My Life…

CHAPTER ONE

The sun was setting… good. That meant she would be back soon. I waited patiently. Well as patiently as I usually am anyway. On top of the highest branch of the tree where we had first met I sat and listened. The forest was quiet and a slight breeze ruffled my clothes. I shifted so my hair wouldn't obstruct my vision of the direction in which she would come. Minutes passed, and then hours… she was late again! What the hell was she doing this time? No… screw it… there was no good excuse for her being late this time. I gathered myself and leapt off my perch that I had been waiting in. As soon as I landed my feet dug into the ground and I sprinted off to get her.

The well came into view. Perched on its edge was a little fur ball. I slowed to a brisk walk and sat down by the little mess of hair. From the steady breathing I could guess he was asleep. I lowered my face to his ear, "Oy, Shippou!" The ball came to life and scrambled away towards the other end of the ledge. After a second the scrambling stopped and he turned around, red in the face.

"Ah, Inuyasha! What's your problem scaring me like that! I should kick…"

I silenced him with a fist over his fluffy head. I never actually liked picking on Shippou, but he needed to learn not to sleep on the edge of the well. He might fall in. It wasn't as if I derived pleasure from hitting the little guy…. Well, not much at least.

"Shut up and go tell the others I'm gonna go to Kagome's time to get her. That damn girl thinks she can take forever and it's really pissing me off."

Shippou looked up at me with little angry eyes. "Hey Inuyasha, don't go picking another fight with her! It's not her fault that you're impatient!"

Another smack sent Shippou careening off the ledge. I heard him skid to a halt on the ground as I let myself fall backwards off the ledge and into the dark pit of the well. Right before I hit the ground, a bright light engulfed me and I fell deeper into the well than one would usually go.

I'll never get used to this.

Seconds later I touched down on the bottom. I looked up out of the well and saw what appeared to be a yellow rock coming down fast. In the instant that I blinked it crashed down on my head, feeling like a ton of bricks against my face. Then it was dark.

"Inuyasha?" I knew that voice.

"umm… Inuyasha… are you ok?" That was Kagome's voice. Why did it sound so far away? I sat up and felt a forceful weight lift off my upper body. Opening my eyes I first saw the yellow rock, which now I realized had been Kagome's backpack, and Kagome sitting beside me. Her beautiful dark brown eyes were looking at me with a hint of concern surrounding them. Her lower lip was trembling slightly and her fragrance was all around me. I inhaled the sweet scent and smiled inwardly. Her scent was very pleasing. I looked at her for another second. She was a beauty to behold. Sitting there in a dignified pose with her silky legs tucked underneath her and her hands on her knees. She was perfect. I realized that I had been staring for more than just a second, it had been more like ten now. I blinked again, inhaled her alluring scent once more, and got up.

"Damn it woman, what are you trying to do, kill me!"

Her nose crinkled up like how it always did when she was angry. It was cute. "It's not my fault that you suddenly came through the well! Had you come earlier you could have helped me instead of me having to drag this heavy thing all the way to the well house!"

My ears flinched. I hated when she screamed at me. I wanted to apologize for yelling, wanted to tell her that it was ok and that from now on I would always come and help her with her burden of a bag. I wanted to comfort her.

"Well you didn't have to fucking through it off the ledge that hard! I swear it's like you knew I was down here!"

Yep, it was another argument. We had these regularly. They couldn't be avoided. I looked at her angry face and almost faltered in my glare. She just looked too adorable when she was upset. "Oh, so I did this on purpose! Do you think I like dragging this heavy ass bag all the way over here!" She was pointing at the overstuffed bag. It did look extremely heavy. I looked away.

"Keh! Whatever. Let's just go." I instinctively grabbed for the backpack and ended up with my hand on top of Kagome's. Apparently she thought I was that big of a jerk that I wouldn't help her. I looked up at her. Her face had softened and a tint of red was covering her cheeks. She quickly removed her hand and looked away. Good. That way she wouldn't see me blushing. I pulled the bag over my shoulder and looked up. I had been unconscious when we shifted back to my time. I knew because the night sky could be seen overhead instead of the roof of the well house back in Kagome's time. I grabbed Kagome by the waist, pulled her blushing form close and jumped out of the well in one step. Outside I set her down gently.

"Kagome!"

The tiny fur ball was about to tackle Kagome when I reached out a hand and grasped its tale.

"Ah, Inuyasha! Let me go!"

I set him down on the ground a little harder than usual. "You could have pushed her into the well baka."

Shippou looked at the well and looked at Kagome's form standing directly in front of him. He seemed to get what I meant for a bit, but then forgot completely when a lollipop appeared in front of him. "Here you go Shippou, just like I promised. Kagome was smiling at him. I looked away, a bit jealous of the attention Shippou was getting. I looked on and saw Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and Kaede walking this way, all of them carrying lamps.

Oh yeah, I had told Shippou to let everyone know I was going back to get Kagome.

"Welcome back child."

"Hey Kagome-chan."

"I trust your trip was pleasant, Kagome-sama."

"Meow"

Kagome returned the greetings individually and we set out back to Kaede's village. Kirara nudged my foot as if offering to help with the bags, but I just gave her a tiny shake of the head and a quick scratch behind the ears. I was careful to make sure no one saw me. On the way back we stopped a few times on account that Kaede was a bit slow until I just got frustrated and propped her on my back next to the yellow bag.

"You're too kind Inuyasha."

"Yeah, whatever old woman, just don't get too comfortable. I'm not a horse ya know."

Everyone had a little laugh at my expense, which I made up for by kicking Miroku in the shin.

"Ah! Inuyasha! Why'd you only hit me!"

"Shaddup monk"

At Kaede's hut we ate a dinner that consisted mostly of ramen and then got down to business. I sat cross-legged around the fire with the others and listened as they repeated things that I already knew, brought up things that I didn't know, and discussed other things that I didn't even care about. Most of the time I sat there hating it. I hated their ideas, hated their stories, hated their solutions, and I hated their calm faces as they talked about Naraku slipping away time after time. I sat there up until they started talking about the latest disturbance of demons in the villages around Kaede's. At that point I stood up and made to walk out.

"Inuyasha-sama, don't you want to hear this?" Miroku's calm voice was very irritating. I waved a hand carelessly in the air.

"Why bother. You just tell me what to kill when the time comes. I don't really care about the specifics. Oh, and in case you've forgotten, we're supposed to be hunting down Naraku instead of sniffing out some pitiful second rate demons around the area. I'm going outside."

With that said I pushed the sheet Kaede used as a door aside and walked into the forest.

I was sitting up in the god tree until late at night. I could still hear their voices in my head.

"Yes, it appears that Naraku has eluded us once again."

"There was a demon attacking a few villagers not too far away from here, maybe we should head that way."

"That's sounds like a good idea Sango. There might be a clue as to Naraku's whereabouts there or on the way."

"You must be careful when you walk into strange villages. I have heard from many people in the village about a demon that wanders into abandoned villages and then awaits travelers to feed upon their souls."

Idiots! Every last one of them! Why couldn't they realize that while we were playing hero Naraku was crawling farther and farther away from us.

I sighed heavily. Maybe I was over reacting… Just a little. It's just that I never felt as helpless as I did when I was sitting around the fire with them. I felt useless. Miroku had his knowledge, Sango had her demon expertise, Kaede had her little information network of "hear say", and Kagome always offered positive insight as well as a few good plans. I was about as needed as Shippou in those conversations. There was only one use for me. A use that made me feel alive, important, and needed amongst my human companions. Only one use that brought me from the back of the line to the very front….

… Battle.

I was the fighter of the group. With the tessaiga that my father passed down to me long ago I was the ruler of the battlefields. My giant fang-shaped sword carved the way through many demons on our journey. It carved me a new passageway…. a passageway towards Naraku.

I looked down when her scent reached my nose. She was close by. I jumped off the branch I had been sitting on and felt my legs lurch my body instinctively towards her direction. Tree branches and plants fell prey to my claws as I ripped a path towards her. I jumped over a mass of grid locked bushes and ended up almost face to face with her. My mind went blank.

… Kikyou…

"You look well Inuyasha."

I stood there unable to move. Why was she here?

"Yeah, well chasing after Naraku is a good exercise" I answered. A cold smile appeared on her pale face.

"I see you are still bent on destroying him." It was my turn to smile. I shrugged.

"Ain't got anything else to do."

Her features were strong as usual but her eyes, like Kagome's showed her emotions. They carried so much sadness that I could hardly bear to look at her.

"Why are you here?"

She gave me an indignant glare. "I will travel to wherever I please thank you very much."

"Honestly Kikyou… are you here for my help?" I cared very much for Kikyou. She had been my very first love. I didn't particularly like her chasing after Naraku. I knew how dangerous it was and without me to protect her I feared that she might get hurt. She might just be a soul in a clay body… but she was still the Kikyou that I had fallen in love with.

"I came to see my sister and when I saw that your friends were at her hut I knew that you wouldn't be too far off."

"Yeah… they have me on a short leash alright." I tugged on the rosary around my neck.

"I just wanted to see that you were doing ok Inuyasha. I wouldn't want you to go and get yourself killed. You are coming to me with hell after all remember?"

I laughed. "Fat chance. I have a demon to kill." I unsheathed my tessaiga and rested it on my right shoulder. Kikyou smiled at me. It was a smile that I hadn't seen in years. "Inuyasha." Her face suddenly became strong again and the sadness in her eyes returned. "Are you happy with my reincarnation?"

I looked at her. There really was no right answer to that question as far as I was concerned. "We fight a lot."

Her smile returned. "Well you shouldn't. Kagome is very strong… but like me… her emotions are very fragile."

I cocked an eyebrow and looked at her in confusion. "I doubt you came here to give me relationship advice."

Kikyou looked at me carefully. "Tell Kaede-chan that I came by and that I'll be back this way in about two days. Tell her to expect me" She turned to leave, "Oh, and Inuyasha… don't tell her in front of your friends."

With that she walked away into the shadows of the night. I stood there for a moment, and then tried to cal out to her. "Oy Kikyou! Why can't I tell her in front of them!" But the only answer I received was the ruffling of my haori in the cool midnight breeze. I turned around and walked back to the village, sheathing my tessaiga before I started out. It gave me time to think.

It had been so long since I had seen Kikyou smile like that. I took that image and put it somewhere special. Why did she want t speak to Kaede? Had she been coming to the village while we were gone? If so why hadn't Kaede said anything? Was Kikyou the one that was giving Kaede all these little tidbits of information she always seemed to have about Naraku?

My mind had just come back from wandering when I found myself standing at the door of Kaede's hut. I pulled back the sheet and found darkness. Letting my eyes adjust I first began to notice outlines, then shadows. After a moment figures came into view and the hut seemed to be illuminated by a soft blue light in my eyes. I spotted Kaede and decided against waking her. That old woman needed her rest. I sat down next to Kagome's sleeping figure and leaned up against the wall. I crossed my arms over my sword and let myself fall into a light, dreamless sleep.

It wasn't very comfortable, nor was it the best way to rest. But it was the best way to be alert if something should come prowling into the village during the night. In the past I had spent countless nights stalking the forest surrounding the village, attacking demons that so much as came close to the huts and their inhabitants. I did this because I was Kikyou's protector. I kept her safe from the evil youkai that wanted the shikon-no-tama. Now I did it not only to protect the villagers… but also to protect the dark haired angel that was fast asleep a few inches away from me. I had once been Kikyou's guardian… but now I belonged only to Kagome.

The morning sounds of roosters crowing and birds singing woke me up. It was still rather early since the hut was still quite dark. I saw a lone figure in a corner of the hut. It was Kaede. She was up already and making medicines for the town folk. I stood up quietly and made my way to her. I sat down in front of her small medicine table and began telling her everything. I told her about meeting Kikyou, told her that she would be back, and told her how Kikyou had mentioned that I not mention it in front of anyone. Kaede nodded thoughtfully and returned to her work.

"So Aneue will return in two days. Good. I'll be waiting." A hint of a smile flickered across the edges of her mouth. Had I been looking elsewhere I would have missed it. "Hey! What's going on between you two? Has she been coming here often?" I found myself practically yelling.

"You will do good to keep your voice down. I remember Kagome-san gets rather cranky when you wake her up suddenly."

I opened my mouth to yell, remembered Kagome sitting me an endless amount of times for waking her up once, and closed it tightly.

"And if you must know… my sister has never come to visit me. This shall be the first time in ages that she'll be coming. She is my sister after all. I have just as much a right to see her as you do."

"See who?"

My blood went cold. The hair on the back of y neck stood up and I accidentally dug my nails into the floor. Ever so slowly I turned my head to see Kagome rising out of her sleeping… sleeping… sleeping… I forget what it's called, but she climbed out of it and walked over to us.

"See who?" She asked again, this time in my direction. My face began to feel hot. What do I say? Come on old woman say something! Kagome leaned in closer to me. She inspected my blank stare and then looked away, a glare forming on her face just as she turned. She crossed her arms in front of her.

"Kikyou."

The air I had been breathing suddenly turned into rock solid matter, stopping my heart for a second and threatening to kill me of suffocation. I couldn't breathe.

How did she know? Was it written on my face? I finally exhaled and looked away.

"Keh! So what? So she stopped by to see Kaede and I saw her. What's that got to do with you?" I felt her stand up. I couldn't see her since she had been behind me the whole time, but I could feel her presence right behind me now. Sweat started to build on my forehead. Damn, and I had gone for so many days without it! I braced myself.

"OSUWARI!"

My face made contact first… it always does. I fell to the wooden floor and was plastered there for a second before I could get up. After the effects wore off I got up and stabbed a finger in the air, absolutely fuming… she was crying. My accusatory finger came down. I turned and realized that everyone had woken up. Damn! There I go being the bad guy again! I stormed out of the hut and set off into the forest at a run. I really wasn't paying attention to where I was going; I just wanted to get out of there before the yelling started again. That was the main reason as to why I crashed into the fallen tree on the path that hadn't been there last night.

Tumbling head over heals I fell, slowing down to a stop when another tree broke my fall. I stood up and gazed at the large hunk of wood in the middle of the road. I walked over to it and kicked with all my might. It shattered into little pieces and made my foot pulse painfully. Great. Now I had a headache and a hurt foot. I wobbled away angrily and ended up by a stream. I drank a bit of water and dipped my wounded foot into the cool liquid. It was good for the pain, but still rather cold. As a matter of fact it was too cold. Way too cold for this weather. Now it was freezing!

I made to pull my foot out but found that it had been encased in ice. I looked down both sides of the stream and noticed that it had completely frozen over.

"What the hell?"

I flexed a hand and clawed at the frozen water. Not even a scratch. I was about to pull my tessaiga from its sheath when I heard a voice.

"Foolish human… it's no use trying to escape… your soul is mine!" I turned my upper body in the direction of the voice and first saw a pair of emerald green eyes followed by a blinding flash of light. Then a steady stream of blood escaped from my left leg, the one that was out of the water, as I grasped my tessaiga…

END CHAPTER