Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha!
Chapter One: Blackout
I'm falling… down? It's so dark… the blackness… unending. Where am I? There, that light… so close…so far… will it ever come? No, wait… don't take it… no… the light is gone…
"Kagome?"
Who? Who said my…name?… My name… is Kagome? Who… are you? Who… says my name?
"Kagome, open your eyes. Please, Kagome, wake up."
Wake up? But I'm… not asleep. Wait, I remember… your voice. You… I know you…your name is… is… damn. I know you… what is your name? Please… tell me your name…
"Kagome, please, Kagome…"
Who are you? I know you… I love you, I know I do… wait…"Kagome, wake up. We need you, Kagome… I need you. Open your eyes…"
Something went… horribly wrong. I can't remember… tell me… what went wrong…"Kagome, I need you. Please come back, Kagome, come back…"
You… I know you…your name… I remember now. You… are Inuyasha… Inuyasha? Inuyasha! I…
"I love… you, Inuyasha."
"KAGOME?"
My eyes open and there he is. Inu-Yasha. He's kneeling beside me, worry in his eyes. I raise a hand and brush his cheek.
"Inuyasha… your cheek is damp. Have you…been crying?"
He smiles that smile that lifts my spirit. His amber eyes shimmer as more tears run down his cheeks.
"Don't cry, Inuyasha, I'm okay. I'm here now, don't… cry anymore," my voice quavers as I speak.
He wraps an arm around my waist and hugs me close. He leans back and cups my cheek, tears still streaming down his face.
"Kagome, oh, Kagome, I thought I lost you. Don't ever run in front like that again."
He holds me close once more. I sigh.
"No, Inuyasha. I won't."
Wait. Lost me? What's he talking about?
His eyes smolder like dying coals as he leans close and kisses me, it feels so… different, like nothing I've felt before. I feel cold and hot at the same time, my heart melts, and I can feel my knees go weak.
Oh god, I'm such a hopeless romantic. He wont' fall for me…My eyes widen.
Wait, what am I saying? He has already!His kiss deepens as he holds me tightly in his arms. My own wrap unconsciously about his neck. I have goosebumps now.
"Ahem."
My eyes shoot open as I realize Miroku and Sango are standing next to us. Inuyasha breaks our kiss looking embarrassed… and angry?
"We've gotten Kaede, she's on her way," says Sango. "Um, is it a good idea to move her? She got thrown pretty far…"
"Wait, I'm confused," I look at her. "What do you mean, thrown?"
Sango looks at Miroku and starts to cry. She turns back to me.
"Kagome, you tried to save Shippo, don't you remember?"
We stare at each other; I can feel something empty and wrong inside. My eyes start to well with tears.
"What… what do you mean… tried to?" my voice catches in my throat.
Tears stream down Sango's face, a sob shakes her body, and another. Miroku pulls her gently to the ground and holds her in his arms. I can see it, he's been crying too. I turn to Inuyasha, his head is bowed. Of their own volition, my hands hold his face and force his gaze up.
"No," I whisper. "Inuyasha, tell me… it's not true, please…"
Tears flow freely down both our faces.
"Kagome," he starts. "I'm… so sorry. I didn't… didn't get there in time. Shippo, he bit the demon… he got you thrown…"
There's a pain in his eyes like none I've ever seen.
"I didn't reach him in time. Damn it, Kagome, he saved you instead of the other way around. He gave up his life for you."
He takes my hands.
"He stopped that snake demon from killing you. Kagome, he cared so much he traded everything for you."
I try to pull away.
"No," I whisper. "No, it's not true."
"Kagome."
I turn to Miroku, in his hand is a little brass bracer. It has a flaming fox racing across a frozen lake embossed into it. I take it with both hands, cradling it.
"It's the little bracer I gave Shippo for his birthday. But…," I turn back to Inu-Yasha. "but, he never takes it off… no… No, it's not possible."
"Kagome," Inuyasha murmurs.
I raise my eyes to meet his gaze. Tears well in his eyes.
"Kagome," his voice breaks. "I tried, I couldn't reach him in time."
"No," I say again. "No."
I pull away and stand.
"No."
I turn and run up a hill, I remember flying over it.
"Shippo!" I cry. "Shippo, answer me! SHIPPO!!!"
I crest the hill and stop.
Oh my god. What happened??Where a peaceful glade once stood, nothing but a smoking black crater remains. A small, still body lies at the center. I begin to run.
"SHIPPO!" I scream it now. "SHIPPO! NONONO! SHIPPO, NO!!!"
I trip and tumble down the side of the crater nearly to the bottom.
Great, now my whole left side hurts. I wonder what I broke?I crawl to him. He looks as though he's sleeping. I sit up and pull his broken little body to me. I hug him close, he smells of fire and ashes.
"Shippo," I whisper. "Wake up. Please, Shippo, wake up."
I look at his face. So peaceful. I brush the hair out of his eyes.
Oh, Shippo, what happened? I don't want you to go. Come back, Shippo, come back.
I hear footsteps, the others have arrived. I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Kagome, come on, we'll give him a proper farewell."
Miroku takes Shippo gently from my arms. I can't seem to stand, suddenly, I'm lifted. Inuyasha is carrying me, trying to still my wracking sobs.
"Why?!" I scream at the sky. "Why?! Why him?! Why Shippo?!"
I wrap my arms around Inuyasha's neck and sob into his hair.
"It was just supposed to be a party," I sob. "Just for my birthday, a party for my closest friends. My eighteenth birthday… oh, god…"
I look up at Inu-Yasha, I see the grief in his eyes.
"He wasn't even as old as Sota," I murmur. "Not even as old as my little brother… Inuyasha… he was a little brother to me, maybe something more. Oh, Shippo…"
The blackness returns. I'm falling faster this time.
Sorry if you don't like it. I just went with the flow.
Cya next time, action fans.
Kai'uri