InuYasha ran back to the tree where he had last spoken to Mikado, and he knelt on the ground, "That's it! Mikado! You get me the hell out of here! I don't want to see any of this anymore! Everyone is miserable! What the hell was so important that I had to come here, that you had to drag me to this place? Just tell me!"
Mikado appeared next to him, looking very put-out, "You weren't supposed to get that involved with anyone! Honestly, InuYasha! You've managed to save a child, and piss off just about everyone else you've come across!"
"What, I was supposed to let that kid get killed, is that it?"
"That child doesn't even exist yet!"
"I'm sure she still would have felt herself getting torn into pieces!"
"And your excuse for interacting with the others?"
"Kagome looks GodsDamned miserable! Was I just supposed to ignore that?!"
"Yes!" Mikado put a hand to her face, "This obviously isn't working. I'm going to have to take measures to make sure you don't do it again."
"What? What are you talking about?"
He watched as Izumi made some sort of strange, arcane gesture over him, and he felt a strange shiver pass through him. He quickly checked himself over, seeing no change.
Angrilly, he looked at her, "Alright, what have you done this time?"
Her voice was clipped, clearly not impressed with him, "I have made sure that you are as invisible as I am. No one can see you, or hear you. Or feel you, for that matter."
"What?!"
"How else am I going to ensure that you see what it is that you need to see without upsetting the entire village?!"
"Well, maybe if you had just told me...none of this would have happened!"
Mikado stood, anger passing over her features. Closing her eyes, she muttered something under her breath.
Again, that strange, colorful, twisting feeling. The hanyou felt a little better, thinking Mikado was finally taking him back to his time. Only, when they faded, he was able to see they didn't seem to have moved at all.
Once again, InuYasha held onto his stomach as it slowly rolled.
The surroundings around him settled, as did his stomach, a little, and he looked at her, "Alright...where..or rather..when...are we now?"
"Two days later. Now go out and look around. On your own. I do not have to follow you this time, you cannot get into any trouble like this."
He snorted, and rose, heading out into the general area.
No one looked at him, no one spoke to him. He had to watch carefully to make sure no one bumped into him...despite what Mikado said. He didn't want to run into anyone.
He grumbled to himself, "Alright, fine. I'm here. What am I supposed to see? All I see are a bunch of miserable people in a miserable little village that's going go get smashed by some demons. I fail to see what's so important about-"
A scream went up behind him, and he turned in time to see two women come running in from just outside the village walls.
A huge curtain of demons were bearing down on them, but they stopped when they hit the barrier. There was a flash, and a sizzling, scorching smell.
More and more demons began to appear, and they all started to attack the barrier. The barrier flashed and sputtered as it tried to hold.
A cry went out, and then another.
Kagome's voice rang out over the general chaos, "Everyone, don't panic!"
He turned to see her running out towards the center of the village, arms out. Everyone turned to look at her, many terrified.
She spoke clearly again, "Get your things. We move today. Now. You have all practiced this many times...nothing has changed. Go!"
There was a pause, and then everyone was running, heading to their houses to get their things. Dogs barked, children started to cry. But everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing.
InuYasha found himself moving towards Kagome, where Miroku and the heavily pregnant Sango were already standing. InuYasha felt odd, being so much shorter than the monk now.
Miroku was speaking, "Kagome, the south side of the barrier is weakening. I've done everything I can to strengthen it-"
"I'll hold it while the people go through the cave. You just get everyone there!"
She turned, and ran off, when Shippo ran up, "I can't find Gin!"
"Again?" Miroku shook his head.
Shippo spoke, "I think I know where-"
"Just show me! Hurry!" The monk pushed Shippo ahead of him, calling back over his shoulder to Sango, "Get the boys and get up to the cave!"
She nodded, and turned, heading towards where all the other people were starting to flow. InuYasha watched her, feeling helpless. Sango was so pregnant, she shouldn't be going off alone like that!
Mikado spoke, and he turned to see her standing beside him, "You're forgetting who Sango is. She's been through this once...she can handle it again."
InuYasha turned, to look where Kagome had dissapeared to, and he ran in that direction.
It was strange, trying to move against so many people, and yet not being able to feel any of them. He dodged as many as he could, and was eventually able to get to a clearing, where he left them behind.
He slid around a corner, silver hair streaming out behind him, looking around wildly for her.
He finally found her, standing alone on a small outcrop in the southern side of the village, overlooking the cave where the refugees were streaming in. The barrier above her was flashing and flickering, as many demons fought to break it down.
Kagome stood with her hands out, a faint blue glow emanating from the very center of her palms. There were two similar faint blue spots up on the barrier, where she was obviously trying to strengthen it.
Below, the people continued to pour into the cavern, carrying a few things with them as they went.
InuYasha could see beads of sweat on Kagome's temple, as she concentrated. Every so many minutes, she'd glance down towards the cavern entrance, about 8 feet below her, making sure that everyone was getting through.
"Kagome!"
Shippo ran up, breathless, "Kagome, just about everyone is through the cavern! There are only a few left!"
Her voice shook iwth the strain, "Did you find Gin?"
"Of course! She was just hiding. Miroku has her. Come on, just a little longer."
Miroku came running up towards them, a small bundle in his arms, "Kagome! We have to go now!"
"Go to the cavern! I'll be the last through! I have to be sure I can seal the cavern behind me, so they can't follow!"
InuYasha balled his hands into fists, "Don't be so stupid! Get down now while you can!"
But of course, no one heard him.
Miroku spoke, hesitant, "Kagome-"
Her voice was low, "I can't hold it much longer, Miroku. I just don't have the power. This is taking...everything out of me. Go! Take Shippo and Gin and Go!"
"No!"
The small child in Miroku's arms squirmed, pushing back the cloak that covered her. She sat forward, holding out her two little hands, her hair, in a little ponytail, falling over one shoulder, "No! Mother! I want to stay with you!"
Time slowed for InuYasha as he looked at the child in the monk's arms.
She was small...only about 4, if that. He stared at her, his eyes wide, the breath locking in his throat.
...Mother?
Her face, that heart-shaped face, was Kagome's, only smaller. The same chin. The same shape to her eyes, the same shape of her lips, even the same ears, only smaller.
But her eyes...
Her eyes were gold.
Her hair was silver.
InuYasha felt like he couldn't breathe. His heart was pounding so hard it threatened to burst through his chest.
"No," Kagome's voice was firm, "You go with Uncle Miroku, GinSachi! Go with him! I'll be right behind."
InuYasha's voice was barely a whisper.
"...GinSachi..."
Silver Joy.
"Go, Miroku! I'll be right behind you, go!"
He turned, and slid down over the embankment, heading towards the cavern, GinSachi's high, child-pitched scream ringing out over the groaning of the demons overhead. The monk ran into the cavern, and turned, waiting for Kagome, the Kitsune right behind him.
InuYasha tore his eyes from the child...their child..., and turned towards Kagome, angry. He felt panicked, as if he were really there. He wanted to grab Kagome...he tried, but stopped as he realized his hands would just pass through her.
"Alright! They're inside! Give this the hell up and go!"
They had a child.
They had a daughter.
GinSachi.
"I can't do this..." her voice was weak.
He blinked, focusing on Kagome, on the strain in her face. Her hands were shaking, her legs. It was taking everything she had, and more, just to keep the barrier up.
And with each second, more and more demons joined the mass outside, pushing against the barrier.
"InuYasha...I wish you were here."
"GodsDamn it, I am here!" He screamed, "I'm right here, Kagome! Now stop this and go and get yourself inside! GO!"
The barrier let out a mournful cracking sound, and InuYasha turned to see a huge crack ripple through the barrier. The demons began to focus on that crack, pushing harder.
InuYasha turned back to Kagome, nearly in her face, although she couldn't see him, couldn't hear him.
"What are you waiting for? Go down to our daughter!"
Her voice was desperate, "I can't do it. The minute I stop, they'll be in!"
"Not if you run...No. Kagome!"
She turned, taking her attention away from the barrier, and turning all her power on the cavern.
Going to bring it down.
InuYasha tried to grab her, to turn her and push her...but his hands went straight through her, as if she were nothing than warm mist.
"GodsDamn it Kagome no!"
There was a blast of hot air, and the entrance to the cavern started to come down. Rocks broke free of the ceiling, plummeting to the floor of the cave.
Miroku leaned out as far as he dared, "Kagome!"
"Get back inside, Miroku!" Kagome yelled.
"Kagome! You -Ow!"
As the rocks continued to fall, a small figure darted out from between them, her silvery hair bright in the summer light.
"GinSachi! Go back this instant!"
"No! Mother! I want to be with you!"
The barrier cracked.
"Oh GodsDamnit!" InuYasha turned, and lunged towards the little girl...his little girl. He didn't remember that no one could see him, that he basically wasn't there.
"Go back! Go back to Miroku!"
He bent as if to scoop her up, but she passed straight through him.
GinSachi ran on for a few steps, and faltered. Both InuYasha and GinSachi froze, as if unable to move.
InuYasha suddenly could smell her, a faint, light, little-girl smell, sort of flowery and soap-smell. Similar to Sokai, but different. So different.
Behind him, GinSachi was doing the same thing...holding her little blue shirt up and sniffing it.
Her voice was very soft, "Daddy?"
He spun, eyes wide, heart hammering.
"GinSachi!"
Kagome dashed past, scooping her up, and running towards the cavern entrance. But she stopped when she saw the huge pile of boulders.
Sealed.
Kagome looked frantically around, holding GinSachi close, and with a shattering sound, the barrier above them let go.
The demons began to pour in, like an evil tide.
Kagome looked around, desperate, and he saw grief pass over her face.
She turned, and knelt, holding GinSachi very close, as the demons started to bear down on her.
GinSachi's voice was frightened, "Mother?"
"Sssh." Kagome tucked the little girl's face into the curve of her neck, "I want you to close your eyes, Gin, and not open them. Ok?"
"I'm scared."
Cursing, InuYasha pulled his Tetsusaiga, and stood before them, fury and rage in his heart.
"Mother, I'm scared."
"You have to be brave for me, now, GinSachi. Ok? You have to be a brave girl for me."
"O...ok."
Kagome gently put GinSachi on the ground, and lay atop her, trying to shield her daughter's body with her own, as best as possible.
The demons swept down, and InuYasha swung his Tetsusaiga, cursing.
But it did nothing. The demons passed through him as easily as through a breeze, and he was left, unable to protect those behind him.
"No!" He started to turn, but already he could hear the sounds of talons and teeth on flesh, as they struck Kagome repeatedly, and the lone, high pitched scream of a little girl.
Everything went black.
"No! NO!"
InuYasha flailed out again, and for a brief second, he thought he was flying...
And then he realized he was falling.
He landed hard, cracking his head on the ground, his Tetsusaiga flying from his hand where he was holding onto it.
He lay there, eyes wide, staring up at the night sky, his heart pounding, every nerve screaming for action, his whole body trembling with shock.
Kagome...GinSachi...
"InuYasha!"
He blinked, gasping, and sat up, looking around.
He was beneath the tree. He looked up into the branches, calling out, "Mikado? You've got to take me back! You-"
"InuYasha!"
He turned to see Miroku and Sango running towards him, Shippo perched on Miroku's shoulder. Directly behind him...was Kagome.
Sango, no longer pregnant, Miroku, no scar on his face, wearing plain clothing. Shippo, perched on Miroku's shoulder.
They...they were his own age again.
He was back...
Kagome made her way over to him, "InuYasha, what's wrong?"
"What..." he felt stupid, his body still wired for a battle, the scream of the child still in his ears, the sounds of the talons striking flesh...
"We heard you scream," Shippo said as the hanyou slowly got to his feet, "You screamed "Noooo!" - Shippo flailed his arms for effect - "We heard it, even from Kaede's hut! You have twigs in your hair. I think you fell out of the tree."
Kagome spoke again, "Are you alright?"
InuYasha looked up into the boughs of the tree, "Mikado?"
Miroku spoke, "Mikado? She's here?"
There was only the sound of the wind in the leaves.
"I...I guess...not. Maybe...it was just a dream..."
"It sounds like an awful dream," Sango said softly.
InuYasha passed a hand over his face.
Kagome lightly touched his hand, "Are you sure you're alright?"
He lowered his hand, and looked at her, quietly. Her face was rounder. Younger. Concern for him in her eyes.
"I...I need to talk to you."
Kagome blinked, and looked a little uneasy, but nodded.
Sango and Miroku turned, walking back towards the hut. InuYasha looked at them going, suddenly remembering the twins...and how round Sango was.
He looked back to Kagome, "Kagome, I-" and noticed the Kageri, standing just a little to the side.
He grew angry, "Do you mind? I said alone?"
DarkWind shrugged, and was about to reply, when Kagome spoke softly, "DarkWind, head on back with Sango and Miroku, alright?"
He bowed, "As you wish, Nushi."
He phased out, only to reappear alongside the Miroku, walking back.
InuYasha sighed deeply, trying to get his words in the proper order.
"InuYasha...you look dazed. Did you hit your head or anything?"
He shivered slightly, looking at her. He wanted to touch her, to hold her, to verify that she was, indeed, alright.
"I..I'm-"
"You're shivering! What happened?"
"Just a...a bad dream." I think.
She watched him, quietly.
"I...I'm...sorry...I'm giving you...a hard time again...about this training. I'll stop."
Kagome blinked.
"What brought this on?"
"My ...dream. It's not important. You need to learn all you can. You...you might need it some day. To..protect..." he swallowed, "To protect others, not just yourself."
Kagome slowly nodded. That's what she'd been saying all along...but he actually listened?
"Thank you."
She turned, and started back towards the hut, glancing back at him, "Are you coming?"
He nodded, and started after her. Kagome caught the look on his face as he watched her...as if thinking deeply about something. But it was also that look that he wore...when he...wanted to talk. About things she didn't want to talk about anymore.
She kept up a steady pace, not lagging behind.
But InuYasha just followed quietly, watching her, lost in his own thoughts.
A dream? Or real?
A little girl's face seemed to remain, burned into his memory.
GinSachi.
END