Inuyasha
"I'm going back to get her," Inuyasha said suddenly, startling Miroku out of his meditative trance.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" He asked his hanyou friend.
"Whadda ya mean by that?"
"I mean that if the jewel separated you two, maybe there's a reason. Maybe this whole thing is over, and life will go on."
"But-"
"And why do you want to bring her back anyway? You two are always at it. Besides, you said before you wanted to keep her safe. She's safer there than anywhere, and you know it."
Inuyasha didn't feel like giving an answer, so instead, he got up and made in the direction of the well, clutching the jewel that hung around his neck tightly in one hand.
Why do I want to bring her back? It's not like I like her or anything.
He reached the well and his eyes widened in shock. The well was filled to the brim with water. No. It couldn't be. He rubbed his eyes, almost believing that this was a dream, but the water remained. Well, it might still be passable... He took a deep breath and plunged into the water, clutching the jewel. He pushed himself towards the bottom, almost believing that it would work. His feet touched the bottom without any effect. Eyes burning, he pushed back up to the surface.
"Why the hell did he do that?" Sango asked Miroku as they watched from the forest.
"Isn't it obvious?" Miroku replied, "He doesn't want to admit it, but he's hopelessly in love with Kagome. He thinks that by doing that, it might work."
"Hmph," Sango said, then narrowed her eyes at Miroku.
"OW! What did you do that for?" Miroku yelled, rubbing the red spot on his face where Sango's hand had, once again, come in contact with his face.
"Why don't you keep your hands to yourself?" She glared at him.
"Just admit it," he smirked, "you like me too."
"I do not!" She exclaimed, turning away to hide her red cheeks, "Oh look, he's come back up."
Sango pointed to the well, where a very wet and breathless Inuyasha had just appeared.
"Any luck?" She asked him.
The only reply was a low growl as Inuyasha vaulted out of the well and disappeared into the forest.
"I'm assuming that meant no," Miroku said. "Do you think we should follow him?"
"No," Sango replied, "I think he just needs a little time to himself. After all, if he is in love with Kagome, and he just found out that he might never see her again, he's probably pretty depressed."
"You're right, as usual," Miroku said sullenly, "but I'm really worried about him. Ever since Kagome's been gone, he hasn't been eating, he doesn't want to do anything, he just isn't himself."
"You, worried about someone? That's a laugh."
"Seriously, Sango. If he doesn't snap out of this soon, some demon will come to get the jewel and he'll be a goner because he doesn't feel like fighting."
"Yeah... I just hope Kagome's alright with this as well."
Kagome, where are you? And why the hell do I care so much? Inuyasha sat in the tree where Kagome had found him for the first time. He stared into the forest, almost believing that if he waited long enough, he'd see Kagome come out of the trees, riding that contraption that she called a bicycle. He felt wetness on his cheek and raised a hand. Tears? I haven't cried since I was a small child. It must just be from the wind, or something. There was no wind. It was a weak excuse, but it worked for him. He clenched his fists and suddenly gave a cry of pain. He hadn't felt pain in his hands before. Not since - since Kagome had vanished.
He looked at his palm and was surprised to see that it was covered in burns. The marks had a strange look to them, an almost organized look, but he couldn't find the pattern, no matter how hard he tried.
"They're just burns," he said spitefully. "Why would they have to have a pattern?"
But a little voice in the back of his head whispered, Kagome would know.
"Shut up!" He screamed at himself, "I Don't Love Kagome!"
******
INTERVAL
From somewhere that I do not know how to locate:
Sesshoumaru: I bet you ten bucks that Destiny Goddess finds a way to make them kiss before the end of this.
Naraku: You're on!
END INTERVAL
******
Suddenly, a scream pierced through the forest. Inuyasha sat bolt upright and turned toward the village. A plume of smoke drifted up from it, and the scent of human blood was heavy in the air.
"Damnit." Inuyasha stood up and began running over the treetops towards the village. "There must be a demon there who is looking for the jewel."
He reached the village a little while later, but there was no sign of any demon. Bodies lay in between the huts, blood pooled beneath them. There were no signs of life anywhere.
"Miroku! Sango! Shippo!" He called, but no one answered. Suddenly, he heard a small whining noise. He walked cautiously toward the sound. As he entered the hut where they had all slept, he saw Kirara huddled in one corner. One of her eyes was half closed and one hind leg stuck out at an odd angle. He walked over to her and reached a hand out. The demon snapped at it and growled, trying to jump to her feet. She fell over, and the anger and fear subsided.
"Kirara," Inuyasha spoke softly, so as not to scare her again, "Kirara, where are Miroku and Sango?"
Kirara attempted to struggle to her feet again. Inuyasha put out his hands tentatively, but when she made no move to attack him, he picked her up gently and carried her outside.
"Where are they?"
The only answer was a wistful look towards the distant mountains, just barely visible above the horizon. Inuyasha drooped. It would take weeks, maybe months to get there, and then even longer to find Miroku, Sango and Shippo. They could be dead already.
"We have to go," he said aloud, looking at Kirara, "But first, let's see what we can do to make you feel better."
Several days passed, and Inuyasha and Kirara sat in solitude in the tiny, deserted village. Eventually, Kirara got her strength back and was able to stand by herself and even transform into her larger form.
One day, Inuyasha woke up to see Kirara standing at the door. She had dragged all of Inuyasha's belongings to the entrance and was looking forlornly at the mountains.
"So you wanna go now, do you?" He asked, already knowing the answer. "Alright then, but we hafta walk. I don't think you're strong enough to fly yet."
He spent several hours paying respects to the dead villagers. He went to the tree where Kagome had found him and cut a strip of its bark off.
"I might never see this place again," was what he told Kirara, but in his mind were the words, I just can't let go of Kagome.
He finally returned to the hut and, satisfied that he had everything, prepared to leave. As he reached the door, however, he paused and looked over his shoulder. He saw Kagome's bow and quiver of arrows in the corner. Several moments passed, stretched over eternity, before he walked back and picked up the weapons. He opened his mouth to explain to the demon that waited for him outside the door, but Kirara fixed him with a look that said, I know what you're feeling. My best friend is gone too.
And with that, they turned their backs on the village where Inuyasha had lived almost all of his life, and where Kirara had spent almost the past year of hers. Inuyasha looked back briefly, brushing away tears (It's just the wind) before moving on towards a hope of finding Miroku, Sango and Shippo.