Eek, I really need to stop putting off my writing. I always know what to write and stuff, but, I'm always too lazy to do anything. Sorry!

Disclaimers: I do not own Unspoken or Lacuna Coil. Nor do I own Inuyasha…. Or DO I…? o.O

Chapter 11: Realization

Kasumi's eyes fluttered open. Puzzled, she looked around the strange, alien lair she rested in. It looked like she was still in the Feudal Era. But that wasn't possible. She was dead… how come she was still there… Unless she was a ghost…

"Surprised?" came a voice out in the distance.

As Kasumi sat up, the owner of the voice approached her. It was Kikyo!

"Well, a little," Kasumi replied tiredly. Her voice seemed to be a little raspy.

"Do you know where you are?" Kikyo asked as she brought Kasumi some clothes.

Kasumi took the clothes gratefully and began to put them on as she responded, "No, not really. This can't possibly be Feudal Japan."

Kikyo smirked and explained, "And you're not. This, is considered the Underworld. Or maybe to you, 'Hell'."

"I don't believe in Heaven nor Hell. But yeah… this kinda sucks…" Kasumi said and looked down, gnawing at her bottom lip.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Alright, Tatsune. Now, keep your elbows straight, and aim for your target," Hakkaku could be heard saying.

He was standing behind Tatsune. They were both grasping onto a bow. Him and Ginta were teaching Tatsune how to use a bow and arrow.

It had been two weeks since Kasumi's death, and it was time for everyone to try and resume normal lifestyles. Of course, it was difficult, but they had to manage.

Tatsune had been living with Koga since his mother died. He had to stay with a guardian, and Koga had to be the one, even if it meant staying in the Feudal Era. He didn't mind though. And Koga was happy to take his son in. Not for this particular reason, but glad nonetheless.

Tatsune aimed at a tree with one eye squinting. His tail flicked around as Hakkaku released his grasp. Tatsune let go of the string and let the arrow fly. It missed the tree and was going in Ginta's direction. Ginta quickly jumped down to the ground with his hands on his head.

"Whoa!" he cried as he sat up, glancing at the arrow that was pinned to a tree behind him.

Tatsune's eyes went wide. "Are you okay, Ginta?! I'm sorry!"

Ginta laughed uneasily in response and said, "It's okay. Not bad for a first try."

Tatsune felt depression kick in again. He'd get these little spells a lot. He sat down and rested his hand on his chin , staring blankly at nothing. Ginta and Hakkaku didn't know what to do when he went through these spells, so they just waited patiently for him to finish.

"Man, being a demon is hard," Tatsune said; more to himself than the other wolf demons. "It was easier to just be a teenage boy…"

Hakkaku and Ginta sat next to Tatsune and listened to him.

"Yeah, teenagers had problems. But the parents were always there to shield them. I know Mom had problems, but she would always help me out…

"I remember the first time I came home, all beat up. She would set me on her lap, and tell me funny stories of her being little, and told me she was glad I didn't fight back, because then it would be the other boy on his momma's lap, crying. I thought he would've deserved it, but thinking back, he probably would've felt just as bad as I did… But, it doesn't matter now… that's all in the past… I don't have my 'mommy' to help me through times like these… to shelter me. There are scary demons out there, and I won't always have my parents to help me…

"But I can still feel her warm arms embracing me… I'll never forget that touch… even now…"

(( And it doesn't matter how you feel now. Anything at all. Seems to be your only way, so vicious. Heavenly apart ))

Kikyo sat conversing with Kasumi about her death and how to accept it. Kasumi didn't need this speech. She's the one who did it, so she could accept it easier.

"But Kasumi," Kikyo began, "you can still go back…"

This caught Kasumi's attention. "What? How?"

"I can send you back. But, it's not that simple…"

"Well yeah, everything has a catch. But what's this catch?"

"The catch is, you won't remember anyone or anything, when you return."

"If I do go back, will I be someone else?"

"No, you won't. You will be yourself again. I wouldn't prefer you to go back, though."

"Why not?"

"Everyone has accepted your death. There's no point in you going back," Kikyo replied coldly.

Kasumi was angered by this, "But you don't understand. There are so many things I needed to finish!"

(( When your envy's on a piece of paper, let me sweetly smile. You're devouring all the crumbs, I'm leaving. Caught up in your lies. You're on the other side ))

"Same with many other deceased beings here!" Kikyo snapped. "That gives you no excuse for you to go back…"

Kasumi looked down. Maybe she really was being selfish. But she still wanted to go back…

"But," Kikyo said, "there is some unfinished business needed. You're the only one who can stop him…"

This caught Kasumi's attention. She listened more.

Kikyo explained, "You remember your associate, Kevyn? He's running a muck in your time and you need to fix it."

Of course, this wasn't a very good reason, but Inuyasha and the others were being torn apart. Aside from the fact that Kikyo really didn't want to spend all of eternity babysitting Kasumi…

And Kasumi felt the same way. She thought for a moment and asked, "Well, is there any way I could get my memory back?"

Kikyo leaned into Kasumi and was whispering the explanation. This, was going to take some time, and effort.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Koga stood at the mouth of his den, watching Ginta and Hakkaku teach Tatsune some archery skills. He smiled gently until he saw Tatsune crumble down onto the ground. He knew what he was thinking about… or who rather… Sighing, Koga went back inside.

He sat down in his nest, sulking. A few wolves slinked by to comfort him, but to no avail.

(( Clawing up my eyes. I'm feeling your arms around me, on the other side. It's time to go, I'm hearing your voice without words. On the other side ))

A few of the wolves' tails began to flicker. This reminded Koga of his first date with Kasumi. She would stare blankly at his tail for a good amount of time. Finally, she grabbed a hold of it and yanked it hard. As Koga yelped out in pain, Kasumi could be heard saying, "Wow! It's attached! Awesome!"

Koga would then snap at her, saying it's not cool to pull on people's tails… but Kasumi would only give off an innocent smile.

"I mean… thank you… for uh, noticing…" Koga replied quietly.

Snapping out of his memories, Koga began to cry silently. He bit his lip to keep the tears from falling, but, it didn't work…

(( But it doesn't matter how I feel now, anything at all. Since I've left you with the wrong impression while I'm still the same ))

Inuyasha and Kagome both went to visit Kasumi's grave. They had flowers with them. Kagome knelt down in front of the buried Kasumi and laid the flowers gently on the loose soil.

"Heh…" Inuyasha chuckled to himself. "Do you remember when Kasumi first met me?"

Kagome giggled softly and nodded. "Yes, Inuyasha. I remember clearly. Little demon went crazy… started throwing things at you… and yelling… She reminded me so much of you."

Inuyasha looked down guiltily. When Kagome was away from him, Kasumi would remind Kagome of Inuyasha. And now, when Kasumi died, Kagome is reminded of her by being with him. It must've been horrible. Especially with her horrible sickness…

"By the way, Kagome," Inuyasha began, "how's it going with your leukemia problem?"

Kagome's heart skipped a beat. She turned to him and said, "It's going alright… I guess… I haven't been feeling anything, really. But… I still got a lot of time…"

(( When I turn around and look at my life, shadows in disguise. But I'm working on an interruption, of hypocrisy. You're on the other side. ))

Inuyasha knelt down beside Kagome as she began to sob. He brought her into a tight embrace, rubbing her back from time to time. Everything was coming at Kagome at once. First her daughter's death, and then her realization of her own death with a sickness called "cancer."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Kasumi's eyebrows arched as she exclaimed, "Really?! That's it?!"

Kikyo sighed; irritated. "Kasumi, it's not as easy as it sounds. Even with Naraku gone, there are going to be demons looking for the shards. You must be careful."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. But seriously, that's it?!"

"Yes, Kasumi. That's… it…"

Kasumi pumped a triumphant fist into the air. "Yes! So, when can I get out of here."

"Be patient… I still need to gather up enough strength to send you back…" Kikyo replied in monotone.

Kasumi sat back down. As Kikyo glanced up at her, a smile crept in the corner of her mouth. She looked just like an innocent puppy, whining for a treat. Kasumi tilted her head in confusion.

"What're you looking at?" she asked.

Kikyo chuckled. "Oh nothing. Now, what do we want to do while we're waiting?"

Kasumi shrugged. She didn't care what to do beforehand. She just wanted to get out of this place. Kikyo bugged her…

(( Clawing up my eyes. I'm feeling your arms around me, on the other side. It's time to go. I'm hearing your voice without words, on the other side ))

Miroku glanced at his right hand. He sighed sadly as his eyes slammed shut. It was his fault Kasumi was dead… he knew it… But Sango would have none of that.

"Miroku, quit sulking over your hand. The curse is done with. You have nothing more to worry about," Sango said sternly.

"It's not that, Sango." Miroku replied sadly. "It's the fact that I believe it's my own fault Kasumi lost her life. If my Wind Tunnel hadn't acted up, she'd still be here with--"

"Miroku! Stop it!" Sango silenced him. Calming down, Sango said quietly, "Don't blame yourself… just know that she wanted to save you, Miroku. It's not your fault. It was her own choice…"

Soon enough tears escaped Sango's eyes. "We're all going to miss her… we already do… but don't get hung over by the fact that it's your fault…"

Akira was listening from outside their hut. She sighed and looked down. Everyone was miserable over Kasumi. Akira hadn't known her for that long, so she couldn't say she truly missed her… but what was tearing her up, was the fact that her one true love, Tatsune, and her parents, were being emotionally torn apart.

Akira growled deep in her throat. "Kasumi… it's all your fault. Why did you have to die?! If it wasn't for you, my parents would be happier. My love, Tatsune, wouldn't push me away… and my life wouldn't be miserable!"

(( Any other side… ))

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yeah… chapter end. Not exciting, but, at least I got another chapter up… right? cough Anywack! Yeah… see if you can try and guess what Kikyo is planning to do with Kasumi. And yes, Kagome has cancer… sad isn't it? Argh, and Akira is in love with Tatsune. But, he hates girls, so, sucks for her. Tatsune loves me! Well… not ME, but, my vampire-ness side… ma-bob… o.O See, my vampire Hikaru chick is the only girl Tatsune likes.