InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cloud Watching ❯ The beginning of our end. ( Chapter 10 )

The beginning of our end.

By Melissa Spoula

Kagome had spent most of the day showing Rin around the village and introducing her to the villagers. Rin followed Kagome closely and hung to her hand constantly. While they walked Kagome told Rin the story of how she first came to the feudal era. When she reached the part about how she freed Inuyasha from Kikyo's spell Rin asked the first question she had all day. "Why would someone want to put a spell on Inuyasha?" Kagome felt a little uncomfortable speaking of Kikyo. After all it had been almost a year since Naraku had killed Kikyo. She and Inuyasha had never really discussed her after that. Kagome never brought her up because she didn't wish to upset Inuyasha. "Kikyo was Kaede's sister, and one day a mean man tricked her into putting that spell on Inuyasha." Rin seemed satisfied with that answer and Kagome continued on with her story. She was careful to leave out all the times Sesshoumaru had tried to kill her or Inuyasha.

By the time Kagome had finished her story they had made there way back to the house. The two sat on the still not complete well house steeps. "So now that you know about me, would you like to tell me your story? How did you get to travel with Sesshoumaru?" Rin paused in thought for a moment. "Rin dose not really remember much before Sesshoumaru other than Rin was alone a lot. Rin's parents died when Rin was still very young and no one wanted Rin. Rin lived on her own for many, many months. Then one day Rin found Sesshoumaru hurt in the woods and did not want to leave him alone. So Rin brought food to Sesshoumaru to make him better. And then a big group of wolves attacked the village and Rin tried to find Sesshoumaru for help. Rin does not remember what happened after that. Rin thinks Sesshoumaru saved her. From that day Rin always stays with Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru is Rin's best friend."

Kagome listened quietly as Rin talked about all the things she and Sesshoumaru had done over the years. She found it incredible that Rin was still such a happy girl after all she had been through. Once again Kagome got the feeling that she and this girl somehow had a connection between them that she could not quite explain. It was more than just a strong caring for the girl and even thought Kagome had never had a sister, she suspected that the felling she was having was strangely similar to that. Perhaps that was one of the reasons Sesshoumaru chose Kagome for this. Maybe he felt that she and Rin should be close like sisters. That thought only reinforced in her the idea that Sesshoumaru was going to make Rin his mate when she was older.

After a few more tales of her adventures Rin had finished her story. "What are we going to do next sister Kagome?" Kagome thought for a moment before an idea popped into her head. "Rin, remember how I told you about how I have some of Inuyasha's special abilities?" Rin nodded her head in response. "Well there's one ability that I've been dying to try out. See, Inuyasha can run really fast and when he runs fast enough he can jump and go flying through the air." Rin jumped to her feet in excitement. "Do you think you can do that sister Kagome?" Kagome kneeled down. "Climb on my back and we'll find out." Rin got on Kagome's back and when she was securely in place Kagome started running down the path.

Deep in the forest a pair of dark eyes watched the two run off. Moving in the same direction the creature increased its speed. It needed to get back to its master and report of the girl's approach.

With her first leap Kagome felt a rush greater than any she had felt in her life. As she soared through the air she truly felt like she was flying. Behind her Rin happily laughed and yelled for Kagome to jump higher. Landing Kagome ran a few more yards before leaping back up into the air higher than before. Rin gave a delighted squeal and let go of Kagome's neck, spreading her arms out like she was flying. Looking to the forest Kagome decided to try something more difficult. "Rin do you want to run through the forest?"

"Yeah!" cried Rin. "Let's run in the trees!" that was just what Kagome had in mind. "Hold on to me tight Rin. Keep your hands around my neck and keep your head next to mine. When Kagome felt Rin was as close to her as she could get Kagome veered off the path and leapt into the first tree she saw. She was amazed at how quickly she could move in and out of the trees. She jumped from branch to branch never staying on one for more than a second or two before leaping to the next.

Finally Kagome felt the need to catch her breath. She stopped and put Rin down. "That was wonderful sister Kagome! Rin felt just like a bird!" Rin began to run in circles with her arms outstretched. Kagome smiled brightly at the girl's enthusiasm. Taking in her surroundings Kagome realized just how far she had run. She was at least twenty miles form the village. When Kagome looked to her left she thought she saw something slip through the trees. Something in her told her to follow it. "Rin stay here until I come back." Rin looked worried but nodded and Kagome started off. Soon she could see a clearing up ahead.

Kagome felt something deep within her pull her toward the clearing. In the back of her mind she could hear a voice telling her to run. Telling her to get away, but the pull was too great and so she pressed on. She could not make out what lay before her at first. Something dark looking like a mass of clothing lay crumpled on the ground. Moving closer, she realized it was a woman laying face down in the dirt. This site did not shock her as much as what happened next.

Slowly from the forest two soul snatchers flouted out. Each rapped their slim bodies around the woman's arms and lifted her to her knees. The woman's head remained bowed but Kagome knew who she was.

"Kikyo…" Kagome whispered so lightly not even she heard it. Kikyo gave no signs of life. Her hands hung limply in the air and her legs showed no sign of movement. She looked dead. Kagome slowly walked forward toward Kikyo. The soul snatchers looked at her with cold dark eyes but made no movement either toward or away form Kagome. She now stood a foot away from the seemingly dead miko. Kagome reached out a shaking hand slowly toward the woman's face.

Suddenly Kikyo's hands reached out and fisted in Kagome's shirt. Her head lifted and Kagome gasped at the woman's appearance. Her eyes were clouded and blood shot. Her face was stark white with every vein and line showing with abnormal predominance. Her hair hung limply in her face, dark and snarled. Kagome was too shocked to speak. Kikyo starred deep into her eyes with a look Kagome could only place as hunger. Kikyo's lips moved but no words came out. "Kikyo…..what happed to you." Again Kikyo tried to speak but made no sound. Kagome reached out her hands and griped Kikyo's wrist. "Is there something…..anything I can do to help you?" Kikyo's eyes darted around the forest before locking on Kagome's eyes once more. This time when Kikyo spoke Kagome heard her loud and clear. "I….need more of you!"

Bright light erupted form Kikyo's hands and Kagome felt a strong pull in her chest. As the light got brighter Kagome sunk to her knees and Kikyo rose to her feet. Kikyo was sucking Kagome's soul right out of her body. Kagome tried to escape, tried to struggle free of Kikyo's grasp, but it was no use. The more soul she lost the weaker she became. Kikyo however was doing well. When she finally released her from her grasp Kagome fell to the forest floor, not even having enough strength left to hold her self up.

Struggling to keep her eyes open Kagome saw Kikyo standing before her. Kikyo was full of life, the glow having returned to her skin. She looked down at the fallen girl, her face as expressionless as ever. Feeling the last of her strength leave her Kagome slipped into the inky blackness of unconsciousness.

Kikyo stared down at the girl at her feet. Her skin had gone cold, her body lifeless. She was in the same state Kikyo herself had been moments before. Looking at Kagome something stirred deep down inside Kikyo. Shaking the feeling Kikyo turned and walked away not caring what happened to the copy.

When Kikyo left the clearing Rin ran out to Kagome. Rin had been too afraid to move and watched in fear as the woman hurt Kagome. Rin kneeled next to Kagome and tried to shake her awake. "Sister Kagome? Please wake up now. We have to go." Kagome made no sound and Rin began to cry. Rin froze once more when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Rin slowly turned around and her eyes widened in shock.

Far from the clearing Inuyasha was playfully chasing Shippo around the house. Ok, maybe playfully was not the right word to use. In truth Shippo knew if Inuyasha caught him he was going to receive the beating of his life. Inuyasha almost had Shippo's tail with in reach when it happened.

He was hit with something that felt like running into a stone wall. Falling to his knees he clenched his fists in front of his chest. Eyes wide with shock he fought the scream that was rising in his throat. His sight went black and he could hear nothing. What ever was happening to him he felt like he was dying. In his minds eye he could see Kagome lying somewhere alone and hurting as much as he was. Then the realization hit him. This pain was not his, it was Kagome's, and he wasn't the one who was dying….she was.

Authors notes

Ha! My first cliffhanger! Don't worry the next chapter should be out soon.

I would like to let everyone know that I just realized a big mistake I made. Sesshoumaru only has one arm. That is, as far as I have watched in the anime, he still only has one arm. But I completely forgot all about this little detail till now. Sorry! But it is too late to correct without rewriting most of what I have written for future chapters. So for now let's all pretend that because of his good will towards human kind, Tingle(the fairy wannabe) gave him his arm back. Or he won a new arm in a game of poker. Or maybe it just grew back. Anyway he has two working arms in this story.

Sorry about the mistake.

Missy