InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Power ❯ Canine-size Problem ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Canine-size Problem

"How is it that you have so much power?" Kikyou asked in jealousy.

"You have more than I do and you came from me." She had wanted to get Naraku, not her reincarnation to, even if she had done a good job of it.

"Kikyou, just like in our looks, there are some differences in our souls. When your soul became mine it was changed just a little to suit my personality. I am a lot different from you and I'm guessing I needed to be more powerful to survive this time in this world. That's why it's so easy for me to call it back, it's doesn't belong in your body anymore, it's not yours anymore." Kagome had seen so many things that moment she was in the air about to kill the foe she had been hunting for a long time. The one thing that had always haunted her had made itself plain for her to see. She was not just Kikyou in a look-alike body. She was Kagome and no one else.

"Kikyou?" Inuyasha spoke. "Is it true that you tried to kill Kagome?" His face was set in resiliency. Kikyou looked surprised at the hard look in his eyes. She realized that moment how much the hanyou cared for her reincarnation.

"Yes I did, more than once. I even hinted to some youkai that the girl had jewel shards so that while we were together she would be attacked. There would be no one there to help her, or so I thought." She glared at Sesshoumaru. "Does that bother you Inuyasha? Does she matter to you more than I do?" Kikyou knew exactly what she was doing. She was going to let everyone here know just how much Inuyasha cared about the miko girl.

Kagome's eyes narrowed. She saw right through Kikyou's little act. It came to her a split second later what Kikyou was trying to do. Well, that was too bad because Kagome already knew Inuyasha loved her. The major problem now was that she loved Sesshoumaru now. How in hell was she going to handle this? Well, she'd better give it a try.

"Of course he was bothered. We are friends after all and he needs me to be his Tama detector." Kikyou's nostrils flared at Kagome's answer to the question she had directed at Inuyasha. Inuyasha's mouth finally closed when Kagome spoke and his eyes held slight hurt that she had called them just friends.

"Why don't we let Inuyasha answer the question?" Kikyou wasn't making a request. All eyes on Inuyasha, he squirmed at the pressure of too many sets of eyes on him at once.

"Inuyasha, answer me. Do you care more for this girl than you do for me?" She reiterated. Inuyasha ducked his head so no one could see his eyes. To everyone's surprise he walked up to Kikyou and looked her straight in the eye with pain and guilt in his hardened features. He had to tell Kikyou the truth.

"Do you remember long ago, when I told you I wanted to be with you? It wasn't a lie. It made me even angrier when I thought you betrayed me." Kikyou looked sad and angry when he said this. Kagome watched silently. "When I was awoken by Kagome, I thought it was you. In an angry moment you both look a lot alike. I found out you were dead and slowly began to trust her as I had you. We became friends through being together during fights and crisis after crisis. She knows more about me than anyone." He smiled wryly. "After all we went through I thought I might be able to be open with her. Then I found out you still walked this world. When I knew I had to avenge your death, I had to step back from Kagome. I didn't want to get close to her and have her hurt. Then you asked me to go to hell with you after we had killed Naraku. I thought I would do it. I attempted to tell Kagome but she said she just wanted to be with me and I couldn't refuse her. I never told her. When I found out Sesshoumaru had taken her I realized it was my fault. I also realized just how much I cared for her."

Oh shit this was going to be a problem. Inuyasha had just about said he loved her, and she didn't want him anymore! If he had said it about a week earlier she would have run into his arms joyfully and proclaimed her love for him. But she didn't feel anything more than friendship toward him now. Damn, Damn, Damn! What was she going to do?

"Inuyasha, I don't…" Kagome tried to tell him. He waved his hand in her direction to silence her.

"Hold on, let me finish." He walked over and took Kikyou's hands. He seemed so different right now, while he was in front of Kikyou.

"Kikyou, along time ago, before Naraku messed things up, I had chosen you for my mate. I loved you and thought I could turn human to live with you. Kagome never wanted me to be something I wasn't." He let go of Kikyou's hands and turned to Kagome, taking her hands gently within his own. Kagome felt a ripple of possessive anger go through Sesshoumaru.

"Kagome, you never asked me to change for you. You've always excepted me the way I am." He turned his face to look at Kikyou. "I loved you over fifty years ago, Kikyou. But that was before I met Kagome." He turned back to look her in the eye. "Now I love you, Kagome." She was so frustrated! What was she supposed to say? She didn't love him that way anymore. She loved his brother, Sesshoumaru. `Damn you Kikyou!'

Sesshoumaru felt her thoughts and calmed down somewhat. She loved him, not his half-breed brother. He stood there, not happy with the fact the hanyou was touching her. Why didn't she just tell him? Just then, he felt a presence coming this way. He started to warn Kagome mentally of a youkai's arrival but found out she had already sensed the only two Shikon shards left.

Kagome's thoughts were in turmoil. `Oh no! Not him too!' Now she would have to deal with Kouga proclaiming his love for her on top of everything else! Between Sesshoumaru getting mad at her because of the current situation, and Inuyasha having just barely proclaimed his love for her, there was Kouga she would have to explain the circumstances to. Suddenly, it all seemed very funny to her. A smile barely lit her face. First, Inuyasha is a complete asshole to her but she loved him anyway, meanwhile there's a cute nice guy willingly shouting his love for her to the world. Then she goes and falls for a cold, over-possessive youkai-lord instead!

Kouga had just arrived to see Kagome smiling at Inuyasha. Inuyasha seemed to be waiting for some kind of answer from her and had started to get scared he had said the wrong thing. Sesshoumaru growled lowly watching Inuyasha and Kagome. Kagome really quickly turned to look at Kouga and her smile widened fractionally. It was just enough for Kouga to take it as a good sign for him.

"So, Kagome, did you finally decide you deserve better than the dog-turd?" He asked, sure since she had smiled at him so. Everyone was completely thrown when Kagome, out of the blue, started laughing. It was a genuine laugh, letting all her stress out. Sesshoumaru was surprised at the outburst and read her thoughts. When he was finished he allowed an ironic grin to touch his lips. Just that small change made a few people look in his direction. It made the handsome features on his face to light up. He decided to surprise them all even more and walked over to Kagome. Inuyasha dropped her hands and took a protective stance. When he saw the small smile on his half brothers face he stopped and stared. Sesshoumaru smiled?

Sesshoumaru waved a hand at Inuyasha and went right up to Kagome. He held out a hand to her and she looked at him confused for a moment before putting her hand willingly in his.

"Kagome, don't…" Inuyasha started to warn but stopped when he was interrupted.

"Inuyasha, I'm sorry. I did love you, but when I saw you with Kikyou it broke my heart." She smiled at the Youkai-lord. "And Sesshou-chan healed it."

Inuyasha was confused then realized she had called his brother Sesshou-chan. Chan? Meaning…

"Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru interrupted his thought once again. "You were too late. Kagome doesn't love you anymore. I have decided to take this extraordinary woman as my mate." That wasn't new news to Kagome but she was glad he had said it just the same. "I was apprehensive at first because a lord mate needs to be as powerful as he is, but now I have no doubts." Kagome was pleasantly surprised at that one and turned crimson at the implied remark. Her, as powerful as the Lord of the Western Lands?

"Do you love her?" Inuyasha asked softly. Kagome couldn't hear him but understood from Sesshoumaru. Actually, she had been curious to know if he loved her. He most definitely had some feeling for her, but he had been hiding some things from her since the night she had found his room. Since the night they had made love. She waited, looking up at him for the answer. As if sensing Sesshoumaru's reluctance to answer, Kouga jumped in.

"Kagome, you don't actually have feelings for this dog-t…" Kouga changed his mind when he realized whom he was talking about. "You don't have feeling for the Lord of the Western Lands, do you?" He looked slightly pained.

"Kouga, I know you claimed me, but I am not something to be claimed. At that time I was in love with Inuyasha anyway. But I couldn't say for sure that I was taken because I thought Inuyasha loved Kikyou more than I. But with Sesshoumaru, I know he loves me, and I do love him." She looked sadly at Kouga. He dropped to his knees, stunned.

"I'm sorry," She murmured. His and Inuyasha's pain was because of her. No, it was over her. But not everybody in the world could get what they wanted, right? Just the same, she couldn't stand the pain I they're eye's. Not when she was the one who caused it. Inuyasha just stood stock-still and stared into space, completely stunned. Slowly pain filled his eyes and he turned away, his face hidden. Kouga abruptly leapt to his feet and left with the speed the jewel shards lended him. Kagome extracted her hand from Sesshoumaru's and walked up to Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha?" She questioned. He did not turn around. "Inuyasha, I know I hurt you and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall in love with your brother and hurt you. You can't control how your heart feels." She smiled. "Even your control freak brother can't control that." Sesshoumaru growled at her. Inuyasha remained silent. "Inuyasha, you will always be one of the best friends I ever had. You will always be the first one I loved, no matter what. I hope you don't hate me." She finished and went to turn away. Inuyasha suddenly spun around and grabbed her hand, stopping her from walking away.

"Idiot! I could never hate you!" He said loudly and continued in a softer voice. "You are my best friend, I can always trust you with anything. You accept who I am and don't care to change it. You like me for me. You stood by me through things most humans couldn't." He took a deep breath. "If you are happy with my brother…" He trailed off. His eyes were directed at her with the same look he gave Kikyou.

"I am." She replied. He nodded and just looked at her for a moment then tugged her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace. She hugged him back before going back to Sesshou and taking his hand.

"Inuyasha, be sure to tell Miroku, Sango, and Shippou I'll visit soon." She smiled at him and felt her self being lifted off the ground to disappear into the sky on a crimson hued cloud.

. . . . . .

Inuyasha slowly fell to his knees. His heart constricted with painful loss.

"KA-GO-ME!" He screamed into the heavens. Kikyou watched from a distance. When his cry stopped echoing she walked up to him and took his hand.

"It is time, Inuyasha." She said. He nodded and took her hand, rising to his feet.