Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any nursery rhymes.
The Mother Goose Escapades
No. 10, version 1
Where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Where, oh where can he be?
With his ears cut short and his tail cut long,
Where, oh where can he be?
The dead miko sighed. It seemed that no matter what she did, Inuyasha was lost to her. He found his solace in her own reincarnation. It didn't matter what her own feelings were now. It was the same as always, that dog only cared for himself.
That really wasn't true, and Kikyou had to admit it. He had been willing to give up his demon nature for her. He had loved her, in some way. At least, his love had been enough to give up a part of himself.
Kikyou found she couldn't say the same. True, she would have been giving up her miko powers, as well as the acceptance of her fellow humans, but that didn't bother her so much. It wasn't something she looked for. Humans were petty, and being a miko hadn't been her choice, not really.
But that didn't mean she hadn't loved Inuyasha. She had loved him. Enough to want to be with him. Enough to give up her own good name for him. Enough to feel betrayed by him. Enough to kill him...
And now she walked the earth again. Alive, but not really alive. Dead, but not really dead. And within her a fountain of jealousy bubbled. She had died for all she had given up, but not that dog! No, he was fine, and living happily ever after with her reincarnation.
Alright, maybe not happily ever after, but somewhat. He had moved on, or at least attempted to. Kikyou smiled a dead smile. As long as she still walked, Inuyasha would not be able to fully get over her. And that helped cool her jealous rage.
It wasn't like her jealousy was unfounded. Kikyou saw how her reincarnation acted around the dog, her complete and utter acceptance of him. Something Kikyou herself had never quite been able to achieve. The dog trusted her reincarnation a lot more as well. His trust was something that was difficult to get, Kikyou knew that. And her reincarnation had received it! The unfairness of the world!
It didn't matter, not really. Kikyou knew she had the upper hand, in the very end. When she called, the dog would always come running to her. Her reincarnation might have collared him, but that meant nothing. Dogs were loyal until their very demise.
And anyway, it was the one way she could strike back against her reincarnation. She could hurt her reincarnation in a way similar to her own pain. Kikyou sent her soul seekers off with a limp wave of her arm. The dog would return. Ears down, tail drooping, ashamed at displeasing his mistress.
Although Kikyou had to admit, the fun was starting to go out of it now.
The Mother Goose Escapades
No. 10, version 2
Where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Where, oh where can he be?
With his ears cut short and his tail cut long,
Where, oh where can he be?
Her soul stealers had come again. And he had bounded off, a dog responding to a master's call. Kagome sighed heavily, staring at the starlit sky. Why was it that the dead miko still had such a hold over Inuyasha?
It wasn't for her own lack of trying, Kagome knew. She was always understanding, always considerate of Inuyasha and his feelings. And yet he continually ground her under his heel, left her behind, and refused to open up to her.
Well, that wasn't completely honest. He had opened up to her, a lot more than she had ever expected. And, apparently, a lot more than he ever had opened up to the dead miko. But, she had been forced into a much more intimate relationship with Inuyasha, and necessity had forced them to rely on each other.
This reliance also forced trust. And Inuyasha trusted her, Kagome knew, just as she trusted her very life in his clawed hands. But he also seemed to trust the dead miko. Actually, once he realized it was Naraku's doing, Inuyasha seemed to have forgiven the dead miko.
Where was the sense in that, Kagome wondered. The dead miko seemed to have given her own allegiance to Naraku, the very being who caused her demise. To somehow still have Inuyasha's trust was unfathomable at this point. Especially when she, Kagome, had never once given Inuyasha a reason to doubt her!
Sure, she had been weak in the beginning, but she wasn't anymore, not really. She could hold her own, didn't need Inuyasha to rescue her from every little thing. But this only seemed to sadden him, and he pushed her away more. Kept her at arm's length, afraid to touch her, unable to accept her.
Unable to accept himself.
Though Inuyasha didn't know,or wouldn't admitit, Kagome suspected the dead miko had hurt him in many ways. His love, his trust, his very being were shattered by the one who refused to accept him as he was! Kagome continuously proved to Inuyasha how he was worthy, and how she loved him as a worthy person. Yet he seemed to be oblivious to it all.
Like a moth to a flame, he always focused on Kikyou. He waited, at attention, for her summoning. Kagome was merely the 'dog-sitter', in more ways than one. Her own thoughts caused a wry smile to appear. And then something came to mind.
She had collared Inuyasha, unknowingly. But it had been done, and now the lost puppy was hers. She had claimed him, taken him in, loved him and cared for him. But one who is abused will go back to the tormenter for fear of more abuse. So, Kagome had to stake her claim. Refuse to let Inuyasha return to Kikyou anymore.
If worse came to worse, all she would have to do would be to 'sit' him. From this point on, she would fight for him. Fight to keep him. Never again would he feel the need to obey the dead miko's command. That was it. She was dead, and Kagome was alive. Inuyasha deserved better than a vengeful dead miko. He had been through too much.
Kagome sighed again, lighter this time. Whatever it took, she would keep Inuyasha close to her. She would hold him near and dear, and he would draw her in closer as well. The dead miko would have no hold over either of them. Not anymore. This was the last time.
After all, Inuyasha only came back heartbroken anyway. What good did that do anyone? It wasn't like she was going to torture him, the way the dead miko did.
No, she was really going to save him from himself.
Author's Notes: Oooo, this was cool. Rather than two separate tales, both are centered around the same thing! I surprise myself sometimes! Haha, hope you enjoyed it. Keep on the lookout, more tales coming in after the weekend!