Fated to Fall
Disclaimer: I do not own the original characters of Inuyasha nor their respective personalities. All deserved rights and credits belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Sesshoumaru touched his forehead to the thick cylindrical glass before him. His hands were spread and pressed to the surface, as if he could touch the being inside. The sorrow he was experiencing was too intense to express; his muscles were tensed, but he held onto an impassive mask. I could have prevented this. A choking pressure latched into his chest as he found himself incapable of moving or breathing. The warrior closed his eyes and allowed locked memories to unravel and fall to the floor.
KQKQKQKQKQKQ
High squeals and joyful laughter rang in the dark halls of the Taisho Manor. A seven-year old Inuyasha crouched low before a bleach-washed garden statue. Stifled giggling was blatantly audible behind the magnificent stone goddess; Inuyasha stretched his shoulder blades until they stood out starkly from his red T-shirt. His triangular ears on top of his head twitched every which way, just in case a bird decided his head would make a perfect toilet.
Brown flashed before his eyes. The chase was on. Inuyasha shot forward after the target like a bullet. When the creature tumbled into a bush, so did he; when it jumped over fallen branches or disappeared under a pile of autumn leaves, he followed. Pumping as much adrenaline into his muscles as possible, the hanyou sprang and tackled the frightened animal to the ground.
A newly eight-year old Kagome smiled widely, showing her large pearly-white teeth, and ran after her friend. As Inuyasha held out the poor struggling rabbit in his arms, Kagome shoved a long carrot stick into its mouth and squealed in excitement.
"We caught the rabbit! We caught the rabbit!" she sang.
Inuyasha grinned proudly and looked at the rabbit's wide, glassy eyes. He could feel its heart pounding against its ribcage.
"C'mon, Inuyasha! Let's go put him in his new home!"
Kagome grabbed Inuyasha by the elbow and tugged him in the direction of the manor.
Inuyasha followed while holding the rabbit tight in his arms; he didn't want to let this one escape like the last one. He winced at the memory.
'Inuyasha! Inuyasha! The cage! The cage! Put her in!'
'I can't Kagome! It's squirming too mu-chhh!!!'
The rabbit wriggled its way out of the hands of the hanyou and dropped to the ground. Freedom imminent, the black animal darted into the bushes.
'Stupid rabbit ...' Inuyasha looked over the hole the rabbit had made in a finely-cut hedge.
Light sniffles came from behind. He knew what that meant.
Inuyasha turned around slowly and made eye contact with his friend.
'I'm sorry ... it got away ... it was too strong.'
Kagome fell to the ground and wailed. Her new, brilliantly black pet was gone.
'I'll get you another one, Kagome! Don't cry please!' Inuyasha stressed the last word to express his desperation. He didn't want to start a scene in front of his family.
Much to his surprise, the crying had stopped and now stood laughing Kagome.
'Okay! You promise to get me a new one?'
'Yes.'
'Swear on it.'
'I swear.'
'No! Pinky promise me!'
His small finger connected with hers. He smiled. He was touching her!
Inuyasha gently placed the brown rabbit into its new home. Still frightened, the poor thing couldn't move.
Kagome laughed and stroked the small animal. Finally, a pet. Her pet.
"I'm disappointed you did not kill the wretched creature, Inuyasha."
All mirth in the vicinity seemed to die with ill-bidden words of an older being.
Kagome stared quietly at the source of pessimism. She didn't dare move or speak, afraid that he would hurt her.
Inuyasha's hackles rose as he spit out the name of his elder brother by five years.
"Sesshoumaru."