Koigokoro: A Symphony in Three Parts Chapter 3: Finale, an inuyasha fanfic

Finale: Confessions

The sun had crested the mountains several hours before, illuminating the world and chasing away the night. But even as the darkness retreated toward the western skies, there was movement below. A solitary figure bounded heedlessly through the dense forest, his path straight and true.

As he broke through the last of the trees, Inuyasha stopped. The glen that housed the Bone Eater's Well sat vacant and still, as though waiting for the hanyou's next move. Every sense was keyed as he slowly took the first step toward the ancient well, his amber eyes focused on the old splintered wood of the rim for any sign of movement.

I can't run anymore,
I fall before you,
Here I am,
I have nothing left,

He stared down into the old well, his eyes searching. After finding nothing there except the dried bones of defeated demons, he let his shaking knees buckle. He collapsed to the ground, his arms leaning on the rim of the wooden structure for support. Will she come back this time? Kami, I've been such a fool…

Though I've tried to forget,
You're all that I am,

The image of her smiling face once again haunted his vision, and part of him still wanted to nervously push it aside.

Take me home,
I'm through fighting it,
Broken,
Lifeless,
I give up,

I won't do it anymore! I can't…she's all I have left now…I won't push her away anymore!

You're my only strength,
Without you,
I can't go on,
Anymore,
Ever again.

His thoughts were interrupted by a slight change in the wind. Amber eyes widened, and the hanyou shifted himself onto his haunches to get a better look around. The strange feeling was emanating from the well…

A familiar purple light filled the bottom of the Bone Eater's Well, causing Inuyasha to leap to his feet. In moments the light began to fade, until finally it disappeared entirely. And there, left standing amidst the dirt and broken bones was Kagome.

My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from you)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love.

Soft brown eyes turned up toward him, and for a moment Inuyasha could not tell what the girl was thinking. Fear and doubt clawed at his heart, keeping him from speaking the words his heart longed to say. Amber and brown eyes locked, their unanswered questions screaming for release.

The moment passed, and Inuyasha tore his eyes away, ashamed. He had done so much to hurt her, and yet here she was, once more giving up her life to stay with him. One graceful leap carried him to the bottom of the well and the girl who silently waited below.

A shiver traveled down Kagome's spine when the hanyou landed next to her. Because the bottom of the well was so small, his body was instantly pressed close to hers. Inuyasha's musky scent filled her nostrils, and the feel of his muscular body made her shiver once more.

The hanyou misinterpreted the movement as a chill and scooped the miko into his arms. He flashed Kagome a cautious smile before leaping out of the enclosed area and back into the early morning sunlight. Once they had settled back onto the earth, he gently set her down.

They stood there, facing each other in the small meadow. The morning birds chirped happily, filling the new day with their song. Kagome listened to the sound as she tried to still the frantic beating of her heart.

"Kagome …"

She shook her head in an attempt to silence him. "No Inuyasha…let me go first."

I can't run anymore,
I give myself to you,
I'm sorry,

"I did a lot of thinking while I was back home, Inuyasha. I thought about you, and me, and what we've become since the day the Shikon no Tama shattered. I…I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the way I fell in love with you," she paused, staring deep into his eyes to make sure he was listening. "Since then, you've hurt me so many times…I thought that I would never get my heart back in one piece again."

"Kagome, I'm-"

"No," she held up a hand, touching his lips with one finger. "Let me finish. I never thought that love could hurt so much, Inuyasha. But then I realized something. No matter what happens between us, I will always love you," Kagome turned away slightly, laughing lightly. "No matter how much it hurts, I can't deny it." Now she looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. "I can't run anymore, Inuyasha. I can't hide my feelings away and pretend they don't exist. I need to love you, whether you can return the feeling or not."

Inuyasha's heart ached as he watched the tears slip from her eyes. He gently reached up to brush them away, the salty tears disappearing beneath his touch. The hanyou let his hand linger for a moment longer, and he reveled in the soft feel of her skin. "Kagome, I…"

I'm sorry,
In all my bitterness,
I ignored,
All that's real and true,
All I need is you,

The words that he had longed to say for so long suddenly began to form on his lips. His heart began to race, and his body felt charged in a way he had never felt before. He knew that this was right; that this was the way things were meant to be. Now, Inuyasha had only to say the words, and he could finally find his salvation.

But before the words could be said, an odd silence fell over the glen. Instantly Inuyasha was on the alert; eyes, ears and nose all scanning the area for the source of the disturbance.

"What is it Inuyasha?"

"Kagome, get behind me. Now!" The girl quickly did as she was told, her mahogany eyes widening in sudden fear.

They did not have to wait long to find out what was coming. The place in the tree line where Inuyasha had burst through earlier parted, revealing a demon that towered over the pair.

Kagome gasped as the creature stepped into the meadow, offering a full view of itself. It was canine in appearance, with a long, pointed snout extending out from beneath the dark beady eyes. The ears of the beast, which were pressed back against its head, were torn and ragged. Both of the ears, along with the rest of the demon's body, were with dark hair that was matted with dirt and dried blood.

"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded.

The youkai snarled, the act pulling its lips back to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth. "Finally, I have found them!"

Inuyasha snorted. "Found what, you mangy wolf?"

"The Shikon Jewel shards, you have them! Give them to me!" the demon shouted as it stepped forward.

Unconsciously, Kagome brought one hand to her breast where the shards hung in their bottle. "He's after the shards, Inuyasha!"

The half-demon lifted his sword, his eyes never leaving the approaching beast. "Yeah, well, he can't have 'em! Wind Scar!"

As the Tetsusaiga crashed down to the earth, the waves of power spread toward the wolf-like youkai. Both Inuyasha and Kagome were forced to look away as the light from the attack brightened. With their eyes averted, they failed to see the demon dodge the attack.

It ran toward them, murder shining in its feral eyes. Before the giant paws could reach them, however, Inuyasha sensed the attack. He pushed Kagome out of the way just in time to keep the thick claws from slicing through her.

"Inuyasha!" she cried. She watched as the youkai's blow connected, sending the hanyou flying. He landed in a heap several feet away, and he wasn't moving. Instinct brought Kagome to her feet, and she ran to where the half demon lay. "Inuyasha, are you all right?"

There was no answer. Kagome did not have the chance to ask him again, for the demon was preparing to attack. She turned toward the youkai, rage burning in her eyes. "Don't come any closer!"

When night falls on me,
I'll not close my eyes,

I'm too alive,

And you're too strong,

The demon laughed at the sight before him. "You pathetic human, are you actually trying to protect him? How can you expect to win against me?" he lunged at Kagome, claws extended.

Pain erupted in her abdomen as the youkai sliced through her flesh. The force of the hit sent her limp body into the air, with thick droplets of crimson spraying from the fresh wound. She screamed in agony as she landed, her body instantly crumpling to the ground. The last thing Kagome saw before the darkness closed in was a pair of amber eyes staring at her in shock.

Inuyasha had revived just in time to watch as the demon's paw crashed into Kagome, slicing through clothing and skin. She was thrown to the side like an old rag doll, her brown eyes locking onto him before sliding shut.

I can't lie anymore,
I fall down before you,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry

"No! Kagome!" Inuyasha staggered to his feet, disbelief and fear gripping at his heart. The sound of the demon's laughter echoed through the clearing, and Inuyasha forced himself to tear his gaze away from the girl's still form. "You bastard!" he spat. Rage consumed him, and he raised his sword high into the air. A vicious growl escaped from his throat, erupting into a roar as he called once more upon the power of his weapon. "Wind Scar!"

The sheer energy that exploded from the Tetsusaiga shook the earth, but Inuyasha did not care. He placed every ounce of hatred that dwelled in his heart into the blow, and the force of it rushed forward in a blaze of holy light.

The hanyou barely heard the scream that was ripped from the youkai's throat as it disintegrated. Instead, he let the sword tip fall to the ground and leaned heavily upon it for a moment. Then he sheathed the weapon and turned away.

Kagome, his mind repeated her name like a mantra. Inuyasha forced his wooden legs to move until he stood over the girl's tattered body. Her shirt was shredded from the demon's claws, and Inuyasha could see her crimson blood seeping from the open wounds. Numbly, he dropped down beside her, pulling her head into his lap. "Kagome…"

Her eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on the anxious hanyou. "Are you all right?" she asked him.

Inuyasha stared at her in disbelief. "You baka, of course I'm all right! What the hell did you think you were doing!"

"I had to protect you…"

"Feh, what did you think you could do? Anyway, I can take care of myself." His face softened as he shifted his position slightly. "Now lie still and let me look at your wounds." Inuyasha carefully lifted the edge of her shirt, and he grimaced as he felt the sticky blood beneath. He sighed in relief as he examined the damage. The cuts were deep and bleeding profusely, but if they were treated soon enough she would survive.

"Will I be OK?"

Inuyasha shifted his gaze back to her face his voice with tight with emotion as he spoke. "You'll be fine. We just have to get you bandaged up." He gently placed his arms beneath her, lifting her into the air and cradling her close against his chest. As she leaned into his embrace she whimpered softly in pain. Amber eyes quickly focused on the miko, both sympathy and worry etched clearly across his features. Her eyes shone bright, burning with the agony that Inuyasha knew she must be feeling. But there was something else, hiding just beneath the surface, which tore at the hanyou's heart. It was love; pure, untainted love. That's why she had stood over him, refusing to run even though she had no chance of winning. And why she had stayed by his side, even after witnessing his slaughter of Gatenmaru's men.

That's why she had come back to him, even after he had thrown that selfless devotion back in her face.

Constantly ignoring,
The pain consuming me,
But this time it's cut too deep,
I'll never stray again.

"Inuyasha…" her eyes were drifting closed; she was losing the battle to stay conscious.

My only hope,

"Kagome…" even as he said her name, he watched her eyes slowly shut. But his heart would no longer be denied, and so he continued. "All the times I've tried…"

My only peace,

"…to walk away from you; my only joy, my only strength…"

(I fall into your abounding grace),

My only power,

My only life,

(and love is where I am)

He leaned down, maneuvering one hand so that he could brush away the tears that silently wound down the girl's cheek. Before launching into the air, he bent forward to whisper something tenderly into her ear.

The soft rustle of clothing was the only sound in the glen as the hanyou leapt into the air. And as he sprinted toward Keade's village with his precious burden clutched close to his chest, he swore that he could hear her repeat the words back to him.

"My only love."

A/N: Well folks, there it is; the end! I know Inuyasha seems slightly OOC at the end here, but that's partly what I wanted. Love can make you sound completely different sometimes, and the words that you choose can occasionally be totally different than what you'd expect. Make any sense? I thought not, lol. Anywho, let me know what you think. I hope you guys enjoyed my very first songfic!