Chapter Nine

Reunited and Broken Apart

DISCLAIMER: That would still be Rumiko Takahashi who owns the Inu gang.

Sisana: Welcome back, where'd you go? Was it fun? Lol, anywho, thanks for your review.

Orlandoroxmysox: Sorry about the cliffy, but just had to do it. Thanks for your review.

Renee Anime: I hope I can make this have a great ending for you; you'll have to tell me, ok? Here's an update.

ArwenRivendell: I believe that you now understand what was going on in the beginning? If still not, read this chapter, if still no, IM me and I'll try to explain better. Thanks for your help and review, as usual : P.

Viper: I'm just winging it, but do you like his planning? Let me know how this chapter is, please.

((It Was Only A Kiss Chapter Nine))

Inu-Yasha's heart raced. He didn't know what he should do. "Inu-Yasha, I need you, don't run away from me." Kagome whined over him. The hanyou gulped.

"But—but you just tried to kill me… and the others…" He finished in a whisper. The priestess smiled as she leaned over him, her lips brushing lightly with his.

"That doesn't matter now. All that matters is you and me." She purred into his ear. Fire ran through his veins, but he couldn't let this happen, not now.

"Kagome, wait, I don't want this!" The teen froze at the hanyou's words.

"What…?" Her voice was a rough whisper. "You don't… want me…?" Her focus drifted away from him, her body stiffly backing off of him.

"Kagome! I didn't mean…" Inu-Yasha got to his feet, holding out a hand to the disappearing girl.

"He doesn't want me…" Her voice echoed back to him before she vanished completely.

"Kagome!"

"Inu-Yasha?"

He whirled around at the voice that called his name. "Kagome… but where, how…?" The boy breathed as the priestess was again standing in front of him.

"Where are we, Inu-Yasha?" The new girl asked.

"Where are we…?" The hanyou repeated.

She nodded. "Yes, Kaguya locked us up in crystals, but somehow mine opened, and I found you."

"In A crystal? So you mean…" He looked down at his clawless hands, and saw the black hair fall over his shoulder into his vision. "That was real… but what about the rest?" His eyes lowered as he thought about before. "Sango… Miroku… Shippo… did I kill them?" The voice was rough, quiet.

"Kill them…?" The girl repeated. She smiled sadly as she shook her head. "No, Inu-Yasha, Kaguya must be playing with you. The others are locked outside, the barrier keeping them out." They both fell silent for a minute.

"Inu-Yasha…" Kagome suddenly breathed, "look…" She pointed behind the hanyou. He slowly turned around, unsure of what he would find.

His golden orbs widened at the sight before him. The crystal had become clear on one side. He could see himself, in full youkai form, with the cave growing darker the further in they went. "Where are we going…?" The human whispered.

"It looks like deeper into the cave, but why?"

"She—she said she was going to visit an old friend. Do you think that's why?"

"I'm not sure… but it looks like we're going to find out." Kagome's voice faded as both humans turned to look out of the window again, as the darkness around them was slowly driven back by an unnatural light.

"Wha…What is that…?" The boy asked, the breath barely passing his lips at the sight before him.

((It Was Only A Kiss))

"Miroku, are you almost done?" Shippo asked as the monk's eyes opened, his hands still folded in prayer. The older male sighed slowly as he got to his feet.

"The barrier is to strong for me to completely break it, but I think I am able to bend it enough for us to get through, if we move quickly." Miroku answered.

"Can you do it now?" Sango walked up to the monk's side.

"Yes. You three go stand in front of the barrier. When I say so, walk through."

The others nodded and did as they were told. "What about you?" The demon slayer asked as she stopped.

"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you." He gave her a smile before closing his eyes again. They could hear him chanting lightly. The air seemed to fill with invisible lightning, causing a tightness to fill their lungs.

Sango could hear her heart beating, its rhythm slowing. She closed her eyes as she took deep, calming breaths. Everything seemed to become clearer. The slayer could hear every sound the animals made around her, even ones miles away. The wind that began to pick up blew roughly against her tanned skin, while the crackling electricity on the air became shocking as it entered her lungs.

"Move. Now." Miroku's voice cut in sharply.

The girl gasped as her eyes snapped open.

"Sango!" Shippo called as he made a break for the cave entrance. She whirled around quickly to look at the monk.

"Miroku…?" She whispered, unable to leave without him being by her side.

His eyes slowly opened; sweat dripping down his face, as he smiled slightly at her. The girl's heart skipped a beat at the loving sparkle in his violet eyes. "Go, hurry." He urged her again. The slayer swallowed as she nodded before doing as she was told, and running after the two youkai.

"What about Miroku?" Shippo asked as Sango came to a stop at the kit's side. Both turned to look at the monk. The demon slayer's eyes widened as the other human ran at the barrier.

"MIROKU!" Sango screamed as the boy was thrown backward and didn't get up. "MIROKU!" She called again, beginning to run to him.

"No, Sango! You can't go!" Shippo shouted as he and Kirara held the slayer back. "He worked hard to get you in here, you can't just leave again. Miroku will be fine; you need to help Kagome and Inu-Yasha." The younger youkai explained.

Sango was silent as she tried to get herself under control. "You're right, Shippo." She said, blinking back her tears. "We have to move forward." The slayer turned to both youkai, a solemn look on her face. "Let's go." She grabbed the end of Hiraikotsu and ran into the darkness.

She kept running, she wouldn't let the others see her tears. She would be strong for the others. For Miroku… Her mind corrected.

((It Was Only A Kiss))

Kaguya and Tenma continued down the dark tunnel. How much longer could this go…? It's pissing me off. The Inu-youkai growled in his head. His claws flexed as he clenched and unclenched his fists at his side.

"Want blood do you?" The immortal asked, seeing his movements.

"Yes Kaguya-hime." The rough voice was filled with respect. He was not going to let the bitch know what was going on just under her nose.

The woman turned her attention back to where she was going. Her stolen fingers stroked the two crystals hanging from her neck lightly. A grin danced across her lips. I wonder how that hanyou is doing now that I have taken his mind from him as well as his youkai blood… And that Miko… I will have to allow her to see outside soon… as soon as I have finished my business with Rousoku. As she finished her thought, the tunnel ahead of them lightened.

The smell of rotten flesh drifted to their nose as they entered the larger cavern.

((It Was Only A Kiss))

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