InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ I Do ❯ Chapter 2

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The white-haired young man raced through the forest, at a speed entirely unnatural. His eyes began to glow, radiating a blood-red inner light. Fangs erupted from his handsome face as his form changed from his natural state, that of a half-demon, to the form of a true demon. The creature sank to his knees, repeating the same name over, and over again as a beautiful raven-haired woman approached. She extended a gentle hand, as if to comfort him, as she vanished into thin air . “Kagome.”

Inu-yasha woke with a start, hand instinctively reaching towards the hilt of Tetsusaiga. Breathing heavily, the hanyou glanced around, taking in his surroundings instantaneously. With a sigh, he realized it was just another nightmare, and let his hand drop to his side.

“It’s been ages, Inu-yasha, snap out of it.” He muttered to himself. Ages somehow didn’t express just how long it felt to Inu-yasha. She was gone - for good. And yet, as he walked past the old, rotting well ever so often, he couldn’t help his heart from leaping into his throat. Would today be the day? Standing, he glanced from right to left. He didn’t want to walk by that damned well. Not today.

The thought of seeing it, of remembering Kagome - it was all but intolerable. Inu-yasha veered left and began walking slowly, he was in no hurry to arrive at the village.

It had been a full year since he had traveled back here to the Bone-eater’s well, to Kaede’s village. And he had spent the better part of those years trying to forget his past endeavors concerning the Shikon no Tama - or better yet, forget the woman who had helped him so much in those endeavors.

The hanyou fingered the completed jewel that rest in his pocket, feeling the familiar ache within him as he pictured Kagome and the experiences they had shared retrieving the shards. ‘She’s gone, you idiot. She’s not coming back. It’s been a year here, and who knows how long it’s been over there.’ Traveling this way had always made him think of her - he should’ve known better. Inu-yasha gazed up into the cloudless blue sky, wondering, despite himself, if Kagome was looking up into the same sky, thousands of years in the future.

Snorting aloud at his own sentiment, he tore his gaze from the sky. ‘This is ridiculous. She’s got her own life now, probably going to that college thing she was always rambling on about.’ Inu-yasha couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Her own life, her own home - probably a boyfriend. And he knew nothing about any of it, anymore.

Before he was aware of it, Inu-yasha had turned around. ‘Just a look, a quick look, that’s it.’ He reassured himself, picking up pace without thought. Inu-yasha could sense the clearing before he could see it, could smell the decaying wood of the well - how many times had he made this trip? How many times had he gazed into the empty Bone-eater’s well, nearly praying for the courage to leap into it and find her?

He broke through the surrounding trees at nearly a sprint, heart thumping madly in his chest. There it was. Hesitantly, he made his way to the well, nearly expecting to hear Kagome complaining loudly at the bottom of it. But as he glanced inside, his heart dropped. Dark, dirt floor - and no Kagome; not even a trace of the girl from another era.

Inu-yasha sunk to his knees, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead against the edge of the well. The sun hammered down on his back, but he felt no warmth. ‘What are you so damn afraid of? Are you really this much of a coward?’ Inu-yasha scowled, eyes still shut tightly, ears pointed backwards in an almost dejected manner.

“It has been too long, Inu-yasha.” A lifeless voice said from behind him. Inu-yasha’s eyes snapped open. Too long? But, Kagome had gone and come freely for years, why would the well - suddenly, the hanyou realized who was speaking, and the real meaning behind her greeting. How had he not caught her scent before now?

“Kikyo.” He breathed, on his feet instantly. The deceased miko watched him carefully. “Hello, Inu-yasha.” Their eyes locked, and Inu-yasha instinctively gripped the jewel in his pocket. Had she come for the Shikon no Tama? Gazing into her lifeless eyes, he couldn’t help but suppress a shudder. Something was different. Perversely different.

“Hmm, for some time,, Inu-yasha, I possessed the final Shikon jewel shard. But I’m sure you’re well aware of that.“ She narrowed her eyes. “Since it was you who stole it from me.” Inu-yasha gaped at the miko, awed at the extent of her knowledge. How had she known? “Do not act so surprised Inu-yasha - unless, perhaps, you are not acting?” Kikyo eyed him, an empty, yet penetrating gaze. Inu-yasha hoped she would not see the lie in his amber eyes.

“I already owe you my soul, Kikyo - do I really need to add to that debt?” He replied, eloquently. Kikyo was mere inches away from him, and he returned her stare confidently. “No, I suppose not.” She muttered, looking Inu-yasha up and down. Inu-yasha watched her eyes warily. Just what was she thinking? Her pale eyes locked with his, and he couldn’t help but fear the growing hunger in her eyes.

‘As long as you live, I cannot be saved…’ Inu-yasha remembered the words so well, and as he stared into the depths of her eyes, he couldn’t help but feel the fear deepen. “The completed jewel, where is it, Inu-yasha?” The hanyou backed away from Kikyo, his leg bumping into the rim of the well. “That’s what you’re here for?”

His tone wasn’t nearly as hurt as one would’ve expected. Inu-yasha was surprised at his own voice. A year since he had seen Kikyo - or Kaede, or Miroku, or anyone he had once been so familiar with. And now? How did he feel? Everyone had moved on, when he had been so content to dwell in the past. The injustice of it all satiated him, threatening to overflow.

“…I longed for your soul, your heart. But repetitive failure can truly alter one’s wishes, Inu-yasha.“ Kikyo interrupted his thoughts. “Or maybe it’s time that you’re talking about Kikyo. A year and you’ve already gotten over your whole scheme to get my soul?” Inu-yasha blurted out, before thinking. He couldn’t recall a single time he’d ever spoken to Kikyo in such a manner.

Kikyo glared at the hanyou. “How easily you forget that time holds no sway over me.” She retorted, her voice dangerously low. Inu-yasha’s eyes widened fleetingly. He had forgotten. Guilt and anger fought one another within him, but anger remained the victor.

“So what do you want now, Kikyo? You’ve - you’ve obviously forgotten about the only reason you‘re here right now.” The pain in his voice was suddenly very evident. And Kikyo hated him for it, hated the softening of his features, the question in his eyes - the ever-present array of emotions that threatened to break her reserve. Inu-yasha watched her eyes carefully. Looking for a hint of emotion, an idea of what Kikyo could be thinking. Nothing. To him, it was like looking at a painting. There was no depth there anymore.

“Naraku proved to me the power of the Shikon no Tama. Who is to say that the jewel cannot return the life that was stolen from me?” Kikyo was smiling now, as Inu-yasha looked at her, a mixture of emotions playing across his shocked face. So that was what she wanted?

“What would you do with that life?” Inu-yasha asked, after a moment, “If you intend to murder me, if you’re soul still can’t get over that moment - “ Kikyo cackled with harsh laughter. “You wouldn’t have to be involved, what with Kagome and such.” Her eyes flashed menacingly.

Inu-yasha blanched, a dull fury mingling with his ever-present regret and sorrow. Never before had Kikyo spoke to him with such blatant resentment. As Inu-yasha gazed into her eyes, desperately holding his temper, he saw a flicker of something. Some emotion he had never read in her eyes - a deep, cruel anger. Inu-yasha looked at his once beloved Kikyo in a new light. Naraku had changed her. The idea of regaining her life by impure method had changed her.

And what choice did he have now, but to move on? The world seemed to stop, time slowed to a crawl. He tried to take a deep breath, but the oxygen just couldn’t reach his brain. In that instant, he knew beyond a doubt that he could not relinquish the Shikon no Tama. Not after all the blood that had been shed, all the lives that had been altered. There was still so much left to do, so much repair to be done before the idea of using the jewel could come into play.

“Don’t bring her into this, Kikyo. A year ago, you went off with Naraku.” His voice broke, and he took a moment to compose himself. The clearing was spinning around him. “Did you really expect me to follow you?“ His voice was quiet now, a deep unspoken wound lacing his tone. “You’re not Kikyo, you’re not the woman I loved - she’s dead. A long, long time ago. And I am done with your games.” Inu-yasha drew his Tetsusaiga, hoping he would not need it. “The Shikon no Tama is not yours anymore.”

Kikyo’s features darkened. “Fool.” She hissed, stepping closer still. Her hands rested on the edge of his blade and she leaned over, her lips nearly touching his. Inu-yasha’s heart pounded against his ribcage - surely loud enough for Kikyo to hear. But he did not move. She had helped kill Naraku - the man he alone should‘ve been able to kill, had haunted his thoughts since his reawakening, had prevented him from taking advantage of a new life, a chance to start over. ‘What more can you take of me!?’ His mind screamed.

“Without the jewel, I will die. Inu-yasha. This body will turn to ashes, and hell’s messengers will finally receive what they want.” Kikyo whispered, her warm breath tickling his ear. Inu-yasha’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh, no, Inu-yasha. Not you. Me. And can you really stand the thought of being responsible for my death - a second time?” The color drained from Inu-yasha’s face, the sword now hanging loosely from his nearly limp hand. She would - die?

She took her mouth from his ear. Their faces were so close that Inu-yasha could see the heavy shadows beneath Kikyo‘s lifeless eyes - eyes that were intent on the half-demon before her. “My death has already been avenged. And my wishes hold no power over hell’s judgment, anymore. I’ve been here too long, stolen too many souls.” She looked suddenly weary. The urge to reach out to her warring against his urge to turn and run from the cursed place. “Hell is on my heels, Inu-yasha. And I am loathe to admit it, but you are the only one who can save me now.” The miko paused, allowing a malicious smile to slip onto her face. “I’m gone, Inu-yasha. This pathetic form of life is seeping every bit of me that was ever good and beautiful. You can change that. I can come back, we can spend our lives together…Like we were meant to.” Kagome’s face, crying out to him in concern, came to mind. The scent of her tears - tears he had caused - tickled his nose. And for one, happy moment, he swear he could almost feel Kagome’s comforting touch.

Inu-yasha roared in anger, pushing Kikyo from him. “The only part of you that I want to be with is the part that I loved, and that’s the part of you I can never forget. I don‘t wanna forget.” The expression on his face was one that Kikyo did not know. “You’re beyond it all now, Kikyo. The Jewel - it’s a pure thing. It can’t return a life that was stolen anymore than I can. You say you’re gone. You’ve been gone for fifty something years now, Kikyo.” Inu-yasha gazed at Kikyo with a pained expression, fighting back the urge to embrace her. “I want you back, but even if I were to give you the jewel, you’d end up just like Naraku. Some fucked up version of yourself. I want you back, Kikyo, but it’ll never happen. I can’t - I can’t do this anymore!” He nearly screamed the last of his words, the situation overwhelming even his simplest thoughts.

A strange sensation overwhelmed Kikyo. ‘Hell‘s messenger!’ She thought, a fleeting expression of panic. Inu-yasha could sense it too. He raised his blade threateningly. ‘He will save me. He will want his beloved Kikyo back…’ But Inu-yasha did not strike the single blackened being that appeared soundlessly behind her. He merely watched, eyes glimmering with tears in the sunlight. “I - I can‘t save you this time” He whispered, his sword dropping from his trembling hand as he turned away. His heart seemed ready to burst from his chest at any moment.

Kikyo struggled against the grip of the messenger’s with an almost embarrassing futility. Inu-yasha kept his eyes averted, not trusting himself to let what was meant to happen ensue. His hand twitched for his sword, but he fought it. His will was breaking, and as his eyes slipped back to Kikyo’s pale face, he nearly gasped. A large, glowing hole had begun to open beneath the feet of Kikyo and the messenger. Kikyo’s screams were loud, inhuman. Inu-yasha had Tetsusaiga in hand immediately, all the doubts rushing back at once. He couldn’t let her die like this, not when he had the power to stop it. He could run far away from here, he could take the jewel with him. Anything - just anything but this.

“Let her go.” He couldn’t believe he was speaking these words. He knew he was wrong. He knew he was stupid. He knew this was right, she belonged in hell for all the souls she had stolen, for coming back in the first place. He knew. But she couldn’t die again, not like this. Even this shadow of Kikyo, this cruel, tainted, anger-ridden creature did not deserve to be dragged to it’s death.

“Who are you to tangle the threads of fate?” The demon messengers hissed, voice analogous to nails on a chalkboard. Inu-yasha raised the sword. “Naraku tangled your damn threads, not me.” The messenger laughed; a throaty, mirthless sound as it‘s sightless black eyes laid on Inu-yasha. “It was fate that allowed her murder, it is fate that allowed her the chance to walk amongst the living once more. And it is fate that allows Hell to claim her soul. You will fight, and you may win. But she will never live again. These threads weave too deep even for love.”

Inu-yasha’s mouth fell open slightly, the messenger‘s words stabbing into him more painfully than any sword he‘d felt before, and the demon laughed it’s same cruel laugh. “Try your hardest, half-breed. But your bitch is mine.” Inu-yasha nearly lost his mind with rage.

Inu-yasha raised his sword, and lunged at the messenger. The blade made contact with a spiritual barrier, and flew from his hand. Inu-yasha roared in frustration. The demon began to sink into the glowing abyss set below it’s feet, Kikyo screeching and clawing and cursing. Inu-yasha rushed to Tetsusaiga, gripping it’s hilt so hard that he felt certain it would break. And as he turned to lunge again at the messenger, the world stood still. For an instant his eyes locked with Kikyo’s, and he was certain his heart was breaking for the third time in his life. He’d lost Kikyo, he’d lost Kagome, and he was losing her again.

And, in that instant, Inu-yasha decided fate could go fuck itself.

He rushed at the barrier again. “Let her GO.” He bellowed, but this time his sword was thrown across the clearing. He could not get to it in time. He could not save her. He turned, desperation clouding his eyes. They were half-way into the abyss, and Inu-yasha could no longer hear Kikyo’s voice - only the demon’s laughter. It’s undying, cruel laughter. Inu-yasha raced at the barrier a third time, but even as he was thrown from the barrier just as his sword was, he knew he was too late. Landing on his feet in a not-so-graceful manner, he turned just in time to see a blinding light engulf Kikyo and the demon with a roaring quite like that of an immense fire.

The hole disappeared - and Kikyo and the demon messenger were gone. Inu-yasha sank to his knees, hardly aware of the world around him. He had tried, he shouldn’t have, but he did - and he fell short. He always fell short. Never enough. He could almost taste the words he had never spoken, the things he had never done. But it was too late.

Kikyo was gone. Gone for good - just like Kagome.