Epiphany of my Heart

Eleven

Inuyasha squatted down on the ground, trying not to look as if making Kagome cry had upset him. He turned, to see that Miroku, Sango, Rin, Shippo and Kilala were all throwing him filthy looks of anger.

'What?' he asked, annoyed.

'I hope you don't think we're going to let you leave her to run off like that?' asked Miroku, holding Sango back from pouncing on the unsuspecting hanyou.

'Feh, whatever, you go after her if you want,' Inuyasha muttered, secretly hoping that they would make him go after her. He turned back to them, to see them still staring at him.

'Stop being such an idiot Inuyasha,' scolded Shippo. They all turned to face Kikyo as she huffed slightly, her eyes still closed, but her lips in a strange smile. 'And what are you smiling for?' Kikyo laughed slightly.

'Kagome's a big girl, whiny, pathetic, but she can look after herself. If Inuyasha doesn't want to go babysitting then maybe she should just go home – where she belongs…'

Inuyasha said nothing, just watched her carefully as she spoke. Sango leapt to her feet, fuming, Miroku standing up at her side, ready to stop her lunging at Kikyo, as he knew she was close to doing.

'You fucking bitching whore!' screamed Sango, making Kikyo jump slightly at the suddenness. 'This is none of your business! You're out of place here, so why don't you go home!' Kikyo stood up slowly, smiling coldly.

'Kagome needs to realise that she doesn't belong here-'

'SHUT UP! SHUT UP!' screamed Sango, storming towards the priestess, 'One more word, about Kagome, about anything, and I will fucking SLAP you!' Kikyo's smile did not falter.

'How nice, big sister now are we? Making up with Kagome what you couldn't do for Koha-'

Sango pulled out her sword, resting the point against her throat.

'Say it…' she said in a dangerously low voice, 'say my brother's name, and I'll cut your throat, make no mistake about it…' after a moment or two, Sango realised Kikyo had finished, and she put the sword away. 'Go after her Inuyasha,' ordered Sango in a falsely calm voice. Inuyasha's ears pricked.

'But I-'

'Inuyasha get your-' her voice was drowned out as a deafening scream filled the forest, and Inuyasha shot to his feet, drawing Tetsusaiga.

'Kagome…' he muttered, dashing into the trees in the direction of the scream.

Inuyasha could smell Kagome's fear in her scent, and he ran faster, only to skid to a halt as he found Kagome. With no arrows in her quiver, Kagome threw it at the warriors that attacked her, along with the bow as they still chased after her. She stood in the middle of a wide attack of creatures, only they weren't creatures at all, they were men. Regular village men, Inuyasha wondered if Kagome would really appreciate her rescue if he killed humans in the process, until one grabbed her arm, only to receive a full force smack across the jaw from Kagome. Inuyasha leapt forward to help her, only to get whacked across the back with a staff. He turned his head as he hit the floor, rolling out of the way, as the man brought his staff down hard again, narrowly missing Inuyasha's head.

'Hey, watch what the hell your doing with that will ya?' shouted Inuyasha, leaping backwards to avoid another attempt to hit him. 'Look I don't wanna hurt you but-' As the man leapt forward to smack him again, Inuyasha grabbed his wrist, snapping it nastily, so that he dropped the staff, 'whatever, forget this.'

Inuyasha swept through the trees, not killing the men, just doing an awful lot of damage, (and having a little too much fun whilst doing it). Inuyasha leapt into the sky after knocking out several men, and wounding even more. His eyes widened in fear; Kagome was gone. 'Dammit!' cursed Inuyasha, surveying the grounds, and meeting Sango's eyes as she and the others looked up at him.

'Where's Kagome?' called Miroku. Inuyasha looked about a bit more, and then spotted her.

'That way, they're catching up to her!' replied Inuyasha, gesturing with his arm in front of him.

'Youkai?' called Sango.

'Human.' They looked at him worriedly, as they all (besides Kikyo) leapt onto a transformed Kilala's back, and charged through the trees. Inuyasha was ahead of the others, he dived down, swooping towards the crowd. Kagome was in their centre, them leaping at her, the girl screaming and trying to fight her way free.

Inuyasha swooped just as a man raised a staff to smack her with, and grabbed the end of the stick, pulling the man up into the air by it, before letting him drop to the ground. 'Didn't your mother tell you, never raise your hand to a woman?'

'Inuyasha!' shouted Kagome, and Inuyasha turned, just in time to see a man smack Kagome's face, and watch her disappear beneath the crowd. Seething with anger, Inuyasha dived down, slashing at the men with his claws, making them leap back as they watched the first few men catch his wrath. Kagome was conscious, but a little dazed, and her mouth was bleeding. Inuyasha grabbed her wrist, pulling her up into his arms, and leaping into the sky once more.

Inuyasha wiped the blood from her mouth with his fingers, the ones that weren't stained with the blood of the men. 'Are you okay?' he asked. She nodded slightly, pulling her arms tightly round his neck as he swerved out of the way of an arrow, nearly dropping her. 'Heh, that was close, a bit too-' he cut off, as an arrow struck his shoulder, and they plummeted downwards. Inuyasha smashed into the ground, Kagome on top of him, taking the blow instead of her. He was disorientated, and dizzy. All he knew was that he felt Kagome being tugged away from him, though he could not in any way fight it, he for that moment could not move any limb in his body. It was Kagome's screaming that brought him back to reality, and he sat up as he heard her, but still unable to walk, or even call out to her, only able to watch as she was carried away, further an further out of his reach.

Hirakoitsu spun through the trees, as did a storm of fire, but Sango, Kilala and the others were too late, Kagome was already out of Inuyasha's sight. Miroku dropped to the hanyou's side.

'We'll get her back – are you okay?' Inuyasha didn't reply, he just sneered, snatching the arrow in his shoulder, pushing it all the way through, and snapping the head off, before pulling it sharply from his shoulder. He got steadily to his feet, and gazed heatedly in the direction Kagome had been carried off in. The others watched Inuyasha's furious and determined expression, as Kikyo arrived behind them, blood pouring down her forehead again, and she looked beaten and fatally wounded. She had been attacked by the men as well when they had left her behind. Inuyasha ignored his companions and Kikyo, sniffing the air slightly, picking up Kagome's scent, and latching onto it, making sure he would not loose it, before charging forward, and walking away from the others without so much as a word.

Inuyasha stormed forward through the trees, the others struggling to keep up; his temper had soared far above normal, and he was ready to take it out on the cause of all this trouble.

'Inuyasha!' Sango called out as she struggled to push aside an overhanging branch from her path, causing it to swing back and smack Miroku across the jaw. Sango ignored Miroku's over exaggerated whimpering, and continued to grow more and more angry at Inuyasha's immature behaviour. 'Inuyasha, stop a minute!' Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks, his fists at his sides, shaking with anger. 'This is pretty much as bad as it can get, but we'll fix it, like we always do, OKAY?' Inuyasha did not reply, 'but storming off alone will only get you killed, so stop being such a self-pitying idiot!' Her voice was firm, as if she were a mother scolding a small boy. 'Kagome needs more than that right now.'

'Kagome…' he repeated, trying to keep his voice even. 'Kagome is gone, and it's all my fault!' He spun round in anger, and lashed out at a tree with his claws, slicing it horizontally in half, causing it to crash to the ground.

'Do you want every demon tracking us to find us?' asked Miroku as he finally caught up with his companions, Shippo on his shoulder holding an unconscious Kilala, and supporting a limp and defeated Kikyo on his other side, while Rin was walking nervously beside him. Sango looked to Kikyo then, who seemed to be unconscious, depending on Miroku for support, and Sango hated her more then than ever. After everything Kikyo had done to Kagome, to Inuyasha, to all of them, whether it was her fault or not, she did not have the right to ask for their help, nor accept it. Sango wished they could have just left her, and wondered how Inuyasha could have asked Kagome, after everything, to help him get that…bitch to safety. Her thoughts that were brought back to their situation as Inuyasha started shouting at Miroku again.

'I don't care, you fucking idiot I don't care!' He turned to walk off again but Sango grabbed his arm and stopped him.

'I care about Kagome too, and if I loose her because our best hope of getting her back has got himself killed… I'll resurrect your sorry ass just so I can kill you myself!'

'Get off me!' Inuyasha pulled his arm out of her grip, but didn't get far before being stopped by a slap round the face from Sango. He glared furiously at her, taking every inch of his strength not to smack her back, but thought better of it. Miroku tried to hold back a smile, finding it overwhelmingly funny seeing someone beside himself being slapped by Sango.

Inuyasha stood still before the demona slayer, staring fixedly at the ground, his hair falling into his golden eyes, his cheek red where Sango had slapped him.

'Well once again the woman has to be the mature, sensible one here,' she said, realising she was being a bit insensitive, but now wasn't the time for Inuyasha to embrace his sensitive side. 'Inuyasha, can you smell or sense Kagome at all?' Inuyasha looked as if he might not reply, but he eventually shook his head, still gazing in self-wretchedness at the ground, the men must have been using some sort of magic to cover their tracks, as it had taken him only moments to loose their scent trail.

Miroku shifted Kikyo's weight slightly, his arm tired from holding her for so long, and he was beginning to be annoyed that he was being ignored by his friends, and wondered partially if throwing Kikyo at Inuyasha would get him some attention, as well as the feeling back in his arm. Sango felt sorry for Inuyasha, and realised that she had been a bit harsh earlier, knowing that he can't feel good about what had happened, because he believed it was all his fault, but Sango felt worse for him, because she felt that slightly, it was his fault. He had brought Kikyo with them, and if he hadn't brought her, Kagome would never have been upset, and she never would have separated from them, and would not have been able to be captured; she knew her friend was not completely guilt free, and that it was his stupid continuing infatuation with Kikyo that had allowed Kagome to be taken. She stepped forward, but as she approached Inuyasha something leapt before her and sliced her across the stomach. The gash the creature's jagged blade had caused, though a shallow wound stung viciously, and she winced slightly. Many more terrifying, armoured, corpse-like creatures, just like Sango's attacker leapt out of the shadows of the trees and ambushed Inuyasha and the others.

One of the creatures' iron boots smacked into Miroku's temple, and he dropped Kikyo, and collapsed to the floor, his eyes closed and blood pouring down the side of his face. Shippo jumped off his shoulder before he hit the ground, still clutching the exhausted, nearly unconscious Kilala. He prodded Miroku, his eyes turning glassy when the monk did not respond.

'Miroku…Miroku?' Despair filled up inside the tiny fox demon, as Miroku failed to awaken. Rin ran away from the battle slightly, taking shelter behind a tree, only to scream and duck as a scythe shot through the bark of the tree beside her head. She skidded to the floor, as the creature pounced on top of her, rousing another sharp scream from her.

'Miss Sango!' she shouted, though the words stuck in her throat, as the bloodstained blade descended upon her. She pulled her arm over her head, readying herself for the blow.

Meanwhile Sango and Inuyasha had leapt in to battle their attackers, and had not noticed the plight of Miroku and Kikyo. Sango was double-teamed by the creatures, she flung her Hirakoitsu at them but one of the foul monsters caught it, giving her an evil snigger.

'There are too many Inuyasha!' called Sango desperately, then spun round when he did not reply, and realised he had left her side. They had been back-to-back just moments before, but now they were separated by hordes of savage, shrieking demons. 'Inuyasha get your butt over here and help me out!' Then Sango's voice dropped into a terrified whisper as she saw what was happening, 'Inuyasha?' her eyes widened with fear; no, not now, she thought, no please not now.

Shippo did not see what Sango could, lurking behind the eyes of their companion. Shippo tugged helplessly at Inuyasha's kimono, his eyes teary. 'Shippo, get away from him!' Shippo turned to look at Sango in confusion, only to look back up into the eyes of Inuyasha, and backed away hastily, his eyes wide. The creatures closed in around Inuyasha, wide, malicious grins on their demonic faces. I don't have time for this, thought Inuyasha, Kagome is in trouble, she needs me. Suddenly, anger erupted from inside him and completely overflowed the hanyou. He felt energy run through his veins bringing them closer to the surface of his skin as the power pulsed through him, right down to his clawed fingertips. The power surged through him, as Shippo cowered away from him on Sango's warning. His emotions had powered him to such a dangerous extent, that all Sango and Shippo could do was watch as their friend slowly lost control of his body, as the demon took over.

'I don't have time for this! I WON'T LET HER DOWN ANYMORE!' Purple marks suddenly grew across the sides of his face, his eyes turned blood red, and his claws grew into talons; demon Inuyasha was back.

With one swipe of Inuyasha's claws, the creatures surrounding him flew backwards, to avoid being shredded. 'Foolish bastards, now look what you've done,' his voice was foreign to his throat, the words were his own, but the voice scratched at his throat with an unfamiliar malice. The creatures leapt upon him all at once, and Sango skidded forward on her side, snatching up Shippo and Kilala from amongst the charging demons and into her arms. 'Are you okay?' she asked Shippo, who nodded, still clinging to Kilala, and leapt onto Sango's shoulder.

'I'm fine, but…Miroku got hit,' he informed her, Sango then looked over to the unconscious monk, lying not far from them. Sango crawled to his side, and shook him slightly to try to wake him, but he did not stir. She pulled Miroku's arm round her other shoulder, and stood up, her gaze falling upon the rampaging, demonic Inuyasha. 'At least he isn't turning on us,' suggested Shippo, trying not to be scared.

'Yet…what do you think his demon side will be content just shredding these guys?' Shippo looked terrified as he accepted this fact, and then for some reason, he wished Kagome were here.

Suddenly, as Inuyasha swatted several demons off him, a sacred arrow skimmed his cheek, scratching it, and then striking the demon behind him in the heart. Sango turned to see where it had come from, and where Kikyo stood, bow in hand, her raven hair limp over her shoulders and blood trickling down the side of her face.

'Inuyasha,' she said, putting another arrow to her bow; her voice was just as expressionless, as cold as ever, and Sango felt Miroku stir slightly in her arms, though she barely looked at his awakened face, before he pulled himself away from Sango and stood in between the bow and demon Inuyasha.

'Stop…' he coughed harshly, blood-dripping from his mouth, 'you can't kill Inuyasha just because he's like this…we can get him back!'

'Stand aside you fool!' she snapped coldly, tightening the arrow to the bow.

'If we get Kagome, she can bring him back, don't shoot him.'

'Kagome is dead you pathetic little fool. This is the only way to stop Inuyasha now.'

'You're supposed to love him aren't you? How can you so easily kill him?'

'You think this is easy? I don't want to – sometimes there has to be a strong person, one who is willing to make sacrifices, and that is me!'

'Strong is fighting, and never giving up, how can you give up on Inuyasha so easily?' Kikyo did not reply, the arrow just tightened dangerously to the bow again. 'That is why you will never even compare to Kagome, because she never gives up on him.' This seemed to strike a nerve, as Kikyo let the arrow fly, and it struck the ground beside Miroku. He looked up from the arrow to Kikyo, not surprised that she missed, knowing she only mean to show him he had thoroughly pissed her off.

'Get out of my way, or I won't miss this time. I will send you to hell with Inuyasha.'

A terrifying swish of the blade sounded as it whipped fast through the air, Rin cringed, only to feel something drip onto her cheek. She opened her dark eyes, and saw Shippo above her, a gash across his cheek, having taken the attack for her. Shippo screeched deafeningly, and leapt at the creature, sinking his teeth into its disgusting, fleshy arm. The creature howled, and toppled backwards in surprise. Rin leapt to her feet, just as the creature swatted Shippo to the ground, and attacked the kitsune in a blind rage, no weapon of any kind in its spindly claws. Rin seized the scythe, barely able to lift it, but swung it madly, her eyes closed. She opened her eyes after hearing a thud, and cringed as she saw the creature's body lying on the ground, a few centimetres from its head. Shippo shot up, picking up Kilala, and looked at her with a smile.

'That was great!' he squeaked, making the girl smile back uncertainly, shaking.

Sango pulled up her Hirakoitsu threateningly, but there was no need, demon Inuyasha had stepped out from behind Miroku, and had started stepping towards Kikyo, an evil grin on his face. Then Miroku collapsed, and Sango rushed to his side, supporting his weight on her shoulder, and watched as Inuyasha approached Kikyo. She drew the arrow back further against the bowstring.

'Stop!' she ordered, her voice not cold as usual, but full of emotion. 'I love Inuyasha, but I will kill this monster if you come any closer.' Inuyasha grinned evilly, his canines gleaming, his green pupils in his red eyes daring her to let fly the arrow as he stepped one more step forward.

Kikyo closed her eyes, hating with every breath what she was about to do.

'No!' shrieked Shippo, running back into the battle scene with Rin and Kilala, as she let fly the arrow, the pink radiance shimmering through the air as it flew towards Inuyasha. Suddenly a rich scent filled Inuyasha's nose, and he turned his head sharply to his right.

'Kagome?' his voice was a whisper, but as it left his lips, his demonic features faded from his face, and the hanyou returned…too late?

Kikyo watched within the split second of releasing the arrow, the features fade from the hanyou face, and quicker than lightening she pulled another arrow to the bow, and let that fly like gossamer, striking the other arrow, and sending it off it's course, and away from Inuyasha, stopping it from hitting him. 'Kagome?' he repeated, compassion returning to his voice. He looked around in confusion, until Sango spoke.

'You can smell Kagome?' she had worry plaguing her voice; Inuyasha nodded in reply.

'She is afraid…really, really afraid…she's in real trouble.' As he spoke the last part, his voice became strong again, and he turned and dashed away from others.

He turned just as he had passed where Sango stood supporting Miroku, he heard the demons continue in their assault, but this time, it was on Kikyo. She shot arrows at the opponents as fast as she could, the others blinded with the rays of pink light. Suddenly, just as Inuyasha went to help her, his ears pricked up. Kagome's voice, full of fear, desperation and agony, rang within the sound of his own name. Sango looked at him as if she knew what he could hear, but he did not look away from Kikyo. The demons were closing in on her, and they had begun to get attacks in between her arrows, she was in trouble. But with every blow Kikyo received, Inuyasha heard Kagome's voice. He recalled within that second when Miroku had once asked him if he had to choose, who he would choose. He was faced with the same situation now, though the monk near death in Sango's arms did not ask him, they were asking him. It seemed liked both Kikyo and Kagome were asking him to choose; as Kikyo put her last arrow to her bow, Kagome's voice rang louder in his ears. At this moment Kikyo met his eyes, as the final arrow missed; it was within this second that he made his decision, he chose. With tears in his eyes, he turned, and ran towards Kagome's voice.

As Inuyasha dashed through the trees, Kagome's screams became heard also by Sango, who was dragging the unconscious (or maybe worse) Miroku with Shippo at her side, clutching the passed out Kilala in his tiny arms, Rin running close behind. Suddenly the trees were less close together, the blood red sunset shone down on Inuyasha and the others as they left the forest's edge, and ran into the archaic village where Inuyasha could sense Kagome. The small huts scattered over the small plot that was the village, were arranged with a long path through the centre, leading up to the temple at its core. As Inuyasha raced up the path, the others struggling to keep up, he noticed all huts were abandoned, and then he saw why. What seemed to be the whole village had gathered around the temple, and Kagome's screams called from amidst the crowd, Inuyasha's name clawing at her throat as she screamed it in agony and fear.

Inuyasha pushed the people aside, knocking them carelessly out his way, until he came to the centre of the crowd, and what they were all gathered around loosely. The stone-built temple towered above him, the only refuge against the demons of this era, but Inuyasha saw that they had shut themselves purposefully outside of it. Two iron chains hung either side of the door's highest corners, but they were chained to Kagome's wrists and her eyes were closed in pain as blood trickled down her arms from her wrists.

'INUYASHA!' she screamed, not being able to see him as she was chained facing the temple.

Inuyasha dashed to her side, ignoring the yells of protest from the crowd. He flung himself against her, so relieved to have found her alive, and nuzzled his face against the side of hers. 'Inuyasha?' she whispered, hopefulness and exhaustion in her voice. Inuyasha was too emotional to speak, but nodded, and placed his hand over Kagome's. At the sight of the familiar clawed hand over hers, she knew it was him, and her eyes turned glassy. 'I thought you…I was so afraid you wouldn't come for me.'

'I will always come for you,' he replied, but stood up straight as he felt someone approaching. He turned to face a tall, dark man glaring and shouting at him.

'What the hell are you doing demon?' Inuyasha looked at him with disgust.

'I'm helping her down,' he replied expressionlessly.

'This is not your business, to interfere with our sacrifice!'

'Oh but I'm afraid it is you sadistic bastard, she's with me.' Inuyasha turned his back, leaning up to attempt to break the cuffs that were cutting sharply into her wrists, when the man grabbed Inuyasha's wrist, pulling his arm away. 'Get your disgusting hands off of me,' warned Inuyasha, in a dangerously calm voice.

'We are sacrificing her to Kazuya, to protect our village, you can't take back what we've already promised to him,' argued the man, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke Kazuya's name.

'You're his worshippers not me, have the courage to promise something that actually is yours; because her life isn't yours to promise, you - sick - BASTARD!' He smacked the man across the jaw, and he went flying into the crowd. The crowd looked at him with fear, as he stood beside Kagome. 'Anybody else gonna try and stop me?!' The crowd did not reply they had all fallen silent. It was then, that Inuyasha felt it, the greatest force he had felt in so long, and it was coming this way, and fast…Kazuya! 'Sango, get over here, he's coming!' he yelled as she finally managed to push through the crowd, Miroku still leaning unconscious on her shoulder as she dragged him.

Inuyasha turned to Kagome, and leapt at her, clawing at the chains, trying to break them, but they did not even bend under his strength. Inuyasha stood back, out of breath at his outburst, sweat beading down his face, and Kagome's blood dripping from his hand where the chains were cutting spitefully into her. Kagome's voice was so weak and shaky, that Inuyasha could barely hear what she was saying to him.

'Inuyasha…get the others inside,' she whimpered; Inuyasha looked at her in bewilderment. Kagome felt like she was about to pass out from the pain, but she bared it, trying with all her might to stay conscious. 'The Sages chose this place to seal themselves long ago because Kazuya is too evil to enter it, it is sanctuary, the only place he cannot get to us…GET THEM INSIDE!' Inuyasha's golden orbs gazed at her defiantly, not wanting to cause her pain.

'If I don't unchain you first, the cuffs will tighten even more, and they'll cut you.' Inuyasha then trembled, feeling Kazuya's evil approach, and Kagome knew that he was getting closer and closer by the second.

'DAMN YOU INUYASHA, GET THEM INSIDE!' Just then Sango stopped at Inuyasha's side, Miroku leaning on her, Rin, and Shippo carrying Kilala at her feet. Inuyasha looked at them for a moment, and then mumbled them their orders.

'Get inside,' he muttered, looking at the ground beneath his feet fixedly.

Inuyasha walked slowly behind Kagome again, and slid his fingers in the tiny crack in the door, and taking a deep breath, pulled it open sharply. Kagome's scream pierced Inuyasha's ears sharply as he pulled the door ajar slightly, causing her chains to cut into her and the blood poured down her arms, dripping onto Inuyasha's face. Shippo squeezed through the gap, and dragged Kilala through, the gap being only just big enough for them and then Rin to squeeze through. Inuyasha looked to Sango expectantly, but she shook her head apologetically.

'We can't get through there, Inuyasha.' Then, Inuyasha shuddered, feeling Kazuya's presence just yards from then, though he did not have the courage to turn and face him.

'GET IT OPEN!' screamed Kagome, and Inuyasha rested his face against hers comfortingly, tears pouring down his cheeks, mingling with hers, as he yanked the door open even more. As Inuyasha saw Sango shoot inside, dragging Miroku behind her, he slammed the door shut behind them. Kagome was crying in pain, and Inuyasha clawed desperately at the cuffs, trying to get her out. Fear rose up in the two as they felt Kazuya nearing them, his footsteps echoing on the path, but Inuyasha still did not give up in freeing her. Inuyasha let go for a moment, his hands hurting from his desperate tugging at the iron, and wiped Kagome's blood off his hands.

'There is so much blood,' he muttered to himself, and then he had an idea. He placed his hands gently around Kagome's wrists, and whispered in her ear. 'This is gonna hurt,' he told her apologetically, and yanked her hands out of the cuffs. Because of the blood over her hands, they were able to slip through, and she was free. She collapsed into Inuyasha's arms, screaming, holding her bleeding wrists close to her. Inuyasha threw open the door, leaping inside with Kagome, landing on the ground beside Sango. 'SHUT THE DOOR, SHUT THE DOOR!' he yelled, Sango kicked the stone latch off that was keeping it open, and the door slammed, plunging them into darkness.

Inuyasha heard within the silence, someone scuffling about beside him, and then he heard Sango's voice.

'Let there be light,' she said, and then with sparks, a small fire appeared on some sticks in the dirt beside him, and he saw Sango beside it. 'Lucky they're not very clean, it's full of sticks this place.' Inuyasha nodded but then realised something.

'Where the hell is the smoke supposed to go?' Sango smiled, pointing to the ceiling in response.

'There is a sort of chimney thing in this temple, the smoke will go up there and out.' Inuyasha's attention then fell back upon Kagome, as he saw Miroku was okay, he was stirring beside Sango and she was fussing over him. Kagome was shaking and crying in Inuyasha's arms, the blood pouring uncontrollably from her wrists. Sango turned back to them, and ripped off the cloth she had wrapped around her wrists in battle, and leant towards Kagome, going to wrap up her wrists. Kagome whimpered, and pulled away from Sango, pulling her hands close to her. Just then, Miroku gave a nasty cough, and Inuyasha took the cloth from Sango, nodding towards Miroku.

'You help him stay conscious, I'll help Kagome.' Sango nodded, turning back to Miroku in the small passageway. Inuyasha pulled her roughly onto his lap, leaning her head against his shoulder. Miroku, who was beginning to be okay now, gazed at Inuyasha in awe at the affection he was showing, as did the now conscious Kilala, Shippo, Rin and Sango, though Inuyasha failed to notice. He stroked her hair softly, snuggling his face against hers, and whispering to her so that the others could not hear. 'You're okay now, see, the only one who has you is me, you're okay,' he assured her.

Kagome's crying lessened as he whispered comfortingly in her ear, and Inuyasha reached slowly for her wrists. She let him wrap the cloth tightly round her wrists to stop the bleeding, and as he tied them into place, rested back against his chest, falling into a peaceful silence, her eyes closed. Sango looked at the girl in Inuyasha's arms for a moment, meeting the hanyou's contented eyes, and smiling at him, knowing that he was sure he had made the right choice in saving Kagome instead of Kikyo, at least for now. Inuyasha closed his eyes for a moment, feeling Kagome's heartbeat against his chest, and as he opened them again, watching her rise and fall with each breath he took, he realised suddenly, as he tucked a rogue strand of silken hair out of her face, what had made the choice of her over Kikyo not that difficult considering. He realised what was in his heart that had made it possible to bring him back from his many demonic outbursts, he had within the calm silence of the temple, a sudden realisation, telling him what he had been wondering for the last few years…what was in his heart.

TBC

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A/N: Ya know what happened to Kagome in this chapter? Where she was chained to the doors? That was a vivid dream I had. It was one of those dreams where you could actually feel pain, and let me tell ya it f***ing hurt! I woke up at 2:00am and started writing in case I forgot any of it. Hehe, wierd aren't I? I don't dream about normal stuff. But then again I'm not normal so... R&R. Happy reading!

Shigure

x chuu x