For those who said that the words in italics I had semi to the end of the chapter, yes, they were depicting Inuyasha's thoughts. It was kind of Kagome too, since I was trying to make it like a piece of how they're slowly starting to understand each other, yet still be too far away.
If you understood any part of the above paragraph, you get a cookie:)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Beauty and the Beast. I usually get bored with these and start forgetting to put them in once in a while, so don't think I've massacred Disney and Rumiko Takahashi. I haven't. I just have the crappiest damn memory in the ENTIRE world.
Chapter the Thirteenth
Sometimes You Just Need to Trust
"I'm sorry."
Those two dreadful words played in her mind over and over, drowning her in a sorrowful feeling. Her eyes watered slightly as her fingers met her lips.
She was in love with Inuyasha.
The real question was: How? Why? It wasn't possible! He was rude, bratty, insulting, egotistical, anti-social and a complete jerk all in one. He wasn't the Prince Charming she wanted. He wasn't kind or caring and he didn't give a hoot whether or not she died…
But still…if he didn't care…why had he kissed her? Why had he danced with her? Why did he have an aura of calm and serenity whilst they danced?
What was wrong with her? Why did she feel so confused?
Kagome sat up, wiping her tear-streaked eyes. After he'd left, Sango had wordlessly taken Kagome back to her room. Then the woman had left without even a goodbye. Sango had known that speaking to Kagome would've done damage. Sango knew that Kagome was distraught.
Sango had known Kagome was in love with him.
"You know, it's not a bad thing…"
"What isn't?"
"Caring for someone, it's not bad to care about someone a lot. It's a gift, a special blessing, so don't you waste it. Enjoy it."
A few days earlier Sango had spoken those words with a wisdom that had mystified Kagome. Kagome now not only knew that Sango was speaking for her feelings for Miroku, but was speaking on behalf of Kagome's feelings for Inuyasha.
Even still, if she cared about him, why was she so sad after he'd kissed her?
Because he left, because he thought you didn't feel that way. It hurt you to see him so hurt. It hurt you to think that you'd hurt him by not saying anything to him.
A few tears rolled down her cheeks at that revelation. She hadn't said anything. She'd hurt him by staying all bottled up inside.
Kagome walked over to the diary that she'd left forgotten after all of the castle's interesting events the past weeks. She needed something to do…she needed to read something.
She licked her finger and opened to a random page and began to scan the pages.
A small piece of paper fell from the diary, and for a second Kagome thought she'd damaged it. Upon further inspection, the paper was far too yellowed and dirty to be from the book, so she unfolded it and blinked.
It was a note.
Now that my dear husband has died, I no longer have anything to live for. My dear daughter, I want you to have my locket. No matter what happens, it'll be there for you to find…always. No matter how far from it you run, it'll find you. You'll see it again soon.
Just because my life is ending doesn't mean you cannot open a new chapter in your book. You can live life the way you wanted to.
Also, keep your friends close, protect the ones you love. Things will get hard, harder than usual, and I have left the key to freedom locked inside your locket. You will know how to open it, just look in your heart.
With this, my life has reached its final gasping stretch, and I pray you find love. Thank you my sweet daughter,
My sweet little Sango.
Kagome gasped. Her eyes fell to the locket around her neck. Shame consumed her. This was not a locket for her to keep. This was for Sango.
She refolded the paper and stood up. She also removed the necklace. Kagome walked out of her room. If she needed something to do, she would go see Sango.
"Kagome? You're alright!"
Kagome looked to see Sango, who was just coming up the steps with a tray of tea and cookies. "Sango! I have to talk to you!"
Sango smiled slightly, "At least you feel better." She began to walk to Kagome's room, "Let's sit down before we talk."
Kagome huffed and followed Sango. They both sat on the bed and Sango handed Kagome a cup of steaming tea.
"Sango, please." Kagome said hurriedly, "I need you to see these."
She held out the locket and the paper for her friend to see. Sango blinked at the items, "Is that not the locket you've been wearing?"
Kagome looked down, "It's…not mine. I found this in the diary." She unfolded the paper and handed it to her friend, "It's…from your mother I think."
Sango gasped slightly, her eyes widening. An unreadable expression washed over her face as she read the letter.
It was silent as Kagome watched her friend read it with a sad, yet relieved expression on her face. Kagome didn't understand it, but for some reason, it seemed better than a temper tantrum or tears.
Sango placed the letter on the bed, sipped her tea, and took both ends of the necklace. She pulled it up and clasped it around her neck. Kagome smiled as the girl pulled her hair up and out of the necklace's hold.
Sango fingered the heart-shaped pendant just as Kagome had when she'd first seen it. A strange smile came onto the demon woman's face and she sighed contentedly.
"Kagome…I really need to thank you for giving this to me. You don't know how much that relieves me of a burden." Sango said hoarsely, her hand still grasping the pendant, the other hand clenching the suicide note.
"How?" Kagome asked, unable to say much more.
"When I was a little girl, my father died in a war in the East country. Soldiers came and murdered my brother. My mother and I managed to get away but…" Sango trailed off, her eyes averted.
Kagome put a hand on Sango's shoulder comfortingly. She smiled, willing her friend to go on.
Sango nodded in thanks, "My mother no longer had a reason to live. She told me to go to the castle…this castle…and find work. I was fifteen. I left for two days and came back to tell my mother that I was accepted as a knight-in-training at the castle. When I went into the house…I found my mother. She was dead. She'd killed herself quickly after I'd left, since her body was long dead when I found her."
Kagome's hand went to her mouth in shock. Tears of empathy sprung to her eyes, "Oh Sango…I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be," The other girl said, smiling a sad, sad smile, "What could you have done? Nothing could have changed her choice. She didn't want to live anymore and couldn't let herself bring me down with her. She wanted to make sure I found a foothold in life before she left."
Kagome let out a small laugh at the realization, "Even in the face of death she loved you."
"Yes." Sango agreed. She drained her tea and stood up, "Kagome, if you don't mind, I think I'll keep this necklace."
Kagome blinked at her friend incredulously, "O-Of course! It's yours."
Sango smiled and took her hand off of it, "Well, I think you have something to do."
"What?" Kagome asked, not understanding what her friend meant.
Sango winked at Kagome, "When in the face of love…" She trailed off, grabbing up the tray and exiting the room quickly.
Kagome stared after her clever friend, her eyes dancing with laughter. Sango sure was quite the tricky one.
Kagome realized that she no longer felt sad and depressed. She felt sure of herself and calm…she was able to face him. She had to anyways.
Kagome checked herself in the mirror to make sure she was presentable. Once she was pleased, she raced out of her room and towards Inuyasha's.
She didn't pass any of her friends on the way to his room, even though it was quite far from hers. This intrigued her…
It must've been Sango's doing.
Kagome found herself outside Inuyasha's door, standing and taking deep breaths.
This was her chance to show Inuyasha that she wasn't a stubborn brat. She could prove that she felt the same way he did for her.
She knocked on the door.
"Miroku, screw off."
She knocked again, harder this time.
"I said screw off!"
Kagome knocked a third time, hoping that this would rouse him to come and open the door.
There was a heavy sigh. Then: "Just come in if you're going to be stupid."
Kagome lightly pressed on the door, and it swung open effortlessly as if it were on newly oiled hinges. She looked around, and saw Inuyasha sitting in a chair with a book in his hands, not facing her. The book was closed, and his hand was on the cover as if to protect it.
"Inuyasha…?" She murmured with slight hesitation, taking a small step towards him.
His ears perked at her voice, and his head turned. His eyes were wide with question for a second before they hardened and became sadder than anything.
Kagome gave him a weary smile, "Inuyasha…I-I want to talk to you."
"About what?" He asked in an even tone that seemed calm and collected. His face betrayed his words' courage.
She walked forwards and sat in a chair close to his. Her stride was uneven – unsure and second guessing. Her eyes moved around uneasily, but her tiny smile never faltered. "About…yesterday." She answered in a tone that was cracked and high-pitched.
How opposite her composure was to his.
He froze quickly at that, "I didn't mean anything." He said too quickly, fixing his hurt gaze on the red cover of the book in his hands.
Kagome sighed, "Oh…"
"You sound sad." He deadpanned, and when she looked up he was staring at her intensely. He did not make it a question or an invitation for an answer. It was a clear statement that wanted a clear and concise explanation.
"I know," Kagome whispered, and she knew that she was about to cry again.
"Why are you sad?" This time his tone was softer, kinder, and more empathetic than his last words. He almost sounded like a lost little puppy.
Kagome stood up, not answering his question. She stood in front of him and leaned down. Her hand touched his, but moved to pat the book, "You do read…"
He seemed tense. His whole body was stiff, "Yes. I never said I didn't." Stubbornness.
She looked at his face and smiled at him, "It helps…doesn't it?"
Inuyasha blinked at her.
"To ease the pain of loneliness. It helps…you just go to your own world. It's like you're living another life, a life free of the burdens you bear in this world." Kagome explained; her voice passionate.
Inuyasha let out a small chuckle, "Yeah. You sure got that right."
Kagome straightened up and turned to sit back in the chair.
Except her wrist was grabbed by a hand. She let out a squeak when she was twirled around and pulled onto Inuyasha's lap.
A blush dusted her cheeks, "Uh…Inuyasha?"
He let out a small growl and leaned her against his chest. Her head rested on his shoulder, his face in her hair. She could feel his breathing on the back of her head.
She went to move, but he kept her firmly in place.
"Please. Stay. If only for a minute." He murmured to her, his eyes closed, "I want…that feeling. Whenever you're close I get this feeling that I've never had before. It's like a strange bliss."
Kagome smiled slightly, "Me too. I get the same feeling." She relaxed in his arms.
It was like nothing she'd felt before. For the first time in her life Kagome felt like she…belonged. Just belonged there, sitting in his arms while he stroked her hair. She felt wanted…and cared for.
It was the best feeling in the world.
And even hours later when Kagome needed to leave and go eat; he stood up with her and offered to accompany her. Needless to say, she was shocked, but she accepted his kind offer.
Later still when they'd spent the entire day together, he'd walked her to her room and said goodbye with a look in his eyes that said 'You're special to me'. She'd hugged him, kissed his cheek, and gone to bed.
He'd turned and walked back to his room with a smile on his face and a slight bounce in his step that had not been seen for fifty years.
Hidden from the two's view, five friends watched and smiled. One of them was particularly smug.
Even though the curse was due to take them in less than a year, Inuyasha had finally found someone to enjoy his remaining time with.
And that would be the best thing to ever happen for him.
"I think it worked. It really, really worked." One breathless child's voice said incredulously.
Another voice: "I know. He's so happy." It said with a giddy sigh.
"Aw, don't get mushy on me now; they're not much better than us." A third said.
There was a suggestive growl and a giggle.
"Come now you two, save it for later." A fourth voice said with a perverted laugh.
The fifth voice was of a best friend, and she touched the pendant around her neck as she spoke, "I've got a feeling that this is just the beginning of something interesting."
End of Chapter
Uh oh! Fluff chapter! First a little Sango x Kagome friend bonding, then some major Inuyasha x Kagome relationship building…I'd say that was a successful chapter.
But I warn ye, this is the last chapter of plot-less romance. Things are going to be stirred up very, very quickly this time!
I guess you'll just have to wait and see for next chapter! (wink)
Review and I will give you a chocolate cookie!
