InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Anything but a Fairytale ❯ The New Moon and Kagome's Kidnapped.. ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A/N: In case you were wondering where the second chapter went, I made the first two chapters into one. I think it's better this way because it's not so broken up and I think it flows better. I've edited this a lot and hopefully I can write the next chapter pretty soon…

DISCLAIMER: Usually people can come up with a funny or witty way to write this, but I got nothin, so I'll just say it (and it's the only time I'm going to, so listen up).. I don't own Inuyasha!!!! Happy now? Cause I’m not.

~ * ~

Anything but a Fairytale ch. 1

The late afternoon sun shown brightly through the trees. The light wind rustled their branches and the grass swayed gently in it's swift caress while the birds chirped happily, gracing all within hearing rage with their cheerful song.

Kagome absent-mindedly trailed behind her shard-hunting friends as they traveled along the dirt path leading to the next village. She inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet scent of the sakura blossoms and of the dense forest. Her feet ached every time she forced herself to take another painful step. She was tired from all their traveling lately. All of them were. Well, excluding Inuyasha, of course. They'd been traveling for three days straight without proper rest.

Kagome sighed heavily, letting herself get lost in her own musings.

She found herself thinking about just how much had changed since she had first began her journey with Inuyasha and the others. Two years had pasted since then and Kagome had just turned eighteen.

After many hardcore study sessions and extra credit assignments, Kagome would finally be graduating soon and despite all the missed days of school and retaken tests, she had been relieved to have passed through school without flunking. She was glad to close the chapter of her high school career and move on, though she had to admit, she‘d miss it a little. However, the good aspects were greater than the bad… There’d be no more made-up illnesses and lying to cover up her absences, no more over-night study sessions, no more tests or pop quizzes she wasn‘t prepared for, no more of Inuyasha’s complaining every time she had to travel back to her time… She would finally able to concentrate solely on finding jewel shards and the pressure of living a double life would be, for the most part, lifted. Not to mention, spending more time with Inuyasha and her feudal era friends.

Kagome had to admit, she wasn’t the same naïve, clumsy little school girl that she used to be… She had grown up a lot in the last couple years and she liked to think she was a little more mature now. She had finally stopped wearing that silly school uniform. Her change in attire was much more convenient. The simple white wife beater that graced her upper half clung to her slender body which had matured into a more womanly figure. Though the tank top did leave a lot to the imagination, it did show off her figure, strong arms and the silky skin of her shoulders. She wore a pair of tan cargo capris, a brown belt around her waist with a sword, courtesy of Sango, attached to it and a dagger hidden in the one of the boots she wore. Her old loafers were hard to run in and pinched her feet, giving her blisters. Kagome had even replaced her old worn yellow back pack for a plain dark blue one after a raccoon demon had gotten a hold of it and ripped it to shreds.

Her appearance… had definitely changed immensely as well. Her eyes her still bright and full of life, but they had calmed a little. Her face had taken on a more calming quality to it, framed by her long raven hair that had grown to her lower back, wearing it free of hair ties just as she always had, for if she were to tie it back, she was afraid she might look even more like Kikyou.

Kagome pulled a few annoying locks of her hair behind her ear when the wind picked up and it streamed wildly across her face in the breeze.

Regretfully, despite her efforts, she did in fact, looked even more like Kikyou than she had before. She could see herself turning more and more into Kikyou every time she looked in the mirror, but she was helpless to stop it. She had half the mind to cut her hair, but she had grown rather attached to it. Kagome scowled at her thoughts. She hated being compared to… her.

Kagome’s thoughts then turned to a certain hanyou and she sighed.

There was no doubt Inuyasha had noticed how much she had changed. When she had caught him staring at her with a weird look in his eye, she was pretty sure he was thinking of Kikyou. But deep down, she still couldn't help but to wish that maybe it was really her he was seeing. She knew hoping silly things like that was foolish of her. It would only make everything hurt worse in the end…

Still, it didn’t stop her from dreaming of the day he would tell her he loved her, the day he'd marry her, and even the day when they'd have dog-eared babies together.

Kagome blushed slightly at the thought.

No matter how much it hurt, she had told herself to move on and yet here she was, still as hung up over him as much as he was still hung up over Kikyou. She just couldn't see herself being with anyone else. She couldn’t move on. She didn’t want to move on. She loved him. There was no denying it anymore. She had even told him once…

Inuyasha blocked her attack, their swords vibrating from the impact. He pushed her back, sweeping a foot under her feet, causing her to fall flat on her butt.

Inuyasha smirked down at her as she groaned, rubbing her sore rear. He offered her his hand and helped her up.

“Your getting better,” he commented, as if impressed.

Kagome sighed. “Obviously not good enough” she mumbled with a pout, brushing herself off.

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Did you really think you’d be good enough to beat me?” He laughed at her.

Kagome glared at him. She briefly though about sitting him, but that would be cheating. Kagome settled for kneeing him in the stomach before flipping him over her shoulder; a move Sango had taught her the day before.

Inuyasha let out a cry in advance to hitting with the ground with an ‘oof’. Successfully knocking the air out of his lungs, he remained there a moment.

Kagome hovered over him, mimicking the smirk he had previously wore and reached out her hand as he had, his eyes narrowing at her as he reluctantly accepted it.

“Spare me the smug comments, will you?” Inuyasha hated to admit he was caught off guard. He had just took a huge blow to the ego.

Kagome nodded, deciding to cut him a break. “Thanks for helping me train.”

“Don’t mention it,” Inuyasha grumbled, still a little put out. He kept his gaze focused on the ground, his head turned away from her.

“I love you, Inuyasha,” Kagome didn’t even think as she leaned on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek.

His ear twitched at her words, heart skipped a beat, eyes widened and he blinked in surprise, lifting his golden-eyed gaze up at her.

Kagome bit her lip, a small blush tinting her cheeks. She shuffled her feet and fidgeted, dreading his reaction. She‘d gotten carried away in the moment. The words had just slipped out.

Inuyasha watched her with a mixture of emotions. He didn’t really know what to say… Should he say it back? Or the better question was, could he say it back? He opened his mouth to say something, but before any words could come out, Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kirara had interrupted.

Kagome found herself sighing again. Neither of them had brought the incident up again…

Kagome hadn't even dated anyone since Hojo and even then, it could hardly be considered dating. She felt a little guilty blowing him off all the time and never showing up for their ‘dates’. She was relieved when he finally gave up on her and started dating a new girl at their school, though he still said 'hi' to her every time they crossed paths in the hallways and she guessed they were still friends…

As for Kouga, he had finally agreed to marry Ayame. The desperate female wolf had spend almost a whole year as Kouga’s constant companion and though in the beginning she had been more of a pest to him, they had eventually grown closer. Still, it took much more convincing before Kouga had kept his promise to her…

Just because he was married to Ayame now, it didn’t keep him from stopping by to say hello every once in awhile. He still enjoyed flattering Kagome with over-the-top compliments on how beautiful she was… And he especially enjoyed patronizing Inuyasha who still became grouchy whenever the wolf came around. Kouga always made sure he pointed out the fact that he thought she was too good to be with a ‘stupid mutt face like Inutrasha’ and he would tell her he would make sure she found a suitable and worthy mate. Although, his expectations were impossibly high…

Kagome rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile at the good old days.

“Kagome, are you coming or what?” Inuyasha called from a considerable distance ahead of her. She hadn’t noticed she had fallen so behind…

Despite herself, Kagome couldn’t help but smile at hearing her beloved hanyou’s rough, familiar voice. She sighed. “Yes, Dammit! I’m coming!” she shouted back at him, trying to sound irritated. Okay, so maybe she hadn’t matured too much... She also seemed to have picked up a certain cursing habit. Inuyasha had no doubt rubbed off on her a little. A small smile graced her lips as she remembered the first time her friends had heard her curse. They had all fallen silent, staring at her with their mouths agape and eyes staring widely in shock and disbelief.

Even now, Kagome and Inuyasha still fought as they always had. They never meant the sometimes hurtful things they said, but every once in awhile their ‘arguments’ still resulted in Kagome going home and Inuyasha having to go and drag her ass back. Kagome had a feeling he sometimes tried to make her mad on purpose. Actually, now that she thought about it… In two years, they really hadn’t changed all that much, as far as their relationship was concerned anyway.

Inuyasha had hardly changed at all. He still had the same long silver hair, golden eyes, lean, muscular body, undeniable sex appeal, and fuck off attitude. But there was something that had changed about him… Though Kagome couldn’t quite put her finger on it. They had continued to grow considerably closer since they had first met. Even though they were still a little immature at times, they had also matured in a sense as well… If that made any sense at all. It was as if being immature was all just an act now.

“Yeah, well hurry it up! I’m growin old here!” He shouted back at her.

“Inuyasha, you don’t grow old!” she countered.

“I’ll die of old age before you learn to keep up!” He tried to hide his smirk as he heard her footsteps come to a halt. He could feel her heated glare burning into his back, but he didn’t dare turn around. It wouldn’t be long before she said-

“SIT!!” she shouted, sending him face-first into the ground. Inuyasha found himself eating dirt again in a hanyou-shaped hole in the hard earth.

Sango sighed as she, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo just kept walking, ignoring the two bickering pair and leaving them behind.

It wasn’t long before a slap echoed through the air along with cursing and a few insults resulting in a beat red hand print across Miroku’s cheek.

No, none of them had really changed too much…

~ * ~

Night had fallen and when they had reached the next village, Miroku had conveniently discovered an ‘evil presence’ residing in the local tavern. In appreciation, the group was offered a place to stay for the night.

They had traveled all day and had run into a couple of demons after their jewel shards, but the demons were pretty weak. They had easily killed them and continued on their way. But despite all that, they were still tired and worn out from their continuous traveling and due for a good night’s rest. The group had become quite a team. Where one lacked, the others made up for. All of them had become a lot stronger over the last few years.

Kagome had learned a lot about different herbs and remedies from Kaede. Sango had even taught her a little about demon slaying and fighting techniques. Inuyasha was teaching her how to sword fight and Kagome’s archery had been perfected as well. She had become a little more graceful instead of the klutz that she used to be. She could put up barriers and she knew a few spells and things of that sort; courtesy of Miroku and of course, Kaede. Her powers were advancing, too, though she had yet to master them completely. Kaede was confident that she would learn quickly how to control them. Kagome’s powers seemed to only get stronger every time she trained, as well as harder to contain. They pretty well had a mind of their own, acting to their own accord.

Kagome had been determined and dedicated herself to become stronger and she had succeeded. She had to admit, she was a little proud of herself. She actually stood a chance against powerful demons on her own, without any help from Inuyasha or the others.

It was dark out now and the others were already asleep, yet Inuyasha was nowhere to be found. Of coarse, that was to be expected when it was the night of the new moon.

‘Maybe I should go look for Inuyasha,’ Kagome thought, glancing down at the sleeping fox boy that rested beside her. Smiling slightly, she slipped out of her sleeping bag and stood up, careful not to wake him.

She quietly snuck out the hut and off to find Inuyasha.

Though Kagome was not an expert tracker, and lacked a keen sense of smell, finding Inuyasha proved remarkably easy, as she was able to quickly find his footprints in the soft mud, which headed straight towards the sounds of the river that ran through the village.

When Kagome found him, Inuyasha was sitting quietly beside the rapid-flowing water. His black hair brushed slightly in the light breeze. He looked thoughtful as he stared at his reflection. He sighed and Kagome noticed the small hint of sadness in his expression.

~ * ~

Inuyasha hated his human nights. He always felt so weak and helpless.

He sighed at his black hair, human ears, and violet eyes staring back at him through the water, seemingly mocking him.

Looking up at the moonless sky, he tensed when he heard someone clear their throat, but relaxed a little when he saw it was only Kagome. She quietly sat beside him and neither of them said anything for a moment.

He sighed again and decided to break the silence. “What do you want?” His tone had come out a little harsher than he had intended.

She didn’t say anything and just kept staring at the running river that gave her a sense of peace and comfort. She couldn’t help but to think it reminded her a little of Inuyasha. It was harsh and rapid, but calming and strong at the same time. It gave her a feeling of contentment and made her feel safe.

Kagome smiled slightly.

Inuyasha watched her from the corner of his eye and wondered what she could be thinking.

It had been a long, hard few years for them all. None of them knew how much longer their journey would last, but they kept going. Through the good times and hard times, making memories together the whole way. They were family; Something Inuyasha had never got much of a chance to have. They were an odd family, but a family none the less. Inuyasha knew the battle between Naraku would be hard and he wouldn’t know what he would do without them if the worst should happen. There’d be no guarantee that they’d all make it out alive; no guarantee that even he would make it out alive. But whatever happened, he could never forget them. Any of them.

Though, why was it that he only thought about things like this when he was a human? He’d never admit any of those things, even if only to himself, when he was half demon. No matter how true it really was…

This worried him. He never wanted them to leave. He couldn’t lose them. They were the only thing he had left to live for. Even if they defeated Naraku and restore the sacred jewel to it’s former glory, what would happen after that? They were only humans. They would grow old and die way before he ever would. And in truth, Kagome didn’t belong in the Feudal Era. Would she go back to her time, never to return again? These things were inevitable, no matter how much he denied it to himself and wish it not true. What would he do for the rest of his meaningless, pathetic life without them? It almost made him want to forget about slaying Naraku and… Getting revenge suddenly seemed meaningless. Why would he willingly put his family in danger or risk losing them? Was it really worth it in the end?

His thoughts turned to Kikyou and his expression darkened.

Was Kikyou worth giving up everything for? Was he still willing to give up his life for her? Would he be willing to give up his family for her? Was she or what they had… Worth it all?

How did he feel about her? For some reason, he wasn’t so sure anymore. His emotions were so confusing… The relationship he shared with Kikyou… Was completely different from the one he had with Kagome. One thing he knew for sure… Is that he cared for both of them. But… Love? That was so much more complicated.

He thought he was in love with Kikyou before, but that was the first time he had ever felt positive feelings towards anyone other than his mother. In truth, when he had said he loved her, he didn’t know what love was. And... He still wasn’t sure he knew what love was… Or what it would even feel like if he was feeling it.

What he and Kikyou had was… Well, a good thing. He wouldn’t take any of it back. At the time, he had needed her. They had needed each other. They had both been miserable and lonely and they had discovered a mutual contentment and a sense of love and belonging in each other’s companionship and in each other’s arms. He’d grown to care and maybe… Perhaps even more than that. But regardless, it was over now… Things had went horribly wrong. It wasn’t meant to be, even if it still hurt not knowing what could’ve been...

Kagome, however, mended and healed the wounds that his unhappy childhood and Kikyou’s betrayal had created. She wormed her way into his heart and somehow got him to trust again in such a short amount of time. He had thought he loved Kikyou, but now that he met Kagome, his new and different feelings screwed everything up. She was starting to make him second-guess his feelings for Kikyou. It was… Different with Kagome. What if… He was in love with her instead of Kikyou? Did it even matter? It wasn’t likely for them to have a future together. He was painfully aware of that. Humans didn’t belong with demons. It would only make life harder and more complicated for them both.

She belonged in the future.

His place was in the feudal era.

Kagome deserved a normal life in her own time with her family. He couldn’t ask her to give that up, even though he selfishly wished she would. He wouldn’t... Because her happiness and well-being was more important to him than his own. That was the reality of it, as much as he wished it wasn’t. He couldn’t allow himself to love her. Because if he did, it would only make it harder to say goodbye. He was scared to let himself love her; Look where it had gotten him last time. But he feared that he had already let himself get too attached. He feared that it was too late… Nevertheless, it was still going to be nearly impossible to say goodbye to her. He couldn’t do it willingly; He’d already tried that in the past. He needed her. They needed each other. He trusted her completely and she trusted him in return. They shared a bond. He honestly couldn’t say the same about Kikyou. He’d never fully trusted her. And he knew she never fully trusted him, either. Which was probably why they were so quick to betray each other…

Deep down, he knew he couldn’t be with either of them. Kikyou was dead. And Kagome was from a completely different world. He couldn’t have a future with either of them. Not alive and happy, at least. Maybe, he was just meant to be alone… He didn’t want to be, but after the battle with Naraku, it‘d most likely turn out that way. It too was inevitable. He’d rather die than go through being alone again. And if he were to die, he might as well do it with Kikyou, right? At least he wouldn’t be alone… That would be the only way.

But, for as long as he was alive, he wanted to be with Kagome. He would protect her, no matter what happened. She cared deeply about him… She loved him even, and he knew it. She would give her life for him and in return, he would do the same for her. He’d seen her shed tears for him. He had shed tears many times for her, too over the years... Kagome made everything worth bearing. She was the glue that held their small family together, she was strong and brave, although still a little naïve at times, whether she realized it or not... She was Kagome. She would always be Kagome. She was his best friend and more than that at the same time. He knew that she was special in some way... It was just…

Yep, there he went again. Damn human emotions…

“Inuyasha?” Kagome's voice was quiet and there was slight hesitation in her tone.

Inuyasha looked at her. “What?”

She kept her gaze ahead and continued. “I-I’ve been having these bad feelings lately,” her expression seemed troubled.

“What do you mean?” he asked rather skeptically.

“I’ve been having these feelings that something bad is going to happen.” She looked at him, worry showing in her eyes.

He snorted and rolled his violet eyes at her. “Nothing bad is ever going to happen, especially when I’m around,” He said as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Kagome glared at him for brushing her off. “I’m serious, Inuyasha. I really am worried.”

Kagome remembered her dream she had two days ago. To say it had scared her was a huge understatement. Maybe she was just over reacting, but still, it felt so real. The blood was everywhere...

Shippo’s fatally battered body had been laying on the ground next to Kirara’s. Miroku was losing control of his wind tunnel. Sango held her lifeless brother close to her while bleeding to death herself, crying as her friends were dying around her. Sango cried out, reaching for Miroku as he met the blood-soaked earth, yet she didn’t have enough strength to get up and go to him.

And then there was Inuyasha...

His body had been badly beaten and yet he had pushed himself to keep fighting. Naraku had looked directly at Kagome as he stabbed Inuyasha through the heart. His cry of pain reached her ears as she watched with a tear-struck face. Inuyasha fell to his knees, clutching his wound with blood seeping through his hands. Naraku’s evil smirk along with his crimson eyes... It haunted her.

What if that was really what was to become of them? What if it had been more of a premonition instead of a dream? Either way, it didn’t help the dark feeling lurking in the pit of her stomach…

Inuyasha just looked at her as she glared at him. He tried not to smirk, but he couldn’t help it. He noticed the way her nose was slightly wrinkled, her cheeks tinted a light shade of pink, and her eyes narrowed at him... And the way the corner of her perfect lips pouted.

Before it could register in his head, he found himself leaning closer her until his lips gently brushed against Kagome's, lingering there for several moments. Her lips felt soft against his. His actions finally registering in his head, Inuyasha abruptly jerked away from her. They both blushed furiously and neither of them looked at the other.

Inuyasha recovered first. He cleared his throat. “Uh, you should go back to the village and get some sleep.” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Kagome nodded and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He still avoided her gaze. She stood up and started to leave, but stopped and turned back to face him. “Aren’t you coming?”

He didn’t say anything and Kagome sighed. ‘I guess not,’ She thought sadly, turning back toward the village and leaving him alone to think.

Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief after she was gone. What the hell had gotten into him? Inuyasha turned his attention back to the river and sighed again. He looked to the moonless sky, taking his eyes off his reflection in the running water of the river.

He hated to see himself this way. His human days made him feel depressed and his past always came back to haunt him. The memories were often too much to bare. On these nights, he would often think about his unhappy childhood…

Memories of other kids calling him names, throwing rocks at him, giving him suspecting looks, blaming him for things he didn’t do... But he was a half demon. It was always his fault. He’d often come home to his mother with scrapes and bruises and when she’d ask what happened, he’d say that he fell or some other excuse, but thinking back, he knew that his mother had always known the truth.

He'd grown to hate himself. Why not? Everyone else did... Somewhere deep down the thought had taunted him that maybe he deserved all those beatings and looks of disgust. He might have deserved the ill-treatment, but his mother, who had been a kind and forgiving woman… Who had been simply punished for loving a demon, taking him as her husband, and for loving her son. She had suffered maybe even more than he had. She had never deserved any of it…

Memories of his mother came back to him. He tried to push them away. He couldn't think about it. He couldn't think about her. The way she used to hold him as a child... The way she used to comfort him, holding him close to her heart… Her warm embrace that he'd never feel again. The way she used to smile down at him with her loving motherly warm eyes... The ones he'd never see again. The first time he’d seen her cry... The bittersweet emotion in her tearful eyes... And even the day she had died.

Anger rushed through him, eating away at his insides. He’d been there the day she had died. And he’d seen it happen. He had a front row seat. Her blood... He could still smell it and hear her screams echoing through his head.

Maybe he didn't belong in the world, and maybe that was why he wasn’t fated to have a happy future. He was never meant to be here in the first place and he'd been forced to live through so much pain because of it; to lose both of his parents, to fend for himself at a young and tender age, to be humiliated, unaccepted, betrayed, untrusted and denied not only by complete strangers, but by his own brother; the only family he had left to turn to…

Despite his childhood, Inuyasha had never cried, even as a child and he refused to breakdown; not now, not ever. He wouldn't let himself be so weak. He wouldn’t give the world the sick satisfaction of knowing that its endless torture had finally gotten to him.

His thoughts suddenly turned back to Kagome, bringing a warm feeling with them. She made him feel as though he wasn’t just a 'worthless half breed'. She made him feel as though he belonged somewhere. That he had a place in the world and that his existence wasn’t just an accident, as he'd been told so many times. So many times, that he had come to believe it.

Kagome was kind and forgiving and way too damn trusting for her own good. She’d stayed with him even though he was such a jerk to her sometimes. Even through he had caused her so much pain. She forgiven him many times over again. She knew how dangerous it was to be there with him during battles and even when he turned into a full demon. She had ran away. She had treated him with respect and kindness as if he deserved it. She had felt sympathy for him when nobody else did. He knew he didn’t deserve it anyway...

Inuyasha had never spoken of his past to anyone; Not even Kagome or the others. He’d always push back the aching in his chest and avoided talking or thinking about it. It was as if he shoved his emotions into a thick metal volt with fifty massive locks and bolts and hid them there. But when he was human, it was as if the locks suddenly melted away into acid and the bolted door swung wide open to let all his painful memories overflow and spill out where they weren't wanted. He could get away with locking his past away as a demon, but not as a human…

Inuyasha often found himself wanting to push Kagome away because deep down, he felt she deserved better. She deserved to live the normal life she wanted… but he didn’t want to let her go. Her presence and constant companionship had somehow grown on him to the point he couldn‘t be without her. He wanted her to move on, but he also wanted her to stay with him. But then again, he didn’t know what he wanted. He was so confused…

Inuyasha turned his gaze at the sky and sighed again. These nights always seemed to last forever.

Just then, Inuyasha froze as he saw something in the moonless night that was white and snake-like that slithered past his vision. They were Kikyou’s soul collectors. That meant Kikyou was nearby…

Almost out of habit, the sudden urge to follow took hold of him. He knew he shouldn’t, especially since he was human at the moment. He knew going to her would be betraying Kagome. But he had promised to protect Kikyou; just as he promised Kagome. After all, Kikyou was still to some point, the woman he had loved.

Wait… Did he just say, ‘had loved?‘ Well, even if he did love her at one point, she wasn’t completely the same woman. Inuyasha quickly shoved the thought away. He was pretty sure it had just come out wrong.

He turned his attention back to the sky. The soul-collectors were almost out of view by now. Without further thought, he found himself rising from his spot on the ground.

~ * ~

Kagome's heart fluttered in her chest as she took her time walking back to the village. Dropping her fingers from her lips, she tried to wipe the dorky smile off her face. Kagome could still feel his soft lips on hers. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts and letting out something between a sigh and a yawn, she continued on her way back to the village.

Bed sounded so appealing... She could almost hear it calling her name.

Kagome paused just as the village came into view. She had a feeling she was being followed... And her ‘feelings’ were usually right. She turned around, but was met with nothing but trees and the light rustling of the wind.

Kagome shook her head at herself, pushing the paranoia from the dark depths of her mind and began walking again.

The wind picked up and it seemed as through all went silent. Kagome shivered, her thin, blue tank top and matching striped pajama pants providing little protection from the cold. Her long raven hair streamed across her face in the breeze.

Kagome gasped and stiffened as felt a hand come from behind, covering her mouth. Before she had time to react, an object connected with the back of her head. Pain blurred her vision before she collapsed to the ground with a ‘thud’ and her world was swallowed in darkness.

~ * ~

Inuyasha had followed the soul collectors to a clearing where Kikyou sat leaned against the bottom of a tree. She appeared to be sleeping.

He hesitated to approach her. A slight feeling of dread washed over him. Maybe he shouldn’t have come.

Sensing his presence, she opened her eyes. He watched as her cold glare faltered and changed to surprise as if she had just realized who he was.

He stood there and didn’t make any movements toward her, nor to say anything. Why did he all of a sudden feel awkward being with her?

She stood using the tree for support as her soul collectors swirled around her.

Inuyasha watched hesitantly as she managed to stand.

She took a few steps toward him and stumbled. His strong arms came to her aid before she connected with the ground.

A ghost of a smile appeared at her lips. It was just like the time she had tripped on the dock a long time ago. ‘Except he wasn‘t human then.’ She thought as she looked up at him. Instead of gold, she met his deep violet eyes. He looked so much different as a human. She had always longed for him like this when she was alive. He would have made a perfectly good husband, as long as he had rid himself of his demon blood. They could have been happy together. She'd have been free of her priestess duties and she could finally settle down as a normal, ordinary woman... If only…

He only held her gaze briefly before he looked away.

She frowned. “Inuyasha, what is wrong?”

He hesitated to answer. “Kikyou, I...” He timidly turned his eyes to her again, but fought to find the right words to say to her.

She put her finger to his lips and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace, resting her head on his chest. She didn't want to hear what he had to say.

He tensed at her touch, having to resist the urge to pull away. He hesitated a moment.

She smiled inwardly when he returned the embrace... as she knew he would. She was so much more attracted to him in his human form... She always had been. She had desired a normal life and unfortunately his demon blood prevented that. He would have been hers as soon as he used the jewel to become human. Regretfully, she had never gotten the chance to have him when she was alive… ‘This could be my only chance to have him like this…‘ She thought sadly, taking her hand that rested on his chest and gently slid it into his haori.

He felt a cold chill run through him at the touch of her cold fingers against his bare skin before he pulled away, putting a noticeable gap between them. “I don’t think it was a good idea I came here.” His voice was quiet and soft, lacking it's usual roughness.

Rejection roared its ugly head and Kikyou felt hatred and jealousy toward the woman who had stolen him from her while she was away; Never had Inuyasha rejected her. She glared coldly at him, gritting her teeth. “Why do you feel that way Inuyasha? Is it because of that pathetic excuse for a priestess, Kagome?” she accused scornfully.

He blinked at her a few times, surprised at her sudden bitterness. He refused to look at her again.

Kikyou felt rage and anger run through her when he didn’t reply. She stepped toward him as he took a step back, roughly connecting with a tree that had seemingly somehow came out of nowhere. She came closer, taking in his appearance. If only she were still alive... The thought of dying with him wasn’t enough. She wanted him. He belonged to her and she wasn’t about to let that fool of an reincarnation get in the way.

~ * ~

A/N: Let me know what you guys think!! This is only my second fic and I haven’t even finished my first, so please go easy on me. Constructive criticism is welcomed; just try to hold back with flaming. No, there's not going to be any lemons in case any of you were wondering. I'm not ready to be writing that kind of stuff especially since I'm only fourteen years old and... Well, let's just leave it at that. Let me know what ya think!!