I have a real love hate relationship with this chapter. I got out all the ideas that I had, but am slightly displeased with the converstaion, although I tried re-wording it differently, several times...
I've had a lot of ideas for this story recently!
Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed last chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or anything related. It belongs to it's original creator, Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 10
Walking Away
(Kikyo POV)
InuYasha's fist came in square contact with Naraku's jaw, and I almost fell backward in shock.
It all happened so fast, that I barely had time to think.
And then Naraku fell to the floor, unconscious.
"That was for my brother, you bastard." muttered InuYasha to Naraku's sleeping form.
Then, he turned to me and said, "Get your things, we should get out of here."
The we rolled off his tongue, and made it obvious that he intended for me to go back with him and Sango. I tried to follow his command, still slightly stunned, but I stumbled over my own feet halfway to the closet.
InuYasha walked up t the closet and yanked open the door. The only thing in there was a neat pile of boxes, presumably my things. He gathered them up in his arms and carried them towards the doorway.
I couldn't do anything but stand there and stare at Naraku, passed out in the middle of the floor.
"We can't just leave him there..." I mumbled.
InuYasha turned to me.
"Look," he said, "I know about this guy, and I saw what he was about to do just now. He deserves to wake up cold and alone."
And then he walked out.
I must have followed, but everything was a blur. I didn't remember closing Naraku's front door behind me, or getting back in InuYasha's car, or listening to Sango's worried questions, but I must have.
It was all a blank.
It was as if one minute, I was stumbling away from Naraku, and the next, I was back in InuYasha's apartment. I was sitting on a hard wooden chair, staring up at the ceiling. I slowly came to my senses, and realized that the room was cold. I shivered slightly.
I glanced at the clock. It was late, despite my not remembering the day going by.
I looked around the dim apartment, thinking that InuYasha was probably asleep at this time. That's why I was so surprised when I looked up and saw him leaning against the wall across the room from me.
When he spoke, his voice sounded far away,as if he was speaking to someone who would never hear his words.
"That guy... I remember him. He was part of a gang. My older brother got mixed up with them, ended up throwing his life away. Died when I was in junior high. It was an overdose."
My eyes widened. I knew the kind of things that Naraku was involved in... But this was so awful.
"I'm sorry." I said, thinking how weak and stupid my words must sound.
InuYasha shook his head.
"Don't be. My brother always hated my guts. He was only my half brother, and he lived with his mother, so I never really got much of a chance to know him before he died."
There were a few long moments of silence.
"Listen, no matter what that guy said... You didn't deserve to be hurt like that. You really didn't."
I shook my head sharply.
"You don't understand-"
"But I do understand," he said, cutting me off, "I understand it perfectly. He let you down."
He let you down.
I wanted to deny it. I wanted to fight and scream and deny it, but... I couldn't.
I just couldn't.
I felt as if there wasn't an ounce of strength left in my body. I was devoid of energy.
Slowly, I watched the world spin before my eyes and fade into darkness.
I had a strange but very vivid dream that night.
In that dream, I was wandering aimlessly through a maze of trees. Somewhere in a deep, deep forest.
I'd thought I was alone, and that I would surely only become more lost if I continued to wander.
Then, as if out of nowhere, InuYasha was standing before me.
"Do you believe in second chances?" he asked.
I tried to speak, but it felt as if my mouth was filling with water every time I breathed. It was like I was slowly drowning.
So I simply nodded my head.
I frown crossed InuYasha's face. He seemed to be displeased with my answer...
When I woke up the next morning, I could feel the sunlight shining on me. I opened one eye and saw that light was flooding through the apartment's windows.
How long had it been since the last sunny day...?
Long enough. Too long.
I opened my eyes wide, and was surprised by how intensely aware I was of everything. I wasn't even slightly tired, and I noticed something else as well.
Maybe I didn't feel quite as numb.
END/CH.10
The title of this chapter had a special significance to me, as saying that this time, instead of being beaten down, Kikyo was the one who walked away.
Thank you all so much for reading this! Please let me know if you liked it or not!
Love,
Massie