A Little Too Late

~ Chapter Thirteen ~

Frankly Speaking..

'Finding oneself can be a tiring feat , especially if one found themselves in a place they didn't expect ,nor knowing it was possible,and seeing the impossibilities endlessly roaming free , if one knew how to catch it , as the one found its way through life without fear of being beaten . ' - Inuyashas Youkai

Falling asleep unknowingly, the miko collapsed soundlessly amongst the hardened floor ,as it seemed this time for whatever reason the dreams failed to give chase for tonight the horrors plaguing her lost their grip while she lost consciousness. Awakening to see herself still in the place she laid but felt her eyes opening as her body lifted to stand on her own two feet , was weird in itself , and a little scary too, if only a little bit. Although the excitement of her wishes finally coming into play surging underneath the fear was abruptly shattered when a familiar sound decided to make itself annoyingly known, for it was a voice.

In response to the voice rasping out her name Kagome had slowly turned around to find the visage that was expected , but not in the way she had seen it would come. Indeed it was Inuyasha , though the way that her eyes found him hadn't been the way she was used to seeing him, even if it was being shown to her while she was sleeping. Needless to say it was just a bit overwhelming to see the man she once loved, thus before losing apart of herself through the crossing of times when using the well for the last time, as he stood a far distance between her in his glorious three counter parts, separately. It was difficult to ignore the unstoppable twitch that her eyes would have made if she hadn't of known that for sure that her body was still in slumber.

" Kagome..."

" "

"Mate.."

~The Coming of Threes ~

Inuyasha had dozed off , as his energy waned with the endless never ending nightmare that refused his demands to coming to awakening , and trapping himself with the dimming expanse that was its new found home. A noise caught by his ears over to his right of someone approaching had the halfling all but open his eyes while meanwhile not realizing that he was still sleeping until the sight came into finding that of what used to be the area in the feudal area near the now nonexistant well. There nearby sitting underneath that of his old favorite perching tree, the Goshingboku was a sleeping Kagome, and from the peaceful expression she held while slumbering was not at all injured, but still with him , as she seemed to be waiting for his return as they always did.

Finding his nerve the hanyou found itself briskly following the path quickly over to where she was before Kagome would disappear , but as he did so , another sign of movement proved itself of occurring with the sight that disturbed him somehow by seeing that of a mirrored image of himself to the left , and the immediate right of himself , and matched his steps for each one of his. Stopping fluidly to find that the other two had stopped as well, but both had took his lead in the glare that returned to him , copying his own. Before the hanyou could stop himself , a string of curses fell from his lips , and this is where his loving obsession sleeping found him when she had awakened , as the the three forms of what made him whom he was , at the time were once again warring against each other for the chance to have the precious being in front of them for themselves for their own independent reasons.

" Why you ! Not you bastards again !"

" Me !? I thought I had gotten rid of the stupidity that poisoned the blood running in our veins brainless twit!"

"What the hell ! Why is it that you two can't leave well enough alone, and let it be ! The jewel's finally gone , and Kagome's alive , and well.. More or less with our protection, and with where it is hidden in a place that can't be found we are safe ."

"Inu .. Inuyasha ? "

Upon hearing the sudden gasp of the angel familiar to them was heard the three turned following the first , the hanyou . As the chocolate eyes found three pairs of ambers looking back at her, that of her orbs had grown to the size of saucers when that of the hanyou answered her while the other two fell silent only to observe , but wait for the moment for their chance to intervene.

"Kagome.. Yeah , its me... "

" A-ah , b-but how , what happened to make you like this, and why are you able to come to me to speak like this?"

Prior to answering , the hanyou Inuyasha closed the distance , pulling the gaping in shock female towards him into a embrace with little resisting in her stunned musings, as to what was happening. To the side of them was the other two counterparts to which the sight of them separately, regardless of the fact at one time the miko had love him wholly, had her slightly unnerved, as to what was causing this. Pulling back slightly, as to show her persistance in having a answer from him, any of them for that matter , with a good impression of a growl that even impressed the hanyou standing with her, holding her tightly.

"Alright , alright .. I don't know how to explain this to you Kagome but I will try to the best I can. When I took you as my demon demanded , as a life-mate with my whole-self, it caused myself to tear apart because of Kikyo's hold over my human counterpart, through guilt, and when the other two had chosen you fully as ours. I don't really know why we are able to see each other now, maybe because we are still connected, but I am so sorry for what I did, for what Naraku tricked me to do, and hurt you . You have to believe me that I wouldn't do that to you on my own as a mate , I loved you then , and I love you still. " The hanyou Inuyasha , spoke for that of himself, and the demonic soul nodding its head next to him, while the other stood-by watching in unhidden sorrow, for the fate that his being had been placed under with the loss of the ones he was fortunate to have loved in his long lifespan.

"I understand , but I 'am sorry Inuyasha I don't know what to believe anymore ..

I'am just ... So tired , Inuyasha .. "

" Kagome , I know. It's coming soon isn't it , mate? I feel it taking you away slowly, and I don't know what to do to stop it , but I will find a way. Kagome I promise, I won't let you leave me here without you . Just hold on , for me please?"

" I 'll stay as long as I can , just for you .. "

" Promise me , its the only way for this nightmare to end Kagome for it is when I find you , that I'll find me"

" I said I will try , but time is running out , Inuyasha .. Um ?"

" I don't know , Kagome but I will find a way, or it will be the end of us all , the both of us. " the hanyou answered the knowing questions in her blank eyes trying to fight for the feelings to come back with the familiar love that she had for him , but without her heart it her orbs looked pained slightly that she couldn't even give that to him, so she settled for something else she could give , and unexpected to the hanyou himself.

Kagome wrapped her arms tighter in the loose embrace that he had them with the other two half's watching over them protectively , and pecked him on the lips, then spoke freely within his mind through their connection.

' I want to feel it once more, the love I had longed to give you so long ago, and I regret not being able to do so Inuyasha . I hope you understand that if I pass , that I forgive you , and do wish you well.'

' Hn. Kagome , I won't let you leave me without you , I told you .. I understand though , but I promise I will fix this so you need to remember what it felt like when you had the ability to love me , and trust me like you used to before this nightmare began . Like all the other times before I always came for you , even abit late , but I always have, and this time will be no different . So enough about this goodbye bullshit, it aint happenin!'

"If you say so, I'll try .."

"No sleep , Kagome you need to heal , and I will be with you , even if you wake and you do not see me , I am always with you trying to.. Fighting to get a way back to you. "

" Nig- "

Before the words could be finished the darkness stubbornly took over tearing them back within , and dragging back into the chasing dreams lurking with them in the shadows.

TBC...