So sorry for the long wait on this update...This chapter was a real struggle for me. My muse abandoned me, and while the last chapter carried me along, this one fought me every step of the way...Hope it reads better than it wrote...Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I keep begging Takahasi-san...she just won't let me have him!!!
Chapter 14
Leader of the Pack
Kagome felt peace envelope her senses as the shifting lights of the well's portal surrounded them. She was still holding onto Inuyasha's hand when they emerged on the other side of the well. Kagome lifted her eyes to the crystal clear azure sky above them and smiled.
"Welcome home, Kagome," Inuyasha said softly. He scooped her up, laughing at her squeak of suprise, and jumped to the top of the well. He landed softly in the cool grass, letting the clean air wash over them.
Kagome rested her head on his shoulder, gazing at her surroundings. A pair of small birds chirped, playfully chasing one another through the trees. In the distance, she heard children's laughter as they played by the river. Yes, she thought happily, this is where I belong...this is home for me. "It's so beautiful here," Kagome said softly as Inuyasha set her feet down, but not removing his arm from around her waist. She refused to think of the reason they were here, determined to enjoy each moment. Drink in each peaceful second, let her mind weave their dreams of her future. Kagome snuggled closer, releasing a sigh of contentment. They walked in comfortable silence to the village.
The villagers greeted them happily as the couple passed the rice beds and fields bieng prepared for the spring planting. Everything around them seemed so green, full of the promise of new life. One of the village women sent her child racing off to find Keade. When they reached the village, Kagome was almost tackled by a flying ball of fur.
"Kagome! You're back! I missed you so much!" Shippo's shrill cries of excitement peirced the serene quiet of the village.
"I missed you, Shippo," Kagome laughed, giving the young kitsune a hard squeeze. "Where is everyone?"
"Keade went to check on a little girl who has been terribly sick, and Miroku and Sango took off a few days ago to visit her village. They should be back later today." Shippo finally looked at Inuyasha, his eyes going wide in shock. "Hey, Inuyasha, what happened to you? Why are you wearing those strange...whatever they are?"
Inuyasha had picked himself up, and quickly stepped in front of Kagome. "Oi, hag! What's with the attitude?"
This seemed to snap Keade out of her anger. "Inuyasha," there was a hesitation in her step towards him, her voice vibrating with anxiety, "Kagome's aura..."
"Yeah, that's why we are back early..." He relaxed his stance, no longer feeling a threat from the old woman.
Kagome tugged at the back of Inuyasha's shirt. "Can we take this inside?" she asked nervously. A crowd of villagers were starting to gather, staring at the strange goings-on of the small group.
"Yes," Keade answered, turning in the direction of her hut. Once inside, she went straight to the fire pit and stirred the dying embers back to life. "Sit child, and tell me what has happened since you left." The priestess never looked directly at Kagome as she spoke, simply put a pot of water over the fire and prepared three cups of tea.
Kagome shot an anxious glance at Inuyasha, who simply inclined his head. It was an action that silently told her, 'it's your story, but I'm here if you need me.' Shippo, for once, sat silently between her and Inuyasha. Not certain how to begin, Kagome hesitated, then whispered, " I don't know what's happened. When I - we- returned to my era, everything seemed normal...I was busy studying for my final exams, doing the same things I've always done whenever I went home...
"Then last night," Kagome paused. Dear God, she thought in disbelief, has it really only been less than twenty-four hours ago? She took a shuddering breath, fighting for the strength to get through this. "Last night, Inuyasha told me how terrible I looked, and that I was hardly eating, hardly sleeping. I tried to tell him I felt fine, which was true. I felt like I had this incredible well-spring of energy lately. But he made me take a break from my studies..." She paused again, and smiled softly at Inuyasha as remembered the time they had spent nestled in the protective limbs of the Sacred Tree.
"Continue child," Keade said, the calmness in her voice belying the anxiety that coursed through her.
"Well, I went to bed, but awoke a few hours later. I had this incredible feeling of restlessness, so I got up and looked for Inuyasha. When I could not find him, I found myself walking to the well house. I just stood there, not sure why I felt this pull to go through the well. That was when I became aware of this little voice in my head, nagging at me, 'You don't need him...he wants to stay here, remember?' I thought 'no, we said we would return together..."
Inuyasha looked at her, suprise written all over his face. "Kagome, why didn't you tell me that?"
"I-I just now remembered it...It was like a war between my head and my heart." Her eyes began to glaze over, there was a haunted look shimmering in their depths that truely scared Inuyasha. "I couldn't stop it...over and over it taunted me, 'Return us! Take us back through the well!' Over...and over...and over..." The feelings of resentment and anguish the voice instilled in Kagome then flooded her memory.
Inuyasha grasped her shoulders, and shook her sharply. Kagome's head just swayed with the motion, her eyes unfocused and staring. Fear coursed through him as the pulsing blue aura flared to life around her. "Kagome," he shouted, trying to get her attention, "Stop this! Come back to me! Kagome!"
Shippo backed away, not understanding what had just happened. Why was Inuyasha screaming at Kagome like that? He was gonna end up shaking Kagome's head off if he kept it up much longer! "Stop it, Inuyasha!" He jumped on the hanyou's head, and began pulling on his ears, trying desperately to make Inuyasha stop. "Your gonna hurt Kagome!"
Inuyasha shook the kitsune off him, yelling in frustration, "Damn it, Shippo! Can't you see it?" Turning his focus back to Kagome, he saw something that shot fear through his heart like a sharp knife. Her eyes were changing from the dark brown he loved to red...demon red. Inuyasha begged her, "Please, Kagome, come back...don't- don't do this!"
"Inuyasha, back away from her!" Keade yelled. She rose, amazingly fast for a woman of her age and size, and strode determinedly toward them. "Now!" she commanded impatiently. Inuyasha released Kagome reluctantly. The priestess placed her hands on either side of Kagome's head, muttering some incantation. Immediately, Kagome let out a blood curdling scream, causing him to lay his sensitive ears flat against his head. He grabbed the kitsune out of mid-air when Shippo lunged to try and stop Keade from hurting Kagome. Inuyasha held the child close to his chest, restraining the squirming body, and backed away from the pair of struggling mikos.
Shippo watched, eyes wide with fear as Kagome clutched both hands to her chest, writhing and shrieking in what seemed unbearable, excruciating pain. Keade never stopped chanting when Kagome's screams increased in volume as she clawed frantically at the spot where the Shikon no Tama was nestled in her body. Unable to take it anymore, Shippo turned pleading eyes to Inuyasha. "Make her stop, Inuyasha!" he sobbed. "Why is she torturing Kagome? I thought you were supposed to protect her! Make Keade stop!"
"I- I can't, Shippo," Inuyasha said, tightening his hold on Shippo. The sound of Kagome's cries tearing right through his very soul. "We have to trust Keade...she is trying to help Kagome..." At least I hope that's what the old hag is doing... he thought anxiously. Inuyasha wanted to help Kagome, wanted to spare her this pain, comfort her, protect her! It was ripping him apart to just stand there and listen to her screams.
Finally, after a moment more, (though it felt like hours to the hanyou and kitsune) Kagome collaapsed, and Keade swayed. Inuyasha released Shippo and lept forward to catch the old priestess then help her into a sitting position. Keade's face was pale, her hands trembled violently as they lay lax in her lap. Shippo ran to Kagome, crying out her name, begging the miko to wake up.
"Be easy, Shippo," Keade said, her voice weak and barely audible. "Kagome will be fine. I have done her no harm."
"NO HARM!?" The child replied in outrage. "Then why was Kagome screaming like she was dying? Why was she trying to rip her chest open with her bare hands? WHY!"
"Quiet Shippo!" Inuyasha barked. "Let the woman rest!" He turned amber eyes to Keade, questions filling his gaze.
Keade, physically exhausted, and spiritually drained, let out a tired breath. "I had no choice, Inuyasha. Her aura was so powerful, and turned so dangerous so quickly...I had to bind her powers."
Inuyasha stared, apprehension filling his voice as he asked, "What do you mean, 'bind' them? Explain!"
"Have you seen that aura surround her before?"
Inuyasha hesitated before answering. "Yeah, we had an arguemnt, just before dawn today. I returned to the shrine, to find her standing in front of the well house. She was just about to try coming through by herself, and I panicked. I yelled at her, then all of a sudden she flew into a rage and she..." He winced at the pain that memory brought back. "...she purified me. She didn't know what she was doing," he defended quickly, trying to make the priestess understand, "It was like something was possessing her! Then she snapped out of it, and healed me! Not with her bandages and stuff, with her miko energy!"
"Enough!" Keade said quietly as she, too, lay down on the floor. "I must rest now...I feel there is more to this story, but I am too weak to take it in. I fear there is much worse to come for Kagome. The binding of her powers is only temporary, so I must regain my strength while she sleeps." Keade turned her head to look at the fox demon child sobbing over Kagome. "Shippo, I must ask a service of you," she whispered, causing Shippo to approach her in order to hear her. "Do ye remember the herbs I pointed out to you in the forest day before last?" When Shippo reluctantly nodded, she smiled. "I need you and Inuyasha to gather as many as you can find, roots and all. I will need these if we are to help Kagome."
The kitsune looked one last time at the unconcious Kagome, then stormed toward the door, angrily swiping up a basket before leaving. Inuyasha looked at the old woman and reassured her. "I'll talk to him...he is just upset because Kagome was in pain." He patted her shoulder akwardly, rose, walked to Kagome and whispered into her ear. Inuyasha placed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then left the hut to chase Shippo down.
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Once Inuyasha finally caught up with Shippo, he shortened his stride, and walked silently beside him. He knew the child was struggling to understand what had just taken place. I know this is tearing the kid up, 'cause I don't understand why this is happening! But he decided to let the kid work it out, let him be the first to speak.
When they reached the place Keade had told them to go, Shippo finally turned to Inuyasha and spoke. "Is Kagome going to die?" Shippo stood up stick straight, his body stiff with pride, trying not to cry anymore. It was time he began acting like a man...the only problem was men shouldn't have tears slipping from thier eyes...
Inuyasha plopped down on the forest floor, internally debating on the best way to approach this. His usual flippant attitude...? Nah, that will just confuse the kid. Brutal honesty...? Nope, that'll make him cry, and he's trying so hard to be brave. Flat refusal to even talk about it...? No, Shippo may still be a kid, but he's growing up. He deserves an explination. After all, Kagome's like a mother to him...
Inuyasha let out a frustrated breath. "Listen, Shippo. Kagome isn't going to die...at least I don't think she is. Truth is, I don't really know what is happening to her, or why. But I don't think Fate would let her come back just to snatch her away again...any way, that's why we came back early, to see if Keade could help her."
This didn't appease Shippo in the slightest. "But, why? Why did you shake her like that? And why was Keade using that spell on her?" Anger flared in Shippo's eyes.
Realization dawned on Inuyasha's face. "You really couldn't see it could you?"
"See what?" Shippo retorted suspiciously. His eyes narrowed, and he felt like he was being excluded from some vital piece of the story.
"Kagome's spiritual aura. Her powers are out of control. We can't figure out why, or how to stop it. It's like I told Keade... Kagome almost purified me this morning...then healed me, and hardly remembered anything about the whole deal..."
"But how come you can see it? I mean, we could always see it with her bow, but..."
"I don't know!" Inuyasha snapped. Then, desperately trying to keep his cool, he explained, "I thought for sure you would be able to see it, since Keade could. Believe me, kid, this is not easy. I've asked myself the same questions thousands of times already, and the answers stay just beyond my reach." Inuyasha closed his eyes, letting out a calming breath. Time to change tactics, he thought. "Shippo, you know about me and Kagome, right?"
Shippo gave him a look of confusion. "You mean about you being mates, right? Well, yeah, everyone saw the mark..." A sudden thought struck Shippo, and his face suddenly turned red with anger. He shoved a finger into the end of Inuyasha's nose and said hotly, "You'd better not hurt Kagome again, Inuyasha! If you do, I'll... I'll..."
Inuyasha scowled fiercly at the kitsune, who's brave face was quickly slipping. "You'll do what?" When Shippo flinched, waiting for the customary punch to the head, Inuyasha laughted and ruffled the kid's hair. "Ya know, Shippo, you've grown up a lot in the last couple years."
"I- I have?" Shippo's shock at not being hit as well as Inuyasha's sudden praise, was reflected clearly in the child's green eyes.
Inuyasha placed a hand on top of Shippo's head to forcibly stop him. "Dammit, Shippo! Hold still!!"
"I can't help it!" Shippo chirped. "I'm just to happy!"
Reaching the limit of his patience, Inuyasha demanded, "Well do it anyway! I'm not done talking to you!" Shippo reluctantly plopped to the ground in front of the agitated hanyou, but his feet still twitched in their happy dance. "Now," Inuyasha continued with a huff, " once Kagome and I return, after her tests and...stuff, and after we are able to build a suitable hut of our own," Inuyasha fidgeted a bit. Suddenly nervous for some inexplicable reason, he blurted out, " we want you to be part of our pack...I mean, our family." A flush crept up his face as he turned his head away slightly.
Shippo's feet stopped twitching. In fact, everything seemed to freeze within him as his brain processed what Inuyasha just said. This couldn't possibly be happening...no, he was afraid to dream this was real. First the news that Kagome was staying, then his greatest wish come to reality. He had to be sure... His mouth opened, then closed. His voice had quit working too. After a few more attempts, he finally squeaked out, "What's the difference?" At Inuyasha's confused look, he clarified, "What's the difference between a pack, and a family?"
Inuyasha's shoulders sagged with relief. "Nothing I guess. Kagome just hates the word 'pack'. It makes her think of wild wolves." He smirked at the mental image that popped into his brain.
Shippo caught his silent meaning, and smirked back. "Any wolves in particular?"
Inuyasha chuckled. "She never said it, but that's what I thought too. Speaking of which, where is that flea bag hiding?"
Shippo smiled, more than happy to dish out the gossip on Kouga. "Ayami showed up a few days after you left. She said something about a tribal council, and that he had to attend, no excuses. Kouga wasn't happy about leaving before Kagome returned, and grumbled about it all day, trying to find a way to stay here...but Ayami just got madder and madder. She finally punched him, grabbed him by the ear, and drug him out of the village, litterally kicking and screaming!!!"
"Keh. Serves him right..." Inuyasha muttered as he stood and brushed the dirt from the back of his jeans. He looked down at Shippo and asked, " So what's your answer, Runt?"
Shippo jumped up on Inuyasha's shoulder and tugged on the hanyou's ear. "Does this mean I get to call you Papa?" Shippo teased playfully.
THUMP! "Only if you like how that feels!" was Inuyasha response. Even though there was a frown on his face, Inuyasha felt the smile in his heart.
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Well, there you have it...plz review this chapter, so I know just how bad it was, or good, whatever...
To clnv...Your continued encouragement and awesome reviews really do keep me going...that and looking forward to your updates on your fic...
To wbaker...Get out of my head...you are now offically part of the "almost" tag game...lol
Special thanks to madmagematt...a friend and great critic from Access-Inuyasha...thank you so much for your helpful reviews on the message board at A:IY...you are awesome, and I use your latest review as a constant resource now...hopefully this chapter has improved my ability at least marginally...It was a bear to get through, but hopefully you can spot the changes...
Much love to you all...now review...plz...don't make me beg...
lol