All-Hallow's Eve
Three Drabbles by That'sMyFiasco
Memory
by That'sMyFiasco
(part 3 of 3)
for Forthright's Halloween Drabble Challenge
Theme: Haunting
Word Count: 500 e-zacktly. Yikes!
Characters: Kagome, Inuyasha
Genre: AU/Romance
Rating: T
Cool, mid-autumn sunlight gently prodded her awake from where it streamed in through her window, warming her face until she slowly blinked her heavy lids open. Yawning sleepily, Kagome turned her face into her makeup-smeared pillowcase, stretching out tired limbs. A ring set with a bright green stone was still on her finger, and she slid it off carefully, placing it on the table next to the forlorn-looking fan and mask. Across the room, her gown lay in a shallow puddle of lace and velvet.
Swinging her feet to the floor, Kagome shivered slightly as her bare feet hit the cold paneling. Numb, she shrugged into a sweater and jeans, tripping downstairs to put the kettle on in an effort to dispel the events of the night before- assuming, of course, that they hadn't been simply dream-specters, and had actually transpired.
While the water slowly heated, she made her way over to the tall window that stretched over the living room wall. Tucking her hands inside her sleeves, Kagome let her forehead rest on the chill glass, breathing on the pane to try and melt away the frost that obscured her view. Once the thin layer of ice had dripped out of her way, Kagome was given a clear view of her small garden, shaded by the tall maple that stood in the corner, next to her neighbor's fence. Frost sparkled on the grass as well, creating an icy wonderland of the fall landscape.
Though the beauty was entrancing, her eyes couldn't help but see something else entirely, staring out at the sun-dappled maple and seeing only another tree that likely still stood in its eternal home. Kagome sighed lightly, but froze when she saw a set of faint footprints tracking across the lawn, ending at the foot of the tree.
Only seconds later she was out the door, running frantically through the garden and ignoring the cheerful whistling of the kettle behind her. However, the icy grass was harsh on her bare feet, and she found herself stumbling, trying to stay on her feet.
With a short gasp, she pitched forward, saved from a quick meeting with the ground by a swift pair of warm, strong hands that steadied her and pulled her upright. Tears were streaking down her cheeks now, she noted with surprise, and she brushed them aside in order to clear her vision, so her eyes could drink in every inch of the sight before her.
He was standing there, a slight smile on his face as he looked down at her, eyes sparkling. The red robe of so long ago- how long had it been, really?- was gone, replaced by sleek, modern clothes. His face and eyes were as perfect as she remembered, and he leaned in towards her, resting his forehead on hers and letting his eyes drift closed.
"I missed you." The words were simple, and his voice was low, but she didn't need anything else.
"I know."
FIN
