---Sorrows of Yesterday---
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
And here's the next chapter…It's finally summer vacation! (Is so happy!) I hope to fit more updates in, but summer isn't all that carefree. I hope I can manage everything around trips and parties…
I realize I forgot to mention a few of her weapons along the way. They come into view now. (Gosh, so many things to do...)
Oh yes, and if you haven't realized it, I have a Shikamaru/Kagome oneshot out…as a matter of fact… a couple weeks ago XD
Chapter 17: Bondless
This chapter is dedicated to ancient-relic, for helping me come back to my senses and aiding me on my research.
"I never wanted to be like this, but…it has to be done…one way or another."
"Who says?"
There was no comment on this, though Kagome's hard, grim face signified that she wasn't happy with what the Kazekage had said at all. "Me," She replied curtly.
Gaara only raised an eyebrow at this comment, remaining silent for the time being. He contemplated his next words before speaking, "You're wrong. If you continue this…then you'll be lonely."
Kagome bit her lip. 'I don't want to be lonely…never again…'
"By pushing them away, you are not keeping them from harm, but doing the opposite."
"I'm…hurting them?" Her fists clenched around the fabric of her black pants. The miko's legs jerked unwillingly as she stood up, her weapons clattering to the ground.
"Nobody wants to be lonely." Gaara nodded in understanding, his eyes staying sharp and calculating her actions.
He was so right; so right. Her knees felt weak. Perhaps it was the fatigue.
"Don't leave me, Inuyasha!"
"…You don't need me anymore…your strength…you can protect yourself."
Kagome drove herself into panic, "Don't leave me! I don't want to be alone!" She shrieked, "Please…Inuyasha…"
"I know that being alone is the most horrible punishment you could ever receive," He replied somewhat patiently, "You're doing this to yourself. Don't, it makes me regret everything."
"…I'm not…you are…"
"Only you can control your emotions, girl. Stop relying on me!"
"Inuyasha, sit! You'll never understand!" Tears started to leak from her eyes.
"…You're wrong…" He whispered.
Kagome looked up at Gaara, "…Am I really wrong…? Is this really the wrong thing to do?"
He nodded.
He had struck her with the realization that she had probably needed all along. There was no chance to answer though, for there were shouts and footsteps down the hallway.
"Move it! We've got to see the Kazekage immediately!"
"You're not permitted in here! Get out!" Guards scrambled after them wildly.
"We're on a mission, and we have to see the Kazekage, Tsunade's orders!" Naruto lied, as they high-tailed it down the corridors.
Sasuke cursed as a kunai flew close to his head, and they both tumbled into the office. Sakura slammed the door as the guards mistakenly turned the wrong way.
"What business do you have here?" Gaara said. He looked up from examining a piece of paperwork. "Stop causing such a racket in the building."
"We need your assistance in tracking somebody down." Sakura walked up to his desk, and slammed her hand down on its surface, a slight crack splitting at the edge.
"Oh?" Gaara raised an eyebrow. "In what matter?" he questioned calmly. "Do you happen to be looking for one Kagome?"
"You know?" The Kazekage, Naruto, and Sakura were taken aback by Sasuke's sudden outburst.
"Perhaps." He smirked, raising his head confidently.
Sasuke let out a growl and walked up to Gaara, fisting his hand around the collar of the Kazekage's shirt and pulling his face close to his own, "Where is she?"
"Merely sleeping," Gaara said calmly. What is this feeling? At Gaara's words, Sasuke's stomach unwillingly clenched and turned over.
Naruto's eyes widened. It wasn't that he didn't trust Gaara, but…
"What did you do to her?" Naruto burst, yelling.
"Nothing at all."
Sasuke shoved the smug shinobi back into his desk and walked out the door, head held up high. Somehow, he managed to keep his graceful and elegant walk with posture, while still sending waves of anger at the Kazekage.
"Sasuke, where are you going?" Sakura called out after him, "The guards are still out there!"
"I called them off." Gaara said bluntly.
"Since when?"
"A moment ago."
121212121212
He wasn't used to reacting this way. It was a strange, foreign feeling to him, to be hunting down a person, with him actually trying. In a way, the indescribable emotion greatly confused and frustrated him; he was supposed to know his own feelings, for Kami's sake. He refused to admit anything. Yes.
Yet, he found himself stomping aimlessly down the corridor, slamming every door open possible as he went along, shooting a quick, blank glance into the room before continuing on.
'Where? Where is she?'
He stilled. Faintly, he could hear something being picked up, a few murmurs, and then suddenly, a melody filled the air.
It sounded so hollow, and filled with melancholy. The notes sounded a bit off, as if the player was playing it a bit too flat, but it still gave the same effect.
Sasuke's stomach felt empty, and the haunted tune mesmerized him.
Slowly, he began to walk again, taking slow steps towards the source of the music. He creaked open the door, to find Kagome with her eyes closed, a wooden flute raised to her lips.
"It would sound better if you weren't such a bad player," Sasuke scoffed, interrupting her peace.
Startled, Kagome jumped, letting out a gasp. "Sasuke?" Her eyes widened considerably; they then narrowed when she realized what he had said. "I am not!"
"You are. You were playing too flat."
"I always do. I don't know how to fix it. Why? Do you play too?" Kagome raised an eyebrow. Well, she was quite surprised that he hadn't brought up the topic of her runaway. It was better to keep it that way. Hopefully, he wouldn't bring it up.
"Yes," Sasuke nodded, walking towards the miko. "Play again."
Rolling her eyes, Kagome started the tune again. She was caught off-guard once again, nearly stopping the flow of the music, when two arms reached around her and started directing her a bit.
"Straighten your posture a bit; your left hand is too low, blow a bit softer into the flute…across the opening, not into it."
After a while, Kagome could hear a noticeable change in her music. A thought came to mind, and she stopped playing. "Sasuke, you play."
He stared at her, not blankly, but almost at the 'are-you-kidding-me?' look.
"Seriously." She sighed, exasperated, and thrust the wooden instrument in his face.
Sasuke took a step back, scowling. He snatched the flute and raised it to his lips. There was a pause, and then he played a song.
It sounded like a flowing river; the notes connected easily, and Kagome guessed, if she closed her eyes, she could imagine a tranquil stream, and maybe even mountains and birds. She noticed that he had closed his eyes in the process, and Kagome couldn't help but grin. Carefully, she snuck up behind him, reaching her arm over to poke him…and froze.
Cinnamon.
Sasuke smelled of cinnamon.
Kagome couldn't help but smile, because his smell reminded her of apple cider on a cold winter day. It was soothing.
It was ironic, how everybody in the modern era had only smelt of soap and smoke, and here…in this…ninja place…everybody had such a unique smell.
Sakura smelled of sweet lemonade, and Naruto had the distinct smell of chocolate cake, with a lingering ramen scent.
She had caught a whisk of Neji's scent, which was quite like cooked rice and pine.
Kakashi smelled of oranges. She really had no idea why.
"Kagome?" She snapped back into reality to find Sasuke staring at her, an eyebrow raised.
Kagome flushed. "What?"
"You seemed a bit…off…for a moment."
"Oh, sorry, I zoned out."
"What?"
"Never mind."
Sasuke sat down on the unmade bed, Kagome following.
It was silent for a while, before Sasuke spoke again, murmuring the words Kagome so didn't want to hear, "Why did you leave?"
Kagome pursed her lips. How would she explain? How would she express…how could she express the bottled up feeling inside of her. At the moment, an indescribable feeling welled up in her chest, and Kagome replied, "It's something I've always done."
"Why?"
"I told you, it's something I've alwa-"
"I don't want to hear it." Sasuke's curt reply struck Kagome hard.
"I…I…" Kagome's eyes welled up with tears, "I felt guilty, okay? When you were hurt, all I could think of was how it was my entire fault! And why would you guys care for me after I had done that? And you would be better off without me!" She looked into Sasuke's eyes, and was taken aback, "…Sasuke…?" Kagome sniffed, hesitant.
"That was why?" The question seemed rhetorical, thus Kagome remained silent, "All of that…because you thought my injury was your fault?" The Uchiha's sharp eyes made it to Kagome's wide stare, "That's-"
"Sasuke, you bastard! You made Kagome cry didn't you? You're such a jerk!" Naruto fumed, stomping into the room.
The Uchiha regarded the intruder calmly, without a word.
Sakura followed afterwards, "Naruto…I think you should give those two a break," She said quietly. "I think they need it," She added in a lower voice, so only Naruto could hear.
Naruto seemed a bit hesitant for a split second, "Kagome…how are you?"
The miko pursed her lips, "Fine, and how about you?" 'Argh! What was Sasuke going to say?'
Sakura ran up to her and hugged Kagome, sniffing, "Oh, Kagome! We've been so worried about you! Don't ever run off like that again, okay? You scared me to death, and I wish I stopped you at the entrance, but I couldn't find the heart to, and…"
"Shh…" Kagome rubbed comforting circles on the kunoichi's back, soothing her, and slowing down the stream of babbling, "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, I won't do it again. I've learned..." She looked up at the doorway, and saw Gaara's satisfied face. Smiling, Kagome nodded a thank you to the Kazekage before he turned around and left.
Sakura smiled, releasing her hold on the miko, and taking a seat beside her on the bed.
Naruto saw this as an opportunity to cause some mischief. "Hey Kagome, do you want to know something?"
"What?" Kagome looked up in interest.
"Sasuke," He grinned, noticing that he had quickly grabbed the Uchiha's attention, "Was so worried about you the whole entire time! We're wasting time just standing here. Every minute, every second that passes, something inevitable may happen" Naruto poorly mimicked. He then suddenly cracked up, "And, oh man! You should've seen the look on his face earlier when Gaara told him you were merely sleeping! It was so hilarious! –"
He was interrupted by a punch to the face.
"—Hey! Sasuke! You bastard! What was that for?"
"We were resting," Sasuke cut Naruto off harshly. He smirked, "And Naruto fell asleep…unfortunately, we had a series of events turn, and Naruto peed in his pants in that moment…and-"
"SHUT UP!" Naruto flailed his arms around, embarrassed, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Face red, he shoved an amused and calm Sasuke out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Oh Naruto?" Sakura raised an eyebrow, grinning, "I never knew…"
"Shut up!"
Kagome snickered.
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Tenshi-Battosai