Chapter 3
Kagome was lead into a softly lit room. It was hard to believe that she was inside a tree!
The room was richly furnished with beautifully crafted furniture. There was a large, downy bed just to the left of the doorway. It was to this that Hiro lead Kagome. He bade her lie down upon it.
Looking quizzically at him, she did as he wished, crossing her hands and resting them upon her abdomen.
Hiro sat down beside her on the bed and lay his hand on hers. "Close your eyes, Kagome." She did so and he continued. "Let you mind be free. When your mind is quiet, the jewel will speak to you. Let the jewel take over your mind. No harm will come to you, Kagome. Trust the jewel. When you wake up, you will be running through a forest at night."
"Will I see you again, Hiro?" she whispered, feeling a little scared and apprehensive. She felt his hand close warmly around hers.
"Hai, Kagome. Yuki and I both. We are your protectors. But for now, set yourself free." His voice was low and gentle, and as warm as the sun on a summer day.
Kagome relaxed, letting her mind open and go blank. She felt the jewel that rested on her chest come alive and pulse with life. It took hold of her mind just as Hiro said it would.
A minute later, she felt pain shoot through her body. She jerked up off the bed and screamed.
Sesshoumaru had discovered her disappearance...and he was furious. She knew that he could sense her wishing to escape him.
Yuki ran into the room at Kagome's scream, his divine countenance pale with worry. "Hiro! What's happened!" He stopped at the foot of the bed in a swirl of shining, sun-kissed locks.
Hiro did not answer. Instead, he got on his knees beside Kagome and held her squirming body down with one arm. He was whispering as calmly as he could in her ear. The Shikon no Tama glowed brightly as it was bounced around on Kagome's writhing body.
Yuki was frightened for her. This was a dangerous situation. The jewel had a hold on Kagome's mind, but Sesshoumaru was torturing her body. If Hiro failed, Kagome's mind would be stuck inside the jewel. Her body would be a lifeless doll, to live out its life without Kagome's soul.
He decided to help Hiro, although he'd never done this before. Going around to the other side of the bed, he got as close to her as he could, lending her his peace.
Hiro raised his eyes to his brother, who was beside Kagome. He had grabbed her hand, trying to calm her mind.
It worked. Kagome's thrashing about subsided and finally ended, as the jewel took over her mind. They watched as Kagome's lips moved, as though she were speaking to someone. Her body began to glow, first pink then gold.
There was a brilliant flash of light...and she was gone.
Inuyasha's Forest...
Kagome found herself running into the warm spring night. She did not stop until she reached Kaede's village. How odd that this seemed so familiar, as if she had done this before. Had she? It felt as though her every action was carefully planned and calculated. Every word she spoke, every movement she made, it was all so familiar.
She saw Sango and Miroku sitting together after she sent Kirara to find Kouga-kun. How she envied them! They looked so comfortable with each other, so happy.
Inwardly, Kagome sighed as they waited for Kirara to return. Would she ever find someone who truly loved her? There was no one, she reminded herself sadly. Sesshoumaru never cared a wit for her and Inuyasha loved another. There was no one else...
Kouga's den...
Kouga had just returned from the hunt, bringing fresh deer meat for his pack. They had all settled down for a long, satisfying meal when a few of the wolves began to growl. Whatever it was, it was approaching their den.
One sniff and Kouga knew. He called off the wolves and went outside.
There was the two-tailed neko youkai that traveled with Kagome. She stood there, looking at him expectantly. Kouga shouted at his pack that he would return later and to protect the den.
Grabbing a small bit of cloth, he poked one of his fingers with a claw and wrote something on it. Calling one of the wolves, he quickly attached the makeshift note onto its neck and told it where to go. The wolf took off.
With that accomplished, Kouga mounted the neko's back and they took off into the night skies.
Kouga again had to hear of how Kagome planned to escape Sesshoumaru once and for all. It was not easy to listen to her plot her own death. He wanted to take her away from Japan and never look back, but he knew that the path for her was chosen. She had to rid herself of Sesshoumaru's mark.
That night, he waited until everyone in the hut was asleep before he snuck out. His wolf had delivered the message in time, he knew. Someone would be waiting for him. The note he had sent was to Hiro and the short message in his blood said, 'Bone Eater's Well'.
Kouga found Hiro waiting patiently for him beside the well. The elf's long dark hair fluttered lightly in the night breeze. His robes swished softly around his legs as he paced slowly next to the well.
"Hiro," Kouga called out quietly. Hiro turned, greeting his friend with a smile.
"Kouga. So, starting all over again, are we?" he asked, goodnaturedly.
Kouga nodded and sat down on the rim of the well. "It sure seems so. But what I want to know is, why?"
Hiro sat down beside his friend. "It's the jewel, as well as Kagome," he replied, staring off into the forest.
Kouga fought the urge to cry. Instead, he rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I don't want to go through this again," he whispered brokenly. "I...I can't bear to watch that bastard win her once more. It's just too much to handle."
Hiro touched Kouga's forearm gently, pulling his hand down from his face. "The test of the jewel has actually proven that Sesshoumaru was not meant to be Kagome's mate. He proved instead, that no matter how hard he tries, he cannot look beyond the fact that she was once ningen and therefore he is superior to her."
Kouga stared in disbelief at his friend. "But...he said that the jewel told him he had passed the test. If he failed in truth, why did it tell him otherwise?"
Hiro shook his head and gave an expressive shrug. "Well, he DID pass, in a sense. He proved that he was loyal. But he made a promise that he would never hurt Kagome if she was brought back to life. Sesshoumaru has not held up to that promise. Kagome has been unhappy ever since she was revived by the jewel. The jewel is not pleased with Sesshoumaru, so it has allowed Kagome the chance to go back in time to correct her mistakes."
"I see...I guess. But WHY did we have to come back to this point? Couldn't it go back further, BEFORE Sesshoumaru kidnapped her and mated her? It would be easier that way."
Again, Hiro shook his head. "No. That's not the way the Shikon operates. We are reliving this all over again so YOU can win her and so Sesshoumaru will be taught a little lesson in humility. He looks down on Kagome. When he learns of her desire to escape him he will feel rejection, for he will know that she does not want him. He will know that she would rather die than stay mated to him."
Kouga looked puzzled. "But, didn't he realize that the first time?"
Nodding his head, Hiro grinned. "Oh yes. But it was obvious that he didn't take it to heart. He did not cherish her nearly enough for the jewel's liking." His smile vanished and a solemn look crossed his face. "As before, Sesshoumaru will pursue Kagome. But this time, it will be out of anger. He will be furious that one of his possessions has run away from him. She will only be considered property to him, and he will treat her as such. You must protect her at all costs, Kouga. We will help, as it is our duty. But until you contact us, it must be you who protects her."
A flash of anger crossed Kouga's face. "Kagome is not anyone's property," he hissed. "How dare that bastard try to think that way of her!"
Hiro rose gracefully to his feet. "You are the one who must win her heart, old friend. The jewel desires it, for your love is pure. You treat her as though she is the most precious thing in your life and the jewel delights in that. When the time is right, it will aid you."
Kouga felt his little wolf heart swell until he could barely breathe. "Really? I mean, should I dare to hope that she will be willing to be my mate?"
The elf's smile was brilliant in the moonlight. "Yes. The jewel will make sure of this. Do not worry, Kouga. I'm afraid it will be another long, lonely journey for you but in the end, you will succeed. So, farewell, Kouga, until we meet again." He turned to walk away.
Kouga jumped up. "Wait! Don't forget to help her tomorrow!"
"I have not forgotten," Hiro said, his voice a mere whisper on the breeze. His robed figure melted into the shadows.