A Tragic Love -- Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha
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A lot of you guys wanted me to write an epilogue so here it goes! For those who liked the ending to the story, you don't have to read this but you can if you want to...
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EPILOGUE
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The autumn winds of late October cascaded across the desolate stream of carved tombstones. Silence overpowered the land of resting souls as dusk was setting over the land in vivid colors of pink and orange. The sky was lit like fire, causing the cemetery to brighten from the hovering permanence of a rain cloud. The leaves rustled and the wind blew with a fierce breath but all the rest was in silence. However, the resting souls were grateful for the lingering silence and it stood as so until another body was buried and another visitor came. Today was such a day.
Light footsteps hovered over the fertile earth, step by step until it stopped suddenly, finally finding its location. The young girl wore a red mackintosh which concealed an entirely white dress. She held white long stemmed roses to match. She lingered over the tombstone for a moment before gradually weighing her body to the ground and sitting upon the now hard earth. With her free hand, she touched the tombstone and caressed it for a moment and picturing the deceased in her mind. She let go of the roses and set them on the ground, beside the tombstone, where it will sit until the roses wither and die.
She read the tombstone:
Here lies Kouga Tora Chikara
Beloved Son, Brother, and Friend.
May You Rest in Peace.
Kagome sighed and let go of a single tear. She was angry at herself for not visiting him sooner and for not formally attending his funeral. She had been there but had watched from a far distance. She had carried the guilt of believing she was responsible for his death. He had killed himself because she could not love him like he had loved her. He had thought she hadn't loved him but that was untrue. She had loved Kouga. He had been there for her when she needed him. But her heart refused to love him for that what she saw him as—a friend. She leaned over and touched his tombstone again wishing she could touch him one last time.
She shuddered remembering the last time her fingers had touched his skin. He had been cold then—his body was limp from death. She held him in her arms for what seemed like eternity until he was released from her hold and covered in a thick black bag and carried inside the ambulance. That had been the very last time she had seen him.
But she had touched him once before, a time when his warmth had scared her half to death. He had been lying on the bed then, half naked and sleeping from the exhaustion of the night before. She had never felt that kind of heat radiate from his body. She was scared she might have fallen in love with him then. Why hadn't she fallen in love with him? Even after he had shown his good side to her, she had still rejected him. But she knew the answer to that was too simple—Inuyasha. The timing was wrong. Her heart only had room for Inuyasha because Inuyasha, she always knew, was her true love. She smiled then and wondered that perhaps in another time and in another place they might be together again—her and Kouga.
But his death had sealed his fate and she could only be with him from a distance. There are moments when she could feel his presence and despite how creepy that may sound, it is comforting to know he is watching over her.
She looked down at the white roses and remembered her sister's funeral, which was held just three days before Kouga's. It had been a hard week. Despite the fact she had never gotten along with her sister...okay so they hated each other, that didn't mean she hadn't loved her at least a little bit. But seeing her inside that casket, Kagome had broken down. She had cried for her sister that day—an act she thought was impossible. She had cried because she knew how corrupt her sister had been and it had been that corruption that had killed her. She had remembered how Sesshoumaru and Rin had entered into the devastating scene just an hour after Kouga was taken away from the group. They had come in out of breath and shouting in nonsense as if unable to explain how the bitch herself had committed suicide. Kagome had watched the mayhem as if inside a glass house looking into another world. Despite the fact that Inuyasha was beside her, holding her for comfort and whispering comforting words to her, she had released her soul from her body again, unable to take in the pain that was happening inside her withered body.
Her father and Meiwaku had broken down. Meiwaku had fainted again [fainted the first time from Damaru's punch]. Damaru walked over to her father and tried to comfort him. He had resisted her at first but in desperation, opened his arms and embraced her. The two had never lost the love they felt for each other. It was the same love she felt for Inuyasha. They had rekindled their love and fought against the criticism of their union. The two opposing families had waged war once again in hopes that the two would see the mistake they were making. However, the two refused to part and knew that they would rather live their life under the scrutiny of the limelight than to live a life of misery apart. The pain the two experienced during their time apart had caused both of them to callous. They refused to endure that pain again. They wanted to mend the damage that had been done to them all these years and make up for the lost time. So, as of last year, they finally wed, forcing the families to come together. Fortunately, no blood was shed. However, one cannot reconcile a feud that spanned a hundred years in a mere year or two. But everyone still had hope for the future.
And somehow...out of a pure miracle...Damaru got pregnant despite the odds of her age and her inability to have children...Sora believes she just needed someone that she really loved in order to have a child...
As for Kagome, she had one mission in mind in her coming to the cemetery. She had wished she had come here sooner...she should have come here. But she had to first overcome her own struggle with herself and his death. She had pictured the day she would come here many times over many years but had never done it until now. She was practically 23 now. She had just graduated from college a year ago, double majoring in psychiatry and English. Yeah, she sighed, this visit was definitely overdue.
She began to talk to Kouga as if he was there with her again, expect for the fact she was facing a tombstone. She told him of how much she had missed him and that she was sorry she hadn't visited him. She hoped he would forgive her. She grinned and then let out a laugh before telling him of Sango and Miroku's marriage that was held a year ago. They still fight of course but they do so because they love each other [or so she figures]. But she knows they are happily married and Sango is pregnant with a baby girl. Their engagement had been a tough one. Miroku's mother was against the wedding but later realized how much her son loved her and forced herself to let him go. Miroku is studying law and Sango had graduated two years ago with a degree of business. They both own a small house, which they bought together without the help of Miroku's mother. They both visit often and their friendship is still very strong.
As for Rin and Sesshoumaru, they got married also and have four kids. Like Sango and Miroku, they have survived without the help of Sesshoumaru's money. They have a small house with a couple dogs outside town. Sesshoumaru doesn't communicate with his father, who remains imprisoned behind bars of the state penitentiary, serving time for first degree murder to about three people....so far.
Kagome paused and wondered how she should tell Kouga about herself...
"Kouga...I came here today...after all these years because I needed to tell you something very important," she paused and sighed.
She looked down at her engagement ring and smiled, "I'm getting married Kouga...to Inuyasha. I just wanted to tell you and hope you give us your blessing. I have never forgotten about you even though you might think that because I haven't come to visit you. But I haven't forgotten and I still love you. I want you to know that Inuyasha and I hope you give us your blessing and that you wish us happiness."
Kagome gradually rose from her seat beside the tombstone and brushed off the grass from her legs and jacket. She looked down at the tombstone again and just sat there for a few minutes in silence, saying a short prayer.
Walking away from the tomb, she felt a slight breeze across her face and watched the leaves swirl in the wind. She smiled and placed her hands in her jacket and walked away knowing he was giving his consent.
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A lot of you guys wanted me to write an epilogue so here it goes! For those who liked the ending to the story, you don't have to read this but you can if you want to...
--
EPILOGUE
--
The autumn winds of late October cascaded across the desolate stream of carved tombstones. Silence overpowered the land of resting souls as dusk was setting over the land in vivid colors of pink and orange. The sky was lit like fire, causing the cemetery to brighten from the hovering permanence of a rain cloud. The leaves rustled and the wind blew with a fierce breath but all the rest was in silence. However, the resting souls were grateful for the lingering silence and it stood as so until another body was buried and another visitor came. Today was such a day.
Light footsteps hovered over the fertile earth, step by step until it stopped suddenly, finally finding its location. The young girl wore a red mackintosh which concealed an entirely white dress. She held white long stemmed roses to match. She lingered over the tombstone for a moment before gradually weighing her body to the ground and sitting upon the now hard earth. With her free hand, she touched the tombstone and caressed it for a moment and picturing the deceased in her mind. She let go of the roses and set them on the ground, beside the tombstone, where it will sit until the roses wither and die.
She read the tombstone:
Here lies Kouga Tora Chikara
Beloved Son, Brother, and Friend.
May You Rest in Peace.
Kagome sighed and let go of a single tear. She was angry at herself for not visiting him sooner and for not formally attending his funeral. She had been there but had watched from a far distance. She had carried the guilt of believing she was responsible for his death. He had killed himself because she could not love him like he had loved her. He had thought she hadn't loved him but that was untrue. She had loved Kouga. He had been there for her when she needed him. But her heart refused to love him for that what she saw him as—a friend. She leaned over and touched his tombstone again wishing she could touch him one last time.
She shuddered remembering the last time her fingers had touched his skin. He had been cold then—his body was limp from death. She held him in her arms for what seemed like eternity until he was released from her hold and covered in a thick black bag and carried inside the ambulance. That had been the very last time she had seen him.
But she had touched him once before, a time when his warmth had scared her half to death. He had been lying on the bed then, half naked and sleeping from the exhaustion of the night before. She had never felt that kind of heat radiate from his body. She was scared she might have fallen in love with him then. Why hadn't she fallen in love with him? Even after he had shown his good side to her, she had still rejected him. But she knew the answer to that was too simple—Inuyasha. The timing was wrong. Her heart only had room for Inuyasha because Inuyasha, she always knew, was her true love. She smiled then and wondered that perhaps in another time and in another place they might be together again—her and Kouga.
But his death had sealed his fate and she could only be with him from a distance. There are moments when she could feel his presence and despite how creepy that may sound, it is comforting to know he is watching over her.
She looked down at the white roses and remembered her sister's funeral, which was held just three days before Kouga's. It had been a hard week. Despite the fact she had never gotten along with her sister...okay so they hated each other, that didn't mean she hadn't loved her at least a little bit. But seeing her inside that casket, Kagome had broken down. She had cried for her sister that day—an act she thought was impossible. She had cried because she knew how corrupt her sister had been and it had been that corruption that had killed her. She had remembered how Sesshoumaru and Rin had entered into the devastating scene just an hour after Kouga was taken away from the group. They had come in out of breath and shouting in nonsense as if unable to explain how the bitch herself had committed suicide. Kagome had watched the mayhem as if inside a glass house looking into another world. Despite the fact that Inuyasha was beside her, holding her for comfort and whispering comforting words to her, she had released her soul from her body again, unable to take in the pain that was happening inside her withered body.
Her father and Meiwaku had broken down. Meiwaku had fainted again [fainted the first time from Damaru's punch]. Damaru walked over to her father and tried to comfort him. He had resisted her at first but in desperation, opened his arms and embraced her. The two had never lost the love they felt for each other. It was the same love she felt for Inuyasha. They had rekindled their love and fought against the criticism of their union. The two opposing families had waged war once again in hopes that the two would see the mistake they were making. However, the two refused to part and knew that they would rather live their life under the scrutiny of the limelight than to live a life of misery apart. The pain the two experienced during their time apart had caused both of them to callous. They refused to endure that pain again. They wanted to mend the damage that had been done to them all these years and make up for the lost time. So, as of last year, they finally wed, forcing the families to come together. Fortunately, no blood was shed. However, one cannot reconcile a feud that spanned a hundred years in a mere year or two. But everyone still had hope for the future.
And somehow...out of a pure miracle...Damaru got pregnant despite the odds of her age and her inability to have children...Sora believes she just needed someone that she really loved in order to have a child...
As for Kagome, she had one mission in mind in her coming to the cemetery. She had wished she had come here sooner...she should have come here. But she had to first overcome her own struggle with herself and his death. She had pictured the day she would come here many times over many years but had never done it until now. She was practically 23 now. She had just graduated from college a year ago, double majoring in psychiatry and English. Yeah, she sighed, this visit was definitely overdue.
She began to talk to Kouga as if he was there with her again, expect for the fact she was facing a tombstone. She told him of how much she had missed him and that she was sorry she hadn't visited him. She hoped he would forgive her. She grinned and then let out a laugh before telling him of Sango and Miroku's marriage that was held a year ago. They still fight of course but they do so because they love each other [or so she figures]. But she knows they are happily married and Sango is pregnant with a baby girl. Their engagement had been a tough one. Miroku's mother was against the wedding but later realized how much her son loved her and forced herself to let him go. Miroku is studying law and Sango had graduated two years ago with a degree of business. They both own a small house, which they bought together without the help of Miroku's mother. They both visit often and their friendship is still very strong.
As for Rin and Sesshoumaru, they got married also and have four kids. Like Sango and Miroku, they have survived without the help of Sesshoumaru's money. They have a small house with a couple dogs outside town. Sesshoumaru doesn't communicate with his father, who remains imprisoned behind bars of the state penitentiary, serving time for first degree murder to about three people....so far.
Kagome paused and wondered how she should tell Kouga about herself...
"Kouga...I came here today...after all these years because I needed to tell you something very important," she paused and sighed.
She looked down at her engagement ring and smiled, "I'm getting married Kouga...to Inuyasha. I just wanted to tell you and hope you give us your blessing. I have never forgotten about you even though you might think that because I haven't come to visit you. But I haven't forgotten and I still love you. I want you to know that Inuyasha and I hope you give us your blessing and that you wish us happiness."
Kagome gradually rose from her seat beside the tombstone and brushed off the grass from her legs and jacket. She looked down at the tombstone again and just sat there for a few minutes in silence, saying a short prayer.
Walking away from the tomb, she felt a slight breeze across her face and watched the leaves swirl in the wind. She smiled and placed her hands in her jacket and walked away knowing he was giving his consent.
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