PLEASE READ: Welcome to the climax chapter! Of course, it would be fun to end here, maybe I just won't update for a week or so to make you all suffer. Muahahaha! Nah, I'm not *that* mean.^_~ Okay, sorry if the characters are a little OOC; I think you can forgive me for this one.^_~* And please, PLEASE, listen to the song first! You need to have the song in your head while you read to get the full effect.^_^ Otherwise, I dunno. I guess it wouldn't be as good. I can't tell you considering I love this song so it's always there.^_^; lol Anyway, thanks for reading.^_^ On with the fic!
Hey, and a special shout out to Merith for reading this in advance. The suggestions really helped when I went through and revised it.^_^ Thanks! *hugs tightly*
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol Oh, and "Simple and Clean" is copyright Hikaru Utada. Can't forget that!
Oh, and as always,
_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech
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Memories of the Present
Chapter 22: Simple and Clean
"No!"
"I need to go back!"
*When you walk away,
You don't hear me say
Pleeaasseee oh baby, don't go.*
"Kagome, wait!" He ran up to her, grabbed her upper arm tightly, and roughly turned her to face him again.
*Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight;
It's hard to let it go.*
"What are you doing?! Let me go!"
"I wasn't there!"
"You were! It was you; it had to have been!" She beat her fists weakly against his chest, and then collapsed against him, crying. " You held me... kissed me. It was you..."
*You're giving me
Too many things, lately.*
"How... how could you deny it?"
*You're all I need. (oh woah)*
He held her tightly, slight trickles of tears rolling across his cheeks. Laying his cheek in her hair, he spoke to her softy, voice tortured and afraid; "Kagome..."
*You smiled at me, and said
Don't get me wrong, I love you,*
"It couldn't have been."
*But does that mean I have to meet
Your father? (HUGE hint here.^_~ muahahaha!)
When we are older you'll understand
What I meant when I said no.*
"Fine!"
*I don't think
Life is quite that simple.*
She pulled away from him, tears forming a fragile barrier of hatred against the pain. If she ran he'd catch her, but he wouldn't always be there; he'd made that much clear, even if in a different sense. She'd get by somehow, if she kept trying hard enough. Kagome went running towards the well, a warm river of tears caressing her broken expression, droplets creating the pieces of her shattered soul.
*When you walk away,
You don't hear me say
Pleeaasseee oh baby, don't go.*
In a single jump he was in front of her, blocking her path towards the well. He grabbed her, and, when she struggled, threw his arms around her and held her to him as if his life depended on it. If he let her go now, there'd be no guarantee that she'd come back. He couldn't live without her; he couldn't let her leave. He needed her.
"I'm not letting you go."
*Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight;
It's hard to let it go. (so simple and cleeeaann)*
It was so warm... no, not again; she couldn't let it happen again! She had to learn! What could she say? There had to be something, anything! She just had to get away, for a while at least. She couldn't handle this right now, not now, not again.
"I have tests!"
*The daily things (like this and that and one plus one)
That keep us all, busy*
He only held on tighter, "But that's not why you're leaving!"
"I..." Her voice choked. What now?
*Are confusing me.*
"Kagome, who is it? Who was it?! I'LL KILL THEM!!! STOP HIDING THEM AND TRUST ME! I'll take care of you; I promise..."
*That's when you came to me, and said*
"Why are you denying it?! Don't you remember?!" Could she have been wrong?
"Kagome!"
*Wish I could prove I love you,
But does that mean I have to walk
On water?*
She thought back, remembering the moment they shared, no, there was no doubt in her mind. She could still feel his lips against hers, arms holding her protectively, as they always had, as they were now. There was nothing different, just less hidden. Maybe he didn't want to open up to her? Didn't he trust her?
"Listen to me!"
She had to know; there was no other way. Without trust there's no love, without love...
"Do you... do you love me?"
What was she saying?! Where did *that* come from? Was she trying to change the subject *again*?!
"Damnit Kagome, enough!"
*When we are older you'll understand
It's enough when I say so.*
Tears welled up in the hanyou's eyes. He wasn't ready to tell her, not yet. Why wouldn't she tell him who it was? What is she afraid of?
"That's right Inu Yasha," she stated icily, face suddenly hard despite her tears. She was tired of the game, tired of feeling like this. It had to end, even if just for now. That had been the last straw. "That's enough."
*And maybe, some things are that simple.*
Taking advantage of his pause, she pushed herself away from him slowly, trembling as she struggled to stand. Maybe, maybe this was the one time he wouldn't catch her, the one time she'd be able to escape. She gathered what little strength remained and bolted towards the well, leaving a trail of rainbow crystals in her wake.
*When you walk away,
You don't hear me say
Pleeaasseee oh baby, don't go.*
She tripped over her backpack, sending both flying towards the murky depths of the ancient well.
*Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight;
It's hard to let it go.*
"KAGOME!!!"
As she fell, she turned, face distorted with fear. Her hand reached towards the hanyou, her last hope at happiness.
"INU YASHA!!!"
*Hold me;
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on.*
The shards flew from her backpack as it hit the lip of the well, spilling but one.
*Regardless of warnings,
The future doesn't scare me at all.*
A light erupted from the well. Normally cobalt blue, it now turned a sickly orange color, as both Kagome and the shard fell to the bottom.
*Nothing's like before.*
Inu Yasha watched her trip and ran to her. He had to catch her; he had to talk to her. Kami, he couldn't let her go now!
*When you walk away,
You don't hear me say
Pleeaasseee oh baby, don't go.*
She screamed his name, and he ran, faster than he ever had before. He had to get to her; he had to protect her! She'd fallen before, why was he so scared now? The light, it was the wrong color! What was happening?
"KAGOME!!!"
*Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight;
It's hard to let it go.*
She was gone, but her bag was still there. He should return it and make sure that she was okay. Oh Kami, what was this horrible feeling?
Kagome...please be safe.
He jumped in after her, easily seeing the shard she had dropped. He'd have to put it with the others in her pack later.
"Kagome, I'm coming." As he dropped, the light didn't appear, and he hit the bottom with a soft thud. Hastily, he jumped out and back in, over and over, each time without success. "Oh no, NO, KAGOME!!! KAGOMEEE!!!!!" Tears spilled, unchecked, as his frantic mind tried to come up with an explanation, anything, just one.
There was only one conclusion; "She's... gone."
*Hold me;
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on.*
Why do I have this feeling that she's... she's never coming back?
"Kagome... I never got to tell you... no. YOU CAN'T BE GONE! NOT YET! I NEVER... I never..."
He collapsed to the ground; with no one around to hear him, he sobbed. "I love you Kagome... and," he straightened slightly, brows furrowed in determination, "No, this won't be it, this can't be the end."
"... I know what I must do."
*Regardless of warnings,
The future doesn't scare me at all.*
I know what I must do.
*Nothing's like before.*
"INU YASHA!!!"
*Hold me;
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on.*
Inu Yasha please... please don't leave me. I need you.
"I never got to tell you... oh please, please, Kami NO!!!!" She began to dig desperately through the dirt at the bottom of the well. Clumps flew behind her as her hands bloodied, fingernails filled to the brim with grime and tears. She screamed, but she didn't stop. " I NEED YOU!"
She dug until exhaustion took over, uttering one final thing before she passed out, "Please... don't leave me." The darkness had won.
*Regardless of warnings,
The future doesn't scare me at all.*
A lone figure stood above her, tears streaming down his shadowed, sullen face. As he neared the unconscious girl, one simple phrase was uttered through his parted lips; "I will never leave you."
*Nothing's like before.*