Ok...it hurts...it hurts so much...no one tried out my quiz...oh the agony...plus I got a monster sunburn on my back...I maintain that the sunscreen my brother applied on it for me was faulty...Then, the next day, my dad's girlfriend had me bike down to the store and buy some pop while on my six mile peddle...ok...so carrying a 2 liter isn't as easy as she thinks it is. I got to do that for 3 miles. So I then get home and can't get off my bike unless I drop the pop...which we needed like THEN! So I swing my leg over like I usually do, lose my balance, drop my bike, fall on it, and seriously aggravate my sunburn...which hit my seat and back tire...
This chapter is dedicated to no one...since no one cares enough to go to my profile and try.
I have had a really bad week; my mom broke the news to me that she had to put my pet kitty down. She had come home after 'escaping' for a night, limping. As time went on over the next week or so, it got worse and worse, but they couldn't afford to take her to a vet because her boyfriend's paycheck hadn't been sent to him. Then I went on vacation.
The week I got back I spent the weekend with my mom. My kitty, whom I had been told was getting better, had begun to knaw on her injured leg, which was horribly swollen from her knee down to her paw. I begged my mom to take her to a vet, just to see WHAT was wrong with the leg in question. She said that they couldn't afford to do even that. Her boyfriend, after three weeks, still hadn't received his paycheck, ANY of them. (He is on disability leave...and HAS to stay home or else they'll get lawyers and say that he isn't disabled, even though it is a mental disability.) So, this past Sunday, Mom picks my brother and I up and takes us to the zoo and to the beach. Jim, (her boyfriend,) had finally gotten his money.
So, mom and I are tanning ourselves and my lil bro is in the water, she sits up and says that she has to tell me something. I find out that the first thing they did was take my kitty to the vet. They found out that either they pay $1700.00 for an amputation, or they pay $35.00 to have her put to sleep. Even if they weren't behind on their bills and had money left in their accounts, (which they used to pay the bills in their three weeks without money,) they still couldn't afford to save my kitty, which was murder on them too. My kitty was Jim's baby...his favorite...as was she mine. They put her to sleep. She isn't suffering anymore...she had stopped eating a few days ago...but now she's ok. So, my week has just gone downhill after that. I miss my kitty Anzu! I am sorry if it took too long for this update, but I have had a BAD week so far...so NO complaining!!!
Ok...that's enough of this authoresses woes...not that ya'll care about much more than this crappy story anyway...here's the chappie that you've all been waiting for...INUYASHA and KAGOME!!! There will be a song tied into it later in the chapter...there will be flashbacks...and lots of mental anguish on Kagome's part...before Inuyasha makes his choice anyway...but then again...will that help her sad heart?
Disclaimer: I own zilch. That includes songs...
P.S. This chapter is centered around Inuyasha and Kagome, however, do to an inner need to involve Kanna and Kagura a bit as well and let you know what they have been up to and what they are planning, there will be tidbits featuring them instead, in fact, the chapter starts with them. They are going to interact with the rest of the gang and will show them what is happening to Inuyasha and Kagome through Kanna's mirror, as Naraku had been doing.
Inuyasha is the one male that has everyone worried the most. It is only right that the gang get a peek on what is happening to the two. THEY'VE BEEN MISSING ALL NIGHT!!! So...if you want to know why this special chappie is different, it's so that we get more information on what's happening around us...deal with it!
Her Song...His Memories...and His Greatest Decision
With Kanna and Kagura:
"Kagura...Naraku has left with Kikyo and Kagome to Inuyasha's dimension...we should help their friends now..." Kanna said passively, not being able to articulate any other emotion. Kagura, who had been sitting in her chambers awaiting this news, stood and headed towards the door where the child-like demoness stood with her mirror. She stroked Kanna's hair for a moment before leading the way to Naraku's throne room, where they would assist Inuyasha and Kagome's comrades in any way possible.
"If we help them with their injuries then they will be all the better to help us with ours...I pray to kami they are not so badly injured that this potion should not help..." she said, holding up a healing potion in a glass container. She couldn't have bought a more helpful potion or Naraku would have sensed its power and would have demanded an explanation, so she had settled for this one when she had been fortunate enough to slip away from the palace.
She had only been out for less than an hour, but it had been less than an hour of freedom as well, so it was worth the risk. Thank goodness Naraku had been busy watching the events through Kanna's mirror or else he may have noticed...
Inuyasha's POV:
Inuyasha walked slowly near the edge of the cliff he was standing on. He had been looking for Kagome and Kikyo all night, and the sun was just beginning to rise. Looking over the edge of the high cliff at the eastern horizon was something he would have normally loved to do...it would have been a peaceful, mind clearing thing to do...but he was so distraught over the loss of his loves that nothing could have calmed him short of holding them in his arms and feeling their hearts beat resoundingly through his chest as he did so. But something told him that he would not be able to do so any time soon...not without a price anyway...Naraku would see to that...
God he was so tired. He had never walked so far without a break in his entire life. Inuyasha was running on empty. Food, water, neither seemed like they were worth a second to stop for...he only wanted them. His loves. Kagome and Kikyo.
Kikyo abandoned me when Kagome would never have...or ever has...she said she loved me...and I believe her...but Kikyo said that she loved me as well...and that only led to pain...she seemed so scared when she called out to me for help though...like she needed me...was that her way of saying that she was sorry? That she wasn't mad anymore? He wondered sadly. Inuyasha would give anything to know the truth, but knew that it would have to wait until they were both out of harm's way. Then another thought popped into his head.
I still have to choose...Kikyo is still a part of this...and I need to make a choice...but how? Damn...Miroku was right... Just then, a memory from early the day before returned to him.
Memory
"No...we were having a good time together, and I didn't want to ruin it. I FELT SO DAMN BAD ABOUT IT TOO!!! I FELT CONFUSED, ANGRY, SAD, AND EVEN, IN MY OWN WAY, BETRAYED, SO YES! I WENT WHERE I THOUGHT I WOULD BE AT LEAST A LITTLE WELCOME, AND I WAS!!!!!!!!!" he yelled back at her. Kirara meowed angrily and Miroku stood in front of Sango protectively.
"Inuyasha...I understand how you must feel...but please do not take it out on Lady Sango..." he said sternly. Inuyasha was about to attack him but Sesshoumaru grabbed his arm and held him firm.
"I do not think it best that you harm your friends...they are good to you...more than you realize. They only try to protect Kagome...as you well understand..." he said in a low voice that sent chills down Inuyasha's spine.
"What do you care? You do not, cannot possibly understand how difficult this is. But like I said, it doesn't matter now."
"That is where you are wrong Inuyasha." Inuyasha looked back at the monk, who had dared to speak again.
"And how am I wrong?!"
Miroku winced at his tone, "Inuyasha...you never chose between them. If Kikyo hadn't...betrayed you...would you have still wound up in Kagome's time this past night? Or would you have been in the arms of Kikyo?" Inuyasha wanted so much to rip his throat out then, to make those accusing words choke him...but he knew that he was right...
"Feh!" was all he said as he snatched his arm back from Sesshoumaru and dashed towards the village.
End of Memory
Gods was that a bad memory. He had nearly clobbered his friends, thanks to Sesshoumaru he hadn't. Then later it had gotten worse...after the girls had been taken, and gods had that been ripping at his heart as it was now, they had said that Kikyo had betrayed them and had been working for Naraku...
Memory
"Inuyasha...Naraku has been plotting something against us..." Miroku began, only to be interrupted.
"Feh, when isn't he?"
"Listen Inuyasha, Naraku summoned Sesshoumaru to a secret meeting just after Hekele and Kagome went back to their time a day before Kachie arrived. He was trying to get Sesshoumaru to assist him, which he obviously is not. Sesshoumaru refused because he no longer wanted the Tetsusaiga. Naraku then made him a victim of his plot because he assumed that Sesshoumaru would warn us...which he did. We believe that is why-"
"Why wasn't I told of this?" Inuyasha asked suddenly, glaring at the three before him. Miroku sighed and shifted uncomfortably.
"...We didn't tell you because we didn't know how to...because Kikyo was at the meeting as well...and she agreed to help Naraku...Inuyasha...she betrayed you..." Miroku said slowly and deliberately. Inuyasha was about to lung at the monk the instant he finished speaking but Sesshoumaru held him back. Inuyasha began struggling and yelling at Miroku.
"NO SHE DIDN'T! KIKYO HATES NARAKU!!!!!!!! SHE WOULD NEVER, NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE DESPISES ME, HELP NARAKU!!!!!" he practically screamed in rage. Sesshoumaru held him firm, which proved to be surprisingly difficult.
"Inuyasha, you worthless half-breed, you've been deceived!" he said in an enraged tone, "Do you think they would lie to you?!?"
End of Memory
Kikyo couldn't have had betrayed she? Kikyo hadn't left him then...she had still loved him...why would she do such a thing...how could she?
She couldn't have...and that's that! Inuyasha told himself firmly. He would be sure to rub it everyone's faces when he brought her and Kagome safely home with Naraku dead...that would prove that he was right!
Inuyasha heard a slight chuckling ahead and raised his crestfallen, tired eyes to see, in the distance, the face he hated most...Naraku's. But it wasn't the sight of Naraku that angered him so...it was the sight of a bound Kagome in one hand and a bound Kikyo in the other. Both girls were gagged and couldn't speak, both had fear in their eyes, both were being held off the ground by their throats, and both were dangling off the side of a cliff with only Naraku's untrustworthy hands to keep them from falling to their certain death.
Inuyasha growled.
Kagome's POV:
Kagome opened her tired and seemingly soulless eyes when she heard Naraku's evil laugh. Her eyes widened when she saw Inuyasha, looking at her with similar eyes, ones that were turning to anger as quickly as hers were turning to fear. She could feel Naraku's rough hand clutching her throat as she dangled above...above what? Kagome looked down and to her horror she saw black. She was dangling off the side of a cliff...and it was so high up that she couldn't see the bottom.
She wanted to scream, but alas, the gag in her mouth prevented her from doing that. It was hard to breathe with Naraku's unforgiving grasp on her throat. Gods what she would give for one unlabored breath!
Knowing that her now most hated enemy was also in on the suffering that she had to endure, Kagome looked towards her right, where she saw Kikyo in a similar predicament with eyes that held fear. Fake fear, Kagome knew, but it was very convincing, and even to one that knew of her plan.
Gods Inuyasha...help me... she thought painfully, noticing the way he looked at Kikyo, which was the same way he was looking at her...
"Inuyasha," she heard Naraku begin to speak, "Your friends are all safe and sound Inuyasha...all but the ones you failed to protect...and as you can see, they are right here, begging to be rescued..."
You didn't fail me Inuyasha...you never have...don't let him get to you...I know you didn't fail... Kagome thought, praying that Inuyasha already knew this.
"You must now make a choice Inuyasha...you must choose whom you love the most...Kagome...or Kikyo? You only get one chance...because once you make it...the other will die..." Kagome could see the pain in Inuyasha's eyes as Naraku said this...as well as uncertainty.
"You haven't got long to decide my friend..."
"I am not your friend!" Inuyasha growled a maddened growl as he said it. He took a step towards Naraku and Naraku took the one step he had left between him and the ledge back as well.
"If you make another move, Inuyasha, they will both die..." Naraku taunted evilly. Kagome heard Inuyasha growl in frustration and she couldn't help but give a small smile through her gag. Inuyasha would choose who was best for him...she only hoped that it was her...
Inuyasha's POV:
Kagome...you've always been there for me...always...I've never...been alone with you near me... he thought, trying to sort through his emotions. If he took another step, Naraku would kill them. He had to choose. But in choosing...he was condemning the other to death...he couldn't do that...to either of them...
Kikyo...was my first love...Naraku tricked you into hurting me...pinning me to that tree...if we had only trusted in each other this would never had happened. I never would have met Kagome, I never would have fallen in love with her, and I would never have to choose...but...it happened...and I did fall in love with her...so now what do I do? He thought painfully.
But then again...is that so bad? Kagome lit up my life...when Kikyo had all but taken it away. She loved me when I didn't think she possibly could...she allowed me into her heart even with that damned Hobo idiot had declared his affections for her and also with that damned wolf Koga after her affections...she still chose me...Inuyasha...the worthless hanyou...we've even shared a kiss... Inuyasha fondly thought, happy for a second as the memory hit him like it had only just occurred.
Memory
"Inuyasha, we should get some sleep if you want me to round them up to come back with you in the morning..." Kagome said, nodding up the stairs where her friends were sleeping. Inuyasha looked at her back with me tomorrow? But you were only here a day..." he said. Kagome smiled.
"Consider it my peace offering for forgetting tonight..." she said. Inuyasha leaned in and lightly kissed her lips, slightly shocking the girl in his arms. Kagome eagerly kissed him back, wanting to prove that she had meant every word that she had said to him. After a moment the two parted for air and Kagome blushed. Inuyasha smiled softly and lowered his gaze so that she couldn't see his own blush as he pulled her into his lap and let her lean on him. He pulled the blanket that was resting on the couch over her to keep her warm.
"Oyasumi nasai Kagome-chan..." he said softly. Kagome blushed deeper but rested her head on his shoulder.
"Good night Inuyasha... Aishiteru..."
End of Memory
Gods had that been the best night of his life...just knowing...knowing that she cared for him as well...it had made everything in life fall into place for him...she thought he was worthy...of her. Kagome didn't think he was a worthless hanyou...she didn't care about that...she just cared about him.
He could also remember when Kikyo had kissed him too. Now that memory still shocked him...he and Kikyo had been talking in the forest...he couldn't even remember what they were saying...and she had just pulled herself a little closer and kissed him... He would never forget how confused and yet how happy he had been then too...
"Inuyasha...poor Kikyo has already died for you once...will you force her to do it again?" Naraku said slyly. Inuyasha stiffened.
"But of course...Kagome has already given you her heart as well...she has also readily put herself in danger for you countless times...does she not deserve a chance at life?" Naraku continued to jest. Inuyasha just stared into space as he tried to come up with some kind of justification to choose one over the other. His heart was visibly breaking.
With the others in the throne room:
Everyone had woken up and was standing about quite anxiously. Each of them was looking over their shoulder for a portal to appear or even Naraku. They were all tense. They were all worried.
Suddenly, they heard the light clip clopping of sandals coming their way. Everyone tensed as the door to the throne room opened. Kagura and Kanna stepped in and were greeted with bittersweet smiles from the girls and slight growls from the men, even Miroku.
"Kagura...what brings you here? Now?" Hekele asked, putting her hand on Sesshoumaru's ready arm, which was about to draw his sword. He gave her a confused look and was rewarded with Hekele's I'll-tell-you-later look.
Kagura grinned slightly and held out a glass container with a blue liquid in it. "I slipped out and got a healing potion for you all; I didn't know what kind of condition you'd be in for the final battle..." she said tossing them the container.
Koga caught it instinctively, still not trusting Kagura, and sniffed it. Finding nothing harmful in the solution, he tossed it to Sesshoumaru, who sniffed it as well. Neither let Kagura or Kanna out of their site.
"Keh...it's safe..." Sesshoumaru said quietly, tossing the solution back to Koga, who was worse off than everyone else.
"Just take a swig each; it'll up your strength and heal most of your wounds...I am not sure if it'll be good enough but it'll at least help. Leave the leftovers for Kagome and Inuyasha," Kagura said. After complying with her instructions, the group was happy to find their wounds healed, or in Koga's case, considerably better off.
"What has become of Inuyasha and Kagome?" Sesshoumaru asked Kagura out of the blue. She looked at the group critically before replying.
"Naraku has taken Kikyo and Kagome to a dimension just moments ago. They will be awaiting Inuyasha there. He wished to see how you all did with your 'tests' before attending to those two...Kanna's mirror can see all that happens everywhere, and he has been using it as a window into the dimensions..."
"Can...we use it as a window as well?" Sango asked. Kanna nodded.
"It is why I have come..." Suddenly there was a flash of light in the mirror and then an image. The group got closer and Kagura turned to view through it curiously. What everyone saw worried them.
Naraku was holding both Kagome and Kikyo by the throat off the ledge of a cliff, ready to drop them at a moment's notice. Inuyasha was standing a good fifteen feet away. Naraku could be heard taunting him with their lives.
"Inuyasha...poor Kikyo has already died for you once...will you force her to do it again?"
"But of course...Kagome has already given you her heart as well...she has also readily put herself in danger for you countless times...does she not deserve a chance at life?"
"It seems that he is forcing Inuyasha to choose...who lives and who dies..." Kagura mused grimly. Everyone nodded, the shock of the sight not wearing off. They silently prayed to kami for Inuyasha to choose correctly. They watched intently as the living drama played out before them...
Inuyasha's POV:
"Inuyasha...why not choose Kikyo? If you defeat me then you can use the Shikon no Tama to restore her life..." Naraku prodded. Inuyasha scowled at him hatefully.
"If you choose Kagome and defeat me, she will eventually leave you for her time...just as Hekele will abandon Sesshoumaru and the brat and how Kachie will do the same to Koga...once the Shikon no Tama disappears, as it will once you make your wish, they will have to choose a place and stay there forever...why would they choose to remain here? You cannot force your love to stay...and she will take advantage of that and leave you...Kikyo would not, however, because she has no other life to attend to..."
"Would you shut-up?!?" Inuyasha all but screamed at Naraku, who gave him an amused grin.
He is right though...once we make a wish on the Sacred Jewel...it will disappear...and then they will have to choose where to live...Gods...do Sesshoumaru and Koga realize this?! They have loves resting on this as well! But if I could bring Kikyo back to life with the jewel...then why couldn't I make it so that we'd always be able to travel through the well? Even without shards? Damn! Not another choice! Inuyasha thought, bewildered.
"But of course...Kagome can accept you as a human, hanyou, or demon...while Kikyo cannot...she has also abandoned you has she not?" the evil hanyou continued.
How does he know about what happened between Kikyo and I? And that I turn human for that matter? Inuyasha asked himself mentally. He wasn't sure but it gave him an odd feeling...and it wasn't a good one either...
Kagome's POV:
Inuyasha...I hope you understand how much I love you...I know I've said it before but still...I hope you understand that I don't care about you being anything but who you are...hanyou demon, human, whatever makes you happiest...I'll still love you... Kagome thought weakly.
Her strength was beginning to leave her after dangling there for nearly five minutes. She had gone without food and water for as long as the rest of her companions, and her body felt so abused as well. She had been roughly handled, but not once struck.
I guess they want me in as best condition as they can have me in...probably so Inuyasha doesn't figure out that Kikyo wasn't really kidnapped... she thought to herself.
Kagome suddenly felt so helpless. She was beginning to lose hope too. Inuyasha looked so lost in front of her...like he was waiting for a sign or something.
"Inuyasha...I haven't got all day..." Naraku said in an amused tone. Before Inuyasha appeared an hourglass on a table. The sands began to fall.
"You have five more minutes Inuyasha...then...they both die..." Naraku informed him and, in a round about way, Kagome.
I wanted you to know...that I love the way you laugh...
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain...away...
I keep your photograph...and I know it serves me well!
I wanna hold you high and steal...your pain...
The song had just popped into her head. 'Broken' by Seether and Amy Lee, (the lead singer of Evanescence.) Hekele must be getting to me... she thought as the chorus rang through her head.
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm open...
And I don't feel like...I am strong enough...
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm lonesome!
And I don't wanna feel right...when you're gone away...
The next line made Kagome smile grimly inside; it reminded her of how she felt at this moment.
You've gone away...you don't feel me here...anymore...
He'll choose Kikyo...he loves her more anyway... she thought to herself.
The worst is over now...and we can breathe again...
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain...away...
There's so much left to learn...and no one left to fight!
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain!
God if that isn't the truth...Inuyasha makes me so happy...and all I want to do is the same for him... she thought happily, finding a small joy in her horrid predicament.
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm open...
And I don't feel like...I am strong enough...
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm lonesome!
And I don't wanna feel right...when you're gone away...The music of the song pounded through her heart, though it was only through memory. It gave Kagome an amazing feeling, making her heart beat in rhythm to it. It seemed to her a song from the soul...but why had it popped into her head? Was this her mind's way of telling her not to be afraid of death? Of not being chosen? Who knows...but it did...and it is helping to ease the pain...
She watched as the sands fell in the hourglass. She only had about two more minutes...damn was she worried!
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm open...
And I don't feel like...I am strong enough...
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm lonesome!
And I don't wanna feel right...when you're gone away...God! Is this damn song written from my very being? I feel so weak! Like even at my strongest I'm unable to help anyone! And I feel even weaker when I'm alone! And if Inuyasha doesn't choose me...I know I would definitely NOT feel right... she thought to herself.
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm open...
And I don't feel like...I am strong enough...
'Cuz I'm broken...when I'm lonesome!
And I don't wanna feel right...when you're gone away...
She saw the last of the sands fall. She felt Naraku's grip loosen. She saw Kikyo's hidden smirk.
"Now Inuyasha...is the moment of truth," she heard Naraku say. Kagome closed her eyes in fear as she felt her throat being released from Naraku's fist. She felt herself falling, as if it were happening in slow motion, and decided to take what she thought was her last look at her love. His face was one of complete pain as he ran towards the center of the cliff, directly between the two. Smiling at him one last time, Kagome closed her eyes as she fell.
You've gone away...you don't feel me here...anymore...
With the others in the throne room:
"Kami is he going to let them both fall?!?" Kagura yelled angrily as they saw Naraku loosen his grip.
"No, he runs for the middle...we will know of his choice when he returns back up..." Koga said tensely, fear apparent in his voice. Kachie placed her head on his shoulder. She knew he cared for Kagome...but she was secure in the fact that he cared for her more. She would never leave him...for he would never leave her...she knew this.
"Kagome has a look of bliss on her face...what could keep her so calm at a time like this?" Hekele asked, scared for her sister-like friend. She was also wondering about what Naraku had said. Abandon Sesshoumaru and Rin?!? Never! She loved them too much...and she would find a way to be with them...just as Kagome would stay forever with Inuyasha and Kachie with Koga.
Sesshoumaru tightened his grip on her hand, which had subconsciously sought comfort in his. He had gladly given it. "Let us hope that it is because she knows that he will choose correctly," he said.
The entire group nodded as they stood there in shock and fear as they saw their friend fall, as Naraku disappeared and re-appeared out of Inuyasha's way, and as Inuyasha reached the edge of the cliff. They saw Kagome's faint smile before they lost sight of her over the cliff's edge.
Inuyasha's POV:
As Kagome fell she looked to him with both pleading and yet strangely satisfied eyes. He knew he could only save one of them. He just didn't know who...
He let his body do as it wished when he reached the edge. He felt it twist him in the direction of one of the women he loved. He knew whom to save. He knew who was best for him. Now to reach her...
Inuyasha streamlined his body so he could easily catch up to the raven-haired girl of his dreams. Falling at her side he wrapped a protective arm around her body and shot an apologetic look towards the other, falling woman. Instead of receiving a look that told of sorrow, he received one of hate...then everything clicked. It all made sense...Inuyasha knew then how Naraku had known of his weakness, and how he had known about Kikyo's leaving him. Inuyasha had nearly fallen into a trap he had been previously warned of. He had nearly chosen wrong...
Inuyasha drew his Tetsusaiga and thrust it into the cliff side, slowing their descent. After what seemed like forever, they stopped. He looked to the girl in his arms as two shocked chocolate eyes looked back at him. He loved those eyes...as well as the amazing woman they belonged to...
"Kagome...I choose you..."
Kagome's POV:
"Kagome...I choose you..." he said. There, looking into her eyes, Inuyasha had said that he had chosen her. Kagome couldn't have been happier. She smiled as Inuyasha juggled her in his grasp until he could effectively use his hand to pry the gag from her mouth. Her now visible smile seemed to sooth him.
"...Inuyasha...thank you..." she said, clinging to him quite literally for dear life. Inuyasha winced at her raspy tone...Naraku had held her by the neck for far too long. The inside of her throat felt raw and it hurt to speak. But her words were worth saying, in her own opinion anyway. She saw him smile at her before feeling his sword slip a few inches. The jerk frightened them both. She squealed and hugged him tighter, if at all possible while hanging off the edge of a cliff for dear life...
"Kagome...I'm sorry..." he said, holding her tighter with his arm. Kagome gave him a confused look and saw more pain in his eyes.
"What is it...you chose me...why are you-"
"I'm too weak to hold on...I haven't had food or water in hours and I've used up most of my energy looking for you and...and I don't think that I can get us back up there and out of harm's way..." he said looking ashamed, as if he had failed. Kagome could see the self-loathing in his eyes and refused to allow him to feel that way. She leaned up as far as she could and placed a gentle kiss just below his lower lip, not being able to reach any higher. Inuyasha gave her a confused look as he struggled to hold onto his sword and keep it from slipping.
"You've never failed me Inuyasha...never...and as long as I know that you love me...everything else's ok...I mean that..." she said happily. Inuyasha looked her over for a moment before speaking.
"Are you sure?" he asked. Kagome nodded.
"Positive..." At this, Inuyasha took a deep breath and yanked his sword out of the cliff. If they were to die...they would die as warriors...they would not sit and wait patiently for death to claim them...they would meet it head on.
The pair began to fall and they closed their eyes, holding each other tightly. Neither noticed a light colored portal form beneath them...and took them home...
With Naraku:
The evil hanyou watched all of this from a distance above on the edge of the cliff. He looked to his left and stared down towards the bottom of the cliff.
"I am truly sorry Kikyo...but it was obviously not meant to be my dear..." he said, only half meaning his words.
He stepped away from the edge and left through a portal of black to his chambers. He would wait there for a bit before attacking. He would send someone else to congratulate his enemies' victories...
With everyone else in the throne room:
Hekele started pacing frantically back and forth on the wooden floor, Sango was holding onto Miroku's robes for comfort, and Kachie had her arms wrapped around Koga's shoulders from behind. The three were in quite the state of worry.
"What is taking Inuyasha so long to re-appear?!" Kachie asked. Hekele continued to pace back and forth.
"...Maybe he chose Kikyo and...and she killed him..." she said fearfully. Sesshoumaru reached her side and ceased her pacing by wrapping an arm around her protectively, holding her close to him once again.
Sango made a slight whimper and Miroku held her closer, "I pray that isn't the case..."
"As we all do monk..." Koga said, touching one of Kachie's hands as a comfort offering. Kagura's already downcast face turned even grimmer as the seconds ticked by...as did Kanna's.
Suddenly, above Hekele and Sesshoumaru, appeared a light colored portal. Sesshoumaru instinctively pulled himself and Hekele out of the way seconds before Inuyasha and Kagome fell through the portal and landed painfully on the floor of Naraku's throne room.
"Damn it! Why can't falling to our death be less painful?!?" Inuyasha yelled angrily. The two were in a jumble and seemed to be unable to untangle themselves for a moment. Relived to see their friends and their slightly comical entrance, Hekele, Sango, and Kachie tore away from their loves and threw themselves on the pair on the floor, each squeezing them painfully.
"What the hell happened?"
"What took you so long?"
"Why did you wait so long to save her?"
"What were you thinking just jumping over like that?"
"Why were you smiling when he let go?!"
"Why didn't you climb back to the top?"
"Shut-up!!!" Inuyasha put a stop to the questioning girls and shoved them off of him and Kagome, who was shaking her head in a knowing way. Inuyasha used his claws to unbind Kagome's bruised wrists and quickly inspected them.
"Took ya long enough." Inuyasha and Kagome turned to see Kagura and Kanna standing next to Sesshoumaru and Koga. Kagura threw them a nearly empty glass container with blue liquid in it.
"It'll heal your wounds...even ask these guys, they already took it..." Inuyasha, who held the bottle, gave them a questioning look. Seeing them nod, he took a gulp and handed it to Kagome.
"Well, it smells safe...and they aren't dead yet..." he said, already feeling the effects of the potion. Kagome rolled her eyes and drank the last of the blue fluid. She felt her throat heal and was relieved when the bruises on her wrists seemed to fade. Her wounded abdomen was in less pain as well.
"Thank you Kagura..." she said to the wind witch, who was currently making her way to the girl.
"You are welcome, but I fear with this test finished that we must be leaving before Naraku realizes what we have done. You understand don't you?"
"Of course...we don't want anything to happen to you to before we can repay the favor..." Hekele said, once again at Sesshoumaru's side. Kagura gave her a grim smile and nodded.
She stood in front of Kagome and Inuyasha and extended her hand out to the miko-in-training. Giving her a genuine smile, one that reflected how little evil actually was buried deep inside her, Kagura spoke.
"I want to congratulate you on proving Naraku wrong...and for finally getting your man..." Kagome blushed at this and took her hand, shaking it nervously. Kagura smirked as Inuyasha growled in annoyance; obviously the potion had restored quite a bit of his strength if he felt like arguing...
"Since when have you been a good guy?" he asked sarcastically. Kagura grinned; maybe the idiot hanyou and his friends weren't so bad...
"Since we felt like it...good luck to you all." She walked towards the doorway towards her chambers, following Kanna.
"And you two as well..." Sango said kindly. Kagura paused at the door and looked at the group a final time.
"...I do not know what is keeping Naraku...but I know he is up to something...watch your backs...as we can no longer help you..." she said in a warning, yet slightly concerned tone. Everyone nodded as she disappeared through the door.
"So...Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha said. He felt like information was being withheld from him on why Kagura and Kanna were helping him, but he decided not to ask. Instead, he decided to break the ice by making the group feel uncomfortable. And since Koga had already showed his affection for Kachie and everyone had know that Miroku loved Sango, Hekele and Sesshoumaru were the perfect victims...
"Yes?" asked the demon lord cautiously, knowing that his half-brother was up to no good. He smelled of mischief.
"How could you two get so 'cuddly' in such a short period of time?" Inuyasha asked, referring to the way Sesshoumaru had his arm once again about Hekele's shoulders protectively. She had wrapped one of her arms around him in a sort of embrace, which didn't help Sesshoumaru come up with any retaliation.
So he just shrugged it off to annoy the hanyou, "And...your point being...what?" Inuyasha caught on and smirked at his older half brother.
Suddenly, a scythe flew out at them and it took half the reflexes the two men had to move them and their loves out of the way in time. The scythe, embedding itself in the wall between the four, was on a long metal chain, which led to the owner of the tool...Kohaku.
"KOHAKU!!!" Sango yelled, wanting to get to her younger brother and free him from Naraku's control. Miroku pulled Sango behind him and readied his staff as Kohaku yanked the scythe from the wall and aimed it at her. But then he froze, as if waiting for something. Suddenly, to the right of the group appeared in a heap, their missing weapons. Sango's boomerang, Kagome's bow and quiver of arrows, as well as Hekele's katana and sais were all littering the corner. As if on cue, Kohaku began his onslaught as the group of people made a mad dash for the weapons.
Naraku's messing with us... Sango thought angrily as she grabbed her boomerang and used it to deflect the scythe from the small group of girls.
He doesn't think that we can beat him even with our weapons... Hekele mused angrily as she readied her katana and tucked her sais in her belt loops.
Let's hope he's wrong... Kagome prayed as she notched an arrow in her bow. All this while the men had been attempting to deflect more of Kohaku's deadly blows without hurting him fatally, knowing that none of this was his fault. Looking into his eyes they could only see one thing peering back at them menacingly. Naraku.
Rewind a few minutes and return to the dimension from Kikyo's POV:
He had chosen Kagome. Inuyasha...that...that bastard!!! How could he abandon her like that?! And for what? A woman who would probably leave him? Smart choice idiot...
"And not that I am jealous for I hate him so, but the idiot will die of heart break...and even though he has never held my heart...I will be the one to break it for him..." she said as she closed her eyes as the bottomless pit began to grow even darker. Suddenly, her eyes burst open and glowed blood red and stared at the disappearing edge of the cliff.
And you Naraku? For abandoning me when I was told I would be saved if the hanyou miss chose? I hope they kill you. She thought spitefully as she sprouted black wings and as black markings appeared below her eyes. Her wings spread and carried her back to the top of the cliff effortlessly. A dark purple ball of energy appeared in her hand and opened a portal back to the real world.
You will never know I am there...and when they finish you off Naraku...they will see my true form and power!!!
Me- So...was that ok?
Sesshoumaru- It was great! The way you added the wind witch and Kanna in
there was ingenious...
Me- You've been talking to Kachie again haven't you?
Sesshoumaru- Well, you put me on a leash so I can't talk to anyone else...
Me- Hmmm, good point...ok then!
Sesshoumaru- Damn...I almost got the leash off...
Me- Not on your life lover boy...
Inuyasha- I thought it was awesome!!! I got Kagome!!!
Kagome- And your psycho ass ex-girlfriend is gonna kill us all!!!
Kachie- Wow...you've got faith...
Kagome- Yep...but not the good kind...
Daisuke- (poofs into fic) Hiya!
Dark- (in Daisuke's head) You moron...wrong fic!
Daisuke- Oops...sorry...(poofs out of fic)
Inuyasha- What the hell was that?
Me- That was the result of 18 episodes of DNAngel in a to
my good friend Kachie...
Inuyasha- (panics) You aren't gonna forget us and abandon us and write a fic
about them are you?!?!
Sesshoumaru- And you aren't gonna replace me with that red-headed shrimp are
you?
Me- Never!!! I am just on a current obsession with seeing that series since
Kachie has the whole thing on DVD...but Daisuke is kind of cute...
Sesshoumaru- What?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Inuyasha- Uh-oh...Sesshoumaru got replaced...
Me- Nonsense! Sesshoumaru is way better than him! He's handsome, sexy,
smart, bold, sweet, and is a total and complete biscuit! No...no...wait...he's
not a biscuit...he's a chocolate éclair!!! Yummy!!!
Kagome- Ummm...R&R if you want her to get her head out of boys are like
candy world...