Chapter 11: Decisions

The soft wind of spring was slowly warming for the summer. It didn't jab the skin painfully, but it fluttered over the exterminator's skin in a dance of the elements. This was how she always knew it was near. As she looked into the vastness of the forest, she could see the beginnings of spring still clinging onto nature. The rain of the previous night was more than welcome to them. Upon receiving it, the trees and plantlife flourished and glittered of due for hours. Never had it expected such a gift during the season. To suffer through summer was a reality they thought could never change. But Sango knew it meant this summer would be different: a season for hot storms and hurricanes, a huge and terrible change indeed. She didn't appreciate change in most situations.

How terribly fitting to the season that their hanyou leader had decided to leave them for a whole night and half a day without notice. It wasn't that he didn't leave spontaneously from time to time, because he did, but never for so long. Inuyasha was always lurking nearby to rescue them if they were attacked. Afterall, they were weakling humans. Sango smiled to herself. And it wasn't like he didn't care for them, because he most definitely did.

The girl found herself staring off into the valley and wondering how much they had all changed over the past two years. Kagome had become a considerably strong fighter, Shippou had found something close to a parental model in them all. Inuyasha had, and she knew wholeheartly, grown very very fond of Kagome and thus had lowered the barrier around his heart. Sango… well, she couldn't think of how she had changed, but that had yet to be determined for her, she supposed. Miroku remained a lecherous monk, and she doubted that would change even when they were married, but a few times she had seen him doing the unthinkable… rejecting some girls who were interested it him. She couldn't help the corners of her lips from pushing up into an even bigger grin. Perhaps she was okay with change afterall.

Kagome called from her chosen spot on the grass, "You think he'll be back soon?"

"Honestly, Kagome-chan, I have no idea," she replied.

A relatively long silence followed before Kagome continued, "What do you think he'll do when I tell him?"

Sango shrugged, "Nothing I suppose. Not like Inuyasha to celebrate."

"But do you think he'd be annoyed by it?"

"No, not really."

Kagome sighed and stared at the clouds again. So far, Sango was the only one she had told about her secret. Really she was the only one she knew would take it the right way. Shippou would be pleased, but would think that meant she would mother him forever and ever. Miroku would no doubt assume she wanted to bear his child. As for Inuyasha, Kagome had no idea what to expect from him when she said she would be staying in the past pretty much for good.

It had to be one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make, because a huge part of her would always belong to her family and friends back home. There were so many memories in high school she had missed out on. And yet, after all those long nights away from them, the pain of their absence subsided. Her heart was already being filled by what she had found in the Feudal Era. Now that her old friends were growing up and changing, although Kagome loved them, they had different lives than hers. She felt as though she had no place in their lives, and really she didn't want a place in them either.

It wasn't to be permanent. Just something like college. From time to time she would go home to visit friends and family and catch up a bit, maybe even for special events. But other than that, her new home would be here with her friends and Inuyasha. Kaede's cupboards were filled with some supplies Kagome had been moving. Hopefully she would find a hut of her own soon enough where she could put everything she owned.

She had talked about it with her mother, who was surprisingly willing to let her only daughter out into the world a year earlier than expected. Mostly because she trusted Inuyasha like she would a son. Next came her friends, which was a painful experience she didn't quite expect. Endless tears on both sides of the conversation. Naturally, they didn't know where she was really moving to, but as far as Kagome was concerned, it didn't matter. Lastly, there was Hojo, who she knew was still hung up on her. Telling him would probably be the hardest, just because he seemed to have grown so attached to her. To finally be accepted for a date only to be told she was leaving the country for good seemed a cruel joke indeed.

Hojo had requested but one thing: a kiss. Simply because he was disappointed that their relationship could never be, that was the only reimbursement he requested. Out of guilt and out of respect for a friend who had given her so much support, she had complied. It was something shameful of her to have done it, but they both knew it was over between them anyway.

The question now was how to tell Inuyasha. Three scenarios lay before her. One: he is utterly overjoyed. Two: he keh's it and doesn't really care. Three: he is mortified and annoyed. The latter two seemed far more likely to her, yet a part of her wished that the former would be the case. It really didn't matter to her cause what he thought about it, cause she was there to stay no matter what. When she had promised to stay by his side forever, she had meant it. But how she hoped, prayed that he would be happy. She planned to tell him as soon as he came back from wherever he had gone to, if only he would make an appearance.

Kagome stretched and petted Kirara, who mewed back happily. At least the cat was happy, because Kagome still felt very uneasy. Not just because Inuyasha had disappeared and hadn't returned yet, or that she would have to tell him her secret. Her thoughts still lingered on that figure that she had "encountered" the night before. She hadn't told anybody, because it sounded crazy, but during that time her steps were frozen in place, her lips sewed tightly shut, and her racing heart could do nothing but keep on racing until it might burst. The worse part of it was that besides obviously being in danger, she went after him alone in the dark. Surely she wasn't stupid enough to do that, and yet she did. Never had she felt such fear for her own life than at that time, but such a need to follow. Never had she felt so alone in the world than when she couldn't call for help. She was sure it had taken years off her life. But whoever it was, he had gotten away, and he might return again.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The smoke rising from the hut told the hanyou with a dirty haori that the priestess was home. His clawed fingers curled together to give himself strength and his ears twitched twice upon his silver head. Soundless times he had thought of turning back, but somehow his feet continued to carry. It was unstoppable. When he succumbed to the voice's power, cooperation became no hard chore. When it catered to his deepest darkest fear, how couldn't he accept it? There was only one means of comfort for him now, and that was the hut in the distance which never seemed to grow in side. For too long had it been out of reach even for a runner as fast as he.

When he finally reached the village, it became obvious to him that it had been deserted. Houses lay rotting and falling apart. Some huts burned unchecked, who knew for how long. Weeds littered the street. The one house where he could detect at least some indication of life wasn't in too good shape itself, but given the smoke rising from the chimney, was still livable. He approached the straw door and pushed the strands aside.

"Inuyasha, so you have come afterall? For a moment, I had thought I had been wrong," a female's voice called.

The woman's back was turned to him as she ground various herbs in a crucible. Long gray hair lay neatly placed in a bun atop her head, and a few careless strands fell freely from the hold. A soft wrinkled hand held the crucible to the fire and let the now powdered ingredients fall into the fire. Upon impact, the fire flared a little and let out a bright green hue for about a second before regaining its normal quality. She turned a little towards him and let him see her tired but passive profile. "Come in, hanyou."

Inuyasha hesitated for a moment, "How did you know who I was? Or that I was coming?"

"I am the priestess Saku. I know many things, Inuyasha. Many of which will be useful to you… and she whom you cherish," her old voice was soft, but firm.

The mention of Kagome caught his attention, as his ears twitched, a sure sign that she was dead on. He let the curtain fall behind him and walked into the room. With one hand Saku motioned for him to sit across from her on the other side of the fire. He slowly made his way to his spot and sat cross-legged across from the priestess. She was an old woman who appeared weakened by the daylight already. But not so old as to be immobile. Enough for him to know that she had wisdom about her. The air was filled with memories of countless incantations. The woman reeked of nothing but these herbs. They were so strong, he did not know if she be human or beast.

With the same hand, Saku reached into the sand and threw a handful in the fire. Inuyasha glared slightly, "Just what is it you know about me?"

"The gift of sight is not common, nor the power to cast spells, but both would be useful to all. I am here to aid you in finding the answers to your questions."

Inuyasha crossed his arms and held his chin high, "Keh! You really think that crap will work on me. Like I would actually believe you."

"And yet, I knew your name and your loved one before you even entered the room, did I not?"

The hanyou's face fell back slightly. This was true, she had known without reason about Kagome and his growing attachment to her. He let the old woman continue. Saku gazed into the fire with a far off look that said she was listening to voices unspoken to mortals. She spoke, "There is a girl, your Kagome. Part of two worlds yet belonging to one. Back and forth she goes between lives, unable to choose between them. But one love outways the other, and soon she will leave behind a life never to return."

The priestess noted the small fresh gasp in the air along with the radiation of tension coming off of his body. She looked at his frightened form and continued, "You know what will happen, don't you, Inuyasha."

His ears fell into a deep droop. "She's going to leave me?"

Some nameless creature from beyond his grasp whispered, "Yes," and with it the wind blew away any warmth from his skin.

Around him he felt the walls getting smaller and the air getting colder, as the sweat on his brow would testify. His fingers twitched slightly and dug into the ground to contain his anxiety. If Kagome left… 'What should I do?'

The sinister calling came from nowhere under the protection of the mask of smells, "If Kagome leaves, she'll forget all about you. You know this, don't you?"

"She… she wouldn't."

When the shadow chuckled at his naïveté, it shook the very ground, "A choice must be made between two lives. Has she any reason to choose this one?"

The pang in his chest grew stronger with each passing second. After just a few moments it became unbearable. No, she had no reason to stay. No reason at all… but…

"I need her," he whispered, almost inaudibly.

The voice egged him on, "Then don't let her get away, you pathetic hanyou."

The words swam in his blood stream, poisoning his every movement and thought, until he felt paralyzed. A part of him thought that if he moved an inch, Kagome would slip from his life forever. The fear consumed him until he saw nothing, smelt nothing, felt nothing but worry. His mouth tightened shut and he gulped involuntarily.

The priestess didn't even need time to think to know the answer to the unsaid question. Her manner seemed unshaken despite the distress her customer was in. "I can cast a spell. One which will ensure that she lives in this life rather than the other."

His ears perked up with a flicker of hope. Why he was willing to accept this theory so fast without investigation, he did not know. Perhaps it was the ache to always have her near that drove him to the edge. Perhaps it was the nightmare of waking up each morning without her beside him, without her scent consuming him. Perhaps it was that life in general promised to be cold and unwelcome once she left. Perhaps even the naïve side of him that said he could… would take care of his miko until his last breath.

Dry lips quivered slightly. Eyes sprouted shards of necessity and desperation. Hands recalling Kagome's touch became cold without the presence of their companion, therefore leaving behind any speck of reason. From someplace unknown perhaps even to this world, Inuyasha's movements and thoughts were being monitored. Unknown to the hanyou, a dark shadow passed over him and relished in his anguish for a few moments. Its frightening presence seeped through him and stuck to every crevice of his skin. Inuyasha didn't sense the voice's earning to be free.

It didn't even need an answer. Inuyasha slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag. Taking that object into his hands, he opened the edge and lifted it so that 7 gold coins fell into his hand. Seven coins that had been given to him and his friends for defeating various youkai.

Saku spoke though she could not see him at the door, "What is your decision?"

Without a word, without comfort, without thought he turned towards the priestess Saku. He approached her carefully and lifted his hand into the air. For a moment or two, he lingered there, unable to comprehend what he was doing, but knowing… knowing… that this was for the best. The image of Kagome flashed through his mind, thereby assuring him that he was in the right. Telling him what was at stake. Inuyasha, a stubborn, selfish, childish hanyou sighed deeply and took in one more deep breath. He held it in his lungs to hold in strength. The only strength he had now in his own abilities to stay alive and alive for her. His fingers relaxed as they opened, and in what seemed like slow motion, the seven golden coins Kagome and Inuyasha had received for fighting side by side in trust and in harmony fell from his hands into Saku's.

From underneath his shroud of darkness, something dark and evil began to thump against a set of ribs. The presence of a humid night and sharp wind suddenly became apparent. A wicked smirk crossed his face as he lifted his blood-red eyes into the light. Before long, even that feature became invisible behind a mask of normal eyes. "Hanyou, if only I could thank you for aiding my master so easily."

To be continued…

Ooo, Inuyasha, you did a bad thing… Sorry, no responses today. Forgive me, Inuyasha pals. I'm dog tired. (no pun intended). Please respond, as always, and let me know how I can improve. Catch you all later.