InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Changing Hearts? ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Changing Hearts?

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inu Yasha and pals. That credit belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I do however own the story idea...I think.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: It looks like this will be the last chapter, before the ending. I wanted to say thank you for your lovely reviews, they make the ideas come faster. Sorry it took longer than usual for me to post this last chapter, but it was really difficult for me to make it so that Kagome ended up with someone other than Inu Yasha. But here it is, I hope that you like it. Now, lets see how this one is going to turn out, what do you say? As always, read and enjoy.

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Chapter 8

Inu Yasha watched as Kagome's arrow streaked toward him. Time seemed to slow as he studied the girl that had come to mean so much to him. He understood why she was doing this, and he held no grudge. He deserved it. He had betrayed her. Inu Yasha took time to memorize her features. A slight breeze was tossing her hair around her shoulders, and the emotionless shield she had erected, cracked. He saw pain and sorrow, for him, not for herself. He saw that once again she had forgiven him. But most of all, he saw her love. It seemed different somehow though. Something had changed. It didn't matter, now he had something to dream of that was sweet and pure, unlike the betrayal and rage he had dealt with the last time he had lived through this nightmare. This time the only treachery he had to live with was his own. He closed his eyes with a sigh, waiting for the arrow to strike its mark. He didn't see the anger and disappointment flash in her eyes.

Kagome watched as her arrow flew toward the hanyou. Time seemed to slow for her as well. She watched his face as his emotions flitted across it. Shame, despair and acceptance quickly followed each other. She couldn't hold the icy facade any longer, and her heart reached out to touch him. He seemed to know, because peace washed over his features and he closed his eyes waiting for the end. He believed that she was capable of this. The thought ran through her mind, causing her to get angry and be disappointed all at once. After all that they had been through together, he still believed that she would be able to kill him. Because Kikyo had done it fifty years ago. He really did only think of her as a carbon copy of his first love. With that thought, time resumed its normal speed, and once more the arrow raced toward its intended target. Just before it reached him, Kagome screamed.

"Sit." He plunged to the ground and the arrow continued on through the space that had been occupied by his heart just a second before. Inu Yasha managed to roll over onto his back just in time to watch Kagome's arrow burst into brilliant white flames as it streaked towards its goal. Kikyo was still laughing, and didn't see the danger until it was almost too late. She moved and the arrow thudded harmlessly into her shoulder. The dead priestess pulled it out and looked at it incredulously. The stupid little girl had tried to purify her. Kikyo's soulless eyes sought out her reincarnation. For this she would pay with her life, and in the process her soul would be returned to its proper owner.

Their eyes met with an almost audible clash. Kagome had put another arrow to the string, and now Kikyo had done the same. But while Kagome's arrow was pointed again at the miko, Kikyo's was pointed down at the hanyou. Her intent was clear, if Kagome were to loose her arrow, Kikyo would do the same. They were at a impasse, and neither miko planned to back down.

Miroku and Sango had watched this silent confrontation with awe. The girl they knew seemed to possess an inner calm that they had never seen before. If Miroku hadn't been in love with her before, his heart would have gone to her in that moment. Kagome's eyes were clear and bright, her cheeks lightly flushed and her purity could be seen as a bright white aura that surrounded her and pulsed with every beat of her heart. She was lovely. He smiled, his heart feeling full for the first time since he was a child. He then shook his head and turned his attention back to the battle of wills that was transpiring in the clearing. There was no way that Kagome would risk Inu Yasha's life, so their stalemate would hold for the time being. He looked at Sango and finally caught her eye. He nodded at her, and her face became grim. Miroku reached out and touched Kagome's arm and saw her smile and nod slightly. She trusted them completely. They turned and sprinted away from the clearing. Be safe until I return Angel.

Inu Yasha was still trying to comprehend what had happened. Kagome had saved his life at the last second. No, she had never intended to take it in the first place. He cursed himself for a fool. He should have known that she would never do that. When she had been told that he had plotted to take her soul, she hadn't believed Kikyo for an instant, her trust in him had been that strong. He hadn't trusted her for a second, believing that she would seal him the moment he saw the arrow in her hand. He almost gasped aloud when it hit him that she hadn't been apologizing for his death, but for the pain that she would cause by taking Kikyo from him. He really was a damn fool.

He sat on the ground between the two women and tried to decide what he should do. If he chose a side now, there would be no going back later. When he heard the sound of running footsteps, he expected to see his friends charging forward, and felt a sneaking sense of relief. He wouldn't have to make a decision after all. They would take care of this. What he didn't expect was to see the monk and the exterminator running back toward the village. They had left her alone? How could they do that? He snorted at himself. He had been doing the same thing for weeks, how could he judge them? Shame washed over him as Kikyo's cold laughter once again filled the clearing.

"So now you have no one." Kikyo laughed. "Your friends are gone and the man you love will join me in hell."

"I won't let you take Inu Yasha to hell, Kikyo. He may be a jerk but he doesn't deserve that. No one deserves to spend eternity with you. I wouldn't even wish that on Naraku." Kikyo's laughter cut off abruptly and her eyes narrowed.

"How dare you speak to me like that. You are nothing but a shell of who I once was."

"You need to get some new material. I have heard that so often that it doesn't even sting any longer. Besides, you are the one without a soul of your own, to me that makes you the shell." Inu Yasha sat on the ground, watching the battle of wills rage above him. He was very surprised that Kagome was holding her own, in fact she seemed to be winning the verbal battle.

"Shut up." Kikyo hissed.

"No, I won't. I have an offer for you."

"What could you possibly offer me that I would want?" She arched an eyebrow. "Unless you plan to return my soul?"

"Get over it. Its mine. No, what I am offering is Inu Yasha... with two conditions." Kagome heard the hanyou's gasp of pained surprise, but wouldn't look at him.

"You got my attention girl. What are these conditions of yours?"

"You must promise to never come near me or my friends again. You make me ill." Kikyo's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent. Kagome took that as ascent and continued. "Secondly, you will not take Inu Yasha to hell. I will relinquish any holds that I have on him. He wants to be with you, and I won't stop him. Live out your...life...death...whatever, but not in hell." Kikyo seemed to consider this for awhile and then looked at Kagome.

"You realize that you are pleading the case of a half demon who has admitted that if he could, he would take back having ever met you and friends that deserted you in your time of need. I don't understand. What do you get out of this deal?"

"I don't expect you to understand Kikyo. I will get peace of mind and a clear conscience. It won't matter if I am alone or not, I know that the people that I care about will be safe and happy. That is all that matters to me."

"Very well, I accept your terms." She looked down at the hanyou and smirked. "You are mine again, Inu Yasha. She no longer wants you. Now, come to me." She lowered her bow at the same time Kagome dropped hers. He got to his feet slowly, no longer looking at Kagome. Slowly he went to stand behind the dead priestess.

"Good bye, Inu Yasha. I hope that you see this is for the best." He looked into her eyes and saw something flicker in them, almost as if she were trying to tell him something. "Be happy." She gave him a sad smile then turned and began to walk away. He watched her walk away without looking back. His decision had been made for him. He suddenly wished more than anything, that he could go back in time just a few minutes to make the decision on his own. Now that it had been made, he knew what his choice should have been.

"Fool." Kikyo watched her walk away for a moment, then raised her bow and had fired an arrow in the blink of an eye. "You know as well as I do that he will never be mine completely while you still live." Inu Yasha was stunned into immobility by Kikyo's treachery. The arrow was picking up speed as it flew toward the unsuspecting miko.

The clearing then burst into motion. Sango's boomerang intercepted the arrow just before it would have hit the younger girl. Knowing that he would never be able to reach Kagome in time, he roared in rage and pain. He raked Kikyo's back with his claws, leaving deep, bloodless gashes in her back. She stumbled forward, away from the hanyou. When she turned and knocked another arrow, to fire it at him, Miroku stepped from the shadows of the forest and opened the void. With a scream of anger and terror, Kikyo was sucked within. He wrapped the rosary around his hand with a flourish.

"Well, I did warn her." He said with a satisfied smile. In his opinion, the hole in his hand had never been put to better use.

Inu Yasha had watched the events transpire with wide eyes. They had planned this all along? Maybe Kagome hadn't meant what she had said then. He walked toward her, hope in his golden eyes. Kagome still hadn't turned to face him, she was watching as Sango came toward her with a smile. The demon exterminator looked at the arrow in her weapon and pulled it out with a grimace of disgust.

"She attacked you, just as you thought she would."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~FLASHBACK~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As they ran toward the clearing, they had been discussing what kind of confrontation that they should expect. Kagome stopped suddenly. The other two ran on for a few seconds before realizing that they were alone, and returned to the girl.

"I am going to try to purify her. She has caused too much pain and grief as it is. Too many souls have been stolen. It is going to end today, one way or the other." Kagome chuckled ruefully. "We all know that I am not the best shot, so if I miss, I want you two to leave me."

"No!" They shouted in unison. She smiled at their loyalty.

"Listen to me. If she sees you leave, she may lower her guard a little. It won't surprise her, after all, Inu Yasha leaves me all the time. I will offer her a choice, and I am betting that she will take it. But I also expect her betrayal. I need you to be ready for that if it happens. I am trusting you both... with my life." She looked at them earnestly. She saw Sango nod her understanding, although she still didn't seem to want to go along with it. Even the thought that she might be deserting her best friend made her wince. However, she saw the merit in this course of action, but that didn't mean she had to like it. Miroku wasn't even pretending to go along with it. He was shaking his head in stubborn refusal.

"I will not leave your side."

"Miroku please, I need your help. So this can be over..." she pleaded. She wanted him to leave her in a situation where she expected to be betrayed. What if something went wrong and they couldn't protect her? What if she died? He groaned and pulled her into a panicked hug. She returned the embrace for a moment and then pushed him away gently. "I told you, I trust you both. Nothing will happen to me, with you watching over me. Please?" He didn't trust his voice so he gave an abrupt nod instead. "Good. Now let's go get this over with."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* END FLASHBACK~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*

"Yeah, and you both saved me, just as I knew you would." She smiled and turned to see where Miroku was, but instead found herself looking into golden eyes. They stared at one another for a moment in silence. "I guess I put my trust in the right people..." she said softly. "...this time." Inu Yasha dropped his eyes. From his place by the well, Miroku watched as his two friends talk. Suddenly he turned away, he didn't want to know if his heart was going to break in the next few minutes.

"Kagome..."

"I am sorry that she is gone, Inu Yasha."

"I am free now Kagome. We can be together. My heart isn't divided any longer." She looked into his eyes and smiled at him warmly, but he saw sadness in her gaze as well. She laughed lightly and shook her head.

"Yes, you are, you are free from both of us. Your heart isn't divided because there is only one of us outside the void. I love you Inu Yasha, you are my friend, but that is all that we can ever be. Can you honestly tell me that when you look at me you don't see her?" Inu Yasha looked away from her and she nodded. "That's what I thought. I need to be with someone who wants to be with me because of who I am, not for someone that I resemble."

"Kagome, I am sorry."

"I know that Inu Yasha and I forgive you. Now there is someone that I have to talk to..." her voice trailed off as she walked toward the monk. He was sitting on the lip of the well and didn't turn at the sound of her approach.

"Have you come to say good bye?" He asked. His voice was thick with apprehension. She stepped in front of him and waited until he looked at her.

"No, I have come to say hello." She whispered as she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He pulled her into his warm embrace and held her tightly, almost as if he were afraid she would disappear.

"I was so worried..."

"I told you I would be fine. But you know, you saved me in more ways than one..."

"No more than you saved me, Angel." He lowered his head and kissed her again. They were oblivious to the others watching them from the opposite side of the clearing. When they separated, they just grinned at each other like fools.

Sango had a look of longing in her eyes that she quickly hid. She hoped that she would find happiness like that one day. With a sigh, she turned and headed back to the village. She saw Inu Yasha walk off with his head hung low and his ears flattened against his skull. She felt bad for the hanyou, he had lost both of the women that he loved in a matter of moments. Oh well, he would snap out of it eventually, after all, they had a jewel to complete and a demon to defeat.

Inu Yasha watched the pair as they were reunited at the well. He felt his heart break a little, but when he saw how happy Kagome and the monk looked together, he couldn't hold a grudge. Be happy. He thought as he walked off into the forest. Am I doomed to be alone forever?

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok everyone, don't shoot me. I know things haven't come full circle, but there is a reason for that. I needed to end this one here, because there is an alternate ending in which Kagome ends up with Inu Yasha, and I didn't want to have to rewrite more than a chapter. If you all want to see that, just let me know, it is in your hands. Otherwise, yes, there is a sequel in the making... I am going to see if I can convince Sango and Inu Yasha to give it a go. Just remember when the sequel comes around... This one ended with Kagome and Miroku together. Later...

Jewels Light = D

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