After the Battle
Chapter 12: Discovery
Disclaimer: I still don't own Inuyasha. I'm working on it, sheesh!
Inuyasha's pace got slower and slower as the night grew longer. Soon he was at a walk, his eyes drooping with exhaustion. He was near collapsing and calling it a night, but knew that he had to find Kei. He couldn't give up until she was safe in his arms. He stared at the sky for some kind of sign, praying for anything to lead him to Kei. Instead of the sign he expected however, Inuyasha saw smoke in the sky, and could hear the faint crackling of a large fire. Now that he thought of it, he could smell the burning wood. Who would have a fire all the way in the middle of nowhere like this?
Inuyasha took a few steps forward, and looked around at his surroundings. Come to think of it, this wasn't the middle of nowhere. In fact, this was a place he recognized, a place he had visited quite often since Kagome left.
"Kikyou's village…" He murmured, and hoped with all his heart that Kei hadn't wound up among Kikyou. It would be in his best interest to check it out though, so he worked his way through the dense underbrush trying to get close to the fire.
Kagome had finally fallen asleep, though it was plagued with haunting dreams of her past; of the happy times that had disappeared ever since she left through the well for what she believed was the last time.
flashback (Dream style, yo)
She was in the arms of someone strong and warm, his laughter sending vibrations through her entire body. She smiled as she peered into his golden hanyou eyes, and sighed happily as he met her gaze. The hanyou leaned down and gently kissed her. He whispered in her ear about how much he cared for her, telling her he'd never let her leave. She sat in the warm summer sun, her raven hair and his silver hair tangling together as they shared passionate kiss after kiss, though her thoughts were on something bigger. She knew the best secret and couldn't wait to get the opportunity to tell him. She knew the one thing that would change the rest of their lives. At the time, she hadn't known just how much it would affect their lives, the change not always for the best. Suddenly, he was at his feet, telling her to run, to get away, and fast.
She hadn't understood, and stared up at him, waiting for an explanation. It never came. The next second a ferocious demon came out of the brush, and seeing as the hanyou was unarmed, he was instantly defeated. The demon left triumphantly, not even noticing her or hearing her sorrowful sobs as she watched the life flow out of a hanyou's eyes. Not just any hanyou. Her hanyou, the hanyou that in nine month's time would be a father…
It was all too much for her. She yelled loudly for someone, anyone to come to her aid, but Sango and Miroku were off somewhere too far to hear her cries. She yelled until her voice was hoarse, until she heard the voice of her hanyou.
"Be strong for me… I will always love you, no matter what happens. Just… be strong, my love. My Kagome."
end flashback
As Inuyasha drew closer to the fire he saw Kikyou's figure silhouetted against the flames. She was talking to someone, but he couldn't make out whom. He could tell by her body language she was frustrated and almost turned back remembering her quick temper, but then thought of Kei. He plunged through the trees.
"Hey, Kikyou. I need to ask something of you." He said, with more confidence then he felt. The priestess flipped around, facing him.
"Inuyasha." She said, the words flowing from her mouth like honey. The tone of her voice made him uneasy, and he scanned the gathering of women until his eyes rested upon Kei, who sat shivering in the center.
"You have Kei." He said blandly, looking into her deep eyes. What was she planning?
"Nice observation, Inuyasha. I do have your daughter. Would you care for her back?" She said in that same tone and Inuyasha shuddered. Getting Kei back surely couldn't be that easy. Something was definitely wrong. He decided to play along.
"Yes, I would care for my daughter back." He said slowly, his eyes never leaving Kikyou's face.
Suddenly the miko's passive face went violent with rage. In the blink of an eye she was up in Inuyasha's face, her eyes seeming red with her fury.
"You want your daughter back, do you? Well have you ever taken the time to ask about your other daughter? I don't believe so…" She hissed. Inuyasha's eyes widened, and he stared stupidly at Kikyou.
"What… what could you be talking about?" He finally whispered, confusion filling his eyes. Kikyou smirked, clearly happy by his reaction.
"I bet you never knew you had another daughter, did you? This must be even more of a surprise than the first one." She looked toward Kei and laughed rather cruelly.
"What are you talking about, woman?" Inuyasha demanded, grabbing her roughly by the arm. "What do you mean?"
Kikyou looked at the circle of women who were now standing and talking to each other in hurried voices.
"Keki, come here!" She called, her voice echoing through the once silent forest. A group of women on the far side of the circle parted, and the same woman who Kei was talking to earlier appeared, her eyes narrowed and her face bearing the same angry look as her mother's.
"Inuyasha, meet your daughter." Kikyou said, venom dripping off her every word.
Kagome awoke with a start, hoping all traces of the dream of her distant memory would never come back. That day had been so long ago, but the dream made it seem like just yesterday. How she longed for Inuyasha's arms around her again, how she hoped she would have reminded that hanyou to take his sword with him when they went out that day. Maybe things would have been different. Maybe her life would have been better. She shook her head sadly, and stared up at the starry sky as if the heavens could tell her the answers she longed for most. She looked into the clear night, and remembered what her mother had said to her just 2 days before Kei had been born.
"Kagome, honey, I know you have made some decisions that you might feel bad about now, but I don't want you dwelling on those choices. I know it might be hard for you, but I don't want you to regret anything you've ever done. Live in the present, welcoming your future with open arms. I want you to promise me that you won't be ashamed of your child, no matter what anyone says or does. I love you Kagome, and I'm sure you will be a great mother, as long as you take heed of what I've said."
She stood up slowly, the words from her past echoing through her mind.
"Be strong for me, Kagome. My Kagome…"
She shot a parting glance at Miroku and Sango, contently sleeping next to each other and turned her back, disappearing into the depths of the forest.
"How can this be possible?" Inuyasha asked, fear becoming apparent in his golden eyes. If Kagome found out about this… if anyone did… He'd never be able to live it up. All the humiliation and the whispering… Kagome would never have him back. This wasn't happening to him. It couldn't be possible. It just couldn't…
"Kikyou, I know this can't be possible. I just know it. We never…"He trailed off, blushing.
"That's where you're wrong, Inuyasha. Do you remember the time before?" She asked, her eyes showing a new emotion he couldn't identify.
"What do you mean?" He said, agitated. He had to know what she was talking about.
"The time before Kagome… before we went our separate ways… before… my death…" Kikyou trailed off, staring at Inuyasha sadly. Suddenly it was clear to him.
"You… a child?" He asked, expression softening. "Why didn't you tell me? How could she be here now?"
A/N: Oh hurrah! I've updated. I'm sorry it took so long, I've been painfully busy. I love you all for actually reading this still, and I hope you don't all hate me too much.
Shout Outs (From Chapter 11)
mikkey hodge- I believe this chapter has answered your question. It took so long because I was way too busy for my own good. Sorry! I love you too. Hehe.
oXoCrAzY4MyHaNyOuXoX- Updating! Thank you, I really do try to make this actually worth reading. I was just going through the first chapters, and the format they are in is just horrible... I'm happy that people actually read them… Tee hee
Sesshoumarugrl- Yeah, I'm one of those rare crazies who love Kikyou, but come on, you have to feel at least some sympathy for her…: D I'm glad you like it!