Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me. I also don't own the song "I Have Always Loved You" by Enrique Iglesias.
Chapter Fourteen: Saying Goodbye
"Kagome Higarushi, I love you." Inuyasha took her hands in his own, cradling them to his chest. "From the moment I met you I have been in love with you. I treasure every moment we have ever had together. With every breath in my body and every beat of my heart, I cherish and adore you. You will always be the most important person in my life. Aways. You are my life."
"He means that literally," snickered Shippo.
But the hanyou didn't laugh at the kit's joke. Watching the pathetic human boy spout out the mushy words that were making the women of the group get all watery eyed and sighing those annoying breathy sighs had a way of souring his stomach. Shippo sprang off his shoulder to find someone with a sense of humor.
Ignoring his audience, the dark haired young man continued. "I will devote my life to making you happy. Stay with me, I promise you will never regret it." His voice turned low and husky. "I need you. And I love you so much it hurts. I can't live without you."
Again Shippo snorted and whispered another smart comment. This time to Miroku, who did a poor job of disguising his amusement.
Kuusouka sighed dreamily as she listened to the impassioned speech, using her hand to fan her slightly flushed face. She then turned a critical eye to the dog demon with the barely leashed temper.
"Do you have any words for Kagome?" she asked.
"Keh."
"Very eloquent," commented Miroku. Sango and Shippo just shook their heads.
Inuyasha scowled at the dream weaver as she turned her attention back to her dream creation. Did Kagome have to look so… so… dreamy? Her eyes were a little glazed and she kept sighing! And what was with that smile? She wasn't supposed to smile at anyone like that! He crossed his arms and stood straight, glowering at anyone who dared to look in his direction.
Kuusouka had asked him if he had any words for her. What was he supposed to say? If he had been able to say the words, then he would have said them AGES ago! Words were hard for him, though. They never failed to get him into trouble. It wasn't like he had a whole lot of social skills, thanks to being an outcast all his life. Until Kagome. After all this time with her he still had difficulties with words. Luckily she didn't seem to need them. Did she? Surely Kagome wasn't stupid enough to fall for some stupid dream just because he had some pretty words for her. He wasn't even real, regardless of the things he said and how he looked.
"You have a choice, my child," said Kuusouka. "You can stay here in this world of demons, hardship, and uncertainty, or you may go with Inuyasha where you will live a life of happiness where you will always be loved and protected."
"Gee," grumbled Sango under her breath, "Think she's got a bias?"
Miroku grinned at her, though Inuyasha couldn't see what was so humorous. Didn't they know that dream creature was trying to take Kagome away? Not that she'd go. After all, she had promised him that she would stay by his side as long as he would let her. Just because some male starts spouting out all that gushy romantic nonsense didn't mean that she would abandon them. Kouga tells her stuff like that all the time and she wasn't off spitting out a bunch of scrawny wolf cubs for him. She wasn't stupid enough to fall for something like that. She wasn't stupid enough to fall for something that wasn't real.
So why wasn't she moving away from him? Why was he dragging her closer? Why wasn't she pulling away?
"Since the beginning of time…"
The enemy's voice was low and soft. Inuyasha's ear twitched in irritation at the tone he was using with Kagome. It was obvious that the words were for her ears alone.
"Since it started to rain. Since I heard you laugh. Since I felt your pain."
Inuyasha blinked in surprise.
"Is he singing to her?" he asked in amazement.
"Shush!" hissed Sango as she lifted her right hand to her chest, and shifted her weight so that she was almost touching the monk.
"But he's singing to her."
"For the love of the gods, Inuyasha," snarled Miroku as he struggled to keep his hands from straying and causing Sango to move away from him. "Just. Shut. Up!"
Inuyasha frowned at his friends. Sango was getting uncharacteristically girly over the whole thing, and Miroku was thinking too much about… well… probably about how he could use this to getting away with touching the slayer while she was caught up in the scene in front of them…without too much brain damage. Didn't any of them realize the danger? What was wrong with them?
"I have always loved you! There's never been anyone else. I knew you before I knew myself…"
Shippo landed on Inuyasha's shoulder since Miroku wasn't paying him any attention anymore. The kit was frowning as well as the dark haired young man continued to sing to his surrogate mother.
"Oh my baby, I have always loved you."
Shippo tugged on a lock of silver hair to get the dog demon's attention. "She won't go with him just because he's singing to her, will she?" he asked Inuyasha nervously.
"No."
It wouldn't happen. No matter how many stupid songs this idiot sang, there was no way that Kagome would leave him. But why wasn't she moving away? Was she under some sort of spell? Inuyasha would have asked the monk, but he was too busy trying to inch himself closer to Sango. Kaede wasn't there to ask. And Kuusouka was just plain useless. She was the cause of this whole mess anyhow. All because she was too stupid to tell the difference between Kagome and Kikyo. What an idiot! Besides, it was pretty obvious who SHE wanted Kagome to go with.
"DO something, Inuyasah!"
The dog demon nodded. Enough was enough. The dream creature was manipulating Kagome. Her soft heart wouldn't let her be cruel. HE, however, had no problem with that. In fact, he rather took great enjoyment from getting rid of her potential suitors. Cracking his knuckles he stepped forwards, determined to snap off the hands that her STILL holding Kagome's.
Unfortunatley, after two steps forward he was knocked back by a very powerful barrier.
"No no, demon," admonished the dream weaver with a chuckle as she wagged her finger at him. "You must let the girl make her own choice. You can not force it upon her."
Inuyasha growled. "I ain't FORCING Kagome to do ANYTHING!"
"Not yet, demon, but you will soon try. What good would that do? Would you be content knowing that she did not make the choice on her own?" the woman asked. "Would you not always be wondering if she would have chosen you on her own? Would you wonder if she would always harbor resentment towards you for taking away her dreams? Would you still be content with that?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "Yeah."
"Me too," agreed Shippo with a similar shrug. "I'd be okay with that." Kuusouka sputtered in outrage.
"Oi!" called Inuyasha, "Kagome! Get over here!"
The barrier made him feel uncomfortable. He didn't like being kept away from Kagome. It just felt wrong. He couldn't protect her if he couldn't get to her. But to his surprise, Kagome didn't even look at him. She continued swaying back and forth with the dream boy as he was singing. It was unnerving.
He knew it. She really was under a spell!
"How DARE you put a spell on her!"
Indignately, Kuusouka sniffed. "It is a harmless spell, demon."
"Take it off her!"
"No."
"NOW!"
Sango pulled herself away from the sound of the singing. When the hanyou's yelling escalated Miroku also began paying attention.
"What's going on?"
Shippo answered Sango's question since Inuyasha was too busy pulling out his sword. "Kuusouka put a spell on Kagome."
"What kind of spell?" asked Miroku.
"What kind of spell?" Shippo asked the dream weaver.
Kuusouka giggled girlishly, causing Inuyasha to wonder if the woman was as old as she seemed to appear. "Do not worry yourself, little one. It is not a spell that would harm the girl. It is simply one to where she only hears and sees our dream Inuyasha. It is quite similar to the dreams she experienced before, yet now she is awake." For a moment she basked in pride at her accomplishment. Then she frowned at the dog demon who was attempting to break the barrier. "It seemed only fair to give him an opportunity to talk to her without interference."
"Take the spell off her."
"No, Inuyasha. Just let them talk. You had your chance to talk. Do you not remember? I believe that 'Keh' is the word you used to coax the young lady to stay with you."
Inuyasha was fuming. Even breaking the barrier didn't cause a flicker of reaction in Kagome's eyes. Raising his sword he was determined to lop Kuusouka's head off her body if she didn't take off the spell. The way he was feeling right now, there was a good chance he just might do that anyhow.
"I said, take it off."
For a moment it looked like the dream weaver was going to be stubborn. But perhaps she saw something in those fierce golden eyes that warned her that it wouldn't be in her best interest. So she grudgingly mumbled a few words to free the girl.
"You are a rude demon," she complained.
Inuyasha watched as Kagome shook her head to free herself from the last of the spell. She looked back at him with sad eyes. She took the other Inuyasha's hand. Blood roared in Inuyasha's ears as she said something incoherent and began walking away. Walking way from him. With someone else.
"K…Kagome…?"
This wasn't supposed to happen.
This couldn't be happening.
He could tell that the others were staring at him, but he couldn't look at them. He couldn't move a muscle. It was as if his entire body was frozen, a very similar feeling to the one of being pinned to a tree by an arrow through the chest. Though an arrow through the heart didn't hurt half as much as watching Kagome walk away.
I should have said something, he mourned. I should have told her that I love her. I should have told her that my life means nothing without her. I should have told her that she WAS my life! Gods… what will I do without her? I can't… I…
No, Inuyasha told himself harshly. She's coming right back. She's coming right back. Any second now she'll be back
Kuusouka followed the couple to go spy on them. Miroku and Sango slipped off soon after, Kirara and Shippo trailing behind. Inuyasha would have gone too if the life hadn't just been sucked out of his body. Without an audience now, Inuyasha slumped to the ground, letting his head drop to his knees. It was quite possible that he was going to be sick. Could someone die of heartbreak?
Somehow, Kagome had become his whole life. She was his reason for living, for fighting, for just being. How was he going to be able to go on without her? He couldn't even imagine.
His human heart felt as if it was dying, but his demon blood was raging at him to go retrieve Kagome. After shredding the human boy, of course. There had to be a way to get rid of him. Until he figured out a way to destroy him, then he would just have to take Kagome and hide her away for a little while, just until they came up with a good plan. He would hide her in a cave or something. Lots of people made homes in caves. Well… demons for sure. It would be fun. She'd like it. Eventually. Surely there was a way he could go far enough that Kuusouka and her dreams would not find her.
Kuusouka.
If he killed the dream weaver… would the dream boy die? It was certainly an option.
He would get over the fact that she didn't choose him. Some day. Maybe. But at least he would still be with her. Inuyasha sighed. But if that was what she really wanted… She would be happy. She would never be in danger.
She would be asleep forever.
Was that life? Could she be happy knowing that she was only dreaming? Or would she soon forget that it wasn't real? And that HE would become some dream. Some long forgotten dream. No, he couldn't let that happen. He would protect her, even if it was from her own dreams. Whether she liked it or not. He couldn't let her live some sort of half life, not if he could prevent it.
Okay, so the plan was, go get Kagome and stash her somewhere. Plan two was to hack up the dream weaver. Inuyasha nodded. Both plans seemed to be flawless. Pulling himself back up to his feet he prepared to go get his miko. Before he could go, however, he saw Sango and Miroku coming back.
Tears streaked down Sango's face.
Inuyasha's heart stopped.
No.
No.
Gods, no.
Please…
Kagome was supposed to be his. Once the jewel was completed… once she finished the school thing that she thought was so important… once Kikyo's soul was at rest… then they would… then they would become mates. Real mates. And have pups. And a home. And they would always be together. She wasn't supposed to destroy their lives just so she could have some DREAM!
She made this choice to leave without hearing that he loved her, without letting him try to convince her that he needed her more. Loved her more. She can't make the right decision without knowing all the facts!
"I couldn't bear to watch anymore," confessed Sango quietly to the monk.
"Do not worry," Miroku consoled. "Shippo is still there. He will tell us if we miss anything good."
Miss anything good? Just what were they expecting to happen? Unable to stand it anymore, Inuyasha drew his sword once more, prepared to kill anything in his way from getting to Kagome. That included the monk with the obvious death wish who just stepped in front of him to block his path.
"Let her be."
Inuyasha roared in pain. Let her be? NO! He might as well just cut out his heart if he was just going to 'let her be'. The dog demon crouched to leap over the monk (killing would be a last resort, but definetly not out of the question). However, once in the crouch position his muscles locked and he was not able to spring upwards. Or do anything else for that matter.
"YOU PUT A SUTRA ON ME?"
"Just to keep you from making a big mistake." Calmly the monk sat beside the snarling hanyou, completely unaffected by the graphic threats of death and dismemberment.
"I'm going to kill you."
Miroku gave him a patient smile. "We followed Kagome and the other Inuyasha down the path. Up ahead and to the left there is a lovely stream with a small waterfall nearby. It is very romantic." Miroku turned his head to smile at Sango. "Perhaps later we will stop by."
"Perhaps you'll be DEAD later!" snapped Inuyasha.
"Kagome and Inuyasha, the other one of course, stopped by the water. Once more the young man declared his undying love for her. It was quite touching. Then Kagome wrapped her arms around him and she began telling him how much he means to her." Miroku paused for a moment. "Then she began crying." He gave a soft laugh, "Then Sango began crying. And now here we all are."
"Get. The. Sutra. Off. Me."
The monk reached for the sutra, then paused before his fingers touched it. "Do not do anything foolish, Inuyasha." Then he peeled it off.
Instead of killing Miroku, which he had been contemplating, Inuyasha bolted towards the path Kagome took. There was no need for stealth since he wasn't trying to sneak up on them like SOME people. In fact, he wanted them to know that he was coming for them. He had every intention of declaring war on those who would try to take Kagome away from him.
It didn't take long to find her. Miroku was just wasting breath when giving the hanyou directions. When it came to finding Kagome, there was nothing better than his nose.
Inuyasha skidded to a stop when he saw them. Even though Miroku had told him that she had hugged him, actually seeing her in another man's embrace caused him to stagger. It hurt so much it nearly knocked him to his knees. The scene was so sweet and so tender that he wanted to do nothing more than start ripping people apart. A small part of him felt that he should let her have her happiness, since it seemed that he seemed to either make Kagome mad or sad most of the time. A small sad voice whispered to him to let her go.
The voice was immediately squashed.
The dog demon knew that he was a better match for the miko than any weak human. He just needed to make sure that SHE knew it too. So he straightened his spine and tightened sheathed his sword. For the first time he was going to have to win a fight with words, and not his claws or sword.
Just as he was about to storm over there, he heard something that stopped him in his tracks. Her head had moved to the side, glancing in his direction as she laid her head on the other man's chest.
He heard her whisper.
"Good-bye, Inuyasha."
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Author's Notes: Thank you for your reviews. C'ya next time… for the last chapter of Hopes and Dreams.