chp5

Kagome's POV

Darkness. Silence. Nothingness. How does one know if one is still alive? It's cold. Is it? I can't tell. Am dead or alive? I feel as though I have been disconnected from the world. Kagome's eyes snap open. Where am I? Kagome props herself up on her elbows. She takes a breath. If I'm breathing then I must be alive. Not necessarily. Kagome frowns. She stops breathing without holding her breath. A long time passes. Kagome gets up so she's standing. She's still not breathing. So I guess that means I'm not alive. So then I'm dead. Not necessarily. Kagome sits back down and closes her eyes. I just need a second to think, to find my center. She opens her eyes. In front of her is her exact duplicate. Somehow I'm not surprised. The two Kagome's look at each other, neither one moving.

"Kagome" says the duplicate.

"You have given up your family, your blood, you have suffered in silence, you have carried Kikyo' soul, sacrificed your powers, and you have forfeited your life for another. You have done much, and will achieve much. You will be given back your life, your powers, and relieved of Kikyo's soul. May Kami be with you." With the last of these words the duplicate fades away. Kagome closes her eyes once she sees her duplicate is gone. Scenes begin to play in her head; the look on her mother face the first time she went through the well, watching InuYasha sneak off to be with Kikyo, Miroku sliding his hand down Sango's butt, Shippo offering some of his candy to Kilala, her running towards Rin to save her. The scenes stop. Kagome opens her eyes. Light surrounds her. Kagome absorbs it into her, and as the light, her power, sinks into her she can feel dead cells becoming alive, tissues repairing themselves, her bones becoming stronger her skin glows with health. She smiles as she is taken back to reality.

Kagome stands up with tesaiga in her hand. Her traveling companions so lost in mourning her they do not notice. She smiles. She can take away their grief, their pain. She begins to spin, and spin, and spin like a little girl. The tesaiga shimmers in the sun. She looks young and innocent. Her smile widens and as it does so the tears of her companions disappear. A feeling of warmth wraps itself around each one like a security blanket. All at once she stops spinning her gaze fixed in the direction Seshomaru, Rin and Shippo went. Sango gasps. " O Kagome." She murmurs. Kagome takes her first breath and all at once the forest comes alive.

Kagome walks towards Sango and kneels so they are face to face. She puts her hands on wither side of Sango's face. "

"Sleep and let the mystery of your heart be shown to you." Sango slumps onto Kagome. Kagome makes her comfortable on the ground and stands up. Kilala rubs her tail against Kagome's legs and Kagome laughs. Kagome turns around to Miroku. She places her hand on his arm.

"You need rest yourself Miroku." Kagome moves her hand to his cheek and whispers "Sleep and let the mystery of you inner heart be shown to you." Miroku's eyes close and his head droops. Kagome takes her hand from his cheek and pushes him in the chest. Miroku falls back slowly. Kagome looks to make sure he is comfortable before walking to InuYasha, who has followed her with eyes the whole time. InuYasha stands up as Kagome approaches him. He is the first to speak.

"Don't put me to sleep like you did them. I just want to see you to watch you I don't want you to dis-" Kagome places her finger on his lips.

"InuYasha, I understand." She threads her fingers between his.

"I'm here. I won't go away." InuYasha lowers his head so it rests on Kagome's shoulder. He lets himself cry. One tear after the other InuYasha grows up. He has loved, he has lost, he has feared. He cries for his love Kikyo, for hearting Kagome, for endangering everyone he loves. Finally he stops. Scenes play in his head the same ones Kagome saw. At the end of them he sees her duplicate and hears what she says to her. He looks Kagome in the eyes.

"I understand." And at his words Kagome's smile brightens.

Sigh. I rather liked this chapter. I hope you did as well. I'm trying to juggle my schedule around so if anyone's reading this be patient with me.