Shorter than the rest but I need some reviews to know how I'm doing!
"Kikyo," he murmured.
The radiant, ethereal mold before him did not reply. She did not speak, nor did she give any sign of recognition. Instead, her eyes shimmered as if the sight in front of her would break. The woman clothed in simple miko garb walked forward to where Human Inuyasha was holding his breath. She did not speak, even then. Instead she bent down and took the fishing reel from Inuyasha's hand, hooking the rod together for him.
"Forgive me for being so presumptuous," said Kikyo speaking softly as though her voice would shatter yet acting as if he were some mere traveler. "It simply seemed that you are unaccustomed to the task of fishing," her breath paused before she spoke out in a whisper of passion, "Inuyasha."
"Kikyo!" shouted out the human once hanyou dropping the basket so that it fell into the river. His hands made it to dead-priestess' shoulders and he pressed the ghostly figure forcefully to his chest. (Don't kill me readers, I'll make it right. Dodges flames and missiles and samauri swordmen, gotta have those.)
"Kikyo," the human muttered wildly. "Kikyo…"
A pair of luminescent brown eyes leaned upwards as two pale lips followed.
Far away in a world so strangely connected to this other, a young girl ran through the hallway of her school. A glittering thread of tears streamed from her eyes, leaving a trail of agony behind her. It might as well as been blood, for all the pain she was feeling.
Wrenching out a throat-stopping sob, Kagome slid to her knees to take a breath. Panting heavily, she discovered much to her surprise that she wasn't being followed, nor was she at school anymore. Instead, she had reached a crosswalk just outside of it.
"Stupid Inuyasha," said Kagome standing up. She whipped her eyes and runny nose with her sleeve before the older adults around her could see. To her right she noticed a shop keep sweeping the floor beneath her stands, so Kagome ferreted her gaze away. Right now the last thing she wanted was for an old nosy woman to comment on her puffy eyes.
Sighing heavily, Kagome looked at the street around her. It was so blatantly ordinary, and the sight calmed her down somewhat. Biting her lip, the school girl wandered around then walked up to the crosswalk and studied the slowly flashing red light. Somehow, today, its unwillingness to let her cross made her feel…relieved. As usual, the crosslight behaved rudely to her. It loomed above her, leering and laughing softly at her weakness with its steady rhythmic pulse. Yet, somehow, today, its ample subtle beating was a reassurance.
"What are you trying to tell me?" asked Kagome.
"Great now I'm talking to street lamps", she thought as a side note.
"Wait," Kagome thought the streetlamp told her. "Wait. Wait. Wait.".
"Is that all you have to tell me?" Kagome practically yelled at it. "Wait for what, and wait for how long!"
"Wait, wait, wait," was her only answer.
"F you!" shouted Kagome picking up a rock and throwing it at the streetlamp. It hit a car down the street setting off the alarm.
"Young lady," came a sharp remonstrance from the old shopkeeper brandishing a broom. "Come in here this minute if you please. I need to have a word with you about throwing stones at my vehicle."
Kagome paled. She wanted to run away. Oh how she wanted to run away. But she couldn't. Her feet seemed riveted on the spot, caught as she was in the guilt of her actions. All she needed now was for Inuyasha, either of his two sides to some see her now so they could call her a hyprocrite. She wished she could just curl up and die.
"Come in here now!" said the shopkeep waving her broom at her, " before I call the cops on you!"
Sluggishly, Kagome moved her feet to obey. She motioned her feet towards the entrance and ducked below herbs that looked as though Kaede might have gathered them.
Terrified as she was about the trouble she was in, Kagome couldn't help but look around her curiously. The walls around her glowed with a warm red color and incandescent lamplight. Boxes and jars packed with dried herbs, bones, and powdery snakeskins surrounded her on all four walls yet towards the back of the small rectangular room was a small, circular table making it lookas ifthis was some fortune teller's booth instead of a herb shop. Kagome gulped since it seemed she had managed to tick off an eccentric. Hopefully she wasn't any worse than Grandpa was.
The old woman pointed to a chair and Kagome sat down in it. She wasn't surprised when the old woman pulled out a phone.
"What is your home phone number?" the old woman demanded causing Kagome to tremble, not exactly in fear but out of anxiety of a bad name. She was after all, an innocent school girl in this world, not a blood-stained priestess. She preferred to keep her two lives separate, and her misdeeds in the Sengoku Jidai.
"Err, is that really necessary?" said Kagome stalling it out and her face falling at the old woman's glaring expression.
"Unless you feel like spending the night at the police station it is," said the old woman heartlessly. "And don't go giving me any friend's number either." Reluctantly, Kagome doled out her mother's cell phone.
"Yes, hello I'm calling about your daughter Kagome," said the old woman into the mouthpiece. "Yes, I'm speaking to her about throwing a rock at my car and then I'll send her right home. Goodbye."
The old woman slammed down the mouthpiece and stared at Kagome. The young girl stared back.
"So," said the old woman breaking into the gloom. "Who is it you are waiting for?"
"What?" shouted Kagome jumping to her feet, her knuckles turning white around the table. "How dare you ask me that? That's none of your…"
"Business, I know," cut off the old woman. "But is it any business of mine to watch a young girl suffer right in front of me? I was young once too you know and you seemed particularly in agony. Not everyone gets to be my age you know. Some of them simply walk off the face of the earth, some willingly and some no. You seemed likely to do the same. Tell me, why is it you were leaving school quickly young Higurashi? And why were you in such a daze that you nearly wandered into traffic before committing misdonemers? What is troubling you so much young one? You are too young to suffer so."
"What is wrong?" screeched Kagome letting it all out. "What is wrong! Two people love me is what's wrong. And I'm scared. I'm too scared of choosing one of them or even saying forever because it's all moving too fast. He didn't even like me. He didn't even like me a week ago and now he's asking me to marry him and the other was trying to make love to me and I almost let him. I even encouraged it. But I'm scared. I'm scared of losing both of them, or one of them because I love them both so much. I love them both for different reasons but they're the same person underneath, the same person that I lost. The same person that I love so very much." The young woman buried her head in her arms and sobbed. "I just wanna see his doggie ears again Grandma!"
The old shopkeep looked at the distraught girl in front of her and moving up behind her patted her shoulder consolingly.
"There there, young one," the old woman said. "I'll make you some tea and that will make you feel better. Then you can tell me all about it, okay?"
"I don't think I can," said Kagome sniffling. "Besides don't you hate me? I damaged your car."
"I lied," said the old woman patting her arm again. "I just wanted to get you in here so I pretended it was mine. I have no idea whose it is."
"Oh," said Kagome numbly.
"Kikyo," thought Inuyasha feeling the two pale lips upon him. "This Kikyo is so cold, so cold it rips at my very soul. Kikyo, I'm so sorry."
"Wait Kikyo," said Human Inuyasha stepping back so that Kikyo's lips left his own. "I…I...it's not right," he blurted out releasing her and stepping away. Kikyo's eyes flashed angrily.
"What's not right Inuyasha?" said Kikyo. "Didn't you promise me that we would be together?"
"I… I did," said Inuyasha. "But that was in another life. "That was before… we both died. It's not what it looks like. It's not that I'm afraid to die. That first time, when you sealed me, I was all right with it. It was all right that you had betrayed me, because it had been you. I died with you on my mind. But then when I awoke the first thing that I saw was… Kagome."
"What's the matter," spat Kikyo. "Moving to where the grass is greener are you? Just because I can never have children, just because I can never be with you, just because I am dead you choose to forget me?'
"No!" said Inuyasha desperately. "I could never forget you. It just means that I could never go to hell with you. I have to stay here on earth and complete my duties."
"What duties?" spat Kikyo. "You belong to me. Stay here with me on earth Inuyasha," said Kikyo reaching out a hand tenderly. "Come with me and I will defeat Naraku as I was meant to. Then you can come to the afterlife with me. Once our enemy is destroyed my soul will be set free from this world and I will be able to pass on in peace. Come with me then and we can be together as we promised in the other world."
"Kikyo," said Human Inuyasha trembling. "It's not that simple. "It's not just me anymore! It's Shippo, and Kilala, and Miroku, and Sango! And Kagome. They're all counting on me, I can't let them down. Or I could never forgive myself."
The air around Kikyo whipped up vehemently. "What's the matter Inuyasha? Are these companions of yours so important to you that you would abandon me? Are you thinking perhaps that that young girl is a suitable replacement for my now cold body?"
"Kikyo!" the human once hanyou stuttered. "It's not like that! You will always have a special place in my heart, you were the first woman I came to care for! But it's not like that. Things change. Time moves forward. For a long time, time had stopped for me. I never thought I could let go after all that happened but I can see it now. I was meant to awaken. I was meant to fight Naraku and find Tetsusiaga. I was meant to find the many people I care about and to take care of them. They're not just my companions Kikyo, they're my family! I understand now what my demon side was talking about. He always said we were a pack, like brethren. And Kagome, she's my mate. How could I leave her knowing how much she needs me! She's still in the land of the living Kikyo, and so am I." The hanyou made human caught his breath and continued. "I've said it before and I'll say it again Kikyo. Let me avenge your death on Naraku."
"Humph," said Kikyo with a wry smile. "And what makes you think that you are able to accomplish such a task Inuyasha?" said Kikyo. "As you stand you are nothing more than a mere mortal. Besides this, what makes you think that your demon counterpart would even help you?"
"What do you mean?" said Human Inuyasha narrowing his eyes.
"Hah," said Kikyo. "Tell me Inuyasha, who do you think it was who told me I would find you here? Besides," she said with a cold smile. "You are correct. Your demon side considers Kagome to be his mate. I wonder where he is right now?"
"What?" yelped Human Inuyasha starting to run all out. He did not get far however before finding himself caught up in a snarl of soul stealers.
"Inuyasha," said Kikyo in a smug reprimand. "I am afraid I can not allow you to return to your so-called family just yet."
"Damn it!" though Human Inuyasha floating midair in a glittery prison.
"She refused me," Demon Inuyasha thought to himself standing alone on the tin folds of a rooftop. "My Kagome refused me."
For a moment, it seemed impossible to him. The woman that he loved, no the woman that he called his mate had fled from him. It seemed that some expression of sorrow passed his features, but it nothing more than the thin shadow of a cloud peppered upon the landscape. The frown disappeared rapidly and then the fiercesome demon sat down on all four haunches to scowl at the ground below.
A fierce expression, almost like pouting centered itself upon him but then it too vanished mysteriously. Instead, minutes ticked by as the dog demon remained perched, unmoving upon the roof. Impassive, he allowed the summer's wind to wrap around his shoulders as he stared into space, allowing his thoughts to take form upon the sky.
Time took him into memory. He could see himself, as he played out the scene once more. Demon Inuyasha stood up and led her hand to the demon cat. "I, Inuyasha, bring you three gifts my love. The first is a demon cat to be your servant and companion. The second," he said digging into his haori, "is a magical dagger which I had Totosai make from my tooth. It will protect you no matter where I am. The third gift I offer you," he said swooping down for a kiss, "is immortality. Become my mate and I will bestow these gifts on you."
The beautiful woman before him turned ashen, suddenly looking what, frightened? She took a step backwards as her eyes filled up with remorse.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha," the girl before him said tearing up. "I just can't do that to either of you. I can't choose one or the other. I'm so sorry!" she cried running out of the room.
"Damn it," thought Demon Inuyasha cursing himself. "How could I have been so stupid? Have I known her for that short of time, that I don't know her by now?"
Disgusted, Demon Inuyasha took a look at himself. Snearing, he dragged the ends of terrifying sharp claws upon the ends of his red haori, tracing it, imprinting the sight upon his mind to serve as a reminder. For all his life, well up to a week ago he had been hanyou and now… he had forgotten that one important fact.
Incensed and enraged by himself and desperate for more action to counter the previous disasters he had made, the proud Inu-youkai pushed himself off the top of Kagome's school building and soared down with relative ease. His foot came down to make one hurried tap and with it came this memory: "I love you", she had said.
Darkness folded itself upon his mind and then, it was as if once more he was looking up into the crystalline sky as meteor blazed across, once more he was soaking up the dizzying heat beside a fire of crackling sticks, once more he was avoiding the face of a woman who loved him as she hesitantly spoke out her emotions. Once more, for one moment that seemed to last eternity she told him, "There's nothing wrong with the way you are. I like you as a half-demon, Inuyasha."
The demon half which had once belonged to the hanyou remembered this moment vividly. It had left him with a lasting impression. At that time, the human soul which so closely bound itself to him and dictated their every movements had been in agreement with him as both demon and human coursed with a deep sense of contentment and belonging.
Soon afterwards it was that Inuyasha heard her say, "I love you." Caught within the clutches of the evil sorceress Princess Kaguya, he had heard her say it to him, the demon side so clearly ferrying the message to his human side. At that time, a mirror's curse had been placed upon him so that painfully, the human soul upon him was wrenched out, leaving only the half-conscious demon which stirred in the hanyou's blood. It was at that time that Demon Inuyasha could remember being confused, angry, and in pain, so much so that he lashed out from it. He could also remember the mesmerizing call of someone trying to tell him what to do but he remembered something esle also. The demon, even without the influence of human, had remembered her, his Kagome.
It was their connection to each other that had allowed him to recall his human soul, freeing it from the mirror. Her kiss, and her shouted words of love, had calmed him. Her love became a beacon allowing his demon side to settle, and his human side to find the way to light again so that they were one once more. But in a way, Demon Inuyasha had chosen to be hanyou. If she had not wished it, if Kagome had not pleaded for him to remain the one she loved, then Demon Inuyasha would have blocked the transformation. He knew he would have. But how could he have been able to do anything else but change back when faced with her loving kiss? How could he not have wanted to allow his human blood to take charge once again, if it meant being able to wrap her in his arms as he whispered to her, "I'll stay a hanyou for a little longer, just for you?"
"Damn it!" shouted Demon Inuyasha stopping to punch the school sidewalk, leaving a small crater and cracks along its entire length. "I should have known better!" he uttered. "I should have known she doesn't care about any of that stuff! She just cares about me... as a hanyou."
The demon clothed in firerat robes stood there for a while just thinking while swirls of dust eddied around his feet. At last, he came to a course of action and more carefully, he began to sneak after his beloved. Stealthily, he hid behind a trashcan at the edge of the school grounds. Next he hid beneath the wooden stands outside of an old herb shop. Finally, hearing the angry shouts of his lady love inside, he pressed himself low against the door so that he could hear every word.
What?" a high-pitched yell resounded shattering his ears. "How dare you ask me that? That's none of your…"
Demon Inuyasha pressed hands over his ears as an elderly woman gurgled on in reply. Then Kagome's piercing voice came again causing him to flinch.
"What is wrong?" screeched Kagome letting it all out. "What is wrong! Two people love me is what's wrong. And I'm scared. I'm too scared of choosing one of them or even saying forever because it's all moving too fast. He didn't even like me. He didn't even like me a week ago and now he's asking me to marry him and the other was trying to make love to me and I almost let him. I even encouraged it. But I'm scared. I'm scared of losing both of them, or one of them because I love them both so much. I love them both for different reasons but they're the same person underneath, the same person that I lost. The same person that I love so very much." The young woman buried her head in her arms and sobbed. "I just wanna see his doggie ears again Grandma!"
"I thought so," Demon Inuyasha growled out to himself. He listened to the casual conversation inside for a while, then the gentle pouring of tea. Carefully gauging his timing, the inu-youkai steeled himself for what he was about to do. Rapping on the door gently, he waited anxiously for the door to open and soon enough, the tingling of a bell signified the slow inward creeping of the door. Before the old woman could say anything, Demon Inuyasha shoved the door open and stepped inside the dusty room, the scarlet shadows there blending in with the brilliant red he himself was clothed with.
Across the room, Demon Inuyasha could see a startled young woman with her hands on a teacup. "Inuyasha!" she shouted dropping it so that it splattered and rolled across the floor.
"Hurry up wench," said Demon Inuyasha pulling her out of the chair by her arm. "We have to hurry if you want to save the man you love."
"Huh?" thought Kagome.
"Hurry up bitch!" growled out Demon Inuyasha angrily throwing her upon his back. Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck for dear life as he threw himself out the shop door and down the street, leaving a very confused old lady behind.
"I'll have to apologize to her for this some day," thought Kagome as they pelted down the street. Not three thoughts had passed before Kagome found herself being pulled through the expanses of time and a blanket of blue flung herself and her companion into the past she had come to know so well.