A Long Four Months by Chloe-sama
Chapter 1: Startled from Thought
Key:
~~~scene change~~~
'Thought'
"speaking aloud"
The forest was so quiet that one could hear your own heartbeat. Looking though the haze of each breath she exhaled, Kagome pondered her situation. It was mid-afternoon and the snow that began falling in the early morning had not relented. A shiver made it's way down her spine.
'Stupid snow, stupid oni...' Kagome glanced at the shikon around her neck,'..stupid jewel.' Her eyes glazed over and she thought about how she got where she is.
It had been one entire week since Kagome was separated from her friends. Not once had she seen any sign of them. She didn't know how the fight had turned out only that it was bad. The oni that had attacked was the size of Goshenki but had six jewel shards embedded in it's heart. Not long after the fight had started, Inuyasha had told Kagome to run. At first, Kagome stayed right where she was, there was no way she would just run away. It wasn't until the youkai turned to her and began to charge that she reconsidered. Of course, her hanyou came to the rescue, but at a price. One of the oni's claws tore into Inuyasha's stomach and poked through the other side. Inuyasha turned pain filled eyes to her and gasped out, "Kagome. Run. Please."
The hairs prickling on the back of her neck awoke Kagome from her lucid nightmare. Blinking tears from her eyes, she slid her bow into her hand and plucked an arrow from her quiver. Narrowing her eyes, she concentrated on the source of youki that had disturbed her. She recognized this aura. Slowly she notched an arrow, but kept it pointed safely toward the ground. A-ha! There it is! Snow fell from a tree branch on her right but she spun all the way around whipping her bow up and aiming the arrow at the heart of...
Stepping out of the hut into the frosty snowfilled day Inuyasha took a deep breath of longing. Things had not been the same since the battle with the oni. Sango and Miroku disappeared and Shippo had been left behind at Kaede's hut. Turning his golden eyes down and bowing his head so his bangs covered his eyes, Inuyasha walked toward the forest. He stopped when the ground became blurred from the tears drowning his eyes.
'Kagome...' a drop fell, "Kagome, I've failed," two drops fell. A noise coming from the direction of the well made his head snap to attention. Tearing through the woods at top speed, he jumped over a fallen tree and landed in the clearing by the well.
"Inuyasha! Has Kagome-sama come back yet?"
Inuyasha looked up at the monk with surprise and shame in his eyes.
"No. She didn't go home. She's gone." Inuyasha replied and he bowed his head once again and leapt away into the Goshinboku. He pulled a red scarf and a scrap of green material out of his haori and drifted into his own lucid nightmare.
He opened his eyes and saw the wooden ceiling of a hut. Glancing around the room he noticed Shippo huddled in the corner next to Kagome's yellow pack. Kaede hobbled in and sat next to the fire with a concerned look on her face and her brows furrowed in thought.
"Kaede-baba, where's Kagome?" Inuyasha rasped.
"Oh! I see ye are awake Inuyasha," Kaede replied,"there are things that I must speak with ye about but you must rest now."
Inuyasha made to sit up but groaned when his injuries screamed in protest. "Where. Is. Kagome?" Inuyasha asked more sternly.
Kaede sighed. "Shippo, I must give them to Inuyasha."
Shippo sniffed, slowly stood, and walked over to Kaede clutching something in his hands. Inuyasha could smell the kitsune's tears. Once he handed Kaede the bundle, he skittered back to Kagome's pack and huddled into it. Kaede stood and shuffled over to the hanyou. Inuyasha looked at Kaede with apprehension and confusion.
"Inuyasha I must tell you that Sango came by the village earlier today. She found Kagome. She was holding this." Kaede laid the scarf and scrap of Kagome's skirt on Inuyasha's chest. "Inuyasha, Kagome is gone."
Despite the screaming protests of his injuries Inuyasha willed himself to sit up, the scraps falling into his lap he grabbed them. Leaning over, he grabbed Tetsusaiga and used it as a crutch to stand. He limped out the door of the hut muttering "No..Kagome,no.." over and over. Outside, the cold night air did not affect him as he fell to his knees with a gut wrenching cry "NOOO!!! KAGOMEEE!!!!" Tears welled up in his eyes and he whispered "I've failed you" before he collapsed on the ground.
Miroku had made himself comfortable at the bottom of Goshinboku. He knew that Inuyasha came here to think and it was only a matter of time before Inuyasha told him what had happened. He could feel the sorrow pouring off of the hanyou and he decided to wait no longer.
"Inuyasha, what has happened?" Miroku softly asked.
"What didn't Sango find you?" Inuyasha gruffly asked.
"Sango-sama? I haven't seen her since we were attacked. Inuyasha, what happened?"
"I was injured in the battle with the oni. Sango came while I was still sleeping and told Kaede that she found Kagome," Inuyasha paused and showed Miroku the scraps," she brought these. I was told that Sango was leaving to find you, Houshi." Miroku stared at Inuyasha in shocked disbelief.
"Something does not seem right." Miroku said in concerned thought.
"Sesshoumaru," Kagome whispered.
"Miko, I have come for my brother."
Kagome smirked. "Follow your nose, Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha is not here."
The stoic taiyoukai breathed in. There were no traces of Inuyasha on her scent. He had merely followed her power to it's source as he knew she never left his side. 'Curious, Inuyasha has abandoned his bitch.'
"Indeed. If he is not with you then where is he?"
Tears welled up into Kagome's eyes and she blinked trying to keep them at bay. "I don't know." she said.
The taiyoukai inwardly smirked 'So he finally left her for the undead miko.'
"I am sure that his old miko lover is grateful for your absence," he said.
Kagome lowered her bow slowly and bowed her head, her bangs covering her eyes. "I don't know if Inuyasha is alive. We scattered when we were attacked by an oni."
"You ran. You ran from battle, didn't you Miko?"
Tears ran down Kagome's face but not in sadness, this time in anger. She lifted her head and her bow. "I did not willingly leave!" she stated as she raised her chin in defiance, "But you might want to now, before I purify you."
Sesshoumaru was surprised by her spark though he didn't show it, of course. 'No, this miko would not have run away in fear. She is powerful enough to purify powerful youkai, possibly even me.'
"Inuyasha would not die by the hands of a mindless oni. He lives, I am sure." Sesshoumaru placated the angry miko.
Kagome's eyes widened. 'Did he just compliment Inuyasha?' Kagome lowered her bow and replaced the arrow in the quiver.
With that, Sesshoumaru turned and walked away. 'I must keep watch on this miko. She may prove useful.'
Please review. Let me know if you want me to continue. If not, I will delete it and we can pretend it never happened k?