Across The Gap.docx

7/27/2019 Across The Gap.docx

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Across The Gap

It's cold . . . And . . . I'm laying on something hard, like . . . the ground? No, it's wood. Woodflooring. I think. Right? It has to be. Nothing else feels this cold or smooth. I stirred slightly,opening my eyes. My body was sore, and I knew I had to have been lying on that floor for a

while. Of course, if my memory served correctly, lying on the floor wasn't the only answer formy sore body.

It was a small hut I appeared to be in. There was a small fire crackling in the middle of the room,

and there was a dark figure across the hut from me, shrouded in the shadows, sitting indian styleand looking out the window over his shoulder, up at the moon. The moonlight hit the floor right

beside the figure, so I couldn't even see it clearly at all. But I could tell the figure was male. That

much was evident.

Who is he? And . . . why am I here? Did he bring me here? He must have . . . I thought, slowly

sitting up.

He didn't even acknowledge the notion. He didn't even act as if he were aware or not that I was

awake. I tried to remember what had happened to me, and began to remember.

That's right . . . I fell through the Bone Eater's Well that my grandfather warned me about. And .

. . I was attacked. By . . . a monster . . .

*Flashback*

I pulled myself up from the well, and gazed around carefully, eyes widening. The well was

surrounded by lush, vivid green grass, in a large field. Surrounding that were ancient, gigantic

trees, each filled with centuries of history. The leaves whispered softly in the breeze, and I knew,somehow, I was in some strange, mystical world. I wasn't in my own world. I was somewhere

alien, somewhere new.

I set feet on the ground, and peered about, before I decided I'd better take a look around and see

if I could find someone and ask them where I was. I started toward the forest with cautious steps,

since no one was in the field before me. I walked slowly through the trees. All was silent, and thesunlight guided me through the forest.

I heard rustling behind me, and tensed, glancing over my shoulder, and seeing nothing. Thebushes behind me were still. I stared at them for another long moment, before I turned back

around and resumed walking.

I stopped a second time as I heard the rustling again, and I heard a low, menacing hiss behind

me, that turned into a rough laugh. The sound sent chills up and down my spine, and I shuddered,

before turning around.

A scream escaped my lips at the sight of a tall, horribly disgusting creature. It's skin was a

sickening yellowish green, and there were horns atop it's head, and ugly, glowing red eyes


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peering greedily at me as its fangs dripped with drool. It was huge, and grotesquely muscular,

and only a brown loincloth was it's clothing. It had great yellow claws instead of fingers.

"Where do you think you're going, human girl?" it's voice was low and it sounded as it was

growling with every word. It took a step toward me, and the trees shook a little.

"S-stay back from me!" I tried to sound brave, but my heart was pounding. This was a nightmare.

Whatever world I was in, I wanted to leave it right now.

The monster laughed, and it's great shoulders shook with the terrible sound. "Are you threatening

me? How amusing. You shall soon be my next meal." The thing reached a giant clawed hand inmy direction, and I thrust my own hand forward, toward it, before I knew what I was doing, and

suddenly, heat and energy seared through my body and burst forth, and a bright purple light

flashed, and suddenly I could smell sizzling flesh, and I heard the monster roaring in agony as

his hand fell to the ground, sliced clean from his arm. I didn't bother to stay after that. I took offrunning.

"Come back here, wench! You'll pay for what you've done to me!" the monster bellowed frombehind me. I could feel the ground shaking beneath me as he charged after me, and I forced my

legs to go faster, my heart racing. I had to escape, or I was going to be eaten.

"Somebody! Anybody! Help me!" I screamed, as I ran, smacking thorns and briars out of my

way, ignoring the sharp sting as they cut into my flesh.

I gasped as my foot caught on an upraised root, and I went face first into the dirt. I heard the

monster rapidly approaching, and I heard him growl, "No one's going to save you now, now that

I have you. Come here." he reached for me, and I tried to kick him, but he seized my leg, and

yanked me up from the ground with ease.

"I've had enough for your resistance, human!" he slammed me up against a tree, and pain splitthrough me, and I saw stars. I knew I was done for.

"If you think that measly human is going to be your next meal, you've got another thing coming."

I only vaguely heard the voice, and it was rough, and masculine. Through my blurred vision, Isaw a dark figure behind my attacker, who was still holding me up by the ankle. "Who . . .?" I

whispered, but I was rapidly loosing conciousness. The last thing I heard before I passed out was

the dark figure bellowing, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" as it launched itself towards the monster

who held me.

*End Flashback*

He must have saved me from that huge monster. But . . . why? Why did he save me? Why did he

care? I thought, as I pulled myself from the memory, watching the figure with gratefulness in myeyes. He had saved me, after all.


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"It's nighttime. You should go back to sleep." The figure finally spoke, and it was definitely the

same voice of the figure who had saved me. The voice was most definitely masculine, and it was

low, and had a rough quality. He didn't look at me once.

"My head hurts . . . but I don't think I can sleep." I admitted, and put a hand to my head, which

was throbbing slightly. Not too badly, thankfully.

He didn't say anything to that, but continued gazing out the window. "So . . . you saved me." I

stated. He didn't answer. "Can I ask . . . why?"

"Because that demon was in my way, that's why. Not for you." his voice was harsh, and thecomment stung. I felt a rush of anger, but decided to let it slide.

"Did you say demon? That was . . . a demon?" I was just about willing to believe anything at this

point, after all that had happened so far.

"What are you, stupid? Never heard of a demon before? Feh. You'd better get used to it." therehe went again, belittling me, as if I was stupid and he was superior. It was starting to grate on mynerves.

"Well excuse me for coming from a world where demons and fairytales don't exist." I said

angrily.

"I knew something was off about you. Your clothes are weird."

I looked down at my blue jeans and black t-shirt. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but Isupposed it looked strange, since that demon from before had been wearing a loincloth. "Well,

this is what we wear in my world. This is normal clothing. It's not weird."

"Well, whatever."

"Whether you did it for me or not, I can't ignore the fact that you saved my life." I said quietly,

changing the subject. "So, thank you."

"Don't thank me. Trust me, the grateful act doesn't suit you."

"I don't like your attitude." I snapped. "The least you could do is be friendly to me, seeing as how

I almost got eaten."

Finally, he looked away from the moon and to me, but I still couldn't see his face. I could see hiseyes, and they were the strangest color, a light yellowish gold, and very piercing, like he was

looking right through me. It was unnerving, and it made my heart stop in an unfamiliar way.

"Hmph. I don't gotta do nothin'. Don't think for a second you can push me around, because just

as easily as I saved you I can get rid of you like I did that demon." he threatened, before looking

outside once more.


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I quieted, because since he'd slain that bigger demon, he had to be right. And I didn't want to

push the wrong buttons and die. But I knew that I at least needed to know this guy's name. At the

very least.

"Can I at least ask your name?" I dared to stand up, and move a few steps in his direction. He

seemed to tense as I approached, and watched me out of the corner of his eye.

"What's it to you, wench?"

I bit back a sharp retort. "It's to put a name to the man who saved my life."

"Hmph. Since I saved your life, can't you just be satisfied with that?"

"What do you have to hide?" I asked him suddenly. "I have no idea where I am, or who you are,or anything about this world. I have no one to reveal you to, and no one to betray you to. I don't

even have a way to protect myself. So why is it so hard?"

He didn't seem to have a response to that. "It just is. So stop askin' questions."

"Fine." I said angrily. "Then I'll leave and find someone who's more willing to help me." I turned

and stormed from the hut, not even caring to think about the fact that it was nighttime, and I

could run into another demon.

Once I was outside in the cool air, I saw the hut was in the middle of the forest. I could see a

small clifftop behind the hut, free of trees, and bathed in moonlight. I decided I would go to it,

and see if I couldn't see anymore houses nearby. Perhaps I could go there if there was one close,and ask some questions.

I walked up to the cliff top, and once upon the edge, I began to look down and about the valleybelow. I could see trees and more trees, but no houses. I sighed quietly.Just where am I? Am I

going to find my way back home anytime soon? This is just all too confusing right now. And that

guy . . . he's such a jerk. I wonder what his problem is.

"It's really stupid to be out here like this, considering how you were attacked earlier."

I looked over my shoulder, and froze when I could see him clearly in the moonlight, for the first

time. He was . . . he was beautiful. His hair was long and silvery white, and hung well past his

shoulders, blowing gently in the wind. His skin was smooth and tanned lightly, with a slight

golden shade. His face was extremely beautiful, with soft lips, angular features, and darkeyebrows that were a sharp contrast to his light hair. I didn't miss the two soft, white ears on top

of his head, that resembled the ears of a canine. He wore a red kimono, the clothes of the oldshinto priests from the Feudal Era, but with his appearance, it suited him.

His eyes were what got me the most, though. He was looking right at me, as if granting me mymoment to stare at him, his silver hair blowing very gently in the breeze. He was looking at me


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as if he already knew me, and as if I already knew him. Something about him was so surreal and

ethereal, like he belonged in a fairytale.

Despite the fact of his wild, otherworldly appearance, I wasn't frightened. I felt my heart soften,

to be honest, as we held gazes. "What are you?" I whispered, fascinated, my heart beating a little

faster just by being in his presence.

"A demon." He said quietly.

I wasn't surprised to hear it. Past his parted lips were fangs, and when I looked down at his

hands, he had claws instead of fingernails. He was also barefoot. But he also looked so human.And I wondered, recalling the demon from earlier, how someone so human in appearance and

yet so otherworldly could be a demon. "A demon." I repeated. "Well, that explains a lot. If you're

a demon, aren't you going to try to eat me too?"

"Hmph. I don't eat humans. I don't waste my time with them." He replied scathingly, as if the

mere fact that I was human disgusted him.

"Then why save me?"

"I already told you why."

"But if he was in your way, why bother to take me back here? Why not leave me in the forest,after the demon was dead?" I asked quietly.

He looked taken off guard, and he bared his fangs at me. "I don't have to explain anything to you,wench. Keep pressin' my buttons and I might just kill you."

But I wasn't afraid of his threat. I didn't know why, but something about him . . . I didn't sensethat he could really hurt me. Or that he would, anyway. "Then if you're going to kill me, youmight as well go ahead. Because I'm not going to stop the questions."

"Feh!" he turned away from me. "Don't tempt me."

"I'm not afraid of you." I said, simply.

He growled a little. "You don't know who you're dealin' with."

I just found, that underneath the moonlight, looking the way that he did, and making me feel the

way that he did, I couldn't be angry at him for his outright coldness. "If you won't tell me your

name, then can I tell you mine? So you can know who you saved?"

"Why would I want to know?"

I ignored that. "My name is Kagome. Kagome Higurashi."

He was quiet for a moment. "You don't hear names like that very much."


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I sensed it wasn't a compliment, but it wasn't really an insult either. I smiled a little. "So, what do

you plan to do with me in the morning?"

"Nothin'. You're goin' to leave and be on your way. Your problems ain't my problems."

"I suppose that's fair." I said quietly. "You saved my life."

"What? You're not going to complain that I'm makin' you leave?" he asked haughtily, turning

back towards me.

"No. I suppose not." I replied honestly. "It's only fair."

He watched me for a moment, golden eyes searching for my face, and I saw something akin to

mistrust in them, as if he was trying to see if I had hidden motives. Then, finally, he said quietly,

"My name is Inuyasha."

I was taken off guard by his sudden compliance. "Inuyasha." I repeated. "Well, thank you again

for saving me. I guess when morning comes I'll go my own way."

He only grunted in response and I followed him back to the hut. He was much taller than me as

well, the top of my head barely grazing his chin. Once we were back inside, he settled back in hisplace by the window, and I laid back down on the floor and closed my eyes. Soon after I fell

asleep.

When sunlight peeked into my eyes from the cracks in the hanging door of the hut, I rose,

stretching the soreness of my body, and looked around the hut. Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen,so I sighed.I guess I'm going to have to leave without saying goodbye. I mean, I could wait until

he comes back, but . . .

No! What am I thinking? I don't even know him, other than his name. He could end up killing meafter all. Besides, he's mean to me. I should just leave before I overstay my welcome. I should

just be glad to him for my life. I thought solemnly, as I pushed the door aside and stepped

outside. It was clear and sunny outside, and I could see a dirt road beyond the trees a ways from

the hut that I hadn't seen before in the darkness.

I glanced around for Inuyasha once more, but he was nowhere to be seen still. I let out anotherbreath before I started for the road.Hopefully I won't come across any demons. I don't have any

way to protect myself.

Once I was on the road, I looked back in the direction of the hut, but couldn't see it. It was wellhidden by the trees, but I knew it was there. I lingered for a moment, wondering what the strange

feeling was inside me, that refused to let me just move on already without thinking of Inuyasha.

His face appeared briefly in my mind.Maybe it's because he saved me. Maybe that's why he'shaving an impact on me. That must be it. No other boy has ever had any sort of impact on me,

even ones who are handsome or nicer to me than Inuyasha is. So it has to be because he saved

my life. I thought, but something was telling me that wasn't it.


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I was lost in my thoughts as I walked down the road, and I wasn't really keeping track of how far

I'd gone. The road seemed to go on forever, and I knew it had been awhile when my legs started

to grow sore and my feet began to ache. The trees were beginning to clear up a bit now, and Icould see what looked to be many huts ahead.A . . . village? This world just gets weirder andweirder. I thought, but I wasn't going to complain. It was somewhere to rest. I moved forward

eagerly.

When I reached the village, I saw people in kimonos and strange, old clothing bustling about,

working in fields, carrying baskets of crops, washing laundry, etc. All the women were modestlyclad in their kimonos, and the men were working hard chopping wood and performing other

labors. It was a bizarre sight indeed, not to mention all the huts were small and shabby, and

nothing was modern.

Have I been blasted into the past? I wondered.Is this like . . . feudal Japan? But . . . how?

Because I accidentally fell through the Bone Eater's Well while cleaning the shrine?

I was interrupted from my thoughts because the villagers had noticed my presence, and manywere eyeing me strangely. To them, my own clothes were something bizarre, and I probably

looked like a freak, standing there and staring at all of them. They began to whisper amongstthemselves, and I heard things like, "demon" and "shapeshifter".

My heart pounding slightly with nervousness, I moved over to a woman who was washinglaundry, and she tensed, eyeing me with mistrust as I approached her. I smiled at her, trying to

lift the stress, but it didn't seem to help. "Excuse me, but can you tell me where I am?"

"If you've got questions, you're better off asking priestess Kaede. I've got work to do." she said

simply, turning away from me. Stung slightly, I moved away from her.

I went next to a man who was working in the field. "Excuse me, but can you tell me where I

am?" I repeated.

"I don't have time for questions. Can't you see I'm busy? Why don't you find priestess Kaede?"

he said rudely.

I glared at him. So much for manners. Apparently no one here has any. I guess I'd better find this

Kaede person that they're talking about. "All right. Then can you at least tell me where to findthis Kaede?"

"She lives in that hut over there." He pointed, and then resumed his work.

I walked over to the hut, and hesitated, before I knocked on the wood beside the hanging door. A

moment later, a short, elderly woman in a red and white kimono answered the door. She wore ablack patch over her right eye, and her grey hair was pulled into a low ponytail.

"I don't suppose I can help ye?" She questioned finally, eyeing me carefully, as if I was

untrustworthy.


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"Well, it would be great if you could. I've got some questions if you've got the time to answer

them." I explained.

"Very well. Come inside." She stepped aside, and I walked in gratefully.

"So you're Kaede?" I questioned, and she nodded as she sat down across from me in the smallhut.

"Aye. I take it you're not from around here, given your clothing." she replied, watching me.

"No, I'm not." I admitted. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. And . . . there's been some sort ofaccident. I'm . . . not from around here."

"Then where do ye come from?"

"Well, it's not really that simple, either." I replied. "I'm not even from this era, I don't think. I'm

from the future."

She stared at me for a moment. "The future, ye say? I'm sorry, but this sounds a bit confusing.Could ye explain a bit more?"

"Well, my family owns a shrine around a sacred tree, and in the shrine there's a well. It's calledthe Bone Eater's Well, and my family guards the shrine around it. I was cleaning the shrine

yesterday and I fell through the well, and when I climbed out . . . I was here." I explained. "I

don't know what's going on, or how I ended up here."

"Hmm . . . you tell a strange tale indeed." she answered, looking thoughtful. "But not something

that sounds impossible, in this day and age. The Bone Eater's Well already possesses strangequalities, especially those that seem to transcend time. The Bone Eater's Well was built out ofwood from the sacred tree, or Goshinboku, which is a tree of ages. Time itself is altered just by

the tree, and since the Bone Eater's Well is crafted from the wood of that tree, it is no surprise

that ye were forced from your own time after falling through the well." Kaede explained.

"That does seem to make more sense." I agreed. "So, what do you suggest?"

"If ye fell through the well and that brought ye here, perhaps falling through the well again will

result in placing ye properly back in your own time?" she suggested.

I felt a twinge of hope. "Maybe. If I can find my way back to the well, then I can try. Maybe itwill work. What year is it, anyway?"

"1426. We are going through a tough period of war, where demons and monsters run rampant.

I'm surprised ye have survived this long, being one who is not of this world." Kaede replied. "Butthere is no need for ye to wander aimlessly. I can guide ye back to the well, as it is not far from

this village."


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"That would be great." I said gratefully.

I watched as Kaede stood up, and grabbed a long bow resting against the wall by the door. Ifollowed her from the hut, and she led me from the village, and into the woods near the road.

As we walked in silence, I was lost in my thoughts.Feudal Japan, huh? So I was right. I'm allthe way in the warring states era. I'm studying this in my history class. Who would think that a

few days after I turned sixteen I would fall through the well and end up here? It's like a fairytale

. . .

And if the well sends me back to my own time . . . that will be the last I see of Inuyasha. I won't

see him again. Why does that bother me? I mean, he was mean to me! I hardened my expression

upon thinking of him, but it was all false. Inside, I was experiencing a strange feeling of

vulnerability, thinking about him.

"Kaede?" I asked, as we walked.

"What is it, child?"

"Do you know of a demon named Inuyasha?" I questioned.

She was quiet for a moment. "Aye. I do happen to know of him, actually."

"You do? Is he . . . evil?" I dared to ask.

Kaede sighed. "It's a very complicated matter, Kagome, and it's not that simple, I'm afraid.

Inuyasha is a half demon who first came to this village fifty years ago . . ."

"Half demon?" I asked softly. So that's why he also looked so human. He's only half. So his other

half . . . is human?

"Indeed. When Inuyasha came upon this village, he met my older sister Kikyo. Kikyo was a

priestess, as I am, and a very powerful one. She was very strong and very beautiful, but also very

doomed." Kaede explained quietly. "Inuyasha was shunned for his half demon heritage, and mysister Kikyo showed him kindness. Needless to say he fell deeply in love with my sister, and she

with him."

He . . . loved her? I thought. "So . . . what happened?"

"When they were able to confess their feelings, I had never seen my sister more happy. Sheloved him so very much, and it was so evident he felt the same. I knew they would marry, and

live together. Kikyo spoke of spells and artifacts to turn Inuyasha into a normal human, so they

could live peacefully together. Unfortunately, there was another demon who desired Kikyo bythe name of Naraku.


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"Also a half demon, Naraku posed as Inuyasha and fatally wounded my sister, and fooled her.

She couldn't see past the guise, and did not know it was Naraku who had attacked her.

Convinced that Inuyasha had betrayed her, my sister hunted him down with the last of herstrength, and attempted to take him with her to the grave. However, her killing shot with the

arrow missed, and instead struck the great Goshinboku tree. Right before Inuyasha's eyes, Kikyo

died, died believing that the one she loved most had betrayed her."

How terrible! How could anyone ever do such a thing? How could Naraku tear them apart, if

they loved one another? I thought, horrified. I felt pity for Inuyasha inside, and my heartsoftened towards him. "What happened next?" I asked softly.

"Upon discovering who was responsible for the death of my sister, Inuyasha went off in pursuitof Naraku, and in his rage, slew him. After that, Inuyasha returned to bury Kikyo, and her shrine

lies at the top of our village. Inuyasha didn't return to our village afterwards, but left, I'm sure to

be alone. I know not where he is now, but I know he must be alive. There are new lilies upon my

sister's grave every year, and the only ones who knew that Kikyo's favorite flowers were lilies

were me and Inuyasha." Kaede concluded softly.

"What must it be like, to think that your lover died hating you, thinking you'd betrayed them . . ."I whispered, my heart aching for Inuyasha at the thought. I couldn't imagine going through such

a thing. "Even though fifty years passed . . . he still comes to her grave. He must still love her."

"I would imagine so." Kaede replied quietly. "The two shared a love that transcended very time .

. . because of you, Kagome."

My eyes widened as I looked to her. "What?"

"The only reason I offered ye help is because of your appearance, Kagome. Ye resemble mydead sister in so many different ways. In your looks, your mannerism, and the strong spiritual

aura that I sense from ye. Ye are my sister's reincarnation. I am sure of it." she went on.

Me? The reincarnation of Kikyo? Is it even possible? That despite all that happened, Kikyo's

love for Inuyasha could transcend time? And result in me, reincarnating her? The more Ithought about it, the stranger it seemed. But it was possible. After all that I'd seen so far, I

wouldn't dismiss it as a possibility.

"I'm sorry that happened to her." I said softly. "It's a terribly tragedy. You must miss her so

much."

"Not a day goes by that I don't think of my deceased sister." Kaede replied. "But it's been fifty

years. And I have learned to accept death as a natural occurrence in life."

I looked up, and realized that we'd reached the well. Now that I'd learned more about Inuyasha, I

was surprised to find I was a little reluctant to just leave. I wanted to go home, true, and forget

the nightmare, but I was a little less keen on it. I was still thinking of Inuyasha.


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"Kagome, did ye meet Inuyasha?" Kaede asked me, as we stopped in front of the well.

"He actually saved me a few minutes after I showed up here." I admitted. "A demon was going toeat me, but . . . he saved me."

"I see. Well, it seems that Inuyasha also noticed your resemblance to Kikyo. Otherwise, I wouldbe surprised to hear he saved you." she replied. "Well, all things considered, you'd better be

getting back to your own time. This world is dangerous for ye to be within."

"You're right." I agreed. "Well, thank you for your help, Kaede. And thanks for the story. I'm

glad to know a little bit more about Inuyasha." I stepped onto the well, and looked down into thedepths.Heregoes. I thought, and launched myself down.

I let out a cry of pain as I landed hard on my knees. I knew they were going to be bruised.Did it

work? I thought. I grimaced. From the pain I felt in my legs, it felt like I'd just fallen to thebottom. The first time I'd fallen through the well, I'd gone through a strange, foggy blue mist and

I hadn't experienced any pain. I looked up, seeing Kaede peering down into the well.

"It didn't work?" she called.

I sighed, putting my head in my hands.Now what?

After helping me from the well, we returned to Kaede's village, and I was left feeling moredepressed than ever. I wanted to go home, and not even my frustrating desire to see Inuyasha

again was going to overpower that.

"Well, it appears as if ye might have to stay longer than ye originally intended." Kaede said,

stirring what looked like stew in a big black pot over the small fire in the center of her hut."Apparently there is a purpose for your being here, if ye could not return."

"What do you mean?" I asked, as she poured a bowl of the stew and handed it to me. It smelled

delicious.

"It seems as if there is a purpose for you to be here." she repeated. "If ye cannot return, it must

mean there is some task you must fulfill before you can leave."

"But how am I supposed to know what it is?" I asked. "There's a billion things it could be!"

"Aye." she agreed. "But if you are Kikyo's reincarnation as I highly suspect, then perhaps it issomething related to her. Do ye think it it something related to Inuyasha?"

I considered. "I don't see why. He was only mean to me."

"Hmph. I'm not surprised to hear it." Kaede said dryly. "I know not of matters such as this, but I

suspect it could have something to do with Inuyasha. There would probably be no harm in

seeking him out."


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"I don't need to seek him out." I said haughtily. "This has nothing to do with him. I can find my

way back on my own!"

Kaede watched me with slightly wide eyes. "All right, calm, child. It was merely a suggestion.

Your being here could also turn out to have nothing to do with him."

I looked away, a little embarrassed by my outburst. "So, can you tell me more about the sacred

tree? It's obviously got something to do with it."

"There's not much I can tell ye than what I already have." Kaede replied. "I just know that the

tree is a tree of ages, and seems to disrupt time itself. There's not much beyond that."I sighed. "Then there aren't really any leads to go on right now."

"I'm afraid not." she agreed. "But until we come up with the answer, ye are more than welcome

to stay here with me."

"Really?" I asked hopefully.

"All I would ask is that you help out a little with the chores, and it will be fine with me to aid ye

in this task." she replied kindly.

"Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" I threw my arms around the old woman, and she didn't

hug me back, but eyed me strangely when I pulled back.

"They must teach ye strange customs back in your world." She commented, and I laughed,

though I was a confused mess on the inside.

As I laid on the thin bedding Kaede had supplied that night, I was troubled by all the thoughts.What purpose could I have for being here? And when I fulfill that purpose, will I get to go home?Is it something scary? Something terrible? What could it be? And Kikyo . . . am I really her

reincarnation? Do I only exist because she still loved Inuyasha, and her love was reborn in the

form of me? Is that why I can't seem to get him out of my head? The last thing to flash throughmy mind was Inuyasha's piercing golden eyes before I fell asleep.

It bothers me, not knowing why I'm supposed to be here. I thought the next day, as I peered downinto the Bone Eater's Well. The sacred tree has to be nearby, just like it is in our family's shrine.

Maybe I can think of something if I go there. I looked up, and sure enough, I could see the sacred

tree, taller and larger than all the other trees, not far ahead. I moved toward it.

When I reached the sacred tree, all was quiet around me, except for the chirping of birds and the

chattering squirrels. I'd promised Kaede I wouldn't venture far, so I wouldn't get attacked bydemons, and I felt perfectly safe, as I approached the tree.

The tree seemed mythical, almost, as if it neither belonged in this world. I reached it, and laid myhand on the bark, and it was warm, almost as if the tree was responding to my touch. I sighed,


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and looked up, my eyes widening, when I saw what looked to be an arrow sticking out from the

tree, deeply embedded into the bark.

I reached up, and touched the white feathers that lined the end of the arrow. And then I realized.

This is Kikyo's arrow. The one she shot at Inuyasha, fifty years ago, when she tried to take him

with her. She thought he betrayed her. And she wanted him to die with her. When I think of it thatway . . . it makes me believe that maybe she didn't end up hating him after all. Maybe she wanted

him to go with her so they could be together after death, because she knew she was going to die.

Maybe despite the fact that he had betrayed her, she just wanted to be with him, even after life . .. My fingers ran down the wood of the arrow, and the wood was very smooth and very cool.

The arrow hadn't been touched by the fifty years it had been left here.How tragic for you, Kikyo. . . is it even possible that I can be your reincarnation? I wrapped my hand around the arrow,

and tugged, but it was firmly embedded in the wood, and I couldn't pull it out.

I let go of it when I realized this, and wondered why the arrow hadn't been touched by age. It

was another mystery, that probably had something to do with the Goshinboku tree.

"What are you doing there?"

I jumped at the voice and whipped around, seeing Inuyasha standing a good space away fromme, watching me with a hard expression.

"I . . . nothing. I just wanted to come look at the sacred tree." I lied.

"You tried to pull out that arrow." he stated, simply. His voice was so harsh, so mistrusting.

Their was hostility in his eyes, and I wondered why it made him so angry. Was it because he

thought I was trying to desecrate a memory of Kikyo?

"I didn't mean anything by it." I said quietly. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to take it away because of

Kikyo or anything."

He looked taken aback. "How . . . how did you know about her?"

"Kaede told me. She said that she thinks I'm Kikyo's reincarnation." I admitted, and wonderedwhy I was even telling him.

"Just because you look like her doesn't mean you are her." he snapped. "You aren't anythin' like

her."

I felt the sting from that comment. "Well it's not like I want to be. I'm Kagome, after all. I'm not

Kikyo, even if I'm her reincarnation."

Inuyasha eyed me warily. "So you know everything about Kikyo?"

"Yes." I admitted. "I know that you loved her. And she shot this arrow."


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Inuyasha looked away. "I didn't save you because of her, if that's what you're thinking."

It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. You're not fooling anyone. I thought.You still love her. It's written all over your face. I felt again, that strong rush of pity for him. "I'm

sorry about what happened back then, Inuyasha. You didn't deserve that. Neither did she."

"Stop tryin' to be all sympathetic. I don't need it. I don't even care about it." He snarled. He

turned away, and from his harsh tone, stiff posture, and clenched fists, I knew it was untrue.

"Inuyasha . . ." I began, knowing it was probably suicide to say it, but I went on anyway. "You're

the one who's been leaving lilies on Kikyo's grave, aren't you?"

There was a rush of wind, and I gasped as he was suddenly in front of me, and my back was up

against the tree, and he pinned my wrists up against it with his hands, his claws biting into my

skin. "You don't know anything." he growled, baring his fangs, his ears lowered to his head.

My heart was pounding in fear, and at our close proximity. But I softened my gaze as I thought,Even though it's been fifty years, you still feel for Kikyo, and it's such a sensitive topic with you.No one can press those buttons with you. Your love for her, and her love for you truly

transcended time, and that's why I'm here. I have to be her reincarnation. How must it be, for

you to love her so much, and be alone?

Inuyasha was glaring at me, but when he saw my softened expression, his anger slowly meltedaway, giving to mistrust, and then vulnerability. His golden eyes searched my face, and I

wondered, in that instant, who he was seeing. If I resembled Kikyo so closely physically, was he

looking at her, when he looked at me?

The tenderness in his eyes as he looked at me told me that it was indeed Kikyo he saw. And forsome reason, that hurt. I didn't know why it did. "Inuyasha . . ." I said, trying to snap him out of

it, make him realize that it was me, it wasn't Kikyo.

His eyes closed. "No. It's not . . . I'm wrong." his hands on my wrists shook slightly, and I

wondered what he was talking about.

"Wrong about what?" I asked.

His eyes opened, and he stared down at me, and his expression was filled with so much intensity

and love that my breath hitched, and my heart began to pound. He leaned down toward me, and

the closer he got, the harder my heart pounded. His eyes never once left mine, and I couldn't lookaway. And when his lips, soft and warm, touched mine, my heart jumped into my throat and my

entire body filled with warmth.

It was so sweet . . . My eyes were closed, and I didn't even remember closing them. I had never

been kissed by a boy before, never even held by one. My lips were moving with his in strangepatterns that were unfamiliar to me, but all the more addicting, and I felt . . . alive. I felt like it

was more right than anything I'd ever done before. I didn't want him to stop, and I felt his hands


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slide down from my wrists, down my arms, in a caress, and then, around my waist, becoming an

embrace. His body was the hard, toned, lean body of a man, and when I pressed against him, the

intimacy of the kiss only increased.

But there was something else, in the back of my mind, that was reminding me that this was

wrong. I couldn't think why it was wrong, with him kissing me the way that he was, and mydesire and passion were getting the better of me. I reached up and fisted my hands in his hair,

and a low sound caught in his throat as I responded wildly to his kiss. His hands tightened on my

waist and his kiss became more aggressive, and I knew he wanted me, as well.

Then I remembered why it was wrong, when I opened my eyes for a moment and saw Kikyo's

arrow. It was wrong, because it wasn't Kagome he was kissing. It was Kikyo. I was nothing tohim. It was her he was wanting. My heart began to ache again, and I put my hands against his

shoulders and shoved with all my might.

He stumbled back in surprise, and glared at me. "What did ya do that for?"

"How dare you." My voice was so cold, and so hurt, and so angry. "How dare you kiss me likethat. You don't even want me, do you?"

His ears lowered slightly, and he had the grace to look guilty. "Look, I just . . ."

"You just hoped it would be Kikyo?" I finished, my tone flat.

He opened his mouth to retort, but his ears lowered even further, and he looked away, lookingupset and ashamed.

"Get out of here, Inuyasha. I don't want to see your face right now. You took my first kiss fromme, and you didn't even mean it! Just leave me alone!" by the end, I was shouting, and I couldfeel my face was flushed with humiliation and anger.

Inuyasha looked at me for another moment, guilty, his ears flattened, and I turned away, so hecouldn't see my angry and hurt tears. When I dared to look back for him, he was gone.

I returned to the village after that, and when Kaede saw me, she knew that something hadhappened by my tear stained face. I was so angry at Inuyasha, for doing such a thing, but what

had I expected? Him to kiss me for me? He hadn't even addressed me by my name yet.

I guess what hurt the most was that I was fascinated with him, and that the kiss had been themost wonderful thing I'd ever experienced even if it hadn't been meant for me. I was mad at

myself for letting it go as it had, for not realizing what he was going to do before he had done it.

After I told Kaede what had happened, she sighed. "I feared something like that would happen, if

Inuyasha was to see ye again. It will take a while for him to get to know ye and realize that yeare not Kikyo. I suspect it shall be hard to forgive him for when he is unable to differentiate, but

if ye avoid him, he will never learn the difference, and ye will have this happen a lot more."


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"I don't want to see him, not after that." I sniffed.

"I understand. Give yourself some time before ye see him again." Kaede said wisely.

I wasn't sure how many days had passed after the incident with Inuyasha, but it had been a while,

and I had decided to visit the sacred tree again. I was wearing a red and white kimono like Kaedethat she'd let me borrow, and she said it had once belonged to Kikyo, which made me more than

a little cautious of wearing it.

When I reached the tree and sat down in front of it, I could sense I was being watched. That was

another thing that had been happening a lot over the past few days. I had been feeling as ifsomething or someone was watching me, and I had the sneaking suspicion that it was Inuyasha.

"You can come out." I called. "I know you're there."

There was some rustling, and then I glanced off to the side, and I saw Inuyasha there, settled in a

crouch, watching me suspiciously. I glared at him. "What? Are you just going to stare at me likethat?"

"Hmph!" he sat down indian style, folding his arms in the sleeves of his red kimono as he turnedaway. "So you knew I was there, huh?"

"You've been watching me for days." I stated. "I can feel you watching me."

When I looked at him, I saw a hint of a blush in his cheeks as he glared at the ground. "Is it

because I look like Kikyo?" I demanded

He looked at me, and he was mad. "No! Are you still mad about that before?"

"What do you think?" I asked sarcastically.

He growled a little, and his ears flattened to his head. "I'm . . . sorry."

"That's not enough."

"What?" He rounded on me, looking furious. "Stop bein' stupid!""Sorry's not enough. It's enough when you can look at me and see me. I bet you don't even

remember my name." I accused.

"It's Kagome!" he snapped immediately.

I stopped, more than a little touched he actually remembered my name. When I just stared athim, he flushed again. "What are ya starin' at now, wench?" he snarled.

"You actually remembered." I said softly.


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"That's because you're nothin' like Kikyo. How could I notremember your name?" he snapped.

"That kiss only happened because . . . because . . ." he fumbled with the words, sounding

embarrassed.

"Because you let your guard down." I said quietly. "Just for a split second."

"Feh!" he turned away, but I knew I was right.

"What's it like? To always be on guard? To have so many shields built up, and to keep everyone

at arm's length?" I asked softly, looking up at Kikyo's arrow, still pinned within the tree.

Inuyasha glared over at me. "What are you blabberin' on about?"

"Well, that's what you do, isn't it?" I looked him straight in the eyes. "You use this tough exteriorto keep everyone away from you. But Kikyo was the first person to be kind to you. And she saw

past the exterior. You fell in love with her because she could see past it, and she was kind to you

despite how you were."

Inuyasha was watching me with that mistrust in his eyes again, but he also, for the second time,

looked vulnerable. Just like Kikyo, somehow, I was also seeing past his guards. I knew he wasputting up those guards because he didn't want anyone to see past them. He didn't want anyone

inside, because he felt like he couldn't trust anyone.

"So why?" I asked softly. "Why don't you trust anyone?"

"Because no one ever trusted me." he spat. "Because I'm the half demon. No matter what I did, Iwas always wrong. If something went wrong, I was the first one to be blamed. No one wanted

me around and I was shunned by both halves of my kind."

I felt my heart reaching out to him again. "So you don't fit it . . . you don't want to trust anyone

because no one gives you a chance."

Inuyasha tensed as I stood up, and walked over to him. I crouched on my knees in front of him,

holding his eyes, and he was watching me suspiciously. I surprised him, and myself, when I

leaned forward, and slid my arms around his back, simply hugging him.

He was stiff against me, and I knew he didn't know how to react to me. Then, slowly, he relaxed,

and his arms wrapped around me. He was letting me comfort him. He was allowing it, and I

knew, somehow, that he knew it was me, Kagome, and not Kikyo.

"What I want to know . . . is why you kissed me back." he said finally, after a few moments of

silence.

My heart was pounding, and I blushed a little at the question. "I . . . well I . . . you have no right

to ask me that!" I started to pull away, but his arms held me there.


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"Don't make this complicated. Or I can seriously make you regret it." he warned.

I sighed. "I kissed you back because . . . because I . . . I liked it, ok?" I blushed fiercely, and Iwouldn't dare look at him, and I was thankful he was still holding me so I didn't have to look at

him.

I only vaguely heard his sound of surprise to my confession. "You weren't disgusted? Because . .

. I'm a half demon?"

I felt a rush of confusion. I pulled back, and looked into his eyes. "No. You're not a half demon."

I said carefully. His dark brown furrowed, and the walls in his eyes lowered, and my next wordsI knew made an impact. "You're just Inuyasha. Neither half demon nor half human."

"How can you make it sound so simple?" his ears lowered slightly, but there was no anger to his

tone as he held my gaze. "No one else has ever said that to me before."

"Then everyone else needs to do a reevaluation. Race and heritage is only a state of mind. We'reall beings that live on the earth and interact. We love, and we live." I shook my head. "Why doesit have to be more complicated?"

Inuyasha's golden gaze softened slightly. "Kagome . . ."

My heart skipped a beat when he said my name like that, and I began to blush, as he was lookingat me with tenderness, but I knew he was really looking at me. He wasn't looking at anyone else.

I smiled a little at him, shyly. "Well, it's true." I said softly. With him looking at me like that rightnow . . . it's making me so nervous. I feel so much affection for him, already. Why am I so

attracted to him? What is it about him that keeps me from thinking about anything else?

I lifted my hand hesitantly, and laid it on his cheek, feeling his warm skin. He looked a littlesurprised by my movement, but didn't pull away. He just watched me carefully, and I wondered

where my courage had come from. I reached up further, and brushed my fingertips against the

soft furry dog ear, and his ear flicked slightly, and his eyes widened a little.

"Just like this. This is a part of you. I don't see it as anything strange." I said softly, rubbing his

ear gently. He flushed slowly, and looked down from me, despite the fact that his arms were stillaround me.

"Even Kikyo . . ." He said quietly, taking me off guard. "She wanted me to become human, and

then live with her . . ."

I took this in quietly. I didn't badmouth Kikyo, because Inuyasha still loved her, and she wasdead, it would just be bad for me to do it. So I said instead, "I like what you are."

He met my gaze again. "Kagome . . . I should probably go." his arms melted away from me, andhe stood up, and stepped back from me. I felt a rush of disappointment, but I knew he needed

time to himself to sort out everything that had happened. And so did I.


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Inuyasha looked at me for another moment, before he turned and disappeared, and that was his

goodbye.

Weeks passed after that, and I had no close encounters with Inuyasha. I knew he still watched

me, and occasionally, I would catch a glimpse of him, up in the trees, watching me, or I would

visit the Bone Eater's Well and I knew he was near, keeping an eye on me. I secretly watchedhim too, whenever I had the chance, and I visited his hut a few times, during the night, watching

him sleep, sitting indian style with his head resting back against the wall, eyes closed, and my

heart reached out for him.

I knew that I had steadily fallen in love with him, and I wondered, if there would have ever been

a way to stop it, or if I would have fallen no matter what. I even confessed my feelings to Kaede,and she seemed highly approving. She said it was no surprise, considering how I was Kikyo's

reincarnation. She said it was almost as if I was destined to fall for Inuyasha.

I also found myself by the sacred tree a lot, and today was no different. It had been a long while,

since my last encounter with Inuyasha here, and I was looking up at Kikyo's arrow, stillembedded into the bark. I had been doing a lot of thinking about it, and I had discussed it with

Kaede, before coming to a conclusion.

I could feel him watching me, and I knew that now was the time that I was upfront withInuyasha, and now was the time that he had to be upfront with me. I had been preparing for thisday, and he needed to know what conclusion I had come to.

"Come out, Inuyasha. We need to talk." I said softly.

I didn't bother to look over my shoulder when I heard him land behind me. I knew he was

listening. I was still looking at Kikyo's arrow when I began to talk.

"I came here through the Bone Eater's Well. I'm not even from this time. I'm from the future, andI'm the reincarnation of Kikyo." I started. "And the day after you saved me, I went to the well,

and I tried to pass through it, but I couldn't. Kaede told me that the Bone Eater's Well transcends

time because it was made from wood from this sacred tree here, which is a tree of ages. She saidI couldn't pass through the well because I was here for a reason, and I had to fulfill that purpose

first.

"And the fact that I'm Kikyo's reincarnation means that there's only one reason I'm here." I went

on, softly. "And it's because of you, Inuyasha." He didn't say anything, so I went on. "I've finally

figured it out, how all of this ties together . . .

"Fifty years ago, when Kikyo tried to shoot you with this arrow, she missed. And it pierced this

tree. She wasn't trying to take you with her because she hated you, but because she still lovedyou, and couldn't stand to leave this world without you. She wanted to be with you in the

afterlife. So her soul couldn't be at peace, because of how her life was ended so tragically.


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"This arrow was a symbol of that. And when it struck this tree, this tree of ages, the tree

recognized that. And the tree, transcending time, found me, Kikyo's reincarnation, and brought

me here. Kikyo's love for you went through the years and was reborn, in me. The sacred treewouldn't allow me back through because I have a purpose here. My purpose is you." I turned,

finally facing Inuyasha, and his expression was soft, his lips parted slightly, as he let me talk. "I

was destined to meet you. With the last of her strength, Kikyo shot the arrow, and she neverknew that she would meet you again, through me."

I stepped toward Inuyasha, and I was nervous, but also bold, and I blushed a little, as I got closerto him. "I'm in love with you, Inuyasha. That's my purpose. You were left alone. But you don't

have to be alone anymore."

"Kagome . . ." Inuyasha held still, as I moved up to him, and rested my hands on his chest.

"I just want you to feel the same way." I said softly. "I want you to see me, me, Kagome."

When he didn't answer, my heart ached, and I felt the sting of rejection. I looked away, mycheeks flaming with humiliation. "You don't feel the same way." I said quietly. "I'm sorry. Ishouldn't have just . . . I'll leave." I removed my hands from his chest and tried to move away.

Inuyasha caught my shoulders, and turned me back around, and he looked into my eyes for abrief second, before he kissed me deeply. My eyes closed, and I ran my hands up his chest,

feeling his muscles, before sliding them around his neck. He was so warm, and his hands slid

down, wrapping around me.

Inuyasha pulled back from me when we had to breathe, and held my eyes. "C'mon." he took my

hand, and pulled me through the woods.

He took me to his hut, and once we were inside, I only had a second to adjust my eyes to the

light of the fire, before his lips were on mine once more, and I was pressed intimately up againsthim. I knew that it was me he was kissing this time. I knew he could tell the difference. And it

made the moment all the sweeter.

My heart was pounding, because I knew what happened between a man and a woman. I wanted

it to happen now. I wanted to show Inuyasha my love for him physically as well.

I pushed back from him, and he held my eyes, his questioning what was wrong, and I reached

down, to my kimono, and began to pull it apart, blushing a little. Inuyasha looked down, and

when he saw what I was doing, his golden eyes flared with desire, and he reached up, his clawsgently pushing my hands out of the way, and he began to pull my kimono apart instead. My skin

was bare beneath it, and my breasts were exposed to his eyes, as he pulled the upper half of the

kimono away, and let it flutter to the floor.

His hands were hot on my bare skin, as they cupped my lower back, and then slid up. I shivered

at his touch, and my skin was on fire from the pleasant trails his touch left. My back arched and Itilted my neck back as he leaned down, and his soft lips kissed my neck. He kissed down my


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skin, to my collarbone, his tongue tracing the skin tantalizingly, before his lips skimmed down to

my breast, and he took my nipple into his mouth, sucking gently.

My back arched and I moaned softly at the feeling, and he switched to the other breast, repeating

the treatment, forcing more sounds from me. I was throbbing between my thighs, and I was hot

there, in a way I'd never felt before. It was a strange and pleasant sensation at the same time.

I pushed him back, and I put my hands on his chest, and began to push his own kimono apart. He

let me, looking into my eyes, and I leaned forward, kissing his strong neck, inhaling his sweet,woodsy scent, as I pushed his shirt off. It fluttered to the floor with mine, and I pulled back,

looking at the hard muscles along his chest. They were defined, and I ran my hands over his

muscles, hearing his soft sigh as I did so. I gasped as he suddenly kissed me, and he lowered meonto the floor, his hands sliding down and pulling my pants away from me, too. I was naked

beneath those, as well, and I blushed deeply when he saw me completely naked.

He took my hands, and pressed them to his own pants, and I slowly undid the ties, before I pulled

them down, helping him out of them. His erection was large and impressive in size, and my heartpounded at the sight. My mouth was dry, and I gasped as Inuyasha reached down and slid one of

my thighs around his waist, running his hand down my leg and then back up, as if memorizingthe feeling of me. I was shivering with desire and passion, and my hands tightened on his back,

as he leaned down and kissed me.

His tongue parted my lips for the first time, and it was warm and wet, and his taste was just as

tantalizing as his smell, if not more. The motions of his tongue in my mouth were driving me

crazy, and the ache between my thighs was about to make me explode if I didn't have some sortof satisfaction.

Inuyasha drew back, and held my eyes when he reached down, and intimately began to stroke methere, between my thighs, his thumb circling a sensitive bud sensually. I gasped, my eyes

clenching shut, my hips arching up without my realizing it.

He was careful of his claws as he slid a finger inside me, and at first, it was uncomfortable, but it

didn't take long before the motion of his finger sliding in and out became addictive, and my hips

moved in response. I didn't even realize I was moaning his name until he removed his hand andwhispered, "It's going to hurt when I actually do it, you know."

I nodded, somehow, and he settled between my thighs. My heart was pounding again, and Ilooked up into his eyes. "I trust you." I said softly.

"I know." he said back, and then he began to press inside me. I grimaced at the burn, and mynails sunk into his back at the sudden pain when he broke through the barrier. I whimpered, and

he gently caressed my face, his claws stroking soothingly up and down my thighs, waiting for me

to be comfortable.

I was the first to move when the pain subsided slightly, because I wanted this to be a pleasant

memory. I moved my hips up toward him, and a sound caught in his throat, and his eyes widened


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slightly. I held his eyes seriously, and made the movement again, and his eyes darkened with

passion, lust, and tenderness. He didn't look away from me as he began to rock his hips, and I

held onto his shoulders for dear life.

It felt pleasant, and soon, his thrusts began to feel more and more sensual, and I was beginning to

become overwhelmed. My breathing was wild, and my eyes closed, and my lips parted as wemoved together, one body, one soul. My hips arched and I leaned my head back, and his lips

kissed my neck, as he cradled my hips and moved more deeply inside me.

"Inuyasha!" I gasped, as the pressure tightened, and then released, and apparently he lost it, as

well, for he growled my name as he came, and then he was still, and he rolled onto his back, and

took me with him.

After some time of simply laying there, in silence, his clawed hand gently stroking up and down

my back, I decided to break the silence. "So . . . I guess this means you return my feelings?" Iasked softly.

He snorted. "Stupid. Of course I do."

I smiled to myself, as I laid my head against his chest. "Then I guess I can go back to my world

now, now that I've fulfilled my purpose."

Inuyasha suddenly pushed me back, just enough that he could hold my shoulders and look intomy eyes. "Don't even think about it. I love you, and you're not goin' anywhere."

I blushed, but then smiled at him. "Good. Because I don't want to go anywhere."

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Across The Gap.docx