*IMPORTANT* This story contains spoliers from the Bleach Series! DO NOT READ if you don't like spoilers, ruiners, etc. I have given my warning! *IMPORTANT*
Title: Miko and Shinigami Love
Rating: T
DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo. Two respected mangaka! I do not own the characters in any way nor the story plot only the idea of this fanfiction!
MizukixTsukiyomi's Notes: And here is a new chappy for everyone! He-he, took a long time but here it is! Last time I updated was on Christmas morning! Oh my! You could say this chapter is a bit...cheesy. Kill me now but oh well. Some people wanted a little more interaction between Kagome and Ichigo so here ya go! Enjoy! Ha-ha-ha!
I want to thank all my readers and reviewers for supporting me this far! Thank you so much and please continue to support me!
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
omaomae, flaimingdarkfox, xlove-kawaix, Chaos-Guard, riku, kid love, Kakashi's hoe, ShadowGOUF, rspringb, Italyy, and dizzywolfy96!
ENJOY!
Chapter 34: Night Heart
Everyone took cover from the bright light that erupted away from Ichigo's and Kagome's collision. Nothing but smoke surrounded the area and all anyone could do was wait for it to subside at its own pace. Hisagi blinked, noticing two dark shadows standing in the middle of the foggy smoke. The petite figure had its' arm stretched out in the front as the palm seemed to be touching the left side of the tall figure's chest. His tall posture easily over towered the petite female: "Hey," called out Hisagi, "is that...Ichigo and Kagome standing there still?"
Squinting her eyes, Rangiku tried to get the clearest view from her eyes: "Did she survive?"
"I think we should be asking if he injured her or not," whispered Hisagi.
The scene in front unfolded itself as it revealed a demon Ichigo with his raised claw but frozen in place. His sharp growl still echoed lightly while Kagome held her palm against his chest with her miko-ki glowing out. Her eyes held courageously as she stood in front of the beast.
Kagome noticed the hint of darkness around his orbs slowly fading and returning to their original warmth. Kagome finally began to breath again, not even noticing she had been holding her life in her lungs.
Ichigo's eyes slowly started to close down. His last vision of a girl with long black hair standing in front of him: "K-Kagome..."
Falling forward, Kagome grunted lightly as she caught his heavy weight, making her fall down on her kness. Ichigo's head laid down on her lap as her arms securely were around his shoulders. A small sigh escaped her lips while watching his new transformed features. Lightly, her fingers brushed away a few black strands of hair off his face while trying to get a better look.
'You really turned into a demon. Why didn't you tell me? I'm here to support you, Ichigo.' Her warm fingers touched his cool face, seeing that the more you looked at him, he looked just the same: 'You have no idea how worried I was...'
Hearing light yet heavy strides coming towards her, she looked to her left to see the Taiyoukai walking over with his same unemotional face: "This Sesshomaru is surprised you were able to tame his beast."
Laughily lightly as his hidden compliment, she gave him a smile: "I am surprised myself, Sesshomaru-sama."
Off to the side, Hisagi crossed his arms as he watched the scene in front of him being resolved: "This idiot didn't tell us anything and now we got to wait for him to be conscious again."
Kagome's ears picked up his little speech and looked over to the other side seeing him standing next to the other Shinigami that had been trying to control Ichigo. Kagome looked at him calmly: "He is foolish for deciding this on his own but all we can do for him now is be there to support him...have faith in him," her attention glided back to the demon on her lap.
Golden eyes watched the pain on the floor. Turning his normal eyes into a suspicious glare, he watched the Kagome's face filled with nothing but kindness and love as she gazed at the ex-Shinigami. A small smile slowly appeared on her lips suddenly taken back at that sudden action she had given the unconscious demon.
Unaware of the miko standing near him, Kikyo stared at the hanyou's annoyed expression. Obviously he was annoyed at the attention the new demon was getting from Kagome when before, Kagome would always follow him around.
Kikyo's eyes went back to see Renji and Ikkaku picking Ichigo up while Sango and Rangiku helped Kagome back up her feet. She knew that from this, more problems were about to be born when it really , this chase should be ending.
Fire cracked as the monk placed more wood on the small pile. His eyes shined with the reflection of the flames that danced up in the air. His eyes caught the small distress his little demon slayer was displaying out in the open: "Are you alright, Sango?"
"Huh?" looking up from the narcotization the flames had given her, she nodded: "Uh, yeah. Just thinking."
Miroku understood the confusion that wrapped around Sango's head and everyone else's. Everyone had questions yet the answers were obvious to the eyes on what had happened and nothing could change that.
They had to move forward.
"I never thought that this Shinigami would end up becoming a demon," Miroku spoke lightly as his vision went to stare at the ex-Shinigami laying down unconscious while Kaede and Shippo checked his health.
Sango gave him a nod, her own eyes fixed on the demon: "And part of Sesshomaru's blood line," her head spun to stare at the monk: "Would that make Kurosaki-san related to Inuyasha as well?"
Miroku sighed, crossing his arms: "I would presume. What is more astonishing is that his beast has taken control that quickly. That was a frightening scene."
"Kagome-chan was able to stop him though," added Sango. "Miroku, do you know what she did to him?"
They both hears shuffling to the side and both looked to see Shippo jumping the opposite side of Ichigo's body, starring at the crescent moon tattoo on his right side of his chest. His eyes quickly noticed a black circle, the same size as the Shikon no Tama right in the middle of the crescent moon.
"What is that?" he asked curiously, his finger already pointing at the weird shape.
Looking over to his side, Kaede squinted her eyes to get a better look: "Hmm, not sure," her palm came up and started to go over his tattoo only to be reflected back by a small shock. "Oh, my!"
Surprised, everyone got closer to Kaede, checking at the small sparks around the tattoo. Sango blinked at the sudden sparks: "Are you alright Kaede-sama?"
"Aye, children, no need to worry," sighed Kaede.
"W-Why did that shock you?" asked Shippo as he jumped away.
Kaede looked over at his chest, seeing the shocks subsiding: "I can feel Kagome-cha's miko-ki inside his heart."
"Her miko-ki is inside?" repeated Miroku. "Wouldn't that harm Kurosaki-san?"
"It looks like that black circle represents a protection barrier around his heart, making sure that his demon beast blood won't go in and take over until he and his beast can come to work together," explained Kaede.
"So, Kagome-chan placed her miko-ki inside? Is that what saved him?" Sango's shoulders slumped down, wondering how on earth Kagome had completed such an unheard task. "Wouldn't it have purified him since he is now a demon?"
Kaede shook her head lightly at her questions: "I am not exactly sure how Kagome learned that method...even after living for so many years, I don't know this process or training."
They soon heard the flap of the entrance swoosh out, revealing Kagome's incarnation standing with her bow and arrows in hand: "It is a simple yet risky method of purification. One must not harbor dark thoughts or grudges in order for this purification to work. She placed a barrier around his heart which only she can remove when she like."
Taken back from her explanation, Miroku was the first to acknowledge her presence. Giving her a small nod, he looked back at the unconscious demon: "Makes perfect sense," his eyes traveled back to look at the entrance of the hut: "By the way, where are the other Shinigami?"
Looking at the woman in front, Sango made eye contact with the gray decaying eyes from the miko: "Kikyo-sama, where is Inuyasha?"
Staying silent for a few seconds, Kikyo set her weapons down while speaking: "Inuyasha followed my reincarnation up to the Bone Eater's Well."
Both the demon slayer and monk made eye contact the moment she said those words, wondering what was going on between their dear friends. Noticing that Kikyo had sat down, Kaede walked over to get her some tea.
Shippo shifted his head side-to-side from person-to-person: 'What is going on around here?'
A pair of eyes watched the well that started her journey. In silence, all she could hear where the trees brushing against each other along with the small tune the crickets played around. Closing her eyes, she could feel a familiar presence behind her, starring at her carefully.
Having his arms inside his haori and crossed across his chest, the hanyou watched the miko's back with her slumped posture. He could tell many things were bothering her.
"You really shouldn't have risked yourself like that, Kagome," his eyes tightened, remembering her stupid move to save the boy.
Continuing to look at the well that held so much memories for her, she questioned him: "What do you mean?"
A small growl erupted under his breath: "Don't play dumb, Kagome. He could have killed you! I could have dealt with it!"
She didn't know why but a wave a fury wrapped around her body, making her turn to face her dear hanyou: "And let him be killed just because he turned into a demon?"
"He was out of control, Kagome!" he argued back, unwrapping his arms.
Taking a step back from his yell, Kagome held her eyes strong with a glare of her own: "So you wanted me to ignore him? Leave him to deal with this himself?"
Staying silent, Inuyasha let out an angry breath: "When a demon looses control of himself...back away!" he exlaimed.
Kagome raised an eyebrow, hearing his words: "Oh? Is that what you wanted me to do when you lost control?"
"What?" he glared.
"Don't act dumb with me now, Inuyasha," she warned. "Countless times you have lost control because of your beast and not once did I back away."
"That was different!" he barked back.
"No it wasn't!" she shouted with her eyes changing to nothing but worry. "You had lost your heart! You lost your true self! You didn't even know who we were, Inuyasha!" relaxing her shoulders, Kagome shivered from the cold breeze while looking down at the ground: "Everyone was afraid of you...especially me. I didn't know what to do. I felt like running away but my heart held me back and continued to tell me to help you," she finally looked up at Inuyasha's gold orbs: "You needed support, help...love. I did everything I could so you could come back to us...even if it meant getting hurt by you."
Inuyasha remained silent, leaving Kagome to sigh out her stress and worry: "Ichigo reminded me of you. He was in pain and he may not admit it but he wanted someone to be there for him."
Glaring at her last sentence, Inuyasha crossed his arms once again and stood strong: "Kagome...do you love him?"
Taken back by his sudden question that came out of the blue, her eyes widened an inch: "H-Huh? Why...are you asking that?"
The hanyou began to take steps towards her, making her do the opposite until she stopped at the edge of the well. She could hear his angry growls and soon found she found his hands on her shoulders, gripping them tightly: "That isn't an answer! Do you love him?"
"I-Inuyasha, let go! You're hurting me!"
"Answer me!"
"I don't know!" she shouted back as her palm made hard contact with his cheek. She gave out a light gasp, realizing the action she had taken against him.
His eyes hid beneath his bangs' shadow: "I don't want to involve yourself with that guy anymore," his eyes finally revealed nothing but anger: "You hear me?"
"W-What?"
"That's final!" he leaped out from the area, leaving Kagome looking at nothing but air. Angry at his sudden order, she looked back into the trees: "Wait a minute! You can't tell me what to do! Inuyasha you baka!"
Crossing his arms, the captain of squad ten sighed as he sat on a nearby boulder with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes as he heard the other Shinigami in front of him in a circle talk about the next move they should do now that Ichigo had turned into a demon.
Another sigh passed his lips as he heard Ikkaku grunt in annoyance: "Ugh! That stupid Ichigo! Now we have to wait for him to wake up when we were supposed to be leaving tonight, ugh! Once he wakes up I am beating him up to a pulp!"
Currently, all were outside the hut only a few feet away and near a tree. The village was now quite with nothing but a blanket of night surrounding the area as the crickets sang their tunes. The huts around only revealed a bit of fire light from the creaks of their entrances and windows.
"Calm down, you idiot!" exclaimed Rangiku, breaking the peace. "Instead of acting like the idiot you are, let's think of what we should do once he does wake up."
"Oh, I already got that planned!" Ikkaku slammed his fist against his palm, already picturing himself beating Ichigo up for being stupid.
Rolling her eyes, Rukia looked at the petite captain sitting quietly on the boulder: "Hitsugaya-taichou, what should we do?"
Renji leaned against the tree with his arms crossed: "I feel like the best thing to do would be moving once dawn breaks. We have been wasting time here ever since Kagome came back to us."
"I agree," Hisagi cut in the conversation: "Who knows what Aizen and Naraku are planning to do or what action they are taking now."
Hitsugaya finally opened his eyes, seeing the others starring at him patiently for his reply. Taking a deep breath in, he released it with ease: "If they really do plan to go to Hueco Mundo, they must be ready to leave in a few days, but...they wouldn't leave without Higurashi."
"What do you mean, captain?" asked Rangiku. "We already got Kagome-chan back so she under our protection."
"That doesn't mean that they are just going to let her go like that," added Hitsugaya. "Higurashi has power and Aizen and Naraku aren't going to let that go so easily. If anything, they are planning on how to get her back before they can move on to Hueco Mundo."
Renji shook his head: "This is turning even more problematic. We are dealing with not only ten reived Espadas but also the Band of Seven!"
"Don't forget about that Zenaku guy," glared Hisagi. "He is the one who mainly started this whole problem with Ichigo's Shinigami abilities being paralyzed."
Hitsugaya nodded: "Yes, we have more enemies on our hands but if anything, Zenaku should be eliminated first. He is a real threat compared to the other followers and more likely, he has Aizen's and Naraku's full trust."
"You think he will be sent to recapture Kagome-chan?" Rukia began to worry.
"It is a possibility," sighed Hitsugaya for the third time. Lightly shaking his head, he looked over at the hut: "Maybe it was a good thing that Kurosaki turned into a demon. If his Shinigami abilities got paralyzed, the same thing could have happened to us and we are sure we could never become demons like him. He is a lucky guy."
"He could be the only one to face Zenaku," whispered Ikkaku but everyone heard him perfectly.
"How do you think Kagome is doing with all of this?" questioned Rangiku as she looked out to the forest.
"She is a strong girl," chuckled Renji. "She has been through a lot and surprisingly, she is still standing on her two feet."
"She wasn't afraid to face Ichigo back then when he was out of control," added Rukia. "Whatever she did to him...I am sure she did it out of love."
Hitsugaya nodded and soon everyone picked up voices coming from Kaede's hut and the shadows that the fire lit up from the people inside struggling with something...or someone. They noticed a huge shadow with long hair coming up from his laid position and soon they heard the monk speak out.
"Kurosaki-san, please stay put! You still need to rest!"
The demon slayer came out next: "You aren't in well condition to be moving, Kurosaki-san! Please continue to rest in here!"
They soon saw the entrance fabric swing forward as it revealed a tall and well built demon coming out with his long ebony hair swaying lightly to the right with the breeze that hit. His chocolate orbs fixed on the group of Shinigami meeting outside as they stared back at him.
Rukia whispered: "I-Ichigo...what are you doing up? You should be resting."
Ichigo looked down at the ground, his wrappings still around his mouth but he was still able to speak and be heard: "I...I can't rest like this."
"What are you talking about, baka?" glared Renji as he came off from his leaning position: "Just go back and rest like a good boy, okay? We got everything under control. We don't want you to slow us down tomorrow morning when we keep moving forward."
Ichigo gave him a glare back: "Don't worry, I won't slow anyone down."
Ikkaku scoffed at his answer as he twirled his weapon in his hand and laid it across his shoulders: "I really feel like punching you."
"What for?" Ichigo relaxed his stance.
Without even a warning, Ikkaku's fist came flying towards him only to have Ichigo catch it in his own bare hand that had been covered black with his claws already showing sharply. Ikkaku gave him a smirk while retreating his fist: "Not bad. Seems like I am going to be liking this demon side as I am going to ask for a battle in the future to test my skills on you."
Ichigo smiled behind his gray wrappings. He wouldn't admit it out loud but he was happy that his friends weren't pushing him away due to his change. He knew they were mad for deciding this on his own but they weren't going to ignore him. He knew that they would be there for him.
Ichigo's attention soon shifted from side-to-side as if finding something.
"What are you looking for?" asked Renji.
"I think he is looking for someone," smirked Ikkaku as he looked at the red head over his shoulder with his weapon still over his shoulders.
The demon slayer and monk had already been out the hut, watching as Ikkaku tried to punch his friend down. Sango noticed Ichigo's eyes going around the area as if looking for a certain someone. She got closer to the demon: "K-Kurosaki-san?"
Hearing her low call, Ichigo turned around to face her petite form.
"Are you looking for Kagome-chan?" she questioned, guessing that was the person he was looking for at the moment.
Ichigo gave her a small nod: "Yeah. I want to...talk to her about this."
Miroku laid his hand on the demon slayer's shoulder with a smile of his own: "Kikyo-sama had mentioned she was near the Bone Eater's Well with Inuyasha. They should be done talking by now."
"They are...together?" questioned Ichigo.
Sango and Miroku exchanged glances only to hear Ikkaku cut in: "You idiot! Doesn't matter if he is with her just talking...just go! That stupid hanyou has the other clay pot for himself anyways and you should really go thank the other miko for saving your sorry ass!"
Ichigo had already been facing Ikkaku as he gave his back to him. Ichigo looked over at the forest covered in nothing but darkness. He could smell her...her sweet scent.
Closing his eyes, he felt the breeze hit around gently while hearing the trees rustling against each other in unison. Rukia walked over to her companion: "Ichigo, go to her. You two need to talk."
His vision opened, revealing nothing but the blanket of night with the shining stars above them. He never realized how beautiful the stars could be. Such a simple spark of light really did illuminate the sky and he never once really looked at Karakura Town due to all the town lights that were around.
"Yeah," he whispered.
Kagome continued to eye the well as she touched the edge. Her fingers memorizing each texture of the wood. A sigh passed her pink lips, remembering the fury that had taken over the hanyou. His words were full of jealousy and she knew it.
She was familiar with the feeling.
Her brain had reacted slow when she mostly needed it when Inuyasha had blurted out the question.
"Kagome...do you love him?"
The words replayed in her head over and over again. It echoed loudly. She could have easily said no but her heart, brain, and lips had decided not to work together.
Her brain has shouted at her to tell him lie knowing that he would only overreact and try to kill Ichigo.
Her lips decided to just stay put and not even more the slightest.
Her heart...
Kagome closed her eyes, frustrated with her own self. Kagome curled her fingers in, scrapping the wood beneath her nails: "W-Why...do I feel this way?"
Drop after drop, her tears slowly began to stain the wood that her fingers had scrapped. Her shoulders began to shake, feeling that heavy weight of confusion already upon her.
"Kagome...do you love him?"
She shook her head quickly, the words once again replaying.
"Kagome...?"
Kagome's head snapped up along with her eyes after hearing a familiar voice coming from behind.
"Are you okay?"
Quickly, Kagome wiped away her tears with her hand, not wanting to show her weakness to him. Turning around, she gave a small smile: "Ichigo, how are you feeling?"
He stood still, his eyes already showing his concern to her: "I should be asking you that."
"Ha-ha-ha, why do you say that? I am fine, see?" her smile stretched a bit more but she hoped that Ichigo would buy it.
Kagome heard his foot steps coming closer to her person. Seeing he easily towered over her, she looked up to his face and saw his eyes had still held to that worry. Ichigo hand clawed hand slowly began to rise: "If I was still human, I probably would have believed you," his hand soon landed on her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb, "but...," his thumb soon caught a small tear and wiped it away, "as a demon, I can smell your sadness from miles away."
Kagome blinked, still frozen in place. Demons were usually cold and ruthless. Cold even to their body temperature but the moment Ichigo's hand touched her face, nothing but a wave of warmness caressed her, making her relax.
"What is going on through your mind?" he asked, his thumb continued to caress her cheek soothingly.
Her brain began to function once again after hearing his question. Kagome gave him one last blink as she looked down at his chest, seeing the tattoo: "N-Nothing...I was just...thinking to myself."
"And crying?" he whispered.
Kagome's eyes were brought back to stare at his own. She remained silent, making Ichigo sigh: "Since the moment we met, I have put you through nothing but danger...I apologize."
"W-Why are you apologizing?" she was a bit stunned at his sudden tone. She remembered Ichigo as a strong, determined guy who never gave in and always picked a fight with his friends. For him to apologize...was something rare even to him.
"Instead of protecting you, I have put you through death situations," his hand left her cheek and glided down to gently touch her hair through his fingers: "and I feel so ashamed for being so weak and especially when I lost my Shinigami abilities I felt useless. That is why I decided to turn into this...monster-"
Kagome quickly grabbed his hand with both of hers already realizing her small size compared to his even with two hands: "You aren't a monster," she whispered to him. "Although I am mad that you didn't tell us anything, I know you did it for our sake," her eyes continued to watch his: "No matter how dangerous the situation...I will always be there to support you," one of her hands reached over to lay on his chest over his tattoo: "You aren't alone, Ichigo."
Ichigo's smile appeared behind his wrappings, seeing that she couldn't see it: "Thank you, Kagome. I owe you."
Kagome chuckled: "No, you don't owe me anything," they made eye contact once again. "You already have done so much for me. For all of us." She noticed his long black hair moving swiftly with the wind: "It is going to take some time for me to get used to your new hairstyle though," she gave him a light laugh.
She felt his hand coming back to her cheek along with the other hand coming to do the same to the other side of her face. She noticed he had taken down his wrappings around his lower portion of his face, revealing his nose and mouth. Blinking, she froze – watching him lower his head down to hers.
It inched closer and closer yet, she didn't dare to move. She knew her heart had taken control over every inch of her body's decisions. Her own heart had silenced her brain and lips.
"Do you love him?"
Inuyasha's voice screamed inside her head once more, making her eyes shut down: 'I am so sorry, Inuyasha...but I can't leave Ichigo. I will listen to my heart from now on.' Slowly, her arms came up: 'Inuyasha...,' Ichigo's lips connected with hers, sending shivers down her spine. Her arms wrapped around his neck as the kiss deepened. Neither of them broke off the kiss and they knew it would become impossible for them to let go after this.
'Inuyasha, I am sorry, but...,' breaking off the kiss, Ichigo's forehead laid on hers, both trying to catch their breath. Both of them opened their eyes, making a smirk appear on Ichigo's face as he saw Kagome's blush spreading across her cheeks.
'I do love Ichigo.'
Resting his chin on his palm, a pair of brown eyes watched as his Espadas and the Band of Seven argued amongst each other over their next course of action. Aizen's eyes caught Zenaku and Ulquiorra arriving silently. Grimmjow scoffed as he laid his legs out, crossing by the ankle: "About time you two got here!"
Zenaku continued to walk, ignoring the comments the others made about him getting all the missions. He bowed down in front of Aizen's seat, along with Ulquiorra doing the same thing next to him. Aizen's eyebrow rose: "Report."
Zenaku stood straight, his eyes said nothing but anger: "She is fully back with them but it seems like her Espada abilities didn't leave her completely. Right now she is merging her miko-ki with her reiatsu."
"I see," Aizen's eyes tightened into thin slits of nothing but a glare: "And what about Kurosaki Ichigo?"
Ulquiorra placed his hands inside his pockets: "He left with that other Taiyoukai for some training. Both of us weren't able to find out exactly what kind of training."
"I wouldn't think much of it," added Zenaku. "His Shinigami abilities are completely paralyzed and only I can undo that. What more can he fight with? His fighting spirit isn't enough."
"I wouldn't go underestimating him," spoke Aizen. "That boy has come to amazed me on how stronger he gets."
They soon heard the shojji screen doors opening near them. Looking to their side, they saw Naraku walking with Kohaku and Kagura behind, along with Kanna holding her mirror next to him. Naraku gave them all a smirk: "Well at least they don't have a single shard with them any longer."
Aizen gave him a smirk back: "How many exactly are left?"
"Well, that wolf demon still has two and Kohaku here has one on his back," Naraku walked closer to sit on his seat: "I would say about five more."
"So that means," Zenaku mimicked their grin: "There are only two left."
"Exactly," replied Naraku. "Once we get those two, even with three missing, we can still place the Shikon no Tama inside Kagome and everything from her heart to her memories will be erased. She will become an empty shell we can easily manipulate."
"Interesting," whispered Aizen. "Very well. I say send the Band of Seven to complete this job to collect the last two shards and I will send Aaroniero and Zommari to retrieve the other shard."
Naraku nodded: "Very well then," he looked at the Band of Seven members: "Retrieve the first shard and as for Aaroniero and Zommari, you two are in charge of getting the last shard we need, understood?"
All bowed their heads and left to their places, leaving the other Espadas and the others behind. Aizen looked at Zenaku: "Zenaku, Ulquiorra, and Grimmjow, you three will be in charge to keep an eye on Kagome. Make sure nothing happens to her," his smirk grew wider: "We wouldn't want our precious toy to get killed, right?"
MizukixTsukiyomi's Notes: And that wraps up this chapter! Next chapter they will begin to travel so the action continues! Hope you all enjoyed and please tell me what you think. Leave your comments, thoughts, etc.
P.S: There is a new poll on my profile! Check it before it ends on Feb. 1, 2013!
Ja~ne!