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Chapter 11

Slowly taking in a breath, Kagome opened here eyes slightly – scared of what she may see. Looking around she found herself in the well again, but something was different. Standing completely still she heard the songs of birds from afar. Rays of sunlight hit her face as she looked up the well. Slowly a smile crept across her face.

'I'm back', she thought to herself. Quickly she ran over to the walls and dug her fingers and feet deeply into the dirt. Pulling with all her might she climbed the walls, reaching for the top of the well.

Before she made it to the top she saw the shadow of a familiar face. Long flowing hair poured from every direction.

"Kagome-chan!" it called out, a deep yet feminine voice. "You've come back!"

"Sango-chan," Kagome called back. The sound of her voice was enough to bring tears to Kagome's eyes. She never came to realize how much she treasured Sango in every way possible. Scrambling up the well she leapt with all her might and hung on tightly to Sango. Holding her with all her might she let the tears stream down her face once again.

Sango, taken aback slightly, relaxed and patted Kagome on the back. So many times Kagome had been there to comfort her, Sango felt relieved that she could comfort Kagome for once. They soon separated and Kagome looked up at Sango. Her eyes shone radiantly as a small breeze blew by and strands of hair flew in front of her face.

All Sango could do was smile.

"Kagome-chan, it's been so long since you left. We've all been extremely worried about you." She brushed aside her own hair and looked up into the bright sky. "We told Inu Yasha to get you but he ignored us and walkes off. Did the two of you have a fight?"

Kagome shook her head slightly. Sango, relieved to see Kagome once again stood up and picked her up with her.

"Never mind Inu Yasha, come. Shippo and Miroku will be very glad to see you"

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"Kikyou, why are you...." Inu Yasha stopped suddenly in the middle of his sentence. A gentle breeze had passed by him carrying a familiar intoxicating scent that he knew all too well.

Kagome!

His brain screamed inside his head along with his body as it squirmed violently to get free. Kikyou, looking at him felt a tingle in her body.

'It can't be...she couldn't have come back. I sealed that well with my arrow...neither Kagome nor Inu Yasha should have been allowed to enter the well... She is back." With this thought, anger surged through every frail limb in her body, an anger she hadn't known since she was betrayed 50 years ago.

She stormed towards the edge of the forest grabbing her arrows as she passed them. Turning around to Inu Yasha, she gave him a last look before turning away.

"Where are you going?" He asked her innocently. Kikyou kept her back to him and tied her ponytail tighter. Turning back to him once again she looked over his gentle face.

"There's only enough room for one." She whispered before disappearing into the forest, leaving Inu Yasha alone.

For the first time, Inu Yasha felt trapped. Her words echoed in his mind as he struggled to get free. However, the shini-dama-chuu stayed firmly in place. Feeling his anger rising, Inu Yasha cracked his knuckles and curled his fingers. With every ounce of strength in his body he slashed forwards, making sure his hands curled back. His razor claws tore through the air and bent slightly but hit a tree and disappeared.

Straining again, he repeated his movements. This time he lounged his arm out farther and brought it back. The claws tore back at him and cut the shini-dama-chuu around his body. However it wasn't enough. A few of them tore but not all the way through. Inu Yasha strained once again and shifted his body.

His legs were the first things to come free. Shaking them slightly to get the feeling back, Inu Yasha pressed his bare feet against the bark. Pushing with all his might he heard the sound of bones cracking and flesh tearing. Slowly he edged his back into the bark along with his feet to get more of a push. Closing his eyes and pulling his hands up, Inu Yasha felt his arms come free. Falling, he felt the soft soil on his skin and touched the grass with his fingers.

Looking up, he saw a small moth fly by his face and heard a songbird sing far off. Taking in a breath of air, he felt rejuvenated. Looking around he searched frantically for his sword. A glimmer of light caught the corner of his eye, a ray of light had reflected off his scabbard. Walking over to it, he reached down and gently lifted his precious sword from the dirt.

Tying it back around his waist, he took a whiff of the air and set off. Landing occasionally on the ground and pushing him up further.

Kagome...wait for me!

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"Kagome-sama, it has been so long since I've felt the softness of your hands" Miroku complimented caressing Kagome's hands in his. "Our time apart has brought our hearts closer..." Holding her hand close to his face he pulled her in closer. "I only want one thing between us, dear Kagome."

Kagome looked towards Sango, who was reaching for her boomerang, and looked back at Miroku.

"Miroku, I'm very glad to see you but are you sure you should be doing this here...now?" Kagome asked innocently.

"Oh Kagome!" Miroku cried, wrapping his arms around her pulling her tightly to his body. "You mean you wish to meet secretly with me?"

Sango walked over and knocked Miroku on the head with her boomerang. "This is no way to treat Kagome-chan after she has returned; she does not need your lecherous hands all over her."

"Speaking of lecherous hands, where do you think this hand is going Miroku?" Kagome asked as she turned to grab his right hand, crawling extremely close to the back of her skirt. Sango brought her boomerang down on Miroku's head once again.

"You just can't control yourself can you, Monk!" She said angrily as Miroku scrambled away in fear. Kagome could do nothing but laugh as Sango chased after him and their bodies disappeared but Sango's voice could still be heard, as well as her boomerang and Miroku's pleading gently with her.

"But dear Sango, you are the only one for me...but I must comfort Kagome...Sango." He repeated, as his voice slowly disappeared.

Kagome looked around the small hut and walked out the straw doors. Her bike leaned against the side of the hut, undisturbed. Smiling again she slowly made her way to the tree beside the small house. Kirara rubbed herself gently against Kagome's legs and let out a small mew of content.

Bending over, Kagome gave her a pat on the head.

"Can you change and take me to the top branch of the tree?" She asked looking the fire cat in the eyes.

Kirara swished her two tails and was suddenly engulfed in flames. As the fire died down, she emerged larger than before. Nudging Kagome, she picked her up and with a couple of large strides climbed the tree and let Kagome down. A small butterfly passed by and she ran off again, chasing it happily.

Kagome stared of into the horizon at the glimmering sun, shinning over the tops of the majestic trees. A small wind blew by and the leaves danced in the sunlight, each droplet of water reflecting the light. Kagome leaned against the trunk of the tree and relaxed her body. For some reason, since coming back she's felt tense and her body's crunched up, making it hard for her to move properly.

Slowly, she felt her muscles relax and a great burden lifted from her shoulders. Smiling, she closed her eyes and felt the warmth of the sunlight on her face. Taking in a long, deep breath she opened her eyes again. Suddenly, below her she heard the sound of a twig snapping. Turning around and almost falling off she saw Kikyou, looking straight up at her. She had drawn her bow and the head of her arrow pointed straight for Kagome.

Pulling it back with all her might, she let it go. The arrow burned with a white light as it flew through the air. Kagome moved as quickly as possible aside but not quick enough. The arrow passed beside her face, leaving a deep cut in her cheek and embedding itself in the trunk beside her. Kagome laid herself flat against the limb and grabbed on tightly with both hands.

Kikyou reached behind her and pulled another arrow. She pushed the back into the string and pulled it back again. Taking aim for Kagome's leg, she left it fly again. Kagome quickly shifted again and the arrow cut the back of her shoe. The thin lace quickly unraveled and her shoe fell to the ground with a thud.

'She's trying to kill me...soon, I'm gonna be like my shoe. Flat on the floor. I'm such an idiot...climbing this high up.' Kagome rattled her brain for a solution. She opened her mouth to scream for help but her voice was caught in her throat.

'Oh my God, she's going to kill me...'

Kikyou drew back a third arrow.

'This is it Kagome, you and your bright ideas have finally brought your demise.'

Kikyou released the arrow from her grip and it flew with amazing grace towards its target.

'Okay...decide now. Do I want to be killed by Kikyou's arrow or die from this fall?'

Kagome looked straight at the arrow as it flew for her chest. Without thinking, she turned over and let go. Falling head first, she felt the air rushing alongside beside her. Clenching her fists to her chest she closed her eyes.

'It's over...this is it...'

The air screamed by her as she fell.

Inu Yasha...

Suddenly she felt herself landing in something. Keeping her eyes clenched tightly she waited for the impending doom and the splattering sound as she lands head first on the ground. Kagome waited and waited.

"Open your eyes you idiot." A reassuring voice commanded her. Kagome relaxed her face but kept her eyes closed.

"Kagome, I said open your eyes." The voice ordered again. Kagome felt her heart slow to a steady pace and the stranger's voice filled her ears. It sounded so familiar. Slowly she opened her eyes only to see a large pair of amber eyes staring back at her. Screaming slightly she grasped their clothes and dug her head deep into his shoulder. Kagome felt the blood flow through her body again as she relaxed in the arms holding her up.

Inu Yasha grasped onto Kagome and felt her breath seep through his clothes and touch his skin. Her scent filled his brain and seemed to pass through his whole body, traveling to ever limb. Feeling a relief he hadn't felt since she left he relaxed himself and held her close to him. Resting his head on her, he felt her warmth; he felt her body against his. Sighing, he smiled to himself.

Kagome...

Kagome rested in place and held onto Inu Yasha for dear life. She heard each thump of his heart as it raced inside his chest. She felt the warmth of his hand on her skin. The memories came flooding back into her brain, as if gallons of water had been poured on her all at once.

His face

His smile

His actions towards her

His words ... ... ...

His touch.

Every memory returned to her as clear as day, yet as dark as night. Finally realizing where she was, Kagome snapped out of her daze and pushed him off of her.

Inu Yasha felt Kagome's arms dig into him as their bodies separated. Not looking up she slowly jumped out of his arms and landed on the floor, standing with her back to him and head down low.

"Kagome...?" Inu Yasha pleaded gently as he reached for her.

"Please don't come any closer Inu Yasha." Kagome asked with great difficulty. She had to push every emotion in her body and control every limb from turning and holding onto him. Her body shook from his touch, she knew that. Yet she couldn't control it, her feeling, and her longing to see him. Everything about him drew her back, back to him. She knew all to well that if he had rested his hand on her shoulder, everything would be lost.

All those months of pushing him out of her mind,

Of forgetting everything that had happened between them,

Would be gone with a single touch.

He didn't belong to her, and he never would. Every time he looked at her, she knew he saw another woman behind her eyes. Yet, Kagome felt happy just having him look at her even if he was thinking of someone else, she couldn't help it. With the months that passed, her feeling grew for him and her time apart from him caused her a pain she had never known.

Those many nights lying awake in bed, staring up at the window; just waiting for him to walk through it one more time. Those walks past the well house; jumping at every sound, hoping it was him. Every time someone called her name behind her back; only to realize that it wasn't him.

He wasn't coming for her any more.

Kagome felt, for the first time empty and alone. Surrounded by people, she felt lost. In the mist of a crowd, she found herself searching for something she could never reach. Many times she wandered away from her friends and return home to work. Slowly, bit by bit, she drifted away from everyone.

A gust of strong wind blew over them and a dark cloud covered the sky. The rays of sunlight disappeared, and darkness covered the land. A cold bind blew by, chilling Kagome to the bone.

"Kagome...?" He asked gently, moving closer to her.

Kagome quickly moved away from him. The farther the better, but taking a few steps she felt her body freeze. She had come so far only to walk away from him again.

'Kagome' Her conscience screamed at her as it tore at her insides. 'Walk away now, just turn and run. Stop for nothing...go back home. Hojo will wait for you, he will always be there for you......his heart will never be yours, you embody the soul of another. He will never see past the mirror image of Kikyou in you, just walk away.'

Kagome stood, shivering in the cold.

"I can't." She whispered to herself.

A shrill suddenly swam pass her face and disappear leaving a trail of white mist.

Kagome looked up. Kikyou stood a few feet away, with her bow drawn and reaching for another arrow behind her back. Looking up, Kagome felt all her energy suddenly drained from her.

Kikyou pulled back another arrow.

'This time I will not miss.'

Pulling with all her might, she let the arrow fly. Kagome looked on; her eyes dull at the arrow coming towards her. Those few seconds felt like an eternity.

"Kagome...MOVE!" Inu Yasha screamed behind her. Kagome stood still. Pulling his tetsusaiga from its sheath, Inu Yasha ran forward in front of Kagome and turned the blade to its side. The arrow pushed against the tetsusaiga, pushing Inu Yasha back a few feet. Taking one swift swing of his blade, she reflected the arrow back at Kikyou, only to find her gone.

The blade vibrated in his hands and turned back into its original form, an old dull blade. Putting it back in, he quickly turned to Kagome.

"What the hell was that?!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, "Why didn't you move when I told you to!?" Kagome lifted her face and looked at him as if they'd met for the first time.

Her eyes brimmed with tears and her face flush pink. Turning away the tears continued to roll down her cheek and land gently in the grass beneath her feet. Inu Yasha suddenly felt his heart stop and his breath short.

Kagome...