Note: eh heh...don't own Inuyasha and co....
Betrayal and Gone Forevermore
Kagome landed softly at the bottom of the well. She took a sniff at the fresh air of the Sengoku Jidai. It smelt so much better than her time. Kagome took a flying leap out, shouldering her bag more comfortably. She took a glance around. Where was Inuyasha? He was usually here when she came back from her time. She took another whiff of air and scanned for his aura. No Inuyasha. But there was someone else...
"No..."
She smelt Shippou heading this way, alone. She sensed another aura clashing with his, one laced with the corrupted power of the Shikon. Then, she scented something that she hoped she never did again: Shippou's blood. Kagome broke into a full powered sprint towards him. A pain filled cry filled the air.
"Okaa-san!!!!"
Crimson bled into Kagome's eyes. Letting her instincts take over, Kagome crashed into the field to see a great ugly bear youkai rearing on his hind paw over Shippou. The Shikon glinted in his right paw, which was aimed towards Shippou.
"A kitsune pup? Out here all alone? Mmm...."
The bear youkai licked his lips and was about to slash down when he was sent crashing into the trees. Looking up, he saw a seemingly ningen woman standing in his path to the kitsune pup. Her arms were still bent in the path when she had backhanded him.
'How could this woman have so much power? She looked human!'
The bear was blinded by the power of the shard, that he didn't notice when Kagome's eyes bled red and the power flowing off her body. Pink and blue tendrils whipped around her, making her hair fly around her. Regardless, he leaped forward and swiped at her with his jewel-powered paw.
Shippou screamed. He didn't need to be a jewel detector to realize that the bear had a shard. He stared in horror and awe at the battle before him, momentarily forgetting his injured arm. He could practically see the power streaming from Kagome. The tangy scent of purification power was swirling around her. Even with her power, Shippou was afraid. During all their battles, Kagome always needed to be protected. She never held a sword, or any other weapons beside a bow, and when it was broken, she would be defenseless.
Before his eyes, he watched the bear start to take a massive swing with his paw.
"Kagome!!"
Shippou was desperately afraid. Kagome couldn't possible survive this hit. Inuyasha wasn't around to help either. He was with the dead bitch, Kikyo. He was always going to Kikyo. Every night for the past 2 weeks, Shippou watched him and he went to her. He seriously doubted Kagome knew. He went right to Kikyo after Kagome went back to her time. He didn't even go to get Kagome when she came back from her time. Now, she was in trouble.
In slow motion, he watched the claws descend. Before he could blink, the claws were locked against a blue-metal katana. He didn't notice Kagome wearing it before. Kagome stood katana in hand and pushing back the offending attack with no effort at all.
"Don't you DARE touch my kit again! Now, face your consequence!"
Kagome snarled in rage and sent her purification energy into the katana. The katana was enveloped in a pinkish light. Starting from the hilt, the energy traveled down the length of the metal, and rushed along the paw of the bear. The bear's eyes widened with shock and pain. Before he could utter a sound, the light purified him until he was reduced to ash. The shard was shining with a merry pink, floating midair in front of Kagome. With a twitch of Kagome's finger, it joined with the rest of the shards. It was the last Shikon shard!
Shippou was overcome as the display of power. He never knew that Kagome could handle a katana, or purify a youkai without her arrows, or have enough strength to parry a jewel-enhanced youkai. Wasn't she human? When Kagome turned and knelt in front of him, he finally took note of her appearance. He saw a vision, a layer of magic over Kagome, which made her look like a human, with rounded ears and human eyes. If he weren't a kitsune, he wouldn't have noticed her appearance. But underneath that layer of magic, he saw something else.
"Kagome? Why do you look like a youkai?"
Kagome's eyes widened briefly.
"You can see through the illusion?"
Shippou nodded while he explained about being a kitsune.
"Kitsunes can see through illusions easily. But how do you know how to cast an illusion?"
Kagome looked confused for a sec, than it dawned on her.
"Oh, it must be this." Kagome held up the jewel she had received from her mother. "It hides my appearance and weapons so others won't notice." She gestured to her weapons underneath the vision. "But I'm not fully youkai yet. This jewel holds the rest of my youkai blood."
Shippou just looked at her confused. Kagome sighed.
"I'll tell you in a sec. Let me heal your wounds."
She brought her hands up to his wound. A light blue light surrounded the slash on his arm. In front of Shippou's astonished eyes, he watched the wound start to close up. He felt the sharp pain dwindle away. Closing his eyes, he marveled in the soft caress of her healing powers. When he opened them, there was nothing there. No scar, no evidence of a wound.
Shippou looked up at Kagome questioning. Since he already knew that she was a youkai, he deserved the whole story. Kagome told him about the past 3 days, about her birthday, about her abilities she discovered at school. She told him about the nights practicing with Kirara, the nights practicing with Keade. Everything. Shippou was dumbfounded.
"Why didn't you tell us? You could have defended yourself from Naraku and the other attacks. We were so worried!"
"Well, I can't do that. Think about it. If Naraku knew, he'd try to kill me as soon as possible. Acting all defenseless is better. It gives us the element of surprise. So when you see them, don't tell them about it. Don't tell Sango, or Miroku, or Inuyasha. Don't say anything about this. Understood?"
Shippou nodded in consent. Kagome smiled and helped Shippou up to his feet. Soon, they arrived at Kaede's hut. Stepping inside, she saw Sango and Miroku at the fireside. Kaede was stirring the stew. Kagome narrowed her eyes as she placed her large bulging pack on the floor.
"Hi Sango, Miroku, Kaede. Umm...where is Inuyasha?"
Sango and Miroku looked at each other uncertainly. Shippou scuffed his foot against the floor. Kaede remained silent, still stirring the stew. Sango broke the uncomfortable silence.
"Umm, Kagome? Well, the thing is...."
Miroku broke in.
"The thing is... we don't know. When you left, he merely stood up and took off. He didn't say anything. We haven't seen him since then. I'm sorry Kagome..."
Kagome stared at him in silence. Her mind was whirling. She had a hunch where he had run off. But she wasn't positive. If he was where she thought he was, she would finally know his intentions.
"I'm going to look for him."
Shippou piped up.
"I'm coming with you."
Kagome glanced at him. He stood defiantly, as if daring her to say no. She nodded in consent and strolled out of the hut. Shippou scampered after her. In her mind, Kagome was in denial. Inuyasha wouldn't leave her...would he? Did he really love Kikyo that much? Even when she tried to kill her and drag him to hell? He couldn't...no way...There was only one way to find out. She hoped that he wouldn't. She hoped that he didn't really leave those past 2 weeks to see Kikyo at night. But her common sense told her it was true. No matter how much she denied it, she knew. Kagome battled with her common sense, stubbornly denying it. She would go and see now, she would see if it was the truth.
Kagome sensed around for his aura. At last, she found it, but it wasn't where she would have liked it to be. She sensed her stolen soul near his aura. It could only mean one thing. Inuyasha was with Kikyo. Kagome tried to deny it. But her common sense was winning. It was now or never. She would see with her own to eyes.
Shippou walked uncertainly. He could see it in her eyes that she knew. She knew about Inuyasha and Kikyo. But he could see she was trying to deny it. It was as if she would only believe it when she saw it. Kagome abruptly changed directions. Shippou was confused. How did she know where to go? Oh yea...she had youkai abilities. Right... But Shippou wasn't so happy about the situation. He puffed his chest out. Whatever happed to Kagome, he would be there for her. Whatever Inuyasha was doing...he would pay for it.
Kagome walked closer and closer to the two auras. She could hear the voices drift on the wind. She stepped behind a tree to listen. If she had human hearing, she would have only heard catches of it, but with her youkai hearing...she heard all crystal clear.
"Kikyo....My Kikyo..."
"Inuyasha...."
"Mmm?"
Kagome could hear him purring, a deep rumbling sound tumbling from his chest. Kikyo tried to make her voice husky and desirable. Kagome looked upon the scene. Inuyasha had pinned Kikyo to the Goshinboku tree. He was kissing her ears, and trailing down her neck. Kagome trembled in disgust and agony. This couldn't be happening. After all these years...He still chose Kikyo. Kagome closed her eyes. She could feel the pain, the agony of his decision. It was an unwise decision. Kikyo would eventually betray him. But she wouldn't be here for him. Not anymore. She listened acutely when she heard Kikyo speak.
"Inuyasha...what about my reincarnate?"
"Reincarnate? Kagome...yes...that's who she is...your copy...I don't care..."
"You don't?"
"No...she's...you...I can't get you out of my mind...she's only a copy...she's your copy...that's all...don't worry koi...you're mine. She's nothing more...nothing"
Kagome couldn't take it. Nothing...she's your copy...she's nothing more...nothing... In silence, Kagome strode away, still undetected. Shippou threw a disgusted look at Inuyasha, before scampering after Kagome's figure. Inuyasha would have a lot to make up for.
Miroku and Sango turned towards to door to see Kagome stride in. The look on her face told them everything. The blank look in her eyes spoke of betrayal and defeat. They did not like the look in her eyes. It didn't fit the usually life filled and happy Kagome.
Kagome moved stiffly. Her actions pained, her awareness of the living world dull. Nothing...she's your copy...she's nothing more...nothing... She rummaged through her bag for her bathing materials and her CD player. She wanted to drown out this world, to escape far away from the pain, the betrayal that Inuyasha brought. With blinding speed, she stepped out of the hut and towards the hot spring.
Sango and Miroku shot Shippou a glance and demanded to know what happened. Shippou snarled angrily.
"Inuyasha has chosen."
Referring to the look on Kagome's face, Sango and Miroku knew whom he had chosen. And it wasn't Kagome. They shook their heads sadly. Who could choose a dead clay bitch over a living human? Inuyasha could... Apparently Sango and Miroku had, once again, misjudged Inuyasha's stupidity. He was truly the baka no baka, the idiot of all idiots. The trio walked out, hoping to consolidate Kagome and perhaps beat the crap out of Inuyasha later.
Kagome slid into the soothing waters of the hot spring. But she didn't feel it. Normally, it would have helped calm her tense muscles, but today, all she could feel was the numbness. Nothing...she's your copy...she's nothing more...nothing... His voice echoed in her mind. Did she really mean nothing to him? After all these years, just nothing but a copy? She slid on her waterproof CD earphones on and proceeded to drown out the world. Coming upon her favorite song, she started to sing. In her mind, she found how true her feelings were relayed in the song. The feeling of being unable to leave and forget...
"I'm so tired of being here"
She did...she wanted to disappear...to get rid of the pain...
"Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone"
She sang...the sound echoing through the trees, magnifying in sound. Pain and betrayal laced the ghostly voice, and echoed, growing in magnitude. Life stopped, it stopped to listen. It was silent. The forest was silent, as if echoing her sorrow.
"These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time can not erase"
Miroku and Sango raised their heads at the uncanny song. Kagome.... They stood to listen. The hot spring was some ways off, but the forest was silent and Kagome's voice managed to reach them. Life was silent. All there was...was the sound of sorrow. Kagome's supernatural and piercing voice, her sorrow, her fears and tears, and Inuyasha's betrayal.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me"
Shippou shivered. Kagome's voice was so empty, deprived of everything but still so full of sadness. It lacked the warmth of her soul. It was like ice. He hoped to never hear it again. He listened closely what the words were. They sounded so similar, so much like her life. Shippou bristled. He was going to make sure that nothing ever hurt Kagome like that again. Inuyasha was going to pay.
"You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me"
Nothing...she's your copy...she's nothing more...nothing... Hadn't she proved him wrong? Hadn't she? Nothing...she's your copy...she's nothing more...nothing...
Tears coursed down Kagome's cheeks, unnoticed.
"These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time can not erase"
After all these years... she was still nothing... nothing... her mind couldn't move, it wouldn't function. It was lost in the memories with Inuyasha... the time when she thought she was getting to him, when she thought he actually cared... it was all a lie... he still saw Kikyo when he looked at her... he still saw her as Kikyo's copy... nothing more than a copy...
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me"
She tried forgetting about him... but it was worthless... she couldn't... she couldn't forget him... forget her love for him... but she could give it up... she could give up her love for him...it was too long since she tried denying the fact that Inuyasha had feeling for Kikyo... but she let the fact wash over her...let the fact give her a reason for giving up her love for Inuyasha...
"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along"
Her voice rose, reaching the climax. The eerie wail floated through the forest. Still, nothing stirred. Sorrow heavily laced the forest, blanketing the buzzing of life. Sango, Miroku and Shippou bowed their heads. They knew Kagome was voicing her last feelings for Inuyasha. She was letting out her feelings with this song. Inuyasha had lost his chance with her... She had given up on him.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me"
The forest stirred ever so slightly... the song was done... Kagome was done...she was done with Inuyasha...he could live his life in peace with Kikyo...she didn't want to have anything to do with his love again...she wouldn't and couldn't...not until he realized his mistake with Kikyo... not until he realized the extent of his words, his actions...she couldn't forgive him...she couldn't forgive him...not even when he apologized...he would learn to live with his mistake...he would have to...even if he did realize his mistakes, it would take a long time for her to trust him again...
Kagome climbed out of the hot spring. She threw on a new pair of garments that she hoped that she didn't have to wear, but now she did. The outfit screamed blacks...the black of mourning and sorrow, the black of ice, the void of life. It spoke all her feelings, her grief, everything mixed together to show spite, mainly directed towards Inuyasha.
It clung to her body, hugging her chest and waist. With black leather pants that flared at the ankles, black leather body suit that brought out her curves, it seemed much like a Sango's taijiya outfit, but pitch black. Leather wristbands protected her wrists, while fingerless leather gloves adorned her hands. Spikes festooned her knuckles.
She wore black metal armor with spikes pointed out of her shoulders and around her back. A large black cloak billowed behind her, made of materials much like Inuyasha's firerat haori. She wore leather boots, and armored shin guards. Kagome let her hair flow free, accenting her feline eyes and face. It painted the picture of death, a predatory depiction.
Kagome sensed around the area. Beyond her betrayed feelings, Kagome could feel the ominous aura of Naraku. He was coming. The Final Battle was arriving, with the retrieval of the last shard. It was time.
Kagome sped towards the village. In front of Sango and Miroku's astonished eyes, she appeared. Miroku's eyes bugged out at her appearance, but with respect to her recent betrayal, he kept his hands to himself. Inuyasha appeared with Kikyo in his arms. When his gaze landed on Kagome, he froze. Kagome stared at him with blank eyes, mask on and icy, showing none of her emotions. The stare sent shivers down Inuyasha's back. He felt as if Kagome could see through his very soul, and it chilled him. Her hate filled voice filled him. Inuyasha... you are... and always will be... a self-serving arrogant bastard... Inuyasha started. Her mouth spoke nothing, yet he was sure that was what she said to him. Ignoring Inuyasha's stare, Kagome spoke.
"We must go. Naraku is coming. All the jewel shards have been retrieved, and it is time."
Kagome's grave tone shook the group. It was devoid of feeling, only the hatred for Naraku. After instructing Kirara, Kagome took off to meet Naraku. Kirara only moments behind, Sango, Miroku and Shippou straddled on her back. Inuyasha looked shaken as he picked up Kikyo.
Something was going to happen this battle. Inuyasha wasn't sure... but it shook of grave intentions...
Oh....next chappie will be interesting...I just hope I can write good fight scenes...
OK!! let's go now...REVIEW!!