Chapter 15
Inu Yasha walked over to where Miroku was sleeping and kicked him. Miroku groaned as he turned to the source of his ribs’ abuse.
"Wake up." Inu Yasha glared down at him. "I’m going out, you wake everyone else up and make sure they’re ready by the time I get back." With that, he headed to the hut’s exit, but was stopped short by Midoriko’s barrier that was still active from the night before. He turned to her. "Would you just let this stupid thing down? I have to go hunting. We used the last of the meat with that stew the other night, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not in the mood for vegetables." Midoriko looked back at him.
"Do you promise that you will be the one to come back?" Inu Yasha rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Of course it will be me. You should know by now how desperate I am to set things straight." Midoriko nodded and let the shield down, and Inu Yasha headed for the forest. Miroku had begun his task by first waking Kaede, who had actually been awake the whole night listening in on Inu Yasha and Midoriko’s conversation. Next he walked over to where Sango lie. He smiled down at her and thought it would be smartest if he woke Shippou up first. He reached down and touched the kit’s shoulder. Shippou had been in the middle of a nightmare when he did this, so the frightened youth jumped and knocked Miroku in the stomach. This caused Miroku to buckle over in pain. He threw a hand out to catch himself, but the place it landed was a little softer than the ground.
***
Inu Yasha was taking a some time to just wander. He knew that it would take Miroku awhile to wake everyone, and he did not feel like being cooped up for the time being. His wandering brought him to the well. He approached the edge and looked down at the bottom. He let out a deep sigh as he looked back on the race he and Kagome had the last time they passed through the well. He shook his head and pushed himself away from the edge as he headed back into the forest.
***
Kirara yelped as Miroku’s hand landed on her tails. Her cry woke up Sango.
"What’s going on?" She sat up to see Miroku sputtering on the floor, Kaede holding Shippou, and Midoriko stroking Kirara gently. Not sure who to inspect first she looked around the room and noticed that Inu Yasha was nowhere to be seen. "Where did Inu Yasha go?" Midoriko brought Kirara back over to Sango.
"Inu Yasha is out hunting. Miroku was supposed to wake everyone up." She shrugged. "I guess he accomplished that."
"I’ll say." Everyone looked to see Inu Yasha come in with three rabbits and two fish. He threw them where the fire should have been. "It would have been four rabbits, but there was a scream that scared off every animal for miles." Sango was now crouched next to Miroku, attempting to help him up. She looked at Inu Yasha.
"It must have been Kirara you heard." She stood Miroku up. "I think Shippou knocked too much wind out of Miroku for him to scream." Inu Yasha had set to work on the fire as Kaede began preparing the meat.
"What exactly happened?’ He inquired. Shippou decided he should clear this one up.
"I was having a nightmare." He was clutching his blanket. "I was alone in the forest, and something was chasing me. I kept trying to get away, but I wasn’t fast enough. Miroku decided to grab my shoulder about the same time that thing caught up with me. I didn’t want to go down with out a fight, so I kinda ended up jumping into his stomach. Then he fell on Kirara’s tails, and I think you can guess how things went from there." Inu Yasha let all of this sink in as he stoked the fire.
"Hmm. Well, I guess it’s my own fault for asking the monk to do something this complicated quite this early in the morning." He got up and stepped outside. The rest of the group had finally gained their composure when he came back carrying an armful of sharpened sticks.
After their hot breakfast, Miroku, Sango, Midoriko, Kirara, Inu Yasha, and Shippou collected the items they thought they would need for this trip. They said their goodbyes to Kaede and headed out. Though they thought that they were ready, they were actually the least prepared they could have been for what lie ahead.
***
The group had been traveling since that morning, and it was now rounding sunset. They had not come across a single demon, and this was causing Inu Yasha to get very cranky.
"I think we should take it a little easier." Said Midoriko. "I’m starting to get tired, and from what I understand it would not be a good idea to exhaust myself at this point." Inu Yasha growled at her.
"Fine, whatever." He stomped over to a tree and leaned against it. "Go ahead and rest." He began examining his claws. "I think I’ll go and get a rabbit or something." With that he left into the deeper portion of the trees.
"What’s his problem?" Shippou asked. Sango just smiled as they began to set up camp.
"I think it’s the fact that every time we go looking for demons they seem to disappear, but when we try to avoid them, they always show up." Miroku observed. Shippou thought it over for a second.
"Yeah, I guess that would make anybody upset." Then he began helping the others get ready for the evening.
When Inu Yasha returned, he was carrying a deer.
"That’s some rabbit!" Commented Sango. Inu Yasha just rolled his eyes, and began stripping the carcass for meat.
"Shippou, go get some sticks. Since it looks like our little rest is turning out to be a full on camp." Inu Yasha sounded a little more annoyed than usual, and he kept looking at the sky, but the trees blotted out anything worth seeing. He shook his head as if he were dispelling a thought from it and continued with his task.
They all sat around the fire as the meat cooked. Midoriko was stoking the flames, Shippou was drooling from the food’s smell, Sango was brushing out Kirara, Miroku was also drooling (For a reason different than Shippou’s.), and Inu Yasha sat just outside of everyone else, propped up against a tree. He was watching the fire closely.
‘Something isn’t right.’ He thought to himself. From within he felt an intense wave of sadness. He knew that he was sad, but this seemed to come from somewhere else. It was then he realized, that he was feeling what Kagome felt. He knew it was there before, but he had been so obsessed with all he had been doing, that he never took anytime to reflect. He closed his eyes, and began to concentrate. He attempted to send a feeling that would tell her things would be okay.
He had become so deep in this action that he didn’t notice Sango walk up to him. She startled him when she placed a hand on his shoulder. He furrowed his brows at her for the unwelcome interruption, but she only returned it with a look of concern.
"Inu Yasha, outside of the obvious, something seems to be bothering you. Won’t you tell us what it is?" He crossed his arms and looked away from her.
"Hmpf. Nothing’s wrong." Then to himself. ‘At least, nothing that shouldn’t be.’ The silence that followed was broken by the sound of cawing birds. Inu Yasha’s ears twitched as he looked towards the direction of the disturbance. "Those birds should be roosting at this point. Something’s out there, and it can’t be good." He motioned to Sango. "Hurry, we just might get our shard tonight." He stood to prepare for the impending battle. The ground began to shake and more birds screamed as they were disturbed from their roosts. Twilight had ascended and the only useable light was given off by the fire as the trees began to part.
A large shadowed figure loomed just out of sight. Inu Yasha withdrew Tetsusaiga and positioned himself into a battle stance. He faltered when it didn’t transform.
"What the hell is this?" He stared disbelievingly as the rusted piece of metal in his palm.
"Maybe it can sense the fact that Lady Kagome is not herself." Miroku shouted as he dodged a massive tentacle that came at him from nowhere.
"This thing seems to think it can just play with us." Inu Yasha repositioned himself, trying to focus on where the monster would strike from next. "Whatever seems to be going on with the sword, I’m still battling for Kagome." He charged into the shadows holding out the sword as if were a lance. A shrill cry of pain came out of the darkness followed by a massive form rearing up into the night sky. The sheer force of its movement sent the tops of many trees flying elsewhere. Inu Yasha had managed to tuck and roll out of the way with his grip still on Tetsusaiga’s hilt. When he stood, he was clearly visible in the ring of firelight. Sango gasped as he shook off the impact.
"Inu Yasha, I think I know what’s wrong with the sword." He turned to her with a questioning gaze. She simply tugged on her ear. At first he was confused, then reality dawned upon him, but he did not have a chance to respond as the demon slammed into the ground with fury. With its presence and the trees no longer obstructing the view, everyone blinked at the moonless sky.
"Run!" Inu Yasha shouted as the massive demon righted itself. The group left all but their weapons and headed deeper into the forest. "That thing’s big, but it’s also extremely slow, we should be able to outrun it." It was then he noticed the lack of an annoying presence. "Where’s Shippou?"
***
Inu Yasha and Miroku left the women behind and ran back for the campsite.
"Could this possibly get any worse?" Inu Yasha grumbled as he tripped over a tree branch. He picked himself up quickly and continued running. "How did the new moon come around so quickly? I could have sworn that it was still two days away." Miroku ducked a branch that came at him. They were both silent a moment as they maneuvered through the brush.
"I think I know what happened." They quickened their pace when they heard a scream that could only be Shippou’s.
"You better spill it now, cause there isn’t going to be much talking in about three seconds." Inu Yasha swerved to miss a tree.
"Are you aware of how long Midoriko was in control of your body?" They entered the clearing that once held their camp.
"Ahh!" Shippou yelled as he jumped behind another tree. He was running away from the monster while clinging to his blanket.
"Damn brat! Must have come back for that thing!" He rushed forward at the area he could only assume was the monster.
"Inu Yasha!" Miroku reached out after him, but was too late.
"Don’t worry about me, just get Shippou out of here!" There wasn’t anytime to argue the situation. He ran around the border of the clearing to where Shippou was avoiding the creature.
"Now you die!" Inu Yasha could be heard, but it was too dark to see more than shadows. A cry was once again heard from the creature, but it was one of annoyance, not defeat.
"Shippou!" Miroku yelled. "Use your fox fire so I may find you!" A small area of trees lit up in a blue glow. He headed for the spot, but had to stop and catch his footing when the ground began to shake. The creature was plodding into a position that it might better fight its attacker.
"Oh, I’m sorry, did that tickle?" Inu Yasha’s mocking was clearly heard as Miroku reached Shippou. The little fox-kit jumped into the monks arms.
"Miroku! You have to help Inu Yasha. Can’t you just suck that thing up in your air rip?"
Miroku bent his head.
"Sadly, I cannot. If I did, the remnants needed to make the shard would be sucked in as well." He took in a breath. "I believe I have already caused enough problems with the shards." A cry of agony was heard among the sounds of battle, and it did not belong to the creature. Miroku turned his head to noise. "Inu Yasha’s fighting blind!" He looked down at Shippou. "How long do you think you can keep up your fox fire?" Shippou took the moment to think.
"It will last longest if I use it to actually set the woods on fire, but with out doing that, only a few seconds at a time." Miroku began running with Shippou in his arms.
"We can’t very well have a forest fire on our hands too." He came to the spot where he had left Inu Yasha. "A few seconds will just have to do." Shippou took the cue.
"Fox Fire!" The magic filled the area in a eerie blue light. Inu Yasha could be seen on the creature’s back. It resembled a cuttlefish, only, what would have been the head was obviously it’s mid section. From that mid section sprouted three serpentine necks that were topped off with a horses’ heads, the largest one held the only visible eye in the middle of its fore skull . The heads were turning their furry upon Inu Yasha, when the glow from the fox fire lit the area it gave him a slight chance. His smirk was easily seen before the glow faded.
"This sword may not cut, but as Sesshoumaru can tell you, it hurts like hell when it hits your eye." The screams of agony resonated in the skulls of anyone that could hear it.
"Fox Fire!" When the area was illuminated once more, Inu Yasha was seen with his sword plunged deep into the eye on the largest head. All three were snapping and writhing in pain, as Inu Yasha held on to the hilt. When the light faded this time, the middle head had taken one extremely hard jerk, and Inu Yasha’s silhouette could be seen flying through the air above the tree line. His scream and flight were cut short with a hard and sudden thud.
The creature was now enraged. Its fits of pain were causing the ground to rumble so hard that the trees began to fall over.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" came a scream. This voice was female and came from the direction that Inu Yasha had landed.
"That sounds like Kagome!"
"That sounded like Lady Kagome!" Both Shippou and Miroku had come to the same conclusion at the same moment. They ran in the direction of the scream, but were stopped short by falling limbs.
"Fox Fire!" Shippou lit up the area once more. Inu Yasha’s form was seen cowering against a tree. Another tremor caused a tree to crash down, in fear, he awkwardly held up the sword in an effort to shield himself before once again screaming. When they heard Kagome’s voice coming from Inu Yasha, Miroku and Shippou’s eyes grew in realization.
"That’s why he was so bound and determined to knock himself out." Shippou looked in the monks direction now that the light had faded. "Lady Kagome is in Inu Yasha’s body." Shippou was about to run to help Kagome, but was cut off when a tentacle slammed into the ground in front of him.
"Hang on Kagome!" Shippou shouted, but it was drowned out by the creature’s menacing growls.
"Somebody help me!" Kagome was screaming as loud as Inu Yasha’s human lungs would allow. Shippou once again lit the area. The main head was reaching in to eat Kagome, when some unseen force knocked it out of the way.
"Not today you don’t." Sango’s voice rang out as her weapon returned to her. A new pinkish glow was lighting the scene as a blast of energy leapt forth and pushed the creature further away. Midoriko ran to Kagome’s side holding another ball of energy at the ready.
"Are you okay." Kagome was shaking when she turned to look up at her own body.
"You’re in me?" She seemed temporarily distracted from the situation going on around her.
"Only until we work this out." She turned her attention back to the creature, but paused as a howl echoed through the air, silencing all other sound. Sango was standing with Shippou and Miroku. Her eyes grew wide as she shook her head.
"No, not now." her fears only confirmed when a giant whirlwind appeared.
Kouga now stood poised in front of the massive creature. He cracked his knuckles in an intimidating fashion.
"Heh" He smirked. "My shards may be gone, but I’m plenty strong enough to beat you."
He jumped up and took a flying kick at the middle head. The monster only screamed and turned its attention from the original target. Midoriko let the energy in her hand die down as she watched the battle in front of her.
"Who is that?" She asked Kagome. The very confused girl in man’s body stood.
"That’s Kouga." She said in exasperation. "I’m not quite sure how to explain him to you outside of, instigator." They entire group looked on. The sun had not yet risen, but they sky had lightened enough that they could see Kouga take one last swipe with his claws. This action decapitated all three of the offending appendages, causing the body to fall with a ground shaking thud. Kouga surveyed his handy work.
"I’d like to see dog-turd do that." With a smirk he turned to Midoriko and Kagome. "Now that this thing is done with, I believe I have a bit of a reward coming to me." He bounded to the two figures closest to him. "Oh, Kagome, I will make you so happy." The real Kagome was about to say something, but Kouga placed his hand over her mouth as he took Midoriko in an abrasive kiss. Utterly disgusted by the action, Kagome bit Kouga’s hand. It caused him to break the kiss, but before anyone could stop him he dashed into the woods, carrying Midoriko. She struggled with him, but before she could scream for the others a stray branch knocked her in the back of the head.
The others pursued, but soon lost track of him. The sun was on the verge of rising, but was still awhile from actually doing so.
"Of all the times I actually get to find out what it’s like to be Inu Yasha." She looked to the horizon. "It had to be when he was human, but now I understand why he gets so antsy waiting for the sun to come up." Sango put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"We should go back and get the shard that creature could have formed." The group turned back to the campsite. "You should have the demon abilities by the time that’s over. Then, we can rescue your body and set everything straight." Kagome sighed.
"I guess so."
***
As he sped away with his prize, Kouga was alarmed to find he had accidentally hit his beloved with a tree branch, but much to his relief, she was almost immediately responsive.
"Glad to see I didn’t hurt you." He made the statement without ever looking down at the woman in his arms. Kikyo glared at him with non-existent eyes.
‘What in the seven hells does this worthless wolf demon think that he is doing?’she observed his movements as they shot through the aggregation of dense foliage. Kouga noticed that she was looking around.
"Don’t worry," he boasted, "we lost that dog-turd ages ago. Now nothing can keep you and me from being together." Kikyo mulled this statement through her mind for a moment.
‘That must mean he intends to make this body his mate.’ An evil grin crept across her face. ‘As possessive as any demon is, much less a dog demon. Having the smell of another on this body would drive him mad. Nothing could be more perfect.’ She then took the opportunity to snuggle into Kouga chest. This action set a wide grin upon the wolf leader’s visage. He was so elated, that it distracted him from their lone pursuer.
***
The group stood around the massive carcass, pinching shut their nostrils.
"Oh man does that stink!" Shippou had a green tint to his face.
"How do you think I feel?" Kagome continued to empty the contents of Inu Yasha’s stomach into a nearby bush. Once she had regained her composure, she wiped her mouth. "How does he do it? I thought that thing reeked when his body was human, but..but." Then she became reacquainted with the bush.
"Kagome," Sango walked over and rubbed the stricken’s back, "do you think you can stop long enough to see where the shard may be in this creature?" She could not manage to do more than nod her head. As she turned to look, her brown eyes filled with horror.
"I..I..." She swallowed hard, "I can’t see any."
***
Kouga finally halted when he came to a glade. He placed the one he thought to be Kagome in a standing position, and stole another kiss, only this time he had the ability to linger, since there was noone to bite his hand. Kikyo threw every bit of acting she could into that kiss, bit it is hard for someone who has never truly loved another to fake such an act. When Kouga pulled away, Kikyo averted her eyes so she would not give away the fact she was not who she pretended to be.
"Why do you look away?" He grabbed her by the chin and turned her face towards himself. She kept her eyes clenched tight. "Do I disgust you?" She pulled away from his grip, and once again hid her eyes from his view.
"That isn’t it." She lied in her best imitation of Kagome’s voice. "I just do not see myself as worthy to look upon you." Kouga stepped up and hugged her tightly.
"That’s impossible." He squeezed her a little harder. "If anything, it is I that is not worthy to look upon you." She placed her hands upon opposite sides of his chest and rubbed her head between them. He took this as a cue, and lifted her chin for another kiss. Kikyo being extra careful of exposing her eyes. This was the scene that the lone figure witnessed from the bushes.
***
"What do you mean?" Sango was in disbelief. "Are you saying that this creature has no shard?" Kagome was doing her best to keep from getting sick again.
"Maybe it was the magic that Kagome saw before," Miroku offered, "and since it is now imbalanced, perhaps the level it is at now is invisible to Kagome." He stopped a moment. "Or maybe it’s because she’s in Inu Yasha’s body."
"Great!" Came Shippou’s nasal huff. "How are we going to get through this if Kagome can’t see the shards."
"I believe I can help." Everyone turned as familiar female stepped from the bushes.
"Ayame!" Shouted Kagome, before abruptly turning back into her previous deposit bush.
The wolf girl cocked her head in confusion.
"Can Inu Yasha not control his instincts? And why does he sound like Kagome?" Miroku waved her off.
"It is a long story which we will gladly share with you, but first, what did you mean by being able to help us?" Ayame turned to the carcass and took in a large whiff.
"This creature, most definitely has a shard." She sniffed again, and dove her clawed hand into a portion of the putrid flesh. When Kagome turned from her latest session with the shrubbery, Ayame triumphantly held up a shard.
"How did you do that?" Sango asked.
"She can explain on the way," said Kagome, "let’s just get away from here, and find my body." They all began to move away with Ayame starring at each of them strangely. Just as the got out of smelling range, Shippou voiced an observance.
"Where’s Kirara?
***
"There is something wrong." Kouga placed his hand on Kikyo’s forehead. "Are you ill?"
"What would make you think that?"she kept up the guise of coyness which helped hide her eyes.
"For one thing, your voice sounds different. Almost forced." She forced a cough.
"Just a touch of the cold, I assure you." Kouga stepped away from her and began pacing as if in thought.
"Then, there’s your willingness, but unwillingness." He bowed his head as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" Kikyo latched onto his arm, but refused to look him in the face.
"This is what I mean. Usually, you repel my advances, but at least then you would look at me. Now that you are submitting, you refuse to eve let me see if there is love in your eyes as well." He removed his arm. "I do not wish to force myself on you if you are unwilling."
"Oh, but I am willing." Kikyo insisted.
"If that’s true," his faced darkened, "look me in the eye, and say my name."
***
Kirara watched the scene unfold before her. She was about intervene, when several familiar scents filled her nose.
***
"So that is why Inu Yasha sounds like Kagome?" Ayame was confused on the details, but understood the current situation.
"Yes, that’s apparently why I’m this way." Kagome stated. "Though the details about the jewel are just as new to me as they are to you." She glared at her two friends, looking so the part of her current vessel, for not explaining sooner. "Speaking of which, how were you able to find the shard?" Ayame was only too glad to tell her story.
"Do you remember how I vowed to train, and one day see the jewel shards for myself?" Kagome thought for a moment.
"Yes, how did you manage it?" Ayame laughed.
"I was a fool. I have yet to see them, but I was able to imprint the smell of the jewel itself." She shrugged. "In fact, that was a feat as well. Each piece had two individual smells. That of it’s magic, which was always different, then there is the constant smell, which belongs to the physical portion. The smell is similar to burnt glass, and I will not say how much trouble that has caused me." The group was searching the woods as they spoke.
"Have any of you been able to smell Kouga?" Sango asked.
"I can’t tell what I’m smelling." Said Kagome.
"I can smell him, but I’m not sure where." Shippou offered.
"It’s a wolf trick," commented Ayame, "travel in a zigzag pattern, and almost no enemy can follow." They all seemed to let a heavy sigh as if the air leaving their lugs represented the hope leaving their hearts as a familiar mew was heard.
***
"Kirara!" shouted Shippou. He jumped into the bushes and came out clinging to the large cat’s neck. She seemed ignorant of the young kit’s actions, and ran up to Kagome. She then began tugging on the sleeve of the fire rat suit.
"Kirara, are you trying to say you know were Kouga went?" Sango’s question only caused Kirara to pull harder.
"Okay, okay, lead the way." Kagome told her. With that, Kirara was off and running, making sure that the rest of the group had the ability to keep up.
***
"Kagome, I will ask you one last time to look at me." Kikyo was still keeping her gaze everywhere except for within Kouga’s vision.
"Why do you ask me to do that?" She was still trying to be coy.
"Because," he flustered, "Your actions are not matching up with your scent, and I need to see in your eyes that you are being sincere." Kikyo paused a moment, then began a small chuckle. She bowed her head, so that her band shielded her eyes from view, and faced Kouga. Slowly, the laughter grew more menacing, and more evil.
"It seems your not as stupid as you look wolf." At the comment, Kouga’s eyes grew wide, and he suddenly felt afraid of the frail frame in front of him. Her laughter was only rekindled by this reaction. Then, she jerked her head up to reveal the voids that would have been her eyes.
"What’s the matter, wolf?" She slowly approached him. "I thought you wanted this body." She grabbed his arms. "Well, now it’s all yours." She pulled him into what was to be a death kiss.
***
Those with demonic blood stopped as an evil sound reached their ears.
"What’s that?" asked Ayame. Kagome looked in the direction of the sound, then back to Ayame.
"If I had to guess, I would say that Kouga has either gotten wise," she clenched her fist angrily, "or something’s happening that I will make him pay for later on." Kagome, Ayame, Kirara, and Shippou all took off at their top speeds, leaving Sango and Miroku trailing behind.
By the time they reached the clearing, the laughter had stopped, and that scared them more than anything they could have imagined. Kagome was the first to step through the bushes and see the scene of her own body with Kouga hanging limply from her lips.
"Hey," She shouted as the others arrived. "Living Dead Girl!" Kikyo dropped the now unconscious Kouga, and Ayame ran to his side. The borrowed shell turned to Kagome with a sneer. "Now, that’s my body you’re running around in, and I want it back!" Kagome tried for the sword at her side, but could not manage to do more than drop it. This also granted a laugh from Kikyo.
"You are untrained as a shrine maiden, but even less trained as one with demon blood." She began to build up power in her hands. "So, I doubt I should ever fear you. Besides, it seems fate has willed me your body." Kagome narrowed her eyes.
"What are you saying." Kikyo laughed again.
"You are in Inu Yasha’s body, and I wish to destroy him, which is easily done with your power." She brought up a hand surrounded in a dark energy. "And with you in his body as well, that give me the chance to rid myself of you." She smiled with satisfaction. "Now, you die at the hands of your own power!" With that, she threw the energy at Kagome. As a reflex, Kagome held up the untransformed Tetsusaiga inn front of her.
As the energy hit her, a bright flash filled the area..
"Kagome!" Sango screamed as she and Miroku finally reached the scene. She then turned towards Kikyo. "You lousy bitch." Kikyo only laughed and stared at the smoke that billowed before her. "Dammit!" Sango cursed. "She’s too far for me to reach with my weapon." Miroku pushed her to the side.
"Since Kagome and Inu Yasha are both gone from us, I guess there is only one thing left to do." He turned in Ayame’s direction. "Ayame, you and Kouga stand clear." He said, just loud enough for her to hear. Then, using the still lingering smoke as cover, he approached Kikyo. "Since you killed my friends I have no other choice." He flatly stated once in Kikyo’s view, and in a swift motion removed his beads, then trust out his hand. Kikyo stopped, but only laughed when nothing happened.
"So, Monk, what do you plan on doing? Groping me into oblivion?" Kikyo now roared in amusement as Miroku stared at his now healed hand. As the rest of the group stared in horror, a small wind began that went unnoticed by everyone. Suddenly it picked up in a full gust and blew away the remaining smoke. There was only silence as Kagome, still in Inu Yasha’s body, was revealed holding the still decrepit Tetsusaiga in front of her. She stood and stared at it blankly for a moment.
"I guess the barrier spell still works." Kikyo clenched her fists in frustration and let out an angry yell. Sango used the distraction to get within a safe striking range. She lifted her oversized boomerang in the air and nailed Kikyo at the base of her skull where the neck meets the head. The dark miko fell forward unconscious with a sickening thud.
Kouga had awoken just in time to have witnessed the scene from the point where Miroku attempted to avenge Kagome. In reaction to the joy he felt seeing Kikyo fall, he reached up and hugged Ayame. The surprised she wolf blushed at first, but then melted into his embrace. After a moment, he realized his actions, and let her go. She hung her head a bit, sad from the loss of his attention.
"I’m sorry about that Ayame he said." She looked up at him.
"I didn’t mind it." He looked at her again, this time a slightly confused.
"I thought you understood," he placed his hands on her shoulders, "I’m going to be with Kagome, once she comes to her senses." Ayame looked frustrated.
"Kouga, why don’t we take a walk. I have a story for you to hear." With that, she took Kouga’s hand and dragged him deeper into the forest.
The other waled over to where Kikyo lie. Kagome took her pulse.
"She will be out for a while, but there is no guarantee of which one will wake up." Sango gasped after she looked around the clearing.
"Ayame’s gone." She said quickly. As if on cue, she emerged from the bushes.
"I’m going to explain this whole thing to Kouga." She pulled out the shard she had retrieved earlier and handed it to Kagome. "I believe this belongs to you." Then she left once again.
"Since this has all worked out, I suggest we leave." Stated Miroku flatly. Everyone else looked at him with concern.
"Miroku, I know this might be a weird question," Kagome turned to Sango, "but ‘How do you feel about this?’" He stopped and looked down at his newly unbound hand.
"The only way for this to have gone is for Naraku to have been destroyed. My only wonder is, who?" The rest of the group looked from one to the other in concern. If they hadn’t killed Naraku, then who had? Suddenly, the same wind that blew away the smoke reappeared.
"It was me." Came an all too familiar voice. "I whacked the fucker."
"Who said that?" Miroku pulled his staff into the defensive position. The wind picked up a little more, and Kagura descended upon the group.
"I did." She gave her sweetest smile, but it still came out evil looking.
"And why would you do whatever you just said." Asked Sango.
"She said that she just killed him." explained Kagome. "What I want to know is where she heard that expression." All were glaring at the fan maiden in the fine kimono.
"Let me explain." She stopped all of the wind and stood before the group. "I killed Naraku because I was tired of all his whining. First he complained about ‘that damn witch inside the hanyou maiming him beyond healing. Then it was about all of his precious jewel shards. I was just sick and tired of it. I finished off the job that Midoriko started, took my heart, and left. As for my nothing of an older sister, I just left her to her own." Kagome stared.
"That still doesn’t answer my question." Her biggest fear was that Kagura had found a way through the well, and had been to her time.
"I heard it from the body you now inhabit." She tried again to make a friendly smile, but it just wasn’t working. "Naraku kept an eye on you, even when you couldn’t see him. I was always in the background watching, and I heard the hanyou use that phrase after killing a rather large demon." Kagome stopped to rub her temples. She remembered clearly that happening, and once again cursed herself for introducing Inu Yasha to movies, then, allowing him to watch Nightmare On Elm Street.
"I should have known." she sighed.
"That still doesn’t explain why you’re here." Miroku stared Kagura down.
"I simply wish to make-up for my past wrong doings." She stated. "Unlike my sister, I am made of something."
"How do you plan on helping us?" Sango still kept her weapon at the ready.
"I know of your situation," she pointed to the unconscious body on the ground, "and I’m here to offer my services."
"What services are those?" Queried Shippou.
"Merely to get you back to your village as quickly as possible by flying you there on my winds." The body on the ground shifted a bit.
"I don’t see any other options right now." Kagome shrugged. "I can’t use the Tetsusaiga, and even if we put my body on Kirara, we may not make it back before one of them wakes up." They all agreed on that point and looked to Kagura once again. "Okay," Kagome said, "But only if you promise no tricks." Kagura took on a look of offense.
"What real grudge do I have against you? I have my heart back, what would I have to gain from your demise?"
"Good point." said Miroku. "So can we just go now? I think getting back before dark would be wise."
"You will be back long before that." Laughed Kagura. "A day’s walk is merely a blink on my winds." With that, she waved her fan and the wind lifted them all off of the ground. Kirara went back into her smaller form and sat next to shippou on a pillar of wind. Kagura had her own pillar, Sango and Miroku had their own, and Kagome and her body shared another. The trip was shorter than any but Kagura and Kagome had expected.
"An hour and a half isn’t bad timing, but there are machines in my time that go a lot faster." It was Kagura that was now confused.
"Your time?" Kagome a coughed a moment.
"I meant to say the foreign land that I’m from." Kagura simply shrugged it off and left the group just outside of Kaede’s village.
"Do not hesitate to ask for my help." She called out. "I have caused you a lot of trouble in the past." Then, she was gone.
***
Once back in Kaede’s hut the group bound and gagged Kagome’s body and waited to see who would wake up.
"What will we do if it’s Kikyo?" Asked Shippou.
"Hit her again?" Miroku half asked.
"Excuse me, I would like to have as little damage as possible done to my body when I get it back." She rubbed the back of her neck. "That blow Sango landed is going to have me dependant on Tylenol for a long time."
"Sorry." Sango rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Don’t be." Kagome stated flatly. "You did what you had to do."
"Uhnn." Came a muffled voice from behind.
"Wait until she opens her eyes." Whispered Kagome. Everyone turned to look at the slowly reviving figure. At this time, Kaede came in through the door.
"You are back quite early. You have only been gone for a little more than a day."
"Long story that we will tell you later, but right now we’re waiting to see who is in control." Kagome hurriedly stated. The head on Kagome’s body rolled around in a few small circle before lifting to reveal white eyes. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank Kami it’s you." Said Sango as she unbound the ancient priestess.
"I understand the need for precautions." Stated Midoriko as she rubbed her wrists. "Did you get the fourth shard?"
"Yes." Miroku held out his three, and Kagome held out the one given to her by Ayame.
"Good, then we only need to wait for nightfall."
"Why nightfall?" Asked Shippou.
"Drama." Said Midoriko with a smile. "That, and magic is always more powerful at night. Now all we need to do is find the right spot." Kagome yawned and sat back against a wall as she listened to Midoriko talk. "It has to be a place with a rock shaped similar to an arrowhead, and it must be raised so that at least three people may sit around it."
"I know where to find it." Inu Yasha’s voice came from behind the rest of the group.
"What happened to Kagome?" Cried Shippou. Inu Yasha shrugged.
"She must have fallen asleep. I’m assuming we got that shard from that thing that attacked since we’re back at Kaede’s. What I don’t understand is how we got back so fast." He crossed his arms and waited for some answers.
"All will all be explained after the ritual." Midoriko said. "We need to get to that spot you spoke of,"then turned to Miroku, "you will have to preform the ritual, since it was your blood that caused the disturbance."
"That figures." Miroku shrugged. "You’ll just have to explain it to me on the way."
"Sango, you stay behind with Shippou and Kaede." Inu Yasha ordered as they headed out the door. Both Shippou and Sango were about to argue when Kaede intervened.
"The less distractions the better. Besides, I need your help with supper, if you don’t mind." Sango nodded to Kaede, and turned to see the others had already left. She sighed, and grabbed the big pot to get water for stew. As she stepped out of the hut she was surprised to receive a soft kiss on her cheek. She blushed when she saw Miroku leaning against the outside of the hut.
"Tell you about it when we get back." He smiled, then ran off into the forest after the others. Sango stood there dazed and gently touched her cheek. She was brought out of it by the clang of the pot hitting the ground. When Kirara poked her head out of the hut Sango snatched the pot and ran for the river. Once she reached the water’s edge she looked down at her reflection to see her blush had yet to subside.
***
They had finally reached the clearing as the sun began to set. Midoriko placed three of the shards in their respective places, and handed one to Miroku. He stared at it dumbly.
"Shouldn’t we have Kikyo’s body here as well?" He asked her. Midoriko stiffened.
"Was she not part of Kagome’s own soul?" Her blank stare was shifted to the monk. Inu Yasha just huffed and stepped up to the stone.
"Well, yes, actually." Miroku was not quite sure of himself, even after Midriko had explained the ritual to him.
"Good." She turned and turned back to her spot near the stone. "Because I locked her away." This got wide stares from both males. "What? Once the ritual is complete, then much like myself, her spirit will finally be put to rest." Inu Yasha seemed to relax a bit at this, but Miroku still had a skeptical look on his face.
"Then, why the fourth shard?" He held out the one she handed him. "I understand that one will channel the power while the other two are used to complete the wish, but the fourth one still bothers me." He placed it back into his robes. "Did we do that for nothing?" Midoriko smiled warmly at him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That," she pointed to the area he had stored the shard, "is for Kagome." She stood straight up and did her best to look Miroku in the eye. "Once she is back in her own body, instruct her with what I am about to tell you. She must place some of her own power into that empty shard. By doing so, she should still be able to travel back and fourth between her world and this one, but only she will have the ability to harness this power, and none will be able to steal it." Inu Yasha felt his chest swell at this prospect. Not only would he get his Kagome back, but also neither of them would be forced to choose a time to live in.
‘Wait a minute.’ He thought. ‘How long have I been considering where we would live? I guess her family has grown on me over the past few years. Kind of like the one we have here.’ He smiled as he thought over all of the things he never really considered until this little mess had begun, but was brought out of it, when Miroku began the ritual.
"From the power my own blood has released, I call upon that power to set the lost souls into their rightful places." With that statement, he pricked his finger with the channeling shard. Inu Yasha and Midoriko did the same with their own shards, and all three held them towards the sky and chanted together.
"Place all souls in their assigned shells, no longer allow any trespassers to dwell!" Inu Yasha and Midoriko placed their shards upon the stone, and kneeled before it so that their foreheads were even with the pieces. Miroku continued to hold his towards the sky as a swirling cloud of pink smoke formed above their heads. From all directions, streaks of light collected onto a large ball at the center of the cloud. Once the lights had ceased, Miroku completed the ritual.
"The four souls now unbound. Complete this task and bring about the balance!" As if beckoned by his shout, the ball of light converted into a rather large beam that ascended into the waiting monk’s hand. At the moment all the light had transferred into the tiny piece of glass, he pointed it directly between the other two shards, then the beam appeared once again, connecting the two shards and piercing the heads of the afflicted. Both fell back a little as the blast hit them. Suddenly, the light, the shards, and the clouds all disappeared. Inu Yasha seemed to recover first. He squeezed his eyes shut, then shook his head while pressing his palm into his face.
"That was eventful," he groaned out, "I think I prefer having my eye ripped from it’s socket." He and Miroku looked to Kagome. Her eyes were a hazy gray color. Suddenly, they shut and she fell to the ground. Miroku was closer, but Inu Yasha was faster, and he jumped over the table. He cradled her in his arms, and nuzzled her neck. He pulled his head away from her and sighed. "She’s only sleeping."
"I just hope that this worked." Miroku sighed. They headed back to Kaede’s with Inu Yasha carrying Kagome in his arms.
When Kagome awoke, she was greeted with the sleeping face of Inu Yasha. ‘He looks so peaceful,’she thought, ‘and yet so worried.’ She was about to lean towards him when she stopped herself. ‘Is this still a part of the world I made in his mind? Or am I really back?’ She fought an inner battle trying to figure out if what she was seeing was real. Inu Yasha sensed her breathing go from even and steady to fast and somewhat erratic. He slowly opened his eyes to see her lovely brown eyes staring back at him, but through him at the same time. He propped his head on his hand, and used the other to push a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What’s the matter?" When she gasped at his touch he sat up. "Are you injured?" He looked her up and down. "We didn’t find any." She sprang up and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss. He smiled because of this action, but whined when she pulled away.
"I can feel you." She said with excitement, then kissed him again, only a little longer. When she pulled away this time, she wrapped her entire self around his torso in a full body hug and laid her head on his shoulder. "I can feel you!" She screamed as tears rolled down her face. Suddenly Miroku burst into the room. He looked at the scene before him and smiled.
"Inu Yasha, you dog you." Inu Yasha ignored him, and let Sango take care of it, because he was happy just holding Kagome like that.
"You damn pervert!"She grabbed the staring monk by the collar, and dragged him all the way out of the hut. "You better be glad I’m so happy. Other wise..." Once they were far enough away, she brought him up to her face and placed a deeply passionate kiss to his lips. He was putty in her arms. Then, she pulled away. "I couldn’t have given you that." He just smiled dreamily up at her. It had been the last thing he expected. "That," she continued, "and the fact you haven’t groped me in awhile. I thought you deserved a reward." His expression changed to one of hurt.
"So now I’m some sort of child or pet that needs treats to keep him in line?" Sango stuttered.
"Th..tha..that’s not what I.." She was cut off by Miroku kissing her. Then he pulled back and smiled.
"Because I could deal with that." Then they both walked over to the nearest tree to watch the sunrise together.
***
Inu Yasha was in heaven, and his proof was the angel he held in his arms. The tears she had shed bothered him, but he understood because he had let one or two fall himself. They were now watching the sunrise through a small window in the hut. Out in the main room however, among the two sleeping demons, Kaede watched two sets of lovers finally come together. From her position, she could see Miroku and Sango under the tree, and Inu Yasha and Kagome in the doorway of the side room. She smiled to herself. No one could ever say that losing an eye and old age had done too much to her vision. Unlike most, she could see more than what was in front of her face.
***
The smell of breakfast followed the arrival of the sun. It caused Shippou and Kirara to awake, and rousted Sango and Miroku from their spot under the tree. Inu Yasha and Kagome, however stayed locked in each other’s arms.
"I think we should go eat." He whispered to her. She smiled, and leaned further into his chest.
"Not yet." She said.
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." They sat in what little silence they had before both of their stomachs growled. "Then again." Inu Yasha stated. Kagome smiled broadly and kissed his cheek.
"We can always pick this up later." They stood and walked into the main room to take their seats.
Once the food had been served, everyone began to eat, except for Kagome. She played with her food more than she ate it. Inu Yasha noticed this and put down his bowl.
"What’s the matter?" He asked quizzically. She sighed, and placed her bowl on the floor as well.
"Actually, I’m extremely happy. Naraku is dead, no more problems can be caused by the jewel." She sighed again. "But at the same time, that is the problem." She gave a halfhearted laugh. "Hah. Time, I guess that is the issue. Even if I can go home, without the jewel, I can’t make it back here." By this point, everyone had been listening. Inu Yasha picked his bowl up again.
"Oh, is that all?" He then continued with his meal.
"How insensitive can you be!" Sango shouted. Miroku had already finished his breakfast, and placed a hand on Sango shoulder.
"He’s not being insensitive." He commented.
"What?" Came from all of the clueless beings mouths.
"There a little part that Inu Yasha and I did not tell you all about last night." He smiled big, and pulled out the empty shard. Kagome gasped, but her heart sunk again.
"What good is that? It has no power." Kagome sighed, not seeing the point to the behavior of the two men.
"Actually," Inu Yasha swallowed the last of his food, "it’s more help than you think. Your supposed to channel your power into it, and it will work just like a shard of the jewel, only it’s useless to anyone else because it’s strictly your power." He smiled broadly, and puffed out his chest.
"Hey," Miroku argued, "Midoriko told me to tell her."
"Oh, yeah? Well, I just happened to be paying attention." He crossed his arms and stuck his nose in the air. Kagome’s eyes just lit up.
"So, I don’t have to choose?" Both Miroku and Inu Yasha answered that one.
"Nope." Out of sheer happiness, she stood up, took the shard from Miroku, and kissed Inu Yasha.
"Hey." Said Miroku, but ceased any further comments when Sango wrapped her arms around him.
"Kaede," Kagome began, "do you have any idea how I would put some of my own power in this?" The elderly woman shrugged.
"Same as your arrows, I would suppose." Kagome nodded to her and closed her eyes in concentration. Her aura flared about her, then seemed to be drawn in by the jewel. When she opened her eyes, a white shard lay in her palm.
"It looks like a piece of Ivory." She commented. Inu Yasha came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I think we should try it out. The family is probably worried sick." Her eyes grew wide. ‘Did he just say ‘we’ and ‘the’ instead of ‘you’ and ‘your’?’ Her own thoughts scared her.
"I guess your right." She said. Shippou handed Kagome her pack.
"Get back as fast as you can, and don’t forget the chocolate." He tried to smile, but she could see that he didn’t really want her to leave.
"You know what Shippou? Since it’s my magic that is in the shard now, I think I might be able to take more than just myself through that well." Shippou smiled largely.
"Really?" He squeaked.
"But it will just have to wait." Interrupted Miroku. "We can find out next time." Kagome nodded, and Inu Yasha took her bag from Shippou. He then turned his back to her.
"Hop on." He said with a smile. Kagome complied, and they ran out of the door and towards the well.
As we pull out heading up into the sky we can see them holding hands as they pass into Kagome’s time. Soon, no place is distinguishable from the next, and we are staring at the earth and all of it’s glory. A pair of hands cradle the small planet and their owner smiles up at us. Midoriko gives a smile before she disappears into the heavens, and we hear her words.
The End
Back