Disclaimer: I do not know Attack on titans or Inuyasha
Chapter One: Our World
"It's been a while since we've had a chance to relax." He idly commented, scribbling.
"Now that you think about it, yeah. And I haven't had any tests either."
"Quit your yammering already."
"Oh hush Inuyasha." Kagome scolded, scooping Shippo up into her arms. He readily abandoned his crayons in favor of her.
She smiled down at him, brushing back his hair, "Why don't we go play in the river Shippo?"
"Really?" He grinned, tail swishing. His smile is so bright.
"Sure. I'll even give you some chips."
"Hey! You said we were all out!" Inuyasha protested.
She ignored that last part, grabbed her yellow pack and exited the hut. Immediately, she was hit with the heat of summer, the chatter of the cicadas, and she can't help but smile.
'Such a beautiful day.'
Shippo hopped out of her arms and scurried on ahead, "Come on Kagome!"
She wasted no time in going after him, and when she arrived, runs into the water. Shippo was already splashing water at her. She eagerly returned the favor, throwing large waves at him, her ears filled with the sound of his laughter.
"That's cold!" She squealed, humoring him.
He positions himself and leaps forward, "Kagome!"
"AH!" She tumbled down, catching him easily. Even as soaked as she is, she smiled anyway.
Time is lost to them. By the time the sun is high, she's breathing heavily and wearily suggests, "Why don't we have some of those-"
"AHHHH!"
A moment of silence passes between the two before Shippo breaks the silence.
"W-What was that?" he squeaked, scrambling onto her shoulder.
She's already moving to the river bank, grabbing her pack. "I don't know." She answered, fumbling to strap it on.
"What about Inuyasha?" He questioned, "Wouldn't he have noticed before?"
They're running now and when she reenters the center of the village, all she can see is chaos.
There's smoke billowing into the sky, staining its brilliant blue a dark shade of black. The villagers are all screaming now, mindlessly running rampant around her.
But from what?
...Thump. Thump. Thump...
Shaking the very earth itself, the sound slowly approaches closer. She feels Shippo tremble beside her.
"K-Kagome..."
Up ahead, a hut is smashed to bits, debris flying. She dodges, hears screams intensify, and when she dared to look back, a tiny sound of horror escapes her dry lips.
"Kagome?" Shippo asks, "What happened?"
She clamps a hand over his eyes, "Don't look..!" Her hands tremble. She'd seen it already and the image is burned into her memory, replaying over and over.
Nearby people impaled by wood, others are crushed, but they're all alive. They're alive and she sees the blood soaking the earth, hears their cries of help but she rushes onward, clenching the boy in her arms.
Where is Inuyasha? Everyone? Was she alone? She didn't even have her bow and arrows.
Thump. Thump.
The sound is getting closer now. Butterflies are flapping wildly now, bushing against the confines of her stomach.
THUMP. THUMP.
'Almost there... So close.' That wasn't her.
She clenched her teeth, the jewel really needed to learn when to shut up.
"NO! LET ME GO!" Someone shrieked, drawing her attention, but she still can't see through the blinding dust.
"NO! STOP! PLEASE ST-!"
There's a sinking snap.
It's eating her.
'Will I die?' She squeezes the kit beneath her, the wretched sound of water splattering onto the ground-
"Ugh..."
-only it isn't water, and she knows that. Bile rises in her throat.
"K...Kagome." She feels Shippo grip her clothes. "W- What is it?"
He won't tell her he can smell the copper in the air, hear everything she does. Without his eyesight, everything sounds much more intense to his demonic hearing.
"We've got to find Inuyasha." She manages out, making out the faint silhouette of the thing that had eaten the person. "Stay quiet." She cautions, getting up from her crouch -When had that happened?- and darts forward, leaving behind whatever was currently dining on an unfortunate person.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground is alive, shaking with the footsteps of whatever they may be.
People still scream. They're rushing past her, shoving anyone aside. She does the same because she absolutely needs to get through.
There is blood is all around her, splattered like paint. She can already see the crows feeding on the dead.
Why? Why had this happened?
'Keep running. Keep moving.' Her mind supplies as she jumps over the fallen wood. 'Just move.'
"KAGOME!" Shippo warns, seeing the approaching appendage coming at her.
She's thrown back suddenly, topping onto the ground.
THUMP! THUMP!
She can't move. The world is spinning and she's gasping for the air that just won't come into her lungs. Her chest heaves up and down as Shippo jumps out of her embrace.
"Kagome are you okay?!"
She's looking up at the sky again, shadowed by the smoke, the destruction. The forest is on fire. Her torso hurts, so much.
".. Well..." She gasps.
THUMP! THUMP!
Her eyes water as she weakly lifts a hand, "Get...to the well..."
"Kagome!"
There's a low groaning sound beside them.
"Shippo...!" She urges him forward, eyes going wide. "Go now!"
It's right there. Reaching-
He sniffles a little, emerald eyes watering, "Kagome... "
-out for her.
"Move!"
She shoves him away and watches as he tumbled out of its reach. A cry tears itself from him as he obeyed. When he rights himself and scurries out of view she releases a strangled laugh.
He's safe.
That's what happiness felt like for her.
'You will die.'
In the span of the few seconds it took for him to escape, she's already been snatched up. The fingers curl themselves around her.
'You will die.'
That startling realization should shock her, but all she can do is offer a smile. Her hands settle on the much larger ones encasing her, "He's safe."
It's raising her up-
"Thank goodness, he's safe.."
-closer-
"I did it."
-to his mouth, ever so greedy in its pleasure.
'You will die.'
"So annoying." She mumbles, fishing it out the jewel. "You little pest." It sparkles prettily in all its fake innocence.
Opening up its mouth.
"Help me."
Will she really die?
"Help me!"
The giant is all gleeful smiles and taunting eyes, watching her.
"Dammit help me!" She shrieks, anger boiling up. "You owe us that much!"
'This is the end.'
The sickening sound of bones crunching fill her head. Who is screaming? Is that her blood? Where? Where is it?
'I guess you really will die. How sad.'
Where is her arm?
"NO!" She shouts eyes screwed shut.
'It is feeding. It's eating you.'
She can't die. Not here, not now.
A scream tears itself from her throat. The giant is pulling her back from its mouth. The skin that's still attached to her arm is stretching.
'Really, just sleep already.' The jewel beckons. 'Things would be better that way.'
She can't. She knows she can't, for whatever reason she simply can't.
"...No." She mumbles, pain invading her mind. "I can't... if I do, who... who will-?"
Who will what?
"KAGOME!"
Her eyes snap open, watching as her world is illuminated in fiery green. Her stomach drops. She knows what this is.
Foxfire. It's her little boy's foxfire.
"Why?" She murmurs, eyes wide. She looks down into the eyes of a child trying to play hero, "Why did you come back?!"
He exhales shakily, "I-I heard you scream."
And then he tries for another, hoping, praying it'll scare.
"Foxfire!"
He doesn't see - It's reaching for him with its other hand.
Oh god no.
"Don't you touch him!" She shrieks, struggling in its grasp. Who cares if it hurts?
'What an idiot.'
He stumbles back a little, paralyzed to the spot.
Closer... It's getting closer to him.
Why is she so helpless?
Her eyes widen, he's being picked up.
"N-NO! No! Kagome!"
Get away. Don't touch him. Hurry. Hurry!
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" She tosses the jewel up in the air. "I MAKE THE WISH! I MAKE IT!"
It's screaming such a terrible scream.
That's not her. It's not Shippo either.
'I will help you then.'
She feels relief rush forward.
'But...'
Oh shit.
'This world will forever be lost to you."
Light explodes, blinding her.
'What have I done?'