Konichiwa, minna-san !
Here is the second part of this fic *as well as the last* :D
I hope you like it !
Disclaimer : Thanks to Rumiko Takahashi for bringing one of my favorite anime of all times alive
Three years later...
"Prepare to die, Kagome!"
Kagome sighed as she willed her barrier to engulf her. Her attacker got repelled by her barrier and was sent slamming back into a nearby rock, crushing it.
Kagome turned her body around to face her attacker and another sigh escaped from her mouth. "Why don't you stop this Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha—the half human half dog demon—stood up and crackled his hand. "Keh! Do you actually think I would let you go that easily?"
Kagome sighed again as a memory came into her. Three years ago, Naraku had also said the similar thing to her. Facing off Inuyasha reminded Kagome a lot of Naraku when he still tried to take the Sacred Jewel away from her. Just like Naraku, Inuyasha got his name asked by Kagome after she sent him slamming back into a tree with her barrier. And just like Naraku, Inuyasha was stubborn enough to not let the Sacred Jewel go.
"Let's just stop this." Kagome turned her body around and was about to walk away when she suddenly felt so dizzy.
Kagome lost her consciousness quickly and fell on to the ground.
"Oi!" Inuyasha yelled in protest. "Don' just fall asleep! It's not fun to steal the jewel without you putting up a fight!"
Inuyasha's yelling and protests died down as Kagome didn't reply anything. He looked at her figure in silence and slowly made his way to her.
"O—Oi, Kagome?" Inuyasha softly called.
As her barrier didn't repel him, Inuyasha instinctly knew that something was wrong with Kagome. He crouched down beside her and saw her pale sweating face.
"Oi, Kagome!" Inuyasha called and picked Kagome's body to his arms. "Hey! Are you okay?"
Inuyasha placed a hand on Kagome's forehead and gasped upon feeling the scorching heat. "You're burning!"
Without a waste of time, Inuyasha picked Kagome up and glanced at right and left to find somewhere to put her into rest. Luckily, he found an abandoned hut at the river banks not far from where he was standing. Inuyasha quickly brought Kagome to the hut.
Inside the hut, he found an abandoned futon and a piece of cloth. He placed Kagome on the futon and covered her with his Fire-Rat robe. He took the cloth and dipped it into the river water and took it back inside. He placed the wet cloth on Kagome's forehead. Kagome was panting and sweating so hard it made Inuyasha stared at her in silence.
During her fight with him, Inuyasha realized that Kagome looked so strong. So calm and yet so kind-hearted. Now that she was sick, she looked more normal. She didn't look like a very powerful priestess like she used to.
Kagome's features started to enter Inuyasha's mind clearly. Her long wavy black hair, her pale skin, and her warm smile which was hidden right now. A soft moan escaped from Kagome's mouth and it snapped Inuyasha back into his senses. He watched as Kagome slowly opened her eyes and showing her brown orbs.
Kagome shifted her gaze and was taken by surprise to see Inuyasha beside her. "Inu... yasha?" she called softly.
"Yo." Inuyasha replied. "You collapsed out of fever."
Kagome lifted her body up while groaning a bit. She sat on the futon and looked around. "Where is this?"
"An abandoned hut near where we fought." Inuyasha said.
"Thank you Inuyasha." Kagome smiled warmly at Inuyasha. The half-demon looked elsewhere immediately as he felt embarrased seeing Kagome's smile at him. At the same time, Kagome's smile warmed his heart. The only human that had ever smiled at him was his mother.
"Say Inuyasha, why do you desire the jewel?" Kagome asked.
"To be a full-fledged demon, of course!" Inuyasha replied. "Then I don't have to hear others call me half-demon!"
Kagome chuckled and Inuyasha glared at her. "What are you laughing at?!"
"Ah sorry, sorry," Kagome apologized but still chuckling. "you just remind me of a half-demon I met three years ago. You and him are so much alike."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Keh! Don't lump me with another half-demon!"
Kagome laughed. "You are so similar to him. Both of you desire to be a full-fledged demon, at the same time you both have the kindness just like humans."
"What kindness!" Inuyasha snorted. "I helped you because it won't be any fun if I steal away the jewel without you putting up a fight!"
Kagome chuckled again. "See, that's exactly the kindness I spoke of. But eventhough you are kind-hearted, I won't give you the jewel."
"Hah! I'll steal the jewel from you!" Inuyasha snorted.
The now 18 years old priestess laughed again. "Let's see you try."
Inuyasha stood up and smiled proudly. "You'll see, Kagome! I will take that jewel from you!"
Kagome stepped out from her shrine's barrier and closed the doors behind her. She turned her body around to face the tree where Naraku was sealed by Kikyo since three years ago. Except right now, there was nothing else on the tree.
A year after Naraku was sealed, his body slowly withered away. Kagome knew exactly why. His broken heart for being separated from her started to eat his own flesh. Kagome knew that, but she couldn't do anything. Only Kikyo could remove the arrow, but ever since that day, both of them had been growing further away. Kagome was busy with her duties as a guardian, and Kikyo rarely came back to the village due to her excorsing duties.
Kagome could only watched in silence as Naraku's body completely disappeared. After his body were gone, the sealing arrow turned into dust as it no longer seal anyone.
Kagome walked to the tree and slowly rub the spot where the arrow hit Naraku's heart. She closed her eyes and whispered a soft apology to the wind.
From afar, Inuyasha was watching Kagome in silence. Kagome seemed so sad when she looked at the tree. Everytime after she purify the jewel, she would always apologize to the wind as she gently put her hands on the tree. No matter how soft her voice was, Inuyasha's ears would always picked up her apology. Inuyasha didn't know what had happened, but he knew Kagome had lost a dear friend of hers.
Remembering Kagome's words from the other day made Inuyasha guessed roughly that the half-demon who she met three years ago was the one that she lost.
After apologizing, Kagome turned her body around one more time and walked down the stairs. Inuyasha didn't make any move from the branch he was standing on, but his eyes were following Kagome closely. Inuyasha knew Kagome was a very powerful priestess, but he wondered whether she wanted to be a normal human girl or not.
A normal girl where she didn't have to be a guardian for anything. A normal girl where she didn't have to battled demons everyday. A normal girl where she didn't have to exhaust her powers. A normal girl where she could live freely. A normal girl where she could live the life she wanted to.
For the first time in his life, Inuyasha felt compassion towards Kagome.
"Inuyasha, stop hiding and come out. I know you're there." Kagome said.
Inuyasha stepped out from the bushes and came to meet Kagome face to face. Inuyasha stared at Kagome in silence as his eyes stared at blood which covering her. The blood of the demons which she slayed a moment earlier.
Kagome followed Inuyasha's gaze and then laughed nervously. "Ah, sorry. I'll take a bath for a moment."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Are you not scared I will attack you by surprise and steal the jewel?"
At this, Kagome smiled warmly at Inuyasha. "I know you won't do it, Inuyasha." replied Kagome and she walked away.
Leaving Inuyasha who stared at her back in silence. Just now... Kagome's smile... How it warmth his heart. Inuyasha felt happy when Kagome smiled like that at him.
And since that day, Inuyasha's only wish was to see Kagome's smile at him every single day.
Kikyo shot another arrow to clean up the remaining demons. She brought down her bow and sighed. Lately, the demons increased in number. Kikyo had lost count how many exorcism requests she accepted in the past few weeks. Kikyo tched. Kagome's power over the jewel must have weakened.
I should have been the guardian instead of her, Kikyo's heart said.
"Kagome! I thought you're in the shrine! Why—hold on, you're not Kagome."
Kikyo turned her head around to see a silver haired half-demon was standing behind her. His pair of doggy ears twitched and he sniffed the air. "You have a similar scent as Kagome." said the half-demon.
"Who are you?" Kikyo asked.
"Inuyasha." Inuyasha answered.
Kikyo stared at Inuyasha in silence. Just then, a voice came from afar.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha's ears perked up. "Ah, Kagome called me. See ya!" He then jumped away, leaving Kikyo who was staring at his back while clenching her bow hard.
"Oh there you are." Kagome said as Inuyasha landed in front of her shrine. "How did the slaying go?"
"Piece of cake!" Inuyasha replied. "By the way Kagome, who is the priestess who has a similar scent as you? I met her just a moment ago, and I mistook her for you. She's just like your mirror."
At Inuyasha's description, Kagome smiled softly. Her gaze suddenly softened and for some reasons, Inuyasha felt a sting of pain in his heart. He didn't like it. He didn't like that kind of sad and soft smile from Kagome.
"That's Kikyo." Kagome answered. "We were once called as the Twin Priestesses."
"Once?" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow.
Kagome nodded. "We fell apart since three years ago."
Inuyasha went silent for a few seconds. "You mean, when you lost the half-demon you met?"
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "How did you know I lost someone?"
Embarrasment crept up at Inuyasha's face. He quickly threw his gaze somewhere else and scratched his cheek awkwardly. "That—uh—I—I always saw you rubbing that big tree behind your shrine everytime you finished purifying the jewel. And—and you were always apologizing. Just—I'm just making a guess."
Kagome widened her eyes at Inuyasha's confession. She never realized that the half-demon had been watching her so closely. Kagome smiled as warmth filled her heart. This was the first time someone had been watching over her so carefully like that. All this time, she had been feared by others because of her powers. Even when Naraku was looking after her, the warmth she felt was totally different from Inuyasha's.
"You're right. I lost a dear friend three years ago. A half-demon that I had mentioned the other day." Kagome replied. "It was my fault that he was gone."
"What did you do?" Inuyasha blurted out of curiosity. "Not that I'm prying!"
Kagome chuckled. "It's a bit complicated. Kikyo was angry at that time and she sealed the half-demon away. A year later, his body withered away."
Inuyasha fisted his hands on his side as another pain stung his heart. It felt... weird listening the word 'his' rolling out from Kagome's mouth. "He must have been so precious to you." Inuyasha said.
Kagome nodded. "He was the first one to show kindness to me, after all this time demons and people feared me. He was a really dear friend." Then Kagome looked at Inuyasha and smiled. "And now I have you, Inuyasha. Thank you."
Upon hearing the word 'friend', the pain in Inuyasha's heart subsided. But when he heard Kagome said that she got him now, his heart was thumping hard. He was smiling wide and felt really happy.
And ever since that day, Inuyasha swore to protect Kagome. No matter what.
Kikyo had just returned from a nearby cave after nursing a burnt thief named Onigumo, when she met Inuyasha who was sitting on a hill.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha turned his head around to see who called him. "Oh, Kikyo."
Kikyo smiled and sat down next to him. "I thought you're gonna mistake me for Kagome again."
"Nah, Kagome is off to Mount Hakurei." Inuyasha replied. "She said the barrier was weakening so she went there to fix it."
Kikyo clenched her bow. Could she... Could she try it again this time? She failed with Naraku before, but she couldn't fail again this time right?
Kikyo sighed which caught Inuyasha's attention as his ears twitched. "Kagome is such a busy girl."
Inuyasha smiled. "Yeah she is."
"What about the jewel?" Kikyo asked.
"Kagome took it with her." Inuyasha replied. "She said the pure aura in the mountain can help her purifying it."
"Say Inuyasha, why do you desire the jewel?" Kikyo asked.
At Kikyo's question, Inuyasha stayed silent for a moment. A gentle breeze passed through as he remembered the same question Kagome had asked him. "I desired the jewel to be a full-fledged demon."
"Desired?" Kikyo repeated.
"I don't desire the jewel anymore now." Inuyasha replied.
"Why?" Kikyo asked.
Inuyasha smiled as he stared into the blue sky and the white clouds. "I desire something else. Something that is more precious than the jewel."
Kikyo clenched her bow harder. She braved herself to ask. "Which is?"
"Kagome." Inuyasha replied.
Anger started to built up inside of Kikyo. Again, she lost to Kagome! First was Naraku, and now Inuyasha? Both who were managed to capture her heart the moment she laid her eyes on them!
No! Kikyo wouldn't lose to Kagome! She lost Naraku three years ago, she wouldn't lose Inuyasha this time!
"But you can't be with her." Kikyo said. Inuyasha's ears twitched again and he looked at her.
"Why?" he asked, his voice sounded a little offended.
Kikyo sighed. "Because Kagome is the guardian. A guardian can't fall in love."
"Kagome said she can, only one time." Inuyasha replied. "She told me about the three types of priestesses and its rules."
"Yeah, but she fell in love already with Naraku before." Kikyo lied. "She can't fall in love again with you."
A sting of pain struck Inuyasha's heart and he stood up in rage. "You're lying!"
"No, I'm not." Kikyo replied. "Why would I lie to you? It's the truth."
"Kagome said Naraku is a dear friend of hers! I trust her!" Inuyasha said.
"Would she be so sad when he was gone if she didn't have any feelings towards him?" Kikyo asked. "Don't you think it's odd? If she truly loves you, she wouldn't dwell in sorrow anymore for losing Naraku."
Inuyasha bit back his reply as doubts started to fill his heart. What Kikyo said just now somehow made sense to him. But even so, he trusted Kagome.
But... What if what Kikyo said was true? What if he really could not have Kagome's heart?
Kikyo smirked quietly as she saw doubts in Inuyasha's eyes. "You better off with someone else, Inuyasha. Someone who isn't a guardian. Someone... Like me."
When Kagome returned from Mount Hakurei, she was surprised to see Inuyasha and Kikyo were so close. The barrier around the mountain had rippled due to the change in her heart, so she went there to fix it. She had gone for just a few weeks, but during those few weeks, it seemed like Kikyo had managed to grasp Inuyasha's heart.
They were practically inseparable. Even when Kagome came home, Inuyasha didn't welcome her. Wherever Kikyo went, Inuyasha was there with her. Pain stung Kagome's heart hard, but she let it slip. She couldn't hate Kikyo or Inuyasha. If both of them were happy with each other, then so be it.
Eventhough Kagome was suffering inside due to her broken heart. But she chose to stay away and loved Inuyasha from within the shadows. Kagome decided that her happiness is Inuyasha's happiness. As long as he was happy, she was happy too.
That night, Kikyo came to her when she was purifying the jewel inside of her shrine. Ever since she knew Inuyasha was with Kikyo, Kagome decided to seclude herself in her shrine to purify the jewel.
"Kagome." Kikyo called from outside of her barrier. Kagome opened her eyes and concentrated to open the barrier so Kikyo could come in. The doors were opened and Kikyo stepped in. "I need the jewel."
Kagome didn't say anything and looked down at the jewel. Black swirls started to fill the jewel once more and Kagome knew the cause. There was a quite big darkness inside of Kikyo's heart, and it was deviling the jewel.
"What for?" Kagome asked.
"To change Inuyasha into a human." Kikyo replied. "He has agreed with me to make a wish upon the jewel to be a human tomorrow morning at the forest. To live the rest of his life with me as a human."
Pain stung Kagome's heart once more time. Kagome took a deep breath to calm herself down and to be strong. "I can't let you have it. The jewel is too corrupted right now."
"I don't care! I need it!" Kikyo insisted. "You'll be free from the duty as its guardian when Inuyasha made the wish!"
"That is not the right wish, Kikyo." Kagome replied. "And if you insist on using the jewel, the evil inside will consume Inuyasha's soul. I won't let that happen."
"Give it to me!"
"I can't."
STAB!
"Argh!" Kagome fell down as an arrow shot her shoulder. She glanced back to see Kikyo was in a shooting position.
"If you don't want to give it, then I'll take it by force." Kikyo said as she lowered down her bow and walked towards the jewel.
"No, don't Kikyo!" Kagome screamed, wincing in pain as blood started to taint her priestess robe. "Don't hurt Inuyasha!"
"Be quiet!" Kikyo screamed back. "I won't let you take anything away from me ever again!"
Kikyo snatched the jewel and ran away from the shrine.
"Kikyo!" Kagome called. "Don't do this! Kikyo!"
Kagome dragged her feet as she walked in the forest to find both Kikyo and Inuyasha. She had taken out Kikyo's arrow from her shoulder but the wound was not closing. Blood colored her robe and her right arm felt numb.
I have to find them and stop them from using the jewel!, Kagome said in her mind.
Just then, something crept up from Kagome's behind and attacked her. On the same spot where Kikyo's arrow stabbed her.
"Argh!" Kagome fell down.
"Hah! Serves you right, Kikyo! Now I have gained a new body through that human thief Onigumo, and I will kill you for separating me and Kagome!"
Kagome widened her eyes as she recognized the voice.
"Na—Naraku?"
Naraku went into a silence as he watched the woman who was lying in front of him. His heart filled with rage as he realized he had hurt Kagome, not Kikyo. Revenge blinded him and he darted off, shouting Kikyo's name and determined to kill her.
Kagome forced herself up and started to walk again. She must find Inuyasha and Kikyo, as soon as possible.
"INUYASHA!"
Inuyasha turned his head around as he saw the priestess he knew drew her bow. Her arrow was in the position and a second later, she released the arrow. The arrow stabbed him right on his heart and pinned him down to a tree. The same tree where Naraku was once sealed. Inuyasha's lost his grip on the Sacred Jewel and the jewel rolled on the ground.
"Kikyo! How—how could you—"
The priestess walked towards Inuyasha while shedding tears. She dropped her bow as she felt her last remaining powers faded away. She crouched down to take the jewel and held it in her hands.
"I'm so sorry, Inuyasha... I'm so sorry..."
Upon hearing the voice, Inuyasha's eyes widened. That wasn't Kikyo's voice. "Ka—Kagome..."
"I love you, I really really love you." Kagome whispered. "You are the first man I have ever loved. I am so sorry..."
Inuyasha widened his eyes. Kagome... She... She had never lied to him, like he always believed.
"Ka—Kagome..." Inuyasha called one more time as his consciousness started to slip away. A second later, Inuyasha's eyes were closed as Kagome's seal managed to effect him. Kagome's tears trickled down from her eyes and she clenched the Sacred Jewel in her hands tight. She then collapsed from her wounds and closed her eyes forever.
Not long after, her body turned into several orbs of light in front of the sealed Inuyasha and soared up into the sky.
Done !
So I have been having this imagination since a while, and I am so happy I can finally write it down !
What do you think ?
I am accepting reviews and/or flames, of course :D
