WOOT!!!!!! Finals are all done!!!!! I'm so happy! And I don't have to go back to school until around January 17th! Whee! Anyway...
AHCK! My chapter was too long or something, I don't know. I'm so mad... I tried to upload this with Kagome and Inuyasha meeting at the end, but apparently I don't have enough broadband or something... I'm not very computer literate so I don't know what's wrong. But it updated just fine after I took off the last scene. So I'm sorry everyone, but you'll have to wait for Kagome and Inuyasha to make up... *sniff* Anyway, I hope you at least enjoy this chapter, Kagome's trying to deal at school and Kaede shares her wisdom. Please tell me what you think!
Hey, I also updated my poems too. The new one is from Sango's point of view. I hope you like it!
~Review Responses~
Angel-chan3 - Wow, I'm so sorry about your grandmother. It must be really difficult. A shot that was meant to save her life ended up doing the opposite. It's such a hard thing, the flu is usually not that serious, but so many people are getting sicker and sicker. My own grandpa was having trouble too, and they thought it was a reaction to the flu shot he had gotten, but it was actually heart trouble. Gave us all a scare. He had open heart surgery not too long ago. So I sorta know how you feel, except I haven't lost my grandpa yet. But it is hard when a grandparent is sick. I'm very sorry.
lilemmy - I'm glad you like the way I think! Fights are always so hard to watch, but it's pretty darn cute when they make up! I hope mine doesn't disappoint you. I really like fluff but I'm always afraid I'll make it too cheesy. My finals weren't too bad, except when I got to my psychology final and thought I was early by 45 min on purpose to study. No, it turned out the final was gonna start in 5 min. So I had to do 45 min of studying in 5. That wasn't cool, but I still managed to pull an A-! It rocked so totally... I hope your finals went well too!
Heather - Ah, Inuyasha's mother died of famine? I had one answer that she died from being eaten by demons as well... So I guess I'll just maintain that she died of an illness! That she caught from a nasty demon. And she was so sick that she couldn't eat. So she died from famine and demons... I'm sorry, I'll stop rambling! I'm glad you liked my chapter and I hope you like this one too!
Litoasngyrl - Of course he's gonna go to her time and make up! And it will be all cute and fluffy. Not too cute and fluffy, but cute and fluffy nonetheless!
stoictimer - I'm glad you love my story! It makes me grin! *big grin* It really does mean a lot to me. Ah yes, Inuyasha never was good at showing affection. But maybe after he sees her again he will *hint*hint*
ejqHorseLady - Yeah, it was great when she yelled at them, wasn't it?! I just had to put that in there! I'm glad you liked my chapter, hope you enjoy this one too!
*disclaimer: Have I ever owned Inuyasha? Will I ever own Inuyasha? Probably not.
_____________________________________________________
The next morning Kagome slumped off to school, algebra equations and depressive thoughts whirling around her head.
Her friends bombarded her as usual and were inquisitive about her most recent visit to the hospital.
Kagome sighed. Grandpa had been telling stories again. Why didn't he just say she went to visit a family member somewhere or something?
In gym class Kagome's mind was still wandering. They were having archery lessons. Kagome and her classmates lined up before the targets, and each were handed a bow and a few arrows. She was still lost in thought and was oblivious to her classmates struggling to hold the bow and keep an arrow on the string. She absent-mindedly strung her bow and let the arrow fly towards the target. A perfect bulls eye. She was getting another one when she felt the prickling sensation on the back of her neck, like someone was watching her. She glanced up and realized her friends and most of her classmates were gaping at her. Kagome flushed.
"What?" she asked.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?!" one of her friends burst.
"I... I...." Kagome was at a loss for words. She doubted they would believe she learned archery because she had to battle demons while bouncing around in the Warring States era.
"I... always knew how to shoot like this," she said hastily. "You guys didn't know? What kind of friends are you?!" she tried to cover. But her friends didn't buy it.
"Last year in 8th grade we had an archery unit too and you couldn't hold the bow any better than the rest of us."
"Um..." Kagome looked down.
"Shoot another one," Eri suggested. "Maybe the first one was beginner's luck."
Kagome sighed. She strung her bow. As she was actually paying attention this time, the familiar action made her heart pain. Inuyasha's hurtful words came pounding back into her head. She tried to shove it out, and instead felt her anger and frustration leak down into her arrow. She realized too late when she shot that she had let her power escape. The arrow glowed purple as it headed for the target, which was obliterated after the arrow hit.
Her classmates' mouths gaped open even further. Kagome squeaked and dropped her bow and arrows. She ran for the door to her school, but before she could enter her friends grabbed her arms and held her back.
"Alright Kagome, we want an explanation. Now," they demanded.
Kagome had to think up an excuse quick. Then she thought about telling the truth... or an embellished version of it...
"Okay, you want to know? Well, I live at a shrine, right? Apparently my ancestors were priestesses and they were really good at archery. So my grandpa taught me how to shoot. I inherited some of the powers of a priestess. That's all there is to it."
Her friends eyed her suspiciously.
"That can't be true," one of them protested.
"It is, honest," Kagome said.
They dragged her back to the yard and told her to shoot again. She refused. They insisted, but Kagome was stubborn and went to sit up against the fence.
She didn't know what to do now. She had been too conspicuous. She rested her chin in her hand and tried not to think about Inuyasha.
~~~~*~*~*~~~~
After a tiring day of playing catch-up Kagome went back to her house and flopped down on her couch again. She hadn't realized how much a bother all her classes were. Neither did she realize that she was quickly becoming a nominee for the award of missing the most days of school. One that was not exactly an honor to receive.
"I don't want to repeat ninth grade...." she moaned. "Stupid Inu-" but she stopped. Every time she got it off her mind something reminded her. She sighed and walked out into the courtyard and went to the Goshinkinbu. It was the only place, though full of memories, that gave her heart a lighter feeling. But this time she only felt despair as she stared at the place where the bark was worn away. Where once a hanyou was pinned to that very spot.
Kagome sighed. Had she been that foolish? When in her own era, she sometimes still wondered if it all had been a dream, if maybe Inuyasha was just a figment of her imagination or one of grandpa's old legends, just like the sacred shikon jewel. But she knew that it was real. Small scars on her hands and knees from deadly battles, the fluid motion at which she could send an arrow to hit the mark, and her tanned skin from walking out under the sun every day all told it was true. And so, the fight she had with the one boy she cared about the most was also true.
That dream felt so real, it had made her act completely different. She almost couldn't believe the things she said. Why did she push him like that?
'Because you were afraid he'd chosen Kikyo...' her conscious told her. And how had he answered? By telling her the one thing he knew she hated to hear the most. He made it sound like he didn't care about her at all. She was nothing more to him than a tool to find jewel shards. How much trouble had she caused him? It was her fault the jewel was shattered to begin with. All she really wanted was to give him what Kikyo couldn't anymore. But he rejected her. She realized that she had really screwed it up this time. Instead of her anger flaring up at the thought of his unkind words, she now felt her eyes brim with tears.
"He must hate me..." she sobbed. Kagome fell to her knees, leaned over the bench with her head in her arms and wept.
~~~~*~*~*~~~~
Inuyasha's ears perked up. He felt like something was wrong. He was sitting underneath the Goshinkinbu, waiting for Kagome to come back. He felt bad about what he had said to her. Countless times she had told him how much it hurt her to hear him say that, and still those words left his lips when he meant to injure. Or even when he didn't mean to... He didn't quite know why he was sitting there, just waiting for her to come back. Even if he knew that he should apologize, the two simple words never came out as easily as they should. He decided to talk to Kaede.
As he entered her hut, the old woman looked up and said with surprise, "Inuyasha, it is ye." She looked behind him. "Where are the others?"
"I came ahead. Miroku and Sango are on their way, and Kagome went back to her own time." Inuyasha sounded somewhat melancholy, and his ears were drooping alittle.
"Is something wrong, Inuyasha?" Kaede asked gently, looking up from the broth she had been simmering over the fire.
Inuyasha hesitated for awhile. He wanted to talk so badly, to get the whole thing off his chest, but there was still the part of him that insisted he should not betray his feelings so easily. Still, he didn't know what to do. He knew Kaede would give good advice, as she normally did. Finally he answered, "Kagome and I had a fight."
"I see. What about?" she asked casually, trying not to sound "interested" in his personal affairs.
"Well, about.... Kouga," he said.
"Ah, the wolf demon that declared Kagome as his mate?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"What happened this time?" Kaede asked. Inuyasha explained the situation. Kaede's weathered face lit up in a smile when he got to the part about Kagome yelling at the two. But she was serious again when Inuyasha told her about the words exchanged between them.
"Ye do seem to tell her that a lot, don't ye?" Kaede said, with slight admonition.
"I know, but she... " Inuyasha really had no good excuse.
"Hm, is it just a way to shut her down, so ye do not have to betray your true feelings, Inuyasha?" Kaede asked with a slight smile.
"Quit grinning like a cat you old crone. You think you're pretty damn smart," he said obstinately.
"But I am right, am I not? Ye seek my council because ye do not know how to apologize for hurting Kagome's feelings."
"I don't have to stay if you're just gonna mock me, ya know," Inuyasha said getting up.
"Inuyasha, sit down," Kaede said with almost a laugh. "I am sorry. I'm glad that ye trust me enough to talk to me about this."
Inuyasha flopped back down onto the floor.
"Inuyasha, ye do realize that if ye keep trying to live in the past, ye will have no future."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he said grudgingly.
"Ye do not realize how much ye have changed."
"I haven't changed."
"Yes, ye have. Truly dear boy, ye would not have come to talk to any old woman about your troubles fifty years ago. And to ye it hasn't even been fifty years. For ye the time passed in the blink of an eye."
Inuyasha looked at her with astonishment. He didn't realize anyone knew how he felt about that. For everyone fifty years was a long time, but to him... It had literally felt like just yesterday. He had woken up with Kikyo still fresh in his mind. That everything was more or less the same. But so many things had changed. Kaede had been this little girl tagging along admiring her powerful older sister. Now she was an old woman, her face was wrinkled with age and wisdom. And he had to admit she was right. He never would have trusted anyone with his problems, not even Kikyo herself.
"You're pretty damn perceptive."
"Aye, Inuyasha, I am. But ye have changed. Ye have softened considerably, and have learned that not all people are bad; that ye can trust in others."
"I am not soft," he said defensively.
"No, but ye are not the wild little boy ye once were. Although once in a while ye can behave like it."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Why are ye having this fight with Kagome right now?"
Inuyasha glared but said nothing. She was right again.
"Ye have grown much. Ye may not realize it, but ye are well on the way to becoming a fine man. And Kagome I think has definitely helped with that."
"Kagome?"
"When ye fell in love with my sister, ye didn't know how to act. Ye didn't know how to trust, and ye were attracted to her mostly because she was the only woman who looked upon ye as a normal being. And she fell for ye for mostly the same reasons. Ye were the only man who looked at her as a woman, not a powerful priestess with a great responsibility. Both of ye were 'meant to be' so to speak."
"What's this got to do with anything?"
"Since then ye have learned what love really means, and what true friendships really are. I have seen ye, Inuyasha, smile at Kagome with the same smile that ye had once reserved for only my sister. Ye have learned a great deal about yourself and relationships with others."
"So?" he muttered. How had Kaede perceived all of this?
"So, ye should not be afraid to betray your feelings once in awhile. Ye are not the cold-hearted demon that ye think ye are. And right now, I believe dear Kagome is waiting for ye to go get her."
"What makes you so sure? She was pretty pissed at me."
"I think it may have appeared that way. But she may be feeling very sad by now. She cares about ye a great deal."
"And I... I care about her. I just don't like apologizing."
"Well maybe ye should start. As I said, ye should not live in the past, Inuyasha. The past is gone."
"The past is gone... Are you trying to 'inadvertently' tell me that I should forget Kikyo and give Kagome a try?"
"Inadvertently, yes."
Inuyasha said nothing.
"Kikyo has changed also, hasn't she, Inuyasha?"
"Well, yeah," he said.
"She is not the same woman ye fell in love with years ago. This reincarnated body of clay and bones that they call my sister bares no resemblance except physical to the real priestess. Honestly, Inuyasha, any attempts at trying to live in hell with her for eternity is foolish. I said when she was first revived that you should destroy the copy of my sister, and I still think it would have been wise to have done so. She has none of the emotions that my sister really had. All this copy feels is hatred of ye. That is not how my sister truly felt. Any real person has many emotions: love, guilt, happiness, sadness, and hatred. But not just hatred alone. While I can see that ye may find it difficult to destroy the image of the love ye had found so complete, still I urge ye: do not live in the past."
"I'll think about it."
"Please do. And in the meantime, don't ye think ye should go over to Kagome's time and apologize?"
"Maybe."
Kaede sighed.
"Ye are as stubborn as a mule, Inuyasha."
"Fine. I'll go."
"Good. I should be going as well; I must take this broth over to a family that has two sick daughters."
Kaede took the kettle off the fire and poured its contents into a large jug. She and Inuyasha went out the door.
"Farewell Inuyasha, and good luck."
He hesitated. "Thanks," he said quickly and bounded into the forest. Kaede chuckled and went on her way.
____________________________________________________________
Argh... I'm still mad that my entire chapter was too big to upload... grr... but I guess that's okay sorta for you guys cause that means the fluffy stuff starts out the next chapter! So please come back and check it out!
AHCK! My chapter was too long or something, I don't know. I'm so mad... I tried to upload this with Kagome and Inuyasha meeting at the end, but apparently I don't have enough broadband or something... I'm not very computer literate so I don't know what's wrong. But it updated just fine after I took off the last scene. So I'm sorry everyone, but you'll have to wait for Kagome and Inuyasha to make up... *sniff* Anyway, I hope you at least enjoy this chapter, Kagome's trying to deal at school and Kaede shares her wisdom. Please tell me what you think!
Hey, I also updated my poems too. The new one is from Sango's point of view. I hope you like it!
~Review Responses~
Angel-chan3 - Wow, I'm so sorry about your grandmother. It must be really difficult. A shot that was meant to save her life ended up doing the opposite. It's such a hard thing, the flu is usually not that serious, but so many people are getting sicker and sicker. My own grandpa was having trouble too, and they thought it was a reaction to the flu shot he had gotten, but it was actually heart trouble. Gave us all a scare. He had open heart surgery not too long ago. So I sorta know how you feel, except I haven't lost my grandpa yet. But it is hard when a grandparent is sick. I'm very sorry.
lilemmy - I'm glad you like the way I think! Fights are always so hard to watch, but it's pretty darn cute when they make up! I hope mine doesn't disappoint you. I really like fluff but I'm always afraid I'll make it too cheesy. My finals weren't too bad, except when I got to my psychology final and thought I was early by 45 min on purpose to study. No, it turned out the final was gonna start in 5 min. So I had to do 45 min of studying in 5. That wasn't cool, but I still managed to pull an A-! It rocked so totally... I hope your finals went well too!
Heather - Ah, Inuyasha's mother died of famine? I had one answer that she died from being eaten by demons as well... So I guess I'll just maintain that she died of an illness! That she caught from a nasty demon. And she was so sick that she couldn't eat. So she died from famine and demons... I'm sorry, I'll stop rambling! I'm glad you liked my chapter and I hope you like this one too!
Litoasngyrl - Of course he's gonna go to her time and make up! And it will be all cute and fluffy. Not too cute and fluffy, but cute and fluffy nonetheless!
stoictimer - I'm glad you love my story! It makes me grin! *big grin* It really does mean a lot to me. Ah yes, Inuyasha never was good at showing affection. But maybe after he sees her again he will *hint*hint*
ejqHorseLady - Yeah, it was great when she yelled at them, wasn't it?! I just had to put that in there! I'm glad you liked my chapter, hope you enjoy this one too!
*disclaimer: Have I ever owned Inuyasha? Will I ever own Inuyasha? Probably not.
_____________________________________________________
The next morning Kagome slumped off to school, algebra equations and depressive thoughts whirling around her head.
Her friends bombarded her as usual and were inquisitive about her most recent visit to the hospital.
Kagome sighed. Grandpa had been telling stories again. Why didn't he just say she went to visit a family member somewhere or something?
In gym class Kagome's mind was still wandering. They were having archery lessons. Kagome and her classmates lined up before the targets, and each were handed a bow and a few arrows. She was still lost in thought and was oblivious to her classmates struggling to hold the bow and keep an arrow on the string. She absent-mindedly strung her bow and let the arrow fly towards the target. A perfect bulls eye. She was getting another one when she felt the prickling sensation on the back of her neck, like someone was watching her. She glanced up and realized her friends and most of her classmates were gaping at her. Kagome flushed.
"What?" she asked.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?!" one of her friends burst.
"I... I...." Kagome was at a loss for words. She doubted they would believe she learned archery because she had to battle demons while bouncing around in the Warring States era.
"I... always knew how to shoot like this," she said hastily. "You guys didn't know? What kind of friends are you?!" she tried to cover. But her friends didn't buy it.
"Last year in 8th grade we had an archery unit too and you couldn't hold the bow any better than the rest of us."
"Um..." Kagome looked down.
"Shoot another one," Eri suggested. "Maybe the first one was beginner's luck."
Kagome sighed. She strung her bow. As she was actually paying attention this time, the familiar action made her heart pain. Inuyasha's hurtful words came pounding back into her head. She tried to shove it out, and instead felt her anger and frustration leak down into her arrow. She realized too late when she shot that she had let her power escape. The arrow glowed purple as it headed for the target, which was obliterated after the arrow hit.
Her classmates' mouths gaped open even further. Kagome squeaked and dropped her bow and arrows. She ran for the door to her school, but before she could enter her friends grabbed her arms and held her back.
"Alright Kagome, we want an explanation. Now," they demanded.
Kagome had to think up an excuse quick. Then she thought about telling the truth... or an embellished version of it...
"Okay, you want to know? Well, I live at a shrine, right? Apparently my ancestors were priestesses and they were really good at archery. So my grandpa taught me how to shoot. I inherited some of the powers of a priestess. That's all there is to it."
Her friends eyed her suspiciously.
"That can't be true," one of them protested.
"It is, honest," Kagome said.
They dragged her back to the yard and told her to shoot again. She refused. They insisted, but Kagome was stubborn and went to sit up against the fence.
She didn't know what to do now. She had been too conspicuous. She rested her chin in her hand and tried not to think about Inuyasha.
~~~~*~*~*~~~~
After a tiring day of playing catch-up Kagome went back to her house and flopped down on her couch again. She hadn't realized how much a bother all her classes were. Neither did she realize that she was quickly becoming a nominee for the award of missing the most days of school. One that was not exactly an honor to receive.
"I don't want to repeat ninth grade...." she moaned. "Stupid Inu-" but she stopped. Every time she got it off her mind something reminded her. She sighed and walked out into the courtyard and went to the Goshinkinbu. It was the only place, though full of memories, that gave her heart a lighter feeling. But this time she only felt despair as she stared at the place where the bark was worn away. Where once a hanyou was pinned to that very spot.
Kagome sighed. Had she been that foolish? When in her own era, she sometimes still wondered if it all had been a dream, if maybe Inuyasha was just a figment of her imagination or one of grandpa's old legends, just like the sacred shikon jewel. But she knew that it was real. Small scars on her hands and knees from deadly battles, the fluid motion at which she could send an arrow to hit the mark, and her tanned skin from walking out under the sun every day all told it was true. And so, the fight she had with the one boy she cared about the most was also true.
That dream felt so real, it had made her act completely different. She almost couldn't believe the things she said. Why did she push him like that?
'Because you were afraid he'd chosen Kikyo...' her conscious told her. And how had he answered? By telling her the one thing he knew she hated to hear the most. He made it sound like he didn't care about her at all. She was nothing more to him than a tool to find jewel shards. How much trouble had she caused him? It was her fault the jewel was shattered to begin with. All she really wanted was to give him what Kikyo couldn't anymore. But he rejected her. She realized that she had really screwed it up this time. Instead of her anger flaring up at the thought of his unkind words, she now felt her eyes brim with tears.
"He must hate me..." she sobbed. Kagome fell to her knees, leaned over the bench with her head in her arms and wept.
~~~~*~*~*~~~~
Inuyasha's ears perked up. He felt like something was wrong. He was sitting underneath the Goshinkinbu, waiting for Kagome to come back. He felt bad about what he had said to her. Countless times she had told him how much it hurt her to hear him say that, and still those words left his lips when he meant to injure. Or even when he didn't mean to... He didn't quite know why he was sitting there, just waiting for her to come back. Even if he knew that he should apologize, the two simple words never came out as easily as they should. He decided to talk to Kaede.
As he entered her hut, the old woman looked up and said with surprise, "Inuyasha, it is ye." She looked behind him. "Where are the others?"
"I came ahead. Miroku and Sango are on their way, and Kagome went back to her own time." Inuyasha sounded somewhat melancholy, and his ears were drooping alittle.
"Is something wrong, Inuyasha?" Kaede asked gently, looking up from the broth she had been simmering over the fire.
Inuyasha hesitated for awhile. He wanted to talk so badly, to get the whole thing off his chest, but there was still the part of him that insisted he should not betray his feelings so easily. Still, he didn't know what to do. He knew Kaede would give good advice, as she normally did. Finally he answered, "Kagome and I had a fight."
"I see. What about?" she asked casually, trying not to sound "interested" in his personal affairs.
"Well, about.... Kouga," he said.
"Ah, the wolf demon that declared Kagome as his mate?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"What happened this time?" Kaede asked. Inuyasha explained the situation. Kaede's weathered face lit up in a smile when he got to the part about Kagome yelling at the two. But she was serious again when Inuyasha told her about the words exchanged between them.
"Ye do seem to tell her that a lot, don't ye?" Kaede said, with slight admonition.
"I know, but she... " Inuyasha really had no good excuse.
"Hm, is it just a way to shut her down, so ye do not have to betray your true feelings, Inuyasha?" Kaede asked with a slight smile.
"Quit grinning like a cat you old crone. You think you're pretty damn smart," he said obstinately.
"But I am right, am I not? Ye seek my council because ye do not know how to apologize for hurting Kagome's feelings."
"I don't have to stay if you're just gonna mock me, ya know," Inuyasha said getting up.
"Inuyasha, sit down," Kaede said with almost a laugh. "I am sorry. I'm glad that ye trust me enough to talk to me about this."
Inuyasha flopped back down onto the floor.
"Inuyasha, ye do realize that if ye keep trying to live in the past, ye will have no future."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he said grudgingly.
"Ye do not realize how much ye have changed."
"I haven't changed."
"Yes, ye have. Truly dear boy, ye would not have come to talk to any old woman about your troubles fifty years ago. And to ye it hasn't even been fifty years. For ye the time passed in the blink of an eye."
Inuyasha looked at her with astonishment. He didn't realize anyone knew how he felt about that. For everyone fifty years was a long time, but to him... It had literally felt like just yesterday. He had woken up with Kikyo still fresh in his mind. That everything was more or less the same. But so many things had changed. Kaede had been this little girl tagging along admiring her powerful older sister. Now she was an old woman, her face was wrinkled with age and wisdom. And he had to admit she was right. He never would have trusted anyone with his problems, not even Kikyo herself.
"You're pretty damn perceptive."
"Aye, Inuyasha, I am. But ye have changed. Ye have softened considerably, and have learned that not all people are bad; that ye can trust in others."
"I am not soft," he said defensively.
"No, but ye are not the wild little boy ye once were. Although once in a while ye can behave like it."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Why are ye having this fight with Kagome right now?"
Inuyasha glared but said nothing. She was right again.
"Ye have grown much. Ye may not realize it, but ye are well on the way to becoming a fine man. And Kagome I think has definitely helped with that."
"Kagome?"
"When ye fell in love with my sister, ye didn't know how to act. Ye didn't know how to trust, and ye were attracted to her mostly because she was the only woman who looked upon ye as a normal being. And she fell for ye for mostly the same reasons. Ye were the only man who looked at her as a woman, not a powerful priestess with a great responsibility. Both of ye were 'meant to be' so to speak."
"What's this got to do with anything?"
"Since then ye have learned what love really means, and what true friendships really are. I have seen ye, Inuyasha, smile at Kagome with the same smile that ye had once reserved for only my sister. Ye have learned a great deal about yourself and relationships with others."
"So?" he muttered. How had Kaede perceived all of this?
"So, ye should not be afraid to betray your feelings once in awhile. Ye are not the cold-hearted demon that ye think ye are. And right now, I believe dear Kagome is waiting for ye to go get her."
"What makes you so sure? She was pretty pissed at me."
"I think it may have appeared that way. But she may be feeling very sad by now. She cares about ye a great deal."
"And I... I care about her. I just don't like apologizing."
"Well maybe ye should start. As I said, ye should not live in the past, Inuyasha. The past is gone."
"The past is gone... Are you trying to 'inadvertently' tell me that I should forget Kikyo and give Kagome a try?"
"Inadvertently, yes."
Inuyasha said nothing.
"Kikyo has changed also, hasn't she, Inuyasha?"
"Well, yeah," he said.
"She is not the same woman ye fell in love with years ago. This reincarnated body of clay and bones that they call my sister bares no resemblance except physical to the real priestess. Honestly, Inuyasha, any attempts at trying to live in hell with her for eternity is foolish. I said when she was first revived that you should destroy the copy of my sister, and I still think it would have been wise to have done so. She has none of the emotions that my sister really had. All this copy feels is hatred of ye. That is not how my sister truly felt. Any real person has many emotions: love, guilt, happiness, sadness, and hatred. But not just hatred alone. While I can see that ye may find it difficult to destroy the image of the love ye had found so complete, still I urge ye: do not live in the past."
"I'll think about it."
"Please do. And in the meantime, don't ye think ye should go over to Kagome's time and apologize?"
"Maybe."
Kaede sighed.
"Ye are as stubborn as a mule, Inuyasha."
"Fine. I'll go."
"Good. I should be going as well; I must take this broth over to a family that has two sick daughters."
Kaede took the kettle off the fire and poured its contents into a large jug. She and Inuyasha went out the door.
"Farewell Inuyasha, and good luck."
He hesitated. "Thanks," he said quickly and bounded into the forest. Kaede chuckled and went on her way.
____________________________________________________________
Argh... I'm still mad that my entire chapter was too big to upload... grr... but I guess that's okay sorta for you guys cause that means the fluffy stuff starts out the next chapter! So please come back and check it out!