Author: I'm so evil, I know, this chapter is so short. It's just to tide you over until the next one, where the long-awaited Inuyasha Kagome lemo will take place. R and R!
Inuyasha sat with his back against a rock, arms folded and in his lap as he watched the others sleeping. The fire had died to the point where it was merely glowing embers, but he didn't see the point in stoking it back to the roaring blaze it had been only moments ago. He knew only a force of great power could perish light and warmth so quickly, yet puzzlement clouded his face, as he sensed no evil aura.
Not even Sango or Miroku were awakened, as they usually were when a demon approached, and Inuyasha grew so restless that he ended up standing, looking back at Kagome briefly before turning and walking into the trees.
"Inuyasha." His name whispered through the branches and foliage above him, and Inuyasha instinctively grasped Tetsuiga, a frown crossing his face as a familiar scent wafting to him.
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha said softly, slowing as he reached a small brook where the group had gathered earlier to get water. His eyes grew softer as he saw the priestess standing by the edge of the brook, head held high.
"I have returned, to tell you that I have regained enough strength to once more pursue Naraku." Kikyo started forward, pausing only when she was directly in front of Inuyasha. "When I have killed him, we will both be free." She took one more step forward, their torso's brushing.
Inuyasha hesitated. "Kikyo-I-..."
Kikyo smiled faintly. "I have missed you Inuyasha...Once Naraku is dead, we can be together again, can't we?" She whispered, lips inches from Inuyasha's.
Inuyasha started to step back, heart torn in two. When Kikyo's lips met his, he felt all his old feelings for her flare up, and failed to see the pair of eyes watching from the trees. Slowly, he slid his arms around Kikyo's waist, then an arrow whizzed through the air and into Kikyo's side, carrying all the way through to a tree.
"That wasn't her, Inuyasha." A voice said from the direction the arrow had come from. The voice sounded choked, as though laced in tears. Inuyasha turned to see Kagome standing there stonily, bow held in her hands. "I can't believe you couldn't tell. That was an echo of her spirit," She pointed to a piece of white fabric, stained with Kikyo's blood. "You prefer her, over me, don't you?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, so soft he could barely hear it.
"She's right, you know, Inuyasha." Kikyo's voice drifted down from the tree overhead. "I wanted to see..." She dropped down near him, not having heard Kagome's question. "Do not pursue Naraku, this is not your battle." She said bitterly, turning and walking in the opposite direction.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome, but saw nothing on her face other than stony acceptance. He turned and bolted after Kikyo. "Wait!" He caught her arm, and she looked back at him, surprised. "Did you mean that? What your incarnation said? About us?"
Kikyo frowned. "Of course not. I thought perhaps with that sort of distraction, you wouldn't want to pursue Naraku. It is good that you have Kagome." She said, starting to turn away again. He held her arm tightly.
"You mean, you don't love me?" He couldn't help himself.
She looked at him with a pitying gaze. "No, Inuyasha. But I think Kagome does." She removed his hand gently from her arm. "You better return, lest you lose her as well. You have a chance for happiness, with her." She vanished in a swirl of light, soul collectors all around her.
Inuyasha returned to the clearing by the brook, and saw Kagome standing with her arms folded, gazing at the water.
"Inuyasha, I can't deal with this." She said softly. "I love you, but as long as you continue to go after Kikyo, I can't be with you."
Inuyasha approached her, starting to lay one hand on her shoulder. "Kagome..."
Kagome shrugged away his hand, turning to face him furiously. "No, Inuyasha!" She snarled. "I need an answer now. Who are you going to choose? Me or Kikyo?"
Inuyasha frowned. "That's not fair, Kagome."
Kagome shook her head. "Maybe not, but it's fitting right now. Who are you going to choose? You can't have us both."
Inuyasha opened his mouth as though to speak, but could find no words.
Kagome nodded. "I thought so." She said softly, and started to turn away.
"You have a chance for happiness with her..." Kikyo's words came back to him, and he darted forward, taking Kagome around the waist and pulling her close.
"From this moment on, I choose you." He whispered, kissing her passionately on the lips. When he pulled away, Kagome still looked distrusting. "I have longed for Kikyo, for so long. I thought nothing would stop me from giving up on her, no force on earth. But the thought of losing you is an even stronger fear."
Kagome's eyes filled with tears, and she smiled, throwing her arms around his neck. For a moment, they stood locked in an embrace, then slowly, Kagome pulled back and brushed her lips against his. Inuyasha swept her into his arms and turned, accidently shoving her back into a tree as passion began flaring in both of them. Neither noticed, even when Kagome's back was flat against the tree trunk and their hands began roaming.
"Inuyasha..." Kagome's voice almost came out as a whine as Inuyasha pulled away.
"It's not the new moon Kagome." Inuyasha said softly.
"What if I want to become a Hanyou?" Kagome said sharply, kissing Inuyasha again softly, almost trying to entice him back into their embrace.
Inuyasha smiled. "If you ever bear me a child, you will become a Hanyou. But that is different." He said, pulling her close. "The new moon is tomorrow, can you wait that long?" He whispered.
Kagome looked up at him. "I think you're worth it." She murmured.
