InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Decisions of the Heart ❯ The Battle With Fate ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Decisions of the Heart

Chapter Twelve:

The Battle With Fate

FYI, Kagome WILL NOT get her ass kicked.

Disclaimer: *while being dragged away by lawyers * They finally caught me. . .Inuyasha is not mines! * wails *

KIKYO LOVERS DO NOT READ ON! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Key-just for this chapter:

~ ~ Alone=Thoughts

~ ~ In dialogue=italicization

` ` Demon's thoughts

< > telepathy

* * Past words of advice

Examples:

~Why is this happening to me now?~

"Shut up ~brat~!"

`She's coming closer!'

<Yes, I am associated with Naraku!>

* Don't worry! Pickles only die on Tuesdays! *

^_^* I know I need help

Kagome was at the tree early, looking at the little pool of rippling water. Quiver on her hip, bow in hand, she sighed gently, praying to the gods that she would live through this.

"What do I have that Kikyo doesn't?" she wondered out loud, plucking a pebble from where she lay, and throwing it across the water, so it skittered against the surface. The sun was barely peeking over the treetops. "My love for Inuyasha. She just wants him. . .well I really don't know why, but no one loves him like I do. But how will THAT help me in battle? Oh, it's useless! I've been doomed from the start."

"No I haven't! Try to think positive!" she said to no in particular. "Well, I guess I should go back to the hut. It won't be until night when we have to battle." Unbeknownst to her, the same thing that watched her as she bathed, was spying on her now, though from a great distance.

`Stupid girl! She can't even sense my presence! That training obviously did not work at all! Almost time for me to spring. . .'

Kagome walked dutifully to the hut, but stopped when she heard the buzzing of wings.

"Who's there?" She gulped. The wings sounded huge. ~Then again, maybe I don't wanna know!~ She got that tingly feeling again. ~Sacred Jewel shard!~

<The reincarnated priestess, I should've known!> Kagome gasped as fear surged throughout her body. The demon's voice was in her HEAD! Echoing, wispy, lethal, prickly. It made her head sting.

"What do you want?"

"SHOW YOURSELF COWARD!" Kagome's index and middle finger ran across the feather of her arrow, as the other hand gripped the bow until it was white. She was painfully aware that the beating of wings was becoming louder and closer.

A huge demon appeared over the tops of the trees, and though far away, Kagome could tell it was hella large! It flapped it scaly wings, bulging eyes directed towards her. When it was only ten yards away she could tell it was a dragonfly demon. It long, slender body, dark, large eyes, flicking antenna, and great, scaly wings. She didn't want it to see her loading up her bow, for it was so close, one flap of its wings and it'd be upon her! But, she kept a good grip on her bow.

"What do you want?" Kagome's heart was fluttering, not the way it did when Inuyasha smiled at her, but when she felt as if death was on her doorstep.

<You obviously haven't much experience with dragonfly demons, have you?> The voice was pounding in on her. It made her head burn with pain. ~This is no time to be blacking out!~

"If I were you, I'd leave right now!"

<Why? Is the itty witty little miko gonna shoot me?> A DRAGON FLY! MOCKING HER! Oh this was too much!! Words making her sick to her stomach, her legs began to wobble. Of course if Inuyasha had been there, the demon would be lying in tatters by then, but Kagome was certain that if she even rose her bow, she'd be dead before she could even pull out an arrow.

"YOU'D BE SURPRSIED! WHY ARE YOU BOTHERING ME ANYWAY?" * In the presence of a fearful demon, never loose your cool * Sango's words came back to her and she was following the advice quite nicely.

<Only to obtain your shard of the sacred jewel, and you look like a just meal. With your holy miko and barrier creation powers I'd be unstoppable> Kagome paled. ~Oh no!~

"I'd like to see you try!" It blinked its massive eyes and started to race for her. ~Here's my chance! FOCUS AND AIM~ Faster than the blink of an eye, Kagome whipped out her arrow, set it in her bow, and aimed at the demon, releasing the string, mere seconds after. Now, a feverish golden light glowed from the arrow, and it went off course. Badly.

<AH HA! FOOLISH GIRL!> But she wasn't aiming for his head. It was his wing she was after. The right one, with shard embedded in it. As soon as the arrow struck, there was a screech that sounded over and over again in her head and she fell to her knees as the demon blew up into nothingness. Once she was sure the demon was dead, she snatched the shard from the ground and put it deep in her quiver, then continued to progress to Kaede's hut, head held up high.

*~*

"INUYASHA!" Kagome shrieked, eyes glowering. He cringed, like a puppy who had soiled the carpet and was being berated for it!

"What?" he cried defensively. She pointed to his arm, which was now wrapped in bandages, with a thick wad of cloth wrapped around the back of his neck and under the cast, suspending it.

"How did you hurt your arm! You should've stayed inside like I told you to!"

"I was looking for you and I fell over. . ." He gulped and blushed. "Over your backpack. I guess it's cause I'm still a little beat up from the fight that I was so. . .frail." (OOC!) He cringed again, hoping that demeaning himself would same him from a painful SIT. Inuyasha opened on eye and stared at her. Now, her eyes were shimmering with horror. She hugged him tightly, sniffling.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault you got hurt. I shouldn't have gone out! Do you need some fresh bandages?" She let go, and looked him hopefully.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Come again?"

"Kagome wouldn't be this nice to me after I did something so stupid!" A tear slowly ran down her face.

"I've been crying so much lately! I'm sorry." She turned away from him, but his one good hand caught hers. He made her met his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just that, after today. . .you might not. . ."

"Might not what?" his rough voice was soft and gentle, even tender with emotion.

"If I lose, I might not ever see you again!" So THAT was it. He pulled her into one of his fragile embraces.

"I'm not going anywhere. Have a little faith, will ya?" Kagome blushed to the roots of her hair, but hugged him back. ~Oh Inuyasha, if only you knew!~

"I hope that I am not interrupting. . ." Kagome and Inuyasha sprung apart, faces bright red.

"Kaede!" She was breathless, still excited from the hug.

"May I talk with you for a moment, please?"

"Yes."

~*~

"As you already know, Kagome, this is going to be a difficult battle. Those clothes won't be enough protection for you." She looked down at her short forest green shirt and long-sleeved white sailor top. It had served her well, but it was cold at nights.

"What will then?" Kaede pulled out a tradition miko uniform, flaming red pants and a pale white shirt.

"I. . ."

"It will cover you legs and arms, and more of your midsection, areas particularly vulnerable to attacks." Kagome half wished that Kaede had taught her this kind of stuff, instead of how to shoot and arrow straight.

"Kaede. . .this is all very sweet of you, but. . ." She could just imagine Inuyasha's face if she accepted. Not that she would mind the protection, but she couldn't bear to see the hurt look on his face if wore that outfit.

"But. . .?"

"I can't, I mean, it would make me look to much like Kikyo. I have some jeans and a turtleneck sweater in my pack. I hope you're not offended."

"Not at all." ~She's a better child than I thought!~

~*~

It was late afternoon. Mottled red, pink, and gold stroked the sky lazily, and Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Inuyasha, Kagome, Kirara even went to the open field. Kagome was pale, sweaty, sick, nervous, and felt like she would faint any second. Though she put up a front around her, Kagome was afraid of the dead miko. Inuyasha wasn't fairing much better. He would have to choose which woman he wanted to be with, but both had their faults and strengths.

Suddenly, Kagome felt Kikyo's ice cold aura and she bolted up straight. Her face, pale in the fading light of the afternoon, seemed to glimmer as the soul collectors brushed against her body, throwing orbs of light into her. Gripping her own bow until her fingers practically groaned in protest, she gulped, trying to restore her trembling legs. ~Why am I so nervous? Yeah, I forgot. Kikyo and creepy, and if I loose, I could die and Inuyasha will go to hell!~

"So you showed," Kikyo said coolly, dark eyes never traveling up to Kagome's.

"Why wouldn't I?" Kagome tried to be tough, and Inuyasha gave her a small, quick smile to reassure her. Why did he care if she lost? Then we would go to hell without any interruptions! ~Maybe he doesn't want to go!~ Kagome shook her head, quickly dismissing the thought, and forced herself too look into her eyes. Cold. Plain. Merciless. Never showing a spark of emotion. How was she supposed to defeat a foe like her? Disarm, not defeat she reminded herself dully.

"As you already must know, I am, for the most part, much stronger than you." Kagome snarled, some of her fear melting away with her growing anger.

"What do you know anyway?"

"I have not much pity for you. I hate all that is living."

"Like I wouldn't have guessed!"

"I feel only a small pang of guilt, having to dump him on you." Her gaze adverted to the dog demon beside her. His eyes pensive, face somewhat relaxed he looked at her, but said nothing. Not a word fell from his lips. Why was he being so strange?

"He's not a burden! He's my friend."

"Indeed."

"You know what, I'm tired of listening to your insults!" Kagome didn't know why she was being so hostile, as she drew her arrow, hand never relaxing over the smooth wood of the bow. Maybe because she was insulting Inuyasha. She couldn't stand that. Pulling back the bow, she aimed, arms trembling.

"You think that I fear you?" Kikyo's blank expression worried her. When ever Kagome drew her bow, some people would go running. Now, here the priestess looking at her, as if she was nothing more than a timid doe.

". . ." Not being able to think of a quip, she continued to hold her bow. Over months of rough traveling, Kagome had built up some stamina when pulling back a bowstring. Her arms were yet to tire.

"You of course, Inuyasha ~will~ die if you lose this." Kagome gasped with shock as she realized that Kikyo only had one arrow! How demeaning! She must have thought Kagome didn't pose much of a threat. Blush staining her cheeks, she realized she had twenty. So that's why the miko was so confident!

Finally, drawing her own bow, Kikyo aimed straight for Kagome's heart. Where as the reincarnation, merely aimed towards her bow, hoping to disarm her in a split second. That would mean she would win! If Kikyo let go of that arrow any time soon. . . Blinking away stupid tears, she continued to glare lividly at her.

"Why do you want Inuyasha to go to hell with you anyway?" She noticed that her hanyou companion fell out of his passive state when she said this. Ears flicked forwards, eyes wide, she guessed he too, didn't know the reason Kikyo wanted to drag him there either.

"He has a debt to repay to me, girl. It was his fault those claws--"

"It wasn't his fault! It was Naraku who did that!"

"He still stole the Shikon no Tama!" she roared, angered that she had been cut off. "If he loved me, he should have been there to protect me." Kagome swallowed again, thinking of what to say. Inuyasha had always been there for her, what could that have felt like?

"He is only a hanyou. He isn't perfect. No one is. Not even you, no matter what you think!" Kikyo's eyes narrowed to slits, breath coming out in ragged gasps. She pulled back the bow even further.

"He betrayed me!"

"And you didn't?" Kagome snapped, started to sweat even in the brisk evening air, holding back the bow was hard. "You pinned him to a tree for fifty years!"

"I quickly grow tired of you."

"Go ahead!"

With a growl, Kagome released the string, glimmering arrow flying directly towards Kikyo. She simply released her own. Gold light streamed towards silver. A huge deafening roar issued from the collision and all sound was wiped out. Gold light raced for Kikyo, silver light flashed towards Kagome. As the light washed off Kagome, for Kikyo's arrow was fast, she just let it engulf her.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha cried. Was she. . . But no, as the light ran across her body, it's silvery shade turned to bright gold. Eyes narrowed in concentration, small body trembling, she continued to transform the offending light, until it was completely gold. Then, it slowly dissolved. Kagome, still holding the bow swayed and fell into Inuyasha's waiting arms.

Kikyo on the other hand, wasn't so fortune. Unable to run or contaminate the light, she let it rush across her body. She wouldn't let her puny reincarnation have the satisfaction of hearing her scream, so she let the pain wash over her body. Kikyo dropped her bow, and therefore, was disarmed. She stood there, for a long time, until she fell to her knees, breath coming out in raged gasps.

But Inuyasha did not rush for her, Kagome had went into some time of coma. But she had not lost. She had not let go of her bow, therefore, she was still armed. Kikyo's light had some kind of ill effect on her, and purifying the light had taken a lot from her. He cradled her, hugging her to his chest, ignoring the cries of her friends. He snarled at Shippo, who tried to come close, and Sango and Miroku took this as a hint to remain quiet.

After Kikyo somewhat recovered, she glared at Inuyasha.

"How could you? My reincarnation. . .she. . ."

"Beat you. She gets to live."

"Will you still come with me Inuyasha? Tell me you will not throw away our relationship for. . .for HER!"

"I. . ." As smart-mouthed as he was, Inuyasha couldn't form a single sentence. Instead, he picked Kagome up bridal style, eyebrows knit with worry. "I don't know, yet." Kikyo started to walk off again, not a single emotion showing on her blank face, except for a small scowl.

"Kagome," his voice was very quiet and quivering. "For once, it's my turn to take care of you."