It is midnight, I just finished my stupid essay and yet I'm not going to bed. Why you ask? Because I'm insane and the one person I couldn't turn down asked me to stay up. So here I am. With nothing to do. I figured I would start this instead of staring at the TV.
Woops I was supposed to post this a few days ago... I'm sorry 3 tests 2 quizzes an essay and an oral presentation can really kill a person's free time
Nedz: Thanks = ) I'm glad you like it
Flashbacks are italicized
Why cant i use stars any more?!?! (---) is going to replace them
(----)
"That night is forever burned into my mind, I can see it all so clearly," Kagome smiled bitterly, "Kikyo shattered and my sole returned."
Inuyasha had engraved that day into his memory forever as well.
Naraku's tentacle like arm lashing out towards the forest on the edge of a clearing where a major battle took place. There was no scream or pain or pool of blood as her body was split in two, just the blinding white light of separated souls being released into the sky. One such sole shone brighter then the others, despite its small size, instead of ascending with the rest to the heavens it raced through the battlefield, hitting Kagome in the chest.
"And Naraku devoured the completed jewel"
He had not so much devoured it as absorbed it, shoving the jewel into the 'eye' of his armor. The immediate results were terrifying. He grew, not only physically, but an aura of deep blue and black flared around him.
"Everyone was fighting, even Shippo"
Kohaku had fallen, the shard removed from his back. Sango's outrage and despair was released through the slaughter of demons, they fell in the hundreds by her cry of "Hiraikotsu".
Miroku was in the middle of another group of demons, fending them off with hi staff. For every one that fell more sprung up, the poison bees flew among them preventing the young monk from using his Kazana
Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, AND Kouga were working together against Naraku, which was a miracle on its own. Even through the pain of injuries the three were putting a major dent in the giant half-demon.
Even little Shippo was fending off lesser demons off to the side of the large clearing. A ring a blue kistunubi created a protective shield around the small group. He, Ah and Un had been charged with protecting Rin.
Kagome gave a bitter smile, "Then he hit you."
Naraku lashed out once again at the three men directly attacking him. Kouga ducked, his shard-less legs too weak to run, Sesshomaru bolted sideways, escaping further harm, and Inuyasha leapt into the air. Another arm met him there, flinging him to a tree that shattered on impact.
"I saw that and something inside me snapped, I put every emotion I had ever felt for you into that single arrow."
There was a lot of emotion in that arrow, and the completion of Kagome's soul only increased it. Kikyo's pain and emotion poured into the arrow as well, the light was blinding. She stepped forward to keep her friends behind her. It flew wither precision and speed, hitting Naraku before he had the chance to dodge.
"It destroyed everything but the jewel."
Naraku dissolved in the pure white light, along with the millions demons around him.
"You said good job and asked me to take care of everyone."
Inuyasha scooped Kikyo's two halves up before he left, she needed and deserved to be returned to her grave in Kaede's village. Kagome would be safe for two-three days, Sesshomaru could protect her till he was fully healed or chose to leave. And after that last display of power he knew she could handle herself.
"You were out of sight when I collapsed"
"What?! Why would you do a stupid thing like that?!" Inuyasha's golden orbs filled with worry, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Kagome shrugged, "You never asked," she said simply.
"I came too a little later, Kouga carried me to the fire Shippo started. Miroku was tending to his wounds, and Sango was mourning her brother's death. Rin was begging Sesshomaru to save Kohaku. That was the most human I have ever seen your brother." She smiled at the memory, "For a ten year old she sure is brave, and she was only eight then.
"Are you going to tell me about the wish or not wench?" Inuyasha demanded.
Kagome ignored him and went on with her story, "So...
"Yes"
"Can I sleep with you and Shippo?"
"Of course," Kagome shifted to give the small girl room in her sleeping bag.
Rin beamed, sinking into the warmth, snuggling into Shippo's tail. While with Sesshomaru she had developed a fondness for fluffy accessories.
Kagome supported her weight on one arm, the other stroked Rin's hair, lulling the little girl to sleep.
Sesshomaru stood off to the edge of the circle created by the fire. A smile fought to escape his thin lips at the sight of Kagome and Rin. The former could see this and grinned in return. "For brothers who hate each other they sure have many of the same habits," she thought.
"You sure you're alright?" Kouga's voice drew her attention.
"I could ask you the same thing. Without those shards you won't heal as fat, you should really get some sleep."
"I could tell you the same thing" he smirked.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," She turned away to look over the horizon.
"Ya know, he really doesn't deserve you"
"I thought I was 'your woman'," she replied sarcastically turning to stare into his cool blue eyes.
"I may be stubborn, Kagome, but I am no blind. I gave up on you being my woman a long time ago."
"Then why do you still pick fights with Inuyasha over it?" her brow crinkled in confusion.
"Someone has to make sure that dumb mutt still appreciates you, not like he'll ever openly admit it."
She smiled warmly at the wolf prince, "Thanks Kouga-kun, you truly are a great friend. Now do me a favor and get some rest so I don't have to worry about you too"
He nodded, returning her smile before joining his pack. Hakkaku and Ginta had started another fire and were currently treating their wolven friends. The wolves were exhausted having fought alongside their leader to avenge their fallen tribesmen.
Satisfied that Kouga was resting Kagome turned her gaze from the group. The battle today had been hard, but it seemed even harder to fight off the sleep that threatened to overcome her.
To her side Sango slept, the now living Kohaku wrapped in her arms. Miroku lay as close to the siblings as he could without drawing attention, his chest slowly rising and falling in his sleep. Sesshomaru had propped himself against a tree, Jaken and the two-headed dragon lay at their master's feet. They were not very far from Kagome so that the demon could keep at least one golden eye on Rin.
"Sesshomaru?"
"Hn?"
"I you could wish for anything in the world, what would it be?"
"Nothing." He said bluntly.
Kagome looked up at him waiting for an explanation.
"I have everything I could want, except maybe a mate. But that is something I must find."
She considered his words, he was right, she couldn't wish for that. As much as she wanted she couldn't wish for him, it wasn't fair, he had made his decision.
Looking around at her surrounding, the hanyo was the only thing missing. Kagome wordlessly accepted his absence, but this was the last time she would watch him choose Kikyo.
She closed her eyes and clutched the jewel Shippo had retrieved for her during her time of unconsciousness. After a moment she seemed satisfied.
"Don't tell him, please," she looked desperately into Sesshomaru's eyes. He nodded.
"That was it, we all just waited around camp for you to return. Except Kouga, when his men were healed he took off." Kagome's watch focused back on the half-dog in front of her.
"It was my fault..." he mumbled under his breath. He judged the story in his mind. He was supposed to have been there for her, he should have been her protector, the one to catch her. And he had left her for a pile of clay. "So then," he began tentatively, "what did you wish for?"
"I sealed the well to anyone that was not in direct contact with the jewel"
Inuyasha nodded, wondering her further reasoning.
"I didn't want you coming to get me I guess. It was easier to avoid you if you couldn't pop up. Though you can see that really didn't work..." she trailed off staring at the ground again.
"You aren't telling me something," he could tell by the way her gaze would still not meet his. He took her chin in his hand bringing her to look at him.
"Well...um... If some one is touching the jewel they can pass through the well. I brought Shippo through a few months ago, he and Souta became pretty good friends actually. They write letters to each other every month." She pulled her face away, searching for somewhere else to look.
"Kagome"
"I deliver their letters every new moon"
"What?! You come back every month and you don't even day hi?! Not just to me either, but to Sango, Miroku, and Kaede too," His voice rose.
"Actually... Sango and Kaede knew, Sango's been here twice when Kaede made up an excuse for her. I dropped her off a few days later draped in her dirty clothes so you wouldn't smell me"
Inuyasha no longer felt sorry for his wish, Kagome had made virtually the same wish. The only difference is she had lied, and so had Kaede, and Sango, and Shippo. He felt betrayed.
I new thought dawned on him, how had he gotten through the well?!
"I just can't figure out why the well let you through," Kagome pondered out loud
He could swear she could read his mind at times.
She yawned, "we can figure it out later, it's getting late. You promised to go to Souta's soccer game tomorrow, and I have to drive."
"Yeah," he agreed and turned to the house.
Kagome followed behind slowly, "I never meant to hurt you."
His ears twitched in her direction, acknowledging her comment.
"Oyasumi Inuyasha"
"Oyasumi Kagome," he whispered back knowing her ears would not hear.
At the top of the stairs they parted ways, both sinking into a soft beds. Once there, however, they would not find sleep for hours.
(---)
Well that's it, extra long to make up for the lack of updates. I'll try to get the next chapter out by Tuesday. No promises though. I don't know what my homework schedule/ after school stuff looks like yet. I really hate how teachers pile on assignments at the end of the year.Ja matte ne!