Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
A/N: Kami, I'm sorry for not updating later. If anything else unexpected comes up, I swear I will rip my hair out. ::sigh:: But I think I'm alright now...maybe...It doesn't take much to send me off the edge anymore.
This is the last chapter...So I tried to make it longer. Hope you guys like it.
(The song in bold and italic text throughout this chapter is Honestly by Bethany Joy Lenz).
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Chapter 15 - Starting Anew
Kagome took aim at the giant insect youkai hovering in the air above her head. She narrowed her eyes in careful concentration. "You're mine!" she shouted, just as she released the notched arrow. A faint pink glow surrounded the tip, trailing out until it reached the arrow's end. There was a bright, exploding light as the spear-like point pierced the insect's abdomen. Soon thereafter, it fell to the ground, quiet and unmoving. "Got it."
"Nice shot, Kagome-chan!" Sango praised as she skillfully caught the Hiraikotsu in her outstretched hand. She ran to the spot where Kagome was examining the insect's wing. She patted the girl's back in admiration before kneeling down to take a better look at the youkai's face. "Incredible. Your arrow went right through it's center." She shook her head in amazement as Kirara reverted to her small form.
"I agree, Kagome-sama. Well done," Miroku reputed as he lowered his head in a silent prayer. "Your skills are quite amazing," he commented again, placing a regarding hand on her shoulder. "I don't think even Inuyasha could have done better."
Kagome smiled brightly as she swatted Miroku's hand away. "Come on, you guys. It wasn't that great. It didn't even have a sacred jewel shard." She paused, seeming to remember something, and began looking around the forest-surrounded field. "Where's Shippou?"
As if on cue, Shippou jumped up on Kagome's shoulder. "I'm right here! And that was too awesome, Kagome. That youkai didn't stand a chance!" He grinned widely and stuck his tongue out at the insect's corpse.
"Feh." The small group looked up to see Inuyasha sheathing his Tetsusaiga. "It's nothing to get worked up about. She shot it with an arrow, big deal." He scowled as he kicked the dead body onto it's side.
Shippou got a very mischievous gleam in his eyes before his grin turned into a smirk. "I think Inuyasha's jealous because Kagome defeated the youkai before he had a chance." At the hanyou's angry glare and the low growl rising in his throat, Shippou crossed his arms triumphantly. "I'm right, aren't I, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles and balled his hands into fists. "You're gonna pay for that, you little runt!" Shippou squealed and jumped off Kagome's shoulder, giving easy chase to the fuming Inuyasha.
Kagome sighed as she strapped her bow over her shoulder. "Those two will never learn," she remarked over Shippou's high pitched cries for help. Sango and Miroku nodded in silent agreement.
Kagome cringed slightly as there was athunk,followed by another one of Shippou's screams. Immediately, the kit ran back to her and jumped into her ready arms. "Inuyasha, did you have to hit him so hard?" she scolded as she gently ran her hand over the forming bump in the midst of Shippou's red hair.
'It's been two days since I've escaped from Naraku. I guess it doesn't take long for things to return to normal.' Kagome frowned when another thought entered her mind. 'And it's been two days since I last saw Kikyou. I still don't understand why she came to see me.' She glanced quickly at Inuyasha, whom was examining the hole in the youkai's abdomen. 'Why not Inuyasha? Wait...what am I saying? I should be glad that she didn't come to see Inuyasha.'
"Kagome-sama, are you alright?" Miroku's questioning voice broke through her thoughts, immediately snapping her back to reality. Sango, too, was watching her, and even Inuyasha had raised his head to see what the matter was.
Kagome shook her head quickly, smiling broadly up at the beaming sun. "Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking is all." She walked up to Inuyasha and tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Are you ready to go? It's still the morning yet, and I thought you said you actually wanted to get somewhere today."
Inuyasha scowled as he turned his eyes down to meet Kagome's. "Whatever. Let's just get going, if you're done daydreaming." He smirked defiantly as Kagome glowered at him.
Kagome could feel the flame rising to her cheeks as she bowed her head. Her mouth quirked in slight annoyance, but she somehow managed to maintain her composure. 'Can he blame me? All I've been thinking about lately is Kikyou...but I won't tell him that.'
"Kagome! Are you coming or not?" Again, Kagome was snapped out of her reverie. She glanced up in frustration at her group of her friends, now a ways ahead of her. Shippou had even jumped out of her arms in haste to catch up. Inuyasha was looking back at her, waving his hand high in the air.
"Yeah! I'll be right there!" Hurriedly, Kagome began running for fear of lagging even further behind. In a few moments, she was standing at Inuyasha's side. She panted slightly as she glanced up at Inuyasha and flicked one of his ears. "Why didn't you tell me you guys were leaving? Were you planning on leaving me behind?" she asked in mock anger.
Inuyasha scoffed as he continued along the forest path. "I thought you knew," he answered nonchalantly. Insouciantly, he shrugged and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She seemed to puff up in indignation, and immediately, Inuyasha covered her mouth with his hand. Her eyes went from confused to mirthful. "Don't even think about it," he warned as he cautiously dropped his hand.
As soon as Inuyasha took his hand away from her face, Kagome started laughing. Sango and Miroku watched on in confusion. Shippou had given up after saying her name a few time, and now sat beside Kirara.
Inuyasha was just as confused as the others. Kagome leaned over with her arms crossed across her stomach. "Uh...Kagome, are you feeling okay?" he asked, a bit hesitantly. 'Damn it...why is she crying? What did I do?!'
Kagome slowly regained composure, and managed to wipe a loose tear from the corner of her eye. "No...I'm alright. But Inuyasha, the look on your face was priceless!" She cracked into another fit of giggles, but somehow managed to keep walking on the path. The others followed close behind.
Finally, Kagome's laughter stopped. She turned back to Sango and Miroku, who still appeared slightly baffled. "You should have seen it..." Her voice trailed off as she turned to look at the path ahead of them. It seemed...no matter how many distractions there were, her mind would always wander back to Kikyou. 'I never told Sango or Miroku about that night. By the time we got to camp, I was asleep. I never told Inuyasha what she said, either.'
Kagome glimpsed Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye. She inhaled deeply and used her index finger to lightly tap on his shoulder. "Can I...talk to you for a second, Inuyasha?" Before he could nod, she grabbed onto his wrist and pulled him to the far side of the path.
Kagome started without letting Inuyasha get a word in edgewise. "Two days ago, when I ran into Kikyou, she said she came to see me." She began wringing her hands together, and momentarily caught Sango, Miroku, and Shippou watching them. When she frowned, all three looked away, acting as if nothing happened. "She was saying something about how I fought off Naraku...and all that."
Inuyasha furrowed his brow as he thought about this. 'Kikyou went to see Kagome. But why? That's not like her...' His thoughts slowly trailed off as he stared down at Kagome's wondering eyes. "Did she say anything else?"
Kagome turned her eyes down to the ground in silent focus. "No. That was it. What do you think she was getting at?" She clasped her hands tightly behind her back as she looked up at the sky.
Inuyasha crossed his arms, his hands buried deep in the sleeves of his haori. "I don't know. But I don't think it's important at the moment." He rose his eyebrows as he caught Kagome's frown. "It's not like she's going to come after you or anything."
Kagome sighed quietly, but instantly rose her head to meet Inuyasha's eyes. "You're right. We should get going now..." she suggested, glaring playfully at Miroku, who again was watching. 'I just...had to tell you.'
Inuyasha continued walking forwards, oblivious to Kagome's eyes following him. She shook her head as she made her way over to Sango and Miroku. Shippou immediately bombarded her with dozens of questions, all of which she shook off. "We need to get going," she reminded loudly, as Inuyasha was quite a ways ahead of them. She quickly ran off, Sango, Miroku, and Shippou close behind.
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"Kagome, kill him," Naraku commanded menacingly. She nodded slowly and raised her sword. Inuyasha seemed to stop in mid-air as he watched Kagome, wide-eyed. But she didn't bring the sword down. It seemed to shake in her hands. What was she doing?
Naraku frowned and leaned in close to her ear. "Don't resist me, Kagome. Kill Inuyasha!" he hissed. Inuyasha stared straight at Kagome's lifeless eyes. They were blank and unmoving, all the while they were burning into Inuyasha's orbs of amber.
"Kill him," Naraku snarled once again. The jewel shards in Kagome's neck seemed to pulse, sending a throbbing heat through her veins. It burned, but not in a painful way. Every pulse made her feel powerful, and made her lose more control.
Stealthily, Kagome charged. She held her sword readied in front of her, prepared to do Naraku's bidding. But Inuyasha wouldn't move. Everyone watched in horror as Kagome ran the sword right through Inuyasha's heart. Blood spurted on the floor as he weakly fell to his knees. "Ka...Kagome," he whispered, before he collapsed to the wood.
Immediately, Sango and Miroku ran to Inuyasha's side. Sango turned her chocolate eyes towards Kagome's, though they were now glistening with bright tears. "What did you do?!" she cried before turning back to Inuyasha's pale body. "You killed Inuyasha..."
Naraku's chuckle could be heard beside Kagome's panting form. "Good work," he praised, and then disappeared.
Kagome shot up in her sleeping bag. She glanced around their small camp hurriedly. Her breathing came in short gasps, and her clothes were soaked in sweat. She brought her two hands close to her face and studied them. Slowly, she turned her palms down and tried to still her trembling fingers. "Kami...it was a nightmare." She wiped her forehead shakily and resumed scanning the campsite.
'I guess everyone's still sleeping,' she observed to herself. Everyone except Inuyasha, though this was unbeknownst to her.
Kagome quietly drew her knees close to her chest as she forced her breathing to slow. 'I...I killed Inuyasha. In my dream...It was me. That's what...what would have happened.' She leaned forward and rested her chin on her knees as she stared off into the forest. 'I can't believe...that girl was actually me.' Her eyes soon became clouded over, almost glazed, as these thoughts roamed her mind.
Honestly, I didn't mean to cry so hard, but the heartache was pouring in like rain.
"Hey."
I didn't mean to show I cared.
"Hm?" Kagome raised her head and glanced to her sides. There, Inuyasha was sitting cross-legged beside her. "Uh...Inuyasha. I thought you were sleeping." She could feel a slight heat rising to her cheeks, but since it was dark, it made the faint red color harder to see.
Honestly, I didn't mean to laugh so loud, but it just sounds so absurd...
Inuyasha turned his eyes to hers. His amber eyes, though dark out, still glowed under the moonlight. "No. I was watching you." He paused for a moment before continuing on. "Did you have a nightmare?"
To say that you want me, say that you need me, after everything you've done.
Kagome sighed quietly and nodded her head. "We were back at the castle. It was when Naraku commanded me to kill you. Except I..." She took in a shaky breath before averting her eyes to the ground. "I actually killed you." Pools of tears began to form in her eyes, and before she knew it, those hot tears were running down her cheeks.
Really, truly, I didn't mean to hurt you. I just thought that maybe now...
Inuyasha frowned, and without another thought, reached his arm around Kagome's shoulder. She gasped quietly as he pulled her closer to him. "But it was just a nightmare. You were able to break through Naraku's spell," he reassured quietly, as he didn't want the others to wake up. He began stroking a clawed hand through her ebony hair, and she felt more relaxed than ever.
We'd have better luck the second time around. It's always better the second time, I hear.
Find me in the evening when you're ready to dance
And I will take you to the places,
Where you never thought you'd have the chance to love. Love.
Love is all we have.
I will run myself in circles here without you.
Kagome yawned as she turned her eyes up to the waning moon. "Inuyasha?" she whispered. Her eyelids were growing heavier with each passing second.
Please believe that I tried my best to forget you.
"Yeah?" Inuyasha's hand stopped at the back of her head. She turned about halfway, so they were facing each other.
But the memories keep flooding back like tears.
Kagome raised one of her hands, slowly, until she was caressing Inuyasha's cheek. Her eyes seemed to waver slightly. "Thank you." She leaned in closer, and got up on her knees. In a second, her lips met Inuyasha's in a fervent kiss.
I didn't mean to fall in love.
Inuyasha was stunned. For a few moments, he just sat there, until he couldn't hold back. He held the back of her head tightly while gently stroking her back with his claws. Placatingly, he nipped at her lower lip with one of his fangs, careful not to draw blood.
But sitting here waiting for this is torture.
Kagome pulled back slightly so their foreheads rested against each other and noses touched. A warm smile graced her lips as she reached a hand to massage one of his ears. She scowled playfully as a purr managed to escape Inuyasha's throat. "Now I'll never be able to get back to sleep," although she was practically asleep in his arms.
I'm so glad you're far away. Is that a terrible thing to say?
Well, I wonder if you're okay...
Find me in the evening when you're ready to dance
And I will take you to the places,
Where you never thought you'd have the chance to love. Love.
Love is all we have.
I will run myself in circles here without you.
Inuyasha smirked and pulled Kagome closer, until her head was resting comfortable on his shoulder. "That's alright, Kagome. You can stay up with me." He could hear her sigh quietly, and he smiled softly when she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Oh, I would run myself in circles here without you
Oh, I've tried and tried And I can't hide from your love
Darlin' its too late to show me your intentions
Kagome breathed in deeply. 'Inuyasha smells like the woods...and it smells good.' She smiled softly as she nestled herself against Inuyasha's chest. Before she knew it, her eyes had closed and she drifted off.
You know we've got to find a way
To get past all the implications, every situation
Every complication that we've come from
Love is all we have
I will run myself in circles here without you.
Inuyasha felt the rhythmic rise and fall of Kagome's chest, and immediately knew she had fallen asleep. He carefully shifted her into a more comfortable position, so her back was leaning on him. He crossed his arms over her shoulders, and let his hands rest gently just below her neck. "I love you, Kagome. And I will never let that happen to you again."
Darlin' love, love
Love is all we have
I will run myself in circles here without you
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END OF STORY
A/N: Awww, a happy ending! Well, the story's over...and I can't help but feel sad. As I said before, someday I'll rewrite the whole thing and make it longer! You'll see!! Read and review, please!