My eyes were squeezed shut. A rock was on top of my legs and my back. Both of my arms were wrapped around Bankotsu, and his were around me. I opened my eyes slowly. Rocks had fallen all over the place, and Inuyasha was standing over us, eyes wide and mad. I couldn't blame him. In a way, I was supposed to be on their side yet here I was saving the enemy. I sat up, realizing I was on top. The rocks fell off my legs when I moved. They weren't broken, thankfully. My hair that was up in a low ponytail had fallen down. My bangs covered my eyes, which was why I didn't see at first.
Underneath me Bankotsu's eyes were closed. My hand fell to his face which was ice cold. He wasn't breathing and his arms that were around my waist had fallen to his torso, limp and lifeless. I had finally figured out that the glow I was seeing was the jewel and I searched for its presence in him, but it was gone. Somehow he just hadn't returned to bones.
He was dead. As desperately as I had tried, I couldn't save him. My heart stopped in my chest. My will for him to live only saved me. It didn't reach out to him. If it had he would be saying some smart remark, and then he would have pulled me into his arms. But he couldn't. He would never open his eyes ever again, all because I couldn't save him. He had saved me countless times. And I couldn't save him.
I silently screamed and I threw my arms around his motionless body, tears streaming down my face. It wasn't fair. If he had to die shouldn't I too? Was I destined to watch him die every time and not be able to stop it? Why couldn't we just have the happy ending like in those stories my mom used to tell me? Why couldn't I be the happy priestess and he be the happy half-demon who lived together to happily ever after? Why did it have to be this way?
Then I remembered the last of the story. A human's jealousy of the love between the two made him into a demon. Then he tore them apart and they died hating each other yet neither could live without the other. And the demon was left to roam the world, still in love with the priestess. There was no happy ending for any of them. If I was going to have my happy ending, I was going to make it. In the end my story must seem almost like a nightmare of love stories, but it will be happy for me at least.
I had two options. One, I die right here, right now. Two, I try to bring him back, once again. I was going to try the second, then the first if I couldn't. I had lost the sight of any jewel shards, so I tried to reach out again and found his missing one beneath the ruble. The rocks were so heavy and it took me a while, but I finally found the tiny rock. The moment I touched it, it threatened to enter my skin. I had to act fast or it wouldn't work. I lifted his head to my lap.
Someone grabbed my arm, stopping me. Inuyasha stood there.
"What are you doing?" He demanded. He was obviously getting angrier with me. And to tell the truth, I was starting to wonder whose side I was on. The whole reason I was mad at Bankotsu was because he was helping Naraku. Now I'm saving him, but why?
"What's it to you half-breed?" I pulled my arm away, but I did see the pain flash through his eyes. I didn't hate his kind. I pitied them actually, but I had lost my patience. Turning back to Bankotsu, I placed the shard in his neck again.
Nothing happened.
How the hell could nothing happen?
Does it not work a second time? And if so, why not?
I was so mad at myself. In the back of my mind I knew this would happen, yet I still hoped.
What does it matter? I still have another way. My katana was still on my hip. I unsheathed it trying to decide how. I didn't want to feel it so it would have to be quick. Stabbing myself was too dramatic; never been one for that anyway. But what if it was in the heart? No that's old fashioned and stupid. There would be way too much blood. And if the shard were removed? I'd die instantly. I would feel nothing but the pain of removing it. Yes that was it.
Just before I cut my chest open, a hand grabbed my arm. Inuyasha should just stay out. He's not involved in this.
"Just what do you think your doing?" a voice from below asked. I looked down to see Bankotsu was the one to grab my arm and he was staring at me, almost mad. Tears again rolled down my face and I blubbered unable to make coherent words. He sat up slowly, holding me close. "You can be so damn stupid."
"So? I was worried. You didn't wake up." I didn't even understand what I was saying. The tears were beginning to stain his shirt.
"Sorry. Guess I screwed up too." He laid his head on mine, rubbing my back.
"Don't get so hot-headed next time." I was beginning to calm down again. Breathing came much easier now. I felt so calm. I knew I should be drilling him with questions, but I couldn't do it. I was too happy he was alive (or as alive as possible).
"And just so you know, hell sucks." I began laughing. I felt him smile. I turned my head to him. I couldn't wait any longer. I had to know.
"Why couldn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me what you where planning?" The memory of it made me flinch. I pushed it all to the back of my mind, trying to focus on his face.
"Naraku was watching my every move. If I told you then, he would have known. Then what use would I be?"
"I guess your right." Sighing I knew I wasn't mad any more. How could I be when he what he said was true? I leaned in to kiss him but he leaned slightly away. His eyes flickered to Inuyasha. That's when I remembered we had an audience. Reluctantly I pulled away from him. We both stood up, but it was a useless effort. The entire cave began to shake. It began to take the form of flesh. The three of us were shocked. I fell down first. My impact made me sink even lower into the ground. As I continued to sink, I realized we all were being pulled. The boys' feet were completely submerged and I lost my arms and everything below my waist.
Another shake of the flesh cave sent them to their knees. They were being swallowed up faster. Bankotsu reached out to me. He didn't want me out of his sight. I was able to pull the arm closest to him out. We locked hands before we were pulled under.
It was fast. Almost as if we were in a current. Soon my lungs began burning for air; there wasn't enough to breathe. I couldn't see him, but his hand was still in mine and that comforted me. At least until I hit my head on something. The last of the air in my lungs blew out of me. His hand tightened around mine as I slowly loosened my grip. Unwillingly my hand fell out of his grasp and I fell into unconsciousness.
