Fallen Souls 5/25 by Cassandra

[paxbanana]

Unless otherwise posted, the author of this fic does not own Inuyasha.


Fallen

Chapter 5



?Kagome-chan?? Sango asked softly, looking toward where the girl sat by herself out of the corner of her eye. She had directed the question at the hanyou and when he didn?t reply she glanced at him, to where he sat on the other side of the campfire, gazing at the same girl with a mournful expression. Beside Sango lay Miroku, smiling cheerfully even though under his robes he was bound tightly with bandages.

?She?s been off by herself for a few days now,? the monk confided and Sango looked down at him, catching sight of his hand as it squirmed closer to her rear. The glare she sent made him pause and his expression turned innocent. ?I can?t stretch anymore?? he asked her.

Kirara lay beside Kagome, purring as the girl ran her fingers through his thick fur. But she gazed off into the darkness of the woods, swallowing every once in a while. And Shippo also sat, looking uncomfortable, and worried as well.

?I?m taking a walk,? Kagome said suddenly and as everyone lifted their eyes to look at her she bowed her head and turned.

?Oy-? Inuyasha uttered, taken off guard, and he rose quickly, as she vanished into the forest.

Sango reached a hand out to him as he began to follow. ?Inuyasha. I think she wants to be alone. I don?t think-?

A hand firmly gripped her rear and she squeaked, sitting up straight. With a growl she whirled on the monk and suddenly pulled her bone boomerang from her back, smacking him with it. ?Stop it already!? she shouted. ?I thought you were hurt!?

Miroku?s eyes were whirling. ?I am now??

Sango turned back toward Inuyasha, setting down her boomerang and found him gone. Shippo remained, curling up on Kirara?s back, which he used as a pillow.

?He went after Kagome.?





I want to help them. I can?t be helpless like this, I can?t. Always needing someone to save me, or depend on me. I can?t do this anymore?

The Shikon no Tama shimmered in the darkness of the forest, where she kneeled surrounded by trees and shadows. In her hands it was beautiful, glimmering powerfully. And it called to her.

Everyone puts in a share except me. If I can?t detect the shards anymore?what good am I?

It slowly pulsated and, inside, mist seemed to rise, spreading about the jagged piece she held on a chain.

I want to be stronger. I want to be a part of this. I want to laugh again.

She saw Miroku in its depths, probably an image she herself saw in her head. But he was there nonetheless, and his hand was outstretched, the black hole in his palm swallowing everything in sight. And Sango, riding on Kirara and shouting, flinging her bone weapon. Flames, from Kirara?s form.

I need to be like them. I need to be stronger. Braver.

Shippo, firing brilliant blue light from his hands.

I need courage. To fight. To fight for my friends. Courage to-

And Inuyasha with his sly smile as he lunged forward, the Tetsusaiga blazing in his grip. Inuyasha, as he came down on a youkai, swinging his blade and hacking it down, as if it was just in his way. Inuyasha, as he smiled at her, one of the rare times he ever did. But she treasured those moments, the moments when he allowed her to wrap an arm through his, or when he allowed her to merely gaze at him for a long period. Before he started to turn red and demand to know why she stared.

Courage to fight for what is mine.

In the Shikon piece she saw her, again. With her long hair and gentle eyes. And her own eyes narrowed wrathfully, her hand tightening around the Shikon no Tama, trying to hide the miko?s wretched face underneath her grip. But it seared straight through, burning her skin, no matter how much she willed the image away.

Kikyo.

With her perfect face, her soulful eyes.

Kikyo.

Her slender frame as she walked in the forest, with birds chirping as she came close, animals coming toward her and greeting her as if she were visiting a damn zoo.

Kikyo.

Holding Inuyasha in her arms and leaning up to him to brush her lips against his as he merely stared at her in disbelief. As she took hold of him and pressed closer, arching against him to fit against his frame. They always fit so perfectly. Always.

The tears slipped from her eyes, from pure anger. And a deep hurt. His words that day. From his very own mouth. Anything for her. He would do anything for her, always.

Always.

?Kagome?? his voice came against her ear and she whirled, seeing him through a blur of tears. His face was pinched with worry, fear as well, and his clawed hand closed around her wrist as he forced her to turn, to face him more. ?Kagome-?

She merely stared at him, lips parted, her hand opening a bit and allowing the brilliant light of the Shikon no Tama to bathe over them.

His eyes dropped to the Shikon no Tama. ?What are you doing?? And then, when she didn?t reply his gaze shifted to her mouth. ?Why won?t you talk to me?? he asked, sounding for the first time as if he pleaded. ?Why can?t you just tell me what?s wrong-?

Courage to fight for what is mine.

With sudden purpose, she closed the space between them then, cutting his words off. Her hand lifted to his face, eyes closing, and she heard him gasp before her lips brushed his, once. Tenderly. She felt the heat of his hands, hovering over her arms, not touching.

From fear? From not?wanting this?

A wave of panic fell over her and she rose onto her knees, clutching the Shikon no Tama in her grip possessively, pulling him against her just as possessively. He went to her, and she heard his heart pounding clearly in her own skin, his frame stiff. Her kiss deepened, needing him to respond, but he didn?t. He merely stood pressed against her, supporting her above him, his hands only now clasping her arms weakly.

She pulled back slowly, not wanting to open her eyes. She didn?t want to see the worry in his eyes anymore. Didn?t want to see the confusion. The platonic confusion.

You?re mine. You?re mine! Why can?t you be mine?

His hands released her arms and as she opened her eyes she saw it, the expression. The worry. The confusion, yes. Right there, in his amber gaze. And she saw his hands as they came up toward her face, reaching to take her between them.

You don?t see me. Even now. You see-

His hands closed around her jaw, an expression of awe on his face.

Kikyo.

?Iie!? she cried and she sprang backward, onto her feet. She closed her eyes, lifting her fisted hands to them and suddenly, furiously, she flung the Shikon no Tama. Flung the blasted jewel that held the miko?s face within. The jewel that held the battle continuously waged between the youkai and Midoriko. She threw it angrily, bringing Inuyasha to his feet, a cry breaking from his mouth.

?Kagome!?

Soundlessly she whirled and fled in the opposite direction, crashing through the trees and needing to escape. Escape it all.

Inuyasha looked after her and then, with a curse, turned to go after the Shikon no Tama, seeing its brilliant shimmer not too far off. With a leap he came down beside it, his hand closing around it and he stared at it for a moment, merely looking at it. In its depths he saw nothing save for the searing glow. Clutching it close he turned once more, this time in Kagome?s direction, and he ran, one powerful bound after another. In this thick forest she wouldn?t make it far.

Sure enough he saw her figure as he came down from a leap, stumbling passed a tree, running blindly. He leapt once more and came down before her, catching her in his arms as she ran into them. Flailing, she tried to break free, her expression one of terror as she looked at the Shikon no Tama in his hand. ?Hanashite! Hanashite!? she cried. And she suddenly barreled forward, taking him down roughly.

Inuyasha crashed onto his back with her on top, taken off balance. She recovered first, ripping free of his grip and staggering to her feet to run on frantically. He rose an instant later and was already in the air, coming down on her from above when she shouted, ?Osuwari!?

The force of the spell flung him to the ground, taking her down under him. They both slammed down together, Kagome crying out fearfully as she took his entire weight upon herself, hitting painfully.

And for a moment there was nothing but silence, Inuyasha lying on top of her, breathing rapidly, the Jewel clutched in his palm. He was afraid to move for a second, and a part of him, he realized, didn?t want to. She was gasping under him, her hair cushioning his face like a soft pillow. Her racing heartbeat ran from her into him, coursing through him. She was tired from the chase, shoulders heaving. With an inward groan he moved his hands from where they rested around her waist and he sat up over her, ready to go after her if she suddenly decided to flee once more.

But she laid there, on her stomach, and after another moment she lifted her arms, dragging them across the dirt, and hiding her head in them, frame stiffening.

?I?m sorry,? she whispered, her voice muffled. ?I?m so sorry??

He stared down at her in confusion, gazing at her as she trembled, and with an inaudible sigh he reached down to her, pushing away a lock of her from her ear. ?Kagome??

She didn?t say anything more to him and he bowed his head silently. After a moment he laid back down, this time beside her and his arm stole around her waist, pulling her close to his side. She went, sniffling, and finally turned to him, pressing close to him.

?Just?tell me,? he said quietly.

She shook her head, averting her eyes but her hand stole up to his and pried open his claws, taking the jewel back. He let her, silently, and he remained silent as she buried her face in his chest, clutching the Shikon no Tama to her breast.


To be continued...

[Eden]

This was an excelent chaper, but I still don't think I understand. :-? I feel more and more like this is a random collection of things happening to Kagome, her not being able to find the jewel shards anymore, her feelings for Inuyasha becoming unbearable because of the way he responds to Kikyo, and the fact that she feels like she is no longer able to contribute as a part of the group.

I feel for her, I really do, and the more I read this fic, the more I need to know what's wrong with her!

Poor Kagome.

I await the next chapter. Hopefully something will begin to be explained.

~Eden

[Nausica?]

This was a good chapter, I'd say. I'm getting a somewhat better idea of what's going on, but in no way is there a light bulb going off just yet I guess, in a way, I'm feeling what Inuyasha'a feeling right now. He's almost as clueless as I am to the situation, haha... What I do get is Kagome's anguish over Kikyo. She's always having to live in Kikyo's shadow, trying to live up to what Kikyo had done. And that's hard - I can relate * mumbles *

Post the next chapter soon!


- Naus

[Astrael]

Soooo confused. This feels more like I'm drifting in a dreamworld than in a story. There seems to be nothing of a tangible feeling, just a bunch of random pieces of information. I like it, I think... @_@*