A/N: I am truly sorry for taking such a long time to update this story. Procrastination is a horrible thing and I have to say that I have fallen victim to it more times than I would have liked to. A new year's resolution for next year is to update all of my stories more regularly so I hope that from now on updates will be more regular. Rest assured that all of my stories will get finished sooner or later, though the latter seems to be the one that's winning at the moment. :P
And thank you to kate, LifeandFire25, KissaBoony, Purplediamon and PoeticNonsenseNinjaStyle for their reviews on chapter 8. Thank you so much guys. :)
Anyways, on with the story and again, a thousand apologies for my tardiness.
Timeless
Chapter 9 - Letters
"This reminds me of our time hunting down Naraku three years ago." Kagome said happily as they all walked along the well-beaten road. So far they had not met with any demons or any other problems of any kind, something that Miroku was eternally grateful for. He did not want to imagine having to send Sango away on Kirara, especially since he knew that his lovely wife would put up quite a fight.
"We had a lot of fun then!" Shippo exclaimed just as happily as Kagome, having missed their previous road-travelling. He had had a lot of fun training under the other kitsune in the past three years, and he had gotten exponentially stronger, but that didn't change the fact that he had wanted to go travelling with all of them again.
"Keh." As usual, Inuyasha had about as much to say as a rock towards the subject. Miroku smirked, the hanyou had way too much fun just being near Kagome to complain about anything at all.
"I don't remember it being as strenuous then as it is now though." Sango complained as she rode along on Kirara. Inuyasha sent her a disbelieving look, how could one be tired merely from riding on a demon?
"You weren't pregnant back then." He said outright to Sango.
"Maybe we should rest for a couple of minutes before continuing?" Miroku asked placatingly to try and stop Kagome from flying at Inuyasha for being so untactical. She was already glaring at him, and they had just started travelling after a good night's rest a couple of hours ago.
"And we can eat something!" Shippo exclaimed, the small child within him still very present.
"Again?" Inuyasha was feeling exasperated, why would one want to rest as often as this group did?
"Inuyasha..." Kagome growled dangerously, daring him to make another statement like that. Inuyasha gulped, having the feeling that he had said something wrong once again. They had started their travels to Sango's former village two weeks back and during the past couple of days Kagome had been in an exceptionally bad mood. He was seriously beginning to wonder why though.
"Let's just all sit down and eat something and then we can continue." Miroku put up his hand to stop Kagome from getting mad. "It's nearly lunch anyway."
"That's a really good idea." Sango smiled at him with endearment in her eyes.
Kagome and Inuyasha both looked away uncomfortably at the scene of love in front of them. Shippo smirked as he observed them while Kirara just rolled her eyes. Both wondered when those two would come to terms with their feelings.
~.~.~.~.~
"And here are the letters." Yuka and Eri looked at surprise once more at Kagome's family. They hadn't expected them all to know as much as they had about the feudal era and Kagome's exploits in it. And they most definitely hadn't expected their eager questioning where Inuyasha and the others had been concerned. Especially Souta had wanted to know how the hanyou was doing while Kagome's mum had also been quite interested in how the others were doing.
"Thank you so much you two. This means a lot to us." Kagome's mum smiled beautifully at them and they looked away slightly uncomfortably, not expecting such gratitude. When all four of them had vanished several weeks back they had been shocked to find the police running around the place looking for them. They had shown the police the letters from Kagome and Ayumi (but not the contents of course, they themselves were clueless as to what was stated within them) and had said that the other two were fine, they had just gone on some trip to the countryside.
Admittedly the police had found it extremely hard to believe them but there wasn't much else they could do. So the search for the other two was pulled off and stopped and although they had intended to instantly give the two families the letters, time had suddenly sped by and in the initial confusion following their return they had been unable to hand the letters to them, and had then been caught up in college.
"Well, we'll be going then Mrs. Higurashi, we still have some letters to give to Ayumi's family." The two of them stood up from the chairs they had been inhibiting and were well on their way out as the others called a fond good-bye towards them.
As soon as the two friends were gone, Mrs. Higurashi opened the letters as her husband's father and her son watched her with anticipation. Sadness and happiness both swirled in her eyes. Sadness at the fact that her daughter had gone back to the past permanently, and happiness that Kagome had finally decided to do what she had been denying herself so long. It had pained her after all to watch her daughter go to the shrine daily and try to reach the past once more.
Dear Mama,
I know that this may appear sudden to you, but the light at my nineteenth birthday party transported me, Eri, Yuka and Ayumi back into the past. Into the feudal era, where Inuyasha and all the others that I told you guys about were. Upon arriving here, I realised just how much I had truly missed everyone and somehow knew that I wouldn't be able to go back. I also realised just how much I love Inuyasha, I am quite sure that I will not be able to change that or my desire to remain here by his side.
However, once in the village, Inuyasha's brother Sesshomaru arrived with his entourage and one of they realised that our sudden travelling through time had not only transported more people than it usually did but that all of my friends in this era, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara and Inuyasha had gained something known as the 'Taishou Crest' something that places them in the clan that Inuyasha belongs to, a crest that lets them basically live eternally unless they are killed in another fashion.
Inuyasha and the others weren't the only ones that gained this crest though, Ayumi and I were also branded with one. The woman who was able to allow Eri and Yuka to travel back into your time said that she could not let us travel back though, since the immense burden of not aging in the natural manner and also of never dying naturally would take too great a toll on our mental well-being.
I had long before decided to remain in this time, since I feel that I truly belong here and I pray that you, grandpa and Souta will be able to forgive me for my selfish choice. Ayumi on the other hand had no choice and I truly feel responsible for what happened to her. It most definitely wasn't supposed to happen. So if her family are ever facing any difficulties, could you please make sure that they are alright? I know that my request is selfish and that I shouldn't really be asking this of you but could you please make sure that they are?
As you have read above this crest gives us a natural eternal life. Therefore, should we still be alive by the time that we reach your time again, we will let you know. I shall say that it should be around the time my twentieth birthday would have occured. Should no message reach you however by that time, know that I truly love all of you and that I apologise for my actions and decisions, because I know that they must be hurting you.
So please, just hold on another year before we see each other again, because I am absolutely positive we will.
Your loving daughter
Kagome
Tears streamed down their faces as they all read through Kagome's words. If this letter was right, then she was probably alive and well out there right now. But they would have to wait. Kagome had given them a date they could look forward too and prepare themselves for, and in their hearts they knew that Kagome had made the right decision. She hadn't been all that happy in this time, constantly pining for the past.
~.~.~.~.~
"I'm surprised that they took it so well." Eri looked at Yuka.
"Me too, I thought that they would be more shocked or surprised." Yuka nodded. Both of them had been positively overwhelmed at the news they had recieved several weeks back and were still coming to terms with it. Amongst the letters that Kagome and Ayumi had given them, they had also found one addressed at them, much to their own surprise.
"Hey Eri! Look at this!" Yuka waved a letter at Eri as she looked up from her position on the sofa. They had returned from the past roughly three weeks ago and had remembered the letters that had been entrusted to them.
"What is it?" Eri asked. She still felt angry and annoyed at her friends for their choices to remain in the past. She was even more peeved about how much Kagome had been keeping a secret from them.
"There's a letter." Yuka seemed really excited.
"There are a lot of letters Yuka." Eri said in an annoyed voice. Admittedly, she had had a very short patience to begin with, and since she was currently pretty annoyed her patience and tolerance were even lower.
"A letter for us you ninny." Yuka said with exasperation. Eri's short-tempered behavious was starting to grate on her own nerves.
"For us?" That caught Eri's attention.
"Yeah, I think it's from Kagome and Ayumi." Yuka sat down comfortably on the couch next to her and began to open the letter. Eri quickly turned off the television that had been running until then and turned her full concentration to Yuka and the letter.
"Dear Eri and Yuka" Yuka began to read aloud.
"I know that you do not agree with mine and Ayumi's decision to stay here but I have to tell you the reasons that I was unable to mention before you left (mainly because we were so hung up on saying good-bye to one another.).
I am in love with Inuyasha and the people here. Here, in this era, I feel truly and utterly at home. I know that it isn't necessarily something that is easily understood, but here I feel like I've found my calling, like I can be myself fully and completely without worrying about what others say. This feeling only intensified when we left school and started college. Everyone started judging me for my ideas and my background, they think it's old-fashioned to live at a shrine and with your parents and while I do not necessarily mind that, being excluded from the others due to their opinions can make life a bit harder though.
I know that it may not seem like an easy choice to make, I'm leaving my family and all you guys behind after all, but believe me when I say that it wasn't that hard. Making this decision lets me feel as if I've done the right thing.
Please don't be angry with me, because I know that especially you Eri will feel that way about me and my decision. I am truly sorry for causing you any discomfort or pain."
"The handwriting changes there." Eri noted as she peered down at the page in front of them. Yuka nodded at her before continuing to read out the missive from their friends.
"My reasons for staying aren't the same as Kagome's. For one I don't really have the option of returning due to this weird tattoo-thing on my back that Kagome calls the 'Taishou Crest'. But please just know that I'm not staying here against my will. You both know about my situation at home. You know how strained the relationship between me and the rest of my family are. This... situation that has arisen and given me the opportunity of staying, I feel like it's giving me the chance to escape from all of that and to view things slightly more objectively. Maybe this absence will also grant my brother and sister the same thing. I don't know. I do know however that I wish to remain in this era for some time yet, if just to be able to escape from the reality that has formed there. Like Kagome I am truly sorry if I hurt you guys in the process but I feel like I need to do this. Please forgive me."
Yuka and Eri felt tears rise to their eyes as they stared at what was clearly Ayumi's handwriting in front of them. Had she truly felt that pressured and unhappy in this era?
"Here Kagome starts writing again." Eri pointed to the next paragraph on the letter. Once again Yuka only found it inside her to nod.
"And don't worry about us. If all goes well and we do live eternally, we will see you guys again in your era. Don't worry too much, we should all be fine. So it won't be that long of a wait for you guys, give us a year before we see each other again. Well a year for you anyway.
All the best and stay well and safe
Kagome and Ayumi."
Both looked at each other as they remembered what had happened two days ago. Now all they had left to do was deliver Ayumi's letter to her family and then all they would be able to do was wait and hope that they had managed to remain safe the past five hundred years or so.
~.~.~.~.~
"I wonder how they all reacted to Ayumi and my letters." Kagome mused as they sat comfortably against a tree and ate their lunch.
"Probably how you expect them to." Miroku gave Sango her share of the food.
"How do you expect them to react?" Sango quickly thanked Miroku before turning back to Kagome.
"Well..." Kagome trailed off, chewing on her food before swallowing it. "Mum, gramps and Souta will understand and I think that they might even be happy. But they'll definitely be sad about it all. I mean, for them it might only be a year or so, but for us it's going to be five hundred years if we make it through."
"We'll make it." Inuyasha said with conviction, his voice holding no doubt that Kagome would be able to see her friends and family once more.
"Thanks Inuyasha." Kagome smiled brilliantly at him, which caused him to blush slightly and cough a bit as he looked away while muttering something that sounded like 'no problem'. Sango nudged Miroku who just smirked while Shippo and Kirara rolled their eyes but smiled none the less.
~.~.~.~.~
"Here we are." Yuka swallowed heavily while even Eri felt uncomfortable. Ayumi and her brother and sister had drifted apart after the sudden deaths of their parents, and being Ayumi's friends they had of course decided to support her side in the whole matter. Even though Ayumi had often said that there were no sides and that her brother and sister were fully justified in what they did and believed in.
Eri and Yuka disagreed though. And Kagome had of course also decided to support Ayumi in this disagreement between siblings.
Suddenly the door opened, revealing the very disgruntled face of Ayumi's older sister, Asami Okada, who glared at them quite ferociously when seeing who it was.
"What do you want?" She spat out, knowing that they were the close friends of Ayumi.
Eri bristled at the tone that Asami used on them and was about to retort when Yuka quickly cut in, being the more level-headed of the two.
"We just have a letter from Ayumi to you that she asked us to deliver." She said smoothly, but her eyes betrayed her dislike for the older woman.
"Well you can take it back to her and tell her that she can burn it." Asami growled right back at her.
"Listen, taking this letter isn't an option. We're not leaving until you take it and anyway we can't take it back to her since we don't know where the hell she is at the moment. She's out of the country and before she left she asked us to take this to you. End of story. And you are going to take this letter, whether you like it or not." Eri barely held herself back from flying at the woman, her temper practically getting the better of her but not quite.
"Here, take it." With that she ripped the letter out of Yuka's hands, pressed it into Asami's and stalked off while pulling Yuka behind her, leaving a slightly dumbfounded Asami standing in the doorway, being quite surprised at the younger woman's display of her temper.
Closing the door she stared down at the letter in her hands and, despite her better judgement, decided to open it up and see what her sister had decided to write to her. She quickly ripped open the missive and began to read it through.
Dear Asami and Takao,
I know that you don't want to hear anything from me, after all, it is fully understandable. You think that I am the reason mum and dad died, and in some respects I do believe that you may be right. If I hadn't asked them to come and pick me up that night, they wouldn't have driven out to get me. But, contrary to what you know, we did get back home safely. I was even asleep and that's why I didn't know about their deaths until the next day.
I don't know what happened but it happened after they got me home. I don't know why they went out again to drive somewhere, but it wasn't to pick me up from that party. They picked me up and we got back home safe and sound.
Whether you choose to believe me or not is up to you.
But that was not why I wrote this letter, I wrote this letter to tell you that I am leaving the country. For how long I cannot tell. Maybe it's just a few weeks or months, maybe it's a year or two. Maybe it's even longer. I honestly cannot tell. That's why I'm writing this to you. To tell you two that I won't be around for some time. I don't know where I'll be or what I'll do, but I promise to explain everything to you in full, should I come back. And even then I cannot promise that I will. That is why I told you about mum and dad at the beginning of this letter.
I am truly sorry for any pain that I might have caused you.
I am sorry for causing you pain even now.
And I am sorry for being such a coward and in some ways taking the easy way out by running away.
I hope that you can one day find it in your hearts to forgive me.
Your ever-loving sister
Ayumi Okada
Asami stared at the piece of paper in her hands, not quite understanding what was going on. Then it began to sink in. She felt numb as she sank to the floor, the letter still in her hands.
What had she done?
~.~.~.~.~
"What are you doing?" Yukari looked up to see the very annoyed face of Sesshomaru stare down at the piece of paper she was currently writing on.
"I'm writing a letter to your dear lady mother that expresses my opinion towards her most recent decisions." She said sweetly, the undertone of her voice being purely acidic though.
"Hn." He said and turned away again, hoping that she would hurry up and finish the missive so that they would be able to continue with their journey, they desperately had to find Naraku and make sure that he vanished once and for all.
He couldn't stand the bloody half-demon at all.
