To Protect the One I Love

Author's Notes: The new moon is finally here and Inuyasha knows he must find Kagome's stalker before then or else he will be unable to protect her.  So they scour the city from high and low, trying to pick up on any evil youki that might lead them to their unknown manipulator.  But, will they be able to find Subaru-sama before he finds them?

Forced Away From You: Part 1

            Inuyasha and the others went out into the city as soon as Miroku was able.  Shippo wanted to come, but since Kagome didn't want to put him into danger, she urged him to stay at the house, just this once.  Kagome's mother was quick to the draw and pulled out a sucker, tempting the cub to stay with her and she would give him more later.  But Kagome knew inside, her mother loved Shippo like one of her own children.

Miroku and Sango now rode upon Kirara as they tried to find any trace of demon energy in the north part of the city.  But so far, they had had no luck.

            Inuyasha, with Kagome on his back, searched the southern part of the city.  Inuyasha was growing steadily more nervous as they failed to find anything abnormal.  Tonight was the night he reverted to his human form and if Kagome was attacked again, the only defense she would have would be Miroku and Sango.

            Meeting up again in front of the shrine, Sango and Miroku dismounted Kirara.  "Any luck?"  Miroku asked.

            Shaking his head, Inuyasha sighed.  "No, either he went into hiding, or he's in the other world."

            "Let's take a break and try again a little later."  Sango suggested.

            Kagome agreed.  "I'll make us some lunch."  She said as she led the group into the house.

            "Just no more of that curry stuff!"  Inuyasha shouted, sticking his tongue out of his mouth.  "I don't care what you say, that soup was too hot and way too spicy!"  The hanyou pouted.

            Miroku and Sango immediately giggled as they entered the house, remembering the time when Kagome had sat Inuyasha a total of five times in a row because he insulted her cooking.

            "Inuyasha?"  Kagome asked.  The hanyou immediately covered up his ears in fear.

            "S…"

            "Neesan, you're home!"  Souta popped up and jumped onto Inuyasha, the hanyou instinctively grabbing a hold of the young boy.  Souta raised his hands up to "hug" the hanyou, but instantly threw Inuyasha's hat over his head to hide his ears.  "I missed you!"  He kept playing.

            "O-okay."  Inuyasha slowly put the boy down and pretended to play along.  "So what's up?"

            Just then Kagome's mother came around the corner.  "Oh, you're home.  There's someone here to see you."

            Kagome blinked in confusion and turned the corner into her living room where her grandfather and another man sat talking.  The man was dressed in a white and blue monk's robe with his long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail.  As she walked in, the man turned around and his icy blue eyes made the miko's step falter. 

            In one glance, Kagome immediately felt there was far more going on behind the mysterious gaze than met the eye.  She opened herself up to her miko powers and searched for any evil that might reside in him.  Surprisingly, she found none.  He felt like a normal human would be, except for some minor holy powers, but definitely no one to be afraid of.

            "Ah, Kagome-sama, I finally get to meet you."  The man got up and bowed low.

            "Eh?"  Confused, she bowed back.  "How again do you know me?"

            "Oh, I'm sorry.  My name is Subaru.  I'm on a pilgrimage of self discovery and come from a monastery far away from here."  He introduced himself.  "When I heard of the Higurashi Shrine I had to come here.  This place is a piece of history frozen in time."

            Kagome laughed nervously and looked behind her, the others knowing how close to the truth he was.  "Um, these are my friends, Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku."  They bowed and Subaru bowed back.  Thankfully they were all dressed in their normal clothes, excluding Inuyasha, who insisted on having his fire rat's robe on incase that ran into a fight.  "I'm sorry I can't stay, but we haven't eaten and I was planning on making lunch." 

            Upon hearing this, Kagome's mother stepped up.  "I already have steak and potatoes ready in the kitchen, if you would like to join us Subaru-sama?"

            The monk nodded.  "I would be honored."

            After lunch, Subaru asked to speak with Kagome about the shrine and other things, so not wanting to be rude, Kagome agreed and told the others to wait around until she was finished.

            Miroku was immediately pulled away by Kagome's grandfather, who wanted to speak more about the Higurashi magic.  Sango helped Kagome's mother clean up after lunch.  Shippo, who had been hiding out in Souta's room, was playing video games with the boy.  Souta easily showed the kitsune cub how to beat the level he had been trying so hard to pass on his little gameboy.

            "It's so rare these days to find a monk as advanced as your friend Miroku."  Subaru commented.

            "Yeah, he's been training since he was little."  Kagome replied casually.  Subaru seemed a decent enough man and she soon forgot the earlier uneasiness she felt about him.

            "Have you discovered any of your abilities yet, young miko?" 

            "Um…I'm just a normal junior high school kid.  My grandfather named me his heir just before I turned fifteen."  She lied.  Souta was the one grandfather wanted to run the shrine when he was gone, but after everything that had happened, Kagome didn't mind one bit.

            "You have a great legacy fanned out before you.  The Higurashi have been protecting us against evil for many centuries."

            "Eh?"

            Subaru stopped walking.  "Didn't you know?  You're great ancestor, Higurashi Kimiko vanquished youkai over 500 years ago."

            Kagome breathed a sigh of relief.  For a second I thought he was going to say me.  I wonder if everything I've done in Feudal Japan will be written in the history books of today.  "I didn't know that."  She commented.

            "Kagome-sama, you have the potential to be a great miko and its because of this I feel the need to tell you about your friend, Inuyasha."

            "Inuyasha?"  Kagome suddenly got very nervous.  "Wh-what about him?"

            "I felt his presence and there's no mistaking it.  He's a demon."

            "Ummm."  How to get out of this one… "I…"

            "Just be careful around him."  Subaru said.  Bowing to the miko, he waved goodbye.  "I must be going.  I still have a long ways to go."

            "Okay, it was nice to meet you."  Kagome bowed back and quickly made her way back into the house.  It's bad enough that my friends almost found out he's not from this world.  I can't risk anyone else finding out!

            As soon as she disappeared into the house, Subaru glanced over at Goshinboku where he knew that idiotic hanyou was keeping a close watch over him.  Just what are you thinking, Inuyasha?

            Inuyasha locked eyes with Subaru, but refused to move.  It's a good thing this guy's leaving or Kagome would have more explaining to do when I walk into the house with black hair instead of white.  Nothing smells fishy about him, but I still don't trust him.

            Subaru's smile widened as he turned his back to Inuyasha and left the shrine behind.  On his way down the steps, the monk prepared a new plan for getting the Shikon no Tama.  No, not getting the stone, but perhaps more like taking away the protector of the stone.  So, he's not a full-blooded youkai.  He's a hanyou and like all hanyou, he looses his powers during one day every month.  Looking up at the sky, Subaru saw there was going to be a new moon that night.  And like the moon turns its back on you and takes away all your powers, soon your love will do the same.  Oh, Inuyasha, you have not yet learned the meaning of the word suffer.  But I, the Great Subaru, will be more than happy to show you. 

            Kagome got Miroku and Sango and went out to meet with Inuyasha at Goshinboku.  "Inuyasha, are you ready?"

            "We can't go.  It's too close to dusk for us to try for a confrontation now."  He said gruffly. 

            Looking at the setting sun, Kagome sighed.  "I guess you're right.  I'm sorry."

            "Don't be sorry, Kagome-chan.  It wasn't your fault."  Sango soothed.

            "I suggest we get some rest while we can.  Tomorrow we might just get lucky."  Miroku said.

            "Okay."  Kagome looked up and saw Inuyasha staring away from her at the darkening sky.  "Good night, Inuyasha."

            "Night."

            Sadly, Kagome turned and retreated back into the house.  Something about him seems sad.  I just can't put my finger on it.

            When the sun's rays finally dipped below the horizon and plunged the world into its natural darkness, Inuyasha felt his body weaken.  His hair slowly faded from white to black, his claws retracted and his fangs became no more.  I hate this!  I'm a sitting duck like this in a fight!  (First a bat-dog, not a dog-duck, I know it's weird just bare with me!)

            Inuyasha always hated being human, even for a night, and although his demonic self promised the end to such ways, he refused.  Kagome would never be able to stay with him if he allowed his bloodlust to take complete control.  But then, if things stayed the way they were, he wouldn't be able to stay with her anyways.  Even though it had been three years since they had met, Inuyasha could tell Kagome was growing to be a beautiful woman.  Smart and intuitive, resourceful and full of empathy.  He on the other hand was the complete opposite and would always be like that, for years to come.  And this is just the beginning.  Things about us will continue to change until she's an old woman and I'm still me.

            But as he stared into his reflection on the little mirror Kagome had given to him just before his meeting with Princess Kaguya, he started to wonder.  Would it really be that bad to stay this way and keep Kagome?  If he was willing to make such a sacrifice for Kikyo, why not do the same for the woman he truly loved?

            "Don't.  I know what you're thinking and I don't want you to.  I like you for who you are and would never ask you to change for me."  Kagome had once told him.  You never expected more of me than what was there.  You've always been there for me and I want to be there for you, so how can I simply accept the fact that because I'm a hanyou, we'll be forced apart?  Would you just accept it as fate or destiny, Kagome?  Inuyasha scoffed.  Because I don't.  I don't care if I was born a hanyou.  I can be what I want and if that means staying with you than I choose to be human.  If Kagome truly loved him in return, she would accept his decision and they would be able to stay together.  It's the only way…

            "Inuyasha?"

            "Eh?  Inuyasha blinked out of his thoughts and looked down in surprise to see Kagome standing at the base of the God's Tree.  She was still dressed in the same clothes as she had before, a light pink spaghetti string top and jean shorts.  "How come you haven't gone to sleep yet?"

            Smiling, she replied almost shyly.  "Well, I thought since tonight you're human, you might like to spend it together like a normal couple would."

            Looking curiously at the girl below, Inuyasha asked, "What do couples in your time do together?"

            "Well, they go out and watch movies, then maybe get a bite to eat and walk around for awhile holding hands."  She saw his blank expression and sadly looked away.  "I thought you might think it was stupid, so I'll just…"

            "No!  It's not that!"  He jumped down from his perch, landing in front of her, and started getting nervous himself.  "You know I always get this way when I'm human.  I can't help it.  But…" He looked at her and smiled, taking her hand in his.  "If you really want to go, then sure okay, let's go get this movie."

            Giggling, Kagome began walking with him away from the shrine.  "No silly, it's not something you get, you watch a movie.  Think of it like watching a memory, but it's not yours.  It's an entire story played out in moving pictures."

            "Moving pictures?"  As they started down the steps, Inuyasha stopped.  "Do Miroku and Sango know?  If anything happens, they should know where we are."

            "Of course they know.  I told Sango before I left just in case."  Kagome smiled again, starting back down the steps once more.

            "Okay, if you say so."  Inuyasha allowed Kagome to lead him into the city, all the lights and noise different from the daytime.  Maybe, this'll be good…for both of us.

            Miroku tipped toed up the stairs that led to Kagome's room and took a deep breath before slowly opening the door.  Instantly a small yet deadly knife was embedded in the wall mere inches from his head.

            "What are you doing here, Miroku-kun?"  Sango asked threateningly, another knife ready just in case.

            Laughing nervously, the monk held his hands up in defense.  "I swear I wasn't going to try anything."

            "Then what were you trying to do?  And make it good or else this time I won't miss and you won't be needing to ask ANYone to bear your children anymore."  She warned.

            Nodding, Miroku suddenly got serious.  "Have you seen Inuyasha?  I went to the tree to check up on him and he wasn't there."

            Surprised, Sango lowered her weapon.  "No, he hasn't told me anything."

            "Well, it may be nothing so until we're sure, don't tell Kagome-sama.  He may just be in hiding or checking around on a night watch.  I'll head out and try to find him.  Hopefully he's nearby."  Miroku closed the door as Sango nodded.

            Looking out the window from the bed, Sango began to wonder.  Where would Inuyasha wonder off to?  And while he's human?  It's just not like him.

            Coming out of the movie theatre, Inuyasha laughed and talked excitedly with Kagome about the movie with monsters even larger than the youkai he'd fought but not by much.

            Walking to a nearby park, Kagome sat on one of the swings, the hanyou taking a seat besides her.  Inuyasha was surprised that not too many people were around and those who were, didn't take a second glance at him in his red fire rat robe, because quite seriously, most of them were dressed far weirder.

            Kagome turned to Inuyasha and held both of his hands in hers.  "Inuyasha, I'm really glad you decided to come tonight.  Dinner was fun, even IF you insisted on having anchovies on your pizza, and the movie was fun too." 

Slowly, she looked away and Inuyasha got the sinking feeling what she was going to say next wasn't good news.  "Kagome, what's wrong?"

"We are, Inuyasha.  And we both know it."

"What?"

Looking at him, Kagome paused before continuing.  "I know you care for me and that's what makes saying this that much harder.  We can't stay together anymore."

"Kagome…" He couldn't believe what he was hearing.  "You can't be serious."

"I know you would never be able to bring yourself to break up with me, so I have to be the one to do it.  I can't live forever and I won't sit by and let you give up who you are."  By now, Kagome's eyes were brimming with tears.  "Just do what's best for both of us and go back to the other world.  Forget about the Shikon no Tama and forget about me!"  Covering her face in her hands, Kagome ran away from Inuyasha, disappearing into a nearby alleyway.

"Kagome wait!"  Inuyasha tried to stop her.  "KAGOME!!"

Author's Notes: Okay, there were major clues in there as to the reason for the breakup, but can anyone tell me the one subtle clue?  If you have an idea, write to me at angelicwings70yahoo.com and I'll post the names of the people who got it write on the next chapter.  Good luck!