:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Chapter 47: The New Girl
A young girl screamed as she began running through the woods as fast as her legs could carry her. Tears streamed down her young face as she cried, willing herself to run faster as the demon stalked behind her.
She wasn't sure what type of demon it was, she just knew it existed. Breathing harder, her heart racing as she pushed forward, running as fast as she could. Where she was running, she wasn't sure. She just had to get away from the snake demon that followed her, attempting to kill her.
A gasp came from her rosy lips as she tripped over a branch, falling face first onto the ground. Fear trickled through her as she turned to look at the large snake catch up to her and rise into the air, chuckling at her.
Pulling herself to try and crawl backwards along the grassy wood floor. She was dead, she knew it.
But, seemingly out of nowhere she heard someone shout "Iron reaver soul stealer!"
Her eyes closed, shading her face a little, sure that she was going to die in that moment. But, when she opened her eyes halfway and glanced up, the snake demon fell into pieces on the ground just by her. She'd been in Inuyasha's forest.
Looking up a little, she saw her savior, a male half demon wearing red robes, long silver hair, dog ears atop of his head and golden eyes. Slowly lowering her arm, gulping a little, almost fearing this new person. Was he there to kill her in place of the snake demon?
When she lowered her arm Inuyasha gasped, his eyes widening as he looked at her face.
"Ka-ka-ka-go-me...?" he stuttered.
Going to one knee, his hand reached out to her, but she flinched away, whimpering as she scooted back. As she scooted, her back hit a tree and she looked up at him, panic written in her brown eyes. "Don't kill me..." she whined out.
Inuyasha shook his head as he stared at the girl. "I...I wouldn't...ever hurt you...Kagome..." he said.
Her eyes narrowed as she shook her head. "My names not Kagome." she said defiantly, fear still lacing her voice, but she felt the need to stick up for herself.
"You're not Kagome? Then...then how do you have her face?" he asked. Leaning closer to her, he reached out one clawed hand to brush her long black hair behind her ear. "I buried you...what is this? Who are you?"
Sheepishly she looked away. "I don't know who you buried, but it wasn't me. And I am not Kagome." she said.
Slowly he leaned into her, making her look up at him and blush. "Wh-what are you doing?" She asked. His nose was so close to hers, they were almost touching.
He sniffed at her, his nose moving a little as he took in her scent. And instantly he could smell she wasn't the same. She smelled differently, but the smell was oh so familiar at the same time.
A blush slowly spread across her cheeks as he continued to stare at her like that. Gulping slowly, she bit her bottom lip. "E-Excuse...me?" she asked, hoping to get his attention.
"You're dead." he told her. His tone wasn't threatening, it was just stating a fact.
At first she was confused at his statement. She blinked and tilted her head to one side. "What? Are...are you going to kill me?" she asked.
Shaking his head slowly. "I can't kill whats already dead. You smell of bones and graveyard soil...what is the meaning of this?" he asked, a small growl forming in his throat.
Bringing his hands up to rest on her arms, gripping them slowly as he held her skin. Her skin was cold and hard, just as Kikyou's had been when she was brought back to life by the witch Urasue. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked again.
She sat up a little, looking at him and shaking her head. "I...I don't know what you're talking about. I just...I just woke up!"
"Just woke up where?" he asked, still staring intently at her.
She blushed under his stare. "In the woods. I woke up to that snake demon sniffing at me and then trying to eat me..." she explained.
"And then before that? Where were you? How'd you get here?" he asked.
The girl looked away with just her eyes slowly. "I...I don't remember..."
"BULLSHIT." he said. Standing up, yanking the girl to her feet with him, his hands still gripping her arms.
She winced and whined at him yanking her up so roughly, glaring up at him. "HEY. Not so rough!"
"Don't tell me what to do. Why do you look like my wife? What do you remember?" he asked a bit rougher than he probably should.
Blinking at him, shaking her head slowly. "I...I don't know. I don't. I don't remember anything, I swear...I just remember waking up."
"Whats. Your. Name?" he asked, trying to keep himself calm. It reminded him of Kikyou being brought back. Just the idea of Kagome walking around like a shell of a person tugged at his heart. He couldn't save Kikyou, but he would do anything to save Kagome.
Biting her bottom lip, she cast her eyes down slowly. "I...don't remember. I don't remember anything, I just...woke up there." she said, looking up at his face again. Her brown eyes looked into his golden ones that stared intently at her. "Who am I?" she asked.
She finally had a chance to think about it. She hadn't had a chance before. She didn't remember who she was, why she was there, what was going on. Maybe she'd hit her head when she fell down.
Loosening his grip slowly, but he still held her arms, looking into her eyes, seeing the confusion. "Kagome...that...thats who you are." he said.
Instantly he brought her against his chest, his arms moving around her tightly and closing his eyes. For that moment he had Kagome back, and thats all he cared about. Would he be able to let her go like he'd let Kikyou go? Kagome had taught him to live, how to love, how to trust. She was everything to him.
She blinked at feeling him pull her up against his chest like that, her eyes widening a little bit. Slowly her arms moved around his waist, glancing towards his face just a little. "Ka-gome? How..how do you know?" she asked.
"Because, you're my wife. I know my wife when I see her...but...but you're not normal, not now." he said as he held her close.
Her blush returned at his words. "Your...wife? Ex-excuse me, but I don't even know your name." she said. Moving to rest her hands on his chest, slowly pushing on it, attempting to push him away from her.
Feeling her push, he leaned back, looking at her face and nodding. "But you do remember me...Kagome." he said. Moving one hand up to rest on her cheek, running his clawed thumb along her cheek just slowly. "My name is Inuyasha..." he told her.
"Inu...Yasha? What...what kind of demon are you? Dog demon?" she asked curiously.
"Half. I'm a hanyou." he said. Kagome had been the one to teach him to be okay with what he was. He didn't care about what other people said about him, he'd only worried when it came to his wife or daughter. Even before Kagome taught him to be okay with himself he'd been used to the things people said. But, Kagome had taught him that even a hanyou could be loved, that there wasn't anything dirty about him.
Her reaction sort of confirmed to him that it was his Kagome. "Oh. So you're half human?" she asked. Looking up at his ears, she couldn't help herself. Slowly she reached up to stroke the base of his ear, smiling a little. "I knew it was dog something. These are so cute..." she said. She'd wanted to feel them, see if they felt the same.
A rumble resonated in his chest as he felt her intimate touch to his ear. Closing his eyes halfway and leaning into her fingers. Secretly his ears were sensitive, and when Kagome would stroke them it'd just send a wave of pleasure through his whole body. Thats why he didn't let anyone touch them, he didn't want people to know. But, it was specifically Kagome's touch that caused certain feelings to rise up in him. Thats how he knew she was his Kagome.
Seeing his face, seeing the reaction, she giggled a little. Continuing to rub the base of his ear slowly before bringing her hand back, looking at his face. "So...where is it that I live? Around here?" she asked.
"Sorta. This forest is called Inuyasha's forest. I was...pinned to a tree here for fifty years before you woke me up. Thats why the villagers call it that. We live just nearby." he explained, looking down at her.
"Can I see it?" she asked curiously. "The house, I mean...or hut, or whatever?" she asked.
Nodding, he smiled. "Of course you can...you can see whatever you like." he said.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Inuyasha had taken Kagome home. But, the realization dawned on him that this could, in fact, be a trap. Everyone knew how he felt about the human miko, that was always very clear even before he confessed his feelings to her and made her his mate. Everyone always knew that he loved her way before she even did. So, he wouldn't put it past an enemy to use his mate against him. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if somehow Tamako was used against him. He'd been afraid of that when she was younger, but a lot less afraid of that now since she was older and strong and lived in a den full of demons.
But, he had to be sure. And he knew no other way to be sure than to take her to Tamako herself. The village's new miko was good and all, but she didn't seem to have the spiritual power of his wife or daughter. And besides, he trusted his daughter more than anyone else.
So he decided to take Kagome to Tamako. He'd used the excuse that he was showing her their daughter and grandkids. But in reality, before she saw the pups she would have to pass Tamako's inspection.
Coming up to the den, he knelt down to let Kagome off his back. It felt so good to carry his wife on his back again, just like they used to when they traveled looking for the Shikon no Tama. Once she was off his back he stood, smiling a little to her. "Lets go meet Tamako. Before she actually see's you though I think I should go and talk to her..." he said.
Kagome nodded slowly. "Do you...want me to wait here?" she asked.
Thinking about that for a moment, Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. Just...wait here." he said. The den was only a few feet away, they were just at the edge of the trees. He had to prepare his daughter for what she was about to see.
Making sure she was okay before he walked up to the mouth of the den, asking one of the wolves where Tamako was. Getting his answer, he nodded his thanks to the wolf he spoke to before walking inside.
Tamako was in her room. It'd been a few weeks since she'd gotten back, and Kouga had sent Ayame away. Where to, she wasn't sure. But she was pretty happy about it. Things were going great until she woke up that morning, puking her guts out, feeling complete shit. Her whole body hated her, she felt like she was going to die. But, she was a half demon, she'd never really been sick a day in her life. Sure she'd get the sniffles every now and then but nothing major, nothing like this. The last time she was puking her guts out was when she was pregnant with the twins. But she'd yet to connect those dots.
So she just decided to stay in her bedroom that afternoon. Kouga was worried, but she assured him that she was just fine, just didn't feel so hot right then. And she was in her bedroom fast asleep.
When Inuyasha came through the bedroom door, she shifted, opening her eyes a little and yawning, wiping them slowly. "D-D-Daddy?" she asked curiously in a drowsy voice. Shifting to push herself to sit up from the bed, bringing her hands to her face, trying to calm her body down.
He hadn't been told she was sick, but instantly when he saw her he was worried. "Tamako..." he said. Moving to her side and kneeling next to her, looking up at her face. "Are you alright?" he asked.
When she felt him by her bed, she peaked out of her hands and nodded. "I will be. Just a little sick is all."
"But you don't get sick. You're a demon." he rationalized, making him even more worried.
Tamako just shrugged. "Guess I do get sick. Its nothing though I'm fine, I feel better than I did before.."
A sigh came from his lips as he looked down. "Then maybe this isn't a good idea..."
"What isn't?" she asked, looking at his face. "Now you've gotten me curious daddy. What isn't a good idea? You being here? No, its wonderful. You can keep me company and see the pups..." she went on.
But Inuyasha cut her off, shaking his head. "No, thats not why I'm here. I mean, I'd love to see the pups, but I came here to ask something of you."
Looking at his face, furrowing her brows a little in confusion. "Well...ask."
"I couldn't, you don't feel well. I'll be fine, get some rest princess." he said.
A pout formed on her lips as she crossed her arms across her chest, instantly reminding him of her mother in that instant. "No. You came to ask something of me. Ask. I'll be the one to decide if I'm okay enough to do it."
Inuyasha nodded a little bit. "Alright..." he said, looking at her. "Well, I found this girl in the forest by the Goshinboku. She was being attacked by a demon. Well, I saved her...and I looked at her. And...and she...she has your mothers face. Kagome's eyes, Kagome's everything. But...she doesn't remember who she is, and she smells like a grave..." he said.
Tamako sat up at the news, her ears twitching a little before pinning back to her head, looking at his face. "Its a trap daddy..you know that..."
"Y-yeah...yeah but...but I don't want to believe it. And if it IS Kagome I can't fail her how I failed Kikyou. I can't let her walk this earth in pain, be used as a pawn in a twisted game..." he replied.
She only nodded slowly. "Okay...so...so what is it you ask of me?" she asked.
"You have spiritual powers. You can tell if it is her, if its her spirit, or just a clay body someone created up to trick me." he asked.
Thinking about it before she nodded. "Alright, I can do that." she said, looking at her father. "But daddy know, this has to be a trap. Momma died. We buried her." she said, looking away a little. "She was buried twice. If it is her, its just cruel. My mother needs to rest in peace, and I will find a way to make that happen."
A sigh came from his lips as he nodded. "I know it could be a trap. But...but I've seen it happen. To Kikyou. And I will not watch your mother go through the same things Kikyou did." he said, looking up at her. "Are you sure you're up to it?" he asked, standing up and offering her his hand.
Nodding slowly, she reached to take his hand, pulling herself to stand up off the bed. "Yeah, I'm fine. I can do this." she said.
And he took her word for it, smiling a little to her. "You're not pupped again, are you? If so kiddo, you need to slow down on the pups, seesh." he said.
A blush spread over her cheeks at his statement, knowing it was a little joke. But she couldn't help but wonder. Was she pregnant? A hand moved to rest on her stomach, shrugging a little. "I...I dunno.." she said slowly. She really had to think about that now.
Walking forward, trying to push the thought from her as she walked out of the room, needing to think about that later and think about her mother now.
They walked together outside of the den and towards where her mother was waiting. When she entered the area, Tamako looked up at her mother with narrowed eyes, sniffing the air a little. Her nose crinkled a little at the smell of graveyard soil. Looking over at her mother, crossing her arms across her chest slowly.
But when Kagome set eyes on Tamako, she smiled a little. "Are..are you my daughter?" she asked. When Tamako nodded slowly, Kagome stepped up to her. Taking Tamako's hands in her own and bringing them uncrossed, smiling. "You're beautiful." she told her.
Tamako let her mother take her hands, looking down and nodding slowly. "Thanks momma..." she said, closing her eyes halfway. This woman looked so much like her mother, but smelled so differently. Her mother always smelled like wild flowers, this woman smelled like graveyard soil. It threw her off.
It shocked Tamako when Kagome pulled her hands and pulled her into a tight hug. Taking in a breath and biting her bottom lip. The smell of the combination of bones and graveyard soil was frankly making her sick to her stomach. She was already sick, and she'd been puking her guts up all morning.
Leaning away from her mother when she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. Rushing towards a tree, she leaned over, pulling her hair out of the way as she threw her guts up into the bushes. Slowly falling to her knees, one hand clutching the tree as she got sick all over the ground.
The sudden movement made Inuyasha look at his daughter, blinking a little and sighing. "Tamako...you can't do this. I'm taking you back inside." he said as he walked over to her. Resting one hand on her back and rubbing it slowly, seeing she was still in the middle of vomiting. "Shh, shh, its okay baby girl. Come on." he said.
Coughing up a little, she spit hard, wanting the taste out of her mouth. Whining as she sat up, shaking her head. "I...I'm okay. I'm okay. I just...wasn't expecting that.."
Kagome watched, confused and blinking slowly. "Did...did I do something wrong?" she asked.
Tamako only shook her head, coughing a little bit more as she moved to stand up, wiping off her lips and looking towards her mother. "No...no you didn't. I've just been sick all day is all, I'm fine."
The answer seemed to appease Kagome as she nodded. "Alright." she said with a smile.
Taking in a deep breath, Tamako glanced at her father. "Sush up, I'm fine." she told him before he could even say anything. Looking back up to her mother, she walked closer and moved to take her mothers hands. "Mom...I...I've got to see if its really you, okay? I mean...we have enemies you understand. We have to make sure this isn't a trap." she said.
Her mother nodded a little in acceptance of that fact.
"So...so what I need you to do is hover your hands above mine and close your eyes." Tamako instructed. Slowly letting her mothers hands go, resting her hands with her palms up. Taking in a deep breath and closing her eyes. Kagome slowly moved her own hands to hover over her daughters, barely not touching her skin.
It was then that Tamako slowly worked on extending her spiritual power. And it felt like a muscle she hadn't flexed in years. She'd been doing spiritual training when she was younger, but with twin pups and problems with her mate she just hadn't practiced lately. But she had actually been turning out to be a great priestess. Her spiritual power seemed to even be a match for her mothers, which was a feat in itself. She was powerful, and that was evident as she controlled one of the most powerful jewels in Japan; the Kanju, one of the tide jewels. She'd learned to use the powers of the jewel, but not nearly as much as she probably could. It was almost like the Shikon no Tama, but it didn't grant wishes, it just granted power.
They both felt small sparks as Tamako lifted the flood gates of her spiritual power. A pink light slowly formed itself in the space between their hands. As she concentrated, the light grew brighter, slowly moving over Kagome's fingers. Tamako closed her eyes tighter as she concentrated, a small pained expression moving over her face as images played over her mind. She was slowly digging into the very soul that Kagome possessed. A small whimper of pain came from her lips as she explored, gritting her teeth. It was always a risk using her spiritual powers, a risk of purifying herself. It was a delicate balance within her; her demon powers mixing with her miko powers. And sometimes to flex one power over another hurt.
Opening her eyes, a red haze moving over her golden brown hues. Those familiar purple jagged lines started to move across her cheeks, but that was all of her demonic features that she'd allow to show. The sight of them caused Inuyasha to pause, but he didn't dare go near them. The purification energy could easily purify him.
Looking at her mother, her eyes narrowing. "Wake up, momma." she whispered. The words made Kagome gasp and open her eyes wide, feeling a pulse running through her. A wave of images ran over her mind, almost like a dam had been burst and water was rushing through her memory as Tamako's spiritual energy moved over Kagome's body.
The images were seen behind Tamako's eyes as well. Gasping and yelping a little before she closed her eyes again tightly. Taking in a breath, she pushed her hands up, grasping her mothers hands tightly, gripping them just slowly but not enough to hurt. She could see all those images flash over her eyes. She saw plenty of images, not just ones from recent times, but ones her mothers spirit deemed to be important. She saw everything. From Kikyou meeting Inuyasha, to Inuyasha being pinned to the Goshinboku...to him being discovered fifty years later by her mother. A whimper came from her lips as she seemed to relive the spirits life from that motion of clasping her mothers hands.
And then, the last image she saw after several minutes, was one of Kyora killing her. A gasp came from her lips as she let out a loud scream, gripping her mothers hands a bit tighter and opening her eyes wide.
As the spiritual energy slowly dissipated between them, Tamako let her mothers hands go abruptly, stumbling a few steps back, eyes wide. The same purple lines graced her face, along with the red in her eyes.
When she stumbled, Inuyasha moved to catch her, bringing her to stand up straight and looking at her face. "What...what was that?" he asked.
But Tamako just stared at her mother, wide eyed like a deer caught in the headlights. "Kyora...and...and InuTaisho? Oh Kami..." she said.
"What?" Inuyasha asked eagerly, looking at his daughters face. "What about InuTaisho? Sesshoumaru's son?"
Her jaw shook as one hand moved to rest over her mouth, nodding slowly and looking up at Inuyasha. "Kyora is after the manju jewel along with mine. It...InuTaisho's soul holds it. The son of a great daiyoukai..." she said, glancing towards her mother and shaking her head. "That is her...but...but she is a trap."
Kagome slowly fell to her knees, her own eyes wide as she looked down at her hands. Bringing her hands to rest palm up, looking down at them and closing her eyes halfway. New emotions and memories flooded her brain. Her brown eyes looked up towards Inuyasha, closing them halfway, tears slowly filling them. "Inuyasha...please...help me..." she whined softly.
Making sure Tamako was okay and standing up straight before he let her go, Inuyasha moved to Kagome. Kneeling in front of her and resting his hands on her cheeks. "Of course...I'll do anything. How can I help you?" he asked.
Feeling his fingers on her cheeks made her close her eyes halfway. Her skin was cold, just like Kikyou's had been.
"End me...make this all stop...end it." she whispered.
It made his eyes widen and he shook his head. "I...I couldn't do that. I love you. Please..." he said.
Bringing herself forward, she hugged him around his waist and hid her face into his haori, closing her eyes tightly. "No! No it has to stop! I will not be used as a pawn in a game against my own family! Please...please make this stop. I...I need to rest in peace..." she cried out.
Feeling her against his chest made him sigh a little. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders as he held her close to him.
"I...I don't...I don't wanna be Kikyou..." she cried.
Her voice only made him grip her more, feeling the same pain she was feeling. Leaning his chin on the top of her head as he grit his teeth. "You won't. You won't be Kikyou. I promise. I'll save you. I couldn't save her, but I'll save you."
Shaking her head quickly as she cried, sniffling. Even though she was crying, no tears actually dropped from her eyes. "You can't save me. You can't. They'll just bring me back over and over until I hurt you..." she whined, sniffling slowly.
Inuyasha sighed and nodded. "I know. And I will save you, I promise. You and Tamako are my life...I'll save both of you no matter what it takes. You I would go to hell with to ensure your safety..." he whispered.
Sniffling a little, Kagome shook her head. "No, no you can't do that. You won't. I won't let you. You're alive. Tamako's alive. She needs you. I just...I just need to be stopped, ended. My soul hurts Inuyasha...its been through so much..."
Nodding a little again as he kissed the top of her head, closing his eyes. "I know it has. But I'll save you. I promise." he whispered.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
A/N: Dun dun duuuuun! :-p. Hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned to see how Inuyasha will save Kagome.