Chapter 15: Many Greetings

Nightfall came late, or so it seemed to them. This day had been so stressful it was no surprise that it felt like an eternity since they had seen the last moon. Even with the summer night, they still needed a fire to burn. For them the pain was too near to feel any heat in their cheeks. The silence was just as ominous as the noise prior. Not even crickets chirped happily tonight. How was it that the emotions of nature always matched up with their own? Instead of a lullaby, their rhythms were unchoreographed, panicked, and uneasy.

Miroku slurped the last of his miso soup before looking over to his companions, just as downtrodden as himself. It had taken awhile for them to push the truth out of Inuyasha, that the portal had closed off. They had seen how his ears flattened and how his ears fell back as he said it, and they knew by these things that he was worried too for Kagome's well-being.

They sat in solemn silence for a long time before Shippou got up. "I'm going to check on Kagome," he exclaimed.

He lifted his foot into the air, but was stopped as Miroku grabbed a hold of his tail and lifted him up, "I don't think that's a good idea, Shippou. You know what happened last time."

"But…" he whimpered.

"I'll go," Sango stood up, "I think Inuyasha will be less likely to attack a woman anyway."

As she walked back to hut, the boys looked after her in worry. They clutched each other as though watching a horror movie. As quietly as she could, Sango approached the bead curtain doorway and reached out a hand to pull them away. He snapped, "Go away!"

"Inuyasha, we-."

He turned this time to growl at her threateningly, one protective arm still wrapped around a sleeping Kagome. Her slumber was deep, although she had practically slept all day, and Inuyasha had been by her side the whole time. He had been reluctant to move her from their spot outside, but even in the warm night, she shivered. When he was sure no one else was looking, he brought her into the hut. He placed a few layers of blankets on her, lit a fire, and stood to keep watch so that no one would disturb her.

For a while, no one did, and he couldn't help himself from lying down beside her. It slew her nightmares, so he thought. Naturally, Shippou had chosen that moment to come in, and Inuyasha had nearly attacked him for trying to disturb Kagome. Shippou escaped the hut in one piece, but Inuyasha wouldn't dare leave the hut to chase him. Missing the comfort of her touch, he settled back in next to her and put his arm around her.

But he could never attack a woman, and he turned his gaze away from the exterminator as a blush crept over his face. She called over to him, "How is she doing?"

When he spoke, it was more for himself than anyone else in the area, "She'll be fine."

Satisfied, Sango turned to leave, but not before smiling for the first time that day at the sight of how Inuyasha was suddenly acting. She knew wholeheartedly that he would come up with some excuse for being affectionate later. He always did, but actions spoke louder than words, and his actions screamed love. She disappeared again and Inuyasha sighed in relief. He knew he should have just backed away from Kagome. That's what he usually did, anyway. He couldn't have the others seeing the weakness in him, especially Kagome. He began to think of ways to get out of this trap the next time he talked to the others.

Kagome shifted slightly in her sleep, grasping his hand in her own. The action shocked him for a moment, but he soon got used to the feeling. Stroking her palm with his thumb, he smiled ever so slightly. 'Keh. Pathetic wench.'

Shifting onto her back, their clasped hands lay between them as Inuyasha watched her sleeping face. Only she had the power to make him want completely opposite things: for her to wake up, and for her to keep sleeping. Nothing sounded quite as pleasant at the moment than receiving her gaze, her attention… and yet…

His gaze faltered. Perhaps she was safer in her dreams now. At least there she could be with her family again, she could do what she wanted… he couldn't ruin her life. A disheartened sigh came forward and his shoulders slumped. His nose rested against her head, where he could smell her best. The scent of wildflowers encircled his body and constricted against him until he became breathless. So hard at some moments he felt for sure he would bleed. The most wonderful and deadly way to die in his mind was right there beside Kagome.

Regardless of the physically easy day, his body was exhausted from all the turmoil. Kagome's sobs had been harder to contain then he expected, thus he had repeated his breathing strategy so often it made his head dizzy. A trivial thing, his need for sleep. There was much desire to stay, yet much to go. If he could be greeted with happier thoughts of Kagome, it might do him well.

But a troubled mind hardly finds sleep an easy task. A foredooming thought lay before him, and he hadn't a clue how to break away. The well may be broken, but he couldn't give up on the hope that she would get over it. That was all there was to do now, really. They had reached the point of no return, or rather he had, as he reminded himself all too constantly. But there was something his mother had once told him that gave him one salvation of hope. 'Time will heal all wounds.'

His stubborn nature took over, "Keh. If I can get over all the shit that's happened to me…"

But he didn't even dare to finish that thought.

As time continued, his eyes began to droop, and he was almost asleep when a familiar scent assailed him. His eyes flashed open, "Kikyo…"

He started to stand when Kagome's grasp held him back. He looked at her, beautiful and vulnerable, and the sight caused his heart to leap into his throat. The way she seemed now, seemed like she needed him there. He groaned at this, his stubborn pride unable to let him feel the weakness that was boiling over inside him. He placed her hand next to her face, and allowed her hair to graze his fingers before he pulled away. Trying not to linger enough to change his mind, the window was his exit as he leapt from the hut.

Kikyo's soul-collecting youkai were outside waiting for him to follow, and he gave chase to them. As he followed, a strange realization crossed his mind, "I haven't seen Kikyo in so long."

The hanyou would hesitate to say he had forgotten about Kikyo, but he never did daydream of her anymore. He never dreamt of her at night either. Rather his thoughts were replaced with his friends and especially Kagome. It baffled him that he could so suddenly lose track of his love for Kikyo. Afterall, he had promised to give his life to her.

Before his thoughts could continue, "Inuyasha."

He turned around and looked upwards into the trees. There the dead miko sat, perched against a tree. The way she was positioned leaning back, it seemed as though she was weakened. This was confirmed as more soul collectors passed the souls of dead women into her clay body. It was her only way of survival, the only way she could come this far to see Inuyasha. She never told him how demanding it was for her to find him again. The souls she collected were mostly those of dead women who had been killed by youkai. Therefore, her souls became frightened whenever anyone with youkai blood was around. But she ignored this, allowed some souls to retreat so she could see him again. Why she didn't tell him was still a mystery even to her.

She gasped as another soul encompassed her heart, along with it the memory of a miserable life now becoming her own. When she looked back down at Inuyasha, he could see the sadness radiating from her eyes. Sadness and confusion, and even maybe irritation. Like a Cheshire cat she peered down at him, demanding from him his devotion to her pale but glorious beauty. Her pure aura became slightly tainted as she sensed tiny pieces of Kagome's aura attached to his clothing. She frowned in thought, gazing into the aura and its sudden direct lost in connection to Kagome's time. Her eyes widened, "You closed off the well, didn't you?"

The comment threw Inuyasha back a little. "H-how did you know?"

She did not answer, but she leaned her head back against the tree and gazed into the leaves. She asked calmly as she closed her eyes against what she feared might be the answer, "Why did you do this?"

He stuttered and looked at the guilty claws that still ached for Kagome's touch. How could he tell her that a part of him would always belong to Kagome, no matter where he went? It was pointless, anyway, right? She noticed his troubled mind, "I care not…"

She turned to glare at him, into his soul, with sadness in her gaze, "Just remember the promise you made to me. If you plan to keep it…"

Inuyasha wouldn't even let her finish her thought, he nodded repeatedly, "My mind has been made up…"

He lowered his gaze out of shame more than anything else, "I won't let you down, Kikyo."

When he raised his head again, she was already gone. He spun around looking for where she was going, but was only met with the emptiness of trees. He sighed heavily. How could he have forgotten his promise to Kikyo? 'Baka.'

His gaze never left the ground as he went back to the camp. Even if it was a short meeting, never had he left Kikyo without feeling so down. It only reminded him of his promise, and that Kagome…

As he passed her window, he looked inside to where she was still sleeping. Never had she seemed so far away from him. It didn't matter that she was staying here now, she could never be his. He shook his head, 'I don't need that. I belong with Kikyo. All I can do for Kagome now is make her stop being so sad.'

All he could do for Kagome now was make her happy. That's all that mattered, after what he did.

He wanted to go in, wanted to rest alongside her again, but he knew if he went inside again, if her soul was allowed to claim his, he would never be released. He could still smell her scent on his clothing and it was enough to make him crazy as it was. To him, she was the most forbidden of fruits. The most precious and untouchable thing imaginable. He only hoped he wouldn't give in to his need to be with her. No, he had already ruined her life enough with his needs to have her close.

Inuyasha did not return into the hut. He sniffed out his friends under the shade of a tree and went to join them. As he willed his ears to perk up, he prayed they would not see the distress he was in, the confusion all over his face. He sat down, cross-legged against the tree a few feet away and looked to the valley. The others looked at him, the stern expression and frowning lips, and the worry in his eyes didn't escape them. When they stared for too long, Inuyasha shifted his gaze to them. They were practically hovering over him, asking him the question with their silent gazes. He grimaced, "Stop looking at me like that like you're all crazy."

They took the hint and backed off, and Inuyasha's glare suddenly caught something. High above the trees on the otherside of the hut, something moved. He didn't see much, but he did see something dark moving. Sango and Miroku noticed his stare and slowly reached for their weapons. Inuyasha signaled for them to stop with his hand. If they were careful, they could catch this youkai by surprise. He ducked below the hill and ran softly to the other side of the hill, not even looking back to see the others following him. He glared back at them slightly for allowing their feet to make so much noise. Try as they might to quiet down, they ultimately hid so that they could catch the vermin if Inuyasha chased him in that direction.

Inuyasha quietly drew Tetsusaiga, and ran to the tree. He wouldn't admit he was very worried that this youkai had no scent he could discern. How this was, he did not know. He could see the dark figure, peering over the trees, looking at the hut. A growl automatically formed in his throat as he assumed the youkai was after Kagome and the shikon jewel. This was a mistake as he soon found out. The youkai leapt out of the way of his strike, and Tetsusaiga sliced into leaves and wood instead. Inuyasha yelled, "Damnit! Come back here!"

All he heard was a sinister chuckle before the youkai sped away from him. Inuyasha gave chase, though he hadn't actually seen the beast. "Bastard. If you think you're getting anywhere near the Shikon jewel…"

A familiar voice intercepted his own, "If you think that, you're even dumber than I thought."

Inuyasha skidded to a halt. It couldn't be… that same voice.

All he saw were trees, trees, and trees as he looked around for the stalker. That voice… it had to be… it was the same one that had convinced him to do whatever it took to keep Kagome. But there was no scent he could find. A nose such as his could usually pick up something even a few miles away. The thought of that disturbed him even more. Whatever this creature was, it was certainly no kind of being he had ever come across in his entire life. What kind of creature gave off no scent?

The voice spoke again, "Have you figured it out yet, Inuyasha? Who I am?"

"Keh! Quit being a coward and show yourself. Problem solved." Inuyasha smirked.

"If you can't figure it out for yourself, I just I was right about you."

Inuyasha swiped at a tree with his claws in frustration. Five marks appeared all the way through to the sap as a result. "Why have you followed me? How did you know… about Kagome?"

"I told you, hanyou. You and I have more in common than you can know. You'd be surprised what I know about you," the voice echoed back to him, seeming to bounce off the trees themselves.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Show yourself and fight me, coward."

"I did not come to fight you. I've just come for information, and now that I have it, I'm afraid I must take my leave," his voice started to get softer and softer.

Upon realization that the youkai was already leaving, Inuyasha jumped into the tree tops to try to find him. He swung at the trees, determined to the track down the voice that had somehow manipulated him into doing such a terrible thing to Kagome. It was so dark, and there was no light for even his powerful eyes to see by. "Get back here, bastard!"

He never received an answer. Inuyasha swung his sword into the tree. "Kso!"

The figure ran quickly through the fields, towards the north. As he traveled, he took special care that others would not see him. The mystery of his existence could be ruined if anyone found out where he came from, or who he was working for. How grateful he was that it was the dead of night. The grass didn't even give into his feet as he ran. Perhaps because he practically floated now, just hovering above the soft soil as he ran. His long hair longed back and forth in the wind and whipped into his face. As he looked at his newly formed body, he smiled at the gift he had received. The power, and then some. How he desired to sharpen his claws. As he continued to run, he smiled so his fangs glistered beneath the moon, "We will meet again, Inuyasha. Mark my words."

Next chapter: hahahahahahahahhahahahahaha…….. fluff to the max! You have been warned!

To be continued…

RobinRox13: Hello there. Thanks for your support. I will be most happy to update quickly. (hugs)

Helikakileh: Glad I can count on you all to start criticizing Inuyasha without him being too out of character. At least I try to keep him in character. (hugs)

Mental Mess: If I break your heart one or two times during this fic, I'll be sure to mend it. (hugs)

Kawaii-CherryWolf: Note to all boys: desperate romance is hot. Haha, glad you think so. (hugs)

Caline Daniels: I've been writing sooo much, even adding stuff all time, so I shan't let you down. (hugs)

EmeraldShine: Now don't know hating Saku just yet. If you like cute moments, you'll love chapter 17. Teeheehee! (hugs)

InuyashaGal: I must learn this fluff dance. Must come in handy. Haha, ttyl. (hugs)

a100rinchhead: Hehe, Miroku doesn't quite yet. But there will be plenty of great things I hope he comments on. Hahaha! (hugs)

srg1: Aww, shucks. Well I care about my reviewers so I take good care of them. It is really a pleasure to know that I've managed to pull you into this fic. (hugs)

kawaiibritt: I'll have plenty of cuteness to counterbalance that sadness later. (hugs)

Random Reader: Yeah, I know. I'm heartbroken too, but… but…. Waaaahhh! (hugs)