Chapter Nine - What do you wish for?

"What do I wish for?"

"Indeed."

"I wish to be dead."

Skighler pursed her lips in thought. "Although my powers are indeed great... I have never taken a life that didn't deserve to be taken." She breathed out after a few moments of thinking. "I refuse to take an innocent life."

Inuyasha frowned and looked down again, putting his hands in his hair and hiding his eyes from the world with his palms. "What if I'm not innocent?" He asked, attempting to glare through his bangs towards her. She smiled in reply, "You would not hurt me Inuyasha."

Knowing what she said was true, put his head back into his palms. "I don't know what to do..." His voice cracked just slightly. Inuyasha refused to cry, however, at the moment he felt like he could tell her anything and show her any emotions, maybe it was the soup... He thought.

"Taking your life would be a waste. Think of your mother Inuyasha, would your mother want you to take the easy way out and die?" Skighler whispered sadly, knowing full well his mother was already in the afterlife, having lived a short time, but took care of him every day non the less to make sure he was alright.

A soft pit pat was heard as two little droplets of water fell from Inuyasha's face and landed on the loose dirt floor. Definitely the soup. Inuyasha thought once again as a small trickle of tears fell from his face, stress from his life at the moment and his impending future crashing down onto him full force.

Skighler sighed sadly watching the poor child in front of her. He may be over 200 years old, but he was still a young adult, and mentally it seemed, almost younger. "Can you not think of any other way I can help you?"

Inuyasha peeked through his clawed fingers to look at the woman in front of him. "Are you able to remove the mating? So I won't be mated to my brother?"

Shaking her head sadly she spoke, "Granted I could, but you would never be the same. As if your soul was ripped in two, you would always search for your other half, and never find it. It would be miserable for you, even more than you are right now."

Inuyasha hid his face once again, sighing out of frustration. "I just want it all to stop... I don't want to feel pain... I don't want to be forced to have sex with him, I don't want sex at all! I don't want a beating for speaking my mind, or for not doing as he says! I'm tired of it!" Inuyasha whispered, his voice getting louder and louder after every point until he yelled into his hands with sobs coming from deep in his chest.

Skighler watched from the sidelines, her heart breaking at every jab, as if she were the one harming him. Looking down and thinking through what he had told her, nodded her head and she stood. "Alright Inuyasha. I shall help you my dear."

Inuyasha looked up at her with hope in his eyes.

"I don't know if it will help all to well I'm afraid, but you won't feel pain... You won't really feel anything. Are you alright with this?" She asked staring deep into his eyes, and watching his soul.

Determination flared in his soul and eyes, "Yes." Was all he replied. Skighler nodded her understanding and touched her pointer finger to his forehead.

"From this day forward, Inuyasha my dear, you will feel nothing. You will do what your mate tells you without argument, obeying his every command, you will no longer fight his advances, instead you will accept it with bravery, you will be the perfect mate." Skighler boomed the words necessary for the spell to be cast. Hidden in the spell was a counter spell. When your mate realizes he misses the real you and truly shows it, only then will the spell be removed, and your true self be returned.

A flash of light from Skighler's fingertip covered Inuyasha, herself and the clearing to the sky. In an instant it was gone. In its wake sat Inuyasha, his head down and his body relaxed. "Leave his clearing Inuyasha... Do not stop until you are face to face with your mate Sesshomaru. Best of luck my dear, I hope you will be alright."

After her words, Skighler kissed his forehead and the clearing was gone, and Inuyasha stood in the forest by himself. He moved his head from the left to the right before sniffing the air and walking in the direction he knew his mate was in.

Back at the camp, Sesshomaru was beyond irritated. His mate, Inuyasha was still missing. He had the demon slayer fly through the sky on her demon cat to look for him while the wolf demon ran throughout the forest searching for him on foot. The others? Well, the woman Inuyasha was in love with as well as the monk was searching through their spiritual powers, in case he was in a barrier, and he? Well Sesshomaru doesn't search, he sits on the sidelines and commands others to do the searching for him.

Sesshomaru sighed in irritation and anger however, no one heard his sigh for he was a Lord and Lords don't sigh. A roar sounded from above, and the demon slayer and her cat landed in the clearing they made for camp yesterday. "I didn't see him anywhere!" Sango frowned, Kirara transforming into her smaller form and hopping on her master's shoulder.

Kouga, the wolf demon arrived seconds later panting from running so much in a zigzag type pattern through the forest. "I- D-Didn't see- him- either!" He gasped, taking the water container young Shippo gave to him. "Damn! I haven't done that much weird running through a large ass forest in a long time!" Kouga gasped after the massive swallow of cold water.

Miroku sighed from the side, rubbing at his shoulders while Kagome looked down, tears forming at her eyes.

"No luck?" Sango asked, running to Kagome to comfort her friend.

Miroku shook his head no, dropping his gaze as well.

"What if- wh-what if he was captured?! What if Naraku has him?! What if he's dead?!" Kagome cried into her friends' shoulder, complete agony tearing at her heart. Inuyasha was missing, having not come back from who-knows-when, well besides Sesshomaru, they concluded he had something to do with the hanyou's disappearance.

Sesshomaru stood to go and make Jaken use the staff to find him when the group heard rustling from the bushes to the side. Inuyasha walked through rustling the leaves and twigs, the group, besides Sesshomaru and Jaken and Kouga, cheered and stood with happiness that their friend was alright. Kagome ran to him, hugging him tightly and crying into his chest. However, following the command of the sorceress he saw before, walked past the sobbing woman and stood in front of Sesshomaru, his mate. Looking up and golden eyes met their twin, a shimmer flowed through Inuyasha's eyes before they rolled back into his head and he fell back, unconscious. Before he could hit the floor, Sesshomaru caught him and held him close to his chest wondering what that shimmer was.

"Inuyasha!" His pack yelled and crowded around the pair, trying to see if he was alright. Sesshomaru reluctantly gave him to the futuristic female, as she had healing powers he did not possess.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome cried, tears falling from her eyes onto his face. It seemed as if he were just sleeping, so she attempted to softly pat his cheek, calling his name. "Inuyasha, Inuyasha, Inuyasha! W-wake up!" Shaking his frame, a bit, she tried to wake him, but his eyes didn't open.

"What if..." Miroku spoke, his hand on his chin and staring not only at Inuyasha in thought, but also Sesshomaru.

Sango as well as Kouga caught on immediately. Sesshomaru stared at the monk for a split second before he looked down at the half demon sleeping in the priestess's arms. Frowning slightly, he opened his mouth and spoke almost commandingly, "Inuyasha, I believe you've slept enough."

It was fairly vague, but those words were like a spell and his eyes opened slowly, blinking in the new scenery.

"Wha...?" He asked staring up at a tear-stricken Kagome. "Kagome?"

"Oh Inuyasha!" The priestess cried out in joy, hugging him close to her chest.

Miroku and Sango sighed in relief as well as Shippo who jumped and clung himself to the red robes of his father figure and cried his relief.

"What are you all crying about, you act as if I died or something." Inuyasha chuckled and pat Kagome and Shippo's head.

The Inuyasha gang froze looking at their leader in confusion.

"I'm fine Kagome, Shippo, stop crying already." He sighed softly and stood up with a weeping Kagome attached to his chest and a stunned Shippo on his shoulder.

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru spoke, his voice void of any joy and instead filled with annoyance and anger, at least to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha placed his hand on Kagome and pulled her to the side by Sango and gave Shippo to Miroku. He then turned around and faced his mate. "Yes?"

"Where were you?" The Lord of the West inquired, wanting to know exactly what was causing the half breed to take his sweet time on getting back, it was way after noon almost hitting evening, and that would mean they needed to spend the night in the clearing again, or walk all through the night, which is what Sesshomaru is planning on doing to punish Inuyasha by making his pack suffer.

"After our little affair early this morning-" Inuyasha started, attempting to recover what happened earlier that day. "-I went to take a bath in the hot spring. Got out after I was clean and started to walk back to here when I landed in a different clearing and... I don't know what happened next. All of a sudden I woke up in the forest and found my way back here." Inuyasha frowned, scratching at his head, the part about the sorceress erased from his mind completely.

"That sounds strange... I wonder if you encountered someone or something that erased your mind?" Miroku spoke after a second of processing that fact that Inuyasha just answered Sesshomaru without so much as a scoff or arguing.

Sesshomaru was also taken aback, staring at his mate with confusion.

"Inuyasha... Are you alright?" Kagome asked, having wiped the tears from her eyes after Miroku spoke, bringing her and the rest out of their stupor. She placed the back of her hand on his forehead to feel his temperature, it wasn't elevated nor was it cool, perfectly normal for the half demon.

"I'm fine?" He asked confused himself at his packs actions. He felt fine, better than fine actually.

"Are you sure mutt-face? You seem to be actin kinda weird." Kouga stepped into the conversation then, standing behind Kagome to stare at the young demon himself knowing that his close proximity to the one he cherished would send him over the top.

Inuyasha blinked at Kouga, "Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you asking?" Inuyasha scratched the side of his head staring at all the faces staring back at him. "What?" He questioned smiling a little, attempting to understand.

Taken aback by the very rare smile, Sango spoke for the group, having the strength to confront the abnormality in the situation the gang found themselves in. "Uhm... Nothing I guess if you feel alright Inuyasha." She tapped Kagome and Miroku's arms lightly trying to get their attention to talk about their friend while he was preoccupied with other things.

"Ok." Inuyasha then turned around to see Sesshomaru and wait for a command.

"If we're done here." Was all he said turning around himself and leaving through the bushes and trees to their destination.

Inuyasha was hot on his heels, following after his mate.

The actions he was portraying were making his friends worried. They all looked at each other before following after the other small pack, Ah-Un immediately, like Inuyasha, followed after his master with Jaken and little Rin snoozing on their back, Rin out of boredom and Jaken because Sesshomaru had made him run around the area looking for Inuyasha at the crack of dawn.

The group's been walking for a few hours, the sun is setting, the wind is blowing softly making the lightening bugs dance through the leaves and the shadows. The humans were getting tired, waking at first light to then spending all their time and energy looking for their half demon companion. Yawns were heard throughout the group, even the young Shippo yawned from the events of the day, not being able to sleep like Rin because he was so worried about his father figure being in danger.

Inuyasha could hear his pack's yawns and knew they were tired, however, everything in him was telling him to not speak up, and so he didn't. Instead he followed behind Sesshomaru wordlessly.

"Oy! Sesshomaru!" Kouga called out then, deciding to walk at the rear to protect Kagome and her friends from any sneak attacks, seeing that Inuyasha was acting weirdly and not paying all that much attention.

Sesshomaru didn't move an inch indicating that he wasn't going to acknowledge Kouga's outburst and instead keep going.

Kouga caught up to the leaders, side glancing at Inuyasha for a split second before turning fully to Sesshomaru. "When are we going to take a break? The humans have been up all morning trying to find your mate. They're tired and deserve to rest for the night."

Sesshomaru glanced his way for a split second before looking straight ahead, taking his words into consideration. Inuyasha did not argue with him coming back, and they did use up all of their strength being pathetic humans. He was getting soft, and so he stopped in a well-lit clearing, sitting down against a large tree trunk. "We will camp here for the night." Was all he said as he closed his eyes and relaxed.

The group moved around getting things ready to sleep, too tired to even eat for the night. Kagome getting her sleeping bag out and fluffing up the padding. Miroku gathering firewood so they wouldn't freeze during the night. Kouga created a pit for the fire while Sango gathered extra blankets in Kagome's yellow bag for the three to lay on. Rin was already out for the night and Jaken watched over her, sleeping in the evening allowed him to stay awake for the next day or two. Ah-Un always up for a nap or sleep, curled up around Rin to protect her better than Jaken.

Inuyasha stood where he was when they stopped, just staring out into nothing. He didn't know what to do, he wasn't exactly tired, nor was he hungry. He just stood there, staring into space and watching the world go by.

Kagome was out like a light, little Shippo curled into her, sleeping the events away that transpired that eventful day. Sango curled up with Kirara and Miroku poking at the fire he had gotten started with Kouga's help from his sharp claws.

The wolf demon watched Inuyasha from the fire, wondering if he truly was alright, since he was just standing off to the side of the clearing doing absolutely nothing. Before he would have gone to get some food or refill the water canteens, or even sit down next to a tree far away from Sesshomaru and feign sleep. Tonight, was different and he did nothing, deciding that he would give the half demon something to do, grabbed the water canteens Kagome brought from her world as well as the bamboo ones Sango had. Brought them over to Inuyasha and held them out to him, "Here, could you go fill these with water? You can smell the stream nearby right mutt-face?"

Inuyasha didn't move, instead he continued to stare off into space, as if he didn't even hear the wolf demon.

Kouga got irritated, wiggling the bottles in front of Inuyasha's face, trying to get any type of reaction out of him at all. Instead, the bottles smacked against his face and he continued to not move.

Sesshomaru peeked one eye open and watched from the sidelines. Confused himself as to why Inuyasha wasn't getting angry and exploding on the wolf as per his character.

"Hello? Are you even in there?" Kouga tapped his knuckles against Inuyasha's forehead in a better attempt to piss the younger off and get some type of reaction.

However, it didn't work at all. It seemed like nothing was going to snap the young half demon out of whatever trance he was in. Kagome then stood up and went to her love interest, staring into his eyes and not seeing any type of light. "Inuyasha?" She asked, placing her hand on his cheek.

In that instant, Sesshomaru was at Inuyasha's side, holding Kagome's hand away from Inuyasha's face. It took her by surprise, gasping loudly and staring up into his cold eyes which were glaring back at her.

The others, also taken by surprise, stilled momentarily before Kouga grabbed Kagome by the waist and pulled her toward himself, separating her from the demon Lord. Sesshomaru let go of her wrist and looked back at Inuyasha and his expressionless face. Something in the very back of his head pinged off, a very small annoying voice in his head that felt like something was wrong.

Sesshomaru stared into his younger brothers' eyes, the eyes that were once golden and bright like the sun, was dulled and closer to a brown color. Grabbing Inuyasha's chin and forcing him to look up into his eyes, eyes that were supposed to be reflected back. Sighed softly and turned to leave, "Come Inuyasha." Was all he spoke to make the hanyou tread forward after his mate.


Reviews

love crimson red ray88: Honestly I'm a like confused because it's been so long, but all in all it's a good chapter, I can't wait for the update
AR: Yeah, I apologize for the long wait time, things have just been a little hectic and I'm just a massive procrastinator lol
inuyasha16451: Loved it. Update when you can. Take your time.
AR: Good! I'm always so afraid that my chapters are to fast and stuff.
NikkiS71: OMG! What in the absolute HELL! I'm so sick of Sesshomaru's attitude towards Inuyasha! I think he should lose him for awhile! It would serve his ass right, to be without his mate due to his lack of feeling and care. He should know the feeling of NOT being able to touch see or hear Inuyasha! A mate is a gift! A partner in life that should be loved and cherished above all other. To disrespect your mate is to disrespect yourself! I hope she doesn't grant Inuyasha's drastic wish, however I do hope she does something to make Sesshomaru think more of his mate than of himself! Inuyasha deserves more love than he gets!

B reading U!
AR: Lol, yeah well hopefully all will be alright closer to the end of the story.
lil joker 1989:Ah, thank goodness someone is there for Inuyasha, but please don't help him kill himself.
Let her find another way to help him.
AR: :)
Kayer713: Oh poor Inuyasha! Sesshy you asshole! You need to be dropped down a peg. I hope Inuyasha doesn't die.

AR: Don't worry, lol, he didn't die as you read already.
Nychell21: Congratulations and dont fret life gets better that's why we keep living!
AR: Aweh, thank you! I actually needed to read something positive right now, life seems to just keep crumbling away.
yaoiluvur: Sesshomaru was extra cruel to inuyasha. Really it's like he meant to give inuyasha nothing but pain. His wish made me want to cry for inuyasha. Is Skighlar going to kill inuyasha. Please don't
AR: Don't worry dears, he is not dead lol
kiki2222: I need more of this story. I just started read Inuyasha fics again after like ten years. This is the first i have actually followed since starting up again.
AR: Aweh! Omg, that's a massive compliment! I'm so glad you like my story! I know how that is, I was in the same boat until I decided to create a story myself lol.

A/N: I honestly don't have anything to add, but I hope everyone enjoys my story, and honestly I'm trying to find someone to beta read my stories and maybe bounce some ideas off of someone. It always feels like things are going so fast and things are hardcore out of character.