LB: Ah, a new fic. How refreshing. Do not worry, readers (if I have any) Though this is a SesshyKag, I will continue writing my InuKag. (I favor Inu and Kag, but I'm writing this and reading similar ones for an interesting change of pace. I must say it is most enlightening, though TheEvilPottedPlant insists that I am a traitor…pointed glare at mon amie Plant) Hope you enjoy!
Glad to see you all again! Today is a happy day! (dances around) This is the EDITED version of 'To Choose A Youkai', though the chain of events is the same. I have merely adjusted the grammer so as not to infract on the grammer rules of this website.
Disclaimer: Obviously I do not own Inuyasha, or I would not be writing fanfiction. (rolls eyes) My goodness…Ah, well. Onto the chappie.
Chapter One. Choose or Die.
"No, Inuyasha. Choose now. It's me or Kagome."
"Inuyasha, please. I won't ask you to choose. Just don't let me die." Kikyou's laugh echoed softly. "Only one of us can live, Kagome. You are a mere reincarnation. There is no way to change that. Inuyasha only ever showed acceptance of you because of your resemblance to me." Inuyasha watched them, helpless to answer. He loved Kikyou…didn't he? Then why was it so hard to say yes? He loved Kagome, too. One of them would die, and it was his choice. There was no escape. He stopped them. "Would you two wenches shut up?" He turned to Kikyou. "Let Kagome live, and I'll choose you." Kikyou shook her head. "That isn't possible, Inuyasha. You must choose." Kagome stepped forward. "Choose her, Inuyasha. Go ahead. Choose Kikyou. I will never live up to her shadow." Inuyasha shook his head. "I can't choose." Kikyou frowned. "Choose, or Kagome will die, anyway." Kagome nodded. "Choose, Inuyasha."
"I can't…" Kagome began to fade. Kikyou laughed bitterly, and paused when Kagome had vanished from view. "What is this? Why don't I have a true body, of my own?" She shook her head. "No matter. Now, Inuyasha, you will pay for your betrayal of me."
"What betrayal?" Kikyou set the arrow into her bow. "First, you tried to steal the shikon no tama, resulting in being pinned to that tree. Now, you have failed to choose between my reincarnation and myself at all. You have betrayed me, and now you will die." She released the arrow, letting it fly straight at Inuyasha.
Kagome crept backward. She was getting weaker, she knew. It was becoming harder and harder to move away from Inuyasha and Kikyou. She gasped softly as she watched, helplessly, from the shelter of the trees. Kikyou had drawn back her arrow; Kikyou never missed. She urged herself to stand, to run forward, but her muscles resisted, and her brain dimmed her senses. She tripped backward, and blacked out.
'I'm dead. This is what death feels like? Then how is it that I am still in pain?' Kagome winced. No, she couldn't be dead. She took the effort to open her eyes. Her lids stung, and her eyelashes stuck together, increasing the blurry quality to her sight. Colors slowly sharpened to a focus, and she squinted against the brilliant sun scorching her eyes. She gasped and coughed, sputtering up a mouthful of saliva.
"You are awake." She tried to get up and see who was speaking, but her strength seemed to have left her, and she winced in pain as she tried to even turn her head. She licked her lips to reduce their cracked, dried state, but it didn't help. A cool cloth was pressed against her forehead. She tried to move her hand, and clenched her teeth against the pain racking through her. She finally stopped trying to sit up, as it was a tremendous effort to continue breathing at all. "I-Inu…yasha?" she asked softly. Her heart wrenched, remembering. It couldn't be. Kikyou had shot him with her arrow. Inuyasha was dead. "No," she muttered. Tears unwillingly began to stream down her cheek. "Kikyou…killed…" She trembled painfully as the sobs came shuddering through her. "Kagome-sama?" a small voice whispered. Kagome peered through her tear-filled eyes, to see a little girl. She was attired in a colorful yellow and orange kimono, and her hair was tied back loosely. She recognized her, faintly. What was her name again? "R-Rin?" The little girl nodded slowly. "Why are crying, Kagome-sama?" Kagome tried to smile through the drops spattering her cheeks and dripping to the ground. "I-I'm crying because I-I'm sad. W-why are you here?" Rin smiled tentatively. "Sesshoumaru-sama found you, Kagome-sama. You're hurt badly." Kagome grinned wryly through her surprise. "I figured as much. Do you have any water?" Rin nodded carefully, and returned momentarily with a small cup. Kagome stiffened, wincing as she tried to sit. 'I have to drink…that's the most important thing…come on, Kagome…sit up…' She felt herself being propped up from behind, and emitted a strained sigh of semi-contentment as the water was lifted to her mouth. She sipped slowly, ignoring her body screaming at her for daring to sit up at all, even with help. Who had helped her sit up? Rin was too little. Maybe-? No. "T-thank you," she murmured shakily. She struggled to turn her head and look behind her. Her neck gave a protestant snap, breaking through the stiffness, and she clenched her jaw, but managed to turn her head. Sesshoumaru stared intently back at her. She smiled, almost deliriously, and mumbled another 'thank you'. She sighed, propped up against Sesshoumaru, and closed her eyes, barely conscious of what she was doing. His eyes widened a bit in surprise, but he didn't budge. Kagome was already asleep.
Sango's eyes welled with tears. "No," she murmured. "Not Kagome. Not both of them. How…?" Miroku snapped his eyes shut. "I know, Sango." She didn't bother to even wrench away from his embrace, as she usually would have done. Her fingers were numb; she couldn't feel her arms, which were hanging limply at her sides, and her legs were only stiffly supporting her at all. Dried tears stained her pale cheeks. She leaned against Miroku's chest, quietly sobbing. He didn't move a muscle, though tears also slipped down his face. Shippou stirred, then gagged as he awoke. "Sango? Miroku? Why do I smell Inuyasha and Kagome's blood?" Sango erupted in another bout of tears, and Miroku wrapped his arms around her to soothe her. He spoke in a strained tone. "They are gone, Shippou. Go back to sleep and we will tell you in the morning." Shippou stood stock-still, unusual for the bright, energetic Kitsune. "Gone?"
Kagome could sit up unaided now, but couldn't eat or drink much without heaving it back up. Rin brought her cups of water, and the occasional bit of food to sustain her without making her sick, pressed cool cloths to her forehead, and slept next to her at night. Kagome was still numb with shock. Inuyasha…gone…and Kikyou…then Sesshoumaru had…rescued her? It was all jumbled around in her head. And what about Sango, and Miroku, and Shippou? Kirara? What would happen to Grandpa, and Mom, and Souta and Buyo? What would happen to her? Thoughts and questions flew into her head and remained there, waiting impatiently for her attention.
She sighed and shifted uncomfortably. It was all so difficult to believe, so otherworldly, yet so brutally real. She'd gone four days tormenting herself with these questions in her delirious state between consciousness and death.
"Kagome-sama? Would you like a drink of water?" Kagome smiled softly. "Please, Rin." Rin scooted off and returned with the cup she usually used for Kagome. Kagome held it shakily and raised it to her lips. The water was cool and fresh, and kept her hydrated, which was what was important. Sesshoumaru had always sat aside, watching her and Rin, barely paying attention to Jaken, who demanded so much of it. She had adjusted automatically, obviously sensing that she was safe with him, and Rin. She didn't seem welcoming of Jaken, but accepted him all the same.
Sesshoumaru frowned thoughtfully. Everything was mixed up, flipped upside down, in an endless kaleidoscope of confusion. His half-brother, Inuyasha, was dead. Inuyasha's wench was in his care. Was this some cruel twist of fate to reverse the pace of his life? Kami, he had somehow ended up deep into this mess. Why had he even approached his brother's wench? Why had he bothered saving her from death with the tenseiga? Why had Inuyasha's body been nowhere in sight? Would he have saved the hanyou as well, had he the chance? And where was this Kikyou?
Kaede blinked slowly. Kagome was dead. Kikyou was, in a way, alive. Inuyasha was dead. Kikyou had killed him. It was all swirling around in her thoughts. Could Kikyou be trusted with the shards of the shikon jewel? The shards had only to be connected with the near-completed jewel in Naraku's possession to become complete. Or should the shards be passed on to one of Kagome's loyal friends? The monk? The slayer? She made a decision swiftly, still unsure if it was the correct one.
"I am to keep the shards?"
"Kagome is dead, as is Inuyasha. Ye are the next in line for it. She was close to you, and Kikyou should not be trusted just yet. You must take your friends and somehow gain the rest of the shikon jewel, before hope diminishes. The jewel must be purified." Sango clutched the small pouch that contained the jewel shards in her hand. "I understand." Kaede nodded and left the hut. Sango brushed a tear from her eye. She would take on Kagome's difficult task and complete the shikon no tama, but she could never use the jewel…unless- could a certain curse be reversed if she wished it? 'You shouldn't think about that,' her mind cautioned. 'To use the jewel would be stupid and irresponsible. Kagome would not have wanted you to use the jewel on your own interests, especially the houshi, would she? There was the question; would she?'
Kagome frowned in concentration. "I'm going to do it," she muttered. Rin watched her warily. "Maybe you should wait, Kagome-sama. Are you sure you are ready?" Kagome nodded. "Back up a bit, please, Rin. I can do this. I'll stand up." Rin nodded, caution shadowing her eyes, but stepped back a few steps. Kagome shooed her back a little more, until the girl was four or five feet away. Kagome nodded, smiling as she clenched her teeth together. It hurt, but she'd do it. She managed to pull herself up onto her knees, and rolled her shoulders in preparation. 'Deep breaths, Kagome, deep breaths,' she told herself calmly. She grasped a large, jutting rock, which protruded to half of her height out of the ground, using it to pull herself up. It worked. She stood up straight, and slowly released her grip on the stone. She stood waveringly for a moment, then stumbled back and, as a streak of silver swiftly appeared at her side, landed in Sesshoumaru's hold. She stammered for a moment, then smiled sheepishly. "I- I guess I shouldn't have tried so soon, right?"
"What were you doing?" She rolled her lower lip under teeth nervously. "Umm…trying to stand up." His voice was stiff. "Don't do that yet. You will be ready soon, but it is foolish to push your strength." She nodded, blinking. She looked straight into his eyes. He really didn't seem all that bad. He…She trailed off her thoughts. "Erm, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Yes?"
"Can you help me sit again, now?" He stared at her for a moment, then nodded, gently lowering her to the ground. She relaxed, as her main support had shifted from her legs. "Thank you." To her surprise, he sat down next to her, silently. He hadn't said a word, but his presence was comforting. She cracked her stiff wrist and shifted her arm, which still held more pain than the rest of her, save her legs, of course. She'd probably sprained something. "Sesshoumaru-sama?" He nodded in acknowledgement. "Umm…what happened?" He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" he replied carefully. She frowned. "I mean, after I left Inuyasha and Kikyou. Rin said you found me. What then?" His expression clouded over. "I found you in the woods. I could smell Inuyasha and your blood everywhere. Inuyasha was nowhere in sight, nor was the miko, Kikyou. You were lying on the ground, and I brought you back," he explained. He was being somewhat evasive, not mentioning some key facts. "Was I in bad condition?"
"What do you expect? When you got here you were delirious and unconscious for days. You expect that you were found in perfect condition?" She flushed. "Oh…well, I guess not, then. You- you didn't see Inuyasha anywhere?" He shook his head. "I presume that Kikyou removed his body so that you could not find it. She probably suspected that you were alive." Kagome blinked. "Oh." He was very perceptive, more than she'd thought, even. "Thank you for rescuing me." He said nothing for a moment, and then murmured, "Thanks are not necessary." She frowned. "Oh. Okay. I guess." She paused, and another question came to her mind. "Do you miss him?"
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah. He was your brother, after all." Sesshoumaru shrugged his shoulders slightly, which seemed out of character for him. He didn't reply, but Kagome could sense that he was seriously thinking about it. Her eyes drifted to where Rin was chasing a large, brilliantly colored butterfly, colored rather like Rin's kimono. Jaken was most likely in the shadows somewhere, waiting for Sesshoumaru to call his service. "Yes." She looked up at him. "Hmm?" He met her eyes. "Yes. I do…miss…him, in one way or another. In others, I'm not so sure." She gaped. Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Territories, was not sure? Sesshoumaru missed Inuyasha, even a little bit?
Sango shifted her hiraikotsu on her back, and adjusted her sun hat. The summer was hot and stifling this year, and she had already acquired a lovely, red sunburn, and one that could rival the color of Inuyasha's haori. Miroku was at her side; Kirara and Shippou traveled behind them. How could she do this? The group felt so empty without Kagome and Inuyasha. Was Sango worthy to guard the shikon no tama and to search for the shards, and to kill Naraku? Miroku's hand rested confidently on her shoulder. He seemed to understand that she was in no mood to be bringing the hiraikotsu onto his head for groping, and kept his hands to himself, for the most part. Kirara was in her large form, carrying an exhausted Shippou on her back. Sango felt like falling over and giving up, but she knew that she had to keep going. She had regained enough strength to move on. She was merely weak from mourning, as she knew her companions also were.
Rin cuddled in the space between Kagome and Sesshoumaru, sighing contentedly as the sun sank behind the mountains. The night came quickly, cloaking the sky in a veil of stars. In the cloudless sky, she remarked that there was no moon tonight, and that Inuyasha would ordinarily be mortal by this time. Usually they would be battling a demon for the… She gaped at herself as she remembered. The shikon no tama. Where was it? No…she thought…the small pouch of shards was not there, but it seemed that Sesshoumaru had not taken them. The only one she knew was with her at all times was the jewel shard that she always kept in a hidden pocket inside her kimono. That was still there; she could feel it. "Sesshoumaru?" she asked softly, noting that Rin had long fallen asleep. He nodded. "Did you…find any of my belongings with me when you found me?" He frowned, paused a moment, and shook his head. Kagome sighed. Perhaps she had dropped them. Maybe she had, and Kaede or someone had found them? What if Kikyou had…? No, she couldn't think like that, she reprimanded herself. Her hand found a soft material and clutched it tightly as she fell asleep. Sesshoumaru mulled over what she'd said, and looked down at her hand firmly gripping his boa. Who could have taken the shards of the shikon no tama from her?