InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Taste Of Power ❯ All For A Family ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha or any characters there in.

Chapter 3: All For A Family

The next morning Kagome was up earlier and easier than usual. Happily she stoked the fire and prepared breakfast.

As she handed InuYasha his bowl of ramen he looked at her hesitantly and said, "Kagome, about last night…"

"Where are we going today, InuYasha?" Kagome asked cheerily.

InuYasha blinked, "The rumor takes us north from here." He said, "Kagome-" he tried again.

"Let's get moving then! The sooner we get that shard the better!" Kagome turned away from her shocked friends and repacked her bag.

*

Kagome was back to her usual cheerful self, and then some, for several days. She was energetic, happy, even unusually useful in battle.

And then she wasn't. Her sprightly step slowed to a calm trod, and finally returned to a heavy plod. Her eyes once again began to lose their luster and resemble those of a doll, a somewhat troubled doll.

Then the rumor of the shard proved false.

All drive left Kagome, and once again she found herself without appetite. All at once snuggled deeply in the familiar numbness. But she wouldn't let herself think on this now; she didn't want to think about how she could fix it, how she could reenergize herself.

She just lay awake at night, staring at the stars, and listening to the concerned whispers of her friends.

*

On their way back to Keade's village they crossed a hot spring. Sango dragged Kagome off to bathe, in the hopes that the therapeutic waters would help her waning spirit.

Kagome sat in the water, staring at the opposite bank, while Sango tried to get her to talk.

"I think Miroku is watching us." Was all Kagome said.

Once Sango was off chasing the perverted monk, Kagome let out a relieved sigh. There's nothing worse than someone trying to cheer you up when you don't really want to be.

"May I join you?" Sorrell asked as she lowered herself into the water next to Kagome.

"Sure." Kagome shrugged.

"So…did it work?" Sorrell asked.

"Don't you know?" Kagome returned.

"Yes," Sorrell said, "I was just trying to ease the transition to my next question. Why haven't you done it again? Your energy is as weak as ever, his as strong. You are still feeding him and he is still ignoring you. Why do you not take what you need?"

"… I feel guilty," Kagome replied, "He doesn't know what's going on. He doesn't even want to do it. What am I supposed to do? Walk up steal a kiss and saunter away like nothing happened?"

"If that works." Sorrell sighed, "If it helps, if he was against it, he would stop you. But it doesn't really matter, you need this energy, you gave it to him. You are useless to your quest and your friends as you are now."

Kagome shook her head, "I just can't do this, I can't kiss a guy that belongs to another girl. I can't win, I don't even want to try."

Sorrell sighed, "You don't have to, a kiss is just a kiss. Just because you touch your lips to his doesn't mean you are trying to steal him from anyone. Think of it like this, if you must, the healthier you are the faster you will collect the shards, the more useful you will be in the battles and the sooner you can leave him and his fickle heart behind and move on with your life." Sorrell watched Kagome look sadly at the ripples in the pool, "You will only get weaker like this, you know I speak the truth. Take a sip, finish the quest. Or die. Why don't you go ba-"

"Who are you? What do you want?" Sango had just returned from beating Miroku, and was surprised to see a youkia talking to Kagome.

"Kagome why don't you return to camp, you could do with some rest." Sorrell said. Smiling warmly at Kagome, then she turned that smile on Sango, "My name is Sorrell, I'm an acquaintance of Kagome's."

Kagome was looking at her hands, "I think I'll go turn in now Sango, Sorrell is right, I've soaked long enough."

Sorrell helped Kagome out of the spring, and watched as she first dressed and then walked slowly toward the camp.

"Youkia! Answer me! What did you do to Kagome?" Sango demanded.

"My name is Sorrell, and I have educated Kagome on why her energy is running so dangerously low, among other things." Sorrell said while she pinned her toga.

"What is happening to Kagome, and what `other things'?" Sango eyed Sorrell suspiciously.

"Kagome is without the jewel of power which resided in her for so long, and she is in love. These things combined have drained her own energy. You see she loves too well, her heart is wide open to him. And his heart is damaged, so he takes as much as she will give him, to heal his heart." Sorrell paused to gauge Sango's reaction, she seemed to understand so Sorrell went on, "But, probably because his heart is damaged and possibly belongs to another, he cannot or will not return her energy, or give his own. He very likely doesn't know what he is doing. Just as Kagome was unaware of what she was doing."

"What `other things' did you tell Kagome?" Sango had relaxed a bit, but was still ready to pounce on the youkia if it made a wrong move.

"I told her how she could take some of her energy back." Sorrell explained simply.

"Why?" Sango asked, "Why would you help Kagome? Why would a youkia help a miko?"

Sorrell's smiled turned sad, "I am lonely, Sango. When a vile man in a baboon cloak tried to get me to use my talents against your group, I was uninterested. At first I thought there was nothing to be gained by it, I am not interested in the power of the jewel."

"Naraku…" Sango said, "you work for Naraku!"

"NO, and yes," Sorrell shook her head, "Listen to my story first. I saw this little miko giving away her power. Unaware that her love was likely going to get her killed. I knew I could help her understand this. And then I saw this little boy with Naraku-"

"Kohaku…" Sango breathed.

"Yes. He can't survive without the shard of the jewel in his back. But I can also change that. So I told Naraku I would help him, in exchange for the boy. He agreed. I have him now, in my home here."

"Why…" Sango whispered, "Why are you doing this?"

"I am lonely, Sango." Sorrell repeated, "I am the last of my kind, were I am from. And the form is different here. I do not despise humans, and I do not fear your little miko. I can heal Kohaku, Sango. Return him to life and allow him to grow up. This I can do with my knowledge of energy. But it will take time." Sorrell's tone was gaining a pleading quality. "Once I have finished here I will have healed Kohaku, if I have enough time. Your group will not falter by the small amount of energy that Kagome needs from InuYasha. Kohaku will be away from the influence of Naraku and the shard, and me? I will have a little brother," Sorrell looked meaningfully down at her side, and then back up to Sango, eyes soft and pained, hopeful and sad, "And a little sister. I will no longer be alone."

"You can save Kohaku?" Sango said.

"All I need now is time." Sorrell answered hopefully, "It will take time to heal his wounds properly. Until then Kagome's feeding off of InuYasha will convince Naraku that I am still in his pocket. If he discovers otherwise too soon, he will take Kohaku back."

"Why not tell InuYasha what's going on?" Sango whispered. She had lost all will to fight this youkia, but she did want to know, a lack of information got her into trouble before.

"That would both ruin the facade and damage Kagome's chances at getting what she needs." Sorrell sighed, back to a more business like tone, "It is possible that InuYasha will figure it out on his own, not likely but possible. Then he will either prevent all future energy transfers or begin giving Kagome what he should. Either way my game would be over, and Kohaku would be returned to Naraku, as he is. So don't tell InuYasha, don't let him know what's going on."

Sango stood still for a moment, "For Kohaku." She breathed.

Sorrell smiled sweetly and walked off into the forest. Sango turned and walked quietly back to camp.