InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Stolen Soul ❯ It Was You ( Chapter 5 )

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

Author's Note: It doesn't seem like many people are reading this story here on MediaMiner, so this will probably be the last chapter I post here. It takes me time and trouble to edit each chapter for MediaMiner, and it really doesn't look like the effort is appreciated by more than a few people, so I've grown discouraged and plan to stop. The entire story will be posted on FanFiction.net, though, because I'm not going to stop writing it just because of my disappointing experience here. My author name at FF.net is Kimberly-A, and the fic has the same title.

Japanese Terms
haori -- the red jacket that Inu-Yasha wears over his white inner robe

Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me. This fic, however, is mine. Please don't take it without my permission.



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* * *
Chapter 5
It Was You

* * *



Inu-Yasha was in a darkened forest, stepping forward into a moonlit clearing where tall grasses whispered in the breeze, brushing softly against his bare feet. His long white hair billowed around him as he moved, its response to the slight wind somehow exaggerated, as if he were moving in slow motion. He didn't know why he was here, but he knew he was looking for something terribly important.

And then he saw her. Kagome. She was standing in the center of the clearing, facing away from him. She didn't know he was there. She wore the clothes of a miko, but her hair was thick and wavy, stirring slowly in the breeze, and her scent was the same gentle, comforting scent she always had. Though there had been so much confusion lately, Inu-Yasha somehow knew that this was truly Kagome, not Kikyo hidden in the girl's form. He couldn't explain how he knew. Perhaps his heart recognized her heart, which would explain the sudden aching in his chest. Somehow, he just knew it was her.

"Kagome!" he cried, showing more emotion than he usually allowed himself. Somehow, it seemed safe here. He ran to her and pulled her to him, enfolding her in his arms and holding her close, inhaling the scent of her hair. "Kagome, it's you! You're safe!"

She looked up at him then, and her gray eyes were soft in the moonlight, so soft and kind and loving. Inu-Yasha couldn't help it. He lowered his head, still embracing her tenderly, and pressed his lips to hers. Kagome! Her lips were warm against his, and she made a small sound as he kissed her, like a sigh or a moan. The kiss seemed to last forever, as if it had never begun and would never end. It felt as if nothing had ever been so right, and Inu-Yasha felt as if every hurtful, terrible moment in his entire life was washed away by the grace and forgiveness and acceptance in that kiss.

It was almost painful when she pulled away. His arms still held her, but she looked up at him now with tears glistening in her beautiful eyes. "I can't, Inu-Yasha."

Inu-Yasha's heart sank, and he swallowed a lump in his throat. "Why?" he whispered. "Why not?" Did she not want him? Was she disgusted that he was half-demon? Had he been a fool to think that she felt something for him, this girl from the future? But her kiss had seemed so perfect, so right!

Kagome lowered her head, no longer able to meet his gaze. Her bangs hid her eyes from him, and her voice was steeped in sorrow. "You're with Kikyo now, Inu-Yasha. It's what you've always wanted, and I'm ... I'm glad for you. I only ever wanted for you to be happy." Inu-Yasha could not be certain, but he thought that her tears had begun to fall, and his heart ached again with his longing to comfort her. He could never stand it when she cried.

Though she had looked away from his eyes, Kagome still did not struggle against his embrace, and so Inu-Yasha pulled her closer to his chest and replied, "Kagome, I am happy. I'm happy that I found you! I'm happy that you're all right and I can protect you again. Nothing will ever hurt you when I'm around."

But she shook her head. He could feel the slight movement against his chest through his thick haori. Her voice was quiet, almost broken, when she said, "Inu-Yasha, I'm sorry ... you can't protect me. You're sworn to protect Kikyo."

"I'll protect you both!" Inu-Yasha replied immediately, full of easy bravado.

Kagome looked at him with an expression in her eyes that he could not name. Perhaps apology. Perhaps pity. Perhaps grief. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. "But, Inu-Yasha ... what if that isn't possible? What if...?"

"No! I will!" Why did she keep questioning his ability to keep her safe? Why didn't she trust him? He would never let anyone hurt her!

Kagome smiled a small, sad smile and reached up a hand to gently caress his cheek. "Oh, Inu-Yasha..."

With her palm flat along the side of his face, cradling his cheek with her soft warmth, Inu-Yasha had difficulty thinking. His voice was almost a whisper when he prompted her, "Kagome?"

Kagome looked into his eyes and said quietly, "Inu-Yasha, I never want you to have to choose."

Inu-Yasha frowned, confused. What was she talking about? "Choose? Why would I have to choose?"

But Kagome only stroked her hand from his cheek into the hair at the nape of his neck, and pulled his head toward her. "Forget it, Inu-Yasha. It's nothing. Just ... kiss me again? And say my name?"

And Inu-Yasha sighed with relief, "Kagome ... Kagome ..." and then his lips were on hers again, and her arms were around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair, her mouth sweet and loving against his, and in the midst of their kiss Inu-Yasha felt a peace he had never felt before, and in his aching heart he knew that everything was finally, finally going to be all right.

* * *

Inu-Yasha woke slowly, gradually becoming aware of the bark of a tree trunk against his back, the grassy ground beneath his crossed legs, the press of Tetsusaiga across his chest. At last he opened his eyes.

So it had been another dream.

He could still smell Kagome's wonderful scent ... but he knew it wasn't really her. It was Kikyo, sleeping a few feet away in Kagome's sleeping bag.

Kagome ... where are you?

They'd been searching for four days thus far, but had found no sign of Kagome or Kikyo's body. Progress had been slow, because Kikyo refused to ride on Inu-Yasha's back. She didn't explain her reason, but Inu-Yasha was fairly certain that he knew.

It reminds her that I'm a demon, and she doesn't want to remember that. Like she said, the life of a demon means nothing to her. Kikyo, how can you love me? How could you have ever loved me? You know what I am. Do you choose to pretend that I'm human?

Choose.

The word reminded Inu-Yasha of his dream, and sent a shiver down his spine. Sitting at the base of this tree, watching Kagome's face relaxed in sleep as Kikyo rested within her body, Inu-Yasha did not want to think about what the dream might have meant.

The sun was rising. Soon he would wake Kikyo and they would head back to meet up again with the others. Sango and Miroku had been traveling on the firecat, covering much wider distances, with Shippo tagging along. Inu-Yasha hadn't seen them in two days, but he was sure they would have somehow contacted him if there was news of Kagome.

It was making him insane with frustration to travel at Kikyo's walking pace ... and yet he walked beside her as if he were another human, or a pet on a leash. He should be leaping through the forest, traveling as quickly as possible to find Kagome! But instead he was ... instead he traveled with Kikyo and protected her as a man would.

But what about protecting Kagome?


* * *

"Why do you feel this need to work closely with these others, Inu-Yasha? Surely you do not need their help in your quest."

They were walking toward the giant oak tree that served as the marker for their meeting place with Sango, Miroku, and Shippo, and Kikyo had spoken little all morning before this.

Need their help? Of course I don't need them! Inu-Yasha thought to himself, offended at the suggestion. But they'd get killed without me around, and they hate Naraku, too. In truth, it had been Kagome who encouraged him to welcome others into their traveling party, but after a while he hadn't minded so much. He'd even come to trust the others, though he would never admit it. He knew Miroku and Sango would back him up in any fight, and even the fox brat would do everything he could to help, and had done so on more than one occasion.

Is this what it's like to have friends? I've never had any before.

"There's nothing wrong with having allies in battle," Inu-Yasha said defensively, not wanting to admit that he might actually prefer not to be alone anymore, as he had been for so long in his life. Kikyo had been the first one to ever be kind to him after his mother died ... but since meeting Kagome, Inu-Yasha had reluctantly learned that there was much more kindness in the world than he had ever realized. The world through Kagome's eyes was a very different place.

Kagome's eyes.

Kagome's eyes were no longer her own, though. Kikyo now saw through Kagome's eyes, looking serenely ahead as they walked, not turning to meet Inu-Yasha's golden gaze as Kagome would have done with a smile.

We have to find a way to fix this! Kagome!

Kikyo spoke again with Kagome's voice, advising coldly, "Allies in battle are sometimes not an asset, Inu-Yasha, if they are weaker than yourself. How many times have you been forced to defend these companions, rather than pursuing your own aims?"

Inu-Yasha did not answer. Kikyo's words touched a part of him long neglected, a wounded, resentful part of him which had always pushed others away. He felt a struggle within his heart, between this tenuous new trust of those who might call themselves "friends" and the more comfortable, more established habitual mistrust and dislike of the world.

Looking at her, Inu-Yasha realized that Kikyo's movements in Kagome's body were now more fluid and comfortable, even after only four days. She was adjusting to the unfamiliar human body and now moved with a dignified grace completely at odds with Kagome's usual energetic enthusiasm. Of course, Kagome had her own grace ... it was just ... more exuberant than he could imagine Kikyo ever being. Kagome's emotions were always so close to the surface. She wasn't afraid to show her heart to the world, to say how she felt and sometimes say it much too loudly. Inu-Yasha smirked silently to himself, remembering some of Kagome's more amusing fits of temper.

"Your heart belongs to me , Inu-Yasha," said Kikyo, still not looking at him as she strode calmly through the tall grasses. Her words wiped the slight smile from his face. "Your life belongs to me, as well. I shall never allow you to forget me." And then she did turn her head, looking into Inu-Yasha's eyes with a grim determination. "Never."

Inu-Yasha kept walking, his thoughts hidden behind golden eyes that let no emotion show. He knew his responsibilities to Kikyo. She had once been the center of his world, and he could not abandon her after the pain she had suffered because of him.

"You do not need others, Inu-Yasha," said Kikyo, "now that you have me by your side. This battle is ours , and we do not need others to get in our way."

Again, Inu-Yasha did not answer, lost in thought, and they walked on in silence toward the meeting place.


* * *


"I wonder if Kagome misses us," pondered Shippo sadly. "I wish we could find her! She must be so lonely!"

Perched gracefully upon a large rock at the base of the huge oak tree, Kikyo kept her distance from the young fox-demon, her disdain for him apparent even despite her serenely blank facial expression. They all found that expression more than a little bit spooky on Kagome's face, and it only motivated them to look even harder for Kagome.

No one had found anything on their most recent search, but they were all still determined to keep looking. They talked amongst themselves about ideas and fears they had, finding comfort in the sharing.

Inu-Yasha contributed little to the conversation, watching his traveling companions with a thoughtful eye. He realized that for the first time ... perhaps ever ... he felt as if he belonged somewhere. These people actually wanted him around, even if they argued with him all the time. For some reason he could not imagine, they actually seemed to care what happened to him. Unbelievable as that seemed, it was the only possible explanation for some of their behavior.

How? How did this happen? Was this Kagome, too? Did she do this?

Even as a child, it had only been his mother who cared for him. Never a ... never a family . And these people were almost like a family to him. Even the old woman, Kaede. He protected them, and they cared about him. He fought for them, and they fought for him, too.

Why didn't I notice this before? Did I just take it all for granted when Kagome was here?

But then Inu-Yasha's ears perked up as his thoughts were interrupted by something Miroku had said. "What was that?" he interrupted rudely.

Calmly repeating himself, Miroku replied, "I was expressing my concern regarding how long Lady Kikyo's body would be able to survive without absorbing new souls."

Turning to look questioningly at Kikyo, Inu-Yasha demanded, "Well? How long?"

"I have not pressed the body to its limit, as souls are always available. After perhaps a week without souls, however, the body loses all spiritual power, and purification of arrows or other such forces become impossible."

"Oh no!" exclaimed Sango worriedly. "Without her purified arrows, Kagome will be helpless against any demons who find her!"

Kikyo smiled a small, patronizing smile. "The girl will have taken new souls by now. The body will weaken without them."

"Kagome would never trap innocent souls!" shouted Shippo angrily, his small hands bunching into fists. He disliked Kikyo enough already, but to have her say bad things about Kagome was too much.

Her eyes lacking any emotion, Kikyo replied flatly, "I think you will find that existence in that unliving body overcomes weakness with pain and hatred. Other souls will mean nothing to her in this state except fuel."

The others watched Kikyo with dislike which was masked to varying degrees, and even Inu-Yasha's eyes were tinged with an icy film of anger. Miroku, however, said simply, "Lady Kagome would never harm an innocent person for her own gain. Never."

"Okay, to hell with this!" roared Inu-Yasha in frustration. "Kagome's probably getting weaker every day, we don't know what kind of magic even caused this, and we have no idea where Kagome is!"

Miroku spoke again. 'Perhaps Lady Kaede might have wisdom to offer? It is even possible that Kagome may have sought her help."

"Right," Inu-Yasha said firmly. "You guys keep searching for Kagome. Kikyo and I will go find the old hag."

And I hope the old bitch knows something, because I'm really running out of ideas, here.

* * *


The walk back to Kaede's village took several days, but when at last they arrived, Inu-Yasha was shocked to see the old miko come rushing out to meet them, her stride hobbled by age but still swift with urgency.

"Kikyo!" Kaede cried in horrified surprise. "Kikyo, what have ye done ?"

Inu-Yasha interrupted impatiently. "She didn't do anything, you old bag! Somebody cast a spell that switched their bodies."

Stopping to look searchingly at Inu-Yasha, and then peering again at Kikyo, Kaede proclaimed solemnly, "I do not know what my sister has told ye, Inu-Yasha, but her aura speaks tells the tale. This spell was her own doing."

His golden eyes widening in disbelief and betrayal, Inu-Yasha turned to look at Kagome's visage, the face Kikyo now wore through the action of this spell, and whispered brokenly, "Kikyo?"


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To Be Continued

(Lots of Kagome next chapter)

(Story to be continued only on FF.net, due to lack of interest)