Chapter Two
Kagome's Death
*author's note-This chapter takes place two days before the first chapter.*
Inuyasha and Kagome chased the black haired demon through the forest. "Kaugra," Inuyasha yelled, "Where is Kanna?" The wind demon called over her shoulder. "You'll never find her, half breed!" "Inuyasha! We must find and destroy Kanna!" "I know that, Kagome. Kaugra, tell us where she is or pay the price!" A small white haired child appeared from the bushes near them. A small voice said, "I'm right here, Inuyasha." "You're going to face us," Inuyasha laughed, "Don't make me laugh!" "The three of you will not defeat me!" Inuyasha gave Kanna a quizzical look. "Have you lost it? There are only two of us." "The child within the priestess stirs." Inuyasha looked from Kanna to Kagome, then back to Kanna. "What child?" Kaugra yelled, "She means your child, half breed! Now die! Dance of Blades!" Kaugra used her ever present fan to send an attack directed at Kagome. Inuyasha pushed her out of the way in time. "Are you alright, Kagome." "Yes. Thank you." Inuyasha placed a hand to Kagome stomach. Apparently, Kanna had been telling the truth about the baby. Why hadn't he sensed it? Then it hit him. Last night was a moonless night, the time of the month he always lost his demonic power. His transformation from half demon to full human had wreaked havoc on his senses. "Kagome, did you know about this?" "I swear, Inuyasha. I didn't know." "When do you think it happened?" Kagome blushed. Leave it to Inuyasha to be less than subtle. "Our little romp in the woods, perhaps?" Inuyasha helped Kagome to her feet and smiled. "And people call me an animal." Kanna said, "Enough chit chat! Vines like an evil spread, grow at my command." Suddenly, vines broke through the ground and completely entangled Inuyasha. What was worse, was he couldn't unsheathe his Tetsusiaga. Kagome docked an arrow into the bow that she constantly carried. She aimed it at Kanna. "Release Inuyasha!" "Why should I, Priestess?" "Release him or die!" Kagome fired the arrow. Kanna side stepped the arrow in time. "Now you will regret this." Kanna held up the mirror she always carried with her. A dagger flew out of the mirror straight towards Inuyasha. Kagome saw the dagger and ran towards him. "No Kagome! Get to safety! Don't worry about me!" Kagome ignored him, and stopped in front of Inuyasha. The dagger meant for Inuyasha had landed in the side of Kagome's stomach. She fell to the ground. "Kagome! Why? Why didn't you listen to me?" Kagome replied in a soft voice, "You're always protecting me. The least I could do is return the favor." Inuyasha had seen enough. "Iron Rever, Soul Stealer!" He slashed thru the vines, and held Kagome to him. Kaugra began laughing. "Now, half breed, witness my true power!" Suddenly, Kaugra screamed in pain. Inuyasha looked up in time to see Kanna plunging another dagger into Kaugra's back. "You have served your purpose, Kaugra of the wind, but your usefulness is gone." Kaugra fell into the river that flowed near them. Her last words were, "Damn you, Kanna. They'll destroy you as they did Nuraku." Kanna gave a sinister smile and disappeared as quietly as she's appeared.
Inuyasha picked up Kagome. He had to get her back to the village and to the priestess Kaide. If anyone could help, it was Old Kaide.
As Inuyasha carried Kagome thru the forest that led to the village, he looked down at this brave young woman. He thought of all they'd been thru together from the time she'd come thru the well to the destruction of Nuraku. Now she was hurt because he'd failed as a protector. "Inuyasha?" "Yes, Kagome?" "Do you remember when I first met you beneath the sacred tree?" That's good, Kagome, Inuyasha thought, keep talking. Let me know that you're still with me. "Yes I do. You pulled the arrow out of my chest." "I want to thank you for asking me to stay in this era with you. I know it couldn't have been easy choosing me over Kikyo's memory." "Given the chance, I'd do it again." "Inuyasha?" "Yes, Kagome?" "I love you." Inuyasha swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. He wouldn't let Kagome see him cry. Demons, or even half demons just didn't cry. "Don't say your good-byes yet, Kagome. Kaide will help you. Once you're better, you, this baby, and I will be a family."
Once they'd reached the village, an old woman wearing an eye patch greeted them. "Inuyasha, what happened to Kagome?" "She put herself in harm's way for me? Can you help her?" "Bring her to my hut, then you wait outside." "Wait a minute, old woman! Why do I have to wait outside." "Because I'm the priestess and I said so!"
What seemed like an eternity later, Kaide emerged from the hut. Inuyasha asked, "Kaide, will she be okay?" Kaide was taken by surprise. In all the years that she'd known this spunky half demon, this was the first time he'd actually called her by name and not something negative like Old Hag. "She's lost a lot of blood, Inuyasha. She may not make it through the night. Did you know that Kagome was with child?" "Yes." "And you let her go into battle anyway?" "Take it easy, Old Woman. I only found out moments ago. I didn't pick up on it, because last night was the moonless night." "Is it yours" "No, it's Miroku's! Yes it's mine! Who in the hell did you think it was? If I'd been able to pick up on the child, Kagome would've stayed here in the village with you. Can I see her?" "Yes. She loved you enough to put her safety aside for you. Go love her now." "Kaide, I've always loved her. I wish I could have stopped her from being injured." Inuyasha walked towards the hut. Kaide sighed. Death was always hard. But to lose Kagome, was like losing her elder sister Kikyo all over again.
Inuyasha walked into Kaide's hut and let his eyes rest on Kagome lying on the bedding. He felt so bone weary. The woman he loved and their unborn child was dying before his eyes. The damnable thing was that he was powerless to do anything. Inuyasha kept a constant vigil over Kagome, refusing sleep and food. Late into the night, Kagome developed a fever and became incoherent. Then in a sudden moment of clarity, she called out, "Inuyasha?" He leaned over her. "Yes Kagome? I'm here." "Would you go to my world beyond the well and tell Gramps, Mom, and Sota that I love them?" Inuyasha responded in an almost inaudible voice, "Yes Kagome. I'll do that." "I love you, Inuyasha. You've made me a better person. I'll miss you, but I have no regrets leaving this world. Knowing and loving you was the best part of my life. I'll be watching over you from the netherworld." Inuyasha leaned down and kissed her. He suddenly felt her go limp as she died. "Kagome? Kagome? KAGOME! NO!" He held her to him and cried as he had never cried before. He cursed Kanna, and Kaugra. But mostly, he cursed himself for not protecting Kagome better than he had. He wanted to die along with her. He let out an almost primordial scream, that many of the villagers would say was inhuman.
When Inuyasha finally emerged from the hut, he bumped into not only Kaide but Miroku the monk. Miroku was an old friend, who had joined him and Kagome in the search for the jewel shards. "Inuyasha, Kaide explained to me about Kagome. I've very sorry." "Don't let the villagers build the funeral pyre." "But Inuyasha.." "If they burn them, you lecherous monk, you will regret the day you first crossed my path!" "Where are you going?" "To deliver a message." He disappeared into the woods.
Miroku looked at Kaide. "Did he say them?" Kaide replied, "Kagome was carrying Inuyasha's child." "Poor Inuyasha. I can only imagine what this is doing to him." Miroku walked into the hut to pay his final respects to Kagome's memory. As he looked down at Kagome's lifeless body, his eyes filled with tears. Kagome was the most unselfish person he knew. She had been a friend to him, when he had no friends. She would be greatly missed. "Sango and Shippo will be here directly. Thank you for finding us and informing us about Kagome. I wonder what was so important, that Inuyasha would postpone her funeral?"
Inuyasha had found the person he was searching for…well, sort of. He found his half brother's lackey, a little green demon named Jaken. "Stop right there, Inuyasha! Don't make me use the staff of two heads!" "My beef isn't with you, you little green toad! I have a message for my brother. Tell Sesshomaru that I've an offer for him concerning Tetsusiaga." Jaken ran deeper into the woods to deliver Inuyasha's message to his master. Satisfied with Jaken's action, Inuyasha began the trek back to the village.
Author's note- This was the hardest chapter I've ever had to write. I hated to kill Kagome, as she is my favorite Inuyasha character. But, I had to put Inuyasha in a situation where he would have no choice but to rely on his brother, Sesshomaru. As we all know, Seshomaru is a cold hearted demon…or is he? Maybe the readers won't be too hard on me.
