A/N: I didn't update yesterday because I literally came home from school and passed out, I was so tired. I still haven't quite recovered from those all nighters around testing time yet…
I actually awoke at 9, then had to scramble to get everything else done before I went back to bed.
Chapter 6: Name I Heard So Long Ago…
Kagome sat in the middle of the fields, the midday sun hanging high overhead as she stared down at the flower she had picked lost in thought.
Twirling the purple-tinged blossom between her fingers, Kikyou's face held a small smile as Kagome thought of one person: Inuyasha…
He was so different, when she had seen him before. He looked so…lost. So alone, like he used to look when she had first met him. Kagome had noticed the small change in his eye overtime, how they turned from being hard to finally softening as he began to trust and love again.
Sighing, Kagome knew that he must feel something for her—they were too close to be just friends. But what? Inuyasha didn't usually get close with anyone, but Kagome noticed how he changed around her…
But whatever he felt, it was always pushed back by the feeling he once held for Kikyou. Inuyasha could never forget her, or forget that Kikyou had died, which he blamed himself for. He had promised Kikyou he would protect her after he failed the first time, and he had never let go of that promise.
Kagome had always known that there could never be anything between them unless Inuyasha's promise to Kikyou was released…but she doubted that would happen unless Naraku was defeated.
She had always been jealous of Kikyou, since he could never forget her, but now that she was starting to understand Kikyou, she was beginning to realize why, after the tragedy they went through, Inuyasha was determined to keep his promise.
I understand why Inuyasha would love Kikyou…Kagome thought, letting the wind blow away the purple flower. He was so alone…and she was the first person to reach out and show him kindness…but why would Kikyou, a woman determined to destroy all youkai, fall in love with him?
Sighing once more, she told herself, I guess I don't really understand some things…
"Onee-sama!" a familiar voice called, making Kagome pull herself from her thoughts and remember her mask as Kikyou once more. She turned, and saw Kaede running up a hill, the little girl looking slightly afraid.
Kagome stood up, the red hakama of her miko clothes, swishing in the wind as she took her bow and arrows with her. "Yes, what is it, Kaede?" Kagome asked in Kikyou's voice.
"Kikyou onee-sama!" Kaede ran up to her sister, looking up at her with fear in the girl's eyes. "There's a…a youkai!"
Once again, Kagome felt the feeling of annoyance at being pulled away once more to exterminate youkai. But complaining was not an option. She alone kept the villagers safe, and neither Kikyou nor Kagome would want to shirk that duty. "Which way?" she asked, perhaps a lot less enthusiastic than Kikyou would have been.
Kaede pointed towards the forest where Kagome had first met Inuyasha. "I was picking herbs…and it just came up on me! I barely got away, onee-sama!"
Inuyasha? she wondered. "Kaede, what did this youkai look like?" she asked, curiously as Kaede began to lead her away into the forest. Could it have been Inuyasha?
"It looked like a giant catfish." Kaede explained. "It suddenly came out of the small pond in the middle of the forest…It scared me, onee-sama!"
Kagome gave a small sigh in relief. So it wasn't Inuyasha…
She slung her arrows across her back and made sure her bow was taught as they entered into the leafy canopy, Kaede leading the way to the youkai. Kagome, however, was able to use Kikyou's miko powers to follow its youki and locate it. Kaede had spoke the truth, by the size of the youki, it was a large youkai, yet it didn't even hold half the power that Inuyasha's youki had, and he was just a hanyou.
When Kaede brought her to the large pond in the forest, Kaede hid behind a tree, looking on as Kagome walked forward, stringing her bow. Just as she had an arrow ready, the waters below began to ripple, waves being sent forth from within as a great shape was beginning to emerge.
There was a burst of water as a large blue catfish leaped into the air, the look in its eyes and on its face showing its intent to kill, yet it was not powerful enough to challenge her, the miko who protected the Shikon no Tama. One purity arrow sent from her was enough to blast away the giant catfish in pink light, turning it to dust.
As the waters began to fall back into the pond, the force rippling her clothes, Kagome lowered her bow and said, "It's over."
Kaede ran from her hiding place, over to her sister. "Kikyou onee-sama!"
Smiling down at the girl that believed her to be her older sister, Kagome asked, "Now, shall we go home, Kaede?"
Kaede nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"
They were about to leave, when Kagome felt some other youki around. Some familiar youki. She turned, and saw Inuyasha standing there, his claws drawn. "You!" she said, her eyes a bit surprised.
Inuyasha once again held the trademark smirk on his face, revealing his fangs as he demanded, "Kikyou, give me the Shikon no Tama."
Now both Kikyou and Kagome were annoyed at his persistence. "You showed up again, huh?" she asked, nearly forgetting that she still didn't know his name as Kikyou.
Kaede, who had never seen Inuyasha before, hid behind her sister as the miko and the hanyou exchanged glares, both eyes showing intensity and hesitation.
"I told you I wasn't through yet!" Inuyasha yelled, trying to sound intimidating, though Kagome stood her ground. "Today will be the end of this." the hanyou said in a low, serious voice. "Hurry up and send the brat running."
And the mention of herself, Kaede tightened her grip on her sister's hakama, afraid. Kagome looked down at her, wanting to get her out of harm's way. "Kaede, please step back."
She stepped back hesitantly, still afraid for her sister. "Kikyou onee-sama…" she said, before sprinting away to hide safely behind a tree.
It was then Kagome looked back to her opponent, seemingly intent upon frightening her. But she would not relent. She could never be afraid of Inuyasha, not after who she knew he really was. They both exchanged long stares, Kagome unable to keep from thinking, He's so alone now…he doesn't know how much I want to take away that loneliness from his eyes…
Inuyasha put himself into a battle stance, with his claws raised, as Kagome drew an arrow on her bow, making it look like she intended her action, though she wouldn't shoot to kill. Of course, before they could start the fight, Kagome had a question for him. "I have one thing to ask." she said in a commanding voice. "On that night, why didn't you kill me? At that time, I would have been easy pickings."
Inuyasha replied gruffly but honestly, "Do you think I'm the type to take the head of a sleeping person?"
That caused Kagome to let out a Kikyou-like laugh, knowing full well Inuyasha wouldn't object to a sleeping youkai, if it was dangerous enough. "I see."
"What's so funny!" Inuyasha demanded, a slight growl escaping him at being left in the dark.
Kagome didn't immediately answer. She hadn't been planning on it, but the look in Inuyasha's eyes like he expected more, plus the feeling that more had been said made her continue. "Then I'll ask one last question." Somehow, Kagome knew Kikyou would have asked him now. "Hanyou, what is your name? You have a name, don't you? Unless it is just 'Hanyou'."
Of course, that got Inuyasha mad; Kagome knew it would be so. "Stop calling me 'hanyou' over and over!" he roared, shaking his fist in a warning, the glare in his eyes deepening.
"Then tell me your name!" she demanded, feeling more like Kikyou than ever. "I would have no reason to call you 'hanyou' anymore."
With that, there was a small silence, as Inuyasha's amber eyes lost their glare, and became more serious…more deep. "It's Inuyasha." he said simply, somehow making Kagome's eyebrows rise in slight surprise that he had given his name away so easily.
Though, Kikyou always had a retort. "Inuyasha, huh? I'll remember that."
Almost on cue, and fed up with this talk, Inuyasha charged, his eyes having changed back to a death glare. "Prepare yourself, Kikyou!"
Three quick arrows from Kagome dissolved the threat, pinning Inuyasha to a tree once again. Anticipation was replaced with surprise and then fear as Inuyasha looked upon her, as Kagome kept one last arrow in the bow, aimed at his heart. He flinched, as if waiting for the death blow.
But of course, it never came. Kagome could never kill off Inuyasha.
And for some reason, neither could Kikyou.
Kagome lowered her bow, and replaced the arrow in her quiver, turning around to walk away, not wanting to deal with an Inuyasha intent upon her death anymore. I hope he comes around soon.
But Inuyasha wouldn't have it. "Wait a minute, wench!" he roared, sounding much like how he yelled at her whenever she sat him or tried to go back to her own time. "Why don't you ever finish me off?"
The answer was obvious to Kagome. Because I can't kill you, dummy. I love you. But Kikyou had a different answer to his question. Turning around so fast that her hair whipped around, she stated, "Don't come back here! I've already wasted enough arrows on you."
That's what Kikyou would say, anyway. Kagome silently added. Because I'm still not so sure why she won't kill you.
Kagome turned and continued walking away, still pondering this question. It didn't make sense as she knew Kikyou. Kikyou was a cold hearted woman, who would kill any youkai that got in her way. Why was she sparing Inuyasha now, though he wanted the Shikon no Tama and threatened to kill her.
Why? Why would Kikyou do this? Why would she start to fall in love with Inuyasha now?
As Kaede joined her, glad that her older sister was all right, yet still puzzled, it was as if Kagome suddenly knew. Kikyou's eyes went wide as she thought in realization. Perhaps…she was lonely in a miko's life. So lonely…that when she saw someone else who was as lonely as she was she thought they could share in each other's pain.
She thought she could help him…and he her…
A/N: I know these chapters are short, but I keep thinking they'll be longer, but copying word for word (most of the time) makes it kind of short.
Anyway, I'll get it done on time next chapter anyway. If I hadn't been late yesterday, I wouldn't have been able to update on Saturday anyway, so I guess it was destined to be a day late.
