Chapter 1: Promises
Inu-Yasha woke up in a tree, on a hillside. Obviously, the first thing he wondered, was how the hell he got up there to begin with. He looked around. This seemed to be the only tree in sight. He was surrounded by rolling hills; the grass tumbled in waves across the scenery, blowing in the breeze. It was not quite high noon yet, the weather was pleasant, and there was not a cloud in the sky.
"Wait…" he told himself. Where were Kagome and Shippo? He began calling out for them. Using a more conversational tone at first, but it became louder and louder as he got more frantic. He jumped down from the tree, and whirled about frantically for his friends. There, however, by the base of the tree, was Kagome.
The first thing he needed to do before he spoke to her was to build up his "tough guy" wall. He had to make sure that he made it sound like he was not worried at all about where she was, or how he got in the tree in the first place.
"So there you are!" He began, using a seemingly annoyed sounding voice. "Where have you been, anyway? That's pretty rude of you to not answer my calls, isn't it? I mean, not that I was worried or anything, but still…"
He choked on his own words. The person he was speaking to had on a white gi, with a red garment to cover waist and legs. She wore sandals on her feet, and had a quiver and bow over her back.
"I've been waiting for you, Inu-Yasha." She stated plainly.
"K…" Inu-Yasha stammered. "Kagome…? If this is some sort of joke, it's not funny…"
"You needn't worry about the girl." The woman stated plainly. "She's asleep, safely and soundly. Let's just talk for now, Inu-Yasha. You have no idea, how much I've missed you."
Inu-Yasha's color flushed from his face. "Then you're, Kikyo?" He asked.
The woman laughed. "Of course I'm Kikyo, you silly!" she exclaimed. "And you have no idea how much I've missed you…" she said in contrast with he first statement.
"Kikyo…" Said Inu-Yasha, still in shock. "It…it wasn't me who killed you. It was…"
Kikyo slowly walked up to Inu-Yasha, and placed a lone finger on his trembling lips.
"Shh…" she commanded softly. "We are here, together now. None of that matters anymore." She walked back to her spot underneath the tree, and patted the ground next to her. "Have a seat, Inu-Yasha."
Inu-Yasha trembled at first, then slowly strode next to Kikyo and sat down.
Kikyo put her arm around Inu-Yasha, then rested her head upon his shoulder.
"She smells so sweet…" Thought Inu-Yasha. Indeed, this woman really was Kikyo. Everything about her is the same is it always was. Her serene smile, as she rested on his shoulder. Her beautiful eyes, as she stared out towards the horizon. Her hair, that swayed in time with the rhythm of the wind. Inu-Yasha, returning Kikyo's love, put his arm around her shoulder.
"Do you remember, Inu-Yasha?" Kikyo asked, reminiscing of old days. "Do you remember, how I would always foil your plans to take the Shikon, but then at the end of each day, we'd sit here and talk, just like this?"
Inu-Yasha gazed at her longingly and smiled. "I do. I missed those days…I missed having someone who understood me, Kikyo. I missed you." Kikyo sighed and smiled complacently. "I feel the same way Inu-Yasha. But as I said, let's not talk about it. It doesn't matter how long we've been apart, now. We are together. Just you and I. And that's the most important thing in the world."
Inu-Yasha gazed into her eyes. "Kikyo…" he said. "Inu-Yasha…" his love replied. They gazed into each other's eyes, and slowly embraced. Inu-Yasha slowly became one with his lover, their hearts both beat in time, both of them never wanted to let the other one go.
"Inu-Yasha…" said Kikyo after their embrace. "What is it Kikyo?" replied Inu-Yasha. "I…I need you to promise me something…something very important to me." Inu-Yasha smiled. "Of course. Anything you want, Kikyo." He said. "Then…" began Kikyo, shaking. "If you really mean that…please. Please promise me you'll never leave me again." She pleaded. It was obvious she was crying. "Please! Promise me! I don't want to be alone anymore!"
Inu-Yasha smiled. He took his hand, and brushed away Kikyo's tears. "Hey, now." He said. "Since when did you ever cry?" Kikyo's cries were reduced to sniffles. "Of course, Kikyo." Said Inu-Yasha. "I promise. I promise to stay with you always."
"Inu-Yasha…" said Kikyo. Then, she burst into uncontrollable tears. She hugged Inu-Yasha tightly, and pressed her face into his chest. Inu-Yasha took Kikyo into his arms. "What's wrong?" He asked. "What did I do?" Kikyo looked up at his face. "Huh?" said Kikyo, smiling. "Oh, it's not you…I…I'm just so happy…" she said between tears of joy. "I love you, Inu-Yasha." Inu-Yasha began to cry softly as well. "I love you too, Kikyo…"
By now, it was sunset. Inu-Yasha and Kikyo sat under the tree together; Inu-Yasha with his arm around Kikyo, and Kikyo with her head on Inu-Yasha's shoulder. They watched the sunset together, and slowly, Inu-Yasha began to forget about Kagome and Shippo.