A/N: Here's to another chapter of GLTH! -raises glass to toast- Thank you all very much for the reviews. Now, as we are nearing the end of this story, I say now that I hope everyone has been satisfied. As for me, this is the most reviews I've ever had! So I'm happy enough.
By the way, this is the end, other than the epilouge, and you'll all beat me with sticks and hurt me with illegal fireworks once you read the ending. So I'll say it now—I'm sorry!
Chapter fifteen: For Our Countries.
-...-
The sound of soft giggles woke Inuyasha from his sleep. His arm was supposed to be draped over Kagome, but now all he felt was a bedcover. It was then he felt the tugging—the tugging orginating from his hair regions—by two hands—one small, the other slender and long. As his golden eyes opened slowly, the small tugs stopped. My legs are numb. He stated inwardly, his foggy mind not figuring out exactly what was happening. "Hnn?"
"Kagome!" he heard someone—Rin?—squeal anxiously. "He's awake!" another muffled giggle.
"I wonder if he'll like it?" Huh? Kagome?
"Let's get out of here!" Yes! Rin! It is her!
"Let's," the weight on his legs lifted, and almost right after they began tingling. "Rin-chan, where'd you put the "evidence"—so called?"
"Umm...beside you, on the table!" That's it, I'm finding out what's going on!
"What the fuck?" was his intelligent remark when he sat up. The laughter of two girls floated down the hallway, and he just caught the two kimono's that they were adorned with. He knew one of them—Rin—but whose kimono was running along beside her?—with someone in it, obviously. Ear twitching observantly, he stood and stumbled from the room in half-sleep. But he wasn't sleepy enough to realize people muffling their laughter as they looked at him when they passed by.
Growling outwardly, he suddenly felt the rumble of his stomach. Well, I guess investigating can wait for after breakfast...
As he entered the dining room, he saw Sesshoumaru suddenly stop with a forkfull of eggs half-way to his mouth, staring at him. Kagura's eyebrows perked for appearances sake, and her lips were twitching. She was also looking at him. Rin couldn't stop giggling uncontrollably, Shippo was staring with huge emerald eyes, and Souten followed suit, smushing her breakfast onto her cheek instead of into her mouth.
Then Kagome. She was bent over her breakfast, cheeks pink with held-in laughter, eyes tightly closed. He could practically see her bursting any second with that need to laugh. It was so irritating.
"What?" he snapped.
Then everyone exploded into laughter—even Sesshoumaru.
-...-
His staff jingled. Again. Courtesy of the wind. Suddenly he got irritated; perhaps it was the wind, or maybe it was the thick silence. He'd thought the arm-wrestling had maybe broke the tension and wall of ice—Sango's doing—that was between them.
"Sango-chan?" her head lifted, curiousity in the depth's of those wonderfully brown eyes.
"Yes, Houshi-sama?"
"Miroku," he corrected, but smiled accordingly. She blushed. "I know that you're a taijiya." he stated firstly. "But I know nothing else of you. Would you mind telling this humble monk of yourself?" Now she's really blushing. He thought happily. If this doesn't break the ice, I don't know what will.
"Well...I come from the only taijiya clan there is, really." she brought her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, as if preparing to delve deep into her memories. "I had a brother; his name was Kohaku. I'm...not sure where he is, now."
"Sango..." she shook her head vigorously.
"We were once intrusted with the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls","—she stated once gathering her bearings—"but it's destroyed, now. A powerful miko whom we passed it on to—she wished upon it. She wished selflessly; she wished for the world to be rid of a great evil. His name was...Naraku." Miroku's hand tightened unconsiously, one that was clothed in a glove-type cloth and beads. "Hou—um, Miroku—are you alright?"
"Yes, yes, go on, dear Sango."
"Everyone in my village tended to their work—thinking Naraku was gone. But he'd hidden himself. All of—"
"Sango-chan," Miroku interrupted softly. "I'd like to know about you, not Naraku."
"Of-of course," she agreed, eyes widening. "I travel with Kirara, my "two-tail"—but right now she's with a friend of mine—and we seek out those who need help with oni attacks."
"And what do you do in your spare time?" Miroku was actually genuinely interested—which didn't happen very often.
"Miroku-sama, I think you've heard enough about me. What about you?" he started, not really expecting her to ask about him.
"I travel about, sometimes seeking help from my friend Hachi, to investigate demonic aura's. When there is indeed an oni to exorsize, I help as much a I can." to much of his suprise, Sango jumped up and pointed at him.
"I knew I'd seen you from somewhere!" she cried out. Maybe this'll be a tension-breaker. He stated to himself dryly. "You dirty, thieving pervert!" Ouch. He thought, wincing slightly. "There was no demonic aura! You lied and took the man's money anyway! He actually called me in afterwards to "exterminate an oni" he thought was there! All because of you!" Sango looked furious. Scarily furious. She lifted her very large boomerang—
"Now, now Sango, don't be ra—!" —and it connected with the top of Miroku's head.
Huffing angrily, Sango swiped her pack and stalked out of the cave, leaving Miroku barely-conscious and reaching outwards, twitching. And then there came the disturbing whine.
"Saanngooo!"
-...-
"Now look what you got us into!"
"What I got us into? You were the one leading!"
"But you were the one with the directions!"
"Well you got screwed up, old man!"
Yup. You guessed it. Kouga and Tôtôsai.
Both stood, forehead to forehead, veins pulsating. The first one to receed was Kouga, who drew back, crossing his arms.
Did I say they were standing? Oh, I'm sorry. They were tied to seperate tree's. Which means they couldn't have done all that. But that's what they would've done had they been untied.
Grumbling in annoyance at the two large (not to mention numb-scull) oni with equally large clubs, Kouga started gnawing at the ropes which tied him down. Tôtôsai used his fire-trick and nearly caught fire himself—but got out anyhow.
Swiping the rest of the rope off, Kouga jumped up, pummeling his left foot into the side of the oni's head. It grunted stupidly, and then started swinging its weapon around blindly. "Heh," stated Kouga soundly. "This'll be easy!" Tôtôsai grunted, crossing his arms. "C'mon old man, can't fight?"
"Of course I can, you dimwitted flea-catcher!" Tôtôsai rasped, waving his staff at the wolf. Immediately unshealthing his thought-rusty sword, it emerged a very large fang. Kouga stared, in awe, before shaking out of it.
"Feh." which is why he was caught off-guard when a very large, very hard, wooden object crushed him into the same tree to which he was tied before. "Ugh..." he pushed on the club in vain, trying at the same time to breathe.
"Oi! Take care of yourself, can you?" Kouga promptly passed out. "Might as well take this to my advantage!" Tôtôsai cackled meaningfully. Seconds later, his defined younger figure was swinging the huge sword right at the beast...
Twenty Minutes Later...
Kouga sat up so fast he was a blur when ice-cold water was dumped onto his face. He sputtered like a fish out of water, before looking up into the un-concerned face of the swordsmith.
"T-That was cold!" he spat out, teeth clicking all the while.
"Hey, I could've let you die." came a deep voice. When his eyes finally focused properly, he was staring right at some—not Tôtôsai, for sure!—persons young face. "Stop staring, flea-bitten wolf, it's rude."
"Huh? Where the Hell is that old man, Tôtôsai?"
"You're looking at 'im."
"You're fucking with me! You're telling me to believe that you're that old corpse?"
"Yup, that's what I'm telling you."
"This is fucked up."
-...-
After breakfast, Kagura'd walked around absent-mindedly, twirling a feather between her two fingers. Twice now, she'd passed Sesshoumaru's office, trying to figure out an excuse for why she took that log-book.
"Why did I take it?" she suddenly asked herself.
"Kagura." came that same old, emotionless voice. She sighed.
"Yeah, yeah. You're waiting—you've told me that a million times already."
"Then why aren't you in here explaining?" growling despite her situation, Kagura stalked into the room—and right into Sesshoumaru, who'd been standing there talking to her. Oh. Holy. God. Kagura slapped herself mentally, stepping away from the lord. But his arm shot out and took hold of her shoulder. The blush that so overtook her cheeks was not of her own will. Stuggling inwardly, she looked up.
"B-Because...I..." she could basically picture him leaning down an oh-so little bit...and his lips just—
"You what?" she blinked.
"I was curious." was the blunt answer. It was then the wind-sorceress heard the chuckle that emitted from his chest—the rumbling travelling from her hands down her arms and making her shiver, goosebumps rising on her skin. "I don't see what's so—"
She was cut short when the back of her head was grasped—gently—and pulled towards descending lips. And she let him kiss her.
And she didn't deny herself the fact that she liked it. Even if it was wrong.
-...-
Gently untangling all the ribbons and pulling the strands straight with her fingers, she sighed. "But Inuyasha, it wasn't even that big of a deal! We were just—"
"Not that big of a deal? I'm the laughingstock of the castle, Kagome!" she groaned inwardly. Explaining to Inuyasha was like zapping all of your energy out.
"Master Inuyasha! A word?" squeaked Myouga from the doorway. Half a head full of waves, and the other still in plaits, Inuyasha nodded. He knew this tone—something bad was going on. He stood up and turned to Kagome.
"Stay here."
But now Kagome's curiousity was piqued, and she snuck over to her side of the door. Peeking out, she saw them headed towards the library. Following quietly, she paused outside the large room, falling to the foor with catlike grace and crouching, waiting to hear what they said.
"I've bad news, m'lord."
"Well, spit it out, Myouga!"
"Yessir!" he squeaked. "Your country requires yourself and your brother to go to war..." Kagome felt a gasp crawling up her throat, and tears welling up in her eyes. Surely Inuyasha will deny...?
"...I thought—" a sigh. "I suppose I'll have to?"
"...yes, m'lord."
"Alright then. I'll begin packing right away."
"The country thanks you, Lord Inuyasha."
"Yeah, yeah, Myouga."
How the Hell am I gonna tell Kagome?
-...-
(A/N: I was thinking of leaving it there—but naw. I'm on a writing spree.)
-...-
Kagome hurried into the room, arms outstretched, right to Inuyasha. Grasping him tightly, there was that small, watery whisper that always made him feel like a bastard for doing whatever it was he was doing.
"Don't leave me, Inuyasha..."
Myouga snuck out of the room, and Kagome's tears dampened Inuyasha's shirt, the salty smell hitting him.
"Don't leave me," she repeated. "I love you..." Inuyasha gripped the teary girl tighter, his own tears in his eyes.
"Gods, Kagome. I don't want to leave you. Kami-sama knows, I've never wanted us to part." here he paused, because Kagome started to bawl harder, inbetween small hiccups that protruded inbetween. "Because I love you, too."
"Then why—why are you leaving?" she questioned tearily.
"I have to." he pulled away, looking to her with a half-smile. "I would not leave you if I didn't have to."
"Inuyasha...kiss me, one time. Please..." Inuyasha leaned down, capturing her lips, tasting tears that lingered there. He knew right then—it would never work out between them. They'd worked so hard to get to eachother, overcome tasks, confessed love—but their countries, their duties—it'd never work out. And so he cried also. He cried for the love he knew they'd have to leave behind. Leave behind—but not forget. Never forget.
-...-
My angel. My only.
You're my whole being.
I love you.
I'll never forget you.
But for our countries, we'll never be together.
God knows, I love you more than I love life!
Kagome.
Marry. Have children. Go on with life.
Without me...
But not without me in mind.
Please!—don't forget me.
-...-
I'll never forget.
I'll always forgive.
I know what happens now is not your fault.
My love.
My Inuyasha.
Believe me—because I say it with all my heart;
Believe me when I say I'll love you forever.
And never forget you.
Will you never forget me?
Please not, my wonderful Inuyasha.
You're me, and I'll not be if you forget.
And not love.
Please!—don't forget me.
-...-
A/N: -bawls like a baby- I-I-I...the end? And...sad...why did I write that?
Inu: For the benifit of the readers? -pats Tia's back awkwardly-
Tia: Wahhhh! -cries into his shoulder-
Sesshou: Oh, Kami-sama! It wasn't that—oh. Oh. It was that sad...
Inu: Yeah...
Sesshou: ...excuse me. -walks away-
Inu: I guess I'll answer the reviews?
-...-
Review Reviewer:
Phiona: I'm sure Tia'd thank you if she could speak.
Evilanimeblond: Sometime's she's kind of tired when she writes these chapters, so yeah. Plus she runs out of ideas.
Shawnainoakhurst: What? She got a cookie? And I didn't? Feh. Yes, they were indeed arm-wrestling (thank Kami-sama).
Bre: She did keep going. Huzzah.
SilverHairedHanyou: (Answers for both)—well, she updated and I'm glad you like the story. She'd be glad, too.
Kougagurl666: Yes. Sweet. This chapter is that, too. But still very sad. -Tia still crying hysterically in the background- I have proof.