'...' : Thoughts
"..." : Speach
italic: Speach or thoughts from the past
It has been six months after the final confrontation with Naraku that InuYasha finally gave into his sickness. Kagome, being the loyal friend and lover that she was, had stayed right by his side until the very end. She had nursed him, loved him, and gave him comfort. She had gone as far as traveling to the west to tell Sesshoumaru that InuYasha's end was near. She had done everything in her power to keep him alive as long as possible. But for InuYasha, it had been enough. His suffering could no longer be ignored. So had brought his final words:
"Let me go Kagome. Please... Let me go."
She could still recall his trembling voice, and his eyes boring into hers, begging her to let him go. It had been hard, but she found it in her heart to obey his last wish.
She had looked into his face, and had found that he bore a peaceful expression after his death. 'Rest in peace InuYasha, I love you and I'll never forget the happiness you gave me.'
Kagome had fought hard trying to convince herself that InuYasha was strong enough to fight the sickness. Even if she was wrong, they had almost both believed it. In the end though, she had only shed tears of disappointment, pain, and heartbreak. Day and night, she cried, until she had no more tears to shed.
Naraku, it had all been Naraku. That evil half-breed had still brought pain and suffering to the world even after his demise. It seemed that the Saimyoshou's poison and Naraku's miasma had mixed and had formed an incurable disease that affected all beings that possessed a demonic nature. Naraku had planned it all along. At his death, he wanted all demons to parish, for none would live if he could not. And only few had survived, those were the strongest.
She shook her head to rid her of those thoughts and looked to the horizon, she could see Sesshoumaru making his way towards her with Rin. A small smile made itself known upon her lips. Rin, that girl was unbelievably cute. She had softened the heart of a cold and heartless demon, much like she had done with InuYasha. Jaken and Ah-Uh though, his loyal retainer and two-headed dragon had also been affected by the disease and had died some months ago. Though he tried, Sesshoumaru had not been able to bring them back.
Sighing, she thought back upon her decision, today was the faithful day. On this day, she would return to her family for good, leaving this place behind. She no longer belonged in the feudal era. After all, she had only stayed for InuYasha, but now that he was gone, it was time for her to return from where she had come.
Over the time she spent in the feudal era, Kagome had come to consider her home as being by her first love's side. But to the future was where she must return. There, she would one day move on and find another love, maybe have children and grow old knowing she was proud of what she had done with her life. 'Yes, I must return, there is nothing left for me here.'
As Sesshoumaru came closer, she allowed herself one more memory before his arrival: her 16th birthday, which had been soon after Naraku's defeat. That day had brought her so much joy. InuYasha had come to her knowing she was by the well, but to her knowledge, not knowing that it was her 16th birthday. How wrong she was… 'That was a sweet sixteen alright.' She thought. She would never forget his warm embrace that day. She would never forget the feel of his lips upon her own as he took her breath away. No, she would never forget his smile knowing that in the end, she had been the one he chose.
***FLASHBACK*** (On Kagome's 16th birthday)
Sitting by the well, Kagome was thinking that perhaps today she ought to go back to the future to visit her family for a while. It had been 2 months since she had last seem her mother, brother, or grandfather.
"Hey Kagome, what'cha doin'?" Asked InuYasha when he found her.
"Oh!" She jumped, "hi InuYasha, did you sleep well?"
He knew something was bothering her now; it was always so obvious when she would avoid his question by asking one of her own. So he just narrowed his eyes at her. After a few moments of silence, Kagome decided to voice her thoughts.
"InuYasha?"
"Hm?" He responded.
"Will you let me go see my family for the day?"
'She's... asking me to go home? Why would she do such a thing?' InuYasha asked himself.
"Kagome... It's been three weeks since Naraku's defeat. There are no more shards of the jewel to hunt, and the Shikon no Tama is complete once again. Why would you still feel the need to ask me permission to go home? You belong over there in the future Kagome."
She deeply sigh right then. Didn't he want her here at all? Hadn't he moved on from Kikyo's death? Oh yes, that's right. To the world, the real Kikyo had died over 50 years ago, on that traitorous day when they had both thought they had betrayed each other. But to InuYasha, Kikyo's death was during the final confrontation, which had been precisely three weeks ago. A year ago, on her 15th birthday, Kagome had awoken InuYasha from the 50 years of dormancy in which he laid against the God Tree’s trunk. To him though, it's like it had only been yesterday that Kikyo had pinned him there. The reasons why InuYasha woke up, was because the Kami believed he deserved a second chance at life, and because Kagome had wanted him to live. She had wanted nothing else, since she knew that she fell in love with him, but to stay at his side.
Kagome was so deep into her thoughts at the very moment that she hadn't noticed that InuYasha had sat beside her on the rim of the well. She turned her head to look at him. He seemed to be deep in thoughts as well. 'I want to know...'
"InuYasha?"
"Hm?" He was still looking straight ahead.
"Do you...?" Sighing, she took a deep breath, and tried again.
"Don't you still want me to stay by your side InuYasha?"
Shocked, he looked at her with a slight frown.
"Of course I do Kagome! What the heck ever made you think I didn't? You’re a part of this group you know. Go ahead, go home for the day, but we'll all be expecting you back by sundown," he exclaimed as he sat up and left in the direction of the village.
'There he goes again. Being bossy as usual. He'll never change.' She sigh in content, but that was the InuYasha she knew.
'Okay, so he tried to swallow up his pride.' Thought Miroku, hidden away behind a near bush. (No, we all know he'll never change either!) 'InuYasha knows I'm watching, doesn’t he?'
"Wait InuYasha!" Shouted Kagome as she ran up to him.
"What is it? Weren't you going home? You better hurry before..." But he was cut off when Kagome ran straight into his arms to embrace him. Saying he was surprised was an understatement. It had been a long time since she held him like that. Not knowing what else to do though, he returned her small show of affections. For a few minutes, they did nothing but embrace one another while in a comfortable silence. Slowly, Kagome retreated. She looked upon his face, and with fierce determination, she came out with it. She needed to let him know.
"I'm in love with you InuYasha."
Only thing, he didn't seem to be surprised in the least at that statement. Almost like, he had already known. What she did not know though, since his facial expressions did not give it away, was that by showing she could find the courage to tell him, he himself was summoning his own. Finally gaining said courage; he slowly leaned forward, making his way to her luscious lips with his own. A mere inch from her lips, he hesitated at first, but he closed his eyes and made it all the way.
Kagome was more than shocked, she had been so scared of being rejected yet again, but something inside her made her jump for joy at this reaction. Her heart was beating so fast, yet it slowed and sped up again. She closed her eyes to take the moment in, and wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him closer. Nothing in the world could take this moment away from them. Not even the spying monk they both knew was watching.
As they broke apart, they both put on their biggest smiles on. They would let the world know this day, that they had finally both admitted their affections for one another, and found happiness.
"Happy birthday Kagome." He told her.
Bringing her hand to her lips, she shakily covered her mouth. Tears were slowly making themselves known. She just couldn't help it; her heart was beating so fast. And this was, as far as she knew, the happiest day of her life.
"What? What did I say? Kagome, don't cry!" InuYasha pleaded.
"Stupid InuYasha." She said calmly. "I'm crying because I'm happy."
"Because you're happy? Well that's a weird way to show it." He replied.
Kagome chuckled, 'he may be right.'
Suddenly, InuYasha had an idea. Oh yes he did, it was written all over his face. Taking Kagome firmly by the hand, he dragged her back to the village.
'Where is he taking her? What's he thinking?' Were the thoughts of the young monk. Getting up and running after them in hopes of catching the rest of this special event, but he stopped himself. "Oh I get it!" He said aloud. "They want to be alone." Miroku realized. "Better let them have their privacy then. I don't feel like dying today."
"InuYasha? Where are you taking me?" Wondered Kagome.
"Just wait a bit longer, you'll see."
A few minutes ago, they had passed the God Tree. As they had gotten closer to the village, he changed course and entered the forest. Kagome realized they were following a path they had never taken before.
InuYasha slowed when they came upon a waterfall.
"Where are we InuYasha?"
He looked at her, knowing he had found love once again, he trusted her with everything he had. That's why he had brought her to this special place.
"When I was just a kid Kagome, my mother died. I was hunted by wild demons day after day, and I knew they were only looking to make me their lunch." As he said this, he never let go of her hand.
"My days were made of running and hiding like a coward, until I came to understand that water had the power to hide one's scent. It took a while before I came to know that in these parts of the land, it was quiet, and there were hardly any demons in the area. I didn't know why at the time, and I didn't care. All I knew was that I was safer here. When I came upon this waterfall one day, being the kid that I was, I jumped in. I played around, and laughed like an idiot." He chuckled; remembering it like it was yesterday.
"But when I came too close to the waterfall, the force of the water pulled me under. You could almost say I was drowning, but, I resurfaced before I was out of breath."
Slowly, he pulled her on the other side of the waterfall.
"That's when I found this place."
Not saying another word, InuYasha let her step forward and look around. He could see her expression of amazement on her face.
It was a small cave, big enough for a child to hide well. There were piles of cut wood against the back wall, a small pile of fur by the right, which had made for InuYasha's bedding with a small circle of rocks near, which most likely would have been for a fire. By the left wall were bones of dead animals. It seemed like InuYasha had used them to draw the walls, markings of all kinds. It was almost like, those markings told of his days.
"You lived here?" Asked Kagome with strong curiosity.
"Yeah..." He answered. "Kagome?"
She turned around to face him; it looked like he wanted to ask her something important.
"Earlier, when I said that I still wanted you by my side. I meant that... that umm..."
'Come on man! You can do it. You kissed her not too long ago!' But still he hesitated. What would she say? 'Just say it you fool before you lose her! Look! She's getting nervous.
'You meant that what InuYasha?' Kagome was getting nervous. Was he going to take it all back? Did he mean what he said earlier or was it just to spare her from another heartbreak? But then, why would he give her such a breathtaking kiss? Why would he bring her here and tell her everything he just had, if he was just going to take it all back? 'Say something!' Her mind screamed.
Looking into her eyes, he knew it was time to say what he meant to by taking her here. He knew she liked it when he revealed more of his past. 'Here goes nothing.' He thought.
"I meant for good Kagome."
Her eyes opened. 'What? I thought he was... I thought...'
For a second time that very morning, Kagome didn't think, she just ran to him and jumped into his arms to embrace him. This time she shed more tears of happiness.
"Of course InuYasha." She whispered loud enough only for his puppy ears. "Of course. I'll stay by your side as long as it takes. Even until the end of our lives, if you wish it."
And his next words sealed their love's fate... "I do Kagome."
***END OF FLASHBACK***
No, she would never forget...
~ To Be Continued ~
Me: *sigh* Is it just me, but I almost cried when I wrote this. I was so sad when I wrote her feeling toward his death, but then, her memory. It was just so full of happiness! *sigh*
InuYasha: Yeah well, I think I was a bit mushy.
Me: Well, it was that, or you screwing up your relation ship completely!
InuYasha: *grumbles*
Me: It had to happen sometime! All the fans already knew you two belonged together. Even Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kirara knew!
Miroku, Sango & Shippo: YEAH!
Kirara: *MEW!*
InuYasha: *grumbles some more*
Me: Song lyrics in next chapters are from an album called Comment le dire (How to say it) by Partric Normand(french singer), the song is titled Juste Toi et Moi (Just You and I). *chuckles* Alright, please R&R (read and review) guys! Until next time!