InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shocking New Love ❯ Back in the Feudal Era ( Chapter 23 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kagome felt solid ground materialize under her feet and let out a small sound of relief at the fact that the Sacred Jewel had actually granted her wish. But she decided that the only true way to determine whether she was in the Feudal era or not was to climb out of the well. So she felt around the walls for the vines she usually used to exit the well. When she found them, she made her way up to the faint light above her.

Sure enough, when she got to the top of the well, she was no longer at her shrine.

“I made it!” she cried softly, swinging her legs over the side of the well and climbing out. She wasted no time in running off into the Forest of Inuyasha, which she had to cut through to get to Kaede's village. She ran as fast as she could, her hair swinging about behind her. I have to get to the village. I'll return the jewel to its rightful home and say hello to everyone, she decided to herself.

After several minutes of running and slaying the occasional demon that appeared, Kagome finally saw Kaede's village ahead of her. No matter how tired she was feeling, she kept running until she arrived in the village. She took a few moments to catch her breath then set off at no more than a walk to Kaede's hut.

Inside Kaede's hut, everyone was eating their supper, keeping their eyes downcast. Inuyasha hadn't spoken or looked anyone in the eye since the previous night. He was taking Kagome's absence harder than any of his friends (not including Sesshomaru, of course). He felt as though his heart was nonexistent, as if every fiber of his being had been washed away like sand in a rainstorm. He was nothing without Kagome, and he knew it.

Kirara lifted her head away from the fresh fish she was eating and turned toward the door, her tails wagging lightly back and forth. She mewed softly to get everyone's attention.

“What's wrong, Kirara?” asked Sango, speaking for the first time in hours. Kirara looked over her shoulder at her master and bolted out the door, meowing as she did so. Everyone exchanged puzzled glances.

“I wonder what's wrong with Kirara?” said Shippo.

“Come on, lets follow her,” suggested Miroku, standing up.

“I'll stay here,” said Kohaku. “I'm really tired.” Sango nodded.

“Okay, Kohaku. You stay here and rest, we won't be long,” she said. Everyone exited the hut after their little feline friend.

Kagome was towards the middle of the village when she heard a soft meowing near her. She looked around for the source of the noise, but could see nothing. Then she felt something jump onto her shoulder and purr. Only then did she know who or what it was. She looked down at the little demon cat on her shoulder and nuzzled her cheek against its soft fur.

“Hello Kirara,” greeted Kagome, smiling. Kirara purred happily and her tails twitched contentedly.

But Kirara wasn't the only part of Kagome's little welcoming commity. Just minutes later, Shippo leaped out from a little gap between two huts and into Kagome's arms. Sango, Miroku, Kaede and Inuyasha were standing on opposite sides of Kagome. Kirara leaped off of Kagome's shoulder and into the arms of Sango.

“Kagome, you're back!” squeaked Shippo, tears of joy in his big eyes.

Inuyasha stared at Kagome in shock, bewildered that she was able to pass through the well again. Other than his feelings of confusion, he was overjoyed that she was back. He felt like running up and cradling her in his arms, but he decided against it (he thought that it would make him look like an idiot).

Kagome hugged Shippo to her chest tightly, happy to see him again. She hugged everyone in turn, each one as tight as the last. But out of all of them, she hugged Inuyasha the tightest and longest. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. Kagome smiled.

“I missed you, Kagome,” stated Inuyasha quietly, just enough for Kagome to hear. Kagome felt happy tears form in her eyes when she found out that Inuyasha missed her.

“I missed you too, Inuyasha,” she whispered. Inuyasha loosened his arms from around Kagome just enough to distance them a little bit, and leaned his face closer to hers. Kagome reacted immediately and the reaction she made wasn't at all what Inuyasha was expecting. She pried herself out of his arms until they were a few feet apart and yelled, “Sit boy!”

A look of fear crossed Inuyasha's face as his necklace glowed and slammed him face-first into the ground, tearing a scream of agony from him. He lifted his head a bit and looked up at Kagome angrily. He was going to show Kagome just how much he missed her, and Kagome blew it for him.

“What the hell did you do that for?!” he demanded. Kagome put her hands on her hips and replied, “You know very well I'm going out with Sesshomaru, and the day he got injured with one of Kikyo's arrows, I told you that we should be nothing more than good FRIENDS!” Inuyasha growled and stood up slowly, keeping his eyes on Kagome. He stood in front of her in something like a battle stance and clenched a fist in front of him.

“Well why didn't you just SAY that instead of reminding me how much damage and pain the word `sit' can give me?!” he asked crossly. Kagome had forgotten that she could've done that and patted Inuyasha on the shoulder.

“Come on, no hard feelings, Inuyasha. I only use the `it' word to teach you a lesson. I'm sorry,” she apologized. Inuyasha rolled his eyes then a small smile appeared on his lips.

“It's okay. Anyway, where's the jewel? It's been missing since you went back home, and we figured that you must have it,” he said. Kagome nodded and reached into her pocket, pulling out the Sacred Jewel and holding it up in front of her. She walked over to Kaede and placed it in her hand.

“Here, Kaede. I think this belongs to you,” she mentioned. Kaede smiled and went back to her hut.

A few minutes later, she returned, and the jewel was on a necklace with diamond-shaped shells on the string. She hobbled over to Kagome and handed her the Sacred Jewel. Kagome looked at it then at Kaede, confused.

“But why-?”she started. Kaede shook her head, chuckling.

“Ye are more befitting to protect it than I, child. I entrust you with the duty of guarding it and keeping it pure,” she remarked honorably. Kagome's eyes widened and she looked down at the large, round jewel in her hand.

“Really, Kaede?” she questioned uncertainly. Kaede nodded. The corners of Kagome's mouth lifted into a smile as she put the Sacred Jewel around her neck, bowing mannerly.

“It would be an honor, Kaede. I will do my best to protect it from demons,” she pledged. Kaede nodded.

Then Kagome remembered what she was going to ask.

“Hey, have any of you seen Sesshomaru at all today?” she interrogated. Everyone shook their heads. Inuyasha grunted and crossed his arms, saying curtly, “No, I haven't seen him. And I wouldn't care if I ever see him again.” Kagome glared at him, and it was enough for him to shut his mouth.

“He hasn't been around this area since the night you went back to your world,” noted Sango truthfully.

“I think he may have returned to his home in the west. So if you're going to go looking for him, I suggest starting there,” advised Miroku. Kagome nodded.

“Good idea. But if it's okay with you, I would prefer to go alone. I would be very angry if someone decided to follow me,” she intimated, casting a warning look Inuyasha's way. Inuyasha seemed to get the point. Everyone else nodded.

But Sango felt uncertain if she wanted to let her friend go alone into land that was overrun by demons and trod over to Kagome, a small smile on her worried face.

“I don't want you to go alone, so take Kirara with you,” she suggested. Kagome's eyes widened.

“No, Sango, I couldn't…” But Sango insisted and placed Kirara in Kagome's arms. Kirara purred, looking up at Kagome with her big red eyes.

“She'll accompany you to the west. After she has safely brought you to Sesshomaru, she will return here to me. So after that, you're on your own,” explained Sango. Kagome took a look at the cat demon in her arms and smiled when she saw the pleading look in its eyes. Finally, she agreed.

“Okay, Sango, I'll take Kirara with me. But first, I need to ask Kaede something,” she said, walking over to Kaede. She bent down to Kaede's level (Kaede was shorter than her) and whispered into her ear, “I can't believe I'm asking this, but do you have one of Kikyo's old kimonos that I can use?” Kaede nodded and whispered back, “Come with me.” Kagome agreed and followed Kaede to her hut. Inuyasha and the others watched, bemused.

Ten minutes later, Kagome returned to the group with Kaede, but she wasn't dressed as she was when she came. She looked so different, in fact, that Inuyasha stared at her in shock. Kagome was dressed in a kimono that looked exactly like the one that Kikyo wore and her hair was tied back in a Kikyo-like hairstyle as well. The two looked so much alike that you couldn't tell if she was Kagome or an entirely different person. She saw everyone staring at her and blinked, asking, “What're you all gaping at?” Inuyasha was the first to respond.

“What d'you mean what're we gaping at?! You look like Kikyo! Is this your idea of a sick joke?!” he snarled. Kagome shook her head.

“No, it's not my idea of a `sick joke'. Don't worry, I have a good explanation for dressing like this, but I'm not gonna tell you. Well, I guess I should get going. It was good to see you all again,” she said.

“Bye Kagome. Come visit us sometime, okay?” pleaded Shippo. Kagome nodded.

“I promise I'll come and visit,” vowed Kagome.

Kirara hopped out of Kagome's arms and transformed into her larger form, crouching down so Kagome would be able to get on her back. Kagome smiled and swung one leg over Kirara's side, seating herself in the curve of the large feline's back. She waved goodbye to everyone with her free hand, holding onto Kirara's neck fur with the other. Minutes later, Kirara shot up into the air, her long pale-yellow fur rippling in the breeze. Kagome yelled over the wind, “Kirara, do you think you can find Sesshomaru?” Kirara let out a small roar, which probably meant, `Yes, I can,' and picked up her pace, pumping her legs as she flew so it looked as though she were running on the air. Kagome felt her spirit soar as Kirara flew closer and closer to the western lands. She could see every detail of Sesshomaru in her mind very clearly and smiled when she remembered what he had done for her when they were battling Naraku:

Naraku saw his barrier get destroyed and roared angrily, sending a bolt of lightning at Kagome. He then continued dodging and countering vicious attacks by Kirara, Miroku, Shippo, and Inuyasha. Kagome screamed when she saw Naraku's lightning heading straight for her. Just when the attack was going to hit Kagome, Sesshomaru barked ferociously and blocked it with his body, getting another sharp jolt of electricity through him. His lips curled back into a snarl, baring his huge, sharp teeth at Naraku.

“He saved my butt more than once these past few days… I owe him a lot,” said Kagome to Kirara. “If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be alive… He revived me with his sword after Naraku killed me, which shows that he's not as cold-hearted as everyone thinks he is…” With that, Kagome looked ahead, waiting patiently to reach the western lands.