Chapter 14: Regained Spirit
Kagome kept walking for some time, so hurt that she could barely breathe, tears running unchecked down her face.
How dare he do this to me! I spent so long and wasted all that time loving him, and he goes and chooses her... and now that I'm happy and have someone who actually loves me alone, he decides that I'll make a good understudy for Kikyou?
She really couldn't believe the nerve of him. To think that she would ever take second place to Kikyou in anything, let alone as a mate! Kikyou herself would probably love to see her coming second in just about everything, but Kagome was pretty sure that on this one even she would draw the line.
If the look on her face was anything to go by, she really didn't like what Inuyasha was doing.
She knew that sometimes more than one wife was taken in this time period, though that was pretty much restricted to the nobility and royalty. And even worse, in her eyes, was that sometimes wives were even shared. She shuddered at that thought. The reasons were usually political and even then it was rare, since most men weren't very good at sharing what they saw as their property. She knew that Kikyou had to be furious with Inuyasha for his greed, and probably badly hurt.
Coming to a stop, she looked around and sighed sadly. Shuffling haltingly over to an old deadfall, she sat down with her shoulders slumped.
It just seemed that things were always complicated in her life. Nothing ever came easy, and while she wasn't much of a complainer, sometimes she just wanted it to stop.
A sudden cracking noise brought her up to her feet, sword drawn as she waited for whoever was coming. Somehow, though, she wasn't surprised to find that it was Kikyou.
"So you left to get away, too." The woman came closer, raising a brow as she caught sight of Kagome's sword and the professional way she handled it as she reversed it and slid it back into its sheath. "Do you really know how to use that? It is a miko's sword, is it not?"
The question hadn't been asked sarcastically, just quietly, and so Kagome answered in the same tone.
"Yes, it's a miko's sword, and yes, I do know how to use it. Sugimi wouldn't have let me have it otherwise."
Kikyou nodded, then gestured at the log. "Do you mind if I join you for a few minutes? I'm really not ready to go back."
Kagome raised a brow. "If you want to, go right ahead.
She sat down, looking off into the trees for a few minutes before looking back at Kagome. "I take it from the yelling I heard earlier that Inuyasha told you what he wants." It wasn't a question, but as Kagome nodded in answer anyway, she continued. "He means it, you know. I've known since the moment he thought you'd died - a part of him went with you."
Kagome shook her head vehemently. "No. Inuyasha is a friend, nothing more. He just seems to have a problem with always wanting what he can't have. First you were the unreachable dream that had been torn from him, and I was just there - and he couldn't stay away from you, he had to have you." She shrugged, sighing deeply. "Then all of a sudden it was the other way around - you were always there, and I was untouchable... gone. I've noticed that Inuyasha hates being told he can't have something, and it only makes him try harder for it when you do."
Kikyou tilted her head to the side thoughtfully, eyes narrowed. "You're right." After a moment she cast a sideways glance at her. "Tell me something. If I were not in the picture right now and Inuyasha asked to mate you... would you?"
Kagome shook her head instantly. "No. I don't love him that way anymore. I got over that a long time ago. I love Sugimi with my whole heart and soul - and nothing will change that. Anything I felt for Inuyasha died the day that he marked you - and while at the time it hurt horribly, I thank Kami everyday that it happened. Because of that day I now have something that very few ever get lucky enough to find - their soul-mate."
Kikyou couldn't help the surge of relief that went through her as Kagome spoke, because she knew then that Inuyasha would remain hers - at least in body. She knew this was going to hurt him, but there was no way around it - Kagome loved his father and that was it. There was no changing that, and even though he'd probably not give up so easily, sooner or later he'd have to accept that Kagome wasn't his and never would be.
She smiled a little at Kagome, who smiled hesitantly back.
"I'm sorry, Kikyou... I know how I'd feel if he were doing this to me. He must have hurt you a lot with this whole mess." She frowned. "I just hope that he figures it out soon, because I don't want Sugimi to have to fight him - and if Inuyasha keeps this up he just might."
Kikyou frowned back at her. "Maybe leaving them together wasn't such a good idea. Do you think we should go back?"
Kagome nodded slowly. "Yeah... I think we should."
She hated the thought of coming between a father and his son - and she was determined to keep the two from fighting if it killed her.
Kikyou, while hurt over Inuyasha's divided heart still loved him and didn't want to see him dead - which she was sure he would be if he tried to come between the Northern Lord and his chosen mate.
Finally, for once in agreement on things the two stood and headed back to camp, hoping to keep the peace.
-zZz-
Inuyasha had gone quite a ways from camp, running hard and trying to outrun the visual of Kagome in his father's arms. It hurt terribly.
He knew he'd hurt Kagome a lot over the time they'd traveled together. He hadn't meant to, but nonetheless he had and he was beginning to get the idea that he was getting a taste of his own medicine.
It was a bitter draught. Nothing could compare to this. His own father. How do you get over that? The only thing he could think of that would be worse would be if it had been Sesshoumaru, the bastard that had made his younger years a living hell. At least from everything he'd ever been told or had heard, his father was an honorable youkai, powerful and wise with a strong heart, as unlike his older brother as it was possible to be.
Well, enough with those thoughts. Because the bottom line was that he wasn't about to give up. Kagome had loved him first, and by the kami he would make her love him again - even if it took the next thousand years. He could not give up - he would not give up, and to hell with everyone who attempted to naysay him.
Kagome would be his. Someway, somehow. He just had to get rid of his father as competition. Honestly, it was good to have the old man back - it meant he had a chance to know him that he never thought he'd get, but nice as it was he wasn't willing to hand Kagome over for the privilege. Let the old dog go find his own woman.
Finally coming to a halt, Inuyasha looked back over his shoulder at the place he'd run from, and turned to face it once more. The sun was near setting, and the gold-washed blue of the western sky beckoned him as he took the first few steps back towards his mate, his father, and the other half of his heart...
Kagome.
-zZz-
When Kikyou and Kagome made it back to camp, the two neko trailing behind discreetly, they found Sugimi, Sango, and Miroku in conversation, with Shippo curled up in her bedding, little nose plastered to her blankets, asleep.
With concerned glances around, the two looked for Inuyasha, and when they didn't see him, Kagome asked, "Sugimi, where's Inuyasha? You two didn't... fight, did you?"
Sugimi stood and came to her, enfolding her in his arms and nuzzling her cheek. "No, we didn't, not really. Some words were exchanged and then he took off. He'll be back when he calms down a little." He pulled away and looked down at her, tenderly running a hand across her cheek. "Are you alright, itoshii? You were pretty upset when you left..." his voice trailed off with concern.
She smiled weakly up at him. "I'm fine." Turning her head, she looked over at Kikyou. "Why don't you join us, Kikyou? We should all talk - there's a lot going on that you should know."
Sango and Miroku's faces showed surprise, but they didn't say anything and with a quick glance at their expressions, she sighed. It wasn't hard to tell how relations between her friends and the older miko had played out while she'd been gone. Moving over to join them around the fire, she smiled softly as Sugimi sat back down, pulling her into his lap as he did so.
Kagome caught everyone's eye, then nodded towards Kikyou. "Kikyou and I understand each other, guys, so let's all start over, okay? None of this is really her fault, it's Inuyasha's for being stubborn and always trying to chase what he can't have."
Miroku exchanged glances with Sango, then they both looked at Kagome and nodded. "As you wish, Kagome."
She smiled at the two sitting so close together. "So... since I've been away, have you two finally gotten together?"
Sango blushed, and Miroku chuckled. "Yes, and no. We are still promised to each other, but we haven't taken that next step. I refuse to do that to her with this curse still in my hand and my life in the balance. I stand behind my determination to see Naraku destroyed first."
Kagome nodded soberly, catching Kikyou's eye. "Well, that's why Sugimi and I are here... did he tell you two about how he was brought back?" As they nodded, she turned to Kikyou and said, "Quick rundown so you know, Naraku decided that the best way to defeat Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru would be to bring back the only youkai more powerful than either, in other words, Sugimi. He figured he'd control him using the tainted shards - however, Sugimi was too powerful for that, so Naraku failed. Ironic, isn't it?" she chuckled.
Kikyou sat back, arranging herself comfortably near the warmth of the fire. "Huh. That's strange... Naraku's usually much smarter than that. I guess even the brightest make mistakes sometimes," she shrugged. "It's about time he did."
Sugimi laughed. "I didn't find him to be all that smart, priestess. Clever, certainly... he was unbelievably arrogant, though, and it's that arrogance that will be his downfall."
"Seems arrogance is a sin that quite a few of us are prey to, father." Everyone turned at Inuyasha's voice - it was bitter, and he refused to look at the youkai who'd sired him.
Kikyou stood and walked up to him angrily; raising her hand she slapped him, right across the same cheek Kagome'd gotten him on earlier. "That's enough, Inuyasha! You're acting like a spoiled brat. Kagome doesn't love you anymore, she loves your father, so get over it. If you can shut up and actually listen for once," she said, ignoring everyone's shocked looks, "then come and sit down. We're discussing business, and you should really hear what's going on. But if all you're going to do is act like a bitch, then do it somewhere else!"
Inuyasha just stared at her, unsure of what to make of this new Kikyou. She was acting more like her old self - sure of herself and second to none. He cast a suspicious glance at Kagome - she had to have said something to her. He watched suspiciously as she walked back to her spot and sat down, before going over and plopping down near her.
"Feh. Don't think, old man, that this means I'm going to back off, 'cause I ain't. Kagome's heart still belongs to me and it always will. She's just mad right now and wants me to suffer for hurting her. She'll get past it sooner or later."
Sugimi tensed with anger, ready to get up and beat some sense into the pup, but Kagome tightened her grip on him as she burst into laughter, catching everyone off-guard. "Boy, Kikyou, I'd slap him again if I were you," grinning as the other woman did so, "and as for you, Inuyasha? Get over yourself. It isn't going to happen. You could never compare to your father in my heart. You are my friend, and he's my heart, my other half, my lover. End of story." She drew in a deep breath, and smiled at the rest of the group. "Now, shall we get back to what's important?"
Sugimi grinned at her. "I take offense to that, my love. I'm not important?"
She huffed impatiently at him with narrowed eyes. "Oh, leave it alone, you know what I meant." Shaking her head, she turned back to the group, and completely ignoring Inuyasha's jealous scowl, she began speaking.
"As we were talking about earlier, Naraku is why we're here. We came looking for you. Sugimi feels that we all need to band together and chase Naraku down. It's more than past time to end this mess."
Miroku tilted his head considering the daiyoukai returning his gaze calmly. "Let me guess... by all of us, you mean Sesshoumaru as well, don't you?"
"Aww, hell, not another asshole! We don't need Lord stick-up-his-ass to beat that bastard!" Inuyasha was bristling at the thought of having to deal with his icicle of a brother on top of his father.
Sugimi sighed. "Yes, Sesshoumaru will be meeting us in four days time near the valley where I fought Ryukotsussei. Which means we need to leave in the morning." Inuyasha sputtered at this, but before he could say anything, Sugimi continued. "Listen to me, pup." He flared his aura hard, letting his son feel his displeasure. "You and Sesshoumaru will work together on this, or I will persuade you both - and you won't like my methods. So don't push it, boy."
Kagome put a hand to her mouth, trying hard to stop herself from laughing, and everyone else around the fire looked amused as hell. Even Inuyasha couldn't fight an aura that immense - and he knew it, so he subsided once again, muttering angrily to himself.
"Fine, whatever. I'd love to see you make Lord Asshole do anything he doesn't want to do. He'd sooner die."
Sugimi drew in a deep breath, saying ominously, "That can be arranged."
Kagome patted his arm to calm him, and as he started to relax, she smiled. "Well, for now I say we should get ready for dinner - which means," she grinned, twisting her neck around and looking at him, "that you get to go hunt something up." At his scowl, she laughed. "Oh, come on, dearest. It'll mean you get to kill something, you know, take out all that aggression."
Sugimi sighed, then nodded and stood as soon as she did. Pulling her to him, he tilted her chin and with a smug look at his son, he bent his head and kissed her. The moment their lips met, hers parted and he took full advantage, deepening the kiss and laying his scent thickly over her before pulling reluctantly away from a dazed Kagome and winking at a lecherously grinning Miroku.
"I will return shortly, then. Is there anything in particular you would like me to catch?"
She shook her head, still dazed from his kiss, and smiled dreamily at him. "No, not really, don't care."
Miroku laughed at that. "She probably would prefer to eat something tall, with golden eyes and silver hair all pulled into a topknot, if the way she's looking at you right now is any indication," he said to Sugimi. That lecherous grin dropped of his face quick, however, as Sango's fist found the back of his head.
"Dammit, you pervert, damarre! You're embarrassing Kagome!"
Kagome, who was indeed blushing ten shades of red, got even redder when Sugimi just laughed, patting her on the rear before turning and disappearing into the forest.
"All she has to do is ask," came ghosting back through the trees.
Everyone broke into laughter at that, even Kikyou, as Kagome's face continued to flame and she got that look. Despite Inuyasha's rage at the kiss and the comments, he didn't say anything, just being glad at that point that she wasn't looking at him that way. That look always meant a really long round of sits.
Later that evening after a good, filling supper, everyone was just lounging around the campsite, taking advantage of the chance to rest. Everyone was talking quietly together, bringing up random things as they occurred. Inuyasha, however, was sitting up in a tree and keeping to himself, busily plottin to regain Kagome's attention. He'd pretty much decided to try the jealousy factor, since she had always hated seeing him with Kikyou. Maybe if he started hanging all over her and being openly affectionate in front of everyone, she'd get upset like she always had before.
He shrugged. It was worth a try, and if it didn't work he'd think of something else. So, taking a deep breath, he hopped down from the tree and stalked over to where his mate was sitting. Catching her by surprise, he pulled her to her feet and then plopped back down with her sitting in his lap... just as his father had Kagome.
"So, what's everyone talking about?"
Kagome caught Kikyou's openly astonished look and smiled. "We were talking about how your father became the Northern Lord."
Inuyasha frowned at that. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, how did that happen?"
"The previous Lord made the mistake of challenging me," he said flatly. "It is a mistake he will not make again."
That was a thinly veiled warning and everyone around the fire knew it. Shippo, who was curled up in Kagome's lap with Kisho, stuck his tongue out at the hanyou.
"That means you have to leave Kagome alone, Inuyasha. 'Cause if you don't, your papa will kick your butt."
Sugimi chuckled as Kagome hushed the kit. "You are wise, young one." Looking over at his son, who was glaring at the kit, he said, "Leave him alone, Inuyasha. I do not want to fight with you but if you leave me no choice I will. Enjoy the mate that you have... and leave mine alone."
"Feh. We'll see who she chooses in the end, old man." Kikyou immediately yanked his forelock, and with a yelp he subsided.
"I'm getting tired of this, Inuyasha. If you can't be civil, then don't open your trap."
With an embarrassed smile at Sugimi and Kagome, she apologized. "I'm sorry for the way he's acting - he always gets this way when he's told he can't have something he thinks he wants."
Sango laughed. "Yeah, you have no idea of the pain we all went through after you disappeared and the last of the ramen got eaten. You'd have thought the world had ended."
Kagome smiled sadly at the mention of ramen, her eyes going far away.
Sugimi, feeling her sudden sadness, pulled her tighter into his chest and wrapped his arms comfortingly around her. "What is it, my love? What is this ramen and why did its mention make you sad?"
Inuyasha's ears flattened back against his head. "You haven't been back, have you?" he murmured.
She shook her head. "No." She took a deep breath and smiled, obviously trying to cheer back up. "Ramen is a type of noodles in broth from my time, Sugimi. Inuyasha is crazy about it."
"But why did the thought of if make you sad? We've spoken a great deal about things from your time - and you've never reacted this way."
"It's not the ramen, really, it's just... I haven't been home in a year, Sugimi. My mother probably thinks I'm dead... I just miss my family, that's all." She sighed. "Maybe after we've defeated Naraku I can go home for a visit."
Sugimi nodded, but before he could speak, Miroku did. "But Kagome, what if the well closes and traps you on the other side?"
To the surprise of everyone, it wasn't Kagome that answered.
"It will not happen. You speak of the Well of Souls, do you not?" At everyone's confused expression, he continued. "Maybe the name has changed, but it lies near Edo, correct? Near the Goshinboku?"
Kagome nodded. "Yes. But it's called the Bone-Eater's well. Why do you call it the Well of Souls?"
"Because of the way that it came into existence. Midoriko knew about you, remember? She knew you would one day be needed, but that you wouldn't be safe if you were born here. You needed to be born in a time when you could grow safely to an age where you could begin to defend yourself before you could be allowed to come here." He smiled pensively, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear tenderly before continuing. "The kami don't let anything stand in their way when they plan something, not even things like time and death. Anyway, the well was created using the souls of several powerful miko - over a period of about thirty years, when one that was chosen neared her time of death she was brought to the well, and when she passed her soul was added to the matrix. Finally, Midoriko added a small piece of her own soul to it, the wood was added from the sacred tree, and the well was finished."
Everyone in the clearing had listened to that, obviously fascinated, since no one had known anything of the origins of the well.
Kagome frowned thoughtfully. "Well, I guess I can see why the well would 'eat' the bones of dead youkai then... they were just being purified. But if that's the case, then why can Inuyasha go through and not get purified?"
"Because the well was created for you - and he had a connection to you. In a very real sense you were letting him through. It's up to you who goes through, my dear; if we want to get technical about it, the well is your property. It belongs to you, just as the jewel does."
Kikyou looked at Kagome ruefully. "I guess I was wrong all those times - you really do belong here."
Kagome just smiled as Sugimi nuzzled her hair, and everyone ended up lost in their own thoughts as silence fell. They had all learned a few things this day, and they were all rather tired, as well. It didn't take long for the group to head to their beds.
There was still a lot of traveling to be done before this whole thing could be considered over, and everyone was getting very impatient for it to be done.