InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forevermore ❯ Part 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha. Not mine. I wish. Inuren, Yuma, Tora, Sazumai, Naomori and Aoi are tho. ^^

::f.o.r.e.v.e.r.m.o.r.e.::

a tale of truth, love and time by Mia

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haruka na hoshizora ni yume wa mada miemasu ka?

osanai ano hi yori azayaka desu ka?

mune ni afurete tsunoru omoi

nemuri wasurete jounetsu no iro

tatoe tookute mo kitto tadoritsukeru

tsuyoku shinjite'ta

ano hi no watashi ga ima mo kokoro de nemutte-iru

GARASU no bara yori mo hakanakute moroi no ni

yume miru koto wa naze sadame na no deshou

futatsu no yume ga ai ni natte

ai ni narenai koto mo atte

hito wa hitori da to wakariaitai no ni

nante muzukashii

kotoba wa muryoku de toki ni wa gin no

NAIFU ni naru

hito wa hitori da to wakariaitai no ni

nante muzukashii

kotoba wa muryoku de toki ni wa gin no NAIFU ni...

tatoe tookute mo kitto tadoritsukeru

tsuyoku shinjite'ta

ano hi no watashi ga ima mo kokoro de nemutte-iru

"Scarlet" by Junko Iwao

Ayashi no Ceres

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:Part Eleven:

With eyes to see and an open mind to properly perceive, one would see there was a certain gentleness in death. Without looking at all the hurt and anger, you feel this warmth, discarding the flash of rage and resentment, a heeded action brought on by a reason...then nothing. A white-hot lightning bolt of change and everything is not what it used to be. The gentleness would be in that the suffering would eventually cease; the mercy of mercies.

-There is no sound in death, as there is no life in death-

Is there a real explanation as to why humans shed tears? They feel hurt - the tendency to express intense emotions by the presence of wetness of the eyes. It marks sadness, fear, and at opportune moments perhaps even joy. So with these emotions that we feel and contributes to the tears we shed...is it for the same reason hate and destruction result to the shedding of blood?

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"AAAAARRGH!" The monk fell to his knees with a heavy thud, his left hand clutching his right wrist. The pain was unbearable, a million shockwaves of pain due about every second he breathed. The air around him hissed and pulsed, the pebbles underneath him vibrating - issuing a warning that the very ground he sat upon was ready to be sucked away into his cursed burden placed on his palm. He swallowed hard, his throat constricting as his tears floated up and away as the wind gathered around him. Although if asked to weigh the amount of pain felt between his curse and the pain felt in his heart, he would rather choose the former...

His friends, all one by one done away with, never to be found, lost among oblivion and eternity - all because of him. Now he was the only one left. The sole survivor in the time being was the murderer. A rock struck him in the cheek, causing not only a gash but for him to bite his lip hard and he watched the warm crimson swirl around him.

To see her face lastly...he would have willingly died just to be spared of the image on her beautiful face as it contorted to pain...

...as he killed her with these hands...

"NGAAAH!" Another shot of pain, but this time...this time it was numbing yet the most painful of them all. It was like the final comforting word to ease the end of a story. It brought about the worst and also the result of having to go through nothing more. This was it...if he were to die like this with no family, no love, nothing to stay for, then so be it. Let them take him away on a chariot of flames. Just so he can't feel this any longer...

...to be all alone was something he never wished for.

It ends here tonight, in a world of fragile things...he'd go to her, he'd find her and they would be together forever.

"S-Sango..."

*Houshi-sama,* he saw her, beautiful, all smiles, open arms. *I'll marry you. Just as long as you don't continue on with your perverted ways okay?* He had to smile. There was nothing warmer than her heart as it touched him, embraced him.

Just as long as I can call you mine.

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The pack she was to bring was heavy, the weight of it bringing forth another spasm of memories and she gently bit them back. She returned with Ren to the house to get more supplies for him to carry since he had insisted on coming - not like she would have put up much of a fight on the matter anyway. There were still the gauze and bandages in the garbage; each stained with the dark essence of blood. Kagome's eyes were easy to water but she blinked them back not without a struggle. Her heart hurt so much, she barely could breathe at times. Tora was nice enough not to say anything as she helped Kagome straighten up the room Inuyasha had stayed in, only gazing at her in wonderment as tears fell down in steady crystals, reaching out a tender knuckle to swipe them away. At times like these, words were something that weren't needed but only broke the collapsible silence that held the inevitability of reality.

She kept wanting to ask herself 'why, why' over and over again; the feeling was inexplicable - something that wasn't easily translated from thoughts to words. It was felt in the heart. If only she hadn't...but Ren would've... Kagome bit her tongue. Inuyasha isn't dead. I have to remember that. He isn't dead, and he never will be. She stood, new determination burning within her. I'm going to get him back. I have a duty now to get all the shards together and make the Shikon no Tama whole again while Inuyasha will try and get our friends back from their illusionary dream state. Then afterwards we can all destroy Naraku...the bastard that turned my whole world upside down. A vision of Ren appeared in her mind suddenly.

After that, I'll do whatever I can to get Ren where he belongs. I owe him that much.

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Kagome was at the sink filling a plastic water bottle when she felt the air grow cold behind her back. "Kagome-sama?" She turned and met the beautiful and icy eyes of Yuma, one of the Celestial Time guardians that supposedly were to be of any assistance to her. The grudge she held against them not helping Inuyasha burst into flame within her once again, Tora's comforting her or no.

"What is it, Yuma-san?" Her voice was as cold as the air around them. Her eyes carefully studied the foreign fellow and he felt it; the earrings he wore didn't match and the one on his left ear had an oval shape to it, a design etched intricately in it as uniquely as the symbol she saw on all the Celestial guardian's chests. She guessed it to be the Celestial Time symbol. His light hair was almost white but with a cream-yellow tinge to it and it looked so soft, she resisted the urge to reach up and touch it. (Kagome and her curiosities ^^) She never mentioned that one time when she had come home in a taxi driven by him and neither did he; she did always have the feeling she was being watched and now she knew by whom.

He sought for the right words, feeling particularly awkward being under the scrutiny of such a beautiful woman with a fiery aura along with a grudge directed towards him. Although now is probably not a good time to ask where the lavatory is . . . "Um...this was found after the unfortunate demise of...of Inuyasha." His hand came up and unclenched his fingers to reveal an intricate silver woven ring resting in the middle of his palm. Yuma saw as well as felt the reaction from Kagome, whose eyes and lips started to tremble.

The guardian decided to help her and reached down to grab her hand; to her surprise, his touch was warm unlike the power that emanated from his being. He held her left hand up and with much gentleness, he slid the ring onto her ring finger. The action was simple and true, yet held great significance to Kagome, who's heart skipped a beat - not because of Yuma, but of the feeling and meaning behind a ring on the marriage finger. Especially if the ring was from Inuyasha.

::ba-bmp ba-bmp::

Her heart pounded as she swallowed, the weight of the ring brought about new truths to her. The silver warm and glimmering, she could have sworn she'd seen Inuyasha's image superimposed onto Yuma, his face soft, endearing. But within a blink of an eye, he was gone. It was like seeing someone across the street one moment and the passing of a bus makes them disappear the next.

Yuma continued to watch her, finally releasing her hand but it didn't seem to make any difference, she still looked past him as though he were a window. He fought to hide a frown. Okay, what should I do? My bladder's being stretched to its limit. . . (wahahahahaha!)

"Yuma-san," she said finally after coming to her senses. "Th . . . Thank you."

Yuma's eyes widened. ::ba-bmp:: Wow, it feels as though she's casting a spell on me. No wonder why Aoi-sama fancies her. "Oh, I...my pleasure, Kagome-sama. If only I had aided in -" He was startled when she laid a hand on his shoulder, the one with the ring.

A kind smile played on her lips, as though she were smiling to a child. "I accept your apology. I hope that we will - that we'll all become friends and aid one another when needed." He returned her smile after a moment, his soul calm in her presence.

"I offer you my protection, Kagome-sama. I accept your offer of friendship as well." She patted his shoulder once before walking around him, satisfied.

"Oh, and Yuma-san..." She glanced over her shoulder. "It's down the den and to your left." He heard her footsteps fade away, then he immediately followed her directions, biting his lip all the way.

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Sazumai stared boringly into the glass face of the television, her thumb on a workout as she speedily channel surfed, the habit picked up instantly. She stopped abruptly on the news channel, and saw a wild fire blazing angrily along the border of a forest in Kyushu. An unusual smile pressed her lips, her bright red-brown eyes took on a redder tinge and she chuckled. Sota watched her readily, transfixed at the mode of entertainment this weird woman got off on. Then his attention switched to the TV. once the reporter cried out, "*gasp* The fire seems to be spreading at a dramatic rate! . . . unusual since the rate of wind has not increased . . . *gasp* the fire is reaching closer and closer to a residential home uphill! . . ."

"Sazumai...." Tora looked up from an article in the newspaper she was reading from where she sat at the table. "You are scaring the poor boy." Sota looked toward her and immediately received a motherly smile. He couldn't help but blush; the emerald eyes were piercing. He had the feeling as though a little cat were looking contentedly at him, purring all the while.

Sazumai smirked, her eyes blazing with intense red heat. "Heh, who cares. I'm having fun."

Tora calmly reached for her cup of tea and drunk the remaining puddle that was left, then looked carefully at the back of Sazumai's head, her aura rising. "Would you like me to have Yuma cool you down Sazu-chan, or would you rather for me to transform into a tiger at night and hunt you down to feast on your flesh while you waste away in your sleep?" Silence thickened the air between the two, Tora's aura rising off of her much like the fire on TV.

". . ." With eyes still frozen on the TV., Sazumai frowned, biting back the urge to retaliate though the tone in Tora's voice was not to be trifled with. Sota watched intently as the fire seemed to die in the blink of an eye, the reporter just about having a heart attack at the turn of events.

(In the meanwhile, Sota's hiding behind a snoring Jii-chan, a frightened/shocked/amazed chibi face plastered on him ^^*)

"Holy sh- I...pardon but it seems to be a miracle! The flames seem to be fading rather quickly as though they were doused with water . . . My God, man . . . I've never seen . . ."

With that out of the way, Tora poured herself another cup but with a less amount, the tea set clinking together. She drank it quickly before she stood. "Aah...It seems as though Kagome-sama and Ren-kun are just about ready to depart." Sota watched as the TV. was turned off with a snort from the Sazumai woman, then followed Tora into the other room. The emerald green-eyed woman paused and let Sazumai pass, and she looked toward Sota. "Farewell, Sota-kun. Be careful and protect your family. I hope to see you again soon." With a turn, Tora's robes softly brushed the tatami floor as she left.

Jii-chan suddenly stopped in mid-snore to peek open one eye. "Are they gone no-o-oww??" ::sweat drop:: Sota timidly nodded, then focused back to where Tora had exited.

"What a nice lady."

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Ren hefted the large pack onto his shoulders, and once on him he stood up straight and breathed deeply - before he fell backwards on his bum. He heard a little ::spurt:: beneath him until a small voice could be heard. "If . . . you could be so kind . . . as to get off of me, Ren-sama," was what it said with much pain. Ren heard footsteps coming nearer and he quickly got to his feet, straining slightly to keep upright but keeping a strong jaw about it anyway. What he found to be flattened beneath him was Myouga, which resembled a miniature pancake if anything, before he popped back to his flea form and jumped up onto Ren's left shoulder, fixing a mini stony glare at the young man.

"Holy geez, I didn't notice you were there," Ren sheepishly grinned and innocently rubbed the back of his head, thinking, How could I have possibly missed a fucking flea?? "Eheheh..."

"Now listen here, reincarnation...take care of Kagome-sama at all costs - with your life if necessary -" ::squash::

"Humph! 'Reincarnation' my ass - don't you ever call me that! You hear me, you little..."

"Ren? Oh, Myouga-jii-chan," Kagome came up to him and looked at the poor insect in between Ren's index finger and thumb. "What'd he do now? And Myouga, just because he isn't Inuyasha, doesn't mean he won't treat you as Inuyasha did." Surprisingly saying his name didn't hurt as much.

Ren only glanced up at her before he disposed of the flea by throwing it behind his shoulder. "Eh, he was just irritating me that's all," He shrugged. He remembered listening in on Kagome's and the flea's conversation about Sango, Miroku and Shippou and their unfortunate situation in an illusionary world built up of their worst fears. He remembered listening to his mom about the Inuyasha-tachi, and grew ever more curious to meet them.

"Well, I've said my goodbyes," said Kagome, gazing out the door at the well shrine. "Mama's a little worried I won't come back," she added a chuckle. "She also told me to tell you something."

Ren's perked up. "What did she say?"

Kagome smiled. "She told me to tell you not to worry. Everything will be all right, you'll see." The smile on her face was full of gratitude before she picked up her own pack by the door and dragged it onto her shoulders. Ren didn't know what to say, or what to make of the message from her mother. Was there an underlining meaning in it? Somehow, he knew it had something to do with the whole situation of Inuyasha, Kagome and him, and how it wouldn't work out being the third wheel. Yeah, but I'll show them. I can be of some help too . . . being the third wheel isn't so bad . . . it can be like a tricycle thing. Ren scratched his head, his back to Kagome and his face in darkness, hand clenched. ::vein pop:: What the hell am I thinking?? Tricycle . . .

Kagome stared at the back of him, comically puzzled but then ignored it. I suppose I'll just have to get a bow and arrow from the other side of the well; my last one was trampled to bits by that nasty youkai. She sensed Yuma, Tora and Sazumai approaching and looked toward them.

::Yawn:: "You know what, Tora? I think it's been about three centuries since I really got a good night's sleep." Yuma tiredly stretched and recovered from his fatigue in an instant, eyes bright and smile charming. Kagome studied at all three celestial beings, and despite what they looked like, how ever elegant their appearance, they acted like normal mortals. Well, Yuma did anyway. The Sazumai woman seemed to always carry this burning hot coal of a core inside of her, and always could be seen once you looked into her eyes. When she spoke, you could feel the pain from her past, and her face, despite how beautiful she was, she still acted as though no one could be trusted.

Although when Kagome watched her talking to Yuma as they all walked out to the well shrine, she had such a different expression on her face, it almost seemed as though there were a different person inside controlling her body. "...of course I can handle it. I have the advantage over your powers," she was saying with a haughty tone.

"Advantage, heh. Yeah right, I could always put you off like a bonfire - all you need is a little water." Yuma himself seemed to enjoy teasing her, and she let him much to Kagome's meek observation.

"Well, however you look at it, I have the power to boil your water, you'd be nothing but steam."

"So what're you saying? You have the power to turn me on...?" Yuma twitched his eyebrows at the innuendo and grinned boyishly - until that grin turned into a black charred surface the next second. Tora just shook it off while Ren, who stood near Yuma, was batting on his sleeve like crazy when it caught a little flame and Sazumai never uttered an apology but kept walking until she reached the well house, a blush staining her cheeks. Kagome's eyes widened in realization. I think Sazumai has feelings for Yuma.

"Hurry up or we'll never get to go home!" The fire-woman ordered, while Yuma recovered instantly and was now running a hand through his light, feathery blonde hair.

"Ah, the woes of being handsome," he muttered with a smirk.

Ren frowned and shoved him out of the way. "Whatever, Ice-Boy...let's get the show on the road." He looked back and reached out and grabbed Kagome's hand. "So this is the entrance to the other world?" She barely heard his question while she was still thinking about his hand firmly around hers. She didn't notice Tora and Yuma studying the connection between them.

"Yes," she nodded, as she opened the well house door. "Just down the well and..."

Ren grinned and pulled her forward with him, down the steps and didn't wait for her to say another word before they both lunged into the well. "Here we go-o-o!" Kagome cried out soundlessly - closing her eyes and for once she was excited, breathless, the inertia making her stomach flutter. Gravity had a way of pulling you down to its core. It had been so long that she'd felt the feeling of traveling across time...she was now glad that Kikyou was caught now that her spell on the well was disabled - at least that's what Tora explained to her. She would have to speak to that witch the next time she saw her.

Yuma, Sazumai and Tora looked down into the depths where the two disappeared. "Wow...you'd think Kagome-sama would honor the memory of Inuyasha a lot more than that," remarked Yuma, then was whacked harshly on the back of the head.

"If you are going to mention him to Kagome-sama, if ever, do not speak of him as though she were bedding with another!" Tora harrumphed and gracefully slipped down the well, her robes fluttering upwards as she held them down.

A chibi Yuma sniffled, a bump on the head and a tear in his eye. Sazumai snorted in disbelief. "You see, I told you she isn't all cake and tea - she too has her violent moments." Shortly after that, she followed the slightly older woman.

Yuma returned to his original state and smoothed back his hair once again before jumping in after her, mumbling, "Honestly, if you have friends like that, who needs enemies...?"

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"Kagome...? KAGOMEEE!" The kitsune sobbed, tiny rivers of tears spilling down his face. He was all alone in the middle of a dark world, only a single light shined down upon him. There were shadows of people everywhere he turned veiled in darkness, their backs turned. One shadow could be made out and it was Inuyasha, who was walking further and further away. Another Miroku, then Sango, even giant Kirara padded away soundlessly. Kagome was nearest to him, looking at him with blank gray eyes, half open as though she were under a spell of some sort. She was walking backwards, before turning around and walking away from the light, toward the darkness and following after Inuyasha.

"P-Please! Don't leave me here alone!" The baby youkai pleaded, sobs choking him. "I-I won't be bad anymore, I p-promise! I'll be nice to you Inuyasha! I'll help you in whatever you w-want, Miroku! I won't be too demanding Sango! Kirara, wait! WAAAIIIT! KAGOOOMEEE!" Much to his surprise, his voice was sounded faded, becoming more so until he was completely mute. Panic ran through him like blood. He tried to run after them but with the darkness, he couldn't tell whether or not he was making any distance. A light behind him became brighter and suddenly, he gasped at what he saw once he turned around.

*Shippou-chan . . . you aren't leaving us, are you?* It was his father and mother, two youkai foxes curled up against one another in a protective circle. All that was missing in the middle was him.

"P-Papa...Mama..." He whispered softly, his heart fluttering. "Is it...really you?" ::Am I dead?:: Was the silent thought.

*Of course. Now please stay . . . we would die if you ever left us again.* They beckoned to him, the red fur of his parents looked warm and welcoming, something soft and alive to snuggle against and hide his face from whatever cruelty he was being given. his feet were suddenly moving on their own, his thoughts of Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kirara and even Kagome were dissipating like a cloud of dust.

He laid a hand on his father's tail and looked into their eyes. They were real...? His body moved of its own accord and curled up against them, a sigh escaping through his lips. "Never again, Papa. I'd never leave you and Mama ever again. You'll see . . . I'm here to stay." For there was nothing left to stay for anymore, Shippou the fox child finally found somewhere he truly belonged where there would always be someone to love him.

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Ren opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by tiny blue and white stars spreading out onto a blanket of black. He was floating, his shirt ruffling against him, his hair being moved by an intangible wind. By instinct, he tightened his grip but to find Kagome's hand nor Kagome nowhere to be seen. He looked hurriedly all around him and found nothing except for he was alone. "Kagome?? Kagome!" He yelled, his voice echoing out into the lights like he was yelling into a cave.

There was a sound somewhere in front of him in the distance, and he tried to go for what seemed like a rip in the blanket of darkness. Voices came not soon after.

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"What?! Where did Ren go??" Kagome looked all around the well shaft, even upwards at the blue sky of Sengoku Jidai - only to be squashed by Yuma. "ITAI!!" When she opened her eyes, she was looking into the cobalt peepers of the charming celestial idiot that was laying on top of her. ::bonk!:: Another bump appeared on Yuma's head, Kagome's fist steaming as Tora and Sazumai looked on. (poor Yuma! -_-*)

"I apologize! I'm sorry -" Yuma quickly stood and helped her up.

"Yeah whatever - just tell me what you did with Ren!" Kagome kept looking around her even as Tora and Sazumai were climbing up the well's inlaid steps.

"I swear Kagome-sama, I did absolutely nothing to the human -" ::bonk!::

"His name is Ren," she lectured, undoubtedly perturbed while Yuma rubbed painfully on the spot she bestowed yet another lump. Geez, and here I thought she was the one that needed protection - Aoi-sama was wrong!

She searched some more, concern etched into her features. "Could it be that he wasn't able to come through...?" Sooner than after her question, a bright light consumed them only for a second, then nothing - except for the 'something' that landed heavily on top of Kagome. "ITAI!! What the...Ren!" She gasped as she found the young man on top of her, breathing heavily and sweating profusely. "Wh-What happened to you?"

Yuma timidly watched before he too made his way up the well, muttering, "She hits me and not him...how unfair can you be...?"

Ren coughed and sat up, being too much in shock to enjoy the place he landed at the moment. "I-I don't know...maybe the well was confused on whether or not to let me through." Kagome frowned concernedly and finally nodded.

"Well, you're here and that's all that matters." She smiled gratefully and moved forward to give him a quick embrace. Ren was speechless, a blush consuming his face as he sat there, letting her hug him before he returned the hug, feelings overflowing in him.

Even if I'm what they consider a 'reincarnation' . . .

Kagome helped him up after releasing him, wiping the tears of relief that still stood in her eyes. She offered a hand to help him up and he took it without hesitation.

Even if I'm just a copy, I still . . . I still want to be here by your side. This feeling inside that I have, it has the potential to overpower my own selfish desires, but it won't make the fact that I want you for myself, 'Ren' go away quietly . . .

He climbed up the steps after her, the bright light of day on the other side of time made him squint and he looked to where the three celestial guardians were waiting, Kagome joining them and glancing over her shoulder for him to follow, eyes sparkling of inner radiance.

I hope you can forgive me Kagome, because unlike your lover that I resemble, I'm still very much human.

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Kagome breathed in deeply. She lifted her head up high at the overgrown forest canopy. Wow, four years (not five)...could these years really have made the forest grow so much? She looked forward when heat swarmed all around her face and body; Sazumai was burning away some overgrowth that blocked the path to the village. Kagome gasped as she took in the state of the time she left behind those years ago.

Ren looked toward her and studied at what she was awed at. So this is the other side of the well, huh. A small smile came and went on his lips. If only ofukuro were here . . . she'd really go nuts at just how real this other world is.

"Kagome-sama, stay close to us," Tora suddenly warned apprehensively, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "I feel as though we are being watched." Kagome nodded, swallowing nervously. I feel it too . . . we're not alone, are we? As soon as she asked herself that question, something enormous burst through the vines and shrubbery blocking their way, leaping over Sazumai and past Tora and Yuma, headed straight toward her with large fangs, yellow in the fading sunlight as were its eyes, evil and terrible.

"Kyaaaah!" Kagome cried then she stretched her hands out to the youkai and prepared to destroy it with her power - before she was forcibly knocked aside, falling to the ground. She looked up as Ren took the blow for her, having been tackled by the youkai and was now trying to reach his face, his legs up and feet holding it back. It growled and slobber flicked here and there, and wherever on the ground it landed a searing hole shown.

Kagome gasped, voice shaking. "A-Acid!" Without her knowledge, a small amount of the toxic drool had been flinged her way before it was blocked by a thick dome ice-shield that built up all around her, caging her away from what happened on the other side. She banged against it with her fists. "Ren! Help Ren!"

Yuma added the finishing touches to the ice-shield before turning toward the black skinned youkai; it seemed to resemble a large hind-legged dinosaur, four-legged - and of course the enormous teeth. Ren battled with all his might, pushing the youkai away by the chest, his eyes wide and panicked before his world began to black out and something in his subconscious took over.

Shock ran through the rest of them with what happened next. Bangs covering Ren's eyes, blood streaking from the shadows of his face, he took one of the youkai's arms and bit into it - ripping the whole appendage off the torso of the demon with a sickening sound; it keened loudly in pain before backing away, bleeding black blood all over the place. Ren sat up, holding the leathery black-skinned arm in a tight vice of his mouth for a moment before flinging it off to the side like a wild dog, an inhuman fang could be seen protruding from both sides of his lip. Kagome could not take her eyes off the young human man, thoughts helplessly racing through her mind. Wh-What's going on here?!

Not a second later had Tora leapt on top of the wounded youkai, fully transformed into a green-eyed saber-toothed tiger. She sunk her large teeth into the throat of the youkai and holding it down, unharmed by the poison as Yuma held out his hands and with a bright blue light, the youkai body froze into a hard shell before he struck it with lightning, cracking it to many pieces. Sazumai then bestowed her power of flame and burned what was left of the youkai to ashes.

Kagome, who was leaning against the cool frame of the dome around her, saw as it began to melt and disappear as she fell through. Hurriedly she got up, abandoning her pack and made her way to Ren, getting on her knees to be level with him, reaching out and holding him by the shoulders. "Ren!! Ren are you all right?! Speak to me - Ren!" She tried with all her might to let her voice reach him, to somehow get him to become sane and act human again because at the moment, she sensed no such human aura from him and that frightened the hell out of her. She was about to brush his bangs away to look into his eyes - and stopped when he drew his hand so quickly she barely saw it happen, his fingers gripping her wrist tightly. Her eyes widened; Tora, Yuma and Sazumai all mechanically started to move toward her before she held her other hand up. "Wait," she ordered in a gentle voice. "Don't move...please." Yuma glanced over at the others and reluctantly nodded, but did not back away whatsoever.

As though he sensed the other three moving toward him, a groan - no, Kagome realized, a growl rumbled from his throat, low and vibrating through his hand to hers where he was holding her. Kagome inwardly readied herself for the worst to come, then with careful movements, she laid a hand on his cheek. The blood on his skin was slick and warm under her touch, the growl coming from him suddenly stopped. "Ren...?" She whispered. "Ren...it's me...Kagome. Are you..."

"Nn..." His grip around her wrist loosened all of a sudden, his gold eyes showing through his bangs like golden light emerging from the shadows. He didn't say anything for a few moments, looking down at his bloodied hands before he brought his head up, his eyes focusing through a blurry shield of vision and recognized the beautiful tear-streaked face of Kagome right next to him, the hand on his cheek belonging to her. With a scratchy throat, he breathed, "K...Kagome..." Then time froze before he slumped over onto her lap, once more escaping into the black brought on by the darkness behind his eyelids.

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A/N: There ya go, I wanted to shorten it to make a Part 12. LONG TIME NO SEE HUH?? lol

::One point 2 consider::

Since Kagome is supposedly Kikyou reincarnated, shouldn't she act more like the miko? Ren's attitude reflects Inuyasha's as well as appearance - while Kagome-chan doesn't really reflect Kikyou at all in personality. Purpose being? Because since only a small piece of Inuyasha's soul was taken, and therefore bringing forth an immediate reincarnation, it wasn't done naturally. Hm, how to explain...? Ok well, it was helped along by magic - more so by Aoi-sama - he made it so Ren-kun seemed more like Inuyasha more than anyone else. He didn't want her w/ Hojo even though she started to care for the gentlemanly twit after the well closed-up. There is ALSO another reason why Aoi-sama did what he did, and that'll be in the next chapter. ^^ (just wanted to get that outta the way in case you were wonderin')

Also my bad - she's only been in America for 3 years - so the no-entrance to the well marked a 4 year anniversary, not 5. She couldn't go into the well when she turned 17...so yeah. Stupid me! hehe ^^*

-Now remember, these are works in progress!-

Picture of Yuma: http://www.angelfire.com/freak2/inuchan/Yuma.jpg

and char. sketches: http://www.angelfire.com/freak2/inuchan/Yumacharsketches.jpg

Picture of Sazumai: http://www.angelfire.com/freak2/inuchan/Sazumai.jpg