AN: hey, look! I have a whole TWO reviewers!! W00t! ok..
Well, I am sad to say.. this will probably be the last chapter.. but I am guessing that.. from the last chapter you are wondering how Rei got back through..? But I'm not that great at intrigues, so you've probably already guessed. Well, if you didn't, you're about to find out! ^_^ enjoy!
…
What's going on here..?
Sango, Kagome, Rei, and Asami stared openmouthed. It was like the whole Kikyou-Kagome thing, all over again. But different, because they only resembled each other. But there it was.. the two obviously were linked.
Asami closed her mouth, and opened it again, to say..
"AUUUGGHHHH!!!"
Only the cry came from somewhere else. The four girls spun around to face the direction the sound came from. Sango raised a hand to cover her lips in horror. "Inuyasha! Miroku!.. they went running off.." (okay, and Shippou too..)
She jumped up and reached for her Hiraikotsu.. only to fall to the ground with a cry of pain.
Kagome looked worriedly down at the demon exterminator. "Sango, you're so badly hurt! Stay here, uhh.." She cast about frantically for a weapon, before spotting the battered and bloodied bow and quiver that lay against the side of the wall.
Rei followed her gaze. "Oh! Use them, please.. you must be Kagome.. they will be of more use in your hands than mine.." (oops.. plot loophole here.. can we just assume she had them with her when she met up with the gang two chapters ago?) She stood up and steadied herself. The various wounds on her body were beginning to heal, and the wound in her side..
Kagome stiffened. The shards! She whipped around to face Rei, and her eyes were drawn to the faint light coming from the hanyou's side. "The shards..", she whispered.
Rei followed her gaze and gasped. The wound in her side was indeed giving off a faint pink glow. She remembered suddenly, when she'd fallen in the well..
***
"Wha-?" Her strength left her, and she collapsed onto the dirt floor again, feeling a sudden pain bite at the wound in her side.
***
She remembered the shards of pink crystal that had hung around Sango's neck. She glanced over at the demon exterminator. There was a nick at the side of her neck, but no shards. When Kagura attacked.. she must have cut off the shards, and they must have fallen into the well with me! When I collapsed, I must have fallen onto the shards..
Rei carefully shifted so that she could reach the wound. Gritting her teeth, she used her claws to probe the wound and pull out the shards. She hissed in pain as she pulled out the shards, and quickly pressed her free hand to the wound to stop the blood. "Take them," she pushed the blasted things in Sango's direction.
Suddenly, Rei felt all weak again, and Kagome and Sango gasped as both Asami and Rei began to glow. The two hanyous collapsed to the ground as their spirits flowed from their bodies. Kagome pressed a hand to her mouth in shock. Is Asami a reincarnation of this other girl? Just as I am a reincarnation of Kikyou..? Every time Kikyou and I get near each other, we keep stealing each other's souls.. But to her's and Sango's surprise, the two souls merely swirled around each other for a moment before returning to their respective owners.
Rei gasped in breath as she raised herself on her arms. Her wounds healed almost instantly, and she felt strength return. Asami gasped also, and the two stared at each other. "You're Rei.." she whispered.
Another shout broke the tension. "Inuyasha!" Kagome grabbed the bow, the shards, and ran as fast as her legs could take her, followed several seconds later by Asami. "Inuyasha!" She stopped, breathless, when she saw the scene.
Shippou sat several feet from where Inuyasha and Miroku were beseiged by a demon. Or more precisely, a demon puppet. A giant, furry white baboon hung in the sky, numerous thick, brown tentacles extending from it and waving in all directions. Naraku doesn't have much of an imagination, does he?
Miroku was swinging his staff at every tentacle that came his way, but between the fact that he needed to use both hands to fend off the attacks, and the poisonous insects still buzzing around, he could not use the lethal weapon in his hand. Inuyasha was using his claws to cut off the tentacles, but that was almost useless because they simply grew back. It was an even match. But not for too long; Miroku was getting tired, and even Inuyasha would run out of strength at some time. And Naraku's demon puppets never got tired, it seemed.
Even Kagome could see that, and knew it was destined that she should return at the moment she did. As Shippou raced over and attached himself to her leg, she raised the bow, knocked an arrow to it, and took aim. "NARAKU! Take this!" She released the arrow, watching its point burn with the bright glow of her miko power as it flew. The demon puppet moved at the last moment, and she hit only a few tentacles. But even that was enough to turn the tables. Those tentacles couldn't regrow, and now it was at a disadvantage. Inuyasha and Miroku redoubled their efforts, strengthened by the knowledge that Kagome had returned.
Inuyasha hacked at the tentacles with fury, born from both hatred of Naraku, and the powerful joy that rose in his heart. Kagome! He jumped up, high, and unsheathed the Tetsusaiga. "This is for Kagome!" He didn't need the Wind Scar. The simple passion behind his attack was enough to slay a thousand demons. The demon puppet was extinguished in a blast of power from the Tetsusaiga.
The little piece of wood fell to the ground and disintegrated into dust.
In one, swift movement, Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga and landed on the ground. Instantly, he moved to Kagome and wrapped his arms fiercely around her, crushing her against him. He buried his nose in her hair, breathing in the scent that was uniquely Kagome. She wrapped her arms around him, her face pressed against his chest. "Inuyasha.." she breathed. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she could hear his heart beating loudly.
Miroku and Asami turned their gazes away, slightly embarassed by the unrivaled show of emotion. Time stood still for Inuyasha and Kagome, stretching seconds so they felt like an eternity. Finally they pulled apart. Kagome blushed a little, before slipping her hand into Inuyasha's. Shippou hopped up to his usual spot on her shoulder, and together they walked towards the well, followed by Miroku and Asami.
Miroku gasped and rushed to Sango's side when he saw her. "Sango!" His eyes took in the many cuts Sango had sustained. Kirara mewled sadly as she nudged Miroku, wanting to comfort Sango instead but not wishing to hurt the injured girl. Miroku barely noticed Rei and Asami, who stood nearby; his attention was entirely focussed on Sango. "Sango.." he swallowed, his throat suddenly constricted. "We've got to get you to Kaede's." He slipped one arm under her knees and the other under her arms, cradling her to his chest. She wrapped both arms loosely around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder.
He walked slowly towards the village, followed by an anxious Kirara. Inuyasha noticed the new addition, Asami. He stared at her before staring at Rei. "Rei.. Kagome, who is this?"
Asami kicked the grass shyly. Normally, she would just speak up, but she felt a little disconcerted, both by what had just happened, and the fact that this totally cute guy was looking at her. No wonder she picked this guy over Houjo! "My name is Asami."
Suddenly overcome by curiosity, Asami turned to the other hanyou. "Your name is Rei, right?"
"Yes, I am." She frowned a little as she looked back at Asami. "I don't know you, do I?"
"No.. but.. I don't know if I should be saying this.." she glanced over at Kagome. "My mother told me stories when I was little, and she often told stories about her mother. She said my grandmother was a.. a hanyou, named Rei.." She played nervously her fingers. And.. and she did tell me one time, that my grandmother lived in the Sengoku Jidai.. I didn't believe her then, but.."
The other three's eyes were big and round as saucers, to use the expression. Rei raised one hand to cover her heart instinctively. "I.. you mean.." she could only stare at this girl, with her strange clothes, and the unsettling similarity in looks to her own self.
"I am your granddaughter." Asami placed her palms flat on her thighs and bowed respectfully to the other girl. "Many, many years from now.."
Rei held out her hands, hesitatingly. She had never imagined that she would get married, that she would even live to get married, never mind have children and then grandchildren. But here the evidence was before her, and she felt overwhelmed in unexplainable emotions..
Asami launched herself into Rei's arms. She had never believed her mother that it was possible for her grandmother to have lived centuries earlier. It was true! She felt her heart twinge at the thought. She had never met her grandmother, only ever heard stories of her. And now, she finally did get to meet her! Ok, so.. it was kinda creepy, being so far back in time, not to mention that this woman, her grandmother, looked like she was just Asami's age..
They stepped back, and Asami turned to Kagome. "So.. uhh.. what where those funny pink crystals?"
"They're shards, from the sacred Shikon no Tama. We're trying to gather up the shards, although.." she glanced at Rei and Sango, wondering how on earth the shards could have gotten to Rei's side like that.
Rei saw the look, and answered the unasked question, "Don't even ask." Then, glancing down the path Miroku had taken, she asked, "Shouldn't we follow them?"
Inuyasha blinked. "Yeah!" He straightened, ready to go follow. Shippou looked expectantly at Kagome.
"We will.. but first, I think.. Asami, we should take you back." The other girl nodded. "Yes, arigatou, Kagome. I thought maybe.. I wanted to stay here.. be with family again.." she glanced up at Rei and smiled a little. "But then.. I think it would be nice to go home.." Her face lit up. "Besides, I have this date, with a really, really cute guy tomorrow!"
Kagome grinned. "With Houjo?" Maybe he'll finally stop chasing me. Poor boy.. my heart belongs to Inuyasha.. and I can't even tell Houjo why I keep turning him down! But I have my Inuyasha..
"Noo… he really is head-over-heels for you, Kagome.." (insert a very jealous growl from Inuyasha) She looked nervously at the source of the growl and amended quickly, "but I'm sure he'll see reason soon!" She looked eagerly at the well, then smiled at Rei.
Rei and Asami hugged once more, Rei grinning from ear to ear. "I can't wait! I have a granddaughter.. oohh.. I wonder who the lucky grandfather will be!"
The others laughed, well, except Inuyasha. But then again, he hadn't exactly heard what anyone was saying.. he only had eyes for Kagome. He moved to stand behind her and slipped one arm gently around her waist. The action surprised Kagome, but she smiled and covered his hand with her own. "I promise I won't be gone long this time, Inuyasha.. I just want to make sure she gets home safey, okay?" Inuyasha growled softly, not wanting to let her go. "Inuyasha!" He growled again, a little louder, but he lifted his hand from her waist, slipping it instead into her hand.
"Well.. I guess.. goodbye, everyone." Asami smiled shyly at them all, "and tell those other two goodbye."
Rei smiled. "We will!"
Asami looked expectantly at Kagome. Reluctantly, Inuyasha released Kagome's hand, and watched as the two girls hopped into the well, one after another. Two faint flashes of light emitted from the well. My Kagome..
…
Kagome smiled and closed her eyes as the familiar, soothing feeling of travelling through the well surrounded her. All too soon the journey was over, and she was dropped softly onto the hard packed dirt of the well. The two girls climbed up the ladder. "Well.. I promise not to tell anyone about any of this. I can't promise though.. that I won't bug you about what happens!" Asami grinned. "Thanks. I've never known any of my family, save for my mother."
"You'd better not tell anyone!" But Kagome grinned also. "And you can be sure, I will bug you about what happens here! Especially, concerning any boys.."
"Aww.. Kagome!" The two walked to Asami's house, chattering pleasantly. They hugged briefly, then Kagome left.
She ran as fast as her legs could take her, up the steps to the shrine, past a very bewildered and indignant Grandpa, who shouted, "Kagome! You can't go running around when I've told everyone you broke a leg!"
Kagome could only laugh and roll her eyes. He just never gives up, either. Happily, she slid the door to the building open, jumped down the few steps, and swung her legs over the edge of the well. Inuyasha, here I come!
…
This time, the journey back couldn't go fast enough. She kicked her legs impatiently as she dropped to the well bottom, then leaped for the ladder, only to find herself restrained by very strong arms. Very strong arms in red sleeves belonging to a particular silver-haired hanyou. "Kagome.."
She turned and wrapped her arms around him. "Inuyasha.." My Inuyasha.. nothing could ever separate us..
…
well.. how'd you like that? I'm really sorry if the ending just doesn't end.. *scratches head* but I hope you enjoyed my fic! Please read and review! (well.. I guess you've already read it.. so.. review!) ^_^ arigatou, minna-san!