To Protect the One I Love

Author's Notes: A lot of people are rooting me on, so to speak (they're threatening to put me out of existence if I don't update soon, but it's encouragement none the less) and so I proudly bring you the next chapter of my series turned saga.  --()  I do want to mention that it's not all Kagome's fault because Subaru is using her fears and insecurities and making them grow so he can have more control over her.  It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Trust and Love Go Hand in Hand

            Kagome didn't bother to look behind her as she ran blindly through the streets.  She could hear the guy chasing her, calling out her name, but it only frightened her more.  When she turned around the corner and opened her eyes, she gasped when all around her, the city streets were empty.  No cars and no people littered the byways.  It was completely deserted.

            "Kagome!!  Where are you!?"  She heard.

            Kagome decided to turn left at the next cross street and keep running until she lost him.  Suddenly, she ran into something, but when she looked and saw nothing, she ran down the street once more.

            Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi all exchanged looks as their friend looked right at them but didn't seem to recognize them.

            "Kagome-chan?"  Yuka asked.

            When Kagome started running again, the girls gasped and took chase – worried for their friend.  "Kagome-chan!  Wait!"

            As Kouga lost sight of Kagome, he cursed to himself and tried to pick up her scent once more.  "Dammit!  There are too many smells to try and find her!"  He picked a direction and headed down the street.

            As he searched for any trace of the miko, his sensitive ears picked up Eri, Yuka and Ayumi talking.  "Do you think Kagome-chan's sick again?"  Ayumi asked worriedly.

            "She was fine this morning."  Eri commented.

            All three girls were standing at the entrance to an underground parking lot that went down maybe four or five levels.

            When the wolf heard Kagome's name, he ran across the street and almost got hit by a car that shrieked to a halt just to his left.  

            "Hey, watch where you're going, you nutcase!"  The driver shouted.

            When Kouga landed next to the girls, they were startled and shrieked.  "Did you just say Kagome?"

            They nodded.  "She ran down there just a few minutes ago!"

            "Are you her cousin or something?"

            "Sort of."  He looked down the ominous opening.  Kagome, what's gotten into you?  Then he turned to the girls.  "I'll handle this.  She'll be fine.  Just go home and she'll talk to you later."  Without waiting for a response, he dashed into the parking lot.  Kagome, you had better be okay, or Dog Crap really is gonna skin me alive.

            Sango walked through the Higurashi house and approached Grandpa's room worriedly.  With the way Kagome was feeling earlier, any number of things could happen to her.  As the taijiya knocked on the door, she heard a muffled "come in" and opened the door.

            Miroku and Kagome's grandfather sat on a small sofa seated in front of the television, as Kagome had explained to them early on.  The monk seemed mystified with the colored box, as was Kagome's grandfather.

            "Miroku, I'm worried.  Kagome-chan isn't home yet and with her still depressed about Inuyasha, I'm afraid something might've happened."  She said.

            Without even turning to her, Miroku waved away her concern and replied in a monotone voice.  "Don't worry about her.  Kouga's going to get her and bring her home safe.  Just you watch.  Besides, Kagome-sama's been through worse with Inuyasha and always pulls through."

            Sango sighed.  "Maybe, but don't you think we should go meet them and make sure?"  When the monk didn't answer this time, she frowned.  "Miroku?"

            "Shhh, just one second."  He silenced her.

            Putting her fists on her hips annoyed, Sango demanded.  "Just what are you watching anyway?  Kagome-chan could be in trouble!"

            Upon hearing this, the monk actually did turn around and clasped his hands in front of him with stars in his eyes.  The look made Sango freeze.  "Did you know?  They actually have a channel on this television that shows women without their clothes every minute of everyday!"  He said excitedly.

            "What!?"  Sango finally put her eyes to the T.V. and nearly fell over in shock when she saw one woman dancing on what looked like a metal staff.  Then it faded away and a man dressed in a suit spoke into a small rod with a ball at the end. 

            "Stay tuned for Girls Gone Wild 4, right here on the Playboy channel, in just a few minutes!" 

            Furious, Sango grabbed Miroku by the ear and dragged him out of the room.  "I can't believe you would stoop so low as to…" She went on her berating as the poor monk tried to pry himself from her firm grip.

            "It's not my fault, he just started watching it and…" Miroku cried trying to save himself the painful punishment he knew he was going to meet when Sango got her hands on Hiraikotsu.  "Buddha above, save me!!"

            Inuyasha raised a red Tetsusaiga above his head and growled at the barrier.  "I really wish it didn't have to come to this but you have to let me through!"  He pulled it down and slammed a powerful kekai-breaking Kazu-no-Kizu at the barrier Kagome unknowingly made around the well.  "Kagome!!!"

            In the darkness of the underground, Kagome stopped and leaned against the wall, trying to catcher breath.  Suddenly, she felt as if someone were trying to break into her mind again and it made her wince as if she'd been hit.  Tightening her defenses, Kagome held her hands to her head and whimpered.  "Leave me alone.  Go away!"  She shouted.

            Inuyasha's red wind scar blasted against the barrier and it almost seemed to be working, but then the barrier flashed and the Kazu-no-Kizu was blasted back at the hanyou.  "Oh shit!"  He exclaimed as he barely jumped in time to avoid the rebounded attack.  "It didn't work!  Kagome you have to trust me and let me through!"

            "NO!  You're the enemy!  I don't trust someone I don't see!"  She shouted and started running down the ramp into the lowest level she could.

            Come my child.  You're safe with me.  Subaru coaxed her closer.

            Kagome nodded and ran towards the feeling of security that she found in the man's voice.  While she ran closer, she saw the lights turn on around her, giving some brightness to the never-ending darkness.

            Just ahead, she saw the man, Subaru, with his arms outstretchedIf I can just get to him, I can be safe!  But as she was focusing her attention on Subaru, Kouga jumped in front of Kagome and grabbed a hold of her shoulders.

            "Kagome!  Listen it's me!  Kouga!  Snap out of it!"  He shouted, shaking the miko a bit.

            Gasping, Kagome looked up and for a moment, her eyes regained their lively color and brightness.  "K-Kouga-kun?"

            Sighing in relief, Kouga released his hold on her.  "Yeah, silly.  I've been chasing you all afternoon.  Never knew you could run so fast."

            Behind Kouga, Subaru narrowed his eyes and delve once again into Kagome's inner conscious. 

            Right before her eyes, Kagome saw Kouga's form shift into a larger and more intimidating Sesshoumaru.  "How dare you."  He said.

            "What?"  Kagome said backing away.

            "Kagome?"  Kouga said worriedly, reaching out to her slowly.

            Shaking her head, Kagome looked right at Kouga, but saw Sesshoumaru and continued to back away fearfully.  "G-Get away from me."  Her eyes went back to being completely glazed over.

            "I told him mating with a human was below us."  Sesshoumaru said.  "Youkai and Humans are not meant to be together.  You're only using him, bewitching his mind from letting him see the truth."  Slowly, with his one hand, Sesshoumaru reached down and pulled Tokijin from its sheath.

            "N-no!"  She denied. 

Off to the side, she saw Inuyasha's disapproving gaze as he crossed his arms and once again turned his back to her.  "I don't know what I saw in a lowly human like you anyways."

            "No, stop it.  STOP IT!"  Kagome threw her hand forward and before he knew it, Kouga was blasted back into a cement pillar, which was broken in half, then slammed into the parking lot's wall itself.  He slumped to the floor, dazed.

            Having bought herself some time, Kagome looked towards Subaru and almost smiled at the warm feelings it gave her.  He'll protect me.  She thought.

            Subaru's smile widened as he spread his arms open once more.  "Come to me, my child."

            Inuyasha breathed heavily as all his efforts to break Kagome's barrier failed.  Whatever hold Subaru had managed to get on Kagome, it was strong enough to make her think he was her greatest enemy.  "Damn that Subaru.  I'm going to make him pay dearly for this!"

            When Inuyasha closed his eyes angrily and gripped Tetsusaiga even tighter, the image of Kagome standing besides Subaru with a smile made his blood boil.  "If that bastard does ANYthing to Kagome, I'm going to make him wish he was never born!"

            Falling to one knee, Inuyasha's mind fought to find a way to get through to Kagome.  The well was his only path to get to her world and Kagome herself was the one preventing him from passing through.  "Kagome…" He lowered his head and almost gave in to the sorrow he felt, but then his head shot up and he roared to the sky, "KAGOME!!!"

            Freezing, Kagome stopped at the sound of the now familiar voice and looked around.  "Is somebody there?"  This voice it's different than before.

            Subaru felt the connection between Inuyasha and Kagome being reestablished.

            In the other world, Inuyasha faced the sky as he heard Kagome's frightened voice.  "Kagome?  It's me Inuyasha!"

            "I-Is it really you?"  She asked.  Part of her told her this man was her enemy, but the sound of the voice was so soothing, she was confused.

            "Yes, and I need your help!  I'm lost and I need to find my way to you again!"  Inuyasha's heart was growing more hopeful by the minute.  Maybe Subaru was loosing his control over Kagome after all.  "Where are you!?"

            "I'm here!  Please find me!  Inuyasha!"

            Her voice sounded so scared and lonely.  "Kagome!!" 

            Kagome finally let out her heartfelt scream as the tears came anew.  "INUYASHA!!!!"

            The hanyou's eyes widened as he saw his body start to dissolve.  All around him the world swayed this way and that until it faded all together into darkness.  As the feeling passed, Inuyasha saw his body rematerialize in a new area.  This one was all dark except for overhead lights in the ceiling.  "Kagome?"  He asked.

            "Inuyasha!"  Kagome saw Inuyasha and smiled.  He's here…He's really here…

            Angry, Subaru shouted, "NO!"  Then threw his hand forward towards Kagome.

            Suddenly, all the horrible memories Kagome had from her dream resurfaced.  Her with Mukotsu.  Grabbing her head, Kagome murmured.  "You left me."

            "What?"  Inuyasha questioned.

            Turning to him, Kagome accused angrily.  "You left me with that dirty, ugly man!  He wanted to marry me and you said we belonged together!" 

            Confused, Inuyasha got angry back.  "What the hell are you talking about?  I was there when you told me Sesshoumaru killed Mukotsu and gave you the antidote from your very own medicine box!"

            Another scary memory surfaced and Kagome once again accused the hanyou before her.  "I-I kill Sango and Miroku right before your eyes because of Tsubaki and before I could even explain, you attacked me – saying you couldn't trust me!"

            Inuyasha's mind finally clicked and he knew what Subaru had done.  "No, you dumbass!  Sango and Miroku are back at your house, probably worried sick about you!  Tsubaki took control of your mind, yes, but you had the strength and courage to fight against it!  You knew who you were all along and together we defeated her!"  Looking at Subaru behind Kagome, Inuyasha growled.  "He's the one you shouldn't trust!  And if you would just let me explain, I can tell you why I said what I said, but you have to trust me now!"

            Kagome shook her head as the images kept coming.  "How can I trust you!?  If you don't trust me - how can you say you love me!?" 

            Subaru smirked and summoned a bow and arrow to Kagome's hands.  He's toying with you, trying to get you on his side.  Destroy him now before he has a chance to tell you more of his lies.

            Kagome grasped the weapon in her hand angrily and aimed the bow and arrow at Inuyasha.  "You said you didn't trust me, now you're expecting me to give you my trust blindly when I gave you my heart and you tossed it aside like nothing!?"  Kagome accused.

            Inuyasha gritted his teeth as the words hurt more than any weapon ever could.  What do I say?  What can I say to get her to trust me?

            "Don't loose sight of reality, Kagome."  Kouga managed as he came to.

            "Eh?"  Kagome kept her aim on Inuyasha but turned to look at the injured wolf.  "What would you know?"

            "I know that Dog Crap here really does trust you, more than you probably realize, and everything he's done up to this point has been for you.  To take the stress and worry away from you and to fight your battles for you.  Don't ask me how, but this mutt loves you more than anything and deep down inside, you have to remember that you love him too."  As Kouga said these words, he started to think about Ayame, who was probably worried sick back at the den.  "There was a time when I thought love was about what a person could do for you that made them important.  But after watching you two, I've come to understand that true love can't be explained and somehow, at some point in your life, you come to realize that you're in love but you don't know why.  Trust.  Faith.  Whatever you want to call it, those traits are things that you develop for a person through your love and you can't have one without the other."

            "Inuyasha loves you and would never stop loving you.  Therefore he trusts you completely."  The wolf continued, one eye shut painfully.  "You just have to remember how much you love him and the trust will come naturally."

            "Me?  Love Inuyasha?"  Kagome's bow lowered just a little as she began to think back.

            "Kagome, please, you have to see the truth!  See the love that has always and will always be between us!"  Inuyasha pleaded.  "Do you remember when you, Sango, and Miroku were poisoned and I thought you had all passed on into the afterlife?  I went in search of those blasted Shichinintai, bent on getting revenge for them taking what mattered more to me:  You."  Looking off to the side, Inuyasha saddened.  "When I came back, I took you in my arms and finally gave in to the fact that I was never going to see your smiling face again.  Never hear your voice or look into your beautiful eyes again."

            Raising Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha looked into its shimmering blade and saw everything as it played out.  "At that moment, I felt the world had truly ended for me, but then I was granted a miracle.  As I held onto you for what seemed like the last time, you said to me, 'I'm dizzy.'  I never felt such shock in my life than I did at that moment.  Against all odds, you opened your eyes and looked up at me saying how dizzy you were.  I couldn't believe it."

            Looking at Kagome as she stared blindly at him, Inuyasha smirked as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.  "You apologized to me for making me worry and I yelled at you.  Told you it wasn't your fault.  But did you know?  When I put you back down on the ground and turned my back on you, that I actually cried?  I'm not lying either.  I have never cried for anyone after the death of my mother and yet, knowing that you were still in this world with me, I couldn't help but be relieved.  And do you know why?"

            Kagome shook her head, her own tears falling down her cheeks. 

            "Because even then I loved you.  I may not have know it, but I never wanted to see you hurt like that again and swore I would always protect you."  Inuyasha looked deep into Kagome's eyes.  "Tell me you at least remember that!  Please!"

            Kagome thought back and slowly, the fog around her mind lifted and she saw Inuyasha's form sitting with his back to her.  Then all of a sudden, he turned around and shouted.  "I ain't crying!  Everybody's okay!"

            But she knew, even if he hid it, she knew the hanyou better than anybody.  Thank you, Inuyasha.

            The darkness in Kagome's eyes lifted and saw finally saw the hanyou for what he really was.  "Inuyasha!  I'm so sorry!"  She lowered the bow completely and ran towards her real savior.

            Subaru was furious and gathered his holy power into a ki ball and threw it at the miko's back.

            Inuyasha saw it coming and as Kagome got to him, he grabbed her and dove to the side.  "Look out!"

            Both stood up and faced off with the priest.  "How dare you take advantage of Kagome like that, you bastard?!"  Inuyasha held Tetsusaiga protectively in front of him and Kagome.

            Subaru laughed.  "It was you who gave me the opening, hanyou.  Just what were you planning to do back in your world anyway?"

            Growling, Inuyasha took a couple of steps back so he could whisper to Kagome.  "When I tell you to, fire one of your purity arrows straight towards him.  Got it?"

            Kagome nodded and tightened her hold on her weapon.

            Inuyasha began to form Kazu-no-Kizu around the dog fang and glared at Subaru.  "This is the beginning of the end for you, Subaru!"  He shouted.

            Subaru laughed.  "You've already tried your pathetic attack and it doesn't effect me.  Unlike your other opponents, I am a Deity!  I am above all creatures, youkai and humans alike!"

            "That's what you think!"  Bringing down the blade, he struck it hard against the floor and the bright yellow wind scar flew towards the cocky holy man.  "Kagome now!"

            "Right!"  The miko let her purity arrow fly and it spun through Kazu-no-Kizu, turning it from yellow to a brilliant pink.  Slowly the wind scar wrapped around the arrow, creating a funnel of powerful pure energy.

            "What!?"  Subaru took an uneasy step back, but immediately realize he was in much graver danger.  "NO!!  It can't be!"

            The wind scar struck Subaru's chest and immediately drove through his weak human skin, digging deep into the cement wall behind him.  His death cry was covered up by the rumbling of the now unstable building.

            "We have to get out of here!"  Kagome shouted.  She and Inuyasha ran to Kouga's side as he tried to get to his feet.

            Inuyasha offered him a hands up.  "Come on!  We have to hurry!"

            Scoffing, Kouga batted the helping hand aside.  "Just because I spoke nicely about you once, doesn't mean I trust you, Baaakkaaa!"

            Growling, Inuyasha watched as the wolf got to his feet and started running up the ramp to the next level.  Grabbing Kagome, he threw her onto his back and ran after the wimpy wolf.  "Hey, bastard!  Wait for us!"

            As they made their way up to ground level, more and more pillars began to fall.  "We're not gonna make it!"  Kagome shouted as she grabbed tightly onto Inuyasha's shoulders.

            "Feh, just watch me!"  Inuyasha bolted even faster towards the now visible daylight and broke through just as the foundations of the building gave way and the entire building collapsed down in a straight line.

            "We better get out of here."  Kagome said sadly, as Inuyasha followed Kouga onto the rooftops and away from prying eyes.  With the collapsing of the building, Kagome only hoped it was finally the end to a horrible, yet sad existence of a man.  May he at least rest in peace knowing he is finally joining the parents he fought to be with for so long.

            Back at the house, Miroku was practically locked up in Souta's room by Sango who still hadn't forgiven him for watching the Playboy channel and threatened to take away his ability to have children completely if he stepped one foot out of the room until she said it was okay.  But she was relieved to hear that Kagome was home and alright.

            Now the miko sat in Goshinboku, thinking about the day's events.  So, Inuyasha said he didn't trust me because if I knew he was going to go see Totosai, Subaru would ultimately find out and we'd all be in danger.  So really, I have no reason to be mad at him, but being left out like that, it still hurts.

            As soon as they had returned, Inuyasha had sat down with Kagome and explained to her why he did what he did and apologized profusely for hurting her feelings.  At the time, Kagome did what she always did and forgave him, telling him everything was fine.  Even though on the inside, everything wasn't fine, but she was afraid that if she started talking about it, they'd end up fighting and she'd sit him until he was literally six feet under.

            Our relationship has always been bumpy, but it seems more so now than ever.  I know he loves me, but we have yet to share our first kiss.  My first kiss.  I wonder if he even knows that?  Inuyasha…my first true love and my first kiss.  I never thought I'd be thinking such things.  Unknowingly a blush formed on her cheeks.  Maybe I shouldn't stay mad at him this time.  Everything worked out for the best.

            "Oi, Kagome!  What you doing up there!  It's time to eat!  Your mother made food for everyone!"  Inuyasha shouted.

Looking over, Kagome saw Inuyasha walk up to Goshinboku with Kouga.  "I'm not hungry."  She said.  It came out meaner than she meant, but she still had a lot of thinking to do.

            "Oh, come on!  Didn't I already say I was sorry!?"  He shouted like a little kid, whining for a new present.

            Rolling her eyes, Kagome shouted. "I never said it was about that and it's none of your business what I'm thinking about!"  He always gets like this when it's something hewants.  Whether it's the shards or a piece of my mother's home cooked steak.  It's always about him!  "Just go and I'll join you guys later!"

            Her tone and glare made Inuyasha scurry behind Kouga for protection.  "Whenever she gets like this, it's best to walk away very slowly."

            Scoffing, Kouga crossed his arms.  "What?  Just because of your little charade, you're afraid she's going to retaliate?"  He laughed.

            "So you knew about it, did you?" 

            Gulping, Kouga whipped his head in Kagome's direction as she came down from Goshinboku and landed right in front of the wolf leader.

            Taking a step back, Kouga stuttered.  "Ah, well you see when he left I followed him to the well and…"

            "And he told you everything?"  Kagome's fists tightened at her sides.  "And this was something you knowingly kept from me?"

            The two boys were now white as ghosts as they retreated from the angry woman.  Her aura was as bright as ever as her angry resurfaced.  "HOW COULD YOU!?"  She shouted towards the wolf.

            "B- b- b- but, I – I – I…" He tried to explain.

            "OSUWARI!!!"  Kagome shouted. 

            Since Inuyasha had a hold on Kouga's arm, as he was slammed to the ground, Kouga got caught underneath and was slammed into the ground with him.

            "Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  OSUWARI!!!"

            By the time she was finished, both boys were a good four feet into the shrine's cement floor and neither had the strength to get up.  "For the love of Kami, would you stop that!  I'm stuck under here too!"  Kouga's muffled voice came up.

            Inuyasha was barely recovering from the spell, when Kagome's enraged voice spoke once more.  "Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  Osuwari!  OSUWARI!!"

            Finally out of breath, Kagome walked over their spasming bodies and walked calmly into the house.

            "This hurts far worse than it looked."  Kouga commented, his body smushed under Inuyasha's.

            "You have no idea."  Inuyasha agreed.

Author's Notes:  So all that's left is a happy ending right?  Wrong!    But you'll just have to wait and see what I come up with next so stay tuned and as always, thank you for the gracious amount of reviews.  They're always a spirit lifter!