"No Matter What"

By: Dish-Chan

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but I do own a tiredness of writing these things...I as sure as the sun shines not making any profit so there you go^_^

Ooooo they are going to meet up again!

333Love ya'll333

Chapter II "Inuyasha Words and a Fragments Glow"

The new day was clear and crisp as Kagome awoke from her place beside Shippou, he had gladly shared his futon with her. She smiled and yawned sleepily as soft golden rays warmed her cheeks. A sense of peace had fallen over her with the darkness as she had retired last evening, and that feeling still clung to her, with the scent of sakura. She slowly rose and got dressed, brushing her hair and heading to the hot spring, she hadn't had a bath the night before, and her thick hair became slick quickly if not washed everyday. She walked outside and was greeted by cheerful calls of the many birds darting about. Walking towards the springs, she wasn't aware of the playful kitsune following her while snickering, along with his companion Mitsuko. Kagome touched her toe to the water and smiled happily, she couldn't wait to get in. Just as she getting undressed a low growl caused her to pull her sleeve back up and look around in suspicion. Shippou held Mitsuko back as Kagome touched the Tetsusaiga at her waist. Suddenly a slight rustling of leaves was heard before a black panther demon was standing before her, its back arched and yellow eyes glaring at her hungrily. "You are the legendary priestess are you not?" it hissed, never taking it's eyes from her own. "I'm not Kikyou, if that is who you are thinking, I'm Kagome." She responded quietly, though Shippou noticed her fingertips were slowly starting to glow golden. The demon growled "No matter, I want jewel shards!" it lunged at her, but Kagome kept her quite stance until it was merely inches from her face, she in a quick motion, she moved her hand along its stomach. Shippou gasped as blood splattered the girls face and clothes, she again took a swipe at the demon the golden gleam down looking like small blades coming from her fingertips. The demon finally fell defeated at her feet, wriggling in pain as it's life and blood drained quickly from it's body. Kagome in pity, swiftly took it's life as not to put it through more pain. She touched the body and blood, and being purified, it disappeared, except one tiny gleam of soft pink light. Kagome's heart felt as though it turned to lead and fell to her stomach with a loud thud, which in reality was her pounding heart. She reached for the gleam and felt that it was what she had thought, a tiny fragment of the Shikon no Tama had escaped the whole jewel. "She remembered feeling something wasn't right about the jewel when Inuyasha had exclaimed its' completion, yet she hadn't wanted to ruin his happiness. She felt ill as she held the jewel in her hand and fell to her knees.

Inuyasha had followed the scent all night, and now was approaching Kaede's village when the scent led him away from it just a few hundred yards. There, he had found her, adorned in priestess clothing, and getting ready to bathe. He had spotted the Tetsusaiga, and was moving to steal it when a demon was readying itself to attack her. He was naturally going to slay it himself, but seeing how Kagome was glaring in that direction, he decided to see if she ever learned to care for herself. He watched and was actually surprised to see her kill the demon in a short time, her energy cutting through him fiercely. He then watched her, splattered in blood as she seemed to be clutching something from the corpse which had disappeared. Her priestess outfit had been loosened as she prepared to bathe, and now one of the sleeves feel down to reveal a shoulder. She looked so helpless, he wasn't sure why, but an odd feeling rushed into his stomach, and the thought of holding her near caused him to feel very warm and happy. Suddenly he realized what he was thinks and stuck his claw into his side with a sharp jab "baka..don't you remember you care for no human..."

Kagome prayed rain would come and wash away the blood still dripping from her clothing and face, as she sat staring at the jewel, she wished it would wash away the fragment of pink light which haunted her with painful memories. Wanting to scream, she instead clenched her fist around the shard, ignoring the sharp prick in her palm. Another slight rustle was heard before she looked up to see, who at first she mistook for Sesshoumaru in different clothing, but then realized it was someone much more familiar... Feeling very weak, she glanced up at him and stuttered "I.Inuyasha." "Keh...hello wench." He said glaring at her "Long time no see." Shippou and Mitsuko just stood in awe first Kagome had slayed a demon, during which Mitsuko barely kept from screaming, and now Inuyasha was back. Shippou couldn't stand it, Inuyasha had hurt Kagome, and now he thought he could just burst back into her heart? He jumped form his hiding place and yelled angrily "Inuyasha! Leave Kagome alone, you've hurt her enough!" The demon just glanced at him momentarily, before picking a fearful Kagome up by her collar and grabbing the hilt of the sword "You think I would want this wench, the only thing I'm after is the Tetsu-auuggh!" He thrust the sword down as raw energy ripped through him and singed his sleeves off. "Don't you remember Inuyasha? The Tetsusaiga won't work for you.you're a demon now." Kagome exclaimed her calm chocolate eyes looking frightening like Kikyou's as she stared at him quietly. He dropped her, her blood stained face bringing back too many bad dreams and jumped up into a tree. He stood there a moment and glanced down at something pink glowing in his hand "What's this?" he roared "A fragment?" Kagome nodded weakly, but stood as her voice became stronger. "Yes, I suppose the jewel wasn't really completed after all, which means a number of things." Inuyasha glared at her "Like what?" "You still turn hanyou once a month; don't you?" She accused narrowing her eyes. When he didn't move she continued "You also know that since we used part of the jewels power to kill Naraku, there is a very good chance he could have rebirthed himself after all this time..don't you?" she asked. Inuyasha seeming very angry was about to take off when Kagome rose her hand and moved it slightly, causing the fragment to meet her palm swiftly. "You'd best just leave Inuyasha, there's nothing here for you anymore, the Tetsusaiga had taken me as the one it protects and, the jewel is still my responsibility. Perhaps you can go find Kikyou." With that she shed the rest of her priestess clothing, not seeming to mind Inuyasha seeing her in her modern aged undergarments and descended into the hot spring before taking these off as well. With water up to her shoulders, she closed her eyes and sighed at the warmness taking over her body and washing away the blood and grime. In anger at being ignored, he fled; sure he would defeat her sometime later.

After Kagome's bath which ended up being Shippou and Mitsuko's as well, they headed back for the village and Saw that Kaede had returned from her journey; she and Kagome shared an embrace before going into the hut and talking. Kagome sighed as she explained about her arrival and the bloodstained clothing she was wearing. Kagome noticed for the first time a young woman perhaps 16 years of age also in the room, she was adorned in priestess clothing as well, and was smiling quietly from her corner of the room. Kaede followed her gaze and smiled "Come hither Aria, lest ye be swallowed by the darkness." The small young woman nodded and made her way to sit next to Kaede. "Kagome, this is my niece Aria, she has come from a neighboring village to train more in the way of the priestess." Kagome nodded "Hello Aria, I'm Kagome." She said extending her hand; now that she looked at the girl in the brighter light she was surprised. The girls eyes were deep emerald green, and her brown hair had a thread or two of gold running through it when the light hit it right. Aria smiled "You are the reincarnation of my aunt Kikyou then?" Kagome nodded weakly and forgot about the jewel in her hand. "Arai's grandparents came here on a boat from another land a long time ago; her mother was born here, Aria's grandmother died when her mother was only 3, so she was raised by mostly women of this area." Kaede explained, seeing Kagome's confusion at the girl's looks. "My mother married Aunt Kaede's youngest brother, and I was his youngest." Aria said again smiling. Kagome smiled "Well I'm glad to have you here^_^" "Oh Kagome," Kaede began, turning and pulling something from a barrel. "I think this may suit ye better, since that one is now stained." Kaede said handing Kagome the old sailor fuku. She gasped "Oh, I left it here when I left huh? I hope it still fits!" To little of her surprise the outfit was almost a perfect fit, she hadn't grown taller since she was 15, so this would work perfectly. Though she felt odd wearing a school uniform at the age of nineteen, she couldn't help but smile at it's familiarity. Kagome smiled and gave out a sigh of happiness, as she ate her food later, "I'm back home."

I made Aria up, because I needed someone for a certain purpose, she's not going to be perfect by any means though, and why she's half English? I just got bored with typing dark hair and eyes colors except for Inu-chan, so there ya go ~_^ Now from a fortune cookie:

Your lover will never desire to leave.

Wow, if I had one of those that would be great^_^'

Jan e, Dish-Chan