Winds of Change
jodyle1
Chapter Four
Fear clutched his heart as he watched her expression soften into a tragic smile, her radiant, intense eyes swimming with forlorn sorrow and resignation. With a pang of guilt, he watched her turn to face their enemy, a beautiful, serene expression crossing over her girlish features, as though she was simply sitting in a quite meadow with the sun warming her skin. She tilted her head back slightly, closing her eyes as she did, and then she was gone, screened from his sight by a thick smog of acidic, violet miasma. He knew she was gone when he could no longer sense her bright, pulsing auror, and the familiar, heavy beads of subjugation slid from his neck and scattered on the dirty, forrest floor.
Maniacal laughter pierced through the night air, marking the retreat of Naraku and bringing Inuyasha's attention to the woman he now held tightly against his chest. Quickly examining her body for wounds, he found narrow cracks in her skin, as though she were made of glass...or clay. She groaned softly under his ministrations and he heaved a sigh of relief, embracing her gently so as not to harm her already battered body. "Kikyou" he whispered affectionately.
"Inu...Yasha...?" she murmered in response. Inuyasha pulled away and held Kikyou at arms length, gazing intently into her rustic, chestnut eyes, searching for any signs of Naraku's presence. Upon finding none, he rose from the ground, lifted Kikyou into his arms, and ran blindly into the forrest, searching for a suitable clearing to rest in for the night far away from the scent of destructive miasma, that burned his sensitive nose, and Kagome's sweet blood which sent shivers down his spine and forced tears into his eyes.
Kikyou had finally fallen into a state of unconsciousness when Inuyasha discovered such a place. He didn't even bother starting a fire for warmth, he just jumped into the highest branches of the closest tree to settle in. He tucked Kikyou tightly against his chest, his chin resting on her head, his arms crossed around her waist. Inuyasha exhaled in content, a breathe he had been holding in for over fifty years; since Kikyou's death. Though he had not been awake the entire time, he had always felt oddly isolated, as though he was separated from those around him; an invisible barrier that prevented him from emotionally connecting with others left him remote and secluded, forced to watch on as they interacted and cared for each other. But now, in this moment, he felt whole again. The only person who ever understood and accepted him had been returned to his side. It was true that Kagome's presence had often closed the distance he felt, yet somehow he was still excluded, though he made sure never to show it, which was probably where his incessant anger stemmed from. Kagome...Just thinking of her brought her jubilant, young face to mind. He had failed her. Again. He had promised to always protect her, and now she was gone, lost to the violence and corruption of Naraku. She had not died in vain however. Kagome's death had led to Kikyou's return, an unspeakable yet fair trade in his opinion. Without Kagome, he and the others would have been beyond hopeless, but with Kikyou's aid, they would have no trouble finding the jewel shards, not to mention that Kikyou was a master archer and could easily defend herself, where Kagome had held up their search in order for him to save her from some low-level youkai. Plus, Kikyou and he were fated to be together, and having her safely in his care soothed his aching heart and set his mind at ease, allowing his focus and, subsequently, his skill to improve.
He felt a sharp twinge of guilt at having disregarded Kagome's worth so quickly after her demise and was surprised to feel an accompanying stab of regret. He did not regret Kagome's death...did he? Inuyasha shook his head harshly, thoroughly clearing his mind of these confusing thoughts. He clutched Kikyou closer to him, and allowed his body to relax as his mind slipped into a a dreamless sleep.
Inuyasha was startled awake by a hollow space between his arms. Peering down groggily, he quite literally fell out of the tree by what he saw. His Kikyou was missing. Rage swamped his senses, quickly overpowering rational thought, and he bounded into the forrest, trailing her scent as it lingered in the tepid, sultry breeze. Half sprinting, it did not take long to track her down. He found her standing weakly against a tall, stately tree, fixedly staring at the luminous silver orb hanging in the night sky. "Why did you follow me Inyuasha?" She said softly, not look away from the moon. Inuyasha was confused.
"I-I thought something might have happened to you. I was worried." He mumbled, looking down. Kikyou sighed delicately.
"Inuyasha" she called. "I must leave you." Inuyasha's head snapped up.
"W-What?!" He growled. "What are you talking about Kikyou? I just got you back! Naraku won't dare touch you while I'm here, and i'll protect you if he tries, so you don't have to go anywhere!"
"You do not understand" She whispered.
"Please Kikyou, you don't have to leave. Just stay" he pleaded.
"I cannot stay with you Inuyasha"
"Why not?! I can protect you Kikyou, I swear! I've gotten stronger since the last time, I'd never let anything happen to you now!" He yelled at her.
"I am not concerned for my own safety"
"What are you talking about? I'll be fine as long as you're with me!"
"Inuyasha, the vengeance that burns within my soul longs for me to kill you. It thirsts for your blood and threatens to possess by body in order to satisfy itself. I fear that I cannot restrain it." She turned to face him, her eyes full of tears that her undead body could no longer release. "I must leave you for your own protection, whilst I still remain in control." Her voice lowered until it was just audible over the sound of Inuyasha's heart, pounding in his ears. "I do not wish to hurt you Inuyasha." She turned to leave.
"Kikyou, wait! We can work something out! I'm sure there's a way, there has to be a way! We'll go see kaede or something! Please Kikyou! Don't leave"
"I must"
"But, wait! There must be something helping you control yourself now, right? I mean, you haven't tried to attack me yet, so it maybe you'll be fine! Maybe you're just over reacting! Please, don't go. Stay. With me. We can figure something out."
"I am in control at present because, right now..." She hesitated before turning to capture Inuyasha'a eyes. "Right now, my love for you outweighs the power within me. I must leave you, because I love you too much to watch myself hurt you, kill you. I must leave you, in order to protect you from myself. Goodbye Inuyasha. You will never, must never, see me again." One flick of her lengthy, ebony hair, and she was gone. Stolen from him once more in a cruel twist of fate. Inuyasha fell to the ground where he stood, crushed by the weight of being alone in the world once more.