This chapter was a bit hard for me. If you have questions or I messed up somewhere please let me know! If you just enjoyed it, also pls review.
KAGOME'S POV
Inuyasha was racing towards Kaede's and as I clung to his shirt I could feel my stomach aching, the pressure so intense I felt like I might explode. I winced as the pain grew, unable to understand what could be wrong with me I let a tear fall from eye. Inuyasha reached Kaede's in seconds and set me down to be looked at, wiping my tears with a worried expression on his face. I began to fall in and out of consciousness as I noticed Songo and Miroku standing over me as well, sango's face was full of worry almost the same as Inuyasha's. All of a sudden I felt another sudden and sharp pain in my stomach, as if I was being stabbed from the inside out. After that the last thing I remember was Inuyasha, calling my name as the sacred jewel once again flung from my body.
INUYASHA'S POV
What appeared to be a bright light shot from Kagome's body, landing on the ground in front of us. Everything was quiet for a few moments, as kagome lay limp on the floor bloody and unconscious. Finally and almost at the same time Sango, Miroku, and Kaede cried out "The Jewel!"
"That can't be, Kaede tell me that can't be!" I screamed. I was now holding Kagome in my arms, tears falling down my face with no shame. This really was happening, this jewel was back in our lives and it came yet again from Kagome's body. I couldn't bare this, I was growing tired of having Kagome ripped away from me, I couldn't let it happen again. I looked to Kaede for an answer, and for once in all the time that I had known her since she was a child she was at a loss for words. She shook her head back and forth unable to speak, and gripping on to the wall for support. I had to find some way to get her out of here, she was too old for this now. The light from the Jewel began to glow and the room was almost sparking, I had to squint my eyes it was so bright. "What the hell is going on, I whispered to myself." I could feel the ground beneath us shaking, and the screams of the villagers starting to form outside of Kaede's hut. Miroku gave me a nod, and turned to Sango. "Sango let's go, we must take the children to your brother, and into the mountains."
Sango snapped, "Absolutely not, over my dead body monk!"
Miroku grabbed on to her arm, gripping it tightly and staring sternly into her eyes, "I'm not asking I'm telling." He softened his face as her tears began flow. "We can't keep them here Sango, something is happing do you hear what is going on outside, do you see what just flew out of Kagome's body? We are going to have to fight, fight to protect our children. It is for their safety that we get them away from here before the real danger comes." Sango nodded giving me a sad glance as well.
"Don't worry Sango." I assured her. "We'll figure this out, now go!" They both ran out, leaving Kagome, Kaede, and myself with the Jewel. Kaede let go of the wall, shakily reaching to grab the jewel when a loud wind began to howl from outside, and the roof and walls of the hut instantly ripped off. Kaede fell to the floor, and I could see lightning in the sky. I called out her name, but she was unconscious. I could see the villagers scrambling around screaming for help as demons attacked, I sat there with helplessness overcoming me, I didn't know weather to help the villagers, Kaede, or take Kagome and run. I just knew I wanted her safe no matter how selfish it would be to run. My thoughts were quickly interrupted when I again caught Narraku's scent. In the distance I could see what appeared to be a man and a woman walking towards us, and then Kagome opened her eyes.
KAGOME'S POV
I opened my eyes, the howling wind and screams waking me. The villagers were running wild, trying to fight off demons. I brought my hand to my stomach feeling a hole in an all too familiar spot, I averted my eyes to the Jewel on the ground in front of us. How could it have been in my body, again, and without my knowledge? I sat up wiggling out of Inuyasha's arms, and as he protested I grabbed my arrows. "Kagome stop, you're too weak. I'll take you away from here. The village isn't safe, please Kagome stop, just put the arrows down." Inuyasha pleaded with me and I could tell he had been crying while I was unconscious, his eyes were red and he had a fear on his face I'd never seen before. This wasn't the man I once knew, was it the years of peace that had softened him? "Inuyasha there is evil coming our way, we have to protect who we can, what is wrong with you! That isn't like you to just run away when people are in need!"
He grabbed my wrist, gently pulling me to him whispering in my ear. "Kagome if you weren't here I'd already have met whoever is walking towards us half way, ready to take them on but I can't lose you again, I'd sooner die than live in a world without you again. Please understand why I wish for us to leave, If I'm afraid it's not of helping the village or destroying whatever is coming our way it's of losing you." Inuyasha slowly let go of me, and I gave him an apologetic smile for snapping at him. I gave him a kiss upon the cheek, "Inuyasha you won't lose me, and I won't let you go either but my job being the protector of the jewel began over 500 years ago, when I was a priestess named Kikyo, I must continue that journey now protecting who I can along the way. You were by my side then, stay by my side now?" Inuyasha grabbed my hand, with understanding and disappointment in his eyes. "Yes Kagome, I understand I won't leave your side." A loud chuckle erupted, taking our attention away from each other. I dropped my arrows, feeling sick to my stomach. The person in front of me was Hojo. He wore a Kimono fit for a prince, his eyes glowed red, and his nails were sharp like Inuyasha's. My mind felt like it was playing tricks on me, was this a demon disguised as Hojo? This had to be Akitoki Hojo from this time period, but I noticed he had the same haircut as my Hojo from the modern times. Even the crooked cut he recently got last week, appeared on this Hojo. As I stared at him pale faced, his chuckling stopped and he knelt down picking the Jewel up, a sad expression on his face. Inuyasha went to grab his sword but i placed my hand on his, urging him to stop. "Don't Inuyasha. Not yet, let him speak." Inuyasha gave me a confused look, and a growl escaped his chest, "What the hell are you going on about he has the jewel Kagome, and he's destroying our home!"
Hojo balled his hand in a fist "Shut up. Shut up I said! You worthless waste of space." Hojo stares Inuyasha head on, his demonic ora growing.
Inuyasha growled, "Who the hell are you talking to Akitoki? You sell your soul to a demon, and think you're tough all of a sudden? I see nothing but the same weakling you've always been."
"You. You fool. Don't pretend to know what I am or what I've become. I always hated the way you spoke to her, as if she was the dog instead of you!" Hojo's anger dissipated and a wicked smile spread across his face. "At least you still recognize me after all this time, Inuyasha. I want you to remember the man I was, and compare it to who I've become. Only then could you understand just how much I'd do anything for her.."
Inuyasha laughed, and then his mouth turned into a smirk as well. "Of course i recognize you Akitoki, who could forget the sap who lined for Kagome to notice him. The only thing I don't understand is why I smell Narraku all over you. Im sure he had some part in helping you become this way, and by the looks of the priestess by your side, you used black magic too to gain this power as well. Tell me, how is it that the jewel appears before us again and more importantly how is it that it ended up in Kagome's body and why are you attacking this village. You obviously are in control of these demons, so fess yo. What the hell is going on?" Inuyasha went for his sword again, and I again stopped him. He angrily barked, "Why the hell are you trying to protect him Kagome he's not the same wimpy Hojo, look at him he's A demon now too and he's attacking the village! Do you hear the screams and how they've quieted? They are dying. Do you not see Kaede on the floor, don't feel sorry for him!" I put my head down in shame unable to figure out what was going on, was this Akitoki Hojo, or my Hojo, and why was he a demon? All of a sudden his eyes began to turn normal, his claws became short and he appeared just as human as he was before. "Let me explain Inuyasha, it is me Akitoki Hojo and yes I sold my soul to demons just as Narraku once did, so that he could win the affections of Kikyo. This has no connection as to why You smell his scent on me. I have simply borrowed his old castle, and his clothes I figured it would throw you off. I even am the one who recreated to Jewel of four souls with the help of my friend here Itsumi, but none of that is why Kagome is keeping you from attacking me. You see years ago I made my feelings known for Kagome during a battle the both of you were in, and I watched her ignore me too blind to see that she could be happy with me and too blind to see that your affections for her were not the same as mine. I loved her with my whole heart, while you made her share with a dead woman!" Inuyasha became red, turning his attention away from me and to Hojo while quietly growling. "When the Jewel was destroyed and Kagome sent back to her time, my heart broke in a way I couldn't fathom possible, Inuyasha. I knew I had to change something if I ever wanted to see her again, I had to make hard decisions to be able to be worthy of being with her so I fed my soul to demons, becoming more powerful than I could ever dream, but unlike Naraku I can still control myself and I never lost sight of my goal. Kagome. I sought out Itsumi, a dark priestess who I knew would be able to help me in recreating the Jewel so that I too could pass over to the other side of the well that I so many times watched Kagome pass through. The jewel was recreated better than before, and Itsumi watched Kagome on the other side as she began to talk to a man who appeared to be identical to me. What luck. So I passed through the well with the power of the jewel and I sought out this man, and though I wish it could have been avoided I had to kill him."
I gasped in terror. "You killed Hojo! No, how could you?" I cried
Hojo laughed, "You see Kagome, I am the Hojo you want to mourn right now. I'm the man you've lived with for the last year, I am the man you fell in love with. You spent all of but one afternoon with my decent, I'm the one you spent nights beside for a year! I'm the one Kagome. I chose to live in my human form, and to live a life making sure you were safe and loved. I left my home, my own time period and learned how to live I your world."
My head was spinning, and my face red of embarrassment. None of this made sense. I looked at inuyasha with sad eyes, who now stood by my side but no longer held my hand. "So Akitoki Hojo." Inuyasha scowled. "Before I kill you for what you've done to kagome, please do go on, how did the jewel end up in her body." Inuyasha asked in a monotone voice.
Hojo's eyes became red again with anger, and the weather around us began to turn into a full on storm, the rain hitting my face and causing me to shiver. Hojo sighed, "It was because of Kagome herself, even after I sold my soul and after everything I did to make her happy she still dreamt of you. At night she'd call out your name, and mumble things of her time here, she yearned to come back here to be with you. Though she tried to hide it, of course she thought I had no idea about you in the first place, she was Unaware that this was the time I was actually from. How ironic that in her sleep kagome wished upon the jewel yet again, but this time she wished to come be to be with you instead of to destroy it. I watched her sleeping that night, as she mumbled her wish to be with you once more, and the jewel left my pocket of its own will and entered her body. She never even winced, she kept on sleeping as if nothing had happened. At the time I didn't know the Jewel was even granting her a wish, but it is now clear that is exactly what it did. I watched her for weeks waiting for something to happen. Finally something did, she got up in the middle of the night and left my side for the first time in a year, and she passed through the well with the Jewel that I created to be with her. Funny, isn't it?"
Hojo's eyes still shined red but tears now fell from them, I couldn't help myself I had to walk towards him to stop his hurt, despite his actions I couldn't watch him in pain. Under all this evil he was hurting, the same way I hurt when Inuyasha would leave my side to be with Kikyo.
Inuyasha grabbed my arm silently telling me to stop, to not take another step towards Hojo, but I kept going hiding the shame I felt in doing so. I stopped right in front of Hojo brining my hand to his face wiping his tear, "Hojo I am sorry I left you, but how could you? Who are you? The man I spent my time with wouldn't hurt anyone, let alone kill someone. You're
Killing people right now, please stop this." He closed his eyes, tears still falling, unable to respond to me. I turned my attention to the woman next to him. "And you, you wicked woman what is your part in this. Why have you helped him, what are you planning and how does it benefit you." I brought my hand to my arrow, placing all my anger on to her. For the first time since she had been by Hojo's side she made an expression on her face, one of amusement, she still didn't speak though. Hojo spoke for her, "All the answers will come in time, but for now Kagome you need to rest. You aren't fit for battle, you are hurt. I will leave you here while I plan my next move. I know very well that Inuyasha would put up a fight if I tried to take you now. Unlike Narraku I will not underestimate Inuyasha's power."
"Hojo." I whispered. "This makes no sense, what are you planning now, what does this woman gain in helping you, and why have you hurt the villagers? This isn't the you I've grown to know all this time."
Hojo growled, "I don't care about these villagers I don't care about anyone. All I ever cared about what you why can't you see that! I love you Kagome, and you love me too I now know that! Without Inuyasha around you were capable of it! If you are happier here then we will live our life out here, once I carry out the rest of my plan and show you that he doesn't love you and I end his life only then can we be together again." Hojo kissed me on the cheek, and I pulled away causing him to wince in pain. He stepped away from me, as inuyasha ran to my side his sword out ready to kill Hojo. Hojo and the woman began to disappear into thin air as he whispered in the distance, "until we meet again, my love." When they vanished the sky became clear, and the demons followed him. I dropped to my knee's afraid to face Inuyasha, and the mess I had caused.