A Journey in a Different Time

-Chapter 16-

A Broken Heart

As soon as the light from the sun shined on Inuyasha's eyes, he quickly jumped out from the tree hole, and looked around. The ground was still pretty wet from the rain last night, and the leaves glittered from the light, because of the raindrops. He can hear the birds chirping and singing to the morning light.

Inuyasha heard Miroku yawned. "It's a nice day today," he said tiredly. He started to stretch his arms out while Sango gets out into the open. "Inuyasha, what's wrong?"

"I smell blood..."

Everyone who was awake heard what Inuyasha said. "What...?" Shippo said cowardly.

"Blood...it's really strong too...and it's close by," Inuyasha said coldly.

Kagome walked out with Shippo in her arms, staring at Inuyasha with a little bit of fear. "Do you think...it's..." She stopped before she can even say anything else. She was afraid it was Michelle's blood...

Inuyasha turned to his left and started to run towards where the smell is coming from. Dashing through the bushes and the grass, hoping he'll find her at least. Miroku was running behind Inuyasha, along with Sango, Kirara, Shippo and Kagome.

As Inuyasha dashed through the bushes and the trees, he could tell by the smell he was getting close, smelling along of Naraku's scent near her blood. He went ahead, hoping to find Naraku, forgetting that the others were behind him. He jumped onto a branch, and then jumped off it, over a few trees and landing in the exact spot where he smelled her blood. He stood there for a while, looking around carefully. After a few minutes, he saw the blood on the ground, a trail of it, leading to a tree. 'She was probably leaning against it when she was bleeding...' thought Inuyasha. He kneeled down, dipping his finger into the blood and sniffing it.

"Yup...this is her blood..." He started to examine the area around him. Sniffing around, the scent of Naraku going into his nose and images of him popping into Inuyasha's head. He imagined they were talking about the Sacred Jewels, and that Naraku attacked her when she refused to surrender them. Or...it could be that her wound opened because of that negative energy that kept coming at her.

His thoughts were interrupted when he picked up a new scent. He sniffed the ground, near where her blood is. He followed the scent into a certain spot: two-foot prints in standing position, facing the area where Michelle and Naraku were. His eyes widen, knowing whom it was.

"Inuyasha!"

He snapped out of when he heard Kagome's voice. He stood up, and turned around just in time to see Kagome and the others coming up to them, surprised at seeing the trail of blood on the tree and on the ground. "Inuyasha, do you know what happened?" Asked Sango, curiously.

He nodded slowly, was he afraid to answer? Or he just didn't want to upset Kagome again? Like last time when he mentioned Kikyo.

"Well aren't you going to tell us?" Said Miroku, being sort of impatient.

He growled at him a little. Then he shrugged, figured that he had no other choice to tell them. "Before I left you guys, I picked up two scents," he said. Inuyasha walked over to where the blood is and pointed at it. "This is her blood. She was here, and so was Naraku. But now...I'm suspecting Kagura was also here." They nodded, knowing there's more. "But after I examined the area, I picked up another scent." He then walked over to where the footprints are, now afraid to say who it was. "The scent was...Kikyo's...and these are her footprints. I'm guessing that she saved her and Naraku and Kagura went away. If you look over there..." Inuyasha pointed to a tree a few feet away from them, and saw an arrow at it, and then he continued. "...That's her arrow."

'Wow...I never knew Inuyasha can examine things well when he's not under pressure...' Kagome thought. She frowned. 'Kikyo, huh? I bet Inuyasha would be happy to see her soon...'

"Hmm..." Miroku rubbed his chin and started to think deeply. If Naraku and Kagura went away, leaving Kikyo and Michelle behind, then what happened to both of them? It's not like Kikyo to leave Michelle bleeding to death. She probably took her in into safety. "Well, lets go. We better find them. It's more likely that Kagura would be looking for them."

"Yeah lets go!" Said Shippo.

( Kikyo's place)

Michelle knew she was dreaming again. Another silent, dark place, like last time. She was also silent, frowning down at the floor, wondering where he is. After a few minutes, she started to hear footprints coming towards; she turned around, seeing Koya again. She didn't smile, nor frown.

"You called?" He said.

Michelle was confused. "Called? I didn't call you," said Michelle.

"Yeah, you did, your inner voice was calling me to you. Right now I'm sleeping in class during a test."

"Oh...I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry about it." He brushed his hand over her cheek, but she turned her face away from him. He smiled softly. "You look nice."

Michelle looked at him, realizing she was in the miko clothing. She looked up at him, not smiling. "Thank you..."

He nodded. "Well, I don't see the reason why you called me, so I should be going." He walked closer to her, taking her chin gently into his two fingers, he slowly leaned towards her, closing his eyes.

'No...'

Michelle then woke up, slowly opening her eyes, her vision a little blurry. But when it came to her, she was staring straight at the ceiling. She lifted up her hand and touched her forehead, a cloth? A wet clothe. Someone was treating her back to health. She slowly sat up, letting the cloth fall on her lap. She breathed...feeling ok now and then looked around to see where she is.

"Glad to see you're feeling better."

She looked up, seeing Kikyo caring a bowl of water. Kikyo set the water down and sat on her knees. "So we meet again...Michelle..."

Michelle nodded. "Yes..."

Silence occurred as Michelle and Kikyo stared at each other. Michelle was getting tired of it so she decided to break it.

"What happened?" She asked her, but Kikyo ignored the question.

"Why were you with Kagura and Naraku?" She asked harshly. "What were you thinking?"

"I...I don't know...but it wasn't my fault, I didn't know they were coming to me though!" Silence occurred again...

Kikyo sighed. "What did they want?"

"The Sacred Jewel shards, the ones I have. They said if I give it to them, they would give me whatever they want...he even wanted me to join him..."

"I see..." Kikyo then pulled something out of her sleeve and handed it to Michelle. "Take this herb, it'll heal your wound faster."

Michelle nodded and took the herb in her hands. She stared at the herb for a few minutes and then put it in her miko clothing. She looked back at Kikyo, who was staring back at her. She closed her eyes and stood up

"You should go back to them now," said Kikyo.

Michelle automatically stood up. "Why?"

"Aren't they your friends? Friends who you always wanted? Who you longed for? Your wish?"

Michelle didn't speak. 'She's right...they are friends who I have longed for, but...for some reason, I don't want to go back to them...not now anyway.'

"If you don't watch yourself, and be with your friends," Kikyo continued. "Naraku will force you on his side, and make you fight them, whether you like it or not. He'll go after you, because of your power, because the shards you have with you." Michelle looked down, knowing that she has two shards: One from Kikyo, and the other is from Natsuyo, but how did he get it? "Whenever Naraku does that...I won't be there to witness it. Stay with them. I would watch it, if I were you."

Michelle clenched up her hands, knowing that Kikyo is right.

"Come on." Michelle looked at her. "I'll help you find them." As Kikyo stepped out of the shack, Michelle followed along with her. She saw the blue sky, and the beautiful green trees in her sight. She observed her surroundings a little bit, and then her eyes landed on Kikyo. She was just standing there, not moving, her hands were clenched on her bow tightly. Was she afraid or angry? When Michelle looked ahead of Kikyo, she knew why Kikyo was just standing there. They had an unexpected visitor...Kagura.

Kagura was standing straight as she usually does, holding her fan, the top of it at her chin. She smiled slightly, thinking that it was interesting to see two mikos outside of a shack, with no one else around. But last time she ran into Kikyo, her Sacred Arrow almost shot her.

"So...little girl, have you decided to join us?" Kagura asked, her smile turning into a grin.

"No way, there is no reason for me to join you!" Answered Michelle.

Kagura laughed. "Sooner or later, you'll change your mind, and once you do, you won't be able to go back to your normal life. You'll suffer the same fate as Kohaku!"

'Kohaku? Who's that?' "I don't know what the hell you're talking about Kagura! But like I said, I'll never join you!"

"Enough." Kikyo commanded. Kikyo pulled an arrow out from her quiver and set her bow and arrow in shooting position, pointing the arrow at Kagura. "Tell me, where is Naraku?"

"That is not your concern, Kikyo. Naraku isn't interested in you, he is interested in the girl." Kagura started to speak to Michelle again. "If you won't join us, then at least give me the shards and I'll be on my way."

"Like hell I would!" Michelle shouted.

Kikyo pulled the arrow back a little, and let her grip on it go, letting the arrow shoot straight at Kagura, creating a cut on her sleeve of her kimono. "Great..." Kagura said as she stared at her sleeve. She opened up her fan. "You leave me no choice...but to put force on you. Dance of Blades!"

"Kikyo!" Michelle yelled out.

"Don't move!" Said Kikyo. Kikyo quickly put her hands together and started to mumble words that Michelle couldn't understand. When Michelle saw that the blades were coming straight at her, she started to move forward, but stopped when she saw that the blades were being blocked, Kikyo created a kekai. (Which means barrier. )

"Damn you..." Said Kagura, angrily. "A kekai isn't enough to stop me, you know."

"We'll see about that."

"KAGURA!" Inuyasha's voice came out of no where, and the three girls saw him jumping out from the trees and landed in front of Kagura, drawing his Tetsaiga out and pointing it at her. "I have found you Kagura, now tell me where is Naraku!" Kagome and the others started to come too.

'Damn, there are too many of them.' Kagura thought. Kagura's eyes widen as she started to hear Naraku talking in her head. 'Kagura, come back to the castle, we'll get her later.' Kagura frowned, standing straight up and taking the feather from her hair, and transformed it, flying out of there.

"Once again, she has escaped," said Miroku, being disappointed.

"We'll get her later," said Sango.

After Inuyasha's anger subsided, he turned his attention to Kikyo. Michelle saw Inuyasha's face, and quickly walked to Kagome and the others, having a nice welcome greeting with open arms.

"Kikyo..." Inuyasha's voice was soft, filled with happiness and pain at the same time.

Kikyo looked at him. "It's nice to see you again, Inuyasha." Said Kikyo, with her normal tone. "Glad to see you well. I healed Michelle's wound for you, she'll be fine if she takes the herb." Kikyo turned her back to Inuyasha as she started to leave.

Inuyasha took a step forward, his hand sticking out to reach her. "Wait, Kikyo..."

Kikyo stopped in her tracks, and Michelle saw the sadness on Kagome's face. Is this a love triangle?

"We'll meet again, Inuyasha..." And then Kikyo started to depart.

Michelle looks on the faces of Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kagome. Three faces of disappointment, and one face of sadness. Michelle couldn't tell what Inuyasha was feeling, his back was against her. She wanted to ask Inuyasha what was wrong with him exactly, and the history about him, Kikyo, and Kagome.

"Michelle." She heard Sango spoke to her, Sango was handing her: her school clothes. "We found this while looking for you. It has a few blood stains on it, but we'll wash it." She smiled at Michelle.

Michelle smiled back. "Thank you Sango." She gave Sango a hug. After that, her thoughts were clouded with thoughts of the love triangle.