InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Sundered Hearts ( Chapter 17 )

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

Chapter 17: Sundered Hearts

"So, Kikyou. How are things for you... have you decided what you want to do with your new lease on life?" Kagome asked, honestly curious about what her one-time rival wanted to do now.

Kikyou looked at the other woman consideringly. Talking like this with her was definitely... odd. For so long, she'd seen her as an impediment to her retention of Inuyasha's heart, but it seemed as though something in the girl had changed...

"I guess some of that depends on you, really." She turned and watched the trees sway as they walked, trying to maintain a pleasant expression while yet filled with so much uncertainty.

Kagome sighed, then shook her head. "No, Kikyou, none of it depends on me. I am no competition for Inuyasha - he's yours, and we both know that. So, what you're saying is that you want a relationship with him now that you are alive again. But my question is, can you accept him for what he is, rather than what you wanted him to be?"

Although once again surprised at the girl's bluntness, she answered. "You are more competition than you know - and yes, I accept him as a half-demon. After the last years of my life as an undead, do you really think I could maintain my previous beliefs?" She sighed. "Being undead really kind of makes you re-think things, you know."

At that, Kagome chuckled. "I can imagine. Let me tell you, just being plain dead makes you do the same." With a smile at the older woman's surprised laugh, she continued. "Believe me when I say, Inuyasha is all yours. My heart... well, let's just say, while I will always love him, it isn't in the same way that you do. My feelings are engaged by someone else now. And even though right now, Inuyasha is acting jealous, it's not because he really loves me in that way, either. He's just used to me feeling that way about him, and he doesn't want to give that up. He'll get over it sooner or later."

Kikyou glanced at her with a raised brow. "Do you really think so? This is Inuyasha you are talking about, ne? You know he's stubborn, and doesn't like admitting defeat in anything. Do you think he'll learn his lesson so easily?"

Kagome burst out laughing. With a glance down the hill at an obviously nervous half-demon, she said, "Believe me, Kikyou, with the person my heart is taken by, he won't have any choice. If he tries anything funny, he'll get his butt kicked."

And who is this paragon of strength that has stolen your heart away from Inuyasha, Kagome?" Kikyou asked, head tilted to the side as she watched the other woman, a curious look in her eyes.

Kagome grinned, then winked at her. "Why, my Lord Sesshoumaru, ruler of the Western Lands of Japan, of course, Kikyou. Who else would be strong enough to whip sense into our favorite, overly stubborn half-demon?"

The elder priestess stared at Kagome in shock. "But... but I thought he died a year ago."

"Wasn't I dead just the other day? Didn't Inuyasha even tell you where we were going?" She shook her head and sighed with annoyance. "Baka. We're going to meet up with him, he's just as alive as I am now... that's actually the only reason I stopped here at this point - so I could get Rin and Jaken."

"But what about you, Kagome? I mean, that particular demon is a known human-hater. Does he even know how you feel?"

Kagome's expression softened, then, and she looked off into the distance. "A lot changes when you die, Kikyou. He knows how I feel... because he's the one that came to me. Amazing as it seems, he was in love with me before he even died... he'd just not said anything before he got himself killed. I think it was in his mind to wait 'til Naraku was dead - for safety reasons."

Kikyou was amazed, and it showed. But she was more than happy with this set of circumstances, and she wouldn't deny it.

"Well, I wish you all happiness, then." With a gesture towards the hut and the waiting group of people, she said, "Shall we?"

Kagome threaded her arm with Kikyou's, and nodded. "Let's."

And the two walked down the hill, talking quite happily.

As Inuyasha watched them, he got a sinking feeling in his heart. He just knew that that talk had somehow sundered his and Kagome's relationship - and that whatever was left of it, would never be the same.

He didn't think he was ready to deal with that - if he ever would be.

Kagome's slipping away from me... how the hell do I stop this? I can't... I can't let her go!

---wWw---

Koga stopped again, getting a bit aggravated with the whole trip. These demons were really getting on his nerves - it seemed like he was having to stop and fight every five minutes. Much more of this, and he'd be ready to scream.

He couldn't get the things that Kagura had said out of his mind. The Western Lord had most definitely been dead - for quite some time, now. And apparently, Kagome had also been dead... and yet, both were now back. A little too convenient, it seemed to him. That hinted at some kind of tie between the two... and he didn't like that one little bit.

Bottom line... he'd claimed Kagome a long time ago, and even though she hadn't seemed to really take him seriously, it didn't matter - she was his, and if he couldn't have her, neither would anyone else.

He might seem like an easygoing person, but the truth was, he was a wolf, and not just any wolf, but the Alpha wolf - and what he claimed, stayed claimed, or else. He would not give way to anyone - Kagome was his, and if someone disputed it, he'd kill them - or he'd kill her.

No one else would have what he craved. End of story.

He knew that even Inuyasha didn't take him this seriously. He'd deliberately kept that side of himself hidden, hoping to charm Kagome into accepting him the easy way - eventually. But whether she did, or not, didn't really matter in the end - he'd take her, one way or another.

I'm coming for you, Kagome, and you'd better be ready - if I find you claimed by anyone else, you'll live just long enough to regret it.

No one takes what's mine.

---wWw---

Does she think that I do not know she is there?

Sesshoumaru had once again been forced to stop, this time coming across a much stronger opponent than he had before. Even with that presence, however, he had still taken note of Kagura's youki - despite the fact that she was trying to hide. Had he been anyone else, she would have succeeded.

But she was a minor annoyance at this point. The one he faced now was a larger annoyance. If the truth were to be told, if he'd faced this one at any other time, he might have enjoyed the contest. It was only a matter of timing. He was focused on regaining his miko, and anything else was a distraction - including combat with a possibly worthy opponent.

There is no help for it, however. Facing each other in this way, a fight is the only possible outcome - and for this one, I need a sword...

It is time, Bakusaiga. Time for you to come forth.

He could feel the lash of his youki as it expanded, answering his call, and as it swelled, he lifted his left arm - the one he'd originally lost to Tessaiga. As he did, the flesh rippled, and a glow surrounded the hand, brightening until he had to look away. When the light finally died, he had his sword - one that was made purely of his own youki, and would only ever respond to him.

He no longer needed to rely on the power of his father, or any other - his own was more than enough.

As the sword shimmered and flashed in his hand, he looked up, and stared at his opponent, who had drawn his own sword in anticipation. The tiger demon before his was known to him - though they'd never actually fought before.

"Kin."

"Sesshoumaru." The tiger before him stared at him appraisingly. "I had heard you were dead. Those rumors appear to have been false."

Sesshoumaru held his gaze silently for a few moments, then spoke. "They were not."

Kin raised a heavy black brow and growled. "And yet... here you stand. How is that possible?"

"It is not necessary for you to know. All that you need to know is that I am here. Will you fight, or will you continue to indulge in pointless speech?"

The aggravated tiger demon growled louder, then suddenly attacked, moving almost too fast to be seen.

But Sesshoumaru had not gotten to be the warrior he was by waiting to be attacked, and by the time the tiger reached him, he had already moved somewhere else.

That began a game of cat and mouse, literally, as it soon became apparent that Sesshoumaru was merely toying with the tiger, waiting for him to attack, then simply appearing elsewhere, leaving the demon fuming behind him.

"Will you continue to run, dog, or will you ever have the nerve to actually fight me?!" Kin roared, rage beginning to make his golden eyes bleed red.

"It is not the fault of this Sesshoumaru that you are too slow to catch me, cat," he taunted. Once more raising Bakusaiga, he waited for his opponent to move - and then he attacked, sword flickering in and out so fast that Kin could barely keep up.

After a lengthy series of blows, they disengaged, and the demon Lord huffed at the tiger. "Already out of breath? How pathetic - you do nothing but waste my time," he finished, not even breathing heavily.

"This Sesshoumaru had assumed that you would be a semi-worthy opponent, and so drew his sword," he said, in a scathing tone. "However, it seems that was a mistake on my part." Standing back, he slid Bakusaiga into his obi, making a mental note to obtain a sheath from Bokuseno.

"It appears that you are no challenge whatsoever. Even the half-breed brother of this Sesshoumaru is a better opponent."

At that, the enraged tiger screamed his hatred, and rushed him in a straightforward attack that had no finesse - and Sesshoumaru took full advantage, easily side-stepping the rush, he called forth his Dokkasou and speared the foolish tiger straight through the throat with his poison claws.

Before Kin could react to that, the demon Lord reached into his chest, ripping out his heart...

And as quickly as that, the fight was over.

With a disgusted glance at the remains of the golden tiger, Sesshoumaru melted the heart, flicking his bloody claws, he rid his hands of the blood on them, then turned on his heel and moved off.

It seems that a year of being dead has not harmed my combat skills any.

With a quick flicker of his youki, he noted the position of the female that was following him, and a menacing smile curled his lips.

Perhaps you should take Kin's death as a warning, Kagura. This Sesshoumaru desires that only one woman should follow him...

And you are not her.

---wWw---

The monk known as Ungai looked at his growing group of monks and priestesses in approval. With the upheaval in the lands lately and the multitude of demon attacks, he had quickly gained new followers - followers that approved his ideals. If it was a demon, it was evil, and therefore should be destroyed with no questions.

They had just come from yet another battle, saving a village from a veritable horde of locust demons - and had converted more people to his beliefs. At this rate, he was growing himself an army... and one he could use against the one demon he'd ever faced and been unable to conquer - the white dog demon that had stolen a young human child and warped her mind - she'd called him Lord Sesshoumaru.

That was a failure that he had never forgotten - and then, to top it off, he'd run into another white dog demon - or half demon as the case was - and with him had traveled a demon slayer, a monk, and a miko. As far as he was concerned, that was an absolute betrayal by those people of their callings - and he would, if given the chance, also face them in battle and destroy them.

They had betrayed their humanity - and for that, they should be killed, beyond all doubt.

One of the younger monks under his tutelage came up to him where he stood at the edge of the village.

"Master Ungai," he bowed respectfully, "the last of the demons have been destroyed. The village headman would like to speak to you if you are amenable."

Ungai nodded. "I will come. Show me the way."

The younger monk bowed, then turned and lead the way into the middle of the village. It had been heavily damaged, and it would take a while for the people here to recover - but they would, and all thanks to he and his followers.

"Ah, Master Ungai, it is a pleasure to meet such an august personage. This village thanks you for saving us - we have had a rather difficult time lately with all the demon attacks." The headman was fawning anxiously over him, not wanting to offend the leader of such a powerful group.

Ungai frowned, looking around at the damage that surrounded them. "Tell me, headman, was this not the first attack on your village?"

"No, Master Ungai, it wasn't. For some days now there have been demons every time we turn around - I have never, in all my days, seen so many," he sighed, running his hands nervously through his hair. "To be honest, many of the villagers have considered moving to find someplace safer - but a couple of travelers came through a few days ago, and told of how all the lands seem to be under attack - they themselves were fleeing from demons. It looks like we have a plague of them, Lord Monk."

"Hm." Ungai looked thoughtful for a few minutes, then nodded. "It seems as though we are needed now more than ever, then. We will go out and fight as we are able - perhaps as we go we may gather more warriors to fight this influx of evil into our midst." With a slight bow to the headman, he turned. "I must gather my people and continue on our travels. Peace to you and your village."

"Thank you again for your help, Lord Monk - may your journey be successful."

Success would mean the extermination of all demons... I believe that is a calling worthy of my power. For humanity's sake, I will attempt this feat.

It is time to cleanse the land of the evil taint that is anything demonic.

---wWw---

Sugimi, Inu no Taisho, and former Lord of the West, watched the turmoil enveloping the realm of the living, and sighed.

Inuyasha, though you were being selfish in calling Kagome back, you did what was needed. Even though you did not intend to call your brother back as you did, the lands need Sesshoumaru now more than ever - and her, too.

You must get past your desire for her, Inuyasha, and instead focus on your own woman, because if you don't, your brother will indeed kill you, and that would not be good for Nihon.

Both of you, my sons, will need to band together with your other halves and all of your companions to save that realm from destruction - for to destroy one race, human or demon, is to destroy the necessary balance - the yin and yang.

Without one, the other cannot exist.

I only hope you figure it out soon, my son's - for everyones sakes.

The destruction of Naraku was only the beginning.

---wWw---

Because of the uneasy situation with all the upheaval, Kikyou, Kagome, and Kaede, assisted by Miroku, had enclosed the village in several layers of protection before leaving - barriers interspersed with protective sutras posted by Miroku all around it. With that, and Kaede's continued presence, they would be safe enough while the group was gone.

All of that meant that they got a later start than they had planned.

By the time evening fell, though, the group had gone a fair distance from the village, even considering the several encounters with rampaging demons and the late start, and they finally set up camp in a small, secluded, and defensible clearing. That night was spent in discussions of how to handle the mess that Nihon suddenly found itself in.

No one had really thought about what would happen once Naraku was defeated. Yes, he had needed to be destroyed, no question about that, but it really hadn't occurred to anybody just how much he had done to keep the lower-level demon population in check - nor what would happen once he was taken out of the equation.

It was definitely a dangerous oversight - and one that would need to be corrected... as soon as possible.

As they traveled to the north the next morning, the destruction they found became worse, and because of this, Kikyou, Kagome, and Miroku stopped and offered each village the same protective measures they'd used on their own - and the offers were met with unfailing enthusiasm.

Even though it slowed them down, and so put Kagome on edge, she wouldn't let her personal preferences for more speed get in the way of protecting those that she could, and so, along with the sometimes fierce battles they were forced into, they weren't making very good time.

With all of that, and the tension between Inuyasha and Kagome, it was only a matter of time before something exploded...

No one in the group, however, expected the explosion that did come.

---wWw---

A/N: And now there's even more tangles - isn't it fun? Next chapter is gonna be a doozy, what with Koga showing up... okay, not saying anymore, it'd give too much away. Sorry for the cliffie everyone.

Amber