Chapter 43
Kagome looked up from the bottom of the dark well, the misty stars fading away as Konomi took her by the waist and leaped from the blackness with ease. She was expecting to see the well house and yet, she did not see what she was expecting- this was the field- the fuedal era- why hadn't they left? "Wha- where are we? Why didn't it work?" Konomi laughed slightly. "Expecting your home were you? Well, I used the well to take us into another world- but it is still the fuedal era...I only used the well because its easier on my powers than just ripping open a portal to each new place...so- shall we get started?"
Kagome nodded slightly- her stomach knotting slightly as she dreaded seeing what aweful place she had been brought to this time. She sighed, trying to relax as she followed obediently- noticing the humidity in the air as they fought through the dense ungrowth of the forest. Finally, they broke through the trees- finding themselves at a hot spring. Konomi held back, as he usually did, while Kagome ventured on to find what she was meant to see. Soon, after turning a rock- she saw two figures in the hotspring together.
Her first instinct was to hide- yet she held back as she remembered they couldn't see her, but that still did nothing to soothe the feeling that she was spying on them. She noticed first the silver haired figure with his arms stretched out to his sides on the rock behind him, then she looked down to see a black haired figure laying against his chest comfortably. She blushed slightly turning back to Konomi. He gave her an odd look, raising a brow slightly until she rolled her eyes and sighed, turning back and moving closer- walking around so she could get a better view of them.
'This is so stupid- I'm spying on myself with Inuyasha...this is too creepy...I mean-' All her thoughts stopped as she stood, staring herself down...but it wasn't Inuyasha she was with, the face behind the silver strands of hair was not that of Inuyasha. 'Se...Sesshomaru!' Her eyes widened as she watched curiously- surely it was a mistake... how had she- why had she...what was she doing?
There were no words for this- she could almost feel the scars along her back burning with her anger as she clenched her fists tighter, remembering his betrayal, and yet- she looked so happy...sitting in the water up to her chest, her hands against his strong figure, her head resting against him contently as he stared off into the shadows with an almost serene look about him- something about his face, it didn't resound in the stoic cold, and uncaring gaze that she was so accustom to.
Perhaps it was longing or envy that made her heart wrench in pain. Even still, her eyes drifted down to their reflection without saying a word. She remembered clearly the year she had spent with Sesshomaru- how close they had become at times, yet how far apart they always seemed to be. Somehow, her counterpart had closed that void. Konomi's voice was more noise she didn't need- the demon's voice blending with the insanity as she turned her back, closing her eyes as the scene changed.
"Fate twists in strange ways...unfortunately- I have no reasons for why this world is the way it is...but it has ended up very different..." He offered no comfort for her- no peace in this chaos. She needed Inuyasha- to curl up in his arms and hear him tell her that everything would be fine, but he was nowhere- she had tasted his kiss, but that was a different lifetime- what would remain the same? Who would comfort her after this nightmare- no one would understand, because no one would know what she had seen.
The next moment- they were inside a dim mansion. Kagome looked up to see herself staring out a window, clothed in a beautiful robe of white and cream. A door opened, and her Lord of the Western lands walked in, clothed in blue and black. She smiled, taking his hand as he offered it to her, getting up from her place to stand in front of him. "My Lord...you look very cunning this evening..." She laughed, bowing slightly. Sesshomaru placed a finger gently under her chin and tilted her face to his. "As do you my lady..." He whispered softly, kissing her gently.
Kagome looked away- she couldn't stand it. How could she betray Inuyasha like that? She knew how- she was alone, Inuyasha had left her alone. "Take me away from this place- I can't stand it..." She held back tears, though she wasn't sure whether to cry or be sick. "You aren't curious about your friends?" Konomi looked at her with a raised brow. "No! ...just take me back..." "Of course...everyone else is dead here anyway..." Kagome's eyes widened with a gasp. "wha...what do you mean?"
"Just what I said...there is no one left here...Shippo, Miroku, Sango...even Rin...they are all dead...even Kouga died in the end..." Kagome's fists clutched in anger. "You wretch...SHUT UP! How can you crush me like this with no remorse...how can you stand there and ramble on as if you were telling some fairy tale...these are peoples lives!" Konomi shook his head unflinchingly. "But thats just it...these aren't peoples lives...these are the things that could have been- they are nothing but fairy tales...dreams that will have no affect on the real world. These are the decisions left behind- they can do you no harm.
"I'll take you home now...come..." He extended his hand to her, letting her look it over for a moment as if she were a frightened animal- but reluctantly, she grasped it.
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Kagome's eyes parted- as if it had all been a dream. No- a nightmare, from which she was finally waking. "Inu...yasha..." She expected to see him laying next to her, but that was before the sleep was washed away and she began taking in her surroundings. She remembered her misadventure; she remembered everything so clearly, yet it seemed far away now. She looked around, finding herself within a dark room- yet, on close observation she realized she was in the well. She looked up to see the darkness- climbing out to find herself underneath a velvet night sky, soaked with stars.
She began to run toward her village, as fast as she could. She had to know, where was she- how long in the past had she been brought back. However, she thought she could be going half-crazed since there was nothing to tell her that it was nothing more than a dream, but she had to know.
She came sprinting out of the forest and there was Inuyasha, standing faithfully on the edge of the village. She ran into his arms, clutching him tightly as he looked down at her- confusion filling his expression. "Kagome? What's wrong?...I thought you were going to the hotsprings..." Kagome said nothing, just buried her face deep in his scent- the same scent she longed for, her desire bringing tears to her eyes. It seemed as though she hadn't seen him in years.
Inuyasha's concerned deepened, he pulled her to arms length violently, looking into her eyes as she studied his face. "Kagome! Tell me what happened! This is the second night in a row you've disappeared into that forest and came back histerical! Now tell me what's going on!" Kagome ignored his commands as her fingers gently went to his face- tracing the smooth skin with her fingers, smiling instantly. "Inuyasha...your face...its not..." Her words trailed slightly as he grabbed her hand. "You're scaring me Kagome...tell me what's wrong..."
His eyes told her how odd she was acting, yet she didn't care. "I missed you...Inuyasha...I'm sorry I- .." Once again, she thrust herself against his body- this time the hanyou did nothing, he simply put his arms around her with a concerned breath. "Missed me? But you just left the village a few moments ago to take a bath..."
Kagome sighed. 'Its the same night...I was brought back to the beginning of the night I left...' Inuyasha picked Kagome up bridal style, carrying her gently back to her hut with little fight. He couldn't help but worry- she seemed so tired and out of it, yet he had seen her only moments before. He was now determined to find out the cause.
Days passed- but Kagome refused to see anyone. She stayed in her bed mostly, nightmares plaguing her sleep. Inuyasha and the others worried- they had never seen Kagome take to her bed for so long. Only time would tell what she had suffered...
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ugh...bored with this chappy- and I haven't got alot of time lately- so I finished it up for you guys. Promise, outcomes will become clear soon.
Here's your translations, as always...
matte- wait
Otousan- father
jinseikouro-path of one's life
Konomi-his name means "choice"