What's most important
Chapter III
Author's Note: Hey! Listen, I know my chapters have been short, and I will try to make them longer. Still, I don't want them to be too long! I hope you've enjoyed it so far! Yay! Guess what? I got a bunch of reviews asking for longer chapters, so this is me trying! So…Yay! Thanks for reading! Please review!
Disclaimer: Are you crazy? Of course I can't give him to you! I don't own Inuyasha! Even if it is my largest desire.
Reviewer responses
NysokulovesSesshomaru Like I said, I'm trying to make them longer. In my other story, people got mad when I made them too long. Oh, and I am so excited that you actually even want to read my story, let alone like it. You rock! Thank you so much!
arkynox Well, I am trying to make them longer! And I will try to put in more scenery. I will try really hard, but it's hard to change one's writing style. So, yeah. But I swear I will try. I am so glad you like my story. Go you! Thanks for reviewing and reading!
Kangarooluver22 Well, Kikyo is mentioned in this story, but I'm not even sure if she'll be in it. Review and tell me what you want and I will try to put it in, but for the record, I do not like Kikyo. And the kidnapping…well, I don't want to give away the story! Thank you for even noticing me! Wahoo!
Inuyasha watched as Sango, Shippo, Mirouku, and Kirara watched him. "What's your problem?" He yelled at the people (and demons) glaring at him. Sango shook her head at Inuyasha's helplessness. Shippo had told them what Kagome had said, also picking it up with his demon senses. Everyone else noticed what they thought about each other…so why didn't they?
"You're so stupid!" Sango yelled at him. He stared, surprised. Some human was yelling at him! He continued seething, not noticing his mouth hanging open. A little voice inside Inuyasha's head was telling him that she was right, but he dismissed it. Kagome had slowly walked away a small while ago, before Sango had started yelling. "Go after her!" She ordered him.
He scoffed but turned. "I guess I should, the stupid wench will probably be killed out there all alone." he said. His heart skipped a beat when he realized what he just said could happen. Inuyasha followed the girl's scent, scowling. He found her not far away. She was standing at the base of the god tree, staring at it. She didn't notice he was behind her in a small clearing surrounded by many tall trees. Inuyasha stood watching her. A stray animal ran through the woods behind them, and she turned quickly, to make sure nothing was creeping up on her. Inuyasha jumped in a tree before she saw him; he figured she'd be mad if she noticed him spying on her. He noticed her eyes were pained and her whole face displayed deep sorrow. She sat down next to the tree; her arms wrapped around her legs. She sat for a long time staring into space.
After about half an hour, Kagome sat in the same spot. Inuyasha was in the same position as he had started. He didn't want to move so she would notice him; he could tell she was still upset and possibly angry. Yet, the sadness in her bright blue eyes was practically tearing him apart, but he didn't understand why.
After a while, Inuyasha's eyes opened. He hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep. It was pretty dark now, and the sun was practically set. He looked to where Kagome was sitting. One problem. She wasn't there. A thousand scenarios raced through his head. Kagome could've gotten kidnapped, or attacked, or…or something much worse. "How long were you planning to spy on me?" Inuyasha jumped at Kagome's voice, but he was surprised there wasn't anger in her voice. He silently wondered how long she'd known he was there. As if knowing his question, she answered. "I knew you were there since you followed me, Inuyasha."
He looked guiltily at her. He slowly jumped out of the tree and landed beside her. "Why didn't you yell at me earlier, if you knew?" he asked. He was confused. She didn't seem angry at all. She actually seemed happy. Not that he was complaining.
Kagome blushed. She had enjoyed him just being there, yet having them not fight. She knew she couldn't tell him that. At least not the entire story. "I…didn't want to fight with you." she answered. "I thought if I waited…we could prevent a fight." She smiled in spite of herself. She didn't want to fight with him, and when she saw he was asleep, she didn't have the heart to wake him up. She thought he was cute sleeping. But she wouldn't ever tell anyone that.
Kagome then turned back and sat at her previous place beneath the tree. She watched as Inuyasha came and sat beside her, but not too close to her. She held her head down, thinking about what she had said earlier. "Inuyasha…" Kagome slowly said. He looked up at her, concerned, which he tried to hide. Kagome continued, not looking at him, and then she took the plunge. "I… I'm sorry for what I said earlier. What I said about Kikyo. I shouldn't have brought her up."
Inuyasha stared at her. She apologized? But, for some reason, Inuyasha didn't feel happy about her apology; it didn't seem right. When Inuyasha didn't say anything, Kagome bit her lip and began turning away, but then Inuyasha said something. "You…you really don't think that, do you Kagome?" Her head snapped up and she stared at him in wonderment. Then her face fell and she didn't answer. Inuyasha worried when she didn't answer. "Kagome, I…" he couldn't find the right words to say to her. She was obviously upset, and she obviously believed what she said, yet she couldn't be farther from the truth. She continued hanging her head and she wouldn't look at him. He wanted her to. He wanted for her to smile at him and them both to know everything was okay, but how could he make her see how wrong she was?
Kagome sat next to Inuyasha, not looking at him. She was afraid. Afraid of her answer. She did believe that. But still…if Inuyasha would rather have Kikyo with him instead of her, why didn't he? He still stuck with her, Kagome. Still, she worried. What if he realized this and went off with Kikyo the next time she showed up, leaving her? She didn't know what she would do. She felt she couldn't go back to her time, pretending it never happened. It hurt too much just thinking about it. To lose all her friends here, to go back to her boring school…and to have to pretend her best friend never existed.
"Kagome…" Inuyasha started again. This time, Kagome looked up at him. He was sad to notice the happy glint usually in her eyes was gone, replaced with a look of despair. He wanted her to be happy again, to smile at him. "You're not just a replacement of her." he said quietly. Kagome's eyes widened. A small smile tugged her lips upward as she heard this. Inuyasha was happy to see he said the correct thing.
Her lips trembled as she fumbled over her next words. "Do…do you really mean it?" she asked hopefully. Inuyasha nodded slowly, but he could tell she needed more reassurance.
He then did something we always, and still was, afraid to do. He pulled her close to him. He embraced her. "I swear, Kagome. You're not her replacement." Kagome was startled, but leaned into him. "You're so much more to me, Kagome." He looked down at her confused, yet still happy face. "You're my best friend, Kagome. I loved Kikyo, and I think a part of me still does. But I swear, I wouldn't switch you with her right now, or ever. You're too…." He didn't know how to finish. Kagome stared at him with a hopeful look in her eyes. He had to tell her. He believed it would fix everything. "Kagome, the truth is I…" He was interrupted by two unwelcome voices.
"Mirouku! Stop right now! I highly doubt either would do…that! And I am not doing that with you either, you messed up pervert!" They recognized this voice as Sango's, and they could only wonder what Mirouku was thinking. Then they could hear Mirouku laughing and a resounding slap. Inuyasha jumped up, leaving a startled Kagome alone on the forest floor. Mirouku and Sango entered the clearing they were in hardly a moment later. Sango looked quite angry, and Mirouku had a distinct hand print on his face. Sango saw them and waved. "Hey Kagome! I'm guessing he found you!" she said, referring to Inuyasha.
"Yeah…I guess." Kagome wasn't really paying attention. She stood up slowly. She stood next to Sango. Then she felt a hand in a very inappropriate spot. That ended with Mirouku having Hirakotsu bouncing off his head, yet another handprint on his face, and a large bump forming on the top of his head.
"What did you hit me for?" Mirouku yelled at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha scowled at him. "Because I felt like it. Stop being a pervert." he said, pushing the subject of him away.
Sango sighed and turned away. "Well…I suppose there's no use staying here." she said, trying to make conversation. The others all nodded and turned away, Mirouku half-limping from behind.
"Kagura, I see you have returned." Naraku observed when she walked into Naraku's castle. Then his eyes turned dark and angry. "Yet, you have returned without the girl. My poisonous insects somehow missed what happened…" he said, smirking evilly. Kagura winced. How was she supposed to get out of this one?
"I…I…." Naraku continued smirking at her, trying to intimidate her. She blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. "There's no way kidnapping her would help! I figured I shouldn't because I did some spying and he cares for someone more so I decided to come back and report to you, then go looking for the dead priestess." Then it hit her that Naraku was only mocking her by saying the insects missed the fight.
A cruel, evil, just plain awful smile played across Naraku's lips. The sight of him at that moment would instantly kill any average human by fright. Kagura didn't flinch. She simply refused to give him the satisfaction of even hinting he might be slightly intimidated. She would never show that he had power over her, even though he did.
He then spoke in his icy voice. "I presume you believe he doesn't like this girl, but the priestess I killed 50 years ago? And he only uses this girl as a replacement?" He turned away. "Come, Kagura, and I will show you something."
Kagura followed slowly, growling at Naraku from the back. She wondered what he had to show her. He walked into a dark room. It was completely empty except for Kanna, who stood holding a mirror. It was foggy and showing no picture. Kanna looked up and waited for instructions from Naraku. "Show Kagura." he ordered.
Kanna nodded and the fog began to swirl, and when it stopped, there was a picture of a tree. They watched as Kagome sat by it then joined by Inuyasha. They talked awhile, and Inuyasha openly stated that she was more important than Kikyo. Kagome smile a bit and then Inuyasha embraced her. This made Naraku smirk darkly.
He turned to Kikyo. "You have to go back. Get the girl this time, like you were supposed to do." He then left, smirking as Kagura got ready to visit Inuyasha the second time.
"So…where is this shard supposed to be?" Inuyasha asked as they moved along the trail in the dark green forest. Kagome looked up and smiled at him.
"It's not much farther now…I think." she answered as she looked as far as she could see. She could just only see after the forest, and only a little bit. There was a large field there. Inuyasha looked down at the dark haired girl. He couldn't suppress a small smile. Since he had met her, he had been quite rude to her, and she still stuck with him no matter what. Even if he became overrun by his demon blood, she still was there for him, and she even tried her best to help him. His worst fear was that she would be helping him and he would attack her, just because of some dumb demon rage that he couldn't control. When the Tetseiga had broken and he had lost control, he remembered her not listening to her worried friends and rushing to help him. (A/N Okay, Inuyasha isn't supposed to remember this, but in my story he does.) She had stood inches before him, and a voice in his head was yelling at her to run as far away as possible, but he couldn't control himself to warn her. He was so relieved when she was smart enough to help him, even if it was by sitting him.
He did say he wanted to become a full-fledged demon, and if someone asked him now, he still probably would say he would. But he wasn't sure. He didn't want to hurt anyone, especially Kagome. He didn't want her to be scared of him. But…wasn't that the point of the rosary anyway? Wasn't she scared of him when they first met? It worried him. What if somewhere, deep in her conscience, she was still a little scared?
"Inuyasha?" He almost jumped when he heard Kagome's voice. He looked down at her. Her bright blue eyes were full of wonder. "Are you okay?" she asked. Inuyasha realized she must have noticed he was acting different.
"Yeah…I'm fine." he answered. He didn't want her to think her was weak. She kept staring at his face, her eyes filled with confusion and worry. She then smiled, satisfied with his answer.
"That's good. I don't like you being sad." she whispered. Her eyes then widened and she blushed brightly. She didn't know why though, she just felt embarrassed when she said the simplest thing about or around him. Inuyasha smiled in spite of himself. Kagome nudged him. He looked down at her. "It's not much farther now." He looked forward. He was surprised to see they had passed the clearing and were currently entering another stretch of trees. His eyes widened when he faintly smelled a demon not far into the trees. He also smelled blood littering the whole forest.
"Kagome….wait." he warned. "Don't go any farther yet." Kagome nodded, also feeling a faint demon aura, mixed with a jewel shard. She had no idea how big this demon was; the demon was too far away. Inuyasha stood in front of her, his senses sharpened. He walked in slowly, his hand close to the Tetseiga. Kagome followed behind him, notching an arrow into her bow. "Be careful, Kagome. I'm not sure how big this demon is."
Kagome nodded. She felt confident that Inuyasha could easily take this demon down. She could help too, but she doubted it was needed. They walked farther, yet the aura still seemed far away. Kagome didn't feel it any closer until she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder.