Hey, guys! Just another one-shot that I worked on over the past two days. I thought it was time to add another and I hoped that it would be simple. Er, I guess this story doesn't really explain a lot, but there is a lot of emotional grief and stuff, so I hope you guys don't get too confused. I suppose you can make inferences into what happened, but I don't really go into much detail. Hopefully you'll all like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own INU or YYH, nor do I own this song. It is a song called "Stubborn" by Gretchen Wilson and can be found on her latest CD.


Have Faith

One-shot

There's a whole lot of stubborn in this room

A broken girl sits across the room while shadows flicker and collide, creating a gloomy atmosphere which seemed to reflect the mood in the room.

There's a whole lot of pride that won't let go

The stormy, blue-eyed girl's misery was clearly reflected on her face, tears going unnoticed and unchecked down the pale flesh of her colorless cheeks.

There's a whole lot of stubborn in this room

Kagome just wanted it to stop; all the anger, all the pain, all the denial, and all the guilt and torment that clung to her soul like a blood sucking leech.

That shows no sign of giving up control

And yet, she knew nothing she could do or say in this moment would stop the pain she felt welling in her heart, the brutal warning that told her she would forever be alone, never again to feel the happiness she once felt in her younger years when her heart was still innocent.

I've drawn all the curtains, I've turned out all the lights

Angrily, and without around to see it, the once pure-hearted child threw back her head, crying shrilly into the night and leaping to her feet, slamming the windows shut and the curtains closed with a telling slam so that no one could look inside the house that was once filled with laughter and love, so that no one could look inside and see a broken girl who had only asked for love and peace, who had given her life to protect the ones that mattered most and received nothing in return.

Scared to death somebody else might see

Her friends no longer stopped by to make sure she was feeling better. They had all left her when she began showing signs of heavy depression. Diseases of the body they could handle or understand, but not of the mind. Even the brown-haired, doe-eyed boy that had once adored her and showered her with pure unabashed devotion had turned her away even as her heart began mourning for something real, something tangible, and for anything to anchor her sanity to.

There's a whole lot of stubborn in this room

The raven haired woman, clothed in little else but a gleaming white night gown, slumped down against the darkened, black walls, an exhausted and all too telling defeated look on her fragile, worried face.

And there's no one here but me

Kagome had saved everyone else…but at what price; to be sent back home to an abandoned house and a run-down shrine that was badly in need of repairs and attention, not to mention the God Tree that had faded away and was now left devoid and barren of all the magnificent flowers that had at one time bloomed in excess. To discover that while she was in the past, fighting to keep her second family alive, her grandfather passed away, while her little brother got into a college in America, their mother following after him since there was no one home to keep her company or help her run the family shrine that had been in their family for generations. There truly was no one here for her now, since her family was absent from her life. And it was all because her stubborn pride kept her in the past so much that she had failed to miss out on what was really important to her. She had missed her brother growing into a fine man, missed her grandfather in his final waking hours, missed the depression building on her mother's heart, and missed all of the things that her family had gone through, experienced together, but without her, as if they had simply forgotten she existed; a dream that was all but forgotten.


There's a whole lot of demons in this room

A young man with uncommonly red hair and sullen, moss-colored eyes and born with otherworldly looks that often put any female to shame, kneeled down in front of an open casket, head hanging low and hands braced against his thighs, desperately willing himself not to cry, not to give into the darkness threatening to overtake his mind. Friends and family surrounded him on all sides, though the young man gave no indication that he heard any of them speaking, that he gave notice to the pity and worry in their eyes or the empathy in their voices as they tried to console him in his time of grief.

They want it all and they don't want to share

He could hear them. "Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?" Everything they were saying. "Poor Kurama...this is how my mother must have felt when I died." But he did not respond. "Do you think he's still alive?" Idiots, of course I still live. "Why isn't he speaking? Is he even breathing? Is there something wrong with him? Someone get a doctor!"A doctor? What am I, a damn vegetable? "Fool, he doesn't need a doctor." Thanks, Hiei. "He needs to get over it." Not. "Hiei, that's a horrible thing to say!" No doubt. "Hn, people die, even demons die, it is a fact of life that is unfortunate and regrettable and yet there is no doubt that he already knows that, seeing as his kitsune form saw many moons until his death." Ok…so there was some truth to that, well all of it really, but Kurama was bound and determined not to give into their conversation, to tell them all off and make them go home so that he could stay here with his mother, if only to tell her goodbye in his own right. "But still, Hiei, his mother just died, have a little heart."

There's a whole lot of demons in this room

Kurama's face remained blank throughout the day, barely listening to the many murmurings of the friends and family who came up to speak about his beloved mother.

And none of them believe in fightin' fair

The voice in his head that was Yoko remained silent, adding his own silent sympathy towards his counterpart, both annoyed at the way everyone continuously fussed about him. For once he was grateful of Hiei's stoic silence, aware that even the fire apparition knew what was sacred and what was not. He also knew when it was wise to keep his mouth shut. However, Yusuke and Kuwabara continued to argue over whether he was truly all right, Kuwabara not so sure and Keiko throwing her two cents in…not that it was any of her business or anyone else's. And their argument was raising his hackles just a tad too much for his comfort. Normally he could ignore the many bickering arguments of his friends, but today he was too tense and emotional to deal with any of their crap.

Some sit on my left, some sit on my right

"Kurama?" Kurama perked up when he overheard a familiar voice, speaking softly in his right ear. That was his father's voice, well his stepfather's. "Kurama, would you like to speak on behalf of your mother?" All at once, Kurama fought back the wince, squeezing his eyes shut and suppressing the pain from everyone in the room. Shut up, shut up, shut up! He thought. She was not his mother anymore! She was dead. And unlike him and his past life, there was nothing he could do to bring her back or give her back her life. His mind could not cope with the fact that she was truly gone from his life, knowing deep inside that he would always love her and that her memory would never be replaced. He was just so angry and bitter, that it must have startled his step father and brother when he looked up and shot them a nasty look, filled with anguish, rage, and hurt.

They talk so loud it's hard to disagree

Kurama's enraged growl caught everyone off guard, even his friends. He rarely let his feelings go on display but when he did, they tended to overwhelm him and spiral out of control. His head was up and his eyes were staring blankly ahead, he knew he must be scaring them shitless, but the snarl on his lips and the anger on his face, made those who knew him well realize that the boy was struggling with himself for control.

I'm surrounded by the demons in this room

Reality came back to him all too soon and Kurama realized what he had done, noticing the shocked and terrified glances between his father and brother. His stepbrother, Kakoda, was positively shaking, even though he was grown up enough not to let things of that nature scare him anymore. With a horrified whine unable to stop itself from bursting free from his throat, Kurama fled from the room, instantly sending the other guests into a panicked buzz, while Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko, Boton, and even Hiei stared after the boy in knowing sorrow.

And there's no one here but me

Kurama ran with tears streaming down his cheeks, not bothering to apologize to the many pedestrians that stood in his path towards freedom. Instead, the pretty-eyed, handsome boy continued his trek down the interlocking streets, searching for some sort of salvation that might set his soul to rest. He was so tired of having to look into everyone's faces and act as if he was all right. The truth was he was not all right! He felt terrible inside and worst of all he had no way of expressing that anger and benevolence right now. He hated how everyone expected him to act how he usually did, in a calm and respectful manner. What, did everyone think he was made of stone or something? The great Shuichi Minamino aka Yoko Kurama wasn't allowed to shed a tear once in awhile or express how he was feeling? After all, everyone dealt with grief in their own way, so how was bottling it up inside and refusing to let anyone in, any different? Was he just supposed to just accept his mother's death, shrug it off as if her presence in his life held little meaning? Even now the voices in his head were growing louder and Kurama did not stop once, desperately attempting to outrace the traces of insanity that followed in his wake.


And I can't quite remember how to pray anymore

The woman's body screamed in pain; the flat heels of her feet that were unadorned by any type of shoe and the muscles bunching and pulling in her thighs and ankles as she tore down the busy streets of Tokyo; even her arms and chest were beginning to tire from her race against time.

And I can't quite remember what to say anymore

The man tripped and skidded down the sidewalk, sliding dangerously around a corner and almost plowing into a pretty girl going the opposite direction. He stopped just briefly to steady her and only then did he catch the scent of her tears and the spot the tears streaming from her water-filled eyes.

If it turns out that I can't have my way anymore

Kagome gave up. Her chest was heaving, her face red and streaked with the last of her tears. Her arms and legs burned and her lungs felt as if they were on fire and at last she knew she could not run anymore. And to top it off, the warm, over heated furnace she had plowed head first into was holding her so tightly in his arms and bringing her such peace and comfort, that she finally allowed herself to fall into oblivion, the Utopia she was desperately searching for.

How will I know which way to turn when I walk out the door?

Kurama didn't know what possessed him to allow this girl to cry on his chest, even knowing she was a stranger to him and even though he too was suffering from an unbearable grief. But his body was worn from the day's events and his mind felt about ready to cave in with the knowledge that his mother was gone and that he would never see her again…at least until his time on earth was up, something that may take many more centuries to come. His arms instead trapped her like a vice, her own, slim arms coming up to hold him just as tightly and as desperately as he was. Her eyes blinked up at him once, tears still clinging to her sooty lashes, and her lips twisted into a shy, breathtaking smile, her hands moving forward to gently hold his head when she took note of the deep depression in his fathomless eyes and bringing it to rest on her shoulder. Right then and there, Kurama caved in and released the tears that had ruthlessly been held at bay all day long. He gave into the warm comfort this stranger brought to him and he finally allowed himself the time he needed to grieve and perhaps start to heal once he was at peace with the knowledge of his mother's death.


There's a molecule of faith in this room

The duo must have stood for hours in the swamped streets of Tokyo, both too overwhelmed by their own grief, as well as the stranger they were clutching onto, to notice any of the people moving around them. But as time dwindled down and the sun began to sink over the horizon, both lifted their heads and locked eyes at exactly the same intense moment.

What they used to call a mustard seed

Kagome blinked up at the handsome man, too tired and exhausted to really examine him closely. She smiled timidly and stepped back, offering a short nod of thanks for his safety and closeness in her time of need.

There's a molecule of faith in this room

Kurama offered his own small smile, eyes never once leaving her pretty face. His hand came out to steady her…or perhaps just to touch her once more, just barely brushing the base of her ear. He granted her another smile before dropping his hands completely and turning his back on her. Without another word, Kurama turned away from the bewitching female and headed back in the direction he came from.

And a book that says that's all I'll ever need

Kagome didn't know what he'd done to her, how he managed to do what he did, but the moment his hand had touched her oh so gently, it was as if her soul had suddenly sprang back to life. The shadow that had been taking over her life was clearing; dissipating with every step the man took…even though he was walking away from her. And for some reason…it did not make her sad, watching him amble along down the street, as if he had no other care in the world. He was leaving her and yet some part of her mind warned that this was only the first of many meetings to come.

I don't know where it is but I hope I find it soon

Kurama could feel the strange woman's eyes following him as he walked away and out of her life. The feeling wasn't altogether unsettling, if anything it left an odd sort of reminder that she was real, that he had held a stranger in his arms and sunk into her kindness, for the first time exposing someone to what was truly in his heart. Their brief exchange was already beginning to take affect on his overburdened mind, as the suffocating depression from hours early was beginning to leave him, at least for the time being. The redhead knew that it would still take some time to get over his mother's death and yet there was some peace in the knowledge that someday his body and soul would finally be at peace with her absence.

'Cause nothing else will ever set me free

And just like that, she was free. The miko spun around, laughing gaily and looking nothing like the gloomy woman of before. This time when she walked, her steps were light and airy and full of confidence. She could do this; she could get over all the bad things that had occurred in her past. For some reason, that boy had touched her in ways no one else had; had comforted her even when he was a total stranger. Not even her old friends had allowed her to cry on their shoulders, never allowing her to simply let it all out. But then that boy had run straight into her, so lost in his own grief that he seemed to instantly recognize her own. And instead of casting her aside and treating her as if she were the walking disease she was rumored to be, he had steadied her on her feet, had taken her in his arms and offered her the shoulder she had previously been denied.

There's a molecule of faith in this room

Kurama started running. Only this time, he was not running away, he was heading straight towards the shrine where his mother's wake was taking place. This time he wanted to be there, not only for himself, but also for his grieving father and brother. He wanted to tell his mother the real story, his true past, even if she couldn't hear him any longer. He would tell her how much he loved her and how she would be missed. He would tell her of the happiness she brought to a child who was too arrogant to be human. He would tell her of his past life, even though it was gruesome and unworthy of praise from her. He would tell her everything about his life with her from the time of his birth to the last days of her life and he would tell her everyday that she was the one who had taught him that it was okay to love, to laugh, to be happy, and even to be sad. Almost without thinking, Kurama picked up the pace, bound and determined to speak to his mother one last time, to finally tell her the truth.

And even though it's much too small to see

Kagome started running. Only this time she was running home to her beautiful shrine where she would immediately start to work on rebuilding what was lost. She was having so much fun imaging how great the place would look that she almost didn't sense the tiny presence sitting so delicately next to her ear until it began sliding forward and off of its perch on top of her ear.

If I have the courage to believe

Kurama let out a tiny smile when he felt the pin prick of energy coming from the tiny present he had given to his newest puzzle. He knew she would sense it eventually, but he didn't think it would be so soon. Be happy, he thought, willing her to hear him. And I will find you again.

I'll find the one who left it here for me

Kagome's eyes widened when a tiny seed fell into her open palm, instantly transforming into a delicate red rose the moment it touched her skin. She stood there examing the blossom curiously, before a pleased blush began creeping over her face. And then, with a small peaceful smile adorning her lips, Kagome tucked the delicate blossom behind her ear, more determined than ever to find out who her new savior was. And this time, when they bumped into each other again (as she knew fate and destiny worked in mysterious ways) he would never walk away from her life again.


Well, that's it! I think it's a beautiful song, slightly depressing, but it does tell you that there can be hope found in the simplest of things, such as a mustard seed (which is really, really tiny) or the seed of a beautiful flower. So, have faith people and work for the things that you believe in. Look for signs everywhere and allow yourself to believe that fate and destiny are yours to conquer.

Okay, one thing I should point out. I don't generally write conversations the way I did when I was writing Kurama's part of this story; you know, the part where I had a whole bunch of people speaking at once. Usually, I write conversations in proper form, but it was written that way for a reason, to make you hear what Kurama was hearing. You know how you can be sitting somewhere and be hearing many people at the same time? Well, that's what is happening with all the bolds and italics. Kurama's thoughts are the ones that are written normally.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed my new one-shot, perhaps it inspired you to hope. Um, there will be no sequel to this, unless I find a song to go along with this, but I doubt it. Any questions will be answered in my livejournal and I hope you all read and respond.

Ja ne

Kura