Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha….but this story owns me! Seriously I need to do homework and work and stuff but I just keep writing!
Warning: If you cried at the last chapter, take a moment to get more tissue before you read this one!
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1
Chapter Seven
Maiyami bent over and took in the fresh scent of wild flowers. Overhead the sun gave off a protective warmth as she skipped along back towards her mother. Kagome stood smiling, her hair blowing in the breeze. Next to her Inuyasha leaned up against the same tree she did, his fingers closed around her tiny hand. He was smiling, but more than that, his eyes were smiling. He looked truly content as she spoke. Both eyes were on each other, enjoying the moment.
"Mommy! Mommy!" She called as she approached. Suddenly she felt her foot get caught on something light and slivery. Falling she turned face to face with a snake about half her size. It hissed and coiled, barring its fangs and reeling back, ready to strike. Maiyami screamed, but it was quickly stifled. A warm body not much bigger than hers pulled her close and bounced out of the way. It set her down and turned.
"Fox fire!" it shouted. A sudden burst of fire-like light shot from its hands. Instantly the snake disappeared in silvery light. The tiny figure walked up beside Maiyami, who was crying softly.
"Don't worry Maiyami, it's ok now." The chibi fox boy placed his arm around her. "My name is Shippo and I'm a friend of your parents. The snake is gone now you don't have to worry."
"Th..Thank you...." Maiyami squeaked and sniffled. "For saving me...I mean....you didn't have to. I'm sure my mommy and daddy would have heard me."
"Probably true Yami-chan but remember this;" he grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. He smiled gently. "I will always protect you. Ok?"
'That smile…..'
"Maiyami?"
"Maiyami?"
She sniffled and opened her eyes. 'Just a dream...' she thought drowsily as her orbs focused. Her whole body was exhausted but she peeled herself away from Shippo's embrace.
'Shippo?! Oh wow, my dream was about Shippo...and mom...' her eyes teared up again. He looked at her face with concern. She turned away.
"Yami, its ok. You don't' have to wake up." His eyes were filled with tired emotion. "I just wanted to tell you that your father is back. He wants the funeral to be as soon as possible."
"Wh...why?" Maiyami stood and stretched every part of her body, including her ears. She walked over to her bag and pulled out deodorant.
"No one knows really....he's not saying much...." Shippo walked to the door. "Hitomi said that breakfast is ready. Are you coming?"
Maiyami smiled. "Yeah Shippo, in a minute."
"Ok..." he smiled back and closed the door behind him. Maiyami fingered her clothes in her duffle bag, pulling out a black shirt and pair of black capri's. She ran a brush through her hair, careful to avoid her ears. Pulling on shoes, she joined her "family".
The sun outside was inviting. Not like anyone in the group noticed. They ate their breakfast in silence, with the occasional "This is good Sango." or "Wonderful breakfast Sango." escaping someone's lips. Finally Inuyasha broke the mold.
"Monk, how soon can we cremate her?" He mumbled under his breath.
"Um...I suppose this afternoon Inuyasha. But do you think that is wise con-"
"Thank you." He grumbled and got up from the table. "I'll be with...her..." Without another sound he left the room. Maiyami took a deep breath and set down her food.
"Thank you Aunt Sango, it was really good." She smiled and followed her father.
Sango smirked slightly as she gathered up their plates. 'She's so much like her mother sometimes. Polite and also knows her father pretty well.'
"You should probably leave them be Shippo." Miroku mumbled as he sipped his tea. Shippo stopped mid-step and sat back down.
"I...I guess your right." His blue eyes shifted across the room. "I just wish I knew what to say to her....but what do you say?"'I barley know how to handle my own grief....' he thought sadly.
"If you care about her, you may not need to say anything at all." Hitomi sat back on her elbows and stretched. "Just let her be herself right now. I mean, she's in a completely different world, surrounded by a new group of people and she just lost something very familiar and close to her."
"I'm changing the subject, but Shippo can you help me with the preparations?" Miroku stood. And brought his food towards Sango. "I know that Inuyasha's pretty anxious, and I don't want to keep him waiting...."
"Sure Miroku. I'll meet you outside." Shippo somberly walked out the door and into the awaiting sun.
Tenderly Miroku wrapped his arms around his wife from behind as she starred out the window in a daze.
"Oh!" she jumped, and then relaxed. "You scared me Houshi."
"You looked like you needed a hug, love." She wrapped her arms around his and they stood for a moment, admiring the gardens outside.
"I....I feel so sorry for Inuyasha." she whispered. "They were so in love...it's just not fair." Turning, she looked deep into his purple eyes. "I know Kagome is in a wonderful place and that she is watching over him, but he will never be the same again. And what's going to happen with Maiyami?" She blinked and tears fell silently. Miroku caught them with kisses.
"I don't know Sango-chan. But things will turn out alright. You'll see." He smiled and pulled away, lingering for a moment before stepping outside. Sango sighed and called Hitomi over...it was time for their daily lessons.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Maiyami and Inuyasha sat in silence for what seemed like hours. Both were expressionless as they starred at her body, covered lightly by a sheet in the middle of the room. Candles and incense burned wildly until suddenly Inuyasha stood, flexed his claws and slashed, causing all lights to stop.
"Thanks Dad...it was really starting to stink in here." Maiyami said, but received no reply. He seemed to be suppressing something dire and important, but she had no way of knowing how to get him to speak with her. Again there was silence. For an eternity. Finally Maiyami spoke again.
"She loved you Daddy." She paused, allowing the innocence and truth of that statement make its way to the depths of Inuyashas hidden heart. He looked up at her, perplexed for a moment, and then he suddenly....smiled? And bit his lip.
"She loved you to Mai-chan." Tears welled in his eyes slightly and he walked to his daughter, putting an arm around her. That was all it took for Maiyami to lose it completely. She cried into her fathers shoulder, losing all sense of dignity and self restraint. He let silent tears fall gently, keeping his eyes fixed on the still figure. Together they were lost in grief.
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
Eventually Shippo and Miroku came for Kagome's body, and brought it outside. Whatever walls Maiyami had partially knocked down with her heartfelt words to her father were instantly brought back up as soon as other people entered the equation. They all stood in the darkest clothes they owned as clouds formed overhead, threatening rain but not producing any.
"Perhaps we should wait until the skies are clear." Miroku inquired, knowing his words were in vain.
"No." Inuyasha stood expressionless as he picked up Kagome and set her on the funeral pire. For a moment he let his guard down and furrowed his brow, ignoring every part of her but the way her face looked so unsettled, not at rest at all. There were no words he could say. He took a deep breath, cutting out the stench of death and the bastard demon and just focusing on her scent alone, however little there was of it. Brushing her bangs out of the way he kissed her forehead gently, letting loose a barley audible sob before containing himself again. He took her hand and easily slipped off her wedding ring, placing it on his pinkie finger beside his own. He turned to walk away but suddenly turned back and hugged her body tightly, placing his head on her chest.
"I love you...." he whispered. "Im so sorry....I'll take care of Maiyami......Please forgive me Kagome......" Cutting loose his hold he walked back somberly to the group, taking the lighter from Miroku's hand and setting the fire below her himself. He stood next to Maiyami, silent.
For a while they watched her burn. Sango's sobbing body rested against one side of Miroku and Hitomi's tear filled expression on his other. He allowed tears to fall with his girls.
Shippo could barley stand it. He wanted so badly to take all the pain away from Maiyami but knew nothing could help her right now. Not while she watched her mother's body turn to ash.
She was nearly as expressionless as her father. Mostly Shippo was hiding his own sense of loss in his concern for her.
Eventually the flames died out, though the lingering stench of burning flesh did not. Ignoring that, Miroku and Inuyasha gathered up Kagome's ashes and placed them in an urn. The dog demon suddenly dashed into the house and came back with a small jar attached to a necklace.
"What is that?" Maiyami asked, stopping before entering the house to see what her father was up to.
"When I used to travel with your mother and hunt for jewel shards, she kept some in here." He replied and carefully placed some of the ashes in the jar. Placing the bottle stopper back on the top he put the necklace around his neck and sighed. 'At least I can carry some of her with me.....'
Maiyami smiled. "Well then it only seems natural you should put her ashes in there." She began to walk back to her house, but was stopped by a clawed hand.
"Maiyami, after dinner I want you to pack up your things and say your goodbyes." He let go of her. "Just bring your essentials. Your going back to your time."
"What?!" Maiyami screeched. "No way! I just got here! What about my training?!" 'What about Shippo!?' her mind screamed.
"Its too dangerous for you here." Inuyasha growled. "And you will do as I say. Now go have dinner."
"No!" she crossed her arms across her chest. "Not a chance Dad. Mom wanted me to train here and that's what I'm going to do. Look at me!" She pointed frantically to her body. "I need to know what I am Dad! So that I can defend myself!"
"Now is not the time for that!" he screamed back at her. He calmed and closed his eyes, trying to suppress his temper. " I can train you back in our time. But I wont make the same mistake again. You women don't belong here."
"Yes we do." Maiyami growled at her father. "Mom could kick ass and you know it! This was a fluke and there is something fishy about it."
"Don't call your mothers murder a fluke!" Inuyasha's eyes darted, as if he could tell there was some truth to her statement. "Don't you think that if was anybodies fault besides my own I would have left them alive?!"
"No....but I think it was a dead end... I don't know Dad. I just have a feeling ok!?" Maiyami walked out away from the shrine and towards the sunset more. She gazed at it, again feeling the urge to run. Her body ached from emotion, but she felt as if she could just run away, everything would be alright. She heard her father's steps approach and to her surprise, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Your mother used to get feelings too Mai-chan." He looked at the orange streaks just peaking through the clouds.
"That's where I figured I got it from." She mumbled, than straightened herself up. "Look Dad, I know it seems like she is gone, but I just can't accept it. I don't FEEL her gone. I guess that doesn't make much sense."
He continued to stare straight ahead, fingers playing with Kagomes wedding ring on his hand. Taking it off he held it to the light.
"She hated it when I called her 'women'....." his voice trailed off as he starred intently at the ring.
"I can imagine...." Maiyami added.
"So when we got married I had her ring engraved to say "I love you my women, love your man'.... but I'm having trouble seeing it though Mai can you look?" He handed her the tiny ring. She bended and flexed her body, looking at it in different lights. Finally she ran her fingers over the inside of the band.
"Dad this is perfectly smooth. It doesn't feel like there is any engraving." He gave her a perplexed look and took the ring back.
"What?! Impossible..." testing the ring himself, he gasped as suddenly it turned to dust in his fingertips and blew away with the wind.
"Oh Kami!" Maiyami screeched and pointed. "What the heck?!"
Inuyasha's eyes widened. He quickly pulled out his necklace that contained all her ashes to see that they were gone. Turned to dust and slipped away with the wind even through the glass.
"How...how can this be?!" his voice was raised as he looked at his daughter.
Suddenly from behind them they heard a massive explosion. Turning simultaneously they watched the shrine burst into flames higher than they had ever seen in person. The entire place was aflame.
"Shippo!" Maiyami instinctively screamed as they ran towards the engulfing flames.
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Du Du Daaa!!!! Cliffhanger!
Review!
Thanks to:
Kirei: I will keep on writing! Thanks!
I am Shippo: Boo-ya yourself! LOL Thanks so much!
Sailor Mini Venus: Ya you know your story is sad when your crying while writing it.
Kim: Thanks!
Smiley-chan: LOL! I didn't mean to make so many people cry….Im loving there pairing too….so many things I could do with this story!
Robbie: Sounds like a neat story! Thanks for reading mine!
A girl and her muses: Takahashi needs to forgive me too! Im so impatient with her…gotta write fluffs to satisfy that hopeless romantic in me while I wait for fluff from her! Thanks for reading!
Trinity 33- I love the idea of an older shippo. My best friend and I have always wondered if we will see a glimpse of him ever (besides the one episode at the very end) because spank! Im trying to give Sango and Hitomi bigger roles but its just not fitting in right now. I am going to write another story involving more adventures of Shippo and Yami (shes there for a whole summer!) so Hitomi will get a bit more of a part then. Thanks and keep reading! I shall have to check out yours!
Velvetwilight: Don't worry it shall be happy….it just had to get worse before it gets better!
Inuyashagurl: Thanks!
Thanks to all of you! Please keep reading! I shall have an update by tomorrow because Im freakish like that!