Shrine of Love
A/N: Yes, I am alive. :D Though, I bet if I'd taken even longer than I already did to update, I'd be dead. Thank you so much for your reviews!
Chapter 21: Black Belt
Ba-bump……ba-bump………ba-bump
"He's losing heartbeat! Bring him to the emergency room!"
It was near midnight.
Kagome sat curled up in one of the seats in the hospital's waiting room, her face buried in her legs. She was still dressed in the black outfit that she'd worn for the showdown at Onigumo Shrine. Kouga had settled in a nearby seat and was sound asleep. A few feet away from her, Miroku and Sango were having a whispered conversation.
Kagome bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut as tears sprang up again for the hundredth time that night. She was so envious of her cousin and best friend. Nothing ever seemed to get in the way of their happiness together. For her, however, fate had thrown obstacle after obstacle at her love life.
Her happiness with Inuyasha never seemed to last long. Circumstances made him leave her a short time after they'd hooked up. And now…right when they'd been reunited, he was dying.
'What did I do to deserve all this?' Kagome asked herself as she cried silently, her shoulders shaking. 'I already had to go through the grief of my dad's death…now I have to face Inuyasha's death too?'
It wasn't fair. The empty part of her heart that had appeared right after her father's death had been refilled again when she'd met Inuyasha. But now that he was about to die…that hole inside her would double its size.
She felt hollow...like an empty shell. Kagome faintly recalled how Sesshoumaru had come to the shrine after the showdown, escorted by what looked like his own personal set of police. They had all scattered to the unconscious Naraku and his students, snapping handcuffs over their wrists and dragging them toward their police cars.
Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru had made his way toward Inuyasha, whom Kagome had been crying over, surrounded by Miroku, Sango, and Kouga. She remembered his expression when he'd seen his younger brother lying still on the ground. It had looked slightly shocked. She remembered paramedics taking Inuyasha away. She remembered the feel of Miroku and Sango pulling her up onto her feet and gently pushing her into a car. And then she found herself here in the hospital's waiting room.
"Kagome?"
She felt a pair of warm hands settle on her shoulders a moment later.
"Kagome?" the voice repeated. "Look at me."
When she didn't, she felt the person's hands slip off her shoulders and settle on the sides of her face instead, lifting her face up so that it was viewable.
It was Miroku. And Sango was next to him.
"Kami, she's a mess," Sango breathed.
Miroku didn't add anything to Sango's remark. He merely stared silently into Kagome's eyes. Then he smiled sadly and pulled Kagome into a hug. That mere action made her burst out into a new wave of tears.
"You've lost your warm, cheerful eyes," Miroku whispered. "I'm so sorry, Kagome. It's all my fault."
He tightened his hold around his cousin as she cried.
"I was worried that…if I had let you known what Inuyasha was up to…the plan to get the jewel back would be blown…" Miroku continued solemnly. "So that's why I always refused to give you a full, detailed answer about Inuyasha's sudden disappearance…but now you're like this…because I never truly took your feelings into consideration."
Kagome didn't answer. Miroku fell silent for minute before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the Shikon no Tama that Kagome had retrieved earlier in the night. He pulled his arms away from his cousin and took hold of one of her hands.
"Kagome, there's not much I can do for you at this moment," Miroku said softly. "But I can give you hope…Inuyasha's not dead yet, Kagome. So instead of crying…wish for the best...so that Inuyasha will be able to see your smiling face when he wakes up."
With that said, Miroku placed the jewel in the palm of Kagome's hand and then closed her fingers around it.
"The Shikon no Tama is believed to grant its bearer one wish," Miroku recited. "And tonight, its bearer is you…what do you wish?"
Kagome still didn't answer. After a long period of silence, Miroku and Sango left her so she could be alone.
What do you wish?
Kagome almost laughed. Normally, she would've wished things that a typical girl would wish. Or maybe wish to beat Inuyasha in a match.
Or get married to him someday.
But tonight…she only had one wish in mind. It felt ridiculous to be making a wish on a little jewel, but for some reason, it felt like the only hope she had.
"I wish…Inuyasha continues to live after all of this," she whispered softly to herself, clenching the jewel tightly in her hands. "That's all I wish…"
Right now, she didn't care about the fact that he kissed Kikyo. Or that she was supposed to be mad at him. All she cared about was Inuyasha being alive and staying that way. So that she'd be able to see his smiling face…and hear him tell her those precious three words once again.
I love you.
"Um, excuse me?" a voice broke through her thoughts.
Kagome looked up with a start and saw a middle-aged female doctor standing before her. Behind the doctor, she saw Miroku and Sango stop their conversation, their faces showing anxious looks.
"Are you all here for Mr. Inuyasha Takahashi?" the doctor asked tiredly. Kagome nodded, her breath catching in her throat.
"Is he okay?" Miroku asked nervously.
The doctor held up a clipboard and looked down at the papers it held, "He's in critical condition."
Kagome felt the last of her hope seeping away.
"But he'll live," the doctor finished. She gave a small smile. "We managed to stop the poison before it reached his heart and lungs. He'll have to stay in the hospital for a week or two so that we can completely rid of the poison in his blood, but after that, he should be able to go back home."
The doctor lowered the clipboard she held and gave a small nod of her head as she said goodbye and left. Kagome stared at the doctor's retreating figure and felt a burst of happiness. Inuyasha was going to be fine.
As Miroku and Sango loudly let out a cheer, Kagome felt a small crack in her fingers. She had forgotten that she was holding the Shikon no Tama. She uncurled her fingers to look at the jewel.
It had broken in half.
A week passed. It was now the end of February.
Kagome looked up at the burned remains of Onigumo Shrine. Most of the buildings had burned down and the sakura trees were now black and flowerless. There was a sign in front that said the shrine would be demolished in order to build new apartments in the area…which wasn't exactly a sad thing. Kagome wanted to forget everything about this place.
She sighed and kicked the brakes up on her bike, pedaling off at full speed towards Houshi Shrine. It was the first time in awhile since she came to the shrine on Saturdays. There really was no need for her to come anymore. Sango had practically taken over both her and Inuyasha's duties.
But Miroku had insisted Kagome yesterday to come to the shrine because he had important things to give and show her.
Houshi Shrine came into view. Kagome kicked down the brakes on her bike again and climbed off her seat. She ran up the steps and smiled at the sight of her cousin sweeping the shrine courts.
"Kami, Sango's done wonders on you," Kagome laughed. "Now if only she could help you stop your lecherousness."
Miroku rolled his eyes, "Hi to you too."
Kagome smiled affectionately at her cousin, "So, exactly why did you want me to come here today?"
"Go to the intermediates' training room and wait for me there," Miroku replied. "I have two things for you. I'll finish up in a few minutes."
Kagome gave him a suspicious look, but followed his order and headed to the shrine dojo. She walked to the intermediates' training room and stopped in front of the closed door.
"It's been awhile…" she whispered to herself.
She hadn't been in the room in what felt like ages. The last time she had been in it was the night they had all discovered the Shikon no Tama had been stolen.
Kagome cautiously set her fingers on the frame of the shojo door and slid it open. As she stepped inside, she flicked on the light switch and surveyed the training room as it flooded with light. All the training rooms of the Houshi Shrine dojo looked the same. But out of all of them, this room held the most importance to her.
Kagome walked to the center of the room and sat down on the floor. After a few minutes, when there was still no sign of Miroku, she sighed and lowered herself into a laying position. She stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
After the showdown at Onigumo Shrine and the drama at the hospital, she, Miroku, and Sango had been informed by Sesshoumaru that Naraku had been put in jail and would have to serve a lifetime in prison because of his crimes and murder plots. Kikyo and her friends had to serve three years in prison because they had been aware that Naraku was in the yakuza and were willing accomplices in his schemes.
Kagome's mouth twitched. At least she wouldn't be seeing Kikyo for awhile. Though she had to admit, she might miss fighting against her a little…however, she'd never forgive Kikyo for kissing Inuyasha.
Kagome shook her head to clear the thought out of her mind and forced herself to think of other things. She'd visited Inuyasha a few times at the hospital. He seemed to be recovering well since he was constantly complaining about being stuck in bed.
Her mouth curled into a smile, "Inuyasha…"
She allowed her mind to slip into her memories of him…all the way back to when she first met him in this very room…when she had first went shopping with him…when he taught her how to dance…when they shared their first kiss…and when he'd given her a promise ring…
It was several minutes later when she finally heard the opening of the door and entering footsteps.
"It's about time," Kagome snapped, still laying down and looking up at the ceiling. She blinked when Inuyasha's face suddenly came into her view, hovering over her face.
"Time for what?" he asked.
Kagome blinked, not believing who she was seeing.
"I'm dreaming," she said. Inuyasha reached out a hand and pinched her hard on the cheek. Kagome flinched in pain. That had hurt…which meant…
Kagome scrambled up onto her feet with a squeal, "It's really you! You're back!"
She threw her arms around Inuyasha, knocking the both of them onto the floor.
Inuyasha's face twisted into a pained expression, "Watch the arm."
Kagome drew back instantly, "Sorry."
She looked on with confusion when he laughed and tugged her forward, pulling her into a warm embrace. Kagome's eyes grew moist. She circled her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest.
"I missed you," Inuyasha said softly.
"I did too," Kagome whispered. Her fingers tightened on his jacket. "More than you can imagine."
"Believe me, I had it worse," Inuyasha murmured. "You got to hang around Miroku and Sango. I, on the other hand, had to see Naraku and Kikyo's faces everyday."
"Well…I guess that makes things even between us then," Kagome agreed. She blinked and pushed herself away from him. "Wait. No it doesn't. Don't you dare avoid the fact that you kissed Kikyo."
"I had to!" Inuyasha protested. "If I didn't, the whole plan to get back the jewel would've been a failure!"
"Then we could've thought up of another plan. Besides, we managed to get back the jewel anyway."
Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and glared, "Yes, we got the jewel back. And, from what I've heard, a certain person I know managed to break it. All that effort I put in was wasted."
"Well, if I'd known you were going to give me that kind of attitude, maybe I shouldn't have made that wish on the jewel after all," Kagome shot back, jabbing a finger into his chest. "You dumb, ungrateful-"
Her words were cut off when his mouth suddenly crushed against hers. A familiar warm feeling erupted inside her, a feeling that had disappeared from her when Inuyasha had left, and it made her eagerly kiss back.
She'd missed him. She'd missed him a lot. And now that he was right before her, she wanted to keep kissing him and make up those long months without him. Inuyasha was the first to pull away.
"Okay, as much as I'd love to continue our reunion, we still have some business to attend to," he said, slightly breathless.
"What business?" Kagome blinked, her arms still around his neck. Inuyasha lightly pried her arms off him.
"If I'm correct, Miroku told you he'd be here…and that he had two things for you, right?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome nodded, reminded once again why she was at Houshi Shrine in the first place.
"And he's still not here," Kagome muttered with annoyance.
"Well, he doesn't have to be," Inuyasha smiled. "Because I was one of the two things he was talking about. And he wants me to be the one to give you the second thing."
"Oh," Kagome replied. A suspicious expression formed on her face. "What's the other thing…"
Her voice trailed off when Inuyasha reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a black belt, holding it in front of her on the palm of his hands.
"I heard about your training with Miroku," Inuyasha said. "He told me you've done an outstanding job…and that you managed to beat him in some matches. So it's time."
Kagome held her breath and stared down at the belt he still held before her.
"I, Inuyasha Takahashi, proudly present this black belt to you, Kagome Higurashi, who has passed the advanced level of martial arts here at Houshi Shrine," Inuyasha stated.
A minute passed and Kagome still hadn't taken the belt.
"I don't want it," she finally whispered.
Inuyasha frowned and lowered his hands, "Why not?"
Kagome's hands clenched into fists at her sides. She'd reached black belt level…didn't he know what that meant?
"I won't…be able to train with you anymore," Kagome answered, her eyes filling with tears. "Especially when you start new lessons and get new students. We'll have less time with each other."
"Who said we'll stop training together?"
Kagome's head snapped up. Inuyasha was grinning at her.
"I need an assistant teacher when the new lessons start up. Wanna take the job?" he asked.
When she threw her arms around him and started kissing him, he took it as a yes.
"Please remind me why I'm here again," Inuyasha grumbled.
"You're the one who chose your own fate," Miroku reminded him. "It's not my fault you signed up for the prince role. And just because you don't want to be here, do not screw up our class's chance of winning the prize for having the best play."
It was early spring. They were both dressed in their costumes. The day of the school festival had finally arrived and they were soon about to perform.
"So," Inuyasha said, trying to change the subject. "I heard Sango took care of the cooking while I was gone."
"Yeah," Miroku nodded. "Though I have to admit, I miss yours and Kagome's cooking sometimes."
Inuyasha smiled at his best friend. "Missed me that much, huh?"
"Sango's cooking is good…but I'm getting a little tired of sushi," Miroku said thoughtfully. He didn't notice when Inuyasha made a slashing movement across his throat, telling him to shut up. "It gets a little boring once in awhile too when I'm just with her. I mean, when you and Kagome were there, I'd always be entertained by your bickering-"
"I'm boring, am I?" a cold, icy voice sounded from behind him.
Miroku slowly turned around and smiled nervously at his girlfriend, "Why, hello, Sango dear."
She glared daggers back at him.
Inuyasha snuck off before he was caught in between the argument that was surely going to arise. In the process, he bumped into someone.
It was Kagome. She smiled, "Hey, I was looking for you."
Since they had a feudal era spin off for their play, they were both dressed in feudal era clothes. Inuyasha was dressed in a red kimono, a sword rested at his side, and Kagome was dressed in priestess garments.
"Nervous?" he asked.
She laughed, "Definitely. I might screw up my lines."
Inuyasha gave her a smug look, "Well, if I 'mess up' on the kissing scene, I'll gladly redo it until I get it right."
He chuckled when she blushed and then leaned down to brush his mouth against hers. A fist suddenly collided with his head.
"Get a room," Kouga yawned as he passed Inuyasha.
"Get a life," Inuyasha countered.
Kagome rolled her eyes at the two arguing males and turned when she heard Ayame giggling at her side.
"You look beautiful," Kagome complimented Ayame. "You really do look like a queen. I love your kimono…and I especially love the flower in your hair."
Ayame blushed a deep red, "Thanks. Kouga gave it to me."
Kagome smiled, "Are things going well between you two?"
Ayame nodded, still blushing.
All conversations and arguments stopped when Ms. Kaede loudly cleared her throat. When nothing but silence was heard, she smiled, "It's show time."
Every scene of the play went through without a hitch.
The detailed and vivid stage background immediately caught the audience's interest in the beginning of the play. By the time the cast came out, they already had the audience's full and undivided attention.
Kikyo and her friends had shortly been replaced by three other girls in the class, yet they all performed well as if they'd been assigned the roles since the beginning.
The tension between Inuyasha and Kouga – who was supposed to act as the prince's father – gave off a vibe of a son rebelling against his father, rather than a loving relationship…but for some reason their tension seemed humorous to the crowd.
Then, as the love story unraveled, the audience went quiet. Kagome played her flute - the flute Inuyasha had given to her months before – and then it was just Inuyasha and her when he stepped on stage.
When it came to the part where they had to dance, Kagome was scared she'd forgotten the steps. Yet, when her hands slid into Inuyasha's, and when his fingers intertwined hers, all their dance lessons together came rushing back at her. As the music started up and they started to dance, she stared deep into Inuyasha's violet eyes and felt herself being pulled back into the world where they were both alone and oblivious to anything and anyone around them.
At one point, Kagome glanced over Inuyasha's shoulder during their dance and spotted her mother, grandfather, and Souta in the crowd. All of them, even her grandfather who usually expressed disproval toward Inuyasha, were intrigued.
Inuyasha gave Kagome's hand a light squeeze before they both parted for the next scene. And then the action parts came. Inuyasha gracefully fought the evil miko's minions, which were most likely members of the katana club.
'He's improved,' Kagome noted in her head as she watched him from the side of the stage, behind the curtain. Not only had Inuyasha practiced martial arts during his stay with Naraku. He had definitely practiced his swordsmanship too.
She peeked out at the audience when she heard familiar voices shouting from the crowd. Near her family sat Rin and Shippou, both of them bursting out with a cheer every time Inuyasha landed a hit on his opponents. Sitting beside them, Sesshoumaru stared directly at his brother with analytical eyes, probably looking for mistakes in Inuyasha's handling of the sword that he could later bother his younger brother about.
And then the kissing scene arrived. Kagome lay on a bed of flowers, her eyes closed, and her heart strangely thumping at a fast pace.
Why was her heartbeat so rapid? And then she realized with terror that this reminded her somewhat of the night Inuyasha had said goodbye and left, never to be seen again for a few torturous, long months.
She knew her hands, which were resting on her stomach, were slightly trembling. She heard Ms. Kaede's voice flowing out through the speakers as she narrated the scene. And then a moment later, she felt Inuyasha's calming touch on her shaking hands.
Then, she felt his lips on hers in a kiss that was just as sweet and long as that one night, only, it didn't contain a trace of sadness this time.
On that night so long ago, when she'd woken up after the kiss, he'd disappeared from sight. But now, when her eyes flickered open, Inuyasha's laughing eyes gazed back at her. And that's when she knew he was here for good…that he wasn't going to leave her ever again.
"I knew we'd win!" Miroku cheered. "A toast to our class's victory!"
"Kami," Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "What's there to celebrate? All we won was a free soda for every person in the class."
"It's still a victory," Miroku replied, optimistic as ever. "Though I have to admit, the seniors might have won if their leads for Romeo and Juliet had cooperated with each other...if they'd had better chemistry…"
The four friends, back in school uniforms, were under the oak tree that they usually hung out under during lunch. Kagome silently finished the rest of her soda and stared watchfully at the school festival that was still in motion.
"It was fun today, wasn't it?" Sango asked beside her.
Kagome smiled, "Yeah."
Sango shifted so that she was facing Kagome completely, "You know…you have no idea how much it makes me happy to see you back to normal."
Sango's mouth lifted in a small smile, "I guess that's the power of love. It really can do miracles…"
Kagome took hold of her best friend's hands and replied, "I'm happy that you've found someone to fill the holes in your heart…the holes that formed after your parents died."
"Oh believe me, you had a part in the filling process too," Sango said reassuringly. "It's just…"
Her eyes drifted off toward Miroku, who was still talking to Inuyasha.
"He's helped me just as much as I've helped him. We've both experienced the same thing so we know how the other feels. I really do love him…" Sango continued quietly, a soft expression in her eyes. Her face twisted into a small scowl. "…even though he's a lecherous womanizer."
Kagome laughed and Sango soon joined in. Then, Sango stood up, taking her and Kagome's empty soda cans and said, "I'm going to check out the festival for awhile."
Then she turned and yanked the end of Miroku's hair, "Come on. I want another soda."
And then Sango strode off toward the school festival, towing Miroku by his hair and ignoring his loud "Ow ow ow!"
Kagome laughed again and then watched in curiosity as Inuyasha stood up and climbed up the tree. When he settled on his usual branch, he motioned her to climb up too. Kagome did so with little difficulty. When she reached the thick branch he sat on, he firmly grabbed her by the waist and drew her close to him.
For awhile, they were both quiet, Inuyasha resting his back against the tree's trunk and Kagome leaning back against Inuyasha's chest. It was strangely quieter up in the oak tree, when just below, a school festival was going on.
Inuyasha's arms wrapped firmly around her waist and he rested his head on top of hers.
"It's been awhile since I've been up here," he finally remarked.
"You and me both," Kagome responded.
It was silent for a minute.
"So," Inuyasha began. "I'm really happy that you didn't forget the dance moves I taught you. You did really good for the rest of the play too…except, why were you trembling during the kissing scene?"
Kagome didn't answer.
"Is it because I'm a bad kisser?" Inuyasha gasped, feigning horror. Kagome smacked his arm.
"No," she rolled her eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I was shaking because…it reminded me of when you kissed me and told me goodbye that night."
She felt him tense and immediately regretted bringing the topic up. When he didn't say anything after awhile, she carefully turned around and looked at his face. He had a hurt expression in his eyes.
Kagome immediately apologized, "I'm sorry. Forget what I just said."
Inuyasha took in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly, "No. I will forever feel guilty for leaving you like that…and for so long."
And then he took her hand and rested it against his cheek.
"And what's worse, I made you cry – who knows how many times – after I left," Inuyasha murmured, his eyes closed. "Right after I promised myself to never make you cry ever again…after the time you cried because I avoided you when I had thought you kissed Kouga back. It really hurt me to see you cry."
His eyes opened again and locked with hers.
"I swear, I'll never leave you like that again," he promised softly with a serious look on his face. "Never in eternity."
They both fell silent, just staring steadily at each other.
Finally, Kagome took in a shaky breath and asked, "Is that a proposal, Inuyasha Takahashi?"
The seriousness in his face faded away. He grinned. "It might be,"
"Well, I wouldn't marry you anyway until I beat you in a match," Kagome replied stubbornly. "And I can't face you in a match because you won't let me!"
"My arm still needs healing after the poisoning incident," Inuyasha replied innocently.
"But you were able to do those sword scenes and climb this tree," Kagome scoffed.
"The doctor only told me to take a break from martial arts."
"You just don't want to face me because you know you'll get your butt kicked."
"Or maybe you just want to challenge me now since I'm not fully healed and will be easier to beat," he suggested. Kagome let out a small shriek when he pressed his mouth against the curve of her neck, her one weak spot.
Inuyasha pulled away with a laugh, "Even if you're better than me at martial arts now…I can always use your weak spot against you."
Kagome narrowed her eyes, "That's low."
"I know."
"Dumb flirtatious jerk."
Inuyasha leaned back against the tree again and gave her a satisfied grin, "It is so good to be back."
A/N: Aah! Only one chapter left! The epilogue! Again, I apologize for the long update XD The epilogue will be shorter than the usual chapter length, so it should be up in a few weeks. Though I won't promise because I'm so busy this school year and I was lucky to even find some spare time to finish this chapter. But, I can promise one thing for sure: this story will definitely end in the month of November. Then I'll be starting a new Christmas fic in December. :D
Please review!