InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ And Wash Away My Tears ( Chapter 15 )

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

Chapter 15: And Wash Away My Tears

Sesshoumaru clenched a fist in rage. The whelp would pay for his interference, there was no question.

He was well aware that the fool had started the spell to pull them back, but he'd only had intentions of calling Kagome. Since Kagome and he were now irrevocably tied together, however, the spell had also encompassed him - but when the half-breed had realized that he was coming back as well, he'd tried to break their bond by overpowering it with his own vow.

The resulting surge in the spell had flung him into a distant part of the lands - and Kagome, right back into Inuyasha's presence.

There would be pain for this.

It was a good thing that Kagome had reciprocated his vow, because had she not, it is possible that she would have been forced back to the land of the living - without him.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed the fire inside, and overlaid it with his ice. For now, calm and calculating is what would be needed to figure out where he was - and more importantly, where she was. Right at this moment, finding his way back to her was a drive, a need, and one he would not deny.

Everything else could wait.

He looked towards the horizon, noting the dark clouds that lay across it, and then turned his face to the setting sun.

Southwest. I must go to the west - home. That is where she will be.

---wWw---

Kagome stalked along, completely ignoring the half demon and everything else as the rain poured down on her. Night would be approaching soon, and she knew they'd have to make camp, but right now, she had so much anger that the rain and the movement felt good - the rain, because of it's cool touch, and the scent that brought Sesshoumaru to her mind, and the movement, because her heart ached to be near him again.

She looked up at the sky, and noted absently that the rain would soon end - already the clouds were beginning to break apart, and she could see shards of the glowing sunset bursting through. There was no denying it was beautiful - but she couldn't enjoy it... not without him by her side.

The weight of the vow to stay with him lay heavy on her soul, then, and she knew it was because of the separation between them. It hurt, in a way that most probably would never understand.

Breaking the treeline, she found herself on an endless-seeming plain, and looking around, she decided this would be a good place to make camp - there'd be plenty of space to keep away from the half demon that she was so tempted to kill at this point in time.

Coming to a halt, she waited for Sango and Miroku, riding Kirara, to reach her side, then said, "We'll stop here for the night." She finally turned and met their saddened gazes, and sighed. "I'm not angry at you guys," she flicked a glance at Miroku's robes, "or you, Shippo. I'm just very upset right now, and don't feel like talking."

The three nodded at her, and she glanced at Miroku's shoulder, noting that he carried her bow, and quiver. Reaching out a hand for them, she tossed them over her shoulder when he handed them over, then said, "I'm gonna go for a walk. I'll be back later."

"Oi, wench, no ya ain't! Shit's bad right now - there's lots of demons running rampant since Naraku's gone, and they're attacking anything that moves." Inuyasha had come up on them and heard her last sentence, and even though he knew she was angry, he wasn't about to let her get herself killed after just getting her back.

She didn't even look at him as she quietly said, "I would almost welcome them, Inuyasha. Killing them might keep me from killing you." With that, she was gone, moving swiftly across the plain as the darkness grew and the sun slipped behind the horizon.

Inuyasha was left in her wake, spluttering and pale with shock. Just as he was about to take off after her, Sango grabbed his arm and shook her head warningly. "Don't do it, Inuyasha. She isn't kidding you. What you did, making her come back here - you completely disrespected who and what she is... and took her choice away from her, forcing her into something she did not want. These are the consequences. She may never speak to you civilly again."

"Why the hell is she so damn angry, Sango? Who the fuck wants to give up their life and die?!"

Miroku shook his head at his friend's obtuse nature, and chuckled. "That is an interesting question, Inuyasha, from one who was determined to allow himself to be drug to hell for a crime he never committed - at least Kagome's death was honorable."

He flushed, then, and turned away, still staring off into the deepening gloom after the miko. "Feh... it ain't the same. That was about honor, and a debt, it ain't like I wanted to go to hell."

"You are right, Inuyasha, it is different. She gave her life for her friends - there is nothing more honorable than that. Giving your life out of a misguided sense of guilt doesn't compare." Miroku turned away then, heading back into the trees for firewood. "So much for honor."

The half-demon growled, then moved off towards the trees himself. "You two do what you want - I'm gonna stay in the trees for the night."

Shippo, who'd been silent the entire time since Kagome had been brought back, finally sighed, and looked sadly at Sango. "Will K'gome ever be back to herself, Sango?"

"I don't know, Shippo. I think..." she trailed off thoughtfully for a minute, then finished, "being dead probably changes how you see things, so she'll probably never be exactly the same as she was." Patting his head, she smiled, a bit sadly. "Plus, I think her heart changed while she was over there. All we can do now is wait and see what happens."

Shippo looked off in the direction Kagome had walked. "Yeah... I think Inuyasha's in trouble - if Lord Sesshoumaru really came back with her, and got sent someplace else, he's gonna be pissed when he finds us. I wouldn't want to be the baka when he catches up, that's for sure."

Sango chuckled at that. "Me either, Shippo... me either."

---wWw---

Kagome walked along, enjoying the freshening breeze as the winds picked up, blowing the last tattered remnants of the rainstorm away. Finally coming to a halt, she looked up at the diamond-filled skies, then closed her eyes, breathing in deeply the beautiful, fresh scent that always came after the rain.

Where are you, Sesshoumaru? Where did Inuyasha's foolishness send you?

With a pained sigh, she sat down, watching as the winds flattened the grasses ahead of them. She shivered... it was cool, though not cold, and she realized that all the time she'd been in the other realm, she hadn't been able to truly feel things like she could here. It was just... different.

Not bad, though... especially not with him by my side. It's almost funny. All the time it took for me to realize any feelings for Inuyasha, and then it takes less than... what turns out to be, she counted up the time on her fingers, less than two weeks, to come to my knees with the need to have Sesshoumaru with me.

Running her hands through her hair to smooth it back from her face, she felt more tears lace her cheeks. It hurt - being away from him like this, and it made her anger at Inuyasha spike dangerously high. With a wide-eyed glance into the heavens, she suddenly knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she'd never be able to live without the handsome demon lord - not anymore.

The knowledge frightened her with its depth - never had Inuyasha affected her this way, and she knew that she was doomed now. If something happened to him...

She would deliberately kill herself to follow him. Her life was nothing without his presence in it.

Closing her eyes again, she desperately flared her aura, searching for his presence.

North-east. He's far away, but I can feel him, a little. The Ox-Tiger...

She shivered once more at that knowledge.

Mt. Hakurei. That cursed place...

No, it doesn't matter! Even if he were in hell, I would follow. Her fists clenched. Inuyasha messed with things that would have been better left alone...

But it doesn't matter - I won't let him or anyone else interfere, not when I finally know where my heart longs to be. Inuyasha no longer has it in his keeping - he broke it, and I took it back.

Now Sesshoumaru has it - and I'm not willing to change that for anything!

She turned and looked back across the prairie towards the distant campfire, an inhuman determination crossing her face.

Inuyasha and his rash actions be damned - he can't hurt me anymore. Only Sesshoumaru can do anything to affect my heart now.

I will find him - and I won't let anything keep me from fulfilling that promise...

"I will always stay with you."

---wWw---

Sesshoumaru paused in his flight, settling to the ground, he took in the sense of her presence, and knowing that she was probably resting, he decided he would take the time to hunt. It'd been over a year since he'd had the need for food, but now - he hungered.

Feeling the bloodlust rise up inside himself, he scented the air.

Ah... boar. They will do for now. Not the tastiest, but I will take it. I have no desire to waste too much time chasing down something else - I will eat, then continue back to her side...

And into the presence of the half-breed that is attempting to step between me and what is mine.

That last thought brought out the lust for blood more even than the hunt, and eyes flashing to red, he dashed after his prey, his last thought filled with an icy anger.

I will taste your blood for this, Inuyasha. Pray that she forgives you and stops me, because if she does not...

I will kill you.

When he came back to himself again, full, and satisfied with his hunt, he was in a large meadow, and looking up, he watched the stars for a few minutes, somehow knowing that wherever Kagome was at that moment, she was also looking at the skies.

Dropping his gaze finally, he centered himself on her aura, and was preparing to lift himself into his light orb again, when he stiffened. A new youki made itself known, and the breeze picked up. Eyes narrowed, Sesshoumaru made no move, waiting for the owner of that power to show themselves.

He didn't have to wait long.

"Sesshoumaru?!" Kagura landed slightly behind and to the side of him, but he didn't move, not deigning to face her. "I... you were dead! How...?!"

After a few moments, he said, "That is none of your concern, Kagura. Why are you here?"

Kagura couldn't believe her eyes. She'd been free for only a few weeks since Naraku had died... and she'd wondered what to do with her freedom. It had hit her hard when Sesshoumaru had been killed - she'd been in love with him for a while. But now... he stood before her, whole, and alive.

"Naraku is dead now, Sesshoumaru, that miko and her ridiculous friends killed him a couple weeks ago - although she died in the attempt." She chuckled at that. "The foolish child gave her life for her friends, although I am grateful to her for my freedom."

"You do not tell me anything I do not already know, wind rider." Sesshoumaru held his anger at the way she spoke of Kagome. "Was there anything useful you had to say?"

She sauntered towards him, and reaching his side, looked at him, smiling, she placed a hand on his arm, running her fingers over his sleeve.

"Come, come, Sesshoumaru, is that any way to talk to a full demon female? I could understand your attitude if some lowly human woman spoke to you - but myself? Why would you treat me as unworthy?"

"If you would like to enjoy your much sought after freedom, you will remove your hand from this Sesshoumaru's person, woman, now," he said, ice coating every word. "Never think to tell me who is worthy, and who is not."

Kagura looked taken aback as she quickly pulled her hand away. "W-what?"

You," he finally looked at her, a disdainful glance, "are nothing but a cast-off of that filthy half-demon. That does not make you worthy of consideration by this Sesshoumaru." He turned away again, then paused. "And never speak of the miko in those tones again. She is far more worthy of my consideration than you will ever be."

"And how does that matter, Lord Sesshoumaru, when she is dead?" Kagura shot back, pride wounded.

"Death did not hold me - do you really think that it held her? She is no longer in that realm." He reached up and flicked a lock of silver hair over his shoulder. "Do not attempt to accost me again, Kagura - I have no desire to catch the foul scent of Naraku anywhere near my person... ever."

With that, he flashed into his light orb, leaving behind a shocked and angered wind demon.

I will not give up! I am far more worthy than some human, no matter who she is, and I will prove it!

She lowered her eyes to the ground thoughtfully.

If she's really back, too, then I have to find a way to get her out of the picture.

I wonder...

What will the wolf think of this little tidbit? He would not be happy, I'm sure, to find that he has another rival.

Perhaps that is where I should start...

---wWw---

"Kagome!!!" Shippo screamed, having been flung away from Miroku when he was knocked off his feet by the overly large snake demon they had been attacked by. This was the third time today - and the last straw for said miko.

"That is it! Everyone, move back and get the hell out of my way," she yelled, "and that includes you, bakayasha! Miroku, go get Shippo and make sure he's okay."

As everyone scrambled to get out of her path, she nocked an arrow, and taking swift aim, let fly, immediately nocking another and firing in the opposite direction from the first... her reason becoming apparent as the snake saw the first arrow, and dodged it - promptly running into the second, and getting dissolved into purple dust before he could scream.

With an angry huff, she put her bow back over her shoulder and stalked up to a shocked half-demon.

"Tell me, Inuyasha," she began in an ominous voice, "what have you been doing since I died? Why are there so many demons running rampant, when you should have had this handled?"

He took a step back from her, unsure of what to say. This Kagome that had come back was... different. Not that her temper hadn't always been scary - but now, it was even worse - it was terrifying.

"I was... uh, well.. I was grieving, okay?" he snapped. "None of us were exactly happy that you died, wench!"

"That's no excuse, Inuyasha! With your brother gone, it was your responsibility to take care of the lands - and you've obviously failed! I guess its a good thing that Sesshoumaru is back - at least for the western lands." She glared at him for a moment, then turned away. "Probably not for you, though - he's gonna kick your ass when he finds us... and you deserve it!"

What the fuck is with her? Why is she so concerned about that bastard anyway? And why, his eyes narrowed in anger and suspicion, is she so dead set on finding him - why is she so certain that he's looking for her? Just what the fuck was going on when she was over there with that fuckin' icicle?

"Yeah? And what makes you so sure that he'd even bother looking for you or me, huh, wench? Did you forget that he hates humans - and last time I checked, you were still human!" Inuyasha was bound and determined to get some answers, one way or another, even if he had to piss her off to do it.

At that, Kagome stopped, and a dead silence permeated the clearing. Before she could turn, however, Sango and Miroku intervened, Sango running up to Kagome and grabbing her shoulders, talking quickly, and Miroku over to Inuyasha, where he clocked the half-demon over the head with his staff.

"If you had any brains, Inuyasha, you would stop antagonizing her. We do not know what she dealt with in the realm of the dead, and fighting with her about it is not the way to get answers." He sighed as Inuyasha muttered curses at him. "My friend, you are just digging yourself in deeper. Why are you trying to make her angry?"

"Because I want my Kagome back, Miroku! The one who loved m--us, and didn't seem to be obsessed with the prick I call a brother! What the hell is going on with her?!"

Kagome, who'd calmed slightly with Sango's words, took a deep breath and turned to stare at him.

"I am not your Kagome, Inuyasha, and I haven't been since you chose Kikyou. Did you really think to have us both?" She rolled her eyes at him in disgust. "And you will not speak of your brother with disrespect in my presence again, is that clear? Because if you do, I will plaster you to a tree myself - and Kikyou won't be able to get you down."

Turning on her heel, she continued on in the direction they'd been headed when they were attacked, not paying any attention to anyone else, and the rest of the group all looked at each other with varying degrees of discomfort.

"What the hell happened to you over there, wench, that turned you into such a fuckin' shrew?" Inuyasha yelled, frustration and worry making him take foolish chances.

As the group ran to catch up with the disappearing miko, they all waited for an answer, and finally, she said, "You try being in constant, gnawing pain, and then tell me you all feel wonderful and cheerful. Trust me, I've got reasons to be pissed - several of them," she hissed, glaring at Inuyasha, "and most of them having to do with you!"

His ears snapped tight to his head as he asked, "So, what? Because we all love you and wanted you back, you're gonna hate me now?"

Kagome closed her eyes, hurt washing up inside at his question. But she refused to cry anymore for him - she'd spent years doing it, only to be tossed aside time and again as he'd run to Kikyou and forget that she was there. She refused to feel guilty that her heart had moved on, and she refused to feel sadness because she was justifiably angry at his selfish actions.

She would not shed any more tears over him.

"I don't hate you, Inuyasha. I don't think I could hate you. But you don't rule my heart anymore." She sighed, then, and met his shocked and disbelieving eyes, squaring her shoulders, she said, "Your brother now holds the heart of who I am, my friend - I moved on while you were busy chasing Kikyou. You pulled me from his side with this stunt - and now I'm returning to it... because that's my choice."

The group was staggered at her words, while Sango and the others had suspected something of the sort, to hear it said aloud was... shocking.

For Inuyasha, the words she had just said made no sense. Those words just couldn't be strung together and possibly make any kind of sense whatsoever. Not in this world, or in the next.

Keh. She's just deluding herself, that's all. Bein' dead fucked with her mind - give it a few days and she'll be back to normal.

But as he watched her walk away, there came a little voice inside that whispered that he was wrong...

It insisted that she knew exactly what she was saying.

---wWw---

A/N: So Kagura is gonna start causing some problems... as if there aren't enough already, right?

Anyway, just another note to the reviewers to let them know that they are much appreciated - and to inubabe-34 over on FF.net, thanks for the picture, it took me a while to find it, but it's really Cool!

Amber