InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ Seperation of the Souls ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 14: Separation of the Souls

Kichiro walked slowly through the forest, studying the glowing shard in his hand. He knew what it was, and what it could do, but he felt no affinity for it, no want.

All he had ever wanted was Kagome.

He had noted the huge amount of power being released earlier, and recognizing the signature of it, began heading in that direction. He knew that wherever that particular youkai was, Kagome would also be. And so he soon found himself in the vicinity of a certain hut, in a certain hanyou's forest.

"---after you guys left and went inside the hut, Sesshoumaru showed up." Kagome frowned, thinking back. "It was a really weird conversation, that's for sure."

Inuyasha snorted. "Yeah, that's not saying much when it's my brother you're talking about."

Miroku nodded. "True, Inuyasha, but still, tell us what he said. If he took the effort to come here, you know he felt it was important."

"I agree, Inuyasha. You could never call Sesshoumaru a fool; he wouldn't waste the time unless he felt it was important." Sango moved uneasily, looking around, and then noticed Kagome doing the same. She caught her eye, and nodded.

"I think the important part was why Inuyasha was able to take on his full-youkai form but retain control of himself." Kagome looked over at her mate. "According to him, it's because we're bonded. I guess what happened is that his youkai also wanted to bond with me, so now it will submit itself to Inuyasha's human side, as long as he takes care of me." She looked troubled.

"But what worries me is this... why did he make that qualifying statement at the end? What did he mean 'if you put me in harms way'?" She shook her head.

"So Inuyasha's youkai side will allow itself to be tempered by his human blood, as long as you are not endangered by him." Miroku nodded thoughtfully. "I can see where this is going - in other words, as long as you don't try to betray your lifebond, you will have full control of your youkai. This could actually be to our advantage, as long as you don't try to betray Kagome, anyway."

Inuyasha jumped to his feet, totally infuriated. "Who the hell do you think you are, fucking houshi?! Don't you ever insinuate that I would do anything to harm her again!"

"Inuyasha, calm down. The biggest betrayal you could make towards her is leaving to chase after Kikyou again, so as long as you don't do that, I think we'll be okay." Miroku shook his head at Inuyasha and sighed.

Kagome looked away, sadness permeating her. There was no way of telling what kind of situations they would end up in, so it was always possible that somehow there existed a chance that he would again go after Kikyou.

Maybe he'll change his mind about me. She started in surprise as Inuyasha grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up.

"Damn it, Kagome, do you still not understand how it is with me?" He looked at her with anguish in his eyes. "You have nothing to fear from Kikyou! If, and this is a very big if, we had a need to see Kikyou, and believe me, I have no desire to do so, then you would be with me. I already told you. I won't see her alone again."

"Remember what we talked about back at the stream, Kagome?" Sango smiled at her friend. "You really have no reason to feel like you're second best to Kikyou anymore."

Just then, a shiver ran over Sango's spine, and Kagome also shivered, pulling away from Inuyasha. The girls glanced at each other, then turned and looked at the entryway of the hut. Kagome immediately knew what was coming and placed herself in front of Inuyasha. The men just stared at them, not understanding their actions, until they saw what was standing in the doorway.

A moment of dead silence followed.

"Well, Kagome. I am glad to see you looking well, my koishii. I have brought you another shard of the jewel. Soon, you will be able to defeat Naraku, and then it will be time for you to come to me." Kichiro stood calmly, holding out his hand and waiting for Kagome to come forward and take it.

He was not prepared for what came next.

Kagome quickly flung up a barrier, placing it in between them and Kichiro. This way, Inuyasha wouldn't attempt to attack something he couldn't affect. Shifting her stance as the barrier came up, she turned and looked directly at the man now standing before the barrier, looking confused, unable to come any closer.

"Kichiro, I don't need your help to take care of the jewel, or Naraku. You need to return to the land of the dead... it's where you belong. And no," she said, as he started to speak, "I will notbe going with you. It will never happen."

Kichiro flushed red with anger at her words. "I already told you, Kagome, that it was not a request! You will go with me - I will pull your soul from you and drag it if I must!"

Inuyasha roared with fury, once again letting his youkai out. "Listen closely, bastard, and I'll tell you why it won't happen! You're an ignorant human, so I'll use short words and simple sentences so you can understand. Kagome is my mate. That means that our souls are one. You can't take her now - because her soul is no longer her own! She belongs to me, body, mind, heart and soul!"

Kagome slipped a comforting hand into his clawed one.

Shhh... beloved, it's okay. Calm down, he can't hurt me, can he? I'm going to drop the barrier, can you control yourself and not try to attack?

Inuyasha snorted and looked down at her, swirling his youki around her. "Of course I can, saiai. But why drop the barrier," he asked, with a glare at the spirit staring at them with a blank look, "before that bastard leaves? I don't want him to try anything."

Is there anything he can do? she looked up at her hanyou. I don't really feel the need to waste the energy on a barrier if it's not strictly necessary.

He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, then looked over at the monk. "Miroku? Is there any danger to you or Sango if Kagome drops the barrier?"

"No, Inuyasha, I can take care of anything he tries."

"There's the shard, too, I have to drop the barrier if I want to get it." She turned and looked back at Kichiro still standing there, still unmoving, still blank-faced. "Okay, well, here goes."

As soon as the barrier dropped, all hell broke loose. Before Kagome could even blink, Kichiro was suddenly standing in front of her, and just as suddenly he seemed to be almost sucked into Kagome's body.

She jerked and screamed, before falling limply into her mate's arms. Inuyasha managed to lower them both to the floor, before also passing out.

Sango leaped to her friend's sides, hands hovering uselessly over them. "Miroku, damn it, what the hell do we do?!"

He grabbed her and pulled her down next to him. "We wait. That's all we can do. If it takes too long, I can use an ofuda to attempt to end the possession, but I don't want to try that unless as a last resort."

"Why not? And why did Inuyasha pass out as well as Kagome?" Sango sounded almost panicked.

"Because if I use the ofuda and it isn't strong enough, I'll not be able to do it again - they would be trapped. Inuyasha passed out because he is joined to Kagome. In other words, its a good thing he did, because now he's with her. They're battling it out inside their souls. So we wait."

---sSs---

Kagome looked around, confused.

Where am I? What is this place? And where is Inuyasha?

Slowly, she lowered her face to her hands, trying to still her panicking, pounding heart, and slow down the breath thundering in and out of her chest.

I have to remain calm, if something was wrong with Inuyasha I would know it. He's alright, I just need to be calm so I can find him.

Breathing deeply, the way that Kaede had taught her, she took control of her body's panic response and forced it into the slower rhythms of meditation. She remained this way for some time, bringing her mind and body under her control.

Opening her eyes once she calmed, she looked around. Grey, overcast skies, monuments scattered across the landscape, and one in particular, straight ahead, emitting a bright glow, beckoning her.

I know this place, that's Kichiro's monument. But why am I here?

Shaking her head, she deliberately went in a different direction. She knew, as soon as she started calming down, that Inuyasha was here, somewhere. She knew that he had probably been pulled in the same as she had, since they shared such a bond between their souls.

And she knew that that's where she actually was, no matter what illusion Kichiro chose to present her with, she was inside her own soul, and since she was aware of that, she could wrest control away from Kichiro anytime she wanted. So for now she just needed to find her hanyou. Once they were together, they could return to the monument and force Kichiro out of here.

Wait? Why am I just wandering around? I should be able to feel him through the link.

Closing her eyes again, she concentrated on the warm glow in her mind, feeling her way along the link like it was a handrope stretched out, leading her to her hanyou. She could tell she was getting closer, the glow in her mind was getting stronger, and she was starting to feel his thoughts. He was... afraid? Inuyasha, afraid? Why?

Moving closer, she abruptly felt his thoughts snap into clarity inside her mind.

'Kagome! Where is she? I'll destroy that bastard, I'll never let anyone take her from me - I have to find her!' His thoughts were racing, overwhelmed by fear and anguish.

Reaching out, she touched him through the link, soothing him. It's okay, Inuyasha, I'm here... just follow the link, you'll find me.

The overwhelming relief coming through almost made her legs buckle. He really was terrified.

'Keh, wench, of course I was. You still just don't understand, do you? You don't know how much I love you. Feel me, Kagome. Feel how much I love you.'

She gasped then, as his feelings flooded through the link, it was as if he was making love to her soul, she could feel his touch, smell his unique scent, even taste him. The tenderness, the absolute worship he felt for her was swirling around her, and she could feel the bond between them strengthening, healing all the hurt in her heart.

'My koishii, the stronger the bond gets between us, the better. I can't think of any better fate than to be bound, soul to soul with you for eternity.'

Her heart beat stuttered, then strengthened as she took in his thoughts and feelings, and she knew that it was time to find Kichiro and deal with him. Inuyasha was with her - he had been from the moment they arrived here, because they truly did share their soul.

Determined to end it and lay this spirit to rest, she turned and followed the pull of the monument. She could feel Inuyasha following her, and she reached back and grasped his hand in hers. Even though they really had no corporeal bodies here, it was her soul, so she made the rules, and she wanted to feel him.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice sounded hesitant. "Where are we going? And what do you think that bastard is going to try? I mean, I don't understand what he thinks he's going to get out of this."

Kagome shook her head. "I'm not sure. I know where he is, but what he hopes to gain, well, your guess is as good as mine." She continued walking towards the monument in the middle of the cemetery.

Really, when it comes down to it, why here?

"Um, Kagome? Where is here anyway? What is this place?"

"It's my memory of the place where Kichiro is buried. Do you see ahead of us - that stone monument that's glowing? That's his." Kagome gripped his hand tighter.

"I can only guess why he brought this memory up, but it was probably easier for him since its a memory that has to do with him."

Inuyasha pulled her back behind him and took the lead. "Well, then, let's go. I wanna get this over with. I don't like this bastard invading our soul. He doesn't belong here," he said, as they finally reached the area directly in front of the stone. "So - he's here, isn't he?" Raising his voice, Inuyasha called out.

"Hey, fucker, come out and face us, I know you're here somewhere, or are you gonna hide like the coward you are?"

"I won't be hiding, you half breed thing, in a few moments I will tear your soul away from Kagome, and then make you watch while I take her as mine!" Kichiro came out of the tombstone in a flash, his aura raging around him as he leapt towards them.

And suddenly, the cemetery was gone. Inuyasha looked around in confusion. Instead of where they had been, they were now standing beneath the Goshinboku, in his time. The sun was shining and he could feel the power of the tree calling him and soothing his youki. He looked at Kagome, then at Kichiro, who seemed just as confused as he was.

"Kagome, what the hell just happened? Why are we here?"

Kagome kept her gaze on Kichiro as she answered. "This is our soul, and my mind. I'm merely choosing the place where we finish this."

Kichiro laughed. "Do you think it matters? You won't stop me, Kagome, I will have your soul. Now!"

Kagome gasped as she could feel her soul being pulled towards Kichiro, and as she got pulled closer to him, she could feel something in her start to tear. She screamed, agonizing pain flashing through her.

She pushed against him with all her might, trying to break his hold, but somehow, from somewhere inside her, something also pushed back, resisting her attempts to break away from Kichiro's hold.

What? What is this? Why is a part of me helping him?

'Because you still feel guilt about his death, K'gome. And as long as you can't let go of that, he'll have a hold. You have to truly let go. Remember, saiai, when you learned the details behind what happened with Kikyou? I felt so guilty for so long, and you tried to tell me so many times that it wasn't my fault. Kikyou made her own choices. The same thing goes for Kichiro. You didn't make him go off in that 'car' thing, he chose to do so on his own. You also didn't choose for him to become obsessed with you, that was a sickness in his own mind. You can't take responsibilty for the whole world, wench. It's just not possible.'

Kagome's thoughts were blank, all she could feel was that pull on her soul, and the pain that the pull was causing.

Inuyasha started to despair. She wasn't responding to any of his words, she wasn't fighting it, and he feared he was going to lose her, which meant he would lose himself, too.

'Kagome...! Please, itoshii, remember'---and he returned the words that she had spoken to him in Kaguya's castle---'Don't we always want to be together?'

He flooded her with the memory of himself, trapped in Kaguya's spell, turning youkai, ready to rend and kill everything and everyone - and what her response had been. The memory he had of the first touch of her lips, the taste and scent of her, all combining to begin calling him back. Her tears, and her words, and the love in her heart.

'Please, Kagome, don't you realize, this is our always, so don't leave me here alone!'

Kichiro screamed with rage at Inuyasha's words, shaking his head in denial. "So, this bond makes you able to share your thoughts as well, does it? Well, it doesn't matter. I'll own her through her guilt, and I will totally destroy you at the same time!"

And, laughing, he pulled her soul again.

But then, something pulsed. Kagome lifted her head and yanked herself backwards, away from Kichiro, back towards he who was her heart. She poured all her healing abilities into the link, soothing any damage done to it, healing those parts that felt torn, pained.

And then she looked at the man who had done this to them, the one who had threatened Inuyasha. She would never allow harm to come to him.

"Kichiro, you have no rights to my soul, and I will feel no more guilt for your death!"

Pushing her aura outward, she let it flow in waves from inside her, and then she realized that her miko aura was entwined with Inuyasha's youki. Reaching back, she again took his hand in hers.

"Go, Kichiro, leave this place and don't return, but leave the jewel shard here!" She reached out a tendril of her aura and grabbed the shard, and then - she wrapped the now stunned spirit in their combined auras and gave one final, almighty push---

---and Sango and Miroku jumped at the power radiating outward from Kagome and Inuyasha, as Kichiro suddenly came flying outward, away from the two lying on the floor. The pulse of power was so great, that Kichiro was literally flung across the hut, and right through the wall.

Miroku got up and ran through the door, determined to make sure this particular spirit did not come back, but when he reached the outside of the hut, no one was there. He was simply... gone.

Letting the matt fall back into place, he turned to see Inuyasha sit up and grab Kagome into his arms.

"Oh, Kami, Kagome... you scared me so badly there - I thought I was gonna lose you," the hanyou whispered.

Kagome reached up to rub his ears, trying to soothe him. "Shhhh... it's alright, Inuyasha. I'm fine, and your fine, and that will never happen again. Your words pulled me back. I remembered," she said, smiling softly up at him, tears in her eyes, "I remembered saying those words to you... and all the times I tried to get you to understand about Kikyou. I could never leave you, Inuyasha, not even through all that hurt. I couldn't leave you now, even if I do feel guilty about his death. I wouldn't allow him to hurt you."

Inuyasha just curled himself around her body, needing the contact, trying to touch every inch of her with himself.

Miroku motioned for the others to follow him. Stepping outside, he pulled out several ofuda, and picking up Shippo, he began walking around the hut, placing an ofuda every few feet. Once done, he turned and began walking aimlessly through the clearing.

Sango looked at him with confusion. "Why are we wandering around out here, Miroku, and what's with all the ofuda?"

"The ofuda are to make sure that nothing gets into the hut that we don't want in there, and I think that our friends could use a little time alone, don't you?"

Inuyasha reached up and stroked Kagome's hair. He couldn't get enough of her touch, and her scent - he stuck his face in her neck and just breathed.

Nuzzling her jawline, he whined at her, need a clawing force inside him. This still wasn't the time, he couldn't mate her yet, not here, with their friends standing around right outside, but kami he wanted to.

So he just wound himself around her further, and breathed her in, enjoying the feel of her touching him, accepting his touch. Accepting him. Always.

Kagome smiled into Inuyasha's hair. He was wound so tight around her that you couldn't slip a piece of paper in between them, but that was okay. They both needed this contact after what they had just been through, and she was enjoying every moment of it.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed into him, and soon fell asleep, comforted and warm inside her lover's arms.

---sSs---

Kichiro woke, and found himself lying on the ground, with no memory of how he had gotten there. The last thing he remembered was Kagome pushing him away, ripping her soul back from his grasp.

She must have pushed me right out of her soul.

Groaning, he slowly sat up. It looks like I'm somewhere inside the same forest they are, but I'm not sure where. Damn that half-youkai freak!

He had almost had her, but he knew he would not be able to pull that again, so he would have to find another way. He was honest enough to admit to himself that it wasn't really about Kagome anymore, he was just determined that since she had rejected him, she wouldn't be allowed to be happy with anyone else.

Pushing himself to his feet, he looked around, then noticed a glimmer... something white, moving among the trees. Kichiro stepped back, and watched as what appeared to be a young girl walked out from under the trees, and stopped, looking at him with a blank look on her face. She was white... from her hair, to her skin, to her clothes - all except her eyes, which were black.

And then he noticed the mirror she held in her arms, and as he met the eyes of his reflection, he knew no more.