Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)
Authors Beginning Note: I am planning on having lots of action begin in the next chapter, so if you think everything has been kind of moving slow, then this is good news. More fights, more drama, more action!
I hope you enjoy!
Shout it outs!
Tanwen-Whitefire: Sorry, I guess I didn't realize how short my chapter was getting. I did write more on this one though, so I hope you'll be more satisfied. I always like to give shout outs. Its like...I dunno, telling people I actually listen to them when they're talkin to me? Hmm...maybe not the best simily, but it'll do.
You pretend all you want that it was a kiss, becasue for all its intentions, it might as well have been. And as for them kissing in the second movie, I haven't seen it yet, but yah, they do.
As four speling erors, their is no ekaping tham, no matar ware yu looc.
purlepixie89: Here's the rest! Ta-da!
Rayame325: Yah, if you know the names of the rest of the panther demons, I don't, and can't find them. Oh well, name or no, they are in the house! (in case you are wondering, yes I am hyper.)
POOH ND TIGR: I love the enthusiasm!
Chapter 58
The Worth of A Hanyou
"Where am I?"
"Kagome."
"Who's there?" Kagome turned, ready with bow and arrow. She looked out across the vast meadow. It was lush and green. Cherry Blossom trees swayed and a few petals fell. The sky overhead was a perfect blue, and the softest marshmallows flew through the sky. It felt like a warm home.
"Kagome, you must come." Miyako stood in front of her.
"Priestess Miyako? How did you get here? Where are we?"
"Kagome, you need to hurry." Keio's figure materialized.
"No. I don't want to. I like it here."
"It's a wonderful place Kagome, but you are needed." Miyako said kindly.
"I said no!"
I don't want to leave here…its beautiful…there's nothing bad…or evil…I can stay here forever…I will not leave…
"Kagome, come!" Kagome raised her bow as Miyako stepped forward."
"If you don't leave here, you can never return." Keio said stepping in front of Miyako casually.
"Return to where?"
"It's hard to explain, but if you don't come, you will die."
"I don't care! I want to stay here!"
Why do they want me to leave…if they want to stay here…I wouldn't mind…so why…are they jealous…are they greedy…no…so why…
"Kagome, I order you as yourSensei to come back with us." Kagome answered by raising her bow and taking aim. Angry, Miyako pulled a blossom and made a bow and arrow appear. Keio put his hand on her shoulder.
"If you will not come by choice, then we will take you by force."
"Make me." Kagome said dangerously. Miyako shot her arrow first. However, the effects were astounding.
Kagome's arrow let loose and explosion of light and energy. Miyako and Keio disappeared.
"I don't want to leave. No one can make me." Kagome stomped off quietly, but her mind soon drifted and she forgot all about the encounter.
Tired as she was, she slipped down besides a tree and let her foot dip into the crystal river. The tree branches waved gently in the light warm breeze, and Kagome was soon asleep.
Inuyasha stood near and watched as Miyako and Keio's powers pulsed over Kagome's body.
Kagome…stupid wench…why'd you go and have to do that…what good was saving me if it kills you…
The sun slowly rose ahead, and his body changed. He was back to his normal Hanyou self. Silver hair, golden eyes, claws, and the super abilities that all came with it. He could hear things as sharply as if they were sounded at his side, and see things sharper than a hawk. He felt at peace, and comfortable in his body again.
Unfortunately he could also hear the shocked whispers, sneers, and jeers of the crowd. He wouldn't look anyone in the face.
He returned to watching Keio and Miyako.
Their powers pulsed strongly, then a flash of purple, and both bodies were thrown away from Kagome.
"Priestess Miyako!"
"Keio." Other Mikos went to help them up, but both pushed all help away.
"She's too powerful." Miyako said looking at the ground. Keio looked at Inuyasha.
"She won't let us bring her back."
"What do you mean she won't let you bring her back!"?
"She's in her inner heart. The inner heart is the source of where all power lies, and good part of the soul of a being. She's in her own paradise. She will not return." Miyako spat. She looked worn.
"What will become of Kagome if she doesn't return." Inuyasha looked up at the familiar voice. Miroku steadied the frail looking Sango, though he himself did not look the better for wear. Kirara mewed and circled their legs, then jumped to Kagome, and licked her face, only to circle back and wrap around Sango and Miroku's legs.
"Do not make me repeat myself!" Sango yelled.
"She will die." Sango swooned, and Miroku helped her sit on the ground and rest her head against his shoulder.
"Priestess Miyako, surely there is something…"
"There is nothing. We are the two most powerful beings here, and we cannot save her."
Inuyasha knelt down besides Kagome, just as Keio had done.
"How do I do it?" He whispered angrily.
"What?"
"I said, what the hell do I do?" He yelled.
"What do you mean, do what?"
"How do I save Kagome? I'll drag her scrawny butt back!"
"You? You think you can help her? A lowly Hanyou? Do not insult us. Even if it were possible, forcing her to come back would cause irreparable damage to her. She would eventually just slowly waste away." Miyako mocked. Inuyasha bowed his head, hands tightly fisted in shame.
"I can die trying." Kirara hissed at Miyako. Keio's head too was hung, and fists clenched.
"You lowly beast."
"Do not forget priestess, that I too am a Hanyou. My father was a Yukai and my mother a witch. Surely that wouldset me at a lower rung than Inuyasha." He whispered vehemently.
"That is different." Miyako hissed.
"How?" Keio challenged, and Miyako was at a loss for words.
Whisper's passed through out the crowd. The topics of Miyako being caught up in her own words, or the shameful disrespect of the two Hanyou's.
Keio knelt next to Inuyasha.
"I cannot help you find her, but I can tell you how to go about your quest."
"Just tell me."
"You have to fall into a trance and synchronize yourself with her. You have to become her. Find a small tendril of her power and follow her to her heart. You will know what it looks like when you see it."
Kirara lied down on Kagome's chest and purring, fell asleep. No one however noticed.
Keio stepped back and watched for a moment, before pushing into the crowd.
"Keio!" Miyako yelled. Her fist was white as it dropped at her side. One tear, hardly noticeable fell down her cheek, but it quickly disappeared.
Nowthe main focus of attention was on Inuyasha.
How can I concentrate with all of this damn noise…her breathing…she's still breathing…at least that's good…and her heart is still beating…but it's slowing down…
Slowly, without realizing it, Inuyasha became her. His heart pumped at the same time as her, and his breath flowed in and out in rhythm to hers. All noise except her became a distant hum.
He fell into a sluggish bliss, and a figure appeared before him.
"Kagome?" slowly the figure became whole and he realized the person he sought was not the one before him.
"Kirara, what are you doing here?" She purred and leapt off, changing into the giant saber she could be.
"Wait!" Inuyasha quickly followed her, and then she disappeared completely from sight.
"Kirara!" He stepped forward, and was completely blinded by the shining sun.
"What the hell." He whispered. Everything was perfection.
"It looks just like her." He shook his head.
What am I talking about…just get this over with…now's not the time to become a poet…that's Miroku's job…
He sniffed the air.
"How am I supposed to find her if everything smells like her?" Looking around, Inuyasha knew he was lost.
"If I was Kagome, where would I be." He gazed across the distant meadows. The breeze pushed his hair back.
"There." He chose a direction, a large tree next to a small river. He ran across the soft spongy grass and was at the Cherry Tree in no time. Blossoms loosely began to fall as the wind begged them to follow its course.
"Kagome." Inuyasha whispered, shaking the sleeping girl. Impatiently, he tried another approach.
"Wake up you damn wench!" One eye opened, and then another.
"Inuyasha?"
"Who do you think it was? Miroku?"
"Inuyasha! Isn't it wonderful! We can both be here forever!" Kagome squealed. She quickly sat up and hugged him.
What's wrong with her…she ain't her usual self…well…not really…just strange…
"Kagome, we can't stay here." Inuyasha pushed her away.
"What? But isn't that why you came?" She looked ready to cry.
"I came to bring you back." She choked on a sob.
"But why?"
"Because you'll die."
"But if you stay here with me, it wouldn't matter, I…"
"Aren't you listening dammit! I ain't staying here! And neither are you, so lets go!" Inuyasha hoisted her onto his back.
"No! I don't want to go! I don't want to leave! Never!" Kagome began crying and screaming. She was throwing a tantrum like an eight-year-old girl. She relelntlessly pounded on his back.
Somehow she managed to rip a small bit of hair. Inuyasha's blood curdled, as he came up with all sorts of things to say at the intolerable wench that was supposed to be Kagome.
"You want to stay here! Fine!" Inuyasha dropped her on the ground.
"So you'll stay."
"To hell with that. Don't you get it? As soon as you die, this will all disappear."
"What? That's not true. It can't be." Kagome looked out across her paradise. The thought was just to unrealistic, uncomprehendable. Its like imagining your home disappear into thin air.
"Have I lied to you before."? Kagome looked lost. A child, a weeping innocent child torn between her two favorite toys.
"But…" Inuyasha knelt down and whispered into her ear.
"You promised you would always be with me. I promised to protect you. But...if this is really what youwant, then I release you of it." He walked stoically away.
Kagome watched, eyes filled with tears. She stood up and silently, ran over and slipped her hands into one of Inuyasha's.
He turned and looked at her surprised.
"I will keep my promise."
"Dammit, I said if you don't wan to…"
"But I want to keep my promise to you. I want to be protected by you and I want to be with you always. " Kagome said. Inuyasha's face turned a bright cherry red, and stood speechless. After all, what could he say? What she had just done was said somethingclose enough to almost be a love confession.
Finally he smiled. Turning he walked back to where he came from. Kirara was waiting.
He stopped though, his heart beating frantically as he felt a tug on his hand.
"Kagome?" He nearly choked out.
Sheshook her head.
"I just wanted to make sure to remember this place after I loose it."
"Stupid. You won't loose it. Its inside of you." Kagome smiled.
"You're right. Lets go back." Both sat on Kirara, and rushed down a black tunnel, following a single cord of light that ran the lenght of it. It looked like a pureshining river.
Inuyasha became more aware of his own beating heart, and breathing. Then the noise seemed to bombard him and he came rushing back to his self.
"See? I told you it wouldn't work. And to think, a Hanyou would challenge."
"Shut up." Inuyasha looked down. Kagome began to slowly get up, almost stiffly. Inuyasha held out a hand, and she gratefully took it.
"What did you say?" Miyako said coldly,
Kagome's eyes flashed open.walking over, she stoodup to Miyako, even with her four-inch difference, she got right into her face.
"I said shut up."
"And what is a haughty little girl like you going to do to stop me?" Miyako growled right back.
"Kagome, I'm used…"
"No Inuyasha. That's even worse. So just sit a moment and let me talk." Inuyasha fell into the ground.
"You are quite the commanding Miko."
"And you are a selfish, egotistical, witch! You know that! You call Inuyasha unworthy just because he's a Hanyou! You even called Keio the same, oh I know you didn't mean it, but it makes no difference because he's a Hanyou too! But you know what! If I had my choice, I think I'd choose a pile of reeking dung over you! Just because they're different, does not make any one else any better than them! They have feelings just like any one else!" Miyako stepped back.
"How do you know..."
"I guess you never that that the near dead could be self concious of their surroundings."
Never before had she seen anyone filled with a righteous anger such as that burned so passionately in this girl. Her eyes fell upon the Shikon Jewel and it pulsed a bright pink; so light a color as to almost be white.
"The jewel…" Kagome looked down and didn't see anything different with it. The light had faded and gone.
"I resign my position as your apprentice. I do not feel that there is any more I can learn from you." Kagome growled. She looked past Miyako and saw Shippo on the ground. He was sleeping. Moving past, she picked up the small defenseless Kitsune, coddling him in her arms.
"And where do you think you are going to go? Abandon us and all that this war represents?"
"No. I'm moving to a different camp." Inuyasha watched, amazed, and afraid at Kagome's fury, but followed. Miroku sat on Kirara, with Sango in front of her. Kagome and Inuyasha collected all of their things, and the whole group disappeared.
Miyako stood, in the middle of the crowd of Mikos. Outraged, humiliated, ashamed, and embarrassed.
"Naru, grab my horse." Whispers ran along the crowd.
"Naru." Miyako said firmly.
"Get it yourself." Came a cry through the crowd. Miyako looked at everyone in the crowd, as they slowly dissipated. Collecting their things, they followed the route Kagome and the others had taken-the the Monk's camp.
Miyako stood and realized, that she had just been exiled. No self-respecting Miko would ever pay attention to her, let alon name their child after her. All respect, admiration, and acknowledged ability she had received, she had forfeited with her ugly heart. She was alone, and might as well have not existed. All that wouldn't have mattered to her, she could have handled it, but…
She'd even thrown away her heart.