Chapter 7

Inuyasha and Kikyo finally made it to the entrance of Uraesue’s cave. It was dank and dark and smelt strongly of candle wax and paint. “There’s gotta be something in there that can help you” Inuyasha said desperately. By now he was starting to feel rather panicked. Along the trip Kikyo’s body had started to soften and was slowly loosing its shape.

“Inuyasha maybe some of those books over there can help us” Kikyo pointed to a corner where a number of old books stood propped up between youkai skulls.

“Hey, that’s a good idea Kikyo, you’re so smart Kagome would never have thought of that” Kikyo smiled slightly causing her cheek to sag down past her jaw. Inuyasha looked away suddenly grimacing “Errr why don’t we take a look at those books then”.

Kikyo started to read off the titles “Necromancy, Life after Death by Agatha Greyling, ummmm no Death Magic and the Aura of Lich by Asr Ludwig do you think any of those books will be able to help us?”

“Nah! Those books sound boring and complicated and look at all those tiny words, what we need is something simple”

Kikyo pulled off another book in soft yellowing leather “what about Homunculi and Human Transmutation by Hohenheim Elric” Inuyasha wrinked up his nose,

“Definitely not, besides that looks like human skin” he shuddered. “Hey this one is perfect! Its got pictures a full set of step by step instructions plus thing you can use to substitute if you don’t have all the ingredients!”

Kikyo looked down at the book “Undead Pottery for Dummies by Rom Spoilsmen” She looked at him doubtfully “Inuyasha…are you sure this doesn’t sound right”

“Don’t be silly” Inuyasha broke in gruffly “It will all be fine now let’s get on with this and soon you’ll be as good as new!” He went to the back of the cave and picked up a big cauldron while Kikyo started gathering the ingredients they would need.

Kagome said goodbye to the gang and jumped down the well. She had told everyone that since they couldn’t search for any more shikon shards she may as well go home and spend time with her family. This was partly true, she did miss her family – quite a lot actually she just couldn’t visit the ones she really wanted to see.

What she could do was go home have a nice hot bubble bath and climb between her 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets – after a proper meal – she couldn’t stand the thought of any more ramen.

Home had an added benefit of course. If she had stayed in Edo she would’ve had to endure all those pitying sympathetic looks from her friends. All the “Don’t worry Kagome, he doesn’t love her anymore. Inuyasha’s just to make up for the past”. She rolled her eyes bah! Who were they trying to kid? Either they were stupid or they thought she was! Inuyasha was obviously still barmy over the dearly departed Kikyo.

Kagome giggled as if that would upset her. ‘I mean sure I guess Inuyasha is cute, kinda in a puppy-like way. But he’s so crude and aggressive, I’d never want to spend the rest of my life with someone like that’ She stretched and put down her bulky yellow bag on the marbled floor “talk about an eternity in hell…” she drifted off as she made her way to her rooms. The bag she left. The elves would take care of that later, she had a big tub with high-pressure jets to soak in.

Kouga ran as fast as his jewel enhanced legs could carry him. He wasn’t scared oh no! Just… wisely cautious, yeah that would do! For the past month Ayame had kept him chained up in a cave in a bid to convince him that they should mate. Immediately. Kouga was not convinced. This was in part largely due to two things. Firstly he didn’t really like Ayame. She was loud and controlling and he knew very well one he mated her that would be it. His life as he had one known it would be over. It would be all…domestication and pups and not having any say in his life ever again! Kagome was a much better bet. Sweet and soft spoken she would make a much better mate. Plus there was that other reason. He had to admit (but only very privately to himself would he concede this was a far bigger reason) that he just wasn’t ready to settle down yet. He was happy running wild with his wolf pack and living the bachelor life and a mate would totally ruin all that.

He shook off such depressing thought after all he was free again – if only for the moment. He needed to stay away from the den a while till things cooled down a bit. After all there was very little he could do to Ayame he had promised her and canine youkai took those kinds of promises very seriously. He could have killed himself though. Why oh why had he promised to mated her? How the hell had she remembered all those years – he certainly hadn’t. Though he confessed, the way she was screaming and performing after he saved her he would have done anything said anything to shut her up. Which was why he was in such a mess now. And while he didn’t particularly need an alliance with the White Wolves he couldn’t afford to conflict with them now either not while his pack was still so small.

Suddenly the though hit him. He would visit Kagome! He smiled broadly time spent with her always cheered him up. Besides Inuyasha would be there. It was easy to rile him up. They’d get into a bit of a tussle he could release some of his pent up energy. Hehe and after a while Kagome would sit him. A fight and some light comic relief - he could hardly wait.