Schools out!! Woo Hoo!! Yeah...lol I am going to post at least one chapter every day...so as to not leave you all in too much suspense. Anywho, it felt soo good to sleep in today... so now I'm refreshed and ready to write... here goes...Enjoy!!

Chapter 5

Kagome kicked her fin until her very bones ached from swimming so hard.

The scrapes on her sides were not helping either. Her blood scent was in the water, and the predators of the deep were also close on her trail.

She had to sing a few notes with her siren songs to keep them at bay.

But she could still see the dark outlines of their forms in the distance.

It didn't matter, nothing mattered. The farther she traveled, the more lighthearted she became. As the dark waters opened up into the old clear waters of her home.

She felt warm, a feeling that she hadn't felt since the day of death. She had been living in darkness for so long; she forgot the feeling of heat.

Sunlight illuminated pathways for her to see through. She swam among the beams of light.

Finally, she stopped swimming. Kagome hovered for a few moments to catch her breath. She placed her hands on her shoulders and gave herself a small hug; she had done it, she had escaped.

Kagome pulled the hood of her cloak back and untied her long hair. As she removed the ribbon, it flowed out from behind her and swayed with the current. She enjoyed the feeling of her hair around her shoulders. The lack of sunlight had turned it nearly black.

Kagome never wanted to fear the sun again. She embraced its warmth.

Kagome ripped pieces of her old cloak to form bandage strips. These she tied around her cuts. The salt water had been the best help for clotting her blood. But a few still bled.

She took a deep breath and relaxed. Kagome looked up towards the water's surface, an outline of the sun shimmered back down at her. Suddenly, she felt a surge of playfulness hit her. She smiled to herself.

Kagome powered up her fin and darted upwards towards the surface of the water. Traveling up a beam of light, she wanted to touch the glistening ball of light and warmth. She climbed through the water towards the surface.

Kagome lived in both worlds-the sea and the air. She saw the blue-green of the ocean, the pale blue and white of the sky.

She powered her tail and drove hard toward the surface. Above her, she could see the shimmering, silver border between water and air.

Faster...faster still.

Kagome shattered the barrier of the sea and hurtled up into the sky. She felt warm wind on her skin, instead of cold water. She hung, poised in midair, almost floating above the surface of the water. Now the barrier was beneath her. She pointed her head towards it and dropped from the sky.

The water wrapped around her again, welcoming her back.

Kagome felt the adrenaline rush fall, as she pulled herself back out of a child like mind. But, what a feeling, such a rush of joy and warmth. Kagome hadn't played like that in years.

It was something about the clear blue waters that always gave one a desire to play.

Kagome realized, suddenly, how exhausted she was. Yet, it was not safe to rest yet. She had to find a place to hide, a place were she could rest with ease.

Unexpectedly, as if my wish was answered an ancient song filled my head. Older than all the sirens songs...this song had no words, only a melody.

Kagome looked down into the water. It was very strange, like the ocean floor was rising to meet her.

No. It was a whale. He had dived beneath her, and was rising slowly, slowly to the surface.

The wale rose beneath her, the broad leathery back lifted her up. When Kagome opened her eyes again she was sitting contently on what could have been a small island, high above the choppy waves.

Kagome lay down on the whale's great back, gently stroking him out of thanks.

Whales do not speak in words; they speak in a silent voice that seems to fill the whole ocean.

She listened. She listened to his wordless voice in her head. Which feels like it goes on forever. She listened to the whale's story. Because whales are the greatest of story tellers. They are like old grandparents who have lived for centuries...and now wish to share their lives with you.

Kagome fell asleep to his rhythmic story. Yet, it continued to play in her dreams.

The whale had lived eighty migrations. He had many mates, many mothers, who had died in their turn. His children traveled the oceans of the world.

He had survived many battles, traveled to the far southern ice and the far northern ice.

He remembered the songs of the many fathers who had gone before. As others would remember his song.

..........

It was dusk before Kagome opened her eyes again. It was sunset.

Kagome was wet, of course, covered with splashing water and the spray from the whale's blowhole. It was a little cold, especially now that the sun was going down.

She slipped from the whales back and back down into the water. She swam up his body length until she found his large eye, which seemed glazed over with age.

"I have taken you home, Princess." He "spoke" to her.

"Great one, I have no home." Kagome answered.

The emotion of the large eye changed, it seemed to show some kind of sadness.

Kagome drew closer to him, "I cannot bring myself to return to the Coral Palace...I have...too many memories...that I wish to forget."

The whale spoke ancient words of wisdom to her, "Sometimes you have to change a little more than your mind..."

Kagome bowed her head, nodding slowly.

"...time heals all wounds." The whale finished.

Kagome didn't look up. She felt the whale move away from her. His massive body cast a long shadow as he disappeared; back out into the deeper waters.

Kagome felt herself begin to cry. Before the tears would fall, a deep song spread through the ocean.

She turned her head in its direction, realizing that is was the whale singing to her. Kagome listened to its melody. None of her songs could ever match the power and emotion of the songs of the whales.

She waited until the long, howling notes dissipated into the deep sea. And Kagome was left alone again.

She needed time to think. But her stomach was empty and it growled with hunger. She had no idea where to look for food.

Perhaps if she was to go closer to shore, she would find some kelp to eat. Even though raw kelp was not very appealing to her, she had to eat something.

Kagome realized that she had been spoiled in all her years; never having to worry about where to get her next meal.

Perhaps the whale was right, she needed to change.

Kagome grasped the Jewel around her neck and placed her hand gently on the sheathed Tetsugaiga still attached to her waist.

She carried with her two powerful items, which she knew next to nothing about.

Kagome racked her mind with options and choices...but her stomach continued to growl, which clouded her thoughts.

She decided to feed her hunger before she did anymore deep thinking.

Perhaps she never expected that she would have gotten this far. Perhaps she never expected to escape Kouga at all.

But she was her own person now. Kagome turned and followed the current, which would take her to shore.

.......................................................................................................

Inuyasha sat up high on a branch of a tree, with his arms folded. He watched as the sun was setting over the water.

So many thoughts wondered through his head.

Mostly thoughts about Kagome, his mermaid friend, which he had left behind all those years ago.

'She saved my life twice and I couldn't even be their when she needed help the most.'

He dreaded the thought of her being dead. But he knew it was probably true. She was the princess after all...

Hell, she was the only one who knew that he was the demon prince.

Inuyasha swore to himself that his new mission, before dealing with his brother, would be to find this Naraku person and make him suffer.

He wondered how many days, after he had been banished, that Naraku had attacked the merpeople.

"Naraku..." he growled under his breath. "You will pay..."

'This is all Sesshomaru's fault.' He decided, 'if he hadn't exiled me, then I could have been there to stop Naraku.'

........Flashback........

"Inuyasha...?"

"Yea..."

"What are you gonna say if Kikyou told Sesshomaru?" she asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

"I don't know. I guess I'll just deny it. Is that the best thing to do?" he asked.

"I suppose." Kagome said. "Just promise you will still come and visit me."

"Feh, don't worry. You'll be seeing allot of me." Inuyasha said. He stood up and rubbed his eyes.

"Oh, Inuyasha..." Kagome called to him.

Inuyasha looked back at her, but didn't speak.

"I'm sorry about your father." Kagome said.

"Heh, yea... thanks Kagome." Inuyasha said.

"I know you heard the same thing from Kikyou but, if you ever need anything... ya know you can always ask..." Kagome said.

"I know Kagome, Thank you." Inuyasha said, as he flashed her a toothy smile, and then turned and walked away.

.........End Flashback.........

'That was the last time I saw her' he remembered. 'I told her that she would be seeing allot of me......I lied to her...'

He growled at himself, 'I hate myself.'

"Hey Hanyou!!" called a voice up at him.

Inuyasha looked down to see Sango, Shippo, Miroku, and Kirara glaring up at him.

"What!" he roared back down at them.

"Do you know how long we have been looking for your stupid hide?" Miroku shouted.

Sango jabbed him in the ribs, Miroku winced with pain, but spoke again, "I mean, we were worried about you... come down please... Lady Sango has food for you."

Inuyasha cocked his head at the monk's attitude change. 'Did he just say 'please'?' Inuyasha wondered.

Then, Inuyasha remembered that old woman with the paintings. 'Crap!' he thought, 'she told them!'

Inuyasha's stomach answered him. He decided he would have to deal with this eventually so he jumped down off of his branch and landed on the ground with a thud.

The three of them stood there kind of in a state of shock as Inuyasha walked forward. He gazed at each of them. From Sango, to Miroku, to tiny Shippo-who bowed slightly at Inuyasha.

"So...you know huh?" he growled.

Sango played dumb, "Know what, Inuyasha?"

"You just called me by my name... you never do that." He said.

Sango smiled slightly, she knew that he knew.

She folded her arms across her chest, "I'm not going to call you 'Prince.' I don't care how royal you are."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Whatever..."

Inuyasha walked past them, pushing his way through.

"Where are you going now?" Miroku asked.

"To get firewood. You have food don't you?" he growled back.

"Oh, yea...right." Miroku remembered.

The group began to set up camp, as Inuyasha went out for firewood.

.........

Night had long since settled in, when they finished eating.

The ocean breeze was cold, so they all remained close by the fire.

Inuyasha stared into the flame, his mind elsewhere.

Sango leaned against a transformed Kirara with Shippo asleep on her lap.

Miroku lay as close as he could to her without her getting mad and hitting him.

Inuyasha sighed slightly and leaned backwards. Lying on his back he placed his hands behind his head, and looked up at the trees.

An almost full moon shined down on him between the tree branches.

"Hey Inuyasha..." he heard Sango call.

"What..." he growled without moving.

Sango ignored his grumpiness. "Shippo started to tell us something yesterday...something about mermaids...do you...?"

Miroku took quick interest in the story, "Have you ever met a mermaid Inuyasha?" he interrupted.

"It's none of both of your business." Inuyasha said.

"It is my business Inuyasha...anything that has to do with women or –maids is my business...you don't think I would remember do you? But I do... I remember like you told it to me yesterday..."

Inuyasha sat up and glared at the monk, "You are psycho!" he shouted.

"Hush Inuyasha..." Sango warned, "You'll wake Shippo."

"Feh" Inuyasha replied.

"You know that object you carry around with you, that sponge thing that was a gift from Kugama..." Miroku continued.

"Kagome." Inuyasha corrected him.

Miroku smiled, "See? You are thinking about her! I knew it! My love predictions are always correct..."

"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled standing up.

Miroku shook his finger at Inuyasha, "You don't need to hide you feelings anymore Inuyasha. It all makes sense now... Kagome is a mermaid. And she gave you that ball-thing, to remember her by. I knew that kind of sponge only comes from the deep depths of the Great Ocean..."

"I SAID SHUT UP!!!" Inuyasha roared; charging at Miroku and grabbing him by the collar, he shook him violently.

Inuyasha could hear Shippo crying. "Inuyasha stop this... look what you did, you woke Shippo up!" Sango yelled at him.

Inuyasha dropped Miroku and turned to walk away.

"I was already awake..." Shippo said. He turned and looked at Inuyasha walking away.

With a quick burst of speed he ran in front of Inuyasha's path. "Inuyasha! Stop walking away I want to say something to you!"

"Go away you annoying brat!" he growled at Shippo.

"No!" Shippo yelled in his tiny voice, he scampered up Inuyasha's robe and looked at him directly in the face, grabbing a hold of his collar.

This shocked Inuyasha, as the kit was centimeters away from his face, he stopped walking.

"Look Inuyasha," Shippo yelled at him, "You may hit me, kick me, knock me down, and insult me...but I'm tougher than I look, and smarter too! I know what's going on!

The story the old lady told us is true and Miroku's guess about Kagome is correct, she is a mermaid, and now you think that Kagome is hurt or dead. That's why you're so grumpy."

Shippo looked happy with himself that he had figured out Inuyasha's true meaning.

Inuyasha looked shocked at the kit's words, but then he began to laugh. The laugh came from deep within his throat, and sounded vicious and evil.

"Well, I guess you think you have me all figured out don't you?" he snarled. With a sharp whack, he knocked Shippo off of him and onto the ground. He turned to the rest of the group.

"Well, you all our wrong...dead wrong. You think you know everything, or at least you believe you do, about me. Well you can't be more off track. I'm fed up with all of your stupid, annoying, perverted emotions.

You all have been crazy since day one. And I'm done with it. From here on, I travel solo. And if you follow me, I'll kill you."

He turned back towards the trees and walked away, "Good luck staying alive!" he yelled, before he disappeared among the shadows.

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OMG what a baka he is!!! Grr... stupid Inuyasha... well, next chapter it finally happends...Inuyasha and Kagome meet for the first time in five years!! Wait, why is Kagome attacking him? Find out!!

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