A Little Problem
Inuyasha is not mine. All rights and copyrights are held by the respective copyright holders. All feedback is greatly appreciated.
Chapter 15: Size Control
Inuyasha leaped in between Kagura and Kikyou, slashing both as well as he could and running deep into the woods. He wasn't going to battle in there. Kagura let one of her feathers loose and flew into the sky with Kikyou joining her.
"Inuyasha, what do we do now?" Kagome asked, trying not to seem as panicked as she really was.
Inuyasha was trying to think. He couldn't do this alone but who could help him now? Who would? The only one Inuyasha could think of was Kouga, and the thought disgusted him. Besides, he also didn't even know where Kouga was at the moment.
"Shit, we don't have a lot of options." Said Inuyasha.
Kagura swooped down from the sky and she and Kikyou landed in front of Inuyasha. "Dammit!" cursed Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, just give me Kagome. I'll let your other friends go." Kikyou told him.
"Not a chance." Inuyasha protested.
"You can't win, Inuyasha." Kagura said.
Kikyou stepped forward. Inuyasha hesitated. "Just… tell me why…" Inuyasha managed to let out.
"I need you to be strong." Kikyou said.
"You're insane!" Kagome shouted.
Kikyou stood next to Inuyasha. "I'm sorry." Kikyou said as she moved to grab Kagome.
"Don't you touch her!" Inuyasha shouted as he shoved Kikyou away. Kikyou was on the ground and quickly rose to her feet. She quickly pulled out her bow and arrows, Inuyasha responded in kind by drawing his sword.
"Fuujin no Mai!" Kagura shouted as she unleashed her wind blades. Inuyasha prepared to defend himself against the wind blades and looked on in shock as they hit Kikyou.
"Kagura!" Kikyou shouted in anger.
"KAZE NO KIZU!" Inuyasha unleashed a powerful blast against Kikyou while she was distracted. Kikyou tried to shoot an arrow to dissipate Inuyasha's attack. "Fuujin no Mai!" Kagura shouted as she unleashed another set of blades against Kikyou. Inuyasha let out another Kaze no Kizu against Kikyou. The barrage was too much for her.
"Dammit! This was a pretty hollow victory." Inuyasha said.
"Ain't you glad? Now your friends will be okay." Said Kagura.
Kikyou's body soon began to disintegrate. Instead of slowly returning to dirt and bones, a small piece of paper appeared.
"Wait, this wasn't the real Kikyou either?" asked Kagome.
"You should be returning to normal soon." Kagura said as she reached for her feather. She soon departed. Inuyasha placed Kagome on the ground and watched as she quickly returned to normal size.
"But Kikyou is still out there. Why is this spell wearing off?" Kagome wondered aloud as she was returning to normal size. Inuyasha seemed just as confused as she was but he wanted to return to Miroku and the others as quickly as possible.
Arriving back at Kaede's home, the two discovered that Kikyou's barrier was gone. "You guys okay?" Inuyasha asked as he walked into the hut.
"Never mind us! How's Kagome!" Shippou shouted.
"I'm okay everyone." Said Kagome as she walked into the hut.
"It seems that you are back to normal. That is very good news." Said Miroku.
"Kikyou is still out there. We only destroyed a fake." Inuyasha explained to his friends. "We just can't figure out why she did this."
"Perhaps this was just a test. To make sure you could strike her or anyone else you love down should the need ever arise during our battle." Miroku theorized.
"That's crazy." Said Sango.
"I should get back home and show everyone that I'm okay… See you later." Said Kagome as she left Kaede's hut.
"Inuyasha, aren't you going after her?" asked Sango.
"She'll be okay… I just need some time to think about what Miroku said." Responded Inuyasha
"Inuyasha, this isn't like you. You never like to do things like think and you always hurt Kagome's feelings." Said Shippou who promptly received a whack to the head afterwards.
Back in her own era, Kagome climbed out of the well. "Mom, Grandpa, Souta…" Kagome called out as she entered her house.
"Ah, it's been awhile, Kagome. Good to see you again." Her mother answered.
"Awhile? Aren't you gonna say anything about me being back to normal?" asked Kagome.
"What does that mean?" Her mother asked.
"Huh? When I was shrunk." Answered Kagome.
"You were shrunk?"
Kagome was confused by her mother's attitude. Quickly reaching for a phone, she called her friend Eri. "Kagome, it's been a while. I heard you were really sick. You sound much better. I'm glad you're okay." Said Eri.
It was at that moment that Kagome realized what had occurred. Kikyou's spell has caused everyone else to forget what happened. Kagome wondered just how powerful Kikyou really was. Kagome found it pretty unsettling to think of what Kikyou could do to her if she really tried. "Ah, I just wanted to ask if I could borrow your notes."
"Sure." Answered Eri.
"Thanks. I'll get them later. Bye." Said Kagome as she hung up the phone.
Kagome was pretty scared at that moment. "Kagome, what's the matter?" Her mother asked.
"I'm scared… What Kikyou can do to me…" admitted Kagome.
Her mother moved to embrace her. "It's okay. It'll be okay."
"But… she could… even across time…" whimpered Kagome.
"All you have to do is believe in yourself and practice. You have wonderful friends who would do anything to protect you." Her mother reassuringly said.
Her mother's words were very reassuring. Kagome realized that she couldn't get depressed at a time like this. She would have to work hard. "Don't you have a big test tomorrow?" Her mother asked.
Kagome would have to work hard a little later. "Thanks for everything, Mom. If this whole experience has taught me anything, it's that I have some great friends who will help me no matter what." Said Kagome as she walked to her room to study.
The End
