The Stray
Summary: A fire takes the lives of the Kikumaru family, save one son who had stayed late for practice. The death of his family leaves Eiji distraught, running from the nightmare. Lifeless eyes draw in a young girl who ends up taking him in and unknowingly saves his life.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Eiji/Kagome
Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Rated: M for Mature Content
-x-x-x-
The walk down the mountainside had left her feeling lightheaded. How long had it been? The time that had escaped her, it was gone, and she couldn't go back this time. Walking the streets with Eiji next to her, his hand gripped hers tightly like a lifeline. Though, she couldn't be sure who was holding onto who.
"Nai, maybe we should go back, after all, Kagome."
Listening to the hum of the wind, she pulled her sweater tighter around her, "are you scared, Eiji?"
"...maybe a little."
"Talk to me then. While we're walking, tell me what you're scared of."
Kicking a stone out of his way, he watched it tumble into the grass and out of their way. "I'm scared of what will be there when I get home."
"When you go home... where is home?"
"That―" he paused in his step, "I guess I don't have one anymore."
Looking back over her shoulder, she had stopped with him, not able to go any further with him holding her hand. "Home is where the heart is...and the heart, though it appears to be fragile, it's quite strong. It has the strength to carry with it the love of all your important people. Wherever you are, wherever you go, isn't that home? Don't think of the burnt debris as a home. So long as you are alive, you can make a home wherever you go." Thinking about her words, she considered them, "it sounds cruel, saying that. Still, I can honestly tell you, my home isn't so simple as a house atop a hill. It's not the building, but the memories I carry with me. The feelings, love, and dreams that I shoulder. It's okay to be afraid, Eiji. You are only human, after all. We all feel fear sometimes. So, if you're scared, reach out and hold my hand, like you are right now. It's not much right now, is it?"
"Kagome..."
"Depression, sorrow, fear... these don't discriminate. They don't care if you're only fifteen... tackling you while you're at your weakest state of mind and drowning out all the good left in your life. It's not fair, and it's not easy to work through. But if you'll let me, I'll stay here with you. Rather... I'm going to be here through all the hurt and sorrow. The heart heals, though the wounds will never fade, you learn how to live side by side them. So... hold on, Eiji." Shaking, his head touched lightly along her shoulder, and she brought her hand up, placing it gently on his head. "Hold on..."
-x-x-x-
Shuusuke was sitting on his bed with a golden retriever sleeping in the corner. He'd only come home long enough to put his backpack up and change his clothes. Grabbing an empty messenger bag and his flashlight, he placed his phone in his pocket before shouldering the large bag. Leaving his room, he stopped in the living room where his sister was on the phone. Raising a hand, he pointed to the door and went after she acknowledged him.
Running along the street, he stopped at the smoldered remains of the Kikumaru residence. Over the last three days, he's been collecting small things that hadn't been lost in the fire. He probably looked like a plunderer, but the neighbors knew him, and after explaining his motives clearly, they left him alone. Assuming that once they found Eiji, he would stay with him and his family, he was trying to salvage anything that he could from his friend's home.
Stepping under the caution tape, he pressed the switch on his flashlight and shined it around the house. It was a mess. The soot that floated in the air had him pulling a mask up from around his face. He'd gone through Eiji's room first and was now working on his living room. Opening a cabinet, he jumped back as the door lurched to the side and fell with one hinge holding it to the cabinet. Inside were books, files and―
"...albums?" Reaching inside, he was careful of anything that might not be stable. To his surprise, despite the outer exterior of the cabinet, the albums and files were all in one piece. Pulling his phone out, he texted his sister before placing the album back inside and closing the cabinet. Shifting the door and putting it back on the hinge carefully. "I'll need the car for this." Looking at the fireplace, he looked at the shattered glass on a few of the picture frames. Turning his eyes back to the cabinet, it was a miracle that the albums had survived unscathed.
Hearing the crackle of debris underfoot, Shuusuke moved out of the way of direct eyesight and made to turn his flashlight off when a voice broke through the darkness. "Fujiko...?"
He spun around so quickly; his hair flared around his shoulder. Not sure why his eyes began burning with tears as he moved into the archway of the living room. Stopping a foot in front of Eiji, he brought a hand up and placed it carefully on his chest, not entirely trusting his eyes; he felt weak. "Eijiko, we looked for you, where―" his voice cracked, and he moved in closer, throwing his arms around his friends' shoulders. Hugging him, he felt the redhead tremble in his arms before gravity pulled them down on their knees.
-x-x-x-
Kagome smiled sadly, watching the two from a safe distance. She had let Eiji take the first few steps into his home alone. From there, she'd followed inside, her heart aching at the lack of life and luster inside. When they heard a shuffle of noise from the living room, he'd had her stick back while he checked it out. This would be what is known as a lucky coincidence. Closing her eyes, she listened to the sobs and whispered words of relief.
"Shuusuke~! I brought the car, where are you?"
Looking up, she turned her eyes to the front door and watched a woman walk in. Holding up a nervous hand, she waved.
"Hello, who are you?"
"Mn, Kagome. I came with Eiji."
"...Eiji?" She removed the sunglasses she'd been wearing; it was too dark to see with them on anyways. "Eiji is here? With Shuusuke?"
"I think so," Kagome jabbed her thumb towards the living room.
"Eiji!" She yelled out, running past Kagome and through the archway. Kagome peered inside and watched the older woman drop beside the two and pull the two into a tight embrace. Considering the outfit she wore, Kagome was surprised to see her on her knees despite the soot and debris. An overwhelming sense of reprieve filled her, seeing Eiji curl into the two.
"Ekhm," Kagome cleared her throat, "there is still ash heavy in the air, the three of you should take this reunion outside." With help from Shuusuke and the woman, Eiji was guided outside with Kagome, carefully nudging the three of them with her purification energy. With their back to her, she checked their lungs before pulling her energy back and relaxing. 'It wouldn't do Eiji any good to get sick after finally coming home.'
"Eiji, where were you all this time?"
"I was staying on the mountain with Kagome. It was actually because of Kagome that I was able to come to my senses." Eiji looked down at his hands, still holding tightly to Shuusuke's shirt, "I'm still scared, and I feel sick being here, but I'm glad that I came. Even though there's nothing left here, even though..." tears pooled helplessly in his eyes. "...no one is here."
"Eiji, some things survived. Taiki is at my house waiting for Eijiko, and then, a while ago, I found several of your photo albums all in one piece. I mean, it's not much, but ―"
"Shuusuke!" Desperate, Eiji's voice broke through his friend's concern, "you said that Taiki is alive?" For a moment, he didn't think about the photo albums he'd so desperately hoped to salvage. A member of the Kikumaru family had survived, and his best friend had been taking care of him this whole time. Clinging tightly to Shuusuke, he couldn't help crying into his arms. Holding him tightly, he never wanted to let go. This precious person had continued to look out for him, even when he'd run away.
"...Eijiko, let's go home."
Kagome watched curiously how the boy would take the word home.
"Ah, n-no...I can't go. I promised to stay with Kagome!" He pulled back and looked over his shoulder.
Kagome smiled, "I'll be okay, Eiji. You brought me down from the mountain, so I should go home properly. I'm sure, like your friends, my family has been restlessly waiting for me too."
"Then," he turned to Shuusuke, "I want to go with Kagome first, and then I'll come back to Fujiko."
Nervous about letting him go again, Shuusuke finally nodded, "I'll keep clearing out the house then, and when you are done, just...come home."
"...hai!"
Kagome watched the two boys hug and glanced down at the shadows crawling along the pavement. 'Home...do I have one of those left to return to too?'
-x-x-x-
Me: Here is chapter four of The Stray. I find it funny that while I'm writing Prince of Tennis fics, I'm reading and watching Haikyu! MWAHAHAHAHAHA~ multitasking. Review fam~!