Well, first of all, I'd like to thank those of my reviewers who've stuck with me, even though I've kept you waiting forever for each and every chapter that I write. It means a lot to me, seriously.
I also wanted to say, that finally, I'm down to one fanfic at a time. Though I have lots more planned to write in the future. As far as fanfic goes, I'm only writing this one now, and I seem to have gotten some of my inspiration back at last. Of course, life is still uber-crazy, so sadly I can't dedicate all of my time to working on this story, but I'm doing my best. I'm trying to organize my life, so with any amount of luck you can look forward to monthly updates in the future. It's not much, but it's the best that I can do, and at least it isn't this tri-monthly kick I've been on lately, so I'm hoping. Any number of factors have delayed this chapter, including the death of my computer and its replacement, work, and business ventures and my new interest in drawing (weird, I know. I'm not even very good! Hah! But I think I'm improving!), just to name a few of my recent craziness. Also, I used to have word, but now I'm working on MS Works, so I hope my formatting doesn't get fudged when I save to html and make the entire chapter one big paragraph… if it does…I am sooo sorry.
Anyway,I also want to take this opportunity to warn you that this fic is about to take a turn for the worse. But, as they say, it's always darkest before the dawn. I feel there are things I should warn you about, but that those warnings would take something away from the story, so I apologize to those of you who will reach certain points in this chapter and the coming chapters where I hit you with something unexpected. Since life is full of surprises, I think I'll let this story be the same.
From now on, comments to reviewers will be placed at the BOTTOM of my chapters. I take up enough space at the top of the page with my ramblings as it is. Standard disclaimers apply, and on with the story.
~**~
"A Fragile Heart"
by: Banshee Puppet
Chapter Five: The Winds of Change
~**~
"Are you ready to go Rin?" he asked. Sesshomaru was nervous. But the paperwork had finally gone though, had finally been approved. He'd graduated high school last spring, got a decent job, a nice little two bedroom apartment, and now…
And now the little girl nodded, slipping her tiny fingers around his hand and smiling like she had every bit of confidence in the fact that Sessho-kun wouldn't let her down. Children, if nothing else, seemed to have endless reserves of faith, and Rin. Well, Rin believed in him, though he couldn't understand why. 'What do you see in me, Rin?' he wondered as he lifted the duffel bag with the girl's few possessions over his shoulder.
Dr. Gale stood in the doorway looking at him over the weary rim of her glasses. "Are you sure?" she asked. They both knew what she meant. 'Are you sure about taking her out of the hospital? What if something happens? You're not a doctor.'
"Yes," Sesshomaru answered. 'She deserves a chance at a normal life. Besides, you've already taught me everything I need to know about taking care of her,' he thought. And over the past months, Dr. Jack Gale had learned enough about the young man to understand that from the shifting of light in his eyes. She gave a curt nod and stepped out of the way.
"Alright then. I'll see you two Friday afternoon for her weekly checkup," she said. "You be good Rin!" the doctor said cheerfully, ruffling the girl's hair.
Rin gave the doctor a gap-toothed smile. "Don't worry Dr. Jack! Sessho-kun is going to take care of Rin now!" she said confidently.
"Friday," Sesshomaru stated. "Come on Rin. Let's go home," he said.
The girl nodded and walked beside him, holding his hand.
As he buckled her seatbelt, Rin asked, "Sessho-kun?"
"Yes?"
"Are there flowers at Rin's new home?"
"No."
The girl frowned and said "oh."
"We'll plant some, okay? Together. Alright?" he offered at her sad expression. He hadn't meant to make her frown like that.
"Yay!" Rin cheered. "Rin likes flowers!"
~**~
"Oi, Kagome."
"What are you so cheerful about today Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha just smiled as they reached the large building. "We're in high school now, ya know, so you should start acting a little more mature," he stated impishly.
"Oh you!!!" Kagome growled, punching him rather girlishly in the arm. "I know you better than that Inuyasha. You're just excited about being in the same school as Sango."
"Th-that's not really!" Inuyasha blushed. They both knew it was true. He had a crush on the ball-player. A crush? Hah! Understatement. He'd been going out of his way to run into her for weeks now. It had been a slowly developing friendship, but as it stood now, everyone could see the obvious except the two of them.
"You should just ask her out already! It's sooo obvious that you like her," Kagome said knowingly.
"I do not!" he defended himself, badly. Still, it was nice. His feelings for Sango had grown and his feelings for Kagome mellowed to a strong affection. It was just…nice. Things were good. It made him forget the past, forget about dying and wishes and the pain of grief.
"You don't what?"
Inuyasha jumped. "Oi! Sango don't sneak up on me like that!" he scolded.
Sango giggled. "Sorry, thought I'd meet up with you guys since it's your first day," she said. "Everyone's early today. It's so different without your brother and Kouga here…"
"Where's Miroku? I thought where one was, the other wasn't far behind," Kagome teased over the pervert that had taken permanent residence at Sango's hip.
A sad expression flickered across her eyes. "Oh, he won't be coming to school this semester," she said. "Uh…his grandmother is sick, so he has to stay home to take care of her," she lied. It wasn't her place to say, and that's what he'd told her to say, so…
But she still felt bad about lying to Kagome and Inuyasha. They were friends, after all, and Inuyasha…
Sango looked at the grumpy young man and tried not to blush as she realized….
Inuyasha has been working out.
Kagome watched the two for a moment before slapping her forehead. Oh for cryin out loud! "I'm going to class!" she announced. "Meet you there Inuyasha."
~**~
Miroku stared in the mirror and sighed, running his hands over his bare head. Bald. "Can't get used to this," he mumbled to himself. He was getting skinny, though he still looked healthy enough. Just… …bald. Very very bald.
"You look like a monk."
Miroku jumped at the voice. "Kouga."
"Feel like going for a ride?" the punk asked, leaning against the wall. "No work for me today, figured you might wanna do something, since Sango's in school and all…"
"… …okay," he said, standing. "But you've gotta sneak me out. I'm not supposed to be up and around anymore."
"Like a pig-headed bastard like you is gonna let that stop him."
Miroku just smirked. "Thanks Kouga."
"For what?"
"Oh, you know, nothing. Not a damn thing."
~**~
"Where's this?" Rin asked.
"It's the high school, Rin," Sesshomaru said.
"Why're Rin and Sessho-kun at the high school?" she asked as she held his hand a little tighter when people started coming out.
"We're picking someone up," he said. "My girlfriend, and maybe my brother."
"A pretty girl is waving at Sessho-kun," Rin observed.
Sesshomaru looked up. There she was, looking the same as always. A slight smile pulled at the corner of his lips and he lifted his free hand in return.
"You didn't have to come all this way to get me!" Kagome said cheerfully.
"I wanted Rin to meet you."
"Oh. Oh!" Kagome smiled down at the girl. Kawaii! her mind squealed. She was sooo cute! "Hello Rin-chan! My name is Kagome!" she said cheerfully.
"Hi Kagome! Rin's name is Rin! Sessho-kun is taking care of Rin now. He says we can plant flowers together! Do you want to help?" the girl said rather quickly.
"Sure Rin-chan! It sounds like fun!" Kagome answered, latching onto Sesshomaru's free arm and smiling up at him.
"Is Inuyasha coming?"
Kagome crinkled her nose, shaking her head back and forth. "He's walking home with Sango," she said knowingly.
"Ah. I see. Then let's get going."
~**~
"Oi, Sango?"
"Hmn?"
"Do you have to be home right now?"
"Not really, why?"
"I thought maybe we could stop for something to eat? I mean, only if you want to…"
Sango giggled again. He couldn't think he was being very subtle. Even Sango had figured out that he liked her already. Problem was, she was too shy to really say anything. Well, it was obvious at least that they wouldn't get anywhere at this rate. So maybe it was time to take matters into her own hands, or try to.
"What?" Inuyasha demanded in that defensive way he had when he was feeling stupid.
"I was just thinking."
Inuyasha stopped and cocked his eyebrow at her. She took a few steps before realizing he'd stopped moving. She turned and looked at him quizzically.
"Thinking about?" he asked, though there wasn't much of a question in that sentence.
Sango chewed her lip. Now or never. She shifted her weight from foot to foot. "Weell. The Welcome Back dance is this Friday night. …I was thinking, you know, that we should go. …uh," she blushed. "Ya know…together…if you want to, that is."
Inuyasha had to take a moment for that to register, and scowled after he realized he'd had another goofy grin on his face.
"So uh…what time do you want me to pick you up?" he asked with a blush of his own.
"Why don't we talk about that over some food," Sango asked, feeling relieved. Well, hah! Miroku would be happy at least! Pft. Like I care what that stupid pervert thinks, she reminded herself. Still, he was still a friend. I'll stop by to visit him later.
~**~
The little girl curled up against Sesshomaru's hip and fell asleep.
"She's had enough for one day I think," he told Kagome, wiping a bit of dirt off of her cheeks. "She has to be careful not to exert herself too much."
He lifted the girl carefully. "I'm going to bring her inside."
Kagome nodded. "I'll be right in. I'll just finish up here."
Sesshomaru nodded. "The door will be unlocked."
"Mmkay," Kagome answered before turning back to what she was doing. Just wanted to finish planting these few bulbs. It had been so nice of the landlord to let them plant flowers. The poor old lady had seemed thrilled about it too. Apparently, she'd wanted to for quite some time, but she was just too old, and her children were too busy to help her much. Kagome was surprised to find that it was Sesshomaru who usually did the woman's grocery shopping for her. 'It's not like I go out of the way or anything. I happen to be in the foodstore. Picking up a few extra items while I'm there is really nothing,' he'd told her when she asked about it.
She giggled as she put the garden tools back into their bucket and lugged them into the shed. "My boyfriend is such a sweetie!" she giggled. "Even if he'll never admit it! Haha."
She dusted her hands off on her jeans and waved, "Hiya Miss Kagura!" she waved to one of the apartment's other residents as she entered the building. "How's your sister?"
Kagura looked up and smiled at the young girl. A kind young woman indeed. "Everything is well, thank you," she said evenly as she opened the door to her apartment. A casual lie for sake of small talk.
"Okay then! See ya later!" the bubbly teenager said before heading up to the second floor and opening the door on her boyfriend's apartment. A delighted little squeal escaped her lips when she was accosted by his warm arms in the doorway. He buried his face in her hair. "Thank you," he mumbled so softly she could barely hear it.
"Huh?"
He pulled back slightly. "I haven't been paying much attention to you lately. Sorry about that," he said, kissing her jaw.
"It's okay. You're a daddy now…" she trailed off, his lips finding their way to her neck as his hand reached behind her to lock the door. Force of habit. "…a-and Rin is just in the next room."
"Rin is fast asleep. It would take a herd of wild buffalo to wake her now," he teased. "We have an hour at least."
"You're not suggesting!" Kagome gasped. Geez, she knew men could be horny but there was a little girl in the next room!
"Of course not," Sesshomaru said dryly. "I just want to spend a little private time with my girlfriend. Is that so bad?"
"…and?" she asked. She knew there was more to it than that as he lifted her and deposited her on the couch before sitting down himself.
He just smirked slightly, his lips curling up slightly on one side and kissed her. "Stupid question."
Well, he was persistent, and she wasn't really all that adverse to the idea anyway. It had been ages since they'd had any time for just, being boyfriend and girlfriend, as it were, making out on the sofa and the like, and it was nice to see his opinions of her hadn't changed with his new lifestyle.
"Kagome, I've been thinking."
"Hmn?"
"Marry me."
"Wha--?"
Sesshomaru chuckled slightly. "Not right this second," he said. "You're still in school and all. But, four years down the road or so, when you're ready. I'll wait. It's just…with everything that's been happening, I've had some time to think and I…" he sighed slightly, sitting back to clear his mind. "A while back you asked if I wanted to have kids with you some day. I had never thought about children. But now, with Rin…the answer is yes, Kagome. As many as you want. So just promise that you'll marry me someday, alright?"
Kagome hugged him, hard. Times when Sesshomaru was that straight-forward about his thoughts were rare gifts, and she loved them. "I promise," she told him. "Someday. When I'm a little older."
~**~
Miroku breathed in the gentle breeze off the bay, letting the wind beat against his face. Kouga was laying beside him, one knee bent up and his fingers laced behind his head. He smirked up at his riding buddy, but said nothing right away. Miroku wasn't really paying him any mind anyway. They never talked, not really, after a good ride. They would spend hours on his motorcycle, letting the world fly past, and then they'd end up here, or somewhere scenic and just relax. Evenutally, a mutual understanding that was reached without words would be made, and they'd return to the world and their lives, and their troubles. But they never talked about their troubles. Not here. Not like this. It was taboo and unfitting to do so.
'If I could have given my grandfather moments like this…' Kouga's mind trailed off to the old man who he used to visit at the hospital. It wasn't really his grandfather, if you wanted to be specific. It was some weird relationship through a second marriage of a cousin…but that didn't matter. He'd been around forever and Kouga had really liked the old guy once. But then he'd gotten sick and just gave up on life and living. 'It's not that I'm doing that for him through Miroku, or anything. I'm not,' he told himself. 'I was just thinking that I've got a lot of respect for the pervert is all. He hasn't got long, but he's not done living yet. So…I think I'll hang around a while longer.'
Miroku opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again. They never talked. Breaking the trend could break this good thing they had going. He turned to look at Kouga. The punk's eyes were closed, but he wasn't sleeping, just thinking. He'd been doing that a lot lately.
"You're thinking again," Miroku said suddenly, the words out before he had time to take them back.
Kouga's eyes shot open. "And you're not?" he rebutted, propping himself up on his elbows and looking out to where the sun was starting to sink in the sky.
"Not really. I try not to, when we're here. But…well, whatever. Thinking about anything interesting?" he asked, not sure where to go with the conversation.
"Nah, not really. That old man finally died last week. I was supposed to go to his funeral a few hours ago. Guess I was just thinking about that."
"You should have gone."
"Nah. I've got no business with the dead."
"You've got no business with a lot of things."
Kouga just shrugged. "Well, ya know, carpe diem, as they say."
"Hah. That's just like you."
"Feel like going back?"
Miroku shook his bald head back and forth. "Just a little longer," he said.
"Sure thing."
~**~
It was after dark when Sango finally made it to the hospital. She wasn't expected, so it wasn't anything to worry about, and visiting hours weren't over, so she was surprised when she went into Miroku's room and found that he wasn't there.
"Nurse?"
"Yes, what is it dear?" she asked the girl who'd just emerged from the young man's room.
"Is he…uhm, the patient from this room. Is he with the doctor, or something?" admittedly, she was worried about her friend.
"No, is he not in there?"
Sango shook her head, shifting from foot to foot. "Why don't you go sit in the waiting room and I'll find out about it," the nurse said, and Sango obliged. She chewed her lip, paced, worried. And the nurse was ill at ease, she could tell. Miroku…they didn't know where he was.
'You idiot!' her mind hissed. 'Where the hell are you? You're supposed to stay put! Your parents will be worried sick if they find out!'
Her mind was already making up ambulances and sirens and, wait, that wasn't her mind. Oh, well she was at a hospital, right. But still, how sad. She'd been sitting here for two hours now. Her parents would worry if she didn't get home soon.
The nurse then, she saw the nurse. "Miss, your friend…he…"
Sango swallowed. Oh no, Miroku was dead, she feared the worst, of course. He wasn't in his room because he'd died….
"He snuck out. There was a car accident. He's in ICU right now. I'm sure he'll be fine…" the woman trailed off. She knew the boy was dying whether from the accident or the cancer. It was a hollow assurance.
"A car accident? Who's car was he in?" Sango asked, confused. "It was a motorcycle. Looks as if they went out for a joyride and ran into a drunk driver."
A motorcycle. Sango stood, fists balled. She was pissed now. "That stupid..! Kouga! I'll kill him!" she stomped her foot.
"Miss, please calm down. The other boy. He…"
Sango's rage melted away suddenly, her eyes widening slightly. "W-what about Kouga? He's okay, isn't he? It would take a mack truck to hurt that kid."
The nurse put her hand on Sango's shoulder and shook her head back and forth.
"So…he's just, hurt really bad, right? He's going to be okay…" the girl trailed off.
"I'm so sorry dear," the nurse told her. "He didn't make it."
~**~
Jade Garden: Yes, this is the third in the story arc that started with "Not that He Cared" and continued with "Brothers After All". The arc STILL doesn't have a name, but I am accepting suggestions from anyone who thinks they have something good. If I like it, I'll use it. If not, at least it may inspire me to come up with something. Though this story seems far removed from the previous two, I think by the end, everyone will see the connection to the previous story.
Saria4: Thanks so much for the kind words. They mean a lot, especially since I've been writing this fic forever, already. It's a hard fic to write, especially for someone who's normally as bubbly and cheerful as I am! Hah. I like it too though, for all it's bittersweetness. (Yeah I know that's not a word. Don't care, it is now.) I hope I continue to entertain you and my other readers. It's very nice to get reviews, but I usually tend to have two or three loyal reviewers. Anyway, it's cool, b/c they inspire me and give me ideas. But I started writing for me, and that's why I continue writing. I write b/c I enjoy it and I enjoy the stories. If other people enjoy them, then that's great! It makes me happy that other people are enjoying something I've worked so hard on right along with me, but my primary audience has always been and will always be myself, so even if I never get any reviews, I'm going to keep writing.
Sesshyangel: There was no epilogue. Perhaps you missed the last chapter? If you feel like it was incomplete, double check that, b/c I think it was wrapped up fairly well. I never did say she got her soul back, "not precisely", but it was implied. I don't feel that spelling things out is always entirely necessary, and I, personally, thought that it was made obvious without having to say it outright. To do so, to me, at that time, felt tedious.
I don't know that I've grown as an author, persay, but I do agree that I have a much better understanding of the characters than I did when I was writing "not that he cared". That was actually my first inuyasha fanfic ever, so I was expecting some considerable ooc. And by the time I realized how bad it was, I just ran with it for the sake of the story, since to change it at that point would make the story feel choppy and manhandled. All in all, I'm happy with it as it is, ooc or not. *shrugs* And then there's that little thing called lack of editing (sorry! I'm bad, I know. I reread my stories and I see all sorts of grammar mistakes and other little things, but I just don't edit, so unless someone feels like beta-ing my stuff, you'll all have to live with reading my rough drafts). I do appreciate your opinion on the matter though. It's always good to hear what everyone thinks. (Consider yourself added. You probably got a few emails already, though not for this story.) As far as the Sess/Kag…patience my dear! Haha. Actually, I've been writing them for so long now, that if I didn't add some other stuff, I'd get bored. It is still Sess/Kag, it's just other stuff too. And this story, for me, is more plot than action. It's a "things that make you go hm" story, as I like to call them. Hah. So, we'll see what happens. I'll probably make future stories in this arc multiple-pairing stories. (and of course sess/kag will be one of them!) For now though, I've decided to just put my fingers to the keys and let the story write itself.
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