Chapter 1
Wow! It never stops awing me...the very size of the old tree! Kagome thought, staring up at the large tree in front of her. Looking closely, she could see a small indent, one an arrowhead would make. Instantly her heart leapt. That was were Inuyasha was pinned fifty years ago... Kagome began to climb up on the large roots of the tree until she reached the hole. Sighing, Kagome rolled her finger across the indent, deep in thought.
"Hey! Kagome!" Kagome screamed and fell off the tree, landing flat on her back. That was the least of her problems––––in her tumble, her ridiculously short school skirt had flipped up. Inuyasha froze, staring. Kagome felt her face get red from anger and she jumped to her feet. Birds fluttered anxiously from the trees at the sound of the loud slap that echoed through the forest.
"OW!" Inuyasha hollered, clutching his red and throbbing cheek. "Damn you girl! What the hell was that for!"
"What do you mean by that!" Kagome yelled back, her hands clutching the edges of her skirt down as if she thought it was going to blow up at any moment. "You just saw...uh, you know!"
"So what? I saw your friggin panties! Big deal!" Inuyasha slumped down onto the ground cross-legged. "Not like it was much of a sight anyway," he muttered under his breath.
Kagome's face lit up again, this time from embarrassment. Her hands shook and she struggled to think of some kind of comeback, but nothing came to mind. Instead, she whirled around, her arms crossed across her chest. Walking stiffly, she made her way out of the forest.
"Hey! Where do you think your going?" Inuyasha called behind her.
Without looking over her shoulder, Kagome replied coldly, "Why do you care?" She abruptly stopped and turned around to face Inuyasha. "Maybe I'll...I'll go see Koga!"
Comprehension slowly dawned on the half demon's face. "Koga?" Kagome observed with satisfaction that his face had paled.
"Yea," she continued, her voice taunting. Then, almost dreamily, "Koga...ah! He's so kind. He really cares about me, ya know. In fact, I'm sure he wouldn't sink as low as to flip my skirt!"
"Do you think I did that on purpose?"
"Of course! Why else? Where you somehow working with Miroku? I knew he would do something like that, but you...!"
"Hold it right there!" Inuyasha grabbed her shoulders and gave them a firm shake. "First off, I wouldn't have anything to do with that perverted priest! Who do you think I am, anyway!"
Kagome turned her head away, remaining silent, her face turning brighter all the while.
Snorting in disgust, Inuyasha let go of her and crossed his arms. "Kagome..." he voice softened, "I was only trying to find you so I could tell you something."
Kagome glared over at him, obviously not believing his story.
Sighing in exasperation, Inuyasha quietly said, "Kagome, I'm sorry."
"Really?"
"Uh...yea."
"Aaah...that's so sweet!" Kagome stepped over to him and pinched his cheek. "Lil Inuyasha is gettin' soft!"
Inuyasha angrily swatted her hand away. "Ha! You think I'm getting soft?"
"As a marshmallow," Kagome teased, giggling.
"Uh...a marsh-what?" Inuyasha asked, a puzzled look plastered on his face.
"Oh never mind," Kagome answered in an exasperated voice.
"Hey you two lovebirds!" The abrupt sound of a very loud voice caused the two to jump. Shippou appeared, smiling smugly. "Scared ya, didn't I?"
"Bah! Hardly!" Inuyasha snorted.
"Don't do that Shippou!" Kagome cried, her hand clutching her heart. "You scared the living daylights out of us." Inuyasha shot her an aggravated glance. Kagome stuck her tongue out at him. "Both of us."
"There you guys are!" A familiar voice called from behind them. Turning, the three saw it was Sango, smiling merrily at them. "I've been looking everywhere for you guys!"
"Where's the party," Inuyasha muttered, rolling his eyes. ""Well, since everyone else is here...has anyone seen the perv––––I mean Miroku?"
Sango shrugged. "I saw him sneak off into the woods after he saw you and Kagome––––" Kagome's gasp cut her off. "What is it Kagome?"
Kagome's face was bright red. "That must mean...he saw when Inuyasha scared me and I fell and...and...and my skirt flipped!"
Sango stared at her for a moment before clenching her teeth and balling her fists at her sides. "That damn pervert...I swear, he'll pay for that Kagome!" It startled Kagome see Sango like this. Her eyes were swirling with different emotions, such as hatred, revenge, and even jealousy! Kagome wondered why in the world Sango was jealous.
"Well speak of the devil," Shippou said, his tail twitching excitedly. "Here comes the priest now!" The others turned and saw someone coming up the old dirty path towards them. They knew immediately from his dark purple and black robes that it was him.
"Good day everyone," Miroku greeted cheerfully, his staff rattling.
"Why are you in such a good mood?" Sango asked, wearing a pitifully fake smile.
"Ah...I had the most wonderful morning!" WHACK! "OW! What was that for!"
Sango rubbed her fist and replied, "That was for spying on poor Kagome!" Miroku smiled shakily as he tenderly touched the large lump on his head. "What's that smile for pervert!" Sango ran after Miroku as he zipped toward the forest. Exchanging a glance and shoulder shrug, Shippou, Inuyasha, and Kagome hurried on after them.
Kikyo silently watched the group quarrel and talk high above in the safety of the tree tops. Come on now...go back into the forest, she silently urged, knocking the soul-sucking arrow in her bow. As if hearing her, the group went off into the forest, heading straight for Inuyasha's tree. Kikyo laughed quietly. You stupid fools! That was much too easy; you're just waltzing straight into my trap!
She waited until she couldn't hear anymore of the groups' voices before jumping down to the ground. Keeping silent and the bow and arrow ready, she make her way after them.
Finally out of breath, the group stopped. Even Sango was too tired to beat up Miroku too badly. Kagome sighed and looked around her. Hey! I'm right back where I started... She noticed Inuyasha was sitting silently on the roots of the large tree of which he was pinned to fifty years earlier. She walked over jumped up on the roots beside him.
"Hey Inuyasha. Look here; you can see mark in the tree." Inuyasha slowly stood to his feet and gazed at the mark she was talking about.
"It must be from Kikyo's arrow."
"Oh." Kagome realized she had said too much by the look of sadness in Inuyasha's eyes. "I'm sorry Inuyasha," she said softly. "I didn''t mean to hurt you."
"Who's hurt?" Inuyasha demanded, his golden eyes aflame.
"Oh please Inuyasha," Kagome said sarcastically. Then, solemnly again, "It was all my fault Naraku and Kikyo got the jewel shards." Suddenly Inuyasha grabbed her hands in his own.
"No Kagome, it wasn't your fault. You shouldn't blame yourself for something like that." Kagome gazed up in surprise into Inuyasha''s surprisingly calm eyes. They remained staring at each other peacefully (and lovingly?), only the gently breeze stirring their clothes.
"Oh, get a room!" Miroku muttered under his breath.
"Inuyasha!" Inuyasha and the others whirled around to where the voice was coming from. Kikyo was standing at the edge of the small clearing, her bow up, an arrow knocked in it. Kikyo released the arrow, letting it fly straight at Inuyasha, a bright white light flaring up around it, adding extra power to it. Inuyasha stood frozen, unable to move. He could almost see the flames around him and the blood coming from Kikyo's shoulder. Was it really that horrible day, fifty years in the past, coming back to life?
The speeding arrow was coming straight towards his heart. Just as it was about to hit its mark, Inuyasha felt firm hands push against him, sending him tumbling to the ground. The dull thunk of the arrow hitting the tree echoed through the otherwise silent forest. Everyone stared up at the tree, and the place where Inuyasha had once stood...and gasped.
Kagome let out a shuddered breath and struggled to take another. The arrow was sticking out of her chest, keeping her pinned to the tree, right in the spot where Inuyasha had been fifty years before. Inuyasha immediately jumped back up on the roots and firmly lay his hand on the arrow's shaft.
"This may hurt a bit," he told her softly, then yanked with all his might. The arrow didn't budge. Turning around angrily, he stared coldly at Kikyo. "What the hell did you do to Kagome?" He demanded.
"Dammit," Kikyo muttered under her breath before raising her head to glare levelly back at Inuyasha. "Don't even try to remove that arrow. Naraku gave it to me. Even I cannot remove it."
"You're working with Naraku?" Sango cried out in disbelief.
Kikyo ignored the comment and continued. "You may as well tell her good bye, for she's as good as dead."
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked, his voice low and shaking from furry.
Kikyo smiled at his obvious pain. "That arrow is no ordinary one. It was especially make for you, Inuyasha, but that annoying little brat interfered. That arrow...will suck out the soul of who ever it hits." Everyone froze.
Suck out the soul...! Inuyasha whirled back around to Kagome and his eyes widened at the look of agony on her pale face. "Kagome!" Kagome's mouth opened, but closed again without a sound. "Kagome! Hold on!" Inuyasha cried frantically. Kagome's dry mouth kept moving and he realized she was saying something. Leaning closer, her could barely comprehend what she was saying.
"I...Inuyasha..."
"I'm here Kagome," he said, grasping her hands with his own.
"I-Inuyasha..." With that, Kagome's eyes drooped shut, and her body when limp and cold.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried out, shaking her cold hand futilely. "Kagome, no! Don't leave me Kagome!" Despite his efforts and crying, Kagome remained limp and slowly began to get colder.
Inuyasha lowered his head and let go of Kagome's hands. Startled, he realized he felt something hot and wet dripping down his face. Reaching his hand up, he felt it. A tear. Looking back up at the form hanging limp against the tree, Inuyasha felt something he had never felt before. A horrible aching in his chest, as if someone had ripped his heart right out.
