Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, All characters and such belong to Rumiko Takahashi!
Not much to say..except I'm sorry that it took so long for me to update. I've been so preoccupied with 'summer fun' that I haven't had much computer time D ..and I really do need to update Becoming one..So, after I add this chapter onto I'll update Becoming one for you!
Here's chapter 9!
Chapter nine: Gratitude and Regret
"I just want you to understand that when Kikyo died and I was pinned to that tree..all those years passed without experiencing that good feeling..and I missed it. And every opportunity I got to go and see her for the past two years.. I took it." he gave her an emotionless look, waiting for her to reply.
However, she gave the same look back. "I..understand, I guess. I mean, I probably don't understand this as much as you do, yet somehow I believe you.." she smiled.
He returned the smile. "Good, because I have something I want to tell you."
She closed her eyes for a moment, holding her breath. Inuyasha noticed this. She opened here eyes and look strangely at him.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" he asked, giving her a questioning look.
She smirked, "Inuyasha.. Why don't I sense the sacred Jewel." she laughed, "you didn't lose it did you?"
He looked away. "If it wasn't for the jewel, I would have lost you.." he said in a small voice.
"..What was that?" she asked, trying to catch his gaze.
"Oh...yeah. The Jewel." He looked at her, "That's what I have to tell you..something about the jewel.."
Kagome frowned, becoming anxious. "Ok then, spit it out!"
He took her hands in his. "Well.. As you already know, you...died"
She nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"And.. I didn't know how I could ever bring you back so I...I used the jewel to save you Kagome, to bring you back to us...to me." he replied, sheepishly.
"So the Jewel..is gone?" she concluded, receiving a nod from the worn out Hanyou.
She slowly walked over and hugged him. His eyes grew wide, not knowing if she was sad or happy?
"...Kagome? Are you ok." he asked, cautiously. Hoping he would not get a 'sit' command.
"Thank you, Inuyasha." she said, he could smell the salty smell of tears. "Thank you for giving up your dream for me.. You have no idea how much that means to me.."
Inuyasha tilted his head to the side, slightly. "What are you talking about?" She pulled away from him, yet still staying in his arms.
"You always told me you'd use the Jewel to become a full fledged Demon once the Shikon no Tama was completed... But now you can never do that. You used the Jewel to save me and now your dream has diminished."
"Kagome, I realized a long time ago that if I used the jewel to become full demon, that I would lose my mind.. I'd kill needlessly for my own twisted amusement and I'd forget about Shippo, Sango, Miroku...and you." He looked away from her, cringing at the thought of what his demonic side would gladly do to his friends if given the chance.
"Even so, I still know that deep within yourself you still crave that power and also the need to be accepted by other demons. You've had a horrible childhood, Inuyasha. Everyone knows that and understands.. But we can never even start to imagine what pain you've went through..you've been alone since your mothers passing and you've never been the same.." She hugged him again.
"Please, Inuyasha.. Just know we're here for you.. Know that.." she trailed off, a thought striking her head. She gasped. Looking up at him. "Inuyasha.. Oh no.."
"What's wrong?" he asked seeing her pale face.
"Inuyasha.. How will I return home to my own era?" She thought of never seeing her Mother, her brother, her grandfather or even any of her friends ever again. "Oh, Inuyasha! How will I ever return home?"
Inuyasha stared at her blankly. "Home? You are home Kagome.. You can stay here with me and the others." he smiled, "I'll build you your own house and we can have a pup or two, it'll be great, I promise I'll"
"No, Inuyasha!" she interrupted him, although it was hard to stop him, after he was describing the perfect life, a life she had always wanted with him..she had to be strong. "I...can't stay here. I need to return home to my family. They'll worry about me and my mother...mama's heart will be broken if I never return."
Inuyasha starred at her, confused as to why she was refusing him when he knew for a fact that she loved him as much as he loved her. "But...you don't want to be a family?"
She started to cry slowly into his haori, "It's all I ever wanted.." she replied.
He beamed, stroking her head. "Then why not stay here.. I'll make you so happy, Kagome, please. If you leave I'll be alone again.. You're the person I want to be mine forever, my mate.."
Kagome stopped crying, even stopped breathing. It was as close to a proposal in her time as it would get. She knew Inuyasha didn't understand what 'getting married' in her time was, but if he did, this would be his way of asking her anyway.
"Your mate?" she said softly, he nodded, taking her hands in his again.
"Please.. Forget about all you knew back then and stay with me.. You know Shippo thinks of you as his mother now. You wouldn't deny him that, would you?" He laughed. "There is a way I can take you back.. But, it's your choice.. Will you stay with me, or go back to your era?"
"You can...take me back?" Kagome said, wondering how.
Inuyasha's heart sank knowing that was the choice she would obviously pick.
"I need some time to think about it." she said.
"I understand." Inuyasha replied, "Take all the time you require."
"Thanks. I'll have my mind made up for tomorrow..now, let's go back to everyone. I'm sure they're all worried about us." She said, walking back towards the clearing. Inuyasha walked in front of her, making her stop and crouched down. She laughed, climbing up on his back and laying her head atop of his shoulder.
They both enjoyed the walk back in silence.
Once they entered the clearing everyone greeted them, first of all, Kouga.
"Kagome!" he said, lifting her down from Inuyasha's back and hugging her. "Where'd you go, we were all so worried...wait." he sniffed her, looking onto her pale face and into her dull chocolate brown eyes. "You were.." his eyes widened "you were dead!"
Everyone gasped, Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder, smelling her as well. "Yeah, I can smell it too!" he said.
Inuyasha felt so guilty now..
"Noo, everyone! Look, I'm fine!" She reassured them. Ginta and Hakkaku stepped forward
"Sorry, sis, you can't have a smell like that on you and tell us nothing happened?" Hakkaku said, shrugging.
"Yeah, we can smell it on you as plain as day, sis. Tell us what happened!" Ginta insisted.
She looked at Inuyasha, knowing how bad he must be feeling right now.
Inuyasha sighed deeply, staring at Kouga's two idiot friends before him. He hated them so much right now, for insisting that Kagome tell them something they had no right asking about.
"I killed her.." he stated, everyone gasped.
Kouga took a hold of Kagome's arm and pushed her at Ginta and Hakkaku. "Protect Kagome from this mutt.. He doesn't deserve to be around Kagome after doing something so unforgivable."
Inuyasha growled, however knowing Kouga was right.
"No, Kouga you don't understand!" Kagome argued.
"What don't I understand, wench? I don't want you anywhere near this half-breed anymore, do I make myself clear?" Kouga asked, eyes narrowed at Inuyasha.
"Clear as mud, baka!" She struggled against Ginta and Hakkaku's grip. "Guys, let me go!"
"You're my woman, and you'll do as I say. Or else." Kouga growled at Kagome, giving her a glare.
Inuyasha growled even louder. "Keh, you dare tell me to stay away from her when you're standing there threatening her? Right, I don't think so"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome called to him as the two wolf demons dragged her back to their part of the clearing.
"Sorry, Sis." they both said in unison.
"Get out of my way!" Inuyasha yelled at Kouga, unsheathing his sword.
Kouga laughed and smirked, "What? You gonna kill me too? Go ahead, mutt. There's a whole bunch of witnesses here that can now see how big of a threat you are to Kagome and the Jewel!"
"You don't have to worry about one thing, wimpy wolf." Inuyasha returned a smirk, "The jewel is gone."
Kouga's eyes widened, "What the hell have you done with the jewel, dog?"
"He used it to bring me back to life." Kagome stated, knowing Kouga could hear her clearly. Kouga turned his head. "And Inuyasha didn't kill me... It was an accident, I slipped and fell and died.. Inuyasha saved my life. I owe him everything." She smiled at him, and Inuyasha smiled back. Walking towards Kagome. He growled at the two, who immediately let Kagome go.
Inuyasha took Kagome over to Sango. "Kagome-chan!" Sango said hugging the girl, "Thank the gods you're okay!"
Kikyo stepped forward. "Inuyasha, please.. I need to talk to you."
Inuyasha glared at her, "I have nothing more to say to you.."
"Please.. It's Kagome. She's in danger." Inuyasha ears perked up at Kikyo's words.
"Fine.. Just for a moment." he looked to Kagome, who frowned sadly. He walked over to her and smiled. "I'll only be a moment.." he kissed the top of her head and followed Kikyo out of the clearing, Kouga's jaw dropped, Sango and Miroku exchanged worried, yet excited glances.
Sango nudged Kagome playfully. "What happened between you and Inuyasha while you guys were gone?" Kagome blushed and explained everything Inuyasha had told her..and asked her.
Sango squealed. "You? Stay here? That would be so great, Kagome!"
Kagome smiled, agreeing with her, but something I her mind told her not to get too excited.
Meanwhile
"Inuyasha.. You have made a huge mistake in using the jewel to bring back Kagome from the dead" Kikyo said in her normal tone.
"Yeah? Go on.." he said, looking away from her.
"Kagome is my reincarnation. Which means she has spiritual powers!" Kikyo was making such a big deal out of this, but Inuyasha kept a blank stare.
"...and?" he ventured.
"And that means the powers within her are strong enough to hold the jewel within her soul. The Jewel is not gone..Somehow, The Shikon no Tama is still inside her." Kikyo stated, becoming pale herself. "I wanted you to use the jewel so the jewel would be gone forever, but now.. Now the jewel will live on forever." She stepped closer to Inuyasha, "You must kill the girl the destroy the jewel."
Inuyasha glared at her, "No chance, wench. You expect me to Kill her?"
"No, Inuyasha.. I'm thinking of Kagome when I say that. Evil will find her no matter what era she's in.. She was in danger when she held the Jewel in her hands.. Now that the Jewel has brought her back to life, it thinks Kagome owes it protection."
Inuyasha looked confused, "The Jewel 'thinks'?"
Kikyo nodded, "She'll die, Inuyasha..weather you're the one who kills her or not.."
Megan-dawn: Sorry guys for any confusion you attained in this chapter, if any that is. I had so many ideas that they kinda just flowed unevenly onto the page. P