesn't realize what he's doing is wrong...he even kissed her...right in front of Sango..."
Inuyasha snapped his head back towards Shippo, "He kissed Koharu?" Shippo nodded.
Hekele's hand was covering her mouth slightly in her own shock, "How...could he do that to her? Poor Sango..." Ms. Higurashi herself was deep in thought.
"...I don't think...this is right...something's wrong here..." she stated questioningly, not sure how to vocalize her half formed suspicion. Koga nodded, still stunned himself.
"The question is...what caused this oddity...and how do we stop it?"
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"Sango? Are you in here?" Kohaku asked as he quietly walked into one of the huts. There, sitting in a small corner and curled into a ball, in all her depressed glory, was his elder sister Sango. Her only reply to the younger demon was the raising of her sad head.
"Sango...you should eat something...It's not good for you to go around for a few days and forsake all food..." he said gently, approaching his sister. Sango buried her head back into her knees.
"I'm not hungry Kohaku...do not worry about me..." she said sadly. Kohaku frowned.
"Sango...forget him for now...you still need to take care of yourself...that jerk doesn't deserve your sorrow..." he stated venomously as he sat at her side and wrapped protective arms around his big sister. Sango only shed more tears.
"What's wrong with me Kohaku? What did I do to turn him away from me like this? 'Only you could complete me as you have...I have no reason to search for another, nor the desire...' That's what he said to me that night when we fell asleep! Then he told me how much he loved me and then...the next morning..." she broke into heavy, quaking sobs that only made Kohaku hold her tighter. He had to let her get it out...
"He kissed her Kohaku! Kissed her! At first I just tried to pass it off as though he were just playing a really bad joke...I didn't want to believe...I couldn't believe he meant it...But he's acted as though I don't even exist ever since...and...I can't do this..." she cried. Kohaku bit his lip and continued to hold her.
"Aneue...you didn't do anything wrong...I don't know what's gotten into him...but I do know that it has nothing to do with you being in the wrong..." Kohaku said honestly. Sango sighed sadly.
"I hope you're right Kohaku...I...I still love him...I can't not love him...I just wish I knew what to do..." she confessed. Kohaku bit his lip once more in thought.
"I...don't know how I can help Sango...all I can ask is if you're sure you want to try to work things out?" he questioned, needing to be sure.
Sango nodded, "Yes...I need to try once more to make things work...I love him too much not to..."
Kohaku sighed, "...Then I will try to help...I'll do anything I can..." Sango wrapped her arms around her little brother gratefully.
"...Thank you Kohaku...I need the support..."
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Kanna stared at Koharu intently from her hiding place behind one of the villager's huts. The human girl, not five years older than what Kanna's body and personality suggested, was for once without the monk. Miroku had been drawn away by Sesshoumaru, and Kanna was glad for it...it gave Kagura and herself a good chance to observe Koharu under different circumstances...maybe she would give them something to work with...
"Kanna...do you see what I see?" Kagura hissed quietly. Kanna followed her line of vision past Koharu into the bushes beyond, and saw what appeared to be a bushy fox tail, and a mop of black hair.
"Apparently...Shippo and Rin are on their own mission to help eradicate this oddity..." she said softly. Kagura stared at her.
"Don't do that..." she said sternly.
Kanna looked at her strangely, "Don't do...what?"
Kagura gave her an apathetic look, "Talk like Sesshoumaru..."
"Ah...hey...what's that?" Kanna asked, pointing at something on the ground that had just fallen from Koharu's kimono sash. Koharu appeared not to notice it missing, however, and kept on walking. When she rounded a corner, Kanna turned to Kagura.
"You keep following her...I'm gonna find out what that thing is!" she said, and before Kagura could protest, Kanna was out of her hiding spot and rushing towards the object, as was Rin.
Kanna, having slightly longer legs, got there first and peered down at the thing carefully. She cocked her head in confusion as Rin made it to her side, "...Rin...what is it?"
Rin looked at it with confusion as well, "...It looks like a crystal Kanna-chan...but...why would Koharu-san have a crystal? And a rather large crystal at that?"
A warning bell in Kanna's head went off, "Wait a minute...didn't Inuyasha say that the creature that worked for the fallen looked like a crystal and was born from one?" Rin's eyes widened and the girl nodded slowly.
"We should show it to Inuyasha and ask him if it looks the same as the one he saw..." she said, getting ready to pick it up. Kanna swatted her hand away swiftly, staring at the crystal cautiously.
"If it is that same type of crystal, we shouldn't touch it...for all we know, Koharu may have dropped it on purpose..." she said as she used her kimono sleeve to pick up the object, and her other to cover it completely. She then looked at Rin once more.
"Keep following Koharu with Shippo and Kagura...I'll take this to Kaede...she'll know what to do..." she stated firmly. Rin nodded, offered the elder girl a mock salute, and swiftly yet silently made her way back to Shippo. Kanna ran to Kaede just as quickly.
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There were three empty bowls of ramen sitting on the coffee table in the livingroom. Koga was still sitting next to Hekele on the couch, and Inuyasha was once again attempting to learn how to waltz with Ms. Higurashi. Hekele herself was playing her new game, (which she had gotten for her birthday from Souta a few weeks back,) 'Kingdom Hearts 2,' and getting her butt kicked by Heartless if I might add...
"Inuyasha dear...I told you...let me lead..." Ms. Higurashi reminded gently, not showing any trace of annoyance. Inuyasha, however, was frustrated beyond belief.
"I'm trying! How do you stop leading!" he complained. Ms. Higurashi rolled her eyes a bit.
"By calming down and letting someone else move their feet first..." she said, still calm and gentle. Inuyasha muttered under his breath about stupid weddings and even 'stupider' dances.
Koga snickered to himself at Inuyasha as he watched Hekele get killed by little minions for the tenth time. "It's no fair! I can't do this! They just keep coming and coming and coming! I need elixirs! I need potions! I need stupid Donald not to die all the stupid time!" she yelled at the television. Koga had to cover his ears to keep them from hurting. He glared at the girl next to him and grudgingly moved over to a chair instead.
"Loud mouth..." he muttered. Hekele glared at him dangerously.
"Shut up wolf boy..." she snarled. The two stared at one another for a few moments before a loud crash brought them from their contest. Inuyasha had just collided with the end table next to Koga, and had caused a glass to fall to its doom. Poor glass...
"Hey...watch it mutt, Kagome might not be too thrilled with you if you accidently kill her mother..." Koga muttered. Once again, he stood up and moved, but this time perched himself on the stairway, which was both out of Hekele's yelling range and away from Ms. Higurashi's incompetent dancing student...
"Shut it flea-bag!", yelled the said student. Ms. Higurashi shook her head once more.
"Inuyasha...be nice...Koga, stop starting disagreements...I warned you earlier..." she said, eyeing both of them. Both mumbled, but said nothing more to one another.
Within fifteen minutes, the group was bickering once more, and it all started with: "Die Captain Barbossa! You stupid bastard! You stole my ship!"
Koga rolled his eyes at Hekele, "Cut it out before you make yourself pass out...you're still sick you know..."
Hekele fumed as the bad guy knocked out half her life, "Not too sick to kick his ass..." Koga rubbed his forehead.
How does Sesshoumaru put up with her? he thought idly. He watched as Inuyasha and Ms. Higurashi 'danced' in front of the television, thus annoying Hekele.
"Inuyasha...let her lead! I'm trying to-" Hekele was cut off by the most terrifying noise that any video game fanatic has ever heard. There was a loud, sickening, crunching noise, followed by a painful wail. And then the television screen went screwy.
No one spoke. Inuyasha whimpered a bit, since his foot was currently stuck in Hekele's crushed Playstation 2, but that was all. Everything else was silent as everyone, including Ms. Higurashi, looked between the ruined system on Inuyasha's foot and Hekele's shocked face and twitching hands. Her game was no doubt shattered within the ruins as well...
It took Hekele a moment to find her voice, but by the time she did, Koga was hiding behind the banister of the stairwell and Ms. Higurashi had completely ditched Inuyasha to go hide in the kitchen.
"Inuyasha..." Hekele began, her voice shaking as she continued to twitch uncontrollably, "I am sooo going to kill you! That was my favorite game! And my favorite game system! I was so close to beating that god damn mother fucker! Or at least that bad guy! I don't care if I'm still sick, I'm going to beat your ass down!" With that, the still slightly feverish girl jumped up from her spot on the couch and gave chase to the currently crippled boy.
Inuyasha had only a split second to 'eep' before having to run for his life...with the ruined game and system still attached to his aching foot. Hekele was gaining on him quickly, and Inuyasha was as terrified as he had ever been back when he wore that damn rosary. He rounded the corner into the kitchen, just in time to see Ms. Higurashi shut herself swiftly into a closet, and kept running. He made it out the back door, and began running around in the backyard, Hekele still in tow. Inuyasha was happy, however, to note that she was slowing down due to her tired and ill body. He was so busy looking at her, however, that he failed to notice that there was someone rounding the corner in front of him...
Poor Kagome didn't have a prayer. Inuyasha looked ahead just in time to see her appear around the corner...and run smack dab into her. Kagome screamed, never having seen Inuyasha, as she fell to the ground; Inuyasha yelled as he tried to stop himself from falling as well, which resulted in tripping over her discarded book-bag and falling right on top of her. For the second time in the past five minutes, all was silent. Hekele caught up to Inuyasha and started panting, trying to catch her breath.
"Kagome! That stupid, clumsy boyfriend of yours broke my PS2! He stepped on it when Mom tried to give him dancing lessons and he wouldn't let her lead! It's still attached to his god forsaken foot! I have proof damn it!" she yelled, pointing at her ruined system, half of which was all over the yard. Kagome only lay there in complete shock before speaking.
"Inuyasha...can you get off of me now...please?" she asked. Inuyasha, who was laying diagonally over her made a weird noise before rolling off her legs. Once off, he remained motionless.
"Ow...stupid future shit..." he moaned painfully. Hekele growled, yanked her broken system off his foot, and then cradled it as she walked back into the house mournfully.
Kagome took this opportunity to sit up and stare at Inuyasha, "Now...what the hell was all that about?" It was odd, Kagome felt that competitiveness towards Inuyasha as she had the day the two had met the fallen's crystal servant. She even felt...fury? I'm just mad because he made me fall...but...why doesn't that feel like that's it? Why am I so mad? It was an accident...
Inuyasha rolled onto his back and stared at her dumbly, "I...accidently stepped on her game what'cha ma-call-it and broke it...while she was playing it..." Kagome felt, to her relief, the fury disappear, and a more appropriate emotion, humor, replace it.
She laughed a bit, and crawled over to him, "I figured that part out on my own...what I meant was what's all this about you taking dancing lessons from my mother?" Inuyasha scowled.
"...Stupid sick wench...tattling..." he muttered. Kagome smiled at him softly, her emotions even more at ease.
"Come on...let's go inside...I think it's safe now...She's gotten over her anger stage and into mourning..." she suggested. She stood up, followed by a hesitant Inuyasha.
"Are you sure? She changes mood pretty quickly..." he asked warily. Kagome nodded and grabbed his hand. She pulled him into the house carefully, looking out for Hekele, but found her mother as she entered the kitchen. She was just exiting a closet...
"Wow Mom...Hekele must have been mad if you hid on her..." she said, releasing Inuyasha's hand as she moved to sit at the table. Ms. Higurashi laughed.
"He did crush her baby after all...if anyone touched any of my girls I'd probably go on a similar rampage..." she said. Kagome stared at her mother before bursting into laughter.
"Only my mother would associate a PS2 with their child..." she declared. Ms. Higurashi smiled affectionately as Inuyasha joined her daughter at the table.
"Where's Kachie? I didn't see her come in..." she asked after thinking for a moment. Kachie rolled her eyes.
"She got detention...she won't be home until about 5:00...Man, I had to sign both her and Hekele up for the talent show try-outs that are in two weeks..." she said, annoyed.
Ms. Higurashi looked at her, alarmed, "What happened? What did Kachie supposedly do to get detention?" Inuyasha was also looking at Kagome questioningly; he knew roughly what detention was, and he knew that Kachie was usually better behaved than that...and what was a talent show?
Kagome shrugged, "I have no clue...she refused to tell me...but she looked awfully embarrassed...So, what's this I hear about Inuyasha taking dancing lessons from you? And I'm guessing that's why Koga's here too eh? I thought I saw him hiding behind the stairs..."
Ms. Higurashi sighed and shook her head, "Koga picked up waltzing relatively quickly, but Inuyasha can't get past letting me lead so that he can learn..." Inuyasha feh'd and looked away from the woman, embarrassed.
Kagome smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder, "...How about I take over teaching you? Maybe it'll be easier..." Inuyasha looked at her hopefully.
"You think it'd help?" he asked. Kagome smiled and nodded, still resting against his shoulder.
"Well...then it's worth a shot..." Inuyasha paused, thinking over something, before making up his mind and continuing with what he was saying, "...There's something I need to talk to you about anyway..." Kagome looked at him curiously.
"What's it about?" she asked. Inuyasha hesitated, but put his arm around her and hugged her lightly.
"Well, two things actually; there's something going on with Miroku...he's acting strangely...but I'll get into that when Kachie gets here too...the other thing...well..." he didn't know what to say...he didn't know how to even approach on the subject of what had happened with the crystal demoness, "...I'll just get to it later...ok?" he tried. Kagome accepted this answer, or rather, lack of one, without question, and only snuggled into his embrace happily.
Then, without warning, a bright flash appeared in front of them, starling both Kagome and Inuyasha so much that Kagome fell off of her chair, dragging Inuyasha down to the ground with her...
Standing there, hovering above the two, was a very satisfied looking Ms. Higurashi...and she had a digital camera with her, "Sorry," she began, "but you two were just too cute like that...you know I can't resist moments like that..."
Kagome blushed and Inuyasha glared, "Feh..."
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"Honestly Lord Sesshoumaru, I don't understand what you mean. Koharu and I are in love, isn't that something to celebrate rather than question?" Miroku asked the rather frustrated demon lord. Sesshoumaru had been trying to question him for the past hour and a half, and hadn't gotten a straight answer out of the lightning demon the entire time.
"You no longer use my title Miroku, ever; it only furthers my suspicion that something is amiss here. Now, answer me straight forward; do you love Sango?" he tried. Miroku shook his head.
"No I do not; I love my fair lady Koharu...did you not hear me the first hundred times?" he answered, getting rather annoyed.
Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples, "How long have you been in love with this Koharu woman?" Miroku sighed.
"Only for about a week...but I know that she is the one for me...I have decided to ask her to marry me..." he stated passionately. Sesshoumaru nearly choked on the air.
"You fool, do you even remember ever loving Sango...at all?" he tried desperately. Miroku once more shook his head.
"I have never loved another woman, nor have I ever misled one by telling her so..." he said. Sesshoumaru was about ready to pull his hair out in his frustration, but tried to remain in control of himself. Why did he have to stick around this village and be a good guy? Why couldn't things have gone back to normal when Naraku was killed and Sesshoumaru go back to the indifferent ass he had been so accustomed to being?
Ah yes, I fell for a mortal and made...friends...with her companions, despite how much I despised them. Why have I gone soft? Was it Rin that did this to me? He sighed; of course it had been Rin. She was the kindest little girl he had ever met, and he had taken to her innocence. She was his daughter, and no one could tell him otherwise...even if they were brave enough to try.
Snapping out of his revery, he looked at Miroku and sighed, "Leave. But know this, you are making a grave mistake by looking to this Koharu for love. You are leaving behind you a very devoted friend who loves you more than probably any of us understand. You will regret your decision eventually..."
Miroku walked around the demon lord, glaring at him, "I will never."
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Kohaku sighed softly as he tucked his big sister in. She had fallen asleep quite early, probably from all her crying. Kohaku had noticed a distinct lack of energy in his sister ever since this whole charade had begun. She even, now that he was taking a closer look at her, appeared to have paled some, and Kohaku was beginning to worry.
He walked around the hut a bit, straightening up a few things here and there, desperately needing something to do. He walked past a shelf and stopped dead in his tracks. He backtracked a couple of steps and peered at the shelf carefully, and his eyes widened. There, on the untouched shelf, was Sango's name necklace, but it looked...older...
He took it off the shelf and walked back to his sister and frowned, she was wearing her necklace. Confused, he looked once more at the one in his hand; it was scratched slightly, and the grain of rice looked damaged. And the writing on it was rather faded.
Kohaku couldn't understand. Everyone else's necklace had stayed in very good condition...none of them had showed signs of wear and tear...it was too odd. Then, another thought struck Kohaku.
Sango just got her necklace...there's been no time for wear and tear... How could this be? Why were there two necklaces? Sango wouldn't have replaced hers unless she told someone first...but...it made no sense...
Kohaku looked around some more, this time near his sister, and found a second object that was out of place. A vial filled with what appeared to be water. The vial itself was rather intricately designed...it almost didn't belong in the hut. Kohaku looked at it further, and noticed all the detail put into it, and all those small designs...
This was not made in this era...but it doesn't belong to either Sango or Miroku...and it doesn't smell like either Kanna or Kagura...it's just here...and that makes no sense... he thought to himself as he pocketed the vial, making a mental note to show it to Kaede the next time he saw her.
Sango began to stir slightly in her sleep, as if from a terrible dream. Kohaku made his way back to her quickly and tried to wake her up as soon as it grew more violent. After a few moments, he ran to grab a bucket of water from outside and splashed some of it onto her face. She woke with a start and started breathing heavily.
"Aneue? Are you ok?" Kohaku asked quietly. Sango only looked at him for a moment before tears began to form in her eyes. Kohaku sighed and pulled her into a comforting hug. His sister was being much more emotional than usual. Normally, when things like this happened, she'd deal with it all internally...she didn't cling to people like she was to him at that moment. He didn't like this new change, not this suddenly anyway...
Kohaku sighed as he rubbed her back gently, rather upset with how fragile his sister had suddenly become. Let's hope we can get Sango and Miroku back together... he thought as he looked his sister over, Or Aneue might just die of a broken heart...
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"One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four...Welcome back Kachie...two, three, four..." Kagome said as a sulking Kachie made her way into Kagome's and Hekele's room and sat on Hekele's bed.
"Hey Kags...Inu..." she muttered as she began to look through Hekele's comic book collection. Kagome rolled her eyes as she continued to teach Inuyasha the steps to the dance.
"You know Kachie, I signed you and Hekele up today for the talent show...the least you can do is tell me why you couldn't sign yourself up..." she prodded. Kachie glared at her dangerously.
"Never will I tell a living soul what happened. Just know that if Matsu Tsukasa ends up dead tomorrow, you know it was me."
Kagome rolled her eyes, "Whatever...Inuyasha, I can't teach you to dance if you don't move your feet..."
Inuyasha, who had stopped dancing, stood firmly in place, "I ain't trip over myself with a witness here to tell the tale!" Kagome sighed and stared at Kachie, willing her to leave. Kachie rolled her eyes and grabbed a huge stack of comic books.
"Hekele won't miss these...for a while..." she said, and with that, she left the room.
Kagome rolled her own eyes and looked back at Inuyasha, "Better?"
Inuyasha nodded, "Much..."
Kagome punched him in the arm lightly, "You wanna take a break? You said there was something you wanted to talk to me about..."
Inuyasha visibly paled, but nodded, "Um...yeah...there was...I don't know how to start it though..." Kagome shrugged and sat on her bed; pulling Inuyasha down next to her.
"Just start talking...I'll listen..." she said honestly. Inuyasha took a deep breath.
"It has to do with the day we ran into that crystal woman...with what happened when you blacked out..." he said slowly. Kagome furrowed her brow.
"Ok...what is it that you want to tell me?" she asked. Inuyasha bit his lip in worry.
"Well...first off, do you remember anything that happened after you were hit by the orbs of pure energy and were thrown into the tree?" he asked. Kagome thought for a moment.
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Suddenly, however, she felt nothing. No pain...just...bliss. She wasn't aware of anything. She was only conscious that she was moving, and that was it. She leapt to and fro and maneuvered her arms and hands beautifully. As suddenly as her 'dance' had begun, it was over. She was no longer aware of the sensation of movement, and felt the ground claim her.
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"I remember moving...I don't know how to express it...I felt as light as a cloud...like I was dancing...I felt like a ballerina...it was incredible...but then I felt nothing...except that I was falling..." she said honestly. Inuyasha hesitated, but he had come to far to chicken out at that point...
"I think you should know what really happened Kags...but..." he trailed off, not knowing what to say next. Kagome frowned at him.
"Just tell me Inuyasha...if I need to know, then I need to know...don't skip around the subject..." she said, edging him on.
"Well..." he began, "Kagome...she was in pieces when you were through with her..."
Kagome's eyes got huge, "W-what?" Inuyasha took another deep breath, and pressed on.
"I...I think it's like what you see when I turn into a full demon...You were completely unaware of what was happening...but still...that demoness didn't have a chance...There was blood everywhere..." he went on, watching Kagome closely for her reaction. The girl looked like she was about to start crying...
"No..." she said, more to herself than to Inuyasha. He nodded his head slowly, pulling her into a soft embrace, knowing that she needed it.
"I'm sorry Kags...but...it happened...it was like you couldn't hear anything...it was..."
"...a slaughter?" Kagome finished for him sadly. Inuyasha sighed, but nodded. He couldn't lie to her.
Kagome sat there, in Inuyasha's arms, for a long time. She just couldn't digest the information. No...I'd remember something like that...he can't be right...
He isn't right...
...Who are you?
Why, this one is you of course...and Inuyasha isn't right...completely...
Then why is he telling me this?
He's jealous...he wasn't the one to defeat the creature...you, little weak Kagome, had to defeat her and save him...he doesn't like that...
But...I thought...
Oh true...you killed the creature...I don't know why you're so adverse to killing now...you've done it enough...
What do you mean?
Naraku, his minions, Kikyo, other evil demons...what? You didn't think they wouldn't count, did you? You're a murderer...even before you were granted the dark powers of a demoness...you killed so often...and you didn't even care...you're as evil as any of them...
T-that's not true! We had to get rid of those demons in order to help people! It's not the same! It's not like I enjoyed killing!
So foolish...you didn't care though either did you? Killing never bothered you...is that not as evil as enjoying it? You are evil...you killed the fallen's child...embrace it dear...embrace yourself...
I'm not evil...
Child...stop denying the inevitable...even Inuyasha thinks you are an evil monster...you should have seen his fearful face when you disemboweled the crystal child...all the screaming...and to think...you heard nothing...all those pleas to let her live...and to stop slashing and ripping at her flesh...it was quite a desperate show...Oh, I'm sorry, have I upset you?
He...didn't tell me she screamed...didn't tell me she begged...you're lying...
No darling...he was just too afraid...afraid of his superior...he is only a lowly hanyou...he stood no chance...so he risks not angering his better by keeping her ignorant...
You can't be me...I don't care what he is...I still love him...
You hate his vile flesh...you know you're better than him...
"Kagome? Kagome, say something...please? You're too quiet...talk to me..." Inuyasha said, rubbing her back. She had been spaced out for a long time, and he was getting worried.
You can't be me...
It's true, you and this one are a united being...we are one and the same...
You can't be me...
Yes...
You can't be me.
Yes...we are...
You can't be me!
Yes...you and this one...are one...
No!
"Kagome...are you-"
"No!" she yelled, jumping up and away from Inuyasha. She just stared at him, breathing heavily and trembling with both rage and fear. Inuyasha stared at her, shocked. He made move to stand up, to try to comfort her...or something...
"Kags..." he tried, reaching for her slightly. Kagome backed away.
"You're lying Inuyasha! I wouldn't do that! I wouldn't kill someone like that! Why are you telling me this?" she yelled. Inuyasha's lips parted slightly in hurt and shock. Kagome had just bluntly called him a liar. He had been completely frank with her, and she didn't believe him.
"I'm not lying Kagome...and I'm not mad...I just need for you to know this so we can figure out what's going on..." he tried, approaching her once more.
Kagome only took another step away from him and stared at him accusingly. There was an undeniable fury in her eyes, as well as a deep pool of hurt. Inuyasha didn't like seeing those emotions in Kagome; she was suppose to be light-hearted and happy. He was angry at himself for upsetting her so much...but he needed her to understand...they needed to know what was happening...
"Stop lying Inuyasha! Shut-up and go away!" she yelled. Inuyasha swore that part of his heart cracked when she said those words. Her eyes were just burning into him as though trying to scorch his heart. And they even appeared a bit red...
"Kagome-"
"GO AWAY!" Inuyasha froze . Her eyes were red. They were flickering slightly, but they were most definitely a bright red instead of her usual dark brown. But...how...
"NOW!" Inuyasha sighed in defeat, and hurt. She didn't believe him, and he knew that something was wrong too.
"Stop acting like a two year old and listen to me Kagome! Look at your eyes! Their red! You aren't acting like yourself either!" he yelled back in his frustration. Kagome growled low in her throat, and even for a human, it was pretty threatening.
"JUST SHUT-UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE YOU STUPID HANYOU!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment in sheer shock and anger. Then, his eyes darkened slightly in silent rage as he turned around and opened her door. He walked out of it just as Kachie, Hekele, Ms. Higurashi, and Koga came running up the stairs to investigate the yelling. He turned back and looked at Kagome, and his eyes narrowed in hurt anger.
"FINE! I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE, YOUDAMN BITCH!" he retorted as he slammed the door. Everyone stared at him in complete shock, but he only kept walking, speaking to no one or even looking them in the eye. He just walked. He was too hurt to stop and explain. There was no reason for Kagome's accusations, or her brutal delivery.
Inuyasha walked down the stairs and out the door. And he didn't even pause before jumping down the well...
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Kachie was leaning against Koga as the two sat on the couch while Hekele was sitting in the chair, staring off into space and deep in thought. Ms. Higurashi was washing the dishes from everyone's dinner, with help from Souta and Grandpa. The meal had been miserable, and Kagome had flat out refused to come out of her room. Inuyasha had left them all without answers to their questions, and Kagome hadn't told them anything.
After ten minutes of trying to get her to open the door, Koga had decided to head back to the feudal era and get information out of Inuyasha, however, Ms. Higurashi felt that it would be in everyone's best interest to let both Inuyasha and Kagome cool off before anyone spoke to them further on the matter. No one disagreed.
So Koga had stayed for dinner, and the entire event had been quiet, except for Grandpa's and Souta's questions on why Kagome wasn't joining them. That had been twenty minutes ago, and still everyone was silent. No one knew what to say. Finally, Kachie couldn't stand it anymore.
"...Do you think we've waited long enough? I mean, I know those two argued a lot in the past, but they haven't been that bad in months...and this...this is way over the top..." Kachie said truthfully. Koga sighed and wrapped an arm around her, encircling her in a warm embrace. He didn't know whether or not the time was right, but he wasn't about to try and find out. It was like a sixth sense was telling him to stay put, and he listened.
"I don't think now's the right time...let's at least give him another hour...this is Inuyasha we're talking about..." he said. Kachie nodded.
Ms. Higurashi chose that time to bring the rest of the family into the room, "All done! How are you three holding up?" Souta sat next to Hekele on the chair and she gave him a small hug. Grandpa sat on the couch a ways away from Kachie and Koga.
Hekele sighed, "I don't know...I just wish I knew what was up...this whole thing is killing me..." Souta nodded.
"It's not like Kagome to get so mad...I wonder what happened..." he said sadly. Ms. Higurashi sighed.
"It may be a while before we find out..." she replied regretfully.
Koga was about to make a reply when there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked around in confusion; no one had been expecting visitors. Ms. Higurashi, however, was unfazed for the most part and walked over to the door. She was not prepared for who would be on the other side.
There stood a man and a women, both looking very upset. They stared at Ms. Higurashi with conviction, "Where is she?Now!"
Kachie looked back to see who was at the door and her jaw dropped, "Mom...Dad?"
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Lady Oyu sighed as she watched Inuyasha come back through the well. He appeared very angry, but his anger was laced with something...was it sorrow?
"You seem upset Inuyasha...could it be that your love has lashed out at you? You poor dear...it hurts doesn't it? Well, soon you and your friends won't feel any more pain; you'll be too busy running from the devils of hell to feel pain once this one is through with you..." she said idly. Kotaro chose then to appear, and Oyu smiled at him 'lovingly'.
"Kotaro, love,this one wishesher power would allowher to see what they are doing while in the future, it would be much more entertaining..." she complained. Kotaro looked at her oddly.
"You cannot go to the future and see them with your magic, love?" he asked. Lady Oyu shook her head.
"No, this one cannot, their time is a time in which most magic is dead, and what still exists is difficult to tap into...so this one cannot spy on them easily...besides, even if this one wanted to use the extra power, her magic would be detected by Kagome...and we cannot have the little murderer knowing that something out of place was happening..." she replied silkily. Kotaro sighed and sat in the chair next to Oyu, not knowing what to say. Oyu seemed not to mind.
"Kotaro, love, this one thinks that she shall be visiting them all soon. This one is ready to make herself known."
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Me: Dun-da-dun!
Kachie: Next she is going to write the history of Oyu and Kotaro...then my chappie...
Me: And then, after that, Kohaku and Kanna, and then Sango and Miroku, and then Hekele and Sesshy, and then Kags and Inu. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am screwing up the order slightly for plot purposes. The K and K chappie is going to lead into the S and M chappie, and Miroku might just get cured in that one. Kags and Inu, for plot purposes, need to be affected by the spell for more than two and a half chapters, and that is the reason for the order change. Is that ok? Good, I thought so...
Kachie: The Oyu/Kotaro history chapter will basically be a summary of their...well...history and how everything came to pass and why things are the way they are now...it is not a chapter that is too vital to the storyline, but it may come in handy.
Me: Now, there are a few of you who think that I am including the bad guys too much and that you are beginning to get attached to them. Well, I am sorry to say this, but that is what I want to happen. Mostly because they aren't the usual type of bad guys. I want you to know and feel what they feel, and then turn around at a crossroad of my story and have to make the decision between right and wrong every single time they do. You'll get what I mean by this a bit more if you read the Oyu/Kotaro chapter...Call it me trying to evolve my writing skills so that in the future I can be a better and hopefully well-known and published author.
Kachie: That is your dream!
Me: That, being a marine biologist, and before that a photographer for National Geographic magazine...
Kachie: Hey, I didn't ask for your life story, shut-up and start writing those chappies.
Me: Whatever, I want to get a few reviews first, I don't care how many though...I'll write after I get some...
Kachie: (rolls eyes) Ok gang, that's your cue to hit that little button...please review!