Its fixed and not so many skips in time to badly. sorry
It had been three days of searching and silence but Kagome could find nothing nor could she sense the Jewel. This searching was leaving her tired, for the directing of her energy not outward but inwards took a lot of concentration and control, something Kagome lacked on. Even so, with Kagome fully tired, she had reason to carry on and that gave her strength. Ed-kun and Al-chan's destiny were in her hands and she had to fix it before the jewel took over and killed them. It was too black and would never let her have happiness, even if she wished Ed-kun could stay. Her heart refused to let go even if she wished to ignore it, Edward was just too...too...she couldn't even think of what to call him, but it just distracted her from her resolve to get them on their true track in destiny. Kagome wouldn't let them be killed like her old friends, who Kagome knew she had a part in their deaths and had messed with their time to die.
Even so, sitting under this tree Kagome smiled as the god tree sent its warmth into her and allowed her peace. But even with this peace Kagome couldn't help but notice something off about her aura. It was clean and pure as always but something as off and the peace and warmth from the tree seemed more cleansing then calming. Maybe she was just haywire from the use of her powers and the stress of the focus. Or maybe it was recognizing her attraction to ed-kun, Miko's could only retain their powers from purity and as much as Kagome tried to deny her attraction it was impossible, even if she wasn't sure if it was an attraction like that of the one like Inuyasha or just an attraction. But be it like Inuyasha's, once she wasn't a virgin anymore she would lose all power. Miko's are meant to never marry or find a partner and if they do, it is considered retirement where someone else must be in her stead ready to take over her duties.
Kagome pushed these thoughts away for she had to send them away before something bad happened to them. Forcing herself Kagome began her search once again, this time determined to find the jewel. To locate means to be able to focus on it and wish and to wish meant loneliness all over again.
But that shouldn't matter to her; she was a miko, a servant and purifier. Kagome breathed inward and steeled her heart.
Edward wondered what to do, he was nervous and every few minutes kept looking out the window at Kagome. She rarely moved and Edward had to bring her food and pick her put to place her in bed when she passed out, exhaustion or just sleepy Edward wasn't sure which. It was becoming a routine and Edward was scared that she just might find the jewel and something horrible will happen. He thought of thousands of different scenarios of her dying horribly and had to shake his thoughts out. He was rarely sleeping now, to worried about Kagome and even watching her sleep at times, coaxing her though nightmares he wasn't aware she was prone to having.
It was the third day of searching and Edward just stared at her, worried. Kagome took little breaks here and there and spoke with him when they ate but other than that there was little interaction. He could even walk right up to her and stand before her and she wouldn't even notice him, causing him to worry all the more, she was vulnerable like this, easily attacked.
To distract himself Edward took to cleaning and fixing the house every so often, fixing the dent Kagome put in the floor with that pan just days ago, cooking and sparing with Alphonse when he wished to. Time was just too slow and Edward found himself wishing that Kagome wasn't the guardian of the jewel, for he could just find a way to take her to his land and after he found a way to gain his and Al's body back. Then he could live quietly and possible have a few kids...
Ed grinned at the thought for they would be as stubborn as Kagome.
-
Night came and there was nothing found, Edward looked at her with a face of disagreement but he smiled at her anyway. Holding his hand out, Kagome smiled and took it.
"Any luck?"
"No." Kagome shook her head and sighed, today not a single step forward was made towards focusing her energy for search. It was saddening that she couldn't find control no matter how hard she tried. Maybe in trying too hard, Kagome thought as she followed Edward inside to face a happy Al, I'll try to remain calm and thoughtless tomorrow.
-
The fourth day started with some bad luck, her water in her faucet was brown, she slept in and she had a migraine unlike any other before. Kagome just wanted to get out of the sun and rest in her dark room but her duty was stopping her. She could tell that Alphonse and Edward noticed and she reassured them by taking some medicine for the ache. IT still wasn't working yet but Kagome had closed her eyes in hopes of stopping the sting behind her eyes.
Her head hurt too much but at least it stopped her thinking, allowing her to slip into a half meditated state. This pain allowed her control over her mind to a point, now if only she could find her center.
Edward watched on and sighed as he stood at the doorway. Another day, he wished she would just quite but they did need to go home, as much as he hated to admit it. He watched Kagome teeter and fall over and he smiled knowing at once that she fell asleep. Walking over he sat her up under and against the tree, brushing her bangs out of her face. He could see the strain on her face of stress and sighed once again. He knew he had to leave her under the tree and stood up, her pride was on the line and he had to let her go. He saw Alphonse out of the corner of his eyes and gave a look that only his brother could understand. Silently he left Kagome under the tree.
An hour later Kagome was floating in half sleep awareness, not wan ting to wake up yet unable to sleep. Without thought Kagome let her brain float and remain suspended, feeling the calm and cleansing feeling from the tree. The tree began to pulse and it was then that Kagome noticed her powers were pulsing in the same rhythm, endlessly lulling her into a deeper state of mind. And then she felt it, her power was in beats pouring ever so slowly into her body's blood stream and flashing from organ to organ, searching silent and soft. Kagome found thinking to be difficult and slipped into a dream like state lured by the beating and the feel of purity though her veins. It felt like days, going ever so slowly and Kagome felt she knew everything and nothing at the same moment, and she didn't want to leave.
Time ticked away and just out of nowhere all thoughts and feelings of her body returned to her. Kagome shot up and all that feeling of knowledge faded but left behind two things. She had found the jewel, its power beating in time to the tree and two a memory.
"I wish I had someone to love..." Those words rang in her head and Kagome suddenly knew what she had done. Kagome stood up and looked at the tree. It as pulsing and as she touched it Kagome could feel its cleansing touch. She made a wish for her heart and the Shikon had responded, only because it was in her heart. It heard her hearts longing and gave it to her. Another memory came to her, a thought from just days ago. 'After all, the wish to get you here cost me my old loves life. My wish for Inuyasha to live again cost me his love. What more can't I take? I don't have anything more to give but my own life.'
Another problem showed up, she not only brought them here on the implications of love but now that the wish is fulfilled Kagome does have more to give then her life now. And she paid the price to get them both here, fir the jewel gave her two people to love, one as a sibling and another as more. But what was she going to do now? Her heart didn't wish to let them go and wishing on the jewel like this would be dangerous. If she didn't care for the man then it would have been different but now that she was attracted to him, the jewel may take from him in its way to cause pain and sorrow to the wisher. Kagome almost wanted to cry and she leaned on the tree. Suddenly she felt weak at the knees as the tree and the jewels pulse grew harder and stronger.
Edward walked outside the house carrying a tray when he saw Kagome lying on the ground. After a second of staring Edward threw the tray away and rushed forward. Knelling, Edward grabbed Kagome's shoulders and turned her on her back. Scanning her face he relaxed when he saw she was only sleeping and nothing more. That's it, she's taking a break. She has been going at this for days without rest. With the jewel we can still return and maybe we can make the cost be Kagome's life here, making her come with us.
Edward picked her up and began to walk her up to the shrine when Alphonse opened the door. Returning from Landry he saw Kagome being carried by Edward. Opening the door Edward stepped inside.
"What happened to her?"
"Exhaustion most likely."I'm going to demand her to take a break when she wakes."
"stubborn like you, brother, but dedicated as well."
"yeah, but I care about her too much for her to kill herself over locating the jewel." and with that Ed carried Kagome upstairs to her room. Alphonse just smiled and was ready to tease hadn't Edward looked so worried.
Not too much time had passed since Kagome had passed out that Edward found himself pacing around her room. He just wanted her to simply wake and his wish was granted when a soft sound was admitted from the woman on the bed. Kagome wiggled some on the bed before she opened her eyes. It took moments before she remembered everything and groaned putting her arm over her eyes.
"your awake."
"obviously."
"touché."
Kagome smiled and sat up. Looking at Edward she saw something she had not noticed before, he had bags under his eyes and looked tired. Kagome's smile faded when she realized she didn't feel that well either, her body was shaking and she felt ill in spirit, heart, mind and body. And guilty. Terribly guilty.
Kagome never wanted to mediate again. She looked towards Edward and saw him sit down upon her bed before raising a hand towards her forehead.
⌠you dint look to good. Are you getting sick? I think it's time to take a break."
Kagome smiled at him, but a pressure was building behind her eyes and swimming in her brain, the beginning of another migraine that Kagome wished she didn't have.
"I don't need a break, Kagome looked at Edwards face and saw his scow, "I won't need one, because I won't need to search again." Kagome's sentence brought only seconds confusion before Edward grabbed her shoulders a look of relief and curiosity on his face.
"You found it?"
"yeah."
"where is it?"
"In my heart."
Edward looked to Kagome and the expression on her face. He knew they couldn't cut it out of her now and was glad for that but her face held a look that sent some alarm bells off. Just as he was about to speak, Alphonse came up the stairs and into the room with a tray of food. Kagome looked at the food and was glad when her stomach didn't recoil from the thought of something solid within and the wonderful smell of rice. Alphonse set the tray down on her lap and she could feel the smile his soul was sending. Edward sighed and coughed to get Kagome's attention.
"If the jewel is in your heart we obviously are not going to remove it." Edward looked at Al and got a nod of agreement. "I don't think it would be dangerous to wish from within for the jewel answered a wish from you that brought us here. But there is still a problem, the cost. Your life is too important."
"My life may not be the cost." Kagome whispered.
"It's your most precious thing isn't it, Kag-chan?"
Kagome shook her head, "No, and I have put you two in danger."
"We are already in danger by being here aren't we?"
"Your entire existence was only in danger and could be easily fixed earlier by simply sending you two back to your land without memories, at the exact time you left. I have-"
"But I don't want to forget!" "NO!"
These two were yelled at the same time that Kagome had to lean back and grab her head as her head gave a painful throb, and her body shook harder. The brothers seemed to notice for whatever else they were going it say calmed for a moment as Edward grabbed her shoulders and leaned her backwards. Kagome felt horrible in both body and emotions. These icky feelings in her seemed too had loosed her tongue and make her say things better not said. She put them in danger and she needed to tell them how and why, but the migraine was beginning to split her vision ad make her nocious and the food on her lap suddenly didn't smell so good. And it was too bright, too bright.
She count focus and could only moan at the pain. Edward looked at her before moving the tray and sitting down on the floor.
"I'll see if she has some medicine somewhere." Aphonse whispered before leaving the room.
Edward looked at Kagome, form giving a shake every few seconds with her arm over her eyes. 'She's in pain because of that damn jewel's hiding; will its cruelty ever die out?'
Edward looked at her and her normally soft tan skin was white with ill. "Damn, probably has allergies to your own powers, since you can't heal yourself." he grumbled as she moaned again. Alphonse better hurry up.
It's been a day now and Kagome was still ill. No, thought Edward, she was getting worse. Kagome just got a fever this morning and was overheating while claiming it was cold but at least her migraine had disappeared and she slept a good sign to Edward. But she wasn't hungry and wouldn't eat anything. Alphonse had taken over kitchen duty because Edward simply refused to leave Kagome's side, almost all the time. While Al laughed at the stubbornness of Edward Kagome was simply embarrassed.
Even so Alphonse knew the reason to his clinginess. It was the same reason that had made them both sad. Kagome wanted to make them forget. That truly hurt and that meant that Edward was to forget her and Alphonse didn't think that was a good idea. Edward was angry about that but he kept it hidden now, more concerned about Kagome. Edward would deal with one problem at a time and it's not like he could argue with a sick Kagome anyway.
The day passed with Kagome smiling a little but they didn't press on questions. They knew where the Jewel was and had to think of a way past the consequences. Just like with the stone they needed to seek another answer. How to make Kagome not suffer but return home? If Alphonse was asked, he didn't want to go home, all the technology here was interesting and there was a peace here that his homeland didn't offer. But he had to go home, to Winry and everyone else, they had a task to do and bodies to return.
Even if Kagome couldn't come along as the price.
Not that Edward allows that, Alphonse grinned at the thought of Edward throwing Kagome over his shoulder with her yelling and hitting him. He could almost hear her calling him an idiot.
It was nighttime now, and Alphonse felt scared, more scared then he had when he had to help give birth or even when his body was taken. Edwards face was grim and full of panic and he was shaking. Kagome was pale, sweating and somehow she had lost weight. Her fever was worse and they could see the pain of the migraine on Kagome's face plain as day. The medication they been giving her wasn't helping and they had no clue what to do. They couldn't take her to a doctor, they had no clue where one was or how to even get there and also they had a grim feeling that the technology of today could save her.
Kagome gave a moan and her hands clenched as her eyes squinted open.
"I'm sorry." Edward shook his head and grabbed one of her hands, pulling it open.
"For what?"
"It's...my fault...you cannot use jewel ...return home." Edward shook his head again. "We can, we just need to find something for the price." Edward and his brother had a small flash back to yesterday, wasn't Kagome saying something like this before?
Kagome closed her eyes and breathed outward, Alphonse could see the strain it took to even breathe for her. "My life...n-not important."
"Yes it is! Otherwise we would have been home and you would be dead."
"I put...danger...c-cost."
'What is she talking about? There is little danger for us but a lot for her. The cost could be her life.' Alphonse looked at his brother and saw the same confused look.
"If you are talking about our existence and souls, we already screwed that up, not much more you could do to make it worse." Edward tried to sooth Kagome but when she shook her head only to clench her eyes and shake all over.
"I-I," Kagome licked her lips and gasped as a spasm of pain shot threw her spine and her heart, causing her left hand to shoot up and grab her chest as she arched of the bed.
"Stop talking and rest, you cannot die on us!" The pain was obviously messing with her head and causing her to become delusional.
"I have so-something to give n-now," Kagome rasped out as her eyes opened and met Edwards. "I-I care."
"I care too."
"So do I, no please rest kag-chan! please..."
Kagome's pain clouded mind grasped only some of what they said before her vision swam as another spasm of pain shot threw her body. What was it she was trying to tell them again? She couldn't remember and it was getting really hard to think over the pounding of her head. Kagome closed and all turned black.
Edward watched as she passed out on her bed and felt some relief that she possibly won't feel this in her unconscious state. Even if he felt slim happiness at being told that she cared, what did that have to do with cost? Also, another person he loved was dying right in front of him and he had no clue what to do. He looked to Alphonse who just shook his head before wrapping his arms around himself, almost like he was wishing for some kind of heat.
the night passed on with little sleep. And from then that Edward sat beside her mopping up sweat and feeling useless. HE could transfigure without a circle, fight to save life and yet before him he was out of his league here, he was no healer. He faced the powers of healing before and knew that he was no good and failed to bring his mother back. Sorrow filled his soul as he whipped her face again. The time grew to late in the day and Edward found himself blacking out, tired and full of worry. Alphonse went to get new cold water. He was only gone for no more than four minutes.
And Kagome was gone.
Alphonse dropped the bowl of water making Edward jump to attention with sluggish movements. It took only a couple of seconds of looking at Alphonse for his memory to restore and for him to quickly turn to look at the bed. "Al..."
"I don't know! she was asleep and here just minutes ago!"
Edward charged forward with a cry of Kagome before he slipped on the water on the floor. Cursing he stood and ran out of Al's sight. Looking from the water on the floor up to the bed that had its covers pushed back, Alphonse knew that she couldn't off been stolen and had two of gotten up. Only Kagome's steps could pass a sleeping Edward and him without either knowing. But why did she leave and how?
Alphonse took off after his brother, though less nosy.
Kagome could feel her feat moving under her body and moaned as another throb assaulted her head. Was she dreaming? If she was it hurt and she didn't want to dream this dream. Kagome's eyes opened without her command and she felt her face give a smirk as the hot sun hit down upon her. Or, Kagome thought fuzzily, her eyes did open on her command for she was moving her own hands to touch her face and there was no smile there.
Kagome wished this dream would end and somewhere down inside, a sense said, soon.
Edward found Kagome, outside just standing in her yard. He was about to run up to her when he felt something was wrong. Definitely wrong for Kagome turned around and put her hands behind her back and smiled. At first Edward thought her fever was gone and her allergic reaction was over, he opened his mouth to yell at her for worrying him when he noticed what was wrong with the picture.
Kagome's eyes were brown and she had on Inuyasha's cloths and sword.
Edward closed his mouth and went on guard as Alphonse ran out of the house. his little brother almost ran unto Kagome had not he seen Edward's face. Stopping just footsteps in front of his brother Alphonse looked at Kagome, who just laughed and spread her arms out wide.
"What's the matter, Ed-kun? What no hug or kiss for becoming better?" Kagome's smile turned into a smirk and she leaned forward face becoming a little shadowed causing her brown eyes to turn black.
"You bitch! we killed you! where's Kagome!"
"She's here." Kikyo touched her body and smiled. "I am Kagome now. well, not really, her soul is fighting mine even as we speak. I wouldn't have awoken hadn't the tree disturbed my sleep inside the jewel."
"That means it wasn't her powers that caused her illness! it was you!" Alphonse was growing angry as he looked at Kagome's face. Such a look shouldn't be there; she was a kind woman and always had soft features. the sharp contrast was startling, for it seemed the weight loss was because of all the energy Kagome was putting out to fight Kikyo's soul down.
"yes, sadly she is winning." Kikyo's calmness in her voice was unsettling to Edward. What was she planning?
"No matter, it's not like she will live anyway! this is for killing Inuyasha and not leaving us is in peace!"
And with that Edward and Alphonse watched in horror, no matter how fast they moved the wouldn't of been able to save her, as Kagome's body was falling and a white cloud of smoke was floating above her body. Edward was already running and he couldn't even catch her as she hit the ground. Picking her up he saw the damage, a hole, huge and deep in her chest, revealed the missing organ, a heart.
It meant instant death.
Kagome's eyes were blue again and open.
Edwards's vision was blurry and he couldn't stop shaking.
Alphonse looked at the damage and fell to his knees, he had to look away. And when he did he wished he had not, for the white cloud was dripping red and he could see Kagome's heart in the middle still pulsing as it gave its last beat. pure rage flew into him and Alphonse was drawing a symbol on the ground before he even knew what was happening.
He touched the symbol and at once knew something was wrong, it was glowing and a wind picked up. Alphonse looked to his brother and saw his hands on the ground along with the same spark and wind picking up. Kagome's body was there and the jewel was out in the open. almost at once Alphonse was worried that his Alchemy was misdirected.
Edward shook his head at Alphonse knowing at once what he was thinking and looked up at cloud kikyo who was shaking. There was a large glow and everything went to white as everything stilled. there was no wind and no sound, no sparks and the two brothers could feel the alchemy calm. Kikyo's screech took them by surprise and when the white faded they watched amazed as the shikon darted out of Kikyo's cloud and zoomed through the air towards them.
It stopped before Edward who grabbed the jewel and in amazement saw it to be made halfway of solid stone and on the purple side warmth he recognized flowed out of it.
"Kagome..." Edward didn't even realize he was crying until the drop landing on the jewel. It glowed faintly and darkened, absorbing his pain and in the back of his mind Edward could feel its call to use it. To darken it and make it impure. Edward smiled when he realized he was just doing that with his emotions, he could never hold the pureness Kagome did, when it came to cleansing things anyway.
Kikyo was struggling in the air and couldn't move. Her mouth was moving but nothing came out. Edward looked from her to the jewel to Kagome's body. Maybe they could save her. Taking the jewel in his left hand the man looked down at the pale, skinny and bloody body on the ground, still where he set her to perform his alchemy, and moved his hand. Setting the jewel down in the cavity Edward swiped it back up when it went to roll downwards into her body. He could feel Alphonse over him and with a shaking hand Edward grabbed it with two hands to hold inside the cavity.
The jewel shown and almost at once started to spark as Edward opened his mouth to wish, he didn't care what he gave up, just to have her back would be enough. The jewel's sparks continued and burned his one hand making him let go and curse as he shielded his eyes from the too hot white light. This one didn't die down as fast as the other had and only seemed to get brighter. There was a slamming sound and a creaking as the light dissipated enough for Edward to see.
The Gate.
It was here and at once Edward knew what he had down, he didn't use the jewel like he was meant to. It reacted to his alchemy and the circle his blood and hands formed. He accidently casted a circle and there was a price to pay. The gate was open and he could see all the darkness inside and those cold hands reached outward and grabbed him, Kagome, Alphonse and Kikyo before closing.
Darkness surrounded him and there was no forcing of knowledge inside his brain this time, as the hands ripped Kagome's body from his grasp. Edward was about to cry out when he saw the dark blobs cry out in pain and let go of the body they were holding. Kagome's body hit his and at once those hands on him let go. Alphonse was nowhere to be seen and Edward panicked.
It was then he saw something amazing. Kikyo's soul was being grabbed and dragged away as she screamed and just as she faded away bright light shown blinding him. And there was darkness.
Edward woke to a warm body on his and someone shaking him.
"bother!" Al! Edward opened his eyes and sat up, it was bright and he couldn't see at first. When his vision cleared he looked over at Alphonse and was happy to still see his brother, armor soul clad and all before something hit him. Kagome!?
Edward gasped and looked down, Inuysha's gi was full and not ripped like it had been before and without thought Edward pulled it open to come to a vision of skin.
Well, more precise, breasts. Flushing he closed the folds before putting his ear next to Kagome's mouth. tiny breaths came out and hit his ear. Edward was so happy he could kiss her, but was afraid she might stop breathing.
"She's ok Al, she's going to live."
"But we went through the gate, how are we still at the shrine?"
Edward looked around and realized what Alphonse said was true; they were still at the shrine.