Weight of the World

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine, so these characters are not mine.

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Chapter Seven

Inuyasha flicked the third sacred shard at Kikyo. The demon decomposed, turning from solid flesh to dust. It had been a few days since he'd last seen Kagome, and he was still disturbed by her anger. Kikyo hadn't said much to him, and when he returned from watching Kagome at night she never said a thing. He still went to see Kagome, though he stayed down wind and out of sight. Sesshomaru had caught him every time, but he said nothing.

"Are you going to her tonight?" Kikyo said, putting the shard in her pocket.

He said nothing.

"I know where you go at night, Inuyasha. Why do you try to hide it from me?"

"I'm not hiding anything from you." He walked away from her, into the forest.

Her soul collectors surrounded him as she walked with him. "Why are you so cold to me?"

Inuyasha stopped and looked at her, truly looked at her. He had been avoiding her since she had decided to follow him. She was beautiful, the essence of everything he had ever wanted in a woman. Her brown eyes looked up at him, wide and open. She placed a cold hand on his chest and stepped close to him, their bodies touching. His thoughts became dazed as she leaned into him, her lips brushing against him. His eyes closed and he embraced her, leaning into the kiss. Kagome, he thought. He pushed her away.

She narrowed her eyes. "Do you love me?"

He sighed, running a hand over his face. "Yes."

"Then why do you push me away?" she said, grabbing his face and forcing him to look into her eyes.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "You are dead."

She pulled away from him, her eyes flashing at him. "That didn't stop you before."

He looked up at the sky. "I was stupid."

She crossed her arms. "You were never very bright," she muttered.

"What did you say?" He grabbed her arm.

She laughed. "I manipulated you; Naraku manipulated you; even my incarnation manipulates you. Do you have an original thought in that thick head of yours?" she said, knocking on his head with her free hand.

His eyes narrowed. "You were manipulated by Naraku as well, and Kagome does not manipulate me; she loves me."

"Keep telling yourself that," she said, shaking him off her. "Go to the little bitch. I do not need you anymore." She walked away from him, grabbing her bow and arrows.

"Kikyo," he said, grabbing her from behind and hugging her to him. "I love you," he whispered in her ear, "but you are not enough for me, not anymore. When you were alive, 50 years ago, I would have been happy—but now there is another."

If she could have cried, Kikyo imagined she would have. But her body was made of bones and graveyard dirt; she had no tears to shed. So she pulled away from him, and walked away, not looking back.

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Inuyasha sat on a tree at the edge of the forest by Kaede's village, watching Kagome as she tutored Rin with the bow. The sun shown down on the village in a cloudless sky. Kagome laughed at some joke Rin told her, gently pushing the little girl. He smiled.

"Little brother." Sesshomaru landed in a tree next to his, leaning against it.

Inuyasha said nothing.

"Are you just going to watch her for the rest of your life?"

"Are you?" he replied, nodding at Rin.

Sesshomaru looked at his ward. "She is young."

Inuyasha tilted his head in Sesshomaru's direction, looking at the dog demon from the corner of his eye. "Is that your plan for her?"

"I have no plan for Rin. She is free to do what she wants."

Inuyasha scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"If she wants to go, she can."

"You make it so she never wants to go."

"Was that your plan? Hurting the miko so she had the choice to go?" Sesshomaru said, his tone biting.

Inuyasha flinched. "I never meant to hurt her," he said softly.

"But you did."

"Yes!" Inuyasha snarled. "I did! And now I suffer." He scratched irritably at his head.

Sesshomaru laughed, his voice deep and rich, and Rin heard and looked at him, smiling.

"Why are you laughing at me?"

Sesshomaru stopped suddenly, his face stoic again. "You continue your suffering needlessly."

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha said, but Sesshomaru jumped down from the tree and walked away, saying nothing.

Could it be that Kagome still wanted him? Could she possibly forgive him for his idiotic behavior? Hadn't he pushed her too far? Hadn't she used her sacred powers against him the other night? Had he misread her behavior? Could she still love him?

Kagome and Rin walked into the village with Sesshomaru, the little girl's hands holding both Kagome's and Sesshomaru's. He sat in his tree, deep in thought.

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"Inuyasha was in the tree next to Lord Sesshomaru," Rin informed Kagome as they walked into the village.

"Was he?" she said, looking at Sesshomaru from the corner of her eye.

He grunted.

"How did you know?" Kagome said, looking at Rin.

"I heard my Lord laugh," she said, giggling.

"Rin," Sesshomaru said, the tips of his ears turning red.

"I'm sorry, my Lord. Was I not supposed to say anything?"

"Inuyasha was indeed in the forest," he said, changing the subject.

Kagome nodded. "It is the night of the new moon. He will need shelter."

"Why?" Rin asked.

"Hanyou's turn into humans one night a month; Inuyasha's is the night of the new moon," Kagome said.

"Do you have to tell everyone that?" a voice said from behind her.

Kagome stopped, releasing Rin's hand. She turned around slowly. "Inuyasha," she whispered.

"Come, Rin," Sesshomaru said, pulling the girl gently away.

They stood looking at each other for a moment in silence. Kagome looked at him from head-to-toe, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the way his hands trembled. She peered behind him and saw no soul collectors in the distance. "Where's Kikyo?"

"She's gone." His voice was low, his amber eyes deep. He took a step towards her.

She stepped back. "Don't," she said, putting up a hand to ward him off.

He stopped.

"I can't; I can't do it anymore. I can't wait around for you anymore." Her voice trembled.

She wanted him to come back, wanted him to hold her and tell her it was over between him and Kikyo. But she knew it was never going to be over, not until Kikyo was dust, not until the dead priestess was gone from this plane of existence. She missed him, missed him so much she ached. Her knees were weak and she was barely able to hold herself up as he stood no more than five feet away from her.

"You don't have to," he said, stepping forward again.

"Yes, I do. I will have to wait until she dies, and I can't wait anymore."

He put a clawed hand on her face, caressing her cheek down to her neck. "No," he said, their bodies almost touching. "You won't."

The last of the suns rays faded. Inuyasha's hair went from silver to black, his claws retracted, and his dog ears disappeared, replaced with his human ears. Kagome closed her eyes as he leaned in and kissed her, his hand cupping her face. She whispered his name when he pulled away from her. His brown eyes stared into hers.

"Inuyasha!" she cried, grabbing him and sobbing onto his shoulder.

He held her, feeling her body shake as she cried, running his hands down her back. "I'm here," he said softly. "I'm not leaving you again."

She pulled away from him and sniffled. "You know you're going to do it eventually," she said, rubbing her nose.

He snorted. "Do you have no faith in me?"

"Not when it comes to Kikyo," she replied, pushing him gently.

"Believe me, I don't want to be anywhere near he now; she was driving me insane." He rolled his eyes.

She laughed.

He smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" she asked, holding his hand as they walked to the sacred tree.

"It's been awhile since I heard you laugh."

"That's hard to believe," she said, under her breath.

"I may be human but I still have ears. What's that supposed to mean?"

"You've been watching me for at least the passed several days; even Rin caught you," she said, leaning into his shoulder.

"You knew?"

"I'm not stupid. I knew you couldn't stay away from me." Her voice was low and dangerous.

They were in the grove of the sacred tree; only starlight shown down through the trees. She placed her hand on his chest and looked up into his face. "Inuyasha," she whispered before she kissed him.

He wrapped her in his arms, deepening the kiss, running his hands down her back. She moaned and leaned into him, causing them to fall down onto the ground. Her hair fell down around them and she laughed, kissing him lightly on the lips. He rolled them so he was on top and nuzzled her neck. They played, rolling around until they were spent, and then leaned against the tree, looking up at the stars.

"Stay with me forever," Kagome whispered. She closed her eyes.

He hugged her tighter to his body. "I will."

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"Lady Kagome!" Rin called, her hands cupped around her mouth to amplify the sound.

Kagome and Inuyasha stirred. "Rin," she said softly. She opened her eyes; it was still dark.

"We should go back," he said, shaking her.

"Yeah," she yawned, "before they start to get worried."

"They're already worried; can't you hear Rin?" he said helping her up.

They walked, hand-in-hand, to the village, passing the bone-eater's well.

"Go home!" a voice screamed as they reached the well. Kagome felt the feathers of a sacred arrow fly passed her cheek.

Inuyasha jumped in front of her, his hand on Tetsaiga. "Kikyo," he said.

The dead priestess stepped out of the trees, her soul collectors lighting the grove. Another arrow was nocked and pointed at Kagome. "Go home and never return," she said, her eyes narrowed.

"No," Kagome said, reaching for her bow and arrow and finding nothing there. She paled. She was defenseless. Inuyasha stood between her and Kikyo, and he was human.

"Then die!" Kikyo screamed and released the arrow.

Kikyo's arrow was knocked out of the way in mid-flight by Rin's arrow. "Stupid girl," Kikyo said, grabbing another arrow.

"Kikyo," Sesshomaru said, stepping from the shadows.

Her eyes narrowed but she turned away from Rin; she knew when she was outmatched. She nocked another arrow.

"Lady Kagome!" Rin called and tossed Kagome the bow and arrows. Kagome caught them, and soon she and Kikyo were staring each other down, each with an arrow primed and ready-to-go.

"This is my fight, Kagome; go," Inuyasha said, pulling the Tetsaiga from its sheath.

"No, Inuyasha. This is between me and Kikyo," Kagome said, her voice steady.

"Kagome-"

"You're human."

"I'm not defenseless!" he said.

"Time's up!" Kikyo said, releasing her arrow.

Kagome shot her own and dodged out of the way of Kikyo's. Before she could get another arrow going Kikyo released another.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried, jumping in front of her. The arrow caught him in the shoulder and he grunted in pain, sinking to the ground.

"Inuyasha!" she cried, catching him as he fell, the bow and arrows discarded. She held him. "Why did you do that?"

He smiled weakly. "Just returning the favor."

Tears streamed down her face. "But, I would-"

"Have been dead," he said. "Besides, it's just a flesh wound." He grimaced as the arrow dug into his shoulder.

Kikyo laughed.

Kagome's head snapped up and she glared at her. "Don't you love him?"

Her laughter died. "Yes," she whispered. Another arrow pointed at Kagome. "I am a much better shot than you; he will live." She released the arrow.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled, trying to push her out of the way.

Why would Kikyo do this? Was she insane?

"Enough!" Kagome screamed, her sacred power flaring out, disintegrating the arrow. She gently extracted herself from Inuyasha and stood. She stalked towards Kikyo. "You," she said, pointing at Kikyo, "you are a part of me. I will not let you hold me down anymore. You have been weighing me down, and now, I want you back—I want to control you—now!"

Kikyo stepped back, her eyes wide. Kagome's power surrounded her. The souls began to depart from her body. "No!" She is taking back my soul! Kagome's eyes glowed pink.

"Kagome, don't!" Inuyasha screamed behind her.

Kagome didn't hear him.

The sun peaked above the trees, flooding the grove. Inuyasha got up, pulling the arrow from his shoulder, and ran to Kagome. "Kagome!" he said, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to look at him. "Don't do this; this isn't you!" He pulled her into a violent embrace, his claws cradling her head. "I need you; I love you just as you are," he whispered in her ears.

Kagome sighed, her body collapsing. He loved her. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent. Her power retracted back into her body, and she clung to him, horrified at what she had almost done. "Oh my God!" Tears streamed down her face, soaking his clothes.

"Shh," he said, stroking her head. "Nothing happened; you're all right."

Kikyo drew a shuddering breath and watched them. The girl had almost taken her soul back. Her soul collectors swirled around, throwing souls into her body. She stood, using the bow to support her and walked away.

"Kikyo!" Kagome called after the dead priestess. She stepped away from Inuyasha.

Kikyo stopped but didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry," Kagome said softly.

"It was your right," Kikyo said. "I shouldn't have tried to kill us."

Kagome watched as Kikyo disappeared into the forest. It had never occurred to her that if she died, Kikyo may die too. They were—after all—made from the same soul, and Kagome held most of the soul in her body. Could the small piece that contained Kikyo's essence survive without the larger whole? Who knew. Her death may have ended both their suffering.

Inuyasha's knees wobbled and he sank to the ground.

"Inuyasha!" she said, running to him.

"Kagome." He leaned against her, his eyes closed. "It's over."

"What are you talking about? You're going to be fine."

He smiled and rolled his eyes. "Stupid."

"Hey!"

He got up and kneeled before her. "It's just you and me now."

Kagome's breath caught in her throat. His amber eyes stared into her brown ones as he leaned in and kissed her, a soft passionate kiss.

A low whistle sounded from their left.

"Get a room," Shippo said, hopping over to them.

Inuyasha smile and knocked him on his head.

"Ow! Kagome, Inuyasha's being mean." He scurried behind her, sticking his tongue at Inuyasha.

"Why you-"

"Inuyasha-"

"No, wait, I'm hurt-"

"Sit boy!"

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R & R. One more chapter left.