Chapter 11

InuYasha

How could you? How could you do this to me? I loved you, for over fifty years I have loved you, and this is how you repay me? By going to the enemy? Why, Kikyou, why? Why would you do this to me, after everything I have given you?

I sat in a large tree, looking out at the full moon. Flashes of memories of the woman I loved flew through my mind. I literally put my hands to my head, trying to get them to stop. I needed them to stop. I couldn't handle this. It was all a lie. Everything was a lie.

When I had originally tried to mate, Kikyou had been upset when my mark had faded away. I had just assumed that it was because she was technically dead. I never would have thought she was mated to that bastard, Naraku.

All this fucking time, she had been tricking me. Even before she had died, she had led me on. She had no intentions of ever being with me so why had she asked me to become human? Why hadn't she killed me? I wish she had because then I never would have fallen for the bitch.

I removed my head from my hands and looked over towards the camp. I could see them over the trees and I knew they were worried for me. I was surprised to see Pops looking in my direction. I knew he could see me, and his gaze made me realize that, out of everyone, he understood the most.

If what he said about Mom was true, he had also been betrayed by someone he loved. I guess we were both stupid to fall for those women. My eyes lowered to the woman who was sitting in his lap. She loved me. She truly did, and I had taken it for granted.

She was the first person to ever accept me for who I was. My half-blood status never bothered her, and I was too stupid to reach out and grab her. Now she was leaving me. I was losing the one thing I cared about the most, and I couldn't even be mad at her.

She had every right to look for someone else. No matter what I said, I had chosen Kikyou. I may have wanted them both, but I knew Kagome would never do such a thing. I knew that she would only want it to be her and me, yet I went ahead and gave in to my desire for Kikyou.

Now I was alone. The woman I had spent the last five years with had always been with the enemy, and the woman who truly wanted me had moved on to my father. Out of all of this pain, I had learned something. This was how Kagome had felt when she found Kikyou and me.

I hated myself for ever making such a pure-hearted woman feel such pain. She should never have had to experience this. In my own pain, I realized that I needed to let Kagome go. I needed to let her heal and find someone who wouldn't hurt her like I had.

From my spot in the tree, I could see the woman of my thoughts walking towards the woods. It was going to be hard, and hurt me just as bad as what Kikyou has done, but I had to do it for Kagome. I had to give her up so she could heal.

"I am no longer your protector, Kagome. I give that honor to Pops." I whispered, my heart clenching as I spoke the words aloud. I sighed before looking up towards the full moon again. I guess this is the definition of irony. For me to learn to let go of Kagome, I had to have my heart torn in two.

My head snapped towards a spot in the woods when a gentle breeze floated over me. I could smell Kagome's blood, and a lot of it. Without thought, I jumped from my tree and ran towards the scent, praying to every Kami that she was okay.

As I got closer, I could see the glow of Kikyou's Soul Collectors and I cursed under my breath. I wasn't ready to see that bitch, but now I had no choice. I have to get to Kagome. I have to save her no matter how much I didn't want to see Kikyou.

The moment I burst into the small clearing, my heart dropped. Kikyou stood above an unconscious Kagome, her bow drawn and arrow at the ready. I lunged just as Kikyou released the drawstring and ended up taking the arrow in my arm. I hissed but positioned myself over Kagome's body, keeping her safe from Kikyou.

"Why do you protect her, InuYasha? Do you not love me?" Kikyou asked, making me growl.

"Don't play your fucking games, Wench. I know the truth about you and Naraku." I snapped before pulling the arrow from my arm and breaking it in half. I looked down at Kagome when she moaned and grimaced when I realized how much blood was pooling underneath her.

"She will die, InuYasha. There is nothing else you can do." Kikyou stated, as if she didn't care, which she obviously didn't.

"Why did you attack her?" I asked, looking back up to the woman who betrayed me.

"For the jewel of course." She answered before turning her back on me and beginning to walk away. I stood up and was about to attack when Kikyou's voice stopped me. "Make your choice, InuYasha. Kill me or try to save Kagome."

"Fucking bitch!" I snarled, looking down at the woman who I was standing over. When I looked back up, Kikyou was gone.

I growled but wasted no time in picking up Kagome and holding her to me. I looked down at her face and cringed when I noticed how white it was. If she died, I would die. I couldn't let that happen. I had to get her back to Pops. It was her only chance.

"Hold on, Kagome. I'll get you back to the old man. You just have to fight." I said as I began running back to the camp. Please don't die, Kagome.

Mattaki

A small breeze flowed through the camp, instantly making my beast roar. Kagome's blood. I stood just as Sesshomaru did. His nose was just as strong as mine so I knew he smelled it as well. Before we had a chance to run into the forest, InuYasha ran out carrying a limp Kagome.

"What happened!?" I snarled, running to my son and taking her from his arms. I looked down at her face and could feel my beast forcing his way out.

"It was Kikyou. She attacked her and took the jewel. By the time I arrived, Kagome was already unconscious." InuYasha informed as we ran back to the group. The moment Sango looked at Kagome, she jumped up and motioned for us to go in the hut.

I placed Kagome down on a futon and looked down to where the blood was mostly located. I felt myself beginning to get sick when I realized the location. Of all the places to be hit, it had to be her stomach. It may not be as dangerous as her heart, but it was still very deadly.

"I have to remove her haori." Sango informed. Sesshomaru and InuYasha, who had followed us in, turned around so she wouldn't be exposed to them. Sango gave me a look and I growled.

"I will not take my eyes off of her. Now help her." I snapped, trying not to kill her for wasting time.

"What did you do to the dead miko?" Sesshomaru asked from behind me.

"I had a choice. Either kill Kikyou and get the jewel back or get Kagome back here. I chose Kagome." InuYasha replied.

"Kikyou will die by my claws." I stated, not caring how InuYasha felt.

The moment Sango removed Kagome's haori, I hissed at the sight. From the tearing of her skin, it was very clear that Kagome had pulled out the arrow herself. Even now, her blood was still flowing from the wound. I put my hands over my face, fighting my beast for control.

"Father, if you lose control, you will kill everyone. Then there will be no hope for Kagome." Sesshomaru said, looking at me out of the corner of his eyes.

"She…how…" I tried, but couldn't get anything out. My Kagome was hurt and dying. I could very well lose her.

"Snap out of it, Mattaki." Sango yelled, making me look at her. I could see the tears in her eyes and the determination on her face. She wasn't going to give up. "Place your hands over her wound. Try to stop the bleeding while I get the supplies ready."

I did as she ordered and placed my hands over the wound. The feeling of her warm blood on my hands just about made me lose it. I will kill Kikyou for this. I will never let her live on this earth again. If my mate dies, she will die.

"Hurry, Sango." Rin said, running in with a bunch of herbs. I hadn't even noticed that she had run out of the camp to get those plants. She kneeled beside Kagome and literally pushed me out of the way. I lifted my hands and looked at the blood coating them. The blood of my mate. How could I have let this happen? I was supposed to protect her.

"Pops, you need to stay strong. Kagome is going to need your strength." InuYasha said, making me look at him. I could tell from the look on his face that he had accepted that she was no longer his.

I turned back to Kagome. Rin was now covered in blood as she poured water over the wound, washing it clean. Sango returned and kneeled on the other side of Kagome, pulling out a long, pointy silver thing.

"What is that?" I asked, not liking the look of it.

"It's something from Kagome's time called a needle. Before the well was sealed, she was able to bring a few of these over." Rin explained as she held the wound closed. I flinched as Sango pushed the needle into Kagome's skin and out the other side.

"It will close the wound and slow the bleeding." Sango added, not stopping what she was doing. When the hole had been closed, Rin went back to her herbs and began to tear them into little pieces. She placed them all in a little bowl with water before holding it out to Sesshomaru.

He held his hand out and let one drop of poison fall from his finger, melting all of the leaves into a paste. Rin stirred the paste around with her finger, hissing at the feel of the poison in the paste. Sango looked at the bowl with horror and stopped Rin just before she placed the paste on Kagome.

"Are you baka?" Sango asked, trying to take the bowl.

"It may hurt me, but Kagome is immune to his poison. If anything, the youki from it will force her reiki to try and purify it, at the same time healing her." Rin said, snatching her hand away from Sango. "I've known her longer than you. Do not question me."

Sango, who was shocked at the fierceness of the small woman, sat back to watch Rin. I moved to kneel behind Kagome's head as Rin put the paste over the closed wound. I could see how red the woman's hand was from the poison but Kagome seemed to be unaffected by it.

When the paste was applied, Rin cleaned off her hand and plunged it into the bucket of water she had brought with the herbs. I could see her visibly relax as the pain faded away from her hand. Sango cleaned off the blood from Kagome before wrapping up the wound and pulling over a blanket to cover her. I was thankful the village supplied us with so much, and I would have to make sure to let them know.

"She's covered." Sango stated, making InuYasha and Sesshomaru turn around. Sesshomaru instantly grabbed Rin's hand out of the water and looked at her reddened flesh. He ran his tongue over it, neutralizing the effects of his poison.

"Here, Mattaki. Clean yourself." Rin said, handing me a cloth with her free hand. I absentmindedly took it and began to wash off the blood.

My mind had gone numb by this point. Seeing Kagome like this was hurting me more than I ever thought it would. I never wanted to see Kagome looking so fragile. As I looked down at her face, I could feel my heart breaking. I just wanted her to open her eyes and give me her warm smile.

"She needs to sleep. The rest is up to her now." Sango said, standing up and cleaning the area.

"Pops, let me know when she wakes up." InuYasha said, looking at me sadly. I just nodded in response.

I didn't look at anybody as they left the room. I couldn't take my eyes from the pale face of my intended. How could I have let this happen? Why didn't I sense Kikyou in the area? I should have never let Kagome go off alone.

I moved to lay down beside Kagome. I nuzzled my face into her neck and breathed in her scent. I just about broke apart when I caught a hint of death. She was dying and there was nothing I could do. I was a daiyokai, a well-known demon, yet I couldn't do anything for my mate. I was weak.

I grabbed her lifeless hand in mine and squeezed, willing her to feel me near her. I needed her to know that I was here with her, that I would not leave. I needed her to live because without her, I was nothing. I hadn't realized just how much I had fallen for this woman.

Only after about a month of knowing each other, she had somehow stolen my heart. I had never felt so strongly for someone so quickly before. In all honesty, I wasn't sure what to do with this knowledge. If she survived, I couldn't tell her because she wasn't ready to hear it, but I wanted to scream it to the world. I wanted everyone to know that I loved the miko named Kagome.

Three days I stayed there by her side. I never left or moved. Sango or Rin would come in to check over her wound, but I would never say anything. I just wanted to see those blue eyes again. Rin told me that her wound was healing quickly. Her idea with the poison was working.

Even with those words, I wouldn't be able to calm down until Kagome opened her eyes again. If she never did, I don't know what I would do. I nuzzled my nose into her neck in an attempt to wake her. I knew it wasn't likely to happen, but I still tried periodically.

Every hour, I tried to wake her and failed, so when a small hand was suddenly resting on my shoulder, I believed it was all in my head. I wanted it so badly that I was feeling it. It wasn't until I opened my eyes and saw the hand resting there that I realized it was real.

I sat up instantly and looked down. Blue eyes stared up at me with the warm smile that I had missed. I crashed my lips against hers and leaned myself over her. The feel of her lips responding to mine reassured me that it was very much real. She was awake.

"I can't breathe." She gasped out, making me pull away. I put my hand to the side of her face and looked down into her eyes.

"Do NOT do that to me again." I ordered, gently kissing her forehead.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, placing her hand over mine. "How did you find me? Kikyou said Naraku was hiding her aura."

"That's why I didn't sense her presence." I said, more to myself than her.

"Don't blame yourself, Mattaki. I should have been smart enough to take my bow." She said, making me look at her again.

"I am your intended, Kagome. I am supposed to protect you, and I failed." I argued. She shook her head and began to run her thumb over my fingers. In response, my own thumb began to rub on her cheek.

"It's not your fault. You don't like it when I think lowly of myself so you don't let me. I don't like it when you blame yourself for no reason so I won't let you." She replied, making me kiss her gently.

"You need to stop frightening me, Little One. I may not survive it if you do it again." I informed, sitting back. I had to force myself to remove my hand from her face.

"How bad is my wound?" She asked, pushing herself up on her elbows.

"You are almost healed. I did not know your reiki could heal you." I admitted, pulling down the blanket so I could show her. She blushed when she realized she was naked and could no longer meet my eyes. I raised an eyebrow but ignored her innocent reaction.

"It can't heal as fast as your youki can so if the wound is bad enough, I can still die, but little ones I can heal myself." She answered, watching as I pulled the bandage from her skin. When she looked at the wound, she touched some of the paste and rubbed it between her fingers.

"Sesshomaru's poison. Rin has always been a good healer." Kagome stated thoughtfully. "At least I'm basically healed."

I watched as she shifted on her elbows. Now that I knew she was okay, I couldn't help but stare at her breasts as they bounced around from her movement. When an arm suddenly covered them, I realized I had been caught.

"Do not hide yourself from me. I enjoy the sight of your body." I ordered, watching as the blush spread from her cheeks and began to go down her neck. "Is there any harm in looking? I would not touch you when you just woke up after three days."

"Still, I don't have the best body." She whispered, making me growl. I grabbed one of her hands and placed it over my painfully hard cock. Her eyes widened, and I let her snatch her hand back.

"Your body does that to me. You are beautiful, Kagome. Do not think otherwise." I demanded. She gave a shy nod and I looked in her eyes for a second longer.

"Your wound is healed so I would not be opposed to taking you outside for some fresh air." I said, changing the subject.

"I would like that." She admitted.

I helped her sit up before placing a new haori over her shoulders so she could wrap it around herself. When she had it over her shoulders, I pulled the blanket off of her the rest of the way. I ignored her womanhood for the moment and helped her pull on the hakamas. When they were pulled up over her knees, I grabbed her and pulled her into a standing position. She held on to me while I fixed her clothes into their proper position.

"I'm sorry about that." She said, making me look at her confused.

"What are you sorry for?" I asked, looking her over to make sure she was covered properly.

"I-I know you're…probably in…pain." She whispered, hiding her face in my shoulder. That one action told me what she was talking about. I smirked as the memories of the last time we were alone flashed before my eyes. She had hidden her face the same way then.

"Calm down, my little miko. I will not lie. It can get uncomfortable, but it will go away soon enough." I replied, placing a hand on the small of her back. "I am going to carry you outside."

She nodded and I picked her up, holding her to my chest. I was glad I had taken my armor off a few days ago because I would never get enough of her body against mine. I made my way out of the hut and flinched when Rin let out a high-pitched squeal.

"Lady Kagome! You're awake!" She yelled.

"We are very glad, my dear Kagome." Miroku added.

"Thank-you." Kagome replied as everyone surrounded her. The only two that stayed away were Sesshomaru and InuYasha.

I could see the relief in Sesshomaru's eyes and I smirked. He would never admit it, but he cared for the woman in my arms. She was probably the only true friend he had. Turning to look at InuYasha, my smile dropped. I could see the pain in his eyes as he watched me walk towards the others with Kagome in my arms.

"Mattaki, you never did answer my question. How did you find me?" Kagome asked as I sat down on the ground with the others following suit. Rin handed Kagome some dried meat to eat.

"InuYasha found you." I answered, looking up to my son.

"That means you saw her." Kagome whispered, making InuYasha flinch.

"Yea, the bitch was about to take the killing shot. I got there just in time to take the hit for you." He admitted, surprising me. In all of the chaos, I hadn't even realized that he was hurt.

"The jewel?" Kagome asked.

"I had a choice: kill Kikyou and get the jewel or get you back here." He replied, crossing his arms.

"You should have gotten the jewel!" Kagome yelled.

"Don't you dare fucking say that, Wench." InuYasha shouted back, taking a step towards her. "I was not going to let you die over that bitch and a piece of jewel. I do not regret my decision and you can't make me so don't fucking try to make me."

"InuYasha." She whispered, noticing how upset he was over the whole thing. He still hadn't had time to get over the fact that Kikyou had betrayed him.

"Don't give me that tone, Kagome. I don't want your pity." He said before turning and walking away. We all watched as he disappeared into the forest.

"Miko, how far have you healed?" Sesshomaru asked, placing his golden eyes on her.

"Basically fully. I just need to gain my strength back." She answered.

"We will head out tomorrow." He ordered, looking at me. I looked down at Kagome and she smiled.

"I'll be okay. We need to find Naraku." She said, making me nod before she turned to Kanna. "Can you use your mirror to spy on him?"

"No. I imagine since Kikyou attacked, he realized that his plan with me failed. When you were attacked, I tried to see where Kikyou was but she was blocked. If she is blocked, so is he." She replied, looking down at the mirror in her lap.

"That's okay. We'll find him. Lady Yuka said they headed east so that is where we will go." Kagome said. I watched as everyone nodded and gave their approval.

I couldn't help but smirk at the woman in my arms. Whether she knew it or not, she was going to make a great alpha female. I had a feeling my love for this woman would never stop growing. I could hear my beast purr and that brought something else to my attention.

"Sesshomaru, is your beast still more active than usual?" I asked, watching as he slowly turned to me.

"Indeed." Was his only reply.

"Bokusenou is in the far east. We will head there and during our travels, look for clues on Naraku." I informed.

"Hn."

"You're so talkative." Kagome teased, making his eyes narrow. He turned and walked away from the camp, making everyone laugh. Everything would be okay in the end. No matter what happens, we would all be okay.

-sSs-

I hope you like the ending of the cliffyyy. Would you all like me to write in others' points of view, like Sesshomaru's, or Rin's? I don't mind doing it so if that is what you would like, let me know. Please review.

Shout-outs:

Selene1717: Thank-you for following my story. I am glad you are enjoying it.

Miskee: I'm glad you liked my story. You know by now that I won't give away any secrets. Lol. You'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

LADY SILVERFOX: Not yet. Lol. He will, it will just take some time.

RedDrake323: You guessed correctly, it was InuYasha! Not everyone has seen Kikyou yet, but that will happen…eventually. If you would like me to start writing in other's POVs as well, I can do that for you. Just let me know.

Slvrphoenx: I kind of like Kanna, even though she never really had a personality. That wasn't her fault and I felt bad so I decided to add her. This is the start of InuYasha maturing. It was a hard betrayal and it will take him time to heal. I hope this chapter turned out the way you wanted it to.

Teaser: Chapter 12: What is going on within the group of travelers? What does the group do to pass the time as they search for Naraku? Continue reading to find out.

I do not own InuYasha.