Chapter 2: Distraction

Kagome watched as Inuyasha raced away into the forest after Kikyo. That stupid baka! Kagome thought to herself. Shippo embraced her and she hugged him back, but even he couldn't make her feel any better right now. Did Inuyasha know how much it hurt her whenever he left for Kikyo? If he did, he obviously didn't care.

"Momma, did you bring any of your crayons?" Shippo asked, looking up at her with concern written all over his face. She nodded and reached over to her backpack. She pulled out two notepads and a 24 pack of crayons, and they got to work. While they drew, she thought about what had happened between Kikyo and her. Kagome had saved her multiple times, and yet, somehow Kikyo still hated her. Was it because Kagome still had a piece of her soul? Was it because of Inuyasha?

"Momma!" Shippo yelled. Kagome blinked back into reality and looked over at her adopted son. He stared at her as if waiting for an answer.

"Oh, I'm sorry Shippo. I spaced off for a minute. What did you say?" Kagome asked, blushing with embarrassment at not hearing the kit the first time.

"I asked if you were really OK with this. You try to put on a brave face, but I can still see you're sad." Shippo asked, jumping into her lap and staring up at her. She sighed and stroked his tail.

"It's that obvious, huh?" She smiled. Kagome could try as hard as she wanted, but she still couldn't help but feel sad when Inuyasha ran off. "I guess I am a bit disappointed, but it can't be helped." Shippo looked up at her questioningly.

"Momma, do you like Inuyasha?" The little kitsune asked. Kagome gasped a bit, surprised by the sudden question. How did she answer this? Of course she liked Inuyasha, but didn't he like Kikyo?

Kikyo had an arrow knocked and ready, pointed straight at Naraku. A long claw extended out of his right arm, lashing out and cutting her bow in half. A deep cut in her shoulder was oozing miasma, and Naraku smirked. His hand grew long and claws formed on his hands. As Inuyasha ran for Kikyo, Naraku pierced her chest and she fell backwards into the canyon, down into the river of miasma.

He had looked so distraught when Kikyo had fallen into that canyon. If that didn't show that he loved her, what else did?

"Of course I like him, but... It's complicated Shippo." She finally replied. Shippo snuggled up against her and handed her the drawing that he had been working on. It was a drawing of her and Inuyasha playing cards, of all things. The drawing was fairly good for a kid of his age, and Shippo looked undoubtedly proud of it. "It's wonderful Shippo! You should draw more often." She said, smiling down at the little kit in her lap.

"I will! Next time, I'll draw a picture of everyone; Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kirara, me and you. Maybe I'll even add in Myoga, if he decides to stick around long enough for me to draw him." They both laughed, and Shippo was happy to see his mother smiling. Kagome started to tickle him, and they laughed even harder until Shippo was practically crying.

Suddenly, Kagome tensed and sat up, staring of to the left of where they were sitting. Shippo hopped out of her lap and looked in the direction she was staring. "What is it?" Shippo asked. He couldn't see anything. Did she sense something that he didn't?

"I sense the Sacred Jewel. It heading toward us. Fast." Her eyes filled with fear as she realized that the jewel she sensed was tainted and nearly whole. Naraku! "Shippo, go find Inuyasha. Now!" She yelled to the kitsune.
"I'm not leaving you!" Shippo replied stubbornly as Kagome knocked an arrow. She turned back to him, her eyes filled with fear and rage.

"Go!" She yelled. He bolted into the trees and turned around just in time to see Naraku step into the clearing. Kagome raised her bow and screamed, "Hit the mark!" She released the arrow and it glowed pink as it shot toward Naraku. The arrow was just inches from his chest when he caught it in mid air. Kagome looked in Shippo's direction one last time and gave him an unspoken message. Run!

Meanwhile, Inuyasha had been storming through the forest chasing the soul collectors. He burst into a clearing, where soul collectors were circling Kikyo protectively, dropping souls into her frail body. Kikyo, you're... alive! Inuyasha raced over to the miko, and Kikyo turned her head toward him.

The sadness and pain in her eyes was almost unbearable for Inuyasha. He longed to wrapped his arms around her, console her and protect her from Naraku. He thought about the life they had wanted, before Naraku had tricked them into betraying each other. Could they still have that?

"Inuyasha, I have been waiting for you." Kikyo said as another soul dropped into her body. She waved away the soul collectors, who rose and circled higher up in the sky, leaving Inuyasha and Kikyo to talk. She turned toward Inuyasha and gave him the closest thing to a smile he had ever seen her try.

"You have?" Inuyasha asked, walking toward her and stopping less than a foot away from her face. She tried another smile, but the pain in her eyes was still there.

"Yes. I knew you would come to see me at some point." Kikyo replied. Inuyasha placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her deep, brown eyes.

"Kikyo, are you ok? Really ok?" Inuyasha asked. Here she was standing in front of him, but he had to make sure that she was truly ok, not just acting. She nodded, and suddenly he was embracing her. "I'm glad you're alright." He said. She slowly pulled him away and looked up at him.

"Inuyasha, are you ready to come to hell with me?" She asked, and he regarded her silently. Sadly he took his hands off of her shoulders and crossed them over his chest. While he couldn't imagine life without Kikyo, he'd grown feelings for Kagome, too. He couldn't just leave without at least saying goodbye.

"Kikyo, I can't yet. I have to destroy Naraku, and... I have to stay with Kagome until that happens." He replied. Kikyo backed away a little bit and looked at him.

"You won't have to worry about her much longer." Kikyo said with a small smirk. What is she up to? He thought to himself. As he looked at her questioningly, he caught the scent of... Naraku! Soon after came the smell of blood; Kagome's blood.

"What going on Kikyo? Are you in league with Naraku?" Inuyasha yelled, but Kikyo just smiled.

"Of course not. Naraku and I just have similar desires, so I am just making his job a bit easier. I'm surprised that you didn't notice earlier that Naraku was in the region." She said. Inuyasha was baffled that Kikyo would even think about helping that monster that had tried to kill her so many times. What did they both want? He puzzled a bit, and then realized exactly what was happening.

"Was the fact that you're here a distraction to get me away from Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, eyes on fire. It made perfect sense. Kikyo was jealous of Kagome because Inuyasha had feelings for her, and Naraku was afraid of her spiritual powers.

Suddenly, Shippo burst out of the bushes and ran up to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, come quick! Naraku showed up, and Kagome can't hold him off much longer!" Shippo yelled, voice thick with worry and despair. Inuyasha gave Kikyo one last growl before grabbing Shippo and running off into the forest. The smell of blood was getting steadily stronger. Hold on, Kagome. I'm coming!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I own any of Inuyasha's characters or plots. That privilege goes to the creator of Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi, and I am not her. I wish I was, because then I could own the best anime series of all time, but I just am not. However, thanks to Rumiko for creating Inuyasha, because I can't live without it now. Your awesome, Rumiko!