With a rush of magic, Kagome found herself standing in the bottom of the well at her shrine. She readjusted her yellow back pack and slung her bow over her shoulder before climbing up the ladder. Once off the ladder, she rested her bow against the side of the well. She didn't need to bring it with her, it was only because Koga insisted on her bringing it. He wanted to make sure she was able to protect herself incase something were to happen. He just wouldn't take her word that her world was more than safe enough.
She couldn't help but smile. At least he cares…No, stop it Kagome. Thinking about him will only make things worse. She slid the door open and made her way into the house where she hoped her mother was waiting.
"Mama?" She called as she entered the house. She heard her mother call for her from the kitchen. She dropped her bag by the door and practically ran for her mothers arms.
"Kagome…What's the matter?" Her mother asked as she enveloped her daughter. This wasn't the first time she came home upset, but this was the first time she ever came home this upset.
Kagome sniffled and cried until her body couldn't produce anymore tears. She pulled away from her mothers arms and looked up at her face. "Mama…Inu…Inu…Inuyasha left me…" She choked.
"Oh dear…" Her mother ushered her over to the couch. "Let me bring you some tea." She scampered off to boil the water. Inuyasha and her have had breakup fights before, but this was different, it actually seemed final. She glanced into the living room to see Kagome rocking back forth on the couch. Poor dear…She poured the tea and brought some to her daughter.
"Thanks Mom." Kagome sipped at the tea.
"Tell me everything." Her mother coaxed. It didn't take much prodding for her to spill everything.
It was amazing how much better Kagome felt after telling her mother. She didn't judge or interrupt. She sat there patiently while the story was being told. By the time the story was complete, Kagome had gone through half a box of tissue and was quickly wiping out the other half.
"Why don't you stay home for a few days so you can sort through things." Her mother rose from the couch and headed towards the stairs. "How about I run you a hot bath?"
Kagome gave a nod of her head before blowing into yet another tissue. "Thanks Mom."
"Don't worry about it Kagome. You'll think of something, I know you will."
After a hot bath and a warm meal, Kagome found herself curled on her bed with Buyo curled at her feet. Her thoughts drifted from Inuyasha to Sango to Shippo. Just before she drifted off to sleep Koga's face appeared in her mind. I hope he waits for me…
Kagome woke with a start only a few hours after falling asleep with a nagging in the back of her mind. Something was wrong, she could feel it. She crawled out of bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. What is this feeling? She palmed her forehead with her hand as the feeling intensified.
Kagome leaned out her window and scowered the area, looking for any signs of danger, only to find the shrine in its usual peaceful state. Her thoughts instantly turned to Inuyasha. Pain flashed through her chest at the thought of his name, but she couldn't shake the feeling something bad was happening to him. Calm down, Kagome. Take a deep breath. Nothing is wrong, it's only your imagination. The persistent nagging didn't go away. This wasn't the first time she felt something like this. Last time it happened it was after Inuyasha was seriously wounded by Sesshomaru. He had been fighting off a demon being controlled by Naraku and his wounds hadn't healed yet. She bit the tip of her thumb, trying to decide whether or not to check things out.
She jumped when she heard a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in." She squeaked.
Her mother stepped inside holding a tray of soup. "I thought you could use something hot." She noticed the worried expression on her daughter's face. "What's the matter?"
Kagome shook her head. "I don't know…I'm getting the feeling something bad is happening…"
Her mother's eyes widened. "Are you going then?"
"I don't know. What if it's only my imagination?"
Her mother smiled. "Kagome, you should trust your instincts. They will never lead you astray. If your heart is telling you to go, you should listen."
Kagome nodded her head. "Yeah, you're right." She rushed past her mother. "Thanks Mom!" She shouted as she bolted down the stairs. She grabbed the bow and arrows left by the well and jumped in.
Kagome was greeted by the sound of battle and the feel of two jewel shards just outside the well. Her eyes widened with the realization of what was happening. With record time, she climbed out of the well. Her mouth gaped open at the sight before her. Koga and Inuyasha fighting with everything they had. Both were bleeding and wounded, but neither showed signs of stopping.
"Just give up would ya? You don't stand a chance!" Inuyasha bellowed as he let loose a Kaze no Kisu.
"You wish, Mutt-Face! You really think I'll hand Kagome to you after what you did to her! God, you're pathetic." Koga shot back as he nimbly dodged the attack.
Kagome gasped. The fact that they were fighting over her shouldn't have surprised her but it did. She was too busy staring at the red clad hanyou. She expected to feel pain and depression upon looking at him, but she didn't. Instead she felt overwhelming anger. How dare he try to lay claim on me! He's with Kikyo! That stupid two-timing…
"You don't deserve Kagome!" Inuyasha barked.
"And you do? For a canine you know absolutely nothing about loyalty! Your nothing but a disgrace! You chose the other woman, what right do you have to Kagome?" Koga yelled as he brought his Goraishi down upon the Tessaiga.
Kagome stared in horror as the two tried to kill each other. She wanted to stop them, but their words ran deep. In a sick way she wanted to hear more. She stayed frozen in the well.
"You don't know shit!" Inuyasha pushed Koga back. "You don't know what we have been through, the promises we made to each other! She promised to stay with me, not you. So why don't you just crawl in a hole somewhere!"
Koga could only shake his head at the stupidity of the hanyou before him. He truly didn't understand how Kagome saw things. He was dependant on her kindness. He growled at Inuyasha before unleashing a blast of youki from his Goraishi.
Kagome gasped as Inuyasha drew his sword over his head in preparation for his counter attack. Before she knew it she was rushing towards the battle.
"Bakuryuuha!" He yelled as the wind around his sword began to swirl. He would have brought his blade down, but there was a slight shift in the wind, bringing a familiar scent to his nose. He shifted his gaze towards the well to see Kagome rushing towards them, her hand stretched out in front of her in an attempt to stop them.
"Osuwari!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs, pouring every ounce of her power into the command. The beads of subjugation glowed a fierce pink before yanking Inuyasha forcefully into the dirt. Koga's attack flew harmlessly over Inuyasha's head.
The young prince's head snapped in the direction of Kagome's voice, completely baffled by her appearance. What was she doing here? Hadn't she told him she wouldn't be back until tomorrow? He looked back over to the hanyou and growled under his breath. Damnit… The Goraishi disappeared into his skin, no longer needed. He wouldn't fight Inuyasha with her standing there. The chances of her getting hurt were astronomical.
Kagome stopped between the two men, not sure who to go to. She glanced down at the crater in which she created to see Inuyasha out for the count. His robes were in shreds and blood coated a good portion of his body. She couldn't help but feel the urge to rush to his side and care for his wounds. A swish of a tail brought her attention over to Koga, who didn't look like he was in any better shape.
"Koga…why?" She whispered as she looked over his body, counting every cut and bruise on his body. His armor was cracked in several places and the fur on his wrists were only hanging on by a thread. They had to have been fighting hard for a long time for his appearance to look so disheveled. Even the brown strap that held his hair back had been shredded, leaving his long ebony hair free around his shoulders.
He looked away from her, trying to escape her penetrating stare. "He was in the nearby village and picked up our scent." He looked down at his hand before balling it into a fist. "He tried to follow you."
"Oh." She didn't know what else to say. She figured he would blame Inuyasha for everything like usual. She never expected him to be so honest about his intentions. He respected her wishes not to see Inuyasha. She wanted to thank him, but seeing the condition Inuyasha was in, she wasn't sure she could.
Koga's attention was drawn away from Kagome as the scent of graveyard soil caught his attention. Since the Band of Seven were destroyed, it could only be one person. Sure enough, the dead miko stepped through the tree line with a bow held tightly in her hand. Her eyes flickered over to Inuyasha's unconscious form then straight to Koga.
"What have you done, Youkai?" Kikyo demanded as she drew an arrow from her quiver.
"Ki-Kikyo?" Kagome stuttered. She gave a quick look to Koga before diverting her full attention to the miko. "Please…don't do anything rash!"
"Tsh, you protect this youkai after what he did to Inuyasha? How pitiful." Kikyo sneered as she narrowed her eyes at the scantily clad girl.
Kagome shook her head. "No, it's not like that! Koga was only trying to protect me!" She found herself moving to stand between Koga and Kikyo. She didn't want Kikyo to hurt Koga. She knew Koga was strong, but not even he would survive one her purifying arrows. Hopefully with her standing between them, Kikyo would think twice about firing.
Koga stepped closer to Kagome, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Forget it, Kagome. She isn't going to listen." He didn't like the fact that she was taking a protective stance in front of him. It was his job as the male to protect her, not the other way around. The only reason he allowed it was his instincts were telling him to flee, that his life was in danger. With Kagome between them, the threat had lessened slightly.
Kikyo notched the arrow and aimed at the two in front of her. Didn't the young woman realize already, she was the one who would take Inuyasha's life. The woman before her was the only thing standing between her and Inuyasha. Fates seemed to curse them. No matter how much they wanted to be together, something always stood in the way. The most current and most deadly stood within reach of her arrow. If that woman didn't exist, her and Inuyasha would be able to live and die together in peace.
Kikyo focused her spiritual powers into the wooden shaft as she let go of the bow string. There was no way her reincarnation with less than equal power could stop her arrow. This would be the end of her and the ookami.
The older miko watched with a sick fascination as the glow from her arrow enveloped her targets. With the power behind her arrow, there wouldn't even be a pile of ash to take home to their families. With a smirk, she turned towards the unconscious hanyou.
The area was lit up by a flash of blue and a major surge of Kagome's spiritual powers. Kikyo froze in place as her head shifted slowly to see what was happening. The miko couldn't believe her eyes. Standing completely unharmed were Kagome and the wolf. Kagome held her bow defensively in front of her, erecting a small, but effective barrier around them. Her hand tightened around her own bow as she fought with herself over what to do now. Her mind was made up when Inuyasha began to stir.
Without a word to Kagome or Koga, Kikyo struggled to shift Inuyasha into a position that would allow her to move him from the battle field. Normally she would worry about her enemy shooting her in the back, but she knew Kagome was not dishonorable. She would allow them to leave.
The barrier that surrounded Koga and Kagome collapsed, finally giving Koga room to maneuver. Cracking his knuckles, he proceeded to walk towards the retreating figures. The soft voice of Kagome called him back. "Let them go…"
He couldn't help but protest, but he stopped all the same "But she tried to kill us!"
She shook her head, keeping her eyes trained on the grass beneath her shoes. She could feel the burning sensation returning to her eyes as she fought off tears. Things weren't supposed to happen like this. She balled her hands into fists.
"Stop! Just let them go…" She shouted unintentionally.
"Kagome." He walked back towards Kagome, resting his hands upon her small shoulders.
"I'm sorry…" She sniffled as she lost the battle to control her tear ducts. Her shoulders sagged as she once again began shaking.
Damned that Inuyasha…Koga growled internally as he pulled Kagome into a tight embrace. Her arms wrapped around his waist as her body shook with the force of her sobs. He watched the figure of the retreating miko and wished he could follow. They would pay for doing this to his Kagome.