Chapter Thirty-Five: Hanging

A/N: Edited on 9/10/15

The darkness was damp and lonely. InuYasha felt the heavy eyes look around. Whatever Inuhidoi had done was over now. InuYasha tried to shake off the floating darkness that surrounded him. Why? Why was he stuck like this? Trapped in his own body and forced to endure the pain of hurting the people he had sworn to protect.

It was only a matter of time now. He couldn't endure the pain of Tessaiga; endure to see into Kagome's eyes, or even Miroku and Sango's for that matter. Kouga would never forgive him for what he did to Kagome, nor would he ever forget. Sesshomaru never accepted him anyway, and wished Sesshomaru would just end his life. InuYasha was hoping to see that cold heart from his brother and allow it to prevent everything that was happening.

InuYasha went back to the thought of his mother. Dead by his own claws. Why wouldn't he wake up? Was he just in another nightmare and just couldn't wake up? Inuhidoi was real, why couldn't he just accept that? Maybe, InuYasha thought, because I'm on the verge of breaking.

InuYasha saw the memory of his mother that had always burned in the back of his mind, the first time he saw his mother's tears.

"Mommy, what's a half-demon?"

The tears had glittered off her beautiful face brought sadness to the only happiness InuYasha had had left. InuYasha watched the other people walk away. All he did was want to play. What was he anymore? He didn't think anyone would push him this far. It had all started with Kikyou, and went downhill from there. InuYasha still had horrible images of Kagome's scared up face the her blood leaking from her mouth as she bit his finger. And worse of all her bare body being pushed to the limit of something so powerful, so evil, her priestess powers had panicked. InuYasha would never forget it, how could he? At least, it seemed, Inuhidoi had no plans of doing that to her again. He seemed only focused on killing her. InuYasha wanted to save her, but he just had no strength left.

Inuhidoi looked around the burning earth. He sniffed for the girl, he smelled her along with Sesshomaru. Apparently the filthy Dog Demon Lord had found her and was dragging her to safety. InuYasha could hear Inuhidoi's thoughts and they reassured him. Please protect her Sesshomaru.

"Your pleas are annoying me."

"Then…" InuYasha couldn't say anymore, every part of him hurt. He looked down in the darkness, refusing to see what Inuhidoi was doing with his body now. InuYasha remembered how much he really cared for everything he cherished most. His first thought was the women he wanted to protect more then anything, Kagome.

(-)_(-)

"Hey InuYasha!" Kagome waved to him. InuYasha stood up and growled.

"Wench, what took so damn long?" InuYasha asked.

"I have exams, silly. Besides I was only gone for two days!"

"Hello, Kagome glad your back." Sango smiled.

"Kagome!" Shippo yelled.

"Hey guys, I'm glad you all are happy to see me." Kagome smiled. "Well almost everyone." Kagome gave him a look.

"Feh." InuYasha rolled his eyes. He walked over to Keade's hut and leaned against the wood, a scowl on his face. "So what?"

Kagome rolled her eyes and the others disappeared inside while InuYasha sat on top of the hut, glaring into the night sky. His ears flinched at every sound and every movement. Suddenly Kagome emerged from the hut, alone. InuYasha watched her as she shook her head, moving her hair away from her face. She looked up at him.

"Hey, you hungry?" she asked.

"Not really." InuYasha grumbled.

"Oh come on you pouting dog. Come down here." Kagome smiled.

"Hey, stop treating me like a dog!" InuYasha hissed.

"Well then stop being as stubborn as one." Kagome gave him a look.

"Fine!" InuYasha threw up his hands and hopped off the roof. "You don't scare me with those 'sit' commands of yours anyway."

"Oh really?" Kagome teased. "Si—"

InuYasha flinched ready to be face first in the dirt. He opened one eye to see Kagome laughing. "Oh you did not!" he grumbled.

"I scared you!" Kagome teased.

"You're so annoying." InuYasha mumbled.

"Oh please, you're more annoying then my little brother!" Kagome laughed.

"What!?" InuYasha snapped.

"Sigh. I was going to take a bath in the lake." Kagome said. "Well I should be going." InuYasha stopped and stared at her, for some reason he was seeing her in a whole different way, in a way he never looked at her before. Kagome noticed his weird stare and frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Yea, I was just thinking…"

"No." Kagome glared.

"I wasn't going to join you!" InuYasha huffed, his face turning red.

"Sounded like it to me." Kagome smiled. She came over and took his hand with hers. "Maybe one day."

"Um…just go okay?" InuYasha felt his ears go flat on his head. He looked down at her, her face looking so beautiful and innocent in the light of the moon. InuYasha never seen this side of her, or of him for that matter. They stood in that position for what felt like an eternity, when Kagome stood on her toes and pecked him on the cheek. InuYasha stayed rooted to the spot, not knowing how to respond.

"InuYasha…?"

He moved his mouth on over her's, their lips barely touching. Then they pulled away, both turning red and looking away from each other.

"Sorry." InuYasha said.

"It's fine…" Kagome sighed. "Well I better go." She smiled and headed away from him towards the lake.

(-)_(-)

InuYasha felt her lips on his, it had been the first real kiss he had with her. Their second was just after Inuhidoi had shown himself, before he bit her on the neck. InuYasha felt warmer thinking about that kiss outside of Keade's hut. It was just the beginning of there feelings toward one another. Kikyo still was on his mind, but Kagome with him every step of the way.

InuYasha watched through his own eyes, only seeing burning soil. To his relief there was no smell of burning flesh. How his friends managed to get away, he did not know, but InuYasha was glad. They were proving to be difficult for Inuhidoi to deal with. If he ever had a chance to thank them, he would. That's when he thought of Miroku and Sango, how much they have always been by his side.

(-)_(-)

"InuYasha!" Sango shouted, she slammed the boomerang into him, sending them slamming into the floor of the room. InuYasha could feel Inuhidoi's hiss of annoyance, but he ignored it trying to gain control so he wouldn't have to hurt his companions.

"Get away from me!

"Monk help me!" The exterminator cried. Miroku came up and placed the staff on his thrashing head, he was confused. What the hell was going on!?

"InuYasha?" Miroku's voice faded as his world went black. When InuYasha woke up, he coughed and spewed some blood. Sango moved the boomerang off of him.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I think so."

"InuYasha, are you yourself now?" Sango asked her face full of worry.

"I could have killed both of you."

"We know InuYasha." Miroku said as he stood up.

"But that's what companions are for InuYasha." Sango said. "We'll stay with you."

(-)_(-)

InuYasha didn't really want to think of the memories that had happened while Inuhidoi possessed him, but that one brought the true spirit of both the monk and the exterminator. They have both stuck with Kagome and him, and never left their side. Numerous times they have saved his life as well as Kagome's. In favor, InuYasha had helped Miroku deal with Naraku's curse, and Sango with her brother, Kohaku.

All of them had met because of Naraku. InuYasha was starting to realize that Naraku npt only brought sorrow and anger, but also friendship. He met Kagome, and felt like his world revolved around something. Miroku, a great friend who knew how to deal with hard times. And finally, Sango a trained fighter and her persistence had more then once made him stand on his feet. Even Shippo, his little courage was more then any other little demon he had ever met. Shippo was brave to stand up against his father's killers, and proved himself to be worthy to travel with InuYasha. InuYasha clung to the thoughts that might save him, but his hope was beginning to diminish.

Kagome, if you're out there, please stay safe. InuYasha was immersed in his thoughts, unable to respond to the world around him and refusing to speak with the creature that shared his body. A world to reflect on, a world at peace. InuYasha had no feelings anymore. The anger had diminished, the sorrow could not be shed, and worry that now consumed him to know what his fate was. Most of all InuYasha just clung to the only thing he had, a small speck of hope. Hope, his brother could somehow defeat this disgusting excuse for a being. Hope for Kagome's safety and full recovery of her terrible ordeal. Hope for Miroku and Sango to continue their lives together and unite their thoughts on how much they tried to win their friend back that was out of their reach. Hope for Kouga, if he did pass on, he had every right to Kagome. InuYasha knew she loved him more then the wolf, but if he was gone, there was no one left for her. InuYasha refused to see her alone, and Kouga did really care for her. If InuYasha could not protect her from the soul that had possessed him, then she was no longer under his protection.

Suddenly InuYasha felt the outside world come around him. What? InuYasha blinked, expecting to be in control of his body, but that was not the case. Something was different. Was Inuhidoi showing him another horrible memory?

InuYasha realized he couldn't move, his back was on the ground. Did he break? No, something was odd; he still felt the blackness, but also the softness of the grass. Blinking, he felt the burning earth around him, but no pain came. He was seeing through someone's eyes. Please, InuYasha begged, please this is not Kagome I'm seeing. He tried to plead with the still body he was seeing out of, but there was no response. Why!? Please whoever you are don't die! InuYasha gasped.

The person he was seeing out of felt out of place. It was almost like he was something else, and not a person. He blinked feeling the blackness on the left side of him, and on the right the earth. What was this? He felt his demonic aura pulsing, almost like something was calling him. The fang, they were pulsing, calling for him to control it. Tessaiga?

InuYasha growled as he felt the sword pull off the ground. It hovered in the air, and then the steel fang removed itself from the sheath. InuYasha felt that speck of hope go from his friends to himself. InuYasha felt a small smile come across his lips. With his demonic aura, he was controlling Tessaiga. Like if he was wielding it on his own. Feeling the fang move on its own will meant it knew he was still there, buried in the deep corner of his own mind. Tessaiga could feel the soul of its wielder.

This was going to be the only way. Sesshomaru could never wield the sword long enough to complete the attack.

Inuhidoi, InuYasha thought, I'm not done with you yet. For whatever reason the half-God ignored his thoughts. This only helped InuYasha's case. The element of surprise was the best approach. Whatever you are, you're nothing more then prey to my Tessaiga.