Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. Thank you reality, you have just mortally depressed me!
Chapter 3- Naraku
Kaede came back unhappy with Inuyasha for his failure to comply with orders. After a five minute lecture about the dangers of the forest, given by Kaede, Inuyasha exited the hut with extremely low spirits. The Hanyou hopped onto the roof of the hut to lie dormant until Kagome came to again, and avoid the priestess, Kaede. He was afraid she might launch off into another boring lecture he already knew about. He didn't mind it up on the roof, because he had plenty of thinking space to himself, which was exactly what he needed. 'I'm such a screw up! I should have been able to smell that foul demon stench from a mile away. It's all my fault that girl is hurt again. I have to be more careful. Now that she has the Shikon jewel so many demons are going to be after her, because of its untamed power. I should know that since I was after it fifty years ago.' Inuyasha put his head in his hands, and retracted them immediately. 'Ugh! I still smell of her blood!'
Kaede ground at a bowl of herbs in attempt to replenish her supplies after Kagome's recent spills. She didn't see much hope for this new jewel protector. Kagome had her sister's priestess blood, but she hadn't been given enough time to find her powers. Inuyasha reentered the hut without saying a word to Lady Kaede and seated himself next to the sleeping Kagome. Kagome's groans broke the silence of the hut. She began to twist painfully at the blankets and sweat beads broke out around her brow. Kaede jumped up at once, but Inuyasha intercepted her actions. "It's ok I got it. She's probably just having a bad dream...I wouldn't blame her." He added in a murmur. Dunking a dry cloth in cool water, and wringing it out, he placed it gently folded on her forehead. Her stirring calmed and her eyes slid slowly open. Everything was a bit blurry at first, but she could feel a bandage around her wounded arm. The Hanyou watched her effort to wake up, and called Kaede over. By this time Kagome was fully awake and sat confused by the eyes staring at her.
"Are ye strong enough to get up child?" Kaede asked.
"I think so," Kagome responded as she shifted her weight to her feet.
"Good, because you're going home." Kaede stated firmly as she grabbed the sleeping Buyo and yellow bag. Inuyasha and Kagome whipped around in unison with bulging eyes.
"What?!" Their voices mimicked each other like their actions.
"What about the jewel?" Inuyasha's voice rang out.
"I've already thought of that," Kaede explained. "After the power of the jewel left Kagome's body her strength was cut in half. It will come back to her, but with all the demons that will be after her she doesn't have the time."
"I'll protect her!" Inuyasha interrupted.
"That's very kind of ye, but let's be realistic. You couldn't keep her safe from a bear demon, and we both know there are greater dangers out there." 'Kagome was the first person to treat me like a living being. This is my entire fault, and Kaede is right. She would be safer in her own time.' Inuyasha thought.
"I guess you're right you old bat. I don't have time to look after someone so helpless." Inuyasha said on the defense.
"Hey," Kagome interjected looking hurt. The Hanyou wished he hadn't stated it like he had after seeing the hurt in Kagome's eyes.
"Don't listen to him Kagome. He refuses to show weakness. I'm sure he'll miss ye. You'll be safe at home, and with the jewel back in your time so will we." Kaede finished and looked back at the other two.
"You are right. I'm sure my mother is worried sick by now anyways, but thank you two so much for your hospitality." Kagome said giving Kaede a hug. Inuyasha was taken back in surprise when she hugged him, but he kind of patted her back in return.
"Oh, ye are welcomed child." Kaede handed Kagome her yellow bag, with a sleeping Buyo inside, and everyone followed her out of the hut. Inuyasha knelt down while the girls solemnly climbed onto his back, and then took off toward where Kagome first found him. 'I never really got to know her, but I wish I had gotten the chance. No one ever has defied me before with such confidence.' The Hanyou thought as the small journey came to an end. Something caught Inuyasha's senses, and he stopped at the edge of the forest. "What's wrong Inuyasha?" Kaede asked confused.
"I smell Demon, and I can't tell where it is coming from," He said while sniffing the air.
"The well is right in the clearing. I think I should make a run for it while I still can." Kagome bravely volunteered as she slid from the brace of Inuyasha's back.
"Don't be silly child. I said we would be safer with you back in ye own time, not dead." Kaede added as she took her place next to Kagome.
"No Lady Kaede, I think Kagome should run before this demon comes. I don't know what it is but I don't want her to be here when it is here. I can protect her this one last time." Inuyasha said with all of the hairs on his head tingling. Kaede gave a nod to accept the slim choice. The Hanyou and Kagome made haste to the edge of the well. Kagome turned for one last wave to her new friends, and refaced the well was a bit of sadness to be leaving such a beautiful place. Upon placing her finger on the lip of the well a dark spark hit her fingertip, causing her to recoil her hand. Inuyasha gasped as a blue barrier encased the well, and spread out pushing him and Kagome back a few feet. Shoving herself back up from on top of the Hanyou, Kagome turned a panicked face toward his view.
"What happened...? Did... did I do something wrong?" She breathed.
"No, but something is wrong." Inuyasha said while pulling her closer for protection.
"Muhahaha. I must apologize, for I thought you were a slow one Inuyasha." The voiced slither over from a creature draped in a white baboon skin, leaving not part of him visible.
"Who are you and what do you want?" The Hanyou was direct with his questions.
"I suppose I spoke to soon, or maybe my plan of sealing you to the tree has knocked a bit of sense out of you." Another malicious laugh boomed through the air.
"You set Kikyo and me up?!" 'If this is the guy, then why haven't I ever heard of him before?' Inuyasha thought in a daze.
"Again with the wits, Inuyasha. I thought you would have figured it out by now. I, Naraku, was after the sacred jewel then as I am now, and your little wench isn't going anywhere with it as long as I live." Naraku pointed accursedly at Kagome. With a simple raise of his finger she was pulled away from the Hanyou and up into the air.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted after her. With barely more than a flex, Naraku drew the struggling Kagome closer until she was in his grasp. He thrust his hand into a pocket the Shikon Jewel was nestled, and retrieved it victoriously.
"Ah, just what I was looking for!" He exclaimed happily.
"I'll save you Kagome, so don't worry!" Inuyasha instructed, but his attempt was foiled when Naraku encircle the priestess and half demon in a poisonous cloud of miasma. Inuyasha shelter Kaede from inhaling too much until the cloud would dissipate.
"NO! I will not let you harm them!" Kagome amplified her words by biting down hard on Naraku's hand.
"You Bitch!" Naraku howled as he accidentally dropped Kagome and the jewel onto a rock bed. Kagome only skinned her knees and hands, but the jewel split in half as it landed beside her.
"The Jewel!" Kagome screamed, diverting Naraku's attention from his hand, as she reached for the second half.
"The jewel will be mine, bitch!" Naraku yelled as he flung Kagome back at the feet of Inuyasha. Before much could be done, Naraku had his grasp on the second half of the jewel.
"You will not win so easily next time," He said in annoyance as he disappeared in a fog of smoke.
"Are you ok, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as he softly lifted her into his lap.
"I'm fine, but I have already failed as the jewel protector. He has half of the Shikon Jewel." Kagome hid her face in Inuyasha's chest, but he could smell the salty tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You did ye best child." Kaede said soothingly. "Come on Inuyasha; let's get her back to the village. The poor thing should be exhausted." He did as he was told. Some where during the trip, Kagome fell into a peaceful rest in the Hanyou's arms, so he slowed his approach to be careful not to wake her.
Once Kaede had slipped off Inuyasha's back, he gently placed Kagome on her usual cot.
"What are we going to do Lady Kaede, now that she is stuck here, and can't protect herself?" Inuyasha asked.
"This is quite a predicament, I do agree. I don't think Naraku was joking about what he said. We need her to help find the other half of the jewel now too. She is the only one that can sense it." Kaede said half to herself. During Kaede's and Inuyasha's conversation, Kagome woke up, and sat up quietly against the wall.
"Do you not have any herbs that can help her find her powers faster? You have enough powders in here, there must be something." Inuyasha demanded.
"Am I going to die here?" Kagome interrupted anxiously. Surprised he hadn't heard her waking up, Inuyasha jerked his head in her direction.
"With our help ye won't, but I can't promise we'll always be here. I do have one thing I can do, but I would rather not. For during the time period that the herbs take effect, Kagome would be left vulnerable."
"Give me one more chance to protect her. I know I can." Inuyasha insisted
"While I'm sure ye have the strength Inuyasha, I'm worried about ye intension span. Ye seem easily distracted."
"Hey!" He interjected. Kaede just eyed him before continuing.
"Well, Miroku and Sango will return with Shippo from the other village tomorrow. We'll see if they are up to the task. That is if it is ok we ye Kagome." Kaede nodded toward the young girl. There was a pause.
"Who are they?" Kagome asked with a tilt of her head.