Hey my faithful readers. I really apologize for taking so long, my parents once again had me working last weekend and the week with school has been as hectic as always, the homework seeming to increase each day. sigh Anyway on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Winter's Night: Chapter 18
Inuyasha's POV
I walked slowly through the forest, the warm spring air blowing my hair back as I walked carrying a bunch of fish hanging from a stick. The winter months had gone, and now spring was starting to show its colors. The smell of new plants, new fresher air, was a relief to the dimness of the winter. After Kagome had come and stayed here, the weather had only gotten worse, and it took a few weeks for all the snow and ice to thaw completely. But now new plants were popping up everywhere, and their fragrance was carried throughout the air, making it all seem so peaceful.
I came to the edge of the forest and looked over the village from my slightly elevated spot. Men were out working in the rice patties and the fields preparing them for planting while the women busied themselves with cleaning around the huts. My ears twitched and I looked towards the river to see the children of the village jumping around and playing. I saw Shippo transform from his pink balloon back to his kit form and fall to the ground laughing as the other kids ran from him. I smiled at the little kit's antics. He had grown quite a bit, and now stood up to about my knees.
Another sound drifted to my ears and I looked passed the kids and smiled. Kagome was there sitting on a rock beside Sango, chatting and watching the kids. My eyes drifted down to her abdomen, which had become bigger over the past few months so that she could no longer fit in her modern clothes. She had on a blue kimono similar to how Sango's was designed, only it had some flowers sewn into it.
I hefted the fish up onto my shoulder and walked towards the village to drop them off at the old woman's hut. I walked passed some huts, getting a few looks from some of the village girls before reaching the hut of the older-than-dirt miko. I pushed aside the flap and stepped in finding her beside a fire, book open, herbs boiling in a pot of water. Needless to say it wasn't the most pleasant scent my nose had ever had the pleasure of meeting.
"Hey hag." I said as I set the fish down beside the fire. I watched as she looked flatly at them and then up at me.
"Inuyasha, what am I to do with all those fish?" She asked.
"It's for dinner." I said and pulled one from the stick. "What, do you want me take them somewhere else?" I heard her sigh.
"No, just don't forget them like you did last time." She said adding a few more herbs to her pot.
"Feh, I got... distracted." I said, growling slightly.
"Just do not forget." She said. I nodded and left the hut, the one fish still in hand. I walked through the village back towards the forest and jumped up into the branches of a tree. I looked down at the little hut beside the tree and smiled a little. The hut was mine and Kagome's, on the outskirts of the village, near the forest, yet still part of the village. The village men and Miroku had helped me build it only a couple weeks ago. It still needed a few things, but it was perfect as long as I was with Kagome.
I looked down at the fish in my hands and bit into it, tearing the scales and ripping some meat from it. I wiped the little bit of blood from my lips and continued to eat it until all that was left were the head and bones. I tossed the bones across the field so that they landed in the river. I watched as the little kids were startled by the splash it made, and ran back to the village, leaving Shippo, Sango, and Kagome alone. I smirked and sat back in the tree. Kids were too easily scared. I closed my eyes, the warmth of the air slowly blowing around me. I sighed and felt everything around me drift away.
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I felt something hit my head and shifted. I felt another thing hit me and growled.
What the hell?
I sat up and looked down, annoyed at whoever dared to disturb me. I blinked slightly when I saw nothing below me. I looked around and noticed a blue streak out of the corner of my eye. I turned and my eyes widened at what I saw. One of Kikyou's soul collectors. I growled at it and lunged at it, shredding it instantly. I landed on the ground and looked around. No other collectors were in sight, but my nose detected the scent of dirt and death. I shuddered at the coldness that was suddenly in the air, and looked around me. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped slightly, my muscles tensing.
"Inuyasha?" I turned around, my golden eyes meeting worried brown ones. I felt her wrap her arms around me, my body relaxing to her touch. I brought my arms around her and pulled her closer to me. I rested my head on hers, breathing in her scent to calm my senses. "Inuyasha..." she said again.
"Shh..." I shushed her, lightly rubbing her back. I heard a soul collector circle around us and I held Kagome closer. I heard her gasp, and could smell the faint scent of water and salt.
"She's close..." I heard my mate whisper, a bit of fear in her voice. I rubbed her back soothingly and kissed the top of her head.
"Kagome." I whispered. "I have to go to her, I have to tell her about us and that she has to go back from where she came from." I felt her hands grip my shirt tightly as she furiously shook her head against my chest.
"No, I won't let you! She'll take you away!" she cried, her tears sinking into my haori. I slowly sat down and pulling her into my lap as we sat. I held her close and kissed her softly, gently stroking her hair.
"Kagome, I won't let her take me away. You know I'll always come back to you." I whispered to her, and I caressed her cheek, brushing away her tears with my thumb.
"B-But what if she tricks you and you do get..." I cut her off by taking her lips with mine. I felt her respond by pushing her lips more to mine and I tightened my hold on her. I pulled away and rested my forehead against hers.
"Don't talk like that." I whispered. "I'll come back."
"Promise?" she asked softly.
"Do you even have to ask that koi?" I smiled at her.
"Promise me." She whispered again. I nodded and kissed her softly.
"I promise." I whispered as I pulled away from the kiss. I stood up with her in my arms and walked over to our hut, setting her on her feet by the door flap. "I'll come back soon." I said as I kissed her once again before running off, the soul collector leading my way. I glanced back at her and she stood where I left her. I could still smell her tears as I ran into the forest, turning back to what lie ahead of me.
I'll come back Kagome, I promise.
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I ran for a while, the sky now growing dark. Where the hell was this thing leading me?
I saw a faint light ahead of me and slowed my pace. I could smell the dirt and death as I stepped into a clearing that glowed with power. My gaze fixed on a figure across the field, standing in front of a tree.
"Kikyou..." I growled, my muscles tensing.
"Inuyasha, you have come I see." She smiled a wicked smile that made the air grow colder.
"Why have you appeared again?" I growled again, staying where I was. She took a few steps towards me and held out her hands.
"To take you to hell with me." She spoke. A few soul collectors flew towards me and I split them in half with my claws. I looked back to Kikyou to see that she wasn't too happy.
"I will not go to hell with you Kikyou. Not now, not ever." I told her. Her expression grew darker and I sensed her aura rise.
"It's because of that reincarnation of mine, isn't it?" she asked, her voice dripping with malice and hate. I nodded slightly.
"It has to do with her, and that fact that you're dead Kikyou." I said. "You are nothing more than dirt and bones with dead souls sustaining your supposed new life." I narrowed my eyes. "You do not belong here."
I felt a blast hit me, pushing my body back against a tree. I felt a slight pain grow in the back of my head and I used the tree for support as I glared at the figure before me. A dark aura surrounded her as she stepped closer to me. I felt numbness in my body and cursed at her.
"Damn you bitch." I growled and felt another wave of energy hit me. I fell to the ground as the power ran through me, purifying my demon blood some. I could see black in the hair that fell around my head, but my claws were still there. I felt something wrap around my body and lift me up. I growled at the soul collectors as they held me before Kikyou. I felt her hands wrap around my throat and apply pressure. I gritted my teeth and felt my lungs begin to burn from being cut off from the air.
"You will die Inuyasha." I heard her speak. "And it will be by my two hands."
I snarled at her and clawed at the soul collectors cutting one and hitting Kikyou's arm causing her to release me. I stumbled back a few steps and breathed in as much air as I could. I growled and ran at her, my claws raised to strike. I felt them break through her skin, her blood spilling onto my hands. I dug my hand deeper into her chest until I felt my claws break through the other side.
I pulled my hand from her body and watched her stumble back, eyes wide from shock, blood spilling from her and turning to dirt as it hit the ground. She glared at me and I could sense her try to gather energy. I shook my head and attacked her again before she could do anything.
She fell to the ground, claw marks embedded in her shoulder and a gaping hole in her chest. I looked down at her, my eyes softened a little.
"I'm sorry that you're grave was disturbed and you were brought back like this." I spoke as she glared up at me, the scent of death growing more evident on her. "I killed Naraku to avenge your death and that should be enough. I've been given a second chance at life and I don't intend to throw it away and die now, leaving Kagome and our pup alone." I saw her eyes widen.
"She's having your child?" she asked, her voice quiet and hoarse. I nodded and a sad look appeared on her face, but she smiled a small smile. "I see why you do not wish to go then. You have a good life... I just wish I could've have been with you."
"It wasn't meant to be Kikyou." I said. "We were both lonely and foolish, not willing to trust. In the end, we paid for it. I was practically dead for fifty years and you died. Your soul was reborn as Kagome, someone completely opposite of you, and then when she released me, it was as if I was reborn as well."
She nodded. "I wish you two the best then... I'm sorry for trying to come between you two..." she whispered. I nodded and watched as her body suddenly turned to dirt right before my eyes. I bowed my head and said a small prayer for her before turning and heading back towards the village. The effect of her powers on my body had finally caught up with me, and needless to say, I felt tired and weakened. Some of my demon blood was purified, but it would return to normal after I had time to rest.
I walked for a while before I reached the edge of the forest. I looked at the silent village. It was well into the night and everyone was asleep, or so I thought. A light caught my eye and I looked to see all my friends, the old hag, and my mate sitting beside it. I walked towards them, when I saw Shippo jump up and the rest turn my way. Kagome was up in no time and she ran towards me. I stopped and felt the exhaustion flood my body. I fell to my knees and saw her do the same beside me, only she had a hard time being pregnant and all. I felt her arms wrap around me, and I smiled at her.
"She's gone." I whispered and fell against her, my body feeling too weak and tired to hold up anymore. I heard the other's voices and the voice of my mate before I felt myself drift into a peaceful, welcomed darkness.
That's chapter 18 everyone, hope you enjoyed it. I absolutely hate Kikyou, so it was a little rough writing this chapter. Also, my brother and his friend were shooting NERF darts at my head, so it made it even harder. Oh and these new features for authors on ff.net are SWEET!
Please review and tell me how it is!
JA NE MINNA!