Author's Note: Gomen, gomen, gomen, for not reviewing sooner. I just started school and I'm already tired. Oh well, I'll try to keep updating over the weekends but please don't hold me to that! Now, onto da story!
Chapter Eleven: Truth UnveiledKikyo was back at the campsite, staring deeply into the flames. A smile graced her lips. Soon, she thought. Soon.
Kagome's heart thumped in her chest as she felt Kikyo's aura. She knew if she were to go find Kikyo, she would also find the one person she wanted to avoid. True, it had been a long time, but she still wasn't sure she was ready to face him. Sighing, Kagome closed her eyes for a moment.
"You are troubled," Sesshoumaru stated.
"I...I don't know about this," Kagome said.
"Because of the hanyou?" Sesshoumaru spat, as if the word 'hanyou' fouled his mouth.
"..."
"You will have to face him sooner or later," Sesshoumaru said.
"I know," Kagome said. She stared at the Taiyoukai. "You'll be there with me, won't you?"
Sesshoumaru stared at the human girl, momentarily stunned. Never breaking the icy façade, he said,
"I am accompanying you on this journey am I not?"
Kagome smiled. The time spent with Sesshoumaru helped her read and understand him better. She knew he would be there. With a little bit more resolve, Kagome walked towards her past, ready to confront the one person she was afraid to.
Kagome and Sesshoumaru came closer to the fire that was burning. No one was around it. Kagome looked around for any sign of the dead miko.
"Kikyo," Kagome called. "I know you're here."
"You skills seem sharper," Kikyo's voice wafted to them.
Kagome spun around and stared at the dead miko.
"Where's Sango and Miroku?' she demanded.
"They are both safe, as long as you are cooperative," Kikyo said, smirking.
"Where are they?" Kagome said through clenched teeth.
"With an ally," Kikyo said.
"Let them go, they have nothing to do with this. This is between you and me," Kagome said.
"They tried to kill me," Kikyo said. "On your orders, I presume."
"No, I didn't tell them to do anything," Kagome said.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Kikyo said. "Lying will only accelerate their suffering."
"She reeks of the hanyou," Sesshoumaru stated.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
Sesshoumaru gave a slight shake of the head. "Another hanyou," he said.
Kagome gasped. "Naraku?" she said.
"So now you know," Kikyo said. "Yes, your friends are indeed with Naraku."
"If you do anything to them, I will kill you," Kagome exploded.
"Kill me?" Kikyo said, she laughed. "What would dear Inuyasha think of this?"
Kagome gasped. Sesshoumaru growled.
"Do not play games, woman," he said.
"My, my, the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands helping a human?" Kikyo said.
"Tell me where my friends are," Kagome said, hysterical.
"You will first give me the shards of the Shikon no Tama," Kikyo said calmly.
"No!" Kagome said.
"Then the safety of your friends is not guaranteed," Kikyo said, shrugging.
In a blur of white, Sesshoumaru had his hand around Kikyo's thin neck.
"You will tell us the location of the houshi and the taijiya," he said.
"And if I don't?" Kikyo asked, staring at the Taiyoukai.
"I will kill you," Sesshoumaru said, tightening his hand for emphasis.
"I am the only one who knows where they are. If you kill me, they will surely die," Kikyo said.
"Do not think your powers surpasses mine," Sesshoumaru said.
"KIKYO!" a voice shouted.
Sesshoumaru only had a minute before a sword swung where his hand had been. He jumped back and landed in front of Kagome. Hearing the voice, Kagome's heart lurched. She was grateful that she didn't have to see the owner of the voice.
"Sesshoumaru, what the hell are you doing here?"
It was Inuyasha.
"Do you honestly believe I would explain myself to the likes of you?" Sesshoumaru said, a tone of boredom laced his voice.
"Why the hell were you trying to hurt Kikyo?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Hurt her?" Sesshoumaru asked, slightly amused. "I believe she was trying to harm us first."
"'Us'?" Inuyasha asked.
"She needs to be taught a lesson. You never threaten the Lord of the Western Lands," Sesshoumaru said.
"How has she threatened you?" Inuyasha asked, eyes narrowing.
"She has threatened my authority," Sesshoumaru said.
"Why are you here?" Inuyasha asked.
"She has something I am looking for," Sesshoumaru said nonchalantly.
"What?" Inuyasha asked.
"The shards of the Shikon no Tama," Sesshoumaru answered.
Inuyasha shot a look of questioning towards Kikyo. He knew his half-brother would never get involved with the Shikon no Tama.
"What the hell do you thin you're trying to pull? You think I'm stupid or something?" Inuyasha asked.
"I have no need. You are," Sesshoumaru said.
"Bastard!" Inuyasha spat.
He lunged at his half-brother, Tetsusaiga drawn.
"Osuwari!"
Inuyasha crashed to the ground.
"What the f" he roared. (A/N: Dense, isn't he?)
"Baka hanyou," Sesshoumaru said. "I am not the one you should be fighting."
"Then who should I be fighting, pray tell," Inuyasha said sarcastically.
Sesshoumaru stared in Kikyo's direction.
"Why should I fight Kikyo?" Inuyasha demanded.
"She has an alliance with Naraku," Sesshoumaru said, bluntly. "I had the notion you would have killed anyone associated with him."
"Bastard, how dare you accuse her," Inuyasha said, finally able to stand.
"I accuse nothing," Sesshoumaru said.
Behind him, Kagome was shaking with fury. Inuyasha is being unreasonable! She fumed. She was about ready to reveal herself when Sesshoumaru clasped his hands behind his back and signaled for her to stay put.
"Ask her if what I claim is true," Sesshoumaru said.
Inuyasha whirled upon Kikyo and stared intensely into her eyes. "Is it true?" he asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"Do you trust me?" Kikyo asked.
Inuyasha nodded.
"That is all there needs to be said," Kikyo said.
"You were lying to me!" Inuyasha growled. "You were trying to tear us apart!"
"You are blind and foolish," Sesshoumaru said, a hint of anger in his voice, though his face betrayed no such emotion.
"Indeed," a soft fluid voice said.
"Naraku!" Inuyasha snarled.
"Foolish Inuyasha, you trust too easily," Naraku said, coming out of the darkness.
Inuyasha stepped protectively in front of Kikyo. (A/N: I hope you know that it pained me to write that okay?) Naraku laughed.
"Protect your beloved Kikyo from me?" he asked, chuckling.
"Stay away from her, bastard," Inuyasha growled.
"Do you believe that I would hurt an ally?' Naraku said.
"What the hell do you mean?" Inuyasha asked.
"You are too trusting, Inuyasha," Kikyo said.
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha said.
She moved from beside Inuyasha to stand by Naraku's side.
"What the hell is going on?" Inuyasha demanded.
"You should have listened to your brother," Kikyo said. "He was telling the truth."
Inuyasha's mouth hung open. "I-it can't be," he stammered.
"Are you ready for one more surprise?" Naraku and Kikyo said.
Inuyasha just stared.
From behind Sesshoumaru, Kagome was encapsulated in a dark bubble. She stared in horror as Inuyasha slowly lifted his head and stared into Kagome's eyes.
"K-Ka..." he couldn't even finish her name.
"Let me go!" Kagome demanded.
Sesshoumaru was up in the air at once and broke open the bubble. Kagome landed in his arms as he landed on the ground.
"Y-You're..." Inuyasha stammered.
"What's the matter Inuyasha? Shocked that she's still alive?" Kikyo smirked.
"You knew?" Inuyasha said, finally gaining his senses back.
"Of course, you're about the only one that doesn't," Kikyo said, laughing slightly.
"Enough," Sesshoumaru said. "Return the houshi and the taijiya at once."
"I don't think you are in a state to be issuing orders," Naraku said.
"A hanyou dares to speak to a Taiyoukai in that tone?" Sesshoumaru said. "It is punishable by death."
"Keh," Naraku scoffed.
He slowly retreated back into the darkness just as Sesshoumaru swung his claws at him.
"Our battle will come soon enough. I suggest you ready yourselves,"
Kikyo smiled once at the group and disappeared into the sky with her soul-stealers.
"Kikyo?!" Inuyasha shouted
When she disappeared from sight, Inuyasha's knees hit the ground.
"Why?" he whispered.
Kagome walked closer, but still keeping enough distance to run. She was afraid to go near him.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome called, gently.
Inuyasha's head turned to look at her. "All this time," he said. "You were alive all this time."
"I..." Kagome said but she found that she couldn't think of the right words.
"I thought you died," Inuyasha said, anger filled his voice.
"I couldn't come back," Kagome said, looking away.
Sesshoumaru walked up behind her. "We should leave him," he said.
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru.
"This is too much to take in all at once. He needs time," Sesshoumaru said.
Kagome nodded. "Inuyasha, we will meet in the morning," she said.
Inuyasha just stared blankly at her. Kagome and Sesshoumaru left the shocked hanyou on the floor of the forest. They retreated, the darkness of the forest swallowing them. The fire from the camp, flickering, the only source of warmth in the otherwise cold and unfeeling forest.
"Was it best we left him?" Kagome asked Sesshoumaru.
"It is," Sesshoumaru said.
"I pity him," Kagome said.
"As do I," Sesshoumaru said. "Though he is but a lowly hanyou, even he should not be subjected to betrayal of this kind."
Kagome stared at Sesshoumaru. Did Sesshoumaru actually act like he cared for Inuyasha? She thought.
"Is something wrong?" Sesshoumaru asked, not looking at Kagome.
"You...actually care about Inuyasha, don't you?" Kagome asked slyly.
"Do not be idiotic," Sesshoumaru said.
"But you said..." Kagome started to say.
"Enough," Sesshoumaru said, indicating a close to the conversation.
The two walked in silence after that, finding shelter to rest up for the eventful day ahead. Strangely, Kagome felt a weight lift from her chest. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but tonight, she knew she would sleep peacefully. The first time in a long while.
Inuyasha hadn't moved from his spot on the forest floor in three hours. He stared blankly at the ground under him.
She lied to me! He thought. I trusted her again and again, she betrays me. Only this time, the pain is much worse. She chose to go with him of her own free will. No deception, no trickery. His eyes became hard. The first sign of emotion in a long while. She played me for a fool! Damn it! I hurt Kagome because of her. I really thought she was different. Inuyasha clenched his fist and struck the hard ground.
"Dammit!" he shouted.
I swear, Inuyasha vowed. I swear, Naraku and Kikyo will die! Kikyo shall die by my hands! Mine and mine alone!
A/N: I hope I didn't disappoint with this chapter! It may have been a little confusing but that's because I'm trying to set things up for the upcoming chapters. I'll try to update sooner!
Read and Review! Arigatou!