Naraku is dead! It finally happened guys! The whole thing is over! Well except my story, that ain't over. Not quite. =]
Disclaimer: Story isn't over yet so I still have to do these disclaimer thingies. I don't own Inuyasha =]
Chapter 26: Back Home
After the fight Sango and Kohaku went to their old village, Miroku went to his father's grave, Kagome went home for a while, and Inuyasha and I went back home. Shippo stayed with Kaede while all of us did what we had to do. Before we left, before any of us left, Inuyasha had some alone time with Kagome that honestly scared me a little.
But now we weren't far from the village at all. It was pitch black out since it was a no moon. I already knew what it meant to have a no moon, but it still freaks me out every time Inuyasha is in his human state. Now it reminds me of Naraku, who is gone now. I couldn't be more relieved.
"Aren't you sad?" Inuyasha asked me, sounding confused.
I turned my eyes onto him. He no longer had his puppy ears and his white hair, he had hair that matched the night and human ears. His golden eyes were replaced by a grey color that was close to almost silver.
"Why would I be sad?"
He straightened his back a little and cleared his throat. "Well…everyone is dead. Anyone who survived is probably dead by now."
I started to play with my long blonde hair that hung loose over my shoulder. "I am sad," I admitted, "I'd be a monster if I wasn't. Mom and Dad are gone, I'll miss them. Do you know if they were killed in the attack?"
He shook his head. "No, they both survived. They were looking for you until I heard around that they passed on…"
I smiled and wiped at my eyes. I could feel the tears coming. "I'm glad that they weren't killed by those demons. They were able to live out their lives, I'm just sorry that they never even had a chance on finding me."
"I have to give them credit; I don't think they ever believed you were dead. I thought you were gone when I couldn't find you."
"Well it's kind of hard to believe when I'm nowhere to be found, not in that time anyway." I shook my head a little. "Fifty years," I whispered.
Then we came to the abandoned village that was over grown and falling apart. It broke my heart to see it this way. I grabbed onto Inuyasha's arm when I saw the graves, they were all from that night of the attack.
"Isn't it ironic," Inuyasha chuckled a little.
"What is?"
He smirked down at me. "While I was here they all wished I was dead because I am a hanyou, but now when they're all dead, I come back a human."
I let out a deep breath and placed my hand on one of the stones, labeling the grave. "If only they knew what good you've done for this land. I'm sure they would have liked you then."
"I doubt it. They'd find some way to make me sound barbaric. Hmm…I'm not going to hold it against them though. This is no way to die," he sighed. He rubbed the top of my head. "I'm so happy you got away."
I shuddered; I seem to be doing that a lot lately. But this time it wasn't because of Koga, it was the thought that if I had stayed behind, I'd be buried too.
"It makes you wonder what my life would have been like if I stayed behind and somehow survived the attack."
"You'd be married off to that Keiji person and have children, and grandchildren," he responded lowly.
"Would I?" I thought about it some more. "I'm pretty sure that right before the wedding I'd grow a backbone and run for the hills."
"Really? Huh." He took my hand and started leading me off somewhere. "Let's go to the field."
"Oh! I've completely forgot about the field! Do you think it's still in good shape? I hope it didn't get destroyed."
"I don't know, but we can't come all the way here and not check up on it. Don't trip," he teased.
"Ha, ha, ha. I don't have shoes on smart ass." I looked up at the sky; the very rim of the horizon was turning orange. "Look, the sun will be up soon."
"You sound excited," he noticed, raising an eyebrow.
"I already told you that I think you make a better hanyou than a human or a demon." I crossed my arms. "Still out to become a full demon?"
He tapped his chin. "Mm, I don't think I mind being a hanyou."
My eyes grew. "Huh? R-Really?!"
He stared ahead. "It's what my mom would have wanted."
I followed his view to the small shack on the other side of the bridge. I would have expected this place to feel cold like the rest of the village, but once we crossed over, I actually felt warmer. Maybe it was the good memories that Inuyasha and I created here but I believe that since Izayoi lived here, even for a short amount of time, this place will always be warmer and a bit brighter than anywhere else. I smiled at the sight.
"So you're going to stay a half demon?"
He nodded. "I kicked Naraku's sorry ass and I didn't have to be a full demon to do it."
"It's about time you realized it!" I walked in front of him but walked backwards. "Anyone who tells you to be any different than you already are doesn't really love you!" He raised his eyebrows.
"What?" I blushed. Did I say something weird?
"You see, Kikyou wanted me to turn human so we could be…normal together. Back when she was normal herself."
I frowned. "Can I be honest?"
"Of course."
"I really don't like her. I would prefer you go with Kagome…" I remember the deal I made with the universe. "Actually…can I say something?"
"Sure, I have something to say too. But look." He pointed over my shoulder and when I turned, the field I spent so much of my childhood in laid out before me. It looked like we never left. It looked exactly the same, with the long grass and the wild flowers.
I couldn't help but run out into it while dawn came closer and closer. The grass was a little wet from the morning dew and nearly soaked me from my knees down. But since my luck has been so great lately, it came back to bite me in the butt. My foot got caught up in a patch of thick grass and I went tumbling.
I landed on my stomach and laid there while Inuyasha rushed over. "Pft Midori, nothing has changed."
I burst out laughing and rolled over. "Nope, not even a little." I opened up my eyes and grinned even bigger when I saw the gold eyes and his ears. I sat up while he kneeled down and I rubbed his puppy ears. "Aw how've I missed these."
He rolled his eyes. "You wanted to say something?" he reminded me.
My face heated up. "O-Oh right." My stomach twisted painfully. I lowered my eyes. "I sort of made a promise to the universe that if I made it out of Naraku's Castle without being mauled by demons, I would tell you…um I don't want this to mess with our relationship because deciding that I wanted to be your friend was the best decision of my life." His eyes grew and this only freaked me out some more. "I know that you're just trying to figure out to be with Kikyou or Kagome and I don't have very good chances…but I want you to know t-that I uh really…love…you," I finally admitted.
There was a terrible silence that followed it and I wanted to run and hide but I knew that nothing was going to happen if I did that.
"Midori, do you know why I fell for Kagome?" he asked out of nowhere.
This is awful. "Why?"
"Because I thought that Kikyou was going to be gone forever. Do you know why I fell for Kikyou?"
I looked up at him, my face in full red mode. "Why?"
"Because I thought that you were going to be gone forever. Um…do you know why I fell for you?"
I forgot how to breathe for a few seconds. "W-Why?"
"Because you're my best friend, and always will be," he blushed.
Mind blown!
"Wha-What about Kikyou and Kagome? I-I'm the third one in line."
He shook his head and took my hand; he was actually shaking a little. "I told you Midori, you're always going to be my number one." I'm on the edge of crying! I turned away a little and whipped my eyes. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"
I turned back to him and hugged him. "No, no, you said everything right Inuyasha. I'm just so happy."
He hugged me back. "I…love you."
The words couldn't sound more perfect. "I love you too," I murmured, suddenly very shy.
We both leaned back and there was a bit of hesitation. Inuyasha leaned in a bit and I closed my eyes. I was so scared. This is what I've always dreamed about and I'm still so scared. But the knots in my stomach melted apart when I finally felt his lips press against mine.
