Ch 5
After two days of walking the group reached the village at about midnight. Miroku was the first to enter Keade's hut when they arrived. Sango entered after him and made a place for Kagome, who was already asleep, to sleep on for the night. Miroku carried Kagome for most of the trip because every time Inuyasha would offer to carry her she'd refuse and say she was fine and could walk. Everyone knew that was a lie. So Miroku would carry her, but once she fell asleep he would hand her over to Inuyasha who would give her back each time she would begin to wake up.
The trip was long and tiring. The only time they stopped was when it was dark or when it was time to eat. The long walk made Sango wish she hadn't sent Kirra back to the village to inform Keade and Shippo they were on their way, But Inuyasha had insisted. He said Keade would need time to prepare the herbs and such for Kagome. Sango knew that was a lie though. He was just wasting time, avoiding the inevitable. Sango thought back to that day, the day when she asked Kagome was she going to leave. The answer was in her eyes, even though she said she wasn't sure yet, Sango knew she had made up her mind. Everyone did, including Inuyasha.
Inuyasha leaned back against the cold bark of his favorite tree and stared at the stars. The trip had been a long and tiring one, even for him. He yawned and let his thoughts wander back to the day Kagome had been injured. 'I should have been there…how could I have let that happen to her…' His ears twitched as they picked up the noise of someone walking towards him. His nose detected the scent of mud and without a second thought he jumped from the tree and landed gracefully on the ground. "Inuyasha…I've been waiting for you." Said Kikyo in a sweet voice. "Kikyo…I" Kikyo put a finger to his lips. "Shhh…don't talk, just listen." She removed her finger and took his hand in hers. "Inuyasha…I love you, and I know you love me. So don't you think it should be me who helps you fulfill your dream of owning the Shikon Jewel?" Inuyasha looked away as Kikyo continued. "She's not from our time Inuyasha. She doesn't belong here. Let her go. Let her go back to her time. I, your love, will help you collect the rest of the jewel." Inuyasha looked back Kikyo; he looked deep, deep into her eyes. He searched them for anything that would show she meant what she said when she said she loved him, but he found nothing. "Kikyo, I can't do that. I can't…" "You can't what? If you really loved me this wouldn't be a hard decision. You do love me, don't you Inuyasha?" "Yes, of course I love you but…" "But what? Let her go home Inuyasha. Let her go back to where she belongs. After all, the only reason she was here in the first place was because you needed her to do my job. But I'm back now love. So send her home." And with that she let go of his hand and disappeared into the shadows of the woods. Inuyasha stood there thinking about what Kikyo had said. Should he let her go? Or more importantly, could he let her go?
