A/N: So, had to drag myself away from Final Fantasy X to write this. (My friend lent me the game to introduce me into the wonderful world of Final Fantasy.) That game has a hypnotic mind control power, I swear. It makes me play it for hours on end…And it won't leave me alone! I always see it when I turn around…

If I ever meet the guy who invented those games, they're in for a serious beating.

Chapter 26: The Unchanging Soul

Sango, Miroku, and Shippou rode on top of Kirara, each ready for battle and looking concerned. "Are you sure the scent is this way, Shippou?" Miroku asked, glancing around the dark, early morning sky.

The kitsune nodded. "Yeah, it just keeps getting stronger. They're around here somewhere."

"Kirara!" Sango said, and the nekomata sped up. Don' t worry, Kagome-chan. Sango thought, her eyes lit with determination as they kept going. We're coming to get you.

Inuyasha glanced back down at Kagome, still lost in sleep. His eyes, thought at first appearing menacing by their crimson color, had softened as he looked upon her. This girl that had transformed him in so little time. This girl, that despite everything, he had come to love.

How is it that he came to love her? He didn't know. Inuyasha figured it might have to do with him loving her before, when he was in his hanyou state, but it also seemed to be because of who she was, the calming effect she seemed to have on him.

Reaching out slowly, he brushed a lock of hair away from her face as she slept on her side, tracing her cheek in the process. As always, the touch of her lifted his heart and sent warmth through his body, the longing that he knew too well now. Kagome…

All the time he had spent in the youkai form, as well as all the time he had spent around her, had led to a melding of his personalities. He had gained his hanyou's love for her, as well as the softening of his heart, and also a few of his old memories. But with those memories, he had learned the truth.

While Kagome said she loved him always, she only truly loved his hanyou form.

When she had kissed him, it was out of desperation, trying to get him to turn back into what he was. She didn't trust him like this, slightly afraid that he could seriously hurt her. She stood her ground, pretended not to be afraid and said she couldn't hate him, but it wasn't love. Kagome loved the old Inuyasha, the hanyou, and he happened to share the same body.

If he was in a different body she wouldn't even consider it, thinking him just another youkai to be gotten rid of.

Though this angered him, he knew there was nothing he could do. He couldn't force her to love him as he was, because that would mean hurting her. And he couldn't stand it when he hurt her…it caused him too much pain.

Inuyasha stood up with a sigh, his crimson eyes still looking upon her with a deep longing, and then turned away, going for the morning hunt.

As he ran through the woods, looking for food he could bring back to the cave, he allowed his mind to become serene like it usually was during hunts. He didn't think about anything, just the wind in the air, the scent of prey nearby. He was silently chasing down a deer, when suddenly, a scent invaded his nose. He stopped abruptly, his ears perking up with their noise.

"Shippou, can you tell where Kagome-sama is?" A male voice said.

"We have to find her soon." A female voice joined in.

Inuyasha didn't recognize the voices, but he knew that they were after Kagome. His Kagome. He quickly dashed closer to the noise, careful to stay downwind. Through a parting in the trees, he saw a human woman and man standing by a transformed nekomata, and a young kitsune youkai on the ground sniffing.

"Over there!" the kitsune sat up and pointed. Inuyasha recognized that it was the path towards the cave. A low, inaudible growl resonated in his throat, his eyes becoming hard and flexing his claws.

The human woman, a youkai exterminator by the looks of her, exchanged glances with the man, a monk. "Here's the plan. Houshi-sama," she said, speaking directly to the monk. "You go and corner Inuyasha. Your holy powers should be able to keep him in check. Shippou and I will go find Kagome."

They're after Kagome! Inuyasha thought, the growling becoming more audible, his red eyes flashing fiercer.

The youkai exterminator continued. "We'll get Kagome-chan out of here safe. She won't have to worry about him hurting her anymore."

That broke all of Inuyasha's self-control. With a loud, guttural roar, he pounced in front of them, eyes flashing madly, his claws ready to attack. The members of the party gasped, "Inuyasha!"

They didn't have a chance to prepare themselves when he attacked. Jumping forward with a swipe, they just barely managed to evade it. The nekomata jumped towards him, in attempt to make him back off, but Inuyasha fought more furiously than before. The youkai blood inside of him had fully awakened, and they were his enemy. He would only continue to fight them, until they were dead.

Kagome stirred on the bed of grass. She opened her eyes to the light of the rising sun. She looked around the room sleepily, and saw no one. Inuyasha? She sat up, and confirmed that Inuyasha wasn't in the cave. Where did he go?

Sighing, Kagome remembered the dream she had. It was a wonderful dream, filled with happiness, with light, with—Inuyasha…

It was her Inuyasha, just as she had remembered him. In her dream, he was holding her close, making her feel safe, promising her to always protect her. Oh, how she missed that Inuyasha, who loved her more than life itself, and whom she returned the feeling. The Inuyasha that made her happy, and could let her laugh…the one that was worth the year she had waited for him.

Kagome closed her eyes, and made a silent prayer. Inuyasha, please…let me see you again soon…

"Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled, blocking his blows with his staff. Everytime Inuyasha touched that staff, he felt a sharp stab of pain in his hands, the pain from the holiness of his powers, as opposed to the impurity of his youkai state. As the monk blocked one more of his blows, he shivered at the sight of Inuyasha's red eyes, pulsing in rage.

Sango unsheathed her katana and ran for youkai Inuyasha, but was knocked aside swiftly with one swipe of Inuyasha's clawed hand. She landed hard on the ground, crying out in pain. "Sango!" Miroku yelled, running for her.

Inuyasha turned from them to see Shippou, paralyzed with fear as he looked upon him. Grinning insanely, he quickly grabbed the screaming kitsune by his tail, his claws ready to strike down the pleading creature—

When suddenly, a calming scent wafted through his nose. He froze, much to the surprise of the others, as he recognized it. Kagome…she's awake. His eyes slid over to his foes, all looking at him with curious looks on their faces. They're going to try to take her away from me!

Without thinking, Inuyasha took off, towards the cave, still carrying the crying Kitsune in his grasp.

Kagome was sitting on the bed, trying not to remember of the last time she woke up and Inuyasha was gone, when suddenly, youkai Inuyasha ran into the cave, a screaming Shippou in his grip.

Gasping, Kagome ran up to him. "Shippou-chan! What's going on?"

Inuyasha growled at her, his eyes flashing red as he gripped Shippou's tail tighter, causing a wail of pain to come from the kitsune. "They're trying to take you away from me!"

She could only stare as her former lover growled in rage, while Shippou wailed. "Inuyasha, Shippou won't hurt me. Put him down." she replied softly.

Inuyasha growled louder, louder then the cries of Shippou, and then threw him on the ground, another wail coming from him. "Inuyasha, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you angry!" the kitsune cried.

Inuyasha stood in front of Kagome, as if protecting her from him. Though he knew Shippou couldn't really hurt her, he knew that he was part of the scheme to take her back. And he wouldn't stand for it. His growling escalated, and he walked closer to Shippou, feeling the bloodlust stir within him again. "You won't take her from me." He said, flexing his claws.

Kagome ran upin front of him,gripping him by the shoulders. "Inuyasha, please, stop it! Don't hurt him! Shippou-chan won't take me away! Please don't hurt him!" she begged, her eyes misting up.

This was another blow that struck his heart. Kagome, the girl he loved, that he knew would never truly love him, was now pleading for the life of one who wanted to kidnap her away from him. He wouldn't stand for it. Kagome was his and his alone. He pushed her out of the way, feeling the familiar twinge of guilt as she let out a gasp of surprise as she hit the floor. "You're mine." He growled, possessively. "They won't take you away. I'll kill anyone who wants to take you away."

Tears formed in her eyes as Inuyasha raised his claws against the wailing Shippou, to scared to do anything. "No, Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. Inuyasha flinched as the guilt fell deeper into his heart. "No!" she cried again, this time, Inuyasha had to close his eyes against the force of her tears.

The world was folding around him again, he felt the sensation of falling into darkness…a new force pushing him away…

"No!" Kagome yelled once more, a tear falling onto the stone, that small sound echoing in Inuyasha's ears.

Suddenly, images flashed before his eyes. Images that he had forgotten, feelings that he didn't remember. Flashes of Kagome, of people he once knew, places he had been to recently and long ago. He felt as if drowning, being pulled underwater by an unseen force, not being able to breathe. He couldn't think, he couldn't feel, he didn't know whether he was alive or dead. All Inuyasha knew was to close his eyes, and brace himself against he unknown feeling, hearing a growl of pain escape him as he felt as if his heart was ripped out of his chest—

And then he opened his eyes, seeing the world bright and new.

"Ka…gome?"

Her heart skipped a beat. That voice…she knew that voice. It was softer than the once she had been hearing for so long. She didn't dare hope, there had been too many times when it had all come to nothing…but…she reached her hand out, placing it on Inuyasha's shoulder. Something told her, to turn him around, that maybe this time…maybe, it was okay to hope.

Inuyasha slowly turned around, Kagome's heartbeat increasing, a fear that she was wrong coming at every second, but somehow, she knew. She knew that after all that suffering, after everything that she had been through--

Her Inuyasha was back.

His amber eyes twinkled at her in a look of confusion; the stripes on his face had disappeared. His fangs and claws were back to normal, and that look, of intense hatred was gone from him. Another tear of happiness fell from Kagome's eyes, as she placed a hand over her mouth, suppressing a gasp. He's…back…

"Kagome," Inuyasha repeated, her heart lighting up at the sound of her name. "Where are we?" he glanced around the cave. "Last I remember…we were in a forest…it's all fuzzy…" His ears lowered on his head as he tried to recall what had happened.

Another tear fell from Kagome's misty eyes, a smile etched on her face. She couldn't help but let out a small laugh in happiness, thinking her heart would burst in joy and relief. She shook her head. "It's all right…you don't have to remember. I don't care anymore!" Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck, burying herself into a confused Inuyasha's chest, smiling brighter than the sun.

Inuyasha exchanged confused glances with Shippou, who still looked terrified, before his eyes lit up with concern. "Kagome…what's this bruise on your cheek. And," he sniffed. "Blood! Kagome, what happened?"

She pulled away, the smile from her face fading. She shook her head. "I'm all right, Inuyasha. Don't worry about me. We're both all right…and safe. I'm safe here, with you." Kagome leaned back into his embrace, one arm of his wrapping around her back, his cheek resting against the top of her head.

As Kagome leaned against him, she thought, It's finally happened, he's finally back to normal…finally…

But their happiness was short-lived. "Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled, making him and Kagome part, her shivering at the intense look on the monk's face.

"He's fine now!" she declared, standing slightly in front of him, as if protecting him from the truth. "He turned back to normal! He's okay!"

This made Inuyasha wonder. He turned to Kagome"Back to normal? What do you mean? What did I do?"

Kagome shook her head, not wanting to tell him. "Inuyasha, don't worry about it—"

But Miroku broke in, extremely angry, more so since Sango had been hurt in the fight, "Don't act like you don't know, Inuyasha! For the past two weeks, you've been a youkai, hunting everything that breathed!"

Inuyasha eyes widened in realization, while Kagome cried, "Miroku-sama! Stop!"

The monk wouldn't stop. He was too angry. "Don't you see the pain you inflicted on her? She cried every day since then! Do you think I can just let it go after watching her suffer?"

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, looking over at her. He, of course, could smell that he had inflicted the wounds on her, and that made his heart sink deeper. With that came anger, anger at himself, at his weakness to succumbing to his youkai side, at Kagome, for not telling him right away. He clenched his fist in inner anger.

His mind had just been turned, and was far from stable. In that instant, he felt something being released inside of him. A flash of red came upon his amber eyes.

Kagome knew all too well what was happening. "Miroku-sama, no! Stop!" She ran and grabbed on to Inuyasha, clinging to him. "Inuyasha, please, don't give in! I need you here! I don't care what you did, I still love you!"

But it was too late.

There was a fierce growl as everyone backed away, except for Kagome as she clung to him, hoping to keep the youkai inside of him. Before her eyes, her lover transformed into what she had seen for so long, the red eyes with blue pupils, the purple stripes, the long claws and fangs. Tears once again adorned her eyes.

"Inuyasha, please, turn back! Miroku-sama didn't mean it! I need you to come back!" she cried into his haori.

But that was enough for youkai Inuyasha. Here was she, Kagome, pleading for him to turn back into the hanyou, the one she truly loved. But he held no such feelings for her anymore. The releasing of the hanyou separated them, he was a youkai, having no more emotions towards her.

As he raised his claws, Kagome looked up at him, his crimson eyes holding no warmpth, her brown eyes flowing tears. "Inuyasha…"

She was cut off as she screamed in pain as Inuyasha's claws dug long, deep gouges into her back. The pain was so intense that she didn't hear the cries of her friends; she only knew the pain, and the blackness that overcame her. She felt herself falling down, down…

Her eyes fluttered open. She instantly knew that she was no more in that damp cave. She was in a hut, by the sun coming through the window, near the end of the day. She was lying on a pallet, her black hair spread across the pillow, feeling more tired that she had ever felt in her life.

The bamboo curtain opened. "Kagome?" someone asked. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized who that 'someone' was. Inuyasha…my Inuyasha…

Her hanyou came and sat down next to her, his eyes full of concern, but a small smile of relief on his face. His silver hair relected the sinking sun, catching the light as he sat with her. It was impossible to think he had ever been any different. Kagome remembered the time he had been a youkai. Was it…a dream?

As she tried to sit up, she felt immense pain in her back. She gave a sharp gasp in pain as she moved, feeling a tight bandage wrapped around her chest. No, maybe not…

Inuyasha was quick to help her. "Here." He said, offering her a cup of what appeared to be boiled broth. "The old hag said you should drink it for the pain."

"Inuyasha..." she said sternly, as she took the cup, and was able to sip the when he helped her lift her head up. Inuyasha seems back, but…how? How did he turn back? Last I remember he was--

Despite the pulsing pain from her back, and Inuyasha's worries, she managed to sit up. "Inuyasha," she asked. "What…what happened back there? How did I get here?"

The golden-eyed hanyou paused for a second. "I don't know. It was like I suddenly came out of a deep sleep...You scared me, you know that? Youhadto nearly give me a heart attack, didn't you? Lying there, like that, not walking up for two days...And then with that wound on your back...I don't remember how it got there."

It didn't escape Kagome's notice that he quickly glanced at his claws. He does know. But he can't remember it.

"Don't worry about me." She replied, snuggling into his chest. "I'm fine, right here with you. We don't have to worry about anything anymore."

He nodded as he pulled her into his embrace, careful not to touch the wound on her back. He had one hand wrapped around her shoulder, holding her close to him.

But as soon as she closed her eyes, content at being with him once more, his breath caught in his chest. The nails on his hand wrapped around her unintentionally started growing long, and pricked at her skin. His eyes flickered from amber to a crimson red.

"Inuyasha? You're hurting me…Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, looking up at him quickly.

His eyes were normal again, the claws down to their regular size. "What?" he asked, looking a bit like he was worried.

Sighing, she fell back against his chest. "No, nothing."

A/N: Heh heh heh…don't you all just hate me? This chapter was weird…it felt weird writing it! You might have to read it twice to get it…