~Inuyasha's POV~
I felt her closer. every time I felt I was getting close, she'd lead me farther. What was Kikyou doing? I felt someone else's familiar presence, but it was too far away to distinguish. I saw Kikyou's soul-catchers every now and then, glimpsing them between trees and brush. Over the river and cross the clearing, and the chase never ended. Until suddenly, I fell to the ground.
It was so much like when Kagome used the word that I almost got up and shouted at air thinking it was she. I still wore the rosary; I had not the heart to break Kagome and my only tie. If she still cared. I remember telling her she was important. And then I remember seeing her cry before leaving us for the last time. I don't know if she's come back. I hope she has.
Before I got up properly, I was shoved farther into the ground. Looking up, I saw someone I hadn't seen for the longest time. Not to mention didn't want to see.
"Kouga!" I yelled.
"Dog turd." He said back.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, furious.
"Going to get my woman. You chased her off, and now she's back. What?" He asked, looking at my oblivious look, "Don't tell me you didn't know!"
"No, for your information, I didn't!" I shot back.
"And you claim she's yours." He lifted his nose into the air, snobbishly.
"I never claimed that!" I yelled.
"Then why did you stop me from taking Kagome?" He asked.
"I- " I didn't know what to say. What could I say?
"I thought so." He said, and raced off. He no longer had the Shikon shards embedded in his legs and arm, so he was much slower than before, and if I had care to test it, probably a lot weaker.
However, I was in a hurry. Too many things were stopping me from catching Kikyou. She was going to die, and that was it. She had her chance for redemption. No longer would I wait and try to redeem her soul to the gods. Forget it. And what about Kagome? I didn't understand how Kouga could sense her, but I had trouble with it. Before I could take another step, the ground below me crumbled, gave way and I fell through.
"DAMNIT!" I yelled as I fell.
~Shippou's POV~
I wasn't asleep, but my eyes were closed as I leaned against the wall. Kaede was gone. She had helped me; I had been the last to see her. See her here no less. I felt Rin lean up against me for reasons unknown. I was a little startled, but then again I was the only one here who actually knew her. I let her lean. It was actually comfortable. And her scent!
Sweet sage rain. Herbs and flowers and the smell of rain. It consumed me, and soon I drifted to sleep anyway.
~Rin's POV~
What was I doing?! Leaning against him like this? I had no right. I half expected him to shove me off and yell at me. But he didn't. He just drifted to sleep. Ha, like I didn't know he wasn't asleep. The faker. But I let myself lavish in his smell, and I'm pretty sure he did the same with mine.
Was I falling in love? Impossible. right? No way was I falling in love with a youkai of all things, and sleeping in that incredibly. wonderful. absolutely.. handsome. Oh boy. I'm in love. I'm in love! With Shippou! Oh gods, I can't do this. We're on a threat for Naraku and a walking dead miko! I can't fall in love like this!
Unexpectedly, I found myself on my feet and walking outside. There was absolutely no way. I'd known him all of a week's time and I'm in love with him?! How crazy is this? I walked to the lake; at least there I can get away.
~Shippou's POV~
Why did she leave? It was so good, her warmth, her scent, everything. I was almost asleep too. Damn it all. That and she was going outside in almost the dead of night? Great. Just great. Even if she can take care of herself, I wasn't about to let her get away.
My conscious led me outside, and my head was screaming at me. You're not in love, why the hell are you following her? You don't even know her. For all you know, she could have loved someone else. Hell, she could have loved Sesshoumaru. Though I doubted this.
~Kagome's POV~
I don't know when I fell asleep, or when I woke up. Just that it was dark. I saw a rustling the bushes, and believe me, I was frightened. Sure, I had wandered the feudal era for a good few years of my life, but I didn't have any weapon to defend myself, and Inuyasha was nowhere near me. Maybe I could call for Shippou? No. I had no idea how good he was fighting. Miroku was close he could help. So I did the only thing I could do. I screamed, and I screamed loud.
"Stop it." I heard a voice. I recognized it, but I didn't know where from.
"Who are you?" I asked, a little fear crept into my voice.
"Exactly who you don't want it to be." The voice said. And I recognized it.
"Kikyou!" I yelled. Then, deciding she was after my shard, I ran for it.
"No!" Was what I heard from behind me.
"MIROKU!" I screamed.
However soul-catchers surrounded me and lifted me up above the village as I was just about to enter it.
"No! Let me go! MIROKU!" I screamed.
From the height I was at I saw the top of Miroku's head, followed by Sango's and Shippou was at the other end of the village. Rin was farther ahead. At my screams, they all turned and looked up. Sango threw Hiraikotsu, but it missed them completely. Miroku instinctively went to unwind the wind tunnel, but all was hopeless.
"NO! MIROKU!! SANGO! NO!" And I was taken away.
~Shippou's POV~
I saw Kagome from below, and Kikyou flying with another bunch of soul- catchers not far behind her. Kagome was knocked unconscious after Sango threw her boomerang, and Miroku was more than a little useless without his wind tunnel. It was up to Rin and I. Rin was already going.
"Kirara!" She yelled.
I flew up into the air myself as Kirara transformed and Rin jumped astride her. I could tell that Sango was a bit put off that Kirara wasn't assisting her, but Rin. There was no time to think about it, however, and I got out Tetsusaiga. I heard Kikyou's hollow laugh.
"I see Inuyasha no longer has his precious sword." Kikyou said, smirking.
"That's right!" I snarled.
Rin had taken out Sesshoumaru's sword, the other one. I wondered mutely if we could try the power of both swords, Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga. I guess now wasn't really the time, though.
I let my senses guide me like when we battled the bird of paradise, and I watched as three energies came into play, then two. Watching for the rip. I yelled as I found it, but Kikyou was already gone.
"No! Kagome!" I yelled.
I was too much like Inuyasha right there. This is what he did. I couldn't be that way; it would hurt Kagome too much. Instead, I flew to find them they couldn't have gone far.
~Rin's POV~
I watched Shippou fly after them, and Kirara and I sank to the ground. I wanted to go with him, but I knew that I had no right. He could do it himself; he was a big boy. I slid off Kirara and she transformed back to her smaller self. Just then, Sango came over to me.
"Why didn't you let me help?" She asked.
"What? What do you mean?" What WAS she talking about?
"I couldn't help because I can't exactly fly. I needed Kirara." Sango said.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Next time we'll both ride." I said and made to walk into the hut again, but Sango stopped me.
"Next time, I'll ride." She said.
"Look, I'm sorry that you left her so long ago and didn't take her with you. But she's my pet now!" Frustrated, I pushed her aside and went to go to sleep.
How dare she speak to me like that? I have no idea what she's gone through, and I could care less. There was one reason I was brought here, and that was for the Shikon no Tama's sake. Not her. I take no responsibility for her flying off the handle because she left Kirara and didn't come back for her.
Vaguely, I wondered if I should tell Shippou that Sango was furious that I had Kirara now. I decided not to, why should we be overburdened by pettiness?
~Miroku's POV~
Shocking. Just shocking. Kikyou turns up in the dead of night, kidnaps Kagome, and leaves the rest of us. What the hell was she doing? She had no plan at all as to how she was getting her shards. What if she killed Kagome? Kagome was key to killing Naraku again. We couldn't let her down, we just couldn't. Not again. I felt so useless. Needless to say, I went outside for some air, and found myself on the battlefield where we defeated Naraku.
I yelled for whatever god was listening to return to me my Wind Tunnel. I knew Naraku wasn't dead, he never was. To condemn him to hell had no effect on his life, he was already dead. What were we supposed to do?! For once, I had no answers. I didn't know what to do, I didn't have a good enough plan, and my calmness and resolve were fading fast.
~Shippou's POV~
I was swinging Tetsusaiga at her, having finally caught up. She was more formidable an opponent than I thought, because she sent Kagome on me. Kagome's eyes were blank, devoid of her natural life. It seemed Kikyou provided her with a weapon- her bow and arrows. This was dangerous, and I didn't have Tensaiga to bring her back, Rin did. Rin hadn't even bothered to follow us. I could have used help.
"Kagome, don't!" I yelled at her as I dodged yet another arrow.
I lunged at her and that was my mistake. She managed to lodge an arrow into my side. I temporarily ignored the pain. I changed the direction of my intent to Kagome's shard. If I couldn't get Kagome, I would get her shard. Damnit, I was being so much like Inuyasha! Caring more about her shard than her herself! No! I wasn't. Kagome would want me to keep the Shikon safe from Kikyou, because Kikyou still needed Kagome to bait Inuyasha. Or so I thought.
Grabbing the Shikon shard at Kagome's neck, I ripped it off and leapt back.
"No!" I heard Kikyou yell.
I lunged again and caught Kagome's arm. But she dug in with her nails into my skin and forced me to let go.
"Kagome!" I said as she drifted toward Kikyou.
"I see you have what I want. For now. I have what you want, and I won't let it go!" Kikyou threatened.
I turned and flew as fast I could to the village. It hurt too much to think it was Kaede's village as it once was. And now I had two Shikon shards to protect. What have I gotten Kagome into?
~Inuyasha's POV~
Getting up, more than a little pissed off, I saw someone go overhead. Damn Kouga. Stupid stuck up, egotistical bastard. I growled where I stood for most likely five minutes before I realized it was pointless. Then I heard someone behind me.
Why was everything trying to stop me from getting to Kikyou?! My hand instinctively went to my side where Tetsusaiga used to rest, but I no longer had it. So I watched and waited, holding my breath somewhat. I saw no movement, but there was something looming, something big. I threw caution to the winds and went over to it, only to find it was a tomb. And it had Sesshoumaru's name on it.
~Sango's POV~
I looked asleep, I sounded asleep, and I didn't move. Why had I been so suddenly angry with Rin? I had no right to be. after all, it was I who left Kirara, not the other way around. I could have taken her, and yet I didn't. I felt something rise within me. I could feel it.
Was this residual shard effects? I had worn the shard so long; I had never felt such an emotion come so fast. It was true Kikyou had my shard, maybe there was some way that we could get it back.
~Rin's POV~
Something was wrong. I could feel it. I went back outside, unable to stand the tension in the air. I walked to where I was intending to go in the first place. The lake nearby.
When I got there, I just pulled up my kimono and put my feet in. I hadn't intended to take a bath here. That's when I heard Shippou returning. I stood up, but didn't put my shoes back on. What's the use?
"Hey Shippou, did you catch them?" I asked.
"I could've, if I had more help." He sounded irritable.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think you needed me." I said.
"Yeah, well, maybe I did. Thanks to you, I've lost Kagome to a walking dead imitation." He said.
"This is not my fault. When had this become my fault? First, I get my head chewed off by Sango because SHE left Kirara and wasn't airborne, and now by YOU who believes it's my fault that no one helped you. In case you forgot it, Shippou, this isn't my village, these aren't my friends or family, and I have no one but Kirara." I said, anger in every syllable.
He stayed quiet.
I didn't have to stay here and listen to this. I had my shard to protect; I'm not here for anyone else's cause. Getting my shoes on, I called for Kirara.
"What are you doing?" Shippou asked.
"Leaving. I don't have to stay, and you can't make me." I replied.
Kirara appeared a moment later, transformed, and I jumped on and left. My pain was a little renewed at losing someone again.
I felt her closer. every time I felt I was getting close, she'd lead me farther. What was Kikyou doing? I felt someone else's familiar presence, but it was too far away to distinguish. I saw Kikyou's soul-catchers every now and then, glimpsing them between trees and brush. Over the river and cross the clearing, and the chase never ended. Until suddenly, I fell to the ground.
It was so much like when Kagome used the word that I almost got up and shouted at air thinking it was she. I still wore the rosary; I had not the heart to break Kagome and my only tie. If she still cared. I remember telling her she was important. And then I remember seeing her cry before leaving us for the last time. I don't know if she's come back. I hope she has.
Before I got up properly, I was shoved farther into the ground. Looking up, I saw someone I hadn't seen for the longest time. Not to mention didn't want to see.
"Kouga!" I yelled.
"Dog turd." He said back.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, furious.
"Going to get my woman. You chased her off, and now she's back. What?" He asked, looking at my oblivious look, "Don't tell me you didn't know!"
"No, for your information, I didn't!" I shot back.
"And you claim she's yours." He lifted his nose into the air, snobbishly.
"I never claimed that!" I yelled.
"Then why did you stop me from taking Kagome?" He asked.
"I- " I didn't know what to say. What could I say?
"I thought so." He said, and raced off. He no longer had the Shikon shards embedded in his legs and arm, so he was much slower than before, and if I had care to test it, probably a lot weaker.
However, I was in a hurry. Too many things were stopping me from catching Kikyou. She was going to die, and that was it. She had her chance for redemption. No longer would I wait and try to redeem her soul to the gods. Forget it. And what about Kagome? I didn't understand how Kouga could sense her, but I had trouble with it. Before I could take another step, the ground below me crumbled, gave way and I fell through.
"DAMNIT!" I yelled as I fell.
~Shippou's POV~
I wasn't asleep, but my eyes were closed as I leaned against the wall. Kaede was gone. She had helped me; I had been the last to see her. See her here no less. I felt Rin lean up against me for reasons unknown. I was a little startled, but then again I was the only one here who actually knew her. I let her lean. It was actually comfortable. And her scent!
Sweet sage rain. Herbs and flowers and the smell of rain. It consumed me, and soon I drifted to sleep anyway.
~Rin's POV~
What was I doing?! Leaning against him like this? I had no right. I half expected him to shove me off and yell at me. But he didn't. He just drifted to sleep. Ha, like I didn't know he wasn't asleep. The faker. But I let myself lavish in his smell, and I'm pretty sure he did the same with mine.
Was I falling in love? Impossible. right? No way was I falling in love with a youkai of all things, and sleeping in that incredibly. wonderful. absolutely.. handsome. Oh boy. I'm in love. I'm in love! With Shippou! Oh gods, I can't do this. We're on a threat for Naraku and a walking dead miko! I can't fall in love like this!
Unexpectedly, I found myself on my feet and walking outside. There was absolutely no way. I'd known him all of a week's time and I'm in love with him?! How crazy is this? I walked to the lake; at least there I can get away.
~Shippou's POV~
Why did she leave? It was so good, her warmth, her scent, everything. I was almost asleep too. Damn it all. That and she was going outside in almost the dead of night? Great. Just great. Even if she can take care of herself, I wasn't about to let her get away.
My conscious led me outside, and my head was screaming at me. You're not in love, why the hell are you following her? You don't even know her. For all you know, she could have loved someone else. Hell, she could have loved Sesshoumaru. Though I doubted this.
~Kagome's POV~
I don't know when I fell asleep, or when I woke up. Just that it was dark. I saw a rustling the bushes, and believe me, I was frightened. Sure, I had wandered the feudal era for a good few years of my life, but I didn't have any weapon to defend myself, and Inuyasha was nowhere near me. Maybe I could call for Shippou? No. I had no idea how good he was fighting. Miroku was close he could help. So I did the only thing I could do. I screamed, and I screamed loud.
"Stop it." I heard a voice. I recognized it, but I didn't know where from.
"Who are you?" I asked, a little fear crept into my voice.
"Exactly who you don't want it to be." The voice said. And I recognized it.
"Kikyou!" I yelled. Then, deciding she was after my shard, I ran for it.
"No!" Was what I heard from behind me.
"MIROKU!" I screamed.
However soul-catchers surrounded me and lifted me up above the village as I was just about to enter it.
"No! Let me go! MIROKU!" I screamed.
From the height I was at I saw the top of Miroku's head, followed by Sango's and Shippou was at the other end of the village. Rin was farther ahead. At my screams, they all turned and looked up. Sango threw Hiraikotsu, but it missed them completely. Miroku instinctively went to unwind the wind tunnel, but all was hopeless.
"NO! MIROKU!! SANGO! NO!" And I was taken away.
~Shippou's POV~
I saw Kagome from below, and Kikyou flying with another bunch of soul- catchers not far behind her. Kagome was knocked unconscious after Sango threw her boomerang, and Miroku was more than a little useless without his wind tunnel. It was up to Rin and I. Rin was already going.
"Kirara!" She yelled.
I flew up into the air myself as Kirara transformed and Rin jumped astride her. I could tell that Sango was a bit put off that Kirara wasn't assisting her, but Rin. There was no time to think about it, however, and I got out Tetsusaiga. I heard Kikyou's hollow laugh.
"I see Inuyasha no longer has his precious sword." Kikyou said, smirking.
"That's right!" I snarled.
Rin had taken out Sesshoumaru's sword, the other one. I wondered mutely if we could try the power of both swords, Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga. I guess now wasn't really the time, though.
I let my senses guide me like when we battled the bird of paradise, and I watched as three energies came into play, then two. Watching for the rip. I yelled as I found it, but Kikyou was already gone.
"No! Kagome!" I yelled.
I was too much like Inuyasha right there. This is what he did. I couldn't be that way; it would hurt Kagome too much. Instead, I flew to find them they couldn't have gone far.
~Rin's POV~
I watched Shippou fly after them, and Kirara and I sank to the ground. I wanted to go with him, but I knew that I had no right. He could do it himself; he was a big boy. I slid off Kirara and she transformed back to her smaller self. Just then, Sango came over to me.
"Why didn't you let me help?" She asked.
"What? What do you mean?" What WAS she talking about?
"I couldn't help because I can't exactly fly. I needed Kirara." Sango said.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Next time we'll both ride." I said and made to walk into the hut again, but Sango stopped me.
"Next time, I'll ride." She said.
"Look, I'm sorry that you left her so long ago and didn't take her with you. But she's my pet now!" Frustrated, I pushed her aside and went to go to sleep.
How dare she speak to me like that? I have no idea what she's gone through, and I could care less. There was one reason I was brought here, and that was for the Shikon no Tama's sake. Not her. I take no responsibility for her flying off the handle because she left Kirara and didn't come back for her.
Vaguely, I wondered if I should tell Shippou that Sango was furious that I had Kirara now. I decided not to, why should we be overburdened by pettiness?
~Miroku's POV~
Shocking. Just shocking. Kikyou turns up in the dead of night, kidnaps Kagome, and leaves the rest of us. What the hell was she doing? She had no plan at all as to how she was getting her shards. What if she killed Kagome? Kagome was key to killing Naraku again. We couldn't let her down, we just couldn't. Not again. I felt so useless. Needless to say, I went outside for some air, and found myself on the battlefield where we defeated Naraku.
I yelled for whatever god was listening to return to me my Wind Tunnel. I knew Naraku wasn't dead, he never was. To condemn him to hell had no effect on his life, he was already dead. What were we supposed to do?! For once, I had no answers. I didn't know what to do, I didn't have a good enough plan, and my calmness and resolve were fading fast.
~Shippou's POV~
I was swinging Tetsusaiga at her, having finally caught up. She was more formidable an opponent than I thought, because she sent Kagome on me. Kagome's eyes were blank, devoid of her natural life. It seemed Kikyou provided her with a weapon- her bow and arrows. This was dangerous, and I didn't have Tensaiga to bring her back, Rin did. Rin hadn't even bothered to follow us. I could have used help.
"Kagome, don't!" I yelled at her as I dodged yet another arrow.
I lunged at her and that was my mistake. She managed to lodge an arrow into my side. I temporarily ignored the pain. I changed the direction of my intent to Kagome's shard. If I couldn't get Kagome, I would get her shard. Damnit, I was being so much like Inuyasha! Caring more about her shard than her herself! No! I wasn't. Kagome would want me to keep the Shikon safe from Kikyou, because Kikyou still needed Kagome to bait Inuyasha. Or so I thought.
Grabbing the Shikon shard at Kagome's neck, I ripped it off and leapt back.
"No!" I heard Kikyou yell.
I lunged again and caught Kagome's arm. But she dug in with her nails into my skin and forced me to let go.
"Kagome!" I said as she drifted toward Kikyou.
"I see you have what I want. For now. I have what you want, and I won't let it go!" Kikyou threatened.
I turned and flew as fast I could to the village. It hurt too much to think it was Kaede's village as it once was. And now I had two Shikon shards to protect. What have I gotten Kagome into?
~Inuyasha's POV~
Getting up, more than a little pissed off, I saw someone go overhead. Damn Kouga. Stupid stuck up, egotistical bastard. I growled where I stood for most likely five minutes before I realized it was pointless. Then I heard someone behind me.
Why was everything trying to stop me from getting to Kikyou?! My hand instinctively went to my side where Tetsusaiga used to rest, but I no longer had it. So I watched and waited, holding my breath somewhat. I saw no movement, but there was something looming, something big. I threw caution to the winds and went over to it, only to find it was a tomb. And it had Sesshoumaru's name on it.
~Sango's POV~
I looked asleep, I sounded asleep, and I didn't move. Why had I been so suddenly angry with Rin? I had no right to be. after all, it was I who left Kirara, not the other way around. I could have taken her, and yet I didn't. I felt something rise within me. I could feel it.
Was this residual shard effects? I had worn the shard so long; I had never felt such an emotion come so fast. It was true Kikyou had my shard, maybe there was some way that we could get it back.
~Rin's POV~
Something was wrong. I could feel it. I went back outside, unable to stand the tension in the air. I walked to where I was intending to go in the first place. The lake nearby.
When I got there, I just pulled up my kimono and put my feet in. I hadn't intended to take a bath here. That's when I heard Shippou returning. I stood up, but didn't put my shoes back on. What's the use?
"Hey Shippou, did you catch them?" I asked.
"I could've, if I had more help." He sounded irritable.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think you needed me." I said.
"Yeah, well, maybe I did. Thanks to you, I've lost Kagome to a walking dead imitation." He said.
"This is not my fault. When had this become my fault? First, I get my head chewed off by Sango because SHE left Kirara and wasn't airborne, and now by YOU who believes it's my fault that no one helped you. In case you forgot it, Shippou, this isn't my village, these aren't my friends or family, and I have no one but Kirara." I said, anger in every syllable.
He stayed quiet.
I didn't have to stay here and listen to this. I had my shard to protect; I'm not here for anyone else's cause. Getting my shoes on, I called for Kirara.
"What are you doing?" Shippou asked.
"Leaving. I don't have to stay, and you can't make me." I replied.
Kirara appeared a moment later, transformed, and I jumped on and left. My pain was a little renewed at losing someone again.
