A/n: Okay, back from summer break with fresh ideas and... here we go. Inu Yasha's POV
Disclaimer: Whatever, he's not mine and he never will be.
Regrets 10
Keisuke sighs and starts speaking. "She was human, once long ago. About three hundred years ago to be exact. However, she fell in love with a guy who was sworn to serve a dark miko. She didn't know that he had fled from his master though. They got married and, one day, the miko found them. In her rage, she killed her husband and placed a curse on her." He sighs wearily. "I'm not sure what the exact curse is, but, she can't die. Or, more accurately, she doesn't stay dead. This is her fourth or fifth time she has been 'reborn'. An added affect of the curse is that she can feel and manipulate other's emotions, play with their souls like putty. If she's not careful, she can drive people insane."
Enraged, I jump up. "What?! She was affecting my feelings with all this mumbo-jumbo crap and she could've driven me insane?" I flex my claws, and stalk towards the door. Before I go three steps, I find myself pinned to the wall by Keisuke. His eyes are practically glowing with menace.
"She was trying to help you, you emotionally constipated twit!" He growls and slams me against the wall again. "I don't care if you are wounded or whatever. You have no idea what doing this does to her. So you won't touch her. She's in enough pain." He gives a convulsive shudder and throws me to the floor. "I need to get out. Stay with your friend." His voice is rough, and his entire body is tensed. I begin to get up and go after him but he turns and looks at me, startling me. His eyes are red and his fangs are nearly three inches long - he's beginning to transform to his normal demon state. "Stay here." Before I have a chance to move, the door slams shut behind him.
"Feh. Who needs him." I walk back into the back room and tie the tetsusaiga to my waist. Now I wouldn't be caught unaware. Turning, I walk over to the bed and Kagome's still form. I touch her face softly. "I'm glad, Kagome, that you're still alive. Don't leave me." I lay next to her. And I rest, listening carefully for any sign of danger. I would not allow her to be harmed again.
* * * *
Kagome's POv
As I sit with Kikyo as her quiet sobs recede, I know that this still hasn't solved anything. Kikyo would still want to go to my body, and I wanted it back. We couldn't both have it. How could I fight with her now that I knew what she had been through. The face that she had shown to the world was just a mask. The person I had thought of as cold and heartless just put up a wall to keep from being hurt. Was it any wonder that she showed such a hatred towards Inuyasha when she thinks he betrayed her? He was the first one she had opened up to and it had turned out a disaster because of Naraku. She needs to know that Inuyasha wasn't the one who betrayed her. I touch her shoulder gently and begin to explain what I know about Naraku.
Beneath my hands, I can feel her shuddering sobs begin again. Now it seems strange to me that this woman, who everyone loved, whose shadow I had to live under, should be so fragile. It seems wrong that I should be the one to comfort her when all I had ever felt for her was resentment. After all, wasn't Inuyasha always making those snide comments about how Kikyo was prettier, more mature, better with the bow, and nicer? Why would Inuyasha want me back when he could have Kikyo back, alive and with him? What had I ever done to help him? I always insulted him and used 'sit' on him whenever I got frustrated. I could barely shoot a bow and had no miko powers, although I had the potential. Why didn't I try to help him more? Because it hurt when he compared me with Kikyo. I always knew that I could never live up to the woman whoise face he saw when he looked at me. He loved her. And even though I loved him, How could I live knowing that maybe if he ever did love me in return, it wasn't just the pale shadow of Kikyo he saw in me?
I finally finished my story of Naraku and all the lives he had ruined. What we knew about him wasn't much, but all I knew she now knew too. She sat for a while, silent. then finally looked at me. "Thank you. Thank you for listening to me and for explaining how I died. However, this cannot change that there is only one body and two personalities, if only one soul." I nodded sadly, knowing what was coming next. She climbs to her feet, her mask of indifferece slipping back. "So now, we must continue or battle. And I will not go easy on you." A chill grows in the pit of my stomach as I realize what must now happen. This wasn't a situation where one of us could just walk away. I had to kill her, or she was going to kill me. I stand up shakily and face her, trying to look brave or angry or anything but afraid. I knew I wouldn't survive.
* * * *
Miroku's POV
Walking through the village, I keep recalling the expression on her face when she learned about my curse. I saw it in her eyes - it's that look. Whenever someone finds out about my curse, a certain look goes into their eyes. Pity, fear, anguish. It cut me so deeply to see her look at me like that. Especially when the look wasn't directed at me for more than a second. She couldn't tear her eyes away from my hand. Somehow, knowing that my destruction was coming closer with every passing second didn't make me nervous anymore, but knowing that others might be harmed... Even worse now, she knew that I could die within the next hour and feared me for it. Not me directly, but still, my curse was a part of me that couldn't be changed until Naraku's death. It hurt that she would fear me now.
The clanging of my staff brought me to my senses. I could not go around wallowing in self-pity just because one girl now knew about my curse. Staying away would not change the fact that she knew. Besides, it was dinnertime, and I was hungry. She would not be any different than any other girl. She would pity me my fate and hope that she was not there when it happened. Why would she be any different?
I step into the house, ducking through the door quietly. Kaede sits next to a bubbling pot of curry, and the smells waft throughout the house. Sparing a small smile for Sango, I slip out of my shoes and step inside. As I inquire about dinner I can practically feel the smll glances she sends towards me. She seems to be debating something. I ignore her and fetch the dishes for the food. the house is quiet and tense as we begin eating. Kaede looks at me, attempting to assess my mood. I let her try to guess. You can't be a good monk without being able to hide things well. Right now I am sitting placidly, eating my food. Noone would guess that Sango's shifting and soft mumbling is bothering me more than it should. Why should she be any different?
"I'm sorry, Miroku. I should've asked you before telling Sango about your curse." She clears her throat. Kirara jumps into her lap to be get her ears scratched."Howewver, I feel that Sango has a right to know as much as everyone else about Naraku. Though we don't know his motives, we know that he is after us as much as we are after him." I nod, seeing her point.
"You are right. Sango should know everything she possibly can if she plans to go after him when she is healed." Sango jumps a bit and looks directly at me for the first time.
"How did you... is it that obvious?" She is blushing. I smile slyly.
"Yes. It is." She looks at me and seems to decide on something.
"Would you... perhaps join me?" I can't help it. A devous smile creeps onto my face and I slide over to her. Kaede's disapproving gaze is on my back. She needn't worry. I won't do anything bad. I grab Sango's hands in my own.
"Do you mean, Lady Sango, that you wish to be in my company?" Her cheeks flame, and she snatches her hands back. She begins stammering for a moment before regaining her composure enough to speak.
"I- I meant I would like your help." Her cheeks lose their flush and she becomes solemn. "With killing Naraku."
* * * *
Inu Yasha's POV
Just lying next to her, knowing she is there and safe, is comforting. I really do like her to be near. I can hear her breathing softly and her heart beating slowly. I lie there, my arm around her, hoping that she will wake up soon- just as long as she doesn't kill me as soon as she does wake up. Every once in a while, she stirs a bit like she's having a nightmare. She keeps mumbling under her breath. I want to know what she's saying, but it's too low for even my ears to hear. Finally she speaks up enough for me to catch it, and what she says stops me in my tracks. Her voice is anguished.
"He loves you Kikyo." That brings up a fresh tidal wave of thoughts ready to swamp me. Kikyo? Is she talking with Kikyo? How could she? Kikyo fell off of that cliff. Wait. Do I love kikyo? I know I did, once. But what about now? Kikyo is dead and I'm with Kagome now. I love them both! Wait! I love Kagome?! I push away from her gently and sit up. I need to figure this out. On the one hand, Kikyo- who I loved fifty years ago, might still be alive. But she was resurrected and given a new body, but her soul was still in Kagome. I thought that Kikyo's new body of gravesoil and bones had been destroyed by the fall from the cliff. But if I was wrong and Kikyo was still alive, how do I feel about her? On the other hand, Kagome- At first I had hated her for being like Kikyo. But after getting to know her, I realized that she was nothing like Kikyo. She was Kagome, who was always stubborn and angry at me for insulting her and... comparing her with Kikyo. She hated that. But she was so cute when she was mad. Where the heck did that come from? Did I actually love her?
A sound broke me from my thoughts, and I jumped up, drawing tetsusaiga. The door was opening. I could feel a defensive growl rising in my chest. Then Keisuke walked in. He had obviously calmed down, as he was no longer half-transformed. He looked at me disgustedly. "Put that thing away before you poke someone's eye out." I sheathe tetsusaiga reluctantly, but keep my hand on its hilt. He rolls his eyes. "Why Mom wants to help you, I have no idea." I snort loudly. Who wants help from a freak like her. She'd kill me as well as help me. Keisuke glares at me, seeming to have heard my thoughts. I glare straight back at him. Who does this punk think he is? "Fine. Your little girlfriend can stay in a coma forever for all I care." He turns to leave. I dash in front of him.
"What?" I growl. I'd hate to owe Suzuka anything more, but if she could help Kagome... Keisuke smiles smugly.
"She wants to try and bring her out. She's not sure how much she can help, but she can try. But theres a one in twenty chance it'd drive your girl bonkers." He looked a bit concerned now that I was interested. "Usually it's about a one in sixty chance. It's even more dangerous for Suzuka. Not that you care." He went on, but I had stopped listening. Get Kagome out of her coma? Yes it would be dangerous, but who knows what could happen otherwise. Keisuke was still rambling on. My heart is pounding, but I look at Kagome and finally decide.
"Do it."
End Regrets Chapter 10
A/n: Is it longer than usual? Review and I can try to get the next chapter out before the 22nd. that's when school starts, and I'l be a very busy little girl. Please review?
Disclaimer: Whatever, he's not mine and he never will be.
Regrets 10
Keisuke sighs and starts speaking. "She was human, once long ago. About three hundred years ago to be exact. However, she fell in love with a guy who was sworn to serve a dark miko. She didn't know that he had fled from his master though. They got married and, one day, the miko found them. In her rage, she killed her husband and placed a curse on her." He sighs wearily. "I'm not sure what the exact curse is, but, she can't die. Or, more accurately, she doesn't stay dead. This is her fourth or fifth time she has been 'reborn'. An added affect of the curse is that she can feel and manipulate other's emotions, play with their souls like putty. If she's not careful, she can drive people insane."
Enraged, I jump up. "What?! She was affecting my feelings with all this mumbo-jumbo crap and she could've driven me insane?" I flex my claws, and stalk towards the door. Before I go three steps, I find myself pinned to the wall by Keisuke. His eyes are practically glowing with menace.
"She was trying to help you, you emotionally constipated twit!" He growls and slams me against the wall again. "I don't care if you are wounded or whatever. You have no idea what doing this does to her. So you won't touch her. She's in enough pain." He gives a convulsive shudder and throws me to the floor. "I need to get out. Stay with your friend." His voice is rough, and his entire body is tensed. I begin to get up and go after him but he turns and looks at me, startling me. His eyes are red and his fangs are nearly three inches long - he's beginning to transform to his normal demon state. "Stay here." Before I have a chance to move, the door slams shut behind him.
"Feh. Who needs him." I walk back into the back room and tie the tetsusaiga to my waist. Now I wouldn't be caught unaware. Turning, I walk over to the bed and Kagome's still form. I touch her face softly. "I'm glad, Kagome, that you're still alive. Don't leave me." I lay next to her. And I rest, listening carefully for any sign of danger. I would not allow her to be harmed again.
* * * *
Kagome's POv
As I sit with Kikyo as her quiet sobs recede, I know that this still hasn't solved anything. Kikyo would still want to go to my body, and I wanted it back. We couldn't both have it. How could I fight with her now that I knew what she had been through. The face that she had shown to the world was just a mask. The person I had thought of as cold and heartless just put up a wall to keep from being hurt. Was it any wonder that she showed such a hatred towards Inuyasha when she thinks he betrayed her? He was the first one she had opened up to and it had turned out a disaster because of Naraku. She needs to know that Inuyasha wasn't the one who betrayed her. I touch her shoulder gently and begin to explain what I know about Naraku.
Beneath my hands, I can feel her shuddering sobs begin again. Now it seems strange to me that this woman, who everyone loved, whose shadow I had to live under, should be so fragile. It seems wrong that I should be the one to comfort her when all I had ever felt for her was resentment. After all, wasn't Inuyasha always making those snide comments about how Kikyo was prettier, more mature, better with the bow, and nicer? Why would Inuyasha want me back when he could have Kikyo back, alive and with him? What had I ever done to help him? I always insulted him and used 'sit' on him whenever I got frustrated. I could barely shoot a bow and had no miko powers, although I had the potential. Why didn't I try to help him more? Because it hurt when he compared me with Kikyo. I always knew that I could never live up to the woman whoise face he saw when he looked at me. He loved her. And even though I loved him, How could I live knowing that maybe if he ever did love me in return, it wasn't just the pale shadow of Kikyo he saw in me?
I finally finished my story of Naraku and all the lives he had ruined. What we knew about him wasn't much, but all I knew she now knew too. She sat for a while, silent. then finally looked at me. "Thank you. Thank you for listening to me and for explaining how I died. However, this cannot change that there is only one body and two personalities, if only one soul." I nodded sadly, knowing what was coming next. She climbs to her feet, her mask of indifferece slipping back. "So now, we must continue or battle. And I will not go easy on you." A chill grows in the pit of my stomach as I realize what must now happen. This wasn't a situation where one of us could just walk away. I had to kill her, or she was going to kill me. I stand up shakily and face her, trying to look brave or angry or anything but afraid. I knew I wouldn't survive.
* * * *
Miroku's POV
Walking through the village, I keep recalling the expression on her face when she learned about my curse. I saw it in her eyes - it's that look. Whenever someone finds out about my curse, a certain look goes into their eyes. Pity, fear, anguish. It cut me so deeply to see her look at me like that. Especially when the look wasn't directed at me for more than a second. She couldn't tear her eyes away from my hand. Somehow, knowing that my destruction was coming closer with every passing second didn't make me nervous anymore, but knowing that others might be harmed... Even worse now, she knew that I could die within the next hour and feared me for it. Not me directly, but still, my curse was a part of me that couldn't be changed until Naraku's death. It hurt that she would fear me now.
The clanging of my staff brought me to my senses. I could not go around wallowing in self-pity just because one girl now knew about my curse. Staying away would not change the fact that she knew. Besides, it was dinnertime, and I was hungry. She would not be any different than any other girl. She would pity me my fate and hope that she was not there when it happened. Why would she be any different?
I step into the house, ducking through the door quietly. Kaede sits next to a bubbling pot of curry, and the smells waft throughout the house. Sparing a small smile for Sango, I slip out of my shoes and step inside. As I inquire about dinner I can practically feel the smll glances she sends towards me. She seems to be debating something. I ignore her and fetch the dishes for the food. the house is quiet and tense as we begin eating. Kaede looks at me, attempting to assess my mood. I let her try to guess. You can't be a good monk without being able to hide things well. Right now I am sitting placidly, eating my food. Noone would guess that Sango's shifting and soft mumbling is bothering me more than it should. Why should she be any different?
"I'm sorry, Miroku. I should've asked you before telling Sango about your curse." She clears her throat. Kirara jumps into her lap to be get her ears scratched."Howewver, I feel that Sango has a right to know as much as everyone else about Naraku. Though we don't know his motives, we know that he is after us as much as we are after him." I nod, seeing her point.
"You are right. Sango should know everything she possibly can if she plans to go after him when she is healed." Sango jumps a bit and looks directly at me for the first time.
"How did you... is it that obvious?" She is blushing. I smile slyly.
"Yes. It is." She looks at me and seems to decide on something.
"Would you... perhaps join me?" I can't help it. A devous smile creeps onto my face and I slide over to her. Kaede's disapproving gaze is on my back. She needn't worry. I won't do anything bad. I grab Sango's hands in my own.
"Do you mean, Lady Sango, that you wish to be in my company?" Her cheeks flame, and she snatches her hands back. She begins stammering for a moment before regaining her composure enough to speak.
"I- I meant I would like your help." Her cheeks lose their flush and she becomes solemn. "With killing Naraku."
* * * *
Inu Yasha's POV
Just lying next to her, knowing she is there and safe, is comforting. I really do like her to be near. I can hear her breathing softly and her heart beating slowly. I lie there, my arm around her, hoping that she will wake up soon- just as long as she doesn't kill me as soon as she does wake up. Every once in a while, she stirs a bit like she's having a nightmare. She keeps mumbling under her breath. I want to know what she's saying, but it's too low for even my ears to hear. Finally she speaks up enough for me to catch it, and what she says stops me in my tracks. Her voice is anguished.
"He loves you Kikyo." That brings up a fresh tidal wave of thoughts ready to swamp me. Kikyo? Is she talking with Kikyo? How could she? Kikyo fell off of that cliff. Wait. Do I love kikyo? I know I did, once. But what about now? Kikyo is dead and I'm with Kagome now. I love them both! Wait! I love Kagome?! I push away from her gently and sit up. I need to figure this out. On the one hand, Kikyo- who I loved fifty years ago, might still be alive. But she was resurrected and given a new body, but her soul was still in Kagome. I thought that Kikyo's new body of gravesoil and bones had been destroyed by the fall from the cliff. But if I was wrong and Kikyo was still alive, how do I feel about her? On the other hand, Kagome- At first I had hated her for being like Kikyo. But after getting to know her, I realized that she was nothing like Kikyo. She was Kagome, who was always stubborn and angry at me for insulting her and... comparing her with Kikyo. She hated that. But she was so cute when she was mad. Where the heck did that come from? Did I actually love her?
A sound broke me from my thoughts, and I jumped up, drawing tetsusaiga. The door was opening. I could feel a defensive growl rising in my chest. Then Keisuke walked in. He had obviously calmed down, as he was no longer half-transformed. He looked at me disgustedly. "Put that thing away before you poke someone's eye out." I sheathe tetsusaiga reluctantly, but keep my hand on its hilt. He rolls his eyes. "Why Mom wants to help you, I have no idea." I snort loudly. Who wants help from a freak like her. She'd kill me as well as help me. Keisuke glares at me, seeming to have heard my thoughts. I glare straight back at him. Who does this punk think he is? "Fine. Your little girlfriend can stay in a coma forever for all I care." He turns to leave. I dash in front of him.
"What?" I growl. I'd hate to owe Suzuka anything more, but if she could help Kagome... Keisuke smiles smugly.
"She wants to try and bring her out. She's not sure how much she can help, but she can try. But theres a one in twenty chance it'd drive your girl bonkers." He looked a bit concerned now that I was interested. "Usually it's about a one in sixty chance. It's even more dangerous for Suzuka. Not that you care." He went on, but I had stopped listening. Get Kagome out of her coma? Yes it would be dangerous, but who knows what could happen otherwise. Keisuke was still rambling on. My heart is pounding, but I look at Kagome and finally decide.
"Do it."
End Regrets Chapter 10
A/n: Is it longer than usual? Review and I can try to get the next chapter out before the 22nd. that's when school starts, and I'l be a very busy little girl. Please review?