Disclaimer: Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi.Foxy

Rating: R - N17 for adult langue and sexual situations.

Author: Netealia Lane Foxwood

TRACES OF LOVE #2

Date: 07/06/2004 Revise: 01/07/2005

An Incomplete Soul

Kagome woke up to the sound of breathing, it wasn't her own but it was very comforting none the less. She didn't let her thoughts rest on the sound of it though, instead she took a moment to try and recall when she had fallen asleep. After she made a quick run though of her memories and still didn't have the answer she was seeking let herself fall into a state of deep thought forgetting everything else around her. It only took Kagome a minute to remember that Kouga had shown up along with Inuyasha, they had began to fight, she had told them to stop, Kouga kissed her, Kouga ran off, Inuyasha went to fallow, her yelling at him, and then nothing but remembering felling dizzy after she had told him to sit.

Kagome came right back into reality when she also remembered she had heard someone breathing behind her when she first woke up. She strained to hear it again but could hear nothing over the increased speed of her heart and breathing, from when she had begun to panic. Still slightly fearful she decided to try and place the place she was in, she had yet to open her eye's and when she did she noticed it was dark outside… 'Wait outside?! Why am I outside? Oh god.' she thought and went to turn her head to see if someone was truly behind her, only to stop when two arms tightened around her stomach. 'OH GOD! Wait just don't panic, its only going to be worse if you panic. To late I'm panicking. Ok, ok, breath in and out and just relax old girl, your probably just dreaming.' She was slowly getting herself to relax when who ever was behind her began to nuzzle the spot between her neck and shoulder.

She visible stiffened and voiced out loud, "What am I thinking now is the perfect time to start panicking…" She stopped breathing completely when the two arms around her waist drew her closer and further into the lap of the person behind her. "AHHHHHHH… LET ME GO RIGHT NOW BEFORE I SCREAM FOR… INUYA-" She was stopped in mid yell when a hand clamped over her mouth to muffle her screaming. Kagome now more than just in a panic tried to bit the hand over her mouth and was rewarded when she felt a small amount of skin between her teeth as she began to grind it with her jaw.

"OCH… will you stop that already, its just me!" Yelled Inuyasha right back at her. Though he was proud that she had tried to yell to him for help, but he would never let her know that. "Jezz.. your loud, you know that? of course you do, never mind. Anyway, you passed out again!" Inuyasha felt her stiffen and sighed, "Don't worry I didn't bring you to Kaede, though I don't understand why told me not to if you ever fainted. That's stupid. Feh."

"Look, it's not like you really care so just drop it, but now that I'm awake again I wouldn't mind if you let me down from this tree." She stated as clam as she could. She turned to face him, to look him in the eye to see him giving on of those get-your-self-down looks. "Inuyasha," her voice warned, "I swear to god if you don't get me down right now I'll say the s-word until your back breaks!"

"Try it!" Inuyasha dared her, but decided to finish his threat before she had time to really dwell on the first part. "Then you'll really be stuck up her with no one to get you down. So there!" he shivered when he saw the beginning of the word form on her lips and hurriedly shifted to jump form the high branch with her still in his embrace.

When they got to the ground Kagome knew where they where and headed to the village without saying a word. Inuyasha followed behind her making sure to keep some distance since he wasn't sure by her expression if she was enraged or not. Kagome might have looked mad but in truth she was deeply concerned right then, 'I guess that I'm going to have to talk to Kaede to see if maybe she knows what is wrong with me... but I hope its not what I think it is...' Her thoughts where cut off as she entered the village and Shippo came out of one of the huts into her waiting arms.

"Kagome, I missed you so much!" Shippo was not only glade that she had come back so soon but also liked her change in attire because it allowed him to curl up into her bare skin and absorb the worth she radiated.

"Oh, Shippo, I missed you too!" Kagome said hugging him tight. "Ummm... where's Sango and Miroku?" she then asked slightly shocked that they had not come to welcome her back yet. She looked around a bit and when she could not see any sign of them she waited for Shippo to answer her question.

Inuyasha took the chance to enter the conversation. "They left about five hours ago, heading to the west in hopes of finding some new leads on the jewel shards, just before you came back." Kagome was almost in shock, he sounded all knowing, almost level head, but that was shattered when he gave one of those faces that said something ignorant was to follow. "And if you would stop running off we could have gone off searching as well!"

Choosing to ignore him Kagome turned back to Shippo, "is Kaede at her hut?" He gave a small nod to let her know that she was and took of at a slow run towards it. "Inuyasha go find something to do, I have to talk to Kaede before we head out. Oh, and Shippo why don't you go play with the village children." She yelled as waved back at them. Shippo wasted no time in running back into the hut he had came out originally and Inuyasha leapt into a near by tree to rest a little.

:……Kaede's Hut……:

"Kaede, are you hear?" Kagome said in a normally toned voice. She moved back the straw rug that served as a type of door, was hit by the pleasant sent of a stew, and smiled.

An old and wise voice hit Kagome's ears greeting her, "Yes child. is there something I can help you with?" Kagome told her there was and Kaede gestured to a place near the fire pit for her to sit so they could talk. She watch the young girl take a few deep breaths before she told her what had happened with Inuyasha and Kouga earlier. The old woman listened until she finished to ask her questions, she heard the girl point out that she had passed out on more than one time. At that fact Kaede looked up from her tea, then the girl also pointed out that she had done it twice in front of Sango and seven time in front of Inuyasha, and the fact that she had asked the both of them not to say anything to anyone, she had told them a few good lies mostly so they wouldn't.

Kagome finally finished about twenty minutes later waiting for the answers Kaede always seemed to have when anyone required to know something. Kaede asked when this usually happen and Kagome replied. "Lets see, when I use my arrows or sit Inuyasha, but not right away usually i have to calm down first. Then also when i get any type of wound, it doesn't matter how small it could be a paper cut, it seems lately. (sigh) I mean not all the time but when it happens and even more recently lately i just pass out..."

"I think i know what is wrong, but if i tell you, you must promise to remain calm..." Kaede stated, and waited for Kagome to responded, and she did by nodding. "I was afraid of this, I had stopped worrying about it though when you seemed to be fine after a period of time, but now i am aware my fear was right. Kagome, i want you to listen until I've finished and remain calm for your own good... Do you Remember the day Kikyou was brought back to this world? The witch Urasue had removed your soul to place in the recreation of my sister, but even after you called the soul back into your body some of it remained in Kikyou." she paused for a moment to let everything she had said set in before she continued. "After i found out that Kikyou had survived that fall it took me awhile to figure out how. Kagome, do you know how many different parts there are to a soul such as yours?"

Kagome nodded her reply that she didn't. She knew what Kaede had meant by a soul such as hers, but that didn't really help her understand what exactly she was trying to say. 'Why is she asking about my soul? Is that where my problem lies? Oh no, what is wrong with me...' Her thoughts where cruel to her emotions but she pushed them down and gestured to Kaede to continue.

"Do you know how she does it, she takes souls of the dead. The small fraction of your soul that remained in her gives her the power to attack energy, for her it is an engine that requires fuel. But for you Kagome that part of the soul is the part that draws off the earth to replace the parts of you spirit that flee your body when you fight, are injured, and sit a particular henyou..."Kaede watched the questions fly though Kagome's eyes and face. "Child...?" Kaede asked in a soft sweet voice full of worry.

"What do you mean... my soul isn't restoring its self after my spiritual attacks or related tasks...?" The tone Kagome was using was to calm for the situation and made Kaede uncomfortable. The younger girl fixed her gaze on the old woman as she gestured that Kagome was right. "NO... no... how do i fix it?" Kagome was pleading on the edge of breaking down. "But you could be wrong couldn't you? COULDN'T YOU?" Her relaxed features quickly filled with sadness.

"Its true that i could be, but you know that I'm right... You need to complete you soul in order to heal. Tell Inuyasha he will understand..." She didn't say anymore as Kagome began to violently shake her head in fear and denial. "I now it is a hard chose for ye to make, but Inuyasha must except the fact that by Kikyou remaining in this world it is killing you." She watched as Kagome stood her head down and hair covering her crying eyes form view.

"You know its funny... I think i kind of knew the second time it happened. But i can't ask such a thing of him. Please don't tell him Kaede, I'll deal with this on my own. i need to be near him, protect him as he does me, and i can't do that if was to find out..." Kagome's voice was torn with fear and love. She could never ask him to save her at the risk of his happiness.

"Do ye really think that wise, child? I would think-" She was cut off as she strained to hear the interrupted whisper coming from Kagome.

"It doesn't matter, he deserves to be happy. I would die for him. I would die if only to see him smile once out of true happiness." Kagome looked up at the shocked Kaede and noticed she was going to say something but stopped her before she could. "Just leave it alone, ok?" With that said she pushed all the confusion going on in her mind down and forced a smile, then turned to walk out of the hut. "Don't worry I'll just be more careful from now on. Now I'm going to go find Shippo and play with him." Kagome said gleefully, which made Kaede shiver in worry.

She watch the girl leave the way she had come in, leave as if nothing where wrong. The straw door swing back and forth and Kaede watched until something or someone very small caught her eye. It was Shippo, he was hiding behind one of the water jugs. his emotionless gaze made her feel guilty, "Shippo... how... how long have ye been there... little one?" Her eyes went wide and she heard him whisper.

"She's... She's going... going to di...die isn't she." It wasn't a question, how was he expose to respond? he didn't know, but before he could run off Kaede reached out and cradled him in her arms, rocking him into a deep sleep. 'I don't want you to leave me, Kagome! NO. NO. NO.' Shippo thought as he fell asleep in the old woman's arms repeating 'NO' in his head.

"How am i going to explain this to him?" Kaede breathed out as she continued to cradle the fox child.

Author Notes: Ok, end of chapter two! now I'm sure there are something's in hear I could fix and give me time and I will, but if you would like to point them out I might be able to fix them a little faster with some help. Please r/r...

Summery for next chapter: Sango and Miroku return with a new lead and Kagome makes the choice to leave Shippo behind this time, then she heads out, bow in hand.