Sorry for the wait. I went on vacation over the Labor Day weekend and well, hehe, forgot to post. Anywhoo, here's the next chapter. It's also pretty short (forgive me). :P
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters.
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Chapter 37 – Comfort
Throughout the entire walk back to camp, Kagome kept her arm linked with Kohaku's and chattered excitedly. She could feel his nervousness, so much so that it was almost tangible, and wanted to distract him. She could only imagine what was running through his mind at this moment. Her guess was an enormous amount of guilt. 'Poor Kohaku. He's so young, and yet he's been through so much.'
She mostly shared little anecdotes of her own life, figuring she could leave other details to Sango. Kami knows the woman would be beyond overjoyed to see her brother again, especially now that he was 'free' again. 'Although, he won't truly be free until we can remove that shard…'
Her grim thoughts were halted when Kohaku came to an abrupt stop.
"I can't do this."
Noticing that Sesshomaru had stopped a few paces ahead of them, she gestured for him to go on ahead. She needed to speak to Kohaku alone.
She maneuvered herself so she was just in front of the boy, and gripped his shoulders in what she hoped was an assuring manor.
"Kohaku, look at me." She waited until he complied before continuing. "You have nothing to be afraid of right now. No one in that clearing holds you accountable for what has happened. The only one who does is you. The fact is, Kohaku, no one is at fault for those deaths besides Naraku. He is to blame, not you."
His eyes had a faraway look to them, and she had a moment of fear thinking he had been taken over again. But was assured that he remained in control when he spoke once more.
"I can still see their faces as they died. As I killed them, Kagome."
She grabbed the sides of his face, forcing him to focus on her again.
"Kohaku, I understand this is hard, believe me. I know what it is like to be controlled, to watch as someone outside of you controls your every move and makes you do things. Unspeakable things. But you need to realize this, Kohaku, it is not your fault. You did not ask for this."
Kohaku collapsed into her, clutching her to himself for comfort. And he let it out in torrent of emotions, tears and sobs. She had never seen the boy so upset, and cursed the foul hanyou for breaking such a pure soul. Stroking his hair once more, she comforted him as best as she could.
"It's okay, Kohaku. I'm here. It's okay."
Warm and sorrowful tears welled up and broke free as she held the young taijiya. And not for the first time, she cried for him and all that he had been through.
Unbeknownst to her, the taiyoukai she had thought had returned to camp stood concealed a few yards away, and watched her with barely concealed interest and ever mounting confusion.