A/N: Whew! This was one tough chapter. Mostly, because I was writing this chapter, and Puck decided to let me in the key points of the next chapter, so I had to get them down quick before I forgot them and Puck decided to go on hiatus and tease me by not repeating himself…y'all know muses…they can be so temperamental, especially if he's a fae to boot! dodges Puck's angry glare But they are such wonderful people…really! And so wonderful about their ideas…grins brilliantly until Puck sighs and looks away ANYWAY, this chapter was rather difficult. The first part, I knew what I wanted, and the second part of it, well, I had an idea what I wanted to happen, but I wasn't certain of how it was going to come together, so remember to review and let me know how you all liked it! On the up side, this is a little longer, but it does end on another evil cliffy…well, maybe not so evil, but, well, a cliffy, I guess…so bear with me, yes?
Um…I can't seem to think of anything else, so I guess I'll move on now…
Disclaimer: Nope. Not mine. thinks. Except Benten…he's mine. thinks harder. Well, maybe not all mine, his name isn't mine, but what's in a name…?glares at Puck. Could you stop inspiring me to quote Shakespeare, fer cryin' out loud? Just for a little while! Puck shrugs and walks off. Emania sighs. Anyway, Benten is mine…everything else isn't…except the plot…the plot's mine…and…well, you get the point…
Rating: Probably a high PG-13 cause this chapter's got some bad words in it. Nuthin else, really. So, kiddies, don't pollute your mind…skip over those parts. ^____^;;
Thanks: Puck beams at the computer. "You all are really so wonderful, all of you! I worked extra hard because of it and inspired Em to finish this chapter she's posting now and most of the one after this, but I just wanted to write here how great you all are…" Emania smiles wryly You already said that, Puck. Puck glares "You are not going to throw off my groove, woman, I've been remembered by your reviewers, so there!" Emania smiles brilliantly I'm ecstatic that my reviewers remembered you, Puck…otherwise, you might've taken forever to inspire me. Emania dodges a flying book and laughs. So, thank you, all of you! You're wonderful! You've raised my review count to 224! And although I realize numbers don't count, it's the only way I can tell that you all like me! You really like me! Puck edges up to the computer. "And me!" Emania sighs. Both of us…so, thank you!
Oh, and I have a special thanks to send out to those new people who added me onto their "favorite author" list…so, RinoaOHeartilly, thanks for adding me, even though you've always had my thanks for being such a constant reviewer…firevixen, you receive my thanks for adding me, proving that your out there reading my story, even if I haven't heard from you, but thanks for thinking I'm good enough to add! MoonBaby, you've reviewed, and I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see that I'm on your favorite author list, too! I feel so special! wipes tear CorruptedAngel, you're just too wonderful for words…thanks a million! AgentScully, well, you've reviewed too, so thanks ever so much for adding me on your favorite author's too! I feel so loved! And, of course, Trinity Kirara, pruningshears, Evil Irish Eyes, lagatadiabla666, Yoshiko-Rae, LadyBanshee, LilacRose, and RavenShadow who put me on their list a while ago and I thanked before, but you've still got me on the list, which means, specifically for lagatadiabla, Yoshiko-Rae and LadyBanshee who haven't reviewed, that either I haven't lost your interest or you haven't been interested for so long you forgot I was on there in the first place! ^_^ In any case, it makes me feel special and loved, so THANK YOU!!
MoonFairy: I will NEVER be tired of hearing from you, Moon! Never ever…uh…wever… (suddenly, I feel like a three year old…-_-) Ah, I can't believe you actually used "loyal fans" and "your" in the same sentence to refer to me! I feel so special, really! Forget Cloud 9, I'm on 999! ^____^ I'm so happy that you liked the chapter! I know exactly what you mean, but thanks for trying to explain it! ^_^. So…I hope you like this one, too!
Eartha: OMG! "moon healing"! I had almost forgotten about that! I used to love Sailor Moon, then I just kind of…stopped. I still like it, but I think I got into a different kind of anime, and I went through like to several of the sailor moon movies, so I was satisfied. But it's good to hear it, and yes, you might be surprised how right you are! I'm so happy that Benten went over well. I hate to have purely evil or purely good characters. I like writing three dimensional characters and my main worry with Benten was that he would be bad enough to be threat enough for everything she'd been worrying about earlier and good enough to not hate right away…anyway, enough babbling from me…thanks for reviewing again and always! I hope you like this chapter!
eX Driver Liz: Sorry! ~_~;; Partly because it seemed like a good place to stop organization-wise, but mostly because I didn't know where I wanted Benten to take her next, so I had to give Puck some time to inspire me! But it's all good…he's inspired me! ^_^. Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this one!
Evil Irish Eyes: Puck grins widely, chest puffing in pride Not only did I help her put out a new chapter, but I helped her practically complete the one that comes after this…blushes But only cause you asked…uh, so nicely…otherwise, I might've had her suffer a little!
Emania pushes Puck out of the way Who told you you could speak first, huh? Puck sticks out his tongue at her, too content to do much else. Emania sighs Isn't it sad that our muses seem to be getting into relationships and we're high and dry? Well, not that I could speak for you, but I for one am dry as a bone. Anyway, moving on from that subject, I'm sooooo glad you liked the chapter! I was incredibly nervous about the Kikyo connection and about Benten as a whole cause I wasn't making him a purely evil character. I just couldn't see him as the typical 'mustache twirling' bad guy, y'know?
Puck elbows her You couldn't see him?
Emania sighs, rubbing the spot where her rib should be. Need we go through this again? Isn't it enough that nearly everyone that responded also made a reference to you? Everyone knows that you're the creative genius in this duo, that I am just the…oh, whatever you want to call me. Puck looks content, if not satisfied and continues to re-read the part about the 'breathtaking' recitation. Emania shakes her head ANYWAY…about the chapter…I didn't really realize the possibilities about having Kagome deal with her Kikyo issues, until it was already halfway written. I just love when that happens, don't you? When something just sort of falls into place like that? Something also happened in this chapter that I'm posting which clicked with something that I wanted to write for later on in the story, so I'm very happy about that! I'm not telling what it is, though, so you'll have to wait! Emania blushes as she reads about the 'more' comment Awww…I'm sorry. This chapter is long, but I don't know how much longer in comparison with the last one. It isn't really as long as some of my others, but….well, I hope you like it.
Puck's eyes widen as he reads about Garlend's reaction to his recitation, then he blushes Awww…shucks, tweren't nuthin'…
Emania guffaws… What happened to all the practiced ease with which you recite Shakespeare, Puck, is that the best you can do?
Puck glares, narrowing his eyes into the oh so deadly, Squinty Eyed Glare. Don't push me, woman. He crosses his arms over his tunic. Sometimes a little local charm is best.
Emania chuckles Yeah, and where are you from locally? The Boondocks?
Puck puffs up, his pride striken Stratsfordshire, actually…
Emania shakes her head as he continues to mumble about his parentage and heritage having come originally from Ireland where the Fae, etc. ANYWAY…I'm glad you liked the detail…I always worry about detail cause I tend to put in too much sometimes, so I'm glad it wasn't too much.
Puck moves Emania aside as he realizes that Garlend was once again addressing him, he smiles brilliantly Thank you, Garlend…only another muse could understand the work which goes into producing such works, and to have it praised by another muse is beyond all other types of compliments…Shakespeare was wonderful to work with and I'd do it again in a second. He was a bit of a ladies' man, though.
Emania laughed over Puck's shoulder Edgar Allan Poe's tomb! Hahahahaha!!! That's hilarious! I wonder what he thought about The Raven! Heeheehee. Poor Evil, having to see that portrait of his everywhere! It didn't do him a bit of justice, really. I'm surprised they let it out…shoulda taken a page out of Michelangelo's David's book and told them to paint him from his younger days.
Puck nodded That's what I said, but did he listen to me? No…
Emania's eyes widen as she sees Evil's reaction… Uh…yeah, I hope this gives you another clue as to what's happening. The next chapter is already typed, but I need to give it the finishing touches before it's ready to post. It should be posted soon, although tomorrow, I have to be sociable again and get together with my study group so it won't be as soon as tomorrow. Hopefully, by the time the story's done (which will be soon…) you'll keep thinking that I covered everything…
Puck starts scribbling something on a sheet of paper…Emania swipes at it, but Puck flies off in the air, out of her reach. What?
Emania glared at him You are not giving away the secrets of the upcoming chapters, are you?
Puck raises his chin. Of course NOT.
Emania does her own version of the Squinty Eyed Glare and Puck nearly lost his flight momentum. He regained it before he fell to the ground. You better not!
Puck gave her the innocent look and popped out
Emania sighs Well, if you can get it out of him, then I guess you deserve to know. If you can't, you can probably channel it anyhow, you've done it, anyway!
Puck pops back in. I can't find you guys! I was willing to go visit you guys, but I don't know how to find you…I got halfway through the space-time continuum and realized that I hadn't gotten directions, isn't that kinda silly?
Emania jabs Puck. Stop rambling.
Puck blushes Sorry.
Well, as always, thanks for reviewing! Well, it's actually more than a review now, isn't it? It's more like thanks for writing! ^_^ Anyway, hope you like the new chapter!
p.s. Oh, yeah, I'm an English Major so, Puck likes to tease me that I will end up as an English teacher even though he knows I will slit my wrist if I end up that way. I have no patience for teaching…shivers at the thought…
CorruptedAngel: blushes Gee, thanks! Your review was wonderful and it warmed me all the way through to my toesies! And although I am not as young as 15, I am old enough to take my woman's prerogative and avoid stating my exact age. Still, it is a great compliment, that you've given me, especially with the letters to your readers and the offer to send over more readers to me! That means so much! Thanks! So much! Really! And I hope I don't disappoint you with this next chapter! ^_^
Sukuri: I'm happy that I made you happy! You really pointed out something very very useful to me. Did you notice I went back and changed it in my chapter 22? I hope that's clearer. I'm glad the comparison between Inu and Benten was a good one. It occurred to me as I writing it that it seemed like Inu could've gone in that direction. Puck is my muse, and as to what's between him and Garlend…she trails off as Puck pulls her away from the computer. "Garlend understands me! She's exceptionally nice and kind and…he trails off as he sees Emania's knowing smirk "What?" Emania shakes her head. Nothing. It's just fun trying to watch you explain it. Puck exhales exasperatedly "Well, in any case, whenever we figure out what's going on, if anything, then I suppose you guys'll be the next to know." Emania raises her eyebrows. Wow, Sukuri…that's a whole lot more that I managed to get out of him…probably cause you were so nice in your review! ^_^. Linkin Park is great. I'm on a kick listening to them and Evanescence both. It's quite a mix, but, you know…So, thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this one, too!
RinoaOHeartilly: blushes Thank you! I'm so sorry about your brother! I hope he's doing better. I'm so glad you see where I get the idea for Kag being a little stronger than I've normally seen her portrayed. I wanted to see Kag find her inner strength, and as I wrote it, I realized that she needed to get through some other stuff before she could, so I hope that the way I've done that has been logical and fun to read! Thanks! I hope you like this chapter and I hope your brother gets better very soon!
Niku: Thanks! For the congrats and for the review and for the compliments! I'm so glad that Benten seemed to be generally liked! Or at least, not unliked enough to make those people who didn't like him review about it and tell me! ^_^. Puck is very proud that not only did he come up with this chapter I'm posting now, but the next one after this one is mostly done, too! Not done enough to post right away, but I just need to finalize it, so it should be soon! Thanks, again for your wonderful review! ^_~.
Jen: Yeah! That was the Linkin Park song I said I had wanted to put in before! I just thought it was so perfect for what Kag was going through! I'm glad I was able to get it in! What do you think of this title? While you're at it, what do you think of this chapter, period!? ^_^.
Aeyikie: lowers head in shame I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be evil! Really! It's just organization wise, the best way to do it. Don't die on me! I need good reviewers like you! I'm sorry! You sure seem to have an interest life! Getting hit on by a fat 40 year old would probably be the highlight of my day! ^_~. I'm trying to update soon, but LIFE keeps getting in the way, can you believe it!? I hope you like it! And, I'm sorry, but it's another cliffy! (Ducks behind desk to avoid any possible flying objects.)
AgentScully: ^_~. Yeah, getting caught reading fanfiction at work wouldn't be a good move…I walked that straight edge during the summer when I was working. It was hard to look like I was doing serious work on the computer when I kept smiling or something from a fic I was reading! exhales Season 9 is back on the shelf…whew! That was a close one! I'm soo glad you liked the chapter. Of course, I was worried about it. I was especially worried that he wouldn't be worth the anticipation I'd built up, but the fact that you brought that very thing up in your review really puts my mind at ease! Yeah! I love the anime hair, too! When I was writing him, I realized that I hadn't described him, so once I started, I didn't see him with black hair anymore like I had put in the vision…so…blue hair was born. It just seemed to fit him perfectly. You know, the whole water demon thing…I wasn't sure about his clothes, though, so I just gave him the Etruscan garb…don't ask me why…glares at Puck who shrugs. You know! I was at the mall this afternoon at this store called Hot Tropic and I saw the thing you could use to put the blue tints in your hair! That's so funny! I looked at it, wondering if I should do it for Halloween! ^_^. I do not mind about your enthusiasm…on the contrary…I love it! I'm glad that you're enthusiastic about my story! It trips me out! ^_~. Did I say thanks for reviewing? shrugs Anyway, thanks for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter, too!
LilacRose: Well, my first instinct (hopeless romantic that I am deep down inside) was to have Inu rush in and save her. Of course, my problem came when I realized that that would put her back to square one, because I need her to come to some realization about her self-worth so to speak to be able to be happy about this story. So, then I decided that maybe I should have him just rush in and try to save her, but still have her save herself in the end, but…well, that was a little too cliché for me, so…well, I decided on this. I hope it satisfies the romantic in you, too! I'm satisfied…you won't get the full story of everything that happens for another few chapters, but at least here you'll be able to see what Inu does…winces Sorry! About Kikyo…well, you'll see…You're review was pretty coherent for 3 hours of sleep…I can usually be coherent with such little sleep only for a few days until I crash for 12 or so hours. It's the way my body works, what can I say? I'm glad you like Benten and I'm super glad you liked her reaction to him. I hope you like this chapter too! Thanks, again, for reviewing! (And for putting the non-existent tape of Season 9 back on the proverbial shelf…that was just giving me the shivers…) ^_~.
RavenShadow: Hey, Raven…how you doin'? I'm so glad you liked the chapter and Kag's reaction. I couldn't see Benten as being anything other than beautiful, but I'm glad you got that from my description! I've already written what her fear is, and you're very good for guessing that much! Especially since I wasn't sure myself until Puck told me…but I guess Puck was so enthused that all you wonderful reviewers wrote directly to him asking him to inspire me that he graciously did! Thanks for reviewing, especially when I was so uncertain of a particular character introduction!
MoonBaby: BIG GRIN Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou…uh….I intended to write a thank you for each grin, but I kinda lost track…anyway, you get the picture. ^_~. I'm so glad you liked the chapter and especially that you love the story and think Benten's a good character! Thanks, really. It means so much! I hope this next chapter doesn't disenchant you! ^_^ ;;
Chapter 24: For You
"I'm there for you / Never giving up / cause you know it's true / you were there for me / And I'm there for you / For you."
-For You, The Calling
He couldn't smell her. He couldn't hear her. He couldn't even see her, but somehow, he could sense her. The same way he found her in the forest of metal and steel that is the future, he could sense her now. And this sense was pulling him toward the lake…the very same where he watched her bathe after the mess with the crow demon…the very place he stood and first felt the draw to her…
"She's at the lake," Inuyasha told Sango and Mirouku as they appeared at his side.
Sango looked at Inuyasha. "Can you smell her now?"
"No," Inuyasha replied stoically, smelling for something else in the air…was that water? The lake had never smelled before.
"Then how do you know?" Sango persisted. She looked at Mirouku, confused.
Mirouku shook his head. "Don't ask."
Sango raised an eyebrow, but decided to let it drop to a more convenient time. "So? Why are we waiting?"
"There's something…" Inuyasha replied, cut off by the sound of wordless scream echoing from the forest.
He was off toward the sound without a word, charging into the forest, heedless of smells, following only the feel of Kagome and the echo of her scream.
He was moving so quickly that he didn't realize he was on the floor until after he hit the hard ground.
"What the…?" he asked shaking his head. The pain sneaked up on him and he felt as if he'd hit a brick wall. He stood, looking around him for an aggressor, but there was none. Deciding there was no time to figure it out, he bounded off into the trees in front of him, only to be repelled once again by the invisible force. "…hell!" he growled, punching out in front of him. The air in front of him shimmered in multicolored specs of light as he hit the invisible wall, but it lost none of its constancy. With a deep growl, Inuyasha charged the shield, intending to shatter it or shatter through it.
By the time Mirouku and Sango came upon Inuyasha, they found him charging full speed, Tetsaiga drawn….at nothing. When the Tetsaiga sparked to life as it made contact with the nothing, sparks and magic flying, they understood.
"A Sprit Shield," Mirouku breathed. "Damn!"
"Fuck!" Inuyasha yelled angrily as he charged at the shield again.
Mirouku watched in awe as Inuyasha continued to charge and be repelled by the shield, which only served to make Inuyasha angrier and more violent in his next attack. When, upon the fifth time, Inuyasha fell back with blood dripping from his nose, Mirouku thought it was time to interfere.
"Inuyasha!" Mirouku called. "Inuyasha!!" he exclaimed, running to the hanyou and putting a staying hand on his shoulder. "Stop," he told the panting demon. "You can go no further."
Inuyasha growled at Mirouku and shook off his arm. "I won't accept that, monk," he said before charging forward again.
"Inuyasha, you'll only knock yourself unconscious and then what will we do if we really need you to fight?" Mirouku pointed out. "There is no way to get through the shield!"
Inuyasha paused, but didn't look at them. "I won't let her fight this alone," he said softly. His fist clenched on Tetsaiga and his tone hardened. "No matter how much that stupid wench wants to leave me!" he said angrily, punctuating each of his words with a slash of Tetsaiga at the shield. He stopped to look at how far the shield shimmered when he hit it, watching it go on endlessly both above and to either side. "Kagome!!" he yelled, the birds fleeing at the disruption. "You stupid girl!" he said under his breath. 'Why are you keeping me out?'
Sango watched the shimmering and knew what it meant. Kagome was on her own. Despite what they had told her, they really couldn't help her. She had no doubt in her mind that Kagome's spirit was strong enough to fight, but…she wished they could be there…
Sango reached out a hand to stop Inuyasha from crashing Tetsaiga back into the shield. "Stop, Inuyasha, please," she whispered.
Inuyasha met her eyes angrily. "I will not give up!"
Sango cringed. "I'm not asking you to…"
"Then what?" he interrupted.
"I'm asking you to trust her," Sango answered, looking beyond the shield to the apparently silent forest. "Trust that she's strong enough."
Inuyasha looked broken. "I do trust her," he whispered. 'I trust her more than anyone I've ever known,' he added silently. "But I can't just stand around doing nothing while she's in danger," he shook his head. "I couldn't live…" he stopped himself and closed his eyes, as if gaining strength. '…without her…' he finished to himself. 'Having disappointed her, having not been there for her after she'd always been there for me…' He shook his head and started to walk off to the right, on the edge of the shield, testing it as he went.
Sango was so shocked by the earnest declaration that she didn't know what to say.
Mirouku came up beside her as she watched him go. "Where are you going?" Mirouku called out.
"See how far this goes," Inuyasha answered.
"It could go for leagues!" Mirouku countered.
"Keh!" Inuyasha exclaimed over his shoulder. "So?" At least he was doing something…
+~+~
'How far can this thing go?' he thought to himself as he jumped from tree to tree and still the shield glimmered. 'It can't go indefinitely!' "It's gotta stop somewhere!"
"It goes on forever."
Inuyasha stopped, mid leap, and fell back onto the branch he had been standing on. He knew the voice, but…the scent was wrong…
"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" the voice taunted. "Don't you want to look at me?"
Inuyasha jumped out of the tree and faced her, looking into Kikyo's cold eyes. 'Had they always look so cold?' he thought. 'As dead?'
"You're wasting your time, Inuyasha," she spoke into his silence. "The spirit shield will keep you and your friends out as far and for as long as it needs to."
Inuyasha felt the anger wash through him and growled. "Kikyo," he said warningly. "If you're behind this, I swear I'll…" he was cut off by the sound of her laughter.
"As much as it might amuse me to hear the end of that sentence, I must admit that I could not have lured the imposter here as well as he's done."
The completeness of his anger surprised him. He was shocked to realize that if she had harmed or helped harm Kagome, he would kill her. He felt a twinge of guilt at the realization, after all, he had promised to protect her, but what had he promised to protect, really? Earth and bones? Ashes. The warped spirit of who had once been his childhood love. The true Kikyo he had loved was dead. It surprised him how clear that realization seemed now. And that was the real problem wasn't it? He felt guilty that he had survived and she had not. And he could avenge her death, he could avenge the harm caused to both of them, but the best thing he could do for that part of her spirit that still walked the earth was to lay it to rest…put it out of its misery. The Kikyo he had known wouldn't have wanted a part of her spirit to be walking beyond her time, hanging on to life that didn't belong to her anymore. She was getting her second chance through Kagome…
Kagome…
Kagome was alive and needed him.
Maybe he should just lay Kikyo's to rest now…
He flexed his hand to avoid laying it on the hilt of Tetsaiga. "Then what are you doing here?" he asked. "Are you working with him?"
She laughed again. "No. I simply came to make sure you did nothing stupid…" she looked at him. "I told you once that your life was mine to take although he can kill the little girl for all I care."
Before he knew it, Tetsaiga was in his hand. "You and I have something to settle, Kikyo, but if you can get me inside that Spirit Shield, to Kagome, and don't, I will run you through, I swear it."
"You're threatening me for her?" she asked. "For her that kept telling you time and time again that she didn't need you? That you were a half-breed? That used magic to get away from you? That treats you as if you were a lap dog that she could tell to sit when he's been bad?" She started to near him.
Her words stung him, and he fought to not show it. But he couldn't really deny them. He could feel the weight of the rosary beads around his neck, and tried to see them the way Kikyo described them…and failed. Maybe at one point, he had hated them, but not anymore. Now, they represented a game between them…he would see how far he could push her before she used them and she would try to avoid using them to not show how pissed she was…or she would use them to show how pissed she was. She had saved him several times by using the beads. And more than anything else, they seemed to be the only thing of hers he felt he had. He was surprised to realize that it was as if Kagome had marked him, claimed him as hers…and he was even more surprised to realize how warm and loved that made him feel. Kagome might not have ever told him how she really felt for him, but those beads were the proof of how much she wanted him near her.
Kikyo must have misunderstood the look of surprise on Inuyasha's face because she continued. "She's not worth it, Inuyasha." She blocked his path. "Leave her be, save yourself, if you go in there he will kill you."
He was standing in front of her before he realized he'd moved. "Get out of my way, Kikyo," he said through clenched teeth.
Kikyo extended a hand to stop him. "Why won't you let the imposter die?"
"Inuyasha!!"
The scream tore through the air around him and behind Kikyo, the shield shimmered and disappeared. Inuyasha tried to get through, but once again, Kikyo blocked his path.
"Let her die, then we'll be together!"
Inuyasha paused for all of a split second before jumping over her and charging the area previously covered by the shield.
Just as he reached it, it flared to life, blocking him once again. He fell to his knees. "NO!!" he exclaimed. 'That could have been my last chance to get to her.'
"She's dead," Kikyo spoke behind him. "Leave. Now."
Inuyasha's growl came from the deepest part of his soul, the anger turning his eyes red rimmed and making the demon marks appear and he welcomed it. Anything was better than this feeling of loss…
Kikyo neared him from behind and his nose twitched with the scent of her…something was wrong, but he didn't bother with thinking…Kagome might be dead, he had lost his only chance to save her or die with her and Kikyo was the cause of it…Inuyasha spun around, swinging Tetsaiga to slash across her body.
He watched, as if outside of his own body, while her expression turned to one of surprise, then understanding. The trail of Tetsaiga's slash glowed and then the whole body exploded in a splash of light and…
Inuyasha sniffed the air… 'water?' Inuyasha's eyes widened as he realized why he had been confused about the smell earlier…Kikyo didn't smell like Kikyo…not even the smell of earth and mud she had since she had been resurrected. She had smelled like water. His eyes narrowed and the growl came in earnest. That Death character had been trying to mess with his head!
And Kikyo…
The anger faltered. He had been willing to kill her.
To kill Kikyo because she had kept him from helping Kagome.
The implication of this became clear like drawing aside a gauze veil. The Kikyo he would have killed was not the Kikyo he had loved. Everything about Kikyo he had fallen in love with was not in this person who was walking around in her body…everything about Kikyo he had fallen in love with was in…in Kagome…
He fell to the ground, the Tetsaiga transforming back into a regular sword as it lay limp in his palm.
…everything and so much more…
'Oh, Kikyo,' he thought, the tears coming to his eyes. 'I will always remember you and I will avenge your death, but I think I can move on now…' His eyes fell on the space beyond the barrier which he knew was still there even if he couldn't see it. He could move on now, he could love Kagome…only…
…was it too late?
+~+~+~
A/N: I know, I know…another cliffy. I warned you guys didn't I? That there would be nothing but cliffies up ahead. I can't help it, otherwise, I'll just keep writing and writing and I don't think I'll be able to fit it all in one post on ff.net, plus, it all works out well this way, chapter organization wise.
On the up side, the next chapter is written and typed! yey! I only have to make final additions, review and editing. That's part of why this chapter took me so long, cause I was sort of writing both chapters at the same tim!
So, anyway, you all are going to write me and let me know what you think of what I had just happen, right? Right?! Come on, I am sooooo in need of reviews about Inu's realization at the end here! Please?!
Puck smacks her upside the head. Get it under control, Em…trust your reviewers…they won't let you down… looks out at the sea of readers Will you?