Yes, I know that was an evil, evil cliffhanger, but hopefully I updated fast enough for you not to hate me too much, eh? So without further ado...

Enchanted Orbs

Last time: "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.

Chapter 13=Bound
There was a pull in her chest; it was urging her forward. To where, she did not know, but what she did know was she needed to be somewhere, now.

Her soul carriers where trailing her, as always, but she didn't pay any attention to them, for the time being.

Suddenly she felt an aura coming towards her. She reached behind her to grab her bow, but then she recognized the aura. Inuyasha was coming to her. She let her hand fall back to her side and waited.

When he should've been close enough to walk out from behind the trees surrounding her, she was slightly surprised not to see even a hint of red.

The pull in her chest was still urging her, forcing her forward. 'Maybe I should just ignore him for the time being.' She thought trying to understand the draw inside her.

But as she felt Inuyasha enter the clearing, he wasn't there. She was perplexed.

"What...," then she saw it. The bluish cloud of his aura was approaching her, floating to her.

"Oh no." She whispered, remorsefully. "He can't have. Please, no, no he can't be dead."

The aura continued forward, picking up speed as it neared her, and slammed into her chest with a newly acquired intensity.

She burned all over. It felt as it the fires of hell were consuming her. The unreal flames began at her bosom where the cloud had disappeared into her. She felt them, but couldn't see them. She assured herself she wasn't on fire, but her mind didn't register because of the pain.

The burning feeling licked down her arms and traveled down her legs. When she felt the needles of pain flow into her fingers, she lifted her hand to her eyes. The clay flesh that was molded into her current body was changed before her eyes.

She could almost see her flesh burning away as a scroll set aflame, but in its stead a new skin covered her. Warm skin, the covering of the living, she was no longer a corpse.

A joy spread through her, dulling the pain as the earth flesh of her face and neck were burned away to be replaced by life.

She was alive again, but then the memories came. She had received Inuyasha's soul. She knew this, and with his soul, she was given part of him as well. She felt the feelings he held.

She felt the love he held for her and her incarnation, the fierce protectiveness of Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kagome, and Kirara, the protectiveness that came with being part of a family. She remembered her own family, but she never really felt a part of them. She had to live her life alone, the Miko of the Shikon no Tama.

Now, even thought she'd never spoken more than a few words to any of them, she felt as if she'd give her life to save theirs, even Kagome, who she'd threatened several times. Maybe she could now be a part of something. She felt hope rise within her.

She could feel. The emotions of kindness, tenderness, love, things she had not felt since she had been reawakened, were sparked within her once again.

She saw memories of jumping from branch to branch among the trees of the forest. She saw the Tetsusaiga held out in front of her as if she was holding it; fights with demons she'd never seen before passed through her mind's eye as if she, herself, had vanquished them.

Then realization dawned on her. She ran.

She had not run since she was a child. Priestesses were supposed to be the picture of calm assurance and confidence. Running was for people who were not weighed down with the burdens she had to bear.

But now she ran. She flew through the trees as fast as her legs were willing to carry her.

She wasn't far from Kaede's village, her former home. She had to know, for certain, what was happening, but she had a foreboding feeling that told her she didn't want to know.
He was being torn in half, slowly; painfully being ripped apart at the seams.

He dropped his head so no one could see how much pain he was involved in his wish, but it became too much. His hand reached to his chest and clutched the material covering it.

Claws cut through his fire rat haori as he curled his fingers around the bunched article. He did not notice when blood started to trickle down his digits from wounds he inflicted on his own chest.

He fell to his knees, no longer able to keep his stance steady through the haze.
Kagome saw him close his eyes to mentally voice his wish as he held the jewel in his hand. She prayed to anyone who would listen that his wish would not be full fledged demonhood.

He was strong enough without it, but she couldn't tell what he was thinking lately.

Her eyes were on him, but she was not really watching as she was thinking about his demeanor of late.

Blue eyes snapped back into focus as she saw him drop to his knees. She watched in horror as blood trailed down his fingers on one hand. The other hand reached for the ground as he bent over it.

She saw a blue flash emerge from him and escape into the trees surrounding the clearing.

'Oh, Kami, what was that?' She mused anxiously. Her worry escalated, tenfold.

Unfortunately, worry turned to remorse when she saw his claws, on the hand that was braced against the ground, lengthen and take on a greenish tint.

'He couldn't have...why?' Kagome closed her eyes against the claws that were still lengthening.

'All that work rebuilding the jewel, gone. He had made a selfish wish; he just wanted more power, more strength. He was blind to the fact that he was strong enough to defeat the most powerful of enemies; he still idiotically thought he needed more might.' Kagome couldn't help but feel a little betrayed; mostly, though, she felt angry.

She was once again brought out of her thoughts when Inuyasha stirred in front of her. Both hands now rested on the ground, one crimson, covered in his own blood, the other, a pale cream color, the contrast was striking.

She took a slight step back. If he was a demon, was he coherent? Would he be like all the times he transformed or would he be able to consciously think through his demonic instincts.

She hoped he would be like his half brother, Sesshoumaru. Maybe he would be fully aware of his actions and everything would be fine.

Kagome's optimistic side was swiftly executed when she heard a feral growl rumbling through the chest of the creature in front of her. She saw razor blade claws dig reflexively into the earth.

She took several steps backwards trying to distance herself from him. She did not spend the last few years in the feudal era only to die this short of being able to go home.

The others were behind her, but they did not know his wish. Only Kagome and apparently Kirara knew. Kirara had transformed into her fighting form. Shippou jumped onto her back in case of danger. Miroku and Sango couldn't see the subtle signs that Kagome had picked up.

Still walking backwards slowly, she finally reached her friends' sides. They looked at her, questioningly as she reached them, but the fear and anger in her eyes told them exactly what was happening.

Both Miroku and Sango dropped instinctively into a fighting stance and waited.

They did not have to wait long. Inuyasha slowly began to chuckle softly; he rose slowly to his feet.

Head still dropped and bangs covering his eyes, he straighted to his full height and flexed his hands beside him. His knuckles cracked and his claws lengthened fully, with this action.

"No." Kagome whispered and fiercely shook her head in denial, but when Inuyasha raised his head to expose glowing scarlet eyes and jagged lines scarring his face, reality brutally slapped her in the face.

A sadistic smile crawled its way across his face as he began to approach the trio.

"Inuyasha, its me, Kagome. Please, don't you remember?" She pleaded with the demon steadily approaching.

He lunged at the group. Sango leapt onto Kirara and took to the air as Miroku grabbed Kagome and threw her to the side with him as they dodged Inuyasha's attack.

He slid past them and stood once more to face them. Then Kagome saw him sniff the air; once more an evil smile captured his face. He turned his head slightly to look at an older lady watching from the side.

"Oh no, Kaede! I forgot she was still here." She had to do something. His legs bent slightly and pushed off the ground, once again lunging towards intended prey.

"Inuyasha, SIT!!" She screamed as loud as she could.

He was in midair as the subdue command took effect. The necklace pulled him to the ground, but only held him for a second. With his increased demon strength, the rosary's hold was only momentary, and his was quickly on his feet once again ready to draw blood.

Quickly she erected a powerful barrier around the demon. He crashed into the translucent pink shield and snarled as he was slightly singed from it purity.

He began to claw at the wall preventing him from the blood he craved. He was trying to brake through. Kagome knew she could hold him for a while, but she had to sleep sometime. She couldn't hold him forever. Something would have to be done.

"Sit!" She tried desperately to reestablish some control over him.

She could see the necklace straining to reach the ground, but Inuyasha was strong enough to remain on his feet. Only the slight slump in his shoulders showed that the rosary was still attempting to subdue him.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome heard a soft yell pierce the woods around her. She focused her eyes to where the voice sounded.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed on the figure of Kikyou. She had just broken through the line of the trees that surrounded the well's clearing.

But something was different about her. Kagome had never seen her like she was now. Kikyou had a heartbroken expression on her face, as if her world had just crashed down around her. The thing that shocked Kagome the most was Kikyou's state.

The ever calm, ever perfect Kikyou was everything but. Her miko garb was tattered in several places, her hair was a bit askew, with her ribbon trailing down her back about to fall from her locks, and she was panting. It appeared that Kikyou had just run a marathon.

Kikyou looked at Inuyasha. Red eyes glowed through the shield holding him.

She smile slightly and reached her hand out longingly; Kikyou began to walk towards him. Kagome and the others watched on dazed as they saw tears glittering her cheeks.
Kikyou entered the clearing believing the worst. She was terribly afraid for the first time in her life and death. She was terrified that Inuyasha had given his life in exchange for hers.

She knew the promises she pulled from him was her hatred seared through her afterlife. Those were hate inspired words that kept her alive, but now she no longer felt that way. The love she had for him had resurfaced as his soul joined with her body. She could feel the love he still held for her within the feelings she gained from him.

Now that she had another chance to feel love, she knew it would be taken from her. In fact if her assumptions were right, that her love was taken from her to give her another chance.

"Inuyasha" She let out an anguished yell.

Fate was cruel, but she had to be sure. She would not give up on him until she saw where he had fallen, and then she would give him a proper sending and mourn him.

But maybe, just maybe he was alive.

She broke through into the clearing where she knew her incarnation was, struggling to breath after her exertion. Her eyes fell on a barrier, and inside was Inuyasha.

'He's alive.' She saw his eyes and realized what his wish was. He was no longer human. In her first life she would have been disgusted. Mikos were trained to think of demons as their enemy, but she no longer cared. He had sacrificed so much for her.

She reached out for him and stepped towards his prison. She vaguely realized she was crying as she neared him.

"Kikyou, no!! He doesn't recognize anyone in this state! He'll kill you!" Kagome yelled.

She did not know what happened to change her incarnation into the vulnerable girl she saw before her. She never really like Kikyou much, I mean who would really like someone who stole part of their soul, tried to kill them, and continuously got in the way of their attempts at a relationship, but she was not going to let Inuyasha kill her.

Kagome watched as Kikyou approached the barrier. Kikyou looked at Kagome, their eyes met. A love tortured brown pleaded with a worried blue.

Inuyasha had stopped clawing at the walls surrounding him and stalked to the woman standing right outside his cell.

"Inuyasha, what have you done?" Kikyou spoke softly to him.
He stood only a foot from her, unseeing eyes gazed at her. Something familiar called to him through the red haze in his vision.

The need for blood quelled slightly. He looked into big brown eyes that glistened with falling tears.

He felt a warm hand on his cheek, and suddenly everything cleared.
The audience was in a shocked silence as they watched Kikyou reach her hand through Kagome's barrier.

'That barrier is very strong,' Kagome thought 'she must be pure hearted to reach through unfazed, but how?'

All expected her to pull back a bloody nub where her hand used to be, but amazingly Inuyasha let her touch his cheek.

Jaws dropped as the red glow vanished behind lids and he nuzzled his face against her palm.

When Kikyou saw that he wasn't going to immediately kill her, she stepped through completely.

She couldn't take it anymore. She was so close to her love, and she didn't care if her killed her now. She wanted to hold him without the hatred that consumed her last time she'd done so.

He stood still as she wrapped her arms around him. When his chest was pressed against her, he felt his soul calling to him.

Everything came back to him, he opened his eyes and smiled down at her. Kikyou never saw his smile as she had her head resting against his shoulder, but she did feel him enfold her in his arms.

"I'm back." He whispered gently in her ear.

"and so am I" She answered him.
Kagome saw his eyes open. She breathed a huge sigh of relief when amber eyes looked down on the woman holding him. The jagged lines still remained, though.

She couldn't help but feel a slight pang when she saw him return her affection, but she knew everything had turned out well. All she could do was hope that she would not drag him to hell.

Kagome felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and smiled at Sango. The taijiya looked at her with sympathy shining in her eyes.

She had loved Inuyasha, but now, thanks to her abilities, he was her best friend. The pang was a fleeting farewell to the love she hoped she could share with him, but she was happy for her friend.

"Its ok, Sango. I'm fine." Sango looked at her a bit skeptically. Kagome suddenly looked over her shoulder at the two embracing behind her. She dropped the barrier surrounding them.

She inhaled deeply and beamed brightly Miroku and Sango. "I just love happy endings!"

She looked back at Inuyasha and Kikyou and noticed that they had parted.

Inuyasha had turned away from Kikyou and began to walk towards his companions. Kikyou watched from a distance.

"Kagome, I..." Inuyasha stopped short as he reached the group.

They could see his body tense as if he was struggling with something. His eyes turned pinkish and orange as red started to cover the irises and whites of his eyes.

He closed his eyes in concentration as he fought his demonic side. Kagome reached behind her and pushed Sango and Miroku back as she took a step away from Inuyasha.

'What's happening to him?' She thought to herself.

She saw his jaw clench with the intensity as he fought his demonic instincts to kill. Sango and Miroku once again dropped into fighting stances

Inuyasha lunged once again. Miroku tried desperately to reach Kagome, but this time he fell short.

"Kagome! NO!" Shippou began crying furiously.

Sango screamed as she saw her best friend taken to the ground with blood streaked across her chest from Inuyasha's claws.

He crouched beside her, smirking. He turned towards the other two, sadistically licking Kagome's blood from his claws. He stood again his craving for blood was not filled, but before he could sharpen his claws on the flesh in front of him, a voice stopped him.

"You bastard." A weak voice whispered from right behind him. He saw Kagome (though he didn't know who he had thought he just killed in he demonic stupor) lift a glowing hand towards him.

Pink light burst from her outstretched hand and collided with his chest. The blow threw him into a tree. He was stunned for a moment.

Kagome took this short amount of time and focused all her energy on healing herself enough to stand. By the time she could she saw the demon pick himself up and shake his head.

Red eyes narrowed at her. He was about to attack her once again, but Kagome decided to go on the offensive.

Pink orbs appeared around her, three circling her shoulders, five surrounding her waist. The three flew towards him. He began to dodge as she directed her weapons to close in from different directions.

Her concentration was interrupted as Kikyou ran to her side.

"Kagome, please don't hurt him. I can keep his demon side subdued." Kagome was a little shocked that her incarnation was almost pleading her for something.

'That's a change. I was always the one stumbling in her shadow, but now she's practically pleading with me.' It was then that she realized what she had let go of.

She didn't even bother to look up, she knew he was headed straight for them. She threw up a barrier quickly to prevent another attack.

"His claws hurt. I don't want to deal with that again." She said mostly to herself. The threat temporarily dampened as he tried to claw through the shield, Kagome looked at Kikyou. Her eyes were still pleading.

Kagome let out a small sigh. She turned her gaze to Inuyasha whose had stopped his attacks on the barrier, but was still growling fiercely.

The sunlight gleamed off the beads in his rosary. A small smirk crossed her face. Two white lights floated around her, bobbing up and down briefly before passing through her shield and floating towards the demon.

He began to dodge her attempts to get at the rosary.

"Dang him. He's spoiling my plans." She sent more orbs towards him to distract him from her original intent.

"Success!!" Kagome cried as two of her orbs succeeded in snapping the rosary and lifting it from his neck. The orbs carried it back to her.

"So, Kikyou, you said you want to keep him subdued, huh?" Kagome said with a slight smirk.

Kikyou looked at her questioningly, then caught on to her line of thinking.

Tiny white orbs about the size of the beads on the rosary began to swirl around the necklace floating before her. Concentrating, she infused it with some of her own power to make it stronger. The beads twisted and spun in patterns around her as she strengthened the spell.

The two mikos locked eyes, and Kagome sent the reformed necklace to her former self. Kikyou nodded and folded her hands together. She began chanting. All of a sudden the beads shot towards the demon in front of her.

The rosary once again took its place around Inuyasha's neck. Kikyou walked up to the shield right in front of Inuyasha.

His growling stopped. His eyes tried to focus, but something seemed to be getting in the way. 'Of course.' Kikyou mentally stated.

"Kagome, drop your barrier please. He won't harm you anymore." Kikyou called out.

She looked a little hesitant, but decided she could trust her. Why? She had no clue, but her instincts told her to, so she followed them.

The barrier dropped. Inuyasha was just about to lunged at them, but stopped suddenly. His eyes closed tightly, his hands became fists, and his jaw clenched, but then, when his eyes opened once again, gold stared back at everyone.

"Yes," Kikyou started, "that confirms it."

Inuyasha looked up at everyone; confusion reigned on his face. He didn't know what had just happened, but then he saw the blood that soaked the front of Kagome's shirt. Everything he had done a few moments ago crushed him. He was about to apologize when Kagome cut him off.

"I can't believe you." She said quietly. Her face dropped to the ground. "Why, Inuyasha?"

He thought she meant him attacking her, but she didn't.

"I couldn't help it. I'm sorry" He choked out.

"You couldn't help it?" She asked incredulously. Her anger from earlier returned. "Couldn't help it? All our hard work, everything, washed down the drain. Why? Because you wanted more strength. Damn it! Inuyasha, you were probably one of the strongest in the land anyways, but no I guess that wasn't enough for you. No, you used a selfish wish to taint the jewel for you own wants. Kami, I thought you had changed. I guess I just expected too much from you."

Kagome was about to walk away, but the look on his face stopped her.

His face was turned to the side looking at the ground. He had a defeated smile on his face, and he shook his head in an unbelieving manner.

"You really don't get it do you? I hoped you would understand, but I guess I was wrong." He said in an almost broken manner.

He cast a quick glance at Kikyou who stood behind Kagome. He locked gazes with Kagome who was trying desperately to understand what he wanted her to know.

He saw her confusion and 'hmphed.' A steely expression overtook his face. He reached down to the Tetsusaiga at his hip. Energy crackled around his hand and burned scorched marks into his skin, but his grabbed it anyways.

He winced in pain as the sword rejected his grip, but he refused to let go. He lifted the sword, still sheathed, from his side and threw it at her feet. It clattered to the ground as she began to understand.

His eyes narrowed a bit, whether from the pain, or if he was glaring at her, she couldn't tell, but before she could ask, he turned to leave.

"Kagome," Kikyou spoke softly, "I must go with him, for I hold his human soul now. If he strays too far from me, well, you've just seen what happens. He did not wish for what you think. Please don't think that of him, but I am grateful for your help subduing him. In case he doesn't stay near enough, I can use the rosary until he regains his senses. Thank you, but I must go."

He had heard what she said, but he already knew. That what he wished for, right? He wanted to be bound to her on this plane, and he wanted her to regain her emotions. He got what he'd wished for, but he was saddened and disappointed. The first person he'd ever considered a friend didn't understand him as well as he thought she did.
"Kami, I screwed up didn't I?" She asked her remaining companions.

"It is only afternoon, Lady Kagome. Why don't you remain here until evening? You can let him cool a bit before trying to talk to him, then return to your home." Miroku suggested gently.

"Yeah, I think I'll do that." Kagome said. Shippou jumped into her arms to comfort her.

"Everything will be ok, you'll see, Kagome." The little kitsune was already beginning to make her feel better, and later, she would set things straight with Inuyasha.
Sorry, this one wasn't as upbeat as I wanted to make it, but it'll get better!! I promise. I'm not a huge fan of sad stories. Oh, and as an apology for making the last cliffy so brutal (as I heard again and again insert evil laugh here) I made this chapter extra long AND posted a day earlier than I had planned! Don't you love me?!? Com'on you know you do! cheesy smile Hope you liked it. Whad'ya think? Love to all=Syrinx