**~~ Hello my fellow readers and reviewers ^_^" I hope you guys are all
enjoying my Sequel so far.... If you have any correction or ideas for me,
feel free to email or review it to me. But NO flares ^^ OK?!!!!! KK,
then....on wit da story ~~**
Note: I have this weird feeling that this wont be as long as "the return of Kikyo" and I might just kill and get rid of Kikyo in this fic...somewhere. Iunno, but I can feel the tension of ppl getting pissed wit me for keeping Kikyo in for too long ^^" Gomen, I'm jus rlly addicted to this "now" kinda broken love triangle.
*
"I love you
Not only for what you are
But for what I am
When I am with you."
--- Roy Croft
*
============= Chapter Two =============
~But the trouble in my heart for Kikyo......is something I alone can do~
InuYasha held her hands tighter,
~But no matter what....we'll always be together~
"Wouldn't life be better without me?" InuYasha asked, just in wonder at what she was going to say.
"No, life would have no meaning without you.......you make my life feel full and special" Kagome whispered back, "I love you as you are, and I love my life with you in it"
InuYasha felt his heart melting, and burning, he closed his eyes, the bright morning light reflecting through his closed eyes.
~ Is it fair for someone to be this happy.....~
Deep inside his mind he had this guilty feeling. While he should be thinking about Kikyo, he just couldn't....His mind was to bright with the thought of Kagome blinding away the thoughts of Kikyo.
He never realized.....that Kikyo was the cause of all his misery and darkness. She was like a ghost that poisoned his mind, filling it with guilt and pain. The past which was something that had past, but wouldn't leave his mind. Something in him told him that his mind could only rest if Kikyo would finally leave and be at rest.
But if it meant that he'd have to leave with Kikyo for her to be at rest......it was now out of the question. He would live with all the darkness in the world, poisoning his mind......if he could be with Kagome.
They both looked up at the sky, while they lay on the grass that gently brushed against them. Cherry blossoms flying with the wind, as the sweet scent of spring breezed past them.
Naraku looked at the mirror Kana was holding up for him,
~ So......InuYasha. You look very happy and keeping that shard all to yourself.....you do not deserve it. It is mine~
He felt someone's hands resting on his shoulder,
It felt strange.....no one ever got near enough, or dared to tough him. Naraku looked around to see Kikyo looking icily at the mirror.
"How do you like this scene" Naraku muttered.
"InuYasha is foolish in having chosen that girl.....more over, my reincarnation. I do not need to do anything to get revenge on him.....it shall come to him by fate" Kikyo whispered quietly.
Naraku glanced back at Kikyo in confusion.
"As my reincarnation.....Kagome shall go through the same tragic fate I had gone through 50 years ago and am still suffering now......and you shall be included in the repeat of....history"
"I....."
"You shall make their fates worse than it shall be" Kikyo said.
Naraku glared at Kikyo, he stood up and tightly held Kikyo's neck painfully tight.
"No one commands me, Lady Kikyo" he coldly whispered to her.
She glared back at him,
"Do not dare touch me....." She hissed at him. Naraku let go, knowing quite well of Onigumo's wrath, "I am not commanding you, I am merely telling and helping you of all I know"
Naraku turned and walked away from Kikyo,
"It sounds like a great idea" he muttered, "we shall flow along with their fates, but adding a touch more to it....how perfect"
Naraku knew what fate Kikyo was talking about, he knew exactly what tragic history she said would repeat...... It all was perfect.
~Kagome and InuYasha would not be able to stand against their destined fate. Kagome is somewhat like Kikyo I guess then, since they are both of the same soul......thus, it means that her love would be as weak as it was with Kikyo's, as will InuYasha's love would be for Kagome's. But......why do I feel as if their love is....so much more different from the shallow love there was between InuYasha and Kikyo.......?~
Naraku looked at the woman he was going to ask to help with the plan......he needed someone to train Kagome.....and make her life into Kikyo's.....and to keep and eye on Kagome to do their plan.....that would succeed since fate was on his and Kikyo's side.
************************************************
Sango and Miroku had changed their mind and had walked to the water's bank.
Sango sat down on the edge and dipped her bare foot into the cool water.
Miroku sat down and also put his bare foot into the cool water, copying Sango.
They glanced at each other, Sango looked away in a blush, but Miroku gave her a big shameless smile.
Sango felt her foot brush against Miroku's under the rushing water. She suddenly could feel Miroku's finger's rubbing a little on her bottom.
She kicked his feet hard.
"OWE!"
"Your hands wandered again" she muttered.
Miroku had "anime tear" rushing down his face,
"This is so hard!!!! To keep my hands away from you!!!!" he cried. Then he stopped crying. They heard someone approaching them.
"Huh...."
They both turned to see Kaede.
"Lady Kaede, what bring you out?" Miroku asked.
"Do I need a reason to be out?" she asked back.
"Oro....no, gomen"
"I am here to call you into the hut, Miroku for some business" Kaede said seriously.
"Oro......." Sango then said in confusion.
"Come Miroku......it's about Kagome"
Sango shot up from her spot as water splashed onto Miroku who had still been sitting down.
"Is she hurt?!!!!!"
Kaede smiled, "No, no my dear....you do not need to worry"
Sango sighed, "hai......."
*************************************************
Kagome and InuYasha walked into Kaede's hut, to see Kaede, Miroku and a mysterious woman all sitting around the hut.
InuYasha looked around in confusion.
The unknown woman stood up, she was tall and slim, and looked very graceful but strict. Her hair was tied loosely at the end with a red hair tie, and wore the red and white Haori a miko would wear.
Kagome could tell that this woman was not at all young from the visible streaks of white in her black hair. She looked very old....and did not. She looked to be Kaede's age, but her figure looked so.....young.
The lady walked to Kagome and looked straight into Kagome's eyes.
Silence.
"Lady Kagome, I am glad to have finally met you. My name is Lady Metaka, and I am here to discuss some important business with the new miko" she said.
InuYasha felt his heart freeze, something made him go cold hearing the word "miko".
Kagome glanced at InuYasha and looked back at Lady Metaka.
"H- Hai...."
Kagome and Lady Metaka sat down with Kaede and Miroku while InuYasha sat far away at the door.
"Ano.....what is this all about?" Kagome asked.
Lady Metaka moved close up to Kagome and held Kagome's face with her cold hands. Kagome looked into the Ladies wise eyes, as she looked into Kagome's young and lively eyes.
Lady Metaka frowned,
"I can sense a lot of miko power in her....more than I have ever sensed in any miko's I have trained......she has a lot of power, but she does not know how to use it......"
"Why.....are we talking about this?" Kagome asked.
"Can you purify and sense Shards as Lady Kaede said you could?" the lady asked.
"H- Hai......" Kagome whispered.
"I cannot sense a strong courage in you as your reincarnation had....." Lady Metaka muttered.
InuYasha's ears perked up, he turned and glared at the Lady from the corner of his eyes. He hated to hear people comparing Kagome with Kikyo......
He felt something uneasy about Lady Metaka......
He didn't like her.
"Monk, please read Kagome's mind for me, is she the true miko who is to protect the shard?" Lady Metaka asked.
InuYasha's eyes widened.....
Miroku said as he touched Kagome's head with two fingers and closed his eyes.
** A picture of the Shikon no Tama flashed through his head, then Kagome**
Miroku moved back,
"Hai....."
"Hmm.... Then I must train you. Lady Kagome" the woman told her.
Kagome looked at them in confusion,
"What's going on?!" Kagome asked.
"You are the new priestess once you pass all the basic training......"
"NANI?!" Kagome cried.
Lady Metaka frowned,
"You are too lively, a priestess is to act calm and perfect....and must not speak so loudly or speak too much"
Kagome just stared at them.
"NANI?!" came a voice from behind.
Lady Metaka saw someone standing rudely in front of her, she looked up to see a demon. She glared at him.
"Who the hell do you think you are, telling Kagome to act like such a bitch?!" InuYasha asked.
Lady Metaka merely smiled,
"Was not the person you had fallen in love with.....this kind of person?"
"......Keh! What the hell's wrong with you?! Kagome is best off as she is! That personality wouldn't match her"
Lady Metaka ignored InuYasha and looked back at Kagome,
"Your job is to protect the shard and guard it with your LIFE.....and to use your miko powers to slay off all the existing demons.....like him"
"NO!" Kagome cried, "I don't HAVE to do this! I'm not slaying ANY demons that don't deserve to die!" Kagome cried.
"Of course.....I know that....but it would be best if you just stayed away from such creatures" Lady Metaka said glancing at InuYasha.
"WHY?!" Kagome cried.
"Take the woman I had once taught when she was young as an example.....the miko, Kikyo. Look what has happened to her because of her love for that demon boy"
"KISAMA! Leave Kagome alone!" InuYasha yelled, feeling pain shoot through his body from yelling.
~My wounds still kill....~
"I'm going back home!" Kagome cried, trying to get up. But Lady Metaka grasped Kagome tightly by the wrist and pulled her back down.
"Your home is now here. You will only be aloud off duty once in a while to return to your world I was told about"
Kagome looked at Kaede in horror. She sadly looked away.
"Can't you do anything about this?!" Kagome cried.
"I wish.....i could. But Lady Metaka has more power than me. She is the one who trains the miko's.....and decides who is to protect the shard. I cannot go against her " Kaede sadly whispered.
Lady Metaka's hands were still tightly holding Kagome's wrist,
"If you wish for this world to be ruled by youkai, then do....leave and do not follow your duty. If you choose to see all your loved ones die....and be tortured, it is all fine with me"
Kagome looked helplessly at InuYasha, her eyes looking sad and lost.
InuYasha pulled Kagome's wrist out of the miko's grasp and pulled Kagome close to him.
"Leave her alone! We were doing perfectly fine, protecting the Shard together with our friends! And we don't need some old hag to tell us what to do" InuYasha hissed..
"Haha, you are clever InuYasha. Do you wish to steal another miko's heart in order to take that Shikon no Tama once again?"
This hit InuYasha at full blast, the arms that were wrapped around Kagome dropped to his side as he just stared at Lady Metaka.
~What's with this lady.....~
Miroku shot up, anger burning inside,
"Will you leave them alone?! InuYasha is our faithful friend!" Miroku yelled.
"Oh, InuYasha. You must be very good at heart snatching, even convincing the heart of a monk"
"Lady Metaka, you are going too far" Kaede whispered.
"I dearly apologies....I just strongly disfavor demons....even if their a half bred" Lady Metaka muttered.
InuYasha cracked his knuckles, mad enough to kill her. But Kagome leaned her head on his chest. InuYasha suddenly calmed down and looked sadly at Kagome.
He wrapped his hands around her waist and walked her out of the hut,
"Kagome......" InuYasha whispered, "sorry 'bout that"
Kagome stopped walking and just stared at the ground, then slowly turned her gaze back towards the hut.
Kagome gazed back at the hut......she looked sadly at the place. InuYasha stepped in front,
"Kagome....don't do it......you aren't meant to be that person that Metaka lady told you, you had to be......Kagome....don't" InuYasha whispered with a frown.
"InuYasha....it's my job......I guess it's as well as my fate......and if I don't......the world will go dark" Kagome whispered, "I have to protect the shard"
"Kagome! We can do it together, with Sango and the rest. We don't need to give it over to the damn miko. Kagome, I don't want you to do this! I know.....maybe it is your fate to do this.....but not in the way Lady Metaka mentioned it as" InuYasha said,
~What if Kagome turns into Kikyo.....all calm and....not as Kagome would act. I don't want her to change.....then she wont be the Kagome I love~
Kagome looked up at InuYasha,
"Why not InuYasha? It wont be that bad......" Kagome whispered with a sad smile as she walked past InuYasha, back towards the hut.
InuYasha ran up to Kagome and held her wrist gently, Kagome looked back to see his face lowered.
"Kagome.....stop this. Always hurting yourself to help others......" InuYasha whispered.
"InuYasha......there wouldn't be any good in this world if it weren't for people like me" Kagome said in her usual cheerful tone, trying to lighten up the tension.
His head touched Kagome's, his eyes closed, trying to remember everything about her.....
"Whatever happens...I just want you to know.....that I love you for who you are.....and that you will always be the best to me" he whispered to her, ~don't turn into Kikyo~ then he turned around. He hadn't yet gotten used to speaking out his feelings.....and never would.
"Go Kagome....do what your heart tells you to" InuYasha muttered, ~But please stay as you are~
Kagome reached out her hands to touch InuYasha's shoulder, to tell him that this wasn't a big deal. But she could feel someone's eyeing her. She turned to see Lady Metaka.
Kagome hesitantly walked towards her, and took a glance at InuYasha.
"Our training starts now" Lady Metaka said.
"H-hai..."
"Come, follow me" Lady Metaka ordered.
"Where the hell are you taking her?" InuYasha asked, his body throbbing in pain from the wounds that he did not feel, too paranoid with the thought of Kagome.
"We will go to the temple to train you for today" Lady Metaka told Kagome.
"When is she gunu come back?" InuYasha asked.
"When I think that she has completed what I wished of her" Lady Metaka muttered.
InuYasha stared at Kagome walking slowly away from him.
"Kagome....."
"Don't look back...." Lady Metaka ordered, "a true, perfect miko would never look back at the past, but the future of what she can achieve.
Kagome felt her head pulling at her to turn and take a last glance at InuYasha....and she did.
~I don't want to become perfect......that wouldn't be me~
Kagome saw InuYasha standing there, watching her. She looked sadly forward.
"A miko never reveals her emotions!" Lady Metaka said in a cutting tone.
Kagome grinded her teeth in anger, ~I might as well be dead to become a perfect miko. The next thing you'll tell me is that a miko isn't aloud to breath!!!~
They entered the temple. For hours, Lady Metaka showed Kagome around the temple, explaining what she'd have to do, the rituals she'd have to go through and that she'd always have to be humble and help the poor and wounded.
"You must follow after Lady Kikyo's footsteps. And the rituals and spells you shall need to know will come naturally as well as through my teachings. But I shall teach you those bit by bit. We are in no hurry"
"Hai"
"Now, how good is your arrow skill?"
"Not bad I guess...."
"A miko must always give a definite answer. If one does not have one, stay silent until you do!"
"Hai"
"Now, I shall bring you outside to see your skills" Lady Metaka said.
They stood outside the temple. Lady Metaka through Kagome and arrow and a bow to shoot with.
"I want you to hit those blossoms that are falling from the tree"
Kagome's chin dropped,
"H- How am I supposed to do that?!"
"Humph, not that skilled yet I guess.....then shoot the bark of the tree way over there"
Kagome aimed....then shot. The arrow flying past it.
Lady Metaka's jaws tightened,
"I see.....You shall need to learn how to shoot well, for many times, you shall have to defend the shard" the lady said.
"Hai"
"Good, you are not talking much"
Silence.
"Shoot again and again until I tell you to stop" she ordered.
**************************************************
"I can't believe you guys are making her do this" InuYasha hissed at Lady Kaede.
"It was not I, she just came and asked me on and on about Kagome" Kaede answered.
"Jeez......She must be torturing Kagome right now" InuYasha muttered.
Shippo sighed, missing Kagome already.
Kilala purred and rested herself against Shippo.
Sango and Miroku sat next to each other, listening to InuYasha and Kaede's conversation.
"As a powerful and special miko....that Kagome is. She shall learn very fast.....I am sure of it. Kikyo was also like that, but Miroku had sensed greater power in Kagome he tells me......so she shall become a miko very fast" Kaede said.
"And is that a GOOD thing?!" InuYasha asked.
"I believe so...."
"Bullshit.....she's gunu turn Kagome into someone we don't know.....and if that lady does, I swear, I'm gunu kill her" InuYasha seriously threatened.
**************************************************
The sky was getting dark, casting a shadow over the land. The cool air breezing through the lands, as the tall grasses would dance to the wind.
"Shoot!" Lady Metaka commanded the tired and sweating Kagome.
Kagome stared at her target, the sight a bit blurry from her mind wanting rest. She had been going on like this for hours after hours, without drink or food.
Kagome let go of her arrow as it missed her target by a mile.
Kagome dropped the bow and arrows.
"I can't do this!!! This is torture! You won't even give me anything to eat or drink, I can't concentrate!!!" Kagome cried.
Lady Metaka walked over to Kagome,
"Priestess' must defeat the weakness of humans. You must learn how to become stronger than an ordinary human!"
"But I AM an ordinary human! You can't make me do this!" Kagome yelled.
Lady Metaka took out a dagger and pressed it against Kagome's back.
Kagome froze in shock.....
"You were in pain were you not, going on for hours like that? Well, a miko must get used to such situations. Pain, that is what a miko shall go through every day of her life"
Silence.
"Close your eyes....." She commanded.
Kagoem did as she was told, then felt the blade of the dagger cutting into her flesh, as the blade cut across from her back to the end of her back. Kagome could feel the burning pain shoot through her back as the blood soaked through her uniform.
~Why is she doing this to me......~
"Do you feel the blood......the pain?" Lady Metaka asked.
"Yes...." Kagome whispered.
"The pain that you feel now shall be a million times worse for the people who dwell in this era, while the demons controle this place. Is that what you want? A lot depends on you, and with duty and responsibility comes pain"
Kagome shut her eyes tighter,
***Flashback***
InuYasha back flipped away, just in time before Seiyamie's sword had been pushed down through his neck. But he had read InuYasha's mind and swung his sword again, cutting through InuYasha's stomach as blood spilled out.
InuYasha landed roughly on the ground, clutching his wound.
*
Kohaku retrieved his weapon and stepped away. He looked sadly at Sango,
"It's better this way....." Kohaku whispered as he raised his weapon.
Miroku frowned and stepped in front of Sango, thinking that Kohaku was going to hurt Sango.
Kohaku closed his eyes,
"Sayonara..." he whispered as he stabbed his blade into his back where the Tainted Shikon Shard was placed in. Blood spilled out as the shard dropped to the ground.
And then he looked at Sango for the last time and gave her a warm smile,
"I'm finally.....back" Kohaku whispered then dropped to the ground.
"KOHAKU!" Sango yelled, "NO!" as she ran towards him.
***End of Flashback***
Kagome felt her heart beating in pain and sadness,
~If I become a priestess.....I'll be able to prevent tragedies like this......~
She opened her eyes and looked on in determination,
"What is it that I must do" Kagome asked in a weak whisper.
"Begin by perfecting your shooting......"
Kagome nodded as she continued on shooting, targeting her target in anger. She would not let anything happen to her friends, or make the world suffer more than they already were.
Lady Metaka observed Kagome as she continued to shoot her arrow,
~I have not seen a single thing similar to Lady Kikyo but the characteristics of always sacrificing things.....~ she realized.
"You shall change out of these strange clothing when I give you time to rest. After, you shall return to shooting"
Kagoem wanted to just drop dead.....
~Foolish girl, she thinks as if the whole world is depending on her.....it kind of is, but not really. There are still good people out there, and people like InuYasha....~ Lady Metaka thought.
*************************************************
Everyone had been waiting at the door for Kagome's return....all morning and all afternoon, but she never came.
Kaede finished wrapping fresh bandages around InuYasha's deeply wounded body and throwing away the soak and bloody bandages.
"When she does come, tell Kagome that she is to sleep in the room next door" Kaede said.
Everyone looked at her in question
"Lady Metaka has told me that a miko should have her own sleeping place. She said it would not be decent of a miko to rest in a room with males in it as well...."
"Keh, what crap" InuYasha muttered.
Kaede shrugged her shoulders and looked out into the dark sky,
"InuYasha....I do not believe Kagome will be coming today"
"That lady said she would" InuYasha muttered.
Sango sighed and looked up at the sky that was already dark.
"She'll probably come the next morning" Miroku muttered.
"AWWWWW, no fair!!! She was supposed to come today! No fair, no fair, no fair, no fair, no fair-" Shippo cried and was cut off,
InuYasha hit Shippo hard across the head,
"Shut the hell up!" InuYasha yelled in annoyance.
"Waaaaaa, InuYasha hit me!" Shippo cried.
"DUH! Everybody just saw me damn hit you, you don't have to repeat it again. They're not dumb like you"
"Shut up!" Shippo cried.
"Why don't you, you dumb ass kitsune"
"I think Shippo's getting tired" Miroku muttered.
They slowly retreated into the hut, leaving InuYasha to wait for Kagome.
~Kagome.....come back.....I wont be able to rest until you do~
InuYasha closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, as the night wind breezed against him as his silver hair blew in the wind.
***Flashback***
"Wouldn't life be better without me?" InuYasha asked, just in wonder at what she was going to say.
"No, life would have no meaning without you.......you make my life feel full and special" Kagome whispered back, "I love you as you are, and I love my life with you in it"
***End of Flashback***
"And I love you the way you are......Kagome" InuYasha whispered.
~Why do I miss you so much already.......~
Memories of Kagome flashed through his mind, forgetting again of the pain he had from his wounds. All he had to do was think of Kagome, and all the pain would disappear.
The sweet thoughts of her made him drift off to sleep, still sitting outside....
***Dream***
"InuYasha!" Kagome called at him.
InuYasha stood in the field as he slowly turned around.
Kagome ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him...around his neck.
"Hi!!!" she said cheerfully as InuYasha had a comical face on, choking from Kagom's tight arms wrapping around his neck.
"What the hell Kagome, are you trying to kill me?!" InuYasha asked.
"No baka!"
Suddenly, InuYasha felt her arms loosening fom around his neck.
"Kagome....?"
He turned to see Kagome no longer, but Kagome who had changed into a miko,
"Yes, I have come to kill you..." she whispered coldly as she raised her bow.
"Kagome....."
Then he saw an arrow flying towards him as it shot him to a tree that suddenly appeared.
"No....Kagome....."
***End of Dream***
Suddenly he felt something warm slump next to him. InuYasha opened his eyes in a start. His heart beating fast.....
He glanced to his side.....He saw a lady dressed as a miko in a red and white Haori, and for that one second....he thought it was Kikyo and was about to back away.
But it wasn't Kikyo, it was Kagome...
"I'm so....tired..." Kagome whispered weakly, barely hearable.
"Kagome......" InuYasha whispered.
"I'm back....."
Kagome could feel her mind swirling around.....she also felt something inside her, as if it was storing up all the information she had learned.
~Do not talk too much~
~Do not express your feelings~
~Do not look back~
~You must be perfect~
~Follow Kikyo's footstep, become her~
But whenever she tried......she just couldn't get it. It just wouldn't fit her. When she followed what Lady Metaka told her to do, she felt as if she was just acting. It just....wasn't her.
InuYasha wrapped his arms tightly around Kagome, she gave a slight whimper from the gash on her back. InuYasha backed away, ~Since when did she become this weak?~
Suddenly, InuYasha realized that on Kagome'sYukata (the top part of the Haori), he could see red spots of.....blood.
"My....head....feels so dizzy" Kagome whispered.
"What the hell did she do to you?!" InuYasha asked in great worry.
"She just...trained me....." Kagome whispered back.
"Kagome...." InuYasha whispered.
She yawned,
"I'm so hungry....and tired...and thirsty"
"She's not training you! She's practically trying to kill you!" InuYasha said, his heart thumping fat. InuYasha gently helped Kagome up and led her into her own room she had now been told to stay in.
Everything was already prepared, a matt, blanket.....everything.
InuYasha gently made her sit down.
He crouched down close in front of her,
"I'll get you something to eat and drink" InuYasha whispered wondering how he was going to bandage up the wound on her back, he knew that if Kagome had been back in her normal senses......she wouldn't have liked his idea of bandaging her up....when the wound was all the way on her back, as he was about to get up to get the food, but Kagome suddenly wrapped her arms around InuYasha, burying her face on his shoulder.
"Hold me....." She whispered.
"Eh......" InuYasha looked down at her, his heart beating fast. He wrapped his arms around Kagome.
Kagome felt her heart go at ease,
~When I'm in your arms.....I feel no pain. I feel as if I'm in another world.....~
*
**~~ Sorry that there wasn't much fluff here^^" FLUFF is COMING UP in the NEXT chapter!!!! And action....later, later on. Sorry I had to cut it off here ^^" As you can see from where had cut it off, fluff is SURE to come.....tell me how fluffy you want it to be. Fluff strongness from 1-5, write it down on your review so I know!!! ~~**
Note: I have this weird feeling that this wont be as long as "the return of Kikyo" and I might just kill and get rid of Kikyo in this fic...somewhere. Iunno, but I can feel the tension of ppl getting pissed wit me for keeping Kikyo in for too long ^^" Gomen, I'm jus rlly addicted to this "now" kinda broken love triangle.
*
"I love you
Not only for what you are
But for what I am
When I am with you."
--- Roy Croft
*
============= Chapter Two =============
~But the trouble in my heart for Kikyo......is something I alone can do~
InuYasha held her hands tighter,
~But no matter what....we'll always be together~
"Wouldn't life be better without me?" InuYasha asked, just in wonder at what she was going to say.
"No, life would have no meaning without you.......you make my life feel full and special" Kagome whispered back, "I love you as you are, and I love my life with you in it"
InuYasha felt his heart melting, and burning, he closed his eyes, the bright morning light reflecting through his closed eyes.
~ Is it fair for someone to be this happy.....~
Deep inside his mind he had this guilty feeling. While he should be thinking about Kikyo, he just couldn't....His mind was to bright with the thought of Kagome blinding away the thoughts of Kikyo.
He never realized.....that Kikyo was the cause of all his misery and darkness. She was like a ghost that poisoned his mind, filling it with guilt and pain. The past which was something that had past, but wouldn't leave his mind. Something in him told him that his mind could only rest if Kikyo would finally leave and be at rest.
But if it meant that he'd have to leave with Kikyo for her to be at rest......it was now out of the question. He would live with all the darkness in the world, poisoning his mind......if he could be with Kagome.
They both looked up at the sky, while they lay on the grass that gently brushed against them. Cherry blossoms flying with the wind, as the sweet scent of spring breezed past them.
Naraku looked at the mirror Kana was holding up for him,
~ So......InuYasha. You look very happy and keeping that shard all to yourself.....you do not deserve it. It is mine~
He felt someone's hands resting on his shoulder,
It felt strange.....no one ever got near enough, or dared to tough him. Naraku looked around to see Kikyo looking icily at the mirror.
"How do you like this scene" Naraku muttered.
"InuYasha is foolish in having chosen that girl.....more over, my reincarnation. I do not need to do anything to get revenge on him.....it shall come to him by fate" Kikyo whispered quietly.
Naraku glanced back at Kikyo in confusion.
"As my reincarnation.....Kagome shall go through the same tragic fate I had gone through 50 years ago and am still suffering now......and you shall be included in the repeat of....history"
"I....."
"You shall make their fates worse than it shall be" Kikyo said.
Naraku glared at Kikyo, he stood up and tightly held Kikyo's neck painfully tight.
"No one commands me, Lady Kikyo" he coldly whispered to her.
She glared back at him,
"Do not dare touch me....." She hissed at him. Naraku let go, knowing quite well of Onigumo's wrath, "I am not commanding you, I am merely telling and helping you of all I know"
Naraku turned and walked away from Kikyo,
"It sounds like a great idea" he muttered, "we shall flow along with their fates, but adding a touch more to it....how perfect"
Naraku knew what fate Kikyo was talking about, he knew exactly what tragic history she said would repeat...... It all was perfect.
~Kagome and InuYasha would not be able to stand against their destined fate. Kagome is somewhat like Kikyo I guess then, since they are both of the same soul......thus, it means that her love would be as weak as it was with Kikyo's, as will InuYasha's love would be for Kagome's. But......why do I feel as if their love is....so much more different from the shallow love there was between InuYasha and Kikyo.......?~
Naraku looked at the woman he was going to ask to help with the plan......he needed someone to train Kagome.....and make her life into Kikyo's.....and to keep and eye on Kagome to do their plan.....that would succeed since fate was on his and Kikyo's side.
************************************************
Sango and Miroku had changed their mind and had walked to the water's bank.
Sango sat down on the edge and dipped her bare foot into the cool water.
Miroku sat down and also put his bare foot into the cool water, copying Sango.
They glanced at each other, Sango looked away in a blush, but Miroku gave her a big shameless smile.
Sango felt her foot brush against Miroku's under the rushing water. She suddenly could feel Miroku's finger's rubbing a little on her bottom.
She kicked his feet hard.
"OWE!"
"Your hands wandered again" she muttered.
Miroku had "anime tear" rushing down his face,
"This is so hard!!!! To keep my hands away from you!!!!" he cried. Then he stopped crying. They heard someone approaching them.
"Huh...."
They both turned to see Kaede.
"Lady Kaede, what bring you out?" Miroku asked.
"Do I need a reason to be out?" she asked back.
"Oro....no, gomen"
"I am here to call you into the hut, Miroku for some business" Kaede said seriously.
"Oro......." Sango then said in confusion.
"Come Miroku......it's about Kagome"
Sango shot up from her spot as water splashed onto Miroku who had still been sitting down.
"Is she hurt?!!!!!"
Kaede smiled, "No, no my dear....you do not need to worry"
Sango sighed, "hai......."
*************************************************
Kagome and InuYasha walked into Kaede's hut, to see Kaede, Miroku and a mysterious woman all sitting around the hut.
InuYasha looked around in confusion.
The unknown woman stood up, she was tall and slim, and looked very graceful but strict. Her hair was tied loosely at the end with a red hair tie, and wore the red and white Haori a miko would wear.
Kagome could tell that this woman was not at all young from the visible streaks of white in her black hair. She looked very old....and did not. She looked to be Kaede's age, but her figure looked so.....young.
The lady walked to Kagome and looked straight into Kagome's eyes.
Silence.
"Lady Kagome, I am glad to have finally met you. My name is Lady Metaka, and I am here to discuss some important business with the new miko" she said.
InuYasha felt his heart freeze, something made him go cold hearing the word "miko".
Kagome glanced at InuYasha and looked back at Lady Metaka.
"H- Hai...."
Kagome and Lady Metaka sat down with Kaede and Miroku while InuYasha sat far away at the door.
"Ano.....what is this all about?" Kagome asked.
Lady Metaka moved close up to Kagome and held Kagome's face with her cold hands. Kagome looked into the Ladies wise eyes, as she looked into Kagome's young and lively eyes.
Lady Metaka frowned,
"I can sense a lot of miko power in her....more than I have ever sensed in any miko's I have trained......she has a lot of power, but she does not know how to use it......"
"Why.....are we talking about this?" Kagome asked.
"Can you purify and sense Shards as Lady Kaede said you could?" the lady asked.
"H- Hai......" Kagome whispered.
"I cannot sense a strong courage in you as your reincarnation had....." Lady Metaka muttered.
InuYasha's ears perked up, he turned and glared at the Lady from the corner of his eyes. He hated to hear people comparing Kagome with Kikyo......
He felt something uneasy about Lady Metaka......
He didn't like her.
"Monk, please read Kagome's mind for me, is she the true miko who is to protect the shard?" Lady Metaka asked.
InuYasha's eyes widened.....
Miroku said as he touched Kagome's head with two fingers and closed his eyes.
** A picture of the Shikon no Tama flashed through his head, then Kagome**
Miroku moved back,
"Hai....."
"Hmm.... Then I must train you. Lady Kagome" the woman told her.
Kagome looked at them in confusion,
"What's going on?!" Kagome asked.
"You are the new priestess once you pass all the basic training......"
"NANI?!" Kagome cried.
Lady Metaka frowned,
"You are too lively, a priestess is to act calm and perfect....and must not speak so loudly or speak too much"
Kagome just stared at them.
"NANI?!" came a voice from behind.
Lady Metaka saw someone standing rudely in front of her, she looked up to see a demon. She glared at him.
"Who the hell do you think you are, telling Kagome to act like such a bitch?!" InuYasha asked.
Lady Metaka merely smiled,
"Was not the person you had fallen in love with.....this kind of person?"
"......Keh! What the hell's wrong with you?! Kagome is best off as she is! That personality wouldn't match her"
Lady Metaka ignored InuYasha and looked back at Kagome,
"Your job is to protect the shard and guard it with your LIFE.....and to use your miko powers to slay off all the existing demons.....like him"
"NO!" Kagome cried, "I don't HAVE to do this! I'm not slaying ANY demons that don't deserve to die!" Kagome cried.
"Of course.....I know that....but it would be best if you just stayed away from such creatures" Lady Metaka said glancing at InuYasha.
"WHY?!" Kagome cried.
"Take the woman I had once taught when she was young as an example.....the miko, Kikyo. Look what has happened to her because of her love for that demon boy"
"KISAMA! Leave Kagome alone!" InuYasha yelled, feeling pain shoot through his body from yelling.
~My wounds still kill....~
"I'm going back home!" Kagome cried, trying to get up. But Lady Metaka grasped Kagome tightly by the wrist and pulled her back down.
"Your home is now here. You will only be aloud off duty once in a while to return to your world I was told about"
Kagome looked at Kaede in horror. She sadly looked away.
"Can't you do anything about this?!" Kagome cried.
"I wish.....i could. But Lady Metaka has more power than me. She is the one who trains the miko's.....and decides who is to protect the shard. I cannot go against her " Kaede sadly whispered.
Lady Metaka's hands were still tightly holding Kagome's wrist,
"If you wish for this world to be ruled by youkai, then do....leave and do not follow your duty. If you choose to see all your loved ones die....and be tortured, it is all fine with me"
Kagome looked helplessly at InuYasha, her eyes looking sad and lost.
InuYasha pulled Kagome's wrist out of the miko's grasp and pulled Kagome close to him.
"Leave her alone! We were doing perfectly fine, protecting the Shard together with our friends! And we don't need some old hag to tell us what to do" InuYasha hissed..
"Haha, you are clever InuYasha. Do you wish to steal another miko's heart in order to take that Shikon no Tama once again?"
This hit InuYasha at full blast, the arms that were wrapped around Kagome dropped to his side as he just stared at Lady Metaka.
~What's with this lady.....~
Miroku shot up, anger burning inside,
"Will you leave them alone?! InuYasha is our faithful friend!" Miroku yelled.
"Oh, InuYasha. You must be very good at heart snatching, even convincing the heart of a monk"
"Lady Metaka, you are going too far" Kaede whispered.
"I dearly apologies....I just strongly disfavor demons....even if their a half bred" Lady Metaka muttered.
InuYasha cracked his knuckles, mad enough to kill her. But Kagome leaned her head on his chest. InuYasha suddenly calmed down and looked sadly at Kagome.
He wrapped his hands around her waist and walked her out of the hut,
"Kagome......" InuYasha whispered, "sorry 'bout that"
Kagome stopped walking and just stared at the ground, then slowly turned her gaze back towards the hut.
Kagome gazed back at the hut......she looked sadly at the place. InuYasha stepped in front,
"Kagome....don't do it......you aren't meant to be that person that Metaka lady told you, you had to be......Kagome....don't" InuYasha whispered with a frown.
"InuYasha....it's my job......I guess it's as well as my fate......and if I don't......the world will go dark" Kagome whispered, "I have to protect the shard"
"Kagome! We can do it together, with Sango and the rest. We don't need to give it over to the damn miko. Kagome, I don't want you to do this! I know.....maybe it is your fate to do this.....but not in the way Lady Metaka mentioned it as" InuYasha said,
~What if Kagome turns into Kikyo.....all calm and....not as Kagome would act. I don't want her to change.....then she wont be the Kagome I love~
Kagome looked up at InuYasha,
"Why not InuYasha? It wont be that bad......" Kagome whispered with a sad smile as she walked past InuYasha, back towards the hut.
InuYasha ran up to Kagome and held her wrist gently, Kagome looked back to see his face lowered.
"Kagome.....stop this. Always hurting yourself to help others......" InuYasha whispered.
"InuYasha......there wouldn't be any good in this world if it weren't for people like me" Kagome said in her usual cheerful tone, trying to lighten up the tension.
His head touched Kagome's, his eyes closed, trying to remember everything about her.....
"Whatever happens...I just want you to know.....that I love you for who you are.....and that you will always be the best to me" he whispered to her, ~don't turn into Kikyo~ then he turned around. He hadn't yet gotten used to speaking out his feelings.....and never would.
"Go Kagome....do what your heart tells you to" InuYasha muttered, ~But please stay as you are~
Kagome reached out her hands to touch InuYasha's shoulder, to tell him that this wasn't a big deal. But she could feel someone's eyeing her. She turned to see Lady Metaka.
Kagome hesitantly walked towards her, and took a glance at InuYasha.
"Our training starts now" Lady Metaka said.
"H-hai..."
"Come, follow me" Lady Metaka ordered.
"Where the hell are you taking her?" InuYasha asked, his body throbbing in pain from the wounds that he did not feel, too paranoid with the thought of Kagome.
"We will go to the temple to train you for today" Lady Metaka told Kagome.
"When is she gunu come back?" InuYasha asked.
"When I think that she has completed what I wished of her" Lady Metaka muttered.
InuYasha stared at Kagome walking slowly away from him.
"Kagome....."
"Don't look back...." Lady Metaka ordered, "a true, perfect miko would never look back at the past, but the future of what she can achieve.
Kagome felt her head pulling at her to turn and take a last glance at InuYasha....and she did.
~I don't want to become perfect......that wouldn't be me~
Kagome saw InuYasha standing there, watching her. She looked sadly forward.
"A miko never reveals her emotions!" Lady Metaka said in a cutting tone.
Kagome grinded her teeth in anger, ~I might as well be dead to become a perfect miko. The next thing you'll tell me is that a miko isn't aloud to breath!!!~
They entered the temple. For hours, Lady Metaka showed Kagome around the temple, explaining what she'd have to do, the rituals she'd have to go through and that she'd always have to be humble and help the poor and wounded.
"You must follow after Lady Kikyo's footsteps. And the rituals and spells you shall need to know will come naturally as well as through my teachings. But I shall teach you those bit by bit. We are in no hurry"
"Hai"
"Now, how good is your arrow skill?"
"Not bad I guess...."
"A miko must always give a definite answer. If one does not have one, stay silent until you do!"
"Hai"
"Now, I shall bring you outside to see your skills" Lady Metaka said.
They stood outside the temple. Lady Metaka through Kagome and arrow and a bow to shoot with.
"I want you to hit those blossoms that are falling from the tree"
Kagome's chin dropped,
"H- How am I supposed to do that?!"
"Humph, not that skilled yet I guess.....then shoot the bark of the tree way over there"
Kagome aimed....then shot. The arrow flying past it.
Lady Metaka's jaws tightened,
"I see.....You shall need to learn how to shoot well, for many times, you shall have to defend the shard" the lady said.
"Hai"
"Good, you are not talking much"
Silence.
"Shoot again and again until I tell you to stop" she ordered.
**************************************************
"I can't believe you guys are making her do this" InuYasha hissed at Lady Kaede.
"It was not I, she just came and asked me on and on about Kagome" Kaede answered.
"Jeez......She must be torturing Kagome right now" InuYasha muttered.
Shippo sighed, missing Kagome already.
Kilala purred and rested herself against Shippo.
Sango and Miroku sat next to each other, listening to InuYasha and Kaede's conversation.
"As a powerful and special miko....that Kagome is. She shall learn very fast.....I am sure of it. Kikyo was also like that, but Miroku had sensed greater power in Kagome he tells me......so she shall become a miko very fast" Kaede said.
"And is that a GOOD thing?!" InuYasha asked.
"I believe so...."
"Bullshit.....she's gunu turn Kagome into someone we don't know.....and if that lady does, I swear, I'm gunu kill her" InuYasha seriously threatened.
**************************************************
The sky was getting dark, casting a shadow over the land. The cool air breezing through the lands, as the tall grasses would dance to the wind.
"Shoot!" Lady Metaka commanded the tired and sweating Kagome.
Kagome stared at her target, the sight a bit blurry from her mind wanting rest. She had been going on like this for hours after hours, without drink or food.
Kagome let go of her arrow as it missed her target by a mile.
Kagome dropped the bow and arrows.
"I can't do this!!! This is torture! You won't even give me anything to eat or drink, I can't concentrate!!!" Kagome cried.
Lady Metaka walked over to Kagome,
"Priestess' must defeat the weakness of humans. You must learn how to become stronger than an ordinary human!"
"But I AM an ordinary human! You can't make me do this!" Kagome yelled.
Lady Metaka took out a dagger and pressed it against Kagome's back.
Kagome froze in shock.....
"You were in pain were you not, going on for hours like that? Well, a miko must get used to such situations. Pain, that is what a miko shall go through every day of her life"
Silence.
"Close your eyes....." She commanded.
Kagoem did as she was told, then felt the blade of the dagger cutting into her flesh, as the blade cut across from her back to the end of her back. Kagome could feel the burning pain shoot through her back as the blood soaked through her uniform.
~Why is she doing this to me......~
"Do you feel the blood......the pain?" Lady Metaka asked.
"Yes...." Kagome whispered.
"The pain that you feel now shall be a million times worse for the people who dwell in this era, while the demons controle this place. Is that what you want? A lot depends on you, and with duty and responsibility comes pain"
Kagome shut her eyes tighter,
***Flashback***
InuYasha back flipped away, just in time before Seiyamie's sword had been pushed down through his neck. But he had read InuYasha's mind and swung his sword again, cutting through InuYasha's stomach as blood spilled out.
InuYasha landed roughly on the ground, clutching his wound.
*
Kohaku retrieved his weapon and stepped away. He looked sadly at Sango,
"It's better this way....." Kohaku whispered as he raised his weapon.
Miroku frowned and stepped in front of Sango, thinking that Kohaku was going to hurt Sango.
Kohaku closed his eyes,
"Sayonara..." he whispered as he stabbed his blade into his back where the Tainted Shikon Shard was placed in. Blood spilled out as the shard dropped to the ground.
And then he looked at Sango for the last time and gave her a warm smile,
"I'm finally.....back" Kohaku whispered then dropped to the ground.
"KOHAKU!" Sango yelled, "NO!" as she ran towards him.
***End of Flashback***
Kagome felt her heart beating in pain and sadness,
~If I become a priestess.....I'll be able to prevent tragedies like this......~
She opened her eyes and looked on in determination,
"What is it that I must do" Kagome asked in a weak whisper.
"Begin by perfecting your shooting......"
Kagome nodded as she continued on shooting, targeting her target in anger. She would not let anything happen to her friends, or make the world suffer more than they already were.
Lady Metaka observed Kagome as she continued to shoot her arrow,
~I have not seen a single thing similar to Lady Kikyo but the characteristics of always sacrificing things.....~ she realized.
"You shall change out of these strange clothing when I give you time to rest. After, you shall return to shooting"
Kagoem wanted to just drop dead.....
~Foolish girl, she thinks as if the whole world is depending on her.....it kind of is, but not really. There are still good people out there, and people like InuYasha....~ Lady Metaka thought.
*************************************************
Everyone had been waiting at the door for Kagome's return....all morning and all afternoon, but she never came.
Kaede finished wrapping fresh bandages around InuYasha's deeply wounded body and throwing away the soak and bloody bandages.
"When she does come, tell Kagome that she is to sleep in the room next door" Kaede said.
Everyone looked at her in question
"Lady Metaka has told me that a miko should have her own sleeping place. She said it would not be decent of a miko to rest in a room with males in it as well...."
"Keh, what crap" InuYasha muttered.
Kaede shrugged her shoulders and looked out into the dark sky,
"InuYasha....I do not believe Kagome will be coming today"
"That lady said she would" InuYasha muttered.
Sango sighed and looked up at the sky that was already dark.
"She'll probably come the next morning" Miroku muttered.
"AWWWWW, no fair!!! She was supposed to come today! No fair, no fair, no fair, no fair, no fair-" Shippo cried and was cut off,
InuYasha hit Shippo hard across the head,
"Shut the hell up!" InuYasha yelled in annoyance.
"Waaaaaa, InuYasha hit me!" Shippo cried.
"DUH! Everybody just saw me damn hit you, you don't have to repeat it again. They're not dumb like you"
"Shut up!" Shippo cried.
"Why don't you, you dumb ass kitsune"
"I think Shippo's getting tired" Miroku muttered.
They slowly retreated into the hut, leaving InuYasha to wait for Kagome.
~Kagome.....come back.....I wont be able to rest until you do~
InuYasha closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, as the night wind breezed against him as his silver hair blew in the wind.
***Flashback***
"Wouldn't life be better without me?" InuYasha asked, just in wonder at what she was going to say.
"No, life would have no meaning without you.......you make my life feel full and special" Kagome whispered back, "I love you as you are, and I love my life with you in it"
***End of Flashback***
"And I love you the way you are......Kagome" InuYasha whispered.
~Why do I miss you so much already.......~
Memories of Kagome flashed through his mind, forgetting again of the pain he had from his wounds. All he had to do was think of Kagome, and all the pain would disappear.
The sweet thoughts of her made him drift off to sleep, still sitting outside....
***Dream***
"InuYasha!" Kagome called at him.
InuYasha stood in the field as he slowly turned around.
Kagome ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him...around his neck.
"Hi!!!" she said cheerfully as InuYasha had a comical face on, choking from Kagom's tight arms wrapping around his neck.
"What the hell Kagome, are you trying to kill me?!" InuYasha asked.
"No baka!"
Suddenly, InuYasha felt her arms loosening fom around his neck.
"Kagome....?"
He turned to see Kagome no longer, but Kagome who had changed into a miko,
"Yes, I have come to kill you..." she whispered coldly as she raised her bow.
"Kagome....."
Then he saw an arrow flying towards him as it shot him to a tree that suddenly appeared.
"No....Kagome....."
***End of Dream***
Suddenly he felt something warm slump next to him. InuYasha opened his eyes in a start. His heart beating fast.....
He glanced to his side.....He saw a lady dressed as a miko in a red and white Haori, and for that one second....he thought it was Kikyo and was about to back away.
But it wasn't Kikyo, it was Kagome...
"I'm so....tired..." Kagome whispered weakly, barely hearable.
"Kagome......" InuYasha whispered.
"I'm back....."
Kagome could feel her mind swirling around.....she also felt something inside her, as if it was storing up all the information she had learned.
~Do not talk too much~
~Do not express your feelings~
~Do not look back~
~You must be perfect~
~Follow Kikyo's footstep, become her~
But whenever she tried......she just couldn't get it. It just wouldn't fit her. When she followed what Lady Metaka told her to do, she felt as if she was just acting. It just....wasn't her.
InuYasha wrapped his arms tightly around Kagome, she gave a slight whimper from the gash on her back. InuYasha backed away, ~Since when did she become this weak?~
Suddenly, InuYasha realized that on Kagome'sYukata (the top part of the Haori), he could see red spots of.....blood.
"My....head....feels so dizzy" Kagome whispered.
"What the hell did she do to you?!" InuYasha asked in great worry.
"She just...trained me....." Kagome whispered back.
"Kagome...." InuYasha whispered.
She yawned,
"I'm so hungry....and tired...and thirsty"
"She's not training you! She's practically trying to kill you!" InuYasha said, his heart thumping fat. InuYasha gently helped Kagome up and led her into her own room she had now been told to stay in.
Everything was already prepared, a matt, blanket.....everything.
InuYasha gently made her sit down.
He crouched down close in front of her,
"I'll get you something to eat and drink" InuYasha whispered wondering how he was going to bandage up the wound on her back, he knew that if Kagome had been back in her normal senses......she wouldn't have liked his idea of bandaging her up....when the wound was all the way on her back, as he was about to get up to get the food, but Kagome suddenly wrapped her arms around InuYasha, burying her face on his shoulder.
"Hold me....." She whispered.
"Eh......" InuYasha looked down at her, his heart beating fast. He wrapped his arms around Kagome.
Kagome felt her heart go at ease,
~When I'm in your arms.....I feel no pain. I feel as if I'm in another world.....~
*
**~~ Sorry that there wasn't much fluff here^^" FLUFF is COMING UP in the NEXT chapter!!!! And action....later, later on. Sorry I had to cut it off here ^^" As you can see from where had cut it off, fluff is SURE to come.....tell me how fluffy you want it to be. Fluff strongness from 1-5, write it down on your review so I know!!! ~~**