My Immortal - part 2

Dropping her pencil on the desk with a clatter, she turned to look out the window. How long ago was it when her life had some semblance of normalcy? When all she had to worry about was her next test, her grandfather's next droning lecture, or Sota's next burst of curiosity. A time when stories were just stories, legends were only legends, and tradition merely a routine of every day life. A time before when the past mattered.

She slid open the widow and leaned on the sill, watching the sun die in a gentle blaze of crimson and gold. Colors just like his red haori and expressive eyes. Frustrated, she slammed the glass shut and flopped on the bed. Burying her face in the smooth pillow with a groan, she began the long process of once again sorting out her thoughts concerning a half-demon five hundred years from the past.

These wounds won't seem to heal

Besides losing her average high school life, she also seemed to have lost her level headedness. No matter how often she told herself that she was happy with her friends from the Feudal era, something in her heart would cry. She knew her place in that time and this. Her duty was to save the world from Naraku and his darkness. Reincarnated miko or not, her conscience would not allow inaction when she knew her strange new powers were needed. Which led her right back to the source of her problem. Once she thought she knew who she was - just plain Kagome. Now there was Kikyo, possibly her ancestor, possibly herself in another lifetime. But those lifetimes had overlapped. And as if to laugh at her, Fate placed one unique hanyou between them.

This pain is just too real

She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. He had done it again, avoiding her yet for some reason never able to let her out of sight for more than a few moments. It hurt being reminded that her presence was a reflection of an impossibly cruel past. His warm eyes were dim with memory that afternoon like they always were after coming across Kikyo. He hardly ever looked in her direction for hours, sometimes days after. Those few times he did were only heralds of even greater moments of torment.

Why did she care so much? Her friends were right, he was selfish, rude, crass, and insensitive. Yet there was something about him deep inside which she kept finding glimpses of, something so small and delicate which made her want to reach out and cradle in her hands like a snowflake. She knew that inside he was still a child, not much older than herself. She also knew that he had seen more suffering and abuse than any innocent heart should endure. How on earth could she think he would ever see the care she had for him? How could he understand, when she didn't understand herself?

There's just too much that time cannot erase

There were endless times when she had been reminded that she didn't hold a candle to Kikyo. Kikyo had paid the ultimate sacrifice for her love, and what could a simple mortal girl from centuries in the future compare? All she could do was collect the shards of the Shikon which she had shattered in the first place.

Kagome got up and walked to the kitchen. Sota was rummaging in the cabinets as she opened the freezer. He came out with a bag of potato chips as she dished out a serving of ice cream. Mother and Grandfather were already in bed. She winked at her brother before sitting down at the table. He giggled and went back into the living room with his video games. Taking up her spoon, she contemplated on what might have happened if she had never fallen through that well. Granted, things would be much more simple, but very dull. In her previous sixteen years she had been the model student, caring daughter, and responsible older sister. But sometimes in the dead of night she would wake up abruptly for no apparent reason and feel an intense longing for something... possibly someone? If she hadn't fallen into that other time, she would have never known how strong she was, or how strong friendship could be. She would have never loved.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

Why couldn't he see her as... well... at least as an equal. Hoping for anything more at the moment would be frivolous and open to a harsh disappointment. He was so walled up against the world inside. He had no family - she mentally rephrased that thought - no caring family, and no real reason to trust anyone. Everyone he could turn to had left or turned on him. But it was unfair that he should turn that judgment on her. Of all the hundreds of times she had tried to separate herself from Kikyo, he still held that grudge against her.

Frustration boiled over and she dug her spoon into her dessert. "I am who I am and no one can tell me otherwise." Just like him.

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

All those times when he had lost himself in his demon blood still haunted her. His warm golden eyes turned a vicious red without any trace of humanity. When Tetsusaiga failed how could any of them know that his sanity would leave him. At first even in his crazed, battle hungry state, he recognized her. But later on, neither her voice nor the binding spell could stop him. Once he wanted the Shinkon to turn into a full demon, but would that mean sacrificing his human soul? When he fell in love with Kikyo, they had planned on making him fully human, but then would he lose his strength to protect? The only way to end the cycle of chaos surrounding the Shinkon was to destroy it. But by what method? Where would she, Kagome, stand once it was finished?

And I've held your hand through all of these years

She rinsed out her ice cream bowl and left it in the sink. Watching the water flow over her hands, she sighed. Demon and man and child all rolled into one. Each one making one an entirely unique being. Taking away a part would destroy the person she had come to cherish. She didn't want him to become a demon, or a man - just simply Inuyasha. She wanted to stand by his side and help him through the rest of eternity.

But you still have all of me

Turning off the kitchen lights, she noticed the sudden silence throughout the house. Sota had gone to bed. The clock told her it was just past midnight and yet she was wide awake. Perhaps a short walk would help.

I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

Somehow her feet led her to the foot of the Kami tree. Her mother had said that it always gave her peace, so maybe it could do the same for her. Starlight and moonlight cast confusing shadows on the ground in an almost hypnotizing pattern. The wind swept gently through the courtyard, as if in encouragement. She stood for a while, simply gazing up at the ancient tree and the tear shaped scar on it's trunk. This is where she first met Inuyasha. This is where it started.

Carefully she climbed over the low wooden fence around the base of the tree. Settling herself against it's base, she couldn't help smiling. His ears were the first thing which had caught her attention. Almost catlike in their appearance and extremely easy to read when he was thinking. Cute ears placed with a not-so-cute attitude. She shook her head fondly.

"Inuyasha, you idiot. Even at times like these I can't help but forgive you."

Closing her eyes, she drew her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. No matter how angry she was, she always returned. She knew she always would return until the well's magic prevented her passage.

And though you're still with me

Her mother had said that this is where her father proposed. It was a place of new beginnings. Perhaps it was fitting that she turn over a new leaf of life here. From now on, she would not deny that she loved Inuyasha. Whatever came of it, she would accept. She would go back in the morning with a clean slate and fall back into the routine of shard searching. All that would change would be her understanding.

A warm breeze wrapped around her, caressing her eyes shut. With a sigh she let herself drift to sleep.

I've been alone all along

Only a scrape of claws on wood gave away another in the shadows. Kagome's curled figure shifted unconsciously as caring eyes watched. Silently standing over her, Inuyasha smirked. Gently gathering her up, he let her head nestle in the hollow between his shoulder and chin. Her hand instinctively clutched the collar of his haori and she murmured,

"Inuyasha..."

Walking towards her house, he made sure that those inside were preoccupied before leaping to her window. Once inside he was faced with the slight problem of untangling himself from her tightly grasping hands.

She came partially awake as he tucked her under the covers and gave her head an awkward pat. Rolling over, she caught him by the sleeve as he turned back to the window. Without a word, she tugged. He hesitated,

"Kagome?"

She pulled again and he relented. Curling up on the bed alongside her, he blinked in surprised when she drew his arm over her. With his nose practically buried in the back of her neck, he barley caught her sleepy whisper,

"Tired of being 'lone."

He waited until her breathing slowed and deepened before daring to move. Shifting slightly closer, he nuzzled her ear before ever-so-gently nipping her neck.

"So am I."

Author's Note: Hee hee... I loved the ending. I think one of the best scenes is during the episode when Kagome is sick and he makes her his mother's medicine. Then he gives her a pat while she's getting ready to sleep. It takes a lot for me to gush, but I couldn't help thinking 'Awwww!!!'

Everyone, you're the best for reviewing. I hope I fulfilled your expectations.