I'm Yours
So...The final chapter turned out to be longer than I thought. (Go Figure). So it's going to be a two part finale. (My first two part finale wahoo!)
To My Reviewers:
IceMageNinjaTalia: *taps your head affectionately* I know, but all things must end...And according to my brain, this fic is done.
Layla347: THANK YOU!
FeudalWarrior (Guest): If that was the events that would happen, then yes...But will it happen that way. *insert evil plotting smile here*
ivanacindy: Wait no more my friend.
Aggie12: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully you'll like the ending as well.
northernlion196: Dirrrty...And yea.
Guest: Okay, okay, here ya go.
corde amare: Awww, thank you so much *blush blush*
Vexel: You and me both.
Larissa (Guest): Wow thank you. And I know, I'm trying really hard to fix up my writing and grammar skills. But I'm glad you like the plot.
Thank you all for your lovely reviews and praises and mild criticism. They are greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank: corde amare, yoli05,Sam032891, Lord Admiral Ky, CroOkedTwiSted, Eleven-29, angelfire123 and Kiraandthatisall for your support.
Disclaimer: For the approximately seventh time, Inuyasha belongs to the brilliant mind of Rumiko Takahashi. Not me. And for the final time I beg of you: Please don't sue.
Chapter Seven: Moving Forward (Part One)
Naraku smirked wickedly as the sun began to slowly rise.
Today was the day.
The day his true potential will be realized.
The Shikon no Tama will be tainted and give him unbelievable power.
And it will be all thanks to the hatred that spring up from the three individuals he plans to manipulate.
Inuyasha.
Kikyo.
And Kagome.
"It is time," he said smugly as he took Inuyasha's form once again.
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Kikyo huffed as she looked around her families hut.
Her mother had already left to work in the fields with the other village women.
And Kagome, she didn't come home at all last night.
'She's with Inuyasha most likely,' she thought in mild irritation.
Kikyo hoped that Inuyasha didn't do anything drastic with her sister before he used the Jewel.
Still, she couldn't help but inwardly smile, 'Today is the day,' she thought in relief, 'The Shikon no Tama will be gone forever. And I...All of us, will be free.'
Slowly, Kikyo began to make her way out the door.
"Kikyo," Kaede said sleepily, "Where are you going?" Shippo and Souta groaned as Kaede began talking. Souta mumbled something about how it's too early. The fox demon simply yawned as he curled up into a small ball, and cuddled with his tail.
The priestess put on a smile for her sibling, "I'm just going out."
Kaede yawned, "For what?"
"I'm going to get some more medicinal herbs for your eye," Kikyo lied.
The little girl looked at her sister in confusion, "Medicinal herbs? But Kagome brought plenty home last night," she said while gesturing to the bowl of her herbs next to her.
Kikyo was momentarily stumped, "Umm, maybe there's something more effective that Kagome overlooked."
Kaede gave a grateful smile, "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Kikyo looked at her sister with concern, "Kaede, does your eye hurt?" she asked tentatively.
Kaede shook her head, "No. It's much better today. Kagome's remedies are helping a lot." The little girl looked around the room. "Where is Kagome?" Kaede asked, noticing her other sister missing.
"She went out with mother this morning," Kikyo lied again, "Go back to sleep Kaede. You need your rest."
The little girl nodded as she watched her sister leave.
For some reason, a cold shiver ran down Kaede's spine as Kikyo left.
It felt strange.
Kaede was suddenly consumed with an overwhelming feeling of terror.
As if she was never going to see her eldest sister again.
'No,' Kaede shook her head, 'Kikyo is going stay with us forever,' she promised before going back to sleep.
The feeling of terror still plaguing her mind.
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Kikyo walked as calmly as she could to the shrine that held the Shikon no Tama.
"Lady Priestess," Miroku called out, startling her. Sango was by his side with a small Kilala on her shoulder. "We scouted the village as you requested. I have also placed sutras around the area as a backup. An attack like last night won't happen again any time soon."
Kikyo bowed in gratitude, "I appreciate your assistance."
"That's why I'm here," Sango replied. The exterminator couldn't help but notice Kikyo's fidgeting behavior. Something very out of character for her. "Is everything alright Kikyo?" she asked the priestess in concern.
"Yes," Kikyo replied, "I just..."
Sango guessed on what was wrong, "Is this about Kaede?"
Kikyo gave a small nod. Every time she looked at her little sister's eye, she felt guilty. Kikyo couldn't believe that such a terrible thing had happened because of her. The priestess replayed the battle over and over in her mind of how she should have, could have, done things differently.
Somehow, her powers were weakening.
Was it because of all her strength is being used to keep the Jewel purified?
Or was something else draining her power?
Tsubaki's curse came into Kikyo's mind, but she quickly disregarded it. 'That can't be it. I don't love anyone.'
"Kikyo?" Sango questioned, bringing her out of her thoughts. She and Miroku were looking at the priestess in concern. "Maybe you should relax today?"
"I can be of some assistance of guarding the Jewel," Miroku suggested.
"No!" Kikyo snapped at them before gaining her composure back. "I cannot do such a thing. Now if you'll excuse me," she bowed at them before going into the shrine.
Sango and Miroku watched her as she left.
Miroku turned his gaze to the woman that stood beside him. "I must say, I'm surprised." Sango raised a brow at him. "You're not like most women are you," he stated.
Sango looked down at her demon slaying attire, "What do you mean by that?" she asked sarcastically.
"It was a compliment, my dear Sango," he smiled at her. "And I must also say, that I was very impressed in the battle yesterday...You're a very special woman, Sango."
The slayer couldn't help but blush at the compliment. No man had ever said that to her before. "Th-thank," she began to say before she felt something grab her butt. Sango glared at the monk, who had secretly maneuvered his hand so he could grope her. "LECHEROUS MONK!" she screeched before slapping him hard in the face.
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Kagome awoke from her sleep feeling a little stiff. 'Why am I so sore?' she momentarily whined before last night's events entered her mind.
She frowned at all the pain and suffering that took place last night.
After Kagome shifted her body, she realized that she couldn't move. Slowly, she looked up and saw the reason why.
Suddenly her frown faded and formed into a smile.
Inuyasha had both his arms wrapped around her as they leaned their back against the wall of the hut.
Last night, after they confessed their love, Kagome asked to stay with him. Inuyasha led her into his hut where they continued to talk, while occasionally sharing more kisses.
Enjoying their own private little world.
Inuyasha had sat in his usual place with his back against the wall with his legs crossed. Kagome sat closely next to him, with her legs bent forward comfortably. After some time had passed, Kagome had fell asleep and had lowered her head on his shoulder. Inuyasha had snickered quietly at her actions before he put his arm around her and held her close. He fell asleep soon after, listening to the sound of Kagome's steady breathing.
'He looks so peaceful,' Kagome thought as she gazed at Inuyasha's sleeping face. In all the time she's known him, Kagome had never seen Inuyasha look this relaxed.
Her eyes then drifted to his demon dog ears. It seemed so long ago when she had first saw them...And touched them.
Once again, without even realizing it, Kagome was gently touching Inuyasha's ears.
Inuyasha shifted in his sleep.
Kagome gasped when she finally realized what she was doing.
Instead of whining, Inuyasha's head leaned into Kagome's hand. "So good," he mumbled in his sleep.
She gaped at his reaction before silently snickering. 'And he told me NOT to touch them,' Kagome thought a little amused before she continued to rub Inuyasha's ears.
A few minutes later, Inuyasha finally woke up from a pleasant dream. One he wished he'd have never woken up from. In the dream, he felt as if his whole body was surrounded by warmth and love.
It felt too good to be true.
When he became more alerted, he noticed that Kagome was gently rubbing his ears. 'That little sneak,' he thought inwardly smirking.
Inuyasha quickly grabbed her wrist, causing Kagome to gasp in surprise, before he opened his eyes to look at her.
She was prepared for him to yell at her. But instead, Inuyasha gently brought her hand to his cheek. He took a moment to inhale Kagome scent before he placed a small kiss on her inner wrist. "You're here...You're really here," he said silently aloud.
Kagome smiled at his words, "Yes...And you're here too."
Inuyasha gave a small smile of his own as he lowered her hand.
Kagome shifted her body so she could finally have a good morning stretch. She groaned at her stiff muscles, "How do you sleep like this every night?" she whined mildly.
"Feh," he snorted in amusement, "Not my fault you fell asleep like that."
She sent him a playful glare, which made Inuyasha smile. Kagome's scowling was kind of cute to him.
They couple was quiet for a few moments until Kagome broke the silence, "So...What happens now?"
Inuyasha let out a huff as he looked out the hut door to see the time, "I'm meeting up with your sister later. I need to tell her that I changed my mind about being human."
"I'm going with you," Kagome stated, "I need to have a talk with Kikyo about what she had been planning."
Inuyasha shook his head as he turned back to look at her, "No way. With your temper, you'll just argue back and forth without me getting a word in. I should probably talk to her alone first."
Kagome pouted, "I'm not that bad," she mumbled before looking at the floor and letting her mind drift to her sister's plan. 'Kikyo wants the Jewel to disappear...But why use Inuyasha like that?' she thought in disbelief.
"Hey," Inuyasha brought Kagome back by lifting her chin so she'd look at him. "Don't be mad at her. Kikyo wanted to do what she thought was best for you...We both did."
She nodded in understanding, "Can we just agree to let me make the decision of what's best from now on?"
Inuyasha pretended to contemplate her request for a few moments, which made Kagome playfully slap his shoulder. "Alright, alright," he finally agreed before placing a kiss on her lips.
Before he could pull back, Kagome wrapped her hands around the back of his neck to keep him in place. Inuyasha didn't mind the extra attention he was offering and receiving.
This relationship that they had started last night was still new. And yet, the love that they had for one another was so easy for them to express.
Suddenly, the sound of a gargling stomach made the couple pulled back. Kagome blushed at the noise. She hadn't eaten since the midday meal yesterday.
Inuyasha couldn't help but chuckle, "Come on, let's go get some breakfast," he suggested as he pulled her up and led them outside.
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Kikyo was running to the Sacred Tree with the Shikon no Tama tightly gripped in her hand, "I'm running so late," she said to herself. It was far past sunrise and almost close to noon. The monk and slayer had kept her occupied for far longer than she had realized.
Eventually she had made it to the Sacred Tree and began to wait.
And wait.
...And wait.
'Where is he?' she wondered in slight irritation. The whole meeting up by day break was Inuyasha idea, 'Then why isn't he here yet?'
Kikyo sighed heavily as she began to walk to Inuyasha's hut. 'He probably overslept if he and Kagome were together all night.' With that in mind, she began to walk quicker to her destination.
She was so focused on her irritation that Kikyo didn't even feel the evil presence running up behind her.
Inuyasha/Naraku chuckled evilly before he struck Kikyo in the shoulder, using his claws to dig deeply into her skin.
Kikyo's eyes widened form the contact and fell to the ground with a thud as the Shikon Jewel slipped out of her fingers.
Blood was already beginning to stain her sleeve from her priestess robes.
Inuyasha/Naraku watched as Kikyo struggled to get to the Jewel, before giving a sinister smirk. He walked up next to the wounded priestess and slammed his foot onto Kikyo's wrist, making her cry out in pain. She looked up at her attacker and couldn't believe at what she saw, "Inu-Inuyasha?"
"Fool," said Inuyasha/Naraku, "I had no desire, whatsoever, to become a human. You actually think I wanted to that and be with that stupid girl," he taunted before kneeling down and picking up the Jewel. "But I shall take the Shikon Jewel none the less. Thanks," he said smugly, "This Jewel is going to absorb a lot of pain and suffering, once I use it to slaughter the villagers...I think I'll start with your family first."
Kikyo's eyes widened in horror as the being she thought, was Inuyasha walking away.
"You," she struggled to say as her wound began to bleed profusely. "You traitor," she managed to yell. "This whole time...You were lying to my sister...To me! You bastard! YOU TRAITOR!"
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Naraku chuckled as he placed the Shikon no Tama back to its shrine, wearing his white baboon mask and cloak.
Already he could feel the hatred that Kikyo had for Inuyasha begin to taint the Jewel. And in doing so, the Jewel began to show its true beauty and power.
But it still isn't enough.
The Jewel needed more malice.
More hatred.
Naraku had to go after Inuyasha next.
"But first things first," he stated evilly.
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Kun-lun was carrying the bowl of gruel that she was going to feed to that bandit hiding in the cave.
Normally, she would never have any ill will towards anyone.
Neither, human or demon.
'But this man is different,' Kun-lun thought uneasily. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was just something about this Onigumo that rubbed her the wrong way. Kagome's accusations proved that her feelings of the thief were true.
'If only there was another way to deal with Onigumo,' Kun-lun thought before she had made it to the cave.
Kun-lun gasped at what she saw.
The cave had been burnt on the inside.
"Oh no," she said aloud, dropping the gruel and making her way inside the opening of the cave. Kun-lun stopped when she saw the entire area of the cave had been burned. She covered her mouth in horror as she looked down at where Onigumo once resided.
But something seemed wrong.
Onigumo's body...His remains...There were none to be seen.
"How did?" she wondered in shock. Kun-lun was quickly turned around and began to head toward Inuyasha's hut, "The girls. I have to warn them."
Whether it was mother's intuition or basic human instinct, Kun-lun knew something wasn't right. And whatever was going, she knew that her children were in terrible danger.
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Inuyasha and Kagome finished eating the fish that he had caught from the river and the berries that Kagome had collected.
"Do you think your family will be okay?" Inuyasha asked her suddenly, "With us I mean."
Kagome shrugged, "Kikyo obviously knows...My mother might too," she stated, "I guess that explains why she gave this secret smile every time I mentioned you. Actually, she's been doing that for months now."
Inuyasha raised a brow, "Wait, your mother knew?" Kagome nodded yes. "Feh, damn I wish she would have told us."
"I know," Kagome snickered in agreement.
"What about Kaede and Souta?" he asked in concern.
Kagome shrugged, "I think Kaede is coming around. And I'm pretty sure my brother would be happy about us, since he thinks the world of you."
Inuyasha snorted, "I don't know what it is with him and the runt. I ain't no role model."
Kagome scooted closer to him and kissed his cheek, "You just don't see what we do...What I've always seen in you. A brave and strong man."
The half demon looked away as he blushed but kept a scowl on his face, "Wh-whatever." His actions made Kagome chuckle. After a few moments of silence, Inuyasha looked up at the sky and noticed that it was almost mid-day. "It's time now. I need to go meet with Kikyo," he reminded Kagome.
She nodded in understanding, "I should go and talk to the rest of my family too."
They both walked outside the hut.
"I'll take you to the village," Inuyasha said about to scoop her up in his arms.
"No," Kagome stopped him, "You need to go get my sister. The faster you do, the faster I can have a few words with her," she reminded him of her issues with Kikyo.
Inuyasha sighed, "Are you always going to be this stubborn?"
"Probably," Kagome said mildly teasing, "Think you can handle it."
The half demon smirked and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips, "Bring it on."
Kagome smiled, "I'll see you soon."
"Count on it," he promised before he took off to the direction of the Sacred Tree.
Kagome gave a content sigh before she began to make her way home.
"Kagome!" she heard her mother's voice coming out of the woods.
"Mama?" Kagome questioned in alarm after seeing how her mother in her scared state. "Mama what's wrong?"
"Something happened in the cave," Kun-lun stated, heaving from her shortness of breath.
Kagome didn't even need to ask which cave, "What? What happened at the cave? Did something happen to Onigumo?...Is he dead?"
"Now that is a bit of complex question," said a sinister voice, startling the two women.
A figure suddenly emerged from the bushes.
Kagome's senses could feel that this being wasn't human...But not exactly full demon either.
'A half demon?' she wondered in slight fear, since this man's aura felt very ominous.
"Who are you?" Kagome demanded, as she and her mother huddled together as the evil figure began to approach them.
"You already know my name, little girl," he answered as he pulled off his baboon mask. Both women shivered at the man's piercing red eyes. "But I'm afraid that I've outgrown it since we last met. You can now call me, Naraku."
Before the two women could question him, Naraku morphed his arms into demon tentacles and wrapped them around Kagome and Kun-lun's throats.
Both mother and daughter tried to fight back but were suddenly consumed by darkness.
Naraku dropped both of their unconscious bodies on the ground before snickering. "And now, it's the half demon's turn," he stated before morphing his body to resemble Kikyo
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Inuyasha ran to the Sacred Tree as fast as he could. He really wanted to hurry and get back to Kagome. 'Then again, I'm not in much of a hurry to tell Kikyo that I changed my mind about being a human.'
Once he arrived at the agreed meeting place, Inuyasha was surprised to see that Kikyo wasn't there yet.
"Where is she?" he asked out loud. Inuyasha figured that Kikyo would be anxious to get rid of the Jewel once and for all. 'Then why isn't she here yet?'
Suddenly, Inuyasha began to hear somebody snickering.
"So you've come...half demon," said Kikyo/Naraku smugly, using Kikyo's voice.
Inuyasha turned to the familiar priestess in confusion. He raised a brow when he saw her aiming a bow and arrow towards him. "Wha-what did you call me?" he asked her/him in disbelief. Kikyo had promised him that she'd never call him that again.
Kikyo/Naraku scowled at him, "I said 'half-demon.' Can't those ugly dog ears of yours hear what I say. Ugh, I can't believe my sister had the stomach to even touch them."
"U-ugly dog," Inuyasha repeated with a growl.
Kikyo/Naraku pulled the bow back further, "I would never allow a half demon to possess the Shikon Jewel. From the very beginning I knew I was going to kill you. But I wanted my sister to enjoy her little game first."
Inuyasha's ear twitched, "Game?...What game?" he demanded to know.
"Isn't it obvious?" Kikyo/Naraku asked snickering, "Kagome was playing you from the very beginning. When she realized you were falling for her, Kagome thought it would be amusing to string you along."
Inuyasha shook his head in disbelief, "That-that's not true," he said in denial of what he just heard.
He couldn't believe that.
Not after everything they said last night.
'There's no Kagome would do that...Right?' Inuyasha thought, starting to doubt her.
"Did you really think my sister could fall in love with an abomination like you?" Kikyo/Naraku asked rhetorically. "You're nothing more than a disgusting half demon," she/he stated before releasing the arrow, "DIE INUYASHA!"
Inuyasha dodged the arrow and fled towards the village.
Once the half demon was out of sight, Naraku changed back to his original form, "Perfect."
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Inuyasha continued to run through the forest in fury.
He couldn't believe what had just happened.
'Damn it...Was it all a lie?' Inuyasha asked himself as his thoughts lingered on Kagome, 'Was she...Were they just using me for their own sick amusement?'
Inuyasha had never doubted Kagome.
Not once.
Not after all they've been through and shared together.
And yet she...
'Why!?' he screamed in his mind.
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Shippo was rushing back to Inuyasha's hut, figuring that he would find Inuyasha and Kagome there.
'I'll bet they'll be glad that Kaede is up and moving around,' he thought happily. The little fox demon was so excited about his friend being okay that he almost missed the scent of blood.
"Huh?" Shippo paused and smelled the scent, "Is that...Kikyo?"
Sure enough, the wounded priestess slowly emerged on the path with a determined look on her face. Blood was continuing to seep out of the wound she had received. However, Kikyo's hatred willed her the strength she needed to continue on.
"Kikyo," Shippo said, started at her appearance. His eyes widened when he saw the wound on her shoulder, "You're hurt," the young fox said with worry as he went over to help her, "We need to go find Kagome."
"Go. Away," Kikyo hissed at him before using her holy powers to attack the young fox. She was so mad that she didn't even care that Shippo was innocent.
Shippo quickly dodged the attack in fear, "Hey," he said in fear and confusion, "What was that for?" he snapped at her.
Kikyo continued to walk forward instead of answering him, "Damn you...Inuyasha," she said under her breath.
Unsure of what else to do, Shippo quickly began to run to Inuyasha's hut. 'I need to find Kagome, quick!'
Shippo ran as swiftly as his demonic legs could carry him until he reached Inuyasha's hut.
His eyes widened when he stopped and spotted Kagome and Kun-lun's unconscious forms.
"Kagome!" the little fox said with worry as he rushed over and began shaking her shoulder. "Kagome, are you okay?" Shippo questioned with small tears coming from his eyes, silently praying that she wasn't dead.
Kagome groaned as she felt her body being shaken, before her eyes slowly fluttered open. "Shi-Shippo?" she questioned in confusion, her voice feeling hoarse from her sore neck.
The soreness helped her quickly remembered what had happened.
"Mama?" she asked while sitting up and crawled over to her mother. "Mama, wake up."
Kun-lun woken up in a similar manner as Kagome. She also quickly remembered what had happened to them. "Th-that demon? Where is he?"
Kagome looked around the clearing and couldn't find a trace of him, "I don't know."
"Demon?" Shippo said in alarm, "What demon?"
"He said...His name was Naraku," Kagome remembered, "But, he was so strange. He said that we knew him...But as someone else?" she said in confusion.
Kun-lun's eyes widened in sudden realization," Oh my God...I think...I think that demon used to be Onigumo."
"WHAT?" Kagome and Shippo said in surprise.
"How is that possible?" Kagome questioned.
Kun-lun shook her head, "Your father, he told me about something like this once. That if a human's heart was wicked enough, their souls could be offered to weaker demons in exchange for power."
Kagome eyes widened in horror. She had no idea that such evil could even exist. 'I know that Onigumo was a wicked man...But to go that far?'
Suddenly, the sound of multiple people screaming interrupted their thoughts.
"That came from the village," Kagome said in alarm."
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The villagers screamed in terror as Inuyasha stormed through the village without a care of who or what was in his way.
He couldn't handle it.
The betrayal...it hurt Inuyasha more than he could ever admit.
And that betrayal caused his mind to be clouded.
There was only one thing in this world that made sense to Inuyasha anymore.
And that was becoming a full demon.
Full of determination, Inuyasha jumped as high as he could into the air and smashed into the roof of the shrine that would help him achieve his goal.
The Shikon no Tama.
Suddenly, the doors busted open behind Inuyasha before he snatched the Jewel into his grip.
"Inuyasha!?" Sango yelled as she entered the shrine. So many people in the village were screaming about a demon attack. The slayer quickly sprang into action, expecting to fight an evil demon. However, Sango was unprepared to see the half demon she had considered a friend. "What are you doing?" she demanded to know.
Miroku came up next to her, staff in hand, ready to fight, "It appears Inuyasha is showing his true colors."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha barked the two of them, "You both were probably in on this whole thing too! Trying to act like you were my friends, when really all you wanted to do was bide your time before you killed me!"
"What are you talking about?" Sango questioned the half demon, "Of course we're friends!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!" Inuyasha warned before he prepared his attack.
"Watch out!" Miroku warned, as he threw his holy sutras.
Sango looked at the monk in alarm, "Wait!" she yelled trying to stop Miroku from attacking.
Inuyasha quickly dodged the sutras and busted through the roof once again.
"Look out!" Miroku yelled as he grabbed Sango and shoved them both out of the collapsing shrine.
Sango recuperated quickly, "Kilala stop Inuyasha," she told her feline demon companion. Kilala meowed before she transformed and took flight after the half demon. "But don't hurt him!" Sango ordered Kilala as she progressed.
"What on earth is going on?" Miroku asked the slayer he'd come to admire, "I thought we could trust Inuyasha after that demon attack."
"I don't know," Sango answered, "That's why we need to find out before he does something too unforgivable."
"Sango! Miroku!" Kagome yelled for her friends, with her mother and Shippo in tow.
Both the slayer and monk looked at the young girl in relief. If anyone could help Inuyasha come to his senses, it was Kagome.
Kun-lun looked at the shrine in horror, "What happened?
Sango looked at Kagome hesitantly, "Kagome it...It was Inuyasha."
Kagome shook her head at the shrine that held the Shikon no Tama, "No, no he wouldn't...He couldn't."
Kun-lun had other concerns, "Where's Kikyo?" she asked looking around to see her eldest child missing.
"We haven't seen her since this morning," Miroku answered.
"I saw her," Shippo told the grownups, "Kikyo was hurt really bad. And she looked really mad. She almost purified me."
"What!?" Kagome asked completely stunned. 'What in the world is going on around here?' she wondered in confusion.
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Inuyasha smirked as he landed on the ground and looked at the Jewel in his hand. "Finally, a way for me to become all demon, at last."
A sudden roar made the half demon look up. The transformed Kilala was ascending form the sky, ready to attack him.
"Oh no you don't," he told the feline as he dodged Kilala's assault and began running toward the forest.
"Inuyasha!" Kikyo's voice made the half demon turn from his stride
Kikyo had a bow and arrow aimed towards Inuyasha's body, and released it when he came into her path.
Inuyasha didn't have time to dodge the attack.
The arrow found its mark.
And hit Inuyasha right in his chest, pinning him to the Sacred Tree.
Inuyasha yelped in pain once the arrow made contact with him and the Shikon Jewel slipped from his grasp, landing right below the tree.
Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kun-lun came across the scene only a few moment later.
Kagome's eyes widened at what she saw.
Kikyo wounded and bleeding.
Inuyasha injured and trapped by an arrow.
"Inuyasha," Kagome cried as she ran to him. She climbed up the roots of the tree and tried to yank the arrow from his body.
Kun-lun, Sango and Miroku also rushed forward and began to attend to Kikyo, who had knelt down in pain after her attack.
Kikyo looked up and saw what her sister was doing, "Kagome, get away from him," she warned her sister.
Kagome didn't listen.
Inuyasha was surprised to see Kagome here. He was even more astonished when he saw tears begin to stream down her face. "Ka-Kagome...I thought we."
Kagome didn't hear him as she struggled to get the arrow out. "I can't-I can't pull it out," she told him in regret. She suddenly saw Inuyasha's eyes becoming hazy. "No Inuyasha, you have to stay awake," she warned him, cupping his face with one hand and shaking his shoulder in the other.
Inuyasha could feel his strength draining quickly. So he quickly lifted his hand to gently hold Kagome's wrist.
Even if it really was all a lie.
Inuyasha didn't care anymore.
Because his feeling for her were true.
He was in love with Kagome.
And if he was going to die, he needed to tell her.
Even if it was only once.
"It's-It's okay," Inuyasha muttered to Kagome. "Even if it wasn't-wasn't real...I still...love," he tried to finish telling her.
But it was too late.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome called to him, shaking his body again.
She felt her heart break in two when saw Inuyasha's eyes closed and felt his body go limp. His hand had slowly lost its grip and dropped to his side.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed in despair before she broke down and cried, burying her head in Inuyasha's chest.
Now that, is a cliff hanger. Bet you readers are glad I got part two up and ready to go.
One More For the Road My Readers.