Disclaimer: no own inuyasha
A/N: here it is! ok, i'd like u all to take a moment and think about all the philisophical (if any), spiritual (if any), plot sequence (if any) and detail (if any) questions that i fail to wrap up with last and this chapter and to tell me wut they are so i can fix it, please and thank you!
Almost Tangible
By Kitty
There is only one true miracle in this world. It is a miracle that defies life and death, rhyme and reason. Let this miracle bathe you, let it wash away all past sins. Let it bring you closer, to your beloved, to your friends, to your foes, to family and strangers, allies and enemies. Love is unity. Love is magic. Love is life.
Epilogue: Miracle
"Kagome get your rear over here!" a very aggravated hanyou screamed, face red and temper flaring. The girl in question giggled hysterically, racing away from her pursuer as fast as her slim legs could carry her, which was pretty darn fast.
Heads turned as confused eyes watched perplexed as the smiling, sunny, perfectly normal human girl laughed and danced away from the dark, scary, half demon.
"That's that girl, the one who came back from the dead," voices whispered from behind muted palms.
"Well, she sure doesn't seem dead anymore," answered other voices.
"Isn't she a shrine girl?"
"Yeah, I heard she's cousins with Kikyou."
"That cold bitch?"
"Yep, Kagome-chan sure isn't cold though is she?"
"No, definitely not, but why hang around Inuyasha?"
"Beats me, Kagome's just too kind hearted and innocent I guess."
"She shouldn't hang around him too much though."
"I agree, you never know with demons."
"Yeah."
Inuyasha stopped his pursuit of Kagome as he heard those whispered voices. He glared at them, growl working its way up his throat. Nothing changed, not really. Miroku and Sango stayed by him, but they were ostracized for their friendly efforts. Kagome blended in easily with almost every crowd, her old friends reclaiming her. At first, he was pushed aside because of all the attention Kagome received by being the only person in history to be revived from the dead. Then it was because her friends glared him away. Within the first two weeks, he'd given up being friends with such an obviously coveted girl way out of his league.
But then, there she was. Always there, always beckoning, Kagome had a habit of coming into his life just as he was about to give up. She came in again, that day during lunch. He was busily berating Miroku for his inappropriate behavior when Kagome snuck up behind him and popped open a can of soda right behind his right ear.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, coming over to him, a worried expression on her face.
"Kagome!" a trio of girls cried, they looked at the pair with unsure eyes, "Come on!" obviously gesturing to the single seat left open at their table. Inuyasha's ears drooped slightly before turning to head back to his own table.
"I'll catch up with you guys later ok?" Kagome answered them, "Is Wackdonalds at four still on?"
After receiving an affirmative from her friends, Kagome happily turned back to Inuyasha and cheerily planted herself in his seat, lunch tray in hand.
"Howya doin'?" Kagome asked Miroku. Receiving an equally cheerful answer, Kagome turned to Sango, "Hi, I guess this is the first real time we're meeting, I'm Kagome!"
Sango, surprised at first at the openness of this human girl stuttered a little before answering, "Uh... hsello, I'm Sango."
"So, how is everybody? I haven't really had a chance to really say 'hi' to you guys since I came back," Kagome chattered away, digging into the day's mystery meal, scrunching her nose and giggling with Sango. It was so natural. Inuyasha watched her, unsure how to act. They were no longer within the confines of the mansion where they could interact freely. Yet somehow it seemed the difference was lost to Kagome.
"What do you think Inuyasha? You've got the best nose," Kagome asked, her tone not changing in the least.
"Huh?" Inuyasha answered intelligently, scrabbling for the question he'd missed.
"What is this stuff?" Kagome asked, gesturing to her lunch of pale lumpy potatoes. Her eyes caught him. It was always like that. Her eyes would catch hold of his soul and his barriers would crumble at the bat of an eyelash. Obligingly, he ventured a sniff, and then scrunched his own nose nauseated grimace.
"You don't want to know," he said, watching in amusement as Kagome's face turned a slight shade of green, her sky blue eyes widening with apprehensiveness. Inuyasha, lips tightened in order to hide his grin, handed Kagome half of his own lunch, which she accepted with little ceremony, just a grateful smile and caring gaze that lingered a little longer than was needed.
"Hey, we need to get together sometime!" Kagome said, sweeping her bubbly gaze around the table. Miroku and Sango smiled, Inuyasha hid his eyes beneath his bangs.
"Wanna join me and my friends at Wackdonalds this afternoon?" Kagome asked, "I'd like you to meet them."
Sango cast a sidelong glance at Inuyasha and Miroku's eyes glazed slightly, knowing the hesitance and the reason behind it from his friends.
"I believe I'd love to take you up of that offer, I don't believe either Sango or Inuyasha have any prior obligations at that time," Miroku said smoothly.
Sango jumped to attention, "I'd be happy to."
"And what about you, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked softly, her crystal blue eyes shining with a knowing look. She wasn't a fool, the demon realized, she understood the social status she was placing herself in and the possible conflict she would be combating.
So against all common sense and better judgment, Inuyasha replied, "Sure."
XXX
The hairs on Inuyasha's neck were rigid and upright. So against anything normal, this occasion was quickly using up all the reserves of fragile control Inuyasha had ever built up over the course of his life in order to keep from fleeing the scene.
"It's over this way!" Kagome chattered excitedly, grasping Inuyasha's deadly hand and heading down the sidewalk, Miroku and Sango struggling to keep up.
Inuyasha felt trapped, small and helpless. He glared off the curious and disapproving looks he received from humans and demons alike making use of the road and pathway. What was he doing here? He shouldn't be here, he should be at home, alone, like the hermit society forced him to be. What was she doing with him? She shouldn't be seen with such an abomination. She should be surrounded by her friends, humans, away from the contamination of his blood. A gentle squeeze on his digits awakened him back into reality.
Kagome gazed at him steadily as they waited for the traffic light to change. Sango and Miroku were in their own argument and Inuyasha took the rare moment of peace to search her blue stare. Understanding, a strange, comforting look that knew his inner conflict gazed back at him. Worry, a soothing, nurturing concern that wanted to wipe his pain away embalmed him. And something else.
"Come on guys! Stop bickering!" Kagome shouted over the noise and headed into the street. Sango gave Miroku a solid smack before hmphing away towards Kagome.
XXX
As they entered Wackdonalds, Inuyasha felt his muscles twitch. Only the firm hold on his hand kept him from running away. 'Coward,' he thought to himself.
"Kagome! Over here!" A slight girl called from a table laden with burgers.
"Hey, Eri!" Kagome called back, heading towards the table, very nearly forced to drag Inuyasha along with her.
Sango forced her nervousness down and stalked next to Kagome while Miroku clenched his fists, firmly resolving to behave before moving forward. Inuyasha, well, was as well can only be expected, a giant, fluffy bundle of nerves.
"Eri, Ayame, Yuki," Kagome introduced, pointing out each girl as she went, "meet Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha!"
"Hey, hi, yo," the three girls answered, a little stiffly.
"Well," Kagome said brightly, glancing around the faces, "What are we waiting for? Dig in!"
Miroku needed no further invitation, promptly seating himself next to Yuki, who shifted away from his hands, giving him a glare that spoke volumes. Miroku glanced innocently up, noticing Sango giving him an equal stare. Sango and Yuki glanced at each other, coldness turning into one of understanding before finally cracking into friendly smiles. Sango moved to sit across from Yuki. Eri squeezed next to Yuki and Ayame snagged two more chairs for the remainder. Kagome was talking to Ayame, deciding to accompany her on the quest for one last chair.
"So," Inuyasha snapped to attention at the sound, "Kagome said you guys moved into her old mansion, that's how you two met?"
"Uh… yeah," Inuyasha said nervously.
Eri's lips tightened as an eyebrow shot up. Inuyasha shifted again, he didn't like that expression on her face. The girl leaned towards him, eyes narrow and look suspicious. Miroku and Sango both sent him a worried look while Inuyasha worked on making sure his breathing came out normally.
"So… what dirt can you tell me bout her?"
"Eh!" Inuyasha was startled, weren't they friends? What's with such a malicious sounding request?
Eri sighed and propped herself up onto her elbows, arms free to elucidate.
"She caught me and my boyfriend making out after sneaking out of the house, got in on camera and won't let me live it down," Eri explained.
"Oh yeah!" Yuki joined in, "I remember Kagome was always getting you to do her favors when it was her turn to clean up the classroom."
"I know!" Eri complained, "I need blackmail material!"
"The sweet and innocent Kagome? Blackmailing? Unperceivable," Miroku exclaimed.
The girls rounded on him. "Sweet, yes," Yuki said.
"Innocent, more than you'll ever know," Eri chimed.
"But I'll have you know, blackmailing is most certainly NOT below me," a voice behind them all chirped brightly.
"I trust you all had a nice and friendly conversation while Ayame and I were away?" Kagome asked innocently, triumphantly producing a chair from behind her.
"Yeah, we were good!" Yuki said babyishly. Kagome laughed.
"Good girl," she said, patting Yuki's head.
Kagome pulled her chair up next to Inuyasha's and plopped down into it, swiping Eri's soda up and taking a quick refresher. Eri rolled her eyes and stole a fry.
"So, what's this about blackmailing?" Kagome asked.
"Oh, I was just trying to see if your boyfriend had any bad and dirty stories to tell about you."
Kagome snorted into the soda, giving herself a nose full of fizz while Inuyasha sputtered, "B-b-boyfriend!"
The table got a good laugh out of that one at Kagome's and Inuyasha's expense. The two people in question played identical impressions of tomatoes.
The conversation smoothed out, with mostly Kagome and her friends catching up and telling Miroku and Sango wild stories about all the mischievous adventures four teenage girls could get into. Attention off of him, Inuyasha calmed down a lot, listening and enjoying the livid episodes Kagome and her friends managed to get into.
"So, are you and Kagome close?" Ayame asked while the rest of the table were in raptures from Eri's latest fling.
Inuyasha jumped from the sudden attention but collected himself enough to answer appropriately, "Not really, just acquaintances."
Ayame smiled, "I don't think Kagome considers you 'just acquaintances…"
"Huh?" Inuyasha said, "But… she's human and I'm half demon."
"Kagome's never been one to bother with that sort of thing. I'm poor and she's rich, we're still good friends. Yuki's very superficial while Kagome hates a lot of the things Yuki pines about; they're still amazing shopping buddies, especially when Kagome decides to treat. Eri's the most boy-crazy girl in the school while Kagome's never looked at a boy twice that I know of, they still gossip all night long about couples and crushes."
"Uh…" Inuyasha racked his brain for a reply.
"Kagome actually hooked Yuki up with a wolf demon once, Kouga I think," Ayame started.
"Oh my god! Don't even go there!" Yuki cried loudly.
Kagome sat back in her chair sniggering, "Why not? You two were really cozy until your parents found out."
"Yeah, I wish my mom wasn't so anal about the whole demons and humans thing."
"Ha ha, remember when he kept trying to bring you flowers?" Eri said gleefully.
"The poor guy!" Yuki cried, "My mother actually threw them back into his face!"
"Wow…" Sango said, nearly appalled, "That's terrible!"
"Yeah, but the worst part about it was when he offered to walk me home after we broke up," Yuki said, smiling, but very grimly. Inuyasha was surprised, 'this human LIKED the wolf demon?'
"I remember you telling us about that!" Ayame said.
"What happened, Yuki-san?" Miroku prodded.
"Uh… my mom…" Yuki chewed on her words a bit, "fell out of a tree in the park we … uh… detoured in."
The poor girl was blushing a deep fuchsia. Sango reached over to pat the girl's shoulder in sympathy while Miroku gaped, "Your mother was spying on you!"
"Old habits and tradition run pretty deep," Sango said, rousing unanimous agreement all around.
XXX
Inuyasha was surprised to be approached after gym class the next day.
"Hey, Dog Boy!"
Sighing, Inuyasha continued walking, not willing to trade in his rather perky mood for a sullen one that tended to accompany a vocal beating.
"Oi! Wait up, are you dating the Higurashi girl?"
That snapped him to attention. Inuyasha stopped so suddenly that the boy running after collided into his back. Inuyasha didn't even flinch.
"Whoa, man, you'd be a good American football player," the kid muttered, then spoke up, "Are you dating Higurashi?"
"What would give you that idea?" Inuyasha asked defensively.
"Well… you know Ayame, right?" Inuyasha nodded. "Um, well, one of my friends wants to send her a note but both him and I don't see her at all during school-"
"You want me to play messenger?" Inuyasha stated, the question hardly a question at all.
"Uh… yeah," the boy said, reaching into his shirt to pull out a small note. He handed him two slips of paper.
"You know, when I first met you, you were really scary," the kid admitted, "But then I met this other guy like you and, I don't know, everything changed. The second piece of paper is his address, d'you think you could go over and knock some sense into him? After he nearly died three years ago, he's refused to come out almost ever."
Inuyasha watched the guy go, confusion and curiosity whirring in him mind. Carefully sniffing the two papers Inuyasha's head spun again. A DEMON was head over heels for a human? And asking a HANYOU for help? This was just too weird…
The second slip of paper held a scent he found vaguely familiar. "Jinenji…" he breathed. He remembered the guy. Quite the big oaf if you asked him, 'though…' Inuyasha thought, 'he does have it a ton worse than me…'
XXX
Inuyasha walked down the hallway towards Kagome's locker. Girls passed him, for once not shrinking away and boys nodded as they walked bys. Since when was he cured of his leprosy? Inuyasha stopped dead upon hearing voices drift to his ears.
"Kagome really likes that guy…"
"Yeah, half-demon, wow, I'd be terrified."
"Well, with her, he doesn't seem so dangerous."
"But he glares!"
"Well… then again we do too…"
"Heh, that's true."
"I don't know, she's going through awfully long lengths to try to get him to fit in."
"Well, he's not so scary once you get to know him a little; I think it's just that he's so quiet."
"How on earth do you think he's quiet? Haven't you ever heard him arguing with Kagome?"
"Hee hee, yeah, those two get into awfully funny arguments!"
"The last one was about braiding that hair of his."
"Oh yeah!"
"I wish i had hair like that!"
"Haha, you'd need a demonic blood transfusion."
"Um... I think I'll just settle for getting a demon boyfriend with lots of hair..."
"I hope you have spiritual powers then!"
The whispering fell silent as the girls passed him, but they only acknowledged him, no glares, no fear. He tentatively offered a nod which was immediately reciprocated. Hmm… that's very interesting.
"It seems you are getting popular."
Inuyasha whipped around to see Kikyou staring at him.
"I'm impressed; the girl's actions alone are changing the entire school's opinion of you."
Kikyou walked away, without waiting for a reply, leaving Inuyasha dazed in the hallway.
"Kikyou!" Kagome cried in delight, "Hey! Long time no see!"
"So it seems," Kikyou replied, not so encouragingly.
"Oh! I'm having an end of the year party in two weeks, Saturday, at my place, you're welcome to come! I'm inviting Hojo, too," Kagome winked.
"I assume you also invited the demon population?" Kikyou asked, her face perfectly still.
"Only the non-human-eating ones," Kagome responded with a giggle, her face tilting to one side, her chin ducked with silly embarrassed glee at Kikyou's raised eyebrow.
Kikyou sighed, "You're the same as you've always been." The somber twin walked away, for once, not leaving a hurt girl in her wake.
"Hey Inuyasha! What's up?"
XXX
Kagome and Inuyasha walked happily home, arguing again.
"I think you should let me play with your hair, it's just begging to be braided!"
"Feh! No way, ain't nobody's touching my hair!"
"Double negatives equal positive! I get to play with your hair! Yay!"
"What!"
They didn't notice the silent presence watching their bickering.
Thank you, young ones. I am forever in your debt.
Then it disappeared, the part of her soul held captive in the jewel finally allowed to rest in peace within the loving heart of a very special girl. For the key to the jewel was never purity. The key was never power. It was never selflessness or good will. It was a wish made with love. A wish for both halves, both sibling races, to learn the forgiveness, the caring and the miracle encompassing the simple emotion. Love, the single most everlasting promise a soul can make. Love, the only truth that binds the world together in unity and peace.
A/N: so... how is it? did i wrap it up alright or is this a sad pathetic excuse of an ending? i dont intend for there to be a sequel but i may take this down and alter it depending on if i need to explain more things or not so ask me all the detail questions u can think of that arent answered and i'll decide if i want them answered or not XD lol, yup, thanx for bearing thru this again and have a spiffy rest of your day, evening, or existence
Kitty