Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Hi everyone, I'm back!
Screams were penetrating through the woods, through the fields, and no matter where Kagome ran those blood curdling screams followed her sending shivers down her spine. Finally her thoughts caught up to her body and she stopped running.
"When have I been one to run away?" She asked aloud, speaking to no one, "And since when do I listen to Inuyasha?"
This was it; she knew this was the final battle between Inuyasha and Naraku. This was the beginning of the end…this was the start of forever and whether that forever be good or evil. Inuyasha knew it too. He had roughly told Kagome to '…run…just run.'
*~*~*~*~Flashback*~*~*~*
"If you think about where you are going then he'll find you. Please Kagome…Just run!"
*~*~*~End Flashback*~*~*~
There was something different in his eyes that Kagome didn't have time to decipher. The urgency in his voice and the fear that lead him to say those words caused her legs to move without thought…without her will. His will told her to flee. Along those years of traveling together on some lost road on a dark night or perhaps bright day, Kagome lost herself to him. When this happened she'd never know, but as a result whatever the hanyou wanted Kagome did without thought, whim, nor will. His will be done and her body ran. She ran because he bid her to. Now regret was pricking at her body and she knew she had to stand by him…even through death. So she ran back to the battlefield, to possible death.
Was it death though? She knew those screams. They were coming from Kanna and Kaugra; Inuyasha was proving to be victorious! Kagome quickened her pace; the sheer excitement of Inuyasha persevering over Naraku moved her feet.
There was defiantly perks for Kagome in this victory. Inuyasha would avenge Kikyous death and then there would be nothing preventing Inuyasha from loving Kagome, he'd no longer be bound to Kikyou. Kagome was now practically prancing as she ran.
Without warning Kagome's upper torso convulsed backwards as if hit by 100 arrows. Her feet flew up and she landed painfully on her back. She struggled to sit up as a breath-taking pain was searing through her chest. Bright blue lights shot out of her from different directions of her body setting the dark forest ablaze with an eerie glow. Her body began pulsating with raw energy as she shook uncontrollably from the sheer pain. "He's killing me!! He's killing me!!" She managed to choke out between gasping screams. Naraku had managed to defeat her and she would never see Inuyasha again.
Just then a sharp cry broke her thoughts, "KIKYOU!!!!" Inuyasha belted in the utmost despair
Kagome's body went though a stronger, more violent series of convulsions. 'He's killing us both. Kikyou's been hit. I've been hit.' Using all of her strength, Kagome looked for a wound…and found none.
Another blow of energy sent Kagome flying backwards again. When she opened her eyes she was on the battlefield with a worried Inuyasha peering over her. She lifted her head to peer down at her chest and noticed that she wasn't wearing her normal attire, but miko robes instead…all covered in blood.
Inuyasha stared intently at her, "Kikyou, you'll be Okay. I'm not going to leave you."
"But I'm not…Inuyasha! Behind you!" A long snake-like demon flew through the air in a brilliant attack, serving successfully to slice Inuyasha's shoulder. He fell to the ground, clutching his shoulder as the demon prepared to finish him off. Luckily Miroku was there and he killed the demon easily with a sprit ward.
Inuyasha could only whisper Kikyou's name as he crawled back to the place where Kagome…or Kikyou laid. 'I've got to keep Kikyou alive. If Inuyasha believes she is dying his grief will take over and Naraku will kill him.' She knew why she was here now, but the task would not be easy. The gash in her chest was throbbing and constantly pumping blood out of her. Something else was throbbing as well. Somewhere inside of her she could feel a ball of energy. This was it; she knew she had the strength. She struggled to stand up. Although she was Kikyou's reincarnation Kikyou's body was foreign to her and her, now longer legs, wobbled beneath her. The ball of energy had now grown and a gold light was shooting out of her fingertips. She placed her fingers over the wound she had discovered and used all her concentration to close it up.
Inuyasha watched bewildered at Kikyous new power of healing. "Inuyasha, stand and fight! I'm alive, but if you wish to protect me then you must fight!" Kagome was startled at how her voice sounded, she sounded more angry then concerned.
"Kikyou…how did…" Inuyasha began.
"FIGHT!!" Kagome turned away from his intense gaze. She had always longed for Inuyasha to look at her that way. Now he was, but it wasn't really her at all.
"I can't turn my back on you. Miroku and Sango will carry on for now. I have to make sure you're alright."
"If you love me, you'll fight." Her voice was barely audible. He had heard it though, for in less then a moment he was gone. Kagome turned back around to watch her precious hanyou fight with such valor and fierceness that he had never had before. 'All for her,' She thought, 'It's all for Kikyou.'
A cold teardrop slid down the mikos cheek. Kagome reached up and touched it, 'A tear? I didn't know Kikyou had tears in her body.' Slowly another fell, then another, then another, until finally tears were streaming down her face in a rhythmic pattern.
The world began spinning and Kagome's legs started to give out. 'No, not yet! Don't fail, Kagome…don't leave! Inuyasha will lose if Kikyou dies!'
The world went black and Kagome couldn't see anything. Still she reached for an arrow and shot it in whatever direction she felt best. Then, she was gone…back to her own body.
A loud screeching scream from the direction of the battlefield woke Kagome from her slumber. It wasn't the first time she had had that dream. It was a common occurrence, monthly…weekly. It was also accurate, just like the events had actually played out. She could almost feel the pain ripping through her body again.
Light was streaming through the hut. She wasn't resting on Inuyasha's lap anymore, in actuality; Inuyasha's presence was lacking altogether. Kagome stretched out and looked at her surrounding environment. Kago and Shippou were coloring in a corner and Sango and Miroku were finishing their breakfast. "Good morning, Lady Kagome."
"Morning Miroku, Sango." It all seemed so natural, as if she hadn't left for all those years. "I think I'm going to go on a walk. I'll be back in an hour or so. Tell Inuyasha…wait, never mind, he'll find me. He always finds me."
The forest was alive with activity. The sun was bright and the birds were singing. Kagome always took walks after she dreamed that dream. In honesty it was more of a memory she revisited during sleep. Everything was exactly as it happened; laid out for her to witness over and over. She always woke up at the same spot, which was actually a good thing. Yes, she was spared the part where her friends were praising Kikyou and her "heroic" attributes.
*~*~*~*~Flashback*~*~*~*~*
"You should have seen it, Kagome! She was shot in the chest with an arrow but somehow she managed to stand up and heal herself." Sango began re-telling the events to Kagome. She had been found passed out with burns all over her body. When she finally awoke everyone helped try to heal her wounds, except Inuyasha who stared blankly into the fire. At dinner that night they re-told the story to Kagome.
"All of a sudden she collapsed, but right before she died she shot an arrow and it hit right on target…Naraku's heart!" Miroku stated.
"She did?!?!" Kagome interjected anxiously.
"Yes, Kikyou won the battle." Miroku said grinning.
"Oh." Suddenly Kagome realized she would be getting no praise. Suddenly she remembered that she was the one who ran away. She looked at Inuyasha who was still staring into the fire. All she could do was watch him, not knowing what to say. His love died as he tried to protect her. Kagome knew what he was thinking; he was blaming himself. If he had fought a little harder then perhaps Kikyou would be alive and with him.
'With him…' Kagomes breath caught in her throat in audible gasp. She had always believed when Naraku was defeated then Kikyou would just leave…she'd say good-bye and…leave this world. That's not what Inuyasha wanted though, he wanted to have her stay with him in this world or he'd leave with her to wherever she went. A tear slid down her cheek as she realized that he didn't really want her, she was a substitution for a love he almost had…but he let die.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Inuyasha peering at her until his clawed hand wiped that lonely tear away. "Don't cry, Kagome. I told you to run; you couldn't have done anything anyway." He said gently.
"Why not?!" The dam of emotions Kagome was holding back let loose and broke. Kagome stood up angrily. Kikyou saved the day, Kikyou had the incredible healing powers, and Kikyou was perfect while Kagome was so useless she had to run away from fights! If that was what they were thinking then she wouldn't stand for it! "Why couldn't I have helped? When did you lose faith in me Inuyasha?" She stormed away knowing he would follow, but praying he wouldn't.
The forest was silent. The death of evil had occurred and all was at peace. Yet for some reason that peace was mocking her, laughing silently at the hand life gave her to play. She had no chance of winning! Either she could shame the name of Kikyou and watch Inuyasha's heart be ripped out or she could remain silent and forever live in her shadow. She stood in a clearing and looked at her now calloused and cracked hands from the blue fire that shot out of her body. She figured the blue light shooting from her body was her soul fleeing to Kikyou. Was her soul a fire? Then again it wasn't really her soul at all…it was Kikyous.
"What in 7 hells are you talking about, wench?!" Inuyasha's crude voice broke her thoughts, "I was protecting you, that's why I told you to run away you idiot!"
"You let Kikyou stand by you." She stated coldly in reply.
"And she's DEAD! See what good that did? I killed her Kagome, it's a good thing you ran or else you'd probably be dead too!" It wasn't anger Kagome saw in his eyes, it was hurt, regret, and shame. Kagome could do nothing but pity him.
"You didn't cause her death, Inuyasha…I did…" Her voice drifted off, "I had an out-of-body experience or something…I dunno. I know you would have rather me died instead of her." Kagome stared at him, praying for an interjection, denial, or ANYTHING from him. He stood there in silence staring at the ground. She realized she had nothing to lose at that point for you can't lose something if you've never had it. Inuyasha was never hers, she only wished it.
"Keh, you stupid wench, you actually make it sound like I care that she's gone." Kagome's frown deepened. He shouldn't be talking like that, she was gone…he was hurt, that was all natural.
"I know you loved her, Inuyasha." She spoke slowly trying to cover up the hurt she felt.
"Keh, what would give you that idea?"
"I saw the way you fought for her today! I saw the passion in your eyes! I saw the worry and concern laced in your every action! And I saw you…Inuyasha, crawl to her. That's why she's dead. I was hurt; I lost focus because of my own pain, so stop blaming yourself."
Inuyashas face was etched in confusion, but the truth of the worlds also filled him with grief that Kagome could plainly see through his eyes try as he might to hide it. "How could you have seen? We found you passed out far away from the fighting."
"She has a part of my soul. I don't know half of the things that happen to me, this is no exception. All I know is after a few painful seizures I was Kikyou. I knew you'd die if she was hurt. I focused my energy and that's when you saw Kikyou stand. It was me, I was bid to protect her…I think…and I failed. But right before I was gone I shot that arrow, I needed to know you would live."
"You also cried." Kagome looked up at Inuyasha abruptly. She stared at his face which was stern and serious. He chuckled awkwardly before he continued, "And there I was thinking there was still human left in her. Those tears gave me hope when they trailed down her cheek, but no, it was you. You are the only real thing left of Kikyou…"
*~*~*~*~End Flashback*~*~*~*~*~*
She should have known then, at those words she should have realized that she would never be more to him then a substitution. There was more to their meeting then chance. Perhaps Kikyou and Inuyasha were supposed to end up together and Kagome was merely created to be a Kikyou for Inuyasha. That couldn't be…fate had more in mind for Higurashi Kagome. Life wouldn't be so cruel to bring in a life to live only as someone else. She had her own dreams to live out, and maybe Brad was that escape.
By this time the sky had become overcast and dark. 'Spring showers.' Kagome thought to herself. Rain wasn't a bad thing, but she'd seen enough movies to know that climaxes in stories always happen in the rain. Then she remembered, she had to tell Inuyasha about Brad today.
So there it was, she had figured out what the climax was going to be, the resolution was what she feared. Just then she felt that ball of energy inside of her again, the gift Kikyou had left her. It was a thank you for keeping her alive long enough to save Inuyasha. Or maybe it was a reminder of who she truly was.
That pulsating ball of energy made itself known whenever Kagome was afraid. It gave her the strength she needed to do anything. As the energy grew she wondered how it could possibly assist her in breaking the heart of the only love she'd ever known…for a second time…