Thanks to Shadow Wraith, Hinoke, loozer-09, Hanamaru285, Guardian Angel of ALL Anime, tao-fairlight, for reviewing the last chapter! You're all my faithful readers *tee hee* that make me feel loved!
CHALLENGE ANSWER: The name of the song I used in the last chapter is "Gollum's Song" sung by Emilliana Torini from the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers soundtrack. I just wanted to see if anyone would guess it. And someone did! Shadow Wraith got it right so you have my congratulations ^_^ Next time I use a song in the middle of the story I'll make it harder ^_^
Well, since this is chapter 11 I'm gonna answer the reviews from people. So, here we go!
Hinoke: Well, here is the update. I'm glad the last update made you happy, especially since the chapter was kinda depressing, but if you enjoyed it than I'm glad. I hope you like this chapter also!
Shadow Wraith: That's awesome you got all your guesses right. I have a bad habit of introducing people and then killing them off. And, yeah, Inuyasha is back (perhaps ^_^). And thanks for the good luck on homework and color guard.
Loozer-09: I'm sorry that you liked Kikyo and I killed her off. The idea just sorta came to me when I was typing up the chapter. Sorry, once again. And glad you liked the chapter. ^_^
Hanamaru285: Here's the update and thanks for the review ^_^.
Tao-fairlight: Yes, Inuyasha is back! The reason why I made him come at the end is so that the chapter would end like a cliffhanger. Whether or not it was really a cliffy, I don't know, but I'm happy you enjoyed the chapter.
Guardian Angel of ALL Anime: I'm sorry you thought the chapter was sad! I suppose with people dieing left and right it would be kind of upsetting. And I like your new penname. At first I wasn't sure who you were, but then I clicked on your name and saw your email address was animeangel0123 (or something along those lines) and then I realized who you were. Well, I like your new name! ^_^
"When the waves are round me breaking,
As I pace the deck alone,
And my eye in vain is seeking
Some green leaf to rest upon;
What would not I give to wander
Where my old companions dwell?
Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!"
- John Milton, Paradise Lost
The steady hum of an engine, shuffling of papers, and quiet breathing of someone woke up Kagome. She opened her eyes, blinking with the light that assaulted them, for she was not used to it. Kagome could see wooden planks nailed together -a ceiling- with a lantern hanging just off to the right of her and lights on the higher parts of walls that did not seem to be run by flame. She shifted under the sheets that covered her body from foot to collarbone and shook slightly when a cool hand rested on her forehead.
"You feel better than before, young lady," a soft woman's voice came from Kagome's right. She turned to look at the woman and was startled to find she was an inu youkai. She had deep brown eyes that stood out greatly because of the cream colored dress she wore. Just like Inuyasha, the woman had long silver hair and adorable dog ears that were currently twitching oddly; one thing they did not have in common was their eyebrows, for Inuyasha's were much darker than this woman's.
Kagome, not knowing how to respond to the demon woman's statement nodded.
The woman smiled, "When His Majesty brought you to the airship, you had a terrible fever and were frightfully cold, and we were all worried about you. Since you're human, we all thought the worst, but you pulled through. His Majesty was so worried about you. For the past two days he has stayed at your bedside, holding your hand and wishing for you to pull through," the woman chuckled and then smiled once more. "He really adores you, whoever you are."
"I'm Kagome," she said and surprised herself with how scratchy and unused her voice sounded.
"Oh! So that's who you are," the woman tapped the side of her head. "He told me about you. Well, actually just your name and other tid-bits, nothing really important for knowing a person. But he spoke so fondly of you…"
"Who are you talking about?" Kagome asked.
"Don't you worry who. I'm on strict orders not to say anything to you about him, though for the life of me I don't know why," she paused and sighed. "Ever since his father passed away he has become so silent. Before he used to strut around like he owned the place, now he just mopes around and does things required of his position. I think one of the reasons why he is the way he is now is because he left some sweet girl behind in Mythora when little Sesshy and Rin went to fetch him. Might I be right, Kagome?"
"Sure, I guess," Kagome grunted as she sat up. "You're talking about Inuyasha, aren't you?"
The question and the name sounded so bland, so emotionless coming out of her mouth. If it had been weeks ago, she would have been jumping for joy at the prospect of seeing Inuyasha again, but right now, all that she had seen weighed down her enthusiasm. All the screams of the people caught in Rhine Town's houses, people dieing at the hands of Uranin imps, Horaku lying dead with a gaping hole through his stomach, and Naraku's maniacal laughter all played through her head. It all made her feel as if she too should have died; especially since Kikyo and her father were no longer alive. Those two deaths as well as Horaku's made her feel worthless like a fake gold coin. Kagome could not help but feel angry at herself for living. She had stayed true to her own personal promise: She stayed alive to see Inuyasha despite everything that happened.
Kagome roughly rubbed her cheeks as tears flowed down her face to drip off her chin and land on the sheets. She growled in frustration at herself for being weak enough to cry.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" the woman cooed and brought Kagome into her arms. "Everything will be fine."
Kagome really wished she could have believed her.
*********************************************************************
"She is awake, Inuyasha," the woman bowed before the new king of Yogo.
Just moments before, she had gotten Kagome to sleep and stop crying. She had tried to get Kagome to speak of what saddened her, but the young woman refused to speak and cried harder.
"Is she?" Inuyasha responded. "I thought she was pretty bad when I brought her back to the airship."
"You got her in the nick of time," she grinned.
"Aunt Yiloku," Inuyasha stood from the chair he sat in, "how do you think she would respond to seeing me?"
Yiloku flinched from the lack of emotion in the usually bubbling nephew of hers. Just like she had told Kagome, Inuyasha lost nearly all his zest for life, moving and speaking in a lackadaisical manner that pulled at her heartstrings roughly to see her brother's son so depressed. Perhaps, she thought, Kagome will brighten his mood.
"I do not know, Inuyasha," Yiloku shook her head. "The only way any of us could tell is if you see her and talk to her. She figured out it was you who saved her, but then she started crying. I think the battle she was in stuck in her mind."
"That happens," Inuyasha whispered and brushed past his aunt.
He walked down a narrow hallway lit with a new type technology the scientists in Yogo had just developed. If he remembered correctly, it was called electricity. But he shoved the thoughts out of his head. His destination was a doorway at the end of the hallway and reaching there was the only thing on his mind right now. He soon reached the thin wooden door, opened it, and stepped outside. Instantly his breath was stolen out of his lungs, for the airship was flying at an amazing pace and they were quite high in the air. Inuyasha walked farther 'til he came to a rail at the edge of a deck. With nothing else to do he leaned heavily against the railing like a sack of flour that could not keep itself up. That was exactly what he felt like: a sack of flour; a dull, lifeless sack of flour. Ever since he left Kagome two months ago, she plagued his mind and nighttime dreams like a shadow. He bright eyes and warm smile always haunted him, and now with her back he just felt confused but comforted that he found her when he did. Inuyasha shook his head, trying not to think about how pale and dead Kagome looked when he found her lying face down over someone. It scared him immensely that Kagome –cheerful, kind, beautiful Kagome- could have been dead and he would never see he smile and hear her voice again. But that was in the past and so he would rather not think about it; the important thing is he saved her and she's alive.
Inuyasha lightly sighed and decided he wanted to see Kagome, even if she was not awake. As quickly as he could without seeming eager and rushed, Inuyasha dashed across the outside deck, flung the door open, and scurried down the hallway. At the far end of the hallway, he took a left at a three way intersection which leads him to a small room at the end of another hallway. Apprehensively, he opened the door that lead to Kagome. His breath caught in his throat as he saw Kagome looking sleepily at him from underneath a couple white sheets.
"Inuyasha," Kagome spoke in a scratchy voice. "Hello. I wasn't expecting you, sorry."
Inuyasha nodded and walked farther into the room, pulling up a chair to sit next to the bed. He was surprised with how healthy she looked now; before she had been paled skinned and blue lipped.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Good," Kagome smiled lightly and sat up, "considering all I've been through. I just woke up from a tiny nap so if I seem out of it, I apologize."
He said nothing, but just nodded. At the moment he could not say anything for fear of breaking down before her. Inuyasha felt like reaching out to her and pulling her into his arms, for both her and him. Especially for himself, for leaving Kagome behind was something he regretted…
"What's on your mind?" Kagome's scratchy voice broke through his thoughts along with the feeling of her petite hand moving over his larger, clawed one resting on the bed.
"Uh… You actually," Inuyasha responded and looked down; he just could not meet her gaze.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?" Kagome tightened her grip on Inuyasha's hand. "Well, never mind why; you have your reasons. I've been thinking since I woke up, about you too and I want to thank you."
"Thank me?" Inuyasha looked up in surprise. "I've done nothing to warrant thanks-"
"But you have!" Kagome broke in and scooted closer to Inuyasha whose eyes widened even more than had been moments before. "You saved me and so I owe you everything, though it was too bad you couldn't have saved everyone…"
"I came too late, Kagome," Inuyasha whispered. "You could have died. I should have never left or I should have taken you with me."
Kagome smiled at him as brightly as she could, for she knew he was beating himself about it –a habit she was aware he did on some occasions. Hesitantly, Kagome moved to the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's neck, resting her face against the top of his head.
"You came just in time, Inuyasha," Kagome murmured.
"Kagome…"
"Hmm?"
But there was no response from Inuyasha –no verbal response that is. Inuyasha put his arms around Kagome's middle, drawing her nearer to him, and snuggled his head into the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply, taking in her sweet aroma that had not graced his nose in two months. Half-mindedly he ran his hands down her back, up and down in the same way over and over again.
"I've missed you," Kagome said, her breath teasing his perky ears. "I was so lonely when you left."
"I know," Inuyasha breathed. "It was hard saying good-bye, but here we are. Neither of us is alone now; we have each other and that's it. I just have my brother and his wife, but they don't live in the palace."
"My dad and Kikyo are dead."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Inuyasha said as he pulled out of Kagome's embrace just enough to see her face.
Her eyes were shining with tears, but she looked happy. Inuyasha was quite glad to see her happy, but he knew that below her cheerful surface she was hurting badly from the loss of her remaining family.
"I have you?" Kagome inquired, her voice seeming unsure of his loyalty to her.
He nodded, "You have me and I have you."
Kagome grinned and hugged him lightly before drawing out of his embrace completely. She felt sleep claiming her mind and body, and blinking away what she knew was coming. Gently she leaned against the headboard and rested her head on the wall.
"You tired?" Inuyasha inquired good-naturedly.
"Yes."
"Then I'll let you be," he stood up.
"No stay!" Kagome exclaimed. "Well… At least stay until I fall asleep."
With those last words she moved over on the bed to allow him room and nestled beneath the blankets. Inuyasha complied without any objection. He climbed onto the bed next to Kagome, moving as close to her as he thought she would allow.
"G'night," Kagome slurred because of tiredness.
"Good night," Inuyasha whispered and kissed Kagome lightly on the forehead as her eyes drifted closed.
He was truly glad Kagome was back…
Well there we go! Chapter eleven, huh? Wowee! I hope you all like it. It's sort of fluffy, maybe. Was it too corny? Be truthful.
And sorry I took so long to update. School just sucks my time along with color guard practice which I'm having one helluva time with. The guard is just… I don't know… It sucks this year. Everyone is so damn bullheaded! Next year I hope they won't be that way with me 'cause I'll be the captain of the guard. But hey, we don't have any football games until homecoming which isn't until the twelfth of October. But before that we have band day at NMU (Northern Michigan University) in Marquette. That's always a fun day. It's probably the only good thing about marching band season since out football teams sucks major arse. Get this! Last year (my sophomore year) the J.V. team at my high school had an undefeated season so you'd think that when they get to Varsity they'd make the team better. Well, the team sucks! Many people on the team blame it on the coach. Our last game we lost to Stephenson 33 to 8! Truly pathetic, but our freshmen team – I think- is pretty bad too. Ha ha!
Whoa! Sorry about that rant. I really didn't mean to go on and on about the football and stuff. You're all probably thinking I don't have a life. Well… actually I don't… *tee hee* I'm just kidding!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review. I'd love to hear from you all!
Buh-bye! ^_^