The Shikon No Tama : Kagome's Confession

Kagome stood up grabbing her head. Growling at the pain that surged through her, she sighed as she felt a warm sensation to her chest. She looked down and saw the Shikon No Tama shining gracefully before pulling away from the neckace and off into the distance. She ran after it, before it went into the hands of someone she knew all to well.

"Kikyou?" She asked. Kikyou studied the young girl before smiling warmly. She looked sad yet disturbed, something that tore into Kagome like a dagger.

"You have become part of InuYasha. You are his mate, yet you are not." She said, and smiled at Kagome's blush. She immediately turned serious, her eyes looked troubled and full of hope. She opened her mouth but snapped it shut, then opened it again.

"The jewel senses the destruction of the world. It must not be used to purify the soul." She said simply. Kagome gasped and put her hands on her chest.

"But, Kikyou! That's the only was we can save Hisaki and Itachiko." Kikyou shook her head.

"You can not save them. Hisaki's part of the soul if far too tainted. Instead, you must use the purifying powers in ours. Kagome, you must look deep within yourself." Kagome looked at Kikyou with confusion. Was she trying to kill her? Surely Kikyou had been upset when she found out about her and InuYasha, yet she still helps them? Kagome sighed as she cradled her head in her hands. She didn't understand it, and her head was beginning to ring again. Kikyou smiled warmly before walking up to Kagome and pressing her hand on her heart.

"You must look here for the power within you. Only with that will you be able to put Hisaki and Itachiko to rest." Kagome shook her head. Itachiko couldn't die. It seemed that she would have to pay for her sister's greed, which was totally unfair, but they were still missing something. She could feel it in her bones, they were missing something vitally important. She sighed and looked at Kikyou.

"How do you suggest I do this? I mean, I can't really control my powers yet, and I'm not even human anymore." She looked at her hands. She frowned at the claws. They were still covered and wreaked of the bear youkai's blood. She absolutely hated the smell, and wished she never had to endure it again.

"Kagome, you may not know how to control your powers yet, but you will soon. I was a great priestess, and as my reincarnate, you must promise me you will grow to surpass my power even further than you already do." Kagome nodded as Kikyou began to fade. She reached for her, but her hands went straight through her. Kikyou smiled sadly before she finally disappeared, the jewel falling to the ground. Kagome went to pick it up, but it glowed black and crackled whenever she reached for it. It seemed even more tainted, and she couldn't possibly think of a way to purify it. She sighed as she took the courage she had and picked it up. She put it back on her necklace before she regained conscioness and woke up in InuYasha's arms in Goshinboku.

She blinked a couple of times before staring into amber eyes. He smiled at her and looked off at the sunset, apparently thinking.

"I saw Kikyou." She said quietly, though she knew he heard her. He looked at her with hope, but at the same time with disbelief. "We can't use the jewel to purify Hisaki. Her soul's too tainted. She said I have to use the purifying energies in my soul, but I don't understand what she meant." She pressed her hand to her chest, surprised the feel the orb, the Shikon No Tama that caused them so much pain. He looked at her sad eyes and whined.

"Don't worry. We'll figure something out Kagome." He said softly. She looked up at him and smiled. The warm sunset shined his face, making him look stunning. He had a little smirk on his face, and she giggled a little bit. His ears twitched at the sound, but he made no movement. She sighed and wagged her tail aggressively, raking her claws on the branch that they were perched on. InuYasha was deep in thought as doubt clouded his mind. Kikyou, were you trying to hurt Kagome? Can we trust you know even though your dead again? Kikyou...He looked down at Kagome, who was having fun testing her abilities. She seemed so immature at times, but she always made him calm, at ease, and that's what he loved about her. She looked up at him and smiled before she frowned her face.

"What's that smell?" She asked. She sniffed the air with InuYasha and frowned when he blanched a little. "What? It smells, musky. Where's Miroku and Sango?" InuYasha shook his head. How long would it take her to put two and two together. She suddenly gasped and turned green.

"Ewwww…" She mumbled, wincing a little. InuYasha laughed heartily as he held her tighter to him.

"Did she say anything else?" InuYasha asked after a moment of silence. Kagome shook her head.

"We're missing something important InuYasha. I just know it."

I know Kagome, I know. It's bugging me too.

They sat in silence for a little bit longer, watching the greenery in the forest they were residing in. Kagome sniffed her claws and grimaced. InuYasha looked at her and felt sorry for her. He hoped she doesn't have to go through what he did, how he's constantly afraid that he won't be able to calm his demon blood. Suddenly something rang in his mind.

Tonight's the New Moon! She thought gasping. She looked up at InuYasha, who merely nodded his head in understanding. It was almost sundown, she didn't have a lot of time left. Would she still look the same? Like the old Kagome? What would happen? Her mind was full of questions.

"Are you alright Kagome?" InuYasha asked, sensing her panic. She nodded and smiled.

"What's exactly going to happen? I mean, would I look like I used to? Will anything different happen to me?" InuYasha smiled.

"Yes, you would look like you used to, which would make the New Moon a perfect time to travel home.Nothing different would happen, you'll just turn human. But with our bad luck, a demon most likely will strike when we don't have our powers anymore." He sighed. "Sometimes I just want to know why everything happens to me." Kagome rested her head on his chest.

"InuYasha, the more hardships you go through, the stronger you'll become. Trust me, it's all worth it in the end." She purred slightly, trying to make him feel a little better. "The fact that you stay true to your word, and the great person that you are," She sighed. "Just be patient. It'll all be worth it in the end. You're a great person InuYasha, and let no one tell you otherwise, whether full demon, human, or a hanyou." InuYasha looked at her head.

"Really?You-you mean that?" Kagome nodded.

"Of course baka. Why would I lie to my friends?" Great. She considers me a friend now. Nothing more than a friend. She deserves better, and no way she would want a useless half-breed. I was completely stupid to think that….

InuYasha abruptly stood up and hopped off the branch of the tree. Slamming his sleeves into his haori, he began to walk off.

"InuYasha!" He heard Kagome calling. "Where are you going?"

"For a walk." He snapped rudely. He heard her gasp as he walked off. She looked at his back as he slowly disappeared from her sight. She didn't know what just happened. She hadn't said anything that might offend him, they were just fine a couple of minutes ago. What went wrong? Then it hit her. She called him a friend. Maybe that's what offended him. He didn't want to be her friend. She knew it, he despised her from the very beginning. Tears welled up in her eyes and she sat down and hugged her knees to her chest. Her tail swayed sadly and nonenergetic, her ears pressed to her head. Her claws dug gashes in her legs that healed almost as soon as the damage was inflicted.

InuYasha whirled around as he saw Kagome sitting back down. The smell of salt slapped him in the face, reminding him of how much of a jerk he must've been. Kagome sat there staring into space like time would never pass. He soon smelt blood, and he swore as he realized she was digging her claws in her skin. He felt sorry for her, it's just that, he…He couldn't say it. But what she said hurt, it stung. He walked back to her and kneeled in front of her.

"Kagome?" He said, moving the bangs covering her eyes. She said nothing, just continuing to stare out of space. "Kago-"

"I just remembered, I have to go home." She snapped. She stood to her feet and zipped away from InuYasha before he could say anything else. He smelt tears before he heard the familiar sound of her being sent 500 years into the future. He sighed and hopped from branch to branch back to Kaede's hut. He moved the bamboo mat and sat down in his familiar corner. Shippou sniffed around and walked over to him.

"Where's Kagome?" He asked. InuYasha snorted and scowled.

"She went back home." Shippou saw past the act. It was his fault, and he felt total remorse for it. Shippou sighed as he sat down next to InuYasha.

"What happened? Kagome can't go home like she usually does, so you had to do something." Sango saw pain flicker over InuYasha's face then disappear in a flash.

"I didn't do anything. Just because she wants to go home doesn't mean it's my-"InuYasha sniffed the air. Something couldn't be right. His nose had to be tricking him. He looked at Sango who stared at him with expectancy and confusion. It couldn't be…He said as he rushed out of the hut and to the Well. He growled when he saw Kouga standing by the well, talking to Kagome.

"I came back to get my bag. So if I can just get it and be on my way-" She tried to brush past him, but he stepped in her way. She growled as she became irritated, and her eyes widened in shock as his scent perked up a bit.

"I love to see you so rowdy Kagome." He said in a low growl. She wrinkled her nose in disgust as she put her hands on her hips. InuYasha wondered why she didn't smell him yet, or she was just ignoring it. But either way it worked better. He was going to kill wolf boy for crossing his territory and talking to lecherous to his Kagome. He blushed at the thought. He growled as Kouga stepped closer to her.

"Kagome, forget the mutt. Come and live with me, be my mate forever." She shook her head.

"Kouga, I have no other way to tell you. I'm sorry, your handsome and very cunning, but I'm not interested."

"You love the mutt." He said sadly. Kagome blushed and sniffed the air. She knew he was there, she just didn't say anything. She sighed.

"I'm sorry Kouga." She said, brushing off his question-like statement. "But we can still be friends." He nodded and sighed. She rushed up and hugged him tightly, surprising him a little but. She kissed him on his cheek, making him blush. She thought it was a bad idea, but the guy was head over heels in love with her. It was the least she could do for breaking his heart. He smiled and bowed as he zipped off. Kagome sighed.

"I know your there baka. Stop snooping on me." She said. She knew he heard her from the growl that answered the question. A very angry hanyou stepped out, and crossed his arms.

"What was that?" He asked. She shrugged.

"I told him off. Shouldn't you be happy or something?" She asked, her hands still on her hips. He said nothing, just glared at her.

"You kissed him, you kissed thatyour in my territory, under my protection, because you're my ma-" He stopped his self short as they both blushed.

"Whatever. Unless you want to be alive I suggest you come on." Kagome nodded silently and followed him. Her tail swayed left and right slowly, before she finally asked him what was bothering her.

"InuYasha, about this whole territory thing, why did it make you so mad?" He blanched a little but kept walking. He couldn't tell her. But she had to know, she was hanyou know. He took a deep breath as he began talking.

"Listen close because I'm only saying this once. It's my territory, meaning everything that's in it or has my scent belongs to me, wehereas my pack. But, I put a scent on you, telling other demons to steer clear."

"Why?" InuYasha blushed as he kept walking.

"It's an insult to pass through another's territory so boldly. That's why I get so angry." He said, totally ignoring her previous question. She didn't understand it still, and for hurting her feelings earlier, she was going to make him mad, then sit him like never before.

"InuYasha, what can you exactly tell me about mating?" She asked innocently. He gulped and talked with a squeaky voice.

"Well, once you mate with a youkai, that's it. It's for life. You have to mark her and claim her. But you can call dibs on her before you actually mate her." Kagome listened closely.

"Is that what Kouga did, he wanted to wait till I was ready? And I just broke his heart?" Kagome sounded hurt. InuYasha whirled around, jealousy evident on his face.

"What would you care? You don't even like him!" Kagome frowned.

"I never said that. I said I wasn't in love with him. But he was pretty cute." She wagged her tail excitedly as InuYasha turned around and walked faster. She could sense the hurt coming from him, and instantly felt remorse.

"InuYasha, I was only kidding." She reached to put a hand on his shoulder when the smell of tears hit her. She pulled her hand back to her chest as she realized it was coming from InuYasha. She couldn't believe it. He was crying, he thought she was serious. He thought she really liked him. She whimpered a little bit and watched as his ears flattened at the sounds she was making.

"InuYasha, please, listen to me." He didn't stop, and she whirled around in front of him. She placed her hands on his shoulders as he covered his face with his silver bangs, protecting himself from her glare. She felt absolutely horrible, and she could feel him trembling against his will, probably hating himself for showing so much weakness. "I didn't mean it. I don't like Kouga! Please, just look at me." He looked up and the sight she saw was absolutely horrible. His eyes weren't very red, but red enough to tell he was crying. His eyes were dull and unfocused, and his face had a blank stare like he was a doll. She gasped and hugged him tight, grabbing his haori so tight her knuckled turned white. He looked down at her, not moving, just looking.

"InuYasha, please, what do I have to do to prove it to you! I care for you! Only you! Don't you understand? It was you from the beginning!" At once all his senses came back to him at the weeping form holding him tightly. Did he just hear her right? He had to be going stupid, Kagome couldn't want a useless half-breed like him. She deserves so much better. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him. He put his nose in her hair, taking a deep breath as their scents mingled and mixed.

"Kagome, did you mean that?" He said, pulling her hair up and wiping her tears away with his thumb. She nodded and smiled. He grinned back as he hugged her again, never wanting to let go.

"InuYasha, you were-"

"I don't want to talk about it." He said quickly. She nodded in understanding as he liefted her up and began to run with her back to the hut. Sango watched as InuYasha walked in holding Kagome. Shippou was sleep, but his nose twitched as they walked in. InuYasha set Kagome down and took his regular place in the corner silently. Kagome sniffed the air and looked at Sango.

"I can't wait!" She said softly. "I'm so excited, I can't wait to have my own." InuYasha averted his gaze to the floor as everyone cut their eyes to look at him. Kagome missed this though and placed her hand on Sango's stomach while Miroku placed his arm over Sango's shoulder smiling proudly. Kagome smiled as the baby kicked, sending her excitement to a new level. InuYasha said nothing, just sat pondering.

She's liked me all this time, and never said anything, and I treated her like crap. He pressed his ears to his head. I don't know what to think, I mean, me and Kagome? It's all to good to be true. Something's not right, no matter how much I wanted it to be. He sighed as Kagome pressed her ears so Sango's belly, saying she heard a heartbeat. Miroku smiled and nodded as Sango clapped her hands.


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Sesshomaru grinned as he watched the sunset. He was thinking about Kagura, who deserved to be free from Naraku. She didn't deserve a life like that, and Sesshomaru was the one to offer her a perfect life. Once she was free, he was to ask her to become his mate, that they live together. He was nervous, as well as anxious. He wanted to know what her answer was going to be. He decided to wait, so that she could be comfortable and ready when he came for her.


8:88:888:88:8


Kagura sighed as she floated in her feather. Sesshomaru popped into her head over and over, his cold expression, his smile, and the one, and probably only time she heard him laugh. It was charming, but she could tell he hasn't done it in a long time. She almost felt sorry for the youkai she'd come to love. He was constantly hiding his true self, for fear of defeat, but Kagura knew never to interfere with a inu-youkai's honor. That was almost important to him as his life, and she respected that. What she would give to be his wife, to be by his side forever. That would bring her true happiness until there was no more left in the world, and she doubted that would ever happen.