Ohayo mina-san! Thanks to all the people that have reviewed already!
*glomps various reviewers*
For this part, it's going to be Inu Yasha's POV, starting at roughly the same time as the other one.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story except the idea. All characters and such belong to someone with much more money than me. *sob*
Rain : Inu Yasha's turn
Inu Yasha stared at the evening sky. Kagome had come back much too late to start off for the next shard. Irritated, he had thrown a fit and stormed off, leaving the others at Kaede-baba's hut for the night. He sniffed the night air. It smelled like it might rain.
Feh. I'll go in once it starts raining. By then, they'll all be asleep and I can leave before they all wake up, he thought.
Why was he always so annoyed? Because she had come back late. No, he had been upset before that. He had been upset the moment she had suggested going back to her time.
The hanyo shifted on his branch, trying to get comfortable. Why did he have to think about these things now? He wanted to sleep so that he could get a good start tomorrow and find the shard quickly.
Well, I at least know one thing. I won't be sleeping much tonight.
He hopped down to the ground and began to pace. Why did she always have to leave? How could it be that she didn't know how cruel "goodbye" sounded? All he wanted was for her to stay with him, and help him gather the shards.
But. once the Shikon no Tama was whole again, would he really use it to become a full demon? Was that what he wanted anymore? Kikyo had wanted him to become human and stay with her. He had agreed, but had a nagging doubt in his head. Why should he change? Wasn't he good enough as he was? He had no hope of getting this question answered.
Kagome had never mentioned using the jewel to make him human. She seemed to like him just the way he was, even though he had dog* ears, claws and amber eyes. Even though he was rude and mean to her and ran off to see Kikyo.
Kikyo.
She was alive. Well. sort of. An ogress had made her a body of bone and earth and put her soul into it. However, doing so had left Kagome without a spirit. Inu Yasha recalled that incident, and found that he had been angry with himself for helping to rip Kagome's soul away.
Why was I so angry? I love Kikyo, and I was so surprised to see her again. And yet. I wasn't happy. How could I be? She had a sham body and a stolen soul to move it with. Yes, I see now that it was stolen. The moment the soul became Kagome's, it changed. It no longer really belongs to Kikyo at all. What's walking around is a memory of the woman that I once new. The woman that loved me.
She had loved him. She had been willing to give up everything to be with him. But she had asked him to change. She had asked him to stop being himself and be someone that she wanted to be with. Why hadn't he been good enough? Had she truly loved him at all, or had she seen him as a way to rid herself of the Shikon no Tama?
I'm going in circles.
He stopped and found that he had, quite literally, been going in circles. He could see the path he had tramped in the grass.
Abruptly, he turned towards the hut the group was staying at and made for it. Upon reaching it, he peered in cautiously, not wanting to wake its inhabitants. Sango was sprawled next to Kirara and Shippo. Miroku was turning restlessly on his bit of floor. He could have been imagining it, but with every squirm, the monk seemed a little closer to Sango. Kaede- baba was sleeping soundly on the only futon in the house.
Where's Kagome?
He looked around for the girl, but saw no sign of her. He also noted that her bow and arrows were gone. At the very least, she had thought to arm herself before walking around alone in the dark at night. Inu Yasha growled softly. What was she thinking? What could possibly be so important that she had to walk around right now with no protection? Why did he care?
Sniffing the air, he caught her scent and followed. He caught sight of her in the forest, running. To him she looked like an Amazon queen - her dark hair flowing out behind her, the wind playing with her clothes and lifting the quiver on her back. Mesmerized by the image, he decided not to disturb her.
She's so much more than Kikyo ever was. Kikyo was stiff and distant, even when we had a private moment. Kagome is warm, caring, beautiful and free. I know she'd never believe it if I told her I thought so. She thinks I'm too mean. It's not like I give her reason to think otherwise. I know she doesn't know how I feel, I never tell her. I can't let her know. I can't loose her like I did Kikyo.
Below him, Kagome had come to a halt. He noticed that, not only were they back at the god tree, but she was standing in the middle of the circle he had created with his own pacing not too long ago. He could see her mouth moving, but whatever she said was drowned in a blast of thunder. It was raining lightly, and he was just about to call to her to go to Kaede-baba's hut when she strung an arrow in her bow. Surprised, he saw her loose the arrow and hit the spot Kikyo had fifty years ago.
Thunder boomed as she fitted another arrow to her bow, yelling like the Amazon he had thought her earlier. It seemed to him as if she were trying to pin him to the tree all over again. He noticed that her hands were shaking, but that didn't seem to affect her aim as the next arrow found it's mark next to the first.
What is keeping me rooted to this spot? She's in so much pain.
Eyes wide with shock, he realized what he had been about to think next. "All I want is to comfort her, be with her for the rest of my life." It took him a moment to realize that he'd murmured it out loud to himself.
It was now raining very hard, and Inu Yasha was sure that she could no longer see the tree. She continued to fire nonetheless, still hitting the tree accurately.
He leapt down from the tree and stood behind her. She didn't seem to notice.
"Is it dead yet?" he asked, though he seemed to be asking "Am I dead yet?"
She whirled around. He was struck by the tragedy on her face, and the fact that it made her even more beautiful.
"What?"
"You've been shooting that poor tree for quite some time. I asked if it was dead yet." Here it comes. She'll say yes, and she'll have killed any kind thoughts for me she had.
Her answer came, soft and sweet to him over the din of the storm.
"No. It's not dead yet."
"It's raining. Was it so important for you to shoot that tree right now? You'll get ill." Baka! Of course she knows it's raining! She obviously couldn't wait to get you out of her head. It's good that she doesn't know you love her.
"I don't care."
"Why the hell not? Do you want to die?" His heart ached at the sudden image of her, cold and blue against a funeral pyre in the village.
"Yes."
Before he could stop himself he gasped. How had he never noticed how sad she was? How had he missed her sinking into despair? He grabbed her and pulled her close, trying to crush her pain into himself. He smoothed her soaking hair, and rubbed the tension in her shoulders.
"Would. would that be so bad?"
What a question! He would die a hundred thousand times not to have heard her last few words. He never wanted her to go, ever. He needed her. Every time she left, every part of him cried out for her smile. Angry with himself for keeping his love to himself, he half scolded her.
"Kagome! Don't ever, ever talk about leaving me. Never say that."
How he feared that! He was always afraid that one of these days, one of these battles, she wouldn't be walking out of it with him.
"Inu Yasha."
"What is it Kagome?"
He tried to pull away. He wanted to show her his love, to see her pain and face his mistake. She wouldn't let go. He had to tell her he was sorry. Love makes promises you have to keep, and he hadn't been keeping his.
"You feel like home."
Steffie: Ano. it's not as sad as the last one, I think. However, I like it just as well. Epilogue, anyone?
For this part, it's going to be Inu Yasha's POV, starting at roughly the same time as the other one.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story except the idea. All characters and such belong to someone with much more money than me. *sob*
Rain : Inu Yasha's turn
Inu Yasha stared at the evening sky. Kagome had come back much too late to start off for the next shard. Irritated, he had thrown a fit and stormed off, leaving the others at Kaede-baba's hut for the night. He sniffed the night air. It smelled like it might rain.
Feh. I'll go in once it starts raining. By then, they'll all be asleep and I can leave before they all wake up, he thought.
Why was he always so annoyed? Because she had come back late. No, he had been upset before that. He had been upset the moment she had suggested going back to her time.
The hanyo shifted on his branch, trying to get comfortable. Why did he have to think about these things now? He wanted to sleep so that he could get a good start tomorrow and find the shard quickly.
Well, I at least know one thing. I won't be sleeping much tonight.
He hopped down to the ground and began to pace. Why did she always have to leave? How could it be that she didn't know how cruel "goodbye" sounded? All he wanted was for her to stay with him, and help him gather the shards.
But. once the Shikon no Tama was whole again, would he really use it to become a full demon? Was that what he wanted anymore? Kikyo had wanted him to become human and stay with her. He had agreed, but had a nagging doubt in his head. Why should he change? Wasn't he good enough as he was? He had no hope of getting this question answered.
Kagome had never mentioned using the jewel to make him human. She seemed to like him just the way he was, even though he had dog* ears, claws and amber eyes. Even though he was rude and mean to her and ran off to see Kikyo.
Kikyo.
She was alive. Well. sort of. An ogress had made her a body of bone and earth and put her soul into it. However, doing so had left Kagome without a spirit. Inu Yasha recalled that incident, and found that he had been angry with himself for helping to rip Kagome's soul away.
Why was I so angry? I love Kikyo, and I was so surprised to see her again. And yet. I wasn't happy. How could I be? She had a sham body and a stolen soul to move it with. Yes, I see now that it was stolen. The moment the soul became Kagome's, it changed. It no longer really belongs to Kikyo at all. What's walking around is a memory of the woman that I once new. The woman that loved me.
She had loved him. She had been willing to give up everything to be with him. But she had asked him to change. She had asked him to stop being himself and be someone that she wanted to be with. Why hadn't he been good enough? Had she truly loved him at all, or had she seen him as a way to rid herself of the Shikon no Tama?
I'm going in circles.
He stopped and found that he had, quite literally, been going in circles. He could see the path he had tramped in the grass.
Abruptly, he turned towards the hut the group was staying at and made for it. Upon reaching it, he peered in cautiously, not wanting to wake its inhabitants. Sango was sprawled next to Kirara and Shippo. Miroku was turning restlessly on his bit of floor. He could have been imagining it, but with every squirm, the monk seemed a little closer to Sango. Kaede- baba was sleeping soundly on the only futon in the house.
Where's Kagome?
He looked around for the girl, but saw no sign of her. He also noted that her bow and arrows were gone. At the very least, she had thought to arm herself before walking around alone in the dark at night. Inu Yasha growled softly. What was she thinking? What could possibly be so important that she had to walk around right now with no protection? Why did he care?
Sniffing the air, he caught her scent and followed. He caught sight of her in the forest, running. To him she looked like an Amazon queen - her dark hair flowing out behind her, the wind playing with her clothes and lifting the quiver on her back. Mesmerized by the image, he decided not to disturb her.
She's so much more than Kikyo ever was. Kikyo was stiff and distant, even when we had a private moment. Kagome is warm, caring, beautiful and free. I know she'd never believe it if I told her I thought so. She thinks I'm too mean. It's not like I give her reason to think otherwise. I know she doesn't know how I feel, I never tell her. I can't let her know. I can't loose her like I did Kikyo.
Below him, Kagome had come to a halt. He noticed that, not only were they back at the god tree, but she was standing in the middle of the circle he had created with his own pacing not too long ago. He could see her mouth moving, but whatever she said was drowned in a blast of thunder. It was raining lightly, and he was just about to call to her to go to Kaede-baba's hut when she strung an arrow in her bow. Surprised, he saw her loose the arrow and hit the spot Kikyo had fifty years ago.
Thunder boomed as she fitted another arrow to her bow, yelling like the Amazon he had thought her earlier. It seemed to him as if she were trying to pin him to the tree all over again. He noticed that her hands were shaking, but that didn't seem to affect her aim as the next arrow found it's mark next to the first.
What is keeping me rooted to this spot? She's in so much pain.
Eyes wide with shock, he realized what he had been about to think next. "All I want is to comfort her, be with her for the rest of my life." It took him a moment to realize that he'd murmured it out loud to himself.
It was now raining very hard, and Inu Yasha was sure that she could no longer see the tree. She continued to fire nonetheless, still hitting the tree accurately.
He leapt down from the tree and stood behind her. She didn't seem to notice.
"Is it dead yet?" he asked, though he seemed to be asking "Am I dead yet?"
She whirled around. He was struck by the tragedy on her face, and the fact that it made her even more beautiful.
"What?"
"You've been shooting that poor tree for quite some time. I asked if it was dead yet." Here it comes. She'll say yes, and she'll have killed any kind thoughts for me she had.
Her answer came, soft and sweet to him over the din of the storm.
"No. It's not dead yet."
"It's raining. Was it so important for you to shoot that tree right now? You'll get ill." Baka! Of course she knows it's raining! She obviously couldn't wait to get you out of her head. It's good that she doesn't know you love her.
"I don't care."
"Why the hell not? Do you want to die?" His heart ached at the sudden image of her, cold and blue against a funeral pyre in the village.
"Yes."
Before he could stop himself he gasped. How had he never noticed how sad she was? How had he missed her sinking into despair? He grabbed her and pulled her close, trying to crush her pain into himself. He smoothed her soaking hair, and rubbed the tension in her shoulders.
"Would. would that be so bad?"
What a question! He would die a hundred thousand times not to have heard her last few words. He never wanted her to go, ever. He needed her. Every time she left, every part of him cried out for her smile. Angry with himself for keeping his love to himself, he half scolded her.
"Kagome! Don't ever, ever talk about leaving me. Never say that."
How he feared that! He was always afraid that one of these days, one of these battles, she wouldn't be walking out of it with him.
"Inu Yasha."
"What is it Kagome?"
He tried to pull away. He wanted to show her his love, to see her pain and face his mistake. She wouldn't let go. He had to tell her he was sorry. Love makes promises you have to keep, and he hadn't been keeping his.
"You feel like home."
Steffie: Ano. it's not as sad as the last one, I think. However, I like it just as well. Epilogue, anyone?