The Bond of Silver and Gold
Chapter 11: The Painful Choice
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the original characters, plot, or storyline. I only own my fan-made character and her story.
Kagome and Chelsea had found refuge in her room back at the Higurashi household. Inuyasha had a hard time separating himself from the girl who so desperately needed to stay beside him, but he needed to let Miroku and the others know that Chelsea was alright, and that him and the girls would be staying the night in Kagome's time to regain strength. He was worried Chelsea needed rest.
"So what happened exactly?" asked Kagome curiously.
"I'm not really sure. I think I had an out of body experience. My soul was physically searching for Isamu… and suddenly once I was killed, I woke up in my hospital bed where I had been in a coma…" explained Chelsea, still trying to put the pieces together herself. The girls sat quietly together thinking, when Chelsea broke the silence. Opening up her backpack with all her important possessions from home, she had a small photo album with her, "Want to see him?" she asked, handing Kagome the photo album.
"Wow," breathed Kagome, staring at the picture of Isamu and Chelsea. He had his arm around her, and a genuine smile was spread across his face, "They do resemble one another. If he didn't have such short hair they could be twins. Their eyes are exactly the same when Inuyasha's human."
"I think that's why I remembered everything… looking into Inuyasha's eyes that night seemed to open my own…" said Chelsea, looking at the picture.
"You two seem really happy," smiled Kagome, "I've never seen Inuyasha smile the way Isamu is in this picture."
"Yeah," agreed Chelsea, "I hope someday, he will…" she ran her index finger across the boy's face in the picture, perhaps trying to touch him one last time.
Inuyasha came into the window, which caused Chelsea to casually slip the photo album back into her bag. She didn't think she was ready to have that talk about Isamu with him yet, "Welcome back," she greeted.
He shook the rain off of him like a dog, and then sat down with them, "The others say hi, and they're glad you're safe," informed Inuyasha.
Chelsea smiled at this. It was so nice to have people care about her the way these people did.
"I think I'll go take a bath," Kagome said, standing to her feet. These two needed time to talk things out, and it'd be easier if she wasn't sitting there.
The room was filled with awkward silence, "So, what were you showing Kagome that you tried so much to hide?" Inuyasha said with a flat tone to his irritated voice.
Sweat seemed to appear almost instantly on Chelsea's forehead, "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb," Inuyasha said leaning into her face.
She blushed violently, "Just pictures,"
"Of him?" asked Inuyasha, "Let me see."
"Are you sure…?" murmured Chelsea with worry.
"Look, I can handle it okay?" He was getting more and more frustrated with her.
Chelsea pulled out the photo album and handed it to him. As he flipped through the pages slowly, examining each picture, he started to realize that, these two weren't just close; they seemed to do everything together, "You were together a long time weren't you?"
"About eight months," figured Chelsea.
"What was he like?" Inuyasha felt sick to his stomach realizing just how much they looked like one another.
Chelsea shrugged, trying to make light of it, "He was very quiet. He didn't talk much at first. People picked on him because he was a foreigner so he kept to himself. Once we got to know each other I realized he was very sarcastic, clever, and independent. Strong too."
Inuyasha felt his heart sink a little, "Really?"
"Yeah, he teased me a lot," Chelsea seemed to get lost in memories, "it was the only way he knew how to show that he cared I think. He'd pick on me like a child would do to their crush."
"He must have really loved you," noticed Inuyasha. Chelsea started to feel guilty watching Inuyasha's face as it scanned each photo, "You must have really loved him too."
"Yes, we had a very close bond," admitted Chelsea, "but fate has a way of changing our paths right when things seem most permanent."
"If you could have him back… I mean if he had never died, you'd be happy right?" asked Inuyasha.
Chelsea was trying to figure out what he was getting at, "His death was unfortunate, and he knew it would devastate me. That's why he led me to a silly fox child, a strong demon slayer, a perverted monk, a wonderful modern day priestess," she paused, and used her hands to close the book, her hand over his, "And the strongest man I've ever known."
Inuyasha stared into her eyes. He was looking for answers to questions which he didn't even know, but deep down it came to, "Do you regret it? Meeting me I mean?" questioned Inuyasha.
"I would have rather died by Naraku's hand, than to have never been holding yours right now," answered Chelsea genuinely, "I mean that with all of my heart." Dying was less painful in her mind, then not being by his side. Chelsea slowly put the photo album back into her back pack.
Inuyasha stared at the boards of the floor, feeling almost at a loss for words. She always knew exactly what to say, and when she did, it was the most beautiful words he had ever heard. That's when he felt two gentle hands start to massage his shoulders. He froze in place.
"I promised I'd give you a massage when we were together here next. I never forget a promise," Chelsea explained, working the knots out of his tough shoulders, "They're even worse than before."
Inuyasha instantly felt a bit of relief. It felt so nice. No one ever took care of him, but that was because he never let them, yet with her, he couldn't say no. He was so silent; Chelsea thought he was upset with her. Slowly, Inuyasha seemed to revert back into a child-like state, as he slowly curled up on her lap. She could no longer really reach his back to massage it properly, with his head on her lap. Instead, she decided running her fingers delicately through his hair would serve just as effective. He had fallen into such a deep sleep so suddenly. Chelsea loved how innocent his expression was while he slept.
"He's been awake ever since you disappeared, when you went off to defeat Naraku," explained Kagome, coming back in the room with a towel wrapped around her hair.
"How long has it been?" wondered Chelsea.
"Three days," confirmed Kagome, "he hasn't eaten either. I was hoping he'd finally eat now, but once Inuyasha's out like that, it's best not to wake him," Kagome felt a twinge of pain at her next remark, "He seems to be so lost when you're gone."
Chelsea shook her head, "Silly boy," she whispered.
"He might be," agreed Kagome, "but if he is, he's silly for you."
Chelsea felt a bit ashamed. There was no way she could ever bring herself to step between Inuyasha and Kagome, no matter how much she… no she wouldn't even think of the "L" word. Before Chelsea could address that, Kagome had vanished out the door again. Without warning, Chelsea felt her body start to feel incredibly weak. Inuyasha wasn't the only one completely exhausted. Resting her head against the side of Kagome's bed, she fell asleep with Inuyasha's hand in hers.
Inuyasha stirred the next morning. He couldn't recall ever falling asleep. What was he lying against? Somehow in their sleep Inuyasha had found his way to Chelsea's chest, and rested his head against it. She was so warm, and the sound of her beating heart soothed him. Now however, he felt extremely embarrassed, as he suddenly jerked away from her, "What am I doing!" he thought. He stared at the girl's sleeping face, watching her slowly breathe in and out. She looked so tranquil… but how did he end up snuggled so intimately against her like that! He remembered feeling really warm, and feeling so at ease. His mind could finally stop racing for the first time in days. Did exhaustion consume him?
Quietly he stood up, and glanced over at the slumbering Kagome, all wrapped up in her blankets on her bed. Sometimes he thought that Kagome and Chelsea might be better off if they just stayed in their own time where it was safer for them. Inuyasha silently walked downstairs. His footsteps left no trace of sound. As he came into the kitchen, Grandpa and Sota sat watching the news on the television. Mrs. Higurashi was preparing breakfast, "Goodmorning dear," she greeted Inuyasha.
"Morning," he nodded, letting a yawn escape his lips.
"Inuyasha, I've got a question," stated Sota, "who are you more into: Chelsea or my sister?"
Inuyasha felt like a giant boulder had been dropped on his back, "What are you talking about?"
"Sis seemed really down last night, I just wondered if she and Chelsea had been fighting over you. You know how girls get when they both like the same guy." Sota's innocence was the only thing that kept Inuyasha from clobbering him.
Inuyasha's eye twitched, "I don't know what you're going on about."
"Huh? So you and Kagome are still going steady?" he asked.
Inuyasha growled, "Since when were we ever 'going steady'?"
"I just always got the impression that you two were a couple," Sota said tilting his head, "but Chelsea stayed with you guys when she had the option to go home a couple weeks ago right? And now she's back again, even after going home. Which brings me to believe she either is really close to all of you, or really has a thing for you. She came back for you, didn't she?" Sota was really observant for a kid.
"Here you go," smiled Mrs. Higurashi, giving Inuyasha a plate of breakfast.
"Thank you," said Inuyasha, his stomach immediately growling furiously. He stuffed the food down faster than his throat could swallow.
"I'll get you a second plate," said Kagome's mom, grabbing the plate to restock it, "You must be really hungry."
"Starving," belched Inuyasha, as he stretched.
Kagome was next to enter the kitchen. Everything was the same as before, so why was the atmosphere so tense when she walked in? She sat down beside Inuyasha quietly, graciously taking the plate of food her mother prepared for her, "Thanks mom," she smiled.
"Kagome," Inuyasha said, watching her quietly eat, "are you okay?"
"I'm just fine," nodded Kagome, her face saying otherwise.
Chelsea came in stretching. Her neck was stiff from sitting up all night while she slept. Sitting down on the other side of Inuyasha, the tense cloud resonating over Kagome seemed to grow with size. Inuyasha started to feel sick, "Morning everyone," greeted Chelsea sleepily.
"How are you feeling hon?" asked Kagome's mother concerned, "Kagome told us everything last night."
"I'm fine," Chelsea half-smiled, something didn't feel right in here.
Inuyasha leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head. Using his foot he let the chair stand on the two back legs, holding himself in that position.
Kagome immediately snapped, "Inuyasha that's disgusting. Get your foot off the table!"
"What's the big deal?" barked Inuyasha.
"It's rude! Like you!" growled Kagome.
"What's your deal!" retorted Inuyasha.
"Sit boy!" Kagome snuffed, as the half demon fell backwards and hit the back of his head hard against the floor.
Chelsea felt worry rush over her. She knew where Kagome was coming from, but she didn't need to be so brash this early in the morning. Plus she imagined that hurt Inuyasha pretty badly. His pride and all, "Inuyasha," she bent down to help him to his feet. He was seeing stars until he heard Chelsea's voice, looking up at her, he recalled where he was sleeping last night and a slight scarlette touched his face, "here, I'll help you up, kay?" she asked, and he slowly nodded.
After breakfast the trio grabbed up their things and headed back through the well. It was nice to be returning to the others. Maybe things would go back to normal now. Chelsea hoped so, because Kagome was just so down acting it was starting to affect everyone else.
"They're back!" cried Shippo happily as he bounded toward Chelsea. Giving her a big hug it felt like it was the first time in ages since he had seen her.
"Hello Shippo, it's good to see you too," she smiled in response.
"You're looking lovely," greeted Miroku.
Sango grinned with enthusiasm, "Glad you're back."
"I missed you guys," nodded Chelsea.
Kagome seemed to go off by herself to think, heading to the sacred tree, "What's her problem?" grunted Inuyasha.
Chelsea noticed how distant Kagome had made herself and handed off Shippo to Sango, "I'll be right back, I'm going to go talk to Kagome really quick." She made her way into the forest and found Kagome sitting under the giant tree, "Kagome,"
"Hey," the school girl half smiled.
"This is where you met him huh?" asked Chelsea.
"Inuyasha?" asked Kagome, "Yeah."
Chelsea sat beside her and looked up at the lovely branches dancing back and forth, "I need to talk to you,"
"Here it comes," thought Kagome, "she's going to tell me her and Inuyasha are going to be together," Kagome tried to mentally prepare herself.
"Look, I know what I said that night, but nothing changes," Chelsea said. Kagome wasn't sure what she was meaning, "Inuyasha doesn't know how I feel. Nothing's changed. I want you…. I want you to be with him okay?"
Kagome's eyes bulged, "What are you saying? Don't you love Inuyasha?"
Chelsea turned away, "You love him, that's all that matters to me. I didn't come here to start trouble and wind up making everyone here hate me because I broke up the power couple. Inuyasha and I have a great bond. Were a lot alike, and that allows us to discuss just about everything, but… I don't deserve him. Not after losing Isamu. I still feel responsible, and I have yet to let myself grieve," she paused and looked to the sky, "I just want to stay by his side. You're the one he should be with."
Kagome stared at the girl as she spoke, still not understanding, "I thought the same thing about Kikyo back then…" thought Kagome, feeling ashamed, "Now some other girl who really loves him, is doing the same for me," Kagome felt tears cloud up her vision, "How can you do this to me?" she smiled, "How can you say something like that? All it does is make me feel bad. You're willing to put my happiness over yours? What about Inuyasha? What about how he feels?"
Chelsea shrugged, "He doesn't love me Kagome."
"How can you even say that!" cried Kagome, "He looks into your eyes and he just… I've never seen him so happy. He spends time with you, he talks to you, he searches for you even when everyone's sure you're gone, and he'd spend the rest of his life looking for you, if that's what it took to have you with him. Does that not tell you how he feels!"
Chelsea lowered her head, allowing her long hair to fall in front of her face. She was silently crying. God she loved him so much, but Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara, they all meant a lot to her too. If she screwed up this little family of misfits, she'd hate herself, even more than she already did, "I'm not in the way Kagome," she said standing up, clearing her expression of all sadness, "So don't be sad anymore okay?" she smiled, "Inuyasha doesn't like seeing you like that," she wiped a tear from Kagome's face, "once you've cheered up, come back to all of us. We'll be waiting."
Chelsea started back to the others, thinking through what had taken place. She made up in her mind what she needed to do. When she approached the others, Inuyasha's face produced a tiny smile, "You're back."
She walked right passed him like he wasn't even there. This made Inuyasha's heart dive into the pits of his stomach. Chelsea did this on purpose, "So do you still have some candy left?" she wondered, taking Shippo in her hands once more.
"I kept some of it to remember you by when I thought you died," replied Shippo.
Inuyasha looked back at them, staring at Chelsea thoughtfully, "Was that in my head? What happened just now?"
Chelsea decided that by separating herself from Inuyasha, and not spending so much time with him, would be best for everyone. With that, she put on her fake smile, laughed for everyone, and let go the hand of the one person who could make her genuinely happy.
Author's notes: Whelp, sorry for the delay in writing. I have some ideas in store that are sure to shake things up a bit (besides the whole Chelsea separating herself from Inuyasha, which will take its affects soon enough) Thanks for being patient with me readers. Please review if you get the chance. See ya at the next chapter.
"Come up to meet you,
Tell you I'm sorry,
You don't know how lovely you are.
I had to find you, tell you I need you.
Tell you I set you apart."
~The Scientist, Coldplay