Inuyasha turned the last bend in the path that led to the well. As he slowly approached he wondered how long it would take to find Kagome. At the thought of her name, pain seared his heart. His eyes brimmed with tears. NO-he had to stop thinking like that, she wasn't dead-she was just not here. A single tear fell down his cheek. He refused to think about anything other than finding her.
After finishing the cremation ceremony with Kagome's family, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo returned to the feudal era, taking the jewel shards with them. They were all devastated about Kagome. Shippo was hurt the most of the three. Miroku and Sango supported one another, but where had his support gone? Into a cold little jar that now sat in Kagome's old home.
Miroku climbed up the well first, then assisted Sango and lifted Shippo out. Once they were all out, Miroku sat down, his back against the well. Sango slid to sit next to him. For once, Miroku did the right thing and only wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Sango laid her head against his shoulder and motioned to Shippo to sit on her lap.
"Shippo, you know we will all miss her very much. It's ok to cry when someone you love dies. Always remember her Shippo, because remembering will make it better. Not right now, but later. Some day you will remember how Kagome used to make you laugh, and all the fun things we did together. We will be able to look back and smile. But for now, it's ok to cry." Shippo slowly nodded as the tears he had been holding in slid down his face.
"I am going to miss her so much," Shippo said, sobbing, "and all the things we did."
Miroku patted the kitsune on the head. "So will we, Shippo"
Inuyasha walked across the meadow to the three sitting at the edge of the well. He walked slowly, as if in a dream. When Miroku spoke to him, his head snapped up to stare at the monk.
"Inuyasha, Kagome was cremated earlier today. We were sorry you could not attend. So was her family. They wish for you to go and spread her ashes wherever you wish. They say you were her closest friend. They also say they do not blame you for what happened. They know they will see Kagome again, someday."
"What are you talking about, monk? Didn't Kagome just go home to take her stupid exams, or whatever it is that has her away from hunting shards so much? Did she say when she would be back?"
The three stared at him, there mouths agape. Inuyasha looked at them with eyes that were red from weeping. "Why are you staring at me like that? When is Kagome coming back? Did she say? Or do I have to go and drag her back here? Honestly, for all the trouble, she's hardly worth it at all."
Shock wiped all three faces clean as he was talking. Shippo was the quickest to react. He jumped up and started beating Inuyasha with all his might. "HOW can you say that, Inuyasha? How can you say she wasn't worth it? Well, for all you care, she's gone now, so she won't cause you any more trouble!" With a final jump, Shippo reached up and bit Inuyasha on the cheek.
Inuyasha yelled at the little kitsune. "HEY! Get off of me!" He pried Shippo's jaws open and held him out of biting and kicking distance. "What's the big deal? She is almost trouble than she's worth!"
Shippo collapsed suddenly, sobs racking his body. "Hey, hey calm down all right? I didn't mean it! Shippo? I was only joking. Why are you crying like that? Shippo? Are you all right?"
As soon as Shippo calmed down, Miroku stood and picked Shippo out of Inuyasha's claws. "The question, Inuyasha, is why have you been crying? Don't you remember?"
I don't know what you're talking about! What, was I supposed to remember where Kagome is right now? As if!"
Miroku set Shippo down and went to clasp Inuyasha's shoulder. He looked into Inuyasha's fierce golden eyes and said, "Inuyasha, Kagome died this morning. You have to accept it and move on. It's the only thing you can do. Don't you remember? A demon finally killed got her. There was nothing, nothing anyone could do about it. There is nothing we can do about is now, except to remember her as she was, beautiful and loving. She's gone Inuyasha. She's gone."
As Miroku said the last sentence, Inuyasha looked down at the ground. More teardrops fell as Inuyasha took a deep breath in. "But I could have saved her. I was so ignorant! I could have saved her, and I did nothing. Nothing! I stood there and watched her die! NO! She'd not dead! She's still alive! I have to find her- I have to tell her-"
Inuyasha! That's enough. You couldn't have saved her, and neither could I. It all happened so fast. By the time you caught her she was already gone. You gave her the peace she needed to die, Inuyasha. She got her message out, and that was all she had ever wanted to do."
Miroku embraced Inuyasha as the half-demon howled in pain and misery. Sobs shook his frame as he thought of the look on Kagome's pale, bloodstained face. Words cam back to haunt him as his memory came rushing back. "I...love you...Inuyasha. Please...don't be sad. "I...love...you..."
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Birds, interrupted from their evening meal, took to flight in every part of the forest at the half blood's demon scream.
Ooh! Heart wrenching! I can't wait to write the next chapter-it's going to be a heartbreaker!
