InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Dreams ❯ Together ( Chapter 37 )

Broken Dreams

 

I'm willing to bet a lot of reviewers will be pleased with this chapter.

 

Chapter 37

 

Together

 

“If we can keep up this pace, we should be able to reach Naraku by the day after tomorrow.” Raijin announced. Kagome yawned and nodded. They had been traveling all day, and Kagome was severely tired. Inuyasha had carried her on his back when she had lost the strength in her legs around noon, and with the seemingly tireless hanyou supporting her, and the equally tireless Raijin both traveling at a brisk pace, they had made good time to a small riverbed.

“Good.” Inuyasha muttered. Raijin bowed and stood up.

“I shall search for wood for the fire.” He said, walking back into the forest. Kagome grabbed some small sticks lying around to make a spit for the pot, and Inuyasha stepped into the river until the water was just above his ankles. Kagome looked up from her work and eyed the hanyou curiously. The water splashed up against his dirty brown hakama, and Kagome wondered what had happened to the fire rat robes he had always worn. They were supposed to be indestructible, but with Naraku involved, who knew.

Inuyasha reached to his waist and drew the Tetsusaiga. The rusty blade transformed into the legendary fang, and Inuyasha stared at the blade for a moment. He turned to the trees on the other side of the river, and drew the sword back over his head. With a grunt, he brought the blade down into the water. Five yellow bands of power lashed out from the sword and sliced across the water. Kagome gasped as the Kaze-no-Kizu tore up the foliage and created five large slashes in the earth.

“Was there a youkai?” Kagome asked, reaching inside the pack for her bow.

“No. I was just making sure I could still do that.” Inuyasha explained. “Better now than when we're fighting Naraku or Kouga.” He concentrated again and watched as the blade grew into condensed crystal. With another swing, shards of razor sharp diamonds flew from Tetsusaiga as the Kongosoha formed. Inuyasha watched the attack dissipate before turning back to Kagome.

“I want to make sure I can still fight like I used to.” He said softly. Kagome nodded and got to her feet.

“Do you really want to rush into a fight with Naraku so soon after regaining your memories?” Kagome asked. Inuyasha nodded.

“If he hadn't kept me alive with the jewel shard until I could heal naturally, I would have died for sure. But he also made my life a living hell. I'm not letting him get away with that.” He replied.

“I understand why you want to kill Naraku but…why Kouga?” Kagome asked.

“We need to get his jewel shards, and I'm betting he isn't just going to hand them over once he finds out I'm alive. Besides, he hurt you. He deserves death even more then Naraku.” Kagome chuckled.

“Even after five years, you can't let the rivalry go huh?”

“This isn't about our rivalry Kagome.” Inuyasha said. “This is about you. If Kouga hadn't done the things you've said he's done, I'd just take his shards and let him live. But not now. He's hurt you. I can't let you get hurt and not do anything about it.” Kagome sighed.

“I want Kouga dead as much as anyone, but if I have to risk losing you to get it, I'd rather have him alive. I lost you once to him, and I don't want to lose you again.” Kagome sniffed and threw her arms around the hanyou. Inuyasha returned the embrace with little hesitation.

“You won't.” Inuyasha whispered. He reached to her neck and pulled back the locks of silky velvet hair there. He stared down at the brown-red bruise of Kouga's mark. Raijin knew how to break the mark. He had practically come out and said so himself, but he wouldn't tell Inuyasha. Why? Whatever the way was, there was no reason Inuyasha could think of for him not to tell.

The only clue Raijin had given was that he would find the way if Inuyasha loved her enough. But that made no sense. Of course Inuyasha loved her, but what did that have to do with the mark? Kouga, despite his actions, loved her. So by logical means, Kouga's mark was, as originally though, unbreakable. Unless he had misunderstood Raijin? Raijin had said that is he loved her, he would find a way. Maybe love wasn't the way; maybe it was just a way to find the real method of breaking the mark.

“Inuyasha?” Inuyasha snapped himself from his thoughts and looked down at the miko staring at him. “What's wrong? You just got so tense…”

“I was just thinking.” Inuyasha mumbled. He ran a claw gently over the tender flash of the mark, and Kagome caught his meaning. “If I can ever find I way to break the mark, I will. I don't care if I have to go to the darkest depths of Hell, I'll find a way to free you.” He promised.

“Why? You can't kill Kouga without killing me, and you've sworn your vengeance on him.” Kagome said. “If you can kill him, I'd be able to rest in peace.”

“I'm not going to let you die because the bastard wolf forced you to do something you never should have been forced to do.” Inuyasha growled. “If it comes down to it, I'll put Kouga through hell, but I'll let him live. I'm not going to kill him if it means it'll kill you too. You deserve another chance at life without him. He forced you to be his mate. You deserve a chance to be with someone besides that asshole.” Inuyasha was barely aware of the slight shimmer that had appeared in Kagome's eyes. Was he saying…

“Kagome, you're young and beautiful, you shouldn't be bonded to a man like Kouga. Not when you're this young, not ever. You deserve so much more then the fate he's trying to force upon you.” Inuyasha said. Kagome smirked against his shoulder.

“Did you just call me beautiful? Did I just hear you compliment me?” She teased.

“Keh.” Kagome smiled again and pulled back slightly, leaning up on tip toe to kiss the hanyou on the cheek. Inuyasha closed his eyes and turned to say something else when something warm and wet met his lips. His eyes flew open and locked on a pair on surprised brown ones. Oh, so that's what he was feeling...He stared at Kagome for a minute, and she almost seemed scared. Inuyasha remembered this wasn't first time they had been like this. Their first time was Kaguya's castle. But he had been consumed by his youkai side. This time, he was coherent, and wanted to enjoy the moment.

He closed his eyes and pulled Kagome closer to him, his hands sliding down to his hips. Kagome tilted her head and reached up to clench her hands in the cloak the hanyou now wore, her hands caressing his shoulder blades. With battles with their two greatest enemies on the horizon, the odds were that at least one, maybe both, of them were going to die. That in mind, both of them just let time melt away as they took comfort in an incredibly rare moment of peace.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

A large pile of logs in hand, Raijin walked back to the river. He had heard the explosions there, but there was no smell of blood, and he assumed Inuyasha had been training. Either for his fight with Kouga or Naraku, it didn't matter, he had to be in shape for both. Raijin was more then ready to help the battle with either, although he would leave Kouga to Inuyasha if he could. The hanyou deserved revenge, and unless death threatened him, Raijin wasn't about to interfere with their feud.

Raijin emerged from the forest and froze. He gulped at the sight before him. Near the river bank stood Inuyasha and Kagome, arms wrapped around each other and lips pushed together is a passionate kiss. Raijin blushed and quickly turned away. He carefully and quietly piled the wood he had gathered next to a tree before briskly walking into the woods.

“Well, I wished they had picked a moment for that when I might not have been watching.” He muttered. He smirked then as he remembered that Inuyasha had yet to discover how to break the mark. Even if he wasn't aware of it, he might find out how to by accident. “But all things considered, I'd say it's a step in the right direction.”