Disclaimer: One day…THEY SHALL BE MINE! *laughs evilly*
"talking"
'thinking'
Chapter IX: Remember
-o-o-o-
She sat at her desk staring emptily at the wall.
For four days she holed herself up in here, leaving only to use the bathroom. When she came back from Urahara's she told her mother everything. Things didn't exactly go as she thought they would. Instead of banishing her from the family, Misora gathered Kagome in her arms and murmured her understanding.
"Oh sweetheart, how could you ever thing I'd hate you? You're my daughter and I'll love you no matter what happens. Maybe this isn't fair, but I believe you're strong enough to handle it, not to mention you have your family by your side. Don't you dare think that just because we happen to waltz into a cross-dimensional war that I'd give up on you. Even if you weren't the Shikon Guardian I'd worry. Trust me, it's what mothers do."
Kagome rolled her eyes slightly at the wall. Her mother took all the weird news way too well, but she's thankful for it.
Initially, her reactions were of shock, despair, denial, and anger. But over the past days she was able to take it in and dissect all the information present to her.
Little by little her wild emotions lessoned until there was only a resentful acceptance left.
Sure it would be dangerous if this Aizen person found out about the tama, but Urahara said he's not expecting her to suddenly join the fighting. There's still a chance the war could end without her participation, but if not, at least she was warned ahead of time.
The random sound of her phone vibrating startled her. She looked across the room to where her cell resided on the side table, but made no move to pick it up. She's not ready to talk to anyone just yet.
The vibrating stopped. A second later the house phone began to ring. She heard her mother pick up and the muffled sounds of speaking floated beneath the door. Kagome thought again of the men who were apparently trying to take over with complete power.
Sosuke Aizen: the leader
Kaname Tosen: henchman
Gin Ichimaru: second in command
Her brows twitched at the last man.
"What an odd name," she said softly to herself. "Gin Ichimaru."
His name rolled off her tongue like quicksilver. No pun intended.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a knock sounded on her door and her mother poked her head in.
"Kagome, that nice boy Ichigo called for you. I told him you weren't feeling well, he said to tell you he wished you feel better."
Kagome gave the woman a small grin.
"Thanks mama."
"No problem dear." Right before she closed the door though, she said something else.
"Kagome?"
"Yeah?" she replied.
Misora looked at her warmly. "Four days without friends is long enough. Don't close yourself off again. You've endured a lot, stay brave."
Kagome stared at the now closed door.
Brave.
The word brought an onslaught of memories…specifically one that changed how she saw the world. She got up from her seat and walked over to her window, looking out at the clear sky.
'I've had enough self pity. So what if I need to face danger or death? I promised to be brave. For you Miroku, I promised to be brave.'
Kagome's eyes glazed over as she became lost in the memories of the past.
-o-o-o-
"HENTAI!"
Kagome and Shippo laughed as the monk fell with a crash to the ground, a large red handprint splayed on the side of his face. Sango huffed angrily and stomped away from her perverted fiancé.
"Honestly Miroku, why can't you keep your hand to yourself?" she bit at him.
Said monk dragged himself upright and grinned cheekily at her.
"Because my hand is cursed my dear, and you're the only cure I'll need."
The group laughed heartily as the taijiya blushed fiercely, her anger depleting. Even Inuyasha couldn't help but let out a smirk. No matter how tough Sango tried to act, she always becomes putty when it comes to Miroku.
Kagome smiled contently as she observed the people around her. It was one of those few rare times when everything seemed to be going right: they found a jewel shard, Naraku hadn't appeared to kill them all, Sesshomaru had agreed to join their group and would show up in a few days, and it was a gorgeous night, allowing them to relax for a while.
'This peace won't last, but for now it's enough.'
Her eyes strayed onto her half demon best friend who sat up in a tree watching the dark sky.
His hair gleamed in the moonlight, giving off an unnatural yet mesmerizing glow.
'He's beautiful. And no matter how much he denies it, he's more like his brother than he cares to admit, both in looks and personality though they do have their differences. Sesshomaru has an untouchable, pristine type of look; all ice. But Inuyasha…Inuyasha is fire. Everything about him screams a fiery passion. Maybe that's why he keeps us all together. He's our light that leads us through this mess.'
A yawn at her side broke her out of her thought. Looking down she saw her fox kit rubbing his eyes sleepily. Letting out a chuckle she picked him up.
"Alright, it's time for bed sleepy head."
Shippo whined softly, "Aww, 'Gome, do I have to?"
"Yes. Little demons need their rest to grow up big and strong."
"Pfft, I'm older than you 'Gome."
Kagome laughed and tucked him into her sleeping bag and kissed him goodnight.
"I'm going to sleep too. Good night everyone," said Sango as she lay on her own bag with Kirara curled next to her.
"Feh, you humans sleep too much. I'm gonna stay up and keep watch."
Kagome looked up at Inuyasha's declaration and rolled her eyes.
"Mmkay then, do what you want. Just don't exhaust yourself. Since I'm such a measly human, I'm going to bed," she replied.
Kagome turned toward her sleeping bag but stopped when she heard Miroku speak to her.
"Kagome-sama, may I speak to you privately before you turn in?"
"Eh? Sure, I guess."
Shrugging her shoulders she followed the purple-clad man as he led her away from the others.
She watched her friend from the corner of her eye as they walked. The goofy grin he held just a few moments ago was replaced with a calm, pensive look.
Kagome wondered what he could possibly want to talk to her about. As she discreetly observed him, she grinned inwardly.
'He is rather handsome, and Sango is so pretty too. I bet their kids are going to be absolutely adorable! They're going to make a wonderful family.'
"Here is good enough I believe," Miroku said, drawing her out of her reverie.
Looking around she saw they were at a lake.
"Come, sit down."
Kagome sat, watching him curiously. Parking themselves on the grass, they sat in quiet for a moment, just looking at the water as it sparkled in the dim light.
Suddenly Miroku held out his arm, the one with the wind tunnel.
"Sometimes I forget about this. After having it for so long I learned to use this curse as a weapon. I forget that this weapon is like a double edged sword though, capable of being used against me as well."
Kagome didn't know what to say to this so she kept quiet and listened as he continued.
"My family is cursed to bear this burden unless I die of Naraku is defeated. Unfortunately that's probably going to happen at the same time."
At this Kagome tried to protest but Miroku shook his head.
"No, just listen Kagome," he said not unkindly. "I know my chances and they're slim. When we go into battle I will not hold back to protect myself. The wind tunnel will be fully exposed and I'll take in anything, saimyosho included. If the poison doesn't kill me then overusing the hole will. By some chance if that doesn't happen then Naraku will make the wind tunnel grow and lose control just to stop me. You know I'm right Kagome. I'm going to die, one way or another."
Kagome felt he stomach drop. Even though she was shaking her head in denial, she heard the truth resonating in his words.
'He has no chance. Miroku's death is inevitable.'
She was nauseated. Everything she had eaten was fighting to rise out of her stomach. Kagome closed her eyes as harsh reality sunk in.
"I've realized something else about this curse however. With every generation that it is passed on to, the end blast grows twice as strong. Do you understand what I mean?"
Kagome's eyes snapped open; she knew exactly what he meant.
"The explosion that would result from my hand would not only kill me, it'll destroy the entire vicinity…including you and the group."
An image of a desolate chunk of land flashed into her mind and she stared at him in horror.
He turned away from her, tilting his head up toward the heavens. The stars reflected off his violet eyes just as they do on the water. Then, in such a soft voice she had to strain to hear, he said:
"But there's a way to prevent that."
Kagome felt her heart jump with surprise and hope.
"What? How?"
Miroku turned and looked at her again. She felt a twinge of unease his eyes darkened and settled on hers.
"You have to kill me."
Okay, she didn't hear correctly. Obviously she spaced out and mixed up his words.
"Wh-what?" she stammered.
"You have to kill me," he repeated.
Kagome felt the blood drain out of her face and a cold feeling entering her body.
"N-no! What on earth are you talking about? You aren't thinking straight Miroku. You need some sleep, it's late."
"Listen to me Kagome, just think for a minute! I've done my research, and you know as well that the wind tunnel can't be used if the carrier is dead. This is the only way. If the tunnel explodes then we're all dead, but this way no one else besides me does. It's not as if I would live anyway. At least like this I can save you all!"
Kagome shook her head furiously; anger, terror, and shock infiltrating her.
"No! Stop being a martyr Miroku! This isn't the only way!"
"Yes it is!"
"Then why don't you ask Sango or Inuyasha?"
"What do you think? Sango would never do it and Inuyasha is too hard-headed. He'd try to play hero and just say he'll get to Naraku before anything happens. You're the only one who'd understand and carry it out."
"I can't!"
Miroku reached out and grabbed her hand in his, squeezing firmly.
"Kagome. Please. Do this for me as a request from a friend."
Kagome looked at the monk in front of her, his face was anguished and desperate. Her throat closed and burned. How could she even possibly think of killing him?
"Don't give Naraku the satisfaction of taking me life and destroying everything. I'm asking you to give me a quick honorable death."
It felt like a blow to her heart. If there was one thing she learned from traveling in the Feudal Era, it was that honor meant more to people than their life.
"Kagome…please."
She looked at him, taking in every detail of his face. He looked older than ever before. Like a man who understood more than his time. She closed her eyes and swallowed down the sob building inside of her. Slowly she nodded.
"Okay." She whispered.
Miroku's hand tightened on hers.
"Swear to me."
He voice shook as she said the words that bound her to him.
"I swear."
Kagome opened her eyes, disbelief at what she just swore to do. Miroku's grip on her lessened and his eyes softened. Giving her a tender look he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her shaking body. She sniffled into his neck as she buried her face against his shoulder.
"Shh, don't cry Kagome. It's going to be okay."
He rubbed her back soothingly, giving what comfort he could provide.
'He's so calm about this…so brave. He knows what's going to happen yet he's trying to comfort me. I won't be a coward, he's counting on me. For you Miroku, I'll be brave.'
Kagome blinked away the tears in her eyes and settled into the embrace of her friend, her brother…and the man she just promised to murder.
-o-o-o-
Reviews are welcome :)
