Circle of Souls

Title: Circle of Souls
Author: BrokenSouledPoetess
Summary: Heartbreak seems to follow Kagome where ever she goes. But will these two strangers that appear in her life be able to save her from herself?
Rating: NC-17 for future graphic lemons and major character deaths
Pairing(s): Kagome/Kurama/Kuronue
Feedback: Required.
Characters: Inut-tachi and Reikai Tantei plus Kuronue
Author’s notes: This fic was originally written by Ryukotsusei but she has chosen to hand its completion over to me. I will try to do my best with this story, as it is one of my all time favorites. I can only hope I won’t destroy Ryu’s wonderful fic.
Disclaimer: I do not own, or profit from, Inuyasha and Yuu Yuu Hakusho respectively. This disclaimer serves to blanket the entirety of this story.


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Here they were, camped out among the stars on a clear September night. There was not a cloud in the sky, giving an amazing view of the stars above. A gentle breeze blew through, playing though Kagome’s hair while she sat, staring into the fire reflecting on her love for Inuyasha. She looked over to where he was, laying on one of the lower branches of a tree looking at the stars. She watched the wind play through his long silver hair, the way the shadows played across his skin from the firelight. A brief smile graced his features making her wonder what he could be thinking about.

Shippo stirred in his sleep and blinking sleepily looked up at Kagome.

“Is everything alright Kagome?” he whispered “why aren’t you asleep yet?”

She looked down at the young kit in her lap and smiled at him, “Everything is fine Shippo.” she replied, “I’m just not really tired yet so I’m just enjoying the night. It really is pretty here, I’ve never been this far South before”

Shippo stood and stretched. “I’ve been here before, it is nice.” He reflected, “My favorite spot in this area isn’t far. My parents used to bring me here often, to work on my kitsune magic.”

Kagome smiled, Shippo had gone through the tragedy of losing both his parents at a young age but still managed to look back on his memories with them without dissolving into tears. She only hoped that if something like that had ever happened to her she would be able to be so strong. “Tell me about the spot Shippo?” she asked.

He grew thoughtful “Well, it’s a mile or so to the south of us, there’s a large lake there that is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom and the surface is as smooth as glass. The meadow surrounding it is beautiful, filled with all different kinds of flowers. It always smells so nice there, maybe we can go tomorrow?” he asked sleepily.

Kagome ran her fingers through his hair and replied; “I think I would like that, we’ll ask Inuyasha in the morning.” He yawned again and nodded.

“I’d like that” he replied and then curled back up in her sleeping bag falling asleep again.

Inuyasha looked over the campsite once again before jumping down from his branch. Sango and Miroku were sleeping on the other side of the fire. Slowly those two had come to admit their feelings for each other and Miroku was courting her. Granted there were still times that Miroku's hand got the better of him and a scream of HENTAI! could be heard throughout the camp followed by the sound of bone hitting bone as she brought Hiraikotsu down on top of his head but it was happening less frequently. Whether that was because he was no longer groping her or she just didn’t mind as much remained to be seen. Kirara was curled up on her own sleeping bag with her twin tails covering her nose.

His gaze roamed over to Shippo and Kagome. Shippo having gone back to sleep and Kagome looking at the night sky. ‘She’s beautiful’ he thought while walking over to her. Kagome looked over at him lovingly. Briefly he wondered what he had done to deserve her devotion.

“Hey there Inuyasha” she whispered as he approached.

“Walk with me?” he asked, nodding she stood slowly. To his surprise she grasped his hand, lacing her fingers with his.

Once they were out of hearing distance of the camp Kagome asked, “Tomorrow I’d like to make a side trip. A day off if you will.” She started “There’s a place that Shippo’s parents used to take him that’s special to him and I’d like to see it.”

He nodded “I don’t see why we can’t, assuming nothing else comes up in the meantime. But for one day only, there can’t be many shards left and we can’t let Naraku get to them first.” He stated firmly.

Kagome stopped and looked at him with a smile. “One day is fine, thank you for agreeing. It will mean a lot to Shippo. It means a lot to me as well.” The way the moonlight reflected off of his hair gave him an angelic appearance. Her gaze traced over his features, drinking in every detail until it reached his lips. She wondered if he would mind, she longed to feel what his kiss was like. Taking a chance she leaned forward and ever so gently brushed her lips against his and then stood back with a faint blush.

Inuyasha brought his fingers to his lips; almost disbelieving that she had kissed him it had been such a feather light touch. “Kagome” he started, taking her hands and pulling her gently forward before slowly lowering himself to the ground. She sat next to him staring into his eyes trying to find the answer to what he was thinking. He didn’t seem to be offended at all. “I know we’ve never talked about this before. But maybe it’s time.” He continued, “when all this is done, when Naraku is gone and the jewel is completed, what are your plans?”

Kagome grew thoughtful. She wondered if she should tell him how she felt. ‘How will he take it if I tell him how much I love him?’

He watched the emotions play across her features. He brought one clawed hand up and traced her cheek gently. “Tell me what's on your mind Kagome. What are you thinking of?”

She seemed to come to some sort of decission concerning her inner turmoil. It was finally happening. After 5 long years of heartache they were finally working out where they stood in their relationship. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought it would take this long for him to finally sort his feelings out for her. But he was worth the wait. Surely he was. She loved him more than life itself and had longed for the day when he would finally see her for who she was. Slowly, ever so slowly she had managed to show him she was more than Kikyo’s shadow. Granted it had not been easy and occasionally she would see the shadows pass through his eyes when he looked at her that told her that he was seeing Kikyo instead of her. The standard for her had been set so high in his eyes she had despaired ever being able to live up to it and be seen as worthy of his love.

“Inuyasha” she began “My plans for after everything is done depends a lot on you. On what becomes of us.”

He blinked searching her face wondering if this was going to be the talk that defined the rest of their relationship. He loved Kagome. There was no denying that. He also loved Kikyo and he had made promises to her. Could he break the promises to Kikyo to stay with Kagome? Would his honor allow it? Silently he wondered if there was a way he could do both. Kikyo was dead; there was no denying that fact. He made a decission. He would stay with Kagome until the end of her lifetime. And then once that was done, he would keep his promise to Kikyo. It was the best solution that he could see. It would be hard to do, sure. But he honestly couldn’t see making a choice between the two women he loved.

“Kagome I know we haven’t talked about this much but I think I can finally tell you how I feel.” He said. This would not be easy for him she knew. He was always so closed off with his emotions. Except for when he was angry at something anyway.

Hope grew in her heart, ‘Maybe he can finally admit how he feels for me’ she thought. She prayed that he felt the same way that she did. “Go on Inuyasha” she said quietly.

“We’ve been together now for almost 5 years, and through that time I’ve done everything I could to push you away because of who and what I am. But you’ve always come back, always stayed strong despite what I have done.” He said. “I’ve always wanted to protect you knowing that just by being with me you’d be in danger. Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with you. I want you to stay here with me when this is done.” He stopped, watching for her reaction but he was not expecting the tears that slowly fell. “Kagome” he started, unsure of why she was crying.

Abruptly she flung herself against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Inuyasha” she whispered “I’ve waited so long to hear you say that. I love you too” She started to pull back from him when she was stopped by him holding her close. She was dreading the answer but she had to ask. She couldn’t continue without knowing. “I have to ask you though.” she whispered “What about Kikyo?”

Inuyasha buried his face in her hair inhaling her sweet scent. “I’ll explain to her Kagome, I’ll make her understand.” He replied. In his mind he was wondering if she would truly understand but then figured as long as she ultimately got what she wanted, he really didn’t think she would mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Partial Lemon Ahead~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome’s heart raced with his words and she looked up to gaze at him lovingly. “I love you.” She whispered once again before bringing his lips to hers. He responded, tentatively at first. She had saved herself for him, the one she loved. And now that she knew her feelings were returned she would give herself to him completely.

He ran his hands through her hair, shivers raced along her skin in response to the contact. He took her response as an invitation to deepen the kiss. Their tongues danced against each other, gently at first but with a growing passion. He broke the kiss off soon after, not wanting to push her into anything she wasn’t ready for but she would have none of it. She had spent too many years loving and wanting him to be denied. And now that she finally knew how he felt about her, she wasn’t about to let him go.

She reached for him and pulled him in close to her once more for another kiss before he asked, “Are you sure?” to which she replied, “I love you. And I am yours if you will have me. You said you loved me, you meant it right?” In answer he kissed her deeply once more before gently lowering her to the ground. Lying next to her he gently kissed along her jaw line and down to her neck. His touch was electrifying on her skin. She reached up and started to undo his haori with slow but sure hands.

“I want to see you my love, and feel you.” she whispered. She slid it off of his shoulders but before it hit the ground he took it and spread it out on the grass before picking her up and setting her gently on it.

She traced her fingers down his chest gazing at him with open desire. He was so handsome in her eyes. So beautiful, perfection if you will. He groaned at the sensations her touch was causing. Unable to stop himself, not that he really wanted to, he slowly started unbuttoning her shirt. He traced his fingers lightly across her skin once he was done opening her shirt. Her skin was on fire, she wasn’t sure how she was going to be able to stand it. These were sensations she had never felt before, ones she had never dreamed as being possible.

Sure she had pleasured herself on a few occasions when being around him became unbearable but this was turning out to be more, so much more. Unable to stand it, she sat up and finished taking off her shirt and her bra before pinning him to the ground where she had once lay. Mesmerized by the sight of her breasts bare, he reached up and ran his fingers across her nipples. Turnabout of course is fair play so while he was massaging her breasts she took the opportunity to straddle his waist. Grinding herself down on his erection she moaned. She needed to release this tension that was burning in her. She needed something, and he would be able to give it to her. Quickly she moved down and started to release his cock from its restraints. Inuyasha couldn’t believe this turn of events. How aggressive she was, and truth be told. He loved it.

“What do you want?” She whispered seductively, staring into his eyes.

Groaning he positioned her above his throbbing cock and pushed her against it. “You” he groaned, not caring that she still had her silky panties on. He felt how drenched they were and it was driving him insane with the need to be inside of her. This desire was so much more intense then he had ever experienced before, his eyes closed and he fell into the fiery pleasure that was coursing though his body.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~End Partial Lemon~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She bent down to kiss and nip on his neck when he moaned the one name that would shatter her heart and fling the pieces everywhere much like the Shikon Jewel had when it broke. “Kikyo”

Time stood still for an eternity it seemed before she shakily moved away from him. She grabbed her shirt and held it to her chest as tears started to fall. “I am not Kikyo.” she whispered heartbrokenly.

“Kagome?” he started unsure of what to say or what to do. “I’m.. I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I’m so sorry.” He couldn’t believe what he had done. He hadn’t meant to be thinking of Kikyo, it had just happened.

“Save it.” She sobbed. “You don’t mean it otherwise you wouldn’t have said HER name.” She quickly threw her clothes back on and turned to him. Her heart was shattered and he knew it. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know. It would be difficult if not impossible to salvage their relationship after what he had done. And not for the first time, he regretted.

“Kagome I LOVE you!” he protested and he put his pants on, not worrying about the rest of his clothes. He knew it would be difficult, but he had to try and salvage at least the friendship they shared.

“And what about Kikyo?” she asked dejectedly “You love her as well.” He couldn’t deny it; she would know he was lying. She sighed, “Don’t bother denying it. I’ll never be able to be me in your eyes, so why try?” She turned and ran from the clearing. She had to get away from him. She ran hoping she could somehow outrun the pain tearing through her heart.

“Kagome!” he cried, furious with himself on how he could have been so stupid. ‘She’ll comeback when she is ready.’ He told himself. ‘I can’t go after her now, she’ll never listen to me.’ He couldn’t face her now, the guilt weighed heavily on his heart. Slowly he turned and made his way back to camp, to await the firestorm that would happen when she came back to camp. He just hoped he could somehow save their relationship.

Branches tore across her legs leaving welts and thin scratches as she ran but she didn’t feel them. Nothing compared to the pain in her heart. ‘How could he?’ she thought. “He said he loved me.” She whispered into the night. “Why? Why would he do this to me?” She cried into the darkness not caring if there was anyone around to hear her. She had no answers. She didn’t really expect any. ‘Maybe it would be better if I were gone’ She thought, allowing darker thoughts to cloud her judgment. It wasn’t the first time her mind had wandered in that direction. Throughout all of the betrayals though she had always managed to push them back, knowing somehow that things would get better. But after tonight she wasn’t so sure. She stopped and sank to her knees barely taking in her surroundings. What did she have to go back to now? She felt utter humiliated at what had happened, she knew that the others would pick up on what was wrong and she would be forced to relive it. And Inuyasha would undoubtedly expect them to pick up where they had left off. She would once more be a copy, a replacement for the dead. She couldn’t handle it anymore. “If I am gone then she can have the rest of her soul back, and I’ll no longer have to deal with this heartache.”

Kagome looked around. The scenery was breathtaking and she would have loved to have been here to enjoy it under any other circumstances. But not now. “This must be the place Shippo was telling me about.” She said standing up. Glancing around she noticed a large rock on the bank of the lake and made her way over to it. Taking a seat she looked out over the lake, noticing how the moon and stars reflected perfectly on its smooth surface. It was a perfect night out.

Immersed in her thoughts she failed to notice that she was being watched, really though it is doubtful at that point she would have cared. He silently observed the young woman who had run into the clearing. Curiosity plagued him. Her clothing was extremely indecent in his opinion, not that he was complaining. His energy sought hers out, recoiling slightly at the feel of her holy energy. He knew then that she was a miko, but it was her aura that truly perplexed him. It swirled chaotically around her, draping her in shadows. He wondered what could have happened to the young Miko that could have hurt her so deeply.

Kagome had made up her mind. She took out a small knife from one of the pockets her mother had sewn into her skirt not more than a week ago. At least this way she wouldn’t have to go back to camp and face him. Opening it she whispered to herself. “Live and be happy Inuyasha. Kikyo can have her soul back from me, and you two can be together once more. I love you” The wind picked up her words and carried them off, winding through the trees.

The one watching her raised an eyebrow at her whispered words. ‘What does she mean by “have her soul back” he wondered ‘Did she manage to somehow steal someone’s soul or was she a reincarnation of this Kikyo person. Either way it would mean that Kikyo who originally had the soul would be dead so why would it matter? How would this Inuyasha and Kikyo be able to live together happily if Kikyo was dead?’ An interesting puzzle indeed and he was curious to the answers. Surely this girl wouldn’t seriously consider killing herself would she? He jumped out of the tree he had been lying in and landed gracefully. Silently he walked up to the girl who was so deep in thought when he saw the moonlight reflect off of the knife she had in her hand.

Kagome had started to press the blade into her arm. Surprisingly she didn’t feel any pain as it bit onto her flesh as she started dragging it from her elbow to her wrist. Blood started welling up and she stopped in her cutting to look at it, fascinated at how it ran down her skin. So entranced was she that she never heard him approach.

“Tell me my Lady.” a smooth and sensual voice came from nowhere breaking her out of her trance “Why would you resort to trying to commit suicide? What has happened to you to cause you such pain?” He noted the depth of the slice she had made. It would need to be treated soon; unfortunately she knew the proper way to cut if one wanted to end their life.

Kagome jumped, startled from her thoughts at that voice. The knife fell from her hand and clattered down on the rock, rebounding and falling into the lake. “Who are you?” she asked. Looking up at the person who had disturbed her, who had stopped her from finishing what she started. She studied him, as well as she could seeing as he was standing in the shadows. The only thing that she could really see of him so far is he had the most piercing blue eyes she had ever encountered.

She started to stand but a wave of dizzyness washed over her. Cursing himself for not taking action sooner, he raced towards her catching her before she hit the ground. Her eyes fluttered briefly and she mumbled incoherently before darkness over took her.

He laid her down gently on the ground before tearing part of his cloak to bind her arm and stop the blood flow. He wondered why he was bothering with doing this. He had never felt any love towards the human race. As long as they didn’t get in his way he didn’t care one way or the other for them aside from what he could steal from them. She wanted to die, who was he to stand in her way? But he thought back once again to the whispered words on the wind. Something terrible must have happened to her to cause such heartache. And there was the question once more about the soul she carried. His mind made up he picked her up, holding her closely to his chest. ‘She smells lovely’ he thought. ‘There’s something about her but I’ll be damned if I know what it is’ he reflected as he walked back to his home. His partner was going to give him hell for this he was certain.

About halfway there he had to stop to check her bandaging. He laid her gently upon the ground when she started to wake. “So cold.” She shivered now that she was away from his warm body. Her thoughts were hazy as to what was happening to her. She feebly tried to move back towards him, eager for the warmth and comfort she had experienced in his arms.

“It is to be expected.” He replied. He gently pushed her back down and held her in place while he rewrapped her wrist. “You’ve lost quite a bit of blood.” He was surprised at how eager she seemed to be when she moved towards him. Strangely it touched him in ways he hadn’t thought possible.

She blinked at him questioningly before the night’s events came flooding back to her. She closed her eyes as tears spilled down her cheeks. He slowly wiped away her tears and she struggled to sit up. “I’m sorry.” she whispered brokenly trying to fight back her tears; she couldn’t show this youkai how weak she was.

He took her up into his arms and held her close though he really didn’t know why. ‘Why am I doing this?’ he wondered ‘For a human no less. I must be losing my mind.’ He inwardly sighed at himself ‘But it feels right.’

Feeling his arms go around her was the last straw. She might not know whom he was but she could feel the strength radiating off of him. He could be strong for her in her moment of weakness, and he was offering it to her willingly. Not because of what she could do, what she held, or who she reminded him of. She couldn’t hold back any longer and the tears fell uncontrollably down her cheeks and soaking his shirt.

“Let it out.” he whispered into her hair “You need this, and I am here for you if you need me.” to which she only cried harder.

“He said he loved me.” she sobbed “But he only sees me as a replacement for her. No. Less than a replacement since she is still around. I.. I guess he figured he could have both of us. I’m not Kikyo. I can never be Kikyo. Why can’t Inuyasha see me for who I am?”

Piece by piece things were slowly fitting into place for him. Anger began to build in him though he couldn’t explain what it was about her that inspired such feelings. Someone had hurt her, and right at that moment he wished he could have even five minutes alone with whoever had done it. He would make them pay dearly. ‘She’s in love with someone but he either doesn’t want her or is trying to turn her into this Kikyo person.’ he figured. “If he can’t see you for who you are.” he started “Then you don’t need him. Surely you deserve better then someone who can never love you for who you are.”

Slowly her tears had subsided but she shook her head. She was still curled against his chest thinking over what he had said. “No” she said, “he has often told me enough how I’ll never be as smart as she is, nor as pretty, or as good at fighting, or any number of other things that she is. Perhaps it is I who don’t deserve him.” He knew whoever had done this had wrought this damage over a long period of time. Her self-confidence was gone; it would take a long time for her to recover. He looked down at her as she pulled away from him slightly and looked at him. “You never told me your name.” she whispered.

He pulled her close once more wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. It would be extremely easy for her to go into shock right then, and he wouldn’t be able to pull her out of it. “Kuronue” he replied. “Trust me in this, you deserve better than what he has given you and you will find someone that will make you happy.” She rested her head against his chest taking security in the fact that he was here. If nothing else, she wasn’t alone. He ran his fingers through her hair one last time before he asked again “What is your name?”

“Kagome” she replied “Kagome Higurashi”

Kuronue smiled, “A lovely name for a lovely lady.” He stood, with her still held against his chest. “Let us return to my home, we need to get your wound attended to before you decide where it is you want to go.”

She nodded before sighing. “Where do I want to go?” she asked, not really knowing the answer. “If I go back to the others, it means I have to see him again. And I don’t know if I can do that right now.” She frowned; she had no intention of facing Inuyasha any time soon. “I could go home but…”

“But?”

“He’ll come for me. I know he will.” Another tear escaped and splashed against his skin. What would happen once she saw him again? Would he act as if nothing had happened between them or would it be even more difficult to hang around until she was finally driven out by her own feelings of self loathing?

He looked down at her. “We’ll be at my home soon. How about you stay there until you decide what it is you wish to do? He offered. “We have the room so it would be no problem.”

She thought about it for a minute and he was beginning to wonder if she was going to refuse. She didn’t want to impose any more upon him than she already had. He had gone out of his way to help her; he was really unlike any demon she had met before.

“Really, we wouldn’t mind” he reassured her. He could see every emotion that crossed her face; she was like an open book to him. He could just imagine the impact that she was going to make on his partner as well. Youko did not have the inhibitions that most demons had.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “I don’t want to be a bother to you or anyone else.”

“I’m sure.” he replied as they crossed through the gates to his home. “It’s only me and my partner Youko here. He may seem cold but once you get to know him he isn’t that bad. We’ll get you set up here and you can decide what you want to do.”

Kagome thought for a moment and then agreed. “Okay, I’ll stay here for the time being. Thank you for the offer. Although tomorrow I’ll probably need to find a way to my home anyway. I don’t have any clothes with me and I’ll need to let my mother know where I am so Inuyasha doesn’t scare her to death with tales of me running off.”

“I’ll take you there myself tomorrow” he promised as they went through the front door. Kagome worried for a moment about that, how was she to explain to him that she lived five hundred years in the future? Could she trust him with that information? She mentally kicked herself. She was trusting him with her very life and taking him up on his offer of a place to stay. If she could trust him enough for those two things then she’d trust him with her secret. It wasn’t as if she could get there without his help with as weak as she was.

She wrapped her arms around his neck loosely to hug him and whispered thank you into his neck. “Thank you for everything” before drifting off into another light slumber.

“You’re welcome.” he said. Her breath against his neck had sent delightful shivers down his skin. He inwardly wondered ‘Who is this mere slip of a girl that can invoke these feelings in me and why?’

Breathing deeply Youko took in the new scents that had begun to permeate the air. “Ah, Kuronue has returned.” he mused “And he brought a young maiden with him. She has.. An enticing scent.” He chuckled and went to investigate whom Kuronue had brought to their home. It was not often that the bat demon brought females home, instead preferring to indulge in their company at a local inn. She must be something special to have been brought here.

~*~