Your Guardian
I showed my aunt the first one and, though I never intended for this to go on, she inspired me to write this second chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: As much as I love this song or how many tears I may cry because of happiness this song brings me, I sadly do not own Red Jumpsuit Apparatus's Your Guardian Angel.
Hang in there, Kagome! I think frantically to the still girl in my arms as I bolt through the forest. Just a little longer, and I'll have us in Sheshomaru's presence…
I glance down at her pale face, lacking any animation. The sight crushes my heart. Bounding and darting between trees, my mind wanders to better days – but hell, any day is better than this. Even on our worst day that brewed with our worst fight, it was a hell of a lot better than this…
Memories of her kind face drift to the front of my mind, as if to help calm myself down. Her warm hands take hold of mine. I look up to see her large, brown eyes smiling at me.
Suddenly, the memory blurs and Kagome is reduced to wrongful blob of color that doesn't do her true beauty justice.
No… Come back…
I choke on the lump in my throat and realize that my face is wet. The wind whips at my cheeks smartly, but I press forward, not bothering to wipe the unsightly tears away.
When I see your smile,
Tears run down my face
I can't replace.
I slow down to a halt and inhale to get a grip of my surroundings. Closing my eyes, I can tell my older brother's not too far from here. Though…
Just why did he have to stop at the top of the damn mounting? That thing is stinking steep and tall!
My arms ache from carrying Kagome for such a long ways, nearly an hour straight, but I grit my teeth, shift the un-natural sleeping Kagome in my arms, and start the long climb.
I didn't even have time to explain what happened to Miroku and the gang; instead, I detoured the entire campsite. If I saw their faces, and heard their reactions… I don't think I could've made it this far. They love her as much as I do, and they would've pressed for explanations – something I don't have time for!
I pause, only a third of the way to the ledge where Seshomaru's scent should be strongest. But the dead weight is slowing down, and my strength is being milked out of me with each bound up the slope.
Why? I think accusingly. Every time I find some sort of happiness, some form of love, Kami is quick to rip that warm bundle of joy right from my pleading claws!
And now that I'm strong I have figured out,
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul.
And I know I'll find deep inside me,
I can be the one.
I pause on a boulder and catch my breath. My eyes drift to a close as my breathing evens out. I notice a slight chill in the air and – despite what anyone else might say – I lay Kagome on the rubble. I sit back on my haunches in front of her and keep my eyes on her the entire time I numbly undo the ties of my haori. After sliding it off my shoulders, I wrap it snuggly around her slim body.
I frown.
I'm running out of time…. If I don't hurry, you might be too far gone for even Seshomaru to revive you.
But if you're on your way up, and you feel Tensaiga's pull – you won't reach heaven; you'll be stuck as a nomadic spirit without a home, without any contacts, without any loved ones-
And that'd be as bad as "falling"
I swiftly pick her up into my arms and climb the molehill with a new determination.
Though my muscles protest; though my arms beg for release; though my body yearns for rest – I give nothing. I only give for the girl in my arms, and if my bastard brother has a high price for her – I'm more than willing to pay.
But until then…
I will never let you fall.
I'll stand up for you forever.
I'll be there for you through it all.
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven.
With one last push against the rock, I land on the ledge. I take a few steps forward before lowering to one knee. Whilst catching my breath yet again – damn human blood – I take a deep breath and I'm shocked to learn the full-demon is near.
Relief, however short it may prove to be, floods my body and I feel as though I'm on the verge of collapsing.
I shake my head.
No. Kagome first, then you can rest. Shoot, Shesshy might be so kind to give you eternal rest, ya idiot!
I rise to find the noble demon standing regally before me. He looks down upon me with cold eyes, but I can't help the small smile from slipping,
It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
"Se-seshomaru-"
"Quiet, Hanyo," he commands. His gaze lowers to Kagome, lifeless in my arms. I almost thought I saw sadness, but with a cold glare directed at me – all signs of "human" emotions are erased. Calmly, he walks over to stand within five feet of me, his cold eyes smoldering.
"What do you want, Inuyasha? Usually, you don't bother to come searching for me…" Slowly, like a predator circling its prey, he starts to walk around me. My instincts are telling me to fight him, show him dominance, but Kagome's first.
"I-I," my voice cracks, betraying me. I look away for a split second to clear my throat and say, "Someone murdered Kagome and I need you to use your Tensaiga to revive her."
He briefly glances at the said sword hanging loosely by his hip. A breeze lolls by and fabric that usually houses an arm flaps madly in the slight breeze.
"What do you have to offer that is of interest to this Seshomaru?"
Damn… I hope this works…
I lower to one knee, having Kagome sit on it while leaning on me. I raise the Robe of the Fire Rat's sleeve up to my bicep. I take a shaky breathe and dare to look up, not expecting the reaction.
Shock.
I've never seen the noble full-fledged demon ever show emotion except when he was extremely pissed with me.
Does this mean he'll do it?
But then he utters one word, one little word that sends my world crashing down and smashing into a million diamonds – all sharp and aimed to kill me.
"No."
I drop my head as the strength to stand fails me, causing me to slump down on the ground – a permanently lifeless Kagome still in my grasp. No longer caring, a few tears leak out of my eyes.
"Move." He demands.
I blink. Cautiously, I raise my head to look at him.
"Huh?..."
"I said," he growls, his right arm grasping a sword's hilt at his hip. "'Move!'"
Without warning, he shoves me aside, brutishly severing my grip on Kagome, and raises his sword above her body. Having been thrown ten feet away, I can only turn around to face them as the sword swings with full demonic speed at her flesh.
"No!" I cry, but then I notice which sword Seshomaru is holding: Tensaiga.
Hope rises in me and I rush over to Kagome's side just as she opens her eyes.
And seasons are changing,
And waves are crashing,
And stars are falling all for us.
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter,
I can show you I'll be the one.
I hear her breathing and can see her cheeks flush with warm blood.
He did it… he did it!
I spin around on my heels to thank him and repay him, but the look in his eye tells me we're not finished.
"What's wrong?" I ask, despair filling me once again.
His eyebrows knit together and his lips press into a thin line. His eyes harden, but soften as he looks at me.
I flinch, not being used to such "brotherly love."
"Inuyasha," he says, bringing me back to reality – however cruel it was. "Kagome was too far into the spiritual world. However, she is far stronger than any human and her priestess powers are proving to be useful, even in death. The minions of the Underworld have been slain, but her bonds are still restraining her from going to either world. She is trapped, Inuyasha. She needs a reason to return to you. Though I doubt why anyone would want to willingly…"
I look at him in fear.
"A reason? What kind of reason?" I ask, but my fantastic brother leaves me to chew out my problems alone.
With one glance, I know
I will never let you fall.
I'll stand up for you forever.
I'll be there for you through it all.
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven.
Left alone, I'm not afraid for what I'm about to say. I kneel down next to Kagome and for a moment, I just stare at her. I look at her nimble fingers, up her strong arm, over her sturdy collar bone, across her flushed cheeks and let my gaze halt on her face, drinking her in.
Does she really deserve a life with me?
No.
But she deserves to see her family again. She deserves the love they and Shippou, Miroku, and Sango willingly give. She deserves to live a long and happy life.
I lean over and take the limp girl into my arms, pressing her firmly against me. I bury my face in her black hair and inhale her fading scent.
"K-kagome? Please, come back. Seshomaru said I need to give you a reason to live, a reason to return to me – so here it is:"
I close my eyes and brace myself.
"'Cause you're my, you're my, my
My true love, my whole heart.
Please don't throw that away.
'Cause I'm here for you.
Please don't walk away and,
Please tell me you'll stay.
I stroke the back of her head as I bury it into the hollow of my shoulder. Tears spring freely from my eyes, but right now, I'd toss my pride aside if it meant Kagome was going to come back.
The lump in my throat painfully closes my airway, and it won't go down. I try to clear it, but it won't go away. Still, I bury my face in her hair and whisper in her ear,
"Stay"
I pull back to see if Kagome truly did come back, not letting my grip on her go, and I notice her breathing hitched. Her eyebrows knit together in pain and she opens her eyes.
The first look on her face is shock, followed by confusion. With her lively hand, she lifts it and cups the side of my face.
Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay,
Though my skies are turning gray
"Inuyasha?" her voice cracks, breaking a sliver of my heart – but my heart swiftly swells with happiness. Her eyes are brimming with tears, and I don't know why. "Did you mean what you said?"
I nod and say softly, "Yeah, every word."
"But Kikyo said-"
I silence her by placing a clawed finger on her plump lips. I lean in close and watch her eyes widen.
Her beautiful, alive eyes.
"Kikyo's gone. She'll never cross our path again." I pause to lift us up, walking aimlessly as I refuse to break gazes with the one I thought I lost forever. Automatically, she loops her arms around my neck. "Forget what she said, okay?"
Slowly, she bobs her head, but winces.
I freeze as she squeezes her eyes shut.
"Kagome? What's wrong?" Adrenaline starts pumping through my veins; fear kicking in to over-drive.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up for you forever
I'll be there for you through it all,
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
At first, the girl in my arms can only gasp in pain.
"It…I-it hurts! So much…" Kagome's eyes snap open to reveal so much pain, it hurts me. "Inuyasha, please…"
I start looking her over, not quite sure what I'm looking for, when the damn, metallic scent hits me head-on.
The wound in her chest hasn't the slightest chance to heal.
Damn it! I've got to heal that quickly!
My thoughts jumble together as my haori becomes stained with fresh blood.
Kaede! The village isn't far from here; I know we'll make it in time!
I will never let you fall.
I'll stand up with you forever.
I'll be there for you through it all,
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven.
I clutch Kagome tighter to my chest and take off.
"Come on! We'll go to Kaede's, she'll fix you up!" I say to her as my eyes dart all around me, searching for the quickest route.
Kagome remains silent, riding out her pain, I suppose. Damn. But she's alive, and I'm glad.
I feel a small hand tug at my white shirt and look down.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah?"
I feel her arms dig into my shoulders as she braces herself against me, rising up to do something completely unexpected.
She kisses my cheek! Me: the unworthy, filthy, disgraceful hanyo!
Kagome whispers against my skin, "I love you, too."
A/n: Good thing I forgot to mark my last one as "completed," eh?
Seriously, I had no intention to write a sequel to that, but after some youtube-surfing… the song came and my aunt – who had just previously read the story – said that she was seeing me write this and draw (cause I'm a decent artist) the scene where Inuyasha sacrifices his arm before Seshomaru.
Thank my aunt, will ya!
Well, off to my other series! I can delay no-longer!
;3
Till Next Time!