Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

Chapter Twenty Four: Breaking Barriers

"Pray for a miracle? THAT'S your great plan?"

Inuyasha was furious. He couldn't believe that they had been pinning all their hopes on some weird game sprite/dead spirit person. Heck, they didn't even know what she really was! His claws dug into the ground as he was crouched low, alternating between glaring at the old woman and the wolf demon who was standing a breath away from the dead woman who looked so much like Kagome.

"I can't believe we even LISTENED to you, hag! Kagome has been trapped with that monster for who knows how long! And 'pray for a miracle' is the best solution you got? She could be DEAD!" His voice broke at the end and he snarled to cover it up.

"Not to mention," added Shippo almost as an afterthought, "That we're gonna die too if we don't get out of here soon."

Kaede ignored the two demons and pulled out a small pouch. She reached in and pulled out a pinch of some sort of powder. She began sprinkling it around the clearing, chanting something that none of their group could understand.

"Oi! Don't ignore me, old woman!"

"What is she doing?" asked Sango softly to the monk at her side, not even bothering to try to keep the dog demon from harassing the priestess this time. She was hungry and tired and in no mood to fight with Inuyasha.

"It looks like she is performing some sort of ritual."

"What kind?"

Miroku turned to the demon slayer and gave her a lopsided smile that caused her cheeks to pinken. "As much as I appreciate your vote of confidence in my knowledge of all things spiritual, I'm afraid that I'm not really a true monk and don't know as much as I would like to."

Blushing a little bit more, Sango tried to shrug off her embarrassment. "Well, I thought maybe you might just know things. I mean, I remember all this demon slaying stuff. It's kind of like I really did grow up here and learned all the things my father… the father in this world… game… taught me. It's like I have two sets of memories. So I thought maybe you remembered that way too."

Miroku nodded. "I do remember some things from the memories the game, or the jewel, gave me. But keep in mind that I was not under the influence of the game as long as you were. I don't possess quite as many memories that game gave me as you have."

Taking the opportunity to rest, Sango sat on the ground with her back against an old log. She pulled the quiet firecat onto her lap and began stroking her fur. It was soft. Very soft. Very very real. Although her brain told her that the cat was just pretend, a game sprite, her heart told her that she had loved this little demon since she was a child. She was her cherished friend and trusted ally. It was going to be unbearably painful to part with her. Would she disappear once Naraku was finished with them? Would she die? Was it even possible for her to die? Or would it just be like she never existed?

"After this is over," Miroku asked her softly as he sat beside her, close but not quite touching, "What do you want to do?"

He reached over and captured the tear she didn't even know was on her cheek. Quickly and vigorously she wiped her eyes.

"Take a nice long bubble bath."

"Keh! Is that all you girls think about?" groused Inuyasha as he threw himself down on the ground in front of them.

Sango smiled. "And chocolate. I want a huge chocolate shake."

"I want a chocolate shake too!" piped up Shippo as he landed on Inuyasha's head. "And a bacon double cheeseburger deluxe with jumbo fries!"

The demon slayer laughed. "That sounds good."

Once again the group began talking of the things they would do when they got out of the game. When… not IF. It helped bolster their spirits. Kept them positive. It kept them fom focusing too hard on the 'what if we don't' questions.

"First thing when we're out of here, we'll go out for burgers and shakes," promised Miroku. "Then I'm going to sleep for a week."

"I bet I have about a million email messages to check," sighed Shippo. "And a pile of laundry. I bet it's growing all sorts of interesting molds by now."

"Nice image, Shippo," laughed Kouga as he finally joined them. "I think I'm going to find a beautiful woman and take her to some exotic island. We'll drink pina coladas and … well… since the kid is here I'll just let the rest of you use your imagination on what we would do on the beach."

"Like we care what you … GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER, WOLF!" Inuyasha jumped up and pried Kouga's hands off of Kikyo's.

There was a short scuffle. In the end, Inuyasha ended up separating Kikyo from Kouga. The priestess of bones and clay looked at the dog demon as if seeing him for the first time. She looked… interested. It was the first sign of any emotions anyone had seen on her since she had tried to pose as their friend to kill them.

"I thought he liked Kagome…" asked Shippo quietly to the monk.

Sango glared. "I thought so too."

"Two beautiful women…hmmm…"

The demon slayer whacked him over the head. Hard. "Don't smile like that! Kagome is going to be heartbroken that he's two-timing her."

Miroku frowned. "You're right, of course. Poor Kagome."

"I AIN'T TWO-TIMING NO ONE!"

"They always deny it," sighs the monk. Shippo and Sango nod.

Inuyasha growled at his companions and sought refuge up in the branches of a tree. He knew that they were just trying to get a rise out of him so he would not be so worried about if this plan was going to work or not. At least he hoped that was why they were doing it. Surely they didn't think he was really going to cheat on Kagome with someone who not only tried to kill them, but was dead.

Looking down he noticed that Kikyo was watching him thoughtfully. It made him nervous. Flashes of memories that the game gave him ran through his mind. He closed his eyes, trying to remember them. She tried to kill him. She pinned him to a tree with an enchanted arrow. But there was something else…

His eyes popped open. Nooooooo… No way… Fearfully he looked down and saw the miko smile at him coldly. According to the game, the woman below him had loved him, and he had loved her. But he didn't feel it. It was something that the game or jewel or whatever had programmed into his head. He hadn't been alone for very long before Kagome had found him and freed him, so all he had was pictures in his head, faint memories of what was supposed to have happened to him. But it didn't feel real to him. Not really. He felt something for the miko down below, the game made sure of that, but it wasn't love.

"Come down from the tree, Inuyasha," ordered Kaede. "It is time to begin. We have no time to waste."

Everyone stood up and waited for directions. Kaede took Shippo's right hand and put it in Sango's left hand. She then took Sango's right hand and placed it into Miroku's. Kouga was next.

"I feel like we're playing ring around the rosie," said Shippo.

"I feel like we're about to have a séance," whispered Sango. Kirara hopped up onto her shoulder and meowed.

"Do I HAVE to hold Miroku's hand?" complained Kouga.

"I don't have cooties."

Kaede took a deep breath. Inuyasha reached for Shippo's hand to complete the circle, but the elder priestess grabbed his wrist.

"No. I need you to hold Kikyo's hands."

"WHAT?" Horrified, Inuyasha shrank back from the circle.

With surprising strength, Kaede took Inuyasha by the arm and forced him into the middle of their very small circle. Kikyo stood in front of him and took his hands in hers. He almost panicked when Kaede took Kouga's hand and clasped it to Shippo's, closing the circle. Unfortunately this left very little room on the inside of the circle.

"Relax, Inuyasha," Kaede instructed. "The only one who can get you back to your world is Kagome."

"But…"

"I know that she isn't here, Shippo. But this world was created for her. A part of the jewel is inside of her. This world is connected to her, and only she can help you to escape. I need you to clear your minds. Close your eyes. Think about Kagome. Think about your world. Think about your bodies in your world."

Kaede murmured some prayers as the group focused their thoughts.

"Kikyo will help to connect you to Kagome, Inuyasha. Their souls are two parts of a whole. Talk to Kagome through her. Call to her."

"Kagome."

"Kagome… please hear me."

"Kagome…"

Inuyasha clasped Kikyo's hands tightly as he pictured Kagome's face. He pictured her eyes and her happy smile. He prayed that she heard him somehow.

"Kagome…"

"…Inuyasha?"

The dog demon barked out a laugh and couldn't help the smile spreading across his face. Impossibly… it had worked. He heard her. He could actually hear Kagome's voice. It was faint, and it was tired, but it was hers.

"Yes! Kagome! It's Inuyasha! Are you okay? Where are you? Kagome!"

"Focus, Inuyasha," warned Kaede.

He dared not open his eyes to glare at the miko. He couldn't risk losing his connection to Kagome.

"Kaede says you are the only one who can get us out of here. She says this world is connected to you. Something about the piece of the jewel that's in you. You can get us out of here."

"What? How? I… I don't know how, Inuyasha… I don't know what to do…" She was near tears. The pain in her voice nearly broke his heart.

"Shhhh… it's okay. We'll figure this out. We can do this, I know we can. You're strong. You have the power to do this, Kaede said so." He then directed his voice to the older miko. "Just what is she supposed to do, old hag? Click her heels three times and wish us home?"

"Tell her to picture a doorway between this world and yours. It needs to be in the same place where you left from so you will be able to find your bodies. She must believe that the door will open."

Inuyasha relayed the message. At first he could tell that the girl was skeptical, almost as skeptical as he was. But after some coaxing the bordered on pleading, she decided to do it. She was scared, they all were. If this didn't work, then she just condemned them all to die… but hey, no pressure.

"Can you picture the door?" he asked, unable to stand the few moments of silence as she concentrated.

"Yes."

"Can you picture the room?"

"Yes."

"Can you open the door?"

"Oh for goodness sakes, Inuyasha! Gimme two seconds here to try and figure this out! Creating doors between dimensions isn't exactly something I do every day."

"Well, hurry! We're all hungry over here."

"So am I!"

Inuyasha frowned and stayed silent. Her voice was strained. She sounded very tired. Too tired… wasn't she sleeping? Concentrating on her harder, he tried to see her in his mind. She was hungry. And hurt. His blood began to boil and his hands tightened, causing Kikyo to make a slight squeaking sound.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yes?"

"Nothing… you just got quiet…"

"Take your time, Kagome. We'll get through this. You can do it. We have faith in you." Warmth filled his chest as he could feel her smile.

Then he felt it.

He felt the power.

The air around them began to shimmer. Inuyasha opened his eyes when he heard Sango gasp. There, before them, was a white door with roses stenciled in up along the hinged side. Hanging on the knob was a sign that said 'no monsters allowed, and that means YOU Souta!'

The air crackled with energy. Underneath the door there was a bright pink light.

"Will the door go away if we break the circle?" asked Miroku.

"No, monk. But you must hurry. Go, now, while you can. Take my sister, she can help you to defeat Naraku?"

"Are you coming?" asked Inuyasha as he reached for the doorknob.

The older woman smiled. "Nay, Inuyasha. 'Tis an impossible journey. I am little more than a memory. I have no body nor soul left to keep me alive outside of the jewel. Kikyo is joined to Kagome through their souls, she can make the journey. Hurry."

Inuyasha turned the knob and opened the door. The light was blinding! The dog demon grabbed Shippo and tossed him through.

"Heeyyyyyyy!" the kit screamed as he disappeared.

"Looks like it works."

Sango glared at Miroku. She tried to shake her hand loose to shove him through, but he didn't let go. His eyes were serious as he turned towards her.

"Let's go together, Sango. Just in case…"

She didn't ask just in case of what. There were too many things it could me. She gave him a smile and they went through the door together. Kouga quickly followed, muttering something about Kagome and exotic islands. Inuyasha made a mental note to beat the wolf senseless when he crossed over.

"Okay… it's our turn."

Taking a deep breath, Inuyasha stepped towards the light. He was nervous and excited. What was waiting for them on the other side? Would they make it through? Would he miss the game? Fighting was fun. He enjoyed slicing up enemies with his sword. Would he miss his new body? No more being a dog demon, just a regular man. No more super strength or super hearing or super sense of smell. Just regular ol' regular.

He smiled to himself. Kagome. And that thought alone made it worth the loss of all else.

Kikyo kept his hand in hers. "I will not give up my soul," she told the shocked dog demon as they were swallowed by the light. "It is mine… and so are you."