Broken Illusions

Things were awkward and Inuyasha had no idea how to make them better. He and Kikyo hardly ever spoke; in fact she barely spoke to anyone. Inuyasha had even asked Kaede to talk to Kikyo but the little girl was rebuffed as well.

He was in the forest again, more or less hiding from everyone. Inuyasha felt out of place. Even though he had people he got along with among the villagers, he was always expecting something more. What really got to him though was waking up every morning. Inuyasha expected to see his hair white and his ears to be like a dog's and to have claws. When he worked, things seemed heavy; he missed his demon strength and speed. Without his demon powers he felt lost, never had he truly realized how much he enjoyed being a half-demon; to be apart of both worlds.

There was a shimmer in the sky above him and he sat up. What was that? He'd managed to climb a tree, even that was more difficult than it used to be, when it happened. He watched closely wondering if maybe his eyes were going bad, as they did in some humans. But no, there it was again, the sky seemed to warp ever so slightly. What in the hell was going on?

Could there be a demon about? Inuyasha tried sniffing the air before he remembered that he didn't have demon senses anymore. Sighing heavily he began to climb down the tree. If there was a demon around, he should tell Kikyo so that she could protect them, protect him. That thought was beginning to eat away at him.

Kikyo had secluded herself in the shrine. She needed time to regain her strength. Maintaining this illusion for Inuyasha was taking a toll on her. It was supposed to be over by now. She and Inuyasha should be together and ready to take on Naraku, and then they could go into the afterlife together, as it should be.

Kikyo was worried. She was trying to come up with a new plan to convince Inuyasha to stay with her so she had been avoiding him. Actually they'd been avoiding each other. Nothing was going right! Soon she would have to end this because she didn't want Naraku to move on when she was sure they were on his trail. Kikyo had her head down, eyes closed when she heard him.

"Kikyo? Kikyo?" He entered the room but stopped not sure she heard him. Sometimes when she was meditating she didn't hear anything.

"Yes, Inuyasha? What is it?" Maybe he'd come to apologize and make up.

"Umm, well…" He cleared his throat. "Well, just now while I was in the forest, I noticed something strange."

Kikyo finally turned and looked at him. What had he seen? Had someone found them? But she would have known!

"The sky, it moved, bent out of place. I think there might be a demon about. Maybe we should have a look around."

Damn, he'd seen the barrier but wasn't aware of what it was. Her power was getting weaker by the day. Then she looked at him, he'd offered to go with her, maybe this could be good for them – to walk and talk, spend some time together. Kikyo stood and retrieved her bow and quiver. "Lead the way. Maybe we can take of this without alarming the villagers." She walked towards him and held out her hand, after a moment he took it.

"It's time to go. We have to find him, and Kikyo." Kagome said in a tired voice. She was worried about Inuyasha and about her health. The pain was getting worse.

As Kagome packed up her stuff, Sango looked from her to Miroku and he nodded. They should move quickly. Kagome had dark circles under her eyes and her eyes were very heavy lidded. Her shoulders were slumped over as if she were trying to curl up into a ball and hold the pain at bay.

Miroku tried for a light tone. "Right. You ladies ride Kirara, I'll borrow Kagome's bike and Koga, well he'll ride the wind." Nobody laughed at his little joke. Looking up Miroku searched the sky for Myoga's crow. The flea must still be in the forest searching.

"Hirakotsu!" One down six to go. Just before entering the forest, they'd been attacked. These weren't any real threat but they were slowing them down which made Sango angry. She let the bone boomerang fly again and got three.

"Graaaah!" Koga leaped up and with a flying kick killed another. Behind him Miroku used his staff to trip up another before using a sutra to finish it off.

Only one left and the three fighters each wanted a chance at it but before they could move, an arrow sailed through the air and pierced the demon through it's open mouth. The fight was over.

"Kagome…"

"What? I couldn't let you guys do all the work." She slung the bow back over her shoulder trying to hide how winded she was. "Let's go."

Nobody said a word to her. Time was running out for her. Miroku was considering punching her. If he knocked her out then she wouldn't think of Inuyasha, but what if she dreamed, he could make things worse. He used his irritation over the situation to ride faster.

Sango rested Kirara often but that was an excuse to let Kagome rest. It was late afternoon and still nothing. Maybe he wasn't in the forest at all. What would they do if he wasn't here?

Sango looked for Miroku and Koga but when she couldn't find them they flew higher. Since the sun was going to go down soon, they should stop and make camp. They wouldn't be able to see once night fell.

"Sango!" Miroku called out when he spotted her. Good he didn't have to go another inch. A full day of riding was tiring. How did Kagome do it?

"Let's stop here. I'm wore out." Miroku huffed as he walked bow legged to rest the bike against a tree.

Kagome had to giggle. Miroku was over doing it but she knew exactly how he felt. Slowly she tried to get off Kirara but had to stop. Dammit she was getting weaker. Feeling an arm slide around her waist, Kagome let tears slide down her cheeks. Sango helped her to sit then quietly gave her another aspirin. The bottle was almost empty; only about five left.

Koga came to a whirling stop. When he saw how ragged Kagome looked he stalked to a tree and punched it. It shattered into bits.

"Thanks, now we've got firewood." Said Miroku.

"What! Why you…" He stopped when Miroku shook his head and looked at Kagome. Koga sighed and nodded as he went to Kagome's side. "How you doing?" Softly he ran his hand over her hair.

"Okay. Did you find…anything?" Kagome asked and noticed his closed expression. Koga was hurting because now he knew she loved Inuyasha. She wanted to say something to him but didn't have the words. All she wanted right now was to find Inuyasha and be free of this pain.

"No. Not yet. We'll find him." He stood and moved away from her.

They went to sleep early for Kagome's sake and their own. Tomorrow might be another long day with no results.

"Where is that crow? He should have come back for me!" Myoga was tired. He'd been traveling all day and was still deep in the forest. Lord Inuyasha and Kikyo were already more than a day or so away. At this rate, he may find the others too late. "Croooow!" He yelled in frustration. He was answered by the crow's cry. Up ahead in the tree, there it sat staring down at Myoga as if to say 'finally'. "Yes, yes, yes!" Myoga went hurriedly to the crow. He didn't think to call it to him so he could rest. Soon he was on the crow's back. "Fly, fly! Find a tail wind and fly! Lord Inuyasha needs us." Sighing he fell over backwards and dozed.

"Shippo! Shippo! Hey Shippo! Wake up!" Myoga bounced on the fox demons' head but when he got no response, decided to have a little snack. Whack! "Oh, so now you're awake?" Myoga floated off the little palm to the blanket.

"Myoga! You're finally back!" Shippo got up; made sure he hadn't woken Kagome then moved back and forth between Miroku and Sango. "Wake up! Myoga's back!" He said in an urgent whisper.

"What…Oh the flea? Didhe find something?" Koga had heard Shippo and stretched as he stood.

Sango motioned for everyone to move away from Kagome before they started talking. She replaced the cold compress before joining them.

"So how's Kagome?" Myoga was in Miroku's hand as he peered over at the human.

"Not too good. Tell us Myoga, what did you find?"

The flea stared up at him. "I found him, both of them." They all seemed to hold their breaths. "They are together."

"No! I refuse to believe Inuyasha chose Kikyo over Kagome." Sango said fiercely.

"No, no, no. I didn't say that. They are together but it appears that Lord Inuyasha is under a spell just like Kagome."

Everyone grew thoughtful at that. Inuyasha was suffering like Kagome? Had he been made to forget her too?

"So you met up with him? Did Inuyasha recognize you? Did he remember any of us?" Miroku wanted to know. His staff jingled as his gripped tightened.

"No, no. Not the same kind of spell at all!" Myoga jumped as the all glowered at him. Hurriedly he explained. "Lord Inuyasha is sleeping. I found them deep in that dead forest, lying together. At first I thought he was dead for he didn't move – at all. I went to check but before I could I hit a barrier."

"A barrier?" Sango asked. If Kikyo had a barrier how could they get through it?

"Yes, a barrier over her and Lord Inuyasha. I bounced off of it and that's when she opened her eyes. I knew then that Lord Inuyasha wasn't dead. Why would she erect a barrier over his dead body? She must have him under some spell, some illusion and doesn't want to be disturbed. When Lady Kikyo saw my friend the crow, she sent her demons to scare him off and that's why it took so long for me to get back to you." Myoga sighed heavily. He was worn out from all the traveling and worrying.

"Good job Myoga." Shippo praised the flea then looked to Miroku. "So what do we do now?"

"Now we free Inuyasha and get Kikyo to release Kagome from this cruel spell." Miroku didn't use 'Lady' in front of Kikyo's name because the longer this situation lasted the less he thought of her as someone he could respect. "We'll let Kagome rest and head out in the morning." Nods showed their agreement to the plan. It was time to deal with Kikyo – one way or another.

I think Miroku is angry. Will he take matters into his own hand?