A/N: This chapter is…well…the inu-tachi gets screwed over...sad…Almost makes me want to cry thinking about it…
Chapter 19: Completed Shikon no Tama
Inuyasha and Kagome had returned, and once again they were on the move. Sango had been able to part with her brother, mainly because Miroku had been there with her. But everyone knew well enough not to bring the subject up.
They walked down the road, since they didn't really have anywhere to go. They hoped that they would be able to run into Kouga, to warn him that Naraku needed his shards in order to complete the shikon no tama, so he would be going after him next. Even Inuyasha thought this was a good idea, making Kagome wonder since he usually didn't want to associate with him.
Ever since the incident in her bedroom, Kagome had been watching Inuyasha constantly. She secretly wished he would try it again, but of course, he hadn't. She was fairly sure now that he was thinking of Kikyou.
But…She thought, glancing at the hanyou. I have a feeling…that maybe…he was thinking of me when he did it…that he actually meant to kiss me…But…why would he want to kiss me? I mean…I don't think that…Inuyasha wouldn't want to love me…at least…I don't think he would…
Kagome gave a small gasp. But…the look in his eyes…it drew me in…it was like…he was wanting me. But…how could Inuyasha actually want me?
She remembered the wonderful feeling that had filled her up as he got closer. I've never felt like that before…Out of all the times I've blushed around him, all the times my heart has pounded, I never felt like that.
She shut her eyes. Inuyasha…I love you so much! Why can't you just see that? Why can't I ever get up the courage to tell you how I feel? Because…because I know he won't love me back, that's why. I guess I'll have to feel this way forever and never tell him…
Inuyasha also had his mind on the near-kiss. At least she's not bringing it up or telling me it freaked her out…But still…I lost control. I can't even get near her anymore, without her doing this to me…Damnit, I can't even look at her without my heart pounding…
But I was so close…so close…
To getting her to hate you, baka. If you let her know you love her, she'll just get angry and not want to talk to you anymore…you should just forget about it…
I know…I want to forget…I want to, to stop myself from getting hurt, but I can't. I can't forget. Knowing this feels like the best thing that ever happened to me…I want to feel this way, but I can't…
"Inuyasha, Kagome-sama, why so quiet?" Miroku asked.
"Huh?" Inuyasha and Kagome asked at the same time.
He smiled. "Well, you two are usually talking or more usually fighting. Tell us, did something happen on your little venture to Kagome-sama's world?"
Oh no…he just had to bring that up…Kagome thought.
Damnit, why can't that monk keep his mouth shut? Inuyasha mentally asked himself.
"N-no way!" Inuyasha yelled, blushing scarlet.
"Of course not!" Kagome said, also turning red.
"I mean, who would want to do anything with her?"
"Yeah, Inuyasha's just a baka who doesn't know any better!"
"Like I'd want to kiss her!"
"As if I actually liked him!"
There was a silence as Kagome and Inuyasha realized they had gone too far. Miroku's smile widened, Sango giggled, and Shippou just stared at them, wondering what they were talking about.
"Um…you are out of your mind, monk!" Inuyasha yelled.
"That's right…you just keep thinking that, Miroku-sama, and we'll prove you wrong!" Kagome added.
"All that happened is that she went home, got some stuff, and went back!"
"Uh-huh, absolutely nothing!"
"NOTHING!" Inuyasha and Kagome yelled.
Sango had to cover her mouth to stop from giggling, while Miroku's grin widened. "Ah. I see. I knew it would happen sooner or later. After all, I knew you two couldn't hide it forever."
If he says anything about what I accidentally told him before…he's DEAD! "WHAT would happen, monk?"
"Why, if I'm very much mistaken, you two did THAT, right?"
"WHAT?" Kagome asked, looking more infuriated than ever.
"Monk, you're dead!" Inuyasha said, grabbing Miroku by the collar, making a fist.
"Now Inuyasha, remember what I said…after all…I do want to live for my wedding."
"Oh, you'll live all right. But you might be incapable of walking for the rest of your life!"
"Inuyasha…put him down please." Sango said. "I'll deal with him later."
At first Inuyasha wanted to resist, but then he remembered Sango had just been through a lot. She needed Miroku. He sighed, and set Miroku down unscathed. "But Sango had better make sure you pay for that." He growled.
"Don't worry." She grinned. "I will."
Miroku suddenly looked more scared then he did when Inuyasha threatened to kill him.
"Hey, I'm getting hungry." Shippou said. "Can we stop for lunch?"
Everyone looked at Inuyasha for the decision. He shrugged. "I suppose so."
They stopped and sat in the grass as Kagome pulled out a few snacks from her backpack. While everyone was munching on chips, pocky, and other things, she looked at Inuyasha.
Besides getting mad at Miroku…he doesn't seem to be affected by what happened at all…Maybe I was right…that he wasn't thinking of kissing me…But for one minute…one glorious minute…I thought he was. I thought he really wanted to kiss me, and the Souta came in…
But what if Souta hadn't come in? Would he still have kissed me? Even if he thought I was Kikyou, would he still do it? And I…I know its wrong, but I don't think I would have cared…
Just thinking about Inuyasha kissing her sent flutters up through her heart. She could clearly see it in her mind, like a picture. The perfect picture of Inuyasha holding her, kissing her, loving her. Even though she knew it would never happen, thinking about it brought joy into her heart.
She suddenly sat up? "There's a shikon shard nearby."
Everyone stopped eating. "Shikon shard? Is it Naraku?"
"No…it's two…Kouga!"
Right on cue, a tornado cloud came out of the forest and into the open. Inuyasha placed his hand on Tessaiga as Kouga emerged from it. Inuyasha started growling.
"Kouga-kun!" Kagome said. "We were just looking for you!"
He smiled, starting to walk over to her. "Me too."
Inuyasha jumped in front of Kagome, blocking him. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it to me!"
Kouga started. "Move out of the way, hanyou. I need to speak to Kagome."
Inuyasha drew Tessaiga. "Don't think so."
Kagome stared. He's more jealous than usual…
"Kagome can say what she wants, Dog Crap!"
Inuyasha held up Tessaiga. "Get away or I'm going to kill you."
"Not if I kill you first!"
Kagome stood up. "Inuyasha, Kouga! Stop it!" She gave Inuyasha a warning look, and turned to Kouga. "Why are you here, Kouga-kun?"
"My shards…" He said. "It was suddenly like I was being drawn towards your shard?"
"What?" Kagome asked. "Wait…only the shikon no tama can draw shards in like that…so that means…" She gasped. "Why…why didn't I feel it before? INUYASHA, IT'S NARAKU!"
On cue, Naraku burst from the forest. Everyone grabbed their weapons as he rose into the air. "Hmm…" He smiled. "Your powers are weakening, miko, if you couldn't sense my shards until I was close."
Inuyasha stood in front of her. "What does it matter? I would have sniffed you out sooner or later!" This is bad…he thought. I couldn't smell him…but…he seems to have a different scent…
"I'm more worried about the miko." Naraku smiled. "Foolish girl. You're falling into the same trap Kikyou fell into…your heart is being softened, and your powers are waning…could it be that you too have fallen for this hanyou…"
He can't insult Kagome! "I've heard enough!" Inuyasha raised Tessagia, but he was cut off by Kouga running forward. "What the hell? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Kagome stared at Kouga. Why would he run at Naraku like that…unless… "Inuyasha! It's Naraku! He's calling the shar—"
She was cut off when she felt pain around her neck. The two shards that she had been carrying in the bottle were suddenly hot. She felt it too…they wanted her to move forward towards Naraku. They were pushing on her will forcefully, telling her to give them to Naraku.
No! she cried out, using all of her miko power to contain herself. I can't let Naraku have them.
"Kazaana!" Miroku opened his Kazaana and pulled Kouga back. He got him just in time because a tentacle hit the ground where Kouga was standing a second before.
"This is going to be harder than I thought." Naraku said.
"Wait," Miroku asked. "I've been wondering, how come Inuyasha couldn't smell you? It's Mouryoumaru, isn't it? You reabsorbed him!"
Naraku smiled. "That foolish Mouryoumaru, thinking he could equal me, perhaps even take my power. I had to prove him wrong. He had betrayed me and was no other use to me than to get my heart back."
"Keh!" Inuyasha said. "That means we can kill you now! KONGOU—"
But Kouga ran for Naraku again, enchanted by his two shards. Before Miroku could stop him, he jumped up and tried to kick Naraku. But Naraku was waiting for this. With two tentacles protruding from his body, he pierced Kouga's legs.
"Kouga-kun!" Kagome yelled.
The tentacles pulled out of his legs, holding two shards. Naraku smiled and let Kouga go. Right before he hit the ground, Kirara caught him.
Naraku put the shards in his hands. "I have them in my grasp. Only two left." He looked at Kagome, and opened his palm. He added the two shards to the tainted shikon no tama, and it pulsed with an evil light.
Kagome felt the power calling the shards get stronger. She tried to fight it, and was using her energy rapidly. If I was at my normal power…if I didn't feel this way about Inuyasha…And thinking about him is what did it. Her eyes glazed over and she succumbed to the shikon no tama's power.
"Keh!" Inuyasha said. "Like I'd let you!" The Tessaiga transformed to its crystal form. "I'll finish you, bastard!"
Naraku smiled. "You should be more worried about yourself. And your miko…"
"Huh? Kagome?" Inuyasha turned around, and gasped.
Kagome's eyes were red, and she pointed a bow at him. The shards in the bottle glowed with a tainted light. "Ka…gome?" Inuyasha asked.
Sango tried to get closer. "Kagome-chan!"
Miroku stopped her. "No! She's not herself anymore!" Sango stood behind Miroku, looking worried.
Naraku laughed. "Just like last time, isn't it? I wonder how it feels to see your beloved wish for your death…The one you love now turned to hatred."
Naraku…he did this…to Kikyou and I…and now to Kagome? Kagome…she can't do this… "Kagome, can you hear me? KAGOME!"
She didn't answer, she just tightened her grip on her bow.
"Her powers have diminished. She cannot hear your voice anymore. You did this, Inuyasha. Because you melted her heart, she became susceptible to my spell." Naraku said. "Now, the shards will be mine!"
Kagome infused the arrow with her powers. "DIE, INUYASHA!" She yelled.
Inuyasha tried to block the arrow with Tessaiga, but the arrow undid the transformation. It pushed his sword out of the way and came nearer to his heart.
Inuyasha…he's going to…oh no! What have I done? Inuyasha! Her eyes became normal. "INUYASHA!" She yelled.
In that instant, a tentacle that had been creeping up, unnoticed by anyone, headed for her, but yanked away her necklace containing the shikon shards. In that instant, the arrow dropped its spiritual power and fell to the ground. Kagome ran towards Inuyasha, grabbing him. "Inuyasha! I'm so sorry! I didn't know that I was!"
"It's okay, Kagome." He said. I'm glad she came back to normal. And that she's all right…"But the shards?"
"Huh?" She touched her shirt and didn't feel her necklace. She looked back at Naraku, who now held the last two shards in his hands, smiling.
He smiled. "The shards are now…mine. And the shikon no tama…" He placed the shards in the shikon no tama, creating a white glow. The area around the jewel became black, and the jewel glowed with the vile power.
Inuyasha grabbed Tessaiga, which thankfully transformed. "KONGOUSHOUHA!" The diamond spears headed for Naraku. They pierced his barrier, but did nothing to his body.
Naraku retained his smile. "With the shikon no tama…such is my power. But don't worry Inuyasha, I won't make my wish quite yet…I will kill you, as a hanyou…" And with that he floated away, leaving everyone stunned and realizing their own doom.
Naraku had completed the shikon no tama.
A/N: Avoids many sharp objects. I know, I know. This is very evil…But I had to do it, I promise. The whole thing with Kagome you might recognize from movie 1, but I did it because I wondered why everyone goes on about Kikyou and says her powers diminished because she loved Inuyasha, and well…what about Kagome?
P.S. I might not be able to update on Saturday, due to me staying up all night reading HBP… Yay! Only 2 more days!