For All Eternity
~~~
The weather went worse. It went colder and colder as minutes pass. The streets were empty. Wide innocent eyes searched the streets as her small, thin legs challenged the dropping temperature. And every now and then, she would rub her bare ears with the thick furry mittens covering her hands. Another hand held a small blue bunny rabbit clasped against her chest. The wide, wiggly eyes stared at the young youth's small chest, its long, wide, pink ears folded neatly behind its head, and a fluffy tail on its lower back. White specks of snow appeared on her lashes, which troubled her sight. There was one thing the bunny and the child carrying it had in common, the innocent smile upon the lips.
She passed by houses almost engulfed by the snow, cars on the side of the street mechanically paralyzed due to the temperature, some people trying to push it, some cars were left on the shoulder lane when their unfortunate owners gave up on trying to bring the engine back to life.
Not even birds dared to show up in the sky.
Still, this young youth competed with the hardships she was destined to encounter for someone she wanted to see.
Wanted, but wasn't really there.
Her legs stopped in front of steel gate about eight feet in height. Attached to the gate was an expensive red brick that was also covered with snow.
Walking closer, she pressed a small button to ring the doorbell and took a deep breath. Happily, she chanted: I hope Sess-chan like my gift! And then, he'll thank me and take me to the bridge!!
Smiling she eagerly waited for the old landlord to open the tall gates for her.
~~~
Within the steel gates, Sesshomaru spied at a little figure in front of their mansion's gates from the window covered by long lavender curtains with a slight frown showing not only anger, but sadness as well. His 'dear' father had just settled an engagement that would take effect after thirteen more years, an engagement pulling him and a young girl forcibly together to be wed after the mentioned period of time.
He hated it when other people act superior and make decisions for him, without even asking that person to help him out.
He hated it when he's being forced to do things he doesn't understand or things he was supposed to do with reasons he doesn't completely understand and the other people concerned refuse to explain it to him for him to comprehend.
And, most importantly...
"I hate it when people forget to knock and ask for my permission before opening my door." Sesshomaru spoke, accenting the possessive words he used. He kept his gaze on the window, taking quick glances at his door from the corner of his eye. He knew it was Hao, his family's old servant.
"Forgive me, Young Master Sesshomaru. It's just that I saw you were in deep thought, I decided not to disturb you." The old man bent his trunk over his Master's son with all due respects, his complaints being said only to himself.
"What you wanted to tell me, I already know." He walked away from the window and pulled the curtains back properly. He sat down on the soft, comfortable armchair and rested his heavy, throbbing head on the back of his chair.
"So, should I allow her in?"
Sesshomaru closed his sad, amber eyes and breathed in heavily, making up his mind on what he should do. For a young boy, he do have a brilliant mind, but also as a young boy, he is still incapable of handling problems such as this.
"No," He choked. "Don't. I don't want to see her, never again..."
Never again... These are the words that echoed in his mind. At that moment, he thought of the people that invented words in the past to be used in the future. He wondered if they ever thought of regretting their deed of inventing these words, when sometimes, it could be used easily to hurt. He imagined how they may feel if these words were used against them in a very insulting and abusive manner.
Hao's face turned gloomy. In an instant, he has felt the boy's sadness, he sensed how his heart reacted upon the decision he just made. A decision he has to settle, he had to put into action as soon as possible.
Again, he bent his trunk slightly before leaving and closing the door to leave the boy in peace. "I will do so, I apologize for the intrusion."
He heard the door close, and then he went back to his thoughts.
Kagome.
The name he could only think about. A name, which reminds him of happiness. Something that reminds him of a sweet little girl that treated him a lot more like she. A lot more human than herself... Not like a street dog, not like a stranger, and not as a son. But as an equal.
Unfortunately, it is also a name that reminds him of pain.
Pain caused by another unexpected parting that was soon to reveal itself.
He brought his thin, trembling hands to the sides of his face. Warm, salty tears touched his cold skin and heated it, but the flesh turned cold again as soon as the tear evaporated. Soon, he could hear his own cries vibrating inside his own room. Soft, muffled cries that had became the proof that this person, no matter how serious or how strong he might be or he might pretend to be, is still a defenseless, helpless child.
The doors in his room opened slowly, no noise disturbed the dismal moment he alone has to endure.
It was Shizuko, her hand touching the smooth, shiny doorknob while watching her son cry on his bed. Taking a step forward, she felt his pain knock on the door of her heart. And her lips moved to say his name, to inform him that she's close, her ears ready and eager to listen to anything he might want to say.
"Sesshomaru..."
Sensing an intruder's presence, he raised his chin and glared at her with a pain of sorrowful, teary eyes.
"NO!! GO AWAY FROM ME!!" He shook his head hard.
"Sesshomaru! I can help you!" Shizuko's lips quivered in shock. Tears forming at the edges of her eyes.
"No, no one CAN help me!! NOBODY EVEN UNDERSTANDS!!" Sesshomaru threw a square pillow at her face. "I said move away!"
"No, please, my son - -"
"I am no one's son... Now GET OUT!!"
Shizuko froze. Tears fell completely down to her chin and watched his son sulk and creep to the other edge of his four-poster bed, away from her.
"I know your Father's decision has completely upset you, but I have nothing to do with it. Please..." She begged. "Perhaps I can do something that can make you feel better."
Silence.
Sesshomaru lowered his head and rested it on his purple pillow. He wiped his tears with the back of his palms and tried to refrain himself from sobbing. "Leave me be."
Shizuko had no plan of leaving her son's room. She was about to take a couple more steps towards him, he said:
"...Please..."
Teary and upset, Shizuko left the room and closed the door behind her. With a sharp look on her face, she made her way towards her dear wife's office at the lower floor and prepared her speech.
Opening the door without permission she searched for him across the room. He was holding a black, wireless phone handset against the side of his face. When he saw her on the door, he covered the mouthpiece with a palm and frowned.
"Shizuko? I heard Sesshomaru's voice. What happened?"
"Please put the phone down, Inutashio. We must talk."
"Listen, I have to hang up. I'll continue rechecking the company lists later on, I'll call you back." He hanged up. As soon as he returned the handset on it's small, black phone stand, he stood up and approached his wife.
He gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead. His other hand pushed the door close. To his surprise, his wife tried to move away from him. When she was already half a foot away, he looked at her eyes, his face showing a hint of bewilderment.
"What's the matter, my dear?"
Shizuko stared at his alluring amber eyes. The same eyes looked back at her, the only difference was, the eyes that she visualized was tearier and more sorrowful than what she is staring at right now.
After a minute of looking at her gave him an idea why she planned to storm his office. "Don't tell me this is about Sesshomaru."
"You are exactly correct." Shrugging, Inutashio left her near the door and walked to the window behind his office. "You know for sure that your action will make him angry."
He frowned. He knew that she was trying to protect his son again. Sesshomaru will become more stubborn if the people around her will keep on indulging him unto his wants. Clenching his teeth hard, he turned to her and looked at her angrily.
"If you continue to defend him and let him hear that you're trying to protect him, you will indulge him and make him more hard! Don't you understand that?"
"As clear as glass, Inutashio. But consider that he is young - -"
"Princes and Princesses were betrothed the same way as I planned to do, they do not turn out to be hard and selfish!"
"Dear husband, what you speak of is only found in Fairy Tales!" Shizuko exclaimed, waving her hand as she speak.
He was silent, looked angrier but behaved.
"Don't you think these things destroy his childhood days? Did you ever considered that this things may turn out to be a very heavy burden inside his little head?" Nothing changed in his expression, but the skin on his youthful face became pale. Still she pressed on. "Think about it, Inutashio. He is supposed to be a child! A happy child, just like Inu Yasha. Playing with his toys, watching T.V. and mimicking his favorite cartoon characters on his desired T.V. show." Approaching him, she touched the thick black velvet collar around his neck and looked at his eyes. "Youth, my dear... Youth..."
Her long, warm, fair hand cupped his cheek, forcing him to look at her eyes. Taking it against his lips with both his hands, he kissed her and hugged her tightly.
"I have my reasons, my Love..." He whispered lowly in her ear. "Reasons strong enough to make me do something I do not wish to do."
She tried to move away to look at him, but his hug was too tight. "I'm afraid... I don't..."
"I know you don't. I have never told you about that," He paused. "... Yet." He tilted his head towards hers and sighed.
"I will never make it through winter."
Shizuko's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
"You heard me right, I'm sure. Open your eyes to the truth, although it may... Hurt." While he was talking, she talked at the same time. Mumbling her complaints and questions.
"That's not a good joke, Inutashio. Don't..." Before she even finishes, he took her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.
He didn't want to her words of sympathy anymore. After all, it would do nothing to help him, especially in that kind of situation. As for her, she knew he wasn't lying. He never lies to her. And this deed had completely swept her off her feet.
But in this case, she thought of the advantages of telling white lies.
Tears fell down from her eyes as their kiss deepens. And with his white, slender hand, he brushed it off and ended the kiss to enlighten her mind.
"I must make engagements for the future, Shizuko. Sesshomaru, I know he won't take the riches he's supposed to have, because of his hatred towards me. I have to force him to take it as he raises his own family, so the race that my forefathers treasured will live."
"But it won't end at Sesshomaru if he did not live up to what is expected of him! You still have another child who is close to your heart?" She asked, maintaining eye contact with him.
"You mean Inu Yasha?" Inutashio chuckled. "He is my second son. I also expect him to do the same. But the eldest has to carry out the more complex things, but will be also given a quarter of the family's treasures."
"But, Inutashio... This is too early..."
He chuckled again and paused, looked at her eyes seriously, and cupped her cheeks. "Shizuko... I have very little time left."
He took her in his arms again. He knew he may lose his life any time. Any ordinary morning, he wouldn't be able to wake up to spend another day with his family. He knew that when death knocks on his door, his son will be the first one to be troubled. Not because of his death, of course. But because of the formal entrustment of his betrothal that will take effect after a period of thirteen years, and of the great responsibility that will be bestowed upon him as the eldest man of his family.
He knew his son's fate. He knew his decision was right. And he also knew the disadvantages.
But he doesn't have a choice.
"He must learn to cope with Fate, Shizuko."
He felt his wife nod on his chest. He pulled her closer to his body and wished their moment would last forever...
But in reality...
... forever is far from the real world.
Pain struck him from within. He moaned and cried for the sensation to leave him at once, but it was hopeless. He grabbed the smooth cloth on an area in his chest, near his heart, showing the conscious one where the pain was coming from and at the same time, trying to pull it out. His knees trembled and he collapsed on the floor. He could hear his dear wife's panicking voice, calling his name and asking him to stay awake while she calls their old, loyal butler to call an ambulance . He felt a warm hand touch and rub his stinging chest. And in a split second, his sight dimmed and blackness surrounded him. No one was beside him, except silence.
Before completely losing consciousness, he spoke a couple of words under his breath.
"...s... Serenity..."
~~~ The streets were as empty as they were before. People vanished because of the chilly atmosphere. Nothing would survive in this kind of weather. The harsh wind freezes, warm happy memories. The streets heavily covered with snow impede the uniting of two souls brought together by fate. And the intolerable temperature hinders the joyful plans to be put in action.
And a victim of the biting cold traveled alone, with high hopes of meeting the person she wanted to meet so badly.
Little Kagome took long, quick strides towards the park. Again, hoping of meeting a special boy for a little talk. Her eyes watery, her lips trembling, and her knees shaking in the midst of winter.
Reaching her destination, she stopped and searched the park area with her wide, teary eyes. It stared intently at the slides and seesaws, the animal statues and the sandboxes now filled with cotton-like snow. Seeing nothing, she moved further into the dark woods and headed to the small frozen creek beneath the snow-covered stone bridge; The place where the two promised to meet.
"Sess-chan?" In her trembling voice, she called. "Are... are you.. there?"
She walked and explored the spot keenly, calling Sesshomaru's name every now and then. Filled with helpless anticipation of hearing his voice and responding to her call.
But nothing else was heard, except hers, trembling voice.
Giving up all possibilities, she sat down on the bridge. Her legs she brought near her body for warmth, her knees she pulled close to her small, quivering chin. There, she cried and whispered his name continuously.
"Where are you? Sess-chan..."
Unbeknownst to her, someone was stalking on just a couple of steps away. In black, leather jacket and crocheted gloves and with a plain white handkerchief, the stranger walked towards her silently from behind.
Swiftly, the man about six feet in height grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with the handkerchief.
Kagome tried to move away, struggled and aimed to be released at once. Grasping the man's wrist to take the handkerchief away, she kicked and elbowed the stranger as hard as she can. But as the drug takes effect on her, she slowly loses consciousness. In her mind, she called a name, for the last time.
"... sessho....m-maru...."
~~~
The walls were as white as snow. The floors were covered with peach and white clean ceramic tiles. Women were walking around, wearing short, pencil- cut and short-sleeved clothes, taking swift strides along the wide, quiet corridors while carrying a small notebook and a couple of medicines in brown and white boxes, perhaps in a hurry. But of course, no woman can run fast with pencil-cut clothes. Most wore a long, white collared shirt with a formal silver ball pen pinned on their chest pockets, and some were in white clothes with large pockets in the sides. Stethoscopes were around their necks.
A man with a surprisingly long white hair lies on the comma. His wife is on her knees, tears at the edges of her eyes, her hair tied neatly down to her shoulders. She held his cold hand tight, the dextrose needle buried beneath his skin right at his wrist. He was moaning in pain, but he was forcing himself to stay awake to reply to her sad calls.
"Inutashio... Please.." Shizuko stood up and bent over him. Her lips caressing his tingling temples. Tears falling to his face, and told him she's upset.
"..Shi... shizuko...." He groaned softly. "...S-sesshomaru...."
Sesshomaru lowered the book he was reading and looked at the direction where his voice came from.
His chest heaved deeply, scatches echoed from it. "Inu...yasha..."
Little Inu Yasha combed his father's hair and replied to his call. "Oto- san..."
"....Se... sshomaru..."
He did not reply.
"... For.. forgive... me..."
Sesshomaru stood up and walked towards the comma. His mother looked at him, her eyes full of pity, begging him to forgive his father for the last time.
"Answer me now, 'Father'."
"Sesshomaru!!" Shizuko snapped.
"All these years, you have never thought of asking for forgiveness..." He glared down at his quivering lips. "All these years, it never crossed your mind to lower yourself down and be humble."
Rage was starting to build up inside of him. He felt his own fist clench hard. He heard his angry heart beat wildly.
"And now, you are asking for forgiveness? Now you lower yourself down to do so? WHY!"
Tears flowed from his eyes.
"ANSWER ME, FATHER!!"
Forcing a muscle to move was agonizing. And trying to sit down was a torture.
"Inutashio! Please don't! You're only making things worse!!" Shizuko threw her arms around his neck and begged.
"Time..." Blood gushed from his mouth. The synthetic object that aided in breathing was soaked in dead blood.
".... I have.... no... time..." Inutashio stretched his arm forward and reached for his son. "....Sesshomaru!!!"
He breathed in succession. His hand that once reached for him grabbed the white cloth that covered his chest. He turned to his side, towards his wife for comfort.
"Oto-san..." Inu Yasha turned to Inutashio and rubbed his back. Though he knows his Father is in pain, he's not aware of what they were discussing about and what his pain may lead to.
"I will forgive you, " Sesshomaru wiped his tears with his sleeve, his eyes went back to his father's agonizing state. "... after you discontinue the my Engagement with the only Higurashi Family's daughter."
".. I have... my purpose... to fulfill.." Inutashio choked the words out of his throat with a slight twist of his trunk to face his eldest son. "... a purpose... I do not wish... but I must.... ask you to...."
"Inutashio, please... I beg you to stop..." Shizuko kissed his forehead, tears trickling from from her cheeks. His eyes slowly moved to the edges.
".. ask... to.."
"....continue.."
Sesshomaru walked towards his father and frowned. "Why me?!" Inutashio tried to speak, but his pain was stronger than his will.
"Because you were the first born. You are the eldest son, Sesshomaru." Shizuko spoke calmly, looking sadly at her husband as the noise he makes decreases.
"... Shi..." Inutashio tried to speak. "... zuko..."
"Everything's under control, my dear. I will see to it that the two will be wed, I promise you." A cold, weak hand reached out to brush her tear. Shizuko took it softly and kissed his palm.
Everything was shrouded with silence. No mourns, no cries, just silence.
a/n: Liked it? Hmm.. hope so. Sorry it it took me months to update this one. Sorry, please keep on reading, I'd like to thank the reviewers, too! I swear I will make the ending angsty, heheheh... Just kiddin... Bye for now!!!
-Lacus Somniorum Disclaimer: Inu Yasha characters I used in this fic aren't mine... And I mean it! ^_^
~~~
The weather went worse. It went colder and colder as minutes pass. The streets were empty. Wide innocent eyes searched the streets as her small, thin legs challenged the dropping temperature. And every now and then, she would rub her bare ears with the thick furry mittens covering her hands. Another hand held a small blue bunny rabbit clasped against her chest. The wide, wiggly eyes stared at the young youth's small chest, its long, wide, pink ears folded neatly behind its head, and a fluffy tail on its lower back. White specks of snow appeared on her lashes, which troubled her sight. There was one thing the bunny and the child carrying it had in common, the innocent smile upon the lips.
She passed by houses almost engulfed by the snow, cars on the side of the street mechanically paralyzed due to the temperature, some people trying to push it, some cars were left on the shoulder lane when their unfortunate owners gave up on trying to bring the engine back to life.
Not even birds dared to show up in the sky.
Still, this young youth competed with the hardships she was destined to encounter for someone she wanted to see.
Wanted, but wasn't really there.
Her legs stopped in front of steel gate about eight feet in height. Attached to the gate was an expensive red brick that was also covered with snow.
Walking closer, she pressed a small button to ring the doorbell and took a deep breath. Happily, she chanted: I hope Sess-chan like my gift! And then, he'll thank me and take me to the bridge!!
Smiling she eagerly waited for the old landlord to open the tall gates for her.
~~~
Within the steel gates, Sesshomaru spied at a little figure in front of their mansion's gates from the window covered by long lavender curtains with a slight frown showing not only anger, but sadness as well. His 'dear' father had just settled an engagement that would take effect after thirteen more years, an engagement pulling him and a young girl forcibly together to be wed after the mentioned period of time.
He hated it when other people act superior and make decisions for him, without even asking that person to help him out.
He hated it when he's being forced to do things he doesn't understand or things he was supposed to do with reasons he doesn't completely understand and the other people concerned refuse to explain it to him for him to comprehend.
And, most importantly...
"I hate it when people forget to knock and ask for my permission before opening my door." Sesshomaru spoke, accenting the possessive words he used. He kept his gaze on the window, taking quick glances at his door from the corner of his eye. He knew it was Hao, his family's old servant.
"Forgive me, Young Master Sesshomaru. It's just that I saw you were in deep thought, I decided not to disturb you." The old man bent his trunk over his Master's son with all due respects, his complaints being said only to himself.
"What you wanted to tell me, I already know." He walked away from the window and pulled the curtains back properly. He sat down on the soft, comfortable armchair and rested his heavy, throbbing head on the back of his chair.
"So, should I allow her in?"
Sesshomaru closed his sad, amber eyes and breathed in heavily, making up his mind on what he should do. For a young boy, he do have a brilliant mind, but also as a young boy, he is still incapable of handling problems such as this.
"No," He choked. "Don't. I don't want to see her, never again..."
Never again... These are the words that echoed in his mind. At that moment, he thought of the people that invented words in the past to be used in the future. He wondered if they ever thought of regretting their deed of inventing these words, when sometimes, it could be used easily to hurt. He imagined how they may feel if these words were used against them in a very insulting and abusive manner.
Hao's face turned gloomy. In an instant, he has felt the boy's sadness, he sensed how his heart reacted upon the decision he just made. A decision he has to settle, he had to put into action as soon as possible.
Again, he bent his trunk slightly before leaving and closing the door to leave the boy in peace. "I will do so, I apologize for the intrusion."
He heard the door close, and then he went back to his thoughts.
Kagome.
The name he could only think about. A name, which reminds him of happiness. Something that reminds him of a sweet little girl that treated him a lot more like she. A lot more human than herself... Not like a street dog, not like a stranger, and not as a son. But as an equal.
Unfortunately, it is also a name that reminds him of pain.
Pain caused by another unexpected parting that was soon to reveal itself.
He brought his thin, trembling hands to the sides of his face. Warm, salty tears touched his cold skin and heated it, but the flesh turned cold again as soon as the tear evaporated. Soon, he could hear his own cries vibrating inside his own room. Soft, muffled cries that had became the proof that this person, no matter how serious or how strong he might be or he might pretend to be, is still a defenseless, helpless child.
The doors in his room opened slowly, no noise disturbed the dismal moment he alone has to endure.
It was Shizuko, her hand touching the smooth, shiny doorknob while watching her son cry on his bed. Taking a step forward, she felt his pain knock on the door of her heart. And her lips moved to say his name, to inform him that she's close, her ears ready and eager to listen to anything he might want to say.
"Sesshomaru..."
Sensing an intruder's presence, he raised his chin and glared at her with a pain of sorrowful, teary eyes.
"NO!! GO AWAY FROM ME!!" He shook his head hard.
"Sesshomaru! I can help you!" Shizuko's lips quivered in shock. Tears forming at the edges of her eyes.
"No, no one CAN help me!! NOBODY EVEN UNDERSTANDS!!" Sesshomaru threw a square pillow at her face. "I said move away!"
"No, please, my son - -"
"I am no one's son... Now GET OUT!!"
Shizuko froze. Tears fell completely down to her chin and watched his son sulk and creep to the other edge of his four-poster bed, away from her.
"I know your Father's decision has completely upset you, but I have nothing to do with it. Please..." She begged. "Perhaps I can do something that can make you feel better."
Silence.
Sesshomaru lowered his head and rested it on his purple pillow. He wiped his tears with the back of his palms and tried to refrain himself from sobbing. "Leave me be."
Shizuko had no plan of leaving her son's room. She was about to take a couple more steps towards him, he said:
"...Please..."
Teary and upset, Shizuko left the room and closed the door behind her. With a sharp look on her face, she made her way towards her dear wife's office at the lower floor and prepared her speech.
Opening the door without permission she searched for him across the room. He was holding a black, wireless phone handset against the side of his face. When he saw her on the door, he covered the mouthpiece with a palm and frowned.
"Shizuko? I heard Sesshomaru's voice. What happened?"
"Please put the phone down, Inutashio. We must talk."
"Listen, I have to hang up. I'll continue rechecking the company lists later on, I'll call you back." He hanged up. As soon as he returned the handset on it's small, black phone stand, he stood up and approached his wife.
He gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead. His other hand pushed the door close. To his surprise, his wife tried to move away from him. When she was already half a foot away, he looked at her eyes, his face showing a hint of bewilderment.
"What's the matter, my dear?"
Shizuko stared at his alluring amber eyes. The same eyes looked back at her, the only difference was, the eyes that she visualized was tearier and more sorrowful than what she is staring at right now.
After a minute of looking at her gave him an idea why she planned to storm his office. "Don't tell me this is about Sesshomaru."
"You are exactly correct." Shrugging, Inutashio left her near the door and walked to the window behind his office. "You know for sure that your action will make him angry."
He frowned. He knew that she was trying to protect his son again. Sesshomaru will become more stubborn if the people around her will keep on indulging him unto his wants. Clenching his teeth hard, he turned to her and looked at her angrily.
"If you continue to defend him and let him hear that you're trying to protect him, you will indulge him and make him more hard! Don't you understand that?"
"As clear as glass, Inutashio. But consider that he is young - -"
"Princes and Princesses were betrothed the same way as I planned to do, they do not turn out to be hard and selfish!"
"Dear husband, what you speak of is only found in Fairy Tales!" Shizuko exclaimed, waving her hand as she speak.
He was silent, looked angrier but behaved.
"Don't you think these things destroy his childhood days? Did you ever considered that this things may turn out to be a very heavy burden inside his little head?" Nothing changed in his expression, but the skin on his youthful face became pale. Still she pressed on. "Think about it, Inutashio. He is supposed to be a child! A happy child, just like Inu Yasha. Playing with his toys, watching T.V. and mimicking his favorite cartoon characters on his desired T.V. show." Approaching him, she touched the thick black velvet collar around his neck and looked at his eyes. "Youth, my dear... Youth..."
Her long, warm, fair hand cupped his cheek, forcing him to look at her eyes. Taking it against his lips with both his hands, he kissed her and hugged her tightly.
"I have my reasons, my Love..." He whispered lowly in her ear. "Reasons strong enough to make me do something I do not wish to do."
She tried to move away to look at him, but his hug was too tight. "I'm afraid... I don't..."
"I know you don't. I have never told you about that," He paused. "... Yet." He tilted his head towards hers and sighed.
"I will never make it through winter."
Shizuko's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
"You heard me right, I'm sure. Open your eyes to the truth, although it may... Hurt." While he was talking, she talked at the same time. Mumbling her complaints and questions.
"That's not a good joke, Inutashio. Don't..." Before she even finishes, he took her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.
He didn't want to her words of sympathy anymore. After all, it would do nothing to help him, especially in that kind of situation. As for her, she knew he wasn't lying. He never lies to her. And this deed had completely swept her off her feet.
But in this case, she thought of the advantages of telling white lies.
Tears fell down from her eyes as their kiss deepens. And with his white, slender hand, he brushed it off and ended the kiss to enlighten her mind.
"I must make engagements for the future, Shizuko. Sesshomaru, I know he won't take the riches he's supposed to have, because of his hatred towards me. I have to force him to take it as he raises his own family, so the race that my forefathers treasured will live."
"But it won't end at Sesshomaru if he did not live up to what is expected of him! You still have another child who is close to your heart?" She asked, maintaining eye contact with him.
"You mean Inu Yasha?" Inutashio chuckled. "He is my second son. I also expect him to do the same. But the eldest has to carry out the more complex things, but will be also given a quarter of the family's treasures."
"But, Inutashio... This is too early..."
He chuckled again and paused, looked at her eyes seriously, and cupped her cheeks. "Shizuko... I have very little time left."
He took her in his arms again. He knew he may lose his life any time. Any ordinary morning, he wouldn't be able to wake up to spend another day with his family. He knew that when death knocks on his door, his son will be the first one to be troubled. Not because of his death, of course. But because of the formal entrustment of his betrothal that will take effect after a period of thirteen years, and of the great responsibility that will be bestowed upon him as the eldest man of his family.
He knew his son's fate. He knew his decision was right. And he also knew the disadvantages.
But he doesn't have a choice.
"He must learn to cope with Fate, Shizuko."
He felt his wife nod on his chest. He pulled her closer to his body and wished their moment would last forever...
But in reality...
... forever is far from the real world.
Pain struck him from within. He moaned and cried for the sensation to leave him at once, but it was hopeless. He grabbed the smooth cloth on an area in his chest, near his heart, showing the conscious one where the pain was coming from and at the same time, trying to pull it out. His knees trembled and he collapsed on the floor. He could hear his dear wife's panicking voice, calling his name and asking him to stay awake while she calls their old, loyal butler to call an ambulance . He felt a warm hand touch and rub his stinging chest. And in a split second, his sight dimmed and blackness surrounded him. No one was beside him, except silence.
Before completely losing consciousness, he spoke a couple of words under his breath.
"...s... Serenity..."
~~~ The streets were as empty as they were before. People vanished because of the chilly atmosphere. Nothing would survive in this kind of weather. The harsh wind freezes, warm happy memories. The streets heavily covered with snow impede the uniting of two souls brought together by fate. And the intolerable temperature hinders the joyful plans to be put in action.
And a victim of the biting cold traveled alone, with high hopes of meeting the person she wanted to meet so badly.
Little Kagome took long, quick strides towards the park. Again, hoping of meeting a special boy for a little talk. Her eyes watery, her lips trembling, and her knees shaking in the midst of winter.
Reaching her destination, she stopped and searched the park area with her wide, teary eyes. It stared intently at the slides and seesaws, the animal statues and the sandboxes now filled with cotton-like snow. Seeing nothing, she moved further into the dark woods and headed to the small frozen creek beneath the snow-covered stone bridge; The place where the two promised to meet.
"Sess-chan?" In her trembling voice, she called. "Are... are you.. there?"
She walked and explored the spot keenly, calling Sesshomaru's name every now and then. Filled with helpless anticipation of hearing his voice and responding to her call.
But nothing else was heard, except hers, trembling voice.
Giving up all possibilities, she sat down on the bridge. Her legs she brought near her body for warmth, her knees she pulled close to her small, quivering chin. There, she cried and whispered his name continuously.
"Where are you? Sess-chan..."
Unbeknownst to her, someone was stalking on just a couple of steps away. In black, leather jacket and crocheted gloves and with a plain white handkerchief, the stranger walked towards her silently from behind.
Swiftly, the man about six feet in height grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with the handkerchief.
Kagome tried to move away, struggled and aimed to be released at once. Grasping the man's wrist to take the handkerchief away, she kicked and elbowed the stranger as hard as she can. But as the drug takes effect on her, she slowly loses consciousness. In her mind, she called a name, for the last time.
"... sessho....m-maru...."
~~~
The walls were as white as snow. The floors were covered with peach and white clean ceramic tiles. Women were walking around, wearing short, pencil- cut and short-sleeved clothes, taking swift strides along the wide, quiet corridors while carrying a small notebook and a couple of medicines in brown and white boxes, perhaps in a hurry. But of course, no woman can run fast with pencil-cut clothes. Most wore a long, white collared shirt with a formal silver ball pen pinned on their chest pockets, and some were in white clothes with large pockets in the sides. Stethoscopes were around their necks.
A man with a surprisingly long white hair lies on the comma. His wife is on her knees, tears at the edges of her eyes, her hair tied neatly down to her shoulders. She held his cold hand tight, the dextrose needle buried beneath his skin right at his wrist. He was moaning in pain, but he was forcing himself to stay awake to reply to her sad calls.
"Inutashio... Please.." Shizuko stood up and bent over him. Her lips caressing his tingling temples. Tears falling to his face, and told him she's upset.
"..Shi... shizuko...." He groaned softly. "...S-sesshomaru...."
Sesshomaru lowered the book he was reading and looked at the direction where his voice came from.
His chest heaved deeply, scatches echoed from it. "Inu...yasha..."
Little Inu Yasha combed his father's hair and replied to his call. "Oto- san..."
"....Se... sshomaru..."
He did not reply.
"... For.. forgive... me..."
Sesshomaru stood up and walked towards the comma. His mother looked at him, her eyes full of pity, begging him to forgive his father for the last time.
"Answer me now, 'Father'."
"Sesshomaru!!" Shizuko snapped.
"All these years, you have never thought of asking for forgiveness..." He glared down at his quivering lips. "All these years, it never crossed your mind to lower yourself down and be humble."
Rage was starting to build up inside of him. He felt his own fist clench hard. He heard his angry heart beat wildly.
"And now, you are asking for forgiveness? Now you lower yourself down to do so? WHY!"
Tears flowed from his eyes.
"ANSWER ME, FATHER!!"
Forcing a muscle to move was agonizing. And trying to sit down was a torture.
"Inutashio! Please don't! You're only making things worse!!" Shizuko threw her arms around his neck and begged.
"Time..." Blood gushed from his mouth. The synthetic object that aided in breathing was soaked in dead blood.
".... I have.... no... time..." Inutashio stretched his arm forward and reached for his son. "....Sesshomaru!!!"
He breathed in succession. His hand that once reached for him grabbed the white cloth that covered his chest. He turned to his side, towards his wife for comfort.
"Oto-san..." Inu Yasha turned to Inutashio and rubbed his back. Though he knows his Father is in pain, he's not aware of what they were discussing about and what his pain may lead to.
"I will forgive you, " Sesshomaru wiped his tears with his sleeve, his eyes went back to his father's agonizing state. "... after you discontinue the my Engagement with the only Higurashi Family's daughter."
".. I have... my purpose... to fulfill.." Inutashio choked the words out of his throat with a slight twist of his trunk to face his eldest son. "... a purpose... I do not wish... but I must.... ask you to...."
"Inutashio, please... I beg you to stop..." Shizuko kissed his forehead, tears trickling from from her cheeks. His eyes slowly moved to the edges.
".. ask... to.."
"....continue.."
Sesshomaru walked towards his father and frowned. "Why me?!" Inutashio tried to speak, but his pain was stronger than his will.
"Because you were the first born. You are the eldest son, Sesshomaru." Shizuko spoke calmly, looking sadly at her husband as the noise he makes decreases.
"... Shi..." Inutashio tried to speak. "... zuko..."
"Everything's under control, my dear. I will see to it that the two will be wed, I promise you." A cold, weak hand reached out to brush her tear. Shizuko took it softly and kissed his palm.
Everything was shrouded with silence. No mourns, no cries, just silence.
a/n: Liked it? Hmm.. hope so. Sorry it it took me months to update this one. Sorry, please keep on reading, I'd like to thank the reviewers, too! I swear I will make the ending angsty, heheheh... Just kiddin... Bye for now!!!
-Lacus Somniorum Disclaimer: Inu Yasha characters I used in this fic aren't mine... And I mean it! ^_^