And then there were two (chapters, that is). Sorry, but this one is pretty short.

Just a quick note on possible future works --

I have a couple of story ideas that I'd love to develop, but it may be a while before I can get started. I just got a new job and it's going to be taking up a lot of time, so either I will pre-write the story before posting as I did this one, or I can post directly to fan fiction.net but then the updates will be much slower.

Without giving too much detail, the first is a "the baby of Inuyasha and Kagome" story with a new angst-ridden twist. Actually, given the amount of Inuyasha stories out there it's probably been done but then so has this story :-) The second is a "courtship of Kagome" story using an idea that I haven't seen yet (but then I've only read about 300 fanfics out of the 17,000+ on this site!).

Given the positive reactions I've received from this story, I definitely intend to write at least one of the above, it's just a matter of finding the time. Enough babbling: Chapter 8.

Releasing Your Heart: Must be Brave

by arisu-the-pink

The sun still shone on the meadows surrounding the Bone Eater's Well when Kagome climbed to the surface, but she knew it would begin its decent soon. There was no time to reminisce; she had to be quick. All around her, late summer blooms scattered their fragrance into the air while birds chirped their evening lullabies. Kagome felt like she'd come home after a twenty year coma. The feeling was so wonderfully bittersweet.

"Kagome."

She recognized that voice and her heart sank. "Kikyou?"

"Kagome-sama, the Shikon-no-Tama -- where is it?" Kikyou's face held an expression of concern and surprise at seeing the young woman. Had Inuyasha gone in Sango's stead? Surely he would have mentioned it to her?

"I left it in the care of Buddhist monks in the city. It is far from the well, and in the view of the public. I'm sure no one will dare to steal it."

Kikyou was satisfied with her response, and turned to more puzzling issues. "If the jewel is safe, then why did you return?"

The younger miko blanched. "I -- I left something here long ago. It's just a book, nothing too significant but it had pictures and memories of my father in it. Don't worry, I won't be staying long."

She doesn't know about Inuyasha and I, Kikyou realized. Sango didn't see it fit to tell her. Curious. She cocked a head in thought, remembering. Inuyasha had been hoarding some odd-looking paper tablet with writing, and though he obviously meant for it to be a secret Kikyou had witnessed him studying it on many occasions. "I believe I've seen this book of yours. Inuyasha's home is the hut in the far right corner of the village, nearest the temple. He keeps a pink journal under a baseboard in the back room, beneath the window." The miko straightened up and searched the other woman for an emotional response. She was rewarded with a heated blush as the girl started to stammer.

"I- I couldn't g-go into your home, Kikyou. Would you please bring it to me?"

Kikyou almost laughed at the younger woman's embarrassment. "I would take you myself, but I am due at a birth in the next village," she explained. "And Kagome-sama -- Inuyasha and I are not mates. We are only friends." She smiled the first warm grin Kagome had ever seen her smile.

"Our time has passed and with it any passionate feelings either of us may have held. Perhaps it was always meant to be this way, we will never know. Regardless, his heart hasn't been mine for quite some time now." Without waiting for further reaction Kikyou walked off toward the east, leaving a stunned Kagome standing under the late afternoon sky.

* * * *

Having gathered her wits, Kagome now found herself at the back right border of Kaede's village, trembling at what she might find inside the hut before her. She'd successfully evaded the villagers, most of whom would quickly recognize her as the reincarnation of their beloved Kikyou. Her stealth even won her safe passage past Kaede's hut, the wise old woman being quite sensitive to noise and highly aware of her surroundings. Steeling herself, Kagome pushed aside the straw mat covering the entrance to the modest hut and found--

Nothing.

The hearth was still, it's cauldron emptied of food for the time. Four neatly made futons along the side wall awaited their sleepers. Inuyasha did not live here alone, Kagome realized. From her conversation with Sango she surmised the group remained together, unwilling to break up their small family. Upon further inspection, Kagome found proof in Shippou's coloring pencils tossed carelessly beside one of the futons.

Despite the emptiness, Kagome felt his presence here, wrapping around her like a warm blanket. She could smell the scent of trees and musk that so uniquely identified him to her. This was definitely Inuyasha's home, even if Inuyasha did not currently occupy it. He would no doubt return soon though, so Kagome rushed quickly to the baseboard Kikyou had indicated and tugged at it lightly.

The board lifted easily enough, sending up a small cloud of dust from the dirt beneath it. The hidden compartment below was as empty as the hut in which she sat. Had the miko lied to her? No, that would have been pointless, Kagome realized. So where was her diary?

"His heart hasn't been mine for quite some time now."

Kikyou's words rang in Kagome's ears. He'd kept her diary here, even after she left him forever. Why? What did he want with memoirs of her father, and her deepest thoughts and confessions?

The last scarlet strains of daylight filtered into the window and at last faded into darkness. Kagome lost her nerve. The diary wasn't here; if she was lucky, she could still find Shippou and bribe him to search for her. She would come back in the morning to retrieve it from him.

Satisfied with this plan, Kagome stood, turned to the door, and froze.

"Kagome."