Ok, I'm here, writing the next chapter! Wahoo! I didn't let you all down.
Well, so I'm a little bit late, but it's better than 5 weeks, yah? Well,
Anyways, no time to waste. Let's get it going.
(A note to Sherry)
Sherry-----Girl, are you complaining??? You think it's too long? Does everyone feel this way? (Insert teardrop) Oh well, then don't read it, Lol. Actually, I know it feels long, mainly because I probably don't update as much as I used to, and I know that needs to change.
Anyhow, I know that you all are looking for some closure, and a good ending, and I will tell you now, you will not be dissatisfied by the ending, I think. Anyhow, I know I need to get around to the ending, but, out of love for a first fiction, I refuse to just mush everything into the next few chapters. I don't plan to drag it out either, I promise. Everything may seem very jumbled, but it'll all make sense soon. So, I hope you all are enjoying this fiction, and I hope you all will review. I love emails you guys, honestly. But, I love reviews more. ^_^ Anyhow, here goes nothing.
Chapter 22: Enjoy Me, While I Last
Sesshoumaru raced towards the door, along with Riana and Inu Yasha. The demons were lightning-quick, but not quick enough to expect anything they saw. Kouga was leaning over the cliff, saying nasty things to someone.
"You should have just come with me Kagome! You wouldn't have died! You stupid woman!" ~ ~ ~ ~ *Kagome *
"Get up Kagome! You worthless life form! Your job isn't done."
(Those damn voices.)
("What the hell, exactly, IS my job?")
"Kagome, what have you done? You have no strength to swim back up! You must use it Kagome. You MUST!"
("USE WHAT?")
"Awe, come on. Think. I can't save you forever."
("Oh! You mean that? But, why?")
"Just do it."
("Ok.")
Kagome's eyes opened slowly. She coughed, and inhaled a lot of water. Her arms were too weak to struggle to the surface. She was at least five feet from the surface. Why did it seem like a million?
Her legs wouldn't move either. There was a small drum pounding in here ears, like they were ready to explode. Her lungs felt deflated, and were burning. Was this how it felt to drown, to, to die? She wasn't ready. She still had things to do. She still had a job, some job. She'd know what it was when she saw it.
"Focus" The voice echoed. "Focus IT towards the bottom."
Kagome shook her head. Her body wavered slowly in the water.
She could hear Kouga's shouts above water. (Oh, he will pay. Oh yes, he will)
She reached her weak hand towards the seemingly endless pit of darkness. She closed her eyes, pushing out her body's weakness. She focused everything she had left on that darkness. Energy, her energy, shot out like a bullet. A pink flow of streaming energy blasted from her little hand. It disappeared into utter darkness. Surely, there was a bottom to the ocean, right?
She moved her hand towards a lighter looking area. She felt it push back. The energy, the energy would push her back up the cliff. That's what the voice had meant.
Suddenly her body was hit by frigid air, and she took in a long gulp of fresh air, finally breaking the surface. Her body kept rising. Only 50 feet to go to get to the top!
Her hand shook, violently.
(No! Please don't quit on me now! Please!)
But, it was no use. She saw the strand of energy flicker. Her eyes grew wide with fright. What could she do?
Her eyes did a 180 looking for anything to help her. The cliff wall, she could climb it. She slowly made her way to the wall, and released her hand, letting gravity pull on her body. She would climb till she had enough power to push the rest of the way, which wasn't long.
There was new energy, a new feeling, probably her second wind. She reached her hand out again. She pushed, hard. And she went up again.
10 feet!
5 feet!
1 foot!
She maneuvered her hand so that her body rose over the edge, back onto the ground.
Her body landed gracefully on the ground. That feeling washed over her again. She wasn't controlling her body, her actions, or her mind. Who was she?
A subtle globe of pink mikon energy lit around her. "KOUGA! Get your hairy-butt back here!"
(That definitely wasn't her voice.)
"Kagome?" There was a pinch of pain in the back of her mind. Someone was calling her.
(Help me please!) Kagome pleaded with the voice. She struggled to call out to it. But, she couldn't control anything.
Kouga looked a little too shocked for words. "Kagome? I thought you had died."
There was another blaze of anger.
"Kouga, dear, when a woman says no, do you know what she means?"
(Who are you? Why can't I speak?) Kagome asked the voice in her head, that was controlling her.
Kouga scratched his head furiously. "It means, Kagome, my mate (put stress on the word mate), no."
"Good. It means no. So when I say I'm not your mate, I'm not your mate. Oh, and another thing."
"Yes?"
Kagome's body turned to look around at the unwelcome visitors that had finally arrived. She turned once again to face Kouga.
"I will avenge what belongs to me."
Kagome's body shuddered in pain. A convulsion ruptured her body.
(No! Stop doing this to me! Please.)
Kagome stopped, momentarily. Then, she raced, raced for Kouga, who wouldn't have seen her coming because her body was just a blur of color, running at the speed of the gods.
He heard a light whisper, something that sounded a lot like, "die" in his buzzing ears. And then, all thoughts fled him. All his moments of life flashed. His light was gone.
(NO!!!!!!! Stop this NOW!)
Kagome dropped to her knees. She breathed so heavily, shivering from the cold wind. Kouga's body lay there, lifeless, at her side.
"Kouga? Kouga, please tell me your ok. I couldn't stop her. I couldn't."
Someone came up behind her, almost afraid to approach her. "Kagome, he's dead. Please, stop this."
(That voice. I want that voice.)
Kagome turned to see Inu Yasha crouching at her side.
"Kagome, I know that wasn't you trying to kill Kouga. You could never do that."
Spite entered her voice. Was there something she couldn't do? "Never do what?"
"You could never kill someone like that. So violently, and you seemed too powerful for the Kagome I know."
"Oh? Don't you think I could ever be as strong as you?"
Inu Yasha had to be careful with his words. Sometimes, the half demon could learn. "I'm sure with a lot of hard training, I think you could." He had to bite down that strong urge to say, "Yeah right bitch."
Kagome looked half pleased with what he said. "I have been training you know."
She turned completely around to face him. Those golden orbs burned a whole through her eyes. She looked away. She couldn't face her memories quite yet, without feeling so much anger and betrayal, without wanting to, to, to hurt him. "Inu Yasha, go away. Please. I'm not ready yet."
"I think you are."
He pulled her in to a long hug. She struggled to get away. She tried hard. She couldn't let him win, ever.
"Don't pull away from Kagome. Please. Don't you care about me anymore?"
Kagome had to think about this.
Inu Yasha pulled her back slightly, to look into her eyes. She wouldn't even look at him. Her eyes didn't even seem to be alive.
Tears choked her voice. "Inu Yasha, I know I've betrayed you. I took your only real love away, your sword. I left you entirely; to go to someone whom I thought would trust and love me. They fooled me too. I have put my trust in people who cannot love me. I have learned to love those who refuse to love me back. So, I do not love, I do not live. I don't want to see you again, because I can't stand the burning feeling inside."
Inu Yasha almost cried. Her words were affecting him more than he chose to admit. A raindrop hit his nose, then another.
In a few seconds, it poured sheets of rain. His brother and Riana turned towards the house.
Riana called out to him, "Take care of her for now. When she is ready, bring her back to us, and you may reclaim your sword."
Inu Yasha chose not to answer, over even look their way.
Kagome felt a claw gently touch her cheekbone. He moved her gaze towards him. They were mesmerized in each other's eyes.
(Please don't Inu Yasha. Don't do this to me again.)
Inu Yasha pulled her close again, refusing to let her go, ignoring her pleas and struggles to leave him. He sat down, holding her in his lap. He slowly calmed her down. Her tears had stopped, and the rain plastered her hair.
Kagome felt so safe in Inu Yasha's arms. She loved him, and she knew it. And perhaps before she just wanted to run away from it.
She relaxed in his arms. She was too tired to run, so she slept.
Inu Yasha felt Kagome slump into his chest. He picked her up slowly, and walked her under a tree, and sat down, protecting Kagome from the chilly rain.
He ran his hand through her hair.
*Inu Yasha *
(What happened to you Kagome? Was that really you? What have they done to you? I've missed you so much. I won't let you leave again. I won't.)
Kagome stirred in his arms, waking up. Her dark blue eyes turned to his face. She looked so sad, like there were a thousand daggers wanted to take her life.
(Kagome, why are you so sad?)
Almost as if she had read his thoughts, "Inu Yasha, I've been so alone lately. When you kissed Kikyo I felt hurt, like in some way, you betrayed me."
Inu Yasha tried to interrupt. "But Kago."
"No! Let me finish. I felt betrayed, so I left you. I didn't want to deal with you anymore. I finally thought that I was done with you until Kikyo came and stole my shard from me. Naraku kidnapped me. Then, Sesshoumaru offered me a deal. A deal promising to give me revenge on you and Kikyo.
At the time, that's what I wanted. I wanted you to suffer the pain I had. But, I knew that I would probably not be able to hurt you. I died for you Inu Yasha, because I knew I could save you.
I died, and you know what? Something happened to me, I can't explain it, and I won't try, but everything is different now.
I have a path I need to follow, alone. I can't be with anyone anymore, even if I wanted to. I have an obligation as a miko to fulfill my destiny. And now, I understand why Kikyo was so mad at you. I forgave her, and now, I forgive you."
~ There was a lot of silence that continued after Kagome's little speech. She started shaking again.
Inu Yasha started to growl unpleasantly.
Kagome got worried. "Inu Yasha, you ok?"
"Feh." There was a bitter tone to his word.
Kagome eyed him. "Look, I'm sorry, that's the way I feel."
Inu Yasha just nodded. ~
~
~
~
~
~ *Kagome *
(I really want to make things up to him. But how can I since things are so screwed up?)
Kagome stared at Inu Yasha. She frowned a little, because she knew there WAS something she could do. It was the perfect gift, the one and only thing she could do.
"Inu Yasha, lean a little closer to me."
Inu Yasha gave her a funny look, but did so.
Her arms touched his forehead, and ran down his cheekbone softly.
Inu Yasha started to get a little hot, even while it was raining. (Now what could be doing that?)
Still having her backside to him, she used her fingers to guide her way. Her hands slowly worked there way to his neck. Inu Yasha gave a very satisfied growl, rumbling from his stomach.
Kagome giggle inwardly. (He'll be so happy)
Slowly, and with utmost endurance, Inu Yasha's arms reached to Kagome arms, slowly running his hands to her shoulders.
"Inu Yasha, I hope you like this."
Inu Yasha grinned. He sure did.
Then, as if it all were nothing, Kagome's hands lifted, and she stood up, holding something.
A/N: Haha! Got you all didn't I? No? Well, the real fluff will come soon, but whom will it be between? Eh? We'll find out soon. I apologize for the time delays that have been occurring. And I would also like to say sorry for the last couple of chapters. They sucked. But, I think this chapter finally really lifted me out of my writers' block. So, I hope to hear from you all, please review!!!
(A note to Sherry)
Sherry-----Girl, are you complaining??? You think it's too long? Does everyone feel this way? (Insert teardrop) Oh well, then don't read it, Lol. Actually, I know it feels long, mainly because I probably don't update as much as I used to, and I know that needs to change.
Anyhow, I know that you all are looking for some closure, and a good ending, and I will tell you now, you will not be dissatisfied by the ending, I think. Anyhow, I know I need to get around to the ending, but, out of love for a first fiction, I refuse to just mush everything into the next few chapters. I don't plan to drag it out either, I promise. Everything may seem very jumbled, but it'll all make sense soon. So, I hope you all are enjoying this fiction, and I hope you all will review. I love emails you guys, honestly. But, I love reviews more. ^_^ Anyhow, here goes nothing.
Chapter 22: Enjoy Me, While I Last
Sesshoumaru raced towards the door, along with Riana and Inu Yasha. The demons were lightning-quick, but not quick enough to expect anything they saw. Kouga was leaning over the cliff, saying nasty things to someone.
"You should have just come with me Kagome! You wouldn't have died! You stupid woman!" ~ ~ ~ ~ *Kagome *
"Get up Kagome! You worthless life form! Your job isn't done."
(Those damn voices.)
("What the hell, exactly, IS my job?")
"Kagome, what have you done? You have no strength to swim back up! You must use it Kagome. You MUST!"
("USE WHAT?")
"Awe, come on. Think. I can't save you forever."
("Oh! You mean that? But, why?")
"Just do it."
("Ok.")
Kagome's eyes opened slowly. She coughed, and inhaled a lot of water. Her arms were too weak to struggle to the surface. She was at least five feet from the surface. Why did it seem like a million?
Her legs wouldn't move either. There was a small drum pounding in here ears, like they were ready to explode. Her lungs felt deflated, and were burning. Was this how it felt to drown, to, to die? She wasn't ready. She still had things to do. She still had a job, some job. She'd know what it was when she saw it.
"Focus" The voice echoed. "Focus IT towards the bottom."
Kagome shook her head. Her body wavered slowly in the water.
She could hear Kouga's shouts above water. (Oh, he will pay. Oh yes, he will)
She reached her weak hand towards the seemingly endless pit of darkness. She closed her eyes, pushing out her body's weakness. She focused everything she had left on that darkness. Energy, her energy, shot out like a bullet. A pink flow of streaming energy blasted from her little hand. It disappeared into utter darkness. Surely, there was a bottom to the ocean, right?
She moved her hand towards a lighter looking area. She felt it push back. The energy, the energy would push her back up the cliff. That's what the voice had meant.
Suddenly her body was hit by frigid air, and she took in a long gulp of fresh air, finally breaking the surface. Her body kept rising. Only 50 feet to go to get to the top!
Her hand shook, violently.
(No! Please don't quit on me now! Please!)
But, it was no use. She saw the strand of energy flicker. Her eyes grew wide with fright. What could she do?
Her eyes did a 180 looking for anything to help her. The cliff wall, she could climb it. She slowly made her way to the wall, and released her hand, letting gravity pull on her body. She would climb till she had enough power to push the rest of the way, which wasn't long.
There was new energy, a new feeling, probably her second wind. She reached her hand out again. She pushed, hard. And she went up again.
10 feet!
5 feet!
1 foot!
She maneuvered her hand so that her body rose over the edge, back onto the ground.
Her body landed gracefully on the ground. That feeling washed over her again. She wasn't controlling her body, her actions, or her mind. Who was she?
A subtle globe of pink mikon energy lit around her. "KOUGA! Get your hairy-butt back here!"
(That definitely wasn't her voice.)
"Kagome?" There was a pinch of pain in the back of her mind. Someone was calling her.
(Help me please!) Kagome pleaded with the voice. She struggled to call out to it. But, she couldn't control anything.
Kouga looked a little too shocked for words. "Kagome? I thought you had died."
There was another blaze of anger.
"Kouga, dear, when a woman says no, do you know what she means?"
(Who are you? Why can't I speak?) Kagome asked the voice in her head, that was controlling her.
Kouga scratched his head furiously. "It means, Kagome, my mate (put stress on the word mate), no."
"Good. It means no. So when I say I'm not your mate, I'm not your mate. Oh, and another thing."
"Yes?"
Kagome's body turned to look around at the unwelcome visitors that had finally arrived. She turned once again to face Kouga.
"I will avenge what belongs to me."
Kagome's body shuddered in pain. A convulsion ruptured her body.
(No! Stop doing this to me! Please.)
Kagome stopped, momentarily. Then, she raced, raced for Kouga, who wouldn't have seen her coming because her body was just a blur of color, running at the speed of the gods.
He heard a light whisper, something that sounded a lot like, "die" in his buzzing ears. And then, all thoughts fled him. All his moments of life flashed. His light was gone.
(NO!!!!!!! Stop this NOW!)
Kagome dropped to her knees. She breathed so heavily, shivering from the cold wind. Kouga's body lay there, lifeless, at her side.
"Kouga? Kouga, please tell me your ok. I couldn't stop her. I couldn't."
Someone came up behind her, almost afraid to approach her. "Kagome, he's dead. Please, stop this."
(That voice. I want that voice.)
Kagome turned to see Inu Yasha crouching at her side.
"Kagome, I know that wasn't you trying to kill Kouga. You could never do that."
Spite entered her voice. Was there something she couldn't do? "Never do what?"
"You could never kill someone like that. So violently, and you seemed too powerful for the Kagome I know."
"Oh? Don't you think I could ever be as strong as you?"
Inu Yasha had to be careful with his words. Sometimes, the half demon could learn. "I'm sure with a lot of hard training, I think you could." He had to bite down that strong urge to say, "Yeah right bitch."
Kagome looked half pleased with what he said. "I have been training you know."
She turned completely around to face him. Those golden orbs burned a whole through her eyes. She looked away. She couldn't face her memories quite yet, without feeling so much anger and betrayal, without wanting to, to, to hurt him. "Inu Yasha, go away. Please. I'm not ready yet."
"I think you are."
He pulled her in to a long hug. She struggled to get away. She tried hard. She couldn't let him win, ever.
"Don't pull away from Kagome. Please. Don't you care about me anymore?"
Kagome had to think about this.
Inu Yasha pulled her back slightly, to look into her eyes. She wouldn't even look at him. Her eyes didn't even seem to be alive.
Tears choked her voice. "Inu Yasha, I know I've betrayed you. I took your only real love away, your sword. I left you entirely; to go to someone whom I thought would trust and love me. They fooled me too. I have put my trust in people who cannot love me. I have learned to love those who refuse to love me back. So, I do not love, I do not live. I don't want to see you again, because I can't stand the burning feeling inside."
Inu Yasha almost cried. Her words were affecting him more than he chose to admit. A raindrop hit his nose, then another.
In a few seconds, it poured sheets of rain. His brother and Riana turned towards the house.
Riana called out to him, "Take care of her for now. When she is ready, bring her back to us, and you may reclaim your sword."
Inu Yasha chose not to answer, over even look their way.
Kagome felt a claw gently touch her cheekbone. He moved her gaze towards him. They were mesmerized in each other's eyes.
(Please don't Inu Yasha. Don't do this to me again.)
Inu Yasha pulled her close again, refusing to let her go, ignoring her pleas and struggles to leave him. He sat down, holding her in his lap. He slowly calmed her down. Her tears had stopped, and the rain plastered her hair.
Kagome felt so safe in Inu Yasha's arms. She loved him, and she knew it. And perhaps before she just wanted to run away from it.
She relaxed in his arms. She was too tired to run, so she slept.
Inu Yasha felt Kagome slump into his chest. He picked her up slowly, and walked her under a tree, and sat down, protecting Kagome from the chilly rain.
He ran his hand through her hair.
*Inu Yasha *
(What happened to you Kagome? Was that really you? What have they done to you? I've missed you so much. I won't let you leave again. I won't.)
Kagome stirred in his arms, waking up. Her dark blue eyes turned to his face. She looked so sad, like there were a thousand daggers wanted to take her life.
(Kagome, why are you so sad?)
Almost as if she had read his thoughts, "Inu Yasha, I've been so alone lately. When you kissed Kikyo I felt hurt, like in some way, you betrayed me."
Inu Yasha tried to interrupt. "But Kago."
"No! Let me finish. I felt betrayed, so I left you. I didn't want to deal with you anymore. I finally thought that I was done with you until Kikyo came and stole my shard from me. Naraku kidnapped me. Then, Sesshoumaru offered me a deal. A deal promising to give me revenge on you and Kikyo.
At the time, that's what I wanted. I wanted you to suffer the pain I had. But, I knew that I would probably not be able to hurt you. I died for you Inu Yasha, because I knew I could save you.
I died, and you know what? Something happened to me, I can't explain it, and I won't try, but everything is different now.
I have a path I need to follow, alone. I can't be with anyone anymore, even if I wanted to. I have an obligation as a miko to fulfill my destiny. And now, I understand why Kikyo was so mad at you. I forgave her, and now, I forgive you."
~ There was a lot of silence that continued after Kagome's little speech. She started shaking again.
Inu Yasha started to growl unpleasantly.
Kagome got worried. "Inu Yasha, you ok?"
"Feh." There was a bitter tone to his word.
Kagome eyed him. "Look, I'm sorry, that's the way I feel."
Inu Yasha just nodded. ~
~
~
~
~
~ *Kagome *
(I really want to make things up to him. But how can I since things are so screwed up?)
Kagome stared at Inu Yasha. She frowned a little, because she knew there WAS something she could do. It was the perfect gift, the one and only thing she could do.
"Inu Yasha, lean a little closer to me."
Inu Yasha gave her a funny look, but did so.
Her arms touched his forehead, and ran down his cheekbone softly.
Inu Yasha started to get a little hot, even while it was raining. (Now what could be doing that?)
Still having her backside to him, she used her fingers to guide her way. Her hands slowly worked there way to his neck. Inu Yasha gave a very satisfied growl, rumbling from his stomach.
Kagome giggle inwardly. (He'll be so happy)
Slowly, and with utmost endurance, Inu Yasha's arms reached to Kagome arms, slowly running his hands to her shoulders.
"Inu Yasha, I hope you like this."
Inu Yasha grinned. He sure did.
Then, as if it all were nothing, Kagome's hands lifted, and she stood up, holding something.
A/N: Haha! Got you all didn't I? No? Well, the real fluff will come soon, but whom will it be between? Eh? We'll find out soon. I apologize for the time delays that have been occurring. And I would also like to say sorry for the last couple of chapters. They sucked. But, I think this chapter finally really lifted me out of my writers' block. So, I hope to hear from you all, please review!!!