Hey, ya'll! Well I told you the first chapter would be up soon, but you all didn't believe me did you? Ha ha! Well, anyway like I said this is the first part in my Kurama and Kagome romance. It will basically set up how they became friends and proceeded to find their soul mate in each other.
As most of us are, we are hopeless romantics who are stuck in relationships that often times seem boring; at least compared to fantasy. That is why we read it and write it. I'm not saying relationships are bad or boring, but you have to admit they aren't anything like what we see in movies or on TV or especially in Anime or fantasy. (And if I'm offending anybody I'm terribly sorry!) I just love fantasy and wondering why life can't always be like that! Anyway, I am a hopeless romantic and I absolutely love writing about romance and love.
You might be wondering where I'm going with this and truthfully, I don't know. (All reader's fall anime-style with swirly eyes) But anyway, this fic will be filled with lots of romance and sweet moments, so I do hope you all will think they are romantic too.
Disclaimer: Much as I hate admitting this I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha, although I must tell you Kuronue is my mate. That's not owning right?
Chapter 1
It was over; just like that, it was over! That was the first thought that flashed through Kagome's mind as she stood staring over a wide expanse of barren land, now filled with the decaying bodies of onis of all shapes and size. This was all that was left of Naraku's army.
Of course, then the other emotions came; happiness, sadness, joy, relief, pain, guilt and perhaps the strongest fear. For it was fear that had brought them this far, fear of losing each other, of losing the battle, of losing their own lives, of losing each other. Yet, now, for Kagome at least, an even larger fear had set in; fear of the unknown, fear of what would happen now that they didn't have Naraku to contend with. What would happen to them now? What would happen to her now?
Before, fear had been easy to over come; easy, knowing that their goal as a group was to destroy Naraku. They could deal with that fear by training, growing stronger, and forming a bond that would be forever lasting and unbreakable. Looking back it almost seemed easy to overcome such odds. After all you could fight something you could see and touch. It was much harder, Kagome realized, to deal with your mind, of what was real, yet you couldn't directly see. And now...staring out at the dry field, wind blowing through her hair, face as calm as a summer's breeze, yet eyes as fierce as a summer storm, Kagome feared as she never had before.
What was she to do now? Was she to go home, complete her schooling? Go to college and learn to assert herself back into a society she no longer considered herself a part of. She knew without a fact that she couldn't stay here. Oh, how her heart ached with that revelation as her eyes filled with unshed tears. She wished that she could stay, to live forever and be free with her friends. Life in the Feudal Era had always seemed much simpler and unhurried, than the fast paced existence of the world as it was in her time. Here, she could stay out at night and watch the beauty of the night, watch it in its entire splendor. There was no pollution here, no smog to clog your lungs.
Of course there were political wars and Feudal Lords and rivalries over land and what not, not to mention demons, everyone now believed to be a simple fairy tale parents used to make their kids sleep at night. But Kagome loved it. She loved the excitement of being able to travel from place to place, fighting off demons, aiding villages and so many people who need guidance. She supposed it must be the miko inside of her that yearned to live here forever and help people.
Yet...Kagome knew she didn't belong here, either. What frightened her most was if she didn't belong in her world and she didn't belong in this one, the question became, where exactly did she fit in? Where was her place? Who was she? She knew when she went back she would no longer be Kagome of the Shikon no Tama, Kikyo's reincarnation, somebody's mother, or sister figure or friend. She would simply be Kagome again as she would have been had she not been pulled into the past on that fateful day.
"Kagome," a rough voice barked from behind her. From the corner of her eye she watched as Inuyasha steadily approached. He was limping slightly and clutching his chest as he walked, although he tried to hide it from her. The battle with Naraku had been a week ago and yet he still had not fully recovered.
"Yes, Inuyasha?" Kagome called softly, never once turning to him fully. He opened his mouth and looked about to say something before he shut it. She peered at him a little more closely, noticing something stirring in the back of his mind, as his eyes flashed with some unidentified emotion; a question forming in his mind. He knew, just as she'd known he would find out, yet that didn't stop her from questioning him. "Is there something you wanted, Inuyasha?"
The question was innocent enough but Inuyasha sensed the worry beneath her words, sensed she'd come to a decision about something, something that was hurting her very soul.
And so he replied in his usual manner, wanting to give her something else to think about.
"Feh! Wench! I just came to check on you. I was-I mean everyone else was worried about you. Why would I be worried over a bratty woman like you? You've been standing out here for nearly five hours, staring off into space."
Kagome smiled inwardly at his little slip up, knowing that he cared about her too and that he worried just as much as the others, if not more. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha," she apologized, turning away from him and staring at the ground. It was just too hard; too damned hard to look him in the eyes, knowing what she had to tell him, what she had to do. "I guess I've just been a little preoccupied. I'm sorry I worried you."
Inuyasha's eyes softened as he looked her over; automatically sensing that something was wrong with her. He let his eyes wander over her, at the woman she had grown into in the span that he'd known her. He remembered how young and confused she'd looked that first day, upon awakening to find a strange girl who looked like his former love. He regretted now how he'd reacted then, threatening to kill her for a jewel she had no idea of, and then attempting to follow through with it after the jewel was torn so viciously from her frail body. She'd been so young and naive, a school girl who had a wide-eyed innocence which often annoyed and fascinated him.
And while she certainly hadn't been unattractive at that age, she had grown into an even more beautiful woman. She still looked most the same tall, willowy body with long to die for legs, soft supple skin, and dreamy dark blue eyes. Her hair had grown out well past its normal length, about as long as Sesshomaru's and she often left it in a long braid. The color had heightened and the natural blue of her hair shown even more brightly than before.
Inuyasha speculated, it wasn't her looks that had changed, as much as her personality. She had become much more quieter, subdued and less talkitive, more elegant and sure of herself. She walked with a woman's grace, sure and confident. She now held a fighter's strength, as her power seemed to be limitless as he and his brother had taken the time to teach her to defend herself. She had filled out in all the right places, as her stomach, arms, and legs, gained just the right muscle tone to make her even more stunning. She was fluent in the use of the sword, sais, fan blades, knives, and throwing stars, yet interestingly enough, her choice of weapon was fell between the staff and her miko's whip. She still, after all these years living in the roughest of times, didn't like to kill, and only did when absolutely necessary.
"Hey, Inuyasha, are you okay?" She asked, noticing him staring off into space, much as she had been doing earlier.
Kagome's word broke him out of his thoughts and he had to fight off the blush at being caught staring off into space. She was staring at him bizarrely, no doubt wondering over his strange behavior.
"Feh, I'm fine! Now come inside before I have to drag you." He leapt away, in an attempt to save face, but Kagome giggled anyway, before turning and following behind her best friend.
There were only two people left awake that night as the Shikon group settled in their designated huts. Sango and Miroku had long since fallen asleep in their own hut, right next to Kagome's, as they'd been married less than two days after the defeat of Naraku.
As it was, Kagome couldn't sleep and she kept tossing and turning, her mind in turmoil. She was, in a sense, agonizing over her finally decision to leave, and although it broke her heart to think about leaving her friends all behind, she knew what was right. For some reason she felt there was still something out there for her to accomplish. Something seemed to be willing her to return to her era and she had no doubts about following her intuition and heart; after all it had already gotten her this far. Why stop listening to it now when it had led her so rightly in the past.
Kagome sighed and turned to lie on her stomach and flinched, giving a small cry of pain when she rolled on to something hard and round. Grumbling to herself she rolled back over and grabbed a hold of the offender, holding up the glowing Shikon no Tama.
After the battle was won, the whole group decided, even with Inuyasha's agreement, had decided not to wish on the jewel, as Kagome had come to realize any wish could be considered selfish. Then all their hard work would have gone straight down the drain. And so, since Kikyo had died valiantly taking a blow for her old love, Inuyasha, and thus sacrificing herself, the Shikon was handed back to Kagome for safe keeping. Kagome held it up wondering if the spirits in the Shikon knew what they had gone through to put it back together. Did Midoriko finally find her peace? Or would she still forever be battling with the demon trapped within the jewel, as well?
Finally sighing and giving up on sleep, she tossed her blankets aside and stood up, stretching and yawning at the same time, and proceed to stand by the fire place.
She shivered at the coldness of the night and hurried over to the fire, cupping her hands and holding them closer to the fire in the intent to warm them up. She had just gotten warm when a sudden sound of the flap rising and falling back into place caught her attention. She never once moved, instantly feeling his calm, familiar, and reassuring energy.
She relaxed when he came to stand directly at her side, he too staring into the fire.
"You're leaving." It was more a statement than a question. "For good."
Kagome gave no indication of surprise. Sesshomaru had always been direct and to the point. So naturally he would have sensed her frazzled nerves and came up with an answer.
"Yes," she replied still staring into the fire. "For good."
He was silent for a few minutes before, "why?"
She gave a tired sigh and turned to him, studying his handsome classical face, his beautiful face. She smiled at him, as he stood before her, calm and emotionless, as he was most of the time. After all these years, he was still as beautiful and elegant as she knew he'd always be. She reached a hand up and gently traced the lines on his face and up to the moon on his forehead, before whispering her response. "Because I have to. I can't explain it, but...I feel as if my journey is not complete, almost as if this was just the beginning. Do you understand?"
The answer was in his eyes and she knew he respected her decision and would not protest her leaving as she knew the others would. She met his eyes, noting the softest of expressions beginning to form. "What is the date?" he suddenly asked, frowning.
"The date?" She drew back, a bit confused.
"In your time, what is the date?" He asked again, biting back the growl. He didn't like repeating himself, but for some reason this human had always acted different than most. She had a way of breaking through the toughest of barriers. What began with Rin, ended with her; this woman, Kagome, a woman he'd come to look at, as his adopted sister.
Kagome regarded him curiously before looking at her watch and answering, "July 3rd, 2005. Tomorrow will be the fourth; Independence Day," she whispered a bit softer; wondering if this was indeed her independence day.
Sesshomaru gave an almost non-existent nod before turning and gliding away. He lifted the flap and just as he was dropping it back in place his final words made Kagome's throat cloud with tears once again. "This Sesshomaru will find you again, miko. You will not be alone."
"Thank you...Sesshomaru," she whispered, knowing he could hear her.
She smiled a sad, sardonic smile and went to lay back down in her bed. "I'm really going to miss him. I'm going to miss them all so much," She said out loud, sadness evident in her voice.
The reality of the situation finally caught up to her. Naraku was dead; she had no other purpose here. Her life here was closed and done with. In the morning she would leave and never see them again.
The tears fell long into the night as Kagome sobbed her grief and pain. She sobbed for her first real friends, of how she was going to miss them; of Sango and Miroku. She wished beyond words that she could stay and watch as they brought up their children. Speaking of children. She would have to leave Shippo, a kit she considered her own son at times. She knew he loved her as a mother and would always love him as such. But she also knew he would be safe with Sesshomaru. She had asked him long ago whether he would be a godfather to Shippo should anything ever happen to her. Given time, he would heal and recover. And of course her two demon brothers, who she knew she was going to miss the most. She would miss Sesshomaru's calm, appraising, always protective aura. She would miss training with him in the dead of night, of sharing interesting talks about his land, life, and human daughter, Rin. She would miss Inuyasha, her best friend and first love. They now regarded each other as brother and sister and she knew she would miss him just as much, if not more than the others. He had been the first friend here, her first protector, and her first love.
Yes, she would miss them all.
Well, what did you guys think? It took me awhile to write this but I hope it was worth your while. The next chapter will still be Kagome as I'll have the other's reactions to her leaving. Kurama probably won't come in until the third chapter, so just be patient. Just for the record, Yoko will be featured in this as well, since he is a part of Kurama. I learned by buying the new episodes that Yoko is indeed a strong part of Kurama, capable of taking over. If you don't know what I'm talking about go buy Bandits and Kings. It is quite good and you learn a lot about how cool and deadly Yoko was, before he died and became Kurama. Also, since I'm going on, did you guys know Yoko is actually over 1000 years old, not just 300+ what they say on the site. In the new episodes everything that happened with Yomi happened 1000 years ago, before Yoko left to spirit world and began traveling with Kuronue.
Okay, okay, I think I'm done with that info. for now. If anyone has any questions I'll be glad to answer them. Hope you liked the first chapter and it wasn't too boring. I know it really didn't have much action or anything, but I like to start off on a foundation of my characters before I have them interact. There has to be at least some kind of emotional baggage left behind, right?
Please be patient and the next chapter should be out maybe be tomorrow if I have enough reviews. But for now, ja ne.
Kura-kun's-lovr
