Author's Notes: Well, there are fewer reviewers now than before, but the ones that are left are the most enthusiastic and I'm glad. How did everyone like the Houjo-Inuyasha face off? I always thought it would be bad news if those two ever met. Anyway, on with the Kagome Miko saga!
The Evil That Seeks the Shikon no TamaA pair of sad icy blue eyes looked out upon the city and sighed. If the Shikon no Tama was somewhere here, then he would find it. The winds blew hard at the top of the building he was standing on and his black hair flew in all different directions. It was always up high, where he felt he belonged the most. Above all the other underlings below him. Soon, Father…mother, I will join you and finally be where I truly belong.
* * *
In her sleep, Kagome felt the evil presence enter her senses from outside in the city and it made her wince before opening her eyes to a new morning. It was still early because Sango was still asleep on the floor next to her, Kirara sleeping soundly next to her.
Opening her eyes wider, Kagome didn't even remember falling asleep, but regretted the kind taijiya having to sleep on the floor because she took the bed. The darkness she'd felt earlier was still there and Kagome sat up and looked out the window unsure.
"Hey, Sango-chan." Kagome whispered.
"Hm?" Sango murmured still half asleep.
"Do you feel anything right now? Something not right?" The miko asked.
"No, why?" She still had her eyes closed.
Pulling the sheets off her and swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Kagome walked to the window and looked outside. "No reason." She lied. Something's out there. Something that doesn't belong here. But if I'm the only one that can feel it, then I'm the only one that can find it. She quietly got dressed and went downstairs. It was barely the break of dawn and everyone was thankfully still asleep. After yesterday, they'd all be worried about me and insist I not go, but I should just check it out in case. She convinced herself. She grabbed her ancestral bow and some arrows and made her way out.
She ran down the steps and away from the shrine, but what she didn't see was one golden eye that slowly opened and watched her carefully leave. Without saying a word, Inuyasha jumped from Goshinboku, where he had been keeping watch over Kagome's house and all his friends, and followed the miko into the city.
* * *
As Inuyasha kept track of Kagome from a little ways away, he noticed her aura was extremely bright, so bright that any demon within a few miles would be able to pick it up no problem. I guess it's a good thing we're not in my time then…
Kagome continued to run, her gut instinct telling her that danger was near. She couldn't pinpoint the feeling, and that made her more anxious. She stopped to lean up against an alleyway to catch her breath. It was then the noticed she was sweating and her entire body felt worse than the day before. Maybe I shouldn't be doing this alone. I don't feel so good anymore… That was an understatement. It was almost as if something were crowding in around her, making it hard to breath. But I started this, so I'd best finish it.
At the other end of the alley, Kagome caught sight of what she swore was a kuzu-youkai. It was similar to the mindless low-class demons Naraku would drag around with him. But what is it doing here? Taking a final deep breath, Kagome took off and followed the demon.
Inuyasha continued to follow Kagome from above, but didn't see what caught her eye to suddenly change directions.
Kagome crossed the street, not bothering to look for cars and looked around for the demon again. She saw it over to the side and ran after it. This isn't good. The last time a demon showed up here, my grandfather and several others fell victim to it. I have to stop it!
She pulled her bow and an arrow from her back and ran after the demon until it led her to a giant warehouse on the edge of the bay. This early in the morning on a weekend, the depot was deserted. The worm-like youkai flew into one of the steel dome-shaped warehouses that were used to repair various boats.
Kagome slowly entered the warehouse and noticed it was empty. Obviously it wasn't being used to repair anything right now. "Okay, I know you came in here. Show yourself!"
All at once, several kuzu-youkai came out from behind boxes and side doors, and before she knew it, hundreds of youkai surrounded her and blocked all the exits. "What!?" Spinning around, she saw they covered almost every inch of the warehouse, floor to ceiling. I was being led into a trap and I fell for it. Damn it!
Outside, Inuyasha cursed madly to himself. She was in his sights one minute, and then she was gone. "Where'd that damn woman run off to!?" His nose had a hard time trying to pick up her scent, with all the other scents that filled the air along with the smog from the commutes.
Gasping, Inuyasha froze as he picked up a scent, but it wasn't Kagome's. Youkai!? Here? He didn't know what demons were doing in Kagome's time, but he knew what it meant. Kagome's in trouble!
Kagome backed up against the only available wall and held her bow in front of her at the ready. None of the demons moved, they just stayed there as if waiting for something. "What are you doing here and what do you want!"
Her second question seemed to get them all excited, and they all began answering at once.
"We want the jewel."
"Give us the power."
"We can sense it on you."
"Where is it?"
Kagome frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about!" She shouted in frustration.
"Give it to us!" At once all the demons came in and charge the lone miko.
"You asked for it!" After years of battling youkai, Kagome was able to stomach her fear and fire off one of her purity arrows. It ran through the demons and any that touched it vaporized, screaming their way to hell, leaving behind only paper remains. She admitted to herself she was stupid for going off on her own, and now wish to see Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha by her side. But if this was how she was meant to go, she would do it fighting. Without enough time to load another arrow, Kagome batted one of the closest ones away and it was pushed back much like Tsubaki's shikigama was before. This one too, ended up being nothing but paper.
Another one came in from the side and slashed across Kagome's upper arm. She cried out and batted that one away too. A third came rushing in from the front and rammed into Kagome's stomach, throwing the girl against the wall where she slumped to the floor.
More took up the fight and flew in to finish her off.
"KAGOME!" Inuyasha came bursting in through one of the upper ceiling windows, glass raining down on the heathen below, and released a quick attack. "Sankon Tessou!" He shouted, slashing through dozens of youkai in a single swing.
Kagome opened one eye as she winced and grabbed hold of her bleeding wound. "Inu…yasha?"
"Kagome!" Inuyasha ran to her side and knelt before her.
"What are you …doing here?" She asked in ragged breaths.
Turning his back to her and facing the demons once more, Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. "I was about to ask you the same thing, but later. Right now, I have some demons to destroy." He ran forward and slashed again. "Sankon Tessou!"
More demons vaporized under his soul-crushing claws, but even more seemed to take their place. Where are they all coming from? The hanyou wondered.
Kagome didn't even seem to notice the fight before her, because halfway through it her eyes glazed over and a voice began to speak to her through her mind.
Don't think I don't know you have it. You may be able to get away today, but I will find you and the Shikon no Tama will be mine.
"Who…who are you?" Kagome asked aloud.
For years I have been forced to live with these lowly humans and youkai, on equal ground since I was born, but I will endure it no longer. I belong above all of you and soon I will take back that which is rightfully mine!
"The Shikon no Tama is no more…"
Enough lies! If you will not give it up, I will make you tell me where it is! Your family, your friends, they will all suffer by my hand until I get what I desire. You cannot hide the truth and you cannot run away from me.
Standing up, Kagome gritted her teeth. "No...I won't let you…"
Even during his battle, Inuaysha's sense picked up on Kagome's growing aura and spun around in alert. "Kagome?"
You cannot stop me!
"NOOOOO!!!!" Kagome screamed and forced the presence out of her mind. But in doing so also forced the immense amount of energy that was building up inside of her. The end result was a sonic boom of pure miko energy that not only vaporized the entire building, but destroyed all of the youkai as well.
The rest of the windows shattered and Inuyasha was blown back along with the kuzu-youkai. "KAGOME!!"
When the blast subsided, Inuyasha struggled to his feet, but coughed spitting up blood. He wiped his mouth and looked around stunned. The building they had been in lied in rubble, but the center of it, where Kagome had been, was gone, leaving a gaping hole leading down into the water.
Gasping, the hanyou looked around frantically. "Kagome? Kagome!"
Not seeing her anywhere left only one last place. "Oh gods no!" Jumping to his feet, Inuyasha dove into the water and winced as the salt water stung his eyes. But he continued to look around for any sign of the miko.
He finally saw her sinking down below, deeper into the water. He swam down to her and wraped one arm around her waist, using the other to swim back up to the surface. Inuyasha never was a strong swimmer and he felt the air depleting in his lungs faster and faster. Please, gotta make it to…the top…Just a little…further…
He finally broke the surface of the water and pulled up Kagome's unconscious body with him. He swam to the edge of the wreckage and pulled himself onto the wooden pier. He looked down at her and saw her sleeping face fade in and out of darkness. Oh crap, I'm gonna pass…
His eyes closed and he collapsed onto of Kagome's stomach.
* * *
When he opened his eyes again, he was met with the gentle colors of Souta's room. "Wha…?" He slowly sat up and put a hand to his head. "What happened?"
"That's what we'd like to know." Miroku came in and stood besides the bed.
Sango was right besides him and sat down at the edge of the bed. "I thought something was up and went to look for Kagome. I didn't have any luck until Kirara saw that bright light shoot straight up into the sky. Anyone could've seen it for miles. When we got there, you and Kagome were unconscious near the bay, but we were able to bring you back here before the locals came." The taijiya explained.
"Kagome?" The hanyou asked.
Miroku shook his head. "Shippo is with her in the next room, but she still hasn't woken up."
"Something's not right. Kagome's life force was extremely strong before, but she looked really weak." Inuyasha said with growing worry.
"What caused that explosion, Inuyasha?" Miroku wondered.
Inuyasha looked up at the monk. "Kagome did."
This made both Sango and Miroku gasp. "So that's what did this." Sango pulled out some of the shredded paper. "This was all that was left around you when we got there. What were these?"
"Demons, at least they looked like the kuzu-youkai from our time, but I'm still not sure how they got here."
Miroku put a hand to his chin in thought. "Well, I think we have enough unanswered questions. It's time to get some of those answers."
"Where?" Sango asked.
"We have to go back to Kaede's." The monk replied.
* * *
"Do you have to leave so soon!?" Souta whined.
"Yeah, we need to get this figured out. It's for Kagome's own good as well." Inuyasha replied. The miko was mounted on Inuyasha's back and although her eyes were half open, it was as if she were poisoned or sleepy. She was barely conscious at most. "When we find something out, we'll come back."
Nodding, Souta agreed. "Okay!"
Without further delay, they all jumped into the well and returned to the feudal era.
* * *
Kaede shook her head slowly. "This is bad."
"What is it, Kaede-sama?" Miroku asked. He and the others met privately with the miko, leaving Kagome asleep in the next room.
The aged miko turned to the hanyou. "Inuyasha, what exactly did Kagome wish for?"
"She said, 'I wished that everyone be able to come to my world.' Why?"
"Is that how she phrased it?" Kaede asked again.
Inuyasha glared at the miko. "Are you saying she would lie to me?"
"No, but if that is what she said, it would explain a lot." Kaede dipped her wooden spoon into the stew and stirred it a couple of times before continuing. "If she wished for everyone to come to her world, anyone from myself to Naraku, human or youkai alike would be able to."
"What about that strange light I saw?" Sango asked. "Inuyasha says it was Kagome-chan, but I don't see how."
"That is easily explained." Kaede began. "When Kagome made her wish, the jewel returned to the safest place it could, her body."
"So that light I saw was the power of the jewel?" The Taijiya clarified.
"That makes sense." Inuyasha piped in. "Because when she first came here, she blasted all of that centipede's arms off with a wave of her hand."
"Being a miko, she can easily access the power of the jewel, sometimes even accidentally." Kaede said with a nod.
Inuyasha was getting more uneasy by the minute. "If youkai can sense the jewel inside her, then they'll come after her again, like they did before."
"I'm afraid so. Although the jewel would make Kagome more powerful, she can't control it yet. It might be activated by anything." The miko explained.
"Things just got a lot more complicated." Miroku said with a sigh.
Unknown to them all, Kagome listened in on the other side. She took a deep, shaky breath and held a hand to her heart. I'm a walking time bomb. What happened at the bay could happen again. Not to mention everyone would be facing constant danger all because of me. The choice was clear and as Kagome ran from the hut that held all her friends, her tears of sorrow were the only farewell she had to give. Goodbye, I'm sorry…
"But we have to protect Kagome!" Shippo whined, getting a mew of agreement from Kirara.
"I'm not saying we don't, but how do we protect her, when we're in danger as well?" Inuyasha argued. "I've felt her power and if it were to happen again, other humans in her world wouldn't be so lucky."
"So we keep her here then." Miroku said. "Until she has full control over her abilities."
"Yeah, it's all we can do for her now." Inuyasha stepped out from the room they were meeting in and went to check on Kagome, only to find she wasn't there. "Kagome?" He dashed outside and found she was nowhere in sight. "Damn it!"
Everyone else came out and came to the same conclusion, but only Miroku had the courage to say it. "Kagome-sama heard us and decided to leave."
"We know that already monk!" Inuyasha shouted.
Sango stepped forward. "Inuyasha?"
"Stay here. If anyone can find her its me." He replied in a low voice, taking off into the forest after her.
"Will he be able to being her back?" Shippo said from Sango's shoulder.
"I hope so." The taijiya answered. "She's weak and vulnerable right now and the youkai activity has only increased because of Naraku's destruction. She's in danger out there."
Shippo looked to where Inuyasha disappeared. "Kagome…"
* * *
Kagome ran as fast as she could, knowing Inuyasha would be right on his tail. I have to lead him in the wrong direction. She thought. Taking off her sweater, Kagome pulled a small knife from her pocket and made a small cut in her hand. Wincing, she dropped the blood onto the sweater. Along the way she ran her hand against various trees and smeared her blood on them. Thinking she had gone far enough, she dropped the sweater in some bushes and ran off in the opposite direction.
Please, let him think I'm dead. It'll be easier if I don't have to face Inuyasha again. None of them would understand if I tried to explain to them why I can't stay with them. She tripped on some roots, but picked herself up and kept running. That demon that was in my head will come after them trying to hurt me. I can't let that happen. The jewel must be kept safely away from him and from them. I don't care what happens to me. Everyone has protected me at the cost of their lives so many times, I can't let them do it again.
Kagome remembered the one time she was poisoned by one of the Shichinintai, Miroku and Sango tried to save her and were poisoned as well. They three of them almost lost their lives if it hadn't been for myouga-jiji.
Kagome couldn't help but cry when she thought she'd never get to see any of them again. Youkai will come and among them may be one more powerful than Naraku. I won't let them die protecting me. Especially Inuyasha…
There was one time when Inuyasha almost got blown up by one of the Shichinintai and he wouldn't be able to survive without his fire rat armor that he selflessly gave to Kagome to protect her from the fire just outside the cave they were in. Kagome had been so worried for him at that time, that she didn't want to have to worry about his safety because of her again.
Not to mention that because of my wish, demons can now go freely into my world, putting my family and friends at risk. I knew I shouldn't have made a wish. Now I've made a worse mess of things. I'm so stupid.
* * *
Inuyasha ran through the forest, following Kagome's distinctive smell, when something else caught his nose. "Kagome's blood?" Fear immediately sunk into his veins and he chased after it thoughtlessly. Kagome please don't be hurt! He came to clearing and got down on all fours. She has to be around here somewhere. The smell is strongest here. He sniffed the ground and followed it until he pushed away some bushes and found her sweater.
Gasping, he picked it up and saw the blood stain on it. Sniffing around, he noticed there was no youkai around and he didn't sense any evil presence either. Which meant…Damn it! She led me off the right path!
Cursing more, he ditched the sweater and ran off into the forest again, trying desperately to pick up the fresher scent and hopefully find Kagome. Damn woman, she's really serious about leaving us this time. Kagome, when I find you, I'm really gonna let you have it! He swore.
* * *
Kagome leaned up against a tree and panted heavily. Her legs burned, but she knew she had to keep going. Inuyasha was like a bloodhound and the blood trail would only work for so long. She had to get far enough away where he'd loose the smell of her and give up. But if I know Inuyasha, he won't give up. His stubbornness is one of his most annoying traits. She thought. But this time, please Inuyasha, give up and go home. It's for everyone's sake that I leave. Evil will come and I have enough guilt riding on me without all of you getting hurt or manipulated because of me!
So wrapped up in her thoughts, Kagome didn't pick up the presence of the demon making its way towards her. Bursting out of the foliage, the snake-like demon wrapped its scaly tail around Kagome and pulled her towards it.
Her first reaction would be to scream, but then she remembered Inuyasha was still about and he would immediately pick up on it with his sensitive hearing. "What do you want?" She asked annoyed.
"You have the jewel, don't you human." It hissed. The entire length of the demon was unknown because most of it was still hidden in foliage, but the head itself was a good four feet long.
"If you want the jewel, you're gonna have to kill me first and I won't go down easily." She glared, struggling to get out of the hold it had on her. He tightened its grip, trying to suffocate the weakling girl before swallowing her whole.
"It's been a while since I've had a tender human meal." It said with a flick of its tongue.
"Yeah, well too bad, cause it ain't gonna be me!" She focused and focused and in an amazing show of power, her entire body began glowing pink and she threw her arms out to the side, shredding the part of the youkai wrapped around her like nothing more than paper.
It howled in pain and fell over dead, its body severed in half. Covered in its disgusting smell, Kagome cringed her nose and ran off into the forest once more. Inuyasha probably saw that and will be here any minute. Thankfully with the creature's smell on me, it'll mask my scent even more.
She ran across a clearing and was about to duck into the darkened foliage once more when a voice said from behind her. "Where the hell do you think you're going!?"
Gasping, Kagome skidded to a halt when Inuyasha landed in front of her with a glare like none other. "Inuyasha!"
"You've got a shit load of explaining to do, starting now!" He crossed his arms.
Kagome caught him off guard when she glared back. "No! I don't have to explain anything to you and even if I did you wouldn't understand!" She turned around and tried running off again. But Inuyasha was quick and caught a hold of her arm. "Let go of me!" She shouted.
"Not until you tell me what's the matter!"
"NO!" She struggled.
"Why were you ready to leave us! Why send me in the wrong direction! What's wrong with you!?" He demanded, not releasing his grip on her.
"I said let go of me Inuaysha! OSUWARI!"
SLAM!
Inuyasha's face plummeted with the ground and he temporarily lost his grip on her. Finally freed, Kagome ran off again, this time her tears leaving behind a distinctive trail to follow.
When the spell wore off, Inuyasha continued the chase and thought, I'm not gonna lose you! You're hiding something and I'm gonna find out what it is if I have to lock you back up in that castle for the rest of the century, I will find out!
Kagome tripped, but this time didn't have the strength to get back up. She just stayed there knelt in the dirt, crying her heart out.
"You gonna tell me what's wrong, or are you gonna run off again?" Inuyasha's calm voice asked from behind her.
"You…wouldn't understand." She heaved.
Kneeling beside her, he asked casually. "Try me."
The miko continued to cry, unable to stop the tears, but spoke between hiccups. "They'll come…youkai will come for the jewel."
"That's nothing new for us." The hanyou replied.
"He will come." She specified.
This raised Inuyasha's interest. "Who?"
Crying more, Kagome punched the ground. "I don't know! A powerful demon who wants the jewel. Isn't that how it always is?"
Pulling her up to face him, Inuyasha asked. "Kagome, tell me, where did you see this youkai?"
"I didn't…" She said with more fear than before. Slowly, she raised her index finger to her head and tapped it. "He told me. He was going to use you and my family if he had to and get the jewel away from me by force. Don't you see? You're all in danger!" She moved away from him and bowed her head. "I have to leave. It's the only way. If he's in my world, maybe I'll be safe here for a while. If not, then when I go home, my family will already be dead. I won't have anymore innocence blood on my hands."
"Huh?"
Turning to face him, Kagome put on a sad smile. "You don't think that every time we ran into a village that was destroyed when a demon came hunting for a jewel shard I didn't blame myself? I was the one who broke the jewel and brought pain and misery to everyone it came in contact with."
"But Kagome, you also saved dozens of lives when we destroyed Naraku, the real murderer." He tried to comfort. He hated seeing Kagome like this.
She scoffed. "But what's gonna happen in the future? Who's gonna be next? Miroku-sama, Sango-chan…you?"
This time it was Inuyasha's time to scoff. "Ain't no demon that can take me down."
Standing up, Kagome looked away. "Maybe not. But I'm not gonna take that chance. If he wants the jewel, he's gonna have to find me first. Just me. Not you or Shippo-chan or Sango-chan. I have to find a way to undo that I've done and seal up the connection between the two worlds. Or countless others will fall to youkai like him."
Inuyasha stood up and grabbed her hand. "Don't go."
"I have to."
"No!" Inuyasha pulled her into a hug from behind and squeezed as hard as he dared. "I don't care what danger comes. If its purpose is to hurt you, I'll kill it. But I won't just accept that the only solution is the have you leave my side, even for a minute!"
Kagome was stunned. "Inuyasha…please, don't make it harder than it has to be."
Smiling, Inuyasha turned Kagome around in his embrace and looked into her eyes. "In order for me to do that, you'd have to take away my memories for the last three years." He gently moved the hair out of her face.
Kagome's eyes widened. "W-what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that since I met you, since you turned my world upside down with your smile and brightened my day with your laughter, I've been in love with you."
The tears came again, but Kagome wasn't sure if it was because of pain of joy. "Inuyasha…"
"To save me the pain of you leaving, you'd have to take away every minute of every day that we've spent together, because it's those moments I treasure more than life itself. I was never able to say it before, but you give me the courage I need to finally admit what it is I feel for you and have always felt for you deep inside my heart. I love you, Higurashi Kagome. And I'll never stop loving you no matter what you tell me."
"Oh, Inuyasha!" Kagome threw her arms around his neck and refused to let go. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything I've done!" She cried. "You all mean so much to me and I don't want to lose you!"
Inuyasha held her back tightly and replied. "We're not going anywhere." He assured. Pulling back, he held a hand to her chin and stared into her eyes right through to her very soul. "I'm not going anywhere."
Slowly, he leaned in and closed his eyes, and unlike when he had kissed her back at Kaguya's castle, this one was a silent promise of his every protecting love for her and her safety. When their lips met, Kagome's arms melted, but the hanyou held her close as he pressed his lips harder, never wanting the moment to end.
With one arm wrapped around her waist and the other against her head, the two continued to kiss. With Inuyasha's bright red aura and Kagome's gentle pink one, the two life forces wrapped and mingled around one another like a blanket until you couldn't tell which one was which. They were molded together down to the inner spirit, a single mind and entity.
Pulling away, Inuyasha gingerly wiped away her tears with his thumb and asked, "Please, don't ever leave me again."
Kagome slowly nodded and leaned forward to hug her true love once more. "Inuyasha, you know I've always cared for you. And it was hard watching you get hurt so much protecting me. I…I've never loved anyone else like I love you, and I want you by my side forever."
"And I'll be here whenever you need me." He assured her.
Kagome pulled back again and held up her pinky finger. "Promise?"
Smiling gently, Inuyasha wrapped his pinky with hers and pulled her in for another kiss. When they broke this time he nodded. "I promise. With all my heart and soul, I will be by your side forever."
* * *
Opening his eyes, the man from before smirked amused. She thinks she can run away to the other world and escape me? Well, I'll prove to her that my threats can easily be made into a very painful reality.
In his mind's eye he saw the couple embrace and a plan was immediately set into action. That hanyou thinks he can protect her from everything, but I'll show him that it will be a more difficult task than he could ever imagine.
Author's notes: (grabs a tissue and blows her nose) I don't know where this confession came from but it's damn good! I just hope I didn't go OOC with Inuyasha for it though. Reviews are always welcome.
