Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha. Those are the property of one Rumiko Takahashi. I thank her whole-heartedly for giving us such an amazing manga/anime to read/watch.
Author's note: I am an avid fan of the Inuyasha/Kagome pairing and a lover of happy endings. This is my first fanfiction on this list, and only my fourth in all. Please bear with me while I learn the ins and outs of writing and posting fanfiction.
ONE HEART – Chapter 1
Kagome turned to face Inu-Yasha. "I told you I would be back in three days. I have an important test to study for. If I don't do well on this one, I definitely won't make it into high school next term."
"Feh!" Inu-Yasha folded his arms across his chest and glared at Kagome. "You would think your 'test' is more important than finding the rest of the Shikon shards."
"It might not be more important, but to me it's just as important as finding the shards." Kagome sighed.
Why did he always make it so hard for her when she had a test to study for. She was doing her best to keep up her grades and still help find the Shikon shards, even though leading the double life she was had started to take its toll on her. She had become extremely edgy lately and was prone to snap at Inu-Yasha for no apparent reason. Now he was giving her good reason to get angry, and it wouldn't take much more to push her to "osuwari" him.
Inu-Yasha was so caught up in his own reaction to Kagome leaving him again that he didn't see the warning signs until it was too late.
Kagome smiled wickedly at the hanyou. "Osuwari!"
Inu-Yasha crashed to the ground, chest first. He growled at her, mumbling something incoherent under his breath as he watched Kagome sit on the edge of the well and swing her legs over the rim before she slipped from view.
"Damn it, Kagome!" he struggled to stand, only managing to do so when the holding spell lost its effect on him. He leaned over the edge of the well, deciding to give her time to get over her anger before he followed. But, he wasn't going to wait long.
He paced back and forth beside the old well before finally sprinting off in the direction of Kaede's village. He would pick on Shippou for a while to pass his time before following Kagome.
Unseen to Inu-Yasha, an old woman had watched the exchange between the hanyou and the strangely-dressed miko. She didn't know where they went when they jumped into the well, but she had witnessed them doing so before. She peered from her vantage point until he had disappeared from sight. Now would be her chance. She walked away from the clearing until she reached a large fallen tree. Hovering above the rotting trunk was one of Naraku's insects. The insect flew to the woman and deposited a Shikon shard in her hand before flying upward and out of sight.
Yes, this would add enough power to her spell to be sure the hanyou wouldn't bother anyone again.
Naraku had offered her this shard in exchange for her help. Her magical powers were already great, but the increased power offered by the use of the Shikon shard virtually assured success. Her job was to rid Inu-Yasha of his youkai power. By doing so, he would be defenseless against Naraku. Her reward for the job would be an additional Shikon shard.
Unknown to the old woman, Naraku had no intention of letting her keep the shards. He needed her abilities, and lending her one shard was worth the outcome. His insects would be ready to reclaim the shard when the sorceress had completed her task. Her life would be forfeit.
She quickly returned to the well, her eyes darting from side to side, making certain that she wouldn't be seen. From her previous observations, it wouldn't be long before the hanyou followed the girl. The woman quickly took some spell papers from her pocket and placed them on the lip of the well. She then took the Shikon shard and put the sliver through the papers, wedging it into the wood. This would hold the spell while adding the power she needed.
She made movements with her hands while chanting something unintelligible. She finished by taking a handful of a powdery substance and tossing it across the opening of the well.
With the spell in place, she once again took refuge behind the trees, waiting impatiently for the hanyou to return.
Her wait was rewarded as Inu-Yasha came into view. He had tired quickly of teasing Shippou, his mind more on the empty feeling in his chest than on the kitsune. He hated the feeling he got every time Kagome left. He wouldn't be satisfied until he saw her again.
Inu-Yasha quickly jumped through the opening of the well, never noticing the pieces of parchment that clung to the side. He did, however, notice something as he passed through the opening. It was as if two large hands had taken hold on him, each pulling in opposite directions. He felt as though he was being torn in half. He was helpless to do anything as he continued falling through the opening, landing roughly as he appeared in the well in Kagome's time. For a moment his vision blurred. Then there was nothing.
Inu-Yasha awoke a short time later. However, the old sorceress' spell had done its work. On the floor of the old bone eater's well was not one, but two separate Inu-Yashas. One human. One youkai. His human and youkai parts had been torn apart, creating two individual beings.
Quickly Youkai Inu-Yasha jumped from the well and ran from the mini shrine. He cleared the wall surrounding the shrine complex that was Kagome's home, landing near the street. He then quickly bounded down the street and out of view.
Human Inu-Yasha carefully stood up, still dazed from the effect of the spell. He had no idea what had caused him to be split into two, but he knew he would need help. He pulled himself from the well and walked to Kagome's house, letting himself in and making his way to her bedroom door.
Unnoticed by Inu-Yasha was his Tetsusaiga, which remained on the floor of the well. The sword would now be useless to him. To Human Inu-Yasha it would remain as it now appeared, an old, dull sword that was unable to cut anything. To Youkai Inu-Yasha it would remain untouchable. Next to the sword lay the magical rosary that normally encircled his neck, giving Kagome the power to "osuwari" him when she felt it was necessary.
Kagome was next to tears. It wasn't fair. How was she supposed to remember all these formulas in time for the test? The numbers blurred on the page before her. She slammed the book shut and pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes, trying to clear them.
She was startled by a soft knock at the door.
"Come in, Mama. You're back early," she called, sounding more enthusiastic than she felt. Actually, she was relieved at the chance to take a short break from studying.
The door opened to reveal not Mama, but a very human Inu-Yasha. Kagome gasped and quickly looked to the bedroom window. Sunlight streamed into the bedroom. It was the middle of the day! Not nighttime, and the next new moon wouldn't occur for at least another week.
"Inu-Yasha? What happened?" Kagome eyed the human boy standing before her.
Human Inu-Yasha simply shook his head. "I don't know. I jumped into the well to come here and…" He walked to her bed and sat on the edge, looking less confident than she had ever seen him. He continued, "It was like something was trying to tear me apart. When I came out on your side of the well, I was like this."
Kagome sat next to him and shook her head. "Maybe if we take a look at the well we can figure this out. Ji-chan should be home soon. He might know what happened."
Human Inu-Yasha looked at Kagome. His expression gave her a chill down her back. He was preparing to tell her the worst of it and she suddenly felt frightened.
"When I came out on your side of the well, Kagome, it wasn't just me. There were two of me. This one," he indicated himself. "And, another one. That one looked to be full youkai."
She knew the answer before she even asked the question. "Where is the youkai Inu-Yasha?"
Human Inu-Yasha shook his head. "I don't know. He ran away before I realized what was happening. I don't know where he went, and in this form I can't even begin to track him. My senses are the same as any other human's right now."
Kagome lay her hand lightly on Human Inu-Yasha's arm. "If something was able to split you, then there's got to be something that can put you back together. We just have to figure out what."
For the first time since being split, Human Inu-Yasha smiled slightly. Always the optimist. That was one of the things he loved best about Kagome. No matter how dark things seemed, she always seemed to find that one ray of light to see them through.
Without warning, Human Inu-Yasha put his arms around Kagome and held her.
Her surprise faded immediately and she slipped her arms around him.
"Thank you, " his voice was barely audible.
They held each other, only breaking the embrace when they heard voices in the front hallway and the front door slam closed.
"It sounds like Ji-chan is home. Now we can ask him what he thinks might have happened." Kagome took Human Inu-Yasha's hand and pulled him gently toward the bedroom door. He stopped her from opening the door, once again holding her. As long as he had Kagome by his side, everything was sure to work out.
He pulled away, finding himself blushing. Kagome gently gave his hand a squeeze. "Everything will be all right." She smiled at him, her words and manner masking the worry she felt inside as together they went to talk to her grandfather.