A/N: I'm soo, soo, soo, sorry for not posting for so long. I have had a busy school year with appointments at the hospital and school work. Can you guys ever forgive me? I'm posting the next to last chapter, I have had a lot of problems with my computer and it hasn't let me open my story in Word. So now I'm trying other methods. Well I hope all you find it in your heart to forgive me and review, I love reviews!
Disclaimer: Do you think I own Inuyasha? If I did Oh boy I would be rich and I wouldn't be writing this story. But just to clarify I don't own Inuyasha, the lucky Rumiko Takahashi does. Unearthing Love Again
CHAPTER 5: A Death
Inuyasha's tears finally stopped and he took a deep breath. He brought his head up and noticed he had been crying all night. Luckily no one had seen him. How embarrassing… Sunlight was already consuming the night sky and the stars had long ago faded. Inuyasha sat in that tree thinking about what to do. He didn't know what do!
He had promised Kikyou he would protect her from Naraku and he has so far…but he loved Kagome now. However Kikyou was dead. She should not be roaming the world. Inuyasha remembered how the witch, Urasue, had wanted the power of the Shikon shards and how she thought if she raised Kikyou from the dead, she would get them with Kikyou's help. But Kikyou's soul had already been reborn in Kagome, so the witch stole Kagome's soul. When Kikyou was revived, she killed the witch in the process of trying to kill Inuyasha. Kikyou still bore hatred for Inuyasha betraying her and almost succeeded in killing him. Kagome would never have permitted Inuyasha's death so she called her soul back to her body, taking it from Kikyou. Kikyou managed to keep a small part of her soul then ran from Inuyasha and fell off a cliff. Inuyasha tried to save her by grabbing her hand but Kikyou let his hand go on purpose. Kikyou survived and now controlled Soul-snatching demons that collected dead women's souls in order for Kikyou to remain living.
Inuyasha sighed and jumped from out of the tree. He had been in the same spot all night and many hours into the day. He wanted to stretch out his cramped muscles. When he hopped to the ground and stretched a little, Inuyasha noticed something was wrong. He couldn't quite tell what the problem was though. He extended his youki senses far into his surroundings. He could sense a battle, a battle with…Kikyou! Inuyasha's guilt and care for the dead miko took over as his thoughts turned over to helping her.
Inuyasha ran through the woods filled with anger. He was angry that he had not sensed the battle before. He could tell that it had been proceeding for some time, but he was too busy pitying himself to note his surroundings. Inuyasha was disgusted with himself at that moment; he could not believe he had gotten that emotional. With that angering thought he rushed to the battle with even more speed. When Inuyasha broke through the trees he could see a youkai towering over a crumpled Kikyou on the ground. She looked exhausted. From what Inuyasha heard, the youkai was demanding a Shikon shard from the dead miko on the ground.
"Back away or lose your life." Kikyou said very calmly and coldly, as if she were the one over the youkai and the youkai was the one on the ground. The only response she got was a throaty laugh that the youki produced.
"KIKYOU!" Inuyasha yelled. Inuyasha turned his face to glare at the youkai. "Get away from her you bastard!" Inuyasha stepped forward angrily while unsheathing his tessaiga. Power coursed through his veins. He had to protect Kikyou.
"This is none of your concern Inuyasha, leave this place immediately." Kikyou turned her calm stare at him. Even looking exhausted on the ground she achieved a very dangerous aura around her. "If you interfere, I will kill you." Kikyou simply stated. She started to rise up off the ground as if this dark aura fed her hatred of everything. She was being serious; Inuyasha could not believe she was forbidding him to help. He had promised to protect her and he was going to do that. He was angry and woudlnt' listen to her, he made a promise….
"You could get killed-" Inuyasha then took notice that Kikyou had been slightly beaten up and she had deep cuts along her body. But Kikyou's undead body could not bleed. She was only made of bones and mud. "I have to help you! You will die without my help! Can't you see that?" Inuyasha approached them again, taking a few more steps forward. Kikyou was completely off the ground by then and raised her bow aimed straight at Inuyasha instead of the youkai that wanted to kill her. Kikyou let her purifying arrow fly with deadly intentions. Inuyasha dodged and barely escaped the arrow's path.
"As fun as it is watching this miko kill you, hanyou, I have a busy schedule and I need to kill now! I'm wasting my time here! This has taken far too long already." The youkai explained angrily in a rush of a few seconds, and turned his gaze on Inuyasha and smiled a very sharp, toothy smile. The youkai had green glowing eyes that seemed to penetrate the soul. It sent shivers down Inuyasha's back. His face betrayed no other emotion other than his anger. When Inuyasha looked into the youkai's eyes, a strange feeling came over him like a blast of cold air. Suddenly Inuyasha collapsed to the ground onto his knees. It felt as if his skin was melting away due to invisible flames, and his soul was being cut away from his body by a jagged knife. Still Inuyasha could not break the green glare the youkai was issuing him.
"Bastard…" Inuyasha grunted. "W-wha…are you…doing to me?" Inuyasha growled out.
"Heh. I am stealing your life force of course. And it is very tasty and surprisingly strong. I was having trouble beating this stubborn bitch but with thanks to you and your life energy I can beat her in a matter of seconds. That is, when I'm finished killing you." The youkai smiled evilly and Inuyasha cried out. The pain was dimming his sight. He was losing consciousness. Kikyou just stood by and watched calmly. "I was sent to kill a strange miko and take her shards. I can smell them, they are practically infused in her bones!" The youkai spat at Kikyou. 'Strange miko? He was sent to kill Kagome! I have to warn her. Wait, practically fused with her bones? Does that mean Kikyou still has remaining energy of the Shikon no Tama because of all those years she protected it?'
"Who…are…you?" Inuyasha let out with much pain evident in his voice. It hurt even to talk.
"It doesn't matter. You are about to die. I am a very important detachment of Naraku. And I will be heavily rewarded for killing this miko and you." The youkai suddenly narrowed his eyes at Inuyasha and the pain doubled. 'Detachment… no wonder… he's so… strong.' Inuyasha thoughts remained on one area, Kagome.'I can't die yet, I haven't told Kagome I…" Inuyasha could not mentally finish the sentence as he grunted for air.
"Kikyou…" Inuyasha said weakly "I-I forgive you. I know you want to kill me and I know you…" Inuyasha cried out. "…hate me…but, I forgive you…" Inuyasha stopped in pain gasping for air. Inuyasha doubled over in hurt, a tear fell from his eye. He was not only physically in pain but mentally too. He wanted to see his Kagome one last time. 'Kagome, forgive me, my love. I never had the courage to tell you how much you meant to me. I love you…' With that last thought Inuyasha rattled his last breath and his body softly thudded to the ground. The youkai stretched out and laughed, tightening his muscles in a show off fashion. The strength he gained from Inuyasha increased his power a great deal. He was a little worried that Naraku may have wanted Inuyasha alive but pitched the idea from his mind.
Kikyou stared at the lifeless body on the ground. Unconsciously she began to shake her head from side to side. 'I'm dreaming, I must be…' She hated Inuyasha and she wished for his death more than anything but she still loved him… now he was dead. What the hell was her problem…
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
A/N: Ha ha ha, good cliff huh? Well ok it's not that great but doesn't it leave you with wanting to know more? I know I would!
