Adoration and Fidelity

I am very proud of this fan fiction so far. I noticed that many of the readers seemed to enjoy how detailed it is. I will try my very best to continue being detailed as so.

Rating: M for Mature

Warnings: Sexual Content; Extreme violence; Offensive Language

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I do own the storyline.

Recap:

"Kagome, can you tell me what your dream was about?" Inuyasha asked sternly, leaning forward. Kagome frowned. Had she been talking in her sleep?

"Um... no..."

"W..."

"It's nothing important Inuyasha. It was just some simple nightmare." She replied. Inuyasha looked to the side in thought. 'There's nothing simple about it.' He wondered if the dream was a warning of some kind. With one look at Kagome's inquiring expression, he decided to let it go for now.

End Recap

Chapter 3: A Spring's Bliss

The night was warm and unusually calming. There were many fabulous stars in the sky, which was a leisurely velvety dark blue on this night. The air had a fresh smell, as it usually did in the feudal ages. They had no air pollution and no trash to be thrown all over the place, plus none of them could smoke.

Within a hut, where seven forms rested, was a miko known as Kagome. It had been a couple days since the battle with Naraku and her mind had still yet to settle. She looked around the dark room. All of the others were fast asleep. Miroku and Sango had only became conscious the day before.

The two had been confused at first, but it only took them a moment or so to recognize what was going on. Things had been fairly quiet between Inuyasha and Kagome, probably because neither of them wanted to get into a conversation and have it suddenly shifted to the problem at hand. Their choices.

Kagome still needed some thinking time and all this contemplating was getting on her nerves. She wanted to talk and blurt out everything she was feeling deep down. If she had enough energy she would get up and just run as far away from the others as she could, so she could scream all her inner rage and emotions out to the world and get it off of her chest.

"Let's see..." Kagome began to have recollections of the battle. What she could remember at least...

Flashback

Kagome ran out into the field. It was half way through the fight and already hundreds of innocents had died. The sight made Kagome sick to her stomach. She covered her nose to keep herself from smelling not only the miasma, but the dead as well.

The darkened sky loomed over head, discouraging a happy ending. With each gust of wind, more poison seemed to flow from the beast that was Naraku.

Inuyasha had wasted a large quantity of energy fighting off minor demons. Running over to the center of the area, Inuyasha went to slice through anothor hinderence of a demon. Just by glancing at him, Kagome could tell that he was holding most of his fury within. He was saving those emotions for Naraku himself, and from the contorted look on Inuyasha's face, Kagome also knew that Naraku would be in for a beating once Inuyasha faced him head on.

Kagome turned, sensing something. To her side, way up on a hill, was one of the last people she had wanted to see.

Kikyo. She stood there with unhappy grace. The woman's eyes stayed alert and directed towards the hanyou, Inuyasha. She would be a distraction. She always was.

From the looks of it, the priestess seemed to be just watching. She would not enter the battle and Kagome tried contemplating on why that was. She could not come up with an answer, other than the woman was waiting for a certain time to strike.

"Kikyo!" Kagome called out as she jolted towards the undead priestess, bow in hand. She began to climb the hill, once large step out of a time. Kikyo gave her a cold stare, waiting.

Kagome was forced to turn away quickly when she sensed a demon sneeking up behind her. She gasped. The demon was in the air. He had pounced for her, his new prey. She wanted to scream. She had no time to shoot an arrow. She was cornered.

"Damn!" Inuyasha barked as he sliced the demon in two. "What the hell are you doing?" Inuyasha asked. He followed Kagome's eyes up the hill, only to see nothing. "W..."

"I saw... never mind." Kagome's eyes dropped. She slid down and off the hill. It was time to continue the battle. The young miko knew Inuyasha was aware Kikyo had been there. He didn't act like it, but she could always tell from that look in his eyes. That forsaken, sad expression that covered his features and radiated off of his form.

"When the hell is that damn Naraku going to show himself?" Inuyasha yelled in annoyance. Kagome understood that he was just trying to change the subject to something less dramatic. "He's only sending his fucking puppets and screwed up creations." Inuyasha growled a little louder. He didn't have the patience for this. It was obvious that the demon was just trying to weeken them.

"Oh no! Miroku!" Kagome cried out as her eyes came upon a demon coming up behind her friend at a rapid speed. Inuyasha's own eyes widened and he quickly went to kill the demon before he got to his ally.

That had left Kagome out in the open and vulnerable. A demon quickly came up on the side of the girl, seeing its chance. It slashed her arm before she even noticed it was coming her way. If she hadn't have been so perplexed on the Kikyo matter, she would not have been harmed at that moment.

End Flashback

Kagome winced at the memory and placed a glance on her bandaged arm. Though, the arm wasn't what Kagome had been most concerned about than. She had wondered what was going through Inuyasha's mind, concerning Kikyo. He had probably wanted to run off and make sure she was alright, just as he always did.

Kagome frowned. He always wanted to make sure the undead priestess was fine and that's what made Kagome know he still had some feelings for the cold miko. She sighed. Did she even have to ask him which one he would choose? Wasn't it obvious that after all of this time he would choose Kikyo? Well... wasn't it?

'No.' Half of Kagome's mind told her. The more sensible half.

'Yes.' Another half said. The more depressed half.

Kagome shook her head as both parts of her mind went back and forth, squabbling about whether the answer was yes or no.

Kagome suddenly got up completely. She decided that it was time to go for a walk. She paid no attention to how weak she was at the moment, because everyone knew that the power of the brain and heart was greater than the power of the body. So even though her body protested, her brain needed a walk. Her heart needed some peace.

Kagome looked around. She was taken aback when she realized that Inuyasha had not yet woken from his sleep. He usually did at the slightest of movements. She had to admit - she was glad he didn't. This meant that nothing would get in her way.

Kagome exited the hut, without looking back. She only paid mind to what was ahead of her and where she would go. She was not cold in the night's warm breeze. Thankfully, she was able to see fine beneath the bright, glowing moonlight. 'Such a beautiful night.' Kagome eyes sparkled. She felt so peaceful. She could easily ignore the pain with this soothing sensation.

Kagome ambled out past the village and into the forest. She was not completely aware of where she was headed, but she truly did not care. As long as she knew her way back, than everything would be fine. She had no ominous feelings that a demon was prowling around, so she felt safe. She had forgotten to bring her weapon, but it would have been no use anyway, seeing as she was to weak to pick it up and shoot an arrow at a full enough speed to harm any demons.

Something was pulling Kagome in the direction she was going and she did not know what it was. She just needed to go. She felt it was her duty. Kagome pushed past a bush and another one. The ground beneath her was full of fresh grass, which looked almost black in the night. All the trees cast down shadows that she walked right through without a single drip of fear, like she may have usually had. She trusted this place. She trusted ever last little speck of dirt. She was positive no evil had recently been to this spot. If that was the case she would have felt a more contaminated sensation running up her spine.

Kagome's heart suddenly started pounding. She had no idea why. Everything seemed the same as before. She had no bad feelings, which meant her heart was pounding because of something... good. 'What's happening?' Kagome wondered as she moved another few bushes to the side. She gasped.

Kagome stood, looking at one of the most beautiful things she had seen in ages. It was a hot spring, but none like she had ever seen before. This hot spring glimmered with a luminescent light. The light made it look a silky blue. Kagome's body and soul yearned to step into the liquid. It was calling to her. The spring was controlling and needing of a human body. Kagome was unable to resist this call as it basically hypnotized her.

She headed towards it, her heart speeding up a bit more. She stepped closer and closer until she had to move a single inch to be in the water. She hesitated.

"Come..." A beckoning order. Kagome nodded her head and stepped the last inch. With all her clothing she fell into the water, sinking down. Bubbles surrounded her as they floated to the top. She continued to sink. She was not completely aware of what was going on, but in a sense she was.

Her body stayed completely still as she stared at the source of light that floated in the shinning waters. Kagome could feel as sweet relief. All her bandages came undone and glided off her now radiating body. Her mind screamed questions, but her body ignored it this one time and allowed the feeling of pain turning to pleasure to take a hold of her.

Kagome looked at her hands. She stared at them as her cuts slowly disappeared. Amazed was just what Kagome was. She was not weirded out, just astonished. As soon as the last of her pain had fallen away, Kagome could only stare at the light. She needed to touch it. She just had to. She felt as though she could breathe forever.

Kagome swam towards the light. This time her mind was screaming, 'No. Something's not right.' Even after everything she had heard about not following the light, she still refused to listen. All she wanted was the pleasurable feeling of being better. All better.

Kagome's worn hand reached out slowly. The light seemed to fade a little under the hands shelter. Kagome touched the light...

She pulled it back immediately and realized she could not move. She needed air now! She had to get it and she couldn't! Kagome coughed. That was a mistake, because that had been the last of her air. Kagome looked up desperately. The top of the water looked like melted pure silver. 'Help!' Kagome's lungs tightened up. She was drowning! No, she couldn't. It was just to ironic. After surviving battle after battle with deadly demons she was going to die for making a mistake and drowning!

Kagome was so weak once more. She had no air. She had lost all of her energy and could not hold on any longer. She opened her eyes a tad and looked up towards the top of the spring. She saw something move. A ghostly hand reached into the water and grabbed her breathless form, pulling her out. Kagome closed her eyes.

There was a great relief for Kagome lungs as air finally entered. She kept her eyes closed, sucking in the much needed and wanted oxygen. Kagome slowly re-opened her eyes. She looked around. She was once more stunned this evening. No one was around her. Who had saved her? The spring had disappeared! Was it ever there to begin with? 'Did I pass out? Was it all just some dream?' Kagome asked herself, but feeling a cold chill she noticed her body was soaked and her wounds had gone away. She did not know what to think about all of this. 'What kind of spring was that? I'm healed... I feel like a thousand bucks!' Kagome knew this would not be the last time she would hear about or see the spring. Something told her she would know more soon, but for now she just had to be patient and wait.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha called. Kagome looked to her side. The hanyou was looking for her out in the woods. She had forgotten what time it was. She had left without informing any body of where she was headed. "Kagome!" Inuyasha called out again.

"I'm here!" Kagome replied. Inuyasha stopped calling her name and headed in the direction of her scent, which was also the place where he had heard her voice.

"Kagome.. you shouldn't be out here. Your wounds..." Inuyasha stopped himself. "What?" He immediately noticed her lack of cuts and bruises and he became very bewildered. "What happened?"

"I..." It was such a long story. Kagome really did not want to tell it, but that was all she could do since that was the only explanation. "I think we should wake Kaede up so I can tell the both of you at once." Inuyasha nodded.

Later

"I see." Kaede rubbed her chin in concentration. "In all my years I have never heard of anything quite so strange." She furrowed her brows, going over Kagome's explanation.

"What the hell were you doing out there in the middle of the night anyway?" Inuyasha asked going into his rude, but also concerned mode.

"I just wanted to take a walk and think about some things." Kagome answered a little guiltily.

"Couldn't you have chosen some time in the day for that? Or maybe you could have at least said something before leaving."

"If I would have 'said something' than you would have followed me!" Kagome retorted. "And then I wouldn't have had alone time, now would I have?"

"Feh." Inuyasha stuck his hands in his sleeves as he crossed his arms and turned his head away from the young woman.

"Kagome are you sure there is nothing else ye saw?" Kaede asked.

"I'm positive."

"Perhaps we should sleep and seek more information in the morning?" Kaede suggested. Kagome yawned.

"Actually I was thinking about heading back to my time." Kagome informed. The two looked at her as though she was insane.

"At this time at night?" Inuyasha began. Rage burning from the inside out. Kagome shrugged her shoulders and stretched her arms out and into the air.

"It's been a while since I've seen them. I'm sure they're worried sick about me."

"No." Inuyasha stated bluntly, without a seconds hesitation. Kagome gave him the look that told him he better rethink that answer. He just leaned back into the wall, satisfied.

"As if it's up to you."

"When you're here you're under my protection and as your protector I say you can't go." Inuyasha declared. Kagome bit her lip, holding back a 'sit' command. She clutched onto the cotton priestess outfit, which now adorned her body. She could not wear wet clothes, after all.

"So as my protector, when will I be able to go back to my time?" Kagome asked. A brow lifting into the air. Inuyasha looked at her and leaned forward in her directions.

"Not now."

"But when?" Kagome asked. She knew quite well he would not be able to say anything because he never wanted her to return. "I mean the jewel is complete and Naraku's dead and gone. Why can't I go?"

"Because... we still have to purify the jewel."

"But I can do that when I get back." Kagome smirked on the inside. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted me to stay here with you." Inuyasha's head went back.

"Keh! As if!"

"So then.."

"Drop it, because the answers no." Inuyasha cut her off. Kagome's smirk turned to a glare.

"You're such a jerk Inuyasha!" She screamed. The others in the hut all shifted in their sleep at the loud noises. Kagome leaned closer to the wall. Maybe he was right. It was a little late to go back, but she had to tomorrow. She just had to see her family again. She had to say goodbye once and for all...

This is the edited version of the chapter.

Once and for all? What could she possibly mean by that? Has she finally made her decision?

If you're wondering I will try and update everyday. Sometimes it won't be able to because something will probably come up, but I will try. If that's any conciliation?

Random Comments: (Episode: 126)

Kagura tries to stick a tainted jewel shard in Kagome's paralyzed form. It's reflected.

'I bear a grudge against Inuyasha... I hate Kikyo?" Kagome thinks 'That's right, but...'

Kagura - "What's happening? That shard is being repelled." 'So there are things even this kid cannot do.'

Kagome - "You're wrong..."

Naraku's baby - "She spoke... My implications have no effect on her"

Kagome - "What you're saying is totally wrong. Inuyasha can not forget about Kikyo. Even if I can bring myself to except that, in my mind, the pain is still there." Flash to Inuyasha calling for Kikyo. "However, bearing a grudge against Inuyasha and being envious of Kikyo... are feeling all humans would have! But these feelings are not to curse as you said they are. Even before all of this Inuyasha tried to run away from me when he found out how bad I felt. 'If Kikyo didn't exist' I found myself wishing that and worrying... But... all that means... is that... is that I LOVE INUYASHA!"

Inuyasha breaks through the window.

Inuyasha - "Kagome!"

Kagome - "Inuyasha... you came...?"

I'm sure you are all aware of what a hot spring is.