Omg, i'm so sorry for lack of updates on this story...I was having a major mental block on it..I had no clue what to do...but I finally found an idea for another chapter...fight scene!!
Alright, so we've all read the bijillions of Kikyo/Kag wars...but come on..we all know it's undeniable guilty pleasure! .
At the request of my friend, Kikyo, yes, shall die, extremely soon...lest she smack me. So enjoy!
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Shades of Gray
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Chapter 20: Doubts
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Kagome awoke to a great warmth. Rolling over onto her side, she came face to face with a sleeping InuYasha. She smiled at the peaceful expression on his face. She watched him for a few minutes, before leaning in and gently kissing him on the lips. She made to pull away, but his head leaned forward, holding her lips in place to his.
She smiled, as they parted. His hand came up to the side of her face and caressed it, before running gently through her hair. She smiled as she leaned her forehead into his.
"Good morning," she whispered softly.
"Same to you," was his hushed response. They lay in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. Kagome's mind re-wound the events of the past night. She smiled as she replayed the fun they had had. She was so glad she had brought Sango and Miroku along. It did wonders for their relationship...
She smirked. Sitting up in bed, she stretched, her arms extending over her head.
"Ne, InuYasha," she said, as he grunted in reply. "I think I should go see Shippo today."
She waited for the yelling to come, but none came at all. She turned to look at him, to see him propped up on one elbow, eyes still closed. He shrugged, as if feeling her eyes on him, and she blinked. She was dying to ask questions, but decided against it.
'Don't fix it if it's not broken,' she thought.
So, getting out of bed, she quickly grabbed some clothes and changed in the bathroom. Her mind wandered off to the tiny; well not so tiny anymore, kitsune child. He probably missed her, and she definitely missed him. Brushing her hair out, she left the bathroom, to find InuYasha standing by the doorway, waiting, his arms crossed in the usual position.
She smiled at him, as he wrapped his arm around her waist, as they headed towards the kitchen.
Sango and Miroku were seated at the table, Kagome's mom making breakfast. She smiled to each, as she sat down across from Sango, InuYasha opposite Miroku.
"Why is it that we're always the last ones to wake up?" she asked, with a smile. Sango smiled back, as they started casual conversation, wating for breakfast. Kagome stood, and headed towards where her mom was preparing food a few minutes later.
"Need any help?" she offered. Her mother smiled gratefully, as she nodded and motioned towards the numerous plates of food. Busing one by one onto the table, she then pulled out separate plates for each person, along with cutlery and condements.
They all sat down at the table, and dug in, Kagome reminding InuYasha to leave some for everyone else. He rolled his eyes and she smiled, as she picked up a forkful of eggs and placed them in her mouth.
"Um, Kagome-chan," Sango started, and she looked up at the girl across from her. "Me and Miroku decided that, if it's alright with you of course...uh, if we could stay and learn a bit more about your world for awhile longer." she finished, a slight blush crossing her face.
She looked up suddenly, stammering in a rush. "That is, if it's not too much trouble! We'd hate to be a burden, it's just-"
Kagome held up a hand for silence, as she laughed. She looked to her mom who nodded and smiled, as she turned back to Sango. "We'd be glad to have you here for a bit longer," she said, as she smiled to Miroku as well. That being done, they each returned to eating their respective meals.
"So, I'm going to visit Shippo today," Kagome said suddenly, to which InuYasha surprisingly said nothing.
Sango looked up from her toast, "Just be careful Kagome-chan," she said, her voice emenating concern.
"Hai," Miroku added, "We wouldn't want anything to happen to you, Kagome-sama."
She smiled, grateful for having such caring friends. Nodding, she finished the last of her food, and began helping her mother clean the table. Sango joined, even though Kagome insisted she shouldn't, as the guys entered the living room, both now weary of the TV, thanks to their past encounter.
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Kagome grabbed a small bag, as she began packing random items for her short visit. Making sure she grabbed hoards of candy, she also took some bandages and medicine to store while she was away. Kaede might even have to need him, and she sure the gracious miko wouldn't mind having them there just incase.
She pulled the drawstrings at the top tight, she looped both strings over her shoulder, angling it as to make sure they didn't dig into her skin. She slid on her shoes, and called out that she was leaving. Sango and Miroku's farewells echoed from the living room, as InuYasha entered the front hallway and walked up to her.
He kissed her softly, as she turned slightly towards the door. She paused, as she voiced her thoughts.
"I'm surprised you didn't protest to me returning for a bit," she said, her emerald eyes shining with confusion.
"I figured you could take care of yourself. You're stronger now, and I don't think you need me to escort you everywhere," he stated.
She pouted, and gave him her cutest face. "But what if I like you coming everywhere with me?"
He smirked, and she beamed at him. Turning to kiss him on the cheek, she waved and walked out the door as he closed it behind her. Jogging across the yard, she paused slightly at the Goshinboku and gave it a mock salute before running to the well house and closing the door behind her. Grabbing a spare bow and some arrows, she slung them over her free shoulder, as she carefully put on her disguise. If she ran into a villager, she wasn't really sure she was in the mood to explain. Making sure the spell was complete, she jumped into the past.
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Pulling herself out of the well, she climbed over the edge and onto the soft grass below. Sitting on the edge, she breathed deep the clear air, so unlike the polluted and foul air of her time. She now saw why InuYasha hated the air in the future so much. Standing up with a slight jump, she walked with a bounce in her step towards the familiar hut. She took a few steps, when an arrow flew past her face, cutting her cheek, as a thin trail began to slide down her face.
Turning to the source of the shot, she found an all too familiar priestess standing across from her in the small clearing.
"Kikyo," she said as formally as she could, due to the fact that she had just been shot at.
"Where is he," she said, her tone empty, her eyes dark.
"Where's who?" she asked.
"Don't fool with me. InuYasha. Where is InuYasha?"
Kagome turned fully to face her, as she responded, "He's somewhere you can never get to."
Kikyo scowled as she notched another arrow. "He's mine. His life belongs to me, and I will have it back. You will not interfere."
Anger fueled inside of Kagome, as she fought to keep her powers down. "His debt to you ended the day you sided with Naraku. The day you give him the shards. You almost killed him that day, and you still think he owes you everything."
Kikyo let the arrow fly, and she dodge it, as it made a small cut in her sleeve. She continued to stare Kikyo down, ignoring the hole in her shirt, as she gripped her bow tightly.
"I did it for him! To send Naraku to hell!"
Kagome snorted, "Yeah, a lot of good that does now. Where is the coward, by the way? Scared, because he doesn't have his all mighty jewel anymore?"
"I could care less," Kikyo shot back, "All I want now is InuYasha. Tell me where he is!"
"Ooh, greedy, greedy," Kagome mocked, her anger slowly rising with each word that left the dead miko's mouth, "You can't have everything you know."
"Insolent woman!" Kikyo let another arrow fly at her, and this time, she dodged completely, with seconds to spare.
"You try my patience," Kagome said dangerously, "I'm not as weak as I was before, and I assure you, I won't let you kill me."
Kikyo smirked, "Is that so? I'll just have to prove you wrong then."
She notched another arrow, and set it, letting it fly straight towards Kagome's heart. Again, she dodged long before, as she stood across from Kikyo once more, her moving to match her steps so as not to give her an advantage.
Kagome's eyes flickered green, as the winds around them slowly started to pick up. She gauged Kikyo's expression as she stood watching with eyes slightly wider than she would usually allow. The clothes around her body glowered white, as they re-materialized to the green dress she usually wore. She gathered the winds in her hands, as her feet drifted off the ground slightly.
Kikyo froze for a second, before placing another arrow to the bow, and aiming. She fired, and Kagome flew to the side, holding up one palm so it face her, and sent a rush of wind towards her. She jumped out of the way at the last second.
"What the hell are you?!" she screamed, as Kagome sent another wave of power towards her.
"What does it matter?" she called, as they stood opposite eachother once more, Kikyo panting slightly.
"You think that because you become half demon, that everything will change and he will accept you?" she shot, but Kagome's anger rose more.
"You think that dragging him to hell against his will, or making him become fully human will make him accept you? Or even more, make you accept yourself?"
Kikyo scowled darkly, as Kagome hit a sensitive subject. "He loves me!" she screamed, "He doesn't belong with you! He doesn't deserve you!"
"Why?" she screamed, "because I accept him for who he is? Because no matter how many times he went to you, no matter how it teared me apart inside, I always support him? Because I would willingly give anything for him, including my life, and ask nothing in return?"
Kikyo flinched, as Kagome ranted with entire sincerity.
"Just because I made some mistakes in the past, does not mean that I can't fix them," she said, her voice slightly shaky.
"I'm truly sorry for you," Kagome said, "But I love him, and he loves me. I'm sorry..."
Kikyo froze, horror on her face, as she quickly turned to a scowl and brought an arrow to her bow so fast, that Kagome barely acknowledged that she had moved before it wedged itself deep in her shoulder. She hissed in pain, as she clutched the offending weapon. Crimson red leaked out and began staining her gown.
She blinked a few times, focusing her blurred vision, as she snapped of the end of the arrow, making sure she left enough to be able to remove it later. She focused her eyes on Kikyo, as she flew at her, winds gathering around her. Kikyo dodged, as she narrowly avoided hitting a tree. She fired winds at her, and she repeatedly rolled out of the way.
"You are truly weak. One hit and you fall," she said, as she smirked evilly.
"I'm not weak," she whispered, as she pushed herself back up again.
"It's true, you're merely a copy," she barked.
Kagome fought back tears as she struggled to speak, her vision clouding slightly. "I'm not a copy..."
"The only reason InuYasha loves you is because you're a copy! A copy, of his true love!"
"No," she spoke, "That's not true!.."
"You can deny it," Kikyo's voice rang in her head, "But the truth remains, that you will always be worth something, only because of the fact that you are the reincarnation of me. No one will ever give you a second look otherwise, and convincing yourself differently is a waste of time."
A single tear slid down Kagome's face, as she looked up to Kikyo across the clearing. Pain and sorrow coursed through her veins, as an odd feeling pulsed throughout her. She held her hands infront of her, as giant gusts of winds and her miko powers collided and merged as one within them.
"You're wrong," she whispered, as the energy pulsed a radiating pink, "YOU'RE WRONG!!" she shot the energy forward as it collided dead on with Kikyo, sending her flying back into the forest, before crashing into a tree. Her body broke upon impact, as her soul flew up into the skies. Kagome watched it float above the tree tops, as she crumpled on the forest floor.
Grasping the shaft of the protruding arrow, she gripped it tightly as she pulled it violently from her shoulder, crying out slightly, as fresh blood poured out and the pain increased. She shakily ripped off the bottom of her dress, and made a makeshift bandage, wrapping it around her shoulder, and under the arm of the opposite shoulder, in a wrap that she hoped would hold until she could find help.
She tried to get up on her feet, but fell to her knees. Her breathing became laboured, as her vision started blurring into multiples. She panted, as she fought to remain conscious, quickly losing the battle. She slumped forward onto her hands, as her back shook with every breath. She fell forward, as darkness consumed her. Her voice whispered, echoed vainly into the air.
"You're wrong..."
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Shippo walked outside the hut with Kilala (AN: It sounds more like "Kirara" to me in the Jap episodes, but hey, lest I be flamed..:P), humming a tune softly to himself. He carried a basin full of fresh water for Kaede, every now and then a few drops spilling over the edge.
He walked through the front door and placed the water by the fireplace, as he waved to Kaede who smiled at him. Exiting the hut with Kilala at his side, he walked around to the edge of the forest. He was about to turn back when he spotted a butterfly. It was a beautiful blue, as the sun shone off its gossimer wings. Well, he couldn't resist. He and Kilala chased it into the woods, around trees, over logs and rocks, until they were fairly deep in the forest.
When he lost sight of it, he turned to Kilala. "We're pretty far in. We better turn back, don't want to get lost," he added with a small smile. She mewed in response as they began heading back the way they came. Shippo walked steadily, humming again. He looked down to speak to Kilala when he noticed she wasn't there. Turning around, he found her facing the opposite direction, her nose in the air, sniffing softly.
He walked up to her and sniffed the air as well, but found nothing. "You smell something, Kilala?"
She mewed, as she took a step and closed her eyes, sniffing again. He sniffed as well, but this time caught the faint smell of blood. He turned to Kilala, who nodded, as they started off into the woods, following the smell.
He found himself tracing the smell to the clearing where the well was. He frowned, as he looked around, checking the air for the location of the blood. Walking around one side of the well, he opened his eyes and saw a body laying on the ground. His eyes widened, as he walked up to it carefully. He circled the body to look at the face, and gasped.
"Kilala! Over here!"
The cat youkai was at his side in a matter of seconds, as she mewled softly. Shippo placed his ear near her mouth, and to his relief, found that she was still breathing. Summoning his strenght, he carefully rolled her onto her back, as he took note of the wound in her shoulder. He winced, as worry spread throughout him.
Kilala transformed behind him and growled softly, as she gently nudged Kagome's body. She lowered onto her legs, as Shippo dragged her as gently as he could onto Kilala's back. He draped her sideways, her wound facing upwards, in hopes that the blood would be diverted to other areas.
Climbing on after, he sat behind Kagome, as he held her in place. Kilala watched as he settled in quickly, nodding to her, as she began to run through the forest.
Shippo held his surrogate mother close to him, as he pushed back tears. He must be brave for her, for them all. She would survive, she was strong. He prayed silently as Kilala ran towars the hut, begging to the Gods that she would live.
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oooh...Kikyo's such and "-itch" with a "B"!!!
Oh, btw, now she's dead! HAHAHA, you can't hit me now patricia! XD
I gotta go now...must run from Kikyo supporters...(approach with pitchforks and torches...)
Well...see ya later! Thanks to all who've reviewed, and sorry once more for the wait! Byeeee...(runs away from rampaging townspeople)
Luv yaz!
Moshi