Toying With Innocence

Disclaimer: I don’t and want ever own them T.T
A/N: Thank you to my Betas, Reiver Vicious, Laura and Georgina. I know it’s been a long break since the last update, but here it is. Please review!

Chapter 4

Naraku laughed from his perch on the edge of the cliff, the trees were motionless around him as he watches Inuyasha and the others. Chuckling to himself, as he thought about the way they would soon be running around, trying to save the now unstable, half-demon Kagome and revert those powers back to Inuyasha, so that he wouldn’t have to be a human any longer. He watched all of this through the never blinking, always watchful eye that was Kanna’s mirror. “This is working out better than planned.” He said to her with a smug smile gracing his lips, or what could be seen of them from under the baboon skull on his head.

Kanna just stood there, looking at him with her emotionless eyes; she clutched the curved edges of her mirror tightly as the image faded into itself.

“You may go now.”

She nodded her reply before turning and walking off into the dense forest that was behind them.

~*~ A few days later~*~

Everyone was sitting around the fire in Kaede’s hut. The silence was stifling as they ate. Only moments before, Kaede had explained to them that if Kagome did not learn to keep her newly gained demon powers in check, she would die, due to the opposing nature of her miko energy to that of her newly gained power. Kagome sat picking at the food in her bowl with a pair of chopsticks, she held them painfully tight in her hand, while she milled over this new information. ‘Why did this have to happen? I’ve barely starting to understand how to control my miko powers, how will I ever make this work!’ The others shot worried glances at her every so often. Not sure if they would be able to keep her from turning full demon if they ended up in a fight.

After the meal they started to throw ideas around, everything from sending her home to locking her up somewhere. But, all conversation stopped abruptly when Inuyasha spoke up for the first time that day.

“I could let her use Tetsusaiga,” he said, turned his eyes to avoid the gazes of the others as they realised what he was offering. “Well, it did keep my demon powers in check…so it could do the same for her,” he said hurriedly as everyone continued to eye him with shocked expressions. Sango and Kagome glanced at each other and shrugged, each as confused as the other on why Inuyasha would so willingly give up his sword. He peeked at them through the corner of his eye, and then glared as he saw they were still muttering over his offer.

After a bit, the shock wore off and everyone turned into bed for the night. But several hours later Inuyasha awoke to a small muffled, sniffling sound. He sat still for a moment as he listened to see if any of the others had awoken to the sound as well. Peering through the swirling darkness, it appeared that he was the only one. Only moments later he saw a figure rise and cautiously work its way over the other sleepers to the doorway of the hut. He slowly stood up and looked to his sleeping comrades, noting that no one else had stirred. Then walking towards the door, he stifled a curse when he nearly stepped on Shippo’s sprawled, sleeping form. He walked outside into the light of the waning moon. The trees around the hut swayed, as though dancing to music only they could hear. He looked up and saw Kagome standing on the hill. A light breeze had blown the hair away from her face as she looked to the sky. The hem of her new sky blue kimono was fluttering around her ankles. Inuyasha’s eyes caught on the movement for a long time, admiring how the cloth hugged her curves. He thought to himself how lovely she looked all a glow in the moonlight. As he moved closer, he could see tears gleaming on her uplifted cheeks, right before she wiped them away. He cursed his forced human senses, leaving him unable to do more than see her tears or hear her crying earlier.

“What do you want Inuyasha?” her tired and anxious voice intoned.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay. I heard you crying before you left the hut.” He looked at the ground between them, devoid of light as her shadow covered the area. A half hearted smile crossing her lips, though he could tell as his eyes shifter to peer at her face, that a true smile was just not in her. Her eyes still glistened with unshed tears, which threatened to run down her cheeks. He had to force himself to keep from frowning at the fact that she so upset.

“Don’t worry, it was nothing, really,” but it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself more than him.

“It must be something, or you wouldn’t be out here crying,” he looked up at her as he moved closer. Uncharacteristic kindness grazed the edge of his voice when he said, “Please, tell me what’s wrong, or I can’t help,” he seemed so unsure of himself.

“Inuyasha…” she whispered as she tried to hold back tears. After a small pause she found herself. “I’m just worried that’s all. I’m worried I won’t be able to handle whatever’s coming,” She watched him for a moment before turning her face back up to the stars. “You always seem so sure of yourself, and I just feel like I’m going to make a mess of everything.”

Inuyasha had a feeling that there was more to it than that, but he let it pass for the moment. ‘I’ll find out for sure what else this is about later,’ he thought to himself. As he watched wispy clouds cover the moon, the light filtered down onto her as she stood there on the hill. The way she was staring up at the sky was as if she were giving her self up to the moon and the stars, as if in submission for their help. He walked the last of the distance between them and gently put an arm around her. “It’s okay Kagome…we are all worried.”

“Thanks,” she whispered before leaning into his embrace, giving him a quick hug. She stepped back and looked up at him. “Would you stay with me for a bit?” Kagome asked, gazing at the ground, trying to hide the blush that was gracing her cheeks. Inuyasha pretends to take no notice.

“I guess I could,” he shrugged as he sat on the grass and she moved down by him leaning into his warmth, he’s arms wrapped protectively around her, pulling her close. They sat like that, looking up at the stars, until Inuyasha noticed that Kagome had drifted off to sleep. He smiled as he looked down on her peaceful dozing. Carefully, he lifted her into his arms, savouring the silky feel of her kimono on his hands, and carried her back to the hut. She curled into him as he walked, a content sigh escaping her lips. Moving the covering aside from the door he stepped inside the darkness of the hut. He paused as his eyes adjusted to the lack of light and the forms of their comrades took shape. He lightly stepped over them before he set her down on her bedroll and pulled the blanket up over her. He brushed a strand of her hair, which looked the colour of dying embers in the dull light, out of her face, and leaned over her placing a soft kiss to her forehead.

He drew back, standing. Admiring her a moment longer, he thought ‘Sleep well,’ before slipped back out of the hut.

The next morning everyone gathered up their stuff to leave, but before they did, Kaede stopped them. “Inuyasha, come here. I have something for ye.”

He gave her a puzzled look before walking over. “Well hurry up…we don’t have all day to mope around here,” he said, sounding more like his normal self.

She brushed off his comments as she held the sword up to him. “Take this,” she told him. He looked at it, warily, for a moment before accepting it. Its sheath was covered with smooth, supple leather; the grip was a similar cut, but a rougher grain. The sword itself seemed to be well balanced, as he freed it of its sheath, the thin, lightly curved blade glinting in the sun.

“Why are you giving me this?” he queried, as he examined the new blade before him.

“It was to be Kagome’s…but ye will need it more than she.”

He simply nodded, letting the small reminder of the state he and Kagome found themselves in flitter through his mind. The others looked on as they waited. Kagome taking a moment, looking down at Tetsusaiga, currently strapped to her hip, silently she cursed herself for letting Naraku get the better of her. ‘I will get back at Naraku and give Inuyasha back his demon powers.’ She vowed as he started to walk back to the others, placing the new sword at his side as he did.

Their goal set, they headed off into the warm, sunny day to try and find Naraku and restore Kagome and Inuyasha.