The Once and Future Taiyoukai By RosieB. (Inuyasha FanFic)

Chapter 8: Confessional

ALL RIGHTS TO ROSIE B ON FANFICTION.NET Rosie B [https://www.fanfiction.net/u/38149/RosieB]

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Chapter 8: Confessional

A/N: Okay, clearly I can never promise to get the next chapter up quickly - it only gives me a major headache and a frustrating case of writer's block. I've rarely had so much trouble with a chapter, but I hope this satisfies.

The Once and Future Taiyoukai

Chapter 8: Confessional

"I hate lying to them."

"You cannot tell them. They will not understand."

"I think they'll understand this more than the fact that Kagome hasn't come back yet," replied Inuyasha miserably. "Shippo isn't talking to me anymore."

"There was a time you would have rejoiced at that," said Kikyo coolly. She sat on the ground across the clearing from the hanyou. She was restringing her bow. It was hard work, but she wasn't even breaking a sweat. Inuyasha wondered if she could sweat.

He shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. But it's not right. He should be a little brat, but he just sits around watching the well."

"There was a time that you did that."

He frowned at her memory. How often had she spied on him when he was waiting for Kagome's return? "That was before."

Kikyo finally looked up at him. "Before what, Inuyasha?"

"Before the jewel shattered again." He scowled down at his hands. "I just want to tell them. Kagome still has the shards. We'll never complete it without her. But that means Naraku can't complete it either."

The undead miko studied her companion for a moment. "And what will they say, Inuyasha? They will still need to fight Naraku. The monk's wind tunnel still threatens his life and any hopes that the demon slayer will ever be wed. The slayer has her vengeance, as we do. The completion of the jewel is just an added responsibility."

"I still think they should know," Inuyasha said softly.

Kikyo shrugged. "If you must tell them, then of course, you may. I just think it's premature. It's only been a week."

He looked up at her suddenly with a piercing gaze that she had never seen before. But it faded almost immediately. "Have you had any luck with trying to open the well again?" he asked sullenly.

"No," replied the miko. She had periodically gone to the well at night, when the others were asleep, on the pretense of finding a way for Inuyasha to get back to Kagome's time. She knew that Inuyasha sometimes watched her as she walked around the well and put on a little light show of small spells. He didn't know the difference and Kikyo simply confirmed the seal on the well. No miko of Kagome's caliber would ever be able to break through, she decided, unless she wished it.

Inuyasha suddenly laughed. It was sad and hollow. "Shippo wants to make a thousand paper cranes. He wants to wish Kagome back."

"Let him. What's the harm?" asked Kikyo disinterestedly.

"There's a lot of harm," he muttered. He stood up and looked to the sky. It was turning orange with the sunset. Miroku would be returning from helping the men in the fields and Sango would be cooking dinner with Kaede. Kagome was the best cook, but he had never told her that. He hadn't told her a lot.

Kikyo watched as the hanyou fidgeted. "This is unwise, Inuyasha."

"It was unwise to keep it from them," he replied. He knew that they would be angry. Miroku would smack him with his monk's staff, leaving imprints of the rings on Inuyasha's back. Sango would fall silent after a few choice words about his cowardice. Shippo would cry. He might as well get it over with.