Tell Me
Tell Me
by Za Metallium


"Mary Jane" is from Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill. Song lyrics are in centered italics.
This is set directly after chapter #174, "Barrier of Earth."


What's the matter Mary Jane, you had a hard day
As you place the don't disturb sign on the door

Sango found her staring unseeing at the waterfall. Sango herself had come there to bathe, a habit she'd picked up from Kagome.

"Kagome-chan?" Sango spoke softly, kneeling beside the girl.

"S–sango-chan...when did you...?" Kagome obviously hadn't realised she was not alone. Her eyes were suspiciously bright to Sango's critical eye, as if tears were being kept back by an immense effort of will.

"I've been here a few minutes," Sango answered. The events of three days before—Kagome's sadness, Inuyasha's uncharacteristically calm admission about Kikyou—flashed through Sango's mind.

"Kagome-chan..."

"Gomen nasai," Kagome said suddenly. "I...don't know what I'm doing here. I...I came to..."

Kagome seemed to be forcing the words with great effort, her voice wavering so slightly that most wouldn't realise it.

"You came to...?" Sango prompted gently after several moments of silence.

"To say goodbye," was the whispered response.

You lost your place in line again, what a pity
You never seem to want to dance anymore

"Goodbye?" Sango repeated, shocked.

"Yes...I'm not needed anymore. And...Inuyasha...I can't..." the girl trailed off, her eyes distant and pained.

Oh, Kagome-chan...Sango thought, filled with sympathy. Inuyasha's chosen that reanimated mockery over you, and you can't face him.

Kagome had been depressed after encounters with Kikyou before—Sango remembered her asking to ride on Kirara, and how she'd seemed to radiated sadness when she'd said she was sure she didn't want to go with Inuyasha. But never had Sango seen the usually optimistic girl so depressed.

It's a long way down on this roller coaster
The last chance streetcar went off the track
And you're on it

Sango wasn't quite sure how to bring up the mess with Inuyasha, so she went for Kagome's other point. "Of course you're needed!" she insisted.

Kagome just looked at her as if the youkai huntress had spoken a foreign language.

Sango sighed in exasperation. "Do you think we stick around for Inuyasha's company—or sake?"

Again with the blank stare.

Kami-sama, she does not think we—she does...Sango realised.

I hear you're counting sheep again Mary Jane
What's point of tryin' to dream anymore

Looking at the blank-eyed girl, Sango noticed the dark circles ringing her eyes, then wondered how she missed them to begin with.

"When was the last time you slept?" Sango demanded a bit sharply.

"Eh?" Kagome seemed to snap out of her daze a bit. "A...few days ago?" she ventured.

"Kagome-chan!" Sango scolded.

"There just didn't seem to be any reason to..." Kagome whispered, so softly that Sango barely caught it. She mumbled something else, and all Sango caught was "dream," "point," and "can't."

I hear you're losing wait again Mary Jane
Do you ever wonder who you're losing it for

Damn that shameless bastard! Sango screamed mentally. He's turned sweet, bright Kagome-chan into this...this shadow of herself! He's not worth it...

Well it's full speed baby in the wrong direction
There's a few more bruises if that's the way
You insist on heading

"Kagome-chan, we need you." Taking a deep breath, Sango decided to get to the heart of the matter. "No one but Inuyasha trusts Kikyou in the least, or even wants her around. We need you."

Kagome stared at her friend with an unreadable expression, before saying, "If you really need me, I won't abandon you." There was no emotion in her voice.

Like kono—kono inukkoro abandoned you? Sango thought angrily, suddenly feeling Kouga's derogatory name for Inuyasha was perfect.

"Do you really need me to stay?" Kagome asked, still without emotion.

Please be honest Mary Jane
Are you happy
Please don't censor your tears

Sango knew—deep down knew—that if she said the word, her friend would stay, no matter how much it hurt the girl from another world.

But as much as Kagome leaving would hurt the youkai huntress, seeing her trying to cope with the pain of being around Inuyasha would be much worse. If she was this upset with the dog boy no where in sight...

"Kagome-chan," Sango said gently, putting a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder, "It's okay to cry."

Kagome stared at Sango another long moment before abruptly flinging herself into the other girls arms and sobbing.

You're the sweet crusader
And you're on your way

Kagome's crying wasn't noisy; perhaps she was afraid she'd be heard by a particular half-youkai, or perhaps she was too drained to be loud. Or perhaps some sorrow is more like a cold autumn drizzle than a flashy summer thunderstorm, and more chilling to the soul.

Sango held the sobbing Kagome until the girl had shed all her tears, and merely trembled against the cold creeping deep throughout her being.

You're the last great innocent
And that's why I love you

You would've stayed...Sango again thought in amazement, absently stroking the smaller girl's hair. It would've killed you, but you would've stayed. I hadn't thought such selflessness really existed...

Sango's embrace tightened a bit as a rush of affection for the girl she held surged through her.

So take this moment Mary Jane and be selfish
Worry not about the cars that go by

"Daijoubu. You don't have to stay. I just hope you'll come back some day. But just this once, Kagome-chan...let yourself be selfish."

Kagome lifted her head, teary eyes searching compassionate ones. "But. . ."

Sango shook her head decisively. "Daijoubu," she repeated. "I'll tell the others good-bye for you."

All that matters Mary Jane is your freedom
Keep warm my dear, keep dry

Kagome stood, a bit shakily, and again met her friend's gaze. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Sango-chan," she said softly.

Sango smiled in response, and Kagome attempted to return the gesture, though her expression came out more bittersweet than intended.

Sango watched as her friend, her dearest friend, disappeared in the direction of the well.

"Take care of yourself, Kagome-chan," Sango whispered. She stood and began to walk back to the village.

After all, she had promised to say goodbye for her.

Tell me
Tell me
What's the matter Mary Jane. . .


–end–