The Bond of Silver and Gold

Chapter 12: A Candle In A Hurricane

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the original characters, plot, or storyline. I only own my fan-made character and her story.

A couple days passed, and all was quiet since Naraku went into hiding to regain his strength after his run in with Chelsea. Though things seemed relatively normal, things between Chelsea and Inuyasha were really strange. When the group was walking along a trail, Inuyasha would have Kagome on his back while Chelsea walked behind the group, using Sango and Miroku as a barricade. When they would gather around a fire, if Inuyasha sat down beside her, she'd walked off shortly after.

It was things like this; small tedious acts that were making Inuyasha go crazy on the inside. What the hell had he done? Why was she so distant and cold toward him, but fine with everyone else? He thought of all the possible reasons, but it never occurred to him really that she started acting that way after she had finished speaking with Kagome.

One night, Inuyasha decided to distance himself from the group in a nearby tree. He didn't want Chelsea to have to get up and leave just because he was there. He felt himself breaking into pieces on the inside. Even when he tried to talk to her, she'd ask if it could wait or make up some other lame excuse. He was going insane trying to figure out what he had done.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said at the base of the tree looking up, "it's time to eat."

"I'm not hungry," murmured Inuyasha.

"Come on, you haven't been eating well and you need your strength," Kagome replied worried.

He hopped down to the ground and looked into her eyes longingly. Maybe Kagome knew? "Kagome," he started, "Do you know why Chelsea… hates me?" his ears seemed to almost lower in sadness, "I dunno if it's because I fell asleep on her that night at your house or the fact that my face reminds her of Isamu, or what? But one minute she was fine. She was happy to see me, and happy to be here… and then suddenly, it's like I don't even exist anymore…"

Kagome felt a wave of guilt wash over her body. She had noticed it too, but tried to keep a straight face around Inuyasha. She could tell it was completely destroying him on the inside. She needed to speak with Chelsea and get this whole thing resolved. This wasn't what she wanted at all. She just wanted Inuyasha to be happy… but right now he definitely wasn't, "Maybe you should talk to her," how could she say it might have been her fault? How would she put that into words without Inuyasha barking at her?

"She'll just blow me off again," he sighed, heading back to camp with his head hung low.

"Inuyasha…" whispered Kagome sorrowfully.

When Inuyasha returned to camp, Chelsea wasn't there. The others knew that she was the one he was looking for, "She went to take a walk," informed Sango.

Inuyasha sat down, staring quietly at the ground. His expression was so sullen. Maybe Kagome was right… maybe if he just tried one more time, but what if she refused his attention again. It was piss him off to no end!

Chelsea had made it to another clearing on the other side of the trees nearby camp. She sat in the grass quietly, and covered her face with her hands. She was crying, in silent hysterics. Dying to catch her breath, no, just one breath of him. If she could just hold him in her arms for a single second… if she could just feel his lips against hers just once, she wouldn't be selfish ever again… just one moment of selfishness. She needed Inuyasha. Every night up until now she had done this same routine: Exile, self-punishment, and forced happy smile in the morning.

From the ground erupted a centipede demon, ready to tear Chelsea's head off. As she went to blast the beast with her light energy, she was struck frozen, "What's going on? How come I can't summon my light?" she started to panic, as the centipede tried to head-butt her into the ground. She just barely dodged, her leg getting a nick from one of the centipede's many legs. She was lying on the ground, frightened by just how unbalanced she was, "My powers… they're gone."

As the centipede came up for another strike, the declaration of "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" raged through the air and sliced the demon into a thousand pieces that were carried off into the night wind. Inuyasha landed in front of her, smelling her blood the moment the demon injured her, "Are you alright?"

Chelsea was at a loss for words, as tears just started crashing from her eyes like waterfalls, "Inuyasha," she whimpered his name, "I think I'm… normal now…"

Inuyasha was taken off guard by her response to his entrance, "What?"

"I can't summon my light anymore," Chelsea informed.

Inuyasha was blown away by this. Kneeling down in front of her he stared her deeply in the eyes; "Are you serious?" he had a hard time mustering up the words.

"Positive…" If Inuyasha hadn't shown up, she'd have died. She suddenly felt completely useless.

Inuyasha took her leg in his hands gingerly, examining the flesh wound, "He scratched ya, but I think you'll be okay."

Chelsea blushed deeply and pulled her leg away. No matter how much she desired his touch, she had to pull away, "Thanks for saving me."

He slowly stood to his feet, and turned away from her, "It is because of that night at Kagome's isn't it?" he mumbled.

"What?" she asked.

"You're mad at me… because I got so close to you that night at Kagome's. It happened while I was sleeping, I didn't mean to offend you," Inuyasha was talking so quickly Chelsea needed time to process the words.

"Inuyasha, I don't know what you're talking about. I was glad you trusted me enough to sleep against me," she replied.

"But…" he said looking over his shoulder, "I thought you feared guys getting close to you because of how those men treated you."

"Well yeah, but that doesn't mean I mind you being close to me," she answered.

"Is it because my face is his?" he growled, turning toward her.

"Isamu? Why are you bringing him up?" she wondered.

"Why do you hate me!" he finally boomed.

"Since when do I hate you?" barked Chelsea.

"I don't know! That's what I want to know! Ever since we came back to this time you've been avoiding me at all turns!" Inuyasha came closer to her, "Don't you know you've been driving me crazy!" their faces were inches apart, staring each other down.

Chelsea felt herself start to tear up, but choked it back, "I could never ever, ever hate you Inuyasha."

"Then what is it?" he asked, nearly pleading, "Tell me, so I can fix it and we can move on," He felt so torn, "You've been just steps away from me, finally, but…" his voice trailed off, "but it feels like we're years apart from one another."

Chelsea felt a stab to her heart. She had to figure out how to say it, "It just seemed to really bother Kagome that I was so close to you, and all the attention I was getting from everyone since I came back… I just felt really guilty."

"Why does that matter?" he asked.

"It does matter. Kagome's feelings matter to me," Chelsea sighed.

"What about my feelings?" Inuyasha questioned, his tone confused and frustrated.

"How can you say something like that? All it does is make me feel bad. You're willing to put my happiness over yours? What about Inuyasha? What about how he feels?"

Chelsea recalled Kagome's words. Kagome knew Inuyasha better than she thought. Chelsea stared down at the ground quietly, collecting her thoughts.

"I don't know what Kagome has to do with this, and I'll talk to her if I have to, but I want to know why you're treating me like some stranger," Inuyasha stepped closer.

Chelsea realized all along she had been the selfish one. She hadn't taken into account how Inuyasha felt. She figured there was no way he could ever care about her this much, but reflecting back on all they had been through, how could they not care about one another. They were one in the same, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you," she finally spoke, "I… I've been going crazy… trying to keep myself from you so maybe Kagome could talk with you more… like we do… since that's always seemed to be the issue… but I just can't do it anymore…" she looked up at him with tear filled eyes, "So I won't anymore… if you can forgive me."

Inuyasha felt a rush of relief as he nearly squeezed the life out of her in an embrace, "You're so stupid."

Chelsea started to laugh at his insult, but the laughter turned into sobbing as she buried her face into his shoulder.

"Is there something else wrong?" he whispered.

Chelsea shook her head, "I just… really… needed this. Your touch…" Inuyasha felt moved by her words, "Thank you… for not giving up on me…"

He shook his head and smirked, "I'd never give up on you." His words were genuine.

Kagome and others watched from the trees, "Thank goodness…" thought Kagome. She was tired of how things were turning out, and Inuyasha finally looked happy once more.

Still there was the issue of Chelsea being powerless. How did that happen? As those thoughts crept into her mind, she realized she wasn't just crying because of the moment she was sharing with Inuyasha, but the utter uselessness that she felt deep inside. What had happened to her light abilities? Her freedom to take flight? All of it: gone.

The group decided to go back to Kaede and see if the wise old woman could figure out what was going on, "Ye can't summon your light powers?" asked the old woman in surprise.

"For some reason, I can't even feel it inside me any longer," answered Chelsea.

Kaede thought this through, "Perhaps by having that out of body experience from before, your spirit felt vulnerable, which awakened it's true potential. Since your soul now rests inside your body—"

The voice of a flea full of wisdom cut Kaeda off as he leapt onto Inuyasha's shoulder, "Your powers are in a state of dormancy," he finished.

"Myoga, it's you." Inuyasha said, glancing at the flea.

"Hello Master Inuyasha," he said starting to suck the blood from the half demon's neck, "long time no see!"

Inuyasha smacked the flea, causing him to fall to the ground.

"Dormancy?" asked Chelsea.

"My thoughts exactly," murmured Kaede.

"Tell me," Myoga started, recovering from the blow, "When did you first start using your powers? What caused them to awaken in the first place?"

Chelsea thought it over, "I felt threatened by a gang of bandits."

"It would appear that your powers rely deeply on your emotions," Kaede informed her.

"Precisely," agreed Myoga, "Your instincts essentially took over in that instance, and from your soul sprang your true potential. When your soul returned to the body it inhabited after your boast with Naraku, it felt safe and secure once more and simply reverted back into its state of dormancy."

"It's just a hunch," Kaede explained, "but perhaps if you were put on the edge of your limits once more, the abilities you possessed might resurface once more. Not only that, but you'd possibly be even stronger."

"Why's that Kaede?" asked Kagome.

"Obviously Chelsea has a fragile soul. Through each traumatic experience that she survives, her body, heart, mind and soul mend and grow stronger. By unleashing the power in her soul once more, it's undoubtedly true she would be stronger," Kaede said, pouring Kagome a fresh cup of tea.

Myoga thought differently however, "I'm sorry to say this, but I think I have to disagree from this point," the group turned their attention back to the wise old flea, "It is true that if the soul were to resurface, your strength and power would increase, but you being just a mortal girl who hadn't possessed her abilities long, well, it would take time to unleash such power again. There's a great chance it will never happen again."

Chelsea felt her heart stop at his words.

"Not to mention the fact that you were so reckless in your battle with Naraku. You essentially blew up your powers and your soul along with it. Your soul has been injured, and for it to resurface as your light powers would be well… the odds are against you," Myoga explained, "You pushed too hard, your soul no longer trusts you, and your body is now imbalanced."

Chelsea felt herself start to tremble. She couldn't believe it. So there was close to no way of being powerful again?

Kaede saw the old flea's point, "However child, ye are special, which he failed to take into account," she wanted to give the girl something to believe in, "I've never met a mortal who could do the things you do. You even surpassed my older sister Kikyo, whose spiritual prowess was impressive beyond measure," she looked Chelsea straight into her eyes, "Don't sell ye-self short based on a formality. I see great things for you."

Chelsea stood to her feet, "Thank you Lady Kaede, Myoga." She nodded and exited the hut.

Myoga looked to Kaede, "I understand your thoughts, but don't you think it's a little hopeless. Humans are not strong. They're fragile things, and break in the slightness of breeze. If she were even a half-demon I would say she stands a chance, but—"

"—Ye are also selling the girl short," Kaede said sternly, "because of what ye said, ye have only crimpled her soul more," she looked to the girl's friends, "It is best not to lose hope, but better to let her leave with something to believe in. I've seen that look in many of these other kids' faces. Not only did ye manage to put in her head that she cannot summon her abilities ever again, but ye made her blame herself for the dormancy of said abilities. Such negativity could only separate her heart and soul more."

Myoga felt glares shooting at him from all directions of the room, as a pool of sweat puddled below him, "Whelp, that's my cue!" he said disappearing before Inuyasha could get a tightly clasped fist around him.

"Poor Chelsea," murmured Kagome, running her index finger along the rim of her cup.

"A woman's heart is more sensitive than that of a man's. A man would take such words as a challenge and push himself, but with Chelsea, being someone who has already been through quite the level of stress no woman should have to face, I imagine she's feeling pretty hopeless right now," Miroku explained.

"She wants to help us defeat Naraku. I bet she feels that now her powers are gone, she can't," Kagome said, trying to pinpoint what Chelsea might be thinking.

"That's not true," mumbled Inuyasha getting to his feet and exiting Kaede's house. He followed Chelsea's scent to the find her sitting under a shade tree, looking deep in thought. Sitting down beside her, he tried to be positive, in his own way, "Don't beat yourself up about this. I know you can do it."

Her voice was so monotone, "But what if I can't?" she sighed, "What if they never awaken? I'll just get in the way Inuyasha. You already have Kagome to protect; you don't need me distracting you on the battlefield too."

"How can you even say that?" Inuyasha said looking at the clouds, "Do you think anything has changed?" he cautiously put his hand over top of hers, "I told you a long time ago I'd protect you right? That hasn't changed."

"But I lost the one thing that got us closer together. The fact that I had abilities against the odds, me being one of a kind, that's what made us so alike… now that that's gone I feel so far away from you again," Chelsea sadly smiled to herself, "You don't need a useless person like me around."

"But that's where you're wrong," Inuyasha said, turning to her, "I don't need your light powers or power of flight or whatever else you're capable of. I need you, Chelsea." He said genuinely, "I need you behind me, believing in me. That's all I've ever needed from you," he took her hand in his, "If it means that much to you, then me and the others will help you try to get your powers back. It's not hopeless."

Chelsea still wore the look of sadness across her face, but put on a smile for Inuyasha's sake, "Alright."

Author's notes: Darn Myoga kicking a girl while she's down. =] Glad Inuyasha still believes in her and hopefully that'll help her regain her strength. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading and please review! =D

"And I will walk on water

And you will catch me if I fall

And I will get lost into your eyes

I know everything will be alright

I know everything is alright."

~Storm, Lifehouse