Ch. 27 – Question
They both bowed to each other in the ring. Oliver gets on guard and draws his swords the sound from them could barely be heard. Khan on the other hand, stands there loosely staring at his opponent; his whip held softly in his hands. The look on Khan's face was priceless… he was smirking.
" This is going to be fun.." Khan stated and the smirk grew bigger "You know Oliver, I could call Hoshi for your entertainment… she is a good girl too… and she does deserve a break anyway." Khan shrugs and cracked the whip as a call for the girl; the path of the whip was eliminated as it barely missed Oliver's cheek. Oliver looked as if he was in shock.
"… How did you…. What did you… How do you know?" Oliver asks Khan.
Khan smiles "… Cuz I'm good that way…"
"WHY YOU!!!" Oliver takes his blades and slices at Khan who just stands there, still is in his loose stance.
"… You need to calm down if you want to win" Khan breaks the pattern of the blades and blocks with the butt of the whip. One of Oliver's swords flies out of his hand as Khan hits him in the stomach with a punch to the gut that sends Oliver flying to the other end of the ring.
Oliver gasps for air as he looks up at Khan to only see his eyes turning half yellow.
" I need a challenge Oliver…" He stares into Oliver's eyes emotionlessly "… and right now you are not giving me a challenge…"His voice has gotten even deeper.
Oliver stares at Khan as he walks towards himself, only one thought went through his mind "…shit…"
In a flash Khan grabs Oliver's shoulder and takes the whip and wraps it around his neck and in a whisper he hears in his ear "…Did I just hear you say uncle??"
Oliver gasps. "… Nope … no you ….didn't…."
"All right then" Khan then takes Oliver and throws him to the other side of the ring. Oliver stagers to get up as Khan runs over to him. Khan's eyes slowly fill to yellow and in one swift motion he cracks his whip. Oliver grabs his sword and raises it up to block the attack and stabs Khan in the stomach.
Oliver pulls his sword back only to reveal that the sword was cleanly sliced in half and the other half sticking out of Khans side.
"…Ow…" Khan states and then he looks at Oliver, he smirks and falls over, out cold.
Oliver stands up and says "… I won? Wow I won-OUCH" He falls over in pain to only see that his arm had a deep gash that just started to bleed and the back of his leg was covered in blood.
"KHAN!!" Kurai screams jumping over the fence.
"OLIVER!!" Hoshi screams panting for breath…
(Later)
"OW!!! Get away from me! What are you trying to do kill me?!?" Khan's howling can be heard from down the hall.
"The metal has to come out Khan!" Kurai argues.
"NO it doesn't! I think that it looks beautiful the way it is… STOP TOUCHING ME!"
"Well if you just sit still!"
"Leave me alone I am fine!"
"You're still bleeding!"
"SO? I heal!"
Kurai sighs and leaves the room. She walks down the hall to another room and walks in. "How is Oliver doing?"
" He is doing great so Far." Hoshi looks over at Kurai before turning over her attention back to Oliver. He just sits there mutely, a handprint on his face showing that he already learned not to fight back.
"How is Khan?"
"He wont sit still." Kurai sounds a bit aggravated.
"Yup that is Khan. He hasn't changed since I met him. And I've lived here all my life."
" Do you have any advice fro me?"
"…Go get Lady Kagome."
"…okay. And She'll know what to do about him?"
"Hoshi looks over at her and smiles. "Absolutely."
(15 Minutes Later)
"Lady Kagome you're here again?" Kurai walks into the library. "How many times can you be in here in one day."
"I can't help it, I'm a bookworm."
-No kidding.- "I need your help."
"What is it Kurai? Is it my Brother?"
"Well, yes. Khan won't stay still for 2 minutes!"
"Get the rope."
(1/2 an hour later)
"Mmmmm!" Khan screams.
"Good thing you gagged him." Kagome remarks.
"Well you tied him down. It was the least I could do." Kurai smiles.
"When Khan screams the castle seems to shake and the sound is painful to the ears. Any idea how Oliver is?"
Kurai gets a slightly evil glint in her eyes. "Oh he's doing just fine…"
"Really? Do tell." Kagome smiles.
"Hoshi slapped him into submission!"
"I wish I could've taped that! Khan would've loved to witness that!" She laughs.
"He has a nice hand print on his cheek." Kurai hands another piece of metal to Kagome. "If he had behaved in the first place this would've come out whole and not in several pieces."
"That's Khan for ya."
(2 hours later)
Oliver walks into Khan's room. "Still out cold eh? I thought being the way you are, that you'd be awake by now. But then again, it was Lady Kagome who knocked you out." He sits on the side of the bed. "You look like you have a fever…" He checks Khan's temperature. "Oh my gosh! You're burning up! That's how she knocked you out! No wonder you're still out cold!" He runs to get cold water and comes back a few minutes later. "I can't believe she burned you out! She could've killed you!"
(The next day)
"There you are mate." Sesshomaru walks over to Kagome who is currently reading another book. "I thought I'd find you here. You're such a bookworm Kagome." He takes the book from her and places it on a high shelf.
"Sesshy!" She tries to retrieve the book and fails. "You know I can't reach that high! I'm not as tall as you or Khan!"
"You have better things to worry about." He scoops her up in his arms.
"Like what?" She looks at him intently.
"Well I have a meeting in the Eastern Lands with Lord Oikawa, so how about saying goodbye?"
"And why are you going there?"
"A meeting."
"What kind of meeting?"
"A boring one."
"No drinking?" She glares at him.
He sighs. "No."
"Alright then, you can go."
"Oh, so I need permission to leave now do I?"
"Yup."
"And when did this happen?"
"2 minutes ago when I thought of it." She smiles.
"I'll be gone for a few days. If the castle is attacked let Khan handle it. You are not to put yourself in harms way over nothing. Is that understood?"
"No."
"Kagome…"
"You asked. I simply answered."
"Kagome!"
"What!?"
"Just, promise me you won't do anything stupid. Ok?" He hugs her.
She hugs him back. "Yes Sesshy."
"Say it."
"I promise."
"To?"
Kagome sighs. "I promise not to do anything stupid while you're gone."
"Thank you."
"Can you do me a favor since you'll be in the Eastern Lands anyway?" She asks innocently.
"Depends on what it is." He eyes her suspiciously.
"Can you deck Loki? Please?"
"Why?"
"Cause it's been a bit over 3 years and last night I found a threatening not from her."
"How do you know it's recent and that you didn't just find it today by chance?"
"The ink isn't completely dry and she's dumb enough to write the date on it."
"I'll talk to Lord Oikawa about it."
"Why must you be so formal? Can't you be blunt for just once?"
"As a Lord it is my duty to be formal."
"You're no fun." She mumbles.
"No fun am I? We shall see how quickly your mind changes its opinion." He shuts the library door.
(In Khan's room)
"Oh Khan… it's time to wake up…" Kurai says tauntingly, sitting on the edge of the bed.
No response.
"If you think that pretending to sleep will make me go away then you are sadly mistaken. Remember our agreement?" She looks at him thoughtfully. "I think I'll take a nap." She situates herself next to him on the bed and falls asleep holding onto his arm. Khan opens his eyes slightly and looks over at her.
-That was a one-sided agreement I'll have you know.- He watches her for a few minutes. –Yet I don't regret being put in that position. This is kind of... nice.- He falls back asleep.
(Outside)
Hoshi sings to herself at she sits under a cherry blossom tree. Oliver attempts to sneak up behind her. "I know you're there, Oliver."
"How can you tell it's me?"
"Your footsteps. Khan is lighter on his feet."
"What about Lord Sesshomaru or Lady Kagome or the kids?"
"Lord Sesshomaru only comes outside when Lady Kagome is outside. The kids are usually running around and laughing."
"And Lady Kagome?"
"Lady Kagome would've called my name."
"Oh."
"I've lived here all my life, I know all the different sounds without being a demon."
"I haven't been in this garden before…"
"That is because this garden is not one of Lady Kagome's."
"Then who's is it?"
"It's mine."
"Is it because you're the staff manager?"
"Lady Kagome gave it to me because we're friends."
"Cool."
"I love this garden. I've spent a lot of time here."
"Hoshi…. I have a question…. That I'd like to… ask you…."
"Yes?" She looks at him, a bright smile on her face.
"Well…. Uh…" He starts to turn a nice shade of pink. "I'd like to know…. If you…."
"If I what?" She asks patiently.
"If you… would…. Maybe….umm…"
"What is it u wish to ask of me?" She tries to encourage him.
"Would you… be…. my girlfriend?"