This was originally going to be a drabble, but I'm wordy and gave up trying after I hit 200 words. Whatever you want to call it, I hope you like it anyway!

Rumiko Takahashi Inuyasha. ; Kaichou Inuyasha figurine.

…Math really IS depressing.

Life

The nine o'clock moon saw the arrival of five wary travelers in the tranquil village of Shukumei. Some hundred miles from Kaede's village, faces brightened at this phenomenal sight of civilization. Although Kagome had traveled most of the journey atop Inuyasha, the summer heat drained her liveliness just as it had the others.

Miroku slid a dozing Sango from his back, his hands traveling no further as he eased her to the ground. He rustled about his person for a spiritual tag, eyes already scanning the village houses.

If Kagome's prediction was correct, they would be sleeping royally that night.

She gave Inuyasha's shoulders a gentle squeeze and slid down his back, wobbling as she stood without his aid. "Inuyasha," she began gingerly, "have you ever caught fireflies?"

Based on his reaction (a raised eyebrow and gruff crossing of arms), she figured not. At this, Kagome only smiled. She was more than happy to relive simple childhood joys with the boy who was robbed of them.

She led him to the river that semi-circled the village, knowing that the luminescent creatures they sought would be abundant near the water's edge. But when they poked through the weeping willow that sheltered the river, they saw no such things. There weren't any creatures to speak of, let alone the fireflies they were searching for.

Kagome peered into the river's glassy surface. The moon was perched above her reflection like Narcissus, gazing into the mirror of water at its own beauty. Suddenly a small glow flickered next to the reflection of the moon. Kagome's eyes widened, and she felt her breath catch in her throat as two more gold gems appeared. Fireflies, perhaps?

She pulled her gaze from the mimic to the original; the moon was just as gorgeous as its duplicate. And there, hovering but seven feet above the surface, were the two fireflies, among with countless others.

"Inuyasha!" she whispered, frantically motioning him closer with her hand. "See?" She tugged pleadingly at the sleeve of his haori, making absolute sure that she had his attention. She nodded her head towards the cloud of fireflies and beamed up at Inuyasha.

"We can't catch them," Inuyasha huffed, the idea entirely foreign to him.

"Oh? Here, hold my hand," Kagome replied tenderly, reaching under his sleeve and lightly grasping his hand.

Inuyasha knew then that he could catch a thousand fireflies.

"Ready?" she giggled, fingers flexing in his palm. He returned the gesture with a soft squeeze of her hand.

With a squeak from Kagome, they leapt hand in hand into the still waters. When they emerged, their hands were still joined.

As fate would have it, the river's name was Life.


Aye, I was in a symbolic mood today.

(Shukumei - Fate)

Read and Review, please! Like it? Great! Hate it? Use constructive criticism! Give a dog a bone, here. …No pun intended.