Summary:

Inuyasha thought he could be with both, but he soon learned that separation only goes so far before decisions are made about what true love is and finally finding happy endings with a little help from the Shikon Jewel.



My inspiration for this story was the cover on volume 9 of the anime series which shows a picture of Inuyasha overlooking his human form protecting Kagome.

Now to more important matters.



Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I do own all the twists to this story.



Two to Love

Ch. 1

Discoveries


It was a cold and moonless night. A magical mist hovered among the trees seemingly waiting for something. A bittersweet melody played through the clouds as they hid the stars like a Mother's protective blanket.

The only lights came from a small clearing, invisible to most, but not to the girl who was presently creeping to the outer rim. Approaching enough, just so that the voices from within could be heard.

Fear struck her heart as the voices became clear, but she pressed on, hopping that if she were just to lay eyes on the people somehow it wouldn't be true. Upon the sight that lay ahead, a small gasp escaped her lips.

'Wh... what happened!?' thought a dejected Kagome 'While I was gone...'

"I've already told you Inuyasha; I am the only one who can purify Naraku and completely eliminate him from this world." The first voice was harsh but as clear as the set expression on the owner's face.

Her name was Kikyo. Her ebony hair was lifeless like the rest of her. Her eyes were dark and constantly appeared to be waiting for something. She both loved and loved to hate the man who stood before her.

"But... what about you? What will happen to you? And that is to say nothing of how I'd feel if I ever lost you... again" This voice was more demanding as it called to the young observer's heart.

He was a half demon by the name of Inuyasha. He had dog-like ears, framing brilliant golden eyes. His long silver hair flowed gracefully to the center of his back. He was not the wisest of his kind; in fact, he even went into the negatives occasionally. Oh, and he had some serious love problems.

Kikyo's voice now rose to barely above a soft sigh, "Fear not Inuyasha, I won't suffer anything like that again." she began to rise, "I should be going..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed Kagome peering out from the side of a tree, starring intently at Inuyasha. "It's also about time that you should return to your... friends."

Inuyasha reached forward and grabbed Kikyo's hand, pulling her into a hug. Kagome gasped and grabbed the tree as if it were the only lifeline, keeping her attached to this world.

Kikyo cups his cheek in her hand and raises her head letting him pull their lips into a sweet kiss as Inuyasha pulls her closer to him.

Kagome was unaware that a tear slips down her cheek. 'Why Inuyasha? Why are you kissing her?' She felt her world begin to spin and it began to slowly smear apart all in one single instant.

Suddenly she was on the ground as tears sprung from her gloomy eyes and streamed down her face to give the forest a salty drink that it really didn't want. Through what seemed a tortuous eternity, she remained silent, and the couple kissing remained oblivious to the poignant tears that had fed the earth.

Pulling away from him, Kikyo summoned her servants to her. "It'll all be okay Inuyasha... I promise."

'So my reincarnation was watching us...' thought Kikyo, an evil smile appearing briefly on her lips.

'Good'



In the shadows of a great oak, two hunched figures sat attentively watching Kagome as she appeared near an old well. They had been following her for quite some time, but had no intent on stopping her actions whatever they may be.

A single tear slithers down her cheek as a soft word escapes from her like a tired sigh, "Inuyasha..."

Before that raindrop ever touched the forest floor, Kagome had disappeared into the depths of the well.

"Damn you Inuyasha!" cried Sango. She punched the nearest object in her fury, which just so happened to be Miroku.

She smiled in evil satisfaction as if he crumpled to the forest floor and then resumed by attacking a nearby tree.

Miroku looked the whole situation over. Sango was in a rather violet mood, but she was distracted. It was either take a chance or miss an opportunity, and Miroku was never one to pass up an opportunity.

WHACK

"Not today, you pervert!" snapped Sango.

She seized a large stick and held it over her head like a lethal samurai warrior. The stick swung through the air like a deadly pendulum aimed directly at Miroku's head.



Not far from the village, a familiar figure sat in a certain old tree. His ears swiveled from side to side, a sure sign that he was deep in thought. Inside his head a great conflict raged within his mind with neither side winning against the other.

He loved them, each in different way. They both meant so much to the half demon... but he could have only one. Only one.

'I hadn't even paid enough attention to catch Kagome's scent. And she had been there... she had watched us together. And then she ran. I was a fool not to pursue her when I finally picked up her scent. I could have caught her before she left, but what could I possibly say to her.'

His eyes dulled, and his shoulders sagged at the memory. Kagome's eyes appeared to hold a small fire that was rapidly dwindling as she quietly slipped away from him.

'It's not like I can be with both of them, after all I'm only one person.' he argued with his conscious.

'Maybe so,' said a small voice, 'but some times what you are looking for is the thing right in front of you that you forget to look at.'

A sudden movement at the edge of the clearing caught his eye. He leaped from his perch in the tree, and landed smoothly in a smaller tree closer to all the action.

It was Sango and Miroku, or rather Sango dragging the perverted monk toward the village with a broken stick slung over her shoulder. Miroku was looking way to happy as he slipped something from his robe and worked it into the ground when Sango had paused for a second to reposition herself.

The instant the pair was out of sight, Inuyasha dashed over to where Miroku had woven the mysterious prize. He ripped through the ground in excitement and came up with a huge chunk of grass and dirt.

He tore at it until something caught his eye. He released the grass and dusted off his new treasure.

Turning it over in his hands, he discovered that he, for once, had a jewel shard.

In the distance, Inuyasha could hear Sango yelling at Miroku. "WHERE DID YOU PUT IT MIROKU!" "Put what, my dear Sango?"

"DON'T PLAY STUPID! GIVE ME BACK MY JEWEL SHARD OR I'LL BUST YOUR HEAD OPEN AND BURN YOUR REMAINS UNTIL YOUR BONES MELT!"

"Now there is no need to get violent."

"VIOLENT! I'LL SHOW YOU VIOLENT!"

And at that, Inuyasha retreated to back his tree.

He turned the shard over in his hand, gently, as so not to break it.

'Sometimes what you are looking for is the thing right in front of you...'

'I can't be with both of them, I'm only one person.'

"The jewel grants one person one wish, good or bad. Even shards are powerful enough to grant these desires"



Kagome stood at the window of her room, looking at a small glowing bottle resting on her desk.

'I should return them, shouldn't I.' She picked up the glowing bottle of fragments. 'Everything will be over; my life would return to normal.'

'But I don't want it to be over. I want to see him.'

'I want to see Inuyasha.'

Kagome gazed at the glowing fragments in her hands. They glittered at as if saying 'it will be okay just you wait and see.' She smiled gently and looked back outside.

"Sota should be home soon."

The fragments shook in her hand as if trying to escape as they began to shin brighter and brighter like they were to explode. The room shook and spun violently around her.

'What's going on? The fragments are...'

Light shown from the tree branches and the leaves began to rustle. Then all of a sudden, everything ceased.

Kagome looked in her hand, but the fragments were gone. All of a sudden, she was lifted off the floor, hovering, her own atmosphere rotating shards around her.

'Someone is making a wish on the jewel fragments!'



A/N So what didya think of the first chapter? Hmmm... Was it GOOD? You like? yes, yes?

You should never keep something as complicated as love inside you or else it will eventually destroy you from the inside out.