Well, here's chapter two. I'm going to do my best to keep to a weekly
schedule, hopefully I'll be able to write well enough and fast enough to
keep that goal intact. So, anyhow…
I hope you're all enjoying this story. I know I'm not terribly far in it, but it is to entertain and that's my ultimate aim. So thanks to all of you who wrote and reviewed, your kind words really encouraged me. As I stated in the first chapter, I'm not proud of my writing, but I don't mind it so much now, since you seem to like it. Thank you all.
And now, on to chapter two!
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter Two: In Memories
"Feh! What the hell are we still doing here? We should have left a long time ago!"
Shippou rubbed his head, a small bump forming where Inuyasha had smacked him. The hanyou stood over his companion, hands on hips, eyes lidded. The morning sun cast his shadow far across the rocky landscape. Behind him, Shoukaki sat on a boulder, giggling girlishly. I wonder how she can sit on it if she's dead, the fox-demon thought listlessly. Maybe I should ask.
Shippou didn't get the chance to ask, however, as Inuyasha hauled him bodily from the ground, slung him over his shoulder and sullenly began trodding out of the lost village. Shoukaki watched them for a time, then hopped off the rock and followed behind, skipping. The kitsune craned his head to watch. She sure is happy this morning.
They tramped along in that fashion for a while; around noon, Inuyasha stopped and dumped Shippou unceremoniously to the hard ground. The fox- demon rubbed his rear and glared at Dog Boy, then shook his head. At least he's not depressed anymore. I wonder if Shoukaki helped with that…
As if being called, the little she-ghost plopped down beside him, smiling warmly. Shippou stared. She looked…kinda real from this angle. Maybe she had been lying about being a ghost…but she sure had been not real during the night…Testing for himself, Shippou reached out a casual hand and shoved the little girl in the chest. Shoukaki cried out and tumbled backward, raising a fairly decent dust cloud. The kitsune rushed to help her up, apologising profusely.
Shoukaki laughed and shook her head. "It's all right, little kitsune, I'm not hurt. But…whyever did you want to push me?"
Blushing, the kitsune turned his head away and scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "Well, I kinda wanted to see…you know, if…if you were…solid…"
The child blinked, then broke out into a fit of laughter. Shippou flamed and hunched his shoulders, trying his best to hide from the world. It wasn't fair! She was a phantom during the night! Why could he touch her now? When she continued to laugh, the young fox-demon started to crawl away, abashed.
She pulled him back with tiny, gentle hands. Flushed of face, but smiling warmly, she held his slightly larger hands in hers, the fur on his paws warm against her palms. She gave his fingers a squeeze. "I'm sorry I laughed, little kitsune. You asked an honest question." With that, she released his hands and leaned back on hers, staring up at the noonday sky. A sigh escaped her small, childish lips. "I don't blame you, either. It baffles me, too. But…" She turned her face to his, a smile spreading from cheek to cheek. "I have substance during the day, little kitsune. At night, when the world is dark and the heavens bright, I'm as insubstantial as the wind. I can see things then. You know, I can see other worlds—the past, too. Dead worlds, ruined worlds. Worlds long gone and out of memory. But I can't interact with them; I can't interact with the world I should belong to. But during the day—ah, I can feel just as much here as I could so many years ago. I think…I think it's the gods playing a cruel joke on me. I can interact here, in this place where I don't belong, but I can't go home." Sobered, she continued quietly: "Cruel, isn't it, little kitsune…?"
"Shoukaki, I—"
"You two waste more of my time than Kagome and her stupid tests ever did. Now get up and let's move, before I die of old age."
Shippou glared at him. "You can't die of old age, stupid. You're immortal."
Inuyasha hmphed. "With the way you two go about, I don't really wanna challenge that. Now hurry up. I can feel my bones growing weak." And with that he grabbed the fox-demon by the scruff of his neck and dragged him through the dirt behind him.
Shoukaki blinked owlishly, surprised by the huge contrast in how this Inuyasha acted as opposed to his soul, then hurried after them, her small feet making quiet thudding noises on the hard-packed ground.
She was so lonely. So incredibly, terribly lonely. No one was there; no one knew where she was. Her only companion was the inconsistent drip of water far, far away. Once, she'd thought she'd heard footsteps echoing through the darkness, but she had no voice with which to call and no beacon to light the way. So she was left alone again to suffer the intolerable solitude of her place.
A false breeze blew through her being, cold and damp. Damp…? Never before had there been anything to that soulless breeze. Could this mean that she was nearer the world than she'd thought? With a frenzy born of desperation, she searched out the wind, praying to any god or creature that could hear her that she be allowed to find it. Frantically she clawed about, reaching out limbs she'd forgotten she possessed in the nothing of her surroundings. The feel of wind brushed her again, cool and moist. She could smell salt. As she struggled along, the drop of water that occasionally assaulted her senses became a crashing torrent. The torrent then resolved into voices and the wind became a speck of light. She felt a tightness in her being, then let out a cry of such relief that it jolted her into the light and back to a world she thought she'd never see again.
Moonlight flooded in through large windows carved into the surface of stone. Outside, the surf crashed fitfully against a rock-laden shore. Cranes swooped low over a manicured garden; a cat slept soundly on an elaborately carved chair nearby. A chair…looking about, she noticed a small table, a coarsely woven rug and, beneath her, a futon. Skins covered her body, keeping the naked flesh warm. A fire crackled in a pit toward the center of the room.
Where…?
There was a rustle at the door. With a start, she looked over to see a slender, armoured man standing just slightly inside the room, his white mane flickering red from the flames. He stared at her with cold, uncaring eyes and said simply: "So you've finally woken up, woman of my brother."
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha sprang awake, sweat beading his brow. An owl hooted above him, just a couple branches away. The hanyou scowled, then resettled himself on his branch.
I should be over this by now. What the hell am I doing, dreaming about that stupid human, getting so worked up over her? I mean…it's not like I care about her…she's just a human. That's all…"Feh, what the hell am I thinking? She's far more than just a human. Damn her! Damn her for leaving me alone like this!"
"You seem to enjoy yelling at people, don't you, Inuyasha?"
Said demon glared down from his perch at the phantom child that floated about halfway up the trunk. She giggled at him and rose to see him face to face. Her grin was mischievous. "What do you want, ghost?"
She giggled again; with a bit of a flip, she was sitting—floating—beside him, her head cocked so that she looked up at him from an angle. "What else, silly? I want to talk to you."
Inuyasha grunted. "Don't you ever sleep, ghost?"
"No, actually. And I do have a name, demon. It's Shoukaki. I've had it a long time and I'd like if you respected it."
He hmphed. Yes, well, I'm not a demon and I haven't been for a long time. So I'd like it if you respected me a little bit more." When she looked startled, he snapped: "What?"
Shoukaki just shrugged. "I thought you were a youkai, that's all. I'm surprised you're offended that I thought so. Do you like your human half that much?"
My human half…Kagome always tried to get me to like it… Sighing, the dog-demon fell back into the curve of the trunk, hands resting on his torso. He didn't love his human half, yet he didn't hate it, either. "No, I don't love my human half that much. I hate the demon that shares lineage with that bastard, Sesshoumaru. Him and those other demons that destroyed everything." I wanted to be a demon…do I still? Can I still? Kagome is gone…does it matter anymore what happens to me?
"You're thinking about her, aren't you, Inuyasha? Can you tell me what happened?"
He growled at her. "It's none of your damn business what happened!"
Angry, the ghost child puffed her cheeks out and glared at him over her pug nose, lips jutting out. "It is too my business! I'm part of this group now too, you know!"
"Yeah, well, I never asked you to join!"
"Fine, I'll go bug the other one then!"
"Fine, you do that!"
With a hmph, hanyou and phantom turned from each other, hands held tightly to their chests. Silence passed between them for what felt like ages, until Shoukaki finally sniffed and jumped down. Inuyasha stared after her, then went back to sitting in the nook of the tree.
Shoukaki floated along the ground a ways, then turned and headed toward Shippou. The fox-demon lay nestled in his tail between the roots of a nearby tree. Every now and again, he twitched, caught up in a dream. The ghost child knelt beside him and smiled as she watched, amused by his actions. He was so adorable in his sleep. Once, long long ago, she'd had a cat that did very similar things in her sleep. She could remember sitting for hours watching, a smile on her face.
A fly settled on the kitsune's snout. Shippou nipped at it; when it didn't leave, he brought his paw up to smash it. With a thwack, the fox- demon missed the fly but woke himself up painfully. He whimpered childishly as he held his nose. "Tetetetete."
The ghost-child giggled. Surprised to find he had company, Shippou scampered to his feet, then promptly fell back on his butt to talk. He smiled. "Hello, Shoukaki."
She smiled back. "Hello, little kitsune." Briefly, she looked back over her shoulder to where Inuyasha lounged in his branches, then turned back to her friend. "Is he always like that?"
Shippou blinked. "Always like what?"
"So…so very crude. And dishonest. He doesn't admit anything, even to himself." She sighed. "And if he does, he just gets upset over it and yells at the first person he sees. I asked him what happened and he blew up at me."
The owl hooted again. With a flap and rustle of leaves, the creature took off into the air, swooping on silent wings. The two on the ground watched it leave, then turned back to the conversation at hand. Shippou thought hard on what Shoukaki had mentioned, trying his best to think of a way to describe the Inuyasha he knew. "Well," he finally began, "I don't think Inuyasha really knows how to be anything but how he is. He's lived a life where he had to hide and be tough all the time. When Kagome… When Kagome came, she very slowly began to show him another world; a world where he didn't have to hide his feelings all the time and he could open up. I think she loved him. Actually—no, I know she loved him; and Inuyasha her. When she disappeared, Inuyasha was torn apart. He hasn't really been himself lately. He misses her a lot."
Shoukaki nodded. "So it would seem. So it would seem…" She leaned back and for a long time looked at the stars. Shippou leaned forward, wrapping his arms around his knees and hugging them to his chest. Together, they sat beneath the nightly canopy in silence. Then Shoukaki asked: "Shippou, what exactly happened?"
The kitsune was silent. Eyes front and hands clasped tightly at his knees, he sat in thought, unsure what to say and not sure he wanted to, anyhow. Next to him, Shoukaki waited patiently.
Finally, Shippou spoke up, his voice quiet: "It was eight months ago, just after we'd found the last shard of the Shikon Jewel…"
"We found it! Inuyasha, look, we found it! Isn't this wonderful?"
Said half-demon lounged against a nearby boulder, Tetsusaiga sheathed at his waist. He was fingering the prayer beads strung about his neck as he watched Kagome jump up and down, jewel shard in hand. The smoking remains of a demon lay nearby, piled against the wall of the cave where they'd found and killed it. The last demon, possessing the last shard of the Shikon Jewel. Naraku. Shippou sat on Kagome's bag, clapping his small hands together, his tail bushier than usual in his excitement. Miroku and Sango hung back in the shadows. The priest clutched his cured right hand to his chest, smiling beatifically. Sango clung to his left. Everyone seemed so happy.
With a squeal, Kagome jumped in front of Inuyasha, holding the shard in her hands. Hanging from her neck was the larger chunk of what would soon be the Shikon Jewel. Her eyes were bright and clear as she looked up at him. Inuyasha backed away slowly, slightly unnerved. The girl reached down and took his hands in hers, pressing the shard into his knuckles.
"It's the last shard, Inuyasha. Aren't you happy?"
The dog-demon snorted. When Kagome looked hurt, he sighed and nodded. "Of course I am, Kagome. It's just…well, now that we have all the shards, you won't have to be here anymore. I mean, it's not like I'll miss you or anything. You were a pain more often than not. And your tests got on my nerves. But…well, I…"
She shushed him with a finger to his lips and smiled. "I'm going to miss this too, Inuyasha. But don't worry. I'm the priestess—I can't just leave the Jewel here alone. And, Inuyasha, I can't leave yo—"
Commotion toward the front of the cave brought their conversation up short. With a growl, Inuyasha grabbed his sword, cursing loudly. Kagome ran and grabbed Shippou, pack and all and hid behind the nearest rock she could find. When he was sure she was safe, the hanyou darted toward the cave's entrance, where Miroku and Sango were busy fighting off a wave of demons.
With a swing, Inuyasha brought the Tetsusaiga into action. A blast of energy shot out from the fang, slicing through his enemies and clearing a path out into the clearing that led to the cave. Miroku and Sango dashed out into the brightness of the afternoon, weapons drawn.
Inuyasha turned to where Kagome and Shippou hid. He reached out one hand toward them. "Kagome, hurry up! You aren't safe in here!"
She nodded and ran toward him. Shippou clung to her shirt frantically, trying his best not to cry. This wasn't fair! They had the last shard, so everything should have been all right! Where had all these stupid monsters come from?!?
His unspoken question was answered as Kagome dashed out of the entrance to the cave and into the sunlight that bathed the glen. Emerging from the trees was an army of demons, youkai of all shapes and sizes. They clambered about, clawing at each other to get into the clearing. At their head was Inuyasha's brother—Sesshoumaru.
Upon seeing his brother, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and thrust her behind him. Sesshoumaru raised a hand to stop his demons, then advanced toward his half-breed sibling, eyes lidded and cold. The two dog-demons faced off; Inuyasha holding the Tetsusaiga in a death grip, legs ready to spring, his elder brother carrying his father's other tooth loosely. The impatient growl of his creatures served as a backdrop for their encounter.
"Well, half-breed, we are well met, aren't we? I see you have your woman close-by, as usual. How convenient for me."
Inuyasha snarled and held the Tetsusaiga ready for an attack. "Don't you dare lay a finger on Kagome, or I'll—"
"Kill me, Inuyasha? Look about you, naïve half-breed. You are surrounded by hundreds of demons, ludicrously outnumbered and you have no route of escape. Your human companions will very likely die within a wave or two and you shall be left alone. And then you too shall die. Who will protect your precious woman then?"
Before he could answer, Inuyasha was surprised to see Shippou suddenly jump in front of him, his tiny kitsune body shaking as he stared up at Sesshoumaru. With defiance in his eyes, the fox-demon faced off with the larger demon. "I-I-I'll protect Kagome if Inuyasha falls!"
If Sesshoumaru could smile, Kagome thought for sure that he did so now. Looking down on the kitsune, the expression the dog-demon wore could only be described as a malevolent smile. With a flick, the tail that wrapped about the demon's shoulder snapped out and smashed into the kitsune on the ground, sending him rolling back into the rock wall of the cave. Kagome screamed and ran to him while Inuyasha got ready to take his brother down.
The two demons squared off. Holding the Fang close, Inuyasha knelt low to the ground. "This is the end, Sesshoumaru. I refuse to put up with you anymore. And I refuse to let you hurt Kagome."
Sesshoumaru simply unsheathed his own sword—and sheathed his father's Fang—and readied himself for battle. "There is very little you can do, half-breed. I shall kill you here, just as my demons shall kill those humans you foolishly travel with. And then the Jewel shall belong to me."
"I won't let you take the Jewel. I won't let you hurt Kagome!" And with that, he sprang at his brother and the battle began.
Kagome knelt beside Shippou, cradling his head in her hands. The fox-demon looked up at her with loving eyes and smiled. One tiny paw reached up and patted her cheek. "Don't worry, Kagome, Inuyasha will win. But…I'll still protect you…just in case."
"Shippou…thank you. You'll always protect me, dear friend."
"Hey, Kagome…?" She nodded her head to show she was listening, then the kitsune continued. "Inuyasha…he will win, won't he? I mean…even Sesshoumaru can't beat Dog Boy…right?"
She smiled at him and held him tight. "Inuyasha…yes, Shippou, of course he'll win. No one can beat our Inuyasha."
Shippou shook his head. "Your Inuyasha…he's your Inuyasha, Kagome…"
The girl blushed, but said nothing. Toward the center of the clearing, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had already begun their fight. Steel rang against steel as the brothers fought for supremacy. Kagome watched with fearful eyes from where she sat, holding Shippou close. Miroku and Sango sped along the treeline, fighting off the demons that were beginning to emerge in larger and larger waves. Without his air-rip, the priest was failing fast as his skills and fighting were no match for the hordes. Even Sango, with all her demon-hunting skills, wouldn't be able to hold them off were Miroku to fall.
Reaching into her shirt, Kagome pulled out the Shikon shards she had. The larger crystal weighed heavily in her palm, the shard held lightly between her fingers. All she had to do was merge the two and the jewel would be complete. With the jewel complete…she could make any wish she wanted. Forgive me, Shippou, Miroku, Sango. Inuyasha…please, forgive me.
Setting Shippou down gently against the rocks, Kagome placed the shard against the almost finished jewel. Bright light flared out from her palm, enveloping her and Shippou, the rock face and half the surrounding area. In the center of the glen, Inuyasha stopped suddenly and turned to face where his companions stood, lost in the light. While he was distracted, Sesshoumaru brought his sword down sharply, ready to drive it into his brother's unprotected skull.
"Sit!"
Inuyasha crashed to the ground just as his brother's sword slashed through the space his head had once occupied. Sesshoumaru growled deep in his throat, then brought his weapon back up, intent on skewering the prone half-demon that lay before him. As he brought his arms down, however, a blur shot past him and whisked the hanyou away. Sesshoumaru's sword tore through the bare earth and cleaved through rock with an unsatisfactory howl.
Stunned, the half-breed stared up from where he lay near Shippou. The kitsune was breathing heavily; nearby lay a leaf, shrivelled and used. Inuyasha blinked. "Shippou…? What the hell…?"
The fox-demon looked at him and wheezed: "Kagome…asked me to save you…Inuyasha…"
"I didn't need to be saved, damnit! I had it perfectly under control!" Shippou laughed, but said nothing. Realising he wasn't going to get a response, the hanyou looked around. "Where is Kagome, anyhow?"
In answer, the kitsune pointed toward the center of the glen. He pointed toward Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha flipped. "Why the hell did you let her go out there?! Damnit, you idiot! Kagome! Kagome!!"
Oblivious to his cries, Kagome continued onward. From the corner of her eyes she could see Miroku fall to the ground, exhausted. Sango ran to him and stood over his body, boomerang at ready. She too look tired, but she continued fighting. She had to. Just like me. I have to keep fighting. I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I'm afraid you will not make a wish after all…
Sesshoumaru eyed her coldly as she approached him. Frightened, Kagome clung to the completed jewel, hoping that its presence would strengthen her resolve. This was the only way to finally win. If she could rid the world of the evil demons…of Sesshoumaru in particular…So what if there will still be evil humans? Humans are evil because they are human—it's a part of us. But demons go beyond that. If I can stop them…If I can stop the demons, then I can save a lot more people…Inuyasha…someday, please, understand this.
Stopping a few feet from him, Kagome cleared her throat; the jewel she clutched tightly to her chest. He couldn't see it—not until it was too late. "I won't let you hurt anyone anymore, Sesshoumaru. Too many people have been hurt by you. As the Priestess of the Shikon Jewel, it is my duty to protect this world." Shaking, she took another step forward. The jewel warmed her fingers as it began to stir to life.
The demon looked at her frostily. His right hand held his sword loosely, his wrist brushed against Tenseiga where it lay at his hip. A gust of wind caught his white hair and cast it across his shoulder. His tail flicked slightly. "What do you hope to do, woman of my brother? You are nothing more than a frail and pitiful human. No claws, no fangs, no speed or agility. What do you hope to do against me, lord of this realm?"
Breathing deeply, Kagome clutched the jewel so tightly that the harshness of its edge bit into her hands. Forgive me, Inuyasha. Beneath her breath, she began her prayer. "Jewel, I pray to you, as Priestess, to grant me this one wish. With this pure heart I ask that you save my friends and all those living in this world. Cleanse the land of those beasts that wish to harm it; free the people's hearts of fear; give this country peace. I give my whole being to attain this. Let that be the price." She took a deep breath. One more line…
"What are you planning, girl…?" More amused and curious than alarmed at her mumbles, Sesshoumaru leaned forward to get a better look at her. "What do you have in your hands…?"
Holding the jewel high, Kagome called out: "I, Priestess of the Shikon Jewel, pray to you to grant me my wish!"
Blinding light shot out from her fist, engulfing everything in the area. Sesshoumaru screamed as the light enveloped him, his hand clasping the Tenseiga. At the edge of the trees, Sango looked up from where she knelt beside Miroku, the demon that was about to crush her in its claws evaporating as the luminescence crashed into him. Thousands of other demons struggled to escape, only to be destroyed as the light tore through their ranks mercilessly.
By the cave, Inuyasha raised his arms to the light, then looked up again. Kagome stood in the center of the blaze, the jewel raised aloft. Her face was bathed in white, her hair streaked through with silver brilliance. Her hands…Inuyasha gasped. Her hands were disappearing. "Kagome! Kagome, what the hell are you doing?!" Struggling to see and with Shippou clinging to him, screaming, the half-demon clawed at the ground, trying his best to reach the girl who meant all the world to him. "This isn't what we planned! Kagome, don't you leave me!"
The girl turned her face to him, that beautiful face bathed in such a soft glow and she smiled at him. Tears stood in her eyes as she watched him fight vainly to reach her. "Forgive me, Inuyasha. I wish…I wish you could have had your wish…that we could have stayed together…I'm sorry, Inuyasha. Forgive me." With the last of her strength, she reached out and gently touched the prayer beads that circled his neck; the cord shattered and the beads fell silently to the ground. "My last gift to you, dear. I set you free."
"KAGOMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"
Kagome…
Startled, Kagome looked around her, trying to find the voice. There was nothing around her but light; even Inuyasha and Shippou had faded away. "Who…?"
Kagome… In front of her, a small child appeared. The human gasped. It was her! Little Kagome blinked and smiled at her counterpart, then floated closer and held her face in small hands. Kagome…I'm sorry, but I cannot grant your wish. Your heart is torn and I cannot finish what you started. The child pressed her palm against Kagome's chest. I can't work if you can't make a pure wish. So you shall sleep a while, instead. A pact has been made, but cannot be fulfilled. I cannot take your life. She smiled. You will see Inuyasha again.
"Who are you…? Are you the jewel?"
Little Kagome laughed as she floated away into the light. The demons here have been destroyed, along with many others. I took the wish as far as I could. But I cannot take your life—the pact is not fulfilled. Rejoice, Priestess. You shall see Inuyasha again.
Kagome felt her body falling as the light that surrounded her gave way to a deep and far reaching darkness. She felt insubstantial; she felt empty. Everything she had had gone into the jewel, into her wish. Now, spent, all she wanted to do was rest. I wonder when I'll see them again…?
"Kagome! Kagome, where are you?"
"And she disappeared. Ever since, we've been searching for her. It's been hard, though. Inuyasha hasn't been himself at all."
Shoukaki nodded her understanding, then stood. "Well, I should go apologise to him, then, shouldn't I? And you need to get some rest. I'll talk to you in the morning, little kitsune." She turned and floated away, then stopped. Shippou blinked at her, wondering. She smiled at him. "Thank you, little kitsune. Thank you very much." Then she was gone.
Inuyasha was still where she'd left him when she returned to the tree. He looked down at her and grumbled, then went back to staring at the sky. Shoukaki giggled and floated up to him, where she took a seat on the branch beside him. He hmphed but didn't say anything else.
"Inuyasha?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry I upset you. I didn't understand." She smiled warmly at him. "So I'm sorry."
Surprised, the hanyou nodded slowly in acceptance, then went back to studying the stars. Shoukaki sat with him in silence and watched the night pass with him.
I hope you're all enjoying this story. I know I'm not terribly far in it, but it is to entertain and that's my ultimate aim. So thanks to all of you who wrote and reviewed, your kind words really encouraged me. As I stated in the first chapter, I'm not proud of my writing, but I don't mind it so much now, since you seem to like it. Thank you all.
And now, on to chapter two!
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter Two: In Memories
"Feh! What the hell are we still doing here? We should have left a long time ago!"
Shippou rubbed his head, a small bump forming where Inuyasha had smacked him. The hanyou stood over his companion, hands on hips, eyes lidded. The morning sun cast his shadow far across the rocky landscape. Behind him, Shoukaki sat on a boulder, giggling girlishly. I wonder how she can sit on it if she's dead, the fox-demon thought listlessly. Maybe I should ask.
Shippou didn't get the chance to ask, however, as Inuyasha hauled him bodily from the ground, slung him over his shoulder and sullenly began trodding out of the lost village. Shoukaki watched them for a time, then hopped off the rock and followed behind, skipping. The kitsune craned his head to watch. She sure is happy this morning.
They tramped along in that fashion for a while; around noon, Inuyasha stopped and dumped Shippou unceremoniously to the hard ground. The fox- demon rubbed his rear and glared at Dog Boy, then shook his head. At least he's not depressed anymore. I wonder if Shoukaki helped with that…
As if being called, the little she-ghost plopped down beside him, smiling warmly. Shippou stared. She looked…kinda real from this angle. Maybe she had been lying about being a ghost…but she sure had been not real during the night…Testing for himself, Shippou reached out a casual hand and shoved the little girl in the chest. Shoukaki cried out and tumbled backward, raising a fairly decent dust cloud. The kitsune rushed to help her up, apologising profusely.
Shoukaki laughed and shook her head. "It's all right, little kitsune, I'm not hurt. But…whyever did you want to push me?"
Blushing, the kitsune turned his head away and scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "Well, I kinda wanted to see…you know, if…if you were…solid…"
The child blinked, then broke out into a fit of laughter. Shippou flamed and hunched his shoulders, trying his best to hide from the world. It wasn't fair! She was a phantom during the night! Why could he touch her now? When she continued to laugh, the young fox-demon started to crawl away, abashed.
She pulled him back with tiny, gentle hands. Flushed of face, but smiling warmly, she held his slightly larger hands in hers, the fur on his paws warm against her palms. She gave his fingers a squeeze. "I'm sorry I laughed, little kitsune. You asked an honest question." With that, she released his hands and leaned back on hers, staring up at the noonday sky. A sigh escaped her small, childish lips. "I don't blame you, either. It baffles me, too. But…" She turned her face to his, a smile spreading from cheek to cheek. "I have substance during the day, little kitsune. At night, when the world is dark and the heavens bright, I'm as insubstantial as the wind. I can see things then. You know, I can see other worlds—the past, too. Dead worlds, ruined worlds. Worlds long gone and out of memory. But I can't interact with them; I can't interact with the world I should belong to. But during the day—ah, I can feel just as much here as I could so many years ago. I think…I think it's the gods playing a cruel joke on me. I can interact here, in this place where I don't belong, but I can't go home." Sobered, she continued quietly: "Cruel, isn't it, little kitsune…?"
"Shoukaki, I—"
"You two waste more of my time than Kagome and her stupid tests ever did. Now get up and let's move, before I die of old age."
Shippou glared at him. "You can't die of old age, stupid. You're immortal."
Inuyasha hmphed. "With the way you two go about, I don't really wanna challenge that. Now hurry up. I can feel my bones growing weak." And with that he grabbed the fox-demon by the scruff of his neck and dragged him through the dirt behind him.
Shoukaki blinked owlishly, surprised by the huge contrast in how this Inuyasha acted as opposed to his soul, then hurried after them, her small feet making quiet thudding noises on the hard-packed ground.
She was so lonely. So incredibly, terribly lonely. No one was there; no one knew where she was. Her only companion was the inconsistent drip of water far, far away. Once, she'd thought she'd heard footsteps echoing through the darkness, but she had no voice with which to call and no beacon to light the way. So she was left alone again to suffer the intolerable solitude of her place.
A false breeze blew through her being, cold and damp. Damp…? Never before had there been anything to that soulless breeze. Could this mean that she was nearer the world than she'd thought? With a frenzy born of desperation, she searched out the wind, praying to any god or creature that could hear her that she be allowed to find it. Frantically she clawed about, reaching out limbs she'd forgotten she possessed in the nothing of her surroundings. The feel of wind brushed her again, cool and moist. She could smell salt. As she struggled along, the drop of water that occasionally assaulted her senses became a crashing torrent. The torrent then resolved into voices and the wind became a speck of light. She felt a tightness in her being, then let out a cry of such relief that it jolted her into the light and back to a world she thought she'd never see again.
Moonlight flooded in through large windows carved into the surface of stone. Outside, the surf crashed fitfully against a rock-laden shore. Cranes swooped low over a manicured garden; a cat slept soundly on an elaborately carved chair nearby. A chair…looking about, she noticed a small table, a coarsely woven rug and, beneath her, a futon. Skins covered her body, keeping the naked flesh warm. A fire crackled in a pit toward the center of the room.
Where…?
There was a rustle at the door. With a start, she looked over to see a slender, armoured man standing just slightly inside the room, his white mane flickering red from the flames. He stared at her with cold, uncaring eyes and said simply: "So you've finally woken up, woman of my brother."
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha sprang awake, sweat beading his brow. An owl hooted above him, just a couple branches away. The hanyou scowled, then resettled himself on his branch.
I should be over this by now. What the hell am I doing, dreaming about that stupid human, getting so worked up over her? I mean…it's not like I care about her…she's just a human. That's all…"Feh, what the hell am I thinking? She's far more than just a human. Damn her! Damn her for leaving me alone like this!"
"You seem to enjoy yelling at people, don't you, Inuyasha?"
Said demon glared down from his perch at the phantom child that floated about halfway up the trunk. She giggled at him and rose to see him face to face. Her grin was mischievous. "What do you want, ghost?"
She giggled again; with a bit of a flip, she was sitting—floating—beside him, her head cocked so that she looked up at him from an angle. "What else, silly? I want to talk to you."
Inuyasha grunted. "Don't you ever sleep, ghost?"
"No, actually. And I do have a name, demon. It's Shoukaki. I've had it a long time and I'd like if you respected it."
He hmphed. Yes, well, I'm not a demon and I haven't been for a long time. So I'd like it if you respected me a little bit more." When she looked startled, he snapped: "What?"
Shoukaki just shrugged. "I thought you were a youkai, that's all. I'm surprised you're offended that I thought so. Do you like your human half that much?"
My human half…Kagome always tried to get me to like it… Sighing, the dog-demon fell back into the curve of the trunk, hands resting on his torso. He didn't love his human half, yet he didn't hate it, either. "No, I don't love my human half that much. I hate the demon that shares lineage with that bastard, Sesshoumaru. Him and those other demons that destroyed everything." I wanted to be a demon…do I still? Can I still? Kagome is gone…does it matter anymore what happens to me?
"You're thinking about her, aren't you, Inuyasha? Can you tell me what happened?"
He growled at her. "It's none of your damn business what happened!"
Angry, the ghost child puffed her cheeks out and glared at him over her pug nose, lips jutting out. "It is too my business! I'm part of this group now too, you know!"
"Yeah, well, I never asked you to join!"
"Fine, I'll go bug the other one then!"
"Fine, you do that!"
With a hmph, hanyou and phantom turned from each other, hands held tightly to their chests. Silence passed between them for what felt like ages, until Shoukaki finally sniffed and jumped down. Inuyasha stared after her, then went back to sitting in the nook of the tree.
Shoukaki floated along the ground a ways, then turned and headed toward Shippou. The fox-demon lay nestled in his tail between the roots of a nearby tree. Every now and again, he twitched, caught up in a dream. The ghost child knelt beside him and smiled as she watched, amused by his actions. He was so adorable in his sleep. Once, long long ago, she'd had a cat that did very similar things in her sleep. She could remember sitting for hours watching, a smile on her face.
A fly settled on the kitsune's snout. Shippou nipped at it; when it didn't leave, he brought his paw up to smash it. With a thwack, the fox- demon missed the fly but woke himself up painfully. He whimpered childishly as he held his nose. "Tetetetete."
The ghost-child giggled. Surprised to find he had company, Shippou scampered to his feet, then promptly fell back on his butt to talk. He smiled. "Hello, Shoukaki."
She smiled back. "Hello, little kitsune." Briefly, she looked back over her shoulder to where Inuyasha lounged in his branches, then turned back to her friend. "Is he always like that?"
Shippou blinked. "Always like what?"
"So…so very crude. And dishonest. He doesn't admit anything, even to himself." She sighed. "And if he does, he just gets upset over it and yells at the first person he sees. I asked him what happened and he blew up at me."
The owl hooted again. With a flap and rustle of leaves, the creature took off into the air, swooping on silent wings. The two on the ground watched it leave, then turned back to the conversation at hand. Shippou thought hard on what Shoukaki had mentioned, trying his best to think of a way to describe the Inuyasha he knew. "Well," he finally began, "I don't think Inuyasha really knows how to be anything but how he is. He's lived a life where he had to hide and be tough all the time. When Kagome… When Kagome came, she very slowly began to show him another world; a world where he didn't have to hide his feelings all the time and he could open up. I think she loved him. Actually—no, I know she loved him; and Inuyasha her. When she disappeared, Inuyasha was torn apart. He hasn't really been himself lately. He misses her a lot."
Shoukaki nodded. "So it would seem. So it would seem…" She leaned back and for a long time looked at the stars. Shippou leaned forward, wrapping his arms around his knees and hugging them to his chest. Together, they sat beneath the nightly canopy in silence. Then Shoukaki asked: "Shippou, what exactly happened?"
The kitsune was silent. Eyes front and hands clasped tightly at his knees, he sat in thought, unsure what to say and not sure he wanted to, anyhow. Next to him, Shoukaki waited patiently.
Finally, Shippou spoke up, his voice quiet: "It was eight months ago, just after we'd found the last shard of the Shikon Jewel…"
"We found it! Inuyasha, look, we found it! Isn't this wonderful?"
Said half-demon lounged against a nearby boulder, Tetsusaiga sheathed at his waist. He was fingering the prayer beads strung about his neck as he watched Kagome jump up and down, jewel shard in hand. The smoking remains of a demon lay nearby, piled against the wall of the cave where they'd found and killed it. The last demon, possessing the last shard of the Shikon Jewel. Naraku. Shippou sat on Kagome's bag, clapping his small hands together, his tail bushier than usual in his excitement. Miroku and Sango hung back in the shadows. The priest clutched his cured right hand to his chest, smiling beatifically. Sango clung to his left. Everyone seemed so happy.
With a squeal, Kagome jumped in front of Inuyasha, holding the shard in her hands. Hanging from her neck was the larger chunk of what would soon be the Shikon Jewel. Her eyes were bright and clear as she looked up at him. Inuyasha backed away slowly, slightly unnerved. The girl reached down and took his hands in hers, pressing the shard into his knuckles.
"It's the last shard, Inuyasha. Aren't you happy?"
The dog-demon snorted. When Kagome looked hurt, he sighed and nodded. "Of course I am, Kagome. It's just…well, now that we have all the shards, you won't have to be here anymore. I mean, it's not like I'll miss you or anything. You were a pain more often than not. And your tests got on my nerves. But…well, I…"
She shushed him with a finger to his lips and smiled. "I'm going to miss this too, Inuyasha. But don't worry. I'm the priestess—I can't just leave the Jewel here alone. And, Inuyasha, I can't leave yo—"
Commotion toward the front of the cave brought their conversation up short. With a growl, Inuyasha grabbed his sword, cursing loudly. Kagome ran and grabbed Shippou, pack and all and hid behind the nearest rock she could find. When he was sure she was safe, the hanyou darted toward the cave's entrance, where Miroku and Sango were busy fighting off a wave of demons.
With a swing, Inuyasha brought the Tetsusaiga into action. A blast of energy shot out from the fang, slicing through his enemies and clearing a path out into the clearing that led to the cave. Miroku and Sango dashed out into the brightness of the afternoon, weapons drawn.
Inuyasha turned to where Kagome and Shippou hid. He reached out one hand toward them. "Kagome, hurry up! You aren't safe in here!"
She nodded and ran toward him. Shippou clung to her shirt frantically, trying his best not to cry. This wasn't fair! They had the last shard, so everything should have been all right! Where had all these stupid monsters come from?!?
His unspoken question was answered as Kagome dashed out of the entrance to the cave and into the sunlight that bathed the glen. Emerging from the trees was an army of demons, youkai of all shapes and sizes. They clambered about, clawing at each other to get into the clearing. At their head was Inuyasha's brother—Sesshoumaru.
Upon seeing his brother, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and thrust her behind him. Sesshoumaru raised a hand to stop his demons, then advanced toward his half-breed sibling, eyes lidded and cold. The two dog-demons faced off; Inuyasha holding the Tetsusaiga in a death grip, legs ready to spring, his elder brother carrying his father's other tooth loosely. The impatient growl of his creatures served as a backdrop for their encounter.
"Well, half-breed, we are well met, aren't we? I see you have your woman close-by, as usual. How convenient for me."
Inuyasha snarled and held the Tetsusaiga ready for an attack. "Don't you dare lay a finger on Kagome, or I'll—"
"Kill me, Inuyasha? Look about you, naïve half-breed. You are surrounded by hundreds of demons, ludicrously outnumbered and you have no route of escape. Your human companions will very likely die within a wave or two and you shall be left alone. And then you too shall die. Who will protect your precious woman then?"
Before he could answer, Inuyasha was surprised to see Shippou suddenly jump in front of him, his tiny kitsune body shaking as he stared up at Sesshoumaru. With defiance in his eyes, the fox-demon faced off with the larger demon. "I-I-I'll protect Kagome if Inuyasha falls!"
If Sesshoumaru could smile, Kagome thought for sure that he did so now. Looking down on the kitsune, the expression the dog-demon wore could only be described as a malevolent smile. With a flick, the tail that wrapped about the demon's shoulder snapped out and smashed into the kitsune on the ground, sending him rolling back into the rock wall of the cave. Kagome screamed and ran to him while Inuyasha got ready to take his brother down.
The two demons squared off. Holding the Fang close, Inuyasha knelt low to the ground. "This is the end, Sesshoumaru. I refuse to put up with you anymore. And I refuse to let you hurt Kagome."
Sesshoumaru simply unsheathed his own sword—and sheathed his father's Fang—and readied himself for battle. "There is very little you can do, half-breed. I shall kill you here, just as my demons shall kill those humans you foolishly travel with. And then the Jewel shall belong to me."
"I won't let you take the Jewel. I won't let you hurt Kagome!" And with that, he sprang at his brother and the battle began.
Kagome knelt beside Shippou, cradling his head in her hands. The fox-demon looked up at her with loving eyes and smiled. One tiny paw reached up and patted her cheek. "Don't worry, Kagome, Inuyasha will win. But…I'll still protect you…just in case."
"Shippou…thank you. You'll always protect me, dear friend."
"Hey, Kagome…?" She nodded her head to show she was listening, then the kitsune continued. "Inuyasha…he will win, won't he? I mean…even Sesshoumaru can't beat Dog Boy…right?"
She smiled at him and held him tight. "Inuyasha…yes, Shippou, of course he'll win. No one can beat our Inuyasha."
Shippou shook his head. "Your Inuyasha…he's your Inuyasha, Kagome…"
The girl blushed, but said nothing. Toward the center of the clearing, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had already begun their fight. Steel rang against steel as the brothers fought for supremacy. Kagome watched with fearful eyes from where she sat, holding Shippou close. Miroku and Sango sped along the treeline, fighting off the demons that were beginning to emerge in larger and larger waves. Without his air-rip, the priest was failing fast as his skills and fighting were no match for the hordes. Even Sango, with all her demon-hunting skills, wouldn't be able to hold them off were Miroku to fall.
Reaching into her shirt, Kagome pulled out the Shikon shards she had. The larger crystal weighed heavily in her palm, the shard held lightly between her fingers. All she had to do was merge the two and the jewel would be complete. With the jewel complete…she could make any wish she wanted. Forgive me, Shippou, Miroku, Sango. Inuyasha…please, forgive me.
Setting Shippou down gently against the rocks, Kagome placed the shard against the almost finished jewel. Bright light flared out from her palm, enveloping her and Shippou, the rock face and half the surrounding area. In the center of the glen, Inuyasha stopped suddenly and turned to face where his companions stood, lost in the light. While he was distracted, Sesshoumaru brought his sword down sharply, ready to drive it into his brother's unprotected skull.
"Sit!"
Inuyasha crashed to the ground just as his brother's sword slashed through the space his head had once occupied. Sesshoumaru growled deep in his throat, then brought his weapon back up, intent on skewering the prone half-demon that lay before him. As he brought his arms down, however, a blur shot past him and whisked the hanyou away. Sesshoumaru's sword tore through the bare earth and cleaved through rock with an unsatisfactory howl.
Stunned, the half-breed stared up from where he lay near Shippou. The kitsune was breathing heavily; nearby lay a leaf, shrivelled and used. Inuyasha blinked. "Shippou…? What the hell…?"
The fox-demon looked at him and wheezed: "Kagome…asked me to save you…Inuyasha…"
"I didn't need to be saved, damnit! I had it perfectly under control!" Shippou laughed, but said nothing. Realising he wasn't going to get a response, the hanyou looked around. "Where is Kagome, anyhow?"
In answer, the kitsune pointed toward the center of the glen. He pointed toward Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha flipped. "Why the hell did you let her go out there?! Damnit, you idiot! Kagome! Kagome!!"
Oblivious to his cries, Kagome continued onward. From the corner of her eyes she could see Miroku fall to the ground, exhausted. Sango ran to him and stood over his body, boomerang at ready. She too look tired, but she continued fighting. She had to. Just like me. I have to keep fighting. I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I'm afraid you will not make a wish after all…
Sesshoumaru eyed her coldly as she approached him. Frightened, Kagome clung to the completed jewel, hoping that its presence would strengthen her resolve. This was the only way to finally win. If she could rid the world of the evil demons…of Sesshoumaru in particular…So what if there will still be evil humans? Humans are evil because they are human—it's a part of us. But demons go beyond that. If I can stop them…If I can stop the demons, then I can save a lot more people…Inuyasha…someday, please, understand this.
Stopping a few feet from him, Kagome cleared her throat; the jewel she clutched tightly to her chest. He couldn't see it—not until it was too late. "I won't let you hurt anyone anymore, Sesshoumaru. Too many people have been hurt by you. As the Priestess of the Shikon Jewel, it is my duty to protect this world." Shaking, she took another step forward. The jewel warmed her fingers as it began to stir to life.
The demon looked at her frostily. His right hand held his sword loosely, his wrist brushed against Tenseiga where it lay at his hip. A gust of wind caught his white hair and cast it across his shoulder. His tail flicked slightly. "What do you hope to do, woman of my brother? You are nothing more than a frail and pitiful human. No claws, no fangs, no speed or agility. What do you hope to do against me, lord of this realm?"
Breathing deeply, Kagome clutched the jewel so tightly that the harshness of its edge bit into her hands. Forgive me, Inuyasha. Beneath her breath, she began her prayer. "Jewel, I pray to you, as Priestess, to grant me this one wish. With this pure heart I ask that you save my friends and all those living in this world. Cleanse the land of those beasts that wish to harm it; free the people's hearts of fear; give this country peace. I give my whole being to attain this. Let that be the price." She took a deep breath. One more line…
"What are you planning, girl…?" More amused and curious than alarmed at her mumbles, Sesshoumaru leaned forward to get a better look at her. "What do you have in your hands…?"
Holding the jewel high, Kagome called out: "I, Priestess of the Shikon Jewel, pray to you to grant me my wish!"
Blinding light shot out from her fist, engulfing everything in the area. Sesshoumaru screamed as the light enveloped him, his hand clasping the Tenseiga. At the edge of the trees, Sango looked up from where she knelt beside Miroku, the demon that was about to crush her in its claws evaporating as the luminescence crashed into him. Thousands of other demons struggled to escape, only to be destroyed as the light tore through their ranks mercilessly.
By the cave, Inuyasha raised his arms to the light, then looked up again. Kagome stood in the center of the blaze, the jewel raised aloft. Her face was bathed in white, her hair streaked through with silver brilliance. Her hands…Inuyasha gasped. Her hands were disappearing. "Kagome! Kagome, what the hell are you doing?!" Struggling to see and with Shippou clinging to him, screaming, the half-demon clawed at the ground, trying his best to reach the girl who meant all the world to him. "This isn't what we planned! Kagome, don't you leave me!"
The girl turned her face to him, that beautiful face bathed in such a soft glow and she smiled at him. Tears stood in her eyes as she watched him fight vainly to reach her. "Forgive me, Inuyasha. I wish…I wish you could have had your wish…that we could have stayed together…I'm sorry, Inuyasha. Forgive me." With the last of her strength, she reached out and gently touched the prayer beads that circled his neck; the cord shattered and the beads fell silently to the ground. "My last gift to you, dear. I set you free."
"KAGOMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"
Kagome…
Startled, Kagome looked around her, trying to find the voice. There was nothing around her but light; even Inuyasha and Shippou had faded away. "Who…?"
Kagome… In front of her, a small child appeared. The human gasped. It was her! Little Kagome blinked and smiled at her counterpart, then floated closer and held her face in small hands. Kagome…I'm sorry, but I cannot grant your wish. Your heart is torn and I cannot finish what you started. The child pressed her palm against Kagome's chest. I can't work if you can't make a pure wish. So you shall sleep a while, instead. A pact has been made, but cannot be fulfilled. I cannot take your life. She smiled. You will see Inuyasha again.
"Who are you…? Are you the jewel?"
Little Kagome laughed as she floated away into the light. The demons here have been destroyed, along with many others. I took the wish as far as I could. But I cannot take your life—the pact is not fulfilled. Rejoice, Priestess. You shall see Inuyasha again.
Kagome felt her body falling as the light that surrounded her gave way to a deep and far reaching darkness. She felt insubstantial; she felt empty. Everything she had had gone into the jewel, into her wish. Now, spent, all she wanted to do was rest. I wonder when I'll see them again…?
"Kagome! Kagome, where are you?"
"And she disappeared. Ever since, we've been searching for her. It's been hard, though. Inuyasha hasn't been himself at all."
Shoukaki nodded her understanding, then stood. "Well, I should go apologise to him, then, shouldn't I? And you need to get some rest. I'll talk to you in the morning, little kitsune." She turned and floated away, then stopped. Shippou blinked at her, wondering. She smiled at him. "Thank you, little kitsune. Thank you very much." Then she was gone.
Inuyasha was still where she'd left him when she returned to the tree. He looked down at her and grumbled, then went back to staring at the sky. Shoukaki giggled and floated up to him, where she took a seat on the branch beside him. He hmphed but didn't say anything else.
"Inuyasha?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry I upset you. I didn't understand." She smiled warmly at him. "So I'm sorry."
Surprised, the hanyou nodded slowly in acceptance, then went back to studying the stars. Shoukaki sat with him in silence and watched the night pass with him.