Author's Note: Alright! Here's the next chapter. Sorry it took longer than normal, but my teachers decided to assign four different projects all due on the same day! Hmm, fun fun. Well, that day has past, and now I can get on with the story! As well, I changed around chapter 2, so make sure you check out the revised version if you have not already! Well, I'll stop yammering on now…enjoy the story! (And don't forget to leave your reviews!)
Disclaimer: Yah, well…I'm pretty sure you ALL know that I don't own any of the Inuyasha-related things you recognize. If you didn't know that, then you probably need to get out more.
These Hands: Make it Stronger (Chapter 3)
"You mean he just got up and left?"
Sango, Miroku and Shippo were huddled around the distraught Kagome.
"Yes, and when I tried to sit him, it didn't work."
Sango looked confused, "The beads didn't work? How is that possible?"
"I-I don't know." Kagome shook her head, still trembling from the encounter. "I just don't know."
Miroku pulled Sango aside. He placed his hand up to block his words from Kagome, "Do you think they had a fight?"
Sango shook her head, "This doesn't seem like an ordinary fight."
Both Miroku and Sango gazed at Kagome, who was kneeled down on the ground in front of Shippo. Her cheeks were red and smeared with tears, and her once shiny, long dark hair was tangled and matted. She looked as if she had not slept at all the previous night. "I doubt one of their little fights would upset Kagome this much," Sango noted.
Miroku closed his eyes in thought, "That Inuyasha is always making trouble."
Kagome stood up quickly, causing Shippo to jump away in surprise. "I-I'm going to find h-him."
"Kagome-chan…" Sango held her hand out to stop her. "Don't you think it would be wise to wait until he comes back? You can't go out there alone."
"Sango is right." Miroku added, approaching Kagome. He was holding his staff rather tightly. "Inuyasha may have just needed time to think things through…"
Kagome shook her head. "No, I have to go." She faced her friends with a mixture of determination and fear on her face. "You didn't see the way he…" She pausedand picked up her arrows, "Never mind, I'll be fine."
"But…" The young fox-demon stared up at Kagome with big, green eyes.
"Shippo, don't give me that look."
"I'm sorry, Kagome. I just don't want anything to happen to you." He looked down.
Kagome smiled as she picked him up into a hug, "Don't worry, I'll be back by sundown for sure." She placed him back down gently and turned to leave, her arrows slung over her back. With one final wave to her friends, she disappeared into the forest.
"Be safe, Kagome-chan."
Inuyasha sniffed the air. He could smell her tears wafting on the morning breeze.
He hated that smell.
Every inch of him wanted to go running back to her, to hold her and tell her everything was okay, but he knew everything wasn't. That voice…there was something about that voice that frightened him. It was if, he couldn't control the feeling that swept over him when that horrible icy voice was inside his mind. That feeling: the feeling of wanting to hurt someone; to kill.
He shook is head violently. I have to stay away from her, he thought. At least until I know what, or who is doing this. Sighing deeply, he shifted his weight on the branch to face the sky. Streaks of orange and pink were splashed across the heavens, casting an almost happy glow over the troubled lands.
Inuyasha leaned his head against the trunk and closed his eyes. His ears twitched with every noise cast through the empty forest. One sound in particular caught his attention.
"Inuyasha?" Her voice echoed through the trees. She was trying to find him.
No. Inuyasha sat up. Kagome, No.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome entered the clearing in which the tree stood. She stopped and gazed up at Inuyasha, relief filling her tear-stained eyes. "Oh, Inuyasha."
"Kagome…" Inuyasha jumped off his branch and landed softly in front of the schoolgirl. He placed his hands on her shoulders and grasped them tightly. "Why? Why did you come? I told you to stay away." He looked into her dark eyes sternly. "It's not safe for you here."
"Why? Inuyasha…what's going on?" Tears formed in her eyes as shestaredinto his golden ones.She felt herself becoming weak in the knees.
Inuyasha pulled Kagome closer, supporting her. "I don't know, Kagome." He held her tightly within his arms. "I don't know…"
Kill her.
She buried her face within his chest, "I was so scared."
Kill her now.
Inuyasha gasped, his eyes growing wide. He hands began to shake, etching closer and closer towards his sword.
Kill her. The voice commanded.
No…Kagome. He couldn't control his body. No… He began to shake violently as he tried to stop himself.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome looked up at him, tears rolling lightly down her cheeks. She took a deep breath, appearing oblivious to the battle that was going on within Inuyasha's mind. "Inuyasha…I-I love you."
The voice stopped. Only leaving Inuyasha's thoughts within his mind. He blinked, slowly taking in what Kagome had just said to him. "Kagome…"
They stared at each other, eyes shining. The silence seemed tobe never-ending.Oh, god. What will he say? Kagome's eyes brimmed with tears once again.
Should I tell her? "Kagome…I…" He closed his mouth, looking for the right words.
He exhaled slowly, and brought her even closer towards him. "I feel the same way."
Naraku burst through the door of the small wooden hut. "Hukaro…we must speak."
The dark witch glanced up at the demon that stood in her doorway. "What is it now? I gave ye my strongest tool to complete your purpose." She fumbled with the roots and herbs that were laid at her feet. "There is nothing more to speak of."
"Impudent wench." Naraku grabbed the old woman by her throat and held her up to his eye level. "Your strongest tool, you say?" He tossed her on the ground. "It seems your powers were not as great as I had heard."
The dark witch sighed, closing her eyes. "Aye, I see that the ornament I gave you did not fulfill your desire. Hmm. How interesting..." She slowly rose to her feet and approached a pot, which was boiling rapidly. "Ahh…I see. So it was love."
Naraku scoffed. "Love? You mean to tell me your magic cannot overpower one ridiculous emotion?"
Hukaro tossed the herbs and roots into the pot, causing it to smoke. Two smoky figures rose from the pot, taking the shape of Inuyasha and Kagome.
Hukaro waved her hand over the pot, "It seems these two have found their love for one another…"
The two smoke figures embraced each other.
"Love, is of course one of the strongest emotions, Lord Naraku. It is not easily broken." The witch inhaled deeply. "However, jealousy and betrayal grow strong in their human hearts…"
The smoke figures separated, turning their backs to one another.
"And this makes manipulating them…"
She cast her hand over the figures.
"Quite easy."
The smoke figure of Kagome fell to her knees as Inuyasha drew his sword. The figure held it high above the girl, ready to strike.
"Love is an interesting thing…"
With a wave of her hand, the figure of Kagome disappeared, leaving only the dog demon.
"At one moment, it can bring so much joy…."
The Inuyasha figure dropped to its knees, clutching its heart.
"…And the next: a pain worse than death." The dark witch laughed, turning to Naraku. "These humans are interesting creatures aren't they?"
Naraku crossed his arms. "Lady Hukaro…your powers never cease to amaze me."
The witch waved her hand one final time, causing the Inuyasha figure to disappear and the smoke to cease. She looked up at Naraku, a grin spreading across her face. "So, my lord. How shall I assist you?"
He smiled. "Make it stronger."
