InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Malice ❯ Shikon: Four Souls Held by Two ( Chapter 21 )

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

Chapter 21: Shikon: Four Souls Held By Two

Silence reigned amongst the group of people around the campfire. They were all too shocked at Sango's statement to say anything, all of them merely waiting for her to finish by explaining exactly what she meant.

She looked away from the fire she'd been staring at, glanced around at her companions, then sighed and spoke. "Look, Inuyasha, Miroku, you remember when we first met Kanna, right? Think back. Kanna tried to steal her soul at that time, did she not? Do you remember why she didn't succeed?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. It was because her soul was too large." He frowned thoughtfully. "You know, come to think of it, that's awfully strange, isn't it? I've never seen a soul like hers before..." he trailed off into silence. Except mine, he thought uneasily, remembering when the void child had tried to steal his, as well.

Kikyou glanced at him sharply, then over at Sango, before her eyes came to rest on Miroku. He seemed deep in thought, and she knew that if anyone could figure it out, it would be him. Lecher that he was, it was absolutely clear that he was no fool. The man was brilliant. "What is on your mind, monk?"

Miroku looked up as she addressed him, then shook his head. "It has occurred to me that maybe Kagome isn't really your reincarnation, Lady Kikyou. Maybe... maybe she is something else entirely." His gaze became unfocused as he tried to put his thoughts into words. "It is very possible that your soul is only one-fourth of her soul... in other words, Kagome is the final form of the Four Souls, all in one. In that case, Sango would be correct - the Shikon jewel is a physical representation of her soul - and it's power, is really hers."

Sesshoumaru stared into the fire, a contemplative look on his face. "So then, when someone uses the power of the jewel, they are actually using her power. How is it that this has not been understood before now?"

"Because the souls had not yet fully aligned." Inuyasha frowned, then shook his head. "No. There's something we're missing. I have the feeling that we're on the right track, but... I think that Kagome is half of the four souls..." he trailed off thoughtfully, but before he could speak again, a voice spoke up from behind him.

"Inuyasha is right. I am only half of the soul that the jewel represents," she said softly. Sitting up, she looked out into the night, avoiding everyone's gazes, mind obviously far away.

Sesshoumaru looked at her consideringly. "Well, miko? Would you care to tell us who has the other half of the soul?"

Kagome turned her gaze on him, tilting her head to the side, she gave him a measuring look. "I'm surprised you, of all people, Sesshoumaru, haven't guessed," here she turned her eyes on Kikyou, "and I'd have thought by now that you, Kikyou, as the last person to hold the jewel, would know." Shaking her head, she turned her gaze on the fire, and let her words soak in before finishing. "Isn't it obvious? Who here, of all of us, has been involved, one way or another, with the jewel since Kikyou's time?"

Shockwaves rippled around the camp as her words sank in, and suddenly, everyone around the fire was staring at Inuyasha.

Sadness passed across Kikyou's face as she finally realized that Inuyasha had never been meant to be hers... because her soul was only a tiny part of what made up Kagome herself, and it was Kagome that was the other half of the jewel - making her, in effect, truly Inuyasha's soulmate. That was why she'd been able to wake him from her sealing spell, and why she had also succeeded in dissolving the arrow that had held him there, not because she was her, Kikyou's, reincarnation, but because she was literally the other half of him. That was also why he'd only been sealed in the first place, because at the time, she had meant to kill him - but since part of his soul was held by another, he couldn't die, only sleep.

She sighed and nodded, glancing at Inuyasha, then at Kagome, she spoke. "It makes sense now... I understand so many things that I hadn't before." She raised a brow, looking curiously at Kagome. "But how did you figure it out?"

Kagome shrugged. "The jewel spoke to me, earlier today, and explained a few things, then promised to come to me in my sleep and train me to use what is mine - well," she glanced at Inuyasha's still shocked face, "ours, I guess I should say. You see, while I am the physical representation of the four souls, Inuyasha is also a representation of the four souls - because only together are we whole. In other words, we are one soul in two bodies... that's why the awareness of the jewel accepted him so quickly into the matrix. I cannot exist without him, just as he cannot exist without me."

As her words washed over him, he could feel the knowledge awaken somewhere inside that she was right, and as he opened his mind and listened, for the first time, he found that he could feel it whispering to him. And the knowledge that came to him then - that he and Kagome were halves of one soul, made him grin in triumph as he turned and stared straight at her.

"See, wench? We were meant to be together! You can't ever fight that now, can you? We're one soul, and you can't get rid of a part of your soul. You're MINE!"

Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Baka. Is that the only thing you can think of right now?"

He sobered suddenly, looking at her fiercely. "Actually, it is, wench, because you are the most important thing in all this damn mess as far as I'm concerned - everything else can go hang. I've almost lost you more times than I can count because of my stupidity, and I'm damned if I'll let it happen again by worrying about things that just aren't as important."

She looked away at that, eyes unfocused again. "I don't think Naraku could be called unimportant, Inuyasha, do you? He just attacked me again... and in full view of everyone. He was inside my mind - once again, trying to take over, steal my soul." She looked back up, locking eyes with her other half. "Things have changed, you know. He's no longer after the power of the jewel, and that makes him even more dangerous."

Everyone stared at her, almost afraid to ask what he wanted now if it was no longer the jewel he was after, until finally, Sesshoumaru spoke up.

"Well, miko? What is Naraku's new objective?"

Kagome shuddered, fear like none of them had ever felt suddenly washing through the clearing, cloying and thick.

"Me. He wants me. As long as he manages to take me with him, he doesn't care if he dies... and that makes him more dangerous then he has ever been."

Inuyasha jumped to his feet and rushed over to her, grabbing her, he crushed her to his chest. "Never! I will never allow it, wench, so don't even think about it. I'll destroy all of Nippon before I allow that!"

Kagome closed her eyes, held safely in his arms, she began to calm the fear that had almost taken her over as she'd let her mind linger on the encounter with him. She'd seen what he wanted to do to her in his mind, and she could honestly say she'd rather die a thousand deaths in battle than let him ever touch her like that again. She whimpered as he pulled away, not wanting to let go, but quieted as he merely picked her up and walked back over to the fire, settling down with her in his lap.

Sighing, she opened her eyes and looked around at everyone. "I think we need to go back to Kaede's for a few days. Inuyasha and I need to go to my home for a while. There are things we need to learn, and with Naraku running around here, I wouldn't really feel safe enough to do what needs done."

Inuyasha glanced at everyone, and noting that no one seemed opposed to the idea, he nodded. "Fine. We can put off collecting the last of the shards for a few days..." he broke off as Kagome cut in.

"Think, Inuyasha. Haven't you been listening? Once we learn how to control our souls, we won't need to worry about the jewel."

Kikyou frowned, looking at Miroku, she cast a troubled glance at Kagome. "What do you mean, Kagome?"

Kagome sighed. "Look. Me and Inuyasha are the jewel, right? It's power is ours. Once we are ready to take our soul's power back, the jewel will no longer exist. There's no need to look for shards anymore. The power will be back where it belongs... inside Inuyasha and I."

Once again, a startled silence reigned in the clearing as each person around the fire thought about what that meant.

"Well. I'd say we all have plenty to think about, am I right?" Sango smiled at her companions. "I have to say, this nights talk has been most informative," she shook her head ruefully.

"Indeed." Sesshoumaru stood. "I will watch while you all sleep. I have no need of such this night."

Inuyasha caught his brother's eye, and nodded gratefully. "Thanks. See you all in the morning." He stood and leapt into a tree, taking Kagome with him, as Sesshoumaru walked under the trees and disappeared.

Kikyou looked at her remaining companions. "Well... I too have no real need of sleep, so I will keep watch inside the camp while he patrols outside. You two sleep well." She also stood and walked over to a small tree, sitting in a low lying crook and beginning a meditative trance.

Sango glanced at Miroku. Speaking quietly so only he could hear, she asked, "If she's meditating, how effective can she be at keeping watch?"

Miroku smiled at her. "Do not worry, my dear Sango. Meditating does not interfere with your awareness, in fact, it heightens it. She will do fine. Come, let's get some sleep."

Sango glared at him suspiciously, fingering her hiraikotsu's shoulder strap threateningly. "Don't even think about it, lecher, you aren't sleeping with me."

Miroku sighed sadly. "But why not, my love? Should we not follow Inuyasha and Kagome's example?"

Sango stood, bringing her weapon around in front of her, she cast a dirty look at him. "Remember what happened the last time you tried to 'follow their example', monk? Just because someone else does something, doesn't mean you can." she walked over to her bedding and, setting hiraikotsu down by her side, she tossed him another warning glare. "Go to sleep, pervert. And keep me out of your dirty dreams, got it?"

"I'm sorry, Sango, but I'm afraid that's not possible, since I do not want to dream about anyone but you." He smiled at her wide-eyed look, and laid down in his own bedding. "Sweet dreams, my dear."

He grinned at her expression, before closing his eyes and floating off into the darkness behind his closed lids. One of these days, my love... one of these days...

zZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZz

Kagome woke slowly the next morning, and as soon as she opened her eyes, she was trapped by Inuyasha's golden gaze. He had an intent look in them, and it was obvious that he'd been waiting for her to wake. She sighed sleepily as she waited for him to speak.

"I want to know what that bastard did to you last night, wench. Start talkin', and don't event think about hiding any of it. I want to know everything, including what you did to him."

She nodded. "Close your eyes, Inuyasha, and empty your mind, like you were about to meditate."

He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at her. "Why? What's that got to do with you telling me--" she cut him off.

"Just do it, for kami's sake, Inuyasha. You remember what Kikyou did with my memories... well, anyway - we can do that anytime now. I'm going to show you what happened - it's easier, and takes less time than talking about it."

His eyes widened, and he nodded. "Okay... I got it." He closed his eyes and cleared his mind quickly, and it wasn't long before he could feel her, there inside his mind with him. He gasped as her memories from the previous night flooded his mind, and he idly thought that she was right, it was faster.

And then the rage kicked in, as his mind processed what he'd seen. Bastard! Every muscle in his body clenched tightly as he fought for control - he wanted nothing more than to rend the filth that thought he could touch her... his youkai was howling wanting out - it wanted Naraku's blood, nothing less would do.

Shuddering, he pulled her closer into his arms, slowly becoming aware that she was whispering to him, and bit by bit, he finally began to calm down, although his grip on her didn't lessen until he'd completely regained control.

He closed his eyes and dropped his head into her neck, desperately inhaling her scent, trying to convince himself that she was there - safe and sound, with him. "Keh. I don't think I can take this shit much longer, 'Gome. If we don't destroy him quick, I'm gonna lose it."

"No you won't. I won't let you, Inuyasha. Just don't let me go, okay? I don't think I could stand that."

He hugged her close for a minute then pulled away and looked at her with a small smile. "Never, wench. Never again." Gathering her tight, he leaped down from the tree and let her stand, before looking around. "Looks like everyone else is up, so may as well get breakfast and get ready to leave."

She nodded, moving to her pack to grab clean clothes. "Sounds good."

Sesshoumaru glided into the clearing, motioning for his brother to follow him, he turned and headed under the trees. Inuyasha looked back at Kagome for a moment, and she smiled and nodded her head in his direction. "Go on, Inuyasha. I'm gonna go get cleaned up. Go see what he wants."

Inuyasha raised a brow at her, then smiled and followed his brother.

Sesshoumaru stopped a few feet into the tree-line, and turned to regard his brother. He'd felt his youki spike this morning, and wanted to know what had caused it. "What angered your youkai this morning, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha's fists clenched inadvertently at the reminder of what he'd been shown. "Keh. Kagome showed me what happened last night when Naraku attacked her. He was touching her, Sesshoumaru... and I could see every filthy thought in his mind as he did it." His throat tightened as he again fought the rage, and it took every bit of control he had to yank his youkai back.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he once again let the tension go. Once he had himself back under control, he opened his eyes and caught his brother's golden eyes on him with what looked like... approval. One black brow tilted, and he narrowed his eyes as his brother began to speak.

"Do not feel unworthy because your youkai is fighting to come out. That is to be expected when your mate is in danger. You have proven, however, that you can control it, as well as any full-youkai could. I am well pleased that I will not have to destroy an insane youkai brother. I would dislike seeing father's blood brought so low."

Placing his hands behind his back, he turned his eyes on the sky, a contemplative look on his face. "Since there is no longer any need to locate the shards of the jewel, once you and the miko return from her home, we can concentrate on hunting Naraku. While you are gone, I will begin looking for any trace of him. Hopefully, by the time you are back, I will have found something on the whereabouts of the half-breed."

"Oi, Sesshoumaru, could you please refrain from calling him the same thing you call me?" He gave his brother a dirty look. "I may be half-human, but he's just a filthy compilation of low-level youkai... my blood and his really don't have a thing in common," he said, sourly. "And besides... that bastard has no honour, and even if you don't like me, you know that I do have honour."

Sesshoumaru looked down at his brother, and nodded. "I apologize, Inuyasha. I would not compare you to that filth. My words are merely strict truth, since you are both half-breeds... however, I do not see you as alike. You share my blood, even if it is diluted, and you are correct, you do have honour. I will not speak of you in that manner again."

Inuyasha shook his head in amusement. "Never thought I'd see the day that you'd apologize to anyone."

"Keep it in memory, brother, because it will probably never happen again."

Inuyasha just chuckled as he walked back into the camp. "Yeah, I bet not. Hell probably froze over today, just to mark the occasion."

Sesshoumaru blinked. "Indeed."

Kagome looked up as the two walked back into the clearing, the other members of the group looking surprised at Inuyasha's show of mirth, along with her.

"What's so funny, Inu? Why did hell freeze over?"

"Keh. Sesshoumaru apologized."

Her eyes widened, and she chuckled as well, as did the others. "Yeah, but, you know Inuyasha, it probably had as much to do with you actually listening to him before attacking... I don't think that's ever happened before."

Inuyasha cast her a filthy look as everyone laughed, and even Sesshoumaru had an amused glint in his eyes. "Yeah, alright wench, funny. Is everyone ready to go yet or what? I'd like to get out of here before this afternoon."

She laughed and climbed on his back as the others grabbed their gear and began to move out. "Move it, baka, get the lead out. We're getting left behind, you know."

He cast her a reproachful glance over his shoulder as he launched himself into the air. "I love you wench, but sometimes..." he trailed off suggestively.

She ran her fingers into his hair as the wind whipped it around. "I love you, too, Inuyasha. Always."

"Good. Keep it that way, onna." He smiled as they headed into the sunrise.

I'll always love you, wench, you have no idea of just how much, but I plan to spend forever trying to show you. And I promise... we will have forever, and Naraku can't take that from us, no matter what he tries.

After all, you can't separate a soul. We're bound one to the other, and he can't change that, saiai.