Chapter Nineteen
Punk Rock Miko2: I'm glad you liked it, and that I got the deep down well. Here is chapter nineteen for you.
INuQTpIe: Lol, you make me laugh when I get to read your reviews. I hope you liked the chapter, and thank you for the review, enjoy chapter nineteen.
Mangadreams: Thank you for your review, I'm glad you liked the cliffy, hope you enjoy this one as well.
Deludedfreak: Don't scare me like that, please! Lol, getting the word "bad" in a review twice with three "very"s before it, isn't good! Sorry, didn't get enough reviews to update early, so this has to be on Friday. Thank you for your review anyway, it was really cool once I got past the initial shock of it being "bad" Lol, well, hope you enjoy chapter nineteen.
Beth: Thanks, glad you're liking it. Here's chapter nineteen for you.
Jessica Lyn: Lol, happy endings are not in my vocabulary. P Thank you for your review none the less, and hope you enjoy chapter nineteen.
Inuyasha7777777kit: Lol, you seem confused. Well, Rin already has Sessho-maru, so Kagome can't have him anyway. P As for Inu-Yasha coming back, you'll just have to see. Thanks for the review, hope to hear from you again, enjoy chapter nineteen.
Inu: Glad you liked it, here is an update.
Rae no Kitsune: Oh, don't whine! I never could resist someone whining. Sorry I didn't get enough reviews to update earlier for you, but here is an update anyway. Is that ok? Thank you for the review, hope you enjoy chapter nineteen.
EternalAffliction: Lol, gotta love cliff hangers hu? Sorry, not enough reviews to update early, so you get nineteen on Friday. I'm glad you love the fic, hope you still enjoy it after this chapter as well, let me know! Thanks for your review.
Minako Miharu: I'm glad you liked the lyrics! I was worried about it, but it seemed to fit ok. Tense, tense is good. ) Thank you for the review, hope you enjoy chapter nineteen.
Kalei: Well, I'm glad you liked the song. You deserve all of those complements and more! I wouldn't feel bad if you cried, well, I mean I would feel bad, but also that I could get you so into it makes me proud. Well, here is the next chapter so you can keep reading now. Hope you enjoy chapter nineteen, can't wait to hear what you think!
Kagome: Here is an update, enjoy, thanks for your review.
Angela: So I didn't make Kagome uncaring? YES! I am sooooooooooo glad! I was worried, thank you for assuring me. This chapter is not all about Inu-Yasha and Kagome, but they are in here, so enjoy. Thank you for the review.
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inu-Yasha and Co. Any others would be mine, no suing me, thanks!
Mayoka picked aimlessly at the flowers that grew in front of her. She didn't know who to be madder at: Kagome-san for going alone, Koga for not going after the Miko, or herself for being so rude to the ouji. Her fist clenched around a stem in anger. She growled as someone else purred. Her dark eyes lifted in surprise.
"Hokori?" She asked as the Neko walked up behind her. He purred again as he sat at the girl's side. She sighed slowly as she turned to look back out at the river in front of her. "I shouldn't have been so rude to Koga. He's known Kagome-san a lot longer than I have…" Her head lowered slightly. The youkai whined softly as he rubbed his head against her shoulder. She smiled lightly as she moved to rub his ears.
"I guess I should apologize then." Mayoka got to her feet again. "Hey, Hokori, do you think Koga would help me work on my training some more?" Her eyes were bright again as she spoke. The Neko smiled and nodded. "Alright!" She through a triumphant fist into the air. "Let's go back, I want to get started."
A fang glistened in the shadows as the Neko got to his feet to follow the girl. A hiss echoed on the air, catching Hokori's attention. He stopped and turned toward the sound. "What is it?" Mayoka asked as she realized Hokori wasn't following anymore. He growled dangerously, bristling in preparation of a fight. The girl backed off, not wanting to get in his way.
"Be careful, Hokori." She whispered as a badger youkai slid out of the shadow.
"Let me have the human." The badger growled. Mayoka whimpered slightly at the demand. Hokori roared in anger, baring his fangs. The badger laughed. "Taking you down should be no problem—" The Neko jumped at the other youkai, not letting it attack first. There was a shrill scream as the Neko's fangs tore out the badger's throat. Mayoka jumped in surprise at the quick movement.
"Mayoka!" Koga's voice suddenly shouted in the girl's ear. She jumped in shock again. Brown flashed into her view, blocking her from Hokori and the badger. The child heard the Neko growl again and something drop to the ground. The ouji turned around and knelt in front of her, worry in his eyes. "Are you alright?" He asked hurriedly.
"I'm fine, Hokori protected me." She tried to smile and slow her heartbeat. Koga sighed and rested his clawed hand on her shoulder.
"I'm glad to hear that." He got to his feet. "Come on, I remember you saying you were hungry." He began to lead her away. The child turned to look at Hokori walking at her other side.
"Thanks." She whispered. The Neko purred in response.
((Across A Land))
Sango's eyes lifted as the door was pushed aside and Hana walked in, Aijou in her arms. The older Taijiya got to her feet and met the girl. "Where is Miroku?" Sango asked.
"He went to get Tori and make sure everyone was doing alright."
"Aijou?" Kagura asked, sitting up. The others turned to the shadow in slight surprise.
"Mama!" The child shouted, and this time Hana let him down, allowing him to run to his mother's side.
"My boy…" The shadow whispered with a smile as the boy jumped into her open arms.
"What's wrong, Mama?" He asked as he looked up at her again. The woman smiled tenderly at him before she spoke.
"I'm sick, Aijou, and soon I will be going to see your father."
"I want to go too!"
"No, you can't come with me this time, Aijou." Kagura began to cough, her body jerking with the effort to breathe. Sango was at her side as she calmed slightly. The Taijiya helped the shadow lay back again.
"Mama…" The child whispered as tears flowed down his cheeks. The shadow smiled again as she looked to her side.
"I love you, Aijou, and so does your father. Never forget that." She smiled as her eyes closed, breath leaking out of her lips.
"Mama, no! Don't die! Stay with me!" The boy screamed as Kagura's heart slowed before stopping completely.
"Aijou…" Sango tried, reaching a hand out to him.
"No." He snapped, pulling away. Hana watched in shock as the crying youkai marched over to her and dug his face into her knees. "Mama…Mama…" His tears dampened her skin through her armor.
"Aijou…" She whispered his name again as she crouched down, holding him close to her chest.
"Take him out of here, Hana." Sango said quietly. Just as the younger Taijiya nodded, the child pulled away. Both women stared as he moved again to his mother's side before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you, Mama…Tell Papa I say hi and I love him too." He whispered into her ear. He waited a second, giving the woman another kiss, and waked back to a now standing and teary eyed Hana. He took her hand and smiled up at her.
"Okay?" She asked, forcing a smile, a few tears escaping down her face.
"Okay." Aijou agreed with a nod. The two walked out of the hut, hand in hand.
((Across A Land))
Her sword thrust downward, slicing its way into his flesh, but something stopped her from using her full strength. Time slowed down as pain filled her mind. She carefully pulled back, wondering why her chest burned. Her eyes slowly lowered to look at herself, to see his right hand digging its way into her body. Kami… The taste of blood filled her mouth as her lungs clenched. She turned back to look at the man she loved, sticking his hand through her chest.
"Inu…" She breathed before her voice stopped working. There was a look of horror in his eyes, eyes that began to flicker with gold.
"Kagome…" His voice was rough, but not as violent as it had been moments before. "Oh Kami no…Kagome..." He tried again. A smile flickered across her lips as she saw the lines fade from his face. She swayed at the loss of blood and oxygen. He suddenly pulled his claws out of her with a sickening sucking sound. Without the support of his arm, the Miko fell forward, lying against his bloody chest.
In that second, his eyes brightened to completely gold, and his claws and fangs shortened as he fought his way back to being a hanyou. A howl left his lips the instant he was in control. What had he done?
"Kagome…please no …Kagome…" He sat up, ignoring the pain and dizziness from his own injury, and cradled the woman to his chest. The scent of blood was overpowering. He couldn't even smell Kagome's sweet scent. "Don't leave me…"
"Inu-Yasha…" It was a whisper, but still her voice. His head lifted, his eyes turning to her. Her face was glowing, not only from the blood loss, but in happiness. How could she be happy?
"I'm so sorry, Kagome—" He started, but her shaky finger stopped his words. He stared silently as she moved her finger. Her lips moved silently. He leaned closer; she was speaking too quietly even for his hanyou ears.
"Love you…Don't be…sorry…" She took shallow, ragged breaths. "Happy… to see… you back…" She was fading.
"I love you too, Kagome, forever…" He pulled her back up to his chest. She told him not to be sorry, but he couldn't forgive himself for being so weak to let his youki take over for so long…His lover was killed by his hand…
Don't die, Kagome. Tears stung his eyes. He began to cry, and he didn't care. Please, whatever God is listening, she's too young to die…Take me instead. "Do you hear me!" He shouted up to the heavens as her heart stopped. "Give Kagome her life, take mine!" Inu-Yasha lowered his head, burying his tear streaked face into the Miko's hair.
Hanyou…Inu-Yasha.
The man ignored the voice calling to him.
Inu-Yasha, lift your head.
He grinded his teeth together, but slowly did as he was told. His eyes widened in surprise at the woman standing in front of him. "Midoriko…" He breathed in awe. "But… what… how…?"
"The Miko's neck, under her armor." The powerful Miko replied. The hanyou turned back to Kagome, reaching into the neck of her armor, finding a small chain. His breath stopped as he pulled the metal out, finding the pure pink Shikon no Tama dangling at the end.
"It's complete…"
"Yes, hanyou. You've missed a lot while you destroyed this land." Midoriko's voice was sharp, making Inu-Yasha flinch. "You said you would exchange your life for hers, a selfless wish, which is why I am here."
He lifted his head back to the woman, hope in his eyes. "You can bring her back?"
"I can." Her tone spoke of a hidden consequence.
"But?"
"But it is not free. Nothing can be done to the dead without a ripple effect in time. You will have a choice Inu-Yasha."
"Kagome's life." He snapped instantly. "Save her, bring her back."
"That will be her choice, that is, if you agree first. If I save her, she will go back to her world, with no memory of you or this world. If you go after her she will return to death instantly."
"What!" Inu-Yasha snarled, baring his fangs at the Miko.
"What do you choose Inu-Yasha? Shall I ask Kagome if she wishes to come back to life, or shall I return to the jewel?"
The hanyou's fangs grinded together as he lowered his gaze to the paling Miko in his arms. Something kept running through his mind…Just like Kikyo…Kagome would never want to be like Kikyo… Tears filled his eyes again as he realized what he had to do…
Author Notes: Don't you all just hate me? (Evil laugh) Well, I guess you all will just have to wait until next Friday to find out where everything goes from here, what does Inu-Yasha choose? What about Aijou and the other Taijiya? Will Mayoka find a home with Koga and his pack, or will she learn all she can before moving on? All this and more in chapter twenty! Alright, ja guys!
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