Sayonara, Miko-Goodbye, Priestess
Inuyasha wandered aimlessly through the dense, thick forest, thinking to himself as he swallowed the growing lump that still remained in his throat. He had forgotten what it was like to lose someone dear to him.
His mother.
She was gone a long time ago... but it never made him hurt as much.
The pain surged through him as he remembered her talks with him in this forest. How the ancient well had fated them together. The gods didn't make an accident at sending her to the fuedal ages. She was destined... and he screwed it up. Inuyasha wondered how he was going to live, now that Kagome was gone. All the times that he had denied his blooming love for her... how he told everyone that Kikyou was his only love... and that he would never part with her... lies... He had once told Kagome that they couldn't see each other anymore... because he was busy thinking about Kikyou. He had never really loved her. He was protecting her... always the protector... never the lover that Kikyou so desperately wanted him to be. Though, when she died... he sort of... grew attached. Since that witch Urasue brought her back from her rest, Naraku was a growing threat to her and she needed his protection.
The first that Inuyasha ever saw Kagome... she was an angel in his eyes. He knew she wasn't Kikyou. She tore him from the tree... away from the sacred arrow that Kikyou had used on him 50 years ago. Why would it be Kikyou? She was the one that sealed him, and she seemingly sealed him for a good reason... because he was trying to steal the Shikon. Just for his own selfish purposes. (But, at the time... he wanted to be powerful.) Plus, Naraku tricked Kikyou into thinking that he was the one that injured her.
He felt his feet graze the mighty roots of the Goshinboku and he stopped to stare at the never ending twists of branches and leaves. The sunlight melted between the holes, and burned light onto the ground like millions of tiny, radiant, beams.
'Kagome...' he reached to feel the bark and grazed it with his nails, '...you are the one that saved me...' he dug his nails deeply into the great tree and began marring it with unsuppressed rage.
"KAGOME!" He began calling her name fiercely... crying out to her, hearing it echo mockingly back at him throughout the forest, surrounding him. The birds took one look at him with their beaded eyes and flew safely away. Inuyasha released his suppressed agony that he had to keep within himself for so long. Miroku, Sango, and Shippou would have never accepted his reactions to everything that had happened with him recently. So he kept it safely tucked away in his heart... as much as he had grown to love Kagome... she drove him crazy... what, with her dim-witted style and the way that she lost her temper when he didn't compliment on her cooking...
'Well, a woman isn't supposed to intervene when a man is eating... I mean, I was eating it wasn't I?'
He got upset with her at times, and that never stopped her from coming up with dumb reasons to go back home.
'I have a test to study for!'
Inuyasha sighed.
Every time she went home was when his life went to the miasma. It was like being stabbed with his brother, Sesshomaru's, poison claws a million times over. His power was drained, he was more temperamental with everyone, and everyday, he awaited beside the well, until her return was finally granted. He felt like hugging her every time that she came back. It was just like a saying that Kagome had recited to him a long time ago.
'You never know how much you love something, until it's gone.. remember that Inuyasha.'
'Kagome...' He fell to his knees and glowered at his bark-filled, bleeding nails.
"So... this is what I have become?" he announce to no one.
"And all you will be, Inuyasha..." a cold voice said from behind him, her soft, ghostly footsteps sending shivers down his spine. Inuyasha turned sharply and growled at the miko.
"Kikyou!" he snapped at her, "You killed her!" He bore his sharp teeth and his claws ached with the desire for vengence, "You vile beast" he spat.
She withdrew from him and gasped, "I-Inuyasha! I thought you would be happy with her gone! Do you understand what this means?" she smiled, and put her hands out to him.
Inuyasha shot her a tenebrous glance and backed away. He knew what this meant...
"You can finally fulfill your promise to me! We can... after all of these years of waiting... we can go to hell together! Finally..." she smiled an excited smile and she sighed, "an eternity with the one that I love!" she praised ceremoniously.
Inuyasha quirked and then laughed at her stupidly, recognizing the look on her face. It was the face that Kagome gave him when she was confused. Except Kagome pulled it off much better, "You don't remember do you, Kikyou?" he chuckled, remembering back to the conversation that they had over 50 years ago, "I said that I would descend to hell with the one that I love..."
Kikyou raised her chin up slightly, "What are you saying?" she said darkly, squinting her eyes at him, with a look to kill.
Inuyasha simply crossed his arms and snorted, "Doesn't it seem obvious to you? I don't desire the woman you are now. I don't love you anymore." he said this with such a confidence, it felt as if he was just talking of the weather. He knew it infuriated her, because the second he let this escape from his lips, her dark heart reverberated throughout the forest. He took great pride in this, and he smirked evilly.
"H-how could you Inuyasha? After all that we shared? You forgot---"
"Kikyou!" he intervened, "Get it through your thick skull! What ever "love" we had faded away 50 years ago, simply burning with your ashes!" he shouted ferociously.
Kikyou looked at her pale hands and whimpered pathetically, "This body does not suit you?" she balled her fists and put them to her face, screwing her face into a contorted look of sadness.
The hanyou merely stared at her in disgust, "It wasn't your body that was lost... It was the spirit that made me fall for you and the love that you always had. But from the time that hag resurrected you, Kikyou, you haven't been the same. It's like, everything was washed away, and from then on, all I wished for you was your needed rest. All the spirit and life that was lost in you was reborn through Kagome."
Kikyou snapped up and her tears flew from her face, in fiery diamonds and her face turned into a look of pure hatred, "How DARE you compare me with that retched girl!" she charged and shot purple electricity bolts through Inuyasha's very being.
The hanyou bit his lip hard and grunted, trying to keep his composure. He gripped Kikyou's thin neck as he spoke, "You are not Kikyou! Just a clay model of her! I don't love dirt!"
Kikyou wailed as her tears burned the sides of her face, "No! Inuyasha! I love you! I love you Inuyasha! Once we have all of the Shikon, I can be made into a real woman, and you... a full human! And we can live together! We can finally be together forever! As normal human beings! It'll all be so perfect!"
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her as her electricity ceased, "Oh, gee, sounds tempting. I would just love to be sapped of my power to be just like you." he said sarcastically, watching as every bit of Kikyou's face began to dissipate into Inuyasha's hands.
"NO! INUYASHA! PLEASE!" she cried.
Inuyasha laughed and shook his head, "I'm sorry Kikyou. As much pain as you have caused me, I don't think this even begins to cover it." he looked angrily at her and gripped her neck firmly.
"Don't let me die like this! I swear to you, Inuyasha, I will go quietly, I will descend to hell without you! Don't kill me! Please!"
Inuyasha puckered his lip out sarcastically, "Oh, Kikyou, cry me a river, but I still won't believe that. And besides, I am being nice compared to what you would endure in hell. I am going to give you a proper burial. Again." he smirked, "Now, I want to tell you something.."
Part of Kikyou's cheek flew off and her tears still burned her face, "Wh-what?"
"I just want you to know..." He leaned in to her, boring soft amber eyes into her dark chocolate eyes.
She gasped and she leaned into him, "Inuyasha..."
Inuyasha pulled her slightly away, unnoticeable by her, and whispered sickly in her ear, "I don't love you anymore."
Kikyou gasped and writhed, as the last of her body swept away with ash and graveyard soil and flew away with the cold wind. He watched as her ashes circled and disappeared with the clouds and heavens.
"And as the spirit of the body meets the sky, so does the soul take flight.." Inuyasha murmured, remembering another verse that Kagome told him one night when she was giving a deceased woman her burial. She had gotten so good at everything that Keade had taught her. She knew just as much as Kikyou knew at 3 years of training at the shrine, in just the year that she had been here. Kagome had gotten so far...
Inuyasha fell to his knees and looked to the ground, with his arms lazily lying beside his sides, a look of regret on his face... what was he going to do now? Fight until he got the remaining jewel shards? But who was there to fight for? There was no point... I guess it was time to throw in the towel... he would just cease the fighting and go on with his life as a normal person, just disappear forever, leaving his friends behind... he didn't know what to tell them.
'Hey guys! Kagome's dead and I just killed Kikyou! Let's go shard hunting!" he had lost the key people who could feel the presence of shards, so there really was no reason to even go back.
He took the remaining shards with him and connected them, making over one half of the jewel. Inuyasha took a long sniff of the air, realizing that Kagome's scent still lingered. He picked himself off the ground and lifted his knees as he began at a slow jog, steadily picking up speed, still scanning the air with his nose for her scent.
Running reminded him of Kagome. Everything around him reminded him of her. Breathing, singing, dancing, speaking, running, crying, loving, sadness, anger, happiness... all of her. He ran faster and came to a slow stop at a cliff overlooking the sea, her scent was stronger here. He looked over the cliff and her scent hit him with a strong force. He cringed and shook his head, trying to clear the rising feelings. He hovered his fisted hand over the cliff and felt a tremor go through his body like an earthquake. Inuyasha had worked so hard for this jewel, every piece that resided safe inside, belonged to the group. But there was no stopping him. He felt he was doing the right thing... it was from his heart. With much dismay, he tossed the jewel over and watched as it tumbled and fell awkwardly. He turned before he could see it hit the ocean, silver hair flapping in the wind.
Inuyasha then made a run for the well, feeling the despair rising in his throat, coming to him again. He had to be strong for Mrs. Higurashi, and the old man... but more especially for that little brother of Kagome's, Souta. The news won't be great at all... and seeing as he is going to Kagome's house without Kagome, then they would know that something was definitely wrong. But not telling them would crush them even more. He straddled the edge of the well, afraid of what was to come. Inuyasha shook the fear away and dived through the well... one last time.
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Link reached the mouth of the entrance of the Lost Woods, and began the short journey around the hill to his house. Lately, he began to wonder about Zelda. There were days where he would go and visit and the only thing that she would say to him was "I'm busy Link..." or, "Come back later, Link..." and let's not forget, "I don't have the time for you, Link..."
All of which really got him pissed off. All he wanted was to be with her. Link had saved her from certain death... saved the kingdom... better yet, saved her kingdom... she never asked him how he was doing, only that she was too busy to do anything. What was so exhausting about being queen of Hyrule? What did she have to do? It was harder job to be a farmer then queen of the world.
He sighed, turning to climb his ladder, being sure that he didn't stir the maiden in his arms.
In fact, Kagome, being a goddess, had more time with him then Zelda did, and Kagome's job was far more interesting and difficult than Zelda's was. He looked down at Kagome and swallowed. The bed was still in a disarray of blankets and pillows from the many nights of untidiness from Link. He wandered over and placed Kagome once more on the softness, hearing her soft, little, sigh.
Link's eyes quivered for a second as he remembered a time where he fell madly, head-over-heels, in love for Zelda. She was so beautiful standing in the light of the Hyrulian sun. Her golden hair would just wave and flip in the wind, and she and Link always put their feet in the Zora's streams. Zelda would play her ocarina to the frogs and they would sing and dance about. Sometimes, Link would even catch himself staring at her, and when she turned to look at him, she would give him a bright smile and ask...
"Link, will we always be together?"
But Link would just go on staring at Zelda. Most of the time, he would nod, but other times he would just stand and take her hand, and they would walk about the fields... neither of them saying a word... just enjoying the feeling of each other's company. When the darkness of the night over-ruled the land, he would walk her home and he would call his horse to him, waving a gentle goodbye to her and riding off, looking back at her waving, smiling figure.
But now, those times were gone. She no longer met him at the gate for a ride on Epona, or a walk around the field, or anything. Once, she told him that she would, so, Link hurried to the gate, awaiting Zelda's arrival... but much to Link's disappointment, she never showed up. He waited well after the sun had lay between the mountains and the darkness had brought it's blanket of stars over the sky. So, that was the last time that she had ever contacted him... except to request his "assistance."
Link wondered if they would ever gain their love back. He knew that she loved him and he liked her back. There was no breaking that. But that is just what they knew... nothing had gone on between them since the purification of Hyrule. He didn't know what to do. Link wished so hard that she would return his feelings again... return it to the way that it was. He liked those feelings that he got when he was around Zelda.
"Zelda..." he whispered sadly.
"Who's that?" a small voice called from the bed.
Link jumped, "When did you wake up?" he asked nervously, wringing his gloved fingers.
Kagome giggled, "Just a little while... I felt something out of order in the room... what's wrong Link? I can practically taste your jittery-ness!" she laughed and sat up slowly, staring at him kindly with wide grey brown eyes.
Link smirked and then calmed. Somehow, Kagome made him feel better... and even greater when he was better.. and it wasn't just because she was a goddess, he knew it was more than that. It was the feeling of gaining a friend. He had felt it before. It made him want to feel it again and again.
"Who? Zelda?" he stole a look over to her and scanned her body.
"Yeah.." she replied gently.
"Oh... um... just an old friend.." how could he say that? after all of the reminiscing and crap that he had just thought about... how could he say... "just an old friend.." she was supposed to be more than just a friend... wasn't she? Gods was he so confused. He hardly knew what to say.
But he finally got the bearings to speak up, "Actually, Kagome, I think that she is someone that you should meet!" he said with as much enthusiasm as possible, but he didn't know how Zelda would react... hell... he didn't know if she'd even want to see him, much less a new friend of his. Would she be jealous? She had been known to do as such.
"How is she?" she smiled, putting her hands in her lap.
Link turned, "Come again? Ne... she's fine." perplexed at her question.
"Oh, so she's pretty?" she said, confused.
"No! That's not what I meant! What do you mean?"
Kagome laughed loudly, "O-oh! I meant what is she like!" she laughed some more and she stepped from the bed and sat on the floor at Link's eye-level, blinking at him with beautiful orbs.
Link's face was no more than an inch from hers and he suddenly grew very, very warm, as all of the blood rushed to his face. He wasn't fast enough to hide it and Kagome raised an eyebrow at him.
"What, Link? Why are you blushing, hmm?" she asked innocently, smiling a half seductive, half cutesy smirk.
"I-I uh..." he stumbled upon his words. How come she could be so damn cute, and still get away with being the Goddess of Eternity?
'Oh, damn!' he felt the heat rising in his cheeks and he could feel the flicker of a soft finger on his face.
"My goodness, Link, you are as red as a beet!" she slid her finger down his face and to his chin. She smiled and she stood up, "Well, then, I'll be right back." she walked from the house and her soft footsteps clonked on the wooden ladder. Link listened until her steps touched grass and faded slowly away.
"Oh, Gods..." he desperately attempted to wipe away the hot feeling... taking deep, shaky breaths. But it was still there, he could feel it, a heat wave of emotions, going from his body to his face and stabbing at his heart. Kagome was so beautiful---
Before he could finish that thought, he heard several voices outside his house, "Oi! Link, get your butt out here!" it was Mido... he had always picked fights with Link... ever since they were kids.
"Mido! I'm not in the mood for your crap!" he yelled in reply.
"Whattaya, scared?" he taunted.
"Phfft, scared of what?" he went to the doorway, folding his arms in front of him, and tapping his foot, looking down at the small posse that Mido had gained. Didn't take much for him to gain "followers." He was a bully. Link rolled his eyes and jumped down from his house, onto the ground, in front of them. The ones behind Mido gasped a little, but then regained their composure.
"What do you want, brat?" Link said, smirking inwardly at the small array of snickers behind Mido. The small, snotty, Kokiri turned and made a face at them, and they shutup. He turned back around and crossed his arms.
"So, Link, why so red? That woman went to the spring to fetch you some water... wonder what for? Are yeh sick?" he smirked.
Link crossed his eyebrows, "No, ass face."
"Oooo, potty-mouth!" Mido said tauntingly.
"I'd say he was sick!" one called from the back of the crowd.
"Yeah! Lovesick!" another shouted, receiving a roar of laughter, especially from Mido.
Link turned red again. Why couldn't he control that? Like, an on/off switch or something.
"N-no... no it's not like that! Kagome is just my friend, just a really good friend.." he said assuringly.
"Riiiiiigghhht... sure, Link, I believe that!" he snickered, turning to face his crowd, "Agreed?" he said to them.
But what he didn't notice was that Link had taken the back of his collar and picked him cleanly from the ground, earning a gasp from the group, and an irritated growl from Mido.
"Oi, you big jerk, put me down!" he was thrashing about under Link's grip.
"I don't know who's the bigger jerk here, you or me." he scoffed.
"What!" he yelled
"You know what I'm talking about... all of these people... you've got them followin' you around, just cause you can't take care of yourself!" Link said calmly, yet firmly.
"B-but they love me! They are my friends! Aren't you guys?" he turned in a circle to face his posse, but they were all concealed within their own laughter.
"Gee, Mido, you can't live on your own? Gotta have the Great Deku Tree feed you dew and sap from a spoon?" one said, still chuckling, earning more laughter.
"Sh-shutup! Shutup! All of you! I can live on my own!" he croaked, still writhing in Link's grip on his tunic.
"Lemme go you great big galoot!" he said, digging his earthen fingernails into Link's wrists.
"Ah!" he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes and dropping Mido on the ground with a great "whoosh" of dirt and grass. Link turned around and headed up his ladder.
"Hey, Mido! Take this as a lesson of 'getting a taste of your own medicine.'" he scoffed.
"Oh, can it and save it for later!" he called back.
"C'mon, Mido." said a girl, picking him up by the arm and dragging him from the ground, brushing the dirt and earth from his clothes.
"Thanks... I guess." Link heard Mido say.
That was new.. he had never heard Mido actually be grateful, to anyone... even if it was half-hearted.
Link sat upon his bed and sighed, cupping his face in his hands. She had him from the day that he met her, and he knew that, it just was really hard to admit. How short they had known each other! Yet, he was falling for her every second. He had to gain control of himself. Maybe when he saw Zelda, the feelings for Kagome would all change.
'I wouldn't have to worry about hurting her. It's not too late..' he thought suddenly, but then the excitement of the discovery soon faded. He couldn't do that to himself, but he had to talk to Zelda no matter what... the sprouting, growing, emotions that seeped from him were not for Zelda... they were for the maiden. No matter how hard he had tried to convince himself differently.
Link ran his hands over his face and reached up to take the hat from his head. An angry blue faerie shot from the green depths, shouting curses and pinging the teen elf in the head.
"Hey! Hey! Stop it!" he grabbed at the fiery spirit, but that only earned another ping in the head, "Dammit, Navi! Stop!" he finally got a hold of her body, and when he looked at her she was fuming... a look of anger, crossed eyebrows, pursed lips, the works.
"Now, what's your problem?" her attitude had gotten him worked up... really fast.
"Link! Do you know how hot it was in there! What, with your stubborn emotions!" she mocked the word.
"Hey, now... don't you go wailin' at me!" he brought her close to his face, her tiny form clutched tightly in the prison of his fist.
"I asked you nicely, yelled at you, pounded on your freaking head for lord knows how long!" she fumed.
"I had no idea.." he smirked and released her, almost dropping her, but she caught up with gravity and began hovering in front of Link's eyes.
"You know, Link... that woman... you like her don't you?" she gave him a look of poorly hidden sadness.
"Damn, am I really that transparent?" he scratched the back of his head.
Navi looked down at the ground, solemnly, "I knew it. The last time you ever acted that jittery was at the beginning of your relationship with Zelda. But this time was more fierce, though." she began to turn.
Link shook his head and grabbed at her, "Navi, you know that you and I have a special bond. You've been with me through thick and thin! You are a true friend in my eyes." he said reassuringly sweet to her.
The smallest of tears formed in Navi's crystal eyes but didn't fall, "Link..." she smiled and flew in to give him a soft kiss on his temple... the sweep of her lips felt like the caress of the gentlest butterfly upon his face, and it left a tingle in it's wake. Link smiled. He didn't love Navi, but she and him always had been friends, and it would stay that way.
"You too..." she smiled wistfully and turned with grace, flying out of the window.
Link could picture her in the near future with the one that she truly felt for. Some faerie, somewhere was wishing that Navi was there, by their side... for all of time. It would happen... and when it did, she would thrive.
"Link... are you alright?" Kagome asked from the outside of the house.
He turned to her face and smiled, "Kagome... are you ready to go?" he smirked and stood up, walking to her.
"But Link, here." she put the rag to his face and dabbed gently,all over his face, cheeks and neck. She was doing it again... though, this time, it was completely innocent... just a simple dab of a rag sent him to a place where it was just him and her, and they had nothing better than to sit with each other... simply being.
"Kagome... st-stop..." he choked.
Kagome ceased immediately and put the rag to her side, "Gomen! Was it too cold? I-I can go and make it warmer if you wanted.. that would be no problem I mean all I would have to do was----"
"No.. Kagome... it's alright.."
Kagome dropped the rag to the floor.
Link looked to the ground where the rag lay in a wet heap and stopped Kagome when she bent to pick it up.
"Just leave it.." he swallowed, "Let's go.." he took her hand and was quite surprised to find that she accepted... gripping his hand firmly. He moved his hand ever-so-slightly and linked fingers with her, blushing madly. Link turned to face her and bent down.
"Get on... It'll be faster... though, you're going to have to hang on tight!" he smiled.
Feeling the soft weight of her body on his back, he walked to the balcony, "Now, it would be best to keep your mouth closed."
He jumped before she could answer and slammed on the ground with a loud "thump." Link let her slowly to the ground.
"You alright?" he asked, gripping her hand again.
"Yeah. I was fixing to ask why I should keep my mouth closed, but I found out soon enough." she giggled.
Kagome linked fingers with Link and pulled at his arm, "So, where are we going?"
Link looked deep into her eyes, leaning into her ear, and whispered huskily... maybe a little bit too husky for such a small occasion, "It's a surprise..."
Kagome smirked and pulled on his arm once more, "Well then, let's go!"
Link took a moment to gaze at her... her body... her smile... her laugh... her personality... just... everything... she was so perfect. He watched her smile once more... ever since he met her.. she never stopped smiling. It was like a beautiful curse, and she wasn't the only one inflicted with it. He walked forward, towards the Hyrule Fields, with her following by his side. Link ignored the snickers and "ooooo!"'s from the Kokiri children as he passed by them. It was just Kagome and him... that was it.
They walked through the dark tunnel and across the bridge that held one of the more awe-inspiring areas about The Forest. All of the faeries gathered here in their spare time to play about and talk amongst one another.
"This is so pretty, Link!" her voice echoed through the area.
Link kept walking, "Yeah, I know... one of my favorite places to think.."
"I can see how it would be!" she exclaimed as they exited the area and out into the bright sun.
"Welcome to Hyrule Field!" Link said grandly, waving his hand over the tall grass that waved amber in the high sun, the water that sang to him a sweet symphony of greeting, and the wind that blew a hello to the both of them as they made their way across the meadows.
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END! I am so proud of this chapter! MUCH FLUFF! LINK AND KAGOME ROCK THE HOUSE YALL! I tried looking for stories today but i couldn't find anything! doesnt that create a vacuum? (suck) but i am glad that i finally got this chapter done, it took me 4 hours of yesterday, (December 27) and about 8 hours of today! (December 28) but that also includes editing and writing and all that sheez. But i finally got it done and got it done right!
RXR!
luv KagomeInuyasha09 (btw, i dunno why i have kagome and inuyasha together on my name, but i like inuyasha and I like kagome! But the romance is kinda over-used! I much rather read Sesshomaru/Kagome!)