"So, what's next, Inuyasha?" Kagome said, excitedly.
"I think we should get moving. We'll see more action if we are traveling; I mean, we always do."
"I agree." Miroku added.
"Then it's settled," I said. We walked through the woods for what seemed like hours. For some reason, I was distracted by the lack of feelings I had. I mean, it felt great not to having it weigh on my chest, but it really was. I felt like something was missing. I thought back to my dream, 'Everything Inuyasha transformed into a demon, he loses a piece of himself.'
I whispered, "Have I lost a piece of myself?"
"What was that, princess?" Miroku asked. Everyone stopped and Inuyasha turned around. I looked at him, "You and Kagome go ahead."
"You sure?"
"Yes." I nodded, forcing a smile and he just looked back. "Well, okay, whatever. Let's go, Kagome." She hopped on his back and they took off a little ahead of us. I rubbed my shoulder; it was happening again, the emptiness was spreading.
"Are you all right, princess?" Shippo asked. I swallowed, "I don't know… something just doesn't feel right."
"Perhaps you're still a little rattled about what happened with Katanamaru."
"It's something else… I feel like, after what happened yesterday, I feel like my heart has changed. I can't say what it is, but something just feels… empty about it." I held my heart, trying to get more comfortable out of the jewel shard; nothing worked.
"I had trouble sleeping last night. I kept having these dreams…" I showed my bitterness towards them, "ridiculous dreams! It's like they're torturing me and now they're lying to me. They're making it seem like Inuyasha is the weak one, not me. I keep seeing him getting cut down and I just stand there, not feeling anything but emptiness." I tried to fight back the tears I felt were ready to pour out.
"Then I heard voices. Voices telling me that when Inuyasha transforms into a full-fledged demon, he loses a piece of himself." I felt my heart, "I have a sickening feeling that that's what's happening to me. But it's better this way…"
"What do you mean? You're not making any sense." Sango said.
"I think that I need to start breaking away from Inuyasha; I don't want to, but I have no other choice. I can't keep the feelings I once had; I can't risk him getting too attached to the connection we have." I put a hand to my forehead, trying hard to fight the tears back. "I want to break away, but I don't want to forget him completely. I want to repeat what I once said to him, but I feel nothing. I feel like I don't have to do anything, but my heart says that I should."
I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders on my left. I had gotten so down that I just put my hand on his, holding it tight. I knew it was Miroku, but I wasn't bothered. I rubbed my face against it and purred.
"What are you doing, Miroku!" An angry voice called from ahead. I looked up and my glance met Inuyasha's. He gasped. He saw the look in my eyes; the look of sorrow and pain from the emptiness. "What is it?"
"Leave me be, Inuyasha. I don't need your pity!" Part of me wanted to run to him and cry my eyes out; the other part just stood there, embracing Miroku's gesture. I glanced at him with glossy, glistening pale blue eyes. I shut them to rid them of the tears. I whispered, "Thank you, Miroku. I can take things from here."
I walked towards Inuyasha, keeping my eyes on him, but I just walked past him like it was nothing. I stopped, "I'm going ahead!" Then I sprinted off, not looking back.
"What the hell were you doing, Miroku?"
"Inuyasha… you should really give the princess some space. She's got a lot to deal with right now."
"Like hell she does, the last thing she needs is a lecher!"
"Oddly enough, I agree with Miroku." Sango backed him up, "I can't explain what's going on. For one reason or other, the princess seems really lost."
"What do you mean?" He blinked, not seeming to have a clue.
"Tell me Inuyasha… what did you say to her a couple of nights ago?" Miroku asked, crossing his arms.
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"It's the last time she really opened herself to you. What did you say to her?"
He positioned his eyebrows in a confident position. "I told her that the thought of her sacrificing her life for mine scares me…"
"I don't know exactly what happened, Inuyasha," Kagome came from behind him. "It sure seems like you're getting exactly what you want. Something doesn't seem right; I think the power of the jewel shard in her is… fading."
"Fading? What could that mean?"
"It's not getting any use. The princess's heart isn't in this anymore, so the jewel shard is merely there as a reminder."
"She's been completely rational in the past few fights she's gotten into; what's to say that it's a bad thing?"
"Inuyasha, I think you would know the answer to that better than anyone. You have, after all, spent the most time with her." Miroku said flat out. He then walked past, "I'd talk to her tonight if I were you… otherwise who knows what could happen."
