Hidey-ho! Chappie 24, the second parter to chapter 23! (wow, how smart do ya hafta be to figger that out~) I hate splitting chapters and having two-parters, but the original 23 was so long it wouldn't have loaded right if I tried to do that, so I split it~ Gomen ne!
Hope you enjoy~ (I always say that as if I've make some delectable little dish for you guys to try....o_0)
Disclaimer: ::eating ramen:: I mon't ohm Inuyahha. (translation:: I don't own Inuyasha. ^-^)
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Seven :: Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou (part 2)
Chapter Twenty-Four :: Uneasy Rest (part 2)
"Say what?!"
Inuyasha demanded, and Kaede looked up at him as she stirred the fire. "Stop your barking and calm down." The hanyou settled for a moment, retaking his seat across from the old woman, but his angry expression at the news didn't disappear. "Babaa, you're sure it was her?"
Kaede nodded gravely, and Miroku added, "I know Kikyou-sama's voice. And she was wearing the same clothes we saw on Kikyou-sama in Kitsuko Forest."
"It was most certainly Oneesama." Kaede assured the hanyou and Inuyasha cursed, letting the information sink into his brain. Kikyou had been nearby, just last night.
The last time he had seen her was in Kitsuko Forest, when he was ill. Actually he hadn't seen her, he had been blind at the time, and she had spoken to Kagome. She was leaving just as he found her. Even then, she had not remembered him. She hadn't known him, at all.
He wanted to see her. He needed to see her, to end it, in whatever way he could.
He couldn't bear to see that inexpressibly sad look on Kagome's face anymore. He couldn't bear his own conflicting feelings anymore. He had to fix it, to repair what was broken all those months ago when his stupidly spoke that woman's name aloud.
Abruptly he got up, leaving the group where they were and bounding up the stairs to Kikyou's gravesite.
It looked relatively normal, unlike when Urasue first defiled it six months previously. The only evidence that anything had taken place during the night was that by the gravesite there was a large scoop taken out of it, and a small crater at the head of the steps where Kikyou had fired an arrow at Kaede.
Inuyasha knelt and dug through the scoop, bringing some of the dirt up to his nose and sniffing. Gravesoil, of course, but something else. Kikyou's scent. Kikyou's unique scent which was a mix of her old one, and the scent of death which cloaked her now.
"Kikyou *was* here last night... She was here... doing what? She doesn't know who she is, how would she have known to come here?"
Kagome maybe?
Inuyasha knew that Kikyou and Kagome had spoken, he wasn't sure for how long, in Kitsuko Forest. Perhaps Kagome had told Kikyou the truth?
Was Kikyou trying to regain herself? If that was the case, what did the remnants of her gravesoil have to do with anything?
*I'm so confused,* Inuyasha admitted, letting the soil drop back to the ground. He stood and went to where Kikyou's arrow was still stuck in the ground, the tip buried into the dirt. He pulled it out.
It was definitely hers, her scent was on this too. Inuyasha lowered his head solemnly. *Kikyou... how can I save you...? What can I do?*
"Kikyou..."
~*~
Kagome rolled over and peered at her alarm clock. 6:25. True to it, the orange rays of the sun were fading from outside her closed curtains, and the room was veritably dim. She rolled over again, staring at the ceiling. "I slept for so long..."
*Of course, I had to pack after my bath... Souta was at school, so he couldn't help... and then Eri-chan called... wanting to know about the mysterious lump on my neck. I don't think Jiichan knows exactly what he's doing when he gives me possible terminal diseases...*
She sat up, changing into her school uniform, and going through her bag, making sure everything was packed. She headed downstairs, where Mama was making dinner, Souta working on math homework at the table and Jiichan watching the news.
"Hi everyone."
Mama smiled at her daughter. "Getting ready to go?" Kagome nodded and Souta looked up. "Say hi to Inuyasha no niichan for me." Kagome agreed, grinning, as she flounced out the door with a cheerful, "See you later!!" towards the well.
~*~
Inuyasha crossed his arms, glancing sideways at the setting sun and then glaring back down at the well. *Dammit... Kagome's late.*
"Inuyasha?"
The hanyou looked down at the small voice and his eyes fell on Tanpopo. The young girl was sitting at the bottom of the tree, peering up at him with red eyes. She looked as if she had been crying. He blinked. "Tanpopo..."
"Can I come up there and talk to you for a little bit?" He hesitated for a moment, wondering why she wanted to come up and sit with him, before he nodded. "Sure."
The kit bounced into the tree, landing on the branch in front of him, and she settled herself on his lap, laying her head on his thigh, much resembling a little girl and her father. Inuyasha blushed a bit as that mental image presented itself to him, but he shook it off. "What's the matter, brat?"
"Tama-san isn't back yet."
*Ah, I see now,* Inuyasha thought, *Of course she would be worried about my selfish sister... After all Tama is like a mother to her.* "Well what does that have to do with me?" he asked a bit harshly and Tanpopo looked up at him.
"Why did Tama-san leave me here? It has to do with that monster she became, doesn't it?"
Inuyasha's heart lurched at the word. He hated that word. It ranked right up there with being stared at. And it wasn't because Tanpopo was describing Tama; it was because he had done the same thing. The same word could be used to describe himself.
But it was true.
"Yeah, it probably does," he said softly, "She's... scared."
Tanpopo scoffed, sounding like she only half believed him. "Tama-san, scared? Can you even put that in the same sentence?" Inuyasha inwardly chuckled at that. It was part of being idolized. They thought you could do anything. "Yes, Tama gets scared. Everyone gets scared sometimes."
"Even you?"
Inuyasha didn't speak for a long moment. "Yeah," he finally said, "Me too."
"Like what kind of things scare you?"
Inuyasha lowered his head, his eyes hidden by his hair. "I guess... losing Kagome... and being alone. And... myself."
"Yourself?" Tanpopo asked in confusion and Inuyasha nodded. "Why?" the kit pressed.
Inuyasha looked up, his eyes meeting hers. "Because that same youkai blood that turned Tama into that monster you saw... flows in me. I've done that before too. I've killed alot of people... And the thought that I might transform again one day and hurt someone important to me... that scares me."
Underneath the tree, unnoticed by Inuyasha or Tanpopo, Kagome leaned against the trunk, her eyes closed. *Inuyasha...You're still afraid of that...*
Inuyasha looked down at Tanpopo, smiling a little. "But I don't have the time to be worried about my fears, you know? I have to protect Kagome. She means everything to me. Which is why Tama left. I know you mean alot to her. She left to protect you."
Tanpopo smiled faintly and nodded. "Thanks."
Suddenly the hanyou snapped up, alert. "I smell gravesoil." Inuyasha dropped to the ground, setting Tanpopo on his shoulder, and instantly saw Kagome as he started off to investigate. "Kagome, you're...!"
She sounded a bit guilty at his expression, since she knew that he obviously realized she had heard his conversation with Tanpopo, "Yeah, I'm back, what's going on?" Inuyasha grabbed Kagome, the miko hanging onto his back as he darted towards the Goshinboku. He explained to her what Miroku and Kaede had told him, about Kikyou having appeared in the night, and Kagome blinked. *Kikyou came?! Why...?!!*
Almost the moment she wondered, the answer hit her. *She must have decided to check to see what I told her was correct or not... That she is a doll made of bones and gravesoil... that she was really Kikyou, the miko who protected the Shikon no Tama...!*
They stopped at the tree, looking around. *Where...* Inuyasha wondered, when suddenly from the ground, a hand wrapped around his foot, and he yelped as he was yanked down hard to the ground. He caught a glimpse of the things --things, as there were many of them-- that held him fast to the ground.
A corpse, badly decomposed, with no eyes and few teeth, dirt and rotting flesh clinging to its bones. Inuyasha looked disgusted. *A zombie?~!!*
"Kyaa!!" Inuyasha looked up, his eyes falling on Kagome, who was squealing her head off and swiping at zombies left and right with her bow, taking off heads and limbs as she went.
"Dammit... Sankon Tessou!" He sliced off the zombies holding him down and went to Kagome, slicing them away quickly.
Inuyasha took a place in front of Kagome, unsheathing Tessaiga and slicing zombies away with the great sword. Tanpopo was holding her own fairly well, firing off spurts of kitsune-bi from Kagome's shoulder.
But there were tons of them. For every five zombies one swipe with Tessaiga took out, ten more rose to take their place. Before long they were swamped. Kagome noticed however, that the zombies were not attacking so much as they were restraining. *What is Kikyou planning~*
One of the zombies knocked away Tessaiga, and twelve of them dog-piled onto Inuyasha, holding the hanyou down. He looked up as Kikyou appeared from the forest, and he caught his breath. "Ki-Kikyou~! This is your doing?!"
The miko had one hand lifted, and it was glowing with dark energy, and she narrowed her eyes. "Of course. As a miko of the dead, I can raise corpses. And..."
She swiped at Inuyasha with her bow, and Kikyou's miko energy shocked the hanyou. Inuyasha yelled out, and in the moment he was off guard, Kikyou grabbed Kagome and the Shinidamachuu appeared, wrapping around the both of them and flying into the air. Kikyou smiled. "--I can use souls, too. I'll just be borrowing her for awhile, Inuyasha~!"
Inuyasha watched from his place on the ground, horrified. "KAGOME~!"
Kagome uselessly struggled against the Shinidamachuu, and glared at the dead miko. "Kikyou, what--"
"If you are me, then we share the same soul, do we not?" Kikyou said monotonously and Kagome froze. Instantly what Kikyou meant to do ran through her mind, and she twisted, staring back down at Inuyasha.
"INUYASHA~!!!"
~*~
"Oneesama took Kagome?!!!" Kaede repeated and Inuyasha nodded, his face dark. He carefully handed Tanpopo to Sango, and the taijiya blinked. "Inuyasha...?? Where are you going?" Inuyasha glared at her. "Are you stupid, I'm going to go save Kagome!"
"How do you know where they went?" Miroku asked, and Inuyasha rolled his eyes, heading for the door. "I have my nose, you know," he said harshly, adding softly, "And if that doesn't work, I still..."
*......Somehow, I still... just know where they are...*
"I'll come with you," Sango offered, and Shippou agreed. Inuyasha turned to look at them, shaking his head. "You guys stay here and wait for us. I should be alone."
"Hey now wait a minute--" Shippou began, but Miroku stopped him. "He's right. When Kagome-sama is saved, it should be Inuyasha... by himself."
Tanpopo smiled at him, remembering his words before. "Be careful, idiot."
He grinned and leapt through the door.
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: Aaah, what does Kikyou want with Kagome?! (Maybe her soul...??) Hee hee~ evilness! I am evil, yes? ::Dr. Evil laugh:: Mwa ha ha. Mwa Ha Ha! MWA HAHAHAHA~!!!
::in another room Kagome, Inuyasha and the others are sitting in front of a fire, summoning spirits. Saitou from Ruroken appears from the fire and attacks Tessen:: Aku. Soku. Zan!
::Tessen runs off like a scared bitch::
Please review!! Okie, ja!
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
~Tessen
Hope you enjoy~ (I always say that as if I've make some delectable little dish for you guys to try....o_0)
Disclaimer: ::eating ramen:: I mon't ohm Inuyahha. (translation:: I don't own Inuyasha. ^-^)
____________________________
To Be With You Tomorrow
Part Seven :: Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou (part 2)
Chapter Twenty-Four :: Uneasy Rest (part 2)
"Say what?!"
Inuyasha demanded, and Kaede looked up at him as she stirred the fire. "Stop your barking and calm down." The hanyou settled for a moment, retaking his seat across from the old woman, but his angry expression at the news didn't disappear. "Babaa, you're sure it was her?"
Kaede nodded gravely, and Miroku added, "I know Kikyou-sama's voice. And she was wearing the same clothes we saw on Kikyou-sama in Kitsuko Forest."
"It was most certainly Oneesama." Kaede assured the hanyou and Inuyasha cursed, letting the information sink into his brain. Kikyou had been nearby, just last night.
The last time he had seen her was in Kitsuko Forest, when he was ill. Actually he hadn't seen her, he had been blind at the time, and she had spoken to Kagome. She was leaving just as he found her. Even then, she had not remembered him. She hadn't known him, at all.
He wanted to see her. He needed to see her, to end it, in whatever way he could.
He couldn't bear to see that inexpressibly sad look on Kagome's face anymore. He couldn't bear his own conflicting feelings anymore. He had to fix it, to repair what was broken all those months ago when his stupidly spoke that woman's name aloud.
Abruptly he got up, leaving the group where they were and bounding up the stairs to Kikyou's gravesite.
It looked relatively normal, unlike when Urasue first defiled it six months previously. The only evidence that anything had taken place during the night was that by the gravesite there was a large scoop taken out of it, and a small crater at the head of the steps where Kikyou had fired an arrow at Kaede.
Inuyasha knelt and dug through the scoop, bringing some of the dirt up to his nose and sniffing. Gravesoil, of course, but something else. Kikyou's scent. Kikyou's unique scent which was a mix of her old one, and the scent of death which cloaked her now.
"Kikyou *was* here last night... She was here... doing what? She doesn't know who she is, how would she have known to come here?"
Kagome maybe?
Inuyasha knew that Kikyou and Kagome had spoken, he wasn't sure for how long, in Kitsuko Forest. Perhaps Kagome had told Kikyou the truth?
Was Kikyou trying to regain herself? If that was the case, what did the remnants of her gravesoil have to do with anything?
*I'm so confused,* Inuyasha admitted, letting the soil drop back to the ground. He stood and went to where Kikyou's arrow was still stuck in the ground, the tip buried into the dirt. He pulled it out.
It was definitely hers, her scent was on this too. Inuyasha lowered his head solemnly. *Kikyou... how can I save you...? What can I do?*
"Kikyou..."
~*~
Kagome rolled over and peered at her alarm clock. 6:25. True to it, the orange rays of the sun were fading from outside her closed curtains, and the room was veritably dim. She rolled over again, staring at the ceiling. "I slept for so long..."
*Of course, I had to pack after my bath... Souta was at school, so he couldn't help... and then Eri-chan called... wanting to know about the mysterious lump on my neck. I don't think Jiichan knows exactly what he's doing when he gives me possible terminal diseases...*
She sat up, changing into her school uniform, and going through her bag, making sure everything was packed. She headed downstairs, where Mama was making dinner, Souta working on math homework at the table and Jiichan watching the news.
"Hi everyone."
Mama smiled at her daughter. "Getting ready to go?" Kagome nodded and Souta looked up. "Say hi to Inuyasha no niichan for me." Kagome agreed, grinning, as she flounced out the door with a cheerful, "See you later!!" towards the well.
~*~
Inuyasha crossed his arms, glancing sideways at the setting sun and then glaring back down at the well. *Dammit... Kagome's late.*
"Inuyasha?"
The hanyou looked down at the small voice and his eyes fell on Tanpopo. The young girl was sitting at the bottom of the tree, peering up at him with red eyes. She looked as if she had been crying. He blinked. "Tanpopo..."
"Can I come up there and talk to you for a little bit?" He hesitated for a moment, wondering why she wanted to come up and sit with him, before he nodded. "Sure."
The kit bounced into the tree, landing on the branch in front of him, and she settled herself on his lap, laying her head on his thigh, much resembling a little girl and her father. Inuyasha blushed a bit as that mental image presented itself to him, but he shook it off. "What's the matter, brat?"
"Tama-san isn't back yet."
*Ah, I see now,* Inuyasha thought, *Of course she would be worried about my selfish sister... After all Tama is like a mother to her.* "Well what does that have to do with me?" he asked a bit harshly and Tanpopo looked up at him.
"Why did Tama-san leave me here? It has to do with that monster she became, doesn't it?"
Inuyasha's heart lurched at the word. He hated that word. It ranked right up there with being stared at. And it wasn't because Tanpopo was describing Tama; it was because he had done the same thing. The same word could be used to describe himself.
But it was true.
"Yeah, it probably does," he said softly, "She's... scared."
Tanpopo scoffed, sounding like she only half believed him. "Tama-san, scared? Can you even put that in the same sentence?" Inuyasha inwardly chuckled at that. It was part of being idolized. They thought you could do anything. "Yes, Tama gets scared. Everyone gets scared sometimes."
"Even you?"
Inuyasha didn't speak for a long moment. "Yeah," he finally said, "Me too."
"Like what kind of things scare you?"
Inuyasha lowered his head, his eyes hidden by his hair. "I guess... losing Kagome... and being alone. And... myself."
"Yourself?" Tanpopo asked in confusion and Inuyasha nodded. "Why?" the kit pressed.
Inuyasha looked up, his eyes meeting hers. "Because that same youkai blood that turned Tama into that monster you saw... flows in me. I've done that before too. I've killed alot of people... And the thought that I might transform again one day and hurt someone important to me... that scares me."
Underneath the tree, unnoticed by Inuyasha or Tanpopo, Kagome leaned against the trunk, her eyes closed. *Inuyasha...You're still afraid of that...*
Inuyasha looked down at Tanpopo, smiling a little. "But I don't have the time to be worried about my fears, you know? I have to protect Kagome. She means everything to me. Which is why Tama left. I know you mean alot to her. She left to protect you."
Tanpopo smiled faintly and nodded. "Thanks."
Suddenly the hanyou snapped up, alert. "I smell gravesoil." Inuyasha dropped to the ground, setting Tanpopo on his shoulder, and instantly saw Kagome as he started off to investigate. "Kagome, you're...!"
She sounded a bit guilty at his expression, since she knew that he obviously realized she had heard his conversation with Tanpopo, "Yeah, I'm back, what's going on?" Inuyasha grabbed Kagome, the miko hanging onto his back as he darted towards the Goshinboku. He explained to her what Miroku and Kaede had told him, about Kikyou having appeared in the night, and Kagome blinked. *Kikyou came?! Why...?!!*
Almost the moment she wondered, the answer hit her. *She must have decided to check to see what I told her was correct or not... That she is a doll made of bones and gravesoil... that she was really Kikyou, the miko who protected the Shikon no Tama...!*
They stopped at the tree, looking around. *Where...* Inuyasha wondered, when suddenly from the ground, a hand wrapped around his foot, and he yelped as he was yanked down hard to the ground. He caught a glimpse of the things --things, as there were many of them-- that held him fast to the ground.
A corpse, badly decomposed, with no eyes and few teeth, dirt and rotting flesh clinging to its bones. Inuyasha looked disgusted. *A zombie?~!!*
"Kyaa!!" Inuyasha looked up, his eyes falling on Kagome, who was squealing her head off and swiping at zombies left and right with her bow, taking off heads and limbs as she went.
"Dammit... Sankon Tessou!" He sliced off the zombies holding him down and went to Kagome, slicing them away quickly.
Inuyasha took a place in front of Kagome, unsheathing Tessaiga and slicing zombies away with the great sword. Tanpopo was holding her own fairly well, firing off spurts of kitsune-bi from Kagome's shoulder.
But there were tons of them. For every five zombies one swipe with Tessaiga took out, ten more rose to take their place. Before long they were swamped. Kagome noticed however, that the zombies were not attacking so much as they were restraining. *What is Kikyou planning~*
One of the zombies knocked away Tessaiga, and twelve of them dog-piled onto Inuyasha, holding the hanyou down. He looked up as Kikyou appeared from the forest, and he caught his breath. "Ki-Kikyou~! This is your doing?!"
The miko had one hand lifted, and it was glowing with dark energy, and she narrowed her eyes. "Of course. As a miko of the dead, I can raise corpses. And..."
She swiped at Inuyasha with her bow, and Kikyou's miko energy shocked the hanyou. Inuyasha yelled out, and in the moment he was off guard, Kikyou grabbed Kagome and the Shinidamachuu appeared, wrapping around the both of them and flying into the air. Kikyou smiled. "--I can use souls, too. I'll just be borrowing her for awhile, Inuyasha~!"
Inuyasha watched from his place on the ground, horrified. "KAGOME~!"
Kagome uselessly struggled against the Shinidamachuu, and glared at the dead miko. "Kikyou, what--"
"If you are me, then we share the same soul, do we not?" Kikyou said monotonously and Kagome froze. Instantly what Kikyou meant to do ran through her mind, and she twisted, staring back down at Inuyasha.
"INUYASHA~!!!"
~*~
"Oneesama took Kagome?!!!" Kaede repeated and Inuyasha nodded, his face dark. He carefully handed Tanpopo to Sango, and the taijiya blinked. "Inuyasha...?? Where are you going?" Inuyasha glared at her. "Are you stupid, I'm going to go save Kagome!"
"How do you know where they went?" Miroku asked, and Inuyasha rolled his eyes, heading for the door. "I have my nose, you know," he said harshly, adding softly, "And if that doesn't work, I still..."
*......Somehow, I still... just know where they are...*
"I'll come with you," Sango offered, and Shippou agreed. Inuyasha turned to look at them, shaking his head. "You guys stay here and wait for us. I should be alone."
"Hey now wait a minute--" Shippou began, but Miroku stopped him. "He's right. When Kagome-sama is saved, it should be Inuyasha... by himself."
Tanpopo smiled at him, remembering his words before. "Be careful, idiot."
He grinned and leapt through the door.
~*~ To be continued ~*~
a/n :: Aaah, what does Kikyou want with Kagome?! (Maybe her soul...??) Hee hee~ evilness! I am evil, yes? ::Dr. Evil laugh:: Mwa ha ha. Mwa Ha Ha! MWA HAHAHAHA~!!!
::in another room Kagome, Inuyasha and the others are sitting in front of a fire, summoning spirits. Saitou from Ruroken appears from the fire and attacks Tessen:: Aku. Soku. Zan!
::Tessen runs off like a scared bitch::
Please review!! Okie, ja!
~*~ V^-^V ~*~
~Tessen