Okay, guys! This actually was written in the last couple of hours when I was supposed to be doing other things. ;P But anyway, I am in love with this story... I am planning on having everything written for the next chapter started by tonight (*crosses fingers* hopefully!) Thanks to: inuyasha4life17, Serenity Alexandra, and kitsune-snuggler12 for reviewing, and to HanaYuuki Tensha, Lilliana1118, kitsune-snuggler12, SKiraNova and AllisonColleene for adding this to their alert list, it seriously made my day to see emails letting me know that people have been reading and liking this. I'm not gonna lie, I've put aside homework for you guys ;P ... okay, not the smartest thing to do, but still! I love you guys, and I hope you like this chapter.
So, yeah, this chapter is considerably shorter, but I did that on purpose, and I realized that my disclaimer from last chapter might have seemed a little harsh to some people. Reason for that being I've noticed that there are a lot of stories where people are reviewing that the characters seem really OOC, and for many authors pointing this out is good, but for some (myself included) it is intentional... But either way, I love reviews, so please, please leave them for me xD
Disclaimer: I will not own Inuyasha T.T He and Kagome and all the other characters belong to the amazing manga-ka Takahashi Rumiko-sama, for whom I hold the utmost respect. Anywho, on with Chapter Two... (hehe that rhymed!)
After resting for a while by the stream they had found, Kagome and Kirara set off again, but the pain in the miko's chest was blooming. Her heart felt like it was breaking, but she refused to look at it too closely, for fear of backing out of her plan. "Soon. Soon, I'll have my answers." Kagome's whisper was lost on the wind as she sat astride the large fire neko, who suddenly started growling. "What is it, Kirara? What's wrong?"
The cat turned so they were flying in a different direction and a loud roar was heard throughout the forest, announcing a demon's presence not too far ahead of them. Glistening in its head, right between its eyes was a piece of the jewel she was searching for. Kagome grabbed her bow and notched an arrow before looking hard along the line. "Keep it steady, girl," she whispered to herself, closing her eyes.
Kirara continued to fly towards the demon while Kagome focused on the fragment of the jewel pulsing, growing stronger as the demon got closer. Still with her eyes closed, the young priestess took a deep breath and held it. Now! Her eyes snapped open, locking on her target. With the release of her breath, came the release of the arrow still nested on the taut bow, and the immense spiritual energy that would aid her in defeating the demon.
Kagome watched as the arrow became surrounded by the pink aura of her miko energy and the shaft hit home, exactly where she was aiming. Instantly, the large youkai that was terrorizing the area was brought down, much to Kagome's pleasant surprise. "Wow, never had that happen before. Cool!" She reached out and scratched Kirara behind the ears. "Come on, let's get the shard." The cat flew down and landed close to the youkai that still possessed the jewel shard.
Approaching slowly, Kagome looked for the largest piece of the demon, wary of the pieces beginning to pull themselves back together rather quickly. "Where is it?" she grumbled, looking around carefully. "Oh!" Whipping around, she saw what she was looking for. "There! Kirara, here it is. We need to get the shard, fast!" The cat pounced and destroyed what was left of the demon's head, leaving a fairly large piece of the Shikon no Tama jewel. When the priestess picked it up, the youkai disintegrated and Kagome walked over to her companion. "It's so large. How come I was able to bring him down so easily?" Staring at the fragment, Kagome couldn't help feeling that her nerves were on fire. "Something doesn't seem right. I don't like this. Let's get out of here, Kirara." She climbed on the neko's back. "I know where I want to go, girl. Take me to the demon slayers village. It's the safest place right now, and I sense something even bigger coming our way."
Kirara growled in agreement and they set off once again, turning for the village that Sango, Kohaku and Kirara grew up in… the village of the Demon Slayers.
By the time the sun had fully risen, Inuyasha and Shippo had returned from their little talk and the four of them had breakfast. "Where should we look for the Lady Kagome, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked softly as they broke down the camp.
"I'm not sure," the hanyou whispered.
"Didn't you tell me that she went home for a while, Shippo?" Sango asked, looking at the kit sitting next to Inuyasha.
Said kit gulped quietly, "Yeah, but she said that she had something to do on her own."
Miroku turned to look at the silver haired inu, "So what will you do, Inuyasha? Will you return her here?"
Shippo looked at Inuyasha with sad green eyes, while Sango waited patiently for him to answer.
Sensing the insurmountable pressure from his friends, Inuyasha sighed. Turning his golden gaze towards the sky over the well, he was torn. One part of him wanted to drag her back, kicking and cursing. But another part, a more rational part of him, was arguing with him. She did this for a reason. She didn't go back to her time.
Who are you?
Your human side, the caring side, the smart side, the –
Yeah, yeah, I get it. What do you want?
The reason she left has been in front of your nose for as long as you've known her.
Huh?
Kami, I knew you were dense, but I didn't realize how much. You keep running to Kikyo! You keep living in the past while your future is starting to slip away, yet she keeps standing by you! You want her to leave forever, yet she returns to you and asks if she can stay because she wants to be with you. She's never asked you to change who you are, the only thing she would probably want you to change is your attitude! She's never tried to hide you out of shame or embarrassment-
What do you call all those funny things she makes me wear in her time?
Protection. Just as humans in this time fear demons, yet are used to them, the people in her time would be terrified that they actually exist. Most humans in her time don't believe in demons so they have no "reason" to fear them, now imagine their terror when they figure out that they really do exist? She hides your ears to protect you. One of her fears is that something will happen to you and that she can't stop it. She's afraid.
He snorted. Of me.
Baka! Not of you, for you! She loves you, idiot, but you need to make a decision.
And what decision is that?
Die with your past and throw away what your parents gave you-
What do you mean "what my parents gave me?"
Your parents sacrificed their lives so that you could live. So will you throw that away for Kikyo? A clay pot that hates you in her own way, and wants to drag you to hell the first opportunity she gets? Or will you live and have a future with Kagome?
I… I don… I don't know what I want… Inuyasha hung his head.
Then it looks like you have some thinking to do, hm? Good luck. With that, Inuyasha was left alone in his own mind.
"Inuyasha?" Shippo called, placing a small paw on the older demon's head, desperately trying to get his attention.
"What's the matter, runt?" he grumbled, causing the kit to jump.
"You okay? You were spacing out for a really long time."
The hanyou sighed. "I'm fine, Shippo, just thinking."
Miroku and Sango cast dubious looks at each other before the monk decided to ask his question again. "So, Inuyasha?" The hanyou's ears flicked towards him, showing that he was listening. "Are you going after Lady Kagome?"
The little white dog ears drooped slightly and his golden eyes once more looked at the sky. "No," he whispered, almost too soft for the others to hear.
"What do you mean "no"?" Sango cried.
"Just what I said! We're not going after her. I want her to return on her own, if she wants. Kagome left for a reason, and… and if I bring her back now, she'll only hate me for it. So, no, I'm not going after her… I can't." Inuyasha closed his eyes and whispered, more for himself than his friends, "I can't have her hate me. I won't survive it this time."
Sango blinked while Miroku just nodded. This was the most they had ever heard him talk about his feelings. Shippo seemed the most unfazed by this revelation as he looked up at the inu. "Okay, Inuyasha! So we're gonna help Kagome do whatever she needs to do by searching for her, but not really searching for her, right?" the kit observed, bravely climbing into Inuyasha's lap.
Gold eyes blinked down at the upturned green eyes in his lap. "Yeah, kit, that's exactly what we're gonna do. Come on, guys, let's get going."
Together, the group set off in search of more jewel shards, and, if they got lucky, they would find Kagome and bring her back.
If we find her, I'm never letting her go again. I won't let my Kagome go… Whoa, where did that come from?