Motoko Aoyama: Sorry about the late update. I was a bit stuck in this story, and being not so interested in Inuyasha anymore really dragged down my update speed. Either way, thanks to ninalee-chan, cresentbellflower, RollingStar –Miss Kuchiki-, Kanamelover, Kuyaeli Maya, Jennilyn Maxwell, xFloWerGurLx, genuineme11 (essentially in this story, Kikyou thought she loved Inuyasha and vice versa, but actually they were just clinging onto each other for company. She realized that the one she actually loved back then was Sesshoumaru), Spirit of Kikyou (I’ll have them kiss eventually, but I didn’t really think it was the right time yet, so yeah…don’t worry! And Inuyasha’s reaction…it’ll be coming up! And of course I don’t mind you printing this story! I’m very honoured that you liked it so much!), SagaMoon, Ice, Dangerous Beauty-Kikyo S2, kenya, Soul of AquaBlue, SoulRaker, Sonzai Taz, grace, Shining Peridot Moon, and Cold Kikyo! Thank you very much for giving me such a long list of thanks! Please continue to read and review because, as you can see from the emo ranting I did on my profile a while ago, I’m desperately in need of support! I’ve also made a bullet summary for those who forgot what the story is about, and you can download this at my MSN group following the directions on my profile. Alright, ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy Chapter 18 – Never Forgotten Scar of Fukai Mori!

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Disclaimer: “I do not own Inuyasha”, a short and concise message from Motoko

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He felt his lips on her forehead. It was cold, but he would make her warm...

...from this day and onward to eternity...

“Don’t say anything anymore…” he hushed, “I already know.”

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Fukai Mori

Chapter 18

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“Whoa! Shit!” Jaken screamed as youkai pieces rained down on him. He dodged the “weapons of mass destruction” while they ran down the path away from the collapsing mountain. Any slower and they would be dead, but even at this decisive moment in time, Jaken didn’t forget to correct his speech, “I don’t mean shit…what a disgraceful word. All of a sudden I’ve began talking like Inuyasha! It should be feces…yes, feces…OH FECES!”

While he screamed, the minor youkai narrowly missed a falling boulder. Unfortunately, the weight caught onto his clothing.

“I CAN’T MOVE!!! SAVE ME!!! SAVE ME SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!!”

Rin expertly tore apart the corner of Jaken’s clothes that was under the boulder. The youkai stared at the girl with teary eyes.

“Oh, my beloved child! You really are a present from Sesshoumaru-sama!” he exclaimed, but when he looked at his exposed bottom (due to the tear Rin made), he shouted again, “OH FECES!!! THE CLOTHES ENTRUSTED TO ME BY MIGHTY SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!!”

While he was in his moment of great distress, Rin looked up into the skies to see the figure of their familiar two-headed dragon. The little girl gratefully got onto the dragon’s back as Jaken continued to be frozen in his misery.

“Jaken-sama?” she called him. He looked backwards, shocked at Ah-Un’s presence.

“YOUKAI!!!”

“Ano…” Rin mumbled, not quite sure what to say.

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The woods beside them were as pale as her countenance, reaching up with their bare branches to the rays of the sun that shone through the grey cloud layers. The snow sat still beneath his fur on which she laid, her eyes drooping lower despite the light of a million souls that hung in the air.

“Are you feeling any better, Kikyou?” Sesshoumaru asked in a deep voice, his hand lying on her forehead. She was still ever so pale, cold, that no matter how much he held her, her color remained the same.

“I’m…fine…” Kikyou tried to say, but even her voice seemed to trail off as she spoke. Her eyes lingered longer on their closed state with each progressing blink until she stopped opening them.

“You’re not fine. Why aren’t the souls adequate? Is it the wound on your shoulder?”

Sesshoumaru took in a small breath as his gaze landed on the miko’s wound, noting the way it glowed violet from the leaking souls; just like crimson blood seeping through her robes. He winced slightly at imagining her blood, creeping through the white, dripping down her delicate arm, staining the earth red with pain.

“That…” he continued speaking, his hand shifting to the crack in Kikyou’s skin, “…is where Naraku had clawed you fifty years ago?”

“Ah…” was all she said. Her eyelids quivered as she struggled to lift them, but even with all that effort, only a thin slice of her chocolate orbs could be seen under her shielding eyelashes.

“I’m going to heal this wound,” the taiyoukai spoke confidently, “Just tell me what to do. I…”

He paused. He realized how silly he was starting to sound, just like those lovesick humans.

But did he mind that? He smiled a little at the miko who stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

“I would do anything…” he finished. It sounded cliché to his ears, but he couldn’t find better words to express himself at the moment. He wasn’t lying. It would be sillier if he, an Inu taiyoukai, avoided his own feelings.

“I’m content in hearing that, Sesshoumaru…” Kikyou muttered slowly, her voice soft but still beautiful, “But after hearing those words, how can I bring myself to put you in danger?”

Her hand reached up for the taiyoukai who knitted his brows at what she said. Nonetheless, he gripped onto her hand anyway, just as she had intended.

“It is fine…I should’ve died fifty years ago. To have another chance to live, another chance to recognize my love and be able to express them to you…I…I have more than enough happiness already.”

“No!” he snapped.

He couldn’t believe his voice. The emotion that single syllable carried. Even his own ears could not define that sound. His ordinarily icy tone had melted away to an angry fire. No, he wasn’t angry. How could he be angry with her? The burn his voice carried was not of anger; it felt more like blood rushing up his throat.

Pain, he could finally feel it properly. He realized how much it hurt him for her to not understand how much he cared for her life. If she were to die, where would his reason to live go? Conquest no longer satisfied his thirst. He wanted a true life, not one that only brought anguish to others.

“You may have more than enough happiness, Kikyou, but what about me?” he replied, this time in a softer tone, “I will give you more happiness. That is my reason. Now tell me…tell me how can I let us live on.”

“I…” she stuttered. No argument crossed her mind. She had to admit her defeat.

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Inuyasha felt his youkai blood pulse. It was hot, flowing through his veins with his pounding heart, but no amount of killing could cool it down. His claws were red with the blood of the youkai, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to drown in his sins, wanted to hear the voices of the dead just as Kikyou had done years ago. He wanted to feel her experiences, but he was a coward…he didn’t even dare die for the one he loved. That thought made him madder, his eyes redder, his claws now sharper than any blade as they sliced through flesh and bone. With each slash, he was becoming more like his enemy…

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!?” Kagome snapped as she finally reached him. Behind her were all the others who were busy fighting off the youkai.

“Shut up! Don’t come near me!”

“What!?”

He collapsed. He was crying, but he had to hide his tears. He couldn’t let anyone see his weakness.

“Kikyou…Kikyou…”

The modern girl ignored him. As though she had not seen his face, she screamed.

“OSUWARI, OSUWARI, OSWARI!!!”

Bang, bang, bang

Three body slams seemed to have awoken him. He could no longer cry. Though he was still caught up in grief, the usual him was seeping through.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?”

“Kikyou this, Kikyou that…can you think of a better way to find her than what you were doing just now? Do you realize that you were releasing more youkai blood in the air? How can you smell her scent then!?”

It hurt her to say those words, but she couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Can’t you be more realistic than this? Going about on a massacre won’t get you anywhere, Inuyasha. You still have us! Together…together we’ll find Kikyou, I promise…”

Just when she said that, a gust of wind had cut off whatever Inuyasha was about to say. Turning around, he joined the others’ gazes that had landed on the newcomer.

“Yo, has been a while, huh?” spoke the wind sorceress.

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Motoko Aoyama: Sorry about the short chapter. I was a bit stuck at how to write the story, so I think it would be best for me to leave it here until an idea strikes me again. Hopefully you liked it either way. Before I go and update my remaining fics, please let me thank you all for reading. I would love it if you could review too! Remember that anything other than flames is greatly appreciated! Even a single word would make me happy! Chapter 19 – Moonlit Battlefield. Look forward to it!