The flash that escaped through out the land made everything still, like a picture being taken. It was a grouped silence that was left with the people, villagers staring, and our group waiting for any results, a living-dead miko at her knees and a futuristic miko staring at the statue like hanyou. No one through out the land moved for quiet a while, afraid of what would happen if they did. Finally the olden miko took one shaky step onward, and just like that, the villagers, living dead miko, futuristic miko and the group sprung back to the world of the living.
The one good eye of that the aged miko was debating whether to widen in shock or close sadly. "All is not good… Kagome…" she mumbled.
"Kagome…?" Shippou repeated pathetically, "What's wrong with Kagome…" pleadingly he looked around, trying to find reassurance from his friends expressions, like it was the only thing allowing hold onto his bravery and not erupt in tears. Sango shivered, stepping to the center of her friends. She held out her shivering arms to Shippou.
The light unnerved everyone; Kaede wasn't helping by being so mysterious. The young kistune leapt into the taijiya's arms, and snuggled into her chest, thankful for her support. Once she recoiled her arms Shippou could feel her thundering heart, informing him that she was frightened as well.
"Kaede-sama?" Miroku questions quietly. "What's going on?" Kaede turned her back to the group, looking past the clotted trees with despair. For moment she didn't speak, leaving the startled teens and nearly distraught kit with their horrible imaginaries. She drew in a shaky breath, held it, and then answered in a husk whisper.
"Kagome is a miko, no matter how untrained she may be" silence was an answer to her harsh words, so soft spoken. The wise old miko took another haltering breath in, before a quick sigh escaped her. She was not annoyed with the troubled youths ignorance, she was not annoyed at all. She was frightened, almost disappointed.
"Inuyasha is a half demon, no matter how human he may seem" The young kit was tempted to whine, as he lightly pushed against Sango's arms, determined to get his shaky message to the plump miko. "I don't get it" Sango's arms tightened, ever so tenderly, serving as unsaid comfort for the kit.
"That light, that feeling, it was so pure" Miroku interjected, taking a single step forward. "Was that Kagome-sama?"
"Aye" Kaede nodded once. "Things don't bode well for Inuyasha. If in fact the pure essence was emitted near to him the chances of him being purified are horribly increased." Startled gasps answered her ill spoken words, clinging to the air around them, as it seemed to thicken.
Kagome released one pant before her jaw set. It seemed like forever that she sat there, her heart aching with horrid realization and an unbelievable, newly released, love for the torn hanyou. Her bangs were sleek against her forehead, her hair matted.
She could feel fatigue swim through her veins like she had just lost gallons upon gallons of energy, and in a way she did. A voice settled into the panicked girls head. It was a wise voice, yet unfamiliar at the same time. As it spoke her chest constricted making it painful for air to be drawn in.
You just purified your lover.
And as quickly as the voice sank in she was on her shaky knees, determination set to be there for her stiff hanyou. The tired girl was by his side in a matter of five minutes, her hand unsurely extending to rest on his chest again. The heat of anger and grip of ignorance gone, the girl was sure she wasn't going to pump anymore miko energy into the boy's body.
Upon gazing at his pale, sweat streaked, face she noticed his amber orbs were wide though aloof, his jaw locked in a clench, and his heart thundering in his chest. It looked like he was having an out of body experience. A soft coo escaped Kagome's lips, gazing tenderly at his face. The sound caused the hanyou to blink his eyes, but they didn't open for another minute.
Kagome was sure Inuyasha was sleeping until his eyes opened, still hauntingly amber. He was able to open his mouth in hopes of speech until a light shiver hurried through his body, causing his mouth shut. Kagome blinked tiredly, and as she opened her eyes she seen a black haired Inuyasha lying before her.
Kaede was on Shippou's back; the young kistune was in the shape of a horse, though he resembled a cow. The little kit mentally sighed, remembering that only minutes before he was sleeping soundly, the effects of his small portion of sake making him sleepy. He recalled spinning himself out of boredom when Kagome came back, and Inuyasha stumbled out of the hut with her.
It seemed that with the sudden events all effects of the sake were erased, the night's earlier calmness also forgotten. Miroku and Sango were side by side in the forest, dodging all trees and tree limbs in their way, the streak of determination in their eyes made it seem as though they were in a heated competition racing on a odd course.
The young kit, turned horse (or cow) panted, his voice contorted by the illusion he held up. No one spoke, only grunts and pants were made until Kaede made a grim sound at the back of her throat and narrowed her age stricken eye.
"We're close"
Miroku nodded once, a short noise of agreement escaped him but no one stopped running until the choppy images of their friends were in sight. The next feeling was like a trance, sifting through a surreal dream. Kagome was hunched over Inuyasha, as he lay there, motionless.
Little things began to fade away in everyone's minds. It no longer mattered that they were out of breath, their feet hurt or their minds were still slightly fogged from the alcohol. It seemed more important to find out if their friend was okay, or exactly was had just occurred, and a fear arose. Who was going to alert Kagome (and Inuyasha, if he was even conscience) that they were there?
The young fox starred at the couple nervously, some how feeling worse than he did when he was worrying over the hanyou and miko. He suddenly didn't want to be there, he didn't want to see it. Half determined to run away, the kitsune popped back into his original, Shippou form.
His first mistake was made, as Kaede, who was still relying on the young kit's transformation, suddenly did not have a seat any longer. Gravity pulled her plump body downwards, leaving Shippou as the only object to break her fall. It would be a rather humorous site if not for the grave situation.
But at least that ever-present fear was gone. Sango and Miroku stopped starring wide eyed at the seemingly confused Kaede and looked back at Kagome. It gave their hearts a start when she met their eyes, and yet her expression of utter loneliness did not change. Through the clear purity of her eyes, Miroku was sure he could already see the tears forming.
Not a word was spoken, Sango took a step forward, followed by the hesitant other foot, and continued the motion of walking. Miroku, who waited till Sango had moved ten paces, began to numbly make his way to the inwardly sobbing miko.
It was a silent task now; the demon exterminator placed her half-gloved hand on Kagome's shoulder, giving her an unvoiced comfort before moving to load the limp hanyou on Miroku's back. Sango helped Kagome stand, wrapping her arm around the girls shoulders.
As Kaede sat herself down on the transformed kistune, she took a one-eyed glance back at the area. It was empty, but the rebound of light could almost be seen in her sharp minds eye. She closed her eye, turning back and allowing Shippou to struggle onwards.
That is where the mourning group was found. Still no voice was heard while they placed Inuyasha on a small pallet, and their selves around the fire holding steaming cups of untouched tea.
In deep thought, no one noticed Shippou open his mouth, looking up at Kagome.
"What happened?"
The rest of the group jumped, clearly surprised.
"Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyou, a very powerful Miko. Though Kagome seems ordinary, we cannot forget her miko abilities…" The older woman took a moment to gather her thoughts, her eye once again closed. "Kagome… Purified Inuyasha."
Kagome closed her eyes sadly, her eyebrows arching downwards in a half angered sorrow. She hadn't meant to, it just happened. Kaede made it sound like she was trying to murder him. How could she murder the man she loved?
Sango took a shaky breath and with an equally shaky voice she began to talk. "It was surely and accident…?" It was hard not to give Sango some leeway. She was trying to defend her sisterly friend, but without knowing the details, Sango as well was just as sorrowfully suspicious.
The quiet monk shook his head in a small, almost missed, motion. Kagome, the bright and optimistic girl, would never intentionally hurt Inuyasha. The hanyou boy had been struggling between Kikyou and Kagome, trying to faithfully hold promises and survive under misplaced guilt. He was a nice boy, deep down under his beaten barriers. Reminding himself of that, he absently wondered who would intentionally want to hurt him.
Numbly, Shippou felt a drop of warm liquid hit his orange head, before drying up into an ice touch. Kagome was crying the tears leaking through her eyes clenched shut. When the group's eyes hit the pitiful sight they knew at once that Kagome was not to blame. She loved him, with all her heart. And thenight was killing her.
Already sitting on Kagome's lap, he turned his body slowly and hugged Kagome's stomach. Quietly he began to murmur comfort and promises. "Shh… Mommy… Everything is going to be okay… Papa is going to wake up…"
The crying girl opened her eyes, smiling sadly down at the demon child. "Oh Shippou" she whispered, picking him up and hugging him close to her chest. She resumed sobbing, her eyes closed once again.
'I'm so sorry…' The distraught girl quickly, though gently, placed Shippou down, throwing her tea aside and running out of the hut.
While looking at the shattered glass, the wise miko shook her head. As if speaking to herself, she began to murmur.
"Everything will be okay, child."
Once again everyone gasped and looked at the olden miko. "What?" Miroku gasped through a constricted throat. His hands clenched while resting on his crossed legs. How could everything be fine when Inuyasha was almost dead?
"Inuyasha is only half demon." Kaede explained, looking at the monk.
His anger disappeared quickly, violet eyes wide with realization. "So… Only half of his soul was purified.
Kaede took a moment to glance back at the hanyou sleeping in the shadows, his chest moving in smooth motions. Breath wasn't hard to gather for him, which was a good sign. Everyone's eyes followed the gaze of the elder, looking past what was there for the eyes. Inuyasha was still Inuyasha, despite his now human features.
She continued, "And not even that. She pumped her energy into him, purified his soul, but it will heal. Give it time…." An electric shock was sent through out everyone's body. Their throats gasped as one, and their eyes shot back to the speaker.
"He's going to be fine…?" Shippou murmured, crawling on Sango's lap.
Kaede put on a brave face, a near cheery smile on her dried lips. Inuyasha was not going to die, if she was right, but his soul was half gone, his mind lost. He was alive, but not fine. Not until he healed.
But if Naraku appeared before Inuyasha could find himself… Things were not fine.
Kagome kept running, pushing past withered branches that grabbed at her clothing. Half blinded by tears, she kept running. Running until something could stop her. 'I almost killed him!'
She continued to run, until she ran into someone.
Falling back out of shock and fear, Kagome landed on the tough ground, wincing. She could feel her butt tingle from the harsh landing. As she opened her eyes, the tears still lining the bottom, she was met with a strict face of a beautiful maiden.
"Kikyou!"
Many, and by many I mean most of you, have been curious to know what Kagome did to him. And there you have it. While being blinded by a rage and urge to make him feel better, Kagome absently pumped him full of miko energy. I have a twist yet, and though I was planning on making it a one shot, I am binding another story idea to this one. Thus, making it longer.
Sorry for the long wait… I lost inspiration and internet.
Ps: I revised... I tried to find any errors, and fix them. If there is still some left... Sorry. Chapter three is on it's way to being finisheded...ed...e..d...
Review!