A Love That Transcends Time: Book I

~*~ Hi. I've been gone way TOO long, haven't I? *ducks before any projectile thrown hits her* GOMEN NASAI for that!!! I really am sorry, but I'm having a hard time writing now with my hectic sched in real life going on, and I'm totally racking my brains out to remember the exact words I've written in the original manuscript in order to finish this story. Unfortunately, my mind and my muse won't cooperate. :-( So I'm thinking of rewriting the last parts of this story once more *waah!* since I don't think I'm going to get that manuscript any sooner-or if it's still there. My cousins are little monsters, I tell you. *sigh* So I'm back to square one for the ending once again. Luckily, I've managed to salvage at least a part of it before I left for home, and here it is, my post-new year present to everyone who loves this story!!! *mwaah*

TO ALL MY READERS AND MOST ESP. TO MY FAITHFUL REVIEWERS: Thanx for the patience (I know there's little of it that's left, but I'll try to make up for it) and for the continued support for this story. Hope you're still there with me!!! MISS YA GUYS!!! LOVE YA LOTS!!!

AND TO YOU READING THIS: Thanx for dropping by and taking the time to read. Hope you'll continue reading, and would find time to say something about this chappy at the reviews page! ^_^ Be back again soon alright? HAPPY READING!!! LOVE YA LOTS!!!~*~

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha... I share. ^_^

~*~Chapter 34—The Great Unveiling~*~


Her dream came rushing back up to her as she saw that arrow sticking out from one of the trees. The projectile is aimed at her, the hand holding the bow steady. There would be no way to dodge that attack…

‘But who? Who is trying to kill me? Naraku’s dead, and Kagura’s on our side now. Can it be… Kanna?’

But she could never be more wrong in that assumption as her assailant steps into view.

‘Kikyou!’


~*~

Inuyasha held onto Tetsusaiga tightly as though it was his only link left to his sanity.

There on the ground lies the head of the monster. The man who destroyed it all for him with that single act of betrayal. The demon who made his friends suffer so needlessly…

The one he vowed would die a thousand deaths before he could be satisfied.

“I am envious of you, you know,”

A voice disrupted Inuyasha’s thoughts. He shook his head to clear his mind, and went in search of the voice. He never expected what he saw.

Naraku’s severed pate lay there, all messed up and bloody. The sight is enough to turn even the strongest of stomachs ever. But the eyes are open wide, and the lips slightly parted as though still trying to take a breath. But that’s impossible…

Then it spoke.

“I loved her, I still do. Everything I did, every length that I went to—I made it all for her. For her to notice ME, to be aware of ME. But did she? No,”

“She looked at me like trash; even when I was human she looked at me in pity only. That is why I envy you. She loved you, even though you’re a hanyou. And you didn’t even have to sacrifice a lot of things for her. Me, I became half-demon for her. I allowed my body to be mutilated just to turn into a powerful being and be with her,”

“And now… she still loves you. And you’re such a lucky hanyou that another girl loves you more than she does. She’s jealous of that love, that’s why she did what she did,”

“What are you saying?”

“She betrayed you. Again. Ironic isn’t it? And right now, my jealousy consumes me too. You didn’t honestly think I would go down without dragging at least one of you with me, did you?”

Naraku managed his final smirk just before Inuyasha lashed out in his rage, and blew his head off to ashes.

Then he heard his mate scream out his name frantically.


~*~


Kagome didn’t know what to do. She didn’t dare move at the look in Kikyou’s eyes. She would let the arrow fly in no time at all.

She’s damned if she does, and damned if she doesn’t.

‘Please God, don’t let this turn out to be exactly as my dream,’ Kagome prayed desperately.

The thought of the arrow going for Inuyasha…

But it would seem that God isn’t in the mood to hear her.

The same time she’s repeating her litany in her mind is the same time a cruel and heartless smile graced Kikyou’s lips, and a hard glint appeared in her eyes.

Keeping eye contact with Kagome, Kikyou shifted with practiced ease, as though she’s calculated her every move. She stretched the string of the bow further and redirected her aim.

Kagome helplessly followed the weapon’s new target, and felt herself grow cold.

There, directly in it’s path, is Inuyasha. His back is to them, his hand still clutching Tetsusaiga like a lifeline. He’s still looking down on what’s left of Naraku’s head, tension visible in his body.

‘He won’t see the arrow come for him! Even with his speed, he won’t be able to dodge it!’

And as though reading her thoughts, Kikyou let go of the arrow, making it fly straight towards Inuyasha’s heart.

Kagome never hesitated. The moment she saw it being released, she ran with all her speed to Inuyasha’s still form, her only goal in mind to protect him and keep him safe.

Especially from ‘her’.

Never mind that she could die.

Never mind that their child could die too.

She’d be damned if she would let Kikyou hurt him one more time. He has suffered enough…

“Inuyasha!”


~*~


Inuyasha whirled around as he heard Kagome’s voice. Then he heard Kikyou’s laugh, a laugh that’s definitely so un-like her.

Then she said it.

“Are you ready to go to Hell with me now, my love?”

Warning bells rang off in his head, and he turned to see the arrow headed straight for him and Kagome racing beside it to reach him. He was stupefied, his body too numb to move. All he could do is watch in horror as his mate struggled to get to him before that blasted arrow …

And amazingly, she did.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for him at the time: Kagome reaching him first before the arrow did, and then Kagome throwing herself at him to shield him from the attack. He fought her, twisting their bodies around so that he’ll take the blow.

They turned once, twice… and then the sound of the arrow hitting flesh stopped the world’s movement for both of them.

The impact had them flying back to the God-tree, and Inuyasha looked down, an unbelievable expression on his face.

Kagome is in his front, her hand clutching his haori in a fist and her face totally hidden on his chest. The arrow protruded on her back, the sharp tip going in completely thru her body that it even managed to sting him a little.

Inuyasha bit off the sob that wanted to escape him. He was afraid to move; afraid that if he moved he would hurt her a lot and then she would die. So he did what he only could.

He called her name softly, like even that would mar her. When nothing came from her, he lifted a shaking hand to gently tilt her face up to his.

Her eyes are closed, her raven locks billowing around her face, dancing to the wind. It seems like she’s just sleeping, with her pink lips slightly parted to allow her to breathe.

But something’s wrong.

Her skin felt like it was on fire one minute, and then cold and clammy the next. He didn’t know what to make of that. Panic made the adrenaline rush through him once again, allowing him to move.

He gently wrapped one arm behind her shoulder blades and then bent down so that he could place the other behind her knees. Each movement is agonizingly slow, even tender in his fear of causing her more pain. The arrow is still imbedded on her chest, but he’ll deal with that later.

He slowly folded his legs from under him, squatting down to the grass and laying her still form on his lap. One hand hung limply at her side; it was the one clutching to his robe. The other is still trapped between the two of them. It was fisted, albeit loosely, as though she’s holding something in her hand.

Inuyasha moved his fingers across her face, finally resting on her lips and rubbing it in hopes of waking her.

“Kagome? Wake up. Please wake up, Kanai,”

He repeated the process again and again, his whole concentration on his mate. Nothing still happened.

A hand came to rest upon his shoulder and he brought his soulful eyes to meet that of his brother’s.


~*~


Watching them made everyone’s throat close up. The tenderness in which he held her and the helplessness of his actions made it all the more poignant in their eyes.

All moved as one to walk up to them. The taijiya is burying her tear-stained face at the monk’s robes, unable to see her ‘sister’ dead. The houshi is trying to maintain his composure because he knew he should be their pillar of strength at the moment, but his resolve failed him.

Kouga, who’s been watching the ‘unbranding’ of Kagura just minutes before, now had his face in a permanent shocked state, his eyes vacant.

~Flashback~

The wind sorceress is lifted up in mid-air, a strange glow hovering around her. For a second, it had them worried, especially when the clothes off Kagura’s body began to unravel. The wolf-prince could not take his eyes away from the sight, fascinated by what is happening.

She gasped indignantly, her hands immediately catching hold of the front of her kimono and shielding herself with it.

But not before Kouga had an eyeful of her.

Her back began to burn, the spider-mark left by Naraku pulsing. She thought it’s still him, calling out to her to drag her to his death with him. For a second she felt terrified, until she felt a shifting being made on her body.

It was as though a brush is being drawn upon the mark, tracing its’ every intricate curve and line; like being painted once again.

Kouga is in awe of what’s happening right before his very eyes. The scar left by Naraku is slowly fading from Kagura’s back. Every stroke, every line, disappearing into nothingness; revealing her smooth and unscarred back.

He knew she felt it too by the way her eyes closed into contentment and a little smile of relief and peace appeared on her face. It was… amazing.

Then the eerie light surrounding her burst, setting the kaze no youkai on her feet.

Her eyes are still closed; half-fearing of what she would find when she opened them.

“Kagura?”

Her crimson eyes snapped to attention, their color mellowing into burgundy.

“Naraku’s really dead now. I’m released,”

And to both of their surprise, tears seemed to come out of nowhere to fall on Kagura’s cheeks.

“I am freed,” she said with still a smile lingering upon her face.


~End Flashback~


Now their previous joy is gone, only a memory in that nightmare. The sight of Kagome—the only woman he has given a piece of his heart to— dead, would forever haunt his dreams.

It is traumatic for him, given his mate is also unconscious and unmoving. He checked on Ayame’s breathing every second just to make sure she won’t be leaving him.

Imagine what Inuyasha is feeling at that moment if Kouga already felt that way…


~*~


Sesshomaru looked at his brother, pity and sorrow reflecting in his golden gaze.

She was saved twice, only to fall into death at the third time.

Inuyasha is beyond reason now. He seems not to notice everyone as they came upon them both. His whole attention is centered on reviving his otherwise dead mate, his desperation casting an edge to the wind’s fragrance.

But there is still something he can do, Sesshomaru thought as he remembered his father’s legacy to him.


~*~


Sesshomaru laid a hand on Inuyasha’s shoulder, willing his ototo to look up at him. He finally did, and the heartbreak he saw in Inuyasha’s eyes made him want to close his eyes against the sight.

‘He looks like a little boy, lost,’

“Onii-san?”

“Hai, Inuyasha. It will be all right,” he reassured his little brother, crouching down beside him to look at his beautiful sister-in-law.

The area around her lips began to give a purplish hue, her pallor more than pale and her breathing slowing down to almost nothing.

She’s not going to last a long time…

“Onii-san, do something! K-Kagome… she—“ Inuyasha shook his head briskly, visibly swallowing.

“I don’t know why she won’t wake up. She’s just sleeping, isn’t she? I try to wake her up but she won’t listen to me. Onegai!”

Inuyasha’s now groping one of Sesshomaru’s sleeves tightly, pulling upon it to gain attention like a little child would.

The demon lord snapped his eyes to the amber ones of his brother’s, an uneasy feeling creeping up his spine at his brother’s words and actions.

Seeing Kagome fall into death twice is really traumatic for him, but she came back twice. But now…

It would seem like his brother’s mate’s death would be the cause of his insanity and delirium.

Sesshomaru refused to think about it, not wanting to accept the possibility.

‘Right now, I’ve got more important things to see to,’ he reminded his self as he felt Tenseiga pulse from its’ scabbard.

“Relax, Inuyasha. Yes, she’s just sleeping. Maybe you just didn’t wake her up properly. Here, let onii-san try,”

Sesshomaru decided to play it Inuyasha’s way, treating his brother like a little kid.

Sango is now sobbing at the background; Sesshomaru’s attitude with Inuyasha and the way the hanyou is acting at Kagome’s death is breaking her heart to bits.

‘He is broken. Now more than ever, completely broken,’

And Sango cried harder at the thought of losing Inuyasha to his own demons too.


~*~


Sesshomaru prepared to unsheathe Tenseiga, but found that he didn’t need to use it.

Kagome’s eyes fluttered weakly for a moment before her eyelids gave way to her midnight gaze.

“I-Inuyasha,” Kagome managed to say, one of her hands coming up to brush at Inuyasha’s hair.

She gritted her teeth at the pain the movement caused her, and is rewarded by everyone’s gasp of surprise and Inuyasha’s amber orbs meeting hers.

“Kagome! You’re awake!”

The hanyou almost crushed her to his body, if it weren’t for the arrow. Kagome managed to stifle a cry at the pain that lanced through her.

“Hai, Inuyasha-kun. I’m awake… now,”

Sango finally found her voice and went to Inuyasha’s side to see Kagome.

“Oh, Kagome-chan! You had us worried for a moment there. We thought you’d never wake up; you must’ve been really tired. Isn’t that right, Inuyasha?”

Sango blubbered, holding Kagome’s hand as tears continue to fall from her eyes.

“Gomen ‘ne, Sango-chan. I just wanted to… rest,”

“Nonsense,” the demon huntress scoffed, still making an effort to be nonchalant about it.

“No need to apologize, Kagome-chan. Now we have to get that little arrow out from your chest. Ooh, Kagome-chan! Ever the accident prone,” Sango bristled as she waited for the hanyou to release her best friend.

Inuyasha even smiled at the joke.

“That she is. Without me to protect her, she would’ve been dead before now,”

All fell silent at his comment, not having the words to say anything. Mercifully, the hanyou seemed oblivious to it all as he prepared to sit Kagome up in his lap.

Miroku finally woke up from his silent stupor and hurried to help his friends.

“Oi, Miroku! Touch her anywhere else and I’ll slice up your balls,” Inuyasha threatened.

The monk managed his Buddha-inspired look and said:

“I am a holy man. I would not be doing anything that is unworthy of my status,”

“Yeah right, you perv!”

Kagome felt tears prick her eyes at what she’s witnessing. It’s just like the old times, when the jewel is still scattered across Japan and they were hunting it.

‘Oh, if only Shippou-chan could be here,’

Thinking about the shard hunt made another thought cross her mind.

‘The Shikon no Tama!’

She opened her right hand and saw the jewel winking up at her, completed.

She wanted to say something about it to them, but they won’t listen to her; so caught up as they were at how they would get the arrow out.

Her brother-in-law captured her attention then. He leaned close and spoke to her.

“You will not make a sound while you’re being treated. I won’t have my brother suffering much more,” the taiyoukai commanded.

It sounded like a threat and she only nodded to save her strength.