Love beyond the Western Lands: Curse of the Black Gem
Chapter 17: Dilemma – Or not?
Inuyasha ran about the entire forest, breathless from his useless running. "Shanero…" he thought pissed. "Where the hell is that Kagome?" The bushes rustled. He spun around. "Kagome!" And there she was, walking out to Inuyasha. Inuyasha ran towards her, pulling her in his arms. "Kagome! You had me worried," Inuyasha whispered. Kagome wrapped her arms around him. "Goshinpainaku (Don't worry about me)," Kagome spoke monotonously. "It should be you that's worrying, Inuyasha."
"What!" And just like Sesshoumaru, Kagome extended her nails, stabbing through Inuyasha. Inuyasha gasped, blood coughing out of him. He leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding another slash of Kagome's claws.
"Kagome, what is wrong with you!" Inuyasha yelled. Kagome did not say anything but as soon as Inuyasha got out of reach, Kagome retracted her nails, shooting out spheres of energy at Inuyasha. Inuyasha deflected them with his Tetsusaiga, scratching the fang blade's smooth surface. Kagome did nothing, except pursuing Inuyasha.
In split seconds, Kagome overcame Inuyasha, tackling him down to the base of Goshinboku. Inuyasha was overcome by fatigue and soon succumbed to Kagome. As Kagome blasted more energy balls into Inuyasha's body, a fleeting vision Kikyou once shooting him down the same way appeared before his eyes.
Inuyasha smirked. "Keh, this is like before, isn't it Kikyou?" But then the form of Kikyou changed. The red hakama disappeared, leaving it wholly white. Then, Kikyou's face and hair morphed. Inuyasha squinted. "Matte... that's not Kikyou! It's Kagome!" Kagome walked towards Inuyasha. And got into a pose: The pose for the final blow. "SHINE, INUYASHA!" Kagome spoke with a manipulated voice.
In that same moment, Kagome fired her energy spheres as Inuyasha ran into them, extending his arms to embrace Kagome. Time seemed to slow down. Inuyasha allowed himself to get hit by the energy balls. As he got closer to Kagome, she put her hand between their stomachs, allowing the blades to extend and stab through Inuyasha.
But Inuyasha did not falter, just moving with the extended blades and threw is arms around Kagome. Kagome rammed another hand of blades between Inuyasha and her but just succeeded in cutting his side.
Inuyasha tightened his grip around Kagome. "Ghh! Hanase (Let go)!" Kagome declared, shifting her hand so she could stab Inuyasha on the back. Inuyasha winced, but did nothing but swing Kagome around and squish her on the Goshinboku tree. "AISHTERU!" Inuyasha yelled. Kagome gasped. Inuyasha planted his lips firmly on Kagome's. Kagome resisted for a couple of moments, and then fell limp.
Kagome's elongated nails retracted to their normal length. The blood red diminished back to their ordinary black. Inuyasha groaned, slumped against Kagome, totally worn out, bloody and tired. Kagome gasped and held him. "NO..." she whispered, tears beading in her eyes. "No!" She screamed into the sky.
(Somewhere far off, Kikyou picks up Kagome's screaming and veers off to that direction")
Kagome let her tears spill upon Inuyasha's silver mop as she caressed Inuyasha's bloodied body. "Inuyasha..." she whispered while rocking back and forth. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!"
"This same place..." said a voice. Kagome gasped and looked up. "...and same spot..." A leg cloaked in a black hakama emerged from the darkness. "... And the same situation. You are truly my reincarnation." Kikyou appeared from the darkness, wearing a red haori and black hakama (XD Quick change process! Remember: Haori is the white fold over top she wears and the hakama is the red fluffed pants she wears).
Kagome gasped, letting the last of her tears roll down her cheeks. "What are you doing here?" Kagome asked harshly. "Kagome... Step away from Inuyasha," Kikyou said. "I won't!" Kagome shot back, wrapping her arms around Inuyasha tighter. Kikyou narrowed her eyes. She pulled out the Ni Hon (o.o Omg xD We didn't see that sword in a LONG time!). The opal hilt was snug in her hand, the blade glimmering in the moonlight. The sapphire sheath reflected the snow, giving it an ethereal look as the moonlight shined through it. The Hiragana and Katakana resembling Hatori Hanzo engraved in the sheath and base of blade almost looked eerily as a reflection of it shot on the snow ground.
Kagome then at once laced her arms further around Inuyasha as soon as Kikyou drew the gilded weapon. "I will say it again, girl," Kikyou said softly but firmly. "Tori hanasu Inuyasha (Release Inuyasha! Tori may mean bird in Japanese, but that is Torii)!" Kikyou declared.
"Iie!" Kagome screamed, more tears spilling on Inuyasha's silver mop. "Hanashite (Let go. I coulda said Hanase but I wanted you guys to learn some more Japanese vocab XD)," Kikyou growled, striding over to Kagome. Kagome screamed as Kikyou put Ni Hon up to her neck. "Let go of him, or I will slit your throat," Kikyou said bitterly. More tears came from Kagome's eyes but almost at once disintegrated when they dropped on Kikyou's blade.
Kagome did not budge, nor did Kikyou. Kikyou let out a breath. "Is he worth that much to you," Kikyou began. "That you would die embracing him instead of relinquishing him to see him again...?" A cold wind swept over the two girls. The breeze tousled Inuyasha's hair. Kagome spoke: "I would rather die with him than part contact with him just to save my own life."
Another cold wind swept over, scattering around snow. Kikyou smirked. "Hm... Perhaps you did get mature over time." Kikyou removed her blade and returned it to her sheath, the valuable fortified stone sliding smoothly.
"Now lay him down into the snow," Kikyou commanded. "I will heal his wounds." Kagome spread Inuyasha's body evenly on the snowy cold ground. Kikyou formed hand seals quickly. She slapped two fingers at 9 pressure points at Inuyasha's body, and then strongly declared: "Kutsuu (Pain)! Aiseki (Sorrow)! Kisei (Death)! Usesaru (Be gone)!" Inuyasha's wounds began to close up, the red liquid unlatched from his kimono just like Sesshoumaru. Stains on his face and clothes began to disappear.
"He's fine," Kikyou stated, getting up. "All he needs now is rest." Kagome let out a breath of relief. "Arigato." Kikyou nodded curtly and seated herself against the Goshinboku, brushing off snow and dried the spot. Then she closed her onyx eyes.
After a moment, Kagome said: "Um, why are you sitting down? Shouldn't be getting going?" Kagome opened one of her eyes. "Naraku's not after us, for all I know," Kikyou said. "So we should stay in one spot and wait for the others." "But-" "Don't worry," Kikyou said, closing her eyes again. "They'll come soon enough."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sesshoumaru leapt and ran through the forest, scanning the grounds for Sango, Miroku and Kirara. "Meh," Sesshoumaru thought. "She always gets the good ones to herself, that Kikyou..."
Suddenly, he heard a rustle. Sesshoumaru looked down. "HENTAI!" yelled a female voice. Then a fresh slap. Even Sesshoumaru winced. "Eh, here goes the Hentai Houshi again," he thought. He landed behind the auburn haired Taijiya. Sango did not budge as Sesshoumaru landed so swiftly, just bantered on how Miroku was a pervert. Sesshoumaru put his hands on Sango's shoulders. "I suggest you stop yell at him," he whispered into her ear. She screamed and leapt away. "Taku mendoukusei (How troublesome)," he mumbled as she leapt back. "Sesshoumaru..." Miroku stated. "... Most unusual of you, Sesshoumaru; you rarely drop down to speak to humans." Sesshoumaru smirked. "I did not come of my free will. Kikyou requested me to come get you two." "Kikyou?" Miroku mumbled audibly. "So she has found Inuyasha and Kagome?" Sango said. "Are they alright?" Sango said, turning worried. "How is Inuyasha!"
Sesshoumaru smiled. "Both Kagome and Inuyasha should be fine with Kikyou there," he said. "Anyway, let's go." They nodded and took off.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Kikyou lay against the tree, with her eyes closed. While closing the world out, she compressed her energy. She cracked open one of her eyes at Inuyasha; he began to look better as the stains disappeared off his face and clothes. She smiled. "Soo ka," she thought. "He's getting stronger. Before, he would not be able to do anything except bash Tetsusaiga around. Now, he can actually heal himself. I'm proud, Inuyasha... I'm proud." Shut her eyes again. Kagome just looked around. When she looked at a hana (flower), she saw gasped with wonder. "Sugoi (Any word for amazing)!" she exclaimed, kneeling down to the flower. She touched the deep purple petals that were in a starry formation. A couple of the same looking flowers surrounded the flower, only with different shades of color.
"It's called the Kikyou," Kikyou said, not opening her eyes. "Eh?" Kagome looked up. "You're named after it then?" Kikyou opened her eyes, compressed enough energy, and pulled out her katana and began polishing with it. "Ah." "What is this girl trying to do? After all, I did threaten her with my blade," Kikyou thought. Kagome flopped down beside the flower and rubbed the petals on their backsides.
After a moment, Kagome spoke: "Ne, Kikyou?" "Mm?" Kikyou was now sharpening her arrows. "...Nothing." An eerie silence crept over the clearing. Only their quiet breathing and the swirling wind was the only noise.
A rustle in the trees snapped up Kikyou's senses as Kagome looked up warily. "Dareda (Literally means who but since the Japanese language isn't like... XD Doesn't have words like have, are, etc, this currently means who goes or who's there. I hope that clears things up!)!" Kikyou declared, drawing Ni Hon. Kagome pulled out a little Tanto from her obi.
The rustling continued until Sesshoumaru popped up. Then Sango and Miroku! Kikyou lowered her Ni Hon, weary as Kagome lowered her Tanto. "Taku mendoukusei," muttered Kikyou as she sheathed her glimmering jewel sword. "What took you so long?" Sesshoumaru scoffed. "It took a long time to get your scents. That's why." "Oh."
Another rustling came through. Cha-Yang came from behind the big oak tree, FUMING. Her hair stuck out at odd ends. "Sesshoumaru," Cha-Yang seethed, pronouncing each syllable with anger. "Oopsies," Sesshoumaru mumbled. Cha-Yang sighed, letting her anger disappear. "Well, it's not your fault," she said with a ghost of a smile. "I wasn't keeping up." Kikyou smirked. "Hm, well, we are getting back to the castle now to prep up." Shippou nodded frantically.
"In any case," Sango said, "have you received a message from Riko for a war at Seibai-Zan?" Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows. "Hai, we did! That was the same time Kagome ran away and was kidnapped," said Miroku.
Kikyou narrowed her eyes. "In that case," she said, "you better come to our shiro (castle) to discuss matters. And if matters deepen, you may have to join forces with us." "NANI!" a boisterous voice called. Inuyasha had awakened. "ME, JOIN FORCES WITH YOU WHEN THAT FRICKEN SESSHOUMARU IS WITH YOU? HELL N-!" "INUYASHA!" Kikyou strongly declared, cutting him off. She took a breath and sighed. "Ochitsukeru (Calm down). No matter what happens, Inuyasha, you and your group must join forces with us. We are already two days behind of gathering weapons and soldiers. You will ha-!" "Urusai!" Inuyasha yelled. "I'm not going to join you! 'Especially I-"
Kikyou cut him off by quickly forming hand seals and finished up with her finger tips to finger tips and held them up in a circle, looking through them and directly at Inuyasha like a viewfinder. "Meikyoushisui no Jutsu (Serene Technique)!" Kikyou declared. A wave of blue power swept out of her fingers, passing through everyone else and hitting Inuyasha. Inuyasha gasped and fell back.
Kagome gasped and ran over to him. "Inuyasha!" she cried, running over to him and clasping him. "What have you done?" she hissed at Kikyou, throwing her a sharp, accusing look. "Kagome!" Shippou exclaimed. "You don't even know what Kikyou's go-!" Shippou shuddered as Kikyou threw back a like-wise look, making Kagome recoil. Sesshoumaru and Miroku cringed. "I hate it when Kikyou does that," Sesshoumaru thought. Miroku seemed to think along the same lines, only replaced Kikyou's name with Kagome's.
Kikyou sighed. "Inuyasha is not hurt," she said, "I only put him to sleep, but instead of that, he's conscious and may do nothing to interrupt me or object. He will absorb EVERYTHING I say."
Kikyou pushed past Kagome, and raised her right hand with her index and middle fingers out and pressed them to her lips and then took the left hand and with the same fingers out, smacked Inuyasha on the forehead.
"Inuyasha," Kikyou said, her words flooding into Inuyasha's head, "I know you can hear me. You cannot resist this technique I created." Inuyasha seemed to wince as he heard these words. Kikyou continued. "Inuyasha, we are 2 days behind from gathering supplies, weapons and allies. Naraku has probably already finished collecting Youkai and weapons. Inuyasha, if you wish to get revenge for what he did to Kagome, you will join us."
Kikyou broke her contact with Inuyasha. Inuyasha stirred awake, rubbing his temples. "Aarrghh, I felt like someone went into my h-" he mumbled consciously. Kikyou felt like SLAPPING Inuyasha when Sesshoumaru placed a warm hand on her shoulder and whispered: "Don't waste your strength, Kikyou." Kikyou gritted her teeth, but let out her breath and nodded.
"Anyhow," Kikyou said, straightening her Haori. "You better get to our shiro anyway. The planning we need will be withered into a dual hour's worth." When no one said anything, Kikyou said: "Saa (Lots of meanings, like Alright, let's go, etc)! Itedekimashou (Let's go!)!"
- Back at Shiro no Youkai (Castle of Demons) -
As Kikyou and Sesshoumaru landed back into the courtyard of their shiro, they had the Inu-Tachi wait in the mission room. Kikyou went into the hospital wing as Sesshoumaru went in with the Inu-Tachi to make sure Inuyasha would not touch anything or risk breaking anything.
As Kikyou walked into the room, she saw Enju lying in the bed in the far right! Kikyou gasped and ran over to her. "Enju-san!" Kikyou exclaimed. Enju seemed startled. "K-Kikyou-Sama!" Kikyou sat on the edge of her bed. "What happened!" Enju turned red. "Uh... um... I will tell you. But... promise me you won't be angry." Kikyou seemed startled but gave her word not to lose her temper.
As Enju explained the situation, Kikyou seemed to infuriate as Enju said she brought Rin and Tomo along but seemed to soften as she said her lover was nothing but a fake and received a gash in her chest that cut through the bone. Kikyou sighed. "Wakareru, Enju (Literally means "understand, Enju", but it can be translated to I got it, I understand, etc)," Kikyou said. "Watashi wa desu yurusu omae ne (I forgive you)." Enju smiled with relief and bowed. "Arigato."
Kikyou sighed and placed her hands on the table. Sango crossed her hands, not being cocky, just thoughtful. "So, what will we need?" Miroku asked, setting his staff to the corner.
"Everything a regular war requires," Sesshoumaru said as a gust of icy wind burst from the window, "soldiers, medical supplies, surgeons, weapons, and etcetera." "But how are we gonna do it?" Shippou inquired. Kikyou interlaced her fingers together, the bases of her thumbs touching her foreheads. "Naraku had most-likely finished collecting allies and supplies as he had a head start. The Youkai he had collected were most probably oni, which are probably those over-sized brutes of Hell Ogres..."
It was silent for a moment. Then Sesshoumaru called: "Shunjo!" The teenage girl shuffled in the room with a jerk of surprise. "Sesshoumaru-Sama! Kikyou-Sama! When did you both get back?" Sesshoumaru blinked: usually she would be more aware! "Perhaps she was busy," Sesshoumaru thought. Kikyou chuckled. "We had just gotten back." Shunjo nodded furiously. Suddenly, Inuyasha interrupted: "Did you ever receive a warning notice about a war at Seibai-Zan!" he jabbered quickly. He slammed his hands on the table. "If y-!" This time it was Sango to say to Inuyasha, "Ochitsukeru." That just shut him up like Osuwari.
"We have received a scroll in unconceivable writing, but we were able to decipher that it was at Seibai-Zan and, now, four days from it," Shunjo concluded. Aika walked in, giving a curt nod to Kikyou and Sesshoumaru as they did likewise. Aika rolled out a on the table they were sitting at. He paused for a moment. "Sir, please remove your nails OUT of the marble top," he said. Inuyasha had his nails practically digging in and chipping off the precious marble that Tomo and Rin crafted together. "Huh?" he mumbled consciously and then looked down. "Oh, sorry." Kikyou sighed and walked over to Inuyasha's side. She hissed an inaudible spell and her hand over the carvings. It instantly smoothed out. Once it did, Kikyou went back beside Sesshoumaru.
"Sou," Aika began. "This is us." He placed a weathered finger on Sakura no Mori (Forest of the Sakura Trees), where the Sakura would remain fresh and pink all year long. "Seibai-Zan is down here," Sango said, saving Aika the trouble of bending all the way across the table. She placed her own finger on the hiragana. From the map's scale, every one centimeter equals 100 miles. From Kikyou's perspective, it would be two days march, 4 if it were with an army. Inuyasha did nothing but grumble, ignoring the usual frightening glare from Sango.
"We still need reinforcements and where Naraku is," Cha-Yang said. Aika chuckled. "I have already gathered a large amount of allies and soldiers. All we need now are the supplies, which Shunjo is having brought in." Kikyou blinked. "Well, you are certainly aware of what was going on," Miroku said conversationally. Aika chuckled. "Iie, we received a scroll, that's how we know. If it weren't for that, I'd be just walking in and around the Shiro."
"... Well that certainly relaxed us," Sesshoumaru mumbled. "Yes, but for the time being, we'll need to have spies going in and out to see of Naraku," Kikyou said. "Spies?" Shippou said excitedly. "Ooh I wanna be one I wanna be one!" He frantically raised his paw and hopped up and down in his seat like a student wanting to answer a question he knew was correct. Sango patted his head. "I think that job will be a bit too real for you, Shippou," Kagome said. "You might get killed or you'll be killed."
Cha-Yang merely chuckled. "No need for that," she said. "I have my own methods." She motioned for one of the guards. "Bring me a basin of Silver Restoration from the Kijutsu ward," she said to him. The guard nodded and marched off.
A few moments later, the guard came back holding a marble basin filled with a silvery substance. "Arigato," Cha-Yang said as he placed the basin on the table and left. Cha-Yang made a couple of hand seals. She then bit her thumb hard enough so blood would freely drip out as she held it above the basin. She made five more seals; Shippou stared awestruck at how fast she could form them without making mistakes. She then suddenly struck the basin on the sides 4 times: North, south, east, west and declared: "Ninpon: Mirai Gyoushi (Future Gaze)!" The liquid shimmered and rippled. Naraku sat in his study, looking over some scrolls. "Naraku STUDIES?" Shippou yelled. "That's new..." Miroku said.
Suddenly, Naraku looked up. His mouth moved as if he was speaking. "Can you amplify this technique so we can hear?" Kagome said quickly and gave a look of scorn as Riko entered the room and knelt before . "Yes," Cha-Yang said. "But I'm afraid someone will have to share their strength with me as mine is ebbing away. I've never held the Mirai Gyoushi for this long in such a big basin."
"I'll do it!" Kagome said suddenly. She ran over behind Cha-Yang and made quick hand seals that looked blurred to Miroku and Sango. Then she slapped her palms directly on Cha-Yang's back, strongly declaring: "Kai (Release)!" Cha-Yang winced but when Kagome's hands glowed blue, Cha-Yang relaxed. Cha-Yang inhaled and amplified the basin. The sound was muffled, but slowly cleared up.
"... and so," Riko said defensively to Naraku in the basin, "although we have much stronger Youkai, stronger weapons, better armor and supplies, Sesshoumaru and Kikyou have their own ways of preparing!" Naraku sighed. "I understand your reasoning of having to bring about kijutsushi (Magic-makers. If you add –shi to the end of a practice, it turns it into a profession, like renkinjutsu, which is alchemy, will turn into Alchemist when it is renkinjutsuSHI) to intercept. However" – He slammed his hand on the little table, making Riko jump "- That Miko and Youkai have their own ways of getting their information and are probably scrying on us right now, that pure-haired Miko and her Mirai Gyoushi..." He shot at a corner, from which Kikyou and Sesshoumaru were watching. They flinched; afraid he may actually have the power to do so.
Naraku gave another exasperated sigh. He threw his hands in the air. "And besides, we have already collected a great horde of Oni. Not even a whole army of Kikyou's best or the strongest of Sesshoumaru's will last against them for long." Riko seemed to loosen up but did not falter. "But it's kijutsu, Naraku-Sama!" Naraku was taken aback; Riko had never addressed him this way.
Naraku sighed again. "Riko, we will have no use for kijutsushi. Eventually, they will tire out after constant use with kijuts-!" "And the Oni, who fight with physical strength, would not! And the kijutsushi can do ranged attacks with out anything but their raw energy, which they can draw from around them! Naraku-Sama! Onegai shimasu (Please or I beg of you)!" Riko threw herself down in a bow. Naraku sighed. "Fine," he said softly. Riko brightened. "They are already outside and refreshing themselves."
"Now, Cha-Yang," Miroku said. Can you try to trace how many miles they are from Seibai-Zan?" Cha-Yang did not respond. The silvery substance waned and blurred then receded into pitch black as Riko got up. "Ngh, I can't do it anymore..." Kagome muttered. Sweat beaded her forehead as she slipped. Cha-Yang widened her eyes. "No!" Cha-Yang cried. Kagome began to slip. If she broke physical contact, it would be all over for Cha-Yang.
Kikyou made quick seals, extending out blue threads to Cha-Yang and Kagome, making them last for a few moments as Sesshoumaru acted quickly, whose seals were faster. "Kai!" He pounded his hands on Cha-Yang's back just as Kagome's fingers brushed off, blacked out and fainted. Aika knelt and felt her forehead and then her pulse. "This is bad," he said. He made even faster seals, and rapped her back with two fingers, transferring some of his own energy to her.
Cha-Yang let out a breath of relief. "Arigato, Sesshoumaru. Arigato desu yo ne, Kikyou." Sesshoumaru said nothing. Kikyou nodded and retracted her strings as Cha-Yang relaxed and Kagome released her painful grimace. Aika broke contact with her. The pitch black basin seemed to waver back into light but didn't. Miroku narrowed his eyes. "Something's not right..." he muttered. He walked closer to the table. "Cha-Yang, what would happen if I were to put my hand in the basin?" "Nothing, but just get a small taste of what it's like."
Miroku rolled up his sleeve when Sango grabbed his arm. "Be careful," she said. Miroku smiled and dipped two of his fingers in the basin. Miroku gasped as the marble-like liquid rippled. He pulled his hand back out.
"Why, what's wrong?" Inuyasha quickly said. Miroku rubbed his fingers. "I felt... nothing but hard rocks. They may be inside Seibai-Zan." Sesshoumaru smirked. "So, they are attacking us from the inside..." he hissed. Kikyou sighed, satisfied as Cha-Yang released the magic.
"Now that we know what to do, we should just use tomorrow and the day after to rest," Kikyou said. "You all may choose your quarters. Sleeping robes are already in your rooms." Sesshoumaru slid open the shoji door as Cha-Yang walked out and Kikyou. "Oyasumi nasai (Good night)," Sesshoumaru said briskly, slamming it shut on his way out, making Shippou yelp with fright and Kirara hiss.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
As Kikyou walked out from fixing some incense for Rin and Tomo as they sleep as well poking a couple of holes through the shoji paper for ventilation, she walked back into her bedroom with Sesshoumaru, who was feeding aromatic wax into the fire. The hem of her white sleeping robe gave out a faint scent of crushed rose petals. Kikyou sunk into the futon, exhausted. "Well, the kids are in bed." Sesshoumaru grunted. The sleeve of his midnight blue sleeping robe shined from the light of the fire. "Sesshou-?" Before she knew it, he had already fed all the aromatic wax into the fire place - which was now giving a pleasant smell of amplified flowers – and leapt onto her, pulling her into a hug which almost drove all the air out of her lungs.
"S-!" Kikyou began. "I was scared tonight..." he whispered into her ear. Kikyou blinked. "I was scared... that I would not make it back home with you..." Kikyou blinked and sighed. She wrapped her own arms around Sesshoumaru. "I'm sorry." Sesshoumaru said nothing but stayed hugging her. The top of Kikyou's white robe was beginning to slip. "Sesshoumaru?" Kikyou whispered. Sesshoumaru said nothing. Only his breathing could be heard. Kikyou scoffed but smiled, brushing the fringe of his silver-moonlit hair. "He's that tired..." she thought. With a little wave of her fingers, the sheets slipped out from under them, enveloping them both in warmth.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
While Inuyasha tucked Kagome in (Although she was silent to him), he slid open the window, letting some snowflakes and a rush of cold but calm wind in. "So this is it... isn't it?" he thought. And as if his mind was read, Kagome just said: "Yes, it is... or is it..." Inuyasha whipped around. Kagome looked at him with a small smile. Inuyasha closed the window, stopping the flow of snow flakes and sat at the edge of Kagome's futon. "Kagome, I'm so sorry." Kagome blinked. "About what?" He clasped her hand, which wasn't engulfed by the blankets. "It was my fault you were kidnapped by Riko. It was my fault you were. It wa-!" "Inuyasha, stop," Kagome said suddenly.
"Technically, it's also partially my fault why I was kidnapped and almost killed you..." Kagome said. Inuyasha blinked. "Wha-?" "If I had just kept calm and stayed in one place..." Kagome whispered, the fringe of her raven hair shielded her eyes. Her voice shook slightly. "Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered. He got on to the futon, lying on his elbows so he could hover directly above her. "... What are you-!" "Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled. "Inuyasha, get off me this instant or I will scream!" Inuyasha's elbows slipped on the satin sheets, crushing Kagome on the futon. "AAGH! RAPE! RAPE!" she screamed.
"KAGOME!" Inuyasha yelled, shutting her up. He supported himself again with his elbows, cupping her mouth. "Watashi wa gomenasai (I'm sorry)! Iumademonai oreno da kago no kou shikku (It is my fault for your suffering)!" "I-!" Kagome began. "Saa, kuseni sukari kaniyara wa (when all this is done)" – he was gonna ask her –"watashi wa ketsubou omae wa (I want you)" – but he couldn't – "enduku watashi wa (to marry me)!"
Kagome was speechless. "N-nani...?" she stuttered. "Kagome, after all this is over and you forgive me, will you marry me?" Kagome flushed. She turned her head to the side. "He wants me to marry him..." Kagome thought scornfully. "He wants me to marry him after all I went through!" But then she softened. "But... Inuyasha almost died because of me..." Then she looked at the bright side. "But then again... he does seek my forgiveness and said sorry... as well I was at partial fault... so I guess this will both atone for our relationship."
Kagome faced Inuyasha again with a small smile. "Inuyasha... Watashi wa yurusu sonkou (I forgive you). Watashi wa enduku sonkou (I will marry you)." Inuyasha's face flushed with happiness. He dipped his head and kissed Kagome softly on the lips. She stiffened, then relaxed. She wrapped her warm arms around Inuyasha's neck.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sango cuddled closer to Miroku's chest, her silken robe slightly slipping off of her shoulder. "Ne, Miroku..." Sango whispered. "Nani, Sango-Chan?" Miroku whispered. "What do you think will happen to us... after this war...?" Miroku was silent for a moment. "Our lives will just go by, I suppose..." Miroku said softly.
Suddenly, screaming erupted; a high voice screaming "RAPE! RAPE!" erupted through the castle. "Goodness!" Shippou screamed out loud from his little cabinet as he and Kirara were so small they could fit in. Miroku chuckled. "Inuyasha wouldn't da-!"
"KAGOME!" a raspy voice yelled. "Watashi wa gomenasai! Iumademonai oreno da kago no kou shikku!" "I-!" Kagome began. "Saa, kuseni sukari kaniyara wa, watashi wa ketsubou omae wa enduku watashi wa!"
It seemed as if the whole castle itself and the heavens just silenced themselves, for that little moment. Miroku smirked. "Eh?" Sango exclaimed. "It would be anytime that Inuyasha asks her that. He should've gotten over chasing after Kikyou." Sango sighed through a small smile. "Perhaps you're right..."
When Miroku and Sango cuddled together, Sango rubbed his bare chest. When Shippou kept watching, Sango threw a spare pillow at him, knocking him back into the little warm cabinet with a little "GAK!" as Sango yelled, "Go to sleep!"
To be continued...
A/N: BWHAGHGHAHGAHGHAHHAAHAHA! xD About time I finished this one cause it's a fricken TWELVE PAGES! -.- So review. And they better be long.