Author's note : Don't worry, I won't bother you with my notes at each chapter ! I just hope you like the story, and please send me reviews if you have a chance ! I'm also not a cry baby so you can be honnest. But don't insult me, that would be very mean !
Chapter two : Kagome's painful memories, part 2
Kagome's POV
She gently brushed away some strands of silver hair from Inu-Yasha's forehead. She loved him so much... Like they say : "You don't realize how much you need something until you lose it". It was more or less her case. She had always known that she loved Inu-Yasha, she just hadn't realized how badly. She wanted him to wake up, to look at her with his beautiful golden eyes, to smile at her... She needed him like she needed air and food. Without him, she wasn't complete...
But she had taken a decision. It was just after the end of her therapy. She had returned home with a determined expression on her face. Her mother had been so happy to see that she wasn't depressed anymore, that she was back to her usual self. Ms. Higurashi knew how much her daughter loved Inu-Yasha, she had seen it with her own eyes. She herself had developped a motherly love for the stubborn hanyou, and she had also been horrified when she had learned what had happened to him. But her daughter... she had been practically broken. She wouldn't eat, or talk, or even sleep... Her mother was so relieved to see that the therapy had helped her. Kagome also had a younger brother, Souta, and her grandfather who was living with them. They had been worried about her too, and were happy to see her out of her depression.
When she had come back to her family shrine, she had gone directly to the phone. Her mother had told her that Sango and Miroku had also been following a therapy. None of them were taking Inu-Yasha's accident very well. They hadn't even seen each other since that day at the hospital. Kagome had decided that that situation had lasted long enough. She had called Sango and then Miroku, insisting to see them. They had agreed to meet at Tokyo's Park, at 2:00 p.m. They needed to talk...
o0 Flashback 0o
Kagome entered the park, holding the front of her coat tightly. They were in october, and it was starting to become cold. She searched the park for her friends. Finally, she saw them, sitting on a bench not too far away. Sango was leaning on Miroku's shoulder, and he wasn't even trying to grope her. They looked a bit tired. Kagome sighed. Their moral was at zero since... well you know what. She herself, even if she was no longer in depression, wasn't feeling too cheerful either. But aside to that, she was happy to see her friends again.
She approached them, a timid smile on her lips. When they saw her, they rose and returned the smile.
- Hum... Hi guys, Kagome said. It's great to see you...
They looked at each other for a while. And suddenly, without any warnings, they fell into each other's arms, finally sharing their pain. A couple of minutes after that outburst, they calmly sat on the bench, not really knowing what to say. Kagome took a deep breath. She was the one who had called them, she was the one who had something to say. It was more difficult than she had thought it would be. But she had to tell them. Her decision was final. They had to do it.
She looked at them and said in a whisper :
- Guys... we have to go see him.
They tensed. She knew they would. She pursued in a more firm voice :
- We have to go visit him. Even if we don't like what we see. That's not a reason. We can't just go on like this and do like nothing happened. Cause it had... He's not dead, damn it ! If we don't go, it'll be like we were abandoning him ! What kind of friends would we make if we'd do that ? He's always been there for us, now we have to be there for him ! It's that simple ! And you may think that he won't notice, but I'm sure he will !
Her speech over, she shut her mouth and waited for them to react. At first, they said nothing. But then, Miroku spoke softly :
- I... I think you're right, Kagome. It wouldn't be right of us to... abandon him.
- Not right at all ! added Sango, shaking her head vigorously.
And so, they went to the hospital, taking their strength from each other. Once there, they asked to see Dr Kaede. Inu-Yasha was her patient, and she was taking personal care of him. A couple of minutes later, the old woman came to see them. She had a comprehensive smile and a reassuring voice when she told them :
- You must be Inu-Yasha's friends ? (They nodded) Ah, well I'm happy to see that you came. It's kind of sad, but when someone fall in a coma, their family and friends have a tendency to not come and visit them very often, because they don't want to accept the situation.
They felt a bit uncomfortable. They had almost done that, too...
- Well, if you want to follow me, Kaede said.
They went to the second floor, the intensive care unit. They walked through a long white corridor with blue doors on both sides and finally, Kaede stopped before one of the doors. They observed it apprehensively : room 316, Inu-Yasha Takahashi.
Suddenly, they were afraid. Afraid to see what was in the room. Kaede noticed and said with a gentle tone :
- I understand how you all feel, my children. What you're about to do is not easy. Believe me, it's the same for everyone. But you have to be strong. For him, if for nothing else.
They nodded. With an encouraging smile, Kaede opened the door and entered the room. They slowly followed, hands in hands.
The room was dark, the only light provided by a small lamp on the bedside table. At first, all they saw was the bed, with someone lying on it, and with a bunch of machines around it. It left just one side of the bed free, so that people could stand or sit there. The machines's buttons and screens were glowing dimly, and there was that continuous sound of "bip... bip... bip... bip..." that was resonating strangely in the silence of the room.
But when they came closer, they saw him. They gripped each other's hands more tightly, not able to say a word. All they could do was watch...
Their friend was there, lying on the bed, many tubes connected to his arms and some electrodes on his forehead. He had a mask on his face giving him oxygen. But what shocked them the most was that Inu-Yasha looked so... small. So fragile. Him who had always been the big tough guy, it was... painful to see him like this. His skin was pale, almost as white as his long silver hair. He was also thinner, the only nourishment he was receiving coming from some of the tubes on his arms. He was completely immobile, not even his eyelids were moving.
Kaede spoke, startling them :
- I will leave you alone with him. I'll come back later to see if everything is alright.
She walked to the door and then stopped, turning toward them again.
- You know, she said, you should talk to him. I know it sounds strange, but... we have a theory. It's not confirmed yet, but we think that those who are in a coma may be able to hear people's voices, sometimes. They can't react to it, of course, and we're not even sure that it truly works. But you could try it anyway. Just in case...
She smiled and exited the room, closing the door behind her. For a moment, they didn't know what to do with themselves. But then, Kagome released Sango's hand and slowly walked to the bed. There was a low metallic bar on the side of the bed, and she put her hands on it. She looked at Inu-Yasha's face. Then, before she could stop herself, her hand was on his cheek, caressing it lightly. She knew she was crying, but she didn't care. She whispered softly :
- Hi Inu-Yasha. It's me. It's Kagome... I'm sorry I didn't come sooner...
She felt Sango and Miroku come beside her. Sango was the one who spoke :
- Inu-Yasha ? It's Sango. And Miroku's here too. We... we're sorry we left you alone...
Miroku just took his friend's hand, silent. He couldn't speak. There was a knot in his throat.
They stayed there for almost two hours, and when they left, they had taken a decision : they would come visit Inu-Yasha as often as they could. They would speak to him. They would wait. Wait for him to wake up. They would wait as long as it would take. And they would not abandon him...
o0 End flashback 0o
Kagome sighed. That was about eight months ago. But their resolution was still as strong as it was before. Each of them would come see Inu-Yasha at least three times in a week, sometimes alone, sometimes together. They were bringing him presents, like flowers and pictures to decorate the room. They were telling him what was going on at school or with their families. When they would go see a movie, they would come and tell the story to him. They were doing all that and more. They had sworn to do it. And they would continue to do it.
Today Kagome was alone with him. It was a Monday evening, and she had come after doing all of her homeworks. She had stopped at a flower shop and bought some new ones for Inu-Yasha. Red, yellow and white. His favorite colors.
His hand still in hers, Kagome told him :
- I bought you some more flowers, Inu-Yasha. The old ones were withered. I had a lot of homeworks, I had to do it before I could come and see you. Mr. Watsuki was in a terrible mood today. He gave us all that work and a test for tomorrow. I don't know what bit him ! Maybe his stupid Chihuahua got tired of listening to his ridiculous orders !
She laughed a little and added more softly :
- Everyone at school misses you, you know ? Yeah, even Kouga. He doesn't know what to do with himself since he can't argue with you anymore ! The poor first grades have to suffer his bad mood all the time ! But... me, Sango and Miroku miss you more. It's not the same without you around. I hope you'll wake up soon... And don't worry. I'll wait for you, my love...
It was true. Kind of tragic, but true. She knew she couldn't love anyone other than Inu-Yasha even if she tried. So she would wait for him. All her life, if necessary...