Kagome let her head fall onto Inuyasha's shoulder, feeling an overwhelming sadness and joy entwined together. She was glad to know that he really cared, it was now as plain as daylight, but she wasn't sure how long she was out of Naraku's control. She wanted Inuyasha to run away, now, before Naraku could follow, but she could easily see his mind was made.
"Inu-yasha, please," she tried again, her voice just barely above a whisper, the fight to remain speaking getting harder by every pacing minute. Inuyasha only responded by holding her tighter, protectively telling her he wasn't going to let Naraku go through with this.
"I love you Kagome," he breathed into her ear, still holding desperately onto her motionless body. "And I know I could never forgive myself if I left you in the hands of Naraku so he could manipulate you to do his work. I can't handle that."
Kagome tried to nodded, tried to hold him the same way he held her, but movement was impossible. How she was able to speak and shape the words through her mouth, she'll never know. And the fact that Inuyasha told her, as truthfully as he could that he loved her, made it even harder to be in the situation. Waiting helplessly for Naraku to take control of her again and for her to kill Inuyasha right here, in front of the place where they first met.
Kagome closed her eyes, or at least imagined she did, drifting off to the day she had first met the hanyou. He was pinned to the tree Kikyo had cursed him too, almost looking as if he was sleeping peacefully. His silver hair blew in the wind, and she remembered, even in the mist of escaping the demon that wanted her for the jewel, she curiously wanting to meet him.
Of course right after she did, she never wanted to speak to him again, seeing how rude and fierce he was. However, come time, and he turned out to be the boy, well, demon, she had learned to love.
"Kagome, I'm sorry for everything," Inuyasha whispered again, "And I'm sorry I didn't come for you sooner. I should have known you were in trouble, but my damned pride held me back from accepting it." He held Kagome closer to him, "I swear, I won't let Naraku use you to kill me, I swear on my life. Even if I die keeping that bastard away from you, I will."
Kagome wanted to cry, hold him and tell him she loved him too. She couldn't, and she knew even if she wasn't under Naraku's command, she couldn't do it anyways. She knew she couldn't come between Inuyasha and Kikyo. They were in love once, and she knew Inuyasha still loved her the way he did fifty years before.
As much as she tried to hold herself back, she asked the question that had been on her mind ever since he first told her he loved her. "Ki-kyo?" it wasn't just a statement, she even could tell by the tenseness in his muscles that he understood the question she was asking.
"Kikyo," he whispered, his voice nearly losing all of its sound, "She's, she's not alive, Kagome. She's dead, nothing but a soul that is wondering helplessly. I can't love her, I loved her when she was the priestess I knew fifty years ago, but that part of her is dead. I love you, Kagome. You have something that Kikyo will never have, and that is," he paused,"I can't explain it, but it's what I admire in you most."
Kagome sat and listened, her heart breaking from the sudden softness in Inuyasha's voice. She even began to wonder if Kikyo ever heard that voice, or truly saw this part of him, and not just a glimpse.
:::::Naraku::::::
Naraku shooed away the slave, and put the leaf back over his mouth, chanting a spell that brought in Kagome's focus. She was leaning on Inuyasha's shoulder her head resting limp and still. He ordered her to sit up so he could get a better understanding on the situation and found Inuyasha's arms wrapped protectively around her.
"Perfect," he whispered, his eyes growing a darker, more blood red, they usually are. "Inuyasha, what will you do now?"
:::::Inuyasha and Kagome::::::
Kagome sat up, her eyes turned from her dark brown to a light red, and then her voice changed from her own to Naraku's. "What will you do now, Inuyasha?"
"The hell?" Inuyasha yelled, jumping back. "You bastard!"
"How does it feel knowing you will be slaughtered again by the hands of the girl you love? And, especially knowing she is going to be conscious in mind while doing it?" Inuyasha stared at Kagome, seeing in her all her beauty and hearing the disgusting voice of the hanyou he hates most of all; His sworn enemy for life, Naraku.
"I feel like killing you," he whispered, his voice sounding dangerous and thick, his claws suddenly become a lethal weapon. "Tearing you from limb to limb," he continued, "Making sure you never have the power to mess with anyone else's feelings again."
"How touching," Naraku replied unnerved, "I'll make sure to remind you that Kagome is the one your speaking to, not me."
"Inuyasha!" Miroku's voice called from above, and before long he Sango, Shippo and Kirra all came into sight. When they landed only inches from Kagome they all stared in disbelief.
"Kagome!" Shippo cried, running to jump into her lap.
No! Kagome cried in her mind, Shippo, I'll kill you! Still the small kitsune kept on coming. Luckily, though, Inuyasha grasped him by the tail before he had a chance to come too close.
"What?" Shippo whispered, "Inuyasha put me down!!! Swallow your pride already !"
"Yes, Inuyasha," Naraku whispered from Kagome. The whole group went quiet at the sound of his voice retreating from her.
"What's going o--," Sango began.
Suddenly Kagome was on her feet and through blades at Inuyasha and Shippo. They ducked immediately, however that didn't mean they were safe. Inuyasha threw Shippo toward Miroku, who caught the kitsune by his tail, and stepped forward, grabbing Kagome's shoulders.
"Snap out of it," he whispered desperately, his voice shaking, in not fear for himself, but fear for his love. "Where is Naraku, which way?"
Kagome heard what he was saying, and heard Naraku voicing in her mind what he was about to say. She had to reply, though, if she wanted any hope for Inuyasha to live at all. Just as she did before she began to concentrate on her mouth and the shapes she was making with it, trying out sound on her lips. It wasn't easy when Naraku was in your mind trying to fight over what was to be said and what wasn't.
She knew she had won the battle when it was her own voice coming out, and when, with only slight movement, was able to point the way. "Just—beyond the forest –be-hind me."
Damn girl! Naraku echoed in her mind, pathetic little wench! How did you break the spell? How did you call your soul back to you?! That was the last she heard from Naraku's echoing voice, before she collapsed into a peaceful darkness.
A/N what do you think??? I know it took me forever to update, and I'm sorry... I hope you didn't lose interest. I kind of got discouraged from some of the reviews I got... anyways... plz review and tell me what you think?
