Author's Note: I don't own Inuyasha, only the plot so don't sue me! I hope everyone enjoys this story. I was just listening to a song that my little brother made me listen to a couple days ago, and somehow, over the course of two days my mind came up with this. Let me know what you think, whether you love it or hate it, all reviews are welcome.
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Prolouge: Hearts Ache
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Inuyasha glanced back at his big brother, not really suprized that he was there with him. Although he would never admit to needing support, he really did. His mate had died, taken from him in the middle of the night from a flu that had killed many in the village. Kikyo was a strong Priestess, but not even her powers could protect her from the flu.
His heart ached, it felt as if it had been torn out of his body, his soul felt battered and bruised. And so desperately lonely. He fought to keep the tears inside of him, stubbornly refusing anyone to see the hurt he felt inside. His hands curled into fists at his side and he shut his eyes as he listened to the Miroku the Monk, Inuyasha very best friend, speak the words of his god. Begging his god to let Kikyo into heaven, where she was to rest.
He felt Sesshomaru's heavy hand fall upon his shoulder, warm, heavy, and strong. Supportive. Did he know what it was to lose someone close to him? His own life mate? Inuyasha didn't know. He appreciated it though.
Tiny little fingers reached out and tugged on his own, begging for attention. Inuyasha opened his amber eyes and looked down into a beautiful set of golden eyes, much like his own. He knelt down beside the small two year old child and gave the little girl a brave smile. She had all the markings of a demon, a full blooded Dog Demon, but she was only a hanyo like him. She looked shockingly like her father, beautiful golden eyes, long white hair, long sharp teeth. But her face was that of her mothers. Soft pale skin, the sharp angular chin, gently rounded cheeks. The soulful look in the depths of her all knowing and all seeing eyes.
His baby girl, his beautiful Amaya. His daughter reached her chubby arms up to him and he readily took her into his strong arms, holding her close to his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a huge kiss on his stubbly cheek before dropping her head down to bury her face in his neck, somehow knowing, on an instinctual level, that her daddy needed to be comforted.
Inuyasha took a deep breath, the scent of his daughter calming and comforting him better and faster than anything else in his world could. He dropped his gaze down to the smooth dark coffin that held his mate, the mother of his child. Miroku was nearly done, and Inuyasha could feel pressure on his heart. He didn't want to say good bye to his mate, he didn't want to put her body into the cold ground, to be surrounded by layers of think, unyielding, un-loving dirt.
"Inuyasha," Miroku murmured, catching his friends gaze.
The dog demon in question stared pleadingly into his best friends sorrowful eyes, then down to his daughter. Silently he handed his daughter to her godfather, the Fox Demon, Shippo. He stepped forward and grabbed the tough straps of leather that would be used to lower Kikyo's coffin down into the earth grave. Miroku was supposed to take the other end of the leather straps, but Sesshomaru firmly took his place and took the straps into his own hands.
Sesshomaru kept his gaze locked with Inuyasha's as they lowered the Priestess's body into the ground, knowing that his little brother was hurting now. He understood pain. He had lived with it for most of his life, he knew what it was like to have no one to comfort, no one to stand by his side through the toughest of times. He may not have been the best brother to Inuyasha, but we was always there when Inuyasha truly needed him.
When the coffin finally hit its mark, Sesshomaru dropped down to his knees, his eyes still locked on Inuyasha's own, and slowly undid his Kimono, then his haori. Once his upper body was completely bared he looked over to his young human girl and waved her over.
"Rin, my dagger." he murmured, then looked up into Inuyasha's confused amber eyes. He took the white handled dagger into his hand and waved Rin away. "Watch Brother, and learn." he advised and turned his attention to the task at hand. "Dog Demons have their own rituals for the dead. I will perform the one from our families line." he spoke, bringing the sharp blade up to his wrist. "This woman was the mate of a dog demon, and as such has the protection of the souls of all dog demons. This is my life's blood, given freely to guide the soul of my brothers mate to the heavens above." he slid the sharp blade quickly across his own wrist, then held it over the grave and let its drops drip over top of the coffin until the cut quickly seal back up. He leaned forward and brought the dagger to his well muscled chest, just above his heart. "This is the blood of my heart, given freely to guard my sisters' soul through the heavens and into the next life. She will always have my protection, and that of all dog demons." he growled as he quickly made a deep slice across his chest, and let the blood pour out of his body. Ignoring the gasps and cries of the humans he concientraited souly on the task at hand. He waited until the blood stopped before he slowly stood up and met his brothers teary eyes. "May all respect and honour this woman, for she was a Priestess, a Wife, and a Mother. So say I, Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, Leader of all Dog Demons, Son of Inutasho, Brother to Inuyasha the Hanyo." he ended with a whisper. He took off his soft, pure white fur pelt and laid it gently over the grave.
Inuyasha could feel the tears drop, but he couldn't stop them, couldn't hold them back. It was too much for him to bare. He dropped to his knees and and silently cried as he watched the villagers slowly cover his wife up with earth.
"Daddy," Inuyasha heard his daughter speak softly, "Aya see mommy?" she asked in her teary voice, suddenly afraid, and looked frantically for her mom. She started crying, screaming for her mommy.
He felt so helpless, so hurt. How was he supposed to tell his little girl that her mommy wasn't ever coming back? How was he supposed to live knowing that he could never give his baby girl her mommy? His soul was hurting, more than he ever thought possible and he was sure that his heart was being smashed to little pieces as he knelt, crying.
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Four Years Later
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Kagome Higurasi was a woman of many talents. Priestess, Archery teacher, a black belt in Judo, and a Pediatric Doctor. Spending those precious years in the Fuedal Era definitly had an impact on the beautiful, raven haired woman. She was forced to grow up fast, quickly learning that life wasn't always about her, and that life could be taken just as quickly as it could be given. She was no longer the naive girl she was all those years ago. When she came out of the Bone Eaters Well the last time, she was battered, broken hearted, and more determined than ever to make something of herself. She went back to school and worked harder than anyone had ever seen her work before. She recieved straight A's and scholarships to any school she wanted. She swore off all boys, even the gorgeous, popular Hojo who was desperatly in love with her.
She started Judo and Archery right after she finished High School, and excelled at both. She worked on becoming a true Priestess at her families shrine, under the guidance of her Grandfather in her part time, her Medical Studies taking on most of her time. Kagome worked on everything she wanted to with a "never give up" attitude, and suceeded in ever endevour. At twenty seven, she had more life experience than anyone else she knew. At twenty seven, she was sure that she had everything that she wanted, everything that she could ever need.
Why was it then, that she was drawn back to the Bone Eater's Well in her families' sacred shrine?
She could feel the pull every day as she performed her daily prayers, and helped with the chores within the shrine. It was like a magnetic pull, deep within her soul, her heart and body. Everything within Kagome wanted her to go to the well, to throw herself inside and never look back.
But her mind. Her mind told her no. Logically she knew that there was nothing, nobody there waiting for her. All of her friends had probably moved on, and had started lives without her. They had families now that they had to focus on. And Inuyasha... well he had chosen Kikyo. He would have stared a family with the Priestess, providing of course, that he didn't get himself killed first. She could feel a little pain in her heart whenever Kagome thought of Inuyasha. She felt no bitterness or hatred towards Inuyasha, or Kikyo, the Priestess. She knew that they were meant to be, it was something that was decided before she ever came into their lives. She would always have a place in her heart for her brave Hanyo. At fifteen years old, Kagome knew that she was in love with the loud mouthed, insulting Dog Demon. He was her first love... and her only love since, and she would always wish him well.
"Hey sis," a bored, male voice called over to her, startling Kagome from her thoughts.
Kagome looked over and gave her younger brother a wide grin, "Hey Souta, how was school?" she asked, playfulling ruffling her fingers through his dark chocolate hair. He had grown a since she came back for good. Her little brother stood a good 6'3'' against her her 5'7, and was a lean mean fighting machine. When she had taken Judo, her little brother started street fighting and boxing. His chest wasn't overly huge, but lean and muscular, nicely cut. She was pretty sure there wasn't an ounce of fat on the 19 year old.
Souta grinned and swung an arm around his sister's shoulders, "Good as to be expected I suppose. Boring though, I don't know why mom is making me take this stuff, we all know that I'm going to become the Priest of this shrine. It was decided on the day I was born, I'm sure!"
Kagome laughed and swung her arm around her brothers' waist. "I know its rough, but one day you'll be thankful for you education, I'm sure of it."
"Whatever sis," Souta sighed and looked towards the little shed that held the Bone Eaters Well. "You were thinking of Inuyasha again." he pointed out, non accusingly, but more as a statement of fact. "Don't try to deny it, sis. I know that look in your eyes probably better than you do," he pointed out when she started to protest.
"I can't hide anything from you, can I?" she pointed out and let herself get led to the shed in question.
"Nope, I know everything." he grinned, smug. He opened the door to the shed and stepped inside. Silently, he lit the candles surrounding the well and then went to go stand by his sister. He adjusted his back pack around his shoulder and looked down into the dark, seemingly bottomless well. "Its strange, Kagome. When I was younger I never used to understand what you meant," he started, "I never knew what you meant when you said you felt a pull to the well. I could never feel it, so I couldn't possibly understand what you meant."
Kagome gently ran her fingers along the smooth wood of the well, enjoying the pulsing feeling of power that she felt when she touched the sacred wood. "Can you feel it now, Souta?" she asked curiously, peering down into the well with her brother.
"I don't know. My body, my heart and my soul all are being drawn to this place, to go inside the well." he whispeard, and placed dropped his own fingers down to the soft, smooth wood.
Power pulsed inside the tiny shed that housed the Bone Eaters' Well. Souta reached out to grab his sister as a bright, blinding light consumed the entire shed, eating up all light, time and sound. Encluding them.
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Well? What'd ya think? Push the little blue review button and let me know!
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