No Life Flower!
Chapter Eleven:
Devoured by Shadows!
~*~
The sun burned sharply through the clouds, putting all workers in the village on edge as they struggled to harvest their crops. It was hard in these years of war to actually get any food, so they had to work extra hard to harvest the crops before they were stolen by thieves.
*
Shippo jumped from Kagome's arms tears clinging to the sides of his cheeks. Kagome had told Kaede and Shippo the truth that she was dying and would soon leave the world forever. Shippo hadn't taken the news too well, well not as well as Kaede did. She was shocked yes but didn't show too much emotion. " Why didn't you tell me Kagome?" He said in his dejected innocent little voice. Kagome could feel her heart breaking slowly, inside her chest. She bowed her head, daring not to look at his shattered expressions. " You should have told me 'cause then I could've helped you." He said running out of the hut.
Shooting her head up, Kagome put her hand out as if to grasp him. " Shippo wait!" She shouted, trying to make the kitsune come back so she could explain that she didn't want him to worry about her. She was only looking out for him; she didn't want him to be sad for her, as she didn't want anyone to be. However, It seemed that everyone found out one way or another, even with how much she tried to hide her pain.
She stood from the ground, starring down at Inuyasha who had stuck by her through the whole thing with a concerned gaze. " I have to go after him, I will be back soon." She explained tarring out of the hut like there was no tomorrow; Inuyasha just nodded his acceptance of her choice.
" Kagome where are you going?" Sango questioned.
Kagome stopped dead in her tracks, starring at Sango with empty eyes. " Have you seen Shippo?" She asked. She hoped desperately that Sango had seen the little kitsune and knew where he had run off too, she needed to find him and explain herself.
Sango pointed in the direction of the forest of Inuyasha. " I saw him run that way, I think he went to the well." She replied, hoping that her information would be useful.
Kagome nodded with a slight smile. " Thanks Sango." She said running off in the appointed direction Sango had given.
" Wait Kagome!" She shouted. However, Kagome didn't stop. " Did Shippo not take the news well!?" She shouted in question.
Kagome shook her head. " No, that's why I need to find him!" She yelled over her shoulder disappearing from Sango's sight.
Sango frowned. " Poor Shippo." She whispered under her breath.
~*~
Inuyasha starred down the old hang, his face baring a scowl. " Inuyasha...Why didn't ye tell me that Kagome is dying?" Kaede asked, in deep tone.
Inuyasha snorted, his head turning away from her. " I promised that I wouldn't and besides I didn't think it was important." He grunted. Truth, be told he really wanted to tell the old hang as maybe she would know how to make her better. She was, well trained in the medical magic department and even now, she still might know.
" Didn't think Lady Kagome dying was important?" Her eyes narrowed, starring deep into his. " I don't think that's the case Inuyasha." She said in an all-knowing tone of voice.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth. " Fine maybe I didn't know what to do.... So do you think you can help her ya old hang?" He asked, his tone almost pleading.
Kaede shook her head, shutting her eyes. " There is nothing I can do for her." Inuyasha's eyes fell, his heart breaking within his chest. " However, there is something ye could do… Inuyasha."
Inuyasha looked up at her with a hopeful gaze. " Anything…what is it?" He asked.
She smiled.
~*~
Kagome walked through the forest in search of Shippo, cautiously. She hoped that he was doing okay and was safe. She didn't mean to make him feel so horrible. Her heart about broke in two when she told him and saw the paining hurt look in his eyes.
She stopped halfway in front of the well and bowed her head. Shippo as Sango had told her was indeed by the well. He was starring down within it; tears still fresh in his eyes. She walked over to him and sat down. " Shippo..." She whispered underneath her breath.
Shippo didn't budge or show any indication of emotion towards her. He just kept on staring down the well, the tears wetting his eyes. " Why didn't you trust me, I wouldn't have told anyone?" He explained.
She shook her head, wrapping her arms around him. She sniveled. " It's not that I didn't trust you...I just didn't want you to worry."
He pulled away. " But maybe I would want to worry, you can't make that decision for me." He explained. He sighed. "I knew something was wrong during the picnic when I saw how everyone was acting but I didn't say anything yet I should have."
"I said I was sorry okay…I just didn't want anyone to have to be burdened with my problems. I didn't want anyone to find out but they all seemed to drag it out of me, you were the only one who didn't force my problems out."
Shippo clenched his tiny fists. "So what you wanted me to bug an torture you to tell me the truth that was the only way you would've told me?" He laughed in sheer hurt. "How funny…I'd think it would be less painful for you and everyone around if you'd said something right as you found out you were dying. Then people and you wouldn't have to feel guilty keeping a secret and bottling up pain that could easily fade away among the open." He said, with his head bowed.
Shippo sounded almost grown up during his spoken words of foreboding truth. Kagome couldn't help but smile faintly at that thought, he was such a good kid, and she loved him dearly as if she was his mother. She knew this must be hard on him and maybe more since she was the only thing he had left. She sat down, starring up at the cloudy sky. "You know you are right…I should've told everyone in the beginning but my way of thinking then was messed up Shippo and I was scared."
Shippo cocked his head into an upright position with a perceptive glint adorning his eyes. "You are right but that's not the point, it's already past. I know you are scared I can feel it radiating from your body but you know what, I am scared to 'cause-" He paused.
Kagome tilted her head. "'Cause what?"
He sighed. "Because Kagome you are all I have and I hate to sound selfish but I don't want to you to die 'cause I love you. And…you promised that you would never leave me, your breaking it." He explained in dejected-anger.
Kagome leant forward taking the kitsune into her arms, squeezing him tightly with care. "I will never leave you Shippo as I will always live within your heart and will be with you in spirit, watching and protecting you always." She promised.
Shippo nodded his understanding of her but still didn't seem too happy about it. "It's not the same," he whispered.
Still holding him tight, she bowed her face close to his, kissing him lightly on top of his head. "I know but it is all I can do."
"All right."
A silence swept across the two as they sat close, holding each other in comfort. The silence allowed them to contemplate all that had been, said during the duration of their conversation. After a few more minutes, Shippo piped up with a New Hope. "Kagome?"
"What?"
"I'll find away to save you…I promise." He said with a wide amount of seriousness.
A tear slid down the side of Kagome's cheek at his words sweet comforting meaning. She knew there, was nothing the Kitsune could do but the thought of him trying was very sweet and kind. She couldn't help crying. "Thanks…Shippo."
~|~
"Hell no!" Inuyasha shouted at Kaede's proposal.
She sighed. "Inuyasha but it is the only way, ye said ye would do anything for her." She reminded
He crossed his arms, holding his chin and nose up high. He would never do anything that humiliating in a million years she had to have gone crazy to ask him to do something like that. "I won't do it, you can't make me. I am not, I repeat not going to ask Sesshoumaru for help! There has to be another way." He snarled stubbornly.
Kaede shook her head subtly, pressing her lips atop of one another harshly. "I am sorry Inuyasha but that is the only way." She informed. "Sesshoumaru wields the Tensiega the sword of healing. It is the only way to heal with disease as my herbs won't help against it."
Still not heeding, Inuyasha snorted. "I don't care, I will find another way to save her." Picking up her staff, Kaede whacked Inuyasha on top of the head, causing him to steam in anger at the lump that threatened to devour his skull. "Hey what was that for!?"
She huffed bitterly. "For being a dope, Inuyasha. Poor Kagome, the only one who can save her won't even do that much." She shook her head. "You need to control your stubborn-self Inuyasha, and ask your brother for his help."
He glared at her. "Feh, whatever!"
~|~
It was a nice day out, the only problem was the day held no effect on what would and had been occurring lately. Sango didn't how much of this she could take; all this talk about death was sending her to the brink of insanity. Kagome couldn't die she wouldn't, it wasn't her time…she still had to grow old with Inuyasha…well there was problem there too but still she needed to live her life.
If destiny existed at all then it would know that Kagome's destiny is grow up, marry, and have children with Inuyasha. Destiny…therefore would never exist in her heart, if it could be so cruel to one very beautiful and exhilarating life as her friend's Kagomes. Sango shut her eyes tightly, as she leant up against the railing of the herding grounds. This just couldn't be happening, ever since she first found out that Kagome would be leaving the world, she thought only of it as a dream but as the days passed, it slowly became a reality.
A rough yet so endearing palm, lay upon her shoulder and quickly, her eyes fluttered open to see Miroku with a concern look in his eyes. "Sango are you all right?" He questioned and almost immediately as those words fled his lips, she had grasped a hold of him, embracing him tightly, almost uncontrollably.
She had no idea what she was doing; hugging someone whom could never hug back but grope instead. She shut her eyes. She guessed she clenched him because she needed comfort even if the place she had found it wasn't particularly the best choice. With her eyes shut she stood there against him waiting for his hand to brush against her butt but it never did. Much to her surprise and most likely his, he just embraced her normally, wrapping his arms around her back, nowhere near her rear. "I know this is going to get harder with Kagome's passing soon Sango… But maybe it won't happen, Inuyasha told me he has no intentions in letting her die and you know how stubborn he is…you know he will find away. So don't be sad Sango, you are more beautiful when you are smiling…so smile." He whispered into her ear.
Her eyes shot open again as those refreshing words left his mouth into her ear. She pulled away from him with a dewy-eyed frowning countenance as she shook her head. "Even if Inuyasha thinks he will find a way to save her…there is a high chance he won't and I can't smile knowing my friend, one of my only friends is going to perish." She explained dejectedly.
He brought his finger to her cheekbone wiping away the one solemn tear that fell helplessly from her eye. His eyes were, filled with such hurt; such innocent pain one would never think him a lecture. "If you don't smile then the flower that is Kagome will fade much faster…it is a saying that when someone sheds unhappy tears for another their life is shortened and Kagome can't have anymore of that." He explained.
His awful yet so beautiful words caused her to jerk away from him with a dark frown. "How could you say something so horrible?" She wondered grimly.
He smiled meekly. "You didn't let me finish…if you cry then so will she, when someone is ultimately unhappy they force themselves to an early grave. I am just saying that if you are happy then she will forget her problems and be happy to and then her life won't fade as fast and Inuyasha could very well find away to save her." He laughed. "Beside, you break my heart when you cry."
Slowly from his words brought her a smile but as she went for a sweet reply it was suddenly interrupted by a loud thrashing wind. She turned away from him agilely, her eyes expanding as she saw Kouga, dispersing from his wind tornado. She sighed in annoyance…this is all we need right now…why?! She cried in thought.
Placing a hand to her head, she shifted her eyes to look at Miroku who seemed to bare the same thoughts as she by his irritated glint. Miroku glanced at her noticing she was looking at him. They shared a look of understanding as they both afterwards took off towards the smiling Kouga, locking one of their arms around both his arms, dragging him away from the hut and from Kagome. "Un-ah no way you will have to come back another time…Kagome is busy…too busy for you. Kouga please just leave." They both said in unison as drug him closer to the forest. However, before they could make it there completely, Kouga jerked away, starring at them with an annoyed look.
"What the hell are you doing? You can't tell me what I can and can't do…I am going to see my woman." He grunted as he took off towards the hut. "Besides it's Inuyasha I am here for." He yelled.
Sango and Miroku immediately took off after him, he would ruin everything and they would be back at the drawbridge as Inuyasha and Kagome go at it again. Sango couldn't take there fighting any longer, they had just made up over whatever happened on the other side of the well and she didn't want a new one to begin. "Kouga we told you to come back at another time!" Sango shouted. "Please… " She moaned.
~|~
Inuyasha could hear the shrilling screams from outside, and almost immediately as the sounds tugged at his ears, he stood from the ground heading for the exit to the hut. "What the?" Kaede followed slowly behind him.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in shock at what he saw but more so, rage. "What the hell do you want Kouga?" He huffed, crossing his arms across his chest, as he starred down the wolf, which was coming ever so closer to him. "You better leave Ka-"
Kouga smiled sadistically. "I am here to see you Mutt-Face!"
That was surprising, almost scary. Inuyasha was sure that he had come because of Kagome. Inuyasha couldn't smell Kagome's ill-self because of his mind being too clogged with other thoughts that he didn't pay attention but Kouga's thoughts were always about Kagome or so it seemed. Inuyasha would've thought he would've come to see if she was okay and not to see him. "What do you want from me?" He wondered.
"I've found Naraku's hiding place, but I can't take him alone…I need you're help." He explained, meekly as he lowered his head to the ground.
His strange words, Inuyasha would never have thought he would hear them; they caused his eyes to widen in a jarring fashion. Never once in a million years had Inuyasha ever thought he would ask him for help. He wouldn't let it be that easy, he snorted. "Hell no…I won't help you…but tell me where Naraku is and I'll take care of him myself." Inuyasha informed.
Normally, he would've attacked Kouga until he told him where Naraku was so he could sack his revenge but now after everything that has happened that was the last thing on his mind. Still if Kouga knew where Naraku was, he wouldn't hesitate to take him out.
Kouga laughed. "Either you agree to help me dog-boy or I'll just go after him myself." He threatened.
Inuyasha grunted. "Listen here Kouga, you either tell me or I'll slit your throat so fast and I'll do it with great joy." He retorted. He didn't really care about Naraku; he just couldn't stand that smug look on his face.
"Inuyasha I can't believe…all he wants you to do is help him…it must've taken him awhile to gain the courage to ask you for help and all you can do is shoot him down. I thought you wanted to kill Naraku and now you have the chance so why don't you take it." A voice asked from behind, a voice that Inuyasha could never forget.
He turned around to see Kagome, and Shippo adorning her shoulder. "Ka-ka-gome." He said in surprise.
Kouga quickly rushed over to her. "Kagome…thank you…please tell Inuyasha all I ask of him is his help in taking down the man he despises." He explained.
Kagome smiled at him, and then shifted her head with a frown to look at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha you heard him…so…please just help him…I…I really wanted be here when you took him down like we planned…you know so I could keep my promise." She said in dejection.
That was true she did promise him they'd take Naraku down together but she also promised to stay with him forever…that promise would soon be broken but how could he force her to break another promise that doesn't have to be. He sighed. "Fine I'll help him." Kagome smiled as did everyone else, even Kouga. "-But you have to stay behind Kagome."
She shook her head, with a disbelieving glint in her eyes. "No…no, I want to go with you and help."
He bowed his head…I know we promised to do this together…but I want you to be happy when you fade…I won't let you die in a war, I won't let you die at all. I'll find away to save you without Sesshoumaru's help. But if you fight Naraku Kagome, you could die a lot faster. He shook his head; he would not let that happen. "No…I don't…I don't want you to get hurt…please Kagome…promise me you'll stay here and be safe."
She glance at the ground in silence, Shippo had left her shoulders for Sango's arms. Kagome, she seemed to be deep in thought but after a while, she looked at him with a weak smile. "All right I promise…I just…want to see you all get better…get what you've been searching for…so I can die happy." She explained.
After Kagome mentioned she was dying, Inuyasha would've thought Kouga would've said something about it but he did not, only urged them to leave faster. "Thank you Kagome…Come on Inuyasha dog-mutt lets go." Kouga said as he took off. "Follow me."
As Inuyasha began to leave with Kouga, Sango with Shippo in her arms, and Miroku, he could not take his eyes away from the hurt Kagome. They shared a smile, then he nodded sharply, and with his lips whispered his thanks before completely taking off.
~|~
After awhile of them all being gone to go after Naraku, Kagome decided to make herself useful, as she felt very wasteful being left behind when she should be helping them. She went to Kaede with this information and Kaede helped her by giving her something to do, which was going to pick herbs in the fields. She'd brought a basket with her, sitting down at the edge of the fields nearing the way Inuyasha had gone with Kouga that way when they'd come back she'd know quickly.
She liked the smell of the herbs in the fields…they smelled so good; so calming…she could completely relax within the intoxicating smell.
*
It slithered along silently, within the corners of the world, which were shrouded in darkness. A long slinky blob of dark shadows…it moved like a snake and when it saw her in the fields, it's next victim, it left the safety of the darkness into the world of the burning sun. It quickly jumped her, she screamed weakly and fought to free herself but it wasn't enough. It was over and it had pulled her into the security of the cold darkness…one she'd never escape.
~|~
The afternoon as Kagome had so in richly detailed to him on what it was had now begun to set in. They had arrived at a small village. From what Inuyasha could tell, it had been ransacked not long ago by Youkai but they were all gone by now. Something wasn't right though, something he couldn't quite put his finger on…it was a sent… he had smelt it before and if not for his mind being cluttered with other worries he knew he would've been able to place it.
Shaking his mind away from those thoughts, he glanced at Kouga questioningly. "So, where's Naraku?" Inuyasha wondered.
To his surprise and everyone else's, Kouga began to laugh sadistically. "You are a worthless Hanyou Inuyasha." He mocked, as he began to attack Inuyasha with simultaneous punches and kicks.
Blocking each one as they were delivered, Inuyasha glared at Kouga suspiciously. "What the hell are you doing Kouga?"
He growled. "I am not Kouga." He hissed.
Inuyasha's eyes widened as he came to a realization but before he could get it out, Kouga or whoever he was had knocked his into a building. Lying there in the rubble, he was going to say something as it approached him but before he could, the monster that looked like Kouga was suddenly thrown as if by the wind into the dirt.
Inuyasha looked up into the air to see another Kouga floating towards the ground. Sango and Miroku fell into a shock and Shippo spoke in surprise. "There's two Kouga's."
Moaning in pain, Inuyasha informed. "No that other one wasn't Kouga, he reeked of Naraku." after those informing words left his lips everyone gasped. Inuyasha should've known, he knew something was wrong but his sensing of it had been clogged lately, as he never paid it attention. He was too busy thinking of ways to save Kagome.
The real Kouga huffed, arrogantly. "You're just now figuring that out Mutt-Face!" But after he spoke, he was suddenly sent propelling backwards into the ground creating a huge crater. His attacker was none other then the fake Kouga.
Looking into the hole with a dark smile, he spit at Kouga and replied. "I am Koichi and I am one of the ultimate incarnation of Naraku…how dare you try to hurt me you lowlife wolf…you are not my target, how dare you interfere!" He cursed, beneath his breath. While Koichi was yelling at Kouga, Inuyasha had already stood from the rubble, running after him at top speed and quickly after that had knocked him into the ground, creating Koichi his own crater.
"I don't care what you are…I kill you just the same." Inuyasha informed.
The youkai, rose from his crater, taking his claws to Inuyasha. Inuyasha easily dodged them, throwing Koichi into a building, holding his hands around his throat, readying to pierce Koichi of his pitiful life. However, before he could, an arrow had made its way passed him, skimming and leaving a thin vertical line of blood over his cheek.
What was surprising about this whole thing was that Inuyasha recognized the purple aura of power around the arrow, his eyes widened as he turned away from Koichi. His heart at that moment felt like it had shattered. "K-Kagome?" He whispered. "Why?"
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Author's note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter…I know I left it at a cliffhanger but I promise to update a lot faster then I did this one. I don't have an excuse for you guys its just…things around my house have been hectic lately.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and itzjustme, Thanks for the idea! ^_^ I'll use it for this new fic I am working on…I haven't put it up yet but I will soon and when I do, I'll use your idea!
