Light Me A Lantern

by Novaviis

Picking up the pieces after being separated for three years isn't as easy as it may seem. A quiet, burning kind of chaos sweeps through Feudal Japan, and it's going to take a lot more than a fairy tale ending to put things back together. They defeated a man who would become the Devil. Can they survive a man who would become a God?

11. Chapter 11

Well, it's been a hectic month, but I'm here. Moving from home up to Ottawa for school was more work than I was prepared for that's for sure, but I survived, and now here I am settled into my first apartment! So, I hope you're excuse my month long absence, shit is crazy.

Just an update on the Light Me A Lantern Audio Play. The first chapter is just about done and I'm beyond excited. We've got almost everyone casted, recorded, and all of the audio mixed. We're just waiting on a few bits, and we'll be releasing it soon. That being said for chapter two, we are still looking for Miroku and Takuya. After that, we'll need Masao and Yorino. If you or anyone you know might be interested, let me know!

Now, coming up to this chapter. The scene you'll read at the end of the chapter is pretty much the seed that started it all, a simple little fantasy that the entire plot of Light Me A Lantern grew out of. I'm just hoping I did it justice to what I've had in my head since March!

As always, enjoy!

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Rin ducked under a plank of wood carried between two village men as she chased after Jun and Kei, shouting her apology over her shoulder when they protested. The dogs had been acting out of sorts lately, and their restless behaviour was beginning to grate on the nerves of their neighbours. They really didn't need any more of a reason for the villagers to be cross with them, and so there Rin found herself, trying to get the dogs under control to avoid any more annoyances.

It wasn't an easy task.

Narrowly dodging another plank, she skidded barefoot in the dirt and tried to run around a hut to catch the dogs off guard. That plank, along with many others, was on its way to the fire pit being built in the centre of the village. A festival was being held for Lord Masao and his Warriors as a small thanks for protecting them from the impending threat of War. As wary of the newcomers as she was, Rin was looking forward to a fun party. It wasn't exactly the first thing on her mind though, currently too preoccupied with rounding up Jun and Kei to think of much else. Rounding the hut with the dogs on the other side, Rin raced to the corner and lunged at them. Her fingers just barely grazed Jun's tail as she slipped in a puddle from the last day's rain and fell face first into the mud.

"You'd better be careful!" A deep voice chuckled from above her. Slowly pushing herself off the ground, Rin glanced up to find one of the soldiers kneeling down in front of her with his hand extended. She hesitantly took it, letting him pull her to her feet. "You shouldn't have been running around like that." He laughed. "Look, you've gone and ruined your fine kimono before the festival!"

Rin looked down at herself and pouted. She was covered head to toe in mud, her kimono ripped and stained from the fall. "It's alright," She sighed as she tried to comb the mud from her hair. "I have more."

The man raised a brow in amusement. "You do? How could you afford them?" It was no secret in the ranks of Masao's men that this girl was an orphan taken in by the village Priestess. Such a poor girl could never hope for enough money to buy more than a modest spare.

Rin shrugged indifferently, too busy with cleaning herself off to be offended. "They were gifts."

The soldier smiled warmly. "Ah, so you must have a wealthy suitor trying to win your heart."

Rin shook her head. "No, I don't have one of those."

Smile gradually falling from his face, the Soldier looked down at her with growing suspicion. "Then who are they from?"

"They're gifts from my Lord."

"Impossible, why would Lord Masao give gifts to a silly little girl?" He chuckled.

Rin frowned, her lip stiffening in a pout. "No. Don't be stupid. Lord Sesshomaru brings them when he comes to visit me."

"Who-"

"Hey, Rin." In a flash of crimson and white, Inuyasha dropped down from above and landed deftly in front of her. "The hell did you do?"

Rin looked down at herself, the mud drying and caking against her skin. "I slipped."

"Yeah, no kidding." The Hanyou laughed under his breath. "Sango and Miroku are taking the kids down to the river to wash up before the festival. Go with them, you need it."

Rin beamed up at him. "Okay!' She chirped, hugging his leg with a tight squeeze as she ran off toward Kagome's hut. The moment she was gone, Inuyasha turned to the Soldier with a snarl. "Leave the girl alone."

The soldier stood up straighter under the heated glare of the Hanyou, his lip curling in disgust. "She is not your property, beast. I know how your kind thinks." He accused.

"Rin is no one's property, but she damn well shouldn't have to put up with bastards like you interrogating her." Inuyasha snapped.

The soldier scoffed. "She shouldn't have to put up with monsters like you in her home!"

A roar of agreement met his proclamation. Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat as he turned around to suddenly find them surrounded by villagers and soldiers eagerly cheering on his opponent. In the heat of his anger he hadn't even noticed them gathering, nor did he notice Kagome pushing her way through to him. "Inuyasha has been taking care of Rin with Lady Kaede for years, he is nothing but kind to her." She argued in his defence.

Kagome turned to the crowd, silently begging for them to see reason. A troubled looking young woman took a step forward to say something, the defence falling silent off her tongue when her sister pulled her back. Beside them, a Samurai watched the siblings with a warning gaze, his hand twitching to the hit of his katanna. They shrunk back into the crowd, looking back at their Priestess with apologies in their eyes.

Kagome didn't know what terrified her more. That most villagers truly believed in the Samurai's preaching, or that those who didn't were threatened into silence.

"Priestess." The warrior sneered. "Our outpost, protecting your village, is always in need of more lumber. Keep that in mind the next time you open your mouth."

Like the young woman in the crowd, Kagome's protest fell silent off her tongue, heart sinking in pure fear. Those men would follow threw on that threat, she didn't doubt it for a moment. Before she could shake herself from her stunned daze, Inuyasha was stepping in front of her.

The soldier remained unmoved by his silent threat. "Keep this up, and you'll end up like the last beast we-"

"Shut up." Inuyasha hissed. He still hadn't told her...

The soldier tensed, his eyes darting from the Hanyou before him and something out past the crowd. A look of frustration flickered over his face. "My apologies." He forced through gritted teeth, staring past Inuyasha to Kagome. "I do hope you'll forgive me for my rudeness... please don't let this stop you from attending the festival tonight. It would be a shame for the village's esteemed Priestess to be missing." With that, he turned his back on them and pushed his way through the crowd, disappearing into the masses.

Inuyasha snarled, every bone in his body roaring to go after him, only to feel them silenced with Kagome's touch against his shoulder. The crowd was dispersing, but he could still feel their glares burning into the skin of his back. He briefly caught Kagome's gaze, his troubled expression mirrored in her own. Nothing needed to be said. "Come on." She dropped the tension from her shoulders and smiled, offering him her hand. He took it without hesitation.

The distant stacking of wood for the fire pit, the sizzling fish cooked over open fires, and the hum of excited chatter bombarded his ears in a less than pleasant reminder of what the festivities meant. He couldn't walk through the village without being glared at, faces that had once welcomed and accepted him turning sour and fearful with his presence. Ever since that Warlord had arrived, it had been down hill for him. This wasn't something he could fight his way out of, as the decorations hanging from every hut reminded him. Now, as he made his way through the village he had called home for three years, he was surrounded by the last of his crafts sold to the Merchant hanging in the doorways. .

They hung his lanterns but wouldn't look him in the eyes.

Eager to get away from the crowds, Inuyasha followed Kagome up to the Shrine. As she started her daily chores, he perched on a tree branch above her and simply watched. High over the village, the sounds of growing excitement below could be ignored in favour of Kagome's sweeping broom and her quiet humming. Still, it wasn't long before she broke the silence.

"Listen, Inuyasha... maybe it would be best for you to leave the village for a while."

Inuyasha's eyes snapped down to meet hers. "What?" He growled.

Kagome rolled her eyes. She knew he'd react like this. "Just until things simmer down-"

"Have you lost your mind?!" The Hanyou leapt down to land before her. "Do you honestly think for a second that I'm going to leave you here alone with them?!" He shouted, gesturing wildly down the hill.

"I'm just worried about you! Things are getting hostile, you can't blame me!"

"Save it."

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

"Like you're one to talk!"

"You're both stubborn if you ask me." Takuya interrupted as he climbed the last few steps up to the Shrine. With matching glares, the bickering duo averted their gazes, begrudgingly accepting that their arguing was getting them nowhere. "You can't afford to be at each others throats at a time like this."

"You're right." Kagome sighed, letting her eyes flicker back to Inuyasha's. She still believed that she was right in her instincts, but there was no use in shouting at each other. Of course, he had started it... but she was quick to let that go. Picking up from where she left off in sweeping the shrine, she busied herself for only a few moments before her mind began to wander. "Inuyasha..." She trailed off, bristles stilling against the stone. "Before, when that man said "you'll end up like the last beast," you cut him off so quickly... did you know what he was talking about?"

Inuyasha froze, breath caught in his throat. There was no avoiding the subject now; he couldn't lie to her. Thinking quickly, he looked to the Priest and nodded his head toward the stairs, silently asking for some privacy. Without question, understanding the deep sadness in the young man's eyes, Takuya nodded and left immediately despite having just arrived. He knew enough to see that this was something the two needed to talk about alone.

Kagome immediately caught on, her stomach churning in growing anxiety. Seeing her paling face, Inuyasha gently tugged her into his arms. "Before the rain a few days back, Myoga came to me with news." He began slowly. "He told me that Masao's men had taken a village not far from here and killed a demon living amoung the humans."

Kagome's brows furrowed. "I remember hearing a few of the soldiers talking about that in the market."

Inuyasha nodded, taking a deep breath. "But they got it wrong. It wasn't a demon, it was a half-demon." Kagome's face washed of all colour, their talk of a giant creature not putting up much of a fight echoing in her ears with dread. "Kagome... it was Jinenji."

"What?" Kagome breathed despite her suspicion.

"I'm sorry." Inuyasha sighed, cringing at the tears gathering in her eyes. "I wanted to tell you, but I knew it would hurt and I just didn't have the guts to do it."

"No, no, don't be sorry, it's just..." She drew in a quivering breath, "...scary. He didn't deserve that." Kagome bit her lip just to keep from bursting into tears. She couldn't break down right now, as much as she desperately wanted to. The gentle giant could be mourned when she could do it properly. But that didn't stop the tears from falling.

"Hey..."Inuyasha frowned and pushed the pad of his thumb gently against her bottom lip to free it from her teeth. "Don't do that." His fingers lingered, brushing against her lips. "It'll be fine. I won't let anything happen."

Kagome had never in her life doubted Inuyasha when he told her that he would make everything okay, but as the lanterns in the village began to glow under the darkening sky and the music rose up on the breeze, she couldn't ignore the foreboding dread clinging to her chest. "I should go..." Who knew what the Warriors would do if she refused to celebrate their invasion of her village?

"I'm going with you." Inuyasha's hold around her tightened.

Kagome shook her head. "Inuyasha, you know they're just going to start something again."

"Let'em." Inuyasha shrugged. "If I can't stop you from going then I'm not letting you go alone. End of discussion."

After all they'd been through, Kagome knew there would be no changing his mind once he set it to something like this. To tell the truth, as much as the news of Jinenji's demise shook her, she didn't want to be anywhere without Inuyasha that night. Still, as they descended from the Shrine together, trepidation overwhelmed her every thought. She could feel them, standing precariously on the edge, one push away from tipping over. For a moment, she could feel herself falling, a blood eclipse looming above. They stepped under a red Lantern, her eyes travelling up to stare at the dancing flame inside. All over the village, the flames danced and people danced around the flames. Passing through the torii gate, she felt with a surreal understanding that this was the edge, the final step.

"Kagome!" Rin ran to her with the few other village girls her age, their hair in silk ribbons and kimonos fluttering around them. "Come on, everyone's dancing, it's so much fun!" Grinning in blissful innocence, she took Kagome's free hand and tugged her toward the fire. The other girls insistently tugged on her hakama and kimono sleeve, chanting "Come with us, Lady Kagome!", "We'll show you how to dance!", "Dance with us, Lady Kagome!"

Their excitement contagious, Kagome laughed and let them tug her along, looking back at Inuyasha with an apologetic smile. He didn't put up a fight about it, so she supposed it wouldn't hurt. If she was going to have to endure this festival and what it meant, then she might as well enjoy herself just to spite those who truly celebrated it.

Inuyasha watched Kagome go, letting his hand fall back to his side, his palm cold where her warmth had been. Try as he might, he couldn't shake the anxiety seizing his every heartbeat. It thrummed through his veins, demanding his attention.

Of course, he ignored it.

Stuffing his hands into his haori sleeves, Inuyasha followed a good distance behind Kagome, just close enough to keep her in sight. As he got closer to the bonfire, the centre of the dancing, he searched through the overwhelming bombardment of his senses until he found Miroku and Sango. They were sitting apart from the festivities, under a tree at the edge of the fire's light. Sango was on her feet, bent over to hold each of her daughters' hands, and dancing with them. Miroku watched from where he sat against the trunk, bouncing Mamoru on his knee. The moment Inuyasha approached, the twins squealed in delight and ran toward him, hands reaching up to be held. Grinning down at them, the Hanyou swooped them into either arm. "Looks like you're having fun."

Sayuri giggled and tugged on his ear. "Inu dance with us!" She chirped. Umeko simply contented herself to playing with the enchanted beads around his neck, watching them reflect the firelight.

"Hey, what'd I say about the ears, kid?" He said with no real conviction, twitching them out of her grasp just to make her laugh.

Sango smiled teasingly at him. "Maybe you should dance with them, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha shook his head and set the girls back on their unsteady feet. "Oh no. I don't dance."

"Suit yourself." She shrugged as her daughters flocked back to her for more dancing.

Standing back for a moment, Inuyasha watched as Sango held the twins and swayed with them to the rhythm of the music, her feet marking circles in the dirt as she moved between him and the fire. All he could see of his friend was her dark silhouette, but still he knew the smile on her face when she looked at her children would outshine the moon. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Miroku cradling his son against his chest as he tired out, pressing his lips against the boy's palm. They had both escaped their demons, but it became clear to him with every glare he felt burning into his back that he would never escape his.

Dropping himself beside Miroku, Inuyasha sighed and idly reached over to ruffle Mamoru's hair as he dozed off. "Everyone seems to be having fun." He commented.

Miroku nodded, looking up to gaze out over the crowd but finding that his eyes didn't travel much farther than his wife. He smiled. "Sango didn't even want to come, but the twins were begging us. They were just so excited about a festival, they didn't even know what it was for. I guess it's easy to let your guard down with things like this when all someone you love wants is to dance."

Inuyasha scoffed. "I don't see you dancing, Monk."

"Someone has to take care of Mamoru, and who am I to deny my wife the pleasure?"

"Please, you just want the pleasure of watching her."

"You wound me."

Inuyasha laughed despite himself, nudging his friend in the side without disturbing the sleeping infant. As he slumped against the tree, getting as comfortable as he would allow himself, he found his gaze once again scanning over the crowd. Everywhere he looked there was laughter and celebration. Masao's Warriors blended to completely into the villagers that he wouldn't be able to tell them from each other if it weren't for their katannas and guns glinting in the ever-dancing light. Just as he was beginning to wonder why they would need to bring their weapons to a simple festival, an entirely different light catching his eye through the darkness. His face softened, lips twitching up into the slightest smile as he watched Kagome from across the fire.

Rin and the village girls were doing their best to teach Kagome how to dance, giggling when the graceless Priestess stumbled with every foreign step. Still, her laughter could be heard across the valley. As Inuyasha watched her, time seemed to slow, every twirl spun her flowing kimono and raven hair, glowing under the light of his lanterns.

"No, Lady Kagome, like this!" One of the girls tried to instruct her, laughing at her uncoordinated footwork.

"I'm trying!" Kagome laughed over the music. They moved with the crowd revolving around the fire until the lights were nothing but streaks in her vision, but it all came to a stunned hault when she saw him. Lord Masao was sitting at the edge of the dancing circle on a modest blanket, surrounded by his men. Their faces were rosy with gifted sake, their laughter loud and boisterous. It made her stomach churn. Behind them, Captain Yorino stood with his back straight and his hands clasped behind his back as he observed the merriment and refused to take part in it. It wasn't long before the flow of the dancing forced her to keep moving, and her sight of them was cut off. That was alright, though. It was replaced with a far better sight.

Breaking off from the crowd, Kagome ran to Inuyasha where he sat with Miroku and grabbed his hands. "Come on, dance with me!" She cheered, tugging him to his feet.

"What? No, Kagome, I don't- hey!" Inuyasha struggled to find an argument, his protest flying off his tongue as she pulled up him and dragged him into the circle.

Before he could refuse, she was dancing again, an unbalanced mess as she twirled and skipped with the flow of the crowd. When she noticed he was doing nothing but stumbling along behind her, trying to get himself out of this, she only laughed and took his hands again. Kagome beamed up at him as she spun the both of them, completely set apart from the other dancers. This was completely foreign to him, her guidance strange and like nothing he'd seen. But there was a gorgeous kind of innocence radiating about her, and soon enough, he was drawn in. Laughing at her turned into laughing with her as he let her lead, struggling just to keep up. Not a single glare or murmur of hate was sent his way, and even if there was, he wouldn't have noticed. All that existed in all the world was Inuyasha and Kagome.

The music stopped on a final beat, but Kagome's momentum kept her going until she bumped into her dance partner's chest, his arms instantly wrapping around her to keep her steady. Laughing as she righted herself, she gazed up at Inuyasha with a breathless smile. He smiled back.

The pulse cut straight through his entire being. With a strangled yelp, Inuyasha shoved Kagome away from him, hands flying to his head as he stumbled back.

Kagome's heart stopped cold in her chest. "Inuyasha?"

It all became too overwhelming; the people, the sound, the smells, the incessant flickering of light covering every inch of his surroundings. Inuyasha struggled to fill his lungs as fire and fury shot through his veins and engulfed every inch of him. He couldn't stop it. He knew it was coming, he could feel it happening, but he still wasn't able to recover his mind before it slipped into darkness. With an ethereal growl, the Hanyou's head snapped up.

Kagome gasped, met with glowing ice blue irises swimming in red. Fangs elongated, sickly violet markings crawling down his cheeks, she recognized it with a stab of pure terror. "Inuyasha?!"

He didn't respond. Roaring in unbridled fury, he lashed out against the nearest victim, slashing through the fence keeping the fire at bay. Bystanders screamed and fled from the dancing circle as it collapsed, the flames shooting into the sky. Kagome raised her arms to shield herself from the flash and smoke, stumbling away with coughs shaking her frame. Before she could see clearly, Inuyasha's silhouette was leaping through the smoke, ripping through anything in his way. The ropes holding up his lanterns severed under his claws, falling in a crumpled heap.

"Inuyasha, stop! What's wrong?!" Kagome shouted, running after him only to feel Sango's arms around her, holding her back.

"Kagome, no! He can't recognize us!" She pleaded, knowing just how much her friend would want to go to him. "Rin! Take the children and run back to our hut!"

Sprinting toward them from the frantic crowd, the young girl skidded to a stop and looked back at Inuyasha. "But-"

"Go!"

Not far from them, Inuyasha let out a feral growl, echoing off the huts surrounding them. Rin's argument was cut short. Running to Miroku, she took Mamoru in her arms and held Umeko's hand with Sayuri latched onto her sister's and guided them to safety.

Miroku watched them go with a silent prayer of protection before running to Sango and Kagome. Takuya stumbled through the stampede of terrified villagers running the opposite way to join them. "What happened? Why has he transformed?" Miroku asked urgently.

The old Priest stared at them in wild confusion. "What on earth happened to him?!"

"I-I don't know, he just- we were dancing, and suddenly i-it was like he couldn't control it!" Kagome rambled in absolute panic, cringing at a blast of shattering wood. Eyes snapping to the transformed Hanyou, she watched as he gripped his head and slammed himself against the wall of a nearby hut; the neighbouring home already lying in ruin. Over and over he threw himself back, locked in an internal struggle. He was fighting to gain control. "Inuyasha!" She screamed, slipping from Sango's hold long enough to escape. Sprinting across the dirt, she rushed to him despite Miroku and Sango's protests. She wasn't thinking clearly; all she knew was that he needed her.

But she couldn't get close before he threw her back with no reservation of strength.

Kagome skidded across the ground, ignoring the sting on her skin as she scrambled up on her hands and knees. Inuyasha's battle seemed to finally go quiet, and for a moment, she dared let herself believe that he won. Slowly, he lifted his head, staring back at her with no recognition in his demonic gaze. He took a step toward her. Kagome froze. Only the creaking of a bow being pulled back seemed to take Inuyasha's attention off of her. Spinning around in a lightening fast blur, his claws cut through an arrow before it could hit him, slicing it out of the air. He barred his teeth at the archer, finding that a group of men had taken their bows from their home and returned to attach him. The moment the Hanyou set his sights on them though, not another arrow was fired. They shrunk back in fear as Inuyasha stalked toward them, every step deliberate and predatory.

He was going to kill them. Without a second's hesitation, he was going to rip those men apart if she didn't do something now. Thinking quick, Kagome took in a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs, two words she hadn't uttered together in years.

"INUYASHA, SIT!"

The effect was immediate. The beads around Inuyasha's neck began to glow, diverting his attention and immobilizing him all at once. Even for all his strength as a transformed Youkai, he couldn't fight them as they dragged him toward the earth, his body gradually giving into the enchantment. In a blinding flash, he was slammed against the dirt, the sound slicing through the chaotic shouts around them. Only silence was left as a cloud of dirt settled in the air, dispersing on the wind to reveal Inuyasha collapsed on the ground. Groaning in agony, he lifted his head up, golden irises locking gazes with Kagome.

The village erupted into barked orders, Masao's men throwing ropes and nets over Inuyasha's body. His weakened struggling got him nowhere, eyes snapping back to Kagome in panic before he was dragged away.

"No!" Kagome cried, scrambling to her feet. She had barely the chance to run after them before the soldiers took hold of her from either side and held her back. "Let him go! Let him go, it wasn't his fault! Inuyasha!" Behind her, Miroku and Sango's shouts echoed with hers as they too were seized. The three of them were pushed forward, forced to watch from the far side.

Inuyasha grunted as he was unceremoniously shoved to the ground at Masao's feet. The Warlord didn't spare him a single glance as he held his head high and addressed the crowd. "My loyal people! I tried to warn you about where tolerating demons would bring you, and look what has become of it!" He gestured down to the panting Hanyou. "This is a Monster playing as a Man! Open your eyes! Was it a coincidence that his claw markings were found destroying goods in the market? Was it a coincidence that he was the last one seen with your beloved late Priestess?!"

"He killed Lady Kaede!" A shout rose up from the crowd, spurring on manic cheers.

"This is a personal matter. I respect that." Lord Masao announced. "The decision is yours to make. What will do do with him?"

Their cries were unanimous. Waves upon waves of the same judgement rang out until the mountains quaked with their verdict. Destroy him. Exterminate him. Kill him.

"NO!" Kagome shrieked, struggling against her captors in wild desperation.

The clicks of loading guns were the only sounds to overpower the crowd's roar, the soldiers forming a circle around Inuyasha, barrels pointed to the sky as they waited for the command. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free of his bonds, he couldn't fight back. His power and strength were drained, and they weren't going to stop until he was dead.

Kagome didn't know why it caught her eyes in a moment like this, but it did. All at once stilling, she slowly looked up the hill to the distant shrine. With the massive flames behind them, two reflections glinted back at her. One, bright and clear, and the other beside it dull in comparison, the Sister Graves looked down on what was transpiring below and told Kagome exactly what she needed to do. Standing apart from the crowd, Takuya followed her gaze, understanding settling on his worn face as he nodded his approval. His silent reassurance was all she needed. She could do this. She was ready.

"WAIT!" Kagome screamed, watching Masao's hand pause in the air before he could give his men the order to fire. As his attention snapped to her, she stood up straight and matched his steady gaze. "If anyone is going to kill him, it's going to be me."

A hush fell over the village. Even the young Warlord's hand fell back to his side as all eyes turned to the Priestess. In her eyes, she gave nothing away, her cold stare telling him she meant every word. Miroku and Sango looked to her in stunned silence before exchanging a knowing glance. She was planning something.

With all the attention focused on her, Kagome continued. "Consider it a final farewell. A fight on fair terms."

Lord Masao's face showed his honest concern. "You believe you can take him?"

"I know I can."

Shocked whispers burned at her ears, but Kagome paid them no mind, refusing to take her eyes off the young Warlord. Finally, he gave a firm nod, gesturing for Kagome's captors to release her. A bow was wordlessly pushed into her hands by one of the men before she could even stand on her own, the quiver slung over her shoulder. "Release him from his bonds." She ordered.

Without questions, the soldiers surrounding Inuyasha parted, one stepping up to cut the netting. The rope fell in heaps to the ground. Inuyasha caught himself on his hands before he could fall forward. When he looked up at Kagome, though his eyes were tired and weak, there was no shock. There was no betrayal. Only deep trust.

Kagome would have broken down right there, but she forced herself to remain calm and distant as she notched an arrow to her bow string. "No one interferes."

Lord Masao nodded. "As you wish. The best of luck to you, Lady Kagome." The way he said it made it sound like a game, a silly hunt, but she knew his intentions. If she fell, he would have his men kill Inuyasha. She wouldn't let that happen.

Turning back to Inuyasha, she pulled the arrow back and aimed, whispering so quietly that only he could possibly hear. "Run."

And with that, she let go. The arrow stuck itself in the dirt where Inuyasha had been kneeling seconds before, the Hanyou flipping backwards without half the grace of his full strength. The two of them were off in an instant, their mock battle captivating the villagers as they watched. Kagome aimed and fired arrow after arrow, always a second too late as Inuyasha evaded every shot. They were putting on a show, but Kagome knew Inuyasha wouldn't last much longer, and so she began to force him out of the village, chasing him across the rice paddies and into the forest until the blazing fire was nothing but a dim glow. The villagers and soldiers followed after them at a great distance, their footsteps advancing. Once they were out of their sight, she stopped firing, just focusing on running after the flashes of red through the trees ahead of her.

They both knew where they were going. Breaking through the trees and into the clearing, Inuyasha stumbled to a stop in front of the Sacred Tree, staring up at the branches looming overhead. At the sound of Kagome entering behind him, he turned to her with his back against the bark and nodded solemnly in understanding of what they were about to do. They had been here before.

Kagome skidded to a stop, her chest heaving for breath. The glow of the villagers following behind began to glow through the trees. They didn't have time. Eyes locked, a tear slipped down her cheek. "I love you."

Inuyasha released a trembling breath. "I love you."

The moment the onlookers approached, he leapt at Kagome with a savage growl, claws tensed to strike. He didn't have the chance before the Priestess pulled back on her bow and released a glowing white arrow, pinning him to the tree behind him. His pained shout was the only true part of their act, and it killed her. As Kagome watched, Inuyasha succumbed to the spell, his body going limp against the tree.

The villagers said nothing at the sight they came upon, holding the slain Hanyou's own lanterns to see his corpse. Kagome looked back at them from over her shoulder, equally silent. One word, and she knew she would have lost it. The crowd parted as Lord Masao entered the clearing, placing a gentle hand on Kagome's shoulder. "I am not a cold hearted monster. I know this must have been hard for you." He sighed. "But you'll come to realize that this is for the best. Sentimentality would have destroyed your home, he would have turned eventually. I'm just glad you saw the right path in time." Biting her lip, Kagome nodded, stomach churning as she saw the Godstone hanging from his neck glowing a faint blue light. Lord Masao waited for her to respond, but soon picked up on what he assumed was her delicate state of mind. "I will give you some time to gather yourself."

Eventually, they all followed him out of the forest and back to the village, their cheers of celebration and victory fading with distance. Only two remained. Once they were alone, Sango crashed to her knees beside Kagome and pulled her into a tight embrace. That was all it took for her to break down, her body shaking with every sob. She knew she had done it to protect him, but that didn't make seeing Inuyasha's body pinned against Goshinboku in nothing but moonlight any less mortifying. Miroku knelt down beside them and rubbed comforting circles over Kagome's back, holding his wife in his other arm as they both stared at the tree. It was something they'd heard about in stories, of how the Hanyou had been sealed until Kagome released him, sleeping for fifty years. Seeing it was completely different. Seeing it made them realize that it didn't look like he was sleeping; it looked like he was dead.

"W-We have to wait." Kagome managed to force out once she'd calmed down, pulling back to look at her friends. "We have to give it time."

Miroku sighed in understanding. "Come on, let's get back. You can stay with us." Rin and the children were probably scared out of their minds, and he loathed the idea of leaving them alone any longer.

Kagome rose to her feet, wiping her face with her kimono sleeve. "Thank you." The last thing she wanted to do was leave Inuyasha there, but she couldn't stay there. It would ruin their only chance. At the very least, she didn't have to sleep in her own hut. It was too close to the festival, and too empty without him. As Sango and Miroku began to make their way toward the edge of the clearing, waiting patiently for her to follow, Kagome took one last look at Inuyasha, her gaze rising to the branches spreading out in a canopy above him.

"Protect him, Kaede."

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I'm an asshole. But hey, feel free to tell me how much of an asshole I am in a Review! Until next time, I'm leaving y'all right there.