The sun was setting behind the horizon as Kagome and Inuyasha were nervously waiting for him to get in his human form.
Suddenly, she felt a draft of youki arise and leave the hanyo as he transformed in front of her eyes.
She had witnessed the phenomenon on a few occasions already but she was always impressed as if it was the first time: his hair going from silvery white to ebony, his eyes darkening even more than hers, his dog ears disappearing to be replaced by human ones, and his fangs and claws shrinking and becoming blunt.
Kagome couldn't resist to kiss him. He was taken aback by the intensity of what he felt as his lips moved slowly against hers.
Blushing violently, he broke the kiss and cleared his throat.
"Hum... N-not that I don't like this but... We have a time limit..." he stuttered.
"I know. I just wanted to know what it felt like before we go." she answered, blushing as well.
Leaving temporarily their stuff and the camp behind, they ran the 200 meters separating them from the barrier. Arriving in front of it, Inuyasha stretched his arm to test it, relieved that it could pass through without any problems.
Holding hands, they walked through it and immediately saw the long stairway leading to the temple.
"Let's go." the hanyo said, answered by a determined nod.
The stairs were directly built into the mountain side. They climbed up as fast as they could, and after what seemed like a thousand stairs, they finally got to the top.
There, nested between giant trees, was a small temple that had probably known better days.
"It seems abandoned... I don't see anyone around..." Kagome whispered.
"Keh. Probably just hiding." he answered. "Hey! Someone's here? We came for you priestess! Show yourself!!" he added loudly.
"Inuyasha! Don't be so impolite!" the miko scolded him.
An ethereal figure appeared at the door threshold. It was a beautiful woman, all dressed in white, her long light blond hair floating as if they were in suspension in the air. Her skin was pale, almost translucent. But her eyes were bright blue, a stark contrast with her whole appearance.
"Excuse us for disrupting your slumber, priestess... My name is Kagome and we came all the way here to see you because the old miko from our village said you could help me. I have been cursed and it causes me to have horrible nightmares since then..." Kagome told her.
The priestess was looking at her, her gaze feeling like it was piercing through the miko's soul.
"And who is the boy with you?" she finally asked, staring at him.
"My name's Inuyasha." he answered.
"Hmmm I sense something special about you two. As individuals and together. You seem to be bound to a destiny to accomplish together, and your powers, sacred for you..." she looked at Kagome, then at Inuyasha. "... and demonic for you, will be tested during your journey."
"How?..." Inuyasha started. He was interrupted by the priestess laughing.
"I've heard about you, hanyo. Your name crossed the lands and got to me. It was clever to wait for the night when you lose your youki."
"Will you be able to help me, grand priestess?" Kagome asked again.
"I do not have the answer to your question. Only you have the key to free yourself from this curse. I can only cast a spell allowing you to access your subconscious mind while awake. This is where the curse is bounded." the white priestess told them.
"I want to do it." the miko answered resolutely.
The ethereal woman looked at the hanyo. "Inuyasha. You will have to stay by her side and make sure she doesn't hurt herself. She won't be able to see or feel you, but you will witness the enactment of what she will face in her subconscious mind."
"Kagome." she continued. "You will have to hurry. You need to face the curse and find the key before sunrise, or your partner will be purified by the aura emanating from these sacred grounds, leaving him only human, forever."
Kagome reached to Inuyasha and took his hand in hers. She looked in his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, but found only determination. He squeezed her hand, silently telling her that she had all his support and that he would be by her side, no matter what happens. She squeezed his hand back, and they looked at the priestess, a resolute gaze adorning their faces.
"I'm ready." Kagome said loudly.
"Follow me then." The woman answered before walking into the temple.
When they passed the door, they arrived in a huge room, way bigger than what it looked like from outside. The priestess traced a circle on the wooden floor with salt and what looked like ashes. With a sign of her hand, she invited Kagome to go kneel in the middle of the circle. Inuyasha stayed near her, alert.
The priestess pronounced some incantations while tracing lines with the salt mixture from the circle to the four corners of the room. Inuyasha noticed that the drawing on the floor was glowing lightly. He looked at Kagome and her gaze had become empty, like when she had been controlled by Tsubaki and had almost shot him an arrow. That made him feel a bit uneasy.
He turned to ask something to the priestess but she had disappeared. So looking back at Kagome, he got ready for what was to come.
He didn't have to wait long before she got up and got out of the circle. He followed her nearby, ready to jump into action if needed.
"Dammit, my demon senses would have been very useful right now..." he mumbled under his breath.
She started to walk around, before abruptly stopping in her tracks, looking at the door. She went outside, Inuyasha never far behind her.
"Coming!" he heard her say, wondering to who she was talking.
She wandered a bit outside and went to sit down near a tree.
"What are you doing outside?" she asked.
"I didn't sense any evil aura in her." she added after a few seconds of silence.
Inuyasha was never lifting his eyes off of her, in case he needed to intervene.
Kagome nodded and got up, then went back inside.
She knelt again in the circle, then completely stopped to move. He saw her struggling like if she wanted to move but was unable too.
"Are you alright Kagome?" he asked, touching her shoulder, but she didn't react.
"Damn it! I really can't reach her." the hanyo said, frustrated.
The Miko got up again, walked towards the corner of the room and extended her arms. It seemed that she placed something in her sleeve before she went back outside.
Inuyasha followed her. So far it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Her nightmares were always violent but maybe it wouldn't be under the spell of the priestess?
He didn't have to wait longer to know that his theory was wrong.
Kagome lifted her arm and gave a swing as if she was punching herself in the chest. Being right beside her, the hanyo blocked her fist before she could hurt herself.
She then started to move erratically, throwing her arm as if he was stabbing something before her. Inuyasha caught her in his arms, in a bear hug, trying to stop her from moving.
"Holy shit she's strong in that state!" he exclaimed as he struggled to keep her from launching away.
Then everything went fast. She stopped to try to run away and threw an invisible object with her hand. Sheer horror suddenly marked her traits. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was opened in a silent scream.
She stared in front of her for a few minutes, immobile, as fear and pain passed through her gaze. She started to tremble violently and she almost succeeded to free herself from his hold.
"Hang in there Kagome! I'm here with you!" he said, even though it was clear that she didn't hear him.
"Inuyasha!!!" she screamed loudly as she was able to flee from him.
She fell down on her knees, wailing. Inuyasha's heart stopped at this sound, having never heard such despair in her voice.
Kagome then seemed to manipulate something on the ground, before leaning forward and laying there, hugging an invisible form. She was sobbing uncontrollably, and all the hanyo could do was to hold her against him.
"I'm gonna fucking punch this woman. How dare she hurt Kagome like this!" he growled, seething with rage.
A few seconds later, her head shot up and she stood up, clenching her fists on her sides, her body trembling.
"You! How fucking dare you make me do this?! And then praise me?? Who the hell are you, you fucking witch!" she spat between clenched teeth.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha mumbled. He tried to get to her but then was pushed back by a barrier.
"Dammit! Fucking barrier!! If I was in my normal form, I would destroy it with my red Tetsusaiga!!" he shouted, exasperated.
Wind started to swirl around Kagome as her spiritual powers were arising. Inuyasha was impressed by the power emanating from her body.
She swiveled back abruptly. "Naraku." she hissed. "You fucking bastard. HOW DARE YOU TRAP ME TO DO THIS!?" she shouted.
If he had been a half yokai right now, his ears would've shot up at the sound of the name of their enemy. Had he been able to slither into her mind?
Screaming loudly, she launched forward as a huge discharge of spiritual power shot from her hand.
"Holy shit! You could've purified me on the spot!" the hanyo exclaimed.
The miko suddenly stopped to move before rushing inside the temple, immediately followed by Inuyasha. He got in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders.
Kagome blinked and he could see in her gaze that she was back into reality.
"I-Inuyasha?..." she whispered before collapsing.
"Woah Kagome!" he exclaimed as he caught her before her body hit the ground.
"She succeeded." the priestess told him.
"Where the hell were you?? What the fuck did you do to Kagome?!" he spat, turning towards her.
"Calm down. I guided her through her subconscious mind. She was able to find the source of the curse and destroy it. She's freed from it now."
Inuyasha got a better hold on Kagome, cradling her in his arms.
"Now go. You don't have much time before sunrise. Unless your desire is to be human forever." she added.
Inuyasha ran as fast as he could in his weaker state. He reached their camp just as his youki came back to him.
He layed Kagome on her sleeping bag before lighting the fire. He sat beside her and delicately placed her head on his lap. Caressing her face and hair, he waited for her to wake up. She was probably exhausted from her intern fight. He had seen the horror, the terror and the despair in her eyes while he was watching over her. It was heartbreaking to witness and not being able to do anything to help her.
Now her face looked peaceful and Inuyasha felt a sense of relief.
When she came back to her senses, she heard the crackles of a campfire, and her head was comfortably resting on something warm. A pleasant sensation was spreading on her head and face.
Her eyes shot open as the memories of earlier came back to her mind.
"Inuyasha?" she asked, her voice sounding broken.
"Hey, you're finally awake." he answered softly.
"Inuyasha!!!" she yelled, tears welling in her eyes, as she sat up and threw herself into his arms.
She hugged him as hard as she could, to make sure he was really there. Feeling overwhelmed, and needing to confirm that he was well and alive, she lifted her head and crashed her lips on his, kissing him fervently. She needed him like she needed oxygen.
Now straddling him, she deepened the kiss, tasting him, relishing in the vigor with which he responded.
They were clinging to each other, kissing like there was no tomorrow. Inuyasha was feeling dizzy and euphoric as he was feeling her moving against him in a very pleasant way.
Feeling his desire, Kagome broke the kiss, panting, and gazed into his eyes.
"I-I think we should... hum... calm down..." she said shyly, her face red.
"Y-yeah..." The hanyo answered, blushing as well.
Kagome gave him one last lingering kiss before climbing off his lap and leaning against his shoulder, circling his arm with hers.
"The priestess told me that you broke the curse. Can you tell me what happened while you were under her spell?" he asked softly.
Kagome took a shivering breath, and started. "When I was in the circle..."
Kagome's POV
Kagome was kneeling in the circle as the priestess drew some lines and said some incantations. She turned towards Inuyasha but he had disappeared, as well as the strange woman. She was now alone.
The miko decided to test if she could get out of the circle so she got up and crossed it without any resistance or effects.
She walked around the room, wondering ifthe spell of the priestess had worked. Everything looked the same and she didn't feel any different.
"Oi Kagome! I'm outside." she heard Inuyasha call.
"Coming!" she answered as she crossed the door.
She wandered a bit outside and saw him sitting under a nearby tree. She joined him and sat down beside him.
"What are you doing outside?" she asked.
"Waiting for the priestess to come back. She said she was getting some herb or whatever. I'm making sure she doesn't try anything funny when she comes back. I don't trust her." he said, crossing his arms.
"I didn't sense any evil aura in her."
"Yeah but I don't like the idea of her playing with your mind." he added, his face serious.
Kagome nodded and waited for a while with the hanyo before the priestess came back.
"Come." the woman told Kagome who, after a look towards Inuyasha, followed her.
They got back inside and when Inuyasha was about to go in as well, the priestess ordered him to wait outside and put up a barrier.
"And how the hell am I supposed to make sure she doesn't hurt herself if I'm not in the room??" he spat, angry.
Inside the room, the woman told Kagome to go kneel in the circle. She followed the instructions she gave her and suddenly, she was unable to move, like she was paralysed.
"Don't try to fight back. It's no use. You're under my spell now and you will obey everything I order you!" the priestess exclaimed loudly.
Kagome heard insistant banging on the door, probably Inuyasha trying to get in. She wanted to call him but her voice didn't cooperate.
The priestess picked up a dagger and gave it to Kagome. She felt her arms move on their own as she picked up the weapon, before concealing it up her sleeve.
"Now, to see if you're completely under my control, I want you to go out and get rid of this annoying useless half-breed."
The miko wanted to scream but it only reverberated in her head.
Her body started to move against her will and she got outside.
"Kagome! Are you all right?" asked Inuyasha when he saw her.
"Run, get away from me!!!" she screamed in her mind. "It was a trap! Run Inuyasha!!! Please..."
Unaware of her internal plea, the hanyo walked towards her. He noticed tears running down her cheeks. Without thinking twice, he hugged her tightly.
"It's ok Kagome... I'm here with-"
"Oh no! Oh god no!" the miko yelled in her head, as she felt her arm shoot up and with force, plant the hidden blade right into Inuyasha's back.
Inuyasha immediately recoiled and noticed the bloody dagger in Kagome's hand.
"What..."
He didn't have time to say more. The Miko had launched at him, blade first. He was able to dodge it, even if he was still human, thanks to his sharp reflexes and the strength advantage he had on her.
"Please Inuyasha! Go away!! I... I can't stand to hurt you. I don't want to kill you!!!" Kagome thought as her body endlessly went for him over and over again. The hanyo was able to dodge each time, but the blood loss from his back wound was starting to make him feel dizzy. He tried to grab the blade without hurting her but got wounded in his hands and on his forearms. He jumped back to assess the damage rapidly.
Kagome witnessed with horror the dagger successfully plunging into his chest as she skillfully threw it at him.
She saw Inuyasha looking at his chest then at her, wide eyed, before he gripped the hilt and fell down on his knees, breathing erratically.
"No no no no no!!! This can't be happening!" she yelled in her mind. "I want this to stop!! I don't want to hurt him anymore..."
She wanted to run to him, to help him, to save him. She couldn't believe that it was happening. Her dear Inuyasha...
Her eyes never leaving him, she saw everything. As he pulled hard on the dagger to dislodge it from his chest. The blood that gushed from the wound. Him, coughing up blood as he doubled over, before falling face first in the dirt. The wheezing sound of his breathing. The pained look he shot her before getting completely still as life escaped from him.
Suddenly, Kagome's body could move again. "Inuyasha!!! she screamed as she ran to his lifeless form.
She fell down on her knees, wailing. She pulled on one of his shoulder to turn him on his back and proceeded to give him CPR in a vain attempt to save him. She was now covered in his blood. She layed her head on him and held him in her arms as she sobbed, despair crawling into her heart. Inuyasha, the man she loved more than anything, had just died from her own hand.
A few seconds later, she heard clapping. She looked up and glared at the priestess who was smiling and applauding her.
"Good job Kagome."
The Miko got up on her feet, clenching her fists on her sides, trembling from anger.
"You! How fucking dare you make me do this?! And then praise me?? Who the hell are you, you fucking witch!" she spat between clenched teeth.
Wind started to swirl around Kagome as her spiritual powers were arising.
"Kukuku. You're right, Kagome." said a voice behind her.
She swiveled back abruptly. "Naraku." she hissed. "You fucking bastard. HOW DARE YOU TRAP ME TO DO THIS!?" she shouted.
"Kukuku. Now now. It's just history repeating itself. Inuyasha, killed by the woman he loves. How pathetic." Naraku answered, smirking cruelly.
Screaming loudly, she launched at the man. When her palm collided with his body, an enormous discharge of spiritual power ran through him. He was completely disintegrated in front of her eyes.
"Kagome, you found the key." the priestess said.
She glared at her, confused. "The key?..."
"Yes, the key to break the curse that had been set on you. You experienced your deepest fear and then destroyed its source. Your subconscious mind is free now."
Kagome blinked and was suddenly back into the temple, Inuyasha standing in front of her.
"So I saw you and next thing I know, I'm waking up laying on your lap." Kagome finished.
Inuyasha, after hearing the battle she had gone through in her mind, didn't find any words good enough to comfort her. So he just wrapped his arms around the miko and held her like she was the most precious thing in the world. He kissed the crown of her head and she lifted her face so he could kiss her properly.
Unlike earlier, when Kagome was driven by the need to feel him alive, they kissed slowly, tenderly. There was something special about this kiss. It was a promise to always be there for the other, a manifestation of the profound love they felt, a display of the affection they shared, a proof of their trust in each other.
When they finally broke the kiss, Kagome looked lovingly at her hanyo, caressing the side of his face. She then snuggled against his chest, sighing. She felt so at peace at the moment, like nothing could break this warm bubble they created around them.
For the first time since the battle when she had been cursed, she slept soundly, peacefully that night and dreamed of them, of the life they could build together.
Even if the curse had been broken, Inuyasha couldn't resist to spoon against the miko and wrap his arm protectively around her waist. But this time, he didn't have to stay alert. He could just enjoy being there, with her, breathing her sweet scent and sleep peacefully as the fire died down slowly. Yeah, he could definately get used to this.
The end.