DISCLAIMER: let it be known that I do not own anything of the Inuyasha universe. I'm just using them temporarily, but it would be nice to live like that…
Time…
It is something that nothing and no one will have control over…
It guides us, whether we like or not, to our preordained destines…
But what if, in some way, you could fight against the current of time and order, and forge your own destiny?
Let me tell you the trials of two people, separated by time, but together by heart…
"I really need to go home…" Kagome Higurashi said to herself tiredly as she walked inside the train car, anxious to go home. She made sure that other people could get in easily before she let her mind wander again, her eyes staring into nothing as she heard the doors close behind her, the train moving at a steady speed.
"I wonder what Hojo-kun is doing…" she said mentally, although she already new the answer. The unconsciously fiddled with the gold wedding ring on her finger as she thought of her husband. He would be probably doing the same thing as she was doing. Kagome closed her eyes as she imagine her husband coming into the door, a smile on his face. Kagome couldn't stop the small, but sad smile that came to her face when she imagined Hojo's smiling face and opened her eyes when she felt the train slowly come to a stop.
"Fukuoka district…this is the last stop on this line, please exit the train and please watch your step…" Kagome turned around and watched the doors open in front of her, and slowly walked out of the train, walking towards the stations exit.
Kagome heard her heels make a slight sound as she slowly walked home. She put her hands in her jacket pockets as she continued to think.
Why am I not happy?
This was a question that often she found herself asking whenever she had a minute to rest. She had a faithful husband, a flourishing job as a doctor, a nice place, why was she not blissfully happy? Kagome stopped in front of her two-story house and looked up into the empty sky, and said one name as she gazed at the star-less sky.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome's long black hair played with the wind as she then slowly walked to the front door of her home, and fished out her keys from her coat pocket. She opened the door and was greeted by darkness and silence. Hojo's train must be running late. She took off her shoes and put on her house slippers as she turned on the lights in the house. Kagome then made her way to the kitchen and slowly went to the fridge. She took out a small pitcher of water and poured herself a glass of water. She then walked to the sofa in the living room, not even bothering to turn on the television as she plopped herself onto the sofa, her eyes honed in on the ceiling.
It happened so long ago… She was seventeen when it happened, her brush with the fates. But her memories would not let her forget the things she did, the people she met. Kagome was now twenty-three. Six years had passed. Would they still remember her? Most importantly, would he remember her? Six years can do a lot to a person. Kagome then let her mind wander to the memory she cherished and despised the most.
six years ago
It was nighttime in Kaede's village as everyone was celebrating the death of one of the most feared people in feudal Japan, torches lit to light the celebration, everyone was there, all except two people. They were away from the town, away from the cheers and praises that they deserved.
Amber eyes stared into the tree that used to contain him, and closed them, turning around slowly and looking into the chocolate orbs of a young woman in a school uniform.
"Its over Inuyasha… it's finally over…" Kagome said looking into Inuyasha's eyes, before he moved slowly towards her, his injuries still hindering him somewhat. He looked into her eyes and nodded as he slowly wracked his brain for the right things to say, praying to any god that would listen that he would not destroy the only moment they have with each other. He inhaled deeply and slowly spoke.
"Kagome listen… I have a lot of things to say to you... so please just let me say it all at once… don't disturb me or I fear that I might ruin the only time that I can speak to you without putting my foot in my mouth…" Kagome slowly nodded, a little anxious that he was so serious.
"Kagome… throughout our time together, I know I had been… difficult to you… but sometimes… to let someone in is to show your weakness… and for some one like me… a half-breed… showing one's weaknesses can only ensure a quick death. It's something that I had to learn the hard way ever since childhood and the ordeal with Kikyo had solidified the layer around my heart to rock …"
Kagome watched as she saw Inuyasha's eyes glaze over with an unknown emotion as he continued.
"From the first moment I saw you Kagome, the rock around my heart felt the first, and probably the most punishing blow. My heart constricted at the sight of you. It was your eyes. I felt like your eyes could see me for who I was. A scared child fumbling around in the darkness. It was also right then that my heart went right back to refortifying its protection."
Kagome eyes started to water as she heard the heart-felt words that Inuyasha spoke.
"She'll betray you, lie to you, make you hurt in ways a stab wound or poison could never accomplish..." those were the things that floated though my head as we first started our journey for the jewel shards. But Kagome, time is a funny thing. As our journey went on, and I got to know you better. Every look, every smile, every tear, every argument, every word, whether it was "the word" or hello, slowly chipped away at the layers of rock that shielded my heart. Towards the end of our journey, at the day of the battle with Naraku, something I came to realize something that shattered all of my barriers, freeing me from my self-imposed prison. Do you have any idea what I thought of Kagome?
Kagome didn't trust her voice in such a delicate situation and just nodded as her eyes clouded over, a bubble forming in her throat. Inuyasha smiled slightly and continued.
"I came to realize that… I cared for Miroku, for Sango, for Kirara and Shippou, but most importantly, I cared for… you…"
Kagome couldn't hold back anymore and she felt tears fall down her face as she finally heard something that she had always wanted to hear from the person that held dominion over her heart since the first day she met him. She fell to her knees and held her face in her hands as she cried lightly. Inuyasha bent down and sat on his legs, reaching for her, bringing her into his arms.
Kagome sighed as she noticed that his skin was deliciously warm to the touch. She put her face in the crook of his neck and breathed deeply, loving the scent that Inuyasha had. He smelled like the forest breeze, and something that resembled vanilla. Kagome weaved her fingers through his hair, reveling in the feel of his hair as it sifted through her fingers. Inuyasha just wrapped around his arms around her and nuzzled her cheek, letting her touch him. It was then that a dull violet light could be seen emanating from her and they moved back from each other, surprised. Kagome then saw the Shikon Jewel float between them, and Kagome then remembered what Inuyasha had said in the beginning.
" you have no idea how Long I wanted to hear that from you inuyasha…" Kagome said softly. The young man just smiled knowlingly and smiled into her neck.
"Well Inuyasha… do you still want to be a full-youkai?" Kagome watched as Inuyasha's eyes darted to the Jewel and then back to her tear stained face, and said folding her hands over it,
"No Kagome… what I want I can never have…"Kagome's heart stopped at the words that left Inuyasha mouth and her bottom lip trembled
"But Inuyasha… if you love me then why?" Inuyasha just gave her a small smile and said with watery eyes, his voice cracking slightly,
"Because Kagome… you don't belong here… you have a whole other life over at your time period. It would be selfish for me to keep you here, all to myself… I know that now…" Kagome shook her head violently, her hair covering her face as she replied,
"But how can you tell me that it's selfish Inuyasha? When it's something we both want?" Kagome watched her words reverberate through Inuyasha's mind through his eyes, damning logical thoughts and reasons. She wanted this, wanted him. Kagome then watched as Inuyasha came close to her, and held her face in his warm hands, making her close her eyes.
"Kagome… even with the distance between us, my feelings for you will never fade. Till my last breath, you'll be the only one worthy of owning my heart…" Kagome cried some more before her fingers hit the necklace that bonded him and she smiled through her tears as she closed her eyes and concentrated, the necklace shattering, leaving Inuyasha stunned. She smiled and said moving her face closer to his,
" you don't need those anymore Inuyasha… let it be a testament to how much I trust you… how much I'll always love you…" Inuyasha's amber eyes were smoldering as he stared into Kagome's chocolate orbs, and said before touching Kagome's lips with his,
"Good bye Kagome Higurashi, I'll never forget you…"
Kagome's entire being was centered on the kiss memorizing every minute detail, from the softness of his lips to the warmth of
Them, the feel of his hair on her hands, and the smell of him enveloping her, making her body turn to jelly. She then felt his lips wrench away from hers with an audible sound, and watched with teary eyes as he ran away, leaving her.
"Inuyasha!!! INUYASHA!!!!" Kagome said as she watched him run away into the darkness of the forest, it was right then that she noticed a stray tear on one of the beads of Inuyasha's necklace. He had cried. Kagome grabbed the solitary bead and clutched it to her chest, as if the bead was Inuyasha himself.
The next day…
"Where is that hanyou?" Miroku said with a slightly irritated voice as he looked around for Inuyasha as Sango hugged Kagome.
"Are you sure everything will be okay Kagome?" Sango said worriedly as she looked into Kagome's teary eyes. Kagome just wiped away a tear and said to Sango,
"Yeah… the worst is over. The real question is whether you two are going to be okay?" Kagome saw Miroku and Sango grab each other hands and look into each others eyes and Miroku said to Kagome while looking into Sango's eyes,
"Don't worry one bit about this houshi Kagome. He has found his goddess…" Kagome watched Sango's cheeks flush in embarrassment and look away. Sango then noticed that Inuyasha still hasn't come to say good bye, and yelled out,
"INUYASHA!!!" Kagome grabbed Sango's hand and said softly,
"Don't bother calling him Sango… he's long gone…" Sango's eyes widened and she said worriedly,
"What do you mean?" Kagome then made up an excuse.
"We kind of had a heated argument… the worst one as a matter of fact. We both said some things we didn't like…" Miroku then quickly interrupted her by saying,
"Like how much you love each other…" Kagome quickly looked into the monk's eyes and looked away in shame. He knew.
"Inuyasha came to me for help on how to talk to you about his feelings… though it was mostly his doing; I just corrected his wording…" Miroku said softly. Kagome then slowly walked towards the well and said to both of them,
"If you see him, tell him that I'm sorry… that it couldn't work…" they both nodded and waved good bye as they both watched Kagome jump into the well, and out of their lives…
Present
Kagome wiped her eyes as the memory faded away from her minds eye as she headed towards the bedroom, leaving the glass of water abandoned at the sofa. She stopped in front of a small dresser and opened the first drawer, taking out a small box fit for a ring. She opened it and bit her lip as she stared into the lone pearl that was from Inuyasha's necklace, and the completed Shikon no tama. She slowly touched the solitary bead, her aching heart slowly being soothed at the touch of the familiar smooth cold surface. It was then that she heard her front door open and she heard a voice ring out in the otherwise quiet house.
"Kagome-kun I'm home? Kagome?" Kagome quickly shut the jewelry box, putting it back in its hiding place. She walked down the stairs and was greeted with the site of her husband smiling at her, his tie loosened. Kagome smiled slightly and went to him, hugging him and kissing his lips lightly before letting go.
"Hello Hojo-kun… how was work?" the man rubbed his neck to rid of the achiness that resided there as he slowly walked towards Kagome, touching her cheek with his other hand. He then said to Kagome as he looked at her in the eye,
"Kagome? Is there a problem honey?" Kagome winced at the words, and quickly said in defense,
"I'm just tired Hojo that's all… you know how stressful my job is…" she then saw Hojo's shoulders slump slightly in defeat.
"I'll see you in bed later then Kagome… good night…" Kagome then watched as Hojo walked up he stairs, and into the bedroom. Kagome then threw herself into the seat that was next to her and threw her head into her hands. Things were so complicated now. Till this day her head still spun with the torrent of changes and events that led her to where she was now. Where she didn't want to be. She sighed and went to her small library near the coffee table in the living room, and grabbed a few medical journals. For Kagome, this was her escape. To study endlessly until her head ached and her vision blurry. That was the reason she was such a success at the hospital, she buried herself in it in order to evade her private problems. She opened a book and slowly started to read when she found that her mind couldn't focus. Kagome hissed through her teeth as she couldn't concentrate and slowly looked at the phone. She looked at the clock on the wall and weighed her options.
"One O clock… he's up … maybe he won't mind…" Kagome then reached for the phone and called the one person that knew of her inner turmoil.
Kagome had met him at the hospital, treating him for a dislocated arm due to a brawl with one of his sister's ex boyfriends. While she treated him, she found his voice inviting, the way he spoke inviting a conversation. Before she knew it, she had hung out with him a couple of times during her breaks in the hospital. He had said that he came from America, and moved over here in order to start over. Kagome dialed his number and waited anxiously as she heard the phone ring. She then heard a voice at the other end of the phone.
"Moshi Moshi … Alex speaking…" Kagome smiled as she heard his voice and said combing her hand through her hair,
"Hey Alex it's me Kagome…" Kagome then heard him say,
"Oh hey Kagome… you alright? You usually sleep at this hour. Anyway what's up…?" Kagome simply said to Alex,
"I desperately need to vent Alex… care to be my target?" she heard Alex laugh slightly and the clicking of a keyboard and already knew that he was talking to her while using the computer.
"Sure although it's kind of late. How about the usual spot tomorrow? Sound good?" Kagome sighed and said in a happier tone of voice,
"Okay… I'll see you then Alex, good night… and thanks again…" Kagome heard Alex snort and said before he hung up,
"It's okay… I'd rather you take it out on me then your patients!!!"
Kagome smiled and hung up the phone, slowly walking back to the table full of books, ready to study.
Two hours later, the books became her pillow…
Ok I REALLY need help on this one okay? This is a first Inuyasha fan fiction for me and I want this to be a good one! So please drop any kind of criticism, so long as it helps out... thanks in advance…