InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Through your Heart ❯ Ketsurui ( Chapter 10 )

I chose to name this chapter 'Ketsurui'. It means bitter tears. You'll see why…

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Through your Heart

Chapter 10: Ketsurui

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"Tell me again why she had to go back to her time when we were so far away?" Usagi sat down heavily on the ground and leaned on the old well for support. She sighed loudly as a sign of boredom and kept quiet even when neither Miroku nor Sango answered her question.

The monk and Taijiya were watching Shippou and Kirara play and InuYasha was just growling and muttering under his breath. His incessant walking from left to right in front of her was starting to make her dizzy and annoyed. She could faintly hear, amongst his mumbling: "For once we were far enough to discover new shards…stupid girl…been 'sat' again…she's late…damn school, whatever *that* is…"

Usagi had long ago closed her eyes tightly in annoyance and when he didn't show any sign of stopping, she grabbed his red haori and pulled him forcefully towards her. The movement caught him by surprise and he yelped, losing his equilibrium and he fell hard on his rear beside her. "WHY'D YOU DO THAT FOR?!" The hanyou shouted to her, clearly pissed. He flexed his claws but she swatted his hand away with a frown.

"Don't talk to me like that, InuYasha! You were beginning to make me dizzy and your mumbling was starting to give me a headache! Stop acting like a child and wait for Kagome to come back, just like everybody else!" she stressed out, making him close his mouth. Then, she looked at him coyly and her eyes twinkled, making him look at her nervously. "Or maybe you're fussing over Kagome because you just can't wait to see her again???"

The hanyou's mouth opened wide, as his eyes, until he caught himself and blurted out with his arms waving madly around the air; "ARE YOU CRAZY?!"

The rest of the group looked at him questioningly and the silver haired half-demon reddened in the face. He heard some chuckling beside him and glanced at Usagi, who winked at him playfully. InuYasha gulped and, stiff as a board, ran away to a nearby tree and jumped in it.

Usagi laughed as he gripped the branches tightly enough to crack under the pressure and let's just say his face was an interesting shade of red.

An hour later, the group was starting to dose off until they heard Kagome strain to grip the vines to pull herself out of the well. Usagi looked down the well when she felt the powers of Time activate and marveled at the passage's functioning. She was about to help Kagome out when InuYasha rushed past her and lifted the miko out of it by the arm. "You're late, wench." The hanyou deadpanned.

Usagi rolled her eyes at him and whacked him on the back of his head, effectively making him drop Kagome. "WHY'D YOU DO THAT?!" InuYasha was really ticked off.

Usagi glared at him and crossed her arms. "InuYasha, you obviously don't know a thing about gallantry. You can't treat women like that!"

InuYasha just Feh'ed and looked the other way. "I'll treat her like I always do! She had no right to be late! It's good enough that I allow her to go back to her time!"

Usagi was about to open her mouth when Kagome cut her off. The angry miko put a digit on his chest and started; "WHAT?! YOU let ME go back?! InuYasha, I practically have to SIT you if I want to go home without being stopped!" Kagome watched with delightful eyes as the word caused the hanyou to be sent crashing down onto the ground. It was completely intentional and they all waited for InuYasha to end his colorful swears.

Kagome had long gone put her hands on Shippou's sensible and still very young ears to prevent the kitsune from getting some of InuYasha's bad swearing habits. When he finally was able to pull himself from the ground, Kagome clapped her hands together and put on one of her best smile, her anger having totally faded. The 'word' had a good side and anyway, she just couldn't stay mad at InuYasha for too long. "Well, what are we waiting for? Can we go now?"

InuYasha's ears flattened on his head and he muttered; "How the hell will we be able to move faster if we always come back here? Kirara will be too tired from the journey and-"

Miroku interrupted his rant, clearly prepared for this argument. "You don't have to worry, InuYasha. I knew we would have to travel a great distance if we were to advance on our quest and the best way to do it is by air." While saying so, Miroku pointed a digit towards the sky.

InuYasha eyed him and then the sky weirdly. "And how will we do this? I can't fly and Kirara isn't strong enough to carry all of us."

Miroku smiled. "That's why Hachiemon is waiting for us in Lady Kaede's village. He'll take us as far as we want to go."

Shippou yipped happily and jumped on the monk's shoulder. "I admit that's a good idea, Houshi-sama." Sango admitted calmly, and then swatted a furtive hand away from her back with a twitching eyebrow. "Don't push your luck, Houshi."

Miroku only laughed and shrugged it away.

As they made their way towards the village, Usagi tapped Kagome on the shoulder and the miko turned around. "What is it, Usagi-chan?"

"Well, I was wondering…Who is Hachiemon, exactly?" The rabbit asked, and Kagome immediately answered her question.

"Oh! That's right! I never told you about him! Well, Hachiemon has been Miroku's friend for a long time and he came to help us travel a couple of times. He's a Tanuki youkai and he can take many shapes. In one of them, he has the ability to fly. He never really helps in the fights, though. He gets scared rather easily. But what can you expect from a raccoon demon?"

Usagi nodded and soon enough she met the friendly Tanuki, on whom she made a strong impression by her appearance.

*~*

They actually traveled farther than where they previously were in just a matter of hours. Since Kagome didn't sense any jewel shards on their way, there was no real reason to stop now. The miko and Sango were talking together while Miroku dutifully listened to them.

Usagi spared a glance at InuYasha who was sitting in the back, scowling as usual over the treatment he got back at the well. She giggled silently when she saw him shoot glances towards the miko which weren't angry at all. He would simply glance and turn around, his cheeks becoming a light hue of pink, yet it was there nonetheless.

Shippou looked at her from her lap when he heard her quiet giggle and cocked his head curiously on the side. "What's so funny, Usa-chan?"

She blinked and patted the small kitsune on the head. "I just thought about something funny, Shippou-chan. Where's Kirara?" Usagi said, changing the topic. Shippou pointed at Miroku's shoulders and Usagi nodded. Her gaze went back to the forest below and she just stayed silent for the rest of the time.

About 2 hours later, InuYasha suddenly got up and eyed the woodland below. "We're stopping for today. Hachiemon, get us down."

The group stared at him as if he had grown another head. "But InuYasha" Kagome began, "I don't sense any jewel shards and for once we can travel safely and efficiently. Why stop now?"

InuYasha furrowed his brow and looked down below again. "Hachiemon is probably beginning to tire from all this travel-" the hanyou started, but he got interrupted by a confused Tanuki.

"I'm not tired, InuYasha-sama."

The hanyou's eye twitched and he planted his foot on the Tanuki's back as a warning sign. "Of course you're tired, aren't you?" He strained with a scary smile on his lips, which made Hachiemon laugh nervously and speak out loud.

"Of course! Of course I'm tired! I didn't feel it but I think it would be best to stop for today!" Hachi answered quickly while dropping from the sky.

InuYasha nodded contentedly and sat down again. Kagome watched him and, thinking something was wrong, she decided to get up and sit beside him. She touched his shoulder and looked at the hanyou with concerned eyes. "InuYasha? Is there something wrong?"

The demon startled slightly from the approach but looked at her with a calm and peaceful expression. He put a hand on her cheek and stroked softly, as if he was afraid to hurt her. "Everything's fine, Kagome. Don't worry so much."

Kagome leaned into his hand and hugged his shoulders, closing her eyes. "Good. I was worried for you for a second."

InuYasha nuzzled her hair with his nose for just a minute and put an arm around her *to prevent her from falling*, he was trying to convince himself. 'She's worried about me? But why?' He mentally asked himself.

The area where they stopped was clear, at least. They made camp and busied themselves until nightfall. Hachiemon had bid them farewell not too long ago because although he wasn't against helping, he also had a family and business to take care of.

*~*

Somewhere around the night, a silver blur jumped down from a tree and ran deeper into the forest. The noise, although small and almost imperceptible, woke up 2 persons. Kagome immediately shot up in her sleeping bag and glanced around nervously, until her gaze fell on the tree where InuYasha was previously sleeping, only to find it hanyou-less.

Usagi's eyes remained closed when she heard movement from above and half-opened them to see Kagome running into the forest until it was too dark to see her figure anymore.

"InuYasha…Kagome…What's going on?" She asked herself quietly. Without waking up the Taijiya and putting the monk's hand where it belonged for it had wandered away even in his sleep, she put on her cloak and decided to follow her friend just in case something bad might happen.

Unknown to human senses, the none too pleasant scent of bones and dirt filled the area. Flying soul stealers were surrounding someone as they flew calmly through the woods, until they just went away when they sensed someone coming.

"Kikyou…" InuYasha breathed as he stopped in front of her. The undead miko remained impassive and emotionless even when he hugged her. "Kikyou, I told you to stay out of danger. I will be the one to kill Naraku for you."

The undead miko simply wound her arms around his back and her eyes darkened even more when she put her head on his shoulder.

Kagome stifled a gasp and crouched as fast as she could in the bushes when she arrived on the scene. Her heart was beating so fast and it's as if it was going to burst from a painful grip. 'Not again! InuYasha, can't you see she's not the same anymore!?' She was screaming in her head, but no words came out of her mouth.

Just then, she felt a hand block her mouth, effectively cutting a scream of surprise and she was silenced when a familiar voice reached her ears like a peaceful melody. "Kagome hush! It's only me."

Kagome's eyes widened and she nodded, the hand retracting just after. "Usagi, why did you follow me?"

Usagi crouched beside Kagome and looked at the miko in concern. "Something woke me up back at the camp and when I opened my eyes InuYasha was gone and you were going into the forest. I followed you to be sure you would be ok." Then, the rabbit turned her gaze on the side and looked at InuYasha, who had his back towards them. "What's going on here?" Usagi asked Kagome silently.

Kagome glanced at them but quickly diverted her gaze, it being too hard to watch. Her eyes glazed over and a few bitter tears followed and invisible track on her cheeks. "That's Kikyou, the miko I told you about. Even though she's been killed by Naraku, she wants revenge on InuYasha. She wants to bring him into hell with her and he's so blinded by his past love with her that he doesn't see that she wants to kill him!" She forced out in frustration, shutting her eyes tightly as if to block the image of the 'couple'.

"But then again, why should I interfere? Kikyou was there way before me." She finished, all hope gone from her voice and her head held downcast.

Usagi's eyes held pity, until they just darkened. "Because what is dead must remain dead." Kagome's eyes opened and she was about to say something when they heard Kikyou start to speak again.

"InuYasha…"

The hanyou's eyes were glazed over and he seemed half asleep. "Yes Kikyou?" He asked silently, still hugging her.

"InuYasha…Come to hell with me…"

InuYasha didn't respond to the crazy request, for he was in some sort of trance. The moment Kagome spotted the hidden dagger Kikyou had put in her sleeve she screamed, ignoring Usagi's protest. "INUYASHA!!!!"

The dagger was going to hit him in the back when his eyes finally snapped open and he pushed Kikyou away just in time. She looked at him with hate filled eyes, dagger still in hand, but it was nothing compared to the pure hatred her eyes shot at Kagome. "YOU!" The dead miko growled in fury. "You messed with my plans long enough! I told you to return to your world and never come back! Now pay the price!"

InuYasha gasped as Kikyou threw the dagger straight at Kagome, who stood there rooted on the spot. Usagi sprung into action that exact moment. She rushed out of the bushes and ran in front of Kagome just in time. Her hand moved quickly and in a fast motion she caught the dagger just before it could reach Kagome.

The miko from the future whimpered when she saw the dagger right in front of her eyes but Usagi took it away from her gaze when she saw Kagome's discomfort. Usagi gave a chilling glare at the surprised Kikyou. "You tried to kill my friend. You are now on my enemy list." The angry rabbit stated while throwing the dagger on the ground.

Kikyou glared at the unfamiliar and strange blonde who dared to interrupt her and sneered. "I'll see you another time, InuYasha." The undead miko then made her soul stealers appear and let them lift her up and away. But before she was out of range, she cackled evilly and motioned for a demon to come. "I hope you like my gift! Ha!Ha!Ha! Kill the 2 girls but let InuYasha live for now!" Then she was gone, leaving a growling hanyou behind.

A demon got out from its hiding place and InuYasha let out a string of curses. The youkai had light purple hair and greatly resembled Juromaru. InuYasha took Tetsusaiga and swung the heavy sword towards the silent youkai. "Damn! You're fast! WHO ARE YOU? ANOTHER ONE OF NARAKU'S CREATIONS?!"

The youkai cackled some more and nodded. "I am Kagemaru, brother of the late Juromaru and Kageromaru! I am here for revenge! The Shikon no Tama is none of my concern, but since the undead miko asked me to kill the 2 girls, I will gladly take the shards with me after I get rid of you!"

The youkai did have his late brothers' attributes, InuYasha decided, because he was as fast as hell. Each time he wanted to slash the thing, he was already gone in another direction. Kagemaru was getting tired of playing with the hanyou. He wasn't getting anywhere by dodging InuYasha's attacks and when he found an opening, he dashed towards the petrified miko who was defenseless without her bow and arrows.

InuYasha was too far and Kagemaru was about to strike her when a kick deflected his hand away before he could hit the miko. Usagi jumped in front of Kagome protectively and crouched in a fighting position. "You will not get her."

The youkai growled and started to attack the rabbit, who kept her position. The youkai truly was fast in hand-to-hand combat, but even without using her true speed, she could deflect most of his blows. For the first time since she had joined their group, InuYasha and Kagome could see how well she could fare against her enemies.

Once, Kagemaru struck his long nails into the rabbit's stomach but they were so near one another that neither the hanyou nor Kagome noticed Usagi wince. The blonde girl ignored the throbbing in her stomach and landed a swift and effective kick in the youkai's gut and he fell backwards.

InuYasha got out of his daze and used the evil youkai's surprise to his advantage by throwing a Kaze no Kizu at it, effectively killing Kagemaru in the process. The silver haired hanyou then looked up in the sky where Kikyou once was while his sword de-transformed. "Kikyou…" He said longingly, the glaze in his eyes returning.

Kagome's eyes filled with tears again. "KIKYOU! KIKYOU! THAT'S THE ONLY THING IN YOUR MIND! SHE JUST TRIED TO KILL US AGAIN, INUYASHA! WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?!" Kagome screamed in anger and frustration and ran away from the clearing at full speed.

InuYasha seemed to regain his senses and stuttered. He was about to run after her when someone marched in front of him and he just stood there rooted on the spot as the sharp sound of a slap reached his ears. His head reeled on the side and he held his stinging cheek, looking at Usagi with wide eyes.

Usagi didn't even show an ounce of pity towards him and she turned to where Kagome had gone. "You're a complete fool, InuYasha. And if you don't wake up soon from that dream of yours, you will loose more than what you can handle."

InuYasha felt his legs slip from under him and he sat on the ground with a heavy thud still nursing his angry red cheek, watching the back of the blonde woman slowly disappear into the forest.

*~*

Usagi found Kagome hidden near a rocky cliff's side and looking in front of her with an empty stare. She was sitting on the ground and in a ball as if to shield herself from the outside world. Usagi sat beside her friend and when Kagome didn't show any sign of having seeing her, the rabbit sighed and hugged the miko close to herself. "Oh, Kagome…"

The girl in question let out a keen whimper of surprise before she buried her head in Usagi's shoulder and hugged the blonde as is she was going to disappear. "WHY?! WHY CAN'T HE SEE ME?! IT'S SO HARD, USAGI-CHAN! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH IT HURTS AND HE DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO CARE! I DON'T WANT HIM TO DIE!"

Usagi let Kagome sob and cry out and scream her heart out as she cooed calming and reassuring words to her. The miko only gripped her harder and cried louder and louder and clutched at Usagi as if she was her lifeline. Never had she let her emotions win over her but now that the floodgate had opened, it didn't want to close. So much frustration just had to get out.

Usagi stroked Kagome's back softly and let the girl cling to her even if her nails were beginning to dig into her arms. She was racking with sobs and Usagi only held tighter. The blonde's eyes darkened until they were almost black while she continued to coerce soothing words to the miko. 'InuYasha completely destroyed the girl from the inside! How could he be so senseless as to do this without even noticing it!?' InuYasha's foolishness baffled the princess to no end, and she respected Kagome for all the patience she demonstrated towards him.

Kagome calmed down somewhat in the middle of the night, completely unaware of her surroundings with all the crying she did. She felt so safe in Usagi's arms that she cuddled even closer, if possible. But when her hands moved too close to the blonde's stomach, Kagome heard her friend wince in pain.

The miko looked at her hands with curiosity and gasped when she saw, even in the darkness, that her hands weren't the color they were supposed to be. "Usagi! You're hurt!"

Usagi merely nodded and shrugged it off by embracing Kagome close to herself again. Kagome struggled and protested and Usagi's willpower started to fade. She had lost too much blood and as the wind started to pick up, her eyes closed in exhaustion.

Kagome hugged Usagi to herself in her turn and looked around nervously as the forest became suddenly silent. A gust of wind made the leaves rustle and she heard a movement from the bushes nearby.

She screamed in terror at the shadowed person or thing that appeared suddenly and now loomed over them and clutched at her blonde friend. "AAAAHHHHHH! LEAVE US ALONE!"

"……Kagome?"

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AHHHH! Cliffy. ^_^;;; I hope you've enjoyed this very long and action packed chapter! See ya next time!

R & R!!!

Eternal Cosmos ^_~