Ohayou Minna! It's 12:42 A.M. hahaha. Thank you all for reviewing. I loved reading them... especially since I haven't gotten a flame yet. Have I spoken too soon? o.0 Sorry for the late update. I'm such a loser. Here you go!
Disclaimer: I did once... In my dreams... until my SOMEONE had to WAKE ME UP! Not naming any names, but it was a sweet dream. All hail Rumiko Takahashi for creating this wonderful anime! Can I please have it now? Please... I'll even do the puppy dog eyes.
Chapter Four: Why?
"Itta…Gomenasai," Kagome opened her eyes and gawked at what she had hit. It seemed to be quite irritated with her. "Inuyasha?"
A deep rumble answered her question. "Tell me ningen; is this how you wish to gain that hanyou's affection? Do you worship him or can you never cease to think about him?"
"Sesshoumaru… Gomen ne. For a spilt second, I thought that it was Inuyasha. You guys look…" Kagome paused for an instant and stood up immediately. "What do you mean I WORSHIP HIM! Mou, I just made a mistake alright. Go have a cow!"
"You dare to compare me to an unworthy hanyou? He is only HALF my blood and nothing more."
"Why do you always despise him so much? What did he ever do to you? Have you ever at least once tried to be a REAL brother? You must forgive him for being born then. Apparently, your otou-san loved Inuyasha's okaa-san and he had no say in it." Kagome didn't care if she made the youkai mad. He deserved every bit of her anger.
"You speak of things that do not concern you. Stay in your place." Sesshoumaru turned to leave, but Kagome's hand caught him.
"I do know what I'm talking about. I bet you don't know a thing about Inuyasha. He had to live a harsh life. Do you even know what it is like to be a hanyou? You're stuck between two worlds that won't accept you. He lost his mother and his childhood. He was stuck to a tree for fifty years because when he finally did find true love, Naraku had to destroy it. Everything that he has ever held precious was always taken away from him. What do you know about that? You are a youkai of nobility and power. You never had to worry about things like that." It took Sesshoumaru every ounce of concentration to suppress his anger. He tried to walk again, but Kagome only held on tighter.
"If you value your life, then take your hands off of me." Kagome pulled gently this time.
"What's your problem? Did you lack attention when you were younger? Were you psychologically damaged as a child?" Kagome regretted saying that, but she couldn't stop her escalating anger.
"You speak so fondly of your hanyou."
"His name is Inuyasha. Or have you forgotten that over the years of never using his name?"
"If you care for him so much, then why does he leave you for a dead miko made of dirt and bones?" Kagome stiffened and her eyes lost their focus on Sesshoumaru. "I can understand why. You are intolerable."
With another swift movement, Sesshoumaru disappeared. Kagome dropped to her knees and covered her face with her hands. No, she would not cry again. She needed to be strong. But these thoughts did not calm her. One by one unrestrained tears flowed down her pale face. She hated being weak.
With Inuyasha
Inuyasha began to stir from his sleep just as a few rays of light hit his form. He stretched his arms out and tilted his head toward the sleeping figure on his lap. She had a content expression on her pallid face.
"Ohayo, Inuyasha."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Hai, I wish we could always be like this, but I must leave now." Kikyou rose, but Inuyasha dragged her down again. "Inuyasha?"
"Kikyou, there is another way to defeat Naraku."
"Inuyasha, I told you before. Naraku can not be defeated with a sword. Midoriko and I agree that the Shikon no Tama must be completed and purified along with Naraku's heart. There is no other way."
"So you are willing to Sacrifice Kokahu's life? Kohaku and Sango are just like us. They were deceived by Naraku. Don't they deserve a second chance?" Kikyou stared blankly in front of her.
"Don't you think I tried already Inuyasha? There is no other way."
"What about my dragon scaled Tetsusaiga? If I learn to master it, then we could defeat Naraku without killing Kohaku. With your purifying powers, we will be able to defeat him. Will you join our group?"
Kikyou remained silent. She did want to save the young taijiya's life, but was it possible to defeat Naraku without the complete tama? "Please, Kikyou."
"What about my reincarnation, Kagome?"
"She… she won't be coming back. We had a big fight and she said that she doesn't want to see me anymore." 'Gomen Kagome, but it is too dangerous for you. I will keep my promise to Sango. Kohaku will not die. I can't leave Kikyou. Be safe Kagome, don't forget me.' Kikyou was skeptical, but she gave in anyway.
"Alright. Kohaku and I will join your group, for now. If your plan does not work, then I will defeat Naraku on my own terms."
"You'll never get the chance." Inuyasha pulled Kikyou into a tighter embrace. 'This is going to be the last time that I'll ever see Kagome.' Images of Kagome ran through his head. He remembered the first time that they had met each other, the stupid fights, and the food that she had brought with her from her time. He regretted not saying goodbye to her, but it was for her best interest. This was his final way of protecting her. After he said his silent goodbye to Kagome, Inuyasha stood up and cut down a tree with his claws. He took one last look at the well and shoved the tree into the opening. 'Sayonara, Kagome.'
"Kikyou go and bring Kohaku. I'm sure that Sango would be happy to see her brother." Kikyou nodded and disappeared into the forest. 'Now, how do I break it to everyone? Keh, Kagome was always better with words than me.' Inuyasha headed for Kaede's hut.
With Kagome
Kagome remained shaking on the floor unable to get up. 'Chikuso!' she thought. She dug her nails into the wood flooring and cursed herself for being so weak. Incapable of keeping herself up any longer, she fell heavily to the ground. She tried to keep her eyes focused, but the light kept on dimming. The last thing that she saw was a white figure standing over her. 'Sesshoumaru?'
Kagome felt something warm on her forehead. When she opened her eyes, two brilliantly shining doe brown eyes stared at her with evident concern. Kagome was then met with a gleaming smile.
"Kagome nee-san is awake! Rin was so worried about Kagome nee-san. Nee-san did not wake up for a whole day." Pools of water started to form in the girl's lively eyes. Kagome couldn't help but feel attached to the young girl.
"Don't be sad. I'm fine." 'Wow, I've been asleep for an entire day?' Although she felt exhausted, Kagome managed to move her hands and brush Rin's tears away with her fingers.
"Rin, can you tell mewho brought me here?" She hoped that it wasn't who she thought it was. Rin's smile widened to Kagome's discomfort.
"It was…" The little girl never got to finish thanks to Jaken's rude intrusion.
"Rin, you crazy ningen! I could hear you all the way down the corridors. Sesshomaru-sama gave me specific orders to make sure that this 'miko' was not disturbed. He will surely have my head for your foolish blunder. I will not be held responsible for you. Now get out of here! Oww.." Kagome decided that the imp had talked long enough and took the liberty of hitting him across the head.
"For someone who is trying to keep the peace around here, you sure do talk a lot. Stop yelling at Rin before I decide to be really mean."
"Why you ungrateful wench! How dare you insult me! Do you know who I am? You are lucky that you haven't met my staff of two heads. Learn your place ningen. I am your superior!"
"Look you little short… thing! Just because you are a youkai doesn't mean that you can push me around! I have the powers of a miko and you know what those powers can do to youkai such as yourself. What is up with this place and arrogant youkai? Sesshomaru seems to be rubbing off on everyone that he knows." Kagome knew her anger was toward Sesshomaru, but Jaken had pushed her temper. As the screaming contest continued, they failed to notice the absence of Rin. Apparently, she had latched herself to Sesshomaru, who had seen the entire fight.
"Enough!" Sesshomaru caught the pair off guard. "Jaken, take Rin outside."
"Hai, Sesshomaru-sama."
Once Rin and Jaken left, Kagome gave Sesshomaru an intense glare. Then, she sighed and let go of her angry stare. Kagome then placed her head on her knees hoping that he would go away. Sesshomaru stood near the entrance of the room watching the miko's every action. Minutes passed and Kagome could still feel the presence of the taiyoukai.
"What do you want Sesshomaru?"
"Do not behave in such a manner when you are around Rin."
"Gomen. Is that all?" Kagome really didn't feel like talking to the egotistical youkai. Her curt speech irritated Sesshomaru.
"Do not speak to this Sesshomaru in such a tone." This was a warning that he would give only once.
"I will speak the way I want to speak. It's called freedom of speech; you should read up on it." Kagome barely finished her sentence when Sesshomaru appeared in front of her with a flash of light. Her eyes widened as she felt his hand around her neck.
"You never cease to anger me, miko. It would only take a moment to end your pathetic life." Sesshomaru expected fear to radiate off of the miko, but he met defiance instead. Kagome clasped the futon sheets as her anger fueled her returning strength. She hit the floor with her hands and pushed herself up so that dark sapphire eyes met golden. Then, both hands reached out to tightly grasping Sesshomaru's assaulting arm.
"You know, your 'I'm going to kill you' routine is really starting to irritate me right about now. I suggest that you let go before something very unpleasant happens." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Are you implying that a mere ningen like yourself could harm me? Do YOU know to whom you are speaking to?" Kagome had enough. She quickly focused her energy warning Sesshomaru not to push her any further.
"I'm a weak ningen. To earn respect, you must first give it. Stop calling me weak. Also, I have a name. It's Kagome. Got that? Ka-go-me..." Sesshomaru did not want to hear anymore so he let go of her neck. He turned to leave, but Kagome still held on to his arm. "Matte, I'm not done." Sesshomaru growled in response.
"Forget it. There is no getting through to you. I didn't think that it was possible, but your arrogance surpasses Inuyasha's." Kagome let go of Sesshomaru, and he left the room without a word.
Kagome inwardly sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Fighting with Sesshomaru was even worse then getting into a fight with Inuyasha. 'I need a bath. Yah, a bath sounds really good right about now.' With that thought in mind, she walked across the room and retrieved some bathing supplies, clean underwear, a grey t-shirt, and black jogging pants. Luckily for Kagome, the indoor bathtub was just down the hallway. It took only a few minutes to prepare as the servants filled the tub with warm water. A small stove underneath the stone tub maintained a constant temperature that was both soothing and rejuvenating.
She entered the bathing area through a wooden door with a smooth coating. The door shut tightly so that it wouldn't release any of the steam that formed in the room. An equally coated bamboo floor surrounded the large stone tub. Two windows remained slightly open to allow ventilation. Kagome let her robe drop to the ground, and she entered the water with a content sigh. Water freely passed through her fingers as she dipped her hands in and out of the water. Then, she stroked while she watched the ripples that she made in a blithe manner. After a while, Kagome closed her eyes and submerged her entire body so that only her head could be seen. 'I wonder what Inuyasha is doing right now?'
With Inuyasha
"What do you mean she's not coming back Inuyasha!" Sango nearly screamed at Inuyasha.
"What did you do to Kagome?" Shippou wailed.
"Shut up runt! I'm trying to explain."
"By all means, please tell us." Inuyasha flinched at Miroku's stern words. 'Kuso.'
"I've sealed the well so that she can't come back. Look, it was gettin' too dangerous for her. I did what was best for her. She doesn't belong here anyway. She is better off in her own time." Though Inuyasha started out in an audible voice, he finished in a near whisper tone. He felt like he was convincing himself more than he was trying to convince his friends.
"And did you ask Kagome-sama about your decision?" Miroku spoke firmly. Silence came from the hanyou.
"You didn't even ask her, did you? Why do you always think about yourself first? She is not a child, and she can make her own decision. Why Inuyasha?" Sango's voice continued to rise. Shippou's crying was starting to affect her too.
"Listen, I'm not done yet." Inuyasha took a few breaths and continued. "I've asked Kikyou to join our group. Since Kagome won't be here, Kikyou will help us detect the shards. She is also bringing Kohaku."
"Kohaku." Tears started to trail down Sango's face. Kirara brushed her soft fur against Sango's hand in attempt to comfort her.
Sango had so many mixed emotions that she could not stay in the hut any longer. She walked outside hoping that the fresh air would calm her nerves. Miroku followed carrying hiraikotsu. Shippou continued to cry, but soon fell asleep clutching the blanket that Kagome had given. Kirara remained awake next to Shippou. Inuyasha sat with his back against the wall and Tetsusaiga on his shoulder.
"I'm going to miss that child. Her presence was much welcomed here," Kaede said this while stirring the morning stew. Inuyasha's eyes were on the floor.
"Do you think I did the right thing Kaede baabaa?"
"Ye should have talk to Kagome first."
"Yah, but you already know that she wouldn't have stayed in her time."
"So you then asked onee-san to take Kagome's place in the group. This way Kagome returns to her time, and you would finish the battle. Kagome is a strong girl and she has always helped you defeat all adversaries that came in your way. Was there another reason why you chose to take these actions?" Inuyasha's head lowered.
"Nothing gets past you does it?"
"Do you plan to go to hell with my nee-san?"
"Yes."
Miroku found Sango sitting on a log near the edge of the forest. He placed hiraikotsu on a tree nearby and sat next to Sango with his staff next to him.
"Houshi-sama." Sango was startled Miroku encircled his arms around her and pulled her against himself. He lightly placed his chin on head and breathed deeply.
"Sango, I know that you will miss Kagome-sama. Though Inuyasha was wrong for not consulting Kagome-sama or us about his decision, his motives were in the best interest for all of us an extent. Kagome-sama was a great strength to us all and she will be missed here, but we could not ask her to stay here with us forever. She had to return to her life in the future with her family and friends someday, though we hoped it would be after the defeat of Naraku. She is safe there and I'm sure that she will not forget us." Miroku closed his eyes praying to Kami-sama that all would go well.
"She was there when I needed to talk to someone. She was always so kind and thoughtful. I would proudly say that she was my sister." Sango shifted her head to hear Miroku's steady heartbeat. The soothing drum relaxed her and her tears stopped.
"Sango," Miroku spoke in a serious voice. "You don't have to be strong alone." Sango's eyes opened wide.
"Don't try to solve every problem by yourself. You are not alone. I know that I can be unbearable at times, but I promise you that I will never leave your side. You are the most important person in my life and I want to know everything about you. If there is something that pains you, then please share it with me. If you ask it of me, I will die for you without hesitation. I love you Sango and I give you my heart unconditionally."
"Miroku," Sango didn't know what to say. Could she really rely on this hentai houshi? Her heart knew the answer to that question. "Arigatou." Sango wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down.
"So houshi, what will you do when you finally get what you have always asked for?"
"What do you mea…?" Miroku found that he could not finish his question. Sango had done the unexpected when she pulled his neck down further to close the gap between their lips. Her soft petal like lips held so much passionate that he could not compare it to anything that he had felt before. He closed his eyes, thanked Kami-sama for his fortune, and hoped that he could equally return her gift.
Wow.. I finally got another chapter. I don't think that this was a really good chapter, but that is up to you. Hope that you guys like it.
Lemons? Limes? If Sesshomaru and Kagome ever stop fighting. Hahahahahah! Please review. I LOVE INPUT! Sayonara!