Tami: So sorry guys!! I tried to update before I left, but ff.net was being
idiotic and wouldn't even let me on the front page, let alone sign in. I'm
posting this one now and immediately starting typing the chap I worked on
over vacation and I'll post that as soon as it's done to make up for it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Last time:
Everyone fell silent, remembering their own troubles caused by the jewel. He felt Sango's hand stiffen on his arm. He looked at everyone, interested in their reactions to Kagome's statement. He noticed Miroku was staring at his right hand. Inuyasha's eyes were clouded over as he remembered. Shippou sniffed, tears in his eyes. Kagome reached up and stroked him. Kirara mewed softly and snuggled into Sango's chest. Sango wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight. Kagome was right, apparently. The Shikon no Tama had caused a lot of pain. He'd have to find out what it had done, even if it was a touchy subject. The scent of clay came to his nose.
Now:
Inuyasha smelled it too. He stiffened. "What's wrong?" Sango asked. He stared at the tree line in front of them. Kikyo stepped out a few seconds later, her soul stealing demons close behind.
"K-Kikyo." Inuyasha whispered. Sesshoumaru smelled sadness on Kagome and anger on Sango, Miroku, and Shippou. Was Kikyo someone to be feared? He readied himself for a fight, just in case.
"Inuyasha, I've come to take your jewel shards." Kikyo said.
"No way. They're ours. We won them fair and square!" Kagome shouted. Sango put a hand on her shoulder, as if to lend Kagome strength. Kikyo turned bored eyes to Kagome.
"Why do you travel with my reincarnation? She is worthless."
"She is not worthless." Miroku growled out, tossing Inuyasha a glare for not saying so himself. Kagome wavered a little, but quickly regained composure.
"She does not even know how to control her powers. She is worthless." Kikyo repeated. Still Inuyasha said nothing. Kagome was getting angry. She would never hurt Kikyo, though. She knew Inuyasha loved her. She'd suffer through Kikyo for him. Sesshoumaru looked at each of their faces. His brother looked confused. He couldn't understand Inuyasha's confusion. This woman before them smelled of the earth and of death. Kagome smelled very much alive and her scent was a nice one: cherry blossoms and rain. "I see there is a new member to your group. An inu-youkai. How interesting." Kikyo drew her bow and strung an arrow. She aimed it straight at Sesshoumaru and fired. The purifying magic held him in place. Kagome's own power flared, canceling out Kikyo's own magic.
"That's it! I've had it with you! Get out of my sight!" Kagome yelled.
"And what will you do if I don't do as you demand?" Kikyo asked, a little fire in her cold eyes. Kagome walked to the head of the group. Her anger was blinding. White fire pooled around her fists.
"I'll make you." Kagome smirked. "Trust me, you don't want me to make you. I'll tear through that clay body like a knife." Kikyo copied Kagome's smirk.
"And I'll turn on you the same punishment I turned on another who tried to stand against me." Her eyes flicked to the group behind Kagome before she turned and walked away. Her demons followed after her. Kagome's bravado fell. She shook.
"Never ever let me do that again."
"We won't." Sango said. Inuyasha's temper flared.
"What were you thinking?!" he yelled. For a second, Kagome's eyes brightened. "How dare you threaten her like that?" The light faded and was replaced by anger.
"She tried to kill you brother! I don't care how much you don't like him, he's my friend, so I'll protect him! I don't care about the past! It's the past! There's a whole future in front of you!" She stood with her hands on her hips. Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome with renewed respect. She had protected him, and that was something he would have to repay.
"You're so stupid, Kagome!"
"Is that the best you can come up with?!"
"You want everything to be all happy and perfect, well then GO HOME! I DON'T WANT YOU HERE ANYWAY!" Hurt flashed across Kagome's face. She raised a hand and slapped him across the face. That simple action hurt as much as a thousand sits. The slap mirrored the contempt in her eyes. Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and even Sesshoumaru were giving him dirty looks. They looked at him like he was scum. He felt like it too. Kagome turned away from him and walked slowly forward.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Inuyasha. Whether you want me here or not, I'm staying until my task is complete. I have other friends than you, and they care more about me now than you ever have." Sango followed her, shoving her shoulder into Inuyasha as she passed, knocking him sideways. Miroku tugged at the rosary around his wrist, his palm facing Inuyasha. Shippou scowled at him from Miroku's shoulder. Sesshoumaru stood beside Inuyasha for a second.
"Do not make the mistake of pushing everyone away." he said.
"It's not like you haven't." Inuyasha mumbled.
"Maybe I have, but I know that right now, it's the wrong thing to do. Especially when you hurt them in the process." With that said, Sesshoumaru walked into the forest. Inuyasha fell to the ground, his ears drooping, and this time, not in play.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Kagome sniffed and angrily wiped away her tears. "How could he?" she whispered. Sango looked at her in sympathy.
"That was really low of him." she said.
"I was only trying to help."
"Thank you." Sesshoumaru said with sincerity. Kagome smiled up at him. She wrapped an arm around his waist and gave him a sideways hug.
"It was nothing. I'd do it for any of you guys." Shippou jumped onto her shoulder.
"Which is one of the reasons we love you." he said, nodding seriously.
"What do you say we go find Kikyo and tear her to shreds anyway?" Miroku asked. "You could take her." Kagome laughed, knowing he picked up that statement from her.
"You guys are the greatest."
"We know, just don't spread it around. We do have reputations to maintain."
"Yours being a lecher, huh, Miroku?" Sango asked playfully. Miroku put a hand on his chest, pretending to be offended.
"Why, my dear Sango, whatever wold make you say a thing like that?"
"Hm. I wonder." Sesshoumaru said. The group laughed. The feeling of family returned, but Sesshoumaru felt included.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
A large castle stood on a mountain covered by a purple miasma. There was a gentle swish of robes as the priestess swept into a room. "I've returned," she said.
"News?" the man asked.
"My reincarnation is growing in power. We must strike soon if we plan to take them by surprise, Naraku." Naraku smirked.
"I'll have one of my gollems see to it." Kikyo shook her head.
"They have defeated them before and they have taiyoukai of the West with them."
"I thought he was dead."
"No, he lives still, but something is different or he would never be traveling with Inuyasha."
"That does present a problem."
"Send you drones to follow them, Naraku. Kikyo, you lie low. Inuyasha will follow you when you ask him," a melodic voice said to the two. Their eyes flashed to a closed screen.
"But, my lady,"
"Do you question my orders, Naraku?" Lightning flashed in the distance.
"N-no, my lady." Lightning flashed again, illuminating a figure behind the screen.
"Good. My plan will reveal itself in due course. Be patient, and you shall have what you desire."
"Yes, my lady." Kikyo and Naraku said together.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Review responses: (I didn't get many reviews. I'm kind of disappointed.)
Emme: I'm glad you like it. I'm trying to do something that I've never seen before. I'm hoping it'll turn out okay in the end. Hope you stick with me!
SailorKagome: This soon enough? Lol. I do update everyday, dahlin.
Soli: A week's not soooo bad. This one fic I was reading, the author is away at camp for two months. It sucks, cuz it was an awesome fic. Trust me, my sister's going to a party as soon as we come back, so I'll have the computer all to myself to type and post.
Also thanks to:
sesshomarulover1
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Last time:
Everyone fell silent, remembering their own troubles caused by the jewel. He felt Sango's hand stiffen on his arm. He looked at everyone, interested in their reactions to Kagome's statement. He noticed Miroku was staring at his right hand. Inuyasha's eyes were clouded over as he remembered. Shippou sniffed, tears in his eyes. Kagome reached up and stroked him. Kirara mewed softly and snuggled into Sango's chest. Sango wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight. Kagome was right, apparently. The Shikon no Tama had caused a lot of pain. He'd have to find out what it had done, even if it was a touchy subject. The scent of clay came to his nose.
Now:
Inuyasha smelled it too. He stiffened. "What's wrong?" Sango asked. He stared at the tree line in front of them. Kikyo stepped out a few seconds later, her soul stealing demons close behind.
"K-Kikyo." Inuyasha whispered. Sesshoumaru smelled sadness on Kagome and anger on Sango, Miroku, and Shippou. Was Kikyo someone to be feared? He readied himself for a fight, just in case.
"Inuyasha, I've come to take your jewel shards." Kikyo said.
"No way. They're ours. We won them fair and square!" Kagome shouted. Sango put a hand on her shoulder, as if to lend Kagome strength. Kikyo turned bored eyes to Kagome.
"Why do you travel with my reincarnation? She is worthless."
"She is not worthless." Miroku growled out, tossing Inuyasha a glare for not saying so himself. Kagome wavered a little, but quickly regained composure.
"She does not even know how to control her powers. She is worthless." Kikyo repeated. Still Inuyasha said nothing. Kagome was getting angry. She would never hurt Kikyo, though. She knew Inuyasha loved her. She'd suffer through Kikyo for him. Sesshoumaru looked at each of their faces. His brother looked confused. He couldn't understand Inuyasha's confusion. This woman before them smelled of the earth and of death. Kagome smelled very much alive and her scent was a nice one: cherry blossoms and rain. "I see there is a new member to your group. An inu-youkai. How interesting." Kikyo drew her bow and strung an arrow. She aimed it straight at Sesshoumaru and fired. The purifying magic held him in place. Kagome's own power flared, canceling out Kikyo's own magic.
"That's it! I've had it with you! Get out of my sight!" Kagome yelled.
"And what will you do if I don't do as you demand?" Kikyo asked, a little fire in her cold eyes. Kagome walked to the head of the group. Her anger was blinding. White fire pooled around her fists.
"I'll make you." Kagome smirked. "Trust me, you don't want me to make you. I'll tear through that clay body like a knife." Kikyo copied Kagome's smirk.
"And I'll turn on you the same punishment I turned on another who tried to stand against me." Her eyes flicked to the group behind Kagome before she turned and walked away. Her demons followed after her. Kagome's bravado fell. She shook.
"Never ever let me do that again."
"We won't." Sango said. Inuyasha's temper flared.
"What were you thinking?!" he yelled. For a second, Kagome's eyes brightened. "How dare you threaten her like that?" The light faded and was replaced by anger.
"She tried to kill you brother! I don't care how much you don't like him, he's my friend, so I'll protect him! I don't care about the past! It's the past! There's a whole future in front of you!" She stood with her hands on her hips. Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome with renewed respect. She had protected him, and that was something he would have to repay.
"You're so stupid, Kagome!"
"Is that the best you can come up with?!"
"You want everything to be all happy and perfect, well then GO HOME! I DON'T WANT YOU HERE ANYWAY!" Hurt flashed across Kagome's face. She raised a hand and slapped him across the face. That simple action hurt as much as a thousand sits. The slap mirrored the contempt in her eyes. Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and even Sesshoumaru were giving him dirty looks. They looked at him like he was scum. He felt like it too. Kagome turned away from him and walked slowly forward.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Inuyasha. Whether you want me here or not, I'm staying until my task is complete. I have other friends than you, and they care more about me now than you ever have." Sango followed her, shoving her shoulder into Inuyasha as she passed, knocking him sideways. Miroku tugged at the rosary around his wrist, his palm facing Inuyasha. Shippou scowled at him from Miroku's shoulder. Sesshoumaru stood beside Inuyasha for a second.
"Do not make the mistake of pushing everyone away." he said.
"It's not like you haven't." Inuyasha mumbled.
"Maybe I have, but I know that right now, it's the wrong thing to do. Especially when you hurt them in the process." With that said, Sesshoumaru walked into the forest. Inuyasha fell to the ground, his ears drooping, and this time, not in play.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Kagome sniffed and angrily wiped away her tears. "How could he?" she whispered. Sango looked at her in sympathy.
"That was really low of him." she said.
"I was only trying to help."
"Thank you." Sesshoumaru said with sincerity. Kagome smiled up at him. She wrapped an arm around his waist and gave him a sideways hug.
"It was nothing. I'd do it for any of you guys." Shippou jumped onto her shoulder.
"Which is one of the reasons we love you." he said, nodding seriously.
"What do you say we go find Kikyo and tear her to shreds anyway?" Miroku asked. "You could take her." Kagome laughed, knowing he picked up that statement from her.
"You guys are the greatest."
"We know, just don't spread it around. We do have reputations to maintain."
"Yours being a lecher, huh, Miroku?" Sango asked playfully. Miroku put a hand on his chest, pretending to be offended.
"Why, my dear Sango, whatever wold make you say a thing like that?"
"Hm. I wonder." Sesshoumaru said. The group laughed. The feeling of family returned, but Sesshoumaru felt included.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
A large castle stood on a mountain covered by a purple miasma. There was a gentle swish of robes as the priestess swept into a room. "I've returned," she said.
"News?" the man asked.
"My reincarnation is growing in power. We must strike soon if we plan to take them by surprise, Naraku." Naraku smirked.
"I'll have one of my gollems see to it." Kikyo shook her head.
"They have defeated them before and they have taiyoukai of the West with them."
"I thought he was dead."
"No, he lives still, but something is different or he would never be traveling with Inuyasha."
"That does present a problem."
"Send you drones to follow them, Naraku. Kikyo, you lie low. Inuyasha will follow you when you ask him," a melodic voice said to the two. Their eyes flashed to a closed screen.
"But, my lady,"
"Do you question my orders, Naraku?" Lightning flashed in the distance.
"N-no, my lady." Lightning flashed again, illuminating a figure behind the screen.
"Good. My plan will reveal itself in due course. Be patient, and you shall have what you desire."
"Yes, my lady." Kikyo and Naraku said together.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Review responses: (I didn't get many reviews. I'm kind of disappointed.)
Emme: I'm glad you like it. I'm trying to do something that I've never seen before. I'm hoping it'll turn out okay in the end. Hope you stick with me!
SailorKagome: This soon enough? Lol. I do update everyday, dahlin.
Soli: A week's not soooo bad. This one fic I was reading, the author is away at camp for two months. It sucks, cuz it was an awesome fic. Trust me, my sister's going to a party as soon as we come back, so I'll have the computer all to myself to type and post.
Also thanks to:
sesshomarulover1