Twisted Accusations

Chapter Nine


Kagome didn't move from her spot contemplating her options. One call for help, two call for help, or three try to fend for herself. She couldn't sense any youkai in the man, he looked to be a normal human. Could she win against him with hand to hand combat? Sango had shown her a few things but if he was any good with that sword he was holding she might be in trouble. What was there to do but try? Running wasn't an option, not in these shoes. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of hearing her scream for help.

More rustling came from the other direction, she turned towards the sound. 'Great he has company.' There was no way she'd be able to handle a bunch of normal human thugs. Maybe a shield would keep them off her until help came. Then again if they can go that long without a bath, they'd have to be patient with alot of free time on their hands. A smile lit her face when Aoshi stepped into the clearing looking none too happy.

"Get lost," Aoshi turned to the girl, ignoring the man standing near her. It had taken sometime to find her, they'd lost half a day due to her side trip. The man turned to him, pointing the blade in his direction. Did he want to die? The girl was begining to be more trouble than she was worth.

"You will be the one to leave, I saw her first. If you have any money I might let you sample her after I'm done." The man sneered, putting all his attention on the new addition. The man towered over him by a foot, someone that big had to be slow. He'd kill him quickly then start having fun with the girl.

Kagome wasn't worried now that her escort had arrived. She wasn't worried about the foul man but the look she'd just recieved from Aoshi made her want to crawl under a rock. Her eyes widened, she blinked in astonishment. She hadn't seen him move; but he now had the man pressed against a tree with one of his blades pressed into his neck. She could almost feel sorry for the man. Her nose crinkled when the smell of urine drifted in the air.

"You're disgusting, I suggest you leave." Aoshi backed up an inch, trying to get away from the man. It was disgraceful, he threw the man aside. He wouldn't kill someone so pathetic, what a waste of time. He could hear the man scrambling to his feet. He met the girl's eyes, she had her jaw open staring at him.

"You're kind of scary you know. Well, now that he's gone how about we hit the road?" She smiled trying to lighten the mood. He wasn't falling for it, well it was his fault. If he wouldn't leave her behind then he wouldn't have had to come back for her. Was he going to yell at her now? It wouldn't surprise her in the least.

"I may have been hired to escort you but don't think that means I feel saving you because you do not think. Do not walk off without telling me. You have wasted half a day with this foolishness. Next time I will not come back for you, do you understand?" His voice was low, calm but it caused a chill to run down her spine.

"I don't need you to protect me, I could have handled it myself. Besides I didn't ask you to come along, they did. Wait, now that I think about it. YOU'RE FIRED!!! Go back to town, I'm sure I can find this village myself. I don't need you around, uptight bastard." Kagome felt her cheeks flush in anger. Who did he think he was talking to her like that. It was bad enough she'd taken it from Inuyasha. She wasn't weak or worthless, she had some skills. Maybe she couldn't open a can of whoop-ass on someone but she wasn't a child. What an arrogant jerk, looking down at her. His woman was probably some amazon that had bigger muscles than him. "Head back to the Kyoto, I'm sure they will pay you for your time."

She didn't wait for him to answer but picked up her belongings. She'd get there herself, even if she died trying. There was no need for her to trail behind him anylonger. Surely this road would take her to the village, stupid jerk. Unlike most men, if she got lost she'd simply ask for directions. She done had her fair share of traveling with grumpy males, no more. He didn't follow her back to the road, 'Good, I don't want him around.'

She walked for another five hours, the moon was high in the night sky. Her legs were needing to rest, her stomach was growling. There was no need for her to go too far off the road to take a quick nap. Aoshi must have headed back, she didn't see him anywhere. He hadn't followed her onto the road or came after her. Shows how much he really wanted to accompany her. It was just as well, she'd be okay without help.

She found a tree to lean against off the main road. The bark was kind of rough on her back but was the best thing for now. Maybe having him around wouldn't have been too bad. He'd made a nice pillow the night before. 'Stop thinking about him.' There was no need to think about him, she'd probably never see him again. Let him go back, collect his money and head back to his amazon. It was better this way, she still didn't forgive him for trying to kill her. There wasn't any reason for them to meet after this. He wasn't the type to hang around temples.

Her knees were brought up to her chest trying to keep warm. The temperature had dropped some and would only get worse. She pulled the blanket out, what she wouldn't give for a fire. A nice warm fire, with her friends around. She missed them terribly at the moment. They were already gone in this time, except maybe for Shippo. Where could he be if he was still alive? If only things could have turned out differently for her. Why did Inuyasha have to keep his promise? What about his promise to her? He'd said he'd always be there for her, to protect her.

Yet, he'd kept his promise to Kikyou. The woman had been willing to release him from it so he could continue living. But he'd refused, saying that he would go with her. He knew that it meant leaving her alone. She could remember the day he'd left her alone. It still hurt to think upon, why couldn't she forget?

She had always hoped that he'd decide to stay with her. He'd never changed his mind after saying he would go to hell with Kikyou. So much happened after that, they had shared a kiss. So many times they were brought together in a life or death situation. He'd held her close making her feel wanted and loved. Down in her heart she believed that he would stay with her. Either in his era or hers but she'd been a fool. She'd given him her heart, everything she could offer and he'd thrown it away. Kikyou had never lost her hold on his heart, he'd loved her more in the end. The goodbye still ate away at her, leaving her empty and feeling hateful. Why couldn't he have stayed behind, to be happy? Why throw it all away just to die? It wasn't right, it hadn't been fair to her. He'd called her outside that night to inform her that he was leaving. She'd pleaded with him to stay with her. Speaking her love in haste, wanting to stop him.

Instead of finally speaking the words she had longed to hear he turned his back and spoke calmly. "Kagome, I'm going with Kikyou. I have to fulfill my promise, I'm sorry. You should return to your time, where you belong. I'll be going tonight, this is goodbye. I love Kikyou, you've always known that. Now that Naraku is dead, we will die together. Go home Kagome where it's safe. I won't be around to protect you anymore." He began to walk off, without giving her time to speak. Tears had come as she called out to him. She fell to her knees and began crying, begging him not to go.

Sango and Miroku had found her in the same spot hours later still crying. Kagome felt it when that part of her soul had returned. It had crushed her, knowing that he was gone. He'd been taken away from her, for a promise that never should have been made. If Kikyou had really loved him she wouldn't have taken his life. Would if have been wrong for him to find happiness without her?

Maybe she was selfish in her own way. She could understand his love but why did it have to turn out that way? She'd given everything for him, she'd been there for him. Yet in the end none of that had mattered. Deep down she knew she could have gotten over the loss easier if he'd just given her the three words she'd longed to hear. That way she could have let him go, knowing that she had meant something to him. Was she not worthy of someone's love and devotion? Was it so wrong to want someone to treat her with respect? She didn't want to be a replacement, the original was always better. Inuyasha had drummed that into her head and her heart. How many times had she'd been told that Kikyou was prettier, a better archer and miko? She'd tried to improve herself, needing his approval and acceptance. Thinking that if she tried her best and gave him what Kikyou never had, he'd love her. If their love had been so great then how come it had been shattered so easily?

Couldn't he see that? She wanted to call him an idiot now. They got angry blaming it all on Naraku, but truthfully they were to blame as well. If you loved someone with all your heart you would never believe them of betrayal, it meant trusting them with your heart. Inuyasha always commented on how strong Kikyou was, what a good shot she was. She had thought to point out then that made him a fool. Claiming that he fell for it when Naraku posed as Kikyou and tried to kill him by shooting at him. If Kikyou was the fine archer he so thought her, why would the woman have missed? That should have been his first fucking clue. But instead of thinking clearly he assumed the worst of the woman that he supposedly loved. Then as far as Kikyou was concerned she was just as stupid and easy to turn on Inuyasha. Why would Inuyasha have bothered to attack her for the jewel when she'd been on her way to hand it over? If both would have stopped to think then the mess wouldn't have been caused. Not too mention he'd tried to steal it many times before and hadn't been able to catch her off guard. Her instincts and common sense should have told her that he wasn't capable of sneaking up on her. Yet both had been quick to turn on the other, what kind of love was that?

She'd given Inuyasha her heart, trust and understanding. In the end he had choosen the woman that had been quick to condemn him without question. While turning his back on her, someone that had loved him for him, never asking him to change for her. Her love had been thrown back in her face at the end. Maybe it wasn't worth it to love someone.


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