Cloud sat silently staring at the fire. He was now holding Kagome on his lap, his arms around her holding her tight. She had her face in his chest crying. Everyone was quite. They were all staring at Cloud and Kagome.
"Kagome is very lucky to have you, Cloud," Sango said breaking the silence.
"I guess," Cloud reply.
"So what you telling is…….did that bastard……..did he……did he…..," Inuyasha could not finish the question. He never knew about Kagome's past. It hurt him to know about what happen to her. But her scent was still innocent.
"No, he didn't. I stopped him before he did," Cloud said looking down at Kagome. "But she still suffered. I should have grabbed her and ran away when that boy told her to run. I should have stopped her from even leaving the park," Cloud said tightening his hold on her. He stared back at the fire.
"It was not your fault," Miroku told him.
"I knew that man was up to no good and I failed to warn her," Cloud said still staring at the fire.
"But you just a kid," Inuyasha said standing up. Miroku and Sango turn to look at Inuyasha in surprise. Cloud looks up at Inuyasha.
"I was her friend and a good friend should have prevented it," Cloud said looking back down at Kagome.
While they were talking Kagome was deep in thought. 'I can't believe I forgot that. How did I forget it?' she wondered. She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. 'I feel so safe in Cloud's arms. I am lucky to have him. It was him. He helped me forget. Cloud you just don't know how grateful I am to have you.' She thought getting sleepy. She finished crying and now it is time to forget and live happy with her friends. 'Cloud you don't know how much I missed you. You don't know how much I lo…' she fell asleep.
Cloud was still holding her. He looks down to her and saw that she was asleep.
"Please forgive me for opening old wounds," he whispered. He lowered his head closer to her. He presses his lips to her forehead and kissed her. Miroku and Sango look at Inuyasha and his expression was murderous.
"Enough," Sesshomaru said. He was keeping a very cool face but blood was dripping from his fist. It was taking so much will power to keep him from killing him. He knew that Cloud means a lot to his miko but he will have him kissing her. Miroku and Sango was looking at Sesshomaru to Cloud to Inuyasha, they were waiting for an explosion.
"Kagome do want to sleep?" Inuyasha ask wanting to get her out of Cloud's arms.
"She is sleeping," Cloud said quietly.
"Then lay Kagome down," Sesshomaru said a little demanding. Cloud reached for Kagome's bag and pulled out a blanket. He covered her up with it and pulled his bag behind him and laid back on it.
"I believe she is comfortable the way she is. If she wasn't, she would not have sleep in my arms." Cloud said determined to keep her in his arms. Sesshomaru got up and walk away. He will not let this human get the better of him again. He will not lose control. He thought it was best if he stayed away from Cloud before he kill him. 'If I kill him, Kagome will hate me. I don't want her to hate me. I want her to love me. Wait! What am I thinking?' Sesshomaru thought still walking away.
"I don't care if she is comfortable. She has her own sleeping bag." Inuyasha said getting loud.
"Inuyasha, you are going to wake her up," Sango said. Sango got up, took out Kagome's sleeping bag and the extra blanket that Kagome brought. She laid out the sleeping bag and blanket and made it as comfortable as possible.
"There! She should be comfortable Cloud," Sango said patting the blanket. Cloud got up and lay her down. As soon as he laid her down, Shippo and Rin took their place on each side of Kagome. Cloud covered them up with the blanket he took out and sat beside them. Inuyasha sat on the other side Kagome. Miroku and Sango stared at them for a few minutes before say, "You kids better play nice. Kagome will not stand the both of you acting like fools." Miroku and Sango went to sleep. Inuyasha and Cloud glared at each other until they got tired.
They all got up early in the morning and continue their way. Kagome went to look for Sesshomaru again because there was not sign of him even staying with them last night. His excuse to her was that he kept watch around them. They got back with the rest of the group and kept walking. Everyone hardly talk. No one was sure about what to talk about. The whole story about Kagome's past was still in their minds. Kagome was getting a little annoyed by it. 'If they have something to say, they should just say it.' She thought frowning. She was walking beside Cloud and he sense that something was bothering her. So he finally brought put the question that he wanted to ask.
"So Kagome….. I been wanting to ask you something,"
"What's that?"
"How do you……..you know….make Inuyasha hit the ground?" Cloud asks looking behind Inuyasha. Inuyasha's ears twitched, which means he was listening. Cloud wanted him to turn around so he could see his face, but they kept walking.
"Oh that? Well Inuyasha is wearing the Beads of Subjugation. So if he starts any trouble I just say.." she was cut off.
"Don't do it Kagome!" Inuyasha said half irritated and half threatening.
"Sorry Inuyasha. I just say the magic word and he goes down"
"I didn't know you have that kind of magical power?" Cloud said.
"No, its not magic exactly. Kaede put it on him and told me to say a word to overcome him when………" She stops. She really did want to say that Inuyasha tried to kill her.
"When he what?" Cloud asks narrowing his eyes at Inuyasha.
"When he tried to take the jewel from me"
"I see"
"Cloud?"
"Yes"
"I have a present for you sort of"
"You do?"
"Well remember I told you that I would write you everyday?"
"Yes but I see why you didn't write me everyday"
"I want to give you this," Kagome handed him the notebook that she have been writing in everyday.
"Thank you. What is it?"
"I have been writing in it everyday since I started my journey here. It is like a diary."
Cloud stared at her, "You are giving me your diary?"
"Yes but its like a diary but its not. It's a record of all the things that's been going on here."
"Okay," he opens the notebook and a smile crept up his face.
"Kagome"
"Yes?"
"Why did you name your diary Cloud?"
"Its was the only way for me to tell you the truth but as you can see, I never send these letters to you because I thought you might think I was crazy."
"Maybe at first but I would have believe you"
"Go on and read it. It will answer every question you might have."
"Do you not wish to talk to me?"
Kagome gasp, "No…I mean …..uh, there is a lot to talk about and I thought it would be easier just to give the notebook to you because I was going to give it to you anyway"
"Kagome calm down. I knew what you meant. Do me a favor while I read?"
"What is that?"
"Can you play your music?"
"Sure"
Kagome got out her flute and played. Cloud open up the notebook again and started to read. Kagome played for almost an hour. She felt better playing; she can play forever if she could but……….Cloud grab his sword and pointed it at Inuyasha.
"Cloud what are you doing?" Kagome ask looking scared at the angry look in his face. Cloud then turn to Sesshomaru and point his sword at him also. Inuyasha unsheathe his Tetsusaiga and pointed it at him. Sesshomaru just stared at him like if Cloud was boring him. 'Oh no. I know why he is upset,' Kagome thought. Miroku and Sango were wondering what happen for Cloud to change is attitude all of a sudden. Rin ran in front of Sesshomaru and scream, "NO! Don't hurt my lord." Sesshomaru push her aside not taking his eyes off Cloud.
"What is the meaning of this human?"
"You tried to kill Kagome and you too," Cloud turn to look at Inuyasha.
"I did try to kill her but she is not dead," Sesshomaru said looking at Kagome.
"I will never hurt Kagome," Inuyasha half yelled.
"Why?" Cloud question was for Kagome.
"Why what?" she ask walking closer to him.
"Why are they your friends when they tried to kill you?"
"That was in the past Cloud. Inuyasha would never hurt me and I respect Sesshomaru and he does me too."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because we been though a lot and I trust them. Now lets continue walking, we have another hour or two before its time to stop for lunch."
Cloud slowly put away his sword. He looks at Kagome with a worried expression. He was feeling that Kagome is just as gullible like she was when she was little. He walks close beside her. Inuyasha didn't like to be reminded that he tried to hurt Kagome when they first met. Sesshomaru was looking like he didn't care but inside he was also feeling the pain of being reminded that he tried to kill his miko.
The rest of the day was very uneventful. They had some small talk and the usual silence. Kagome played her flute and even showed Rin how to play a few notes. Cloud continues reading the notebook that Kagome gave him. Miroku got slaped by Sango. Inuyasha hits Shippo on the head and Kagome sat him. Sesshomaru walked in silence with Jaken trailing behind.
Before night fell they made camp again. This time Kagome took out some fruit she packed up shared it with everyone. Inuyasha of course had his Ramen. Kagome wanted to take Cloud's mind off the whole Inuyasha & Sesshomaru killing her thing so she started,
"Cloud you have an interesting sword."
"Hm?"
"I said you have an interesting sword."
"My Sword?"
"Yea, it looks different than the one I seen in the picture that Zack send me."
"It is different"
"So tell me"
"My Buster Sword is now made up of 6 different swords."
"So this one is new. What happen to the old one?"
"I left it with Zack"
"Zack? Cloud how come Zack didn't come with you to see me? I miss him too."
Cloud look down, he didn't know how to break it to her. Her second friend that acted more like a big brother to her is dead.
"I'm sorry Kagome, but Zack…….he died."
"Wha….," she lost her breathe. "What?... Why?... How?"
"After we battled Sephiroth, we ran. We were trying to escape Shinra completely. We managed to get out of the city, but we were ambushed. Hundreds of SOLDIERs came for us. I was still a little out of it. Their main target was me. Zack order me to run, but I just hide until I got my strength back. Zack took out most all of them. I helped him some, but I guess I was just in the way. I had my back turn to one of the SOLDIERs; he was going to kill me. Zack pushed me aside and he took the sword to his gut and bullets in his chest. I manage to finish off the remaining SOLDIERs. When I went back to Zack he told me to live for the both of us. He said I was his legacy and I will live for him. He gave me his sword and said that his dreams and honor was mine." Cloud then look up to the night sky.
"Zack saved you," Kagome said with sad tears.
"He did"
"How come you didn't write to me about Zack?"
"Zack would be furious with me if I wrote it in a letter. He was like your big brother, remember."
"He was like your big brother too Cloud," Kagome said giving him a hug. "But you just said that you left the sword with Zack….How did you give it back?"
"I went back to AVALANCHE and"
"AVALANCHE?"
"The resistance group against Shinra. I went back to them; they made me their leader for a while. We did what we can to bring down the agency. What I don't understand is how Septhiroth was there? He just won't stay dead. He killed Aeris. She was Zack's girl. That bastard even got Cid, Barret, and Yuffie."
"He killed all your friends in the resistance?"
"No. I managed to save Tifa and Vincent is immortal but he was severely injured. He took longer than usual to heal. I helped them and I found a doctor to help us. That is when I found out about my Geostigma. Since there was nothing else we can do, I told Tifa and Vincent to contact me when they recovered. I went back to the place where Zack died and left his sword there, sticking out of the earth."
"And then you decided to come back to me, right?"
"Right"
"Cloud I never knew……… I wished I could have been there with you"
"Zack would not allow that Kagome. He would make you go back home where you are safe. Well…….where he thinks you are safe," Cloud said glaring at Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Pain shot his arm again. He made a fist and grunt at the pain. Kagome tried to rub his arm to ease the pain but Cloud jerk away from her.
"Please, I don't think it is contagious but I don't want to risk it with you," he said moving away from her.
"But.." she began.
"Kagome don't get too close," Inuyasha warned her. She turns to look at Inuyasha then back at Cloud.
"Cloud I want to help you, but I don't know what to do? I need to be here with Inuyasha and fix the jewel"
"The only thing I want you to do is play your music and be happy Kagome. I will be here with you"
"Cloud, are you sure. Its not like being on vacation here. We fight demons and my might get injured."
"I am sure"
"Lets get some sleep Kagome," Sango said pulling her away from Cloud.
"Yea, I'm getting pretty tired. Good night Cloud," Kagome said giving him a hug. Cloud hugs her back.
"Good night Kagome," Cloud replied.
Miroku got up to hug Kagome good night also, which was a little weird but when he hug Sango, he rub her bottom. 'That's why he hugged me. He wanted to catch Sango off guard' Kagome thought.
SLAP
"Lecherous monk," Sango spat.
"He will never learn," Shippo said shaking his head.
Before Kagome lay down to sleep she bid good night also to Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. Their reply was, "Hn" and "Feh." She frowned at them, and then lay down with Rin and Shippo.