Disclaimer: What? You thought Inuyasha belonged to me? Surely not. ;p

 

IMPORTANT (if you don’t read this you might be confused later):

In the anime, Inuyasha witnessed Kikyo’s attempt on Kagome’s life when Kikyo stole the Shikon shard from her. BUT, in the manga, Inuyasha was not aware that Kikyo threatened Kagome’s life, only that Kikyo took the Shikon shard.

My story follows the manga. I added to it that Inuyasha knew about Kikyo giving Naraku the stolen shard but was unaware of her attempts on Kagome’s life.

 

Thanks so much to the people who answered my questions about oneechan and neechan, especially those who emailed me a detailed explanation. ^_^

 

Anyways, ENJOY!!!

 

 

 

Chapter 8: Decisions

 

     “HENTAI!”

     Kagome’s deafening scream reverberated in Sesshoumaru’s sensitive ears. Momentarily, Sesshoumaru entertained the idea of dropping the kicking and screaming girl. Luckily for Kagome, Sesshoumaru could just imagine Rin’s face when she found out what happened to her precious Kagome-neechan. That didn’t stop the youkai from glaring at the squirming girl and tightening his hold so the foolish girl wouldn’t fall. I, Sesshoumaru, a hentai?

     Kagome covered her face with her hands, not wanting Sesshoumaru to see her flushed face. I just called Inuyasha’s brother a hentai. I just called the Lord of the Western Lands a hentai. Would that be like calling the Queen of England a baka? Kyaa, and I just called him a hentai out of the blue. And it’s been two months since he kissed me. I doubt he remembers. He probably just kissed me to get Inuyasha mad anyway. SO embarrassing! Peeking up through her fingers she saw that Sesshoumaru was paying no attention to what she was doing. It occurred to Kagome, the longer she watched the youkai, that she was being extremely ungrateful. After all, Sesshoumaru did save her from getting shot by Kikyo. Kagome winced, remembering how she had screamed in Sesshoumaru’s ears. If they were anything like Inuyasha’s ears they must be very sensitive.

     “Ne…” Kagome sweat-dropped as Sesshoumaru didn’t even bother to glance at her. She wondered if it was a family trait, this aloof behavior. Remembering how Inuyasha had acted the first time she thanked him Kagome hid a grin. “Arigato.”

     It wasn’t long until they reached their destination and Kagome got out of Sesshoumaru’s arms in a hurry, blushing. They had landed in an open space not far from where she had been chased by Kikyo. Once there, Sesshoumaru started walking, leaving Kagome to stare at his retreating back in confusion. Okay… So he saves me and then he just leaves me in the middle of nowhere. I guess being lost is better than being dead. Not knowing where she was, Kagome had no choice but to follow Sesshoumaru. The youkai continued walking even though Kagome was sure that he knew that she was following him. He must be used to me, or something. He doesn’t seem to care that I’m following him.

     Staring at Sesshoumaru’s back, her thoughts fell to the events that had occurred ever since that fateful day. The day she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo together. A lot of things had happened but yet it seemed as though a very long time since she saw Inuyasha and Kikyo kissing in that forest. Kagome remembered a time when it would have been ludicrous to suggest that she and Sesshoumaru travel together. But here they were, traveling together for the second time. Circumstances had been such that that it was Sesshoumaru who found her crying on the ground and not Inuyasha. The hanyou had not gone after her at all. From that time on, things changed and became the unexpected came to pass. Who would have thought that trying to teach Sesshoumaru about love had helped her let go of her love of Inuyasha? It was an unexpected side effect of what happened with Sesshoumaru. This was the conclusion that she came to during one of her many sleepless nights she spent staring up at the night sky. How or when she stopped loving Inuyasha was a mystery. But, one thing was certain, she knew it happened after parting from Sesshoumaru after that shocking kiss. Maybe it was because she had never before told anyone her feelings and thoughts about what happened in the Sengoku Jidai as that time with Sesshoumaru. Or was it because saying aloud all that was pent up inside mad her face her situation with Inuyasha more realistically. Either way, she had finally reached a decision.

     Inuyasha was her first love, her first bittersweet taste of love. It was said that a person’s first love will always hold a special place in one’s heart. But all firsts are special, so is it any wonder that first love strikes the heart so strongly? For some, first love will be the only love but more likely than not, it is the love found after which will last. Kagome knew that no matter what happened between Inuyasha and her, she would always remember him fondly as the first person to inspire such love in her. Her time with Inuyasha had been filled with joy and sorrow, good and bad. When she was an old granny she would have interesting tales to tell her grandchildren about her first love. Kagome felt no regret in loving Inuyasha for because of him she had experience the complicated emotion known as love. She had learned what it meant to love and the sacrifices entailed when a person loved another. What was it I heard? If you love something, set it free. If it doesn’t return then it was never meant to be.

     So deep in her thoughts was she that Kagome was not even aware of where she was going, her legs moving of their own accord. Next thing she knew, she had walked into something soft and fluffy. She felt two hands on her arms, keeping her from falling forward. I didn’t. Her heart began to pound. Kagome looked higher to see a certain youkai’s white kimono and battle armor. I did. Kagome nervously lifted her eyes to those of Sesshoumaru. The youkai looked amused. Kagome blinked. That can’t be right… he definitely looks amused.

     Sesshoumaru released the shocked girl and walked into the clearing in which they had arrived. Inexplicably, the girl’s actions made his lips itch to smile. But it was not to be, because as Sesshoumaru slowly surveyed the area any happy thoughts faded. The youkai lord’s thoughts turned grim. There was no sign of Rin but that was not alarming, as the child knew to hide to prevent meeting up with stray youkai. The problem was that Sesshoumaru could not sense her presence even with his powers. In normal circumstances, Sesshoumaru could easily locate Rin as he had become accustomed to her presence and ki, her life essence. Instead, Sesshoumaru smelled the lingering stench of a spawn of Naraku, Kagura.

     Feeling carefully with his psychic senses Sesshoumaru felt the weak youki of a youkai. Striding over as though unaware of the youkai’s presence, he neared the youkai’s position. As expected, the youkai unaware that Sesshoumaru knew of his plan, attempted to launch a surprise attack. With a quick slash of his claws Sesshoumaru destroyed the youkai. As the remains fell to the ground, a piece of paper floated downward. Snatching the note out of the air before it could fall into the bloody remains, Sesshoumaru read the message from Naraku.

     “Naraku has Rin.”

     Kagome gasped in horror.

     “He wants me to give you to him in exchange for Rin.”

     Kagome stood stock still as she waited to see what Sesshoumaru would do. Strangely enough, she trusted him. Why am I just standing here? What am I thinking? Why wouldn’t he just give me to Naraku? He cares about Rin not you, baka. Maybe you should start running, Kagome, not that he won’t catch you…

     “I dislike being used. I will get Rin back, but on my own terms. I am going to find Naraku and if you continue to follow me, you might die.”

     “Hey, don’t think so little of me. What do you think we have been doing all this time if we weren’t trying to get Naraku? I want to help Rin too. It pains me to think what that monster would do to a little girl.”

     “I’m not a monster then?”

     “….” Kagome blushed.

     “A mere human against Naraku. You’ll only place yourself in danger and get in my way.”
     “Don’t worry about me. I’m not just human, I do have some powers so I’m coming and that’s that.” Kagome had an insane urge to stick her tongue out at the youkai but managed to resist. Sesshoumaru just watched her without moving a muscle, making Kagome feel awkward as he just stared. After an eternity, Sesshoumaru turned away from her and started walking, leaving Kagome to chase after him.

     “Suit yourself, wench.”

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

     Meanwhile, Naraku’s tide of youkai had suddenly retreated, leaving the group standing in the mess that was the battle ground, littered with the remains of many youkai, filling the air with the stench of death. The small group wondered why they had been attacked. Naraku, a master schemer, did not do things without a reason. It was possible that Naraku was trying to get their pieces of the Shikon no Tama as all the shards were now accounted for. Naraku, Kagome, and Sesshoumaru each held a portion of the shards with Naraku holding the largest piece. But, although it had taken them some time to destroy the large number of youkai Naraku had sent, all the youkai had been weak ones. There had been no doubt that they would defeat the youkai sent and Naraku was sure to have known that. As they tried to figure out the motive behind the attack, Shippo finally noticed the missing Kagome and shouted her name frantically, alarming the rest of the group.

     The group searched the carnage, not really wanting to find the girl among the corpses but needing to reassure themselves that she was not dead. Out of the corner of his vision, Miroku saw a flash of light. An arrow lay on the ground, its tip reflecting the midday sun. The arrow did not seem to belong to the carnage. There was no one present that had used arrows except Kagome and had not had a bow or arrows with her. Grimly, Miroku picked up the arrow.

     “Inuyasha. I think something has happened to Kagome-sama.”

Miroku held the arrow up in plain view, careful not to touch the tip of the arrow. “There’s blood on the tip of the arrow.” Shippo scampered quickly over to Miroku wanting to smell the arrow. Miroku bent down to let the kitsune smell it and after a quick sniff, the Shippo raised wide frightened eyes to Miroku. “It’s Kagome’s blood.” The houshi put a calming hand on Shippo’s head and then rose slowly. Handing the arrow to Inuyasha, the houshi watched as the dog demon slowly smelled the arrow. Inuyasha’s face revealed his shock at what he had just discovered. The arrow was saturated with the stench of clay and bones, the scent of Kikyo. Reluctantly, Inuyasha sniffed at the blood still fresh on the arrowhead reeling at the scent that unmistakably belonged to Kagome. His heart clenched with the ramifications of what Kagome’s blood on Kikyo’s arrow meant.

“It’s Kikyo’s arrow. The blood on the tip belongs to Kagome.”

“So. It was a diversion then. That’s why Naraku suddenly attacked with such weak youkai, knowing we would not lose. He just wanted to distract us while Kikyo killed Kagome.”

They all turned at Sango’s tone. The youkai exterminator was facing Inuyasha, her face closed and a fist clenched in anger. Her eyes were cold and accusing as she opened her opened her mouth to give Inuyasha the set down he deserved for letting this happen. He trusted her. Even after Kikyo’s repeated attempts at his life he trusted her. He had hurt Kagome by choosing Kikyo, trusting that the dark miko still had some good in her. Inuyasha trusted that in the end Kikyo would help us destroy Naraku. It’s obvious that Naraku was helping her distract us why Kikyo went after Kagome. I don’t know what Kikyo’s plan is but plotting to kill Kagome is unforgivable. But before Sango could get a word out, Miroku’s hand covered her mouth, preventing any accusations she would have made. Glaring angrily at the houshi she was surprised when he whispered in her ear.

“Sango, look at him. He’s hurt by this too.”

The youkai exterminator went still at the quiet words. Inuyasha stood, a silent figure with eyes shadowed and unmoving. Sango shook off Miroku’s hold and spun around. She understood that he suffered from Kikyo’s betrayal and, like her, he was worried about Kagome’s disappearance. But still, she couldn’t completely let go of the feeling that Inuyasha was partially at fault. For, if not for Inuyasha, would Kikyo really hate Kagome to this extent? Inuyasha was in pain, yes, but Kagome could be dead. Confused by her conflicting emotions of anger and sympathy she didn’t want to look at Inuyasha at the moment. Picking up Shippo, she comforted the kitsune cub, her actions calming her also.

Inuyasha stood with confused shock, unable to move. Kikyo tried to kill Kagome? Kagome is missing, possibly dead because I believed in Kikyo? If it was anybody else that threatened Kagome’s life I would have torn them to shreds without hesitation. But Kikyo… Could it be a plan to gain Naraku’s trust? Inuyasha shook his head in confusion, frustrated by his churning thoughts. Kikyo and Kagome were two manifestations of one soul. They were different, yet they were one and the same. Who do I choose? Although in the past I was prepared to be with Kikyo, I know that in order to be with her I would have had to become human using the Shikon no Tama. She would accept me no other way. And now, in order to be with Kikyo I also have to give myself up, give myself up to death. Kagome… She accepts me as I am. She doesn’t seem to care whether I’m hanyou or human. Kagome has never told me what I should be, only asked me if becoming a full youkai would make me truly happy. How can I choose? The two of them are one and the same, just shaped differently by circumstance. If not for me, Kikyo would not be what she is today…

The clearing was covered a by a somber blanket of quiet, tongues held in check by dark worried thoughts. Finally, the grim silence that seemed to last an eternity was shattered by a loud snap. Startled, all watched as the pieces of the arrow fell slowly as Inuyasha opened his clenched fist. The decision had been made. It’s time.

 

 

 

 

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*xiaome dons armor

 

Eto… don’t kill this poor writer for my seemingly long run of cliffhangers. ^^;; Finally, I’m getting closer to THE big battle so it seemed like a good place to end the chapter. ^_~

 

As usual, reviews much appreciated. Arigato!