The Lost
He couldn't understand it. It had been at least two weeks and he'd only caught glimpses of her in the school halls. Was she trying to avoid him or had fate just played a part?
Inuyasha sighed in resignation at his thoughts as he walked on. Every afternoon after school he would make the trip to his tree in hopes of catching her again. But each time his hopes were dashed. She never showed.
His steps quickened as he watched his feet move along the sidewalk toward the graveyard. He wanted it to be over with; just lay down the flowers and go.
In the distance, he could already see the small black fence piercing the sky, as if telling the world that's where he'd end up. He stared at it, daring it to prove its point.
The wildflowers in his fist made his palm itch. Their smell used to bring him some peace of mind, but they never did after her death. Every time he passed a field of wildflowers or some small garden it was a reminder of what he had lost, where his heart had gone.
The small gate seemed to loom over him, but he squashed down the feeling as he pushed it open, feeling some type of triumph over telling that gate it couldn't control him. Walking down the intricate patterns of the down-trodden paths, he neared her grave, but had to squelch his surprised and somewhat angry feelings when he saw that Kagome girl kneeling at the grave. As he got closer, he was about to tell her to leave until he noticed the silent shaking of her shoulders and the small wet spots in the dirt near her bowed head.
Feeling as if he were intruding on a private moment, Inuyasha cleared his throat and he saw the girl jump slightly as she quickly turned and stood, wiping the remnants of her tears away.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice quaking a bit.
"I could ask you the same thing, Miss Priss," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
She tensed visibly and stood up as straight as she could. "I'd rather not argue with you over my sister's grave."
His eyes widened in revelation. "Your sister?"
She gave him a flat look, not pulling it off very well for the red rimmed eyes and the sniffles she had. "Yeah, my sister. What of it?" She folded her arms beneath her breasts, trying to look tough; inwardly, Inuyasha smiled at her.
"Kikyou never said anything about a sister, even a twin at that."
"That's because she didn't know. I just came over from America to find her. I didn't know until last year." She looked down at the ground and he felt a sudden urge to hug her and hold her close. "I was too late. I wanted so badly to meet her." She smiled at the dirt covering the grave of the deceased. "I got a picture of her once. She was wearing a priestess outfit for Halloween." A water laugh came up, at the thought. "She even had a small bag of arrows and a bow."
Why is she telling me all of this? She barely knows me at all. What difference does it make to me whether she didn't know Kikyou?
Kagome looked back up at him. "This isn't exactly what I was hoping for in our family reunion." She ran a hand through her ebony locks, and you could tell she was fighting back another onslaught of tears. "Some of the people at school tell me you used to date. Could you tell me what she was like?"
Inuyasha balked at the idea, but was hard-pressed for the hopeful look in her shining eyes; he didn't want to tell her anything bad, but he felt that he couldn't lie to this girl either.
She tilted her head to the side, eyeing him curiously for the first time, and then she noticed the flowers. Covering her fear, she asked casually, "Are those for her?"
He glared at her. "That's none of your business, girl." On the inside, he flinched at the hurt he saw in her gaze and her silent nod.
"I'll just leave you two alone then." Her head down, she walked away with one arm swaying at her side while the other clutched it at the joint.
He smacked his head and sighed at himself. Sometimes, I'm so stupid. She didn't do anything wrong. Am I using her, trying to get back at Kikyou? He shook his head in confusion, but looked about himself to see if she was still around and saw that her back was turned to him as she was trudging down the path.
Sure now that no one could see him, he carefully placed his hand-picked flowers next to the headstone of his ex-girlfriend's grave. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, content to just stand and stare at her grave for a while.
"I brought you some more flowers. I know how much you liked them." He mulled over his next words before speaking to the headstone again. "Dad's gotten worse. The doctors say he won't make it through next year." His feet scuffed the dirt near her grave as he went on. "Mom's been nagging me again. 'You need to go out, Inuyasha,'" he mocked as he talked on. "I wish they would all just leave me alone."
He sighed and looked down at the grave sadly. "Kami, I miss you so much. I'm sorry. I really am. I wanted to tell you so badly, but…the words wouldn't come. You know how I am," he argued. "I can't just tell how I feel to someone."
"Well, I'd better go." His eyes glanced quickly around before he placed a hand on the gravestone, lightly caressing it. "See you next week, Kikyou."
Not a moment later, he turned and strode away, unaware of the pair of blue eyes that looked after him compassionately from behind a tree.
Maybe it'll be better next week. I just wish that girl wasn't there. Having her there made me feel…weird. Things will look up; they will. He took long purposeful strides, getting as far from the graveyard as fast as he could, heading home.
*sigh* I know; it was angsty again. But I promise it gets better! ^^Patience is a virtue. Well, minna, I've got other chappies to write and post so I'm ending here. My heart goes out to all of those who have been waiting for AGES for me to update and you have my sincere apologies. I hope you enjoyed!