Hey guys! So sorry it took so long to get this chapter ready; my creative process and desire to actually type was running on empty for these last few weeks, and it was only these last few days I decided to finally get my arse in gear. But I promise that the wait will be worth it.
...I think the title pretty much says what's coming up ;)
You'll also notice that one of the female characters will be acting somewhat on the OOC side, but not too much so that it deters her mannerism and personality.
Anyway, I'll leave it all to you, the readers, so without further ado, please enjoy the concluding second half of this thrilling segment in my story!
Chapter 89 (Special): Soul Sisters & A Dog Demon's Love
Continuing where we last left off, we find our ragtag group still standing in the old crater within the Southeastern forests near the Goshinboku Village, shortly after Coraline had preformed a risky ritual involving her Soul with a sanity-questioning demon from beyond this world...
Getting a closer look at her form, we see that while their was signs of fatigue in her being, Coraline did not appear to be injured in any way, or so Miroku would note as he crouched down to check her vitals:
"Hm...Other than a great amount of spiritual exhaustion, I see nothing that says the demon has done Coraline wrong...Still, what we witnessed..."
No one else dared speak, still in shock from what the redhead had just done, when Lumos, whom had been hiding out in Coraline's satchel this whole time in fright from the dream demon, finally emerges into the atmosphere, and floats over to his partner's side, hovering over her head while sending soft moans of worry...Shippo would the one to break the silence with the following question that was on everyone's minds:
"S-So...what do we do now?"
...Inuyasha suddenly moves to stand up, gently picking up the unconscious girl to hold securely in his arms, his head cast down with his bangs shadowing his eyes:
"...We take her back to Kaede's, and, wait for her to wake up...for however long it takes."
Everyone widens their eyes a bit at how, gutted the dog demon sounded, but nod all the same, wanting nothing more but to get their friend somewhere safe to rest. With that decided, the group would slowly make their way out of the area, Inuyasha leading the way...
But as soon as he exited the crater, the dog demon would find himself blocked by another set of feet:
"Hm?"
He looks up, and forms a surprised look, when he sees that the feet belonged to,
"...Kikyō?"
The wandering priestess had finally overcome her earlier shock, and came over to where everyone was exiting from, now gazing at Coraline's form with an expression of deep regret:
...Coraline...
The others come to join behind Inuyasha, looking at Kikyō with puzzled expressions:
"Huh?"
"Kikyō?"
"Oh geez...I, forgot she was still here."
They snap out of their whispers to the sound of hushed crying, and look up to see the source, was the priestess herself. Inuyasha felt his heart clench at seeing his past love in tears, and asked,
"...What's the matter, Kikyō?"
"I...I feel like such a fool, a cold-hearted fool."
"What?"
Wiping her eyes, Kikyō looks up at everyone with a troubled expression and says,
"Ever since I was brought back into this world, I...I've done nothing but think so selfishly. I've, hurt people I shouldn't have...And my Soul...it knew this, or rather, my more rational side did, but it was locked away inside the girl...With it back inside me, completing the rest of me, I, can now feel all that it witnessed during mine and Coraline's encounters..."
She grips her robes where her heart was and cringes at the emotions arising inside herself:
"It's a feeling I can barely face, for I know...that no good has been done by my person in this last while. I am a failure as a priestess...and a human."
Everyone looks at her in shock for her words, and Kikyō turns her teary-eyed gaze to the unconscious redhead, before reaching to softly touch the other's cheek:
"Yet despite that...this girl...She saw me as lost, misguided, and wanted to help me. (Sad smile) I only wish, I could've been less callus towards her, then maybe...she wouldn't have had to go so far..."
"...Kikyō..."
Wiping her eyes again, she looks up eye-to-eye with Inuyasha and asks,
"Inuyasha...if it shall not be an inconvenience, I would like to join you all back to the village. I, want to be there to personally apologize for the pain I've caused Coraline, as the first step in making amends with those I've wronged."
The dog demon stares at the priestess caught between life and death for several minutes...before nodding wordlessly.
Time Skip
As soon as Inuyasha and company returned to the Goshinboku Village, Coraline would be brought to Kaede's to be looked over by the elder priestess. One could only imagine the shock that would wrack through her when she saw that her sister, Kikyō, would be among them, a new glow to her skin, and an expression of clarity and guilt upon her face. But as soon as the incident regarding Coraline's dangerous deal was explained, Kaede would immediately drop any rising suspicions, her concern turning to the redhead in question.
Of course, much like Miroku had noted before their departure from the crater, the elder priestess could not find anything physically wrong with Coraline, but rather the issue leaned to matters of the spirit.
"All we can do at this point, is make sure the child is comfortable as she rests...It is hard to say when she shall wake..."
So for the next while, everyone would be waiting in bated breath for Coraline to wake up to the real world once again.
Freeman and Besa would venture to the modern era following the first day back in the village to inform the Higurashis what had happened, and that Coraline's return would be delayed longer than usual, before coming back shortly after to wait with everyone else in Sengoku Edo, vowing not to go back to their time until their sister was awake...
Miroku and Sango would board Kilala and leave to the abandoned village of the demon slayers for about three of those days, the intent to check up on its state as well as tend to the grave sites. But in actuality, they just didn't want to make themselves stir crazy by waiting on pins and needles for their friend's condition to better...
Shippo had become despondent, his heart aching in a child's worry over Coraline, and found himself wandering to the river outside the village to just sit and think, trying his hardest not to let the worst possible scenarios cloud his judgement...
As for Inuyasha, his mood had definitely taken a downward drop: He had hopped up to rest on the branches of the tree next to Kaede's hut during the morning after the first day back, and hasn't moved since, his expression one of worry, sadness...and grief...
Then there was our fair priestess caught between life and death, Kikyō. Her behaviour had also changed rather dramatically: She will have settled into her old home that became her sister's after her demise, not once leaving Coraline's side, tending to her like she was her own kin. The priestess was also considerably calmer, gentle, and seemed, more alive then she has been since her revival by the ogre witch, Urasue...Yet she could not find herself enjoying this rejuvenation, for like everyone else, she was concerned for Coraline's health. Luckily, she wasn't alone in her constant attentiveness, thanks to the aid of Lumos, who stuck to his partner's side like glue, using his energies every now and then to give a boost to Coraline's Soul, as his way to help her get her strength back...
...Eventually, come five days later, our redhead would finally grace the world again.
Coraline's POV
(Twinkle...)
"Mmm..."
Huh? What's...that sound?
"(...Blink, blink) Hm?"
"(Ghostly moan)"
...Lumos?
"Lu-mos? Is that you...?"
"Ah, good. You've finally awoken."
"Huh?"
Since when can Lumos use human spee-
...That wasn't him.
I force my eyes to focus more clearly, and found myself staring at my Will O' Wisp circling above my head in excitement, before turning my face to the left side where I heard the voice come from, only to see one person I never expected to be at my side:
"...Kikyō."
She smiles sadly at me, an expression I haven't seen on her face before, and says to me,
"Your companion has been constantly sharing his energies with you, so that you would not weaken in these last couple days you have been resting."
"...Couple? How, long was I asleep?"
"About five days."
"...Oh."
Wow...I've never slept that long before.
The inside of the hut falls quiet for a minute or two, before I found myself smiling faintly at the woman kneeling before me:
"Well, I must say, Kikyō: You are a sight for tired eyes like mine. And, you look, better than before, more like the woman you were, back in the day."
"Heh. That is kind of you to say...but I am not sure if I can ever return to being the me from the past...Not after all I have done since my return to this world."
"Uh...Kikyō..."
"...Why did you do this, Coraline? Why go through that kind of pain and suffering, just to return my Soul to what it once was?"
I was taken aback by how, guilty she sounded in her asking, and pushed myself up to a sitting position to stare at her with a look of obviousness and empathy:
"...Because you didn't deserve to be left wandering the earth broken and lost. It wasn't fair that you were brought back to life, only to suffer in ways worse than you did when you were dying. To, have to relive that emotional pain...the betrayal, the loss, the heartbreak that shouldn't have been..."
I reach out to grab her hand, feeling skin that was all flesh, no trace of fired clay:
"Kikyō, I could feel every emotion that you felt and, likely still feel, through your light half of Soul as it sat within me. It screamed and cried for you, wanting to return to you and help you find balance. It, made my heart ache, and I was filled with the desire to save you from this suffering in any way possible. I admit, what I've done was not rational, but I do not regret my deed for an instant."
The undead priestess gaped a little at me, finding her voice caught in her throat. I feel my lips tug up into a smile again, before moving to stand up, my knees shaking a little, but otherwise I felt fine:
"You know what? Maybe we shouldn't talk in here. Let's head somewhere in the fresh air, shall we?"
"Uh, are you sure you can walk at this moment?"
"Mhm. If you haven't already guessed yet, I'm not one of those people who can lay about for too long. The sooner I get the blood in my legs pumping, the better...besides..."
I turn around to Kikyō, extending my hand towards the other woman with a friendly smile:
"I think this may be a good time for us to really get to know one another without all of the demon and jewel drama blocking us...would you not agree?"
...She stares at my offered hand for a few minutes, before taking it with her own small smile:
"...Yes."
So after slipping on a red flannel shirt over my white tank top (obviously someone changed my clothes in these last couple days while I was sleeping, and I'm not gonna bother asking who), and tying on my brown hikers, we began to exit the hut, Lumos acting as our guide. We took our time walking, given that I just woke up, our hands clasped into one another, the feeling similar to when one of my brothers sometimes held my hand:
...Is it possible, that I just gained a sister?
No POV
At the same time, Kaede was returning from gathering some more medicinal herbs from her garden, only to find herself staring at the retreating forms making their way out of the village:
"(Gasp) Coraline...and my sister? What on earth...?"
Inuyasha hears her stunned mutter, and finally hops down from the nearby tree after laying about it in a depressed state for the last couple days:
"What's going on?"
"...I am not sure. But look over yonder."
Following her point, Inuyasha turns his gaze to where the village exited to the riverside, and widens his amber irises, when he sees,
Coraline! She's awake!
...And, Kikyō...They're, together? Where are they going?
Feeling a worry bubble in his stomach about the idea of those two being alone together, Inuyasha prepped himself to leap after the two women, only to pause when Kaede holds a hand out to his torso:
"One moment, Inuyasha. I sense no ill will between either lass...I believe Coraline and my sister, simply wish to speak with one another somewhere else where ears cannot pry."
"...Really?"
"Aye. I am quite certain."
He turns to look in the distance, as Coraline's flannel shirt and Kikyō's white haori flap out of view behind the side of a hut leading to the path to the river:
...Coraline...Kikyō...
Small Time Skip, Kikyō's POV
Leaving the village behind, Coraline and I would eventually come to the area atop the mouth of the cave in which the thief, Onigumo, once laid, where moss and grass intertwined with the thick roots of the trees. Neither one of us knew what could have possibly possessed us come here, and yet it was this place we were drawn to...
"I'm starting to think this daft cave has a mind of its own and likes to lure people to it for the sake of messing with their sense of perception."
I turn to look at the young woman with red hair with amusement in my eyes from her statement, before turning my viewpoint back to the narrow strip of water in the distance below us:
"...I believe the significance lies in what this cave once held, which is why we have subconsciously chosen this area to walk to."
"Hm, fair enough...Too much darkness has come to roost in these hills the last couple decades, hasn't it?"
"Indeed...and all for the Shikon-no-Tama."
I hear Coraline make a sound of distaste:
"Yeah, that damn jewel...As far as I'm concerned, it's an omen of death."
"Uh! (Frown) Do you not think that description is rather callus?"
"Not at all, especially if you look at the jewel's track record: Countless lives have been lost, human and demon, not a one achieving their wishes. The Shikon-no-Tama has a history as bloody as the wars outside Japan...No matter how much one may try, the good seems to always be outweighed by the bad. If anything, this world may be better off if the jewel never existed to begin with."
Hm...She may be right about that.
"...You have quite a blunt honesty."
"Heh, well that's just a part of my personality: I don't like to beat around the bush if I can help it. If it can be told, I usually end up being the conveyor of the truth...Yet ironically, I've kept alot bottled up inside over these last couple years."
"Oh?"
"Yeah...I've been living on the rougher side of life for a long time, and these last five years or so have been particularly challenging. It's, sometimes a miracle just to wake up in the morning, brave enough to face the day."
"...Tell me about it."
Though surprised by my interest, Coraline obliges, and for the next little while, she regales to me her story: Where she was originally from, the good and the bad of growing up in Majora Village, the tragedy that was her father's murder, and her eventual journey to the lands of Edo in her world. I was shocked that such a strong woman had to face such adversity...and yet at the same time, I felt, I could relate to her.
"...I understand how it feels to be separated from the rest of the human race. When I began my training as a priestess, I was suddenly no longer considered an ordinary girl, and the villagers began treating me differently, as if I had become a goddess. (Sad smile) The only one who could still see me for me was my younger sister, Kaede: She knew there was more to me than just having such pure power...But even with her, I still felt, alone, isolated..."
"Mm, that sounds about right...God, why can't people just treat eachother equal and not force categories and ranks?"
"Who knows? Perhaps those individuals cannot accept the idea of a select extraordinary mixed within the regular, and choose to either ridicule or place them on an altar."
I feel my smile become more bitter as I thought about my previous duties as a priestess:
"While I may have been revered, at the same time, I was feared and hated by those who sought the prize of purity I was tasked to guarding."
"You mean, demons, right, and the occasional greedy humans?"
"Yes, though it seems both species have evened themselves out in recent decades when it comes to, competition..."
"Hmph, no kidding...Though I'd say it's leaning more to demons again in recent months, thanks to that bastard, Naraku."
I feel a frown of distaste form at the mention of the half-demon's name:
Speaking of him...I wonder where that despicable spider has vanished to?
"...I think he's setting himself for destruction."
"Hm?"
"He thinks that by gathering every bit of the jewel, he'll gain absolute power...But really, he's only increasing the number of enemies to creep up and corner him, before the final blow comes crashing onto his being like a hammer on a nail made of glass."
I let out a small chuckle at how confident she sounded:
"I am glad one of us thinks so...But let me remind you that the journey to end him will not be an easy one."
"Tch, I know that...So does everyone else, Inuyasha especially."
"Ah yes...Inuyasha...You and he, have an interesting relationship."
Coraline turns to me with a confused expression, before answering rather defensively,
"How so, and this better not be a quip about me and him, 'being together' or anything, 'cause, it isn't like that..."
I then hear her mumble solemnly,
"If anything, you two stand a better chance."
My eyes widen a little from this new tone of insecurity:
Wait...could this mean, there was more to her act than simply protecting...?
...Oh Coraline...
"Are you saying that, you restored my spiritual strength...so that Inuyasha and I could be together?"
She does not reply aloud...but I see her head bop up and down the tiniest bit, her eyes reflecting both envy and selflessness. I could not respond right away, as my mind spun with new shock over what this young woman had been doing and was offering to give up:
She has done nothing but reach out to me, despite what I've done...
And here, this woman, is willing to lay down her feelings for him, just so I could have the chance to try and rekindle what I had lost.
...Not even I could be this selfless, past or present.
Still...I must know...
"Tell me, Coraline: What are your current feelings towards Inuyasha?"
"What?"
"Do you still see him as no more than a good friend, a companion...or does your heart yearn for more?"
I listen as she swallows thickly, a sign of nerves, before answering my question:
"I...I want...t-to be with him, like a lover would be. I love him."
I feel a gentle smile curve onto my lips, knowing this would be her answer, and patiently listened to her as she continued her thoughts:
"A-At first, I thought this would die off like a fleeting crush, that it was just some weird test life devised to see how I'd do before beginning the whole dating, er, courting process...But then...as time went on, I felt myself get closer to him, and that crush turned into a love I longed to be requited."
"(Nod) It was similar for me back when I was truly alive: I too felt that it would pass like a leaf in the wind...But the more time we spend around eachother, the less I thought of any time before he came into my life. I had, someone who could truly understand what it meant to be standing outside of everyone else, and not in a pleasant way."
"Exactly...Heh, you might find this a bit funny, but it was actually your real reincarnation who helped me realize I had fallen in love."
"Oh really?"
"Mhm...Her name is Kagome. Her spirit has been frequenting to the Goshinboku Tree since her unfortunate death more than five years ago in my time, but it was only in recent months that she and I had actually met face-to-face. It was, thanks to her that I had possession of the Shikon-no-Tama and your Soul in my body to begin with."
"Interesting..."
"Despite her age, she knew exactly what to do in terms of prying out my emotions...(Sigh) But it was soon after returning to this era after, what happened between you and Inuyasha that night, that I felt a weight of guilt begin to crush me anew."
"Guilt?"
"Oh come on, you of all people should know what I mean, Kikyō: Putting aside that I was harbouring half of your Soul, I've been stealing away your man. He was yours first. And why shouldn't he choose you? You're beautiful, wise, calm and steady...while I'm just a Plain Jane riddled with instability, and about as wise to danger as a stick of dynamite to a lit match. Nothing about my life has been anywhere close to stable, even now with this cool-down period...It's a wonder I'm not dead yet..."
Silence falls between us for several minutes...before I finally spoke up:
"You're wrong."
"Wha-"
I immediately turned to her with a stern expression, she flinching back a bit in surprise:
"K-Kikyō!"
"If that is what you truly believe, then you are a bigger fool than I have been."
"Uh, (Glare) where are you going with this?!"
"He has fallen for you, Coraline, just as you have for him, regardless of your trivial insecurities. And quite frankly, I find it rather disappointing someone as strong as you thinks so little of yourself!"
Her mouth falls shut in shock from my words...before she asks timidly,
"...You think I'm strong? You?"
"Yes. I never once doubted your capabilities, even while I was drifting in my more dark persona...You call me a calm and steady individual, but you are merely seeing a reflection of what I once was. In reality, I have become a rather vengeful and angry woman. (Bitter laugh) To say that I am a priestess is laughable now: I am really just a specter who is only trying to mimic the role."
"...Kikyō..."
"While I am, grateful for what you've done, this new body of flesh and new strength in my Soul does not change much other than reminding myself of my morals, and that my methods as of late in attaining retribution for my demise have been far from being right."
She makes an expression that said she was ready to protest, but I hold I hand out to stop her:
"There is nothing to say that can make my mistakes justifiable...nor anything you should be sorry for. (Sad smile) Your act, while reckless, has helped clear my mind and heart, and deterred me from walking any further down that dark winding road I had been wandering down. For that, I thank you..."
"I...Kikyō, I don't know what to say..."
"Just say...that you will be the woman that he needs."
Coraline chokes and sputters,
"W-What?!"
"While it may not have seem like it...I have been slowly accepting that what I had once, cannot be returned. I was desperate, longing to go back to when life was not so dramatic and complex, and where he and I could find peace and content...But even if Naraku had not gotten in the way, I can now see that it was simply not meant to be for Inuyasha and I...But you..."
"Me?"
"You are a better match for him than I am, for you understand him better than I had the pleasure to. I could only relate to him in terms of being alone and different. You see past his outer labels for the man he is, and wish for him to be more comfortable with who he is, while I merely offered a way out, as it were."
"But...you were doing it for love, weren't you?"
"Perhaps...but if I truly loved him, I would've accepted his half-demon blood wholeheartedly as you did."
"...Oh wow..."
"Heh, oh wow indeed. I feel rather stupid for not realizing this myself a long time ago...Coraline..."
I take her hands into mine, and look at her straight in the eye as I tell her,
"Do not let Inuyasha and mine's history stand in your way of, claiming him as your own. It will hurt...but I'd rather he be happy with a woman who will love him for everything he is and has, then continue to search for something that cannot be found."
"...Kikyō...I..."
"Please..."
She gulps with a shaky breath, before whispering,
"...But what if he doesn't feel the same?"
I almost laugh at how unsure she sounded, the poor thing, but I smile and chide,
"I doubt that he doesn't. I've seen how he looks at you...But you will not know unless you make it known."
"(Deep breath) You're right...Okay, I will. I will try and see what happens."
We then move to hug one another tightly, a feeling of nostalgia and, dare I say, sisterly understanding passing through us...We say like this for a few minutes, before I hear Coraline let out a giggle similar to how my own blood kin, Kaede did when she was young:
"What is it?"
"Not much...Just that I think I gained a new sibling, Soul Sister."
I make a noise of surprise, and retract back to stare at this strange girl with wide eyes:
"Soul Sister?"
"(Laugh) You seem surprised, but surely you felt it too. This, new connection between us stronger than how we were once tied to one another...Strange as it may sound, Kikyō, I don't want you out of my life."
...A new smile of amusement and deep appreciation formed on my face, and I let out a small but cheery laugh:
"You truly are a strange young woman...but, I like the sound of that. Soul Sisters..."
We both let out hearty laughs, and smile at one another as if the past meant not a thing, which truthfully, it shouldn't:
This is the start of something new for the both of us...Something beautiful.
Coraline's POV
Not too long after our heart-to-heart chat, Kikyō and I decide to walk back to the village, figuring that by this time everyone will have caught onto my awakening. My stomach churns at the thought of having to face my friends and brothers and speaking about my, current actions...But my heart was fluttering more at having to face Inuyasha again:
His reaction will be the most unpredictable of all. It's more likely he'll use anger first...before just expressing his worry.
...As for, my feelings for him...Oh god, I can't even come up with a scenario for that one.
I feel my feet clop over the wooden bridge of the irrigation stream, before meeting packed dirt again, and I turn the path past the home that sat nearest to the village border, only to meet the sight of several familiar figures standing by Kaede's home. The first to notice our returning presences was Freeman, he dressed in a simple green tee, leather vest, blue skinny jeans and his black/white hightops, who turns his eyes from Shippo (he on the other's arm) and towards our direction:
"(Gasp) They're back!"
Everyone turns around to see us, and the multiple stares makes my nerves rise higher. A hand grasping my right pulls me away from the path of a panic attack:
"Hm?"
I turn to Kikyō, who gives me a smile of encouragement:
"It is alright. They are just very happy to see you up and moving about...Don't let your fears get the better of you."
"R-Right...(Small smile) You too, you know, when you speak with him..."
She nods, her eyes dilating a bit sadly, but not in a bad way:
For we both have to face the truth of life...
I was brought out of my thoughts when a small, fox-tailed child came tackling my chest:
"Coraline!"
"Oh! Shippo!"
"You're okay! (Sniff) You're really awake and walking! I'm so happy; please don't scare us like that again!"
I could feel his anxieties overwhelming him, his shoulders shaking with sobs of relief. Fighting back tears of my own, I pulled the little fox demon into a tender hug, whispering soothingly,
"Oh Shippo, please don't cry. The last thing I want in the world was to make you worry this badly...Please forgive me."
"I hope you meant that for all of us."
I look up in confusion, and see my twin brothers, Sango and Miroku giving me smiles of mixed relief and exasperation, Kaede a mildly worried smile, while Inuyasha...his face was stuck in an expression I couldn't decipher. Smiling sadly, I reply,
"Of course I do, Sango...I'm, so sorry to all of you. (Looks down) I never meant for it all to go this far, or for him to be that callus. I just, wanted to get it over with without too many hitches."
Besa shakes his head and scoffs,
"Well it sure didn't turn out that way, that's for sure."
I nod numbly, while Kikyō clears her throat and speaks up softly:
"I am sure you all wish to hear from Coraline regarding what has happened in these last couple days...however, I must borrow one of you..."
She turns her eyes to Inuyasha, and walks over to place a gentle hand on his shoulder:
"Inuyasha?"
"Uh...Kikyō?"
"I must speak with you, about something we should have spoken about civilly since...well, since the beginning of our reunion. Will you join me at the place where we first spoke to one another face-to-face?"
He looks at her with both confusion and surprise, before turning his amber irises to my own stormy blue, but I just smile and say,
"...It's okay. Go with her; you two really do need to talk. I'll be hanging around here for a while, anyway."
There's a pause...before Inuyasha nods, and follows Kikyō away from the village to the rolling green that meets the treeline to the forest of the half-demon's namesake...
"You and she seem rather calm around one another, Coraline."
I turn back to everyone else and reply,
"Yes, well, we had one of those conversations that really opened up alot of closed doors, Miroku. I feel like mine and Kikyō's bond has, strengthened for the better."
"Really?"
"Really really...So, (Sigh) how do you all want to do this?"
Knowing that I meant my explanation for my crazy deal with that dream demon, Kaede suggested,
"Perhaps we should start by sitting inside my home, and speak over some stew. I imagine ye are quite famished, child?"
I nod, and we all head back inside the hut, sit down in a circle around the hearth where a stew was just finishing its cooking time. Once we all got a bowl each, I began my speech, using some of the words that I used when speaking to Kikyō upon first waking up...
"So overall, your goals were indeed what the demon spoke of: Ye wished to not only restoring my sister's spirit, but to also provide further protection to Inuyasha's being."
Swallowing another bite of my second bowl of stew, I nod in confirmation:
"That's right, Kaede. I am of course, well aware that what I did was wrong, that I shouldn't have kept this a secret for you all...But it was a wrong that I wanted so badly to become right, and I knew that you would all try to stop me the second I let the details of my deal with Bill slip through my lips."
"Still, to go so far for the sake of two lives...I don't quite understand why you were so willing to put your life at risk in such a way."
Miroku nodded in agreement with Sango:
"Indeed, especially when the one you conveyed a deal with was a demon on the borderline between sanity and insanity."
I say nothing, which gave Besa the go-ahead to ask,
"Why, sis?"
"Why? (Bitter laugh) That's a good question...one that I both have and don't have an answer to."
Everyone makes noises of confusion, and I swallow down more stew, forming a depressed frown on my lips:
"I guess one way to explain my choice, is that it's become almost natural to make personal sacrifices."
"Personal sacrifice?"
"That's right, Shippo...I think it started a few years after my mother passed, when my father was just barely connected to the world around him, his grief threatening to swallow him whole. To see him look so, sad and lost behind the smiles he forced onto his face...it was depressing and confusing for me. So for his sake if no one else's, I became his new rock, and did all that I could to make sure his head was above water, while at the same time, blocking out any possibilities of a relatively normal childhood, so I could toughen up my own being, and prepare myself for when things got real rough in the future."
"Oh..."
"Then when he was killed, I made yet another personal sacrifice, giving up hope of recovering like a normal kid would, choosing to journey across land and water to reach people who I knew could help me. I shut down my happiness and more positive emotions, just to save myself from getting my hopes up too high, incase it all went to Hell in the end. Thankfully, it didn't, and I made it to Japan, but I was a different person by that time: A girl too scared to settle down, too cautious and hostile at times...The Higurashis helped restore some of my self-security, but even nowadays, I still feel like a bit of an outsider. To remedy those thoughts, I would sacrifice any free time from my schoolwork to do favours for Grandfather and Akari-sama. If not, I would spend numerous days locking myself in my room to work like a mule and not sleep half the time, (slight laugh) until Grandfather breaks in and literally shoves me out the door so I could get some fresh air. But sometimes that wasn't always a good idea, for I used to disappear for about three our four days wandering outside Tokyo to the more rural countrysides with no real goal other than to just, be somewhere else."
Freeman cuts in and adds for everyone else,
"Yeah. Eventually, Besa and I caught onto the wandering acts and began chaperoning her so she at least wasn't by herself during her, 'spontaneous expeditions'."
I smile a bit as they laughed, and chided,
"Sorry I put you guys through that, by the way."
"Nah, it's okay. Got us out of our apartment, and you never changed your starting point, so it was easy to catch up with you after Miss Higurashi gives that warning phone call."
I nodded, before finishing up my reasoning:
"So long story short, if I wasn't doing something for others, I felt no purpose, and became lost...In fact, if it hadn't been for Lady Centipede dragging me into the Dry Well that day, I would still be stuck in that sad routine. The jewel, meeting each of you...it gave me new hope, even at the expense of the time I'd be giving up."
...My friends of Edo could only stare at me in amazement for a couple minutes, and I went back to finishing my second bowl of food to distract myself. It would be Sango who broke it with the following soft remark:
"...You really have been sacrificing alot since you first came here, haven't you, Coraline?"
I nod, my mouth too full to reply verbally, and I hear Miroku sigh before his hand comes to rest on my shoulder:
"You shouldn't have to put everyone first before yourself all the time. Your happiness matters too."
"I know...but it's hard. I, try to think of a future where I can be happy and content, but it always fades away faster than it forms. I've, forgotten how to be happy without giving up something as simple as time."
"Then we just need to remind you how."
"Huh?"
I look up into his brown eyes, and he smiles at me before saying,
"Starting today, we shall begin your re-education in being happy without personal sacrifice. It will be a long lesson, especially with all that is currently going on regarding our war against, Naraku, but I know it can be done."
"Miroku..."
He turns to everyone else and asks,
"What say the rest of you? Will you help me teach her happiness isn't just found through self-sacrifice?"
"Yeah!" "Totally."
"Of course."
"Mhm, I like the sound of that idea!"
"Aye, monk, an excellent plan."
...Everyone...
I felt a big smile spread onto my face, the corners of my eyes forming appreciated tears:
"Thank you...all of you. And again, I'm truly sorry for making you all sick with worry."
They just smile and shake their heads at my repeated apology:
"It's fine; you're forgiven, Coraline."
"Don't apologize, sis." "It's okay."
"What matters is that you're safe and awake."
"Yeah! We forgive you, Coraline!"
"Ye have been through enough hurt as it is, child. It is better to forgive and move on with our lives."
I nod and mutter,
"Right..."
But then I form at small, insecure frown, remembering the other person I owed an explanation to, in more ways than one:
Inuyasha...
At the same time, Inuyasha's POV
As soon as we left the village, Kikyō and I walked over to the hillside where one could see the entire place and beyond towards the next forest, the sinking sun casting a soft, yellow-orange glow over the horizon...
We're sitting down in the grass now, just taking in the tranquil quiet, a soft breeze blowing by that tousles the hair of the woman beside me in a way that made her look as beautiful as she was when I first laid eyes on her:
It's like we never left this spot at all...or at least I wish it could be like that.
"...It's been such a long time since we sat in eachother's company like this, with no real friction between us."
I nod in agreement, turning my eyes towards the distant view of nature:
"Yeah...Too damn long if you ask me."
We both let out short-lived laughs, before I suck in some air between my teeth and ask,
"...So was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"...Us, and where we should be in terms of a relationship."
I cringe internally:
Knew it...
"Inuyasha...you and I both know that what we've been chasing this last while cannot be found without a bad ending, correct?"
"What?"
"I know. I did not wish to believe it either. That was what I was truly angry about: Having our budding relationship stamped out so soon before we could see what it would become. I did not want to accept that we could not be...That is why I chose to lash out at you like I did, as a way to not fuel such thinking, not to mention that we didn't know at the time who was to blame for our betrayals."
"I...I see..."
Though I could not say it aloud, I realized that the reasoning for her actions towards me since her resurrection, had applied to my own in a way: I chose to use my anger to cloud any possible thoughts of accepting what had really happened back then, which would only hurt her and I more than before we figured out who was responsible for the deception.
"...Kikyō...Are you saying, that we shouldn't be together, or give up on the idea, even after all that we've been through?"
"That is exactly what I am saying. I of course, do not regret ever meeting you, Inuyasha. You helped me see past my lonely existence, and gave me something I should have kindled more than I did those decades ago: A friend who understood."
"A...A friend?"
She smiled sadly and nodded:
"I would say love, but looking back now, we never really got that far, did we? Perhaps, a growing affection and fondness for eachother's company, but not true love...Am I right or wrong?"
I wanted so badly to scream and shout that she was wrong, but, my voice was caught in my throat, for I knew deep in my heart,
...She's right. We never got that far.
"But you and Coraline...have gone far in ways we could have tried if not for that fateful day."
I widen my eyes at her words, before forming a small, inquisitive scowl at the woman:
"Where are you going with this, Kikyō?"
"Simply this, Inuyasha: You and Coraline are more destined to be together than we ever were, and you should tell her that."
...I fell backwards in shock, before scrambling up to my feet while shouting in a stutter,
"Wh-Wh-What?! C-Coraline?! Are you serious?!"
She laughs lightly at my reaction, before standing up with me while replying,
"You cannot fool me so easily, Inuyasha: I know how you feel for the girl. Your own eyes reflect how deeply you have fallen for her, even if the rest of your face does not say so. And, I cannot blame you for forming such a connection with her: She has a wise perspective about the world and people I wish I could have. She does not judge what is seen on the outside, but rather the inside, and knows how to use her blunt honesty to really open one's mind to other possibilities. She is able to adapt quickly to situations, and has the heart of a fighter, but will be passive when she can. Heh, in all honesty, she reminds me of you."
"...Me?"
"Yes. You and she have lived rather similar lives, and developed similar ways of coping with the trials of life you've both been forced to face...All the more proof she is a good match for you. I both envy and admire her for that."
...Kikyō...
She steps up to me so we're only less than a foot from eachother, and cups my cheek with one of her hands:
"Please, Inuyasha. We must not let ourselves be weighed down by our past any longer. It is, time for us to let go of what cannot be, and move on to what can be achieved."
I move one of hands on top of hers, and ask in a whisper,
"...But what will you do? Where will you go?"
"I am not sure, but I shan't be leaving this earth yet, for there is one matter that must be taken care of before I can truly be a peace."
"And what's that?"
"Naraku's demise."
I flinch at how cold her voice became, and she smiles bitterly before adding,
"Until the one who first condemned me to death is destroyed, I will still be a wandering specter for some time."
I mutter a bit childishly,
"...You're no specter."
"(Chuckle) That is kind of you to say, and yet that is what my being has become...But worry not for me."
She leans in and places a quick, chaste kiss on my cheek, before whispering more happily,
"Truthfully, it is the idea of you living on that will bring me true peace."
"Uh...Kikyō..."
She pulls away, and begins walking away, while calling over her shoulder,
"Live on, Inuyasha...for both of us."
I nod, swallowing a lump in my throat, and fought back tears while I watched her form become smaller and smaller, leaving to wherever she planned on going next:
...Goodbye for now, Kikyō. I hope you find peace soon.
Small Time Skip, No POV
The wandering priestess would make one more stop at Kaede's home to say her goodbyes to her sister, Coraline and everyone else, before she left for parts unknown, feeling her presence would be needed elsewhere and that she had done what she had to in her old village...
We now zoom in on said hut situated by the staircase, the twilight beginning to blanket over the grounds, as Coraline watched the skies cast splashes of deep orange, red and purples from the doorway, while everyone else sat indoors...Well, almost everyone:
Inuyasha hasn't come back yet from the hills...
His mind must be stuck on whatever he and Kikyō spoke about. Can't really blame him for that, either.
...Her smile looked both sad, and happy, before she left.
"Hope you'll be alright, wherever you are, Kikyō..."
Just as she whispered that under her breath, Coraline felt someone walk up to stand by her. She turned her eyes left, and saw it was Sango:
"Still no signs of him yet, huh?"
"Yeah...But I know he'll come when he's ready."
"Better yet...why not go to him?"
"Huh?"
Sango gives the redhead a knowing but gentle smile, and chides,
"I think I know another reason why you did what you did, and it relates to why Kikyō had such a clarity and softness in her being before she left, right?"
"Uh...(Nod) Mhm."
"(Slight laugh) Then don't just stand here. Go now; find him and say what you've wanted to say to him for so long now."
Coraline's mouth gapes...before forming a small smile of its own:
"Okay...I'll do it. Mind telling everyone where I've gone so no one has a panic attack?"
"Of course. Now get going."
With that, the redhead begins walking away in the direction of the forest treeline outside the village, with Sango watching her go with an encouraging...yet slightly envious smile:
If only I had her courage in terms of matters of the heart...but that issue can wait for another day.
At the same time Coraline began her trek out of the village, Inuyasha was circling back from his walk towards the Dry Well and over to where the Goshinboku Tree would be sitting, his face set in a thoughtful frown:
Man, this both sucks and feels weight-lifting...I guess, thinking about it now, maybe she and I were never really, 'in love'.
She my have been my first love, but, maybe Kikyō wasn't the one after all.
Heh, guess that means what Freeman said back then was true. He's smarter than he makes himself sound...
Letting out a breath, his mind drifts towards another woman he's held to his heart for a long while now:
And then there's Coraline, that sharp-tongued woman who's gotten under my skin since day one.
Not in a bad way, though...She's, more than I deserve, really.
She took the time to actually, try and understand me, and has become the one person I can truly trust with everything that makes me who I am.
...And, she's trusted me with her own problems, from her enemies to her own insecurities.
Giving his head a shake, Inuyasha runs a clawed hand through his hair as he mumbles,
"Gods...I've really made her a part of me without realizing it until now...Even so...can I, really say those words to her?"
Just as he asks himself that question, his nose picks up on a familiar scent:
"(Sniff) Hm?"
Huh, speaking of her...What's she doin' out here this late?
Picking up his pace a bit, Inuyasha starts walking in the direction where the fabled tall, old oak would be. As soon as he was a few pines away, his ears pick up on a soft melody being sung:
"Huh?"
Peering around the trunks, his amber irises widen, when he sees the source was Coraline, sitting on the giant ancient roots of the Goshinboku Tree, her feet lightly kicking up and down while her eyes were on the sky peeking out from the cluster of branches above her, her mouth curved in a smile as she sang the words to the song.
(Note: I own not any references to the song Dream Without You. Those rights belong solely to Leah Daniels.)
...Wow...I've never heard her sing like that before.
She...sounds so beautiful.
Inuyasha kept his gaze on her form, as his ears zeroed in more closely to each word that spilled from her mouth, and found himself wondering about the lyrics:
Giving up, slowing letting go?
Dreaming without who? Does she mean...me?
What are you thinking, Coraline?
After another minute or two, the grounds fall silent as Coraline croons the last line of the song through her lips on a soft, high note...
"...That was really good."
"Uh!"
She jumps a little from the voice that broke through the quiet, and turns to see the dog demon walk into view, a small smile on his face:
"Never heard you like that before...Bit of a sad choice though, isn't it?"
"Um...(Smile) Maybe, but it all depends on how you sing a sad song if it'll truly be that way."
"Keh, fair enough..."
An awkward silence fell between the two, before Inuyasha walked up to the roots of the ancient tree and climbed up to sit beside Coraline...It would be the latter who started their next conversation with a nervous expression:
"...I can't even begin to imagine how furious you must be with me...You know, for what I've been doing these last few months in secret."
"Hmph...Well, actually, I'm not as mad as I was in the beginning of the whole reveal. Disappointed, maybe...but my anger pretty much died in these last couple days as I waited for you to wake up."
"...I see."
"...Now there's only one thing I want to know, and that's why. Why did you do all of this, Coraline? Was what that triangle-shaped menace said true, or was he bullshitting the whole time?"
Coraline almost cracked a smile at how Inuyasha worded his question, but opted for a frown while taking a deep breath before answering,
"No...What Bill had said to you all was pretty much on the money."
Fighting the urge to growl, Inuyasha kept his cool and asked in a surprisingly calm tone,
"...But why? Why do something this stupidly insane for me, for Kikyō, both of us?"
"(Sigh) Well, part of it is related to what I already explained to the others not too long ago: I've become, too accustomed to making personal sacrifices for the sake of others, and I don't really know how to live life any other way than that. Another, had to do with the pain I felt in the half of Soul that, heh, well once resided inside my being: Her light half was horrified by what she had become since her resurrection, and wanted so badly to go back to her to try and fix her mistakes. I just, couldn't take the weight of that guilt anymore, and Bill knew that, so he offered me a deal that was too good to pass."
"...Okay...And what about, what that demon gave to me?"
Inuyasha places a hand over his chest, and adds,
"That, shield for my Soul, or whatever he was babbling about...When did that part of the deal come?"
"Around the time after that craziness with that moth demon, Gatenmaru, and you went to go fight Ryūkotsusei to strengthen your bond between yourself and Tessaiga. I guess, Bill was sensing how grim my mood had become thanks to recent events, and felt sympathetic due to a similar experience with a friend of his where he came from. Anyway, he offered up an extension to our deal, and, admittingly, I almost passed on it, because..."
"...Because?"
"Because I knew that with or without an extra protection, you'd find a way to prevail over your demon ego's control. You're that strong, Inuyasha. But, seeing how, lost and, dare I say, disgusted with yourself you seemed before you left for Tōtōsai's...it hurt me to see you in such a state. I wanted to do everything I could possibly do to prevent you from feeling that vulnerable again, even if it meant having to go behind everyone's backs to do it. I know it was wrong, I know I should've said something, but sometimes you gotta do wrong in order to meet right. Nevertheless...I'm sorry."
...Neither one says anything for a moment, before Inuyasha sighs and replies,
"It's fine. You're forgiven...but there's a bit more to this, isn't there?"
"Um..."
"Thought so...What's the other reason you did this, Coraline? I get most of what you've said now, but, there has to be more to it than simply trying to help Kikyō and protect me, which by the way, that last one, you shouldn't be doing. Between the both of us, I'm the one who's suppose to be protecting you."
Coraline laughs a little at how stubborn Inuyasha's tone got near the end of his latest remark, before softly stating,
"Well...people are known to do the craziest things...when they're in love."
The dog demon nearly felt his heart stop beating at hearing those words, and he jumps down from the roots in shock while sputtering,
"Wh-What?! Say that again?!"
The redhead pushes herself down off the tree roots, landing smoothly on the grass, and faces Inuyasha with a brave yet very nervous expression. Taking a deep breath, she finally pours her heart out to the man before her:
"I...I did all of this...because I love you, Inuyasha. I've loved you since day one, but didn't realize it until I was away for a short while after, that moment you and Kikyō shared in the moonlight's glow of this very tree. You're not only my best friend, but the one man who actually gets me, who understands me. You see me as I am both inside and out, something that no man in my era has ever done before or after first entering this one."
"...Coraline..."
"I love how raw and real your emotions are, from your anger, to your sense of humour, your compassion and sensitivity to others and yourself even when you don't always show it. You have a strength as deep as your Soul, something I sometimes wish I had more of. You've stuck by me as I've stuck by you, even when we piss eachother off to no end. We always find a way to make up afterward, no matter what. But most of all...I just, love you for you."
Inuyasha was struck frozen, unable to form a reply to the confession from the young woman before him...
"But...I understand if my love is unrequited."
"Huh?"
"(Sad smile) Your heart was hers first after all, and first loves are never easy to forget. What happened between you two was not fair, and, as much as I do love you, I...(Sniff) I don't want to stand in the way of you trying to reclaim what you really want, if that is your wish."
Wiping away a few tears from her eyes, Coraline shakes her head and mutters,
"Anyway, I just, wanted you to know that...I'll, see you back at Kaede's, I guess."
Not hearing any signs that her crush was feeling similarly to her, Coraline concluded that it would be better for her to leave the other be, and turned around to walk out of the forest.
...
...But she would only get about as far as a couple steps, before Inuyasha's joints finally unhinged, and he sprang forward while calling,
"W-Wait, Coraline!"
(...Hug)
"Uh!"
...Strong arms would then encircle the young woman from behind her around her torso, trapping her own arms to her sides, while her back softly bumped backed into the clothed chest of the dog demon, who held her tightly to him while whispering,
"...Don't go, please."
Coraline felt her heart flutter in her breast, her cheeks dusting pink from the sudden close contact:
...What is he...?
"...Inuyasha?"
He doesn't say another word for a minute or two...but then felt a chuckle rumble through his lungs, before he remarked,
"Gods, and here I was worrying about how to say those three words, and you've gone and beat me to it."
The redhead furrows her eyebrows in confusion...before it all clicked:
"U-Uh! Are, are you saying..."
"Yes..."
Pulling back a bit, Inuyasha turns Coraline around so she was facing him, and confesses with a sheepish smile,
"I...Your feelings are requited. I...I love you too."
Coraline gasps, letting the dog demon's words ring through her mind like the bells of a church...before she breaks into a happy smile with the smallest of tears forming in the corner of her eyes:
"I-Inuyasha...!"
He chuckles a bit at her reaction, before he places a hand on her cheek, and gently guides her forward, his lips landing on hers for a passionate first kiss!
Coraline's POV
Oh, my, god...We're kissing! He loves me and we're kissing!
Wait, what the hell am I doing? Stop thinking and kiss back, Cora, ya idgit!
Stopping my mini mental argument with myself, I focused back to reality, and leaned forward towards Inuyasha, moving my lips with his, my hands wandering to grip his shoulders. He shifts his hold on me so that he was holding me by the waist with one hand, while his other moved from my cheek to the back of my head, weaving his fingers into my hair. I let a closed-mouthed moan escape from my throat, the taste of his kiss making me feel like I was going to combust into flames right on the spot. If I could describe the flavour in a few words, they'd be warm, sweet, and feral all at once...But moments like this can't be told with just mere letters: It's a feeling that is everything meaningful in the world, verbal, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
Concluding that thought, I then felt Inuyasha's sharp canines lightly nip at my lips, which sent me the message that he wanted to deepen this kiss...
But with my self-confidence rising back to proper levels, I boldly and playfully denied entrance, causing him to growl a little, and me to giggle:
Well? What are you gonna do now, Inuyasha?
Inuyasha's POV
Dammit woman, you choose now to be a tease?
Grr, alright, fine then: I'm not complaining, but you're gonna get it.
God, her lips feel so good...
I'm not a hundred percent sure where that surge of confidence came from that caused me to pull her in for a kiss, but boy am I glad I did: She leaned in with absolutely no resistance, wanting this as badly as I did. Her hands on my shoulders, mine on her waist and the back of her head, just holding eachother as close as possible...I could feel these pent-up emotions seeping out of my skin and surrounding us, cloaking us in our own little world for that moment. If I can be perfectly honest...it almost reminded me of that kiss Kikyō and I had during our first encounter after she was resurrected, but, this one was way more alive, more, passion-filled. Nothing compares to the taste of this redhead's lips, reminding me of those sweet candies she sometimes brought from the other era, but milder, and with a spice I can't fully describe.
Anyway, I let out a small warning growl at her refusal to let me into her mouth, which she'd let a tiny laugh out at. I furrow my eyebrows in thought...before getting a sneaky idea: I slipped the hand that was on her waist downward, until it was somewhere between her hip and where her bottom began, and gave that area a small squeeze.
Coraline squeaks in surprise, and that gave me the perfect opportunity to slip my tongue into her mouth:
That perverted monk would be proud if he saw that move...
Thankfully, unlike the woman he secretly chased, Coraline didn't seem offended by my tactic, and lets out a louder moan as our kiss deepened. Smirking to myself in pride, I explored every inch of her mouth with my tongue, leaving nothing untouched and marking it as my own, and even coaxed hers to play a bit...
Unfortunately, there was this little thing called 'oxygen' that we both required in order to live, so our open-mouthed kiss couldn't last forever. Brushing her tongue with mine one more time, we finally parted, both of us panting from the heat and love that was shared:
"(Pant, pant) Wow..."
"(Pant, pant) Yeah, that pretty much sums it up."
We both let out breathy laughs, and Coraline leans her head onto my chest, keeping her arms around me, while I draped one arm around her. She then whispers,
"Hey, Inuyasha...?"
"Yeah?"
"...Did you know that you stole my first kiss just now?"
My eyebrows rose in mild surprise, and I look down at her smiling face, cracking a small smile back:
"Keh, is that right?"
"Mhm...and I couldn't be happier that it was you to take it."
I squeezed her to me and chime back,
"Glad to hear that...Wish I could've saved my first one for you..."
"But you did."
"Huh?"
I look down at her, and she says,
"This was a first for you with me, and our first kiss as a couple."
She forms a small worried frown and asks innocently,
"We, are together now...right?"
Rolling my eyes a bit, I answer,
"Kuh, 'course we are. Don't be stupid; I wouldn't have kissed ya like I did if I didn't mean it."
"Heh, right..."
She snuggles deeper into my haori, and says in a muffle,
"I love you, Inuyasha."
I bow my head towards hers, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before burying my face into her hair, whispering back,
"...I love you too, Coraline."
I love you now, forever and until the end of time.