Not really much to say here on my part…only that I've had a major case of writers block, and this has been a really busy summer for me…I'm working now, so when I get some free time, I want to be out with my friends, you all can understand that, right? I hope you can, and if you do forgive me, you have my most sincere Thanks.
I won't keep you waiting any longer; however, I do want to say this: This particular chapter will be short, because the next chapter will be the start of the WAR, and I promise to not keep you waiting for that:D Thank you to all of my loyal readers who, after long periods of time to whose fault is mine, still come back to read my story…I am very grateful.
Anyway, here is your Chapter 12:
Chapter 12: And so it begins
"I don't understand, Naraku" Kagome looked from Kagura's confused gaze to Naraku's amused stance. "You wish to gain all of this power…but then what?" she tried to stand but couldn't; it was as if he was holding her down on the ground with his mind. "If you destroy everything, what good will all that power be to you?"
"Kagome, Kagome, Kagome…" he chuckled to himself. "It seems I have misunderstood you."
Kagura set her eyes on Naraku, still not catching onto his obvious plan, 'what is he up to now…'
"Misunderstood me?" Kagome ventured.
"Yes, I thought you were different from that walking-dead wench, Kikyo; I'm one of the few who think so, I'm sure…but I'm seeing more and more how alike you two really are." He smirked, "you are both so arrogant and annoying; thinking that every action has to have a purpose in the end."
He walked closer to Kagome, crouching down beside her, "Well, my dear, you are so sadly mistaken. I intend for things to go my way at all times, without interferences. That is why I must be the one with the most power…it's much more satisfying, don't you think?"
Kagome sneered, turning her head away from him in disgust. 'Inuyasha, where are you?' she called from within, knowing that somehow he would make it in time and find her…he had to. She then decided to buy some time for Inuyasha.
"So, are you going to use me as a pawn in your little game?" Kagome asked, not daring to look into his eyes; afraid that he might figure out that she was biding time.
Naraku raised an eyebrow, "now why would you say that?"
"Well…" Kagome hesitated, "why else would you have me here?"
Naraku smiled as he stood, "since you're so smart, I guess I should fill you in."
He moved a little closer to her, lifting his hand above her head. He then spread out his fingers. He looked down, deep into her eyes, "Stand, Kagome." He commanded.
Kagome gasped as a hot pain shot down both her legs, her legs quickly moved against her will and well before she knew it, she was standing.
"Very good." He smirked again. He took his hand away, leaving her paralyzed and standing still. He took his left hand and moved it closer to her face, making a light fist. He soloed out his index finger and pressed it firmly against her forehead. Kagome's mind was suddenly clouded with visions and images; things that she knew would soon happen in the future.
Once Naraku had shared every single detail and order with her, he pulled his finger away. Hopefully this time he would be able to control her, now that Inuyasha was nowhere to be found.
"Kagomeee!" Inuyasha bellowed, jumping off of Hachi and into the cave. He knew she was there; he'd know her scent anywhere.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled, she never knew she could smile as wide as she did.
They ran to each other, Inuyasha wrapping his strong, protective arms around her as she buried her face into his haori.
He looked down onto her soft features, glad that she was unharmed and with him again. He then gulped, seeing that her features were not as soft as he had hoped; they were quite angry and scornful.
"What took you so long!" she exclaimed, pushing him away. She then smiled.
"Hey! Be thankful I even came for you at all!" Inuyasha said, looking away. He glanced back at her smiling face, looking quickly away again with a 'Feh'.
"Kagome!" Sango and Miroku yelled in unison, running to her.
"Yes, Inuyasha; what took you so long?" a familiar voice asked from within the shadows.
Inuyasha growled, stepping in front of Kagome. "What's the deal, Naraku? Why do you want Kagome so badly?"
"I did want Kagome…for my own reasons. Now I'm done with her" he smirked, "for the moment, anyway."
Inuyasha became overly fed up and snapped, not knowing what Naraku meant; the fact that he had touched Kagome at all sent him raging,
He grabbed the hilt of his Tetsusaiga, thrusting it out of its sheath as he charged at Naraku, "WIND SCAR!" he yelled, his eyes flashing red.
The enormous power emitted from the blade hit Naraku, shattering his body, leaving what seemed like nothing. Had Naraku been defeated at long last?
Inuyasha ran over to where Naraku had stood, finding a lone Shikigami lying on the cold ground. Inuyasha cursed Naraku for being a coward, using one of his puppets and not facing him in person.
Kagome sighed as she walked over to Inuyasha, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Inuyasha. We have to focus on winning this war."
Inuyasha smiled, turning around and taking her in his arms again. "You're right, Kagome. But more importantly, are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"Of course not…because then he'd have you to deal with, and he wouldn't want to get himself in that deep, right?" she winked, going to meet Sango and Miroku. "Come on guys, let's get back to the clearing…we have a strategy to create!"
Inuyasha just stood there, blushing. He wasn't afraid of rejection anymore. He loved Kagome…and after the war he wanted to tell her so...to ask her to stay with him once more, like he had done only a short while ago. He had told her that there was a way to bring her back to her own era, but he hoped to the gods that he would be able to keep her.
"Inuyasha? What's wrong?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha was snapped back to reality, seeing Kagome merely inches from his face.
"Staring off into space? You've been spending too much time with me, Inuyasha." She smiled again, walking behind him and jumping on his back.
"And you've been spending too much time treating me like a packhorse." Inuyasha said, letting go of her, but catching her again before she fell off.
Sango and Miroku winked at each other, jogging to the cave entrance and jumping back onto Hachi, while Kagome held snuggly onto Inuyasha.
On the ride back, Miroku and Sango were beginning to feel very differently about each other; thinking more and more about the war, and what might happen to one another. Miroku gently took Sango's hand in his and pulled her closer and into his arms. Sango didn't say anything, only a content sigh escaped her lips.
Kagome, who had been watching them, smirked a familiar smirk while her eyes glowed a pale green.
Kouga sat cross-legged in the middle of the clearing, keeping his eyes impatiently on the entrance of the clearing. Jinenji approached him slowly.
"Kouga…Sir…I was wondering where Kagome went off to." Jinenji blinked a few times. "Is she with Inuyasha?"
The sound of that name made Kouga's blood boil, but before he could say anything to the large half-demon, something caught his eye at the entrance. He jumped up.
"Kagome!" Kouga yelled, running quickly towards her, followed by a few other various Demons concerned about Kagome. Kouga pushed Inuyasha out of the way to pull her into his arms. "Thank God you're okay!"
Kagome gasped, "Ow, Kouga, you're squishing me."
Inuyasha growled, "How many times do you have to be told, Kouga." He grabbed onto Kouga's shoulder and sunk his claws into it, thrusting him out of the way. "Hands off!"
Inuyasha lightly touched Kagomes cheek, "are you alright?"
She nodded, smiling. Her smiled faded and her eyes narrowed.
Inuyasha looked and his smile faded too, "Kikyo."
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" Kikyo gracefully walked towards the group, nobody knew what to say. Inuyasha stepped forward.
"Listen, Kikyo, you stay away from Kagome, you've already done enough." Inuyasha spoke to her in an annoyed tone.
"Listen, Inuyasha," she gave him an emotionless look, "I wouldn't have come back if I knew I couldn't be of help."
"What do you mean by that, Kikyo?" he asked her, raising an eyebrow.
She hesitated as a smile formed on her pale face, "Well, I guess it could be a little helpful to know that our enemies are already on the move."
Okay guys, the next chapter is the big war. I'm sorry that this was a short chapter, but I had a bit of what Naraku did to Kagome before Inuyasha arrived into a chapter before the war began. I also had to have Kagome rescued so she's back on Inuyashas side, or the twist will make no sense at all. Anyways, I'll start on the next Chapter tomorrow…it's Midnight now and my eyes are going cross from staring at this screen haha. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can!
-Anya