Choices Unmade
Chapter One
"InuYasha? Do you love that reincarnate more then me?" Kikyo's pale face
seemed imprinted in Kagome's memory, and she had to hold herself back from
whimpering in hopes that InuYasha didn't, once again, chose Kikyo over her.
"I... um... NO! Of course I don't!" InuYasha yelled. Kagome's vision became
blurred with tears, but she was surprised to find she had expected this.
Kikyo seemed convinced with his claim and slid her hands around his waist.
"What do you love about the me that's so different from my copy?" Kikyo
spit the last word with a type of hatred that made Kagome flinch. Kagome
quietly stood up to leave but waited to hear InuYasha's answer.
"Well, your more beautiful for one, your also stronger and more serious. I
have to baby-sit Kag-... the wench in a way I never had to for you," he
bent his head further down to catch Kikyo's scent better and Kagome could
almost hear him going for bonus points, "Your a better shot with your arrow
to, hell, I can't see how Kagome could ever have lived to fifteen if she
had lived in this time. Not that it matters, after we finish the jewel I'm
sending her home for good!" Kagome felt herself bristling. How dare he say
that! He needs me around and the idiot knows it! If it hadn't been for me
he would never have been strong enough to beat the thunder brothers! Or
anyone else for that matter! His brother would have killed him that first
time!
"SIT!" Kagome screamed that one command and waited for the satisfying sound
of InuYasha slamming to the ground, and his little clay girlfriend with
him. Kagome let one angry grin slide across her face and took off in a run
toward the hut. It wasn't that far from where she was now and when she
jumped inside the door she was surprised to see almost everyone asleep,
Keade being the exception. She looked up when Kagome entered and cocked her
head curiously.
"What ails ye child?" Keade asked, careful not to wake her sleeping
companions.
"Oh it's nothing," Kagome was surprised at the calm of her voice. She
reached up and rubbed her eyes free of tears, "I just came to a...
relieving conclusion about some of my problems at home." She smiled, half
for Keade's benefit, half for hers.
"Speaking of home," Kagome continued, "Can you tell the guys I've gone home
and won't be back for a while. I have a lot of... unfinished business at
home to finish up."
"How long will ye be gone, Kagome?" Keade asked softly.
"Probably a few months, maybe longer." Keade's left eyebrow rose and a
small smile came to her lips. "If InuYasha doesn't not drag ye back?" a
soft, raspy laugh escaped the old woman and she shook her head. Her
expression soon changed serious, "If ye will be gone that long ye should at
least say good by to them yourself, they will surely miss ye greatly."
Kagome shook her head.
"I can't," another tear fell down her cheek but she brushed it away
quickly, "This is something I have to take care of and if I say goodbye I
don't think I'll be able to leave." Keade's expression grew solemn and
curious.
"What is it ye must do?" Keade finally asked. There was an awkward silence
for a moment.
"Promise not to think I'm stupid?" Kagome asked in return. Keade nodded in
return, "Promise not to tell anyone else?" Keade nodded again, "I... I want
to prove to everyone... to me... that I don't need to be carried around, I
want to become strong enough so that I don't need anybody to baby-sit me,
so that I'm strong enough alone." Keade nodded gravely.
"Kagome-chan, please head my words, no creature can survive on it's own, no
matter how strong ye are. No soul can be complete when it works alone,"
Keade was still speaking softly, but somehow her voice seemed to echo
through the entire hut.
"Are you saying I should stay?" Kagome asked, bewildered by her words.
"No, I think ye need to find yourself now, ye need to chose what your life
will lead to now," Keade cryptically stated.
"What do you mean? Find myself? What my life will lead to? I don't
understand..."
"Kagome, remember this, ye may not understand but ye must remember, there
is more to life then anyone sees. Your life is coming to an important
place, a turning point. Remember two things, one is ye can always look to
the sky's, and two..." Kagome was leaning forward, listening intently,
"broken arrows can still fly." Kagome face faulted.
"What does that mean, Keade? It sounds like a fortune cookie," Keade
blinked. Kagome rubbed her temple exasparatedly, "Never mind, Keade. I'm
going to head home now, bye!" Kagome grabbed her yellow backpack and took
off running for the well. She grabbed the bike she had left at the edge of
the forest to try and get there before InuYasha could find out she was
leaving.