InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Snowy Love ❯ What Conquers Hate and Heartache ( Chapter 9 )

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

Chapter 9
"That's enough, Devil, we're gonna get you outta there somehow!" Inuyasha shouted, menacingly walking toward Byanou's mother.
"No!" Kagome cried, holding him back. "Don't kill her!"
"What?! I'm not--" But Inuyasha stopped talking when he noticed the devil finally discontinued his inward struggle.
"It's over," the devil cackled, pure glee lining the fair face he had power over.
"What?" Kagome said blankly, not understanding why the devil was laughing.
"Why are you so happy about your death, dumb ass?" Inuyasha inquired sharply. The devil laughed more.
"I'm not about to die...even if she did kill herself, I'd merely be lost. But I won't be driven from this body, either. Her soul is mine!" He shouted. Suddenly, a bright light shone in the room, so bright no one in the room could bear to keep their eyes open, suddenly the light disappeared, but a light not so great shone again. It was a being, illuminating.
"What sort of creature is that?" Kagome asked in awe, the first to get a proper looking at it. Everyone soon stared, amazed and dazzled. "A demon?" she asked, almost ashamed at the very thought. This being didn't seem at all like a demon whatsoever, and even saying it was seemed a crime on its own. Miroku slowly shook his head unable to take his gaze off.
"No...he is human..." Miroku returned. But no one could believe it. "He is human...in a sense...he's...he's an angel..." But suddenly the light faded and the man that stood before them no longer glowed with light. In fact, now, as he stood before them, he looked like your garden-variety, everyday warrior.
"That is Glad`e's husband. Now that I have brought him back to life her soul is mine. Our little deal is complete." The demon's voice rang in pleasure. Everyone glared at him. "Nothing can stop her soul from leaving her body now!"
"No! Guys, do something!" Shippo screamed, pleading, as if they always had the power to do something, bnut had chosen not to.
"We can't..." Sango replied, pitifully. "There is nothing we can do..." Shippo gasped and immediately was brought back to his former pain, the desperation and ugance in his presence gone, only agony remained.
"What is happening? Where am I?" the man asked, bewildered looking around his surroundings of rubble and ice. "I died." No one seemed to heed him, the devil was laughing malevolently and Gelad`e's, Byanou's mother's, body was beginning to take on a crimson aura. The ice demon that the devil was quickly gaining full control of, seemed almost lifeless as the pale arms lifted heaven-ward, collecting power, and embracing it greedily with relish. The power and evil presence Miroku felt from her was strenthening beyond measure. He and the others were awed by the so over-whelmingly great and dark aura that they felt their legs weakening under them.
"We have to get out of here!" Miroku shouted.
"My wife..." the man said in a stunned tone, still looking stunned and utter lost. "What is happening to her?" he took a few slow steps toward what he was no longer certain was the woman he loved. And in a sense he was right to be unsure.
"The devil is taking her over!" Kagome shouted, take his arm. "We've gotta run!"
"No...it can't be...not Gelad`e...she...she had the most pure heart I had ever known...how could this befall her...? It can't be!" He cried, falling to his knees. Suddenly the devil gasped and brought his arms down. Something was happening. Tears fell down the man's cheeks. "Gelad`e..." he stood up. "I won't let this happen." He finished a look of unruly determination excuding from his copper eyes.
"Stand aside!" the devil roared, but he brought Gelad`e's hand to his throat in astonishment and fear, "My voice!" It was Gelad`e's. "Wha-no!"
"Saekedo!" Gelad`e cried, tears in her eyes. She dashed toward him, a tearful smile spreading across her shining face. "You have come back!" She stopped before him, staring with fluttering disbelief and longing eyes.
"What...her soul...it's..." Miroku trailed off, his eyes as big as saucers.
"...back..." Sango finished in surprise. "How?"
"It is really you!" Gelad`e cried, embracing Saekedo, several tears plummeting down from her icy cheeks to her peculiar clothing and her husband's armor.
"My love..." he whispered clinging to her white hair and bringing her head in as he lie his chin on it, a sudden peace in his eyes that hadn't been there previously. Suddenly, they pulled away a bit, Saekedo looking a little startled and Gelad`e kissed him passionately. A black smokey form was coming from her body. Shippo gasped.
"Is that...the devil?!" he cried pointing up at the haunting tranparent form floating above them.
"No!!!!! This can't be!! How can it!!?" the devil screamed, beginning to float away. Both Glad`e and Saekedo looked at him. It was then, without anyone realizing, the ice was melting rapidly and all around them outside the snow was also melting and flowers were growing so quickly plants were flourishing within minutes. The dark clouds just rolled away and in flowed the sun. The grass...it all grew and it was the most beautiful shade of green and suddenly all the life frozen within time and shilds of ice, hidden away from the nourishing sun, was set free. All the happiness everywhere that had been erased for so long was now reborn and everyone felt so much better without even realizing,
"Love conquers all," Kagome said warmly in reply to what the devil had just said. Suddenly her face became touched with anger and passion. "it's how Shippo broke the ice! How Sango and Miroku kept us alive! It's something beings like you Naraku can never have or understand! It's purer than anything! It always wins..." She averted her eyes slightly, her eyes and expression not matching the determination and of her words. Sango knew why. Kagome thought she no longer had any of the love she spoke of any longer. If only she could see...
"This love! This thing! It is a mere illusion! It is fool hardy!! I can't understand!" The devil shouted. "I will live forever! You pathetic beings will die! Power keeps me living! Evil! That is what conquers I will continue to thrive always! Will this love stay? Hearts will wander and never be faithful! Does your love last? No!"
"You're wrong!" Inuyasha shouted.
'Eh?" the devil said, slowly floating toward a hole in the roof.
"Love does last forever! Even if you don't know its still there! And we...well we won't die. Yeah, our forms will change, we'll be stuck in heaven or whatever, but we'll still be around. And out love will stick like...like glue, that's what! So try to take our souls away even! But our love can't be taken away! You will never get it, and that's a real shame. Because you''ll never know what its like to be loved, neither will Naraku. The truth is, you don't need to be hated. You need to be pitied. I feel sorry for you. You can't do anything but hate it. Not understand it. It's the most wonderful feeling. But you only get pleasure out of others' pain. It's real sad actually." Inuyasha finished, not looking the least bit triumphant, but actually showing traces of sadness and pity. Kagome was staring at him.
'It's defeatedly not the speech of the century, but...it was definitely something...' she thought.
"Pity me?! hah! You can be fooled! To think you will live on! That your thing called love is something! How pathetic!" The demon shouted.
"My love never left, it defeated you," Gelad`e said firmly. "It is more powerful than the greatest evil. Kagome is right, it is the purest thing."
"So take a hike! And do what you do best! But we'll be prepared!" Miroku cried with a smirk. "There's a yin and yang for everything. Two sides. I guess we'll never understand each other."
"Huh? Why are you smiling?" Inuyasha asked Miroku blankly. The demon's faint face on his dark faded figure smirked as well.
"I am glad you have accepted your fate. I will be prepared to send Naraku when it least serves you," the demo n replied with cheer and evil.
"Yep, keep life interesting, will ya?" Sango cheered, waving.
"Of course," the demon returned, almost out the hole. Miroku put his arm around Sango and waved as well.
"Maybe youcan send an evil thought or two or something!" Miroku suggested, cheerfully. Everyone stared at them in shock. The devil was gone.
"Will do!" His voice echoed as he faded away in the wind. Miroku sighed happily.
"What are you two, insane?!" Inuyasha demanded, mouth gaping open.
"Yeah! it's like you want something horrible to happen!" Kagome cried. Sango giggled.
"It's not like he wouldn't do it anyway," she replied casually. Miroku shrugged.
"Besides, fear only brings on the devil and pity and feelings for him enrages him. Some bonding and understanding of his side helps. Perhaps he'll begin to understand us a little someday,' Miroku added, smiling up at the sky warmly.
"Right..." Kaede said doubtfully.
"It could happen!" Miroku cried. They all began following after Gelad`e who cleared the ice that was in their path away for them.
"Idiot," Shippo said.
"Oh..." Miroku sighed downheartedly. Sango patted him on the back in a comforting manner.
"I can make it better..." Sango said soothingly. "We'll do something you like!" she cried cheerfully.
"Great! To the futon!" He cried excitedly, grabbing her arm and dragging her toward the only room that had a futon. Sango halted and pulled her arm away from him angrily.
"Is that all you think about?!" She thundered, towering over him. Everyone had stopped and was watching them.
"Oh come on...I thought you were understanding now and like to come to bed..." Miroku returned in a frightened way, cowering.
"Shouldn't have said that," Inuyasha muttered.
"Yeah..." Kagome agreed. But to their surprise Sango didn't explode, she simply sighed.
"Fine..." She breathed in a defeated manner.
"Yippy!" Miroku cried happily, jumping for joy in a childish manner.
"Uh...you guys are just going to do it now..." Kagome muttered looking weirded out.
"Miroku's definately got you..." Inuyasha said to Sango in the same tone as Kagome.
"Indeed..." Kaede agreed. Sango laughed nervously.
"Of course I'm not doing it now!" She laughed nervously. She made a false angered face. "Shame on you Miroku!" She cried, waving her finger scoldingly. She then turned to the others nervously. "How could you guys think that!?"
"If you guys want to get all kinky and stuff, go right ahead," Inuyasha told them, in a mocking tone, smirking at them.
"Yeah, if you're truly in love, who cares what we think," Kagome assured them with false happiness. There was a short silence as Miroku and Sango looked very uncomfortable and Kaede, Inuyasha, and Kagome all smirked at one and other.
"No, no, no. We're fine, we're not going to do that now..." Sango replied. Miroku seemed disappointed, Sango elbowed him and he suddenly broke out of his depression.
"Uh! No way we're gonna..." he added looking disheartened,. Sango grabbed onto the sleeve of his robe, and began walking backwards, taking Miroku with her.
"We're just gonna...get some fire wood! Yeah!" Sango lied. "Together!" Miroku perked up.
"Uh...yeah!" Miroku cried with false casual tone of voice and they both began walking away.
"Sure you don't want help from one of us?" Kagome asked, a wide smirk on her face, obviously knowing what the two were really intending to do.
"Yes! Why not all of us!" Kaede exclaimed with false excitement. Miroku and Sango froze.
"Uh...positive! We should manage without you!" Miroku cried, resuming the walk away with Sango. "So...do you want me on top?" Miroku whispered to Sango.
"On top of what?" Inuyasha inquired, grinning. Sometimes Miroku was certain those dog ears were one of those curses sent by the devil. Miroku stopped dead in his tracks.
"You go right ahead," he whispered to Sango. The poor Mirok uwas abandombed to face his so called friends all on his own. He turned to them sweating with anxiety. "Uh...on top of...uh...." Miroku put his finger on his lips thoughtfully. "Uh....um....uh...." He paused for a second. "Hmm...." he said seeming to be deep in thought, but he couldn't come up with any excuse. "Uh...I...hmm." All three watched Miroku triumphantly. "I....gotta go..." he told them slowly and zoomed to catch up with Sango.
"The front door's the other way!" Kagome called after them.
"We'll just go out...the window!" Sango cried. Kagome shook her head and they all laughed. The door then slammed.
"Those two..." Inuyasha laughed.
"They are surely..." Gelad`e began.
"...strange..." Saekedo finished.
They all turned to walk out when Inuyasha froze. "Wait!" he cried, they all turned. "I get the feeling we're forgetting something." Inuyasha turned around as well to face the other way.
"Shippo!" they all, except Saekedo, shouted at once at his sight. He was sitting cross-legged, frowning at them all.
"I wondering when you'd notice!" Shippo cried crossly. "I've been trying to wake Byanou up...but she won't..." He informed them, looking down at her with a concerned face.
"Oh no!" Kagome cried, they all ran toward them.
"How could I forget!? Byanou!" Gelad`e cried. She began crying. "My daughter!"
"Byanou! How could this be?!" Saekedo cried, kneeling down. "Byanou...she's dead?"
"Yes..." Gelad`e sobbed.
"We are...so sorry..." Kagome began, sadly. Gelad`e began crying in Saekedo's arms.
"No! She's alive!" Shippo assured them.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha inquired sharply.
"Yes, she was only faking it."
"Byanou!" Gelad`e cried happily taking her daughter in her arms and rocking her back and forth. She sobbed. "I'm so happy!"
"Oh...she's grown quite quickly since I last saw her..." he father murmured in awe and warmth stroking Byanou's hair.
"But why won't she wake up?" Kagome inquired blankly with slight concern in her tone.
"She's only in a dormant state..." Shippo answered.
"Oh...I hope she will awake," Kaede remarked looking concerned,
"Do not worry," Gelad`e told her. "I can awake her." And with that a strange blue light shone from Gelad`e's fingertips onto the girl, but nothing was happening at first. There was a very tense silence as many of them looked on with uncertain expressions on their faces.
"I want to thank you, young lad, for caring for my daughter," Saekedo said to Shippo, quietly. Shippo blushed slightly and scratched the back of his neck bashfully.
"Aw...it was nothin'..." Shippo replied with an embarrassed smile. After a few moments Byanou's eyes fluttered and she slowly sat up.
"Mother!" she embraced her. "You're back! The devil left! I thought he might if i died!"
"Yes...I'm back...but he left because of your father..." Gelad`e returned, the brightest smile gleaming across her face.
"Huh?" Byanou said, eyes widening. She slowly let go of her mother and looked upon her father. Her eyes were quickly filling with tears. "Daddy!" She cried, leaping into his arms. She was balling. The others looked upon her with smiles.
"Now, don't cry Byanou, I'm back and everything's going to be fine," he told her soothingly.
"I've missed you..." she sniveled, "...so much!" She began wailing more, but her crying was quickly becoming quieter with her father's comforting.
"Shh...now that's enough..." Saekedo whispered, Byanou's crying came to a stop and she only sniffled a little. "...you've grown so much, Byanou..."
"I'm not sure if i have...I've always thought that I ought to be growing more..." she replied.
"No, Byanou, you're tall enough," Shippo assured her, looking up at the slightly taller ice demon. Saekedo looked down at him.
"Ah yes, who is this small skunk demon?" Saekedo inquired. Shippo growled quietly at being called a 'skunk demon', but tried to seem pleasant. Byanou laughed.
"No! He is a fox demon daddy, he's my boyfriend," Byanou said cheerfully. Shippo's face went several shades of red immediately.
"Eh?" Saekedo said. "Already? You have a boyfriend?"
"Uh...n-not really I-I-I'm m-mainly a friend...heh heh...heh heh..." Shippo replied nervously, kicking the ground with embarrassment.
"Don't be silly, Shippo," Byanou said, pulling away from her father. I've forgiven you for what happened and you truly love me so...of course you are really my boyfriend," she finished approaching Shippo. "I mean...wouldn't you say so?" Shippo looked away from her bashfully.
"Mmm hmm..." he returned quietly, nodding.
"I think my Byanou is a little young," Saekedo said with a prick of annoyance. Gelad`e threw her arms around her husband happily.
"Nonsense, it's rather sweet. I think Shippo is a fine suitor. He is brave and such a kind boy, wouldn't you say so?" Gelad`e said with cheer. Saekedo coughed awkwardly.
"Maybe so...but--"
"Daddy, Miroku and Sango are missing, where have they gone?" Byanou inquired cutting her father off. "Nothing has become of them has it?" Saekedo seemed a little red.
"Uh..." He was unsure how to explain to his daughter this situation.
"Miroku and Sango just went to...uh..." Inuyasha looked at Kagome as he was also unsure how to explain.
"...to uh..." Kagome trailed off as well.
"...fetch some fire wood!" Kaede finished with cheer.
"What?" Shippo asked, looking confused. "But I thought they--"
"Shut up Shippo!" Kagome cried with a false cheerful tone.
"Huh?" Shippo said. plainly confused.
"Just shut up you rodent!" Inuyasha shouted punching the living daylight s out of Shippo.
"Oh dear," Gelad`e said, shaking her head and covering her mouth with her hands.
'Oh...don't mind him...he's just a self centered jerk who is rather violent and angry...pretty much all the time..." Kagome explained, with a false smile.
"Uh..." Saekedo said awkwardly. "...are you two in some sort of disagreement?"
"No! I thought we weren't anyway, but of course Kagome can't ever forgive anyone now can she?!" Inuyasha shouted, directing this comment at Kagome, walking u pto her.
"What?!" Kagome demanded. "What are you TALKING about! I forgive almost everyone! Just not you for what YOU DID!!"
"They just can't let us have a happy ending can they?" Shippo said flatly.
"I suppose not," Byanou replied, in a worried tone.
It wasn't long before Byanou and her parents had to leave and they said their goodbyes.
'"So how did you and Inuyasha wind up together anyhow?'" Kaede remembered asking Kagome several days before. '"Well...there was this song...,'" she recalled her saying. '"It was on this CD...it's still on my stereo...that thing plays music...just with the push of a button..."' Kaede rummaged through Kagome's backpack. 'A stereo...I wonder what that is...whatever it is...I must find it...' Kaede thought. She unraveled the stereo finally, but had n o way of knowing what it was.
"Hmm..." she said aloud. Suddenly she discovered the label in japanese. "Aha!" She cried. 'This it!' She thought.

It wasn't long before the sun was nearly completely behind a distant mountain range surrounded in mist. The stars were just beginning to appear in the orangy-pink sky spread out brightly over the now lively valley where Inuyasha and the others were. Out in the far distant hills, it still snowed lightly, but all around the cabin our heroes were staying in there was scarcely snow in sight.
"Hey everyone, what's cooking?" Miroku asked cheerfully as he entered the kitchen.
"About time, jeez the firewood must be scarce," Inuyasha returned, smirking. Miroku laughed nervously.
"Very. Couldn't find any," he said in a false casual tone, sitting on a pillow at the table near Inuyasha. Sango yawned as she entered, who, unlike Miroku, looked pretty beat which supported Inuyasha's belief that Miroku put more than sugar in his tea.
"You look tired Sango," Kagome pointed out blankly. Sango stopped walking, her eyes half open.
"Me? Tired?" A huge yawn escaped her. "No way." She yawned again and took a seat on the pillow right of Miroku. Kagome laughed as she shook her head.
"I just can't believe you guys took so long and didn't even come back with any fire wood," Kagome remarked presently. Miroku fidgeted nervously, Sango elbowed him, in an attempt to get him to say something.
"Uh...well, most of it was probably buried well under the snow. You know how bad it is out there..." There was a short silence as everyone smirked triumphantly at Miroku. Finally he asked, "What? It is!" Kaede chuckled as she turned back to her cooking.
"Miroku...there's barely any snow out there...at all..." Sango growled at him, pointing out the window.
"Uh...right...bad excuse?" He laughed nervously.
"Perhaps...or maybe you didn't actually go looking for firewood..." Inuyasha said, his smirk becoming wider. "...maybe you were doing something...else?"
"Can we talk about something else?" Miroku suggested. "Like, what is happening with you and Kagome?" Kagome flashed a glare in his direction as she set down some tea for him. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Kagome returned forcing a bitingly sweet smile at Miroku.
"Come on, Kagome. When you guys kissed it kept you warm. You can't deny that Inuyasha and you are truly in love," Sango said calmly. Kagome looked away carelessly, a deep frown in her forehead.
"Yeah, well I still may love him like a sucker, but the feeling's definitely not mutual," Kagome replied. Sango sighed and looked up at her with an helpless expression. "But it's alright, really." She looked at Inuyasha with a determined face. "I'll get over you, Inuyasha, really, I will. I don't stay in love with jerks. There's no way I'm that dumb." Kaede sighed heavily at her cooking things.
"Come on, Kagome! You know that's not true! I love you more than anything!" Inuyasha shouted, standing up.
"Oh stuff it!" Kagome cried back. "Do you really expect--"
"Alright!" Miroku shouted, cutting Kagome off. "That's enough, already!" Kagome and Inuyasha were still glaring at one and other. Miroku looked at the both of them in turn. "Let's just stop fighting, alright?"
"Fine," Kagome huffed, sitting down. "But I'm not forgiving him," she added, crossing her arms defiantly.
"That's fine," Miroku assured her.
"What?! What?!" Inuyasha roared. "How is that FINE?!"
"Fine for now," he told Inuyasha slowly and quietly hoping Inuyasha and Kagome's speech would take the same route.
"Hmph!" Kagome said, looking away. 'There's no way I'm going to change my mind!' She thought angrily. Miroku sighed in a relieved manner.
"Now...let's just have some civilized conversation while we wait for dinner," Miroku suggested suggested to them.
"Yes please!" Shippo cried in an exasperated tone.
"Phh!" Inuyasha muttered grumpily. "Like talk about what you and Sango really did?" Miroku grasped his tea cup calmly.
"So you figured us out, huh?" Sango said, blankly.
"It's not like it takes a genius," Shippo returned flatly.
"Yeah, really. Ya know me and Kagome might fight a ton but at least we're not striping each others clothes off every opportunity we get," Inuyasha said, trying to get a rise out of Miroku and Sango. Apparently, it didn't work. The both remained annoyingly calm.
"Yes, well I suppose you would be jealous wouldn't you?" Sango chimed thoughtfully.
"Jealous!?" Inuyasha exclaimed, pounding the table in anger, causing his tea cup to spill. "How could you insinuate that?!"
"It's not like it takes a genius," Shippo repeated, using his words against the other 'side'. Inuyasha merely growled in reply.
"Yes, it is really shame that you and Kagome can't enjoy the same things we can *sigh*," Miroku said with false pity.
"You mean strip each other's clothes?" Shippo asked blankly.
"He wishes," Kagome muttered bitingly, taking a sip from her tea.
"I do not WISH!!!" Inuyasha roared in Kagome's face. Kagome sighed, relieved from the long drink she took from her tea, quickly picking up an napkin and dabbing her lips.
"Of course you do. You're an annoying perverted jerk," she replied calmly.
"I am not!" Inuyasha shouted.
"Are too," Kagome returned with slight anger.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Shut UP!" Sango cried. Everyone blinked vacantly at her. She was breathing heavily getting over her sudden outburst. "Just be quiet if you can't do anything but argue." Both Inuyasha and Kagome growled and grumbled and finally fell silent.
"Now, if we're finally ready to act a little more mature than two year olds," Miroku began, glaring at Kagome and Inuyasha, "I'd like to point out we should be leaving this place soon. We have to get on with our journey collecting the Shikon shards."
"Oh...yeah...the Shikon...shards..." Inuyasha responded blankly. he looked thoughtful "I forgot about those..."
"You? Forget about the Shikon jewel!" Shippo cried as if it was the most impossible thing in the world...which it sort of was...
"I forgot too..." Sango put in, also looking thoughtful.
"Me too..." Shippo, Kagome, and Kaede all said at once.
"We all did...I only remembered after seeing it in Kagome's back pack..." Miroku said with some solemnness. "A-as i was passing it and it was hanging open!" He cried nervously at the look Kagome was giving him, most likely figuring he had gone through it.
"Why aren't we leaving now?" Sango inquired. The remaining all looked upset by this suggestion. Somehow they had all grown quite attached to the place and naturally, they didn't want to leave. Suddenly Kagome gasped.
"Inuyasha...you've turned human!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Huh?" Inuyasha murmured blankly, looking at his hands which no longer had claws. "Oh yeah."
"Tonight's a new moon. It'd be far safer staying here...we'll leave tomorrow morning. That'll give us a chance to say good bye to Byanou and her family, make sure they are faring alright," Miroku explained. There was a short sad silence. No one wanted to leave. Even Kaede felt a longing to stay and watched the discussion carefully. There was a strange smell in the air...Kaede sniffed...something burning...
"Oh!" Kaede cried in realization, she turned to her cooking. "Dinner is ready!" She cried.
There was scarcely any conversation during that meal and the lack of talk continued for several hours. Finally they all were sitting by the fire in the room, a silence about them. Miroku and Sango were again sitting next to one and other and were looking into the fire vacantly. Inuyasha was sitting, propped against the sheathed tetsusaiga. Kagome was angrily filing her nails, while Shippo was looking dreamily up at the ceiling.
'What am I going to do?' Inuyasha thought. 'I can't live like this...' He looked over at Kagome who didn't appear to have noticed him and was grumbling something at a broken nail. Inuyasha used his sword to pull him self up and again attached it to his belt. Miroku looked back at him.
"Where are you going?" Miroku inquired. Turning briefly, Inuyasha averted his eyes looking disturbed.
"I'm just--"
"Who cares," Kagome intercepted loudly. They all looked at her with slight aggravation.
"Do you have to be so impossible?!" Inuyasha demanded. Kagome only glared up at him for a moment. "I mean...gah! Forget it!" He shouted, turning away and crossing his arms.
"Well? Are you leaving?" Kagome asked with annoyance.
"You just don't get it, do you?" Inuyasha said moodily. The others watched helplessly as another conflict began unfold before them.
"Oh I get it!" Kagome cried, getting up onto her feet. "You're just sore because you don't have you're little pet Kagome to do with as you please! Maybe you're still nipping at Kikyo's feet and graveling trying to get her back when you're gone!"
"Not again!" Shippo whined.
"Here we go..." Miroku said, looking bored and annoyed. Sango sighed, also looking quite irritated.
"I can't believe you'd think that!" Inuyasha shouted looking hurt. Kagome shook her head and laughed, "I really can't Kagome. For someone who still loves me you sure think low of me!"
"Oh no, oh no! You're not doing that to me, Inuyasha! You're not turning the tables on me!" Kagome cried. Her eyes seemed glossed with tears. "You are so horrible! How you can shout at me like this after what you did to me!" The pain at the sight of her morning becaue of his regrettable actions caused all of his anger to disingrate from him, and he all that remained behind was the anguish of the extreme mortification and guilt.
"Kagome..."
"I don't want to talk to you!" Kagome returned firmly, with a sob. She turned away from him defiantly.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha said again, talking a couple steps closer to her, reaching out toward her helplessly. "Please...don't cry..." The silver haired hanyou gently cupped her left cheek in his hand, finding the touch of her soft skin, the sensation punctured hole in his vast black void of despair and filled it with a strangely familiar yet foriegn seeming emotion. Joy.
"Uh-oh..." Miroku said quietly, expecting Kagome to explode. To the contrary, however, she didn't move at all, or seem to be angry, soft, pitiful sobs escaped her and slowly her water-filled bright. brown eyes made their way up to the golden ones Inuyasha had. The look on her face was perfectly indeciferable.
'Why does he care anyway?' She wondered. Was he pretending? But in his eyes Kagome saw it, it reminded her a bit of when Inuyasha thought of Kikyo, but it was far more profound. It was far more a look into what he was thinking...maybe...a glimps into his heart? Kagome closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her face. Everyone was silent, most were holding their breath. What was going to happen now?
Slowly, Kagome reached up and touch Inuyasha's hand on her face with her own. It was nice. Finally she felt warm inside. She had felt cold for so long... "I love you...Kagome..." Inuyasha whispered. Just then Kagome's brown eyes opened and looked up to survey Inuyasha. Was he telling the truth? How could he? Kagome averted her eyes, the look on her face, once it was gone Inuyahsa had recognized it. Before it was slightly conflicted she was feeling the plaeasure...the passion and joy he was at his touch, but she was fighting for it not to give in, such extreme emotion ripping through her. But now...now he only saw the pain returning.
'How could I be such a moron?' She thought in desperation, feeling the slight hope and happiness sucking out of her quite agonizingly.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha said, looking concerned. Suddenly, Kagome threw Inuyasha's arm off of her, a look of fury on her face.
"Don't give me all these...these lies!" She choked through more tears. "What is so wrong with you?" She hissed. Inuyasha just stared at her, his eyes beaming down at her with a strong desire to be heeded, he was sending the message to her over and over with his mind but she wasn't responding...she was getting it... "I'm tired of this," Kagome said in a final tone. "I'm not taking it anymore."
"Oh no...what is she going to do?" Sango asked no one in particular looking distressed.
It was then she ran over to her back pack and swung it onto her back.
"Kagome--what are you--" Miroku began, taking a step toward her.
"Shut up!" Kagome cut in. "I'm leaving." Everyone's expression was unified, one of loss, of panic, extreme worry...
"But Kagome--"
"I'm sorry," She gently interrupted Shippo, whose own eyes were now becoming moistened with tears. Kagome leaned down and brought Shippo into her arms. "I just need to get away...for a while...I'll be back...one day..." She put Shippo down who sniveled.
"Kagome, don't do this!" Sango begged her. "Please!" Kagome shook her head with a slight smile, a sad, sorrowful smile, and turned and began walking away. She stopped at Inuyasha.
"Good bye," Kagome told him coldly, but she said his name with softness and pure sorrow and yearning in her eyes, "...Inuyasha..." Inuyasha watched her turn away hating himself more than anything in the world. More than Sessomaru, more than Naraku...than anyone. He simply loated every inch, very single aspect of himself being such an idiot. Kagome had been right when she had said, "You always ruin everything!" Not one piece of him, not once small fragment, believed or even considered that was incorrect. All his life, he had always found some way to ruin things, to screw everything up, tear up his life into little pieces until he could hardly guess what he had once, just when it was getting good, he managed to be such an ingrateful bastard...
Kagome was soon out of the room and Inuyasha could only gaze at the ground. What had he done? Now, Kagome could have been gone...forever. And he wasn't going to go after her. He would let her be free. He was going to let her leave. Why? He would do it because for once he was going to accomplish something that wasn't entirely selfish The only truly unselfish thing he was sure he had ever done: preventing Kagome from getting hurt more by him...let her heal. Let her forget about him. He had no right to run to her and beg, to plead, he had no right to follow her.

Kagome stopped at the door, half hoping Inuyasha would come after her, though she hadn't the faintest desire to admit it. 'He's not even going to apologize, that jerk!' Kagome thought angrily, stalling at the door.

"Inuyasha! You have to stop her!" Shippo cried, jumping up and down in alarm.
"He's right, Inuyasha. What are you doing just standing there?" Miroku said with importance. There was no sign Inuyahsa had even heard them, he simply stood there before them, staring at nothing in particular, perhaps traumatized, perhaps in shock...perhaps numb with all the pain...
"Heloooo!" Sango shouted, walking up to him. "Is anyone in there?" She asked, waving her hand in front of his face.
"She should be able to leave. Escape from me. I've done her so much hurt. I have no right..." Inuyasha mumured vacantly, hardly breathing as if he was trying to prevent himself from living and having to endure the agony.
"You love her," Miroku told him with far more emotion and urgancy than he normally cared to us , stepping forward. "Now go get her." His eyes flashed with embellishment, and they almost looked fearful at the thought of what would happen if Inuyahsa continued not to heed him.
"Yeah!" Shippo exclaimed in agreement, eyes also looking frightened. Yet, the kitsune shouted as if he had all confidence Inuyahsa would go. Their seemingly catatonic friend stood so very still and unbreathing, unblinking, unmoving for some of the longest moments the three were sure they ever lived.
"She doesn't want me to. She wants to leave."

'Why am I still here?' Kagome wondered, staring down the hall longingly. 'I don't want him to come stop me, do I? No!' She tried to avoid throughts for a moment and ignore the strong desire within her, to turn back. 'Maybe I forgot something...' Kagome stood perfectly still, unable to move.

"Inuyasha! Stop being stupid! Kagome still loves you of course she wants you to go get her!" Sango shouted crossly, beginning to become frustrated with Inuyahsa's behavior.
"But she said--"
"Never mind what she said!" Sango exclaimed. "She's a WOMAN! We NEVER say what we mean!' she roared taking in a deep breaht and calming herself a little, "Well...sometimes we do, but she doesn't want to admit it even to herself that she still wants you to go get her! Now get her! " Inuyasha was silent for a moment. Finally he slowly shook his head.
"No I..."
"Get her NOW before I RIP YOUR HEAD OFF!!!!" Sango screamed, her hands clenched in tense fists that were so tight her knuckles went pearly white. Inuyasha cringed in true fear, shuddering as he saw the rage in Sango's eyes and her hands becoming claw shaped rather than fists as she grasped at her hyraicotsu. It didn't seem as if she would back down to a fight whatsoever and had every intention of hurting him if he failed to listen. Miroku and Shippo kept their distance.
"O-okay," he returned nervously and was out of that room in a flash. Miroku was smirking broadly as he walked uu to Sango who was still recovering from the anger she had felt in her outburst and still seemed enraged.
"Wow...you're quite fiery when you want to be aren't you?" Miroku said, his grimace getting wider caressing Sango's shoulders with his fingers.
"Oh brother," Shippo sighed.
Sango spun around and grabbed the neck of his robe with fury shaking him back and forth. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!!" Miroku cried in a panic, flailing his arms up and down. 'Just don't hurt me...' he thought, cowaring. There was a brief silent moment and Shippo was pondering what way Sango would choose to brutally beat him, when suddenly, she kissed Miroku forcefully.
"Nnnnnn...bleach!" Shippo said in disgust, quickly forgetting his previous surprise.

'I'd better get going...' Kagome sighed mentally and she reached out for the door when Inuyasha ran in frantically.
"Kagome!" he breathed in surprise. "You're still here..." Kagome just stared at him for a moment. 'Maybe she did want me to come after her...' Inuyasha thought.
'He...he came...' Kagome thought, looking stunned. Suddenly a deep frown formed in her forehead and she turned away. "What do you want! i'm only still here because I thought I forgot something!" Inuyasha looked slightly disheartened by this statement, but he quickly became determined.
"Kagome...I can't live without you...please...I'm begging you...don't go..." Inuyasha pleaded. Kagome was quickly becoming emotional, her fist was pushed firmly against her heart. She was silent for a moment, feeling tears come to her eyes once again. She whipped around suddenly.
"Do you think I believe you?! You really think I'm going to buy it?!" Kagome demanded, tears streaming down her cheeks. Inuyasha was silent and looked saddened. "Well I'm not," she said firmly with a sob.
'I knew this was a mistake,' Inuyasha's thoughts sighed dismally, and any slight elation or heart skittering hope was now quickly dying.
"...and nothing you can say is going to stop me..." Kagome said softly, looking very upset. 'Why did I have to stay so long?' Kagome wondered desperately. She turned and againreached out for the door when Inuyasha grasped her shoulder, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Kagome quickly became raged filled. "Cut it out!" She shouted. "I want to leave!" Again her eyes were averted in sadness and pain. "Just let me go."
"But--" He couldn't let her go, he'd have to convince her to stay.
"I'm sick of you! You're so heartless! Every time you tell your lies the wound in my heart gets deeper! You're the most awful person I know! That night when you admitted what you did with Kikyo and she...and she told me how you loved her....how you tried to use the both of us...I wanted to die! Knowing that now I finally see how you are!" Kagome screamed. Inuyasha shook his head, and looked into Kagome's eyes pleadingly.
"If you would only--" But Inuyasha was caught off. Not by Kagome, not by any of the others...but by a sound that sounded eerily familiar...

"Da da da da da da da da,"

"....listen..." Inuyasha finished quietly. The song continued and Kagome was frozen, she felt as if something hit her hard over the head and she felt numb all over. The surprise had also caused Inuyasha to become unmoving and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Da da da da da da da da."

"My stereo," Kagome said in little more than a whisper. "I must have forgotten it...I'd better go get it..." Her actions clashed with her words, however, and she only stood there, staring into space, feeling something very strange...

"...I'm tryin' to keep my cool,
I know it shows.
I'm starin' at my feet,
My cheeks are turnin' red,
I'm searchn' for the words inside my head,
'Cause I'm feelin' nervous,
Tryin' to be so perfect,
'Cause I know you're worth it,
You're worth it yeah..."

'What's she going to do now? Man, I'd give anything to know what she's thinking...' Inuyasha thought nervously. Kagome's eyes were again averted now and she seemed to indeed be thinking...a lot. Couldn't she just SAY SOMETHING?! 'What the hell am I supposed to do?!' Inuyasha's thoughts screamed.
'What's happening to me?!' Kagome thought, feeling somewhat panicky.

"If I could say what I wanna say,
I'd say i wanna blow you away,
Be with you every night,
Am i squeezin' you to tight?"

'And because of me we're destroyed...me and Kagome...we'll never be...will we?' Inuyasha felt worse and worse as more beautiful memories of Kagome and he used to be were flooding into his mind. How happy they were and now it had come to this, it seemed so wonderful...had it all been a mere dream? All of it morhpung so horribly Kagome hating him, to the constant fighting...and now Kagome's leaving. He could lose her now, forever. He had to screw it up. Inuyasha had excepted since the beginning that his life naturally sucked, but finally, when he was truly happy, he had to wreck everything! He could again get used to life sucking entirely...couldn't he? 'But sucking this much?' Inuyasha thought. He wasn't quite sure if he could take it...

"If I could see what I wanna see,
I wanna see you go down on one knee,
Marry me today,
Yes I'm wishin' my life away,
With these things I'll never say."

It was the music break again and Inuyasha just wanted to tune the song out. What was Kagome going to do now? Would she actually listen to him? Why was she just standing there?

"It don't do me any good,
It's just a waste of time,
What use is it to you,
What's on my mind?"

'Oh no...how could one song make me want him back so badly...I can' t let myself do this...but I can't bring myself to walk out the door...no matter how hard I try... Oh Inuyasha! Why do you have to be such a horrible jerk?! Now...now we can never be...but I have to get myself to leave... I'm so hopeless...I can't even move.'

"If it ain't comin' out,
We're not goin' anywhere,
So why can't I just tel l you that I care?
'Cause i'm feelin' nervous,
Tryin' ta be so perfect,
'Cause you're worth it,
You're worth it yeah!
If I could say what I wanna say..."

'Dang it! Say something Inuyasha!' Inuyasha thought. But he was too afraid he'd say the wrong thing rather than the right one and he definitely did not need to make things worse between them. Suddenly Kagome looked up at him with emotional eyes. Inuyasha's own ones widened. 'Is she...is she going to...forgive me?!' But that seemed impossible. Kagome had been so furious at him...so hurt by him...Inuyasha was still very unsure if he even deserved to be forgiven at all.

"...Be with you every night,
Am i squeezing you too tight?
If I could see what i wanna see..."

"What's going on?' Miroku asked loudly approaching Kaede who was watching Kagome and Inuyasha from the hallway, peeking around the corner.
"Shh!" She hissed covering his mouth.
"What's that music?" Sango inquired louder than Miroku did.
'Could ye close ye pie hole?!" Kaede snarled. Miroku was now making muffled noises from under Kaede's hand.
"I am taking my plan into affect..." Kaede informed them, motioning toward Inuyasha and Kagome. Miroku shouted impatiently, his voice quieted under Kaede's hand. "Oh..." Kaede took her hand off his mouth. "...sorry..."
"Huh," Miroku said.
Kaede frowned. "'Huh' what?" She inquired crossly.
"Nothing. Just huh," Miroku returned.
"Hmm," Sango said in the same flat tone as Miroku.
"What does 'hmm' mean?" Kaede asked suspiciously.
"Nothing..." Sango replied in a 'duh' tone. "Just hmm." Kaede growled under her breath.

"...What's wrong with my song?"

Kagome looked very enraged...she seemed to be at war with something inside her, perhaps her logic and her heart. "I hate what you did Inuyasha," she growled through gritted teeth. There was a wrenching pain inside him that was indescribable, he felt almost as if he was falling. She was going to leave now.

"These words keep slippin' away!"

Kagome sighed in a defeated manner. She looked defeated. Done. Inuyasha didn't know what it meant. "But..." she began.
'But what?' Inuyasha thought with anxiety.
"No!" Kagome cried suddenly. "I can't do this to myself!" And with that she turned and grasped the door. Inuyasha's heart was pounding so fast a great fear and pain was spreading over him. But he couldn't stop her now...
.
"...Like I've got nothing to say."

Inuyasha tried to speak , but his throat was perfectly dry. He couldn't say one thing. It was then when Kagome suddenly spun around and embraced him, crying hysterically. Inuyasha was completely frozen. Not ne thought in his mind. It registered entirely blank. Until it began functioning just slightly. '...what..........?....!....?....'

"'Cause I know you're worth it,
You're worth it,
Yeah!'"

"I know I'm going to get hurt. I'm going to be your door matt, but I'm just an idiot I guess..." Kagome trailed off. It was then she laughed through her tears. A pitiful unhappy laugh, almost self loathing at her weakness. "I just love you too much...I can't leave you...even if it hurts me this much...I just can't stand it anymore!" She cried a little bit and Inuyasha was still unable to say anything.

"Is this good or bad?" Miroku inquired blankly.
"Hmm..." Kaede said, deep in thought. "I'm not sure..."

Kagome nestled in a bit to Inuyasha. She liked being near him again, but she kept on feeling she had no back bone any longer. That she was being so frail, letting herself be taken advantage of only allowing herself to be hurt repetively by Inuyahsa in the future.
Inuyasha was beginning to come to his senses. It was wonderful being in Kagome's arms again...but what had she said? That she was being a door matt? And she was crying. Not of happiness either. She was giving in. Inuyasha didn't like it. Though he was now in her arms once again and he should feel all the saddness and anguish leaving him, he found the opposite was true, he was feeling worse. In her mind, he was only going to continue using her, in her mind: he didn't truly love her. All he could do to pasify his suffering was wrap his surround her in his arms and attempt to make her believe him...
"Kagome...you're wrong..." Inuyasha responded softly, but with some firmness. Kagome looked up at him in surprise. "I'm not going to use you as my door matt. And I never did those things Kikyo said...most of the things she told you were mistruths..." Kagome seemed somewhat vexed and bewildered as she shoved him away from her.
"Look, you don't have to lie to me."
"I'm not lying," Inuyasha told her with slight crossness.
"Yes...you are...but I don't know why. You have me now, why do you care?"
"Because you don't know the right story and I don't want you thinking I'm going to hurt you or still love Kikyo because neither of those things are not now and will never be a reality. Kagome, nothing I've told you has been a lie. I wouldn't be telling you this if I all the things you beleive are true, if I was really using you. I would only want you to come back, taking advantage of you. I wouldn't care whether you beleived I was using you or not if either way you'd be with me. But I do, because its not true!" Inuyasha finished firmly. Kagome was silent. Inuyasha face softened.
"I loved you Kagome...I always have..."
"If you loved me..." Kagome began, looking down at the floor and starting slowly, still scanning over everything. For a moment she paused still pondering, when finally her eyes climbed up to Inuyahsa's face, becoming moist with tears. "...then why were you with Kikyo? You can't deny that you were. You even said so yourself!" Inuyasha looked uncomfortable, feeling very troubled and sorrowful, the woe that coursed through him everytime he thought of what he had done shot through him once again.
"I know...I was such an idiot...Kikyo tricked me. I don't know how I let her get to me...I tried to avoid her. When I first saw her and I walked away...but she got to me... You heard the story from Sango...I'm not sure if she got it right though... It doesn't make sense, I know, I don't know how or why I did it..." These words did little to comfort Kagome, and tears were leaking from her eyes.
"Is it true you told Kikyo that you didn't love me, that I didn't matter? That you loved her?" Kagome inquired, crying softly.
"No," Inuyasha returned with full assertion, trying to ignore the feeling that resembled a sword being pushed into his gut at the sight of Kagome crying before him so he could tell her with all the power and sincerity he could muster into his words. "I never said that...I thought that...well...she convinced me that I didn't love you...somehow...that our love wasn't true. She'd made me so unsure with what she said before."
"What did she say?" Kagome inquired, looking curious, but a little wary of recieving information that could cause such heartache.
"I remember her exact words...because they haunted me for some time... When I was turning to leave she said, 'You once said you loved me, you once said you could never love another soul!' I was walking away and I stopped," he gritted his teeth hanging his hgead low, "I don't know why stopped I shouldn't have stopped! She said, 'What happened, Inuyasha? That promise that was made between our hearts...it''s stronger than anything. Stronger than your infatuation with...Kagome!'" Kagome averted her eyes and looked disturbed. "I tried not to let it bother me...but it did."
"I had forgotten Kikyo, somehow...entirely...until I met her in these hills and she said her name. Suddenly all the memories rushed back, but still, I wouldn't go with her...I couldn't. Even with those words she said playing in my mind and stinging my heart--filling me with doubt and guil... I had to walked away, but I still never should have doubted..." Kagome looked somewhat guilty. After all that he still walked away. Kagome truly wondered if she would have been able to do the same. "It was then I began doubting us...I kept telling myself I loved you, but I could never erase that possibility--that somehow I could be fooling myself... When I accidentally found Kikyo, I tried to leave like I had before and I had every intention of leaving. I only stayed to listenm to convince myself I loved you but then to get some closure...." Inuyasha trailed off. It was hard to tell Kagome all this.
"Then...what?" Kagome inquired expectantly. She looked far better now, though she felt shame that Inuyasha had been so loyal in turning away from Kikyo even when it had obviously been so difficult, and she had been so lacking in udnerstanding this enture time. Even so, hearing all this made her feel better about being with him. But traces of the misery that Inuyasha had caused her remained weren't going away and she was still unsure if she believed him.
"Then...then she said she wanted to kiss me, and that I should let her if i didn't truly love her that it wouldn't do anything and if I did I would feel something. I wasn't about to fall for it though...but then at the back of my mind I was unsure if i still loved you so I was going to let her to prove that I loved you to myself. But then realized that I loved you and I didn't need to do that, so I was going to leave, but Kikyo suddenly kissed me before I could...I pulled away, but then after I kissed her again..."
"...it went down hill from there," Kagome finished for him, not having the desire to hear anymore. There was short silence. The song Kaede had played had long since ended. Kagome averted her eyes. "And how was it?" She asked.
"How was what?"
"How was it..." Kagome paused, "...with Kikyo?" Inuyasha was quiet for a moment, he had really not wanted to talk about it.
"It was awful..."
"What?" Kagome said, not looking as if she believed him.
"It felt horrible...probably the worst thing I had ever gone though. There was this terrible feeling inside that kept telling me to stop..."
"Then why didn't you?" Kagome inquired.
"I kept thinking it would go away," Inuyasha returned with a shrug. "Yet...it just kept getting worse. I know I don't love her and those moments with her...they haunt me...almost every night..." Inuyasha looked away, pure torment etched on his face. A small gasp escaped Kagome. Inuyasha looked as if he was on the brink of crying. The tears could not be aloud to come, however, Inuyahsa felt if he let himself cry he'd feel as if he was pining for sypathy from her, but those memories killed him every time he thought of them... "It's all my fault, I know, that you're hurt...I can't deny it..."
"No..." Kagome argued, looking saddened and guilty. "...I didn't listen to to you, that was my fault." Extreme shock and stupification stunned him entirely and with an intense and extreme sensation of his negative emotions being forced out by the sudden bubbling up of hope almost caused him to fall ove.
"What? You believe me?" Inuyasha said in disbelief and awe.
"Well...yeah...I mean...how could I not..." Kagome responded with a slight smile. Her suffering and affliction had been eroding away the more he spoke of the truth and it was almost frightening how light she felt with out all the weight of it and at the stragest sensation of happiness sweeping he rup so quickly and encompassing her so wholy she almost felt as if she could float. Inuyasha was still unsure whether or not Kagome would take him back. He wanted to hold her and kiss her...but had she still not forgiven him?

"What's that idiot doing!?" Miroku hissed. "I mean why doesn't he just kiss her!"
"Because he doesn't have to always have to be doing something like that with Kagome...silence is good enough for them," Sango returned with a twinge of anger.
"Hey, are you saying that I always have to be doing something like that with you?" Miroku inquired suspiciously.
"No,'' Sango answered with false cheer, "of course not," she growled sarcastically.
"Good!" Miroku replied, smiling, failing to note the sarcasm in Sango's tone. Sango growled under her breath.

"So..." Inuyasha finally said, breaking the silence. Kagome looked up at him. "Now...what...?" Inuyasha looked nervously down at Kagome who made a perplexed face.
"What do you want to have happen now?" Kagome inquired. Inuyasha averted his eyes, humbly. He didn't want to push it and he still didn't believe he deserved Kagome's forgiveness. He didn't feel anything of an angry vibe from her...but...
"I...guess we--well, if you want...well, I still don't---you don't have to forgive me--I don't really--it's not to say i don't want you to--but--well--you know---I don't--please don't be angry---not that you don't have any right not to be--" Inuyasha babbled.

"Has he cracked?" Miroku inquired.
"It would appear so," Kaede answered.
"Yep," Sango agreed.

Kagome giggled a bit watching Inuyasha. Oh! it had been so long! he loved it when she giggled, but he couldn't stop yapping. "--I guess---well--maybe--well what do you want--actually--you asked me first but--" It was then Kagome kissed him ever so softly which shut Inuyasha up straight away. He was soon experiencing a feel much like Kagome had felt, and now she was feeling with far more intensity. He took a deep breath taking in Kagome with longing, an an extreme hunger that he had been so consumed by grief in the recent past, that it had finally now returned to him when her lips touched his and he had the need to bring his mouth fully onto hers and kiss her with everything he had. The two were clutching each other with an exploding passion, both sharing the vigor that resulted from a unplenished need that had gone unfuffilled for far too long...
"I think we should leave now," Sango suggested.
"Aww, do we have to?" Miroku whined.
"Yes," Sango snarled. Kaede also seemed disappointed but the three began tiptoeing away.
Kagome and Inuyasha had ended their kiss and their noses were pressed together looking directly in each others eyes for a moment, as if they would start up at any moment. "Hello, Miroku and Sango and Kaede," Kagome said smirking, all three froze.
"...and..." Inuyasha paused. "Shippo!" Shippo came out from his hiding place, under Miroku's blanket.
"How did you know I was here?!" he cried in surprise.
"You used your little nosy to sniff him out, didn't you Yashi?" Kagome squeaked, touching Inuyasha's nose briefly.
"Oh no! Not with the Yashi again!" Miroku cried, covering his ears. Kagome giggled.
"But I didn't smell him. That blanket reeks far too much of Miroku and Sango...and some other strange sent..." Inuyasha trailed off, sniffing.
"Is there another woman?!!" Sango screeched, looking like she was going to kill Miroku.
"No..." Inuyasha returned. "it's weird."
"It's to be expected. I mean, don't you know what Miroku and Sango have been doing under that blanket," Kagome said. Sango was blushing deeply and Miroku was laughing sheepishly.
"Ew!!! And I hid under it!" Shippo cried in disgust. The others laughed heartily. Kagome squeezed Inuyasha tightly and sighed happily her eyes again fixed on his and looked as if they'd never move away from his direction/
"Things are as they should be, I have my Yashi again and we can all be happy..." Kagome chimed with a winning smile.
"Can you stop it with all the sweetness?!" Miroku cried.
"Well," Inuyasha began, smiling down at her, "my little Me-Me*, I'm happy too." Kagome giggled and kissed Inuyasha.
"Me...Me..." Miroku murmured looking faint, suddenly he burst into life. "I'm going to vomit! I'm going to vomit!" he cried, pacing back and forth fratically, his hands digging into his scalp as if he was going insane. Sango stood in front of him and grabbed his shoulders to stop him from walking.
"Miroku!" Sango cried firmly, in an attempt to snap him out of his trauma. Miroku was still staring in space, mumbling under his breath. Sango smacked him on both cheeks to bring him to planet Earth. "Miroku!"
"Huh?"
"Jeez! Why do they bother you so much?!" Sango demanded.
"I dunno...they're just so...corny...and...sweet and...well...sweet..." For a moment all she did was blink at him blankly.
"SO?!" Sango screamed suddenly. Miroku was silent for a moment.
"Yes...I guess it doesn't matter does it...?" He smiled. "I suppose it is our fate as well...sugar dumpling..." Sango suddenly frowned.
"Don't you EVER call me that again," Sango said in a dangerous tone.
"Have I ever said that I love you?" Miroku inquired, smirking, glad that Sango wouldn't be like a wife yet.
"Yes," Sango replied, blushing slightly, after all, everyone was watching. She laughed and took Miroku in her arms despite her extreme embarassment, "And I love you too..."
"Dear--" Miroku winced at calling Sango 'dear' by mistake once again, "S-Sango?" Miroku stammered. The others snickered a bit at Miroku calling Sango dear after all that.
"Yes, Miroku?' Sango asked. That just made Miroku plain infuriated. How come he of all people called his woman 'dear' by accident all the time, I mean, we're talking Miroku the perverted monk here; while innocent faithful, well-moraled, goody-two shoes Sango never made the same mistake. Not once.
"Curse it all! How do you do that?!" Miroku demanded, feeling his sanity slipping away from him once more. He didn't remember ever losing his cool so much than he had in these passed few days.
"Do what?" Sango asked perplexedly.
"Never mind...anyway...so you don't want us to be all sweet, right?" Miroku asked, hopefully.
"Well..." Sango returned, again looking sheepish, she fidgeted with embarrassment, "Maybe a little," she said with a wrinkle of her nose.
"But...but...you didn't want me calling you sugar dumpling," Miroku said with slight whine and disappointment.
"Yes, but that is only because that was what Yunkae called me..." Sango growled clentching her fist and glaring at nothing in particular.
"Yunkae?" Miroku said blankly.
"Who's that?" Inuyasha inquired.
"Just the worst idiot ever! He was the snot nosed brat of our village! He thought he was so much better than everyone and he left the village at a young age thinking he was 'too good' for us! I hated him!" Sango growled.
"You...had an arch-rival?" Miroku asked in a surprised tone.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?!" Sango demanded angrily.
"Nothing," Miroku replied, simply. "It's hot!" Sango shot a dirty look his way.
"Does everything turn you on?" She inquired,looking fed-up.
"Yeah," Miroku answered with shrug. 'Well--" He said suddenly, "except the color orange..." he said slowly. "And men!" He added quickly with alarm.
"It's alright Miroku, we all knew you weren't gay..." Inuyasha assured him with a chuckle. Suddenly a big yawn escaped Shippo.
"Man I'm tired...it's been a long day..." yawned the little fox demon, looking half awake.
"Well! I'm not tired in the least! We should bring out the sake and have some fun!" Miroku cheered with sudden glee.
"I feel ready to retire..." Sango said, walking toward the door. "I'm definitely ready for bed," She glanced back suggestovely at Miroku and slowly strolled out. Inuyasha stepped up toward Miroku.
"Hey, buddy, I think she wants you to follow," Inuyasha informed Miroku who was staring where Sango had exited.
"Apparently so," Miroku returned, smirking. Suddenly he perked up in realization ."I mean--probably not..." he forced a yawn which was utterly fake. "I'm feeling very tired as well..." it was then he dashed out the room after Sango.
"For a tired guy, he can sure run fast," Kagome remarked, smirking, Inuyasha laughed and kissed her quickly.
"Must-stay-awake," Shippo said, struggling to keep his eyes open. Kagome laughed and picked up the kitsune.
"You should go to bed," she told him in a voice someone would use with a baby, bobbing him up and down in her arms. Shippo was rubbing his eyes. Kaede stepped forward.
"I'll put him to sleep," she sighed warily.
"Alright," Kagome returned blankly , looking surprised as if she forgot Kaede was there.
"Dang, you were quiet, granny, you nearly gave me a heat attack, just now!" Inuyasha cawed in surprise. Kaede didn't reply and taking Shippo from Kagome. She tucked Shippo in.
"But i don't wanna go to sleep," Shippo complained, still rubbing his eyes. Yet another yawn escaped him.
"Now, now, ye had better--" But before Kaede could finish, Shippo had been lost to dreamland. Sne smiled as she stood up and faced both Inuyasha and Kagome. The both of them beamed at her with a true happiness neither had shown in some time.
"Thanks for everything, Kaede," Inuyasha told her warmly, looking more sincere than almost any time Kaede remembered him speaking to her.
"Yes, we really appreciate it," Kagome added, also smiling at the old woman. Kaede looked slightly bashful, but was covering it up, quite nicely.
"Well...ye fighting was quite unbearable," she returned, nonchalanly. The couple's smiles broadened. There was a short silence. "Well, I suppose ye two might want to be alone for sometime to make up for all the missed out romance," She leaned in toward them. "Might I recommend the outside, the sky is clear as a whistle, the stars are quite lovely," she informed them with a wink of her only uncovered eye. The two soon strolled out, and Kaede couldn't help watching them with sadness in her eyes. She tried to push it away as she turned to leave, but everyone was in love. But her.

Inuyasha and Kagome walked out under the glittering stars which were, as Kaede had said, magnificent. But neither seemed to really notice, for their eyes were glued, on what else, each other. They just held on and other for a moment, gazing deeply into each other's eyes, Kagome into Inuyasha's which were now dark, him having transformed into a human for the night, and her brown ones.
"Kagome...I'm so sorry about what happened...I feel like I've destroyed a part of us forever..." Inuyasha told her hoarsely, a slight malaise to his eyes.
"No, you could never destroy any of us, Inuyasha. We're gonna pull through..." Kagome assured him delicately. Inuyasha leaned over Kagome and kissed her gently. The kiss continued for quite sometime, they had kissed recently, but it had been so long when they had been truly intimate knowing no one was watching, and Kagome again snuggled into Inuyasha as much as she could as they kissed with passion but softness. Finally they pulled their lips apart and Inuyasha just hugged Kagome closer.
"I love you Kagome...I swear by it...I know it...I truly and completely do..." Inuyasha whispered.
"I know," Kagome replied, eyes twinkling. She pulled away a bit to look up at him. "And I love you, too..." Kagome said with seriousness, again looking straight into him. "...Yashi," she added with a sweet smile. It was then Inuyasha began kissing Kagome again, with a grin.
"Ooh..." Kagome said between kisses, her kisses becoming faster and more passionate.
'Well...I hadn't planned on it being this sort of kiss...but if we make out so be it...' Inuyasha thought. Kagome gripped the edges of his robe. He knew she wouldn't be taking it off Kagome just wasn't like that. And Inuyasha always knew what her intentions were. Unlike some zombie priestesses he knew...
They continued this way for a...long...time... Kagome was now pulling him in farther...if that was possible, via her edges of his robe, deepening the kiss to the extant Inuyasha thought maybe death as possible. Inuyasha slid his mouth to the side a to take in a harsh breath, having missed out on air for nearly two whole minutes. It took quite a long period of time, but the two finally ended their kissing and the two were both breathing quite heavily.
"Wow..." Inuyasha breathed, trying to remember where he was. Kagome laughed through her heavy breathing. Just the Inuyasha lea��€ned in toward Kagome and gave her a little kiss, that was so very gentle and precise. The two were nose to nose for a second, and were all smiles. Why Inuyasha could have lived without her for so long was truly beyond him.
It was the Inuyasha felt a slight chill on his chest. Though it was far, far warmer now, the night air was somewhat cold and it was then Inuyasha realized that before when Kagome had clung to his robe, she had caused it to open and no proceeded to close it to keep warm. But Kagome stoked her index finger down it before he could, which caused him to freeze momentarily. It sent chills down his spine, the contrast of her warm touch with his chilled flesh.
Kagome again grasped the edges of his robe and placed a kiss on his chest which made Inuyasha feel quite warm all over. She looked up at him. "There, are you warm now?" She asked him, smiling brightly. Inuyasha blinked vacantly at her for a second, somewhat surprised, but a small smile quickly reached his face.
"Yeah," he returned in a content tone. A laugh escaped her. '"You know...i've missed you...so badly..." Kagome threw her arms around Inuyasha's neck and and clung on to him emotionally placing her head on its side against his chest once again.
"Me too...I just want to hold you forever..." Kagome responded. Inuyasha smile peacefully down at her. Suddenly he noticed a shooting star and gasped.
"Huh?" Kagome said, looking up at him. "What is it?"
"A shooting star..."
"Did you make a wish?" Kagome asked brughtening as she gazed up at him. There was a short quiet. "Inuyasha?"
"I just did," he replied, with a content smirk, but it faded a bit and Inuyasha was soon deep in thought. A concerned expression formed on Kagome's face, as she surveryed the man she loved.
"What's wrong?" She asked him.
"It's nothing...but that shooting star...all the Shikon shards, when the jewel split...Kaede had said from where she was that they were like that...the shards...like hundreds of shooting stars..." Inuyasha murmured, gazing up at the sky,
"...And we have to collect them all..." Kagome added. Inuyasha looked down at her with seriousness and nodded.
"Yeah..."
"And when we get it..." Kagome's right hand was in a fist, not a determined one, but an emotional one...her eyes were again twinkling, but Inuyasha wondered if they were twinkling with tears. "...you'll use it to become..."
"A human," Inuyasha cut in, finishing her sentence for her. Kagome was going to say full demon, Inuyasha knew and she gasped and looked up at him. Inuyasha was still gazing up at the sky.
"B...but...but you hate being human..." Kagome said.
"Not really anymore...I mean...it's okay...for you...I'll do anything..." A small gasp escaped Kagome at these powerful words, but she quickly smirked and shook her head. She leaned in closer to Inuyasha.
"No...I love those dog ears and little fangs...you being human once a month and being a hanyou the rest of the time is perfect..." Kagome told him gently.
"So...you like both...?" Inuyasha said.
"Mmm hmm..." Kagome returned, nodding.
"And you don't want me to become human?"
"I like you the way you are Inuyasha, I wouldn't be able to get used to you being human always. I love you. For all of you. The human part and the demon. Before I was unsure. I wondredl how i could love a demon when I first met you and I thought I cared for the human half of you...but I began realizing that I loved all of you too..." Inuyasha was silent for a moment. "Of course if you want to become human I wouldn't stop loving you. I couldn't even if I wanted to...but...everything you've been through in your life. The ridicule...the abuse...the rejection...it was because of who you are, but you shouldn't have had to go through it."
"You did because you were forced to be what you are. But nothing can erase that pain. Not become full demon, not becoming full human. Not running away from what you are. Now accepting who you are and being loved and cared for because of who you are by your loved ones, that can erase it. To have gone through that for nothing...to have lived through that hardship...only to run away and not let it make you stronger...is such a waste for all you suffered..." There was a short silence.
"Well...I never thought about it that way before..." Inuyasha said, sheepishly.
"You're not a demon, you're not human. You're not even half of either. You're Inuyasha. That is who you are. The half...it's only part of you. But changing that..." Kagome shook her head, "...changing it is becoming something else. Losing your soul to the Shikon jewel. Becoming something that's not all Inuyasha. And it isn't right."
"You're right, Kagome. We'll find the Shikon jewel. But we'll use it for the good of everybody. Not me, not you, everyone, 'cause this world needs help...and the Shikon jewel can help it...." Kagome smiled up at him.
"Inuyasha...you're heart has softened..." She told him lovingly with a smile.
"Whata ya mean by that!?" Inuyasha demanded loudly, shouting in Kagome's face, he twitched slightly. "I'm not soft, I mean just 'cause I love ya doesn't mean I'm some cream puff!" 'Even if she does call me Yashi,' he thought. Kagome laughed.
"Yes, but now you have true compassion for people, Inuyasha. More and more I've seen in you the need to help others." Inuyasha glared at her for a moment.
"I do not--" But Kagome kissed him before he could finish. She she pulled away gently. And turned to see hundreds upon hundreds of shooting stars.
"Ohmigosh! What's HAPPENING?!" Inuyasha shouted.
"It's only a meteor shower," Kagome explained calmly.
"A what?" Inuyasha asked, not understanding. Kagome laughed a little and turned all the way around so she was at his side and watched with a smile . Inuyasha's mouth was still gaping open in surprise and amazement.
"A meteor shower. It shouldn't hurt us," Kagome told him with a smile, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Shouldn't!" Inuyasha shouted in alarm. "But it COULD!!" He cried.
"Don't worry," Kagome told him, "The likely hood of that is like nil...meteors rarely collide with the earth's surface..."
"Rarely! But it could!"
"Yeah and pigs could fly!" Kagome cried sarcastically, getting angered that Inuyasha was becoming so panicky.
"No they couldn't..." Inuyasha returned vacantly, suddenly coming out of his panic.
"Exactly and this couldn't hurt us." Inuyasha sat down on the grass blankly, his panic gone and Kagome sat next to him. Inuyasha gazed up at the sky and Kagome's eyes remained on Inuyasha and she leaned her head on his shoulder and Inuyasha stared up at the sky and subconsciously put his arm around Kagome. "Isn't it beautiful?" Kagome said.
"Yeah..." Inuyasha returned in awe. "How many are there?"
"I don't know. It's an unanswerable question. Just like the question,' how many stars are there?'" Kagome replied.
"I know the answer to that question," Inuyasha said, still gazing at the meteor shower.
"You do?" Kagome said in surprise.
"Yeah, it's how many angels have reached heaven. Their souls glow to lead the way of lost travelers..." Inuyasha looked at Kagome. "Mother told me....when iIwas really little...she's up there...dad too." Inuyasha's gaze fixed again on the sky and Kagome smiled at him, his eyes sparkling. 'And he's probably right. I bet grandma's up there...' And Kagome looked up at the meteor shower as well. Only now with a far greater meaning.