A Jealous Betrayal Chapter 7, an inuyasha fanfic

Author's Notes: What do you know - another update and one that everyone has been waiting for, eh?

I bet you never thought you would see this one updated right now, now did you?

Yes, I know this one is a long time coming, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to get to this one because Musie has been working much more on When My Heart Shatters. But the other night, I got a dm from a reader over on who asked if this one would ever be updated. I decided that I would go see if I had anything on Chapter Seven done and what do you know - I actually did. So, I placed Musie in front of the laptop and told her that many fans of this fic were waiting for it to be updated.

But this also brought something else - what had originally been planned for this story may be changing because of what Musie wrote in this chapter. Now, this may mean that there might not be many chapters left for this story. I am going to say that there may be around four to six chapters left if Musie does not come up with another hurdle to be put in place, but knowing my little Muse she will find some wrench or another to throw in there.

A Jealous Betrayal

By Utena

Chapter Seven

The Past-

As they re-entered their cell, Sango and Kikyo were finding it hard not to contain their curiosity. Both women were eying the hanyo with the hope that he would disclose what the secret had been, but Inuyasha had offered not an ounce of information from his lips. Instead, he had situated himself into a darkened corner of the cell, crossed his arms over his chest, and closed his eyes as if to dismiss not only their current situation but the rest of their group from existence.

Kikyo had long since learned that if her mate were irritated by something, he would often close himself off from the rest of the world even from her. It would do none of them any good to engage in any conversation with him because he would never answer.

Kikyo sighed and sank down upon the fresh straw of their cell. Her entire body was exhausted from their march toward the Western stronghold of Sesshomaru's Shiro. None of them had expected to be captured either. For the former Miko, she did not understand what had made her mate do such a thing as toss Kagome down the well and then proceed to destroy it. She had been keenly aware of the animosity he had been feeling ever since he had learned that Kagome had mated Sesshomaru and even worse having watched Sesshomaru and Kagome be the pair to combine their attack to take down Naraku. It had angered Inuyasha to no end that once more his older half-brother's shadow had fallen over his chance for victory.

What she did not understand was why Inuyasha had been so bothered by Kagome's mating to Sesshomaru. She could not help but wonder if her being alive had not been the desired outcome for Inuyasha. Part of her wondered if he regretted the wish Kagome made.

Kikyo's shoulders sagged in defeat. If this were the truth, then she realized he had never loved her as he said. Maybe, he had once long ago when the two of them were carefree before Naraku's interference in their lives.

Kikyo did not blame Kagome for this mess. Her incarnate was innocent in all of this, she realized now. The girl had been pulled through the well and attacked by Madame Centipede. She could only imagine the shock that had ripped through the girl when she found that all she believed were nothing more than myths and legends had been real.

She had always been aware that Kagome's trusting nature had led her to her first crush in Inuyasha. If she had not been voided of all emotion, she would have pitied her incarnation. The girl's heart must have broken the many times she had caught them together.

Yet, it all seemed to have changed shortly before the defeat of Naraku. Perhaps they had been too blinded by their own needs and wants that they did not see the developing relationship between the ice prince, Sesshomaru, and the young Miko-in-training, Kagome.

Kikyo could not help but wonder what had changed everything between them. She certainly knew it was nothing overnight nor was it spontaneous. Something had changed. Could it be that Kagome had decided that since she could not have Inuyasha that she would try for Sesshomaru?

Kikyo mentally shook her head. No, that did not sound right. The girl did go chasing boys in such a way. Okay, perhaps she chased Inuyasha, but she showed no inclination toward the eldest Taisho heir. Even when she joined their group, she saw no indication of anything between them. The two of them had been cordial at best. So, when did it all change?

Kikyo could not pinpoint a time or place when it did. She contemplated asking both Miroku and Sango, but she was sure that they probably had no clue. The only other would be the obvious – Shippo. The boy was always attached to Kagome no matter where she went. He would know everything, but she could not ask him. Shippo was currently away at school. Kagome had sent him shortly after the fight with Naraku, and none knew how to get ahold of him.

Kikyo did not want to do it but the only way to get any of her answers was to confront her mate. It was destined to open a chasm between them, but there were so many questions that needed to be answered. Kikyo did not want them answered in court. She wanted to hear them from the lips of her mate.

"Inuyasha," she spoke breaking the silence that had hang between the four of them, "you need to tell us why you did this."

Inuyasha turned his head around to glare at his mate and their friends. He hated how she had used this moment to put him on the spot especially in front of both Miroku and Sango. At this moment, he wished he had not brought her back to life and that he had chosen Kagome instead. If he had, maybe – maybe it would have been Kagome at his side instead. It was not fair that he had missed his own opportunity while his elder brother had come in and scooped up what should have been his.

"I don't need to tell ya nothin'!" he growled back at Kikyo glaring, angrily at her.

"'Yasha," she replied softly moving to reach out a hand to touch him only to have him slap it away.

"I don't need ya, Kikyo," he snarled. "If it had not been for your return, none of this would have happened!"

Kikyo's eyes widened as she took a step back away from her mate. "I – I don't –"

Inuyasha rose to his feet and stalked toward Kikyo and the others. "No, you wouldn't," he hissed angrily narrowing his eyes at the three of them, "I never wanted to mate you, Kikyo. I didn't even want you to be brought back. I had no desire to go to hell with ya either!"

Kikyo's shoulders sagged in defeat. She could not believe what she was hearing from her hanyo mate's mouth. After everything they had struggled through and had come far for each other, she now knew he never really wanted her. Now she understood all the jealous outbursts from him. Understood that she had always been second best to the reincarnate, but in Kikyo's heart, she could not find any hatred for Kagome.

"I see," she murmured softly feeling her tears race down her face. "I was not your choice for a mate."

"No ya were not!" He returned coldly.

"How dare you!" Sango's angered tone broke through the silence that had hung over them for a moment. Her hand rose and fell soundly across the hanyo's face. "How dare you do put Kikyo in this situation now! I hate you, Inuyasha! I wish Kagome had never removed that arrow from your heart! Maybe if she had not, you would have never had the chance to either woman!"

Sango moved to wrap her arms around the sobbing figure of Kikyo.

"I wish Sesshomaru would awaken and tear you to shreds, Inuyasha," Sango stated coldly as Miroku moved to wrap both arms around the women.

"She loved you so much," Miroku said shaking his head, "and you throw her away just as you did Kagome."

Inuyasha's hand touched his face where Sango's hand had fallen just moments ago.

"Well, you can have both of 'em," Inuyasha sneered and made his way once more back to his little corner of the jail. "As far as I am concerned, Kikyo is no longer my mate."

Kikyo's sob grew louder as both Miroku and Sango did what they could to comfort the Miko in their arms.

With Jaken dismissed and heading to make the necessary preparations for their departure, Rin's attention turned once more to the despondent figure of her adopted father. She wished more than anything that she could his voice or see the adoration upon his face both she and her adopted mother. More than anything she wanted things back the way they had been before her uncle had selfishly taken away her mother from them.

Rin's face darkened at the thought of her uncle. She wanted more than anything for him to pay for what he had done to them. Her father and mother did not deserve the fate dealt to them. Her mother should have returned here to the Shiro and surprised her father with news of the upcoming birth of their first child and heir to the Western Lands. There should be celebrations being prepared and everyone happily preparing for the upcoming arrival.

But thanks to Inuyasha that was not going to happen. He had been selfish in taking her mother away and leaving her father in such a state that Rin feared that she may not be able to reach him. Her only hope would be to find a dark witch or Miko to help them now. She did not know if this would help her father in any way, but she was holding out hope it did.

Rin sighed softly and moved to kneel before Sesshomaru. Her hand reaching out to brush the strands of silver away from his face.

"I wish I could take away your pain, Papa," she whispered softly, trying to keep the sadness from seeping into her tone. "Please wake up. The Western Lands will be in disarray if you don't. Kimi-baasan is here, but she cannot hold down the Shiro as you can."

Another sigh. It did not work. She had hoped that her words would have reached him, but it had not. She did not know the extent of yokai matings, only that they bind themselves to their chosen mate. Mates were important to them, and binding was a form to keep their chosen partner with them by extending their lifeline with their own.

"Papa, please wake up," she half-sobbed, half-whispered softly. Tears were threatening to blur her vision. "I need you. Momma needs you more than anything."

Kagome…..

What..?

Rin stiffened, uncertain she heard right.

The name may have been whispered so softly filled with such longing and need that it reverberated into the very core of her soul.

Did her father just speak?

Or was it just her unwavering hope that offered just a softly whispered word?

Rin shook her head. "I need to stop this daydreaming. No one can reach Papa like Momma could if she were here."

Rin rose to her feet again, but the sound of crinkling silk caused her to halt all and any further movement and draw her attention once more to her father. Had her imagination once more rose forth and offered her the hope she wanted?

She really needed to stop this. She needed to look at the reality of the picture. Her father had locked himself deep within himself and though both she and Jaken had tried to reach him, it had been no good. The only other person with such capabilities was not here, and neither knew when she would ever return. Her only hope lay in a dark witch or Miko to either reach Sesshomaru or place him under a deep sleep until they could find a way to bring back her mother.

"Where are you, Mom?" She whispered softly moving to the large window and looking up at the starlit sky.

InuKimi watched as servants brought in a tray for dinner and set it down on the table before her. Tonight, she would be eating alone since it seemed Rin had locked herself away in her father's room. Jaken had suspiciously decided that he had things outside of the Shiro that needed tending to. There was something going on, but Kimi could not put her finger on it. The Shiro was quiet – too quiet. Something was different in the air this evening.

But what? She wondered placing a clawed finger to her chin.

Before she could even contemplate the answers, a maid appeared in the doorway and bowed to her.

"My Lady, Lord Karou wishes to have an audience with you," the maid announced.

Kimi rose to her feet. "Bring forth another plate of dinner and show him to my room."

The maid nodded and turned on her heels to leave her mistress once more to her thoughts. On the other hand, Kimi was surprised that Karou would make such a late-night visit to her. She knew her friend had concerns now especially with Sesshomaru no longer able to control the Western Lands. She had no doubt that the lord was going to be curious as to who would be running the lands and what would be done should the other lords decide to turn their attentions to conqueror the Western Lands.

The sound of her paper door opening drew her from her thoughts.

"My Lady Kimi," Karou greeted offering the grand lady of the Western Lands a respective bow, "I do not mean to call upon you this late and especially during your meal."

"I am always welcome to the company, Karou," Kimi replied gesturing to the table having been set up for two meals. "Come, let us eat and drink and we shall have time in between to discuss what has brought you to me."

Chapter End