After the Rain comes the Rainbow
Chrysolite Heart
Chapter 3
Weeks passed quickly since Kikyou's collapsing but Kagome kept a careful eye on her friend for the first little while. After a few weeks she noticed her friend seemed to be getting better. Kikyou was constantly smiling than ever before and always seemed happy. It made Kagome relieved and Kagome started to stop worrying. Every now and then Kikyou would have to go to the hospital but she always left the hospital with a smile on her face and Kagome could swear Kikyou was getting better. She was so happy; finally, things were going right for Kikyou.
Kikyou smiled at Inuyasha. It was only a week before their wedding and they were going to try on their wedding fittings, which they had finally chosen, one more time. It took all of Kikyou's effort to smile. She had been doing it a lot lately so that she could keep Kagome at bay and make herself look happy in front of Inuyasha but in truth, deep down in her heart, she was dying. And no one but herself alone knew this. Kikyou was always feeling faint and just barely managed to keep herself conscious, not even mentioning trying to keep a smile on her face all the time. It was taking all of her energy. Inuyasha smiled back at her happily. She wanted so much for them to be happy but she knew that it likely wasn't going to happen. All she hoped for was that she would be able to get through the next week and at least have a moment as Mrs. Inuyasha Takahashi.
"I'm afraid, Ms. Miko, that your condition has become worse. If you come to stay at the hospital now you may still have a chance, but otherwise…" the voice trailed off.
The voice belonged to Kikyou's doctor. When Kikyou's doctor had insisted Kikyou stay at the hospital Kikyou flat-out refused. She couldn't do it; she didn't want to be everyone's burden. Especially not Inuyasha's, she didn't want to ruin all their wedding plans that had been coming along so well at the last moment. She couldn't, no matter how conceited she was, she just couldn't do it. Inuyasha was still completely unaware of Kikyou's condition or her thoughts at the moment as he drove Kikyou to Hojo's store in the mall.
Once they arrived at Hojo's store, Hojo welcomed them in. He gave Kikyou a look of concern (remember he was there when Kikyou passed out) before hustling the two of them in. Kikyou stood beside Inuyasha wearing her beautiful white wedding gown that matched with Inuyasha's suite. She held onto his arm and looked at the two of them in the mirror. They looked perfect.
"We look good don't you think?" Inuyasha asked Kikyou, breaking her from her thoughts. She smiled at him.
"We certainly do, this is one of those few times you actually decide to pick something out that matches with me for once," Kikyou replied jokingly. Inuyasha chuckled but played along.
"Well, it's not like I know what you're going to wear before I pick out my clothes," Inuyasha responded and he pretended to pout. Kikyou laughed, a forced laugh, but she laughed and then admired the two of them in the mirror again.
Some time later, Kikyou and Inuyasha were preparing to leave the store. Suddenly another wave of dizziness came over Kikyou. 'Not again,' she thought to herself. This had started happening more and more frequently in the past few days. Her head was absolutely killing her now. Her stomach was starting to hurt as well, that had also been happening often nowadays. Kikyou began to sway back and forth holding her stomach and before she knew what was happening Inuyasha was calling her name. She lost focus of her vision and then passed out onto Hojo's floor. Hojo caught sight of her passing out and rushed over to her, Inuyasha was as well. 'This is the second time, my store must be bad luck,' he thought to himself.
"I'll call an ambulance," he volunteered. Inuyasha just quickly nodded his head before examining Kikyou.
A few minutes later an ambulance arrived. They quickly loaded Kikyou into the ambulance and Inuyasha raced in behind the paramedics and sat down on the bench provided, as near to Kikyou as he could be. He watched as the paramedics checked her over and he placed his hand on hers. 'What's wrong with her? Has she been like this for long? Why didn't she tell me?" his mind screamed out at him as the siren wailed and they were carried to the hospital.
When they arrived at the hospital Inuyasha quickly got off the ambulance so that they could unload Kikyou. They had put a breathing mask on her and were racing her into the hospital building. Inuyasha ran after them, following closely behind. His mind was no longer screaming questions at him anymore. Instead only one question lingered in his mind. 'Is she going to be ok?' His brow was creased with worry. Kikyou was raced into the emergency room and Inuyasha knew he couldn't enter. There were a few chairs outside the emergency room and so he sat down. He waited and waited, but only nurses came out of the room and when Inuyasha asked how Kikyou was doing they would not give him a direct answer.
Inuyasha gave everyone a call and called them to the hospital. In only what seemed like a moment everyone was by Inuyasha's side, waiting for Kikyou's results. Miroku, Sango, Kagome, Sesshomaru and Kaede were all there. Kagome was crying even more than he was, but maybe that was because he was a man and didn't want to cry in front of a crowd. The others were trying their best to comfort her. Inuyasha was too caught up in his own despair and sorrow to care for Kagome.
"This is my entire fault, I should have known!" Kagome cried.
"It's alright, Kagome. It's not your fault, how would you have known this was going to happen?" Sango replied comfortingly.
"It is my fault though. I knew! I knew she was sick I just didn't tell anyone and…" Kagome continued to sob. Sesshomaru had his arm around Kagome and Kagome leaned into his shoulder.
The group waited the entire night. Most of them fell asleep but Inuyasha stayed awake. Kagome eventually stopped crying with the comfort of others. Then their attention had turned to Inuyasha. Miroku patted him gently on the back and Sesshomaru didn't make any snide remarks, which was nice.
Morning came and finally a doctor stepped out of the emergency room. Inuyasha leaped up.
"How's Kikyou, is she alright?" Inuyasha demanded. The ruckus woke up the others and they were immediately by Inuyasha's side demanding the same answer.
"Please tell me my sister is alright," Kaede pleaded. The doctor glanced at Kaede.
"You're her sister?" the doctor questioned. Kaede nodded her head. "Well then I can tell you, I could tell the others as well if you're comfortable with that," the doctor said.
"Yes you may tell us all, this here is Inuyasha, Kikyou's fiancé," Kaede replied, gesturing towards Inuyasha. Inuyasha caught a look of sadness cross the doctor's face before he spoke.
"Well, I'm sorry to say this, but we did our best. I'm afraid…we couldn't save her," the doctor told them all solemnly. Everything seemed to stop. Inuyasha felt like his heart was being torn out of him.
"No, you don't mean, she's dead?" Inuyasha whispered hoarsely.
"I'm sorry sir, we all did our best, but her conditions were far too critical and were beyond curing," the doctor said, a pained look seemed to be on the doctor's face as he said this. Now, Inuyasha let tears trickle down his face. Suddenly everyone around him began to sob. The doctor walked away to leave them in their sorrow with his head down.
"Kikyou, KIKYOU!" Inuyasha cried. A group of nurses came out pulling behind them a body that was covered by a white sheet. Inuyasha and the others ran after the nurses but the nurses stopped them.
"I'm sorry, but this body can no longer be revealed anymore, we're sorry for you loss," the nurses said. Inuyasha felt as if his soul had been sucked out of him. 'Kikyou's dead,' he thought to himself, wanting for the entire world that the fact wasn't true. But it was a fact, a fact is a fact and a fact is always true.
"Why? Why, Kikyou, why did you leave me? I thought we were going to be happy! We were going to get married in a week, why did you leave me now?!" Inuyasha cried out again, breaking down. Tears were now flowing freely down his face. Kagome and Kaede were the first ones by Inuyasha's side. Tears were streaming down their faces as well.
"Inuyasha, try and control yourself," they pleaded. No matter how many times he thought to himself, 'Kikyou is dead,' he still couldn't believe it until Sesshomaru spoke,
"She's dead brother, let her leave in piece,"