Her Life – Chapter 27 – "The Interview – Part 3"
"So what you're saying is that you saved his life? Sounds almost to me like a payback; you said if it wasn't for him you would have died and now if it wasn't for you and your medical books he would have died."
Kagome sat for a moment in contemplation. "You know, I've never thought about it like that before but you're right."
They continued with how she helped him survive the night and of the plans being made for the upcoming nuptials of the two couples. When the conversation reached to that of the eve of the wedding both knew of the inevitable question that was about to arise. Kagome showed signs of nervousness from simply fidgeting in her seat. True, it was slight, but no one could deny her habit of chewing her bottom lip as a dead giveaway.
"Kagome, if I may be so bold, what led you to being in this time permanently? From the sound of it, you loved the time and its people who became your friends. What led to your decision to remain here?"
She became people again in her looks. Anyone could tell that this was a touching topic for her. The time traveler took a few moments to gather her thoughts before finally telling her tale. Some could call it heroism, others a grand act of kindness, but to one hanyou in the countryside of Japan it finally meant learning the truth, the real truth, and not the workings of a fake life in a journal.
"To understand my decision you must understand some things about Kikyo and Inuyasha. Both were tricked into betraying one another by Naraku, who in turn pitted them against each other in such a way that each thought that they'd killed the other. Kikyo was angry when she died, as was Inuyasha, so you see when Kikyo was resurrected and put into a clay body all she felt was hate and malice towards Inuyasha for 'killing' her.
"Throughout all of our adventures there have always been times when a soul stealer would drift by and lead him to Kikyo. It was during these times when I believe they began to trust in each other again remembering why they fell for each other in the first place. Kikyo joining our group only seemed to solidify that even more. You know that two people are truly in love when one half is willing to follow the other into hell if that was their wish."
The conversation stopped for a moment while that particular memory washed over her; such a frightening experience for a teenager.
"As far as how the miasma was in her body, that was Naraku's doing. Before she came with us I'd already purified her clay body once."
She paused; a glassy cast overlaid her eyes while she relived the memory of that first purification. Those watching could tell that it pained her.
"The miasma made me see things," she choked up. "Things I would have preferred to stay private. Add that we were under water and burning lungs from lack of oxygen and you've got quite a pair. While I did purify the miasma enough to get her body functioning again it didn't destroy it completely. Naraku's poison still ate away at her to the point that it gave the clay shell what can only be called scars, but, she still pressed on and found her true self again through her and Inuyasha's once forgotten love."
"But what brought you to do what you did for them? What made the gears turn in your head to come up with such a wild and brave solution?"
Again she became silent, lost in thought. How was she going to answer? Would she even answer? Was her answer going to back up anything in the journals? Would it be more elaborate than the fairy tale-like story that she wrote to him of on her death bed?
"To answer you, I suppose I must turn to the romantic movies and the dramatic television shows that encompassed a chunk of my teenage years. In each movie or episode something would always happen to the main couple and another person to somehow to cause a love triangle between one or the other. Throughout whatever series of events is happening, one half of the couple realizes that the other isn't happy with them any longer but is extremely happy and content with the third corner of the triangle. One still loves the unhappy half though and realizes all they want is their loved one's happiness. So, in a brave and courageous act the person releases them from their current relationship so they can be truly happy."
A sad demeanor encompassed the older woman on the screen. It wasn't a horrible looking sadness but a presence that said yes, she was upset, but her sorrow was accepted, if not entirely so.
"If you applied the situation to the three of us, Inuyasha, Kikyo, and myself, I suppose you could say that Inuyasha and I were the couple, a platonic relationship mind you and when Kikyo was resurrected she became the 'third wheel' of sorts. Keep in mind, there really wasn't a relationship between Inuyasha and me, not the lovey dovey kind at least, but, he still promised to protect me just as he did Kikyo so he was struck between the two of us; almost like the rope in a game of tug of war. This problem led to many fights with the two of us and countless S.I.T. commands…."
The conversation drowned out for Inuyasha at that point; she had spelled sit. SPELLED it. Why? What was the point to spelling it when the conversation was recorded? A hand lifted to scratch his head in thought and rubbed up against something about his neck to draw his attention away from his current thoughts. Lying about his neck as it had done for the past five hundred seventy-five years was his rosary; the same rosary that made him a familiar acquaintance with the ground, gave him the ability to travel through time, had saved his life on multiple occasions, and had bound him to her. He remembered her offer to take it off after Naraku was defeated and how he had grabbed her hands to stop her before the necklace could be removed. Did he refuse for any particular reason? He couldn't remember. All he knew was that after Kagome's disappearance it was one of the only remaining things he had left from her that he would forever hold dear. Now that he thought about it, not once after she left did he ever kiss the ground again. He glanced back up at the screen; did she practice this habit of spelling such a small word her entire life?
The hanyou couldn't stop himself as both hands went to grasp his necklace and attempted to pull it above his head. Why did he meet resistance? Was the spell still activated? Shouldn't the beads slip off now that Kagome was dead?
"Wait…"
Inuyasha glanced once more at the screen, catching the last bit of their current topic of conversation but not before one final thought crossed his mind.
"Is she really dead?"
"It wasn't at all the most enjoyable experience I'd ever had, but I bore through the pain of the poison transferring the best I could. Honestly, it surprises me that none of the demons that attended the union the following day scented the miasma in my blood stream nor the herbs that'd I kept putting into my drinks for pain. I have a feeling Kaede sensed something was wrong but I kept her quiet any time I thought she would accidentally spill the beans; my pain didn't need to be the focus of that day, the weddings did."
"Still, through everything in the story you've not given me a reason as to why such a gift was given. Why sacrifice your health to give life to another? A dead person at that, one that has tried to kill you on numerous occasions."
Kagome took a moment to compose herself again. This answer was going to be hard to get out, especially since it would be seen by most of Japan in the future, yet, it had to be done.
"I grew up in a family that taught me that everyone, no, everything deserved a second chance. Even though Kikyo and Inuyasha supposedly betrayed each other, they deserved a second chance at happiness, especially after the horrors Naraku put them through. I just wanted to help them along; simple as that."
She shrugged it off as if it was a simple everyday occurrence to do something so selflessly. The whole situation seemed to just roll off her shoulders effortlessly; did this woman not realize what she'd done?
"I guess the best way to explain it is simply that with everything that had happened within our travels, I noticed that Inuyasha was content with me for company but was more comfortable with Kikyo. In my teenage mind though…"
"You loved him."
Toshi's words brought Kagome out of the trance she'd put herself in; her eyes landed back on him, completely glossed over with unshed tears from what the camera showed. Anyone could tell that the unspoken feelings still lingered.
"I loved him enough to let him go."
A/N ~ Total words – 1,573
Thanks to those who are staying with this story and HELLO to all the new followers and readers!
The next and final chapter of the interview will deal more with Kagome's personal life after going through the well for the final time.
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