You and you alone can save me

The kiss

By: Kuraii-chan

Kuraii-chan: Here you are, chapter 13 to go along with our beloved chapter 12.... And seeing as its only chapter 13 and I'm already getting to this point in the story I'm a bit afraid that it won't end up as long as I would like. But oh well, we shall just have so see about that.

Author Notes: Well if you are still reading this then I can safely assume you haven't deserted me because of the little "confession" at the end of the last chapter and for Kagome standing up for the gays. Don't worry, I've already promised that there won't be all that much on the yaoi part. Sadly. Oh well, maybe at the end of the fic I shall add a little bit for all the yaoi lovers out there.

"Sesshomaru-sama." My-Linh bowed respectfully but the Taiyoukai could tell that she was still upset over the earlier ordeal.

"Rin, are you ready?" he asked, blatantly ignoring My-Linh.

"Hai Sesshomaru-sama!" chirped Rin happily. "Are we finally leaving now?"

"Hai Rin. We are finally leaving."

Ah-Un grunted softly and shuffled its feet against the soft grass impatiently. A wind ran its fingers through Sesshomaru's long silver hair; making it dance in small patterns and causing his fringe gently brush back and forth across his forehead.

Sesshomaru swung his leg over, and mounted Ah-Un with graceful ease that women envied. He then reached down and pulled Rin up into his lap.

"We shall be going now, and will back before nightfall." Sesshomaru informed My-Linh briskly. She nodded, storing this information in case anyone asked and watched as Ah-Un set off into the air.

"Be careful Milord." She whispered to the wind, "For if you manage to get yourself killed, and I know you won't, but if you do Kagome will be forever alone. She and you are destined, why do you ignore that?"

With a sigh, My-Linh shook her head and set off for the castle. Kagome would be back soon enough, she didn't know how but she just knew it. And Kagome needed her room to be clean and ready for when she returned.

Sesshomaru stared at the castle before him. It wasn't nearly as big as his own, but it wasn't too small either.

"Rin, you will stay at my side at all times unless I instruct you otherwise."

Rin nodded, Kagome had explained the dangers of going off on her own and she didn't want to be kidnapped. Then she might never see Sesshomaru-sama again!

Absently brushing the imaginary wrinkles from her yukata she tried to remember all that her Onee-chan had taught her. She couldn't go messing up and embarrassing Sesshomaru-sama!

Ah-Un landed gently, and snorted softly as it waited for the people on its back to dismount.

Sesshomaru got off first, and reached up to pluck Rin from her spot. "Remember, stay beside me at all times." Sesshomaru whispered as he set off towards the entrance.

Rin scurried after Sesshomaru, trying to keep up with his long strides.

"L-Lord Sesshomaru! S-S-So good you could m-make it!" exclaimed the nervous youkai as he stared at the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands before him.

A single icy glare shut him up, and Sesshomaru swept past the guard with Rin following in his wake.

Rin stared at everything she passed, taking it all in. It was certainly different from Sesshomaru's castle, and even if it wasn't nearly as majestic it wasn't hard on the eyes.

"Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sesshomaru paused mid-stride to regard his charge, "Hai Rin."

"What is that?" she pointed to a picture of a miko with the Shikon no Tama.

"It is the Shikon no Tama." Rin gave him a dumbfounded look and Sesshomaru sighed. Looked like he would have to explain.

Kyo paused and smirked at Kagome.

"Are you getting tired Lady Kagome?" Kagome shot him a glare that seemed to say 'No-shit-Sherlock'. However that was different from what she told him.

"Iie Kyo, I am fine. We are almost there anyways, I can make it."

Kyo shrugged, "If you are sure Lady Kagome." He said before he started off again.

Kagome sighed irritably. Sheesh. You should know that what people say isn't always true. I think I'm about to die here...

Reluctantly she hurried after Kyo. "You can at least slow down." She hissed, pushing a tree limb out of her way.

"How far do you want to be dropped off from the village?"

"Umm..." Kagome looked around. "Here will be fine I think Kyo. Thank you for coming with me, and carrying that heavy thing the whole way. I don't know how you do it, but I'm grateful all the same."

"Not at all Kagome," replied Kyo warmly, "And remember that you promised to return. Well when you do, don't forget to visit me as well. Oh, and be sure to hurry to your village. It looks as if it is about to pour."

"Don't worry, I won't." Kagome hugged Kyo briefly before watching him speed off. So he had been going slow for her, how nice.

And then Kagome turned to the yellow backpack that was starting at her and groaned.

Should have made Kyo stay and drop me off closed to the village... drat. Now I have to carry it myself.

Sulking ever so slightly Kagome pulled the thing onto her back and started off. She hadn't gone all that far, dodging rocks, tree limbs, and suspicious looking bushes when two voices met her ears.

"I came here just to see you. Why won't you come closer? You are usually happy to see me, why aren't you right now?"

"Because..."

"That's all you offer as an excuse? 'Because...'?!"

Umm... lovers quarrel maybe? Thought Kagome idly. But curiosity got the better of her, so she set down her backpack as quietly as she could and tiptoed forward, hoping to peek through the thick brush.

She pushed aside some branches and was confused at the sight that met her. It was Kikyou and Inuyasha. But she convinced herself that this time might be different, he might not have run off to meet her for once.

"You are mine Inuyasha, I won't let my reincarnation take you from me." She whispered fiercely, words tainted with hatred and malice for Kagome.

And then she closed the gap between them, placed her 'hands' on each of Inuyasha's cheeks, and getting on her tiptoes kissed him.

Both Kagome and Inuyasha's eyes widened, and Kagome fought the urge to gasp and sob loudly. She let the branches fall back into place and stumbled through the forest, blinded by her tears. She didn't know where she was going, just that she had to get away from there.

But had she stayed a little longer she would have seen Inuyasha push Kikyou away.

"Kikyou, I'm sorry. I just, I can't do this." Kikyou's mud brown eyes narrowed and she let her hands fall away from Inuyasha's face.

"I see. It's that girl, Kagome, isn't it?" She hissed softly. "Well you will come to me. I know it, for you and I are destined Inuyasha. And I won't let that little whore take you away from me. You and your soul belongs to me."

She stepped back, and her soul stealers appeared out of nowhere only to carry the clay priestess off.

Just before she disappeared though she called down to Inuyasha one last time, "Don't forget me, for you and I are soul mates. We will be together one way or another, I will make sure of it."

Inuyasha stared down at the ground and shuffled his feet, stirring up little clouds of dirt.

What came over me? Why did I push Kikyou away? Is she not the one that I wanted to be with for so long? The one that part of me still wants to be with? Then why...?

With a frustrated sigh Inuyasha turned around and started back to the village where he knew Sango, Miroku, and Shippou would all still be eagerly awaiting the arrival of Kagome and Kaede.

With a choked sob Kagome hurled herself through the forest, running blindly. It was amazing she hadn't run into anything yet.

How could she... how could he... She could still clearly picture the scene, and could feel her heart break again. Shatter into more than a million pieces, left for no one to pick up and put together.

The cursed picture was probably forever imprinted upon her brain.

There to forever remind her of this betrayal.

Finally her legs collapsed from under her, and she fell face forward onto the ground. Just as she was lying there unmoving on the ground the dark clouds above rumbled fiercely.

Yes. Come rain, and may your lightening strike me dead on the spot. Kagome thought. And then in a flash of blinding light it seemed as though the heavens had split.

The rain poured, falling hard and mercilessly. Kagome curled herself into a ball and sobbed loudly, but no one would have been able to hear over the deafening thunder and the roar of the rain.

For a few minutes Kagome waited for the lightening to strike her, and to be swallowed into the sweet bliss of death. But she grew irritated when she realized that the lightening has no intentions of striking her. She would have a greater chance is she were out in the open instead of surrounded by all these trees anyways.

So unsteadily Kagome got to her hands and knees and began to crawl through the mud and large amount of water that was beginning to puddle on the ground.

I must... reach the field. It isn't... to far from here...

Panting Kagome cautiously crawled over a root that was blocking her from her sweet bliss. From the death that she so craved. Pfft, she wouldn't let a root stop her from it.

Her nails dug into the ground as Kagome fought her exhaustion. "No... I can't... stop... not now..."

Kagome's breath was coming in labored pants now and her whole body was on fire. Her wounds, Kagome was sure, had reopened by now. Every part of her was screaming at her to stop and rest before she continued any farther. But she knew she couldn't, if she stopped she wouldn't ever reach her destination.

So Kagome, soaked to the bone, shivering from the icy droplets, wanting to die, her wounds reopened, and her body on fire, was slowly crawling to a field in hopes of getting struck by lightning.

She paused for a moment to try and steady her breath, and ended up looking down at the yukata that she had borrowed from Sesshomaru that was now splattered in mud.

Rin... My-Linh... Kyo... I promised you, but I'm afraid I won't keep it. I'm sorry, forgive me.

And finally she reached the empty field. She crawled a few more unstable feet before she collapsed in a heap of exhaustion. She was faintly aware of her surroundings, and a wind that popped out of nowhere. She ever barely registered the concerned voice before drifting off into unconsciousness.

"K-Kagome?!" whispered a mortified Kouga.

Kuraii-chan: And I shall stop it there. I don't think I portrayed her depression well enough, but I tried.

Seika: This chapter is rather short... O.O;;

Kuraii-chan: ... I know I know, but I wanted to stop it there. Muahahah.. because I can. And I have no reviews to reply to for this chapter... it feels odd.

Kagome: Wow... I want to die.

Inuyasha: But I pushed Kikyou away!!!

Kuraii-chan: Arrrg... {locks self in closet}

Kira: Hrrumph. he is still REALLY mad about the while gay thing

Kirara: Mewl, mrow, meo, moow. (Translation: Read and review!)