Lauren: Gah...I'm tired but I don't want to sleep. Weird, huh? Ah, a few people have said how the story is coming along slightly fast and I'd just like to reply to that. Yeah, I know it's a bit fast on how Kagome is opening up and Inuyasha is falling in love with her but just consider this. Kagome was all quiet and depressed because she was waiting for Inuyasha, hoping they'd find each other one day and everyone would believe her. So when he showed up, she was happy, except he didn't remember. Very sad. But gradually, he tried to understand her story and he took her outside, as if he was "bringing" her "out" of her shell that she had built around herself. Kagome knows now that she's not all that crazy and that what happened to her really DID happen. But I'll admit, Inuyasha falling for her is coming along a tad fast but it's mostly also because he cared for her so much in the past that those feelings are almost just resurfacing. And he just realized a tiny bit ago that he felt those things and who they were for. Lauren has bad grammar. =( That never was my strongest point. Hope that cleared some things up though, so now on with the review notes!
Eike- They already have up to episode 74 dubbed? Are you serious? That is so cool! I've only seen up to like episode 57 or so with subtitles. You've got to tell me if it's good or not. I personally didn't think Shippo's voice was TOO bad in the few dubbed episodes I've seen. I hate Kagome's voice though...it just...BUGS the heck out of me. I love the Japanese voices though! NO!! AND I JUST REALIZED I MISSED INUYASHA ON CARTOON NETWORK! T_T Well, that sucks.
Inulover- I don't know if it's coming straight out on DVD (the second Inuyasha movie) but if they showed a DVD I'm guessing it probably is.
Lemon-Queen-69- I'm so sorry to hear about your cat! Aw...=( My kitty is fat, he's 14 pounds but he is a big cat with big bones so he has just the right amount. He can't get any more fatter though or it'll be unhealthy. He has long hair too so it only makes him look bigger! He's been called a whale before!
Cloudie- I think Miroku can get help once he ADMITS he has a problem with groping woman!
Zel no miko- DUDE!! Don't do that to Inuyasha or anyone else! ^_^;; I hope this update is enough to hold you off!! D
B-chan- Yeah, this story will probably be pretty long. Not too long because I don't want it dragged out but, well, I'll just have to see how much it takes to write all I have planned out. And you are special! Everyone is!
Lyn/Lin- Aw...I'm sorry. *hugs* I'll try not to make anyone cry again.
Gryphnwng- Congratulations to your fishy! Was it a lot of babies? Don't let them get eaten!! Save them! I bet they're tiny and cute! ^_^ I'm trying to crank out another chapter for my Escaflowne fic but it's so hard when all I want to do is write for this one! No! I promised my friend I wouldn't ignore the other, that I'd write both of them! I must fight! I must finish them both and not ignore any!
~*~ Where Did You Go? ~*~
~By: Lauren~
-Chapter 11-
"The Soundless Voice"
"Inuyasha, can we stay here forever? Please Inuyasha, can we stay here always? In this moment, in this spot, with this same feeling always?" Her face pleaded with him, her brown eyes watering up, overflowing with hope. Her milky skin lit up in the golden sunlight while her raven hair seemed to sway with every movement. The wind rustled through the bushes, causing their hair to wave slightly, mixing together. He could smell the strange perfume she wore mixed in with her own scent. A beautiful scent. A scent he loved.
"I'm sorry." Inuyasha frowned, watching the girl's face dim slightly. He lifted up his hand, caressing her rosy cheek tenderly. "But we can still be together forever- in my world or in yours. That's what these rings symbolize. They'll always bond us. They'll always bring us together, even if we're on opposite ends of the earth. They're special, just like you."
The girl smiled, snuggling into his welcoming arms. "So no matter where we are, we'll always be together." Her angelic voice murmured.
Who was this girl? Why couldn't Inuyasha see her face? Why couldn't he hear her name?! He knew he was having one of his strange dreams or...or memories. Whatever one would call them, they were still the same thing. He was either fighting to protect his friends and the mysterious girl or holding her in his arms. It was as if he was in this Inuyasha's place but not at the same time. As if he was watching this past memory through a window, through the eyes of his past self but he could never clearly see the girl's face.
"I can't believe it's finally over. We actually beat Naraku!!! Miroku's hand is fixed and Sango has her little brother back. I can't wait until Miroku and Sango get married. They said they were gong to wait but knowing Miroku, that isn't going to happen." The girl laughed, her voice floating through the air and into his sensitive ears. "But what'll happen to us? I know we're going to get married but...what should we do with the Shikon no Tama? Is it really right to leave it split in two parts, never to be whole and to always exist?"
Inuyasha played with her black hair in his hands. "You know I can't allow you to purify it. The energy is just too much for your body to handle- you already heard Kaede tell you not to try it again. The first time you gave me enough of a scare when your heart stopped. We were lucky we were able to get it pumping again. I can't risk losing you. We'll just have to protect both halves and maybe one day they can be a whole, when you are strong enough to purify it." He replied. Suddenly, he grabbed her hand and held it out next to his. Both of their rings sparkled, pulling slightly towards each other. "As long as we keep both of these with us, we'll never be apart. I love you...Kagome..."
Inuyasha fell off of his couch, landing with a thud on the cold, hard floor. He pulled his face up before he shifted so that his back was leaning against the couch bottom. "It was her. I knew that girl was Kagome!" He shook his head in disbelief. "It really is true...all of it...I can't believe it but...the evidence is right in front of my face. H-how though? Was that me in a past life? But how did I die then? What about the others? Was this little ring really what brought us together in Kagome's time?" He stared at the ring as it glimmered faintly pink. "I don't understand. There is so much I don't understand!!" He slammed his fists into the floor before he smirked. Maybe if he fell asleep again, he could gather more answers. So he closed his eyes and hoped for the best.
"Inuyasha...are you sure?" Kagome turned, staring into his eyes. The half-demon swore that girl must have been able to see through them and into his soul- into his heart. He wasn't quite sure why he loved her, he knew he just did. It was a combination of things- he just loved every little bit of her, even if they did argue sometimes.
"Are you sure?" He winked at her, squeezing her hand gently as they both turned, staring at the wooden well before them. He tried to see into it a bit but it was only darkness inside. It was strange. Both of them had been through that very same well thousands of times but at this moment...it was felt different. They both quivered with fear and anticipation at the same time. Both afraid of the future, gripping each other's hands for support while their rings brushed against each other.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Kagome chuckled to hide her fear as they both lifted up one foot and placed it on the edge of the well. Why did she feel so fearful? Why did she suddenly want to run away from the well, pulling Inuyasha all the way with her? She shook the thoughts out of her head knowing Inuyasha would probably make fun of her if she chickened out. She blamed it on pre-wedding jitters. She was probably just nervous of how her family would react to their engagement. Little did she know that Inuyasha was having the same feelings and thoughts as she.
"I love you..." The hanyou whispered as they both stood up on the well's edge, surprised the wood didn't collapse under their weight. "I'll never let anything ever happen to you."
"I love you too." Kagome murmured as they both jumped into the well, plunging into the darkness. Inuyasha thudded onto the dank, cold dirt. He opened one eye and then the other. He looked upward to see the same feudal sky he had seen all of his life. Something was wrong. Kagome wasn't by his side. Her hand wasn't gripping his anymore.
Kagome flew through the familiar purple-darkness except when she turned to her left, Inuyasha wasn't by her side. "Inuyasha?! INUYASHA?!!" She cried out frantically when she suddenly collided with the floor. She looked up to see the inside of the building that the well was in. Why wasn't Inuyasha with her?
From that day one, the well never worked again.
A voice spoke. Inuyasha wasn't sure who or what it was but he knew he had heard it.
It had said, "The kinder you treat her, the more she'll hate herself for hurting others. She becomes more alone."
~*~
Inuyasha tried to shake the eerie memory from his mind. He could still feel the pain of losing her to the well fresh within his heart. He scratched his head as he walked towards Kagome's room, hoping the girl would be awake by now. Maybe he could then get the chance to ask her some more questions about his past. She would be so happy to find out his memories were returning! But he would have to be sure no one else found out or else he'd end up in a nut house also. Gripping the metal doorknob, he took in a deep breath. He had the sudden urge to run in there and bring her into a great big hug. Turning it slowly, he pulled it open wide and stepped inside.
The bed was empty and the binding on the bedpost hung limply, torn into pieces.
"Oh no..." He grumbled, his eyes widening. Running out of the room, he dashed down the hallways. "KAGOME'S ESCAPED!!" He yelled to the security guards until he reached Miroku's desk. "My patients escaped! We've got to find her- there's no telling what'll happen if she gets outside or sees...sees yo-" Inuyasha paused mid-sentence.
"What?" Miroku raised a confused eyebrow. "It's a wonder she didn't run sooner, with you being her doctor. Shippo's here for his appointment and don't worry, she can't get outside, there are guards posted at each door, remember?"
"I'm going to go search for her! Tell Shippo to wait!" Inuyasha dashed down the hallway. He would check in the lunch area first then the garden before he headed to the roof.
~*~
Kagome dashed down one of the hallways. This place was a lot bigger than it looked! She bit her lip as she turned a corner, hoping to find an escape or someway out. She sighed, letting her mind briefly wander to the thought of Inuyasha. "You're this close but you seem so far away..." She thought to herself. Kagome abruptly remembered what she had said to Inuyasha before she had collapsed from her fever.
I hate you.
The words she had never even thought of saying to Inuyasha. She stared at the floor, shivering. Inuyasha. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to hug him- to hold him. She didn't hate him. No, it was the exact opposite of hate. She loved him. She would always love him, no matter how frustrating or annoying he was. Even if they were brought together by two rings wanting to be whole again. They were still brought together...it just hurt a bit to think it might not have been their love. Kagome stubbornly pushed back tears. Even if she ran out of his hellhole- out of this clinic- she would find him again and tell him. She had to say sorry. But her thoughts ended there as she saw someone walking around in front of her.
Shippo was wandering down the hallways.
"Shippo?" Kagome squinted her eyes, sure that she was seeing an illusion or something of the sort. But her suspicions were confirmed when the boy turned towards her, looking directly into her eyes. He appeared to be pretty much the same except he didn't have a foxtail or feet- in fact, he looked like any normal human boy. He had scruffy red hair, was short, and had the same innocent eyes as in the past.
Shippo blinked at the strange girl before he turned, looking for the bathroom. His stupid doctor was off with some girl even though he had an appointment. Figures.
"Shippo!! It's me, Kagome!" Kagome ran towards the boy, grabbing onto his hand and pulling him towards her. Great, she cursed at herself. Scratch not scaring him off.
"That's not my name!!" Shippo pulled his hand back roughly, trembling a bit. What if she was an assassin hired to finish Hiten and Manten's job? And how did she know his real name? Either way, he couldn't let her yell out his name like this. She could be trying to get information for them also.
"Yes it is!! You're Shippo! I know you are! You have the same eyes!" Kagome bounced up happily, bringing the surprised boy into a tight hug before letting go to look at him once again. It was Shippo!!! It really was him!
"MY NAME IS NOT SHIPPO! IT'S YASUSHI!" Shippo growled. This stupid girl was going to give away his cover!!
"But you're Shippo! That's your name!" Kagome snapped back, tears springing to her eyes with joy over finding Shippo.
"No! It's Yasushi! Not Shippo! Get it right!"
"SHIPPO!!"
"YASUSHI!"
"SHIPPO!"
"YASUSHI!"
"SHIPPO!"
"YASUSHI!"
But it was very strange- part of him almost wanted to tell her his name was truly Shippo. No matter how much he told himself not to answer this girl he wanted too. He thought to himself. "I don't know why but...everything in me is screaming at me to trust her..."
Suddenly, he noticed she had stopped screaming out his name. She was now trembling, her face stark white as she stared at something behind him. Her eyes were opened wide with fear while her jaw dropped. He glanced behind him to see who was there and came face to face with the clinic's boss. He had met the guy once before and it had freaked him out. Something wasn't right about that guy.
Kagome let out an ear-piercing scream. Hadn't they killed Naraku in the past? So how could he be here, staring at her?! Then again, if the others had been reborn, it was possible he had too. But even now, just seeing his face caused her heart to thump wildly.
"GET AWAY!!!! NO!!" Kagome screeched, turning on her heel and dashing down the hallway. Just his face brought back too many memories, most of them bad. She glanced back to see Miroku and Inuyasha run up next to Naraku.
MIROKU WAS THERE!!
Kagome's heart almost stopped but she knew she had to keep running. It was too late to stop now. If she did, the clinic was probably going to punish her and she didn't want to see Naraku again either. It hurt her to run when she had just seen Shippo and Miroku but she knew she had to.
"That girl's hot." Miroku almost drooled but was pushed aside as Inuyasha went sprinting past Shippo and Naraku.
Tears dripped down Kagome's face as she ran, turning a sharp corner. She glanced back to see Inuyasha running only a few feet behind her. Her eyes widened with annoyance as she picked up her pace. She spotted an open window. Taking in a deep breath, she stepped into it and jumped out, flying through the air.
Inuyasha's eyes jerked wide as he watched her sail through the air then land perfectly. He stepped over the open window, dropping down two feet to the grass. They were inside the garden now. He took in a sharp breath as he ignored the stitch in his side. He was almost behind her now.
3- His feet picked up as he ran faster, reaching his hand out towards her.
2- His hand slowly got closer as he panted for breath, pushing himself further. How could she run so fast?!
His fingers brushed the back of her shirt before they latched onto her collar. Kagome was roughly grabbed as she went flying backwards; landing on top of Inuyasha while gasping for breath for her collar was choking her."I can't let you go again!!! I won't lose you a second time!!" Inuyasha cried, pulling her frail body tightly against his. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her back up against his strong chest that was heaving in air.
"W-What d-do you mean...second time?!" Kagome blinked in shock, blushing as she felt his warmth through her clothing. She knew she wanted to be mad at him but she just couldn't. Part of her didn't want to talk to him or see him. She didn't want to be reminded of what she had lost so long ago.
"I don't know." Inuyasha shook his head. "Ever since you came into my life, you've turned everything upside down. I don't even know common sense anymore. All I know is that I can't lose you again. I know I lost you once, in the past, but I refuse to lose you again. I just...I just can't get you out of my mind!!" He ignored the tears that stained his cheeks as he felt her breath slowing and her body relaxing against him. He rested his cheek against the top of her head while he murmured, "I can't let you go...I can't lose you again...because I love you Kagome. I always did, from the moment I saw you I felt something stir in me. Something that had been asleep for a long time. It's not because of the Shikon no Tama that we found each other- not because of these dumb rings- but because of fate. It's destiny, don't you understand? Don't you see? We're bound to one another, whether it's the past, present or future. No matter when or where...we're always together...Kagome..."
She gasped. "You really...l-love me?" Kagome asked, her face showing her doubt and uncertainty in his words. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't. All of the painful, silent years she spent in the asylum and now, suddenly, everything was going her way? Suddenly, everything was working itself out? Somehow they all mysteriously ended up in the same place in her time with a like situations? How was it possible? Kagome didn't even remember talking this much in the last few years. How could it all be changed by one person in such a short time?
Inuyasha searched his mind briefly, thinking if he would really want her around. If he really did want to be with her for the rest of his life. If he really did love her.
He didn't say anything for a while and every minute that passed, Kagome's heart began to sink. She knew it. The doctor was only going along with her to make her feel better or something of the sort.
She sighed and thought bitterly, "He's only trying to make me feel a bit better." She felt his embrace around her loosen and Kagome felt the tears begin again but then a warm hand grabbed her waist, turning her around to face him. She was suddenly pulled into a passionate kiss. That's when Kagome realized, that's when she knew for sure, that someone in the world had the heart to love her. She thanked him by responding the kiss as she put her arms around Inuyasha's neck. A strange thrill swept over her body. But the more he kissed her the stronger a thrill she felt until...it was almost painful. She had to wonder whether it was heartache or excitement? Kagome wasn't sure of what it was- maybe both? And she felt a strange longing. Longing to be with Inuyasha? Longing to get out of his embrace? Longing to be with him always or longing to get away forever?
Kagome gradually began to understand what that thrill she felt in her body was. It was like a subconscious feeling of knowing the truth, of understanding it. Knowing that the person she was kissing right now was the person she wanted to give all her future kisses and hugs to. Kagome shrugged. She could do nothing but accept what she felt and what she wanted to accept.
~*~
Lauren: Wow...I made this chapter really long. I'm making up for the last one! I hope you enjoyed it!