Asuka observed Inuyasha discreetly as she sipped from her mug of coffee. She remembered back when they first met. She was just on a walk, reveling in the warmth of the sun when she felt pulled towards something. She valued her instincts, so she abandoned her path and turned towards the Higurashi shrine. Adjacent to the building, she saw a glowing light piercing through the gap of the opening door in the well house.
He came out then, in a kimono as red as the blood pouring down the hole in his chest. Her initial thought was how foreign the man appeared with silver hair, golden eyes, fangs, claws, and doggie ears. Nothing about him however, alerted her he was dangerous. She could not leave him and definitely could not ignore him when he collapsed to the ground.
He certainly was a handful to keep in her house. She was thankful she lived on her own because her parents would not have the patience to tolerate his foul mouth and cynical attitude. However, beneath his sarcastic remarks and oversized ego, she noticed the torment in his eyes. Every night she would hear him sneak out of the house to climb the tallest tree she owned and just stare forlornly at the moon.
"What are you staring at wench?"
She sighed. "Nothing. Want anymore ramen?"
She saw his mood shift as he stood, politely declining the offer. Asuka stared at him a second longer, wishing he would just open up to her. She confessed to him all her greatest fears and hopes, why won't he do the same? He's been living under her roof for a month now. It was previously only supposed to last for a week, just enough time for him to recover. However, she fell in love. She didn't know when or how, but she did and she couldn't surrender him just yet.
"Where did you put the jewel?" Inuyasha asked, shattering her thoughts.
Is the jewel all you really care about Inuyasha? If I didn't possess the power to purify the stupid thing, would you still agree to being with me? Asuka thought as the half demon neglected her once again after giving him the room.
Inuyasha bolted upstairs and turned left into Asuka's room. Her jasmine scent enveloped his nostrils the minute he stepped inside. Her walls were deprived of painting and her tatami floor was in desperate need of vacuuming. The small bed, desk, and TV bequeathed the room with a more spacious look. She owned plethora of money bestowed to her by her parents, but she felt redecorating her room would be wasteful.
Can't really blame her. What's the point if you're not going to live long enough to enjoy it anyway. Inuyasha thought. I'm actually kind of glad her room isn't like…Kagome's.
He smirked as he thought back to Kagome's room and her girlishness of pink walls and bedspreads suffocated him. Then, there was that permanent scent of vanilla and strawberries that dominated her room, scent that was all Kagome's. He wondered if he slipped through Kagome's old window into her bedroom, the intoxicating smell would still be there or if it had been overwritten by Sota and Hitomi's daughter.
He walked up to the jewel, the string strung over the small lamp post. He carefully lifted the necklace up, cradling the Shikon jewel to his chest. He slid down the desk as memories of his adventures with his friends and Kagome flashed before his eyes. His heart ached, as he remembered the tragic end to this adventure.
For years, they had been trapped in a battle of evil against good, and now this could be the end of all adversities. Naraku possessed the entire jewel, all of it tainted. However, there was still one missing piece of the jewel. The fragment that was once used to support Kohaku's existence, now dangles from Kagome's neck. The fragment was slowly becoming corrupted however since Naraku had implanted visions that messed with her heart.
Inuyasha worried for her safety and her sanity. He wasn't as dense as people liked to believe. All the bloodshed and mindless slaughtering had taken its toll on Kagome's tender and delicate heart. The vivacious girl he met and initially thought as a nuisance, gradually lost her spunk. Her naïve eyes had witnessed traumatic things and because of that, her eyes don't sparkle nearly as much anymore. Inuyasha felt his heart ache as he knew his rendezvous with Kikyo had played a part as well.
He observed the battle field, his heart sinking at the hopelessness of it. Miroku was unconscious with blood dripping from his mouth and nose, a testament of his overuse of his wind tunnel. Sango constantly worried for him and because of that, she couldn't focus entirely on the battle and received some critical wounds. He, himself, sported wounds from his distractions of Kagome. Every time she would fire an arrow, he would look just to make sure she was ok. When she wasn't participating in the battle, he would scan the entire area to find her and see if she was still alive.
Kagome, thankfully, exhibited no wounds except for a cut across her cheek when she made a brusque dive from Naraku's tentacles. She looked utterly livid by her clenched fists and the drastic crackle in her priestess aura. He was mildly impressed; she looked so much like a warrior in that instant. Then, her eyes closed slowly and tears cascaded down her face. He wanted to run to her, wipe those tears away, but suddenly, she began to glow.
In front of his eyes, he witnessed the purity of Kagome's mangled heart showcase itself in front of the others. They all, with the exception of Naraku of course, stood in absolute awe as the light intensified, making the once contaminated jewel shard begin to glow ethereally. To see the pink light restored in the jewel, uplifted their spirits. They will use that light to bring Naraku to the end.
Kagome understood this will be the shard that will save the world. She went to attach it to her arrow, but was barely able to grab one when an agonizing pain collided with her chest. Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku screamed as the copper blood gushed out of her gash and rain on the ground. She crumbled to her knees as Naraku lifted her up, bringing her close to him, with his spiky tentacle still embedded in her bosom. Inuyasha wanted to run to her, cut her free of Naraku's malicious intent, save her, but he was rooted to the spot. He couldn't see much of what was happening, but all he knew then was a brilliant light encasing Kagome and Naraku. When the intense light faded, Naraku was dissolving away with a face of astonishment. Kagome, blood pouring from her wounds, plummeted towards the ground. The whole, now purified jewel, following her fall. He forced himself to sprint to her, leaping to catch her before her injuries could worsen.
It was too late however. He felt his stomach turn inside out as Kagome's life essence doused on him. Her cold alabaster skin froze his innards. What made this moment more unbearable, was the shutting of her eyes, the smile of accomplishment and completion adorning her face, she had finally let go.
Inuyasha felt his jaw quiver and a ball of pain rise up in his throat. His chest tightened as tears stung his shining eyes. Since Kagome died, he forced himself not to shed a tear. He couldn't cry, tears are a final goodbye and he just could not tell her goodbye. Deep inside, he felt he would have her back someday and he held on to that sliver of hope. Even when he made that begrudging wish to make the jewel disappear, and with it, his hopes of having Kagome returned to him, he never gave up. Now though, with this painful memory weighing down his heart, he could feel that dam gradually breaking. The emotions he fought to hide for so long behind a façade, was unraveling.
"Inuyasha?"
He clenched his eyes shut, locking the tears back inside. He stood, waiting for his façade to return before facing Asuka. He was grateful for all she did for him, especially for inviting him inside her house, but she just wasn't Kagome. Asuka smiled and he growled slightly at her open display of pity.
"What do you want wench?"
"I was wondering… if you had any idea of what to do with that stupid jewel?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "No, I do know that we need to keep this jewel safe from Saigen though. And of course, we need to find the perfect wish to get rid of this damn thing."
Asuka chewed her lip as she approached him slowly, her hand reaching to his arm. She wound her arm around his, leaning on his shoulder. Inuyasha stiffened, but didn't move nor did he return the gesture. He only harrumphed and turned his head away so she couldn't see the scowl that plagued his face.
"I have… an idea… of what to use it for." She said, her eyes beginning to tear up.
Inuyasha looked back at her, cursing himself for even caring about this girl's predicament. But… "We can't do that idiot… it's selfish."
"Since when is living selfish?" Asuka snapped. "What idiot would want to die?"
A flashback of Kagome's pale, dead face came to his mind. His insides seared with anger and in retaliation, he grasped the girl's arm. She gasped under the intensity of his stare, seeing the rage and hurt clashing together in his eyes. For the first time, she felt the stirrings of fear, but she couldn't fight against him, couldn't leave him.
He growled then and pushed her away. He tore out of the room, slamming the door on his way out. Asuka collapsed to the floor, sobbing.
Kagome folded her arms as she watched Akina practice with her mother's Hiraikotsu. A singing in the air followed by a deafening crash alerted her of Hiraikotsu slicing through the trees. Kagome took in the girl's fluid movements, the determination alight in her eyes, and felt as though she was traveling through time, watching Sango grow up into the fine warrior she was.
Hiroshi, Keiko, and Amaya joined then, all complimenting her. Akina challenged Hiroshi and he accepted. They bantered like any competitive brother and sister would before taking their positions. Keiko rushed up to meet with Kagome, a smile brightening her face. Amaya only stared at her siblings, a scowl on her face.
"What's wrong with Amaya?" Kagome asked.
Keiko sighed. "She's not as excited about becoming a demon slayer. She's scared of it and bloodshed frightens her too."
Kagome nodded, remembering how Kohaku felt the same as Amaya. "Hey, where's Miroku and Sango?"
"Oh, they heard a rumor about a priestess who has an idea of the whereabouts of the Shikon jewel."
"What? And they didn't tell me?"
"They couldn't find you this morning. They thought you wanted to be alone for a while, after hearing about… well… Inuyasha."
Kagome inhaled sharply, willing the returning pain to recede. Unable to watch any longer of the sibling rivalry, she turned and walked away. Her abrupt departure made Hiroshi and Akina halt their quarrel to watch Kagome make her leave.
"Keiko! What happened!" Hiroshi called.
Keiko didn't know what to say.
Kagome kept her eyes leveled to the ground to avoid seeing the cheery faces pass by her. It was cynical and quite astonishing to see how uncouth she had become, but she couldn't harness these bitter feelings of resentment accumulating inside of her. Some may even call her heartless, and she scowled as she thought that insult had never reigned more true. She found herself detesting the mocking laughter and muttering expletives at the sun for its dearth of searing warmth.
She yelled at the wind in her insane mind to stop blowing so hard. Her arms went to cradle her waist and she felt so alone, so pathetic, and so dead inside. This must be the predicament Kikyo was forced to live. She recalled those times when she was just a naïve young brat and how Kikyo's coldness towards her affected her. She now understood the reason behind Kikyo's boorishness towards her; it was jealousy. That said jealousy ran much deeper than Inuyasha's affections intensifying for Kagome, but rather, a girl with eccentrics intervenes and pilfered Kikyo's life to make it her own.
Reflecting back on those moments when Kikyo belittled her or when she caught Inuyasha in her arms, she found she didn't have a reason to be angry. Even when Inuyasha left her side to be with Kikyo, he would always return to her. His past with Kikyo may had formed a leash for the deceased priestess to use to reel him in at her beck and call, but Kagome held a certain power over him that triumphed over Kikyo and their impenetrable bond. He may had strayed out of loyalty and responsibility, but he came back out of love and devotion for her.
To have these thoughts in her mind, she found they were too amazing to be real. She nonchalantly tapped her lips with her finger, attempting to retrieve those memories of that penultimate, but passionate night. It concerned her however, when even though the memory was still quite fresh, she couldn't remember the most significant parts that gave it meaning.
She couldn't remember the sensations that had once coursed through her body when his lips touched hers or when he swathed her in his powerful arms. The images were there, but the feelings were absent. Was this another part of the curse to being heartless? Or perhaps, she was slowly beginning to forget. She wondered if it was at all possible that she only dreamed, one twisted pleasure her mind conjured before she steeled herself for death.
Twenty years ago, she would've been frantic about losing memories of Inuyasha. She pondered if she had even been in love with him at all. She wondered if just maybe, she was obsessed with him. She realized that she had been addicted to his voice, his charm, and even addicted to his existence. She had felt living without him, was like being deprived of air.
"When I get my heart back, I'm never letting it go again." Kagome asseverated.
"Kagome! What are you doing out here?" Kagome looked up to see Kisho carrying a pile of wood. The sleeve of his kimono slipped back to display his toned muscles.
"Am I not allowed to leave the house? You all are treating me like a prisoner." Kagome had intentionally meant it as a joke, but it came off cold and harsh that Kisho frowned.
"Well sorry for worrying about your safety. Oh by the way, Sango and Miroku are coming back. I'm catching their scents and they seem more confused than ever." Kisho said. "Hey, why don't you walk back with me and help me and Sakiko prepare a delicious meal for them."
Kagome walked away. "Sorry, but I want to talk to Sango and Miroku."
Kisho nodded, and turned, masking his disappointment. Kagome was merely a few feet ahead of him, but it seemed to him she was miles away.
"The Shikon no Tama, a jewel wanted by demons to gain power. A jewel wanted by nasty humans for greed. Anything so right could go so wrong in a blink of an eye. That is the fragileness of the jewel. When in hands of pure intent, it sings a sweet melody of hope. When in malicious hands, it dims to a stunning black and will summon destruction. The jewel must disappear by the right wish. Demon slayers, I am not belittling your friend's wish of wiping the jewel out of existence. However, you see, it was not the right wish. There is no abyss for the jewel to disappear, there is nowhere for it to disappear. It exists again, a place unknown, and that explains why demons have been making a constant occurrence. They want the jewel."
Sango and her husband, Miroku, sat cross-legged in front of the priestess. The fire lighting on the bamboo sticks began to fade, leaving them in almost darkness. Miroku slithered an arm around her shoulders as she huddled her knees to her chest. She thought back to all the attacks just recently. Her village was almost annihilated numerable times from a hoard of demons and it has happened too often that it was hard to ignore. Not to mention, her dear friend, Inuyasha's life was lost in the mayhem. She looked to Miroku who appeared to be calm, but she could see the enigma in his face.
The priestess stood, announcing her upcoming departure. The couple stood and bowed to the woman, thanking her for her wise input. As they left the temple, they thought silently about the jewel that had lurked into their lives and changed it for the worst. It had been a long, tedious journey that was set on the jewel and the relief was overwhelming when they believed it to be gone. Now, here it was again, taking more lives and in the process, screwing up their plans they wanted for themselves.
"Sango?" Sango snapped out of her reverie to answer her husband. He could only look at her. Without words, she knew what he was thinking. "Are we ever going to be rid of that jewel?" He asked.
She cracked a small smile, but no humor was present. "I don't know. Let's hurry home."
She halted then, her face pained. Miroku looked back and rushed to her side the moment he saw a droplet escape her eye. He gently wiped away the tear and pulled her into his embrace. She clung to him, as if he was her rock she expected to be there in troubling times. Her crying escalated into weeps and she melted to the ground, taking her husband down with her. He held onto her tighter, hopeless about how to help her.
"I miss Inuyasha, Miroku."
Miroku nodded. "So do I, Sango, so do I. But don't worry, his death will be avenged."
"I know, but even if we get our revenge against the one who killed him, I still would miss him as badly as I do now, if not more."
Miroku pulled back slightly and lifted her chin. She stared into his brilliant eyes, glowing with such love all belonging to her. She felt so mesmerized that she forgot the reason for her tears. He brought their faces together, foreheads knocking gently into each other. Sango's mouth parted, expecting something, but he didn't move. He only stared at her, letting his barriers dissipate and let her see his own sadness over losing his friend. Then, he blinked and though a twinge was still there, he let his shields come up. Sango nodded in understanding.
"I know you miss him Sango, as do I. But this isn't the first we lost somebody precious to us. When we did lose that special person, we pushed on because that's what we had to do then, and that's what we have to do now. Of course we will continue to miss them, but we are blessed to have other people who need us and we can't allow our emotions intervene with our duties to those people."
Sango nodded and finally, he closed in. She grabbed his head, pushing his face into hers for a real, married kiss. Miroku was happy to oblige and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his lap. Sango pulled away, laying her head on his shoulder and giggled as he blazed a trail of butterfly kisses down the side of her throat.
She playfully smacked him. "Quit it, you dirty monk."
He smiled, prompting her to slap him on the arm again. They both walked, hand in hand to the village and to the home they made together. All the while, their thoughts centered around Kagome and the mystery of the jewel they worked all their lives to banish.
