Into the Shadows
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part 1
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It was late in the evening when Kagome and Inuyasha arrived in Kaede's village
It was late in the evening when Kagome and Inuyasha arrived in Kaede's village. The moon was full above, clearly lighting the path for them. Kagome gently stroked the sleeping kitsune in her arms who had passed out several hours before. She wasn't sure how to fix their friendship, and the hanyou hadn't spoken since before Shippo fell asleep, since their fight. The village was silent and dark except for the cold light from the moon, and the two travelers made their way to Kaede's home.
I'll talk to him in the morning, Kagome thought, he doesn't seem to want to talk now…
Kagome quietly unrolled her sleeping bag next to the small fire, across from the old priestess. Inuyasha settled into the corner without speaking or even looking at her. Ignoring her heartache, Kagome turned away from him to face the fire, pulling Shippo close to her body.
--
"Maybe I wouldn't be so nice to Kouga if you were nicer to me!" Kagome stomped away from the hanyou before her anger could rise above the boiling point.
Inuyasha didn't seem to get the hint and stormed after her. He was fed up with that wimpy wolf fawning all over Kagome and insulting him, and Kouga had graced them with an appearance earlier to 'check' on how well Inuyasha was taking care of Kagome. It pissed him off to no end, though he wasn't sure of the exact reason why. Kagome had stopped just ahead in the path and turned, glaring at him. Shippou hid from sight, terrified of getting caught in the cross-fire.
"Why are you following me?" she asked, hissing slightly. "Shouldn't you be off chasing after Kikyou again?"
Inuyasha's golden eyes narrowed; this was starting to get personal.
"Bitch, leave her out of this!" he growled.
A dark red began to creep into Kagome's face, staining her cheeks with fury. "I'll stop talking to Kouga when you stop following Kikyou around like a lost dog!"
Kagome realized instantly that she might have crossed a line in comparing to Inuyasha an animal. The deep hurt that flashed in his eyes worked like a bucket of water on the fires of her temper. Inuyasha spat, the wounded look quickly replaced by a pissed expression.
"We're going back to Kaede's village."
The young woman watched Inuyasha turned and start marching in the opposite direction before she sighed and follow him, wondering how they were going to get over this repeating argument.
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Kagome woke up with a start. The chill in the air was seeping into her skin, letting her know it was in the early hours of the morning still. A shadow moved past her and headed for the door, and she watched as Inuyasha left the hut without a glance at her prone body. Kagome felt guilty for the pissing contest they had gotten into earlier and felt a need to apologize and set things right. In all their fights she couldn't remember Inuyasha holding a grudge quite like the one he held that day. Shippou hiccupped in his sleep and rolled over as Kagome carefully slid out of her bedding and quietly followed the hanyou out into the night.
The moon had set, and the darkness was almost overwhelming for Kagome. She immediately saw what had brought Inuyasha outside. Overhead a shinidamachu soared past, clutching a glowing soul. Kagome wavered for a moment, unsure whether she should follow it or leave the whole situation alone. Flashbacks from previous incidences popped up in her head, motivating her to following the wispy snake to find its owner. If Kikyou was going to try to kill Inuyasha again, that stupid hanyou was almost entirely likely to fall into one of her traps.
Navigating through the woods with no light was extremely difficult for Kagome, and she almost lost sight of the soul collector several times. Due to the black night she was disoriented and surprised she reached a cleared that she recognized. There were a dozen shinidamachu surrounding a figure that she recognized only too well. They gave off a hazy light, allowing her to see Kikyou staring down at the bone eater's well with dull curiosity. The leaves were rustling from the wind blowing at her, saving Kagome from detection either from sound or smell by Inuyasha, who stood a few paces behind the dead priestess. She knew Kikyou would feel her presence, but at least she was hidden from the dog demon.
"Inuyasha," the cold voice called out, "why are you here?"
The hanyou took a step forward, raising his clawed hands up to touch the dead woman; but his hands fell back to his sides, clenched.
"You should know why, Kikyou," he whispered hoarsely, barely loud enough for Kagome to pick up.
Kikyou turned slowly to face him, glancing briefly at Kagome's hiding spot. "Do you long for me? Do you miss my touch and my love?" she asked airily, a bitter smile turning the corner of her mouth.
Kagome could feel her stomach rolling. She debated leaving the scene, but the place she wanted to go was currently blocked by the two lovers.
"I don't know what to do," Inuyasha growled. He clasped and loosened his fists, his whole body tight with energy.
"Do you love my reincarnation?" Kikyou took a step toward him, but her eyes were aimed at Kagome's soul.
Inuyasha's body unconsciously leaned toward the dead woman, but he did not answer. He was fixated on her image, not even bothering to blink.
Kikyou moved closer, raising her arms to brush against Inuyasha's chest then shoulders before she drew him into a tight embrace.
Kagome closed her eyes, turning her head from the sickening sight. The ache in her heart was so strong that it was choking her. She gasped for air, but she was unable to draw a breath. A spiritual energy surrounded her, and Kagome opened her eyes, only to see one of Kikyou's soul collectors wrapped around her neck.
I am tired of your interference, a voice echoed in her head. You are a pitiful copy even of this dead body.
Tears streamed down the young woman's face as she felt herself growing weaker without air. She grabbed at the spirit choking her, though her fingers only passed through the ethereal being. Her spirit wasn't strong enough to defend her when she wasn't sure how much she wanted to live.
Kikyou stepped away from Inuyasha as the sounds of movement in the woods were heard on the opposite side of the clearing from Kagome's location. She cast one last evil glance at her captive and called her shinidamachu to her, rising into the sky. Inuyasha turned to see Kirara enter the clearing followed by Miroku and Sango. They had not seen Kikyou before she left, and the couple came to greet Inuyasha in good spirits after their day of spending time alone.
Only a few paces away, Kagome struggled to stay conscious, though black spots covered her vision. The spirit wrapped around her neck slowly loosened and slid away to follow its mistress, and Kikyou's laugh echoed in her head. Weak and aching, Kagome braced herself on the ground trying to get air back into her body. The breeze masked the sound of her panting. She looked up and over the bushes protecting her from sight and saw her friends walking past, heading back toward the village. The tears were still wet on her cheeks, though the new ones were not from her experience of dying. As soon as she was alone in the clearing Kagome left the safety of the woods and ran toward the well, not even pausing before she jumped.
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Inuyasha was putting the encounter with Kikyou out of his mind as he followed Miroku back to the village where he believed Kagome was still sleeping. A small voice nagged in the back of his head, telling him that it felt a little guilty for engaging the exact behavior that he had yelled at Kagome for earlier in the day. They slowly walked down the hill away from the forest when a familiar scent caught his nose, so similar to Kikyou's smell that permeated the area, but sweeter. Kagome was in the woods. He turned without explanation and wandered to the source of the scent that was being brought to him on the wind, arriving at a spot behind several bushes where the ground was trampled and the smell of Kagome was everywhere. He could sniff out fear, anger, and tears; and he knew that she had seen everything once again.
-tbc