Stuggles of the Heart

Reviewer Response:

Sonyasha - I hope I can keep it interesting. I strive for different, untraditional fiction.

And now, the second chapter....

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Inuyasha came back to Naraku's castle. He stood in the barren wastes of it. Kaishin walked out from the shadows behind him. Inuyasha spoke, "Kaishin... Destroy me...."
Kaishin asked, "Why?"
Inuyasha turned to look at him, "Because... Living without her... I'm... Losing my mind... I can't.. Go on like this... End me... Please... It is time... For my life on this world... To end..."
"Without who, Inuyasha?"
"K-Kagome..." Inuyasha fell to his knees, and tears fell, "I.. I CAN'T FUCKING TAKE IT!!! I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HER!!!"
Kaishin gazed at Inuyasha. Kaishin spoke, "How much do you love her, Inuyasha? Enough to die to get her back?"
Inuyasha spoke, "I... I feel like I'm dead already...."
The shapeshifter spoke, "You can travel through time if you retrieve certain items... The rosary, Tessaiga, and the Soul of Kagome that still resides here...."
Inuyasha stood, "I must... Kill Kikyo..."
"In the end... Yes..."
Inuyasha nodded and spoke, "Kaishin... This... Is truly my fault... I don't deserve her... Do I?"
Kaishin spoke, "That is not for me to say... That is... Between you and Kagome..."

The wall between the Stables and the castle was torn out before the gaurds knew what was happening. Inuyasha had already managed to grab Tessaiga before the gaurds could get their heads around what had happened. Inuyasha leapt for the main gates, slashing it clean in half before landing on the outside.
Sesshomaru walked out of the main doors, or what remained of them, and stood, glaring at Inuyasha. Inuyasha was sheathing Tessaiga at his side. Sesshomaru spoke, "I thought you believed that sword was not meant for you..."
Inuyasha turned, "A mistake I am in the process of correcting..."
Sesshomaru spoke, "You won't live to correct it..."
Sesshomaru rushed forward and slashed with Tokujin, but Inuyahsa dodged and sliced open Sesshomaru's left ear. Sesshomaru snarled and leapt back, "D-DAMNIT!!! HOW DID YOU-"
Inuyasha smirked before throwing something on the ground that exploded in a blinding flash of light. When Sesshomaru's vision cleared, Inuyasha was gone. The youkai lord hissed through his teeth,
"Damn.. Him..."

Inuyasha walked through the woods. Already the remade rosary was around his neck and Tessiaga was upon his belt. He was coming close to Edo and his old friends. But he was here for Kikyo.
The priestess herself seemed to be going to the village. Inuyasha saw Kaede approach Kikyo warily. The older miko regarded her sister carefully before asked, "Why are ye here, sister?"
"I am here for Inuyasha..."
Inuyasha spoke, stepping up behind Kikyo, "I'm here because of you...."
Kikyo turned, "It is time for this to end..."
Inuyasha actually smiled, "I couldn't agree more..."
Then, his hand bolted out and his claws dug into her throat as he lifted her. Sesshomaru ran into the village just in time to witness Inuyasha ripping out Kikyo's heart. Kikyo stared at Inuyasha as her undead existance ended. Inuyasha spoke, "I have chosen Kagome... She's much fucking better than you ever were..."
Inuyasha lowered his eye to the heart and sliced it open, soon, he pulled out the glowing, white orb that was Kagome's remaining soul. Inuyasha put it into the flask he had and sealed the flask.
Inuyash turned and began to walk off when Kaede spoke, "This is unlike ye, Inuyasha... What has caused this change."
Inuyasha turned, and his red eyes narrowed on his friends. Sango and Miroku gasped ,lifting their weapons. The full demon Inuyasha only smiled, "For once... I and my human... Are at last in agreement... He has pulled out, Kaede, so that I could kill Kikyo... My human could not do so... I can... We both love Kagome... That much we know... However, where the human could not let go of Kikyo, I was not bound in such a manner..."
Inuyasha turned away, "I have what I need... The rosary, Tessaiga, and Kagome's remaining soul..."
"And now... You can pass through time..." Kaishin walked out of the shadows. The shapeshifter spoke, "Understand this, Inuyasha.... If my mother forgives you, you will earn my forgiveness in the same stroke... "
"If she doesn't... I will have her kill me..." Inuyasha stated, "Because my torment... Will end... Regardless of wether it will be with her or without her..."
Sesshomaru spoke, "Just like our father..."
Inuyasha turned and spoke, "No.. There is one difference..." Inuyasha rose a hand with on finger up and spoke, "Our father was not afraid of his emotions... When he fell in love... He didn't hide it... He embraced it... He knew that to flee from it, like I have, would weaken him... He didn't lose power, Sesshomaru... He gained it... What fell him was the weakening that occured when my mother and I were killed by Takemaru."
Sesshomaru gazed at Inuyasha. Inuyasha spoke, "I know that I cannot hide what I am and who I love anymore... I have one last chance... If I blow it... I want to die... Just like our father died, because he knew he could never take losing another mate... He was stronger than either of us could ever aspire to be... He was the true Lord of the West... Nothing you or I do can ever match his feat..."
Inuyasha turned around and walked into the forest. Kaishin closed his eyes and smiled, "At last... My mission.. Is almost done... It is now completely out of my hands..."
"What are you talking about Naraku?" Sango brandished her boomerang.
Shippo spoke, "If he's Naraku, why doesn't he smell like him?"
"That's the truth..." Sesshomaru stated, "Who are you, half-breed? You are similar to the abomination... But you are not him... You smell... Like the miko Inuyasha travelled with..."
Kaishin opened his eyes and spoke, "I should hope I don't smell like my father... I've done everything possible to remove his stench from my person... Not only that, but I also happen to be more along the lines of supporting Inuyasha in his pursuit of my mother..."
Miroku spoke, "So, Naraku is your father and Kagome is your mother... That means..."
"I'm from the future..." Kaishin smirked, "At least you're smarter than you look, monk..."
Sango spoke, "Do you know what happened to Naraku?"
Kaishin spoke, "I killed him.. Along with the help of my siblings... Hm?"
Kaishin turned and spoke, "Kyoko?"
A silver haired being with pink stripes and peircing blue eyes walked out of the shadows. He wore a silver armor over a blue haori and hakkama. He had three swords, two katanas and a massive greatsword. This obvious miko-hanyou spoke, "Kaishin... It's time..."
Kaishin spoke, "Right... Let's go..."
Kyoko turned and opened a white portal. Kaishin walked into it without hesitation. Kyoko turned his head to the others. He spoke, "You will all find your true destiny... Even you, Uncle Sesshomaru, will find... Lovers who will thaw your heart..."
With that, Kyoko walked into the portal.

Inuyasha approached the well. He found, however, a silver haired youkai was standing between it and him. He looked much like Sesshomaru, yet the difference was obvious. The stripes were jagged, though still purple in color. He had a heavier armor and a cloak of fur. Sou'Unga was tied onto his back. The demon turned, his golden eyes falling on Inuyasha as the hanyou never faltered in his step.
Standing up from her seat upon the well was Izayoi herself. Inuyasha recognized her almost immediately. Her raven black hair shifted as her open white, flower-decorated kimono was over a blue haori and dark red hakkama.
Inuyasha stopped a few feet from his mother and the strange inuyoukai. Izayoi spoke, "Inuyasha...."
"I don't have time for this, mother... My time is running short..." Inuyasha stated, "I need to speak with the woman I love... The woman I desire to mate..."
Izayoi looked at the youkai, "Inutaisho?"
Inutaisho spoke, "Can we meet with her?"
"If she accepts me..." Inuyasha stated, "If she is willing to forgive me for my... Stupidity."
Inuyasha walked by them and leapt up onto the side of the well. Inutaisho spoke, "Where are yo-"
"INU-PAPA!! WAIT!!"
Shippo ran out of the bushes and sowed, "I-Inu-papa... Please... Let me come with you..."
Inuyasha turned his head, "Shippo, this could be a one way trip for me.. You come with me, you can't get back..."
Shippo just stood, his lower lip quivering. He was also tearing up. Inuyasha leapt down and picked up Shippo before leaping back up onto the well. Inuyasha stood a moment before leaping down into the well. With a flash of light, he was gone with Shippo.

Inuyasha leapt out of the well, covering Shippo's nose. The kitsune could STILL smell the stench, however, and he whimpered, "It.. It... Reeks inu-papa..."
"I know, my kit... Take little breaths.... Slow... Slight... You'll get used to it..."
Shippo soon was able to breathe normally. Inuyasha spoke, "The humans of Kagome's era are... Different..."
Inuyasha slowly opened the wellhouse sliding door before running into the house. He was silent as he grabbed a cap and put it on. Inuyasha then looked at the fridge, finding a note.
Dear Kagome
Once you get home from school, I want to look into that pain in your rib. Whatever it may be, I think it might have something to do with the Shikon Jewel.
Just call it a mother's intuition...
Oh yes, have you heard from Inuyasha lately? I kind of miss him, he always made the house a little more lively with his ruckus.
- Mom
Shippo spoke, "What's school?"
"You're about to find out."

Inuyasha landed softly in the trees. He set Shippo down and spoke, "Do not move from this spot... Not until it is safe, understand?"
Shippo nodded, eyes wide. Inuyasha spoke, "Humans of this era do not understand... They have never seen a youkai or a hanyou... There is no telling how they will react..."
"I.. See..."
Inuyasha and Shippo then silently waited. It wasn't long before the bell rang and a flood of students came out of the building. Kagome and her friends, however, came out and broke off from the rest.
Kagome sighed as Eri spoke, "Hey! Let's all go to Daniel's and have some real fun! We haven't done that in a long time..."
Kagome spoke, "I got something I gotta do at home, Eri... I'll join you guys another time..."
"Awww! But Kagome!!"
"Eri-"
Suddenly, Kagome whipped around, her eyes searching the premises. Ayumi asked, "What is it Kagome?"
Kagome spoke, "I.. Feel strange..."
Kagome walked forward, "Inuyasha's here?"
Inuyasha leapt out of the tree and landed in front of Kagome. He stood and spoke, "Yeah.. I'm here..."
Kagome gasped, stepping back. Inuyasha was amber eyed and had purple, jagged stripes on his cheeks. Inuyahsa gazed at her warmly. The hanyou spoke, "Kagome... I.. Have something that belongs to you... Thought.. It's about time you got it back..."
Inuyasha pulled a flask out of his haori and held it to her, "The soul Kikyo was carrying... The part that Kikyo took from you..."
Kagome lifted her eyes from the flask to Inuyasha, "My... How did you get it without... Sending her back to the grave?"
Inuyasha smirked, "I didn't spare her... I've dwelt enough time on the past.... Kagome... I.. I've tried.. But I can't live without you being a part of my life..."
Kagome whispered, "What.. Are you saying Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha gazed at Kagome before he spoke, "I... Would rather die.. Than to live without you... Kagome... I have to give you this choice.... To become my mate... Or to kill me..."
Kagome stepped back, her eyes wide. Shippo stood in the tree, his eyes wide.
Eri stomped her foot, "WHAT KIND OF-"
"FOX FIRE!!!"
Shippo KNEW Kagome's friends smelled like trouble. Shippo leapt down and snapped, "THIS IS BETWEEN MY MAMA AND PAPA!!! YOU STAY AWAY!!!"
Inuyasha looked down at Shippo, "I thought I told you-"
Shippo looked up at Inuyasha, sadness in his eyes. Inuyasha sighed before looking at Kagome, "It's the only choices I can give you, Kagome..."
Kagome looked down. After a moment, she looked at Shippo then at Inuyasha. Kagome spoke, "Inuyasha.... How long... Since I left have..."
"Almost a few hours..." Inuyasha whispered, "Sometimes.... I couldn't stop crying..."
Kagome spoke, "Inuyasha... Yes.. I'll be your mate... I've loved you since we met... I just.. Never thought you'd get over Kikyo..."
Inuyasha gazed Kagome before speaking, "You're right...My human sitll isn't over her... But... The other half of me is..."
Kagome smiled before speaking, "Come on, let's go back to my house... Wonder if mom's back yet..."
"Not yet, but she left a note on the fridge for you.. Eh! wait!"
Inuyasha spoke, "This will hurt a little bit.. Which rib were you feeling pain in?"
"Left one... Why?"
Inuyasha lowered and gently sliced her skin open. Kagome winced, "Nnh!"
Inuyasha spoke, "Sorry..."
No blood came out because of how neat the cut was, and Inuyasha pulled out the Shikon Jewel. Inuyasha sighed and spoke "This.. Is impossible..."
Shippo spoke, "You mean... The Shikon Jewel existing while Midoriko walks the planet? I don't understand."
Inuyasha tilted his head back before slapping his head, "OF COURSE!!! I only woke her body! I didn't give her soul back! Gah! Damnit!"
Inuyasha then looked at Kagome, "Kagome? Have you been feeling odd lately?"
Kagome blinked before stating, "Yea, actually... I've been getting a little sick at breakfast and sometimes I feel like something is draining my energy. Why?"
"I'll be damned..." Inuyasha stated, "That little bastard... More than one kid destroyed Naraku... All of them were born from you..."
Kagome spoke ,"You mean.. Us?"
Inuyasha spoke, "It's apparent that a few of them were... But one of them... Was a shapeshifter..."
Kagome's eyes widened and she spoke, "W-Wait! But! Naraku didn't-"
"There was part of Naraku in the Shikon no Tama when you purified it at the castle. I suppose that as a priestess, your body needed to get rid of it without doing unnatural damage to itself and the best way to do that is-"
"A child..." Kagome felt like she was gonna be sick, "I'm gonna have that... That.. Thing's son?!"
"I know this much... Last I checked he was on your side... Not mine or Naraku's." Inuyasha chuckled, "His name was Kaishin... And he participated in the slaughter of his own father... Kaishin is also the only reason I was able to make it to this time... Otherwise, I'd still be in the past mourning..."
Kagome put a hand on her stomach, "So.. Then... If I aborted him..."
"You'd throw us into another timeline..." Inuyasha stated, "I would rather raise him... He's taught me something.... And I'll be damned before I go back to what I was...."
Kagome nodded, "Let's go home."
"Your home..."

Eri, Ayumi, and Yuki were sworn to silence by both Kagome or Inuyasha. Breaking it would result in Inuyasha and Kagome vanishing from this time altogethor and never being able to return. The three girls all grinned, however, when they saw Inuyasha's ears. And the three grinned wider when Inuyasha fell asleep with his head in her lap, her fingers rubbing those ears.
Yuki spoke, "I didn't see any half-demon... Did you?"
"Nope." Eri stated.
"Me neither." Ayumi stated, "This'll be our secret."
Shippo was curld up next to Kagome and Inuyasha both, sleeping as well. Kagome spoke, "This is a part of me... I've been around demons for so long.. Met so many of them.... Some are animals, butchers.. Wanting to kill, consume, destroy.... Others want to secure their place.. To find their mission in life... Still others just want to have a chance to live.... I know now.... That youkai are here... Even in this Era, even if we can't see them...."
Eri spoke, "That would make sense... There's a guy I'm dating and I swear that everytime I look at a fox, I'm reminded of him... Kitsune, aren't they, the fox demons?"
Kagome nodded and spoke, "Shippo would know more than I do about kitsunes... He's a kitsune himself..."
Shippo woke and sat up, "Huh? What about my kind?"
Eri spoke, "I think a guy I'm dating has kitsune blood in him... Is there... Any ways to tell?"
"Well... He would have a affinity for magic, and I mean actual magic, not fake tricks. He can actually roll up his sleeves and make stuff disappear in plain view. Depending on if he's full kitsune or a half-demon, he may have fox-like features. He's also probably clever with words... "
"That's an understatement," Yuki smirked.
Shippo spoke, "If I got a look at him, I'd tell you for sure..."
"There is one way you can tell..."
"How's that?" Eri asked.
"By watching him. If he is flirting with only you, speaks affectionately, and his very presence is warming to you, as if you are safe," Inuyasha peeked an eye open, "Chances are you're already feeling the effects of a youkai aura. That's ANY youkai aura, for all you know, he could be wolf, gecko, or even a dragon youkai... You would have to confront him about what kind of demon he is..."
Eri nodded.

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