Sorry it's taken such a long time to post this!! Gomen! Gomen!! I've been so busy with finals and Regents and state tests... well, anyway, this is the latest installment, I'm sorry if anyone is a bit OOC, especially Kikyo.... But, after the latest episode with Kikyo and the Dark Priestess, I can't be so sure that she's so very OOC anymore... Anyway, enjoy!
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Inuyasha looked up towards the narrow square of blue sky as he found himself sitting at the bottom of the well. Apparently, he had arrived in the feudal era. Putting his left hand up to his cheek where Kagome's fingers had brushed him with a kiss from her lips, he glanced to the envelope that was still in his right.
"You want to give this to Miroku and Sango so bad, do it yourself!" He shouted at Kagome, though the rational part of his mind knew she could not hear him. Inuyasha didn't take a second look at the envelope before throwing behind him, down into the well.
Kagome was sitting on the edge of the well, her face covered with tear trails again, as it seemed she had not cried herself out, when an item came whizzing through the air and struck her on the head. She winced, then saw the object had come from the well and that it was the envelope she had sent with Inuyasha. "...." She let it lie on the ground then shifted her position, sitting on the hard-packed dirt floor, resting her head and arms on the edge of the well, and fell asleep.
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha!" Called a man's voice. Miroku walked over towards the well, his movements a bit slow and awkward, faint half-circles under his eyes. "Inuyasha, we're back, Lady Kaede is too, she wants to see yo-... Wait, where's Kagome?"
Inuyasha's ears twitched, hearing his name being called. He turned around, seeing Miroku. He gave a snort as he turned back around, still sitting on the edge of the well. "She's in her own time era." He answered abruptly, before letting out a soft sigh, and continuing, "Kaede? Feh, what does that old hag want from me?" He questioned sullenly.
"The old hag just has something to ask you." Miroku sat down heavily on the opposite side of the well as Inuyasha, shuddering slightly as his sore body changed from its upright position. Inuyasha, with his back to Miroku, didn't notice. "Inuyasha... why is Kagome in her own era? Why didn't she come back with you? Did you two fight again?"
Inuyasha rose to his feet, slowly walking towards the village. "Feh, I prefer not to talk about it. Now let's see what that old hag wants." He said, not looking over his shoulder at Miroku, knowing the look on his face would give his slightly guilty conscience away.
"Kagome! Kagome! You're back!" Came a little voice, shouting as Miroku and Inuyasha neared the village. Shippo was running down the path, thinking that Kagome was coming back with Miroku and Inuyasha. He launched himself into the air, closing his eyes in glee and landed in Inuyasha's arms, stretched out in reflex. Shippp gave him a tight hug, then froze still, opening his eyes and took in the red hoari instead of white shirt in front of his eyes. He leapt away, blanching. "You're not Kagome!!! Where's Kagome?! She's supposed to be here!!!"
Inuyasha blinked as he felt Shippo tightly hug him. He growled softly at the little fox, restraining himself from beaning Shippo in the head, brushing imaginary germs and dirt off his red hoari. "Heh, Kagome is not coming back." He said, narrowing his eyes at Shippo. Though, he wished that his words weren't true, for he longed for Kagome to be with him again. He hoped the shards went through the well, and she would come back...
Shippo opened his eyes wide and his lower lip started to tremble. "K- kagome's not... not COMING BACK?!?!?" He started to sob little boy sobs, covering his eyes with his small hands, sitting down right in the middle of the path as tears streamed down his face.
Miroku sighed and bent down, picking up Shippo gently. "You didn't have to say it so abruptly Inuyasha... Now come on, Lady Kaede is waiting."
When they reached the hut, Miroku led Inuyasha inside, to where Lady Kaede was sitting on the floor with a cloth covering a heap lying on the floor next to her. Inuyasha slowly walked toward Kaede. He took a quick glance at the objects that were covered by the cloth. A look of confusion and curiosity filled his features as he adverted his gaze to Kaede.
He stopped in his tracks, standing a few inches away from her. "Well, what is it that you want to tell me? Miroku made it sound important. I'm listening." He stated dully, awaiting Kaede's response.Lady Kaede whisked the cloth away, revealing Kagome's pile of clothing, night shift, jacket, yellow backpack, and her bow and quiver lying on the floor next to her. "I wished to speak to ye of this. What is the meaning of this, Inuyasha? Why were Kagome's things left strewn in a cave and on the forest floor? Why isn't she here now?"
His eyes widened as he stared at Kagome's belongings, feeling his heart rate increase. He looked away before speaking. "I don't know..." He said stiffly. "She... wanted to work with Kikyo to collect the jewel shards." He added in, as if that could justify all his actions in the past few hours, as he shifted his gaze back to her.
Lady Kaede appeared unmoved. "Was there not a reason for her decision to work with Kikyo? Somehow I do not think it worked out well between my sister and Kagome, and that you know where she is now, Inuyasha. Tell me."
Sango was roused from her nap by the slight conversation, looking worse for the wear, bandaged all over. She got up blearily and took Shippo from Miroku, drying his eyes and stroking his head gently, avoiding the bandaged area on his head, murmuring soothing words to him. Miroku shifted his left arm and it was revealed to be bandaged underneath his midnight blue robes. Obviously something had happened while they were gone, and Kohaku had not been recovered.
"Kagome... She is in her own time era." He replied to Kaede's last comment, avoiding the first one. He looked at Sango, then to Miroku, as well as Shippo, noticing the bandages before shifting his gaze back to Kaede. "What happened to them?" He asked, his voice carrying a bit of worry.
"They were in a scuffle with Naraku's poison insects." Lady Kaede replied, laying Kagome's clothing and other possesions away. "Will Kagome be coming back anytime soon?"
Hearing Kaede's question, he turned his back to her, crossing his arms. "I don't know and I could care less." He said bitterly, trying to hide that he did care, the only reason he turned his back to her because he was trying to hide the emotion that showed through his eyes.
Lady Kaede shook her head. She knew what had gone on, she could see it through the turmoil in his eyes. Some situation had gone on between Kikyo and Kagome, and when a truce failed to be formed, Kagome forced Kikyo to leave before taking the Jewel Shards. Inuyasha, upset, must have said something to upset Kagome, causing her to leave to her own time. That's what always seemed to happen.
Kagome woke up to see the night sky outside of the temple, the waning gibus moon casting a weak light over the ground. Putting her hand out beside her, she felt the envelope on the floor and picked it up, recalling what had happened that afternoon. "I guess I should go give this letter to them, and say good-bye..." Kagome climbed into the well and reappeared in the feudal era, looking up at the stars when she got out of the well. A hand clamped over her mouth, preventing her from screaming, and an arm held her arms to her sides, dragging her away into the forest.
A breeze swept through the open window, and his ears perked, as his keen sense of smell caught the scent of Kagome. "Kagome's back?" He said out loud to himself.
"Inuyasha! Come quick!" Shouted Miroku. When Inuyasha came to the doorway, he pointed to the floating lights over in the Forest of Inuyasha, easily seen in the darkness of the night. "Soul catchers, Kikyo is back."
His ears laid flat on his head, hearing what Miroku just told him. "What?!" He said, as if he couldn't believe what he just heard. Though, it was true. On the breeze, he could smell Kikyo's scent. His eyes widened, smelling Kikyo and Kagome's scent mixed together, surely, this wasn't a good sign."Kagome's back?!" Shippo shouted. He struggled out of Sango's grasp and leapt down to the ground, sprinting down the path towards the glowing lights.
"No! Shippo, come back!" Sango shouted, yet the little fox demon continued determinedly running towards Kagome. "He won't stop until he finds her... she's like the mother he never had... the only family he has left, even if she is only his surrogate mother..." She stopped for a second, remembering her only family, then shook her head. "Miroku, go after him, I'll be right there."
The monk nodded, and started to run off, then stopped, and turned around, saying with concern on his face, "Sango, you should stay here, you were hurt the worst."
"No, Kagome is in trouble if Kikyo's back. She could have died last time, I can't stay here. Kirara, take Miroku to Shippo quickly, then take them both to where Kagome and Kikyo are. Make sure to stay out of sight."
Kirara growled affectionately, rubbing her head against Sango's outstretched palm, then transformed into her larger form, kneeling for Miroku to get on, then ran after Shippo towards the Forest of Inuyasha.
Sango was already in her demon slayer clothes, and went inside the hut to grab her Hiraikotsu, stopping to listen to Lady Kaede wish her well. Before she went to follow after Kirara, she stopped at the doorway to speak to Inuyasha. "Well? Are you coming? Even if you feel more for Kikyo and not Kagome, you still should come, just in case Naraku or one of his minions show up."
She set off after saying this, running at a slower pace than she usually did due to her wounds, yet still disappearing from sight rather quickly as she reached the dark forest.
"Inuyasha, if ye do choose to follow, take Kagome this. It may prove useful to her, should anything happen." Lady Kaede held out Kagome's bow and quiver.
He turned to Kaede, looking down at Kagome's bow and quiver. With a moment's hesitation, he grabbed the items and ran in the direction that Miroku and the others went off to find Kagome. He stopped first in front of Sango once he reached her within the tree line, kneeling on the ground, his back to her, as if he was asking her to get on.
"Feh, you'll be dead before you even reach Kagome in your condition." He said gruffly, an undertone in his voice showing concern and worry for his friend.
Sango paused for a moment before clambering up onto his back awkwardly. She placed one hand on his shoulder to keep her balance and used the other to hold her Hiraikotsu on her shoulder. After getting settled, she nodded to Inuyasha, letting him know he could go.
He gave a quick nod in response to Sango as he took off, growing desperate to find Kagome. He knew that searching for her on ground wouldn't help as much. He jumped into the air, leaping from tree to tree in search of her.
His heart raced as he spotted a faint glow in the distance. "Hold on Sango." He warned his friend, as he picked up the pace, leaping a bit faster towards the glow.
Kagome found herself bound by the waist, wrists and ankles, spread-eagled to the Sacred Tree with a glowing blue cord, a gag tied around her mouth. She hung there helplessly, watching Kikyo pace around the moonlit clearing impatiently, as if waiting for someone.
Kikyo turned and saw that Kagome had woken up. "You've awoken. You won't be visible to Inuyasha or any other of your would be rescuers." Kikyo waved a hand and caused Kagome to be rendered invisible to all others who would come. She settled herself down on a rock as she waited, her soul catchers occasionally bringing her some souls to strengthen her clay body.
Kagome struggled at her bonds, then sighed inwardly when she saw her efforts were futile and drooped downward, then winced and making a muffled cry as the cord cut into her wrists.
Miroku sat with Kirara and Shippo in the brush, having arrived in time to see Kikyo render Kagome invisible. Shippo gasped then growled menacingly when he saw Kagome disappear and heard her muffled cry. "Let's go rescue her, Kikyo is hurting Kagome!"
"No, we have to wait for Sango, and Inuyasha if he comes. We don't stand a chance on our own, especially if Kikyo uses her Sacred Arrows against us."Inuyasha jumped down from the trees, landing softly upon the ground. There, he spotted Miroku and Shippo hiding in the bush. Slowly, he set Sango down gently. He made his way towards the Miroku, looking past the bush at Kikyo. "Where's Kagome, Miroku?" He asked the monk, glancing around.
"Kikyo has Kagome tied up to the Sacred Tree, and has cast a spell over her so that none of us can see her. Listen, you should go in and confront Kikyo; figure out what it is she wants. The rest of us will try to get Kagome free." Suggested Miroku, already starting to get up.
Inuyasha looked over to Miroku, listening carefully. He gave a nod in response as he stepped out of the bushes, making his way towards Kikyo. Inuyasha stopped in his tracks a couple of feet away from her. He searched for words to say to her. "Where's Kagome?!" He asked, raising the volume of his voice.
"It doesn't matter. This isn't about her. This is about us." Kikyo walked over to Inuyasha, stepping close until there wasn't a foot length's of space left between them. She placed her hands on his shoulders, looking up into his eyes. "Don't you love me anymore, Inuyasha?" She asked, dropping her head, letting his chin rest on top.
Kagome flinched at the sight of Kikyo so close to Inuyasha. It reminded her all too much of the time she had kissed him, and the more recent time Inuyasha hugged her at the Sacred Tree. "Just because I've allowed destiny to make me give Inuyasha up... Doesn't mean I can stand watching him be claimed by someone else..." She thought, closing her eyes and looking away. She struggled against her bonds again, trying to break the spell with her own powers, but found she couldn't, Kikyo being much more adept than she was.
"Kagome?" Whispered a voice, a hand touching hers. Kagome opened her eyes and turned as much as she could in the direction of the voice, seeing Miroku's face. "Let me try and free you." Miroku started to take out his staff, ready to cast a spell of his own.
Inuyasha tensed slightly, feeling Kikyo's closeness. He could feel slight warmth rubbing off of her, but mostly, all he felt was coldness. She wasn't as warm as she used to be. Maybe it was because she was alive back then.
He just stood there stupidly, not making an effort to wrap his arms around her. Inuyasha felt less and less relaxed as moments passed. He remembered that night, when he was full human and Kagome was tightly in his arms. He longed for Kagome's warm touch once more, not this cold, clammy being in front of him.
Kikyo opened her eyes sharply and stepped quickly away from Inuyasha, narrowing them. "... If that's how you want to be, then I shall have to force your hand."
Miroku chanted softly beneath his breath, then tried to remove one of Kagome's bonds but was burnt for his trouble, causing him to curse in pain.
Kikyo looked quickly over to see Miroku near Kagome and sent out her soul catchers, binding Miroku, Kirara, Shippo and Sango with them to a few trees as well. "This does not concern you." She stated coldly.
Whipping out a dagger from the sash of her hoari, she walked towards the Sacred Tree and stood on a raised root, so that she stood at Kagome's level. "Choose Inuyasha." She pressed the dagger against Kagome's throat, and removed the spell so that Inuyasha could see. "If you choose me, she will die, and if you choose her, I shall kill myself and act on bringing you to hell with me now. Tell me, to whom is it you owe your life, me, who could have killed you with my Sacred Arrow 50 years ago? Or my reincarnation, who had 'saved' you by recklessly plunging Jewel Shards into her arm just a few days past, and caused you more nuisance than help in the past? Tell me, Inuyasha, who do you choose?"
Kagome couldn't speak around the gag, and didn't dare meet Inuyasha's gaze, looking instead at the night sky, thinking, "This is the last time I'll ever see the beautiful stars... or my family and friends... Good-bye mom, grandpa and Sota, good-bye all my girlfriends and Hojo... good-bye all those I will miss in my own Era.. good-bye Lady Kaede and village folk... good-bye Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, Koga... and good-bye Inuyasha..."
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I hope you liked it even with the semi-evil cliffie! Please review! And as a note, I shall be gone until the middle of July, so sometime after that will be the next installment!