Disclaimers Notice: Rumiko Takahashi is the only owner of Inuyasha, other
than that, nobody does...so I am nobody...
Authors Beginning Note: Well, here is your next chapter, typed and posted before Wednesday as I said. Am I good or what? I know, you can't help but love me. ****
Chapter 27
Awaken
****
"Inuyasha..." came the soft melodic voice through the air. Inuyasha opened his eyes against the blazing sun and sat up from the long green grass that had been his bed.
"Kikyo?" He watched the figure appear before him. Her long hair tied at the nape of her neck, save for the loose strands that made a loop that touched her shoulders. She wore her priestesses clothing, a white shirt and red loose pants that were held up by a red belt. The sun was on her back, making her seem to radiate with fire.
"Inuyasha...do you love me?"
"Of course Kikyo. I would do anything for you." Inuyasha said standing up and wrapping her in his arms tightly, clinging to her, to willing for them to be apart.
"Anything?" She said softly, and almost sweetly."
"Anything." He answered. There was a moments of silence, but it seemed wrong and out of place.
"Then die!" Kikyo said suddenly and harshly, shoving Inuyasha back and a bow with an arrow appeared.
"Kikyo, what are you doing?" Inuyasha cried with surprise. She didn't reply. She cocked her arrow to her bow.
"Kikyo...I thought you loved me...then why?"
"Why am I doing this? Because Inuyasha, I have no love for you, no thought of kindness, nor any regards of compassion for you. Inuyasha, I could never love a monster like you." With that she sent her arrow flying...but something unexpected happened. Inuyasha's mind became calm, all feelings swept aside.
Why am I feeling this way...I...it's as if I have no emotion...I am completely calm...and her purifying arrow is coming at me...and I am calm?...Is this how people feel when they are about to die...
Just as the arrow came within inches of Inuyasha's heart, he grabbed it. The arrows purple light disappeared. Inuyasha was not struck. Kikyo stared in shock and rage.
"I am no longer your puppet, and you will not hurt me, or anyone else." Inuyasha cried with anger and leaped into the air.
"Sankon Tetsusou!" He cried, and before she could move, blood was spilling out of her, as her body crumpled to the ground.
"Inu...yash...a" She whispered, only in a different voice, one that scarred Inuyasha as he landed besides her. He turned around to look at the near-dead body. The first thing he saw were her eyes. He stared into her eyes. But they weren't the eyes of Kikyo...no...they were the eyes of another...
"Kagome!" He cried and was at her side. He held her in his arms. Her wavy hair that reached only to her middle back seemed to fan out and her dark eyes looked straight into Inuyasha's.
"Kagome I....Kagome?" She went limp.
"Kagome? No! Kagome!"
****
"Kagome!" Was the piercing yell that rang through the village in the dead of night three days after the fight. Inuyasha weezed in pain at the sudden rush sitting forwards. AS fast as the pain had come so did the memories. He fell back on his mat, dizzy. He closed his eyes. He felt sick, and just exactly like the dream Kikyo had called him...a monster. HE had killed Kagome. And Kikyo. He had killed both of them. These thoughts nearly drove him mad as he sat up. He found his haori shirt right next to him and stood up, painfully.
"And where might ye thing ye be going?" Came a familiar gruff voice. Inuyasha looked at Keade.
"Out." He said harshly.
"But ye are not well enough to go three feet from here. Kagome would not forgive me if I were to let yon Hanyou to leave in this state." That was it...he felt himself fall to his knees on the ground at the though of Kagome, the pain piercing his heart was just as physical as if a dagger had been run through it and twisted mercilessly. Keade walked to him and began to help him up, but he shoved her.
"Kagome is dead. It does not matter what she would do." He gritted through his teeth. Keade stared at him for a moment before realization took over. Of course he did not know. He had been asleep the entire time.
"That is not true, for Kagome lives."
"How can that be?" Inuyasha looked up at Keade. She stared at him evenly.
"Come, you will see for yourself." She said turning around. Inuyasha slowly managed to get up. Though he obviously wasn't in proper condition to do so, Keade did not sway him, because she knew he would not be swayed. So slowly he limped out of the makeshift hut and followed her to one that was near by. He followed her inside and saw mostly women in there lying on a matt. He stared at Keade's back, not wanting to imagine that any of the bodies here could be Kagome's. But could not smell Kagome's scent anywhere.
"I swear you old hag, if you're lying, I will cut you down in more pieces than can be put together." Keade did not answer. She stopped instead at the back.
"She's asleep. She has been in this condition for three days, as had you been." She moved aside so Inuyasha could look at her. He stared. She looked hot but not with fever. Her hair fanned out across the matt like the night sky. Her body was still and small rhythmic breaths escaped her mouth. She looked helpless like a small defensles child. Inuyasha knelt before her. He was...speechless and immovable. Frozen at the shock.
"But...she...she was dead...I know...I held her...in my arms...and...she...how..." was all he could utter.
"Look at the hair that falls on the side of her face." He took his hand and lightly stroked her hair, and found small strands of silver hair framing her face on the right side. He stopped and stared at them. There were so few, that they were barely noticeable, but they were still there.
"What does it mean?" He asked dumbfounded.
"It means that she is alive because of you. Your blood mixed in hers as ye held her in your arms during her last moments. Because of it, Hanyou blood flowed slowly through her veins to some of the vital wounds healing her to a small extent, before she completely died. That was enough to preserve her, and eventually bring her to life." So that is why she smelled different. It was a combination of her scent, and his.
"But she doesn't look Hanyou." He said disbelievingly. He had only heard of this process being done a few times in History. So few as a matter of fact, that it's almost dismissed as mere legends.
"Hai. You are right, nor will she. I do not know the full extent of the effects this will have on her. She will how ever have some capabilities that you have as a Hanyou. She will be able to heal herself, more quickly than a human, but still very slow compared to you." She stopped. Inuyasha could feel there was more, that she wasn't telling him. AS good as she is at hiding such things, this feeling could not escape him.
"What is your not telling me?" He nearly growled. Keade hesitated, before speaking.
"Kagome...is immortal now. She will not die of old age like a normal human. She will live to the extent of a normal Hanyou's age."
"What's wrong with that?" Inuyasha retorted.
"Inuyasha, I don't think you see the big picture." Came a new voice as Sango walked in. Inuyasha stared at her. Sango let her gaze fall to the ground.
"Inuaysha...Kagome will...she will live longer than any of us. She will live longer than her family...and her friends back in her time. She won't be able to live there, not without being suspected. She will be miserable. She will live long enough to watch her mother, her grandfather, Souta, and everyone she knows...all of them die. I don't know if she could live with that." Inuyasha looked back at Kagome. She had shifted and he saw the large bandage that covered her side. He abruptly stood up, and became dizzy but wouldn't let it show. He shoved passed Keade and Sango.
"Inuyasha, where are you going?" Sango said watching him leave. He didn't bother to answer. Sango made a move to go after him, but Keade gently held her back.
"Let him leave. He has much that ales him."
"But Keade..."Keade gave her a stern look. Sango nodded.
"Tell me, have nay more of the villagers been injured while making more repairs?" she asked shifting the conversation to other matters.
"No. No injuries. Though they are working harder than I could have imagined." She said.
"Hai. It is no wonder either. They are rushing before the next rain fall. They will be coming more frequent now that the seasons have changed." Sango and Keade slowly walked out of the hut.
***
Kagome...what have I done...I have ruined everything...it's all my fault...I should have known...Kikyo...why...why did you do this...Naraku must have been controlling you...there is no way...is there...and I tried...I tried to kill you...and you...tried to kill me...but the words...they are what hurt the most...why Kikyo...why did you do this...I thought you loved me...and I thought...but do I...Kagome when...you were...lying in my arms...pools of blood...everywhere...the look of pain...Kagome...why did you come back...why didn't you come back sooner...what will you think...of me...of what I have done...I am a monster...a filthy Hanyou...I am nothing...how could you stand me after that...after what I have done...Kikyo...why did you make me...do that...why did you try to...mill me...Kikyo...what happened...Kikyo...Kagome...
Inuyasha's thoughts kept rolling in self guilt, anger, and sorrow as he sat in the Gonshinboku. Tears were in his eyes, but he they did not fall. All was dead silent, save for the hammering and building of the villagers. So deep was he in his thoughts, he did not notice the small figure below him.
"Inuyasha..." He looked down startled. Kagome's small weak form stood there. Inuyasha leapt down to stand in front of her. The few silver locks that feel down her cheek were not the only things in Kagome's appearance that had changed. So had her eye color, and her age. She looked more his age than she had before, her body a little more developed and she looked to be a few inches taller. But what seemed to be the most dramatic change, was her eyes. Instead of the deep cocoa brown, they were now a blue/gray. They were the color of the sky when it had rained three days ago. They held tears in them as well, threatening to spill. Inuyasha's heart began to tear seeing her so sad. They stood in Silence. Inuyasha moved his hand as if to stroke her cheek but quickly jerked back.
"Inuyasha?"
"Go away Kagome." He growled and turned his back on her. But she would not leave. Instead she stood where she was, and reached out her hand to touch him on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha." She said sadly. His body was tense and he pulled back, turning around to look at her.
"Don't touch me!" He yelled, Kagome recoiled.
"Why Inuyasha? Is it me" Inuyasha stared at her dumbfounded.
"Why? WHY? Look at me! Look at what I have done! I am a monster! A hideous creature who deserves to die. Because of me Kikyo died. Because of me, you were nearly killed! Because of me, your life will be miserable. Why are you even still here? Why don't you run back to the village, or back home to get away from me!?" He yelled. Kagome stared into the soft molten orbs that held thousands of emotions, each one filled with pain and anguish. Inuyasha closed his eyes, but opened them, startled by the soft warm hands that wrapped around him. He looked down at Kagome as she held him in a tight embrace. He gently wrapped her in his arms too.
"No Inuyasha. You are not a monster and you never will be. You did what had to be done. I do not blame you, nor should you blame yourself. Inuyasha. I couldn't leave you. I never will. I will always be at your side." She said, tears streaming down her face, but her words were true. Inuyasha pulled her away and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Kagome..." She put her fingers to his lips.
"Shh. It will all be okay. I promise. So what if I'm immortal, or different. Those things I can learn to live with, but Inuyasha, no matter what, I will always be your friend." Kagome said, her heart longing to say more, but not allowing it, not now. Inuaysha's face had taken on a glow of sorts, a calm glow. His facial expression was soft, and almost...lost. It was one that Miroku called 'a holy calmness' like when Kagome and seen Inuyasha and Kikyo together after batlign the giant Soul Stealer and Kagome left back to her time. Kagome, went to move, but nearly collapsed, Inuyasha catching her. She saw his worried look.
"Don't worry, I'm a little tired that's all." She said weakly. Inuyasha set her down gently against the tree, and sat down next to her himself, the effort of getting here taking a toll on him. He tried to relax, but questions plagued his every thought.
"Kagome, are you glad you came back?" Kagome looked at Inuyasha, but he continued to look forward.
"I mean, ever since...our fight...I didn't think you ever wanted to come back. I figured..." He just let his sentence drop.
"Inuyasha...every day I was gone from here seemed like a century...a century of torture..." Her words also fell away as tears fell down her face, she adverted her gaze from his, but looked up when she felt his warm arms wrap around her.
"Kagome...I'm sorry...I didn't mean the things I said...I..." He stopped. Kagome stared up at him, in awe, curiosity, and shock. He turned looked at her, and gently wiped the tears that had been streaming down her face with his them.
"I couldn't stand being without you either." He said simply, not quite saying fully what his heart had wanted him to say either, but it would have to do for now. Kagome snuggled into his chest, but he still wanted to know...had to know...a few more things.
"What...what happened...when Kikyo...when she..." He couldn't finish. It hurt too much, to think that his first love had tried to kill him and Kagome. Kagome stiffened, though more with fear, than with anger. She stayed silent, choosing her words carfully.
"Inuyasha...that thing, wasn't Kikyo..." Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief but it was short lived.
"It never has been, not even in clay form." He tensed as well.
"Inuyasha...at the same time it was. It was the hatred she felt before she died. That part of her soul. That bracelet Shippo gave me, held her soul...she departed it from her clay form and tried to take over me. It was a nightmare. It was like being burned by flames, and at the same time being frostbitten by the cold. I felt trapped and tired. Lost and Lonely. That thing was all I could hear and feel, until it chose to push me out. It wanted every part of me. I felt...weak, and dirty. All of those terrible things were being done using me, and I couldn't stop them..." She broke down in sobs, clinging to Inuyasha. He gently stroked her head soothingly. Realization had swept over him as she had spoke. All this time, he had been treating that clay pot, filled with hatred, like his past love, but that made no sense. The real Kikyo was never like that. Though it had traveled village to village, helping people, it had also tried to hurt other purposefully, and help Naraku. Those are things the real Kikyo would never had tried to do. No, the real Kikyo had died a long time ago. A very long time ago. This seemed to calm Inuyasha, and lift an impending weight off of his shoulders. Now he could finally live in the present.
He comforted Kagome, until they both fell asleep in each others arms.
` ` ` ***
Authors Ending Note: Okay, this is the fifth time rewriting this chapter...and well...I don't know what to think. I was kind of stuck. I knew I wanted them to talk about some where's along those lines, and I didn't want them to confess their love just quit yet. Hmmm, well if anyone has any better suggestions for how this chapter should go, I'll go ahead and rewrite it for yah. Reviews will be greatly appreciated for this chapter.
Authors Beginning Note: Well, here is your next chapter, typed and posted before Wednesday as I said. Am I good or what? I know, you can't help but love me. ****
Chapter 27
Awaken
****
"Inuyasha..." came the soft melodic voice through the air. Inuyasha opened his eyes against the blazing sun and sat up from the long green grass that had been his bed.
"Kikyo?" He watched the figure appear before him. Her long hair tied at the nape of her neck, save for the loose strands that made a loop that touched her shoulders. She wore her priestesses clothing, a white shirt and red loose pants that were held up by a red belt. The sun was on her back, making her seem to radiate with fire.
"Inuyasha...do you love me?"
"Of course Kikyo. I would do anything for you." Inuyasha said standing up and wrapping her in his arms tightly, clinging to her, to willing for them to be apart.
"Anything?" She said softly, and almost sweetly."
"Anything." He answered. There was a moments of silence, but it seemed wrong and out of place.
"Then die!" Kikyo said suddenly and harshly, shoving Inuyasha back and a bow with an arrow appeared.
"Kikyo, what are you doing?" Inuyasha cried with surprise. She didn't reply. She cocked her arrow to her bow.
"Kikyo...I thought you loved me...then why?"
"Why am I doing this? Because Inuyasha, I have no love for you, no thought of kindness, nor any regards of compassion for you. Inuyasha, I could never love a monster like you." With that she sent her arrow flying...but something unexpected happened. Inuyasha's mind became calm, all feelings swept aside.
Why am I feeling this way...I...it's as if I have no emotion...I am completely calm...and her purifying arrow is coming at me...and I am calm?...Is this how people feel when they are about to die...
Just as the arrow came within inches of Inuyasha's heart, he grabbed it. The arrows purple light disappeared. Inuyasha was not struck. Kikyo stared in shock and rage.
"I am no longer your puppet, and you will not hurt me, or anyone else." Inuyasha cried with anger and leaped into the air.
"Sankon Tetsusou!" He cried, and before she could move, blood was spilling out of her, as her body crumpled to the ground.
"Inu...yash...a" She whispered, only in a different voice, one that scarred Inuyasha as he landed besides her. He turned around to look at the near-dead body. The first thing he saw were her eyes. He stared into her eyes. But they weren't the eyes of Kikyo...no...they were the eyes of another...
"Kagome!" He cried and was at her side. He held her in his arms. Her wavy hair that reached only to her middle back seemed to fan out and her dark eyes looked straight into Inuyasha's.
"Kagome I....Kagome?" She went limp.
"Kagome? No! Kagome!"
****
"Kagome!" Was the piercing yell that rang through the village in the dead of night three days after the fight. Inuyasha weezed in pain at the sudden rush sitting forwards. AS fast as the pain had come so did the memories. He fell back on his mat, dizzy. He closed his eyes. He felt sick, and just exactly like the dream Kikyo had called him...a monster. HE had killed Kagome. And Kikyo. He had killed both of them. These thoughts nearly drove him mad as he sat up. He found his haori shirt right next to him and stood up, painfully.
"And where might ye thing ye be going?" Came a familiar gruff voice. Inuyasha looked at Keade.
"Out." He said harshly.
"But ye are not well enough to go three feet from here. Kagome would not forgive me if I were to let yon Hanyou to leave in this state." That was it...he felt himself fall to his knees on the ground at the though of Kagome, the pain piercing his heart was just as physical as if a dagger had been run through it and twisted mercilessly. Keade walked to him and began to help him up, but he shoved her.
"Kagome is dead. It does not matter what she would do." He gritted through his teeth. Keade stared at him for a moment before realization took over. Of course he did not know. He had been asleep the entire time.
"That is not true, for Kagome lives."
"How can that be?" Inuyasha looked up at Keade. She stared at him evenly.
"Come, you will see for yourself." She said turning around. Inuyasha slowly managed to get up. Though he obviously wasn't in proper condition to do so, Keade did not sway him, because she knew he would not be swayed. So slowly he limped out of the makeshift hut and followed her to one that was near by. He followed her inside and saw mostly women in there lying on a matt. He stared at Keade's back, not wanting to imagine that any of the bodies here could be Kagome's. But could not smell Kagome's scent anywhere.
"I swear you old hag, if you're lying, I will cut you down in more pieces than can be put together." Keade did not answer. She stopped instead at the back.
"She's asleep. She has been in this condition for three days, as had you been." She moved aside so Inuyasha could look at her. He stared. She looked hot but not with fever. Her hair fanned out across the matt like the night sky. Her body was still and small rhythmic breaths escaped her mouth. She looked helpless like a small defensles child. Inuyasha knelt before her. He was...speechless and immovable. Frozen at the shock.
"But...she...she was dead...I know...I held her...in my arms...and...she...how..." was all he could utter.
"Look at the hair that falls on the side of her face." He took his hand and lightly stroked her hair, and found small strands of silver hair framing her face on the right side. He stopped and stared at them. There were so few, that they were barely noticeable, but they were still there.
"What does it mean?" He asked dumbfounded.
"It means that she is alive because of you. Your blood mixed in hers as ye held her in your arms during her last moments. Because of it, Hanyou blood flowed slowly through her veins to some of the vital wounds healing her to a small extent, before she completely died. That was enough to preserve her, and eventually bring her to life." So that is why she smelled different. It was a combination of her scent, and his.
"But she doesn't look Hanyou." He said disbelievingly. He had only heard of this process being done a few times in History. So few as a matter of fact, that it's almost dismissed as mere legends.
"Hai. You are right, nor will she. I do not know the full extent of the effects this will have on her. She will how ever have some capabilities that you have as a Hanyou. She will be able to heal herself, more quickly than a human, but still very slow compared to you." She stopped. Inuyasha could feel there was more, that she wasn't telling him. AS good as she is at hiding such things, this feeling could not escape him.
"What is your not telling me?" He nearly growled. Keade hesitated, before speaking.
"Kagome...is immortal now. She will not die of old age like a normal human. She will live to the extent of a normal Hanyou's age."
"What's wrong with that?" Inuyasha retorted.
"Inuyasha, I don't think you see the big picture." Came a new voice as Sango walked in. Inuyasha stared at her. Sango let her gaze fall to the ground.
"Inuaysha...Kagome will...she will live longer than any of us. She will live longer than her family...and her friends back in her time. She won't be able to live there, not without being suspected. She will be miserable. She will live long enough to watch her mother, her grandfather, Souta, and everyone she knows...all of them die. I don't know if she could live with that." Inuyasha looked back at Kagome. She had shifted and he saw the large bandage that covered her side. He abruptly stood up, and became dizzy but wouldn't let it show. He shoved passed Keade and Sango.
"Inuyasha, where are you going?" Sango said watching him leave. He didn't bother to answer. Sango made a move to go after him, but Keade gently held her back.
"Let him leave. He has much that ales him."
"But Keade..."Keade gave her a stern look. Sango nodded.
"Tell me, have nay more of the villagers been injured while making more repairs?" she asked shifting the conversation to other matters.
"No. No injuries. Though they are working harder than I could have imagined." She said.
"Hai. It is no wonder either. They are rushing before the next rain fall. They will be coming more frequent now that the seasons have changed." Sango and Keade slowly walked out of the hut.
***
Kagome...what have I done...I have ruined everything...it's all my fault...I should have known...Kikyo...why...why did you do this...Naraku must have been controlling you...there is no way...is there...and I tried...I tried to kill you...and you...tried to kill me...but the words...they are what hurt the most...why Kikyo...why did you do this...I thought you loved me...and I thought...but do I...Kagome when...you were...lying in my arms...pools of blood...everywhere...the look of pain...Kagome...why did you come back...why didn't you come back sooner...what will you think...of me...of what I have done...I am a monster...a filthy Hanyou...I am nothing...how could you stand me after that...after what I have done...Kikyo...why did you make me...do that...why did you try to...mill me...Kikyo...what happened...Kikyo...Kagome...
Inuyasha's thoughts kept rolling in self guilt, anger, and sorrow as he sat in the Gonshinboku. Tears were in his eyes, but he they did not fall. All was dead silent, save for the hammering and building of the villagers. So deep was he in his thoughts, he did not notice the small figure below him.
"Inuyasha..." He looked down startled. Kagome's small weak form stood there. Inuyasha leapt down to stand in front of her. The few silver locks that feel down her cheek were not the only things in Kagome's appearance that had changed. So had her eye color, and her age. She looked more his age than she had before, her body a little more developed and she looked to be a few inches taller. But what seemed to be the most dramatic change, was her eyes. Instead of the deep cocoa brown, they were now a blue/gray. They were the color of the sky when it had rained three days ago. They held tears in them as well, threatening to spill. Inuyasha's heart began to tear seeing her so sad. They stood in Silence. Inuyasha moved his hand as if to stroke her cheek but quickly jerked back.
"Inuyasha?"
"Go away Kagome." He growled and turned his back on her. But she would not leave. Instead she stood where she was, and reached out her hand to touch him on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha." She said sadly. His body was tense and he pulled back, turning around to look at her.
"Don't touch me!" He yelled, Kagome recoiled.
"Why Inuyasha? Is it me" Inuyasha stared at her dumbfounded.
"Why? WHY? Look at me! Look at what I have done! I am a monster! A hideous creature who deserves to die. Because of me Kikyo died. Because of me, you were nearly killed! Because of me, your life will be miserable. Why are you even still here? Why don't you run back to the village, or back home to get away from me!?" He yelled. Kagome stared into the soft molten orbs that held thousands of emotions, each one filled with pain and anguish. Inuyasha closed his eyes, but opened them, startled by the soft warm hands that wrapped around him. He looked down at Kagome as she held him in a tight embrace. He gently wrapped her in his arms too.
"No Inuyasha. You are not a monster and you never will be. You did what had to be done. I do not blame you, nor should you blame yourself. Inuyasha. I couldn't leave you. I never will. I will always be at your side." She said, tears streaming down her face, but her words were true. Inuyasha pulled her away and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Kagome..." She put her fingers to his lips.
"Shh. It will all be okay. I promise. So what if I'm immortal, or different. Those things I can learn to live with, but Inuyasha, no matter what, I will always be your friend." Kagome said, her heart longing to say more, but not allowing it, not now. Inuaysha's face had taken on a glow of sorts, a calm glow. His facial expression was soft, and almost...lost. It was one that Miroku called 'a holy calmness' like when Kagome and seen Inuyasha and Kikyo together after batlign the giant Soul Stealer and Kagome left back to her time. Kagome, went to move, but nearly collapsed, Inuyasha catching her. She saw his worried look.
"Don't worry, I'm a little tired that's all." She said weakly. Inuyasha set her down gently against the tree, and sat down next to her himself, the effort of getting here taking a toll on him. He tried to relax, but questions plagued his every thought.
"Kagome, are you glad you came back?" Kagome looked at Inuyasha, but he continued to look forward.
"I mean, ever since...our fight...I didn't think you ever wanted to come back. I figured..." He just let his sentence drop.
"Inuyasha...every day I was gone from here seemed like a century...a century of torture..." Her words also fell away as tears fell down her face, she adverted her gaze from his, but looked up when she felt his warm arms wrap around her.
"Kagome...I'm sorry...I didn't mean the things I said...I..." He stopped. Kagome stared up at him, in awe, curiosity, and shock. He turned looked at her, and gently wiped the tears that had been streaming down her face with his them.
"I couldn't stand being without you either." He said simply, not quite saying fully what his heart had wanted him to say either, but it would have to do for now. Kagome snuggled into his chest, but he still wanted to know...had to know...a few more things.
"What...what happened...when Kikyo...when she..." He couldn't finish. It hurt too much, to think that his first love had tried to kill him and Kagome. Kagome stiffened, though more with fear, than with anger. She stayed silent, choosing her words carfully.
"Inuyasha...that thing, wasn't Kikyo..." Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief but it was short lived.
"It never has been, not even in clay form." He tensed as well.
"Inuyasha...at the same time it was. It was the hatred she felt before she died. That part of her soul. That bracelet Shippo gave me, held her soul...she departed it from her clay form and tried to take over me. It was a nightmare. It was like being burned by flames, and at the same time being frostbitten by the cold. I felt trapped and tired. Lost and Lonely. That thing was all I could hear and feel, until it chose to push me out. It wanted every part of me. I felt...weak, and dirty. All of those terrible things were being done using me, and I couldn't stop them..." She broke down in sobs, clinging to Inuyasha. He gently stroked her head soothingly. Realization had swept over him as she had spoke. All this time, he had been treating that clay pot, filled with hatred, like his past love, but that made no sense. The real Kikyo was never like that. Though it had traveled village to village, helping people, it had also tried to hurt other purposefully, and help Naraku. Those are things the real Kikyo would never had tried to do. No, the real Kikyo had died a long time ago. A very long time ago. This seemed to calm Inuyasha, and lift an impending weight off of his shoulders. Now he could finally live in the present.
He comforted Kagome, until they both fell asleep in each others arms.
` ` ` ***
Authors Ending Note: Okay, this is the fifth time rewriting this chapter...and well...I don't know what to think. I was kind of stuck. I knew I wanted them to talk about some where's along those lines, and I didn't want them to confess their love just quit yet. Hmmm, well if anyone has any better suggestions for how this chapter should go, I'll go ahead and rewrite it for yah. Reviews will be greatly appreciated for this chapter.