InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Choice of Destiny ❯ Face the Music ( Chapter 6 )

~ Blah, Blah, blah - don't own Inuyasha characters - blah, blah, and blah - don't copy or else plagiarism. ~

Choice of Destiny

By angelwings

Chapter 6 ~ Face the Music

They stared at one another with eyes that were identical in color, yet contrasted in emotion. Kagome shifted nervously under the older woman's gaze. A burning fire meeting a frozen iceberg.

Was Kikyo here as another distraction sent by Naraku?

Kagome cringed at her next thought. Was she here to see Inuyasha? The younger miko's voice had faded from her throat. What could she say to her mirror?

"What are you doing here?" the time traveler whispered.

The dead priestess stepped forward and Kagome kept herself from stepping back. She didn't dare show her anxiety. Her ancestor looked deep into her eyes as if trying to pull away the flesh to see into the soul they shared.

Kikyo nodded slightly, out of respect, "Kagome."

The younger maiden shifted to her other foot nervously, remembering their last encounter with each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The arrow glared at her ready to take the time traveler's life.

"He promised himself to me before my death, girl. Do not live in some pointless fantasy that he will give his heart to you when it had already been promised."

Kagome pushed herself off the ground. Her hand applied pressure where the arrow had penetrated her left arm. Blood dripped through her fingers as she shuddered in pain, "I use to live in that fantasy. Wistfully hoping my dreams were not imaginations."

Wincing the girl got onto her knees, "However, when I saw the two of you three years ago embracing I could not accept he lacked in love for you. I fled unable to face my fear."
Her eyes squeezed shut, but the tears leaked out, mingling with the blood pouring from her head wound, "He loves you."

Her chin trembled, "I wish I could say it was misguided or in some way fake, but it is love shared between you."

Kikyo stared at her, her eyes still cold, "So you sought to persuade his love to you?"

"How could I woo him?" she sounded defeated, "He had chosen. The next day he told me his decision, he would stay with his promise to you. I would not try to stray him, nor would I be able to. He keeps his promises."

The bow lowered silently and the girl stood her eyes on the ground. Kikyo scrutinized the blood covered girl, "Then why stay with him if you know you cannot have him? Unless you don't truly love him."

Kagome stood cradling her bleeding arm, "I do love him, but I want to see him happy. After that I'll go back. I couldn't bear to watch him go on with you as I stood on the sidelines."

The reincarnated spirit turned away. Slowly she limped from her superior knowing she had yielded to the corpse. Stopping in mid-drag the girl sobbed, "Yet, I cannot leave doubting his happiness. As long as I know he's happy, I might be able to continue living."

She began walking again and muttered forlorn, "Maybe I'll find that someone destined for me, some other day."

Alone, in heart and in body, the time traveler trudged back to camp where her friends laid asleep.

___________________________

"Kikyo" someone breathed from behind the time traveler. Kagome knew they had caught up. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed him standing in the front of the group. His gold orbs were wide in shock focused on her mirror.

As he stepped forward heading towards the clay woman Kagome stepped back, her eyes downcast. As he brushed passed her, Kagome faded into the group. Sango and Miroku rushed to her side. Although things had been smoothed out between her and Kikyo the two women's relationship still held some friction.

"Kikyo, what is it?" Inuyasha held deep concern in his tone, "Why are you here?"

Her cold eyes had long left their prior attention on her double and now were softly looking at the white dog man, "I came to help you."

Kagome's heart constricted upon hearing those affectionate words, 'Of course, she's come to replace me. Why couldn't she do a better job?"

"Who is that?" the Kouga asked his eyes studying Kikyo, "She looks just like Kagome."

Sango hugged the time traveler to her side, "That is the dead priestess, Kikyo, brought back from the dead."

"From the dead" he muttered not too surprised. Strange things happened in this time period, a walking corpse wasn't impossible in his mind. Kouga glanced at his mate, "But why does she look like Kagome? They're almost identical."

'We're different.'

Combing her sister's hair with long fingers, Sango replied, "She is Kikyo's reincarnation."

"Help?"

Kagome looked up; Inuyasha was studying his dead love. He seemed bewildered with the woman, "I don't understand."

Kikyo shook her head irritably, "I'm here to help you, all of you, to stop Naraku. I gained knowledge of his new project and I understand how drastic this situation is."

The girl found Kikyo's gaze locked on her. Silently the mirror spoke, 'I owe you. You stepped aside for our happiness.'

Feebly the youth rubbed her face into her sister's shoulder. She could barely stand the scenario unraveling. Her rival was coming to her rescue and her beloved was taking his place by her side. Could life bear her more heartache? If it did she dare say she would die.

Years ago, she and Kikyo had called a truce. Kagome had left the protection of her sleeping teammates to follow a soul gather. She didn't want him seeing her again. Much to her unfortunate luck it had been a trap. Moments after running into a clearing, not far from camp, an arrow had buried itself in her arm. Next she was hit in the head with the butt of a bow. In a haze Kagome struggled to defend herself, but soon she was slick with blood and covered with red spots, that would later be bruises. It took only five minutes for a conversation to stop the ferocity between the two girls.

Kikyo, after three years, had decided to settle who Inuyasha's true love was. She had enough of seeing a double by her beloved's side. After hearing an old passionate claim, Kagome admitted to her rival she had given up chasing his heart.

After that night, they had kept a cold peace.

Of course, everyone was concern when Kagome came back batter and bleeding, but the time traveler never told what happened. She claimed it was something personal, and not even Sango was able to get it out of her.

"Besides" Kikyo woke Kagome from her misery, "I still have to settle a few things with Naraku. I can't let all of you get in your share without mine."

'Nice cover. You also don't want them to understand why we had our truce.'

Everyone glanced at one another unsure how to take the news. One of their enemies was willing to help and neither Kagome, nor Inuyasha, was dismissing the idea.

Miroku spoke for the crowd, "Maybe we should keep moving and work everything out later."

________________________

The fire didn't feel as warm. She stared silently deep into the curling orange. Another mouthful of ramen was spooned into her mouth, but her tongue was numb to the taste. Sango sat on her right, Miroku on her left, Shippo in her lap, and Inuyasha opposite of the fire. Usually it was the dog demon that flanked her side, but tonight it was her double that was granted with the grace of his company.

Where else would Kikyo sit? She was closest in heart with Inuyasha so it was natural for her to sit next to him. Wasn't it?

No one spoke. The shard hunters were very uncomfortable with the newest arrival and thought it best to stay quiet. It was time for old arguments to start. Kouga and his pack were still too confuse and too aware of the tension to speak. They kept to the other fires cluttering the camp.

The entire situation was bizarre. A corpse amongst the living, and then it was only a partial soul encased in mud. A clay body that had sought to kill everyone in their family was now sitting, having dinner with them.

She couldn't stand it. Kagome watched as they sat there. Perhaps they were silent and didn't even show recognition to the other, but she knew. They were several feet apart, yet she assumed there was desire for closeness between the two.

When they had all been running earlier she had kept her eyes on the duo. Before, Kagome had kept to the front of the group, but she had fell back do to her weakening strength, and concern for the couple.

They kept near to each other, riding almost directly parallel.

Maybe her mind was carrying her away, but she couldn't stop it. They were probably thinking of each other. How they missed the other. They were wishing to be alone.

Kagome pushed her empty ramen container towards her bag and promptly stood. The small fox demon hopped from her lifting lap automatically. The ones surrounding her campfire looked up at her, but she diverted her eyes. Quietly she walked off into the forest, desperately wanting to bask in solitude.

She heard someone tried to follow her, she guessed it was Sango or Shippo, but Miroku whispered whomever to quit, "Let her be."

'Thanks, Miroku, but please don't worry about me. I don't like for all of you to worry.'

Kagome walked several yards away until she was far enough to be out of sight, but close enough to see the glow of the campfires, 'I promise not to go far.'

She leaned against a tree trunk and turned her face to the stars. Every individual light twinkled creating the starry vastness. Was she like a star? Was she alone in a place of friends?

Answering her question, footsteps rustled behind her. It had barely been two minutes and already she had a visitor. She smiled knowing who it was. With a twinkle in her eye, Kagome turned to welcome the approaching figure. Sadly the sparkle died when she noticed it was not the hanyou, but the wolf demon.

Kouga looked at her softly, overlooking the miko's disappointment, "What's the matter Kagome?"

'Great.'

"It's nothing" she replied turning her gaze again to the sky, "Thanks for worrying though."

His heat warmed her side and his mouth opened next to her ear, "What is it about this new woman that bothers you?"

Kagome stepped away from him, "It's personal."

"She is Inuyasha's mate, isn't she?" he asked. Kagome could hear the smirk.

She closed her eyes, "In a way, yes."

When she opened her eyes he was standing in front of her. His eyes stared directly into hers. In an abrupt movement, surprising her, he cupped her cheek.

"Kagome" he whispered fiercely, "I've never understood your relationship to that dog mutt. I had guessed you two were intimate."

His other hand swept under her hair, between the shoulders, pressing her up to his chest, "Now I see."

His nose burrowed into her ebony mane, "It was a childish crush."

Her eyes stretched open, heart thudding loudly, 'What?'

"I guess when you met him you were smitten, but you were sixteen and young" he growled softly, never noticing how stiff she had gotten, "You've grown up, into a beautiful woman I might add. With this priestess coming into the picture it's a reminder your crush was only a crush. You feel foolish."

'It's not a crush!'

"Don't worry, my mate" he pulled back slightly, "You need not fear our love. It is genuine."

'Are you blind?! I do care for you, but it is not love.'

His face closed in, and Kagome froze. Gradually his intense eyes closed, "Kagome, please, see the truth. We are meant to be."

She couldn't move as his lips pressed to hers. Her mind was going into overload.

'It's not true. It's not some crush.'

His mouth moved over hers seeking her response. He was trying to coax her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Was all she experienced in her heart just some illusion? Maybe it was Kouga she loved. She did worry about him. Her heart went out to him. Perhaps her love for Inuyasha was just an obsession, an obsession keeping her blind to her true feelings.

What if she was wrong? Maybe she was right.

Engulfed in indecision and more importantly panic, Kagome decided to see if her dread was well founded, so she kissed him.

It was a desperate, seeking kiss. She needed to know if what she felt for him, for Inuyasha was what she thought. She had been on an emotional roller coaster since she had return to the Feudal Era. She had suffered in watching Inuyasha reject her and watching her twin take his acceptance. It showed her love was meant elsewhere.

Kouga growled happily encouraging her. She kissed him rough and hard, her hand entwining into his hair, below the band. She was not naïve. She had kissed a number of boys in the last years. She had dated quite a few and kissed a couple. However, she had never done what she was doing at this moment. Every kiss she had given or taken had been tender, hesitant. All the boys she had gone out with she had known would never last beyond that date.

She had dated not because the men who courted her swept her off her feet. No flower, no line, no personality had ever been able to woo her. She had dated always thinking of someone else. She had stared into their eyes and seen gold. When she had the goodnight kiss with her date she had known her heart did not lie in that moment and had barely given a ghost of contact. But now, she poured out her soul into this touch.

She wanted to believe she had another love to turn to; someone else who made her feel the way Inuyasha did.

Even with her body pressed against his, their hands clutching each other, and their lips dancing a feverish union, Kagome felt only emptiness. Where her heart lied open welcoming that lost piece she sensed no completeness. The jigsaw Kouga tried to push into the hole cracked, but didn't crawl into her heart.

Her tears flowed in a new wave as her fear was founded. There was no fulfillment, only a black hole.

Now she felt filthy.

When Kouga sought to deepen the kiss she could no longer allow the prostitution to continue. Sobbing she pushed his chest and stumbled back. She looked up through her fingers at the shocked, panting wolf. He must have been very surprise to be pushed by her; he was a lot stronger.

He stared at her, questioning with his lustful eyes, 'Why?'

Her lips quivered, "I'm sorry, Kouga. I just . . . just can't love you."

He looked so perplexed, so utterly lost. Unable to look at the disappointment in his eyes, Kagome fled. Sobbing loudly, the priestess stumbled through the dark frantic to get away from the wolf. She had used him. She had spent fours years trying to make sure he didn't get the wrong idea about her feelings for him, and yet she had just done that.

She had let her guard down!

Running blind, her side starting screaming at her. She had forgotten her injuries. Kagome slowed down clutching her side in the dark. She winced at the tremors of pain running up her spine. She needed to sit down.

Mindful of the drying mud she crumbled onto the ground. Her legs bent into her chest and her nose rubbed her knees. Her tears soaked into her jeans, small wet spots forming. Clutching her trembling limbs she felt her stress crushing down on her shoulders. Every moment, starting from when she had first entered this old realm, piled in a heap. Her eyes squeezed shut as she sobbed, "It's not fair… Why isn't it fair?...."

She gave away her love.

She was too weak to protect her friends.

She put everyone in danger.

She could only blame herself for all the anguish she felt. Yet, she could not point the finger. There was reason for everything she did. Everything she had done in the Feudal Era had been to help others. When she had done it she had been willing to take on all the sufferings that would ensue. She had not been blind to the consequences. She just thought she could handle whatever storm would blow her way.

Now she wasn't too sure.

It was just too hard.

"How could life be fair?" whispered a small voice, "If life was fair then there would be no suffering. No one would die. No one would fail. No one would be wrong. Life would be perfect, but it wouldn't be right."

Kagome slowly lifted her tear-stained face to the familiar little girl and gasped, "Destiny?"

The child giggled crazily, her locks bouncing, "The same."

"What are you doing here?" the woman asked frantically, suddenly worried for the girl, "Where are your parents?"

"Don't worry" Destiny claimed, "They're nearby. They know I'm here to see you."

Kagome blinked, "See me?"

She nodded. The girl slowly leaned forward and spoke softly, "You're crying."

Automatically the priestess looked away erasing the tears with her thumb, "It's nothing."

Destiny knelt beside the older woman, attempting to look at her eyes. Kagome turned her face further from sight.

"I lot of people say 'it's nothing'" the girl commented gaily, "But that's a horrible lie. Anyone can see nothing means something."

Kagome had to giggle at the child-like logic, "You're one smart little girl."

"I'm not as little as you think" Destiny replied smoothly. Her chin rose a little higher trying to appear tall and menacing.

"Oh really?" the time traveler smiled, facing the child.

Destiny leapt to her feet and flexed her tiny arm muscles, "I'm strong. I bet I could even beat you in a fight."

Kagome lifted her hands, "That's okay. I'm afraid I might get hurt."

Smiling sweetly, Destiny knelt again, "So why were you crying? Why do you think life is unfair?"

'Who are you exactly Destiny?'

"The priestess admitted, "I feel tired."

"Tired?"

Kagome nodded staring at the ground, "I'm tired of the bad things that happen."

"Like what?"

"It's a grown up problem" she shifted uncomfortably, "You probably won't understand."

Quietly the girl leaned forward, "You wish he was with you."

Her eyes swiveled onto the small stranger, "What?"

Destiny was grinning, but it was an empty grin, like a diamond with no shine. Laughing softly, almost darkly, the child struck off into the woods. It was as if she had said nothing at all. Kagome immediately got to her feet, 'That's it. I'm going to find out exactly who you are.'

The priestess struck after the blue and green kimono forgetting the campfires were to her back.

________________________

"Destiny!" she called wearily, "Where did you go?"

It had been an hour since she had seen the girl last, and now she was beginning to worry. There was a chance that Destiny was in fact a powerful demon, tricking her into believing that she was a child. Kagome didn't have the will to suspect the girl. Her anxiety rose as the moon rose higher.

"Destiny?" Kagome whispered her eyes darting at the shadows. The empty darkness was beginning to play tricks with her. A twig snapped behind her and Kagome immediately swung around. She took a step back.

Angrily Kagome cursed herself for not bringing her bow and arrows. Now she was far from the camp and had no idea what direction her friends were. She was in the middle of dark during a dangerous face off with their greatest enemy.

Life had irony.

Sulking, the woman pulled her ripped jacket closer around her, 'What should I do now? Inuyasha may come looking for me once he notices I've been gone awhile. If he notices . . . His attention is probably still on Kikyo.'

Muttering caught her ears and she turned towards the sound. It was faint. She couldn't make out words, but it sounded like two people talking. Hoping it was the camp or just some of her traveling party she followed the voices. She would have shouted to the talkers, but she was worried whoever it was could be a threat.

Tentatively she pulled back a small cluster of branches and flinched. Here she was again hiding behind the brush staring at two lovebirds. Kikyo had her back to Inuyasha. The corpse was looking at the ground, her face blank.

"I understand you came to kill Naraku" Inuyasha said, "But why did you come to us?"

Kikyo looked over her shoulder at the hanyou, winter in her eyes, "The bitterness between the two of us Inuyasha has festered for the last few years. We have known since my rebirth that we were tricked into betrayal."

Walking towards him she continued softly, "I wish to bury the hatchet, as it were."

They stood only a foot apart now looking at each with intensity glaring in their eyes. Kagome bit her lower lip, unable to make up your mind to leave or stay. She didn't want to watch the display of affection, but she had no idea which way was camp and here were two guides.

Yep, fate did not like her tonight.

"Do you remember when I was alive?" Kikyo asked quietly looking at the ground.

Inuyasha also looked away his emotions plaguing his heart, "How could I forget those days? Those were the times when I first felt accepted. You were the first human to ever see beyond my demon side."

Her hand cupped his cheek turning his face to hers. Their eyes connected, "When I was in possession of the jewel I had to restrain myself of hate. If my heart ever became poison with malice the jewel would suffer and I could never allow that due to my responsibility. Now there is a new owner to that jewel, I am free of such bondage."

He scowled, "That cannot be the only reason you have been so hateful to me or the others."

"No" she shook her head lightly, "It is not the reason, but it is a factor. All the emotions that fuels hatred hit me the moment I woke from death and I stepped back into the world with darkness shadowing me. It has taken me this last year to realize there was more than hate in my heart."

He swallowed, his face glowing red, "Kikyo what are you saying?"

'She loves you, moron!'

"Once this over Inuyasha" she whispered, "once Naraku is dead. You must decide. I must return to Hell, and I ask again for you to join me."

His gold eyes became sad, "Kikyo."

Immediately, he crushed her to his body and Kagome felt her stomach flip. Their arms wrapped around the other as he whispered, "I promised before I would come with you. I shall never break that vow."

Silent in their lover's embrace they stood contented to stay like that for the rest of the night.

Kagome's heart crumbled and she sat on the ground facing her back to them. This was it. Once she stopped Naraku, Kikyo had no purpose to stay in the land of the living. When Kikyo would depart, it would be time for Inuyasha to leave with her, and the time traveler would have to bear watching him go.

She had never considered that. She had two days and two nights left with him, but Kikyo was here taking his concentration. Kagome felt like pulling out the rest of her heart and ripping it to pile it at her feet.

She finally had to face everything she had tried to side step.

"How can you watch them?" Destiny sat next to her spreading out the bottom of her kimono, "I know you love him."

Kagome jumped about five feet in the air. Keeping her voice low because of the nearby couple the miko hissed frantically, "Where did you come from?!"

Destiny covered her mouth trying to keep down her laughter, "I'm always around. You just don't know it."

The priestess scowled, "Alright, Destiny. I think I have a right to know exactly who you are."

The girl leaned her head to one side, "But I already told you. I'm Destiny."

Kagome leaned in close speaking quietly, "Are you a demon?"

"Sort of" the girl shrugged, "And sort of not."

"Do you know Naraku?" she questioned, "Do you work for him?"

"I know who he is" Destiny replied, "but whether or not I work for him is a complicated question."

'I've never heard a kid her age use the word 'complicated'.'

"That's not answering the question" Kagome insisted.

Waving her tiny hand, she said, "That doesn't matter. I'm not here to talk about me. I'm here to talk about you, Kagome Higurashi."

The priestess searched the girl's eyes, "How do you know my name?"

Of course, she passed the questions. Destiny's tiny fingers took the woman's wet chin and tenderly the other hand wiped away a few tears, "What is that you want?"

Kagome's mouth opened and closed as her heart became erratic. Stroking the maiden's cheek, Destiny whispered, "You think of everyone else before you. Why can't you just accept something for yourself?"

Those words hit the nerve Kagome could not protect. Trembling the priestess bowed her head, "There's nothing for me to accept."

"Life is not so cruel" the child whispered, her voice taking a more adult tone, "You will be given a chance."

Her short arms embraced the woman pulling her into a small hug. Her pudgy fingers ran through the priestess's long black hair as Kagome laid her head on the child's lap. It was like the times with her mother. Whenever she was upset Kagome would sob into her mother's lap until the pain went away, just like this. The warmth was the same. The hands, though smaller, combed her hair just like her mother had done. Kagome bit back a sob as she wrapped her arms around the child's small waist.

Her tears soaked into the silk kimono as Destiny leaned forward. Quietly the child sung a song, maybe a lullaby, into the miko's ears. The words were in a different language, but the syllables were soft, elegant even. In seconds, Kagome had fallen asleep with the strange child petting her black curtain and whispering a soothing song of unidentifiable words.