Hey! And sorry guys for updating sooo slowly even though its summer vacation! I can't believe how BUSY I've been! I'm starting up a site and…let's just say I never knew how much work it would turn out to be…
But, I'm back now! Well, for now at least! I've been neglecting to do soooo many things. Anyways, enjoy! 2006 World Cup baby! Let's go again!
Disclaimer – World cup! WORLD CUP! WOOOOOO! I LOVE the World Cup! Oh, right, wrong place to do that! Nope!
Chapter 41 – The Unwanted Truth...Good Bye
"The truth is…"
'Just say it! Just say the damn words! Hinagiku is a lying bitch that's manipulating you into marrying her!' she thought fervently to herself. Kagome bit down hard on her already cut lower lip.
Inuyasha stared at her curiously. He was hoping with all his heart that the next words coming out of her mouth would be ones to bring him joy and happiness. He felt nervous.
"The truth is…" Kagome started again, wondering how to finish it.
She was tired of living a lie. She wanted to hug Inuyasha again. She wanted to talk to him everyday. She wanted to kiss him. To feel that familiar sensation of his soft, passionate lips. She wanted to feel his lips on hers again. Just once more…
And of course, Inuyasha wanted the same. Their desires were one. However, neither had the strength to make their desires come true. It was starting to look like a hopeless situation for their love.
"Hinagiku-san is—" The words got caught in her throat. And more than ever, Kagome knew that this was probably the only and last chance she would get to explode the whole truth. He had a right to know. He had a right to know what he was getting himself into. He just had to know before….it was too late.
"Hm? What about Hinagiku?" he asked, wondering if this conversation would lead to where he wanted it to.
Kagome shut her eyes tightly, thinking to herself, 'Tell him! Hurry up and tell him! TELL HIM ALREADY!'
"Hinagiku is faking her cancer just so she can be with you!" screamed Kagome, unable to hold the words in any longer. The words had burst out of her mouth. She finally felt free. And all that weight and pressure that was crushing her, was finally lifted off her shoulders and she felt like she could breathe for the first time since coming back.
He frowned and said, not trusting his ears, "Wh-Wha—What did you…just sa—say?"
Kagome almost felt crestfallen, thinking that he didn't believe her.
"That is….I…" she stuttered, unsure of what to say now.
Inuyasha on the other hand felt like he was just hit with a sack of bricks. Here was his soon to be ex-wife telling him that his soon to be wife was trying to ruin his soon to be ex-wife's life and faking her having cancer. It seemed all unbelievable. Then on top of that, his soon to be ex-wife was supposed to have lost her memory.
"What are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense Kagome," he said, staring straight into her chocolate brown eyes.
"I um…that is……" She really couldn't bring herself up to say it a second time. "That is…she showed me…recent x-rays…and they were…..clean. I umm…."
Inuyasha felt himself stumble, which was strange considering that he was standing up. "What? That's impossible Kagome. What's gotten into you?" he asked, shaking his head.
Kagome lowered her eyes to the ground. The thing she was afraid of just happened. He didn't believe her anymore. Or maybe he couldn't believe her. Or…he didn't want to.
"I'm telling the truth Inuyasha!" she exclaimed, unwilling to give up so easily. She was tired of being the one to sacrifice everything only to gain nothing in return. She was determined to make him see the truth.
"How can…That isn't…." he stuttered, looking away from her.
"The truth is….I didn't lose my memory. I only pretended to so we both could separate without much difficulty. At the time, it seemed like a good idea…but I realized that I was being selfish, just trying to make things easier for myself. I wasn't thinking about how it would be for you. And truthfully, I didn't care at that time. I mean, you were the one that broke my heart…again. But I didn't think that it would come to this Inuyasha. I really didn't. When Hinagiku came into my room, telling me that she knew that I still had my memory, she threatened me. She really did….and then she showed me all the x-rays and explained everything to me. And then…you came into my room and….I just felt like I had to tell you the truth, regardless of whether you believed me or not. But…I didn't think that you wouldn't believe me. I thought that there was still a part of our love left in your heart. But…I guess I was wrong," she stated somewhat sadly. "Either way, I'm sorry for lying to you about losing my memory. And…I wish you and Hinagiku happiness throughout your entire lives. And I hope that your marriage to each other won't be…broken as easily as ours was." Kagome gave him a small smile and turned to leave.
About halfway to the door Inuyasha called out, "It's not that I don't believe you."
She stopped.
"It's just that….it's kind of a lot to take in all at one time. I mean…you're standing here telling me that my soon to be wife was lying to me the whole entire time. I'm just confused…But believe me…I want to believe you."
"Then why don't you?" was her simple reply.
He stopped short, sucking in a short, sharp puff of breath.
Kagome smiled to herself saying, "See. You won't let yourself not believe her. That's the reason why."
Inuyasha shook his head and said, "I don't want to put anything or anyone in front of you anymore. This whole entire time, I've always put Hinagiku in front of you because she was sick. I felt obligated to take care of her and put everything and everyone else aside. But…I don't want to. I don't care anymore."
He slowly walked over to her. And with step he took, their trust and love was renewed, resonating loudly in their hearts and minds.
A shadow befell over her and she felt herself tremble slightly. Even though she knew that she shouldn't.
'No! Don't shake Kag! It'll just encourage, I mean, it's not the smart thing to do!' she thought in her head, trying to stop her small tremble.
Her lips were slightly parted and she was getting ready to speak when Inuyasha shushed her by placing a finger over her lips. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Kagome felt herself closing her eyes as if she was afraid to see what was happening.
Several butterfly kisses trailed down her face, causing her to shiver with pleasure as she felt the slight touch of his lip on her skin. He finally placed a chaste kiss on her lips. But broke away much too quickly to Kagome's displeasure. However, Inuyasha claimed her lips once more in a kiss that made her weak at the knees. He wrapped an arm around her waist and Kagome was glad. Because she knew that this time, she really would have fallen if he hadn't been holding her. And finally…she let herself melt in the kiss.
That is until they both heard the distinctive sound of the hospital door sliding open.
Kagome quickly broke off the kiss and looked towards the direction of the door and sound. A small gasp escaped from her lips.
There, standing at the door was Tetsuya. His expression of happiness quickly changed to one of dejection. And Kagome could make out a small box that only had a small red bow on top clutched in his hand.
"Oh…sorry……I guess I'll just be…on my way then…" he mumbled, trying to get out of the room as fast as possible. He stumbled over his own feet. He was in such a hurry to leave that he dropped the box onto the floor and didn't realize it. Tetsuya quickly closed the door behind him and leaned against it. A small smile on his face.
"It was inevitable."
Tears trailed down his cheeks.
Hinagiku smirked as soon as Inuyasha left.
"Now everything really is going my way. Kagome will divorce Inuyasha out of fear and then we'll get married," she said, however she couldn't brush off the feeling of guilt. Ever since Inuyasha had agreed to marry her, she had a heavy feeling weighing down her own heart. And Hinagiku had been hoping that perhaps saying that words would erase the feeling but in the end, the words just weighed her heart down even more.
She let out a sigh.
"My life is finally going to be perfect but….why don't I feel happy?" she asked herself, unsatisfied with the results of her plan. "I went through hell for him…and yet he doesn't even look at me. But…I'm not ready to let you go. I can't let you go…" she whispered softly into the cool, spring breeze.
Hinagiku knew that she would live with this feeling for the rest of her life, but she could endure anything if it was for the sake of Inuyasha.
Kagome stared at the small, little box on the floor. It looked so sad to her…just sitting there on the dirty ground, forgotten.
She walked over and gently plucked it from the floor with great care, as if she was afraid it would break at the slightest touch. Kagome opened the lid and another gasp escaped from her lips.
There, lying in the box was a beautiful silver ring with a diamond resting on the cold band. Attached to the band was a small tag saying, 'For all our promises. For all my love.'
Kagome felt guilt settling in her heart as she pulled it out.
Inuyasha, who was still standing in that exact position, finally turned around to Kagome and caught sight of the ring.
It became clear to both of them, Tetsuya's meaning.
He walked over to her and wordlessly pulled Kagome into a tight embrace, the ring crushed in between the two bodies.
And the couple stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity, just enjoying each others presences. The ring slowly slipped out and hit the cold floor with a clink. It bounced a few times, but finally rested on the floor, next to the couple.
Hinagiku sat there by the windowsill, wondering if she had done the right thing. As a child, she had never left of herself as selfish or spoiled. But now…she had used any and every means necessary to destroy two lives just for her own selfish desires. And she couldn't turn back. She couldn't become empathetic at the end.
Just then, the door to her hospital room opened and in came Inuyasha….followed by Kagome.
She turned and stared at the two quizzically, wondering why they were together. Then, her eyes caught sight of his hand entwined with her hand. And it became very clear to her.
"Hinagiku," started Inuyasha, staring at her, "Were you lying to me…this whole entire time we were together? Were you just scamming me just so you could get me and Kagome to break up?"
She didn't hesitate for a second with her reply. "No. How could you think such a thing Inuyasha…? How could you think that I would do something to you like that?" Her eyes filled with tears.
Kagome knew that she was acting, but she had to admit that Hinagiku was doing a good job.
Not only that but she knew all his weaknesses. Hinagiku knew what would cause him to leave Kagome and come to her. She knew what would cause him to marry her. She knew it all.
"I can't believe that you would think such a thing…." She remarked, the tears overflowing down her cheeks. Hiangiku gave him a sorrowful look and ran past the two, brushing against Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Hinagiku! Wait," he called out after her, letting go of Kagome's hand and going after Hinagiku.
Kagome stared at him, chasing down Hinagiku. And somehow…she knew that this is what she would be doing if she stayed with Inuyasha. She would always be the one watching his back, chasing after another woman.
"Everything you said was a lie," she said to his backside.
Down the hall, Inuyasha had finally succeeded in catching hold of Hinagiku's wrist. He jerked her around and said, "I'm just asking."
"How could you even think to ask me that Inuyasha…? You know how much I love you…" she remarked, the tears streaming down her face.
He inwardly sighed as he wiped away her tears.
"I'm sorry. It's just that…Kagome said that—" She cut him off by saying, "So you're going to choose to believe everything that she said? Even after all I've done for you these past five years? I've wasted so any years of my life just trying to get closer to you…yet you never see me. Even though I'm right there in front of you, you never see me. Even though I'm the one by your side right now…you still only see Kagome."
He was silent, having nothing to say to her in reply.
"I'm sorry. It's just that…" He turned his head away in shame. Not shame for thinking that Hinagiku would lie to him…but shame for not being able to be stronger for himself, Kagome, and Hinagiku.
"I know…you love her more than you love me," she finished sadly. "But…I don't want to let you go. I can't……I'd rather die Inuyasha, then go on living without you." And for once, those words that had left her mouth weren't lies. She was speaking from her heart.
Inuyasha hesitantly pulled her into an embrace, wondering why this only happened to him.
Kagome was pacing around in her room when the door slid open, revealing a worn out and defeated looking Inuyasha.
"What do you want?" she asked, trying to make the words sound as cold as she could make them.
"…Hinagiku and I are getting married, the day after she leaves the hospital," he remarked, looking at Kagome.
She refused to match his gaze, and looked away for fear of breaking. She knew that if she looked into his eyes, everything she was holding back would come flowing out. "Oh…is that so. When's she leaving?" she asked, telling herself to be cold, don't care.
"Next Thursday," he replied, feeling guilt-ridden.
"Thankfully, I won't be in the hospital by then. Well, I hope you two will live happily ever after…like the ending we were supposed to have," she said harshly.
"Kagome…it's not like that. I don't want to marry her, but if I don't…I'm afraid that she'll do something rash and stupid."
"Yeah…kind of like how I did," she muttered to herself, cursing the day that she ever met Inuyasha. "Well…I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want. If you're going to keep running to Hinagiku even when we're trying to save our marriage, go ahead. I can't stand this anymore. And quite frankly, I'm tired of the only one actually trying to save this marriage. So just go run along and have a damn happy life with that stupid little bitch." And with that, she pushed him out of her room…and out of her life.
After sliding the door shut, she finally broke down. All the tears she was holding back finally came flowing down her face. All the anger pent up inside of her was let out. And all the sadness and hardships in her heart and mind were freed.
And she came to the raw, ugly truth.
She and Inuyasha could never be together again…no matter what she did. Because no matter how hard she could try, he would always turn his back on her and go run to Hinagiku. It was inevitable. It was fate.
When had fate ever smiled down upon her? When was her destiny ever supposed to go the way she wanted? If fate hadn't played the cruel joke of letting her and Inuyasha meet, she might have been much happier now. If only it hadn't played with them.
And the ugly truth was finally revealed to her.
Hinagiku smiled, knowing that Inuyasha was probably breaking the good news to Kagome right now.
She couldn't help it if she had to step on a few people's lives just to reach her own happiness.
There was still one matter left unattended to. And she had to act quickly before it would become a bother to her.
And she sat there, now feeling somewhat satisfied with her results. The empty, guilty feeling gone from her heart.
Tetsuya hesitantly held up the backs of his knuckles to the door. He finally just gently knocked on the door, praying that she wasn't there.
However, there came that sweet voice. "Come in."
He braced himself, and slid open the door, looking down.
"Tetsuya…what are you doing here?" she asked, trying to wipe away her tears hastily with the backs of her hands.
"I um…left something important," he mumbled. That's when he heard the sniffles coming from Kagome and finally looked up. "Kag…are you crying?"
She shook her head frantically and said, "No! I just um..got something in my eye and it really stings! Haha, silly me!"
"No you didn't," he remarked, knowing that excuse all to well. She used it numerous times during their childhood to hide the fact that she was crying. "What's wrong? I thought that you'd be happy…since it looks like you and Inuyasha got back together…"
At the mention of his name, she threw a pillow at the door, just barely missing Tetsuya's head. "Don't say that name," she remarked angrily.
"So what happened? I thought that the two of you would be happy now. But look at you…you're miserable," he stated plainly.
"He went back to that idiotic, manipulative, stupid bitch," she said looking away. "But…I should have expected that. He's too weak to face the truth. I don't need to waste my life for him. He'll just keep running back to her. And there's nothing that I can do or say that will stop that."
"Oh…that sucks."
She stared at him incredulously.
"That's it?"
"Well…yeah. What do you want me to say. 'Oh I feel so sorry for you! He's such a jackass! The two will live a terrible life filled with unhappiness!'? Is that what you wanted me to say?" he asked, staring at her.
"Well….yeah. That was a hint to comfort me."
Tetsuya looked at her with disappointment. "I thought that you knew me better than that. Besides, I already expected this to happen, so why bother comforting you when you probably already knew that this would happen too."
She glared at him.
"Oh shut up. So what if I did. That doesn't mean you can't comfort me."
He gave a small laugh. "I don't think that I have that right anymore."
"What do you mean?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. But he just shook his head and said, "Nothing. It's nothing. Anyways, if you think about it logically, you brought this upon yourself. So, you can either fix it or you can just leave everything how it is and try to forget about him. It all depends on how strong your feelings for him are."
Kagome turned away from him, wondering why these words were coming out of his mouth. They were words that she didn't want to hear…but had to hear.
"Why….Why are you working so hard to try and put the two of us back together?" she asked, afraid of his answer.
He smiled lightly and said softly, "Because…I've finally realized that the person you're the happiest with is…him and not me. So…as long as you're happy…then I guess that I'm content with just that."
Damn. He was always saying the right things. Damn that sweet personality of his.
"How can you say such things?...How can you just be happy and content with my own happiness? Don't you wish that it was you that I loved instead?"
He chuckled. "Of course…I wish that it could have been me instead of him. But the fact is that…it's him and not me. Love isn't always returned. So at times like that…you just have to wish that the person you love will just be happy. Because…if you truly love them, you should care more about them than your own selfish greed. Love is one of the main reasons why people become greedy. It causes them to want the things they cannot have. You can't force yourself to love someone. You may try, but in your heart you'll always know that it's all just an illusion. And I can't do that. But, if you ever fall…I'll be sure to catch you. No matter what. But until then…the only thing I can do is wait and pray for your happiness."
She sighed, knowing that he was right. When had he matured so much and became so knowledgeable?
"I know…but…what if I've already fallen?"
Tetsuya just smiled. "Then I've already caught you."
"Why do you always know what to say and how to say it?"
He shook his head. "I'm just saying what's in my heart."
Kagome let out another sigh. "What if I'm just tired of trying? I mean, I've done possibly everything I could…but he just always runs back to her. I don't think I could stand a life of being the one to watch his backside."
"Well…that's decision. It all depends on how much you love him and how much you believe in your love," he remarked.
She just stared at him. How could he force himself to say such things?
"You're just too modest," she said, making a face at him.
"No…there was a time when even I was trying to break the two of you up…but because the love you two shared was so strong…I failed. Maybe it was my love for you that was too weak."
"Tetsuya…you don't have to say these things…I mean…I can't understand why you're forcing yourself to say these words to me. Wouldn't it be much easier for you just to…I don't know…swoop in and try to take me?"
He laughed lightly. "I would never take advantage of you when you're like this. Besides, I can't believe that you would think that I would do such a thing."
"What? I was just wondering…I didn't say that you would do that to me."
"Anyways…I'm telling you this because you need to hear it. But you've been to stubborn to listen, so I'm taking advantage of this situation and telling it to you know so you have no choice but to listen!" he said with a grin.
"And you said that you'd never take advantage of me!" Kagome stuck her tongue out at him and bashed him in the head with a pillow.
"Hey!" he exclaimed, ducking his head just in time before the pillow connected with his head.
She laughed.
Kagome had to admit that when she was with Tetsuya, all her worries and troubles were forgotten…
"Anyways," he said, snatching the pillow from her grasp, "No more bashing with the pillow. We're adults now…" He had a devious grin that played on his lips.
"Adults my ass," she remarked, snorting. "It would be sooo much easier if we—"
The rest of her sentence was muffled by the pillow.
"Okay, now we're even."
She pulled the pillow away and said, "And who's the one saying that we're adults?"
The two started laughing.
"Alright, alright! Let's stop this!" exclaimed Kagome, choking down the rest of her laughter.
"Yeah! Besides…I have something important to tell you," he murmured softly. So naturally…Kagome didn't hear the last part.
"Oh Tetsuya..Um…I found this ring," she remarked, pulling the box back out of the night desk drawer next to her bed. "You dropped it."
"Oh thanks…I was meaning to give that to you. I'm glad that you found it," he said with a small smile.
"I…I can't accept this Tetsuya. I don't deserve it anyways," she replied, trying to give it back to him. But he wouldn't accept it back.
"No…you do Kag. For letting me love you," he said softly, pushing her hand, with the box, back towards her. "Besides…it's the last gift I'll ever give you. Since this is the last time I'll ever see you."
She frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
"I'm leaving Japan. I'm branching out my business and I want to be the one to head the business in another country."
"You mean…that HUGE business-office-thingy empire?" she asked, "Wait! That's not important! Why won't we see each other again? Won't we keep in touch?"
Tetsuya shook his head and said with a gentle smile, "No. I don't want to keep in touch with you Kag anymore. It'll just make it harder for both you and me. So…we'll probably never see each other again."
"But…"
"This is my good bye Kag. I'll always love you."
"But!...You said that you would catch me if I ever fall! How are you going to do that without being here! And without us ever meeting again!" she asked, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Because…I now know that there won't ever be a time that I'll have to catch you again. Besides, it's not fair of you to try and keep me here with you forever as your backup. So…this the end for us. Bye Kag…" said Tetsuya with a smile.
And with that, he got up and walked out of the door, never looking back.
"Bye Tetsuya…" And the tears overflowed.
Okay! I'm finally done! This chapter took me FOREVER! I haven't really felt like writing, and it's really pissing me off! But, I still had to write this chapter no matter what! And I will continue til I'm done! Muahhahah! What do you think of that! Anyways :cough cough: thank you for reading!
I'm really sorry, but no review responses this chapter! I just want this chapter up already and I'm pretty sure that a lot of you want it up too! So, just know this my dear reviewers!
Thank you and lots of love! Thanks you guys for reviewing!
Lots of love from me! Hahah!
