A Dying Ambition

Chapter 2

A Rekindled Fire

"Inuyasha you have to talk to Kagome." Shippo said jumping up and down at Inuyasha's heals as Inuyasha walked away from the direction Kagome ran off into.

"Kagome knew all of this. None of this should have been a surprise."

"Inuyasha!" Shippo screamed once more.

"Shippo leave it be." Miroku said.

"Yes, we all know how this will end. Kagome will give in and nothing will change."

"Oye," Inuyasha turned and snapped. Suddenly Inuyasha caught scent of something in the forest. Inuyasha took a longer sniff in the air.

"Inuyasha what is it?" Miroku asked looking in the direction Inuyasha was sniffing in.

"Blood" he said. Inuyasha's eyes went big, "Kagome." Inuyasha took of running quickly. Inuyasha ran through the forest dodging trees. He pushed off of a trunk that was lying on the ground. Inuyasha rushed through the air trying to get to Kagome as fast as he could. What Inuyasha had kept from the others, was Kagome's blood was not all that he could smell. Naraku's scent was also coming from Kagome's direction. Inuyasha was so caught up arguing with Shippo that he wasn't even paying attention to the scent that was so obvious. 'Kagome..please..'

Inuyasha ran through the forest toward Kagome's scent that was so close. He entered ran a clearing, and there stood Naraku. Inuyasha froze... Naraku reeked of Kagome's blood.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Inuyasha yelled reaching for Tessaiga.

"Inuyasha, you make it too easy to hurt the women you love." Naraku turned to face Inuyasha. Naraku opened his arms and Kagome feel to the ground covered in her own blood. Sango and Miroku finally caught up with Inuyasha.

"Kagome-chan!" Screamed Sango

"Kagome-sama." Yelled Miroku. Shippo stood there clinging to Sango's leg in silence. He just stared at Kagome's lifeless body.

Naraku opened his arm.

Inuyasha just stood there in shock. Naraku laughed. He stepped over Kagome and looked at Inuyasha.

"Yes, that's the expression I missed so much. Your face of pain Inuyasha." Inuyasha gripped Tessaiga and pulled it out of its sheath.

"I'm . . . " Inuyasha said.

"You're going to what? Fight me while she lays there dying." Naraku laughed he had once again achieved to cause Inuyasha the utter pain of loss. Naraku slowly began to take flight.

"I'll admit she was a bit more observant than Kikyo, but still making the same mistake as her." Naraku laughed once again. Inuyasha readied Tessaiga and began to run at Naraku, but something halted him.

"Naraku!" Naraku turned around and saw Kagome sitting on her knees holding an arrow pointing at him.

"One thing is different." Kagome screamed, "I'll hit the right person." And with that she released the arrow. Naraku could not move fast enough. Kagome was to close. The arrow hit him, and he turned into a cloud of jaki and began to fly off. Kagome quickly jumped to her feet stringing up another arrow. She pointed the arrow at Naraku jaki. She took a deep breath and screams, 'Ike' (Go). The arrow flies through the air and hits Naraku floating jaki. A burst of light comes from the sky and then the sky clears. Naraku could still be seen flying away. Kagome's arrow was right on, but she wasn't aiming for Naraku, she was aiming for the jewel that he was taking from her.

The jewel slowly fell from where Kagome shot. Kagome saw where it landed on the ground. She slowly bent over and picked the jewel. When she stood back up her head began to spin quickly.

Inuyasha slowly began to walk toward the injured Kagome.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha mumbled. Kagome slowly turned around, blood still dripping from her right shoulder. Kagome faced Inuyasha for only a moment, "Inu...ya...sha..." She managed. She started to walk back to him, but everything went black and Kagome fell. Inuyasha quickly ran to her side catching before she hit the ground. She was soaked with her own blood. Inuyasha was in complete shock.

'Kagome, I'm sorry, please...Kagome.. don't die.. Kag...'

"Inuyasha!" Miroku said. Inuyasha was so shocked from the current events that he didn't even hear Miroku yelling at him. "Inuyasha, we need to get Kagome back to the village. Keade might have something that will help Kagome." Miroku said.

Inuyasha picked Kagome up into his arms and began to run back to the village. Running past all of the staring villagers.

Keade was sitting in her small hut at the base of the hill that Kikyo was once buried in. She was slowly grinding herbs, when her straw door was thursted off of its hooks and to the ground. There Inuyasha stood with Kagome in his arms. Keade jumped up and ran to Kagome's side.

"Kagome?" she stood in complete shock, "What happened Inuyasha?" Inuyasha walked past Keade and laid Kagome down on the ground. Kagome was shaking with so

much pain and she was breathing very hard.

"It will be explained later." Miroku said walking the door breathing hard, "Right now we need to tend to Kagome's wounds." Keade nodded to Miroku's response. She quickly pushed Inuyasha back and began to slowly peal away at Kagome's clothes. Keade sat back in horror.

"Inuyasha these are the same wounds that Kikyo-one-san received before she died." Keade said. Inuyasha looked away form Keade. He couldn't possibly tell her that he failed to protect Kagome. 'Kagome relied on me to protect her, and I let her down. I let her fall into the hands of Naraku, just like Kikyo. I couldn't protect her... I couldn't...' Inuyasha turned and looked back at Kagome's face. She extremely plain and breathing hard. Her chest shock with every breath that she took. 'Kagome...'

Light shined in through the gaps around the straw door. The breeze out side was cool and welcoming. Inside the hut lied Kagome laying there. She had been silent and still for nearly four day. By her side was her companion, Inuyasha. He sat there for all four days wide awake. He sat mostly in silence thinking or regretting . Miroku and Sango kept out side most of the time. Only entering to suggest to Inuyasha to get some rest. He would tell them that he would wait here for as long it takes. Keade was the only one that enter the hut with a true purpose. She would go in and tend to Kagome's wound redress it for her, and bring in some fresh water to clean the would when necessary. Keade would refrain from saying anything to Inuyasha who only sat there. Keade felt that she was the only one that knew what pain Inuyasha was truly growing through. For Keade knew that this was just a re-occurring nightmare to Inuyasha, but Keade did her very best for Kagome, not only so she would have to go through the heartache of losing such an innocent person, but so Inuyasha wouldn't have to either.

Keade got up off of the floor and walked out of the hut carrying the small bucket of dirty water. The water had become clear the more Kagome's wound healed, but there was still along way to go. Miroku stood outside to greet her. he took the pale from her hands and walked with to the river to clean it out. Sango waited on the outskirts of the forest with Shippo to hear the news on Kagome's condition.

"Well, she's doing much better than what I would have ever thought. Though it will still take some time for the wound to completely heal, she will be fine, I'm sure." Keade said trying to reassure Kagome's other companions. Miroku and Sango nodded with agreement, but the small and open Shippo, "It's all Inuyasha's fault." Shippo snapped. Sango looked down at the small fox child walked with his head down and arms crossed.

"If he would just be more honest with himself..." Shippo said.

"Shippo, we can't force Inuyasha to have the same feeling for Kagome as she does for him." Miroku said.

"Oh, but he does." Keade said. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo looked over at Keade. She walked silently looking down at the ground for a moment.

"Inuyasha has strong feelings for Kagome. Stronger than he would ever admit, but I'm sure, Inuyasha is afraid of that feeling of loss. That feeling he is feeling right now." Keade said, "Inuyasha will deny it, but he does feel a lot for Kagome. He's just afraid. He had lost many people close to him: One-san, his own mother, I'm sure that pain is hard to deal with, and when he cares for someone, as much as he does Kagome, he will deny it for as long as he can, in the fear, that something might happen to Kagome." Keade said. She looked up and realized the others had stopped behind her. Keade turned and looked back at them. They were just standing there with wide eyes.

"What?" she said.

"Inu." Kagome said. Inuyasha sat up and jumped to Kagome's side.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha said. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked over at him. He was looking down at her with such concerned eyes. Kagome slowly shifted in her bed. Inuyasha put his hands on her shoulders. Kagome realized she wasn't wearing her normal uniform, she was dressed in the same attire that Kikyo and Keade wear.

"Kagome you shouldn't move yet." Inuyasha said trying to push her back down.

Kagome looked into his eyes once more to see what she could see. She was still confused about what had happened. She closed her eyes and tried to remember what happened.

"It's time you die like her too"

Kagome's eyes shot open and she started to breath hard. She grabbed her shoulder in pain and rolled on her side. Inuyasha held on to Kagome and she laid there moaning in pain.

"Kagome knows that I can't just leave Kikyo. Kikyo gave so much and I feel that some how it's my fault. Kagome..."

Kagome finally caught her breath. "Inu..." She tried to say. Finally she took a deep breath, "Inuyasha...

Dawn slowly arose and Kagome laid in her bed breathing in the air that blew in through her window. She laid there for a moment just taking in what happened. She knew that she would have to answer to Inuyasha.

"Your not sick, Your dying."

She sat up in her bed rubbing the night's sleep out of her eyes. Inuyasha was nowhere in sight.

"He must have left after I fell back to sleep."She paused for a moment and looked out her window. A breeze blew in lifting up Kagome's hair. "What should I do?" Inuyasha was back in Kagome's life again, and without a doubt Kagome still had feelings for Inuyasha. She knew that she couldn't leave everything as it was. Strange feeling clung to Kagome's heart. She knew that she just had to see Inuyasha again. It had been four years since she had seen or heard his voice, and having him there the night before was a feeling that Kagome knew she couldn't ignore.

Kagome slowly pushed herself out of bed, dressed, and went downstairs. No one else in the house was awake yet. It was still quite early. Kagome walked into the kitchen and starred out it for a moment. She took a deep breath and walked over the to sink and grabbed a small red bottle sitting there. Kagome remember setting it there from the day before. When she came home and first spoke with her grandfather.

Kagome looked down at the small bottle that read her name. She rolled the bottle in her hand allowing the pills to shift in the bottle. Kagome squeezed the bottle in her fist and ran out the door.

It's time to face this. He may have been the one that stopped coming over here but I

wont stop until I know... until I know what I sacrificed was worth it.'

She ran to the small hut containing the well. She pulled on the doors and they slide up. She ran down the stairs, like she did some many years ago, and jumped into the well.

Sango walked into the hut hold a new bucket of water for Kagome's wounds. Sango starred into the hut and dropped the bucket at the sight she was seeing. Miroku pulled own the straw door, "Sango, what's wrong..." Miroku paused at the sight he was seeing as well. He couldn't believe it.

Shippo walked in behind Miroku looking down at the water at his feet. He lifted up one of his feet, "Sango you dropped that water we just got." Then Shippo looked up and saw Inuyasha flat on the ground. With his face against the wood floor.

"Where's Kagome?" Demanded Sango looking around the hut. Inuyasha's reply was nothing more than a moan of pain.

"I've seen this before somewhere?" Shippo said looking down at the wounded Inuyasha.

"She shouldn't be moving about." Keade said now standing in the doorway. With that Inuyasha jumped up to his feet and turned to face Keade.

"I told her that, but noooooo." Inuyasha said. Sango snickered lightly. She knew how Kagome convinced Inuyasha to let her go.

"Kagome, shouldn't be moving. Her wound could easily open and cause more damage that what has been done. We must find her." Keade said turning and walking out of the hut.

'I have to make it home...' Kagome said to herself. She slowly stumbled her way to the well. Kagome stopped and leaned up against a tree breathing hard. Kagome turned and pushed her back against the tree. 'Kikyo gave so much'

'Kagome why do you always put yourself into this position.' Kagome thought.

"Maybe that's because deep down you really love him." Kagome snapped up and looked up in the tree above her. Lying up in the tree was a young women. She had long brown hair and was dress in attire that clung close to her figure. The women jumped down in front of Kagome. The young women was wearing a white skirt that hung down to the ground. She wore a dark color top and clung to her breasts. Her belly was fully exposed. At her side was a pouch and a sword. On her shoulder and elbows rested small pads. Kagome pushed herself harder against the tree trying to get some distance from this women.

"You know it yourself." She said once more. Kagome didn't feel any true aggression coming from her, but Kagome did sense that she was a demon.

"I know right now you are trying to figure what I am, but he major question is what are you?" She asked looking at Kagome.

"Who are you?" Kagome asked.

"My name is Kyrra. Remember that well, because it will not be the last you hear of it." Kyrra said to her. Suddenly Kyrra's attention was drawn to the forest, "Hmpf, quicker than I thought." Kyrra turned back and looked at Kagome. She took a sniff and could smell fresh blood on Kagome. She knew that Kagome's wound has reopened and that's what was giving away there current location, "We need to move quickly." Kyrra reached over and grabbed Kagome's left hand and began to pull her way from the well.

"Kyrra," Kagome said, "What are you doing the well is the other direction.?"

"Buying us some more time." Kyrra said. When Kyrra felt that they were far enough away from the well, Kyrra paused a moment.

"This is going to hurt." She said. Suddenly Kyrra twisted around and grabbed Kagome's right shoulder. The white fabric that Kagome was wearing began to turn red. Kagome screamed with pain and fell to one of her knees. Kyrra pulled her hand away soaked now with Kagome's blood, Kyrra rubbed it on the tree that they stood next to.

"Come on." Kyrra said dragging Kagome back to the well. Kagome stumbled along as Kyrra pulled her through the woods. Kagome moaned with pain, as she began to become dizzy, but right when the pain just about became to unbearable Kagome noticed she was now standing in the clearing. The well wasn't far.

"Kagome you have to listen to me."Kyrra said, let go of Kagome's hand and turned around, "Soon you will approached with a choice. A choice to protected your own life and the jewel, or Inuyasha's life." Kagome looked at her with surprise.

"What you don't understand is that you're life is more precious than any life. You have a strong fighting soul. It's purity is something that is rare. That's what makes you a White Miko." Kyrra explained.

"White Miko?"

"Yes, your power you have, like Kikyo before you is extraordinary, much stronger than

what anyone else would possible be able to comprehend. You haven't even began to tap into this power,"

Like when I first arrived.' Kagome thought. Kagome remembered her ability she used when she first arrived.

"Kagome you must live." Kyrra said. She looked down at Kagome's hand. Kagome raised her right hand and slowly opened her palm. Kagome looked at the small item rolling around in her hand. She had been clutching her fist so tightly since she was attacked that she had forget about it. Within her hand rolled a small crystal.

'Shikon no Tama! That's right Naraku took my shard but as he held me I took his.'

"Kagome.."Kyrra said trying to get her attention back again, "Do you understand me?" Kagome looked at Kyrra confused.

"As I said soon you will approached with a choice. A choice to protected your own life and the jewel, or Inuyasha's life."

"I didn't even get a chance to see Kagome."

"Well she's not coming back... and if she does..."Inuyasha threatened, but before he could finish he caught Kagome's scent.

Kagome crawled out of the well and saw Inuyasha standing there next to Shippo. His tail was much larger than before and he even stood a bit taller, but locked within his new features Kagome could still see the small Shippo she knew long ago. She pulled her self out of the well.

"If she does what..." Kagome said standing up facing Inuyasha. Kagome waited for an answer. Inuyasha looked at her with shock, but only for a moment, "What are you doing here?" Inuyasha snapped.

"Nice to see you too..." Kagome said. She stood there with her hands on her hip. She was unaware of the small fox child's excitement that was building. Finally Kagome glanced down and Shippo.

"Kagome..." Shippo cried and run up to Kagome he still barely reached Kagome's waist, but she was happy to her small companion. She knelt down and hugged him. He threw his little arms around her neck and clung to Kagome, but Shippo's reunion was quickly broken by the up roar of Inuyasha, "You don't belong here."

"Inuyasha," Shippo yelled, "You wanted to see her." Inuyasha took a step back in shock. Then he tilted his, trying to remain his cool, "keh! I was the one who told her to go."

"Then why have you been waiting by the well since you came back last night?" questioned Shippo. Inuyasha turned and looked at the small child in complete horror.

"I...wanted... I wanted to make sure she wasn't going to come back."He returned in his defense

"Yeah right." Shippo turned towards Kagome again, "Keade has been asking about you."

"Has she now. Well we should go and see her. I guess I kind of gave her a scare the other day." Kagome walks past Inuyasha following Shippo to the village. She pauses for a second

and glances over her shoulder and smiles lightly, .

"Sit!"

"Keade!" Shippo yelled as they approach Keade's old hut. Keade's was sitting out front grinding herbs.

"Kagome," Keade replied with a smile. She stood up and looked at Kagome as she approached. Inuyasha was following shortly behind Kagome looking off in the opposite direction trying to show his disinterest in Kagome being back.

"My, what the past four years has done for you. You've got to be nearly 20 now."

"Yes, in two weeks."

"If I would have saw you like this about five years ago, about when you first arrived I would have mistaken you for my sister right away." Keade said smiling walking up to Kagome. Inuyasha's ears twitched slightly,

"Staying for awhile?"

"She is not!" snapped Inuyasha

"Sit" Kagome said looking over her should at Inuyasha. Inuyasha quickly fell to the ground and moaned in discomfort. Kagome turned back to Keade, "Yeah I figured I could see what new trouble I could get myself into." Kagome said. Keade laughed at Kagome's remark.

"Please come in I'll fix us some of my new herbs up for some tea." Keade said turning and walking into the hut. Shippo followed and Kagome turned to Inuyasha, "Coming?"

"Keh!"

"Suit yourself." Kagome said. Kagome turned and walked into the hut. Inuyasha stood outside for a moment and then looked at the hut door. He stared at it for a moment and then followed.

End of Chapter 2