Disclaimer: I figured its prolly the safest to stick these in here randomly in case you people are forgetful...no, to my heartbreak...I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters involved. The credit goes to a genius by the name of Rumiko Takahashi.
Enchanted Orbs
Chapter 12 Traveling Tension
Gazing into its depths, she was amazed at how the jewel called to her. A secret glimmer resided within that seemed as if it was hers alone, a part of her.
'Well, it was at one point in time.'
She breathed in deeply and let out a sigh. 'I hope Inuyasha has thought about his wish. I don't really think he still wants to be a full demon, but I could be wrong. He's been so withdrawn since that night with Kikyou.'
She looked up at him. As always he was leading the companions back towards Kaede's village.
Everyone was quiet. A tense silence hung around them.
Miroku kept glancing at his hand. With the curse gone, he could actually plan for his future. Never one to be pessimistic, he did not doubt Naraku's eventual defeat, but he was not ready to foolishly believe he had nothing to worry about. He could never force himself to plan for a future when Naraku was as powerful as he had become. Now that he actually had a life to plan for, would he actually achieve the happiness he never dared try to reach?
Sango had retreated into herself. With the jewel complete, she was brutally aware that her brother must have passed from this plane. No tears fell from her eyes. That was a luxury in which she would indulge when she was alone. For now, she comforted herself with thoughts of his freedom. Kohaku was no longer a slave, no longer an expendable minion of Naraku.
She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth at that thought. Then gave a silent bitter laugh at how easily her clan had played into the evil hanyou's hands, almost as well as the puppets she and her brother had been at one time. A mournful tear tried to escape its lashed prison, but she fiercely relinquished her caustic thoughts. The tear never fell as her determination forced it to vanish.
Inuyasha was torn. He was no longer a weak hanyou; he could defeat strong opponents with even his weakest attack. The Windscar had the capability to maim even a taiyoukai. Even with the protection of Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru was in critcal condition after being struck. With the Bakuryuuha and the Kongousouha (Diamond Spear Blast), he might even be one of the strongest warriors in the land, but despite all this, he was still a halfbreed. He would always be subject to discrimination, would always be hated by one or both sides of his heritage.
Does that even matter anymore? He had friends that would accept him how he was. He could make himself a home outside Kaede's village and protect it from harm, but that was only if he dispatched his feelings for Kikyou.
She could not rest because of him. Because of her hatred for him, her place was hell with all other vengeful spirits, and she didn't want to go alone. No, she wanted him to burn with her. He understood that concept. Few would, but he did. It was much like a warrior falling in battle; if a Samurai knew he was mortally wounded, he would try desperately to bring the cause of that wound along.
Kagome would never understand that line of thinking; she was too compassionate. She wanted everyone to be happy, even if that meant sacrificing her own health and happiness. No matter how foolish her actions could become as a result, he loved her because of that, but he could never tell her. It would only lead to pain. He owed his life, his love to Kikyou, but maybe he could repay that debt without their fates aflame. Maybe he could wish Kikyou back. No, that would hurt and possibly kill Kagome. Both were sharing a soul now, but one had to replenish the partial soul with the unfortunate spirits of others.
Plus, wasn't that a selfish wish? Bringing her to life would fulfill his debt without sacrifice and could possibly bring back his love to her former manner, the one for which he was willing to become human.
The dark side of the jewel might be able to twist that wish into something evil, but even an unselfish wish might not put an end to the jewel as Kikyou's theory proclaimed. After all, Kikyou assumed that an unselfish wish would help Midoriko's struggle within the jewel. With the purity involved in such an act, the priestess imagined the raging battle would end, and the jewel would no longer exist.
What if those assumptions are wrong? Perhaps nothing could destroy the jewel, but he just had to risk it. He would not force Kagome to take on the responsibility which was the bane of Kikyou's existence, not if he could prevent it.
Kagome was being tossed to and fro in her thoughts. She felt lost at sea even as her feet stumbled across a forested floor. On one side of the ship, she worried about her friends. She was not ignorant of the tension in everyone's shoulders. Trying to alleviate their tormented thoughts was a task that was usually deposited on her shoulders, but right now she couldn't find a path out of her muddled thoughts, let alone try to show others a way out of troubles.
With her shoulders shrugging a bit with that failure, she slid to another side to the wave-ravished ship of her mind. How could she tell her family that her mission was done, but she couldn't come back yet? She did not know if she could face her family and tell them that she had agreed to become an employee of a demon. A ruthless, icy demon, who would not hesitate to kill a human, held her to a contract for an indeterminate amount of time. She didn't know when she could visit or if she would even survive her 'job,' but she was bound by honor and by fear.
Her thoughts continued to crash against rocky outcroppings of doubt. The latest cliff face she was thrown against was Sesshoumaru. What did her want her for? What could a "lowly human" possibly do for the taiyoukai? Why?
The questions burned in her mind like seawater in her eyes. If he did want her and her power so badly, why was he so spiteful towards her before they parted? Her stomach churned as she remembered the scene that took place after the fighters of Naraku reached the plane of the living.
Flashback
Myouga had finally stopped jumping up and down on Inuyasha's shoulder as he realized the taiyoukai had slowed enough for the group to pass through the gates without event.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, we owe you thanks for allowing us to follow you past the entrance." Myouga bowed as he spoke.
Sesshoumaru turned his head and nodded slightly in acknowledgement of his statement. He walked a few paces forward then turned fully to face those trailing him. His eyes swept passed them disdainfully and locked onto Kagome's gaze.
"How long will it take you to reach your village?" His voice was so cold.
Kagome broke her gaze and looked to Inuyasha in silent question.
"Three days." The hanyou answered for her.
Sesshoumaru never took his withering glare from the girl throughout the interplay. "You have a week from that time." His voice was as caustic as the acid he employed. It sounded as if he hated the words he had just spoken to her.
End Flashback
Kagome shivered as a wave of cold rush through her veins in remembrance of his icy attitude toward her. What had happened? At one point in their meetings he had actually made a sad attempt at humor, granted it was sadistic in nature, but it was a form of humor nonetheless.
Shippou stirred in her arms. Blissfully unaware of the tumult of feelings coursing through her and the rest of the friends, the little kitsune slept. Nestled into his closest confidante and friend's body, nothing could be wrong in the world. So he slumbered on in the heat of the afternoon sun.
Silence continued; tension forced the minutes to drag out into hours, but finally night fell.
"We'll set up camp here." Inuyasha stated as night started to close in around them.
Miroku nodded. Inuyasha left the clearing and began to gather firewood. Kagome started to unpack the few belongings she could keep up with throughout the continuous battles. Sango cast a forlorn look around the campsite.
"I'm going for a walk." Sango said in a voice barely above a whisper. Kagome looked at her friend, her sister in adversity. Their eyes met and understanding flooded through the young miko.
Miroku looked sadly upon the young woman. His heart bled for her; he knew who torn she was about the loss of her brother. He wanted so badly to be the one she sought for comforting, but he had ensured that she wouldn't with his consistent groping.
Sango saw the pity that flashed through Kagome's eyes. She would never resent her female companion, but she did not want pity. Receiving pity went against everything she stood for as a warrior, and she would not stand here and accept such treatment.
She turned and walked into the surrounding trees, seeking comfort in the solitude they could offer.
When Sango was out of earshot, Kagome spoke up softly. "She is really taking his death hard. No matter what happens, she'll always blame herself."
Miroku need not ask to who Kagome was referring. He knew all too well who Sango's sorrow revolved around.
Silence entrapped them for what seemed an eternity. Kagome allowed Sango time to mourn in solitude.
Kagome could feel Inuyasha's demon presence begin to return. She wanted to allow Sango time, but she also wanted to talk to Miroku alone. Time was not on her side, so she decided to say her peace while they were alone.
"She will eventually want someone to go to her." Miroku looked up at Kagome with curiosity in his eyes.
"It should be you, Miroku. She won't want to talk about her pain, but you can share it with her by just allowing her to cry on your shoulder."
Her eyes were intently trying to focus on the patchy grass underneath her as she said this, but she could not stand it anymore. Her gaze turned to the hesitant monk.
In the depths of his eyes, he bore his soul to her. She could see the longing within, but overpowering that pull was the fear of rejection.
He wanted to more than anything in the world. He wanted to be a strength for the vulnerable taijiya; he wanted to comfort her and shelter her from the storm raging through her. The fear that she would hate him for intruding on her privacy, hate him for his past actions. Hate him. He couldn't force himself to stand. No, he couldn't risk it.
"She would want you to, Miroku. Your strong arms could hold more fears at bay than mine ever could. Go to her." Kagome urged him lightly.
Inuyasha was drawing ever near, and her time was running short.
"But, you have always been the one she wanted before..." he started but was cut off. He would not voice his fears.
"Miroku," her eyes shone as she continued to prod him, "believe me. I know her well. She would rather you be there now, but do not give in to her. She will tell you to leave. Just wrap her in you arms and hold her."
She smiled at him as she saw courage build in him. He began to stand and the thoughts of having her in his arms registered in his mind. He gave Kagome a hesitant smile as he reached his feet.
He began to walk after her as Kagome stopped him, "if you betray her with your hands, I'll cut them off, myself."
"I would never do that at such a time as this." He stated without turning back to her.
Miroku walked silently through the trees for a few minutes until he heard the faint sound of her weeping.
Her side was to him; she sat with her knees folded under her. Delicate hands covered her face and shoulders shuddered with each moment as he stood there entranced. Even in the depths of pain, she was radiant.
He walked to her observing how the moonlight reflected off the tears streaming through her fingers. She dropped her hands exposing mobile crystals falling from closed eyes.
He knelt in front of her as she noticed him. Her eyes locking with his urging him to her, but then she came back to her pride as she felt his arms enfold her.
Her slow sobs stilled for a moment as he held her.
"I want to be alone right now." Her voice was tense and strained from her sobs.
"You'll never be alone." He let his words hand in midair.
He thought is best if she took them the way she wanted. He had no right to force himself on her in a grieving period, but he wanted her to know that he and the others were there for her.
Her tense shoulders relaxed a bit then her tears returned as if they had never left.
"If you make a snide comment when they return, I'll turn your back to dust with how many times I used the rosary on you." Kagome warned him as he sat across the fire from her.
He looked up at her then jumped into the tree for the night.
'Well that was polite.' She thought sarcastically. Then her thoughts softened. 'What's wrong with him? Why is he behaving like this? What can he be thinking?'
They reached Kaede's village within the allotted three days. Nothing had been said about Sango's mourning or Miroku comforting her. Nothing had been said about the jewel.
The last days of travel were not as tense. Shippou was awake for most of the time and kept Kagome away from her tormenting thoughts. When those two were cheerful, the others felt the mood lighten, well all except Inuyasha. He stayed within his own realm.
Kagome was all set to leave for her time. Everyone was gathered in the clearing. Kaede gasped the girl's hand as she smiled farewell to the older miko. Sango and Miroku gave her a parting hug as she made her way to the well.
Inuyasha waited for her beside the well with his back to her approach. She reached out and touched his shoulder lightly. His head dropped and he turned to face her; his bangs covered his eyes.
Kagome held her hand out in between them palm up. Resting on her palm was the complete Shikon no Tama.
His face rose to observe hers. She smiled a small smile.
"As promised, the wish is yours, Inuyasha."
"Kagome, I..." His head dropped once again.
He knew what his wish was going to be. It was the only thing he knew of to do. He just hoped she would understand. She had to; she was one of the only people who could understand him in the past.
He hesitantly picked up the jewel. He closed his eyes in concentration as his thoughts raced.
'Kikyou walks this earth with a partial soul. I am two parts that make a whole, but I am still incomplete. Maybe we could find completion together. We would be bound by the same soul, but at least I would be bound on this pane rather than in hell. I wish to give my human soul, my human blood to Kikyou so she my live once more.'
Then there was pain, unbearable pain.
Sorry this was a kind-of-cliffie, but I couldn't resist. Plus I was out of time, I am moving tomorrow, so my computer will be unable to access the internet for a bit. I should be able update again next weekend, but summer school starts Tuesday and I signed up to take Greek-1 and Greek-2 simultaneously (that's how the course was offered...weird huh?) so I won't have time during the week to update. This chapter was a little depressing and uneventful, but it reflects the mood of the author this day. Long story. Until next week, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Love to all, Syrinx
