In Memory

Chapter Three: Revelation

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi.

Mrs. Higurashi stood in the waiting room twisting her hands nervously in her black mourning skirt. Inuyasha's mother had been in and out all day and she couldn't seem to get the blank, sorrowful look from her once youthful and rather beautiful face. Mrs. Higurashi couldn't help but think of Kagome, her daughter... what would she say when she found out? The doctors said that she shouldn't know the news right away. It would be too hard for her to understand in her drugged up condition and would only lead to a slow recovery. As much as she wanted her daughter to know the truth about what had happened to Inuyasha she knew that there was nothing she could do at the time.

Kagome awoke early the next morning to the muted sounds of birds chirping. Inuyasha was still fresh on her mind and now that she was feeling less foggy she intended to ask her mother as soon as she came in her room. Every time she thought of Inuyasha her stomach seemed to clench and her mouth became dry. She couldn't help thinking that something had gone horribly wrong, that some huge mistake had happened while she had been in her coma.

Even the hospital staff seemed distant and far off, always avoiding her eyes when they came to serve her lunch or give her medication. Maybe she was just being paranoid, but even that thought wouldn't calm her racing heart.

He had to be okay, didn't he? He couldn't be... dead?

The thought was too awful even to imagine. Inuyasha... gone... He was much too strong, much too kind, much too happy to be taken away from her, especially in this way. She turned to her bedside table which was littered with small gifts ranging from stuffed animals to carnations in order to distract her attention. She picked up a small stuffed kitten and snuggled close to it. Suddenly, and idea came to her. She could search her pile of gifts to see if Inuyasha had given her anything. Then she could know for sure if he was...

'Dead.'

... Okay.

She spent a good half hour sorting through the numerous gifts and cards, reading each one for some kind of hint, some kind of clue relating to Inuyasha. She gave up when there were no more gifts, feeling her heart squeeze painfully. It was then she noticed a box full of letters at the foot of her bed. Inuyasha never had been the gift giving type anyhow...

She began looking through the letters from her friends and family:

Hey, Kagome! You'd better get well soon! I can't wait until you're out of the hospital so we can finally hang out again. You need to take me shopping, ya hear? Love you lots, Sango.

Kagome, I miss you a lot! It's so boring at home without you. I'm glad you're not that badly hurt and I hope you come home soon! Your brother Souta.

She was right in the middle of a kind letter from her friend Miroku when her mother walked into her room, smiling weakly at her.

"Good morning Kagome." She said wearily, looking as if she had been up all night. Kagome hoped she hadn't. She couldn't even begin to imagine how hard this had been on her.

"Mom... I need to ask you something. It's very important." She began hesitantly, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer. Some part of her screamed that he was seriously hurt, and she wanted to silence that nagging voice. She wasn't sure if she would be able to though.

"If it's about Inuyasha, dear... You... you really should rest some more." Her mother stuttered. Kagome could tell she was uncomfortable, but Kagome would not let her mother back off the subject any longer.

"I really need to know. You don't understand..." She whispered hoarsely, feeling her eyes well with tears at the thought of Inuyasha. She knew something was dreadfully wrong, something that no one else wanted her to know. Why were they all keeping it from her? "I love Inuyasha... please tell me if he's okay... I need to know!"

Mrs. Higurashi began to cry, sobs racking her feeble frame and tears flowing from her eyes.

"Kagome, honey... Something bad happened on that night. Inuyasha... he wasn't wearing a seatbelt... and he... well... He's gone now honey. He's in a better place..." She stuttered, and Kagome felt her entire body go numb.

'No seatbelt...'

"Inuyasha, that was a great movie, don't you think?"

"Feh, I don't like those chick flicks."

"Finding Neverland was NOT a chick flick!"

"Keh, whatever. It was okay I guess. Make sure to buckle up."

"Hey, what the heck? My seatbelt is not working!"

"Don't worry about it Kagome, just sit here in my seat. I'll sit where you were."

"No, that's okay. It's not like anything will happen. Your brother won't crash."

"No, Kagome, you sit here. Please?"

"Sure, whatever."

The shock was beginning to wear off, and all that was left was the pain. Worse than the actual crash, worse than when the painkillers wore off, worse than anything she'd ever experienced in her entire life.

'Inuyasha...'

"You're... you've... you... No. You can't be serious... no." Kagome said, choking on the words. They left a bitter taste in her mouth like spoiled milk. She knew her stuttering was in vain. Mother would never lie, ever. And why would she lie about something like that?

Why did she have to switch seats with him... why wasn't it her? Her anguished cries echoed through the hallways and her mother rushed to find a nurse to sedate her.

Outside the birds continued their innocent and carefree song.

an: Oh god. That was kind of hard to write. I kept thinking about Nate's family and everything... Now two other people in my class have died, both suicides. I can't imagine how their families feel... it's so terrible to have to lose someone, especially when they're that young. They had so much going for them. It doesn't help that one of my closer friends is making some bad decisions because he thinks no one cares about him or what he does.

If you think someone you know is thinking about suicide tell someone. Anyone. Just get them help, because it might be too late if you don't act soon. Then you'll be kicking yourself for life. No one should have to live with that guilt. It feels so good to finally get something like that off your chest, because like in the case with my friend we've been talking to one of his really good friends and we're arranging a time to tell his parents. It just shows how much we love him, because if he finds out who told his parents he'll hate us for life.

In my opinion it's better to have him mad at us for a few days, weeks or years then to have him dead or ruined. He might not understand what we're doing for him now, but when he finally grows up he'll know how much we helped him. In my opinion, anyone that really loved their friends would do the same.

-gets off soapbox-

Ahem. Review.