Hmmm...Okay. Went from good, to this again.
Well. Sad...HUGE...chapter, just as a heads up before you read!
Don't forget to give a little review. Just to let me know you read it! I'd just like to know that my hard worked story isn't a complete bust.
Chapter 12
"HURRY UP, KAGOME!" The impatient hanyou called back to Kagome as he bounded towards the village, Kagome's pink bike over his shoulder.
"I'M TRYING! YOU COULD BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT, YOU KNOW!" She yelled back at him as she struggled to catch up.
She stumbled in her prom dress and her yellow backpack nearly fell off her shoulder. Inuyasha had changed back into his deep red kimono before they had left, not about to be caught dead in a tux.
'Why didn't I change before I left?' She asked herself, regretting wearing it here.
"Feh! Whatever..." Inuyasha said, smirking.
"Hey! I'm going as fast as I can!" Kagome yelled to him, finally catching up.
"Get a move on it!" He said darting off again.
'Well...so much for the deep, gentle, Inuyasha at the dance...' Kagome thought to herself, watching him race off into the distance.
She thought of it again, how Inuyasha held her so gently, as if he held her as tightly as the others did to their dates...she would simply snap like a twig or shatter like a piece of weak porcelain.
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"Wow! Kagome-Chan, that dress!" Sango exclaimed as Kagome entered the hut dressed in the stunning ivory dress.
"Yes! It's my prom dress! I wanted to show it to you so I came dressed in it!" She said, glancing at Inuyasha.
'No...they don't need to know...' She thought, her cheeks turning a light pink. She seemed to blush a lot lately.
She dropped her bag by the doorway.
"Yeah, well...I think it just slows you down! You took long enough coming back here!" Inuyasha said. He had sat down on the floor of the hut, leaning against the wall. He pulled in one leg and kept the other in Indian style. The elongated fingernails of his right hand tapped furiously on his kneecap. He always fidgeted when something was on his mind.
"Let me see!" Sango said, motioning for Kagome to sit by her.
"It really is beautiful, Kagome!" Shippo cried, hopping onto her shoulder from the floor, next to Sango.
"Mm-hmm..." Miroku commented from beside Sango, a bit dazed. Even if he wasn't really interested in Kagome, he couldn't shake the fact that Kagome looked so breath taking.
Sango shot him a cold glance.
"Oh! It's silk!" Sango said as Kagome knelt next to Sango. She edged towards the small fire that was set in the middle of the room, it's orange flames flicking up towards the ceiling and casting a fiery glow upon everyone inside the hut.
Kirara mewed quietly as she trotted in from outside and settled herself in Sango's lap. Her crimson eyes flicked around the room, gazing upon everyone.
"Yeah. It was a ton to buy but it was totally worth it!" Kagome said, leaning over to pat the tiny kit's head.
Shippo leapt from Sango's shoulder and landed on the floor, next to Kagome. He stroked the silken dress with a dazed expression.
Kagome giggled softly and turned her gaze to the fire.
"Where's Kaede?" Kagome asked just as the grass weaving that covered the doorway was pushed aside.
"Don't worry, Kagome, I be right here." The old miko said, stepping into the hut.
"I was just gatherin' some food for ye." She added, dropping a basket of bread and vegetables by Kagome.
"Might I say that that dress ye are wearing is quite stunning!" Kaede said, nodding her head as if agreeing with herself.
"Thank you!" Kagome cried, her cheeks pink again.
'All this attention!' She thought gleefully.
She stared straight into the middle of the warm fire and brought her hands up to warm them. She suddenly felt as if someone was watching her. She first suspected Miroku. He never could resist a good looking girl. She turned to glare at him but he was turned to Sango, smiling faintly. Kagome's gaze then turned to Inuyasha. He sat, his fingers still and his ears forward. He could probably hear her breathing. He stared intently into her eyes, gazed so deeply that Kagome felt the hair on her arms and the back of her neck stand straight up.
Suddenly, his eyes widened as he realized that she was staring back at him. He immediately switched his gaze to the side, away from Kagome. His fingers tapped rapidly on his knee again.
She could feel herself blushing again.
'Why was he staring at me like that?' She wondered, looking back to the fire so she didn't seem so suspicious.
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"Inuyasha..." Kagome whispered, her eyes wide as her half demon companion leaned in closer. His fingertips brushed across her cheek.
"Shhh..." He hushed her, taking her hand and placing it against his chest.
Kagome gasped lightly. What was happening. She felt numb, she could barely feel Inuyasha's nails scrape lightly across the skin on her cheek.
Closer, closer, until their noses touched at the sides. Inuyasha's eyes closed but Kagome's stayed wide open, staring at the hanyou as he placed his lips on hers. It was clear how surprised she was. What was happening? Why? Why was he kissing her? Why was she liking it?
"Kagome." He uttered her name as their lips departed for only a moment before they were pressed together once more in a long and passionate kiss.
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"Kagome..." He said again. "Kagome..."
"INUYASHA!" Kagome cried, immediately sitting upright
"Hey! Keep it down!" Inuyasha said in a hushed voice. His ears twitched as he stood over Kagome and peered out the doorway, his eyes narrowed.
"Was it...a dream?" Kagome asked herself aloud, completely ignoring Inuyasha's order to keep quiet. She touched her cheek softly. She had felt him touching her. Did it really happen? It felt so real. Was it possible….
"What?- Shut up for a minute, Kagome!" Inuyasha said, inching towards the doorway.
Kagome watched him carefully. He was sensing something that Kagome could not. A demon, perhaps? Her mind wasn't on that at the moment.
'It was just a dream.' She told herself. 'But it felt so real...I could barely feel Inuyasha's hands on me...'
"What...What is it?" She stammered, somewhat afraid of the answer. She was awfully tired and not in the mood for a fight.
"It's...Do you smell that?" He said, his eyes widening.
"What do you mean? No..." She replied, climbing out of her sleeping back and crawling over to Inuyasha.
"THAT'S NARAKU SCENT!" The inu half demon cried, no longer bothering to stay hushed as he darted out the door, nearly ripping the grass weaving down with him.
Kirara hissed as she was awoken. The tiny kit jumped from Sango's warm arms and transformed into her youkai form in a burst of flame. She hissed again, surprised and angry from being awoken, and sensing Naraku as well. She waited by Sango for her to mount her.
Sango and Miroku sat up, rubbing their eyes.
Miroku yawned, Sango jumped up and grabbed the strap of the massive Hiraikotsu and slung it across her shoulder.
Kaede's dark eyes opened to stare at the ceiling above her. She did not speak. It was as if the old woman knew what was to come.
The small fox demon who had been sleeping soundly on a haystack, raised his head and rubbed the sleep from his teal colored eyes.
"Huh, wha- what's going on?" He asked in a sleep clogged voice.
Kagome jumped up, her eyes wide.
'Could it really be Naraku? Is this really our chance to kill him?' She wondered as she grabbed up her bow and arrows and threw aside the grass weaving and bounded after Inuyasha.
"INU- AH! INUYAHSA!" Kagome screamed, tripping over a fallen branch but regaining her balance before she toppled over.
The hanyou raced through the village and into the dense forest. He was running rampant. Nothing could stop the half demon now, not when he was blinded by hate and anger.
"INUYASHA, STOP! INUYA-. . ." Kagome's frantic calls ceased as she gazed upon the hanyou standing in front of a strange looking demon.
Pure, glossy, white eyes with no pupils stared at Inuyasha through slits. Long white hair flowed freely about his head. Nothing like Inuyasha's beautiful, silvery-white hair. This hair was course and chalk white, of an elder's hair. Claw-like hands jutted from pale wrists dressed in black cuffs. His muscular frame was clothed in a form fitting white outfit. A black sash hug around his waist. His skin was almost as chalk white at his hair and eyes, slightly pinker. Black boots, pointed at the tips, covered his feet.
"Heh heh heh. . ." The demon chuckled, his thin lips parting slightly and revealing pearly white teeth.
He blinked, but not any human blink. Lenses from the inside of his eye lids parted and sank into the left and right sides of his eyes, revealing cat-like irises. Just jet black slits down the middle of his eye.
Inuyasha stood before him, one fist clenched, the other on the hilt of the Tessaiga.
'He reeks of Naraku!' He thought, unsheathing his father's fang.
It's blunt and cracked blade shot forth and widened into the full power Tessaiga. The fur before the hilt danced around, tickled the half demon's hand.
"You are too eager, half-breed." The demon rasped, his voice so similar to Naraku's that it very well could have been made of his own vocal cords.
The huffing of an exhausted man and woman, tinkling of metal against metal, and footsteps running towards the three could be heard in the distance.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku called, his sandals sliding across the dry dirt as he struggled to stop without running in front of the unfamiliar demon.
Sango was close at his side, her boomerang-like weapon slung across her shoulder. Shippo was not far behind.
"SHUT UP! WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY? ARE YOU ANOTHER DETATCHMENT OF THAT BASTARD, NARAKU!" Inuyasha screamed, more of accusing than asking.
"Why are you so eager to know? Who says I was searching for a fight? Now, now, what if I just wanted a nice chat?" The demon said, his voice so menacing.
"Get 'im, Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled from several yards away.
"Doubt it…" Inuyasha snapped, glaring coldly at the demon and letting out low growl.
"I…am Sanraku…" The demon said, his white eyes narrowing.
'Could it really be? Naraku has made another demon out of himself?' Miroku thought, stepping forward to aid his friend.
Sango held onto his shoulder, held him back from them.
"Hold on…" She said, her voice low.
Miroku was confused by the demon slayer's actions but said nothing. Needless to say, he trusted her. He trusted all of his companions.
"HEY, GUYS!" Shippo called, bounding towards them on all fours.
All heads whipped towards him and he stopped immediately to whimper in fear.
"And who are they? Your companions? Your friends? And, oh look…A mortal? Quite a pretty face. Is she your lover?"Sanraku asked, teasing Inuyasha purposely.
He was just waiting for the impatient hanyou to attack.
"SHUT UP!" Inuyasha screamed.
Anger burned inside of him, formed a lump in his throat that he just couldn't swallow down. His whole body pulsed with hate as he lunged forward and swung his Tessaiga at Sanraku's throat.
Sanraku cackled evilly as a sudden sharp 'zing' sound rang out through the forest. Inuyasha slid backwards, his bare feet dragging in the ground as he struggled to hold onto the deflected Tessaiga.
"He…He has a barrier!" Inuyasha said, amazed, as he stared down at his vibrating sword.
"You lowly half-breed…You cannot touch me!" Sanraku shouted, swinging forth and sending six lashes of shocking light towards him.
"What!" Inuyasha cried as he darted away, narrowly dodging the attack.
'That's Naraku's power…' He thought, determining who this demon really was.
"No problem! I'll just use my red Tessaiga!" He cried out, a devilish smile crossing his features as he rose his sword high above his head.
The wind whistled and blew violently as slow, red patches began to form over the sword's smooth, silvery blade.
"See ya later, dirt bag!"
Light moved forth from the Tessaiga's red blade. All eyes were wide and watching with mentally crossed fingers as the attack collided with Sanraku's barrier.
"Heh. And I thought this guy was gonna be stronger…" Inuyasha bragged, letting down his father's fang with a large, relieved sigh, hidden from the others.
"I-Inuyasha! Watch out!" Kagome screamed, her voice so terror filled that Inuyasha just knew it had to be something bad. His eyes shot to Sanraku but he didn't have a chance to see the angered demon before bolts of shocking light raced at him.
"Damn!" He shouted, jumping back, out of the way. A trickle of crimson blood ran down the hanyou's neck but he could hardly feel the pain.
"It…It didn't work!" He exclaimed, his eyes widening at the sight of the pinkish barrier that glowed brightly, as if taunting him of his failure.
'That stupid barrier…how can I penetrate it?' Inuyasha wondered, his amber eyes darting around for anything, anything at all that could help him.
Nearby, was a big boulder jutting from the ground. He raced over to it and jumped, pushing off of it and lunging at Sanraku, his Tessuiga raised.
Any sensible being would have stopped trying to defeat their enemy in a way that they were immune to. Inuyasha was no sensible being. He would try and try again.
Again, he was thrown back, the Tessuiga had been thrown from his grasp.
"No! He's going to be killed! We have to do something!" Kagome cried, turning to Miroku, Kirara, Shippo, and Miroku for help.
"Yes. He needs us." Sango said, taking the Hiraikotsu from over her shoulder and running towards them, Miroku behind her.
Sango let out a furious battle cry as she heaved the boomerang-like weapon at Sanraku. All it took was one look and the wave of his hand and the weapon came flying back at Sango.
"SANGO!" Miroku cried as he saw the Haraikotsu coming their way. He rushed to Sango, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her to the ground with him.
The weapon crashed into a tree behind them.
Miroku lay over Sango, their noses nearly touching. Miroku grinned softly and Sango, perhaps, took it in the wrong way.
"GET OFF ME, I'M FINE!" She screamed, shoving the monk away.
"What'd I do! I just saved your life and that's the thanks I get?" Miroku replied, nearly forgetting about the battle in front of them.
"JUST FORGET ABOUT IT, WOULD YA, AND HELP ME!" Inuyasha screamed to them just as Sanraku's human sized, clawed hands transformed into five, long, sharp, steel stakes. He hadn't even seen it coming. He was too busy reaching for the Tessaiga as the stakes rushed for his chest.
Miroku grunted and swirled around, unraveling the white beads from around his hand and letting the flap that covered his palm fall aside. The gaping hole in the middle of Miroku's palm began to draw in everything in it's path, rapidly.
A loud buzzing echoed through the forest as huge bee-like bugs emerged from behind Sanraku.
"Ah!" The monk cried, pulling his hand away and wrapping it back in the beads. He knew that if he sucked in even one of the poisonous insects that he would be deadly poisoned.
"Naraku's insects! That is Naraku's new detachment!" Sango cried, staring at the spikes that were nearing Inuyasha's chest. She knew they had to do something but all of them just stood there, frozen in fear.
"No…" Kagome whispered, tears nearly filling her eyes. She scrambled to get her arrow in her bow and pull back with all her strength. She wasn't about to let Inuyasha die.
"HEY! LOOK AT ME! " She cried, pulling the arrow back further and suddenly letting go.
The arrow flew forth and struck Sanraku in the shoulder. It had somehow gone through his barrier.
"Yes!" She whispered as Sanraku cried out in pain and thrust his steel claws away from Inuyasha. The hanyou's eyes shot to Kagome in a look of pure terror. He knew what came next.
Sanraku swung his huge hand at Kagome, black blood spilling from the wound in his shoulder.
Kagome uttered a pained sound as the side of the claws slammed into her side and sent her flying through the air and leaving her bow and arrows behind.
She crashed into the rock that Inuyasha had used earlier to jump off of. Her head cracked against the boulder and her chocolate brown eyes rolled back into her head. She sank to the ground, unmoving, as the claws were pulled away from the girl's limp body.
"Aw…such a pity…" He said in a mocking voice as he turned his eyes over to Inuyasha.