InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Grudging Loss ❯ A Grudging Loss ( Chapter 22 )

Chapter 22: A Grudging Loss

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Did I ever mention that I have some awesome betas? Profuse thanks and bows for:

Hedanicree (a wonderful journalist who stepped in with some great ideasthat helped to increase the angst), Theleb K'aarna (who called in his edits over the phone while on an Army shooting range) and blackdeathmessenger (who caught some edits that even my other two betas missed)!

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Rose Bowl Preview

 

A sportscaster with slick black hair was dressed in a navy blue suit with a sky blue tie. He was getting ready to interview the coaches of USC and UCLA. Next to him was an elderly miko who wore with an eye patch and had her thin gray hair drawn up in a long ponytail behind her. The cool January breeze gently brushed up against the trio and caused her flowing miko robes to rustle in the wind. Next to her was a short squat man with wispy gray hair. This dwarf of a man was wearing black slacks and a white polo shirt. Behind the group was the grassy green end zone and field goal of the Rose Bowl Stadium.

 

“Good morning and welcome viewers to the Rose Bowl Preview Show. This is Steve Hartman and we're here on location at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on this beautiful clear New Years Day.

 

“With me is Kaede Maknamara who coaches the USC Holy Shikon Order and Myoga Morita coach of UCLA's Demon Dream Team.

 

“I thought I would start by asking Coach Maknamara a few questions. How is your team holding up to the pressure of the Rose Bowl?” Steve Hartman stepped forward to put his mike near her.

 

“Exceedingly well, Steve,” said Kaede with an air of professionalism. Then she paused for a brief moment to glare at Coach Myoga. Her tone quickly changed to subdued anger. “Especially with the many roadblocks that UCLA has put up this year in an attempt to undermine my team.” Coach Myoga stiffened beside her and his face twisted momentarily to a grimace before he smoothed his face back into a fixed smile.

 

The sportsman looked at Coach Kaede quizzically. “What do you mean by roadblocks from UCLA Coach?”

 

Kaede took a deep breath and turned her cool face to Steve. “UCLA has been doing everything possible behind the scenes this year to disrupt my team. All I can say is that my players have persevered against some very cruel stunts.”

 

“Do you care to elaborate on that, Coach Maknamara?” Myoga nearly choked when the question was asked. His eyes quickly shifted from one side to the other as the interview continued.

 

“No, you can simply ask Coach Morita about it when you interview him,” added Kaede coolly.

 

The sportscaster only raised an eyebrow as he tried to keep a smile plastered across his face as he continued with his questioning. “All right. Then tell me about Kagome Higurashi. She's your youngest player and was down with a broken rib. Is she back up to 100 percent?”

 

“Kagome has been amazing this year, especially since it is her first year playing a college sport. Yes, she is back and she's healthy. We worked together combining our own miko healing abilities in order to heal her quickly. She'll be playing today and might I add that she has a bone to pick with UCLA. She's ready to win this one.”

 

“The last time you met UCLA you defeated them, do you think your team can do it again?” asked the sportsman.

 

“Absolutely, Steve. They have never been more prepared and dare I say never more motivated to take down UCLA.” Coach Kaede simply crossed her arms when she was done talking and looked directly at her rival, Coach Myoga.

 

Steve Hartman looked surprised as he turned to face the other coach of UCLA. Myoga's face bore a plastic grin and his entire body stood rigid.

 

“Now to Coach Morita. How has your team been doing this season?”

 

Myoga looked warily at Kaede before he smiled at the sportscaster and forced his body to relax. “Oh, I'm proud of my boys. They have been fantastic this year! I'm going to be very sad to see Sesshomaru Taisho leave after this year, his final season. But I think we all know that he's going to have a bright future with the National Demonic League.”

 

“And what about your other players, the sophomores Inuyasha Taisho and Koga Okami?”

 

“As always Koga is quick, feisty and hard to take down. Inuyasha is determined, tireless and tenacious. I am very proud of the trio from my Class `A' team.”

 

“The last time UCLA met USC on the field it was your only loss of the year. How can you come back this time and win against them?”

 

Coach Myoga frowned before answering. “I think it took a game or two for my team to find its edge. We have been undefeated since our loss to USC in the first game of the season. My boys are tough and we're going to give USC a run for their money,” answered Coach Myoga with determination.

 

“Finally, Coach Kaede mentioned some cruel stunts that UCLA has pulled this year. Any comments?” asked the interviewer with curiosity in his eyes.

 

Coach Morita simply brushed back a small tuft of gray hair with his hand and he tried not to frown. “I…I don't know what Coach Kaede is talking about,” he answered nervously.

 

The sportscaster stared pointedly at Myoga before turning his head toward the camera and grinning broadly. “OK, folks. There you have it! The cross-town rivals, USC and UCLA will be battling it out here today at the Rose Bowl to see who really is the `Number One' college team in America! Only one team can win and only one team can walk off with the famed Lexus Gauntlet and the Rose Bowl Champions trophy. Now a word from our sponsor…”

 

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The Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
USC (University of Shikon Cadets)
vs. UCLA (Universal College for the Lost Arts)

 

The Santa Ana winds whipped the flags that crested over the top of the Rose Bowl Stadium. Dropping down further into the stands thousands of fans were in an uproar, screaming and cheering for their respective teams. One side of the stadium was littered with red and yellow—the other side decked out in navy blue and gold. Shouts could easily be heard over the din of the crowd, “Go SC!” “Beat the Bruin Bear Cubs!” “Shikon Sucks!” “Fight on Bears!”

 

The fans had already been brought into a frenzy by the many matches that had already been played today. The Class `C' and Class `B' teams had already made it onto the field. USC's team had defeated UCLA during the Class `C' match and UCLA had trounced the opposing team during the Class `B' match. Now everyone was waiting for the final match of the game when the top Class `A' teams from USC and UCLA would finally meet up and the fireworks would start. Every event that had taken place before was only a brief prelude to the main event that was about to take place.

 

The crowds from either end of the stadium were already screaming and heckling their opposing team. The rivalry that faced the two colleges was more akin to unadulterated hate than friendly bickering. Not only were the two teams within ten miles of each other, not only did both have superb athletics departments—they were also exact opposites. One campus drew the `holy warriors' while the other campus attracted `demonic fighters'. They weren't just rivals, they were natural enemies.

 

A voice started echoing across the crowd as the announcer spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen. The final fight of the afternoon, what you have all been waiting for: the battle between the Class `A' teams of USC and UCLA. It is the ultimate battle of yin and yang—holy versus demonic.

 

“Now from the visiting holy team of the University of Shikon Cadets is team captain, Miroku Moroboshi, the monk!”

 

Screams erupted from the stands as a tall man in monk's black and red robes marched onto the field holding a golden shakujo staff. The electronic billboards flashed his team photo that showed a smirking young man with a glint of lechery in his eyes. However, the cameras that were picking up the man walking through the stadium caught a different scene. This monk was beside himself with anger. Every step he took belied grim determination.

 

“Next for USC is Sango Taijiya, the demon slayer, and Kagome Higurashi, the miko arriving on Kirara, the demon cat!”

 

The billboards again erupted with pictures of two lithe and beautiful dark-haired women. Both of their press photos showed them smiling coyly, but as the camera zoomed in on them, today their faces bore grimaces and their eyes glinted like steel. The miko, who sat behind the demon slayer, was especially hardened as she gripped her bow possessively in her arms.

 

“And for the demonic home team of the Universal College for the Lost Arts, we have team captain, Sesshomaru Taisho!”

 

The blue and gold sections of the crowd roared with approval when their team captain made his way onto the stadium. Images of a very self-assured pale-faced demon blinked onto the screens as the elegant dog demon floated onto the stadium floor with his white fur pelt trailing behind him. He was wearing a stylish white kimono with a silver spiked breastplate and an elaborate yellow and blue obi that had two katanas tucked inside. Once he landed, Sesshomaru brushed his long silver locks to the side as a throng of women and even some men from the crowd sighed.

 

“Next we have his brother, Inuyasha Taisho!”

 

The home team crowd from the blue and gold sections continued to scream as the screens changed again. Now pictures of a cocky looking silver-haired half-demon flexing his claws were being displayed all over the stadium billboards. However, the man walking across the stadium grass looked almost hesitant and deep in thought. He had no swagger to his step; however, he did walk with a steady purpose with his golden eyes focused on the miko on the opposite end of the field.

 

He could already smell her scent. The gentle breeze lifted the aroma of cherry blossoms and jasmine to him. He could almost taste her scent on his tongue. Her perfume relaxed him and at the same time had him desperately wanting to be close to her. It was so strange that her scent would affect him so much and how her scent out of the thousands of people at the stadium today would be overpowering everything around him.

 

“And last but not least is the wolf demon, Koga Okami!”

 

Images of a self-assured demon with tan skin, long black hair and wearing furs flitted across the electric screens. Koga's cerulean blue eyes dazzled the fans, which were overshadowed by his fangs that peeked over his grinning lips. Just as the images crossed the screens a whirlwind snapped across the stadium racing to join Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. When the mini-hurricane stopped, Koga took an exaggerated bow and waved at the fans. The blue and gold sections grew even wilder as one of their team members finally acknowledged them.

 

Sesshomaru spoke slowly and deliberately to his two teammates before the game began. “I will take down the miko, Inuyasha you will take down the monk and Koga will take down the demon slayer.”

 

Koga simply grinned and put up two fingers as a salute, however Inuyasha started to protest. Inuyasha's body stiffened as he tried to stave off the panic that was rapidly enveloping his being. He gritted his teeth before he spoke. “No, Sesshomaru, I need to face Kagome…,” said Inuyasha with some trepidation.

 

“I don't think you can handle it, little brother. I will take out the miko,” said Sesshomaru with no emotion.

 

Inuyasha knew that he wouldn't get anywhere with his current line of reasoning. Sesshomaru wouldn't let him take on Kagome as an opponent if he felt Inuyasha was too emotionally weak to fight and possibly injure her. Inuyasha steeled his resolve as he switched tactics. He could only fight Kagome if he took on the same cold, calculating manner that his older brother possessed. “Feh, the bitch refused me and now I want to make her pay,” bragged Inuyasha as he cracked his knuckles and flexed his claws under Sesshomaru's impassioned glare.

 

Koga blinked in surprise. “You can't mean Kagome…,” he asked as his voice trailed off.

 

Sesshomaru responded with a cold sneer. “If you think you would be best equipped to take her down,” Sesshomaru paused as he peered directly into his brother's eyes. Sesshomaru's cold amber eyes met a pair of determined and almost emotionless orbs. “Hn, make USC pay for our last defeat, little brother. Show her no mercy.”

 

“Oi, Sesshomaru,” responded Inuyasha with an equally cold stare as Koga looked on with growing alarm.

 

Koga's dark blue eyes widened and his body jerked back in shock. “Hey, you can't mean that. Don't hurt the girl! She's part of our band,” murmured Koga.

 

“Part of your rock band?” asked Sesshomaru with impassivity mirrored on his face. Inuyasha knew that this look of serene calmness only hid the violent depths of anger if his elder brother became enflamed.

 

`Shit!' thought Inuyasha. `I almost had him. I need to give myself a heart of ice. I still need to convince him.' Inuyasha looked up at his brother as he gripped his sword tightly. “Not anymore. She left our band. I'm finished with her.”

 

Fangs gleamed as the older dog demon smiled, “Good,” responded Sesshomaru. “Now make the bitch pay. I'll take the monk and you'll take down the miko.”

 

Koga was simply stuttering in surprise as the opening shot rocked the stadium and their team sprung into action.

 

Sesshomaru flew with impressive speed and landed right in front of the monk. Before Miroku had a second to breathe, the dog demon's Bakusaiga* was freed from it's sheath and was about to make contact with his chest. With surprising reflexes, the monk countered the attack with his shakujo staff. The golden rings at the end of the staff rung and echoed across the stadium as the two fighters squared off. Miroku's eyes glinted with anger as he parried the first attack and then swiftly hit down hard with a counterstrike that surprised the dog demon.

 

“You set me up! You have no honor!” yelled Miroku. “Having an actress pose before me and my girlfriend, saying she bore me a child.”

 

Sesshomaru's impassioned face sneered in response. “If you didn't have such a reputation for asking women to bear your child, the opportunity wouldn't have presented itself.”

 

“You admit to it then, demon!” yelled Miroku as his staff clanged again against the demon's own sword.

 

“Hn,” was all that Sesshomaru answered as his lightening fast attacks increased in speed and the monk was finding it increasingly difficult to parry every strike. It was only Miroku's own anger that was letting him stay on par with the demon. One mistake, one delayed response and this fight would be over.

 

Koga only lost a second of time as he bounded quickly after the demon slayer who was taking to the sky on the cat demon's back. Sango lifted her demon boomerang and yelled, “Hiraikotsu!” The human-sized bone boomerang whizzed through the air. Koga ducked into a crouch and the weapon grazed his hair as it flew above him. The boomerang then whipped around to return to its owner. Sango was seething as she sat on her demonic mount. “Your team is the lowest most dishonest bunch of demons I have ever met!” she yelled as her boomerang sang forth from her arms again and Koga attempted to run and dodge again.

 

“What are you yelling at me for? What did I do?” questioned Koga in absolute confusion as the rabid demon slayer closed in on his back.

 

“You guys spied on our team, used Kagome and tried to break my boyfriend and I up!”

 

“What?!” exclaimed Koga as he ducked again. The boomerang barely missed the top of his head. “Remind me to never piss her off,” Koga murmured to himself as he jumped towards the demon cat that was floating above the stadium.

 

Right in the middle of his leap, Koga made contact with the demon slayer and tackled her. Soon the wolf-demon and the slayer were falling from the back of the demon cat and were about to hit the hard ground below.

 

Koga knew that a human would most likely break a few bones with such a fall—and if Sango sustained such a serious injury, he knew that he would be instantly disqualified—so he tucked Sango within his arms and took the brunt of the impact when they hit the ground. The demon slayer rolled away from him groaning, and the wolf demon quickly stood up with a smirk on his face. He flexed his claws and rolled his neck as he prepared to duel Sango again.

 

The wolf-demon was fast and his claws made a swipe across her abdomen, which was luckily covered in demon plate armor. Sango could only clutch her gut in pain as the demon before her continued to grin. “Had enough demon slayer?” asked Koga as he paused from attacking the human girl in front of him.

 

Sango didn't say anything. She only sneered at him as she pulled a pouch out of her shoulder armor and threw it at him. Suddenly, green and gray fumes erupted from where the pouch landed.

 

“Gah!” screamed Koga as the overload on his olfactory senses caused him to careen over. The wolf demon spasmed in a cacophony of coughs as Sango ran up to him and hit him over the head with the flat of her blade. Soon the wolf demon was unconscious and the demon slayer ran with all of her might in order to help her boyfriend fight off the lightning fast dog demon that was wearing him down.

 

Across the field, Kagome the miko stood impassively with her bow drawn, and Inuyasha stood meters away from her, his face expressionless. Their eyes bored into each other and took in the sight of each other. Inuyasha could tell that Kagome was livid with anger, as her arrow was held taut within the bowstring. Inuyasha's face held only a hidden smile. There was no sorrow, anger, fear or happiness on his face. The half-demon started to walk forward and at no time did he ever threaten the miko. He simply walked steadily and with purpose over to where the miko stood. As he drew even closer he could smell her scent more clearly, it wrapped around him—clogging his senses—destroying any coherent thought. All he knew or could focus on was her and how much he wanted her. Because he couldn't have her, then the very least she could do for him was to end his pain.

 

“Don't come any closer or I will seal you away!” screamed Kagome as she aimed her arrow straight at Inuyasha.

 

Inuyasha noticed that her petit form trembled almost imperceptibly and her bow wavered as she took aim at his heart. Her face was red with anger or was it some other emotion that she didn't dare express? He studied her face for what he thought would be the last time. She was always pretty when she was angry. Her chocolate eyes were on fire with rage, her cheeks were flush and her lower lip quivered. It was too bad that her livid anger also made her unattainable. There was really only one course of action left.

 

The faint smile on the half demons face, twisted to pity and then acceptance as he took yet another step forward. It was his fate to be sealed by the woman he loved. He now found some sort of sad peace within his heart as his cheerless golden eyes fixed upon her deer brown orbs. If she was going to reject him, if he had to live the rest of his life without her—then this was the only way he would find any peace within his heart.

 

“I warned you Inuyasha!” Kagome screamed. She let an arrow fly loose from her bow and then quickly grabbed another arrow that she launched in quick succession.

 

Inuyasha gasped as an arrow hit him above his right shoulder, pinning him to the wooden billboard behind him. Then another arrow hit above his left shoulder.

 

He had been expecting the final blow. He had thought that he would be floating in an eternal black sleep by now. Why had she only immobilized him? Was she just playing with him before she delivered the coup de grâce?

 

If these were ordinary arrows he would have been able to pull free easily, however these arrows were sacred arrows and he was powerless against them. The arrows hadn't even broken his skin, they were only pinning his haori to the billboard. He stood there looking at Kagome who stood poised in front of him, scowling, angry and drawing yet another arrow from her quill. This next arrow flamed up under her fingers. It wasn't the pink color of a sacred arrow, but the blue-white color of a sealing arrow.

 

Inuyasha actually smiled grimly as he recognized the arrow that she was about to send piercing into his heart. His voice quaked with emotion as he called out to her. “Go ahead Kagome. Seal me up. Just promise me, promise me you'll never pull the arrow out again,” he said with eyes that pleaded with her. His amber eyes evoked sadness and unwavering truth as he gazed at her.

 

She was momentarily drawn aback. He was normally very emotional, yet right now he seemed sad and withdrawn. It was almost as if he really wanted her to seal him up for all eternity. Her notched arrow stood still in her arms waiting. “What do you mean? Of course I'll pull it out when the game is done.”

 

Inuyasha looked directly at her, his eyes boring deeply into hers. His honey colored eyes held sadness, pain, longing… “Kagome, I didn't know. I didn't know until recently that I was in love with you and now you don't want me anymore. I've lived the past few days without you in my life and I can't go on any longer without you. So just seal me and promise me to never pull out the arrow.” His eyes never broke with hers. “I don't want to live my life without you anymore Kagome. So just end my misery, please…” Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to find the sweet release of a dreamless darkness and she was the one he wanted to deliver it. “Please…,” he intoned with a voice that was lost in hopelessness.

 

Kagome's arrow faltered in her bow. She almost stumbled forward as she walked toward Inuyasha, her gait unsteady and her arrow partially notched in a bow that was starting to hang to her side, rather than straight ahead of her. “What did you say?” she stammered in confusion and wonder. Her eyes made contact with his again and saw only hurt and sad acceptance in his eyes.

 

Inuyasha glared at her with pent up anger and frustration. His body rattled against the arrows that pinned his upper torso as he yelled. “I said seal me! Be done with it. Put the damn arrow through my heart and don't you dare pull it out! Do it now Kagome!”

 

She inched even closer to him. Her fingers still lancing the arrow to her bow, even as her hands trembled. “No, what you said before…you said that you… you loved me?”

 

Inuyasha looked up at her bitterly. “I've been in love with you for a long time, wench. Now finish the job!”

 

Kagome held back a sob and her bow and arrow clattered to the ground noisily. She rushed forward and fisted both of her hands into his red haori overcoat. “You love me?” she asked with eyes that pleaded. Her warm chocolate colored orbs probed into his golden eyes of sorrow as she looked for something. Something to tell her that he was telling the truth—something that was telling her that his words were not lies.

 

Amber eyes gazed back at her longingly, with sadness, with regret, with a small glimmer of hope and with a dazed look that could only be interpreted as one thing—love.

 

“Inuyasha?” she stammered as her hands reached up and cradled his face in her hands. Her face gazed at him with the same longing she had seen in his eyes. He looked to see that a single tear was making its way down her cheek and was about to drip off of her chin. Her lips were a hairsbreadth away from his own and he closed the gap by stretching his throat forward. Thin masculine lips met round feminine lips wet with tears and they gasped before their lips clashed together.

 

Somehow when their lips met there was redemption, desperation and the pure satisfying taste of unconditional love. Inuyasha kissed her as if she was the last woman he would ever kiss. Perhaps he thought that might very well be the case. He savored every breath, every touch of her tongue, every sweet taste of her mouth that came alive as his own tongue probed against hers. As they kissed he continued to gasp as if he was out of breath or simply too surprised by the turn of events to breathe normally. Between kisses he found that her hands left his face and were moving up towards the top of his haori overcoat. Soon he felt a pulling motion as the two arrows tumbled to the ground and then he felt the magical purity of the arrows that had pinned him fade away. He was able to move again and he found that his two arms only wanted to find purchase by grasping Kagome's arms in his. He held her possessively by her shoulders, drawing her into him.

 

The stadium started to rock in extreme agitation. There were some who delighted in the passionate kiss that was being played out before their eyes--while most of the crowd was incensed that the players were not fighting each other. “What are you doing Tashio?” yelled a UCLA fan. “Purify him!” screamed an angry student from USC. There were also some members of the crowd that were simply confused. “Don't worry he's about to use the Tendo Dojo super-secret poison kiss move! It's part of the plan,” said another with a self-satisfied tone in his voice. As the crowd muttered and shouted the two players on the field were lost within their own little world.

 

Their mouths continued to clash, suck and probe oblivious to the cries that surrounded them. Finally above the din of the crowd they heard a nauseated battle cry from the far end of the stadium.

 

Sesshomaru was busy battling both the monk and the demon slayer. He was quite certain that Miroku was tiring and would soon be defeated, however when Sango joined in the fight the monk seemed to be fighting with renewed strength. He snarled in frustration as he slashed angrily at the demon slayer. She fell to her knees, clutching her gut in pain and all of the sudden the monk fell apart.

 

“Sango!” screamed Miroku in worry, as the demon slayer was knocked unconscious to the ground.

 

Sesshomaru only grinned in victory as the monk had stopped fighting and also had taken his attention off of him. The dog demon dropped his sword and kicked the monk viciously in the gut. Then as he held the monk's head in one hand he punched him hard once more only to see blood spurt out of his mouth. Miroku's body went limp and fell to the ground.

 

The Rose Bowl was within UCLA's reach. His younger brother only had to finish off one human miko, and they could clutch victory in their hands. As he smirked at their success he spied the end of the field where he had been expecting to see Kagome struck down mercilessly by Inuyasha. The utter shock of what he saw caused his golden eyes to be lit with an angry flame.

 

His younger brother wasn't fighting his opponent; instead he was kissing her at the far end of the stadium. With disgust evident in his voice he yelled at his brother and made his way to where they stood. “Half breed! How dare you dishonor our college and sport!” screamed out Sesshomaru as he flew quickly towards the couple.

 

Inuyasha didn't think as he shoved Kagome behind him, her bow and arrows long forgotten, as they lay scattered over the stadium grass. “You're not touching her, Sesshomaru.”

 

“But Inuyasha…,” exclaimed Kagome from behind his back.

 

“Just, just let me protect you, Kagome…,” Inuyasha murmured. Somehow, the act of protecting Kagome made him feel redeemed. It was as if every sin he had ever committed against her would be washed clean if he just stood by and protected her from this day forward, even if it was a college game, even if it meant that he would most likely be kicked off of his team—even if it meant that he would never be able to play on a national demonic team. As the thoughts swirled through his brain, he quickly realized that he could live with a world where he wasn't a superstar for a national team, but he couldn't live in a world without Kagome. If he could throw away his career so that she could see exactly how much she meant to him, then there really wasn't much of a choice. Was there?

 

Sesshomaru's attack was as quick as lightening. Inuyasha had only a split second to throw Kagome aside as he took the brunt of the blow. The younger Tashio fell meters away, hitting the ground hard as he cleared out a small swath of grass and dirt. Inuyasha flexed his claws as he got up off the grass and prepared to meet his own brother. They had sparred for years and he knew exactly what to expect, only today Sesshomaru had a decidedly different demeanor. His older brother was still an iceman, but his entire countenance was of rage. Rage was something Inuyasha could work with, especially now that he finally had hope pumping through his veins. He was no longer the lovesick, weak puppy that Sesshomaru had found in his apartment drinking himself into oblivion. Now he knew that Kagome had somehow forgiven him, that somehow he had a chance with her again and that had made all the difference. He now had something worth fighting for—someone who he could protect.

 

Inuyasha growled as he leapt into the fray, snarling and clashing with his older brother as claws slashed against claws. Poisonous, green tipped claws oozed with the promise of pain as Inuyasha's smaller, but no less determined claws blocked them. Each swipe by one brother was offset by an equally fierce counterattack of the other sibling. Growls and insults careened through the stadium as the crowd went wild in shock.

 

Suddenly, out of nowhere Kagome appeared close to Inuyasha's side. She didn't have her bow, but she held a single ofuda in her outstretched hands. Apparently she had been given one by the monk and simply had it hidden in her kimono.

 

When Sesshomaru saw an easier target making itself known he eyed the smaller form of the miko. “We will end this now, little brother. If I take her down, this tournament will end and UCLA will win.” The elder Tashio slashed hard against Inuyasha's chest as green poisonous vapors hissed against his brother's skin--raking his flesh. Inuyasha stumbled only for a few moments, but it was all Sesshomaru needed as he maneuvered directly in front of Kagome—expecting an easy mark.

 

Perhaps it was Sesshomaru's own overconfidence that was his undoing. He actually paused before making a swipe at the miko. He intended to regale her with his demonic superiority and to insult the priestess for her human weaknesses. That subtle pause, while only a brief second, was all Kagome needed to slap the ofuda right on the aristocratic demon's forehead.

 

Inuyasha didn't know what was funnier, seeing his elder brother taken down by a helpless human wench or seeing the look of wonder and horror on his brother's face as he stumbled to the ground, his own body suddenly paralyzed by the holy writ.

 

“Kagome!” Inuyasha cried out as he quickly leapt in front of her and then embraced her in a bear hug that lifted her off of the ground. “Wench…,” he murmured again softly as he stroked her hair and gazed into her eyes, wanting the moment to last forever and wishing that reality wouldn't crash into them too quickly. Unfortunately reality decided to rear its ugly head right then and there.

 

“Inuyasha! Stop this right now. Take down the miko!” yelled Coach Myoga from the sidelines.

 

Inuyasha merely smirked and stroked Kagome's cheek as he found the greatest amount of peace that he had ever found in his heart since his early childhood. Somehow just having her here in his arms, made everything right. “They want me to fight you, wench,” murmured Inuyasha as his lips hovered over hers.

 

“You can take me down if you wanted to,” said Kagome as her hands found their way into his red haori again.

 

“I…I found that you're the only thing I want, Kagome. Just please don't ever give up on me. I love you,” he said solemnly as his hands stroked her cheeks.

 

“I love you, too, Inuyasha,” replied Kagome tears starting to stream down her cheeks again. “Just promise me. Promise that you'll never lie to me again. I don't think I could be with you if you ever lied to me again.”

 

Golden eyes gazed down into hers in wistful yearning. “I promise. I will never lie to you again. If I ever do that you can just seal me away.”

 

“Don't…don't say that,” murmured Kagome. “Just kiss me,” she asked.

 

Inuyasha complied and for the first time, he noticed the entire stadium letting loose with the most raucous roar he had ever heard in his two-year history with the UCLA demonic team. As their tongues danced they heard yells, hoots, laughter, cries of anger and especially the never-ending screams of Coach Myoga who was now storming onto the field.

 

“My boy! I said to take her down! Now! Your entire future is at stake.”

 

Inuyasha smiled and continued to stroke Kagome's cheeks as he pulled away from a gentle kiss. “Yes, you're right. My entire future is at stake,” then Inuyasha continued with a much louder voice, “Coach, I hereby resign from the UCLA team. I found something far more important, and her name is Kagome.”

 

“What! You lovesick dog! Stop it right now!” yelled Coach Myoga as he ran ever closer to the lone couple that was centered on the 50-yard line in the middle of the grassy field.

 

“I think we should get out of here,” murmured Inuyasha.

 

Kagome looked around in confusion. “I don't see any way that we can get out of here without being mobbed.”

 

“I know a way,” he laughed as he bent down in front of her. “Here, climb on my back. I'll leap out of the stadium. They won't be able to catch us.”

 

Kagome smiled and crept onto his back. Then he stood up and clutched her thighs against his form possessively. With one bold leap he cleared the stadium and they found themselves high on a parapet above the crowd. Inuyasha took one last look at the stupefied crowd below them that was still roaring in excitement. `This is the last time that I will ever play at the `Rose Bowl Stadium,' he thought. His mind was momentarily saddened before he felt Kagome squeeze her small arms around his torso. Her simple touch resounded through his body, filling him with warmth. His lips curved into a smirk as he made another grand leap into the Los Angeles skyline and the world of concrete, steel and glass.

 

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Happy Thanksgiving! See you in two weeks.

Private messages were sent to all reviewers.

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Author's Notes:

Hello and Good morning from Seattle, WA! I flew up to visit relatives for Thanksgiving and I didn't think that I would be able to have Internet access while I was here. However, some of the lovely neighbors who live nearby inadvertently let me log into their non-password protected wireless networks and today you'll get another post! (Wow! It pays to live near Microsoft employees. I had twelve!! wireless networks to choose from! Egad!) Also, a big warm hello to my Canadian readers! I wanted to drive to Canada and visit, but I am told that I need my passport these days! Drat! I loved the good old days when you could just drive across the border and no one cared.

Oh and for those of you who don't know about Thanksgiving, it is an American holiday where we visit with relatives, eat Turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, pumpkin pie and (on my table) some fine Californian wine. It's a time of the year where we try to stop and give thanks for what we have and there is always so much that we have to be thankful for.

#1: Gosh, guys. Sorry that I made some of you cry when you read the last chapter. I hope the angst wasn't too much for some of you. It had to happen. As hard as it was for you to read some of it, it was even harder for me to write.

#2: I told you things would get better in this chapter…

#3: Bakusaiga: Sesshomaru's demonic sword that he used after Tokijin was destroyed.

#4: I know... USC and UCLA are both in the PAC-10 and therefore would never play each other in the Rose Bowl. In my weird Alternative Universe I have the Demon League and the Holy League. The best teams from each college league will play each other in the Rose Bowl. USC had only one loss to Cal and UCLA had only one loss to USC. So they both won a spot in the Rose Bowl with the exact same record. Now I'm wondering how they are going to manage to score the USC vs. UCLA game that just played. Any suggestions? Who do you think won?

 

Next Chapter: Rapture: Lemony goodness. Hee hee…