A/N: While I do still have some old stories to type up, I've had this on my computer for a while. New Year, new fanfics! Enjoy please.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter one: First Love.
The sun was setting. The orange, red, and yellow rays cast shadows across the village as Inuyasha stretched. He didn't mind coming back to the village occasionally, but if he had a choice; right now they would be out hunting for jewel shards. But here they were in the old hag's village; the very same village that was Kikyo's home. The same place he met Kagome for the first time mistaking her for Kikyo. Inuyasha smiled in spite of himself.
A scent invaded his nose immediately getting his attention. He would know it anywhere no matter how many years had passed. Kikyo. She was close. He looked back at the hut not far away. Kagome and the others were in there cooking dinner. He weighed his options of going to Kikyo or staying. He could go and come back. But knowing him, once he saw Kikyo he wouldn't come back so fast. So he stayed where he was, rigid and wondering if this was the best idea. But another scent hit him harder than the first. Blood of a demon; mixed with Kikyo's graveyard smell. He paled. He didn't think, he acted on instinct as he ran fast into the trees.
The soul collectors could be seen above. Their light bluish white color was a contrast, to the setting sun. He heard her scream. Drawing the Tessaiga, Inuyasha sprang from the trees. He was almost hit by the arrow Kikyo shot at the demon.
"Wind Scar!" he yelled killing the demon instantly.
Kikyo tried to hide the relief she felt at him killing the troublesome demon.
"Are you okay?" he looks over at her.
"I'm fine. What are you doing here?" Kikyo looks over at him.
"I can't visit Kaede now?" He raises an eyebrow at her whilst putting is sword back in its scabbard.
"I used to live here remember? Glad to know my sister is still alive." Kikyo looked away. She tried getting up but fell hard. Her body was weak.
"Be careful." Inuyasha rushed to her side and helped her up.
"You don't need to stay." Kikyo muttered. But he ignored her as they walked further into the forest. They came upon the Sacred tree. It was a place full of bitter memories. Kikyo pinning Inuyasha to the tree, her death; and fifty years later Kagome frees him. It all was just so much nostalgia. He set her down at the base.
"Will you be safe here?" he asks.
"Yes I've set up a barrier. Only you and I are in it." Kikyo winced as she moved. Her soul collectors coming by seemed to help ease the pain.
"You should go into hiding. Naraku can kill you now. He would have succeeded if Kagome hadn't saved you." Inuyasha looked at her.
"And leave the rest up to you?" Kikyo's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Yes! I will avenge you and me both. I will defeat Naraku!" Inuyasha said adamantly. She could see the desperation in his eyes.
"What do you think would've happened to us if Naraku hadn't meddled?" Kikyo asked changing the subject. Inuyasha was puzzled by her question. What would have happened indeed?
"I don't know. I probably wouldn't have Tessaiga. I wouldn't have met Miroku, Sango or Shippo. Not even Kagome." Inuyasha whispered her name last.
"Do you think we would have been happy?" She looked seriously at him.
"I imagine so. You wouldn't be burdened with the job of caring for the Shikon jewel. I would be human. We would've grown old together, maybe had some kids. Maybe, we could have leaded a nice life." Inuyasha looked up at the moon as he said it.
"No Naraku, no problems. We could've been together." Kikyo whispered. Inuyasha saw how vulnerable she was countless times. But this was different. It was the first time he had really thought about what his life would have been like if it all hadn't shattered fifty years ago.
"And I would love you until the day I die." Inuyasha looked her in the eyes.
"I doubt you still love me now." Kikyo smirked. She held up a hand to stop him from commenting. She lay into the tree and closed her eyes as the soul collectors continued to come back and forth.
"I'll stay with you until morning." Inuyasha sat next to her. He thought about his friends. But Kikyo needed him now more than ever. She was alone. He put his arm around her as she leaned in. Her breathing was quiet. She snuggled as she slept.
"Kikyo, I never got to answer. I do still love you Kikyo. I always will. But it's because you're my first love. You'll always hold a special place in my heart; now and forever." Inuyasha thought as his eyes grew heavy. He whispered her name before sleep claimed him.
Back at the cabin, the gang had been waiting for Inuyasha's return.
"Where is Inuyasha?" Kagome questioned as they took up their food.
"I don't know. He was out on the hill last time I saw him." Shippo said. Kagome fought the feeling; she knew it all too well. Kikyo was close by. Kagome had noticed her soul collectors through the window, and felt her presence.
"He'll be back before long." Sango reassured her friend with a pat on the hand. Kagome gave a brief smile before digging in. But he didn't return that night. Everyone knew he was either with Kikyo or in danger. But for Kagome, her thinking was confirmed. She rolled away from the sad gazes of her friends as she turned in early.
In the morning, Kikyo looked up at Inuyasha's face. He looked down at hers before smiling softy. He moved so she could stand up. He stood next to her watching carefully.
"We slept all night." Inuyasha stretched.
"The barrier held. I must be getting going." Kikyo bent down to grab her bow and quiver full of arrows.
"You aren't going after Naraku are you?" Inuyasha looked serious at her.
"Not yet, but I will. He needs to be stopped." She had a determined look on her face. It seemed like the night bred new life and energy into her.
"I can take care of it. Just relax. You don't have to fight anymore. Why can't you just trust me?" Inuyasha got close, desperation evident in every sense of the word. She cocked her head him.
"You failed to save me. I hate to admit it but it seems I can only count on two people, and that is Kagome and I." Kikyo shrugged.
"I'm sorry Kikyo. I'm sorry I abandoned you in death fifty years ago, and at Mount Hakurei. Please forgive me." Inuyasha felt the raw pain hit him again.
"I forgave you long ago. I just need to do this. I can't walk as a living person, but I can do something that I couldn't do when my body was pumping blood." She turned to him.
"I promise to be there next time. I swear on it." Inuyasha said.
Meanwhile, as they conversed Kagome packed her stuff. She planned on going home from the get go but wanted to spend one last day in the Feudal era with her friends. And she needed to cool off. She was fuming.
"You're going come back soon right Kagome?" Shippo asked.
"I'll only be gone a few days. I will get some more supplies. And I'll bring you back more candy." She replied.
"That sounds great." Shippo danced excitedly.
"See you when you get back." Sango hugged her friend.
"See you soon Kagome." Miroku smiled at her.
"I'll see you guys around." Kagome waved as she headed for the bone eaters well. But curiosity was eating at her. She dropped her bag at the well and took off in the woods in search of Inuyasha and Kikyo.
"I hope she's doing well." Kagome muttered as she ran. She slowed as she sensed the barrier but was let in. She walked carefully into the woods feeling a sense of déjà vu. She hid behind a tree as she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo standing there. The sunlight danced on their faces because of the trees.
"I'll be going now." Kikyo embraced Inuyasha. He clung holding her closer.
"Be careful." He said.
"The funny thing is I still love you." Kikyo pulled away to look at him.
"I still love you too, I always will." Inuyasha replied. They moved together as their lips met in a kiss. When it was over, Kikyo pulled out of the embrace as her soul collectors lifted her away like last time. Inuyasha licked his lips as he watched her. Maybe it was because he was so involved with Kikyo's scent that he didn't notice another familiar one.
"Kagome?" he called softly. She heard him. She stepped out of hiding. He had a shocked look on his face.
Kagome could feel the tears coming. The last thing she saw was Inuyasha's face before she turned and ran fast. She later noted that it was different than last time, the words she felt he was going to say were different. But that didn't matter as she ran to the well. She grabbed her bag as she leaped into it; never once looking back. The tears ran free now that she was safe in her own time. The sobs racked her body, like she was having a personal earthquake. Inuyasha had stared rooted to the spot as she had taken off running. His heart ached. He wondered if she heard him tell Kikyo he loved her and that was what made her so sad; or if it was the kiss.
"I meant I always will because she's my first love. I don't feel as strongly about her like I do you Kagome." Inuyasha started swearing. He looked up at the tree one last time before turning and walking away. He entered the village an hour later. Miroku was the first to spot him.
"Alone, all night long with Kikyo huh?" Miroku shook his head.
"Not like what you're thinking." Inuyasha walked past him.
"I can only imagine what Kagome's thinking. Probably imagining all the things you two did together." Miroku eyed him.
"Where is she?" Inuyasha turned at the mention of her name.
"She left for home a little over an hour ago. I went by the well and saw her bag. Looked around, then ten minutes later it was gone." Miroku shrugged.
"So that's what happened." Inuyasha muttered.
"Let me guess, she saw you and Kikyo huh? Man you get dressed quick." Miroku yawned nonchalantly.
"Yes she saw us but not like that you pervert!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Don't get mad at me because you were caught with your pants "not" down. You made your bed hard, now you have to lay in it." Miroku glared.
"How? Kikyo was hurt; all I doing was protecting her." Inuyasha glared back.
"If that's really all that happened then why not bring her back to the hut with the rest of us? Don't you get that you make yourself look suspicious. And even if that would have been awkward, sneaking around is worse." Miroku shook his head before walking past Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked down before he replied.
"I don't know what to do." Inuyasha muttered.
"That is something you have to figure out." Miroku was halfway to the hut before Inuyasha grabbed him. He cocked an eyebrow at the hand on his arm.
"I'll be back tomorrow hopefully with Kagome." Inuyasha said.
"Going after her so soon?" Miroku said shocked.
"Tonight's a night of the New moon anyway. That should help benefit me and her." He looked at the sky.
"This sure is record time of you leaving to go after her. When will you go?" Miroku asked.
"A little before the sun sets. I need her to calm down enough for her to listen." Inuyasha said.
"Alright then, good luck." Miroku watched Inuyasha head for the well.
In Kagome's time.
When the sobs subsided and the tears fell less frequently, Kagome picked herself out of the well. Judging from the time she had been in her time for forty-five minutes. She walked to her house hoping no one was home. Her grandfather was asleep on the couch snoring. Her mother and brother weren't there either. She dragged her feet upstairs. Before going to lie on her bed she noticed it was a Friday and too late to go to school even if she wanted to. She lay there and fell asleep. Her brother entered her room with the phone in his hand a few hours later.
"Wake up Kagome it's one of your friends." Sota said.
"Who?" she yawned.
"I don't know, welcome back though." He gave her a quick hug before running off.
"Hello?" Kagome said.
"KAGOME! Hey how's it going? Are you feeling better?" Yuka said.
"Yeah I'm okay. How are you Yuka?" Kagome asked tiredly.
"Great. You should come with the rest of us to WacDonalds." She said
"I guess so." Kagome got up and stretched.
"Okay bye!" Yuka hung up.
"Bye." Kagome looked outside her window at the Sacred tree feeling sad.
"Is she coming?" Eri asked.
"That boyfriend of hers did something. I can hear it in her voice." Yuka narrowed her eyes.
"Poor Kagome." Ayumi held a hand to her mouth.
The girls looked across at Kagome while they ate. She stared at her food for the most part barely eating. Yuka was going to open her mouth but Eri stopped her.
"Hey Kagome you should come hang out with us tonight." Eri smiled.
"I don't think so guys." Kagome looked away.
"Aw come on! We're going to this new place that just opened up. It's like a club for people under the age of twenty-one. We can sit and eat or dance; plus Karaoke. " Yuka added.
"Hojo and some of his friends are coming as well. You should go out with us and have fun." Eri said.
"I don't really feel like going anywhere tonight, go on without me." Kagome took a small bite from her burger.
"Is something wrong Kagome?" Ayumi asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." Kagome drank some of her milkshake.
"Then it's settled. You'll tell us tonight at Ayumi's while we get ready to go to the club." Yuka pumped her fist.
"I never said I would go." Kagome looked up.
"But now you are so it's all good." Eri smiled as they finished their food.
Kagome was trying on different outfits with her friends in Ayumi's room. They had quickly gotten some clothes at her house before ending up here. Kagome had kept quiet, but she could tell her friends were getting impatient.
"Kagome will you tell us what's got you so upset now?" Ayumi asked gently.
"I saw Inuyasha kissing his first love." Kagome said as tears threatened to fall.
"That two timing, how dare he!" Yuka yelled.
"Maybe it was friendly?" Ayumi suggested. Kagome shook her head.
"It was on the lips." Kagome said one tear escaping her willpower.
"There goes that notion." Ayumi muttered.
"Forget about him Kagome. We're going to go out tonight and have a great time." Eri said.
"He didn't do anything else did he?" Yuka asked.
"I don't know." Kagome said sniffling.
"If she was his first love, then he'll always love her. I believe he still loves you Kagome." Ayumi tried again.
"Yeah and I still believe that Mr. Johnson will stop opening up class with a story on why not to go to jail. But that's not going to happen!" Yuka shook her head.
"Ha ha, remember that story when he said if you go to jail you'll end up sucking-" Eri started.
"Eri! Seriously not the time for that story." Yuka glared. Kagome chuckled remembering the story.
"Anyway, let's just go have fun. You may not want to jump back into it by going out with Hojo but he's still coming." Eri shrugged.
"I'll go." Kagome smiled at her friends.
"If you're sure Kagome." Ayumi said. Kagome nodded.
"Alright!" Eri cheered. They started getting ready; before they left Yuka had one more question.
"Ayumi, how the hell do you friendly kiss your first love on the lips?" Yuka raised her eyebrow.
A/N: Read and review please!