Forever For Your Memory
By InuYasha Complex
NOTE: Hello, all! InuYasha Complex here! This is my first attempt at an InuYasha fic, and I hope you guys enjoy this here story...And stick by while I finish! If everything goes to plan it's gonna be pretty long. So enjoy! And no I don't own InuYasha. Rumiko Takahashi created it, Yomiuri Productions has dibs, too! XD This takes place along the timeline of about five years, and approximate ages are as follows (And these are just APPROXIMATE!):
InuYasha:
Beginning of story: 18 (If you want to get technical, around 68.)
End of story: 23 (Or 73.)
Kagome:
Beginning: 17
End: 22
Shippo:
Beginning: 7 (I guess...He seems a lot like my cousin, lol.)
End: 12
Sango:
Beginning: 18
End: 23
Miroku:
Beginning: 18
End: 23
Souta:
Beginning: 13
End: 18
Kaede:
Beginning: 59
End: 64
Rin:
Beginning: 10
End: 11
Ok! I will now continue the story...I hope you enjoy!
A cool breeze blew in from a clear lake, a nightingale sang her song as she flew overhead. Kagome finished fixing Shippo's sleeping bag then began preparing her own. It seemed so strange now without the little fox curled up at her side during the night, but Shippo wasn't all that little anymore. He had grown considerably and the sleeping bag he and Kagome had been sharing all this time was beginning to get a little small. Moving into a bag of his own was heartbreaking for both he and Kagome, but necessary all the same. But in her place was a stuffed monkey named Noodle that had been Souta's favorite plaything as a child and would serve as a surrogate sleeping partner for Shippo until he outgrew it.
Sango was nearby in Kaede's hut with Miroku. It was a pleasant surprise when the monk finally got down on his knees and asked for the demon slayer's hand, a picture made even more lovely by the setting sun. If Kirara was excited by the union, no one noticed as the newly mothered feline tended to her three kittens. As with most cats, the father was unknown and never seen by any member of the group, but the kittens were enjoyed anyway. After several rounds of begging, it was Miroku who convinced Sango to keep all three with points that their children would need companions as well. To everyone's surprise, Sango simply laughed and agreed with her fiancée'. The pain of losing Kohaku was still there, lying dormant and everyone knew it was eating away at Sango's will. When the young boy removed the shard himself and lay the bloody jewel in his sister's hand his final words had been, "I love you, sister." Sango had cried, but the worst was yet to come. Miroku had announced that when that time came, he would be there even if Sango lost herself to grief completely.
Sesshomaru had officially made Rin his adopted daughter, making the little girl ecstatic. And instead of calling the dog demon "Lord Sesshomaru", he was now lovingly called "Daddy". He had moved into the private forest castles InuYasha and Sesshomaru's father had built for Sesshomaru's mother. Jaken was still Rin's best friend, servants were brought in, and Rin had a grand room with more toys than one hundred spoiled princesses could ever have. She had elegant kimono and beautiful hair ornaments that any geisha would envy. But the toys didn't matter, and the kimono were too hot and heavy for her. She still loved her old yellow kimono that her new father had gave her when she joined his small traveling group. Her favorite past time was watching Sesshomaru wake up, complete his morning grooming and start his day. At night instead of sleeping in a perfectly prepared Western style bed, she curled up beside Sesshomaru. As of late, the dog demon smiled more, and there was a slight bounce in his step...All had ended well for him, too it seemed.
Then there was InuYasha. Naraku was gone, the Jewel was complete, but Kikyo was also gone. By the light of the completed Shikon Jewel, she gave him a final smile before the souls that gave her life slipped away from her and left the ashes from which she was born from. After her small memorial service with the rest of the group and Kaede, he buried her again with his own hands, but refused to sleep in Kaede's village that night. His excuse to the others had been he's rather sleep outside since it was peaceful now. But to Kagome he had whispered, "I can't bear to see Kaede cry over losing Kikyo again..."
The hanyou was in a tree on the outskirts of the camp, a soft pink glow giving off his location. Kagome sighed and turned to Shippo with a smile. "Hey, why don't you go ahead and go eat dinner? I'm going to go get InuYasha then we'll join you guys."
Shippo grabbed up Noodle and grinned broadly. "Ok! Just hurry back!"
She chuckled and adjusted Shippo's furs. "Ok, now run along."
The fox ran off towards Kaede's, leaving Kagome to face InuYasha. Just what did he plan to do with the Jewel now? Was he going to become a full demon as originally planned, or would he grant Kikyo's wish and become human?
Kagome stood below the thick branches of the tree InuYasha had taken up quarters in and called out to him. "Hey...Want to give me a hand up there?"
Rustling came from above and a green leaf fell free and rode the breeze in it's descent. A red and silver blur shot down from the canopy and to Kagome's side, startling the human girl. InuYasha straightened up and fixed his sad, golden gaze upon her.
He couldn't believe how much she had changed since they first met, how much she had grown. She had lost that cute little girl look a long time ago, and had grown into a beautiful young woman. Instead of a childish wonder, her eyes held an adult's fascination at new things. Awkward lankiness had been replaced by feminine grace as her body had filled out with time. Her legs and arms were marred by tiny scars from wounds past, equally small wrinkles had began to form around her mouth and forehead from all the stress and trauma she had put up with over the journey, with school and numerous demon encounters. The skin on her palms was rough and slightly calloused from handling the bow and arrow so much, and her poor feet were equally in rough shape. But in InuYasha's eyes, the raven haired human couldn't be more lovely. She had her imperfections and her inner demons, she was far from perfect. But even if she was, how boring would their adventures have been? InuYasha only wished he could make her see what he saw when he looked into those deep brown eyes. He wished she could see that burying Kikyo forever had hurt, yes...But that wasn't reason he couldn't stand seeing her now.
"Did you need something?" He questioned, his voice thick with sadness and unshed tears.
Kagome didn't miss the tone, it was one that never did fit the half demon well. The glow from his left hand seemed to intensify in Kagome's presence and InuYasha opened his hand. The Jewel was nestled in his palm, sparkling and glowing as brightly as it had all those years ago.
"What...What are you going to do with it?" Kagome asked, standing closer to him.
InuYasha winced at the question. He knew it would come up sooner or later, but it wasn't the answer that bothered him...It was the final result.
"Myoga told me of another option...Becoming what my old man and Sesshomaru are...Something called a pure demon." He said softly, almost inaudible for Kagome's ears. "A pure demon is stronger than your average demon and has a good heart, or the potential of having one."
Kagome smiled gently, then her heart sank again...Just what was he going to do?
"But I want your input, Kagome. I want you to help me figure out what to do, what would be best." InuYasha added, his voice pleading.
She smiled and took InuYasha's hand into her own. "I want you to do what you feel is best. I'll respect any decision you make, even if you decide to become full demon."
InuYasha looked down at the ground then closed his eyes. He didn't have to say anything for her to understand what was happening to him on the inside. She could look into his eyes and see into his heart and soul. "I want to be a pure demon. I refuse to let myself become a murderous monster, or..." He turned to face her, taking her hands into his. "Become a human to where I can't protect you the way I want to...But"
A crackling aura surrounded InuYasha's palm and bright beams of light shone through his fingers.
"What's happening?!" InuYasha yelled, quickly opening his fist and dropping the Jewel to the ground.
A thin, white jagged line ran down of the middle of the Jewel, splitting it down the middle. The glow evaporated from the Jewel and hovered above the two halves, forming a shimmering figure of a woman. The form sharpened and cleared, blues, reds and whites manifesting into the woman who gave birth to the Shikon Jewel.
Midoriko smiled down at InuYasha and Kagome, her translucent form giving a slight view of the forest behind her. She moved to where she was at eye level with the golden eyed half demon.
"InuYasha...The son of the Great Dog Demon and a lady...Lord Inu no Taisho and Lady Izayoi would be so proud of you." Midoriko said, her voice wispy with echoes and angelic undertones.
She took InuYasha's face between her hands and pressed her lips to his forehead. A warming sensation coursed through InuYasha's body as Midoriko entered him, combining her powers with his own. InuYasha fell to his knees, covered by a thin sheet of cold sweat. His head pounded, his blood rushed through his veins, a sharp intense pain coursed through every nerve. InuYasha's stomach clenched with the pain as the half demon twisted and wriggled on the ground before a terrified Kagome.
"InuYasha!" Kagome cried, reaching out to the half demon with tears pouring from her eyes.
An electrostatic shock racked her hand before she touched him, her slender fingers shaking from the shock of it all. InuYasha ceased his thrashing as the pain subsided with barely manageable aftershocks. He weakly raised his head and looked at Kagome.
Jagged violet markings were on his cheeks, his golden eyes lined by thick black markings. His canines were longer, as were his claws. Kagome kneeled before him, touching the markings carefully.
"Y-your face..." Kagome whispered in awe, tears threatening to pour from her lids once again.
InuYasha looked at her in shock. "What? What's wrong?!"
Kagome laughed and wiped her eyes. "Your wish! Your wish came true, InuYasha!"
But the look on the half demon's face was far from happy. It was a look of sheer hurt and fear. "Kagome...No..."
The girl narrowed her eyes in question. "InuYasha, what is it? What's wrong?" She asked, rising with the half demon as he stood.
InuYasha pulled Kagome into his arms, hugging her tightly. Fear rose in Kagome's stomach, making her sick with worry. "Please tell me what's wrong! Ple-"
The half demon silenced her with his own lips, warm and gentle, cool and rough all in one movement. Kagome's knees buckled at the sudden one-eighty InuYasha's mood did, blushing as she responded to his urgency.
He tasted the salt from her tears, he tasted the remnants of the sweet bean cake she had eaten earlier. He smelled her fear, her sorrow, and the love she had felt for him all this time. It wasn't their first kiss, no, but it felt like it...No, it was better in some ways, but so much worse in others. But this moment couldn't save him from the harsh reality that was about to befall them. He felt Kagome's body began to get lighter and slightly give way and he pulled away from her. InuYasha took in what he could, her chocolate brown eyes, her raven black hair, all the curves and lines, the smells the tastes, then he told her.
"Kagome...I didn't want to make my wish just yet because...Because I wanted to be with you longer...Because I...Because I love you."
Kagome brought her hands to her face and cried. She had waited to her those words...Those words completed her. "InuYasha, I love you too...And I'll always be-" Kagome reached out to touch his hand, then stopped. Her hand was fading.
She gasped and looked at her hands, her arms and feet. She wasn't hallucinating, she was fading away. "InuYasha! InuYasha what's happening to me?!"
InuYasha took her by the shoulders, the only part of her that hadn't begun to fade. "You only came to this world by the power of the sacred Jewel. And now that it's gone you...You can't exist here anymore."
Kagome froze at hearing his words, the tears falling with no plans on stopping. It had all sunk in, and she clung to him like a lost child just returning to the arms of it's mother. "No! I won't leave you! I won't leave you, I won't do it! InuYasha I love you I'll never leave you!" She looked up into his sad golden eyes. "I won't leave you like this..." She sobbed.
InuYasha went to embrace her, Kagome tried to cling to him forever...But it was too late...
Kagome disappeared as quietly from those lands as she had came all that time ago...
FIN
Did you guys like? I will try to update as soon as I can! But with school and stuff...Ugh...But I will try! Please review!!! T.T