Chapter Nine

That Fateful Morning

I would like to take this time to get down on my knees and bed for forgiveness for being unforgivably late. I would also like to thank yoyo person and Kagome4Inu for reviewing my last chapter. You people rule! I'm really trying. This one shall prove to be exciting!

The night has passed surprisingly peacefully. This was somewhat strange, but not unheard of. The darkness had been quiet but deep within the shadows of the night, it was writhing.

Kagome blinked awake in the morning light. A rooster beckoned her awake, but she refused. It wasn't for another minute or so that Kagome remembered where she was and leapt out of her futon with a start. Kikyo was gone.

Kagome got up completely flustered. She folded her futon neatly, placed it back in the corner where it came from and was about to run out the door when she saw a bow and quiver resting against the door frame next to her clothes. Kagome blinked. Kagome, remembering informing Kikyo that she as good with a bow, came to the conclusion that Kikyo must've left a bow for her. Kikyo was thoughtful, even if she was a little stone faced at times. It's not like Kikyo would want to bring her bow to meet Inu-Yasha, anyway.

Kagome quickly slipped on the quiver and snatched up the bow and her clothes. Stepping quickly outside, she almost immediately flung herself behind the house when she saw how many villagers were around. Peering behind her, Kagome barely caught the hem of Kikyo's habikama (pants) vanish as she reached the top stair and entered the shrine area.

Kagome sighed, relieved that she had not lost her completely. Wasting no time, Kagome stumbled around houses till she managed to get to the edge of the village where she deposited her clothes for safe keeping and then scanned around for Kikyo again. Kikyo was back at the bottom of the shrine's stairs again, Shikon jewel in hand. The villagers greeted her as she walked by. She returned all the greetings, but seemed in a different train of thought.

'I wonder what she's thinking...' Kagome thought to herself. Picking up her bow again, Kagome backed up into the trees and watched Kikyo carefully. She wasn't sure where she was going to meet Inu-Yasha and Naraku could be absolutely anywhere. Kagome's worry increased. 'Wait. If Naraku doesn't have the jewel shards, how will I know if he's coming?' Kagome paused, slowly being over come with anxiety when a small glimmer of comfort entered her mind. 'I know Inu-Yasha better than that.' Kagome continued.

Kagome watched as Kikyo began to head toward a large clearing. Kagome quickly ran around to get the most versatile spot to stop Naraku from.

He came almost too quickly. From the corner of Kagome's eye came a blur of red. She could sense almost immediately that it didn't feel right. Inu-Yasha scurried along the ground, shifting his weight from side to side as he approached Kikyo's back. Kagome could see the shadow over his face and she knocked one arrow. Pleading desperately, she loosed the shaft and the arrow ripped through the air, alight with Kagome's energy and pleadings. Inu-Yasha saw it and in a panic, pulled away, turned and ran into the woods to recuperate. Kagome cursed herself for having missed the disguised demon and took flight into the forest after him.

Kikyo turned quickly to see nothing behind her. For a moment Kikyo's eyes wondered if the danger was gone. Her mind brought her back to her other world as Kikyo continued through the field.

Kagome's determination to protect Kikyo and Inu-yasha forced her deeper into the forest, blindedly searching for the man who sold his soul to demons to find justice. She would not let him get away. She would not let him trick Kikyo into hating Inu-Yasha. She would not let the jewel be shattered. She would not allow Shippo to be orphaned, Miroku to be cursed, Sango to loose her family or anything else be caused because of his evil.

She saw red and she knocked another arrow. She shot several in case she missed him again. The silver-haired boy dressed in red whipped around as three arrows struck the tree before him. Growling angrily, he met the angry eyes of a black haired woman dressed as a priestess glaring back at him. "Die!" Kagome shouted, almost angry that she had missed him again. Her forth arrow barely grazed him as the demon leapt out of the way of the lethal dart and leapt up into the air over the tops of the trees. The hanyou vanished into the distance.

"No!" Kagome shouted to herself. "I can't let him get awa-" Kagome suddenly stopped. Terrified, she dropped her bow and fell to her knees. Her arms came up and she held herself as she felt it. 'The jewel,' Kagome trembled. 'I can sense it. It's moving. It's moving really fast toward the village.' An image pulsated within Kagome's head. The image of those amber eyes that looked at her with such pain and hatred; the eyes that cursed themselves so much; the eyes that were filled with shock, anger and betrayal. "Oh no... That wasn't Naraku." Kagome's whole body was shuddering as she realized the magnitude of what she had done. "I shot at Inu-Yasha... He's going to think that Kikyo shot at him and is going to go back the village to get the jewel."

Kagome leapt to her feet and ran back in the direction she came from, the sting of hopelessness consuming her. "If I can still stop Kikyo-"

The clearing was empty except for the red stain that marred its center. Red.... the same red.... The color loomed over her like a cursed vision. "It's too late." Kagome's knees buckled as she fell over again, her hands over her mouth. 'What have I done?'