Chapter 20
Invisible
The lyrics to "Invisible" have been removed to comply with the April 27th announcment. I realize this affects the narrative and I apologize for that.
The sound of running water awoke him, the white ears twitching to locate the source of the sound. Kagome's wing. Climbing out of the bed, he slipped on his robe and padded silently down the hall. Through the communal areas of the home, towards her wing. Perhaps Kenmaru had gotten sick. Perhaps she was the one ill. He reached her door shortly after the water had stopped. The scent of her arousal flooded his senses, he wondered what had caused it, wishing he was the cause. Raising a hand he turned it backwards, to wrap on her door, then his sensitive hearing caught her whispered question. "I wonder if your daddy, has those thoughts about me?" Inu Yasha winced as the soft spoken arrows tore through his heart each word broke him just a bit more. His hand dropping listlessly to his side, he turned and walked away, head bowed, shoulders slumped.
Reaching the solitude of his room he sat heavily on the bed. 'Why?' he questioned himself. Had he not proven he could take care of her and Kenmaru? Was there something he wasn't doing? "Why do you still reach for him? I am here. Tending to you and your pup as if he were my own." He looked to the door as if she stood there, "Why can't I turn your heart to me?" Leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, he allowed his mind to wander.
"The past three days, I will carry with me through hell. They will give me strength to get through the torments. If there was no promise, I would never leave your side... I'll never stop trying to come back to you." His voice sounded in his memories. "I would, if given a choice, choose her. But, I made a foolish promise to you first. I will not break my word. For if I did I would not deserve her love." Then the ever familiar but unfamiliar feminine whispered voice sounded, "Please tell me our last days together are as precious to you as they are to me...never forget me Inu Yasha. I will always love you with all of my heart." Grasping the pillow from the bed he flung it angrily across the room. "WHO ARE YOU!" He hissed. "If we loved each other so much, why aren't you here? Why do you hide yourself from my memories. Why does my heart turn to Kagome? Why do I feel no desire to find you?" Another voice sounded, this one full of power speaking only one word... "Forget." "Forget what? Why did I have to forget? Is that why I can remember so little."
Angrily he stood and walked to the closet. Not paying attention he grabbed an outfit, putting it on without thought. Tying the ties at waist and ankle. Tucking the white yukata into the red hakama. He slid his arms into the matching haori, its flowing sleeves billowing with each move of his arms. Stepping to the wall he pulled the sword that now hung above it, he knew not to leave without so chaotic was his mood. With practiced efficiency he had secured it as his hip. A feeling of this was right, this was who he was, encompassed him. Moving silently down the hall he stepped into the cold December night. Snow blanketed the ground, chilling his bare feet. He breathed in the cold air and exhaled, the frost covered breath mimicking the frozen chill of his mind. With a burst of speed he was off, running as if the hounds of hell were at his heel.
High above the city streets, a red and silver figure flitted in and out of the shadows. Sometimes racing a train. Once crouched on the roof of a tractor trailer as it sped down the Shuto Expressway. The figure traveled unerringly towards some unknown destination. Leaping up the stares up to the shrine, Inu Yasha saw what he had been seeking. With two bounds he rested high in the boughs of the old tree. A feeling of homecoming over came him. Even the bark of the tree seemed to be shaped to allow him comfort, contouring perfectly to his back. This was home. This was where he belonged, an old scent trail crossed tickled his nose. Leaping down he followed it, through the courtyard to an old small shrine. Sliding the door open, he looked into the darkness seeing the sealed well at the bottom. He'd never been here he was certain, yet why was his scent here.
"Inu Yasha? Is that you?"
He turned to see the older woman at the door. Nodding he waited for her to speak. "Come on up to the house I'll fix you some Raman. That is still your favorite isn't it? And while that's cooking we'll call and let Kagome know where you are. She's called here five times all ready looking for you." He watched as the woman reached a hand out to him. "I've missed you and those cute ears of yours."
"Kagome was worried about me?" He asked moving up the stairs.
"She always worries about you." She said moving away from him, and towards the house. As they stepped back into the courtyard. The sun began to peek along the stairs brightening the sky. "I know all about your memory loss, Inu Yasha. So let me reintroduce myself to you. I am Kagome's mother, Kaiya Higurashi. Kagome's Jii-chan passed a few years ago, but happy he lived long enough to see his great-grandson. Souta is living on campus at Tokyo University...
She continued speaking leading him to a house at the back of the grounds. Even this seemed familiar and normal to him. She spoke as if he knew these people. Once again the feeling of homecoming came over him.