Ready for more Kagome torture? Mu ha ha – read on…
Releasing Your Heart: A Shoulder to Cry On
by arisu-the-pink
Sango's first clue that her trip had been successful was the stench of modern-day pollution. She recalled Inuyasha whining about how it offended his sensitive nose and had to admit the hanyou wasn't exaggerating. Her second clue was the presence of an old man in strange clothing peering down at her from above.
"Demon be gone!" He threw small pieces of paper at her, which Sango recognized as demon wards. The man backed away from the well, an angry look on his face.
"I assure you, I'm not a demon." Sango climbed the walls of the well, finally jumping out of it to stand before the gentleman. This must be Kagome's grandfather, she realized with amusement. Kagome had told many stories about the eccentric old man. "I am a friend of Kagome's from the Sengoku Jidai. I have come to return something to her." Deciding it was safe Sango held out her hand to reveal the Shikon-no-Tama.
"Shikon-no-Tama!" Grandfather's eyes widened. The woman seemed harmless enough. If she were a demon, his wards surely would have disabled her by now. "Kagome is in the house. Come with me."
The walk across the shrine courtyard filled Sango with a mixture of fear and wonder. True, the air was tainted with that pungent, gassy stench. Yet the view she gaped from beyond the fence was awe-inspiring. Such large towers! Were all the inhabitants of Kagome's world wealthy lords?
Moments later she found herself standing in the Higurashi kitchen where the smells were far more familiar and delicious. Sango instantly recognized the petite seventeen-year-old standing at what appeared to be a small waterfall. "Kagome-chan! I've found you!"
That voice! Could it be? Kagome turned around quickly, dropping her knife into the sink. The corners of her mouth rose into a bright smile at the sight of her old girlfriend. "Sango-chan! It really is you!" The two friends embraced and the old man excused himself to the living room.
"Sango-chan," Kagome suddenly sobered as various frightening thoughts flew through her mind, "why are you here? Has something happened?"
"Yes, but something quite wonderful." She again held out her hand, this time dropping its contents into Kagome's palm. "The Shikon-no-Tama."
So it's over, Kagome stared, amazed, at the orb she now held. But what about -- "Naraku?" She wiped her free hand on her apron and led Sango to the kitchen table, seating herself across from the other young woman.
"Inuyasha and Kikyou got their revenge," Sango answered as she tested Kagome's reaction. For a fleeting moment she thought she read a flicker of -- what? Regret? Sadness? The hint of emotion was quickly replaced by a neutral mask of interest. Sango plodded on. "Naraku cast off his human heart, but it wasn't enough. When we defeated his attachments and others abandoned him he was left unguarded. I believe seeing Kikyou and Inuyasha working together to defeat him was the final straw." Still no reaction from Kagome. Was the girl over him that easily?
"I'm almost done with dinner," Kagome said quickly, rising again from her seat. "Let's go upstairs to my room. I want to hear all about the others. How is Shippou-chan?"
"He's well," Sango replied shocked by her friend's indifference to the battle with Naraku. "Just several days ago he was telling us that he wanted to grow up to be like Inuyasha. He's gotten so much taller, Kagome-chan. You'd be so proud of him."
"And Miroku? Still patting your ass inappropriately?" Kagome winked at the other girl, knowing full well that Sango didn't mind the lecher as much as she once had.
Blushing, Sango crossed her arms and hugged herself. "Yes, though maybe not entirely inappropriately." She chuckled at Kagome's dazed expression. "We haven't made our intentions public," she explained, "but I agreed to marry Miroku. Mind you, I don't like him to do that in front of others; it's quite rude. Still, if he is to be my husband..."
"I wish I could be at your wedding," Kagome sighed dreamily. Then she sobered. "Well, I'll just congratulate you now, Sango-chan. I'm sure you will both be very happy together." The Shikon-no-Tama, still lying in her hand, drew Kagome's attention. "Sango-chan, why did you come here?"
Time for the difficult questions, Sango sighed. "The Shikon-no-Tama is still unpurified. In this state, it still draws attention from the same demons we had to defeat while gathering its shards. Kikyou and Inuyasha hoped that in your time without demons, the jewel might be safer."
Still unpurified? Kagome looked into the glass orb and sensed the tinge of darkness hiding within. Inuyasha did not become a human. Why?
Watching the younger woman's face, Sango read her thoughts. "Kagome-chan, Inuyasha and Kikyou --" she halted when Kagome's head shot up. Was it her place to tell? If Inuyasha wanted Kagome to know, he would have come himself to give her the jewel. To share his heart with her and bring her back to them. "Inuyasha and Kikyou wanted me to tell you to place a ward around Shikon-no-Tama," she finished with downcast eyes. It wasn't a lie, at least.
"Oh." Kagome reached into her bedside table and pulled out an old velvet jewelry box, removing the cheap charm bracelet it held and tossing it aside. The Jewel of Four Souls fit perfectly inside. "Thank you, Sango-chan. I'll make sure to do that tonight." She sighed, and then mentally swept away the clouds in her head. "Will you stay to dinner?"
It would be rude to refuse, Sango thought. "Thank you Kagome-chan. I would be honored."
* * * *
Later that night, with a heavy heart, Kagome walked her dear friend to the well-house. "Sango-chan, please send my best wishes to everyone."
"I will, Kagome-chan. Shippou wanted so much to come but I had to send him back to Kaede." For the hundredth time that night, Sango agonized over the one thing she hadn't told Kagome. He still loves her. I've heard her name escape his deepest sleep. Sango didn't share these thoughts. "Did I tell you what happened after I promised myself to Miroku-sama?"
Kagome shook her head, stunned by the sudden change of topic.
"It had been raining all day and I was mad at him for spending it indoors flirting with the village women," she began, looking off into a dark corner of the hut. "For a whole week I ignored him, and he avoided me. I was, of course, mad about the flirting, and he was just afraid to get in another argument. So we stopped speaking and even after our anger and fear disappeared, neither of us could ignore our pride."
Sango noticed Kagome staring blankly into the same corner she'd been so intently studying. A small glimmer of light caught on Kagome's moist eyes. Sango continued. "Shippou fell ill with a cold on the next rainy day and the others were scouting Naraku's hideaway so I went alone into the forest to gather healing herbs. On the way back to the village the rain stopped and I caught the most beautiful rainbow. My mother used to tell me that a rainbow is a blessing from the gods on the love of two people when they stand together beneath it. As I was considering this, Miroku came searching for me. He was worried that I'd been hurt and apologized for dishonoring me; I too apologized for my childish reaction. Unfortunately the rainbow disappeared before our words were spoken."
The miko was still far away, but Sango knew she was listening. "I was sad; we lost what could have been a rare and beautiful moment because we let jealousy and fear rule our hearts. You never know, Kagome, which rainbow will be your last."
Sango stood straighter, adjusting the backpack of ramen and bandages she carried. "Well, I should be going back now; the others will be worried. Take care, Kagome-chan." She lifted herself down into the well, Kagome still lost in her thoughts. Please come back to us, the taijiya added as the magical darkness enveloped her.
* * * *
Small in its surroundings, the glass orb appeared nothing more than an innocent bauble. Kagome touched its glass case gently and considered how that tiny jewel had impacted her life so greatly. It would be safe here, in the monks' shrine. They knew of the Shikon-no-Tama from their ancient texts, though they questioned the one who bore it to them. In the end, with a great deal of explanation and a small proof of her powers, Kagome convinced the monks to protect the jewel in a way she knew she could not. Besides, as a piece of her country's history, it belonged to the public. Here, away from the portal to the past, the jewel could be admired safely.
Back at home Kagome lay on her soft bed, holding the picture of her father again. She remembered the words of her mother beneath the Goshinboku almost two years ago. Her father had proposed below the tree, as Kagome once dared to dream Inuyasha would promise himself to her. Her throat constricted once again and Kagome wished she could seek solace in the memories of her beloved father. She wanted her diary back. She needed it back.
The old, tattered version she'd uncovered only days before was almost completely decomposed, its writing illegible. She fingered the cover, indecision warring in her mind. Can I go back? Without the Shikon-no-Tama, perhaps the well won't let me pass. Kagome dressed herself in a warm sweater and stuffed a candy bar into her pocket. If it let her, she would seek out Shippou and bribe his silence with the chocolate candy. The kitsune would know where the diary was, if it wasn't already buried.
Reaching the well at last, Kagome hesitated again. What if he's there? Inuyasha's image flooded her mind, his voice echoing in her ears.
"Don't be a fool, baka... Keh! Why would I care if you go, wench?... I'll protect you, Kikyou."
Squeezing her eyes shut, Kagome willed the thoughts away. As they passed, she opened her eyes again, and forced herself into the well.
