Hello! Here's the final chapter, hope you've enjoyed the story!
Hokuto, ladykaa28, & River Daughter : Thank you for your reviews, hope you like this chapter, too!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 5: A Continuation – and a Beginning
I wait in front of the girl's door for someone to let me in. I have a corsage in my hand, which my mother insisted I had to give her. I don't like how it smells, so I'm sure it will annoy me the entire evening.
Someone finally opens the door, and I see that it's the girl.
"Miura-kun!!!"
I try my best not to cringe, that was so loud and squeaky.
"Uh, hi."
Remembering the corsage, I say, "This is for you," as I outstretch my arm.
"For me?! Wow! I have a boutonniere for you, too!"
"Ok."
Now I'll have to smell that, too, how annoying.
"Come in, come in, Miura-kun!" she says as she grabs my arm and pulls me in.
"You can meet my parents!"
Oh, wonderful, that's what I really want to do.
"Mom!!! Dad!!!" she screams.
Her parents walk in, her mother carrying a camera and a camcorder.
"Oh! Our little sweetie is growing up!" she shouts as she takes pictures.
The father walks up to me and, in a stern voice says, "You must be Miura Itsuki."
What's with this guy?
"Yeah."
The girl steps between us and yells, "Dad! What are you doing?!"
After she pins the boutonniere on me and her mother takes about a million pictures and video records for what seems like hours, we finally escape, her talking incessantly the whole way there.
When we arrive at the school she says, "Coming with you, Miura-kun, it's a dream come true!"
"Uh, ok."
She grabs onto my arm again and drags me as she says in a whiney voice, "Come on, Miura-kun, I want to dance!"
As we walk on the dance floor, I see her off to the side, wearing a light blue dress and a matching headband, and looking even more beautiful than ever…
"Miura-kun!!! What are you doing?" the girl whines.
Unfortunately having been jolted back into reality, I say, "Oh."
I follow her as she finds a spot on the dance floor, but I can't get myself to dance when she starts.
"Miura-kun, what's the matter? Why aren't you dancing?"
I lie and say, "I don't like to dance."
She takes hold of my hands and says, "Don't worry, Miura-kun, it will be fun."
I look and see her with the moron, dancing together, so I respond, "Sure, I will."
"Great!"
We dance to some fast songs, and I try to make it look like I'm having a good time.
I feel guilty, though I came with Hojou-kun, I can't help but think about him, and what I realized earlier by the Goshinboku, that I am almost certainly the reincarnation of Kikyo, and that he is likely the reincarnation of Inuyasha; after all, he has better hearing and smell than usual and, when we were near the Goshinboku, I realized that what the fortuneteller told me was so similar to their story.
"Are you having a nice time, Higurashi?"
Startled, I force a smile and say, "Yes, Hojou-kun."
"I'm glad, I was so happy when you said that you would come with me."
I avert my eyes from Hojou-kun and look at him instead. I was so surprised when I saw him here, and even more so when I saw that he had a date, they look like they're enjoying themselves. Even if we aren't the reincarnations of Kikyo and Inuyasha, I still find it painful to watch them together.
"Higurashi, is something wrong?" Hojou-kun says with a concerned expression.
Not wanting to upset him, I smile and say, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern though."
But, I soon realize that I am not fine.
I look at Hojou-kun and say, "I'm sorry, Hojou-kun, can you excuse me for a minute, I, I need to get some fresh air."
Appearing worried, he answers, "Ok, Higurashi."
I walk quickly out of the room and outside. The wind feels cold and harsh, but is easier to take than what faces me inside. I sit on a low stonewall and watch the couples walk and talk together, making me feel out of place. I stand up and start to walk when I hear someone approaching me quickly. It must be Hojou-kun, but I can't deal with him now. I quicken my pace, and am frustrated when I hear him do the same.
"Please, stop following me!" I shout.
He stops and I turn around, and am shocked to see that it's him.
"I, I noticed you leaving, you – looked upset," he says, looking away from me.
"You – you came here because you were worried about me?"
He looks back at me with a frown, "As if I would worry about you."
I smile sadly and look away from him as I answer, "You're right, that was stupid of me. After all, you care about her."
Strangely, he looks startled at first, but then angry as he says, "You like that moron."
Angry I step forward and say, "No, I don't! I've never liked Hojou-kun, I stupidly thought that maybe I could, that that would be good for me, but all it's done is make me realize what a fool I am, because I missed the chance with a person I realized that I do care about."
He steps forward and says, "Who?"
I look away in embarrassment and reply, "You, Itsuki."
To my surprise, he answers, "I don't like that girl, either. I went with her to try to prove to you - and to me - that you weren't important to me, that I could be happy without you. I'm a fool, too, Kagome."
I look up at him in surprise as tears begin to roll down my face. He embraces me, and I know, from the way that I feel in his arms, this feeling that has been engrained in my soul, that we are indeed the reincarnations of Kikyo and Inuyasha. We separate and smile, and I think, what Kikyo and Inuyasha have done is truly a miracle, allowing their souls to find each other again and again, and their reincarnations to gain their own love.
