By: kisu
A/N: sorry for the long update! I wanted to lengthen this chapter but I have major writer's block and starting college…is awful! Papers after papers! X__X
Gomen nasai one again faithful readers!! I have break now!!! WHEEE!!! (The title of the fic has been bothering me lately)
Disclaimer: See previous chapters…teehee
Previously:
"And Kimiko's heart?"
"He will destroy her and use the jewel to his advantage." Kagura replied, evenly. She stared at his graceful back for a while before bursting out in laughter. Sesshoumaru, unnerved by the sudden humor, looked over his shoulder. "It's funny."
"What is, wench?" He frowned.
"Onigumo once loved Kikyo." Kagura smiled. "He once had an infatuation with a certain replica of her." Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, dramatically. "Do you think---?" But in a blink of an eye, the lord of the western lands was gone, leaving Kagura standing alone before a magnificent view. "What a beautiful sight." She sighed as she sat down on the grass. "The lands will be torn after this battle is over."
Chapter 8: Future Proclaimed
"A riddle. A stupid riddle." Sesshoumaru muttered as he quickly flew west. "I hope that baka can take care of Kimiko." He narrowed his eyes and they flashed red in anger. "If he places one hand on her, I will rip him to shards!"
"Sesshoumaru!" Someone yelled. His eyes glanced to the left where Inuyasha was leaping in the air beside him. "Where have you been?"
"Where is that wench of yours?" He demanded. "Why aren't you watching Kimiko?"
"They both went to take a bath." Inuyasha replied. "It's not my fault that I'm not a pervert like that damn Miroku."
"You…you stupid hanyou!" He yelled in frustration.
"Eh?" Inuyasha blinked as his half-brother flew past him in a burst of speed.
"Get away from me!" Kimiko yelled as she lashed out. Kagome caught her hands and smiled eerily at her.
"I got you now, miko." She whispered as her lips crept down her neck. Kimiko tried to wrench her hands away but her grip was too strong.
"Unhand me, NARAKU!" Kimiko yelled as she kicked her away. She swam quickly to the edge of the bath and got out into the chilling evening air. With one movement, she picked up her robe and swung it over her shoulders. Her hands grasped the belt to tie it when a tentacle wrapped around her waist and pulled her into the air. She screamed and stared down at Kagome standing still in the water. She looked up at her and smiled.
"So, you know who I am." She smiled as the tentacle bounding her squeezed tighter.
"You won't get away with this." Kimiko gasped in pain. The tentacle squeezed tighter and then flung her to the ground.
"The Shikon no Tama is mine." Kagome, or rather Naraku said as she got out of the water with more tentacles for her leverage. Her hand reached for the necklace around her neck and Kimiko opened her eyes.
"Bad move." She smiled as blinding pink light erupted from the jewel and engulfed her. Naraku screamed and dropped Kimiko, her eyes fluttering close. Naraku was flung back into the water and resurfaced, face down in the water.
"Kimiko!" Sesshoumaru yelled as he landed next to her. "Kimiko! Are you all right?" He shook her shoulder in panic. Spotting the body in the water he drew his sword. "Naraku! I will finish you!"
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha asked as he landed. He jumped into the water and grabbed Kagome. "Kagome, are you all right? What happened?" Her eyes slowly opened and she coughed. He averted his eyes and took off his fire-rat and wrapped it around her.
"Inuyasha, you're here." She whispered.
"What happened?" He demanded. "Who attacked you?"
"She did." Kagome said as tears gathered in her eyes. "Kimiko-sama."
"Impossible!" Inuyasha frowned.
"Step away from her, Inuyasha!" Kimiko's voice rang out. She was on her feet and in her hands was a bow and arrow. "She isn't who you think she is. She's Naraku!" Sesshoumaru moved to her side and supported her unsteady stance.
"Naraku? Are you crazy?" Inuyasha sputtered. "This is Kagome."
"She isn't Kagome!" Kimiko screamed as tears spilled from her eyes.
"How do you know, wench!?" Inuyasha yelled.
"Because I am KAGOME!" She screamed. She looked stunned to have actually blurted that out and replied in a softer tone. "I am Kagome." Inuyasha looked stunned for a moment and lowered his head.
"I don't believe you." He murmured.
"Nani?" She whispered.
"You're lying! You filthy piece of trash." He hissed.
"Inuyasha! Watch your mouth!" Sesshoumaru yelled.
"You don't believe me?" She asked.
"Why should I believe you?" He replied matter-of-factly.
"Fine." She breathed as she released her arrow. Inuyasha gasped and quickly leapt into the air with Kagome in his arms. He landed after the arrow passed the spot they were standing in.
"Inuyasha. Decide now." Sesshoumaru said, solemnly. "If you take her side, you are now our enemy." Inuyasha stared at his half-brother for a long minute before turning around.
"Inuyasha! Don't do this!" Kimiko cried. "Open your eyes, Inuyasha."
"If you walk away now, I will be forced to kill you." Sesshoumaru warned.
"So be it." Inuyasha replied as he leaped into the sky.
"Inuyasha!" Kimiko screamed as she rushed forward. Sesshoumaru pulled her back into his arms and she wept bitterly. "It's not supposed to turn out like this. Damn you Naraku!"
Inuyasha swiftly rushed out of his half-brother's lands but not before hearing Kimiko's protesting scream and smelling the salty tang of her tears. A pang of guilt came over him but was quickly forgotten as Kagome's arms tightened around his shoulders. Her eyes were closed and her head was resting on his back and her smell. He frowned and wrinkled his nose. Her smell was like an old scent, one that lingered after its owner had moved on. He growled lowly as he continued running, he couldn't take the chance to stop, especially since Sesshoumaru was fast and he had meant it when he proclaimed him as an enemy. So now the sides were even, Kimiko and Sesshoumaru versus Kagome and himself.
"Inuyasha!" He heard Sango's voice calling out from him and he looked up. Kirara flew overhead and swooped down next to him. Miroku and Kohaku sat behind her as she surveyed them with concerned eyes. "Inuyasha, we felt a disturbance. What happened?"
"Kimiko attacked Kagome." Inuyasha said, bitterly as he continued his pace. Kirara flew with leisure beside him.
"Nani?" Sango gasped. "No way! Kimiko-sama would never-"
"Why are you defending her? Don't you care about Kagome?" Inuyasha demanded.
"It's not that we don't care, Inuyasha—" Miroku protested.
"You too, houshi? I thought you were on my side!" Inuyasha interrupted. "I thought you were my friends! Kagome's friends!"
"Kimiko-sama would never hurt Kagome-san, Inuyasha." Kohaku said, quietly. "She's not that kind of person." Inuyasha stayed slient as he absorbed the words. Kagome's eyes opened slightly and they glowed.
Soon. She thought.
"It's cold."
Kimiko stood on her room's balcony and stared out at the forest. The air was slightly colder than normal and a chilling wind whistled through the trees.
"Kimiko." His tone of voice became threatening. "You should be inside." She stayed where she was, her eyes not moving from the direction Inuyasha had taken. Her mate sighed and a warm cloak was draped over her shoulders.
"What is the right path?" She asked, quietly. "I don't know anymore." Her hand clenched the railing tightly and her knuckles turned white under the strain. Sesshoumaru touched her hand in comfort and wrapped his other arm around her waist.
"The right path is whatever you want it to be." He responded.
"My heart is torn. My soul is torn." She sighed as she closed her eyes. "It's better if I died."
"Don't say that." Sesshoumaru growled as his grip tightened on her hand.
"After fighting Naraku, I was supposed to die. But I didn't die." Kimiko continued. "It's fate. It is written that I should continue to live. Even if, Kikyo had not. It was different for me."
"Don't compare yourself to the clay miko." He frowned.
"She wasn't always clay." She laughed softly, her eyes dancing in amusement.
"I am very much aware of that." He replied, dryly. "Listen to me." He turned her around so his amber eyes were searching her's. "You were Kagome once and I knew you by that name. I saw you by Inuyasha's side."
"Sess-" Kimiko began.
"But, you faced death as Kagome. You fought death and you came back to life." Sesshoumaru continued. "Do you understand, Kimiko? You are the second reincarnation of Kikyo."
"I don't think so." She frowned.
"Kimiko. Whatever your decision is, I will respect it. But I want you to know this." He dropped her hands. "I came to love you as Kimiko and everyone loved you as Kimiko. But if you decide to be Kagome, my love for you would never change. You taught me to love." He turned around. "Know that I love you."
"Sesshoumaru." Kimiko gasped with tears in her eyes. She reached out to touch his haori, but he moved out of reach as he began walking out of her chambers. She collapsed on her knees as tears fell from her eyes and she cried in happiness and sorrow. "I love you too."
It was like old times when the sun had settled and the moon rose in its glory. Inuyasha and company had set camp when they were way out of Sesshoumaru's territory. Sango, Miroku, and Kohaku were roasting deer meat over a fire. Inuyasha sat in a tree keeping a watchful eye on the sleeping Kagome on the ground.
"I'm KAGOME!" Kimiko screamed as tears fell from her eyes. "She's not Kagome! She's Naraku!"
He sighed heavily and stared at Kagome's face. It was illuminated by the glow of the fire and he stared at her peaceful expression. Not for long. He thought. With Sesshoumaru after us, there won't be any peace.
"Uncle Inuyasha!" Kohaku yelled. "Time to eat!" Inuyasha blinked and jumped out of his tree. Kagome stirred as he landed beside her and her eyes opened, wearily.
"Inuyasha?" She whispered. He quickly kneeled down and reassured her of his presence. "Inuyasha, where are we?"
"Don't worry. We're safe." He replied as he smoothed her ebony hair.
"Where is Kimiko-sama?" She asked, catching his amber eyes.
"Far, far away from here." He replied, softly. His heart wrenched in guilt as he said those words, but the feeling was quickly gone when Kagome placed a hand on his chest. His hand grabbed her's and their foreheads touched. It all starts now. He thought wearily.
A/N:..yes the suspense…-_-
