Recap- "I'll give you one more chance to give up, puppy," said Kouga loudly enough for Kagome to hear every syllable, "if you give up any claim to Kagome than I won't have to kill you. So go ahead, turn tail, go home runt."
"Never," Inuyasha said just as loudly. "I love Kagome, and if I have to live without her then I might as well be dead. Do your worst, Kouga, and by the end of the day we'll know just who is unworthy of her, 'cause when I die I'm taking you to Hell with me."
"No!" Kagome screamed. "Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!"
Her plaintiffs went without affect, and as if in slow motion, the two demons were obscured by a rising dustcloud, the symbol of Kouga's whirlwind. Inside it, Inuyasha tested the air around him, waiting for any sudden movement. His eyes steeled on Kouga's and he nodded, then jerked his head.
"Use your windscar to give us a break for the river."
"Huh?"
"Your wounds are fake, dumbass, you want Kagome to find out? You're gonna have to bunk with me for a while."
"No way!"
"Just shut the hell up and do it!" Both men growled at one another.
"All right," said Inuyasha finally. "But I'm only doing this for Kagome."
"Yeah, yeah, aren't we all. Now come on! We both need to blow up enough rock to cover. On three. One… two… three!"
On the count of three two attacks sounded simultaneously. A blind of light and noise erupted and then, when the dust clouds settled the two vanished. Kagome screamed again and fainted.
When a Lie Leads to Truth
(Chapter Nine)
Somewhere in the wilds, a hanyou sneezed. All his life, Inuyasha had never had a particular liking for the smell of wolf demons. Now, he positive he was becoming allergic.
"Hey, shut up, Mutt," said Kouga becoming annoyed with him. "What did you do, catch a cold in the river? Geeze."
They were both huddled now in a fairly small cavern. Since both of them were at least part demon, a fire was unnecessary but Inuyasha found himself missing the luxury all the same. True, a fire would have made them easier to find but its flickering glow had become a comfort to his human side- a kind of steady that told him where his home was. Now, in its absence, he could realize how truly alone he was. Well, all except for the company of an annoying wolf demon.
"Achoo!" Sneezing again, Inuyasha stood up and wandered outside to where the stars were. Tiny pinpricks formed a receded hopefulness and Inuyasha went back inside.
It had been several-guilt wracked hours now since he had seen Kagome last.
"Hey, do you think it's safe to go back now?" Inuyasha asked the question which he had put forth a thousand times before, usually in a less polite way.
"I told you, Mutt, you gotta wait here for at least three days. If you go back looking all healed already Kagome can't help but be suspicious. She's not as stupid as you are."
Inuyasha lifted his lips to growl insignificantly, then dropped it. He skulked off into a corner and sank into it with a dejected slump. A heavy sigh escaped him.
"So, did you eat today?" Kouga asked conversationally.
"Yeah."
"Whadcha catch?"
"A rabbit."
"Goin' hunting tomorrow?"
"Nah."
The conversation ended since neither of them were interested in the topic nor each other. But something was puzzling Kouga and that was that Kagome had mentioned nothing about a love curse to him. Perhaps she was too embarrassed by her mistake?
"Yo. Inuyasha." The hanyou's ears perked up at the actual use of his name.
"What is it?"
"I wanna know what's up with you and Kagome. When she came to me she was all weepy telling me you were comparing her to Kikyo again. I thought you were done with that dead woman." Inuyasha grimaced.
"I'd prefer if you didn't mention that. Kikyo's dead. Kagome's not. I'd like to keep it that way."
"But you did ask the dead woman to marry you."
"It's not like that! The human in the restaurant fucked us over! I had nothing to do with that! I swear it was supposed to say 'Kagome'."
"What about the love curse? Does she know?" Inuyasha quirked his head at him.
"She should. She bought the locket didn't she? Not to mention she told me off for removing it."
"Yeah? Whatever."
The conversation ended once again and instead of playing a game of stare down for hours, Kouga rolled over onto his side and gave a fake yawn.
"Well, goodnight furball." Inuyasha sniffed.
"You too, fleabag." He too, settled down into his corner to sleep, the Tetsusiaga cuddled close to him as though it were all that was left in the world.
That same night following Inuyasha and Kouga's battle, the milky white stream of the distant stars reflected in the tears of a solitary person. Kagome Higurashi sat perched upon Kaede's rooftop. Beside her lay clawmarks a slumbering hanyou had once made. "Inuyasha," the miko breathed out gently, fresh tears falling to roll their way down her puffy cheeks.
Kagome rolled over onto her back, cushioning her head on her hands as he – that infinitely precious HE- had done not so long ago. This was the same sight which had welcomed his hazel and amber eyes each night; the same cool wind which had teased him. It was almost as if Kagome could stretch out her soul and touch his hand once more here under the starry gateway of heaven.
Miroku had reassured her confidently, that Inuyasha would return. He had told her time and time again that somehow the half demon would return jauntily over the hill someday- perhaps tomorrow. Yet Kagome could not bring herself to completely believe that.
Inuyasha had died. He was blown apart to fragments of spiritual energy just like he had done to so many other youkai- all because she had been too stupid to understand him. She had unwittingly baited him and Kouga into destroying one another. More importantly, she had pushed him away before he died, ignoring his words of love.
How many times this past week had he told her he loved her? True, these moments of revelations were always shouted in anger- never softly spoken- and yet, didn't that make them more real? Yes, and she, Kagome, being lost and confused by his sudden advances had ignored them completely, dismissing them from her confused brain. Perhaps it was all her fault for allowing herself to be so frightened. She had permitted herself to be paralyzed by her doubts and especially the sudden change between them. Secretly, she had not been ready to take the giant first step from sweethearts to lovers- not without laying to rest their problems first. Not that any of that mattered now.
With a giant guttural sob, Kagome turned over on her side again. She lay with an ear tuned soberly to the hut below her as she knew it would only be a matter of minutes before one of her friends forced her inside for the night. Snuffing stuffily, she snuggled against the rough shingles of Kaede's hut, clinging onto them as a toddler would its favorite blanket. Her eyelids drooped in tear-induced slumber.
A mere minute after Kagome's sobs stifled, Miroku appeared on a ladder below the roofline. Volumes of guilt filled his eyes but he did not speak. Instead, the monk cradled the miko carefully in his arms and descended the ladder one handed. He passed the sleeping miko off to Sango whom carried her into the hut. They laid her on the bedding and watched their friend with an honorific attention.
"It's terrible," Sango spoke finally watching Kagome's chest rise wearily. "Inuyasha was…is… everything to her. I can't stand to watch her suffer so." Miroku's hand on his staff tightened.
"Neither can I," he intoned. "But it can't be helped. Inuyasha chose to do anything he could to win her affection." Miroku was surprised by the fresh tears which spilled down the demonslayer's cheeks.
"But now that Inuyasha is gone, we're going to lose Kagome too! The curse Kagome placed upon herself is certain to be unforgiving. I can't stand it Miroku!"
Miroku mulled over this new development. With a defeated sigh he walked away from the woman whom had been seeking solace in her arms and surprised her by gesturing for her to follow.
"There is something I need to tell you Sango. Come on. We can't speak of it here." A few minutes later, Sango's voice raised in an angry shout.
"I can't believe you, Miroku! How could you do such a thing! Honestly, I'm ashamed of you. You led her on to believe her one true love is dead. Do you even understand how much pain she is feeling right now? That does it. I'm going to tell her the good news now." Sango was startled when Miroku snagged hold of her wrist in order to restrain her.
"Wait a minute Sango," Miroku said in a tone of utmost seriousness. "Inuyasha went through this deception for a reason. He wanted Kagome to witness for herself how much she truly means to him. It was the only means by which he could prove himself- as a youkai."
"But deceiving her, Miroku? It's just too cruel."
"I know it is. This scheme is wearing down on me as well. But it must continue, at least until Inuyasha has a chance to redeem himself in Kagome-sama's eyes. Inuyasha should be back by tomorrow by the latest."
"I know Miroku. But it isn't easy. Kagome is like a sister to me."
"It is all the more reason why our hearts must endure pain for her sake. It is the only way to save both her and Inuyasha." Argument fell absent between them. Acceptance took its place. Within the dark woods, the limbs of trees surrounding guided them in their secrecy.
"Miroku?" Sango asked gently. Miroku's violet eyes gave her their undivided attention.
"Yes Sango?"
"Do you think that Kagome-sama will be able to forgive Inuyasha-sama when she finds out?"
"I hope so, Sango. Truly, I hope so." Sango drew nearer to the monk. Absently, she removed a leaf from his hair. Then she straightened the collar of his monk's robe.
"Something wrong Sango?" Miroku said much bemused. A far off look obscured the thoughts of his companion as she ran her fingers under the heavy fabric to tidy it. Finally, she looked up at him willing the purpose of her soul to pass to his through their locked gaze alone.
"Just promise me you won't ever trick me like that, Miroku. I don't think I could tolerate a single minute… if you were gone." Miroku's eyes closed shut in a pained understanding. He embraced his demonslayer.
"I promise, Sango. I promise also to tell Kagome-sama if Inuyasha does not arrive before tomorrow's nightfall."
The fire dimmed within Priestess Kaede's cottage. Its warm wash descended until only the lower part of the walls glowed and its reflectance touched objects in only the barest way, hardly outlining anything. Mortal eyes became insufficient to the task of watching Kagome slumber through the dark. Shippo's eyes alone beheld the pain which marred her otherwise perfect brow. Sleepless, he watched his surrogate mother in her mourning. A single name formed on her lips and unable to take the grief himself he fled to seek the comfort of Sango and Miroku. He left Kagome alone.
Outside, a demon mimicked Kagome's grief with a high wail, but inside a sorrowed miko dreamed. Kagome walked a soothing blackness, following after a pre-set pathway which for some reason, called to her. She could feel her own heart throbbing, more and more at every step she took until it steadied out to a strong rolling drumbeat in her ears. It obscured all other noises around her and dullened her senses until, at last, she broke free of the path as it merged into a vast meadow. The heads of a thousand daisies bobbed all around her and then- she looked up to small ledge poised on the side of the hill. A glow of blue youkai warmed it. Kagome gasped and as she continued to look upwards, a silhouette of moon-struck silver appeared. The hanyou she so dearly loved peered over the edge at her and faintly, she heard her name.
"Kagome?" the half-demon tentatively gasped. Kagome gave a small smile. Then she awoke.
The hissing sputters of a small fire welcomed Kagome back to the world of the conscious. Miroku must have moved her back into Kaede's hut as she slept. The miko rolled several large heavy blankets off her. Instead of returning to sleep, she ran to collect her bow and arrows. Miroku heard her stirring and opened an eye.
"Where are you going, Kagome-sama?" he queried.
"He's alive!" Kagome cried out in exultation. "I felt him. I know he's out there somewhere!" Miroku nodded and resigned himself to the inevitable. Leaning over to Sango, he gently shook her by the shoulder to rouse her.
"Miroku!" she shouted happily. "I'm ready to go! Are you two ready to find Inuyasha?"
"Yes, Kagome-sama." The monk, demonslayer, and neko companion looked as sharp as ever. A still sleeping Shippo, however, was draped across Miroku's arms like a rug. A few fragments only of Kagome's soul lingered before pulling through the universes of non-existence to return to the living girl. The small specks slithered back into her, unnoticed, as she shuffled around stuffing things into her large yellow bag.
Miles away an intangible sensation, like that of a pink cloud of vapor, awakened Inuyasha. The night still clung to the world tenaciously, its banner of stars outspread; and yet something bright and cheerful called to him. Without thought, he shuffled from his solitary corner in the cavern to gaze on the world below. He gave an involuntary gasp.
"Kagome?" There, at the base of the hill in a small, sprawling meadow, stood the girl he loved like no other. She gave a small, wistful smile before she vanished. Inuyasha rubbed his eyes.
"Must have been some dream," he mumbled; and yet a peculiar scent clung to the air still- it was the dispensation of spiritual energy. Unbenownst to the hanyou Kagome had made a sudden overnight breakthrough in her spiritual powers. It seemed she was able to trace Inuyasha's aura using her own and now, she was hell bent on following the trail which lay yearning before her.
Author Notes- Wow, took me a long time to edit this into tolerable order. Next chapter, Kagome and Shippo lead the hunt of a hanyou!