Author's Notes: This is a special note to angel-chan3, a loyal reviewer whom I'd like to thank for always reading my chapters and don't worry, as long as you stick with me till the very end (which promises to be longer now that I have more ideas) we'll call it even, alright? Now, to save Inuyasha!
You Are Whom You Choose To BeSango bent down and gave Kagome and hands up onto Kirara as they prepared to leave the village. Everyone was there to say goodbye, knowing their part was still a little ways away. "When I come back, I hope to have more friends with me!" Kagome said cheerfully.
"Bai bai, Kagome-neesan!" Rin shouted while she waved.
Kagome nodded and was about to take off when she heard Ayame shout, "Kouga wait! You shouldn't be up yet!"
"Eh?" Kagome turned around and saw Kouga barreling towards her. Not as fast as he once was, creating a tornado and all, but he was still a demon so it caught her off guard. "K-Kouga-kun?"
The wolf leader stopped in front of her and grabbed her hand, holding it gently between his. "Kagome," his voice full of conviction, "How could you think of leaving me behind?"
"U-um…" The miko stuttered. "Kouga-kun, you need to rest and regain your strength." Then she got a serious but worried look on her face. "I know you want to help, but I can't let you go into a battle when you aren't up to full strength. Besides, we're only going to talk."
Kouga shook his head. "You need me to come with you. I'm well enough to make sure you stay safe in Inu-koro's absence. How were you planning on tracking down Naraku's detachments anyways?"
Kagome shrank back a bit in nervousness. I hadn't really thought that far ahead… "Well, I…"
"You need my sense of smell. I can help you track them down in half the time." He tried to convince her.
Sango knew the demon was trying to help, but his rash and impatient nature wasn't going to help them at all. "But, Kirara can only carry two people at a time." She lied. Well, half lied because the faithful cat-demon had been known to carry three, but she didn't want to push her best friend.
"I can lead the way from the ground." He countered the taijiya. Turning back to the girl whose hand he still held, he practically begged. "Please, as long as I'm there, at least I'll know you're safe and if you run into trouble I can buy you time to get out of there. It's the least I can do after..."
Kagome gasped. "Eh?" So, Ayame told him about what I did. Protecting him from Inuyasha and all… No wonder he's being so persistent. Biting her lower lip and going against her better judgment, Kagome nodded. "Fine, you can lead us there, but once we find them I want you to keep silent." When Kouga gave her a confused look she added. "No offense, but your hot temper rivals Inuyasha's," Among other things… "And you have been known to hold grudges for a long time. We're going to ask for their help, so we have to approach them carefully." The miko reminded him.
Looking down at the ground, Kouga nodded. "I understand."
Sighing she nodded to the rest of the group. "We should be back in a day's time, maybe less." Having said their goodbyes, Kagome and Sango took off on Kirara and Kouga ran along the ground.
Behind them, Ayame crossed her arms. "He always has to be near her, doesn't he?"
Miroku came up and placed a comforting hand on the young demon girl's shoulder. "Don't worry. Kagome-sama went through the same thing with Inuyasha and another he loved." He decided to leave out the details about Kikyo for now. "After a while they get over it." He said, speaking of Kouga. "Patience is always the virtue we lack, but can always achieve over time. And that's all this'll need is time."
Ayame looked to where Kouga had disappeared and wondered. How long I'll have to wait?
* * *
It was only after hours of searching that Kouga finally shouted above him. "I can smell them nearby!"
Above, Kagome nodded and Kirara lowered to the ground where she and Sango dismounted, looking for the two demons whom had been their enemies for so long…
Kouga followed the scent Kanna and Kagura left behind and lead both girls out of the forest and to a very familiar place.
Kagome's eyes widened. This is where…!
It was undoubtedly the same cliff and tree where Kagome and Inuyasha, in his human form, had been able to triumph over a shikon shard strengthened demon tree called Dougenkyo. While defending Kagome from the tree's servant, a huge man-turned-demon who was entirely made up of rock thanks to Kagome's stolen shards, Inuyasha had been beaten repeatedly, his youryoku having not yet returned.
Kagome had managed to contribute to the fight, but not as much as she truly wanted. She had to stand by while Inuyasha went up against a demon not only three times his height, but immensely stronger than he was in his human form.
And it's because he was defending me that he was knocked off the cliff, still not becoming a hanyou again. Kagome remembered the fear and pain of loss she'd felt watching him fall away from her. Even then he looked happy, no not happy…content to die defending me…
Kagome shook her head to clear the images away from such a painful memory. She had already cried her tears then, but then denied it once Inuyasha had returned from behind them, perfectly fine except for the fact that while they were giving him a proper funeral, everyone, including Kagome, had called him stupid.
But he was stupid! He never knew his limit and always had to exceed himself! Does he know how much I worried about him all the time? How much I still do?
"Kagome-chan…" Sango brought her attention fully to the present.
Before her, sitting next to the tree overlooking the horizon, were Kanna and Kagura. They had long ago sensed the group's approaching presence, but had yet to do anything but turn their heads towards them.
Kagome swallowed her fear and tried to remember Inuyasha's words to her the night before, "As long as you hold onto the courage inside you, there's nothing you can't do."
"Kagura-san. Kanna-san." She asked with all respectfulness.
This caught them off guard and Kagura stood up. "What do you want?" Kanna soon stood at her side.
"I…know that Naraku was once your master and our one true enemy, but I've come searching for you not to settle a score or seek revenge. I've come to ask for your help."
Crossing her arms, Kagura seemed unconvinced. "Why should we help you?"
Looking down at the ground unsure, Kagome continued. "There's no reason why you should and I don't plan to force you, but something's happened to the person I care for more than anything and for them… I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save them."
Kouga heard this and it hurt him to hear her talk in such a gentle way about Inuyasha. She really loves him. It seems I never really stood a chance at all…
Kanna looked up at her big sister. "Kagura…?"
Narrowing her eyes, Kagura asked, "What's it this time? Another demon you want us to help you take down? Another Naraku? Well, think again! We worked for that ugly, sorry excuse for a demon long enough and we don't plan to work for anyone else anymore!" She turned her back to the bunch and pulled a white feather from her hair…
"It's Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted, her voice cracking a bit.
Gasping, Kagura whipped around again but said nothing.
Falling to her knees, Kagome put her hands on the floor and begged. "Please, I need to save him. He used the jewel to become a full demon, but now he can't control himself. He did it to become stronger and protect me, but what he didn't realize was that…" She sobbed once, unable to hold it back, even in front of so many people. "Was that he was already strong enough!"
Staying on the floor, Kagome let out a few more sobs, finding herself incapable of holding them in. Shooting her head up, she faced the two demons without any barriers or masks. This was who she was. "I can't think of any other way to save him but this, so I beg you, please! I don't care if we were once enemies and I don't care if you don't think you can trust me. Suspect me all you want, hate or scorn me if it'll make you feel better but please help me save him! My grandfather and mother raised me to believe that no matter what someone else makes you out to be, you can only be truly judge by the things you do, your actions and decisions in life! Naraku made you do things that you may not have wanted to do or felt deep in your heart was the right thing, but now's your chance to change all that! Be what you want to be and create a new image for yourselves!"
"Kagome…" Kouga came down on one knee to comfort her.
"No!" She shouted. "I may look weak now but because of Inuyasha I am stronger than ever!" She stood up and whipped her tears away, but her fists returned to her sides. "I ask you to make a decision on your own and of your own free will. You can either help me or not, but at least you'll know you made the decision and no one else made you do it."
At first neither moved a muscle. But then Kanna took two steps out and caused Kagura to gasped. "Kanna!"
Turning to Kagura, Kanna replied, "I finally know the answer to my question." She said. "When Naraku ordered me to absorb this girl's soul into my mirror, I was unable to do so completely. Her bright life force was so abundant and strong, I couldn't hold onto it forever. I now know that reason is because she has a strong spirit and will power that makes it so she can do what she wants and help those she cares for. You and I have our own life forces, or else we wouldn't have had such independent thoughts while Naraku was still alive. We are not mindless demons he could command at will, not really. We choose to because we thought we had no choice. But now we do and it's those choices that will decide what we become in the future. This girl always amazed me and I believe the one she loves also has a strong will, therefore I think with our help they can win."
Kagura walked up and knelt before the little white-haired demon child. "You really want to do this, don't you?"
Kanna slowly nodded but said nothing more. She didn't need to. Both demons had created a bond over time and deep in their own hearts, they knew what to do.
Standing back up, the wind user turned to Kagome and the rest. "Sure, why not. We don't have much else to do anyway."
Laughing, Kagome smiled for the first time in what seemed like a long time. "You know, you and Inuyasha are more alike than either of you will admit, because just then, you sounded a lot like him."
Sango soon joined in with her laugh and although she didn't truly understand the meaning of the comment… Kagura smiled too.
* * *
It was for the second time that Kagome stood before the large group, all eyes on her as their un-appointed leader. Everyone here would be risking their lives in just a few hours for one hanyou, one half dog, half human who thought everyone hated him but in reality they were all ready to die for him.
Kanna and Kagura…two of Naraku's detachments whom, for the longest time, had been enemies of Inuyasha. Now they stood side by side as allies, if only temporarily, to lend a hand to the cause.
Ayame…the fiancée of his archrival was here to repay a favor long ago made by Inuyasha's nonstop search for Naraku and the Shichinintai.
Kouga…Inuyasha's competition for Kagome's heart and constant pain in the ass. Although they fought against each other most of the time, together they were an unbeatable pair. It was for Kagome's sake that Kouga would fight him once more for her happiness.
Sesshoumaru…Inuyasha's half brother, bonded by the blood of their father but separated by the blood of their mothers. Sesshoumaru never accepted Inuyasha as family because of his "tainted" blood, but now he would fight along side humans and demons alike to see his brother through the next day. His reasons though remain a mystery.
Kirara…a faithful friend, always having been there as moral support for the hanyou when he wanted to become stronger or to lean on when he was the weakest.
Shippo…standing by his long time friend and repaying another debt made by Inuyasha's slaying of the thunder brothers, whom had taken Shippo's father from him in the cruelest of maners.
Sango…Even when she had stabbed him through the arm with her short sword, and accused him of the vile crime of destroying those in her village, under the words of non other than Naraku, the taijiya would save her friend and comrade and would never turn her back on him again.
Miroku…Inuyasha helped lift the life-long curse placed on his hand by Naraku, and brought redemption to lecherous monk. Miroku had always assumed Kagome and Inuyasha were together and now he would make sure it would end that way.
And finally Higurashi Kagome, whom out of everyone probably owed more life debts to the hanyou than anyone here, but it wasn't because of these that she stood here now, ready to die trying to save him.
She loved him. And for a long time she had been unable to express her feelings. The part that she knew at least cared for her was still alive inside the monster that was now Inuyasha and she would put everything on the line to bring it out again. She knew she held little leverage in his red-glowing eyes, but that wouldn't stop her. She had stood by long enough in battles where he had gotten hurt protecting her. She would not simply stand by now.
She would fight for everything she ever believed in and fight to save the half demon that unknowingly held her heart and her life in his hands.
"Minna…you all know what to do once we get to the castle. If anyone is wounded, I want you out of there and back into the forest. I'm grateful you all decided to help, but I couldn't bare it if any of you were to die out there." Kagome held a hand over her heart. "If it works, Inuyasha will return to himself and the jewel will release its hold on him. If it doesn't work, I'm not sure what will happen, so I'll say this now: In all my travels with all of you, I've never felt more a part of something than I do with all of you. You can't really give a name to what bond it is we share, but I want you to know that I hold no regrets and that I treasure all my time with you now and always."
Everyone stayed silent and looked past the girl as she turned around. "Now, let's go save Inuyasha."
* * *
In his castle, Inuyasha crackled his knuckles as he felt her presence get closer and closer. "She's stupider than I thought." He said, smirking.
She's come to put an end to this and I know she will succeed. The Inuyasha on the inside said.
"Silence! I will not have the power I've wanted my entire life taken away from me by a mere human girl!" Demon Inuyasha shouted back, even though it was as if he were talking to himself.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Your reign has ended.
"We'll see about that." He walked out onto the balcony and saw Kagome come out of the trees just north of him. Behind her more forms began coming forth, people he recognized. "What's this!?"
Kagome isn't the only one that cares for me. You still think you can win?
"Feh! Simply more blood to be spilt and more fun for me!" Demon Inuyasha jumped from the balcony and landed down in front of his castle, a good hundred yards from Kagome's position.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted.
Inuyasha raised his claws hungrily. Licking his lips he replied, "Have you come to die by my hand?"
Kagome raised a fist to her heart and shook her head. "I have come to keep a promise I made to you one year ago!" She shouted. "I promised to myself that I would stand by your side forever and always! That I would be there to make you smile when you were sad! To make you laugh when you wanted to cry. And I swore that instead of death I would offer you the best life had to offer until the moment came that you didn't need me anymore!"
She made me a promise? One year ago… that has to be when she asked to be by my side despite the fact I had sworn my life to Kikyou. She wanted nothing but to see me happy and here she is, fulfilling that promise. Kagome… Love filled Inuyasha's heart, but it only made Demon Inuyasha angrier.
"Well, if you haven't caught the hint by now, then I'll have to make it more clear!" He shouted, taking to the air above the castle. "I said she would fall by the day's end and sunset is only a few hours away. It may be I'll be free of her ahead of schedule." He said to his other self.
But you didn't plan on her bringing reinforcements. This battle will be the end of your existence. Inuyasha thought back.
"We'll see about that!" Suddenly, Demon Inuyasha dove down straight towards Kagome, who gasped in surprise.
Kouga jumped from his spot besides Kagome and aimed to intercept his rival. "Let's go!" He shouted.
That started it. Everyone from Sesshoumaru to Sango and Miroku rushed into battle. It was all for one and all of them against Inuyasha, but would it be enough?
Author's Notes: I once wrote that this was the entire point of why I started this fanfiction. Well, I have to tell you all that it was also my point to continue the story after the point where other stories leave off. Traditionally, Kagome and Inuyasha get together and they're all happy and lovey dovey and then that's it! Story ends! But, there's so much more after the confession and now that I finally have the idea, I plan to add it to this story and keep the saga going. More questions to be answers and more drama to be unfolded. Instead of making a sequal, AKA To Protect the One I Love 2, Inuyasha's love and devotion for Kagome will continue under the same title. I'm only mentioning this as a warning to those who don't like long fanfictions. Although, personally, I love them and I hope you stick around for it all.
Comments concerning the continuation of "To Protect the One I Love" will gladly be accepted at angelic_wings70@yahoo.com and I hope to hear from all of you! Oh yes, another cliffhanger! Haa haa! Except this one has an unsure ending…even I'm not sure what'll happen! Keep watching for more Inuyasha in the next chapter: Return to Innocence.
