Chapter 2

Open Eyes

Chapter 2!! Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I hope everyone's holiday was good and that New Years is just as great!!

Myst

Dark-Demon-Girl: I'm glad I caught your attention! Here is more for you.

Sisana: The thought of Kagome becoming a hanyou never crossed my mind, but I will not have that happen. You're right; Inu-Yasha likes her for being her, just as she is. Your fics are really good, I couldn't stop reading! Lol, and you review mine, so the least I can do is read yours right? Here is chapter 2, hope you enjoy!

Inuyashaluver8844: That is the first time I've ever gotten an A, thanks! The next chapter is now up, so let me know what you think!

Awyr: Who says she's coming back? I guess you'll just have to see if I'm kind or not. As far as Inu-Yasha goes… you see more of his "dealings" in this chapter. Thanks for the review!

readingfreak742: Thanks for reading! Here is an update for you.

On with the story!

Wind blew through a newly abandoned hut. The trees around the small structure creaked as a dark figure walked through the tree trunks. A strong youki spread quickly as he continued to walk toward the hut. A grin flittered across his features as he ducked into the door.

The youkai walked calmly through the hut until his ruby eyes fell on the bloody body of a woman. "My lady…" He mouthed the words, but no sound escaped him. The youkai knelt down on one knee and lowered his head.

Everything was silent.

Then the wind suddenly picked up, whipping the youkai's blood red hair around him. A scream echoed through the walls and into the youkai's ears as another, stronger, youki completely covered the first. Red orbs brightened as the woman's body in front of them healed completely.

A gasp passed pale lips as the female's chest began to rise and fall somewhat steadily. It was quiet again, except for her ragged breathing. The woman began to laugh, quietly at first, and then piercingly. The voice became a chuckle. "So, Sorano, the hanyou got away." The male youkai nodded slightly. "And the girl?" Ashura asked.

"Dead, My Lady." Sorano said quietly. Ashura chuckled shortly.

"Good…" She slowly got to her feet; Sorano rose next to her. "We will send the hanyou to meet his love in the next life, won't we?" Ashura's words were less like a question, and more of a threat. Sorano nodded again. Ashura's rough laugh echoed through the hut again.

Inu-Yasha stopped far away from Kaede's hut, his eyes shaking slightly. What's going on? His eyes slowly lowered to Kagome's face. She's gone; there is no changing that…The others are just in denial. The hanyou decided.

Inu-Yasha looked up again and slowly began to walk back to his destination. Kagome is dead, nothing will tell me different. I will not fall into their game… Inu-Yasha brushed Kaede's door out of his way as he entered the hut.

"Inu-Yasha, what are ye doing back here with Kagome?" The old priestess asked getting to her feet. Inu-Yasha didn't reply, instead set Kagome's body down lightly and turned away. Kaede watched him until Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara came into the hut too. "What's going on Miroku?" Kaede asked quietly.

"Kagome isn't gone!" Shippo said quickly. Kaede was shocked.

"What do ye mean child?"

"He means, Lady Kaede, that Kagome is in my mind." Sango said stepping up a little. The priestess turned to the demon layer.

"In your mind?"

"Yes," Sango nodded. "She speaks to me."

"She speaks to ye? Well, this is interesting."

"No it's not." Inu-Yasha snapped. The others turned to look at him. "You are all just crazy."

"No I'm not!" Shippo whined.

"Inu-Yasha, Kagome is in my mind." Sango said calmly.

'Tell him that I'm not angry.' Kagome finally said. Sango nodded and relayed the message.

"Kagome says that she's not mad, that is not why she is still here…" Sango fell silent as she listened to Kagome again. "She is still here because—" Sango started but was cut off as she flew sideways and hit the wall with a Thud. The others gasped and turned to Inu-Yasha, who was breathing roughly and growling.

"Enough, all of you just Shut-Up! I don't believe that Kagome is here, Kagome is dead, and there is nothing any of us can do about it!" The hanyou's voice was a deep growl.

"Inu-Yasha," Sango muttered sitting up, her right hand holding her bruised left shoulder. The gazes shifted to the demon slayer. "I don't blame you for your actions; you have no reason to believe that Kagome is in my mind." Sango slowly got to her feet. "But Kagome is here, and she needs our help. You may believe what you want, but I will stand with my friend and do whatever I can to help her." She held Inu-Yasha's stare.

"Feh," Inu-Yasha said before pushing past the group and out the door of the hut. He growled again as he took off at a run away from the village. He ran with a blank mind.

He just ran.

"Damn it!" The hanyou yelled as he suddenly stopped, punching a hole through the nearest tree. He dropped his head, his fist still firmly in the now splintered tree. "Damn it all to the hells…" He whispered. The hanyou's breathing was rough as his mind raced. I thought I could handle this… Inu-Yasha choked once as he fought back a sob. She's gone, why do they try to keep her here?

Inu-Yasha pulled his hand out of the trunk and fell to his knees. "Why the long face, Inu-Yasha?" It was Kikyo. The hanyou didn't look up. Kikyo's cold hands touched his shoulders. "It's that girl, isn't it? I felt her die Inu-Yasha, I know why you grieve." The priestess' voice was cold.

"Go away." Inu-Yasha growled. Kikyo pulled her hand back, but did not move her feet.

"It is time for you to come with me, Inu-Yasha." She said stiffly.

"No." Inu-Yasha said instantly. Kikyo was surprised; she thought taking Inu-Yasha to hell with her now would be ease… since that damn Kagome was gone. "I will not go with you Kikyo." Inu-Yasha slowly lifted his head so his golden eyes were locked with Kikyo's. "I'm tired of running after you. We both need to move on." Kikyo stepped back as he got to his feet. "You're dead Kikyo, and so is Kagome…" His last words were a mere whisper. "But I'm not dead yet, I still have things I need to take care of." Inu-Yasha growled and turned away.

"I will never leave you alone! I cannot rest until you are dead Inu-Yasha!" Kikyo yelled as Inu-Yasha walked away.

He didn't even misstep at her words.

Then Kikyo, you've got a little time to wait before you can rest… but I promise, I will join you soon… The hanyou thought as he continued walking.

((There is a break here, but nothing shows up, so … yeah…))

"I'm going to leave now, Sango.' Kagome said as the demon slayer, Miroku, Shippo, and Kaede sat around the fire in the priestess' hut.

"What?" Sango said shocked. The others looked at her. Shippo suddenly smiled.

"Is she leaving?" He asked. Sango nodded. "Don't worry, she's just leaving your mind."

"Ah, yes." Sango agreed. Kagome focused on the wall farthest from the rest of the group.

'Papa?' She asked opening her eyes; Kagome was no longer looking at the world through Sango's eyes.

"Yes, Kagome?" The man asked appearing next to Kagome.

'What about Inu-Yasha?' She asked turning to her father.

"What about him?"

'Well, he seams really upset and I don't know what to do about it.'

"What do you want to do?"

'I—I don't …' Kagome sighed and shook her head before finishing. 'I don't know Papa.' She wanted to show Inu-Yasha that she was here—that she needed his help. That she needed him. "Unless the body you bond with throws you out…" The words her father had spoken came back to her mind. He wouldn't allow me…

There was a hand on her shoulder.

Kagome looked up at her father.

"Kagome," he smiled at his daughter. "I know, sweetie, I know." Kagome's eyes filled with tears at her father's words.

'Oh Papa!' She hugged him tightly. 'I've got to get back…' She whispered into the man's shoulder. He nodded and kissed the top of her head.

"I know Kagome…"

((We are switching views again…))

Inu-Yasha stopped and sniffed the air. He could have sworn… but no, there was no way that he could smell Kagome's tears, she was dead damn it. The hanyou growled at himself for thinking that maybe it could have been her. He walked on.

They're just getting to me, all of them; even Kikyo. Inu-Yasha stopped as he reached his destination; the Sacred Tree. His golden orbs slowly moved up the tree until they fell on the mark left from the spell Kikyo had put on him with her arrow. "More than fifty years ago…" The hanyou whispered aloud.

Something made him move forward. His hand slowly reached out to touch the spot Kagome so often used to touch. "What would she think about…?" He muttered running his hand over the place slowly. Silver ears were turned forward, away from the person crawling up behind their owner.

((Back to Kaede's hut))

"Do you think Inu-Yasha's alright?" Shippo asked looking up at Sango and then turning to Miroku. Kaede nodded.

"Aye child, he will be alright." The priestess replied for the other two. The monk and demon slayer nodded, smiles plastered onto their faces.

"You know," Shippo said crossing his arms and closing his eyes, "I am a fox youkai. I can see right through your fake smiles." He sighed and dropped his head and arms. "But I guess that's just easier…" The kit got to his feet, his eyes still closed, and walked out of the door.

The three remaining human's blinked.

"W—what was that?" Sango asked, still filled with surprise. No one answered her.

'Um, Papa?' The young spirit asked, blinking herself. The older man was quiet, unsure himself of what had just happened. 'Papa?' Kagome asked again.

"Hu?" Kagome's father blinked back to reality and turned to his daughter. "Oh, sorry, what is it?"

'What is this feeling?' Kagome put a hand over the place on her chest where her heart should have been beating, and put two fingers of the other hand to her temple. 'It hurts, here, and here.' Kagome shook her head slightly and looked up into black orbs. 'Papa?' She whispered at his silence.

"I don't know Kagome. It could be anything."

Inu-Yasha… The thought hit Kagome and cut into her mind like a knife. 'Inu-Yasha!' She repeated aloud with a gasp as realization hit her. Something was wrong with Inu-Yasha!

Her father didn't even have time to reply before Kagome dashed out if the old priestess' hut, and toward the Sacred Tree.

((That's the end of this chapter, read on for Author Notes))

The end! Lol, well, the end of this chapter. I'm sorry about how short this chapter is, but I got everything said that I wanted said. I will try to update soon, but even over winter break, I have swim practice twice a day. (Note to anyone out there who is debating joining the swim team… DON'T DO IT UNLESS YOU LOVE SWIMMING!!) ok, I'm better now. Well, was this chapter ok? Please review and let me know!! Always,

Myst