InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Divine Interventions ❯ Target Practice ( Chapter 17 )

A/N: Thanks to other hitomi for the “oh yeah, I remember that now,” moment! You're right; it doesn't make a lot of sense that Sessh. would want it. I was an older sister and was jealous of anything my sister got that I didn't, so maybe that's his motivation! Anyway, I really appreciate you pointing this out to me and ASAP I will go back and edit and repost that chapter (it will just be a minor re-write). I realize this doesn't change the fact that I made the mistake for the readers to date, but once again, thank you for your support!

Prinsess serenity59—I'm really glad you're liking it so far! I enjoyed viewing your fanart—very cool. “I. in a towel” is buff! On your bio page it looks like you have a story too, is this right? Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to read/review. Cool name too!

General: *If I offended any Atkins, or other low-carb dieters, in my last author's notes, please accept my apologies. I realized after posting that just because you're being kind enough to read my story, doesn't mean you want a page full of my opinions. Posting at 2 a.m. is not an excuse, but I hope you'll let me take it!

Happy Valentines Day!

 

 

Chapter 17 Target Practice

Through thin morning fog, Inuyasha and Kagome saw Kaede's bent form as they came through the clearing and into her small compound. She was stoking a fire for the morning's meal, and, looking up, was surprised to see others awake so early. She asked Inuyasha to fetch her some water for cooking while Kagome took off Inuyasha's coat and spread it out on the bench to dry and then moved by the fire, her wet clothes clinging to her, her shoes squishing with water as she moved.

Kaede looked at her, her eyebrows raised at the strange condition of the young woman's appearance. She was used to Kagome being a little odd, but seeing her appear dripping wet and barely clothed at dawn, was not a sight she expected.

“Child, you need to change into something dry before you catch cold!”

Kagome liked the way she felt standing by the fire in her wet clothes. She felt hot and cold at the same time. She wanted to explain to Kaede that being chilled had nothing to do with getting a viral infection, but realized there was no easy way to make her understand or believe her. Besides, Kaede's folk medicine and folk wisdom worked surprisingly well. There were reasons, she realized, for these beliefs. Most folk healing practices didn't cause harm, some were actually preventative, and many truly worked. It finally didn't matter if it was because of the power of the practice, the power of belief, or both.

She loved and respected this woman who had taken her in, taken care of her, and taught her so many important lessons, even though she knew she was a constant and painful reminder of her sister's death. She appreciated that Kaede never asked her about her feelings for Inuyasha, although she was sure Kaede suspected the truth. As Kikyo's incarnate, it was probably inevitable that her soul would be drawn to him. Perhaps like Kikyo, she couldn't help the fact that she loved him. If she thought it, Kaede never spoke of any of it. Their relationship was warm, congenial, but never ventured into the realm of the private. Perhaps it was best this way.

“Al right, it's nice to have a grandmother to care about me again,” she said with a smile and meaning it. “I'll go change now.”

Kaede, never one for much sentiment, turned away, but not before Kagome saw the smile that brought pleasant folds to her wrinkled cheeks.

Kagome was feeling happy about successfully completing her morning run on her first day back. She entered the small hut beside Kaede's and found Miroku and Sango dressed and busy packing. Shippo was going through her duffle bag, looking for more chocolate.

“Ah-ah-ah Shippo! No you don't. You can't have any candy before breakfast!” Kagome said from the doorway. He jumped, startled at being caught, as Sango sighed in relief.

“Oh, Kagome!” she said. “I'm glad to see you. When I woke you and Inuyasha were gone. Is everything all right?”

“Yes, Sango. Everything's fine. I'm sorry I worried you.”

“How is it that you're wet, Lady Kagome?” Miroku asked, taking in her strange appearance.

“Oh, it's a long story. Let's just say I got carried away and did something foolish.”

“I see. . . . And is it safe to presume that Inuyasha got carried away with you?” he asked grinning.

“NO! IT'S NOT! You're not safe presuming anything, you damn dirty-minded monk!” Inuyasha's voice came booming from behind Kagome.

He came through the doorway and immediately draped his coat over Kagome's shoulders.

Kagome looked up at him, pleased and surprised. She interpreted the gesture as an uncharacteristic act of chivalry. Sango and Miroku exchanged a quick glance, both understanding the gesture for what it was—a clear show of possession.

“Miroku, Inuyasha, I need to change into some dry clothes. Will you go outside for a few minutes please?” Kagome said, walking over to sleeping roll and Shippo.

“Certainly Lady Kagome. By every aspect of your appearance I can tell you are quite cold.” he replied.

She turned to look at him. There was nothing wrong with his answer. It was polite, even kind.

It almost worked.

What tipped her off was the `every aspect' comment. She realized then that before Inuyasha covered her, his eyes must have been glued to her chest.

“Damn pervert!” she thought, stamping down the blush that was trying to rise on her face. She had nothing to be ashamed of, but Miroku did.

Inuyasha studied Miroku through narrowed eyes, coming to exactly the same conclusion and a low growl began deep in his throat. Before he had a chance to verbalize an ugly threat, Kagome spotted the bow and quiver of arrows Shippo had given her the night before.

“Miroku” she said casually. “I need to get in some target practice today. It's been a very long time since I used a bow.” She picked up the bow and one arrow. “In fact, I think I'll start practicing HERE,” she said, rounding quickly to face him.

She aimed the loaded bow at his head, and then slowly lowered it to his groin, where she held it steady. She pulled the arrow back just enough to make the string whine in tension.

He backed against the wall, wide-eyed and white.

“Uhmm, Kagome?” Sango asked in alarm.

“It's okay Sango,” she said, never taking her eyes off of Miroku as he stared at her in horror.

“I won't let go until I'm ready.

Let's see,” she said pleasantly as she made the string groan once more. “Yeah, I'm ready. I don't know how good my aim is now. . . . maybe I'll hit, maybe I'll miss. Tell me, do you feel lucky, monk?”

Kagome smiled. She was having fun.

“La. . . .la. . . lady Kagome! I'm leaving. Please. Put the bow down. You don't want to do anything rash!”

“That's just it Miroku,” she said smiling, “I think I do.” She pulled the arrow just enough to produce one last whine from the string.

Miroku ran for the door with his life and Inuyasha turned and followed him out, shaking his head and wearing a satisfied smirk on his face. Once they were gone Kagome unsheathed the arrow and dropped the bow, laughing.

Sango stared at her in disbelief. “Kagome, you wouldn't really shoot him, would you?”

“No, Sango,” she said trying to reassure her shaken friend.

Sango had no qualms about punishing the monk when he misbehaved. Beatings, punches, and even a sharp blow to the head were often justified, but she didn't want him killed.

“I just wanted to try shock therapy on him.”

Sango stared at her, uncomprehending.

“What Miroku needs is a behavior-modification program, Sango. We can talk about it later if you want. I think I have some ideas about how to change his lecherous behavior.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” she said, looking at Sango meaningfully, “really. But it will depend a lot on you to condition him.”

“Me?” she asked, dumbfounded.

“I think you're the only one who can. Do you want to talk about it?”

Sango grinned. “It feels like you've grown up over-night, but I'm very glad your back.”

“Me too Sango,” Kagome answered, smiling warmly.

Outside, Miroku walked over to Inuyasha who stood leaning against the outside of the hut.

“Inuyasha, I need to speak with you about Lady Kagome,” Miroku began.

Inuyasha didn't look at him, didn't respond.

“I'm afraid she's changed in some most unsettling ways. Her behavior is—“

“Amazing.” Inuyasha answered flatly.

“Yes,” Miroku began. “Her aggressive nature now is truly amazing, you're right.”

“NO. . . . ” Inuyasha growled, his anger freshly flaring. He grabbed Miroku by the robes and lifted him off the ground. “I meant was her self-control was amazing! If I ever see you look at Kagome in that way again, I'll do worse than shoot an arrow through you, understand me?!”

Miroku nodded silently.

Inuyasha dropped him and walked away. Yes, he thought, smiling, Kagome's changed. He saw first-hand what she was capable of earlier with Brad, and now with Miroku. She was a lot bolder, and yes, more aggressive. His smile grew. It pleased him that she could handle herself. He liked the old Kagome. He loved the new one.

 

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Kagome stood in the meadow, looking back some 100 yards to the trees. The paper targets were in position, her quiver full of fresh arrows. She wasn't joking when she told Miroku it had been a long time. She knew she was going to be rusty, but just how much so she didn't know yet.

This training wasn't optional. The purifying arrows often helped in battles. Sometimes they made the difference. If she was going to be part of the team again, she needed to re-hone her skills.

Sango, Shippo and Kaede had assembled behind her, wanting to watch and give her support. Miroku had stayed back at Kaede's, nervously explaining that he wanted to spend some time trying to work with the protection amulet Kagome had given him.

Inuyasha had taken off, disappeared without telling anyone where he was going. Kagome realized that when she was younger, his sudden disappearance would have her fuming, turning green with jealousy. She wondered now, `Has he gone to see Kikyo, to tell her I'm back and the quest continues?'

She felt good, even a little proud, that the thought of them together no longer destroyed her. She accepted it, even embraced it-well, almost.

“When this is over, if Inuyasha is able to use the jewel to restore Kikyo to life and start a new life with her, I want to be here long enough to see them happy together. If I could see him happy, I know I could let him go. But what if he ends up following her to hell to be with her? . . . Well, if that's the choice he's makes I'll have to just accept it too. It's not like I get a vote. Either way, I know I'll loose him again, but I never thought I'd have the chance to make up for what I did when I left, so I'll always be thankful for this time. I just pray he gets what he really wants.”

Though these thoughts were bittersweet, she had accepted the bitterest part years ago.

***************************************************************** ****

Inuyasha had gone searching for Myoga, intent on first finding his tiny retainer, giving him a good squish for staying absent so long, and then asking him some advice. He had made his intentions with Kagome clear, but he wasn't sure how to proceed.

He thought about just letting his intuition guide him, but he wanted to leave nothing to chance. He wanted there to be no doubt who Kagome belonged to and to ensure that the bond that tied them together at first mating could never be undone.

Things were already settled regarding their feelings. Kagome had admitted she cared for him now and told him that she fell in love with him before she left. He was certain about her physical responses to him too. The last kiss proved it.

He didn't want to wait much longer to make it official, not with Michael waiting for her, not with what he was capable of. Inuyasha knew she cared for him, but how did she feel about her angel protector? He remembered her response to him when he told her he loved her. He told her, as Inuyasha had once told Kikyo, that he would become human to be with her. The look in her eyes revealed enough. Before her memories were taken, she had responded to him, been excited. The possibility of Michael as her mate had obviously not occurred to her before, but she didn't look like she would say no.

Her human man was nothing, a mere annoyance. The ring that she wore was no real sign of commitment, but his mark would be. He smiled thinking about returning to her time, fully marked and mated, and seeing Michael again. `Oh, it would be so nice to wipe the smug smile off that bastard's face!' he thought. “He'll see soon enough whose woman she is!”

There was only one remaining complication, one problem he had to solve: Kikyo. He had promised her they would be together, had promised her his very life. He had a duty to her. Even though his feelings for Kagome had fully blossomed, he still cared for Kikyo too, the guilt and grief of her death was still a weight on his soul. He frowned thinking about this. He knew he wanted to give himself fully to Kagome as much as he knew he owed himself to Kikyo.

Was there some way he could make things right with Kikyo, help her find peace without relinquishing his soul to her? Could she settle for less? The Kikyo he once knew was loving, generous, forgiving. He didn't think she would want him committed to her when his feelings for her were less than complete. How could he ever completely love her while he loved Kagome? The living Kikyo would have understood, she would have released him from his promise. What about the Kikyo he knew now, the half-living miko who lived by feeding on the souls of others? Would she be so understanding? He hoped it was possible.

After mating with Kagome, he would explain this to her, maybe even be able to help him find peace for Kikyo. After all, who could understand Kikyo better than the young woman who shared her soul?

Myoga would know what to do. But how long would it take to find the irritating coward? He knew of only one other who could give him answers, his brother. He wasn't about to go looking for him or asking him advice. The last time they had met ended like all the others: a fight, death threats, Sessshomaru leaving, promising revenge. Inuyasha knew the arrogant demon regarded him as nothing more than halfling filth, the product of his father's shameful indulgence. It didn't make him angry anymore or even sad. He accepted the truth for what it was. Sesshomaru carried his father's blood just as he did, but they were not brothers.

No, the flea would be found. . . .He knew that if he wanted to find him, he would. Somehow, when he really needed him, Myoga did manage to turn up. He didn't question this connection with his retainer too much, it was the only thing that kept him from squishing the life out of him. He was thinking this as a familiar sound came to his ears. Myoga had jumped down from one of his hiding places. He was on Inuyasha's neck, sucking his blood.

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Target practice was not going well. She had already gone through half of a quiver, and most of her arrows lay strewn among the trees and grass, some far over-shot, others falling far short. The three that actually landed in the tree with the target were stuck at odd places; one at the base, one lodged in a thick branch, one up so high in the trunk it disappeared among the leaves.

Kagome heaved a deep sigh. “Perhaps I should go bring more arrows,” Kaede said, trying to be helpful. “It will come back to you, child, just give it time.”

Kagome gave her a defeated smile and nodded. As Kaede left, Shippo tried to give her some encouragement. “Three out of twenty isn't so bad, Kagome.”

“Shippo I didn't land one on the target.”

“Well, at least they hit the tree!”

“Perhaps you should move closer,” Sango suggested.

She tried from fifty yards. The results were worse, the remaining arrows in her quiver were spent, all lost among the forest floor. Thirty minutes later, Kaede returned with a second set of forty arrows, surveying her progress while she was away.

“Perhaps you should take a break. You are probably still tired,” Kaede said, gently.

“No. . . . I'm not tired in the least. The problem is, I STINK!!

Shippo laughed, good-naturedly. “I think you smell nice!”

“Oh Shippo, she said, putting her head in her hand and shaking it, thank you. What I meant to say is I SUCK!”

Sango wasn't sure what she meant, but she had never seen Kagome shoot so poorly. “If she goes with us shooting like this, she won't be able to protect herself at all,” she thought frowning. “I'll protect her as much as I can, and I know Inuyasha will too, but it would help if she could shoot.”

“Kagome, by the time we saw you last, you were a really good markswoman. I don't doubt you will be again, but perhaps Kaede is right, perhaps it's time for a -“

“NO! Sango!” she said, more forcefully than she meant to. “Oh Sango, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap! Can you forgive me?”

Sango looked at her with understanding. “Of course Kagome. I'm sorry I upset you.”

“You didn't. I'm frustrated, but it's not your fault. I'm not ready to quit yet and I think I need some time alone, if you guys don't mind.”

Sango nodded. “Of course. Come on Shippo. Let's let Kagome have some practice time on her own.”

The kitsune didn't want to leave her. “Can't I stay. Pleeease?! I won't make you mad, I promise. I love you even if you suck!”

Kagome laughed. “I love you even if I suck, but I want you to go with Sango for now. I'll see you in just a little while, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, hanging his head to show her he felt dejected.

“Good luck,” Kaede said. “We'll make some lunch and save some food for you, child.”

“That's okay, Kaede. I have a protein bar with me. I'll be fine.”

The three said their goodbyes and left her alone. Now that they were gone, she wasn't so sure she wanted to be alone after all. She stood looking down at the bow and quiver. “Maybe I need to start thinking about other creative use for this thing,” she thought with disgust. “I could use the arrows as tent stakes. . . . maybe use the bow in a rhythm combo. . . .” She sighed heavily and looked back to the empty target.

“Okay. Time to get back to work,” she told herself.

***************************************************************** **

Inuyasha had returned from his talk with Myoga, confident and happy. His rib was almost completely healed, and he was preoccupied with thoughts of being alone with Kagome. “Tonight,” he thought smiling “I will make her mine.”

Back at Kaede's he listened to his human friends and Shippo talking. Kagome was having problems at target practice. Hearing how badly she was doing, he frowned.

“Even when she first came, she could shoot. Well, I now that I think about it, it was her poor shooting that caused all of this in the first place. But. . . .” his mind continued, “What if she had shot the demon bird and not broken the jewel? Would you really want to change that now?”

No, things happened for a reason, that he was sure of. Now he was going to be with Kagome, have her as his mate, and this must be what was meant to happen. Thinking about this, he felt surer than he ever had about the rest of it.

“We won't fail. Naraku will be defeated and then. . . . and then we'll see. Just knowing that we will succeed for now is enough. Even if I can't see it, it will work out. Just like with Kagome-when she left I didn't know if I could get her back. Now she's here, changed with time, and she made me change--admitting how I feel about her, how I've felt for a long time. . . .Yes, in time, everything will happen as it should, as it is meant to.”

He made his way quickly through the air to the small clearing where Kagome's solitary, tense figure stood, looking down at her quiver. He sat in a tree behind her, watching her, surveying the results of her spent arrows. “Oh, they weren't kidding. I've seen her miss before, but now, I don't think she shoot a turtle, let alone a demon.”

He frowned, trying to see what she was doing wrong. He watched her as she re-loaded the bow. Her aim was off, erratic, her firing too slow or too fast, and her movements were awkward. “I know she can do this,” he thought, puzzling the problem. “I think she's just forgotten that she can do this without trying. That's what it is!”

He thought back to her argument with Michael after she attacked Brad with her miko power. Remembering what Michael had said to her about anger and about focus. He grimaced. He had an idea of how to help her, but he sure as hell didn't like it. “I hope this helps her,” he thought, not relishing the thought of what he was about to do.

Twenty spent arrows later, two more were sticking in the tree, but not remotely close to the target. She was ready to scream.

“WHY THE HELL CAN'T I DO THIS?!!!”

“Ha! You're just trying too hard.”

The voice came from behind her. She turned round and looked up. He was sitting cross-legged in a tree. She had no idea how long he had been there watching, or even when he came back from wherever he had disappeared to. She felt herself redden with embarrassment. “Great! Why don't I just send him up a tub of popcorn and tell him to enjoy the show.”

“Hello Inuyasha,” she said flatly. “Why are you here?”

“That's obvious, idiot! I came to help. Like I said, you're tryin' too hard.”

“Inuyasha- I have to try! I'm not just giving up! I know I'm terrible, but I'll get better. I just need to warm up, find the zone, and keep shooting,” she said, getting annoyed.

“Hmph! I don't know what you mean by `warm' or `zone', but you've gone through a lot of arrows. More of this kind of shooting isn't going to help.”

She heaved a sigh. “You're right,” she said feeling defeated. “I know was never a great shot, but I wasn't this bad.” She turned back around and picked up her bow.

“Hmph! Don't feel too bad Kagome. You're right you know, you never were as good as Kikyo,” he said with a smirk.

She bristled. Her hands clenched in tight fists. Jolted by his sudden cheap shot, her anger flared. Through clenched teeth she thought, “It's one thing to accept that he chose her, but having him throw her in my face is another!”

She exhaled deeply, took out an arrow and started to load it.

“Hey, did you hear me?!” he called down.

Oh, she was furious.

“YES INUYASHA! I heard you damn it! I was never as good as Kikyo and now I'm not as good as a blind man! I get it! So will you just leave me the hell alone already!”

“I meant it about trying too hard. You need to relax.”

“INUYASHA,” she said threateningly, “if you don't leave me alone right now, I swear I'll-“

“If you want to be as good as Kikyo, you need to relax and FOCUS Kagome. Focus your energy.”

“You want me to focus! I'll show you focus, you ass!”

She closed her eyes, and tightened her right hand into a fist so hard her fingernails drew blood from her palm. She let the anger and frustration course through her, finding its way to her power. She opened her eyes and her pupils changed from black to an almost white, light blue for a split second. An aura of light surrounded her as her energy surged inside her. She loaded the bow, focused on the target, and released with precision. She did this again, and again, and again, allowing her energy to take over to control her. After loading and releasing five arrows in rapid succession, she let the bow drop to the ground. Slowly, she walked toward the target.

Smoke was coming from the tree and there was the smell of burning wood. Where the target had been there was now a large, blackened hole. The arrow points were embedded deep into the tree's core, one on top of the next, in the same spot. The force of the impact had broken off all but the last of the shafts. She stood still for a moment, examining the target's devastated center. She grabbed the shaft of her final arrow, still warm from the speed of it's acceleration, and pulled it out in her right hand. The shaft came out, but the tip broke off, remaining stubbornly in the tree.

“DAMN!” Inuyasha said, directly behind her. She whirled round, her eyes were glittering with anger. She held the shaft above her in her hand like a stake, aimed directly at his chest.

It was only his demon reflexes that saved him from an attack. He grabbed her wrist, suspending her arm in mid-air. “Kagome! Do you really want to stab me?” he said, his eyes looking straight into hers. She blinked in dawning realization of her actions, what she had done, what she almost did now.

“Inuyasha,” she whispered as the rush of angry energy drained away. Her eyes were wide with fear. “I'm-so sorry. I don't want to hurt you, I never want to do that!” she looked horrified, realizing what she was holding in her hand and what she had intended to do with it only seconds before.

“Ssh, Kagome! It's all right,” he said, releasing her hand and allowing her to bring it down. “I wasn't about to let you stab me with that thing, you know! I know you're not in total control when you're using your energy like that, you told me.”

She dropped the shaft. She looked down at the ground, tears of shame and recrimination burning her eyes. “Inuyasha,” she whispered hoarsely, “this is bad, really bad.”

He grabbed her by the arms, forcing her to look up. “What the hell are you talking about?! Did you see your shooting, woman? I've never seen anything like that before. It was damn-“

“Scary,” she finished. “I keep losing control to anger. I'm going to do something terrible if I keep using my power to indulge my feelings.”

“No. I was going to say impressive. That was damn impressive. See what you can do when you focus those energies of yours, woman?”

“I was angry!” she said through tears, “that's the only reason I could-“

“Try again,” he said.

“What?”

“Are you still angry?”

“No, but—“

“Try again, now.”

She looked taken aback. She shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, about to argue that she couldn't do it.

Inuyasha commanded, “Now Kagome!”

She picked up her bow and placed an arrow in her hand. She stepped back to where she was standing before, 100 yards back. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and felt her energy rise once more and wash over her, a gentle, steady flow this time. She released it, loaded and fired. The released arrow sped straight ahead, burying its tip in the center of the black target remains.

She looked at the target and gasped in surprise. Inuyasha stood beside her, arms crossed, wearing a satisfied expression. Kagome looked at him wide-eyed, beginning to comprehend. “You were trying to help me before, weren't you? . . . You were trying to guide my focus, just like Michael.”

He nodded and lowered his head so that his hair hung in front of his eyes. “I wanted to remind you of what you can do when you stop trying and just let it happen.” “Just like Michael,” he thought unhappily.

“Inuyasha?” she said, bending down playfully to meet his eyes. She was smiling at him, trying to coax him into lifting his head.

He hated what he did. Comparing her to Kikyo was cruel, and he didn't want to do anything that could push her away now. But trying to decide what HE would do to help her if he was here, trying to say what that damn angel would say really goaded him. The worst of it was how well it worked.

“Inuyasha thank you for wanting to help me, for knowing what to do!” She looked at him happily, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

For a moment, Inuyasha felt better, but then he noticed she was gazing past him, frowning again.

“What is it with her? How can she go from intending to kill me, to kissing me, to looking sad so quickly?”

“What is it?” he asked her.

“I'm trying to remember something Michael said to me before we left-something about separating the anger from the energy-“

He nodded, “That's right. He said you needed to not let your emotions control your energy. You needed to let the energy flow over your emotions, not through them.”

Her brow furrowed, thinking about this. “I was able to shoot because you made me angry. I know why you did it, but at the time, I was just really angry. That's what gave me the focus, the anger.”

He nodded in agreement. What she was saying was true. He had seen how if she was angry enough, she could use her energy. He had seen that even when she was much younger.

Inuyasha,” she said apprehensively, “Michael's right. I can't let that happen again. It's too dangerous, and I don't have the same control when I'm channeling the energy through my emotions.

Michael's teaching me how to focus past my emotions. It's how I help him fight, I use my energy to focus on the innocents, to give them a link back. I can't do that if I'm afraid or angry, but the trouble is I haven't learned how to stop the emotions from taking over sometimes.”

Inuyasha was intrigued. He wanted to understand just what this spirit fighting was. He wanted to understand how she helped him and why the hell she something that sounded so dangerous in the first place.

“But-she continued, everything's different here. The fighting is completely different. I need to use arrows again. I need to get past the feelings. Without Michael, I don't know if I can do that.”

Inuyasha was not happy to hear this. “Shit! Does she depend on him now for everything?!”

“Kagome,” he said with a heavy sigh, “You were always able to do what was needed before you left. You didn't need Michael then and you don't need him now. He may have helped you understand how your powers work, but that doesn't mean he controls you.”

She looked at him and took his words with a stunned expression. She saw the weary look in his beautiful orange eyes. He had been trying to help her, to make her understand that he didn't doubt her abilities, it was only her own doubts that were holding her back. He was the one, the only one, who could make her feel this way, make her believe in herself again.

She smiled at him with gratitude.

“Inuyasha, you're right. I've been so afraid of making mistakes that I forgot why I came through the well in the first place. I need to believe I can do this, and you've made me feel again like I can. Thank you for telling me what I needed to hear, even when you knew it would be hard to hear.” She reached her arms up around his neck and hugged him.

“Now this is more like it!” he thought with surprise.

He smiled deeply into her silky hair and encircled her waist with his arms. After several seconds of hugging, she tried to pull away, but he held her tight, refusing to let go.

“Umm, Inuyasha,” she laughed nervously, “let's go back. Kaede and Miroku were talking about some kind of a plant demon and it's still early enough in the day to get something done. Are you feeling up to traveling?”

He snorted, “I'm fine. I've never known you to be the one pushing to get going though. You're usually trying to get me to go off on some kind of a picnic and waste the day.”

She blushed at the memory. “Oh God! I did used to do that! Could I have been any more transparent?!” She laughed, trying to recover. “Don't worry! I haven't wanted to go on a picnic for years—“since I was with you.”

“and I don't think we should waste time when there's so much to do, so. . . .”

She tried to pull away, but he was still holding her in place.

“We can go after you kiss me,” he said plainly.

“Kiss you?” she said, pulling her head back away from his neck to look him in the eyes again.

“That's right. We'll go after you kiss me.”

“Inuyasha, what kind of game are you playing?”

“No game, Kagome,” he said, very careful to reveal no expression.

She shook her head and smiled nervously. She had dealt with club patrons who had tried this kind of a move with her before, not letting her get up or get out of her way without demanding some kind of physical payment. They were drunks and she usually didn't have much of a problem dealing with them. If a guy did become a problem, one of the bouncers was quickly there to toss him out.

The hanyou holding her now was a different matter. He was no drunk, and it never crossed her mind that he could flirt or be playful, so she wasn't sure how to handle this new situation. Deciding to play along, with whatever this was, she stood on her toes, and pecked him on the cheek.

“There,” she said smiling, “let's go!” She tried to pull away again, but he still held her waist fast.

“What now?” she said in mock exasperation.

“Not on my face. My mouth.”

Her heart rate reacted before her brain, racing ahead of her thoughts. “He wants me to really kiss him? Oh God! Inuyasha'sflirting? Why, for heaven's sake, is he doing this?”

“No deal, now let me go, I mean it,” she said quickly, struggling to sound stern and in control.

“Why not? Are you afraid to?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

She didn't answer him, his taunt scored a direct hit.

She was terrified to kiss him, terrified of her own feelings. She looked up at the sky, her eyes darting nervously as she weighed her options. I could saying something insulting, like I would rather kiss the cockroach demon. . . . I could try to activate the charm to repel him, but I don't know if I can command it to work that way. . . . If I free myself by insulting him or repelling him, I'd hurt him mentally or physically. I don't want to ever hurt him again if I can help it. . . .”

“I'm waiting Kagome,” he said with a level voice, although he was trying hard not to grin in delight at what was happening to her. She was flushed, flustered, and her heart rate told him everything else. She was pressed against him, her smell, her body heat, and the knowledge of what he was doing to her was quickly exciting him.

“Okay-“she said, struggling to sound calm, “A kiss for my freedom then.” She leaned into him and softly, ever so lightly, brought her lips to his. She kissed him tentatively, allowing her mouth to linger close to his only a second beyond the moment. It was chaste and formal. The only thing that belied her cool composure was her darting heart.

She lowered her head, waiting with shyness for his response.

“Not bad for the first time,” he thought. He thought about kissing her back, making the kiss long and deep, but decided to allow himself to enjoy the experience of a first kiss from her instead. This was the way he had imagined her kissing him last night, the way he kissed her when she was sleeping and when she first awakened from her nightmare. “Next time,” he thought with relish, “it will be much longer and much more dangerous.”

Without a word to her, he released her and walked away. She stood still for a moment, still looking down, trying to re-gain her composure. “I'm going to talk to him--I'll tell him that I'm an engaged woman, this kind of adolescent behavior isn't proper, and I can't, I won't do it anymore--no more `friendship kisses.' An occasional peck on the cheek is fine, I guess, but no lip tangos or even waltzes with him. I'm NOT doing this again. It's too, too hard-my feelings for him are too close to the surface to control when he's doing this to me. . . .”

“Hey! Are you planning on wasting the entire day?” he called back.

She gave a sigh and picked up her bow and quiver and jogged to catch up to him. They walked back to Kaede's without speaking, both exploring their own thoughts.

Back at Kaede's, Sango was helping the older woman husk some peas and Miroku was sitting on the wooden bench, examining the star-shaped protection amulet. Shippo saw Kagome and Inuyasha approaching and bounded through the clearing to meet them.

“KAGOME! KAGOME! Look what I did while you were gone!” he cried. He was beaming, holding up a rolled piece of paper to her hands.

“Why Shippo, let me see. . . ,” she said smiling down at the boy. She took the paper and unrolled it, revealing Shippo's latest picture. It was a pencil drawing of Kagome standing in the meadow, arrows scattered around her, littering the ground. She was stomping her foot and had her mouth open, yelling.

Kagome laughed. “It's very, very good Shippo! I looked just like that, didn't I?!”

Inuyasha smirked “It's not nice to make fun of your elders, brat! She may be nice enough to get mad, but I'm not!” He grabbed the picture and ripped it in half, causing the kitsune to wail as if he were ripped in half as well.

“AAArgh! Aarrgh! Kagome! He ruined it! He ruined it! You saw him!”

“INUYASHA really!” Kagome scolded. “He is just a small child. Why do you have to be so mean to him?”

“ME? I'm not the one being mean! Why do you always take his side?-that stupid, little runt is the one who drew the picture making you look foolish, not me!”

Her face grew red and she let out an angry breath. “Inuyasha. He is a child, so he has an excuse, and besides, he was just drawing what he honestly saw. Being a grumpy half-demon is all you've got, so yeah, I guess I do side with him!”

“Hhmmph! Fine wench! See if I care! You act like that damn kid is yours, the way you protect him, even when he deserves to be punished.”

Kagome smirked at him and picked up Shippo. “Come on sweetie. It's all right. Let's leave the grumpy old hanyou alone!” She turned from him, walking with Shippo in her arms to her friends. “Can you draw me another picture later?” she asked him. “Yes Kagome,” nuzzling into her neck. “I'd love to. Do you want me to draw a grumpy Inuyasha?” She laughed again and said, “That would be funny, but you better not.”

She had the strangest image of Inuyasha with a cigar in his mouth, wearing glasses and turning to Shippo and saying “Get away from me kid, ya bother me!” She burst into a fit of giggles at the mental image, almost dropping to her knees.

“Kagome what is it! Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, Shippo, fine,” she said, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye. “I just had the funniest thought about someone.”

“Was it Inuyasha?”

“I better not tell you,” she said, trying to suppress a new bout of giggles.

“Oh, it was!” he said smiling.

At that, Inuyasha came running up beside them, demanding to know what Kagome was laughing about. When she tried to wave him away, saying he wouldn't understand anyway, he told her she promised to tell him the truth. They were still arguing about this as the walked up to their friends, who were now overhearing the end of the argument.

“Look, if you really want to know, I'll tell you later, but it won't even be funny because when you have to explain a joke to someone it never is.”

“If I am the joke then you're goddamned right it's not funny! Now, you better tell me, wench!”

“I said later.”

“Now”

“Later!”

Sango looked at her friends and smiled, shaking her head. “It's nice to see some things haven't changed!” she said.

Inuyasha and Kagome stopped arguing to look at her. Neither had any idea what she meant.

Kaede spoke next: “You've trained long and hard this morning child. Are you better satisfied with your progress than when we left?”

She started to respond, but before she could, Miroku broke in, not looking up from the amulet he was polishing. “Personally, I think Lady Kagome should forget about trying to shoot. The stress of this training is taking an obvious toll on her.”

With amazing speed, Kagome thrust Shippo at Inuyasha's chest, grabbed her bow from around her back, loaded an arrow, and fired.

Miroku looked up at the sound of the arrow whizzing toward him. Luckily, he didn't have time to move. It landed, embedded in the bench directly between his legs. He looked in front of him in horror and screamed before he realized she had only skewered his robe and pant leg. Sango came rushing over as Miroku cried, “Oh Gods! It's all. . . still. . . there.” She caught him as he fainted.

Kagome didn't skip a beat. “Yes, Kaede, thank you for asking. I think my aim has improved greatly since this morning.”

Inuyasha looked at her, stunned, and grinned wickedly. “That was fucking great!” he said laughing.

She leaned into him and kissed him on the cheek, in front of her shocked friends. “I couldn't have done it without you, Michael!” she said, then happily walked into Kaede's guest hut to get some dried apples.

She was searching through her duffle bag when Sango came in.

“Kagome-“she began. “I can't believe you just did that.”

Kagome looked up at her friend, saw her stricken expression.

“Sango,” she replied, “I'm sorry about Miroku. I promise you I would have never taken that shot if I was absolutely certain I could make it. I just wanted to give him something to think about, but you're right, I will apologize right away.” She got up to go outside.

Sango strode over to her and placed her hands on her shoulders to block her from leaving. “No Kagome! It's not that!”

“What? The kiss? Oh the kiss was nothing, really. You know Inuyasha and I are just friends. Really, I'm surprised that would even bother you!”

“It's not the kiss either. It's INUYASHA!”

“Inuyasha? What about him?”

“What you called him.”

“What I called him? Sango, what are you talking about?!”

“You called him Michael.”

Kagome starred at friend and shook her head slowly. “I didn't.”

“Yes, Kagome, you did.”

Kagome felt her stomach rise to her throat and dropped the bag of dehydrated apples, no longer hungry.

The color drained from her face . “Oh God!” she whispered.

Kagome ran outside, stopping only to ask Kaede “Which way?”

Kaede gave her a small, sympathetic expression, pointing off to the left. “Good luck child,” she said.

Kagome took off running. She needed to find him and apologize, quickly. She felt terrible, knowing how it must have sounded to him. He had been the one helping her, making her face her fears, and even cheering her on. Without his help, she couldn't have gotten her aim back.

“Without him, YOU wouldn't have gotten back.”

She was panicked. She needed to find him, to say how sorry she was, to explain.

“Explain what, exactly? That you called him someone else and you don't know why, it just slipped out?”

She ran through the woods calling his name. Eventually, she realized that just like Shippo, he wouldn't be found by her unless he was ready.

“Inuyasha, please!” she yelled, causing a group of birds to take to their wings from the canopy above her. She looked up, watching them take off in a frenzy of beating wings.

When she looked down, her skin was tingling. She turned round and inhaled in shock. He was directly behind her, his dark orange eyes vivid, burning. He stared at her in silent accusation. Only his eyes spoke to her. They screamed at her with hurt rage.

She felt wretched. “Inuyasha, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to call you Michael. It was a really dumb thing to do, and I'm really sorry.”

He didn't react, his expression was the same, his eyes didn't move in the slightest. He held her in his hot gaze, burning her.

“Inuyasha. Please talk to me. I made a mistake, a big mistake, and I am sorry.”

Still he remained perfectly motionless. His silence and intensity were beginning to really frighten her.

“Do you hate me now? Is that it? Do you want me to leave because of one mistake?!”

Without moving his immense eyes, he said in a low voice, “I want you to tell you what he means to you.”

Kagome did not have to ask who he was talking about. He wanted a truthful answer from her, and he wanted it now. She took a shallow breath, shaking, and began:

“I don't know. I don't know what he means to me. I don't even know how to begin to answer that question. All I know is I owe him everything. I owe him my life.”

Slowly, without moving, he closed his eyes. He stood there with his eyes shut for several seconds. Without even his eyes speaking to her now, Kagome felt worse than ever in the desolate silence. When he opened his eyes his gaze had not changed. He fixed them on her once more and spoke:

“Have you forgotten the times I saved your life? Have you forgotten the years I protected your life with my very own? Have you so easily forgotten who I am?”

His words made her heartsick. “No Inuyasha! I haven't forgotten a thing, not one single thing! I could never forget you or what you have done for me time and time again,-not as long as I live!”

She was crying, desperately trying to reach him, to reason with him. What she did was insensitive, but why was he punishing her so much? Was he really not going to forgive her for this?

“Who means more to you?” he demanded, his eyes unwavering.

The last question surprised her. This one completely shocked her. `Why for God's sake, is he asking me this?! How can I answer?' It wasn't a fair question. She knew from his behavior that she had to answer with care, their very friendship hung in the balance.

“Inuyasha--I've known you longer. We have been through so much together and have been friends for a long time. It's longer for me, I know, because of the time shift between our worlds, but, please—I don't want to loose what we have now. I feel like I just found something precious I lost a long time ago. I have a chance to be here with you now and see this through. I am committed to that, and that's what I want right now, more than anything, enough to put the rest of my life on hold! But, . . . I owe Michael and that's a fact I will never forget. He protects me now because it's his job. You could say I'm his assignment. It's not for forever, but for the time being I work with him. He's helping me to do something I was born to do and he's the one who's given me that chance. You're question makes it sound like there's some kind of a choice to make when there isn't. “

“Isn't there?” he said, his voice a low growl.

“Inuyasha did you just hear anything I said? I can't tell you who means more, I just can't. You came to me, found me again, and reminded me of what needed to come first in my life, finding the jewel's pieces and putting it back together, making things right again. But Michael is the one who saved me and showed me that I still had a destiny to fulfill. You're asking me to choose between fulfilling my destiny here and the person who is the very reason I can even be here? Inuyasha, How can I do that? Tell me! What is it you want me to say?!”

“So this is the way she feels? I saved her so many times and she never acted like she owed me more than a thank you. This idiot saves her one time and she owes him what, EVERYTHING?! Just once I couldn't help her, just once and she acts like this. This is totally fucked-up!”

He was still angry, he knew that. He also needed some time to think, to weigh her words and try to understand what she was really saying. He didn't like it, but he was used to this with her. There was always more to Kagome's meanings than her words. She was a shifting puzzle he had to keep re-solving. A part of him normally liked the challenge, but now he wished to hell that she would just tell him who and what it was she really wanted. She had as much as said he was her destiny, and he had heard her say this before. But she also said that Michael was what--the reason she had a destiny?

How could she be so divided? She had only known Michael a few months, so how could she say she owed her existence to him? She sounded so damned confused when she spoke, he didn't think she knew her own mind at all.

“Leave Kagome. Go back to Kaede's,” he said, taking his eyes off her and turning away.

She was stung by his dismissal like a slap. “Fine. But before I go, there's one thing more I want to say to you, Inuyasha--I know that I hurt you when I called you Michael. I know from personal experience how much a mistake like that can hurt.”