InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waking Powers ❯ A promise to keep... ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha & Co.

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Kagome looked up at the rising sun. She hadn't been able to sleep. It was still hard for her to believe that Naraku had been defeated. She was also worried about Inuyasha. After they had made camp yesterday, he had scurried off into the forest and he still hadn't come back.

Rising quietly from her sleeping bag she stepped over Shippo while she was careful not to wake him up. She really loved the adopted kit, but he could be annoying sometimes. She just wanted to find Inuyasha and something told her that she wouldn't be able to do that if Shippo came along.

The shadow from the forest made the air cold and moist as she made her way through the foliage. Sticks and sharp grass cut her up lightly, but it didn't hurt or bleed much so she ignored it and focused all her senses on finding Inuyasha. She was also aware of how reckless she was as she searched for him. There were a lot of youkai that would kill to get their hands on a pure maiden, let alone a miko… Sighing she stopped and looked in the direction she came from. She should go and get her bow and arrows. She was safer if she had them to defend herself. And maybe Sango and Miroku were awake too. They could help her search for Inuyasha.

She was just about to begin her walk back to the camp when she heard a twig snap from behind her. She looked over her shoulder but couldn't see anything. "Inuyasha?" She asked slowly. No answer. Weird. She didn't move for another second before she was sure that there was nothing there. Turning her thoughts back to Inuyasha she began to walk back to the camp.

It was nearly two years since she had stumbled through the well for the first time. A lot had happened since. She had met Inuyasha, battled demons, searched for jewel shards, found new friends, learned about Kikyo and the betrayal, fought Naraku, won over Naraku and lastly… she had fallen in love.

It was a bitter love to be sure. She loved Inuyasha of all her heart, but he couldn't or wouldn't return her love. Either because he didn't love her, or -and that was worst of all- he felt responsible about Kikyo's fate and therefore he denied his own feelings. Regardless the reason, they were still kept apart and it hurt. It hurt so unbelievably much.

As Kagome came out of the forest again, she was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the sparks playing over her hands for some seconds before they suddenly were gone again.

"Kagome! There you are." Sango ran over to Kagome with a smile as she walked into the camp. "We began to worry about you. When we woke up you weren't here." Seeing the look on Kagome's face, Sango stopped talking for a second. "Are you all right?" Kagome nodded and pressed a smile. "Sure, I just went to look for Inuyasha. He didn't come back last night." Sango nodded. She didn't buy it, but decided to let it go this once. "You should've woke us up. We'd come looking with you." Miroku made his way over to the two girls. "We don't want anything to happen to you Kagome. And Inuyasha can take care of himself." He stopped. "Well. He can defend himself at least." He continued. Kagome nodded. Miroku was right of course. Inuyasha was very capable of defending himself, but still. She couldn't stop worrying about him.

They packed the camp up while Kagome woke Shippo up. The little kit had a really good sleeping heart after Naraku was defeated. "Come on Shippo. You have to wake up." The kitsune just grumbled and rolled over in his sleep. Sighing, Kagome picked him up. She'd have to carry him `till he woke up. Again. She didn't notice the smile spreading on the kit's face. "Where are we going?" Kagome asked as she made her way over to Miroku and Sango. "Back to Kaede's village." Miroku exclaimed. "There's no use searching for Inuyasha if he wants to hide. He'll be able to follow our scent back to the village. Besides, it's the logical place for us to go." Kagome nodded her agreement and they began their journey again.

When they arrived to Kaede's village Shippo had woken up and was now jumping all over the place. Kagome looked around, but couldn't see anyone in a familiar red haori. She felt her heart sink, she had really thought he would be here. Turning to Sango and Miroku she told them that she was going to the well. "The well?" Sango sounded worried. "You're not leaving us are you?" Shippo abruptly stopped his jumping and turned to follow the conversation. "Of course not Sango." Kagome continued. "I just have to get some new clothes and more food. In case you didn't notice, my clothes got pretty damaged during the fight with Naraku." She smiled reassuringly. "Oh," Sango smiled back. "Okay then. Do you want someone to follow you?" Kagome shook her head. "I'll be fine." She picked Shippo up and handed him to Sango. "Take care of Shippo in the meantime. I'll be back tomorrow, I promise." Miroku smiled. "We'll take care of everything while you're gone. And if we see Inuyasha we'll tell him where you are." Kagome's smile dropped a fraction, but she managed to keep it on. "Thank you." She hugged them all before she turned and walked into Inuyasha's forest towards the well.

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"Do you thing she'll be all right?" Sango asked, holding Shippo tightly in her arms to keep him from running after Kagome.

"Sure she will. She's just upset about Inuyasha." Miroku answered before he continued. "He's such an asshole sometimes. She loves him so much, but he's such a two-timer that he doesn't even notice. Not like me. I would never torment my love without letting her know how I feel."

SMACK!

"Keep your hands off me you damn houshi!" Sango stalked angrily away with Shippo in her arms.

"Baka." The kit mumbled before they were out of the monk's earshot.

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Kagome was about to jump into the well when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"And where the hell do you think you are going?"

She turned to the enraged hanyou and ignored his anger. "I'm going back to my own time. What do you think you asshole." She yelled back. She had worried so much, and now he suddenly appeared demanding to know where she was going. She turned towards the well again, but was stopped as Inuyasha grabbed her arm. "Like hell you are." He forced her to face him. "We're going to look for the rest of the jewel, or have you forgotten? We still have some pieces left." She tried to wrestle out of his grip, but he wouldn't release her. "Let me go!" She yelled. "No!" He growled back.

Fighting tears she crumpled against him. "Why won't you let me go?" Noticing the dampness against him and the salt smell in the air he realised that he'd probably held her too hard and hurt her. She was crying, or fighting hard not to. He released his grip a little. "Because…" He couldn't say it. Yet he had to. To keep her with him, he had to tell her. "Because I'm afraid you won't come back." He finally said. Not what he was going to tell her, but it was enough.

She stopped struggling against his grip.

"W-what?" She whimpered. He hugged her closer to him. "I'm afraid that you won't come back you stupid bitch." She was bewildered enough to ignore the bitch comment. "But, but I promised to stay with you `till it was over." He sat down and dragged her with him. When they both were resting against the well he answered her. "Well… now that we've defeated Naraku it is kind of over." He mumbled.

Kagome glanced up at him and saw how insecure he looked. How lost he seemed. It made her heart ache. When I said I'd stay with you `till the end, I meant `till the end'. She thought. She didn't say it tough. She knew he couldn't love her back. Return the gesture. "Inuyasha." The way she said his name made him look up. His heart was breaking. She was going to leave him, but then she continued. "I, I promised to stay `till it was over. It isn't over yet. It's like you said. The jewel isn't complete yet. I won't leave you." But when it is you will, he thought. He suddenly wasn't so sure that he wanted to complete the jewel. Was it worth it? If she left him?

"I'm just going back to my own time to get more food and clothes. I promise I'll be back." She continued.

He wanted to believe her. Oh, how he wanted to believe her. But he had this nagging feeling in the gut that she was going to leave. After all, who would want to be with a filthy bastard like him. He was a bloody hanyou for crying out loud.

"Keh! I don't care if you come back or not. Just get lost will you." He regretted it the moment the words left his mouth, but it was too late now. He didn't want her to give him false hope, so he quickly raised himself from the ground and jumped out of the clearing.

"See if I care you stupid wench!" Was the last thing he said before the trees hid him.

She knew he had said it because he was hurt and insecure about something, but it still stung her. It felt like she was being ripped apart. He hated her, how could he ever choose her over Kikyo. Putting the yellow backpack over her back, she climbed the well. She felt on fire, it hurt. She noticed sparks dancing along her arms, gathering in her hands. Burning black handprints into the wood the well was made of, but her heart hurt too much to care. She jumped in.

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A/N: Well that was the first chapter of my first fic EVER! ^_^;

Tell me if you liked it and I'll continue the story. Please rewiew!!!!