---Sorrows of Yesterday---
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.
I was never good as angst, so here's my pathetic, and poor attempt at it XD
Chapter 16: Then and Now"Sakura-chan! Wait! Our stuff is at the inn!" Naruto pointed out.
"Right…" She stopped, wary, and the three ran towards what used to be their stay for the night. The kunoichi fumbled with the keys for a moment, and tried to open the door quickly, when Sasuke, for some reason, somehow lost his patience and kicked the door open, which made the piece of wood crack down the middle.
Hurriedly, the three burst into the room and snatched their belongings off the floor. Sliding the window open, they proceeded to hop out.
"Towards Suna!" Naruto shouted, stating the obvious fact that somehow, everybody wanted to hear anyway.
The colour of the sky bore the hazy shades of summer, and with the coming of the season itself, Sasuke clasped his fingers tightly around his pack strap.
He followed diligently, although grudgingly, but found his feet moving alongside anyway.
Perhaps the world had cursed him from the start, leaving him at this very spot, searching for what he felt was his soul, his spirit, yet…
Sasuke wondered if the feeling was forlorn to him.
When was the last time he had felt happy?
"Sasuke, hurry up!" Sakura beckoned, slowing down to wait for him to catch up.
Obediently, he followed. Sasuke wass silent the whole time, thinking about why she left, and confused, his mind mixed up into different conclusions, each one not quite making sense, and thus, he disposed of those ideas.
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Honestly, Kagome had no idea where she was going. All she remembered was thanking the elderly lady and leaving, walking down the street when she glanced into a window, to see Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto dropping their things onto the floor inside a room.
After that, everything just seemed like a blur.
Running.
'So they have gone after me…' It confused her…in a way, it made her feel warm inside, but cold at the same time.
They were looking for her. They hadn't forgotten about her. Yet…did she really want to face them again? She had chosen to run away…
Kagome was tripping, stumbling, and nearly out of breath.
She was running all night long, from sunset, until the sun started to rise into the sky again, beckoning all the beautiful birds to sing their melodies…and before she knew it, the deep forest terrain parted into warm, seemingly never ending sand.
It was then that Kagome was truly confident she had lost them. She slowed to a walk, letting out a sigh.
She only thought of him, and her. The person who had lost his spark in battle. The one who chose her over life itself, and she didn't realize it until the passing moment where it was inevitable.
"Kagome…live, for sure you'd know how to do that. It's my last wish…and if you really loved me…"
She dimly took note of what he said. 'Loved' it was…
"Then take my final wish to the skies. Live on, and as you do that, don't forget us. Never forget us…learn from mistakes, and never be like me…as long as you live, no matter where you end up."
She had taught her. Kagome had thought it unlikely at the time, but truly took her words to heart. They were solemn words, and she never did hate her in the first place, no matter what she had been forced to give up. In the end, she was thankful for this person the most.
"Why are you filled with sorrow? You have been careless, and yet you regret your foolish actions?"
"They were not foolish."
"Then may I ask why you regret it, when you deny yourself? You have always been foolish. Change yourself. Maybe then, you will be of use."
"I don't need advice from you!"
"It is not advice, but merely a fact. Adapt, and stay strong. I am a hollow soul, dead, and with no purpose. I will descend back to hell. Create a purpose, and make this half of a soul worthwhile. If you regret, many foolish decisions will be made, and you will never be happy. Your soul will drown in sorrow. I don't remember happiness…show me what it feels…to be truly happy."
"Wait--!"
A body crumpled to the ground…and then... a soul entered back into its place of solace.
…And then it was silent...
But… she also thought of him. Elegant stride with pale skin and obsidian eyes…
No, she refused to think of another person, she didn't want to be hurt again…
There were no regrets. No, there couldn't be. She couldn't let it happen.
A long time ago, she had turned her back and left the deserted ruins of Kaede's village. Back then, she had closed her eyes, withholding tears, and vowed, vowed that she would never regret. And now…she had never felt so alone in her life.
Gritty sand started to pass between her sandals, making Kagome irritated. She took her sandals off, holding them by her side as she walked. It reminded her of that red head that had helped her the other day…
He had seemed to have a lot of sand, using them to his will and morphing it into any shape. It was fascinating.
The miko looked up, and to her delight, a village was finally in sight. Soon enough, tall buildings started to get into view over a hill, causing Kagome to break out into a run. Finally, as she got there, she sprinted into this new village, slowing down as she got past the gates, ignoring the shouts of the guards.
Kagome slipped into the crowds.
She didn't regret. Nope, not at all…She didn't regret anything. Nothing.
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing.
Her downcast eyes and tired body did nothing to attract the bustling crowd's attention, and Kagome just continued walking, following the noon traffic, and unconsciously leading her past glass doors and into the tallest building in the village. The guards weren't there. She didn't care though, but walking in further, Kagome bumped right into a tall person, stumbling back.
It was Gaara.
"You again" He raised an eyebrow, steadying her and taking a step back.
Kagome shot him a tired scowl, "What? Me again? How nice."
Gaara had the urge to roll his eyes, -it was a peculiar sensation-, he had never had this urge before, but the Kazekage just shrugged it off, and refrained from doing so. "If you must stand here, come into my office." He started to walk off without reply.
Obediently, she complied, following him down the vast corridors of the building, and finally turning into a spacious room, with only a desk, bookshelf, and a few chairs occupying it.
They were silent the whole way, with only Gaara muttering to Kagome to sit down when they arrived at their destination.
Kagome dropped her bag onto the floor, gratefully sinking into the nearest chair to her.
It was silent again, until Gaara brought something up, "The others are searching for you?"
The miko jerked up in her chair, surprised, and hesitated before answering, "…Not at all."
"Liar."
She paused, before deciding that he knew something was up, and giving in, "Gaara, it was…they are looking for me, though I wish not to be found…I have caused…too much pain."
Gaara stared at her questionably, "I used to think that."
Reviews would be appreciated.
Tenshi-Battosai