A/N- I was going to leave the Hojo piece as a one shot, but then I started thinking of ways to continue it. This is about Kaede and her feelings on Inu-Yasha and Kagome, and Kikyo too. I don't think it's as good as the first chapter; maybe I'll revise it later. I don't know if there will be another part. If you have any suggestions of character viewpoint, preferably not one seen much the please tell me. How? Hey! You could review! Please?
Italics are Kaede's thoughts
Disclaimer: I don't own it! (Rumiko Takahashi does)
Witness: Kaede
A warm, low, laugh cut briefly through the air of the quite village. Kaede looked up from her garden, cringing only slightly at the pains of her aging back.
Well, really 'tis my whole body aging.
Unlike Kagome, it was most likely that Kaede did have some sort of arthritis. She turned her mind (still fine as ever) to the laugh which she heard once more. Had it been the laugh of anyone else, Kaede would not have been disturbed from her gardening, even the laugh of the lecherous, but always calm and collected monk or that of the serious and grieving demon huntress she had heard often enough not to be alarmed. No, only the laugh of Inu-Yasha could give Kaede such pause.
Inu-Yasha…do you realize what she has done to you? When in your life have you laughed like that? Do you understand that this is your second chance? Have you achieved the redemption that my dear sister never will? Have you earned it? Did you ever really not deserve it?
Kaede took slow plodding steps, noting the position of the wind. She wanted to see them, to see the look of momentary peace on his face. Even if he would rant and curse her to the day she died if he ever found out she had spied on him. She wanted to see him, to see him happier than he had been in who knew how many years. Happier than he had been with her sister. And she knew who she would find in his company.
A remarkable girl indeed. Her power is astonishing. But still I wonder. Could this have been my sister, in a different world, with different results? Could I have enjoyed the laughter of my sister and her husband, the human Inu-Yasha? Would he truly have become human for her? How true was their love, short time that it was allowed to live unfettered by hate and loss?
The two came into view, a short distance away. She dared not go closer. She saw them well; her eyes had not yet gone. Sitting in his tree, looking at the sky, shoulders softly touching, smiling like for a moment they had not another care. If she had been able to see closer she would have noticed that their hands were gently entwined. The sight as it was, seen from a bit of a distance, was one that brought feelings of happiness as well as bitter sorrow to the old lady Kaede.
Could that have ever been you Kikyo? I really can't say. Were you ever that alive, even while you drew breath? You and Inu-Yasha never touched in life, this I know. You never got too close…Would you have melted each others hearts, given the chance, or remained both cold, both alone. This girl, she is so alive, perhaps more alive than ever was Kikyo. Always emotional, she lives by her heart. She overflows with tears, with laughter, what Kikyo would have called weakness. That which Inu-Yasha new little of in his difficult life. Can they really be the same, my noble sister and this mere girl?
Kaede continued to watch them and Inu-Yasha leaned closer to Kagome, as he touched her face with gentle hands, careful of his claws. As he touched his lips to hers. All of it was tender, tender moments that her sister would never know.
So careful Inu-Yasha…well she is a weak human isn't she. In the end that was all Kikyo was as well. But Kagome has seen so much, has taken on so much responsibility in such a shorter time that my sister. My sister grew up knowing of the dangers of this world. Kagome comes from another world, a world that is peaceful and kind to her, where she goes to school. Yet she shoulders battle after battle, wound after wound, heartache after heartache, more than Kikyo endured even, excepting perhaps that last betrayal. Or apparent betrayal. Kikyo dealt with it by being distant, by seeming above it all. Kagome remained so human. Kikyo was a hero, She was so graceful, so helpful so perfect and beautiful. If not for her I would have lost more than an eye. And I was so excited that she had found someone like her…Inu-Yasha…who would become human and live with her…would make her a human too she said. But then why could she not be human without him? She was merciful, powerful, sisterly, motherly, beautiful, what did she not have? But could she have melted his heart, as this girl has? Or would they have remained as islands. Would they have, either of them, been human in Kikyo's mind?
Kaede closed her eyes as tears came unbidden. She did not see a red angry blur coming towards her. But she did hear the growl of warning followed by a grumble of recognition and displeasure before she opened her eyes again.
"Hello Inu-Yasha." He grumbled, embarrassed that his worry about the rustle in the brush had been nothing but the old priestess. A friend. Of course, he couldn't see how amazing it was that they could be considered friends now, she and he who she had hated for so many years. From the tree, his tree, Kagome snapped his attention away from both the pain in his embarrassment and from Kaede.
"Inu-Yasha! Could you help me here?"
"Feh, weakling wench. Can't even get out of a tree." But it was easy to see through the mask of gruffness that he hastily pulled to his face in front of Kaede. But still there was something in his countance.
Guilt. Do I make you feel guilty Inu-Yasha, guilty that you have found a new love, a stronger love? A love you never will, maybe never could share with my sister? Maybe you never even loved her. It could have been naught but first infatuation, a need to not be alone, sympathy, pity; you did not really know emotion then. It could after all be nothing but puppy love that has driven you to protect her in her new "life." Puppy love, loyalty, and guilt.
"Do not feel guilty Inu-Yasha." His eyes betrayed him and showed that he understood the statement even though he scoffed. "What have I got to be guilty for" he turned to go retrieve Kagome only to see her now hanging from the high branch that had been their perch. She was grinning at him in a way that was difficult to read, looking utterly unafraid of her position. Kaede settled for being moderately concerned rather than confused.
After all, the girl is from another time; look at the clothes she wears! Inu-Yasha doesn't seem to be taking this so well.
"Damn it Kagome! What the fucking hell do you think you're doing?"
"What happened to wanting me to get down alone?"
"Getting down? You're going to break your weak neck!"
"You'll catch me though right?" and with a shrug she let go. And he did catch her, moving faster than Kaede would have imagined possible. Kaede following at as close to a normal speed as she could saw Inu-Yasha's face, a mask of fury, tinged, nay covered, with worry and care. She watched and drew closer as Kagome laughed in his face. The confession Inu-Yasha had made, that he wanted her, that he chose her over Kaede's sister, had taken away the cloud of heartbreak that had begun to enclose around her. She was free and happy as she had ever been, sometimes as if still a child though still caring and a little guilty, about his first love (if that's what it really was).
She's guilty too. She also feels that I must resent this, their happiness. But do I? Is that what the sisterly duty in my heart is saying? But I can't. Kagome…she's like a granddaughter, and so happy and innocent. A wonderful thing to be so innocent after such trying times. So like and unlike my sister. And Inu-Yasha. I can hold no grudge against him. He was tricked as much as my sister and has suffered as much. No, they deserve each other. They are alike. Maybe more alike than my sister and Inu-Yasha, with their fierceness, their passion, their will, their strength, their youth…Kikyo was always old for her years…
"Kaede…" Kagome's voice was soft and hesitant. Kaede, had she not known Kagome for so long, would have thought of how the voice was like Kikyo's but a bit higher, more girlish. As it was, the voice broke Kaede out of her thoughts and she looked at the girl frowning in front of her, no longer free of worry.
"Sorry child. What is it?"
"I was just wondering why you came. Is something wrong? Do you need help with something?" Kaede smiled at her.
"No, just out for a walk. I was gardening when something distracted me."
"Feh" and the hanyou let out a snort of laughter. It was not, however like the laughter that had brought the old priestess away from her gardening. She had heard him laugh like this before. Scornful, sarcastic, ready to fight, she had heard him laugh in each of these situations. But it was not the laugh of earlier, free and full and truly happy.
"It was nice to hear you laugh Inu-Yasha" Kaede's statement made Kagome laugh, her own lilting musical tune and Inu-Yasha turn red. He turned his head away defiantly and it was then that Kaede noticed that the string of beads around his neck was missing. For a moment she was gripped with fear, old fear of the monster, who, feeling betrayed had torn apart her home, fear of the monster that she once believed killed her sister, fear of the monster that had nearly killed the girl beside him.
But he isn't that monster any more, is he? She trusts him, more than I had imagined. Those beads bound them together. They were her safety device to keep him in line. That she would take them off…
Kagome, being a smart girl, followed the path of Kaede's eyes. She looked uneasy again.
"I took them off Kaede."
"So I figured." Inu-Yasha, finished pouting, was looking at Kaede suspiciously, though his eyes remained trustful. If one thing most obviously could be noticed to have changed it was his eyes. They always showed emotion now.
"What is it to you?"
"I was only curious why Kagome released her control over you." Kagome scrunched her nose a small bit. She was always more on the cute side, whereas Kikyo had been more beautiful.
"I just wanted to show that I trusted him. He said he won't leave me, or hurt me. I want him to know that I believe him." Inu-Yasha feh'd again and Kagome glared at him.
"But what if he should become a full demon again?" this was the only worry she could find reason in.
"Well, I'll just have to make sure that that doesn't happen. And besides. I could control it if I tried. You think I am some kind of weakling?" he looked somewhere between fierce warrior and pouting child. Kaede repressed her desire to smile.
"You misunderstand me."
"I still have the beads. Would it work the same if I put them back on?" Kaede thought. Well, her spell should hold to them, so that any time they were placed around his neck. But still…
Kagome was way ahead of her though. She pulled the beads out of her pocket and tossed them around his neck.
"Sit boy!" in the split second before he hit the ground Inu-Yasha looked confused, almost hurt. Then he was all cursing and growling, when he regained the ability to move freely.
"Bitch! What the hell was that for?" but she kissed him on the nose when she took off the beads, and the hurt that had momentarily crossed his face at the beads being put back on him was gone. He was thus silenced and Kaede made ready to leave them alone. Walking away she could not help but mutter to the sky.
"Kikyo, may you find your peace without destroying ours…"
When did this become my peace? When did this strange group; this happy girl from the future, this rough and lonely demon, the lecherous cursed monk, the tormented demon exterminator, the orphaned kitsune, become my family? I never had such a family, in 50 years I have had naught by the ghost of my sister. Will he still be pulled to hell with her; will he leave Kagome behind to carry out his old obligations?
But she was interrupted from her thoughts again by Inu-Yasha. He had sharp ears after all and he now looked at her solemnly.
"I'll help her find her peace. I…don't want to have to leave but I'll protect her and help her find her peace, no matter what." He looked at Kagome, who was looking back sadly.
How quickly all that joy fades. Kikyo, already you disrupt our peace, with your hatred, your thirst for vengeance. In your rebellion from death you cause so much hurt.
Kaede kept walking, as her companions paused.
"Kagome…I have to…I made a promise."
"I know Inu-Yasha." In that statement Kaede heard age. Kagome could be old for her years too. "I…I understand." She sounded sad but there was something else too. Was it pride, for his loyalty? Was it hope, that he could give Kikyo peace and keep his life? Was it fear that he would be lost? "I don't want you do go to hell."
Kikyo…please leave them be…
"I have to give her peace Kagome."
"It wasn't your fault."
But what is fault but guilt, and what is guilt but compassion and loss?
"It was. I'm responsible for her in any case."
"You still love her…"
"She is my responsibility."
"You said you loved me"
"I do" he said it gruffly, but even Kaede, almost out of hearing range could hear conviction.
"I'll stay with you."
"I know. I'll try not to go to hell. I'm responsible for you too."
Do your responsibilities conflict Inu-Yasha. Will you bear them? Can you fulfill all that you feel you owe?
"Love isn't about responsibility. But I'll be responsible for you too."
"Feh. I don't need you to take care of me"
"I can take care of myself too."
"Feh, you're just a weak human, you almost killed yourself just trying to climb down a tree"
"Sit!"
"…"
"Damn!" Kaede smiled. It was unusual to hear Kagome swear. Kaede didn't hear Inu-Yasha's reply, but was satisfied, when, maybe half an hour while later, she was once again distracted from her gardening by the sound of warm low laughter. A moment later that laughter was joined by another laugh this one also warm but unmistakably feminine.
They stumble and struggle but make it back to happiness. In the end will they even get to be together? Kikyo…sister…I am sorry that you never had a chance to see if you could melt his heart, to see if you could laugh together. I pray for you to find peace quickly. For the sake of all of us.
In the distance, by an oh-so familiar tree. Inu-Yasha laughed again, in that small moment able to think of a future without hell, indeed without fighting, a future of happiness. And the two, caught up in love, did not feel the sympathy of the old priestess, striving to shield them from trials ahead as she gardened, though it was as generous and as warm as their laughter.
Forgive me sister that I have let my heart be melted by the power of that strange girl as well. Forgive us all our life in the wake of your death.
That's it for now. Did you like it? Should it not have been part of the same story as the first? Did you hate it because you thought the characters were too OOC? Did you like it? Love it? Want to flame me? Please review!
