InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Place Between the Inbetween ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

The Place Between the Inbetween

Chapter Two

Finally. The last box. Kagome sighed in happiness. She and Sango had been moving her in slowly, but had finally finished. It had taken all of the day before and the most part of that morning. Their room had two small beds, two dressing stations, one on either side of the room next to the beds. They also had a trunk each, for their clothes and such. Not a very big room, to be sure, but it fit their purposes.

"Um, Sango?"

"Yeah?"

"Uh, is it ok if I wear a dress?" Sango snorted.

"Yeah, it's just that I hate them. Can't stand `em."

"Oh. My aunt and uncle said that I have to wear one at least a week while I'm here, and I promised that I would do that. I never break my promises."

"I know. You don't seem like a promise-breaking sorta girl. Ready? Then let's go outside. It's beautiful!"

The two emerged from the stuffy room, closing the door behind them. Kagome began to make a mental map in her mind, just in case she got separated from Sango. She had no intention of getting lost in the place. It was just too complicated.

They cringed in the bright sunlight, finally coming out of the castle. Kagome's eyes widened as they took in everything: the archery yard, the stables, and more. She couldn't wait to explore.

Of course, being in a dress limited her actions. She glanced down and tugged at the skirt wistfully. It was a pale blue in color, with a skirt that reached her ankles. Her dark blue slippers had tiny bows on them. The top was not tight fitting, and had three-inch-thick straps that rested below her shoulders. Her hair was flowing freely in the wind.

Sango pulled her toward the archery yard, eager to find out Kagome's skill with a bow. However, as they got there, she soon found out that they weren't the only ones there.

Koga, Prince of the nearby Wolf Clan, was there, practicing his aim. When he saw the two ladies, he scoffed.

"What are you doing out here for, Sango?" Sango ignored him and pulled her friend toward the supply shed to look for a suitable bow.

"For your information, Koga, we are trying to see how good Kagome's aim is. Would you please step aside?" Sango snapped. Kagome had a feeling that Sango didn't like the wolf prince. She didn't think that was very fair. She flashed him a small smile, but a smile nonetheless, as she followed the other girl into the large shed. Koga followed, guffawing.

"HER?! In a dress? Shoot a bow? Tell me another!" he laughed.

THAT got Kagome pissed off at him. She whirled on him.

"You think that I can't shoot a bow in a dress? I can shoot a bow on a horse, in a dress, in breeches and shirt, in a skirt, in my sleepwear and more! HA! Tell me another!" she used his same line on him in satisfaction.

Koga just grinned and shook his head. Kagome sighed in frustration.

She turned to Sango, who had picked out a bow and coiled string, along with a quiver full of arrows. She had left her own bow and quiver in their room. Plucking them out of her friend's hands, Kagome brushed past Koga without a word and headed straight for an open target. Setting herself up at the required distance, the girl slung the quiver on her shoulder, and placed her feet in an expert position.

At that moment, Inuyasha and Miroku were walking along the trail outside when the monk spotted Sango standing in front of Koga, watching another woman as she prepared to shoot. Miroku rushed over to the magenta-eyed girl as the Prince watched Kagome with interest. He was sure that he had never seen her before. However, he thought that there was something strangely familiar about her. He instantly stiffened when his amber orbs spotted Koga, his `unofficial` rival.

"Sango-chan! Kagome-chan!" Miroku called out as he neared them. Both girls turned in surprise.

"M-Miroku-kun! What are you doing here?" Kagome's surprise was evident. She obviously isn't scared that much, Inuyasha thought to himself. Miroku told them that he and Inuyasha were walking on the paths talking about the kingdom when the monk had spotted them. Kagome looked over her shoulder to where Inuyasha was standing, watching. She turned back around, preparing herself for what she would say next. Smiling sweetly, she sugarcoated her words to the monk:

"Miroku, I know you mean well, but would you try to be quiet for a few seconds? I need to avenge my reputation against this wolf." She spat the word `wolf' out like it was poison. The monk promptly shut up as Inuyasha stepped forward to watch. He had heard what she had said because of his ears, which had tuned in on her voice. He now watched as she replaced her footing and grabbed and arrow from the quiver on her back. Her skirt swayed in the wind when she moved. She faintly heard a loud yell of "HENTAI!" and a resounding slap. She smiled inwardly at recognizing the voice and guessing whose cheek was introduced to Sango's hand.

Kagome was calm, and pulled the string back past her ear, immediately releasing. She didn't have to aim. It was right there for all to see, a big piece of fabric stuffed with straw, just waiting to be hit. Kagome gave in to that request.

Straight and true, her arrow slammed into the target with a `whoosh'. Pink light surrounded it as it soared through the air, vanishing as it hit the bull's eye. She smiled in triumph. She quickly got another arrow and put it to the string. She mechanically fired, watching where the pink arrow went while reaching over her shoulder for another. She fired that one too.

Miniature beads of sweat rolling down her forehead; Kagome relaxed her stance and lowered her bow.

"You may check my aim." Koga didn't move to do it, so Inuyasha casually trotted up to the target to judge her shooting. When he reached the straw-stuffed bag, his eyes widened against his will as he tugged one of the arrows free of the fabric. It came out, but not easily.

He trotted back toward the other four and presented the three arrows to Koga.

"The arrows hit their target squarely. She has proven you wrong, wolf. Now leave!" Inuyasha shoved him away and began walking toward the palace, the others quickly following behind him.

Feh. Wonder where she learned that type of shooting. Kagome. Kagome…where have I heard that name before? Inuyasha thought as he led the way into the dining hall. All four were starved. Suddenly, he remembered. Of course! The wench Sango showed us this morning. Joy…He yelled at himself. He, Sango, Miroku, and Kagome quickly entered the food line and received the meal that the cooks had prepared that night. Then, they ate in peace. Not for long.

Kagome had accidentally flicked some butter at Inuyasha when she tried to spread it on her bread. She gasped at what she had done, but before she could apologize, he threw his own piece of bread at her. Ducking, Kagome heard the loud `splat' of the wheat coated with butter as it hit the person behind her on the head. Her eyes widened in horror as the young man turned to glare at her while people around them were snickering.

"I didn't throw that! It was-" but before she could finish, she was hit square in the face with a chicken breast. It slowly dripped down her face as her eyes burned with anger. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango were all unsuccessfully trying to turn their laughs into coughs. Kagome had had it. She snapped.

"OK, that's IT!" she yelled, and stood to pummel the man with her own food. Without warning, Kagome suddenly felt something whiz by her right ear as the U.F.O. slapped the pissed boy in front of her.

Kagome whirled around with questioning eyes to find the Prince bouncing a pile of mashed potatoes in his hand.

"Feh. Fool?" he grinned. The other man just glared at the prince and bolted out the hall with little dignity.

"What a small and tasteless duel…let's start a new one!" But before he could launch his pile of creamy potatoes at a new victim, another pile of potatoes smashed into his face, and he furiously wiped them away. His amber orbs fell on a grinning Kagome, who held up her potato-covered hand in greeting.

He grinned evilly. "Oh, now you've done it, bitch," he told her. Her smile didn't waver, just grew bigger. Her hand waved at him in a bye-bye signal. Before he could react, he was then covered more food, thrown by Sango and Miroku.

However, before he could comply, someone screamed out,

"FOOD FIGHT!" and that's when the chaos evolved into pure hell. Food was being thrown at everyone, friend or foe. Soon, the floor was covered with the meal that had been on neat, little, wooden trays just minutes before. Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango all escaped quickly when King Sesshomaru entered and started yelling at the servants and some of the nobles to help clean up.

Laughing, the four bid each other a good day and went to their separate rooms. But not before Miroku managed to grope Sango one last time for the day. All Kagome heard was a loud, feminine cry of

"PERVERT!" and another slap before she and Sango bolted into their room and locked the door behind them. Sango continued to mumble something about perverts living in a castle and that they should be stopped stalking ladies…

~END! Thank you, thank you.