InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Changing Hearts? ❯ Alternate Ending ( Chapter 9 )

Changing Hearts?

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

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, for all you die hard I/K fans (myself included...it almost killed me to put her with someone else) here is the alternate ending that I promised. This chapter is especially for LaraWinner and Leena, my constant reviewers and encouragement. Thank you so much. I hope that you like it. Please read and enjoy! = P

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Chapter 8--Alternate Ending

Inu Yasha stared at the arrow as it flew toward him. As he watched, time seemed to slow down, and all that existed were himself, Kagome and the arrow that was between them. It was almost as if fate were giving him a chance to make things right before he died. He knew that he had hurt her terribly, and even if he deserved this punishment, he still couldn't believe that she would sentence him to the same nightmare that she had awakened him from. Her little gasp of pain at his words had shot through his heart, causing more pain than any arrow ever could. Guilt and shame had flooded his soul. Kagome would get angry, and she might 'Sit' him until he was black and blue, but she wouldn't kill him. There had to be some other explanation, and he trusted her judgment.

That hit him like a ton of bricks. He trusted her, even though she had just fired an arrow directly at his heart. This little slip of a girl who was so constantly, irritatingly cheerful and enthusiastic had won his trust through her selfless actions and risking her own life time and again to save his own. In doing that, she had somehow also won his heart, and not just a piece of it, but the entire thing. He loved Kagome. He didn't know if she would give him the chance, but if by some miracle she did forgive him, he was going to spend the rest of his life trying to make up for all the pain and sorrow he had caused.

He hadn't wanted to admit that Kikyo had become an obligation... it made him feel like he was abandoning her. He had loved her, and his memory always would, but the emphasis was now on the past tense. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that if he were on the other end of Kikyo's arrow, trust would be the last thing on his mind. Fifty years ago, he hadn't trusted her completely when she had been kind and generous. Her actions of the last few moments had proven that woman was gone. She had deliberately set him up, twice. Kikyo had tried to kill his friends and Kagome, twice. That was unforgivable. He growled low in his throat.

Kagome was watching the emotions play in Inu Yasha's golden eyes. She watched as guilt and shame battled with disbelief. The disbelief won out until it was pushed back by something completely unexpected. Trust. Trust in her and what she was about to do, no matter how it must look to him. The last emotion that she saw fill his eyes almost drove her to her knees again. Love. What she had hoped for but never actually expected to see. And it was directed at her, not her incarnate. Inu Yasha loved her. She couldn't keep up the icy barrier that she had erected around her heart any longer. She had to let him know how she felt. What his trust meant to her. That she loved him too. She poured all of her emotion into her eyes and smiled at him weakly. She also had to let him know what was going on, but how could she do that without alerting the laughing miko behind him?

Inu Yasha watched the ice in Kagome's eyes break up with the warmth of the emotions under it. She forgave him. And could that possibly be what he hoped it was... did she love him too? His heart began to pound. Behind those emotions he saw her eyes flicker. There was something else that she wanted to tell him, but it wasn't coming through. It felt almost like a warning. What could she possibly be warning him about? The apology that she made flashed across his memory, but he couldn't make the correlation. He watched as her eyes dropped to the arrow, which was still slowly making its way toward him then flick to his shoulder and drop to the ground. What?

There was a click in his head and his ears twitched at his own stupidity. Everything made sense, once you saw the pattern. The arrow hadn't been aimed at him at all, he was just a decoy for her real target. Kikyo. He had forgotten that she was standing behind him. The apology hadn't been for shooting him, but for the pain she was going to cause for removing her incarnate from his life. Kagome was a constant amazement to him, how could she always put others in front of herself? He smiled slightly to let her know that he understood and prepared himself for the inevitable. Time then returned to its normal speed, and their awareness of the others in the clearing returned with it.

Miroku had watched the silent exchange and knew he had lost the woman of his dreams before he had ever really had her. They had gotten closer, but the bond between her and Inu Yasha was too strong to break. He would now step back into his role as her friend and traveling companion, as if this had never happened. He just wanted her to be happy, and it looked as if the hanyou had finally made that his priority as well. But these were thoughts for later, he had to concentrate on the confrontation between the two mikos.

Sango had also watched the exchange, but she had also been keeping her eye on Kikyo. The undead priestess was laughing coldly, but she was also watching them intently. When she saw Kagome's mask crack, she had stopped laughing instantly and was now glaring at the younger girl. The exterminator wondered if anyone else had noticed, but a quick glance at her companions told her that they hadn't. They were too wrapped up in their loves. So it would be up to her, if something went wrong. Well, she could handle that.

Kagome watched as the arrow picked up speed again. She had to time this just right, so that she caught Kikyo unaware. It was then that she noticed that the miko was watching her closely, her eyes colder than they had been before. Did she know? Well, it was too late to do anything about it now.

"Sit!" Kagome screamed. Inu Yasha plummeted to the ground as the arrow passed through the space that he had just occupied a second before. Kikyo's eyes widened and she moved, but not quickly enough. The arrow thudded harmlessly into her shoulder. She reached up and pulled out the shaft, looking at it as if she had never seen one before. The little witch had tried to purify her! For that alone, she would die. Then Kikyo would get back the rest of her soul and the man that was supposed to be hers and hers alone.

In the space of three heartbeats, Kikyo had drawn her bow and fired an arrow at the girl. This time there was no time distortion, just the twang of the string and the zip of the arrow slicing through the air. Kagome didn't even have time to scream. Just before the arrow hit her, a red and white streak materialized out of nowhere. Kagome's eyes flew wide as she saw Inu Yasha's eyes flare with pain as the arrow embedded itself in his back.

"No." Her voice came out in a strengthless whisper. She looked down into the face of the man that she loved more than life itself, as he lay motionless at her feet. Rage boiled within her, and the latent miko powers that she possessed blossomed around her.

Sango had thrown her boomerang the moment that she saw the arrow leave the string, and missed. Just was she was about to catch the weapon for another throw, she was tossed aside by a bolt of white light that streaked across the clearing. Miroku was about to open the void when he felt the increase in the energy near him. He looked at Kagome and knew what was about to happen. He threw himself to the ground. Knowing that he could do nothing to help in the battle, he crawled over to Inu Yasha to inspect the damage. Luckily Kikyo hadn't used a purifying arrow, she had wanted Kagome to suffer. Anger welled up again, and he hoped that he would get a chance to use the void. He removed the arrow as gently as he could. The hanyou groaned in pain.

Kagome was surrounded by a brilliant white aura in which blue bolts of electricity crackled. Kikyo had shot Inu Yasha. Now she would pay. Hurting her was one thing, but no one hurt the people that she loved. She lifted a hand and a bolt of pure energy shot out toward the undead miko. It wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground.

"No more Kikyo. I release all of the souls that you have stolen so that they may find peace and I am reclaiming the part of my own that you still retain. Return to hell, where you belong." Kikyo shrieked in anger as the souls left her. Within moments, nothing remained of the priestess but a bit of dust. Kagome dropped to her knees beside Inu Yasha, sobbing uncontrollably.

Miroku and Sango had gotten to their feet and were watching the young girl with awe. That kind of power was truly amazing. With an unspoken agreement, they decided to return to the village. These two needed to be alone. Miroku placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder and she reached up and gave it a small squeeze. The smile he gave her spoke volumes. He understood her decision and wished her well. He would always be there if she needed him... as a friend. She nodded through her tears. He would make someone very happy some day.

"Why the tears?" Inu Yasha whispered softly. Kagome looked down at him with a frown, the tears still flowing.

"Because you are an idiot and got yourself shot."

"Oh. Are you okay?" Kagome nodded and sniffled. Inu Yasha rolled over onto his side and put his head in her lap. "I'm glad, I didn't think that I was going to make it in time. Kikyo..." His eyes widened with the remembered threat that she represented. He tried to get to his feet but Kagome stopped him with a gentle push.

"Its over Inu Yasha. She is gone."

"Gone?" He repeated, not understanding how it had happened. Kagome took his confusion for sorrow and bowed her head. She began to pet his ears without realizing what she was doing. Inu Yasha tried to block out the sensations that her touch had brought so that he could hear what she was saying.

"Yes, gone. I am sorry..."

"What the hell are you sorry for? She tried to shoot you three times, she shot me twice and tried to make you think that I..."

"Shh... I told you, its over."

"Kagome, I know that I hurt you. If you want to be with Miroku, I understand. He probably is better for you. There is something that I have to tell you first... this probably isn't the best time... but I want you to know that... I mean...uh... I love you." He stammered. His heart seemed to stop beating as he waited for her reply. She just looked at him calmly for a long moment.

"I know."

"What?" He growled, looking at her in disbelief. He had just made a declaration of love and all that she could say was... I know? "That's all that you have to say?" He demanded.

"Yep. I know that you love me. You told me earlier, when time stood still." He smiled as he remembered those endless seconds. Yeah, he supposed that he had. He closed his eyes and reveled in the feel of her stroking his ears. She leaned down and whispered softly. "I love you too."