Chapter 41:
Finally…
" Sesshoumaru-sama, where will you be going?"
The maid asked as she saw Sesshoumaru walking towards the front door.
" Just out for a walk." He answered shortly and turns the knob, " Tell Father not to worry."
" Yes, sir."
" Sesshoumaru…"
" What is it…"
Kagewaki spoke before leaving. Sesshoumaru turns by his address and noticed the expression on his friend's face.
" Would…would it be okay for you to do a small favor for me?" Kagewaki asked after a few moments of hesitation.
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow. He leans on the desk, folding his arms. " And what is that favor?"
". . . . ." Kagewaki smiled sadly, " That if I die…would you…would you bury my body at that small hill where we used to play? That small hill where we were able to see the whole city…my favorite place in this whole world. Do you want to know why it is my favorite place?
"…Why?"
" Because…that place is full of memories when I was a child. A memory of when I first met you there, a memory of when my mother died, I went there to cry by myself because I didn't want anyone to see me, and other memories…my precious and valuable memories. Ever since I was a child, I always used to stay in bed because of my illness…because of my weak heart. I was never allowed to play outside like the other kids…and Haha-ue was the only one there to cheer and encourage me." Kagewaki closed his eyes as though to reminisce, " I was…always lonely."
" I never felt so alone…everyone treated me as though I was a fragile glass or something. They only saw me as Onigumo Kirihito's son…the next heir of the Onigumo Company…or so they thought I was…" He smiled faintly, " I wanted a friend…or just someone to talk to. I was tired of staying inside the house…trapped in a cage…that's why one day, I sneaked out of the house…of course, Haha-ue knew about it but she never told anyone. She told me that I deserved to have a friend. I went to that hill and was surprised at the sight in front of me…I never knew the world was so big outside…I felt so stupid. That's…that's when I met you. You were picking flowers, isn't that right?"
". . . . ." Sesshoumaru sighs, " Yes…for mother. I was planning to put it next to her grave…she always loved flowers."
Kagewaki smiled, " I guess…I was really desperate of wanting a friend…I wasn't nervous or scared or anything. I just simply went up and talked to you."
"Hm," Sesshoumaru snickered, " And at that time, I thought of you as some stupid fool to even actually talk to me."
" And that's how we became…friends." Kagewaki chuckled, " I was really happy. The first friend I ever made…and since that day, we'd meet each other on that hill and either play or talk to each other. It will be weird saying it now but…it was fun. But reality is just so cruel, my Chichi-ue found out about me going out secretly. He strictly forbid me to go out, and I was never to step outside my house again. But you never let me down, in exchange of me not being able to go outside, you often visited the house so we'd still see each other. I was really happy, Sesshoumaru."
"…hm. Don't be mistaken…I just…saw something in you that we had in common. So, I just couldn't let you go and suffer alone…"
"…You're not the only one who felt lonely. In fact…I hated everyone outside of this world because of their freedom…I was jealous…I was never allowed to interact with other kids…jealous of my brother who was able to do things he wanted to do…I was always told to do things. I've always thought that it was unfair…unfair for me to be the only one to do everything…but when I met you, I thought wrong. I wasn't the only one…I was half relieved by that. And I was half admired…about how you can smile just like that…you're almost in the same state as me and you carry that annoying heart disease, but you still smiled. I was…little jealous of you, in a way."
Kagewaki smiled, " So we both thought of each others our way. When I wasn't allowed to see you anymore because of my illness getting worse, I cried. I cried because I wasn't able to see you, talk to you, and stay friends with you again. But now…we're here standing and talking to each other again. I'm just happy about that. So, Sesshoumaru…I ask you…if I die…will you bury my body and make a grave on that hill? Of course, I won't ask you to do it anymore if you don't want to…"
"…That is only if you die. Don't say such things you don't want it to happen."
" Thank you, Sesshoumaru." Kagewaki smiles again, but Sesshoumaru could see the sorrow inside. " You will always be my best friend inside my heart…even if I die."
Something…
Sesshoumaru arrived at the small hill and looked down at the city below. True, it is a beautiful sight. You could see the blue ocean just beyond the city. And though the city is covered with dust and smoke from the cars and factories, it is still a beautiful place. A place Sesshoumaru was born and grew up his whole life. Not only him. People he knew grew up in this place.
Something is going to happen…
He thought as the wind blew his silver-ish white hair. He burrowed his eyebrows almost worriedly, though he still had that pokerface on his face.
" The 'organization'…huh?" He whispers to himself, " Kagewaki…you are a fool."
…But that is just how you are…
Thinking deeply about others…but never of yourself…
" Haha-ue…"
" Haha-ue…it is I, Kagewaki…your son. I have come to visit you…"
" Haha-ue, you know what? I met Sesshoumaru…you remember him, don't you? My friend…the only friend I had…haha…he never changed…well, in heart…he did. He's more open now…and he seems gentler…if you can call him that way." Kagewaki chuckles to himself. He looks up the glass pod above him "But his looks, appearance…never changed…I'm very happy, Haha-ue. Being able to meet my friend again." He reached out his hand and touched the cold glass. He narrows his cerulean eyes in sorrow, "Haha-ue…"
He was staring up at a figure in a glass pod filled with green-ish blue water. Her eyes were closed as though she was asleep, or maybe…dead. Her long, straight black hair flowed softly inside the waters like seaweed in the ocean. Kagewaki makes a sad expression as he stares at his mother's face.
" NO! Haha-ue!!! Where are you taking Haha-ue!!? Haha-ue!!!"" It's all right, son. Your mother…is sick…as you know, so I've hired these professional doctors to help her."
" No! You're lying, Chichi-ue!!! You said the same thing to me! You said that they will find a cure…but did they!!? No!! They didn't!!! Where are you taking Haha-ue!!? Haha-ue is not sick!! Haha-ue is…"
" Kagewaki…" Kirihito placed a hand on his young son's head, " Your mother is sick. And all I am trying to do is to help her…keep her alive…"
" !!?" Tears flow from Kagewaki's eyes, " Haha-ue…is dead?"
" No…she is not. Though, I must say, that she won't wake up…in a long time, my dear son. So, I will tell you that it will be your duty to watch over her…until it is the time when she wakes up. Will you be able to do that?"
Kagewaki nods his head, trying hard to hold back his tears.
" Haha-ue…"
Kagewaki spoke softly. A vision of his mother, smiling towards him, holding her hands out as though waiting for him to fall in her arms, went across his mind.
" Haha-ue…it's been eight years now…" He said, a small smile forming. " When are you going to open that beautiful and gentle eyes of yours? When are you going to show me that heart-warming smile of yours again? Haha-ue…when are you going to wake up?"
"You really are a fool…"A fool…huh?
"Betraying the organization your father spent so much money on just to form. The organization he created to find a cure for your heart."
And what has that organization become into…?
"You honestly thought you can get away after defying your father's order?"
No…I don't. I never thought of being able to get away from Chichi-ue's grasp. No matter how much I try…
But…
" I don't know what you plan to do…but if that is what you think it is right…then I won't ask further more. It is not my problem…it is up to you to decide."
Kagewaki smiled to himself.
But…
" Kagewaki…"
" Yes?"
" You are…welcomed anytime if you feel like visiting again."
"…yes. Thank you again, Sesshoumaru."
Abi…
I wonder…
Do you have anyone to protect? Someone…someone you would die for? A person like you who lived in the dark the entire time would never understand. How it feels to be in the light. How good it feels…to be free from the darkness. The organization has stayed in the dark too long. It is time to reveal it to the light…to reveal to the people…
To stop what it's doing…
And I am going to stop it.
So, whether you plan to kill me or not… I will stop at nothing.
Kagewaki looked up to stare at his mother's face again.
" Haha-ue…" He said softly, " I'm sorry, Haha-ue. For not being able to help you…for not being able to be by your side…when you've been doing that to me when I was little. There is something I have to do. So, would it be okay if you can wait for a little longer? I promise…I promise when it is all over…I will show you the light. The light you haven't seen for a long time. The light…you've showed me long ago. Now it is my turn…and I promise that when there will be a time to open your eyes again…you will be able to see that light again."
…So please…wait.
" The clone Higurashi Kojiro successfully created…was named Higurashi Kagome."
" If you don't take that medicine…you will die."
" Your father left you with his former wife, Higurashi Kanako, your mother because he thought you would be safe as long as you are in her hands."
Mother…
Did you know about this? How come you never told me? Were you afraid that I would be shock? Am I the only one who didn't know? Ojii-chan? Souta? Am I the only one that is not part of the family?
Am I…alone?
" Kagome…"
Kagome gasped and looks up to see Inuyasha staring down at her with a worried expression. They stopped by a park to rest so Miroku and Sango can get some information on how to get hold of Hitomi Kagewaki while Kagome sat down on the bench, waiting. Inuyasha was holding a can of soda in each hand, assuming he went to buy a drink a few minutes ago.
" You okay…?" He asked and sat down next to her.
"…If I said yes, I guess that would be a lie…" Kagome said, " But I don't know. I'm sorry…I don't…"
" It's okay, Kagome."
" It's okay to cry. I told you, if you need a place to cry, I'd give you. So, it's okay. Kagome…I don't want you to hide and hold everything inside of you to yourself. I want you to let it out."
" Inu…" She lowers her eyelids as she spoke, " I just…I'm…I just can't believe…what Mr. Hiten said. Haha…it's funny, isn't it? Me? A clone? Of Kikyou's and my mother's twin sister? Can you believe that?" She started to touch herself, pull her cheeks, and then once again looks at Inuyasha. " Doesn't look like, does it? I mean…from what I can feel…I feel like I'm just like everyone else. A normal…normal person. But in truth…"
" Kagome…"
" But in truth!" Kagome interrupted, " I'm not. I'm not human…Inuyasha. I'm not…like you. I'm…different." Tears flowed from her eyes. " I'm alone!!!!"
" Kagome!!!" Inuyasha felt something snap inside his head and then finds himself wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. " You're not alone!!! I won't accept that!!! Even if everyone thinks you're different, I won't! I will look at you as I do to everyone else!! You're not different, Kagome."
" …!!! Inuyasha!!" Kagome burst into tears in his arm, letting everything she held inside of her out.
At anytime…
Anytime and everywhere she went…
She was alone.
Before she transferred into Sengoku Koukou, everyone looked at her in a weird way. Did they know she was different from the others? Did they know what she was?
Everyone hated her…she was always alone. No one ever came close to her…
How sad she felt when she had to eat lunch by herself…
Whenever there was a time to choose a partner or a group…she would always be left out and be the last one chosen.
Whenever she was in a crowd…there was no one to talk to… …when she'd see her classmates either across or beside her talking about many things, laughing their hearts together.
She was always alone.
How it hurt her heart to see the expression of contempt in their eyes towards her.
How painful it was to be pushed around like she was a useless toy or something…
How bitter and hard it was to be ignored…
There was no one there to comfort her. No one there to cheer her. No one there to stay by her side.
She was always…alone.
" I'm…s…scared," Kagome said through tearful voice, " I'm scared…that someday…you…Miroku…Sango-chan…my family…everyone…everyone I know would someday disappear and I will be alone in this world. I'm scared there will be noone to be with…noone to stay with…"
" Kagome…"
" Sometimes…I have this feeling that everyone in this world hates me…that they want me gone. I'm scared, Inuyasha!!! Inuyasha---!!" She shouted as tears continuously flowed from her eyes, burying her face in his chest.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in pain and sadness. He feels helpless not being able to lessen Kagome's fears. All he could do now is hold her tightly in these arms, so she won't fall. Fall into the darkness. Scared that if she does, he won't be able to help her out. He hugged the crying girl in his arms tightly.
" Kagome…" He whispered in her ears as though to comfort her. " I'm here. I'm here by your side. You're not alone."
" Inu…yasha…?"
" I won't leave you. I promise." He continued, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I promise…that whatever happens, I will never leave you alone."
With that, he lifts her face with his hand and pressed his lips on hers. Her lips were soft, to his surprise, and sweet. He took his time to enjoy it and then finally separated. Kagome looked awe for a moment, trying to grasp what just happened. Her skin soon started to turn pink then red from embarrassment. She looked up to see Inuyasha's cheek were slightly red too.
" Thank you…Inuyasha," She said after a while, trying to think of what to say.
Inuyasha just smirked. "I finally got to kiss you."
" Eh?"
" Nothing…" He smirked again, overjoyed by the thought that this time, no one or nothing interrupted them.
They looked up to hear Miroku and Sango's voice approaching them and then looked at each other, smiling.
" Let's go," Kagome said and then reaches out to take his hand.
" …Right."
Never…
Never will leave you alone.
You're the only one for me.
-Hikaru
Yay! I'm finally done with this chapter!! Good! And hope you guys enjoyed.
This chapter showed about a wee bit of Sesshoumaru and Kagewaki's childhood. (I said a wee bit…don't know whether I'm going to add another) and an Inukago fluff!! Or I think it is. I tried.
Inuyasha finally got to kiss Kagome!!! :: applause:: Congratulations!! You made Inuyasha!! Now all you gotta do is invite her into your house and th…!!! :: Have been forcefully dragged off::
:: Comes back:: Well, anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!!! I still haven't thought how this story is going to end (WHAT!!?) but…!!! Until the end, please stay with me!!! Will Kagome be able to return to her normal life!!? What about the medicine!!? Kagome's father!!? Will Inuyasha(and the others) be able to save her in time!!? And what about Naraku!!? Does he have connections with this!!? Stay tune!!
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