Restoration
An Inuyasha fan fiction
Disclaimer: I own no characters of Inuyasha. Only the story is mine.
Chapter Two
Hard Choices
Two years after Ayame's birth, she was the apple of her father's eye and the pride of her mother's heart. She adored her big brother. Shippo had a way of keeping Ayame entertained with his fox magic.
Sango and Miroku were expected their first addition to the family. However, the threat of Naraku lurking in the darkness wasn't lost to either couple.
One evening, Inuyasha and Kagome, with Shippo and Ayame in tow, decided to walk to the river. It was no secret that this little family loved swimming at sunset.
Before they got to the river banks, Ayame began screaming as if she'd been bitten. Kagome looked down at her.
"Ayame, what's wrong, Sweetheart?"
Ayame continued to scream and cry. Not even Shippo's fox magic could console the crying child.
Inuyasha gave Kagome a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulders. That's when Kagome felt it. A feeling that she'd not felt in over two years. She may have lost her ability to see the jewel shards, but not all her powers as a priestess were gone.
"Inuyasha," she said in a shaky voice, "Naraku is nearby."
Before Inuyasha could pull out his Tetsaiga, a voice behind them said, "Wrong, little priestess, Naraku is here!"
They turned and saw a horrific sight. Naraku had appeared floating above them. His arms turned vine like. He grabbed Kagome, who had Ayame in her arms.
"Inuyasha!"
"Kagome! Ayame!"
Inuyasha pulled Tetsaiga out of it's sheath. "Naraku! What do you want with them?"
"Stupid half breed! Your daughter is the only one who can see the Shikon jewel shards." He managed to pull Ayame from the safety of her mother's arms. "I'm simply going to use her to find the last shard!"
"Over my dead body!"
"My pleasure, Half Breed!"
"The name is Inuyasha and I'll thank you to use it," roared Inuyasha as he lunged for Naraku.
Naraku threw Kagome at Inuyasha. Inuyasha caught her. The force of Naraku's throw caused Inuyasha to hit a nearby tree.
As Inuyasha was shaking off the cobwebs, Shippo yelled, "Fox Fire," throwing blue fire at Naraku. The fire hit a force field and faded out.
"Naraku," Inuyasha said, "That little trick won't work." His Tetsaiga turned dark red. "You will release my daughter!"
Inuyasha lunged at Naraku breaking thru the protective field. Naraku was prepared and fired an electric charge at Inuyasha. Inuyasha was flung back against the same tree he hit when Naraku threw Kagome at him.
As he was getting up, Shippo stopped him from charging Naraku again.
"Inuyasha, I have an idea. When I say now, hit Naraku with your Backlash Wave."
" Shippo, it won't kill him."
"I know. But it will give you a chance to get Ayame back."
Kagome asked, "Shippo, what are you planning?"
Shippo didn't reply. He lunged at Naraku and yelled, "Transform!"
He transformed into a net that covered Naraku's face. Naraku roared as he dropped Ayame.
Kagome saw Ayame falling and caught her before she hit the ground. She held her daughter to her. "My baby. My sweet baby." Her face went to her son. She gasped. He was receiving the brunt of Naraku's rage. Naraku had emitted another electric charge.
Through his screaming, the little reddish brown fox demon yelled, "Now Inuyasha! Hit him now!"
Inuyasha poised his sword. "Forgive me, Shippo," he whispered as he hit Naraku with a Backlash Wave.
Through the dust and chaos, Naraku had disappeared. Inuyasha cleared his eyes of the dirt and dust. He heard Kagome crying.
"Kagome? Are you hurt?"
"It's Shippo."
When the dust settled, Inuyasha saw his mate holding the brave little fox as Ayame held onto her leg. Kagome looked at Inuyasha.
"He's barely breathing, Inuyasha. My healing powers aren't working on him. We have to get him back to Kaide." She held Shippo to her. "My brave little one," She said thru tears. Shippo had been like a son to her. Her heart broke at his sacrifice. He'd placed himself in a deadly situation for his sister.
"Kagome? Will he live?"
Kagome looked at Inuyasha. "I don't think so. His breathing is shallow." She saw the guilt that crossed his face. "Don't blame yourself, Inuyasha. Shippo chose this."
"Kagome," Shippo managed weakly, "I'm cold."
"Here," Inuyasha said as he took off his outer robe off. Kagome tenderly placed Shippo in his hands. Inuyasha gingerly wrapped Shippo up in the fire rat garment. He held Shippo to him as he'd remembered Kagome had held Ayame. Kagome picked up Ayame and they started back to the village.
"Inuyasha," Shippo said softly, "Is Ayame okay?"
"Yes Shippo. Thanks to you. She is. You'll be okay once we get you back to the village."
"Thanks for being my second Pa."
"Shippo, why did you throw yourself at Naraku?"
"I promised you and Kagome that I would protect Ayame. I love you Inuyasha."
Inuyasha's voice was barely audible. "I love you too, Son. If I have to, I will seek out Sesshomaru to bring you back."
"Please don't, Inuyasha."
Surprised, Inuyasha asked, "Why?"
"I want to be reunited with my Pa. Promise me you won't bring me back."
Inuyasha let the tears fall freely. He hugged the little fox demon. "I promise."
He heard Shippo sigh. It was then that he knew Shippo was gone. The little fox demon that he'd picked on, teased, and come to love, was gone. Another loved one gone at the hands at Naraku. He would love to ring Naraku's neck.
"Inuyasha," Kagome asked, pulling him out of his thoughts, "How's he doing?"
"He's gone, Kagome."
Before Kagome could respond, They were met by Kaide. The old priestess looked from Inuyasha to Kagome and took in the state that they were in. Then she saw the way Inuyasha was holding Shippo. She knew.
"Naraku?"
Kagome nodded.
"And the little one?"
"He's gone, Kaide."
"Brave little one. You two should be proud of him."
Inuyasha glared at her. "Does it look like I'm proud, Old Hag? You're not the one who killed him!"
Kagome was shocked. "Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha walked off towards the village. "Inuyasha! Wait!"
Kaide stopped her. "Kagome let him go. It's his way of grieving. Now what happened?"
Kagome spilled the whole story to the old priestess. By the time they reached the village, Kagome was emotionally spent. However, she and Kaide had agreed that Naraku would stop at nothing to get at Ayame. She had to be hidden. A plan was hatched.
When the plan was told to Inuyasha, he solemnly agreed it was good idea. Another child didn't need to die.
The two put Shippo's little body to rest. Then they proceeded with the plan. Ayame would be sent to Kagome's world on the other side of the well. She would be raised by Kagome's mother.
The story would be that Ayame was the daughter of a distant relative. Kagome's mother would raise Ayame as her niece instead of a granddaughter. She would attend school and grow up in the safety of Kagome's modern day world.
When Inuyasha and Kagome returned to the feudal era, Kagome had cried so much that she passed out as soon as she climbed out of the well. Inuyasha carried her to their hut just inside the village. He laid her down on the bedding. He knew how she felt. Two years is all he had with his little Ayame. Suddenly he felt so bone weary.
Later on in the night, Inuyasha was awaken by soft moaning. He turned over to look at Kagome. She was crying in her sleep. She was softly calling her children's names.
It was too much for Inuyasha to bear. He got up, dressed, and walked to Shippo's fresh grave. He sat there, wondering what he could have differently. All the rage that had built up over the events that had been jammed into the day, came to a boiling point.
Inuyasha screamed a scream that was almost inhuman.
It woke up several villagers including his beloved Kagome. She ran out of the hut to Inuyasha, who was kneeling in the dirt. She knelt by Inuyasha and hugged him.
"Why, did he do it, Kagome? Why?"
Kagome had no answer that would suffice the anguish that he was feeling. Instead she allowed the spunky half demon, who'd claimed her heart, to sob into her shoulder.