A/N: No romance in this chapter, folks. Just a story of friendship, love, and loss.
Pairing: Kagome x nobody~
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Pokemon, or their characters.
Catch
Kagome smiled fondly down at her companion at her side. She ran her hands over the glistening silver fur, brushing her fingers through it in a soothing motion. She had brought her friend out into the meadow in hopes it would cheer her up. She had been cooped up inside for so long...
Kagome had been wandering through the grassy area, careful to sneak past her parents when they were focused on her little brother. She wasn't supposed to be out here without a Pokemon of her own to defend her, but she had heard about a strange Pokemon that was seen around here and she had to see it for herself. She couldn't wait another three years for her own Pokemon- this one would be gone by then!
A soft whine had her focusing on the warm head on her lap. She smiled fondly down at her partner, leaning forward so that she could wrap her arms around her friend's neck and pull her closer. She let out a shaking breath and buried her face into the warm fur before her.
She fell, tripping over a tree root, and let out a yelp as she scraped her knee on the rough ground. She sniffled, fighting back tears as she looked at the blood beading on her skin. She was so angry with herself. She had been walking for hours, without food or water, and she still hadn't found the Pokemon. And now, she was hurt. Tears dripped down her cheeks, and she stubbornly rubbed at them with the back of her hand.
In her arms, the silver creature's breathing was becoming more shallow with every inhale- a fact that terrified Kagome to no end, but all she could do was hold her lifelong companion and pray that she could keep it together.
This Ninetales, at first glance, was just like any other she had seen on television or occasionally in town when there were Contests, but upon further inspection, that couldn't be further from the truth. Sure, this one was just as beautiful- all thick, shining fur and elegent structure- but this wasn't just any Ninetales! This one, was a glistening silver, with pale blue fur at the tips of each well-groomed tail. As the sun beat down on the open meadow, it danced on the fur of the Ninetales, making the Pokemon appear almost ethereal. Ruby eyes started to glow, and Kagome found herself drawn to that intelligent stare, almost as though she was hypnotized.
There was a slight tremble as her Ninetales took in a long, slow breath, her warm body shaking enough that it made Kagome's heart nearly stop in her chest. When her Pokemon let out an equally long, slow exhale, Kagome knew that this was it. It was time.
Kagome couldn't do anything but stare at the creature as it padded up to her. Her heart was racing in her chest. She had never seen anything so beautiful! Her tears had stopped by the time the Ninetales reached her, coming to stand before her, watching her just as carefully as she was watching it. Slowly, the pointed nose of the fox-like creature started to twitch as it sniffed in her direction, and Kagome watched in open-mouthed wonder as it brought its muzzle down to her wounded knee.
"I had hoped there was still some magic left in you, Shujinko," Kagome said in a whisper against the still body of her closest friend. "That was selfish of me. You spent so long protecting me and loving me, and I was too scared to be alone."
Kagome's hands clenched in the fur she held, her body starting to tremble as the warmth started to disappear from her beloved companion. She took in a gasping breath, her heart clenching painfully as the reality she had hoped would never come, struck her. She clenched her jaw, fighting back the scream she wanted to let out as she held her friend even tighter.
Kagome's eyes widened as she watched the silver Ninetales start to glow with a bright, white light as her nose pressed against the scrape on her knee. She gasped, watching the broken skin start to glow with the same light before the pain disappeared and her wound was gone. Kagome smiled and let out an excited laugh as the Pokemon raised its head, tilting it a bit as it looked down at her. Kagome, young as she was, could not contain herself. She threw her arms around the creature, burying her face in the fur and whispering her thanks.
The Ninetales was not startled at her outburst. Kagome jumped back after realizing what she had done- this was a wild Pokemon after all. She gulped, looking up at the silver canine carefully, not knowing what to expect. To her complete surprise, a wet, scratchy tongue came to lap at her cheek fondly, sending her into a fit of giggles.
Kagome started to rock, holding Shujinko to her carefully, long after her body had gone cold. Her tears trailed silently down her cheeks as the pain in her chest nearly consumed her. The world was a little darker now, even with the sunshine beating down on them in the open meadow- their meadow; the meadow where they had found each other; The meadow where she had befriended a rare, wild Pokemon before she was even old enough to catch one on her own.
As she sat in what was once a treasured place for her, she knew that nothing would ever be the same. Gone were the long walks through the countryside; Gone were the long nights with nothing but the other for company, but knowing that that was all they needed; Gone were the adventures they were supposed to go on but never had, because they had all the time in the world, didn't they? Kagome let out a choked sob that was physically painful to release.
"I'm glad you aren't in pain anymore," Kagome struggled to get out. "I never wanted you to suffer. I would have taken your place if I could."
Kagome grew still then, her eyes opening so that she could stare blankly ahead. Tears continued to pour, but something about saying those words had dulled the pain some. She knew them in her heart to be true, but she also knew that her friend had loved her dearly, and she would have suffered greatly if it had been Kagome that was wasting away all this time. Kagome let out another sob, waves of pain ebbing and flowing the more she sat there with her thoughts. She would have stayed that way, too, if a flash of silver hadn't caught her eye.
"Ninetales are said to have mysterious powers," said the boy she had just met- Brock he said his name was- as he admired Shujinko. "Each one of their tails contains immeasurable magical properties- there's no telling what they can do!"
"She's special, alright," Kagome said, smiling down at her partner fondly.
Shujinko was enjoying the attention from the trio before them; a group of trainers that were passing through. They had never seen a blue and silver Ninetales before, most people hadn't. They couldn't help but come to see Shujinko up close. Kagome didn't mind, she knew her Pokemon adored the spotlight. In their time together, Kagome had discovered that she had taken on a bit of a diva as a partner, but she wouldn't have had her any other way.
"You're so lucky to have her as a friend!" the other boy, Ash said, reaching out to touch Shujinko's fur in awe. Kagome smiled wider and folded her arms across her chest, fighting back chuckles as Shujinko practically glowed under the praise. As she watched the scene before her, she agreed with the young trainer wholeheartedly.
"The luckiest."
Kagome had to blink several times to be sure she was actually seeing what she thought she was. Her heart started to race and the air left her lungs. She couldn't believe what was in front of her.
There, glowing in the center of the meadow, was Shujinko, staring at her with an open, fox-grin on her face. Her tails swished behind her as she stood there, far out of reach. Kagome's hands shook as they held onto the body that was in her arms. She wasn't sure what was happening. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment before she opened them again, gasping when the vision did not disappear. That, however, was when she noticed that the figure standing just a few yards away was not quite solid- like she was an image projected on a screen. Or a ghost.
"Sh-Shujinko?" Kagome choked out, her voice hoarse from crying.
There was a happy yip, and the image of her deceased companion stomped its front feet just a bit where it stood, as though struggling to contain her excitement. Kagome's heart ached at the sight. How long had it been since she'd seen her friend this way? How long had she watched as the sickness ravaged her body, making her weak and tired? Kagome smiled at the image before her. It was bittersweet knowing that her beloved Ninetales' suffering was over at last. The last decade she had spent with her Pokemon hadn't felt long enough though. She had wanted more time...
"Kagome."
Kagome gasped at the sound of the feminine voice coming from the transparent image of her Pokemon. She said nothing, just watched and waited for the voice to say something else and prove that she hadn't lost her mind to her grief. When she was about to give up hope, the image ducked its head, ruby eyes locking with hers in that intelligent stare that she loved so very much.
"Live happily."
Kagome's eyes burned with fresh tears at the sound of those words. She opened her mouth to respond, wanting nothing more than to tell her friend just how much she meant to her- but before her eyes, the specter started to fade. Kagome's heart lurched, one hand reaching out in vain as the image of her oldest, dearest friend vanished. Kagome's body was frozen that way, eyes staring straight ahead, praying that the vision would return- but it didn't. She let her hand drop slowly, resting atop the fur of Shujinko's body.
Kagome had felt the pain of loss before. She had lost her father, and her grandparents. She knew what is was like to lose someone she loved- but this pain was different. This one struck her to her core in a way she hadn't known was possible. Maybe it was because they had chosen each other? Their bond was one fordged from one Pokemon's act of selfless kindness, and strengthened with time spent cherishing each other. For a single instant, Kagome wished she had never gone into that meadow when she was a child, because then she wouldn't be hurting this way- but as soon as she the thought entered her mind, she banished it. She wouldn't trade her time spent with Shujinko for anything in the world. Even if it had ended much sooner than either of them would have liked, she knew that they had loved each other- and that was more valuable, and stronger than any grief she felt at that moment.
Kagome closed her eyes, feeling the gentle brush of a breeze against her cheek, and smiled when she was reminded of the affectionate kiss from a Pokemon; The action that was the start of her truest friendship, and greatest adventure.
End
A/N: This piece was particularly painful for me, but I felt like it needed to be written and shared. I recently lost someone, who was a dear friend to me, to cancer. We had lost touch over the years because Time has a funny way of doing that to people, but she was no less special to me. One of the many things we had in common was our love of Pokemon. When I play the game, watch the show, or even see a Pokemon plushie, I find myself thinking of her. She influenced me in ways I never got to tell her, and most of who I am is because she inspired me, and showed me that I could be so much more than I was. I hate that in her final days, I was nothing more than someone she used to know, but she lived a beautiful life, even if it was cut far shorter than it should have been. Even though she won't get to read this, I hope that wherever she is, she knows that she is thought of and always will be.
RIP, my friend.
"She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten."
