The Search
Koga went back to the spot he'd first seen Kagome. For miles surrounding that spot, he searched for Inuyasha. Searched for his rival in Kagome's love. Kagome thought she loved Inuyasha but now her memories were gone. Shouldn't the love disappear too?
"Damn mutt! Always Inuyasha. I won't give up. Once Naraku is taken care of I'll spend more time with Kagome and she'll soon realize I'm the better man." Koga slowed down when he caught Miroku's scent, turning he went to find the monk.
Miroku was frustrated. Every time he thought of Kikyo's spell he wanted to hit something. Suddenly he saw a whirlwind and knew it was Koga. The demon skidded to a halt just before him. "Any luck?"
"Nothing. I really think he's gone. He must have went with that priestess." Koga desperately wanted it to be true.
"I think you know Inuyasha better than that Koga. Unless he was forced to, he'd never leave Kagome, not now. And even if he did, we must find Kikyo and have her break the spell on Kagome. She can't endure constant pain." Miroku tried to reason with Koga and wondered if they should rely on the wolf at all considering his feelings.
"Kagome might break the spell on her own or better yet, if she forgets Inuyasha she'll be free." Koga knew that was wishful thinking on his part but he felt better saying it.
Miroku sighed. Koga was too stubborn to be reasoned with. "Why don't we head back to the girls? I don't want to be in this forest when the sun goes down." They continued to look for Inuyasha as they went but there was nothing find.
Myoga had better luck. Since he was searching from the air, he could cover more ground and deeper into the forest was where he spotted them. All that red in such a dark and dreary space, stood out. At first he had the crow just fly over to be sure it was Inuyasha. It was, but he looked...dead. He was lying on the ground, face up to the sky. His eyes were closed and he didn't appear to be breathing. Next to Inuyasha was Lady Kikyo. Her head rested on his chest and she wasn't moving either.
Had Kikyo killed him? Had she done what she promised and took Inuyasha into Hell with her? Myoga frowned, no it could not be. Inuyasha couldn't be dead, he was still a pup! After living alone for so very long, Lord Inuyasha now had friends and a woman who loves him. It would be too cruel for him to be dead because of a foolish, dead human.
Myoga jumped from the crow's back, he was going to see for himself if his Lord was still alive. "Oww!" He fell head over heels and hit a tree, dropping to the ground he groaned.
"A barrier. A barrier protects them. Then he must be alive. What need is there to protect a dead body." Myoga got excited and started to move closer when Kikyo opened her eyes. Myoga hustled out of sight.
The woman looked around for the source of the disturbance. She saw nothing on the ground but suddenly she heard the fluttering of wings. There in the tree above was a lone crow staring at her. Kikyo waved her hand and soul collectors appeared and they attacked the crow. Once she saw the crow fleeing Kikyo settled back down next to Inuyasha.
"Curious. Just what is she doing to Lord Inuyasha?" Myoga wanted to stay and watch over him but thought it would be safer to go get the others. "And now it will take me twice as long to get back without my ride. Well I'd better get started and let the others know where to find him and get him away from that awful woman." Hopping as fast an old flea could, Myoga went to get help.
"Look! They're back!" Shippo put down his cards and raced to Miroku. Quietly he asked, "Did you find him?"
"No, Shippo. There's still no sign of him. How's Kagome?" Miroku looked over at her. She seemed okay except for the lines of fatigue around her eyes.
"Okay I guess. We've been playing cards and unless we say the wrong thing, she doesn't think of him."
"Good plan Shippo. We'll have to be careful as well Koga." Miroku said.
"Don't worry about me. I got no reason to talk about that mutt!" Smiling Koga moved over to Kagome. "Hey there Kagome! What'cha doing? Did ya miss me?"
Sango got up as Koga got Kagome involved in teaching him how to play the game. Miroku led her away from the camp so they could talk in private.
"I take it you found nothing?" When he shook his head, she sighed. "Myoga hasn't returned yet so maybe hefound something. I'm worried, Miroku. I know this spell is supposed to make Kagome forget Inuyasha but it's not working."
"What? But Shippo said she wasn't thinking about him." He looked over at the little fox who was helping Kagome teach Koga.
"That's what he believes but ever since she saw those pictures, I can tell he's on her mind." They started walking as they talked.
"She may not remember Inuyasha but she can't forget those pictures. Kagome knows that the person in them is someone she loves and she wants to remember and know more about him. She made me tell her who put her under this spell and why. I think we may have made a mistake in showing her those pictures. She doesn't mention it but the pain must betwice as badnow."
"Hmm, you're right of course. Kagome wouldn't want to worry us. Damn there's not much we can do to help her. And Kagome, for all of her powers doesn't know how to break the spell either. Tomorrow we'll have to expand our search; we need to end this before..."
Sango stopped when he couldn't finish the sentence. Worried eyes found his and she stepped into his arms. "I feel awful for saying this but I'm glad that it's not me going through this." Sango's arms tightened around his waist.
"No, you're just speaking the truth." Miroku rested his head on top of hers. "We've just started our relationship and I'm glad it's not us either. But I do feel for them. I'm upset that this has happened when they're so happy and angry at Kikyo for interfering. Kikyo had no right to do this. Its...it's...selfish of her and I would have thought that a priestess would know better!"
"It may be that it is because she is a priestess that this happened." Miroku held her back to stare at her. "Well, a priestess must always think of others and protect them, do what's best for them. Now she's acting like a woman, a woman in love trying to get her man back. And she's willing to do whatever it takes."
Miroku thought for a moment on Sango's words then nodded. "You may be right but it's still wrong."
They stood there as night fell about them. Kikyo, Inuyasha and Kagome. It had been a love triangle from the very beginning but now Kikyo was trying to come out ahead, willing to do whatever it took to make Inuyasha her own. Sango knew Kagome. Knew that if Inuyasha was given the choice and it was Kikyo, that Kagome would back off. That's just the kind of person she was but Kikyo was doing the wrong thing, acting desperate and one way or other, this was going to end badly for her.
Miroku lifted up her face then smiled down at Sango. Slowly he lowered his head and kissed one cheek then the other. Next were her lips, her trembling lips that gave way when his touched hers. They needed to connect, to reaffirm their love that despite what was going on, that they were safe and together.
Finally Sango pulled back. "I wish we could stay here and hold each other all night but we shouldn't leave Kagome alone for too long."
"I know." Miroku sighed. "Sango...when this is over, you and I need some time alone. Let's...be together." His heart sped up as he watched her every expression.
"Yes. Yes, I want that too. Once Kagome and Inuyasha are okay, we'll be together. I promise." So saying this she stood on tiptoe and sealed it with a kiss.
Wearing pleased expressions the two went back to the camp and their friends.
Kagome watched as they returned and she smiled. They made such a cute couple. She was glad things were working out for them. Looking down she noticed her backpack and knew the photo album containing the pictures of the man she loved was inside. Kagome took a quick breath at the stab of pain in her head. She would find him, Inuyasha. Kagome marveled at the fact that she was in love. She didn't remember that love but she knew she wanted those memories back.
Myoga came through, he found Inuyasha! Just what will happen next? And aren't Sango and Miroku great together?