Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha.
“…” Speech
‘…’ Thoughts
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Sacrificial Love
Chapter 1
In the Inuyasha forest (Normal POV)
This was it, the hour before the final battle, they were sure of blood shed but they didn’t care, they would finally be able to finish the Shikon no Tama, and destroy Naraku. The air around was tense and no one dared to talk or make a joke, even Miroku the famous lecher did not touch anyone. Inuyasha was sitting up in the sacred tree with his eyes closed, wind swaying his hoari and hair gently while his nose twitched at the scent of his brother. Earlier, Sesshomaru had appeared and said that he would assist with the slaughter of Naraku. Obviously Inuyasha had refused and took out the Tetsusaiga and got into a fighting stance. Unfortunately Kagome ‘sat’ him and agreed to Sesshomaru that he could help out, and since then Inuyasha was sitting in his tree.
Suddenly a whirlwind came and captured Kagome in it. ‘Kouga’ Inuyasha thought with disgust, ‘What does he want now?’
“Hello Kagome.” Koga greeted hold her hands in his.
“Um hi Kouga, what brings you here?” she asked slightly uncomfortable.
“I’m here to defeat Naraku and make sure that you won’t get hurt since mutt-face can’t protect you.” He said.
Quickly Inuyasha ran to the scene and separated Kagome and Kouga by moving Kagome behind him and slightly parting his arms.
“Who said I couldn’t protect her? I can do it better than you!” Inuyasha spat.
“Ha. As if you can protect MY woman, after the battle I’m taking off with her so that we can become mates” he said and winked at Kagome who blushed. Inuyasha saw all of this and made him even more enraged. Suddenly he smelt something, something oddly familiar. Kikyo.
“I’ll be back but don’t you DARE touch Kagome or it’ll be your head.” He threatened Kouga and ran off in the direction of the soul collectors. Kagome, who had seen all of this, frowned. She couldn’t see what Kikyo had that she didn’t other than the fact that she had soul collectors and a better aim and probably even a prettier face. What Kagome truly didn’t understand was how Inuyasha failed to see that it was not the Kikyo he used to know, that one that died 52 years ago (Kagome is 17 now). But as usual, Inuyasha could not figure that out, he still felt as if Kikyo is still the one he met 52 years ago and Kagome would be happy with that, as long as it would make him happy Kagome would have no regrets. During last night Kagome had figured out that no matter what she did it would not change how Inuyasha would look at her, it would still be as a shard detector. And she would accept that, because then Inuyasha could be happy with Kikyo. Still, it was hard for her to see Inuyasha walk away from her to see Kikyo. It still hurt. But now, Kagome wouldn’t pay too much attention because she had a caring friend, Kouga.
“Hey Kagome, are you alright? You want me to drag that ass back here?” he asked sincerely. Kagome smiled, not a forced one she usually used when Inuyasha went to find Kikyo or the one she used with Kouga most of the time, but a true genuine smile, one that lit up her face.
“No, I’m fine Kouga, but thanks.” She replied sweetly.
“Um sure no problem.” Kouga smiled scratching the back of his head not being used to this.
“You wanna sit with me?” Kagome asked going under a big oak tree and patting the spot beside her.
“Sure!” he replied and quickly plopped down. A few moments passed before a conversation was started.
“So what do you plan on doing once the jewel is finished?” Kagome asked, turning her head towards Kouga.
“Mate with you of course.” He replied casually. Kagome blushed, “What about you? That is if you don’t want to mate yet.”
“Well I was planning to go back to my family and spend some time with my family… Inuyasha never liked it when I go back so I don’t go that often and I really miss them.” Kagome replied with a sad smile.
“It’s alright I’ll give you whatever time you need with your family. I don’t mind waiting.” He grinned.
“That’s the problem Kouga.” She said softly and if it weren’t for his keen hearing he would’ve definitely missed it.
“Huh what do you mean?” He asked, clearly confused. Kagome took a deep breath.
“Well as much I like you, I just don’t return your feelings, because those feelings have been given to someone else, even if they won’t accept it. I am really sorry and hope you understand.” She replied.
Kouga was shocked; he did not expect that coming. And although he liked Kagome very much he could not say that he ‘loved’ her, it was more like a physical attraction and the fact that he could annoy the hanyou to no end. He guessed he understood.
“It’s alright Kagome, I figured that you liked mutt-face, I understand, I guess I was just too blind to see it until you told me straight out. I don’t mind, but I do hope that we can remain friends.” He said with a sad grin.
“Thank-you, but how did you…” she asked.
“What that you liked dog-breath? Well its kinda obvious, the way he protects you, the times that you’ve cried for him. I just ignored all those signs. And he might’ve too.” he replied. Adding the last part softly.
“Thank-you for understanding unlike Inuyasha who can’t anything through his thick skull.” Kagome thanked then pulled him into a bear hug and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
With Inuyasha and Kikyo (Normal POV)
Inuyasha followed the scent deeper into the forest.
‘Kikyo’ he thought, ‘I’m coming.’
And indeed he arrived to Kikyo. She was standing there souls going in her body supplied by the soul collectors, but her eyes, they were still as cold and distant as ever.
‘I’m going to change that.’ He thought.
“Inuyasha, you came.” Kikyo stated emotionlessly as usual.
“Course I did Kikyo.” He replied.
“You are going to fight Naraku are you not?” she asked.
“I am, I’ll kill him for you.” Inuyasha replied.
“Inuyasha…” she breathed before she walked up and embraced him.
“K-Kikyo?” The Hanyou asked confused, but nonetheless hugged back.
“I thought that reincarnation was more important, but I am wrong. You will still go to hell with me after all this is over are you not?” she asked.
“I-I don’t know.” He replied honestly.
To be truthful, Inuyasha did not know what to do anymore, after the false death of Kagome (episode 107), he felt that Kagome was becoming more and more important and that scared him, it scared him to no end knowing that when the journey ended she would either leave with that wolf or back to her own time. But he did know that he would not go to hell with Kikyo if Kagome would stay with him, this was something that he had to ask, but after the battle. If he stayed alive, he would ask her, he did not want to ask her and then die on her IF she agreed, he knew that he could never live with the fact that he had betrayed her by dying on her when a few moments ago he asked her to be his.
Kikyo’s anger rose, how could he not know? She had given him 2 years to think it over and everytime the answer would be the same, until now that is.
‘How dare he.’ She thought.
“YOU DON’T KNOW? WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW? I’VE GIVEN YOU 2 YEARS TO THINK AND NOW YOU TELL ME YOU DON’T KNOW? IT’S BECAUSE OF THAT WRETCHED GIRL ISN’T IT? ISN’T IT?” she bellowed.
Inuyasha’s ears were pressed up flat against his head from the loud noise and guilt.
“I’m sorry Kikyo, but I just don’t know anymore. I think, I think I’m in love with Kagome.” He said quietly, ears still pressed against his head.
‘There! I’ve said it… now was it that hard?’ he asked himself mentally, ‘No, no it wasn’t but it will be when I tell Kagome, what if she doesn’t feel the same? I would buy a coffin because without her I can’t and won’t live.’
“You will change your mind. I assure you, you don’t know right now but after the battle .KNOW, but until then I will help you in destroying Naraku.” She said.
“NO! You can’t, I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost you again to him, you can’t come!” he yelled grabbing her shoulders.
“I will and I will not die because you are there to protect me.” She stated before she captured his lips with her. Inuyasha was stunted at first but melted into the kiss by wrapping his arms around her.
Back with Kagome and group (Normal POV)
By the time Inuyasha got there with Kikyo, all he could see was red. His Kagome was hugging and kissing Kouga, well just a friendly hug and a kiss on the cheek, but it was still a hug and kiss!
‘How dare he?’ he thought tightening his fists. But then his anger softened, ‘What if she chose Kouga?’ he asked himself, ‘then I would go with Kikyo.’ He replied himself. And before he could control himself he stomped over there and broke them apart yet again.
“What do you think you’re doing wimpy wolf!” he yelled.
“I was hugging my soon-to-be-mate!” he yelled back. Kouga knew that Kagome only loved Inuyasha but now he has a new goal, he wanted to see Inuyasha jealous and finally declare his love for Kagome. Kouga could smell the claiming scent all over Kagome.
Hearing this, Kagome blushed a few shades of red and sent Kouga a look that said ‘What are you saying!’. Immediately you could hear Inuyasha's low growl. But then it stopped as fast as it came.
‘What is Kagome did agree to be his mate?’ he thought and again he saw red, ‘Whatever, I couldn’t care less!’ but he knew that it was lie the way his heart twisted painfully.
“Feh. Hug her as much as you want, I don’t give a damn about my jewel detector, the deed’s done anyways.” He spat, trying to make himself feel better but immediately regretted it when he smelt Kagome’s tears.
‘Shit’ he thought.
“So is that how you feel about me Inuyasha.” She started and Inuyasha’s ears drooped at her tone of voice, it was so cold, “Well I don’t care because I’m going with Kouga after this. I’m going with someone who cares about me!”
As if on cue of making Kagome feel worse Kikyo walked into the scene.
“Excellent then, Inuyasha and I can finally live happily together without you interfering.” She said coldly.
Kagome was shocked, she didn’t see Kikyo but what she said was what really shocked her, ‘they’re not going to hell?’ Kagome didn’t know if she could live with the fact that Inuyasha was somewhere wandering the same earth she was wandering yet they could never cross paths because it would be guaranteed heartbreak for her.
“But, I-I thought you were going to hell.” She said, barely above a whisper.
“No, I have changed my mind to live so that we could make up the time that we have wasted. And since you are staying with Kouga, we’ll live near you so we can visit.” She said with a smirk (a/n: wow! An emotion! I think…).
Kouga decided that Kagome shouldn’t be hurt even more so he interrupted.
“Sorry but my territory isn’t for worthless hanyous and their dead bitches, come on Kagome, let’s go sit down” he said with a smirk, and led Kagome under a tree where she start to cry while Kouga hugged and comforted her.
‘Kagome…’ Inuyasha thought. He regretted making that statement but his pride prevented him from taking it back and apologizing so he just went over to Kikyo and sat down with her while Sesshomaru watched with amusement thought still remaining a stoic face.
‘Foolish half-breed, he doesn’t even know who he wants.’ Sesshomaru thought with a mental smirk.
