Author's Notes: I'm sorry about the late update, but I suppose most of
you know I went on a slight vacation for a few days to relieve stress.
I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Behind the Masquerade
The Inconspicuous Plan
The strangest thing about waking up after feeling like you had been thrown down a cliff edge was that subtle comforting feeling you have around your stomach area. He had never really experienced these feelings---except for when Ikari…but no, he must not think of such things---but to feel them when the rest of your body ached was an incredible feat.
He opened his eyes and instantly saw the dark sky above him. It wasn't completely dark, but lightening due to dawn. Feeling the fatigue and pains consume him again, he realized he wasn't in his hanyou state…
Shooting up and looking around frantically for Kagome, he felt himself collapse back onto the sand. If he had been hanyou, these problems for him wouldn't have existed…but no, he had to be a weak, little human who couldn't even protect one girl.
Feeling the weight on his stomach, he spared a peek down to see what the intrusion (or was it what made him feel comfortable?) was and was slightly taken aback to see the center of his worries lying peacefully on his stomach. So maybe she was alright after all…but what had happened to the youkai? Why had the youkai attacked? Not many youkai have even seen him in his hanyou form, much less in his human, so how could that youkai have recognized him so easily? Something was amiss in the entire thing, but he just couldn't figure out what.
He smiled gently, seeing her sprawled across him, her head lying on his stomach and her face turned to him. He had to admit her arm looked gravely injured, and although he would love to do something about it, the very bones in his body felt weak.
His eyes trailed back to the sky, seeing its tone lighten more as the sun began to slowly peek over the horizon. Not much longer, and his injuries would heal…
He tried to move his left hand, but it was the appendage that he couldn't move. However, he could see that someone---most likely Kagome---had cleaned and wrapped it for him. His smile lingered slightly, before he gingerly tried his right hand, feeling relieved when he found out that this one worked.
Feeling a cold shudder run through Kagome below, Inuyasha looked down at her, his right arm moving instinctively. Straining a little to grab a hold of her, he gently brought her up to him, where she impulsively snuggled into the contours of his neck, her head rubbing slightly under his chin. He felt a tingling feeling run through him as he closed his eyes and wrapped his arm around her petite body. A small part of him was screaming that this was wrong---how could he betray his own fiancée?---but the more vocal and canine part of him told him that it wouldn't matter because who would see?
No one was perfect, and least of all, he was the perfect example. To have lost her---again---would have been too much, and he thought it was his right to enjoy this tiny, guilty pleasure…even if it would only last for a few minutes.
After all, after a few more days, all this would end…
He opened his eyes and they were the brilliant shade of gold they usually were. He turned his face towards the horizon, feeling the first warm rays of the sun embrace his cold flesh. He could feel the claws grow out of his fingers again, his black hair invert to white, and the pain in his limbs dull slightly.
He knew he was a hanyou again, and he knew that everything was normal again. He took in a deep breath, sensing the salty smell of the sea consume most of his nose…although, a small, albeit significant, part of his senses could pick out the scent that was Kagome…that sweet smell that was only hers.
He closed his eyes again to allow the moment to last for just a while longer because sooner or later, his wounds would heal, and what excuse would he have then to hold her…
---
It was one of those mornings where she didn't have to wake up in a half dream-like state. It was one of those days where she just opened her eyes and realized exactly where she was and what had happened the night before. She didn't usually have many of those mornings, but today was one of those special ones.
She pushed herself up from her bed and looked around with a calm composure. How had she landed back in her room?
Moving her eyes to her shoulders, she gazed at the injury. It had been wrapped.
"Inuyasha…" she whispered, knowing that no one else would or could have. No one knew what had come to pass yesterday night after all, and knowing Inuyasha, he would never admit to having her protect him…for that single moment. She wondered whether his dignity had dropped a few points or not, but it didn't matter. It was sweet of him to do this for her.
However, although she had gotten out of bed as easily as if she had never slept, a part of her was still misty on some memories. As such, she only shuffled slowly over to the adjoining door, pushing it open to gaze at Inuyasha's room bathed in a soft, seemingly afternoon light. It was easy to see that he wasn't inside.
Her eyes fell upon various things in his room…his bed…his window…his table…
His drawers…
It was amazing how fast something could be abruptly ripped away from a contented and relaxed state to one of intense déjà vu and realization. Perhaps it was just one of those strange quirks in life, but Kagome's expressions went from unruffled to horrified in the time it took a person to snap their fingers.
Her azure eyes continued to stare at the drawers, and she didn't even know how she had managed to get there, but the next minute, she was tugging persistently at the handle. She had seen it before, she knew she did, and if she only saw that mask again, it would confirm all her suspicions.
It wouldn't give, and she breathed deeply as her predicament led her to think of another thing. It was the only other thing that could either accept or deny all her wild thoughts.
Fleeing back hastily into her room, she tore open her own drawers in search of the object. When she finally found it, she ripped it away from its place amongst her belongings and stared at it. It was the necklace of the man she had met at the masquerade. If Inuyasha and he were the same people…this would be his.
Holding it as if it was something precious, she carefully scrutinized every little part of the necklace. Perhaps there would be an emblem of the Komiya family…or a dog sign…or Inuyasha's name in kanji…
Her eyes widened.
Or Ikari's name…
She dropped the necklace in a stupefied stun…the beads making a dull thud as it hit the ground at her feet. It had been there…her name…the name of the girl who had no other man or any conspicuous reasons to leave him…but did. It was the name of Inuyasha's first love…of the one person who had managed to get a hold of his feelings…of the mysterious girl…simply of her.
She felt sick.
She felt so sick this time she wanted to throw up and wither away into a wilted lily…for her expressions were as pale as one who had met with death.
After a few moments of appalled insight on the ironic situation, Kagome moved spontaneously as she swiped the beads from the ground and took off out the door. She met Sango down the corridor, but didn't stop to say anything as she sought to look for the hanyou. She had to get this cleared up.
"Kagome? Kagome!" Sango called out after her, seeing the girl dash away like a ghost was on her trail. Her eyes eventually glimpsed the object in Kagome's hand, and her heart stopped. Did she know?
Kagome descended the stairs in a twilight state, her eyes seeing the ground, but not comprehending much further than the fact that she had to know. Was this how life worked? Was this just how ironic her life would be? She fell for the hanyou which was the exact same person that had attracted her at the ball?
"Kagome, dear? Where are you going in such a hurry?...And your clothes, darling…did something happen?" Lady Komiya asked in a motherly manner, her eyes concerned as Kagome went past her without a respectful glance.
"I'm looking for Inuyasha…" Kagome answered in a voice which had all her emotions controlled into a sound of indifference.
Lady Komiya stared at the girl, before supplying helpfully, "I think he's in the garden."
Kagome didn't even say thank you as she changed her course that had originally been to the dining room to the main door. She darted out, the guards giving a casual, surprised glance at the disheveled young lady. They dared not make any comments however, as she went towards the cherry tree Inuyasha would most undoubtedly be found under.
An emotion inside of her simmered as she neared the object of her concentration…it was uncalled for, and really had no proper incidence for it to bubble, but it was there, and as she saw the red blob in the tree, she felt it intensify. Perhaps she was just incredibly angry at everything occurring around her, but right now, it was all directed at him, as if he was the cause of her resentment. It was another of those things in life that couldn't be explained, and only happened because it could.
Inuyasha, seeing the girl walk towards her with an unusual pace, felt it right for him to address all his questions now. He did want to know what happened last night, and it was bugging him that he didn't know. Yes, he had taken her back to her room after his injuries had healed slightly, but it was useless asking a sleeping person questions that had invaded his mind. He jumped down towards her, completely unaware of the conflict tearing the girl apart inwardly.
"We need to talk," he simply addressed gruffly, crossing his arms across his chest and acting in the usual manner he would have. With just him and her, it was a private moment, but in public…
"Yes, we do," she replied in a curt manner, her eyes hardening as she clenched her fingers around the object she was holding.
This caused his eyes to drift down to her hands, and he was surprised when he saw the necklace he had lost dangling from her fingers. All questions relating to the youkai last night escaped as he felt himself recoil at the sheer possibility that Kagome was holding something that was his past---something he never liked anyone having a hold upon.
"Why do you have that?" he sputtered and made a quick swipe for it, and he would have usually already taken it before Kagome could blink, but the girl snapped it up to avoid his hands.
"So this is yours?" she said in a low voice, her eyes accusing as she dangled it from its position to the side of her head, her eyes devoid of anything that could give him an idea as to why she was doing this.
"Yes, it's mine. I lost it!" he growled, making another swipe for it and this time grabbing it easily because she didn't move, but chose to stare at him with something unreadable in her blue depths. "Where'd you find it!?" he decided to interrogate.
"Unnecessary," she quipped, almost lightly as she turned on her heels and started walking away from him. "That's all I came to talk about."
A flash of surprise appeared in his eyes as he watched her retreat back to the main entrance, not once sparing a glance at him. At first, he had wanted to completely squeeze the entire story out of her about last night, but he had never expected such an encounter. And most of all, she had looked torn between something akin to anger and depression. It was all in her eyes.
He brought his old necklace to eyelevel and stared at it, seeing his past's name engraved in one of the teeth. He exhaled deeply, feeling slightly tired of the past, and pocketed the necklace in his pants pocket, jumping back up into the tree and landing gracefully back on the branch he had been on before. However, this time around, he wasn't as unperturbed as he had been before.
Something about everything happening around him was nagging.
---
After half an hour of dwelling on her plethora of mixed emotions and having come to a conclusion she thought necessary…she felt bad for having been so cold and distant to Inuyasha. He was all she had ever felt the necessity to…well, feel…for, and she had been so formal…
She could deny it all she wanted, but during her vulnerable moments, everything would surface and overwhelm her into admitting everything she kept hidden. She was just that type of person…quiet until something forced the noise to sound. Then after the vulnerable moment passed, she would go back to obstinately denying she had ever admitted it.
Half an hour was a long time to think, especially on a subject she felt didn't need more pondering upon, and the conclusion she had come upon was resolute and had taken all her determination to acknowledge inside of her. In addition to being a person who hated admitting any troubling emotions, she was also a person who never backed out on something she was steadfast on completing…so to come to the silent agreement to take the third path, she knew she wouldn't be able to back out of it anymore.
Facades and masked games were simply lies (she had to admit such), but she knew that it wasn't a lie that she had to protect every single person in this castle, no matter how some of them were tearing at her heartstrings. And she wanted them to be safe, no matter what the cost or sacrifice.
They were everything to her, and she admitted she was terrified at the prospect of going home. She knew her parents still thought she was dead, but what would happen when they went to Kikyou's wedding and saw her alive? Would they drag her back to her kingdom and yell at her till she couldn't handle it anymore? Would they think she was a phantom haunting her sister's happy day? Whatever would happen, Kagome knew she didn't want to face it.
Call her a coward for wanting to choose the third path, but it was all she felt comfortable in taking. Evil people were not to be trusted, and defiance would mean a backlash on everyone around her. The third path demanded a lot, but a lot would be what she would give…
She stopped in front of a door and didn't stop to think as she knocked firmly. Her heart was beating as erratically as it had been when she had talked to Inuyasha, but this time, it was more from determination.
"Come in," the voice resounded from the inside, and Kagome hesitated for a single second, before opening the door and strolling in with her head held up high. She would not back out…she had told herself she wouldn't.
"Kikyou, I need you to do something for me on your wedding day."
Kikyou raised her eyebrow at her younger sister, before replacing the expression with one of dry acceptance. She had suspected as much. "Sit down then," she commanded, pointing at the chair across from her. "I imagine we'll have a lot to discuss…"
---
Inuyasha juggled the beads in his hand, strolling casually in the village and secretly enjoying the small laughter around him from the children and their juvenile games with each other. He had remembered those kind of games…he had played them with Ikari when he was younger. She was like a curse on his mind. He never knew why she left him---she never left a note, nothing---and it was a constant plague. If he just knew why, perhaps he could forget her…
However, she was the plague of his past, and Kagome was the plague of his present. It was just no use denying it any further. He cared for her a hell lot more than he had ever cared for anybody---even Ikari---and that meant a lot. There was something mysterious about her…he finally knew she was hiding something from him, but to guess what it was is technically impossible because he couldn't read minds.
If he only knew…perhaps…just maybe…
"Inuyasha?"
The hanyou snapped his head over to the small bakery and saw Miroku there, half his mouth full of bread and the other half of the loaf in his hands. His violet eyes were blinking at his cousin as he scratched his head with his free hand and swallowed his food. "I didn't expect to see you out here," Miroku mused out loud.
"Same as you," Inuyasha said, and walked over to the lecher. "Why are you out?"
Miroku shrugged. "The castle has been feeling slightly tight in there lately…I feel suffocated. I suppose the wedding is becoming a bit too much of a strain on me, with all those girls running around…old habits die hard, but I'm trying." He smiled radiantly and stuffed another piece of bread into his mouth. "And Kaede makes the best bread in the entire kingdom…" he added as an afterthought.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and continued walking with Miroku next to him.
"You?" the human questioned.
"I just came out to think," he said, playing around with the beads again before pocketing them once more in his pants.
Miroku looked amused however. "Sango gave it back?"
Inuyasha raised his eyebrow. "Gave what back?" he questioned, looking around in an effort to pinpoint what Miroku was referring to.
"Your necklace," the cousin said, yawning slightly before sticking a bread into his mouth, smiling satisfyingly. "I forgot to tell you, but I saw Sango holding it in Kagome's room and she told me she had found it on the beach a while ago. I was pretty surprised she didn't return it sooner when I told her it was yours."
Inuyasha's eyes widened in confusion. "What are you talking about? Kagome gave it back to me just a while ago."
It was Miroku's turn to recoil in bewilderment. "No…I'm pretty sure Sango had it. Maybe Sango gave it to Kagome to give to you?" Miroku shrugged. "At least you have it back. Don't know why you keep it though."
His words struck something in Inuyasha and the hanyou took out the necklace again, staring at it. Why did he keep it? To hold onto something that would never come back? "You know what?" he said, artlessly throwing the necklace to the earth and grounding it into dust with his foot and strength. He bit his lips while doing so, but when he lifted it away, it was just a memory. "I don't know why I kept it either."
A/N: Sorry this is a short chapter (at least compared to my others). I just felt it necessary to stop at that point because it does denote a lot. Yes, I'm guessing there will only be three to four more chapters for this story…I have everything planned in my head, but the only problem with that is that I can never guess the exact length of each planned chapter. Thus, three to four more…the next chapter should begin the ending. It's the wedding, everyone. OoO…what happens now?
I'm still surviving in Elimination Nomination. Yay. If I'm not suddenly kicked off, I would appreciate it if everyone continues to show your great support. It really does make me write more often every time I feel happy about the encouragement I get from your votes. The link is in my profile.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Behind the Masquerade
The Inconspicuous Plan
The strangest thing about waking up after feeling like you had been thrown down a cliff edge was that subtle comforting feeling you have around your stomach area. He had never really experienced these feelings---except for when Ikari…but no, he must not think of such things---but to feel them when the rest of your body ached was an incredible feat.
He opened his eyes and instantly saw the dark sky above him. It wasn't completely dark, but lightening due to dawn. Feeling the fatigue and pains consume him again, he realized he wasn't in his hanyou state…
Shooting up and looking around frantically for Kagome, he felt himself collapse back onto the sand. If he had been hanyou, these problems for him wouldn't have existed…but no, he had to be a weak, little human who couldn't even protect one girl.
Feeling the weight on his stomach, he spared a peek down to see what the intrusion (or was it what made him feel comfortable?) was and was slightly taken aback to see the center of his worries lying peacefully on his stomach. So maybe she was alright after all…but what had happened to the youkai? Why had the youkai attacked? Not many youkai have even seen him in his hanyou form, much less in his human, so how could that youkai have recognized him so easily? Something was amiss in the entire thing, but he just couldn't figure out what.
He smiled gently, seeing her sprawled across him, her head lying on his stomach and her face turned to him. He had to admit her arm looked gravely injured, and although he would love to do something about it, the very bones in his body felt weak.
His eyes trailed back to the sky, seeing its tone lighten more as the sun began to slowly peek over the horizon. Not much longer, and his injuries would heal…
He tried to move his left hand, but it was the appendage that he couldn't move. However, he could see that someone---most likely Kagome---had cleaned and wrapped it for him. His smile lingered slightly, before he gingerly tried his right hand, feeling relieved when he found out that this one worked.
Feeling a cold shudder run through Kagome below, Inuyasha looked down at her, his right arm moving instinctively. Straining a little to grab a hold of her, he gently brought her up to him, where she impulsively snuggled into the contours of his neck, her head rubbing slightly under his chin. He felt a tingling feeling run through him as he closed his eyes and wrapped his arm around her petite body. A small part of him was screaming that this was wrong---how could he betray his own fiancée?---but the more vocal and canine part of him told him that it wouldn't matter because who would see?
No one was perfect, and least of all, he was the perfect example. To have lost her---again---would have been too much, and he thought it was his right to enjoy this tiny, guilty pleasure…even if it would only last for a few minutes.
After all, after a few more days, all this would end…
He opened his eyes and they were the brilliant shade of gold they usually were. He turned his face towards the horizon, feeling the first warm rays of the sun embrace his cold flesh. He could feel the claws grow out of his fingers again, his black hair invert to white, and the pain in his limbs dull slightly.
He knew he was a hanyou again, and he knew that everything was normal again. He took in a deep breath, sensing the salty smell of the sea consume most of his nose…although, a small, albeit significant, part of his senses could pick out the scent that was Kagome…that sweet smell that was only hers.
He closed his eyes again to allow the moment to last for just a while longer because sooner or later, his wounds would heal, and what excuse would he have then to hold her…
---
It was one of those mornings where she didn't have to wake up in a half dream-like state. It was one of those days where she just opened her eyes and realized exactly where she was and what had happened the night before. She didn't usually have many of those mornings, but today was one of those special ones.
She pushed herself up from her bed and looked around with a calm composure. How had she landed back in her room?
Moving her eyes to her shoulders, she gazed at the injury. It had been wrapped.
"Inuyasha…" she whispered, knowing that no one else would or could have. No one knew what had come to pass yesterday night after all, and knowing Inuyasha, he would never admit to having her protect him…for that single moment. She wondered whether his dignity had dropped a few points or not, but it didn't matter. It was sweet of him to do this for her.
However, although she had gotten out of bed as easily as if she had never slept, a part of her was still misty on some memories. As such, she only shuffled slowly over to the adjoining door, pushing it open to gaze at Inuyasha's room bathed in a soft, seemingly afternoon light. It was easy to see that he wasn't inside.
Her eyes fell upon various things in his room…his bed…his window…his table…
His drawers…
It was amazing how fast something could be abruptly ripped away from a contented and relaxed state to one of intense déjà vu and realization. Perhaps it was just one of those strange quirks in life, but Kagome's expressions went from unruffled to horrified in the time it took a person to snap their fingers.
Her azure eyes continued to stare at the drawers, and she didn't even know how she had managed to get there, but the next minute, she was tugging persistently at the handle. She had seen it before, she knew she did, and if she only saw that mask again, it would confirm all her suspicions.
It wouldn't give, and she breathed deeply as her predicament led her to think of another thing. It was the only other thing that could either accept or deny all her wild thoughts.
Fleeing back hastily into her room, she tore open her own drawers in search of the object. When she finally found it, she ripped it away from its place amongst her belongings and stared at it. It was the necklace of the man she had met at the masquerade. If Inuyasha and he were the same people…this would be his.
Holding it as if it was something precious, she carefully scrutinized every little part of the necklace. Perhaps there would be an emblem of the Komiya family…or a dog sign…or Inuyasha's name in kanji…
Her eyes widened.
Or Ikari's name…
She dropped the necklace in a stupefied stun…the beads making a dull thud as it hit the ground at her feet. It had been there…her name…the name of the girl who had no other man or any conspicuous reasons to leave him…but did. It was the name of Inuyasha's first love…of the one person who had managed to get a hold of his feelings…of the mysterious girl…simply of her.
She felt sick.
She felt so sick this time she wanted to throw up and wither away into a wilted lily…for her expressions were as pale as one who had met with death.
After a few moments of appalled insight on the ironic situation, Kagome moved spontaneously as she swiped the beads from the ground and took off out the door. She met Sango down the corridor, but didn't stop to say anything as she sought to look for the hanyou. She had to get this cleared up.
"Kagome? Kagome!" Sango called out after her, seeing the girl dash away like a ghost was on her trail. Her eyes eventually glimpsed the object in Kagome's hand, and her heart stopped. Did she know?
Kagome descended the stairs in a twilight state, her eyes seeing the ground, but not comprehending much further than the fact that she had to know. Was this how life worked? Was this just how ironic her life would be? She fell for the hanyou which was the exact same person that had attracted her at the ball?
"Kagome, dear? Where are you going in such a hurry?...And your clothes, darling…did something happen?" Lady Komiya asked in a motherly manner, her eyes concerned as Kagome went past her without a respectful glance.
"I'm looking for Inuyasha…" Kagome answered in a voice which had all her emotions controlled into a sound of indifference.
Lady Komiya stared at the girl, before supplying helpfully, "I think he's in the garden."
Kagome didn't even say thank you as she changed her course that had originally been to the dining room to the main door. She darted out, the guards giving a casual, surprised glance at the disheveled young lady. They dared not make any comments however, as she went towards the cherry tree Inuyasha would most undoubtedly be found under.
An emotion inside of her simmered as she neared the object of her concentration…it was uncalled for, and really had no proper incidence for it to bubble, but it was there, and as she saw the red blob in the tree, she felt it intensify. Perhaps she was just incredibly angry at everything occurring around her, but right now, it was all directed at him, as if he was the cause of her resentment. It was another of those things in life that couldn't be explained, and only happened because it could.
Inuyasha, seeing the girl walk towards her with an unusual pace, felt it right for him to address all his questions now. He did want to know what happened last night, and it was bugging him that he didn't know. Yes, he had taken her back to her room after his injuries had healed slightly, but it was useless asking a sleeping person questions that had invaded his mind. He jumped down towards her, completely unaware of the conflict tearing the girl apart inwardly.
"We need to talk," he simply addressed gruffly, crossing his arms across his chest and acting in the usual manner he would have. With just him and her, it was a private moment, but in public…
"Yes, we do," she replied in a curt manner, her eyes hardening as she clenched her fingers around the object she was holding.
This caused his eyes to drift down to her hands, and he was surprised when he saw the necklace he had lost dangling from her fingers. All questions relating to the youkai last night escaped as he felt himself recoil at the sheer possibility that Kagome was holding something that was his past---something he never liked anyone having a hold upon.
"Why do you have that?" he sputtered and made a quick swipe for it, and he would have usually already taken it before Kagome could blink, but the girl snapped it up to avoid his hands.
"So this is yours?" she said in a low voice, her eyes accusing as she dangled it from its position to the side of her head, her eyes devoid of anything that could give him an idea as to why she was doing this.
"Yes, it's mine. I lost it!" he growled, making another swipe for it and this time grabbing it easily because she didn't move, but chose to stare at him with something unreadable in her blue depths. "Where'd you find it!?" he decided to interrogate.
"Unnecessary," she quipped, almost lightly as she turned on her heels and started walking away from him. "That's all I came to talk about."
A flash of surprise appeared in his eyes as he watched her retreat back to the main entrance, not once sparing a glance at him. At first, he had wanted to completely squeeze the entire story out of her about last night, but he had never expected such an encounter. And most of all, she had looked torn between something akin to anger and depression. It was all in her eyes.
He brought his old necklace to eyelevel and stared at it, seeing his past's name engraved in one of the teeth. He exhaled deeply, feeling slightly tired of the past, and pocketed the necklace in his pants pocket, jumping back up into the tree and landing gracefully back on the branch he had been on before. However, this time around, he wasn't as unperturbed as he had been before.
Something about everything happening around him was nagging.
---
After half an hour of dwelling on her plethora of mixed emotions and having come to a conclusion she thought necessary…she felt bad for having been so cold and distant to Inuyasha. He was all she had ever felt the necessity to…well, feel…for, and she had been so formal…
She could deny it all she wanted, but during her vulnerable moments, everything would surface and overwhelm her into admitting everything she kept hidden. She was just that type of person…quiet until something forced the noise to sound. Then after the vulnerable moment passed, she would go back to obstinately denying she had ever admitted it.
Half an hour was a long time to think, especially on a subject she felt didn't need more pondering upon, and the conclusion she had come upon was resolute and had taken all her determination to acknowledge inside of her. In addition to being a person who hated admitting any troubling emotions, she was also a person who never backed out on something she was steadfast on completing…so to come to the silent agreement to take the third path, she knew she wouldn't be able to back out of it anymore.
Facades and masked games were simply lies (she had to admit such), but she knew that it wasn't a lie that she had to protect every single person in this castle, no matter how some of them were tearing at her heartstrings. And she wanted them to be safe, no matter what the cost or sacrifice.
They were everything to her, and she admitted she was terrified at the prospect of going home. She knew her parents still thought she was dead, but what would happen when they went to Kikyou's wedding and saw her alive? Would they drag her back to her kingdom and yell at her till she couldn't handle it anymore? Would they think she was a phantom haunting her sister's happy day? Whatever would happen, Kagome knew she didn't want to face it.
Call her a coward for wanting to choose the third path, but it was all she felt comfortable in taking. Evil people were not to be trusted, and defiance would mean a backlash on everyone around her. The third path demanded a lot, but a lot would be what she would give…
She stopped in front of a door and didn't stop to think as she knocked firmly. Her heart was beating as erratically as it had been when she had talked to Inuyasha, but this time, it was more from determination.
"Come in," the voice resounded from the inside, and Kagome hesitated for a single second, before opening the door and strolling in with her head held up high. She would not back out…she had told herself she wouldn't.
"Kikyou, I need you to do something for me on your wedding day."
Kikyou raised her eyebrow at her younger sister, before replacing the expression with one of dry acceptance. She had suspected as much. "Sit down then," she commanded, pointing at the chair across from her. "I imagine we'll have a lot to discuss…"
---
Inuyasha juggled the beads in his hand, strolling casually in the village and secretly enjoying the small laughter around him from the children and their juvenile games with each other. He had remembered those kind of games…he had played them with Ikari when he was younger. She was like a curse on his mind. He never knew why she left him---she never left a note, nothing---and it was a constant plague. If he just knew why, perhaps he could forget her…
However, she was the plague of his past, and Kagome was the plague of his present. It was just no use denying it any further. He cared for her a hell lot more than he had ever cared for anybody---even Ikari---and that meant a lot. There was something mysterious about her…he finally knew she was hiding something from him, but to guess what it was is technically impossible because he couldn't read minds.
If he only knew…perhaps…just maybe…
"Inuyasha?"
The hanyou snapped his head over to the small bakery and saw Miroku there, half his mouth full of bread and the other half of the loaf in his hands. His violet eyes were blinking at his cousin as he scratched his head with his free hand and swallowed his food. "I didn't expect to see you out here," Miroku mused out loud.
"Same as you," Inuyasha said, and walked over to the lecher. "Why are you out?"
Miroku shrugged. "The castle has been feeling slightly tight in there lately…I feel suffocated. I suppose the wedding is becoming a bit too much of a strain on me, with all those girls running around…old habits die hard, but I'm trying." He smiled radiantly and stuffed another piece of bread into his mouth. "And Kaede makes the best bread in the entire kingdom…" he added as an afterthought.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and continued walking with Miroku next to him.
"You?" the human questioned.
"I just came out to think," he said, playing around with the beads again before pocketing them once more in his pants.
Miroku looked amused however. "Sango gave it back?"
Inuyasha raised his eyebrow. "Gave what back?" he questioned, looking around in an effort to pinpoint what Miroku was referring to.
"Your necklace," the cousin said, yawning slightly before sticking a bread into his mouth, smiling satisfyingly. "I forgot to tell you, but I saw Sango holding it in Kagome's room and she told me she had found it on the beach a while ago. I was pretty surprised she didn't return it sooner when I told her it was yours."
Inuyasha's eyes widened in confusion. "What are you talking about? Kagome gave it back to me just a while ago."
It was Miroku's turn to recoil in bewilderment. "No…I'm pretty sure Sango had it. Maybe Sango gave it to Kagome to give to you?" Miroku shrugged. "At least you have it back. Don't know why you keep it though."
His words struck something in Inuyasha and the hanyou took out the necklace again, staring at it. Why did he keep it? To hold onto something that would never come back? "You know what?" he said, artlessly throwing the necklace to the earth and grounding it into dust with his foot and strength. He bit his lips while doing so, but when he lifted it away, it was just a memory. "I don't know why I kept it either."
A/N: Sorry this is a short chapter (at least compared to my others). I just felt it necessary to stop at that point because it does denote a lot. Yes, I'm guessing there will only be three to four more chapters for this story…I have everything planned in my head, but the only problem with that is that I can never guess the exact length of each planned chapter. Thus, three to four more…the next chapter should begin the ending. It's the wedding, everyone. OoO…what happens now?
I'm still surviving in Elimination Nomination. Yay. If I'm not suddenly kicked off, I would appreciate it if everyone continues to show your great support. It really does make me write more often every time I feel happy about the encouragement I get from your votes. The link is in my profile.