Of wishes and rain...I do not own anything...
When Tomorrow Starts Without You
By: ShenYue
Preventer_02@hotmail.com
Chapter 6: A Cherry Blossom's Remembering
Inuyasha swiveled his sinuous left ear in the direction of Kagome, noting with satisfaction the sound of a ramen package being ripped open. Stomach growling from anticipation he yawned and sidled over to sit next to her while shoving Shippo across the clearing as he did so.
"Hey!" The tiny kitsune exclaimed; rushing back over to his rightful place only to find his way blocked by the hanyou's foot. About to call for Kagome he realized she was engaged in quite an avid conversation with the object of his rage and decided to forgo the usual tattle-sit-crash routine. "Sango? Where's Kirara?" Placing himself next to the reflective taiji-ya he helped himself to a cookie thoughtfully left there by the reincarnated miko a while ago.
"Hm?"
"Kiphapha." He sputtered with a mouth full of crumbs, spraying them all over his lap. Swallowing, he brushed them away, "Kirara."
"Gone...to think I suppose." She ruffled his hair, received an indignant look and stirred the simmering noodles. Kagome was now in an argument with Inuyasha, no doubt about Kouga or something, and was letting them boil over. She sat back against a tree and picked up the golden shakujou, letting the smooth staff slide between her fingers and clink softly on the ground. Instantly Inuyasha and Kagome both snapped their heads up, swinging around in the direction of the lonely jangle. They were all silent for a while, letting the notes crystallize in the still air and fall, like frozen rain on a frozen pond.
"I thought for a second that..." Kagome said trailing off into a whisper, "...it might have all been a dream...and Miroku-sama was..." tears began to trickle down her neck to be absorbed in the thick cotton of her uniform. Quickly Sango stood up and began walking swiftly away, throwing the staff behind her and running as the raucous clatter of the gold rings sounded behind her. Shippo, blinded by tears, flung himself after her but was stopped by Inuyasha who held a sobbing Kagome in one arm. Before he could blink the strange hanyou was stuffing him into the girl's arms and squeezing him too.
"Let her go." He mumbled softly, choked by the tangle in his throat. "She'll come back."
Branches lashed cruelly at her face as Sango made her mad dash through the woods and away from the safety and comfort of her remaining companions. She could feel the tears streaming down her face and sliding the length of her neck into her yukata but she made no attempt to wipe them away. Finally winded she slumped to the ground at the foot of a big tree, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth, sobbing to herself.
"Houshi-sama...why did you...why did you leave me...?" She cried harder and curled up into a ball against the roots, clutching the dirt between her fingers and digging them into the warm earth. "...Why...?"
"Because Naraku ordered it of me." Frantically Sango jumped to her feet and fumbled for her koudachi knowing she would have only one chance and that she would die for it.
"You bitch! I will kill you for what you have done!"
"You will die." Kagura folded her arms inside her kimono and leapt down from her tree, fan tucked securely away. "I came here not to fight." The taiji-ya growled and the wind user reached forward with one hand to brush her cheek softly, smoothing away the tears that rested there, red eyes glimmering with an emotion akin to sadness. "I am sorry..." she whispered leaving Sango speechless and wondering. "...To have caused you this pain..." Sango put away her blade.
"You will not kill me then." It was a statement, not a question. "You know something."
"But cannot tell it." The detachment looked towards the skies. "Naraku is ever watchful." It was spoken softly and through gritted teeth.
"You speak as though you resent him."
"I do, my one wish is to kill him...but...he holds my very heart in his palm..." her eyes shifted to watch the lone hunter standing beside her and touched at the empty spot in her chest.
"Why did you come here, Kagura, knowing that you could have lost your head this night?"
"I heard you crying." A wry smile curled Sango's lips.
"So you came to offer me pity?"
"I came to offer my regret." Silence reigned again but their gazes never crossed. "By no means give up hope." The wind witch bowed her head as a derisive smile graced her lips. "I never have..." A slight breeze lifted Sango's hair and shaded her eyes.
"Well then...I won't..." only the wind answered.
The young man poked absentmindedly at the noodles in his bowl, looking at them and yet not seeing what was there. He had long since given up trying to remember who he was finding it caused him too much pain...perhaps the block would lift...in time...
"Houshi-sama?" That name, that title, still made him cringe and he wanted to shout out, scream and tell everyone not to call him that. But then...what else would they address him by?
"Yume?"
"Will you stay with us forever?" The deep brown eyes looked intently into his own, locked them there with their naive admiration.
"Perhaps..." he sighed reaching into his sleeve and lifting out a small slip of paper, a single o-fuda scroll. "But if I don't...keep this...it will protect you..." smiling he watched her tiny fingers wrap around the semi-transparent paper and her eyes light up with happiness.
"Thank you houshi-sama!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms about him in one of her tight hugs. "What's wrong? You seem so sad."
"There is someone I miss...but can not seem to remember...but I know she is there..." he died away as he put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked into Yume's face. "I see her sometimes, when I sleep...and she is beautiful..." gently he touched Yume's feather-soft hair. "Just like you."
"Me? Yume is beautiful just like houshi-sama's memory?" Giggling she folded the wide black sleeves of the kimono over herself and hid in their warmth, curling up in his lap. "I hope you remember so that I can see her someday..." clutching the scroll closer and being careful not to rip it she drifted to sleep.
"I hope so too..."
The sun peaked over the hill and warmed the wooded countryside with its golden rays leaving just wraiths of mist in the shaded glens. The wind sighed, taking with it a single petal. The delicate pink silk drifted in and out of the dappled shade of the cherry tree above and landed in the steady palm of the waiting man below. White teeth glimmered, reflecting off the clear water of the tepid pond as he smiled slightly, parting his lips just enough to show his amusement. The petal was crushed. And the wind stole another.
"Do they not know?" The wry smile disappeared, then reappeared as another leaf met its end, cast into the water to sink into the clear depths. She watched the crumpled beauty sink until she could no longer see it.
"It is the new moon tonight."
"I asked you if they knew." Another whisper and the petals drifted in a flurry.
"Know your place." His sharp eyes glanced up. "Or have you forgotten what this Naraku holds?" He crushed them as they fell.
"No."
"Good. They will arrive at the village today. Then you will understand what the woman and her whelp mean." Closing his hand carefully he imprisoned a smooth cherry blossom, complete and whole. He opened his fingers and offered it to Kagura, who gingerly picked it up and let it fall into the pool watching the ripples spread along with her hatred.
"I think I see it!" Kagome pointed and Shippo ran up to stand with her on the crest of the hill.
"Good." Inuyasha was beginning to feel a little better. Now they could have a rest and with tonight the night of his blasted transformation...
"Are you coming?" Shippo jeered, sticking his tongue out at the half-breed, "or are you just gonna stand there drooling like an idiot?" he laughed at his joke and ran off down the slope followed ever so briskly by Inuyasha. Sango followed at a more leisurely pace remembering the last night at the other village.
"...Houshi-sama..." gently she rubbed Kirara's ears and welcomed the comforting purr.
"Come on Sango! We're going to find a place to sleep!" Everyone was saddened at Kagome's meaningful comment, it would be harder without Miroku...
"I am!" The taiji-ya called back, stepping up her pace.
The town, though small, was bustling with activity. Everywhere people were working, walking the horses to the fields, grinding rice, and mending clothing.
"One could like it here." Sango whispered, reminded of her own home. Few were the gazes that followed Inuyasha and those were only from small children. He grinned back when he thought no one was looking and the lonely girl smiled.
"I think this could be a hotel." Kagome said, glancing in the window. Inuyasha snorted.
"Well, considering the sign says 'inn' you may not be too far off..."
"Oh you! You knew what I meant!"
"It only shows how dumb you women are...oops." His gold eyes widened with horror at the glare on Kagome's face. If looks could kill he would be dead three lifetimes over and reborn as a rock.
"Inuyasha!" She turned, giving him a cold shoulder that would freeze Hell and began to stalk away. Thinking he was blessed with good luck and was off the hook he relaxed and began breathing again. Unfortunately Kagome turned around with a mad grin and took a deep breath. He winced, preparing himself for the blow.
"Sit!" The voice echoed around the mountains and everyone in town looked at the sorry man who had his nose buried in the dirt before the inn. Then life returned to normal. Sango giggled softly but stopped when she heard a familiar laugh. Her neck snapped around so fast Kirara almost fell off her shoulder.
"Houshi-sama!" The figure stopped and looked up, shading his eyes from the sun and she gasped. "Houshi-sama..." her eyes stayed with him as the little girl by his side grasped his fingers and tugged, pulling him forward. He continued to look for the one who had called him, his searching violet eyes so familiar, the black kimono, the purple kesa... How could it not be him? Sango ached to run to him, to embrace him as tight as she could and never let him go again, but could not move, torn between trying decide if what stood before her was real or not. Sadly she saw him disappear and cursed herself. "Coward!" She screamed, tears pooling as she blinked them away and ignored the questioning stares. How could fate be so cruel?
'Kay! It's almost over now! Thank you for sticking with it! ^^