Author's notes: The last chapter. And I tip my hat to those who guessed where I got this inspiration! The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (I believe) and Things Fall Apart (burns it) (forgot the author's names for both) are both inspirational works that helped me plot out this story. Though I really hated Things Fall Apart when I read it, the message did get across to me, and there was no girl in Very Old Man…

Paper Wings
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Chapter six
====

The week passed slowly for Kagome's mother. Though the head of the village had promised that no one would hurt Kagome, she couldn't help but feel worried about the outcome of this village's future. The tension hung thick in the air, and many of the villagers gave her daughter deadly glares. Kagome had refused to leave the courtyard, for fear of the creature being left alone. Therefore, she had not heard the terrible things people spoke of regarding her and the spawn.

The healer sighed and placed her youngest child, Souta, into his crib, gently rocking the child until he fell asleep.

She glanced out the window to see Kagome once again taking care of the creature. She kept claiming that the storm two weeks ago had made him sick and that he should be allowed in the house. Kagome's mother had refused, rejecting the idea of letting something evil into her home. Kagome had had some retort, but she had not listened.

Hearing footsteps, the healer left the tranquility of her home and walked across the courtyard towards the opening to the outside world. Visitors had been slim as of late, but still some came. Once Naraku had visited, confirming that their deal was set for the end of the week, however, she had yet to tell her daughter of the selling of Inu yasha. Kagome's mother knew that Kagome was attached to him; anyone with eyes could see as much, and that was partly why she sold the creature. She did not want her daughter to be pulled into something evil.

"Healer?" came a timid voice. A woman appeared from behind the stone wall to gaze up at Kagome's mother.

"That is me," Kagome's mother said with a small smile. "What is it that you need?"

"My mother," the woman whispered, she couldn't be any older than Kagome. "She is very sick…"

"Ah, speak no more. If you'll follow me, I can collect my things, and you can tell me how she is sick," the older of the two women smiled and made her way towards the house.

"I dare not enter," the small woman said meekly.

"What was that?"

"I dare not enter. I dare not enter the home that has been drenched in evil," the girl said and lowered her eyes. "My mother has a fever."

"Aye," The healer sighed, "I understand, just wait here until I get back with my supplies."

"Thank you, ma'am," the girl said sweetly, though fear still laced her voice.

Kagome watched her mother run into the house only to exit and run towards the other girl, who refused to enter into her home. Kagome felt a little uneasy these days, feeling like something big was coming. She glanced at Inu yasha, who was staring up at the dark clouds that danced across the sky, small flashes of blue could be seen, but they were minimum and soon covered by the dark masses of clouds.

"Do you feel it?" he asked as his golden eyes surveyed the horizon.

"Feel what?"

"You're world is corrupt," he murmured and Kagome stared at him. He refused to meet her gaze, his eyes still sweeping over the sky and the rest of the village far off down the hill. "Something is happening that we are not aware of."

"Many things happen we are not aware of, Inu yasha," Kagome said softly.

"Something that concerns us…and we are being left in the dark," he said and finally turned his gaze towards hers. The fire in his eyes burned brightly and Kagome felt her heart speed up. "It's only a matter of time before it happens."

Kagome felt a shiver run through her and she turned towards the darkened sky. "Yes, I feel it."

===

Naraku entered the church loudly, banging open the large wooden doors and strolling towards the altar like he owned the world. His stride was long and powerful and his smirk was deadly. Miroku, who had been sweeping the church's floor clean looked up when he saw the village headman walk in. "Good day to you," he called from the other side of the church. Naraku gave him a disdainful glare before strolling past him.

"Out of my way, boy. Where is Brown?" Naraku sneered angrily at Miroku.

Miroku, slightly taken aback by the man's sour attitude pointed towards the priest in question's quarters. "He's in there, sir."

Naraku marched to where Miroku indicated and knocked loudly on the door. A faint 'come in' could be heard and Naraku stormed in, the door flying open. Miroku continued with his duty of sweeping, though he continually crept closer and closer to the room that the two men were in.

"It is almost time," he heard Naraku's voice.

"Are you certain of this?" Brown's voice asked, his voice much older and calmer than Naraku's.

"Yes, the Americans will be here within two days," Naraku said, agitated.

'Americans? What are they doing coming here?' Miroku wondered as he crept closer, his body pressed against the wall as he tried to hear everything his elders said. 'What are they planning?'

"I see…"

"We must capture the creature now," Naraku demanded angrily.

"Now?"

"Now. That's what I said." Naraku's sneering voice filtered out towards Miroku. Miroku's dark blue eyes narrowed in wonderment as he clenched his broomstick angrily.

"Well then," he heard the rustling of clothing and knew that his mentor was standing now, towering over Naraku, probably running a hand through his thick blond hair. "I suppose we should go collect him then."

"We don't know how powerful he is," Naraku said darkly.

"That is true. We should go collect anyone who is willing to restrain him if we must."

"Perfect."

"But what of the girl?"

"She will not get in our way," Naraku said sinisterly and a small chuckle escaped his lips.

Miroku backed away slowly, pursing his lips, 'I don't like the sound of that…'

"Come," Naraku said darkly and the two men exited, eyeing Miroku with a weary gaze. The boy was still sweeping in the same spot he'd been in when Naraku had entered.

"Good day to you sir," Miroku repeated, only this time as a farewell instead of a greeting.

"Miroku, I hope to see this church spotless when I return," Minister Brown said with a small smile on his lips.

"I shall sir," Miroku said and gave a small bow.

As soon as the two men exited the church, Miroku flung his broom aside and raced towards the back entrance of the church. He had to determine for himself if the winged man truly was evil.

===

Kagome chewed her lip in anxiousness as she paced around the courtyard, trying to work out the kinks in her muscles from sitting for so long. The bad feeling had only grown within her and she felt like someone had thrown cold water down her back.

Inu yasha watched her from his vantage point on the ground; his golden eyes following her every move and his ears twitching towards her whenever she made a small noise of discontentment.

"I don't like this," Kagome said finally. "Mother has been gone for so long, and no visitors have come today." She eyed Inu yasha, who was casting her a slightly offended look. "Not saying I want them to come. It's just that they always come. Why are they suddenly no longer visiting and agitating us?" She walked briskly to the entrance and looked out of the gateway. "Empty," she muttered to herself. Inu yasha's canine ears perked up at her grumble.

"Relax," he said after a moment of her silent fretting. Kagome obeyed, silently walking towards him and plopping down next to him, a small blush staining her cheeks.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"It's alright," he reassured her, a small smile on his lips. Kagome blushed again and snuggled into his shoulder, hiding her face in his silver hair.

Soon Kagome found herself dozing off, the stress of recent events causing her to grow weary at earlier hours. Inu yasha watched as she slept.

After about an hour of Kagome's gentle breathing, Inu yasha's ears twitched towards the entrance of Kagome's home, where a set of footsteps were quickly approaching. His eyes narrowed and his arms tightened around Kagome, who dreamed on peacefully.

Suddenly, a boy ran into the courtyard, his black hair pulled back into a small pony tail at the nape of his neck. Sparkling blue eyes searched around blindly before they settled on Inu yasha, whose eyes narrowed to slits as he fluttered his wings warningly.

The boy, who he now noticed was dressed in priest robes, walked over towards him, his eyes wide and his body begging for air. "So this is what you look like…?" he murmured as he stared at Inu yasha with wide eyes. Instinctively Inu yasha's arms tightened around Kagome, drawing her closer to him and slightly behind his wing.

The boy took a step towards him and Inu yasha reeled back slightly, his teeth bared and his wings forming around him defensively.

"Wait, don't be afraid." The boy waved his hands and Inu yasha eyed him suspiciously. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to warn you."

"Go on," Inu yasha said, and the boy seemed surprised that he could talk.

"There are some people coming," Miroku stated, as he faced an internal struggle with himself. 'Evil or Good? Dark or Pure?' He couldn't tell, but he had to trust his instincts. "They're here to take you away, far away. You'll be ill treated."

Kagome stirred beside Inu yasha and she sat up rubbing her eyes. Opening her blue orbs she observed the newcomer and a tense, growling Inu yasha. "What…?" she whispered before standing, only to be pushed back by Inu yasha. "Inu yasha!" she cried in surprise, "What is going on?"

"Stay back," he growled, though Miroku could hear the tint of tenderness in his voice, his golden eyes watched Kagome before returning the fiery gaze to the young priest-to-be.

"Miss Kagome," Miroku addressed the girl, for that was who he assumed the girl was. "I'm afraid I have bad news. I'm sorry for intruding, but…"

Kagome peeked out from behind Inu yasha's shoulders, where the boy's wings did a significant enough dip for her to have a clear view of Miroku.

"There are people coming to take him away." He motioned towards the one in question. "I felt that you had a right to know."

Kagome blinked and gently pushed aside Inu yasha's large feathered wing. She ignored Inu yasha's grunt of disapproval and walked towards Miroku. She stood at his chin and had to tip her head back in order to look him in the eye.

"Why are you helping me?" she said firmly. Miroku was slightly thrown back by this response.

He offered a small smile. "Because I don't like to see prejudice towards another in the name of God." He stated it calmly and for the first time knew that what he was doing was right. He didn't have doubts. What his mentor was doing, what Naraku was doing, what their followers were doing…it was all wrong; they were prejudicing this winged man because of their fears and insecurities. They refused to believe anything else.

Kagome smiled, "Thank you…"

Inu yasha growled behind her and they turned their attention towards the winged man. His attention was elsewhere. His ears were perked high and his eyes were trained to the entrance of Kagome's home. "What is it Inu yasha?" Kagome asked hesitantly.

"They're coming," he said firmly and his fist clenched.

Kagome cast Miroku a nervous glance before running back to Inu yasha, his arm instinctively came up and wrapped around her, drawing her close to him and protecting her with his body.

Sure enough, moments later the sound of angry men could be heard, their stomping footsteps leading up towards the small hut. Kagome clenched Inu yasha's kimono, the dirtied kimono fisting in her hand. "Inu yasha…" she murmured, fear lacing her voice.

"I'm here," he reassured her, his voice comforting her in what was sure to be her bleakest hour. "We'll be ok."

She hoped he was right.

As predicted, the villagers came storming into the courtyard, holding ropes, spears, swords and various other weapons. Kagome felt her fear rise as she realized that they had truly come for Inu yasha at last. Inu yasha's grip on her tightened and she saw his ears flatten against his skull, his golden eyes studying him.

Kagome recognized the priest in the crowd. Father Brown. "Miroku, what are you doing here?" he addressed the boy that had come to warn them.

"Sir, this is wrong," Miroku spoke, his voice loud and harsh, "Can't you see that he is not evil? Can't you see that he has not sinned?"

"Miroku, you are a fool," Brown said crossly, "You are ignorant and uneducated. Stand aside."

"No," Miroku said and stood tall; Kagome stared at him in shock and amazement. She had not known that people like him still lived in her village. Perhaps there was hope for them yet?

Naraku snarled and pushed his way through the crowd of men, striding towards Miroku he pushed him aside harshly, the young man falling the ground in a small gasp of pain. Naraku turned his dark, angry eyes towards Kagome and Inu yasha. "That thing will come with us," he snarled.

"No," Kagome protested, her voice finally finding its way past her throat.

Naraku snarled and clenched his fists. "We have custody over him; he was sold to us; he belongs to us. Hand him over!"

"He belongs to no one!" Kagome yelled angrily, moving away from Inu yasha's protective embrace.

"Kagome, move aside." Kagome recognized the voice as her mother's and Kagome felt fury growing within her. "Kagome, please..."

"I won't!" She protested sadly as she clenched her hands into fists. "I won't let you take him away from me!"

"We'll get him either way!" A bulky village man holding a spear snarled, and Kagome retreated back a step.

Suddenly, she felt Inu yasha pushing her back and she gasped in surprise as he stood before them, his wings spread out as far as they would go. "Leave her alone," he snarled and pumped his wings back and forth, in front and behind him, sending large gusts of wind soaring towards the villagers. The men were swept off their feet and fell to the ground. Inu yasha smirked in satisfaction and turned towards Kagome, his hands reaching out and grabbing her.

Kagome only had a moment to adjust, because as soon as she was being held by Inu yasha, being held tightly in his arms, he started running across the courtyard, his eyes narrowed with determination.

Behind her she heard Naraku yell, "Don't let them get away!"

Kagome grasped Inu yasha's shoulders tightly as he jumped into the air. She felt his wings pump around her and she slammed her eyes shut out of fear. His hold on her was gentle, yet firm enough to ensure she did not fall away from him.

After a moment, Kagome cracked open her eyes and looked around. She was shocked to see they were high in the air, the wind whipping her face. She looked below her and saw her village and her home on the cliff. Her eyes widened in fascination at the scene that lay before her. She looked past her village and saw the forests and the dark ocean stretching for miles and miles.

She turned her face back towards Inu yasha who was watching her, "You're wings…they're healed?"

"They've been healed for weeks now," he whispered quietly and Kagome stared at him. "I just…didn't want to leave," he murmured, his voice low.

Kagome stared at him in surprise. 'Even after all he's been through. All that abuse…he still stayed…he stayed with me.' She felt her heart swell and she gripped him tightly as he continued to fly.

Kagome's eyes seemed pained. 'We could run away together…we could leave this village,' she mused as she stared at him, his eyes seemingly concentrated on where he was going, though they seemed alit with a look of pure delight she'd never seen before. He was happy to be flying again. 'No…I couldn't. We couldn't. No matter where we went, we'd always be chased. Just because he's a little different.'

She squeezed her eyes shut and willed her tears away, 'I have to send him away. I have to protect him!'

"Inu yasha," she murmured, "Land on that beach, please."

He obeyed and dipped down onto the shoreline where she had first found him, bloody and injured. She had healed him, befriended him, but now she stood before him, afraid of sending him away, but knowing it was for the best.

She turned her eyes towards the cliff and saw the mass of people rushing towards them, trying to get to them. She had enough time, she hoped.

She turned back to Inu yasha, resisting the tears that were inevitable. He looked confused and curious. "Inu yasha, you have to leave."

"Then what are we standing here for?" he asked in wonderment. He, too, had seen the mass of people.

"No, not we. You," Kagome whimpered, "You have to leave. Be free."

"What?" he looked pained by the very idea as he stared at her. "I can't leave you."

"You have to!" Kagome said, trying to sound angry, "Can't you see I don't want you any more?" A tear rolled down her cheek as she stepped forward and pushed against his hard chest. "Can't you see I want you to go away? I don't want to see you anymore!"

His hands shot out and gripped her hands, causing her to gasp. "You lie," he said plainly as his pained eyes stared into hers.

Kagome desperately tried to hang onto her jumbled feelings, her emotions overflowing as tears ran down her cheeks. He tenderly brushed them away. "Inu yasha," she whispered. "I…" it was hard to say it. She looked up at him. "I want to protect you. You can't stay here. You need to go back to where you came from."

He lowered his head, his ears drooped. "I want to stay with you," he said quietly, making Kagome's heart break.

"I want you to stay with me, too. But you can't. It wouldn't work," she sobbed as she ran into his arms, holding him closely to her. He towered high above her, her head barely reaching his neck. "Please, please, please, live. Live!"

She squeezed her eyes shut again, "I love you." It slipped out quickly as she pulled away and gazed up at him. It was true. Over the weeks she'd cared for him and healed him, the winged man had slowly captured her heart.

His eye widened and he blushed brightly. Kagome stared in wonderment. That was the first time she'd seen him blush. For a moment, she could believe that perhaps at one time he could have been human.

"I…love you too," he whispered quietly and stared at her.

Angry shouts sounded in the distance and Kagome knew they were nearing them. "Please," she whimpered as she gently pushed him towards the water. "Be free. Fly away."

His eyes softened and he leaned forward, capturing her lips delicately, his mouth slanted over hers. She let out a small gasp of surprise before returning the kiss. More tears flowed from her. Gods, it hurt so much…

He pulled away regretfully and stared at her, before backing away into the water. Kagome stared in amazement as his feet traveled over the water, but didn't sink below.

He was walking on water.

Kagome gazed at him and she walked towards him, her feet swishing in the water as the drag tried to prevent her from moving quickly. He smiled at her as she began to sink below him as the water level rose. "Inu yasha," she asked, as she stared up at him. "What are you?"

He paused and stared at her for a long moment before smiling. "I am Inu yasha. That is all that matters," he said and Kagome couldn't help but agree.

She reached out her hand to him and he gently captured it, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I'll never forget you," she promised.

"We'll meet again," he assured her and released her hold, continuing to walk away. He gazed at her sadly as Kagome began to sob. "Please, don't cry for me," he murmured as he turned his back on her, the sun reflecting off his beautifully sculpted feathers, the light reflecting the silver and gold that danced across the white feathers.

They flapped gently as he began to walk quicker on the water, before starting to run and lifting of the ground, his wings evening out as he soared into the sky. Like an eagle.

Kagome watched him go with tears in her eyes. She watched as he flew towards the large sun, until he was a tiny speck and had disappeared from her view forever. "Goodbye," she whispered.

She backed out of the water and stared, hoping to see one more glimpse of him. She knew that he hated to leave, but he had no choice.

She smiled faintly and wiped her eyes.

"You!" Cried a voice and Kagome whirled around, to see the men had surrounded her. Her mother was rushing towards them as well as some other village women. Kagome stared at the men towering over her, their anger evident. It was Naraku who spoke, "Now."

Suddenly a man came diving at her with his spear readied. Kagome's eyes widened in shock as the spearhead dug into her stomach. She gasped in pain as the weapon penetrated her body and came out the other end.

She stood on wobbly knees, her hands hesitantly touching the spear protruding from her belly, blood stained her kimono, and she began coughing, small rivers of blood flowing from her open mouth. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at her kinsmen. The ones she'd grown up with.

Her knees collapsed below her and she fell to the ground, her whole body shaking. A single tear dropped from her closed eyes, clenched shut in pain as she raised her head to look at the village men.

And she died with a smile on her face.

"No!" screamed her mother as she reached the scene, staring at her dead daughter, lying sprawled across the sand, the golden grains stained crimson from her large wound. "You promised you wouldn't hurt her!" the healer sobbed as she pounded against Naraku's back with her fists.

Naraku smirked and turned towards her, sending a small slap across her cheek. "I promised I wouldn't hurt her. I kept my promise," he said with a small smirk on his face. "I have purged my village of the evil. It was this bitch's fault that I lost my demon. That will cost me dearly. For that, I will not pay you."

"Do you think I care about that?" the woman sobbed as she collapsed to her fallen, dead daughter. "You killed my child! You killed my child! You killed my child!" Naraku snorted and turned away, his followers following him up the path back towards the village, leaving the woman with her dead child. Sympathetic village woman tried to comfort the woman, but it was no use.

Her daughter was gone. And nothing would bring her back…

Epilogue

His hand traveled across the small shrine over his sister's gravesite. His dark blue eyes saddened as he recalled the stories his mother often told him about his dead sister, the girl who had fought for what she believed in…and lost.

But had she truly lost?

Souta smiled as he gazed at his sister's grave. She had been dead for fifteen years. He had never known her. All he knew from the stories was that she was a brave, passionate girl who had been in love with a fallen angel.

His eyes stared up at the sky and he sighed. After his sister's death, apparently, people began to realize. Realize what they had done. It was like the classic example of irony. No one realized what they were doing until it was too late. Too late to bring back his sister. Too late to bring back his mother's daughter.

'Hello sister,' he thought with a smile. 'Happy birthday.' He did it every year. He always came to his sister's grave and spoke to her. They had buried her in a small alcove on the beach, where the winter storms did not interfere. At first, they were thinking of burying her in the Church's graveyard, but his mother respected the fact her daughter had never converted.

'You were in love with a fallen angel.' He thought with a gentle shake of his head. 'I don't know where you went sister. I hope you did not go to hell. I hope, though, that you got to see your angel again…'

He kneeled before his sister's grave and said a small prayer before standing and leaving the shrine.

"I hope you did," he murmured as he stared at the sky. "I hope the happiness you didn't receive in life was granted to you in blissful death."

He climbed up the cliff's path towards his home, where his mother was waiting for him.

"I hope you're happy, sister. I hope he found you."

End