InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part III): Loss of the Demon Soul ❯ Human Emotions/Demon Pride ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter Ten

Human Emotions/Demon Pride

Kagome sat there by the fire quietly, not sure how to talk to Sesshoumaru now. Finally he broke the silence.

"You regret what happened." She looked up and saw that he had been watching her battling her emotions. She blushed slightly and then spoke to him honestly.

"Once you regain your demon soul, you will despise me. I had no intention of allowing myself to befriend you again."

He looked somewhat sad and then nodded his head. "A small part of me is happy to be rid of my demon blood. For years I was forced to live a solitary life, and I could never show vulnerability. Being able to feel something other than hate makes me feel like a more complete being." She looked up at him, knowing that his words were only a result of being overwhelmed with unfamiliar emotions.

"Even though I was still demon, I felt emotions run through me when I was forced to watched the repulsive things Naraku had done to you. Hate was the most prominent. I wanted to rip him apart. I also felt anger towards myself. It was disgraceful that I had left you with him, when you had enough honor to help me. I felt guilt several times; when I realized that you were in pain because of me. I also felt great respect for you. Never before had I witnessed anyone with so much dignity and honor."

He looked her for a moment, studying her features. "In my life there have only been four people that I have felt any emotion for. Both my mother and Sakura, of course. Rin, though I don't know why exactly she was able to touch my soul while I was in my demon state, but she did. Now there is you. You comforted me and stayed by my side when most would have abandoned me. You held loyalty to me when you should have hated me."

She looked up at him again. Just not sure how she felt about him, or if she could trust that he would still feel the same way once he wasn't speaking from human emotions. She smiled slightly and he finally turned away, both again losing themselves into their own thoughts.

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InuYasha was fuming as he ran from his brother and Kagome. `How could she kiss him? He's tried to kill her on more than one occasion.' His angry thoughts rolled around his head and he finally stopped and looked around. He was alone and it was quiet. He sat on a log and brooded in silence until it finally hit him. This was the same thing he had done to Kagome.

The time in the forest when Kikyo had Kagome pinned to the tree and he had not seen her, Kagome had watched him kiss Kikyo and swear his love for her. Yet she had stayed with him. He lowered his head mad that he was in his human form and his emotions were trying to control him.

This was just not the same. He and Kikyo had shared a love before Naraku destroyed it. Sesshoumaru was and will again be a heartless demon that cares for no one, including Kagome. He then growled inwardly. His brother was using Kagome, probably to get to him. He stood and headed back towards camp. He stayed near that night but didn't join the other two. He knew that they had heard him come back because Kagome called to him but chose not to approach him when he refused to answer.

Kagome sighed and went to sleep. She woke again in the fog. She moved in the direction of the castle knowing the way by instinct and familiarity. She rushed through the castle and into the room where Miroku was. He was now sitting on the floor holding his staff out in front of him vertically. She rushed towards him and saw that he was nearly unconscious. "Miroku?" His head came up slowly.

"Kagome, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. Go to Sango and tell her to take the children and leave my side. Soon I will have to drop this barrier and I will no doubt die. But I refuse to take them with me." His eyes held and immense amount of pain and she could see that he was very weak.

"No, you aren't going to die! I'll get you out of here." Tears were now stinging her eyes. Despite her words she could tell by his appearance that he spoke the truth. He wouldn't survive if he dropped his spiritual barrier and he didn't have the strength to hold it much longer. She again tried to erect her own barrier that would protect him but again she was unable.

"Kagome, listen to me. I cannot hold this much longer. You must go to Sango now!" She looked at him and then nodded her head.

"Miroku, I'm so sorry. We will all miss you so much." Tears were now streaming down her face. He smiled slightly and replied.

"I will miss all of you too but this is obviously my fate. Give InuYasha and Shippou my regards." He paused, "Tell Sango that I will miss her and that some days she was the only thing that made me want to go on." He too held tears and then thanked Kagome and told her good bye. She woke in the forest crying. She quickly closed her eyes again and reached out for Sango. She found her and pulled her into darkness. They both looked at each other and Sango immediately realized that something was wrong.

"Sango, I have found Miroku." She took a breath and swallowed a sob. "You must take the children and get out of the castle, now. He can't protect himself anymore and when he releases his spiritual barrier, it will probably cause his wind tunnel to implode."

Sango woke in her bed and quickly rushed to Miroku's side. She lifted his hand and saw the intensity that the beads where glowing. She began to cry and hugged him. Finally she made herself let go and went to gather the children and Kilala. She also informed Sesshoumaru's imp of the problem and he went to wake the servants. Sango took the children into the forest away from the castle and waited, praying the whole time that some miracle would happen.

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Kagome woke again and looked around her frantically trying to figure a way to save her friend's life. She gave thought to Hitomi but knew that the demoness would never be willing to bargain with her. She nearly sent herself back into dream to agree to become her servant but realized that even if she did Miroku would not survive long once he awoke. Then it struck her. She took a deep breath and steadied her nerves. She quickly lay down and reached out to the only person that could save him.