Authors Note:
Thank you t1nkerbell for reading and commenting. I thoroughly appreciated it. As you can see, I have updated. Enjoy!
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Kagome had returned to her time, crawling from out of the well, tears streaking down her face. She couldn't be sure whether or not Inuyasha had received her letter, or that he even cared. If she dwelled too much on it, she would break as she had commented in the letter. Exiting the small shrine, the sun of modern day beat down on her, muted and duffled through the leaves of the God Tree. She dared not look to it, afraid that she would see a white-
eared, golden-eyed boy pinned to the bark. She feared to see it. She was barely aware of the presence of her Grandfather shimmy towards her, in response all she could do was hold up a shaking hand.
"Not now, please. We'll talk later. Seal up the well, forever."
Than she had disappeared into the house, her running footsteps alerting both her mother and Souta that she was home once again. Of course by the time they had exited the kitchen, Kagome had already retreated to the cool darkness of her room. Throwing down her back pack into the corner and flopping onto her bed, she remained there till the next day, her mind convulsing around the reality of what she had just done, trying to envision Inuyasha's reaction, and than crying herself into a fitful sleep. Her family worried over her deeply, but her Grandfather did as she instructed, sealing up the well with both spell and human binding. He did not know the reasoning behind it, but if it brought some ease to his granddaughters soul, he would have gladly sealed a thousand wells. Deciding it would be best to let Kagome come down when she was up to it, Mother, brother, and Grandfather remained nearby, but did nothing to pressure her out of the her room. The next day held nothing special for Kagome, who spent a full hour in the water of the bathtub, till every inch of her was wrinkled, and the water was freezing. Stepping out and wrapping herself in a thick towel, her wet hair wrapped up as well, she entered her bedroom. She hadn't even bothered to turn on any lighting, but let the natural sun and moon beams brighten her room. A breeze blew through the open window, making the damp girl spin around.
'Inuyasha?'
Not a sound, not a movement. Why had she thought Inuyasha would be there, crouching in her open window, looking towards her with his golden eyes? Tears erupted once again from her already red-eyes for the tenth time that day, her form slumped over as she slid herself over to her empty bed. She collapsed, still wrapped up in her damp towels, falling into a deep and troubled sleep once again.
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Inuyasha had awakened to the sound of whispers around him, at first he was confused as to why he was laying on his back, the thatch of Kaede's hut above him. It did not take long till the days happenings sunk in. His clawed hands convulsed, and surprised to find fabric and paper underneath his skin. Looking down to see that he had continued to clutch the girl's shirt to his chest, the letter crumpled in his grip. No, Kagome. She had left, destroyed the well, and destroying whatever chance he had of bringing her back. Why must you always resolve to brute force? Would it not be better for Kagome to return on her own accord? He let his head roll to the other side, trying to ignore his human side, trying to forget the pain that he was feeling. Why did she leave!!! His demon side screamed inside his head, making him cringe and curl into a ball on the floor. It was unexpected, it was loud and the truth hurt Inuyasha deeper than any wound. Was it truly love that he felt her Kagome? Even his demon side, blood-lust and violent as it was, ached at the thought of her absence. 'How could I let her slip away? Just stand there everyday and watch her, knowing I was hurting her, that I was causing her pain.' Finally, the whispers from the other side of the curtain reached his sensitive hearing, and he could not block out the comments of pity that were given.
"Do you think Kagome is truly gone? Was it so bad here that she had to leave?"
Of course, that must have been little Shippo's voice. He had been the only one that had felt comfortable with expressing his love and adoration of Kagome. Inuyasha had pushed her away, the lecherous monk Moriko had never looked to her and remembered her as a friend, instead only saw female. Even Sango, though she befriended the girl, was silent and distant. No one there but Shippo had been able to match Kagome's spirit or her openness with emotions.
"I believe the constant pain of seeing Inuyasha with Kikyo and knowing that he would chose the dead Miko instead of Kagome was too much...."
Moriko's voice always sounded calm, no matter the situation, it was an irritating attribute in all certainty.
"Bastard...."
The last of course was said by the demon-hunter Sango. He did not expect to be the one given pity in this instant. It was his fault to begin with that Kagome had left them all behind to return to her time. If he wasn't so stubborn, he might have vocally agreed with her on this one point. He was a bastard.
"I would not go so far as to say that Sango. While Inuyasha does have the problem of choosing between the love of his past, and Kagome, we all know that he does have feelings for the girl. It was apparent when we found him in the forest next to the well. He clutched to that shirt as if it was his life line."
In embaressment, Inuyasha looked down to the shirt in question, the one that he still clutched tightly between his claws. 'So what? It carries her scent... and I need that.' He felt like a child once again, a child that had just lost it's mother, and was blindly searching in the dark for the warm and familiar presence. Kagome was like his mother in many ways, though that was not the reason he felt her her. They were both mortal, and both of them had the amazing ability to show what they were feeling. Kagome loved him for who and what he was, even though he was only a hanyou. Kagome did not just see past his flaws and mistakes, she embraced every single one of them, she took it all in, and cherished it all. Kagome. It brought more tears to the dog demons eyes once again. Surely there is another way to get to the future, surely there is another time traveling well...or anything for that matter! He gripped at the shirt, pulling it closer to him, trying to absorb everything about it. The smell of her skin on the particles, the smell of her hair brushing against the back of her shirt. He tried to imagine that he could feel small ounces of her body warmth on the fabric, trying to draw it into himself, as if it would warm up his heart and soul like she had done so many times. Why could you not have just told her how you felt? Why was it so hard? Do not use Kikyo as an excuse anymore!! He squinted his eyes shut, trying to silence the berating words, his sadness welling up in his throat. No do not sob, you baby! Take it like the demon you are! It was no use, the despair that he felt, mixed in with the pain of knowing he hurt Kagome was too much, and he sobbed as he cried, digging his face into the shirt, rubbing his cheek against it. Mine. Mine. Mine. Please be mine.
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Kagome had finally awakened when she heard a soft tap on her door. Surprised that she had even heard it, she sat up, noticing that she was still clad in her towels. Standing up and speaking towards the door, she promised the knocker that she would open the door momentarily. Dressing herself in a pair of denim jeans, sliding over her upper body was nothing more than an ordinary shirt, the hue of green. Finally slipping her dainty feet into warm socks she made her way to the door and opened it to find her mother standing there.
"I was wondering if you were hungry or not, I have made some noodles and vegetables. We have tea brewing...."
Her words were silenced when Kagome flung herself into her mothers arms, burying her face into the soft flesh of her, and crying out tears large and ragged. Knowing what was going to happen, her mother had anticipated as such, and wrapped her arms around her daughter, resting her cheek on top of the ebony hair. She hugged her tightly, rocking her where she stood in a most comforting way.
"Love is painful. But I'm sure you already know that Kagome."
Her mother wished she could spare her daughter of this pain, to take away the love that had caused those tears that she cried, to heal her heart and make it immune to love, but she at the same time did not wish to take away a gift such as love. No matter how painful love was, no matter whether it was returned or not, love in itself was a gift given to very few. True love at least. Kagome had experienced true love, young she might be, but true love did not wait for age. True love did not wait for anything..... not even time.
But that was all that her mother said, letting Kagome cry out all the tears she wished on her shoulder, till her daughter sagged under her own weight. She was weak, from tears, and from not eating. She had been home for almost two days, and yet she still hadn't taken anything into her stomach for nourishment. Supporting her daughters weight, and helping her back to her bed.
"Do not worry about Gramps and Sota, I'll tell them you still need your rest. I'll be back with some food and drink, I want you to try to eat as much as you can Kagome, you do not need to sicken yourself."
Brushing her daughters bangs to the side and planting a motherly kiss on her forehead, before she disappeared into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Kagome was left with her own thoughts. Love was painful, she could not argue with that point made by her mother, but was it really worth it all? After all her tears and all her love that she had been willing to give to Inuyasha, none of it had been returned, there was no clawed hanyou hand to wipe away her tears. She had been the only one to benefit, or to be cursed by the love?
If only she knew the pain and tears that Inuyasha was experiencing now. But maybe it was too late. Too late for him to return the love, to late for her to accept the love. Could love be late?
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Inuyasha had waited till the others were deeply asleep, waiting an extra hour when he heard their soft breathing. Imitating Kagome, he would leave them, no longer did he have a place by their side, his place in the world.... he didn't know. Find Kagome!! No, he couldn't the well was destroyed, and the jewel was with Kaede, if Kagome hadn't destroyed the well, and if she had wanted to come back, she would be able to. It was that simple, so how did he suppose he could find her? Your half demon, you have the strength and determination to search for another way.
He did not run through the forest, he did not jump through the trees, instead he made slow steps through the dark trees. What was the rush? His life no longer had a purpose, he no longer had a place to be, no one to protect, no one to protect him. His head hung down, and he had the largest urge to caress the fabric of Kagome's forgotten shirt, which was folded with her letter and placed right under his outer shirt, tucked under his belt. He would have let his urge run free, that is until another scent, this time stronger, and the actual person than a shirt drifted across his face. Turning golden eyes to the side, he met the gaze of the dead miko. Kikyo was leaning against a tree, her bow was setting restlessly against the tree as well, though her quiver remained perched upon her shoulder. Her face was like marble, emotionless and cold.
"Lose something Inuyasha? Has the girl finally realized the truth and left you to return where she belongs. She should have known. I own the past, as I own you, she can have the future if she wishes."
Finally, her lips pulled back into a smirk, a very small smirk. Though it was enough to anger Inuyasha, along with her words.
"You own nothing Kikyo."
His voice didn't seem violent or full of venom. It was just simple stated. He was angered, but he even have enough energy to show that much? He turned his eyes away from her. She was dead, she was not the Kikyo he knew while she lived, she was not Kagome, and Kagome was not her. Did he still love the dead miko? He let his gaze drag back to her form, and she had never moved. Did he love her? Quickly taking in everything about the Miko, he thought silently to himself. 'I did love her. I loved her as much as I could. But was it because she held the Shikon no Tama? Did she love me because if I turned into a human she could pretend she was a normal woman loving a normal man?'
"I beg to differ Inuyasha, I had your love while I lived, and you seemed content to join me for life. Naraku destroyed our lives, and now you have destroyed Naraku. Why can we not just pick up where we left off? Forget about Kagome, she is nothing more than a shell for my reincarnated soul. Fulfill your promise and come to hell with me Inuyasha, we could finally be together...forever."
Inuyasha turned away from Kikyo, his hand snaking into the folds of his clothing, so that his fingers could grasp around Kagome's shirt and letter. No, he did not want Kikyo. He had loved her in life, he had been dreaming when she was reasurrected that she was still the same. But his love for her had gone, he had moved on. He loved Kagome, and only if he had realized that when he had the chance.
'Kagome. I love you, please return.'
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"Who am I to you?
along the way
I lost my faith."
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Sorry for the shortness of both chapters. I hope that they lengthen the longer that I write this fanfic. Thank you for all that read, and review of course. .