Author: The Chibi Hime
Author's notes: This one got longer, so there. Wait,Is that good? Did you like my cliff hanger from the last chapter? I did! I sure enjoyed it...Of course I know what is going to happen..so..does it count? Hmm..Well I'll just ponder that, as for you, it is your job to read, so do it already..I don't pay you to sit around! (actually..I don't pay you at all..Shhh!!! You can't make me.)
Disclamier: I don't own any of the InuYasha Characters nor will I ever (as far as You know, anyways).
Chapter three: Nastalgia
Kagome was crushed, the well no longer held the portal to the feudal era, and she never would see InuYasha again. With tear stained cheeks and tear filled eyes, Kagome turned to face the ladder once more, but before she was able to grab hold of the ladder, she felt that odd floating feeling. She looked around as she was indeed, floating. The blue light around her was almost blinding.
Seconds after the light had surrounded her, it dimmed and faded away. she found herself standing on solid dirt. Her heart leapt wildly, hoping more than ever that the portal had returned her to the feudal era.
Without hesitation Kagome grasped hold of the nearest vine and lifted herself into the air, using the vines and holes in the side of the dry well to climb out.
A beautiful calming breeze made her black, damp hair tickle her cheeks lightly. Her eyes grew in awe and she recognized the familiar surroundings. She was where she belonged.
Carefully, Kagome swung one leg over the edge, and then the other, almost losing her balance as her feet met the earth. It was all to unreal, as if she were just dreaming this. It was what she had wished to see ever since she had left, which she felt she shouldn't have done.
Scanning the area with her eyes, she remembered many past events. Without realizing it, Kagome found herself trotting towards Kaede-sama's village. It seemed so natural at the time, and she wasn't exactly all there. It was like the beauty had consumed her mind and thoughts and held them captive.
Almost in a trance, Kagome sped up. When she finally realized what she had been doing, it was too late to stop herself. She was already in the middle of the quiet peaceful little village for all eyes to see, probably not even caring about her return. After all, they have their precious Kikyou back.
Stepping lightly, Kagome crept towards Kaede's hut. Her feet the only thing that seemed to have overcome her timidness, as the rest of her shook with anticipation and fear.
She tapped lightly on the wall next to the open door of Kaede's hut, and to her greatest surprise, a plump little woman of about 60 or so appeared right before her eyes. The woman seemed as surprised as Kagome was.
"K-Kagome..is that you?" She stammered, she herself seeming to be pulled into somewhat of a trance.
"Kaede!!" Was all that Kagome could say before giving the woman a tight hug. She held alot of respect for the woman, but she almost seemed like a sister to her. She always had.
"My, child! Where have you been? It's been so long.." Kaede returned the hug and pulled away to look at the young girl's face. "You've changed so much..what is your age now?"
Kagome couldn't help but giggle, her insides seemed to be leaping around for joy. She didn't even know why she giggled.
"I'm seven-teen." She replied as calmly as she could muster.
"17!? Good heavens!" She laughed, and Kagome joined in. They both stood there for almost 10 minutes, laughing warmly for no reason at all. Many villagers stopped in the midst of their daily chores to gawk at the two.
Kagome stopped laughing abruptly. It was so sudden, Kaede jumped.
"What?" Kaede questioned, looking around curiously.
"I can't help but wonder..Where is InuYasha?" Kagome's voice returned to it's usual timidness as she asked this, not sure if it were the right time to ask, when really deep down she was burning to ask ever since she'd arrived. Perhaps it was the reason she'd gone to that particular place.
"Kagome.." Kaede extended an arm and rested a wrinkled hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"What?" Kagome gasped "He is..alive..Isn't He?"
"Yes..don't worry yourself about that. It's just.." Kaede began
"Kikyou" Kagome finished her sentence, she'd sensed she was about to say that ever since she'd begun the sentence.
They stood side by side for what seemed like an hour, when in truth was only a few minutes, Kaede's arm still resting on Kagome's shoulder. They both looked in opposite directions, sensing the awkward tension in the situation.
"Why don't you come in, Kagome?" Kaede offered finally.
"Um..thanks." Kagome mumbled, brushing passed the woman and walking timidly into the little hut.
Kaede calmly walked over to the other side and made herself comfortable on the floor motioning for Kagome to do the same. Kagome sat down acrossed from Kaede, still in an awkward silence.
"Where have you been for so long?" Kaede questioned, looking Kagome straight in the eyes.
"I..Couldn't..InuYasha..he..well.."Kagome stammered.
"I see." Kaede said with a sigh "You were afraid now that Kikyou is alive, InuYasha wouldn't want to see you anymore, is that not it?"
The only answer Kagome could manage was a nod. Was she really that obvious? She felt like hitting herself, she was supposed to be keeping it to herself, if anyone else knew...she would just look like a selfish jerk.
"InuYasha has asked about you. He hasn't forgotten." Kaede told her comfortingly.
"He-he has?" Kagome could feel the color returning to her cheeks.
"Oh yes. Plenty of times. He does miss you, why would he not? Just because my sister is back, he isn't going to just toss you aside. If that was what you were thinking." she coaxed. "If I'm correct..he still loves you, even if his heart belongs to Kikyou, too" She winked, trying to lighten up the mood.
Kagome couldn't help but scoff, feeling the tiniest hint of anger begin rise from within. "Love me? You must be kidding, right? He cares more about Kikyou than he ever did me..I'm just a...jewel detector."
"Oh dear, Kagome. Is that really how you think of yourself? As a jewel detector? To InuYasha, you are much more than a mere tool." She smiled encouragingly as she said this. "You have to understand how hard it must be for him."
"Hard for him!?" Kagome could feel her relaxed hands quickly curl into tightly balled fists. "Doesn't he know how hard it is for ME? To always be second string, a second choice if he couldn't have his precious Kikyou! I was only there as a replacement until he could have the real thing!" She could feel hot tears begin to well up in her eyes again as they had before, although this time she felt she had a little more control over them, and for this, she was thankful. She didn't want to make a bigger scene than she already had.
"You can't tell me how hard it must be for him! If he had to choose, you know exactly who he would choose to be with. Kikyou..Kikyou... I've tried to be happy for him, I really have...but I can't. I can't fight that empty feeling, that feeling of jealousy and anger..that feeling that I should have let Kikyou remain cold and dead as she had been before...at least then.." Kagome stopped, running her fingers through her frizzy bangs, the ever growing amount of sweat on her fore head collecting and making them damp and cold, just like her heart. That is how she felt.
"Let your feelings out Kagome" Kaede said soothingly "After all this time..I'd of never known you've felt this way." She sighed heavily "He loves you very much, you know that. He loves Kikyou very much too. It's not as easy as it sounds to just choose someone. I seriously doubt that he would just break your heart like that just to be with Kikyou, he does care, whether it seems that way or not. Underneath his bad boy, care free exterior, he is a softy, and has feelings just like anyone else. He feels the same way about you as you do about him, I'm positive. He just has a hard way of expressing these emotions, as you most likely have gathered throughout your past journeys."
Kaede gathered up some herbs from a pile in the corner and began to sort them rapidly as she spoke.
"I understand, it is hard for you. Don't be selfish, however. There's sorrow, and then there is selfishness, in which, even if it sounds harsh, you must learn to overcome before you can resolve all of this."
"Resolve what? There is nothing to fix, it's just me being a pathetic selfish loser. That is what you were getting at, right?" Kagome groaned, pulling her fingers out of her now thoroughly soaked bangs and wiping them on her skirt.
"Kago-" Kaede began with a large sigh, feeling she may not have been getting through to the girl as well as she would have liked, but stopped abruptly upon seeing something outside. Her eyes shot in the opposite direction immediately, hoping that the eyes of the teen did not follow hers.
Of course, knowing this was her intention, Kagome's eyes shot towards the direction kaede's had. Her jaw fell open.
"Kikyou.." She whispered to herself more than anything. She could feel her heart begin to pound and a fire begin to rage wildly in her chest, urging her to give the priestess a piece of her mind. Luckily, Kagome's self control had allowed to her avoid the temptation and she remained as calm as she could manage, as she watched her pass by with hatrid.
The priestess didn't seem to notice Kagome watching, although she seemed to feel a bit uncomfortable during the few moments that Kagome's eyes followed her.
"I'd better go..I mean, I don't want to get in the way" Kagome forced a fake smile.
"Oh, your not in the wa-" Kaede looked up just as Kagome had already risen from her spot on the floor and was half way out the door.
Looking around frantically, her eyes finally fell upon the young woman, entering a small hut, slightly larger than Kaede's. Her feet began to lead her towards it before her heart decided it was right. After all, what could it hurt?
Stepping around two small puddles, Kagome positioned herself behind a rather large bush of berries close to the hut Kikyou had entered. She peered inside with awe. The room inside was very homey and warm looking. It looked very inviting. A small rug woven from a fine cloth, with very beautiful intricate designs lay inside right in the entrance of the door. The walls looked as if they were certainly a priority in her cleaning, as they were extremely shiny.
She jumped back, almost falling to her bottom when the priestess stepped cautiously outside her doorway, her eyes identical to Kagome's searching around suspiciously.
"Whose there?" Kikyou asked, her voice very sturdy not showing any sign of worry or fright. "look, if you come out, I won't be mad. Just show yourself, I know you're there." She said again, sounding impatient.
Kagome's heart leapt, she wanted to show herself, but she didn't know if Kikyou held the same hatred as she had for her...what if she struck her down right then and there? No...She would never do that...after all, the kindness in her heart was greater than anything else...she hoped....
Her knees shaking dangerously, her heart pounding like a drum, Kagome rose slowly from the ground. Her eyes met Kikyou's for the first time in two years, for a moment she felt as if she were looking in a mirror..except she didn't hate her reflection.
"You've returned?" Kikyou asked calmly.
"Are you disappointed?"Kagome replied coldly.
A smile broke out upon the woman's face. "No, not at all."
Kagome found herself crossing her arms, a fire began to burn within her eyes, and Kikyou seemed to notice.
"You hate me, don't you?" She asked curiously, although she knew the answer.
"What makes you think that?" Kagome replied as coldly as she had before, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not daft, anyone could tell you have some things against me...I thought you understood about before. It wasn't-" Kikyou was cut of by Kagome before she could finish.
"You fault, right?" Kagome rolled her eyes " You hated InuYasha, and you hated me! What makes you think that I would just fall to your feet like one of your villagers? I have SOME dignity. Just because I'm not kissing your feet doesn't mean I hate you, alright!?" Kagome snapped.
"I admit..I DID hate InuYasha and you..I have no reason to loathe you any longer. you understand, do you not? My hatred was the only thing fueling me, I wasn't ABLE to except anything other than that. I wasn't myself. You are bright young girl, and I understand your feelings. besides, You nor anyone else, has any reason to worship me, and I have no Idea why you would even think differently." She replied calmly yet again.
"You are unbelievable!!!" Kagome chuckled, her smile hiding back the fact she wanted to strangle the woman with her bare hands. "You think just because We shared a soul-Just because I am Your reincarnation that you can just know exactly how I am and how I feel? Wake up! You know nothing about me!" Kagome grew angrier as they spoke.
"You've got quite the spunk, Kagome"She laughed "So defensive. You find so many reasons to hate me. I suppose I have no reason to blame you."
"Damn right!" Kagome grumbled.
Kikyou laughed at this, shaking her head at the girl. "I couldn't begin to describe you." Her eyes began to sparkle as the light smile on her lips began to grow a little. The way the sun sparkled on her jet black hair, she almost seemed to glow like an angel. She was so beautiful and so kind, Kagome knew, although her anger and jealousy clouded all that in the beginning.
"please, come in Kagome" Kikyou offered, turning swiftly and almost seemed float over to a small fire in which she pulled two clay bowls away from.
Slowly, Kagome stepped inside and cautiously tip toed over to where the priestess sat, almost plopping down next to her. Kikyou lifted one of the steaming bowls and gestured towards Kagome to take it, which she did. Kagome peered inside, it seemed to filled with some kind of soup.
"It's alright, it's edible, I assure you." Kikyou smiled, dipping a wooden spoon into it and taking a bite.
Carefully, Kagome withdrew the spoon from the delicious smelling soup, and scooping some of it up, opened her mouth. She paused for a few moments. After a few seconds of feeling she had nothing to lose, she slipped the spoon into her mouth, her eyes lighting up as she did it. It was surprisingly tasty! Maybe Kikyou was to be trusted after all.. Again, Kagome removed the spoon from her lips and took another bite until she began to eat faster, her tense muscles began to relax.
Suddenly, Kikyou shot up from the spot she was sitting, letting the empty bowl drop carelessly to the ground. quickly, she walked towards the door and stepped outside, out of Kagome's sight.
Curiosity taking control(Again), Kagome leaned to the side, setting her half full bowl down on the dirt floor. She could feel her jaw fall open. It was InuYasha! In his arms was Kikyou. She had gotten up to welcome him home.
Heart pounding, Kagome bit her lip, looking around frantically for a way out. She couldn't let him see her there. The only way out was the door!
In the heat of the situation, she did the first thing that came to mind. She snatched up the rug in front of the doorway and draped it around herself the best she could. Standing to her feet, she rushed out the door and right passed the couple, not even thinking about him catching her scent, she fled to the forest and into a shaded area, thick with trees.
The taste of copper filled her mouth, a warm ooze washing over her tongue. It was then when she had realized that she had bitten her lip so hard, it had drawn blood.
The rug slipped off her head and fell to the ground. Her heart hurt, and she felt as if she had missed the chance of a lifetime. She didn't even know why she felt she had to leave, why she couldn't let him see her there...It was such an odd last minute thought. It seemed pretty important at the time, at least.
Two droplets of blood slid down her chin and landed on her white shirt, continuing down her chest, leaving a narrow red trail.
Kagome jumped, letting out a great gasp. Something was moving in the distance. She couldn't make it out. Before her eyes could focus on the creature, the shadow rose to the air and disappeared.
Her eyes refused to remove themselves from the spot. Transfixed and filled with fear, Kagome pulled the rug up around her shoulders and continued to stare at the spot, like a deer staring into the headlights of a car.
She let out a peircing scream as a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind. She looked down at the hand in mid scream, noticing the familiar skin tone and extremely long nails. Another hand shot around from the other side and placed itself over her mouth, stifling her ever lasting scream. Kagome did the first thing she could think of and bit one of the fingers, making the owner of the hands yell out in pain and jump backwards, letting go completely.
Kagome shot around towards her captor.
"What are yo-" Kagome's eyes grew wide. "InuYasha!!!!"
Kagome's heart beat for joy, her lips felt as if they were stretched from ear to ear in a smile, but disappeared a moment later when she realized had bitten him- She had bitten InuYasha!
" Oh Kami, I'm so sorry!!!" She cried out.
"It's alright..but did you really have to BITE me?" He grumbled, holding the finger Kagome had bitten.
"Heh..I said i was sorry." Kagome blushed, holding back a laugh. It had been such a long time since she had wanted to laugh like this. Even just seeing him, made her want to be cheerful. Like the old days.
"How did you know I was here?" She asked timidly.
"You don't really think you were being sneaky, do you?" He smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Besides,I would know your scent anywhere."
"I forgot about that" She laughed.
"What are you doing here?" He asked abruptly and somewhat timidly.
Kagome grew silent, looking into his golden brown eyes. "Do you not want me here?"
"I never said that." He mumbled, returning her gaze, staring straight into her eyes. "I figured you weren't coming back..after all this time, you hadn't come. I figured that your old life is what you really desired."
"You actually thought that? My OLD life doesn't even compare to all this." Kagome got to her feet and shifted her gaze to her shoes, letting her soft black hair fall over her shoulders, shielding her face. "I thought You liked your new life..I figured there was no more room for me anymore."
"Kagome..how could you ever think that?" InuYasha moved closer to her, trying to see her face, but her hair made it impossible.
"You never came..." Warm tears began to fill her eyes again, and kagome tried to hold them back. One stubborn tear managed to escape and slid down her cheek leaving a wet trail. She caught her breath as she felt warmth around her hand. InuYasha had taken her hand into his own.
"You never came either." He replied sadly.
Did you notice how susceptible Kagome is to her Curiosity? She really should cut that out..Tut tut. At any rate, I'll let you hang, for I am the master of cliff hangers and all should bow down to my mysterious greatness! ahem Reveiw! Your master has spoken! '