Chapter 13
Kagome
"Mattaki! Put me down!" I yelled. Mattaki held me over his shoulder, my legs dangling down his front. He had made me mad and I refused to kiss him so, as a form of retaliation, he refused to put me down.
"Nope." He replied with a smack to my rump. I groaned and looked towards Sesshomaru for help. His eyes met mine before he turned away.
"Jerk!" I yelled to both of the males.
"Tell me to kiss you, Kagome." Mattaki teased.
"I'm glad your armor is flat compared to Sesshomaru's, otherwise this would be a tad bit uncomfortable." I replied, ignoring his comment.
"I can make this uncomfortable." Mattaki stated, the hand holding my thighs slowly moving up towards my center.
"No, stop!" I yelled. "Fine! I'll kiss you!"
"That's what I thought." He said, setting me on my feet. Before I had a chance to say anything, his hands found my face while his lips covered mine. I couldn't help but fall into his embrace. This man had more control over me than I'd like to admit.
"Oi! No one wants to see that shit!" InuYasha yelled. I blushed before Mattaki pulled away from me, a smile on his face.
"I think it's cute." Sango argued.
"My dear, do you wish for me to kiss you like that?" Miroku asked, grabbing his wife and leaning her down before kissing her on the lips while she giggled.
"I believe your kissing is contagious, Father." Sesshomaru stated, looking at the couple. Without any thought, Rin launched herself at her intended and crashed her lips against his. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in surprise, but soon, even he was giving in to the small woman.
"All of you are disgusting." InuYasha mumbled before walking off, Kanna following behind him with an amused look on her face. I laughed and noticed how Mattaki looked at me with soft eyes.
"I love that sound." He whispered before kissing me again. I blushed as he kissed me but didn't pull away. I was quickly becoming addicted to everything he did, and that scared me.
"This shit is turning into a fucking orgy! Let's go already!" InuYasha yelled, making all of us break apart.
"I will kill the half-breed." Sesshomaru said, pulling away from Rin slightly.
"I may join you." Mattaki added with a chuckle. I looked over to Sango and Miroku who both carried blushes. From the way Miroku was hiding behind his wife, it was easy to see he may have gotten a little too excited.
"Pervert." I stated, putting the monk on the spot.
"I cannot help that my wife is beautiful, Lady Kagome. I am sure that Mattaki and Lord Sesshomaru suffer just as much as I do." Miroku defended.
"Monk, leave me out of your hentai ways." Sesshomaru growled before beginning to walk, Rin following closely behind.
"He is correct. It does not take much for me to be aroused around you." Mattaki chuckled, his eyes following my blush. "The day I find out how far down that blush goes is a day I will treasure."
"You're just as big of a pervert as him!" I squeaked.
"We have already established that, Little One." He teased before wrapping his arm around my waist and beginning to follow after his sons.
"I'm starting to rethink this whole courting thing." I joked.
"You are ready to be mated then?" He asked, picking up on my joke and stomping on it. I didn't even say anything. I couldn't. He laughed at my reaction and I growled at him.
"You're such a jerk. Sometimes I wish I could sit you." I said before a loud thud made me cringe.
"Damn it, Kagome!" InuYasha yelled, pushing himself off the ground.
"Please say it again." Mattaki begged while laughing.
"That's your son." I argued.
"So? If Sesshomaru was in the same predicament, I would enjoy it just as much. Is it possible you could make one for him as well?" He asked.
"Only if I can make one for you." I teased, noticing the way his eyes narrowed at me.
"Father, do you seriously believe such a thing could affect this one? I am stronger than the half-breed." Sesshomaru said, not looking back at us.
"Shut up, Bastard!" InuYasha yelled before throwing a rock at his brother, who very easily dodged it.
"You missed." Sesshomaru retorted.
"At least they're not trying to kill each other anymore." I mumbled before Mattaki's arm tightened around me. He looked down at me and smiled, making me smile at him.
It wasn't fair. He was making me fall in love with him, and that is what I didn't want to happen. When I agreed to the courting, I figured he would get tired of me eventually and leave. Now I'm throwing my heart to him, and I wasn't sure if he would catch it. How stupid could I be?
A few hours later, we were sitting around a fire, talking and laughing. Mattaki had me in his lap and would occasionally nuzzle my neck. I loved how affectionate he was and it surprised me that he was. While Sesshomaru did show Rin affection, he tended to do it away from others. InuYasha never once showed me this kind of love. Both of Mattaki's sons held back when it came to stuff like this, but he didn't care who saw.
"Oh no." Sango whispered, causing all of us to look at her. She pointed behind us and we all turned. There, we saw Kikyou's Soul Collectors floating around.
Instantly, InuYasha stood up before looking to the ground and tightening his hands into fists. I knew he wanted to go, but he knew that he shouldn't. Kikyou was mated to the enemy, and he knew that. One of her Soul Collectors traveled towards him, calling him to her.
I stood, just as everyone else did. Normally she wouldn't go to such extremes to call him. She had to be up to something. The question is, what was she planning? I was glad when InuYasha stayed put and ignored her call. I knew it was hard for him and my heart went out to him.
"What could she possibly want?" Sango asked, holding her boomerang to her shoulder.
"With her, there is no way of knowing." InuYasha answered.
"I think she's coming here." Rin said, looking at the small Soul Collectors. I had to admit it appeared they were getting closer.
I ran from Mattaki and grabbed my bow. With practiced ease, I had an arrow at the ready. The moment I drew my arrow, her own flew into the camp. I released the taut string, my dark pink sacred arrow meeting with her blue one. When the two collided, they created a small explosion so bright, it caused us all to cover our eyes.
"Kikyou, show yourself!" I yelled, ignoring Mattaki's warning growls. I knew he didn't want me anywhere near her because of her shooting me, but I was the only one who could cancel out her reiki.
"I do not answer to my reincarnation." Kikyou said, finally stepping out from the trees. The amount of her Soul Collectors seemed to have doubled, and I realized that someone was hiding behind the woman. If they required souls, that meant they were brought back, much like Kikyou was.
"Why are you here?" I asked, drawing my bow again. Kikyou did the same and the two of us stared each other down, waiting to see who would release first.
"InuYasha, I came to bring you a surprise. I hoped it would help your anger towards me subside." Kikyou said, ignoring me entirely.
"I'll never forgive you, Wench. You're a fucking traitor." InuYasha snapped. "You need to move on. You don't belong in this world."
"I would not say that if I were you." Kikyou started. "Your poor mother's feelings may get hurt."
"You didn't!" I yelled, putting two and two together.
"Oh, but I did." Kikyou said, a grin forming on her face.
"What did you do?" Mattaki snapped, taking a step forward. My heart dropped when he did that. It was going to happen again. I was going to be tossed aside for a first love.
The moment the woman stepped out from behind Kikyou, my heart broke. Mattaki's mouth dropped and his eyes went wide. He never looked away from the woman, and I knew it was over. He now had his wife, Izayoi.
Mattaki
"Izayoi?" I breathed, unable to say anything else. How could this be? Of all the people that could be brought back, it had to be her. I would have been happy with anyone else, but I never wanted to see this woman again.
"Mattaki. I had not realized you were brought back as well, Husband." Izayoi said, smiling towards me. At that moment, everything she did came rushing back to me.
"Do not speak to me as if we are what we once were. You betrayed me for that human male. You sent me to my deathbed." I snapped, clenching my hands into fists.
"I was forced to do those things. I always loved you, Mattaki. You were my husband, not Takemaru." Izayoi said. I took a step back at how sincere her voice sounded. Could it be true? Though it didn't matter because her time was done and she needed to return to her rest, but maybe now she can go with peace between us.
"Father." Sesshomaru said, making me look at him. His eyes met mine for a moment before looking past me. I turned to see what he was looking at and my heart dropped.
Kagome stood with her arrow still drawn. Her face was an emotionless mask but silent tears ran down her cheeks. The reality of the situation hit me so hard, it was as if I was punched in the stomach. It took my breath away, and I realized they did this in the hopes that it would crush Kagome, and so far, it was working.
"You lie, Izayoi. You never loved me." I growled, turning away from the woman I loved. I would deal with her once the danger had passed.
"Reincarnation, why do you cry?" Kikyou asked, a look of smugness on her face. Kagome didn't answer and I cringed. This was going to do some damage.
"Is it possible you have fallen in love with Inu no Taisho? What is with you going after taken men? Can you not find someone available?" Kikyou sneered.
"Shut the fuck up, Kikyou! Neither me or Pops are taken!" InuYasha yelled, standing beside Kagome.
"You're wrong, Kikyou." Kagome whispered, making me look at her. "I do not love him. I will never allow myself to love someone again."
"Kagome." I whispered, her words cutting into me like a knife.
"Then why are you courting him?" Kikyou asked. "Mating is for life. You planned on being with someone you don't love for the rest of your life? How cruel."
"I agreed, knowing that he would eventually grow tired of me." Kagome answered, making me growl. All of the work I had done was gone! She was back to the way she was before!
"Kagome–" I started before I was interrupted.
"Mattaki, remove your mark." Kagome ordered, making me gasp.
"Never! I will never let you go." I snarled, walking towards her.
"Remove it, or I will." She snapped, her eyes meeting mine. The dullness of those eyes hurt just as much as her words.
"Kagome, think about this." InuYasha started.
"There is nothing to think about. I am unable to feel love again, and I will not pretend any longer." She said, her eyes never leaving mine. I couldn't even do anything. The pain of her rejection hurt more than I would have ever imagined. This was worse than when I learned of Izayoi's betrayal.
"Lady Kagome, you know that's not true!" Rin cried, taking a step towards the older woman. "You even told Sango and myself that you were falling for him. Do not let these two ruin what is making you happy!"
"I can never be happy again, Rin." Kagome said, her eyes unmoving.
"Please, Kagome!" I begged, unable to do much of anything else.
"Miko, give up. You cannot remove his mark, and this one will not allow him to remove it from you. You are upset, and if you continue this, when you calm down, you will regret everything. Stand down." Sesshomaru ordered, walking towards his friend. He grabbed her bow and threw it from her before towering over her. "Do not push him away because of InuYasha's mistakes."
"Sesshomaru, thank-you for being there for me when you were." Kagome said, looking up at him. "I never should have made that deal with you."
"Miko." Sesshomaru warned, showing his fangs slightly. I knew her words hurt him just as much as they were hurting me.
"I never should have met any of you." Kagome said, making the entire group gasp. Her eyes once again met mine, and I could feel my heart breaking the rest of the way.
"Mattaki, I will find a way to remove your mark. You are a free man and may do as you wish with your life." She said before bowing to me. She turned and began walking away. I went to run after her but found myself surrounded by black reiki.
The sight of such dark reiki very nearly suffocated me. Before, she still had some light left, but now, it was true darkness. Her heart had been shattered. That alone told me she did love me, that everything she said was just a way to push everyone away. I fought against the barrier, trying to get to her retreating form.
"Red Tessaiga!" InuYasha yelled, swinging his sword. He ran towards me and tried cutting through the barrier holding me but nothing worked. After a few more tries, he looked at me with so much sorrow and regret, I knew he was blaming himself for this.
"I'm sorry, Father. I'll bring her back to you." He said before grabbing Kagome's bow and arrows. I watched as he followed after her until both figures disappeared from sight.
"Kikyou and Izayoi left." Rin pointed out sadly.
"They got what they wanted." Sesshomaru replied while pressing his hand to the barrier. I fell to my knees, unable to stand any longer.
"It's so dark." Sango whispered, looking at the transparent black reiki surrounding me.
"It seems Lady Kagome's heart has been shattered. I truly wonder if it can be fixed this time." Miroku said, looking at his wife sadly.
"Mattaki?" Rin called. I just shook my head, unable to say anything.
Kagome was gone. She left me. I felt as if my soul was being ripped in two. Even my beast was whimpering from the pain. I had never felt anything like this. No wound has ever sent me to my knees like this has.
"Mattaki!" A loud voice boomed. I looked up to see a figure floating before me. Everyone let out a gasp before bowing to the creature that had appeared. We were in the presence of the Kami.
"Get up." The Kami ordered. I pushed myself to my feet and stood on shaky legs.
"Do you understand why you're in so much pain?" The Kami asked.
"N–no. Kagome leaving should hurt, but it shouldn't be physical pain." I answered, my voice strained.
"Sesshomaru, Rin. You should listen to my explanation as well. This will answer the questions you wished to ask Bokusenou." The Kami started before turning back to me. "You are hurting because part of your soul has been ripped away. The moment you met Kagome, your souls combined, creating one being. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"She's m–my soulmate?" I asked, my face showing my confusion.
"Indeed. You feel pain because she is no longer with you. The further she goes, the worse it will get." The Kami replied, making me close my eyes.
"How do I get her back?" I inquired, wanting to feel Kagome in my arms again.
"That, I cannot answer, but you must get her back. Neither of you will survive a prolonged separation. Fix this, Mattaki." The Kami ordered before fading away. I fell to my knees again and laughed.
"Father?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Son, how long have I been searching for my soulmate?" I replied, looking up at him.
"For most of your life." He answered, looking down at me sadly.
"I finally found her, and she leaves me. She traps me in a barrier and walks away. How am I supposed to make her see how much I love her? How am I supposed to get her back?" I asked, laughing again, the sound sounding hollow.
"We will help you. Between all of us, we will find a way to bring her back to you." Sesshomaru answered. I looked up at him and prayed that he was right. I wanted my mate back more than I wanted anything else.
InuYasha.
"Kagome, stop!" I yelled, chasing after the woman.
"Why are you here, InuYasha?" She asked, not slowing her footsteps.
"You need to go back. All of this is a misunderstanding." I said, grabbing her arm. When my eyes met hers, I gasped. They weren't her normal blue eyes that she carried. Instead, they were so dark, they almost seemed black. This wasn't Kagome. This was her reiki.
"You are correct, InuYasha. Kagome has given herself to me. She no longer wishes to be a part of this world." She replied, making my back shiver. I hated how her reiki could read minds.
"Kagome, Pops loves you. He would never make the mistake I did." I argued.
"Enough!" She ordered, waving a hand to dismiss me. "You may follow me if you wish, but do not bring up that man again."
I watched as she turned and began walking again. This wasn't Kagome at all. This was someone different. I will find a way to bring Kagome back, for both her and Father's sake. They needed each other, and I would make sure I fixed this mess.
-sSs-
I do not own InuYahsa.