I don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 29
The temporary break with Kaede's death came to a halt when one of the birds attacked. Inuyasha leapt up and slashed downwards, cutting the bird in half. The battle began again. Inuyasha spun and jumped, striking out with Tetsusaiga as he did. He glanced over to see Kagome still next to Kaede. Come on, Kagome! He thought. If you don't fight we'll all be killed!
Kagome was still cradling Kaede. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks. She reached up and brushed them away. Now was not the time. Kaede had asked her to protect the village and the Jewel, which was what she was going to do. She reached over Kaede's shoulder and removed the arrows from her quiver and placed them in her own. Then she gently lowered Kaede down and stood up.
As Kagome fired arrows once more she knew the battle was going badly. Soon the birds would overtake them. Suddenly a break appeared. Three wolf-demons materialized and began attacking the birds.
Kagome hesitated slightly. It was Koga and his subordinates. Why were they here? Unless…these bird demons were the Birds of Paradise that Koga had warned her about before he left.
"What are you doing here, you mangy wolf?" Inuyasha snapped as he attacked with his sword.
"What's it look like, dog-breath?" Koga shot back, "These are the Birds of Paradise. And they're our business. Stay outta my way!"
Koga leapt up punching and kicking any birds he came across. Inuyasha was next to him in an instant.
"You stay outta my way, wolf!" Inuyasha yelled as he cut one of the birds in half, "If it wasn't for you these pests wouldn't be here!"
"What are you babbling about?" Koga shouted, "Why would it be my fault if the Birds of Paradise are here?"
"You obviously led them here!"
"ENOUGH!"
Kagome's shout startled the two youths out of their argument. Kagome was glaring at them. She looked so frustrated, angry and sad that Inuyasha and Koga stopped what they were doing.
"You two!" Kagome stuttered out. Her anger and sadness was choking her up and she couldn't get her words out properly, "Lady Kaede sacrificed herself and you two are arguing about how these birds got here!"
Inuyasha and Koga had the decency to look ashamed of themselves.
"Lady Kaede is gone." Kagome said quieter, "And the rest of the village is going the same way. Even with Koga and the others here, I don't think we can win."
Inuyasha was stunned. He had never heard Kagome give up like this. She sounded so defeated. The battle seemed to fade away. Koga was distracted by another bird and was back in the fight. But Inuyasha stayed where he was. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Kagome. She stood with her hands clenched at her sides and her shoulders shook. She was crying silently.
Kagome. Inuyasha thought. He glanced over at the fallen priestess. The old hag…she did sacrifice herself to save everyone. I can't let this village get destroyed. I won't have that on my conscious! As he thought that Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga and held it, ready to strike. Without conscious thought, it almost seemed like the sword was guiding him, he aimed at the highest concentration of the Birds of Paradise.
"The old priestess won't die in vain, Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted, "I'll make sure of that!"
With that last shout Inuyasha brought Tetsusaiga crashing down. What happened next shocked everyone. Shining knives of demonic energy exploded out of Tetsusaiga striking the largest concentration of the Birds of Paradise. The birds screamed as they were destroyed. When the light faded away there were several gashes in the earth. The remaining birds gave cries of dismay, turned and flew off.
Some of the village men approached the cuts in the earth and were examining them. Others gathered around Kaede. They picked up the dead priestess and slowly carried her into a hut to be prepared for burial.
"Huh!" Koga said as he approached Inuyasha, "Who knew that sword had any power, mutt!"
Inuyasha stopped from staring at his sword with wonder and excitement to glare at Koga, Haikkaku and Ginta.
"You still here, wolf?" Inuyasha scoffed as he sheathed Tetsusaiga.
"Koga." Kagome stepped forward, stopping the argument before it could even get started, "Thank-you for coming. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I yelled at you."
Koga face took on an expression of solemnity. He stepped forward and patted Kagome on the shoulder.
"Don't blame yourself." He comforted, "You lost your mentor. You have every right to be angry."
Kagome nodded, her eyes hidden from view. Inuyasha fought the urge to strike at Koga. It would be wrong. Kagome was in pain and he would only make it worse by picking fights.
Koga removed his hand from Kagome's shoulder, "We should head after them." He gestured after the remnants of Birds of Paradise.
Koga hesitated then, "I won't be coming back here. But hey! If the mutt over there – " Koga thumbed in Inuyasha's direction. Inuyasha growled under his breath – "doesn't measure up come and find me in the northern mountains. Okay?"
Koga gestured towards Haikkaku and Ginta. He gave one last salute to Kagome then took off at a run. When he'd disappeared over the horizon Inuyasha turned to Kagome. As he watched her he found that he couldn't think of anything to say. Kagome met his eyes. They stared at each other for a bit, then Kagome turned and entered the hut that Kaede's body had been carried into.
Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably. What now? Everything seemed to have changed. He turned and saw the giant tree. The place, which Kagome had said, was her special spot. Where she went to think, to clear her mind. Inuyasha ran towards it. He needed to think; hopefully the tree would work on clearing his mind.
OOO
The next day was Kaede's burial. The weather seemed to have matched the mood of all the villagers. It was raining steadily and the sky was a dull, grey colour. It took several tries before the funeral pyre was lit properly.
Kagome and the villagers stood around; the majority of the villagers weeping openly. Kagome wasn't crying. She hadn't cried since the battle yesterday. She had thought that it would be better to put on a brave face. She was the priestess of the village now. She was alone.
As the last flames of the pyre burned out and only ashes were left, Kagome stood alone. She clenched her fists. Then turned and looked into the trees. She spotted Inuyasha standing in a tree with a hand on the trunk. Their eyes met and they remained motionless for a while. Finally, Kagome turned away and made her way back to the village.
OOO
Three days after Kaede's death Kagome was walking toward the Sacred Tree. Her mind felt like it was going in several directions at once. She needed the clarity that the Tree would always give her.
She entered the clearing. Setting her bow and quiver down she stepped onto the tangled roots at the base of the tree. Kagome reached out and rested her hand on the trunk. Moving so her forearm rested against the trunk she rested her forehead on her arm. Tears gathered in her eyes. She couldn't cry, not now! She had to be strong! But…she was so tired.
"Kagome."
Kagome turned to see Inuyasha standing at the edge of the clearing. She jumped down from the roots and stood where she had landed.
"Inuyasha." Kagome greeted.
Inuyasha glanced around uncomfortably. Then he looked her in the eye, "I'm sorry, Kagome. If I could have figured out the attack that I used sooner maybe the old priestess wouldn't have – "
"Don't think that!" Kagome's voice cut across, "If it's anyone's fault it's mine."
Inuyasha stared at her, shocked.
"What are you talking about?"
Kagome looked away and to the ground, "The bird attacked me. Lady Kaede was coming towards me to help me."
Inuyasha walked forward, closing the distance between them. They were now about three feet apart.
"You're not to blame." Inuyasha stated, "The old priestess…she…well, it wasn't your fault! You can't blame yourself for the deaths that happen around you that you can't prevent!"
Kagome laughed bitterly, "Where the Shikon Jewel is concerned, I have to."
Inuyasha scowled, "Stop blaming yourself! If you want to blame something blame the Jewel!"
Kagome stared at him, "I do blame the Jewel. But I have to blame myself as well."
"What are you talking about?"
Kagome reached up and gripped her upper arms, "I was so naïve. I thought that I could protect everyone. I thought I was strong enough. But I wasn't. Nobody got hurt at first because I was lucky."
"Then let's do something about it." Inuyasha stated determinedly, "What can destroy the Jewel?"
Kagome eyes were wide with amazement, "The Right Wish. A completely unselfish wish. That will cause the Jewel to be totally purified from this world."
Inuyasha racked his brain. Kagome had once told him that him wishing to be a full demon would taint the Jewel. But maybe… He found his mind going a mile a minute. Would it work? It had to.
"What if I wish on the Jewel?" Inuyasha asked excitedly.
Kagome sagged slightly, "I've already told you. If you wish to become a full demon – "
"No, Kagome," Inuyasha said, "What if I wish to become fully human."
"What?" Kagome looked confused.
"Don't you get it?" Inuyasha smiled, "I am half-demon but I'm also half-human. If I wish to become a human it's unselfish and the Shikon Jewel should be destroyed."
Kagome stared at him, "You…you would do that? But why?"
Inuyasha felt a flush touch his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"I would do it for you." Inuyasha whispered.
Kagome stared at Inuyasha. She dropped her arms to her sides and took a step forward. He was willing to give up everything for her. She took another step forward so that they were inches apart. Kagome stared into his eyes. He looked afraid but happy as well. Kagome took one step back.
"No." she whispered.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha tried to argue.
"I don't think you wishing to be human would be the Right Wish. And even if it was," Kagome gave him a determined look, "I could never ask you to do that."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha snapped, now angry, "You're not asking, I'm offering. And as for the wish, it's unselfish."
"It may be unselfish for you but not for me." Kagome explained, "Besides, to ask that of you would be wrong. It would be asking you to give up a part of yourself. And I love you as you are."
Kagome gasped as the words exited her mouth. She clapped her hands to her lips as if to force the words back in. But as she did so she realized that she'd spoken the truth. Inuyasha's mouth was open. He quickly shut it.
"Kagome, I…" Inuyasha closed his eyes. How did he feel toward Kagome? He found the answer a lot quicker than he thought he would, "I love you as you are."
Kagome looked up to meet his eyes once more. Inuyasha stepped forward and pulled Kagome into his arms. Kagome seemed to freeze.
"Inuyasha?" she gasped out.
"I don't want you hurt." Inuyasha whispered, "If there was anything I could do to spare you pain than I would do it. I would protect you with my life."
Kagome felt the tears in her eyes again. She shouldn't be doing this. But her body seemed to be moving of its own accord. Her arms moved from her sides and wrapped around Inuyasha, returning the embrace. Her mind was screaming at her, You can't do this! He's a half-demon, you are a priestess! It's wrong! But a part of her was surprised at how right it felt to hug Inuyasha. It felt like it was something she was supposed to be doing all along. Neither one knew how long they stayed like that before Kagome pulled away slightly.
"I think I know what the Right Wish is." She stated determined, "Will you meet me here? Tomorrow?"
Inuyasha nodded, "What's the Right Wish? And how'd you figure it out?"
Kagome smiled sadly, "While with you I figured it out. It's obvious when you think about it. I'll tell you what it is tomorrow. Will you meet me here at noon?"
"Of course." Inuyasha pulled her into a hug again, "I just wish you'd tell me!"
Kagome laughed. Inuyasha smiled, she sounded back to her old self.
"Aren't you going to go back?" Inuyasha asked looking at the sky. It was almost dusk.
"Yes." Kagome whispered as she rested her head on Inuyasha's chest, "But can we stay like this for a little while longer?"
Inuyasha nodded wordlessly. Truth be told he didn't want to let Kagome go. Not ever.
OOO
Naraku scowled in the trees as he watched the couple. He felt hatred and jealously directed at the two people in the clearing. He smirked. As long as his human heart wished that if it couldn't have Kagome than no one could he was in control. And he needed to act quickly. If Kagome had truly discovered a way to purify the Jewel than he needed to act tomorrow.
He reached up and threw off the baboon coverings revealing a red-clad, white-haired youth that looked exactly like the half-demon in the clearing. Perfect! He thought gleefully. Inuyasha! Kagome! I will make you hate each other! Then I will take the Shikon Jewel! With that last thought the shape-changing demon disappeared unbeknownst to the half-demon and priestess in the clearing who were now parting.
Please review. Thanks to all the reviewers: PrincessAnime08, Yana5, glon morski, aras the crazy writer, edasama, HeidiBax, Peaceful Dragon Rose, KikyoWillDieByMyHands, and Mayonaka Naze.
