Asuka's heart pounded at the sound of the upstairs window sliding shut. She lifted the steaming cup of tea to her lips, intending on a sip, but couldn't. Lately, her appetite had wavered. Lately, Inuyasha had spent less and less time with her. She looked out the window, catching the brief sight of silver hair. He was mystical, unlike anything she had ever seen before, and because of that, she was eager to know more about him.
She already knew he was half demon, that didn't shock her. How could she be astonished when the evidence of claws, abnormal colored eyes, and adorable puppy ears were unveiled to her? What did shock her though, was learning he was from a distant time, five centuries ago to be exact. She had a rough time believing that, but she came to accept it. She felt humbled that he relied his secrets on her and her alone, but she felt she didn't know everything else she wanted to know about him.
Where are his parents? Were they demons too? What was his childhood like? What games did he like to play when he was younger? Who was his best friend and who was his first love? Did he ever fall in love? Am I the only girl to accept him as he is? Did anyone love him? A plethora of questions, and only one half demon could answer them, but he was out destroying his enemies while she guarded a pretty pink jewel that can grant any wish.
More times than she would like to count, she was tempted to wish on the jewel. There was only one thing she wanted, one thing she felt she deserved to have. As this thought came to mind, she lunged for the sink, hacking terrible coughs. A foul tasting slimy substance spewed from her mouth to her hands as she coughed. Once the fit ended, she gasped in air almost painfully as her chest tightened and froze. She was motionless for a few moments as the pain slowly receded. She turned on the faucet to cleanse her hands from the mucus then dried them.
"If I wished on the jewel to live, will it grant my wish?" She pondered. "But then, Inuyasha will be very angry with me."
She envisioned those sweet honey eyes cloud with anger like she had witnessed. He was like a ticking time bomb, he could be friendly and then if you say the wrong thing, he snaps. She frequently beseeched him to let her use this magical wish to live, but in all attempts, he demanded her not to squander the wish in that way.
Though she condemned coquettish women, she was desperate to kick her illness and therefore, acted more flirtatiously around Inuyasha. She figured he was a male, despite being half demon and she believed herself to be fairly attractive, but her efforts were fruitless. He never caved in to the appealing tops she wore or the make up to light her features, or even when she began pressing her body to his, and she blew up.
Why! Why won't you let me seize this opportunity Inuyasha! I let you live with me, I housed you, fed you, saved your sorry ass! Why in the hell are you denying me the chance to live longer!
Because it's selfish.
What in the hell does selfishness have anything to do with the stupid jewel!
When someone makes a selfish wish on the jewel, it doesn't disappear and the conflict with it will still remain.
Ok, when did wanting to live become selfish?
Living is selfish.
No, what's selfish is holding back a girl's dream of living her life to the damn fullest Inuyasha! Do you want me to die!
No.
That's what will happen to me! I'm dying! I'm freaking dying! I have a chance to live longer! Let me have it!
No.
God damn! Why are you being so difficult about this!
Why are you?
Because I want to live idiot!
Well I wanted her to live too, but I didn't get my wish now did I?
Oh so now you're holding back my wish because yours wasn't granted?
It's not that simple! You don't understand wench!
Then open up to me already Inuyasha! Why do you keep yourself so closely guarded?
It's none of your business wench!
Then he just stormed out, slamming the door and rattling the furniture. She gazed at the jewel, wanting to seize her chance to snatch it while Inuyasha was gone blowing off steam. However, her heart sank. She didn't have the effrontery to disobey him, especially when his vast knowledge of the jewel overruled her speck of it.
That night was also the beginning to the twinges she would feel around him. She continued to pester him, but about a very different topic. She yearned for more knowledge about the Shikon jewel and about him. The concept of the jewel and his background was absolutely erratic and in a sense, thrilling as well. She could be embarking on the greatest adventure of her life before her disease conquers her and he was holding that all back from her.
Asuka sighed, retiring to her bedroom to sleep on it.
Inuyasha fled through the open clearing, grateful there weren't any witnesses. He had a pungent scent of blood trailing up his nostrils, and it was strong enough for him to know it wasn't a minor accident. There had been a slaughter and it had been inflicted upon by a demon. He was hot on the trail and nothing was going to deter him from his mission.
Suddenly, he stopped and covered his nose. The scent of blood was still there, but there was another repulsive stench: it was death. He ran further and sooner discovered that it wasn't the smell of deteriorating carcasses. In fact, it smelled like clay and graveyard soil. He was bewildered when he made that conclusion, retrieving memories of Kikyo and the band of seven when they were resurrected against their will.
His feet pounded faster against the ground, his hand reflexively grasping the hilt of Tetsusaiga. He completely disregarded the scent of blood, he was motivated further by the idea that another dangerous specter could be lurking amongst the land of the living.
"Huh, can't be worse than Bankotsu and his band of bastards." Inuyasha asseverated.
The scent guided him to the cave, where he soon found was the place a teenage boy was killed. The alarming puddle was beginning to dry and mold with the ground. He unsheathed his Tetsusaiga, preparing to ambush his enemies. Then, he noticed the foliage north of the cave trembling until a figure stepped out.
His heart skipped a beat at the illusory of Kagome, as determined as ever with her archery weaponry strapped on her back. He growled, scolding his mind for concocting such a sinister mirage. In a second, she will vanish just as she did twenty years ago. She walked closer, seeming almost ethereal. His heart thundered against his ribcage and his mouth suddenly went dry. It was her, it had to be! Kagome…
The image of her was tangible, but the smell that drifted in the wind shattered his rising hopes. It couldn't be her, it had to be another imposter. Her pure aura felt darker, plagued by the uncertainties and disasters of the world. Her enticing scent of cherry blossoms dissipated, leaving behind an air of malice. This couldn't be his Kagome.
"Kagome!"
A male voice called, and soon, a demon man was attached to her side. 'Kagome' tilted her head at him. "Why are you following me? This is my fight alone."
Inuyasha felt his breath catch in his throat. The cold shoulder was a repetitive treatment Kagome used on him when he disconcerted her. He preferred the silence more so than those cursed sit commands. He cupped the beads in his hands, remembering those times he desperately tried to rid himself of that thing and how many times it forced him into the ground. He looked at Kagome, her aura dark and her eyes emotionless… Was this the same girl who had captured his heart all those years ago?
The woman and the demon walked closer to the mouth of the cave. Kagome reached behind her to notch an arrow, the string hummed as the wood brushed across it. She stopped then, releasing the arrow and watching it fly. Inuyasha was stupefied to discover even her arrows, coated in a pure, brilliant light was tainted as well.
The arrow repelled backwards due to a concealed barrier. Kisho and Kagome dodged so the arrow's lethal point would stab the ground where they had stood.
"Damn, a barrier." Kagome said tersely.
"Yeah, now what do we do?"
Kagome sighed. "I don't know. My powers obviously, aren't potent enough to shatter a barrier created by Naraku's hell spawn."
"Then, there's nothing for us to do here. Let's go back and come back at a later time."
"A later time? When Saigen is killing thousands of people?"
"Well then what do you suggest we do?"
"Get Miroku and Sango and their children and even Shippo and Shokora and we'll all come back tonight. Besides, it doesn't seem like anybody's here."
Kisho sniffed the air, just to verify Kagome's statement then froze. Kagome noticed he tensed beside her and his face paled. "What is it?"
"N-Nothing important."
"Then… why do you…"
"Come on Kagome, let's just go back." He reached out to catch her hand, his lungs almost clogged up it seemed when Kagome's fingers curled around his own. "So, you're giving me the chance?"
"No, I just decided it's pointless to fight with you." Kagome said.
"Then… you won't ever fight against me?" He turned to face her, releasing her hand to curl his arm around her waist.
Kagome stared at him straight in the eyes, appearing unaffected. Kisho bent his head, slowly pressing his lips against hers. Kagome didn't struggle, nor did she melt into him. Kisho's exasperated sigh tingled her lips slightly and he straightened. He grabbed her hand, deciding the kissing would be a later development.
"You must understand Kisho, a woman will not melt in your arms if all you do is try to kiss her."
"Then what can I do to make you melt?"
Kagome tore her hand out of his. "Absolutely nothing. Don't bother to try."
She strode ahead of him, leaving him to sulk behind her. In the bushes, Inuyasha could barely breathe. This had to be a nightmare. His Kagome was never so harsh with her words, nor would she even let some strange guy grab her and kiss her. Where was her spunk? Where did her fiery slaps and livid eyes go? Why did she seem she just didn't care? And did she say Naraku's 'hell spawn'?
Maybe she intended it to be metaphorical, but if it's true that Saigen is the offspring of Naraku, then they were in a heap of trouble. He mulled over the thought of chasing after Kagome and mauling Kisho beyond recognition, that is, if he would be lucky enough to survive. Instead, he spun on his heels, feeling he wasn't ready to confront this new Kagome yet. And besides, he had to protect Asuka, the jewel's current guardian.
From inside the cave, past the barrier, Haruka watched all of the unwanted intruders leave with a firm promise of returning. She waited for hours until Saigen, Akito, and Takeshi returned. Haruka relayed her kill and the intrusion from Kagome and Kisho earlier, as well as the faint scent of Inuyasha. She confessed they would be coming back tonight with help.
"Let them come, we won't be here when they do." Saigen replied
"You mean, you've found a place?"
"Yup, and you wanna know who it is with Haruka?" Takeshi grinned. "Kagome's mother."
Saigen smirked. "I will hold the woman and her mate hostage, all the more incentive for Kagome to give me my jewel."
The final ray of sunlight dissolved into the conquering darkness. Kagome stood and stared at the black canvas of the sky, waiting for her team to amass. Soon enough, Kisho walked up to her side. She didn't need to turn to know that Shippo, Shokora, Sango, Miroku, and their children emerged from the doorway.
"Are we all set?" Hiroshi asked.
His eldest sister, clad in heavy gear as her mother, nodded. "Yes, let's go. Huh? Amaya? Why aren't you…"
"In gear? Because I don't want to do this." Amaya said.
Shippo walked up to her, intending to embrace her but the girl fled back inside the house. Her parents looked at each other and sighed. As Amaya disappeared, Keiko assimilated into the group, much to Hiroshi's disapproval.
"No way Keiko, it's way too dangerous. You're not coming with us."
"But Hiroshi… I only want to stand by your side. As a fiancée should…"
Hiroshi walked up to her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go comfort my sister, that's all the help I'll allow you to give me. But I do not want you in any danger. I'll come back, I promise."
"But-"
"Keiko, listen to my son, he only worries for your safety." Miroku said sternly.
Keiko sighed in defeat. "Fine, but promise me you'll all return soon."
"Of course we will, we've done this all of our lives." Sango replied with an assuring smile. "We'll be back before you know it."
Keiko nodded then bowed. She blew a kiss to Hiroshi before shutting the door behind her with a small click. "Now what about Amaya?" Shippo asked, looking at his friends.
"Amaya has no desire for demon slaying." Miroku said.
"More like she has a fear of it." Sango corrected.
"Well, she's got Keiko, Sakiko, and my brother to look after her. In the meantime, we have to go. Now." Kagome said.
No one could demur with her tone of authority. When Kagome turned her back, they all followed her into the thickness of the night, prepared for any ambushes.