InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heartless ❯ Fallen ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the other characters from the anime/manga. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I suppose life would be easier if I made money by writing these stories, but unfortunately, I do not.

 

 

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Special thanks to my wonderful betas Ai Kisugi and Hedanicree for picking this story to pieces and making it a much more bearable read!

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`Thinking'

“Talking”

Dreams and memories

 

 

 

Chapter 13: Fallen

 

 

 

Inuyasha had been on their tail for hours, but dammit, Kirara was fast. As if that wasn't enough, they had had a head start. At least they were traveling against the wind, which made it possible for him to follow them. It was almost noon, and he hadn't stopped even once to catch his breath. No, he couldn't afford a break. Not when she was running away again!

 

With a mighty leap, Inuyasha flew over a cliff only to land on the other side and resume his hunt on treetops. He opted to stay in the air as much as he could for he could catch her scent better this way. He knew the wench thought he had had a mate he had lost. He couldn't deny it because it was the truth. He was also aware that she had thought she resembled his mate. He couldn't deny that either. Of course she looked like his mate, because she was his mate, dammit! But, how could he come out and say it when there was a chance that it could make things worse? Out of everything, what infuriated him most was that she thought he was using her as a substitute. He was so sick of it! After everything they had been through, he couldn't stand the fact that she once again believed that he was comparing her to someone else.

 

Oh, he was so going to kill the one who had told her all of this. And, he had a really good guess as to who it was. It was that bitch, Keiko, wasn't it? Kagome had asked him about her resemblance to his lost lover on their way to the western lands, after he had gotten her out of Keiko's clutches. The bitch had done it to keep Kagome away from him, hadn't she? He would admit the priestess was quite clever and cunning to have made his mate believe that he was thinking about another woman when he was with her.

 

Inuyasha still wanted to know just what Keiko had done to make Kagome leave all those years ago, to make her submit to that damn spell. Nobuko had said Kagome must have wanted to forget for the spell to take effect. As much as he didn't want to believe that his Kagome would want to forget about him, seeing how treacherous Keiko could be, he was getting more inclined to think that she must have done it after all.

 

A sudden image of his waist being straddled by her as he lay on his back while she lowered herself on his shaft again and again flashed before his eyes, causing him to lose his balance and almost topple to the ground. `What the hell!? Where did that come from?' That wicked nightmare from hell he had suffered from for months, leaving him in the clutches of guilt and sorrow — He had felt guilty because his mind had betrayed his mate by conjuring up such dreams about her. He had felt guilty because he had tainted the memory of her by seeing himself being ravished by her over and over for several months. He had never thought about her that way when she had been alive. Many times, when the guilt had become unbearable, he had gone to the place she had died for the last time to beg for her forgiveness. He had been so relieved when those unnatural nightmares had stopped …

 

… right after Kagome had left.

 

`Dammit!' He landed on the ground as his punch created a small crater on the earth. `God fucking dammit!!' Why hadn't he thought of that before? He had never seen one of those horrible nightmares after Kagome had left. He had been so lost in his pain that he hadn't realized. No matter how hard it was to accept, everything made more sense when he thought about it. They had felt so unnatural, he was now sure that it had been Keiko's doing. If Kagome had known …

 

He shook his head as one word echoed in his mind, `No.' He refused to believe that Kagome had wanted to forget about him unless she told him so. She had known that he had loved her, hadn't she? He hadn't been able to voice his love for her, but he had shown her in every way he could. He had chosen to spend his life with her, he had waited for her, he had built a house for her, he had mated her, and he had raised a family with her. After everything they had shared, she couldn't have believed that he had yearned for Kikyo, could she?

 

No.

 

He was going to find her, and in one way or the other, he was going to make her remember, make her tell him that she hadn't doubted his love for even a second.

 

With renewed determination, Inuyasha leaped to the top of the trees and resumed his chase after his mate.

 

 

~*~

 

 

Kagome raised her head from its perch on Kirara's neck when she felt the cat demon slightly dive towards the ground. The sun was low in the sky, and Kagome knew that it was only a matter of minutes before the darkness of the night enveloped the forest they were traveling over. To her relief, she realized that her companion had chosen the riverside as their new resting place. `Poor Kirara must be really thirsty by now.' They had been in the air since dawn with the exception of the only break they had taken at noon. She could feel her muscles aching from sitting on the giant cat demon for hours. She supposed Kirara was tired as well, even if she was a demon.

 

Landing in a large clearing that was cut by the river down its middle, Kirara waited until her precious cargo was safely standing on her own two feet before transforming to her small kitten form. Letting Kirara jump to sit on her shoulder, Kagome walked toward the river. Holding the hem of her kimono to keep it from getting smeared on the muddy ground, Kagome crouched down on the bank and let her palms fill with water before carefully raising them to her shoulder so that Kirara could drink. When she was satisfied that her savior had her fill, she let her own parched throat indulge in the cool water. Wiping down the excess water from her lips and chin with the large sleeve of her kimono, she stood up, her eyes searching for a nice spot she could rest her back.

 

She sat under the shade of a nearby tree, her back against the tree's rough bark. Kirara jumped down from Kagome's shoulder to lie on her lap, letting the young woman caress her soft fur.

 

Kagome sighed tiredly and let her eyes close. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't relax. The uncomfortable feeling churning her insides wouldn't let her take a nap. Somehow, the more she ran away from him, the more it felt as if what she was doing was wrong. But for the life of her, she couldn't understand why. After what she had witnessed last night, she should feel nothing but relief for being able to escape, right? The man was trying to kill her, for God's sake! The very man she found herself unreasonably in love with.

 

As the hours passed, the necklace hidden in the folds of her obi felt heavier and heavier. Kagome knew the consequences of taking the necklace off of him, but she needed it to make Keiko send her home. `Besides, he deserves it for everything he did to me, doesn't he?'

 

She gasped as the implications of that thought hit her in the face. `Oh, gods, since when did I start to hold a grudge — against someone I love, no less?' Pushing her fingers inside her obi, she felt the coldness of the beads that protected the man she loved from being enslaved by humans. The image of a helpless, red-haired demon with sorrowful eyes and leashed by a collar like an animal flashed before her eyes. She blinked, and the image instantly turned to that of Inuyasha. His shoulders were slumped in defeat, and the flicker of light she had occasionally seen in his beautiful eyes was replaced by the darkness of betrayal and accusations. A collar of subjugation lay ominously around his neck. `Inuyasha, no.'

 

But, she needed the necklace to go home.

 

A stray tear fell from her eyelashes and trailed down her cheek as she stifled a sob. `Since when have I become so selfish?' No. She couldn't let that happen to him. But, what was she going to do now? She couldn't go back to him even if that was the only wish in her treacherous heart. But perhaps, Kirara could take the necklace back to its rightful owner.

 

A loud roar brought her attention back to the cat demon. Kirara had transformed once more and was staring at the forest behind her, her posture ready to attack. Her heart thumping in her chest, Kagome slowly turned and peeked from behind the tree she had been leaning against to see what had her companion so unnerved. A surprised gasp left her when her eyes landed on the object of Kirara's ire.

 

 

~*~

 

 

It had been hours since the sun had set, leaving the lands in darkness. If it weren't for the faint moonlight, Inuyasha wouldn't have been able to travel as fast. Even with his enhanced sight, it was difficult to see where his feet were going to land. If it had been any other time, he would have stopped to wait for dawn to continue his journey, but that was out of the question now. He couldn't stop. Not now. Not when he knew she was close by. His heart started to thump wildly in its cage as her scent got stronger with each step he took, and he increased his pace with the help of the adrenaline rush in his excitement, his figure a silent whisper under the shadows of the night.

 

The half-demon skidded to a halt in a clearing illuminated by the moonlight as well as the phosphorescence on the river that cut the clearing in the middle. Her scent was so strong, he could almost taste it. His heart dropped to his stomach as other scents assaulted his nose. She had been here all right. But, she hadn't been alone. She had been here as well. `That bitch!'

 

Sensing a familiar presence, Inuyasha turned his eyes toward the northern side of the clearing and called out, “You're right to be afraid, you little traitor.” A small figure emerged from the shadows followed by a sad mewl. He snorted in reply as he walked toward the kitten. Coming to a stop in front of Kirara, he crouched down, his eyes boring to his friend's. “I don't care how sorry you are or what she did to make you help her. Once I get her back, you and I are going to have a long chat. Now, where is she?”

 

With a whoosh of air, the small kitten morphed into a giant cat and turned to lead the way, but not before licking the half-demon's hand as a show of remorse. Inuyasha rolled his eyes before following after Kirara. If he wasn't in such a hurry, he wouldn't have let the cat demon get away with what she did. He already had a good guess about what the wench must have done to convince Kirara to help her. `She must have cried her eyes out. What else?' He really didn't care about what she did or how bad the stupid cat felt about it. Kirara should have known better.

 

A few minutes later, he was perched on a tree branch with Kirara at his side as he gazed at the barrier surrounding a small clearing. He had never been so happy about the weak humans' need to rest. If only that damn barrier wasn't in his way. He knew Kagome was on the other side of that translucent wall that kept him away from her. She was so close that he could almost taste her, yet she was so far from his reach. Surely, he could go and break the fucking barrier with his Tetsusaiga, but then what? He was sure that the camp was full of soldiers and priestesses. Keiko was there and she never went anywhere without adequate protection. Breaking the barrier was not the smartest thing to do. They would be alert to his presence instantly. He might as well put a bell on his neck and dance around the camp. It wasn't himself he was concerned about, on the contrary, he knew he could take out anyone that dared touch him. But, if they dared touch her … No. He couldn't risk her safety. Not before he knew her condition.

 

The sounds of light footsteps reached his ears as a familiar figure entered his sight — a figure he hadn't seen since the night Kagome had returned. Making sure that he was completely covered by the shadows, he watched the monk check his surroundings and disappear behind the barrier, but not before sending a look to where Inuyasha was hiding with Kirara. `Damn bouzo.'

 

 

~*~

 

 

As Sango sat by the campfire, poking the burning embers with a piece of wood and waiting for her husband to return to the camp, she felt the unwelcome effects of their long journey slowly catching up with her. She felt so tired — of traveling around, of fighting constantly, of this war, and of the emotional turmoil she had endured during the last fifteen years of her life. What she wanted was peace. She wanted to spend her days with her beloved family in their small hut and watch her children grow.

 

She had thought she had found peace when they had finally defeated Naraku and she and Miroku had started their new life as a married couple. However, those blissful days hadn't last long. When she had first realized the change in Kagome's mood, she had thought that it was because of either some stupid thing Inuyasha had done or the young woman's longing for the family she had left on the other side of the well. No matter how hard Sango had tried, Kagome hadn't talked about her troubles. After Kagome had left, Sango had watched Inuyasha lose himself in his sorrow. Her heart had cried for him as she and Miroku had tried to cheer him up. But, he had adamantly refused to leave the well, to move on with his life. He had become bitter and offensive, threatening to maim anyone who had dared approach the well. And then one day ….

 

Keiko had been their friend. For all Sango had known, the priestess had done nothing to offend anyone. When she and Miroku had found her by the well with her face unrecognizable from the wounds she had received and Inuyasha hovering over her with his hands coated in her blood and a devilish snarl the likes of which she had never seen on his face, Sango had been sure that the half-demon had finally lost his mind.

 

Keiko had left the village after she had recovered, and soon after that, the war had started. The demons had become more aggressive as had the humans, and Sango and Miroku had found themselves unable to stay out of this war. At least by fighting on the side of humans, they had been able to prevent unnecessary deaths many times. Neither Sango nor Miroku had approved the use of subjugation spells at first, but in time they had come to accept that it had been better than just killing their enemies.

 

When Kagome had returned through the well, Sango had been surprised to learn that she hadn't remembered anything about her past in this world, which had awakened her suspicions. It was only after Miroku had joined the group that morning after his trip to the village and had informed Sango about his discovery that she had no doubt left in her mind. Inuyasha had been right from the beginning. They had made a huge mistake.

 

She sighed as her eyes landed on her oblivious friend, sleeping close to the fire. Their group had come upon Kagome in a clearing by the river right before dusk. Keiko had been so excited to find her, she had allowed Kirara go. Just when Sango had thought Kagome would be safe with Inuyasha, the stupid woman had run away from him again, hadn't she? What was going to happen now?

 

Upon hearing soft footsteps, Sango looked up to see Miroku enter the safety of the barrier. `Finally.' Something was amiss, though. His eyes screamed anxiety as he crouched down next to her. Curious to what might have happened to dampen his spirits — besides Kagome's unexpected presence, of course — she whispered, “What's wrong, Miroku?”

 

He looked at her in the eye before he whispered back, “He's here.”

 

Sango was confused at first. “Who?” But as she saw his eyes drift toward Kagome before looking back at her, she knew just who he was talking about. Hoping against hope that she was mistaken, she asked, keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard by their companions, “Inuyasha?”

 

Miroku nodded in response. Having her fears confirmed, panic rose in Sango's heart. If there would be a confrontation with Inuyasha, she was sure that blood would be spilled. He wouldn't let Kagome go this time — especially not with Keiko. Before she could voice her fears, she heard Miroku whisper, “I'm going to talk to him.”

 

She caught his hand in hers when he moved to stand up. Her answer to his questioning gaze was a determined glint in her eyes accompanied by a hushed statement. “I'll go with you.”

 

Just like she expected, Miroku's first reaction was to object as he started, “Sango.”

 

Sango's stern voice cut him short, however, as she stated matter-of-factly, “No, Miroku. He was my friend too.”

 

Sighing in defeat, Miroku shook his head once before looking back at her. “As you wish.”

 

 

~*~

 

 

Kagome kept her eyes closed as she listened to the whispered conversation of the monk and the slayer. `He's here.' Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his name. `Oh, Gods.' He had come after her. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. But what were those idiots thinking, going out there to confront him?

 

No.

 

She wasn't going to lie down and wait for others to fight her battles. If someone was going to face him, it would be her. Besides, she couldn't let them find about his vulnerability. What if they subdued him?

 

No.

 

As silent as she could move, Kagome stood up and followed after the couple, snatching up a bow and a quiver of arrows on her way.

 

She had to make him leave.

 

 

~*~

 

 

Keiko laid on her back, the tranquility of the forest sending her mind to the better days of her life. When she had been younger, it had been her life's goal to become a good priestess and serve humanity. Of course, that was to be expected. After all, she had grown up listening to the tale of the great priestess who had sacrificed her life to protect the Shikon no Tama. Keiko had been ecstatic when she had learned that she would be serving in the village her heroine had lived in.

 

When she had seen Inuyasha for the first time, she had been surprised to say the least. She had never seen a demon with humanoid features, let alone a half-demon. All she had known up to that point had been the belief that all demons were blood-thirsty monsters. But, he had looked so different, so beautiful. Spending time with the group, she had come to accept that, contrary to what she had been taught, not all demons were bad.

 

Her fascination with Inuyasha did not end with her admiration of his beauty, though. Soon after she had started living in the village, she had heard about his history with Lady Kikyo. Wishing to understand her heroine better, she had started paying more attention to the half-demon Kikyo had loved. Seeing how brave he had been when it had come to battling monstrous demons and his protectiveness of the ones he had loved, it hadn't been difficult to understand Kikyo. However, somewhere on the way, something had changed in Keiko. Before she knew it, she had fallen in love with him.

 

It had been hard for her, silently watching the man she had loved with another woman. Surely, she had liked Kagome a lot at first. But in time, especially after she had recognized her feelings for Inuyasha, she had started getting annoyed with the young woman. Worse was the times the couple had argued. She couldn't stand seeing him being subdued by his mate as if he was a dog on a leash. She had tried to find a way to save him from this humiliation. Soon, she had discovered that the only option had been to make Kagome go away because it had been obvious that Inuyasha had been too blind to run away. Kagome had to go to somewhere he couldn't follow.

 

Keiko had known about the well and how it had stopped working for Inuyasha. She had also known that the well would work only if Kagome wanted it to. But that stubborn woman would never want to leave her half-demon. Her loyalty to Inuyasha had been too strong, and because of that, even the spell Keiko had cast on her to make her forget about him had not worked. To weaken her trust, Keiko had used the only weakness Kagome had — Kikyo. She was still surprised how Inuyasha had not discovered the spell she had cast on him, but she was glad he hadn't. In the end, Kagome had left.

 

However, she was no longer glad that her endeavors had been successful. That horrible day on which she had lost her face, for the first time in years, she had seen Inuyasha for what he was — a monster. Just like every other demon, he was a monster and had to be leashed. Of course, that meant his children would be just like him if they grew up. But now, thanks to her, that wouldn't be the case. That thought alone let her sleep comfortably at night.

 

When she thought about it now, she believed that she had done Kagome a favor by making her leave. She had saved her from a monster, but the stupid woman found her way back. She tried to keep her away from him by using Kikyo's name once more. And obviously, once more, it worked.

 

Her eyes landed on the current object of her thoughts to see her silently leave the camp after the monk and the slayer, but not before grabbing a bow and a quiver of arrows. Something was up.

 

 

~*~

 

 

Inuyasha cursed as he heard footsteps approaching. The wind had changed direction only a few minutes ago, and already some weak humans managed to sneak up on him. His irritation lessened somewhat when he saw the monk and the slayer under the faint moonlight as they stepped closer. Miroku raised his head to look at the tree where he was perched, and he knew it was useless to try to keep his presence unknown. They knew he was there.

 

He jumped down to stand in front of his two ex-comrades, his posture stiff and his eyes daring them to make a move. He was taken aback to see the monk's eyes soften considerably before he began, “Inuyasha…”

 

Whatever Miroku was going to say was forgotten when a soft crunch was heard behind them. All eyes turned to the direction where the sound came from to see a delicate figure emerge from the shadows. Kagome stood proud as she stepped under the moonlight. Notching an arrow to her bow, she aimed it at him, her hands slightly trembling under the strain of holding the bow taut. Despite her hostile attitude, there was something in her eyes that rendered him unable to breathe the moment their gazes met. Something that was soft and hard, hot and cold, telling him to go away yet begging him to stay.

 

He had never seen her so beautiful.

 

As if being pulled, he took a step toward her. She tightened her hold on the bow as she shouted, “Stay where you are, Inuyasha!”

 

He heard Sango call her name, but she shushed the slayer telling them to go away. “This is between Inuyasha and me,” she continued, her voice clearly conveying the finality of her words. He couldn't agree more as he watched Miroku lead Sango away, telling her that they better get Kirara away from the scene and the barrier.

 

Once they were alone, he attempted to approach her once more. “No!” she shouted again, causing him to stop in his tracks. “Why are you here?” Her voice cracked as she asked that, causing him to clench his fists in his inability to keep her from hurting.

 

“You should know why,” he whispered, his eyes pleading with her to understand his pain.

 

Refusing to let him weaken her resolve, she shook her head, her long tresses falling over her shoulders as she did so. She whispered, her voice hard with determination, “Leave me alone.”

 

`Leave you alone? No way.' He chuckled darkly as a smirk slowly found its way on his face. “Why? So that you'll get yourself killed among these humans?”

 

She furrowed her brows, obviously not amused, as she asked accusingly, “What is it to you? You don't care about me.”

 

He recoiled as if he had just been slapped. Of all the things she could have assumed about him … Quickly recovering, he stated matter-of-factly, “That's not true.”

 

The stubborn wench that she was, she narrowed her eyes, refusing to believe him, and shot back, “Oh, yes, it is. Now go away and leave me be.”

 

This time it was him who shook his head. A sad smile forming on his lips, he whispered, “I can't.”

 

“And why is that?”

 

He extended his hand toward her as he answered, “I want you to come back with me.”

 

Taking a step back, she tightened her hold on the bow. “No. It's not me you want.” He smelled her tears before he saw them glisten in her azure orbs. She sniffed once and held her head high, her jaw tightening with renewed resolution. “You don't even know who I am.”

 

He was quick to retort, “Yes, I do.” Sighing, he raked his hand through his bangs once before letting the words he never used fall from his lips. “Look, I'm sorry, okay? I've gone too far. I-I didn't mean to. I know who you are.” He stepped towards her before continuing, “And I want you.”

 

“No, you don't!” Following that outburst was the whizzing sound of the arrow she had released in her anger. He dodged it with a curse before she continued her rant, “I can't be who you want me to be, don't you get that?! No matter how I feel about you, I can't change who I am. I'm not Kikyo!”

 

“What the …?!” He wasn't expecting to hear that name — especially now, when she had nothing to do with their conversation. “What does Kikyo have to do with this?!” Did she think he was trying to turn her to Kikyo? But why would she think that? He was really sick of Kikyo's name being slapped to his face. But this time, it was different. This time, Kikyo indeed had nothing to do with him or Kagome. However, someone had obviously told her about Kikyo. What they had forgotten — or deliberately omitted — to mention, he would. Straightening his shoulders, he shouted, “Kikyo is dead, dammit!”

 

She faltered in her attempts to notch a new arrow to her bow, and he sighed in relief. However, his relief lived short as she shook her head and scrunched her eyes shut. Not wanting to give her the time to convince herself otherwise, he called her name, “Kagome.”

 

Hearing her name fall from his lips for the first time, she gasped and looked at him with shock written on her face. Smiling at her surprise, he continued as he stepped forward. “See? I know who you are. You're Kagome.” Keeping his hands on his sides so as not to alarm his confused woman, he called her name once more, stressing each syllable as if tasting her name on his tongue, “Ka-Go-Me.” He could clearly hear the pounding of her heart as he took another small step toward her, her name falling from his lips like a prayer, “My Kagome.” Her breath hitched in her throat, and he dove for the killing move, “And I need you by my side.”

 

Suddenly, she recoiled and shouted, her bow once more taut in her hands, ready to be released, “You lie!”

 

`Fuck this!' Fed up with her stubbornness, he threw caution out of the window and started walking toward her, his hands opening his haori and shirt in one swift move, baring his chest to her. “If that is what you believe, then shoot me.”

 

Her hands trembled, and she hesitated. Not stopping in his strides, he shouted, “What the fuck are you waiting for, wench?! I told you to fucking shoot me!”

 

 

~*~

 

 

Kagome couldn't do it. Her first shot had been a mistake, and she had secretly been glad to see him dodge it effortlessly. Now, now he was telling her to shoot him. How could she, when all she wanted to do was run to his arms?

 

She had been appalled to hear him call her by her name. Honestly, she hadn't hoped that he knew it at all. But he knew, and strangely, it sounded so familiar falling from his lips. `Not only that, he said it was me he wanted.' Gods, how she wanted to believe his words.

 

She tried to stand strong as he made his way toward her. But try as she might, she couldn't stop her hands from trembling as they held the bow ready or her tears from falling down her cheeks.

 

She blinked to clear her sight, and he was in front of her before she opened her eyes. He knocked the bow out of her unresisting hands, eliciting a gasp from his hard-headed lover. Leaning his head down, he asked as he pushed her bangs away from her eyes, “Don't you see, dummy? It's you I want.”

 

Hope swelled in her chest as his words registered in her mind. Cupping the sides of her head, he gently pulled it up so that he could gaze into her hopeful eyes. She had to be blind not to see the love shining in his eyes, promising honesty, affection and so much more. He traced the line of her tears on her cheek with his thumb as he whispered, “It was you I wanted all the time.”

 

Two hearts thumped at the same time, and the next time they beat, their owners were lost in the flames of passion as they embraced each other with all that they had, desperately trying to be one, never to be separated again. Kagome felt her head spin, and she clutched his haori in her hands, his taste in her mouth balm to the wounds in her heart. He kept her close to his heart as he kissed her pain away, and she gave in to the fact that she would rather be dead than be away from him.

 

Soon, they had to break the kiss in favor of breathing. He leaned his forehead on hers, their gazes locked and their chests pushing against each other as they struggled to regain their breath. She didn't want to break the spell they were in, but she had to know. Even if she believed what he told her now, she couldn't disregard what she had heard him say last night before he barged into the room and attacked her. “Inuyasha, I heard you last night. You said —”

 

Her words died in her throat when Inuyasha let out a menacing growl. Before she knew it, she found herself pushed behind him as he faced someone that made him immensely angry. Not a second passed before she heard Keiko's voice.

 

“So we meet again, Inuyasha.”

 

“You bitch!” he snarled as he cracked his knuckles. Kagome peeked from above his shoulder to see Keiko and the rest of her group form a half circle in front of them, their bows and swords at the ready. He felt Inuyasha stiffen, and she instantly knew that he was about to spring forward to attack the newcomers. She latched onto his arm before he could make his move, causing him to glance back at her.

 

She shook her head to emphasize her point as she said, “No! You can't fight with them!”

 

He pried her fingers off of his arm as he kept an eye on the intruders. “I have no choice, wench!”

 

“No! Inuyasha.” She wanted to tell him that he was in danger without his necklace on, but he interrupted her, his eyes burning with determination as he shouted back, “Just shut up and let me protect you!”

 

With that, he dove into battle with all his might. However, the sight in front of Kagome's eyes was completely different from the dark forest he was fighting in. The moment those words fell from his lips, she found herself standing on the enormously big bones of a deceased demon, where he fought a transformed Sesshoumaru to protect her. `His father's grave.'

 

She fell to her knees as the memories bombarded her mind: the first time she had ever laid eyes on him as he slept bound to the Goshinboku; the well; the Shikon no Tama; Naraku; Kikyo; Sango; Miroku; Shippo; Kaede; Kirara; the day she had realized she had fallen in love with him as she had talked to her mother under the shade of Goshinboku; the day they had destroyed Naraku; being left in the darkness by the jewel; the relief in his eyes when he breached the darkness to find her; the horrified sight of his face when the well closed, sending him to his own world …

 

She was gasping for air by now, her hands clutching the sides of her head as if to keep her mind from blowing up. Yet, the knowledge she had hidden at the back of her mind wouldn't stop bringing flashes of her life in front of her eyes: the day she had returned to him; the way they had mated on the forest ground, unable to wait until he showed her their house; the day their children were born …

 

Kagome was brought back to reality when she heard an anguished cry. She looked up to see the boy she had fallen in love with the moment she had laid her eyes on him, the half-demon she had sacrificed everything to be with, the man who had given her much more than she had lost, her beloved mate, the ever-loving father of her children, and her unbreakable protector fall down to his knees, his head thrown back in agony, his moonlight hair whipping wildly in the wind …

 

… his hands clutching a new set of subjugation beads around his neck.

 

 

End of Chapter 13