To Protect the One I Love

Author's Notes:  Well, it seems no one caught my little trick.  So, I guess I'll have to tell you.  One of the last things Kagome says to Inuyasha is, "I can't live forever and I won't sit by and let you give up who you are."  The key word in there is sit.  She says it, but what happens with Inuyasha?  Nothing.  Later, Inuyasha figures this out for himself, but by then it's too late…

Forced Away From You: Part 2

            "Kagome!"  Inuyasha shouted, taking chase once again after the girl.  She can't mean it.  I won't believe it!  He wished he had his youryoku back so he could easily catch up with her, but as it was, he was just as slow as any other human and already out of breath.  Damn woman!  One way or another, she's going to be the end of me!

            Subaru watched the hanyou-turned-human chase after his love and his smile only grew.  "That's right, Inuyasha.  Chase after her without thought or reason.  Soon, all your dreams and nightmares will come to an end…"

            Kagome jolted in her sleep and for the second time that night, she felt the need for a glass of water.  While she was downstairs the first time, she could've sworn she heard whispering voices back upstairs, but when she had returned, Sango was still asleep in her bed.

            My throat's dry as a bone as if I'm nervous about something.  I've felt this way before, when Inuyasha was in his world and I was sealed here.  I knew he was in danger, but I didn't know from what.  Getting out from under her covers, Kagome went to the window and looked outside at Goshinboku.  Inuyasha never sleeps while he's human, so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to check up on him.

            Ba-dum…

            Kagome gasped and felt as her heart began to beat faster and faster.  He is in trouble!  I'm sure of it!  Kagome immediately flashed on the light and began getting dressed. 

            Sango squinted her eyes and sat up.  "Kagome-chan, what's going on?"

            Pulling on her jeans, while hopping on one foot, the miko replied, "Inuyasha's in trouble.  I can feel it."

            This made the taijiya awaken immediately.  "Are you sure?"  Maybe Miroku wasn't wrong.

            Grabbing her bow and arrows, which were propped up against the wall, Kagome turned to Sango and nodded.  "Positive."

            That was all the taijiya had to hear.  She immediately got out of bed and dressed in her armor with the speed she always did.  "Kirara."  She whispered, getting the poor cat out of its sleep at the foot of the bed.

            "We should tell Miroku too."  Kagome said as Sango continued to prepare.

            "He's already out there looking for him."

            "Eh?"  Kagome spun around and looked back at Goshinboku.  "You mean Inuyasha's not in the tree?"

            Standing up, Sango shook her head.  "He came by earlier when you were gone.  Apparently Inuyasha wasn't in the tree earlier, but we weren't sure where he was so we didn't want to worry you."

            Running to the door, Kagome paused to look one last time at Sango.  "Well one thing's for sure.  If we don't find him soon, he's going to be in terrible danger."

            "Argh, for the last time, Ayame, I don't remember!"  Kouga shouted at the persistent demon behind him.  Young Ayame still insisted Kouga promised to marry her, and he still insisted that he didn't remember making such a promise, even though on the inside he did remember.  I told her I didn't remember before because I was still in love with Kagome.  With her and Dog Crap together, that doesn't leave much room for me.  But if I do go to Ayame, I don't want her to think I'm picking her second just because I lost Kagome.  If I do choose her to become my woman, I want her to know without a doubt that it's because of her, and who she is, and nothing  else.

            Kouga wouldn't admit it, but Ayame could hold herself well in a fight, and now that the Shikon no Tama was collected, there was no need for a woman who could see the shards, like he once said he picked Kagome for.  Ayame would make an excellent pack leader, especially since she led her pack from the North so well.

            "But Kouga!"  Ayame whined.

            Scoffing, Kouga left the cave.  "I'm going for a walk!"  He shouted, then ran off into the forest.

            Inuyasha followed as closely to Kagome as he could, but he wasn't close enough to grab a hold of her.  Suddenly she stopped when they reached the back of an old abandoned building, and tried to catch her breath.  He could hear her weeps and hiccups and each one pained him more than the last.  "Kagome…"

            "Why can't you just leave!?"  She shouted.

            "Kagome, I love you!  And I won't leave you just because you've lost faith in us!"  He shouted back.  He came up to her and grabbed a hold of her wrist so she wouldn't run away.  "After everything we've been through, do I mean so little to you that you would vouch so quickly against us being together and throw me away?"

            She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, pouring down her face like rain, and it made him have to look away.  "Do you hate to see me sad, Inuyasha?"

            He began to stutter, but refused to look into her pained expression again.

            "Are you truly prepared to sit back and watch me grow old and ugly over the years, while you remain the same?"  She asked.

            Finally looking at her in the eye, Inuyasha said with confidence.  "Kagome, you could never be ugly to me, you…" Then he froze.  "Wait a minute.  What did you say?"  He immediately let go of her hand and began stepping away.

            "I said do you wanna watch me grow old?"  She repeated.   "Inuyasha, what's wrong?  Where are you going?"  She reached out to him.

            Shaking his head, Inuyasha refused to touch her.  "That's not what you said.  You said, 'Am I truly prepared to sit back and watch you grow old.'  You said the "s" word and nothing happened."  He looked down at the rosary and saw it remained quite as usual, not responding to her command at all.  Looking back up at Kagome, Inuyasha continued to back away.  "You're not Kagome."

            A smile crossed her lips and in a lightning fast move, one that mirrored Sesshoumaru's speed, she was standing mere inches from Inuyasha's face as she slammed the human into the brick wall behind him, her hand gripped tightly around his throat.  "It seems I didn't learn everything I needed to play Kagome long enough to say goodbye to you."

            "W-who are you?"  Inuyasha struggled against her hold, but it was impossible.  Blood began to trickle down his neck from the wound to the back of his head.

            "Does it matter?  I'm going to be the last face you see in this world alive.  Youkai are ugly creatures from the underworld.  And humans are just as disgusting but weaker.  And you?  A mix of them both?  You are an abomination; so killing you would be doing both worlds an enormous favor."  She sneered.  "And since it's easier to deal with you in this form, I have the perfect opportunity."

            "Why are you after me this time?"  He asked.

            "Why don't you ask yourself that question?  You above anyone should realize it by now.  With you in your human form, even if I were to go after Kagome, the real Kagome, you wouldn't be able to lift a finger to help her.  The monk and taijiya would easily fall beneath my powers.  But with you gone completely from the picture, I can toy with them all I want and you won't be able to do anything about it."

            Gasping, Inuyasha fought the darkness that threatened to engulf him.  "K-Kagome…"

            "Oh, you won't be seeing her anytime soon.  By the time they get here, you will already be dead.  Strangled to death by your own love.  How does it feel Inuyasha?  Let's see what the old noggin has to say."  Slowly, Kagome put her other hand over Inuyasha's forehead, as much as he tried to get away, and probed deep into his mind and memories.

            "Inuyasha!"  Kikyou shouted, releasing one of her purity arrows.  It struck true, right into Inuyasha's shoulder.  Slowly the precious jewel that he had been holding onto slipped from his fingers.

            "Kikyou, you bitch, how dare you…" Then he closed his eyes and fell into a fifty-year long slumber…

            Kagome began laughing as she pulled her hand away from Inuyasha.  "I see.  This has happened before.  Fate hasn't been very kind to you, has it?"  She taunted.  Her grip was so strong, when Inuyasha struggled, his feet dangled above the ground.  Kagome looked up at the human Inuyasha and softly caressed his face.  The mere touch of this thing, even if it looked like his Kagome, was revolting.  "Oh my poor Inuyasha, to have loved and lost…"

            "I'm not your anything!"

            "Oh, but you will be."  Kagome leaned in and slowly pressed her lips against his, her hand keeping him from moving away.  As soon as her lips touched his, Inuyasha's eyes widened and he tried to block out the feelings it sent through his body: the cold waves of fear and sadness that seeped into his body from her.  It was like she was taking all his hope and faith away with one mere kiss.  It was draining and Inuyasha's head slumped to his chest as he fell into unwilling unconsciousness.

            Pulling away, Kagome's eyes flashed red for a moment.  "As soon as my master is through with you, I will ask him to let me keep you, all to myself."

            Kagome looked down upon the city, trying desperately to find any trace of Inuyasha's aura.  Her nervousness was growing, which meant time was running out.  Suddenly, she felt a small glimmer and shouted, "Kirara!"  She pointed to the clearing in between buildings and the cat demon roared and flew down to land.

            "You sure he was around here?"  Sango asked, dismounting with hiraikotsu at the ready. 

            Kagome nodded and stretched out her senses.  "He was here alright.  But I don't know where he went."

            "Kagome-sama!  Sango!"  Miroku came barreling around the corner and stopped before the two girls.

            "Any luck?"  Sango asked.

            Shaking his head, Miroku looked back the way he came.  "I've searched a greater part of the city and I haven't seen him."

            Kagome closed her eyes.  This is bad.  With Inuyasha being human, he'll have no way to defend himself.

            FLASH!

            As the Shichinintai fired a blast right for Kagome, the miko gasped in shock but was unable to move away in time. 

            "Kagome!"  Inuyasha burst through the flame with his fireproof robe and threw it away from the girl.  Then he scooped her up and dodged back into the cave that they were hiding in.

            Inuyasha!?  Kagome was in shock.  He always came to save her when she needed him most.  Still enveloped in her shock, Kagome couldn't say anything while he gingerly took off his upper haori and wrapped it around her body. 

            Turning back to the opening of the cave, he glared at his enemy.  "That bastard, showing his face so soon, he's really begging for an ass-kicking!"

            "Wait Inuyasha!  You should be wearing this!"  Kagome shouted.

            "Yeah!  That fire-rat cloth is strong against fire!"  Shippo agreed.

            Turning to Kagome, he replied, "You guys use it.  You can't rely on that wimpy wolf to keep you safe."  Referring to Kouga, who was still severally injured from his fight with another of the gruesome seven.

            As he and Kouga broke into another of their fights, Kagome stood up.  "But you have to be careful!"

            Later, when he had practically been blown up before her eyes, Kagome knew he was in more danger than usual because he was without his robe.  Inuyasha, you weren't wearing your fire-rat shirt.  You didn't have your armor…

            FLASH!

            Slowly opening her eyes, Kagome looked around and found she was without clothes, soaking in a bath that gave off a sweet smell.

            "Kagome!"  Inuyasha came bursting through the door, exhausting but determined to find Kagome before the shikon-enhanced-human did.

            Standing up, Kagome smiled at him.  "Inuyasha!"  The two stared at each other, then, after a moment, she realized what she had done and screamed, hiding beneath the water once more.

            Inuyasha, his shock getting the better of him, fell to the floor.  She's alive…

            Kagome stepped out of the bath and covered what she could before stepping forward.  "Inuyasha…are you alright?"

            Turning away, he replied with a scoff.  "These are just scratches."  In reality, his entire body was covered in deep gashes and bruises.  He took off his upper haori and tossed it at her.  "It got damaged but wear this."  Then he turned away nervous again.

            Nodding, she agreed.  "Thanks."

            Standing up, Inuyasha leaned heavily against the doorframe for support but it was too much for his human body and he collapsed back to the floor once more.

            "Inuyasha!"  Kagome shouted, running to his side.  When he gave no response, she leaned up against him and fought back her tears.  You must've pushed yourself, even with a human body…

            As soon as he regained consciousness, Kagome put on the haori, wrapping it around herself like a dress, and walked up to him.  "It looks like we can get outside.  Can you walk, Inuyasha?"

            "Outside…is it morning yet?"  As he spoke these words, he was already trying to come up with a plan to fight the monster, but his voice was weak and ragged.

            "It's still dark…" Kagome said sadly.  Then she gasped.  "Are you still going to fight!?"

            "Of course!"

            "You can't!  Until your youryoku returns we have to get away!"  That silenced him for the moment.

            FLASH

            Kagome looked at the brick wall nearby and saw his blood staining it.  Inuyasha…you always have such a fiery strength when you're human but still…

            FLASH!

            "Kagome!  Look out!"  Inuyasha, still in his human form, pushed Kagome out of the way from the rock-human's attack, taking it straight to the back.

            They landed against, the ground and he laid there stunned.

            "Inuyasha!"  Kagome shouted in worry.

            "Ninmenka made me strong when I was weak.  And with this Shikon shard, I've become even more powerful.  So I will live forever and make people like you into fertilizer!"  The beast said.

            "You!"

            "Stop, Kagome…" Inuyasha got to his hands and knees.

            "Inuyasha…if you move…"

            Standing in front of Kagome protectively, Inuyasha addressed his enemy.  "This guy won't get your logic.  I'm also a hanyou and also tired of this weak human body.  I understand how you want to be stronger and all…"

            "Eh?"  Kagome was in shock.

            "But I'm disgusted with you!"  The once-hanyou shouted.

            "Hm?  You're thinking of lecturing me even though you can't even stand right?"  The creature asked.

            "To you…" Inuyasha picked up a nearby vase and threw it at the monster.  "There are no words to be said!"

            It was afterwards that Inuyasha jumped in to take the shikon shards and even the odds but without his speed as a hanyou, he was too slow and took a beating Kagome never wanted to see again.

            FLASH!

            Will you once again push yourself beyond your limits, Inuyasha?  Even if you're human, will you fight with the disregard that you always have for your own safety?  Suddenly, she picked up on something familiar.  It can't be!  Kagome stood up and got back on Kirara.  "Let's go!"  I know this feeling…

            "Will we be able to find him?"  Sango asked as she and Miroku got on behind the miko.

            "I will find him."  Kagome said with confidence.  Please, Inuyasha until I get there, don't push yourself.  Wait for me and I will be your armor…Just as you have always protected me…

            Author's Notes:  Review and then it's on to Part Three!