InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ LOVE POISON ❯ Selfless ( Chapter 21 )

DISCLAIMER: Don't own, don't sue. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I do own Gashapon, action figures, posters, t-shirts, keychains, plushies, pins, a backpack, almost the complete manga volumes in Spanish, and random merchandise. So not only am I NOT making money out of this, I'm actually broke cause of the sexy puppy-eared hanyou and the IY cast (except for Kikyou >.< I wouldn't get anything bearing clay pot's image, not even for free)

AN: This chapter (and chapter 22, once posted) takes place on the DAY of Naraku's spell, which takes place on that same night (chapter 20). So, in this chapter, the spell hasn't been completed yet; Naraku has just left Inuyasha and Kagome after tricking her into believing he was Inuyasha in a previous chapter, and Kagura is sitting with Kikyou waiting for his return. I hope that's clear! It starts with the scene that ends chapter 19 in italics, where we left Inuyasha and Kagome last time we saw them in the fic.

I apologize for the delay! Many things have happened in rl, I'll spare you the sad story, but YM decided to go to college since she doesn't want to be stuck in crappy jobs for the rest of her life and she found the perfect career for her ^_^ I know no one reads this but I thought I'd let you know why I've been missing in action (among other reasons I won't list, one of them being Writer's Block, caps and all.) So…to make up for it, I'm posting this ch now, and will be posting the next ch next week. Ch 22, as a Christmas present, has heavy lime for all of you hentai's out there ^_^

 

I want to thank the best friend I could have ever asked for, and my beta too, and my very own kindred spirit Trusuprise.You freakin' rock, girl! I love her to pieces and she's helped me SO much with this fic and through writer's block and with life in general, I could Never thank this wonderful girl enough. I can always embarrass her in public like this though ^_^ Thanks to Kona-baby and huggy bear Carlitos too! And to my Argentinean friend Lizashu who always bears with me!

 

Arigato for your lovely reviews! And don't forget: LP has only just begun! Please keep reading! (AND REVIEWING! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!) Don't give up on me!

 

 

CHAPTER 21: SELFLESS

 

 

"Kagome..." Inuyasha started slowly, his small dog-like ears drooping. "I need to tell you something... something you should know... from me, at least..." The inu-hanyou was hesitant, and Kagome gave him a weary, sad look with a tinge of hope that made him swallow hard.

But there was something bothering him to no end and he just had to tell her... he literally couldn't breathe at the moment because of it... he felt physically ill, and there was no way he could stay around her like this.

"What is it?" Kagome asked softly, looking up at him, her unconditional love for him evident in her chocolate-hued eyes.

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment before looking away, a scowl adorning his face. He had to tell her. Now.

Shit, it was killing him not to say anything about it! He was beginning to feel sick, too, his stomach knotting.

He wrinkled his nose, a look of undisguised disgust on his handsome face. "Go take a fucking bath. You stink, wench."

So it was that, earlier on the day that Kikyou would obtain a new body from Naraku, the very day that Kagura would lose her heart and souls, and Kikyou would soothe the bandit Onigumo's lust with her own unfulfilled desire, and would then give up her holy powers in exchange for a body of flesh and blood…It was that morning, after Naraku had tricked Kagome into believing he was Inuyasha, that the inu-hanyou silently carried the young miko back to Kaede's village.

 

The soft pressure of Kagome's body against his back, her warm breath on the back of his neck, and the blissful sensation of her smooth skin under his fingers as he carried her was something he would not allow himself to enjoy fully.

 

Naraku's despicable scent still lingered on his Kagome, and as Inuyasha tried to ignore it frantically, capturing Kagome's delicate fragrance underneath that bastard's stench clinging to her, he also caught the scent of anxiety from her.

 

Silvery white bangs covering clouded golden eyes, Inuyasha bowed his head. His mind full of troubling thoughts, and his heart so overwhelmed by his inner turmoil, he pushed away these scents and tried to focus on Kagome's comforting aura alone.

 

Kagome's own mind raced between the recollection of Sango's previous discussion regarding the possible purification of Inuyasha, Naraku's cruel taunts, and Inuyasha's reaction to the ordeal they had just been through.

 

Furious and thoughtless as the inu-hanyou's behaviour had always been as far as Naraku was concerned, Kagome thought as she chewed on her lower lip, Inuyasha should not have been as…as - understanding - as he had been about the whole situation…

 

Kagome realized this now as she unconsciously tightened her long legs around Inuyasha's hips. She felt him lift her slightly, as his thumbs stroked her skin, soothing her, it seemed. But she could tell without looking at his handsome face that Inuyasha was scowling.

 

It took only moments before Kagome began to feel disconnected from anything that was not the sensation of Inuyasha's warm hands under her knees, his presence and wild scent, the almost imperceptible sound his bare feet made as he followed the path that led to Kaede's village.

 

His silence was killing her. But as far as Inuyasha was concerned, he had said all he needed to say. His heart disagreed with him, though, it had been the perfect opportunity to confess to Kagome about the incident by the stream…yet his mind stubbornly insisted he was not ready to tell his chosen one this.

But - he couldn't live with himself if he did not tell Kagome what had happened between the dead miko and himself on that morning - the morning that had changed everything.

 

Kagome trusted him. She'd said she always would, no matter what. And she knew his current condition had something to do with Kikyou. He'd promised he'd tell her - eventually.

 

Except Inuyasha didn't fully understand what had happened that morning or why, and he didn't know if he could ever regain Kagome's confidence, her trust that he would surely lose forever if he confessed this deed that made no sense in his head and reeked of betrayal.

 

Perhaps if he thought hard enough, he could actually convince himself it had all been a nightmare, and therefore, there would be nothing to confess - except…there was the undeniable, acutely real fact that his human blood had been weakened. But damn it, he needed to understand the reasons behind it all!

 

He hadn't wanted to come out of the stream when Kikyou had told him to - yet he had.

 

And he had definetely not wanted her to touch him in that way, or to do…what she had done to him. Yet he had allowed this, too.

 

`Not myself…I was…I was dreaming…I thought I was…shit! I can't…can't explain it! I can't even explain it to myself! How can confess, or even begin to explain to Kagome something I don't fucking understand?!'

 

Inuyasha couldn't comprehend the reasons behind Kikyou's motive and actions…but he did understand and shared Kikyou's immediate reaction afterwards, the disgust she had felt…the regret.

 

She was lucky, Inuyasha thought now bitterly, Kikyou probably didn't loathe herself for it. No, she most definetely loathed him. She had been wounded, too. Did he feel guilty for this, for hurting Kikyou? No…not much.

 

The remorse he felt for betraying Kagome's trust and love was far greater, and it made him want to…to do something about it. Like - like…beat the shit out of something.

 

No, Kagome couldn't know about this…not yet, not until he himself discovered the motive behind the resurrected miko's unexpected, unexplainable, shockingly bold behaviour. But now that he was thinking about Kikyou, he realized he didn't really understand her at all.

 

Had he ever understood the miko, even when she had been alive?

 

Inuyasha had always thought they'd understood each other. Fifty years ago, they had shared a bond, one forged in pain.

 

Loneliness. Bitterness. The desperate need to belong. But - the dead Kikyou was lonely too, wasn't she? She was most certainly bitter, and she didn't belong in the land of the living either…what, exactly, had changed, then?

 

Inuyasha thought he could almost understand that…this clay doll who stank of grave soil, bones and death, who bore Kikyou's face and possessed Kikyou's aura, was not really the miko he thought he had known, and knew he had loved fifty years ago, and yet…perhaps he had been the one who had changed the most…

 

However, Inuyasha still didn't understand why Kikyou had stolen the Shikon no Tama from Kagome- and handed it over to Naraku, whom she had sworn to Inuyasha was her foe.

 

The inu-hanyou didn't fully comprehend the resurrected miko's undisguised contempt for him. He didn't understand her undefined love for him either, although he didn't know if `love' was the correct term for what the undead priestess felt for him now, whatever that was…

 

You didn't want for someone you loved to die. You didn't wish for them to go to Hell. You didn't point a dagger at their throats. But you didn't do what she had done to him that morning to someone you hated either…right?

 

Yet Inuyasha also knew that he couldn't hate Kikyou, because she shared Kagome's soul, and she was a lingering memory.

 

The days he had spent in her silent company when she'd been alive and he'd been too young, too naïve, too angry with the world that had turned its back on him…the inu-hanyou would always be grateful to Kikyou for that.

 

Indeed, he would always cherish her memory. For the sake of her memory, he'd forgive the resurrected miko anything.

 

It was easier to ignore the dreadful things she had done since the day she'd been dragged back reluctantly into the land of the living than to forgive them, but Inuyasha also knew that this was solely his fault.

 

He had been the one who had called her name, and Kikyou had become his responsibility, whether he liked it or not. And Inuyasha would protect her, he would save her if he could, because he had promised her this.

 

But - he would not die for her. Not now, when he had found his chosen one, his Kagome, she who was his to protect…and to love. Not now, when he had finally found where he belonged…he refused to die…

that was one destiny he had desperately tried to accept before, and now found he could not, and would not fulfill.

 

Inuyasha had never promised to die. Perhaps he'd been so willing to do so in the past because he had felt dead. He was willing to kill the hanyou and live as a human being with Kikyou fifty years ago...it had been a foolish, desperate hope…he'd thought that maybe, just maybe…if he got rid of his heritage, he would find peace, a home...love.

Life. He'd believed for a moment that he would finally feel alive. And he would have sacrificed everything, he would have gladly shared his human life with the formerly alive miko if he could only feel alive for the first time…

 

Except Inuyasha had never felt so alive as he did now, fifty years later, and this he would not give up…he had found his Heaven on Earth, and Inuyasha didn't want to return to Hell. Shit, he'd always felt as if he had been living there ever since he could remember…before Kagome had pulled that arrow and freed him from the black silence and nothingness…he'd been living in Hell, and now his life belonged not only to him, but to Kagome…because she placed her own life in his hands every day, and he had silently promised her his own, and would give her anything, if only he could. He would not die…

 

Damn it, if only he could stop thinking!

 

Inuyasha had found out earlier that the bastard Naraku knew about him and Kikyou. Perhaps…no, that was unthinkable…that Naraku had had anything to do with it…that Kikyou had been influenced so strongly by the dark hanyou that had taken everything away from her, from Inuyasha himself…and nevertheless…

 

Inuyasha sighed fastidiously. He would not utter another sound for the rest of the walk. He tried to shut his mind off, but this only worked if he was fighting something. If only a big stupid youkai would just pop out of no where and he could just deliver an impressive, devastating Kaze no Kizu and blow it to gory pieces…then he would feel so much better…

 

Kagome's mind was not at ease either, as they slowly made their way to Kaede's village. She still had not had breakfast, but eating was the last thing on the troubled girl's mind at the moment, as she stared at the back of Inuyasha's head. She could feel the tension in his body. She could sense it radiating from his youki in heated waves.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome called smally. Getting no response from him, she gently lay her cheek on his shoulder.

 

His long, untamed hair stroked her face. She saw the sunlight playing with the white silvery strands, the spicy, woodsy fragrance of him blissfully drowning her senses for the time being.

 

The strong contrast of the rough firerat material of his haori against her skin and the velvety softness of his snowy tresses tenderly caressing her face was a familiar, welcomed sensation.

 

Kagome shifted, and now she could see the back of his neck and had to resist the urge to press her lips against his skin. He was so tense…she guessed she was just as apprehensive as he was, her legs were too tightly wrapped about his hips.

 

She let her arms relax loosely around his neck. Kagome supposed she had been choking him until then, but he had not uttered a single `keh' of complaint.

 

She caught the wild, natural scent of him again, the forest and the sun forever permeating his hair and skin. Kagome moved her head slightly, laying her chin on his shoulder.

 

The morning sun hurt her eyes for a moment, and she wanted to sleep, or at least rest her eyes. She felt so tired - so emotionally and physically drained. Not to mention the fact that her head was throbbing and she still felt ill.

 

Kagome closed her eyes for an instant, but all she could see behind her eyelids was Naraku's mocking, bloodcurdling grin on the perfect copy of Inuyasha's lips. Lips that had kissed her too fiercely, strong arms that had crushed her to his body - the imitation of Inuyasha's lean, muscular body.

 

Try as she might, Kagome couldn't shake the taste of him, the shiver that had run down her spine when she recalled the moment, the precise instant, when she had recognized Naraku's powerful, evil youki, seen the corrupted soul behind the copy of Inuyasha's golden eyes.

 

How used and weak she had felt, how utterly helpless…

 

Kagome didn't think of herself as `helpless'. Two years of traveling and fighting along side Inuyasha and their companions had strengthened her in many ways, physically, mentally and more importantly, or at least it seemed that way to her - spiritually.

 

Earlier that morning, she had thrown all that away, ignored every lesson she could have learned from pain and experience, everything that had hardened her and made her more sensitive and understanding at the same time during the past two years, simply because an evil, despicable being had decided to toy with her feelings; feelings Naraku had known she possessed - and had used them to his advantage. Used her to hurt Inuyasha.

 

Why else would he have done such a thing? Did he know they had gotten closer in the last few days? He couldn't possibly. And yet - the Shikon shards remained untouched in her backpack, carelessly forgotten in Kaede's hut.

 

She couldn't believe she had left the precious fragments unguarded, and yet after all that had happened between her and a human Inuyasha the previous night in that small hut, and that very same morning, when his youkai blood had awakened in him, she had completely forgotten about the shards - about thinking coherently, for that matter.

 

Kagome's heart and body seemed to have begun to do the thinking for her in the past few days, and she had been fooled because of this carelessness.

 

Inuyasha had turned full youkai, twice in the same morning…for entirely different reasons. And yet they both had to with Kagome.

 

Sango had insisted she learn the purification from Kaede, simply to ease Inuyasha's mind. She would never attempt to purify him, but perhaps he would feel safe around her, around them all, if Inuyasha was certain Kagome could, and would, do this, should the danger he believed she was exposed to from himself arise.

 

Sango had been so sure of this, while Kagome had been so certain her best friend, of all people would understand why she couldn't even bear the thought of it. But if Inuyasha would be reassured…she could just…pretend…there was no reason to actually learn the spell…

 

All Kagome had to do was act as if she was mastering the purifying spell…she was after all, a miko in training, she thought bitterly now, her mind going back to Kikyou and her almighty holy powers.

 

Resentment wouldn't help her, or Inuyasha, and she wouldn't compare herself to Kikyou, not anymore, not ever again. So Kagome pushed away these feelings as far as she could and focused on the purification issue.

 

She couldn't, wouldn't, lie to Inuyasha. But she refused to learn this technique either. Absolutely refused to. Inuyasha's previous words ringing in her ears, Kagome couldn't help but ponder the whole thing. After all, he'd told her he believed in her. And she had always, always, believed in him.

 

…I know you can do it. I also know you wouldn't…but…you have to…

 

Yes, deep inside, Kagome knew she could do it - if only she tried. But being capable of doing such a thing, something that exceeded her expectations of herself… and actually carrying it out were two different things altogether.

 

Kagome believed more strongly that she couldn't really do this again, not consciously, at least. Above all, though, she didn't even want to attempt it.

 

Sango had to be wrong. It couldn't possibly be the same as shooting a purification arrow. It couldn't be.

 

Kagome vaguely recalled that she had felt drained when she had accidentally purified the centipede youkai that had been chasing her for the Shikon no Tama. She had felt her miko powers boiling in her veins, but had not recognized this as such, and then…the white light had blinded her for a moment of petrified terror, and the youkai had been pushed back and - literally blown to pieces.

 

What if Inuyasha was blown into pieces? How could she know he would just turn human, like he believed, like Sango said he would? How could she hurt him like - like Kikyou had done?

 

She remembered back then, two years ago, that her head had felt light, yet her body was heavy. She had wanted to wake up from what she desperately had wanted to believe was a nightmare.

 

Then…Inuyasha was talking to her, and her entire being had breathed a sigh of inexplicable relief at the sound of his voice, in spite of his mockery. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath until then.

 

He hated her. This boy with cute puppy ears had never seen her before, and he despised her. Yet she hadn't seen him before either…and she had called his name as she had been pressed against his body…as if someone had whispered it in her heart.

 

…Inu...yasha…

 

Quite a fitting name, she had thought, awed that she was capable of thinking after the shock she had gone through and had been still trying to recover from.

 

Kaede, this strange old lady who had earlier proclaimed Kagome as her older sister's reincarnation, had been imploring her not to release the hanyou sealed to the Sacred Tree. He was dangerous. He was not to be trusted, never to be freed from the enchanted arrow, under no circumstances.

 

…Can you pull that arrow out?

…Do you want to die here?

 

…No! No please not in this unknown strange place please, I don't want to die! I want to go home…

 

Now, two years later, in this place that was not so strange anymore, she was home. She had never felt as strong, or as needed, as she felt around Inuyasha. And lately, she had never felt so - so beautiful, so wanted, so loved - as she did in Inuyasha's arms.

 

…I want to live…I want Inuyasha to live…I want Inuyasha to smile…

…Sango-chan…do I make him happy?

 

“Oi!” She heard Inuyasha shout as he picked up speed.

 

Kagome had been so deep in thought she hadn't realized Inuyasha had been calling her name for some time.

 

“You asleep, wench?”

 

“Would I be answering you if I was?” Kagome replied.

 

“Did you bring another one of those weird kimono with you?”

 

The question caught her off guard, but she nodded. “Yeah. It's in my backpack. Mama always packs an extra uniform for me…”

 

“Good. We're getting your stuff, you're getting a fuckin' bath and then we're coming back for the others.”

 

“But…wouldn't it be better if I just got a bath somewhere along the way? I thought you were in a rush? Inuyasha…” Kagome started, a frown marring her features.

 

“You're taking a bath. Now.” Inuyasha growled back at her.

 

Kagome sighed. She couldn't really argue with him, she probably stank of Naraku to his sensitive nose, and she really did want to take a nice, long bath…but…there were no hot springs nearby, except…he couldn't possibly be thinking of that lake she had first bathed in when she had first arrived at the Feudal Era!

 

The water there was icy cold…but Kagome could not think of another lake or stream that was closer to Kaede's village.

 

If she had to endure the icy cold water, she definetely would, she really did feel filthy and wanted nothing more but to wash away - all that had happened earlier.

 

But it was at times like these when she itched to take a warm bubble bath back in her era.

 

“Where are we going?” She demanded.

 

“Told you, wench. To get your stuff.” Inuyasha let her off his back gingerly, as if she was made of glass, his action strongly contrasting with the harsh tone of his voice.

 

“We're not even going to say where we're going to the others?” Kagome asked, frowning in dissaproval.

 

“We won't take long. Get in, get your stuff, come right out. If you think I'm leaving you alone for a second, think again, Kagome.” Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest and promptly lifted his chin in defiance, amber eyes narrowing; as far as he was concerned, the conversation was officially over.

 

“Now wait just a minute…” Kagome started.

 

“Inuyasha…Kagome, ye have returned.” Kaede exited her hut as she looked them over, then a shadow crossed her good eye. “What has happened?” She asked in undisguised concern, looking from one weary face to the other.

 

“Nothin', old hag. We're here for Kagome's stuff. Then we're off. Tell Miroku and Sango we'll be back soon. The bastard's North. We know where we're heading to look for Naraku, so just tell them that.”

 

“Why don't you tell us, Inuyasha?” Sango came out of the largest, recently erected hut, with Kirara on her shoulder, looking at her hanyou friend suspiciously. She crossed the distance separating them, and stood almost nose to nose with the inu-hanyou bravely.

 

“What happened to Kagome-chan? She looks terrible.” Sango asked as she took one look at her best friend.

 

After their conversation, Kagome had left her earlier looking like there was nothing wrong with the world, face radiant, stars in her eyes, a smile on her lips.

 

Now, Kagome looked as pale as a fish's belly, her mouth was pursed in a thin, tense line, and her eyes were puffy as if she had been crying. She had her hands pressed against her chest and Sango thought she saw her lithe body trembling slightly.

 

“Bitch always looks like that.” Inuyasha replied irritably.

 

Sango stared at Kagome, waiting for her to `sit' him for this, but Kagome merely looked at her feet.

 

The taijiya arched an eyebrow. “Kagome-chan?” She said tentatively.

 

“I'm fine, Sango-chan. Just…a little hungry. Did you guys have breakfast?” The younger girl replied hurriedly, not looking at her best friend in the eye.

 

Sango nodded slowly, while giving Inuyasha her most vicious look. Usually, it got to him and he would spill out everything, or hide behind Kagome like a scared puppy, but currently, the inu-hanyou held her menacing stare and matched it with a golden, frozen one of his own.

 

He might have been surprised and angry had anyone mentioned he had never resembled his older brother so much as he did then, at that fleeting moment of cold hostility.

 

Sango scowled and put her hands on her hips. “Inuyasha…” She began menacingly.

 

“Kaede-obachan, I'll just get my backpack, if that's okay with you.” Kagome interrupted the exchange between the edgy inu-hanyou and the suspicious taijiya in a tiny voice.

 

The old miko nodded slowly. “By all means, child.”

 

Inuyasha watched Kagome go, eyes glued to her back until she dissapeared into the hut.

 

Miroku approached the small group, Shippo running at his heels. “Ah, you are back, Inuyasha. Whatever took you both so…?”

 

Any and all words of wisdom or mockery the monk was about to utter at that moment ended on the tip of his tongue when he saw the severe, morose expression on the inu-hanyou's face.

 

“Is something the matter?” Miroku whispered to Sango. The exterminator just shook her head helplessly.

 

Shippo climbed on Miroku's shoulder and stared at Inuyasha, but wisely held his tongue. One didn't start an argument with Inuyasha when he looked as if he was about to bite the head off the person nearer to him, and the smallest creature around who would likely be beaten to a bloody pulp and was certainly near to the ticked off dog demon was a certain helpless kitsune, namely himself.

 

And either way, the four of them might as well be invisible to Inuyasha for the time being; since the moment Kagome had entered Kaede's hut, the inu-hanyou had not looked away from where her slender frame had dissapeared into, he had not so much as blinked.

 

“Is Kagome-chan alright?” Sango asked of him carefully.

 

Inuyasha blinked, his ears flattening against his skull, but did not turn around to face them. “Fine.” He muttered. “We're going for some breakfast, and then we'll return. You'll wait for us here, got it? Naraku's gone North. Be ready to leave.”

 

He sounded so stern and unlike himself that Sango and Miroku both nodded automatically, as Shippo looked at Inuyasha with his head tilted to one side, confusion written all over his little face. “How do you know he's gone North? Before today we didn't have a clue where he was…can you smell him around?”

 

Inuyasha snorted. “I can fucking smell him all right…” He murmured, more to himself than to his companions.

 

“You don't mean…” Sango began, narrowing her eyes.

 

“I don't mean shit! His barrier must have weakened or…or something! I know he's North. Or at least he's moved North. Just…just don't ask anymore, okay?!”

 

“But…” Sango protested.

 

People like Inuyasha should not even attempt to lie. Before she could say another word, however, Miroku lay a hand on her shoulder. He shook his head when she looked back at him questioningly.

 

Kagome finally emerged from the small hut, her ridiculously large, yellow backpack over her shoulders.

 

“Kagome!” Shippo exclaimed happily, leaping from Miroku's shoulder and running towards the girl. She smiled a small, tired smile and caught the kitsune when he jumped into her open arms.

 

“You okay, Kagome?” Shippo asked, all concern.

 

“Yes, Shippo-chan. I'm just hungry, that's all. Inuyasha and I haven't had breakfast yet.” She tried to offer him a more honest smile, but failed miserably.

 

“Move it, wench.” Inuyasha said harshly. Kagome nodded wordlessly and let Shippo down, patting his head affectionately.

 

Inuyasha sighed in annoyance as he shook his head dissaprovingly and took the backpack from her.

“Stupid bitch just can't wait to break her back.” He muttered, rolling his eyes, as he flung it over his left shoulder.

 

Kagome smiled at him in silent gratitude as he bent over and she climbed onto his back again, directing her smile at her confused, worried friends.

 

A small consolation prize for the concerned group. Inuyasha didn't say a word to them as he quickly leapt into the trees.

 

“Houshi-sama…” Sango said softly as she watched the blur that was Inuyasha and Kagome dissapear into the forest.

 

“I know. Something has happened. And it has to do with Naraku. And judging from Inuyasha's reaction…Kagome-sama might have been involved as well.” Miroku replied slowly.

 

Shippo looked up at the two adults in confusion. “But…why wouldn't they say anything?” He asked.

 

“My guess is they did not wish to worry us.” Miroku answered gently.

 

“And they sucked at it.” Sango added dryly. “Let's just get ready. We won't mention anything unless they do. Shippo, I think it's best if we keep the conversation we had with Myouga-jiji a secret. I had a talk with Kagome-chan earlier and she agreed with me that it would be best for Inuyasha not to know about it yet. Do you understand?”

 

Shippo's face turned from confused to determined as he nodded firmly. “My lips are sealed! He won't hear it from me, Sango!” He solemnly swore.

 

“Very well, then. We all agree. I shall try to get Inuyasha to talk later. Sango, do you think you can get something out of Kagome-sama?” Miroku said hopefully.

 

Sango smiled wryly and shook her head as she strapped Hiraikotsu to her back. “The way Inuyasha was acting…I don't know what happened just now, but things have changed between Kagome-chan and Inuyasha. We know that already, don't we? As I saw it, there is no way Inuyasha will let Kagome out of his sight anymore. If they'll let us know, and at some point they'll have to, they'll probably tell us together.” Sango stated.

 

The demon exterminator sighed, her brow furrowing. “This can get troublesome. I'm not really looking forward to bathing with a possessive, pissed off dog demon keeping watch over his intended mate in case a harmless monkey shows up in the hot springs or something...” She muttered, rolling her eyes.

 

“I can keep an eye on you, Sango my dear, while Inuyasha keeps an eye on Kagome-sama…” Miroku suggested, leering at the exterminator.

 

The taijiya shot him a warning look. “…or not.” The monk ammended, sighing regretfully.

 

“Grow up, Miroku.” Shippo said with a small sigh, rolling his emerald eyes. Kirara mewled in apparent agreement.

 

Kaede appraoched the small group. “Kagome spoke not a word while she was collecting her possessions…it is best if ye leave it at that. I have never seen Inuyasha look so…serious. I must admit, I am concerned…”

 

“Kaede-obachan…I told Kagome-chan about the purification. Will you…would you be able to teach her?” Sango blurted out.

 

Kaede's good eye widened in half amusement, half shock. “Teach Kagome? But the child already knows how to purify youkai. It is in her blood. There really is nothing I could possibly teach her. This is a power that is locked within her.”

 

“Can't you…help her unlock it or something?” Sango insisted, growing irritated. “Inuyasha…he wants her to purify him should he turn full youkai again. I know he's over reacting, but it's Inuyasha we're talking about…and he is worried about Kagome-chan's safety, as we all are…in his own extreme, senseless, irresponsible kind of way…”

 

“What?” Shippo and Kaede asked at the same time. Miroku said nothing since he had clearly overhead Sango and Kagome's conversation earlier.

 

“Don't worry, Shippo-chan. Inuyasha will just turn human...” Sango explained gently.

 

The kit didn't really need to know how painful this transformation through purification would be for their hanyou friend.

 

Sango felt a pang of guilt for not telling Kagome about this. If she had, there would be no chance in Hell Kagome would go through with it, she wouldn't even perform a purification on him as it was…and it was obvious to the demon exterminator that Inuyasha needed Kagome to at least know how to do this, even if the young miko would probably never purify him, or actually learn to perform such a powerful spell.

 

The inu-hanyou would feel better if he knew Kagome was protecting herself… from a danger that, according to the wise old miko and the ancient flea youkai, didn't even exist in the first place.

 

“For Inuyasha to turn human…it would take a huge amount of miko energy. If he is in full youkai state, he will revert to his hanyou form. I have only heard of a holy energy strong enough to accomplish such a thing…and that is Mount Hakurei, north east from here. These are holy grounds. And it is said every soul will find salvation there. But no hanyou or youkai could ever set foot in that place. Its holy powers are enough to make a corrupted human feel ill.”

 

“So Miroku couldn't go there either!” Shippo declared.

 

“I am a monk, you know…” Miroku defended himself, his eyebrow twitching. Sango chuckled lightly. Kaede merely shook her head with a small, amused smile on her lips.

 

“Kagome would never purify Inuyasha. She has done this before, however...she was being attacked by a centipede youkai at the time…” The old miko continued thoughtfully.

 

This took Sango by surprise. “What? She…she never mentioned that…”

 

“I do not believe she realized she was doing it, ye see. She became frightened. If ye will, ye can compare it to Inuyasha's sealed blood. Before now, his youkai blood awakened only when his life was endangered, yes?”

 

The three companions nodded.

 

“It is something of the sort.” Kaede explained. “Kagome's full miko powers are yet to be unsealed. But miko's are, by nature, selfless. They will protect themselves, like Kagome unknowingly did two years ago…but more importantly, a miko will protect those that are helpless, first and foremost. And our Kagome is particularly selfless. Her full potential will only awaken if the life of others is threatened. The energy that requires to shoot a purifying arrow is insignificant compared to the power a miko needs to even attempt a complete purification. Some can do it at will. Very powerful miko's. Kikyou-oneesama could…”

 

“And she did, didn't she? When she was resurrected?” Sango asked bitterly.

 

Kaede looked down sadly. “Aye, she did. Indeed, she could have killed Inuyasha had she aimed for him first. I do not know if that was her intention at the time. But she had used up most of her energy killing the witch that brought her back to life. She wounded him badly. And Inuyasha passed out shortly after that. But he did not turn human. Kagome had retrieved her souls by then. She sensed Inuyasha was in danger. A most mysterious child, indeed…” Kaede looked deep in thought again.

 

“I do not believe Kagome knows or could even begin to grasp, how powerful she could become. Yet Inuyasha is a danger to himself and others right now. As I have told ye, he will never harm his chosen one. And Kagome's full miko powers, when awakened, could prove to be very useful indeed…especially up against a great evil such as Naraku…alas, I cannot teach her this…” The old miko sighed.

 

Miroku looked thoughtful. Sango's expression mirrored his own, and he knew she was thinking along the same lines as he was.

 

Their gazes locked, and the monk saw the same question without an answer reflected in Sango's eyes that currently plagued his own mind…and found no consolation in her troubled brown depths.

 

…If Inuyasha would never hurt Kagome, not even in his full youkai state…and if Kagome's powers were to be awakened somehow - was Kagome a danger to Inuyasha?

 

 

TBC

 

 

Hope I didn't dissapoint! Until next chapter (that WILL be posted next week, so please please pleeeaaaseee REVIEW this one, even if you hated it!)

Sayounara! Lots of love, ramen, and pocky to you all! Don't forget to REVIEW! Pretty please, review?

YM