Long Gone and Forbidden
By: Dragon Lady
Chapter One
"I'll see you guys later!" Kagome called as she dropped into the well once again. It had become habit, jumping in one end of the well and ending up in the other. She had decided, though she didn't know when or why, that she had to further her studies and post-pone the search for the sacred jewel shards. Her grades had fallen behind along with most of the activities she use to do with her friends.
//Wonder if they'd help me for the finals. I have, what? Nearly two semesters worth to catch up on, and really no clue as to what we've been studying this year. Although. I am going to miss them.// Kagome frowned as her feet finally touched the solid packed dirt of the well bottom. //Please take care guys.//
Climbing up the ladder, the dark haired girl let her mind drift over the unforgettable times she'd shared with the white haired dog demon, the monk, the exterminator and her pet, and the small fox demon. She smiled, remembering the many times she'd told Inuyasha to sit, and the white haired demon falling face first into the ground, even though she knew she should feel guilty.
//He's behaved so well. Inuyasha, you've changed so much in the time we've spent together. And Miroku, will you ever change your ways? Probably not. Shippo, grow up strong and stay kind hearted. Sango and Keylala, you two, don't ever change.//
With one last glance into the dark depth of the well, Kagome tossed down the flower she'd picked that was tied to the letter she'd written to them, asking them to remember and forgive her for the time.
//Don't ever forget me guys. I know I won't ever forget you.//
The dark haired girl didn't stay long enough to see the letter touch the dirt at the bottom of the well and disappear. She was already gone, out the door, asking her grandfather to seal and block it. She wouldn't be going back to that era for a while. At least, not until she was sure she could go without having so much pressure about tests, defeating evil demons, and finding jewel shards.
//See you guys in a little while.//
A small fox demon peered down into the well. He hated it when Kagome left. It always felt like she'd leave for good, or just disappear and never come back. Shippo glanced back at the others, who were already walking towards the village. He looked down it again, startled to see a flower and piece of paper at the bottom.
"Hey! Inuyasha! Sango! Miroku! Come quick!" He leapt down and snatched up the parchment and blossom, quickly leaping back to the top and out of the well. "I bet you anything it's from Kagome. She's probably in danger already and wants us to come rescue her."
"Let me see that!" A white haired half demon with white dog-ears growled, tearing the paper from the fox demon's grasp. His amber eyes flicked over the note. For a moment he looked hurt and shocked, but the look was promptly replaced with that of anger. "Why that little bitch! She's leaving us for a while so she can go to school!"
"What?" Miroku and Sango asked shocked. The monk took the paper handed to him by Inuyasha. Sango read it over his shoulder while the dark haired man read it out loud for everyone to hear.
"To my friends; Sango, Miroku, Keylala, Shippo, and Inuyasha,
I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I'm thinking more about my future. Yes, it does sound selfish, but in my time, everyone needs a solid place to stand in the world. And if I don't catch up in school, I won't be able to do that. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Miroku, don't chase after too many women. Wouldn't want anything 'bad' happening to you. Sango and Keylala, I hope only the best for you, that you find and restore Kohaku to his former self. Shippo, be strong and stay kind. And Inuyasha. let me tell you, in case I never get to again, that I. want you to be happy, and live your life to the fullest. as a half demon. Well, I really don't have anything more to say. I hope I'll see you all soon.
Love, Kagome"
Sango sank to her knees, closing her eyes and tilting her head back. Shippo, holding Keylala tight, had started crying, despite Kagome telling him to be strong. Miroku just let the piece of parchment float slowly to the ground, eyes closed and head bowed. Inuyasha, already long gone to the place where he first met Kagome, stared at the tree he'd been bound to for fifty years, wishing with all his heart he could bind himself to it again and wait for Kagome's return.
One and a half years later. The dark haired girl glanced towards the temple where the well and tree were, where her adventures from a long time ago had started. She felt drawn to it again, felt her feet move towards the tiny hut that surrounded the well.
"Grandpa? I'm going back." She murmured firmly in spite of the fear that twisted her stomach. How long had it really been since she'd seen Inuyasha and the others? A year, more? It had been longer than she really had wanted to stay away.
Her grandfather looked at her in surprise. "But Kagome, it could be very dangerous. You don't even know if your friends are still alive."
"That's why I have to go! I need to know.!" The dark haired girl sprinted towards the well, her feet pounding to the same rhythm of her heart as she picked up speed.
//I'm sorry, so sorry.//
The door burst open and before her, just down the wooden steps, was the one way she could go back to the place where she'd spent some of her best times. She ran down the steps and pulled up on the boards that had been used to seal the well once again. Having been poorly hammered, the nails came free rather easy and the boards were thrown aside. Kagome jumped, plummeting to what seemed to be a very solid and very unbreakable ground. Instead, she fell through, slowly drifting through time back the Feudal Japan.
Brown eyes looked at the surroundings that seemed so unreal. Kagome couldn't believe what she was seeing. The forest around the well was. dead? Or was it just dying? The girl couldn't quite tell, but she knew it wasn't the same as it had been the last time she'd seen it.
She started to walk away from the well, following the familiar, yet strange path towards Inuyasha's tree and the village.
//What happened?// Kagome thought as she walked. It wasn't long before the dark, foreboding forest gave way to a small clearing with a large tree at its center. She stepped cautiously towards the tree, thinking she saw something just on the other side. //Please be you, Inuyasha. Not some other demon.//
Kagome gasped, eyes wide in horror. She stumbled around the tree more to get a full view of what she was seeing. It was Inuyasha! He was pinned to the tree by an arrow in the exact same place he had been when Kagome had first found him. Only. he wasn't the only one pinned to the tree by an arrow. Just on top of the half demon was a girl, looking about the same age as Kagome. Her hair was a midnight color, black with a bluish tint to it. It fell in layers, the shortest about to her chin and the longest about to the top of her shoulder blades. She wore a dark green shirt with flowing sleeves, a black, skintight body suit, and a light blue loincloth.
Both Inuyasha and the woman were pinned, the arrow going straight through the both into the tree. Vines had begun to wrap themselves around the two, locking Inuyasha's arms around the girl in a protective hold. The dark haired girl's head rested against the white haired boy's shoulder, her lips nearly touching the skin on his neck.
Kagome wondered closer, slowly reaching out a hand for the red clothes of the half demon. Her eyes caught a glimpse of something inscribed on the tree in white paint. She turned her head ever so slightly, looking at the words to commemorate the spot.
'Inuyasha and Nathifa. May they be together forever.'
"Wha.? Nathifa? Is that who you are?" Kagome asked the midnight haired girl. The wind stirred a little as if responding. The leaves rustled in protest against it, and hair danced about faces. "Hm? What's this?"
Kagome stooped, picking up a ring with a blood ruby resting in the silver vines that wrapped themselves around the ring. More writing caught her eye. And she read it out loud, softly to herself.
"The dying words of Inuyasha: 'No one shall take the last jewel shard so long as I'm alive and she's in my arms.'" Kagome looked around the tree finding the history, or so she thought was the history of what had happened.
//All these people died to write on this tree?! Keada?! Shippo?! What happened to Miroku?! Sango?! Keylala?! It has to have more written somewhere!//
She searched the entire tree only to find what had happened not too long ago. There, carved at Inuyasha's feet, was the inscription that told of the last battle with Naraku. She read it, looking the words over and realizing it was Miroku's handwriting.
'Our last and final battle with Naraku ended in failure, all because Kagome hadn't returned yet. Sango, Keylala, and myself had been trapped against the tree of Inuyasha. Only Inuyasha, Shippo, Shade, Shaddow, and Nathifa were left. Kikyou somehow managed to break Nathifa's barriers that protected us from both Naraku and the priestess. Those who were then pinned to the tree of Inuyasha had no choice but to watch helplessly as he devoured Shippo and Shade. At the same time, Kikyou had fired an arrow to bind Inuyasha to the tree once again, but. Nathifa got in the way. She was trying to save our last hope to regain the rest of the jewel, Inuyasha. But as you can see, for the two above you are Inuyasha and Nathifa, which she only managed to give Inuyasha company for the rest of eternity. Those that were still alive were cursed to live at their age at that point in time, or Naraku destroyed them. Shaddow. well, no one knows what happened to her. It was almost as if she had disappeared during the battle. This tree will be marked as the Tree of Inuyasha and The Battle for the Shikon Jewel.'
Kagome read the inscription again, not believing what had been put down. Brown eyes drifted back up to the two dormant figures pinned to the trunk of the large tree. The wind blew again, slowly lifting white, midnight, and black hair to pull with it along its course. The girl shivered. The wind now had a chilled, hair-raising feeling that made her shake uncontrollably.
She stood from her kneel and look around nervously. It felt like there was someone watching her. Cautiously, Kagome reached to touch the arrow. Maybe if she pulled it out.
She gave it a small tug, saw Inuyasha's arms tighten around the other girl's body, and the dark haired girl let go, realizing she had lost what she'd wanted the day she made her decision one and a half years ago. Slowly, Kagome turned back towards the well and ran.
By: Dragon Lady
Chapter One
"I'll see you guys later!" Kagome called as she dropped into the well once again. It had become habit, jumping in one end of the well and ending up in the other. She had decided, though she didn't know when or why, that she had to further her studies and post-pone the search for the sacred jewel shards. Her grades had fallen behind along with most of the activities she use to do with her friends.
//Wonder if they'd help me for the finals. I have, what? Nearly two semesters worth to catch up on, and really no clue as to what we've been studying this year. Although. I am going to miss them.// Kagome frowned as her feet finally touched the solid packed dirt of the well bottom. //Please take care guys.//
Climbing up the ladder, the dark haired girl let her mind drift over the unforgettable times she'd shared with the white haired dog demon, the monk, the exterminator and her pet, and the small fox demon. She smiled, remembering the many times she'd told Inuyasha to sit, and the white haired demon falling face first into the ground, even though she knew she should feel guilty.
//He's behaved so well. Inuyasha, you've changed so much in the time we've spent together. And Miroku, will you ever change your ways? Probably not. Shippo, grow up strong and stay kind hearted. Sango and Keylala, you two, don't ever change.//
With one last glance into the dark depth of the well, Kagome tossed down the flower she'd picked that was tied to the letter she'd written to them, asking them to remember and forgive her for the time.
//Don't ever forget me guys. I know I won't ever forget you.//
The dark haired girl didn't stay long enough to see the letter touch the dirt at the bottom of the well and disappear. She was already gone, out the door, asking her grandfather to seal and block it. She wouldn't be going back to that era for a while. At least, not until she was sure she could go without having so much pressure about tests, defeating evil demons, and finding jewel shards.
//See you guys in a little while.//
A small fox demon peered down into the well. He hated it when Kagome left. It always felt like she'd leave for good, or just disappear and never come back. Shippo glanced back at the others, who were already walking towards the village. He looked down it again, startled to see a flower and piece of paper at the bottom.
"Hey! Inuyasha! Sango! Miroku! Come quick!" He leapt down and snatched up the parchment and blossom, quickly leaping back to the top and out of the well. "I bet you anything it's from Kagome. She's probably in danger already and wants us to come rescue her."
"Let me see that!" A white haired half demon with white dog-ears growled, tearing the paper from the fox demon's grasp. His amber eyes flicked over the note. For a moment he looked hurt and shocked, but the look was promptly replaced with that of anger. "Why that little bitch! She's leaving us for a while so she can go to school!"
"What?" Miroku and Sango asked shocked. The monk took the paper handed to him by Inuyasha. Sango read it over his shoulder while the dark haired man read it out loud for everyone to hear.
"To my friends; Sango, Miroku, Keylala, Shippo, and Inuyasha,
I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I'm thinking more about my future. Yes, it does sound selfish, but in my time, everyone needs a solid place to stand in the world. And if I don't catch up in school, I won't be able to do that. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Miroku, don't chase after too many women. Wouldn't want anything 'bad' happening to you. Sango and Keylala, I hope only the best for you, that you find and restore Kohaku to his former self. Shippo, be strong and stay kind. And Inuyasha. let me tell you, in case I never get to again, that I. want you to be happy, and live your life to the fullest. as a half demon. Well, I really don't have anything more to say. I hope I'll see you all soon.
Love, Kagome"
Sango sank to her knees, closing her eyes and tilting her head back. Shippo, holding Keylala tight, had started crying, despite Kagome telling him to be strong. Miroku just let the piece of parchment float slowly to the ground, eyes closed and head bowed. Inuyasha, already long gone to the place where he first met Kagome, stared at the tree he'd been bound to for fifty years, wishing with all his heart he could bind himself to it again and wait for Kagome's return.
One and a half years later. The dark haired girl glanced towards the temple where the well and tree were, where her adventures from a long time ago had started. She felt drawn to it again, felt her feet move towards the tiny hut that surrounded the well.
"Grandpa? I'm going back." She murmured firmly in spite of the fear that twisted her stomach. How long had it really been since she'd seen Inuyasha and the others? A year, more? It had been longer than she really had wanted to stay away.
Her grandfather looked at her in surprise. "But Kagome, it could be very dangerous. You don't even know if your friends are still alive."
"That's why I have to go! I need to know.!" The dark haired girl sprinted towards the well, her feet pounding to the same rhythm of her heart as she picked up speed.
//I'm sorry, so sorry.//
The door burst open and before her, just down the wooden steps, was the one way she could go back to the place where she'd spent some of her best times. She ran down the steps and pulled up on the boards that had been used to seal the well once again. Having been poorly hammered, the nails came free rather easy and the boards were thrown aside. Kagome jumped, plummeting to what seemed to be a very solid and very unbreakable ground. Instead, she fell through, slowly drifting through time back the Feudal Japan.
Brown eyes looked at the surroundings that seemed so unreal. Kagome couldn't believe what she was seeing. The forest around the well was. dead? Or was it just dying? The girl couldn't quite tell, but she knew it wasn't the same as it had been the last time she'd seen it.
She started to walk away from the well, following the familiar, yet strange path towards Inuyasha's tree and the village.
//What happened?// Kagome thought as she walked. It wasn't long before the dark, foreboding forest gave way to a small clearing with a large tree at its center. She stepped cautiously towards the tree, thinking she saw something just on the other side. //Please be you, Inuyasha. Not some other demon.//
Kagome gasped, eyes wide in horror. She stumbled around the tree more to get a full view of what she was seeing. It was Inuyasha! He was pinned to the tree by an arrow in the exact same place he had been when Kagome had first found him. Only. he wasn't the only one pinned to the tree by an arrow. Just on top of the half demon was a girl, looking about the same age as Kagome. Her hair was a midnight color, black with a bluish tint to it. It fell in layers, the shortest about to her chin and the longest about to the top of her shoulder blades. She wore a dark green shirt with flowing sleeves, a black, skintight body suit, and a light blue loincloth.
Both Inuyasha and the woman were pinned, the arrow going straight through the both into the tree. Vines had begun to wrap themselves around the two, locking Inuyasha's arms around the girl in a protective hold. The dark haired girl's head rested against the white haired boy's shoulder, her lips nearly touching the skin on his neck.
Kagome wondered closer, slowly reaching out a hand for the red clothes of the half demon. Her eyes caught a glimpse of something inscribed on the tree in white paint. She turned her head ever so slightly, looking at the words to commemorate the spot.
'Inuyasha and Nathifa. May they be together forever.'
"Wha.? Nathifa? Is that who you are?" Kagome asked the midnight haired girl. The wind stirred a little as if responding. The leaves rustled in protest against it, and hair danced about faces. "Hm? What's this?"
Kagome stooped, picking up a ring with a blood ruby resting in the silver vines that wrapped themselves around the ring. More writing caught her eye. And she read it out loud, softly to herself.
"The dying words of Inuyasha: 'No one shall take the last jewel shard so long as I'm alive and she's in my arms.'" Kagome looked around the tree finding the history, or so she thought was the history of what had happened.
//All these people died to write on this tree?! Keada?! Shippo?! What happened to Miroku?! Sango?! Keylala?! It has to have more written somewhere!//
She searched the entire tree only to find what had happened not too long ago. There, carved at Inuyasha's feet, was the inscription that told of the last battle with Naraku. She read it, looking the words over and realizing it was Miroku's handwriting.
'Our last and final battle with Naraku ended in failure, all because Kagome hadn't returned yet. Sango, Keylala, and myself had been trapped against the tree of Inuyasha. Only Inuyasha, Shippo, Shade, Shaddow, and Nathifa were left. Kikyou somehow managed to break Nathifa's barriers that protected us from both Naraku and the priestess. Those who were then pinned to the tree of Inuyasha had no choice but to watch helplessly as he devoured Shippo and Shade. At the same time, Kikyou had fired an arrow to bind Inuyasha to the tree once again, but. Nathifa got in the way. She was trying to save our last hope to regain the rest of the jewel, Inuyasha. But as you can see, for the two above you are Inuyasha and Nathifa, which she only managed to give Inuyasha company for the rest of eternity. Those that were still alive were cursed to live at their age at that point in time, or Naraku destroyed them. Shaddow. well, no one knows what happened to her. It was almost as if she had disappeared during the battle. This tree will be marked as the Tree of Inuyasha and The Battle for the Shikon Jewel.'
Kagome read the inscription again, not believing what had been put down. Brown eyes drifted back up to the two dormant figures pinned to the trunk of the large tree. The wind blew again, slowly lifting white, midnight, and black hair to pull with it along its course. The girl shivered. The wind now had a chilled, hair-raising feeling that made her shake uncontrollably.
She stood from her kneel and look around nervously. It felt like there was someone watching her. Cautiously, Kagome reached to touch the arrow. Maybe if she pulled it out.
She gave it a small tug, saw Inuyasha's arms tighten around the other girl's body, and the dark haired girl let go, realizing she had lost what she'd wanted the day she made her decision one and a half years ago. Slowly, Kagome turned back towards the well and ran.