A/N: It was originally suggested I make some changes to the very end of this. It was good advice and I've saved it for future reference. But with this particular series and how the characters interact with each other, I think simple and understated keeps them better in character. Plus I am no good at writing romance.
It was all Shippo could do to keep from crying. Miroku could see it in his eyes as Kirara raced them to Inuyasha. After all the time they'd been together, the half demon was now like a father to him. Not that Shippo would admit that to Inuyasha or himself. To lose another father was more than the little fox demon could handle. The sight of Inuyasha's prone form at the base of the Sacred Tree broke the dam holding back the kit's tears.
Miroku wasn't quite ready to jump to conclusions. The clearing showed no signs of a struggle. He couldn't sense any demonic auras in the area. In fact, everything was peaceful, the only noise a gentle breeze in the trees. Kirara landed so he could check on Inuyasha. His mind refused to reconcile what he found. He wasn't breathing and had no pulse. It's not possible. No demon could take him down without a fight. Not even Sesshomaru or Naraku.
Closer inspection of the area gave the monk a better idea of exactly what had happened. And made him realize that not all was lost. Inuyasha hadn't drawn Tetsusaiga, meaning there was no outside threat. His body was in a hole typical of one of Kagome's "sit" commands. Most importantly, Miroku could faintly sense his demonic aura. It was coming from the necklace, those beads Inuyasha detested. But it was weak and fading fast.
"Please don't cry anymore, Shippo. We can still save Inuyasha. But you need to bring Kagome and Kaede here as quickly as possible. I will stay and watch over him."
"Really?" between sobs, "It's not too late?"
"Yes, but you must hurry!"
"OK! Come on Kirara," hope returning to the kit's voice.
I just hope they're not too late. Please hang on, my friend. Kagome will never forgive herself if you don't make it.
"Oh, Sango! I feel completely horrible. I won't blame him if he never forgives me."
"I'm sure you're just overreacting. He's never held it against you before."
"I know, but it seems different this time. I think I really hurt his feelings. I just got so mad and next thing I knew…"
"You just have to explain things to him. Maybe it's time you told him the real reason you don't want him to be without that necklace. And, don't take this the wrong way, but you might want to work on your temper, too. We both need to learn to work through an argument instead of ending it the easy way. With violence."
Kagome chuckled at that. "We can be pretty dangerous, can't we? Thanks, Sango. And you're right. It is time I tell him the truth. He deserves that much. I just hope it doesn't make things harder between us. It looks like we've almost finished dinner. Where are the boys? They should be back by n--" Kagome stopped, thinking she'd heard something outside. The cry came again.
"Kagome! Kaede!"
"Isn't that Shippo?" Kagome, hearing the worry in his voice, realized something was very wrong. They ran out of the hut, dinner completely forgotten.
"Kagome, you have to hurry! Where's Kaede? We need her too." He hopped down from Kirara's back and ran to Kagome. It was obvious he'd been crying.
"What's wrong? Where are Inuyasha and Miroku?" questioned Kagome.
"Inuyasha is, h-h-he's, he's…Miroku is with him. Miroku told me to bring you and Kaede before it's too late."
"Too late? Too late for what?" Kagome was afraid of his answer, but still needed to know.
Shippo starting crying again as he told her. "When we found Inuyasha, he was lying on the ground. Not moving and n-n-not, and not breathing. Miroku says we can still save him if we hurry."
Her heart stopped and her body went numb. Not breathing? "Sango, would you find Kaede?"
"Of course. Kirara and I will find her and meet you there."
"Shippo, please take me to Inuyasha."
Miroku wasn't sure how he was going to break it to Kagome. She would never hurt Inuyasha intentionally. Her heart was too good. Knowing she caused his death would leave permanent damage. Not that the monk was faring much better. Pulling Inuyasha's frail, lifeless body out of that hole would be burned in his memory forever. In all the time they'd been traveling together, Inuyasha always seemed so strong. Even when unconscious from injuries, he exuded strength. To see him so fragile...
"Don't you dare give up Inuyasha! We need you. More than you ever needed us. Hang on. Help is on the way" I don't even know if he can hear me. Please, Kagome. Don't take too long.
While saying a prayer for the half demon, he heard sounds approaching from the direction of the village. Shippo, transformed into his pink ball form, was carrying Kagome faster than they could run. The beautiful sunset behind them was marred by the approach of storm clouds, the smell of rain on the wind. Even the sky mourns for him.
Kagome was terrified to face what awaited her. It was her worst nightmare come true. She asked Shippo what had happened, but he couldn't tell her, only that there was no blood. The Sacred Tree, visible above the rest of the forest, quickly grew in the distance. They were headed right where she'd left him after their argument. If I'd stayed, he might not have been attacked.
The angle in which they approached the clearing allowed her to postpone facing her fears a few moments more. The only thing she could see was the occasional flash of red behind Miroku's purple and black robes flowing in the breeze that had picked up in the few minutes it took her to get there. As they landed near him, she tried to focus more on the ground, then Miroku's expression to keep from looking behind him. Though the look on his face told her the fears were not unfounded. When their eyes met, she could see the unshed tears. The battle to hold back her own tears was lost as she stepped around Miroku and got her first glimpse of Inuyasha. He looked simply as if he was sleeping. No wounds, no blood, not even a scratch told what transpired after she so selfishly left him. She knelt down beside him, took his hand, and steeled herself to ask the questions she dreaded knowing the answers to.
"What happened to him?" He seemed hesitant to answer. Almost like he was afraid. "What kind of demon could attack without leaving a mark?"
"No demon did this to him."
"So was it a villager or other person? Maybe poison? I don't know how any human could get so close without him smelling them coming."
"No, it wasn't a villager." He hesitated again, obviously trying to avoid telling her the truth. "When we found him, he was still in that hole," he said pointing to his left as he did so, "and had been there for some time."
Her mind started putting the pieces together, that body shaped hole being the most obvious. He wasn't attacked. He's not breathing and has no heartbeat. Yet, as she realized when she took his hand, he hasn't gone cold. The only time she'd ever seen that happen was when she first met Inuyasha, sealed to the tree. And the hole, the kind left behind when she "sat" him. Her entire body went numb.
"I-I-I did this? H-h-ow? I don't understand!" she choked between sobs. Thunder crashed and the rain started falling, tears to match her own.
"You've been working on improving your powers lately, right?" She nodded in response. "You two argued. You told him to 'sit' before you left, correct?" Another nod. "What exactly were you thinking about the moment you said 'sit' to him?"
"I was angry. Very angry. He was asking about the beads again. He said no one else needed to keep him on a leash. I assumed he meant something that he really didn't. I was thinking how I ha-" an involuntary gasp cut the sentence short. I was thinking how much I hated when he mentions Kikyo. No that's not right. I was thinking how much I hated Kikyo at the moment I yelled at him. I could feel my anger flare like never before.
"I believe the anger caused your powers to spike. When you spoke the command, it sealed his soul into the beads."
"So we just need to get his soul out of the beads and back into his body?" the first glimmer of hope clear in her voice. "I took the arrow out to release the seal last time. Maybe I just need to remove the necklace to free him this time." She reached up to pull the necklace off, but only touched it when a voice stopped her.
"No! Ye mustn't remove the necklace. Not until the soul is removed first. To do so before would remove his soul permanently," warned Kaede. She had quietly arrived with Sango and Kirara while Miroku was explaining his theory to Kagome. "We must do it quickly though. His spirit is weakening." Kaede knelt down opposite Kagome, put her hands over the beads, and asked Kagome to do the same. "Now ye must visualize your soul reaching out for his. While ye do that, we shall focus all of our power on putting it back into his body. Do not let your focus waver. And do not let any doubt enter your soul. He will feel it and pull away."
Please let this work. I can't lose you now! "OK. I'm ready." Kagome cleared all negative thoughts from her mind and began focusing.
He began sensing auras. They were weak, but familiar. So they did look for me. At least I know I'll have a proper burial. And I'll be missed by someone. He sensed Miroku coming closer, but the other two were leaving. He assumed they were going for help, help that he knew would come too late. He was comforted by the fact that he wasn't completely alone now. He wished he could talk to the monk and say his goodbyes. For a second Miroku's aura came closer. Inuyasha could feel his sadness. And thought he could hear him saying something. He just couldn't make out the words. Being helpless to answer just made the dog demon sink deeper into the depression that threatened to claim his soul once and for all.
Kagome? Shippo brought Kagome? I thought she hated me. Why would she come? Her aura also moved in close. He could sense her feelings too. He could feel the anguish. It was almost too much for him to take. She doesn't hate me! Then why? Why seal my soul into the beads? He was so confused. He felt more people arrive. All of his friends had come. He could rest in peace knowing they all cared enough to come.
Suddenly the darkness around him started to brighten. It wasn't that he couldn't see. He had just been in complete darkness. A light approached and reached out to him. As his vision adjusted to the brightness, he realized the light had shape. It was a person, reaching out their hand. He hesitated, fearing he would be taken away for good. He didn't want to be stuck in limbo forever, but he never really wanted to leave his friends either. A voice spoke and he knew it was safe to reach out as well. Kagome had come for him. She was going to help. And he could feel her love for him. Not hate, but love. He grasped her hand and pulled her close. She said she was sorry for what she'd accidentally done to him. She asked him not to give up. I promise, Kagome. I promise I will fight. He held on for dear life. Warmth surrounded him and he felt a shift. He could hear sobs and feel the wind and rain on his face. He opened his eyes and there she was, worry and guilt written all over her face.
"Inuyasha? Are you ok now?" She asked as he slowly sat up.
"Yeah, I'm ok. Thanks to you." He had no idea such simple words would cause the silly girl to break down completely. He was just happy he could see, hear, and feel again. Judging by the tears in everyone else's eyes and the smiles on their faces, they felt the same way he did.
"No! If it weren't for me you wouldn't have been hurt. I'm so sorry Inuyasha!" She buried her face in his kimono, sobbing uncontrollably. He put an arm around her shoulders, hoping to comfort her.
He looked gratefully to Miroku when he said, "Come everyone. We should see to dinner." Obviously the monk knew they needed time to themselves.
The rain slowed to a sprinkle. Now he patiently waited for her crying to slow as well. He had plenty of questions, but not until she was ready.
"Inuyasha, how could you forgive me so quickly after what I did to you?" she asked, pulling back to look him in the eyes. "Aren't you angry with me, don't you hate me?"
"You told me yourself it was an accident. Why would I hate you for that? I was worried though. When you said the command I felt hate from you. I thought you hated me and I didn't know why." He noticed a blush on her cheeks before she bowed her head to avoid looking at him.
"I have some things to tell you, but please let me say them all before you ask any questions. I haven't told you why I leave the beads on because I was afraid. Then you accused me of needing to keep a leash on you when no one else does. I assumed you were talking about Kikyo not needing to control you. Yeah I know it was dumb. But I get a bit irrational where she's concerned. I could never hate you. I just hate the hold she has on you. I was angry about her and let that affect my control on my powers."
She seemed relieved after admitting her feelings during their argument. He was relieved to hear she truly didn't hate him.
"Now to finally answer your question about the beads. You deserve the truth. I really don't want to control you. I'm not good at talking through arguments. It is easier to run away from them. I can only do that if you can't chase after me right away. The reason I haven't removed the necklace is…"
She hesitated, seemed afraid he wouldn't want to hear what she had to say.
"…the reason is I don't want to lose you. I was afraid if you didn't have the necklace, you wouldn't be able to travel to my time, you'd have no tie to me. You could go to Kikyo. After all, you only need someone who can see the jewel shards. It doesn't have to be me. I know you said I could stay with you. But what happens after Naraku is defeated and the jewel is complete? You'll be a full demon. You won't want me around anymore."
"Is that what you really think?" He stood as he said it, pulling her up as well. "I ask you to stay with me because I need you. Not your priestess powers or your ability to find jewel shards. You." Time to tell her how I really feel. After what happened today, I know this could possibly be my only chance. "I do want to protect Kikyo. But it is you I choose to be with. Kagome, I love you and don't want to lose you either."
"You do? Oh, Inuyasha. I love you too!" she hugged him tightly, burying her face in his kimono again, this time crying tears of joy.
"I know. I could feel it when you pulled my soul free of the beads. When you saved me. Promise you won't ever leave?"
"I promise. And we should probably remove the necklace. I don't ever want this to happen again."
"But what if you're right and they are the reason I can pass through the well to your time? We'll just work on controlling your powers and not using the "sit" command so much. And I can try not to make you angry so much. It'll be hard, but I know we can do it."
Kagome laughed at the last remark. "Maybe we should head back now. They might be a bit worried. And you must be hungry."
"I could go for some ramen!" He took her hand as they walked back to the village, each quietly enjoying the other's company. This time he vowed to himself not to spoil these quiet moments anymore.