Ch. 4

Yes there is a bunch of crap crammed into the beginning of this story. yep. great.

My mind was made up, I would help Sesshoumaru. But I had to do it in a way that would save his pride, you know, make him feel manly… or something like that.

"I owe you for saving my life," I started, and when he said nothing I continued talking as I dug my toe into the dirt. "I don't know what's entangled in your aura, but I don't think it's something good, in fact, I'm pretty sure you want to get rid of it." I removed my toe from the earth and stood there waiting, I hated waiting, especially when it was Sesshoumaru. Even though I was halfway certain that he would not kill me now, because I had a way to help him. Why did he have to be so imposing?

"You wish to repay your debt by lifting this curse." Sesshoumaru seemed to like the way I had phrased my way of helping him. I patted myself on the back.

"Yes." I said confidently, I wondered though how long it would take me to pull those out one by one.

"Do as you wish." Then he moved to sit down next to a tree, leaning his back upon it.

I was dumbstruck when he sat. He wanted me to start now. Of course he did, it was a curse, of course he wanted it gone as soon as possible. I quickly walked over to where he was sitting and plopped myself down a little less gracefully than he did. I kept a slight distance from him… not really knowing his comfort level. Then I realized that I was probably already in his comfort zone being 10 feet from him!

I focused on the strands intwined in his aura, and began pulling gently.

"You know," I suddenly just deciding that conversation was a must. "I may have to get closer to you than you may be comfortable with." Warning him of that may save my head from getting cut off. Plus I was uncomfortable with being so close to him, if he wasn't so good looking… so intimidating. Ahhh.. Mind in the gutter, mind in the gutter! Must steer clear!

A slight nod of his head was all I received, so of course I wanted to try conversing again.

"What kind of curse is this?" There, that needed more than a yes or no answer. I pulled out a strand.

"It restricts my youki." Well… that was something.

"In what way?" I hoped I wasn't pushing him too far, but maybe it keeps his mind off of me taking these god awful things out.

"In that I am still fatigued from assisting you from that parasite."

I had nothing to say to that as I kept removing those strands, he had used so little youki… no wonder he wanted the curse lifted. I wondered how he could fight like this. It strengthened my resolve.

"Do you still sense Kaori around?" I was curious as to where the little wolf demon had gotten.

"No." Damn, I have to get off of those yes or no questions

"Did you hurt her?" Damn I just asked another yes or no question.

"No." Sheesh.. Can I get him to say anything else?

I paused… maybe he would know… just… "My friends." I blurted before I could stop myself, glad for the umpteenth time to have something else to focus on other than looking at his face. "Do you know what happened to them?" I want to hear Sango and Miroku got married, and had bunches and bunches of babies! I stopped pulling the strands and stared at my hands.. I missed everything, I was too late to help anybody. I felt a pang in my chest, and it seemed to try and intensify, it hurt, I was guilty. Guilty because of the fact I could not do anything about the things that already happened.

"No." Sesshoumaru's strong voice interrupted my thoughts. I am so getting sick of hearing that! I went back to pulling strands.

"Do you ever say anything besides no?" The words escaped my traitorous mouth before I could lock them down tight.

"Yes." He said without missing a beat, I sighed of relief and frustration. Relief from not being killed, and frustration at another freaking one word answer.

"How did Kouga become a taiyoukai?" Quick change of subject, thank you. No killing here today!

"Those answers will wait."

I stopped removing strands. "Why?" I felt slightly hurt.

"He will arrive shortly." Sesshoumaru moved to stand, and I went to follow. Kouga was coming? My heart beat faster, was he still insane for me? I mentally rolled my eyes, I was so full of myself, of course he moved on, I was supposed to be dead.

"Wait," I said as I stumbled to stand. "How long have you known he was coming?"

"Since I told you about my curse." Oh yeah and by the way the sky is blue, that's what he should have been saying.

"Why didn't you tell me then?" Maybe getting angry at a taiyoukai wasn't the smartest thing I could do, but damn it!

"You did not ask." My mouth just dropped, was he playing with me? Seriously now. Was he playing with me?

As I opened my mouth to begin my tirade, Kouga flew into the clearing and swept me up into his arms and spun me around before I could even blink.

I started laughing, and it felt good. Kouga still seemed the same, well, add the daughter in.

"Kouga! I'm fine you can put me down." I felt slightly dizzy from the twirling, then I felt his forehead against mine.

"Kagome," Kouga's voice was husky. "I thought I'd never see you again, it's been so long, you shouldn't be alive…"

He started to pull his head slightly away, his eyes flickering to Sesshoumaru momentarily before coming back to rest on me.

Me, poor me, my hand came up to trace the jagged blue lines that were now present on Kouga's face. They looked exactly like Inuyasha's… when he transformed. I spread my ki out to feel Kouga's youki, it was so much stronger than it used to be, so different. Kouga was huskier… in a good way, shoulders seemed broader, he was just, more muscular.

"How did you get these?" I whispered, once again my head was just swimming. There was too much going on, I was going to break soon, there was just too much to take all at once.

"They… They are a sign of my newly acquired power." Kouga seemed to have chosen his words carefully. It was not lost on me. Kouga kept me close to his body as if I would suddenly disappear.

"How did you gain that power?" Kouga did not answer me, and the tears that I had been pushing back started leaking down my face, there was an ache in my heart. I knew I did not want to hear the answer.

Sesshoumaru's voice cut through the air. "Inuyasha's youkai blood was transferred to the wolf."

"Kagome listen," Kouga started. "I didn't ask for it… But when Inuyasha was cursed, his youki had to go somewhere, and it was me it chose."

I had a feeling that Kouga was giving me the simple version.. But that was exactly what I needed to hear. I felt my tears running down my face in an endless stream, and my hand kept brushing the blue marks on Kouga's face. Inuyasha's marks.

I pushed away suddenly from Kouga with such force that I fell back onto the ground, and I continued to scoot myself back as my eyes went from one taiyoukai to the other. These two were probably the most beautiful and powerful youkai in all of Japan, and I was tied to them both. My mind took in Sesshoumaru's golden eyes and his beautiful silver tresses, then turned to Kouga and his jagged marks. All I could see was Inuyasha, all I wanted to see was Inuyasha. But I could not. Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Shippo, everyone… they were my family, my friends, and they were gone. I was here with Kouga and Sesshoumaru.

"I-I have… I just…" I started to speak, but the sobs started to rise in my throat. I just turned and ran. I had no clue where I was going.. Just away from Kouga and his marks, away from Sesshoumaru and his hair. I would never see Inuyasha like I wanted to, I could not see my friends again.

I weeped for myself, my pain. I cried for my dead friends. I sobbed for my Inuyasha back. I don't know how long I was there, but after a while I started to feel calm, like someone rubbing my back, giving me a drink of water, something like that, just soothing. I must have passed out.

'Kagome' I knew instantly who it was, it was Midoriko.

'Why have you done this to me?' I asked her, wanting to drown in my own misery.

'There will be more troubles, and you will need help.' Was the answer. 'Things are happening for a reason, I am destroying the Shikon no Tama, soul by soul.'

I had a feeling I already knew how she was doing this, 'You are the reason that I was being possessed!'

'I will give you ample time to prepare for the next.' With that, Midoriko was gone.

My eyes snapped open and I focused upon my surroundings once again, finding myself hunched over on the ground.

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!" I shouted at no one and everyone.

"Kagome." My name from his lips. Sesshoumaru's lips.

"She's pushing the youkai out of the jewel." My voice was strangely calm. I wiped the residual tears from my face.

Sesshoumaru did not speak, but he seemed to understand.

"If I don't have help, it will probably kill me." I was shaking. "But if you help me.. Your youki… the curse that's on you…I don't want to do that to you."

"We will remove the jewel."

I shook my head no. "It's connected to my heart."

I noticed Sesshoumaru's eyes widen at this, but I knew it wasn't concern over me, there was something else. I did not want to ask.

"I will take you to my brother."

I was torn, I wanted to see him so badly, but not like that. I wanted to see my striking hanyou, the same hanyou that saved me from countless youkai, a hanyou I could never see again. I did not want to see an old human Inuyasha. I didn't want to see him like that.

"Who cursed you?" I asked as I stood. I could also feel Kouga's aura close by, I still could not believe how powerful Kouga felt.

"Your predecessor."

"Kikyo?" Why would she do that to Sesshoumaru?

As usual Sesshoumaru said nothing. I realized once again that this was very hard on him as I stood up and walked over to him. I pulled another strand out and watched with fascination as it was purified.

"I did not know she had the power to pull off such a curse."

"Especially on a youkai as powerful as you." And from the look on his face I think Sesshoumaru took that as a compliment. I purified another strand.

What I was seeing… I hoped I wasn't right, but I would ask Sesshoumaru at a later time, when I had plenty of time to purify hundreds of strands.

"Kouga I think it's okay for you to come out now." I called over my shoulder and stepped away from Sesshoumaru. I turned back to Sesshoumaru and whispered, "Does he know of your curse?" A slight shake of his head was all the response I needed.

I watched as Kouga ran into sight and clasped my hands. "Come with me." This Kouga was not the same as the Kouga I knew, this Kouga seemed more… mature.

"I can't Kouga, I owe Sesshoumaru a debt for saving my life, I cannot leave him until I have paid it off." I watched Kouga's eyes narrow at Sesshoumaru.

"How is she going to pay this debt off?" Kouga's eyes were deadly. Then it occurred to me that he was just a little bit more mature.

"That is none of your concern." Sesshoumaru replied, his eyes equally as deadly.

"Hey, please no fighting!" I begged, if it started, I could not stop a fight between two deadly taiyoukai. I had to prevent it.

"I don't want anyone touching you." I mentally rolled my eyes, of course that's the first thing Kouga would think of.

I had to dissipate the situation, so I opened my mouth. "Take me to Inuyasha." I wasn't sure if I really wanted to see him, but the words came out of my mouth.

"I'll carry you." Kouga immediately then swept me off of my feet. I think I squeaked a bit. He turned to Sesshoumaru. "Lead the way."

Sesshoumaru took off without a word, Kouga keeping up easily. I worried over how much youki Sesshoumaru was using, but saw that he seemed to be having no problem. I relaxed into Kouga's embrace. Kouga noticed this and tilted his head down to nudge mine. I couldn't help it, I blushed. It did help somewhat to keep my mind off of where I was going.

We were at the village in no time, and after a little hesitation, Kouga set me upon my feet. I glanced around, of course I expected Kaede to come out and greet me, but I knew that wouldn't happen.

"It figures that Inuyasha would live here." I said quietly as we started to walk into the village. "Wait! You guys are going into the village with me?"

"Of course." Kouga said. Sesshoumaru glanced at me. I knew that it should be entertaining then.

"Well… please don't kill anyone." I frowned when neither one said anything. Sesshoumaru started walking steadily into the village, then Kouga put his hand to the small of my back, I realized I was shaking. Badly. I glanced up at him and knew then that he wasn't doing it to be possessive, he was trying to give me strength. I walked in behind Sesshoumaru.

I heard whispers as we walked, finally I heard something I understood… "Quick! Get Inuyasha!" I froze, my legs would not let me move at the mention of his name. It was almost as if I had forgotten until that point that I was not going to be seeing the hanyou I remembered. There was so much scurrying around, children being rushed by their mothers into their respective huts. I was in a daze with all the hustling about me until I froze, seeing a sight I wanted to see and yet never wanted to see.

I knew it was Inuyasha the moment he walked from a hut to my right. His hair… was still as long as ever, and showed no signs of falling out… strange thing was it was turning back to it's silver color. He appeared to be in his late 50's but still appeared lean and strong. His 6 foot frame showing no sign of aging, except the wrinkles in his face.

His gaze did not move to Sesshoumaru or Kouga, it went straight to me. His eyes went wide with shock before they welled up with unshed tears. He took a tentative step forward.

"Kagome…." My heart shattered into thousands of pieces at my name and I fell to my knees sobbing. Inuyasha ran the yards between us and fell to his knees in front of me and pulled me into his embrace. At that moment, nobody else mattered, nothing else mattered. He was my Inuyasha, and I was his Kagome. The wind whipped up around us and only us it seemed. His warmth surrounded me and I never wanted to let go.

"I'm so sorry… I tried to come back… I'm so sorry… It's all my fault…" I just wanted him to know… The tears kept flowing and he held me tighter. Seeing him like this… he shouldn't be an old man, he was my savior, my lifeline. It made me realize how hard I had fallen for him, how much I took him for granted.

"Kagome… please, I know it can't be your fault," Inuyasha whispered. "You would never do that to me on purpose, I remember Kagome, I remember! I shoved you through that well, I wanted you to be safe, you had the Shikon. You should have stayed… it was the only way I could keep you safe."

Inuyasha lifted my head to look into his eyes, they were so wise... When did Inuyasha get so wise? "Kagome listen to me, you must have been brought back for a reason. You are so strong, so brave… I don't want to be the reason you would give up." Inuyasha was crying… he was really crying… "It's too late for you and I… I'm an old man… Kagome… I never stopped loving you…" Then he choked up… the sobs racking his body…

I don't know how long we sat there… Inuyasha whispering my name over and over again…

I was home, 100 years too late.

Awww.. poor Kagome.