Deciding My Fate

Chapter 49: An Act of Betrayal

Emi's pov

I stayed silent as we rode through the air with Haachi, who we learned was a friend of Miroku's. I couldn't believe the size of the wound on Inuyasha, I felt so helpless and it made me so angry that I couldn't help Inuyasha during his fight. I couldn't just interfere with a fight that was solely between siblings, this fight was different from the last time. Last time, Sesshomaru had no intention of killing Inuyasha, he just wanted Tetsusaiga for himself but this time, Sesshomaru had finally gotten his hands on Inuyasha's sword. He nearly got away with it if it hadn't been for Inuyasha and Kagome figuring out that the arm he had was human. I looked down at Inuyasha, whose head was resting on my lap. I snapped out of my thoughts and heard Miroku speaking to Haachi. "Haachi... We've been together a long time." Miroku said, he sounded so sentimental that it gave a stark contrast to how he normally sounded in his conversations. "Will you please cut out that sentimental talk?" Haachi quipped, making me smile softly. "Miroku, how are you feeling?" Kagome asked, "I think your medicine has taken effect. You saved my life." He smiled at Kagome, "Not to mention, Emi also stayed by my side and made sure that I didn't die." I felt his eyes on me but I didn't look away from Inuyasha. "Haachi, I'm hungry." Miroku whined, "'Kay, okay! I'll find something." Haachi explained, my ears twitched as I heard Kagome's soft footsteps heading over to Shippo, Inuyasha, and I. Shippo decided to stay by my side as he knew that I wasn't very happy at the moment, "Shippo, how is Inuyasha?" Kagome questioned, taking a seat beside Shippo. "As you can see, he hasn't gotten up yet," Shippo answered. "Now getting back to what we were talking about..." Kagome started, "The insect hive was Naraku's doing. Naraku was responsible for the Wind Tunnel in Miroku's right hand. And..." I once again found myself zoning out to their conversation as I brushed Inuyasha's hair out of his face. The damn idiot.  "Does Inuyasha know that?" Kagome whispered, "Nope... Inuyasha has had his hands full with Sesshomaru. He has no idea about Naraku." Shippo said, my ears twitched as I heard Kagome whispering to Shippo. "If he learns of it, he's sure to search for Naraku despite his injuries. Shippo, let's not tell Inuyasha about this for now." 

"I agree..."

"Emi, how are you doing?" Miroku took a seat beside me, I looked down at Inuyasha and brushed his hair back. "I... I feel so angry." I spoke softly, "Why?" Tears started to form but I pushed them back, swallowing the lump growing in my throat. "I'm angry because I'm not as strong as Inuyasha. I can't fight the demons of this time like he does. And if I want to protect myself, Kagome, and the people I love, then I have to stop being so weak. If I had learned how to fight like he does, then I could have helped him fight Sesshomaru. Then he wouldn't have nearly died." 

"Emi, you're not weak. Stop thinking like that because it will get you nowhere. You are strong-minded and with a little bit of practice, I'm sure that with a little bit of practice, you can be better than him. Kagome told me you were taught a fighting style back in your time called 'kendo'." Miroku stated, I knew that he was just trying to cheer me up but I was deeply rattled watching the fight between Sesshomaru and Inuyasha this time. "Emi, you have to believe in yourself." Miroku placed a hand over mine, I looked up at him and made eye contact. I could see the concern in his eyes and the sincerity in his expression, "Thanks, Miroku." Though I didn't fully believe what Miroku just said, I didn't let him see that so I just gave him a small smile. I looked back down at Inuyasha, who slightly moved which made me less worried that he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. Pretty soon, we arrived in Kaede's village around night time so we stayed in Kaede's hut for the night.

The next morning, all of us were sitting out in the field in Kaede's village. Inuyasha was doing better than he was yesterday, for some reason I had this feeling that he was going to do something to Kagome and he was seriously going to hurt her feelings. When Inuyasha woke up this morning, he asked to talk to me privately and told me about how he heard my conversation with Miroku yesterday while he was sleeping. He reassured me that everything was going to be okay, that what Miroku said to me was right and that he believed in me just like Miroku did. There was something about his words that really stuck with me, he was genuinely very supportive and even offered to help train me. "Thanks for carrying us, Tanuki." Kagome smiled at him, "Don't mention it!" Haachi gave her a smile back, I was surprised that Haachi had been friends with Miroku for so long. "A token of our appreciation." Miroku handed Haachi a piece of gold, I quirked my eyebrow wondering where he got it. "I hope they're not leaves, Master Miroku!" Haachi stated, examining the piece of gold that Miroku had given him. When he said that, I was shocked that he thought that Miroku would dupe him like that. Inuyasha suddenly stands to his feet, making me look up at him. "Kagome...come with me." He walked off, Kagome looked at me wondering what was going on. I shrugged and nodded my head, telling her to follow after him. "Wait...! Are you all right, Inuyasha?" Kagome rushed off after him, leaving Miroku, Shippo , Haachi and I to wonder what he wanted to talk to her about. She holds onto Inuyasha, who seemed a little weak. "Even if you're built strong, it's still too early for you to be walking around." I watched as Inuyasha tries to walk and winces in pain, making me shake my head and sigh. "See! I told you so!" Kagome argued, the two of them walk away which prompted Miroku and Shippo to follow them but Inuyasha stopped and turned around, "You guys don't have to come!" He said, the two walk into the forest. "There's no way, I'm letting them stay together alone in the middle of the forest. Let's go," I grabbed Miroku's hand, marching into the woods after my sister and Inuyasha. Eventually, we found a bush to hide behind so I just listened to them and made sure that Inuyasha couldn't sniff us out. "Kagome..." Inuyasha started, "Yes?" Kagome was busy looking at the leaves on another bush, "You've become strong." He stated, Kagome stands up and puts her hands on her hip, "I know! After all, I spend each day running away from demons. I'm much stronger now than your average ninth grader. I've gotten pretty good at archery, too." I watched as they walked ahead, noticing the Bone-Eating Well ahead which made me concerned for what was coming. Inuyasha walks up the well and sits, leaning on it. Kagome stops in front of him, "Kagome... How are you feeling? You're injured, aren't you?" I shifted in my spot, wondering what Inuyasha planning. Miroku could sense my growing anxiety and placed a hand over my shoulder, "Emi, everything's going to be okay." He said, "I don't know, Miroku. I just have a feeling something wrong is going to happen." I said, looking back over the bush at my sister and Inuyasha. "Huh? I just got a lump on the head. I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I know you told me to stay away from Sesshomaru but I ended up getting in your way. If I hadn't been moving around close by, you wouldn't have gotten hurt so seriously." Kagome apologized.

"Nah... Actually, your arrow saved me. I'm grateful, Kagome." 

 "What's wrong with you, Inuyasha?" Kagome knelt beside him, "You really are acting strange." She put a hand on his forehead, "You must have a fever." 

"What does he think he's doing taking Kagome so far into the forest?" Shippo started talking loudly, "Shhh!" Miroku and I said in unison. 

"You must've heard too about Naraku who lured me into a trap fifty years ago. He's the one pulling the strings behind Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said, "That's why... we might face even greater danger." He added, something felt off about where this was going. "You may be right." Kagome agreed, "Is that all you have to say?! Kagome, aren't you frightened? This time, we came out of it still breathing, but..." Inuyasha sounded very worried, it concerned me that he was thinking about the way Naraku could target Kagome. "I'm not afraid! Naraku is an awful demon! We must destroy..." Kagome was cut off when Inuyasha grabbed her hands and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Inu...yasha..." I let out a small gasp, my eyes widening in realization with Inuyasha's actions. "Inuyasha... You really do care for Kagome..." I thought to myself, "I...was afraid." Inuyasha said, "Huh?" Kagome sounded confused, a blush arose on her face. "At the thought of you dying... I was scared." I heard movement behind me, I looked over my shoulder to see Miroku shoving Shippo's face into the ground. "Hey, Miroku... What're you doing?!" Shippo yelled, "This is not for children to see." Miroku stated, looking back at Inuyasha and Kagome. The two hugged in silence for a while until Inuyasha suddenly shoves Kagome to the ground, making me growl loudly. Inuyasha stands and holds up Kagome's Sacred Jewel necklace in his hand, "I'll hold this." Inuyasha said, I growled again staring at him in disbelief. "The Sacred Jewel fragment!" Kagome stood up, staring at Inuyasha in shock. Inuyasha puts the necklace into his clothes, "You and Emi must never come back to this era again!" He shouted.

"What?" I snapped, standing to my feet.

"Wait, Emi.." Miroku grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks.

"Huh?!" In one swift movement, Inuyasha pushed Kagome into the well. I gasped, taking off as she shrieked and fell back into the well. "Kagome!!" Miroku and Shippo shouted behind me, "You bastard! Why would you do that?!! How could you just push her down the well like that?!" I shoved Inuyasha harshly, he grimaced in pain and slightly stumbled back but he didn't lose his footing. "You shouldn't stay here either, Emi! You are too inexperienced to fight the demons of this time and I don't want you to get yourself killed because you're trying to protect Kagome and everyone else." Without so much as saying another word, he grabbed my arm and flung me back with enough force that I lost my balance and fell into the well causing Miroku and Shippo to shout once again. "I'm sorry," Was the last thing I heard before the light shined and I was transported back to my time.