Lauren: Ugh…if this chapter came out slightly cracked up…I blame it on me being sick. Yes folks, right after I got over my cold, I got this weird flu thing going around. I swear, almost everybody is getting sick right now! _! So many people are absent from my school or else they're hacking away in class. I had a fever Saturday morning then it went away and I was semi-normal but it returned this morning, although it wasn't as bad. It went away after a little while. I swear, when I talk, I sound like Dark Vader or something! According to my mom, she's either going to get me better or kill me with the amount of medication I've been taking (Tylenol, Penicillin, Cough Syrup). Remember everybody, DON'T-MIX-MEDICATIONS-TOGETHER. It's a very, very bad thing. ANY WAYS, this whole rant was beside the point, sorry! I don't own the song: Mugen no Kaze (Eternal Wind) from Ayashi No Ceres (By GeSANG). Wow…this story is getting a bit longer than I expected, especially considering I wanted to end it around 30 chapters. Oh well, I don't think anyone is going to complain about a few more insert nervous laughter here. Guess what? I won a free anime DVD by submitting a lot of reviews for a promotion thing at discountanimedvd.com so I bought 'Whisper of the Heart'. It's an anime movie by Hayao Miyazaki and it's really good! Here's a website about it:
Cataluna- Haha, well, I don't think I've been sliced up by claws before. ^_^;; I've had other injuries but none of that sort. I just tried to imagine being sliced up, which wasn't very fun, that would be very painful!
Nytshad- Gnawing my legs off? OUCH! That would hurt XD My cat tries to gnaw my legs off all the time but right now, even HE'S sick! See, I told you, EVERYONE is sick! Even my CAT!
Princess Sapphire- Sorry if that was a bit confusing. The thing grabbing Kagome's ankles is Daemon. He kind of represents all the pain, bitterness, hurt, betrayal, etc that's she's suffered and it's sort of symbolizing that it's all dragging her down, somewhat to her death, almost like hell. I don't know, I'll just say it's the medicine talking!
Shorty- Yeah, after you told me about it I downloaded it and I love it! Thanks!
Like-anyother- Hehe D Sorry about that! Don't worry, all will be explained eventually. See, the Shikon no Tama's power is causing Daemon to regeneration. But, like anything, if he's hit fast enough and many times, it could probably slow him down a lot.
Kawaii Bunny- Oh man, when you mentioned Inuyasha in an asylum, I got a freaky mental picture of Naraku being Inuyasha's psychiatrist.
Inuyasha-loves-Kagome- I'm glad that you're all better! Ugh, I guess I spoke too soon.
dragon fire- Aww…I'm a pretty blue Skittles. THANK YOU! –glomps her and all the paint gets on her too-
MaboroshiTsuki- Don't worry, I LOVE long reviews! Hehe…Mullet Mobile…that's great. I'd laugh my head off if a car turned into a mullet. I don't have a car just yet since I only have my permit but I'm going to name it when I get it! XD Owie…-rubs her head from where Anne smacked her. Sticks her tongue out at her- Muahaha…thanks for all the great reviews, they really make my day!
T'laren- -pat pat- I missed you so much! It's great to have you back!
Goddess-Yueha Vixenelf- Hehe, actually, what you wrote was really good!! Your review was very awesome and all descriptive. You're talented!
Stephanie-chan- No, you are not mean! I totally agree with you…action isn't really my thing. I still need to work on it. Plus, Inuyasha fighting Daemon scenes are even harder to write than other action cause they can only really punch, kick and slash. Emotion is more my department. ^_^;; You know what they say, great minds think a like. Although, if we think a like, I now feel very bad for you!! XD Ah I just wrote this out then received your other review for chapter 30…aw…wow…what you said really touched me. I'm bouncing with glee! –glomp- Thank you so much! You're so nice! I tried to make the action scenes better in the last chapter…I really poured it all out in it…I just hope the action is bearable in this chapter. ^_^
~*~ Where Did You Go? ~*~
~By: Lauren~
-Chapter 28-
"It's Not the Destination- It's the Journey"
Kagome paddled frantically upwards, her arms thrashing in the thick black sea that surrounded her, but the fingers stayed clasped tightly around her, no matter how much she struggled. She tried kicking, screaming, twisting, writhing, but nothing seemed to work, nothing seemed to help! She was being tugged down, deeper and deeper, and the glimmering surface was growing increasingly more distant. It was fading. She was fading.
And…it was hopeless, wasn't it? Daemon was always there; ready to drag her down just when she thought she was safe. The darkness was always there. She would never be free from it. She would never be free.
Never…
As moments stretched into eternities, her struggles began to slow, her thrashing limbs going limp against the dark and certain hopelessness. Suddenly, a single memory consumed her mind.
~*~
The light of the sunset spreads,
Coloring your profile
Oh sky, don't lose
Those enchanting colors
~*~
~* Flash Back *~
As Kagome's grandfather lay on his deathbed, she gripped his weak, rough hand in hers. A few stray tears made wet trails down her cheeks. He looked so frail right now…since when had he grown so old and thin? So weak and pale? Disgusting puddles of crimson blood surrounded him, soaking up into his tattered clothes and the papers of a protection spell. Kagome had to swallow many times as vile filled her throat, threatening to bubble over at the sight. Large, open wounds covered his body, muscle and white bone showing clear as day.
"GRANDPA!! GRANDPA! HOLD ON!!" She cried frantically, squeezing his hand reassuringly in her own. "Who did this to you!? Grandpa!! GRANDPA!"
How he was able to talk, Kagome would never understand. She strained to hear as he muttered to her.
"K-Kagome…this is what you must listen to…no matter what…" With his other hand, he reached up towards her, trembling as he placed it over her heart. "T-this is where true…strength lies. In the days to come…you must be strong. In your heart…you hold loyalty and faith. You h-hold love for your…family and friends…you hold your l-love of life." He coughed, a trickle of blood running down his chin to mingle with his beard. "I-If you hold it fast…this is the only strength…t-that will not d-diminish with time. P-Promise me….you will n-never f-forget…K-K..agome…"
She nodded in panic and shock, "I promise!! I promise!!!!" Kagome stuttered, her words slurring together as she quivered. "Grandpa…grandpa d-don't…die…!! Talk to me! Answer me!"
But her cries went unheard as his limp, old hand dropped from her own…
~* End of Flash Back *~
~*~
I guess everything fades
And changes with time
You to, will wave "bye"
As you walk on.
~*~
Kagome cried as she sank further into the darkness, "I was too weak to save you grandfather! A naïve child, who didn't understand the rules of this life…but then…I guess, neither did you grandfather. You never understood that the only strength in this world lies in one's own abilities. Everyone else is just noise. So you see, grandfather, I didn't break my promise to you. I just…stopped believing…"
She squeezed her eyes shut; hearing the creature below her cackle at her submission and- rather half-heartedly- stretched one arm up above her head. It was hopeless. She knew it was hopeless, and certainly that simply offering an opportunity for rescue wouldn't guarantee one. It had never worked before, after all- and she had tried. She had screamed as Daemon attacked her in her home on that sticky summer night of January 20th, pleading for someone to help her- she was weak and couldn't reach the window to climb out and escape. She couldn't climb out…she couldn't reach… But even knowing it was hopeless, she had stood there, poised on her tiptoes with arms stretched high above her head, fingertips just brushing the sill, and had prayed that someone would reach in and help her…
But no one had, and as those glistening claws scratched jagged red lines on her stomach, sinking into her skin, she had known that she would never escape.
It would be no different now.
~*~
But there are some things that don't ever change,
That can't ever be put into words:
The feelings that fill your heart.
~*~
But just as she was about to draw her arm back down to her side, there was a sound above her as of a warm, beloved voice, speaking soothing words that even the black sea couldn't swallow. Instinctively, she tilted her head up towards that voice, descent slowing, ever slightly, as Daemon paused in confusion.
And suddenly strong, sturdy fingers wrapped around her outstretched wrist, and as she floated there, unable to breathe for the shock, they began to very steadily tug her back up towards the surface. The thing beneath her gave a shriek of anger and dismay, trying to drag her back down, but the hand that rose from the surface…it was too strong. Renewed hope surging through her, Kagome kicked her feet wildly, and it helped to propel her even more quickly upwards- she was only inches short of the surface when the bony, clawed fingers finally slipped from her ankle, and she was free.
~*~
Pain, come now,
Become an eternal wind.
Keep blowing,
To wrap around your stooped-over shoulders.
I am always watching you
Even if you're in a far off place.
~*~
Hot tears trickled down his neck as Inuyasha looked upward and let out a scream of rage. His head lulled forward as he stared blankly at Daemon, his face taking on a perturbed look while a growl emitted from his chest. Daemon slashed his claws at Inuyasha, stabbing deep into his side as he let out a whimper of pain. Ripping them out of his skin, as droplets of blood flew out, no one noticed half of the Shikon no Tama- Inuyasha's ring- go flying out of his torn pants, landing only a few inches away from Kagome's lifeless body.
Rain fell down to the earth as Sango and Miroku both busied themselves with destroying the shadow creatures that kept rapidly appearing and attacking them. Miroku tossed Sango his pocketknife, the girl catching it as she slashed forward, the shadow creature in front of her letting out a straggled cry before disappearing. They both had to fight- they had to fight for Kagome. They would not allow her sacrifice to be useless. Also…if they were to stop fighting…then they would start thinking…and the pain of losing their friend would surely start to take over. Around Sango the world seemed to spin as she began to blame herself. If only they had gotten their sooner. They were suppose to save her and they were all suppose to live happily ever after…that's how the story was suppose to end! But now…now she was gone! What was the point? Everything was useless without her!
Inuyasha's body was numb, even in his youkai form. He couldn't stand to feel this pain, this heartbreak. Streams of tears fell from his cheek and he didn't understand why. Reaching forward with a clawed hand, he brushed at his tears then looked at his finger. "Why am I crying? WHY?! WHAT IS THE POINT!?!?!" He stood up as an ear-piercing scream of agony erupted from his throat, his eyes flashing as his hair flew out wildly into the air. He lunged at Daemon, his claws tearing through the demon everywhere. He would slice through his arm but when Daemon tried to retaliate or regenerate, Inuyasha would already be slicing somewhere else on him. Silver blood spilled into the dirt as Daemon could only stand there in shock, Inuyasha a blur around him, hitting him every second as his whole body throbbed in pain from each new wound. How could he be moving so fast…?
Before Daemon knew what was happening, Inuyasha had slashed into his chest blindly. It felt as if his body was being drained, as if he was weakening, and the pain he had previously felt seemed to amplify. That was when he realized it. Looking down in shock at the gaping wound in his chest, Daemon realized that the half of the Shikon no Tama he had…wasn't there anymore. His eyes scanned the garden but he couldn't see, it was impossible to see- there was too much rain and mud, making the scenery hazy and almost blinding. Letting out a roar, black negative energy erupted from Daemon's body, pushing Inuyasha backwards and to the ground, away from him. Inuyasha's skin began to sizzle with pain as the energy surrounded him and the demon stood up, angrily looming above his fallen figure.
"WHERE IS IT!? GIVE IT BACK TO ME!!!" Daemon screamed, silver blood evaporating from the energy while his eyes frantically searched for the jewel. "JUST DIE!!" His anger seemed to replace his lost power as he was consumed in hate and malice more so than he was before.
"CALM DOWN INUYASHA!" Miroku jumped up and began to run towards Inuyasha. "Stop this right now! If you don't think clearly you'll be killed!"
"STAY-AWAY-FROM-ME!!" Inuyasha snarled at Miroku, ready to kill anything that came near him, but his eyes never left Daemon's figure. He stared up at the demon before he jumped into the air, diving at Daemon to stab at his chest again, but as soon as his claws came into contact with his skin, they seemed to blaze with pain. Inuyasha yelped as he felt his skin singe but he didn't care- his mind was in a blind fury. He continued to attack Daemon, who was standing there chuckling, and with every blow it only injured Inuyasha more, causing his skin to peel and burn as blood spilled forth.
Sango shook her head, "This isn't how it's supposed to be! We can't let it end like this! Not…like…this…She wouldn't want it to end like this…" She wiped her tears with the back of her fist. "Not…like…this…" Her voice ended with a whisper before she began to scream. "THINK ABOUT KAGOME!! Snap out of it, Inuyasha! Stop it! Snap out of it! Please! FOR KAGOME!!!"
Miroku turned to face Sango, "Don't lose hope."
"Hope?! There is none left!" She cried, "Kagome's dead and now…Inuyasha will be soon if he doesn't stop! No one can bring him back except for Kagome and she's gone! He'll be gone too!!! And then…then Daemon will win!"
"Shut up!" Miroku hissed, causing Sango to stare at him in shock. "We will be civil and we will save Kagome, no matter what! Even if we have to march up to God himself and demand her back!" He glared at her, causing her to shiver, "WE WILL SAVE HER!"
No one seemed to notice the two rings sitting in the muddy earth. Still…no one seemed to notice as both pieces began to emit a dull, pink light. The half that had been torn from Daemon began to drag through the ground towards the other half by Kagome. It was like a magnet, both pieces being drawn together. With a quiet whizzing noise, the ring that had been inside Daemon flew at Kagome's ring, both pieces smashing together with such a great force that the jewel tumbled into the air a bit, landing softly on top of Kagome's body.
~*~
If we are reborn,
I will be born as myself.
Then I will find you,
Once again...
Even though all things that have a shape
Have limits,
I want to tell you that there are some things
That never fade.
~*~
Kagome was now floating in a subtle mix of gray coloring. She curled up in a ball, holding her legs tightly against her chest. All around her was a gray void- not a bright golden surrounding, nor a pitch black surrounding. Daemon was gone for now…someone had saved her from him. Who had it been? The question plagued her but in her heart, Kagome knew it had been Inuyasha.
"It's so quiet here." She whispered, her voice echoing slightly. "I wonder why…there's no sound. Nothing to see. There's no point leaving…I won't have to deal with anyone. No one will be able to hurt me and…I won't hurt them. If I keep my eyes closed…I won't have to see what I don't want to see. I can't bear to become someone I hate. I've caused Inuyasha and the others so much pain. How long until it's over? Everything's so hard and it hurts so much, I just can't take it anymore. It's all so horrible! When will it end? I can make it end, for myself. But then why can't I just forget them all?! I can't though and I don't want to- but it hurts. Oh…Inuyasha…"
"KAGOME!!" Inuyasha's voice called out to her.
"Inuyasha!!" She yelled out into the gray void. "But no…I can't…if I go back…it'll hurt. They'll hurt me and I'll hurt them…a-and…"
"Now you're being silly. You can't treat love like that." A voice, one that sounded much like her grandfather's, spoke. "And besides, you can't keep hiding here. It's easier here, I know, but it's also dark and you're alone. There's nothing. Nothing can happen." In the distant, Kagome made out the faint silhouette of her grandfather. "Kagome…if you want to see anything, just open your eyes. I found that out once…and what we see is the most important part of anything. So is Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Souta and your mother. No matter how painful it is, you must look and accept."
Once again, she heard Inuyasha called out her name in agony.
"There's something you need to protect Kagome. Something very precious. Okay, Kagome? You can do it. It's the only thing I want…" Her grandfather's form became clearer as it took on his familiar features.
"Grandpa…" Kagome choked.
"You can do it Kagome. I just know it." He smiled warmly at her.
"I…can? I can…can't I? I-I have to try…no more running, from anyone. I've got to go back. I've got to speak up…I have to call out to him…" Kagome took in an unease breath, flashing her grandfather a happy smile. "I love you grandpa…thank you for all you've done…I-I'm so sorry that I couldn't save you…back then…"
"My dear, don't blame yourself." He chuckled softly, "It was never your fault." With that said, his figure began to disappear until there was nothing left.
~*~
Just because you were nearby
That alone enabled me
To walk even, this steep a road.
Loneliness, come now,
Become an eternal wind.
From now on,
Keep blowing,
Pushing at your back as you walk alone.
I want to save you with love unseen
Until we meet again someday.
~*~
Kagome stood up determinedly, taking in a deep breath. "INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INUYASHA!" She screamed out into the gray darkness. And that's when she saw it- a faint, pink glowing light.
"K-Kagome…?" Inuyasha froze, a few feet away from Daemon, his breath coming in raggedly as his crimson vision began to fade and return to normal.
Kagome shivered as the welcoming warmth of consciousness began to return, and as she left couldn't help twisting her head down to look- and there it was. The darkness, with red eyes large and glittering with anger, was falling away from her, unable to keep pace with the speed and strength of that rescuing hand from before. The darkness would always be there, she knew, swimming in the murky depths in wait of her, but for now… for now…
She was safe.
"I did it…" She muttered.
Thankful tears on her lashes, Kagome opened her eyes.
~*~
Now, unchanging things are nothing but
Continually glittering emotions
That have gone unspoken.
Pain, come now,
Become an eternal wind.
Keep blowing,
To wrap around your stooped-over shoulders.
I am always watching you
Even if
You're in a far off place.