Chapter Fourteen: The Choice is Made

The sun is setting and Inuyasha is starting to sweat. He looks back to Kikyo then to Kagome. Maruso is kneeling at her side trying to stop the bleeding. Chiyo growls and gets ready to pounce on Kikyo. Aki glares and walks over to Chiyo. Inuyasha's hands start to tremble, Kikyo takes notice. "What's wrong Inuyasha? Why are you afraid?"

Kagome winces and looks up to Inuyasha. Tears sting her eyes as she sees his fixation on Kikyo. She tries to stand so she can run but only falls back down. Inuyasha gasps and rushes to her side. He holds her in his arms and wipes her tears away. Kikyo glares at them and draws back her arrow. "Inuyasha, you love her more then I. I want you both to be dead. I want you both to suffer. I want you to burn in Hell with me!" her arrow flies toward them but Chiyo kicks it to the ground. Kikyo makes a fist, "This does not concern you!"

"Oh yes it does! Thats my family you are trying to kill!" Chiyo growls and jumps at her but is stopped by Kikyo's soul collectors. They lift her into the air high above the trees. Chiyo whimpers and bites at them. "I swear I'll kill you!" Aki looks up to Chiyo then to Kikyo. Aki charges, but Artemis grabs her with his fangs and throws her against a tree. The soul collectors drop Chiyo, as she is falling Maruso jumps up and catches her.

Kikyo turns around and walks to the forest. "I'll be waiting for you Inuyasha. Come and find me when you are ready to end this." Artemis watches her leave then turns to Inuyasha. He turns into his human form, "Inuyasha... take that girl and those kids into the forest. You don't concern me anymore." Artemis turns to leave.

Inuyasha looks at him questioningly, "We don't concern you anymore, why is that?"

"Kikyo wishes to end your lives, I'll let her." he pauses, "But if she is to fail, I'll come. You better be ready." he smiles coldly and disappears.

Inuyasha lays Kagome's head on his lap and strokes her cheek. Chiyoko, Maruso, and Aki lay behind the bushes sleeping peacefully. Inuyasha sighs and continues to stroke Kagome's cheek. He smiles slightly as she stirs in her sleep. She slowly opens her eyes and looks around. "Inuyasha... where are we?"

"In the forest, nothing is attacking us at the moment. I thought we could use the time to rest."

"Okay, are you hurt at all?"

"No, I'm fine." he smiles and sighs heavily. Kagome stares into his amber eyes and feels the pain grow heavy on her chest. She knows its time for him to choose, as soon as he is rested and he knows they are safe, he will go to her. Her eyes start to sting from the salty tears forming. Inuyasha frowns and figures out what she is thinking about. He closes his eyes to think, but can't seem to.

"Inuyasha, go. I know you want to go to her now, so go. I'll stay here with the kids." Kagome tries to sit up, but her wound causes her to fall back onto his lap. Inuyasha helps her and leans her body against his shoulder. He wraps his arms around her and pulls her close. Kagome eyes widen and she begins to blush. He buries his nose on her hair and takes in her scent. He smiles and leans down to nuzzle her neck. Her blush deepens, "What are y-you doing?"

He whispers into her ear, "Kagome, don't be scared. Trust me. I am not going to ruin our future together."

"W-what do you mean?"

He turns her around so she is facing him, "Our future, this place, I'm not going to ruin it. I'm not going to let Kikyo ruin it either." He takes her hand in his and smiles, "Kagome, I-I ..uh... I..." Kagome stares at him in shock trying to figure out if this is really happening or if its a dream. Inuyasha can see her confusion and he starts to blush with embarrassment. He takes a deep breath and smiles at her warmly. Inuyasha places his hands gently on her face and slowly pulls her lips to his.

Chiyo and Aki spy on them giggling with joy. Maruso rubs the sleep out of his eyes and looks to his sister then to Aki. He crawls over to see what they are watching. Maruso sees his mother and father kissing and he turns away appalled. He whispers to himself, "Thats gross..." he lays back down and closes his eyes.

Chiyo looks down to Maruso and shakes her head. "He just doesn't understand the power of love. Right Aki?"

"Right." they giggle together. Inuyasha hears them and quickly pulls away from Kagome.

He grins and stands up, "I think I smell a couple of spys." Inuyasha leaps in front of them. They jump back and trip over Maruso waking him up again. Chiyo and Aki giggle and start to run. Inuyasha grins and chases after them playfully. Kagome watches them, but is still too shocked to laugh.

Chiyo runs over to Kagome and plops down in her lap. "Daddy you can't get me because Mommy is protecting me."

"Is that so?"

"Yep." Chiyo hugs Kagome's waist and smiles. "She can kick your butt." Chiyo sticks out her tongue. Inuyasha takes a step forward; Chiyo screams and runs to hide with Aki up in the tree. Kagome laughs, but is suddenly pinned to the ground by a very heavy hanyou. Inuyasha grins and smiles at her. Chiyo laughs, "Oh no, Daddy's got Mommy!" Inuyasha kisses Kagome's nose and looks up to Chiyo. She gasps, Aki starts to laugh and almost falls out of the tree. Inuyasha gets off of Kagome and jumps on the branch Chiyo and Aki are in. The branch snaps and they come crashing down.

After Inuyasha gets Chiyo and Aki tired from running around, he gives Chiyo to Kagome and Inuyasha takes Aki, together they rock them to sleep. Inuyasha finds a small cave and carries the children inside. Kagome helps Inuyasha cover the entrance with sicks and leaves. Inuyasha looks to her, "Ready?"

"Yeah, lets go."

Kagome leaps off of the stone on onto the island in the lake. She gasps and drops to her knees. Inuyasha walks up behind her and places his hand on her shoulder. She looks up to his face and sees his hurt expression. She looks back to their future selves laying at the foot of the tree. Their body's cold, stiff, and lifeless. Inuyasha whispers softly, "Don't worry, we can't stop this from happening." His ears twitch when he hears the shriek of an arrow coming close. Inuyasha grabs Kagome and jumps out of the way. They look up to see Kikyo drawing the next arrow. Inuyasha whispers to Kagome to hide behind the tree. Kagome nods and runs behind the tree, there she finds a bow and a single arrow.