InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Fate of Our Love ❯ Chapter 3

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Fate of Our Love
By: Cassial_Darkfox
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any affliated charators. I do own Kaido and anyone not in the show. Enjoy!!
Rating: Mature for future chapters and possible dream scenes. If you don't like that sort of thing don't read, r & r otherwise.


Chapter 3
Kagome took a deep breath still not able to completely believe that she was back in the past. She looked up at the stars with clear joy written on her face. Everything was magnified in the past, she had nearly forgotten the wonders of the past. More so now than ever before Kagome believed she belonged here, in the past with her friends and the ones she loved.

From beside her Kagome pulled her bag to sit next to her. In the small front pouch Kagome took out a small photo album and sat with it in her lap. As she flipped through the pages she remembered everything as if it had happened yesterday. There was one picture that made Kagome laugh when she saw it. The day she had taken that picture was the first time she brought her camara to the past.

Inuyasha refused to let her take his picture because he thought it would steal his soul. She had spent the entire day trying to convince the stubborn hanyou that it wouldn't steal his soul. Finally she had caught his unaware while he was chasing Shippo around trying to hit him. He had tried to break her camara to get his soul out after that. Though it took a few days Inuyasha realized his soul was still inside him and he no longer cared that Kagome was taking his picture.

When she reached the last page she smiled to herself. The final photo was of Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, and Kouga after the battle with Naraku. Kouga was kneeling between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha with one of his fists on the ground and his eyes showing the courage it took to survive. Inuyasha held the Tetsusaiga in one of his clenched fists his other one was holding Kikyo's haori. Sesshoumaru had his eyes down-cast at Tokijin which laid on the ground having been forgotten in the fight and Tenseiga held loosely in his hand.

Kagome traced each of them with her thumb. That was the hardest picture to take because it was her last in the time she loved most. A tear fell from her eye as she looked at that picture. It was the last time she thought she would ever see them again or so she had thought at the time. Now she was given the chance to see all of them again, but as much as she wanted to Kagome knew the youkai who had the shard held priority over everything else.

Behind her a bush moved and Kagome shot up instantly ready for a fight. There stood Inuyasha looking at her with such intensity that Kagome feared to know why he was here with her.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing out here?" She put the album back in her pack and stood, facing Inuyasha completely.

"I need to talk to you about something that has been bothering me a lot lately." He took a few steps closer to her then stopped, "Since you left all I could think about was how I had lost my chance with you. I thought I had driven you away talking about Kikyo all the time."

Kagome visibly winced at hearing the dead miko's voice, "That did play a part of it in the early years but I stopped caring Inuyasha. I knew I could never replace Kikyo so I stopped trying to replace her and just tried to show you how much I loved you."

"I didn't see that until you were gone. It bothered me so bad after you left that you loved me so much and I was hung up on Kikyo. I want to apologize for everything I put you through. I shouldn't have ignored the way you felt even if I believed that I belonged with Kikyo and no other." He looked down, "What I did to you was unforgivable. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness and I don't ask for it, I just want a chance to make it up to you." Inuyasha looked back up at her and took several steps forward until he was close enough to touch her. "I want to love you Kagome as much as you love me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you."

She closed her eyes and tears trailed down her face, "I am sorry Inuyasha." Kagome took a step back, "I can't do this. I have someone else Inuyasha. He means the world to me and I can't betray the trust I formed with him. He was there when no one else would be."

Inuyasha's eyes widened, "What? You mean you found someone in your time? I thought you loved me?!"

"You have never seen me! You always see Kikyo; always! How could I possibly love you with all my heart when yours is devided?! You can not ask that of me, anymore than I could ask you to forget Kikyo!" Kagome stepped away from him and grabbed her bag, "If you really love me you will respect the fact that I found someone else and leave me alone in that reguard." She turned away from him and walked away.

He was left standing there, stunned.

~*~

Kagome acted like there was nothing different the next morning. She talked to Inuyasha like she always had, not even thinking about the previous night. Shippo sat on Kagome's shoulder watching Inuyasha and Sango fight over her being pregnant.

"Why didn't you tell me?! I have just as much right as Miroku to know that I am pregnant!"

"It wasn't my place! I just smelt it, don't blame me that Miroku didn't tell you sooner!"

Miroku held up his hands, "There is no need for you to yell at Sango Inuyasha. She did nothing wrong."

"Neither did I!"

Miroku's eyes sparkled with fake innocence, "But you told me to keep it to myself until Sango started to show. You said it would be better that way."

"You liar!" He pointed at Miroku but looked at Sango, "Don't believe that lying monk! I never said that!"

"Now Inuyasha why would a humble monk lie when Buddha punishes those who go against his teachings?"

Sango's eyebrow twitched, "That's it monk. Only when you're in trouble do you start referring to Buddha." She slapped him, "Have a nice trip guys" Sango flashed Miroku a smile that promised punishment later.

Inuyasha hid behind Kagome at seeing that smile, "Can we leave now? Before she decides that it might also be my fault."

Kagome laughed, "Yeah, let's go. I have all my stuff, so we might as well head out."

Shippo waved at the doomed monk as the village passed beyond their vision. He sat back on Kagome's shoulder and asked, "So what have you been doing in your time since you left?"

"Well, I don't live at the shrine anymore. I got my own apartment and have a job now."

"What are you doing?"

"I am actually protecting a youkai from other youkai who are trying to kill him."

Inuyasha looked at her, "Why would you do that?"

"He is only being attacked because he supplies mikos with holy artifacts. If it were any other reason I wouldn't have bothered." Kagome moved Shippo into her arms, "So Inuyasha have you seen Kouga lately?"

"Pfft. No and good riddance to that mangy bastard. After you left he didn't come around any more, which suits me just fine." He crossed his arms and tried to look annoyed.

"I would have thought you would at least keep him around as a sparring partner so you don't get restless." Kagome shrugged.

Shippo piped in, "No he has me use my illusions to make Kaido look like Sesshoumaru and he fights Kaido."

Inuyasha reached over and tried to hit Shippo except Kagome pulled him out of the way at the last second. "Oh really?" She looked at Inuyasha in question, "Why not just ask Sesshoumaru to spar with you? I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"That's what Kaido said to him." Shippo smiled at being able to get Inuyasha into trouble. "And since Kaido is stronger than Sesshoumaru Inuyasha didn't even stand a chance."

The angry hanyou growled, "Shut up pipsqueak!" He tried to grab at Shippo again and missed again. "Besides I asked Sesshoumaru and he said no!"

"No you didn't! You wanted to go live with Sesshoumaru and Kaido!" Shippo pointed at him like he had commited a crime.

"Why you fuc-"

"Inuyasha sit!"

He met with the ground and muffled curses came from the crater his face created.

"You could at least be honest. There is nothing wrong with being honest and stop trying to hurt Shippo." She glared at him.

Inuyasha had looked up just in time to see that glare and it stopped his heart. He hadn't seen her glare in so long. After sitting up in the hole made from his body Inuyasha crossed his arms, "It doesn't matter anymore anyway. Sesshoumaru hasn't been to the village since then, only Kaido comes to visit us."

"Well, next time just ask Kaido to bring Sesshoumaru by so you can talk to him. There is no harm in asking you know." Kagome stepped around Inuyasha, "Come on, we should check at the nearest village to see if anything has been heard about the shikon."

"Yeah, yeah." He jumped up and followed after her.

~*~

Kaido raced through Inuyasha's Forest and stopped at the edge of the village limits. He knew not to go to Kaede's hut, he walked to Sango and Miroku's hut not too far from the old miko's. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer. When he recieved none Kaido went to a neighboring villager's hut and asked about the pair.

"They are out in the forest gathering herbs. The villagers' care passes to them since Kaede passed away and the other priestess left with Inuyasha." Kaido looked out at the forest where he had just come from. He looked back down at the child, "Other priestess? What other priestess?"

"I am not sure. My mother and father know more about her than I do. I am too young to know of her."

He smiled, "Thank you." Kaido ran to the forest to try and find Miroku or Sango or hopefully both. He ran past the god tree and barely paused at the well. When he got to the hot spring he halted. There was a strange scent occompanied by Inuyasha's and it wasn't that old. "What the...?"

"Kaido, what are you doing here?"

He turned and found that Miroku was in the spring watching him. "I am sorry to disturb you Miroku but I needed to talk to you all and since it appears that Inuyasha is gone I need to tell you something. My father was informed that there is a youkai headed this way to destroy the village. And what's more is that it seems to possess a shard of the Shikon no Tama, though they all say it is a fake."

"Oh no!" Miroku stood up and reached for his clothes, "You need to go back to Sesshoumaru and tell him that the shard is real and that he needs to get a hold of Inuyasha. He is out with Kagome trying to find this youkai as we speak." He tightened his robes, "Go immediately, I will get Sango and we will move the villagers somewhere safer for the time being."

"What about the well? You said Kagome was here and if she is the well is her only way home."

"I am not strong enough to place a ward over the well and Kikyo and Kaede's graves. Kagome will understand. And if she is truly meant to return home the Shikon will make her leave by whatever means it can. Now go Kaido and be fast about this!"

He nodded and raced as fast as he could back towards the Western palace. Kaido drew on every ounce of power he could so that the world passed by in a blur of green.

It wasn't until almost an hour later that he reached his home. The gates were opened for him as soon as he was spotted, but Kaido didn't even hesitate. He rushed up to his father's study even as he felt his strength start to leave him for using so much of his youki for so long. Kaido pushed open the door to his father's study and nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

Sesshoumaru sped from his seat and caught his son in his arms. "Kaido? What is wrong?" He felt it then, his son's lack of youki. "What happened?"

"I made it to the village and told Miroku about the youkai with the shard. He told me the shard is real. Inuyasha left with Kagome to try and find the youkai who had the shard. Miroku and Sango are going to move the villagers to a safer place until the dager has either come or passed. I came here as fast as I could, Miroku said we have to find Inuyasha and Kagome as soon as possible."

Sesshoumaru was stunned for the briefest of seconds then he said, "Fine you stay here. I will get my brother and the miko."

"No, I want to come."

"No!" You are staying here until all of your youki returns. I will not lose you because of this." Sesshoumaru set Kaido on the futon in the adjoining room and stood, "I will return later." He left the room and closed the door.

~*~

Sango and Miroku were yelling over the paniced voices of the villagers. Sango was leading them to the caves far from the village, "Calmly please! We need to make sure we are unnoticedas we tavel to these caves."

Miroku was back in the village checking that each and every hut was empty. Kirara landed next to him and growled. "Alright Kirara that's everyone. Let's go meet up with Sango." He hopped onto her back and they flew towards the caves.

The precession was moving slowly but now more efficiently than before. With Miroku and Kirara helping they got all the villagers to the caves in a mere two hours. No one knew how long they would be in the caves and all feared they would be found and killed.

The cave system went far into the spine of the mountains and even further into the ground. Kirara was at the far end of the cave to make sure that no one tried to venture deeper into the cave. The women and children were at the back with the men all at the front, should they be found the men would fight and Kirara would lead the women and children away deeper into the mountains.

Miroku stood at the very head of the villagers along side Sango giving orders to the men of the village. They had no weapons which meant if they were found there would be no way to defend themselves or even hold the attackers off. This was a problem that needed to be solved.

Sango spoke up, "It is too dagerous to send any of the villagers back to the village to get any kind of weapon. I will go and get what we need with Kirara, that way I can carry more back."

"No," Miroku argued, "I will not have you going back to the village it is far too dagerous. Allow me to go, for I know where the villagers keep their weapons hidden. This way you will be here to help protect everyone. I do not have the strength that you were trained to have Sango, so please just don't argue this one time."

She sighed, "Fine, take Kirara and go as fast as you can. If you're not back in ten minutes I am coming for you."

He smiled lecherously, "You're coming for me?"

A slap echoed off the walls of the cave. "Pervert."

He sighed and called Kirara. Once the fire neko was beside him he smiled, "I will be back shortly my love." He kissed her lightly on the cheek and hopped up on Kirara.

Sango watched them leave with a sinking feeling in her stomach.

~*~

Asking around had gotten them nothing. No one had seen nor heard of the shikon in years and everyone they asked claimed that the shikon vanished with the flow of time. This had made Inuyasha beyond mad because he could remember saving a majority of those he was talking to. After being though the entire village they met at the village entrance.

"Stupid bastards."

"Inuyasha be quiet. You can't expect them to remember something that happened so long ago, vanished, and now has suddenly reappeared. They've lived in mostly peace since we destroyed Naraku." Kagome looked back at the village in dispare, they had gotten nowhere.

"Lady Miko?"

Kagome turned to see an elderly woman standing on a path that led into the forest. 'How does she know I am a miko? I don't have the miko garbs on.' "Yes?"

"Something strange had befallen the forest near my home. Perhaps you could tell me what evil had taken up residence?"

She smiled, "Of course. Come on Inuyasha."

He grumbled but follwed none-the-less.

The woman led them through the forest to a secluded hut. An herb garden lay to the side of the hut and seemed to wrap around the hut and vanish around the back.

She looked up at Kagome, "I have lived out here alone for over twenty years and never have I seen anything of this like." The woman motioned for them to follow her and led them along the herb garden.

Shippo sat on Inuyasha's head, "What do you think it is?"

"We won't know until we see it!" He tried to grab the kitsune but Shippo dashed away and up into Kagome's arms.

When they reached the back of the house Kagome gasped, "Oh my god."

There not ten feet from the woman's hut was what appeared to be a tree, except not a tree. It was pulsing and appeared to be more like a brown gelatinous blob with veins running over the course of it's body, if Kagome could call it a body. The ground at it's base was tainted black by whatever magic had put it there or by something in the blob.

Inuyasha took out the Tetsusaiga and started to advance towards the tree blob.

"No Inuyasha! Stop!"

He turned, "Why?!"

Kagome had felt something shift when he pulled out the Tetsusaiga and went towards the tree. It was almost as if the tree was aware of it's danger and prepared for an attack. "Just put the Tetsusaiga away and back up."

As Inuyasha started to back up Kagome felt a wave of diziness engulf her entire body. She tried to remain standing and did, but with much difficulty. Something weighed heavily on her shoulder and she found that Shippo had passed out. She turned to yell to Inuyasha just in time to see him go down, he didn't try to get back up. Kagome looked at the old woman who was still standing and simply looked surpirsed that Inuyasha had fallen.

'This doesn't make sense. She's okay but those two passed out and I'm struggling just to stand.' Kagome handed Shippo to the woman, "Please watch over him."

She simply nodded and said, "Please be careful Lady Miko."

Kagome didn't respond. She sent the tree a wave of her aura in a non-threatening way.

The tree recoiled and from it's pulsing body limbs seemed to materialize. The limbs shot at her faster than Kagome could react. Searing pain filled her senses but Kagome blocked it out. Now that she knew the tree was malevolent Kagome could destroy it. Summoning up her power Kagome fired miko energy out of her palms at the tree.

The pink wave hit a barrier and dissipated away. The tree attacked her again with renewed strength.

Kagome could not understand how the tree had gotten so strong. It had no strength before, not though it had nearly as much youki as Inuyasha did. Then it hit her, why Shippo and Inuyasha passed out. The tree was feeding off their youki. "Fine you want to be that way..." Kagome erected two small barriers around Inuyasha and Shippo to keep the tree from taking anymore of their youki.

As the tree attacked Kagome noticed that the black in the ground was fading away. 'If this thing is really like a tree or once was, then it's roots must go down into the ground.' Keeping that in mind Kagome almost the same trick Sango had in their fight with Kageromaru and Juromaru. She laid her hands flat on the ground and pushed her miko energy towards the tree through the ground.

She was left open to attack but this was the last option she had. Aware of her precarious position Kagome expected the pain that erupted through her entire being. Kagome stayed conscious just long enough to watch the tree fall to ashes from the power she threw at it.

As the world of black consumed her she saw the old woman standing over her.

~*~

Kaido laid on the futon staring at the cealing and feeling utterly useless. He wanted to help, but he was told to stay here and no doubt his father had told all the guards to not let him leave. He cursed under his breath. "What do I do?"

The last thing he wanted was to have the village he had come to know and love be destroyed. His father was going to find Kagome and Inuyasha which left the village practically unguarded. They would need help if they were attacked and Kaido would never forgive himself if something happened to the village and he did nothing to stop it.

Some of his strength had returned and he would be up to full strength in an hour. If he left now he would regain his strength on his way to the village. Kaido would just have to make sure that he didn't expend all his energy going to the village.

With resolve Kaido sat up on the futon and as soon as he was fully sitting up black dots covered his vision threatening to put him into a world of darkness. He squeezed his eyes closed and willed the light headedness away. As soon as he felt his head clear he stood up and was relieved that nothing happened.

Kaido went to his room and changed into a black haori with matching hakamas. He didn't want to risk being seen so he left the palace from the back. Guards sat stationed all along the back wall, which was nothing new to him. Sticking close to the shadows, Kaido managed to slip past the wall and was on his way to the village.

From behind him Kaido heard guards yelling. He turned, three guards had left their posts and were in persuit of him. "Shit." Being careful not to use too much youki, Kaido sped up his pace just enough to lose the guards.

Their voices faded away as he put distance between them. Once he was sure that he had lost them he slowed down some to conserve youki. He knew that time was of the essence so he couldn't afford to run into trouble on the way to the village. Kaido let his youki flare up. Usually he supressed it just like his father, but now he wanted every youkai around to know who he was and how strong he was.

He could feel the forest shudder at his power level and smirked to himself when silence erupted in the forest.

It was two and a half hours later when he saw Inuyasha's Forest come into view.

~*~

Miroku gathered all the weapons the villagers had and laid them outside one of the huts. He turned to Kirara and sighed, "This is all of them. Not nearly enough to fight off an attack but it will have to do. Come on let's return to the caves."

"Help me!"

His eyes shot around the village looking for anyone and found nothing. Miroku stood dead still and listened as the one voice was joined by several others and seemed to come from everywhere. He looked around him and couldn't see anyone or anything. Searing pain shot through his skull and down his spine. Miroku fell to the ground holding his head in his hands.

He didn't know what to do, his head was in agony. Miroku tried to block the attacks out of his mind but failed in doing so. Nothing Miroku tried would work and he was out of ideas.

From the corner of his eyes he saw Kirara looking at him strangely, but he could tell the neko knew something was wrong. Kirara turned to look at something, Miroku couldn't tell what. He heard her start to growl.

Barely able to open his eyes, Miroku managed to look up at what Kirara was growling at. Across from them, haunched over, sat what looked like a child. Miroku could tell there was something off about it though, it wasn't human.

It had short black hair held up in spikes atop it's head. It's chest was bare and it's legs were covered with dark purple hakamas. When he--it appeared to be a boy--smiled rows of jagged teeth were revealed.

Kirara stood protectively in front of Miroku ready if the boy tried to attack. The hairs on the back of Kirara's neck were standing on end. She waited.

The child's smile faded into a look of pure hatred and disgust. He stood up from his crouching position and started towards them.

Miroku tried to stand, he knew that Kirara wouldn't be able to fight the monster if he attacked. Using more energy than he had since the final battle with Naraku, Miroku called on his spiritual powers. He created a small barrier, though weak as it was, to keep the voices from invading his mind.

This time with a clear head Miroku managed to stand up with little difficulty. He needed to hurry, Miroku was faintly aware that Sango would be coming after him soon. 'Alright, I have one chance.' Kirara stood next to him ready to help if he needed it. With his staff in hand Miroku prepared for an attack.

The child stopped walking forward and tilted his head in question.

Miroku felt his barrier start to bend but it held. "Let's go Kirara." He hopped on the neko and had her run toward the child.

An even worse scowl appeared on the boy's face, twisting his look of youth into something of a monster. He held up his hands and smiled a jagged smile.

Kirara never stopped, Miroku and her hit him at full force or at least that's what it seemed like. They had stopped a foot from impact and sat, suspended in the air. Miroku urged Kirara to struggle but she couldn't move. "No, Kirara you have to try harder!"

The boy leaned in and whispered, "Bring the shikon and the moon child will survive."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Let them go!"

Miroku's head whipped around and faced Kaido, 'No.' "Kaido you have to leave! Now! Get out of here!"

"No, I will not leave you here to die." Kaido put his hands over his heart as if he were holding something and closed his eyes.

Miroku watched with wide eyes as youki gathered in the palms of Kaido's hands. 'This is impossible. No youkai can do that.' He turned back to the boy and his face went white.

"The moon child will die if you fail monk." He smiled darkly, "Are you willing to hold that on your conscious?"

"Let Miroku go you monster!"

"No."

He glared at the boy, "Then you have left me no choice." The bright ball of youki in his hands pulsed then he forced his hands forward and fired the ball at the child.

Miroku continued to watch the boy as his smile grew into a full blown smirk and darken further. He was no longer worried about the ball of energy coming towards him and his captor, he was worried for Kaido.

"Let's play." When Kaido's youki got close enough to the two of them it stopped. With one hand extended the boy drew the youki into his palm.

Kaido glared at the boy and started forward to attack but stumbled and fell to the ground. He looked up from behind his bangs and tried to hold himself up with his hands. 'What is happening to me? I've lost all my youki and I didn't even use that much in that attack.' It was becoming harder and harder to keep from blacking out.

The boy dropped Miroku and Kirara, both fell to the ground unconscious. He started towards Kaido but stopped a short distance away. "Just where you belong, on your hands and knees like the dog you are. Your father fell from grace when he chose his mate and stole her from me. Now your life will fall in the hands of the entire group responsible for the downfall of my brother. I wonder how the news will be recieved by your father that you have been taken captive? He will surely kill the monk, which suits me fine." He held out his palm towards Kaido.

The intant his palm was extended Kaido felt all his remaining youki drain away and the world of darkness engulf him.

~*~

Kagome groaned as her awareness came back to her. She felt the stiffness of the floor she was lying on and heard some kind of liquid bubbling nearby. She tried to open her eyes but was assaulted by the light of a fire and several candles. Squinting her eyes this time she managed to open them with little trouble.

She took in her surroundings. There were no windows, the floor was wood, and Inuyasha and Shippo laid not too far from her still unconscious. Kagome could still feel her wounds and winced as they started to throb. Using her energy like she hadn't in years, Kagome urged her body to heal faster.

"I see you are awake now."

The old woman came into her line of sight, "Yeah, how long have I been out?"

"Nearly a day. You seemed troubled in your sleep, asking for fogiveness." The old woman looked down at Kagome with piercing eyes, "That's all you'd say, nothing more."

Kagome averted her eyes, knowing exactly what the woman was talking about.

"I meant no harm. I just thought you ought to know." She held a cup of tea out to Kagome, "Here you go this should help yer wounds heal faster."

She smiled, "Thank you very much."

"Yer very welcome. It is the least I could do since you removed that cursed tree from behind my hut."

"It was really no trouble. I would have come eventually after having felt the tree after a while anyway. I should be thanking you for bringing me here to take care of it before it got really bad." Kagome tried to sit up and found she couldn't. She looked at her bandaged wounds, "How bad are they?"

"Ye bled heavily but I managed to stop it. Ye are healing very fast, faster than any human I have ever seen, even for a miko." She helped Kagome sit up slowly, "Ye should be fine in a few hours."

Kagome winced but nodded, "Thank you." She looked over at Inuyasha and Shippo, "How are they doing?"

"I don't know much about youkai, so I didn't dare treat them. Yer barriers are still in place though so I believe they are fine."

She lowered the barriers and sighed as she felt the excess energy rush into her. Kagome felt with her miko power towards Inuyasha and Shippo to ensure that they were alright. Another sigh escaped her when she felt Shippo's and Inuyasha's youki push against her miko energy.

"I will be returning shortly. I have herbs to gather." The old woman went to a staircase that led up and vanished from view.

Kagome took a sip of the tea and almost spat it back out. It had purifying herbs in it, she set it aside and laid back down. Her eyes focussed on the ceiling and all the things she tried so hard not to think about resurfaced.

~*~